oh, poor atlas.

Kai of Novigrad. 78. Sailor.

[oceanmelodies]

[ Simon Gong, nonbinary/gnc, he/him, 78 ] we've followed [ KAI OF NOVIGRAD ] for awhile now, the [ ELF ] has been in Novigrad for [ PERIODS OF TIME DURING THE LAST CENTURY ]. they're known to be [ IMPISH ] and [ SUNNY ]. We find it fascinating that after all these years they [ WORSHIP ] the gods. They often remind us of [ THE SUNLIGHT REFLECTED OFF OF A STEADY OCEAN, A CLEAR SKY, THE WARM HEARTH BENEATH A DECK ]. Our thread has already been woven on what their future is looking like, but we're eager to see the [ SAILOR/NUISANCE ]  experience it.

SUMMARY

Kai was given over as a child surprise as a baby after Kal of Novigrad had spared a small settlement of elves during one of his missions. The brief mercy was awarded with a baby, a prize and a hope that a man so powerful and merciful could do right by an elven child.

For nearly a century, Kai and Kal have traveled together as father and child. Although raised by Witchers, Kai has no interest in partaking after witnessing the 1000 yard stare in his father's eyes and prefers to spend his days with his feet in the sand and water licking his heels.

Although grateful for his comfortable life, Kai's keen on trying to discover what it is that he'd like to do with the rest of his life. After all the stories he'd pried out of Kal, he's near certain that he didn't want violence to be any part of it.

SAILING

Being raised on the coast made him particularly fond of water. With Kal's encouragement, Kai took to sailing early on only to find out later that he much preferred loitering around and fishing over battling raging waters.

MISC.

-Kai is adept at projectiles. He's quite the marksman, thanks to the Cranes who raised him.

-His love for throwing and shooting things comes from a distinct fear of blood. Given a choice of a melee weapon, he'd likely choose a spear to maintain distance but otherwise prefers a bow.

-Given his kind and fearsome father, Kai was given a measure of freedom of expression and tends to lean towards more effeminate fashion and hobbies when he's able to stop by the market.

-He likely has a small spending problem and is a tiny bit spoilt.

-Kai plays the flute.

[oceanmelodies]

As far as Kai was aware, Belleteyn was but another piece of people that had gotten snatched up by humans for the sake of their own debauchery. The notoriously fickle fertility of female elves made such a festival necessary in the hope of keeping their bloodlines alive. Humans, however, were undeservingly fertile at all times of the year if the state of the city was anything to go by.

Still, it did not dissuade him from indulging in his baser needs. Like the ever-growing hunger for excitement and connection. Ever since meeting the cackling mage, Kai had begun to do some soul searching for this chaos she kept mentioning. Did he have bugs under his skin? Had he been suppressing an unyielding desire to burst at the seams?

Sometimes, he surely felt bored enough to, but that was what all the sex was for, right? So what if he abstained? Kai tinkered with this idea while a pretty woman in transparent silks played with his hair. Another woman had made a nest against his side, her dark skin smooth and bare and another was doling out chalaces of fine wine, her cheeks already ruddy with drink.

"So ladies, I've got a very special friend coming in tonight," he said, gesturing towards them with his cup. "He's an older gentleman who's been out of the game for quite some time so you do be gentle with him, alright?"

A sly smile stretched across his lips as his eyes narrowed into vulpine slits. "Unless he demands otherwise, then I'm certain you know what to do."

The girls all giggled approvingly, clinking glasses and fawning over Kai's mischievous plans as if he were their pack leader. He very could've been in the elaborate garb he'd chosen that evening, but this Belleteyn was not his this year.

"Now remember, I had left him a message to come to Passiflora tonight under the guise of an urgent meeting about a man who'd gone missing at the docks. Scarlett, you go down and greet him," Kai instructed, glancing over his shoulder at the one that had been braiding a lock of his hair. "Tell him this is the least conspicuous place you can speak and to hurry."

Scarlett nodded obediently and scurried up onto her feet, tugging a sheer robe up over her shoulders as she made to leave.

"Oh, and bring us another bottle of wine, will you?" Kai added, just as she disappeared out the door. We're going to need it."

@shawdowwaves

[inkerlock-deactivated20230613]

Kal kept Kai’s words hanging in the air around them for a long, pregnant pause. He kept his gaze glued to the city before them, the grey docks, the crooked houses. It was better to stare accusingly at inanimate metropolitan objects rather than his kid. 

