Gaining Strength [Part 10]
Jul. 11th, 2020 11:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Frankenstein needs to gain strength to protect humanity; the werewolves might hold the key to that.
Contains: Blood and gore.
Notes: Frankenstein decides werewolves are the bigger threat AU.
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Word count: 2,260
Total word count: 21,824
Status: Work in progress
"Yo," Muzaka said as he approached, arm raised in greeting. "How'd your chat with Dorant go?"
Frankenstein arched an eyebrow at him. "He mentioned that you told him to hide his strength."
Muzaka's smile faltered for a second. "...Ah, yeah." He sighed, shrugging. "Werewolves can get jealous of those who grow faster than their peers. It's better he keeps his head down for now."
Oh, now didn't that sound familiar. The longer Frankenstein stayed amongst werewolves and learned more about them, the more he saw how much they had in common with humans.
"An' I told you because you wouldn't be jealous or care how fast he gets stronger," Muzaka continued. He paused. "Or you'd care, but that's 'cause you'd want to study his blood for it."
Frankenstein huffed, feeling a smile tug at his lips. Muzaka already knew him quite well. "Well, I told him he could come chat with me if he ever feels the need."
"You did?" Muzaka lunged excitedly into Frankenstein's space, grinning widely. "Dorant doesn't have many people he talks with, so it'll be great if he does talk with ya."
Hm. Was it that important to werewolves?
Muzaka flung his jacket off and Frankenstein replied in kind. He could think about it later.
Now to see if his new plan would work.
Frankenstein had enough time to take two steps away from where he hung his tunic before Muzaka rushed towards him. He had a small window where he could-
Frankenstein transformed and grabbed Muzaka's hand, using his claws up keep Muzaka's hand in place. Quick. He had to do this quickly.
With his free hand, he slashed over the back of Muzaka's forearm, severing the extensor digitorum ligaments.
He let go of Muzaka's forearm and jumped away, releasing his transformation. That should stop Muzaka from using that hand for a while. Would that be enough?
Muzaka had stayed where he was, and that made Frankenstein pause. Blood was pouring out of the slashes in a steady stream. Had he cut too far? He'd never inflicted any deep wounds in a spar before, though that had been because he'd never been able to.
"Huh," Muzaka said, looking down at his arm. His hand was curled into a more claw shape than relaxed, and even when Muzaka moved his arm, it was only the wrist that moved, not his fingers. "No-one's tried that before." He looked up, grinned, and charged at him.
Just how high was Muzaka's pain tolerance? Did he even feel it?
Frankenstein's plan had worked, but it hadn't been as effective as he'd hoped. If he could deal with Muzaka's other hand, that might put a stop to him. Or Muzaka might opt to headbutt him instead.
There was only one way to find out.
* * *
Frankenstein's back slammed into the ground but before he could scramble to his feet, Muzaka straddled his hips, pinning him. Muzaka leaned in with his working hand to press his claws to Frankenstein's neck. Muzaka's grin was as sharp as his claws as Frankenstein relaxed, thumping his head against the ground.
Dammit. Even with only one working arm and not transformed, Muzaka had still won.
"Heh, that was fun," Muzaka said as he got up.
"Oh?" Frankenstein wheezed, continuing to lay there. "Is it really fun having an easy fight?"
Muzaka's grin widened even more. "Who said fightin' you is easy? You fight so differently I hafta change how I fight - it's been a while since I've only used one arm." He glanced down at his arm, frowning. "Though it's normally started healing by now."
...Ah, had he gone too far? "Unless you have a way to keep each part of the ligament together so your healing can knit them back, it won't." He hadn't considered how a werewolf would-
"Oooh, gotcha." Muzaka dug into his arm, yanking the muscle out. He tossed the muscle to the side. "Thanks."
Frankenstein stared at the casual display of his actions. Muzaka's healing and pain tolerance was absolutely monstrous.
"Next time," Muzaka said, extending his working hand out to Frankenstein, "I'll make it harder for you to hit me."
Frankenstein raised an eyebrow, grasping Muzaka's hand. "Does that mean you'll transform?" he asked as Muzaka pulled him to his feet.
"Yep! Not fully, but you'll see my claws."
Frankenstein smiled. Finally.
Though, what else could he do to improve how he fought...?
* * *
Garda didn't say anything when she appeared, looking Frankenstein over.
She shook her head. "At least you smell the normal way of having another werewolf's scent on you."
Frankenstein sighed. "There's not much chance of keeping secrets with werewolves, is there?" He thought he'd scrubbed down well after Muzaka's spar.
