abraxaslogs | [March Catch-All]

Doesn't work great for hair, which is a strong drawback.

[So Geralt's correct. Far too correct.]

I can do the gloves, if you'd like to see an example.

[ Good to know.

A pause. What could it hurt?

Geralt slides his gloves over. They're supple and fairly new, which suggests either a gift or he recently lost his gear to some monster's gullet.

Then he covers his cup of ale with a hand. As a precaution. ]

[The precaution's a good one. Alucard makes a little amused noise, then sets to work.

There's a sugar bowl on the table. So he grabs that and dumps a little bit out, tracing a small circle in it before inscribing a set of lines. The gloves go down on top, and he traces the same set. A faint blue glow follows, then the gloves lift just a little bit more off of their sugar supports.

When Alucard hands Geralt the gloves back, there is sand mixed with the sugar.]

These are quite nice, by the way. Jaskier, or a gift to yourself?

[ Interesting. Admittedly, dusting off his gloves would achieve the same results, but he can see the appeal where pockets are concerned. His bags have never been free of sand since he arrived in Cadens. ]

Neither. [ He retrieves his glove. ] A gift from...hm. [ What to call Blake? ] An acquaintance.

[ Unexpected, actually. At the time. He likes Blake, don't misunderstand. He'd just not thought they were close enough for gifts, though he's come to realize some people simply give them out for lesser friendships. ]

It's more impressive on larger pieces of clothing, admittedly.

[Gloves are very basic.

Alucard raises an eyebrow, then laughs softly.] Since when did acquaintances give gifts? Sounds to me like you're making more friendships.

[He'll admit that using the f word is maybe overkill, but it'll be worth the reaction. Alucard's gaze moves back to the storm though, frowning.]

Have you been outside the city limits today to get a sense of how the sand has shifted?

I believe you. [ The remark is drier than the sands outside. He does believe Alucard, but it's difficult to resist poking.

Alucard quickly returns the gesture, anyhow. Geralt rolls his eyes. Which is all he'll dignify that assertion with. He brushes more sand off the table before taking a sip of his mug. ]

Mm-hm. Went northward. [ With Steve, specifically. Their excursion was not the most helpful, but he did get a good sense of conditions out there. ] Winds are blowing east. Farms might lose their topsoil. Nothing that can't be rectified.

[ The length of the storm is concerning, but the intensity isn't dire. Tipped awnings, shrubs blown away. Impossible to see shit out there, too. It's delayed his contracts, which means he's spent most of his time building more chairs and shelves. ]

When this is all over and you want to ensure your bags are completely free of sand, let me know.

[He knows it gets everywhere, Gerry. He knows.

Just as he knows that eyeroll is all they're going to do to discuss this friendship matter further. News of the storm is more important, and Alucard listens intensely.]

North is good. I need to head south for work. Not that the conditions aren't helpful in some regard, but I could do without the rock having a tantrum.

[Now is as good a time as any to let Geralt know about the commission.]

[ He'll keep that in mind. Perhaps one day, he'll bother to learn a new spell of his own, but he continues to see little purpose in training himself as a sorcerer would. It all touches a little too close to home. ]

New project?

[ With the bard? He assumes Alucard and Jaskier are always scheming together between one festival or the next. He seldom asks; asking usually gets him dragged into said scheme, and the next thing he knows, he's hauling boxes and hanging more ribbons up for decoration.

(He'll end up doing so regardless.) ]

Mmm. Jaskier's not as involved in this one.

[Which is not the usual m.o., he knows. The dhampir pauses, confirming that they're the only two souls in the place, before continuing.]

There's a castle on the outskirts, an old Thorne construction. There's a former dungeon that I've been asked to turn into something more habitable and safe, should Thorne decide to send out bombs again or whatever other magical nonsense. So I've been working on restoring both the castle as something more in line with what Jaskier and I typically do, and ensuring the underground can be a shelter if need be.

I don't trust a government request to be wholly concerned with the well being of all, but I will admit that the current conditions are good for refining defenses.

[ His eyebrow lifts. A shelter? Constructed in secret? It's almost surprising the Free Cities hasn't got one until now, though perhaps they do and simply wish to create another.

He expects they aren't concerned with the well-being of the common folk, either. Not like that. But ultimately, Marlo's reign relies on the will of the people. She can't be seen leaving children to languish. Not openly. ]

Can't hurt. [ Provided there are no other uses in the plans. ] I'm surprised you agreed.

[ Then again, better to be the one keeping an eye on things. They would simply contract another had Alucard rejected the task. ]

Someone else isn't going to be thinking about how to put art underground. Or engineer the lights so that there's day and night. Or be paranoid to consider having drainage basins that can take in a tidal wave of water in case someone tries to flood an underground spae.

[Alucard knows it's a weird choice. Geralt's not wrong for commenting it.]

We'll see how far the self-justifications get me in practice though, should it ever need to be used. The nice part was I got to utterly wreck a dungeon created by Thorne.

[ He is not entirely sure the Free Cities themselves were thinking of art in a functional shelter beneath the ground, but he supposes that is the reason Alucard is working on it and not a Witcher. ]

Makes you wonder how many of those remain.

[ This did all used to belong to Thorne, did it not? He's curious further how much Thorne destroyed during its conquest. Did they burn down groves and homes belonging to the Fey? With so much of the Free Cities full of dry dust, it's difficult to imagine the Fey ever extended this far. ]

You'll be staying in the city for the next while, then?

[He's trying to make it a home. That's probably why.]

More than we think. But we've never bothered to look for them either. Between that and how the sands shift, there could be a hundred, easy.

[Alucard can imagine it easily.]

I think so, yes. Should I expect to see you around?

[ A hundred is a larger number than he'd have thought. Ruins built upon ruins. How long before the Free Cities is buried with everything else? Or will it bury the rest of the world first?

Not that he expects to be around to see any of that come to pass.

He nods, polishing off his ale. Nowhere else to be if he can't fulfill his contracts. ]

Can't ride in this fucking dust. [ Geralt retrieves his gloves. He scarcely lingers in one place for long. ] Come for supper.

[ Any time; Alucard is always welcome. ]

[Alucard considers the offer. It's genuine, and there's only one response.

He smiles, soft and just a little sly.]

As long as I don't have to cook it. I'll see you tomorrow night.

[March Catch-All] | Open

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