[ CATCH-ALL ] waking from the dream

[londonbound]

Who: Rhy Maresh and OPEN
When: throughout August
Where: Castle Thorne, Horizon
What: Rhy doing stuff and talking to people around Thorne in August. Magic studies and silly little gifts. Potentially event things will go here later. PM me if you wanna plot!
Warnings: will add as needed.


(( hit me up at belleteyn @ plurk or PM for plotting! Rhy can commonly be found in the dining hall, practicing magic or reading in any of the gardens or courtyards, in the library, at the infirmary studying healing, and at taverns around town. horizon available as well. I'm chill with whatever! ))

Comments

[londonbound]

He is human.

[ It comes out a little defensive, though he knows Jaskier doesn't mean anything by it. He seems to understand, in fact.

Rhy sits down at the work bench, grabbing one of the small, sharp knives nearby. He addresses the block of wood, slowly. ]

Still, he is different enough I think some people forget that all too easily. Or they decide it does not matter, because he is also more than that.

You see, Kell is what is known as an Antari. One blessed by Magic, the strongest kind of magician -- and the rarest. He is the only one left in all the worlds. [ A beat. Rhy seems to realize something, and corrects himself very softly. The knife cuts into the wood, one small chip at a time. ] Him and one other.

Antari can wield all elements, and command blood magic. They can do things nobody else can. They can cross worlds.

[ He looks up at last at Jaskier, and gestures vaguely at his face (by necessity, with the lumpy block of wood). ]

Antari are marked. They're always born with one black eye.

[ Completely black, no white, no iris, all shiny obsidian. Jaskier has seen it. Perhaps has been unnerved by it, or maybe it didn't really make much of an impression. Rhy doesn't ask him. ]

As you might imagine, kind of difficult to hide.

[cointosser]

[Normally Jaskier would apologize for the perceived sleight, but Rhy seems to understand he did not mean it negatively. Jaskier himself has spent nights with those who are inhuman and enjoyed himself thoroughly. He has nothing against them.

Only the ones who have tried to eat him. A rare occurrence nowadays.

Jaskier pulls up a stool to sit beside Rhy, watching him begin to work. The smell of fresh wood, not only of Bleobheris itself but the carvings, has always been somewhat relaxing to the bard.

It reminds him of the forests they used to travel through so often. That he has not seen for years now.

As he listens, he nods. Though this Antari sounds only like a particularly skilled sorceress from his Continent (a certain one comes to mind, regardless of her temporary magic loss), he says nothing. Blood magic sounds rather ominous, and it's not something he thinks sorcerers dabble in. Not the sort of sorcerer that one wants to dabble with.

At last, Jaskier gives a little snort.] Funny how eyes seem to be the tell. They're the same in Geralt's case. What marks him as different. [He plucks up a curl of fallen wood, pulling it apart with his fingers.] As you said. Difficult to hide.

[Though he almost wonders if people would know anyway. Witcher, Antari. People always find what makes others different.] You know, with you so closely connected, I would almost expect you to share the eye. It would be poetic! [He pauses.] To be fair, I don't understand how it all works.

[londonbound]

I'd like to meet your friend Geralt someday. Bribe him with this horse.

[ Rhy suggests, with a faint smile, looking up at Jaskier for a moment before his gaze goes back to his work. ]

Oh, we're not actually related. [ Has he mentioned that? He probably has. Rhy shakes his head. ] But you meant--

Yes, well. We're not connected anymore. And it doesn't work that way. [ It shouldn't have worked any way because what Kell did was impossible, but Rhy won't get into that again. ]

The eye is a mark of the Magic. That's the color of pure Magic.

I... don't understand it well either. Not much is known about Antari these days. They're nearly vanished from the worlds.

[cointosser]

Oh, I meant -- that bond.

[Luckily, he's rather noticed they are not related. Or they would certainly be distantly so. He just likes the poetic touch of men, bonded by magic and brotherhood, sharing something as intimate as an eye color... to be physically marked with an otherwise invisible bond!

He may already be writing a new song in his mind.]

Ah. My apologies. [In case he made any error in his assumptions. Magic can be a very touchy topic with some.] Luckily, Antari or not, you were still blessed with very beautiful eyes. Have I mentioned that before? I'm afraid my flirtations may be getting repetitive.

[londonbound]

Nothing to apologize for, darling.

[ A smile creeps back onto Rhy's face, not quite as obviously flirty as usual but certainly warm, as he lifts his eyes to Jaskier's. ]

They're really nothing unusual.

[ To him, considering his mother and father both have a similar eye color, and it's not like they're the only ones. But Rhy has noticed other Summoned commenting on them. ]

But I do love to hear you say it.

[ A beat. He considers, biting his lip. Letting go of the other subjects and latching on to lighthearted amusement again. ]

If I did agree your flirtations are becoming repetitive, how would you rectify that?

should we start wrapping up?

[cointosser]

[It feels a bit like slipping into an old, beloved robe. Jaskier prefers it, honestly. Though the memories they share still weigh heavily in his head, and will for some time, he likes to see Rhy like this. Smiling, with his eyes bright. He cannot say for sure if it's forced or not, but --

The way Jaskier reaches out for him, hands falling to Rhy's hips, placing them close together -- none of that is forced.]

My mouth is skilled at a good many things beyond mere words, if my flirtations have become too boring on their own. [He smiles, kissing a cheek. This. This is easy.] If my delightful friend would appreciate a distraction. Bleobheris is host to many, many fine rooms. With many fine beds.

sounds good!

[londonbound]

Is that so?

[ Difficult to tell which part he means. All of it, maybe. The rooms. Jaskier's mouth. Rhy leans into the touch, the kiss, the affection and the warmth of it, with a sigh that is equal parts pleasure and relief.

He sets the knife and the bloc of wood aside for now. A project he intends to pick up later.

If Jaskier is keen to offer him a distraction now, he'll be more than happy to oblige them both. ]

I am always appreciative of sweet distraction with even sweeter company. Why don't you show me some of those beds? We can try them out in turn.