Who: Waver Velvet & whoever When: throughout September Where: Dorchacht (beginning to mid-Sept... ignore the headers) & Aefenglom (late Sept) What: trouble in Dorch, recovering in Aefenglom Warnings: drug use, auction and monster slavery stuff
It scares him to think about how bad things could have been if Berserker hadn't happened by. Geralt, too. If things hadn't aligned so perfectly. It was just dumb luck-- and that's terrifying.
Maybe Iskandar would have found him quickly when he didn't come back, or felt something wrong in their Bond eventually. The misunderstanding would have been cleared up. Probably. But all those 'what ifs' still freak him out, and the close call has left Waver shaken and anxious for obvious reasons.
Iskandar's announcement doesn't surprise him. Waver only nods, exhaling shakily.
It hadn't been his fault, but he still feels like a failure somehow.
"Did you want to stay?" he manages to ask after a moment, quietly. In truth, it's not like they were doing much good. They've been nothing but vaguely uncomfortable guests and a showcase for life in Aefenglom that nobody asked for or seems to care much about seeing. Nothing he's learned about this city is good, either. Or even that useful-- whatever 'useful' is supposed to mean in this context. What can they do to change things?
Morgana's iron hold over the city, the spells controlling Monsters and memories, the commonplace cruelties that make up the fabric of this whole society-- it's all awful, of course. But realistically, it's not like a bunch of trumped-up tourists from a city no one here even likes (if they care about it at all) will have the sort of influence that will actually matter in the long run.
Some of the Monsters that had been freed were too far gone to even want to leave, not without having another Witch to follow. It's not as simple as just setting them all loose, if that were theoretically even possible. The systematic dehumanization -- so to speak -- is too deep-seated.
It's utterly selfish, but Waver doesn't want to see any more of it.
Whatever plans Iskandar had before coming here he has forsaken the moment he realized how superficial is their very presence here. The people of this city were more than content with the existing situation to question it. They treated the guests were treated more like curiosity. Examples of how the silly, if not downright childish ways of the city of their origin. And recent events have clearly demonstrated he can't trust any assumption that they will behave in a civilized way.
"I think I've seen enough of this place."
Yes, there were those working in the shadows. The Resistance. Iskandar has learned to recognize their sign. He wished them and their mission success. Gods know, they deserve it. Were the circumstances different, he would have helped them without a second thought. Unfortunately, he's not in a position to do so. Not while being on a mission to lessen the tension between the cities and sadly deprived of a persuasive force of an entire Macedonian army behind his back.
He'd met with some Resistance members, seen some of the enchantments on the wall outside, but all in all, he's powerless. They all are, in this case. Change has to come from within, and even if some of the people from Aefenglom could help -- even if many wanted to help -- the situation is complicated and far-reaching.
It's like the riots in the market a few days ago. They'd meant to help the Monsters, probably-- but Waver had seen the damage, what happened to the unlucky ones, the way it only made the violence worse. He'd wanted to help then, too. Instead, he'd run away.
Now, he was basically doing the same thing. It's still the smartest choice for him to make, but it feels... bad.
"I had assumed we at least will have someone to talk to. That has not happened."
He can't call Dorchacht's Head Witch someone willing to talk. Nor any of her lackeys. The Resistance, on the other hand, is more than willing but Iskandar has his own issues with them. As much as he does pity the local Monsters, they are not his problem. The city he, Waver and the rest of the so-called diplomatic delegation came from, well, that one certainly is. And he will choose the safety of his own over that of strangers every single time.
"I hardly believe there's anything we can do here. Something that would really make a difference and not just make some of the more faint-hearted or self-righteous souls in our lot feel better about themselves."
Iskandar was called ruthless and cruel many times before and he almost expects that some from the pro-Resistance members of the delegation might call him that too. Still, he has a clear objective and he never hesitates in pursuit of it. That attitude has always served him well. That and one rule he always follows: never enter a battle you're not sure you'd win.
Here, they are on the losing position however he'd look. So there's one thing to do and one thing only. Leave.
"No... you're right..." Waver sighs, clearly unhappy with that reality but understand it. There isn't much they can do that will have an actually positive impact. Those from Aefenglom acting out would only cause trouble, and any lasting change to the city's infrastructure, leadership or culture has to come from its own people.
It's frustrating, and he's heartsick for all the Monsters trapped in this horrible system-- but he's also exhausted and shaken and he knows there's nothing he can do. It's kind of a depressing stance, but there's no sense in him getting caught up in this when the risks and stakes are so high with such a dismal chance of it even mattering in the long run.
"I hope their Resistance can do more, eventually. But... it can't be our fight."
"My dear boy," Iskandar gaze softens as his anger subsides. No wonder he loves him so much. There's no hate in him. Ever after what this city has done to him he still sees others in pain and cares.
"I don't think our mission here was all for naught," he says while stroking the boy's hair "There might be no direct course of action we can take without endangering our own but our presence counts. Maybe not for citizens of this city, they're way too content with the status quo. But it will serve as a boost for the Resistance. I'm sure of it. Something to remind them that their cause is right."
