[Inbox | Abraxas]

[takeatrip]

[Text. Action.]

Comments

— 4/22

[theidlemaiden]

[ Whenever Jayden returns to his room at the inn before the gala that evening, the front desk will flag him down claiming that someone has left a package for him.

The box is nondescript but slick in its packaging and design with a silver owl emblazed on the front. Nestled inside its velvet lining is a silver pocket watch, the face of which boasts symbols that look similar to arcana symbols. Opening the watch will reveal the see through watch face, showcasing its cogs and gears. A pleasant, soft ticking sound can be heard if he presses his ear close enough to it. The back is smooth and blank, save for his initials engraved in script.

A card comes with the box written in potentially familiar handwriting. ]

𝘑𝘢𝘺,

𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵, 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦. 𝘛𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 (𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴, 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥)!

𝘹𝘹 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘢

[not here but FEELINGS]

[takeatrip]

[He is certainly not expecting to get anything a delivery, so is slightly wary upon the Innskeeper handing it off to him, but also very curious as he takes it back to his room. The design on the box doesn't mean anything to him, and so it's only once he carefully opens the box and realizes what the object is that he knows who must have sent it.

It's easily one of the nicest--if not the nicest--gifts he's ever received, not just intrinsically, but because of the little things; the engraving, the note, the thought put into it. He looks over all the details and designs of the watch, listening to the soft ticking noise it makes, as he does the unfamiliar sense of feeling cared about settles in his chest. It's been years since he'd known anyone who would've cared enough to even consider doing something like this, especially when he and Hilda had known each other for... How long has it been? Two months?

He has no real idea of the right way to respond to this--the gift, the sentiment itself, any of it--but resolves to figure out something she might like in return. In the meantime, he will be being very careful to make sure this watch survives longer than the others.]

[restingstitchface]

[Two days or three after thier last encounter, a private message winds its way across the nearest surface.

Most people would feel too accountable, too answerable. Crane feels neither remorse nor guilt, just curiosity about one small thing.]

You never did elaborate on your answer to my question.

[About the Fey.]

[takeatrip]

[Jayden hadn't really been expecting contact of any sort from Crane for awhile, although he isn't exactly bothered by being wrong. He does, however, have to ask--]

Which question?

[There had been a lot of them, some of which Jayden had ignored more than others, so he doesn't know which one Crane's referring to.]

[restingstitchface]

[Playing dumb is not only the preserve of his old students, it seems.]

Well, there was certainly more than one left unanswered, but let's start with the Fey.

[You never did answer his questions about their motives, Norman!]

[takeatrip]

Oh, yeah, I guess I never did answer you on that.

[Now he's purposefully playing dumb, because he'd avoided answering that particular question very intentionally. There had been a reason for it, but the reason's over with, so--]

I think you're right to question their motives.

[restingstitchface]

[Back to playing dumb, indeed.

Whatever. He ignored those students who indulged in foolishness. He can ignore this.]

Well, even a man like I can be right at times. Did you notice anything suspicious about their behaviour?

[takeatrip]

No, I just came to this conclusion on a whim.

[Is this payback for Crane being annoying in response to Jayden's questions, both about this topic and later discussion? Of course it is. It's exactly that. He won't keep it up for long, but since he's now far less concerned about being polite, he'll enjoy the chance to be a little annoying.]

[restingstitchface]

Of course you did.

[Is this a petulant response to his correcton of immature behaviour? Yes. Norman is like one of his students, indeed.]

Now, will you please share?

[The magic word - but not offered out of politeness, more frustration.]

[takeatrip]

[He knows the 'please' is out of obligation rather than sentiment, but Jayden feels his point has been made anyway, so decides to dial down how annoying he's being. For the moment, anyway.]

You'd said that the Free Cities were more obvious in their intentions, whereas the Fey were engaging in subterfuge. I disagree; I think the Fey were just as overt as the Free Cities, but they were simply taking a different tactic.

[And he could be annoying again by giving room for back and forth instead of getting to the point, but decides not to be and so soon continues.]

They could use some allies. We're obvious choices, and all they have to do is win us over, which really isn't that hard to do.

[restingstitchface]

How unsurprising. It's obvious this community appreciates style over substance. I wonder how that'll bite them in the nose.

[He is too bored and tired of this man to argue semantics. Too exhausted to pretend this is "our" community.]

Well, guess we'll find out, won't we?

[takeatrip]

Calling any of the factions 'substance' is a little generous.

[Considering what he's heard about their leadership and decision making, as well as what he's seen and experienced himself, he thinks they're a whole lot more style than substance themselves.]

[restingstitchface]

[Too bored. Too tired. Too exhausted to complain.]

I am aware of that. But today we are talking about one in particular.

[takeatrip]

You're making comparisons.

[Which means they're talking about all of them, but he just leaves that part implied. Besides, he cares less about being right than about his next question--]

It seems like you favor the Free Cities over the Fey; why is that?

[He's genuinely curious if there's some specific reason for it or not.]

[restingstitchface]

They offer a fertile environment: for business, education and research. My opportunities are greater. My chances for progression are higher. And I am living among people with an interest in science.

[Why conduct business with five thousand when you can trade with five hundred thousand?]

But most importantly they do not impose restrictions based on past association.

[Cough cough BLAKE.]

[takeatrip]

[That makes sense overall, for day to day life, but Jayden can't help feeling it's a very optimistic view on the situation overall.]

That's all true, but for how long? The Free Cities haven't exactly been subtle that they'd really like us to join their military.

[Though Jayden wonder if literally any Summoned have ever done so. Still, it's clear that's what they would like, considering Summoned are told 'good luck, you're on your own, UNLESS...' when they don't.]

[restingstitchface]

Well, they're asking we contribute. Considering this is where we make our home, I would say it's important we get along.

[That is not to say he doesn't understand why most in their community are worried.]

[takeatrip]

Get along, sure, I'm not suggesting we cause problems unless we have to. But we don't owe them anything for bringing us here.

[None of them asked for this, and being expected to 'contribute' in return for being abducted sure is audacious.]

[restingstitchface]

Well, I will have to disagree: but at this point arguing about semantics is unproductive. I would advise you to play along.

[takeatrip]

[He almost makes a quip about how touching it is that Crane cares, but decides not to be antagonistic about it.]

I don't intend to make enemies with any of the factions' leadership.

[Which is both a neutral statement and an honest one. He doesn't intend to cause problems unless he has no other choice; he knows what governments are like, considering he works for one.]

[restingstitchface]

[The reasons for his apparent gratitude are entirely personal and private.]

Well, doing so would be counterproductive for a man interested in keeping things on the level.

[takeatrip]

[Jayden would argue that doing so would be counterproductive for most people, but that really would be pedantic, so he keeps it to himself. Instead, he offers a more casual--]

I was never really one for politics anyway.

[restingstitchface]

Neither was I. But it found my anyway.

[Playground brawling. Student relationships. Workplace politics. Petitioning for funding at social events at dusk, escaping from office parties at night.]

[takeatrip]

Office politics or politics-politics?

[Because they're different, but also in so many ways the same.]

[restingstitchface]

[Honestly? His experience is a bit from one, a bit from the other.]

Is there a difference?

[Of course there is: he's joking and his tone makes that clear.]