Day 163 // Every plan is a tiny prayer to father time

[fuckthemancers]

Who: Zulf and you
Open: Open
When: Day 163
Where: Throughout the Bastion
What: Well, someone has to take up the kitchen work, and prepare Night's funeral, and write down the history and culture of two different cities...
Format: Anything
Warnings: Nothing immediately comes to mind, although it should be noted that Zulf is in a bad state mentally/emotionally so depending on the conversations, things could be described. Lemme know where you want to run into him!

As soon as he's able, Zulf leaves the hospital. It's not like he deserves to be there, after all, not with the dead, not with the injured. He's fine, isn't he? Besides... There's too much to do. So on the 163rd day of the Bastion's existence, feel free to run into him just about anywhere looking exhausted in nearly every way imaginable.

...Unless your name is Raile, Zia, Rucks, Colin, Rin, Zayna, Zahi, Nathaniel, or Rosethorn. In which case, seeing any of those individuals makes the man startle before immediately trying to find a way to leave the area before conversation can happen. Seriously, he will bolt if he has to, don't make him change from a quick walk.

Periodically throughout the day, Zulf can be found in the kitchens...

With Rin out of commission and Mireille still taking care of her baby, someone has to keep the kitchen up and running. Zulf still remembers the offer he made to her, so of course he's going to keep to what he said. Breakfast, lunch, dinner... He's not in the kitchen the entire day, but he's there often enough. His sleeves are rolled up and he's hard at work like maybe enough cooking will help things. Feel free to interrupt him at any time.

Sometime in the morning after breakfast, it's off to the the Hitachiin-Abe home.

It's something he's been meaning to get to for ages now, really. Seimei had asked about the Tazal Terminals and Caelondia. It's just proper that he finally get to writing all the large amount of answers. He's already holding some things in his arms when he gets there, a thick heavy photo album stacked with papers and crude writing tools- things he's scavenged here and there particularly from the Mancer Observatory. He's passed by the home before, but it's only now that he takes a moment to admire it. Any of the residents can find him waiting awkwardly by the front, not sure how to make his presence known.

Come night, well, that is traditionally the Lorn Mother's time. Anyone still awake... Well, there's a light on at the Shrine.

Honestly, he doesn't know the state of the Gods for all these other worlds that have fallen apart. All he knows it that the Pantheon still has its eye on the scattered fragments that once made up Caelondia, the Terminals, the Wild Unknown... So at least there's that. If she doesn't have anywhere to go or where she's going is worse than that, the Lorn Mother can keep her safe. If there is somewhere for her... Mother guide her home.

Either way, they need to have a funeral. Both to help her soul be free of its ties to the physical, and to help those still alive mourn.

So he gets hard at work, cleaning the shrine with an almost single minded dedication. There won't be any rest until it's spotless... Although he won't lie, he's doing his best to avoid any kind of rest as much as he can. So maybe someone will walk in on him doing that.

When he isn't cleaning, however, he's settled to the side. There's a small pile of salvaged clothing besides him and a sorry excuse for a sewing kit that he makes do with. Red seems to be a theme with the clothes he's picked out...

Comments

[fuckthemancers]

[Not willing and not able in equal measure. Still, even when he won't speak, Zulf is still something of an open book. It's at the mention of Raile that his shoulders give a little jerk and his fingers fumble.]

[narrativestranger]

[ Nailed it. He notices the shoulders jerking, and leans on the side of the door. ]

The Kid, then. Ain't like that was your fault, you know.

[ And then, a low, derisive chuckle; it seems like it's directed at Zulf, before: ]

But then, ain't like you're gonna put any faith in what I say, if you ain't gonna listen to Zia or the others, are you?

[ He doubts the Kid's even picked any of it up and realized what's going on, personally; Zia probably wouldn't tell him, and all. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[Darn right that Zulf isn't going to put any confidence in Rucks' words. There's a scoffing noise and he gives the old Cael a side glance like so many he's done before. At least he's still well enough for some show of annoyance.]

[narrativestranger]

[ Ah, yes. Annoyance. Rucks is used to that, and he's in a good enough position to try and rile him: ]

T'aint nobody blaming you by yourself, Zulf. Kid don't blame you. Zia don't blame you. None of us.

So, that in mind. You gonna proper keep on pitying yourself? Know that's how you were when the Kid first found you, but didn't think you'd go back to that so easy.

[ It's a little weird, to be this blunt, but he's deliberately prodding, now. Of course, it sounds like he's trying to be caring and just being a bit too blunt, but Zulf can probably catch that subtle, deliberate edge. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[Oh, he can always catch that edge and it's always driven him to grit teeth because no one else does. Now isn't any different, especially with those blunt words getting right under his skin.]

[Still stubborn, he tries to concentrate on his sewing only to end up stabbing himself with the needle instead. There's a hiss before he finally seems to give up in frustration. He grabs a vest with a ride stripe down it, throwing it as violently as he can manage to Rucks before he starts to pack away everything else with no bit of grace behind his actions.]

[narrativestranger]

[ He catches the vest, nearly taking it to the face before looking it over. He watches Zulf for a moment, before: ]

You runnin' away again? Zia noticed you're avoidin' her, you know. She cares.

