abraxaslogs | i'm reaching for the clouds

Entry tags:

i'm reaching for the clouds

Who: Claude and various
When: January + early February (pre-event)
Where: The Horizon, Aquila, TBA
What: Catch all
Warnings: None currently, will add/mark as needed

( Closed starters in the comments below. Feel free to find me at

indech, arboria#1862, or by PM at any time to plot something! )

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[ When given the option of meeting in the Horizon or in person, Steve's going to go with in person nine times out of ten. It's what he's more comfortable with, even though he'll also admit that getting to see the domains that people have created for themselves can be an interesting look into their heads — into what "home" means for them. Still, if Claude's suggesting they meet in the Horizon, he figures it's for good reason, so he agrees without any hesitation.

Steve still has memories of what he'd seen as a part of Claude's nightmare, but it had been dark and dismal in that dream. He didn't really get to see much of what Claude's world was actually like beyond some architecture and the level of technology that was available to them for warfare. This domain, on the other hand, is bright and pleasant. A fountain bubbles in the nearby courtyard, a perfectly cool breeze catches against his shirt, and the lighting is picturesque. Like he's walked into a perfectly framed photo, even.

As he walks up, Claude's holding what to him looks like a massive bow — even larger than the compound bow that Clint usually prefers. It's glowing too, but he isn't particularly thrown off by that. He's seen his own teammates shoot glowing magic from their hands, so this isn't that strange in comparison.

Claude makes an almost perfect shot, but even that isn't good enough for him. Steve huffs in amusement to himself as he approaches from behind, pausing a few steps back to watch Claude's second shot. ]

I should have guessed you'd be a perfectionist about this kind of thing.

Perfectionist is one word for it, I suppose. [ Though he was focusing on this second arrow, it can wait a second in order for him to shoot a grin back over his shoulder in Steve's direction. He'd heard someone approaching and that familiar voice was confirmation of who he'd hoped it'd be. ] 'Pain in the ass' might be the phrase you're more likely to hear from my friends both for now and for how I used to be at archery practice a few years ago.

[ Maybe a slight exaggeration considering at said practice he'd been more than willing to help those who needed it, and yet: those lessons had also been mostly tailored to build skills. Or that'd been his plan, anyway. Whether they were successful is better answered by someone other than this particular instructor.

For now he'll let the shot fly, and when this one lands a hair-width away from the bullseye but on the opposite side from his first arrow? Claude will take that as a sign to take a break, and to properly turn around to face Steve before nodding the direction of the weapons back stocked with bows, swords, lances - any kind of medieval weaponry as the other man might've suspected. ]

Feel free to grab something from there if you'd like, though I had a bit more in mind for meeting here than combat practice alone. What'd you make of our recent trip?

Always upstaging them?

[ Steve smirks. Yeah, Clint could get that way too. Natasha was the only one who even stood a chance against him, and the rest of them had quickly tired of him "teaching them archery." Apparently he'd been a lot more patient and less obnoxious with his kids, which was understandable.

That second shot looks practically spot-on to Steve, but he can tell from the slight slump of Claude's shoulders as he turns that he still wasn't satisfied. They're not really here for combat practice, it's true, but Steve wanders over to the weapons rack. Yet instead of looking at any of the swords, spears, or bows, he seems far more interested in the shields.

It's no surprise that Claude wants to talk about their trip, about the negotiations and everything else that took place there. Or perhaps most importantly, what sort of information was overheard or exchanged. Steve rips his gaze away from the ornate shields to look back over at Claude. ]

Sam and I worked together on sending a message to the negotiating table. I wasn't actually expecting them to listen, but... [ He shrugs. It turns out that Sam's name meant something here. He's glad for that. ] Mainly, I'm relieved that the talks didn't completely break down and make matters worse.

[ There's a small hand wave and a smirk to match Steve's as he lowers Failnaught, as if Claude's not going to confirm or deny said statement. (Never mind that's as good as confirming it.) Besides, even archery's not as interesting as what Steve says, so Claude tilts his head to one side as he considers it. ]

It seems like if there was a good chance of those officials listening to anyone here, Sam would certainly be the right choice. [ Approvingly, since he's met the man in question and already thought highly of Sam from what he'd heard then had that confirmed. Even if he's supposedly taking a break, Claude picks up another arrow now to spin around in a couple fingers while in thought. ] He strikes me as someone invested in looking out for the good of everyone.