Faith can make or break an army. He'd take three hundred men that truly believe in what they are doing over three thousand that do not.
"We leave now but it doesn't have to mean we forget about them."
The journey once made can be repeated. It is dangerous yes but not impossible.
Waver presses closer, face buried against Iskandar's chest. The scent of him is comforting, just as the affection is.
"They seem very well-organized and obviously passionate." The Resistence, he means. "I genuinely hope their efforts do real good in this place."
He closes his eyes. He's very, very tired.
In all honesty, he's ready to forget for at least a little bit. It's selfish when so many others don't have the same choice, but no good will come of him mentally and emotionally exhausting himself either. Right now, it's all so raw and painful, amidst all the other injustices he's seen; eventually, it will just be a fact, something to be aware of and keep an eye on when he can. But as much as he does care, Waver doesn't have the emotional stamina for it right now. He feels kind of shitty about it.
"Some Resistance members helped me. Supplying potion ingredients and shelter, and safer travel through the tunnels. I know Geralt's been getting pretty well-acquainted with people there."
"Then I would leave it to him. He's more than capable. Don't think about it now. You need to rest."
There's one more thing that should help the boy relax. A warm bath. He needs one anyway but Iskandar is sure he can intimidate his way with their hosts to make it more elaborate. It wouldn't exactly be Persian style opulence but Iskandar is sure he can organise something. Now, that he decided to stop being nice to those people.
With Waver still safely nestled in his arm he sits, then stands, adjusting his hold in the process.
"I'm going to take you to the baths, then we will find you some new clothes and then you can sleep as much as you want," he says.
Waver trusts him so completely, he remains just as relaxed while Iskandar is picking him up, innately so sure he's secure he doesn't even bother to hold on. He rests his cheek on Iskandar's shoulder.
The mention of clothes makes his ears flatten anxiously, but he only nods. His memories are blurry, there only in flashes since he'd been so drugged, but there's something so violating about his clothes being taken. Then again, the whole approach in this society was to dehumanize 'Monsters' as much as possible. Of course they had.
"...okay," Waver sighs. He doesn't need to ask Iskandar to stay with him. He knows he will.
The blurry memories may be a blessing of sorts in that case. It would be better for Waver not to remember his time in captivity in too much detail. Iskandar never had to deal with slave traders himself. He had, however, ordered a few to be hanged. Not for their trade but for their negligence. If it was easy enough for them to treat their human property as closer to cattle than people even when they did not differ much from the rest of humanity. He could only imagine it must have been much easier for similar scum here to rationalize maltreatment of their slaves when they were actual Monsters and visibly differed from the regular people they could meet on the streets.
This city deserves to burn he thinks as he carries the boy to the baths.
Mysteriously, he finds it unoccupied. There's a large brass tub in the center of the room that has a lion's foot at the base of each of the supporting legs. He would probably find it amusing if the circumstances were more pleasing. Right now, it just looks like a mockery to him. Iskandar would most happy when they finally leave this place. He's more than disgusted by it.
It takes time to fill the tub so he finds himself a low stool to sit on. It's warm in the room so he could unwrap Waver from at least some of the blankets but he can't make himself disturb the boy. Waver already started dozing off. So Iskandar just adjusts his hold making sure he is comfortable and waits.
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no subject
It scares him to think about how bad things could have been if Berserker hadn't happened by. Geralt, too. If things hadn't aligned so perfectly. It was just dumb luck-- and that's terrifying.
Maybe Iskandar would have found him quickly when he didn't come back, or felt something wrong in their Bond eventually. The misunderstanding would have been cleared up. Probably. But all those 'what ifs' still freak him out, and the close call has left Waver shaken and anxious for obvious reasons.
Iskandar's announcement doesn't surprise him. Waver only nods, exhaling shakily.
It hadn't been his fault, but he still feels like a failure somehow.
"Did you want to stay?" he manages to ask after a moment, quietly. In truth, it's not like they were doing much good. They've been nothing but vaguely uncomfortable guests and a showcase for life in Aefenglom that nobody asked for or seems to care much about seeing. Nothing he's learned about this city is good, either. Or even that useful-- whatever 'useful' is supposed to mean in this context. What can they do to change things?
Morgana's iron hold over the city, the spells controlling Monsters and memories, the commonplace cruelties that make up the fabric of this whole society-- it's all awful, of course. But realistically, it's not like a bunch of trumped-up tourists from a city no one here even likes (if they care about it at all) will have the sort of influence that will actually matter in the long run.
Some of the Monsters that had been freed were too far gone to even want to leave, not without having another Witch to follow. It's not as simple as just setting them all loose, if that were theoretically even possible. The systematic dehumanization -- so to speak -- is too deep-seated.
It's utterly selfish, but Waver doesn't want to see any more of it.
no subject
"I think I've seen enough of this place."
