abraxaslogs | [open] On the breeze cool and soft what tune floats aloft

[What Jaskier brought in was far beyond Alucard's wildest imagination. In truth, he expected to have to get clever with any additional funding aside from what he started with. Odd jobs. Appealing to better natures. Slight theft in the form of too many bats.

But no. Small donations and a large crowd have added up to more than enough. He has a full working budget now. Has a map of steps of what needs to happen and when, because the building survives on the domino effect. Disrupt one part, and everything is disrupted. Careful and pointed time management is key to making it all go smoothly.

A sign on the door reads ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION SITE. KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING - NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES now. And indeed, the interior is very much an active construction site.

Sheeting has been placed over the tile flooring, covering it from dust and decay. Rotted wooden planks lay on the ground, grouped carefully together. Markings carved into them stare up at the ceiling, revealing a small portion of how the place's magic works.

Depending upon when one enters, Alucard may be found:

...up in the highest part of the vaulted ceilings above, floating freely. In one hand is a notebook, the other a piece of chalk. He looks from one to the other, tracing lines carefully. Here is where much of the audio magic begins, and so marking it out and ensuring that it is visible relative to the rest of construction is important.

...in the second and third story balconies, tearing up rotted wooden planks. He wears thick hide gloves and his hair is pulled back, but that appears to be his only nod to safety. The sound of wood being removed through sheer strength echoes throughout the hall.

...seated among a number of blueprints atop the dais, working on revisions. His eyes remain down upon the paper, almost glaring. New issues have come up, and they require clever problem solving.

Regardless of where he is found, his face almost universally sours upon being interrupted.]

I did not hear a knock.

Edited 2022-04-02 22:45 (UTC)

[The note is brief, coming about a week and a few days after the concert itself.]

Please come by after 2 PM any time this week regarding what we discussed during the concert. Am ready to proceed with experimentation.

Knock first. No point in being hit by something falling.

Alucard

[It is left with the inn's owner, and Alucard trusts that it will get to Jesper in time. Meanwhile, he continues the work of removing rusted nails, of documenting hidden troves of spells, and pulling apart anything that needs to go. Notes are taken, careful and meticulous, and all are held in a storage closet Alucard found the day before the concert.

Whenever Jesper does find the time to swing by, Alucard can be found seated beside four freshly removed wooden planks, a notebook beside him. He hears something, and looks up in hopes it will be his invited guest.]

Edited 2022-04-02 22:56 (UTC)

[Home is not the Old Public Hall. Home is still the graveyard, the cactus that Alucard takes to his wolf form and sleeps in when the day is done and he has spent all of his energy.

The sun hangs higher in the sky now as spring wears on. It is harder to be a wolf in those circumstances and go unnoticed.

So Alucard's form remains human as he walks the graveyard near sunset, eyes keen for anyone who might be lingering. Should he find someone, he offers a soft reminder.]

The gates will be closing shortly, you know.

[Alucard's domain remains unchanged. Gentle rain falls, mist hovers above the ground, covered in dry leaves that are impossibly still crisp. Excellent for stomping through, if one was ever so inclined to swish swish swish their legs among all of the piles of them.

Tucked away in his cabin, Alucard kneads a decently sized ball of bread dough. Stretch, turn, repeat. Stretch, turn, repeat. The repetition settles him, even as his eyes remain on the door.

He's never happy when people cross the threshold into his space, but most days, the woods turn visitors away from the center hut where he spends much of his quiet time. He expects today to be no different.]

[ The matronly inn owner Mag gave him the note when strangely enough he was working on her old wood. She let him experiment with some of the older and even rotten edges of places in the inn, since it's seen its fair share of wear and tear, and it's been good practice. Jesper has been looking forward to hearing from Alucard since that night, it's good to get a project, something to actually do. And for the first time in his life, it's using his gifts actively.

He was in his most flashy clothing at the event and he's left his embroidered coat behind, his clothes are shades of green and gray, more casual considering he doesn't know exactly what they'll be doing, so he doesn't want to ruin his good stuff. The tall youth eagerly knocks first to alert him and then steps in, certain to make some noise so he doesn't startle anyone in there.

It's interesting to see the place now without everyone in it, strolling in but careful where he steps. He knows exactly where Alucard is but doesn't want to be creepy about it, one of those Durast things, so it seems casual the way he moves toward him.]

It's Jesper, hello.

