sleepytimejunction | hadesvania

[He's so close to the surface now, he can almost taste it. Which...isn't strictly unusual, given that he's been there before, but still. It's always important to stop a moment and savor what reaching this area of his father's Underworld really means: namely, that he's just soundly kicked King Theseus's braggart ass again. Always an important thing to acknowledge.

In a way, the ever-winding gears of the interim chamber are almost soothing in their unceasing cadence. It's a nice enough place to stop for a minute and catch his breath before moving on to the unique hell that is roaming about through the smelly Satyr tunnels in search of a foul snack for his best boy.

And that's precisely what he'd like to be doing, only it seems there's a young man here, which is not supposed to be happening.]

Erm. Sorry to bother you, mate, but I'm afraid I have to ask how it is you've found yourself in here. You're not supposed to be.

[Says the interloping prince, who is also not supposed to be there.]

Wait a minute, Cerberus should have been guarding the door just beyond. How did you get past Cerberus?

Yes, I am well aware that your lord despises early visits unaccounted for. But I do not come seeking permission.

[Though it certainly does not occur to him that Hades, in fact, has a son. Surely this must be one of the many under his employ? Regardless, he does not think to ask, and only focuses on his objective.

He needs to go in. At least until he finds his objective.]

It seems to me that your hound is used to the presence of bats. I did not wish to disturb him; he is merely performing his role, after all.

Ah. You turned into bats, then. ...I didn't think mortals could do that, actually. Figured it was a bit more of a Fury Sisters thing.

[A perfectly normal thing for people to do, turning into a swarm of bats and reconstituting again. Alecto and Tisiphone do it all the time. Who knew it was so commonplace.

He shifts his weight idly from foot to foot, sword balanced almost lazily along the plane formed by his shoulders.]

Well, I hate to say it, but you've got another three zones, at least. And one of them is Asphodel, which is covered in lava presently, after Phlegethon overflowed and, erm. Flooded it, I suppose. Not very hospitable in and of themselves, but doubly so I'd imagine for someone still living.

Too true. I cannot name a mortal who does.

[Fury Sisters. He'd read about them, of course, but he doesn't have detailed information. Even his godfather wasn't keen on sharing much of the underworld for him, and everything else he's gleaned from books left by his father.]

Asphodel is flooded? Hm. I did not anticipate that.

Well. I appreciate the warning, but it does not change my direction. Cold or heat, neither will prevent me forward.

[Well. That's curious. So he's suggesting he's not a mortal, then? But he came from the surface, and he doesn't resemble any god Zagreus is personally familiar with — to say nothing of the fact that gods typically announce precisely who they are, and why would any of them be turning into bats or heading downstairs, anyway...]

Forward...to where, exactly? Oh, gods, you're not a hero, are you? Half-god, mother a mortal, father divine, or something like that?

[Now, his shifting grows a little less idle, as he surreptitiously places himself squarely between the stranger and the passage down to Elysium.]

I'll give you credit for not harming Cerberus, but if you're heading down there to cause trouble for glory and renown or somesuch, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to turn back, mate.

[The jump to the conclusion is... unsettling familiar. Whoever this man is, he isn't far off, but he'd never call Dracula divine. Still, he doesn't answer that question.

Still, to find himself suddenly blockaded makes Alucard scowl, and his arms cross as he peers down at this stranger.]

Oh, please. Glory? And for what? I'm not here to conquer or make a ruckus for anyone. However, I will remove whatever stands in my way. Or who, regardless of what lackey serves Hades.

[And you know, normally that remark might not have bothered him so much, but he did just get out of Elysium, so he's fresh off of Theseus yelling at him about being a foul demon from the depths and all that, so lackey stings just a little overmuch.

Enough so for a touch of oversharing, perhaps.]

Serves him? Afraid you've got the wrong person, then. My father's made it quite clear that I'm not fit for any position around his house, much less service.

[Still, his eyes narrow — one green and one red.]

