abraxaslogs | [ OPEN ] no more wasting time.

[ OPEN ] no more wasting time.

Who: sam wilson and open. (see note below!)
What: sam is calling a Summoned Town Hall (and get-together.)
Where: sam's horizon
When: mid-may (one afternoon into evening)
Warnings: will update as necessary.

THE SETUP

This meeting has been planned for some time now - at least from Sam's point of view. Even before the Summit he knew this would be important, but between the Eclipse and the dream of the Eye and everything that followed, there were some other things that required his attention. But as soon as that all settled, and as soon as the Free Cities started reaching out for reports, proving that each of the Summoned have been watched and tracked down, well. Big Brother always has to start somewhere.

So he reaches out to Stephen and Wanda - tells them of his plan for a meeting, about getting everyone together to discuss the impending war, the factions, and everything that came before. He left it up to Wanda and Stephen to disseminate the information and invitation however they saw fit - anyone was invited, of course, but that didn't mean everyone needed to attend. This was intended to be a smaller group, more contained, so as not to attract any unwanted attention, but who knew what happened once the date and time got out there.

Once everyone arrives, they'll be directed into the main area of the house - where the living room and kitchen meet to form one of the corners. It will be a bit of a tight squeeze, depending on how many show up, but there will also be plenty of chairs, couch space, corners, and wherever else anyone will want to settle and listen.

When everyone has filed in and found their spot, Sam will come to stand at the front and center of the room. He plans to address everyone first with something of a speech (Captain America, anyone?) which he will then open up the floor to questions (see open top level below). There will be a point in the middle of the questions that Sam will seem to catch notice in the corner of the room and - distractedly - will direct all questions to Stephen as he nods and heads up the stairs - followed closely behind by Geralt, who seems to have just appeared - but he will be back in about fifteen or so minutes and will pick up directly where he left off.

Once Sam believes the questions have settled, or at the very least everyone is way too hungry to sit still for any longer, he will dismiss everyone for food, drinks, or just smaller circles of discussion. Meeting's over, go stuff your face with Horizon food! But be warned - Julie's manning the bar.

OOC INFO

- It is Sam's intention that this to be a closer cr/smaller group, but as it is with any invitation/meeting, the word can easily get out, so feel free to have your character have learned about it/heard about it/stumble in even if they don't know Sam.

- Any questions that you want your character to pose to Sam directly, please put under this top level and I will prioritize. Because these are questions in an open forum, go ahead and note on your tag if you are down for other characters to chime in, etc.

- For about 15 minutes or so, Stephen will be in charge of answering questions (much to his dismay and with no preparation or warning). So if you want your question to be directed to him, please make a note.

- please feel free to leave a top-level below for mingling after the speech/q&a session. Sam's entire domain is open, save for one locked bedroom upstairs. It'll be a bit like a barbeque, a bit like an after-party, a bit like some chill time at Sam's horizon to meet and greet whoever is around.

- if you have any other questions, feel free to hit me up at disarmingly or pm this account!

THE SPEECH

[ sam isn't nervous, exactly, as everyone starts filing in. most of the faces he recognizes, most of the faces know their way around, so it's not like there's a whole lot of this that feels all that serious. it's not until a few more people start showing up, faces that sam doesn't recognize right off the bat, that has him shifting into something a little more...well, professional. it's been years since he's led any sort of counseling session. longer, if you want to count the snap. and while this definitely isn't counseling, it's starting to feel similar enough.

so as more people start showing up, and as they get closer and closer to the time that sam had sent around with everyone, sam starts pulling himself away from conversations. starts telling people to take seats wherever they can find a spot. it's a squeeze - his living room isn't exactly made for a community meeting - so he ends up having some of them spill over into the kitchen area, some even back behind the island. where he stands in the hallway between, everyone can see him. and honestly, anyone in the house can hear him, so it doesn't matter all that much where everyone ends up.

it's a few minutes later before he's in front of everyone, with one of the kitchen bar stools pulled up so he can sit (lord knows he's not imagining some kind of podium today). then, once everyone has appeared to have settled and with a breath and straightening of his shoulders, he begins. ]

First off- I want to welcome everyone to my place. A bunch of y'all have been here before, sure, but some are new, so I just want to make one ground rule pretty clear: don't be assholes. This place will always be open for you, even if I'm not around, but treat it like what it is, which is my house. No fighting, no destroying my place, nothing. I don't care that all this is technically magic or we could all fix it up however we want, it's my home. Respect it.

