abraxaslogs | [ OPEN / CLOSED ] i think i found a way to kill the sun

[Alucard lets out a soft snuggle of a laugh, his eyes focused on the work.]]

I'd only take it out when certain people showed up.

[So, Geralt and Jaskier. Sypha's not come calling yet, Gideon's not a fan of his living arrangements, and well...]

Might make Ciri tolerate my wolf form a little bit more. She makes faces when I don't transform immediately.

[ Ah. In that case. Geralt seems to find that agreeable, a huff escaping him at that remark about Ciri. ]

If all she makes are faces, you've bonded.

[ He knows Ciri well enough now to understand she'd not even be speaking to Alucard if she didn't care for his company. So that makes two of them. Acquainted with a vampire. Half-vampire. Either way, not quite where he thought he'd be, but there are worse people to have in his life. ]

Tried the pierogis outside the Horizon yet?

[You raised a gremlin, Geralt.]

How is it that I keep bonding with monster hunters?

[It comes with an incredulous shake of the head, because it really is strange how it keeps happening. It isn't even an opposites attract matter so far as he's concerned. Just a strange and unsettling theme.]

Mm, yes, in what kitchen would you like me to sit and crimp pierogi in? And do you mind gravedirt in your filling?

Because we're less likely to be afraid of you.

[ The answer comes casually, but the truth of it is there: it always comes down to fear. Or the lack thereof. And he's glad Alucard no longer seems to harbour the constant wariness that Geralt plans on taking his head off. They've apparently graduated to exchanging pierogis. It's an improvement.

He studies Alucard. That's a rhetorical question. Geralt has an answer, anyway. ] Sam's. Or mine.

[ Between the two of them, there's room. There's already a crowd in his home; Sam needs company. Either way, Alucard is welcome to invade. Makes no difference to him. Especially not if he gets a free meal out of it. And possibly, on a subtler level, he's trying to see if he can coax Alucard out of his damn cemetery once in awhile. ]

Edited 2021-12-31 03:48 (UTC)

[There's a pause, and Alucard makes a point of focusing on applying a little more pressure to the headstone he's working on. After a few moments.]

I hadn't considered that.

[But from the little note of defeat in his voice, he's already admitted Geralt's absolutely right. It makes too much sense.

On to pierogi. And releasing this rejoined stone to make sure it's holding.]

I'd need quiet. And space. Clear yours out and you'll get pierogi. Jam ones included.

[Because that request stood out, and Alucard is inclined to oblige. Geralt having preferences for anything? That's worth taking note of.]

[ Far too much sense. But they're both on the outside, aren't they? There are monsters, beasts, that roam and must be dealt with and then—

There are those like Alucard. Who are simply different. Hiding in a hollowed out cactus. He does not find much reason in the latter case to do anything other than give the vampire a kitchen now and again so he can cook. Seems like the thing to do. ]

The bard will see to it. I'm elsewhere for the moment.

[ He adds not much more, but the implication is there: that he's sought solace outside of his home, since his return. ]

[Alucard will go back to his cactus later and curl up, ruminating on the thought. More than once over the past month and change he thought that he was starting to become the Belmont (save for drinking), and this realization sits a little too comfortably besides that.]

I'll mention it. But not that at least one of the pierogi will have legs, since that offended him deeply. [Apparently. That had been a Very Intense Day emotionally.

Elsewhere though. That gets a slight headtilt.]

Too much time recovering in the same room?

Offended? [ A strong word that's somehow fitting for how he imagines Jaskier is wont to react to the smallest mishap. Such as...legs. Which, admittedly, was bizarre. He still doesn't fully understand Alucard's decision, but nor is it significant enough for him to continue questioning it. They all end up the same shape when he eats it. ]

Place is filled. Needed room. [ There's, what. Hector, Rinwell, Jaskier, Ciri? With two beds to the place and barely any doors separating—yeah. It's fucking crowded in there. He isn't used to it. He grew up in a fortress and spends most of his life outdoors, in the woods, under the stars. Only occasionally does he find himself a room for the night, alone or, at most, shared with Jaskier. (Or sometimes he finds himself with Yen, but that's another matter altogether.)