Garda hesitated at that. "It's...possible."
"I suppose." Otherwise he wouldn't be here in the first place.
* * *
Frankenstein crouched down, peering at the edges of the leaves at the base of the tree. They were serrated. Were these the ones-
"Oi, what're you doin'?"
Frankenstein jerked up, seeing Muzaka marching up to him. That was different from how Muzaka normally appeared.
"Trying to find something for dinner," he said.
Muzaka's eyes went wide. "You don't eat that."
Something he shouldn't eat. Good to know.
"If you wanna know what you can eat around here, I can show you around," Muzaka said, shaking his head.
Frankenstein perked up. "It would be appreciated." A guide who knew exactly what effects the plants had would be far better and faster than testing each leaf.
"Right, that one'll give you an aching stomach for a while," Muzaka said.
Frankenstein nodded, pulling out his journal. So werewolves could still be affected by fauna.
* * *
"You really like takin' notes, huh," Muzaka said, leaning against a tree as Frankenstein balanced his journal on his knee.
"As good as my memory is, it's not infallible," Frankenstein murmured, sketching the plant Muzaka had just shown him. "I would rather make mistakes as few times as possible." Getting ill meant less time to research while he recovered.
Frankenstein dipped his pen in the ink pot again, taking a few more notes. Hmm. Dipping his pen was fine in the lab where everything was stable, but it was cumbersome out in the field; he had to carry multiple items as well as finding the right spot to balance the ink pot that was reachable while he wrote or drew. If he could make a pen that would hold the ink inside itself...
"Frankenstein?"
"Ah, yes, lost in my own thoughts." Something to work on later.
He finished his sketch and left his journal open to let the ink dry as he put his pen and ink pot away.
"Carry on," he said as he collected his journal.
* * *
Muzaka reached into a bush, brushing a branch away so Frankenstein could see the purple berries better. "These can make you vomit and tired."
Frankenstein was already reaching for his ink pot when he paused, studying the plant closer. "Aren't those grapes?"
"Is that what you call them?"
Frankenstein tugged one of the berries free from its vine, looking at the shape of the leaves. "Yes, I'm sure those are grapes," he said. He sliced the berry in half with a claw, inspecting the inside. Then he popped it in his mouth. It was as he expected.
Then that meant... Frankenstein closed his eyes and sighed. Of course.
"It would appear we forgot that there are differences between us."
Muzaka was staring at him, wide-eyed. "You can eat those?"
Frankenstein nodded, eating the other half. Which meant Muzaka's advice may not be as helpful as it could have been. But as different as they were, they were also similar, so he would keep those plants in mind.
"I'd still like to know what other plants that should be avoided," Frankenstein said. It would be good to know what was around and it was nice walking around with Muzaka.
Muzaka nodded, though Frankenstein noticed he kept a closer eye on him along their walk.
* * *
Dorant stared out across the river. "Why would a human care about werewolf politics?"
Frankenstein leaned back on the log, enjoying the warm sun. "It's exactly because I'm human that I'm curious," he said. "I'm not aware of what's considered, hmm, normal behaviour for werewolves." He was able to pick up a few pieces the longer he stayed amongst them, but he didn't have the full innate grasp that came with growing up with them.
"And I'm not involved, so I have no stake in the matter." Frankenstein shrugged. "I won't be telling anyone anything that you tell me, so you are free to vent."
Dorant stayed quiet, watching the other bank. "Perhaps."
Though, would it have helped if he'd talked to a werewolf about the Union? Not really. He was sure the werewolves would have told him to fight Osbern for the theft, though that wouldn't have accomplished much. The damage had been done - his research would have still been sought over.
But...to talk about it? To have some kind of catharsis? He hadn't talked talked to the others about his troubles...
"And you?"
"Mm?" Frankenstein glanced over. Had he missed Dorant's question while lost in his thoughts?
"Would you 'vent' about your human politics to me as well?"
A small smile grew on Frankenstein's lips and he let out a soft chuckle. Werewolves never failed to continue to surprise him.
Dorant didn't say anything, watching him patiently.
"Yes, an exchange, like in a fight," Frankenstein said with a nod.
Very slowly, a small smile curled the corner of Dorant's lips.
* * *
Frankenstein swept his wet hair away from his face. It was getting closer to the length it had been before he cut it.
"Garda," he said as he pulled his tunic back on, "could you tell me what's insulting for a werewolf?"
She cocked her head to the side, an amused expression on her face. "To avoid it, or to annoy others?"
"The latter," he said.
She blinked at that. "Has someone been bothering you?"
