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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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!

[notquitedracula]

I'm in no great hurry, to be honest. It hasn't... really quite sunk in, yet, that I'm somewhere far from home and might not be able to return. Last time, I just had to fight my way through a bunch of monsters - this place though, there's nothing like that standing in my way. There's no real direction, just... a city. Several cities, if the brochure was right.

[He looks up toward the sky - it's early afternoon, by this point - and sighs.] It's going to take some getting used to, I guess.

[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.]

[sonicosuper]

*Sonico suddenly stops walking when they're not too far from the apartments, and turns to look at Soma properly. She watches his face for a moment, then drops her gaze to the ground*

Ah - I'm so sorry. You must be exhausted, and hungry, and confused. And here I am rushing you straight to you apartment - It takes a while to get used to the place. But you will. And soon I'm sure you'll meet new people and find new things to do. But I'm sorry - I know it's unnerving at first.

[notquitedracula]

[He smiles, but it's not genuine. A brave face for an uncertain world.] You did what I asked you to do, and what you were in no way obliged to do. Don't worry; I'll manage. I've been in worse situations than this. At least nothing here is actively trying to kill me or subvert my will. Thank you for your help.

[sonicosuper]

Kill you and subvert your will?

*Sonico repeated the words, her eyes wide in shocked amazement, and she slowly shool her head*

Oh. Oh no. You're safe here.

*Although...she did have reason to believe that the place did have its scary side*

There are always people willing to look out for others.

*And with that she continued walking the short distance to the apartments*

[notquitedracula]

[He takes her at her word, though he's already spotted signs that everything isn't quite as rosy as she's letting on. He's way too polite to comment on them, though, when she's going out of her way to reassure him.]

[He continues to follow, all the way to the apartment complex - and the close spacing of the windows tells him that this isn't exactly meant to be comfortable living arrangements. They looked to be about the same size as some of the more downscale places he'd seen in Japan.]

[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.

[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.]

[sonicosuper]

*Once there, Sonico stops and turns to him again, smiling and gesturing to the building almost as though she were a tour guide*

Here we are! I know it might not seem like much, but you can make your room really cosy in no time. Soon as you get a job you can find some place else to stay. But, seriously, if you do need something to eat, I recommend the Bright Sky Diner. That flyer gets your 50% off tonight. I'll be serving til late, so maybe I'll serve you tonight if you stop by.

*She breathes out slowly once she's finished speaking. She's not used to saying so much, especially to be she doesn't really know. But all of this is info and reassurance that she would have like when she had just arrived*

[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]

[He bows to her, in the Japanese fashion - arms at the side - and then smiles again. It's a little more genuine this time, at least.] I may come by, if time allows. Again, I thank you.

[He starts up the front steps, but stops halfway up, turning back to look at Sonico one last time.] If there's a way to go home, I'll find it. For everyone.

[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.]

[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?

[sonicosuper]

*Sonico lights up at the sight of such a traditional gesture - it makes her feel so much more at home. Happily, she returns the bow in a similar manner*

I'd like that! Feel free to ask for me any time you visit.

*She smiles and nods at his parting words, bowing her head gently in return* Thank you. You would make many people happy that way.