Ah, excellent timing.

[Alucard moves his notebook aside and pushes himself up off the floor. There's no more open coat with full scar choices out on display today. He's gone for the practical with black trousers and a short sleeved shirt, long hair pulled back and then up and off his neck. Thick, sturdy books tuck in excess fabric from his trousers, and there's the smear of dust and grime on Alucard's forearms.

He's been working for a good few hours now. It'll be a good few more before he's done for the day.]

I just pulled this group out from upstairs. You can see over here [his left hand gestures down] the nature of the problem.

[Scratched into the wood is a series of concentric circles with elaborate writing in between them, seemingly held together by a circle of nails that seem to seal it all together. Two of the planks have begun to warp thanks to water damage, and the rot has set in near the center most of the circles. Alucard's gotten it all down on paper, save for a few notes on the nails.]

There must have been a leak in the area that was later fixed, but the damage was done.

[ Jesper loves people so he flashes a bright smile at him right away, coming closer after taking in all the little details. He learns a lot about people from sharp observant eyes. He changes his attention to the wood itself though and sits down on the other side of the planks.

He reaches out with his hand to caress over the wood and feels all the details both visible and invisible, the wood down to its base and the rot feels akin to something sick, weaker than the rest. He taps each of the nails too so he can remember the feel of them. Jesper's gaze seem unfocused during this, because he isn't seeing it with his eyes. He remembers what his mother told him once, about the extension of objects from a grip. ]

Okay so what you want is to replace the rot with sturdy wood but have it be exactly like this in the end? I can easily get the nails out and replaced, but I'm guessing we want them to stay sealed too.

[Alucard falls quiet, letting Jesper work. He does not pretend to understand magic in the same way that Sypha does, but he does watch Jesper with a mild curiosity.
The use of touch makes sense given the task, but there's nothing else the dhampir feels the need to say.

Not until a question comes up.]

The nails are going to be replaced regardless with special ones I am commissioning, but for argument's and practice's sake, let's say that we want everything sealed.

[ Jesper nods, that's fine, he can move nails in and out easier than most hammers, although it's always good to follow up for a relative amateur. In Ravka, there are entire groups of Durasts trained to the peak of their ability, this would probably be nothing to them. But now that he's been using them regularly, he thinks his mother was right, it really is like breathing at times. ]

Is there one I can experiment on so I can show you? It's hard to describe what I'm thinking.

Yes, there is. I set aside a smaller sample for whenever you came by.

[Alucard starts to head off to the right, to where a work bench has been placed, planks draped across it. Here, the circles are smaller and less complex, although the nails-as-a-seal concept remains. There is one that is only the width of one wood plank, and that one has been warped just the same as the one they were just examining.]

This is just for amplification along a certain part of the gallery. I've copied it down, in case things go awry. What do you need from me?

[ Jesper follows him; he's never been good at describing what it is, really. It's much more of a show type of power. He feels more confident going up to one that was set aside to be tampered with. ]

Well the warping is easy.

[ Easy in the sense it doesn't require him to remove rot and intricate chips. Jesper runs a hand over this new plank and now Alucard might be able to see a little more. The wood seems to shimmer under his hand and he follows the moisture, focusing solely on it. He pulls the moisture that warped it in the first place, still living inside of it, pressing both hands down firmly on either side. It evens itself out in the middle and when Jesper releases it, it is completely straight again.

He shakes out his hands, some of the moisture sticking to his fingers afterward and dropping like normal water off them.]

What is your highest concern here? I'm guessing you want to keep the circles and seals and have stronger planks?

[ Jesper stretches his fingers and flicks one up, one of the nails shooting right out of the wood and hovering in the air easily. ]

[Alucard's eyes are fixed on the plank rather than Jesper, keen and ready to analyze whatever it is he can in these upcoming moments. He enjoys seeing magic that is new to him, and this is no different.

Between the shimmer of the wood and sudden appearance of moisture on Jesper's hands, he thinks he has a basic understanding. Jesper can reach in, determine the damage, and remove it through some sort of mapping or tracing. That makes sense.

He looks up, nodding.]

Precisely. The new nails will take care of other issues, like spells to repel moisture, termites, and fire.

