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

[extirpator]

[ the following morning, whenever she rouses from her sleep, she’ll find

1) her clothing, spotless and folded neatly. they’ve been placed onto the couch and are marked with chick themed stationary that reads “For Zelda :)” in neat handwriting.

2) a plate’s worth of pancakes, scrambled eggs and cooked ham.

nier himself isn’t in plain sight. he’s likely in the bathroom, meticulously manscaping or something. who knows.

either way, he emerges, properly clothed this time. ]

There’s food for you on the table. I don’t know what you like, so I went with the basics. Sorry.

[lucubrates]

[ In the morning, she has to admit that she kind of liked sleeping on an actual bed. The cabin had... an old, rickety thing, and it wasn't too comfortable, but it was livable and quaint in it's own way. After a night of actually sleeping, for the first time in a week, Zelda can cast a cursory glance about his room.

It is, disgustingly, kind of adorable. She thinks there's more to this man than there seems. It's unfortunately that she finds herself intrigued. Leaving the room, she had initially thought to sneak out before anyone else, but... he's beaten her. Curious. Does he sleep at all? Her clothing is fresh, so she wonders.

She thinks to take her clothes before she sits to the meal, but her stomach beats her to that thought by groaning with hunger. Perhaps it's sleeping in his bed, or maybe it's the fact she's had time to see a bit more of him through his cottage-like bedroom... but she's willing to eat his cooking.

She sits. ]

I am not a picky person. [ She admits this much, looking contemplative. ] ...My favorite foods are not breakfast foods, in any case. This is plenty, Nier, and exceedingly kind of you. Thank you.

[extirpator]

It was nothing. [ it’d been done on reflex more than anything, a mechanical procedure at its core. but cooking was still a labor of love, even if it had been done instinctually at this point.

he crosses the pathway to the kitchen, settling across from her — he’s still standing, but suddenly he draws out a notebook from behind his back and promptly slaps it down in front of her. the handwriting is neat, but the notes themselves are a tad frenzied.

CWYLD (SHADE)

AROUND THE OUTER WALL - CAN THEY GET INSIDE?

INFECT EVERY LIVING THING THEY TOUCH

DO NOT INTERACT ._.

THE TOUCH WILL KILL YOU !!!!!!

USE METAL WEAPONRY. THE STURDIER THE BETTER

KEEP DISTANCE 🤚

NO DAGGERS OR KNIVES 🗡 WILL EXPOSE YOU

CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT = BAD IDEA !!!!

TRAVEL INDIVIDUALLY

WEIRD EYES. CAN SEE IN THE DARK. ._. ]

I told you to keep a weapon on you. The further out you are, the more of them there’ll be. And you can’t touch them, no matter what happens. Do you understand?

[lucubrates]

[ She pauses, slicing through the stack with her provided fork and knife. Zelda does not reach for the notebook at first, instead craning her neck to peer at it curiously. As she reads the first few lines, however, she becomes engrossed.

Eventually, she drops the cutlery and reaches for the book, holding it with a delicate grasp.

...She reaches the bottom of the list and he speaks. ]

I do.

[ She can manage that. Probably. Maybe. ]

You have been reckless, haven't you? To procure all these notes.

[extirpator]

I wouldn’t say that.

[ he was bold and erred on the side of danger, sure — but he was a competent fighter and a survivalist to boot. this wasn’t out of his element. he wasn’t going to pretend like it was, either. ]

This is the kind of life I’m used to. I’m a mercenary, after all. If you want to kill something, you have to know it first.

[lucubrates]

[ Her brow creases in thought. A mercenary... she should be shocked or scared, but instead she finds herself thinking it makes sense. He has the build and the air headed behavior might lend to being able to detach from the job.

She looks at him, raising a hand to massage her forehead. ]

I would disagree, but I imagine you have your own experiences.

You shouldn't hunt out there. What is it you were hungry for? If you eat something infected, I shudder to consider the effects.

[extirpator]

I wouldn’t eat a Shade. I just want all of them dead.

[ he has absolutely considered it but listen, he’s aware that’s certain death. there’s a quirk of the brow at what she says. ]

I was out there for game. Blood. I’m a vampire. I thought you realized.

[lucubrates]

Infection does not immediately show. You must be careful. You are not infallible, as strong and intelligent as you are.

[ A short beat. ]

Is it painful?

