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

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + Various
When: December
Where: Cadens, Horizon
What: Some catching up now that he's home
Warnings: Discussion of trauma; nsfw marked



(( placing starters in the comments below. find me at discontinued or at Noa#1979 to plot stuff! ))

Comments

marlo (mid-dec.)

[gynvael]

[ This is, possibly, the last position he wants to be in. His preference is to continue sliding under the radar, but he's no longer certain how possible that is. He can't think of a scenario where what occurred will not eventually come to light: whether now, in a week, months down from the road. It's not exactly been the most secretive ordeal. And normally, he'd not bother if his capture had been all there was to it, but the fact that Thorne had broken into his mind means his silence might be taken as...questionable.

It's equally possible they're already aware somehow and simply don't care to follow up on it. That's the most ideal outcome—that they consider him and Thorne's interest in him of no importance—but. He needs to know one way or another where things stand. He'd rather not wait to be caught off guard.

His request to see the Prime Minister is brief, but courteous; then he gives it however long it takes until he's granted an audience. From there, he finds himself in the small area outside her office. It's a less extravagant, less fussy setting, at least, than a court.

He leans against the wall, waiting, until he's let in. He's done pretty much nothing to make himself presentable for this meeting, and it shows, including remnants of the injuries he still bears. ]

[abraxasnpcs]

[Geralt is shortly ushered into the Prime Minister's office. It's dominated by a large wooden desk, a crest of swords hanging on the wall behind it. There's a fire crackling away in fireplace set into the wall. A large hunting dog sprawled by the fire lifts its head to give him a look, then resumes dozing.]

Welcome. I'm sorry I can't offer you too much time, but the Free Cities never sleep so I rarely do.

[The Prime Minister herself stands to gesture towards the seat on the other side of her desk.]

But by the looks of you, you're real eager to talk to me.

[gynvael]

[ His gaze flicks only briefly to the hound, but otherwise returns to the woman. He's never met her before, though somehow she comes off about as he might've expected. Forthright, as Sam said.

He can work with that. ]

I won't take much time. [ He takes the seat where she indicates. If all goes as intended, he doesn't plan to be sitting here for long. ]

A few weeks ago, handful of Thorne's mages captured me through a portal outside Cadens. I'm not sure how common this is. Thought I'd err towards letting you know.

[abraxasnpcs]

Let's just say it's not exactly a regular occurrence.

[It's hard to tell if this is fresh news to the Prime Minister or not but there's a tightness around her eyes that wasn't there before.]

Can you tell me what happened after they grabbed you?

[gynvael]

[ Oh. Not regular. That's comforting, to know he's simply drawn the short end of things. And about what he expected. His gaze lingers on her for a second before he answers matter-of-factly. ]

I was brought to the queen. A few of her court were present. They tore into my mind, then threw me in the dungeons. I don't recall much from it all.

[ It's true enough. He's missing chunks from that time. But there is one thing he offers, something he doesn't think is worth holding onto given the circumstances. ]

They wanted the names of the Summoned you've been harbouring. They may have found some before I— [ He lifts a hand vaguely. ] Passed out.

[abraxasnpcs]

I see.

[Marlo nods slowly and remains quiet for a few moments, as though thinking over what she's just been told. Her expression is one of severity.]

First of all, I'd like to apologize to you. This happened on my watch, and this shouldn't have happened at all. I promised all of you who fled Thorne safety, and I meant it. Secondly, I'm going to have my assistant write you out a bank note worth a gold piece on your way out, it's the least I can do. Any bank will honor it. Is there anything else you think I should know?

[gynvael]

[ A token apology does not surprise him, even if that isn't why he's here. The money, however. His expression flickers, just a hint, but his gaze remains steady.

He can't tell what her angle is. Does she want to convince him of his faith in her governing? Has she assumed that's what he came to her for and wishes to get it out of the way? There's a chance she genuinely thinks of this as a failure on her part, but. He's never met a soul seated in power who takes responsibility out of altruism. (Not that he sees it as her responsibility in the first place.) Hell, maybe it's as simple as she just wants him to fuck off out of her office sooner rather than later. Can't blame her for that one.

If he'd any notion of accepting her offer, he might've asked what she wanted in return. But he hasn't so he doesn't. He's gauged what he came here to. She hasn't yet asked how he got out, a point he makes note of to think on later. ]

That's not necessary. We arrived in your city unannounced. [ She doesn't owe them anything, in other words. And he wants to owe her as little as possible in return, beyond staying out of her way in exchange for living in her borders unbothered. However long that can last. ] If you've no other questions, I won't take up your time further.

[abraxasnpcs]

[Marlo's eyebrows visibly raise at Geralt's denial.]

Well now I know for sure you're not assimilated!

[She laughs a little.]

You may have arrived unannounced, but that doesn't matter. We're the Free Cities, we take in anyone who's looking for something better. You're here now, and you may be about as foreign as it gets but you're under my watch and my protection.

But alright, I'm not going to force money on you. If there's any little favor I can help you out with, you let me know. That's all I wanted to ask, and since you don't have anything else you'd like to share, I'll let you go. I'm sure you want to go and get yourself cleaned up.

[gynvael]

[ No. He is not, but that's more to do with him than her city or her world. There's just the smallest furrow to his brows. Her words sound nice; that's about all he can say of them with any certainty. Still, he knows better than to start unlocking doors that should not be opened with questions he isn't meant to ask. At least not right now. ]

I'll keep that in mind.

[ Which part of her statement he's referring to, he does not specify. He doubts it matters. Her lack of open scrutiny suggests she perhaps knows more about this than she's indicating, merely doesn't give a shit, or she's biding her time for later. Or some combination of all three. It makes him uneasy, at best, but he'd hardly expected a chat with any sovereign to leave him feeling uplifted. He's just no more or less sure of where things lay than when he first walked in, which. Not ideal; could be worse. At least he's been dismissed quickly. He'll take it.

He tips his head—a silent acknowledgement of the time she's granted him—before he simply makes his exit. ]