[ OPEN ] no more wasting time.

[falcony]

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?

Comments

[itookashot]

[ Jesper is about to turn eighteen so he is young, but these were his when his mother died at age seven. He became the hunter for him and his Da and grew up with them at hand. He learned his impressive gun moves and fancy tricks young so by the time he went to Ketterdam a few years ago, he was already had a great deal of skill. There are a lot of troubled teenagers in his city, a corrupt system taking down the young early. He likes being trouble though. It's been difficult to adjust to being normal here, or as normal as he's going to get. No fights! No jobs! Alas.

He takes the gunblade, absolutely delighted, and gets used to the weight of it in his hand, slicing in the air a little bit. Safely, nothing will get chopped in the midst of his playing around. It's astonishing, he really doesn't think anything like that is possible yet in his world. There are a lot of kinds of guns, he has a rifle as well as these, but a mix like this seems very unlikely. Otherwise Kaz would've gotten them all one. ]

Isn't that what most people do? Steal better ideas from someone else and pretend it's yours.

[ A very skeptical mindset, but it's the sort of thing you learn in the Barrel. There is no innocence down there. Everyone gets their idea and powers from someone else. There's a ruling merchant class in Ketterdam, they made a lot of money off of the backs of other people's work. He already is in love with this gunblade but he hands it back to him respectfully. Maybe he'll secretly make a few of them in his own Horizon, he has quite the collection of weapons in the Van Eck Mansion. ]

That is usually my job, whereas my friend Inej is the knife person, getting in close and quiet. We all had our own thing in the gang.

[ He usually calls them a mercenary group, but oh well, it's a gang, that is what the Crows are. With all that entials. Inej is somewhere around here, probably being silent as she's listening to everyone else. ]

The highest tech I've seen is a tank. Impressive, I even got to drive it, but nothing too fancy like I've seen around here.

[funbreaker]

[ Thancred nods, conceding the point that many good ideas are simply stolen from others. That certainly is the case with the Garlean empire, who also conquered people only to add their most talented members to their ranks, but they've already covered that.

Once the gunblade's returned to him, Thancred wishes it out of existence, not wanting such a large weapon to get in the way in such a crowded space. If they were going to go outside and shoot at targets, that would be one thing, but it's a simple task to bring the gunblade back if needed.

In truth, Thancred hardly blinks at the use of the word "gang." Based on what Jesper had already told him, it seemed to be more or less implied. ]

Ah, I'm also the knife person when I want to be. [ Thancred smiles, a hint sly. ] In those instances when rushing in with weapons drawn isn't the advisable method.

[ It feels odd to be so open about it, but there's no reason not to when they're safe within the Horizon, and no one else is eavesdropping so far as he can tell. (And he would be able to tell.) ]

What led to you driving a tank, if I may ask? [ Thancred crosses his arms, settling in to listen to what sounds like it should be an entertaining story. ]

[itookashot]

[ Aw, the gunblade went away. He gets why, but he likes looking at it. He is definitely going to secretly add a version of it so his arsenal in his own Horizon. Jesper's done that with a lot of weapons he's seen in other Horizons or even in the memories he witnessed. What's the point in having a completely controllable dream palace if you don't fill it with new fun things? Eventually he's going to have to change his entirely, it only really serves to make him homesick. ]

Oh so you can do it all. Beauty, brawn, and espionage. What a package. And probably someone courted by many an organization.

[ You could call it flirting or it could be Jesper saying it as he sees it. It's probably both. He compliments people who deserve it, and truly, he doesn't know many people who can hit all the categories like that. It's why he's the gunslinger and Inej is the spy. Everyone serves their own parts. If they could all do everything, though, they probably would be more dangerous. Thancred's a power house. He might not be a part of a gang, but he's likely been asked.

Jesper grins at the segue to a fun story. Well, parts of it are fun. Other parts, not so much, but he can always focus on the fun. ]

We were on a job to an ice prison to capture what we thought was information, turned out it was a person. Most of our jobs tend to go a little sideways, so we rolled with it. The person in question had made a drug that our enemies were using to control people with powers.

[ People like him. Grisha. The Fjerdans hated them, but they liked apparently pitting them against each other.]

We yoinked him and one of the ways we escaped was running a tank right through the bloody wall. Bam!

