Alucard \\ Adrian F. Ţepeş (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cryptsleeper) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2024-07-04 12:04 pm
cryptsleeper) wrote in abraxaslogs2024-07-04 12:04 pm
cryptsleeper) wrote in abraxaslogs2024-07-04 12:04 pm
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[He's only somewhat joking about the offer.]
Thank you for trusting me with this. [Viktor has many reasons not to, these days. It feels...correct, acknowledging this.] There is every chance that what you should do will appear only when you're not thinking of it.
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[Scatalogical revenge notwithstanding, they're likely not working off his original notes anymore.]
I should go to Portam Hall. Demand an audience with Reiner. What I say after, that, though...
[He isn't sure.]
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[He won't. Promise, even if it would be satisfying.
Alucard opens his mouth to say something, pauses, and closes it for a moment. Then he figures out a more tactful way to say his current thought.]
I don't think that will end where you want it to. A meeting like that requires strategy. I-- [shit.] Astarion might be better qualified for exacting words. Or even legal recourse, come to think of it.
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[Despite the fact that Viktor is not entirely certain of how that might end up, he can't expect someone else to fight his battles for him. They have no legal recourse, is the thing--Reiner has suspended elections and can more-or-less do what she likes. Pushing back on this might get him thrown out of the Academy, or roped into building more for the goverment.
There's one thing he does know, however.]
This is something I need to do on my own. So if you have any...recommendations, please share them.
[Before he goes inside.]
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He exhales slowly, trying to collect stray thoughts.]
How soon were you planning to approach?
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[That could be a joke, but Viktor seems deadly serious. Trying to confront Reiner about this will be one of the hardest things he's ever done.]
But I can't delay, not for long.
[They might do something worse, in the meantime.]
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[For all of Alucard's recent frustrations with Viktor, it is impossible not to appreciate the dedication to humanity and progress that is the bedrock of his work. The outrage here, it is correct. Appropriate. Deserved. And like hell anyone should not let Viktor make it clear this is unaccepable.
...There's a thought. Alucard breathes out, repeating the words left for all Summoned after their awful little adventure with that goddamn rock.]
We are you, and you are us. You are not theirs. I think that needs to tie into it.
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How? Don't you think it's dangerous, to further reveal the nature of our connection to the Singularity? Even if I told them what happened to us, I don't think they'd believe me.
[He doesn't think they would understand it.]
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[He really, really may have already talked to Sten about this, but never mind.]
I think that it's the undercurrent of it all, rather than anything explicitly stated. That there's a fundamental and moral wrong being done here at the macro level of warfare and microlevel of stolen research, especially when the researcher's perspective has been clear from day one.
I'm just not sure how you say all of that. I've always been better at actions.
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[Viktor says that with a huff--impossible, of course. There's no getting around this. It has to be him, and they both know it.]
If they had any integrity, they would not have stolen research from someone who could not object.
[And he did object, refusing to allow them access even from his recovery bed. Raiding his laboratory at that exact time was a low he was sure they wouldn't be able to duplicate, until now.]
Chastising them won't work. I need to appeal to something else.
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[Appealing. Alucard frowns, considering.]
What do the want, ultimately? And how much can you bluff?
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[Anything could be repurposed. His hands are tied. For someone whose entire worth hinges on how he's able to improve lives with his technology, this is the worst possible position to be in.]
I imagine they want to continue using the technology with impunity. It can break through Thorne's wards--there's little reason to stop now.
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[He clarifies, because he knows that there's no obvious answer, and it is harder given Viktor's convictions of pacificism.]
You have a little time to think on that answer. And you know the stakes, so I won't repeat them. I...just don't have answers. At least not ones you'd like.
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[He has some time to think on it, but not enough. And there's no good solution, not really. He'll just have to go to Portam Hall and see what happens.]
What would you do? Besides turn into bats.
[Viktor is not Alucard. But his own personal course of action might be helpful to hear.]
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[Alucard considers how to word this, but at the end of the day, it's quite simple.]
I'd become my father in all his dark fury and destruction. Localized to the immediate room, but enough to make the point and demonstrate how much of my natural abilities I have held back on.
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He reminds himself that this is just a fantasy--not a real plan of action. Even knowing the imagined future, he can't imagine enacting that kind of display of power.]
Scaring them into submission is a valid strategy, I suppose.
[He says, flatly. Something he could never hope to do--Viktor doesn't like the idea of making threats, especially if he doesn't actually intend to--or can't--follow through.]
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You asked what I'd do. Not if it was viable. I don't have the kind of authority to back up a threat to an entire country. And that's what we keep running into. Individually, there's little recourse available.
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[Not that it wouldn't accomplish anything. Viktor knows that a hypothetical is a hypothetical, but this has been revealing regardless, especially given how things ended between them in the imagined future.]
I will try to reason with them. That's probably all I can do, outside of destroying the contents of my workshop.
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[It's not an excuse. Only an acknowledgement of what the dhampir does when he feels backed into a corner.]
The very, very best thing I can suggest is to find other Summoned that you might trust with this information and who know how to deal with those in charge. Then write what you mean to say, so that nothing is missed. If you need I'll listen.
[He takes a sharp breath at the mention of destroying the workshop entirely. No one wants that, but Alucard can see how it might happen.]
Whatever you need to address this situation, you have it from me, Viktor. Support, presence, a set of hands. Just say what and when.
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He can start there.]
I'll let you know. [He needs a few second opinions, just for his own peace of mind.] They might not even want to see me.
[Because, of course, they know what they did.]
/end, I think?
[Alucard is not sure if shaming the government will work, but he's all for trying. Such as it is, the best he can do is to be present and supportive.]