[ Alucard is 100% correct with how it works. Jesper finds a part of rot and simply flicks it with his finger, the wood shimmering again and then fully collapsing in on itself so there is a clean space where it was before. He moves the bad pieces of wood to the side, dropping them there. ]

So what I'm thinking is we'll need wood to replace it, we don't need a one-to-one system, it'll get costly, I can take pieces of new wood and meld it together with what's left. You could get five to ten fixed planks in exchange for one new one, or something like that.

[ Because he really can just flick off the bad parts and smooth in the new. It's strange but every time he uses them, he's reminded that Inej was right about him, since Jesper feels a sense of pure calm while working, no longer all over the place and twitchy. ]

Honestly you could go with any sturdy wood, it wouldn't have to be brand new, between this and your spells, it'll last longer no matter what. If price is an issue, I mean.

[ He sets the nail back into the wood exactly as it was before. ]

[Absolutely delightful work. Alucard's eyebrows lift gently as the sight of the pile. That was a bit more than he anticipated.]

I have enough in the budget for a 1:1 replacement when needed. I'm a little loathe to be piecemeal about replacements, as there is some merit in stronger, newer materials - just as there is merit in retaining as much as possible.

[He's undecided, is what he means to say. But Jesper has given him options, and that is a good place to start with.]

What will be your daily rate?

Well that's good. Sorry, I'm used to scraping for money and using whatever's available, it's an instinct to think of the cheapest options.

[ Jesper is poor, poor, poor. Always. A farmboy and then literally living on the streets for a time before his friend dragged him off it and gave him a job. And even then, it was a miracle if he had any money at all, and it was gone within hours of having it anyway. The Crows only came into money recently, before that it was always scrambling to break even, or enough to survive.

He glances at Alucard and thinks about the situation and he moves the wood so that it starts filling in the hole where the rot just was. If Alucard looks closely enough he might be able to see the splinters come together, more complex than it seems, but in doing so he has to thin the whole thing slightly. It looks even however, and it would be easy to slide other wood in there. ]

I'm going to level with you, I'm new here. I don't know what funds would be reasonable to ask for, and I don't want to low or high ball you. If you want to figure out the cost it'll be for all the wood and everything you need and figure out what money you can give from there, it'll be more than I'm making now.

There's nothing to apologize for, and it is a valid matter to keep in mind.

[Alucard isn't inclined to cut corners. Not in his own personal work, and not on something that he's been asked to do by others. Right now, the money is available. To fail to do the utmost seems a shrinking of responsibility to the building and those who approached him about the work in the first place. But then again, he grew up in a massive fuck off castle with the most powerful vampire in Europe and probably the world as his father.

He does keep watching though. There's real joy in seeing magic work, especially when it is a wholly new system for him. His eyes remain fixed.]

Very well. I'll see what the average day's pay is for carpentry and then add on an appropriate percentage extra for magic. [Finally, he looks up, meeting Jesper's eyes.] If that's agreeable, I'll let you know what I find, ensure we're in agreement, and go from there. Reasonable?

[ Jesper is still new to letting people watch him work at all let alone so closely, but he really has moved past the point of feeling nauseated at any attention about it. In fact, he feels a little proud, that it's interesting to look at, that his skill is real. He knows to most Durasts this is all rudimentary, and they've been training since childhood, so it's all pretty new to him, the way it looks and feels. ]

That sounds good to me. I might actually save enough for a gun thanks to you.

[ His sole obsession since getting here. He's saving pennies and eventually they'll add up. He's even picked out the one that is good enough for him, naturally more expensive than just any one. Jesper tests out whether or not he can replicate the carvings, to be thorough, smoothing the wood over until nothing is seen, and then releasing the etchings back into it. Not that bad. He glances up at Alucard.]

I'm curious though, what got you started on this endeavor?

I'll factor that in as well.

[The money is probably there, and this is a specialized skill. There's no reason not to factor that in, and Alucard is fairly sure he will find more than just this sort of spell work to consult Jesper on. For now, it is nice to know there's another tool in his tool belt for the work and--

--Oh, the releasing the etchings thing is very interesting. He leans in, loking at the fresh markings.]

I find myself in need of complex projects, and having worked on the graveyard, I was approached by several people who thought this might be within my wheelhouse. They were correct.

[ Even if he attempts to make them the exact same as before, they do appear fresher, sharper. Which could be a good thing for when refurbishing the wood on all fronts, nails, markings, wood. He can't make it wear out more, that's the thing. Improvement comes more naturally. He's essentially refreshing the matter that's already there. It will always look a little bit better than it was before. ]

It's probably better to remodel things for the living than for the dead. The dead can't really thank you or enjoy it.

