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abraxaslogs2022-05-11 10:56 am
- castiel; the hanged man,
- cirilla of cintra; the devil,
- commander shepard; judgement,
- dean winchester; the lovers,
- geralt of rivia; the hanged man,
- goro; the chariot,
- himeka sui; the fool,
- inej ghafa; the hierophant,
- jaskier; the sun,
- jayce talis; the magician,
- jesper fahey; the wheel of fortune,
- kell maresh; the magician,
- nero (dmc); the chariot,
- rhy maresh; the lovers,
- sam wilson; justice,
- sasarai; judgement,
- stephen strange; death,
- thancred waters; strength,
- tony stark; the magician,
- viktor; death,
- wanda maximoff; the hanged man,
- y'shtola rhul; the high priestess
[ OPEN ] no more wasting time.
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?
following the q&a, ota
It's Thancred's nature to explore any new space, and so he'll be found just about anywhere: peeking into the kitchen to see what food is on offer (though he isn't likely to take any unless encouraged), staring at the television in the living area with a hint of unfamiliarity, or finding some fresh air (or the facsimile of it) out on the porch or even down near the docks.
Any familiar faces he'll be sure to nod to, or offer a quick hello unless they're interested in a more involved chat. Even for those he hasn't met, he'll come across as affable if their paths cross.
He understands well by now that it's rare for the Summoned to gather in numbers like this, particularly between factions. Organizing such a meeting even within the Horizon is no small task, and he won't squander the chance to mingle beyond the Summoned he knows from Thorne. ]
zooms in
She failed to mention the guy's got a mouth that just keeps on running, but... you know, as speeches go, probably wasn't the worst. Mostly because the whole time it's going, Nero's sticking his head in a modern fridge just for that touch of home.
A lot more useful than a phone booth, by the way. At least he'd ditched the cat for now.
Once Nero's got his hands on a cream soda (was it in the fridge or did he create it, looking for something different? Only the Horizon knows) he takes to glancing around. Being from Solvunn feels like sticking out as much as a smashed thumb. He's been putting his effort into finding a place among a bunch of deer-worshippers, and now there's... shit. There's a load more Summoned than Wanda really brought up.
it's through taking in the crowd, moving his way around on easy feet, that he keeps spotting a guy. Now, it's not like there's any shortage of white-haired guys in the world, but this is starting to feel a little weird. And when the larger percentage of the ones he's met happened to be related to him --
He stares. A little. Between squishing some sandwich together and poking his nose into all the rooms that are open, yeah. It's just. It's weird, all right?
Nero pulls up beside him as Thancred's staring at the television, instead of... you know, watching it.] Stumped? Usually you turn it on before you get sucked into it.
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At the question, he cocks up one eyebrow. ] Sucked into it? I assume you're not speaking literally when you say that.
[ Screens such as this are not common where he's from. He does recall Himeka describing something like this from her experience with Omega, and Allagan technology comes quite close. To see something like this in a person's home, and one so large, is what had given Thancred some pause. What is meant to be watched on it?
He approaches the screen, frowning as he bends his knees slightly and tries to find the "on" switch that must be... somewhere. Yet while he has a rather sharp eye, he isn't immediately finding anything.
Well, this is embarrasing.
With a look back at the stranger: ] And how do you turn it on, might I ask?
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[Huh? Thinking he's missed a joke or something, he waits for a punchline. Which... doesn't come. All right.]
Uh, no. It's just a TV.
[Nero stares after him as his fellow white-haired man with a real pick of a neck tat decides to peer at the TV like he does mean to crawl into it. Nero gets the sudden fear this is one of those guys who's never seen a TV, which... isn't too different from living around a bunch of medieval farmers, but.
He's acting a bit like what Kyrie would nicely refer to as a crackerjack. Nero has no idea where she even picked it up, but sometimes, yeah. You look at a guy and think, there he goes. The crackerjack.]
