open!

[feintofhart]

Who: claude & YOU!
Where: various locations around aldrip -- outskirts, apothecary, "please stop flying your huge fuck-off dragon around town, it's scaring everyone off", etc etc
What: The aftermath of Gnosia stuff, and anything else that ought to be shoved into here, glitches and hijinks and all!
Warnings: discussions of death!



i. rebuilding.

[ Claude died.

This is a fact that he doesn't believe to be particularly noteworthy to most people who weren't in the room where it happened. Most people had died, after all, and he doubts that many were even able to notice when faced down with the grim reality of their own deaths, or the deaths of those closer to them -- their lovers, their roommates, their best friends, their allies from home, the list goes on and on and on. And so he does what he does best, which is to carry on as though it had never happened in the first place. If people haven't realized it on their own, he has no desire to tell anyone about it. What would even be the point? It's stupid, it's depressing, and it doesn't even matter anyway. Not when he's here, hale and hearty as he's ever been.

And so he gets to work. Whether you're here to visit Claude himself, who lives in the apartment above the Apothecary, or you're here to grab some needed goods from the Apothecary itself, you'll see the unfamiliar sight of the shop closed entirely, and for good reason: the man of the hour is perched on the rooftop, hammering some planks of wood over an enormous hole in the upper corner of the building, the edges blackened and scorched, the Apothecary itself a mess of shattered glass and stained floorboards. He's not doing... a wonderful job, it must be said. He's largely just trying to make sure he doesn't get rained on while he's sleeping until he can hire someone to fix it up properly.

As he sees you approach, he'll glance over and shout down: ] We're closed! [ He sighs, shifting on the rooftop to regard whoever's here more seriously. ] But if you really need something, I can check if we have any left in storage.

ii. recuperating.

[ Otherwise? Claude is just trying to get back to normal.

If you happen to be someone he already knows, he may well reach out to you first, provided you weren't present during his death, something that he feels ample embarrassment about, even if you and him were foes during the whole nasty Gnosia business. He may visit you at your home, your place of business, the outskirts where you like to train, bounding up to you with a cheerful wave, and a quick: ] Hey! Just thought I'd check up on you after all of that.

[ If you're not someone he already knows, you can find him around town, doing what he always does. He may be training on the outskirts of town with his enormous bow, eyes narrowed and mouth pinched into a frown as he trains with more ferocity than usual, or perhaps at a variety of shops as he works on replenishing his stores, overencumbered by bags and bags of goods that he looks like he's barely managing to carry on his own. Or, rarely, tucked into a quiet bar -- he's not a big drinker, but even he thinks he deserves a drink after all of that. Just one. Just enough to soothe his rattled nerves.

Or, if you prefer to run into him and his wyvern, the great white beast that she is, you'll spot them flying overhead with far greater regularity than normal, taking refuge in the sky, where you can wait for them to inevitably land. If you instead run into them on land, you may find yourself confronted with a mouth tugged into a snarl, one wing slung protectively over Claude where he'll push it off with a laugh and hasten to say: ] She won't bite, I swear! She's just a little more protective these days. [ He'll swat her in the side, shaking his head. ] Cut it out, Zaffy. It's fine.

iii. everything else.

[ Hit me up with anything! You know the drill! ]

Comments

ii

[firekiss]

[They've never met before. That's fine. Everyone starts somewhere. Sometimes the first meetings are respectable things in which everyone politely introduces themselves and there's inherent dignity involved in how things go. Sometimes, it's in media res chaos.

And then there's what happens here, which is that Claude ferociously lands some bullshit shot with impeccable anime archer aim, and Guinaifen cheers. See, she'd been watching things for the last few moments - and Claude probably knew she was there, maybe he didn't - and she was prepared to move on after figuring out what was going on (a guy training)

...but the anime archer bullshit's a good show, and one thing led to another, she watched for a moment longer than Guinaifen had expected, and he startled a cheer out of her.]

Sorry! [He probably didn't need a cheer when practicing, but whatever, doesn't matter.] That was amazing. [That's the important part.]

