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

[onebadapple]

"And thankfully large enough to carry one as tall as yourself! Are you part giant? I never met any of the giants or ogres that lived in the forest but I do know that they were such... well... giants!" she giggled.

"Oh! But forgive me, am I keeping you and Jarem from going about your day? He didn't mention any pressing chores."

[distant_one]

"I'm too small to be part giant. I'm just tall," D says, fairly certain she meant it just as a comment on his height and not as any kind of veiled insult. She seems to sincere for that.

"No, there's nothing that needs to be done right now, I was just worried he wandered off to pick a fight." Having a horse isn't all that useful if the horse isn't there when you go looking for it. But Jarem is a horse in shape only.

"Has he said why he keeps trying to stab people I introduce him to and wander off to pick fights all the time?"

[onebadapple]

It most certainly isn't an insult, giants are neutral beings where she's from, them being good or bad is entirely up to them.

"Pick a fight?" she looked surprised and then turned to the nightmare. "What is this about you picking fights, Jarem?" the horse ACTUALLY looked contrite and bowed his head, nickering and shaking his head. "That's simply no excuse," she wagged a finger at the beast. "You can't go picking fights, you're so big and strong, you could hurt someone!" the horse, now seemed to be genuinely conflicted at being praised and scolded at the same time. He chuffed and she nodded.

"He did say! But it's nothing more than an excuse. Jarem, I don't want to hear another word about you picking fights, if you really don't like the way someone smells, you tell D, you don't try to stab them, am I understood?"

The horse, Jarem, nodded.

[distant_one]

D was beginning to wander if he had fallen asleep and wandered into someone's strange dream, but this place seemed very real. The situation was very surreal beyond the usual kind of strangeness he had to live with.

He glanced down at his Left Hand while Snow was busy scolding the nightmare, and a face on the palm of his hand stared back up at D with a disbelieving expression before it vanished back into his palm.

"I don't speak Horse. Or Nightmare." If he could, apparently this situation would have been resolved some time ago. Some people really did smell awful to D's sensitive nose as well. That had more to do with disease or having unusual sleeper blood than anything else, but there were more than enough other unpleasant odors to go around.

[onebadapple]

Snow tilted her head and then smiled.

"Well of course you don't, I don't either for that matter!" she giggled, clearly amused. "After all, I'm talking normally just as you are!" the nightmare turned to look at D like he was an idiot because he had clearly heard all of Snow White's side of the conversation.

"Hmm, how about this then, Jarem, when something is upsetting you, why don't you stomp your hoof three times? That would be a very clear message, don't you think? Something not easily mistaken for just any ol' thing."

[distant_one]

D maintained a perfectly neutral expression as Snow giggled and Jarem looked at him like that. Whatever Snow was doing, she clearly did at least understand the nightmare, and everything else that was gathered around her.

Even if D had been part of the natural world he doubted so many animals would be as comfortable with him. Certainly not enough to put aside instinctive things like being predator and prey.

"I can pay attention for that." As long as Jarem stopped trying to stab people D introduces him to. If the nightmare was that picky about smell D wasn't optimistic about getting him to accept a second person riding with D.

[onebadapple]

"Wonderful! Then why don't we all head back to the city. I'm done foraging for now in any case. We're going to make onion jam, do you like onion jam? It's not like sweet jams with strawberry or raspberry or apricot. But it's very yummy all the same. My dear wild boars were so kind to help me find onions, turnips, truffles, mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, and some ginger root! Would you like some, D?"

[distant_one]

"That's very kind of you, but I don't eat." D didn't like food and he didn't enjoy politely accepting it. Admitting that he didn't eat was a little easier when they all washed up in this place as a squid.

"If Jarem is up for it, it would be faster if we both ride." D really preferred not walking everywhere on his own during the day, but wasn't going to admit to how much of a relief it was to have Jarem to do his walking for him while the sun was up.

[onebadapple]

"Oh! At all? That must be very fortunate! Alright, no food then. What do you like?"

At his second statement, Snow White smiled and looked to Jarem, pleased D was asking the horse if he would allow it. With Snow White present, Jarem was more than happy to oblige. He gently nuzzled Snow White with his nose, before turning to D.

