abraxaslogs | [open] stories sown along the way

i. his

[ The Horizon serves as a good change of scenery, whether returning Thancred to more familiar sights from home or allowing him to learn of other's worlds in a far more vivid way than what words would provide.

If he has to be confined to such a small area within Thorne, at least he does have this place to "visit," away from the prying eyes and ears of the castle-dwellers.

A good half of the time that he's here he passes in his own domain. Yet whether he is seated under the shade of a tree in Old Sharlayan tossing treats at a nearby nutkin, enjoying a drink in the homey comfort of the Rising Stones, or stoking a fire at a campsite, a flash of something will come to him unbidden, with little warning.

It's been happening day in and day out now, the image becoming clearer with each instance. The perfectly triangular structure set against a blood-red backdrop; the moons and suns positioned at odd angles in the sky; and the strange shapes hanging at either side of the central building, vaguely resembling bodies.

And always, that symbol of the arcana, emblazoned on the building itself, or into the earth, or far overhead.

Thancred might just be recovering from another vision when he realizes someone's come to join him. He blinks, straightens his back and nods to them, or perhaps rises from his seat to give a proper greeting. ]

ii. yours

[ Yet there are times when Thancred even tires of his own domain. He's well aware that he can change it to his whims, and while he might sometimes make small adjustments, he is more interested to see what his fellow Summoned have done with their respective spaces.

And so he sets out on a walk, hands tucked into the pockets of his white coat. It doesn't seem to matter where he goes — he'll eventually see that strange image flash into his field of view for a few seconds.

Something is going on with the Singularity, and no one seems to understand what.

When he doesn't feel like walking or wants to cover more ground, he conjures up a chocobo to ride.

Regardless, if he happens to find someone in their domain when he visits, he'll lift up a hand and call out to announce himself. He's happy to simply pass through, unless it turns out they're interested in some company. ]

Novel, but useful.

[There are times that Alucard takes what he terms the long route to his domain, which is to say he declines to appear in it instantly. He instead walks himself to whatever little blank spot in the Horizon has not been built upon yet and walks, letting the space of others pass by. It is a way of observing the Domains without crossing too heavily into them, and thus avoids trepassing into the hearts of each.

So it goes here. Entering into night is no great shock - Alucard's own domain always has clouds and lightly falling rain - and his eyes adjust easily. There is nothing familiar in these narrow lanes save for the uneven streets. The surprise stairs. And in this series of twists and turns, Alucard recognizes the purpose.

He isn't sure if the alleys will respond to intent voiced internally, so he instead turns to the wall.]

An exit to another Domain would be welcome. I've no desire to travel further.

[And so he keeps walking, now more curious about the response than whoever occupies this space.]

[ It's been some time since Thancred has felt an intrusion of this nature, but he isn't particularly bothered by it. He equates it to someone knocking on the front door of his space, even if he doesn't exactly have a welcome mat placed out.

It doesn't take him long to find his way to the other Summoned who's wandered in, the winding streets easily giving way to his own desires and whims and making a maze turn into a rather linear path. And so Thancred rounds a corner to find a pale man in a dark coat.

The sentiment of the spoken words is still understood, even if Thancred may not have been physically present to hear them. He's come to learn that there are many aspects of the Horizon that must simply be accepted rather than questioned too thoroughly. ]

Had your fill already? There's more I could permit you to see, though I can't promise anything too fascinating. Still, if you needed a spot to rest for a moment...

[ He nods, sweeping an arm to indicate that the stranger is welcome to venture further in. ]

I have similar enough security measures and am inclined to respect them.

[There's a brief incline of Alucard's head. He had not expected anyone to appear. Just to keep wandering until he was finally spat out at the edge of the Horizon, having at least enjoyed the novelty of different city streets to his own.]

And my legs are strong enough to keep moving forward, but thank you for the offer all the same.

[ Similar security measures? Now Thancred's curious to know if he's wandered by this stranger's domain in the past, though he imagines it would have stood out to him if so.

The stranger is quite stiff, polite and reserved in this brief interaction, but Thancred views that all more as a challenge than anything else. ]

I didn't meant to call the strength of your legs into question, worry not. [ He sends over a polite smile of his own, falling into step next to the man before much protest can be offered. ] If you weren't intending to visit, then might I ask where you're headed?

A friend's.

[Alucard is indeed, reserved, stiff, and polite enough. It is how he functions without giving too much of himself away, especially around strangers. It is a preference, and a decently honed front at this point.]

