abraxaslogs | [open] Local dhampir renovates old public speaking hall that has some fun magic

[Hector absolutely ignores the sign. He's not about to wait while his knocking gets drowned out by the sounds of construction within.

But, of course, he will take the most obnoxious route when Alucard calls out to him.]

Alright. I'll go back out and await your invitation.

[The dhampir inviting the human past the threshold, how novel. He'd worry that Alucard just... wouldn't... except that Hector has a sack slung over his shoulder that clinks as he turns to go back outside. Those promised prototypes.]

[Rude, Hector! He wasn't even in construction mode!]

Why do you insist on being such a contrarian?

[The question is asked with a put upon sigh, and Alucard doesn't really bother to hide the fact that the spite is what aggravates him more than anything else.]

To your right, I think I have a table available.

[Everything else is covered in plans, it seems.

Alucard leaves his little labyrinth of planning, boots moving soundlessly across the tile floor. He's not exactly at ease here, but he moves with more confidence then he's had in some time. This is work he is good at, and it is nice to have the space to really work.

He's right. There is a single wooden table shoved against the right wall that has gone unused. With a hand, he gestures Hector over.]

[Hector shrugs, halfway to the door. Fine. He stops, though he's so tempted to go fully through the motions of out and back in.]

Tried being nice to you. Didn't work. [So why not indulge his petty nature, if the results are destined to be the same anyways?]

Brought you some nails to try. I've done a little testing out in the desert, but you're welcome to play with them, too.

[He walks over to the table and drops the bag of nails onto the surface.]

Outside of Jaskier, people generally aren't. [It is a statement of observation at this point. Gideon also should be in that list, but it isn't the point. The point is that he doesn't trust when people are nice for the sake of it.

He can deal with the pettiness. It's fine.

Alucard is careful as he opens the bag of nail. Seems best to. He then reaches in, taking a few out and carefully placing them on the surface of the table.]

What is the enchantment, and what tests have you conducted thus far? For the most part, they'll be used in the galleries.

[Alucard nods his head upwards, where two balconies are piled atop each other. Even down here, it is possible to see the missing and cracked floor boards.]

[Another shrug. That's true enough, though Hector thinks Alucard shouldn't complain about getting the asshole treatment from Hector when he was the one who didn't want Hector's attempts at friendliness.]

It mimics the 'smell' of danger. [Hector doesn't have a word for pheremones, though between his observations and the reading he did in Dracula's library, he has an idea of the concept of them. The enchantment isn't a smell itself, but the intent conveyed through it. To a bug's mind, it would read as the same thing.] There wasn't much to nail them into out in the desert, but when I staked them into a circle near a termite hill, they avoided it, even when I baited the center.

[Sorry Hector, you still helped dad try to murder all of Wallachia in his mother's name. All attempts at friendliness pale in comparison to that, and he's good at holding grudges too.

Alucard carefully arranged the nails in a small circle as Hector speaks, nodding along. The concept is simple enough, and it makes sense.]

So, sound here is controlled and manipulated by various spells, often in specific circles. Some have been carved into the wood, and others have been created by arranging the nails in particular patterns like-- [And behold, Alucard's made one such amplification circle with the nails loosely arranged.] I want to know if we can accomplish two tasks at once with these nails, as the area where I'm looking to apply them would indeed be at greater risk for termites.

Pass me the hammer on your left?

[There's a very small toolbox on the ground.]

[Hector passes over a hammer. A mundane hammer, not nearly as nice as Hector's enchanted tool, he notes to himself.]

Really? Is that a hold-over from before the Free Cities were free? I don't think anyone here would bother with spells nowadays, even if they were useful.

[He takes a closer look at the circle Alucard points out.] Hmmm, can I steal a scrap of paper to take a sketch of it?

[He's not sure what use he'd have for sound amplification, other than pure theory, but theory is enough. Maybe he can reverse-engineer a sound-dampening effect. That, he could find use in.]

[Sometimes you only need a normal hammer!]

