abraxaslogs | [ CLOSED ] tooth and nail, tooth and nail

[Literature.

Alucard can't say that is one of the topics he expected to discuss with Geralt, but the man had reached out. That meant that this literary discussion had real weight, Geralt wasn't the kind to indulge in idle chatter. The man was straight forward in that regard, and Alucard appreciates that.

He can't fully anticipate what will come up, but he can be a good host. That means when Alucard opens the door to let the Witcher in, the kitchen table behind him has a good wine and liquor selection, cold cheeses and meats along wit fruit, and warm bread from the oven.]

Do I get to know what book we're discussing now?

[ Alucard may indeed know. Geralt holds up the literature in question, leather-bound and Horizon-created by Dean Winchester himself. If there are alternate copies in existence, Geralt is not aware of them, though he'd not be surprised to hear they exist. Prophecies, myths, even historical notations—all writings of that nature go through multiple variations.

But this is the specific version he's been provided.

He peers at the selection of wine, cheese, bread over Alucard's shoulder. The vampire makes for a thoughtful host, as ever. Geralt closes the door behind him. ]

We'll need more wine.

[Alucard's eyes go to the book. Geralt has probably seen Alucard's face go sour before, but it happens in an instant. He was hoping for something good, not mere Christianity.

He steps aside, allowing Geralt in and shutting the door. The two chairs at the kitchen are cozier than normal, and Alucard is glad for at least that much.

When he speaks, his tone is dark and deeply disapproving.] No, we'll want actual liquor if we're dealing with that.

[ Geralt raises an eyebrow. Yeah. This is a favour to be certain, not a leisure activity.

Undeterred by Alucard's dour mood, he hooks a foot around a chair leg and pulls it forward to sit. He's already helping himself to a bottle. Actual liquor is welcome. ]

Not to worry. I haven't arrived to debate the question of gods and idols. [ No one needs that headache. Burnt through much of that topic with Nenneke back in the day, anyhow. ] It's to do with a curse. [ He won't give much more detail than that, and he imagines Alucard will not ask beyond what's necessary. ] Have you ever seen one manifest? Out of here. Similar texts.

[ Alucard may be young (younger than Ciri, he keeps having to remind himself, because youth and vampires are not things that go hand-in-hand in his experience), but Alucard seems to have...learned quite a bit. From his father, his mother. There's history recorded, Geralt thinks, that Alucard may know of. ]

[Alucard reaches for a short, square bottle and helps himself. The whiskies he's had in Cadens have been enjoyable, especially the oak aged ones. Tonight is a whiskey sort of night.

He softens slightly. Just a hair, because this has nothing to do with theological witchcraft debates or questions of Heaven and Hell. That's fine.]

Do you mean a curse that has transpired in one's world and followed them here as a natural continuity, or it began here?

[He's seated now, spreading one of the goat cheeses onto a piece of warm bread.]

Followed.

[ There's a little more to it than that—Dean had not been cursed until the Singularity saw fit to flood him with memories of receiving the curse; how that works, he has no fucking idea. Those are complicating details, though. Ones he isn't sure will be of use for Alucard to know.

He pauses. Some of his reservation is that this is a personal situation, to Dean. He's worked contracts that require discretion before; it requires some navigating for one who prefers to get to the damn point. He doesn't want to spill everything he knows, even if it should be relevant. But keeping too much to himself helps no one, either.

Eventually, he settles on, ] We know its inception began in a man named Cain. Something about a...first murder.

[Followed. That's fine, but then comes the shoe's anticipated fall. Alucarrd breathes out, and he takes a sip of the whiskey.]

That one. Sypha would have been the better person to speak with you about this, given the nature of her people and how they preserve stories.

[But Alucard has to do for now. He leans back in his chair, considering.]

So let's say the story is the baseline and everything branches off from there, since I assume we're dealing with other worlds. In the predominant monotheistic religion, a god created the earth, and made one man and one woman to populate the earth. They had two sons, Cain and Abel. The point of the story isn't the logistics at play here though, it's fratricide. Cain gardens, Abel is a shepherd, and as worship goes, they both offer some of what they work with naturally. The god involved prefers meat, Cain gets jealous, kills his brother in anger.

[There's a pause. Alucard is no story teller, but he knows there should be a pause.] The god involved disapproves of fratricide and curses Cain with a mark of some sort that marks him as a fratricide. He also cannot be harmed by any others. What became of Cain - for example, if not even the god involved could kill him - is a matter of debate.

[ In light of Sypha's absence, Alucard is more than sufficient. Geralt can work with what he has. He's solved cases with less.

The theme of fratricide, he gathers. Something about envy probably lies in it, too. Most curses are predicated on a lesson of some sort. It doesn't surprise him that one's been attached to notions of worship and murder and jealousy. ]

These theories of what became of him. Do any say he returned? Or gained something beyond mortality?

