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[Alucard's own laugh is very soft. It hesitates, unsure and uncomfortable, but it feels nice. It's a break in the tension at least, and that counts for an awful lot.]
There's absolutely nothing edible in here, I assure you.
[Alucard tuts, but he manages to remove the very last leaf and then awkwardly pats the top of Trevor's head.]
Take a look. Pile's on your right.
There's absolutely nothing edible in here, I assure you.
[Alucard tuts, but he manages to remove the very last leaf and then awkwardly pats the top of Trevor's head.]
Take a look. Pile's on your right.
Well, the end-all and be-all of any creature who is considered a strigoi is to decapitate the creature while it rests, effectively making it impossible for it to rise again from the grave. Of course, decapitation stops most things from continuing onward.
[It isn't a joke, only a dry observation. One that means Alucard's attention is focused on Vanessa and her reaction, rather than the hot glass in his hand.]
Almost every solution to strigoi benefits from knowing their exact location. Otherwise, what is recommended is almost laughable unless you know the countryfolk of Romania and the greater Balkans. Garlic is a constant, as are religious symbols. Some cite wild rose or hawthorn as a deterrent, and so on. Apotropaic devices are often things of the local land. Hard to find in cities.
[It isn't a joke, only a dry observation. One that means Alucard's attention is focused on Vanessa and her reaction, rather than the hot glass in his hand.]
Almost every solution to strigoi benefits from knowing their exact location. Otherwise, what is recommended is almost laughable unless you know the countryfolk of Romania and the greater Balkans. Garlic is a constant, as are religious symbols. Some cite wild rose or hawthorn as a deterrent, and so on. Apotropaic devices are often things of the local land. Hard to find in cities.
"A note would have sufficed."
Alucard sighs, but that becomes silence when D turns to him. Too grey to be healthy. Alucard knows that inside is the only option right now, and so he crosses over to them both. To pat the horse, and look at D in the eye.
"You need to get inside. Or are we at the point where a brief burial is far better for you?"
Alucard sighs, but that becomes silence when D turns to him. Too grey to be healthy. Alucard knows that inside is the only option right now, and so he crosses over to them both. To pat the horse, and look at D in the eye.
"You need to get inside. Or are we at the point where a brief burial is far better for you?"
Please, anything’s edible if you’re not a coward.
[ He turns to look at the leaf pile and - wow. He managed to end up with so, so many leaves. ]
Shit, that’s more leaf than I have hair. [ And then, a little awkwardly. ] Thanks. It’d have been uncomfortable, sleeping on all that.
[ He turns to look at the leaf pile and - wow. He managed to end up with so, so many leaves. ]
Shit, that’s more leaf than I have hair. [ And then, a little awkwardly. ] Thanks. It’d have been uncomfortable, sleeping on all that.
I'm amazed all of it stuck.
[Alucard can feel the awkward settling in, and there it is. They're both terribly awkward without Sypha there, aren't they?]
You're welcome. You're otherwise unharmed?
[Alucard can feel the awkward settling in, and there it is. They're both terribly awkward without Sypha there, aren't they?]
You're welcome. You're otherwise unharmed?
Yeah, nothing worse than a couple bruises. And a lot of leaves.
[ He should probably. Stand up, shouldn’t he? Stop sitting on Alucard’s bed. He falls silent for a while before actually managing that, sitting down on his own with a tired huff. ]
Anything that needs doing around here, if I’m not leaving tomorrow? If not, I’ll check over the cottage again, see if I can figure out anything about what makes it so the castle can use it.
[ He should probably. Stand up, shouldn’t he? Stop sitting on Alucard’s bed. He falls silent for a while before actually managing that, sitting down on his own with a tired huff. ]
Anything that needs doing around here, if I’m not leaving tomorrow? If not, I’ll check over the cottage again, see if I can figure out anything about what makes it so the castle can use it.
"I'll keep that in mind."
It's short and clipped, showing some obvious strain instead of D's normal level tone, and that bothers him more than he cares to admit. But if it's letting something through in his voice or letting the tremble show in his hands, he'll take the former. Adrian is already too worried for his liking and the sooner he can try to deflect it the better he'll feel.
"Inside. I'll be better with rest."
