[For most of the trip, Alucard runs as a wolf. Probably a strange sight, but most may just assume he's a particularly big dog.
By the time he arrives nearby the hotel, he shifts into a bat, deciding it's probably best to crawl inside the rest of the way to minimalize the risk of being recognized. He really should take up the offer for some changes to his normal appearance.
Once Alucard is back in their shared room, he reforms as a man sighing as he lowers his hood.]
[Even as a bat, there's a strange knot of power D can feel in his chest at Alucard's presence, and it grows stronger the closer the dhampir gets. D's head lift when the creature flutters on in, but he's more curious than surprised. It's not unfamiliar; the Nobility could shapeshift in a way, too.
In acknowledgement, he tips his head, though it's bare of the hat. In fact, his shoulders are also bare of the spaulders and the cloak with its high collar. He looks surprisingly more like the age of his face without the intimidating attire--softer, younger. He's tall, though not nearly as big as it all makes him out to be.
He also, strangely, seems to be in the middle of actually hand-writing a letter. However, he stands up once Alucard transforms.]
[It's interesting to see how much less imposing D appears without much of his gear. Alucard doesn't feel particularly intimidated by him, but he can definitely tell the difference. He feels... oddly more vulnerable this way? Less guarded.
Perhaps he's simply reading into it. D is not always easy to comprehend.]
I was working with another to infiltrate the Vakdir headquarters. The Vakdir became aggressive, so I rendered him unconscious.
It's diffcult to forget. [His tease would be better if not delivered with such a stupid monotone.
On the table, his long fingers scoop up something familiar. He offers it out to Alucard, fingers unfurling. The blue amulet that's usually around his neck sits invitingly in his palm.] Here.
The radius is a five yard circumference. It will need to recharged for twenty-four hours after a single use.
It is mine. [A generous offer, but he also would like it back. Not that he thought Alucard wouldn't return it anyway.] You may borrow it.
It functions like the EMP bomb I made you. It will disable technology in a radius. Relying on shapeshifting alone can be dangerous. I'm aware you have a high susceptibility for living. Others won't be so fortunate.
[He appraises Alucard momentarily.]
I could try modifying the propaganda tools from Rost. It might deactivate the kiosks that show you are wanted.
[This will be useful. If Inuyasha and the others are still in need of a rescue, then this would be exceptionally helpful. It may very well mean that his actions after rescuing them won't let him be able to participate within the higher levels, but it'll be worth it.
He pauses, then bows his head faintly.] I would not refuse your assistance.
You take too much care to look out for me, but I'm grateful for you.
[For a moment, it looks like he might say something else, but a familiar, grating voice says:] Don't mean to break up your continued descent into being soft, but--
Do you hear them?
[The face is out on D's left palm when he lifts his hand to peer at it. Left Hand's eyes roll up and back, and D follows the direction to the door. If they're still, the sound of clicking radios can be heard a few floors down. Hm.
Carefully, D kneels in place, putting the left palm to the floor.] How many?
Ahh... Four. Three men, one woman.
[Again, D stands up.] They'll need a warrant to enter any rooms. We're not in any danger. A patrol, most likely. [His eyes lift to Alucard.]
[Before another word can be spoken from Alucard, he hesitates when the Left Hand speaks.
And he isn't wrong. Listening and a small sniff, Alucard can tell that there is indeed a patrol. He frowns, concerned; though he'd returned in the shape of a beast, he hopes no one cautioned the Vakdir where he was staying.
But if they had...]
Nothing useful, I'm afraid. I'm not familiar with these... databases. How they work. I had another look on my behalf.
[Alucard scowls deeply.] I will leave if they bring trouble.
It is less of my discomfort and more my concern for the rest of the guild, and the natives who live here.
[Alucard had been brash, unconcerned with his own safety. The only vampire hunter here is D himself; he doubted everyone else's capacity to do him any true harm.
But he'd failed to consider what it could mean for others.
Perhaps he is overreacting, but it is a thought to consider.]
[D looks over Alucard's face with his dark eyes without saying anything for a moment or two. Perhaps misfortune follows Alucard as much as it follows him.]
You are doing what you can. The Vakdir you killed were armed, and they made the first attack. Even taking precautions, their deaths may have happened regardless.
This mission is not an easy one. Some of us may not survive either.
When you fight, you are afraid. [It sounds somewhat harsh, but D doesn't deliver it harshly.] Not for yourself.
You go into a battle fearing for others. It's why I work alone.
[But D understand. Even trying his damndest to work alone, frequently he ends up having to watch for the well-being of others. What a curse their mothers have given them, the empathy for others' lives.]
