middaeg | [ open ] cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

[ with family in town, work is more necessary than ever — not that much had changed in that regard. theatre had been a concept far beyond him, perhaps a little imposing even, but who could resist the idea of painting cardboard trees? not him.

he's got a needle and thread in hand with a piece of fabric loosely dangling from the corner of his mouth. ]

Hello. [ said politely, with a nod of the head. ] I need to take a few measurements for this constume. Would it be alright if I took yours?

Edited 2020-05-10 04:08 (UTC)

[She lacks the charisma to do most group tasks, has no desire to engage in the work of a "play." But she had read of this in the machine files — this form of human entertainment, and so found herself curious.

She has been moving some of the heavier pieces of the makeshift settings, and turns slightly to regard the man speaking to her. A beat, wherein she realizes she recognizes this man... he'd been one of the ones that greeted her when she arrived. The one that bore a strange resemblance to an android.

Slowly, she nods, Pod bobbing beside her.]

Yeah. [...] Go ahead.

[ it isn't the face that strikes him (although it should, for a number of reasons — it's the hunk of metal floating beside her, hovering with some kind of purpose as he draws closer.

his features turn pensive when he stretches out the thread between his fingers, allowing it to thin out and elongate before it winds around her shoulders. ]

I remember you. From the meteor shower. [ he takes a step back, if only to gauge her build with more accuracy. but as he does, he finds his eyes narrowing, hands slowing as he notes the wear and tear of her skin. ]

Are you hurt? [ concern tinges his voice. ] I can help you.

I remember you too.

[Saying "you look like an android," would likely be met with a blank stare, is her guess. Most people here either did not know what she was, or had never met an android as "advanced" as her. She leaves it alone.

His question throws her, however, and she affords it the barest shake of her head. ] It's old damage. Not really anything you can do about it. Is it going to keep you from doing your measurements, or what?

Damage?

[ an...odd word to use, he thinks. she's met with a quirk of the brow and another pause of his hands, only for him to continue, tracing the outline of her shouldblade. ]

It doesn't. But it worries me to see. Are you in pain?

[It's been so long since someone's been this close to her that the way she stiffens is reflexive, something she doesn't mean to do but can't help. She forces herself to relax, to let the tension wind its way out of her shoulders.

His question makes her think of something. Remember something — someone leaning over her, pale hair falling over their shoulders, the face serious and composed, eyes covered by a dark visor, her mouth set into a thin line as she'd concentrated. How she'd coolly rattled off numbers and percentages, scolded (0.2 percent decrease in your reaction time, you should have come in for maintenance earlier, inefficient...) but had said finally,

You shouldn't push yourself so much, Captain.

It was such a long time ago. A2 doesn't know why she remembers it now, though that was usually how her memories were: quick and debilitating, like a blow to the back of the knees.

She wills her shoulders to stay loose, and answers, after a delay.]

It's not anything I'm not used to. Don't worry about it.

[...]

But thanks.

[ near brightwall, betwixt aefenglom and the wilde itself, there is a patch of tulips, hyacinths and bluebells. it can't quite be compared to a field, but it's on its way to becoming one, and an easy breeze ruffles the petals of the flowers around you.

nier can be found kneeling at the heart of the ring, a watering can in hand; he's covered from head to toe and is wearing a sunhat to satiate his more vampiric weaknesses. ]

Ah—...don't step on any. [ he warns you. ] You can pick the ones you like.

Edited 2020-05-10 04:08 (UTC)

[Ozymandias most likely looks like the sort of person who shouldn't or wouldn't normally be out this far from the heart of the city. He's dressed a little too finely and his posture and demeanor all send the clear message that he's the sort of man who feels entitled to anything that he might desire. But while he does have a bit of a curious expression -- because it seems like quite the gamble for a vampire to be out here at this time of day even dressed like that -- Ozymandias doesn't look down upon him more than the physical sense.]

Worry not. I've no intention of disturbing them. What little life can be fostered in this world should be preserved.

[ he meets the man's gaze a tad curiously, head canting slightly — his presence (in all of its grandeur) reminds him distinctly of someone, the king of the sands he had grown up with, and for a moment a nostalgic kind of fondness blooms within his heart.

a thumb runs down the petal of a marygold, and he looks towards the man once more. ]

What's brought you here, then? [ the question is asked amiably, and with no hosility. ] If there's something you're looking for, I'm sure I could grow it for you.