[ Or give them any money, which seems like the only logical reason to do any work in Jesper's eyes. He volunteers for things without money, usually for influence or to lead him to eventual coin, so he can only think in terms of jobs.

He removes all of the nails at once, it probably is the right way to go to fully fix a board, otherwise they're in the way. They hover in the air steadily. ]

Back home the use of abilities like this openly is dangerous. I've never really gotten to use them this way.

The dead also don't talk back or make unreasonable requests.

[Watching the hovering nails is much, much more interesting at any rate. Alucard's gaze does not soften exactly, but he tries not to make his stare quite as intense as he realizes that it must be.

But they're going into vulnerable territory now. All the better reason not to make eye contact.]

Mistrust of magic seems to be a reoccurring theme lately.

[ Jesper smiles, he can't help it, shaking his head. ]

My best friend Kaz would agree with you there. That's why I'm the extroverted fun one, so he doesn't have to be.

[ Jesper's his right-hand man in everything he finds distasteful. Socializing. Schmoozing. Literally running around the city doing errands and handling situations. Technically Kaz is his boss, but he doesn't call him his boss when referring to him. Their relationship is too complicated for that, although if Kaz was here, he'd be forced to use boss again. He doesn't like friendship implications.

He playfully arranges the nails so they spell out H and then I to Alucard. Just because he can. ]

Logically, I understand. My friend can stop a person's heart by looking at them. I could use these nails to stab someone's eye out before they know it's happening. People called Tailors back home can change the way someone looks permanently, could probably throw coups without people noticing by replacing a leader. It's a lot.

[ Jesper isn't saying it's right, and considering he has powers, he isn't advocating, but it would be disingenous to pretend none of it makes sense. ]

Balance is important.

[Goodness knows Alucard generally finds himself in somber company. Sypha and Jaskier counterbalance all of it, as does Gideon. He's learned to accept the balance and is grateful for the equilibrium when it is reached.

The spelling with the nails gets a soft huff of what may be amusement or approval. It is difficult to divine, but Alucard appreciates it all the same.]

Logically, I don't. All it tells me is that you haven't taken five seconds to try and understand someone's abilities or their disposition. [There's the threat of something bitter that wants to edge into Alucard's tone. He knows it and can feel it.] That gets people killed.

It's a circular problem, being a Grisha, that's a name for what I am. People fear those with abilities, so they kill them or ostracize them. Then someone comes along that says maybe you use them instead, and they take Grisha children, put them in an army, and train them to serve. But it makes people more afraid, the more powerful they get, and it never ends.

[ So, circular. More fear, more power, more fear, more power. Jesper may be able to shrug and smile faintly about this, like it doesn't matter, but he sounds tired. Not bitter, it's not his way, but exhausted. This is the life of being born a certain way and never being truly free of it.

He's been able to do something incredible for his whole life, and it's had to be hidden, he pushed it down so deep. Otherwise this would all be easy, he would be an experienced and well-trained Grisha, not this half-baked version. He could make Alucard gasp with true Durast skills, when this is only the bare basics of the abilities. And maybe some day he will. ]

I've never gotten to use them this way. To fix something, to make something better.

[ He has used them to kill and to harm and he'd do it again, to defend or to protect or to survive. But Jesper drops the nails back into the wood, exactly as they were before. He glances up and flashes a brighter smile.]

So I suppose I'm looking forward to it.

[Active construction site? Knock before entering? Not responsible for damages? Those signs can't stop Viktor because he can't read.

Okay, well, he can, of course, but he walks in unannounced anyway, thinking that it's fine because 1. he and Alucard are friends now, right? and 2. generally speaking, his arrival is always heralded by the sound of his crutch hitting the floor, which is almost like a knock, and 3. Viktor generally has no real concern for his own safety.

Besides, why waste time on pleasantries when there's so many interesting things to look at? His attention is immediately drawn to the planks that Alucard has torn out of the interior--he stoops a little, reaching down to trace fingers over what are clearly some kind of rune inscription. Symbols, maybe, to tell the magic where to go. He's only interrupted from his examination by the voice that comes from...above him? Yes.]

I promise not to litigate if something falls on my head.

[There. Alucard is absolved.]

Edited 2022-04-08 15:47 (UTC)

That'll do.

