STRAY HOUND.

chronolium affiliated

[halsberus]

yukimarimo​:

“Of course I remember that.”

“Well, um… I’m glad then. Bad hair can be a sign of bad health, you know…”

“Yeah, yeah ... You’ve really been keeping up on that, huh?  So, I’ll leave it to you to make sure she, uh, stays healthy.”  And stuff.

[halsberus]

yukimarimo​:

“But, Heine… You’re the one who first told me about it…. That day in the forest, when we saw that hare… You said I couldn’t pick up a wild animal like that and take it home. And you were right…” Because hares aren’t pets, while rabbits can be. “…So, uhm…. Yuki’s hair is fine after all…?”

“You remember that?  Geez ...”  Even if this is a wildly different situation.  He sighs.  “Yes, Yuki’s hair is looking fine, as always.  Like I said ... it’s just a joke.  No need to worry.”

[halsberus]

yukimarimo​:

“Ah, I see… Uhm, but… according to this book on bunny care I have, there’s a difference between hares and rabbits. And Yuki’s a rabbit…”

Note to self: give up on trying to make her laugh.

“So ... you’re telling me there’s supposed to be some kind of difference?  Tch.  Hares, bunnies, rabbits — they all look the same, so what?  Point is: it’s a joke on the name.”

[halsberus]

@yukimarimo​​  cont. ( x )

“You ... didn’t get the joke, did you?”  He stops for a moment, knowing it’s pointless to ask. How the hell can he explain this one now?   “Y’know ... hare for hair — because she’s a bunny?”

[halsberus]

reipasento​:

Heine raising his voice in response to his nagging, made him jump a bit in a startled way. Wow, he looked somewhat scary for a moment there… 

However, the realization that this guy really forgot how to use that device in front of them all together, quickly made Sou’s fear of him from before vanish again. Really, now? 

“…” Sou gave Heine one glance that could have been read as: ‘Seriously, dude?’ Still, if he wanted his scarf clean again, he would have to program it right anyway. If he liked it or not. And since Heine was already here, he could just watch… If he pays attention, good!! But if not, that was his loss, really!

When the device finally started the correct washing program, Sou left out a tired sigh and leaned back towards one of the tables in that room. 

“Well, I guess all we can do for now is wait…” How awkward. He didn’t know Heine for that long, but he was smart enough to realize that this guy wasn’t a man of many words. And well, in most cases, he wasn’t either… Yet, just waiting here in uncomfortable silence wasn’t anything he wanted to do either.

“So, er… How’s life treating you here so far? Besides the dogs that don’t like you, obviously.” A bad joke because of the wound he got not too long ago. “Did you also meet any other people you knew from… you know, back then? Beside me, I mean.”

True to his word, Heine watched Sou go through the motions.  It would be a blatant lie to say his attention span didn’t threaten to slip halfway into the directions, but he somehow managed to catch them all.  In conclusion, that wasn’t too bad — washing seems relatively straightforward.

How the hell did he forget these?  ... Well, whatever.

Heine crosses his arms and leans his weight on the other side of the table Sou rested upon.  Although awkward, he doesn’t mind the silence.  Frankly, it’s preferred over mindless small talk ( which, of course, doesn’t last too long  ) and gives him a chance to catch up on missed messages.  Heine flicks through his phone as he replies.

“Hah, besides the dogs and the fact that we’ve been thrown from one cage into another, everything’s peachy-keen.”   His tone is laced with a thread of sarcasm, although, in truth, it has been quite fair here.  A message is selected from the unread list, bringing up contents unbeknownst to him as Heine glances at Sou for a brief second.   “... Though, it could be worse.”

And it is now because when he looks back at his phone, Heine notices a photo of Setsuna has taken up the entire display.  He startles.  There’s nothing risqué about it —  it’s just with her pet bunny! — but a selfie of her like this in front of Sou is quite embarrassing.  The device is swiftly stuffed into his pocket — act cool.

“Err... yeah, I’ve seen some familiar faces.”   He clears his throat.   “... You?”

[halsberus]

reipasento​:

If it would have been any other item of cloth, Sou would have probably teased Heine and even laughed about him. However, this was about something he cherished for a while now…

“No, how does that make sense? Hot water only helps the blood to adhere to the material!” Okay, calm down… Not everyone was an all A+ student with the exception of P.E. like he was. 

“It’s cold water! It’ll make sure that the stains wash out for good! That’s why that program exists in the first place…”

He did already teach him this last time. Why did he end up being up the guy teaching some other dude how to do laundry anyway…? Whatever. 