There are times I take a longer route, along the edges of others' domains. I believe my foot slipped at some point along the path.

[ A friend's. It would be the only logical reason that someone might wander about like this, though Thancred would be the last to judge someone for taking a walk simply to clear their head. ]

I will often do the same. Which friend? Mayhap we have them in common.

[ This stranger is not located in Thorne or Thancred would have seen him by now. He has too striking of a visage to have been missed in a crowd. Thancred doesn't mean to keep him, and so he moves forward to fall into step with him, not opposed to going on a little walk of his own, at least until the man reaches his destination. ]

[Alucard isn't inclined to have company, but he's also not in a position to refuse. He did trespass, and this is the most elegant out he's capable of having.]

Do you know that many people in the Free Cities?

[It is the same quiet stranger acknowledgement, phrased as politely as possible.]

[ That answers a question that Thancred had not yet gotten around to answering, and he sees that as reason enough to return the favor. ]

Not as many as I know in Thorne.

[ Still, he has no interest in being insular simply because his captors have decided to keep them close at hand, and so he is quick to add to his statement as they continue their walk, side-by-side now. ]

However, I did attend that town hall in the Horizon, and I was present for the Summit. I have had some opportunities to mingle.

[ Not that Thancred saw this man in either of those places, though in the case of the Summit enough had been going on that they may have simply missed each other.

After a pause, he nods to the stranger. ] Thancred. 'Tis a pleasure to meet you.

Ah.

[It is difficult for Alucard to keep the ice out of his reaction at the mention of the place. He was one of those dragged into Thorne, before the other places copied Ambrose's feat. The bitterness of imprisonment has yet to truly wear off.]

With respect to Sam and his goals, I find the town halls a bit self-selecting. The summit was...[he pauses, trying to figure out the right words. He settles on:] Well, it happened. I kept to myself.

[His general M.O., in truth.]

Alucard. Apologies for the disturbance.

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[ Himeka has made it a point that all of her closest friends are able to find her wherever she happens to be around Horizon. Given the fact that her own Domain is mobile, she wouldn't expect them to be able to track her down given how she tends to follow her whimsy of the moment. So Thancred, naturally, has been gifted a little Aetheryte of his own, allowing him to transport to the large crystal that sits at the center of every iteration of her Domain.

Today, her bubble reflects the Kogane Dori Markets of Kugane at night. The usual shopkeeps one would expect are entirely gone and there is a bit of artistic liberty here, but it looks like right now she is showing a few of her dragonets how to play-run a food stand.

When she hears Thancred's voice, she perks up immediately. ]

Thancred! You're here just in time for a test run.

[ She ushers him over enthusiastically. ]

[ While Thancred makes a point of checking in on Himeka regularly with the messages that they're able to send, there is no true replacement for a face-to-face meeting. Even if it is in the Horizon. It's close enough to the real thing that he suspects it takes away some of the sting of them being in different factions.

Even if that is something they both agreed on.

Having a means of locating Himeka no matter where her domain might go is also quite helpful, and shortly after he arrives in the Horizon Thancred makes use of the aether shard to be instantly transported to her space.

In a stroke of luck, she's also here.

Thancred takes a moment to orient himself. He hasn't spent much time in Kugane but he still recognizes it instantly, the distinct architecture making it impossible to mistake for any other location in Etheirys. It does feel rather empty, but the same could be said for his recreation of the Crystarium. Creating people simply doesn't feel right, though Himeka has made an exception for dragonets.

There's a gaggle of them surrounding her, and Thancred raises an eyebrow, half curious and half (already) exasperated. What is he about to get dragged into?

He walks over to meet them all the same. ]

Is that so? Shall I take on the role of a customer, then?

[ He's about to get dragged into fun, clearly. What's there to be afraid of? The fact that the dragonets all start to chant "A customer! A customer!" and one nearly flips over the grill in excitement?

Yeah probably that. ]

You'll be our first! And good practice for them, I think.

[ Once Thancred is over, one of the dragonets will try to emulate the bow that Himeka taught them to do. ]

"Welcome, Child of Man! Browse our wears and be amazed..."

[ There is a sign above them, listing three different menu options.

In Hingan, of course.

Luckily for Thancred, there are little poorly drawn pictures next to them. Unluckily for Thancred Himeka is a terrible artist and apparently the dragonets aren't much better. There are two indiscernible blobs and something that almost looks like a squid. Take your pick! ]

[ Thancred's hands twitch forward when he suspects that the entire grill might be knocked over, but all seems to be well in the end. This still strikes him as a disaster waiting to happen in every sense, which means it's likely for the best that he's here.

