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castlevania: hector

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Who: Hector, Open
When: The month of Octeuril
Where: Aefenglom and Dorchacht
What: Spooky Halloween Quests (inspired by literature and one spooky movie)
Warnings: Mentions of death, murder, and madness.

The Yellow Wall-webbing

The people of Dorchacht are grateful to the Mirrorbound for saving them from Morgana’s revenge. Although the city is still recovering, the witches and monsters try to find ways to show their appreciation. One Arachne there owns a bed and breakfast, and is offering a free stay to Mirrorbound so that they can relax and recover from any injuries received. Bedrest is what you need, and no more excitement!

The rooms for rent have been recently renovated, and the walls have been recently painted a cheery yellow with intricate geometric patterns woven in spider silk. Well, at first it seems cheery. But as the evening goes on, the yellow walls with their webbing become more… oppressive. Start feeling restless? The web seems to close in on you. Stare too long at it? You are so sure there is someone on the other side, creeping around and peeking at you.

(This room was once the recovery room of a witch who was proscribed the ‘bedrest cure’. She was driven to madness, and the room still bears some psychic resonance of her distress at being trapped here.)

The Merrow from the Black Lagoon

They say all Merrow are beautiful. They were wrong.

A creature from a swamp in the Wildes has been showing up nightly around various Wilder outposts. It appears to be a feral swamp-merrow, and it has been following the most beautiful Wilder witches as they patrol. So far, he has been content to stalk, but as the full moon approaches, they fear he will grow more violent to anyone who gets between him and his prey.

Because I could not stop for resurrection

Carriages are a common sight on the streets of Aefenglom, especially as the weather turns colder. You go to hail a carriage, but before you do, one stops unbidden. Or did it stop for the pale woman who suddenly stands beside you. In spite of the autumn chill, she is dressed in black gossamer and a tulle shawl.

She doesn’t speak, but climbs into the carriage. A silent look suggests that you could join her, if you wish.

Should you wait for another ride, you see the carriage, driven by a figure shrouded in black, begin to move, but then disappear before it turns the corner.

Should you join her, it is a slow and peaceful ride. You see sights you recognize from around the city through the carriage windows, and whenever you pass a reflective surface, you are certain you see glimpses of places from your own world. Weird. After a time that could be minutes or days, the carriage stops and the shrouded figure opens the door to usher you out. The woman stays, and as the carriage resumes its course, it disappears.

The Telltale Bond

In an old boarding house, an elderly vulture-harpy has disappeared. His bonded claims he is traveling abroad, but neighbors have reported a scream the night before, so an investigation is underway.

The witch-bonded who lived with the harpy is happy to speak to the Mirrorbound on his own behalf, to prove his innocence. At first, he responds to questions eagerly, but as the questioning continues, he begins to get more erratic.

“Speak up,” he insists, “I can’t hear you over that sound.” “That sound, that infernal thumping!”

Witches practiced in divination spells or monsters with a heightened sense of hearing will begin to hear the same pounding heartbeat, growing in volume until it blocks out all other noise. Monsters with a keen sense of smell will begin to smell blood. The witch bonded breaks down into tears.

(Convinced that you know his guilt, the witch will eventually break and begin to tear at the floorboards below his very feet to reveal the remains of the missing harpy. The witch insists that he is sane, and it is the harpy’s evil eye that drove him to his crime.)

Wild Card
Have another idea, or want a prompt for the monthly quests and/or monthly event? HMU!

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[It is hard to know how much time has passed inside the carriage. Alucard isn't even sure why he entered it in the first place, as he had full knowledge that he could make a half an hour walk home back to Trevor and be fine. Sure, it was faster this way and it'd mean more time with the Belmont and---

--well justifications don't matter. Nor does the thought for the dead travel fast, although he can't say why it springs to mind in this moment.

