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makinglies2025-09-27 05:54 pm
lysoke) wrote in makinglies2025-09-27 05:54 pm
Entry tags:
Respite
Respite
The lake is dark and calm with a small breeze by the time they arrive at its shores. The stars above reflect perfectly in the still waters before them, and a small copse of trees lines one side, starting on their side of the river and jumping along the other side.
Chris takes a moment to re-prepare the spell he hadn't been able to cast in five years and gestures vaguely to the area around them as a suggestion for what the others can do. Gathering in the forest, sitting on a nearby over-turned log, it didn't matter to him. What he needed was an hour without interruption.
He settles down on the ground and presses his hands together as he closes his eyes to focus on the image in his mind. Within minutes, the white, shimmering outline of a large building forms in thin air. The gentle glow of its light barely spreads from the growing structure.
As promised, it takes the full hour before the slowly filling-in form is complete and finishes with a jaunty, echoing click.
Chris takes a breath, now sitting in front of the stoop that looks annoyingly like the one he'd passed earlier in the night, and gets back onto stiff legs as the glow fades away, leaving smooth, but otherwise unremarkable, white stone behind.
"Here we are. Home for the next however long we need. I'll start working on food and water next." Once they're inside, anyway, which is why he takes back his things from where he'd left them and leads them into the temple, marked only with the carving of ravens on the black wood of the double doors.
Inside is something just shy of opulence. The same polished white stone makes the walls, though black and gold veins course through the marble. The floor is the inverse, a black stone with white, shimmering speckles like a night sky if looked at for long enough. A single window faced East high up on the wall. The temple was alight with sconces at regular intervals along the walls, illuminating an open area that held all the offerings of comfort Chris could think of.
A large hot-springs-like bath, complete with a miniature waterfall, took up the left side of the room and ran into a smaller, similar bath at dog-height. Next to it, covered by a retractable screen, was a shower. Along the back wall, a raven's head emblazoned the white wall in black and watched out over a set of tables, chairs, and a couple of sofas. The majority of the center was clear for walking, but the right edge and right side of the room held a deeply inset pit of pillows, cushions, and blankets in various soft (black and purple) fabrics.
Finally, in the middle of the right-hand wall, there were two closed doors that, when inspected, revealed one room with a large, soft chair and rug, while the other room was made of nothing but stone with jars, pitchers, and plates on shelves along two walls and a cork wall perfect for catching daggers on the other side.
"I hope it works for everyone. I didn't...I didn't make separate bedrooms this time. I didn't figure we would need them tonight."
Chris takes a moment to re-prepare the spell he hadn't been able to cast in five years and gestures vaguely to the area around them as a suggestion for what the others can do. Gathering in the forest, sitting on a nearby over-turned log, it didn't matter to him. What he needed was an hour without interruption.
He settles down on the ground and presses his hands together as he closes his eyes to focus on the image in his mind. Within minutes, the white, shimmering outline of a large building forms in thin air. The gentle glow of its light barely spreads from the growing structure.
As promised, it takes the full hour before the slowly filling-in form is complete and finishes with a jaunty, echoing click.
Chris takes a breath, now sitting in front of the stoop that looks annoyingly like the one he'd passed earlier in the night, and gets back onto stiff legs as the glow fades away, leaving smooth, but otherwise unremarkable, white stone behind.
"Here we are. Home for the next however long we need. I'll start working on food and water next." Once they're inside, anyway, which is why he takes back his things from where he'd left them and leads them into the temple, marked only with the carving of ravens on the black wood of the double doors.
Inside is something just shy of opulence. The same polished white stone makes the walls, though black and gold veins course through the marble. The floor is the inverse, a black stone with white, shimmering speckles like a night sky if looked at for long enough. A single window faced East high up on the wall. The temple was alight with sconces at regular intervals along the walls, illuminating an open area that held all the offerings of comfort Chris could think of.
A large hot-springs-like bath, complete with a miniature waterfall, took up the left side of the room and ran into a smaller, similar bath at dog-height. Next to it, covered by a retractable screen, was a shower. Along the back wall, a raven's head emblazoned the white wall in black and watched out over a set of tables, chairs, and a couple of sofas. The majority of the center was clear for walking, but the right edge and right side of the room held a deeply inset pit of pillows, cushions, and blankets in various soft (black and purple) fabrics.