He smiled. "No. It's to help in the spars."
She looked at him, not saying anything for a few seconds. "How would insults help?"
"There are more ways to win a fight than pure strength." Though he had yet to prove that. He was getting closer with each new technique he learned, however.
Garda stared at him.
Frankenstein sighed. Werewolves. "In a fight, a warrior must be clearheaded, yes?"
"Of course!"
"If you're able to insult someone to the point where they lose their composure," Frankenstein said, "they then lose the ability to plan or to predict what their opponent will do their next. It's one way to gain an advantage." And he needed to scrape in as many as he could against werewolves.
"Hm." Garda didn't say anything else to that.
"Also, I ask because human insults are either ineffective, or it excites you further," he admitted wryly. It was rather the opposite effect of what he wanted.
Garda blinked, studying him. "You were trying to anger me earlier?"
"Yes," Frankenstein said. It hadn't worked - therefore, he needed to talk with someone who would know exactly what would.
Garda smiled, starting to walk towards the eating area. "All right."
Frankenstein smiled back. "Thank you."
* * *
Frankenstein hummed as he organised the plants he'd collected. He would need to make jars or pouches to keep some in, since Muzaka kept visiting. They were most potent if they were ingested, but they might affect Muzaka by their scents as well.
"Why is your lab underground anyway."
Speaking of which...
"You should do this in the sunshine," Muzaka continued from Frankenstein's doorway, squinting at the candles. "With actual light."
"I need to have a controlled environment to make sure I know what's being influenced and what is affecting another." He couldn't do that if the wind was blowing whatever was in the air into his vials.
"Underground," Muzaka repeated flatly, crossing his arms as he leaned on the wall.
"It needs to be hidden. If someone were to find my lab-" Well. Someone aside from Muzaka. "My research..." It had already happened once. He didn't want it to happen again.
Muzaka snorted, walking in completely. "This is the safest place there is. No-one's gonna be coming to the werewolf territory." He frowned at the walls. "Can I at least bust a window or two in here? Ya need fresh air sometimes! I wouldn't need to drag you out so much if you had a window."
Frankenstein stared at him. That was why Muzaka visited? To check on him?
Muzaka looked at him and then sighed. "Fine, no windows. But I'm takin' you outside - you've clearly been stuck inside for too long again."
He guided Frankenstein out with a hand on his shoulder, Frankenstein letting him, turning the new information in his head.
Summary: Frankenstein needs to gain strength to protect humanity; the werewolves might hold the key to that.
Contains: Blood and gore.
Notes: Frankenstein decides werewolves are the bigger threat AU.
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Word count: 2,260
Total word count: 21,824
Status: Work in progress
"Yo," Muzaka said as he approached, arm raised in greeting. "How'd your chat with Dorant go?"
Frankenstein arched an eyebrow at him. "He mentioned that you told him to hide his strength."
Muzaka's smile faltered for a second. "...Ah, yeah." He sighed, shrugging. "Werewolves can get jealous of those who grow faster than their peers. It's better he keeps his head down for now."
Oh, now didn't that sound familiar. The longer Frankenstein stayed amongst werewolves and learned more about them, the more he saw how much they had in common with humans.
"An' I told you because you wouldn't be jealous or care how fast he gets stronger," Muzaka continued. He paused. "Or you'd care, but that's 'cause you'd want to study his blood for it."
Frankenstein huffed, feeling a smile tug at his lips. Muzaka already knew him quite well. "Well, I told him he could come chat with me if he ever feels the need."
"You did?" Muzaka lunged excitedly into Frankenstein's space, grinning widely. "Dorant doesn't have many people he talks with, so it'll be great if he does talk with ya."
Hm. Was it that important to werewolves?
Muzaka flung his jacket off and Frankenstein replied in kind. He could think about it later.
Now to see if his new plan would work.
Frankenstein had enough time to take two steps away from where he hung his tunic before Muzaka rushed towards him. He had a small window where he could-
Frankenstein transformed and grabbed Muzaka's hand, using his claws up keep Muzaka's hand in place. Quick. He had to do this quickly.
With his free hand, he slashed over the back of Muzaka's forearm, severing the extensor digitorum ligaments.
He let go of Muzaka's forearm and jumped away, releasing his transformation. That should stop Muzaka from using that hand for a while. Would that be enough?
Muzaka had stayed where he was, and that made Frankenstein pause. Blood was pouring out of the slashes in a steady stream. Had he cut too far? He'd never inflicted any deep wounds in a spar before, though that had been because he'd never been able to.
