genessia | The Heart of Chaos [Castlevania crew, open]

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The Heart of Chaos [Castlevania crew, open]

[Somewhere in the eternal night, a bell tolled the midnight hour. From on high the tone swept down, down, through the towers and halls, through stone and steel and earth, disturbing the fitful slumber of a thousand thousand horrors and creatures of the night. A veritable cloud of bats took wing, emerging from all around the ancient castle to swarm around the master's throne room, perched high atop its tower.

As the last bell tolled, the flock dissipated, keening a note of grief as one. The Master was gone - the throne sat vacant. The very earth beneath the castle trembled with his departure, returned whence he came by the whims and vagaries of this world.

But the castle did not fall, as was its wont when he was vanquished. Its walls held firm, its towers unbroken, its dungeons and halls and secret places still whole. For somewhere close by, it sensed another - the interloper, the one who refused to embrace himself. He would do - until such a time as the Master returned, he would do.

Chaos whispered in the night, and the castle changed - the shadows lessened, the crimson patina of anger and hatred washed away by a flood of silver moonlight. The moon above the castle revealed from behind clouds was no longer scarlet, but silver - a reflection of the state of the master's heart.]

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[Soma? She pauses in her advance to study him, noting the bottle and how much he looks like he's been through hell just by sitting there.

Rip frowns a little as she continues her approach.]

Definitely not zhe castle. I'm very real.

[She manages to move in close to him before stopping and reluctantly leaning against the table.]

Soma, vat's going on? Vhere is fazher und vhy iz zhe castle trying to drive you mad?

Vlad. He... he's gone. The throne sits empty, and it's trying to make me take the burden.

[He looks up at her, finally, and she may be startled to note that he appears to be crying blood, at least from one eye.] I can't take the castle, but... I can't let Remilia and Flandre go homeless, either. Nor you, nor Adrian, nor Sakuya... I cannot simply let the heap fade into the aether.

[And this is the image of a man torn. By birthright the prince of shadows, by blood a creature of the night, by heart and soul... a good man, who must make a terrible choice.]

What do I do, Rip?

[She becomes completely still upon hearing that Vlad is gone. He's left before but, this.. this feels more permanent. And it's frightening, especially when Soma looks up at her and she sees him crying blood.

She know's he's a good man and She's also aware of what the castle is supposedly like from talks with Vlad. After a moment she takes a seat next to him, still studying Soma and she honestly didn't have a good answer for him.]

I don't know. I doubt zhe castle vould accept anyone else az its master or I vould say, make zhem do it.

[He shakes his head, no. The castle definitely wouldn't take anyone else - except maybe Alucard, but the elder dhampir has made his own choice on that matter abundantly clear before.] I couldn't ask someone else to take that burden, Rip. Not knowing... what I know.

{He takes a deep breath and wipes at his face with a napkin. Definitely blood.]

I have a choice to make. And it's not just about me anymore... I'm sure Remilia could manage on her own, but Flandre... she needs this place.

[She nods a little, already figuring that was the case when it came to the castle. Part of her thought of volunteering but.. Again, she doubted the castle would accept anyone else.]

Zhen it sounds like you've already made your choice.

[She's quiet for a few moments.]

But, really think about vat you are doing, Soma. Zhis place could drive you mad if you're not careful und insanity iz never a pleasant state to be in.

I... think I have, yeah. I'm just not sure if I, or anyone who knows me, is going to survive it.

[He sighs, sitting back in the ancient chair as one hand goes up to cover his eyes again.]

I have to tell the others - I have to tell everyone. I don't even know who all he associated with - just that he had his small found family, and the few others from our world. And I'm not stupid enough to assume I can handle this alone. I've seen where that level of hubris leads - it's not pretty.

Vell.. I'm sure ve can survive.

[She watches him sit up and cover his eyes while she leans back in her chair, just thinking.]

I'm not sure vho fazher vas associated vith, only zhat most people knew his name. Az for us, I'm sure my sisters haf noticed zomething off already. I noticed zhe moment I stepped through zhe arch.

