Day 75 - A Stranger Enters

[dissectionislove]

Who: Stein and YOU
When: Day 75, evening-ish
Where: The entrance of the Bastion, just off the Skyway
What: After an untold time searching, Stein arrives (intro post, pretty much)
Style: Action, but will adopt other styles
Warnings: None that I can see; will change if needed
Status: OPEN.

The place I’m supposed to be…

[He’s been searching for it for hours, at least; days, more likely. It wasn’t exactly clear to him how long. Funny how the Madness could distort everything beyond recollection. His vision is foggy, clouded by the shattered left lens of his glasses, and the sweat dripping into his eyes. All he’s got to go on is this sensation driving him onward, even with thousand pound legs, a spinning head, and a heart that feels like it’s ready to burst.

Yes, he knows he’s in bad shape. Stein is at least that self-aware still. But the rest is a blur; where he’s been, who he’s been with, what he’s done…
…he especially doesn’t want to think about that last bit.

He staggers forward, a shaky hand out before him, sweat dripping off his chin. He’s so close to it now…so close to the answer. So close to the end.]

The place I’m supposed to be…

[He pants, breathless and spent, and trudges onward into Bastion.
This was it – where he was supposed to be. At once, the Madness dissipates, releasing its brutal, tormenting hold on his mind. Stein takes a final step forward…and collapses.

At last, he can sleep.]

Comments

[hellpyre]

[Marie was gone. They had lost another. That was three in almost as many months.

Rin wasn't about to go look for her, but she had excused herself from the group to go out to the Skyway alone for a bit. Dangerous, yes, but she didn't plan on getting far from the entrance. She just wanted to be by herself for a little while.

She felt responsible, some how, for the woman's disappearance. Bon would tell her that it wasn't her fault, that there was no way she could have known, but Rin just couldn't shake that sense of her own ability to protect people being kicked down yet another notch.

She shuffled around a bit, picking up stones and hurling them off the Skyway, watching them sail over the path and out, down in to nothing. Another one had been picked up and she was about to throw it when shuffling, scraping noises reached her sensitive ears. She blinked, turning her head in the direction it was coming from.

At first she didn't see anything, able to hear a lot better than she was able to see, distance wise. But soon enough a shuffling form appeared in her field of vision.

Oh hell... that was a survivor. And they didn't look very good at all.]

H... hey! Hey! Over here!

[She bolted forward, intending to wave him down and lead him to safety, only for him to mutter something and... collapse.

Luckily she was near enough to catch him, though the sudden weight wasn't what she was expecting so quickly, and she nearly toppled over with him.]

Aw geez... c'mon, wake up... ! ... please... ?

[dissectionislove]

[He wasn’t aware of the person who caught him, or that he’d even been caught in the first place.

He'd been struggling with the Madness for so long; the insanity ravaging his body and tormenting his mind. Finally released from that suffering, everything in Stein had completely shut down. There would be no waking him for now.

His long and lithe form – lighter than usual, as it’d been far too long since he’d last eaten – hung limply in her grasp. He was completely at her mercy.]

[hellpyre]

... this is not my week...

[Rin, is it ever your week? I mean really, honey, it's the end of the world. A stitch-scarred guy passing out on you is mild, all things considered.

But getting both of them to safety was the bigger issue here. Him being light wouldn't have been an issue anyway, but it certainly helped.]

Alright, okay... just... try not to die, okay?

[Comforting, Rin.

She hauled the man up, getting him over her shoulder somewhat awkwardly. Being close to the entry way meant it didn't take a lot of work to get him there, and any creatures around the Skyway that might have taken notice of them missed their chance by seconds to attack.

Once on the other side she stumbled to a stop.]

HEY! I need some help over here!

[unflattering]

[Newcomer! Maka hears the commotion and Rin's call and immediately comes over.]

What is it Ri--?

[He freezes when he sees what she's holding. That couldn't be--]

Professor?

[hellpyre]

... why am I not surprised you know him. Help me, wouldya? This ain't as easy as it looks.

[unflattering]

I got it, I got it...

[He didn't think it looked that easy in the first place, but he'll help shoulder Stein's weight the rest of the way.]

Geez, typical that this would happen once Miss Marie's gotten herself lost again. [He sounds irritated but it's really quite a downer.]

[hellpyre]

I got chewed on by a giant monster with horrible breath the other day. What about this place ever makes you think our luck is gonna be good?

[But she's grateful for the help in spite of her bitching, Maka. Really. And it is a downer.]

There an extra room we can put him? He doesn't look injured, I think he's just exhausted.

