[It's been seven years since last she'd set foot in the Other World.
There's something fitting to that, she supposes; seven is a proper sort of number for all manner of things, second only to the number three in its pervasiveness. Seven years spent as the ward of the King of Vampires in her youth, and seven years since her tearful goodbye as she'd crossed back through the distance mirror to her true home.
More time than that has passed in the Other World, of course; things do run differently from one place to another that way. Of course she'd been well accustomed to the notion of Uncle Vlad — er, Lord Dracula's castle moving about, and had not expected to find it in the same place as last she remembered it. But she had at least expected to find it in a reasonably open countryside, or perhaps somewhat adjacent to a small village across the way, not anchored smack in the midst of a bustling town grown up on all sides like ivy around it.
The people had been kind, at least. The Bell Mount Hold, they'd called it, despite being set in a valley rather than on a mountain, and lacking any sorts of bells besides.
But more concerning a thing to find missing was Adrian — whom she'd been given to understand had inherited custody of the castle, and presumably ought to have been with it when she'd arrived. But the Holders had mentioned he'd not been sighted around for decades, if not centuries, which of course had led her to ask the day and year, which had rather shed more than a bit of light on some things.
She'd bargained for her bow, and lamented the lack of her night mare, and set off to the west in search. And of course adventuring was nothing new to her, and nor was keeping away the night creatures as she'd gone, but — well, it had been such a very long way.
But at last she'd found her way to the borders of "France", and after making some discreet inquiries as to where the resident vampires tended to make their residence, she'd set off even further west in search of a place called Machecoul — which evidently might be found by following a river, which at least made for keeping easy directions.
Of course she'd noticed, as she'd traveled, when the populations of night creatures began increasing in proportion with the fear of the townsfolk. How very odd — Lord Dracula had never been one to permit such wanton marauding in the days of his reign. Rather uncivilized of these modern vampires, really.
She doesn't feel poorly about shooting them. They ought to have had better manners.
But then, as she heads toward a gaggle of them near the banks of the river, she hears voices shouting through the underbrush — and peers out just in time to see a handsome young man and bold young woman tearing into the night creatures themselves, one with a whip and the other with blades, all making admirably quick work of it. Perhaps, she muses, they might have word of how close she's getting to Machecoul — well, once they're all well finished with slaying the vampires, that is.]
Oh, honestly, I've seen better manners on an ogre! And you call yourself a vampire.
[She says, as her bowstring sings and three arrows fly in quick unison, burying themselves in the foreheads of three vampires — reinforcements seeking to join the fray, evidently.]
Pardon me — oh, you there, sir and madam, when you're quite finished with slaying this lot, I wonder if I might have a word — ?
[The duo are frozen in spot for a split second, certainly not anticipating any friendlies to back them up. It's the woman who decides to leave the speaking to the young man in blue, who seems mostly confused more than anything else.
"Well..." He points a finger and shoots some flames to roast a vampire's head. "Sure? It's the least we can do."
The woman adds after she impales another enemy, "So long as Alucard doesn't do one of his long suffering sighs about it." She glances directly at Rosella. "Personally, I would welcome conversation with someone else keen to lend us help."
A wry smile forms on the man's face. "Yeah, so, probably fine."]
[Well! That's two points of optimism in rather quick succession, neither one probably intended, but both worthy of notice — and remark.]
My goodness, are you a Speaker? How very clever!
[She pulls another arrow, takes aim, then drops another — picking off one of the ones that seem to be swarming the Speaker boy, as the girl looks more than capable of managing herself on her own.]
I beg your pardon, did you say "Alucard"? You're familiar with him, then — do you know where he is?
[Just as the man is about to go into his family tree, that's when Rosella lets out another arrow.
"I'm sure we can have a very nice chat when we're finished here," the woman in yellow says wryly to the man. Upon Rosella's question, she hesitates in responding, looking concerned as she takes a moment to strike down another vampire.
