Live and die, and then... [open]

[distant_one]

Who: D, his Left Hand, anyone
What: Open and closed prompts for general June catch all
When: early june and onward
Where: Various places

Content Warnings:: mention of blood drinking, apathy towards violence, casual disregard for the safety of others, violence, additional warnings to be added to closed prompts in comments



1. A stiff drink; any time in June, especially after the wilderness expedition returns; open

The end of the previous month had brought an end to D's excessive bloodthirst. Which meant that he could once again drink alcohol without experiencing an almost painful and intensely bitter disappointment at every drop that passed his lips and wasn't blood.

He was still not a very social person, but could be found in various drinking establishments around the city, slowly making his way through the wide variety of unfamiliar alcohol. His usual habit was to order the strongest drinks on offer and work his way down from there.

2. A bloodless cut; two weeks before the end of June; open

D wasn't one to get involved in the affairs of others. Drunken brawls simply weren't his concern, and even when one escalated immediately to a lethal level and had people fleeing, D only glanced over briefly to see why everyone was screaming and running.

This was more than just a drunken argument getting out of hand, but apparently a case of corruption. The corrupted man was apparently not satisfied yet either, as he was lunging at the next nearest person with a jagged piece of wood from a broken chair.

Though he was half way across the room, D was suddenly next to the man in the blink of an eye. Before the sound of his sword being drawn could completely fade from the air his first slash had cut through the weapon, turning it from sharp enough to stab to a blunt end. The second slash, even faster and seeming no more than an arc of silvery light passed through the man's torso before he could stab the newly blunt end of his improvised weapon into his target.

Despite the arc of the slash that should've cut the man in half, he didn't even stumble. The man jabbed his newly blunted weapon against his target, only to realize it was no longer suitable for stabbing. D is the next target of his ire, the remaining stub of chair leg swung at him like a club was caught in D's left hand.

It was a waiting game now, to see how long it would take a corrupted person to drop from the very unusual slash he'd made that hadn't broken the skin or spilled a single drop of blood.

3. Wildcard

Comments

[distant_one]

"I can go over them with you sometime, or write them down if you want. Most of them aren't useful for you, but some of them will help." D always knows exactly what his striking range is with his sword or hands, can tell when some chemical or other influence is elevating his heart rate or effecting his ability to breathe.

If Gaia has trouble distinguishing herself from D she might mis-reach or misstep in a fight, although D hasn't seen any signs of that in day to day life. "You've taken in a lot of terrible things in gaining my memories, I don't mind if you find some benefit among all the misery."

[hammerbearer]

The teen does tend to favoring magic and some of her gained skills in archery thanks to Sasuke. The striking range of a bow (or magic) is certainly handled differently from that of arm or sword or hammer.

Well it's not as if Gaia wouldn't have taken some precaution to practice in private, aware as she seems to be of the issue. Well, 'private' in the sense that she considers it such. The reality might have been different. At least she isn't relying on luck.

It doesn't mean there won't be mishaps in the future. Nor interesting developments in her skill that subconsciously filter through. The graciousness in which D brings up the matter of the terrible things she's seen because of his memories earns a faint smile.

"I suppose that's a way to look at it." She won't brush off the terrible things she's seen in those memories because while she felt many, D knew them all personally and there were probably many more. "But even if there wasn't anything to gain, I won't let the experience drag me down."

[distant_one]

D would prefer it if Gaia had simply let him or someone else lock all those memories away, but he understands her aversion to allowing it. He'd be just as reluctant, and perhaps that's part of the problem his own hesitance combined with hers.

"If you have questions about my memories, you can ask. I won't always answer but some of them might be less bleak with context." Not a lot of them, but some of them. D knows what's in his memories after all, and how rare the pleasant moments are among them. The weight of sadness from all of it is heavy enough for him and he doesn't want it to be too much for Gaia.

He drinks more of the tea, and glances upward. Though he can't see it, D is constantly aware of the sun. "I'm going to rest, I have work to do later."

[hammerbearer]

Maybe it's a combination. But if there's anything Gaia would probably have been reluctant, without any other impetus, to let anyone manipulate would be her memories. Or what comes close. Of course, what might be a fallacy in this line of thinking is that she's still struggling at times to separate what memories are hers and what belong to others.

Well for now she seems to be addressing the issue in her own way. Gaia nods, "I'll definitely let you know if I have questions." But time is going on and D's comment brings a faint smile.

"I'm glad we could talk like this." About her history, the memories. And... finding something a little in common enough that both could understand the struggles in their own way. Standing, Gaia reaches out a hand in an offer to reclaim D's mug. "You go to rest. I'll clean up here." Though she does glance at the kettle and adds in an afterthought. "Though if you want to take another mug upstairs, just bring it back down before you leave. Oh and sorry to have to ask you this. But if you could check to make sure Jarem isn't up to anything before you rest..."

She would but... really. Nightmare horse. Who probably would listen to D far more than if Gaia went out there. Whatever the case, she'll set about doing her part of the cleanup and leave the dhampir to his own devices.

[distant_one]

D is going to take another mug of tea in that case. But the request about his nightmare steed has D pause and tilt his head, his senses focused outside. "He's not too far away. It doesn't sound like he's doing anything other than walking around. I'll come down to handle him if he causes problems."

He's good at waking up at the first sign of trouble without also waking to every other little noise.

Jarem has been difficult but D doubts he would pick a real fight with Gaia, and his stabbing attempts weren't the kind of lethal attacks D had faced when they first met. Things might get a little bloody but the steed had been more polite since meeting Snow White.

[hammerbearer]

Well it was probably unfair to ask him to go out in the sun, if the rain has temporarily cleared. Though Gaia does grimace a little, she nods.

"Alright, I'll take your word for it." If she does have yard work, she'll just be extra vigilant. And have a weapon handy.

Once that's settled, Gaia leaves the room and for a while will be heard going about the kitchen and eventually, move on to other tasks while leaving D to his own devices.

[distant_one]

D is just going to retreat upstairs and drink his tea and rest. The rain and being awake during the day is exhausting particularly as he's had more and more trouble sleeping at night even when his corruption is low.

When he does leave later on to go about his day night, he'll leave the mug clean and sitting back with the others.