Who: yennefer + others When: july Where: nott + nocwich What: after the events of the coup and yennefer's escape to nott, she is making due in what she suspects will be her new normal. Warnings: will update if needed.
[ the serious nature of ciri's expression has yennefer pausing, briefly, before she gives a single nod. ]
You are correct about that, yes. [ her eyes follow ciri's hands, something almost like a smile playing at her own expression. it seems almost as if yennefer is looking much further than just to ciri's hand, to her hair. for a single moment, yennefer's eyes look a bit far away, before focusing back into the moment. ]
You mean beyond overtly complicated personal connections? [ a snort, and then yennefer takes a breath, sitting up for a moment and looking directly at ciri so that she might be aware of the whole of what happens.
it's subtle, but it's obvious that something shifts - or, rather, that everything shifts. like a gentle breeze or sway, yennefer's hair changes texture and color, her eyes, nose, and jawline its shape. if ciri blinks for a bit too long, it might seem as though someone else entirely - though similar in height and build - has sat next to her, wearing yennefer's clothes.
then the stranger smiles, and it looks a little too much like yennefer, as she reaches for her drink and brings it to her lips. ]
It's proven useful, in Nott, while keeping my head down.
[ She blinks, a little startled, but doesn't say anything right away. It's unnerving to watch, but certainly Ciri can immediately tell how it'd be very useful, especially right now. ]
That is helpful.
[ Another pause, contemplative. Ciri reaches for her drink as well, turning the cup around in her hands a few times before taking a sip. ]
When you... do that. [ The power Yennefer had just shown her. ]
What does it feel like? Not physically, I mean. The magic. Does it feel like yours?
[ She leans in a little closer. ] Recently, I opened portal. Didn't mean to. But my horse came through when I was looking for her and I was able to open a portal to bring her to me. It felt like my power, yet not.
[ she can tell that ciri is startled - and yennefer doesn't blame her. the feeling of the magic along her skin isn't dissimilar to the illusions they were taught back at aretuza, but it is different. the application, the degree at which it holds. yennefer has taken time to practice it, to hone it, and the singularity centuries have given her a kind of false familiarity, where the feeling is concerned.
yennefer very nearly drops it, not wanting to make ciri any more uncomfortable, but that is just about the time ciri starts to speak, to ask her question, and yennefer stops herself before she does. what does it feel like?
it's an interesting question, and yennefer - in a way - turns a little more fully to face ciri. does it feel like yours? ]
Any magic you control is yours. [ yennefer states, simply, at first. but she does think she knows what ciri is saying, and there's a kind of curiosity that lights up the stranger's eyes. ] But it does feel different- it is not the same chaos I'm used to. There's something... altered.
Is this the first time your power has felt different?
[ Considering how she's felt about her magic all her life, Ciri's not exactly comforted by this answer. But it is good to hear Yennefer acknowledging she at least understands what Ciri means.
She purses her lips, chewing over her answer before responding. ]
...maybe it's the first time I've really noticed it?
To be honest, there's not much I use on a regular basis, outside of the Signs Geralt taught me.
[ Even Ciri is aware this is more just a way for her to control her innate access to chaos rather than true Witcher Signs the way Geralt uses them, but the point stands. ]
[ yennefer isn't surprised by ciri's reaction. her relationship to her power, her chaos, how that's shifted being here. the singularity in many ways feeds into them in the same way their chaos had back on their continent, but also in so many new, and different ways.
she nods. ]
It's a subtle feeling- harder, if you're not accustomed to them. But you haven't been practicing. [ she can't help the way her voice sounds... not chastizing, because that isn't really her place.
but some old habits die hard, and her brow does arch. ] Other than Signs. [ she nods, then takes another sip of her drink. ] With how much time we spent near the Singularity, it's not a surprise that we would pick up on its magic. Gather some of it for ourselves.
