middaeg | cold steel coffin

cold steel coffin | open

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?? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A lot of people don't. [ people meaning, well, nonhumans and humans alike, but semantics. ] Most of you stay away from them. That's good.

[ there's a casual wave of the hand, and he continues extending it, having little intention of retracting his offer. ]

I'm alright. I got my fill, and you still have the trip back home. [ the question that comes next is enough to warrant a pause. his eyes drift to the side, and... ]

It gets the job done. That's all I need.

[ the taste of it floods back into his mouth against his will. best not to think on it, he tells himself. ]

[ Her eyes look at the bag, then trail back up to him. Alex takes a moment to take in everything, his actions up to this point, what he’s said, and his intentions. Someone who purposely looks for an alternative to what would otherwise be a basic because of how it might hurt others—if that was his concern—said quite a bit, didn’t it? Then there was his insistence in helping her, if not in one way, then another. There was no obvious benefit to him, and while she has come to be cautious of appearances, many in this world have proved her wrong. Just maybe, this giant sword weilding, barely dressed, blood-stained stranger was a good samaritan after all.

Her hands reach to him, but only to press his fingers onto the bag, gently pushing it back towards him. ]

If you’re running right to them, then you will need it.

[ Either the medicine or the blood, she doesn’t specify. ]

I’ve...found that fighting it makes it harder.

[ there’s a silence as he looks towards her. his hand doesn’t move, but his eyes down, drifting downwards for a moment. ]

Yeah. I know.

[ the words are spoken softly. he wonders who this woman is — what has led her here, what has made her need to protect herself in this way. the mistrust in her is something he understands to his core. so he remains in place, and his expression hardens a tad. ]

But it’s all I know how to do.

[ it’s his bloodlust that drives him. it always is. ]

My name is Nier. If it’s alright, I’d like to help you. But if you want me to go, I will.

....Alex.

[ She relents, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, and a small smile. ]

Alright...as long as I get to help you with something.

[ Alex had a thing about returning favors. Being in debt was not a good feeling. ]

Alex...it’s good to meet you.

[ he practically beams, even as the moon illuminates an already deathly pale face. ]

I have a new recipe I need to put into practice. And it might be good to have in bed, too. You’ll be the first to try it for me, then.

[ delicately, he places the herbs into her hand. ]

Why did you come out here tonight?

[ The way his face suddenly brightens throws her off for a moment. His face had softened at some point, but she hadn't expected something so warming from someone seemingly cold.

Her brows go from up in surprise to scrunched in confusion as segues from insinuating a meal in bed to something more sensitive like her reasons for being out and about. Did he even realize what he was saying or was that just how he spoke? ]

...I didn't want to stay in bed.

[ Not a lie, not a whole truth. ]

[ it’s the tells of a dangerously selfish and carefree person — alongside a man who definitely got a bit drunk off of the blood he just scarfed down. oops. either way, his disposition has not waned. ]

Ah. [ his eyes flit back up towards the sky. ]

The city’s stuffy. It’s dangerous, but I like it out here.

[ the danger contributed, if anything. ]

Fresh air is good for a healing body too.

It took me a while..getting used to such fresh air.

[ Her eyes follow his, looking up at the sky littered with stars. She never saw this many in Ergastulum. ]

City's can be just as dangerous.

[ Was there really any escaping threats? ]

Is..that what you like?

[ Her gaze falls back on him. ]

I see...do you like it? Nature...it’s strange and complicated, but it’s beautiful too.

[ her next question warrants his a pause. there is something sorrowful brewing in the ice blue waves of his eyes, even if his smile hasn’t wilted entirely. ]

Yeah.

I don’t have anything to take care of anymore. So all I know how to do is fight.

[ it’s honest. honest in a way he wasn’t always, but this stranger incited a feeling of peace within him. ]

And I don’t know what there is to be afraid of anymore.

[ His answers are what get her attention more than his own question. There was a familiarity to the sentiment, feeling a twinge in her heart from her own guilt. ]

...It seems like you're still caring for others, though.

[ She holds the bag of herbs up as a reminder. ]

Doesn't seem to me like fighting is all you know to do..

[ But what would words from a stranger mean? ]

What..did you take care of before? What were you afraid of?