“Fiancé,” he echoed. “At no point in any of your relationships do I need to know the stamina of your partners, first of all.” It should not have needed reiteration, and yet. Kal turned his head to look at him, his expression carefully policed to reveal only mild interest and not the absolute and bamboozled disbelief he wanted to express. 

“If you really want to marry him, then why have you not introduced him prior to this engagement?” In truth, he was a little hurt he hadn’t heard about this fellow before. Perhaps he had been too hard on the last fling of Kai’s, but he would hate to have been pushed out his child’s circle of confidants. “I am nice when they have a chance to deserve you. Who is this person?”

Kal pinched the bridge of his nose as he looked back to the city, loath to allow talk of romance to distract him from seeing Viggo coming. Sure enough he noticed a flicker of movement far down the docks. It was only a matter of time before the man deigned to make an appearance. 

[oceanmelodies]

"Well, everyone seemed so busy with the fires and stuff," was the only answer Kai was willing to give Kal when he had only met Bragi like, a week ago? He could sense that his father was unhappy... or something. Something was a little off about Kal in the way that it was when he wasn't saying something and not in the way that he was silently disapproving of his life choices. It was a little of both. Kai could just sense it in his eyebrows.

"I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone!" Kai added, as if that would make things any better. "Their name is Bragi and he's a bard. I know, I know, no more bards but he's different, father! He calls me his little wave. Isn't that cute? He thinks I'm little."

Kai was not one to let much get in the way of his yammering, but Kal no longer looking at him tended to do the trick quite well. He soon turned to follow his gaze out down the boardwalk until his keen elven eyes picked up what he was looking at.

"Grandpa's here," he chirped, cutting himself off before looking to Kal for approval. When he did not get it, he finally stopped to look a little closer as if the cheat sheet to his father's mood were written in his crows feet.

"You don't seem happy he's here," Kai mused quietly into Kal's cheek, practically having buried his nose into his father's face as if he could not hear him. "Did something happen between you and Viggo that I don't know about?"

[inkerlock-deactivated20230613]

Umaia had spun on her heel again to face the gaping vault. She tiptoed over the rubble, stepping onto the larger pieces and letting her weight tip them forward in a hopscotching dance towards the treasures. 

Inside it still glittered, although many of the jewels and gold bars and gold chains, and whatever else humans turned gold into, had their sparkle dampened by a thick layer of dust. That was the pity about breaking and entering with a bang: it made the reveals so dulled. 

Idly, she picked up a ruby-ring. Something that she had no doubt Oriana would gleefully steal the next time they ran into one another. Then a gold bit in the shape of either a cat or a dog with diamonds for eyes––and a butthole if she wasn’t mistaken. The Fier fortune was intact, but while she was here, she may as well loot. 

The elf’s ego finally reached her ears and she chortled to herself. “‘I’m the sun,’“ she echoed, puppeting the diamond-anused statue at him as if it were the one speaking. “You are a baby candle,” she whisper-hissed over her shoulder, but she knew he heard her clearly. How could he note when he hovered over her like an over-attentive giraffe. “At best.”

Umaia rounded on him, the both of them standing in the vault. She knew it was only a matter of time before guards, or a guard, came running from the alarm. The fires still blazed around them, but there was no trifling with the rich’s riches. They always had a lackey to act mad. 

“… If it does not itch at you, like chaos does not live beneath your skin like so many insects clawing to get out, then you will need to train. And try. And wreck havoc until it burns you from the inside out.” Umaia recalled her years at Aretuza. The teachers who disdained her chaotic nature had only made magic hurt. Like a branding iron against bone. But her true teachers, the ones that grinned like wild cats when she spelled, they knew the real potential of chaos. “Once it does, you can put it in a bottle. Or put it into foolish elves who think they are powerful when they are a bottle. Now steal something.” 

[oceanmelodies]

Kai blinked at her response, only momentarily caught off-guard by such a vivid description of magic. He might've doubted her if he hadn't felt the chaos a moment earlier, how it gnawed at him from all angles, pressing him like a grape. Then, the delight came. His smile was all in his eyebrows when he looked at her like the shiniest golden bar he'd ever seen.

"You know, I've never had anyone put anything in me before," he quipped, grinning from ear to ear. "Never thought it'd be very pleasant, but I think you might've changed my mind, Bernie."

Laughing to himself, he turned to the treasures in the vault. Suddenly gold didn't look so appealing any more when he'd just laid witness to something much shinier and brighter and his to take if he would just try.

