foulplayed | INBOX

Deal.

I might have, had he been interested in spending more time with me and less time planning his way around a war. We all have our priorities.

( Not that Yuri's priorities weren't war adjacent, but that's neither here nor there. This is chess banter, not deep and meaningful conversation. )

But it looks like we've got plenty of time on our hands here - as long as Malachite doesn't go ahead and throw another tantrum on us.

( Which they probably will, let's be real. )

[A war. Interesting, though he wonders if he’s supposed to take that as Yuri’s own priorities lying elsewhere, or if it’s a simple way of stepping around the subject onto that of chess.

Noted in his mind, regardless.]

Was it so bad? I heard there were transformations that could not be controlled. Monsters, as it were.

You heard right. Some Gembonded lost what was left of their minds and were running rampage around the city, where others kept hold of a few scraps of sanity.

Fortunately, yours truly was able to keep a little perspective. Lucky me.

Very lucky for you. I would have hated to have lost control.

What changes did you experience?

Mine was actually pretty tame compared to some other people. Wings, glowing skin and eyes, and apparently something happened to the way I smell? Which wasn't necessarily a good thing, since it made someone try and take a bite out of me.

You've got a lot to look forward to.

Absolutely not.

[He knows that was sarcasm but no. Absolutely not.]

A bite out of you — in the hungry way, not the fun way?

( That gets a snort of amusement on Yuri's end. )

Definitely not the fun way — I really don't think I'm his type.

Not without salt and pepper, anyway.

[That’s a bit more worrisome than Alucard will let on through his texts—]

And roasted in an oven, I’m sure.

[—because if these changes incite animalistic hunger in those who are affected, that is rather dangerous where vampires are concerned, notorious for their violent appetites if not reliably sated. He’s sure a half-vampire would not escape such urges, either.

Well. Perhaps they will cross that bridge when they get there.

AnyWHO—]

This Malachite is little more than a child throwing a tantrum, isn’t that right? And there’s nothing we can do but hope another isn’t well on its way?

Looks like it. As far as bad situations go, I'd say this is pretty high up there.

I’ve been in a fair share of bad situations. There can always be some manner of action taken.

Good to know. In which case, I won't worry too much when disaster strikes again.

[He’s not sure if he should be amused or roll his eyes. Maybe both work.]

Good. Imagine me swooping in like a knight in shining armor and all your worries will be for naught. May as well make use of my sword somehow.

I don't know if that's a good idea. I like a guy in armour - it might not have quite the right effect.

( You are being teased, Alucard. )

So, you go for the sword, huh? Are you any good with it?

[He’s getting the inkling that Yuri likes to tease, to flirt. Alucard isn’t quite certain how to approach that, other than to perform the strange dance of indulge-it-but-don’t.]

Well, now I hardly know what to wear in your vivid imaginings.

And yes. I would say so. Does that interest you?

It does. I don't plan on getting sloppy while I'm here, so a sparring partner or two would be very welcome.

Interested?

I suppose I could humor you. Though it does beg the question: were you something of a fighter back home?

I was a lot of things back home - swordplay just turned out to be a pretty advantageous skill to learn.

What about you, Mr. Knight in Shining Armour? Are you the hero I've been looking for?

A lot of things. How very mysteriously vague.

I think I've painted the wrong impression of myself. I'm hardly a knight. It isn't what some people would call my "aesthetic".

[Not Alucard, who isn't keen on visualizing himself as some majestic hero riding in to save the day. It is never so grand; saving Wallachia had felt like ripping his own heart out, rather than some noble deed.]

Consider me simply capable of defending myself, in a world that has been less than kind to me and many others.

All part of my charm.

( Pfft. )

Anyway, it seems like I'm not the only one carrying around a bit of mystery. You sound like a guy with a story to tell.

No more than anyone else. You mentioned a war in your world? You could say that mine had been in a similar state.

Kind of a shame that war's the one thing that unites most of our worlds, isn't it.

I guess people will always behave like people, no matter where you put them.

Human fallacy, or so they say.

Can I ask what’s the nature of your world’s war?

Same thing as always: disagreements over power. Church versus Empire, with everyone else getting dragged into it along the way.

That the Church turned out to be built on centuries of lies didn't help matters.

[Ah... the Church. Alucard's own opinions about any sort of powerful religious organization are particularly raw and bitter, and his opinion is given freely on the matter.]

Lies, hypocrisy, deceit? Corruption, even, at its core - its more peaceable and tolerant tenants conveniently forgotten when its power is threatened by outside forces of thought or even philosophy?

Am I close?

( Go off, Alucard?? )

Got it in one. Where did all that come from, huh?

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memoriams - 2021-03-14 18:44 (UTC) - Expand