( open )

[baguablade]

Who: Cain (baguablade) & you!
What: event catch-all - investigating, hunting down bad guys, making (bad) medicinal soup, whatever
When: post attack
Where: Olympia
Warning(s): none

( a : no hunting like the hunting of man )

[ The group gathered in the market is strangely subdued, even for the wariness that's fallen over the place after the attack. There's something going around, glazed-over eyes and jerky movements, oddly shuffling feet as the group makes its way through the district. Some of the men and women bump into things and seem not to notice; others are laughing and chatting far too loudly, stilted — an obvious act.

At the center of the group is a man, bright-eyed and alert, the only one looking anything resembling normal. His sleeves are pulled down, but as he turns, one rides up, revealing a large "M" on his wrist.

One of the Shady Man's associates — and while the group hasn't noticed yet, sharp-eyed individuals might pick out Cain following along behind the group, taking a meandering path through the market as he trails their steps. He seems relaxed and at ease, but his gaze is sharp, watching the man, and his hand never strays far from the hilt of his sword.

Whether you're just passing by, doing your own shopping, or whether you're hunting the tattooed man, too, straying too close to the group has Cain abruptly stepping up behind you, grabbing your arm, and pulling you back into the shadows of an alley. ]

Hey. [ Low, hissed with urgency. ] Don't get near them, or you'll get caught, too.

( b : painted full of tongues )

[ It's not exactly the nicest of bars in town, paint peeling, tables uneven, the lighting dim and flickering, suspicious stains on the floor. But it is exactly the sort of bar that men who've recently helped set off a virus-laden bomb in the center of the city might frequent, an establishment where the drink is cheap, the customers are unfriendly, and no one asks too many questions.

Cain, of course, has come here to ask far too many questions.

He's nursing a drink (untouched, he keeps pouring a little bit of it out when it seems like no one's watching) and listening to the very interesting conversation going on nearby — the conversation between two women with "M" tattoos on their wrists.

Meet his eyes, catch onto what he's doing — if you approach him, he'll smile at you like an old friend. ]

There you are. What do you want to drink?

( c : toil and trouble )

[ The soup Cain's cooking can't exactly be called soup when it's neon-blue and roiling, letting off faintly pinkish steam. With the large cast-iron stewpot he's making it in, it looks more like a witch's brew in a cauldron than soup. Also it somehow smells like both fresh laundry and wet dog. Mysterious, but hopefully something to help with the equally mysterious illness going around after the market attack — the large chunk of also mysterious sea creature tooth that he's ground a bit of and used as seasoning might help, considering its medicinal properties. Or it might not, but either way, Cain stripped down to pants, undershirt, and under-gauntlets and wielding a wooden stirring spoon over the cheerfully bubbling not-soup is certainly a sight.

And hard to ignore, since he's cooking it in the kitchen of his apartment with the windows thrown wide open. Anyone passing by could easily catch sight of the cloud of pink vapors, catch a whiff of the (very strong) smell, or even hear Cain talking to himself. ]

It's probably not enough to reanimate the dead...

[ You might even pass by just in time to hear the loud roar of something combusting. Cain's startled yelp and the gooey blue soup going everywhere is pretty hard to miss. ]

( d : wildcard )

( If there's anything else you'd like to plot out with me, I'm available at idelva or through PMs! )

Comments

[baguablade]

I'm counting on it, then.

[ He lifts his mug, letting the drink slosh over the rim in a show of drunkenness. Just one more person who's had a bit too much to drink, completely harmless. Siegfried's the only one close enough to see that his eyes aren't glaze and his cheeks aren't flushed — none of the physiological signs to go along with his act. ]

What's gotten you so distracted? [ It's a genuine question, a probing attempt to determine if there's really something wrong. ] Usually you're sharp as a tack.

[uwe]

[ he at least seems to consider the question for a bit before answering, weighing his options. he's always been secretive, but never without purpose. ]

I believe I've taken ill... though only slightly.

