Deceuer Quests, Full Moon, and Catch-all [Open]

[curruid_coinchenn]

Who: Berserker! (Cú Chulainn Alter) and you!
When: Throughout Deceuer
Where: Various places
What: Quests, full moon things, and more
Warnings: Violence, nsfw


[ 1A. Knuckle Crack the Bone (Ethical Bones) ]

[ Well, at least his hoarding instinct can be put to good use. Since he favors skulls, giving up the smaller bones he typically collects is no problem. The problem is, though, that Berserker's methods are not what one would consider "ethical": the bones he collects tend to be from the animals he hunts for food.

He can be found just outside the bright wall, stripping meat from the carcass of what used to be a deer (mostly with his hands, a knife is utilized only when necessary). As the ribs are revealed, he breaks them off cleanly from the spine and sets them aside. His work is meticulous and it's all he's focused on...Seemingly, anyway. As he's being observed, he speaks without stopping his work. ]

If you want the bones, you're out of luck. Find your own.

[ 1B. Walk Me to the Graveyard (Ethical Bones pt. 2) ]

[ This time Berserker can be found further out of the city, armed with Gae Bolg (his spear) and ... a shovel? In his time spent outside of the city, he's located makeshift graves. What are graves full of? Bones. His methods may not be "ethical", but it's unlikely these bones will be missed.

Knee deep in a half-dug hole, he busies himself finding the bones beneath the loose earth. He carefully sifts through the dirt, leaving the bones he finds in a neat pile by the stone marking the grave. Again, his attention seems to be completely focused on his task until he hears something close. In an instant, Gae Bolg is in his hand, leveled at whatever made the noise. ]

What are you doing out here?

[ It might sound threatening if it weren't so apathetic. ]

[ 2. Setting Up Shop (City-wide Quest #2) ]

[ Of course Berserker's going to help Waver and Caster set up shop. He's grown quite fond (and protective) of Waver, partially due to them being Bonded to the same person. Caster...He owes a lot to Caster, too. This is the least he can do. He can be fond doing whatever requires the strength of a dragon, but mostly cleaning. Sweeping, mopping, scrubbing...

He does stop eventually, though, to take a break. He takes a seat in the corner where there's a number of bottles of ale: his gift of encouragement for those helping to get this place set up. As he settles in for a little rest, he opens up a bottle and takes a drink. Noticing someone nearby, he offers an unopened one. ]

If you want to take a rest for a moment, here.

[ 3. Small But Dangerous (Full moon) ]

[ Unlike last month, Berserker is conserving warmth by taking on his smaller form. About the size of a large housecat, it's much easier to keep warm when he's this small. He can mostly be found around familiar places, curled up on hearths in the shops or bars he frequents. He can be recognized in this form by the crimson scales beneath his eyes that mimic his tattoos.

If someone disturbs him, he pops his head up and hisses, baring his mouthful of sharp teeth. ]

I'm not a pet. Try that again and you'll regret it.

[ 4. Wildcard ]

[ These prompts not doing it for you? Did we plot something out? Drop me a starter or PM me here or on Discord (glitzkrieg#0673) and we can work something out! ]

Comments

1A

[quickwhip]

[ Trevor both looks and feels like shit and it's only the beginning of the month so of course a nice ol' stroll out here in the middle of fucking nowhere is sure to help, right? Who knows, it's sure as hell not him.

It's not necessarily the cracking of the bones that catches his attention so much as it is the scent of crimson splashing so strongly in the open air and it's in a way that he's never quite experienced before. Yeah, he's been around bloody and dead things and bodies before and the scent of death and rot definitely has a smell to it. But this is different and it's as if he's a vampiric moth drawn to a crimson bloody flame that he finds himself standing there and just... staring.

You know, until he realizes that he's being addressed and just who is addressing him. Snapping himself out of the sort of daze he has himself in, he blinks and pulls a face when he actually takes in everything that Berserker is doing. ]

Why the hell would I want bones?

[ This is either a really weird hobby of Beserker's or that dragon hoarding thing since he mentioned skulls or something for that from what he remembers. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Can't it be both? It's definitely both. Bones fit as a weird hobby and uncontrollable hoarding need.

