Eu Sunt Dracul (Action)

[notquitedracula]

[Waking up somewhere strange is not precisely a new experience for Soma, though this time at least he isn't lying on cobblestones. Still, this is only the second time this has ever happened to him, and he's really starting to hope it'll be the last. The introduction packet and its contents have been dutifully looked through, then stored in his seemingly bottomless coat pockets.]

[Blinking away a brief moment of sun-dazzle, he exits the bay and enters what, for all intents and purposes, looks like a perfectly normal city to him. Even the hologram greeting isn't all that bizarre, though he's never heard of the Schnee family or anything to do with this place.]

[Come meet the new arrival, folks! He's liable to give some of you quite the shock - there's a new Dracula in town.]

Comments

[sonicosuper]

*Meanwhile, there's a girl nearby with pink and white maid's outfit on. With the over the top frills and super cute design, it's clear this is a costume rather than her usual clothes. Still, she's smiling and chatting to the passers by, making her way along the street.

Until she stops by the stranger and gives a little curtsy*

Good evening! Looking for a somewhere warm and delicious to eat tonight?

*And she pulls flyer out from the front pocket of her apron*

[notquitedracula]

[Slightly bewildered but smiling all the same, Soma takes the offered flyer.] I think I'm more interested in finding someplace to sleep tonight, at the moment. The welcome package included a key to an apartment, but I haven't the slightest idea where to start looking.

[Sonico, your reaction to him is atypical of humanity in general. Most of them pointedly find somewhere else to be or something else to pay attention to whenever he's around. Not automatically intimidating people half out of their wits is... somewhat of a novel experience for him.]

[sonicosuper]

Oh! You're a new arrival!

*Sonico bows towards him in greeting, smiling when she stands back up again*

My name's Sonico, and it's nice to meet you. If you like, I can show you where the apartments are for the new arrivals.

*No, Sonico isn't automatically intimidated, because in her eyes here is just a pretty stranger who has just arrived and is in need of help. That's all that matters*

[notquitedracula]

[You have no idea how much that really means to him. To be treated as someone relatively normal after all the years when his predator's aura caused people to shun him.] You can call me Soma, and yes, I would definitely appreciate the assistance.

[Just don't expect him to realize she thinks he's pretty. He's utterly clueless about stuff like that. Mina despairs of ever getting him to admit they're a couple.]

[sonicosuper]

Okay, Soma. Right this way and I'll show you to the apartments!

*Always more than happy to help, Sonico gives him a smile before turning to lead the way. After a few steps she turns back to him*

Oh - you don't mind if I pass out some of these flyers on the way, do you? I'm kinda supposed to be working right now...

[notquitedracula]

Go right ahead. It would hardly be fair of me to impose further than I already am.

[And, true to his word, he doesn't mind - it's not as if he has any pressing reason to hurry, after all. This city is entirely new to him, he doesn't have social obligations or a job or... well, anything here. That'll really start to bother him when he has time to sit down and think about this whole situation - but for now, he's taking in the sights.]

[sonicosuper]

*It takes a little longer than it usually would for Sonico to show him where to go. Most people would take a flyer and just walk off, but Sonico's outfits prompts people here and there to stop and chat a while*

Really, I'm so sorry about this! You must be desperate to try and get settled in and to explore. If you have any questions, please just ask!

[what_is_a_man]

[Dracula had minions posted near key points of all the cities so he could keep abreast of what was happening. After all, nobody questioned an owl here, or a bat there. However, as soon as Soma neared one of those spies, he felt the most uncanny of feelings. Like someone stepping on his grave. Which shouldn't be so alien to him considering his century long dirt naps. It was definitely cause for him to leave the castle and inspect what was going on personally. As such, as Soma made his way through the cities, there would be a shadowy figure following him, but never leaving the shadows.]

[notquitedracula]

[Don't think he hasn't noticed the bats, at least. As many times as they've knocked him off ledges, he's learned to keep an eye on the little bastards. He does not, however, immediately notice his acquired shadow; Dracula is far better versed at concealing both his power and his presence than Soma is ever likely to be.]

After Sonico shows him to the apartments, he sets about familiarizing himself with the layout of the immediate area - where the grocery store is, where necessities can be found, and he even happens across the job board in his wanderings. Finding actual bounties listed on it gives him no small amount of shock, not least because of what said bounties are wanted for. Finally, however, his wanderings take him by complete chance down a narrow alleyway, one shielded completely from the sun - which is very nearly down, in any case.]