"Huh," Muzaka said, looking down at his arm. His hand was curled into a more claw shape than relaxed, and even when Muzaka moved his arm, it was only the wrist that moved, not his fingers. "No-one's tried that before." He looked up, grinned, and charged at him.
Just how high was Muzaka's pain tolerance? Did he even feel it?
Frankenstein's plan had worked, but it hadn't been as effective as he'd hoped. If he could deal with Muzaka's other hand, that might put a stop to him. Or Muzaka might opt to headbutt him instead.
There was only one way to find out.
Frankenstein's back slammed into the ground but before he could scramble to his feet, Muzaka straddled his hips, pinning him. Muzaka leaned in with his working hand to press his claws to Frankenstein's neck. Muzaka's grin was as sharp as his claws as Frankenstein relaxed, thumping his head against the ground.
Dammit. Even with only one working arm and not transformed, Muzaka had still won.
"Heh, that was fun," Muzaka said as he got up.
"Oh?" Frankenstein wheezed, continuing to lay there. "Is it really fun having an easy fight?"
Muzaka's grin widened even more. "Who said fightin' you is easy? You fight so differently I hafta change how I fight - it's been a while since I've only used one arm." He glanced down at his arm, frowning. "Though it's normally started healing by now."
...Ah, had he gone too far? "Unless you have a way to keep each part of the ligament together so your healing can knit them back, it won't." He hadn't considered how a werewolf would-
"Oooh, gotcha." Muzaka dug into his arm, yanking the muscle out. He tossed the muscle to the side. "Thanks."
Frankenstein stared at the casual display of his actions. Muzaka's healing and pain tolerance was absolutely monstrous.
"Next time," Muzaka said, extending his working hand out to Frankenstein, "I'll make it harder for you to hit me."
Frankenstein raised an eyebrow, grasping Muzaka's hand. "Does that mean you'll transform?" he asked as Muzaka pulled him to his feet.
"Yep! Not fully, but you'll see my claws."
Frankenstein smiled. Finally.
Though, what else could he do to improve how he fought...?
Garda didn't say anything when she appeared, looking Frankenstein over.
She shook her head. "At least you smell the normal way of having another werewolf's scent on you."
Frankenstein sighed. "There's not much chance of keeping secrets with werewolves, is there?" He thought he'd scrubbed down well after Muzaka's spar.
Garda hesitated at that. "It's...possible."
"I suppose." Otherwise he wouldn't be here in the first place.
Frankenstein crouched down, peering at the edges of the leaves at the base of the tree. They were serrated. Were these the ones-
"Oi, what're you doin'?"
Frankenstein jerked up, seeing Muzaka marching up to him. That was different from how Muzaka normally appeared.
"Trying to find something for dinner," he said.
Muzaka's eyes went wide. "You don't eat that."
Something he shouldn't eat. Good to know.
"If you wanna know what you can eat around here, I can show you around," Muzaka said, shaking his head.
Frankenstein perked up. "It would be appreciated." A guide who knew exactly what effects the plants had would be far better and faster than testing each leaf.
"Right, that one'll give you an aching stomach for a while," Muzaka said.
Frankenstein nodded, pulling out his journal. So werewolves could still be affected by fauna.
"You really like takin' notes, huh," Muzaka said, leaning against a tree as Frankenstein balanced his journal on his knee.
"As good as my memory is, it's not infallible," Frankenstein murmured, sketching the plant Muzaka had just shown him. "I would rather make mistakes as few times as possible." Getting ill meant less time to research while he recovered.
Frankenstein dipped his pen in the ink pot again, taking a few more notes. Hmm. Dipping his pen was fine in the lab where everything was stable, but it was cumbersome out in the field; he had to carry multiple items as well as finding the right spot to balance the ink pot that was reachable while he wrote or drew. If he could make a pen that would hold the ink inside itself...
"Frankenstein?"
"Ah, yes, lost in my own thoughts." Something to work on later.
He finished his sketch and left his journal open to let the ink dry as he put his pen and ink pot away.
"Carry on," he said as he collected his journal.
Muzaka reached into a bush, brushing a branch away so Frankenstein could see the purple berries better. "These can make you vomit and tired."
Frankenstein was already reaching for his ink pot when he paused, studying the plant closer. "Aren't those grapes?"
"Is that what you call them?"
Frankenstein tugged one of the berries free from its vine, looking at the shape of the leaves. "Yes, I'm sure those are grapes," he said. He sliced the berry in half with a claw, inspecting the inside. Then he popped it in his mouth. It was as he expected.
Then that meant... Frankenstein closed his eyes and sighed. Of course.
