Character(s): Alucard + ???? Status: Open Location(s): Around, about, and up in the Krimnos mountains Date(s) August About: General August catch all Warnings: Added as required
[ What's happening is that Strange has outright murdered some poor bunny rabbit whose corpse is now draining out over a bucket.
Strange liked to think that he was being sensible about the whole thing. He didn't know how dragons would react with blood magic, so he performed his experiments away from Alistair. He didn't want his public address or public persona to be associated with blood magic (he was trying to curry favor with the king, after all), so he performed the magic in a shady, ramshackle room he had rented in a seedy motel style place.
But, then again, he still was practicing blood magic, something that had been decried as dangerous in all aspects of his life. But dangerous how? In Strange's mind, no magic was innately dangerous, the only dangerous thing was the magician who used it. Blood magic, while admittedly quite risky, could give him the skills to protect those in his life.
Strange had died twice. He didn't want it to happen to him or the people he cared about ever again.
All of this is to say that he really didn't expect Alucard to 1: find him, 2: barge in on him, and 3: actually be talking to him in the first place. So Strange just looks up at Alucard, blinking slightly in a super confused manner before launching into accusations. ]
Following up on a lead related to several family heirlooms that have been circulating on the black market.
[Alucard's response is a little too calm, cool, and collected, all things considered. He doesn't need to look over to the rabbit corpse to know that there's a dead thing in the room (but really, a rabbit? After his animus is one?) The scent is remarkable enough.
The only moment of courtesy he affords Strange is closing the door behind him. No one else needs to see this disaster for what it really is, nor does anyone else need to overhear the conversation.]
You need to conclude this spell immediately.
[Yes. Alucard has just busted into Strange's shitty motel room, told him to stop doing the thing, and is about to grab some of Strange's books. This is...still not the worst thing Alucard has ever done.]
[ Yeah, a rabbit, after his animas is one. And speaking of animas, his animas is right here in the room as well, looking very put out about all this. As soon as Alucard enters the room, Bell hops over towards him and gives Alucard a bit of an expectant look. At times, it seems like Strange and Bell share one brain cell between them. She is definitely in possession of it at the moment.
Strange, to nobody's surprise, isn't stopping. Instead, he gives Alucard a look like he's a goddamn idiot and continues working magic. Now that the blood has almost finished draining, Strange sticks a finger inside the bucket and starts drawing some sort of sigil on the floor. ]
If this really is a family heirloom, then you have no right to judge me.
[ What the heirloom is, Strange doesn't know, but considering the last thing he bought on the black market is a book on blood magic, he's leaning towards that. ]
[There is a short, sharp, near feral noise of frustration from Alucard. Of all the times for Strange to be a stubborn ass, and it's this one. This one when he's fucking around with Dracula's magic that Alucard definitely knows is unstable and unsafe, so he does the only move available to him.
Well, after Alucard gently moves Bell over towards the door, so she's out of the line of fire here. Good soul bunnies don't deserve this.
He storms over and kicks the blood bucket over, the aim being to drown out the sigil on the floor and everything else.
When he speaks, it's with a low, furious gravity.]
I know my father's work better than any living or dead thing, Jonathan Strange, and I'm one of three people that understand the dangers that it carries.
[ Bell just lets herself get picked up and moved over. Thank you Alucard, please try and talk sense into the other part of their soul.
Strange himself has decided to ignore that noise of frustration and whatever Alucard's doing as he continues to draw out a sigil. He starts murmuring something under his breath as he does so, hoping that he can complete the magic before Alucard inevitably ruins the spell or does something and dammit, he was right, now there's blood all over the floor. Strange pulls his hands back as Alucard kicks the bucket of blood over the sigil.
And then Alucard starts lecturing him??? Rude. Though there is something different from this lecture compared to the normal round of judgement that he gets from Alucard. For lack of a better term, his tone sounds more serious.
As expected, Strange ignores it. ]
Dangers? If you truly know your father's work, then you should know what potential it carries. Look at these spells! There's magic here that I didn't know was even possible!
[Alucard turns on his heel, aware that his eyes are a golden fury and that the full of his dhampir heritage is on display. He shows in the horrible snarl that responds to Jonathan's words. It shows in the fury when Alucard speaks.]