[what_is_a_man]

[As he followed Soma, he couldn't help but liken the sensation to watching himself through a mirror. As he stepped into the dead end alley shielded from the sun, he had to stop himself from chuckling softly. Of course Soma felt his presence. Now he wondered if Soma was confident or just foolhardy boxing himself in like this.]

[After a moment, a black wolf with crimson mane would pad into view, leering at Soma.]

I must be getting rusty if a human can sense me so easily.

[Now to see just how much Soma knew...]

[notquitedracula]

[For all that he had felt a dark presence watching him, he had not expected this. It was, indeed, like looking at himself in a warped mirror - even with Dracula in wolf form. (Why didn't he get that one? Wolves are cool, dammit.) Even so, he's not taken off guard, not by a long shot, and he conceals the momentary shock quite well. Tellingly, he doesn't immediately reach for a weapon. A Dracula in full command of his powers would be at least his equal with a blade.]

If you are who I believe you to be, I would be hard pressed not to notice your presence even were I blindfolded and my ears muffled. How exactly this is possible, however, I cannot even begin to guess.

[what_is_a_man]

[The wolf cocked its head, grinning as it paces back and forth, cutting off the exit to the alleyway.]

And do tell, just who or what do you think I am if I am no simple wolf?

[notquitedracula]

[Like a cut-off alleyway entrance is going to stop him from leaving if he really wants to. Vlad, buddy, you really don't know who you're dealing with, here.]

Do you want the long version or the short one? I can give you either, but not if you're going to keep trying to intimidate me, Tepes.

[bloodheels]

[Lenalee had been in the middle of a delivery and back into the Halloween themed uniform they made sure she would wear the whole month, so with the coffee in her hands she weaved her way through the crowd of people, stopping short of bumping into the other.

Pausing as people walked past she looked up slightly.]

Hello, I'm glad I didn't bump into you.

[notquitedracula]

[Soma, for his part, was in the middle of his evening explorations. He'd just found the corner store that had all the things one might need for an unplanned, extended stay somewhere - mighty convenient, that - and was about to start searching for someplace to acquire food. He had one bag in his hands, which he'd just carried out of the aforementioned store.]

Um, hi? I'm glad you didn't, too. [...Just a tad awkward. This is the second human he's met today who didn't seem put off by his aura. Maybe the transition did something to it? He could only hope. He reaches up to rub the back of his neck with his free hand, an old nervous gesture.] That's... quite the outfit. Though I guess I'm not one to talk, considering. [He's in his usual ensemble, a blue-edged white long coat, bellbottom jeans, armored white boots, and a black turtleneck. Except he's wearing the coat more like a cloak, with his arms out of the sleeves, giving the whole thing a vaguely Old European Nobility of Indeterminate Origin vibe - possibly something out of the classical vampire catalog.]

[bloodheels]

[She couldn't help but laugh slightly awkwardly before tugging at the black ruffled skirt for a moment with her free hand.]

Uh yeah, thought admitedly didn't have a choice, but I guess by your outfit that is either your style or you are new here, right?

[She was taking a major stab at that anyway, but both she guessed would be extremely good guesses at least.]

[notquitedracula]

Got it in one. I've only just started exploring the area. [He smiles, and there's not even a hint of fang in it - his vampiric traits only manifest when he leans on his power heavily. It's rather a pain, really - it's hard to talk around fangs, which is why he's glad they're only a sometimes thing.]

No choice in the matter?

[bloodheels]

[She nodded slightly. She had figured it would have been one or the other really, but she was at least glad to have gotten it right anyway. At the question she looked down slightly.]

It's kinda a workers uniform for the month, that's all.

[notquitedracula]

Ahh. I see. There was a restaurant near where I live back home that did that. [He's fairly at ease, for the first time since he got here; having the essentials for keeping himself groomed went a long way toward reassuring him that this place could be normal, too.]

I was just about to go looking for a grocery store - I don't suppose you know of anyplace that carries Asian style ingredients? Particularly Japanese?

[nolifecount]

[There isn't many true vampires disturbed across the five cities in Genessia. Alucard for the most part hangs out in some of them in any given night, travelling for work as a self-employed bounty hunter and mercenary since it's the only job he's really good at in this world.

However, any true vampires can sense each other's presence by their energy? And Alucard's own energy is very strong. It's all over his attire of crimson red coat and hat, his sunset orange sunglasses that gleams in the dusk's light, and carrying on his shoulder is a shot-gun.

Yep, armed and dangerous.

