[ video ]

[ananym]

[ there's a pretty vampire, looking into the camera curiously before speaking. ]

I have been meaning to ask. Is there anything that you have learned here that has changed your lives?

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[ananym]

[ his brow furrows. perhaps he's not explaining himself well. ]

But that goes back to my original point. Can change happen here? If people come and go to the whims of our overlords, are they remembered?

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

Ah, it seems I missed that part of the conversation. I suppose that is a thought, striving for change is a bit different when you know you won't remember it.

[Tim seems to get lost in thought contemplating that]

I wonder if physical changes stay? if it's just a mind wipe or a turning back time sort of situation?

I don't like to be idle though so I'm not sure it's going to change what I do here. Sitting stagnant would drive me crazy.

[ananym]

What is it that you do here?

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

Officially? nothing.

Unofficially I'm just keeping busy, still working out what I can understand of the systems here, training with crewmates and other fleet members.

Also searching for a purpose here, I guess.

[ananym]

[ alucard nods. ]

My purpose before I came here — It was all-consuming. It would have burned the heart out of me.

Now, I feel bereft without it.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

What was your purpose before you came here? If I can ask?

[ananym]

You may. It is no secret.

[ alucard's slow, delicate cadence does not skip a beat. ]

My father is waging war on humanity. He intends to wipe them out. I cannot allow that to happen.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

[Not what he had expected, but he really shouldn't be surprised.]

And what did you plan to do? especially against Dracula and isn't humanity well... a food source for Vampires?

[ananym]

[ huh. ]

They are, though not the only one.

How did you know my father's name? Did you divine that from my own?

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

I'm guessing wildlife is an alternative?

and yes, did he actually name you his own name backwards?

[ananym]

Sometimes, but not always.

[ alucard shakes his head. ]

"Alucard" is not my real name. It is only what the people call me.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

People aren't very creative sometimes. Is it what you preferred to be called?

[ananym]

I prefer it to my real name for now.

[ whether he'll use adrian again . . . alucard hasn't decided. such things have long passed into the night. ]

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

Alucard it is then.

Why is your father waging war against humanity?

[ananym]

[ yeah no. he's not sharing that off the bat, no matter how stalwart and honest he is. ]

Do the reasons matter?

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

In your world, I imagine it matters a lot but I understand that was more of a polite way of saying that I don't really need to know. Which is true. I don't.

[ananym]

[ he nods. ]

Whatever his reasons are, it's inexcusable.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

Also true.

Who do you have helping you?

[ananym]

A hunter and a scholar of magic.

[ and that's all he needs. because video game logic. ]

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

[Tim will nod]

And who does your father have?

[ananym]

[ his expression is tinged with wry humour. ]

The forces of darkness and whoever he can summon to his side. He is Dracula after all.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

He could have been a lone wolf kinda of Dracula? Determined to do it all by himself?

Yeah, I know, not likely but it was a tiny bit possible.

[ananym]

You are not entirely wrong. He was that for a very long time.

But now . . . he'll invite all that he knows to help him in his quest.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

I suppose big plans call for big changes, and what's bigger than genocide?

[ananym]

[ alucard does not quite droop, not visibly but it flickers in his expression. ]

So it seems.