[ After the time they've had at this so far, Natasha might hold on to Sam a little tighter for a moment as well. Relieved, at least, that he's not gone, too. She wouldn't even know where to start without his knowledge of this place.
She turns at the sound of movement, eyes taking in the sight of the man who's joined them. Assessing. She'll take Sam's word on him, but she's all business when she steps forward to join Sam in listening to what Jaskier's brought them.
Which is horrifying, at the very least. That scream at the end... She takes the cd player when Sam offers it, because yeah, she's going to listen to that a few more times, focusing in on varying parts, trying to pick up as much as she can. ]
It's ocean waves, I'm pretty sure, there's a rhythm to it. There's movement - dragging. They're moving something heavy. Could be whoever they took. There's no sound of struggle, so if it is, the person was either immobile or unconscious.
But that sound at the end... [ She's frowning, concentrating. Although that sound is unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon. It sent chills down her spine. ] I'm pretty sure nothing human made that. I've never heard anything like it.
[ She glances up, wondering the same thing as Sam, offering the cd player back to Jaskier. ]
It was definitely water. Waves, I would guess. The ocean. [Natasha confirms his beliefs, and he doesn't doubt her. In the way he quickly gave in to the belief that Sam was as gentle as his words allowed, he can believe she is as serious. Though, it goes without saying he does not know if it is the situation alone. Jaskier, certainly, barely feels like himself right now.]
It was Ciri. [He looks at Sam, then away; a jerking of his eyes, as he realizes he will have to tell him at some point. It may as well be now. It is not that Jaskier was hiding it, exactly. It was only that he... he had to live with it. For a few days. As he speaks again, he begins pacing.] She was unconscious. When they came, they used magic, and it was... effortless. And powerful. [Jaskier pales, and he can't seem to look either of them in the face; not because he's lying, but because he's in that moment again, watching them take her, and look back at him, to find him not worthy. Left behind. Again.] I have heard many monsters and creatures in my travels with Geralt, but nothing like this. The only assumption I can make is it came from something extremely large.
[He seems to freeze, then shake himself out of it, dragging himself back to the present: to Sam, who he trusts absolutely, and to Natasha, who is a complete stranger to him. He must appear some sort of haggard fool now.] These. [To Sam's question, belated: he hands him a pair of stones, what appear to be only rocks.] I won them at Thorne's black market some time ago. The merchant called them eavesdrop stones. Now, these are only a replica. They were only to be used once. Now, they're but stones. I planted one on Ciri before we --
[And here, he chokes, taking a breath. Recalling the same things he told to Sam in that moment of panic, so many months ago now.] We were in the desert's outskirts when we were attacked. And as they took her, I could hear everything from her side, if only for a few minutes. And that was what I heard.
[ the shift from the hug to business is pretty seamless, which is equal parts due to the fact that's always just been how nat is, but also the fact it's easy to slip into work mode when they're at this together.
when jaskier meets sam's eyes, though, that confirms it. it is ciri, then, and that has some of what sam is trying to shift through into perspective. that ciri is who was being dragged, that ciri has now been taken, and that needs to be included in their assessment. sam feels himself frown the more that jaskier describes of the magic and the monsters. of the experience jaskier had while out there with her.
it is when jaskier pales, when he freezes, that sam reaches out to set a (hopefully) stilling hand to his elbow. he can see just how much this is affecting jaskier, how deeply. ] Which means that the people taking everyone is leading them to some kind of... [ monster? creature? thing? he glances at natasha for a brief moment to see if she had any idea, before his attention is brought back to the stones. he takes them when jaskier offers, letting go of his elbow and turning them over in his hand. part of him had wanted to make sure whatever it was that had recorded the sound wouldn't have been corrupted by anything else that's been happening with the singularity, but with the stones in hand he is increasingly aware that there's...no real way for him to check.
so he nods, accepts it for what it is, and hands these off to nat as well - assuming she would want to check over the replicas of them too. ]
Hey- [ sam says, calming, turning back to jaskier. he can see the low-grade panic in him, and that's what now has sam's attention. he's gauging just where jaskier's fear is settling, if he'll let sam reach out and take his shoulders or if the touch will just startle him. ] You're okay. And she's going to be okay. We're going to get them out, if Ciri doesn't bust her way out of there herself. Alright?
[ Natasha takes the stones, although she's not sure what Sam expects her to do with them. She has way less experience with magic compared to literally anyone else in this room. Although it's a cool idea and she wonders if Stephen could recreate something similar? She'd have to ask. At the very least, Jaskier might like a pair back, after expending these.
She moves to perch on the edge of the table, one foot swinging absently beneath her as she watches Sam reassure the man. She doesn't know who Ciri is, although she had recognized Geralt's name. Something she'd ask about at some other time, but for now... ]
They took Steve. [ Her voice is quiet and she brings her gaze up from the floor to meet Jaskier's gaze, offering the only comfort she can think might help right now. She hopes. ] I know that might not mean much to you, but if I could choose anyone to be watching my back in a crisis? It would be Steve. He'll be watching out for all of them, wherever they are. Until we can locate them and get them out again.
[ She lifts the stones he'd brought them ] This will narrow down our search options considerably I'll make sure it gets to the people doing the locating spells in Thorne. [ A glance at Sam, then. ] I'll assume you can pass this on to Jayce and Viktor? It might be useful to them, too.
[Jaskier pulls away, his brows dark.] Sam, I am not all right. And neither of us know if she is, either. I was supposed to go with her, and I'm fucking -- I'm fucking here, again!
[Left behind. As it seems to be a recurring pattern in his life.
For once, he does not wish to hear any pacifying words. He is not a panicked, cornered animal, but he is not all right, and he will not be until he figures out what the fuck is going on.
