thebadnews | psl | percy + caleb

Entry tags:

psl | percy + caleb

[After the business with the Briarwoods, all Percy wants to do is put as much distance between himself and Whitestone as possible. At least he is assured by Cassandra that the city is safe in her very capable hands, so he feels less terrible about departing. It's not nearly as bad as leaving Vox Machina behind with nothing more than a goodbye note. He knows that if he had to face them in person to tell them that he wants to leave, he will never be able to do so.

And he needs to leave. The Briarwoods may be as good as dead, their plan thwarted, but Ripley got away. He has to be better, stronger, smarter. And even though Orthax no longer has any power over him, Percy still fears of what could happen if he loses control again. He hurt his friends and he needs to ensure nothing of that nature happens again. Not to mention, if his paths should ever cross Ripley's unintentionally, he would rather not let his friends get caught in the crossfire. Again. This is his business, they need not be involved.

He isn't sure how long it took him to get to Rexxentrum, or how the idea came to him to venture here in the first place. What he does know is that it's far away from Whitestone and has at least one place he can visit to seek out more knowledge. The problem, of course, is that the city is a lot larger than he anticipated and he has no idea where to even begin to ask for assistance. After wandering around aimlessly for what feels like an hour, he finds himself in the Shimmer Ward. It feels strange to think that now with Whitestone back under the care of his lineage, he technically does have a place with the nobler folk, yet he still can't shake all those years he's spent with barely a coin to his name.

Finding a place to stay for the long haul seems like a good idea, and so he starts looking around for an inn, or any place with rooms available for rent. Paying more attention to the signs on each buildings than where he is going, it's only a matter of time before he ends up either colliding with someone or tripping over his own two feet.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Caleb doesn't particularly like returning to Rexxentrum. Not after everything and not especially alone. But he knew if Nott stayed with him that things would possibly be worse, and it's easier for him to hide alone like this. Finding a place to stay is a little tougher. Thankfully they'd gotten their hands on some coin so he can pay for a night or two. He just needed to look into one thing, one book to try and learn what he could. Once he has what he needs, he can leave and never look back.

He's too on edge, too anxious about eyes watching him even with the amulet. He doesn't exactly see who's walking toward him as he starts to reach for the inn door, bumps head first into them.]

Ah- Sorry. My apologies.

[There is a moment when it feels like the world dims to monochrome and time stands still around Percy when the stranger bumps into him. He sucks in a sharp breath and his hand automatically darts for where The List would have been, before he remembered what became of that weapon. The moment passes before long and the world brightens up to its usual saturation when he realizes that the stranger poses no threat to him. Here in Rexxentrum, he can be just another unknown variable.

It should be liberating, and it probably would have been if not for the fact that Percy finds himself missing his friends already. Even though he did this for them, a fact he is going to need to keep reminding himself.]

The apologies are all mine. [He manages a small smile, and tries to remember what it is like to interact with other people without the cloud of a demonic entity hanging over his head. I should have watched where I was going more carefully.

[It isn't as though Caleb was watching where he was going either. He definitely should have been.

But this guy seems intent on apologizing more, so who's Caleb to stop him. How is he supposed to interact with people again? It's weird, not having Nott here as a natural conversation starter. Caleb looks form him, to the door. Then back up to him.]

I believe we are both trying to enter the same door. [He'll open it though.] After you.

[Maybe it's because Percy is also convinced that he is not the best conversationalist right now, having spent far too much time on his own lately, that he doesn't think much of how awkward this interaction may or may not be. Once Caleb opens the door, he strides right through and lets out a sigh of relief that the place does not appear to be too incredibly crowded.]

Thank you so very much, you are too kind. [For someone who wants to blend in with a crowd, he is having trouble not drawing attention to himself. For a moment, he is convinced that somehow the news of what happened to Whitestone traveled all the way here, but to his chagrin, whatever eyes had glanced up at him in his entrance went back to whatever they were looking at before.]

Right. [He takes the few steps up to the front and begins to haggle to secure a room for at least a few nights. Vex would be proud.

However, to his dismay, the innkeeper is unable to answer his questions about where to secure research, leaving him in a lurch. He sighs dramatically and steps aside so that the next patron can be serviced while he scans the room to see if anyone looks knowledgeable about such a thing - not to mention approachable.]

[Hm. Caleb reaches into one of his larger coat pockets to stroke the bit of fur there, shh-ing the little whine. No good if this innkeeper isn't keen on animals. But he listens to the oddly well spoken man haggle a room down and decides to use it - until he hears what else the man is asking for. If there's possibly coin to be had...

He steps up to his turn, only wanting for a night, the same amount the other man paid. Caleb only makes a slightly frustrated noise before pulling what little gold he has out. Regular price then, not quite as charismatic. But it'll be easier to get Frumpkin in.

Once that's settled and he has his key, Caleb makes his way back to him.]

Ah - I apologize, I could not help but overhear you were looking for research? What about?

[Just as Percy is about to give up, it seems that luck is on his side, as the stranger from earlier approaches him. Although the paranoid part of him is screaming at him, don't trust him, you idiot, he knows that if he has any hope of finding what it is he is looking for he is going to have to trust someone.

He glances around, as if he is worried that someone will overhear him, or read his mind. He keeps his voice hushed, leaning in so that the possibility of being eavesdropped on was slim to none.]

I was hoping to find some research on an item I am hoping to build and enchant. [He pauses, as if waiting for Caleb to point out that magical craftspeople exist.] I am afraid this item is not something that is traditionally built by even the most talented of artisan. If you can help direct me in the right direction, I do have some coin. It's not much, but I am certain we can strike an accord.