[feintofhart]

[ Claude whips around at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, even more surprised by the cheering than he is by the fact that somebody had been watching him. People rarely feel inclined to celebrate his bowmanship, either because they believe they need to encourage him to improve upon his skills, or because they don't want to inflate his already substantial ego. ]

Oh, ah -- thank you?

[ He blinks rapidly, one-two-three, then seems to settle back into his customary personality; it doesn't take long, but his training is one of the few times that he relaxes into being wholly himself. He grins at her. ]

No need to apologize. I didn't realize anyone was watching, or else I would have put on a better show, [ he says with a wink. ] Though I'm glad it didn't take more than that to impress you. I don't think I've seen you around before, have I?

[firekiss]

[And at the wink she just heads on over all friendly-like because that says without saying that she's found a kindred fucking spirit at long last, probably, and boy! Boy. There's a lot of people in Aldrip. And a lot of them are pretty nice people? 10/10, can recommend the men and women of Aldrip, and sure, they're all criminals, but who hasn't broken the law every now and again?

But there's a difference between "perfectly decent human being" and "someone who gets it (probably)", a big one, and she's just going for it. Guinaifen's going for it. So, big grin back.]

I'm pretty new. I've been trying to keep things simple [...kind of....] while I figure things out. You know? New place, new people, figuring out what's going on and who's doing what...oh. But I should start with my name, so you're not stuck calling me 'red-headed juggling girl' or something.

My name is Guinaifen. [She does a little curtsy, nothing too fancy, the sort of thing she'd start off a performance with or maybe cap the end of whatever act she's doing before starting on the next one. Act 2 done, curtsy, act 3 start. That sort of thing.] I'm a performer from the Xianzhou Luofu.

dragon!

[baldrshand]

Ethlyn stopped short, almost frozen. She had grown accustomed to the sight of Zafeera in the sky overhead and on the ground with Claude. But the sound of a draconic throat snarling and the sight of viciously sharp white teeth…

But she couldn't blame Zaffy. Not after what had happened to her master.

“I would be jumpy too, if I were her.” Still holding rather still, Ethlyn ran an eye over Claude. “And what about you?”

[feintofhart]

"Hey." Normally, Claude would chastise Zafeera, but not too badly. This whole thing had given her quite the fright - she had seen his body in the aftermath, had carried Minato away; he knows she's still confused as to how he's back - and he can be patient with her as she gets her bearings back. But towards Ethlyn, of all people? He gives her neck a firm swat. "That's Ethlyn. You know Ethlyn. Say sorry."

Cowed, Zafeera lets out a vaguely conciliatory grumble and lowers her massive head towards the ground and gazing up at Ethlyn with one soulful eye, as though apologizing. Claude sighs, shaking his head.

"That's better." He glances back to Ethlyn and shrugs, saying loftily: "Oh, no jumpier than I normally am. But what else is new?"

He rolls his head back, stretching out his neck. "And yourself, Ethlyn? I hope you didn't get involved in too much nonsense."

[baldrshand]

Ethlyn couldn't help but breathe out a little sigh of relief, even if she didn't want to. She knew it had bothered Claude when her first reaction to his wyvern had been terror, especially when her explanation had been that Judgral's nation of wyvern-riders had been mortal enemies of her own.

So she made herself step forward and give Zaffy a little scratch under her enormous chin. Amazing how just the position of her head changed her--from a lion into a cat, almost.

"Nonsense..." That was one word for it. An incredibly--reverse-hyperbolic word. "I got through without being injured. I feel very lucky for that."

She gave Claude a considering look. "But what about you? I think I might be the person who can most honestly say I might know how you feel."

ii

[bulleting]

[Caitlyn wasn't expecting any visitors. She was still resting up, trying to get back to normal after everything. The feral anger that she felt during her Gnosia infection scared her, honestly. She's felt anger before, but what she felt then? She was uncontrollable, unrecognizable. She didn't like it.

And it was thanks to Claude, that Vi was able to subdue her. She owed him her thanks. If he hadn't helped Vi with intervening, there was no telling who she might've hurt.