Trying. Putting forth effort. Doing things. None of which had ever appealed to him without incentive. What had always been Kal's approval was starting to feel like his own as he felt a renewed sense of purpose at the mage's taunting. Bank vault today, magic tomorrow. Kai couldn't keep the joy from his face long enough to properly examine his material prizes.

Kai picked up a small golden trinket of a butterfly with crimson eyes, more token of the day rather than treasure. After looking it over, he tossed it up and snatched it out of the air triumphantly. Yes, this will do.

"Shall we?" he said as he stepped over the rubble, jutting his elbow out for the mage to take. More courtesy than anything. She did not look like a traditional lady by any means, which only made him more curious as to how much more was hidden beneath that rat's nest of hair.

[sircnum]

every touch is welcome, a physical necessity that draws him further away from the anxieties that plague him. if he could more easily hide his own mind, he would bury himself in kai - wrap his arms around him, every rhythmic movement and ripple of ecstasy an opportunity to forget.

but kai is not so easily deterred from the truth, unlike the woman and men that bragi usually entwines himself with, he notices more than simply the moans and expletives. "i am here-" the god tries, half-heartedly, to convince his lover. "feel me here, if you are so unsure." his hand brushes between their legs, a flicker of bemusement pulling at the corners of their lips.

but the gentle look, the soft resting of kai's chin upon his chest, is enough to bury any teasing sentiments. "i cannot, my little wave-" a thumb brushes against the man's face, tracing his cheekbone delicately. "but i can say that i'm facing an..." he pauses, uncertain how to phrase it. "an unsettling family reunion.

[oceanmelodies]

It was easy to get lost in Bragi's relentless cheer and teasing, a little smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Their personalities complimented each other in that they both enjoyed having fun over everything else but Kai wasn't so much an avoider of problems when his life was filled with so few of them. To him, a problem could be solved with a firm hug and some reassurance.

So that was what he was going to do for Bragi too.

"Unsettling? Family shouldn't be unsettling," Kai said, intrigued by the notion of being unsettled by one's family when all he knew of family was warm, comforting and loving. His family, no matter how poorly dressed, inspired feelings of confidence and assurance. It was his family that held him up when he was down so to hear that Bragi's family reunion was anything but made him frown in response.

"Pray tell, what would make one's family unsettling?" he asked, pouting a little. "I must say: it's a little disappointing to hear that. I would've loved to meet them."

[vengncfm-deactivated20240512]

Leila started laughing again and covered her mouth, even in the middle of a tragedy Kai somehow finds a way to make her laugh. "That could fit so many mages, darling." She still tired to think of which mage Kai could possibly talk about but came up empty.

"It's still magic, parlor tricks or not." Leila wasn't going to tell Kai that it could take years for one to master magic, but she wasn't going to burst their bubble. At least not now. Maybe when she was feeling a little bit better and less like the world is slowly crashing down upon her.

Thinking of her world, her mind wondered to Naerya, who probably didn't even know Sigrid just died. "Bloody hell." She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "I have to go to Passiflora, tell Nae." And tell her of her plans as well, which Naerya wasn't going to take well, if Leila had any guesses.

[oceanmelodies]

Kai blinked when Leila brought up Naerya again, reminded of where they were and what they had been doing in the light of Sigrid's execution. It was so easy to get wrapped up in his own affairs that Kai often needed the help keeping his thoughts grounded in the present. He patted the small tribute they'd made for her before rising onto his feet and offering Leila a hand up too.

"Would you like me to accompany you there? The streets are likely dangerous at this point in time," he said, smoothing out her hair and adjusting her cloak. "But if you'd like to see her on your own, I understand."

[hugdjarfur]

“Ah,” Týr hummed to himself as the explanation for Kai’s dislike of his brother was revealed. They hadn’t exactly spoken favourably of his father, and that was a sure way to get on Kai’s bad side. Týr knew he was the same way, his protectiveness for his old friend burned brighter than any fire ever would, and how many times had Kal had to drag him away from someone who had expressed their disdain for witchers in front of them both? “No, I don’t want you to kill him.” They didn’t want to imagine a world without forgiveness, but least of all a world without his brother, even if he was the one who had abandoned them all those years ago.

“This is their way of showing you they love you. When we were younger, they played pranks on me incessantly and did things I’m sure most would find insufferable, but I loved them for it.” Týr did not mention how grateful they had been when Váli had first spoken, that everything he said had continuously brought Týr joy for centuries.

