makinglies | Respite

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faerun

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."

♥

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Out of everything, out of all her compliments to him earlier and his embarrassment over his physique, her skipping asking him about if he'd want to continue wasting his idle time with a lute and practically demanding one from Chris, has him flushing and putting his hands up defensively.

"I'm really not very good, even after all these years. You don't have to if you'd rather not hear it. Darling socks or learning to knit is at least useful."

He’s still swiping at his water-flattened curls when he comes over to his other partners, but he nods to Amelia’s question.

“I can make one for the temple, though a real one will sound better. We can buy one eventually. I’d like another flute at some point as well.” He’d gotten passably ok at it since picking it back up, he’d likely miss it in the calmer days ahead.

He tosses the towel haphazardly towards the laundry area and shrugs at Wolfe. “You’re multi-talented, you can learn all of that. If you’ve got dinner in hand, I’m gonna start cleaning the real clothes we’ve got so we can pick up and move after the Shadowfell. If…if we all think we’re ready to start trying to mingle again. I’ve an idea for some quick coin afore Ilinivur.”

"I washed my and Wolfe's clothes earlier, though our clothes from yesterday could use another go." She got a lot of blood on her clothes during the fight getting out of Duplicity. She smiles softly. "Thank you, Chris. I appreciate your help.

"Though... what do you mean before Ilinvur? Are there places along the road we could stop at for a day or two?" If they could simply Gate to the city, wouldn't that be faster? A larger city would certainly lend itself to more coin. More notoriety for Chris and the Guardians, which could cause them trouble, but that's what disguises are for.

"Doing what?" Wolfe asks, almost in tandem with Amelia's question. Better talking about this than the multiple talents he's not entirely sure he posesses the attention span to nurture.

He shakes his head and crosses his arms casually over his middle.

“It’s along the way were we to walk, but we can Gate there no different. Half a day’s decent travel from Ilinivur is a vacationing town for her rich and elite. Bastila.” He nods to Wolfe. “I might have mentioned the place before: where I debuted and retired my stint as ‘The Carmine Corvid.’ Bastila’s got a fighting ring that brings in lots of crowds and money, there’s places for gambling as well and plenty of coin people don’t know what else to do with it but overpay for others doing inconvenient things for them. Anything from paperwork to menacing rivals, I’d expect. Plus, I don’t care if you cut a few purse strings there.”

Fighting, intrigue, and a lot of coin. Even knowing she didn't come from Ragneux, a place like that piques Amelia's interest. Her lips unconsciously turn up on the one side as ideas begin to wind through her head.

"So when you say 'quick coin', you mean really quick coin." A full grin pulls across her face. "Give me an afternoon of walking through crowds and we could have enough to buy everything we want and more while the rest of you do as you like." Whether that's fighting for more coin or seeing what's on offer at the market before Amelia comes to them with a large amount of gold to be spent.

There's one important question before she gets too far into her planning. "Do they have anyone about that I should be aware of while I have my fun?" Anyone who would cause her, and by extension their entire party, trouble if she steps on toes?

Edited (typo) 2025-11-16 22:21 (UTC)

“I think you have. We threw around team names for a theoretical stint in the arena.” He wouldn’t mind making coin that way. He’d need to be in better shape first though, he’s definitely not as spry as he should be for such endeavors… Though even in his softer state, he’s probably more than a match for lower-grade fighting just based on experience, and if they tag-team, Chris can make up the difference. He’d have to anyway if magic is allowed; Wolfe still won’t use it right now.

“I think it’s a great idea to have some coin earned through there and some through Amelia’s expertise. Better cover if we can say we won it. Jon could place the bet and we could fight as a team,” he gestures to himself and Chris, ”- while Amelia fills our coffers. I think I’m in shape enough for that.”

He brings the backs of his fingers up to brush along his chin.

“The only person I know for certain who goes to Bastila is a blue Dragonborn woman. Velity. Though, honestly, if she or her people are so careless as to be robbed from, that’s not our problem. The guards will be obvious enough, otherwise I trust you to find suitable options.”

As for Wolfe’s part of it…Chris gestures towards where their weapons sit. “We can enter as a team or separate, armed or unarmed. I’d prefer the latter myself, if you’re up for it. You and I can practice a bit too. Between all of us, we can set ourselves up nicely for a little bit.”

And not have to worry about asking Gideon for some kind of allowance or help with the basics.