[Alucard's head pokes out from the second floor gallery, staring down at Victor. There's a moment of pause as he takes off the gloves he hands on his hand, and then rather than use the stairs, he just. Floats down, as one does. Being extra is fun.]

I should probably start to issue protective headwear in the coming days. Things will get worse before they improve.

[Especially if Alucard's clothing is anything to go by. Rotted wood bits cover him like some kind of even more horrifying glitter, some of it is stuck in his hair, and that's in addition to other stains from hidden dust piles and other nightmares lurking right below the surface.]

I've already removed all of the known inscriptions, so there's a bit more freedom in what I can pull up now.

[The army.

If Alucard's face could sour any more than pursed lips, disapproving stares, and eyebrows knitted together, it would. He bites his tongue to hold back and further off-the-cuff reaction, but the dhampir has never had a poker face. All of it ends in a sigh. Why should any of this shock him?]

People deserve better. [And forgive the long, sobering sigh that restrains everything else that wants to escape the dhampir's mouth.]

Would you like to use some of the older wood and keep practicing while I do some surveying?

[ Jesper is not used to someone whose expressions are easy to read. He normally needs to have some special insight or have to be observant, but Alucard is easy. He's curious but doesn't take it personally, he's never one to assume a sour face has anything to do with him. Besides, he also hates that his kind are put in the army, it's why he avoided it. It's distasteful. ]

If you want to know the worst part, they were raised in it, so they believe in it. My friend Nina, lovely girl, brilliant, hilarious, fun, the one with the heart stopping. She believes in the cause so much I didn't tell her about me, so she wouldn't feel torn between me and them.

[ Jesper doesn't blame her, clearly, there is no judgment or bitterness in his tone. He loves Nina, she's precious to him, and he knows where her actions come from. He doesn't think she would have turned him in, nor that she will ever turn him in, but she does wish that he would want that, to be a part of Ravka like the others. Difference in opinion, with nothing but love between them. He thinks it's sad though, wonders if she'd feel the same if they hadn't gotten her young.

But he shrugs out of it; it's depressing shit, he would rather focus on practicing. ]

Sorry, unnecessary world drama. Sounds good, give me whatever you don't mind me tinkering with.

Edited 2022-04-09 22:18 (UTC)

[Alucard is subtle like a freight train. It is a family trait. And what Jesper says next does not exactly get the dhampir to change the look on his face either. He hates it??? Like so much????]

I didn't, but I now know it regardless. As I said. [The sigh that follows is weary. Wearier, and Alucard can't help how his shoulders slump.] People deserve better.

[It is extremely depressing shit. Alucard tries to reorient his own attention span to the actual work at hand, but there's the horrid little rising thought in the back of his head. His father did have some valid points about humanity. This is not helping with not reinforcing that.]

Give me a few moments.

[He walks off, heading to one of the corners tucked under the galleries. There is some grunting. Grumbling. And then Alucard walks over with an armful of planks of wood that he can only get away with carrying because he is abusing dhampir powers. He's careful enough not to throw it all to the floor either - he kneels, and everything tumbles out of his arms.]

I'll be up in the galleries. Step carefully if you need me, there are now holes in the floor.

[ Jesper has met some pretty bad people but on the whole, yeah, they deserve better. It's a bad situation and there's no easy out. In a way this place is the only out he has, but it comes with some serious downsides. He's relatively safe in Ketterdam but other Grisha are not and may never be. He sees no real end to that.

He knows a sign-off in terms of a conversation when he sees it and he doesn't mind. He absolutely needs practice if he is going to do what he promised here, and he'll be training for it from now on. He raises an eyebrow considering Alucard seems to definitely be carrying more planks than he probably should be, and Jesper knows they're heavy. Interesting! A question for another time, maybe.

He reaches down and picks up two new planks and salutes Alucard. ]

You got it, boss.

I could stand guard outside. Turn people away.

[That's also something of a joke--Viktor won't be able to be here and not want to see the work as it happens, as evidenced by the fact that he is already attempting to get a good look at some of the removed boards, as if he's trying to commit the symbols to memory, even without knowing what they mean and what they're supposed to do.

It's hard not to smile a little, at the sight of him. He appreciates the signs of hard work, having spent some time covered in dirt and grease himself. Still, he'll be polite.]

