abraxaslogs | Open Log - Thorne Castle

Entry tags:

Open Log - Thorne Castle

Who: Nadine and OPEN
Where: Thorne Castle
When: June 12th and 13th
What: Meeting roommates, getting acclimated, exploring
Warnings: N/A, will add if needed

Exploring

There's little to do but poke around wherever they're allowed to poke around. And, while at it, slip out a few sweets from the dining hall to share with the less fortunate. Nadine made a promise, after all.

But there's plenty to see, in this area they're kept to. The library and the study hall are of the most interest, the books and practicing mages likely the most promising option for learning anything worthwhile. Their hosts are being very specific with what they say and what they don't, offering just enough information to avoid accusations of keeping everyone entirely in the dark. But still not sharing all they know, it's obvious there's much more going on than any newcomer is privy to.

That's alright. It's not ideal but it's alright. Nadine has her purpose to put herself towards, and she does. She can be found flipping through book after book in the library and muttering under her breath or quietly watching magic lessons in the study hall, eyes narrowed and lips pursed as she follows as best she can.

And of course, she makes sure to linger in the dining hall, idling by the offerings of food and perusing them seemingly casually. When she thinks she isn't being watched, she'll slip a small morsel of dessert or chocolate treat into her tunic sleeve.

Room 2

The idea of shared quarters is not one that Nadine is thrilled about. She'd already met one earlier, and somehow, through some blessed - or cursed - twist of fate, it's a friendly face. Sort of. She'd never met Lloyd before but she knows who he is, and any right hand of her husband's...he's on her side, is the point. Someone she can, to some extent trust. And who'll look out for her.

But there are two beds who's occupants she's yet to meet, and she's too pragmatic to imagine they'll be left empty. Especially now, the day winding down. It's been a hectic and long one, and Nadine's feeling it in her bones. She settles on her own bed, curtains open, and hands folded in her lap to contemplate her next move and wait for whoever she's stuck sharing her personal space with.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Lloyd shrugs. "Interesting enough, but I wanna hear more about the magic mumbo jumbo." He wiggles his fingers to pantomime casting a spell. He doesn't really have much interest in casting magic, mostly because he's seen how much studying and concentration it takes and it'd probably be a waste of time for him.

Maybe the idea is just intimidating because before this, the only magic he'd ever seen came from Flagg.

"Demands?"

It's a prompt, rather than a question. His expression suggests he thinks the idea of demanding anything from their hosts is foolish at best, though he stops just short of saying as much.

"Yeah. Certain accommodations we'd like from these people in exchange for whatever they want from us. They put my husband in a dungeon, I'm not about to just do what they say because they say it."

If they're this important, whoever's in charge will negotiate. At least to an extent, Nadine supposes. There always lines, but she doesn't think reasonable requests would be any big offense.

"You want to see the sad little fire spell I can sort of do?"

Nadine is already setting her book aside. She may not be able to do much, yet, but she's only been at it a few days so she's not going to be too hard on herself. She is learning and that's what matters, and she wants to show Lloyd.

"I always thought magic was so neat, I loved fantasy books and movies when I was a kid. And I was a kid in the 80s, so there were a lot of them. I used to wish...god, it sounds so silly now, but I used to wish it was real so hard. I mean that's what you do when you're a kid and life gets bad, right? Imagine some whole other life where anything's possible and you're special and everything's great. Magic seems like the fixit to everything when you're little. And then I found out it was real. And it was...not what I imagined."

But still. That sad little childhood wish had come true, in its way. She is special. She does - and always had - someone magical and powerful to look out for her and after her. It hadn't fixed anything in her life, not really, but it had helped.

"This was always what I'd think of - castles and symbols and spells."

[So, smuggling a piece of chocolate cobbler under her tunic isn't the most comfortable or possibly smart thing Nadine has ever done, but she made a promise. And it was practically a cake, so unlikely to smudge and ooze everywhere and could withstand the awkward trip.

