WHO | zelda schiff + open!! WHAT | magic, research, opinion seeking, exploring!! WHERE | the library, the study hall, around thorne, the dungeons WHEN | post-festival ( june )
( there was a ridiculously good chance that zelda could be found in the library -- old habits were hard to break but it wasn't simply because zelda was a librarian that she was here. she wanted information. this was a new world, one she'd never even read about before in the neitherlands despite all of the texts available which meant that no traveller had been here before or it had never been recorded.
whilst zelda had never been one so inclined towards travelling and exploring she did love it in terms of reading. new worlds, learning new information? that part was exciting. which is why she can be found surrounded by various histories, looking over any maps of the area that she can find or browsing the shelves for new books to add to said reading pile.
and with her magic coming back... well, it also means that zelda's using said magic to quickly read through some of those texts. speed reading is one of the first things she learned as a librarian which means that rather than sitting and reading the books she's flicking through them, focused, letting the pages just whiz past her eyes. though it doesn't always work well -- her magic's still adjusting here, not at full strength yet. some books she only makes it part of the way through before it fizzes, sometimes (especially if she's read a few books) she feels a little lightheaded after, too much information consumed at once. moderation isn't her strong point )
( they're in a unique situation and along with the research that zelda is doing in the library she also wants to find out information about the people that were brought here, any theories or perhaps find like-minded people that would happily help research the area with her. though finding those people...
she turned to fliers. after making one it was easy to use her magic to duplicate them, to give her several to be able to hang around the castle to try and get them seen by the most amount of people possible. on the fliers? there are two options, two groups that she's wanting to know people in--
( a ) did you know about magic or were able to perform something similar prior to arriving here? please meet me in the study hall on (date and time).
( b ) seeking: research-minded individuals to discuss and learn more about this world with. meet in the library on (date and time).
she keeps it simple, though really she can be found in both of those locations other times. or stopped whilst she's hanging a flier )
[ Harrow has seen Zelda in the library before, both with and without her cavalier present; she is a familiar Library Face. This makes her inquiry worth Harrow's time automatically, as she is a competent-appearing researcher.
The fact Harrow has information to add, an added bonus.
Thus, she appears in all black, with her bone jewelry and black necromancer's robe, a picture of ... well ... blackness ... and necromancy ... on the appropriate date and time for people who knew about magic and were able to perform it previously. As usual, her presentation is mostly neutral, though she appears to have a bit more dedicated interest in what she is doing now than she does on any nonmagical occasion. ]
( seeing her she greets her with a smile, cautious, hoping it's because of her flier rather than for any other reason. which also may be why zelda has said flier with her at the table she'd been waiting at, a closed book by her )
I-- don't know whether to jump right into it or if that might be too rude.
( forward but sometimes it can be rude )
My name's Zelda, a magician. ( and not just because her sigil denotes it )
[ It may be hard to gauge what a skull-faced woman considers rude, because it definitely has nothing to do with dress code. Harrow can be difficult to gauge, but at the moment she is simply present, not coming off as bothered or anything other than peacefully curious. ]
I'm Harrowhark Nonagesimus. You can call me Harrow. [ She's been conceding to people doing that of late. ] Also, apparently, sort of a magician, [ a hand touches her matching sigil ] but more properly a bone adept.
( she sounds curious at that despite the fact that she's simply repeating what harrowhark had said, though she's considering the phrase in her mind, trying to think if she's ever heard of it before.
she hasn't )
Someone magically capable before being transported here?
[ Harrow reigns in the obviously, because she is realizing quickly that people here know little of necromancy, and that it is not their fault. Also, Zelda is her type of person. ]
I work with bone. Others with flesh, or with spirits and souls.
[She finds the flier before she finds the magician, and it's largely curiosity that brings her to the library at the listed time, wandering into the room with a hesitance that could be seen as reverence (but is truly more along the lines of discomfort).
It doesn't take long to find Zelda when Coraline knows who she's looking for, and when she approaches it's with a slightly nervous smile on her face. Her new "honoured guest"'s tunic is a much better fit than the adult's oversized prison costume, the Tower symbol now small and neat on her chest, and her sleeves are currently pushed up past her elbows to show her bare wrists, but she's quickly pushing them down again as the cool library air makes her skin crawl.]
Hey, Zelda. Those are your fliers, right? The, um. Wanting to learn more about magic here.
( there's a small smile as zelda sees her, a hand gesturing to offer a seat to her at the table she'd found before it rests down on the book that she'd been reading. history again, unsurprisingly )
That's right. Magic, this world-- there are many questions that I have, no doubt that others also do. It would be nice to pull together what we all know or could learn about.