She was grateful that at least a part of her had been mindful to stay away from Vi, in an effort to keep her safe. She was luckier, too, that her main targets had been other Gnosia, so while she had some blood on her hands, she didn't actually kill anyone.

It was still an adjustment to get back to normal, to move past those thoughts and emotions the infection put in her, but also to recover from the poison that slowed her down. She was doing better, by far, improving more and more each day, but she was still making a point to take it easy for now. She needed to get her mind straight, too.

She had just fixed some tea and settled down to dig into a new book she got when she heard the knock. Her brow furrowed curiously, moving slowly to rise with aches filling the muscles of her body, but she eventually managed to make her way to the door, opening it to find the familiar apothecary.]

Oh. Claude. Hello. [She... really didn't expect a house visit from him, especially when she remembers just how angry and violent she was when he was helping Vi. Oops.]

Thank you. For checking in, and for helping Vi. I owe the both of you a great deal.

[feintofhart]

If you're really thanking me for shooting you, then you must be back to normal. Considering what I put you through, consider us even.

[ He knows that if he were in Cait's position, he'd want to be put down as swiftly as possible, in whatever way they had to. But there's a difference between the knowing and the doing -- Claude knows damn well how much it hurts to get shot in the way that he shot her, the way that the heads of his arrows wedge themselves into someone's flesh, the searing pain of having to tear it out of your body, and more than that, the poison...

Claude was first poisoned when he was very young. Since then, he's grown used to it. But he has a funny feeling that it may have been a first for poor Cait. ]

I'm just checking up on you. Are you feeling better after all of that? No side effects that I ought to know about?

[ He brought some herbal remedies in his pack, just in case. He's trying to do this for everyone he's poisoned. It's only fair. ]

[bulleting]

If it wasn't for you, there's no telling what I might've done.

[Every time Caitlyn thinks back to things she did and the choices she made.. it's honestly so cringe, and in the worst way possible. Acting so violently, acting out of rage and anger? Feeling so bloodthirsty? That wasn't her. And now that she's herself again, she full of guilt and regret, for not being able to control herself, even if it isn't anywhere close to her fault.]

Just tired and achy, but I suspect that's normal. Nothing rest won't fix. [And she hates resting. Even when she was hurt in the first of Jinx's bombings, she was still up and plotting. But Vi's been forcing her to rest, or trying to, at least.]

i.

[boarishboy]

[ The shout does call his attention as he approaches. While he hadn't known entirely what to expect, after everything, he had still wanted to check in on Claude due to the chaos. Dimitri had been blessedly spared from any horrific fate; however, he knows that not everyone else can say the same. ]

No need, [ the boy offers, shaking his head lightly. ] I actually came for the company. If you'll have me, that is.

I can earn my keep otherwise and put some of my strength to use. Although not in the way I anticipated, well... I have a feeling that here most things aren't going to actually go as anticipated.

[feintofhart]

Oh -- Dimitri! [ Claude flaps a dismissive hand at him, sliding down the tiles of the rooftop until his legs are dangling freely from its edge, eyes round with momentary surprise. ]

I wouldn't dream of it. You haven't come all this way just to be put to work. [ His heels drum against the side of the wall as he bends forward, hands gripping at the gutters to keep him aloft. ]

I've been neglectful, haven't I? I ought to have been checking in on how you've been faring here, sudden mass-onset bouts of insanity aside. I hope you managed to escape most of that mess?

[boarishboy]

[ Dimitri looks up at Claude, which- He did that a lot figuratively at the Academy, didn't he? Fitting, he supposes, for him to do so literally here too. ]

You wouldn't be making me do anything I didn't want to, [ he counters, folding his arms. ] I offered. [ And it might be just as good for him as anything, honestly, after all that recently occurred. ]

For the most part, yes. I wasn't as afflicted as some others seemed to be by the... disease. [ A little uncertainty here because, honestly, he was still trying to wrap his head around it all. ] Besides, it's not your responsibility to keep tabs on me though the thought is appreciated.

ii, dranks.