"It would appear we forgot that there are differences between us."
Muzaka was staring at him, wide-eyed. "You can eat those?"
Frankenstein nodded, eating the other half. Which meant Muzaka's advice may not be as helpful as it could have been. But as different as they were, they were also similar, so he would keep those plants in mind.
"I'd still like to know what other plants that should be avoided," Frankenstein said. It would be good to know what was around and it was nice walking around with Muzaka.
Muzaka nodded, though Frankenstein noticed he kept a closer eye on him along their walk.
Dorant stared out across the river. "Why would a human care about werewolf politics?"
Frankenstein leaned back on the log, enjoying the warm sun. "It's exactly because I'm human that I'm curious," he said. "I'm not aware of what's considered, hmm, normal behaviour for werewolves." He was able to pick up a few pieces the longer he stayed amongst them, but he didn't have the full innate grasp that came with growing up with them.
"And I'm not involved, so I have no stake in the matter." Frankenstein shrugged. "I won't be telling anyone anything that you tell me, so you are free to vent."
Dorant stayed quiet, watching the other bank. "Perhaps."
Though, would it have helped if he'd talked to a werewolf about the Union? Not really. He was sure the werewolves would have told him to fight Osbern for the theft, though that wouldn't have accomplished much. The damage had been done - his research would have still been sought over.
But...to talk about it? To have some kind of catharsis? He hadn't talked talked to the others about his troubles...
"And you?"
"Mm?" Frankenstein glanced over. Had he missed Dorant's question while lost in his thoughts?
"Would you 'vent' about your human politics to me as well?"
A small smile grew on Frankenstein's lips and he let out a soft chuckle. Werewolves never failed to continue to surprise him.
Dorant didn't say anything, watching him patiently.
"Yes, an exchange, like in a fight," Frankenstein said with a nod.
Very slowly, a small smile curled the corner of Dorant's lips.
Frankenstein swept his wet hair away from his face. It was getting closer to the length it had been before he cut it.
"Garda," he said as he pulled his tunic back on, "could you tell me what's insulting for a werewolf?"
She cocked her head to the side, an amused expression on her face. "To avoid it, or to annoy others?"
"The latter," he said.
She blinked at that. "Has someone been bothering you?"
He smiled. "No. It's to help in the spars."
She looked at him, not saying anything for a few seconds. "How would insults help?"
"There are more ways to win a fight than pure strength." Though he had yet to prove that. He was getting closer with each new technique he learned, however.
Garda stared at him.
Frankenstein sighed. Werewolves. "In a fight, a warrior must be clearheaded, yes?"
"Of course!"
"If you're able to insult someone to the point where they lose their composure," Frankenstein said, "they then lose the ability to plan or to predict what their opponent will do their next. It's one way to gain an advantage." And he needed to scrape in as many as he could against werewolves.
"Hm." Garda didn't say anything else to that.
"Also, I ask because human insults are either ineffective, or it excites you further," he admitted wryly. It was rather the opposite effect of what he wanted.
Garda blinked, studying him. "You were trying to anger me earlier?"
"Yes," Frankenstein said. It hadn't worked - therefore, he needed to talk with someone who would know exactly what would.
Garda smiled, starting to walk towards the eating area. "All right."
Frankenstein smiled back. "Thank you."
Frankenstein hummed as he organised the plants he'd collected. He would need to make jars or pouches to keep some in, since Muzaka kept visiting. They were most potent if they were ingested, but they might affect Muzaka by their scents as well.
"Why is your lab underground anyway."
Speaking of which...
"You should do this in the sunshine," Muzaka continued from Frankenstein's doorway, squinting at the candles. "With actual light."
"I need to have a controlled environment to make sure I know what's being influenced and what is affecting another." He couldn't do that if the wind was blowing whatever was in the air into his vials.
"Underground," Muzaka repeated flatly, crossing his arms as he leaned on the wall.
"It needs to be hidden. If someone were to find my lab-" Well. Someone aside from Muzaka. "My research..." It had already happened once. He didn't want it to happen again.
Muzaka snorted, walking in completely. "This is the safest place there is. No-one's gonna be coming to the werewolf territory." He frowned at the walls. "Can I at least bust a window or two in here? Ya need fresh air sometimes! I wouldn't need to drag you out so much if you had a window."
Frankenstein stared at him. That was why Muzaka visited? To check on him?
Muzaka looked at him and then sighed. "Fine, no windows. But I'm takin' you outside - you've clearly been stuck inside for too long again."
He guided Frankenstein out with a hand on his shoulder, Frankenstein letting him, turning the new information in his head.