[She takes the proffered seat, perching on its edge and drawing one leg up to hug to her chest.]
I don't really know much about magic. [Which is strictly true. She doesn't fully understand the specifics of how Contracts work, nor how magic works here at all.] But I want to. And, um. I know that when we were in the dungeons, that wasn't what was making people not-magic. They said Ambrose did something to turn off people's magic, when they got taken out of the well.
It happened to all of us, even those not in the dungeons.
( though for a shorter period of time. she'd initially thought of it as being just an adjustment of being brought here until she'd learned about those in the dungeons )
I didn't initially have my magic when I came here, though it started returning over my first week here. Though I know those that are in the dungeons are still affected by what was done to them. A spell, perhaps, or a charged item.
( zelda might not be an explorer but she knows that whilst so much information can be found in a book you can't learn everything about a place just by reading about it, you have to see it as well. it's why she takes some afternoons away from the castle, seeing how big the place is, walking around the section that's more like a town. she'd seen some of thorne during the festival and her trip to the black market but there was so much more that she didn't see before.
whilst there are taverns and inns, things that she may poke her head into, they aren't places that zelda spends long in. rather she's more interested in the businesses and the people, trying to talk to the blacksmiths or merchants when they aren't working, to learn more about the place that's home to them, recent history, opinions, anything that they would be open to talking to her about. and maybe some of that comes with an attempt of trade -- she might not have money currently but for any small items she's interested in she'll be trying to find out what they'd trade for it.
and maybe, if they are here, finding a way to make money wouldn't be the worst idea. though that's a thought she'll shelve for another day )
( after meeting one of the prisoners at the black markets, hearing more about how many people are there, it's become something that she can't ignore any longer. which sees her heading down into the dungeons, slower and more cautious steps, uncertain about the conditions or people that she'll find there.
it has her looking into the cells, a polite smile on her as she stops, and though her question is vague she's hoping that someone would be interested in a conversation )
[Ezra, in turn, is cautious of the people who come down here to speak to them. But not enough to outright ignore someone new. He shifts to watch her, and nods.]
Ok. No promises on having a good answer, but I'm listening.
Until I met someone recently that spoke to me about the dungeons... I wasn't aware that anyone had been kept here.
( well, she'd been aware but she hadn't wanted to particularly think about it. not until she'd learned more about the conditions that they were kept in, that it was people also brought here as she had been )
If something went wrong in bringing you here... perhaps they don't have the capability to send you back.
⟪ the question interrupts her pacing, which is just as well: growing up watching the lions that lived in the belly of casterly rock, she ought to have learned that walking in circles accomplishes nothing.
the address, at least, is polite enough, though there is something distinctly haughty about the way cersei holds herself. in spite of the prisoner's shift she is made to wear. ⟫
( where should she start? there are far too many things that zelda could ask, about the information they're given, the treatment of the people here. how many there are, though that she could likely quickly count up whilst she's stood there )
The guards. Has there treatment been... unpleasant?
( she was thinking of what she'd seen of coraline, the marks on her. had that been something specific or was the treatment of those imprisoned discourteous? )
I would not ascribe them a great deal of gentleness.
⟪ yet she has all her limbs about her, she has not been beaten senseless nor suffered any other violence that she would deem noteworthy. for a hostage, or, if she were more honest with herself, for there is no sign at all of negotiation, for a prisoner –– well, it could be worse.
she has ordered worse to be done, too. ⟫
But I have seen worse. They do not seem to have been given free rein over us in any meaningful way.
⟪ though that is subject to change, isn't it? ⟫
Are you watched, upstairs? ⟪ not enough courtesy here to be so polite as to ask whether a return question will be accepted. she simple presumes it. ⟫
( she nods, and whatever their supposed positions may be within these walls zelda had anticipated this more as a conversation. after all, answering questions gains answers )
It isn't anything like being followed in our every movement but we're new to this place. Some likely simply don't trust our presence here, others perhaps want to make sure our behaviour is acceptable.
( that they also shouldn't be thrown in the dungeons for breaking any rules )
Which could also be an indication as to hierarchy.
( was the mage who'd brought them here doing it under orders or had he simply done it? )
[ In the time he's returned to the dungeon, there's one extra bed (released, apparently, and given she's only a girl that's no surprise) and a quiet that settles in the air. His thoughts still linger on his conversation with Jaskier more than anything. For all that was resolved, he's ended with more questions than answers.
His visitor will at least find him looking marginally less like shit, with his hair tied back from a cord he's finally managed to take from Jaskier's room and the blood cleaned from his hands. He's not settled on the bed, though. Instead, he's on the floor, and while his eyes are shut, the way they carefully open and glide in her direction when she speaks up suggests he wasn't sleeping.
