abraxaslogs | Open Log - Thorne Castle

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Open Log - Thorne Castle

WHO: Mat Cauthon and OPEN
WHAT: A catch-all of settling in and exploring
WHERE: Castle Thorne
WHEN: February

1 - Around The Summoned's Rooms

[A few days with nothing else happening and nothing being asked of him and Mat's begun to accept that he's not about to be pressed into some manner of service without any chance to say 'no'. It's one thing to be told, and another to see it clear with his own eyes. He supposes that's one leg over his previous situation, anyhow.

But he's curious about the others that have been whisked away to this place by the sort of power he's only read about. Only in old stories could even the most powerful Aes Sedai manage that sort of thing. So he takes up a position outside of the door that leads to where the Summoned are given rooms, leaning against the wall casually. Thanks to Rhy he's wearing a long black sort of tunic jacket, with gold brocade and a thick belt and black trousers, his white shirt emblazoned with the Wheel of Fortune under it. He's flipping a smooth, small flat stone in one hand, eyes alert for unfamiliar faces on their way in. When he spots one, he pushes off the wall and lifts his free hand.]

Hey...have a minute?

2 - Gardens

[This is, by far and away, the most splendid place Mat has ever stayed in. Even in Tar Valon the inn had been nice, but not like this. And it's quieter here in the castle, more peaceful. No packed narrow streets and everyone living on top of each other. Even so, it still feels stifling at times. All the walls, the high views from the windows...

But there's dozens of gardens outside, and while they're still technically in the castle, they don't offer that sense of constriction and disconnect. And they're beautiful. Like something out of the stories he'd tell Bode and Ellie, the sort of thing they could only dream about. Light, he wishes they could see it. The fountains, the intricate stone paths, the flowers that most certainly didn't grow anywhere in Andor. All of it like some beautiful dream.

He finds himself wandering them often, thinking about his sisters and home and the strange, terrible path that's led him to here. Would he still be here, if he'd gone into the Ways? It doesn't matter. Probably best that he's here, for everyone's sake.

And of course since he's wandering the paths of the gardens anyhow, he often bends to peer down at the ground or into flower beds, looking for any coins or other bits of interest that may have fallen out of pockets....]

3 - Exploring Town

[Now that he has proper clothing, Mat's eager to inspect the city that surrounds the castle. He knows he's not allowed to go any further - something he'll put to the test another day - but for now, just the freedom of the city is enough.

And blood and ashes but it's painfully familiar. He's never been to Baerlon but this is how he's always imagined it. The smells, the shops, even the people...they all ring familiar, even if he's never stepped foot in this place before today. It's overwhelming, in a sense, and he finds himself having to duck into alleyways to catch his breath and ground himself. He can't afford to let homesickness get the best of him, he needs his wits about him.

He's hopeful he can find a tavern that will offer credit, or a group of daytime gambler's willing to make the sorts of bets that don't require him to have money - a game of darts or dice, just something to get him some coin to start out with. Then he can find a proper game. He's hoping to rely on his new fancy clothes, clearly an indication that he's no beggar and even if he doesn't have coin with him he surely has some elsewhere...

Unfortunately, he hasn't had much luck. One may find him outside a tavern, scowling at the closed door and muttering under his breath.]

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[ Since his arrival, Anakin has been spending most of his time in the library, trying to get a scope of what's going on. The problem is, there's far too much to read and he's impatient. The training grounds have also held his interest because he's not used to having unending free time to occupy himself. Mostly, it gives him too much time to think about what he'd been pulled from.

How close he was to accomplish what he needed to in order to turn the galaxy around. It still leaves his blood boiling if he thinks too much into it. Right now, they're all very much stuck and apparently have to make the most of it. Thankfully, there are things that spark his interest that he thinks he can improve upon with his connection to the Force.