[Caleb follows his lead, walking him to a more secluded corner with less ears. But enchanted item is enough to perk his interest. Not that his initial goal was not interesting, but he can't help but be curious. He lowers his voice accordingly.]

Depending on the enchantment, I may be able to help a little. I know a few things. Have enchanted some others. Small things. And I know of some bookstores you could visit if you know anything about the item itself you want to build.

[It seems too good to be true, but at this point Percy is willing to accept any sort of help, lest he end up grasping at straws just trying to find any of the information he is seeking. And maybe, despite knowing it is for the best to travel on his own, until he is certain he no longer has to worry about loose ends, he can't deny that the thought of having company on his quest would be nice.]

Seeking. It's...probably easier if I show you the type of item I intend to build. [It isn't very often that Percy meets anyone that understands the sort of firearms he deals with, after all. And now that The List has been destroyed, he finds himself in dire need of a new pepperbox. The question, of course, is whether he still possesses the capabilities of crafting such a weapon, or if that knowledge resided solely within Orthax. Only one way to find out.]

[...Huh.

Caleb finally lifts his head properly, Percy now able to see under the edge of the hood and absolutely filthy man, covered in mud and.... who knows what else was in that gutter he stopped by first.]

'Seeking' is... A fairly vague enchantment, but I'm familiar with a few versions. You'll have to provide the specifications when you feel ready to. I did get a room if you would feel more comfortable sharing details there.

[Percy wants so very much to make sure there are no loose ends. The next time he sees Dr. Ripley, he wants to make sure there is zero chance he will miss. But perhaps that is something best kept to himself.

For the first time, Percy is able to get an actual glimpse at this man, and raises an eyebrow at his appearance. It's nothing worse than when he himself was without a home, surviving with what little instincts he had managed to acquire in the short period of time since the Briarwoods had taken over Whitestone. It doesn't seem worth commenting on.]

A room? Yes, of course, that would probably be a far better place to discuss this. [He glances around the inn, looking for any watchful eyes. It's unlikely this is a trap, but he can never be too sure.]

[Caleb nods, looks around like he's looking to see if he forgot something. A faint whine comes from his pocket before he quietly shh-es it again with a gentle pat and hand hovering over it.

Yes, this will be all right, he thinks. Whoever this guy is, he seems at least on the up and up. If not, Caleb can run and leave the room to this guy. Pretty much no real loss but the gold he paid for it.

He nods once and motions for him to follow. Down the hall and up one set of stairs, checking the room numbers and unlocks number 3. And it's barebones. Something between a bed and a cot, a single side table, and not much else.]

This will do.

[So far, all Percy can say about Caleb is that he's a very strange man, as far as first impressions go. But strange is not necessarily a bad thing, as Percy can probably say that most, if not all, of Vox Machina all had their oddities. To the average person, Percy probably appeared strange right off the bat, what with his stark white hair and choice in weaponry.

He follows Caleb to the room, trying to keep his eyes straight ahead, lest he attract any further attention. Already, he feels like he has taken a big risk in telling Caleb about his intentions, the last thing he needs is for anyone else to follow them and eavesdrop.

The room that Caleb leads him to isn't much, but it isn't much different from what he has dealt with while traveling with Vox Machina, save from there usually being two larger beds split amongst a few of them. Once his eyes have swept the room and the door is shut, Percy feels safe enough to pull out the sketches he made of the weapon that he intends to build, unraveling the scroll across the bed and placing a couple of items from his bag to keep the scroll from unraveling while Caleb inspects it.

The scroll reveals a gun that looks similar to The List, only he is hoping to improve upon the rate of the gun jamming on him, with the addition of the Seeking enchantment to help ensure that if he ever came face to face with Ripley again, there would be a near zero chance of missing.]

I had a weapon like this before, with enchanted barrels. But that was elemental damage, I know not whether an enchantment like Seeking would stick.

[With the door closed, Caleb moves to the bed, carefully opening his coat pocket a little wider so a ginger tabby cat hops out and mews at him. He gives the cat a one pet over his head before Percy is rolling out a parchment scroll.

Well. That certainly is interesting.]

What does it do?

[The sudden appearance of the tabby cat takes Percy by surprise, and he jumps back with a yelp. When he recognizes it as a cat - at least by its initial appearance - he relaxes a little, though shoots Caleb an inquisitive glance, curious as to how he managed to sneak such a creature inside the inn without anyone noticing.

A beat passes before Percy realizes that Caleb is asking him about his weapon design and so he remembers the point of this secretive meeting and returns to the matter at hand.]

It's a ranged weapon. You load it with bullets and gunpowder, and when you press the trigger, it creates a sort of chain reaction so that the bullet is fired out of the barrel with such speed that it lodges itself into its target.

[He realizes he probably is not making any kind of sense, but a proper demonstration would be a bit difficult to do here in this room.]

[He looks over the plans while stroking that cat's head and down its spine, free hand to his chin in thought. It's interesting. New. All mechanical and not magical in the least. Not Caleb's expertise at all.]

The potential to be quite damaging.

[Percy takes it as a win when Caleb doesn't make an excuse to leave, or immediately try to talk him out of this. He knows it's crazy, to want to make something even more dangerous than before.

But desperate times call for desperate measures, apparently.[

Very. That may be the point.

[The List might be destroyed, Orthax might not technically have a hold on him anymore, but he feels like there's still a cloud around his heart, like a hand is still clenched around him, pulling the strings. Or maybe the darkness had been within him all along and Orthax merely gave him a push.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

psl | percy + caleb

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

sorry about the delay, life happened

absolutely no problem, i hope everything is okay!