Then that should narrow the suspects greatly. Most of the elders aren't that stupid, even. It would have to be someone with a combination of old enough to have amassed that sort of power, but brash enough to think they could succeed.
[CSI: New Orleans. Here they sit, profiling their mysterious foe over breakfast.]
And also, despite being old, familiar enough with modern developments to use them to advantage. Some of the old ones do not bother to adapt to the times, do they.
They don't like the far and frozen north, do they? I suppose the weather here alone would be enough of an excuse to try to come south.
[Besides, people have to bundle up in the north, to keep warm. More bundling means less exposed skin, means less advantage when it comes to picking a meal. Warm climates come with the benefit of encouraging that sort of revelry.]
...You know that —
[She stops short, hesitating a minute as she mulls over a thought, and then carefully advances.]
Our investigation today has to find something. Whether we really do or not. Because people will be watching to see if we are able to address this or not, so today must be a success. Or at the very least everyone must think it is.
There's been earlier and smaller encroachments that have been impossible to respond to because the acts are simple. Almost childish. Homes with crosses thrown into the windows during daylight hours, that sort of thing. Mostly happening on the edges of town, to those who generally decline a more active social life in the city.
[There's a sigh from Alucard, already weary.]
This was testing the waters to see how we respond. So we must be wise in that. Otherwise the next thing, that will have a real death toll.
In short, a response too extreme in either direction would work against us. To not respond adequately enough would suggest that we cannot defend our own territory. But a disproportionate answer would make it seem as though we are scared, or perhaps hiding a greater weakness behind a show of strength.
[She reaches across the table, palm-up, looking for his hand.]
The eternal balance. And smokescreen, for that matter.
[That hand doesn't find Sypha's. He's focused on getting the rest of his pancakes in him before the idea of eating churns Alucard's stomach too much. They are very good pancakes, although he'd prefer if there were blackberries at the market right now. Much tastier to have them in the batter.
The eternal thought is also there, weighing in Alucard's mind. No one would be stupid enough to attempt this if Dracula was still present in the city.]
Doubtlessly Belmont records can be crosschecked for age in order to produce an actual list. Although I expect certain friends of his would be better up to date.
[After a minute, when he doesn't reach for her, she subtly turns her hand over and curls the fingers in, surreptitious and nonchalant. It's a little awkward to leave it there, near him, but worse still to have to pull it back, so she focuses instead on eating her pancakes one-handed as well.]
What a shame we sinned all through Sunday, instead of allowing him to go to church.
[Because she sounds so penitent about that, oh, yes.]
Well, perhaps they will forgive him a belated visit. Should we all go, or just drop him off while you and I go back to the forest?
[Under the table, there's a very, very soft nudge from Alucard. He saw the hand he just. Everything's tiresome already. He'll take her hand later. In the sunshine.]
Oh, I imagine that they'll forgive him. If he misses things, then it's a whole heavenly host of speculation for them, and I imagine that counts as a blessing.
[They're a little too on the nose, those Church Ladies.]
We need him for the work. Also, I think knitting is at 3 today, and I expect to be done by then.
[She doesn't take her hand back, still, but the nudge is at least reassuring. She'll move the next opportunity she can get to do it casually; for the time being, the pancakes are soft enough and sufficiently saturated in syrup to break them apart one-handed with the edge of the fork.]
Then it seems as though we have a plan. And all that remains is to get some breakfast into Trevor, so that we are all ready to go at once.
[There's the tell-tale sign of a thudding noise coming from the general direction of the stairs. Alucard hums in approval, and by the time Trevor's actually down and in the kitchen, Alucard has made sure that the cover on Trevor's plate is removed, there's two very, very strong cups of coffee at Trevor's place, and they're all about as content as they're going to be today.]
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[CSI: New Orleans. Here they sit, profiling their mysterious foe over breakfast.]
And also, despite being old, familiar enough with modern developments to use them to advantage. Some of the old ones do not bother to adapt to the times, do they.
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[Okay, enough drowning the pancakes. Time to eat them.]
Most of the ones here stay abreast, if only because it's easier to expose one's identity these days if you don't.
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[Besides, people have to bundle up in the north, to keep warm. More bundling means less exposed skin, means less advantage when it comes to picking a meal. Warm climates come with the benefit of encouraging that sort of revelry.]
...You know that —
[She stops short, hesitating a minute as she mulls over a thought, and then carefully advances.]
Our investigation today has to find something. Whether we really do or not. Because people will be watching to see if we are able to address this or not, so today must be a success. Or at the very least everyone must think it is.
no subject
[Dragging Godbrand is a global sport.]
I'm aware. [Alucard's a little too aware. He stuffs some pancakes into his mouth so that he has the excuse of food to be quiet for a few seconds.]
And everyone else will be searching for holes, so whatever we present must be absolute and complete.
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[She sighs a little.]
Whoever is behind this, they will strike again, won't they. This will not be just an isolated incident.
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[There's a sigh from Alucard, already weary.]
This was testing the waters to see how we respond. So we must be wise in that. Otherwise the next thing, that will have a real death toll.
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[She reaches across the table, palm-up, looking for his hand.]
Neither defensive nor aggressive, but assertive.
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[That hand doesn't find Sypha's. He's focused on getting the rest of his pancakes in him before the idea of eating churns Alucard's stomach too much. They are very good pancakes, although he'd prefer if there were blackberries at the market right now. Much tastier to have them in the batter.
The eternal thought is also there, weighing in Alucard's mind. No one would be stupid enough to attempt this if Dracula was still present in the city.]
Doubtlessly Belmont records can be crosschecked for age in order to produce an actual list. Although I expect certain friends of his would be better up to date.
[He loves the Church Ladies.]
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What a shame we sinned all through Sunday, instead of allowing him to go to church.
[Because she sounds so penitent about that, oh, yes.]
Well, perhaps they will forgive him a belated visit. Should we all go, or just drop him off while you and I go back to the forest?
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Oh, I imagine that they'll forgive him. If he misses things, then it's a whole heavenly host of speculation for them, and I imagine that counts as a blessing.
[They're a little too on the nose, those Church Ladies.]
We need him for the work. Also, I think knitting is at 3 today, and I expect to be done by then.
no subject
[She doesn't take her hand back, still, but the nudge is at least reassuring. She'll move the next opportunity she can get to do it casually; for the time being, the pancakes are soft enough and sufficiently saturated in syrup to break them apart one-handed with the edge of the fork.]
Then it seems as though we have a plan. And all that remains is to get some breakfast into Trevor, so that we are all ready to go at once.
no subject
[There's the tell-tale sign of a thudding noise coming from the general direction of the stairs. Alucard hums in approval, and by the time Trevor's actually down and in the kitchen, Alucard has made sure that the cover on Trevor's plate is removed, there's two very, very strong cups of coffee at Trevor's place, and they're all about as content as they're going to be today.]