[Ever the war monger. But it's okay; Anderson is into it, in this instance.]
Can't say I wouldn't find it satisfying myself. Give'm a taste of hell. They've earned it, just as the Major's freaks earned their messy ends.
[He has to roll his eyes a little at that.]
Sounds like you're gunning to do it yourself. If they've come to like you for your personality, I don't think anything is going to dissuade him at this point. Best not to try. [He says this mildly.] And you did utterly fail to turn yourself into a husk, despite your best efforts.
[His thoughts flitter to the nail, and he threads his fingers in his lap, frowning down at them. Why the nail elicited such horror and grief in Alucard - it becomes more apparent every time they speak.]
I though they did go away. But you're evidence to the contrary. And now you're going to deal with that instead of running. [He didn't let Anderson run, and Anderson won't let him run.]
[ he runs his tongue over his teeth slowly, thinking about it. ]
When they recognize who they're fighting, I mean. I'm not going to hold my breath thinking that all of them know each other, but it's a nice thought. Perhaps in the end this is a better idea than the ghouls. This way they'll take up far less storage.
[ he's actually been avoiding soaking up souls from his kills, but maybe for this, it's the better decision.
then he sighs. ]
I opened a conversation with the whole tyrant thing, assuming it to be a deterrant, an admonishment, but it was the opposite. He thought it was cool. Not that I'm complaining about being called cool, but really, bad taste. I wonder if he thinks other villains are cool.
[ alucard did not manage to turn himself into a husk, anderson is right. he knows the other man is thinking about the nail, too, from his stance and behavior, but...
he huffs a laugh, barely audible, and tips back into the cushions. ]
I have until you kill me to deal with it, definitely. I hate it.
Seems there's no downside to this recourse. Other than my not entirely approving, but I'd otherwise revel in their faces.
[His lips curl, but he wrenches enough control over himself to stop smiling by the time he resumes looking at Alucard.]
I doubt they would be calling it 'cool' if they'd seen it first hand. Your tyranny is distant history for them, or it might not be part of their history at all. It's easy to look at it as if it's fiction, the sort of thing one can call 'cool' without guilt. It's terrible taste. But these people don't know better. They're naive.
And they like you, so they're likely more willing to separate who you were from who you are.
[Clearly Anderson doesn't approve, so... should he ever need judgement, Anderson's available.
But he's quiet a moment, considering.]
...I think about how our fight might have gone, sometimes - [Often.] and I could have killed you with that nail. I know I could have. And you fought valiantly against me, despite this. I could have killed you, and your burdens would have become mine.
[He regards Alucard with arched brows.]
That you still fought me to the death says something about your current quality of character. I recognise it. That's - [He waves a hand dismissively.] all I wanted to say.
I don't technically need to eat very often, but I will say this place makes me ravenous for it. Normally I get it on missions, but...
[ he's talking true devouring: he's fine with blood bags, obviously, for his nutrition intake, but actually biting people is a rare treat. at least their enemies are mutual, here. ]
The one thing they haven't taken from me yet is my teeth. Though they did muzzle me a couple of times, they're easy enough to get off. All you need is someone with a hairpin.
[ then he nods, grimacing. ]
Adrian, Trevor, and Sypha were all alive when I was. [ a beat. ] I don't think Sypha likes me much, but that said, because they know what it is, they treat it with the gravity it deserves. As for the people that like it, I can only hope it's from naivete. I'm afraid there are too many people like me here.
[ he listens to anderson speak, expression doing a strange twist before it settles again. when he speaks, it's low. ]
When a monster kills another monster, it simply takes that monster's place. There's still a monster left behind, no matter its origin. And there's no escaping it, that life.
[A human with teeth. At some point they're going to need to figure out how LIES manages to depower them and counteract it. An assault won't be worth much if they're rendered as weak as your standard human before they can make any progress.
He listens while Alucard speaks, eyeing him and continuing to drum his fingers.]
Don't I? It's what I wanted.
[Not that life, perhaps - but to destroy himself, rid himself of personhood. They were both willing to make that decision; the only difference is that Alucard didn't have anyone present to extend him mercy.
With a sigh, he leans over the coffee table, retrieving Alucard's coffee and pressing it into his hands.]
I haven't any idea who these people you mention are, but if they recognise your history for what it is and still elect to spend time with you, then they're genuine companions, in a way most people here can't be. Perhaps they should be one of the people you go to to speak about this.
[ it unsettles him, to know they can do it to him. to know they can make other vampires entirely human as well, but didn't do that to him. why the difference? perhaps he'll never understand. he wants to, in order to usurp it. the thought of them changing their minds though, and making him human... that worries him. frightens him, to an extent. ]
Is what one wants always what they deserve? Surely not.