[He doesn't feel as though he should explain much else. True, it is highly attributed to how he dimly cares for others even when he is sometimes reluctant to do so; his impulsiveness to prevent death of the innocent and comrade alike.]
No.
But it isn't in us to stand and do nothing, is it?
[Ultimately, whatever little good he can do here only amounts to the importance of when he inevitably must return to Wallachia. The words don't feel empty, but it's also a half-truth.]
[D is quiet, but his gaze doesn't break away from Alucard. It's not a wrong assessment. The two of them just can't keep their fingers out of the business of humans. They're half human, too.]
Keep it until the end of the mission.
[Alucard may need it more than he would. Besides, he could rig another for himself if it came down to it.
Briefly, he glances toward the door, but it seems as if the Vakdir are taking their time. He hasn't heard a knock on any other doors, so likely they aren't being singled out. After the broadcast, it could be precautionary measures in the area.]
[Alucard is careful to wear the amulet, as if it were so fragile that it would shatter if he breathed upon it wrong. He'll make sure it's back in D's hands at the end of the mission.]
If you are certain.
[He pauses, listening, his hearing just as keen as the other dhampir's. Curiously, he tilts his head, admittedly relieved that he hadn't indeed endangered the lot of them with his actions.]
You take great care to look after me.
[There is the unasked question. He wonders why, sometimes.
[D is aware of the question, and he's sure that Alucard realizes he knows it's there, too. Again, he's quiet for a long time in his darkly silent way, eyes never leaving Alucard despite.
So far, he's received quite a bit of hell from Left Hand. Between Alucard and Violet, there's ample supply of fuel for teasing: proteges; lovers; love letters; siblings; friendship, a favorite.]
Your Hunter and your Speaker would be lacking if you didn't return.
[In a way, it is sweet; in retrospect, in some terribly strange way, D is the closest thing he has left of family, even if in that it's not quite right either.
What a shame that, too, won't be for long, but he'll take it as much as he can.]
[Patiently, he waits for Left Hand to have something sarcastic to say, but the parasite doesn't speak. Shocking. It could be Left Hand just doesn't want to get involved on account of D, but it could also be Alucard got, you could say, the upper-hand. In that case, D will surely hear a bunch of complaints later.
[Ironically, D is rather appreciative of the fact Alucard hasn't hardened yet against the injustice of living the life of a dhampir. He supposes it's the youth, but regardless, there's something both refreshing and pitying about it.]
That isn't something I'm able to have. I'm a dhampir. The only life I can have is a Hunter's life.
[He wants to argue, but Alucard feels that it would be hypocritical to do that. Alucard remembers the question D asked him, what he would do after his father is slain.
He'd been vague then. It's not worth mentioning now, but he knows that he doesn't really disagree.
As if it aches, Alucard curls his fingers against his chest, feeling the barest hint of raised skin from the scar that'd formed from his father's hand.]
I don't know your world. You may still be able to have a normal life. [Though it doesn't sound much like it, not when even his mother was killed by her own kind of people.
That happened on the Frontier, too, however. Humans killing humans out of fear, greed, envy.] But I can't.
Humans don't trust dhampirs; the Nobility scorn and envy them; mutants see them only as Hunters or masters.
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action;
By the time he arrives nearby the hotel, he shifts into a bat, deciding it's probably best to crawl inside the rest of the way to minimalize the risk of being recognized. He really should take up the offer for some changes to his normal appearance.
Once Alucard is back in their shared room, he reforms as a man sighing as he lowers his hood.]
action;
In acknowledgement, he tips his head, though it's bare of the hat. In fact, his shoulders are also bare of the spaulders and the cloak with its high collar. He looks surprisingly more like the age of his face without the intimidating attire--softer, younger. He's tall, though not nearly as big as it all makes him out to be.
He also, strangely, seems to be in the middle of actually hand-writing a letter. However, he stands up once Alucard transforms.]
What happened?
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Perhaps he's simply reading into it. D is not always easy to comprehend.]
I was working with another to infiltrate the Vakdir headquarters. The Vakdir became aggressive, so I rendered him unconscious.
I assume he remembered my face.
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On the table, his long fingers scoop up something familiar. He offers it out to Alucard, fingers unfurling. The blue amulet that's usually around his neck sits invitingly in his palm.] Here.
The radius is a five yard circumference. It will need to recharged for twenty-four hours after a single use.
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He relaxes a little, then takes the amulet with hesitation.]
Are you certain? This is yours.
[He has no idea if it means anything personally to D, but it feels strange to take something like this from him.]