Edited 2020-05-25 03:46 (UTC)

[He shakes his head, declining the offer.]

That is kind of you, but I am only getting a lay of the land. Most of the living conditions beyond the Wall are deplorable, but I believe that is by choice. [Ozymandias' gaze moves from the vampire to the Bright Wall.] They seem to believe the only potential lies within and nothing but threats dwell out here.

[It's cowardly as far as Ozymandias is concerned. He thinks had he suggested merely burning the Outer City to the ground, purging everything within it, their vanity would have likely made that a roaring success in Parliament. He looks back down at the vampire. Whatever judgment he appeared to pass upon the city's officials retreats from his expression, replaced by genuine curiosity.]

You tend to these flowers then. Did you find them growing on their own or did you plant them intentionally?

[ he's a merc for hire, alongside just about anything for hire. cooking, claening, fetch quests, killing, you name it. so he stands before you, tasked with god knows what, katana still slung over his back. ]

If it's too much trouble, you don't have to worry about paying me. [ there's a tinge of sympathy to his voice, and his hand reaches back to awkwardly scratch at his head. ] I know what it's like to fall on hard times. I'd be happy to help.

[ a century's worth of full moons could pass, and it still wouldn't grow any easier.

he is on the cusp of transformation, a small pair of wings sprouting at his back as his skin is now covered in patches of rough, short haired fur underneath his clothing; it's matted down by something slick, and his eyes narrow as he stalks his prey through the wilde. he can hear even the faintest rustle of the leaves, and his footsteps are near soundless as he approaches you from behind.

his claws yank you back. but as his eyes flicker up, it becomes clear that you aren't his prey.

it's the giant boar a few feet away from you. ]

Stay down.

[ so he whisks past you and just about leaps towards it, brutishly climbing onto its back. it is squeeling, as you would expect it to, but it suddenly comes to a stop, relaxing into his touch as though not a thing had happened.

hypnosis, man. ]

Do you need a ride?

Edited 2020-05-10 03:48 (UTC)

[ yet again: these full moons never get any easier...

as evidenced by the fact that he's woken up in the middle of the woodslands without any clothing any due to a transformation he should have expected. right. well, at least he's still armed with a katana.

sluggishy, he checks the bushes behind him for any clothing he might have stashed — ...and it's gone. wonderful.

well, there's no use in dawdling. blade in hand, he trudges through the grass, desperately trying to slip into the shadows and traverse through the crooks and nannies of the city once he draws near.

he uh, kind of fails, because someone's come across him. ]

...It's, uh. Not what you think. [ he starts. he is just coincidentally, naked and covered in blood. ]

Edited 2020-05-10 03:47 (UTC)

[ Zelda stares. ]

I had thought those trousers the bobcat ran off with looked a bit familiar...

[ Honestly, who knows if a large cat did indeed steal his clothes. It seems just as likely that Nier, once transformed, might have gone a bit... batty. Pun intended. ]

How lucky for you it was me to stumble upon you, for such a sight is hardly a shock to me anymore. [ She lacks clothing for him this time, sadly, and only leans forward with a hand out to help him. ]

Now, tell me. What exactly is this?

[ he lets out the biggest sigh in aefenglom. her hand is not accepted, not yet. ]

The full moon. It was worse this time.

[ and then something hits him— ]

Do you know what time it is? What are you doing out alone?

[ The third degree!!! ]

Early. I had a desire to wander.

[ A beat. ]

If you are struggling with the moon, then it is quite alright to tell me. I shall allow for more frequent feeding times.

Without a weapon on you?

[ he raises a brow, like a man nude, smeared with blood and right beyond brightwall has the right to. ]

That wasn't the problem. [ a shake of the head. ] Something different happened. It's never been this bad before...for any of us.

You may reprimand me once you are washed and clothed. For now, I can hardly say you're in any position to scold me.

[ He still has permission to lecture her with that, of course.

A worrying statement. She frowns, and continues holding her hand out. ]

What did you feel?

