abraxaslogs | open | excuse my ego, can't go incognito

Do you want one? They sell them, both here in Borrel and back in town at the castle. I got this one here.

[ she's annabeth. of course she is going to encourage people getting notebooks for literally any reason they want one. she has another back at the castle that she's using for all her notes on this world, and she doesn't feel weird leaving it behind because all the writing's in ancient greek. who's gonna read it, percy? he hates reading, and she babbles it all to him anyway. ]

[ she perks up a little, because it's not a place she knows, and she does like to know things. ]

I'm Annabeth. I'm from New York. I haven't heard of Dathomir, but I know there are a lot of places the Summoned hail from.

Edited 2024-05-27 05:03 (UTC)

Annabeth from New York.

[ She gives a little nod and repeats, committing both to memory; it's also her indirect way of saying, nice to meet you without...actually saying that. They are, at least, in the same position with neither having heard of the place they come from. So much of her life since leaving Dathomir had been spent fighting back against the Empire — this world is not without its own trials and complications, but it is strange to think being stolen away to a world not her own might afford a moment to catch her breath. ]

I will find one. [ She nods now to the notebook, agreeing. She's not eager to leave Borrel just yet so it's an easy excuse to wander more around and find one she likes. ]

We do not have places like this on Dathomir. It is mostly — sharp rocks, dry for long stretches. A few swamps and ponds. [ The few bodies of water that exist are riddled with hostile life of all kinds, both flora and fauna. It is not a place one can ever really relax. She has returned a few times since leaving with Cal, Cere, and Greez, but only then it is for the purpose of communing with the dead — the family she lost at the end of a lightsaber wielded by General Grievous. She was all that remained, having grown up alone. ]

You miss it, your New York? What is it like?

[ she's been introducing herself as from new york here, despite the wide net of places she's lived, but it always felt most appropriate to her. hearing merrin say 'annabeth of new york' makes her feel like she made the right choice. born in richmond, with family in san fransisco - but camp half blood is the place she belongs. ]

Is Dathomir a country? A planet? [ the sharp rocks and dry description almost calls to mind images of tartarus, but she shoves it aside, refusing to associate it with a new place. ]

[ she does miss it, but she feels weird admitting the extent of which to a stranger. she's been away from camp half-blood longer than a month before, but it's much different here, in abraxas. at least she was in the same universe as home. ]

Yeah, I do. But it depends on where you are in New York. There's a big eponymous city nearby - the most populous in the country - but there's also a lot of farmland upstate. I mostly live on a part of New York called Long Island, right near the ocean.

[ so perhaps finding her at the ocean here is not that odd. ]

A planet, in the Outer Rim. We had few visitors and those of my clan did not often leave.

[ She had come to believe that this perspective from the Clan Mothers and other Nightsisters was not necessarily the right one. Isolating as they had afforded a sense of false protection. War had come to them regardless, and Merrin had grown up unaware of the abundance of worlds and life beyond Dathomir. Given what she knows now, she would never want such a small and limited perspective again. ]

I had not left until recently myself and there is still...so much of the galaxy left to see.

[ What she has seen so far is people like her — those who have lost much, people who grieve, who have known pain and loss, yes. There is much darkness. Yet, there is just as much of the opposite — light and hope, and those who would choose to fight back against the worst of creation. She finds beauty in the galaxy, she sees much left still to hold onto, things that are worth more than the revenge that fueled her for so long. ]

It is beautiful there? It sounds it. Dathomir has no oceans and I find it peaceful here. I would not wish to leave soon.

[ She can understand Annabeth being drawn here given her home had an ocean. What's not to love, in her mind? ]

By choice? I know clans, as a concept, can be... territorial.

[ that sounds diplomatic enough. annabeth has certainly run into her fair share of exclusive, closed off clans in her questing ventures, and the way merrin speaks of her own and her planet gives her that impression. it's not like she was allowed to leave camp half-blood for several years herself. ]

I never left Earth till I got here. But it's not really easy for most people back home. [ she pauses. ] I think in any kind of universe, there's always going to feel like an endless list of things to see. I'm not sure I'll even get to see everything just on my planet.

[ she looks briefly out at this strange sea and thinks of the atlantic. maybe the pacific too, but she has her preferences. she thinks of percy somewhere out there swimming, and it almost feels like if she turned around, the cabins would be within walking distance. ] I like to think so, though I'm definitely biased. I'm glad the storms are gone. Makes coming here easier.

[ never mind all the supernatural weirdness. she is mostly just ignoring that part. ]

My mothers chose it, yes, for themselves and for us. Outsiders were not only unwelcome, but rejected, punished. It was to protect us, but it did not, in the end.

