[ 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?

Comments

[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.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

Bigger odds have been beaten before, I am sure that you will be successful in saving humanity.

[ananym]

What makes you say that?

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

Gut feeling?

[ananym]

[ gut feeling huh? not an expression alucard is familiar with, but he can grasp it. ]

We have to succeed. There is no room for failure.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

I know, it's going to be alright. The world will not end with this I'm sure.

So that is your all-consuming purpose back home? No wonder you're in emotional limbo right now. To go from that amount of stress to just... drifting? I wouldn't know what to do.

[ananym]

I am certainly struggling to . . . adapt.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

I'm sure the bonus culture shock is not helping on top of that.

I would offer assistance in any way that I can?

[ananym]

I do not think there is much anyone can do for a world far beyond this place.

[permanentlyexhaustedbird]

Well yes, but I more meant here. I understand I can't really be of help in your world.

[ananym]

[ after a pause, he softens. ]

Thank you. It's kind of you.