He stops in his work to look at Trevor. Definitely not the best shape he's ever seen him in. The changes must be hitting him particularly hard and he can sympathize with that (how weird it is to be able to feel that emotion now...). ]

You look like shit. [ A beat. Oh, this might not be a welcome offer, but...The deer is recently dead and still warm. ] Do you want its blood instead?

[ It's not a cruel offer, quite the opposite. He expects it to be taken as a jab, though. It's fine. ]

[quickwhip]

[ The offer makes Trevor go tense and he's damn near sure he's obvious about it. ]

No.

[ He snaps that rather quickly in reply, tearing his gaze away from the blood that his eyes had flicked themselves to and had even lingered on. Pulling his cloak around him tighter, he turns some from Berserker, swallowing thickly as he tries to just... not. ]

And I may look like shit but at least I don't look like a fucking creep out here doing... whatever it is you're doing.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ As expected. The reaction doesn't surprise him at all and he takes no offense at Trevor's response. A loud crack breaks the brief silence as he frees another rib from its place along the deer's spine. ]

I'm cleaning a kill. [ Diarmuid had gotten quite cross with him when he left a still-twitching kill in the living room. Even cleaning them in the tub was out of the question. So he prepares them where he kills them. ] The bones are for a job...I collect them anyway. I don't mind parting with anything that isn't a skull.

[ He scrapes meat from bone with his knife in silence for a moment. ]

I don't see how that makes me a creep.

[quickwhip]

[ Trevor gives a groan and covers his face with a hand, a clumsy step taken back. ]

Can't you do that somewhere else?

[ Nevermind that HE was the one to come into Berserker's space. It's just... a little overwhelming at the moment and it's not like he wanted to come here. He was drawn here. By a feral instinct and slowly growing insatiable thirst for crimson warmth sliding down his throat... and that both terrifies and disgusts him. ]

You work for a bone collector or something?

[ He asks as a means to focus his mind on something else, turning away on a heel and coming to just lean against a tree for a moment. Why does he get the feeling this month is going to be an actual struggle in a way the other two haven't been? ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker growls, baring his teeth for a moment. Now he's defensive, but only slightly. ]

Do I have to remind you that you're the one who interrupted me?

[ His irritation fades as quickly as it came. Skin sliced from meat, meat sliced from bone, bones broken from their place. He falls back into his meticulous work. ]

They're for a cleromancy shop...Divination with bones.

[ He knows the agitation that comes with unwanted changes, both mental and physical; he doesn't mind providing some sort of distraction for that. The blood that's driving Trevor crazy right now, though, he can't do anything about. Deer are unfortunately full of blood and that blood is just everywhere. ]

[quickwhip]

[ Yeah yeah HE KNOWS, OK??? Doesn't mean he's not going to whine about it or whatever. But with Berserker continuing to go about his work there, Trevor finds himself feeling the need to just... not be here, yet he also wants to. Partly out of stubborn pride in thinking he can "beat this" or something and partly due to it being Berserker. Ok, so, not really best buds or anything and yeah, they've had a few interesting encounters with one another. But there's something about their crude and no bullshit way with one another that just... works. Or something. Besides. If you ever DON'T want pity? This is the guy to be around from the looks of it. Or maybe that's just special for him.

Regardless, Trevor glances up the tree he's leaning against and while normally he would reach for his whip and throw himself up that way, instead he opts to go with that gentle increase in strength that he experienced last month (and slowly continues to grow) and leaps up the side of the tree with the quick kick to it, hand reaching out to swing himself up via the first branch he touches. The sound of branches snapping and whatever leaves may be left can be heard as he goes up a little ways but not too far that he can't have a conversation or something and when he's settled on a branch, he leans himself against the trunk of the tree again, sighing as he does. ]

That how you make your money around here? Hunting monsters sort of seems out of the question from the looks of it.

[ Aka he's shit out of luck there and for more than one reason. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ No one gets pity from Berserker, it simply isn't the type of person he is. The petty behavior Trevor gets from him, though, is somewhat special -- he customizes that just for him. At least he's gotten enough of a sense of empathy (as minimal as it is) to not fling blood at him.