The man, on the other hand, starts to raise his hand before the woman smacks it. "And how do we know we're not just unnecessarily dropping information to the enemy again? The church is a fine example that they're not limited to just vampires in followers."
There's a brief sheepish look on his face. "I made a mistake once! Anyway, you're really telling me you're worried about Alucard?" He looks at Rosella after he summons spikes of ice to impale another vampire. "Excuse my friend, sometimes the lines between allies and enemies has been a bit hard to figure out. I figure you could have shot us full of arrows anytime you wanted with aim like that." A snap of his whip, and he snags another vampire by the arm before it can take a swipe at anyone. "If you keep going down the bank behind us, I'm sure you'll spot him no problem if you know him."]
Why, he's with you! What a stroke of fortune. I've come, er, quite a long way to find him. You'll both be all right here, then?
[She hesitates, clearly not wanting to abandon the fray in the heat of battle — or at least, having the good sense not to without concern for the possible consequences — but the pair do seem to have things reasonably under control, and if the object of her adventure really is just up the river a bit more...
Well, that settles it. She picks off one last vampire, then shoulders her bow and waves to the pair of them as she starts to sprint off down the bank.]
I'll come back! Do be well, the both of you!
[And off she goes, a little further yet, until the sounds of the fray behind her have quieted and it's only the crunching of branches underfoot accompanying the rush of the river beyond. It reminds her, fondly, of their youth, of climbing trees and running about as wolf and girl, and of the secret promises they'd made — one of which, she recalls in a flash, had been Adrian's vow to come running if ever he heard her whistle for aid —
The very same whistle that had made her think to call the dolphin in Tamir. The very same, indeed.
And so, a little breathless with exhaustion and curiosity and hope, she sticks two fingers into her mouth and whistles the familiar old call, a three-note trill in descending tones, close enough to be mistaken for a bird to any ear except the one that might recognize who was calling.]
[Though Alucard is keen to finish off his quarry as efficiently as possible, what he doesn't anticipate is an all too familiar sound. For a split second, he feels frozen in time, and he remembers the days and nights spent with a beloved friend, one he was not so certain he would ever see again, not after all these centuries.
Then, he bares his fangs at the remaining vampires, commanding his blade to skewer the rest before him like a morbid kabob.
Whirling around, he feels himself transforming out of sheer joy, two legs becoming four as he runs across the bank in a hurry to find her. As he approaches, he sees her; a little older, but holding her familiar bow, which begs the question of just how long she's been back considering where he'd left it last.
He whines and his tail wags furiously as he scampers up to her, feeling young and overjoyed in this moment.]
[In the midst of all the vampires and combat, it's only instinct to nock an arrow and have her bow at the ready when the sudden sound of underbrush rustling catches her attention. Anyone would be wary of such things, and especially so when it's a great white wolf she sights, because she's not altogether certain whether she's expecting a man or a wolf to come running at the sound of her call and she's hardly about to risk being wrong.
But then she sees the way his tail is wagging, and the flash of those familiar golden eyes, and in an instant she's returned the arrow to her quiver and shouldered her bow in favor of crouching down to circle her arms about his neck as best she can, all but burying them in the depth of his fur.]
Adrian!
[He's Alucard now, she supposes, which is a truly ridiculous name all things considered. Perhaps she'll have to ask him if she ought to go about as Allesor now, just the same. But that's a notion for another time, as she kisses the middle of his furry head and hugs him tight and resolves to just be glad she's finally, finally reached the goal of her long adventure, and what a happy relief it is for it.]
Oh, it is you, I'd been so afraid I'd have to walk all the way to Machecoul after you! Whatever are you doing so far from the castle? Goodness, did you know there's a whole town built up around it now? They were quite against giving me my bow back, I'll have you know! Something about keeping it in their Bell Mount Hold, if you can believe that. And another thing, are you traveling with a Speaker and a rather fearsome young lady with magic blades? I came across them on my way over, but they stayed to deal with the vampires. Which, I should say, what has gotten into vampires of late? I certainly don't recall them being so ill-mannered about your father's court. I think it's just awful to see, really —
[Planning on breathing at any time in there, Rosella? No? Okay, then.]
