[open] stories sown along the way

[funbreaker]

Who: Thancred Waters & YOU
When: Throughout July
Where: Thorne; the Horizon
What: Reacting to goings-on in the castle, hanging out in the Horizon, chocobo rides
Warnings: Will edit in as they come up!

[ Starters below in the comments! If you've got questions or want to plot out something not covered here, feel free to contact me on Plurk (demonology) or Discord (demonology#1725)! ]

Comments

[vixening]

[ it isn't something that yennefer actively thinks about, but truthfully, there is something almost relieving about being known well enough that thancred can just tell. that he knows. his eyes glint and yennefer doesn't need to say anything more about that - about being left behind, about the relatively low-key anxiety that comes with feeling caged.

but that's not what they're talking about, here. right now, they are walking through the halls of the castle, and thancred has returned from one of his exclusive day-trips, and yennefer wants to know. so when he mentions a full report, she nods. because yes, she's been to borrel. but she also knows the connections. knows that all it takes is one piece of information for something to change. ]

I suppose that's acceptable. [ which is, of course, played up much more than how she actually feels. she knows if there had been anything serious, she would have known about it before now. still, she goes along with it, even as they step into the dining hall.

thancred mentions food and yennefer nods again, aware of what he means by quiet spot, and extracting herself from his side before setting a hand on his arm briefly. ] Grab a bit extra, and I will find us some wine. [ and then yennefer is turning to find said bottle of wine, as well as two goblets, before she is waiting for thancred to grab a plate and some food. ]

The gardens, perhaps?

[funbreaker]

[ Had there been anything truly dire or urgent to communicate, Thancred certainly would have brought it to both Yennefer and Stephen's attention immediately. As things stand, it's nothing they couldn't have guessed for themselves — with a bit of extra gossip on the side.

Thancred nods as Yennefer voices their plan for the afternoon, quite used to splitting up duties in this way. Granted, back home it usually had to do with some task or another that was necessary for the safety of their star, but that's beside the point. ]

I'll see you shortly, then.

[ He makes for the dining table and loads up a plate for them, with a few pieces of meat, roasted vegetables, a wedge of cheese, and some crackers. That should be more than enough to keep them satiated during their chat.

Once he's done, he reconvenes with Yennefer and they continue their stroll outside into the gardens. There's a free bench open to them, situated under an arch grown over with vines. Thancred takes a seat, then sets the plate between them so they can pick at the food as they please. ]

Before we get too into it, I must also ask — how have you been?

[vixening]

[ yennefer assumes as much - that if there had been anything serious, anything dire, that thancred would have told her. it's what's kept her from hunting him down sooner, kept her tone lighter, more friendly and curious than tense and demanding. and yet even with that understanding, there is the creeping worry that something has happened. that thancred, for whatever reasons, has specifically chosen not to tell yennefer what it is he's found. that geralt had said something, perhaps, that had shifted thancred's perspective.

it's a worry that eats away at her, no matter how much she tells herself that isn't something he would do or, even, so what if it is? it shouldn't bother her as much, none of this should bother her as much, and so she stifled it down and busied herself with her work, with the court, with everything else.

and now they split ways in the most familiar of fashions, her search for a bottle and glasses coming up fruitful and easy, and then she makes her way outside. it's not until thancred has rejoined her back outside that she shifts to give him enough room for himself and the plate that she pours their glasses, takes her own and picks up one of the pieces of meat and chewing as he asks her how he's been. ]

Ah- busy with my studies, mostly. [ she swallows, takes a drink of her wine, waves off any passing interesting he might have in the details of it. ] Figuring out how to keep the two mages occupied that Ambrose so graciously assigned me has taken more effort than it should, but they've proven useful. [ yennefer shrugs, uncaring, before her brows lift back to him. ] Though it's been some time since I've checked in with you.

[funbreaker]

[ Thancred nods to Yennefer in grateful acceptance as he takes the glass of wine from her, then takes a sip. It does remind him for a moment of their very first meeting back at the Summit, when she had greeted him with such reserved wariness. It's not until they'd set out on their quest with Stephen that she'd really allowed herself to open up to him, and by now these shared drinks are commonplace for them. ]

I imagine they're learning a great deal under your tutelage.

[ If there is one that Thancred appreciates about Yennefer, it's that unlike certain other scholarly contacts of his, she understands how much to share about what she's researching rather than rambling on ad nauseum.

He reaches out to spread some of the softer cheese over one of the crackers and then pops it into his mouth. Yennefer is far more interested in what he has to share, and for good reason. ]

I'm certain you've already put together where I've been. [ Yennefer is certainly smart enough for that. ] I was rather taken in by the sights in Borrel. What can I say? Coastal cities agree with me. [ That much is true. He will always find himself a bit nostalgic for the rough-and-tumble streets of Limsa Lominsa. ]

[vixening]

[ she laughs a little, shaking her head. ]

We can only hope. Most of the mages from Thorne have had very different schooling, but they do return each day.

[ yennefer had never expected to find herself in the place of teaching, but as much as she might hate to admit it, she does find that she likes it more than not. especially if it means actually opening up the eyes of these mages who have only had ambrose to look to as a head mage.

and then there are the other summoned, but that's another story entirely. but that's not why they're here, and she watches him ready a piece of bread and cheese, waiting until he decides to actually explain. ] You did fit when we were in Borrel last. But why did you return?

[funbreaker]

[ While Thancred does not know all the specifics of what those assistant mages are meant to do for Yennefer and what the expectations are, it does sound as if they have some choice as to whether or not to remain under her watchful eye. As their focus is on alchemical mixtures rather than spell-weaving, it explains how she's been able to maintain the secret of her magical inability.

He gives a small shrug when she insists that Borrel had suited him. Were it not for all the circumstances surrounding it, he would not be opposed to spending more time there.

He spears a piece of roasted tomato with his fork, letting it hang in the air for a moment as he considers her question. ]

I'd heard talk around the castle that the queen had made a trip there. I suppose I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. As it turns out, she had gone to visit family.

[ Which all sounds harmless enough on the surface, until one realizes that her uncle is highly ranked in Thorne's military. ]

[vixening]

[ he is exactly right in his assessment - especially with regards to how yennefer has kept her secret for as long as she has. potions, which work the same here as in any sphere. herbology, thought different, with the same basis understanding. and then her apprentices, who - for whatever godsforsaken reason - chose to learn under her.

either way, it has worked out well enough for her. so much that she's been able to build up what will likely become a kind of class schedule, if everything works out. but that is for later, much later, and for now she's focused instead on him. ]

Ah- [ she says with a small smile, nodding. ] Her Uncle, then?

[ because, as they all know, her uncle, the military general of that city. the implications are there even without her needing to state them, though she would not be afraid to. ]

[funbreaker]

[ It is little surprise that Yennefer is one step ahead of him with this. Perhaps Thancred's trip had been a waste when they could have guessed at the queen's reasoning for visiting Borrel, but he always prefers to confirm things with his own eyes or ears when possible.

He nods, taking a bite of food and slowly chewing it over as he lets that information sink in. Then, once his food has been swallowed: ] There appears to be increased naval activity there as well. Yet another sign of Thorne shoring up their defenses, I imagine.

[ As alone as it may feel they are at the moment, he is careful with his tone, remaining neutral. Someone could always be listening in. ]