[february catch all]

[cryptsleeper]

Who: Alucard + [open]
When: February
Where: Norwich, Aqualia, Horizon
What: Some shenanigans in Aqualia, usual business in Cadens and the Horizon
Warnings: Added as needed

Comments

AQUALIA | OPEN

[cryptsleeper]

--I'm not sure that counts as a shirt.

[Alucard has been spending time in Aqualia lately as a part of a new commission. There is a castle on the outskirts of town in need of attention according to Aqualia's powers that be, and the natural fit as far as Alucard is concerned is to turn it into work space for artists and craftspeople. The natural second step was to start visiting workshops to get a sense of space requirements.

It also requires a sense of understanding what the city is best at, including fashion. So perhaps a dhampir can be forgiven for window shopping and taking in elaborate displays.

Including the one he stares at now, featuring a neckline that feels more like a straight plunge down to the belly button, the fabric on either side and the sleeves surprisingly solid rather than sheer, the whole thing paired with dark, canvas like fabric. Alucard frowns, tilting his head to one side.]

[pathologise]

( whilst adrienne's shopping trip with hilda hadn't been entirely successful, adrienne very unexpecting of what constituted fashion here, it hadn't stopped her from coming out again. she did need more clothing varieties and maybe she'd find something close enough to her tastes alone at her own pace.

maybe.

but that also means that it makes her smile when someone else has a similar idea to her about the 'fashion' here )

At least it hasn't got ruffles? Someone tried convincing me to get puffy sleeves with ruffles.

[cryptsleeper]

I don't understand the ruffles. If you want to highlight movement, there's other ways to do it.

[Alucard offers a sidelong glance once he responds, the point about fashion always more important than who it is he is speaking to.]

But this is a much more pleasant place for a conversation.

[pathologise]

It's nice to see you again... on nicer ground.

( even if shopping was apparently proving something of a challenge for them both in various ways )

I definitely wasn't looking to highlight movement. Just... I guess warmth and comfort, something a lot simpler than ruffles. They feel more costume to me.

( because that was her first picture of them, even if smaller ruffles existed on nicer blouses )

[cryptsleeper]

I think you'll find this whole block of shops disappointing then. The current moment seems to want excess fabric.

[He looks apologetic on that front, even if the dhampir has zero control over the actual production of any of the clothes.]

The market stalls might have something more of what you're looking for, or at least the right fabric to buy and then commission someone to make the clothing.

[pathologise]

I'm not even sure how I'd do that without showing them something in Horizon first.

( though if she got something similar to home she'd probably stand out a lot in this place. and that didn't feel like a good thing )

Maybe I need to... widen my tastes? Finding something that fits in this place might give people a better impression of me.

[cryptsleeper]

I don't suppose sketching is in your skillset?

[Alucard tilts his head slightly.]

Sometimes it's easiest to find something close to what you want, and then to say "this, but with the following changes." [There's a pause, and then a very polite:] Forgive my ignorance, but I suppose that clothing shopping is different at home?

[pathologise]

It... is. I've just never done it for clothes.

( or had thought of it judging by her tone. people were not things that adrienne tended to sketch, though she might have consider it )

It's actually not that different minus the styles. I've never actually had something altered or customised before.

( and having something specifically made for her? gosh no )

It's a learning curve I guess. I haven't been shopping enough to have a good feel for what there is.

NOCWICH HUNTING WOODS | OPEN

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard rarely strays into te woods when he enters Nocwich, preferring instead to either lurk the square or on rare occasions, visit Luna itself for the sheer novelty of being somewhere else.

For now though, he has taken to the place, walking quietly and enjoying the night air. There is a perfect stillness to the place that feels rare these days. The Free Cities move quickly. There are commissions to attend to, people to speak with, and for someone who generally still considers himself a recluse, a fairly full social calendar.

Time passes. Alucard doesn’t know how much, all he knows is that he hears something moving in the brush near him. He raises his voice, aware that the woods have their local fauna.]

There’s no local creatures in this clearing, if you’re hunting.

HORIZON | OPEN

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard’s Horizon remains in a state of perpetual late autumn. Fog drifts over the ground, covering leaves that always crunch satisfyingly under foot.