“You’re an adult! Who even did your laundry before coming here?” It didn’t sound like Heine lived with his mother according to the gruesome vague things he told Sou already about his life before coming here…He did mention genetics and devices were the cause for his ‘superpower’… Ugh, that only reminded him of the person that was the original owner of this scarf here. Yeah, maybe he went too far with that question.

“S-sorry, if that’s a wound point you don’t have to answer that. But maybe take notes or something for next time! Since it doesn’t sound like a one-time problem for you to have.”

Heine forgoes answering the question presented to him, not because it holds a sore spot of misplaced feelings but because it’s none of Sou’s damn business.  He misses Nill— a lot more than he would like to admit— but the girl was never thought of as someone to push all of his chores onto.  On the contrary, she always freely took it upon herself.

And now, the thought of it, coupled with the overreaction on the other’s end, flares up Heine’s temper.

“HEY!  Relax,”   he barks back, though probably not helping settle the tension.  He realizes this and quickly amends with a lower tone,   “I forgot, that’s all...”   Sheesh.  Heine uses his free hand to run it through his hair, sighing.  It’s really just laundry.

Or is there something hidden in plain sight that he is not getting?  Maybe the real sore spot is in the procedure of cleaning clothes, after all?  That’s just a wild guess.  He curiously glances at Sou through a disheveled fringe of white.

“Look, I’m trying to help instead of bullshitting my way out of this.  Just— just show me ... I’m paying attention this time.  I swear.”

[halsberus]

rosepetalmafioso​:

Everyone else here did too…? He had been brought to a country full of Outsiders? Or was he the Outsider now? A waking nightmare of an idea sprung into his mind, that he was transported back to his original world. It was impossible. He never wanted to go back there. Blood reached up to place a hand on his chest, still feeling the familiar ticking of a clock. His scowl relaxed into a neutral expression. He had no proof, but logically if he had been brought back to that world, he would have a heart again.

“…Nevermind. It would be too bothersome to explain.” Especially to this snappy fellow. Though, maybe he wasn’t a complete boor, since he did welcome him. He still sounded incredibly dull to Blood.

“This is my residence? What a pathetic excuse for housing amenities.” Nothing like the mansion. It felt like being trapped in a cardboard box. Blood gives a disapproving glance to the coffee pot. “Knowing as much about you, I could warn the same. Now that I know the circumstances I’m not going to threaten a child.” Don’t be ridiculous. Although…he’s not going to be expected to raise them either.

“Does this shack have a tea kettle anywhere? Maids? Laundry? Anything?” At least it had a kitchen, but with no staff around he could see!

There is a hike in one of his eyebrows at the series of questions.  For all the amenities provided in this so-called shack, they feel grand compared to the place Heine had rented in the Underground.  For one, the apartment is well furnished, and there isn’t a bitchy landlady to hassle with every month.  It’s almost a wonder what kind of life this guy had been living.

Heine’s mouth twists into a grimace.

“... You really are one of those rich fops,”   he mutters in response and turns to the floating cabinets.  There he scours through various stored kitchen utensils with a prominent clatter before pulling out a simple iron kettle from the back.  It had been spotted once many days ago and frankly forgotten from disuse.  Beggars can’t be choosers, though, right?

“Sorry——  no maids.  No laundry, either.”   Heine sets the kettle down onto the countertop and gestures to it nonchalantly.  Though he has to raise his mug and drag a sip of coffee to hide the subtle amusement curling his lips.  Watching this roommate struggle to make a pot of tea would be worth a laugh.

“But, hey, we got the luxury of in-house washing machines right over there.”  Sarcasm.  “This is the age of self-service now, so it’s all on you.  Must be tough ...”

[halsberus]

graveresemblance​:

The buzz sends a thrill through her, a shiver, and she grins wide enough to split her face if too long. The buzzer blares, the crowd buzzes around them as they hustle around, last second prep, the onlookers getting to their seats or getting snacks. 

Of course Deunan doesn’t GO or anything, but she revvs the engine a little.

“Bet on it. They’ll eat our dust, and it’ll taste bad too.”

“Heh.  Cocky, much?”

Pot calling the kettle black.  But at least Deunan seemingly has the energy to back it up, unlike Heine, who keeps the thrum of energy muted beneath a thin smile.  Though it seems their neighbors on the starting line are unappreciative of the notion of eating bad-tasting dust.

