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abraxasooc2021-05-20 09:20 pm
abraxasmods) wrote in abraxasooc2021-05-20 09:20 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #1
TEST DRIVE MEME
Welcome to the very first test drive meme for Abraxas! This meme is run a little bit differently than most in that you'll be asked to choose one of the two different arrival scenarios below for your character to take. If you have any questions about this mechanic or anything else related to the TDM, please take a look at the questions below or ask one of your own here. For general game questions please still use the FAQ.
You awaken suspended in the abyss, silent darkness stretching out in all directions. If you try to yell, you'll find that the sound doesn't carry. If you try to move, you'll find it's impossible to tell whether or not you're actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying last time you remember being awake, your hand will only touch bare skin.
You're naked and floating helplessly through the void, and what little air you have in your lungs is running out.
There's a pinprick of light that almost looks like a faraway star but as it grows it becomes clear that it's actually quite close. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but it's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.
A hand plunges through and you realize water is just what it is. Whether you take hold of the hand or not it will grab you and yank you up through the surface, lifting you out until you're sprawled on solid ground. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.
If you had any powers, they feel unusually weak. Attempts to use magic or enhanced strength or powers of any sort fizzle out without any effect, but they don't feel completely gone, either.
Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card baring the image of one of the arcana.
An apprentice mage - the one whose hand lifted you out of the fountain - brushes the water off on their robes and runs back to join a group of three others, who all stare intently at a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.
"I beg your pardon," he says, so absorbed in the pages of the book that he doesn't bother to look up, "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. One of my apprentices will explain everything in a moment, but please refrain from yelling and thrashing about until then. You're quite alright, and screaming gives me a hell of a headache."
Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the heavy tome, until he stops on one specific page, stares at it for a moment, and then exclaims:
"Aha!"
Ambrose's expression brightens, eyes twinkling with delight. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.
"Success! It's a success!" he exclaims, slamming the book shut and scurrying towards you.
Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem quite relieved at his jovial outburst, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.
"Please, come with me, you're an honored guest here," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle, "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."
One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and the world itself is in great peril, and tales of your exploits have reached far and wide across universes. If asked about these exploits, the apprentice will simply smile and shrug. The High Mage was happy to see you and that's good enough.
Once inside the castle you're taken to the North Wing, which has been set up as living quarters for you and your fellow newcomers. There are four people to a room, but each generously-sized bed has opaque curtains that can be drawn around it. You can meet your roommates here and discuss your shared situation (everyone appears to have arrived within the last few days), or you can wander around and meet the others.
There's also a dining hall stocked with all sorts of fancy food to meet every possible dietary need, and a library filled with epic tales and legends and the history of Thorne. Given that this is the Thorne library, it may be a biased account that makes the Kingdom look a fair bit better than the rest of the world sees them. Last but not least, there's a study hall where a few junior mages (younger and less experienced than the apprentices from earlier) might be willing to teach you some simple elemental magic. Think holding a small flame in the palm of your hand, or blowing a door shut with a gust of wind.
You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).
Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and spending too much time with the prisoners will lead to some suspicion being cast upon you. If you ask anyone why the prisoners are being held there, you'll be told that they pose a great threat to the Kingdom (and, by extension, the entire world).
The High Mage scowls, grinding his teeth as he slams the book shut. "Another failure!" he barks at the apprentices, "You lot wouldn't know your ass from a hole in the ground, would you?"
All four of them lower their heads, and two of them mumble an apology that Ambrose either doesn't hear or refuses to acknowledge. "Well, don't just stand there," he says, waving a hand in the air, "We've put all this effort into getting this wretched creature, we may as well put it to good use."
One of the apprentices drops a baggy, rough-feeling tunic, a pair of pants, and some worn sandals in your lap and glares down at you until you put them on (if you refuse, they'll tell you they can kick you back down that well if you don't want to cooperate). They're glaring at the High Mage as much as they're glaring at you (when they're sure he isn't looking, anyway). You might catch one of them long enough to ask them why they're so upset with you, but all they'll say is that the High Mage knows something they don't, and he's awfully upset about it.