Alucard lingers at the edge of his Domain, experimenting with a section of retaining wall. What once was thick, black thorns piled on top of each other is undergoing a change, but the final form remains unclear. The dhampir stands in front of three options: a low lying stone wall, weathered and aged, unevenly spaced but clearly wall like short trees in bright golds and burnished oranges, and a thick, swirling mist that allows nothing from the other side to be observed.]

Hm. All of them are viable, that much is clear.

HILDA | CLOSED

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard fully anticipated that by the end of the evening, he would be a glorified couch cushion for Hilda. In fact, he'd be infinitely more surprised if that was not his job at the moment, having placed the last of the desert dishes in the sink to contend with for later.

True, there are tea cups and wine glasses on the coffee table now, but from the dramatic flop onto the sofa he saw happen out of the corner if his eye, the dhampir suspects that they'll remain untouched for the evening.

He did do a rather good job cooking though. He's proud of that, and there will be leftovers to share with Jaskier for tomorrow. Now though, his attention turns to Hilda as the dhampir gingerly prods her side.]

Should I assume you'll just sleep on the sofa tonight rather than walk home?

[theidlemaiden]

[ Considering Alucard's invitation prior to the actual day, Hilda knew what to expect before arriving at he and Jaskier's office. What did seem to surprise her every time he cooked her a meal however, was just how much it seemed to improve every time.

True to her response to him she had arrived in clothes a little more suitable for eating a decadent multi-course meal while still ensuring her usual standard of aesthetic. But while her pink-hued pants cleverly disguised their somewhat elastic nature at the waist, that doesn't stop her from finding her place on the couch post-meal blissed out and full of food.

Alucard's prod in the side is met with a little whine of discontent and a lazy swat of her hand towards his. ]

If the only other option beside those is your hollowed out cactus, I think I'd prefer the couch. I'm so stuffed.

[cryptsleeper]

Oh, I don't even think I would fit in the cactus right now.

[Alucard lets his hand be swatted. It falls away, landing lazily on the sofa.

Since he was the one cooking, the dhampir had done very little to dress up, lest sauce splatter on his shirt or trousers. The most he has done is make sure the shirt is lower than his typical low cut, and it has proven to be comfortable enough.]

The couch is comfortable though. I've spent more than few mornings asleep on it.

[theidlemaiden]

I find that hard to believe. I've seen that wolf curl up into very tiny spots on my bed.

[ The lower cut of the shirt certainly hadn't gone unnoticed. In fact he had probably felt some appreciative eyes on him throughout the evening between the moments she hadn't been completely enraptured by the taste of the food.

She flips around onto her belly, scooting up the couch some so that she can drape herself over his thighs. Languidly her feet kick up behind her as she gives him a curious glance. ]

Is sleeping in a bed something you'll ever do?

[cryptsleeper]

Fine. But the effort would not aid digestion.

[Alucard has absolutely felt the eyes on him, and frankly the eyes are just confirming his theory about some of Hilda's preferences. She can protest all she wants, but really. Neither one of them is subtle. Alucard is just more willing to admit it, apparently.

There's a gentle lift of the eyebrows as Hilda gets herself comfier, but that's really about it. One of Alucard's hands comes to rest at the base of Hilda's spine, giving it a gentle pat.]

I've done it when various hosts have provided accommodations. [There's a small shrug.] Truth be told, I've never really noticed.

[theidlemaiden]

[ One would think that the willingness would be the other way around considering Hilda's bubbly personality and Alucard's more reserved one. Some of the restraint probably has to do with years of walking the fine line between decorum while still indulging in her whims. But the more comfortable she got, the more she danced away from the lessons engrained in her.

The gentle pat is met with a little wiggle of her hips. She raises an eyebrow, turning her head to look at him. ]

You don't notice between a bed and a hollowed out cactus? I know your fur is soft but is it really that comfy?

[cryptsleeper]

Oh, I know the difference. I just never quite realized that you're right. I don't use beds that often. Usually it is anything but.

[Very lazily, Alucard's hand moves up Hilda's spine, tracing it gently before his hand moves back down it again. The same motion he enjoys indulging in while in fluffier forms.]

There's probably a reason, but I don't care to dwell on it at the moment.