“Now I’m sorry he spoke poorly of Kal, but shouldn’t you be grateful that not everyone in the city knows who he is? I would imagine that recognition would put him in even more danger than he already has to face.” Týr’s knowing smile was the one he had so often shared with Kai as a child when he tried to explain a particularly difficult subject to him. “I would rather that no one knew his name or what he has done for the city, and have him be safe with us." Of course, Týr wasn't naive, he knew Kal would never be safe, not really. Could witchers ever truly be safe?

[oceanmelodies]

Kai balked at Tyr's answer, eyes practically bulging out of his face. "Love? It's bullying, Tyr. Whoever taught you that rudeness equates to affection is incredibly troubled. Besides, did I mention that they're targeting father?"

He put his hands on his hips, giving no hint of standing down despite Tyr's explanation. Kai could not see the fun in being pranked by a little orange person, much less by a big one. For all of his deviousness and mischief now, Kai had been a sensitive child who only developed to get ahead of the curve of everyone else.

More than that, he was simply stubborn.

"You really think father can be defeated? Please, Tyr, father could wrestle a family of bears with his eyes bound," Kai argued, inflating indignantly as he continued with a tone of grandeur. "He could carry the moon around the planet if he must. There are only mountains because the earth wishes it could reach the heavens and get away from father's prowess. If the ocean is salty, it's because father cried into it. Father does not need protection, only a leash, some new clothes and a reliable clock."

Flipping his hair as he turned away from Tyr, he huffed one more time before deciding that he didn't need this anymore. If he had to eject his new uncle from the family himself, then he would. "Hmph, I don't want to talk about this anymore. I will simply continue living as a divine, misunderstood elf who actually loves his father. Unlike some people."

[shawdowwaves-deactivated2023061]

“Hmmph, I will save you the trouble. I do not cook. You should look for someone who is not busy with their own job, and no I am not looking to retire anytime soon.” Wife material, he scoffed.

Hanzei’s shoulders dropped a little in quiet frustration. “Not if they are impeding on what needs to be done. If you have a crew fighting and not attending to the ship, then you will run into trouble. You must be able to exert control.”

The fighting escalated, now with barrels being smashed. The people around were left with little choice but to stop and wait until there was a clearing. He stopped walking too, observing the fight.

He raised an eyebrow at Kai’s question and then his face formed a scowl, not liking the insinuation. “Stop thinking whatever it is you are thinking.”

Seeing some of his men nearby, he gave a subtle nod toward the brawl. Take care of it, was the look he gave them. They acknowledged his order and moved to the group. Swords unsheathed and a few choice words were shouted. That was enough to slow the fighting. There were a few glances cast over in their direction, and he could only assume that some of them would have at first been confused by the person in colorful robes and would have found Hanzei’s threatening glare to be a stark contrast. Those people would have been told what waited for them if they continued to make a disturbance. That was enough to stop the fighting. His men turned back to him, and a couple of them stupidly waved to Kai. Hanzei shot them a warning and they quickly returned to their work.

The people that had gathered to either watch or because they’d been stuck behind the fighting now stepped over the broken barrels. There was a coldness in his tone when he spoke. “That is respectability. Power.” He would have to deal with whatever petty dispute that caused the fight, as that was the assurance his men would have given to the brawlers.

He returned his thoughts to the dinner and his voice softened. “So, eight bells. Kingfisher Inn. Very well. Is there anything else I should know about the dinner?"

[oceanmelodies]

"Hey, wives can work now too," Kai chastised, playfully batting Hanzei on the arm he was still holding hostage. "Don't be so old-fashioned. You'd be able to do both, certainly. Such a capable man as yourself could manage to multi-task."

Raising his brows at Hanzei's retort like a cat who'd just caught sight of a toy to chase, Kai opened his mouth to continue picking at the thread when he noticed that Hanzei was no longer looking at him. Rude, he thought as he followed his line of sight to the fight ahead. There were swords and threats and a whole lots barking as the bralwers cowered and sunk back like a flock of scolded school children.

Kai blinked at the men who waved at him before belatedly waving back.

"That looked like bullying to me. A simple conversation could've resolved such trouble," he said with a small pout. Kai did not like resolving his problems by causing more problems, thinking of himself a leader and an initiator. If there was going to be an issue, then he would be the one to start it and not follow someone else's lead.

