[ Istredd has a complicated relationship with his mentor, the closest thing he had to a parent. Stregobor was a bad person, no question about that. Any displays of love and affection he had for Istredd were tinged by the ways he used and manipulated him. Yet Istredd did have love for him, deep in his gut, as an adult who nurtured his power, seemed to see him. Stregobor still has power over him, as his death hurt Istredd, despite all that happened between him.
That is the only parental 'love' he experienced and it was tainted. It hangs over him sometimes, the concern that he can't possibly be a good parent, given how he learned. But so far he's managed with River, and he did with Kell, he knows that he did for his adopted son, before he went. The Brotherhood was always a cycle of abuse and he got free of it.
If he knew River's parents he would probably give them a talking to, at the very least. ]
Wanda's a telepath too, she'll be able to teach you as well as I can.
[ Istredd is a more educated psychic than Wanda is because he had deliberate education on it, she's had to do it mostly through practice and experience. But her power is more than his, so they balance well together. He has faith in her being able to give River the support she needs. ]
It's the best option right now, Solvunn has its issues like everywhere else, but it's out of the direct conflict for now.
[ They have chosen a side, that much is obvious, but Thorne is more likely to keep its attention on the Free Cities due to their army. He sighs, looking down. ]
If it was up to me, we would go to the Nether. I feel in my gut they are a safe space. They also have the most to gain from the Summoned being there because we helped cure their dragons. But they can't cross the other three without being targeted.
[ It is a small island and group out on their own. They'd have little defense if they tried to come after the Summoned. He wouldn't wish that on the Draconae. Though this is not a surprise to River, his preference, given that is where he and Lucifer ran off to as soon as they could, and where he lived for all those centuries peacefully. ]
[ if there's a silver lining to be found in their forced captivity here, river is profoundly grateful for all of the people that want to support and nurture her that she never would've met otherwise. there's some on the crew of serenity that like her more than others but they don't know what to do with her, at a loss for how to handle her instability and the unknown threat that she poses. they're managing her, not raising her, not the way istredd and yennefer and cassian and many others are trying to help her live her life instead of simply surviving it.
she doesn't want to be separated from them, and as much as she hates thorne, she isn't convinced of moving to solvunn yet, especially after what happened to the navy fleet. even still, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't interested in all that she might learn from wanda, if she could study beneath her the way she has with istredd and yennefer as her mentors. ]
"For now." It's a nebulous timeframe. Here is good for now.
[ or at least in nott, still in thorne but outside of the castle. she squeezes in a bit closer to istredd as if to emphasize the point that even if solvunn is the better option, even if wanda could help her, she doesn't want to leave his side or go somewhere they can't see each other easily.
but with that comes a familiar twinge of guilt, especially as he mentions the nether. in that other reality, she did leave his side, and she never visited him and lucifer as often as she should've. her voice comes quiet, thoughtful and somber. ]
Do you really think they would attack, if we went? Doesn't have to be the Nether but anywhere - they would try to take us back?
[ even at the cost of waging another war? river doesn't want to see violence visited upon the draconae or anyone else for sheltering the summoned that might want to flee the territory that brought them here, but she's pretty sure they wouldn't let go of their toys so easily. ]
[ None of them can see into the future. The vision of their life as gods was nebulous and centuries later, so anything familiar about it from this time is lost, and it was a possibility, not a certainty. Istredd has to live in the now because it's the only way to keep going about his life and be sane. He has wants for the future but no clear path to getting there.
He would feel confident in River's safety if she got to Wanda, but that doesn't mean he wants it. Solvunn is the best option, but it's still far away. At least with River and Cassian in Nott, he can go and visit them regularly, once the attention of the throne seems off them. He can feel her in his arms. It's why he's always been thankful for being in the same place as Yennefer and Lucifer, to have them close to him. ]
I genuinely don't know. They are very busy trying to kill each other right now, they probably wouldn't have the time to track us down.
[ Istredd could see an option where much like the first time this happened, Thorne didn't have the ability to follow the Summoned to the other locations, so they could do nothing about it. But the three territories could go after the Summoned to these places if they wanted to. The question is if they would, and he is of two minds about it. ]
I don't know that the Nether can risk it though.
