What is a "friend" [quotes because of fake memories] for, but to toss other friends off of high, precarious places?
[V puts in an effort to get onto his feet with a slight wobble, but he manages it. He casts about for his cane, which had skid away a yard or two in the thrill.]
Oh, I can be dire. [And dour, and aloof.] But I also like a thrill. Better than lamenting being trapped in another dimension, somewhere far flung from home, hm?
Better to think about flung off the top of a staircase than flung into another plane of existence, is it?
[ His gaze darts over, landing on V's cane, slid up against a wall and caught in the folds of a throw rug. With another swing of his legs, he abandons his cat bench and moves to retrieve it. ]
You have quite the interesting definition of friendship. [ A smile, as he offers the cane back over, handle-first. ] But I like it.
[Does he? Here's a fun fact: V was certainly never in existence long enough to cultivate friends. And Vergil led a solitary life, seeking only power and a way to grasp his father's legacy in his own hands. Friendship is a foreign concept all around, even if V is not terribly unfriendly as a general rule.
So when Declan comes back with his cane, V grasps it without responding, not quite sure how to reply just yet. He finally settles on:]
I suppose our "other" selves were friends for a reason, anyway.
[That feels like a safe middle ground, at least.]
Though I am going to safely assume mine was only half as exciting.
The thing about being half of a whole is that, when complete, his experiences now will be as though he lived them himself. Because he did. Technically. It's all very confusing when you've been split in twain. (Again.)
...But he supposes this particular "foundation" is not inherently terrible. Not even unfavorable. V had always wished to drive home the idea of one's humanity being necessary, being a pillar of strength instead of weakness. Would this only reinforce it further?
Probably.]
...Maybe.
[Speaking of squishy panthers, Shadow strides back up to V and dissolves into disintegrating darkness, settling back into V's markings on his skin.]
And no. Nor loudmouthed birds or golems. I'm what you call an upgrade.
[ That "maybe" seems to be about as good as he's going to get in terms of friendship, which is fine. They've only just met for real. Time will tell.
He watches with rapt attention as Shadow becomes the ink on V's skin,. None of the familiars he's seen can do that and it makes him wonder just how many more tricks this man has up his sleeves — quite literally, perhaps. ]
Loudmouthed birds and golems? Will I get to meet them, too, one day?
[Not as many as he used to, unfortunately. He tucks his cane beneath his arm for now, tilting his smile wry.]
I don't know. I can't access them any longer. [How long will they remain tamped down, just designs on his skin? He wishes he knew.] Even in that other world. The "ON" one.
Curious is right. I wonder at the point of it all. Why these false memories, why we’re weakened. Why we’re even here. Do we all share certain traits, something that makes us qualify for interdimensional kidnapping? Or is it random?
I have no idea. And as interesting as all this is, I do have rather urgent business I need to get back to at home.
[ A sigh. He hopes that the others aren't too distressed about his disappearance, but after what happened with Ash... he can only imagine Gideon his beside himself. ]
[ If that's the case, it's only a shared trait because this place made it so. ]
Well, when I say "impenetrable" I do mean that literally. We cannot leave. But all that aside, the people there have suffered enough. Dispatching the vampire lord who rules the place would be a benefit to everyone.
Then, if you'd care to hear it from the man himself, I can provide. We were gifted his diary at one point.
It is about what one would expect. "I loved this girl, she loved my brother instead. I killed my brother and, for some strange reason, the woman I loved didn't take that well and flung herself from the castle walls. My torment knows no bounds, Vampyr is my name forevermore, blah, blah, blah."
[ This is clearly a Declan-ification of the words of "the man himself", though he can provide the text in full if V is really that curious. ]
[A "Declan-ification" is no doubt a biased account, though V is sure he's... justified in his patronization of this vampire lord, given what little he's already been told.
Even so, brother issues? Double yikes.]
But in his own words, I'm sure his actions made sense to himself, if only himself. A relationship between brothers can be a messy thing.
[HE WOULD KNOW......]
I wouldn't mind hearing a passage or two from his diary, if you can recall it.
[ The downfalls of a photographic memory. In any case, Declan clears his throat, and does his very best (or very worst) Strahd impression as he recites: ]
All goodness slipped from my life. I found my youth and strength gone, and all I had left was death. My army settled in the valley of Barovia and took power over the people in the name of a just god, but with none of a god’s grace or justice.
I called for my family, long unseated from their ancient thrones, and brought them here to settle in the castle Ravenloft. They came with a younger brother of mine, Sergei. He was handsome and youthful. I hated him for both.
From the families of the valley, one spirit shone above all others. A rare beauty, who was called “perfection,” “joy,” and “treasure.” Her name was Tatyana, and I longed for her to be mine.
[Oh my god. This impression. The dramaticism. It's really very amusing, but V makes sure to focus on the words spoken, instead, no matter how much they're wreathed in the impression of an unhinged vampire lord.
And the more he listens, the more his lips press into a thin line. Not only does it sound like a man with brother issues, but also one who may just have a tendency to fixate. Wonderful!
I lo— Ahem! Oh, yes, I do! This mind of mine is like a steel trap, you see!
[ He taps a finger to his temple. ]
Which is both a blessing and a curse, sometimes, but it has proven useful more often than not. I know a few other tricks as well. Go on, ask me which way is north!
[Oh. Is this like V reading to some poor audience the endless lines of certain Blake and Shelley poems from memory only? Maybe, maybe not. V's also pored over those books a gazillion times in his youth, and something tells him Strahd's diary might not have gotten quite as many re-reads.