I know exactly what my father's work is capable of, Jonathan Strange, and I know exactly how badly a spell can go awry in any man's hands but that of Vlad Dracula Tepes. A vampir who, in the worst of his moments, attempted to commit genocide in the mountains of Krimnos with such spells.
[He looks around this horrible set up, and there it is. An open book. Alucard snatches it up without missing a beat.]
[ And that's when the penny drops and Strange finally fully realizes what sort of man Alucard is. The golden eyes, the vampir father...Alucard's a dhampir. It's a fact that only makes this more aggravating as Strange looks over at Alucard with an expression of disbelief. ]
This makes so much more sense now--of course you wouldn't want me to learn this. After all, blood magic is your type's specialty!
[ He reaches over to try and snatch the book back from Alucard. ]
Did you hear a word I just said with regards to what my father once tried to do?
[Alucard's tapped into his bloodline now, which means the superhuman bursts of speed he reserves exclusively for combat are easy to take advantage of. He's on the other side of the room in a flash.]
My family's legacy does not belong to foolish men who barely think a step ahead.
Then who does it belong to? Someone who won't do a thing with it? Because I know you, Alucard, you're going to take that book and hide it away somewhere and not use it.
[ Partly because Alucard is obviously averse to blood magic, partly because Strange downright knows that Alucard doesn't trust him that much, partly because a small part of Jonathan 'I've also got some daddy issues' Strange recognizes that's something he might do. ]
This should be obvious, but I'm not your father. There's no need to mention what he did with regards to my work.
My father's and my mother's estates are mine. I have always been the curator, collections manager, and executor of such property, both in life and in death. I have granted access to researchers before, those of sound mind and judgement and whose work was long since proven. Unorthodoxy was no point against them, but pure recklessness?
[Looking at you, buddy.]
That was the point where I always denied access. And you? You have proven time and again that reckless should simply be your middle name.
[Damn right he's going to hide that book.]
Yes. This book will not circulate, but for reasons of sentiment.
[ He knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on with regards to recklessness. He knows that should he attempt to challenge that, Alucard will have a long litany of probably deserved accusations and that doesn't even count the deserved accusations that Strange knows himself but hasn't told anybody. He knows that he shouldn't fight this.
....but dammit, he really wants that book. So he changes tactics a little. ]
That book has magic in there that the world hasn't dreamed of. It's foolish to let such resources sit in a moldy old basement or wherever you keep your books.
[He says those words flatly enough, but now Alucard's eyes are moving around the horrible little room. There could be more than one book. It'll be the ex libris that confirms it, or else a shelf mark on the spine that has Alucard's call number system on it, for he had things organized in a certain way and invented his own version of the Dewey Decimal System in order to keep things well managed.
Strange's pleading for access though, that does strike a softer spot, or at least as soft as Alucard can be in the moment.]
There's one person I'd trust with work like this, and she lives with me as it is.
[ At least it's a library, Strange thinks. He then realizes that's the sort of thing his fuddy-duddy old mentor would say and instantly decides he's never going to think something like that ever again.
He's still trying to build his case, trying to focus on gaining access to the book even if he's no longer going to be able to keep it himself. ]
For her sake, I hope this person has experience with blood magic. It's dangerous to let a complete novice work with something like that.
Sypha is the one woman in the world I would trust with the worst of my father's library, because of her skill and her sense of responsibility with magic.
[His girlfriend is perfect okay?!
Alucard's eyes go back over to the door. And to Bell, to gauge if he's done the smart thing here in her eyes.
God help him, he's divining information via a soul rabbit.]
[ Bell nods. Good job Alucard, you kept her stupidass wizard alive.
Strange is still scowling and sulking, obviously not fond of the loss of his book. But Sypha? That's a name he hasn't heard. He'll have to look her up. ]
Sense of responsibility is different from experience. I know you think little of me, but you cannot deny that I have experience with that sort of magic.
[ he says, entirely unaware that Alucard might not know the full details of his sketchy blood magic past. ]
[ Strange looks over at Bell...who's still giving him a bit of a stink eye. He wipes what wet blood is still on his hands on his trousers, before bending down and making a kissy noise. Bell continues to give Strange the stink eye as she hops over towards him. He continues to explain as he bends down to picks her up. ]
My animus knows this is as much for her as it is for me. You may call me impulsive and reckless but Bell is worse than I am. If I can grow my magic to keep her safe, then of course I will do so.