“Hey, I think they heard you.  Now we’ve really got some competition——”   he says, casually glancing over at the lanky pair on their right, watching them make obscene faces and thumb-downs. 

But there’s hardly any time to mull it over as the countdown lights up green and the final horn blares, signaling ‘GO.’

[halsberus]

yukimarimo​:

Their silences could fill books by now and still not have enough pages. And although the words Heine finally says might be meant to cause at least some concern, Setsuna only sighs in relief. Of course, they should’ve addressed all of these things long ago, before even coming to this world. But there never was quite the right time or place for it.

But here, now, they can finally bridge that gap between them. Still, every bridge has two ends, after all.

“I know.” She smiles weakly, perhaps to spite the ever-looming awkwardness. “There are many things I wanted to tell you, too. About my home, and about me… But for now, I’ll listen.”

Releasing the patch of picnic blanket she was subconsciously playing with, Setsuna gingerly places a hand on one of his. “I’ll always listen to you, Heine.”

Heine would rather listen to her talk about herself and her home.  But it’s too late to take the words back now.  And she’s waiting; has been waiting since the day the city of another world crystallized.  So, where to even begin?

He quietly bows his head, mentally grasping for words.  It was easier to explain the concepts to Badou, Naoto, and nearly anyone else who asked at the time.  Yet here, with Setsuna, why does his mouth feel so much like lead?  

He sighs and tries again.

“Remember what we talked about in the garden of statues?  When I told you that I was made as a monster and that you have terrible taste in them, too...”   The edges of his lips briefly inch into a wry smile as he fumbles with the whorl of bandages around his neck.  And now that he has a lead, shaky as it is, the words feel like a fount. 

“I wasn’t kidding...”   He says as the wrap finally falls away from its place, revealing the gnarled skin and collar beneath.  Heine had been avoiding her gaze all this time to prevent himself from witnessing something that could never be taken back.  But it’s difficult to not catch Setsuna’s eyes at this moment.   “This thing——this collar is proof of that.” 

Heine takes the hand she offered in support and lifts it to his throat, pressing her fingers onto the thick scars corded there.  “My spine isn’t normal.  I was born and raised in a lab to become a kind of soldier; a bloodthirsty hound.  Maybe it was for a war or a grand battle.  I don’t know — doesn’t matter, monsters come in all shapes.  So, Setsuna ...”   Think twice about all this.

[halsberus]

reipasento​:

“Ah, I guess…?” Even if he still felt the pain, him usually not having to deal with being wounded over a long period of time, still sounded nice. Or at least the thought that until Heine continued explaining how this whole thing kind of worked.

Genetics and devices? As someone who used to be friends with someone who was very interested in manipulating the human body, he could make his guesses what Heine was hinting at. But somehow, he didn’t feel like he was close enough to the guy to ask him about possible trauma or torture he went through to obtain this power. 

“Ahaha… I see. I first thought it was magic related, because you see all kind of abra-cadabra crap that really works around this place.” He sheepishly tried to lighten the mood, but seemed like that wasn’t even necessary, then Heine was already ready to move on. 

“You want to take it out to the wash? Do you even remember how to do that? Well, be my guest, but I’ll come with you. I think there should be one close from here anyway…” Sou checked his app with the map which had their location and nearby points of interests all in one screen. “Yeah, if we head over this way, maybe we can still save it… Blood’s a pain to wash out after all, as you surely know.”

Heine peers down at the bloodied scarf again, trying to recall the method.  It needs to simmer in hot water and then something or other?  Come to think of it, he has forgotten.  And before he has a moment to admit to the fault, Sou is already suggesting a location.

“Hold on, right now?”   Heine makes a face, brow twisting into a show of dismay.  Of course, cleaning it as soon as possible makes sense, but right now?  He was hoping to stay with the scarf and maybe ask someone else for tips on the secrets of blood-washing.  Nevertheless, a sigh escapes him in defeat, and he opens the same map, gesturing at the other to follow.

Once at the laundromat, Heine chooses an empty washing machine and tosses the dirtied cloth inside the drum.  Then, after locking the lid in place and feeding some bills, a hand hovers over the cycle options hesitantly.  Which one should he press?  Randomly selecting one is not a smart option, and Heine doesn’t want to turn to Sou for guidance either.  But his mind is seriously coming up with blanks.

This is so stupid and embarrassing. 

“... Man, you’re gonna have to remind me about this... It’s hot water, right?”

