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]

Of course.

[ the words are followed by a smile; it's benign and brimming with warmth, even against the pale, worn features of his face.

the truth was, he was desperately alone. it was his burden to bear, and not one he'd been unfamiliar with.

but somehow, being alive was more difficult than ever.

the light drapes over a series of apartment buildings, lined up against the cobblestone roads. his pace is slow though, far slower than it should be. ]

I want to start a garden here. [ his voice is soft, as if to not wake any of the residents. ] I used to grow flowers back home. Crops, too...but flowers were what I liked growing the most.

Today, you gave me another reason to work towards that. [ his gaze roves back towards her, and his expression eases into something more amiable. ] I'm going to create a garden. And when it's hard to be alone, you can come there and rest — and I'll be there too.

[sing_for_me]

You know, I'm starting to feel bad that I have nothing to offer you back.

[ She's stubborn in believed that giving him a 'reason' counts. He's offered her security, healing, companionship, and now a space to be in. It's more than she knows what to do with. Alex never knew it could be so hard going from having nothing to having so much. ]

I'd love to see your garden though.

[ It's something she's had a newfound appreciation of since arriving in Aefenglom. She's never lived in a house with a garden before, the closest she's doing being trying to grow some vegetables in her family's cramps apartment since it was a cheaper option. But then she's met people like Maria who manage to make these beautiful flowers flourish, almost like magic. Alex wandered what kind of things such a hardened looking, yet gentle man could nurture.

An idea comes to mind at that moment. ]

If..you ever need extra space, I haven't really made use of the land around where I'm staying.. You're also welcome to rest there too.

[extirpator]

But you did offer me something... [ he argues, a hand moving to scratch at the back of his head. ] You've been nothing but kind to me.

[ it's a more boyish side of him — this woman was...everything he should've been, but failed to be. she hadn't been corrupted by her own struggles, fractured into something grotesque and dangerous the way he'd been. it reminded him of cloud, whose eyes reflected purity in spite of his scars.

it makes him a little envious, truthfully speaking. but it's more awe inspiring and insecurity inducing than anything. but his eyes brighten at what she says next, and his lips part as though he wants to say something immediately. they draw closer to the cottage, but before they enter— ]

I would like that. [ his voice raises, just a tad with excitement. ] But you have to tell me what your favorite flowers are so I can grow them for you. We're friends now, after all.

[ he really was a child at his core — going and imposing something as sacred as friendship onto her, simply because he desired to. ]

Even if it's the hardest flower to grow in the world, I can do it.

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex wondered what it was like to see things from his eyes. When had she been kind? As far as she knew, she only treated him decently.

The sight of the cottage was..a little disappointing. But the way his tone brightens takes her thoughts away from what awaits her. The declaration of friendship only captured her attention and threw her off even more. Just what went on in this young man's head, she wondered. Or maybe it's his heart she should be more curious about.]

I--I don't really know all that many flowers.

[ It was crazy how many kinds there were, she was learning. ]

But..if I do think of one, I'll make a request.

[ A beat, and she slips her hand off his arm, clasping hers together in front of her. ]

Thank you...for accompanying me back.

[extirpator]

Then I'll grow the ones that make me think of you. [ there was a language dedicated to them — and a flower for everyone. that was the secret to gifting them. it was a matter of creating a message, or an earnest expression out of them.

they were alive too, after all. ]

And I'll tell you all about them.

[ the sight of her cottage hits him with the realization that he has to make the trip back home by his lonesome. his heart sinks, just a bit — but daylight will come, and cloud will be there, and he'll get another opportunity to see her too. so like a child, he latches onto that hope. ]

Thank you for letting me. [ for trusting me, he wants to say. that smile has not faltered. ]

...I'll see you soon.

[sing_for_me]

...Ah!

[ She stops him, before he goes any further. ]

Give--give me a second--

[ She's already heading in, but looking back several times. ]

Don't leave yet--!

[ And she disappears into the cottage. When she emerges again, she's a little out of breath, clearly having rushed herself. ]

This..this should fit you..

[ She hands over the men's shirt in her hands, nothing too thick, but it should be enough to keep him warm this evening. ]

[extirpator]

Ah?

[ he...waits, a dumbfounded expression on his face. and when she comes back with the shirt in hand, the pieces click together.

oh. oh! ]

You didn’t have to. [ he says, just a little sheepishly. the shirt’s pulled over his head, and he slips right into it, dusting his pants off afterwards.

any thought as to where she got it from hadn’t really occurred to him. maybe she had a boyfriend? or a boy friend. the sentiment was no less kind regardless. ]

Thank you. I’ll treasure it. [ even if he didn’t actually need it...vampire blood and all — not that he had any intention of telling her. ]

Good night, then?

vampires don't get a pass for public indecency!

[sing_for_me]

[ A smile spreads on her face at seeing how it fits, satisfied with the result. There may have been a hint of sadness behind the smile, but at least the shirt could be put to good use. ]

Good night, Nier.