[ He claps his hands together hard, delighted. What a great time. After some screaming and death, obviously, but he's focusing on the positives. ]

[funbreaker]

[ Thancred has already gathered that this is just how Jesper is, throwing out flirtations and compliments as if he were giving out candy. More than that, he doesn't seem to have any sort of ulterior motive, not the way Thancred often did when he'd fallen on similarly honeyed words. ]

I might have been, had it not become well-known that I was attached to the Scions. That being said, being fought over isn't all it's made out to be. [ He presses a hand against his heart and gives a small bow of his head in thanks, though it's done in a teasing manner, his smile quickly hidden as his head lowers.

Thancred might feel that Jesper is giving him a bit too much credit, but on the other hand, he may have a point. Thorne had chosen him, for better or worse, and it might be his varied skillset that had led them to that decision, even if he has a glaring lack of magical ability.

Jesper carries on, quickly sharing the story, and Thancred lifts his head at the mention of a drug that could control people with "powers." It doesn't sound quite the same as tempering, but it's close enough to give him pause. ]

If you can't find an exit, then make one of your own. [ He smirks and nods, a small acknowledgement that he's done similar in the past. ] This drug — were you able to dispose of it?

[itookashot]

[ Jesper's only real ulterior motive is potentially getting flirted with back because it's fun and that's really all there is to it. He has flirted with and seduced people for cons, he makes a very good honey pot when he wants to be, but it's not his first move. ]

No one really made a move on me once I got snatched by the Dregs, loyalty is in short supply in Ketterdam, and most of the city's supply is in me.

[ Jesper's joking about it because he can, but most gangs are up for hire or members switch sides if they think there's a good reason. No one takes it that personally, especially if there's more money or power involved, but the Crows look after each other. And his loyalty is never up to question, which is why it took a while for Kaz to figure out how they nearly all got killed. It was Jesper's stupidity that caused it, not his loyalty, alas.

It sounds like the Scions were like that for Thancred. You can always tell loyalty over money. Jesper can only see reasons why Thancred would be worth recruiting, so good call, Thorne. Unfortunately, since Jesper doesn't trust them at all, and his list of people he likes there is growing longer and therefore slightly more stressful. ]

Exactly. It was very cathartic. Those bastards really had it coming.

[ They honestly had much worse coming, but he couldn't actually get all of his rage out on them, so this would have to do. As for the drug, it gets Jesper to be serious for once. ]

Not all of it, but we did manage to smuggle the boy out who could make it, and an antidote was made. Otherwise people could have an army of superpowered soldiers completely unable to do anything other than follow orders due to being addicted and controlled.

[funbreaker]

[ 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. ]

[itookashot]

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.

[funbreaker]

[ 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. ]

[itookashot]

[ Jesper is also very loyal to the Dregs as a gang, and he's popular with them too, but he has a tendency to be too trusting at times. It's made him blind to the rare times a Dreg has turned against them, but Kaz always knows. But that's his gang, the Crows are where his heart lies. He has made close friendships since coming here, but it doesn't stop him from missing his people, yet he can't wish them here, that would be wrong. Outside of Matthias, who would be better off here. ]

Oh, I don't doubt they would use that power in very bad ways. Thorne has been aiming at the Singularity since the beginning, considering they started all this.

[ The first place to bring the Summoned there. And then threw them in a prison and lost their trust and faith enough to spread out elsewehre. Jesper's very suspicious of them, although that isn't to say he thinks Free Cities is free of violent faction action. In fact, he is fairly certain conscription may end up being a thing in Free Cities, considering it's a militant option. ]

Free Cities say they want to destroy it, but I think they're more interested in keeping it from Thorne. If that's destroying it or taking it themselves, it all is the same thing in the end.

[ He wonders what will happen if they do try to duke it out. For all that Free Cities has technology and New Magic, which can be very dangerous, Thorne has all that magic. Jesper sighs. ]

Something similar to this happened in my world. Ravka had all the superpowered people, Fjerda had all the weapons and military. They've been warring for a very long time. That'll be Thorne and Free Cities when it starts. The Singularity is the wild card.

[funbreaker]

[ Between using the power of the Singularity to wage war or destroying it, Thancred isn't convinced one option is better than the other. Destroying it could destroy this world and countless others. It would hardly be the first time that people decided that they could meddle with power they only partially understood, but it's frustrating to be at the mercy of such poor decision-making.

He leans forward, resting his elbow on his thighs, and shakes his head to himself. ] Regardless of what happens, we'll be little more than collateral damage to them, assuming they don't find a means to use us in some way. [ The Summoned have a direct connection to the Singularity, something the Queen of Thorne has already tried to exploit. ] Nor do I think we should forget about Solvunn. If they have a means of communing with gods, their force could be the most destructive of all.