Yes, there were those working in the shadows. The Resistance. Iskandar has learned to recognize their sign. He wished them and their mission success. Gods know, they deserve it. Were the circumstances different, he would have helped them without a second thought. Unfortunately, he's not in a position to do so. Not while being on a mission to lessen the tension between the cities and sadly deprived of a persuasive force of an entire Macedonian army behind his back.
no subject
Even before this happened, he would have agreed.
He'd met with some Resistance members, seen some of the enchantments on the wall outside, but all in all, he's powerless. They all are, in this case. Change has to come from within, and even if some of the people from Aefenglom could help -- even if many wanted to help -- the situation is complicated and far-reaching.
It's like the riots in the market a few days ago. They'd meant to help the Monsters, probably-- but Waver had seen the damage, what happened to the unlucky ones, the way it only made the violence worse. He'd wanted to help then, too. Instead, he'd run away.
Now, he was basically doing the same thing. It's still the smartest choice for him to make, but it feels... bad.
no subject
He can't call Dorchacht's Head Witch someone willing to talk. Nor any of her lackeys. The Resistance, on the other hand, is more than willing but Iskandar has his own issues with them. As much as he does pity the local Monsters, they are not his problem. The city he, Waver and the rest of the so-called diplomatic delegation came from, well, that one certainly is. And he will choose the safety of his own over that of strangers every single time.
"I hardly believe there's anything we can do here. Something that would really make a difference and not just make some of the more faint-hearted or self-righteous souls in our lot feel better about themselves."
Iskandar was called ruthless and cruel many times before and he almost expects that some from the pro-Resistance members of the delegation might call him that too. Still, he has a clear objective and he never hesitates in pursuit of it. That attitude has always served him well. That and one rule he always follows: never enter a battle you're not sure you'd win.
Here, they are on the losing position however he'd look. So there's one thing to do and one thing only. Leave.
no subject
It's frustrating, and he's heartsick for all the Monsters trapped in this horrible system-- but he's also exhausted and shaken and he knows there's nothing he can do. It's kind of a depressing stance, but there's no sense in him getting caught up in this when the risks and stakes are so high with such a dismal chance of it even mattering in the long run.
"I hope their Resistance can do more, eventually. But... it can't be our fight."
no subject
"I don't think our mission here was all for naught," he says while stroking the boy's hair "There might be no direct course of action we can take without endangering our own but our presence counts. Maybe not for citizens of this city, they're way too content with the status quo. But it will serve as a boost for the Resistance. I'm sure of it. Something to remind them that their cause is right."
Faith can make or break an army. He'd take three hundred men that truly believe in what they are doing over three thousand that do not.
"We leave now but it doesn't have to mean we forget about them."
The journey once made can be repeated. It is dangerous yes but not impossible.
no subject
Waver presses closer, face buried against Iskandar's chest. The scent of him is comforting, just as the affection is.
"They seem very well-organized and obviously passionate." The Resistence, he means. "I genuinely hope their efforts do real good in this place."
He closes his eyes. He's very, very tired.
In all honesty, he's ready to forget for at least a little bit. It's selfish when so many others don't have the same choice, but no good will come of him mentally and emotionally exhausting himself either. Right now, it's all so raw and painful, amidst all the other injustices he's seen; eventually, it will just be a fact, something to be aware of and keep an eye on when he can. But as much as he does care, Waver doesn't have the emotional stamina for it right now. He feels kind of shitty about it.
"Some Resistance members helped me. Supplying potion ingredients and shelter, and safer travel through the tunnels. I know Geralt's been getting pretty well-acquainted with people there."
no subject
There's one more thing that should help the boy relax. A warm bath. He needs one anyway but Iskandar is sure he can intimidate his way with their hosts to make it more elaborate. It wouldn't exactly be Persian style opulence but Iskandar is sure he can organise something. Now, that he decided to stop being nice to those people.
With Waver still safely nestled in his arm he sits, then stands, adjusting his hold in the process.
"I'm going to take you to the baths, then we will find you some new clothes and then you can sleep as much as you want," he says.
no subject
The mention of clothes makes his ears flatten anxiously, but he only nods. His memories are blurry, there only in flashes since he'd been so drugged, but there's something so violating about his clothes being taken. Then again, the whole approach in this society was to dehumanize 'Monsters' as much as possible. Of course they had.
"...okay," Waver sighs. He doesn't need to ask Iskandar to stay with him. He knows he will.
no subject
This city deserves to burn he thinks as he carries the boy to the baths.
Mysteriously, he finds it unoccupied. There's a large brass tub in the center of the room that has a lion's foot at the base of each of the supporting legs. He would probably find it amusing if the circumstances were more pleasing. Right now, it just looks like a mockery to him. Iskandar would most happy when they finally leave this place. He's more than disgusted by it.
It takes time to fill the tub so he finds himself a low stool to sit on. It's warm in the room so he could unwrap Waver from at least some of the blankets but he can't make himself disturb the boy. Waver already started dozing off. So Iskandar just adjusts his hold making sure he is comfortable and waits.