[ Because Dean seems to believe Cain himself passed on this curse, so clearly—something allowed that to happen. ]

It depends on the religious faith and sect from that point on. [Alucard shrugs, taking a sip of his drink, finally.]

A common point is he is immortal, since death won't touch him due to the curse. That's as broad as it gets. [Which also feels like permission to ask:] What has come to pass that forces you to dig into religion?

[ His brows draw together in thought. The text, as Alucard notes, says specifically that Cain cannot be harmed by others—not that he can't be harmed at all. So what does immortality imply? That death is, itself, a figure that could be counted as another?

Alucard's question draws him back out of it. ]

A curse, as I said. It's afflicted someone I consider...a friend. [ He refills his cup. ] Supposedly, the curse was passed onto him by Cain himself. In my experience, all curses can be broken. It's only a question of price.

[ And what one is willing to pay to break it. Nivellen paid his due. He paid his for the princess who became a striga. ]

[The f-word. Alucard nods once in quiet understanding, not wishing to pry any further.]

Usually I would leap upon the word supposedly as a means to wiggle around the problem, but I assume you've already tried that. [More importantly:] Does the curse have any specific wording associated with it, like prophecies often do?

Didn't ask. [ Geralt downs his drink and immediately pours another. ] He's—reluctant. To discuss.

[ Which is not to say Dean will not tell him, but he's avoided the topic unless necessary. He's hoping to search for information first before digging deeper into what else Dean may know. ]

The magic is tied to a mark and a first blade. I assume, according to legend, the blade Cain used to strike his brother down. Obviously, the blade doesn't exist in this world, but the curse holds. So it must originate from the cursed soul itself.

[ Or else it would not have—could not have—followed Dean through the Singularity. ]

That's understandable, but it does tie hands to a certain extent.

[He knows what the limits are now, so that'll do. Alucard picks up one of the candied walnuts he has on the table, crunching thoughtfully.]

What you just said implies that the mark can be transferred. How do you figure souls into the situation?

Hate to tell you this, but I'll need more than one conversation.

[ Sorry. He'll be back with more to ask about the bible whilst this shit is ongoing. Next time, he'll bring a cake and heavier vodka.

Geralt leans back in his seat, one eyebrow lifted. ] I didn't mean literally, if that's what you're asking. [ Though he can understand the assumption. He's learned souls mean something else to various spheres. ] This curse. It latched onto him through entire realms. The magic must be sustained within him in some form.

[ He pauses, then reaches for one of the parchment papers. Sketches onto it the rune that Dean bears. It's more than he'd intended to reveal, but there's only so much discretion he can attempt before it becomes a hindrance. If there's anyone he trusts to keep it to themselves, though, it's Alucard. ]

It leaves behind this brand. You're familiar?

I live in hope of things tying up neatly.

[No harm, no foul. Alucard can accept an open ended project.]

That was what I'm asking, yes. [Always good to have something not be an option, at any rate.

At the sketch, the dhampir leans forward, considering. At the same time, the fire in the fireplace jumps in brightness. Just in case something needs to be destroyed.]

It looks a little like Hebrew to my eyes. That's the original language the book you've brought was written in.

[ Geralt peers at Alucard. That the text is translated isn't too unexpected. If it is as ancient as Dean implied, then all language would've evolved since. But it does add an extra layer of obfuscation to something he's already not certain holds many answers.

Still. Alucard is the first person who's identified the rune as something potentially legible. Connected to an existing language, instead of simply a mark. ]

Would you know what it says?

[ This would be simpler on his world, where he's familiar with both Elder and the common tongue. But the mark Dean's shown him holds few similarities to Elder runes. ]

[Alucard's response is delayed, as he writes a few letters down: א, דּ, ךּ. The page is turned back to Geralt.]

I only said it looks like, not that it is. The letters I just wrote are, and I only have reading knowledge. And truth be told, the more I think on the matter, the more it feels the wrong thread to chase after. If we're abiding by the story, there was no written language at the time.

[What he wouldn't give for Sypha. Alucard exhales, disappointed his own thought has hit a logical dead end.] Are there any known terms of the curse besides it being a mark and that none can harm the bearer?

[ No? That changes matters. The lack of written language escaped his consideration; the elves have always had a written language, rudimentary though it was in its original form. If there was a time they did not, that's been long lost in the Conjunction and the centuries since. ]

Allows the bearer to wield the First Blade. I've called it a curse, but it was not one taken on unwillingly. A deal was made.

[ He lapses into silence, thinking. Perhaps that is where he's erred. Looking at it strictly as a curse. ]

These curses recorded, they arise from a—breach of contract. [ Right? That's typical. Someone steals gold from an altar and is trapped in the form of a swine. (It's happened.) A spell, triggered because you fucked up your end of the agreement—spoken or unspoken. Whether it's cast by a wrathful god or a vengeful priestess is irrelevant. ] Is there an instance where someone...renegotiated their terms?