Finally, in the middle of the right-hand wall, there were two closed doors that, when inspected, revealed one room with a large, soft chair and rug, while the other room was made of nothing but stone with jars, pitchers, and plates on shelves along two walls and a cork wall perfect for catching daggers on the other side.
"I hope it works for everyone. I didn't...I didn't make separate bedrooms this time. I didn't figure we would need them tonight."
no subject
“I’m not- If my powers keep working properly, there is the possibility I’ll be able to read and understand, as well, I suppose. It, uh… it never really came up in the city except the once, but I’m sort of… poly-lingual? I think it’s because the Eye wants me to be able to take Statements from anyone. I was just able to understand another language I’d never learned. More than once.
“But actually learning would be good. Just in case it only works for Earth-based languages?” He’s not sure how adaptable an eldritch fear entity could be on another plane. At least somewhat, given Duplicity. “I can start making a list of all the things we need to make sure are covered, maybe? Language… illnesses. Amelia, Wolfe, and I have never been here. We might catch every sickness and disease under the sun with our immune systems not being adapted to it all…”
no subject
"I think it might be better not to rely on the Eye's translation abilities. It might be fine, but just in case it...I don't know, gets it backwards or associates it with an Earth language that's not quite right, I think you and Wolfe have some learning to do."
The thought about the sickness is sound too, if the three of them don't end up huddled up and sad in a week or so, Chris will be genuinely surprised.
"That list'd be very helpful. That's two now you've put thought to that I haven't. For illness, at least, I know some local plants we can keep an eye out for and I can cure anything too dire. Unfortunately...I'm gonna need to let you all suffer through the basic stuff so you can get stronger, so we'll need those herbs to make it easier for you all. Anything else dire we need to plan for? Orr can it wait until after a bath and dinner?"
no subject
"I'll start on it after. I... are you really going to make me get in there with Amelia right over there? What if she sees me? What if I see her? I doubt she's keen on witnessing me in my birthday suit, even if she might like seeing you and Wolfe in yours. Couldn't you just... prestidigitate anything off of me now? I can wait until she goes to bed, then get in.
no subject
Unfortunately, it's his turn to be caught flat-footed with Jon's suggestion. "Well..."
Chris waves his hand towards his partner...and gets nothing short of a few sparkles. "Ah...yeah, so...I don't usually have Prestidigitation. I think the city fucked that one up because it doesn't know my magic, actually...but I don't have it now, I'm afraid."
He at least looks genuinely apologetic. "I hope you'll still love me even if I can't keep things quite as tidy so easily. As for Amelia, the water's not so clear she'll have a full view: there's herbs and salts in the water for healing and muscle aches. Just turn away and practice friendly eye contact once you're both in. It's not like you haven't spent the last seven years avoiding looking at people when you can."
no subject
He lets that linger a moment, before huffing and leaning in to press a kiss to Chris' lips. "Yes, you idiot, I'll still love you. Difficult as it might be. Provided you go and make certain they're not coming out while I get undressed and into the water. If you're that dead set on it."
It's not really addressing much like this, playing it off with a joke, making lists, but it's about as much as Jon can handle for the moment.
no subject
Logically he knows Jon Sims is many things, but shallow in his relationships was not one of them...and yet, with the day as it's been, it's enough to make him reach out and cling to Jon's cloak and chase the kiss when the reassurance comes.
"Good...alright." He tries not to sound as sulky as he feels. "We'll look at the practicals later. Thank you, love."
Feeling sheepish and far too Seen in the less preferred way, he heads back over to the showers and stops only to show the girls they were welcome to bathe in the smaller springs as well. He crosses his arms over his chest and lingers between the shower and baths, both to keep an eye as promised and to not get so close he might overhear whatever was happening between his mage and rogue.
no subject
He gets most of his things off, but leaves the trousers on, carrying his bag to the edge of the springs as far from the shower area as he can get. With another concerned look toward Chris where he's standing guard, Jon quickly undresses the rest of the way, stowing his clothes and stepping down into the water quickly enough that he splashed it out a little on the other side. While he knows Chris' intent is for him to sit in here and relax, Amelia's presence in the offing means he sets to work rubbing himself down as best he can sans sponge or rag while he has some privacy.
There is one point, though, when he catches Chris' eye and tosses his wet hair back in a faux sultry way as he stands and stretches a bit. He can give his boyfriend something nice to make up for teasing him.