abraxaslogs | INTRO LOG #2

Intro Log #2

It has been two months now since the initial group of summonings first took place. Castle Thorne, or at least the part above ground, is buzzing with a vibrant air of hope following the 'success' at the Singularity. Eager smiles and excited chattering are to be found in nearly every corner of the castle and surrounding town. The honored guests may find grateful looks turned their way more often than not. A new and brighter day seems to be dawning on the kingdom.

In the dungeons it's a different story entirely. The mood is somber and uneasy. The prisoner taken for trial has yet to return, and no word has come regarding her or her fate. There has been no mention of any further trials as of yet and guards seem to have little patience for unruly behavior or even conversation. Some seem to not even look at or acknowledge the prisoners at all.

[ Feel free to continue threads from the TDM here or start your own! As cell and room assignments will be short-lived due to this month's event, you're free to assume whichever cellmates and roommates you like instead of officially signing up as long as there are ICly no more than four people in a cell or room at once. ]

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The not-a-question is considered, and quickly forgotten when Nero asks an actual question.

"--Um. Quite a lot's happened, really, a lot of us are up for trial, but God knows why, I know Jon is because he used, uh-- s-some kind of power on Ambrose to get him to talk-- are..." He can't help but squint at the man. "Are you offering to help me get out?"

Nero makes a dismissive gesture about the trial. Yes, he has heard about it but he doesn't know what the fuck it is gonna be. He thinks that it will just be some show before the prisoners are deemed guilty of whatever-the-fuck but now more "lawful."

But his waving hand pauses.

"Your boss tortured someone?" His eyes shine a little as he finds that he really likes these humans. He feels his mouth curving into an even wider smile. "I am offering to help you and yours out, yeah."

He leans in. "You're just so much fun I can't have you rot in here."

Edited 2021-08-16 13:41 (UTC)

Martin can't help but lean back a little when Nero leans in, shaking his head slightly. "I-it's not like that, he just-- has a thing, apparently, where when he asks a question, um, p-people have to answer it."

But even as he says it, he feels like it's running Nero's interest, and he stands to grip the bars. "If you could get us out, that'd be-- a-amazing, I'd owe you one for sure."

...oh he definitely regrets saying that, knowing what he does of the elf, and a flicker of apprehension crosses his face.

"Huh." The elf loses some interest in Jon upon hearing that he literally can just make someone answer a question. But the disinterest faces fast as he asks, "So, what did he ask the ol' High Mage? Did he ask why some people's dicks get revered and others thrown in here?"

Nero refuses to let that go.

His face lights up at the idea of Martin owing him one. It is more than he can say for certain others that helped. Those certain people take his help for granted and run him ragged without a second thought. But actually being repaid a little; he smiles wide in the face of Martin's apprehension.

"Got yourself a deal." The elf says as he slips his hand through the bars, holding it out to have the human shake it. "I shall do what I can to get Jon and you out."

He has to wonder how much this is going to bite him in the ass.

Still, he doesn't hesitate very long before he removes one hand from the bars and grips Nero's in his thick, soft fingers.

"R-right. Thank you." He does mean it sincerely, but it's a lot. "And- he did, actually, all the people down here are supposed to be some kind of mistake. The ones up top are the ones Ambrose meant to summon, to fight some-- great evil or something, something to do with the Singularity and Horizon."

The elf smiles as he tightens his hold on Martin's hand. He brings his other hand through the bars so he can pat the top of the man's knuckles. It isn't quite a sealed pact between them but it is a sincere agreement and that is just as good.

Nero withdraws his hands after.

"Ah, yeah?" He cocks his head to the side and recalls hearing something about fighting some great evil now that Martin mentions it. But the people in the pits aren't capable of it, huh? "Makes sense."

Nero has been murdering and slaughtering for quite a few decades. He has gotten quite good at dealing with hordes and monstrosities. Furthermore, he might not care about the great evil but he is curious about how far a person will go to "save the world." The elf would be willing to let his body be torn apart just to see how far another person will go for justice. Furthermore, if they are real zealous, it might leas to the end of the world which Nero would definitely want to be apart of.

So, his goals and willingness would have aligned with Thornes' for the most part.

Too bad that he met Martin before he could really sink into wanting to help Ambrose.

"Well, if they don't need ya, they should have sent ya back. Rude to keep you lot here when it is their mistake. Even ruder to make it out to be like your the ones at fault, am I right?"

Edited 2021-08-16 18:13 (UTC)

Something about the man patting his hands like that makes his cheeks go red, which is uncomfortably visible given how pale he is in general.

At least Nero lets go again, so Martin can ball both hands in his too-tight shirt, twisting the fabric in tight fists.

"I-I rather get the impression it's not possible, or that it's, um. Probably a bit bad for us? Not as much effort as it's worth, probably, if they're content to just keep us down here until they need us."

The elf notices the way that his cheeks go red. He can't help but puff out a little laugh at seeing it; he also can't help but want to jab at the man's reaction a bit, too.

"Feeling a little touch-starved already, Martin?"

But Nero soon offers a small nod about what is said. He casually moves on from his teasing question to the quote-unquote heart of the matter. "Right. The amount of magic that it takes to summon another person is quite considerable. Especially since this is another plane of existence. Especially since it seems like they're doing it with their own abilities and apparently not pulling on the endless energy that's the Singularity."

His eyes narrow slightly. "It's so much energy spent that it's fucking laughable. And then they go and blame you for not being who they want. So rude!"

Don't tease the poor man about it, Nero, he's only going to go even more red, and Martin unballs one fist so he can rub his neck in an openly embarrassed motion.

"I-I, uh, I can't even begin to imagine h-how much it must all cost in terms of, um. Resources, and- and magic and such, but. It does sound immense. And then they just-- lock us all up instead of anything... I don't know, useful? It doesn't really make sense."

"Dunno if you wanna think of how much of a waste it seems to keep you all alive, Martin."

His expression twists to something of dark delight. Because he can only think of the reasons why failures are being kept around and none of them are good reasons.

Of course, he has made a deal with Martin to get him out, which means if the guards try anything with Jon or his new buddy; Nero has already promised to intervene to ensure their survival. Even if he ends up losing freedom or limbs to do it.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

But really, what are they thinking? Ambrose might be hoping to use them as fodder to summon some real good guests. But who's to say?

Actually, his eyes widen a little as he thinks there is someone who could answer that question.

"Hey, your boss. Did he ask why you lot are being kept alive?"

INTRO LOG #2

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