Once you're fully clothed, another apprentice clamps some heavy iron shackles around your wrists and leads you on. The High Mage is far ahead of you already, muttering some long string of Thornean curses before he stands up straight and pauses, spinning to face you.
"One more thing," he says, holding one hand in the air and chanting something under his breath, "Can't have you getting too troublesome."
If you had powers, the slight connection you still had to them slips away completely and you're left with nothing as the four apprentices drag you towards the castle. They may answer a few of your questions (with some insults and curses peppered in), but they won't tell you anything important.
Once you arrive at the castle you're brought to the dungeons and thrown into a locked cell. There are four people to a cell, and two sets of bunk beds with a thin and lumpy straw mattress. If you're over six feet tall, these beds are going to be awfully uncomfortable. You might as well meet your roommates. Once per day you're dragged out to an enclosed courtyard for one hour of recreation (with some crude weights, benches, and balls lying around but not much else), where you can meet the rest of the prisoners, but you can also talk to your immediate neighbors in the cells on either side and across the hallway. Just don't yell too much or the guards will snap at you to be quiet.
Everyone in the dungeon is fed one meal a day, and for a prison meal it's decent: a bit of meat, a bun, and a salad. It would seem that the Thornean chefs take too much pride in their craft to send bad food to the dungeons. The meals are all served in equal portions, though, so the smaller prisoners may be overfed and the larger ones may be getting hungry. Feel free to fight for food or share with your cellmates.
Crudely embroidered on the back of every prison tunic is the same image that was on your card and the name of the sign beneath it. A guard may explain a bit about the sign, and tell you some negative stereotypes they hold about yours.
You may be blessed with a visit from one of the more welcomed newcomers, and they may sneak you some extra food or a small book to read or they may share some of the information they've gathered. However, rumors travel fast and some people believe the honored guests in the castle above are somehow responsible for the lot of the prisoners below. And although you may hope for kindness, there's nothing stopping them from being cruel to you if they wish. The guards will certainly turn a blind eye if one of them wishes to take out their frustrations on you.
Questions
How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Whether your character is honored or imprisoned has nothing to do with their personal morality, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into either situation.
Can I try out both scenarios?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.
What happens if my character refuses to comply with Ambrose?
Prisoners will be dragged against their will. Honored guests will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and Ambrose and the apprentice mages will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, Ambrose will warn them once that he's willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight he will make good on that promise.
My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the castle, murdering the castle staff, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other staff would be thrown back in the well (which will mean drowning in the void, not returning home). Brawling with other PCs and causing minor damage is fine and will be greeted with a cranky attitude (if they are an honored guest) or a punishment like denial of food or temporary solitary confinement (if they are a prisoner), and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Thorneans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.
Ambrose will take it especially personally, as this experiment was his idea and too much trouble would risk the summoning spell being scrapped and potentially result in him being demoted. Rest assured it does not take much for him to throw someone back in the well at this point in time.
Is the power loss for the prisoners permanent?
No, although honored guests will regain their powers first due to the lack of interference from Ambrose, the prisoners will be able to regain theirs soon enough as well.
Can the prisoners talk about anything private, or will they be overheard at all times?
There are guards patrolling the dungeon, but they aren't always within earshot. Most of the attention is being focused on the new guests, so the prisoners will have some opportunities for privacy.
Can my character leave the castle?
For now they will be prevented from leaving the castle, even if they are an honored guest. A bit of a gilded cage, isn't it? They'll also find that any powers they regain cease to work outside of the castle walls (this is also a temporary effect) so flying outside is not an option.
Can my character eventually side against Thorne if I choose to make them an honored guest/can they side with Thorne if I choose to imprison them?
Yes, characters in Scenario 1 will be able to betray Thorne, and characters in Scenario 2 can work themselves into Thorne's good graces.