[ And yet, she finds herself prying. ]

[ this woman is kind in a way he is not. he’d sensed it from the way she gestured those herbs back towards him. she’s poking at an open wound here — a sore that’s been bleeding out for as long as he can remember. but distantly, he looks towards the sky, and then back to her. ]

My little sister.

I’m an older brother before I’m anything else.

[ the thought of her sends pain spiraling through him. it’s numbing in what it is, but her voice is somehow just as vivid and real in his mind as it was 5 years ago. ]

I was afraid of a lot of things. Dying, losing, failing, being weak, being touched.

[ he smiles again; it’s born from resignation. ]

But that’s gone now.

[ there’s another pause. ]

I can tell that you’re a kind person.

[ It was almost gut wrenchingly scary how much more similar they seem to be the more he speaks-- at least, up to a point. Despite his loss, he still states his role as an older brother in the present tense. ]

Not..as kind as you think.

[ She lost her right to the title he holds so dear the moment she forgot about her brother. His face, his voice, his very existence, faded away from a decision she made.

Ah, that smile, maybe another thing they have in common. ]

I am sorry..about what you lost.

[ Her hands squeeze the bag between them, not quite certain how to comfort a stranger. ]

What you were afraid of...are they what you look for now?

Maybe that makes two of us.

[ there is part of him that wants to comfort this woman in turn — so gently, he sets one of his hands over hers, granting her enough room to pull if she wanted to. ]

Even if you were a bad person, that wouldn’t matter to me. [ his eyes flutter shut. ]

It’s alright.

[ it’s a good question. one he’s never contemplated before. ]

...I don’t know. [ hesitantly: ]

...Is it what you look for?

[ How could it make two of them when he was the one comforting her, reassuring her?

His touch makes her stiffen, but it only takes a moment for her to start to relax. More than being uncomfortable with him, she was unsettled by how he was so quick to put another first. ]

..No..but...things always lead to them..

[ Losing, failing, being weak, that's all she seemed to do and be. ]

How are you able to say those things when..you don't know what I've done?

...It feels like it’s your fault, doesn’t it?

[ his eyes are cast down towards her hands. his own move to hold them as carefully and as delicately as he’s able, the movement slow so as to not startle or trap her. if she wanted to break free, she could. it would not wound him. ]

The world is a cruel place. I’ve met a lot of bad people. Some things — they happen, even when you fight against them with as much strength as you can.

I’ve always hated that.

[ but then his eyes trail back up, and he meets her gaze with warmth in his own. ]

But despite that, something in my heart is telling me to trust you.

That’s enough for me.

[ People here have been kind to her and understanding, but still it stuns her to be treated so carefully. It still felt odd and foreign to her.

And then there were his words. Idealistic and naive, but genuine in his tone. She doesn’t pull away, though her fingers twitch as he moves, slowly closing over his hand. He almost makes her want to believe—

Are you really going to fall for this shit, Alex? Don’t be stupid.

The voice cuts through and the merrow reflexively pulls back. ]

So..sorry. I—

He wants something. They always do. Why else would he care?

[ She wants to ignore it, to pretend she didn’t heat him. But what if Barry was right...again?

Her eyes look back up at him, hesitant, torn, wanting to believe his intentions but reflexively cautious. ]

[ when she pulls away, the chill of the night air lingers where her hands where. but his expression doesn’t shift; he pulls back, just enough to put some kind of distance between them, and offers her something of a gentle smile. ]

It’s alright.

[ there’s a nod of the head; the same earnest one from before. ]

...I should go back soon. [ nier’s eyes drift back towards the moon. ] Will you be able to make the trip back?

[ he hesitates again. ]

I’m sorry. It’s going to worry me until I know.

[ The understanding smile he gave only made the weight on her chest heavier. She didn’t mean to make it seem like he did anything wrong. The conversation was treading on something deeper and dangerous, but there was something comforting about it too. Until she ruined it. ]

You don’t have to apologize for being kind...

[ Where his gaze goes upwards, hers lowers. ]

I think so..I...I just don’t want to...not yet.

[ She reaches out this time, lightly touching his arm. ]

Thank you...for everything.

[ And sorry, for everything. ]

[ there’s a slow shake of the head, the smile not having left his face just yet. it’s small and brisk, as well as a little sad — not for himself. for her. ]

It’s alright. You don’t owe me any thanks.