[ Summoned or otherwise; while he has plenty of worry for what impending war means for all of them brought here by the mages, Claude's also plenty concerned about the Free Cities citizens caught between nations intent on harming each other. Libertas is a sobering reminder of what more might come if not for what's hopefully a stasis reached by the negotiations. ]

There is something I'd overheard that I thought you might be interested in rather than just the generalities we were told about what was going on.

[ But first - a nod towards the shields Steve was examining and a grin to go with it. ]

You can pick one of those up if you'd like to try them out, you know.

He is. He's looking out for the Summoned most of all, but he wants to make sure the civilians aren't used as collateral damage either.

[ Granted, that's already happened and there was very little any of them could do about it, but that's no reason for them to throw their hands up and assume that it's a lost cause, as far as Steve's concerned. Their words actually were considered in the negotiations, and that alone is a sign that they're not just being cast aside and disregarded in the political realm.

This is about more than that, though, as Claude hints that he's got additional information. It must be important if he'd arranged this meeting.

As for the shields, Steve immediately grabs one of the circular ones. It's a bit smaller than what he's used to, more like a buckler, and also quite heavy for its size. Nonetheless, he still turns it around in his hands, inspecting it. ]

Something you overheard? From who?

[ They may as well get right into it. There will always be time to mess around in the training yard after they've talked through the important stuff. ]

[ That's another good tidbit of information about Sam; it's also, conveniently, the same thing Claude worries about most when it comes to war. If anything, those summoned to the Free Cities have plenty of war experience between all of them to take care of themselves - relatively speaking - and of those other Summoned who might not have the same background. But the citizens who are caught in the middle between the nations, who already are based on the rising signs of strife becoming more visible in Cadens: something he'd like to do more where he can.

A topic for conversation another day, though. For now, Claude just barely smothers a grin over Steve wasting no time at all in investigating the shield he immediately retrieves after that mention. Claude sets one end of Failnaught down against the ground as a makeshift way to lean on the opposite end and watches the inspection take place. ]

I couldn't tell you who it was since I don't know his name, but there was a general there from the Free Cities. Said the prime minister's seeming more worn down than usual, which isn't noteworthy on its own since, well, what with everything going on. The part I didn't care for in what else I heard was that he thinks what would ease that strain is the army could use more recruits.

[ Though he'd normally hide a reaction to see what it might get out of someone else first: that's not the case here where his distaste is likely readily apparent. Because, he also thinks, Steve will likely understand his misgivings over such a thing from their past conversations and thoughts they've both shared on the matter. ]

Now, that was as much as heard on that topic and without any mentions for plans for it. Maybe it was just a suggestion, but I also think we can both agree if that happens, they'll finally be looking to ask us to come back to those barracks.

[ No, there's little need for Claude to hide how he feels about this. He already knows Steve's thoughts on the idea of forced enlistment, and if this information came from a general, that means that it carries more than a little weight.

Gripping the small shield with just one hand, both of his arms fling down to his side as he scoffs. ] I wish I could say I'm surprised, but too often this is what happens when things get desperate in wartime. It might not be limited to just us Summoned, either. They could institute a draft.

[ Any able-bodied person over a certain age could have their name called to join the military, with no option to refuse unless they deserted to another faction. That very well might happen. Steve doesn't know enough about the people of the Free Cities to guess if they would simply go along with those orders, seeing it as their duty, or if they would resist. ]

If that does happen, the best course of action would be to try and inspire the people to protest it. Strength in numbers.

[ Would it be enough? Steve's not sure. But he also believes that if the Prime Minister tried to force any Summoned to fight in her war, it would not necessarily end well for her. They're all pretty damn tenacious and not ready to just fall in line. ]

[ Steve gets it immediately, as he'd hoped the other man would, and Claude watches as he switches from some (mostly) relaxed enjoyment of testing out a shield to something much less so. Not that he blames him; it's the same feeling that's been rattling around his mind ever since overhearing that information and while dwelling on it since it wasn't like it was something easy to forget.

Even when hearing what he'd hoped to hear said aloud, thereby validating what was on his mind - Claude doesn't answer right away. He twirls the arrow in his hand a bit more while thinking carefully as this sort of thing demands to have happen. ]

If we convinced people to protest, we'd have to be sure that we had the resources to win and not put anyone in a worse position than we are now. That includes not just us but also the civilians since who knows what the government would do in response?