How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will have a major impact on gameplay throughout the first few months of the game, and potentially a bit beyond that depending on where our players guide the plot. This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.
Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in both scenarios can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.
Are TDM threads mandatory for my application?
No, you may use other samples, but we encourage you to post to the TDM and get a feel for this game and its mechanics before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the two scenarios on your application.
What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).
Can a put a character on the TDM if their canon is less than 30 days old?
Yes. For this app round, anything that's at least 30 days old when the game opens on June 12th can be applied from.
Do the apprentice mages have names?
Their names are Jeffrey, Grigory, Noelle, and Jolene.
Arrival
You awaken suspended in the abyss, silent darkness stretching out in all directions. If you try to yell, you'll find that the sound doesn't carry. If you try to move, you'll find it's impossible to tell whether or not you're actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying last time you remember being awake, your hand will only touch bare skin.
You're naked and floating helplessly through the void, and what little air you have in your lungs is running out.
There's a pinprick of light that almost looks like a faraway star but as it grows it becomes clear that it's actually quite close. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but it's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.
A hand plunges through and you realize water is just what it is. Whether you take hold of the hand or not it will grab you and yank you up through the surface, lifting you out until you're sprawled on solid ground. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.
If you had any powers, they feel unusually weak. Attempts to use magic or enhanced strength or powers of any sort fizzle out without any effect, but they don't feel completely gone, either.
Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card baring the image of one of the arcana.
An apprentice mage - the one whose hand lifted you out of the fountain - brushes the water off on their robes and runs back to join a group of three others, who all stare intently at a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.
"I beg your pardon," he says, so absorbed in the pages of the book that he doesn't bother to look up, "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. One of my apprentices will explain everything in a moment, but please refrain from yelling and thrashing about until then. You're quite alright, and screaming gives me a hell of a headache."
Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the heavy tome, until he stops on one specific page, stares at it for a moment, and then exclaims:
"Aha!"
Scenario One: Welcome to Thorne
Ambrose's expression brightens, eyes twinkling with delight. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.
"Success! It's a success!" he exclaims, slamming the book shut and scurrying towards you.
Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem quite relieved at his jovial outburst, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.
"Please, come with me, you're an honored guest here," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle, "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."
One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and the world itself is in great peril, and tales of your exploits have reached far and wide across universes. If asked about these exploits, the apprentice will simply smile and shrug. The High Mage was happy to see you and that's good enough.
Once inside the castle you're taken to the North Wing, which has been set up as living quarters for you and your fellow newcomers. There are four people to a room, but each generously-sized bed has opaque curtains that can be drawn around it. You can meet your roommates here and discuss your shared situation (everyone appears to have arrived within the last few days), or you can wander around and meet the others.
There's also a dining hall stocked with all sorts of fancy food to meet every possible dietary need, and a library filled with epic tales and legends and the history of Thorne. Given that this is the Thorne library, it may be a biased account that makes the Kingdom look a fair bit better than the rest of the world sees them. Last but not least, there's a study hall where a few junior mages (younger and less experienced than the apprentices from earlier) might be willing to teach you some simple elemental magic. Think holding a small flame in the palm of your hand, or blowing a door shut with a gust of wind.
You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).
Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and spending too much time with the prisoners will lead to some suspicion being cast upon you. If you ask anyone why the prisoners are being held there, you'll be told that they pose a great threat to the Kingdom (and, by extension, the entire world).
Scenario Two: Imprisoned
The High Mage scowls, grinding his teeth as he slams the book shut. "Another failure!" he barks at the apprentices, "You lot wouldn't know your ass from a hole in the ground, would you?"
All four of them lower their heads, and two of them mumble an apology that Ambrose either doesn't hear or refuses to acknowledge. "Well, don't just stand there," he says, waving a hand in the air, "We've put all this effort into getting this wretched creature, we may as well put it to good use."
