[open] I have never put my hope in any other

[cryptsleeper]

Who: Alucard
Where: The Free Cities
When: 5 November onwards
What: Alucard continues to deal with his emotions, tries to help address graveyard destruction
Warnings: Depression



Graveyard smash
[It has been a miserable few weeks. Alucard knows that, and he hates every part of it. Sypha's reappearance brought up the raw anger and bitterness that lingered beneath the barely healed layer of accepting what had happened back home and removing some of the guilt associated with it. But she was there and they had been a disaster. There was nothing like hearing all the reasons people you thought cared about you decided not to come back.

The aftermath of Eifstide gave him useful work though. The destroyed cemetary needed to be reconstituted, and that was something he could help with. Matching destroyed statue parts with their still standing components. Reuniting headstones that had been split in two. Taking a map of the plots out and marking which burials head headstones totally wrecked.

Today, he's hauling statue parts - a tall, pale blond thing with an arm full of weathered stone arms and legs. There's a centralized area where pieces are being stored, and even for him, the load is heavy. Should you cross his path, there's a short and curt demand.] Move! This load weighs more than you.

Meanwhile, in the Horizon
[A thick wall of black roots with sharp, long thorns grows on the borders of Alucard's domain. They twist and groan and wind together a full story tall. There was never anything friendly about Alucard's domain, it had always tried to steer visitors away, but now the defenses are over dramatic.

The thorns are not perfect. A few perfect little tunnels have formed, but what lies beyond is no better. What once was a late November's woods with gentle rain and mist is now home to a raging thunderstorm whose downpour should have flooded many parts of the forest by now.

But still, there's a small shack in the center of the place. No smoke comes out of the chimney, but there are lights on inside. A few feet from the front door is a small overhang. Not that Alucard knows what a bus stop is or anything of the sort, but should he not be home and should some madperson make it this far, they can step out of the rain.]

Elsewhere in Cadens
[The cemetery work is good money. Alucard could, if he really wanted to, find a new place to stay - he's long left the inn that has hosted himself and Hector. But the money is better spent on food and building towards his crypt, meaning that every so often, a white wolf slinks through the back alleys of Cadens.

There's also the need to eat. Alucard's found it easier to stand at one of the counters at the market stalls that serve food, eating what's cheapest and fastest. Tonight, a bowl of rice with a few cheap cuts of chicken and grilled vegetables, the spike bringing out the smokiness of the grill itself.

It's good. It's why the counter is so crowded and why he moves himself over as much as he can when he senses someone else behind him.]

--If you can fit.

Wildcard
PM me if something else catches your fancy

Comments

Cadens Food Counter Encounter

[rinwell]

[ Rinwell had been waiting patiently from the back of the group, but more than a few grown adults had already shouldered their way ahead of the queue, and an irritated huff had been forming. Right up until Alucard shifts to one side, and his words reach her ears.

Sometimes, just sometimes, being short at her age pays off. ]

Mmmh! T-thank you!

[ She manages to wriggle between, pushing the figure on her right moreso than the man who'd made space for her.

Said softly spoken man does get a double-take, however. Firstly, because he's so tall (which admittedly doesn't take much when you're 5'1", but he's really tall), and secondly because his hair is almost as a beautiful as Kisara's, if only at this angle. Her cheeks colour slightly. ]

..Sorry if I pushed you. [as if he'd notice, given her noodle strength. then brown eyes glance to the bowls being served, and Rinwell can feel her stomach rumble eagerly.] Oh, wow. These are big portions!

[cryptsleeper]

You didn't.

[If she did, he didn't feel it is what he really means to say, but he's short on words lately and moreover, not going to begrudge anyone for trying to fit into the meager amount of space here. The place is popular for a good reason, and who is he to begrudge someone using their shorter stature to duck and weave up to the counter?

His face is so focused on his food that he misses the blush. Probably for the better.] Workman's food, meant to provide enough energy for anyone doing the nightshift.

[He isn't, but he's spent most of the day hauling around cemetery stones and will be doing that again tomorrow. A big portion of carbs helps.]

[rinwell]

[ Short on words or not, they do enough to reassure Rinwell in this instance. Goodness knows she's been yelled at for less in the past. Now however she settles her arms against the counter; just tall enough that it won't be awkward to eat there, and she watches the food being cooked right in front of them.

(Much better that he missed it. Rinwell would likely melt into the floor in embarrassment if it was mentioned in anyway.) ]

Day or night, I bet! This looks like it could be simple to prepare when traveling, too. [big portions might be harder to keep if too much is cooked, but that had never been an issue with Shionne in the party..] Are you on a night shift, then?

[Then, briefly distracted, as the cook points his spatula her way.]

