[ Everything, everything, has been strange to some degree or another since he was dragged, naked and spluttering, out of fountain by an absolute stranger. So the dinner plate in front of him glistening and revealing three words is entirely in line with present experiences, and is met, initially, with a flicker of frustrated irritation, that gives way to— ]
Alina?
[ The more important thing to verify, though the words themselves sparked up questions of their own. ]
[ It was silly to put the thought out there, she knows. As the rest of the house sleeps, she cannot find rest. Guilt still weighs heavily in her stomach like a stone. She faces the wall, curled in on herself, trying to force her mind to rest but it's the most difficult now when she's left with just herself to talk into blame.
When the letters glittered their reply, she thinks it must be a dream. Although, the way she jolted in surprised and hit her head against the wall should be proof enough that she's awake. Rubbing the sore spot on her head with one hand, she traces her other over the letters on the wall. She has no real reason to hope because it can't be, that wouldn't be her luck, it would make no sense for him to be replying to her, but he is who she wanted to reach. Her heart stutters as she reads it over and over again. ]
Mal!
[ She wonders if the letters will shine with her hope teetering onto desperation, her nails digging into the wooden walls, as if that could keep hold of this strange connection to him. What she thinks is him. What she hopes is him. ]
Malyen Oretsev when I find you I am going to murder you.
[ Written text doesn't fully capture how resentful Mal is about this event. ]
I'm in a castle. Thorne. Are you safe?
[ Text also doesn't capture the increasing agitation around this question. Were Mal writing instead frowning over every thought, he might be pressing the point of his pen into paper hard enough to tear. ]
I am not going to let you die crossing a desert, Malyen Oretsev. Believe it or not I actually have the advantage since you've apparently got a bought of amnesia.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
solmate) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxasnet2021-10-27 02:28 pm
no subject
Alina?
[ The more important thing to verify, though the words themselves sparked up questions of their own. ]
no subject
When the letters glittered their reply, she thinks it must be a dream. Although, the way she jolted in surprised and hit her head against the wall should be proof enough that she's awake. Rubbing the sore spot on her head with one hand, she traces her other over the letters on the wall. She has no real reason to hope because it can't be, that wouldn't be her luck, it would make no sense for him to be replying to her, but he is who she wanted to reach. Her heart stutters as she reads it over and over again. ]
Mal!
[ She wonders if the letters will shine with her hope teetering onto desperation, her nails digging into the wooden walls, as if that could keep hold of this strange connection to him. What she thinks is him. What she hopes is him. ]
Malyen Oretsev when I find you I am going to murder you.
no subject
Where are you? Are you safe?
What's happening?
no subject
no subject
Perhaps it is luck that the question marks don't manifest as his actual answer. ]
Where is that? Who is Sam?
Are you safe?
no subject
What happened? Where are you?
no subject
[ Written text doesn't fully capture how resentful Mal is about this event. ]
I'm in a castle. Thorne.
Are you safe?
[ Text also doesn't capture the increasing agitation around this question. Were Mal writing instead frowning over every thought, he might be pressing the point of his pen into paper hard enough to tear. ]
no subject
Yeah. Yeah I'm safe. But you need to leave and get to the Free Cities.
Kirigan is at the castle.
no subject
[ Reassurance, but not a promise that he won't go looking.
However— ]
Where is the Free Cities from here? Can you draw me a map?
[ Is this method of communication set up for that? Mal has already lifted his plate from the table, begun the brisk walk back to his room. ]
Is the danger here Kirigan, or something else?
no subject
We took a portal.
[ You don't remember? But she doesn't ask because the question is useless. Of course he doesn't. ]
I don't think you could make it on foot. And there's a desert between us. I've mapped out some of the Free Cities but not too far beyond it.
And I don't know. Both maybe. I don't trust anyone there. They put some of is in prison and tried to execute another. That's when some of us escaped.
Is Mage Jolene there?
no subject
Mal considers all of what she's said. A portal. (What?) A desert between them. (Ugh.) Prison. Executions. (A bad sign.)
And mostly, he considers that it will be difficult to get to her, given all that she's told him. ]
I don't know. I can ask after her.
Is it safe to ask after her?
no subject
[ #Helpful, thanks Alina. ]
no subject
Is there no other way out but through a portal?
no subject
There are people I trust here. They can help me get to you.
no subject
[ Immediate, even without full understanding of what exactly the danger here is.
There's something. They'd left for a reason, even if he can't remember it. And the Darkling is here. That is more than enough reason to stay away. ]
I'll find my way to you. Once I get my bearings, I'll figure a way out. We found one before, didn't we?
no subject
Believe it or not I actually have the advantage since you've apparently got a bought of amnesia.
no subject
[ The first, immediate rebuttal. He's crossed harsher terrain, hasn't he?
But, in a more conciliatory approach— ]
I'll find another way. If you left before, you had a reason. Stay where you are. I won't try to leave without telling you first, I promise.
What do you mean, amnesia?
no subject
[ Also a disadvantage. But you know. ]
We left the Castle through the portal together. We were here until you disappeared. You really don't remember anything?