The movement of the carriage feels closer to a gentle rocking, and Alucard ends up with his head leaned against a pane of glass, eyes half open as sleep tries to claim him. (It must be sleep.) He thinks there's a more familiar reflection once or twice, but dismisses the thought soon after. Silly. The castle is in Wallachia.

But then the carriage slows. The dhampir stirs and--]

Oh.

[Flat disappointment is laced with his sleepy state.]

[It's a chilly day, and Hector's not keen on walking home on sore hooves after spending way too many hours standing in his lab. So he's grateful for the carriage when he pulls up, in spite of the momentary confusion as the lady in black appears beside him.

He opens the door to climb in, figuring they will share, and is dismayed to find it already full. Alucard sits inside... as does the woman that was only a moment ago standing beside him outside. She gives no indication that she hasn't been seated here the whole time.]

...what the fuck....

[He's about to slam the carriage door closed again, except for Alucard's judgey little 'oh'. Like it would ruin his miserable day having to look at Hector's face for a second longer.

Well, fuck him. Hector narrows his eyes and climbs in. The door closes after him, and he's got the weirdest feeling that if he tried, it wouldn't open again. WELL THEN.

He sits across from Alucard and the woman in silence as the carriage starts back up. The woman seems entirely at peace. Hector has to wonder if he's met her before, because there is something about her that feels familiar.]

Where are you two going?

[Alucard breathes out slowly, and at this point, decides to simply close his eyes and not deal with the doubtlessly annoyed look on Hector's fact. He is aware that his is probably no less charming and engaging, and he only worries about the silent figure who has been his companion thus far.

A single gold eye opens in her direction. She seems unmoved by all of this, and so Alucard closes his eyes again.]

I'm headed home, before Trevor's up for the evening. It'd be too long a walk and I'd miss being there when he wakes otherwise. Back to Cezar for you?

[The thing about when Alucard closes his eyes is that he goes so still, like a statue. Like the dead. It's creepy and Hector hates it. He doesn't find actual dead people off-putting, just Alucard and his neither-here-nor-there state of being.

The woman in black remains her serene, silent self. Hector can't focus on him long, though, because of course Alucard has to bring Trevor up. The bastard.]

Yes, I'm hoping to get back in time to take him for a walk before dark.

[He's straining for civility for the woman's sake. As he takes a peek out of the window to check the sun and see how likely he is to make it for dead Cezar, he sees the shape of a cabin behind the trees...

...his cabin, from back in Rhodes, he'd swear on it....

But when he shakes his head and looks again, it's city scape he sees.]

...must be more tired than I thought.

I'm sure you'll get there in time.

[It is as kind a set of words as any that Alucard has said in Hector's general direction. Alucard won't lie, it is probably because there is another passenger here. She may be silent, but there's no reason to devolve to sniping in front of her.

The dhampir's eyes flicker open, focusing on Hector.]

Odd reflection?

Yes. It looked like... [It's dumb, and Alucard isn't going to believe him.] ...like my old home.

[The woman just nods, and gazes out her little window, serenely watching as they pass by a school house. She smiles fondly.]

--Strange. Do you wish to switch seats to see if it continues?

[He doesn't know the school at all. But Alucard is curious if the window views will follow them, or if each seat looks out into a different space.]

[Hector's eyes immediately narrow in suspicion. Alucard is too quick to believe him, which means....]

What did you see?

[The dhampir must've caught a glimpse of something too, because he'd never trust Hector without independently verifying his claims.]

Home.

[He doesn't specify which. It's been the castle, but there is the strong chance of Lupu being next. Hector will understand.]

[Hector wordlessly gets up so they can switch seats. The woman is unbothered by the movement around her.

The window that was previously on Alucard's side at first yields the expected Aefenglom scenery. He begins to look back over to where Alucard now sits, but a glow catches his eye. He looks.]

Fuck.

[The house of a wealthy Greek alchemist, wreathed in flames. It's there, plainly visible to anyone who looks, for a couple of seconds until a lamppost breaks the line of sight. Then they are back in the city once more. Hector gulps.]