It's short and clipped, showing some obvious strain instead of D's normal level tone, and that bothers him more than he cares to admit. But if it's letting something through in his voice or letting the tremble show in his hands, he'll take the former. Adrian is already too worried for his liking and the sooner he can try to deflect it the better he'll feel.
"Inside. I'll be better with rest."
All are survivable.
[It's a little sad, Trevor getting up. He's warm, warm and human, and his absence means nothing but cold. The castle is trying so hard to be warm right now, but it's a struggle.]
Let's just investigate the cottage. Go from there.
[It's a little sad, Trevor getting up. He's warm, warm and human, and his absence means nothing but cold. The castle is trying so hard to be warm right now, but it's a struggle.]
Let's just investigate the cottage. Go from there.
In the morning, then.
[ He almost gets into bed but then remembers something, standing and picking up he cloak. Not too damp. He tosses it on top of Sypha who, as always, immediately reacts in her sleep to cocoon herself in the thing.
It’s his new favourite part of the day, watching her do that, and worth giving up the extra warmth for.
He doesn’t sleep soundly, never does sober, jerking awake at every one of the castle’s creaks and groans. One hand at a knife before his eyes open properly. Eventually, as always, this happens close enough to morning that he decides fuck it, sleeping is over.
The castle doesn’t have running water, not yet, but Sypha heats water for them to do their respective morning rituals. Trevor’s doesn’t really involve the water so much, beyond splashing it onto his face. ]
Ready to head back into the cottage?
[ He almost gets into bed but then remembers something, standing and picking up he cloak. Not too damp. He tosses it on top of Sypha who, as always, immediately reacts in her sleep to cocoon herself in the thing.
It’s his new favourite part of the day, watching her do that, and worth giving up the extra warmth for.
He doesn’t sleep soundly, never does sober, jerking awake at every one of the castle’s creaks and groans. One hand at a knife before his eyes open properly. Eventually, as always, this happens close enough to morning that he decides fuck it, sleeping is over.
The castle doesn’t have running water, not yet, but Sypha heats water for them to do their respective morning rituals. Trevor’s doesn’t really involve the water so much, beyond splashing it onto his face. ]
Ready to head back into the cottage?
[Alucard's a wolf before long, but he doesn't sleep either. He's slept for 400 years. He doesn't need anymore sleep.
Instead, he is still. Processing everything he can, quietly as possible. He knows Trevor doesn't sleep deeply. He's fine with that, because it means he's not alone in that particular failure.
He does wash in the morning. Face and hands. As much as Alucard wants real bath, he'll wait for the castle to be ready for that. So he stands quietly, waiting for the other two.]
Yes, if you are.
Instead, he is still. Processing everything he can, quietly as possible. He knows Trevor doesn't sleep deeply. He's fine with that, because it means he's not alone in that particular failure.
He does wash in the morning. Face and hands. As much as Alucard wants real bath, he'll wait for the castle to be ready for that. So he stands quietly, waiting for the other two.]
Yes, if you are.
Then there are some constants in life. [And then, because maybe she feels his weighted eyes upon her.] The coffee is quite good, smooth and strong and the sweetness adds a nice complexity.
[After another sip she sets the cup back in its saucer and looks up to take in his knowledge. Some of it is confirmation which is incredibly useful.] Is it true that the creature must also believe in the power of the device or symbol in order for it to be effective?
[After another sip she sets the cup back in its saucer and looks up to take in his knowledge. Some of it is confirmation which is incredibly useful.] Is it true that the creature must also believe in the power of the device or symbol in order for it to be effective?
Thank you. I rarely have company, and so I was unsure how'd you react to my own preferences.
[Alucard doesn't smile, but for a moment, his eyes are a little softer. Warmer. And then all turns back to business and the neutral tone comes back.]
For religious items, the answer is more about cultural dominance. For example: if an undead was from the subcontient, then Christian symbols might have no effect.
[Alucard doesn't smile, but for a moment, his eyes are a little softer. Warmer. And then all turns back to business and the neutral tone comes back.]
For religious items, the answer is more about cultural dominance. For example: if an undead was from the subcontient, then Christian symbols might have no effect.
[ The contents of the house are the same as before. Same bones, same bottles. The kitchen area looks to have been used for cooking as well as mixing poisons or medicines.