Things are better now that his connection is back. Anakin feels more centered than he has in days. It's also overwhelming being around so many people who project everything. Better to have it than go in blind. Meandering the halls back to the shared quarters, he senses Mat before he sees him. Anakin inclines his head in greeting, raising a gloved hand. Thankfully he'd gotten some better attire since they'd seen each other. Light colors have never suited him. He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth quirking upward.]

Not only do I have a minute, I've got several. What is it?

Edited 2022-02-11 02:37 (UTC)

[Jasper has been enjoying the peace and tranquility of the garden - enjoying it alone for some time before he discovers he is unfortunately alone no longer. It is soon enough after his arrival that he recalls the man in question. Ill-mannered. Intrusive. Happy to run away with his mouth.

He observes his path through the garden: from the moment he lays eyes upon him until the last time he peers into the flower bed. All the comforts of the garden fade away with his patience and he calls out.]

What are you doing?

[Jasper - who had been limited to his chair last they met - has witnessed enough suspicious behaviour to last several lifetimes.]

[Mat straightens up at the voice, raking his tangle of curls back out of his face.

Oh. That fellow. Well, last time they'd chatted had been a stressful time, what with just being magically kidnapped and all. No one's their best under those circumstances. So he offers a smile and a wave of greeting.]

Looking for anything that might have fallen amongst the flowers. Thought I saw the light hitting something.

[Why lie? He'd seen something glittering and was investigating. Of course it was just shiny decorative pebbles, but it's natural to investigate something odd that catches the eye.]

Never seen flowers like these before. They're pretty.

Anakin, my friend!

[Mat grins, shoving his hands into his pockets as he strides over to the other young man. He likes the fellow, which is damned good considering they bunk together. It would be utter misery if he had to share a room with someone he didn't get on with.]

You look like a man who's been making good use of his time. Which is precisely what I'm trying to do. Tell me, have you met many of the long-timers? The ones that were pulled in here before we were.

[He has yet to, but he hasn't been here very long and his first couple of days were devoted to accepting his situation. But now he has, more or less, and his curiosity is gnawing a hole in him.]

[ Ah. Rhy recognizes that face. The way Mat leans over one of the flower beds with his brows all scrunched up is kind of cute, but he does appear to be searching for something, so Rhy ambles over with a mind to help him out. ]

Did you drop something?

[Ah, it's the handsome fellow that helped him with clothes and eyed him up in the bath! Mat straightens up, an easy grin coming to his face. This one's friendly and honestly might be able to provide a very pleasant distraction.]

No, but someone else might have! Maybe even something valued, that would warrant a reward should some kind hearted young man seek to return it.

[Or if it's money, he'll just keep it. There's no living allowance offered, they just give things. Not that Mat is averse to that, he's quite happy to not have to worry about affording food or a room. But he'd still like to have actual money on him.]

But mostly I'm finding pretty rocks and flowers I've never seen before.

Indeed.

[The silence afterwards is a compliment: he can honour this man's appreciation of flowers without tearing him down. He turns his gaze towards them. Thinks about wallflowers no longer climbing up trellises back home and narrows his eyes.]

This variety is unfamiliar to you?

[Slowly. Surely. Small steps are made in getting to know someone better.]

Most of'em are, to be honest. Roses I know, at least. The rest...

[Mat shakes his head with a shrug. Most of this place, in its details, is foreign to him. But so is most of his own world. He'd traveled from Two Rivers to Tar Valon, but he'd been sick for most of the journey and winter was still clinging on. Not much time to observe plant life.

Or much of anything, really.]

But I am not exactly a well traveled young man, so I'm coming across things I've never seen before every day. May not be able to do too much, but I can at least fill my hungry curiosity.

[There's something to be said for novel discoveries.]

Speaking of, have you seen the bathing chambers yet? Quite literally fit for a king!

[Jasper glances over the flower bed: a collection of purple and white clemantis. Flowers an old friend had once shared had grown upon the walls of his hometown. There is little desire to revisit that memory.

He looks towards the present and this curious young man.]

I am quite aware of their existance.

[He might have been there more than he can count on one hand. Might. He says nothing else. This man clearly wants to speak himself.]

