abraxaslogs | [ OPEN ] hide your love, don't be shy

a. at claude's

[ Despite being rather secretive when asked any deeper than surface level questions about himself, the doors to Claude's domain are always open. If someone chooses to cross the canal out front by boat, one will be waiting for with oars that are easy and effortless to use. They'll get you across the water in no time, and even better: they won't cause the boat to go in useless circles. (He has, perhaps, had that experience while using real oars and decided to spare anyone else from it.)

Whether Claude is there or not, a baby white wyvern will likely be perched on a tree in the first courtyard that greets everyone and might just give them any new faces a side eye. She'll let anyone in no matter what - and isn't likely to bite - but she certainly won't say no to a snack if a visitor is feeling generous enough to offer one. If Claude arrives later, she'll give a trill to announce someone is waiting.

The much larger courtyard has more to offer. There's chairs and couches for relaxing on or to get comfortable while chatting, and shelves full of books on all topics from Fodlan. Guests can take one with them to read later or even leave a book of their own for Claude to browse. Chess and backgammon boards are also set up here and there and if someone is unfamiliar with one or both, Claude's happy to provide a lesson and will even throw in his favorite strategies for both. If someone has a favorite board game from back home, he'd also love to learn how to play. There's also a weapons rack stocked with swords, axes, and bows and various targets if that's more a visitor's speed, and they're all weapons he knows how to use for impromptu training sessions.

If he's there reading or simply finds he's not alone there upon arriving himself, that smile in greeting will be quite genuine since he enjoys entertaining guests and getting to know someone new or an acquaintance that much more. Don't be shy! ]

b. or yours

[ When in the Horizon but not at his own domain, Claude's out investigating what others have built since each domain is a source of fascination to him.

The paths between each one are walked in turn to help him get a better idea of where each one stands or notice new details on those he's strolled past before on these trips. If someone is out walking doing the same, he'll keep them company or possibly point them in the direction of where they're trying to go if not sure.

When he stops at a domain most of his admiration will be done from the outside, if there's no clear way in or if it seems the owner isn't present, so he might be found simply studying the grounds, the structure, whatever's there. He might wander in if it looks welcoming enough just to see what's going on inside. As long as it's clear he's not trespassing in some way, Claude's happy to stay and chat for a while if noticed. He may come with a brightly flowering potted plant that grows in the courtyard of his own domain as a gift for wherever he's visiting, but no pressure in accepting it. ]

Edited 2022-08-12 14:16 (UTC)

[ Much like the Horizon, Claude's here, there, and everywhere around Cadens these days.

Most mornings he's helping merchants balance their books, organizing inventories, or running errands as they request. If he finishes those jobs earlier than planned, then in the afternoons and early evenings he'll be browsing the libraries and museums. In the libraries Claude usually has books on about every topic possible around him, and whether he'll be reading casually in an armchair or jotting notes down at a table that day is anyone's guess. At the museums he tends to browse the exhibits and attend lectures here and there. One might guess it looks like he's gathering information either place, and they'd be right.

When evening rolls around, he's either at a tavern or at Mag's Inn. Probably also in the tavern section when at the inn, where he's still picking up the occasional shift here and there to help out as Mag needs though he's stepped back from that to give their newest arrivals something to do. When he isn't, though, he'll be at a table playing cards, reading, or enjoying some tea. Ale might indicate it was a hard day, but he's never opposed to company. There's always an extra seat or two left there anyone's welcome to slide into whether Claude's met them or not.

Some nights when it's cooler, he's also still out wandering the city. The streets are more familiar now thanks to many nights of doing this, and the circuits he makes around them change night by night but are still pretty reliable without being totally predictable. Where there's musicians performing he'll stop to listen, might head through a market to check out what's for sale, and has been looking for more clothes to expand his wardrobe a little further after the visits to Libertas. He's still adjusting to Abraxas fashion coming from Medieval Times and mostly wears simple trousers, a plain white shirt, and brightly patterned scarves wound around his waist as a sash at this point, so any advice is welcome here. ]

Edited 2022-09-12 21:52 (UTC)

You'll keep all your memories this time, I swear. [ It's not the first time he's said as much - maybe more like the third, if he's counting accurately - but it feels important to underscore that it's not the same experience as the last trip they made in together. ] Not only that, but you'll remember what you did the last time you were in there. Like what you worked on, if you met anyone, whatever else.

[ They're seated on the floor of the sitting area since it's easier for three people to fit there than scattered about in different chairs or in different rooms. At least in Claude's logic, anyway, and even if they aren't required to be touching this time now that Petra and Sylvain can visit the Horizon as they please. Still, it's a nice little echo back to their introductory trip in. He's keeping it this way too even if it is absolutely a rare bit of sentimentality he's expecting to be called out on.

In the meantime, he glances from one to the other. ]

I tend to show up in my domain first whenever I go in, but I don't really know if that's the case for everyone or if you can treat it like Warp where you point to a spot and say, go there and you do. Or however it works, I've never actually asked Lysithea how she does that since she's only used it on me when I've annoyed her too much.