Edited 2022-12-12 00:59 (UTC)

So this curse and the mark is focused on the act itself. What is the value of the blade? [Alucard's tone suggests that that clarification is actually useful.] And as for the act itself - is it weighted because of the act of murder generally or the specific act of killing one's sibling? That information might--

[The word deal though. That's different. Enough to stop Alucard in his train of thought, and to reach back for the paper. He flips it over, making a few hurried notes about the ground already covered.]

To answer specifically, I'd have to know the particulars of a deal. Mostly the terms. What is said is where a chance for renegotiation lies. Unless you especially want me to dig into theology here.

Edited 2022-12-12 01:07 (UTC)

The murder. [ The answer comes without hesitation. He's aware Dean has a brother—has met him, by this point—but he remembers what Dean said when Geralt pointed out that the path this curse will lead down is likely more killing. ] The blade was used to kill a creature that couldn't be harmed otherwise. In exchange for using it, he received the mark.

[ Wait. Does that mean the blade could—?

Alucard disrupts his thoughts before they can finish. Geralt flicks his gaze up. It's clear he's been going through this bullshit for awhile, that he's not gotten far, and that he really wishes it weren't his fucking problem. In a way, it isn't. It's Dean's. But Dean's a friend, a close friend, so.

It is his problem.

He huffs. Yeah. About that. ] Regretfully, he's an idiot. Didn't exactly review the terms in detail before accepting. Or at all.

[ So. Theology it'll have to be. ]

[One huff deserves a long, wearying sigh.]

Or at all is the actual problem at play. That tells me that whoever he made the deal with isn't going to be willing to renegotiate. But before I go further--

[He's about to regret this.]

Did he explain any of the religion contained in the book to you?

[ In the strictest sense? Yes. Dean explained. And if he's being truthful, it was not...an incomprehensible explanation. It wasn't thorough, but he grasped what was important at the time, which was not a hell of a lot more than a broad sense of Lucifer holds a grudge and might try to fuck with everyone.

Now there's, mm. A bit more to it that's going on. ]

I received a... [ How to put it. ] Rudimentary overview. Of Lucifer. And demons.

[ Who's here. Should he mention that to Alucard? Geralt peers at the dhampir, then decides Alucard has enough to contend with. The man's buried himself in the desert. It's fine. He doubts Lucifer will ever come across him in any real way.

He sighs. ] I'm having trouble believing the sole basis of a world's reality is contained within a singular text. There aren't additional sources?

And that was it? [Alucard's eyebrows lift, deeply unimpressed by this introduction. He sighs, pausing to rub at the bridge of his nose. He'll say one thing for Belmonts: at least they had a good overview of things.]

What you recieved was woefully inadequate and quite frankly, unhelpful. I'll lay my bias out here clearly before I begin: religion led to my mother's murder and the disasters that happened after. I do not look upon the priests kindly. Their institution brings out the worst in men.

[That's that. Alucard then reaches for the bible and opens it, paging through a few thin sheets. That's a fine point to begin.]

This isn't close to the sole basis of a world's reality. It is the basis for two religions of many more. The first part of this book [he pats the pages to the left] apply to only one faith. The second half, here, was written some time after the first, and those individuals - they identify themselves as Christians - take the whole book as true. Regardless, both faiths see the text as either divinely inspired or the literal word of their god. That's a theological debate for another time.

That's also the other part of your problem here. Lucifer, demons, the questions of the afterlife, those are developed over centuries in commentaries and theological writings extrapolated from the text. Then those become part of a theological debate, usually among priests in the case of Christianity. Their priesthood - limited to men for theological reasons - then preaches the general interpretations to the masses and so things are further distributed and you can see how it goes from there.

[He breathes out, then tilts his head.] Is that more useful?

[ Geralt tilts his head. He gets what Alucard is saying. Unfortunately— ]

There is no debate. [ An angel lives in the inn a few doors down from Sam Wilson. Geralt caught him meditating once in a pool. He doesn't buy that these beings, these entities, are the entire building blocks of a sphere. But they are real, in their own way. ] This world is something else. Priests, institutions, they're irrelevant to what walks its earth.

[ In fact, Dean's never mentioned anything of priests and churches. It is, solely, about the beings. The demons, the angels, the magic that's specified in the writings. Alucard might understand the text through the lens of religion, but for Geralt, this book is more akin to a bestiary of sorts. With a side of curses and spells. A few prophecies thrown in for good measure. ]

Where did the original text come from?

You're focused on the lore outside of the text then, for the most part. Reading through the writings of men - usually said to be prophets - will not help in the long run. You'll get a basis for some of the deeper lore. Like the Cain and Abel part, that takes up--

[Alucard flips through to Genesis, finds the right section. It is tiny. Immeasurably so compared to the discussion they've just had about the whole matter.]

There. That's it. [Alucard reaches for his glass, then drains it in one last slug.] What else do you need clarification on?

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