One of the apprentices drops a baggy, rough-feeling tunic, a pair of pants, and some worn sandals in your lap and glares down at you until you put them on (if you refuse, they'll tell you they can kick you back down that well if you don't want to cooperate). They're glaring at the High Mage as much as they're glaring at you (when they're sure he isn't looking, anyway). You might catch one of them long enough to ask them why they're so upset with you, but all they'll say is that the High Mage knows something they don't, and he's awfully upset about it.
Once you're fully clothed, another apprentice clamps some heavy iron shackles around your wrists and leads you on. The High Mage is far ahead of you already, muttering some long string of Thornean curses before he stands up straight and pauses, spinning to face you.
"One more thing," he says, holding one hand in the air and chanting something under his breath, "Can't have you getting too troublesome."
If you had powers, the slight connection you still had to them slips away completely and you're left with nothing as the four apprentices drag you towards the castle. They may answer a few of your questions (with some insults and curses peppered in), but they won't tell you anything important.
Once you arrive at the castle you're brought to the dungeons and thrown into a locked cell. There are four people to a cell, and two sets of bunk beds with a thin and lumpy straw mattress. If you're over six feet tall, these beds are going to be awfully uncomfortable. You might as well meet your roommates. Once per day you're dragged out to an enclosed courtyard for one hour of recreation (with some crude weights, benches, and balls lying around but not much else), where you can meet the rest of the prisoners, but you can also talk to your immediate neighbors in the cells on either side and across the hallway. Just don't yell too much or the guards will snap at you to be quiet.
Everyone in the dungeon is fed one meal a day, and for a prison meal it's decent: a bit of meat, a bun, and a salad. It would seem that the Thornean chefs take too much pride in their craft to send bad food to the dungeons. The meals are all served in equal portions, though, so the smaller prisoners may be overfed and the larger ones may be getting hungry. Feel free to fight for food or share with your cellmates.
Crudely embroidered on the back of every prison tunic is the same image that was on your card and the name of the sign beneath it. A guard may explain a bit about the sign, and tell you some negative stereotypes they hold about yours.
You may be blessed with a visit from one of the more welcomed newcomers, and they may sneak you some extra food or a small book to read or they may share some of the information they've gathered. However, rumors travel fast and some people believe the honored guests in the castle above are somehow responsible for the lot of the prisoners below. And although you may hope for kindness, there's nothing stopping them from being cruel to you if they wish. The guards will certainly turn a blind eye if one of them wishes to take out their frustrations on you.
How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Whether your character is honored or imprisoned has nothing to do with their personal morality, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into either situation.
Can I try out both scenarios?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.
What happens if my character refuses to comply with Ambrose?
Prisoners will be dragged against their will. Honored guests will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and Ambrose and the apprentice mages will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, Ambrose will warn them once that he's willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight he will make good on that promise.
My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the castle, murdering the castle staff, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other staff would be thrown back in the well (which will mean drowning in the void, not returning home). Brawling with other PCs and causing minor damage is fine and will be greeted with a cranky attitude (if they are an honored guest) or a punishment like denial of food or temporary solitary confinement (if they are a prisoner), and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Thorneans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.
Ambrose will take it especially personally, as this experiment was his idea and too much trouble would risk the summoning spell being scrapped and potentially result in him being demoted. Rest assured it does not take much for him to throw someone back in the well at this point in time.
Is the power loss for the prisoners permanent?
No, although honored guests will regain their powers first due to the lack of interference from Ambrose, the prisoners will be able to regain theirs soon enough as well.
Can the prisoners talk about anything private, or will they be overheard at all times?
There are guards patrolling the dungeon, but they aren't always within earshot. Most of the attention is being focused on the new guests, so the prisoners will have some opportunities for privacy.
Can my character leave the castle?
For now they will be prevented from leaving the castle, even if they are an honored guest. A bit of a gilded cage, isn't it? They'll also find that any powers they regain cease to work outside of the castle walls (this is also a temporary effect) so flying outside is not an option.