Granted, if a mess does happen it will take little more than a few thoughts to clean it up, so perhaps he shouldn't be so worked up. It's simply ~~dad~~ instinct kicking in, a need to carry out damage control always at the back of his mind.

All that said, he is still greeted politely and the dragonets are eager to help. Thancred peers up at the signage above, his expression become slowly more distressed as he realizes he cannot make sense of any of it.

He glances back down at the dragonet, the one who first addressed him, as he places a hand at his hip. ]

Would you mind describing the three offerings? I must admit that I am not all that familiar with Hingan cuisine...

[ It's a good lesson in customer service and it ensures that Thancred doesn't eat anything truly horrendous. ]

[ What is innovation without risk? Discovery without risk? Playing with dragons without...yeah even more risk? It's well-worth it in her eyes, and considering she's taught Ehll Tou a thing or two, she can surely coach a few more dragonets on how to grill some meat and engage in commerce?

Said dragonets are waiting eagerly for their very first order. Himeka stands beside them with her hands folded neatly in front of her, looking back and forth between her students and Thancred. ]

Oh yes!

[ What a great question! Almost like he planned it rather than the fact the menu doesn't make any sense. She turns to the dragonets, using this as a teaching moment. ]

Customers may ask for your thoughts and recommendations beyond simple menu items.

[ The dragonets all do a little shimmy in the air. Each takes a turn describing one item: ]

The grilled dodo is...grilled! And very tasty.

The grilled squid is also grilled. Everything is grilled! But I like the squid because it's whole and the beak will crunch when you bite into it.

The grilled yak is grilled. But it has sauce on it! Himeka made that, though.

[ Okay not quite the sell she was hoping for, but it is their first time. ]

[ The way that Himeka hovers nearby, it does seem as if she wants her dragonet creations to succeed at this new task. Thancred can't help but find that she's a bit like a proud mother, eager for her children to impress. Given that these creatures were made by her mind, it does fit.

For all that this entire situation is ridiculous, Thancred views it as par for the course for Himeka, and so he's willing to play along. He listens to each of the descriptions and while they leave something to be desired, he won't be too critical as their very first customer. ]

Himeka's cooking is always tempting, though I think I would be better served to try something new. Let's try the grilled squid.

[ He nods to the dragonet who explained the squid, wanting to reward the one who put the most effort into their sales pitch. ]

[ They are, indeed, much like her children. She's been drawn to the dragonets since the onset, in no small part due to the comparisons her appearance garnered when she first arrived in Ishgard. But more than scales, it's their curious and incorrigible personalities that she just finds all too endearing. What's not to love?

It's not quite the same as the real thing...but conjuring up such life-like creatures from one's own mind does offer a new sense of pride and ownership, doesn't it? Like it's her responsibility to care for them now. (Another reason why every now and then a stray karakul may wander into any scene. She could not leave them alone as Estinien's domain disappeared.)

The dragonet who introduced the squid does a little flip in the air as if it's won this contest of sales. Which, in some ways, it did. ]

An excellent choice! Now make sure you package it up for our customer.

The stick! Get the stick!

[ All three immediately go for the pile of skewers. It takes a small bout of bickering before one manages to grasp one appropriately in its little claws, then a little more maneuvering in actually staking a few pieces of squid onto it. They're not quite at the dexterous nature of Ehll Tou...yet.

Himeka nudges Thancred's arm. ]

This is the best part...

[ Because while she is a chef, dragons? They have all sorts of fun abilities.

The smallest takes a big breath and lets out a surprisingly big flame for it's little body. The squid is cooked instantly. Because that's how it works. Himeka claps proudly. ]

Well done!

[ A beat as the dragonet flaps over to Thancred and offers the skewer. ]

You did want it well done, right?

[Sure, Aloy guesses she could literally will herself from place to place inside the Horizon, but there's an appeal to getting on a machine and seeing it the old-fashioned way. She's curious about what her fellow Summoned conjure up, and the knowledge that so many of them come not only from other versions of Earth, but different worlds entirely piques her natural curiosity.

This guy is certainly curious, or rather, the creature he's riding on, not so dissimilar to her own Clawstrider. The sight of someone else riding a mount is enough for her to slow her machine, but he raises a hand in greeting and she seems amenable to conversation.]

Hey.

[You know, all cool-like, not at all indicative of the fact that she's never seen anything like this before. Well, technically she has--just made of metal and carbon fiber and out to murder her.]