I didn't choose a rabbit out of spite. The spell required a certain amount of blood. A rabbit fit the requirements and wouldn't be as missed like a cat or a dog would be.
[ Says the man who would 100% murder a cat if need be. As Strange maneuvers his hands, he starts to pet Bell...who just keeps staring at him in a 'bitch, please' sort of way. Strange 100% isn't making eye contact. ]
[Bell really is the best part of Strange. And that last comment has defanged all of Alucard's remaining venom. He simply clutches the book to his chest, a horrible keepsake and memory but still something of his father's legacy.]
There was a second book according to all the market rumors. Where is it?
[He barely registers the fact he's actually insulted the man. Alucard's also...not at the point of caring, and he'd be more than surprised to know that was a greater insult than say, running in, grabbing a book, and berating the man in a fit of red hot anger.]
Well now you know: I don't have that book. But I do know the man who sold me your father's book. I would be happy to go with you to meet him.
[ Because he sure as shit isn't going to tell Alucard the man's name by himself. Oh no, Strange wants to be here and wants to use take advantage of this tiny bit of leverage as much as possible. ]
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no subject
Strange liked to think that he was being sensible about the whole thing. He didn't know how dragons would react with blood magic, so he performed his experiments away from Alistair. He didn't want his public address or public persona to be associated with blood magic (he was trying to curry favor with the king, after all), so he performed the magic in a shady, ramshackle room he had rented in a seedy motel style place.
But, then again, he still was practicing blood magic, something that had been decried as dangerous in all aspects of his life. But dangerous how? In Strange's mind, no magic was innately dangerous, the only dangerous thing was the magician who used it. Blood magic, while admittedly quite risky, could give him the skills to protect those in his life.
Strange had died twice. He didn't want it to happen to him or the people he cared about ever again.
All of this is to say that he really didn't expect Alucard to 1: find him, 2: barge in on him, and 3: actually be talking to him in the first place. So Strange just looks up at Alucard, blinking slightly in a super confused manner before launching into accusations. ]
And what exactly are you doing here?
no subject
[Alucard's response is a little too calm, cool, and collected, all things considered. He doesn't need to look over to the rabbit corpse to know that there's a dead thing in the room (but really, a rabbit? After his animus is one?) The scent is remarkable enough.
The only moment of courtesy he affords Strange is closing the door behind him. No one else needs to see this disaster for what it really is, nor does anyone else need to overhear the conversation.]
You need to conclude this spell immediately.
[Yes. Alucard has just busted into Strange's shitty motel room, told him to stop doing the thing, and is about to grab some of Strange's books. This is...still not the worst thing Alucard has ever done.]
no subject
Strange, to nobody's surprise, isn't stopping. Instead, he gives Alucard a look like he's a goddamn idiot and continues working magic. Now that the blood has almost finished draining, Strange sticks a finger inside the bucket and starts drawing some sort of sigil on the floor. ]
If this really is a family heirloom, then you have no right to judge me.
[ What the heirloom is, Strange doesn't know, but considering the last thing he bought on the black market is a book on blood magic, he's leaning towards that. ]
no subject
Well, after Alucard gently moves Bell over towards the door, so she's out of the line of fire here. Good soul bunnies don't deserve this.
He storms over and kicks the blood bucket over, the aim being to drown out the sigil on the floor and everything else.
When he speaks, it's with a low, furious gravity.]
I know my father's work better than any living or dead thing, Jonathan Strange, and I'm one of three people that understand the dangers that it carries.
no subject
Strange himself has decided to ignore that noise of frustration and whatever Alucard's doing as he continues to draw out a sigil. He starts murmuring something under his breath as he does so, hoping that he can complete the magic before Alucard inevitably ruins the spell or does something and dammit, he was right, now there's blood all over the floor. Strange pulls his hands back as Alucard kicks the bucket of blood over the sigil.
And then Alucard starts lecturing him??? Rude. Though there is something different from this lecture compared to the normal round of judgement that he gets from Alucard. For lack of a better term, his tone sounds more serious.
As expected, Strange ignores it. ]
Dangers? If you truly know your father's work, then you should know what potential it carries. Look at these spells! There's magic here that I didn't know was even possible!
no subject
I know exactly what my father's work is capable of, Jonathan Strange, and I know exactly how badly a spell can go awry in any man's hands but that of Vlad Dracula Tepes. A vampir who, in the worst of his moments, attempted to commit genocide in the mountains of Krimnos with such spells.