Can my character eventually side against Thorne if I choose to make them an honored guest/can they side with Thorne if I choose to imprison them?
Yes, characters in Scenario 1 will be able to betray Thorne, and characters in Scenario 2 can work themselves into Thorne's good graces.
How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will have a major impact on gameplay throughout the first few months of the game, and potentially a bit beyond that depending on where our players guide the plot. This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.
Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in both scenarios can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.
Are TDM threads mandatory for my application?
No, you may use other samples, but we encourage you to post to the TDM and get a feel for this game and its mechanics before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the two scenarios on your application.
What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).
Can a put a character on the TDM if their canon is less than 30 days old?
Yes. For this app round, anything that's at least 30 days old when the game opens on June 12th can be applied from.
Do the apprentice mages have names?
Their names are Jeffrey, Grigory, Noelle, and Jolene.
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no subject
It is impressive. And slightly worrying, if Alucard is being fully honest.]
I can write. I simply have nothing to say to that man. [That's a truth.] If he judges as he does, then I expect nothing will persuade otherwise, and I will not waste my time on someone that set in their opinions.
no subject
[ What does one even do, if one wants to sit down without just perching on thin air? Just sit on the floor? Where the dirt lives? It must be very strange, to be earthbound like this all the time. But she does, after a moment, sit down on the floor where the dirt lives. Primly and properly, hands in her lap still clasped around her wax tablet. And sighs, this time mostly talking to herself. Because she has been resisting criticising for far too long. ]
But even then, this makes no sense at all. If it isn't a mistake, then either you pose some kind of threat without taking action or he wants something from you. It seems terribly unwise to give people so much cause to not cooperate in either case.
no subject
[Alucard picks his head up enough so that when he speaks, there is a hint of fang. He was ready to use them up until those chains were forced upon his wrists, taking away every other advantage given to him. They're only good as threats now.
And then the rest of Alucard, the tiny, tiny part of Alucard that is not terrified and vulnerable and wanting to strike out the entire world, reminds himself that he is threatening a child and the rest of him sobers up with all the speed of a train rushing down the tracks of endless flat land. He can keep wits about him without resorting to that.
He straightens up a little more, letting his shoulders drop.]
Whatever is wanted was not explained when I was summoned here. There was only snap judgement and a struggle before these. [He tugs at the things binding his wrists, making it clear how big of a problem they truly are.] Which are used to keep things in check.
Were you asked to do anything?
[It the obfuscation on both sides?]
no subject
[ She frowns, apparently more thoughtful than threatened. But no. There are people in her position who are distinctly not human. So that can't be the only factor. If it is a factor at all. ]
I've yet to be asked to do anything. We've been given leave to roam the castle. So far, that's about all.
no subject
[There's a little bit more calm in Alucard's voice. He's not willing to give more than that right now.]
Concerning. None of us down here were asked to do anything either. Only deemed fit for dungeons.
no subject
[ HOW DOES A BODY SO SMALL CONTAIN ENOUGH AIR TO SAY SO MANY WORDS IN A SINGLE BREATH. ]
-oh! I apologise. I shouldn't treat you as a piece of information.
no subject
And yet.
[His glare softens, but only by a hair.]
Have you spoken to other guests?
no subject
[ She's taking notes now. Mostly just the vampire thing. Which is useless as far as her letters to Mr. Ambrose are concerned, but fascinating nonetheless. ]
You're the first I've spoken to down here. You look very much like someone I know. It seemed a good omen.
no subject
All of these thoughts come out as nothing more than a frown, the dhampir listening in spite of how much he wants to be left alone.
There's a little noise from him at the last comment. Not a sigh or cough, but something like acknowledgement.]
