abraxaslogs | [ OPEN / CLOSED ] i think i found a way to kill the sun

[ Despite Hector's presence in and out of their home, they've spoken little. Geralt was rarely there in the first place and then he was missing for a good three weeks. Not a lot of room for conversation.

He minds not at all avoiding the events that transpired. They're not a topic he wants to discuss. ]

I'd hate to hunt something making an honest living. [ It sounds like a joke, but it really isn't. He tips his head towards the blacksmith in question who's got his sword and pendant. ] Waiting for work done.

[Maybe that is the difference between a witcher and the hunters from Hector's homeland. They would never have acknowledged that monsters could coexist with humans. Hector is at least 80% certain he has nothing to fear from Geralt, but reassurance like this is always welcomed, joking thought it may seem.]

Oh? Make sure that one doesn't overcharge you. He does good work, but if he gets thirsty partway through, he'll fuck off for a drink and tack on time and ale to your total.

[Hector's had enough time to observe the habits of at least the closest forges in competition to his. He is trying to live a peaceful like here in Cadens, but that doesn't mean he isn't going to gather useful intel just in case. And because Geralt is a friend of a ...friend... Hector is passing along a friendly warning.]

[ Geralt looks over at the blacksmith again, who's currently working away. He hums. It's good advice. He hadn't shopped too carefully this time around, given the minimal nature of the work. ]

It's only a minor soldering job. And he's afraid of me.

[ Sometimes that's useful. Geralt does not dissuade the notion when it is. He folds his arm across his chest, eyeing Hector for a moment. He's still not sure what's between Alucard and the necromancer, but he last he heard, they weren't on speaking terms. Or something of that sort. He hadn't asked for details and he's about a month out of the loop at this point. ]

Where are you about now?

Then you'll probably be fine.

[He shrugs. Not really his business where Geralt takes his business. Hector could've taken care of it for him, if he'd known, but he's not going to say anything at this point.

He points to a different forge a little further down the street. It's less specialized for weaponry than the one Geralt picked. Hector sees tools, horseshoes, and various other metal sundry come across his anvil during his shifts.]

I'm working at that one. It's more mundane work than I'd like, but there's not much of a market for magic here. [Which is in spite of Hector's efforts. He's tried marketing enchanted items, but the Free Citizens haven't responded to them.]

[ He follows Hector's indication. He'd meant in general: in the city, what Hector was doing. But the man points to another forge down the road and that's when it clicks. Hm. Curious, really, what the connection between a blacksmith and a necromancer is. He recalls Hector had told him he had a workshop in the Horizon, as well, which tells Geralt it's something intrinsic in his life. Forging.

His eyes linger on Hector for a moment, an interest in them that'd not been there before. Now that he knows, he can't say a blacksmith he's familiar with and who, according to Alucard, is willing to raise armies for one singular bard is a particularly bad thing to have. ]

I've never seen your work. [ Well. Not metal work. He's seen Hector's...pets. He looks back over to the forge. ] Have you got a moment to show?

[Hector raises an eyebrow.]

If you'd like. It's not exciting work at the moment. I haven't had any interesting commissions lately, so it's mostly repair work.

[He gestures for Geralt to follow, giving one glance back at the other blacksmith, who so far hasn't fucked off for a drink yet.

There's a sign tacked on his forge that proclaims that the place also offers magical sundry, but as of yet, Hector hasn't been able to drum up much interest in that side of the business. Damned Free Citizens and their apathy-to-aversion of magic.]

[ Hector may be in luck, because Geralt holds far less of the aversion to magic those in the Free Cities do. He follows the necromancer to the forge, peering at it to take it in. There's a lack of weapons, but he can see tools, equipment.

Hm. He folds his arms across his chest, thinking about it. ] And what would you consider an interesting commission? Beyond the...dead.

[ He's not here for an army, Hector, or any unusual pets. Please do not mention your army raising days again. ]

Anything enchanted, of course. [He waves his hand over a pile of his fence-post stones, some shaped into buttons or beads to be worn. The first ones were meant for that long ago jail-break attempt that never was.]

Otherwise, something I haven't made before. It's like doing a puzzle, figuring out how to put something together for the first time.

[That goes for both the living and non-living, honestly. Novelty keeps life exciting.]