He watches from the corner of his eye as Trevor climbs higher in the tree. Hm...Interesting. That looks like a new trick he's learned. Odd that he wants to hold a conversation above ground, but it's probably to get further away from the bloody mess surrounding the dragon. ]

I also work as a bouncer for the Sly Seadog. [ He pauses in his work to wrap the chunks of meat in waxed cloth he brought with him. ] And I'm sure you could make money hunting monsters...the infected ones that cause trouble for anyone trying to rebuild in the Wilde, anyway.

[ Berserker looks up at him. ]

Or you could kill monsters and sell their organs to the black market. One might get you killed. The other will definitely get you killed.

[quickwhip]

[ Getting away from the scent of blood that might very well become a temptation he finds himself struggling with out here is EXACTLY why he's up a tree having a conversation like this. What? Like it's never been done before or something??

Besides, there's a gentle sort of comfort that Trevor finds in being up a tree. A reminder of his own he used to climb and play in when he was a kid. Before everything went to hell thanks to the shitholes known as the church.

But, you know, shit no one needs to hear or know about so, moving on. ]

What the hell is a bouncer?

[ Someone who... bounces things??? ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker's not going to question it. People do weird things. If that's what Trevor really wants to do right now, it's fine. Whatever brings him comfort.

Another crack breaks the quiet as he wrenches the skinned head from the spine. He sets to work scraping flesh from bone. This particular deer caught his attention for the antlers -- it will make a nice addition to his hoard. ]

I handle unruly customers. [ He bounces them out on their asses. Often literally. ] I keep the peace.

[ The Seadog attracts a...particular clientele so he's rarely without something to do. ]

[quickwhip]

You?

[ And that might actually get him to chuckle a bit albeit a little weakly and not as hearty as he's done in the past. But still. It's there. ]

Guess they've got something for everybody here, huh?

[ Smiling to himself, he presses his cheek against the bark of the tree, eyes glancing down to Berserker going about his handiwork with the deer. ]

Are you a full dragon yet? Or are you still changing every month it feels like?

setting up shop!!

[usurpers]

[ helping out was a quick thought; he had cu’s back. eren had enough enchanted tattoos as is, but he knows he’ll be frequenting for touch ups here rather than the other place he went to on the fly months ago. especially now in the winter, where heat enchantments were what he needed more than normal to stay awake like any other. strictly fire based, it’s the worst weakness he could have.

the dragon has just finished bringing in some equipment and organizing where they’d stand, more or less, following instructions that, in this corner, he happens to be holding upside down (so instead of the desired side of a room with furniture it ends up being the opposite). the dull orange glow of the runes along the entirety of his arm wings are duller by the second, and so are his eyes, heavy and dragging open. if he leaned too much into this drawer, he’d start to nod off in three, two—

he jolts back up when offered a drink, and steadily reaches for it. cracking open the top is the slow part two. his body wants to brumate so bad. ]

I need it, [ down a gulp of ale like water and hoping it burns in his belly, he nods. ] thanks.

[curruid_coinchenn]

I can handle violence.

[ It's a bit cryptic, but he leaves it at that. It is rather funny to think of someone like Berserker keeping the peace, so to speak -- it mostly just involves him being physical intimidating. His presence is enough to scare most people into behaving properly.

The now stripped skull gets set aside from the other bones, sitting with the packaged meat. He turns the carcass over to continue his work. ]

I can transform at will now. I could show you sometime...Not now, but if you catch me on the full moons, I will show you what this place turned me into. If you buy me a drink, maybe I could be convinced to take you on a flight.

[quickwhip]

[ Most people. Because that sure as hell hasn't worked on Trevor thus far. Then again, it's not like he misbehaves or anything. He's just... a fool a lot of the time. But whatever. They're kind of buds. Maybe. ]

Wait.

[ And for a moment, it feels as if he might mean to clarify whether or not he means hopping up on his back and taking to the skies on a fucking dragon like a goddamn dragon rider knight person. However ]

Do you have any fucking idea how big a glass would be needed for a dragon to drink out of it?

[ That's clearly what he took from that offer. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker's not terribly fond of the cold, though it doesn't affect him the way it does a fire dragon. He watches Eren's ... questionable approach, noting how nodded off before snatching the bottle from his hand.

Hm. Well, at least he's doing better in comparison. He takes a much slower drink as he settles back against the wall, adjusting his wings so he's more comfortable. ]

You're not handling the cold well, are you?