[Earnest whining escapes the wolf as he snuggles right into the embrace, tail continuing to wag excitedly as he takes all of her affection. It's been centuries since he's last heard that name, not that he regrets it. Certainly least of all from her.
And naturally, she can still talk like she doesn't need to breathe.
The wolf's form fades to mist before it is replaced solidly by Alucard himself, drawing Rosella into a proper hug now. It isn't just his childhood friend. It's like reuniting with a part of himself that he'd nearly lost.]
One thing at a time, Rosie. Before you turn blue.
[It isn't so surprising that she'd found him. Anyone from King Graham's family as he knows it would never know the meaning of surrender in any capacity. More the question is why she is here other than for a long awaited reunion.
They'll get there.]
I, regrettably, have a vampire I need to work on slaying who currently has one of two souls of an ancient Egyptian god, so I am on my way to Paris to keep her from becoming all powerful. [Dryly yet still so sincerely, he adds:] And how have you been?
[Spoken like a person who's had more than a few dealings with Green People™ of late. But then deep fur and a velvety nose slip away into mist, only just briefly before turning solid again, and before she quite realizes it she's the one who's been gathered up in a set of arms distinctly larger than she remembers, and presented with a face more handsome and fine than that of the young friend in her memories.
Of course he'd grown up; she has, too, after all. Aunt Lisa had so often said how the two of them looked like twins themselves, with their matching blond hair like hers. How funny to think that she had been a twin all along, albeit with someone who looks quite less like her from a distance than Adrian does.]
...A lady vampire? Not the same one Sir Olrox mentioned, surely?
[Ah, but the necessity of further explanation quickly catches up, and she hastens to clarify: ]
I happened upon him when I first crossed over into France. He...seemed a proper sort of vampire, so I introduced myself as your father's ward and asked if he knew where I might find you. Oh — that is, in the old way of his court, like he taught us. I wasn't careless, I promise.
[IT WAS A LITTLE CARELESS but she can hardly be faulted for not knowing it's been literal centuries, surely.]
He did make me promise not to tell anyone but you that I'd spoken with him. That's quite all right, I hope?
[The mention of Olrox earns a surprised raise of his brows, and he considers a moment before shaking his head.]
You're lucky it was Olrox.
[But it was what she was taught to do, and she had no reason to know that Dracula is long gone by his own hand. Fortune smiled upon Rosella of Daventry when it was Olrox she encountered. Reasonable vampires these days are too far and few.]
It's fine. But... it seems there's plenty for us to exchange.
[Gently, he squeezes her arms before parting from the embrace, giving Rosella one last fond smile before it's to business.]
The two you met earlier are indeed with me. Richter Belmont and Annette. We should regroup. I truly wish we reunited under better circumstances, glad as I am to see you.
We can answer each other's question after I'm sure there are no other stragglers.
...He said much the same. He told me when I went to Machecoul to keep far from a certain chateau called Vendée. That I'd catch notice for being...the right age, and pretty?
[She shrugs a little, lips pursing. It's not difficult to guess what those two qualities might add up to in a nation riddled with impertinent vampires, and the warning was a sound one. She does only have so many arrows, after all.]
I'm glad I found you long before I reached it. But of course, let's be rid of these woods. Your friends seemed to have things well in hand when I left them! Or, er. The lady Annette did, at least. The Speaker boy would have better aim if he'd stop sneaking glances at her in the midst of battle.
[She gets to her feet, dusting herself off a bit before examining her bow and checking her quiver, making certain she has an accurate count of her remaining arrows.]
Just like old times, then? You take up the van, and I'll support you at range?
