Rinwell (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rinwell) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2021-10-20 10:39 pm
rinwell) wrote in abraxaslogs2021-10-20 10:39 pm
[OPEN] The Wayfarer's First Steps..
WHO: Rinwell and YOU!
WHAT: Exploration and education in a new world..
WHEN: October
WHERE: The Free Cities -- Cadens proper, and Cadens Outpost 003
NOTES: Bracket text or prose welcome, will adapt to what you do!
I. CADENS OUTPOST 003
[ Since that magical message encounter, Rinwell has been even more suspicious lately of her hosts, and a reluctant participant in conversations with anyone native to the region who works at the Outpost. Small and suspicious, she's likely made a name for herself by hiding behind the pages of any books she can get her hands on: all extremely dry and extremely boring, even the one she bought in the city.
Other times, she finds herself making a hike up one of the towers, so she can take advantage of the view of the terrain stretching out all around the outpost. The city lies in the distance behind them, and the dunes stretch out and ripple with heat. Since she's quiet, and tends to perch out of the way with her book, the on duty guards leave her be, occasionally stopping to check she's had enough water when it's particularly hot. She can even sometimes be found there a few hours before curfew, gazing at the stars.
If approached, her book is open on her lap but unread, eyes firmly on the sky above. Then, a frown, before she turns to acknowledge your arrival with a question: ]
Is the sky here weird to you?
II. INNER CITY LIVING
a) [ There are regular wagons that head back and forth into town, and the latest outlanders have at least shown they're not opposed to work. Rinwell sometimes assists with loading, but for the most part, she'll board in the morning and not return to the Outpost until the latest time possible. Whether or not it's for her own good.
The Free Cities are amazing in their own right, at least to someone who's world has been under the thumb of another for centuries. In the short time she's been here, Rinwell has made herself known to several book sellers, as well local sweet merchants in the marketplace, and has started getting to know the local routes around town. Even here, old habits die hard, and she keeps her head down - most won't glance your way if you look like you know where you're going, after all.
That usually works, save for when you turn a corner and collide with someone coming the other way. ]
Oh! [surprise, as she stumbles back, before balance is lost and she lands on her rear with a wince] Ow..! Hey! Watch where you're going!
b) [ Now, with the rumblings of an approaching holiday, she can't help but linger near where the tailors peddle their wares, admiring the local fashions. She's no Shionne, the Renan was no slouch as the group's resident fashionista, but the gifted garb from the outpost is simply practical, not pretty.
One seller in particular catches her eye; though there are many pretty hair ornaments and trinkets, one particular gilded butterfly pin has her attention. ]
Oh, that's so pretty..
III. PAGE TURNING
[ The first time she was shown the first of several public libraries, she'd almost overstayed her welcome. Fortunately, at least one of the librarians has a soft spot for eager young learners, and Rinwell is not above using that to get access to books!
There's too much she doesn't know that she doesn't know. So she starts digging into things, at least, as best she can without drawing too much attention with her reading choices. History, of course, starting with the Free Cities; Magic is a little harder to get her hands on - they don't need it here, don't care for it here, or so the sales pitch goes (and the looks she gets imply she's a little too interested for their comfort when she asks). And of course, local myths and legends, old stories - all the better to get an idea on the difference between historical fact and historical fiction.
She's engrossed in making her newest set of notes, so much so that anyone approaching won't be noticed. It may take slamming a book on her table to get her attention! ]
IV. WILDCARD
[ OOC: PM me here or discord/plurk if you want to discuss anything in particular. Otherwise, drop me a top level and we can roll from there! :) ]
WHAT: Exploration and education in a new world..
WHEN: October
WHERE: The Free Cities -- Cadens proper, and Cadens Outpost 003
NOTES: Bracket text or prose welcome, will adapt to what you do!
I. CADENS OUTPOST 003
[ Since that magical message encounter, Rinwell has been even more suspicious lately of her hosts, and a reluctant participant in conversations with anyone native to the region who works at the Outpost. Small and suspicious, she's likely made a name for herself by hiding behind the pages of any books she can get her hands on: all extremely dry and extremely boring, even the one she bought in the city.
Other times, she finds herself making a hike up one of the towers, so she can take advantage of the view of the terrain stretching out all around the outpost. The city lies in the distance behind them, and the dunes stretch out and ripple with heat. Since she's quiet, and tends to perch out of the way with her book, the on duty guards leave her be, occasionally stopping to check she's had enough water when it's particularly hot. She can even sometimes be found there a few hours before curfew, gazing at the stars.
If approached, her book is open on her lap but unread, eyes firmly on the sky above. Then, a frown, before she turns to acknowledge your arrival with a question: ]
Is the sky here weird to you?
II. INNER CITY LIVING
a) [ There are regular wagons that head back and forth into town, and the latest outlanders have at least shown they're not opposed to work. Rinwell sometimes assists with loading, but for the most part, she'll board in the morning and not return to the Outpost until the latest time possible. Whether or not it's for her own good.
The Free Cities are amazing in their own right, at least to someone who's world has been under the thumb of another for centuries. In the short time she's been here, Rinwell has made herself known to several book sellers, as well local sweet merchants in the marketplace, and has started getting to know the local routes around town. Even here, old habits die hard, and she keeps her head down - most won't glance your way if you look like you know where you're going, after all.
That usually works, save for when you turn a corner and collide with someone coming the other way. ]
Oh! [surprise, as she stumbles back, before balance is lost and she lands on her rear with a wince] Ow..! Hey! Watch where you're going!
b) [ Now, with the rumblings of an approaching holiday, she can't help but linger near where the tailors peddle their wares, admiring the local fashions. She's no Shionne, the Renan was no slouch as the group's resident fashionista, but the gifted garb from the outpost is simply practical, not pretty.