[ Take it from him. He has his fair share of experience with such things, as he'd just mentioned.

He glances to Jesper then, realizing more and more that the boy has seen far more than would be expected at his age. Much like the twins. ]

I am sorry to hear this is business as usual for you, though. It seems no world out there has a means of avoiding conflict.

[ That is why Meteion had wanted to raze it all to the ground, but that isn't the correct answer either. ]

[itookashot]

[ Jesper feels fairly confident that destroying the Singularity will probably destroy at least this world, if not others. This world is made of magic, he can't imagine that killing the source of it will simply take the magic away, it will have long term consequences if it doesn't blow them up right away. He doesn't know if anyone is stupid enough to do that here, but at the end of the day, the Summoned are a small group of outsiders. The people in charge of many more. ]

We're only, what, around fifty people total? It's easy to feel like we're much more important than we are, considering the ways we are special, but yeah, we're probably just a different type of fodder. Getting us killed will cause less backlash than killing their own people.

[ It's a cynical point of view, sure, but Jesper can be both an optimist and a cynic at the same time. He would lean more toward realist. He sees danger where it is, and he keeps an eye on it, because he likes breathing. If the factions want to send out their special Summoned to fight their battles for them, they will find a way. ]

Oh I didn't add them because from what I hear, they're fairly neutral on the subject. Apparently they think we should leave it alone, which is the sanest opinion I've heard.

[ The Singularity, that is. Jesper like anyone else with a big streak of curiosity would love to go and poke at the giant rock. He wonders what it would feel like under his fingers, with his powers. But he also feels like the best path is to ignore it entirely. Leave it alone. It's a massive magical powerful entity with who knows what type of personality or interests of its own. Humans cause enough trouble without needing magic. ]

Not that long before I got here, they did manage to pit some Summoned against each other. There were caskets from Thorne to bring back magical energy, and the other two got in the way. In the end everyone got the same amount of magical caskets back. Don't know if anyone knows what happened to them after that.

[ They probably all have them still. For all Jesper knows, they're making weapons with them, it seems like the smartest call. The point is, they've succeeded in pitting Summoned against each other before. It can be done again. As for conflict, Jesper just shrugs. ]

Eh, life would be boring if it was perfect and peaceful all the time.

[funbreaker]

[ Thancred is also a realist, with most of his teammates tending toward the idealism and optimism that he can usually only partly manage. They balance each other out, with him bringing them down to earth if they get lost in the clouds. ]

I don't think they'll kill us unless they have no other option. They brought us here for a reason.

[ Which seems to have everything to do with their connection to the Singularity. Until that mystery is solved, they're more useful alive.

It's true that Solvunn's stance on the Singularity may be the sanest one, though he also doesn't necessarily disagree with Thorne's desire to understand it. It's what they'll do if they are able to gain control of that power that worries him.

He nods as Jesper brings up the caskets once more. ] We discussed this during our last chat, did we not? That's another source of power that we'll need to keep in mind. [ He does in fact know exactly what Himeka did with one of the caskets, but that isn't his information to share, especially since he isn't certain everyone would approve.

It's that last comment from Jesper that earns a smirk from Thancred as he pushes to his feet. ] Well, you're right about that. No rest for the wicked either, I imagine. [ He winks at him. ]

Maybe wrap here?

[itookashot]

Well, that's if they don't kill us just to replace us with new ones. Or new versions of ourselves. That's apparently a thing that happens, we come, we leave, we come back either with or without memories of being here.

So some of them are brand new as if nothing happened, some people remember, and that's a bit of a mindfuck. Jesper has only heard of it so far, he hasn't experienced it himself, knowing someone only for them to disappear and come back with no memories. But he knows other people have seen it happen. Inej has talked about it before. He's not looking forward to that. Jesper is very adaptable but his relationships with people are unique. It'd be hard to copy it.

Sorry, not to be a downer. It's my friend Kaz's voice in my head, he always thinks of the worst possible option and works back from that.

[ Usually Kaz is the one planning the worst possible option. Jesper's always been the fly by the seat of your pants, follow Kaz's orders type, so he's had to think for himself since getting here. It's been a strange experience. He laughs about the no rest for the wicked, nodding because yes, that's exactly how he thinks too. ]

Who wants to rest?

[ Not him! ]