[closed]

[cryptsleeper]

Who: Alucard and others
When: Post-event 18
Where: Free Cities
What: Fall out and catch up
Warnings: Added as needed



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Jaskier

[cryptsleeper]

[The desert is clarifying.

It always is.  Alucard would not have built his was-going-to-be-a-crypt-but-now-it-isn't out there if he did not find the place helpful.  For a few days, he howls and runs as a wolf, taking his food from the hunt and refusing to be people shaped.  He works through the anger, through the exhaustion, through the miserable feelings of where he erred, and sorts everything.  Categorizes what he can to decide if he needs to talk about it more or if it can be put to rest.   Sometimes he speaks to himself in the cave and courtyard, and other times he simply lets sleep take him because that's easiest.

A week later, he returns to civilization.  Not theirs is a refrain that hangs heavy in his mind.  To be human is to be Summoned, to accept apotheosis is to have that freedom, but at different costs.  Where the balance lies is the question now, and that is a matter that Alucard knows he cannot solve in a vacuum.

Home is still the cactus.  Second-home is the office, and that is where he goes.  It is a coin toss to determine if Jaskier will be there or not.  The bard did not sound well when Alucard noted him on the little network all Summoned shared.

When he opens the door, it is clear the bard is not well.   Far be it from Alucard to accuse anyone of using making food as a form of therapy, but there are little Mog-prints made of flour that lead to the kitchen and...

...a kitchen very much covered in small pieces of dough stuffed with food.  His domain, but being reigned over by Jaskier.

Very quietly, Alucard comes to lean in the doorway, one eyebrow lifting gently.]

Julian?

Viktor

[cryptsleeper]

That's the last of it.

[Alucard gives a final twist of the wrench, then stands to look at the finally installed drain cover that is a part of the elaborate underground bunker complex that should have been finished five weeks ago.  Being incapacitated lead to understandable delays, and a few manufacturing errors that necessitated reaching out to Viktor to help with.  The drains, when not in use, are meant to a firm cover, that way no one falls all the way down to a stone floor.  Things were oversized and otherwise not cut correctly for the intended hardware.  Hence reaching out to Viktor to get creative about it.

The dhampir is aware that they've not spoke about their last conversation.  He has no desire to approach it, as getting the project through the deadline is far more pressing.]

Everything else you assisted with is working and functional.  I can ask one of the engineers to give you a walk through, if you'd like to confirm that everything is in alignment.

Sten, forward dated to June

[cryptsleeper]

[Nocwich being open again is, in and of itself, a small miracle. He cannot begin to imagine what kind of work it took between Luna and Ikorr to make it happen, but it happened and that is all that matters. He'd be happy enough to stock up on blood wine and make the most of romping through the hunting grounds for this particular opening, but hearing from Sten? That has his attention.

There's an apology to offer at some point in their discussion, Alucard knows that much. The entire imagined reality of what happened to Luna due to siding with Ikorr has weighed heavily on his mind. He is unsure if mentioning it is wise at the moment. Sten's message did not seem to suggest that there would be room for far ranging discussions.

When Alucard arrives at the edge of the Square, he takes care not to be empty handed. He has with him a gâteau invisible smelling of sweet apples with a balanced bit of salt, along with a quick blueberry-and-thyme jam that is meant for any use at all, be it with bread or meat or just on it's own when no one is looking. He's taken care to look a little less formal as well. Alucard does not have his usual coat on him - it is only his tunic and black trousers, carrying a basket like a Wallachian grandmother.

He offers the basket first.]

Thank you for reaching out. For what it is worth, if you sent word earlier, I might not have received it immediately.