[ It is, however, a pleasant conversation with Annabeth and though Merrin has little to hide about her life and sometimes (or often) might lack or even disregard social etiquette that says 'don't dump your sad past on someone you just met,' she does have the sense and preference to keep this lighthearted and not heavy, at least on her end. She never minds hearing anything that someone might wish to tell of their own life, though. ]

I do not care to protect myself, it is why I enjoyed exploring the galaxy when I had the ability to. I want to know it — its beauty and pain — and the people in it. Though we are all of us...stuck now, here. Together, at least.

[ The tranquility of the water is captivating and she finds it easy for her own gaze to linger on the gently lapping waves, the way the light from the ocean seems to bend a bit on the horizon. Maybe she will attempt drawing, if only to try and capture this in all its glory. A gentle glance back to Annabeth for a moment, though — ]

You do not find yourself troubled, after recent events? You need not speak of it, we do not know each other, but you can if you wish to be heard.

[ she thinks immediately of what she's heard of the amazons - there are definite differences, of course, even glaring ones, but they were certainly full of territorial hostilities. honestly, annabeth herself can be and has been territorial over her friends - but she's one person, not a clan. ]

Sometimes the old ways... need a little changing after a while. But I don't blame you for leaving and wanting to see more of the universe. [ that much she certainly understands. she was so desperate for a way out of camp for so long - it's funny how now she just wants to be able to stay at home for a little while. ]

[ she startles at the question, though the only sign of it is the way her eyes snap over to merrin sharply. it's a kind offer, and maybe a strange one for someone like annabeth. ]

I'd be more surprised if someone wasn't at least a little bit troubled. [ she pauses, trying to consider how she might want to steer the conversation. ] I wasn't here very long before the Singularity sucked us all in, so mostly there's just double weirdness to figure out.

[ With age and hindsight, Merrin may disagree with the perspective her elders embraced, but she can appreciate and understand what they were trying to do then. It is not pure folly to assume that closing off may offer a measure of protection — it is the kind of thing sometimes only learned after tragedy. They believed they were powerful enough to escape the worst of the Empire. Their mistakes have helped her learn.

In asking her question of Annabeth, truthfully Merrin isn't sure what she might be willing to say, but the sentiment is a shared one, and easy to agree with. ]

I had only arrived myself. They do not agree on the monolith's nature or what to do about it, the people of this world. I cannot begin to comprehend it myself, I only know that I would protect what I can. [ None of them chose to be here and she can't say she's pleased with being trapped here, but she's not one to sit idly by, either. ] The...dream offered little clarity, only confusion. [ It was just beyond strange, honestly. The whole thing. Having her memories tampered with was equally unsettling, to say the least. ]

What was taken of my memories was returned, at least, but I do not like to think of it repeating.

[ With her own power and magick, Merrin would have thought her own mind more capable of resisting. Then again, she should know better than to underestimate this world or the people in it, given the reality of all of them being Summoned here to begin with. ]

[ annabeth does perk up a little, over the idea of finding someone else just as new as she is. a lot of the summoned seem to have been in it for the long haul, and it's almost reassuring to know there are others in the same new boat. ]

It's hard to figure out what the Singularity wants from us in general. Was the illusion some kind of warning? [ she remembers the strange message left in the horizon. ]

I would really like to avoid a repeat too, though I don't know what we can even do to stop it when I feel like no one really wholly understands it to begin with. Everyone has different expectations of it too.

[ she pauses. ] You know, on top of everything else about this place to get a handle on. What do you think of Thorne so far? [ from one newbie (who isn't percy) to another. they're outside the castle and no one's around; she thinks it's okay to ask. ]

The Singularity is what everyone thinks it is, or what no one thinks. Somewhere in there is the answer. This is not in any way confusing. [ Merrin manages a brief hint of a smirk. Mostly because it sounds like they're all just constantly guessing, and everyone brought here without consent is even more in the dark. Fun times for all... ]

[ As for Thorne, though, she has little love for the monarchy, yet their living situation is not uncomfortable. There is a contrast for a reason, she thinks. ]

They are strangely accommodating. They have given much to those not of this world. Too much. There is little to trust, yet they have not been unkind. [ At least in her experience so far, but that has been very limited. Being guarded and distrustful of those who keep them is likely no different from what most feel, but she'll readily give her opinion on that nonetheless so they know where they both stand. ] For those without, who struggle and lack what they need — I would wish to help them.

But there is much beauty...like this. [ With a nod to the ocean that continues to captivate her. ]

[ it takes her a brief moment, but with merrin's smirk, annabeth snorts. ] You'd think with some of the people here as long as they have been, we'd have more of a spot in the middle of the pendulum to focus on.

[ she hums with consideration as merrin offers her input. ] Yeah. That sounds about right. I'm - I can't say I'm unhappy having a bed, especially knowing the other places don't offer such nice accommodations for free. But the way the other Summoned here talk about it leaves me wary. Like I don't want to get too comfortable.