One with everything, please! [if only so she can watch how he cooks everything.]

[cryptsleeper]

[The comment about traveling is met with little more than a shrug. Alucard isn't especially interested or invested in traveling these days, not can he actually see the operation as something that's easy to replicate. There's too many supplies involved, and too much prep work as far as he's concerned.

He's not really on the nightshift, but right now, it's easier to lie.] Mm. I'll be off soon. Graveyard shift.

[A very literal graveyard shift at this point. Of late, the cemetary is where he sleeps in his wolf form, finding it a whole lot easier to be in a space set aside from the rest of the city.]

You'll be full until noon tomorrow.

[rinwell]

[ He's likely right about the prep work. Something Rinwell may discover for herself if she attempts to replicate it by herself some time. For now, however, her attention turns back to the tall pale man consuming his own meal with much rapt attention for it. ]

That is pretty late. [she has no idea how literal he's being] I hope they're paying you well for it!

Well, only if I eat all of it now. [her eyes definitely widen as the bowl is slid in front of her, steam rising from the chicken strips. it's certainly a lot more than she'd normally have, but she can take away anything she doesn't eat, right?] And being full that long is better than worrying about breakfast..

[cryptsleeper]

Well enough. [Free room and board, assuming one doesn't mind sleeping in a graveyard. Alucard's found it comfortable enough, albeit a little on the chilly side.]

--I'm not sure there's any other option. [Takeaway may be common in other parts of the city, but not here. You eat everything, or else you have to leave some behind. But he isn't about to explain unsaid rules. Alucard just moves over a hair more when the woman that has been standing beside him finally leaves. It's more elbow room, although how long it may last, he's not sure.]

Eat what you can then. Breakfast can wait.

[rinwell]

That's good, then. [then, muttered to herself] ..This city just keeps on surprising me.

[ The remark about options gets a blink, and for a moment her mouth opens, as though about to respond, before Rinwell thinks better of it. It IS a pretty big bowl, and it'd likely be best to concentrate on making a start on it. No doubt Law would make fun of her over the portion size, were he here; her friend would have likely wanted more meat than rice.

The thought slows her, before she tucks in resolutely with whatever cutlery is supplied on hand. It's both delicious and different, the smokey flavour to the cooking lingering in her mouth. Is she likely to finish the whole thing? ...No, probably not, but there's certainly something nostalgic in the meal that makes her want to try. ]

Right. [she swallows, politely clearing her throat; she's not about to choke on her meal while attempting passing conversation] Don't really want to go back for breakfast if I don't have to, anyway.

Graveyard Smash

[fourarmedandangerous]

"I doubt that very much."

In the dying light of what's left of the day, Goro looks down impassively at the labourer carrying smashed bits of masonry, not really seeing Alucard for who he is, upper arms folded over his chest. He looks only a moment, before turning back to scan the rest of the cemetery. The sun will be down soon and he wishes to see if the dead will walk again tonight. Someone should be keeping watch after that debacle on Eifstide.

He also does not move out of Alucard's path.

[cryptsleeper]

"I have momentum," is the reply, sharp and still moving forward. The translation of if you don't move I'm going to smash into you and scatter already broken pieces of sculpture is hopefully conveyed, because really, Alucard isn't in the goddamn mood for this.

If someone is fool enough not to account for what happens when something in motion meets something at rest, then that's on them. The dhampir keeps up his pace.

[fourarmedandangerous]

That's the problem with this place, Goro thinks with annoyance. Nobody, even the common labourers it seems, know or care to treat the prince of Kuatan with the respect deserving of his station. A slave daring to take such a tone back in Outworld could expect a severe whipping for such insolence. Well, since Goro can't expect that, if the man wishes to be impertinent, he can still suffer some consequences. He wants rubble to move? Goro will give him rubble.

"Oh, of course, of course. How thoughtless of me." He replies with a sneer, stepping out of Alucard's way...and grabbing a still standing, intact headstone in his lower hand as he does so. With a a grunt and a heft, he pulls the headstone free from the ground, and then tosses it forward, into a headstone the row of graves over, with some force. The two stones collide and smash apart as Goro intended, what remains of the second headstone falling over as it does so.

He dusts his lower arms off as he does so. "How clumsy of me. I fear I forget sometimes this world is not built to proper scale. Perhaps it would have been best for you to move after all." He says that with an almost philosophic air, yet Alucard can't mistake the taunting, satisfied chuckle Goro punctuates the end of that sentence with.

"Nothing for it now, unfortunately. Be on your way, labourer, and mind your tongue in the presence of your betters next time." He still hasn't actually bothered to look at Alucard or he might realize, the fact that he could carry such a weight besides, he isn't exactly human.

