cold steel coffin | open

[extirpator]

Who: Nier and you!
When: February
Where: Aefenglom + the outer city
What: Open log + catchall, closed prompts go here
Warnings: Animal death in one of the prompts under the cut


a.

[ there are folks here, weathered and worn by horrors he hadn’t witnessed — some semblance of justice had been served with the execution that had taken place days prior, but none of this had taken precedence in his mind. he was a dead man from a ghost of a world, and everything about this one had been foreign to him.

still.

it wasn’t right.

there are others, too. struggling newcomers no different from himself.

it’s why if he sees you struggling, be it from a slowness, a skittishness, injuries of any kind, he helps without question. it could be a box of dropped goods, a blatant lack of food, some form of patent anxiety. either way, he extends a hand, either to help you lift your goods or offer you a warm loaf of bread — or maybe it’s an opaque, white flower. regardless... ]

Are you alright?

b. (cw: animal death)

[ once he gets over this whole “night” thing existing in this realm, he realizes it’s optimal hunting hours for a vampire. the air is still — near perfectly still. it’s on the fringes of the city, teasing the divide between the border and the wilderness that stretches beyond the walls.

his greatsword is stained with something black; it’s almost tar-like in its appearance. but even more remarkable is the crude splatter of crimson blooming across his chest. it’s marks his face as well – and lo and behold, the half eaten cadaver of an animal dangling from the palm of his hand seems to explain just about everything.

also, he isn’t wearing a shirt?? whoops.

this is awkward.

anyways. ]

...Hey.

[ um. sorry?? ]

Comments

b

[lucubrates]

[ .

Zelda swears this is like a horror novel in progress. She had purchased a fur lined coat with her first pay check, trying to keep warm on her night walks. As it is, Aefenglom still has a chill in it's air she'd like to fight against. In comparison to him, however, she's a much slimmer person with perhaps a weaker constitution. Under the moonlight, this man looks like a ghost with his white hair and skin and eyebags— she'd mistake them for bruises, in most situations, but at this hour?

They make eye contact. She looks at the blood and black tar splattering across his weapon. "Hunter," she thinks, but does not say. "Hey," he says, but nothing else comes between the two people off the beaten path.

She stares before shrugging her coat off. ]

You'll catch ill like that.

[ Take it, Nier. Apparently you need it more, to her eyes. ] Have you traveled long? The fringes of the city do not lend to beasts with such lifeblood.

[extirpator]

[ there's a cursory glance given to the fur coat; his gaze hardens, meeting hers in turn shortly afterwards. in the darkness, his fingers curl around the animal's corpse, just a tad more tighly than they had been before. ]

Keep it.

[ his features are stony, not shifting an inch at what she says next. ]

Don't worry about me. I'm fine.

[ the back of his palm moves to wipe off a rivulet of blood dribbling down his jaw. ]

Go home. It's late.

[lucubrates]

[ Her assertion is quick and she seems a mite irritable, perhaps. He rejects her offer of the coat, but Zelda keeps it out. The two of them have entered a battle of will, now, but she's used to trying and trying until something gives. ]

I am on my way home.

[ Is she? Is she, really? ]

On the edge of town like this, you're closer to the Cwyld. I can't let you be. [ She pauses, taking in the site of him in blood, and the carcass. He's eating it; turnskin? Vampire? Hunting at night implies the latter, the destruction of the corpse implies the former.

In either case, his own words are perhaps a warning. ]

Which is it? Blood, or meat?

[extirpator]

There’s nothing out here worth living in.

[ his words are ragged and rough, but his voice in of itself is level; the carcass falls to the ground, and nier readjusts his sword properly. ]

I was hunting them. That’s what I do.

[ all Shades are worth killing, regardless of their differences. the blotches of black on his sword begin to make more sense. nier stares at her, features hard at that question of hers, and then there’s a raise of the brow. ]

Don’t tell me you wanted some.

[ he tries not to be this rude normally. but girl. girl. ]

[lucubrates]

By your standards, perhaps.

[ She kind of likes being removed from he majority right now. It makes her feel... free. ]

I asked you blood or meat. I can see you were hunting. I'm quite fine, but you will fall to the paranoia and hunger this close to the Cwyld. I ask you again: What is it you are in search of?

[ The coat is still being held out. ]

[extirpator]

What do you need to know for?

[ his jaw is tensing — all of him is tensing, actually. it’s the byproduct of his survival instincts kicking in. ]

Go home. You aren’t safe out here. [ he turns to his side, ignoring the coat entirely. ]

I’m not telling you again.

[lucubrates]

[ She hums, pulling the coat closer. ]

I wish to study the effects of these changes on people, in the hopes of making them much easier on others. [ She assumes he's Mirrorbound, considering how... open he is about it. ] I am capable of handling myself. However, at least consider my offer. The Cwyld may drive you mad, yet.