[halsberus]

graveresemblance​:

Fix this boring place…Deunan can agree with that! There are things to do, of course, but that’s ordinary things you can do in any city, any metropolis. And this isn’t just any place either. 

Smirk widening, she hops into the driver’s seat, grateful she doesn’t have to adjust the seat either on account of how short she is. She twists around and offers him her hand.

“I’m Deunan. We’re gonna dominate this thing.”

“Alright, Deunan...”   He says, lips curling into a smirk.   “Better hope you won’t have to eat those words later.”

And with uncanny timing, a buzzer obnoxiously blares from somewhere above, announcing the start of the chariot race.  Competitors of all sorts jump into action as the iron gates rattle open from behind, letting chants and cheers spill in from the dusted arena.

An announcer boldly delivers an opening ceremony before initiating a colored countdown.

Heine raps his knuckles over the wooden rim of the cart— a little something to promote good luck— as he crouches beside the weapons box.

“You ready?  As soon as that hits green, step on the throttle.”

[halsberus]

reipasento​:

“Shut up, you don’t have to rub it in…” 

Was Heine just teasing? He better was, then he wasn’t lying about being the older one here! Ugh, maybe he was just overthinking this too.

Still… Heine’s wound not healing as it was supposed to, according to him and what Sou had witnessed in the past at least, was weird, wasn’t it?

“Well, yeah but doesn’t that worry you? How the heck does that body of yours work anyways? Being able to cure itself like this… that’s actually something many people would be envious of, you know?” Him definitely being one of those people.

“Hmm, so far this place is just as strange as the last one. But… maybe not as dangerous? I haven’t been here for too long myself, but I think all things considered… If I really have to choose, I like it a little better here. But I’d suggest you should stay on guard at all times still…“

Now was his chance to give back the teasing remark from earlier: “I mean, I sure hope you’re more careful and don’t usually bleed when meeting up with people like this. Suppose I’m just a really unlucky exception?”

His brow furrows in disappointment at the information given.  While useful in terms of quality of life, it lacks a lot of the shady parts that interest Heine more.  But because it’s coming from Sou, it probably asked for too much.  The ( totally older ) guy doesn’t look like the type of dabbling in illicit works. 

“Yeah, well, it’s not all peaches and cream.  I still feel the pain,”   he says, waving away the compliment.  Self-healing appears to be fun and games at a surface level, but surely no one wants to become a lab rat and get saddled with a collar for its sake.  Heine gestures to his bandaged neck and shrugs.   “And it’s genetics and devices, anyway.  So don’t go around thinking it’s magic or other bullshit.”

Sou’s tease, however, forces a smirk from Heine.  

“Ha ha.”   He fakes a laugh, going along with the joke,   “Listen, you’re not the first to tell me that.  I’ve gotten my ass chewed out for it before.  Trust me, though, I try not to make it a habit ...”   Except this is the second time now.   “Uh, sorry about your scarf.  Guess I should take it out to wash?”

[screenshotsofdespair]

[halsberus]

rosepetalmafioso​:

Blood winced one eye. This lackey here wasn’t just pretending not to know what he was talking about. He genuinely didn’t. Anybody in the Countries of Heart, Clover, and beyond knew of the Hatters. Blood straightens his back and takes a better look around the kitchen. It did just appear to be a normal lower-class home. No emblems or insignias adorning the place. Minimal furnishing. Some odd appliances he had never seen before.

“Tch…the wrong guy, hm?”  Blood slightly jostled the cane in his hand as the man pushed it away from his face. To his frustration, he had been trying to turn the cane into his gun but nothing happened. This sent a shockwave of panic throughout the Hatter’s spine, but he would grit his teeth and lower the cane himself. No. He couldn’t be powerless here. This was like a bad dream.

“I woke up in the next room over. If we are in the same ‘shitty situation’, that means you were also kidnapped to this world? Why would I have been brought to your apartment?” Blood outwardly appears to have settled down, calmly taking in information now rather than making threats he couldn’t back up. He leaned on his cane. At least this man seemed open to having a conversation, regardless of whether he was annoyed or not. He didn’t seem to be lying at least. Blood knew all of the tells.

“Not only that…you have a face, and if I’m not mistaken…” No, he could definitely sense it. “A heart.” What were the chances that the first person he met in this land was a rarity: An Outsider. Unless… A cold sweat formed at the nape of Blood’s neck.