I find them damned impressive.

[Another shrug and Mat leans against a low, decorative wall to watch the fall of water out of a fountain that looks like a pile of artfully carved stones. He folds his long arms and rests his chin on them.]

But maybe I'm just easily impressed. How you settling in?

[It's hard to tell if he's in better spirits today or not. Not that Mat's judging, he doesn't know this man, doesn't know what he was taken away from.]

[One idle wave of his hand - one theatrical gesture - and Jasper is wearing a smile. It brightens his face yet his expression freezes over at the same time.]

Perfectly! One might never suspect I was waylaid by gaggle of mages who heaved me out a well.

[His tone is entirely dry and sarcastic. But it lightens. Slightly.]

And yourself?

[That gets a chuckle from Mat.]

I'd say about the same as you. But I've stopped looking over my shoulder every minute, it does appear that no one's about to task us with anything. Which strikes me as odd, personally. Lot of effort expended for what seems to amount to fancy pets.

[The Thornians feed them, shelter them, give them little things to occupy their time...that's more or less what a pet is. Which is nothing he's interested in. Oh, he'd likely happily become a kept man...but under much different circumstances. Particularly involving a wealthy and striking older woman. This just feels off.

But there's not much he can do about it as yet, and he's not about to risk his skin by pissing off any of the folks who quite clearly hold the power around here. It would be stupid and too much risk for likely too little reward.]

Mat, keeping yourself out of trouble?

[ Not that he cares, trouble comes in a variety of levels. Sometimes a bit of it is good. His posture is relaxed though his arms are crossed. ]

I don't know if you could call it that, but sure. I've mostly been in the library and the training grounds. I'll confess, I'm not used to so much sitting around.

[ The more exploring, the less chance there is to think. It's nice, being excited about getting into things in this place. ]

You think too little of yourself, friend.

[Jasper shakes his head and brightens his face with a wry smile. There is nothing odd in their situation, honestly.]

Are you familiar with horses? Stallions and mares are certainly fancy and require tremendous efforts in care. Yet they are important beasts of war. Now tell me their efforts seem to amount to nothing.

I am doing my veritable best!

[For now. Mat's not foolish enough to bite the hand that's feeding him without good reason.]

Ah, yes, I've glanced in the library. And most everywhere they'll let us, really. Haven't met very many of the ones before us, just one fellow who's been here a few months. But I've heard there's folks have been here more than half of a year or so.

[Over half of a year! That's madness. And yet Rhy had been very clear, nothing was ever expected of them. It's just so damned strange, that. None of it adds up in any way that makes sense to Mat.

Despite his cheerful outer disposition, he radiates suspicion and nervous energy.]

They, ah, they use a lot of magic around here, don't they? Just about damned near everyone seems to be able to do it.

Half a year.. that seems extensive. There doesn't seem to be much we can do about it, though.

[ Not that he's complaining all that horribly about it. He's been in worse situations than a temporary guest somewhere strange. ]

I've been watching the people working on using it. Mages, I think they called themselves. It's a bit different than the abilities I've seen before. It sounds like the same principle, though. Do they have magic where you're from?

Yeah, I've got a knack with horses, actually.

[Mat shifts, turning to face Jasper for proper conversation. He inclines his head, acknowledging the point being made. It is a fair one.]

But key to horses is getting them young and training them from the start. Least if you want to use them as a work horse or beast of war. If you want a leisure horse, ye get one trained already and keep it well and pamper it.

[He shrugs. Their situation seems like the latter, but he supposes it's too soon to tell either way.]

It's called channeling.

[Mat's jovial façade fades and his expression clouds. His shoulders hunch forward some and his voice drops.]

Channeling the One Power. It's the...the primal creation force, flowing from the True Source in my world. Certain people are born with the ability to channel it and use it. Only thousands of years ago The Dark One tainted it, so any men who touch the One Power go mad from it. Can't use it without going mad.