[ Vaguely, she's aware it could have done it by now. ]

[extirpator]

Yet?

[ he fights the urge to sigh. instead he wipes a bit of blood off of his bare chest, almost idly. ]

I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine. Now go. And don't come back here without a weapon on you.

dantes.

[extirpator]

[ truth be told, he has no idea what to expect. the offer wasn't at all an imposing one — sure, the building may have been big, but cleaning was a mindless task.

the inside of the building is unlike anything he's ever laid his eyes on. not as large as the shadowlord's castle, and not as rustic or aged as it either. there's an expanse of space befitting of a crowd, and the stage is wide and grand, grasping at his attention the moment he walks in.

it's been 2 hours. he's made good progress. and then there's his new, impromptu boss rounding the corner. ]

Sorry, I'm not finished yet. Just give me another hour, please.

[ressusciter]

That you've made this much progress is impressive.

[his boss hasn't rolled up his sleeves, but the disarray of his hair and the dust on his clothes says he was doing much the same, working for that time on another part of the theater. it's big, and his work has been demanding more time - thus why he had put up an offer in the first place. that someone answered it was the real surprise.]

I'm not here to scold you. I'm here to tell you to take a break, and to ask if you want anything to eat or drink.

[extirpator]

You're paying me. It's the least I could do.

[ nier gives him a lookover, his own hair wound up, pant legs and sleeves scrunched up in contrast. he shakes his head slowly before his hands raise up in submission. ]

Thank you, but I'm fine. Do you usually do this by yourself?

[ressusciter]

Usually, when I have a day off or free time between work and dinner. I've been working on this place for months. But things were more complicated for a while, and I haven't had the same amount of time.

[his Bonded being kidnapped, diversifying his investments in another city, the trial...it had been a lot.]

In the end, I hope to keep it manageable. That's all.

[extirpator]

Well, I guess that's why I'm here. I can come by every other day, if you want.

[ nier holds his head up high, a quiet kind of enthusiasm shining in his eyes. ]

We'll have this place spotless in no time.

[ressusciter]

You're the industrious sort, aren't you.

[not that it's a bad thing, he's equally as driven.]

Twice a week would work better with my schedule, so that I know to be here and my Bonded isn't going to accost you as a stranger in our domain. After the entire project's finished, if you're still looking for work, let me know what you have your interests in, and we can discuss something further.

[even if that means recommending Nier to someone else or being a professional reference. he's more than happy to help hard workers.]

a little bit of a and b

[sing_for_me]

[ It had been some time since night had served as Alex's escape. Though really, it was just a safe way to wander around without catching attention, or bumping into anyone she knew. Her wounds have been healing well, making it easier to move around. And she needed to. Staying cooped up, sitting with her thoughts, too many thoughts, and with no medication to calm them down, Alex needed to move. It didn't matter to where, and her feet tended to take over when her mind traveled somewhere far, somewhere safe.

It had its upsides, and also it's downsides, such as overestimating just how long she could go for. The sudden ache from her wounds brings her back down to earth, stumbling forward a few steps before catching onto something for support. A tree..? Had she left the city? Her eyes scan the area, regaining her bearings and discerning just where she's gotten herself to. As great as a merrows eyes could be in the dark, that only worked underwater. But she still could make out the figure of a man as he came out from deeper in the woods, her nose catching the familiar smell of blood that made her finned ears fan out.

From the sword, the blood on his body, then the half eaten creature, it wasn't too difficult to connect the dots. But the sight still had her freeze in place--not that she was getting anywhere with her aching body. ]

...So...sorry.

[ She's not sure why she apologized. A reflex, maybe. It's not as if she were in his way, and she hadn't caught him committing some kind of crime either. But her gaze still falls away, her head lowering as if she didn't see him at all. That was the best way to keep out of trouble in the city, keep your head low and your mouth shut.

Now if only her damn legs would move.]

[extirpator]

[ a merrow. he'd recognized those features well enough; his own ears quirk in response, the taste of the merrow he'd preyed on his dream flooding his senses. but then the figure visibly struggles, hands scurrying for whatever it could.

when nier approaches, he doesn't stalk — his movements err on the side of trained caution. but then he offers a hand, beckoning her to accept it. ]

It's okay.

[ what she'd been apologizing for, he hadn't known — but he responds regardless, and with an easy and small smile. ]

I can take you to your home. Where do you live?

[sing_for_me]

[ He doesn't sound upset, and the hand he offered was a surprising, but kind gesture. Her eyes trail up from the outstretched palm, about to reach for it when a figure flashes over him. This was a familiar sight, something from an old memory. They've been overlapping and showing up more lately. Her hand recoils, and the next second, he's back to being himself--whoever he was.

