to: everyone | forward dated to very very very early july 4

[ordinar]

[At some point, when he's exhausted down to his bones but knows he won't be able to sleep yet, it hits Wilhelm that the people who might normally take it upon themselves to make an announcement in this situation are, for the most part, sitting in jail or lying low in Nott. Then, tentatively, he arrives at the terrifying conclusion that he could actually qualify as a responsible adult.

So, here goes.]

Hey everyone.

Um.

Castle Thorne was bombed earlier tonight. Or, I don't know if they were bombs exactly, but there were huge flashes of light when they hit.

As far as I know, no Summoned were injured badly. A lot of soldiers were killed though. I think the wards around the castle protected it from the worst of the blast, but it did get damaged.

I don't know if anywhere else in Thorne was attacked. I haven't heard anything from Nott.

I saw one of the devices that was dropped, or what was left of it. It was metal and had an arcana sign engraved on it. I think we can assume it's from the Free Cities.

Anyway, that's...pretty much everything I know. If you have more info, go ahead and share it.

[Threadjacking encouraged, obviously. This message is sent a few hours after the attack.]

Comments

[itookashot]

Apparently these things were powerful enough to break through the strongest magical wards around the castle! You don't know that anything you or Kell can do is good enough against that!

I don't care, I'm not afraid of the risk.

[ordinar]

[Look, in his defense, his frontal lobe hasn't fully developed yet.]

Well, we were fine.

I promise I'm staying put now. So you should stay put too.

[itookashot]

[ He's already getting the maps don't bother. ]

[ordinar]

[When he doesn't hear back from Jesper, and he can only assume he's plotting something wildly reckless and hopeless, he adds:]

I'm more worried about what's coming next for you guys. Even if you managed to kidnap me from Thorne and whisk me away to Cadens, Sidwell is probably just going to hit back just as hard.

You saw what the last queen did to Libertas.

[itookashot]

[ UGH IT IS CORRECT AND HE HATES EVERYTHING AND HE SCREAMS OUT LOUD WHERE HE IS. ]

BRB, getting into a fight before I kill something instead.

[ancunin]

[ ok, normally he'd be popcorning this shit, but someone installed his own empathy chip recently ]

Or we might go kill some beasties out in the desert, if you'd like to spill blood and would accept some company.

[itookashot]

[ Thank you for saving him (and some poor idiots he would have provoked into a fight). ]

Have I mentioned you're handsome, brilliant, and talented today?

we can handwave the hunt lmao

[ancunin]

[ As entertaining as that might be normally, perhaps best not to do while the city is recovering from a war crime. ]

No, but please, do continue. I'll meet you by the cemetery.

Astarion's a hero

[itookashot]

See you in a few.

[ He will also see Jesper pistol whip a creature to death with his bare hands, that really helps get out his aggression. He'll feel better after. ]

[ordinar]

[Thank you for keeping Jesper busy so he doesn't do stupid shit!]

[itookashot]

[ Thanks to Astarion, he comes back calmer a little while later. ]

Sorry I text yelled at you.

[ordinar]

It's ok. You were worried about me.

We can see each other this weekend in Nocwich, ok?

[itookashot]

I still am very worried about you, love.

And I would appreciate it if you came to Nocwich so I could hug you, yeah.

[ordinar]

I'm worried too. About...everything.

I can do that.

[itookashot]

I really didn't think anything could get through that castle magic.

[ordinar]

Neither did I.

'materializes for kell cameo'

[blackeyedprince]

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[Oh Jesper, you just stepped on one of the very very very few things that can make him really angry.

He loves you, but don't question his magic skills.

Ever.]

We are FINE.

[itookashot]

I don't give a shit about your pride right now, Kell. Your lives are not something to play around with.

[blackeyedprince]

I am not playing. Pride has nothing to do with it.

[It has everything to do with it. The worst part of it? He's no longer the most powerful magician in the world.]

I just wanted to actually know what is going on this time!

[Then why did you take Wilhelm with you? Is this how you protect him?
Why the nasty screeching in the back of Kell's mind always has Holland's voice? This not a surprise. It's just salt on the wounds when it's right.
As if his blood froze in his veins. He can no longer guarantee anyone safety. Antari means nothing there. It meant nothing for a long time.]

No.
You're right. It was stupid. We'll be more careful.

[itookashot]

I just love you, alright? I don't want anything to happen to either of you.

[blackeyedprince]

We'll be careful. I promise.

You be careful too. I don't want anything to happen to you either.

[The other three words do not come easy for Kell. Not in public. Hardly ever. Jesper got his I love you from him, and he will get it again when they finally meet in person again. If, not if, when Nocwich opens. It just requires a lot more private setting.]

[itookashot]

We probably won't find out what the next retaliation is for a few days or a week. We'll probably be trading this concern back and forth for awhile.

[blackeyedprince]

Let's stay in touch then. In case

[something happens No, he's not going to go on catastrophizing spiral here. It helps nobody. Kell reads the last few messages again. Staring at them until they fade away from his vision.

I just love you, alright? I don't want anything to happen to either of you.

He's glad that Jesper can't see him now. He musters a weak smile anyway.]

In case something changes.

[itookashot]

We will.