Anyway, I figured mine would be a good place to start just so I can figure out where yours are relative to it. If you get lost, just look for something that looks like Derdriu. [ A pause where his mind plays that back to himself with a note only one of them would know that that means, and he looks to Sylvain next with a wave of one hand. ] Lots of canals that look more like rivers that serve as the roads, houses right up on them. I'm pretty sure it's the only one like it around but if you wander in somewhere else then I wanna know all about it.

Edited 2022-08-14 00:05 (UTC)

[ The instant the portals to Libertas open, Claude's there in the first group of Summoned to go. Eventually, he'll volunteer to assist in escorting a supply run when the word gets out about that, but until then? He can be found just about anywhere, but in particular:

1) Assisting with the search and rescue efforts in Libertas. Even when not working on a patrol with one of the hounds assisting with locating survivors, he'll be walking where he can (and where there's slightly less danger if he's on his own) either bringing things requested to other Summoned on their own shifts, serving as a courier of sorts between groups, or just standing and staring at buildings that are in particularly rough shape.

If it's the latter, feel free to interrupt his thoughts. He could probably use it.

2) Working in any of the infirmaries around Libertas. Healing and/or being a healer is only something he's recently started wading into learning more about, so here Claude will be focusing on restocking supplies, tallying inventories of what's on hand versus what's needed, and organizing what he can to better assist those actively providing medical aid. If you're working with patients and need an assistant, just call for him and he'll be there to do whatever you need.

Those Summoned who are only minorly injured from their own missions and just need some basic assistance to get back out with whatever they were working on before are patients he can handle, between cleaning and bandaging wounds to keep them clean and dry or treating with small doses of healing magic. If you need a very quick patching up to get by until you can sit down with a better healer or a doctor, he can help with that.

3) Visiting the orphanages in Libertas or Cadens. With all that's going on - all of it too familiar from the war he'd just lived through, down to children being relocated somewhere else in the midst of it - the orphanages also get special attention from him. Claude can be found there when he isn't in Libertas doing his best to provide what little bit of normalcy he can for them. You might overhear him promise at ones in Cadens that he'll keep visiting even once things settle down. It's a promise he intends to keep.

For now, he can be found reading storybooks to either a child that's climbed onto his lap or a group of them, complete with voices and all kinds of dramatic flair to dress up storytime a bit more when it's his turn on the schedule. If there's a tea party to be had with someone and their beloved stuffed animal, imaginary friend, or etc, he's there as a delighted participant. At some point he also pays for some art supplies for the children to be able to do some small art projects, so. He might also end up covered in paint from helping younger ones and won't be concerned about it as long as the kids are still having a good time.

Regardless of where he is, if you've met Claude before: you'll notice most of his good cheer is considerably dimmed when he's not 'on' for a crowd or someone's benefit, or if he doesn't realize he's not alone. If asked about it, he'll shrug it off or turn the conversation back around on the asker, but - it could be worth trying to ask about. ]

Edited 2022-09-12 22:21 (UTC)

[ Since returning from the supply run, Claude's focus riveted itself back on what could be done for Libertas. As much as one man can do, that is, in volunteering to take shifts in all the operations he'd missed while away. Staying on the move means not dwelling on it for too long, means staying distracted. Somewhat predictably, it doesn't take long for him to wear himself back into a mostly concealed frazzled state. When it's eventually suggested to him by his friends that it might be good for him to take a break, at first gently then a bit more forcefully so, well. Claude can't really argue with that.

So it's partially how he's found himself browsing the desert grasslands not far from city borders on foot currently, in search of plants used for medicines like the ones Nadine's taught him. For his own use so as to not waste supplies, just a little something to experiment with assuming that Petra and Sylvain don't object to his growing piles of... everything... around their lodgings, and the weather today is even a bit cooler than normal. No monsters have been sighted so far, fortunately, though Claude's made sure to keep his bow strapped to his back and at the ready. Also along with him is the strangely enchanted satchel which had come into his possession seemingly at random. Quite convenient for cramming samples of different leaves, stems, and flowers first into vials and then into it without having to worry about running out of room, and all the better to catalogue against the mental running list he has.

Lost in thought as he might be while surveying an unknown flowering plant in front of him while absently adjusting his gloves, it's never enough to not be aware of his surroundings. The sound of footsteps approaching makes Claude cast a glance back over his shoulder to assess who or what it is, but when it's a familiar face that he spots a borderline genuine smile appears on his face. ]

I've noticed there's yet to be any statues sent my way in the Horizon or otherwise. But don't think I've let my guard down, just in case.

[ He didn't forget - that or any other part of the conversation. But maybe best to open with that first. ]

horizon — open

cadens, before nocwich — open

— petra + sylvain

libertas + a cadens option, post nocwich — open

— geralt (late september)