I think it is the crux of when they began to really define themselves as separate from Thorne. That the building survives at all is remarkable.

[Alucard nods, gesturing behind him.] Take what you need.

[With that, he starts to pound the nails into the board. He's careful not to pound too hard, especially if Hector intends to noodle with theory.]

[Alucard, pound as hard as you want with your thoroughly unimpressive hammer. It makes no difference to Hector either way.

Hector helps himself to some paper and a pencil, and presses it against a flat section of wall beside the spelled area so he can start sketching. His notes are a mix of hastily scrawled dimensions and carefully detailed renditions of any shapes he deems important. A second sheet of paper goes over one of the patterns so he can take a quick graphite rubbing. The hammering doesn't distract Hector from his work. Alucard's work ends up being a white noise while he figuratively and literally connects dots.]

Hmmm, the energy doesn't follow the flow I'd choose, but it does look like it would get the job done.... It looks like it's spaced to allow other workings to be added later. Guess they didn't anticipate the downfall of magic in Cadens on the horizon when they were designing it.

[He scratches a few more notes on the margins of the paper.]

[He is trying to be POLITE and LET HECTOR THINK he is not interested in your hammer as metaphor, Hector.

The constant tap tap tap continues while Hector works, and it isn't done when Hector finishes connecting his dots. There's still a bit to go, and Alucard doesn't make a point to pick up the pace. These things require precision, after all.]

I don't think they did, but it does allow us a little bit of freedom in the work, as well as ample opportunity to understand how the system works. The galleries have additional flourishes since the noise has more barriers to get around and through, for example.

What else are you thinking of adding?

[He assumes Alucard has grand plans. Precision, indeed.

He's gotten enough of a look to tinker with his own versions in his own time. He's delivered his nails. He could just go, except for his damned curiosity.]

I'm not quite sure yet. Perhaps microclimates, for people who need the volume turned down. Or temporary manipulation of echoing in one location but not the other in order to build a more elaborate sound. [He shrugs, still tap-tap-tapping away. Only one nail left now.]

I'm not a musician, and sometimes overly heightened senses are a disadvantage when trying to figure out sound. [Silly, but true.] Jaskier said he'd stop by, and in terms of improvements, he'd probably be the best to give them in terms of what a musician might want for this space.

[There, that's the last of the nails.] I just don't want this to be a rallying point for anything that isn't art, I suppose.

Huh. [Hector hasn't given much thought to music, other than enjoying what he hears from Jaskier. It sounds... complicated.]

So if you amplify the sounds for a human's preference, are you dooming yourself to miserable performances? Or are you even planning on patronizing this place once it's done?

[He doesn't know how sensitive Alucard's senses are compared to a full vampire's, but he at least knows they are amplified from his own.]

In theory yes, I would be. But there's a lot of possibilities, and I can't say I have ever attempted audio engineering before.

[Translation: it's nice to have something news.]

The rest...I can't say either way. My hands need to keep busy.

This is why you need a dog.

[Of course, Hector thinks everyone would benefit from having a dog. Well, everyone who isn't an asshole who would mistreat it. But Alucard Tepes, this man needs a dog so so badly.]

It's good to have a hobby, though. You pick odd ones, but I understand the need.

[He's ignoring the comment Hector. He needs more than a dog to keep his mind moving and body occupied at all times to avoid falling into a bottomless pit of despair.]

What's so odd about my having a natural interest in strange architecture?

[Totally deadpan.]

Architecture is boring. Buildings just... stand there. Except for your father's castle. They don't do anything.

[There are so many more exciting things to get interested. Like dogs. Or giant hulking murder beasts. You know, normal things like that.]

But they do. They can.

[Alucard tilts his head slightly.]

You wouldn't want to see more buildings like the castle?

Yes, of course I would, but who else could make something like that?

[Presumably Alucard, but as far as Hector knows, the only thing he wants to make is a tomb.]

A tomb isn't cheap to build, and I need projects between now and then.

[Duh?]

[open] Local dhampir renovates old public speaking hall that has some fun magic

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