[ and then he smiles, which shifts what was beginning to feel a bit like some kind of parent or babysitter figure into something that feels a bit more welcoming. a bit warmer. there's a hint here for those that don't know him of the fact that this isn't always the way he carries himself. isn't always how he acts. but there is a job to do, a point to get to, and so he doesn't fully relax. ]

And thank y'all for coming. The last time we had one of these was...well, it was some time ago, back when we were all in the castle. And considering some of the events since then, I figured it's about time we all had another of these get-togethers.

My name's Sam, [ hi sam. ] And I live in Cadens, the capital of the Free Cities. I've been in Abraxas just over a year, and was part of the first group that got pulled through the portal, back when Ambrose in Castle Thorne was the only one doing it. So if any of y'all have questions about what's happened since we first started showing up, I can talk you through some of it, or at least try and answer what I can; but I'm gonna ask you save those questions for after all this. I didn't call this sort of Town Hall for a history lesson, at least not entirely, and I planned on having time for questions.

[ as he keeps talking, it's less that the smile fades and more that his tone takes on a heavier weight to it. a subtle shift, from someone welcoming a group of people into their living room to someone with a little more authority to him. he's not trying to be intimidating, or scary, or even all that unapproachable. more so, he's here for a purpose, and that purpose is important. and that's the set to his shoulders as he starts up again. ]

Now, if you didn't know already, this world has a few centuries of history under its belt. And just like any other world, or continent, or whatever you want to call it - all the different kingdoms, or factions, haven't always gotten along. These big three we know most about - Thorne, Solvunn, and the Cities - have a lot of that tangled history between them, and us showing up has only complicated it even more. These beliefs are pretty much in direct opposition to each other, and that includes what they think we - the Summoned - are here to do and how to treat us.

[ as sam talks, his arms come to cross over his chest and his eyes slowly start to move around the room - from face to face, person to person. he takes time, in his way, to make eye contact with just about everyone in the room. to connect with everyone, if he can. ]

Where we come in is the fact these factions are on the brink of war, and I don't say this lightly. Events, since we've arrived, have already escalated, to a point that we can't ignore them anymore. Now- that could mean days, that could mean months, hell. It could be years before the first shot is taken- but Thorne, Solvunn, and the Cities have all made it clear they're headed in that direction, and they are going to try and bring us along for the ride. I've been told that the people showing up in the barracks outside of Cadens are literally being told they've been drafted.

[ he pauses, as if waiting to see if that even surprises anyone - that there's a war, that the cities are actively looking towards their military, that this is known. but before anyone can pipe in, he picks up again. ]

If being a part of this war is something you do want in on, then man, go for it. Consider yourself lucky. But I'm here, now, to let people know that we're not all here for that reason and that there are a lot of us who are actively against it. War is not new to me, as it probably isn't for a lot of you. I've done my fair share of fighting in them, and fighting against them breaking out at all, but I'm not naive, either. With centuries on centuries of bad blood behind these kingdoms, it's not a matter of someone showing up and saying the right thing at the right time. As much as I might want to, I'm not going to walk in and talk to the Prime Minister of the Cities and get her to stand down from this war. Believe me- I've already tried. But that's also okay, because at this point my goal isn't to try and fix their problems for them. [ which...okay, there might be some thinly veiled frustration there. because sam has, actually, tried. a couple of times now. and he's less than thrilled by how it was received. was he surprised? not at all. but that doesn't mean he's happy about it either. ]

What I'm here to do - and what I'm here to talk to all y'all about, today - is just to make sure you know that you don't need to fight their war. They brought us here without our say, called by the Singularity and whatever tether we're supposed to have with it. Some of these places have welcomed us, and some haven't been given the welcome they deserve. But this place, these factions, however it is they've treated you - you are not a weapon for them to manipulate and you are not a soldier drafted into their war. And I want everyone here to remember that, because they will try and convince you to their cause, and honestly, they probably won't be that wrong in their reasons why.

But their problems are not for you to solve - not unless you want to - and you're not alone in this.