[Maria doesn't look very impressed. She's at least easy to hear coming, because she's on Istasha's back, and a horse isn't exactly subtle. She's been running damage checks from the full moon the night before, because if she let people get hurt while she's been too busy in a depressive stupor to help out, she'd just feel worse. Luckily, it doesn't seem to have affected all the Monsters, just the ones from the Mirrorbound. She's reached just beyond the Bright Wall and into that area to double-check as well, make sure the more vulnerable ones out here haven't been accosted by the wayward Mirrorbound Monsters.

Then, she catches the scent of blood, and Istasha must, as well, because the horse's head turns warily just a moment before Maria's does.

And there's a naked man.

Maria isn't impressed, as she looks him over.

When she gets to his junk, she manages to look even less impressed, somehow, then goes back to carefully maintaining eye contact, with the slightest quirk to one brow. Absolutely judging, and not even hiding it.]

You're a Mirrorbound monster, I'm sure, yes? Where's the blood from?

[ if she's looking anywhere, it doesn't seem to faze him — his fingers tighten around the hilt of his katana at her voice, but he relaxes quickly enough, having recognized her from...

a bake sale from 3 months ago. right. ]

A bear.

I ate it.

[ simple enough. ]

What are you doing here? [ he asks a little dumbfoundedly, a question spoken without much thought. ]

[He... ate a bear.] ... The whole thing? [Does she even really want to know? Actually, she's going to decide pressing much further than that, and shakes her head.

Naked man, covered in blood, going to walk into town after a full moon and probably startle the hell out of everyone. Also, she's mildly offended and inconvenienced that she keeps having to be in the presence of a naked dude she didn't ask to be naked around her.] I needed to get out of the house, and check for damage from last night.

[She turns in her seat, and rifles through her saddlebag. Surely enough, there's a picnic blanket still in one of the sides. She was pretty sure she hadn't removed that from the last time she was out.

And she throws the rolled-up bundle at him.] Now, at least cover yourself, there are children in this town. [And she has no appetite for sausage this morning.]

I was hungry.

[ it's said so bluntly and well, simply that it's hard to deny the validity to it. slowly, he sheaths his sword, rolling his shoulders a little stiffly. ]

I'm a vampire. [ he admits. ] The full moon was different this time. That's all.

[ a...picnic blanket. slowly, nier blinks, catching the bundle before a hand scratches at the back of his head. ]

Oh...right! [ right. a little shyly, he winds it around his waist as thought it were a bath towel.

easy enough. ]

Thank you. [ a polite bow of the head. ] Damage? From the full moon? I can help you check. I owe you for helping me.

[Her lips part, upper lip curling slightly like she wants to say something, but decides to drop the subject. It's not what she's used to, as far as behavior from the vampires here. She looks to the sky, to affirm, and... yes, he's walking around naked in the sunlight. He's just an oddity for a vampire as a whole, then.

His offer is heard, but she really does just tilt her head back and look down at him. At least it's easier to look when his junk's covered and not being an unwelcome distraction. The full moon was different, indeed: it had her hunter instincts on edge the whole night. Not the least of which was feedback over her Bond, but she knew... things were going to happen that she needed to know of.

Her preliminary investigations at least revealed that it was only the Mirrorbound Monsters taken by the Moons' especially potent thrall. That made it both easier and more difficult for her, but she still wants to make sure the innocents survived the night. If any didn't... well.]

You're not going anywhere with me naked and covered in blood; if someone was hurt by a Monster last night, you're only going to frighten them. You can help by going home, taking a bath, and getting proper clothes.

I'm not naked anymore. I have something on.... [ in a small voice: ] Even if it looks like a checkered bath towel...

[ does he REALLY look that indecent. his lips thin into a frown, the corners pulling downwards — it's the expression of a puppy that's been kicked, although he himself is far from one given that he is quite literally slathered in blood.

there's something of a silence, but he resigns. ]

...Fine. Then I'll change and come back.

[ a beat. he blinks. ]

And bathe. I want to see what happened too — and make sure it doesn't again.

[And the little raised eyebrow is pretty clear indication that Maria would happily kick this particular puppy again, because she's not buying it. He's not dressed and decent, and he is still covered in blood, he's just less wang-out in public to stop completely offending her senses.]

I'll be over with the Dorchacht refugees, after this. I imagine they can handle themselves, but someone may have gone over there out of familiarity. [And they don't need any more problems than what they have.]

[ hit me with anything, i'm at

outlandish if you want something specific. ]

Edited 2020-05-10 03:43 (UTC)

[ open ] cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

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