[hasitsthorns]

[ While she hasn't quite found her audience yet, Rosie has been frequenting little bars around Aldrip to see if they need any musical talent. This one didn't, unfortunately, and so that left her with only one other option: drink. Okay, so- There were more than just that one option but! Like many, she's just trying to find a sense of normalcy again after all the Gnosia dramatics.

Normalcy for her, of course, also includes locking in on cute dudes to flirt with. And Claude? He fits the bill. She sllllllides casually next to where he's sitting all smiles and asks: ] What are ya' having, dude? I can get the next one, if you'd like.

Just need a name for the order.

[feintofhart]

You want to buy me a drink?

[ Aldrip is a progressive place. But still, Claude was raised with enough chivalry to find the mere idea of a woman buying a man a drink a bit outlandish -- to be forward is one thing, but a noble like Claude really ought to be the one buying. He may not be a noble here, but he is a business owner, and a very successful one at that; he has more than enough funds to handle himself. ]

While that's very kind of you, I couldn't possibly accept before we've gotten properly acquainted. How about I buy you a drink instead, and we fix that?

[ He didn't come here for company, exactly -- he came here to do a little old-fashioned brooding, just like his classmates. But he simply doesn't have it in him to stick to it when company presents itself. ]

[hasitsthorns]

[ Although a progressive, modern independent woman who doesn't need no man: ] Well! If you insist. [ She is also not about to flip the typical script if it means she gets a drink out of it. ]

What's the occasion though? Seems kind of somber, so- That'll change my drink choice, too. [ Certain drinks were for celebrating, after all! But this definitely seemed like a more... brooding kind of vibe. He may be receptive and friendly, sure, but it takes one to know one maybe. Rosie's been in his shoes enough to recognize it at least.

Maybe that's why even if he didn't want company, she wanted to provide it. She always wished someone would have when she pretend she didn't, anyway. ]

i

[grappler]

[she'd been on a jog when she passed by the apothecary. not really blatantly going to it... but she was still trying to take stock of everyone.

last month had been... rough. for lack of a better term.

she has to stop when she sees the state of the building though, eyebrows raising as he speaks.

she puts her hands on her hips as she responds, still catching her breath slightly:]

Not looking for anything this time. But looks like you could use some help.

[feintofhart]

Oh, I don't know about that. I'm just patching things up enough that I don't get completely drenched if we have a summer storm until I can get someone in here to fix it up properly. [ He gestures at his work with a slight, self-effacing smile -- unusual for Claude, but manual labour isn't exactly his specialty, and he knows it. ]

I'm sure you have enough on your plate without adding splinters to the equation. I am glad to see you're still with us, though.

[grappler]

Eh, this place can't keep me down for long.

[even though he'd kind of rejected her offer, she's going to start climbing up to the roof anyway.]

Not really doing anything right now, anyway. Other than getting some exercise in before I go to Lupin.

i

[solitarysoul]

[Levi had died as well, though he didn't expect to be so shaken up about it. He was hoping there'd be something in the apothecary that might help...but it seems they're closed. He looks up at Claude.]

O-oh, t-that's okay. You don't have to go out of your way for me. Do you know when it'll be open again?

[feintofhart]

It... might be a while. This place really had a number done on it, [ Claude says, a frown tugging at his mouth. He loved this place -- loves this place. Felt safe here, valued, happy. Now, all of that peace feels as though it's been suddenly disrupted. ]

But that doesn't mean I'll make you wait. You're the kid who always gets hashish here, right? [ He swings his legs 'round, abandoning his haphazard hammering for the time being. ] I always gathered you just bought it for leisure. But are you actually using it medicinally?

[ He's not going to go out of his way to sell tea and hashish for others' pleasure. But medicine is a different story. He's positioned himself at the heart of this town in certain ways, and despite his own stressors, he has no intention of letting anyone down. ]

[solitarysoul]

M-medicinally? Uh...y-yeah, I guess. It helps me relax.

[Not as well as his previous 'medicine' but it took the edge off if he had to deal with people or try to sleep.]

I'm Levi.

dragon!

[avitus]

--Whoa.