Usually a remote, if you can't stand walking three steps. Here. [He runs his fingers along the right side, finding the first of a line of small bumps. The TV turns on with a slight whine, popping on to what looks like a news report.
Yawn. Nero looks the crackerjack over again. Can't be that much older than himself, right?] I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you probably don't play video games, huh?
[Is this his chance to totally annihilate a guy in Forza? Oh, yeah.]
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Judging by the look on this stranger's face, he's confused by Thancred's confusion. If this sort of thing is commonplace for both Sam and this other Summoned, then the unfamiliarity that Thancred's exhibiting would be baffling.
Yet they're sorting it out. Thancred doesn't know what a remote is, though he can hazard a guess based on the word alone. Some sort of device one can use, even from a distance — the Garleans had consoles that would issue a piece of their magitech orders, though this is a far more tame example of that.
He steps back to give the other man space, then blinks in mild surprise when the screen lights up with moving images of three Hyurs sitting at a desk and talking. About what, he doesn't quite know.
At the man's question, he tears his gaze away from the screen and smiles crookedly, spreading his hands out to either side. ] What gave it away?
i'm sorry for dragging thancred into mario kart
Nero's eyes get a light in them. Oh, yeah. He's gonna destroy this guy. If he can convince him that a little controller in his hands is gonna make a car move on the screen.
It'd be fun. Why not? If he's never seen a television, video games might blow his mind. Nero reaches past him, switching on the console that turns on with a small lit light and a hum.]
General look of a bat seein' the sun for the first time. Lucky for you, sounds like you guys got sarcasm. [He plucks up a pair of controllers, grey and round, the buttons purple. He holds one out as a racing game starts up. Yeah, it's not Forza, but a kart's a car. Close enough.] Well, buddy, get ready for a little lesson. We call them video games. The buttons make this baby [he taps one of the karts on screen] stop or go. How're you with racing? You look like a competitive guy.
[How does he know? He doesn't. But, look, people with weird tattoos tend to be. Just ask him how he knows.]
drivebyyy
she's at the doorway of the living room staring, as she usually does, and then making a face at nero as he starts going on about video games.]
Nero. [nero tends to be pretty adept at handling himeka's lack of... their world's modernity, and because of the connection between himeka and thancred, she knows the man has little experience in the modern department.] Don't go hard on him.
[bless thancred though, wanda knows he's patient.]
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[ Sarcasm. Yes, Thancred is quite skilled in the use of it, if he says so himself, but that's neither here nor there. He's now having "video games" explained to him.
He takes the small device affixed with buttons, looking between it and the bright colors on the screen as the stranger explains. He can wrap his head around the general concept — that inputs he makes on the handheld device will control what he sees on the screen. It's like nothing he's ever seen before, to be sure, but there's a clear cause and effect that he can follow. Like any sort of game. ]
I can't say I've ever raced, at least not like this. [ Chocobo racing is the primary method of such recreation where he's from, but he'd always been more of a Triple Triad player himself.
Then a familiar voice sounds from behind him. Thancred blinks, looking over his shoulder to stare at Wanda before returning his attention to the white-haired stranger, who she apparently knows. ] Your name is Nero? [ After a beat, he shakes his head. ] Apologies, but there's someone from my star with that name, and you're... well, nothing like him. Which is a good thing, I can assure you.
WANDA NO BULLY [sprays with water]
[He might be about to learn something interesting except Wanda has to show up. Nero turns to spot her over a shoulder.] Well, look who decided to finally show up, huh? [He waves an arm in the perfect representation of yeah, yeah.]
Don't listen to her, I'm -- [He blinks.] Uh, yeah? Why's everyone so weird about my name? Himeka was too. [Not that she made it as obvious as this guy, but she'd looked confused. Staring at him like she was expecting something entirely different.