He turns to Natasha as she speaks, giving himself several steps of room between himself and Sam. Nothing against Sam, in the long run, but her words are far more helpful than any reassurance that cannot be backed up by action.] It does mean something to me. I've met Steve. And from what I have learned of him, I trust he will. But it does not override the fact that these people who should have not been able to be overpowered so easily were.
[He sighs. Turning from them, as they speak between each other. Ciri was intentional, but Geralt? And for this to happen twice?] Viktor already knows. Somewhat. He gave us... devices. Because we were meant to be taken. To find where Geralt is.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cointosser) wrote2021-04-12 08:58 pm
no subject
She turns at the sound of movement, eyes taking in the sight of the man who's joined them. Assessing. She'll take Sam's word on him, but she's all business when she steps forward to join Sam in listening to what Jaskier's brought them.
Which is horrifying, at the very least. That scream at the end... She takes the cd player when Sam offers it, because yeah, she's going to listen to that a few more times, focusing in on varying parts, trying to pick up as much as she can. ]
It's ocean waves, I'm pretty sure, there's a rhythm to it. There's movement - dragging. They're moving something heavy. Could be whoever they took. There's no sound of struggle, so if it is, the person was either immobile or unconscious.
But that sound at the end... [ She's frowning, concentrating. Although that sound is unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon. It sent chills down her spine. ] I'm pretty sure nothing human made that. I've never heard anything like it.
[ She glances up, wondering the same thing as Sam, offering the cd player back to Jaskier. ]
no subject
It was Ciri. [He looks at Sam, then away; a jerking of his eyes, as he realizes he will have to tell him at some point. It may as well be now. It is not that Jaskier was hiding it, exactly. It was only that he... he had to live with it. For a few days. As he speaks again, he begins pacing.] She was unconscious. When they came, they used magic, and it was... effortless. And powerful. [Jaskier pales, and he can't seem to look either of them in the face; not because he's lying, but because he's in that moment again, watching them take her, and look back at him, to find him not worthy. Left behind. Again.] I have heard many monsters and creatures in my travels with Geralt, but nothing like this. The only assumption I can make is it came from something extremely large.
[He seems to freeze, then shake himself out of it, dragging himself back to the present: to Sam, who he trusts absolutely, and to Natasha, who is a complete stranger to him. He must appear some sort of haggard fool now.] These. [To Sam's question, belated: he hands him a pair of stones, what appear to be only rocks.] I won them at Thorne's black market some time ago. The merchant called them eavesdrop stones. Now, these are only a replica. They were only to be used once. Now, they're but stones. I planted one on Ciri before we --
[And here, he chokes, taking a breath. Recalling the same things he told to Sam in that moment of panic, so many months ago now.] We were in the desert's outskirts when we were attacked. And as they took her, I could hear everything from her side, if only for a few minutes. And that was what I heard.
no subject
when jaskier meets sam's eyes, though, that confirms it. it is ciri, then, and that has some of what sam is trying to shift through into perspective. that ciri is who was being dragged, that ciri has now been taken, and that needs to be included in their assessment. sam feels himself frown the more that jaskier describes of the magic and the monsters. of the experience jaskier had while out there with her.
it is when jaskier pales, when he freezes, that sam reaches out to set a (hopefully) stilling hand to his elbow. he can see just how much this is affecting jaskier, how deeply. ] Which means that the people taking everyone is leading them to some kind of... [ monster? creature? thing? he glances at natasha for a brief moment to see if she had any idea, before his attention is brought back to the stones. he takes them when jaskier offers, letting go of his elbow and turning them over in his hand. part of him had wanted to make sure whatever it was that had recorded the sound wouldn't have been corrupted by anything else that's been happening with the singularity, but with the stones in hand he is increasingly aware that there's...no real way for him to check.
so he nods, accepts it for what it is, and hands these off to nat as well - assuming she would want to check over the replicas of them too. ]
Hey- [ sam says, calming, turning back to jaskier. he can see the low-grade panic in him, and that's what now has sam's attention. he's gauging just where jaskier's fear is settling, if he'll let sam reach out and take his shoulders or if the touch will just startle him. ] You're okay. And she's going to be okay. We're going to get them out, if Ciri doesn't bust her way out of there herself. Alright?
no subject
She moves to perch on the edge of the table, one foot swinging absently beneath her as she watches Sam reassure the man. She doesn't know who Ciri is, although she had recognized Geralt's name. Something she'd ask about at some other time, but for now... ]
They took Steve. [ Her voice is quiet and she brings her gaze up from the floor to meet Jaskier's gaze, offering the only comfort she can think might help right now. She hopes. ] I know that might not mean much to you, but if I could choose anyone to be watching my back in a crisis? It would be Steve. He'll be watching out for all of them, wherever they are. Until we can locate them and get them out again.
[ She lifts the stones he'd brought them ] This will narrow down our search options considerably I'll make sure it gets to the people doing the locating spells in Thorne. [ A glance at Sam, then. ] I'll assume you can pass this on to Jayce and Viktor? It might be useful to them, too.
no subject
[Left behind. As it seems to be a recurring pattern in his life.
For once, he does not wish to hear any pacifying words. He is not a panicked, cornered animal, but he is not all right, and he will not be until he figures out what the fuck is going on.
He turns to Natasha as she speaks, giving himself several steps of room between himself and Sam. Nothing against Sam, in the long run, but her words are far more helpful than any reassurance that cannot be backed up by action.] It does mean something to me. I've met Steve. And from what I have learned of him, I trust he will. But it does not override the fact that these people who should have not been able to be overpowered so easily were.
[He sighs. Turning from them, as they speak between each other. Ciri was intentional, but Geralt? And for this to happen twice?] Viktor already knows. Somewhat. He gave us... devices. Because we were meant to be taken. To find where Geralt is.