Alex also wanted to err on the side of caution, though the wary look on her face was mixed with hints of an apology. ]

You don't...have to do that. I don't really..I don't want to go home just yet.

[ A way to prevent some stranger from taking her, yes, but also truthful. It was far too quiet and far too big a space for her. ]

Please...I don't want to cause any trouble.

[extirpator]

[ the flinch is noted, and he retracts his hand in turn, as to not frighten her. right. offering to walk someone home when you’re coated in blood? probably not the smartest move. his brows knit, features softening as he looks towards her. ]

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for anyone to see me like this. You aren’t causing any trouble.

[ with a breath, he...plops down onto the ground and merely sits in the grass. his blade follows suit with a thud. it’s a display of defenseless, of what could almost be seen as submission — but it’s an attempt at coming down from his own bloodlust driven high, too. ]

If you want me to leave, I will—but...

[ there’s a hesitant pause. ]

I’m worried about your injuries. Do they hurt?

[sing_for_me]

[ His demeanor and even the air around him appears to change as he suddenly drops down to the ground. She watches, lowering herself somewhat like a curious animal.

That he mentioned her injuries was unexpected. She was sure they weren't bleeding anymore, and they should be hidden beneath her clothes, which she quickly takes a look at to be sure. But more importantly, why would he be worried about a complete stranger...? ]

You're...the one covered in blood. Are you okay..?

[extirpator]

[ he lays his back flat onto the ground, letting the bristles of grass whisk against his skin. his head rests against his forearms, and had you not known any better, you’d think he was stargazing. ]

It’s okay. It isn’t mine.

[ it’s said frankly, but honesty was the best policy, right? ]

I’m a vampire. Or at least, that’s what somebody said I was. So I decided to go hunting for fresh blood. But there are Shades around here too, and I want to kill as many as I can.

[ the tension between them seems to have eased up, at the very least. nier’s gaze roves back towards her, and his head tilts with some kind of curiosity. ]

Why did you come here? It must have taken a lot of strength.

[sing_for_me]

[ She's not quite sure how to take his sudden change in posture. Was he really planning on resting out here? In the cold? Without a shirt?

There was some relief in knowing it wasn't his, and she could only hope it wasn't anyone else's but the poor animal he took down. But his explanations start to clear things up. At least, some of it. ]

What are..um..shades?

[ She might be possibly trying to keep the subject off of herself, and she lowers herself to the ground, kneeling then sliding off to one side. It was a good excuse to rest up and regain some of her energy. ]

[extirpator]

Those dark creatures. The ones that infect everything they touch. [ he tried not to let his bloodlust get the better of him; it’d been difficult to balance any semblance of rationality and his overwhelming desire to eradicate anything reminiscent of a shade. ]

The Cwyld that used to be people... [ he falls silent. ] Those are Shades.

[ and then suddenly, he fishes out a few medicinal herbs from his rucksack. they’re offered towards her with an extended hand. ]

Use these as a salve. I could tell that you were hurt from the way you were moving earlier. It might not be much, but it’ll ease the pain.

a

[arturiarex]

[ Saber doesn't really think of herself as helpless, but she is adjusting to a new place. Especially living in the barracks and trying to settle herself. She's adjusting to living as a human all over again and that means having to purchase the necessaries for living - which includes food. It is not something she is used to in general. When she was king, she had other people to do it for her. When she was a Servant, it didn't matter - and there were other people to focus on the necessaries.

She is... mostly human. Sometime in the last week, she's sprouted a lion tail, though, and she's had to modify her clothing slightly to accommodate it. It flicks behind her as she speaks, the little tuft at the end swaying. So she's struggling determinedly with a shop door, a bag under each arm, when Nier comes to her "rescue" and snags the door for her, right before it would close on her new tail. She glances at him with a surprised blink. ]

Ah. My thanks.

[extirpator]

[ the door is wedged up with his foot, fortunately, eyes trained on her tail. he slowly braces his weight against the door to open it properly, and they sidle outside smoothly enough.

a lion tail. well, that was a new one. ]

No problem. [ there's a cant of the head. and gently— ]

Ah...you're a monster too, right? [ she'd reminded him of roommate. a chimera, struggling with his own features. ] Watch out for your tail next time.

[arturiarex]

Yes.

[ Her response is a bit clipped. Not intentionally rude or anything - Saber just tends to be a bit brusque. Her tail flicks behind her and she glances back with a frown, craning her neck to take a look at the new appendage. ]

And thank you; it only appeared a day or so ago, so it is still new to me. If it all happened at once, I feel it might be better...