You have a little, eh-- [He gestures, vaguely, to the splinters stuck in Alucard's hair.] Walk me through it, if you have a moment.

I think that might work, if you could learn a few tricks of illusion magic.

[Alucard is not joking. There's no need to shy away from learning magic here so far as he's concerned, and illusions are useful for security and the like. He's taken to applying few old things from home when leaving the Hall for the day, ensuring no one can get in without his say so.]

It'll get worse before the day is through. [But in good faith, Alucard shakes his head a little, some of the looser pieces falling free.

For a moment, Alucard considers the best way to walk through. He then gestures Victor over to a long, long table where there are two ancient stools and a giant blueprint of the hall itself, marked with various notes. The circumference of the main drawing is ringed by detailed sketches of magic symbols not unlike the one Viktor was staring at. Once they're both seated, the dhampir digs in.]

What this really is, in the end, is a complete circuit of magic, rather like how wiring is used from a single power source to various lightbulbs. The generator, in this case, is all of the magic etched into the dais at the front, here. [He taps against the drawing accordingly. The overlaid magic symbols are large and elaborate, with tiny, tiny markings that go inward into various circles.] All of these circles are coded instructions that manipulate soundwaves and direct them accordingly. "This section should be redirected here" and so on. Then---

[Alucard's finger moves to the left, tracing slowly. There's a perfect alignment of similar circles all along the walls. Wiring, as he said.] All of these spots here pick up the soundwaves and manipulate them according to the main source. There's some additional markings in the ceiling for control and finesse, but most of this is about even distribution. You'll note that everything is equally spaced - which is on purposed, it minimizes overlap and ensures the sound quality. The whole system is wonderfully designed.

I wouldn't really know where to start.

[He knows, objectively, that he can learn--that anyone here can, regardless of inborn ability or not, but he's barely begun to scratch the surface. Even the Horizon had been overwhelming.

This, however, all laid out in blueprints, makes sense to him. He can chart the symbols and lines like he would any other schematic, and he follows along with Alucard's descriptions as he points everything out.]

Yes, similar to how an electrical circuit would work. Various conduits and instructions mean to produce specific effects, built into the architecture itself. It's ingenious.

With an introductory book, I'd imagine.

[It is a very real response, although not as considered as Alucard might be if the conversation was meant to be truly serious. Viktor should add to his skillset at any rate, but Alucard can't tell him how to do so. Magic is not something Alucard knows naturally, but he's studied and understands it well enough. Sypha described it as will manifesting itself. That's all good for her sort of magic, but Alucard? He understands it best through symbols and instructions and careful calibrations. A language like how math can be a language.]

Precisely. It's not dissimilar to how this place approaches magic now, but I also doubt it'd be done the same way any more. There would be a greater emphasis on using actual technology to achieve some of the amplification and sound transmission rather than relying wholly on magic. A bit disappointing, honestly, as this system is much more elegant and easier to maintain.

[Technology's great, but balance is better.] Would any of this exist within your home world, or would there have also been a greater reliance on practical elements?

Of course. Like everything else.

[That's said half-jokingly, but he does feel a little foolish for not taking that plunge. Perhaps it's his own apprehension that's keeping him from really digging deeper--it's easier to stick with what's familiar and immerse himself in his own work. Something he'll get around to, he tells himself.]

No, all of this would have been managed with technology, back home. [Audio systems with electricity running through the wires, not magic.] Perhaps, given more time with Hextech, we could've made something similar to what you're describing, but our priorities were elsewhere.

I can keep an eye out for anything useful, if you'd like.

[Alucard's not sure if this is now a joke or serious. He'll take it either way, but Viktor should have a chance to do real magic here, not just the technological version of it.]

That makes sense to my ears, although I think the approach of the system as it currently is happens to be much more interesting and in a way, more innovative than just strapping a few component parts to something. [There's a shrug, accepting his own biases.] And more thoughtful in application. It's always the how a matter is applied that I find interesting. Those were always the best parts of reading my father's study notes as well.

It would be appreciated. We can add it to our collection.

[In truth, it's easier to focus on what he knows. Even a place like this, the runes and magic is arranged in an almost mathematical way--it makes sense to him. Doesn't require him to reach too far out of his knowledge base.]

I've always found the cooperation of science and magic to be almost natural, in the way the complement each other. This-- [A vague gesture to their surroundings,] --is elegant in that way. I can see why you like it.