“Be wary of what we buy there, though, some things aren’t worth the number attached compared to Ilinivur.”

"What team names?" Jon asks as he emerges from the shower, the towel still wringing water from his hair. "Nothing... silly, I hope?" 'Stupid.' His tone says very clearly that he means 'stupid.'

"As for a stop before we head on to Ilinivur, I think that sounds sensible. All the better not to turn up at someone's doorstep asking for too many favors." Jon's not so proud he wouldn't accept the assistance, but that would also put them in more debt to this person, which he'd rather avoid when he has little to offer. Even if Chris might tell them he'd pay any price. "It might also give us a chance to- Chris, are there any temples in the city? One to Mystra, maybe? I won't be much use stealing or fighting." But he can ask questions!

"Choosing targets is something I excel at." Choosing metaphorical battles with the people around her that cause her headaches, heartaches, or anger? That's a lot harder. "We can launder my gains through bets or entrance fees for the fights. I could likely take on a few myself to blow off some steam and learn a bit more about the region's fighting styles."

What? No one ever said she couldn't be pragmatic about why she does things for the group.

She doesn't have a suggestion for a team name, so she leaves it to Wolfe to answer that. Jon does have the right idea with asking about temples, too, so she waits for Chris to answer that. Learning more about the town they'll soon be visiting will be good.

"Unarmed is fine, though I don't mind armed for an individual battle maybe. Chris, your style will likely be too recognizable, not to mention your weapon, so that's for the best. Is there a three on three bout? That could be fun." A grin spreads over his face as he takes the food off the heat and starts doling out bowls.

"It also means you'll not be saddled with a 'silly' team name, Jon. What about... Flight of Fancy, for the three of us? Or Flying Fists?" He makes a motion as if to block an imaginary oncoming blow, feet subconsciously assuming a stance he would use when in combat with his staff.

He shakes his head and takes a seat to wait for food. Laundry could happen after dinner.

“I like flights of fancy. Gotta stick with something half-memorable.” Just enough to be talked about for one day, but forgettable after a good night’s rest.

“We can stick to unarmed and we’re not likely going to be there during one of their big events where they’d have enough attendees for a three on three. That’s better, though, big events have extra security and caution. You and Amelia can have a second go if there’s opportunity for it. Or I’m sure she can handle some fights herself.”

He rests his chin in his palm and shakes his head at Jon as well.

“We’ll need you to place the bets…but beyond that, only Avandra’s got any hold there. She’s a goddess of luck and change. You likely won’t find too much of use but handouts and local knowledge there.”

Jon deflates somewhat as he finishes drying his hair and goes to hang the towel up before finding a seat for himself. "Bets. Right." There has to be something more than that that he can do to pull his weight. But what? He doesn't really have coin to spend. Listening in on rumors isn't useful until they can actually do any sort of adventuring nonsense. If this is a resort town, research resources are likely to be limited and come at a premium price. "I can... study Common between the fights." He knows he shouldn't sulk, especially not when he's fully aware that all of them are anxious over being 'useful.' And somehow failing and being cast out.

"Flights of Fancy isn't the worst possible name. Amelia could just use 'the Shadow Mistress' if she's fighting alone."

"No, I can't use that name. If it's to be associated with me at all in this plane, I can't give it away in a town where I'm thieving at random before we flee to our actual destination." The answer is a little too quick, as if she's already thought about this. The truth is more complicated, but she's not ready to reveal herself that way here. It's too vulnerable for her.

She takes a seat at the table. "I'll pick a common name I hear on the streets when I enter. No need for me to have some catchy name that could be remembered when the day is done."

Wolfe looks at Amelia cautiously, wanting to ask if she does want to be associated with the Shadow Mistress here, but he expects that has a much deeper answer than either of them have the ability to go over right now. He'll save it for later.

"I think you should have some fun with it, though! Hawke's Feather, maybe?" He offers cheekily, setting her dish down before her. He leans down to murmur in her ear before moving on "Or Hawke's Heart?"

He's still grinning as he sets Chris and Jon's bowls down at their places as well, risking a kiss to the top of Chris' head, then sliding into his own seat with his food. It's nothing terribly fancy, but it's a passable soup, if bland. There's not a lot to work with. "They do have a market in Bastila, don't they? People do have to eat. Maybe Jon, maybe you could make sure we have some essentials while we're all off earning the rest of the coin."

