TLV - Inbox

[coffinturk]

"Leave a message."

Comments

[weartearrust]

[And that's a short laugh in return.]

You never know, someone might have gotten fired in the years between us, and some slob running things instead. I'll need to be out by midmorning, so when I say early I mean early. ... Do you sleep?

[coffinturk]

[ This time Angeal earns a short laugh. Sounds a bit rough like the guy doesn't do it much. ]

I've been known to put in a few years here and there. Talk to you tomorrow morning.

[ Click. Good question, SOLDIER. Well then, goodbye! ]

text;

[bhaallistic]

[He's suffering the Death Toll, so he's used his time recovering to put together that list of alchemical ingredients.]

This is Durge. Given the events that transpired recently, I hope this message finds you well. I've prepared that list we spoke about.

Potion of Greater Healing. A draught for curing moderate injuries, such as cuts and bruises. Main ingredient: Balsam.

Potion of Superior Healing. A draught for curing serious injuries, such as broken bones or deep wounds. Main ingredient: Yellow Musk Creeper Petals.

Remedial Potion. A restorative potion, which can cure poisoning and eliminate magic involving effects of blindness, silence, and paralysis. Main ingredient: Xorn Scales.

I'll also require Mergrass as a Suspension and Mugwort for Salt.

Text!

[coffinturk]

[ The response comes soon enough. Thankfully Vincent is not experiencing Death Toll! Maybe some exhaustion though between fightin' monsters and making sure Aerith doesn't overwork herself. ]

I'm fine. As soon as things settle down, I'll submit this request. I don't know if recent events will cause any delays but I'll notify you as soon I receive word.

You said your world is named Toril?

Did you get a chance to speak with the wardens in the Greenhouse?

[ Well there was the whole Fog and Otherworld thing. And the possibility of waiting for confirmation that expanding plants to include alchemy ingredients would be a feasible project. ]

[bhaallistic]

Take as much time as you need. We're all still in the early stages of recovery.

That's right. The continent of Faerûn, specifically.

And the fog ensnared me before I had the opportunity. Some plants from Toril might be a pleasant addition regardless of alchemical utility, but I think I'll wait until I hear back from you so I can give them a detailed proposal.

[coffinturk]

Alright. I'll be sure to note that for the request.

Has anyone checked you over? Heard the symptoms for coming back from the death were bad.

Well, might be better than actually dying at least.

[bhaallistic]

There was no toll following actually dying, which makes one wonder why that couldn't be sustained. Is it the Admiral's attempt to give death here some weight? If so, the entries I've read on the network suggest it isn't working.

Is there something that could be done about the nausea?

[He hates to ask, but he also hates not being able to hold down food, so there's no winning choices here.]

[coffinturk]

I meant between being alive and sick or just dead, the former might be better.

There's some medicine that will ease it and probably let you keep something light down. I can bring it by. Need anything for pain?

[ Sadly there's nothing that will completely eradicate the symptoms. But that's probably for the better. If there was no penalty for dying, everyone would care even less. And that's already a problem. ]

[bhaallistic]

The pain is manageable.

If you could bring something sufficiently light, that would be appreciated. I have a poor gauge for these things. [Since he's not really accustomed to being sick.] Cabin is on level 7, room 1. The door'll be unlocked.

text > action

[coffinturk]

I'll be there as soon as I collect everything.

[ And that's it for the immediate conversation. Vincent never pretended to give the impression that he likes to make small talk though and within a reasonable amount of time; to collect a dose of the nausea medication and an appropriate 'light meal', there is a knock on the door of the cabin.

Which is just for courtesy and to not panic the occupant. The gunman walks in shortly after. 'Light' seems to be defined as a brothy soup, half a sandwich without strong smells or condiments and applesauce. Oh and some water. He scans the immediate room and if the Dark Urge isn't in evidence, he'll call out. ]

Durge.

[bhaallistic]

[Durge emerges from the bathroom upon being called, having spent the last few minutes scrubbing away the scent of sweat and bile for Vincent's benefit. His cabin is... less so, since there's still streaks of blood on his door, a great puddle drying on the ground, and more still leading right up to his cabin, marking his journey before he expired.

His cabin is otherwise clean. Despite being rather large, all it contains is a desk, small wardrobe, chest, and bed, and all signs of Bhaal have been scrubbed away, save for the gold and ruby monument on the headboard.]