[unflattering]

If I don't have anything else, I have optimism. [And even that's tenuous at best.]

I think for now we can put him in Miss Marie's room, if she happens to come back it's not like she'd care. I'll just tell him that he can pick his own room officially when he wakes up.

[He looks down at Stein and cringes.]

I wonder if he doesn't need food, too. He feels a lot...lighter than he should be.

[hellpyre]

... yeah.

[Rin used to think that, too, but lately...

In a really messed up way, it's almost easier to not think about that, too, but it's also turning to a habit of "just don't think about it".

Ugh... no, she needs to focus on what's going on right now. Later. She can deal with that later.]

Alright.

[Crap, that's not good.]

... really? I just figured-- I mean, it's not like weight is an issue with me, y'know? But uh... I'll see what we got in the kitchen once we put him down in there.

[aaaand taking him to the room now because demon strength or not, this is kind of killing her shoulder]

[unflattering]

...I know he doesn't look like much, but Professor Stein is the strongest adult Meister at the Academy and is educated in various forms of fighting. So yeah. He's a lot stronger than he looks.

[Dude's ripped, man.]

So if he's feeling light, that's not very good.

[Heeeere we go, Professa, have a nice lie-down on Marie's bed. This isn't awkward or anything.]

Professor? [Maka casts a dubious glance at Rin.] I don't know what I'm doing, he probably won't recognize me either.

[hellpyre]

I couldn't really tell under the jacket, and I wasn't 'bout to cop a feel on an adult that just passed out on me. But you're right, that ain't good. Hopefully he ain't picky.

[Nope not awkward just two teenagers tending to an unconscious man.]

He's pretty out... but didn't Crona say somethin' 'bout the soul bein' the important thing? Not that I understand what you two were talkin' about but hey...

[unflattering]

Oi, I didn't say anything about feeling him up! Yeesh, what is it with people and jumping to that conclusion?

...Besides, he'd probably dissect you for that. Or anything else. He likes dissecting things.

[HUFF.]

Hnn...we'll see. I've never seen him eat, to be honest, but I doubt he's picky.

[hellpyre]

I'm a closet pervert~

[Even if her optimism was starting to wane, she could still make jokes. Bad ones. And even stick her tongue out at him.

But it only lasted enough for hear that part about dissection and--

Geez Maka is everyone from your world slightly unhinged?]

Fine, whatever, I'll bring back a coupla things. Just... stay here, okay?

[yinyangfox]

[ Seimei had been walking with some of the chickens, having a pleasant conversation about the state of his garden and the work being done on his house having to be postponed due to the disappearance of Marie when he happened to spot Rin and Maka dragging an unfamiliar person into the main housing.

Not normally one to make polite overtures, far more likely to wait unless called on, the onmyoji nevertheless politely excuses himself, and heads for the apartments. After all, if everyone didn't do their parts in the Bastion, it would never survive, and that included him, regardless of how sedate he tended to be.

Standing outside the apartments, the Asian man waffles only long enough to convince himself that when people are injured, or otherwise unwell, propriety takes a shelf in favor of prudence. Kicking his boots off at the door and padding in barefoot, Seimei paces forward, raising his voice just enough to be heard more than one room away at a time. ]

"Lady Rin! Sir Maka? Lady Rin, it is Abe no Seimei...I...Well...Is there any help I can offer? Did you find a survivor?"

[ He raises his voice a bit more, encouraged by his own naughtiness - breaking these rules! Going where he hadn't been invited. It was much like being a disobedient child and felt largely as thrilling; a delightful break from his extreme adherence to etiquette by nature, regardless of how serious the situation potentially is. At least it is distracting, in light of the grim news of a disappearance. ]

[hellpyre]

[Rin exited Marie's old apartment just a second after Seimei entered and called out, prompting a quirked eyebrow from the half-demon when she spotted him. Why did he look... giddy? Oh Seimei, she will never fully understand you...]

Yeah, I found one. Maka and Crona know him. He ain't injured but he needs food and water badly.

[yinyangfox]

[ He looks almost crestfallen at the report of lack of injury. After all, he wasn't good for a great deal these days and was feeling a little less than useful. When one's skills were about knowing one's environment, displacement tended to put you back several decades. Still, he was learning. Sooner or later he'd be a good Bastion-based onmyoji.

If he could manage any tasks within it.

Still, it doesn't hurt to offer more mundane services. Then again Rin is an infinitely better cook than himself. It doesn't make sense to step on toes in the quest to feel necessary. No doubt the chickens would at least welcome his company.

