abraxaslogs | open | excuse my ego, can't go incognito

The only thing I can say for certain is that it is best to stay off of the Queen's radar. She is ruthless and on occasion, impulsive, from what I have seen and heard. I'd speak with Thancred for further details.

[Alucard will also admit to some bias there. Thancred's dislike of Thorne isn't subtle, and Alucard's never had much love for the kingdom either. It won't offer a fair perspective, but it will be a frank one. That's more important in his view.

To the matter of jobs, there's a small shrug.]

I have enough skills, and my business partner, Jaskier, makes up for the ones I lack. It helps that he's a better people person than I am as well. [Understatement of the year.

The reply to the question about choice is confident. Certain.]

Yes, absolutely. Solvunn's technology is far too behind what I'm used to, and Thorne's restrictions would chafe. The only other option I'd ever consider would be here in Nocwich, but I'd miss the sun.

I've met Thancred. I'll have to see if I can talk to him again sometime. [ he left a decent enough impression on her and implied similar things about the monarchy - and to be mindful of what she said and when. it makes her want to find him outside the castle and get a better rundown. bias perspective or otherwise, it's still better to get as much information as she can. ]

It's a shame we can't visit the other territories, to at least get a sense of what they're like beyond word of mouth. It'd be nice to see them for myself. But I guess that'd be too easy.

[ a beat. ] I'm not sure I could live here either. It's been nice to get out of Thorne, but I'd miss the sun too.

[ annabeth might be a bit of a library ghost, but she loves being outdoors just as much. ]

Maybe it's best to have that conversation here. Away from Thorne and prying ears.

[It's a gentle suggestion, but Alucard won't hide his concern either. Thorne's walls probably cannot be trusted these days, and while he's just met Annabeth, Alucard does know and care about Thancred.]

I had just cause to visit Solvunn once, but it was at the height of an emergency and all territories were working together on a matter. There was no real time to take in the sights, but it seemed quiet and nice enough. Just not right for myself. The museums and the art scene of the Free Cities also weighs my bias quite significantly.

[He's careful to mention exactly how much he's involved in the latter, in no small part because it sounds obnoxious. And because Jaskier does most of the connecting, Alucard tends to be in the background planning.]

It's a fascinating study in what grows in perpetual night, at any rate. My father's people would be envious. [By way of explanation, Alucard pauses for a moment, letting his fangs be a bit more obvious than usual.]

I've gotten the impression to watch my mouth. [ and she will try, she swears. maybe not for her own sake, but at least for others. ]

Museums sound nice. There's some cool sea glass art in Borrel, but we're only allowed day trips.

[ her attention snaps to the fangs pretty quickly once she notices them. it's knowing he's one of the summoned that gives her brief pause before she blurts out something rude, but she does seem a little surprised. ] You're a vampire? [ a beat. ] And you can go in the sun?

[ she can't explain why that sticks out most first! ]

The sea glass art does sound interesting. There are some monumental scrap metal artists in the Free Cities who do remarkable work, often relying on reclaimed mining material.

[Alucard's perfectly fine with explaining the contradiction. It is a routine now, and his response is automatic.]

Half. My father was, my mother was human. It comes with certain flourishes, like being able to go out in daylight and not requiring blood for survival. Those are the two important ones, so far as I've come to understand other spheres and their undead.

It makes me wonder what kind of art they might have in Solvunn, based on their natural resources? [ it's mostly a rhetorical question, annabeth thinking aloud. it happens sometimes. ]

[ she's a good audience for his vampire explanation, and maybe there's a world out there were it might be cause for alarm, but this man has been around for a very long time, and nocwich itself is proving safe. she can be reasonable. it's kind of helpful, honestly. ]

The closest we have to vampires back home are empousai. [ a beat. she might have some experience being half something. ] And if you're only half, sharing only some traits and lacking others makes sense.

[ she pauses again. ] I realize you just told me all about yourself and I don't even know your name?

[Alucard pauses at that, considering. Then a particular creeping feeling overtakes him and he lets out a mortified noise.] I cannot believe I've never thought to ask that.

[Even if the Summoned there have not engaged with the arts directly, they could still tell him. Alucard doesn't expect gallery culture, but he knows craftsmanship is likely of great value. He's an idiot.]

That's...Greek, yes? [His first language is Wallachian, but he's managed some reading skills in other languages. Polymath of a father and all that.]

I might say the same of you. [At least it means turnabout is fair play.] My countrymen call me Alucard.

[ she huffs out a small snort of a laugh before she can stop herself, though mostly at his tone. ] Not too late to find out now.

Yeah. They're usually creatures of Hecate, but they don't always follow her lead. They have one donkey leg and one brass leg, and somehow they still manage to seduce some men for their blood. Do you speak Greek?

[ sometimes (oftentimes) she finds herself enrolled in a conversation without introducing herself, and it feels especially true of being in abraxas. she simply has too many questions. ] I'm Annabeth.

It is not. I simply hope I'm afforded the grace not to look like that much of an ass. [It'll be fine. Alucard knows that, and he'll probably just ask Wanda and Himeka. It'll be fine.]

I can read small portions of ancient text. My first language comes from Latin, with some Salvonic as well. [Old Romanian isn't Old Romanian if they're still speaking it in your time period.] My father was a polymath, and language was included in his skillset. [Wait.] Am I correct to assume that these creatures are contemporary issues for you?

[The active tense suggests as much.]

Well met. I hope Nocwich is an improvement, or at least something to look forward to in the future for you.

