sephiroth, “tol alien boy”, SOLDIER first class. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
supersoldier) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2022-03-14 08:07 am
supersoldier) wrote in abraxaslogs2022-03-14 08:07 am
( closed ) the pigeon guys
Who: Sephiroth, Viktor, Jaskier, and Geralt
When: Mid-March
Where: Cadens
What: Four guys try really, really hard to catch one bird.
Warnings: The inevitable secondhand embarrassment.
[Aleksander has lost his prized pigeon Nicola, a matter most mundane to some, but certainly not to the man himself. He's in a tizzy over his lost muse, which has gone flying about the city like a wild, unfettered thing, and he's willing to reward those who take his plight seriously. A few of the Summoned take an interest, for their own reasons--whether seeking out something to keep busy, or hoping to foster connections with Aleksander himself, or simply getting dragged into it--and that includes a group of four men who probably make for an unlikely team.
Not that it matters. They all have their skills between them, and surely with their efforts combined, they can catch one bird. A very stubborn bird; keen eyes may be able to track her darting flight across the city, and eventually, they can find her alighted on the corner of a museum rooftop, looking down upon a busy square.
A tricky situation on its own. Made even more problematic by the fact that there's also a cat creeping along the edge of the roof, eyes trained on Nicola in a very worrying way.
They may want to do something about that.]
When: Mid-March
Where: Cadens
What: Four guys try really, really hard to catch one bird.
Warnings: The inevitable secondhand embarrassment.
[Aleksander has lost his prized pigeon Nicola, a matter most mundane to some, but certainly not to the man himself. He's in a tizzy over his lost muse, which has gone flying about the city like a wild, unfettered thing, and he's willing to reward those who take his plight seriously. A few of the Summoned take an interest, for their own reasons--whether seeking out something to keep busy, or hoping to foster connections with Aleksander himself, or simply getting dragged into it--and that includes a group of four men who probably make for an unlikely team.
Not that it matters. They all have their skills between them, and surely with their efforts combined, they can catch one bird. A very stubborn bird; keen eyes may be able to track her darting flight across the city, and eventually, they can find her alighted on the corner of a museum rooftop, looking down upon a busy square.
A tricky situation on its own. Made even more problematic by the fact that there's also a cat creeping along the edge of the roof, eyes trained on Nicola in a very worrying way.
They may want to do something about that.]
no subject
His eyes flick to Jaskier's hand around his arm. The sound he makes in his friend's direction is a suspiciously animal-like growl. Fine. ]
No. [ He looks up to the roof. ] He will not let go of that bird. I will fetch your traps.
[ Geralt has the most faith in Sephiroth's ability to hold onto that bird, if only because Sephiroth wants this done with as much as he does. He can get the devices. He doesn't want to hear Jaskier complain about his boots again and Viktor gets a pass.
In either case, Geralt is already off. Using the stairs, thank you. Or that's what he means to do, except the museum's hours have...closed for the evening, as he is informed. The remaining three can witness from a distance his futile efforts to have himself let in, but the attendant at the front door is nervous and squeaks like a dying mouse and Geralt can't find the heart to frighten the boy into letting him through. Not keen on being jailed for trespassing, either, so snapping the backdoor's lock isn't viable.
In the end, he just. Climbs the damn building outright. From within a narrow alleyway, which still isn't as discreet as he'd prefer but at least it's not in full view. It's fine. The city can't give him shit for scaling property in service of whichever the fuck official owns this pigeon. ]
no subject
He exhales. Turns to look at the other two men, with Geralt clambering up a building in the background.]
Your trap probably caught the cat.
[That would be his best guess, and he directs this estimation at Viktor, as if he’d know what to do with it.]
Which means that it wasn’t a complete waste of time. [His efforts, he means. Helpful? And then, at Jaskier—]
But I still wouldn’t call any of this impressive.
no subject
[Because he's not going to leave an animal stuck in there for who knows long. The good news is that Geralt is already on his way, and Viktor takes a moment to look back and forth between him and Sephiroth, as if wordlessly asking if anyone else is going to exhibit vaguely superhuman powers today.
Is he being asked what to do with the cat? Don't ask him what to do with a cat. He's going to end up taking the cat home.]
It's done. That's what matters.
[Viktor offers a shrug, but the way his eyebrows pinch together indicates that he is similarly mortified.]
no subject
[Someone has to look at the silver lining here, and clearly no one else is going to do it. What to do, of course, with the free cat is really teh question here. Luckily, it won't be around to eat any birds! Including Jaskier's.
Though he's pretty sure Red could eat a cat that thin. As could Mog.
Jaskier gives Sephiroth a wry smile.] She's a bird, I definitely think she's impressed. Birds are simple creatures. [Barring that it all took them this long to catch a creature that apparently did not mind being caught --
He claps both Viktor and Sephiroth on the shoulder.] At any rate, good job, boys! Surely riches await us.
[Or a funny story as they watch Geralt climb the side of a building like a little lizard.] I'll make sure that when I recount our deeds, it sounds much more, ah. Epic.
no subject
Would've been less hassle to kill a nest of sand scorpions.
Geralt returns with everything intact: magic bird, unperturbed atop the trap still; domesticated (questionable) feline; two traps. He hands the traps to Viktor, hissing cat included, and the bird to Jaskier like he's doling out gifts from a satchel. ]
I suggest we return the bird before it fucks off again.
[ He will not press their luck any further. Perhaps the others have more faith, but where Geralt is involved, fortune does not favour him. Which raises a point: where do they bring the pigeon? Do they knock on Marlo's door?
However they do it, they manage: the four of them with one whole damn bird, presented to the man himself. (Geralt still doesn't know his name, but it matters little at the moment.) ]
no subject
It isn't long before the doors to his office burst open and a bearded man in goggles frantically rushes out. ]
Nicola! You have my Nicola!
[ Not so much of an acknowledgment is spared towards the heroes of the day as Aleksander snatches up his prized pigeon who does actually coo in response. He turns away from the group, whispering incomprehensible but likely words of reassurance and praise to his beloved bird. It lasts a moment or two too long to be considered appropriate.
Finally, Aleksander turns back around and lifts his goggles off of his eyes. Nicola is cuddled close to his chest. He clears his throat. ]
You've done a great service to the Free Cities. You can be content in the knowledge that all of your troubles were worth the effort. Where did you find her?
no subject
He watches wordlessly as the man comforts his apparent muse, who doesn't look all that bothered in Sephiroth's own estimation. Still, he says nothing until he's spoken to, and when he does, his affectation is no different than rattling off a particularly mundane mission report.]
She's been flying all over the city. [As if that isn't an obvious conclusion, where a bird is concerned.] But we found her atop a museum roof in the southeastern part of the city.
[A beat. He supposes it's not a full report without mentioning the main hazard.]
She was being hunted by a cat.
no subject
A menace, an absolute vile creature to even think that it could...
[ Aleksander snorts, cutting off his thought as he holds Nicola closer. She coos from his armpit. ]
She's been returned to me intact and unmolested. That knowledge should be a reward to you in and of itself, but not everyone can appreciate her fully. That being said...
[ He shoves a hand into his jacket pocket and a high-pitched "beep" is heard. A diagram on the wall is pulled up into the ceiling, revealing a display case behind it with a three types of trinkets, bird-themed trinkets. ]
You may each take one.
[ The white one is labeled as a "wind-up music box" and will rotate through three different classical tunes of Cadens, one of them being the national anthem.
The second is a metal woodpecker that is labeled as an "frighteningly effective alarm clock" that may be used so you do not miss an important rendezvous or start a feud with your neighbors.
The last is an unassuming bird on wheels that is labeled as a "one-time use security device". It winds up, rolls forward and explodes in fifteen seconds.
A pile of Marlo's infamous gold tickets sits at the edge for each to take as well. ]
Oh, and you can take a pen on the way out.
[ The pens are hailed to be even better than the "endless" ink pens of Thorne, not just because they have an attractive feather but because they can be recharged overnight and last for a week, requiring no enchantments. And they have the stamp of this Bureau on the side. ]
Can you believe that Thorne was giving their paltry little things in goodie bags at the Summit? Pah! With these you will show prestige and my favor.
no subject
Especially since Nicola seems rather pleased with her return. Jaskier is beginning to suspect she left only so she could return to such fanfare, to be reminded of what a beloved little thing she is.
It's not a bad idea. Jaskier has definitely done it once. Twice. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Jaskier chokes. Why on earth did Sephiroth mention the cat? Gods, these men have no decorum!]
Ah, I'm sure the cat was admiring Nicola's wonderful plumage as the rest of us were. However, be reassured that said cat no longer stalks the city streets.
[He doesn't need to know it's still alive unless relevant. Besides, Jaskier is immediately distracted by the unearthing of what he knows very well are birds, but are clearly not real ones. However, the styling... the coloring! Mechanical little golems, truly crafted with an artist's hand. Jaskier carefully picks up the white one, cradling it in his hands.] My gods, Aleksander, did you craft these? They're absolutely incredible! I mean it! I've never seen such beautiful, darling creatures so lovingly rendered.
[Jaskier isn't even posturing anymore. Every word is genuine, his finger running over the bird's head as if to pet it. Its beak opens, chirping musical notes in the air in a tinny, unfamiliar sort of noise.
He almost cries.]
no subject
Of course, when the man himself seems more concerned about the bird than anything else, he tempers his expectations. The clockwork birds are intriguing, at least from an "I can take this apart" standpoint. Viktor selects the alarm clock.]
You know, I'm an engineer myself. [He's not sure how much it's going to matter, when Aleksander seems so singularly focused on Nicola, but he might as well shoot his shot.] If you are ever in need of assistance.
[Viktor sort of side-eyes Jaskier's exclamation. At least someone here seems to be (unironically???) having a good time. Sorry to everyone else.]
no subject
In any case.
Geralt is not interested in a bird. He is glad the bard appears to overcome by these mechanical creatures, but Geralt himself cannot imagine what the fuck he's to do with a singing bird. Then he looks to his left, where Viktor is standing. Sees that gleam in the man's eyes. Something of an engineer. Hm.
Silently, Geralt takes the purported security device. Viktor may or may not be asked for a small favour in the upcoming future regarding mechanical birds that are designed to explode. ]
no subject
Yes, yes of course they are. Try as I might, nothing will come close to her countenance...but you can't fault a man for trying to reach perfection, now can you?
[ He strokes the bird's feathers. Nicola coos.
His attention shifts to Viktor, plainly sizing the other man up. ]
Are you?
[ The thought of Aleskander needing assistance...!
Well, on second thought, he is a busy man. It may not be as laughable as his instincts tell him. He quickly looks away and watches Geralt inspect his options as he speaks to his fellow engineer. ]
Bring me proof of your skill and we may have something to talk about.
no subject
I'd be glad to. You'll hear more from me soon.
[For now, he's looking forward to taking this bird-shaped alarm apart. See what makes it tick.]