[ Deliberately tugging that guilt string. Annnd... ]

Doubt the Kid's too happy about it, either.

[fuckthemancers]

[There's a pause, clothing still haphazardly in his arms and his back to Rucks. He's well aware they care. He cares as well. That might almost be the problem, too.]

[A jerked kind of nod is given. He knows.]

[narrativestranger]

[ He watches Zulf's back. He knows, so next step: ]

Good. Know you care, too, 'n let me say... Runnin' away from the problem won't change nothin'.

[ Hypocritical, given how he fervently believes in a method that's erased their memories more than once. ]

You thinkin' you can run away forever? Or you just lookin' for some peace? Long as you know they're waitin' for you to come back to 'em, I can distract Zia 'n the Kid for a while.

[ Rucks: Roundabout implications he might actually care a bit, wow. What a shocker. ... All the same, there's a hint of condescension - like Zulf would need Rucks' help to get them off his back, and how sure he is he can just get the kids' focus off Zulf for a while. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[That finally seems to earn a glare over his shoulder, nose scrunched up in something like distaste. Whether it's because of Rucks' basic existence being an affront to Zulf's tastes, the condescension, or the hypocrisy, well it's hard to say.]

[narrativestranger]

[ And Rucks... chuckles. After a second, he asks, genially: ]

You gonna kill me with your eyes, or tell me what you want so I can proper lend a hand?

[ Tell him you're gonna just go and get some peace, Zulf. He'll actually be helpful to you without being underhanded. Sort of. He wants you fixed asap. That's not too underhanded, right?

Although, he'll definitely come back if you lie about what you want; can't distract Zia or the Kid forever, after all. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[There's some hesitation before Zulf finally gives something of an answer... Holding up just one finger.]

[The first option. He's hoping for the first option.]





[...And perhaps trying to avoid showing any more weakness in front of Rucks than he already has. Even for all that they might somehow care for another, and he knows it, there's still a part of him that balks at the very idea of being too vulnerable around the old Cael. Maybe he still hates him that much deep inside, or maybe it's just how their relationship has turned out. Regardless...]

[narrativestranger]

[ Rucks, on the other hand, has taken their hateful relationship and mellowed a tad. He's habitually irritating Zulf, and sure, he's got good reason to, but while he doesn't necessarily like the Ura, he only really dislikes him for things he views as in the past, now. (Him being an Ura only vaguely counted.) He could count on Zulf to avoid breaking the Bastion again - because he knew Kid would provide ample retribution for his crime.

In other words; Rucks was still a jerk to Zulf, but he didn't hate him, now that he felt like punishment had been delivered and Zulf had learned. ... He knew how Zulf felt about him, though, and didn't much mind that, either. He wasn't about to filter himself just for Zulf, though, unless it was important. And even then, he could never turn off everything Zulf hated about him; it was only partially his choice, and those old stereotypes and fears would always lace his treatment of Zulf as well as any other Ura from the Tazal Terminals. Zia was the exception to the rule, 'course. ]

You aimin' to kill me, or you aimin' to run forever? Neither's gonna work for long, y'know. Zia's a smart gal, 'n the Kid's as stubborn as a mule. 'n if a dirty look keeled me over, I'd probably have died years ago.

[ A low chuckle. Snarking is good when you aren't talking to an old man who breathes bullshit and condescension like it's air, sometimes. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[A light scoff hints that Zulf is well aware of Rucks' stubborn tendency to somehow still remain in the realm of the living, old age and end of the world doing positively nothing to stop him from going on as usual.]

[There's no further elaboration; Zulf continues to pick up his things. Soon enough he's finished and just staring at Rucks expectantly.]

[narrativestranger]

[ Rucks rolls his eyes when the other moves over and stares at him. ]

If you're gonna do both, do me a favor and try to say hello to Zia 'n the Kid sometimes. You not bein' around'll just upset 'em at best.

[ He's probably telling the truth, even if he's delivering it like Zulf never ever thought that'd happen.

With his part said, though, he steps out of Zulf's way, regardless of if he rejects or accepts. If Zulf refuses, he can just sic Zia on him himself. Zulf holds no love for him, but all the love in the world for Zia, so far as Rucks can see. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[There's a guilty glance away that tells more than he'd like. He knows that's the best case scenario. He's well aware that, by some grace, he has two people who care about him deeply. It's just impossible to actually be around them now, and there's only so long that gifts and food left for them while they're asleep or behind a door can sate either of them. Still, he hopes it's enough.]

[There's... a moment where it seems as though he wants to say something, even going through the movements as if he's getting ready to. The slight shift in body language, the deep breath, mouth opening just enough... But then he closes it, frowning to himself before he moves to push past Rucks.]

[narrativestranger]

[ He catches the guilt, and he softly smiles, hiding it in his mustache. Glad to see you've still got a heart, Zulf.

Still, he's surprised to see the other almost talk - but lets the other push past him. He pats the other on the back as he passes, but refrains from saying anything, even though he kind of wants to.

He's good for now. ]