"What would you have done if that escalated the problem? Kill them? Uncle, I'm a gentleman and gentlemen exert all options before bloodshed."

Smiling fondly at Hanzei's change in demeanor, Kai gave him a knowing look. "You are such a funny man," he said, smiling. "Hm, no. I would prefer it if you'd dress well but I have no faith in any of you old coots to own anything that isn't black. Just come with an appetite and good spirits. It will be delightful just to have you there." And that much was true. For all of his badgering, Kai seemed genuine about his intentions to collect all of his loved ones in one place for a meal.

He turned to stand in front of the man, at last relinquishing his arm as he smoothed out the shoulders of his clothing. "Now, speaking of dinner, I should go prepare. Believe it or not but I keep company that dresses worse than you."

[vengncfm-deactivated20240512]

Leila sighed and leaned against her seat. Kai was right, humans have truly done enough, especially with the killing of mages, of Sigrid and any other sister that was in danger. "I'm not going to stop you, darling. Let Chaos be on your side." Maybe the rest of her sisters could use more people that knew magic, even if it was new.

"You broke into a bank?" Leila chuckled and then it turned into laughter. Of course they did. It worried her that one of her sisters used Kai as a conduit though, was she weak; injured or something else that she needed something extra? "Do you remember the name of the mage?" Leila asked out of curiosity.

Giggling some more, Leila shook her head. "Don't sell Kal short, he has his signs." Which was all the magic witchers knew and honestly all they needed. "Darling, I support you with all my heart." Leila really did and she couldn't wait to make fun of Kai for making a mess out of magic.

[oceanmelodies]

When asked for the name of the mage, Kai gave pause. He hadn't asked her her name but rather gave her one instead. In hindsight, it had been both clever and idiotic for neither of them truly knew one another outside of what they looked like.

"No, but she sounded like this--" Kai threw his head back and cackled like a maniac, doing an impressive job at mimicking the sound of a crazed harpy. He shrugged his shoulders afterwards, expression shifting dramatically back to his own in an instant. "I named her Bernadette, if that helps," he added, unhelpfully.

Cutting her a sidelong look, Kai was at least glad Leila had the smarts not to insult his father in front of him but even Kai understood that what Kal could do was only a miniscule fraction of what arcana was capable of. He'd only been a small child when his potential reared its head and if he could do that, unwittingly, at the ripe age of six, Kai could only imagine what he could do now with some tutelage and age.

"That is not magic, Leila. Those are parlor tricks. I've seen what real magic can do and when I master it, the Fire won't know what hit them."

[shawdowwaves-deactivated2023061]

Kai bought his lie, which was good. He didn’t need him digging around and prodding to know more about his past, but his attempt to shift the conversation hadn’t quite worked as he expected with the elf returning to the notion that apparently he needed to be set up. The last thing he needed was for anyone to play matchmaker, least of that person being Kai who seemed to have only one requirement.

Hanzei gave a small huff. “As I have already said, I do not need you interfering with my private life, Kai. I can manage just fine. Now if you do not tell me when and where I am supposed to be for dinner, then it might be a little difficult for me to be there.” His patience was running thin again, but they were nearing the end of the street and the end of his walk. 

Almost as if he had tempted the fates, he noticed the beginnings of a brawl between a group of men. Or maybe they had decided to give him a break. Normally he wouldn’t take any notice, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally get his arm back. “How about you go try your air of respectability over there and see if you can break up that fight,” he suggested. “Consider it practice for when you have more responsibilities, marriage or otherwise.”

[oceanmelodies]

"It's at eight bells. I'm thinking the Kingfisher Inn but I suppose it depends on the menu. Worse case scenario, we could always dine on the ship but then one of us would have to cook." Kai left out the part where he was unable to do so, preferring to leave his lesser talents out of the limelight.

He tapped his chin contemplatively. "That would be a great opportunity to see whether you're capable of being a wife however, dear uncle. My grandfather would greatly appreciate that in a lover seeing as how his taste in cuisine is incredibly limited to kelp and grilled mackerel." Kai, personally, was surprised the old man hadn't turned green yet after consuming enough seaweed to disturb the ecology of the ocean.

"Hm? Wouldn't respectability be allowing others to do as they pleased? It is none of my business whether men want to break each other's faces or not," he said, peering over at what Hanzei was looking at.