[ State the obvious and be a dick. He's good at this. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ There's quite a few people who aren't bothered by his presence nor his generally cold manner. Trevor isn't someone he's keen on using his strength against nor is he going to bother trying to intimidate it -- somehow he feels like that would be an absolutely futile exercise.

The stupid question that fell out of Trevor's mouth is enough for Berserker to suddenly stop...and cut himself. The knife slips and cuts into the side of his wrist beneath a patch of scales there. It's quite sharp so blood already begins to well to the surface.

Annoying.

Berserker drops the knife and presses his hand against the wound. Did he bring some extra cloth with him...? ]

... You're an idiot, you know that? [ He flicks his blood-covered (partially his, partially deer) hand up towards Trevor, droplets of blood speckling the tree trunk. At least he was mostly done when he did this. ] A drink beforehand. A flight after. I didn't think I'd have to spell that out for you.

[ Blood flows in a steady trickle down his left arm now. He starts to look for something clean to put pressure on it again in his things. ]

gently warns for blood and stuff??

[quickwhip]

It was a jo-

[ A joke he means to say. Though was it really??? But then Berserker goes and cuts his wrist and the sound of blade cutting flesh pierces his ears in a way that is so surreal and intimate, it has Trevor's eyes snap open wide. The splashing of blood against the tree trunk, the crimson warmth that slides down the dragon's wrist, it ignites a desire within the center of Trevor's chest and he feels himself drawn to the blood that trickles freely from the open wound.

He nearly jumps from the tree branch he's taken for his seat, the desire to be closer to the warmth that silently begs to be touched with his tongue so overwhelming... but he catches himself, thankfully. Grabs tight to the tree he had been resting against and rather than leap down for Berserker, he finds himself sliding off the tree and dropping down with a loud THUD to the ground as he falls. Right into the cold earth.

Groaning, he pushes himself up with a hand and glances over to Berserker then... where eyes immediately draw to the blood... and Trevor swallows thickly as he pushes himself back against the trunk of the tree. Where the blood is splattered as well. Shit. ]

You're such an asshole!

[ Is what he growls at the dragon as he quickly crawls away from that tree and over to another one, breathing heavy as he presses himself against that trunk, eyes squeezed shut and trying to count sheep or something in his head. Fluffy white sheep. Fluffy white sheep jumping over a fence. Fluffy white sheep jumping over a fence and covered in blood.

...

Shit. ]

Fucking- patch that up or something!

[curruid_coinchenn]

It's not like I did this on purpose...

[ The dull thud of vampire hitting the ground is enough to get his attention off of his immediate problem. If he had any sort of humor left in him right now, he'd laugh; his limited sense of humor is on break right now (small favors).

He finds a length of off-white cloth to use as a makeshift bandage in his bag and tears off a piece. It's futile to wipe up the excess right now; he settles for wrapping it around the wound. The problem is that he can't tie it off one-handed, so he just holds onto it. Berserker's kind enough to not ask Trevor for help, at least.

Well, sort of. Not really. ]

Tie this off for me, then.

[ The cloth is already beginning to soak through in places. Never let it be said that Berserker uses dull tools. ]

[quickwhip]

What?

[ That flies out his mouth without so much as a second thought. He wants him to what?? Him. Trevor fucking Belmont. Who is turning into a goddamn VAMPIRE and vampires LIKE BLOOD. He's either a shitty excuse for a pal or lost his goddamn mind. Or both.

But. But. Berserker sort of can't tie off his bandage with one hand, that much is true and so Trevor mutters a string of curses under his breath as he gives pause. Takes a deep breath. Then crawls his way over with eyes barely shut, hoping that maybe not seeing the blood seeping through the bandage might make this be a whole lot easier to deal with. For both of them. ]

I hate you.

[ He mumbles that as he quickly reaches for the ends of the bandage with trembling fingers and makes haste in tying it securely... and maybe a bit tighter than intended, too. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

I didn't cut myself on purpose, [ he reiterates with considerably less humor than before. A negative amount of humor.

Berserker breathes out a sigh. ]

... But I appreciate it.

