"Of the Wastelands"
Dec. 27th, 2024 09:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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vivala-1: He's back-
As anyone who knows him can attest, Ziel was not the most social of men. His gloomy demeanor gave him limited energy for dealing with others, and he often spent whole days in private, reading or meditating or just staring at the ceiling grappling with depression.
But it had been about a month since anyone last saw him. His room still had a few personal effects lying around it, if anyone cared to investigate, implying that he was PROBABLY planning on returning, but there was no information left about where he had gone.
As winter started drawing in, and both the Corsairs and the Empire bowed their heads to the greater power of Shit Weather, Ziel reappeared just like he vanished, with no fanfare at all. One day he was just back, trudging the halls of the Vault with clothes looking even more threadbare and dirty than usual. He even had a beard.
-2: He was busy-
The Corsairs are perpetually short on supplies of various kinds, so any kind of salvage that members brought back from excursions were usually welcome. There was probably a specific department dedicated to handling it. That's where Ziel was now. He looks like he's been living in the woods for a month, and smells like it too, but he has several bulging bags he's turning in.
Wandering the world of Esthere, aside from people and mundane animals, are various powerful beasts infused by so much ether that only the most skilled and well equipped hunting parties would consider taking them on. But to those who can face such beasts, the spoils are great.
Ziel's bags were full of hides from behemoths that could be tanned into leather armor harder and lighter than plate mail, tusks and fangs that could cut like the finest of blades, ether crystals that formed in the bodies of monsters with unique energy signatures, dried meat that would infuse anyone who ate it with ether, rare medicinal herbs (though not a lot of those. Ziel wasn't much of an herbalist.), and other such grisly trophies.
The woman behind the desk was staring at the pile of loot with a mixed expression. On one hand, this was undeniably a large amount of extremely useful materials. On the other hand, the aroma rising from Ziel and his bounty was...intense.
-3: But civilization makes its own demands-
Eventually, someone discreetly brought up with Ziel that living in the wastelands by himself for a month had had a few minor effects on his personal hygiene.
Fortunately, Elysium had facilities for that.
Armed with a heavy wallet from his...findings, Ziel decided to actually enjoy himself for once and went for the FULL spa treatment. Massages, extensive bathing, a full shave, a good sauna soak. Ziel even had a visit with a tailor.
The tall, good looking man in well cut robes who returned to the Vault afterwards was barely recognizable as the stinking caveman who had lurched in the other day.
As anyone who knows him can attest, Ziel was not the most social of men. His gloomy demeanor gave him limited energy for dealing with others, and he often spent whole days in private, reading or meditating or just staring at the ceiling grappling with depression.
But it had been about a month since anyone last saw him. His room still had a few personal effects lying around it, if anyone cared to investigate, implying that he was PROBABLY planning on returning, but there was no information left about where he had gone.
As winter started drawing in, and both the Corsairs and the Empire bowed their heads to the greater power of Shit Weather, Ziel reappeared just like he vanished, with no fanfare at all. One day he was just back, trudging the halls of the Vault with clothes looking even more threadbare and dirty than usual. He even had a beard.
-2: He was busy-
The Corsairs are perpetually short on supplies of various kinds, so any kind of salvage that members brought back from excursions were usually welcome. There was probably a specific department dedicated to handling it. That's where Ziel was now. He looks like he's been living in the woods for a month, and smells like it too, but he has several bulging bags he's turning in.
Wandering the world of Esthere, aside from people and mundane animals, are various powerful beasts infused by so much ether that only the most skilled and well equipped hunting parties would consider taking them on. But to those who can face such beasts, the spoils are great.
Ziel's bags were full of hides from behemoths that could be tanned into leather armor harder and lighter than plate mail, tusks and fangs that could cut like the finest of blades, ether crystals that formed in the bodies of monsters with unique energy signatures, dried meat that would infuse anyone who ate it with ether, rare medicinal herbs (though not a lot of those. Ziel wasn't much of an herbalist.), and other such grisly trophies.
The woman behind the desk was staring at the pile of loot with a mixed expression. On one hand, this was undeniably a large amount of extremely useful materials. On the other hand, the aroma rising from Ziel and his bounty was...intense.
-3: But civilization makes its own demands-
Eventually, someone discreetly brought up with Ziel that living in the wastelands by himself for a month had had a few minor effects on his personal hygiene.
Fortunately, Elysium had facilities for that.
Armed with a heavy wallet from his...findings, Ziel decided to actually enjoy himself for once and went for the FULL spa treatment. Massages, extensive bathing, a full shave, a good sauna soak. Ziel even had a visit with a tailor.
The tall, good looking man in well cut robes who returned to the Vault afterwards was barely recognizable as the stinking caveman who had lurched in the other day.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-27 09:32 pm (UTC)As long as he wasn't undressed somewhere he shouldn't be, Ziel didn't really care that much about impropriety. He sat down on the bench.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-27 10:43 pm (UTC)So she's got no shame or hesitation in her voice as Ziel begins complying. "The robes can stay on, but open it up so I can examine your torso." Clinical.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-28 03:11 am (UTC)When he decided she wasn't asking that for stupid reasons, he shrugged and undid the front with minimal awkwardness. A younger Ziel might have been embarrassed by this, but now he just did not care.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-28 05:17 am (UTC)She makes small talk as she works, though. "You seem to have cleaned up well. I was warned about the smell before I arrived."
no subject
Date: 2024-12-30 05:05 am (UTC)There's faint signs of a few minor injuries, but over all Ziel appeared disgustingly healthy for someone who's been living in the woods.
He had decided to try and actually make an effort towards paying attention to other people, and this was not the first time they had met, so...
"I don't think I ever got your name."
no subject
Date: 2024-12-31 11:44 pm (UTC)"Maomao. Apothecary. Though I imagine you've picked up on that part, at least. And you're Ziel. I did my homework since the last time we met."
no subject
Date: 2025-01-02 07:21 am (UTC)Clinical depression is a bitch, like that.
"But apothecary is a noble calling. Much smarter than being a warrior."