[Soft sigh.]

Vell, at least in zhat vay, you're smarter zhan he vas. I can do vat I can to help if you vish.

I'm certain Flandre and Remilia have already noticed something, as well - but I can't be sure what. Sakuya almost certainly is aware he's gone - she's frightfully perceptive and incredibly effective at her job. Even if she hasn't already, though, I'm certain it won't escape her notice for long.

[Slowly he lowers his hand from his eyes, not having accomplished much more than smearing a bit of blood around.] I would appreciate the help, Rip - but you're not the only one I need to ask. This concerns all of us... so we all need to speak our minds on the subject. Even Adrian.

[She nods slightly, silently agreeing with his assessment of the others. All of them were smart enough to realize something was wrong and that Vlad was missing. It's only a question of what to do now.]

Fair enough. But, vill Adrian even come to zhe castle? I hafn't seen him around in ages.... zhough, I've also been wrapped up in vork so..

[She shrugs slightly, looking a little uneasy. And perhaps a little guilty she hasn't been around as often as she should be.]

Without his father here, there is nothing to stop him. He made this place his home for a long time, after the first time they parted ways.

[Even Vlad wasn't sure how long Alucard had lived in the old heap after staking him, just that he left when Dracula rose again, an undead and undying mockery of his former self.]

I might even convince the Belmont to show up, provided Alucard can keep him leashed. I just... I'm not sure what to do first, honestly.

[She nods slightly. Admittedly, she doesn't know much about Adrian beyond what people tell her. But, if he was willing to come back to the castle and help, then perhaps they could also make this work. ]

Zhe Belmont still gives me zhe creeps. Zhen again, I'm not exactly fond of vampire hunters. Or zhat whip of hiz.

[Sigh.]

But, if ve can gazher everyone, perhaps ve can figure a more permanent arrangement to help you out. From vat fazher's told me.. zhe castle doesn't do any good for someone's mental state.

[Pause.]

How he described it, almost sound vorse zhan my own insanity.

The Belmont gives everyone the creeps. I think it's the smell, with this one - too much old booze. [He cracks a hint of a smile at the rather weak joke, but it doesn't last.] The whip is the bigger concern. Trevor is not the strongest of his line - not even by the time he was born. Much of the Belmont clan's power lies in magic, and he has... basically none, beyond the whip itself.

[He nods at her description of the castle's effects. That's more or less been his experience, every time he's had the misfortune of dealing with it.]

I wish Hector was here. He was one of Vlad's most trusted lieutenants... and a good man. I suspect it was his hand that actually made the castle what it has become, but I cannot be certain. Vlad was... perhaps 'asleep' is the best term, for his long periods of inactivity.

[He shakes his head, letting out a frustrated sigh.] No. There's no point in reminiscing about that, now. He's not here, and without the proper tools and techniques, devil forgecraft will not solve this problem.

[...Yes, he's definitely already starting to get a little scattered.]

[She's noticing with how his conversation veered off into another direction so quickly and that concerned her a little. Rip tilts her head slightly, just observing Soma for a few moments.]

I'm not familiar vith devil forgecraft. But, since its not an option, ve need to find zomething zhat is.

[Soft sigh.]

I just vish I knew vat I can offer to help, ozher zhan advice on how to handle insanity. Or my gun for a cause.

Edited 2019-05-30 04:51 (UTC)

[He sighs and levers himself up out of his chair.] I need you to search for Remilia, Flandre, and Sakuya. Bring them here - Alucard as well, if you see him before I do. I'm going to go perform my own search, and make some preparations. I have an idea... but it's not something I can do alone.

And if you see Anastasia... bring her along, too. She may have followed me from Nova, and though the castle may be quiescent, I'd prefer not to test it with such an inviting target.

[She watches him get up and nods slightly before rising herself.]

Zhen I'll try to find zhem quickly und hopefully your idea vill vork. If not, I'd suggest you haf at least two ozher plans in mind, just in case.

[She smiled slightly.]

Vhere do you vish for us to meet up?

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The Heart of Chaos [Castlevania crew, open]

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