Curiosity Killed the Cat [OPEN]

[kinko]

WHO: The Medicine Seller and anyone in Cadens.
WHAT: He's good and rested, and now it's time to get into reestablishing business as usual, exploration, acclimation, and bothering people.
WHEN: Throughout December.
WARNINGS: None for now!


[Hall of Natural Relics/Museum of Medicine]
[He'd headed for the Hall of Natural Relics first. More really as a precaution, just to see precisely what 'natural relics' might exactly entail here. ... Nothing too surprising, as it turned out. A natural history museum and, for the moment at least, little more than that. He'd show some particular interest in the preserved plants, and even more for whatever oddities that were on display, milling about those for far longer, but eventually his attention would wander elsewhere.

The Museum of Medicine would particularly captivate him, with no small amount of questions posed in regards to almost every exhibit on display. Once more however, his attention would zero in upon specifics: some rather direct and probing questions centered squarely around more gruesome matters; histories of unethical practices, past and present superstitions regarding illnesses, and less than pleasant natural cures. He didn't seem particularly shy about asking them either, though a respectful, neutral, almost coldly clinical tone was steadfastly maintained. Though that might have done very little to reduce the intensity of the questions themselves.]

[Tavern]
[Though the outfit he wore now was far plainer than what he'd normally have, that might not make him stand out any less. At least all that wild hair had been bound back and pinned up again, though there was really no fully taming it; flax colored curls and locks still finding a way to slip out here and there. He'd really have to get a proper bandanna back later... Nothing to be done, nor would be done ever, about the markings on his face though, and he made no effort at all to conceal them. Nor would anything be done about those long and pointed ears, apparently his method of working around his appearance was just plain and blunt apathy.

He'd arrived at the noisiest hour, at this particular tavern's absolute fullest, making pains to seek out a table that might give him a full and mostly uninterrupted view of the area. If it was empty? Well he'd just settle down then, no drink, no food, no attempt to blend in or look subtle. And if it was occupied? Well things became a bit more complicated, because he wasn't keen on finding a different spot. Rather, the occupant would find themselves no longer alone over here, the presence of the Medicine Seller pointedly... difficult to ignore, as he paused by the table.]

Excuse me... You aren't waiting for anyone, are you? [The tone just loud enough to be audible over the din, but otherwise soft, almost monotone in its sound.]

Comments

[cryptsleeper]

[There's nothing but sincerity in the response. That? That's more than enough for the dhampir, and he lets out a soft mmm to indicate that he well and truly respects that perspective.

He moves to the right, so the Seller can take a better look at the problem.]

Take a look for yourself then. And mind not to move too far to the left, I'm working on that one at present.

[kinko]

[He minded the directions he was given, approaching the stone to inspect it. He delicately picked for a moment at the moss upon the stones, not peeling any of it away but rather taking stock of the condition and what there was.]

It has been left for quite a long time... A sponge should do well... A natural one, it is just rough enough to work away the moss and dirt without damaging the stone itself. The whole stone should be doused in purified water and allowed to soak in first. ... Several times, perhaps.

It will take some time, to restore it to an acceptable state.

[No, no questions as to why precisely these stones mattered, no question as to what motivated the man, but rather a different one:]

What happened to the shattered stones?

sorry, cat wanted play time

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard is quiet, letting the Seller take all the time needed to make a proper inspection. The man's sincerity wasn't in doubt, and after a diagnosis like that? His skill wasn't either.

The dhampir nods along quietly to show that he is listening, but he doesn't interject. He knows where there's a natural sponge (it just happens to be at the south end, near the hollowed out cactus he sleeps in these days), meaning the problem is the water.

He has an answer for the question, at least.]

At the end of October, there was some sort of backfire of magic that encouraged the dead to emerge from the graveyard and impede upon the realm of the living. All of the graveyards here suffered damage from the initial burst, so far as anyone has been able to tell.

Its okay! Not like it was a month ; w;

[kinko]

[His brow furrowed, lips set in a thin, grim line. Well... That would do it..]

How did you put them to rest again? [The question contained a mixture of emotions behind it. None too subtle was the concern laced in with those words... but there too was ever still that genuine curiosity. This place after all, was not like home. And whatever method was used here, perhaps he ought learn for himself...]

What can you tell me of that backfire? The cause or source? [He stood up, moving back from the headstone to fix Alucard with his full attention once more.]

Still! I did not want you to think I outied without reason!

[cryptsleeper]

It's difficult to say the correct cause that returned the dead to where they should be. [Alucard was also not at his best when it came to pass. At all. He did little to help, and while he feels no particular shame over it because of personal circumstance, he expects the Seller might pass a harsher judgement.] I can't say that it was fighting the spirits that caused them to return, or if the spell that brought them forth simply ended. Regardless, one or booth helped to settle things again.

[The concern is impossible to ignore. It overlays the curiosity, and that's intersting.]

All I have heard is that the a ritual in Solvunn has been linked. That matter ventures into politics, and there is where my concern ends by choice. [He does not enter into politics. Alucard wants his privacy and something for his hands to work on. Hence, this.]

