driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: James T. Kirk
Broadcast: Network - open to all
Action: all around the SS Red Fish + SS Heron
When: Right now, and throughout the following week

NETWORK BROADCAST ▹ VIDEO;

[ Jim's staring seriously at the camera as the broadcast begins, concern visible on his features. He might be easily recognizable to most everyone on the Fleet, but as soon as he starts talking, it will become obvious that he is not the same man, or at least not having the very same memories. Not of this place, that's for sure. ]

My name is James T. Kirk. I'm... not entirely sure how I got here, but for what it's worth, I'm one of the new arrivals.

[ He presses his lips, glancing around. ] This isn't the first time I've been brought to a universe other than my own, but I was wondering if anyone else here has had a similar experience. Coming here from a place that's not your reality of origin.

[ A pause, ] Specifically, has anyone here heard of Riverview, or the Quarantine?

[ He can't help a hopeful look. A familiar face, any familiar face, will be welcome. He's looking for a specific one, admittedly, but he's not holding his breath on that one. ]

Thank you in advance.

ACTION ▹ SS RED FISH

[ Once he makes that broadcast, he'll be exploring his new location, so he knows what he's dealing with. He can be found roaming the ship, poking his head into all the nooks and corners, and possibly trying to sneak his way into off-limits locations, if there are any. Stop him getting into trouble, or help him? Or just come say hi to a not-quite-new face. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Jim does a bit of a double-take when Alucard approaches him, the sword particularly catching his eye. He eventually looks up at the man, easing into a friendly smile. ]

Hi. You're one of my shipmates, I take it?

[ alucard may look human save for the small glimpse of his fangs and of course, his unearthly looks. ]

I am. I work with security.

[ Jim's got some experience with 'unearthly', and aboard a starship, he's sort of expecting there to be all kinds of different species. Different beings, even, especially after what he's seen in Riverview. He likely won't be shocked when he learns what this man really is. ]

Right. I'm a pilot, it seems. Still getting acclimated with the place. [ He smiles and offers a hand out. ] James T. Kirk. Jim is fine, by the way.

[ he takes a moment before shaking it. ]

I am called Alucard.

It's nice to meet you.

[ Eventually, probably sooner rather than later, Jim is going to be thinking idle thoughts and realize what Alucard's name backwards spells as. ]

How long have you been here? Are new arrivals like me a common occurrence?

[ alucard shakes his head. ]

I could not tell you, I'm afraid. I only arrived recently myself.

[ Jim shrugs, smiling. ]

That's alright. It was a shot in the dark. In any case, if you've arrived just recently, and I've gotten here now, I can only assume they do get newcomers every so often.

[ alucard remains unfailingly polite and honest. ]

At least once a week. Or so I've noticed.

That's a more distinct pattern. Makes you wonder why people keep being brought in.

[ The Fleet is pretty big, though, so it doesn't look like they'll run into space issues. (Heh space pun.) But if people come so frequently, maybe people leave just as often too. He'll have to look into that. ]

I have not been here long enough to say much with confidence.

[ and it's not like alucard himself is delicate with his speech. he just always veers towards honesty. ]

Only that the need seems to be steady, but not great.

Better than nothing, I guess.

[ At least he gets some comfort out of knowing they're not in any sort of immediate danger. ]

So how's this place like, compared to where you're from? Very different, I'm guessing?

Considering that I hail from a land of hell-demons and vampires and set in the 14th century.

Yes, different is one word for it. But I am passingly familiar with machines.

Oh. Wow.

[ He looks admittedly caught by surprise for a moment, then he huffs. ]

Yeah, I can see how this place might be... a lot. What sort of machinery are you familiar with?

[ how to explain castlevania's fuckery. ]

Lights, heating, piping. My father was more proficient in such things. His castle could move across the world.

[ Let's just wave hands in its general direction. Jim nods like he totally pictures it in his head. ]

Basic, then-- compared to here. [ He does cant his head a little. ] Although a castle that can actually travel around the world is pretty impressive. I don't think I've ever heard of anything like that.

It was a combination of science and magic. Old arts lost to the ages.

[ the only reason dracula remembered them is because he is one of the oldest. even other vampires have lost that knowledge. ]

Ah. A little bit beyond my scope of knowledge, I'm afraid. I did have some contact with magic at the last place I was in, but there's nothing like it in my reality of origin. Not that I know of, of course.

[ At this point, he'll believe anything. ]

[ alucard is vaguely curious. ]

But you are from Earth, correct?

I'm from one version of Earth, yes. Though I technically wasn't born there, it was only by happenstance. My mother wasn't on Earth at the time.

[ He cants his head. ] Why?

Curious, mostly.

[ alucard hasn't pinpointed any similarities. and no one has picked up on the nature of his name. ]

[ Jim nods. ] We must be from different versions of Earth, is all. We do have a lot of vampire and magic stories and myths, but that's all they are. Millennia ago people, women mostly, were accused of magic and burned at the stake, but that was... a whole other thing entirely.

[ Studying Alucard's appearance for a moment, he finally asks, though he's fairly sure of the answer at this point. ] Are you a vampire?

[ his expression flickers briefly at the mention of witchcraft. ]

I am half.

[ a pause. ]

My father is Vlad Tepes. Otherwise known to many as Dracula.

[ Jim's eyebrows arch at the name. Yes, that one he does recognize. But after he's just told Alucard that vampires only exist in stories in his world, he can't really admit to knowing of his father, not without telling him that he's nothing but a product of fiction where he's from.

So instead he just nods in understanding, his curiosity still very much genuine. ]

What's that like? Being half vampire. Do you still need to drink blood, or avoid sunlight?

[ alucard hums softly. ]

I do need blood, but in less quantities. And I can walk in the daylight.

Good. I mean, I imagine it's easier for you. How do you manage here? Do you get access to blood, or do you need, uh... volunteers?

[ At least Alucard doesn't strike him as the type to just attack people out of the blue. But he could be wrong... ]