I like your...bird?

[Like a Longleg. But, you know, real. And hopefully tame.]

[ The machine that the woman is riding is certainly curious. Thancred would go so far as to term it magitek, but its appearance is slightly more animal than the Empire's designs tend to be. It remains the closest comparison he has, and while the chocobo shifts with some uncertainty under him as he slows up, it doesn't spook.

Of course, it would only spook if he wanted it to because it's a creation of his own mind. Still getting used to that.

The chocobo does seem to preen in response to that compliment, letting out a kweh noise in greeting. ]

And I like your machine. [ Judging from the uncertainty in the stranger's tone, she's never seen a chocobo before. Thancred reaches out to gently pat the bird's head. ] This creature is called a chocobo. They're often used for riding where I'm from. Is that the same for you and your...

[ He nods toward the not-magitek, watching it closely. ]

Well, I can't take credit for it.

[She says, heading off the most common question she's getting about the machine--did you build it? Aloy, for her part, watches the bird intently. It seems friendly, at least. Domesticated, which Thancred confirms when he says they're often used for riding.]

No, not really. [Though it's becoming more common, given her and Sylens' separate activities.] They're usually...wild?

[That doesn't quite sound like the right word, but she isn't sure how else to describe it.]

You can take credit for its existence here, I imagine.

[ Granted, building a piece of advanced magitek and simply willing one into being with one's mind are two different things, but Thancred would rather she didn't sell herself short.

But... it's a wild machine? His head cants to one side as he tries to puzzle through that, even as his chocobo shifts around beneath him, somewhat restless in the presence of the magitek beast. ]

Are they not automated? Programmed by their builders to behave a certain way?

[ Clearly this one is following her orders now. Thancred has seen magitek and how it behaves when it is no longer under anyone's control. Some of them will simply keep to their same patrol routes, ready to fire at anyone who comes close. ]

Still getting used to that...

[She says it more to herself than anything, her tone of voice implying that she's either uncomfortable with or doesn't like the Horizon. After a moment, however, she seems to return to the conversation at hand. HEPHAESTUS is a little complicated to explain, but Thancred has it more-or-less right. Programmed by their builders to behave a certain way, and then, to evolve once humans started hunting them for parts. Without GAIA to run the terraforming system, and her sub-functions acting on their own, the machines spun out of control.]

Sort of. They have programming. Hostile to humans, but it's there. Back home, I had a device that let me override some of them.

[She gives her Clawstrider a little pat on the carbon fiber neck, as if to emphasize that's what she's conjured up here.]

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[ The Horizon does take getting used to, and Thancred hardly blames her for still being uncertain about it. That statement implies that she is more newly Summoned, though he is fairly certain she is not in Thorne. He has at least a passing knowledge of all of the other Summoned in the vicinity of the Castle.

A device that allows one to take control of what he assumes to be a powerful machine must be quite useful, and with Cid Garlond's help, Himeka has done similar in the past.

There are more questions he has, of course, but Thancred suspects both of them would prefer to keep on the move. He tightens his thighs around the flanks of the chocobo, indicating that it should continue moving, and jerks the reins to ensure that he remains on the same path and pace as his new friend. ]

Hostile to all humans? There isn't a group that built them for their own purposes?

[ His point of reference is Garlemald, yet he knows that the other worlds that his fellow Summoned come from might function rather differently. ]

Thancred, by the way. It's nice to meet you — in a sense. [ He smiles and nods, at ease even as they ride. ]

[More than useful--it's effectively given her an advantage over most adversaries, at least until Sylens started distributing the technology to suit his purposes. For now, however, the increasingly widespread use of overrides is not an issue. She made sure of that.

All of this is a long story. Too long of a story, and she's not even sure Thancred will understand what she means, when she describes an artificial intelligence. Still, he seems interested, so that helps. A group? No. She shakes her head.]

Machines building machines. It's...complicated. I'm Aloy.

[ Machines building machines. That is enough to make his head ache, just a tad. Thancred can theoretically understand that larger magitek can be used to manufacture smaller units, automating the process so that not all of it is done by hand. Yet it seems as if this Aloy is implying something else entirely. ]

Well met, then, Aloy. Might I ask where you are right now? In reality, that is.

[ He scans the horizon, on the lookout for any domains of interest. The impossibly tall buildings of Amaurot are visible in the distance, but he averts his gaze almost immediately, having no interest in running across Ascians on this fine day. ]

horizon

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