One seller in particular catches her eye; though there are many pretty hair ornaments and trinkets, one particular gilded butterfly pin has her attention. ]
Oh, that's so pretty..
III. PAGE TURNING
[ The first time she was shown the first of several public libraries, she'd almost overstayed her welcome. Fortunately, at least one of the librarians has a soft spot for eager young learners, and Rinwell is not above using that to get access to books!
There's too much she doesn't know that she doesn't know. So she starts digging into things, at least, as best she can without drawing too much attention with her reading choices. History, of course, starting with the Free Cities; Magic is a little harder to get her hands on - they don't need it here, don't care for it here, or so the sales pitch goes (and the looks she gets imply she's a little too interested for their comfort when she asks). And of course, local myths and legends, old stories - all the better to get an idea on the difference between historical fact and historical fiction.
She's engrossed in making her newest set of notes, so much so that anyone approaching won't be noticed. It may take slamming a book on her table to get her attention! ]
IV. WILDCARD
[ OOC: PM me here or discord/plurk if you want to discuss anything in particular. Otherwise, drop me a top level and we can roll from there! :) ]
no subject
And perhaps it is, from her point of view. ]
I know we're really far from home, but.. I don't know any of these stars. There's nothing familiar.
[ there's also no planet hanging ominously in the sky far above them. But she knows that part is a Dahna-specific difference, and probably not common on most worlds. ]
no subject
(Well, maybe one who was really into astrology, for example - but Maxwell's never spent much time around people with that kind of free time or luxury, child or no.) ]
Of course there ain't, kiddo.
[ He sighs, like this should be obvious... but it's more paternalistic than scathing. ]
Stars don't look the same even when you're standing in another part of the solar system. What makes you think you'd recognize anything all the way... well, wherever this is.
[ He gestures widely enough at the desert horizon to suggest the universal degree to which they are lost. ]
no subject
Her eyes narrow slightly anyway, evidently not really appreciating his tone. But she must concede that he does have a point. ]
That.. I guess that's true. [she looks up again] But, if this really is a nexus point between all worlds, then why wouldn't it have something familiar? Or in the very least, a North star that can easily be identified.
..I suppose I'm also just used to having another planet overhead. So for me, that's the most strange part.
no subject
Then she mentions the next thing - a planet in the sky - which is interesting, to say the least. One brow rises as he gives the girl a sidelong glance, appraising. ]
No kidding? You from a space colony?
no subject
[ She seems to change her mind about finishing that sentance, and the book on her lap is pulled up to her chest, before she shifts to face Duo directly.]
Where I'm from, Dahna, we have a close neighboring world. Rena. It's visible in the sky from everywhere.
no subject
[ His hum may sound mildly interested, but a million questions immediately run through his mind - about tidal forces and gravitational interactions, launch windows and escape velocities. Is she really describing binary planets, or is it more like an inhabited Europa to Jupiter?
Of course... he recognizes that none of these questions are relevant to their situation, and probably not to this girl, either. She's homesick because the sky looks different.
He can understand that, even if he can't relate. Maxwell has always chased after a different sky. ]
Well. I think we're all pretty far from home. But you get used to it, y'know?
no subject
I suppose we have to get used to it, don't we? [after all, it isn't as though they were given a choice to come here] Though it sounds like you do a lot of traveling? Or did, before..
[ you know. getting stuck here. ]
no subject
Yeah, well. I guess I just like to see a lot of different places.
[ It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that trouble follows him wherever he goes. ]
How about you, kid? You like travel? Though a place like this wasn't on anyone's bucket list, I'd expect.
no subject
Travel is.. I think I like it. I liked traveling with my friends. [she looks down, hands on her lap. all the better to hide the hint of sorrow; missing them might be taken as weakness here] It wasn't really possible until recently, back home.
And you're not wrong about that. It's not as hot as Calaglia, so I guess it has that going for it.
no subject
As if he doesn't already know she's feeling homesick. He wouldn't have lived nearly this long if he couldn't read a few obvious nonverbal cues.
He doesn't think she's weak. If anything, he thinks she's lucky she has a home to miss. She must be a good kid. ]
Guess it's not possible here either, the way they've got us cooped up and guarded day and night.
[ He snorts under his breath. ]
Not sure why I asked, now that I think about it.
no subject
[ She has a world to miss. A world that's home. But no house. Just people, who are home to her instead.
She makes a proper face when he mentions their current state; they're guests. Who can't check out whenever they like. ]
Do you believe them? What they told us, when we arrived?
[ There's a sidelong glance that follows; the nearest guardsman is well along the wall, ignoring them. With the right pitch, their words shouldn't carry far. ]
no subject
[ Maxwell doesn't even glance back to the guard behind them. Unfortunately, he's never been afraid to speak his mind in front of people who would gladly throw him in jail for it.
Incidentally, he's been in jail several times.
On this matter, though? There just isn't enough information. The mages here are trying to tell them that they're The Chosen Ones or something, the key to solving all their problems... and he just doesn't understand how. For all the shit Maxwell's gotten himself into, alternate universes and magical wars are way beyond his pay grade. ]
I gotta say, I don't feel special. Got no idea what they want out of me. Better believe they didn't drag us here just to be decoration, though.
no subject
I don't like being the victim of someone else's success. [there's a flatness to her voice for a moment, the sort walling off past emotional trauma.] Especially if it's one way only. But I don't know where to go, even if I could leave here.
[ That, no doubt, would be an easier feat for an adult. ]