Hold up, this freak was going to be his roommate?  The news sours his mood considerably as if it had any more souring left to do, and Heine groans aloud.  One cup of coffee really isn’t going to help him through this crap, either— starting with that nonsensical statement.

“... What the hell are you on right now?”   He questions, a deep line forming on his brow.  Faces, hearts?  The guy speaks as if either is a kind of rarity or luxury.  Heine rolls his eyes, unappreciative of being scrutinized like so.   “Of course, I’ve got a face. And last I checked, every other damn person here does, too.”

Whatever.  The two are already off to a wretched start, and he has no intention of repairing that.  So instead, Heine rescues his cup from the tabletop and forces a stretch of silence to settle between them as he takes a sip. 

“Anyway, as much as I’d hate to admit ... this’ll be your place, too, since you woke up here.  So pick an empty room——”   Heine finally gestures deeper toward the apartment, where the single empty room lies ahead.   “And make yourself comfortable, I guess.”   Not that he cares.  He then turns back to the coffee machine to set up another pot.   “There’s supposed to be a kid with us, so keep the bullshit down to a minimum?”

[halsberus]

yukimarimo​:

It’s not getting better at all. Setsuna nods, glad to at least have something to do, and reaches for the basket, though she doesn’t manage to announce which bottles she’s pulling out in time. Now that Heine mentioned the vague similarities between the settings, she can’t stop her thoughts from drifting back to that day. It feels so long ago now.

“I… I only brought juice and water, and one cup, because I thought… I’d be alone. But, you should have it.” She offers the items, still contemplating how to speak what’s on her mind. There’s so much of it, and a few words never seem enough to capture her intentions. Still, she has to try.

“Heine, I…” She holds his gaze, just barely. “Since then… my feelings haven’t changed. And I’m so glad you’re here now, too. I thought…”

A light gust of wind throws long strands of hair into Setsuna’s face. It’s a welcome distraction, allowing for an inconspicuous brush over her eyes to clear her sight. Some words remain easier to say than others, and while there remains something missing here, she struggles.

“I… I thought I’d lost…” Her gaze cast downwards, she drifts into silence.

Heine tries to refuse the offered items, but they somehow end up weighing in his hands for better or worse. Dammit.  He’s halfway into setting the bottles aside when Setsuna speaks again, ripping his attention away.

The words themselves mean well— more than well, it should enchant— yet his expression cracks open with a look of awe, brow raised as if they were implausible.  Her feelings haven’t changed.  He could have been lost.

His gaze lingers on Setsuna for a moment longer before focusing on the picnic blanket.  The feeling is mutual, of course.  But the hesitation in saying so is obvious.  Heine bites his bottom lip, half-grimacing, before agreeing with her unspoken sentence,   “...Yeah, me too.”  

And that’s why they’re sitting here, beneath the boughs of a tree in a rather lovely garden, to bring light to unsaid feelings and concerns.  Heine is definitely no good at this, but he has to take this chance.

“But, Setsuna ... there are things that you should know before saying that.  Things we didn’t—— I didn’t get to explain before.”   This time, his face is schooled back into its usual guarded expression.  Still, he sighs.  It’s strange, and admittedly, a little scary to approach, but it must be done.  “Just hear me out, okay?”

[halsberus]

graveresemblance​:

She wasn’t impressed by the kart….really, cart, either. It looks like it might fall apart if it goes over a speedbump. But Deunan is also looking for a thrill, for something to do around here. And what’s better than death-defying races? Nothing, that’s what. Or gun fights. Whatever.

“Do you have a handle on how to drive this? This’ll be different than my landmate, but it’s doable.” Deunan’s mouth forms a smirk. “Don’t tell me you’re nervous?”

Nervous?  Heine makes a sound, something between a smile and a laugh, short-lived as it is. 

“No way,”  he answers, setting the shell back in its box.  Racecourse or obstacle one, it’ll have to do.  Heine isn’t giving up this possibly once-in-a-lifetime event.   “Been looking for a fix to this boring place, not gonna lose out.  Even if you’re driving.”  

Granted, there’s no way in any hell he’s driving this thing, either.  So it’s a good thing this woman knows how to handle a landmate, whatever that was.  Leave that to her.  Heine hops into the ‘backseat’ and situates himself beside the weapons crate.  The dangerous crap, he’ll handle.

He then takes the chance to introduce himself to his so-called partner.   “Name’s Heine. Yours?”

[halsberus]

*ACHOO*  “What the hell...”  Is... someone talking about him?