Do I now?
no subject
[ At that, she goes quiet for a moment. Like there's something she almost chose to say and then thought better of it. Then smiles, clapping her hands once and hopping to her feet, moving up close enough to hold the bars of the cell and changing the subject entirely. ]
If you can write, then you must also be able to read, yes? The library's selection is impressive. If- um. Carefully curated. [ How to say 'biased in favour of the people who just put you in jail' without being mean about it. ] It's not much but- I could bring you something to read to pass the time until you're freed more quickly. There must be something suitable among their collection.
no subject
For a moment, the promise of a book gets Alucard to perk up. He needs to understand the whole of the situation, even his anger understands that much. But as he looks at the person making the offer, there's a reminder of what's actually happening here: a child is taking on an unacceptable risk that could result in far greater harm to her than him. Alucard can endure whatever would come of discovery.
He can't say the same for his conversation partner.
So there's a shake of his head no, but no other words. She's smart, she must be able to figure it out.]
no subject
Oh, right. Her own senses come from magic. A vampire’s, likely from the stuff of their flesh and blood. A guard’s patrol route must be bringing him into earshot. ]
Um! Is it okay if I visit you again, sir? You look a lot like my big brother, and it’s awfully scary being in a new place on my own.
[ Her demeanour suddenly becomes as childlike as it was before. It’s only part performance - it’s not as if anything she’s saying is untrue, but the sudden focus on childish things like family and being afraid to be alone is mostly for the benefit of anyone who might overhear. Sure enough, she can start to hear footsteps approaching. ]
no subject
He can't speak before the guard arrives. He has to rely on looks, and there's no reason for any softness to get through with anyone else around. The most Alucard can do through a hardened gaze and body language screaming fuck off and I need to rest is soften that look for just a moment.
A guard would not catch that, but a too smart child might.]
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My name is Porom. Thank you for listening to me. I know that it's terribly silly, that I don't want to be on my own.
[ Listening to her, not talking with her. Just in case it's important to him that the guards remain under the impression that he doesn't speak. The footsteps grow closer and closer until the guard arrives. It's not the man who led her down here. Another, on patrol. She smiles and waves, turning her back on Alucard to walk beside the guard, two or three quick steps to each of his longer ones, talking a mile a minute at him as she walks away. ]
Sir! You look a little tired. It must be terribly difficult to adjust to so many of us arriving, but I'm very grateful for all of your work. Oh! Would some tea help? I'm headed back to the castle proper. I could bring you some-
[ Eventually, around the time that she's asking if it would be okay for her to show her friend her pictures, she's finally walked even out of Alucard's hearing range.
...the next day, Alucard might just overhear the guards laughing about the fact that two of them received very nicely written, prettily decorated thank-you notes. ]
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[He murmurs the name, but that has to be that. The guards know him as a quiet thing that put up a hell of a fight, whose chains must be kept in tact no matter what. His silence is suspicious, but there are others making fools of themselves and demand attention first.
Porom leaves, and Alucard won't lie: he's impressed. At that age, not even he could be that clear and level headed in this kind of a situation. But that makes it all the worse.
Days pass, measured in hours outside and single meals, punctuated by gossip or thank you cards from that little girl who marched in here to speak to prisoners. Alucard's sure he isn't allowed thank you notes, just as he's sure that it'll be days yet before anything else happens to him.
His bruises are looking better though. That's something.]
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[ Also terribly inconvenient. She'd just started to get the hang of hovering again and it doesn't work down here.
Porom quickly becomes a familiar face down in the dungeons and talks to the other prisoners as eagerly, if not as candidly, as she did with Alucard. She runs about doing errands for the guards, even the crueller ones. Brings tea down from the kitchens and sends pretty thank-you notes to everyone she has interactions with. It might not be enough to keep herself from seeming suspicious, but she's doing her very, very best.
She bounces on her toes every few steps as she walks, today. No luck. these dungeons really do interfere with magic. Ah well, she still has other worthwhile things to talk about. ]
Hello again, Sir!