[ alucard and anderson really are so similar, aren't they? giving up their personhood and all.
if only there had been mercy for alucard before it was too late. he hangs on anderson's promise, though he still doesn't believe it will work.
the coffee startles him but he grasps it, taking a drink as anderson speaks and shrugging. ]
Adrian is... well, not my son, but in another world he would be. The others are from the same world as him, and know a Dracula just as terrible as me. Perhaps you're right, though. The similarity in timeline, their first-hand experience with someone like me, might help.
I'll probably keep it from Sypha that I impaled people while we were in that camp, though. Probably for the best she doesn't know.
I don't know. But if you believe that, then you must apply it to yourself.
[Alucard has made a lot of mistakes in his life, hurt a lot of people. But that doesn't make all his suffering justified.
He sips his own coffee while Alucard is explaining the origin of his companions.]
A Dracula. The thought that there are several of you throughout the universe makes me very tired. But they do sound suitable people to go to. Especially that son of yours, even if he isn't technically of your blood. Who would know you better? Or a version of you, at least.
And I'd try not to mention that in polite company, honestly. People are going to start thinking you have a thing for it. You know... [He waves a hand, like this should explain exactly what he's trying to say.] A thing. For impaling.
[ MMMM SOUNDS FAKE but he's just going to hum noncommittally about that, not in the mood to really argue it. fine. you win this round. kind of.
then he huffs a laugh. ]
It is weird. Imagine if there were more of me here? I've thought about that and I can't tell if that unsettles me. Is it fair to hate another version of me just because I hate myself? That's too much deep thinking. Hopefully none will ever show up.
[ is anderson trying to say people are going to think he has an impalement kink? oh my god? this is precious. he snorts though, taking another drink of his coffee. ]
I don't have a kink for impaling people. It's a message, for God's sake. I suppose I could see how people could get the misconception, but honestly. I mean, it's fun, and I enjoy it, but in this situation it was practical. They needed to see that even taking away our strength, they weren't safe.
I'd prefer not to imagine it, thank you. Being stuck here with one is enough. And hating them would be fair, I'd say. Who wants a constant reminder of how much of an ass they were? Well. Still are, in your case, but you're applying some moderation to it that you didn't achieve as a younger man.
[Look! He's doing! His best!!]
Don't take the Lord's name in vain, vampire. [Getting that out the way first.] It doesn't sound practical to me. It sounds like a needlessly complicated method of sending a message when you could have simply left the corpses and achieved the same result. A waste of time, and a waste of resources, and you know, if LIES had happened to have a file on you that included your former name, it would have completely ruined your efforts. There was nothing practical about it.
[He wags a disapproving finger at Alucard.]
I'm sure you were too busy being excited by the idea of impaling people to consider any of that.
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Can't say I wouldn't find it satisfying myself. Give'm a taste of hell. They've earned it, just as the Major's freaks earned their messy ends.
[He has to roll his eyes a little at that.]
Sounds like you're gunning to do it yourself. If they've come to like you for your personality, I don't think anything is going to dissuade him at this point. Best not to try. [He says this mildly.] And you did utterly fail to turn yourself into a husk, despite your best efforts.
[His thoughts flitter to the nail, and he threads his fingers in his lap, frowning down at them. Why the nail elicited such horror and grief in Alucard - it becomes more apparent every time they speak.]
I though they did go away. But you're evidence to the contrary. And now you're going to deal with that instead of running. [He didn't let Anderson run, and Anderson won't let him run.]
no subject
[ he runs his tongue over his teeth slowly, thinking about it. ]
When they recognize who they're fighting, I mean. I'm not going to hold my breath thinking that all of them know each other, but it's a nice thought. Perhaps in the end this is a better idea than the ghouls. This way they'll take up far less storage.
[ he's actually been avoiding soaking up souls from his kills, but maybe for this, it's the better decision.
then he sighs. ]
I opened a conversation with the whole tyrant thing, assuming it to be a deterrant, an admonishment, but it was the opposite. He thought it was cool. Not that I'm complaining about being called cool, but really, bad taste. I wonder if he thinks other villains are cool.
[ alucard did not manage to turn himself into a husk, anderson is right. he knows the other man is thinking about the nail, too, from his stance and behavior, but...
he huffs a laugh, barely audible, and tips back into the cushions. ]
I have until you kill me to deal with it, definitely. I hate it.
no subject
[His lips curl, but he wrenches enough control over himself to stop smiling by the time he resumes looking at Alucard.]