He glances between Wolfe and Amelia, but looks away again as that irritation spikes and ebbs away.

Luckily, there’s food to distract him. Decent food for having little but fat to cook with.

“He’s right. You don’t have to stay at the fight if you’d rather not, they’ll keep your earnings for a day for you. There’s markets for locals were we can pick up a few basics, and you could scout out what they have and how much it’ll run us. Stick to absolute basics, though, no clothes. I don’t know the shops well enough to know the reputable ones.”

Jon just stirs his soup for a bit, pushing the meat around as the others talk. He's to be a glorified gofer, then. It's his ego getting to him, the Archivist knows that, but the voice in his head that whispers he's so much less than them and he needs to prove himself somehow to be considered competent enough for anything else, is there, hissing its poison. So, maybe he takes this as a chance to do more than they're expecting, show them. He needs to show them. Maybe not Chris, but Wolfe and especially Amelia. She's seen little of his abilities that aren't related to the Archivist. Just a failure of a Dominant and a man... and a monster.

"Fine. I'll make a list tonight of basics and find where we can pick them up in case we need to make a swift exit." And he'll figure out what else he can do to impress them when they get into town. He has to. This visit to the Shadowfell isn't going to do anything for him swaying opinions. "Should we wait on books, as well? Some sort of botany manual to help us identify things we can gather if we're going to be traveling for any measurable time might be good while we're still building our coffers."

Edited 2025-11-17 19:41 (UTC)

Her cheeks flush briefly, though she's quick to breathe through it. "Nothing quite so unique, thank you. I want to be forgettable outside my skills. A common name will do well for that."

She looks at the others at the table, briefly catching the look in Chris' face. She needs to talk to him. She needs to apologize and let him know what's been discussed and that things are getting better because she listened to him. He was right, as he often is, and he needs to know that. But it has to wait, no matter how much she fears it will come too late.

She keeps the thoughts as close to her chest as she can manage between bites of soup. "At least one book would be good to have. Even if it's overpriced, the contents will more than make up the difference in cost." If it's that overpriced, she can steal the difference from the merchant as well.

Chris doesn't react to him much other than to agree. Its disappointing but honestly, its unfair of Wolfe to expect anything else. He's had a very emotional day and that sort of thing sedates any outward expression in Chris when he's overwhelmed, or at least that's what Wolfe's noticed over the years. Its a way he processes, and so Wolfe settles in his own place without comment on it.

"We should be alright on clothes for a day or two given what Chris returned with. Amelia's already sorted it out for what will fit who with her alterations. Also counted the coffer. It's a little under ten gold, which should stretch pretty far even if we use a bit for gambling. It's a shame we can't use our magic about this though, Jon could Know what our opponents are thinking before the match and give us an edge."

Normally he wouldn't suggest something so unsporting but this is survival for them right now.

"You'll want to be memorable enough to be fun to root for, but forgettable enough that no one cares after the next day." He offers to Amelia and focuses on his dinner for the rest, though the question about a book gets a nod.

"We might be able to afford something, depending on how much we all get. Books run ten to fifteen gold on average, more or less, depending. An empty journal will be a bit cheaper. Under ten as long as it's not magic or fancy."

They'll figure out how much everything costs when they start shopping, but he might as well set that expectation now.

"And forget coffee or chocolate for now. Honey, fruit, and cloves'll be your sweets option. Sometimes cinnamon."

He does offer a small smirk to Wolfe at least, along with a shake of his head. "They'd catch us, as clever as it would be. They monitor for magic use in the stands and on the field. Though I do wonder if you and Jon would be noticeable to them."

Ten to fifteen gold for a single book seems outrageous. Jon is about to say as much, but he considers what he knows of how one actually makes paper. There's probably a whole thing about it here when they're in a pre-industrial society. It's the coffee that pains him the most out of everything, though. He can't help his frown deepening from a moment. It won't take long for whatever stores they have to run out. There should be tea, at least. That can't cost an arm and a leg... can it?

While he feels connected to this place in a metaphysical sense, his irritation gives way to the sense that he's missed a step as his gaze drifts to the 'laundry' set up. He's always hung his clothes to dry, but he's never in his life washed anything without a laundry machine or taking it to the dry cleaner.