[cryptsleeper]

The dhampir ignores the sneer. He's not going to drop a good twenty odd arms and legs that need to be reattached to funerary monuments. That's all that matters, and the source of the problem is ignored as he moves on past. The tone or the words are hardly worth reacting to. If he wants to be an asshole to someone moving a number of heavy objects, so be it.

Or at least that's the thought process until the man(? green is fairly not human) grabs one of the headstones. With his eyes forward, Alucard misses the action itself. He only hears the smash, and whips his head around just in time to see the second headstone fall.

His head moves right back to the source, gold eyes flashing red for a moment. The tone seems to want a fight. Or to keep being smug.

Alucard keeps moving. He isn't the only person left in the graveyard, and he is hardly in charge of the clean up effort. He's just a labourer after all, and as he makes it a few hundred feet up the path to deposit the last of the statue parts for the evening, one of those in charge of the recovery effort does come storming over.

Wrapped in a deep orange sweater the color of fall itself, for the nights come earlier now and the desert gets cold once the sun has set, the woman carries herself with real authority, even if she's only about five feet, five inches. Her eyes go from the destroyed headstone to the man with four arms, and there's only one question out of her mouth. Did you do that and why? We had just confirmed this area was done!

From his spot up the road, Alucard can't help but watch.

[fourarmedandangerous]

Good, the man has some sense after all, Goro thinks to himself. As he retreats, the Shokan sets himself back to his task; to watch the cemetery until midnight, when he's sure the dead will not rise again. He won't be able to make it back to the outpost but he's sure he can find a place in this besotted city to make himself comfortable until-

The question from the woman interrupts his thoughts, and after a moment Goro looks over, and down at her. It takes him a moment to register that she's actually demanding answers from him, as being called out by someone so...small and weak is not a common occurrence for him. Still, he decides he will humour her, for now.

Besides, the way Goro sees it, it really isn't his fault.

"An accident." He replies after a moment. "One of your workmen was being careless with a load and in my rush to get out of his way, the headstones were damaged. Take better care with the people you hire." He looks away from the woman, upper arms folded over his broad chest.

"Now leave me to my business, human." He gives a dismissive wave with his lower arm to signify that as far as he's concerned, this conversation is over.

[cryptsleeper]

The correction is sharp and swift, as the woman seems to have zero fucks to give about looking up when reprimanding someone. No one here is a workman. We're all volunteers, and we're all doing what we can to help store things to rights. However, there are a few people in charge including myself, and I can't say your attitude is appreciated.

It would be very petty to stand a few hundred feet away and watch all of this go down. So Alucard pretends to be helping clean things up for the day at the table set up near the statue parts, where all the cataloging is taking place.

Graveyard

[petcromancer]

[Hector isn't trying to cross paths with Alucard, but he's a forgemaster and it's simply not realistic for Alucard to claim the entire graveyard in the divorce.

So when he runs into the dhampir overladen with rubble, he waits a beat before he finally steps to the side. Alucard and his stupid vampire strength can fucking deal with it.]

Found yourself some nice decor?

[He assumes the load is crypt-related, because Hell forbid Adrian Backwards Dracula Tepes help the common people with clean-up.]

[cryptsleeper]

[is it a divorce if you never even held hands?]

Found parts to catalog and reunite.

[He keeps moving at least. There is a space set aside for all of these parts. From there, they'll be inventoried, and the work of matching them up to the statues they came from will begin.

Alucard's just muscle.]

Not my style.

[petcromancer]

[That's somehow worse. Alucard wouldn't help actual people being attacked by spirits, but he'll hang around, tidying up the graveyard like a museum? Hector's eyes narrow.]

Oh, of course. Because the aesthetic matters so much while you're sulk-napping.

[Damn it, he shouldn't be getting pissed off. What does Alucard matter anymore? Hector's washed his hands of him. The dhampir can creep around the fringes of humanity as much as he pleases.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Oh fuck all the way off back to Greece, buddy.]

Are you here to help with the clean up or to keep calling me a piece of shit, Hector?

[He doesn't want this conversation, so it is probably easier to just cut to the quick of it.]

[petcromancer]

Oh, I can do both.

[He's talented like that.]

This was a windfall for you, wasn't it? An excuse to scope out locations, an abundance of building materials, room freed up. No wonder you did nothing to stop it. I couldn't see the logic at the time, but now I get it.

[cryptsleeper]

You're giving far too much credit to forethought that never existed.

[He's not in the mood, that much is very clear from Alucard's exhausted tone. He looks like shit, he feels like shit, do you need to help Hector?]

Up ahead and to the right is a tent where they're organizing everything and handing assignments out, if you're actually interested.

Graveyardin' (if this works!)