[ He yanks his arm away from Trevor, if only to lessen any temptation on his part. The dragon could have been considerably crueler, if he'd chosen to act on his petty impulse. It is tied too tightly, but that's fine -- it helps to slow the bleeding. He can feel his arm throb with his pulse, which is not a great sign. It's fine, he tells himself again. ]

You have more self-control than I expected.

[quickwhip]

For now.

[ Because he knows there's going to come a day where he'll more or less lose his mind and want blood to the point where he very well may kill for it. He doesn't want to. He wants to fight that temptation- that carnal desire slowly bleeding to life throughout his entire body. But he's a hunter, has learned about and killed vampires for years now. He knows what's going to happen and he hates it.

Pulling back, he moves away from the dragon though lingers a little close by, dropping himself against the trunk of the tree (the one WITHOUT the blood splatters) and pulls his knees to his chest, arms wrapping around them as a means to keep himself steady. ]

It's getting more difficult as the days go on.

[ He's worried about the upcoming full moon, if he's honest. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Trevor looks so vulnerable sitting like that. Berserker finishes up his work, wrapping up the last of the meat hunks into more waxed cloth. Bones are wrapped up separately and set aside. He wipes the bloodied blade of his knife on his pants and starts to scrape off the remaining meat from the hide. ]

I know the feeling. It gets harder and harder to control yourself and the urges that come with it.

[ He feels no threat from the other man, not really. There's no harm in being honest with him and sharing his vulnerability. ]

You will have to accept it eventually, even if you hate it. [ Something he knows Trevor already knows. Berserker hesitates before continuing, knowing this offer will likely be scoffed at. ] And...if you really need it, I will share my blood with you.

[ It's a genuine offer, though. It would give him the blood he needs and keep others safe from any feral incidents. ]

[quickwhip]

[ Berserker has offered before, though Trevor hadn't really been sure whether or not it was in jest or to just mock him. One can never tell when alcohol is involved ok? However, the offer to be given again has him glance over to the dragon for a moment before he looks back down to his knees. He still doesn't know WHY anyone would willingly want to be bitten by a vampire. Unless for... love, maybe. Did Dracula ever drink from his wife? He has no idea and is not about to ask Alucard that. It just seems too... intrusive, especially with still grieving over such a loss. ]

You said you became a killing machine or something, didn't you?

[ Trying to... recall that one conversation of theirs. ]

Obviously you accepted it. But didn't you try and fight it? Try and remain as you were? Who you were?

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ It's out of empathy that he offers, something still very fucking new to him. He kind of hates it, if he's going to be honest.

The question makes Berserker stop what he's doing. His entire body goes stiff; his tail even straightens out entirely, the tip flicking slightly with irritation. It strikes a nerve to be asked such a question...His identity is a difficult one and he's only just now starting to get over the bitter resentment that surrounded it. ]

When all you can do is kill in order to survive, you can do nothing to save yourself. [ He stabs his knife into the ground, trying to ignore the burning resentment in his chest. That's no longer who he is; he is no longer that shadow to the light of Cú Chulainn. He has his own name, his own identity, but he cannot erase what made him this way. ] I tried to hold onto anything I could, but I gave up everything for the strength to survive. It was either accept what I had to do for the strength to survive or die...and I would not let myself die.

[ And yet, in a way, he let himself die in a more metaphorical sense. Berserker can't bring himself to look at Trevor as anger at his own life and existence flares up.

He lets the anger burn white hot for a moment before it snuffs itself out. The emptiness and apathy that normally fill him take its place. He smooths the hide out to check his work. ]

...Do you want to know my name?

[ Not his True Name, but the name Caster gave to him. It's more his name than his True Name ever was and it's no longer a reminder of the fact he was an impossibility. ]

[quickwhip]

[ Despite the anger that flares from the dragon, Trevor makes no signs of movement nor does he even allow for his gaze to lift from where he has it on the ground. He doesn't need to see that anger... he can feel it.

But confusion gently touches him when Berserker asks him that and he comes to lift his gaze from the cold earth around him. ]

Only if you want to give it to me.

[ And he's soft as he says that. No insult, no scoffing to be done. Not even an are you fucking kidding me to come. Just gentle and genuine. Things Trevor can be when he's not so wrapped up in his own burdens and anger and sorrows that he carries. ]