She also has her hair braided in a sectioned braid, the easiest way to get hair ties down to the cells. She's not sure if anyone's going to stop her from bringing things, but she doesn't want to risk it.

Having a purpose to this trip, Nadine immediately goes to Susan's cell.]

[Susan is so, so tired of this place. Or, maybe more specifically, of her cellmates. Cersei is all right, if a bit arrogant, but the men?]

[If she doesn't kill Jaime or Eddie before they get out of this, she can't help but feel she deserves a medal.]

[As a result, she's incredibly grateful to see Nadine, and almost immediately up and on her feet, smiling as she strides over to the bars.]

Ye came back! I wasn't sure of it.

How are things above?

"You're here as a hero," not that he's against powerful women in the workforce. Not even close, Queen Maeve was a godsend. Which was also the story that tested best for publication when she arrived at the Seven. Just like him being from another planet had worked better than any other story Vought's spin-doctors had come up with.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm the Homelander," he flashes her a wide smile, the one that ran as 'best super-smile' for twelve weeks in the coastal cities. "I've been through worse. Back home."

Of course I came back. I said I would.

[Simply stated as a fact, no offense taken at Susan's assumption. She doesn't blame her, Nadine's had plenty of promises broken in her own life. But she smiles and slips the piece of chocolate cobbler out, passing it through the bars to Susan.]

This is chocolate. And I'll have hair bands for you in just a minute.

[A gesture to her own sectioned braid, which she begins undoing once Susan takes the offered dessert.]

Things up there are...pretty much the same. They're slowly telling us a little more, but not much.

"I'm no hero."

Nadine is quick to assert that. She's many things, even a few things she's still proud of, but 'hero' is not one of them. Not by far.

"I'm an elementary school teacher..." And that is not a name he just gave. Not exactly. It sounds like a title or a wrestler. Looking at him, she'd believe he was a wrestler. He's tall, he's broad, he has a certain presence to him. That sort of air that comes with a lot of public speaking and appearing.

"Um. I'm Nadine. What exactly is it that you do, Mr. Homelander?"

[Susan's smile only widens, and she takes the cake with great care, surprised at its softness. It doesn't look like any cake she's had before, and she examines it closely, fascinated. It doesn't smell like any cake she's had before - though in the earthiness of its smell, she can at least start to see why Nadine compared it to coffee before.]

[She breaks off a small piece - just a few crumbs, really - and rolls it experimentally between her fingers for a moment, looking up at Nadine.]

Ye're too kind, Nadine, truly. I'll pay 'ee back for it someday.

[She may, perhaps, have cause to regret so open an offer - but she has to offer something, else it's just charity, and Pat Delgado's daughter is no charity case. In any case, if she has to pay more than she bargained for, perhaps it's worth it, for genuine kindness in this place.]

[She smiles again, and pops the small, soft piece of cake into her mouth. Then - her eyes widening a little at the sheer richness and sweetness of the taste, even from so small a mouthful - she quickly raises the rest of the cobbler to her mouth and takes a much bigger bite. As it breaks, some of the softer batter oozes out, like splitting honeycomb, and just as sweet. Sweet, fragrant, and earthy, and with a strange bitterness that seems to only heighten the sweetness...]

[She should save some of it, and at least offer some to Cersei, but before she's really noticed, she's eaten the whole thing. It sits deliciously heavy in the stomach, but seems almost to melt on the tongue, and the sweetness lingers, the thick richness of it, like honey and coffee and spice-cake all combined. More sugar, she's sure, than she's ever eaten in one go before, and the wastefulness of it should horrify her, but instead, she laughs, only a little sheepish.]

...Aye, you were right. I do like chucklit.

"They have your husband in a dungeon and they can just as easily put you down there too," Kylo points out neatly. "That's why you'll do what they say. You can ask them for favours, if you want. But none of us are in any position to make demands."

Don't worry about it too much, I'm sure you'll get a chance to repay the favor at some point.