A little smile played on his lips, amusement and a small amount of delight in watching decently sized men hurl themselves at one another with such... passion and vigor. His smile expanded into a grin when the primal roar of one of the brawlers cut through the evening night and a resounding crash! of broken wooden barrels followed.

"Are you into the aggressive sort?" he mused, looking to Hanzei again. "Because if you are, you'll be in for a treat."

[enduredmagics]

@oceanmelodies

With a lack of contracts at the ready and no real desire to leave the city, Eva had taken to following a few of the known witchers around the city and, while, Kal was mildly difficult to keep track of, she found him dreadfully dull.

Now Kai. That creature was far more entertaining. She'd followed him from the docks to the brothel and back again, each time using a new sign to torment him from afar. The axii to make the merchant hurl fruit at him, while that one had been the most entertaining but it had put her far too close for comfort. So, she'd opted to cast aard from her place on the roof, sending a cartful of rotting fish in their direction.

"Miss me?" She hollered from her place on the roof, dropping her usual stealth in favour of some fun.

[oceanmelodies]

As usual, Kai had been minding his own business milling about the market. The selection was scant in the light of the fires but it didn't stop him from perusing the wares. Contributing to the economy of Novigrad was important to him after all. With no merchants, he'd have nothing to frivolously spend his coin on and what a travesty that would be.

What he did not intend on purchasing was a persistent little bird, pelting him with rudimentary magic and ruining whatever was left to buy.

Kai was quick to sidestep the flying cart, batting away a wayward fish with the back of his fan only for it to plop wetly onto the pavement and splash foul juice onto the hem of his robes. He retaliated immediately, whipping his dirtied fan at the woman on the roof. It spread open, the floral print a blur of pink and red as it spiraled towards her with unerring accuracy.

He put his hands on his hips as he looked up at her. "If you persist on pelting me with objects, could you at least be wary of my clothes? This outfit is worth more than any of your bounties. I assure you that you'd never be able to repay me in this lifetime."

[hugdjarfur]

This time around,Týr could not hold back his laughter. The worries that had hung over him like a dark cloud on a stormy day dissolved into nothingness. Of course, they couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that they were walking on thin ice, and if it broke, everything they had built in Novigrad would plunge into the frozen abyss, and they would end up losing the makeshift family to which they belonged. They couldn’t ignore it, but for a moment it was a little easier to pretend that Odin and Frigg were still in Asgard and that it was just another day with Kai.

Týr leaned back in the creaky chair, laughing, and his shoulders shook with it. Perhaps they were unkind for laughing at Kai’s woes, but he couldn’t help it. To have his kid be furious at his brother seemed to untangle something within him. It almost felt like his family was finally whole again.

“I hate to break it to you, but we may not be related by blood, Kai, but he is my brother.” Týr had never spoken of Váli to Kai or his father. He had never mentioned where he came from or who had loved him before he became the person Kai knew, he had only told him stories from his past, leaving the people in them nameless and faceless. He had always thought it was safer that way. “He is my brother, but I haven’t seen him in a while... If I’m honest, I didn’t even know if he was alive or not.” He tried to ignore the familiar feeling of guilt that had settled in his heart long ago. “Now tell me, why do you hate your uncle so much?” Uncle… They really were a family.

[oceanmelodies]

Kai's eyes widened at Tyr's uncontrollable laughter, face reddened with offense. He seemed to grow three sizes bigger at being insulted by both the laughter and verification. This was an incredibly serious matter and he couldn't believe that he was being betrayed this way. The sheer audacity. He'd have to tell Kal about this too. Certainly his real father would see reason. Kai huffed.

"Disown him immediately, then!" he demanded, grabbing onto Tyr's elbow and shaking them furiously. "You have no idea how rude he is. He doesn't think father is the greatest. He hardly even knew who he was after all father does for this city!"

Looking completely serious, gravity on his face looked like a child proclaiming a hunger strike for not getting their favourite candy from the store. "If you'd like me to kill him, I will. Just say the word, Tyr. I will put him into the daily soup that he never seems to change on the menu."

[shawdowwaves-deactivated2023061]

“They hardly have,” he noted matter-of-factly. “Rather impressive given you live on the docks and are supposed to work on a ship. If you actually did any work, I am not sure if oil would help much.” If it was a skill to avoid having to work, Kai would be a master of it. Bragi had better be willing to do the majority of whatever needed to be done, otherwise he foresaw the marriage ending pretty quickly. 