Ah. Well. Cool. In this case, suddenly it makes sense.] Oh, great, so he's an asshole, is what you're saying. Yeah, well, I'm not him, all right? At least let me beat you in a few rounds before you try to write me off.
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Yes, I imagine she would be. She's had to deal with him more than I have, in fact.
[ That's neither here nor there, however, and the less consideration given to Nero tol Sceava, the better. This Nero picks up on Thancred's meaning with little delay, though does get a bit defensive about the whole thing. ]
I'm hardly going to judge on a name, it was merely unexpected. [ With that, he lifts the handheld device he's holding and gives it a wiggle, gesturing to the screen with his free hand. ] Now, you were saying...? [ He still has no idea what he's doing, please explain. ]
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Not much else to remember them by.]
Oh, yeah, right. [But Nero's over it since he's not getting more shit for it. Besides, the guy's probably gonna be tired of him soon enough after a few races coming in 8th place. He points out the gas button, the brakes -- even points out exactly how to drive on the corners, except Nero doesn't explain what drifting is.]
It's one of those things you learn as you go. Like a bike. [Or is that you never forget how to do it...?] Anyway, let's race. I'm definitely gonna smoke you.
[You know, in a completely friendly manner. He picks the course, randomized, and a little guy holding a traffic light holds up three fingers. Three. Two. One. Go!]
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Not that he could be expected to know exactly how to play this game on the first try. While the general logic behind it is all simple enough to understand, the reality of when to press the buttons or move the little stick and for how long is not nearly as straightforward. It feels more like trying to walk for the first time.
By the third or fourth time that he goes off the track, Thancred can't help but start murmuring to himself in frustration. He's also holding the controller in a white-knuckled grip as he attempts to properly manipulate all the different buttons. The entire setup is foreign and unnatural to him, but it never feels good to be bad at something. ]
Why won't you move the way I want?
should we wrap it here?
He can't be a complete dick.]
Here, on the turns, press this button. [He pokes at one of Thancred's digits, holding a top trigger down.] Makes your cart drift. Way easier to curve around the tight turns. That's the secret.
[Yeah. He's a saint.] Wanna go again? You won't get better if you don't practice. And let's be honest, this is way more interesting than most of this meeting.
sure thing!! teach him your ways, nero
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[ Jesper has been mostly manning the food table at this point, handing out plates and eating more than he probably needs to, but it isn't filling so it is purely because he wants to. He did not take one of Julie's drinks, despite adoring her, because he doesn't want to die of alcohol poisoning. But he sees Thancred staring at the television and approaches him. He's a fan of the bloke, and it's fun to get to see him again. ]
So apparently people make plans and stories and they act them out and then this machine memorizes it and plays it again later on this device. So you can watch the stories any time you want again.
[ Jesper doesn't fully have the words for technology, he doesn't even get the whole machine recording thing, but that is what was explained to him. Generally, it makes some sense, but it is far outside of his experience. A tank is the most technology they have in his world, they do not have television. ]
It beats reading. I see all of these other worlds with future technology and feel a little resentful.
[ Why can't he have a TV? Why can't he have a spaceship? ]
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Jesper goes right into explaining the screen in front of them and what it's for, though it's not the most technical description. That's likely for the best, as Thancred would only be able to follow so much. ]
Then it's as if you're watching a play, but instead of actors having to get on stage to perform it each and every night, it's a recording?
[ Fascinating. Instant entertainment, right in one's living space, and it didn't even involve hiring anyone. Or reading. ]
It sounds intriguing. Have you watched any yourself? [ Thancred looks Jesper over (he hadn't realized the young man was so tall) with a smile. ] It's good to see you again, by the by.
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Yes, exactly. But it's very close, like you're in the play itself, not looking from afar. They can get people's faces clearly so it feels like you're there.
[ So only a play if you were standing on stage. The angles are fascinating to him. He doesn't entirely understand how they make it happen, but the end result is great! Jesper is not much of a reader, he is far more of a visual person, so television and anything like it really suits him. ]
I have when in Horizons with them, these people take it for granted. I would probably get nothing done if I had one.