[Young, healthy, beautiful -- a prime target for any vampire, but certainly for Erzsebet. It truly was fortunate that it was Olrox that found her, and once again he finds himself indebted to the vampire. It's certainly a rare occasion.]
As subtle as a rock to the head, isn't he? [It's wryly spoken; Richter certainly makes him nostalgic for centuries ago, in both the most charming and obnoxious of ways. A Belmont through and through.]
Just like old times. [He confirms fondly before he takes lead.
Not that he has much to be concerned with, Alucard is certain. Rosella is right, the pair of them should have matters well at hand, but he isn't going to leave anything to chance. The odds are, as ever, not on their side, including time.
For certain, Richter and Annette could finish off their quarry easily enough, but it doesn't stop Alucard from running in, impaling a vampire onto his blade.]
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There's something fitting to that, she supposes; seven is a proper sort of number for all manner of things, second only to the number three in its pervasiveness. Seven years spent as the ward of the King of Vampires in her youth, and seven years since her tearful goodbye as she'd crossed back through the distance mirror to her true home.
More time than that has passed in the Other World, of course; things do run differently from one place to another that way. Of course she'd been well accustomed to the notion of Uncle Vlad — er, Lord Dracula's castle moving about, and had not expected to find it in the same place as last she remembered it. But she had at least expected to find it in a reasonably open countryside, or perhaps somewhat adjacent to a small village across the way, not anchored smack in the midst of a bustling town grown up on all sides like ivy around it.
The people had been kind, at least. The Bell Mount Hold, they'd called it, despite being set in a valley rather than on a mountain, and lacking any sorts of bells besides.
But more concerning a thing to find missing was Adrian — whom she'd been given to understand had inherited custody of the castle, and presumably ought to have been with it when she'd arrived. But the Holders had mentioned he'd not been sighted around for decades, if not centuries, which of course had led her to ask the day and year, which had rather shed more than a bit of light on some things.
She'd bargained for her bow, and lamented the lack of her night mare, and set off to the west in search. And of course adventuring was nothing new to her, and nor was keeping away the night creatures as she'd gone, but — well, it had been such a very long way.
But at last she'd found her way to the borders of "France", and after making some discreet inquiries as to where the resident vampires tended to make their residence, she'd set off even further west in search of a place called Machecoul — which evidently might be found by following a river, which at least made for keeping easy directions.
Of course she'd noticed, as she'd traveled, when the populations of night creatures began increasing in proportion with the fear of the townsfolk. How very odd — Lord Dracula had never been one to permit such wanton marauding in the days of his reign. Rather uncivilized of these modern vampires, really.
She doesn't feel poorly about shooting them. They ought to have had better manners.
But then, as she heads toward a gaggle of them near the banks of the river, she hears voices shouting through the underbrush — and peers out just in time to see a handsome young man and bold young woman tearing into the night creatures themselves, one with a whip and the other with blades, all making admirably quick work of it. Perhaps, she muses, they might have word of how close she's getting to Machecoul — well, once they're all well finished with slaying the vampires, that is.]
Oh, honestly, I've seen better manners on an ogre! And you call yourself a vampire.
[She says, as her bowstring sings and three arrows fly in quick unison, burying themselves in the foreheads of three vampires — reinforcements seeking to join the fray, evidently.]
Pardon me — oh, you there, sir and madam, when you're quite finished with slaying this lot, I wonder if I might have a word — ?
no subject
"Well..." He points a finger and shoots some flames to roast a vampire's head. "Sure? It's the least we can do."
The woman adds after she impales another enemy, "So long as Alucard doesn't do one of his long suffering sighs about it." She glances directly at Rosella. "Personally, I would welcome conversation with someone else keen to lend us help."
A wry smile forms on the man's face. "Yeah, so, probably fine."]
no subject
My goodness, are you a Speaker? How very clever!
[She pulls another arrow, takes aim, then drops another — picking off one of the ones that seem to be swarming the Speaker boy, as the girl looks more than capable of managing herself on her own.]
