audio; un: alucard

[reposing]

I suppose it's best to be acquainted in this way. The message system is much more advanced than I would have anticipated; quick and efficient. Good.

I am Alucard. I see no point in compromising the truth, so I shall say it now to spare wretched and unpleasant surprises: I was sired by a vampire, my mother a human. So few are there like me, but we are called dhampir.

If you have no knowledge of what this means, I will explain and answer your questions accordingly, should you have them.

In any case, I will do whatever it takes to ensure we all leave this place as soon as possible.

I have no doubt some of us have certain deadlines to keep.

Comments

[iustitia]

TO M4K3 P3OPL3 4SK 4BOUT 1T

C4N YOU CONSUM3 TH1NGS OTH3R TH4N BLOOD?

[reposing]

Seems a poor reason. It's unpleasant to read.

Yes, but it gives me no nutritional value.

audio;

[iustitia]

Is this better?

[reposing]

Incredibly.

[iustitia]

Hahaha, I live to serve!

[no she doesn't]

I have a friend who's a rainbow drinker. From what I understand, they are like Earth human vampires, but with some differences. Like the glowing and sparkling! I've never heard of a dhampir before, so I'm just very curious.

[reposing]

I have never heard of such a being before. [it sounds... super fake?? but maybe it's real he doesn't know.]

Do half-breeds not exist where you are from?

[iustitia]

Nope! I don't think trolls can interbreed with other races. Maybe there's a first for everything? But I'm pretty certain it's not possible. Sometimes we'll get the occasional mutant, but they get culled almost as soon as they're caught.

[reposing]

Culled? Do you kill them?

[iustitia]

Alternia's not a fun place to grow up if you're too weak, or too dumb, or too different, or too unorthodox, or too whatever. The empire didn't have any patience for those who weren't willing to fight and conquer. Survival of the fittest and all that.

[reposing]

Sounds to be a foul place to live. Perhaps those unwilling to help others are too weak themselves. [He doesn't mask his disapproval.]

[iustitia]

It was a pretty crappy set-up, not gonna lie. But you can't really choose where you grow up, or the culture that surrounds you! Sometimes all you can really do is try not to buy into it and figure things out before it fucks you up.

[reposing]

That is true. It would speak more about you depending on what you believed, I suppose.

[iustitia]

Why, justice, of course!

[It is her most truthful answer. Also importantly, it is the one that sounds the most badass.]

[reposing]

Everyone defines it differently. What is it to you?

[iustitia]

Haha, what is this? Twenty questions? And here I thought this was an invitation to be asking about you! But whatever.

I used to think that punitive justice was hot shit. Retribution, vengeance, bringing the long arm of the law down to bear on criminals. Making them fear. But it doesn't have to be like that! And in fact, it shouldn't. Justice should be... kinder, maybe. Definitely fairer.

I used to think I had it all figured out. But I almost made a terrible mistake once because of that! I've had a lot of time to think about things, and... I know the way I was going before wasn't right.

Or, you could say, it wasn't... just.

[and then she cackles at her own joke for like thirty seconds. does she know it's shitty and low-effort? absolutely. does she hyena laugh anyway? absolutely.]

[reposing]

[Alucard isn't sure what he'd been expecting. Maybe not this. Many people have different ideas of justice. For his father, it was certainly striking out with no mercy -- even to those not involved.

Maybe she's wiser than she seems.

The thought is almost retracted at her cackling.]

It is difficult to think that way when you have been personally harmed by another.

However, if you have the capacity for true justice despite that, then it is commendable.

[iustitia]

Hmm. Hypothetical question! Would you think less about what I said if I hadn't been personally harmed by another? Would my opinion be less commendable in your eyes?

[reposing]

No. Why would it be?

Pain is a cruel lesson, but if one can learn from it, fine. If one can learn without it, then isn't that better?

[iustitia]

Okay, just making sure! I thought you had meant something else, and whoo! It kinda sounded like you were being a douche! [She lets out a noise of relief.] But you're not, and it's all good.

And you're right. It's better if others don't have to go through a whole bunch of painful stuff just to learn a lesson. People always talk talk talk about how that's just the world works! The universe is cruel and unforgiving! And it just shouldn't have to be.

[reposing]

Being a... [Whatever. It's probably some sort of negative slang. He's not going to ask.]

It is unfortunate, and a difficult fight in itself to push back against the idea and expectations of cruelty and darkness.

But if that is what you do, then I understand that.