[ The guard isn't going to be letting her in anywhere, but when she asks him if she can pass her writing tablet back and forth he relents and nods. She's been good enough to earn that, and the stylus of a tablet can't be made into a weapon as easily as a pen could. She lays down a blanket on the floor outside the bars and sits down on that. ]
Do you have time? [ The guard snickers at that, as if he has anything but time, as he walks off. He likes her, but he's one of the less kind ones toward the prisoners. It works in her favour, though. The less kind ones like the idea that the prisoners' time is worth less than theirs or that of one of the more honoured guests. As far as some of them are concerned, glorified babysitting is a decent form of humiliation. ] I'm practicing my letters. Will you look at them for me?
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Porom's return isn't unexpected. He wouldn't call it welcome either, but he is hardly in a place to protest. Besides being mean to a child, she's endeared herself to the guards. That is it's own form of protection, and the last thing anyone wants to do is earn ire for violating that trust.
The guard's still within earshot, so Alucard simply nods for now, one hand resting beside the bars of the cell.]
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[ That is to say if a guard shows up in a hurry, he can smooth over the wax to destroy the writing. She pushes the tablet book and stylus through the bars. Probably unsurprisingly, the writing is tiny and careful and precise and doesn't seem to need all that much work. It covers one half of the tablet, a collection of notes on the world outside of the castle. Or at least what the kinds of books in the castle's library say about the world outside of the castle.
On the other side is a map of a mass of land. The shape is precisely copied but the details are about the only thing that look like they were produced by a five year old. Every city is indicated by a collection of house-shaped houses. There is a crude drawing of a sheep somewhere in the middle that doesn't seem to indicate anything but a desire to draw a sheep but which is about the same size as one of the cities. Thankfully, it's also labelled.
An area at the far side of the landmass is circled. The notes on the opposite side of the tablet indicate that there's mention of vampires there. ]
Everyone would be terribly disappointed in me if I fell behind in my studies. I hope that it's good enough.
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He's careful as Porom slides the tablet through the bars, chains clinking as he shifts his hands to account for the weight. The lighting isn't helpful with small handwriting, but Alucard can make it work.
A world. A whole world, with new continents to learn about and cultures to understand. Nuances. There's other vampires.
He studies all of it. Including the sheep, whose labeling is appreciated.]
I like the sheep.
[He keeps reading. Re-reading. Committing every last inch to memory.]
Do you intend to practice other animals as well?
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[ Not a coded message, at least in that instance. She genuinely just wanted to be sure that she gave a suitable name to a sheep that she just made up. She nods eagerly, clapping her hands together. ]
I want to practice all of the animals! Some of the books in the library have pictures, and it's awfully fun to try to copy them. If you have a favourite animal, um- can you write it down for me? I know it must be difficult, but- so I know which word to look for. I wouldn't want to forget.
[ Is there a topic you need to know about? ]
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[It's a very, very weak attempt at humor. Alucard's not even sure where it comes from, but it seems right for the moment.
The books though. Alucard pauses, closing his eyes to consider.]
Are there any animals in those books that are truly unknown to you?
[But he does write things down.
Other countries
Cultural norms there]
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[ She reaches a hand through the bars. She'd been reaching for the tablet, but changes her mind at last minute and pats the back of Alucard's hand instead. ]
Are you feeling any better? I'm starting to regain a little of my magic, but it doesn't work at all down here. And I don't know if it would help at all, even if it did.
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[Alucard might have expected stranger animals in a place like this. Perhaps they are out there and they're harder to find, or else maybe Porom's understanding of weird animals is deeply different from his own.
There are rhinos here though. Interesting.
The hand placed atop his though? That gets a reaction. His instinct it to freeze. For a moment he nearly bares fangs, before realizing who it is he's speaking with and that no. There's no threat and he's an asshole for thinking it.
He forces himself to relax.]
I doubt it'd be effective.
[That isn't an answer to the question. He's healing like a human. There's no better to it. The process is awful and he loathes it.]