It is natural. [Alucard's statement is as close to a firm belief as he may ever have in the traditional sense. He isn't inclined towards religion or prayer, but he feels this stronger than anything else.]

Calculations that go into building or understanding a medical formal are just a mathematical expression of natural principals. So the same goes for magic when you break it down in a way like this. Those who can use magic with little more than a wiggle of their fingers or in a few careful, elegant motions are simply capable of doing that same sort of work, but in a way that is more instinctual.

[It contradicts Sypha of course and her explanation of magic as will, but Alucard also knows the two concepts can live in harmony.] My father was an expert at them, both as separate disciplines and combined. And hardly limited the work to architecture.

Perhaps that’s why I fell into it.

[He’s a mathematician, after all, and the way Alucard talks about it simply resonates. It’s all calculation and formulas—even the Hexcore is just permutations and combinations of runes. This hall is perhaps the purest example of this that he’s ever seen. It’s heartening, and seeing Alucard’s passion for it is fulfilling, too.

Viktor’s understanding is that Alucard’s family is something of a touchy subject, so it’s not lost on him that he’s getting some information, now. He’ll file it away, but the little smile on his face indicates he's enjoying hearing all this, regardless.]

Based on that, do you plan to simply restore, or do you hope to make improvements, as well?

I'll be polite and not comment either way.

[The gentle lift of Alucard's eyebrows suggest that maybe, just maybe, he meant that as a joke. But he becomes a bit more serious again with Viktor's question. It is a sign of genuine consideration, and after a moment or two passes, there's a gentle shrug of his shoulders.]

Any improvement I make I want to be in service of ensuring the functions remain as intended. So if there's a weakness in a spot, I might supplement it, or if there new anchor points that have to be added - or old ones changed - I'll do that without question. But restoration and preservation carry with them a sense of not modernizing too much, or at least keeping those elements in theme with original intent.

[....He huffs, shaking his head.]

That was a terrible answer.

No, it was informative.

[And a perspective he hadn’t necessarily considered, though of course Alucard is right. He appreciates it regardless, and gives him an understanding nod. This place has history—easy for him to disregard, maybe, because it’s not a history he’s necessarily concerned with. So he can admit a blind spot, in this regard.]

I am often singularly focused on progress—improvements, efficiencies. Ways to surpass the original function. It’s good to have a reminder that sometimes what’s already there is enough.

Improvement and efficiency is all good, but there does need to be some balance. Some pieces of art endure because they are balanced. Doubtlessly they could be improved by new techniques or supplies, but then that erases the contribution of the original piece.

[There's a thoughtful noise at that, because--] But your work is mostly technology based, yes? There's less need for fidelities to past ideas and concepts. I can understand why your perspective would be so forward thinking.

[Alucard stretches a little, his eyes going upward.] I do think I'll be adding some additional magic to the ceiling though. Just for the longevity of the paint.

All things in moderation.

[Some kind of happy medium between Heimerdinger's insistence on slow-walking everything and his own desire to progress as quickly as possible. Alucard's right that he can't necessarily operate under any of these rules. He's not a preservationist. It only follows that their priorities are different, but Viktor can still respect what Alucard is doing here.

He follows Alucard's gaze towards the ceiling. The longevity of the paint...that gets a little laugh out of him.]

Not the support beams?

I thought the beams went without saying.

[Alucard doesn't mind though. This kind of collegial atmosphere is nice. Welcome. Unusual in that he's never really had it before, or at least not in this way.

The dhampir pauses, then gestures to the blueprints.]

You're welcome to flip through and take notes at your own pace, if you'd like. I need to check a few more spots on the ceiling before I lose the best lighting to do so. There's a stool on the right, if you'd like me to grab it.

I didn't want to assume.

[But, of course he should figure that Alucard has everything planned out. There's no room for improvisation, in a place like this, not if he wants to maintain the spirit and function of it all. Given the invitation, however, he eagerly turns to the blueprints.]

Much appreciated, thank you. I can get it. [He nods appreciatively and starts to make his way over to the stool in question.] Let me know if you need any, ah. Further input.

[Otherwise, he's just gonna take some notes!]

[open] On the breeze cool and soft what tune floats aloft

OLD PUBLIC HALL - open

closed, Jesper

GRAVEYARD - open

Horizon - open

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if you want to wrap it up we can then focus on jayce thread?

yep can wrap here!

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I think we can call it there!