[ He takes a second to think, then... points!!! If V cares to double check using the map app on his phone or something like that, he will find that Declan is spot on. ]
Ta-da!!
Edited (when you typo the one word of dialogue in your whole tag) 2023-05-09 18:27 (UTC)
[ Declan blinks back, then shrugs like, "why the hell not?" and does just that. Eyes closed, he spins, once, twice, again, five times in total. He sways a little on the spot, then, and ultimately opts to just. Sit on the floor.
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clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
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[ He kicks his feet a little, rocking back on his new perch. ]
You struck me as a rather dire sort at first, you know.
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[V puts in an effort to get onto his feet with a slight wobble, but he manages it. He casts about for his cane, which had skid away a yard or two in the thrill.]
Oh, I can be dire. [And dour, and aloof.] But I also like a thrill. Better than lamenting being trapped in another dimension, somewhere far flung from home, hm?
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[ His gaze darts over, landing on V's cane, slid up against a wall and caught in the folds of a throw rug. With another swing of his legs, he abandons his cat bench and moves to retrieve it. ]
You have quite the interesting definition of friendship. [ A smile, as he offers the cane back over, handle-first. ] But I like it.
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So when Declan comes back with his cane, V grasps it without responding, not quite sure how to reply just yet. He finally settles on:]
I suppose our "other" selves were friends for a reason, anyway.
[That feels like a safe middle ground, at least.]
Though I am going to safely assume mine was only half as exciting.
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Perhaps! Maybe enough of a reason to serve as a foundation for something new?
[ They don't have to be besties right away, of course, but how could he not find himself liking V after this little adventure? ]
Hm. There is a distinct lack of squishy panthers in my other memories.
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The thing about being half of a whole is that, when complete, his experiences now will be as though he lived them himself. Because he did. Technically. It's all very confusing when you've been split in twain. (Again.)
...But he supposes this particular "foundation" is not inherently terrible. Not even unfavorable. V had always wished to drive home the idea of one's humanity being necessary, being a pillar of strength instead of weakness. Would this only reinforce it further?
Probably.]
...Maybe.
[Speaking of squishy panthers, Shadow strides back up to V and dissolves into disintegrating darkness, settling back into V's markings on his skin.]
And no. Nor loudmouthed birds or golems. I'm what you call an upgrade.
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He watches with rapt attention as Shadow becomes the ink on V's skin,. None of the familiars he's seen can do that and it makes him wonder just how many more tricks this man has up his sleeves — quite literally, perhaps. ]
Loudmouthed birds and golems? Will I get to meet them, too, one day?
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I don't know. I can't access them any longer. [How long will they remain tamped down, just designs on his skin? He wishes he knew.] Even in that other world. The "ON" one.
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[ He frowns a bit, one hand braced on his hip and the other tucked beneath his chin in thought. ]
Curiouser and curiouser.
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Curious is right. I wonder at the point of it all. Why these false memories, why we’re weakened. Why we’re even here. Do we all share certain traits, something that makes us qualify for interdimensional kidnapping? Or is it random?
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[ A sigh. He hopes that the others aren't too distressed about his disappearance, but after what happened with Ash... he can only imagine Gideon his beside himself. ]
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[Perhaps that’s a shared trait. All of them cut off from something important — this much would apply to V.]
What it is exactly that you’re trying to achieve in this place?
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Well, when I say "impenetrable" I do mean that literally. We cannot leave. But all that aside, the people there have suffered enough. Dispatching the vampire lord who rules the place would be a benefit to everyone.
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This vampire lord… He adds to the people’s suffering for what purpose? For this woman you mentioned?
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[ He's read Strahd's diary, he can recite it— the dude also has brother issues, it'll be a great time. ]
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...My curiosity knows no bounds.
[Of course he wants to know the details, even if he might be curious for more personal reasons, too.]
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It is about what one would expect. "I loved this girl, she loved my brother instead. I killed my brother and, for some strange reason, the woman I loved didn't take that well and flung herself from the castle walls. My torment knows no bounds, Vampyr is my name forevermore, blah, blah, blah."
[ This is clearly a Declan-ification of the words of "the man himself", though he can provide the text in full if V is really that curious. ]
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Even so, brother issues? Double yikes.]
But in his own words, I'm sure his actions made sense to himself, if only himself. A relationship between brothers can be a messy thing.
[HE WOULD KNOW......]
I wouldn't mind hearing a passage or two from his diary, if you can recall it.
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[ The downfalls of a photographic memory. In any case, Declan clears his throat, and does his very best (or very worst) Strahd impression as he recites: ]
All goodness slipped from my life. I found my youth and strength gone, and all I had left was death. My army settled in the valley of Barovia and took power over the people in the name of a just god, but with none of a god’s grace or justice.
I called for my family, long unseated from their ancient thrones, and brought them here to settle in the castle Ravenloft. They came with a younger brother of mine, Sergei. He was handsome and youthful. I hated him for both.
From the families of the valley, one spirit shone above all others. A rare beauty, who was called “perfection,” “joy,” and “treasure.” Her name was Tatyana, and I longed for her to be mine.
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And the more he listens, the more his lips press into a thin line. Not only does it sound like a man with brother issues, but also one who may just have a tendency to fixate. Wonderful!
Not to interrupt, but also-]
...You remember what he wrote, word for word?
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[ He taps a finger to his temple. ]
Which is both a blessing and a curse, sometimes, but it has proven useful more often than not. I know a few other tricks as well. Go on, ask me which way is north!
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Brow arching.]
...Which way is north.
[sure why not]
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Ta-da!!
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Close your eyes, spin around five times, then tell me which way is north.
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As he's going down, he points. Same direction. ]
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