[ he won't say who he caught it from, but he's pretty sure he knows. ]

It hasn't affected me much as of yet, but I'm uncertain whether that will be the case moving forward. [ maybe he shouldn't be drinking then?? but oh well, it feels good to confide in someone. he hasn't told his housemates, if only just because he's sure they'd worry unnecessarily. ]

[baguablade]

[ Yeah, that was about what Cain figured. The paleness, the sweat beading at Siegfried's hairline, all fit the symptoms even if Siegfried's doing a good job of hiding it. He doesn't bother asking if Siegfried should really be here — he doesn't have faith that Siegfried won't be out long past when he should be resting, but Cain knows the type well enough that suggesting Siegfried should take more care will be useless effort.

His lips quirk in an amused smile. ]

Ah, I'm guessing you haven't told the rest, then. [ He can only imagine how the other knights would be fussing over Siegfried. They probably wouldn't have let him out by himself if they could help it, and the lack of Lancelot peering worriedly over Siegfried's shoulder, or Vane attempting to hide himself as he fails at unobtrusively keeping an eye on Siegfried makes it clear enough that the others haven't been informed.

Well, Siegfried's a big boy. He can judge his own limits, Cain will just have to trust that. It'd be suspicious to try to send Siegfried off now. ] They're all hale and healthy, aren't they?

[ The other likely option, that the other three are far sicker and stuck in bed — an option that Cain wants to quickly eliminate as a possibility. ]

[uwe]

I would prefer not to worry them needlessly. I'm sure this will pass, given time.

[ he really isn't sure of that, but... to the other knights, siegfried has always been something of a role model, even during his fall from grace. while he doesn't always feel he is worthy of it, they do look up to him. and for that reason, showing weakness is... difficult for him.

even if he recognizes that is foolish. ]

Yes, I haven't noticed any of them showing symptoms. For that, at least, I'm grateful.

[baguablade]

Good. [ He means it, a little tension leaving him at the reassurance. He considers the other members of the crew allies, but more than that, he likes them. They may even be friends, despite some of their more prickly natures. ] At least you're the only one.

[ The only one with a potentially serious illness that they have no idea how to cure. Cain's more worried than he's letting on. But Siegfried is steadfast and implacable, and at least he doesn't seem to be suffering the effects too much. It's enough to have Cain making a note to keep an eye on the situation but still willing to see how it plays out. ]

Well, I know what it's like not wanting the people you care about to worry. [ Cain's done more than his fair share of hiding injuries, after all. ] If it gets worse, you're not going to be able to keep it from them without some help, though.

[ A tacit offer; Cain's not going to demand Siegfried tell the others, but since he knows, he will extend what help he can. ]

[uwe]

...yes, I'm aware. My biggest concern is that it may be infectious.

[ though he's gone to great lengths to make sure he doesn't do anything that can get someone else sick... that's how he's gotten infected in the first place after all. he glances at cain, before turning back to his drink and setting it down.

now that he knows, it's probably better to refrain. ]

You should keep your distance as well. I... believe it's stabilized more recently, but there's no telling how this adept this disease is at spreading.

[baguablade]

I'll make sure not to get too close. [ A lie. Does Siegfried know him well enough yet to be able to tell? He adds, blithely, for good measure: ] At the least, I'll make sure it's Percival's bed I'm napping in.

[ Still, his mind is racing. It's odd, isn't it, that the disease has become less infectious? And odd that the group with the M tattoos is still gadding about town, not seeming very concerned at all about the outbreak. He's got an idea forming, and his eyes drop to Siegfried's newly-abandoned glass before he sneaks a covert glance at the table of women he's been watching all night. ]

You know, it might be a good thing you're infected. No one wants to catch whatever it is.

[ Subtle inflection on his words; no one, including the people who spread the disease. The people who should have some idea of how to cure it — unless they're truly stupid enough to be handling it without that knowledge, which Cain is sincerely hoping isn't the case. ]

[uwe]

You know, that's actually my bed as well.

[ okay, that really isn't the point that cain was making here, but all the same... percival and siegfried do share a room, which for the time being unfortunately means awkwardly sharing a bed as well.

though, given his current condition, he hasn't really been using it. ]

... I had thought something similar as well. Though I'd of course prefer not being in this condition, at least this way I have a better idea just what it is people are dealing with.