Yes, this dinner was going to be very entertaining. Having some inside information, he was almost looking forward to standing at the back of the restaurant and watching the whole thing unfurl. The best part is that he didn’t need to stay for all of it. Maybe if he was lucky, Kai would be distracted and he could slip out even sooner. 

At the question, he shook his head a little. “No,” he lied easily. As if he was going to share that with Kai. It would only fuel speculation and he would be nagged constantly about it. He was fine with letting the elf believe he was a miserable old man who had never felt yearning burn through his chest or that he’d spent years burying it so deep that he could sometimes forget it had ever happened.

“What time is the dinner supposed to be,” he asked, determining that the best way of steering clear of that conversation was to return the dinner. 

[oceanmelodies]

"Hey, I resent that," Kai pipped up. "I spent my entire childhood training so that I could do nothing as an adult. You wouldn't understand since you came out of the womb like that." He gestured at all of Hanzei to make his point.

And for once he did have a point. Kai did not lie about his training and had he been inclined to take on mercenary work like his father, more people would be assured of his prowess when handling weaponry. However, Kai had chosen a life of ease and luxury for the sake of his fine clothing. Gods forbid that he get any blood or dirt on them.

Kai leaned into Hanzei again when he denied having been in love, eyes boring into the side of his face. "Really? Not even once?" he asked genuinely. "That's so sad, uncle. Everyone should fall in love at least once in their lives. No no, that just won't do. What do you like in a person? I will find you a nice crusty suitor to match your needs."

He perked up before Hanzei could answer, disregarding the man's inquiry in favor of his own agenda. He put up a finger. "In fact, that's only more reason for you to meet my grandfather. He's been single his entire life and he is, no doubt, the crustiest man I know."

[00807x]

forgive me father for I have sinned in all the coolest and most glamorous ways possible

[inkerlock-deactivated20230613]

Kal’s mind was still cloudy with apprehension when Kai started to practically vibrate beside him. In someways, Kal was glad that his child could be so excited to see Viggo. It was not a shared sentiment, but he knew Kai’s memories of him were colored only by long days lounging in the sun, only somewhat tiresome training sessions, and verbal lashings rather than real ones.

And no matter how many times Kal and told him that Viggo was not his grandfather, the lesson never seemed to stick. 

“He is indeed,” he growled. “Likely on the last leg here and finding a way to sneak past lockdown.” Kal leaned over the side of the ship, his forearms resting on the deck railing, and sighed. His life had been cleanly segmented when it came to Novigrad; he had his family here, and he had his family in the Keep. The Cranes that still went out on the path passed through the city, but rarely made it past the docks. 

The only time he had so much as mentioned Tyr, some century and a half ago, Viggo had all but broken his arm in an effort to remind him of the untrustworthiness of humans. Luckily for Kal’s limbs he failed to mention that his friend was anything but. 

“Wait,” he said. “Who is ‘we’ and who do you have to introduce? I already know your friends.”

[oceanmelodies]

Kai snickered at the imagery of Viggo sneaking past anything. He did not doubt his grandfather's abilities but he enjoyed the thought of such a powerful man needing stealth to get into a city to see his children. Kal always had a strange apprehension around Viggo but Kai had never felt threatened by a mangy old coot with no sense of humor. If anything, he embraced him with open arms just to watch his face squirm.

"I hope he's bringing treats. I miss the fruit from the island. Novigrad just doesn't have the weather to produce anything sweet," Kai mused aloud, joining his father against the railing. His stance was not nearly as depressing or rigid, instead he placed his palms on the wood and teetered to and fro.

"Us, father. The family. You, me, Tyr, my fiance." He cut Kal a sideways look to gauge his reaction. Father dearest had never taken too kindly to his suitors in the past. Likely for good reason, but Kai refused to relent to his views on romance when he'd been dancing around courting Tyr for as long as he could remember.

"You haven't met him yet but I swear, you'll love them. They're tall and strong but soft at heart. Not to mention, they've uncanny stamina," he said with a giggle.

"Promise you'll be nice. I think it's real love this time."

[inkerlock-deactivated20230613]

“I have no doubt of his skills,” replied Váli and held his hands up in feigned surrender. “I have known him for nearly as long as I have lived and he is anything but a bad bard. Insulting my playing is an insult to his teachings. He is among my dearest friends and I will speak of him as I see fit.” They turned their smile even more teasing. “Who do you think he recounts his days and lovers to if not me?”