[ Ciri falls into old habits too: her shoulders tense up, and the set of her jaw hardens, that stubborn look in her eyes she's always had sharpening. Her lips purse slightly, not quite a pout. ]
I haven't needed to practice. [ Meaning: she hasn't been using her magic. As Yennefer knows. ]
I don't want the Singularity's magic. [ It comes out more petulant than she realizes, a low hiss since they're in public. ]
[ there it is. yennefer doesn't smile, doesn't say I know, but she doesn't really need to. ]
Of course not. [ yes, as yennefer knows. but she won't press it, some part of her knowing that she could have... more. anything.
it's a familiar feeling, this regret.
the tone to ciri's voice draws yennefer's attention, pulls a kind of stillness out of her. because she gets it, in a way. being forced into something, being forced to do anything. ]
You don't get to make that choice. But you do have the ability to control it. You know that.
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no subject
The continent isn't the only thing that's changing, Yen.
[ She lifts a hand to where Yennefer had just tucked her hair back, not undoing her work but indicating it with obvious intent. ]
We are changing. I know we have been for some time now, but in the last few weeks, it's been made... abundantly clear.
And what of you? What souvenirs did you bring out of the crater?
no subject
You are correct about that, yes. [ her eyes follow ciri's hands, something almost like a smile playing at her own expression. it seems almost as if yennefer is looking much further than just to ciri's hand, to her hair. for a single moment, yennefer's eyes look a bit far away, before focusing back into the moment. ]
You mean beyond overtly complicated personal connections? [ a snort, and then yennefer takes a breath, sitting up for a moment and looking directly at ciri so that she might be aware of the whole of what happens.
it's subtle, but it's obvious that something shifts - or, rather, that everything shifts. like a gentle breeze or sway, yennefer's hair changes texture and color, her eyes, nose, and jawline its shape. if ciri blinks for a bit too long, it might seem as though someone else entirely - though similar in height and build - has sat next to her, wearing yennefer's clothes.
then the stranger smiles, and it looks a little too much like yennefer, as she reaches for her drink and brings it to her lips. ]
It's proven useful, in Nott, while keeping my head down.
no subject
That is helpful.
[ Another pause, contemplative. Ciri reaches for her drink as well, turning the cup around in her hands a few times before taking a sip. ]
When you... do that. [ The power Yennefer had just shown her. ]
What does it feel like? Not physically, I mean. The magic. Does it feel like yours?
[ She leans in a little closer. ] Recently, I opened portal. Didn't mean to. But my horse came through when I was looking for her and I was able to open a portal to bring her to me. It felt like my power, yet not.
Like... in that 'dream.'
no subject
yennefer very nearly drops it, not wanting to make ciri any more uncomfortable, but that is just about the time ciri starts to speak, to ask her question, and yennefer stops herself before she does. what does it feel like?
it's an interesting question, and yennefer - in a way - turns a little more fully to face ciri. does it feel like yours? ]
Any magic you control is yours. [ yennefer states, simply, at first. but she does think she knows what ciri is saying, and there's a kind of curiosity that lights up the stranger's eyes. ] But it does feel different- it is not the same chaos I'm used to. There's something... altered.
Is this the first time your power has felt different?
no subject
She purses her lips, chewing over her answer before responding. ]
...maybe it's the first time I've really noticed it?
To be honest, there's not much I use on a regular basis, outside of the Signs Geralt taught me.
[ Even Ciri is aware this is more just a way for her to control her innate access to chaos rather than true Witcher Signs the way Geralt uses them, but the point stands. ]
no subject
she nods. ]
It's a subtle feeling- harder, if you're not accustomed to them. But you haven't been practicing. [ she can't help the way her voice sounds... not chastizing, because that isn't really her place.
but some old habits die hard, and her brow does arch. ] Other than Signs. [ she nods, then takes another sip of her drink. ] With how much time we spent near the Singularity, it's not a surprise that we would pick up on its magic. Gather some of it for ourselves.
no subject
I haven't needed to practice. [ Meaning: she hasn't been using her magic. As Yennefer knows. ]
I don't want the Singularity's magic. [ It comes out more petulant than she realizes, a low hiss since they're in public. ]
no subject
Of course not. [ yes, as yennefer knows. but she won't press it, some part of her knowing that she could have... more. anything.
it's a familiar feeling, this regret.
the tone to ciri's voice draws yennefer's attention, pulls a kind of stillness out of her. because she gets it, in a way. being forced into something, being forced to do anything. ]
You don't get to make that choice. But you do have the ability to control it. You know that.