[There's an undercurrent of fear that Mat's trying to suppress, but not well. He still doesn't know whether or not he's one of those men. There haven't been any cursed dreams, no fever, no voices. But it could have all just been the dagger. Or it could be that removed from his own world, it's different here.]

I've seen it. One of those men.

[Hands perch upon hips. His gaze takes the man up and down, top and bottom, drawing up a mental picture.]

Do you recall being informed on your purpose here? We are hardly being pampered and held in the lap of luxury for reasons of leisure. We are here to be the solution to all their little problems. Amazingly.

[He hardly sounds amazed.]

I recall a lot of vague, pretty words intended to stroke the ego.

[No substance at all, just generic save the world nonsense. Whatever important or grand things he's supposedly done he most assuredly hasn't.]

They said they have knowledge of my 'grand deeds' or whatever it was. But I haven't got any of those. I first left home about three months ago. Little farming village, nothing ever happens there. Most exciting thing I've ever done is narrowly avoid gruesome death on the road.

[Not anyone's savior. And Mat knows it. Hell, he'd chosen to risk the road with nothing rather than be put in a position where he knows he'd fuck it all up. He's not his own world's savior and he sure isn't this one's.]

[Jasper inhales in disbelief. How fortunate he figured to size up this young man. Perhaps this kingdom finds something admirable in their guests. Respect for heroic deeds, esteem for heroic personalities. Given his experiences he doubts their records on either.]

I understand your confusion. You hardly look the sort.

[Well. He never has been a people pleaser.]

[Mat doesn't take much offense.]

What can I say? I'm just a lad from a little farming village in the mountains. Though this isn't the first time I've found myself hauled off by power-wielding mystic authorities and told I'm important. But people say all sorts of things when they want you to do something.

[Still. It itches at his mind. It's quite a coincidence, and no others from his world have been taken. Seems like it means something. Why him? Unless his and the others' suspicions were right.

But he supposes he'll just have to wait and see.]

[Heroic confessions. This man's story of his life prompts him to narrow his eyes - a solemn sign of attepted focus to fool the senses. His mood is honestly more given to distaste and boredom. His life full of ire and fury. The pitiful life of a man who felt no guilt.

A man who had spun all sorts of lies to fool his oldest friend. It preys on his mind.]

Indeed. I have often observed that such behaviour is no exception to the rule. No matter where one lives one can always expected to be fooled.

[ Now that Thancred has learned as much of the castle as he can without truly getting himself into some potential trouble, the time has come to explore more of the town surrounding it as well. Here is where he expects he might be able to gather some gossip or rumors about both the royal family of Thorne and his fellow summoned, assuming that he plays his cards right.

Playing cards does sound like a decent way to earn some coin, though he is also willing to offer actual labor if that's what it takes to make his way here. He'd rather not rely on the handouts of the high mage for too long, loathe to feel as if he owes anyone anything — though the fact that he was brought here against his will tends to trump any kindness he's been shown by his "hosts."

As someone who once knew every dark corner of Limsa Lominsa, it isn't much surprise that Thancred often winds his way through the narrow alleys of the town rather than sticking to the main roads and thoroughfares. There's no telling what one might find tucked away.

Though in truth, he hadn't been expecting to see a familiar face, and when he spots Mat with his hand pressed up against a wall and drawing in breaths, he gives the young man a moment to compose himself before approaching. ]

Fancy meeting you here. [ He'll refrain from drawing too much attention to what might have put Mat in this position. ] Enjoying the fresh mountain air?

[ Anakin's brow furrows as he listens. It seems ridiculous that power like that is tainted, but that any man who used it would lose their mind? He knows they're from different places by now, but it's such a strange concept. He holds up a hand to pause the story and his tone is incredulous. ]

So you're telling me that this magic from your world is forbidden for you because you're a man? What if you're different or you have the potential for something and they're just locking you out of that?

[ He shakes his head, annoyed on Mat's behalf, and motions toward a nearby balcony. ]

Come with me, I'm going to show you something.

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Open Log - Thorne Castle

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