It's easy to forget how many of us are here when we're all split up across this continent - and sure, we have the Horizon to keep us connected, we've got that weird sort of- [ he gestures out towards one of the walls, though it's hard to tell what he means until he continues- ] -sparkling text thing that means we can keep in contact, but that's not the same. And when you're isolated, it's real easy to get caught up in these reasons, or opinions, of the factions.

I'm here to tell you that are aren't alone. And while any decision you want to make, or any side you want to join, is up to you - you do have all these people in this room at your back. We are in this together, and we can be here for each other, and what that means for me is making sure we don't get caught up in this war.

And honestly - I'm not here to ask for help. If you want to, hell, I'll take all the help I can get. But it's not your job, and it's not your responsibility. This isn't some recruitment meeting, no, I'm just asking you to be aware of what’s happening around you, and not to get manipulated by propaganda. Think for yourself. Keep your eyes open.

[ there is a brief moment here where sam pauses, like he's taking a breath. like he's letting everything he just said settle. it feels a bit like he's wrapping up, when he lets out this next breath. bare with him - he won't talk forever. ]

There are a lot of us who have gotten settled in our time here, and some who are just looking for a place to call home. These factions - they're going to fight for their home, and if you want to fight for yours, I'm not going to stop you. But it is your choice, and we- [ a beat, and then sam gives a small, slightly tired smile and settles back into his chair. it looks a bit like he was going to gesture to some key people around him, but like he makes the decision to leave it to him, instead. ] -I am here to make sure you know that. And to help in whatever way I can.

Now. [ another pause, and then sam claps, drawing everyone's attention back together. ] Any questions?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ sam laughs a bit at that. ]

He's got a sense of humor, but I'm sure you get to see more of the weird with the two of you living together.

[ and he's smiling, maybe even laughing, because he's seen this playful side of wanda before and it just sort of does that. seeps into people. feels a bit contagious. but sam can also see the underlying need of it - that she's bringing her people together, that she wants them to know each other.

it's what he wants to. and he knew he could trust her to be on his same page with that.

sam watches her drift through the space, straighten trinkets, eyeing photos. there's nothing off about it, nothing he needs to worry about (he doesn't think). it's just wanda, making her mark. wanda, hopefully, making a piece of this home her own. his smile widens when she asks about the turnout, nodding. ]

Yeah- it's always a crapshoot, these things, but I think we did well. Couldn't have done it without you.

Wanda would not call it a blessing to have so many of her world here. Other than for having met Peter and getting to see Sam again, she would much rather be back in her lonesome cabin, studying the Darkhold. With every passing day—and especially after Goro challenged her in the Horizon—something in the back of her head keeps whispering promises of what she is owed.

She does not know what to make of Goro's praise, however, though her chin raises a little at the words.

"I have come to learn Solvunn treats us differently than they do for you in the Free Cities," like gods, really, deserving of all this hospitality. Wanda does not doubt that they will be expected to protect those who 'worship' them; she is realistic enough to know that even when trying to avoid it, war will always find a way to include the innocent and those unwilling to participate. "They wish to pray to their old gods and practice their rituals."

There is always a 'but' hanging in the air, though, isn't there?

She glances up at Goro.

"What do you know about what the Free Cities wants? Is it really war?"

[though her space is her own, her cabin tends to get very lonely and loud after a while. she is guilty of sometimes making the trek all the way to sam's horizon, slipping inside this house even when he isn't around. she likes the porch, but her favorite is the room where she first saw sam—with the walls filled with family pictures, signs of a loving family. she picks up books and reads them, particularly fond of the children's books with quirky drawings.

wanda thinks of how often sam must have read those books to his nephews for them to be so clear and present in his horizon.

she definitely has made a piece of this home her own.]

Not a lot of Summoned in Solvunn, but I'm glad many of them could make it. It is easy to feel separated from the world the rest there.

[turning back, she takes a seat on the nearby couch, her attention on him.]

So, what's next for you?

Not just a gateway, but like... okay. So Geralt explained it like this to me, that his world has these huge stone monoliths all over the place. Everyone thought they were just rocks, made of some special mineral left over from some kinda apocalypse-y thing the world went through. But he found out that the monoliths can actually work like a gate, and a demon got through. She attacked some people because she wanted to go back to her own world, and he saw when she managed to go back. And that makes a lotta sense because my world had monoliths too, huge natural ones. And we had some problems with demons too. It's complicated and stupid, but my world wasn't like his -- we didn't have monsters and spirits and whatever else. So these demons that wound up with us, they really didn't belong. But they got to us somehow.