Schooling his face to abandon the disappointment he felt, Seimei has the sense to bow politely before excusing himself. ]

"Ah, I see. Then I suppose the matter is handled and my services are not necessary. I apologize for entering uninvited. It won't happen again."

[hellpyre]

[Except that Rin caught that look, and she knew he'd been feeling a little less than useful lately. She couldn't blame him - they were all out of place there, some just had the fortune of having a skill or two that was still usable. Others... were going to have to learn to adapt.

Mundane task or not, it was still something.]

Geez...

[And without warning she stomped past him, only to grab a sleeve and drag the onmyoji with her in a rather undignified manner]

C'mon...

[yinyangfox]

[ Unused to being treated so casually, let along dragged anywhere by anyone for any reason, the onmyoji stumbles and very nearly falls. Pinwheeling his arms briefly he managed to regain his balance, but can't help the flush of color creeping up his neck at the indignity.

Japanese manners prevent him from saying anything about it, however, and he merely follows obediently behind Rin, out of sorts and suddenly regretting his decision to creep in without permission. Even so, it serves its purpose in shaking the glum expression off the man's face.

Just because Seimei was full of advice and support for other people, didn't mean he didn't need it sometimes, too. He just didn't acknowledge the human part of himself as much as others. ]

[hellpyre]

[Get used to it, Seimei. Rin's politeness can only last for so long and she's used the majority of it up on you already.

She leads him to the kitchen, pulling him in before finally letting go of him so she can pause and use both hands to take out her hair tie and redo her ponytail.]

Might wanna put your sleeves back. I never said I didn't need help, and two sets of hands are better than one.

[yinyangfox]

[ He obeys without realizing it, pulling his sleeves up and back, tying them with the ribbon he keeps pocketed for the purpose, eyes wide. What exactly is she expecting him to do? ]

Lady Rin...I do not... [ Don't say you don't know how, just say you don't do it, Seimei. Admitting you don't know how to cook practically screams pampered jerk. Which he isn't...at least by the standards of his era. Standards he's being forced to acknowledge aren't accepted in "modern" times.]

I...do not cook. [ Wait. Isn't saying you don't cook pretty much the same thing? Curses. ]

I never learned how. I do not wish to make our new guest ill. Are...you certain you do not need...perhaps a spell or something written? Or clothes...I have a growing collection of local clothing... [ Fretting? Seimei? Never. ]

[hellpyre]

[This is the face of a girl who doesn't give a shit, Seimei. Get used to it.]

You wanna be helpful, right? Even if you ain't sayin' it out loud I can still see it.

There are things you can do in a kitchen that don't require actually cookin' anything, and guess what? I'm pretty damn sure onmyoji aren't immune to learnin'. You ain't gonna make him sick if you've got me here, 'kay?

[yinyangfox]

[ usually good at hiding his internal emotions, Seimei is entirely unable to keep himself from puffing up like a pissed off chicken. It passes rapidly, but the manner in which Rin speaks to him is something he isn't likely to become accustomed to any time soon.

Still, she -is- right. ]

Of course, Lady Rin. Direct me, and I shall endeavor to satisfy your demands.

[ He sounds a little insulted, but more relieved. He didn't have to ask, which was mercy enough. ]

[hellpyre]

[Your puffed up bird impression is nothing compared to her pissed off feline impression. And she's got the claws and teeth to make it convincing.

He'd better get used to her like that. She's not about to keep up the pleasant act.]

... good.

[She's glad he's willing to cooperate, though.]

Right. Well, I'm thinkin' bland food, since I'unno how long he's been like this. So... we'll start with potatoes. Think you can get water in a pot and set it on the stove to boil?

[yinyangfox]

Potatoes? [ The onmyoji shakes his head and goes to get a pot, filling it with water and adjusting it on the stove. Perking with curiosity, he cranes his neck slightly, looking over Rin at what she was doing. Potatoes in one country were very different from potatoes in another, and Seimei has never seen anythign other than satsuma-imo and yamaimo. Still, a root is a root, and surely is would make a fine simple meal? He trusted Rin in this, above all else. ]

"What else would you like me to do?"

[hellpyre]

[These were just basic brown potatoes, the kind Rin knew were more common in America and parts of Europe than anywhere else in her neck of the woods. But they worked for the purposes of getting people fed, and were a little hardier than what she was used to.

She's working on them right now, peeling the large brown roots with nothing but a small paring knife, but doing so expertly, moving in spirals around the outer skin.]

Mnn... croquettes shouldn't take too long. [That was more to herself than to him] We got some corn the other day, so get that and start pullin' the husks off, 'kay?