[extirpator]

I appreciate the concern. But I've been doing this for—

[ srong and intelligent. she's joking right. he wants to ask but he figures that would be rude. who even calls him that these days.

for some reason unknown to her, he appears to be totally bamboozled. and his cheeks are warming? what the hell.

fortunately, her next question redirects his attention. ]

I don't know. I've only drunk the blood of animals so far. My teeth are sharp, so maybe?

[lucubrates]

[ He doesn't finish his sentence and she won't pry. Truthfully, she isn't sure she's ready to hear how long he has been doing this. The thought that crosses her mind is that he can't be much older than her, and then she finds herself thinking he can't have been that old when he started.

Which is alarming to consider, but not for the reasons she thinks she should be frightened.

She pauses and prods at her eggs. ]

I would like to repay your kindness. If you've need for blood... I shall trust you not to kill me and offer it. My only condition is you permit me to take record of it, for my personal archive and any future research.

[ Did she just offer that? ... Yeah. She takes a mouthful of the eggs to look busy above all else, but it is also partly an apology. He truly did not hurt her, and he saved her life. It is the least she can do... especially to ensure he doesn't eat something diseased. ]

[extirpator]

[ well, it is certainly not what he expects to hear on this fine morning. he blinks, processing exactly what she’s said at first. and then his eyes darken, lips thinning into a line. ]

You need to think about what you’re saying. Neither of us know how my bites would affect other people. If I need to have a first, I don’t want it to be you if something does happen.

[ the notebook is shut with the flicker of his fingers, and his eyes are cast downwards. ]

You asked if it hurt. What’ll you do if it does? Or if it makes you sick?

[lucubrates]

I am not a child.

[ So THERE. ]

If it bothers you so, I shall do some research on this topic and report back. But perhaps we can set up a system— for example, taking blood through a syringe... There is more than one way to drink, surely.

[extirpator]

...

[ if she’s this insistent on it then you know what? sure, whatever. ]

Give me your hand.

[lucubrates]

[ A strange request, but she abides all the same. Zelda offers Nier her hand, raising it as if she expects him to kiss the back of it. ]

[extirpator]

[ god this girl is stupid.

his fingers winds around the base of her hand, and he guides it towards his mouth, the movement being as slow as molasses in case she wanted to stop.

and then two pearl white fangs unfurl.

you still got time to back out, sister. the way he’s lingering is a telltale sign of that. ]

[lucubrates]

[ He is going slow to measure her up, she thinks. Trying to see if she will back down, or catch a fright. The only think Zelda does is push her plate aside to ensure nothing happens to it; she is still planning to eat those pancakes.

Once they've been shifted to the side, she nods once, and curtly.

It can't be worse than getting your blood drawn, right? It's like donating plasma. ]

[extirpator]

[ well, alright then.

when he brings her hand to his mouth, he sniffs, his mannerisms more wolfish than they were elegant; there's a widening of the eyes before his teeth graze along her skin.

if she wanted to pull away, she could. he'd already extended that offer, even it had been a silent one. so his canines puncture her hand and plunge, and he draws her blood, mouth enclosed around her skin.

his ears perk. it's as sweet as he thought it would be. the warmth trickles into his mouth, and he has enough self restraint to pull away after a brief moment. there's no denying the burst of energy that surges through him, or the vague sense of elation he still feels, but... ]

Um.

[ this is embarassing. note to self: stick to animals. ]

Are you alright?

[lucubrates]

[ His fangs puncture the skin of her hand, blemishing it with his violence. It'll bruise, later, despite the surprisingly soft way he handles it. As his teeth sink into her flesh, Zelda feels a warmth blossom in her stomach that she's unfamiliar with; contentment? She has no idea. Perhaps it's relief, even, knowing that she's helping him. It makes her feel a little less useless, even if right now she might as well be an oversized blood bag. She catches herself take in a shudder breath at the cool rush of blood being pulled out of her body, not quite like adrenaline but something altogether new and different.

He finishes. Zelda pulls her back and uses her thumb to wipe away the excess that's leaked out. Saliva and blood mingle warmly. ]

...There you are.

[ Strangely, she finds herself thinking she could adjust to the feeling easily. ]

I am quite alright. I barely felt a prick, Nier. It was not so bad as you seemed to make it out to be, I believe.

[ In fact... no, why is she considering offering again? The heat that had flooded her had been so curious, and she almost wants to chase it. How odd. ]