I beg your pardon, did you say "Alucard"? You're familiar with him, then — do you know where he is?
no subject
"I'm sure we can have a very nice chat when we're finished here," the woman in yellow says wryly to the man. Upon Rosella's question, she hesitates in responding, looking concerned as she takes a moment to strike down another vampire.
The man, on the other hand, starts to raise his hand before the woman smacks it. "And how do we know we're not just unnecessarily dropping information to the enemy again? The church is a fine example that they're not limited to just vampires in followers."
There's a brief sheepish look on his face. "I made a mistake once! Anyway, you're really telling me you're worried about Alucard?" He looks at Rosella after he summons spikes of ice to impale another vampire. "Excuse my friend, sometimes the lines between allies and enemies has been a bit hard to figure out. I figure you could have shot us full of arrows anytime you wanted with aim like that." A snap of his whip, and he snags another vampire by the arm before it can take a swipe at anyone. "If you keep going down the bank behind us, I'm sure you'll spot him no problem if you know him."]
no subject
[She hesitates, clearly not wanting to abandon the fray in the heat of battle — or at least, having the good sense not to without concern for the possible consequences — but the pair do seem to have things reasonably under control, and if the object of her adventure really is just up the river a bit more...
Well, that settles it. She picks off one last vampire, then shoulders her bow and waves to the pair of them as she starts to sprint off down the bank.]
I'll come back! Do be well, the both of you!
[And off she goes, a little further yet, until the sounds of the fray behind her have quieted and it's only the crunching of branches underfoot accompanying the rush of the river beyond. It reminds her, fondly, of their youth, of climbing trees and running about as wolf and girl, and of the secret promises they'd made — one of which, she recalls in a flash, had been Adrian's vow to come running if ever he heard her whistle for aid —
The very same whistle that had made her think to call the dolphin in Tamir. The very same, indeed.
And so, a little breathless with exhaustion and curiosity and hope, she sticks two fingers into her mouth and whistles the familiar old call, a three-note trill in descending tones, close enough to be mistaken for a bird to any ear except the one that might recognize who was calling.]
no subject
Then, he bares his fangs at the remaining vampires, commanding his blade to skewer the rest before him like a morbid kabob.
Whirling around, he feels himself transforming out of sheer joy, two legs becoming four as he runs across the bank in a hurry to find her. As he approaches, he sees her; a little older, but holding her familiar bow, which begs the question of just how long she's been back considering where he'd left it last.
He whines and his tail wags furiously as he scampers up to her, feeling young and overjoyed in this moment.]
no subject
But then she sees the way his tail is wagging, and the flash of those familiar golden eyes, and in an instant she's returned the arrow to her quiver and shouldered her bow in favor of crouching down to circle her arms about his neck as best she can, all but burying them in the depth of his fur.]
Adrian!
[He's Alucard now, she supposes, which is a truly ridiculous name all things considered. Perhaps she'll have to ask him if she ought to go about as Allesor now, just the same. But that's a notion for another time, as she kisses the middle of his furry head and hugs him tight and resolves to just be glad she's finally, finally reached the goal of her long adventure, and what a happy relief it is for it.]
Oh, it is you, I'd been so afraid I'd have to walk all the way to Machecoul after you! Whatever are you doing so far from the castle? Goodness, did you know there's a whole town built up around it now? They were quite against giving me my bow back, I'll have you know! Something about keeping it in their Bell Mount Hold, if you can believe that. And another thing, are you traveling with a Speaker and a rather fearsome young lady with magic blades? I came across them on my way over, but they stayed to deal with the vampires. Which, I should say, what has gotten into vampires of late? I certainly don't recall them being so ill-mannered about your father's court. I think it's just awful to see, really —
[Planning on breathing at any time in there, Rosella? No? Okay, then.]
no subject
And naturally, she can still talk like she doesn't need to breathe.