I apologise for the mess. I haven't gotten around to cleaning it.

[Read: he's been too tired. And he doesn't mind it, in any case; it's nothing compared to the squalor of the temple. When he does get around to cleaning it, it'll be as a courtesy to any guests he might have.

He sits down at his desk, chair facing Vincent. Though he's cleaned himself up, he still looks worse for wear, pale and dishevelled, with prominent bags under his eyes.]

That looks appetising. [Granted, he's barely eaten since the fog rolled in, so everything looks appetizing right now.]

[coffinturk]

[ Vincent truly appreciates the efforts to get rid of the scent of bile. He's no stranger to terrible smells and has encountered far worse. But still.

Though a glance at the door and the floor indicate he notices the blood- the latter is stepped around- the man shows no sign of being troubled by it... or otherwise. He might have some similar features to vampiric entities, but he isn't one.

Or he's very good at hiding any attraction to blood.

The tray of food is brought near but it is not placed directly before the half-elf. No need to risk a direct whiff of the food triggering another bout of nausea no matter how mild it smells at a distance. The dose of medicine- and it is one dose- and the water are set much closer.

The room is given a once over, possibly looking for more signs of the difficulties the Dark Urge is going through. ]

We'll see how well you manage to keep it down.

[ Bedside manner he does not have. ]

Do you care if I send someone else to clean up? Or do you prefer I come back.

[ How many people does the man want to allow to see him so vulernable? At least he's being given a choice though this may have as much to do with the difficulties in cleanup custodial are already probably going through as well as that other thing that happened shortly before (a) hell descended on the ship. ]

[bhaallistic]

[Durge gives Vincent's face a lingering glance before taking the medicine. Those eyes remain a curiosity. It might have been interesting to see him in the environment of that unearthly scourge, but the opportunity for that has passed.

He swallows the medicine and takes small, tentative sips of water so to not make himself gag.]

My stomach was damaged, so I expect that isn't helping matters.

[Phantom pains and nausea. Not a great combo. But with the medicine, he should have some chance of being able to eat something instead of having to wait until this subsides.]

You, if it's not too much trouble. [He is trying to keep the number of people who see him like this to a minimum. It's a little unbecoming for a child of Bhaal to be in such a state.

He leans back in his chair to wait for the medicine to take effect, one ankle crossed over a knee, and he scans Vincent's face again, longer this time, searching for any signs of fatigue - or lack thereof.]

[coffinturk]

Sounds like I should have brought the painkillers after all.

[ He did not which is a reasonable precaution in a 'prison' environment. On the other hand? He listened to the request of the patient. So the Dark Urge only has himself to blame?

A study of what can be seen of Vincent's features could reveal a lot. While it's unclear if some of the typical signs of fatigue- paler features for example as he is already very pale- would be clear, there probably are small signs around his eyes that he is weary.

Still it is definitely not on the level of someone that suffered a death or even a person who hasn't even tried to get rest. Despite the events and the cleanup necessities of the aftermath, it does appear the man either has a fair bit of stamina or has the sense to take small breaks from time to time. ]

Wouldn't have offered if it was.

[ The apathy, the indifference. A person at work who might have had an unusually long shift and not the best people skills, but definitely a far cry from someone who just suffered what, for most people, should have been the ripping, bleeding scars of every intense, sleepless personal trauma one could imagine brought to life.

Vincent had started to turn away, likely to just... go fetch the cleaning tools needed to come back and get that over with, but then he pauses and looks at the child of Bhaal. ]

What?

[bhaallistic]

[Dark Urge waves a dismissive hand.]

I'm managing.

[It'll serve as a good reminder not to let this happen again. In any case, he's tracking its intensity and when it starts to diminish, and he won't be able to take accurate notes with painkillers.

By the standards set by the state of everyone else, Vincent is immaculate. But Durge still notes the smudges of fatigue around his eyes, faint but present. Maybe a little pallid too, though it's hard to tell with his usual complexion being so pale.

There are a lot of answers he could give to Vincent's question, and few of them pleasant. But he opts for delicacy:]

Medical personnel have the tendency to overwork themselves, particularly during disaster. And while you seem to have remarkable endurance, if your time spent assisting me here would be better spent grabbing some rest, I'm sure I could manage the cleaning myself eventually.