Chris, Wolfe, and Amelia are all used to this. They'll see it as a return to the standard. Regrettable, but manageable. Jon focuses down on the soup, eating a few bites and keeping quiet. He hadn't even managed to finish building a fire. His survival skills are pathetic. His fighting skills are barely passable. And now he's going to struggle with just... daily life.

Maybe he could just watch the others do their chores 'the old-fashioned way,' pick it up from that. He's far too proud to ask them to teach him how to do something so basic.

"No books for now. Noted."

Amelia nods to Chris' suggestion for a name and sets the discussion for now. She'll figure out something when they're on their way to the city. Her thoughts are better focused on preparations for tomorrow.

Her eyes flick to Jon briefly when Chris mentions a ban on coffee. There's something in his expression that makes her wonder what's going through his head, but she doesn't know him well enough to guess what it may be. He'd mentioned needing coffee, but that doesn't feel like it would be all of it. Even if it was, she's not in any position to ask about it. He made that abundantly clear in the woods and with his shouting at her earlier here in the temple. She pushes aside her vague curiosity for a little teasing of her mage.

"We should find some fresh baked bread while we're at it. Someone here has been missing it and it would go very well with the stew he's made for us." A beat as she smirks at Wolfe. "And be delightful with a little bit of honey if he needs some sweets."

Wolfe shrugs to Chris, a bit playfully in his resignation to not using magic to get a leg up for their moneymaking endeavor. He didn't expect they'd be able to anyway.

"I think everyone could benefit from fresh bread! Its a staple," he counters with all the energy of sticking his tongue out at her but without the actual motion. "The lack of coffee will hurt but it was too good to last. We'll have to return to tea in the morning."

He eats some of his food, taking note of Jon's deeper than usual frown. That set of his shoulders usually means he's feeling inferior in some way, and given the slant of the conversation, Wolfe can take an educated guess as to why. He's not about to call the man out in the middle of dinner, but Wolfe expects these first few months may be a struggle for their 'modern' friend on some very basic skills. They're going to have to find a way to work around his pride to teach him. Or he'll go the hard way and try to learn by himself without help, which would be very silly but par for the course for Jon.

"I'm going to need to exercise a bit after dinner, I think. If we're going to fight tomorrow and the next day after for different causes, I'll need to at least start getting back into shape. I have an idea on turning it into a study exercise too, Jon, if you'll help me." There are, of course, other conversations that need to be had too, and Wolfe will allow Amelia and Chris the space to have them if thats something they're set on tonight. He hadn't missed Amelia regarding Chris as thoughtfully as she did.

By and large, it seems what preparation and talks need doing for Bastila are done for now and he knows his scholar well enough to know that set of his jaw isn’t one words can soothe just now. Tomorrow is the Shadowfell first and he still has preparation to do, laundry, and possibly a conversation or two. He drains the rest of his bowl sans spoon and stands to take the dish to the kitchen to start cleaning up.

“Sounds a smart idea for the evening. Thank you again for dinner, love.”

He passes back by each of them to deposit kisses to their heads on his way to finish up the laundry.

It would give him something for his hands while he still turned the day and the ones to come over in his mind. He needed to pick his ball of emotion apart or bury it well and good for later so he ensured he had a clear head for tomorrow. They’d be relying on him to remember the signs of threats that he’d only experienced once nearly six years ago.

Edited 2025-11-18 06:13 (UTC)

Jon makes a noncommittal sound when Wolfe addresses him. The petty part of him wants to withdraw, to hide in the little study and not come out until he's mastered Common or at least the new book Chris had given them. That's not really an option given they do have places to go and things to do, but the impulse is still there. There's also the fact that practicality says studying with someone is likely to be more effective and Wolfe needs to learn Common just as much as he does.

After a moment, he shrugs. "Fine." He knows he's marking himself as being in a foul mood with the curt responses, but that, at least, he can't help for now. If he lets his tongue run away, he might start snapping at everyone, and there needs to be less of that. Especially when Amelia would almost certainly make herself a target by dint of not being Chris or Wolfe.

The Archivist has manners enough to stop playing with his food and actually make an effort to eat it as Chris comes around to offer a gentle kiss. While he wants to be mollified, he's... not. Better to keep holding his tongue. Once Jon's committed, though, he finishes quickly and rises to wash the dish before moving to lean against one of the walls and watch Chris while he waits for Wolfe to be ready. While he tries to make it look casual, his staring is intense as he marks the washboard and scrubbing. It doesn't seem difficult, at least, just incredibly tedious.

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