The wolf's form fades to mist before it is replaced solidly by Alucard himself, drawing Rosella into a proper hug now. It isn't just his childhood friend. It's like reuniting with a part of himself that he'd nearly lost.]
One thing at a time, Rosie. Before you turn blue.
[It isn't so surprising that she'd found him. Anyone from King Graham's family as he knows it would never know the meaning of surrender in any capacity. More the question is why she is here other than for a long awaited reunion.
They'll get there.]
I, regrettably, have a vampire I need to work on slaying who currently has one of two souls of an ancient Egyptian god, so I am on my way to Paris to keep her from becoming all powerful. [Dryly yet still so sincerely, he adds:] And how have you been?
no subject
[Spoken like a person who's had more than a few dealings with Green People™ of late. But then deep fur and a velvety nose slip away into mist, only just briefly before turning solid again, and before she quite realizes it she's the one who's been gathered up in a set of arms distinctly larger than she remembers, and presented with a face more handsome and fine than that of the young friend in her memories.
Of course he'd grown up; she has, too, after all. Aunt Lisa had so often said how the two of them looked like twins themselves, with their matching blond hair like hers. How funny to think that she had been a twin all along, albeit with someone who looks quite less like her from a distance than Adrian does.]
...A lady vampire? Not the same one Sir Olrox mentioned, surely?
[Ah, but the necessity of further explanation quickly catches up, and she hastens to clarify: ]
I happened upon him when I first crossed over into France. He...seemed a proper sort of vampire, so I introduced myself as your father's ward and asked if he knew where I might find you. Oh — that is, in the old way of his court, like he taught us. I wasn't careless, I promise.
[IT WAS A LITTLE CARELESS but she can hardly be faulted for not knowing it's been literal centuries, surely.]
He did make me promise not to tell anyone but you that I'd spoken with him. That's quite all right, I hope?
no subject
You're lucky it was Olrox.
[But it was what she was taught to do, and she had no reason to know that Dracula is long gone by his own hand. Fortune smiled upon Rosella of Daventry when it was Olrox she encountered. Reasonable vampires these days are too far and few.]
It's fine. But... it seems there's plenty for us to exchange.
[Gently, he squeezes her arms before parting from the embrace, giving Rosella one last fond smile before it's to business.]
The two you met earlier are indeed with me. Richter Belmont and Annette. We should regroup. I truly wish we reunited under better circumstances, glad as I am to see you.
We can answer each other's question after I'm sure there are no other stragglers.
no subject
[She shrugs a little, lips pursing. It's not difficult to guess what those two qualities might add up to in a nation riddled with impertinent vampires, and the warning was a sound one. She does only have so many arrows, after all.]
I'm glad I found you long before I reached it. But of course, let's be rid of these woods. Your friends seemed to have things well in hand when I left them! Or, er. The lady Annette did, at least. The Speaker boy would have better aim if he'd stop sneaking glances at her in the midst of battle.
[She gets to her feet, dusting herself off a bit before examining her bow and checking her quiver, making certain she has an accurate count of her remaining arrows.]
Just like old times, then? You take up the van, and I'll support you at range?
no subject
[Young, healthy, beautiful -- a prime target for any vampire, but certainly for Erzsebet. It truly was fortunate that it was Olrox that found her, and once again he finds himself indebted to the vampire. It's certainly a rare occasion.]
As subtle as a rock to the head, isn't he? [It's wryly spoken; Richter certainly makes him nostalgic for centuries ago, in both the most charming and obnoxious of ways. A Belmont through and through.]
Just like old times. [He confirms fondly before he takes lead.
Not that he has much to be concerned with, Alucard is certain. Rosella is right, the pair of them should have matters well at hand, but he isn't going to leave anything to chance. The odds are, as ever, not on their side, including time.
For certain, Richter and Annette could finish off their quarry easily enough, but it doesn't stop Alucard from running in, impaling a vampire onto his blade.]