Had he perhaps at one point needed to throw a pillow at Bragi to get him to cease his sharing? Well, that was between friends. Váli still needed to look his wife in the eye after all.

“The Gods know very well indeed,” he agreed with a solemn nod. “Now, if you have not noticed, Bragi is wooing people out of their coin elsewhere. As much fun as it is to hear insults thrown at my lovely staff and our humble establishment, I must ask: is there any other reason you are lingering in my house?”

[oceanmelodies]

It was difficult to keep the incredulity off of his face when he wore his feelings on his sleeves like vibrant accessories. Why was he only now hearing about these things? It made him wonder how many times a person could be blindsided by information from one pesky orange man.

"Do you know everyone in town?" He spat it with spite rather than asked. He simply did not want to know whether he and Bragi were coincidentally related too.

The mention of lovers (plural) made him pause. Kai wasn't so naïve to think that Bragi had been virginal by how easily they took him but having an inn keeper for a best friend made him suspicious. Was their suggestion of this particular inn part of a long-running motive or was Vali just tugging his pigtails again?

Kai huffed and refastened his belt when it became clear that there was no point in undressing. His mood had been dampened significantly anyway. "We're supposed to meet here, not that it's any of your business," he said haughtily before turning to leave.

A pesky thought niggled at him, however. He simply had to know. Kai turned back around.

"...Did they mention me?"

[gabe-moore]

It was captivating to watch the elf work, being so engulfed in their chores. Every movement displayed an effortless habit. It was almost like watching an artist at work on their painting. Loki could only imagine how impressive the sight would be out at sea, with Kai reading the wind and the waves, moving on the swaying deck as easily as on land. Perhaps they would join him out there one day and see for themselves.

Loki fired off a glowing smile in reply to Kai's compliment. "You should see me in a dress," they replied coyly. "And you, my handsome adventurer, deserves a drink after helping me with that hideous burn," Loki continued with a warm invitation. "See, it is all gone now." They pulled up their sleeve and showed how their left arm had healed. Barely a hint of the wound was left, save for the skin being slightly paler where the fire had licked it. Most of it was of course thanks to the god's own ability to heal, but the salve had definitely helped.

Turning their eyes in the direction Kai pointed they could clearly see a beautiful ship gently rocking the waves. "That would fit the description," Loki said carefully, trying to discern any living beings on deck. It was strange that the ship had lain anchor so far out. "Oh you know, gossip spreads quickly in small towns," they smirked, "especially when drinks and talkative women are involved."

Curiosity was pulling at them like a restless child. They looked around themselves and asked, "Is it possible to find a place with a better view? Perhaps you happen to have a spy glass? Mine did not survive the fire unfortunately." They pursed their lips and stepped to the edge of the dock, but the ship was still too far away to see properly. "It looks royal, does it not? Are the king and queen paying us a visit? If they throw a ball you'll definitely get to see my dress-" a small motion caught Loki's gaze. It was easy to miss, but Loki had almost subconsciously been waiting for it -- two dots moved above the ship deck. If one had enough imagination one could see that they moved without touching the ship, carried by the beating of wings. Loki's face immediately dropped. "I'm in Hell," they whimpered quietly.

[oceanmelodies]

Kai raised his brows at Eris, delighted by both the coyness and the offer. "Oh?" he said, glancing at their arm. It had healed up rather nicely, but he was more distracted by the paleness of their delicate wrist, the long stretch of their forearm. A smile stretched across his lips. "I'll have to take you up on that offer sometime then. It's only fair."

He was busy regarding the other when they looked away towards the ship, shamelessly appraising their outfit to the very last detail. There was a renewed interest in him when he looked closely at the fine stitching. Beautiful, sprightly and tasteful.

Cocking his head at the stretch of leather across their hip, Kai perked when they asked for a spy glass. "Hm? There should be one on the ship somewhere," he said distractedly, not narrowing in on the roots of their hair. Was that dye?

"I don't know why the king and queen would come now of all times. Did anyone tell them that they're late to the party?" Kai chuckled. "Though I would not refuse a ball if so. You keep speaking about this dress..."

Trailing off, it did not take long for Kai to notice that they were no longer paying attention to him but the ship. He looked out past them again, his eyes far more attuned to long distances than most. There were two birds, black in colour, hovering ominously over the crow's nest.

"That's rather on the nose, isn't it?" he said, glancing at the other with a smile that fell when he noticed the fear on their face. "Pardon? Is everything alright, Eris?"