[Nadine isn't doing this for an exchange of favors, she just wanted to brighten Susan's day a little bit. Seeing her smile, the way her eyes light up at the first bite of chocolate...that's more than worth the minimal effort it took in the first place. That she can do this, can be the facilitator of a small bit of joy down in here...it means something to her.]

I thought you would. And here. These should help with your hair.

[There's four hair ties altogether, now that Nadine's braid is undone and her own hair is loose the way she likes it.]

"Then why aren't we all in cages? Why put half of us in the luxury suites if we're just going to die?"

It doesn't make sense. Ronan is as paranoid as anyone, but there's got to be some kind of logic behind the way they've all been sorted and arranged. It would sure as shit help him figure things out a little easier if Nadine would stop hiding whatever she's hiding, though he's not feeling desperate enough to drag answers out of her. She probably has as many reasons as he does.

He tilts his head and looks her over, this time slower than before. A teacher? Really? "You really have no idea who I am?"

It doesn't even sound possible, unless she'd been locked up for the past 50 years or so. Maybe she was confused? Overwhelmed? He beams at her, holding out his hands. "No, not mister. I'm Homelander-" and he hums the Seven theme song. "That doesn't ring a bell for you, Nadine?"

"I'm the world's strongest superhero. I am the leader of The Seven? No? Just nothing?"

"Sorry...I think we're from two different worlds. I come from the Earth that was just decimated by a super plague. We...honestly we didn't have any superheroes. Not real ones, just in movies and comics."

A superhero. Is he for real or just putting her on? There's no reason someone couldn't, they all come from different places and different realities and who would anyone know? But...she's been aware of unexplained forces since she was young, she's been kidnapped by magic to dungeons and dragons world, and she married some sort of dark god. Superheroes aren't that difficult to fit into her idea of the possible.

And...yeah, okay, she can see it. The way he looks, the way he talks...

"That's...is that normal, in your world? I'm sorry, that was probably a rude question. I've just never met an actual superhero before."

"Psychological control?" It's clear Nadine's only offering it as a suggestion, something she's come to after a bit of thought. "I've read about a lot of psychological experiments and research, and it's a tactic used sometimes. Create a divide where there isn't one. Treat one group differently than the other, make sure both groups know...maybe they're hoping we'll spend more time being suspicious of each other than them."

Or they just want to keep everyone off balance and guessing, again, for control.

"There's all sorts of ways to show and exert control that don't obviously look like it."

[Susan licks her fingers clean - looking rather furtive about it, like Aunt Cord might jump out at any minute to scold her for her greed - before putting her hand out to take the ties. Four! She'd have been happy with one, or - honestly - with a piece of string or twine to serve instead, anything to hold her hair back while she doesn't have a comb or mirror, but four ties is a real bounty.]

Thankee, sai. [It's embarrassing to realise how close she feels to tears. Stupid. There's naught here to cry over - and still, there's that lump in her throat.]

[She smiles, tries to play the throatiness in her voice off as laughter.] Mayhap now I can look a little less like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards? Maria'd be horrified, to see me now.

"Hell yeah I do! Show me what you've got, mama."

He moves to a chair, sitting in it backward with his arms draped over the back of it, his attention focused on Nadine.

"I dunno, I don't think it's silly. Most kids kinda wish for something better so they can justify a shit situation, like ya said. I kinda gave up on all that stuff pretty young, but I remember watching an older movie with a giant, long dog that talked and a princess and kinda hoped for something like that?"

He offers a shrug, it is what it is and their lives panned out pretty well even if it took all of it to turn for the better.

"Yeah, most people do. Though I've gotta be honest, I like what we had better."

When they had it, anyway.

"We're in a position to negotiate." And even if negotiations don't work...it does establish where the line is and just how generous and benevolent their hosts are. "And if we're important to them, if we have something they want...we might be in a better position than you'd think. There's no way of knowing without trying."

They haven't put her in a cell yet, so Nadine doesn't think that's any real danger. She might be wrong, she knows that, but she feels relatively confident than a few requests aren't going to get her thrown in a dungeon. Not if Thorne wants to maintain it's welcoming, friendly face.