[ She exhales. It is such a long and complex story, one that she doesn't fully understand even after having lived through it, and she's leaving out large parts that tie it further together because she cannot bear to deal with those thoughts. Her demon had been here, too. He'd wanted the Singularity, wanted to control it. Using it as a gateway made logical sense. ]

It'll be okay, Jesper. I don't believe that the Singularity wants to hurt me. [ Which sounds so strangely cocky, but Julie has experienced this world, this place, in a way that no one else seems to. The Horizon takes care of her, without any impetus or thought on her part. She can do magic that the natives of this world can barely do, even after decades of study. There is something about this world, this connection, that was meant for her, specifically. She knows that now. ] I'm sure of it.

[ She snorts, at the idea of a Singularity ghost, because that's still far more human than she can fathom it being. ]

Who says it ain't out in the ether? Maybe this world, the rock, maybe it's just the Singularity's home base.

[ Jesper's insistence that he's one of the most loyal people in the city of Ketterdam is quite interesting. Thancred's already drawn comparisons to Limsa by now, but there's also the mirroring between them as individuals. While Thancred's beginnings and his training had been that of a rogue and a spy, there had never been any question of where his loyalty laid. He'd been dedicated to Louisoix and his ideals from the start — that being the least he could offer for all that man had done for him. ]

And your loyalty is to your gang?

[ While Jesper has made references to them and the work they've done, Thancred doesn't know much more than that. For a gang, though, it did sound like they were doing some good, given their decision to smuggle out someone making a dangerous drug. Not that anyone would benefit from — as Jasper describes it — "an army of superpowered soldiers" with no minds of their own.

After a brief pause, Thancred lets his arms fall to his sides and moves to sit in one of the plush chairs in the living room before he says anything more. ]

There is something similar on my world. It's not a drug, but when people are in close proximity to a summoned, false god called a primal, they will be tempered by it. [ He lets out a breath through his nose and shakes his head, his eyes dimming with unfortunate memories. ] It's essentially the same effect — they become little more than extensions of the primal's will. Until recently, there was no cure for this tempering, with the only option being to put them down. [ Then he straightens, looking to Jesper with a brief smile. ] But we can bring those people back now. Something to keep in mind here as well, I imagine.

[ Not that there's been any signs of mind control thus far, but Thancred wouldn't put the factions above it, were they to get desperate enough. Were they not to receive the assistance from the Summoned that they expected. ]

[Castiel nods, and tips his head back up toward the sunny skyline. As loud as it could be in the free cities he wouldn't trade it for somewhere quieter. Here he had Dean, and others that knew him and that was a source of comfort.

When it came down to what really made him feel lost, it was the fact that his grace wasn't operating at full functionality. At home, he could go anywhere he wanted to get away, and here he was limited to a certain scope and area.] Sam is a good man. I understand what Dean sees in him, his leadership qualities are admirable. He had full command of the room.

[Castiel hasn't been to very many meetings, not since his time on earth. Most of the meetings he's had with Dean and Sam couldn't be compared because of the sheer numbers.] I don't mind the Free Cities, but places like these offer more tranquility and peace of mind.

“He is still someone I would not take lightly.” Which is to say, The Wraith has an eye on him. It’s less she thinks that Marlo and the others might choose him over the numbers, than… long game things— put ideas into the officials heads, things trickle down the wires, into the public, into the hands of the paranoid and the radical and suddenly the work is being done without a finger lifted. She may be getting ahead of herself. But Jesper knows just as well as she does, they have to try to stay ahead of the rest. Kaz isn’t here, they have to think like him in his absence.

“Maybe some of the people with better magical aptitude could… sense something? Do… something with whatever keeps it in that dreamlike state?” It made sense in her head, but said out loud it sounds like the stuff of children’s fairytales.

She nods. “It is, but you never know what people came from— maybe they’re power hungry and want what Thorne has to offer. Maybe they were living in scraps and now they’re living in a bloody castle- why not stay? Have every whim attended to and all that? From what I’ve gathered, they’ve learned their lesson from that first round of escapees before. You catch more flies with honey.”