[Alucard catches the sight of flame in Hector's window, and his eyes are there in a second. It means he misses the village of Lupu entirely, for at the heart of all fears and anxieties for the dhampir?

Fire. Always.]

--I saw it too.

[Hector looks at Alucard. Something is definitely wrong.

...now that he thinks about it, this carriage is too tranquil. They should be able to hear noise from the city outside, feel the bump of cobblestone, but there's none of that.

...and he's a necromancer, he should have realized it before, why the woman feels familiar. She isn't breathing....]

We need to get out of here.

Do we?

[It is a reply that is calm. Slow. Almost lackidasical, except Alucard's eyes open and meet Hector's. There is a hard edge in them, making it clear that his calm and cool is all for show and simply a means to not disturb their friend in the carriage who rides with them.]

[Hector nods almost imperceptibly. Now's not the time to argue with the dhampir.

He doesn't sense a threat from the woman, but he's no longer in tune with the supernatural like he once was. Hector gets the sense that if she's dead, she doesn't know it, and spirits can turn violent if confronted with their own demise.

His hand inches towards the carriage door. Maybe he can force it open and they can... fling themselves out of a moving carriage, he guesses??]

[Really, Hector? You're going to roll out of a moving carriage?

That's what the pointed eyebrow raise in Hector's direction starts to scream at any rate, not a fan of an absolutely terrible idea like that.

His attention turns to the woman instead.]

Miss?

[He's careful and respectful. If nothing else, Hector can fling him out with a distraction.]

[Look, Hector will do whatever it takes to survive, ok? He's not always smart about it, but he is trying not to die.

The woman turns her gaze away from her window and toward Alucard. She is still in a way living creatures just aren't, and she still does not speak. She gives Alucard a hint of a smile, though. Nothing about this woman, this spirit, reads as malevolent. She is entirely at peace.

In the window outside, the sun sinks from the sky, creating a brilliant sunset.

While Alucard has the woman's attention, Hector tries the door. Locked. Of course. And not seeming likely to budge beneath his mortal strength.]

[Alucard understands who he's sitting with. But as he sits, he hopes quietly that this is the woman his mother met after the worst fate anyone could suffer. As unnerving as the stillness is, the peace? For anyone it would be a soothing balm.

Hector's trying to be subtle. At least Alucard thinks he is, he can't be sure.]

Our stop is up ahead, if you'll allow it.

[Hector is trying to be not dead, thanks. The tranquility of the dead is nothing new to him. It's one of the things that made the dead much better company than the living back home.

The woman shakes her head slowly. Not her call. She leans forward, though, and slides open a little panel in the front of the carriage, revealing the black-shrouded driver. With a pale finger, she points.

Alucard will be in a much better position than most to recognize Death, who guides his pale horses with expert ease down the streets toward eternal rest.

Hector gives up on the door and leans in toward the newly-opened window.]

We need to get off... sir.

Thank you, miss.

[Alucard's politeness isn't a barb against Hector for once, but something genuine and without artifice. It comes with a very small smile, and he wants to speak with her more.

But Hector's talking to death, and Alucard is not sure how that'll go. So he makes sure to at least add in:]

Please.

[The shrouded figure turns at their pleas. Maybe it is the attempt at manners, or merely the fact that they are able to speak, that catches his attention. He gives the reins a gentle tug.

The carriage slows. When it comes to a stop on the street, the woman reaches for the door. It swings open at her barest touch.

She looks from Alucard to Hector with the corners of her lips turned up in the hint of a smile.]

So... can we go?

[Hector asks, dumbfounded.]

I believe that's a yes.

[Alucard gives the woman a polite nod, lingering a moment more.]

Thank you for your hospitality. With respect, I hope it is some time before we meet again.

[With that, he climbs out, and waves at the driver to let him know they've both exited the carriage.]