No, I'll stop you for my own sake. The people down there are my friends. And you're going to leave them alone.

[A hand goes to rest on the hilt of his blade, ready to draw it. Any who stand in his way, he will slay. Even as the underworld warps and changes, Alucard will travel for as long as he can until he finds what he wants.

Father? He glances at the man's eyes. Could it be...?]

You are Hades' son, then.

[Still, it changes nothing.]

My mission does not change, no matter who or what you are.

I am, though I'm sure he'd prefer I wasn't.

[He sighs.]

Look, I meant it about stopping you, but that doesn't necessarily mean we have to leap headlong into killing each other — which either way, demigod or not, most likely works out worse for you than it does for me. What sort of mission are you on, exactly? I assume it involves reaching the House for some reason. Maybe I can save you a trip.

[It isn't that Alucard is in favor of trading blows, but he comes to expect it. So the more reasonable approach of discussion might actually not be... so bad. He looks a bit confused at first before he glances away, scowling.]

Unless you know every person that has ever perished, I do not think you could help. Even if you are his son.

...But there are two people I am seeking. Though I am alive, they are very much not.

I might not, but I can think of at least a few people who would. I'm sure Nyx would know how to find a person based on their logs in my father's archives. And if Than took them, he might have some ideas. Or Charon. Or Hermes.

[...]

This might sound like an odd question, but were they particularly valorous or, er, wretched in life? If not either, they're likely in Asphodel, which narrows it down a bit but not much.

...It is possible it was Thanatos who took them. In fact, it was most likely.

[There's hesitation, and he almost huffs at the last question. Valorous or wretched. Well.]

It depends on who you ask.

[A sigh escapes him.]

One was a doctor. Dedicated her life to helping people. The... other. Well. It's... Dracula. Despite how it may seem, I am not here to pick a fight with him. Or anyone.

I'm sure he was gentle. Than always is.

[It abruptly seems very important to him to defend Thanatos about this. Just in case this strange demigod visitor seems to think the handling of these people's deaths might have been callous or unkind or...something.

Maybe they were on the surface, that is, but not once Than came for them. He would've taken care of them, whoever they are. He's sure of it.

Once they wound up downstairs, however...he cringes, faintly.]

Well. Nyx would know better than I would. But — and again, I can't say for certain, I'd have to check, but — it doesn't...sound like they would've ended up in the same biome. Are you expecting to find them together, or separately?

...I know.

[It's softly spoken, but he knows that the incarnate of death, always friend to Dracula, would have been gentle for it. So he has no doubt.

Finally, his hand slips from his blade.]

Together. Otherwise, Dracula would rip everything apart to stay with her. I expect even Hades himself would struggle to battle with him.

So, truly, I would not expect them in Elysium, unless your father was feeling generous.

...They wouldn't. Not a doctor. Erm — what I mean is, Elysium is for warriors who were glorious in battle. That's essentially the opposite of where I'd expect to find someone who devoted their life to helping people, frankly.

[BUT AT LEAST SHE'S NOT WITH THESEUS SO THERE'S THAT.]

All right, then they're in Asphodel. Which means you'll have to go the wrong way back through Elysium and a whole lot of exalted shades with nothing to do with their afterlife except battle anyone they lay eyes on, and then after that bypass Lernie, and then start floating around Phlegethon on skull boats and hoping for the best.

[He pauses, considering, and then sighs as his shoulders drop.]

All right. My trip to the surface can wait. Come on, I'll take you there. It'll go easier if I'm with you, at least.

I know what Elysium is. [He snorts, irritated, which causes him to stumble over his next words. Which he despises entirely.] I meant more in-- my-- that is, Dracula. He is a complicated matter.

[Wait.]

What the fuck is Lernie?

[Anyway.]

If it's out of your way, why are you bothering to help me?

He certainly sounds like it, mate. I imagine he'd have to be, if it's your suspicion that he'd give even my father a hard time.