[ It's difficult to not think about Fodlan. Was this what Edelgard had felt like when deciding to take her fateful steps towards the future, towards changing Fodlan, overthrowing what had always been? Which helped skip several steps in his own plans to get to the same end result even though he hadn't cared for the methods of getting there. ]

If the Free Cities really is planning to take action despite whatever's come out of these negotiations that would be the end of peace as we know it, even if it's not much of peace now as it stands where one side's waiting for the other to blink first. This general saying he wants more soldiers, though? Certainly points to that.

Something heard by someone else that's doubly worrying when paired with that is that apparently Quilleth has been writing letters to have funds redirected to Libertas' rebuilding rather than military inventions. I don't know if that means the latter's ramped up, but it reminded me of when we saw the military on the move a while back without knowing what they were up to, exactly.

[ While Steve wants to believe that the Prime Minister isn't as unhinged as the Queen of Thorne and therefore wouldn't go so far as to throw people behind bars for refusing to enlist, it's entirely possible. He knows now what steps she might take to maintain her authority, and that's something that he needs to share with Claude in light of all this. Of course, he'd been planning to do so even before this information was revealed. ]

It doesn't have to be a violent protest. I'm not saying that would necessarily prevent the Prime Minister from taking violent action in response, but... it would make a statement.

[ This is all speculation, of course. Steve turns to put the shield back where he'd found it, mainly because he doesn't think he's going to be in the mood for idle sparring or weapons practice until they've talked this all through. ]

And yeah, this seems to oppose everything that came out of the negotiations. [ Was that all for show? Is the Prime Minister hoping to get the upper hand by violating everything that was discussed and declaring war anyway? Steve has too many questions here and not enough answers. He draws a hand up and drags it back through his hair. ] And... as for Quilleth, we might want to see that as a good thing. It means that not everyone in leadership positions here are interested in bulking up the military, and would rather focus on rebuilding instead of causing more bloodshed.

[ He's pretty sure Jaskier has some sort of relationship with Quilleth. He makes a mental note to ask for his opinion of her, given that he'd claimed to be such a good judge of character. ]

The focus on rebuilding is what I'm hoping for, personally. Even from what was overheard it's hard to tell whether Quilleth's wish is what should rightfully be the most popular one among the leaders, or if whoever she's writing is the one with the upper hand. Strangely enough, someone else recommended speaking to Quilleth to me before we went on the trip in relation to an idea I had to provide aid in Libertas.

[ Something not entirely relevant to their conversation now, but Claude does find it interesting that Quilleth's name has come up so often. A sign they should check into that, if there's a way for them to do so without drawing too much suspicion. To themselves or anyone else, since if too many things are mentioned Claude has to wonder if leadership will wonder how they know things. He would have if this had happened while he was leading the Alliance. ]

I didn't think you meant a violent protest, for the record. If we were going to do something like bringing that anti-war sentiment back, [ because despite his reservations, Claude's certainly not saying no, ] now would be the time to take advantage of it. There's a truce, ostensibly, and Thorne is at least giving the appearance of minding their own business after the Free Cities' retaliation. It's more like I have my suspicions about how benevolent the Free Cities actually is when it comes to someone challenging them on how things are always done if it was done more outright than, say, Libertas' influence coming over to Cadens in the art walk. Especially since they may not be able to punish the citizens, but they certainly know our whereabouts and about us.

[ Speaking of that. Claude spends a second studying the archery target across the way, making no secret of clearly thinking about something though it takes him another minute or so to voice it. ]

If you haven't heard already, you should know Cadens has been pulling people in for questioning about things they've done. I'd know since I was one of them a while back.

I'd say let's not go so far as trusting this Quilleth, but it won't be a bad idea to have her ear.

[ Jaskier is one of the most well-known Summoned and has already been in contact with her, so that's certainly a good place to start. Steve knows for a fact that Jaskier wants to make some sort of difference here, the same way that Claude does, so he doesn't think either of them would balk at the idea of sticking their necks out if it came down to it. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have one of the Cities' leaders on their side, if that's possible.

The more that Claude talks, the more that Steve gets the sense that he has a lot of political experience — more than Steve himself does, that's for sure. Hilda made it sound like he was in fact the leader of their Alliance, which means that despite his young age, it'd be a good idea to listen to him.

Not that Steve's ever been the sort to brush people off because of their appearance.

And, well, it's not like Claude is wrong to worry about the well-being of the Summoned. Steve is thrown off when he drops in something about questioning, though. ]

They did what? [ Some alarm enters his tone and his arms drop quickly to his sides. Obviously Claude is fine. It's not the best sign, though. ] I'm kind of surprised they didn't grab me, if that's the case. What were they questioning you about?