[ Geralt absorbs that information. He tends not to use enchanted weapons or tools; it isn't necessary and finding a mage who can do that sort of work for a Witcher is costly. But this place is different. Even in the Free Cities, there's more chaos seeping through the land than he's ever seen. ]

I need something that can keep invasive magic out of my head. [ The kind, specifically, that Thorne's mages seem to use. It's a spell, which tells him they need to cast it—not an inherent part of their nature. That's a good sign. Spells can be interfered with. ] The smaller the better. I want to be able to keep it on me, unnoticed.

[ He indicates a size of a small coin with his fingers. A pendant or a stone, it doesn't matter, so long as he can slip it around the chain his medallion already hangs upon. ]

Can you do it?

[Hector hums.]

I'd need to do some reading up on it. Physical barriers are easy. For magic wards, I need to know what I'm blocking.

[So Geralt's request has piqued his interest on both fronts, being magic and being novel. He'll start researching it, whether or not he ends up making one for the Witcher.]

Did someone cast something on you? What did it do?

[ Whether or not Hector is ultimately successful, that the necromancer is willing to try is worth something to him. He isn't holding expectations: Thorne's mages are clearly powerful, and he is not anticipating the queen's own magic to be so easily warded against. But something is better than nothing. He doesn't want to sit around waiting for anyone else to crack his mind like an egg. ]

A mind reading spell. [ He folds his arms across his chest. His expression is vaguely uncomfortable—like he isn't really keen on talking about it too deeply. ] Not a subtle one. I could feel it chipping and cracking.

[ It fucking hurt, in other words. He isn't sure if he'd had a more pleasant experience if he'd been...cooperative, but that's hardly the point. ]

[Hector nods.]

Nasty stuff. I'll look into it. If it can't be blocked, maybe something that interferes with the reading....

[He's no good for providing comfort for Geralt's trying experience, but he assumes the witcher doesn't need that. What Hector can do is experiment with weird magics until he finds a working solution.]

But, um, best to try to avoid the situation entirely in the future. Jaskier was... distraught... to find you gone.

[An absolute wreck would be more accurate, but Hector's trying to be charitable.]

[ Comfort is absolutely the last damn thing he's here for. He wants a solution, and Hector's promised to look for one. That's all he needs. It puts his mind a bit more at ease, knowing there might be something.

He gives a dry huff. ] Oh, is that all? I didn't realize I could simply avoid it like a puddle in my way.

[ Yeah. He knows how Jaskier was. He's seen it when he returned, and it isn't exactly a feeling he likes to sit with. Jaskier and Ciri both. Sam, too. It bothers him that he worried them. That he'd ended up here at all.

He sighs. Fuck. It's—fine. He's aware Hector harbours some deep feelings for the bard. ] Just tell me what I owe you when you have something.

It's certainly a puddle you'll keep an eye out for now.

[Forewarned is forearmed, and against wizards, being prepared is key. But Hector will do his best to arm Geralt, if he can. It will help Jaskier's piece of mind, but more than that, it's a new magical challenge for him to tackle.]

I'll let you know. These things take time, but it will be worth it if I can make it do what you ask.

[ There's a vague squint at Hector at first, but he only shakes his head. He can appreciate Hector's loyalty to Jaskier, misguided or not, and from what he understands, Jaskier is possibly the only person capable of telling Hector not to raise another undead army. He hates to say it, but out of everyone, Jaskier is probably the best person to give that sort of power to. The bard is likely to only request an undead army to applaud for him when he performs. ]

Take the time you need. [ He's not in a hurry. His intention is to not need this enchantment in the first place. He only wants it just in case. Hard to predict where things will go, and it won't hurt to ask Hector to see what he can do. Even if nothing comes of it in the end.

He turns to leave. Time to check back in on whether the blacksmith has finished with his sword. Though there is a warning, something of concern for him, that he leaves Hector with. ] Be careful with who sees your enchantment work.

[~~The current request is an undead parade, actually.~~

He raises an eyebrow at Geralt's warning.]

I'm careful. And if need be, I can defend myself.

[And with that, Hector turns towards the front of the forge to find himself some scrap parchment to begin jotting down notes on this new project.]

((I reached out to the mods re: the anti-mind reading charm. Now he needs to track down someone still in the Thorne faction for help.))

[ OPEN / CLOSED ] i think i found a way to kill the sun

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