[He smiles, warm and pleasant. And there's absolutely nothing deceptive about it, promise.]

[coffinturk]

[ In response, Vincent almost seems amused. ]

I've been pacing myself. But no need to worry on my account. You're my last stop for a while.

[ Primarily because Vincent knows he needs to get himself a nap in before he goes to track down Aerith and make sure she is getting a rest break.

There's some nuance to his response. Most people might be expressing an undercurrent of gratitude for the concern about then. Vincent appears to have the presence of a man is a lot more practical in times of crisis. And that comment about pacing himself? Probably had more nuance than just the flow of work in the aftermath of the events that consumed the last week or so of the Barge's daily routine. ]

Hope you weren't under the impression that I was sticking around after cleaning up the blood.

[ That sort of thing is just being practical. The half elf can clean his own cabin in his own time. This man is definitely not the type to play nurse. Definitely not for a stranger. ]

[bhaallistic]

[Durge raises his hands to emphasize his refusal.]

Oh, no, not at all. I would rather you used that time to rest and tend to those with greater need.

[He's never had a nurse before and he doesn't intend to have one now. It's a little beneath a Bhaalspawn. He's endured much, much worse than this without any sort of assistance, up to and including evisceration, so the medicine is more a matter of want than need. Repeatedly vomiting up food after not eating for several days is just unpleasant enough to allow for some concessions.

His hands drop.]

If I find myself well enough, I hope to join you soon. But I'm not sure how long these tolls tend to last.

[coffinturk]

[ There'll be no argument on Vincent's part. In fact, it makes it easier on him that the Dark Urge is so self-sufficient as to not insist. ]

Not really sure myself.

[ Vincent hadn't looked into it. A decision he will probably rectify for the future now it is clear a catastrophe of this size can occur. ...At least there's a lot of first hand examples he can observe?

You know. Silver linings and all. ]

Do as you please.

[ It really isn't Vincent's job to dictate what the half-elf does and does not do to maximize his recovery. Such is the impression his words give. And maybe just a little acknowledgement that the Dark Urge seems more than capable of understanding his limits.

Not one for lingering, this time Vincent does leave the room; though he'll return with what's needed to take care of the bloodstains and anything else he might have noticed should not wait for the room's occupant to be able to pick up after himself. It's within that time there might be room for further conversation.

It may be an interesting process to watch though; by all accounts a person working in the medical profession, even inventory, should understand how to clean up blood. But there is a thoroughness that suggests he's very accustomed to it. Methodical, thorough; and without some form of divine or arcane way to scry into the past, very unlikely for someone to discover there was ever any suspicious stains there at all.

But it's fine. Surely in a place like the Barge, he's had plenty of opportunities to practice... the thorough elimination of evidence. ]

Post event; few days after nightmare babysitting

[planetdialup]

[A good neighbor comes over to check on other neighbors. Or friend check on friend at least.


Gently, Aerith knocks on Vincent's door. It's quiet, in the early evening post dinner. But not sleep time for most people. ]

Vincent? You home?

[She doesn't even bother with the door. Of course it's locked.]

[coffinturk]

[ Vincent is not asleep, nor is he in the bath. But there are signs that the latter has occurred when the sound of the locks being undone is followed by the door opening.

Mind you, this is solely because his hair still looks a bit damp. The man is fully dressed and kitted but at least his clothes aren't damp as well. Cloud, somewhere, may indeed rest easy with someone else's knowledge that Vincent does indeed know how to bathe without his clothes on.

Probably.

The young woman gets a bit of a study. Ruby eyes flick to glance around the hall for any signs of issues. Then the door opens further and Vincent's right hand is sliding Cerberus- drawn and hidden behind the half open door but at the ready in case it was someone pretending to be someone they are not- back into the holster.

No big deal. ]

Aerith. Did you need something?

[ He doesn't stand aside immediately. She might just be passing by on the way to her cabin. Or she's calling him out. ]

[planetdialup]

[Damp hair, but already armed and ready to shoot if she was a lure. Somehow she's not surprised, and she'd not spooked in the least.]

Oh yes. Desperately.

[No doubt he knows how her voice lits that it's not actually serious at all. But her eyes light on his hair, before going back to his red eyes.]

I need to lend you my conditioner. I noticed that lately...your hair is not doing its best.