[theidlemaiden]

[ The instinct to ask if he wants to dig further into it is on the tip of her tongue. But perhaps because he hasn't explored it much himself. She suspects it might be intertwined with his other relationship trauma but diving into that before he's ready to do so hadn't been in the cards for tonight.

Besides which, the gentle sweep of his hand up her spine that she can still feel through the fabric is immediately soothing and proves a compelling case to drop the subject. At least for now.

She offers him an understanding smile. ]

Then we won't.

[ The smile warms. ]

Thank you for dinner. I really enjoyed it and spending time with you.

VIKTOR | CLOSED

[cryptsleeper]

It'll look better later, but-- [Alucard exhales, his gaze turning to Viktor.

Right now, about two people are aware of the dhampir's current commission to build extra housing in a former dungeon under one of Aqualia's castles. Both Viktor and Jaskier know because Alucard wants opinions and help with creating more elaborate defenses.

The dungeons are less dungeon-y at the moment, all bars removed from cells. Others are working to remove bricks and stones, the intent to scrub all traces of Thorne's presence before building in earnest.]

I'm worried about creative attacks. Things like flooding an underground area, that sort of thing. Do you think your robot could at least dig additional drainage holes that could absorb the first wave or so of such an attack?

[techmaturgy]

[Even Viktor, who does not particularly care for aesthetics, thinks that this looks like a dungeon. There's some discomfort in knowing a place like this exists, but of course the Free Cities--and Thorne before them--have jails, and he should be glad they're allowed the opportunity to do something productive with the space.

The good news is that this is exactly the kind of project Viktor wants to be involved in, not the least in part because it's exactly the kind of project the automaton is for. Alucard seems to recognize that as well, which means as soon as he makes a few tweaks back in his workshop, he'll bring the construct to Aquila for exactly this.]

Yes, provided it doesn't interfere with the overall structural stability of the bunker. This kind of work is what the automaton is made for.

[So, perhaps selfishly, he's also looking at this as an opportunity to prove its viability to the government.]

[cryptsleeper]

I have some survey plans of the immediate ground below, if you think that would help with some determinations.

[There's a long worktable off to one side, and that is where Alucard begins to move towards.]

Admittedly, it'll just be one of many features. If you're inclined to overthink how to attack an underground shelter, I'd welcome those thoughts. They let me plan further defense mechanisms.

[techmaturgy]

Yes. I'd like to make sure we're not digging a sinkhole.

[Or that there isn't something much worse, buried underneath this place. Perhaps they should be glad they have plans at all, given this was originally under Thorne's control. The very thought of another attack like the one on Libertas makes him uneasy. The thought of a different kind of attack, one they might not see coming or be prepared for...that's even worse.]

Reinforcement of the general structure should cover many of the possibilities. Multiple exits, perhaps some kind of filtering system in the event of a chemical attack. How do the officials feel about magical shielding?

[Or, technologically-generated magical shielding?]

[cryptsleeper]

Sinkhole or just upsetting a foundation. We're in agreement there. I'm using magic to double check everything, there's means of mapping the ground below which should be useful once the data's completed.

[Reinforcement Alucard has considered. Exits as well. The filtering system though, that has his attention.]

So long as we can make it sound technological, I think it can be done. Tell me more about your thoughts on a filtering system.

[techmaturgy]

They're letting you build this for a reason. An abundance of caution, or are they expecting another attack?

[In his experience, governments are slow to act. This kind of preemptive preparation is good, maybe, but it makes him wonder what kind of intelligence they have, to think that the people of Aquila might be in danger.

He thinks he could develop the shielding technology necessary--but to implement it on the scale they would need for it to be useful is another matter entirely. There are other, smaller improvements to make, at least.]

Air filtration and circulation. You have to admit, this is all a bit...dismal.

[Dank, even!]

[cryptsleeper]

Lessons learned, lessons expected, I suppose. It does make me concerned, given that it is expected to be completed much quicker than anything else I've been asked to work on. Even with magic, building requires time.

[Alucard doesn't like it, but if he has the power to make a situation better, then he will. It is as simple as that.]

I was planning on both. I also spoke to Jaskier about designing greenhouses in designated areas both for planting additional crops if needed, and to provide some part of nature down here. I want the lights to keep the natural rhythm of the 24 hour cycle as well.

[It isn't going to be dank, so help him.]