wiedzminka | ❧ IC INBOX: Abraxas

Ciri,

Thank you so much for saving Viktor's life. I cannot tell you how grateful I am. Please let me know if there is anything I can make you, free of charge, in thanks. I can do knives, swords, I actually have a prototype for a collapsible sword that's not finished but I can give you the first one, whatever you want.

I hope you are feeling okay yourself. If you aren't, I am going to be waiting for the two of you with Viktor's cane. I have magical healing abilities, if you need them.

-Jayce Talis

You do not need to thank me.

I need a sword. I'm interested in the collapsible prototype, but a regular sword is preferred, to start. I'll pay.

I know a healer, if you'd rather save your energy to use on Viktor, but I could use some assistance with my wounds. Appreciate the offer.

Where will you meet us?

No, of course not, because the moments after I sent you a message after your horse arrived with no riders and no weapon and no note and you failed to respond, I went to sleep without any disturbance in my heart.

Yes. I'm awake. Are you insane, to think I've slept a wink since then? What happened? Are you all right?

[ She is. A bit taken aback by the vehemence in his clearly agitated hand. Somehow, even in writing, he is so good at making her practically hear exactly the tone in his voice. Leave it to a poet. ]

First and foremost: I'm all right. I didn't mean to worry you. I reached out with the intention of explaining as soon as I could, but I see Nixie has beaten me to it.

Is she okay?

Was there another horse with her?

Edited 2022-06-18 08:41 (UTC)

I will make you a sword to use for now, and then you can tell me how you'd like an official one to be designed and commissioned. And I insist, it's on the house.

I can handle both.

I planned on being at the entrance to the city from Aquila's route so I can give Viktor his cane right away.

-Jayce Talis

[At least Ciri, unlike her father, has the sense to reassure Jaskier first that she is all right, instead of asking about the bloody fucking horses.

He can very much appreciate that about her.

He takes a deep breath, rubbing his temples, collapsing in a corner of their stable. He's spent far too much time making sure the horses have been getting the attention they need, possibly more than they've gotten since... since Rinwell.

Immediately he swallows that thought down. Thinking of other losses right now is not helping.]

Yes, there's two horses. Both are fine, if not a little run ragged. I've been taking care of them. I think this -- is this Viktor's cane? I'm assuming you did not leave him somewhere to die. Also, please don't tell me if you left him somewhere to die, I want to maintain positive thoughts about you.

[ Jaskier definitely doesn't mean it this way, but she is not in the mood for such quips. It stings more than he realizes. ]

Jaskier. Stop.

All right. If you insist. I'll come by once we're in the city again, give you the specifications.

We'll see you there. I'll be in touch when we're a few hours out.

[ There's a pause, then a follow-up message eventually. ]

I didn't know you were a healer.

Stop? Stop! Don't tell me to stop! You have no idea what I've been through the last night --

[And true to form, it's not what someone else says that makes him stop. You have no idea what I've been through.

Truthfully, this is what he's such a marvel of a poet. Why one can walk in shoes he's never touched.

He doesn't know what she's been through, either. Clearly something has happened. Something not wholly devastating, but not something to come raving home about, either.]

Tell me what you need. Should I gather by the gate? Come out to find you?

[ He's been worried. She understands. In truth, she really didn't expect -- or want -- him to find out like this. She was so frantic and preoccupied with just keeping herself and Viktor alive, and then she'd been so thoroughly exhausted, she simply hadn't had the time, very literally, to think of anything else. Jaskier is the first person she's reached out to, knowing he is the only one who might actually expect her home. Having him upset with her over it really isn't helping-- and she's not in the sort of headspace to be particularly understanding about it.

She wants to tell Jaskier more, but suddenly, it feels so difficult. ]

We're still a week or so out.

Just take care of Nixie for me.

[She is definitely not presuming too much, because-]

I do. You can visit my domain, if you’re still interested. It’s a very tall building, lit up at night. Easily identifiable by the Shinra logo.

[ It's a relief. She won't admit it, though. ]

Very well. Tonight, a couple of hours after sundown. I'll look for it.

[ When it will look like she's sleeping, so as not to arouse too much suspicion and not to overburden the horses pulling the wagon, since she doesn't usually ride back there with Viktor. Once they've set up camp though, and she's checked the perimeter and made sure the horses are cared for, Ciri will let him know that she's on her way.

She's never been there before, she realizes. When it comes to the folks she often meets in Cadens in person, she rarely bothers with their Horizon, and she doesn't spend too much time there anyway. There's enough to be done outside that world.

Eventually, Ciri finds the building he means though (even if she had to figure out what a "Shinra logo" is separately). It is indeed... very tall. She waits. ]

[And just like that, of course, she goes right back to being like Geralt. Jaskier rolls his eyes, but at least no one is here to witness his moment of being a little bastard. It gives him nothing to go on. No hint as to what's happened. Where she is. What happened to Viktor.