[cointosser]

[It is through the grapevine that Jaskier learns that his beloved canine friend is sleeping in a graveyard on the norm, which is a matter he cannot let stand. (Well, he can, but he's nosy and wants to peek in on him, and... the grapevine is one person. Hector. It's Hector.)

But while he is here, stepping among the broken and smashed headstones, putting two and two together -- right, the dead had to come from somewhere -- what feels a bit like a joke is evolving into something more depressing.

Gods, this place looks like shit. This is more the sort of place a man sleeps in because he is in a dark place, not because he wants to sleep in a crypt. Though thinking again, those could go hand in hand quite easily.

Lucky that he came prepared. Another potted plant rests in his hands, but this one is much more colorful than the potato: a flowering cucumber vine with bright bursts of yellow. It should not be growing so well this time of year, not with so many flowers. Special, like the rest.

Jaskier could examine that he keeps entering situations with very tense emotions and a sense that leaves him uncomfortable with gifts of wine or plants, but... no. He will not examine it at all.]

Helloooooo, Alucard! I know you're sneaking about in here.

Plant Dad Alucard is now a thing i guess!!

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard's found the graveyard is the best place these days. He helps clear the rubble during the daylight hours, a quiet and sturdy thing who does as he's asked and can haul a hell of a lot of stone without issue, and sleeps in the western end of the place at night. As a wolf, no one thinks twice, and he has a few favorite statues to take shelter under whenever he feels especially in need of something to watch over him. They are also where he leaves the potato plant on any given day, allowing for more shade in the worst of the heat.

It's a day off for removal and restoration though. The people in charge want to review their records and see what the next step is, and so Alucard is left to his own devices. Which until very, very recently meant being curled up as a wolf, until the heat of the day became just a little too much under all that fur.

He's about to leave and get something to eat when he hears someone approaching. There's a twitch to his ears and--

--the bard? The fuck?

Alucard turns his head, and unfortunately, he has no cover. He's in line of sight, and there's zero point in trying to hide. This is happening. He can accept that.]

Not sneaking at the moment, thank you.

[The voice is morose, but more than that, there is precious little inflection to it.]

just let jaskier love you!!! by giving you plants (because he's losing control of his life)

[cointosser]

[Not the friendliest greeting, but certainly one he expects from the dhampir. Except it's... almost unfriendly. To Jaskier? How could he? Jaskier is, clearly, a ray of sunshine, especially among this... very depressing place. Even the skies are a bit grey today.]

But considering it, I imagine.

[His teasing softens as he approaches, tucking the potted plant under one arm as if he meant to touch him. He doesn't, of course, but.]

You don't look... [He trails off.] Are you well?

who isn't at this point??

[cryptsleeper]

[Look Jaskier he is sort of spiraling? A lot???? Stop judging his tone within the first five seconds.

Which also means Alucard is going to lie within the first five seconds, because his response is immediate and utterly full of shit.] I'm fine.

[Fine, with hair hardly maintained. Fine, with grave dirt on his shirt and his carefully embroidered black coat hardly spotless. Fine, with just having a random potted plant a few yards away and precious little else about him.

God he should just go fuck off to the Horizon for the day, shouldn't he?

Alucard's eyes go to the plant though, the color of the vine a pleasant pop against the rest of the landscape.]

New growth?

ok, point

[cointosser]

[Oh, gods, he is spiraling. A man who looks like he's crawled out of a mile-deep well with only his hands and feet and then responds with "I'm fine" is definitely. Not doing well.

Jaskier raises his brows, biting his lip.] Fine. Right. Yes, of course.

[Convincing, isn't it? You know, he's going to let it lay there for now. Alucard has never responded well to prodding.

Or, actually, gifts. This was possibly the opposite of what he should be doing, but at this point in time, Jaskier really... he really has no idea how to handle him. How to help him. He is bothered by sentimentality but welcomes the absence of it, which Jaskier is incapable of with someone he likes. It may even be easier on Alucard if Jaskier didn't like him at all.

So Jaskier simply holds out the pot.]

Cucumber plant.

[Oh, look. Simple, to the point, no sentiments beyond the giving of a gift. He's nailing it.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard doesn't cringe from the total judgement in Jaskier's tone. It is enough to know it is there, and a relief that the man doesn't prod it any further. He is sure he couldn't take any more of it, that much the dhampir is sure of.

Plants. Right. His eyes go to the pot, and there's the joys and blessings of autopilot. He takes it carefully, pausing a moment to register the thing's state of growth.]

Thank you. [He'll have to find the two plants a better home at some point, but for now, this'll do.

What won't do is standing awkwardly, holding a whole ass potted plant, looking like death.]

And you're here because--?

[This is the exact opposite of Jaskier's scene, all things considered.]