This is not my first time navigating an impossible situation, Mat. I’m going to make a plan I’m not going to just run off, but you’re my friend and my lover and I don’t leave those in danger.
Maybe we should all get out. It’s not like here is safe either. We could go to the Singularity and the area around it where none of them can get to.
and it's not my first time being under threat of danger. i am asking you jesper to hold off on any plans. i can't live with myself if something happens to you. and we don't know what tomorrow's going to bring.
a lovely thought but not in the least sustainable.
Fuck me, maybe we should have. But we didn't and now we're stuck in opposing kingdoms, with only magic to reach out to one another. I suppose if nothing else I could give ballad writing a try, I think I've enough experience to pen one at this point.
No I'm just saying that it would make a good one. I've never actually written a ballad in my life, and the gleeman that taught me didn't get that far in our lessons.
I can't even play an instrument beyond the hand drum. What we'd end up with is a bizarre poem.
You can use my nickname, Jes. It rhymes with yes, which is what I like to hear anyway.
[ Rimshot. ]
The Crows usually laugh in the face of danger, it's our trademark, but it's difficult to feel it right now. We'd just been in Libertas for a festival. There were a lot of good people, innocent people.
There has to be a way for us to get out of this. To get you and Rhy and anyone else stuck there out, maybe there's somewhere we can start our own village. It wouldn't be the first time, Inej's people the Suli do it all the time. They're nomadic.
I don't think they would come after us here, they've never really given all that much attention to us the same way, but yeah, you lot are basically Thorne's prisoners. In a gilded cage, but one nevertheless. I wonder if we could make it to Solvunn, if they'd put us under their neutrality blanket.
I'm just worried. But I'm sure as long as you keep your head down there, they won't do anything to you. For now.
Then you're free to just leave the Free Cities and go somewhere else? Because I'd bet a good bit of money that they pay more attention than you think.
I'll lay it out plainly. I've always been perfectly agreeable and on good behavior since I got here. Worst I've done is frozen some things I maybe ought have not. Like a flight of stairs one time. But I know when to play along and blend in, and I have been. I don't even pick pockets these days. For all Thorne knows, I am a good and obedient boy.
And I promise you I will be in touch every day. Even if it's just a quick message before bed.
I don't know, they've never limited us before. We've visited other cities freely and the hunters go out into the Badlands which isn't Free Cities property. So they're allowed past the territory regularly.
They're magic users, I'm fairly certain they've frozen some things too.
Please do. I'm not used to being this far away from people I love. Usually I'm always there and I can protect them, you know?
[ Protection is very important to Jesper, it's what he puts a lot of his personal value into. Keeping those he loves safe. ]
But you haven't heard of anyone hopping a wagon to Solvunn, have you? I'm just saying you need to be careful, too. Of more than just attacks from Thorne.
I will. I know what you mean. I don't like that we're practically on opposite sides of the world from each other. I don't like it at the best of times and I certainly don't like it now. But that's what it is and we'll do what we can.
Wish we could write real letters to each other, too. Be nice to have words that didn't vanish.
I'm not sure anyone wants to hop the wagon to Solvunn, Mat.
[ Listen, he can't help making fun of them a little, it's farmland! He's a former farmer. ]
Okay how about this? We write each other letters and leave them in each other's domain. It's not quite the same thing, but then we can save them there.
I'd say Solvunn has a great deal to offer at the moment!
Agreed. We'll write in the horizon. It's still something. And the words won't vanish as though they were never there. Besides, it's easier to write more in a letter.
Yeah I hate farmland but I'm thinking about it. Although who knows how long their neutrality will last. If Thorne takes over Free Cities again, they'll probably set their eyes on the other area they lost in the war. I was always so glad to stay out of wars before. Yuck.
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Date: 2022-08-31 10:09 pm (UTC)Maybe we should all get out. It’s not like here is safe either. We could go to the Singularity and the area around it where none of them can get to.
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Date: 2022-08-31 10:37 pm (UTC)a lovely thought but not in the least sustainable.
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Date: 2022-09-01 02:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-04 01:56 am (UTC)But you and I are still here. And logically speaking, we here in the madlands are too valuable to the crown to not defend spectacularly.
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Date: 2022-09-04 03:05 am (UTC)We should've all run for Solvunn! Maybe quiet farmland is the best.
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Date: 2022-09-06 02:55 am (UTC)Fuck me, maybe we should have. But we didn't and now we're stuck in opposing kingdoms, with only magic to reach out to one another. I suppose if nothing else I could give ballad writing a try, I think I've enough experience to pen one at this point.
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Date: 2022-09-07 11:24 pm (UTC)Are you telling me you're going to write an epic tragic romance about us?
Because low key I'm into it.
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Date: 2022-09-07 11:44 pm (UTC)I can't even play an instrument beyond the hand drum. What we'd end up with is a bizarre poem.
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Date: 2022-09-07 11:59 pm (UTC)I probably shouldn't be flirting with you at a time like this but it's better than wanting to assassinate Thorne's queen.
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Date: 2022-09-10 12:58 am (UTC)And better than losing our minds or weeping, I suppose.
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Date: 2022-09-10 04:02 pm (UTC)[ Rimshot. ]
The Crows usually laugh in the face of danger, it's our trademark, but it's difficult to feel it right now. We'd just been in Libertas for a festival. There were a lot of good people, innocent people.
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Date: 2022-09-12 11:41 pm (UTC)I generally just run, but that's not an option now. Of course where I live isn't on fire this time.
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Date: 2022-09-14 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-17 07:56 pm (UTC)Sometimes the options are just all shit. At least until better options present themselves.
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Date: 2022-09-20 11:55 pm (UTC)I'm just worried. But I'm sure as long as you keep your head down there, they won't do anything to you. For now.
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Date: 2022-09-21 02:17 am (UTC)I'll lay it out plainly. I've always been perfectly agreeable and on good behavior since I got here. Worst I've done is frozen some things I maybe ought have not. Like a flight of stairs one time. But I know when to play along and blend in, and I have been. I don't even pick pockets these days. For all Thorne knows, I am a good and obedient boy.
And I promise you I will be in touch every day. Even if it's just a quick message before bed.
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Date: 2022-09-23 12:38 am (UTC)They're magic users, I'm fairly certain they've frozen some things too.
Please do. I'm not used to being this far away from people I love. Usually I'm always there and I can protect them, you know?
[ Protection is very important to Jesper, it's what he puts a lot of his personal value into. Keeping those he loves safe. ]
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Date: 2022-09-23 03:51 am (UTC)I will. I know what you mean. I don't like that we're practically on opposite sides of the world from each other. I don't like it at the best of times and I certainly don't like it now. But that's what it is and we'll do what we can.
Wish we could write real letters to each other, too. Be nice to have words that didn't vanish.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-26 11:26 pm (UTC)[ Listen, he can't help making fun of them a little, it's farmland! He's a former farmer. ]
Okay how about this? We write each other letters and leave them in each other's domain. It's not quite the same thing, but then we can save them there.
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Date: 2022-09-27 02:12 am (UTC)Agreed. We'll write in the horizon. It's still something. And the words won't vanish as though they were never there. Besides, it's easier to write more in a letter.
I think them leaving letters to each other is ADORABLE
Date: 2022-09-27 03:31 pm (UTC)I'll leave you one, love.