Though he has an inkling that something has. Why else would she be so cross in so few words?]

Truly? A week?

[His estimation was way off, then, or the horses had managed on their own. They must have been quite lucky or aided on the way. Not many chances to see horses traversing the sands without company.] You know you don't have to ask me.

But you better if you need anything else. Don't try to play hero unnecessarily, Ciri, even if you are one.

Accidentally ended up in Aquila. We need to find a ride back. Might be a week and a half, realistically.

[ As for the rest-- a hero, huh? She wants to scoff, but that's not the sort of thing visible through the letters they can send each other. She's in the bath while they talk, washing away the salt water and sand. Everything hurts. She doesn't feel the least bit like a hero, at all. ]

Please return Viktor's horse to the stables on Peony Street so they don't charge extra.

"Accidentally," is it?

[Even through only written word, Jaskier may yet manage to display doubt. Perhaps even a touch of sarcasm.

And luckily, he needn't more of Ciri's words to guess how she feels about that. Again, her and Geralt. Both so... obstinate.]

Yes, of course, on the double, my lady. Melitele forbid he be charged a late fee after whatever sort of shit has happened to the two of you. Love how you've your priorities in order.

Edited 2022-06-20 20:02 (UTC)

I'm only being practical. You needn't be a prick about it.

[ She's very glad Nixie came back unharmed, and that they don't have to pay for Viktor's rental getting eaten -- considering she needs to afford a whole new sword, now -- but she does wish the timing had been a little better. Naturally, after what had happened with Geralt, Jaskier has probably been very stressed out waiting for her to reach out to him, but Ciri's struggling to remain sympathetic.

She ignores his question about what she meant by accidentally. It's something that will need to be explained later, preferably when neither of them is feeling like a huge bitch. ]

Did you tell Geralt about Nixie?

[ She's figuring out how much damage control she has to do and how quickly, because she's not quite ready to talk to Geralt either. ]

I've been learning here. It was my Horizon power but I've been studying full time on top of it. I got some training from other Summoned to strengthen it. I'm not an expert yet, but give me a few more months and I will be. I've been studying medicine too, I'm in classes with Nadine if you know her.

I hope to learn other magic someday, but for now healing is my only focus.

-Jayce Talis

[ Now that she's been around Viktor, she can probably guess as to why. ]

I'm friends with Nadine. She's a good healer. If you're training together, I'm sure I can rely on you to patch me up.

[ Though she suspects Nadine is going to insist on making her drink some potion or other when she gets home anyway. It's a little weird, having people be so insistent on worrying about her, but... she doesn't hate it. ]

By the way, you don't need to sign your name every time.

Oh sorry, it's instinct. I sign all my papers. Nadine is amazing, yes, she gave me advice on everything to take when I first showed up.

Just so you know, Viktor did tell me about your abilities as he explained what happened, but he made sure I understood they were private and not to be discussed with anyone else. I want to reassure you that I would never.

Sign if you want. I thought you weren't doing it on purpose. It was amusing.

[ There is a pause after the second part of his message. Of course, Viktor had to say something. She ended up telling some people her magic malfunctioned and put them in Aquila. The part about actually going to the crater, though--

She's not enthusiastic about Jayce knowing. She's not enthusiastic about Viktor having experienced it in the first place, and having to explain to him. But it is what it is, and it's clear their relationship is too close for her to ask Viktor to keep secrets from his partner. ]

I'll hold you to that, Jayce Talis.

Tell no one where we really went. To Aquila and back. That's it.

I won't, I promise. To Aquila and back.

Please don't be mad at Viktor for telling me, I was panicked and asking a lot of questions.

[ You can practically read the sigh in her writing, somehow. ]

I'm not mad at Viktor.

Okay phew. He values your friendship. He typically is very private with other people's info, but I was very worried.

[ That is something she appreciates about Viktor; he doesn't pry, and he is practical. She's pretty sure that he won't go telling others, even if ideally there'd never been anything to tell. Jayce is someone she understands a bit less, the sort of outgoing personality she's a little distrustful of on instinct (Jaskier gets a pass).

But it does take her by surprise, for some reason, that Jayce says it so bluntly. ]

Did he say something, besides explaining what happened?

That he wouldn't be alive without you, it sounds like you went through a lot to protect him. He's not used to anyone other than me putting their own safety on the line for him. It's meaningful. Not that he would say so upfront.

❧ IC INBOX: Abraxas

On their way back from Aquila

no subject

you're killing him. you're killing your uncle

rip (sorry uncle)

no subject

ARE YOU SORRY

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