"It's nice to see you again." Without the weight of memories being forced down upon them. The dock led into the mouth of a beautiful lake and the water reflected the sun back up at them like stained glass.

"I am." Alright was what he maintained even when he was decidedly not. Being what he was, and having the strength that came with that he'd become used to putting others first. He was slowly adjusting to life in this new realm and had almost come around to an understanding of what his grace was capable of so far from home. "How are you doing?"

"Perhaps. But in my experience, you don't typically hear much about wounded healers. Just dead soldiers." Not that she's explicitly been involved in war before, but... you grow up places like she had to and you hear a thing or two. Ravka was in unrest for so many centuries at this point, it's hard to imagine the country may ever find peace.

She frowns a little as she takes that in, turns it over in her mind. "You clearly have not been in a position where hope is all that you had to keep you going." Inej has. More than once in her short life. The slaver ship. The pleasure house. Van Eck's. It's overwhelming to think of it all lined up in a row like that, how frequently she has been pushed into positions she never asked for, how often in just the space of a few years she has found herself feeling that bone-deep sense of inescapable hopelessness.

"I have no reason to catologue your every possession, Sam." she answers, chin lifted in some sort of teenage defiance that knows no need for reason- but her tone is light and playful, no serious edges found here.

That fond look. The keeping people around bit. That's all part and parcel in why she attached to him so quickly. There has never really been an unsure moment with him, truly. He's a steady sort of presence, not just because he is, quite literally, always around in some capacity or another. But because of the way he feels. It's hard to explain, and she's glad she doesn't need to put it into words, but there is an air about him that is strong and constant, the sort of thing that, were she a gambling woman, she could place heavy bets on never changing and come out ahead.

"If that's what you call a bad habit, don't ever go changing them," she laughs softly.

"Likewise," she smiles softly, turning to look at him. She can't decide if his simple 'I am' is legitimate, or he's doing the adult thing of saying everything's fine, when really the world is on fire, but you have to save face for the kids. Inej is inherently aware just how much the adults around Cadens see her for the teenager she is, despite how disconnected from the idea of childhood she feels most days.

Vague suspicion of intent aside, she decides to take the words at face value and nods. "Things were...shaky, for a bit, but I'm settling in better now, I think." Thanks to Sam and some direction he'd given her, whether he'd really meant to or not.

[she offers a half shrug at the question.]

I've been asking myself the same question for the past year, ever since... this other witch explained it to me. I always had magic, according to her, I just didn't know it. When Pietro and I were exposed to the Mind Stone—

[pausing, wanda makes a face. that needs an explanation, doesn't it? she waves her hand in front of her head for a moment, dismissively.]

One of six cosmic stones. [anyway] It basically made us more "in-tune" with our powers. [here, she does air quotes with the hand that's holding the glass of wine.] Even more scary is that my existence was written in this old magical book, but I have no idea why Pietro's power was different from mine.

[wanda looks down at the ground for a moment, and smiles. usually, it's difficult to speak of pietro, but she's glad that julie has somehow become this person that wanda can so freely talk to. it's nice, to talk about her brother and remember him fondly rather than sadly, even if the pain remains close to her heart.

she nods a few times.]

Yeah. Yeah. I know who Usain Bolt is. [her gaze returns to julie] Pietro was a lot faster than that. Perhaps I should cut him some slack; he would hate that I am describing him so poorly.

[it's interesting, regardless, to hear about these two places she hasn't been to. she got an impression back in the summit, but it would probably not compare to how they actually are.

wanda nudges at julie's dangling foot with her own.]

I'm not very good at expressing myself, but — I just want to say thank you, for letting me talk about Pietro. It's nice to remember him, and imagine that if he would be summoned here, he would totally ditch me in Solvunn to be in the Cities, from what it sounds like.

Dean a friend of yours?

[not that wanda knows him, but it is perhaps one of the many people who came here ailing from the free cities. she squints a little, then sits properly beside castiel.]

I spend most of my time in the Horizon, even when I'm in Solvunn. [a cheeky confession—she likes being alone.] My name's Wanda. Sam is from my world, and he's... got pretty big shoes to fill there, but he's got it. I think he's pouring all that energy into what he can do here.