I don't really trust them either, but. [ she'd probably be that way in any territory. ] It's... workable, you know? Livable. For now.

[ she can't help but look back out at the ocean too. ] Nott has a waterfront too, though it's more of a lake. You should check it out sometime, if you haven't.

You would be wise not to.

[ Merrin is quick to agree, glad that without directly saying it, they both seem to agree that being lulled into a sense of comfort here by the relative ease would be foolish. Of course, while their day-to-day lives are not unpleasant for now, there is the ever looming threat of conflict between the territories, and whatever truths lie within that silent(ish) stone monolith. ]

It is — as you say — livable, and there is still much left to explore, to know. Like Nott — I would see it for myself soon.

[ As much as she can see and understand about where they are, she'll soak it up. ]

You spoke of your home, of farmland and a city and ocean, you said. That is much contained in a small area alone, but your world — it must be vast with places you have not yet been and most wish to see?

[ Not that Annabeth has to spill the beans on all of that, but it's a curiosity, if she'd like to share. ]

[ it's somewhat comforting to know most of the summoned seem to quickly align with that thought with regard to the security thorne claims to offer. almost like at the very least, they're all looking out for each other here, if the royals aren't. she'd like to believe that's really the case. ]

I first went to Nott in the middle of the storms, so it was hard to actually see it, but I've been back since - the whole vibe is different from Castle Thorne. Less... restricting.

[ it certainly feels freer, even with the other more local people-to-people dangers. ]

It is huge. I've always thought of it as enormous - probably too big to see everything. And we don't even have space travel like other places, which almost makes Earth seem small despite how much is there. I haven't even seen everything in my own country yet I'd like to.

If you had the ability, there are many places in my galaxy you would enjoy, I think. Places I would show you.

[ Just from what they've shared so far, she has a loose idea of some things that would appeal to Annabeth, although in a galaxy as vast as hers, there's truly an abundance. ]

As you say, we would not have time enough to see it all.

[ Dathomir isn't a place she would necessarily take her or anyone else. Perhaps with many, many caveats. But it is barren, fairly hostile, and a quiet place with (mostly) only the dead for company. ]

You cannot show me your world and I cannot show you mine, but would you draw something of your home? A place or something else you enjoyed. Not this moment, but — later, perhaps?

[ Perhaps it's a strange question and Annabeth certainly need not feel obligated. It's just that curious part of Merrin, and she recognizes there's so much she simply won't ever get a chance to see. ]

[ there's a brief pause. ] That's kind of you to offer.

[ it is very much appealing, but the fact that it was offered in the first place is more of a surprise. the summoned do seem to collectively be fairly kind to each other, or at the very least, all on the same side in the end. ]

[ she doesn't like to think about how little time she has to see the world, especially in conjecture with thinking about a typical demigod lifespan. ] Can you describe one of them? One of the places.

[ annabeth briefly glances down at her sketches - bits and bobs of architecture she found herself admiring around borrel, things she wanted to remember for future reference. ]

I don't usually draw nature. [ it's sort of a question. ] Mostly buildings.

[ Of course, the offer is pure wishful thinking, in the sense that she could only hope perhaps one day their galaxy would actually be safe enough for all, for those who live there and anyone who might visit. Do any such galaxies exist, though, she wonders — any free from war? ]

[ At the question, though — this will perhaps be close to what Annabeth's accustomed to drawing. There was little in the way of nature on Dathomir, a desolate place. But the lair of the Nightsisters was something to behold, in her mind at least. ]

Where we lived, it was made of stone, carved and built into the side of a mountain. Within, we had built small fortresses made into columns with stone steps. All around were pools of water that glowed green — the Water of Life.

What kind of stone? [ she pauses, a thought occurring to her belatedly. ] I suppose the stone might be different from what I know - different galaxies. But lots of peoples built their homes and structures into mountain sides - it's like a built support system, depending on the stability of the rock.

[ and that's a somewhat interesting thought she doesn't mind the intrusion. would rocks develop differently in other universes? ]

A name like that implies some kind of reverence, if the glowing didn't imply as much too.

Mountainous stone — strong, but...there is magick in it. The stone and the water, both. Different energies, but where we lived, the moment you entered, you would feel the energies all around you. It is everything all at once — life, light and dark.

[ She realizes she's not being as specific about the water itself, and this at least, she does not feel the need to withhold. ]

The Water of Life — it had healing properties, it was central to many of our rituals, our life, our power.

That sounds... fascinating. Almost too much, to feel so much at once.

[ both water and mountains both. she's no stranger to magic places, or natural wonders infused with some sort of power - the mythological world is full of those. ]

It sounds like the magical aspects of this world might not be that strange to you then, like they are to others.

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