[ when she touches him, he doesn’t pull away — although the surprise in his face, as subtle as it may be, is present no less. his features soften again. ]

I like talking to you.

[ in the silence, there’s not much else aside from the rustle of the leaves around you. ]

I’ll leave once you’re ready to do the same. Does that sound okay?

[ That he found any bit of that conversation with her interesting or likable at all was surprising, but she had to admit that speaking to him was quite beneficial. And she enjoyed it as well.

But it seems he was still going to try and help her anyway...A stubborn man. But she didn't want him staying out here in the cold like that. ]

....can you help me back to my place instead?

[ At least that way, he won't have to wait. He won't have to "worry", and he can get back to his own home sooner. She can put up with going home now if that was the case. And maybe by then, maybe it won't be as bad. ]

[ the request is...unexpected, if only because the wariness the woman had radiated was more than tangible. but wordlessly, nier peels himself off of the ground — he tosses up his sword up alongside him with an alarming amount of strength, and it’s promptly sheathed onto his back.

he waits for her. ]

Behind me. We’re still at risk.

[ ...the first few minutes are quiet. they round the corner, and the pathways are swathed in darkness. but he lingers close to her, protective in his nature. ]

...Did you come out here for some peace? [ nier asks, not quite looking at her as he does. ]

[ Alex didn't really think she was in any danger, although she probably should be considering what's transpired not too long ago. Her eyes fall on the back of the man in front of her, a back that showed strength. It was a familiar sight, following behind someone like that---Is that why she felt safe?

The silence doesn't bother her--alright, maybe a little. A part of her wanted to ask more questions about himself, but wasn't she bothering him enough already? As the internal debate goes on, unexpectedly, he's the one who breaks the ice.

So lost in her own thoughts though, along with her poor eyesight outside of the water (and all the more in the dark), she walks a little too fast and right into him. ]

--!! Sorry--!

[ She takes a step back to give him some space, rubbing her nose and adjusting her glasses. ]

Y-yeah..something like that...It was too quiet at home...

[ there’s a sudden thud against him; he hardly registers it at first, and slowly enough, he turns around with a cant of the head. ]

It’s alright. Are you sure you don’t want me to carry you?

[ it’s...well, quite the proposition and delivered very nonchalantly. like nothing at all is strange about it. ]

You can grab onto my arm if that would help. Or maybe my belt, but that would make me seem a little like a cow...

[ the words are said absent mindedly before he returns to reality once more— ]

If you’re lonely, you should ask your friends to stay with you. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.

[ She does find it a little weird for him to offer it so easily, but it seems to be coming from a good place. He’s been notably keeping a slower pace for her, so she hasn’t been having to hard a time of it. Alex is about to say that she doesn’t want to make him do even more than be already has, when his next statement has her imagining him with a cowbell around his neck. ]

PFF—sorry. Sorry.

[ She clears her throat fast enough, lightly curling her hand over his arm in apology. It would have felt even ruder to say no after laughing at him. But in a way she was grateful. She needed that.

But his next question is a little more somber, the tips of her fingers pressing into his arm slightly more. ]

It’s not... [ There was some part of her that felt lonely, that wasn’t completely wrong. With some of Worrick’s and Nic’s stuff still there, there absence if still felt. And maybe that’s part of what makes her current problem even more of a pain. ]

It’s not something I want to..bother them with.

[ Or see. She might have gotten away with talking to no one while being tortured, but here? ]

[ the sound of her laughing is a pleasant one, if anything. it’s a stark contrast to everything that’s happened up until this point — he leans into her touch, allowing her to grip onto him in some way as they walk. ]

You’re imagining it, aren’t you...

[ he says it with a small, airy laugh. as they walk, the lamposts flicker in the distance, vaguely lighting their way. ]

I see. [ that was quite a predicament. ] They care about you. You aren’t a burden to the people who love you — nobody is. But...

[ what comes next is surely an even stranger offer, but no less genuine. ]

If you ever need any company at this time of night, you can call me over. I can take you around the city too, if you’re worried about any threats.

[ nier’s gaze fits towards the sky. ]

I can get restless too.

cold steel coffin | open

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vampires don't get a pass for public indecency!