wiedzminka | ❧ IC INBOX: Abraxas

A -- [Jaskier pauses, choking on his swallow of ale.] I -- I heard you right? A wildcat?

[He can't help but laugh into his drink, which he tries to hide because it's completely inappropriate, and Ciri was hurt, and it's not really funny except --] I'm not laughing at you, I promise. I -- I only remembered I've described you as that before. A wildcat. In song only.

[Jaskier composes himself quickly, wiping a few drops of ale from his chin.]

I'm sorry. At least they ran home, I suppose. Though -- you say you tried. How far did you go? It must have been too far to retrieve the horses.

Edited 2022-07-18 07:39 (UTC)

Yes, yes. It's very funny. Get it out of your system now, you prick.

[ Said casually, as she takes a break from her story to have another drink or two. She doesn't fault him for laughing. The irony is, admittedly, amusing. After enough time has passed for her as well (and with her shoulder fully healed), Ciri can see the humor in it herself.

It's not the cat that was the problem, or the fact it had gotten a good swipe at her despite her training. Unfortunately, that would have been too simple indeed.

Ciri sets her mug back on the tray, leaning back again. This time, she sounds serious. ]

We ended up at the edge of the crater.

Jaskier. I could see the Singularity.

[Normally he would be quite insulted, by Jaskier will allow he deserves a you prick at the moment. She was still hurt! It was terrible! He'd only been expecting... more bandits, maybe? The return of the giant, angry scaled mother he and Geralt ran into? Even a dragon, maybe, from the mountains.

At least he doesn't choke on his drink this time.]

You're fucking joking. [He stares at her. The crater. Oh, he knows that crater well. He remembers it intimately, even now.] Fuck. You've never even been. How... how did you end up there? As far as I've known, they've never led anyone there again.

It would be a joke in poor taste, but unfortunately, it's worse. It's what happened.

[ She nods at his realization. No, she'd never been before. Yes, it is fucking weird, and it sets her teeth on edge. ]

I meant to portal Viktor to safety, just a few feet away. Enough to get him out of the way so I could take care of the threat.

Instead, we wound up in the middle of nowhere. Got attacked by some truly unpleasant giant bugs I've never seen before. When I saw the crater and the Singularity beyond it, I realized where we were, but I'd in no way intended it. It never would have crossed my mind.

The only thing I can think of is...

[ She hesitates, lingering on another few sips of her mead and sinking lower into the water, chin tucked in the bubbles and just the tops of her knees poking out. ]

I could feel how strong its magic was. Like a pressure, or-- a pull.

I can't help but think it wanted me there.

[ Ciri looks up at Jaskier again, searching his eyes. ]

And yes, I am aware that sounds insane.

[He's far to be the first person to claim he knows much about magic or chaos, but it feels utterly bizarre to him, as if Ciri is breaking some fine law in the physics of chaos that must exist, that she can portal so casually in the first place, of course, but moreso that she can portal to somewhere she's never been to before. (But she's done it before. He knows that.)

The Singularity is different. It's a place so... magically hostile.

At least to this sphere's natives. The Singularity is, in fact, quite the opposite to the Summoned. Far too much the opposite.

Jaskier sets his drink down between his feet.]

It isn't insane. Gods, Ciri, all the things that have happened to us -- being here in the first place -- how could it? [He pauses, rubbing his temples, sighing. No. No, he believes her. He believes her implication -- that the Singularity interfered with her portal somehow, bringing her to it.

It's terrifying. Somehow, more than anything, that this unknowable, unfathomable monolith should want her --]

You're not the first person who's told me that there's... almost a consciousness to the Singularity. That it is, in fact, very alive.

[ Ciri's head snaps up before she can take her next drink. Her brows furrow. ]

What? Has this... happened before?

[Jaskier shakes his head before she can go too far with it.]

As much as what happened to you? Not that I've ever heard of. I've been to the Singularity once myself, when Thorne dragged us out there like dogs. Perhaps Thorne still does so, but it doesn't seem that way. None of those I've spoken to from there, at least, have brought it up.

But after our trip there, there was another person in Thorne who told me something similar. A boy named Ronan. He's the first of us to touch the Singularity, as far as I know. He said things like... it was something called a ley line, where magic converges. That it is insanely powerful. That, as a magical being, he is kept alive by it. And while I can't recall too many specifics of the conversation, I do remember one thing in particular: "It wants us." I would not be surprised if... if it is one more thing in the world that wants to use your power. Perhaps that's why it pulled you there. To... see you itself.

[ Ciri listens quietly, slowly draining her cup. It didn't last as long as it probably should've; she stretches out her arm for a refill. ]

I hadn't heard of that before...

[ The boy Jaskier means, the idea that someone has communicated with the Singularity in some way. It wants us. That much seems clear, something she might have understood on some level before this, in a theoretical sense. It had brought them here, after all.

But now, having experienced the force pulling her to it directly without her permission or intent, it feels overwhelming. Terrifying. A heaviness that settles in the quiet, now that she is home an not focusing on one thing after the next just to get them safely back. ]

I think you're right.

[Ever the diligent host, even in his own home, Jaskier lifts a pitcher and refills her drink for her. Of course he had the foresight to bring extra, if she's really meant to soak.

He doesn't mind. The soaps smell heavenly, and there's a sense of ease from their being there. A feeling of home.

Jaskier sets a hand on her arm.]

You know we'll protect you from anything we can. Even a giant, ridiculous rock. [It's a ridiculous notion. What is Jaskier going to do? The most he can do is... research. Or learn better magic. But he's still no sorcerer. He's a bard.] Perhaps its intent is not a negative one. A fruitless hope, maybe, but... it is fair that if it wants something from us, from you, you will have some leg up on it.

I know, Jaskier.

[ She turns her hand to take his, giving his fingers a squeeze. ]

If it is sentient in a way we can understand, perhaps we can figure out what it wants. If it can even be defined as something positive or negative. There is a reason magic is called chaos, after all. I don't think it will be that simple.

But for now--

Well, I'm just glad to be home. And the mead is very good. Nice choice.

[He raises her hand to give an affectionate kiss to her knuckles, like a knight greeting his queen. Mostly because he likes to tease her about the princess business (especially since she upset him over the song he wrote for her. Payback!)]

Ah, I concur. It will never be that simple. Nothing truly is.

[Except, perhaps, the comfort in having her home.] Hah! Of course it is. My tastes in drink are impeccable. I had a year of tearing myself around the Continent to taste the best. [He pats her hand, leaning back to make himself comfortable. She'll bathe, and rest after, and Geralt will be home soon enough. Perhaps he can make something a little special for the three of them.] It's good to have you home once more.

[ She giggles, pulling her hand away with a little shake of her head-- amused rather than annoyed, and Jaskier should know the difference by now. ]

Oh, yes, I know. Only the finest for you. And me, of course. Geralt will drink anything.

[ Her grin widens as she settles back, and settles into the familiar banter and comfort. Geralt will be home in a couple of weeks too. Much like her, he always comes back. He has a place to come back to. ]

Mm.

[ To think of this place as such, and to feel at home in it. Despite everything, this is the place she's chosen. They've all chosen. She'll do damn near anyway to keep this little piece of the worlds they've finally carved out together, no matter what the Singularity wants with her or not. ]

Yeah. It's good to be home.

❧ IC INBOX: Abraxas

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