[distant_one]

Snow was the first person to react positively to D's unusual and non-existent eating habits. It truly was very useful, even if D disliked the hunger he had instead of a need for food.

"Tea is good. I still enjoy a warm drink."

With approval from Jarem, D moved over to nimbly climb onto the saddle and then hold out his hand to help Snow White up.

[onebadapple]

Snow has too many magical beings in her world to be all that surprised by D's lack of eating. He presents like a fae so he may just not be willing to take food she offers him by hand.

"Well, then when we reach my home, I'll have to make you some honey lemon tea!"

She took D's hand and allowed herself to be hoisted up onto the horse.

"My goodness, Jarem, you're so strong to be carrying me too!" though Snow barely weighed anything at all.

[distant_one]

"You don't need to trouble yourself on my account." D said as he gently pressed with his knees to tell Jarem to go forward. There was no hurry and D's saddle wasn't exactly designed with the comfort of a second rider in mind.

He'd needed some extra padding and a few other modifications to fit such a large and non-cyborg horse. "Where to?"

[onebadapple]

Faramund was quick to fall beside Jarem, able to keep in step with ease and glaring at said horse when he shook his horn at the stag.

"I live in Crenshaw! In the most adorable little home of my own with Faramund and my other animal friends."

[distant_one]

D nodded. Crenshaw was much better protected than most places in Trench. He's been around enough of Trench on horseback that Jarem knew where to go with little input from D.

"They'd rather live in a house than out away from people?" Most animals in D's experience were shy even around people who weren't him.

[onebadapple]

"They come and go as they please, so they can be out away from people when they want to be. But my home is as safe as any other place, safer, in some cases. None of my animals will be hunted in my home, by people, or by each other. Wolves and deer can eat side by side without any issue, and foxes and rabbits can sleep right next to each other. Everyone is safe in my home, so some just choose to stay. Everyone should have someplace they feel safe."

[distant_one]

"They must love you a great deal."

Not even the devoted worship the Nobility had for the Sacred Ancestor had kept them from viewing humans as nothing more than livestock or prey. Servants at best, mere objects at worst. Predator and prey living comfortably alongside one another was very rare in D's world.

[onebadapple]

"They do, and I love them! Animals have always been my first friends, for a very long time, they were my only friends," she offered honestly. "But now I've been able to make so many friends here!"

[distant_one]

D could imagine how poorly such a lonely life would suit most people, let alone one as friendly and open as Snow White.

"I'm glad you've found something to enjoy while you're here."

[onebadapple]

"Oh well, I've not much choice on where I end up in life or in death. So I believe you need to make the best of wherever you find yourself! After all, complaining never got much done."

[distant_one]

Many Sleepers D had spoken to would rather be almost anywhere else, but D didn't see much point in complaining or longing for what wasn't here.

"Do you think we're all dead here?"

[onebadapple]

"Well, I certainly am."

[distant_one]

"Then your home has truly suffered a great loss that you are no longer in it." Whether she really is just a human girl or nature itself, losing a kind soul is always a loss.

"Would you... like to have a wake, here? To celebrate the life you had there?"

[onebadapple]

She blinked and then blushed, smiling and bowing her head, her smile becoming a bit more somber.

"Thank you for such a kind statement. I don't regret the life I lived, I just wish I was allowed to experience more of it. Which is why I am so grateful to be here and get to try so many new things now."

At the question of a wake, she blinked again.

"I... I never thought to hold any sort of ceremony for myself here. Wakes and the sort felt like something to help comfort the living."

[distant_one]

"I don't know how it is where you're from, but calming the souls of the departed and sending them on their way is an important job in my world," D explained. "If it would bring you comfort, I see no reason why you shouldn't do something to celebrate the life you had and mourn that you will not return to it."

D has only attended a few such ceremonies, but he has always been willing to give the dead their due. Even without the practical aspect, it's a matter of respect and a way to say goodbye.

[onebadapple]

"That sounds like such a lovely tradition, D. I think... actually, yes, I think I would like that very much. Something small and simple, just a goodbye of sorts. You really don't mind doing that for me?"