There's a stretch of time while he takes her in. He blinks once, slow. Then he looks away again. ]
( she gives him the mildest of smiles, polite but a little cautious. is he dangerous or is he also simply cautious, someone that prefers their own company? there's so little that she knows about this place, so little they likely all know )
I met someone that had been in these dungeons recently. Had all of you been permitted out for that time?
( she doesn't know how long it had been or where they'd all been. she certainly hadn't seen this man at the festival, though he likely could have been in the markets and she wouldn't have noticed )
[ Permitted is not what he'd call it; they were herded, more like, but he's aware from speaking with Kay that a handful had had benefactors bring them to the festival instead. For lighter work, undoubtedly. Generous. ]
We were. Not quite the same party, though. [ His gaze roams over her. The flow of guests down here has been curious to him. In some ways, it suggests there's not much difference between the so-called honoured guests and the prisoners. Thorne clearly has few qualms allowing them to speak freely, which means the guests have access to very little of use.
He draws one knee forward, propping his arm upon it. ]
( her voice is much quieter now, not wanting to be overheard. she'd been hoping to speak to someone official about this particularly since they had children in the dungeons )
She'd been injured, something that had been caused here, though not by anyone she was locked away with. I didn't press for too much.
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► THE LIBRARY
whilst zelda had never been one so inclined towards travelling and exploring she did love it in terms of reading. new worlds, learning new information? that part was exciting. which is why she can be found surrounded by various histories, looking over any maps of the area that she can find or browsing the shelves for new books to add to said reading pile.
and with her magic coming back... well, it also means that zelda's using said magic to quickly read through some of those texts. speed reading is one of the first things she learned as a librarian which means that rather than sitting and reading the books she's flicking through them, focused, letting the pages just whiz past her eyes. though it doesn't always work well -- her magic's still adjusting here, not at full strength yet. some books she only makes it part of the way through before it fizzes, sometimes (especially if she's read a few books) she feels a little lightheaded after, too much information consumed at once. moderation isn't her strong point )
► OPINION SEEKING
she turned to fliers. after making one it was easy to use her magic to duplicate them, to give her several to be able to hang around the castle to try and get them seen by the most amount of people possible. on the fliers? there are two options, two groups that she's wanting to know people in-- she keeps it simple, though really she can be found in both of those locations other times. or stopped whilst she's hanging a flier )
Group A, but really both:
The fact Harrow has information to add, an added bonus.
Thus, she appears in all black, with her bone jewelry and black necromancer's robe, a picture of ... well ... blackness ... and necromancy ... on the appropriate date and time for people who knew about magic and were able to perform it previously. As usual, her presentation is mostly neutral, though she appears to have a bit more dedicated interest in what she is doing now than she does on any nonmagical occasion. ]
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( seeing her she greets her with a smile, cautious, hoping it's because of her flier rather than for any other reason. which also may be why zelda has said flier with her at the table she'd been waiting at, a closed book by her )
I-- don't know whether to jump right into it or if that might be too rude.
( forward but sometimes it can be rude )
My name's Zelda, a magician. ( and not just because her sigil denotes it )
no subject
[ It may be hard to gauge what a skull-faced woman considers rude, because it definitely has nothing to do with dress code. Harrow can be difficult to gauge, but at the moment she is simply present, not coming off as bothered or anything other than peacefully curious. ]
I'm Harrowhark Nonagesimus. You can call me Harrow. [ She's been conceding to people doing that of late. ] Also, apparently, sort of a magician, [ a hand touches her matching sigil ] but more properly a bone adept.
no subject
( she sounds curious at that despite the fact that she's simply repeating what harrowhark had said, though she's considering the phrase in her mind, trying to think if she's ever heard of it before.
she hasn't )
Someone magically capable before being transported here?
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[ Harrow reigns in the obviously, because she is realizing quickly that people here know little of necromancy, and that it is not their fault. Also, Zelda is her type of person. ]
I work with bone. Others with flesh, or with spirits and souls.
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Group B, but secretly both
It doesn't take long to find Zelda when Coraline knows who she's looking for, and when she approaches it's with a slightly nervous smile on her face. Her new "honoured guest"'s tunic is a much better fit than the adult's oversized prison costume, the Tower symbol now small and neat on her chest, and her sleeves are currently pushed up past her elbows to show her bare wrists, but she's quickly pushing them down again as the cool library air makes her skin crawl.]