[ Jesper is 6'3 and all long limbs, not quite gangly, but skinny. He flashes Thancred a warm smile. ]
Nice to see you too, handsome.
[ He has to wink. It's part of his nature. ]
Oh I can show you my guns! These are my original ones, but I got a new set finally in Cadens.
[ Jesper flips one of his beloved pearl-handed revolvers out of where they're permanently on his hips in the Horizon, the movement so smooth and fast that it's barely a blink and it's there. He does an impressive twirl of it in his hand and then offers it handle first to Thancred. He beams, he is very proud of these. ]
They're six-shooters but impressively good with distance, sometimes I don't even need to use my rifle.
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Speaking of which, Jesper continues on with his flirtatious behavior despite the fact that they're no longer sharing a bath. Thancred isn't at all surprised by this, and simply nods in acknowledgment. Yes, he is handsome, isn't he? He winks back.
And then it's on to talk of guns. Given that they'd promised to show each other their tools of the trade during their last conversation, it's only right. Thancred watches as Jesper pulls out one of his twin guns with a flourish, then reaches out to grip the handle and admire the piece as a whole. ]
So not all style then. [ He smirks and returns it after a few more moments. His own gunblade is not on his back at the moment, seeing how it's the Horizon and he hadn't seen any need for it, but he holds his arm out to one side and conjures it into his grip. As promised, it's a sword and a gun all in one, complete with a barrel and chamber that takes cartridges. ]
Clearly, it's not quite the same as what you use. [ He shifts his arm to hold the gunblade horizontally in front of him, allowing Jesper to take a closer look. ] We have machinists who use guns and rifles more similar to your type. But I thought you would be interested to see this all the same.
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[ Yes, he's only seventeen, but he inherited them at seven, so that still is a decade of his guns being dependable. Jesper loves guns in general, he always has, there's something about the power in his hands, the sleekness of the make, the way it feels to wield one without ever having to do a thing about it. Sometimes that's the best kind of wielder, honestly, who has a good enough reputation no one ever does anything to have them pulled out of the holster. He got there as a gunslinger.
Jesper's delighted the moment he sets eyes on the gunblade as it appears and he leans forward, looking closely at it. He runs his fingers along the blade with open curiosity and then to the barrel, confused by how it is possible to have both. it's right there in front of him, but it still seems so impossible. ]
So you can shoot someone, but if they get close enough and you can't reload, you can just fight them with the sword.
[ It's incredible! Jesper is still not amazing with a sword, he did some training with Sephiroth who is a task masker, and he's fought with more than a gun before, so he'd be able to do it. But he is pretty reliant on his weapon of choice. He can see the value in something this diverse. ]
Why doesn't everyone run around with these, then? Aren't they more practical? I say that as a gunslinger, but seriously.
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Yet when he considers Ryne and the twins, he has to concede the point. To say nothing of himself and how young he'd been when a weapon was put into his hands.
Thancred nods along as Jesper inspects the gunblade and quickly comes to conclusions on how it might best be used in battle. After a moment he flips the blade around so that he can hand it over grip-first for Jesper to take. ]
That empire that I mentioned before, they used a version of these that were not imbued with magick but their own energy source. They stole the concept from the true masters of the gunblade, the Bozjans. Unfortunately, those who could train others in its use have waned in number. [ Thancred had been lucky to find someone willing to teach him, and he will always owe Rostik for taking a chance on him.
He could launch into a history lesson about Bozja and the resistance, but it's neither here or not there. He crosses his arms, only reaching out when Jesper's ready to return the weapon. ]
Everyone has their preferences. There's nothing wrong with wanting to keep a distance and maintain the upper hand that way.
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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.
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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. ]
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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. ]
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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?
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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.
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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. ]
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Maybe wrap here?