[Hector scrambles out after Alucard and shuts the door carefully, but quickly. He wants to get it closed before either ghost or driver have a chance to change their minds.

The driver gives the reins a flick, and the pale horses carry the carriage further down the street, until it disappears. It doesn't turn a corner, it... simply isn't there anymore. Gone from sight and from existence in this plane.]

Ummm... she seemed... nice?

[Hector is pretty much at a loss for words. Around them, the sun is set, but they are in the residential district. And they didn't get charged for the ride, so... that's something....]

[Alucard watches the carriage go. He's quiet. Not peaceful, but calm watching the departure. He nods quietly.]

If that is who one meets, then I'd be happy to dismiss all other mythologies about the afterlife journey.

How the fuck did that happen? Are we supposed to be dead?

[Is this some ill omen that they are fated to die soon or something? Alucard's calm acceptance of what just happened is somehow making Hector more concerned. Is he the only one who thinks that was fucking weird??]

Well Hector, you're the necromancer. You should tell me.

[He's so mild in the comment that he doesn't even sound like an asshole. Somehow.]

We aren't. I meant this this an omen? I work with death, not premonitions.

[Because Death isn't in the habit of picking up hitchhikers, as far as he knows...]

I think we are both too close to death in our own ways to read a premonition accurately. My father was undead. You've worked with Death too many times to count.

[Alucard frowns, looking down the path the carriage has gone down.]

Do you feel calmer or more on edge?

[Hector honestly doesn't know which he feels, so he just says:]

Yes.

[There are times, rare times when they aren't fighting like cats and dogs, that Hector feels like he and Alucard are too similar, which is probably a contributing factor in why they hate each other. They both state at the space where the carriage had been.]

It is comforting, in a way. That didn't seem so bad, in terms of ways to go.

[Hector is going to be checking his watch for obituaries tomorrow, to see if he can find one for this gossamer-clad lady.]

[Yes is fine.

Alucard tucks a stray strand of hair behind his ears, feeling a breeze pick up.]

No. And I hope that it is the far more frequent version that one encounters. It is kind.

[Hector has to wonder about that. Death isn't kind, nor is it cruel. It just... is.

But if the journey there is without suffering, then that is ideal.]

Hopefully we won't know for a long time. [He says, echoing Alucard's earlier sentiment.

Then, breaking the quiet truce between them-]

Fuck, I'm late. I missed Cezar's walk.

[Their weird carriage ride was peaceful and ultimately harmless, but it doesn't seem like it was the most efficient means of travel. Certainly not a time-saver.]

--I'm sure that he won't mind, so long as you get there soon.

[Wait.]

How much further to your home?

[Hector turns around a time or two, orienting himself. He doesn't usually come this way, but fauns are blessed with a superior sense of direction.]

Not far. No more than a 5 minute walk. It's not so cold that I couldn't light a lantern and take him on a quick walk around.

--I'll leave you two be then.

[He sounds...almost disappointed?

Yeah.

He absolutely was hoping to squeeze in a visit.]

[OH MY GOD, ADRIAN, JUST COME SEE THE DAMN DOG. Hector can hear how much you want to.]

Trevor will be awake by now, so you already missed your deadline. You might as well come see Cezar. For reasons unknown, he likes you.

[They maybe almost died, and Hector's feeling charitable. It'll make the pup happy.]

[YEAH BUT HE WANTS TO RESPECT THE FACT THAT HE DOESN'T GET ALONG WITH YOU HECTOR!!!]

Part time wolf. I know where all the best spots for skritches are.

[He says it with a soft smile, and for once? No goddamn smugness in his voice.]

Trust me, I've heard all about it.

[Cezar, bless him, loves to talk about everything he likes about the world when Hector communes with him. It's a long, very charitable list, and 'Friend Alucard's petting prowess is always featured.]

((ooc: do we wanna wrap this up here-ish?))

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