thebastion | Day 117 :: After the Core Hunt [open]

Who: everyone, get in here
Open: Open
When: late in the day on Day 117
Where: all around the Bastion
What: There is a new building in the Bastion, and all the buildings now have power
Format: action
Warnings: some of the PCs are a bit broken

[Once again, it was a difficult hunt for the core. Though there was less physical damage this time, the mental damage is very apparent: four residents of the Bastion come back in far worse shape than they left in, and many others are possibly affected as well.

But not all is bad. With the return of a core, new life springs into the Bastion. All around, lights flicker into existence. Light fixtures and electrical sockets spring out of walls and ceilings. Stoves change to become more modern, and refrigerators suddenly appear in all of the apartments.

There is now free, unlimited electricity in the Bastion.

In addition, a new building springs up on the southern side of the Bastion. This apartment building is eight stories tall, and contains both a laundry room and several three-bedroom apartments. While the first apartment building is by no means full, this gives everyone more places to choose to live.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Even with the poison mostly having run its course, Alucard hovers on that line between waking and sleep until the feeling of someone touching his hair finally tips him over to the side of consciousness. It takes a few moments of staring uncomprehendingly at the shikigami before it finally registers that he's been asked a question.]

...This is...the hospital? [A relevant question; he'd only seen the building from the outside before today.] ...What is that strange buzzing?

Electricity. The latest addition to the Bastion. You're going to love it and hate it. Everyone always does. [ He remarked with a crooked smile, rolling his eyes skyward as he stepped back a polite distance. ]

Everyone made it back in one piece, if you're curious. Some are a little stir-fried in the skull, but they'll get over it sooner or later. Mortals are funny that way.

[ He shifted slightly, turning to look over his shoulder, listening, perhaps. He did that sometimes - just listened to things no one else could hear. ]

I wanted to help. I came back too late. I'm sorry...

...

[What is there to say to that? "It's fine?" "It's not your fault?"

He stares at the ceiling, studying the tiles with faint interest for a few minutes before softly uttering a single sentence.]

...I still trust you.

[ Blue eyes slid slowly sideways until they settled on Alucard. Lips parted briefly before closing as he reached out to tug a lock of hair gently. ]

You're pretty dumb. [ The shikigami murmured, though he looked pleased as he took the hair and brushed it under his own nose, nostrils flaring as he inhaled the scent of the dhampire under the reek of poison still lingering. ]

You need a bath. And clean clothes so I can treat these ones. Can you walk?

[While this doesn't quite get a smile, for a moment Alucard's expression is a bit lighter.]

This from the man who purposefully seeks my company.

[Then the not-smile drops again, and the dhampire gets to his feet. If he can run and jump while very grievously injured, walking while recovering from poison is rather easy by comparison.]

...I will bathe when there is little chance of there being anyone else about.

[Bathing means being in an environment that he's particularly vulnerable in, and being around others in such a state after what had happened... It's simply not something he can do right now.]

You don't have to go to the onsen. I can bring you hot water and soap and things. That's what I do. Make life easier. [ He replied flippantly with an airy attitude, carefree as ever. ]

And of course I "purposely seek your company". That makes me smart, see, 'cause you're only the hottest one around, other than me. Tch. Stupid. [ He snorted a laugh, pressing a fist against Alucard's shoulder and shoving gently. ]

But the basement is pretty wrecked now...the boiler-room and everything. The electricity is gonna make it all a lot more noisy. So you wanna go to Boss Foxface's house for now? Its about the most quiet place at the moment. I can build you a spooky crypt? [ He grinned, raising both hands and wriggling his fingers in the universal gesture of 'creepy'. ]

...Actually, I believe I may have the coldest blood of everyone in the Bastion.

[He ignores the comment about being "hottest" as modern colloquialisms escape him, and it makes no sense in literal terms since his body temperature averages as roughly room temperature. The dhampire does however weigh his options for a moment.]

...If you do not think I will be intruding, Seimei's house will be fine for now. I will have to think on relocating more.

Well, it'll kinda be intruding, but he sorta knows, maybe...how I kinda feel. And stuff. [ The shikigami mumble, rolling his eyes and shrugging. Eventually he gave up on politeness and reached out, grabbing Alucard's hand and tugging lightly. ]

I made soup. And there's plenty of space in the house. you won't be a bother. Besides... [ He cleared his throat and shrugged again with a cock-eyed grin. ] I don't think Boss Foxface and Kid Fire-crotch are gonna be sleepin' with the screen anymore, so I'll just set it up and you can have a little privacy. At least until there's better arrangements. Boss likes sleepin' on the porch, too, so he might just loan you the room.

Much as I complain he's pretty decent. Besides that...he's got all sorts of guilt right now. He'd probably let you walk all over him. NOT that I'm sayin' you should or anything but...

Anyways come on. let's get you out of here so you can get sorted out. Yeah?

[The true meaning behind the comment about feelings goes right over Alucard's head; perhaps understandable, given how little of romance he's actually encountered. He can't suppress the slight flinch at having his hand suddenly grabbed though... Not after what he had just woken up from. He does not attempt to pull away though, so that's a good sign.

...Although he's also going to pointedly ignore the rather awkward nickname for Kaoru.]

...Yes. Let us go.

[ He'd felt the flinch and thought to let go, instead closing his hand and turning it, knitting his fingers with the dhampire's casually as a handshake, flashing a toothy smile as they moved. ]

Windy-speak. Boss Foxface says its "totally cool". You're welcome at the house as long as you need to be. He's got some other funny ideas. I think he's maybe a little high on emotion and adrenaline, but we'll see how long it lasts.

[ Sniffing softly and turned away, humming briefly in thought. ]

Boss and Kid finally made it over the feelings hills. I guess they're all in love and stuff now. They'll forget about me for a while.

[Although he says nothing, the small cues in Alucard's posture make it clear that he is still actively listening.

...Love, hm? He hadn't really thought much about it, but he supposes it does make sense with how particularly protective Seimei and Kaoru had been of each other of late. They would have been judged harshly for their relationship in his time, but he supposes that is one of the good things about the Bastion; there is no real standard of "normal" anymore. As long as it didn't hurt anyone, they are all free to do as they please, and nobody is considered a pariah for simply being what they are.

Unconsciously, his hand tightens around the shikigami's. Come what may, he has a friend he can be certain will neither abandon him nor be killed by another, and that is... very comforting.]

[ Taisan didn't miss that squeeze, blue eyes flicking back and down to look at their hands briefly before he flashed a smile and turned away, steps a little more hurried as he took them around the edge of the Bastion and into Seimei's small plot. ]

I'm gonna leave you hear for a while. You should wander around, y'know. Give it a look, see what you think. Kid and I gotta get some stuff to make sure everyone is comfortable.

I cooked. [ He ventured, gesturing vaguely towards the house with his free hand before carefully sliding his other hand free of Alucard's. ]

You should eat.

[The dhampire had more been planning to find a corner to take a nap in - a proper nap, and not being knocked unconscious by a hallucinogenic poison - and the smell coming off his clothes be damned, he intended to do just that. ...Although perhaps a small meal before then would do him some good.]

...Perhaps I shall. I will see you when you return then?

Day 117 :: After the Core Hunt [open]

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