[...as an afterthought, she suggests:] You could make your own domain quiet like this. Have you worked on that yet?

But that makes sense. See, I have... I guess you could call it a theory? I don't know, I only started thinkin' about it recently. But maybe magic is like singin' or art. You're born with a certain amount of talent. Some people are amazin' geniuses, some people can't do it for shit, but most people can do it a little. Maybe they get a little better if they practice and work hard, but most of 'em won't bother. But if you never give a kid any music or any art supplies, then you'll never know what they could do. And maybe that's how some worlds work. I always felt like I didn't belong back home. Like I was missin' this piece that everyone else had, to tell them what to do with their life. And then I came here, and it was like the difference between night and day. Maybe the stone [ ?? ] was just like that. I mean, I'm not sure how it works with super speed, but.

[ All she can do is shrug. There's so much that she has just accepted she'll never understand. Magic stones and being a human roadrunner are just two on the list.

Tilting her head to one side, Julie looks at Wanda, maybe with a bit of surprise in her eyes. ] You don't hafta thank me. I -- I know how it is to miss people. But people are only gone when no one remembers their name. I used to...

[ There's a pause where she falters, looks away and frowns. It's like reaching into the depths of her soul to talk about, even if she knows it's for the best. ]

I used to just write down names. I was alone. So I got the biggest piece of posterboard I could find and wrote down every name I could remember, in all different colors. Had a whole stack of 'em. I was the only person who was still around to do it.

Goro nods, confidently. "You are correct, I have not." He lifts his four arms, flexes the muscles across them. "Look at the strength, the power I possess. What need have I, the greatest warrior of the Shokan, to fall back on something as ephemeral as hope, when I have the strength to impose my will?" He lowers his arms, and looks back towards Inej.

"And your point neatly illustrates my last. Hope is the last, desperate refuge of the weak." He explains with a smirk that drips with the arrogance of the powerful. "It is for those who have no strength of their own yet desperately pray for a miracle to save them. I need no miracles. I never have."

In the end, whatever uses hope may have, it is ultimately just a crutch. And in the end, that is all Captain Wilson has given these people. Goro will weather the coming storm in his own way, survive it, and thrive.

There are... so many things about this that rub her the wrong way. From the boasting arrogance to the very warrior-male thing of literally flexing his physical prowess, from the use of the words 'impose my will' to the disparaging way he mentions prayer and miracle like they are useless.

This arrogance. This pride. It's sickening. But it's the bit that feels like an attack on the things that she holds dearest to her heart that strikes hottest. It's a slow simmering thing low in her belly. She doesn't like him, not one bit. No matter how true some of what he's said rings, nothing good could come from conversations with him. "Greater men than you have been brought to their knees."

A beat passes.
And then-

"Shevrati," she bites the word out sharply, no she will not be offering translations at this time. As easily as she'd sidled up to him earlier, she slips away, between shadows and bodies in the crowd, refusing the give him any further time of day to ruin hers.

Goro merely chuckles at the retort; seems he touched a nerve, or perhaps she simply recognizes he's right and does not wish to admit. "Perhaps, but—" however, he's cut off by what he can only assume is some sort of insult before Inej is simply...gone, from his side. Disappeared back into the crowd. Goro raises an eyebrow, but then turns away.

"...But not by you, Little Sneak."

Property of the crown?

[ Oh he doesn't like that. Not at all. Kell is a person, a good person. Not a thing to be owned. Jayce can't exactly go back to his world and give them a piece of his mind, but if he could, he would, because that's just his MO. He's upset on his new friend's behalf, this sounds completely unacceptable. Kell deserves to be free; well, as free as any of them can be. They're all under thumbs one way or the other here, some are just more obvious than others. But freer.

Jayce pauses before continuing, glancing in the direction he knows Viktor it. ]

I've been told that living your life for someone else isn't much of a life.

[ He has been told that, but it hasn't made a difference. Jayce feels like it's more about need. Viktor needs his support and his full attention now because of his condition. He needs to be Jayce's priority as long as he's dying. Maybe when they succeed, they can have a few things of their own, but until then, it's not possible. ]

I'd be hypocritical if I advised you on that, but you could always take Rhy with you. Wouldn't he be interested in exploring the world too?