[coffinturk]

[ Even if she had been surprised, Vincent probably would have been open about what he had hidden behind the door. Not as a warning, but more because he didn't see the need to hide how he is.

Particularly not in the wake of events that recently occurred.

Still, the answer she gives earns Aerith an unblinking stare. He had to know something ludicrous was going to come out, despite the sense of urgency the first words of it had suggested. Desperately.

He really had not expected it to be followed with remarks about the state of his hair. ]

What?

[ One second, his mind is catching up. After a bit more processing, in which he absolutely refuses to give into the impulse to reach up and touch said dark locks, he blinks and heaves a large sigh. Right, humor.

Also hey! There's nothing wrong with his hair! He uses the same care as always. You know. Shampoo, brush and comb, towel dry, wrap it out of the way again with a scarf. Probably not in that particular order. He shakes his head and might be a bit amused. ]

Come in. I was having a glass of wine.

[ The offer is extended. He's clearly going to avoid talk about his hair care routine but at least he's not so far gone as to completely reject Aerith's visit.

....Or is it that? There's a lot of concessions he'll give for her, particularly as he's been in the habit lately of bothering her and he suspects there's something to this visit that's more than just a passing thought. And maybe certain visitors would be welcome, opposed to being left alone with his thoughts.

Having a glass of wine. This is of course Vincent speak for 'want to join me?' ]

[planetdialup]

[For some reason, that didn't surprise her that she'd caught him off guard. She doesn't usually quip at him like this, but it was overdue. He was her friend after all; that meant he was now in the circle that was the Gently Bullied by her and teased. Everyone had a way of showing their affection, and that- along with physical contact- was how Aerith showed hers.

And she had a feeling that he would like the former more then the latter. No special reason. Just because.]

Wine? That sounds perfect. That might curb some of my sangria cravings.

[Him? Bothering her and trying to make sure she was taking care of herself? Clearly not doing anything like returning the favor? Since no one was clearly making sure that he was okay.

Someone had to look out for the watcher.

Given the space, she'd breeze in, glancing around. If she spots the coffin...it won't take much to make her grin.

Ah, memories.]

[coffinturk]

[ Space is made, Aerith is permitted to pass and Vincent will close the door and lock it behind her.

In Vincent's space, the only door that really remains closed is the one to his 'study' which is also the armory. Closed and locked for practical reasons when he's not making use of it. So the doors to the 'bedrooms' are open, one with a coffin the other with a normal bed.

The main area is full of furniture with a slightly faded antique feel. Not worn or broken or rotted, mind you. Just well aged but still fantastically serviceable, from an age where they 'still did things right'. A couch, a couple of chairs, some nice tables and lamps. Decor is sparse but there are some pieces.

It makes a particular one more noticeable for its ostentatious nature amidst small landscape paintings and the single black succulent that someone gifted him recently. A small statue of semi-transparent crystal which seems to embody a female figure within. The clarity is not so great that any features can be determined.

By one of the chairs is the open bottle of wine and a glass that's got a measure poured into it. There's also a book from the library; bookmarked with, of all things, an origami bat.

Hanna would be pleased to know that it's getting honest use.

There's a clitter-clatter of cabinet doors and the fetch of another wine glass from the shelf. Maybe it's surprising in itself that he actually has something for visitors in the first place. Maybe not. ]

Sangria, huh. Haven't had one of those in a long time.

[ He crosses the room, where he'll take the bottle with the intention of pouring Aerith a glass of the red wine and offering it. ]

[planetdialup]

[She would have been surprised if he hadn't locked the door behind her.

But the decorations were notalgic in a way. It reminded her of the slums, a little of how her own room was, but for the small crystal. Her decor depended on the flowers which she changed every so often. It was still...funny how close their rooms seemed to reflect what was home to them.

Though the bat was clearly a Hanna touch. Which was rather charming, and made her a little sad, thinking of the young man and his current mental state. That was...something to be touched on another time.

Instead of going to the table though, she moved towards the couch, moving to sit there instead. It looked far more comfortable. And besides, she didn't have one in her living space. She took what comfort she could.]

I haven't either. But I was speaking to Hakkai- he works in the kitchens- and we talked about using some of the crab apples for it. Some of the citrus too but...the apples would be the unknown if it'll really work work part.

[She'll take the wine when it's offered. It'll be nice to share a drink with a friend.]