[ 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! ))

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[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. ]