[He looks around this horrible set up, and there it is. An open book. Alucard snatches it up without missing a beat.]
no subject
This makes so much more sense now--of course you wouldn't want me to learn this. After all, blood magic is your type's specialty!
[ He reaches over to try and snatch the book back from Alucard. ]
no subject
[Alucard's tapped into his bloodline now, which means the superhuman bursts of speed he reserves exclusively for combat are easy to take advantage of. He's on the other side of the room in a flash.]
My family's legacy does not belong to foolish men who barely think a step ahead.
no subject
[ Partly because Alucard is obviously averse to blood magic, partly because Strange downright knows that Alucard doesn't trust him that much, partly because a small part of Jonathan 'I've also got some daddy issues' Strange recognizes that's something he might do. ]
This should be obvious, but I'm not your father. There's no need to mention what he did with regards to my work.
no subject
[Looking at you, buddy.]
That was the point where I always denied access. And you? You have proven time and again that reckless should simply be your middle name.
[Damn right he's going to hide that book.]
Yes. This book will not circulate, but for reasons of sentiment.
no subject
....but dammit, he really wants that book. So he changes tactics a little. ]
That book has magic in there that the world hasn't dreamed of. It's foolish to let such resources sit in a moldy old basement or wherever you keep your books.
no subject
[He says those words flatly enough, but now Alucard's eyes are moving around the horrible little room. There could be more than one book. It'll be the ex libris that confirms it, or else a shelf mark on the spine that has Alucard's call number system on it, for he had things organized in a certain way and invented his own version of the Dewey Decimal System in order to keep things well managed.
Strange's pleading for access though, that does strike a softer spot, or at least as soft as Alucard can be in the moment.]
There's one person I'd trust with work like this, and she lives with me as it is.
no subject
He's still trying to build his case, trying to focus on gaining access to the book even if he's no longer going to be able to keep it himself. ]
For her sake, I hope this person has experience with blood magic. It's dangerous to let a complete novice work with something like that.
[ said as he gestures to the book. ]
no subject
[His girlfriend is perfect okay?!
Alucard's eyes go back over to the door. And to Bell, to gauge if he's done the smart thing here in her eyes.
God help him, he's divining information via a soul rabbit.]
no subject
Strange is still scowling and sulking, obviously not fond of the loss of his book. But Sypha? That's a name he hasn't heard. He'll have to look her up. ]
Sense of responsibility is different from experience. I know you think little of me, but you cannot deny that I have experience with that sort of magic.
[ he says, entirely unaware that Alucard might not know the full details of his sketchy blood magic past. ]
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But honestly, I don't care.
[Alucard knows that's cold. He doesn't care.]
I know enough of you to make my judgement. Have you cast any glances to your animus to gauge her reaction to the matter?
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My animus knows this is as much for her as it is for me. You may call me impulsive and reckless but Bell is worse than I am. If I can grow my magic to keep her safe, then of course I will do so.
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[Alucard raises his eyebrows, because really? At least Bell seems to be on Alucard's side on this.]
Secondly, take a good look at her expression.
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[ Says the man who would 100% murder a cat if need be. As Strange maneuvers his hands, he starts to pet Bell...who just keeps staring at him in a 'bitch, please' sort of way. Strange 100% isn't making eye contact. ]
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[Bell really is the best part of Strange. And that last comment has defanged all of Alucard's remaining venom. He simply clutches the book to his chest, a horrible keepsake and memory but still something of his father's legacy.]
There was a second book according to all the market rumors. Where is it?
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I've been keeping an eye out for the second book, of course, but I don't have it. There's market rumors but nothing's turned up a solid lead.
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And you're not being bold enough to just lie to my face about having it?
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In all of our conversations, have I lied to you? I may keep things secret, but I am not the sort of man to blatantly lie.
[ And it's true: he straight up doesn't have a second book. ]
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[He barely registers the fact he's actually insulted the man. Alucard's also...not at the point of caring, and he'd be more than surprised to know that was a greater insult than say, running in, grabbing a book, and berating the man in a fit of red hot anger.]
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[ Because he sure as shit isn't going to tell Alucard the man's name by himself. Oh no, Strange wants to be here and wants to use take advantage of this tiny bit of leverage as much as possible. ]
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