Hey, Zelda. Those are your fliers, right? The, um. Wanting to learn more about magic here.
no subject
That's right. Magic, this world-- there are many questions that I have, no doubt that others also do. It would be nice to pull together what we all know or could learn about.
( and she'd certainly take the help of anyone )
no subject
I don't really know much about magic. [Which is strictly true. She doesn't fully understand the specifics of how Contracts work, nor how magic works here at all.] But I want to. And, um. I know that when we were in the dungeons, that wasn't what was making people not-magic. They said Ambrose did something to turn off people's magic, when they got taken out of the well.
no subject
( though for a shorter period of time. she'd initially thought of it as being just an adjustment of being brought here until she'd learned about those in the dungeons )
I didn't initially have my magic when I came here, though it started returning over my first week here. Though I know those that are in the dungeons are still affected by what was done to them. A spell, perhaps, or a charged item.
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► AROUND THORNE
whilst there are taverns and inns, things that she may poke her head into, they aren't places that zelda spends long in. rather she's more interested in the businesses and the people, trying to talk to the blacksmiths or merchants when they aren't working, to learn more about the place that's home to them, recent history, opinions, anything that they would be open to talking to her about. and maybe some of that comes with an attempt of trade -- she might not have money currently but for any small items she's interested in she'll be trying to find out what they'd trade for it.
and maybe, if they are here, finding a way to make money wouldn't be the worst idea. though that's a thought she'll shelve for another day )
► THE DUNGEONS
it has her looking into the cells, a polite smile on her as she stops, and though her question is vague she's hoping that someone would be interested in a conversation )
I wondered if I could ask you something.
THE DUNGEONS
Ok. No promises on having a good answer, but I'm listening.
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Have they told you why you've been imprisoned?
( it wasn't the only question that she had but it was a starting point )
no subject
Not really. Not anything that makes any sense to me. That we're mistakes or failures or something like that.
Why?
no subject
( well, she'd been aware but she hadn't wanted to particularly think about it. not until she'd learned more about the conditions that they were kept in, that it was people also brought here as she had been )
If something went wrong in bringing you here... perhaps they don't have the capability to send you back.
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the address, at least, is polite enough, though there is something distinctly haughty about the way cersei holds herself. in spite of the prisoner's shift she is made to wear. ⟫
Ask.
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The guards. Has there treatment been... unpleasant?
( she was thinking of what she'd seen of coraline, the marks on her. had that been something specific or was the treatment of those imprisoned discourteous? )
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⟪ yet she has all her limbs about her, she has not been beaten senseless nor suffered any other violence that she would deem noteworthy. for a hostage, or, if she were more honest with herself, for there is no sign at all of negotiation, for a prisoner –– well, it could be worse.
she has ordered worse to be done, too. ⟫
But I have seen worse. They do not seem to have been given free rein over us in any meaningful way.
⟪ though that is subject to change, isn't it? ⟫
Are you watched, upstairs? ⟪ not enough courtesy here to be so polite as to ask whether a return question will be accepted. she simple presumes it. ⟫
no subject
It isn't anything like being followed in our every movement but we're new to this place. Some likely simply don't trust our presence here, others perhaps want to make sure our behaviour is acceptable.
( that they also shouldn't be thrown in the dungeons for breaking any rules )
Which could also be an indication as to hierarchy.
( was the mage who'd brought them here doing it under orders or had he simply done it? )
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His visitor will at least find him looking marginally less like shit, with his hair tied back from a cord he's finally managed to take from Jaskier's room and the blood cleaned from his hands. He's not settled on the bed, though. Instead, he's on the floor, and while his eyes are shut, the way they carefully open and glide in her direction when she speaks up suggests he wasn't sleeping.
There's a stretch of time while he takes her in. He blinks once, slow. Then he looks away again. ]
You can ask. [ No answers promised. ]
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I met someone that had been in these dungeons recently. Had all of you been permitted out for that time?
( she doesn't know how long it had been or where they'd all been. she certainly hadn't seen this man at the festival, though he likely could have been in the markets and she wouldn't have noticed )
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We were. Not quite the same party, though. [ His gaze roams over her. The flow of guests down here has been curious to him. In some ways, it suggests there's not much difference between the so-called honoured guests and the prisoners. Thorne clearly has few qualms allowing them to speak freely, which means the guests have access to very little of use.
He draws one knee forward, propping his arm upon it. ]
What did they tell you?
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( her voice is much quieter now, not wanting to be overheard. she'd been hoping to speak to someone official about this particularly since they had children in the dungeons )
She'd been injured, something that had been caused here, though not by anyone she was locked away with. I didn't press for too much.
( not with someone so young anyway )
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