There’s an egg. A hollow one, its contents long escaped from the shell through a crack and desiccated, thankfully long beyond the point of stench. It’s not much different to the other remnants of daily life left here, at least until their searching knocks it aside. It rolls, revealing the other side of the empty eggshell. ]
The fuck.
[ There, bleached in white on the brown eggshell, is a simple phrase. ‘THE LORD WILL BRING YOU LOW’ ]
There’s an egg. A hollow one, its contents long escaped from the shell through a crack and desiccated, thankfully long beyond the point of stench. It’s not much different to the other remnants of daily life left here, at least until their searching knocks it aside. It rolls, revealing the other side of the empty eggshell. ]
The fuck.
[ There, bleached in white on the brown eggshell, is a simple phrase. ‘THE LORD WILL BRING YOU LOW’ ]
Edited 2019-11-18 00:20 (UTC)
[The egg is.
What the fuck is the egg.
Alucard walks over towards it, his hands pointedly in his pockets so that he doesn't touch it. Or even think about touching it.]
Well, there's fortune telling techniques that rely upon cheese, you know. [He says this calmly. Matter-of-factly.] Maybe this is akin to the cheese technique?
What the fuck is the egg.
Alucard walks over towards it, his hands pointedly in his pockets so that he doesn't touch it. Or even think about touching it.]
Well, there's fortune telling techniques that rely upon cheese, you know. [He says this calmly. Matter-of-factly.] Maybe this is akin to the cheese technique?
Is that by preference or circumstance Mr. Tepes?
[A polite inquiry to his residency and time in London in between gentle back and forth about the undead. From her purse she withdraws a small book and pencil to make a note.]
In the tales of the vampire - the strigoi. Have you ever come across how they organize themselves. One creature is not like the rest, there are, stages I believe?
[A polite inquiry to his residency and time in London in between gentle back and forth about the undead. From her purse she withdraws a small book and pencil to make a note.]
In the tales of the vampire - the strigoi. Have you ever come across how they organize themselves. One creature is not like the rest, there are, stages I believe?
Shit. Can’t even get a good breakfast without portents of doom.
[ He does pick up the egg. It’s gross in theory, but it’s dried out. ] Mm. Probably a stupid question, but I’m guessing your father had a fairly low opinion of my God?
[ He does pick up the egg. It’s gross in theory, but it’s dried out. ] Mm. Probably a stupid question, but I’m guessing your father had a fairly low opinion of my God?
Both.
[He's too new to the city to have a social circle, too independent to want one. Alucard's aware that it shatters some of the narrative he's crafted for himself.]
Do you mean stages of transformation, or an organizational hierarchy? Those are two distinct things.
[He's too new to the city to have a social circle, too independent to want one. Alucard's aware that it shatters some of the narrative he's crafted for himself.]
Do you mean stages of transformation, or an organizational hierarchy? Those are two distinct things.
You're guessing correct. He held a great contempt, both for your God and for the institution of the church.
[Alucard isn't terribly weirded out by the egg. He simply watches, curious.]
Why?
[Alucard isn't terribly weirded out by the egg. He simply watches, curious.]
Why?
Thought it might be people getting hurt in a building that made it so the castle could go there. That would have happened at the abbey, and it looks like it happened here. But- shit, I’m not so naive as to think that there’s a lack of houses that people’ve been killed in.
[ If that was all the castle needed, this would be easy. ]
But contempt for God? Someone really, truly believing themselves to be more powerful? That’s rarer. If that’s the key-
[ There’s a sound at the door. Wood scraping on wood. Someone’s barred it. Outside, there are voices. ]
The Austrian girl was right. The witch really is back. Listen to her moving around in there.
[ Then comes the smell of smoke, as the thatch of the roof begins to catch alight. ]
[ If that was all the castle needed, this would be easy. ]
But contempt for God? Someone really, truly believing themselves to be more powerful? That’s rarer. If that’s the key-
[ There’s a sound at the door. Wood scraping on wood. Someone’s barred it. Outside, there are voices. ]
The Austrian girl was right. The witch really is back. Listen to her moving around in there.
[ Then comes the smell of smoke, as the thatch of the roof begins to catch alight. ]
Perhaps. I mean, we could try simply asking the castle at this point, it may be the more straight forward way of getting information out of--
[Alucard goes ramrod straight. The word witch catches his ear, but oh that smell of smoke.