[ The Nether is not equipped to deal with combat like that. It would be bringing danger to their door. Istredd would only do that if there was no other choice or if there was a very good reason for them to be fugitives. It could very well end up similar to that first time, when Geralt and Jaskier escaped. ]
Then they'll just Summon new people and they won't have any of us to look out for them.
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That is the only parental 'love' he experienced and it was tainted. It hangs over him sometimes, the concern that he can't possibly be a good parent, given how he learned. But so far he's managed with River, and he did with Kell, he knows that he did for his adopted son, before he went. The Brotherhood was always a cycle of abuse and he got free of it.
If he knew River's parents he would probably give them a talking to, at the very least. ]
Wanda's a telepath too, she'll be able to teach you as well as I can.
[ Istredd is a more educated psychic than Wanda is because he had deliberate education on it, she's had to do it mostly through practice and experience. But her power is more than his, so they balance well together. He has faith in her being able to give River the support she needs. ]
It's the best option right now, Solvunn has its issues like everywhere else, but it's out of the direct conflict for now.
[ They have chosen a side, that much is obvious, but Thorne is more likely to keep its attention on the Free Cities due to their army. He sighs, looking down. ]
If it was up to me, we would go to the Nether. I feel in my gut they are a safe space. They also have the most to gain from the Summoned being there because we helped cure their dragons. But they can't cross the other three without being targeted.
[ It is a small island and group out on their own. They'd have little defense if they tried to come after the Summoned. He wouldn't wish that on the Draconae. Though this is not a surprise to River, his preference, given that is where he and Lucifer ran off to as soon as they could, and where he lived for all those centuries peacefully. ]
Some day we'll find a way to be together again.
no subject
she doesn't want to be separated from them, and as much as she hates thorne, she isn't convinced of moving to solvunn yet, especially after what happened to the navy fleet. even still, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't interested in all that she might learn from wanda, if she could study beneath her the way she has with istredd and yennefer as her mentors. ]
"For now." It's a nebulous timeframe. Here is good for now.
[ or at least in nott, still in thorne but outside of the castle. she squeezes in a bit closer to istredd as if to emphasize the point that even if solvunn is the better option, even if wanda could help her, she doesn't want to leave his side or go somewhere they can't see each other easily.
but with that comes a familiar twinge of guilt, especially as he mentions the nether. in that other reality, she did leave his side, and she never visited him and lucifer as often as she should've. her voice comes quiet, thoughtful and somber. ]
Do you really think they would attack, if we went? Doesn't have to be the Nether but anywhere - they would try to take us back?
[ even at the cost of waging another war? river doesn't want to see violence visited upon the draconae or anyone else for sheltering the summoned that might want to flee the territory that brought them here, but she's pretty sure they wouldn't let go of their toys so easily. ]
no subject
[ None of them can see into the future. The vision of their life as gods was nebulous and centuries later, so anything familiar about it from this time is lost, and it was a possibility, not a certainty. Istredd has to live in the now because it's the only way to keep going about his life and be sane. He has wants for the future but no clear path to getting there.
He would feel confident in River's safety if she got to Wanda, but that doesn't mean he wants it. Solvunn is the best option, but it's still far away. At least with River and Cassian in Nott, he can go and visit them regularly, once the attention of the throne seems off them. He can feel her in his arms. It's why he's always been thankful for being in the same place as Yennefer and Lucifer, to have them close to him. ]
I genuinely don't know. They are very busy trying to kill each other right now, they probably wouldn't have the time to track us down.
[ Istredd could see an option where much like the first time this happened, Thorne didn't have the ability to follow the Summoned to the other locations, so they could do nothing about it. But the three territories could go after the Summoned to these places if they wanted to. The question is if they would, and he is of two minds about it. ]
I don't know that the Nether can risk it though.
[ The Nether is not equipped to deal with combat like that. It would be bringing danger to their door. Istredd would only do that if there was no other choice or if there was a very good reason for them to be fugitives. It could very well end up similar to that first time, when Geralt and Jaskier escaped. ]
Then they'll just Summon new people and they won't have any of us to look out for them.