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It functions like the EMP bomb I made you. It will disable technology in a radius. Relying on shapeshifting alone can be dangerous. I'm aware you have a high susceptibility for living. Others won't be so fortunate.
[He appraises Alucard momentarily.]
I could try modifying the propaganda tools from Rost. It might deactivate the kiosks that show you are wanted.
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He pauses, then bows his head faintly.] I would not refuse your assistance.
You take too much care to look out for me, but I'm grateful for you.
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[For a moment, it looks like he might say something else, but a familiar, grating voice says:] Don't mean to break up your continued descent into being soft, but--
Do you hear them?
[The face is out on D's left palm when he lifts his hand to peer at it. Left Hand's eyes roll up and back, and D follows the direction to the door. If they're still, the sound of clicking radios can be heard a few floors down. Hm.
Carefully, D kneels in place, putting the left palm to the floor.] How many?
Ahh... Four. Three men, one woman.
[Again, D stands up.] They'll need a warrant to enter any rooms. We're not in any danger. A patrol, most likely. [His eyes lift to Alucard.]
What did you find in the headquarters?
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And he isn't wrong. Listening and a small sniff, Alucard can tell that there is indeed a patrol. He frowns, concerned; though he'd returned in the shape of a beast, he hopes no one cautioned the Vakdir where he was staying.
But if they had...]
Nothing useful, I'm afraid. I'm not familiar with these... databases. How they work. I had another look on my behalf.
[Alucard scowls deeply.] I will leave if they bring trouble.
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[Alucard isn't the only one to blame for having a wanting poster.]
But you may leave if you are uncomfortable.
[He also won't keep Alucard against any will.]
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[Alucard had been brash, unconcerned with his own safety. The only vampire hunter here is D himself; he doubted everyone else's capacity to do him any true harm.
But he'd failed to consider what it could mean for others.
Perhaps he is overreacting, but it is a thought to consider.]
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You are doing what you can. The Vakdir you killed were armed, and they made the first attack. Even taking precautions, their deaths may have happened regardless.
This mission is not an easy one. Some of us may not survive either.
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Nothing is forever. The lives of enemies or friends alike.
I still must think beyond myself and adapt better to these worlds.
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You go into a battle fearing for others. It's why I work alone.
[But D understand. Even trying his damndest to work alone, frequently he ends up having to watch for the well-being of others. What a curse their mothers have given them, the empathy for others' lives.]
Dhampirs don't get to be saviors.
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[He doesn't feel as though he should explain much else. True, it is highly attributed to how he dimly cares for others even when he is sometimes reluctant to do so; his impulsiveness to prevent death of the innocent and comrade alike.]
No.
But it isn't in us to stand and do nothing, is it?
[Ultimately, whatever little good he can do here only amounts to the importance of when he inevitably must return to Wallachia. The words don't feel empty, but it's also a half-truth.]
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Keep it until the end of the mission.
[Alucard may need it more than he would. Besides, he could rig another for himself if it came down to it.
Briefly, he glances toward the door, but it seems as if the Vakdir are taking their time. He hasn't heard a knock on any other doors, so likely they aren't being singled out. After the broadcast, it could be precautionary measures in the area.]
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If you are certain.
[He pauses, listening, his hearing just as keen as the other dhampir's. Curiously, he tilts his head, admittedly relieved that he hadn't indeed endangered the lot of them with his actions.]
You take great care to look after me.
[There is the unasked question. He wonders why, sometimes.
Perhaps D truly is softer than he appears.]
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So far, he's received quite a bit of hell from Left Hand. Between Alucard and Violet, there's ample supply of fuel for teasing: proteges; lovers; love letters; siblings; friendship, a favorite.]
Your Hunter and your Speaker would be lacking if you didn't return.
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What a shame that, too, won't be for long, but he'll take it as much as he can.]
And who is there to look after you? Your hand?
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Just barely, one corner of his mouth turns up.]
If I have no one, would that upset you?
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How could it not? You are worn by the life you have lived, not heartless. I would wish you to have companionship, if it were possible.
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That isn't something I'm able to have. I'm a dhampir. The only life I can have is a Hunter's life.
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He'd been vague then. It's not worth mentioning now, but he knows that he doesn't really disagree.
As if it aches, Alucard curls his fingers against his chest, feeling the barest hint of raised skin from the scar that'd formed from his father's hand.]
I only wish it were different.
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That happened on the Frontier, too, however. Humans killing humans out of fear, greed, envy.] But I can't.
Humans don't trust dhampirs; the Nobility scorn and envy them; mutants see them only as Hunters or masters.
[What is left for him then?]
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alba i fucking hate you every time!!!
huehuehue!!!!
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