[ Steve has a point, that there's no reason to place too much unearned trust in a leader they don't really know beyond initially opening the doors to them in Libertas and in what's come after in the rebuilding. But he takes it as a reassurance when the other man doesn't dismiss the idea outright, instead seems to support it in the measured way he's come to recognize (and appreciate) from Steve, and sets that aside for perhaps later on.

Especially because Claude himself is the one who sent the conversation in a different direction, and Steve's alarm is easy to pick up on. He looks back to the other then with a mostly impassive expression though he does raise an eyebrow at the idea of Steve being hauled in and allows a teasing smile to slip through for a moment. ]

Been causing some trouble they might frown upon, have you? Well, join the club.

[ It's not much of one, given that he only knows of the other members being Ciri and Jesper and because they were the very matter of what he was questioned about. Claude finally places the arrow in his hand back into the quiver and rests one end of Failnaught on the ground to lean an elbow upon it rather casually, like they're merely about to discuss the merits of weapons and nothing more. ]

They pulled me in because back during the supply run I was 'acting suspiciously' and they wanted to know why. I played dumb for most of it since they weren't wrong about what the interviewer eventually asked me, in that I was doing it to cover for... others. [ Now he hesitates, because for as much as he trusts Steve and is rather certain he wouldn't share anything outside of this conversation except for what needs to move forward - ] Forgive the vagueness, since some of what happened isn't mine to tell. Both in the events they wanted me to answer about, which I didn't, and who it involved since I don't want to break their confidence.

At the end of what she wanted to call just a conversation, the interviewer told me she was filing it on record and that they'd possibly follow up with the others from our group. And she has, so I think it stands to reason there's a chance they're finally looking into us more than just letting us be, or that they've been doing this all along.

[ Trouble? Not exactly. Not as much as he could be, in any case. Steve responds with a noncommittal shrug. ]

I think I've asked enough questions that I might be on their radar, that's all.

[ When Claude settles into a more casual posture, Steve mirrors it by leaning up against the side of the wooden weapons rack, arms crossing loosely over his chest. This is about the supply run, is it? Steve went on one himself, which leaves him even more surprised that he hadn't been pulled in for questioning. Maybe it has something to do with events that took place on Claude's trip, though he remains vague on that point — for the sake of keeping his fellow Summoned in confidence, it sounds like. ]

... Interesting. I went on a supply run myself, but I was with Sephiroth, who's an active member of the military here. That may be why we were under less scrutiny. [ Steve's brow furrows in quiet contemplation as he stares off for a moment. They had helped out that injured traveler who may very well have been a bandit, and some of the soldiers with them had even provided aid in tending to his wounds. Apparently they hadn't taken interest in that, unless Sephiroth was the one questioned. Maybe he should check.

Eventually he shifts his gaze back to Claude, his expression piercing yet still colored with concern. ] Did you have a caravan of Free Cities soldiers traveling with you? I'm assuming they're the ones who leaked all this information.

[ The explanation of asking too many questions gets another slight smile from Claude, if only because that's also something he can relate to from past experiences. Somewhat less so here since he'd been employing more observations than outright asking, and lately he's come to think that's been a mistake. Too much information's lost that way, but if Steve's been asking around, then --

That train of thought stops before it really starts when the other mentions he also went on a supply run and Claude arches an eyebrow at that and everything which follows. Sephiroth's not a name he can immediately pair with a face - not with a little more thought first, and mostly because Claude's deeply distracted by the rest of what Steve's said. That there's more than one Summoned who joined the Free Cities military, someone besides who he's met and asked about their choice to do just that. ]

Hm. I wouldn't be surprised if they're more lenient about their fellow soldiers than the rest of us since I'd assume there's a level of trust there we're not entitled to having. We did have several soldiers escorting us and the wagons. The interviewer did mention they were the ones who were suspicious about what was happening, so I have to assume they reported it in whatever methods they have for that.

[ All of which adds to that feeling of whatever surveillance being done of them that was done in the background is less so now, and which pairs with at least one leader being in favor of a draft in a way Claude doesn't care for. There is a way around some of their information block, as it turns out, and as he glances back Steve's direction. ]

Out of curiosity. What are the chances your friend in the military would be willing to keep an eye on things there for us if that's not already happening?

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i'm reaching for the clouds

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