I doubt they would be calling it 'cool' if they'd seen it first hand. Your tyranny is distant history for them, or it might not be part of their history at all. It's easy to look at it as if it's fiction, the sort of thing one can call 'cool' without guilt. It's terrible taste. But these people don't know better. They're naive.
And they like you, so they're likely more willing to separate who you were from who you are.
[Clearly Anderson doesn't approve, so... should he ever need judgement, Anderson's available.
But he's quiet a moment, considering.]
...I think about how our fight might have gone, sometimes - [Often.] and I could have killed you with that nail. I know I could have. And you fought valiantly against me, despite this. I could have killed you, and your burdens would have become mine.
[He regards Alucard with arched brows.]
That you still fought me to the death says something about your current quality of character. I recognise it. That's - [He waves a hand dismissively.] all I wanted to say.
no subject
[ he's talking true devouring: he's fine with blood bags, obviously, for his nutrition intake, but actually biting people is a rare treat. at least their enemies are mutual, here. ]
The one thing they haven't taken from me yet is my teeth. Though they did muzzle me a couple of times, they're easy enough to get off. All you need is someone with a hairpin.
[ then he nods, grimacing. ]
Adrian, Trevor, and Sypha were all alive when I was. [ a beat. ] I don't think Sypha likes me much, but that said, because they know what it is, they treat it with the gravity it deserves. As for the people that like it, I can only hope it's from naivete. I'm afraid there are too many people like me here.
[ he listens to anderson speak, expression doing a strange twist before it settles again. when he speaks, it's low. ]
When a monster kills another monster, it simply takes that monster's place. There's still a monster left behind, no matter its origin. And there's no escaping it, that life.
[ he shrugs. ]
You don't deserve that burden.
no subject
He listens while Alucard speaks, eyeing him and continuing to drum his fingers.]
Don't I? It's what I wanted.
[Not that life, perhaps - but to destroy himself, rid himself of personhood. They were both willing to make that decision; the only difference is that Alucard didn't have anyone present to extend him mercy.
With a sigh, he leans over the coffee table, retrieving Alucard's coffee and pressing it into his hands.]
I haven't any idea who these people you mention are, but if they recognise your history for what it is and still elect to spend time with you, then they're genuine companions, in a way most people here can't be. Perhaps they should be one of the people you go to to speak about this.
Now drink your coffee. It's getting cold.
no subject
Is what one wants always what they deserve? Surely not.
[ alucard and anderson really are so similar, aren't they? giving up their personhood and all.
if only there had been mercy for alucard before it was too late. he hangs on anderson's promise, though he still doesn't believe it will work.
the coffee startles him but he grasps it, taking a drink as anderson speaks and shrugging. ]
Adrian is... well, not my son, but in another world he would be. The others are from the same world as him, and know a Dracula just as terrible as me. Perhaps you're right, though. The similarity in timeline, their first-hand experience with someone like me, might help.
I'll probably keep it from Sypha that I impaled people while we were in that camp, though. Probably for the best she doesn't know.
no subject
[Alucard has made a lot of mistakes in his life, hurt a lot of people. But that doesn't make all his suffering justified.
He sips his own coffee while Alucard is explaining the origin of his companions.]
A Dracula. The thought that there are several of you throughout the universe makes me very tired. But they do sound suitable people to go to. Especially that son of yours, even if he isn't technically of your blood. Who would know you better? Or a version of you, at least.
And I'd try not to mention that in polite company, honestly. People are going to start thinking you have a thing for it. You know... [He waves a hand, like this should explain exactly what he's trying to say.] A thing. For impaling.
no subject
then he huffs a laugh. ]
It is weird. Imagine if there were more of me here? I've thought about that and I can't tell if that unsettles me. Is it fair to hate another version of me just because I hate myself? That's too much deep thinking. Hopefully none will ever show up.
[ is anderson trying to say people are going to think he has an impalement kink? oh my god? this is precious. he snorts though, taking another drink of his coffee. ]
I don't have a kink for impaling people. It's a message, for God's sake. I suppose I could see how people could get the misconception, but honestly. I mean, it's fun, and I enjoy it, but in this situation it was practical. They needed to see that even taking away our strength, they weren't safe.
no subject
[Look! He's doing! His best!!]
Don't take the Lord's name in vain, vampire. [Getting that out the way first.] It doesn't sound practical to me. It sounds like a needlessly complicated method of sending a message when you could have simply left the corpses and achieved the same result. A waste of time, and a waste of resources, and you know, if LIES had happened to have a file on you that included your former name, it would have completely ruined your efforts. There was nothing practical about it.
[He wags a disapproving finger at Alucard.]
I'm sure you were too busy being excited by the idea of impaling people to consider any of that.