[There's no judgement from Nadine. She knows they aren't getting much variety down here, even if they're being fed arguably balanced meals.]

You're welcome. And honestly, you don't look that bad. I've seen a lot worse. I've...looked a lot worse, I think. But it helps to feel...civilized.

[Like a person. All those small things that humans do everyday are important, in their way. The routine of it, the familiarity of it...it's almost like religion, in a way, the daily aspects of humanity. ]

I think I might've looked worse once or twice, and all. But still, it'll be good to feel like myself a touch more.

[She fixes the ties around her wrist for the moment, and leans against the bars, letting her hands drape through. She can still feel that tightness in her throat, but it's a little less urgent, and if her eyes aren't entirely dry, they aren't actually wet, either.]

Ye're sure it won't bring trouble, down the line? Promise me ye won't let aught as small as this cost ye.

"Well, good thing you met me, then. I'm the best there is," and his smile is wide and friendly. Good humored, and all-american.

"I wouldn't say that we're normal, no. We just-- lucky, I guess. That we were blessed with these great powers-" and training kicks in, he knows this speech by heart. Has know it since he was sixteen and still strapped to a nuclear-warhead. "-No one knows if it was God, or good fortune, although, I have to admit, my money is on big G up there. How we came to be, but I know that with great power comes great responsibility. That's why I'm here, to help Thorne in its hour of need."

The only thing that he needs to make this perfect, is Maeve smiling sweetly at him or Black Noir standing with his arms crossed. The perfect hero group, and everybody loves a team-up.

"A plague? Like the Black Death?" he looks her over, "You don't look like you just stepped out of a shit-covered hellhole? I didn't know they had female teachers back then. And, just so you know, it's going to be fine. It only kills about 50% and those who lived were probably fine."

"Yeah, you sound like the sort of person a magic world in need would reach out for." As opposed to...some others. Herself included. "That's...it's weird, with everything I've seen and experienced, I never thought about superheroes being real anywhere. This is probably just a Tuesday for you, huh?"

Crazy stuff always happened to superheroes. They save the universe on a regular basis.

"And um, no. Captain Trips. Hit in 2020 and killed ninety nine percent of everybody everywhere." She almost makes a morbid 'finally I'm in the one percent' joke, but she doubts Homelander would get it. "I'm from a nice little town in New Hampshire - or it was nice, before the end of the world. South Barnstead, you've probably never heard of it. It was small and boring and I'm the only one left alive from it."

Which still strikes her to think about, when she finds herself thinking about it.

Nadine smiles, an honest and unguarded one.

"I remember that one. I liked it a lot. But careful what you're calling 'older', that movie came out after I was born." It's said in a teasing tone as Nadine pushes her chair back and sits up straighter. "I...probably would have given up on it, but...I didn't meet Flagg after Captain Trips. I've known him since I was a kid, so I learned some kind of magic was real pretty early."

Just...not the magic she'd thought. Until now, at least. She's positioning her hands in a cupped formation in front of her in preparation of doing real magic herself.

"But you're right, we...we got really lucky. Okay...here we go."

Nadine concentrates on her hands, lips moving silently to form the words she'd read in the study hall. At first nothing happens, but Nadine squares her shoulders again and takes a deep breath and continues...until a small lick of flame appears in her hands and winks out.

I really don't think anyone's going to be that mad about me giving you hair ties and a piece of cake. I feel like if they cared, they'd search people coming down here.

[Nadine shrugs, not really bothered by the idea of consequences. What were they going to do, lock her up? It isn't that their 'hosts' are cruel or anything, they seemed more or less accommodating to their welcomed guests, at least. And honestly aren't treating the prisoners poorly. She can't imagine her little gifts of food will cause much of a fuss or consequences.]

And if someone isn't happy about it...I'm the honored guest here. I have a little weight to throw around.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 3 of 5

Open Log - Thorne Castle

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

For Susan

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject