abraxaslogs | [open] and I love to live so pleasantly

[The new month brings happiness; the growth of his domain and connections that could bloom into friendships worth preserving. He is too proud to swallow his pride and accept that friendship means everything. Time and again he feels lost, burdened by the weight of hopelessness, but as time flies those connections become something to live for.

Hope is reflected in his surroundings: an eternally bright sky above rolling foothills. Oak and sycamore dot the horizon and grow upon grassy knolls. Occasional winds provide relief and a broad river flows leisurely across the highland.

Jasper sits on a dock, fishing pole in hand, feet hanging over the water. Fish wriggle and flop within a bucket and he slides another into the pile. Hours pass but the sky remains bright as day. He watches cubs from beneath the shade of a tree, lounging on a patch of grass. His legs stretch and he observes whoever approaches. Caring to observe his domain, though? Bothersome.

He drifts in and out of consciousness leaning against the tree, head resting in a comfortable spot. Thoughts lose focus. Feelings are lulled by warmth. It feels wonderful and he cannot care to move. He murmurs in appreciation. His attention, focused upon himself, overlooks that distant pride. The adult tiger and cubs prowl into foreign realms. Neither see their new surroundings as anything but territory. Cabins are to be scratched. Or worse. Not that he cares. People love claiming the Horizon belongs to everyone, after all.]

[the thing is, wanda was not one of the people who forced onto jasper the idea that the horizon is a public space and they are all free to do as they will. rather, she respected his opinion on the matter, acquiesced to not overstaying her welcome the one time she walked into his domain, and yet— and yet there are tiger cubs using her cabin like an oversized scratching post.

they're easy enough to remove with her magic, using her psionic powers to pull them off their feet and float a few inches off the ground (she's not a monster) so they don't attempt to run at her, either.

trailing their place of origin is easy enough—a little bit of telepathy, some detective work (she's proud of that), and putting in the work by exploring the different domains. it's a new place, she notes, as she flies onto the grassy foothills, close to the river where the dock is, and where the obvious owner of the domain sits casually, fishing.]

You know, [she starts, and why yes, the tigers followed along with her as she glided through the domains.] I think I have been nice enough to you to not have your cats using my home as a scratching post.

[the crows in her forest had gone fucking wild about their presence.

the tigers stop floating as they land gently on the grass, and they sniff about, getting used to having their paws on the ground again. they scramble about for a bit, but wanda manages to pick up a cub that's curious and brave enough to rub against her legs.

she walks down the dock, and sits on her haunches beside him, cub on her lap purring and trying to bite at her hands.

(she's not really angry.)]

Quite the beautiful addition to your domain, Jasper.

Edited 2022-05-03 15:34 (UTC)

[Jasper continues baiting his hook and casts the line across the river. Eyes close and open in a flash, looking towards the latest guest to disturb his peace. They narrow in focus and fascination - or obvious recognition - as his expression changes to curiosity. Open and engaging though it lacks warmth.

No pulls. No bites. He sets his line upon the pier to hang in the river. No corrective words to his wayward friends, no apologies to his human acquitance. His lips twist into an amused line at the cub's behaviour before flattening into a frown.

Compliments. They are difficult to truly accept, at times.]

Dare I ask whether you speak of the flora or fauna?

Not the cats.

[though she says this, wanda is not in any rush to remove the feline from her lap, purring happily at the scratches she offers just on the bridge of its furry nose.]

But everything else is very different from where we first met.

[—the stone bridge, the haunting skies with roaring thunder—]

Are you enjoying yourself?

[Bored. Yawning. Lazing in the sunshine.

Jasper finds his attention diverted - he twists his head on his neck and watches the other cubs scarper into grass. One tumbles over another before picking itself up, fleeing down the hill with its companion in pursuit. One cursory look in Wanda's direction and hefrowns to himself. He doesn't precisely remember the last time he enjoyed himself, not like these beasts, but he recalls spending time with old friends and former enemies.]

That depends. One of these days I might.

[Emotions of some kind flash across his face.]

I am enjoying the sunshine, at least.

[The freedom to do what he wants and be beholden to nobody? Bliss.]

[with one last, soft pat over its furry head, wanda lets the cub go so it can join its siblings, tumbling away into the hill and playing together. she has a feeling she might find them approach her cabin once more, but she might not really mind that much after all.]

Nothing beats the warmth of the sun.

[she gets comfortable, sitting now on the edge of the pier, her legs hanging from it. was she invited to join him to this extent? wanda doesn't really look for his approval.

with a twirl of her hand, a fishing pole appears in a flurry of red on her hands and she imitates him in fishing, though she's never done this before.]

I will stay for a moment if you don't mind.

That rather invites me to admit I do mind, does it not?

[He snorts in bemusement, casting out his line. Has he caught anything yet? The empty bucket beside him suggests not. But he is hardly fishing for sport. He shakes his head at the thought of hunting beasts that should never live nor breathe again as a result.]

Though of course this land belongs to all, as fools say. You had best stay as long as you wish.

[Maybe, maybe, he just wants this connection to last.]

And the public opinion has decided that it does not matter what you mind.

[—she throws right back at him, surprising even herself with how easy the banter comes to her. her nose scrunches in a smile at that, idly swaying from side to side, as if carrying no other worry in the world but that of being in this most perfect day of jasper's creating.

it reminds her of pietro, a bit. how his words never held any bite no matter how angry they sounded, because wanda knew his feelings would never stray into true bitterness. perhaps it's similar in that way.

she faces forward, still holding on to the fishing pole, not expecting to catch anything at all either.

a moment of silence.

then another.

the bait bobs on the surface of the water, the illusion of fish pushing against the surface tension of the water giving hope of something getting caught.]

You've been keeping well?

[ While Geralt is settling one of the owls he brought from Rinwell's domain, he hears the soft sound of paws in the snow. When he turns, he's faced with...actually, he isn't certain what the fuck that is. A small spotted cat with strange spiky tufts of fur. It's staring at the owl in his hands, which hoots back indignantly.

He sighs. Goes inside, because he assumes the little creature will leave on its own. It obviously belongs to another. Places the owl on the medallion tree that's now splintered up the middle but is holding together nonetheless. His feelings about Kaer Morhen remain mixed these days, but. Home is home. He's never known it to be anything except a bit broken and crumbling.

When he exits, he finds the same spotted cub standing in the snow. It is now batting at one of the whitened bones half-buried under the snow. ]

You can't stay here. [ Fuck. Fine. Geralt sighs again. Leans down to scoop up the small cat. ] Do not bite.

[ Now where in the hell did it come from? In truth, he could've left it there. It's the Horizon; nothing happens in the Horizon. When its owner returns, they can likely will their missing pet back to their side. But the reality is, the heavy ache in his heart that's been there since he realized the mage girl he'd brought into his home is no longer with them—nothing's eased it. Nothing makes it better. He's just moving through from one distraction to the next, and a lost kitten proves enough of one he grasps it without hesitation.

Its tracks in the snow, and then the dirt, and then the sand, across a variety of domains and paths, leads him to a thundering violet sky. Hm. Ominous. He peers up at it, but steps across the bridge nonetheless. Can't be anything too horrific if this little cat spawned out of it. And sure enough, past the gate he finds a lush rolling green hill and blue skies.

And a familiar face by the docks. One eyebrow lifts. Geralt does not announce himself, merely holds up the furry cub in his hands. ] You lost one.

[Jasper lifts his head at the stepping of feet upon the gangway, wooden planks resounding underfoot, two feet walking a handful of meters. No words come from him. No greeting spoken with fondness. He listens to a statement that makes no sense - until he looks back and sees an eyeful of orange and white fur.

He makes a frustrated sound as he prepares, setting his fishing pole aside to climb upon his feet. Fingers slide through his fringe and part his hair. The irony is this cub is not the first to go missing this week. Not that he especially took notice of any disappearances.]

Oh, I do apologise. The beasts here are a rather wild sort.

[ His eyes land on a larger cat on the grass, elongated canines and all. ] I can see that.

[ For someone in possession of such fluffy creatures, Jasper looks damn near annoyed that they even exist. Did he not intend to create them? Happens on occasion, in the Horizon. Things will spawn unwanted.

He pushes the cub into Jasper's hands, undeterred by the man's aloofness towards the creature. ] They wander off often?

[ Most folk have animals and pets of some kind—gifted by another or otherwise—but not many leave the domains unattended. The one exception is Geralt's own wolf, which occasionally leaves to accompany those of importance to him. But this feels accidental, not deliberate. ]

[The immediate surprise of having a weight in his arms leaves him speechless. It fires his nerves and he prepares to raise objections - but the beast twists, turns and struggles with its paws. He cradles it tightly for a moment. He lingers, but his fondness reveals itself when he lowers it to the earth rather than release it to fall and tumble.]

Very much.

[He cannot quite sound cross - though he sure looks it.]

Such is the prerogative of wild beasts, I suppose.

[ Hm. He studies the cat as its set on the ground. ]

Maybe put a fence up. [ He glances back at Jasper. Anyway. ] Don't let me interrupt your...fishing.

[ Ocean viewing? Whatever Jasper might have been doing before this. He can gather easily the man is not one for company and Geralt hasn't any desire to intrude. Beyond carrying back a lost cub.

Which is now attacking his boot, before he can step away. Geralt reaches down to dislodge it, a frown knitting into his brows. ]

[Geralt's gentle suggesstion prompts Jasper to stare into the river; his apology causes him to frown and close his eyes before rising to his feet. He leaves the fishing aside and lounges on the spot - placing his hands on his hips in a manner that can only be confident and assertive.

He focuses his attention on the cub, its own attention fixated on clawing and pawing at laces and leather. Or whatever those boots are made of. He frowns, his expression divided between his guests. One moment later, he reaches down to collect it by the scruff, cradling it close to his chest to prevent sudden movement.]

Your attention only emboldens it further, you realise?

[He says, holding it close. Perhaps he is more fond of these beasts than even he realises.]

[ Uh-huh. Geralt straightens up. Reminds him of that little pet gryphon they have roaming around their house. Why does everything want to gnaw on his boots? ]

Just don't lose it again. [ His exasperation is, in a sense, mostly superficial. He did bring it all the way here. ] I don't know how well they do in the cold.

[ Look, even in the Horizon, he'd rather not find a frozen kitten belonging to someone else in the middle of his mountain. The Horizon both harmless and also behaves unpredictably at some points. He's already had someone lose their whole fucking phone booth by his gate. ]

[open] horizon

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hendrik

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