You'd have to ask elsewhere for more details. All I can say is that this is more worthy of my time.

<3333

[kinko]

[At the very least, the answer to his question wasn't 'they were never returned'. That brought some solace, though the discomposure, no matter how mild, still openly lingered. After all, they never should have been called up from the grave to begin with, and hearing that the matter was officially a political one did little to ease tension further.]

Magic such as this has no place in politics. [An edge to that tone, one he saw no reason to blunt nor lessen. Still, after a moment and with Alucard's admittance that he had chosen to learn nothing else, the brunt of that ire passed.]

... The past cannot be fixed. But the stones can. [Agreement then, this was more worthy of time and effort now.] Is there a way to Solvunn from here? I will want to visit it later, if I can.

Re: <3333

[cryptsleeper]

Agreed. The dead should stay dead. They travel fast when they do not.

[It is a terrible joke about vampires and their nature, but the Seller has no reason to know that. Alucard's heritage may be half undead, but he's had enough necromancy in his lifetime to think that there's ever a good reason to disturb the dead from their rest.

There are no benches here, and Alucard is in no position to offer a seat. All he can do is consider getting the sponge, and then coming back to do the work.]

I'm unsure of what the roads are like at the moment. There are places far beyond this city that I'd like to see before well and truly finding a place to settle, but uneasy borders make for difficult traveling. [To get to the land where supposedly all manner of night things roam, there is a need to cross the feywilds. Alucard does not know how possible any of that may be.]

If you don't mind waiting a few minutes, I can check my supply cache for the sponge.

[kinko]

[A terrible joke it may be, but not necessarily untrue. The context was still lost on him, and it passed without comment.]

Then I will ask around later. Even if there should be nothing there now of note... [Good to just establish a route between here and there, know where it was, just in case.]

Should you like, I could find the water to clean them. Less time spent in travel, more spent working on the stones themselves.

[cryptsleeper]

Of course. [He'll let that alone. The Seller's business is unto himself.]

I would appreciate that, truly. [He pauses, eyes moving back towards the gate.]

How much time and water do you think you'd need?

[kinko]

For only one stone, two buckets for now. It is a shame that none are provided here... [As if he were surprised to see nothing of the sort around.... because he was. Well, they were so common place, at home, after all.]

Thankfully, once cleaned, so long as they are attended to yearly, they should never require so much ever again. Of course, for all the work we do today, these stones have been quite damaged. Try as you might, you will not be able to fully restore them without more in depth means, the pitting will remain as will traces of dirt, and stains.

gotta sleep, good night!

[cryptsleeper]

I can go get buckets. [Those are the easiest things in the world to procure at the moment, although the Seller's intonation suggests something else.

Alucard doesn't inquire further. He only nods, taking careful mental note.]

Better restorative work may lie in magic and spellcraft, but there's always time for research later. I would, however, welcome a survey of the rest of the stones that are still standing, if you're so inclined.

[It is only Alucard doing the work, after all, and he only knows so much.]

But after this?

[kinko]

I can do this. [And certainly would, though his gaze strayed towards the shattered stones.] It may be too ambitious, to restore every lost name upon the broken stones, but if nothing else there should still be markers left...

[An effort best left for another time, a note made for later.] I know little of how spirits here function, but if it is at all as it is at home, leaving them broken and unmarked will inevitably invite their ire.

After this? ... Work upon the next stone, I would imagine. There are still several hours left in the day.

[cryptsleeper]

Every stone that can be reconstituted has it's pieces laid out where they belong, actually.

[Alucard gestures down the row behind him. There are five more plots with their stones smashed, laid out on the ground and ready to be put together again. A jigsaw puzzle, albeit a morbid one.] There are few that were reduced entirely to rubble. Once everything that can be made to stand is, there's the chance of going into records and having stones carved anew.

[He's been planning it, is what Alucard means to say.]]

Give me a few minutes to go fetch supplies then. If you head east to explore in the mean time, you won't trip on anything. Those stones are standing again..

[kinko]

[A morbid jigsaw puzzle it may have been, but to have it pointed out that he was wrong in his assumption brought some visible relief. A faint slackening of the shoulders, the slight softening of his expression. Good.]

Let us hope then that the records have been well kept. You've been making plans for this cemetary, then?

[An admirable thing, in all honesty. A lot of effort for anyone, never mind someone hailing from a land far from this one.]

Did you return those stones to their places? [Regardless of the answer, Alucard would be allowed to depart for supplies, the Seller quite keen on examining the stones to the east.]

[cryptsleeper]

I needed something to do.

[It had been selfish, really. Alucard only came to this place because it was a quiet part of the city, and because it was easier to be a wolf here than it was to be a person. Restoration was a result of needing occupation. If anyone else benefitted, ten that was on them.

Alucard gives the Seller a little more time to explore than he implied that getting supplies might take. It's more like fifteen minutes until he returns, not five, but he has supplies indeed. Four buckets rather than two. A natural sea sponge and one with boar bristles just in case. A towel draped over his shoulder, and a look of mild curiosity on his face. Only the water is missing.]

I still need to run and get water, but this should be everything else.