[ Again, Jayce does know some people have a preference. To not explore. He doesn't know if Rhy is in a similar situation as Viktor, unable to travel far, but if he's not, exploring the world together could be a great thing for siblings to do. Jayce always wanted one of his own, although Caitlyn's his sister in the ways that matter. She'd be as much about getting out there as he is. He wishes she was here so much. ]

The Crows are my family. We're a smaller specialized group within the gang. We're the ones who go on the crazy ice prison missions.

[ The way Jesper says family is firm and genuine, the way he talks about them full of very real caring. Jesper would die for any of them, the definition of ride or die in this case. Even for Matthias, who he wasn't particularly close to, although unfortunately, he was the one who died for the mission. He has Inej here, which keeps him sane, but he misses Kaz and Wylan so much sometimes that he can't breathe. More than his own father, to be honest, who he loves dearly but has spent plenty of time apart from.

The Crows don't always do good, although most of the time Kaz doesn't go that hard on people, he'll swindle them, especially the pigeons (naive visitors) in the gambling dens, but he only pretends to be made of ice. They do more good than bad, in Ketterdam terms. It's not Cadens terms. He's learned that much.

Jesper settles into a chair too since they're going to keep chatting, and he likes Sam's place. He's comfortable here. He listens to Thancred's summary of a version of it, nodding his head and making a face.]

Sounds terrible. Any time you take away someone's ability to think for themselves, it can only lead to tragedy. Even if someone thinks they're doing the right thing.

[ Jesper is actually thinking of Nina a little bit when he says that. She did the right thing in the end, she was only reacting out of grief, but she came close to it. He hates the concept of this primal thing though, Jesper is not a religious person by any means, blind worship is well past his ability to empathize. ]

Are you talking about the factions or the Singularity? I don't have any proof the Singularity is responsible for the memory situation, but it seems likely.

"I agree. If it's any consolation, everyone here is on the same page about him. I was warned off him very early on by several people. So there are eyes on him at all times." If he makes a move that the Summoned in the area don't like, there will be talk about it. Jesper remembers how separate he was from everyone during the Old Town Hall concert and now this. He would have no qualm with putting a bullet in someone who tries to get them all in trouble.

"I think that's a good idea. I'll mention it to Wanda, she's the strongest magic user I know here." Extremely powerful, he's seen it for himself. And Jesper is very close to her, they bonded quickly. If there's anyone equally or more powerful here, she'll know.

"He's from a poor background, he definitely likes being in a castle. You know me, I can't imagine a life without the freedom to move around. I'd go crazy trapped in a castle." That is partly why he couldn't go to Solvunn, although that has more freedom, it's too many farms and simple lifestyle. Jesper may have done better with some of his illness, but he won't stop being energetic. "Solvunn doesn't sound like it's as much a threat to people as Thorne."

[ Jesper listens to her explanation of what happened with Geralt and the ties to her own experience. As far as he knows, there are no monoliths in his world, but. Hm. ]

There was a place in Ravka called the Shadow Fold. It's been fixed, but before tore the entire nation in two. Legend goes that when it was created hundreds of years ago, the man who did it was trying to take more power, and he accidentally created this rip between realms. Inside it was pure darkness and full of violent terrifying beasts called the volcra. At one point people thought he'd manage to spread it far beyond that country alone and let them eat their way across the globe.

[ It is not precisely the same, as there are no giant rocks, but a huge gap of pure darkness stretching between two parts of the country, full of demon-like characters, it doesn't sound entirely out of the general realm of what she's talking about. Jesper swirls his drink in his hand. The Fold is gone now, Saint Alina destroyed it and the man who made it. ]

I wonder if more people here have something about them similar to this. They say the Singularity is connected to all the worlds. Those are examples of something like it existing in ours.

[ His was manmade but maybe the Singularity fed off the Fold while it was alive, or took part in it. He has no idea, this is not his area of expertise, but he finds it very interesting. Jesper struggles between knowing that she knows herself best, and probably the Singularity best, so if she's confident she can handle the Singularity, he should trust her with that. But that is warring with his tendency to worry for the people he cares for, especially when going up against something like this.

In the end, he sighs. ]

Just be careful. I might seem very cavalier, but I'm quite the worrier.

[ He knows he would be of no use to her. Outside of providing an extra set of hands. He has magic, and perhaps he could do something with the Singularity, but not the best option for anything she has to do. Jesper has no reason to doubt her confidence. He'll just worry on the sidelines. ]

What do you plan to do if it does tell you what it wants? If it's something we can't give.

[Castiel can't read his mind and even if he could, he probably wouldn't. He's long since learned that using his divinity to gain insight into the unseen nature of humankind only heralds poor results.

Dean saw no point in the ruse and was honest from the get-go, something Castiel appreciated having come from an environment so far removed from similar acts of kindness. The mention of being friends only reveals a sage nod in response.

Sam is certainly the sort of fellow he would've entertained friendship with. A paragon of humanity, a lot of the good qualities he saw in Sam and Dean both present in him.] How many friends have you had leave only to suddenly return?

[Castiel's brows lift to punctuate his interest, not because he's asking after Sam but because he hopes to discern the regular frequency of involvement in this realm and whether or not its multi-dimensional manipulation was faulty.]

[Rhy would be so mad if he'd ever learned about him saying this again. It's not unwarranted, though. For all the pretty clothes, a title and his own room in the palace - a room that he never liked to be honest, this is what he was in practice. It showed every time when he tried to act even a little independent.]

Nominally, I was adopted into the royal family, but it was pretty obvious from the start that I didn't have any of the freedom that would come with it if it was truly what they said it was.

[Kell laughs. What a nice phrase. Clearly coming from someone who never had such problems. He might have not had the luxury of free choice, but still was stubborn enough and inventive enough to carve some space and time for himself. As little as it was.]

Well, well, then it seems I didn't have a life at all until I came here. I beg to differ.

[But it's the last question that makes him pause. Would he? Back in London, his brother never expressed the wish, but there it was different. Kell never asked, he just assumed that this haven't changed, but maybe? Rhy seems to be quite settled in Thorne. He still likes the city and its comforts, but who knows... He doesn't have the same responsibility as he had back home.]

Actually, I've never asked. Not sure what his answer will be, even if I did. Travel can be pretty inconvenient.

[Even if you have the means, there are no soft beds, no readily accessible baths, the food and drink is whatever you take with you, unless you happen on a tavern, and riding all day on horseback is pretty tiring.]

[wanda tilts her head at julie's explanation.

it makes a lot of sense. as far as she knows, stephen strange learned magic eventually; it's not like he was using it in his days of working as a doctor in a hospital. she nods thoughtfully, and tries to hide the grin at the mention of super speed being somewhat different from magic.

enhanced powers, she would call it, perhaps. different, but similar; fitting to each other, really.]

Perhaps.

[—and because wanda knows through julie's memory that there is some deep, deep pain beneath all the quips and big party vibes, she reaches a hand out to hold onto the other woman's.]

That's a really good idea. It's really nice — to meet so many people here. People to care for.

[reticent as wanda is, she's found people she can say she cares for to the same extent as those from her world. with a light squeeze, she lets go. it's good that julie is in the free cities, with those people she had seen in the nice memory she had pulled out from her, so many weeks ago.]

Do you still do something like that? The posterboard?

[ Depending on the size of the gang, it makes sense that there would be smaller groups within it, those who were used to working together and could trust each other in a tense situation. Thancred nods, understanding well enough the idea of a specialized team. The Scions are a small enough organization that he's worked with most of the members at least once or twice, but he's far more comfortable with the core group.

Jesper is right, of course. Any stripping of free will can't be accepted, but religious fervor and desperation has led to the tribal groups and others relying on the power of the primals. It's possible they've finally reached an age where they won't have to anticipate further summonings, but even if they do, they have the means to counteract it.

When he returns home, it will be to a brighter future. He truly believes that now, for as long as it took to get there.

At Jesper's quite pointed question, Thancred smiles wryly and gives a small shake of his head. ]

Both, I suppose. The Singularity seems to be filled with untapped power that we only barely understand. There's no telling what it might be capable of, and if any of the factions are able to harness that power, they might do all sorts of things with it.

[ Including mind control. Again, depending on their level of desperation. Thancred's seen enough cruelty in his time that he wouldn't put it past them. ]

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Page 14 of 17

[ OPEN ] no more wasting time.

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very hard to write a tag with half my brain goin: http://tinyurl.com/yypsfexw while writing

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