[Not that he does not also give his father a hard time, but that's not the point.]

Lernie, the Lernaean Bone Hydra? Lots of heads, hisses frequently. He's the guardian of the exit between Elysium and Asphodel. We're...somewhere close to an understanding, I think! Mostly I talk to him and he hisses and then promptly tries to kill me. I'm sure you know how it goes.

[ZAGREUS.]

Anyway, you don't know the way. I know you don't know the way because I barely know the way, and I've been at this for a fair while. Unless I'm mistaken, this is your first venture down below. And since you're still living, you've a lot more at stake than I do. So it's better if I look out for you.

If you just said Bone Hydra, I'd have known what you referred to.

[This guy. THIS GUY. What is his deal? Alucard folds his arms and considers his options. Which, admittedly, are not many. Even Death did not know he was here, though he probably could predict it eventually. And the chambers change on their own, to ensure the dead stay where they are.]

Do what you want, then.

The people of the surface call me Alucard.

Ah, sorry. Can't help it if I'm on a first-name basis with him by now. And...now with you, apparently.

[But, now that we've reached the point of sharing names, that makes it well about time for Zagreus to reach into...somewhere and produce a jar of nectar, which he offers obligingly.]

I'm Zagreus. Son of Hades, unfortunately. Cheers.

[Well. Mostly. Still, Alucard does not correct him or add more. Though Zagreus doesn't seem to know who Dracula is, miraculously, he does not add more.

Then his brows raise at the offering.]

...What.

[He gingerly takes the bottle of nectar and peers at it.]

What's all this then? You expecting something back?

Wouldn't be much of a gift if I were expecting something back, though I understand if you feel a little compelled to make things even with me. A lot of people do.

[Thus showing his hand a little too much, and thereby revealing that he does, in fact, just. Go around giving bottles of nectar to everyone, apparently.]

If you need a reason for it, consider it a "Welcome to the Underworld, appreciate you being kind to my dog" sort of thing.

[Evidently, this man does just... give things to people. Which is strange to him. Does he really expect nothing back?

Still, Alucard dislikes the feeling of being in debt.]

As I understand it, Cerberus is just doing his job.

[look it's from one dog to another

There's a pause of consideration, then he pulls out a dark looking lyre, offering it to Zagreus.]

...Listen. I've no need of this any longer. It is what I used to find my way to the Underworld. I don't really know how it will benefit you in particular, but perhaps you will find some use for it.

It's not nectar, but certainly it has a unique value on the surface. So. There is that.

Oh, a lyre! Someone I know has one of these. Who knows, maybe I'll even learn to play it one day...

[He plucks a note on the strings as if by way of example. It's off-key and atrocious.]

...Erm.

[GREAT JOB, ZAGREUS.]

Right. Well! I'll put it with my keepsakes, it'll fit right in.

[..................................................nice.]

I suppose we should be off, then, but — can I just ask, what is it about these two people you're looking for, that you'd risk coming all this way just to find them?

...Try not to play it like that, if possible.

[wow that was awful]

But otherwise, do with it as you please.

[ANYWAY.

The question makes him hesitate. He doesn't know Zagreus, but he does seem the bumbling, well-meaning type. Perhaps the information he has to give won't come back to bite him in the ass if he offers a bit more.]

...They are my parents. You were correct in saying my mother is a human. My father, Dracula, is far from divine, but is-- was not human in the least.

...Oh.

[Now it's his turn to hesitate, shifting from foot to flaming foot while bits of flame flicker up and burn out from the laurels around his dark hair. But finally, he draws a breath and nods, something in his demeanor changing with the new recognition.]

Well, that's something, isn't it. I mentioned I was headed for the surface? Right, well. I'm — I'm looking for my mother, too. Just in the opposite direction as you.

[He blinks at Alucard, eyebrows slightly raised.]

Seems a little too perfect to be a coincidence, doesn't it? I wonder if the Fates had something to do with our meeting here like this.

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