[ does that help the situation? not really. ]

[baguablade]

[ Cain had wondered about the sleeping arrangements, but... well, they're grown knights. Grown men. He'd assumed they could figure out to buy futons or something else and not have to share beds? Unless they like sharing the beds... Is this something he needs to be asking Percival about the next time they go out?

But he can already guess that Siegfried hasn't been sleeping in that bed as of late, anyway. Not when it would put Percival at risk of infection. Without any hint of shame, Cain responds with bright cheer. ]

I'd say then I'll nap in Lancelot's bed, but you haven't been in your bed anyway, have you? [ He lets his tone shade toward dryness. ] What excuse have you been telling them for why you're not sleeping there?

[ He hesitates a moment; maybe he shouldn't involve Siegfried in this after all. But... it'd be easier with Siegfried's help. And he has few enough people he counts as allies on this world to begin with. Letting Siegfried in on this plan, even if Siegfried may disapprove, is part of trusting him. Though he hasn't had the impression that Siegfried is the type to disapprove of what Cain's plotting. ]

And while you may think that's a benefit [ His tone clearly says Cain doesn't agree — he's not happy to find that any of his friends are infected ] it wasn't exactly what I meant.

[ He could brush it off, leave things at that. Siegfried's already taken a sip of his drink, already contaminated it, so to speak. Cain could continue on without involving Siegfried any further, as long as he has that cup. It might be easier that way. Weigh less heavily on Siegfried's conscience. Should he do that? Or should he let Siegfried share in his plan? He still can't quite decide. ]

[uwe]

[ he just lets that first question drop, more or less answering it by implication. he pauses at that last bit... honestly, he hasn't been around home much anyway, so he's largely been able to avoid questions. if he thought about it harder, perhaps he'd realize it is a little unusual he hasn't encountered the others lately...

but if that means they're staying out of trouble, so be it. ]

Thankfully, they aren't the type to pry into my affairs too much.

[ more like they know it won't get them anywhere. siegfried's always been the type to go off on his own, and that isn't likely to change any time soon. even when he's deathly hill. ]

Oh? Then what did you mean?

[ it's not that difficult to extrapolate, but might as well have him put word to his thoughts. ]

[baguablade]

[ He shoots Siegfried a suspicious glance — everything he's heard and seen of the knight makes him think Siegfried knows perfectly well what he means. This is just Siegfried wanting him to say the plan himself for some reason, and Cain isn't sure exactly why.

Still, he's not going to be cowed, or forget that Siegfried's the one who's been hiding his illness from his friends.

Cain lowers his voice and leans in, careful to make sure they won't be overheard. ]

If our friends over there think they're infected, they'll be a lot more eager to find a cure.

[uwe]

[ siegfried just nods a bit knowingly in response. whether or not they were thinking the same thing, it is important that they confirm they're on the same page.

or perhaps he just truly wanted to confirm how far cain was willing to go. he slides the cup over in cain's direction, making his own agreement more complicit. ]

Though that alone may not be enough. Perhaps something more... dramatic is necessary.

[ he coughs a bit stiffly, though whether that's forced or genuine isn't really clear. ]

[baguablade]

[ Faced with the cup and the very real fact of his plan being put into action, Cain hesitates. He stares at the cup and its contaminated contents. Is this really what they should do? Should they really be infecting someone else?

The illness doesn't seem fatal. And the ones who brought it shouldn't be spared its risk. Still... if there's a chance someone might die...

He shoves the thought away as he shoves back his chair, standing, giving Siegfried a bright grin that betrays none of his hesitations. ]

Then I'll enlist your help for the dramatic. [ Before he can change his mind, Cain swipes up the cup, holding it with a flourish — it looks like he's making a toast, the very picture of drunken disorder that he isn't. ] Hopefully they'll be reasonable, but if not, it's up to you to cough on them.

[ A show of threat. Cain hopes that's all they'll need. If they can avoid actually infecting these women and still get the information, all the better. ]