[It wouldn't be anywhere near the first time or the twentieth that something huge with teeth and claws had hissed at him, so Yusuke barely even flinches in reflex, stepping back and out of its way, hands raised. He isn't actually looking to fight (for once) (mostly), so it's better to keep from pissing the creature off.]

Yeah, I'm just passing through, no worries. [To Claude, then:] Is that your Spirit Beast?

[She reminds him a little of Puu, who had evolved into a similar creature when he himself had died and been reborn as a demon, and it feels like it makes more sense than her just being a pet or something.]

[feintofhart]

Be nice, [ Claude scolds the wyvern again, and she lowers her head, grumbling in contrition, a forked tongue licking irritably at the air, but at least those sharp fangs of hers have been suitably put away. ]

She's just on edge after the, ah... circumstances of last month. She's normally much better behaved. And not my Spirit Beast at all -- she's my steed, one I've raised since before she was even hatched. [ He tilts his head, eyes alight in curiosity. This fellow doesn't seem too frightened, so he'll take that at face value instead of ushering Zafeera away from him. ]

What's a Spirit Beast?

i.

[melnik]

[ Claude did die. And it was by Miller's hand.

It is almost worse to be saddled with all the memories of the things he did while the Gnosia infection was plaguing him than it would be to wake up blacklisted by everyone he knows with no explanation. But there isn't any room to be defensive. He remembers all of it. From the hallucinations of the enigmatic Dark Ones to his own thought processes when he haphazardly planned the assault on Claude's apothecary. He is so disgusted by his own cowardice that he sometimes starts to lose sight of the real enemy of them all—yet as the dust continues to settle, as more people begin to speak up about what happened, it returns to him as a dark pit in his stomach. These are the actions of the so-called Council, testing them in some further inscrutable way.

Frankly, he's pissed off. Infuriated, even. It's just that it isn't the time to fly off the handle. Instead, it's struck him with a sense of calm like never before.

So that's why he's come here. He can’t let his alliances and acquaintanceships fall apart to the meddling of people—no, some program—that only wishes to gather data in their corrupt experiment.

Nevertheless, he isn't exactly expecting Claude to greet him with a warm welcome. The sight of the place has him braced when he knocks on the door frame, already mid-poking his head in. He realizes Claude is on the roof and calls out to him. ]

Claude? It's Miller. Before you say anything, I'm back in my right mind... and I cannot apologize enough.

[feintofhart]

Oh... Miller.

[ Far from Claude's usual cheery timbre, his voice sounds decidedly flat as he greets him, the words leaving his mouth before he has a chance to gather himself. On a purely logical level, Claude has already decided on how he wishes to deal with the Gnosia problem; those who attacked the others were clearly not in their right minds, and were just as much victims, if not moreso, than those who were left to their ordinary devices. He doesn't intend to carry the grudge from everyone he'd scuffled with into the future. It's as senseless as blaming a wild beast for lashing out. It was not premeditated, was not purposeful, not in any way that counted. It had just become their nature. Claude's genuine opinion is that he would rather die another dozen times than to have his mind twisted in such a gruesome way.

But just because that's what he thinks doesn't mean that that's how he feels. He resents himself for it. It's a weakness, not to be able to control his emotions around this thorny predicament of his, even when he's made up his mind as to how he intends to feel about it. He can't seem to control the feelings of hurt and betrayal still welling up in his chest, or the way that he feels himself return to the way he was when his life in Almyra was at its worst, when he used to see threats around every corner. Twitchy and paranoid, quicker with a knife than he is with a word, staring into shadows and seeing enemies where there are none -- it is a version of himself that he doesn't like very much. The first night that he laid in bed, feeling his heart hammering away in fear and trepidation and realized the old, familiar pathways he'd wandered down, he'd squeezed his eyes shut and scraped his nails across his scalp, infuriated by the sensation of becoming a lost, scared child.

Which is not who he is, what he is. So he straightens his spine, Duke Claude von Riegan, local herbalist and proprieter once more. The mask slips on nicely. ]

I'd say that you have nothing to apologize for, but frankly, it would be astonishingly rude not to, [ he says, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards. ] But truly, I know that wasn't you. You can hardly be blamed for something you had no control over.