What happens next is a rush. Perhaps better characterized as a panic, because he first lunges for Trevor to try and grab him. He gets the Belmont by the waist, then barrels for the door. There's smoke. They're talking about witches and there's smoke, and Alucard is clear through the door. Never mind a bar. He's used himself as a barrier to break through.]
Belmont, where's Sypha?!
[Alucard goes ramrod straight. The word witch catches his ear, but oh that smell of smoke.
What happens next is a rush. Perhaps better characterized as a panic, because he first lunges for Trevor to try and grab him. He gets the Belmont by the waist, then barrels for the door. There's smoke. They're talking about witches and there's smoke, and Alucard is clear through the door. Never mind a bar. He's used himself as a barrier to break through.]
Belmont, where's Sypha?!
The London social circuit is not for all, and even more so for some. How long have you been in London? I think your coffee and baklava would be very appealing to a certain crowd.
[Speaking of which, she will absolutely help herself to a piece - thank you very much. It really would be rude not to and not simply because she has a sweet tooth.]
Both. [Vanessa smiles as she brings the delicate pastry to her lips.]
[Speaking of which, she will absolutely help herself to a piece - thank you very much. It really would be rude not to and not simply because she has a sweet tooth.]
Both. [Vanessa smiles as she brings the delicate pastry to her lips.]
The recipe is pretty straightforward.
[Hector watches, though, as Alucard begins to mix up the simple dough, and intercedes to make sure the proper amount of olive oil gets mixed in. There shall be no sub-par pitas on his watch.]
You shouldn't need to do anything else to this tonight. You don't divide and shape the dough until shortly before you bake them.
[Hector has to wonder how they will pass the time until then, if not cooking or kissing.]
[Hector watches, though, as Alucard begins to mix up the simple dough, and intercedes to make sure the proper amount of olive oil gets mixed in. There shall be no sub-par pitas on his watch.]
You shouldn't need to do anything else to this tonight. You don't divide and shape the dough until shortly before you bake them.
[Hector has to wonder how they will pass the time until then, if not cooking or kissing.]
[Alucard's fine with having someone else add the oil. It means his doughy hands aren't touching the oil jug, and that does make life a little easier.]
Very well. If the texture of the dough is acceptable to you, then we're done for the evening.
[Well USUALLY this is the "play with the dog" time but SOMEONE left the dog home.]
Very well. If the texture of the dough is acceptable to you, then we're done for the evening.
[Well USUALLY this is the "play with the dog" time but SOMEONE left the dog home.]
A month or so? Perhaps slightly longer. I'm unsure of how permanent the move is, in truth. If it's only to be a few months, then I doubt there's much value in spending time attempting to elbow into such circles.
[Alucard? Not wanting to deal with people? Shocking, truly.
But Vanessa says both, and Alucard lets out a tired sigh.]
Organizational hierarchy then, that's easier to begin with. Most stories agree that there is an element of territorialness to the creatures, and so large swaths of land are often theirs and theirs alone - like nobles carving up land to farm and place serfs on and raise cattle. In this metaphor, the cattle are humans, whereas the serfs are the occasional other undead. If a person is turned, they have a built in hierarchy to who was responsible for the act.
Do you follow thus far?
[Alucard? Not wanting to deal with people? Shocking, truly.
But Vanessa says both, and Alucard lets out a tired sigh.]
Organizational hierarchy then, that's easier to begin with. Most stories agree that there is an element of territorialness to the creatures, and so large swaths of land are often theirs and theirs alone - like nobles carving up land to farm and place serfs on and raise cattle. In this metaphor, the cattle are humans, whereas the serfs are the occasional other undead. If a person is turned, they have a built in hierarchy to who was responsible for the act.
Do you follow thus far?
Alucard sighs, and he starts walking.
Well, for a few feet. He then glances behind himself to ensure D is following.
"Quickly then. You look awful. Do you have any capsules left?"
He can't tell if D's actually eaten, and if he hasn't, that needs to be addressed too.
Well, for a few feet. He then glances behind himself to ensure D is following.
"Quickly then. You look awful. Do you have any capsules left?"
He can't tell if D's actually eaten, and if he hasn't, that needs to be addressed too.
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