Don't worry. I won't tell anyone from Solvunn. [ she says it a little teasingly, uncaring that he is, apparently, half-vampire. ]

My ancient Greek's better than modern. I can read it and speak it, and I know a few Latin phrases, but I'm not fluent in that one. [ she notes his pause and allows for one of her own. ] Unfortunately, yeah. I've fought them, with some annoyingly-semi-frequency.

[ stupid fucking kelli. ]

It's... interesting. I definitely want to see more of it. [ she's still formulating her opinions, but it's not like she has a bad impression so far. ]

Edited 2024-06-15 02:21 (UTC)

I appreciate it, thank you. [He can detect that tone, but that's why replying sincerely is funnier, in his opinion.]

That's still an improvement. At least the name has remained consistent over the centuries. What's Wallachian to me is Romanian to people from later centuries. It took a bit for people to connect the two here. [Never mind that though, he's interested in this version of reality.] The continuity of ancient monsters is new to me, although as a concept I suppose I shouldn't be that surprised. Is there a particular reason, or is it just the nature of your world?

[He nods, considering where else to suggest.] The woods are lovely, if you have good night vision and quick reflexes. It being nocturnal, wholly unique animals have evolved to live in it.

[ joke or otherwise, she snorts at the sincerity in which he replies. ]

I mean, we call it Greek, but it's not like the actual Ancient Greeks did. There are too many arguments and theories about that etymology to get into though.

[ annabeth pauses, mostly to consider how to answer him. ] It's more like the nature of my world. The Greek gods and all the mythological elements associated with them are real for me, and they've always existed beyond antiquity, though not everyone believes or knows it to be true anymore.

[ she wants to explore the woods!! but she might have some difficulties. ] Some of us need night vision goggles for that, unfortunately.

That is absolutely a road I don't wish to go down. Etymology is not something I follow easily, and I'm absolutely in no place to comment on it.

[A topic best left behind for more interesting ones. Alucard is quiet as he gets his answer, nodding along.]

A grander continuity, rather than one relegate to specific time and place. That's new to my ears, although the idea of creatures attacking the human world isn't. Is it only those particular mythological elements though, or are there competing pantheons?

[He doesn't like gods at the best of times, but at least these ones aren't here to make trouble.

As far as he knows.

Thank god for showing his ass about dumber stuff.]

--Well, those are provided. Apologies, I always forget that not everyone has been given that particular advantage.

[ annabeth snorts, but she's just as content to let the history of the word 'greek' slide away; it's not up her sleeve either, though she imagines her mother might have the actual answer. ]

Well, it mostly exists within certain pockets, what we perhaps egregiously call 'western civilization' - that's where their seat of power is. And the monsters don't attack human mortals as much as they do demigods, luckily for the former. [ she pauses. ] I know the Ancient Egyptian pantheon exists, but I don't know how it functions comparatively, and the two do their best to keep to their own realms and spaces, so it's not much of a competition.

[ her expression sort of becomes a literal "!!!" ] Really? Actual night vision goggles? That does open it up for me.

So they've created designated spheres with clear boundaries between them? Hm.

[It sounds a little bit neater than the actual truth of ancient days, what with the Romans co-opting various gods for their empire. He can't remember if that was also a Greek thing. It isn't the point.] Hardly ideal, but at least it isn't centralized like the church.

[Being pre-Reformation also means there's only one church in the west. Thankfully, someone else has filled Alucard in on Martin Luther et al.]

--I feel like they could do a better job of sharing that information. But yes, they have nightvision goggles and weapons for anyone who needs them. Am I wrong to suspect that perhaps you'd rather our discussion move our feet in that general direction?

Well. I'm not sure how clear the boundaries are, because I've interacted with people connected to the Egyptians - but they're not out here fighting each other at least.

[ which given it had started for annabeth regarding a situation with serapis, a fusion of greek and egyptian syncretism - there's no telling what the future might hold. ]

Luckily I've never really had to deal with the church. [ and she would like to keep it that way. ]

I'm just not used to being open about all of it. [ she gestures vaguely, to imply the mythos as real. ] But I'm not going to deny I'm curious about the woods. Do you go there a lot?

That counts for something. [A lot, if Alucard's being fully honest with himself.

But maybe it is best to put religion aside.]

One of the nicer parts of this place is being able to be upfront about unusual circumstances from one's home sphere. Even if say, an Earth it the same, the particular details are not. It keeps things interesting. [To say the least.]

Not every trip, but frequently enough. They also allow for hunting, and provide weapons, if you'd prefer that approach.

I hope it does. [ she deals with enough drama in the greek pantheon alone - she doesn't want to think about a major level cross barrier issue. ]

I'm noticing that. It's... odd, but I suppose it's not unwelcome. Like, I can't imagine you go around announcing to every new person you meet you're half vampire either.

[ she hums. ] I'm not used to eating what I fight, but it's probably good to take a weapon. Do the things in the woods attack you unprovoked?

You're correct, I absolutely do not. Although the fangs do tend to give the game away eventually.

[He gives a soft shrug, letting the topic go.]

Sometimes, but I tend to avoid them. I can walk you over to the outskirts and let you decide if you wish to explore further, if you'd like.

[ she can recognize when he lets it go and doesn't push more on it. ]

Yeah. That sounds good. I'd like to see it first, and get more of a sense of what it's all like before I decide one way or another. [ a brief pause. ] Thanks. Lead the way.

open | excuse my ego, can't go incognito

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do you want to aim to wrap in another tag or two?

yeah that works for me!

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