Should Soma wander around in the city later in the evening, looking for a place to stay, a dark presence is coming his way, and well needless to say, there's Alucard coming his way on the street.]

[notquitedracula]

[In the gathering gloom, there walk two men. One a monster who gave his freedom to serve a higher cause, one a monster redeemed by death and rebirth. Both kill because they must - both have hunted monsters and men alike. Both repositories of countless souls that don't really belong to them.]

[The largest difference, I suppose, is in their appearance. Where Alucard drapes himself in blood, Soma reaches for the purity of white - where Alucard carries his tools of murder openly, Soma appears unarmed. Both are polite fictions - neither needs a weapon to do their deadly work. That they are meeting thus... well. Suffice to say, this should be an interesting confrontation.]

Is that an assault shotgun on your shoulder, or are you just happy to see me? [Soma very pointedly did not say. He's not an idiot, nor is he completely without tact. What he did instead was stop and stare, arms folded beneath the trenchcoat he wore as a cloak. His own power is gathered close, an instinctive desire to not cause everyone on the block to run in terror compressing his predatory aura to the point where most only feel mildly nervous around him, these days. Still, though gathered close, it is clearly of a kind with Alucard's own. But at its core... there's something different. Soma is yet human, within that maelstrom of demonic power.]

Please tell me you're not here to use that thing on me. I've just had this coat cleaned. [...okay, so I lied about the tact thing.]

[nolifecount]

[Fortunately, there's a good distance between the two men. If a tumbleweed can go between them, as there is a moment of silence. Alucard, took a good look at the kid, then take a moment to light a cigarette, and huffs the smoke in to puff out.]

No. I just happened to be in this city because there's a bar down the block. Now, if there is a bounty on your head, I would have said so, and drag you to jail.

[His weapons are not tools for murder, at least not in this world. Alucard isn't a dumb brute as he needs to work for the law to his advantage...and that advantage is working for cold hard cash. Even vampires have needs, even if it's working for money.

Anyway, Alucard did sense something from the young man. It felt familiar, but he couldn't place it. Some kind of connection somehow. Some kind of...spiritual energy? Alucard could willed himself and popped himself into Soma's mind to find out with his obtained Schrodinger's powers if he wanted too...but that isn't fun. And barging into someone's mind isn't his deal.]

So, are you new to this town kid? Do you need to know the rules? Or are you good and you want to figure out things on your own?

[notquitedracula]

As far as I know there isn't - I've only been here about six hours, now, so if I've done anything to acquire a bounty in that time, I'm unaware of it.

[He makes a face at the cigarette, but says nothing about it - if Alucard wants to add lung cancer to his impressive list of 'Things I've survived that should have killed me', who is he to judge?] If you're offering information, I would first ask its price, and then if it seems acceptable, gladly accept. As for the bar... well, it seems as good a place to chat as any. [...Okay, he does know how to be civil. Both of them seem to. Maybe this won't end in a bloodbath after all! Sorry, Sonico - he won't be visiting your restaurant tonight.]

[He might find Soma's mind a more difficult nut to crack than most, since it has its own built-in defenses. Nothing he actively works on, though, so it'd be possible.]

[nolifecount]

Ah, a new arrival then. All right, then you're good.

[Hey lung cancer, alcoholism, hedonism, holy bayonets, holy relics, pretty much anything. It's not like Alucard can die anymore. He tried. He eludes death. Immortality is starting to get tiring, but what can the monster do? His fault for turning his back on God.

However, if Alucard should learn a karmic lesson: Don't eat cats. Especially, a metaphysically challenging cat. Yup.]

Information is free. Why should that cost anything? Well, if you want a drink and learn the rules, I'm in the mood for a fireball whiskey. It has that cinnamon pep to it.

[See, being an undead guy have it's perks. He made lots of money, but for what? He doesn't need food, a home, or anything. So it makes perfect sense for him to get wasted on booze, to buy weapons, or even a car...the latter, he's working toward that.

Walking pass by him.]

If you follow me, I'll orient you, but only because I'm bored.

[notquitedracula]

[Rather like another ancient vampire Soma could name. You can't keep a bad count down. But at least he never ate a cat. He will however offer Alucard a piece of advice: Don't piss off the mortal with the whip.]

Nothing is ever completely free, but I'll take what I can get at this point. You at least seem like the type who won't sugarcoat unpleasant truths. [...If only you knew, Soma. If only you knew.]

[For a novel note, this will be his first time trying alcohol in quantities larger than a single sake cup.]