In any case, the increasing number of occupants hadn't bothered him when he was off hunting and barely there. Now that he's trapped in Cadens, recovering...Sam has the room, needs the company. It works out for everyone involved. And Sam, he knows, understands not to push when he catches Geralt not sleeping through the night. ]

You've never gotten multiple questions about pierogi that lead to an emotional journey of an evening? [A very, very intense emotional journey. Possibly one that Alucard needed, but he won't say that much out loud. Geralt knows enough of Alucard's issues back home, and he's trying to work, not loop someone else into more of his issues. He had told Gideon because she would understand, he had told Jaskier because it came up. That was it.]

I think I owe you an apology for Hector's residency, but I didn't have any control over that one. He and I both decided to not let a room without speaking to each other. [All the same, Alucard understands. Too many people in one small space is simply too much. The dhampir huffs softly.]

But I understand. Out here's easier than around people. And I can close the gates at night.

[ That sounds...mildly concerning. He does appreciate being left out of it. His reserve of energy has been dedicated to his own shit; he truthfully has no time for anyone else's right now. And really, Alucard seems to be doing relatively all right poking at his cemetery, so he assumes what conversation occurred must have been needed.

He shrugs a shoulder. ] Jaskier invited him. Pets and all.

[ Alucard isn't responsible, is what he means. And if he truly didn't want Hector there, he'd have asked him to leave, but the necromancer seems forlorn as it is, Jaskier likes the company, and Ciri gets along fine with the man. If he were hunting as usual, he'd have hardly noticed the extra bodies. He isn't in the city often other than to sleep, restore his gear or supplies, check in on Jaskier or Ciri. Only now, recovering and trapped around Cadens while he does so, is it becoming stifling.

But that's why he's with Sam. Sam has room, Geralt can fill that room. The circumstances have all largely worked themselves out. ] As long as you've found your peace.

[It was very much needed. And Jaskier, it seems, was the right person to open up to about it.]

--Of course he did. [There's a shake of Alucard's head, but it comes with a note of genuine fondness in spite of it all. He continues to dislike Hector for any number of reasons, but the dhampir has a few suspicions about the bard's influence being a positive one. He'd rather not disrupt that, even if he considers Hector's past actions pointedly unforgivable.

Satisfied with the joinery work for the section he's working on, Alucard moves onto the next, leaning forward to scoot another piece of stone back in place. It is that point when Geralt speaks again.

There's a shake of his head, stray strands of hair peeking over Alucard's shoulder and threatening to get in the way. He uses one hand to clear them out.]

I'm not sure. The supply of damaged stones is finite, and once I'm done... [He doesn't know. There's still a nap to do, but there's time to come before it. Somewhere, in all that trailing off, he realizes it is ominous. Maybe that's a truth.

It is maybe the best and worst person to admit that truth to.]

[ Roughly Geralt's reaction, as well. Of course he fucking did. But he understands. Not only that Jaskier cares for Hector, but that they're all trapped in this world together. No reason not to offer a roof if one's available.

Once I'm done. If nothing else, he knows that feeling of being lost intimately. Drifting. It's the reason why he'd tried to convince Alucard to do something about it other than nap it away, but he's accepted that's something Alucard is insistent on, for now, and that he'll not change the dhampir's mind. He won't try to again, either. If it's what Alucard wants, it's what he wants. In the meantime— ]

No shortage of damage to solve. [ It is not just the cemetery that needs a helping hand. There are monster nests, overturned wagons stuck in the sand, lost merchants. If all Alucard wants is to keep himself occupied, he thinks there's a way.

A conversation for another time, though. He leaves it at that. He pushes to his feet. The wine's set behind, in case Alucard wants it for when he retreats into his...plant. ] I'll see about clearing out that kitchen.

[ OPEN / CLOSED ] i think i found a way to kill the sun

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject