View source for 5511/Soliloquy of Reproach: Duplicity

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/10/07
|Location=Windknight's Lot <WKL>
|Synopsis=After many days of ill omens -- unnatural fog, clusters of bats, and even reports of a wolf in the countryside -- Jonathan finds a man that exactly matches the image in the three girls' mind. The man does nothing to dissuade this notion. Jonathan defeats him, but he escapes. However a woman named Maria appears, claiming to know the vampire. She offers to return, and tell all that she knows about the vampire that plagues Windknight's Lot, if Jonathan will but gather his allies.
|Thanks=Jonathan Joestar
|Cast of Characters=1128, 1107
|Tinyplot=Soliloquy of Reproach
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The reports on the Paladin's networks were troubling. Three women, all young blonde girls, had been attacked for blood and left for dead in alleys. Naturally, this didn't escape Alucard's notice. Particularly with the addendum -- the image from the girls' minds looked like him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So it is that, of late, Alucard has been haunting the streets of Windknight's Lot. Not as himself, surely. But he's been noticed. There has been talk of strangely-clustered banks of fog behind buildings. Reports of small clusters of bats hanging underneath eaves at night -- which is unusual, because bats hunt at night. Shouldn't they be searching for food? And finally, the howl of a wolf not far from the city. In fact, if little Poco or his sister had strayed far from the town, they might have even seen it -- white, with a dusty lavender 'saddle' of sorts, a pattern on its back of dusty lavender.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;These have, of course, been Alucard's forms. Mist for eavesdropping on conversations -- the citizens are afraid, and they are angry; why THIS, AGAIN? Bat for searching from overhead -- the streets have been more or less undisturbed since the Elites came to visit. Which in itself is odd; what made the attacks stop? And wolf for scouring the surrounding territory -- if the vampire is still close by, the wolf's keen nose should sniff him out.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tonight, though, as the fog gathers in one of the alleys where the latest of the attacks took place... it takes the form of a man. He's of average height. Most of his features are hidden by a long black hooded cloak that wraps about him and falls to the ground.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The cloak hangs around a slender body, the hood hides all but the bottom third of what would be, if the face was completely seen, the face of a beautiful man -- the chin is narrow and the lips are full, but the jawline is far too squared to confuse it for a woman's jaw. The skin is near-white, with the barest hint of color. In the darkness it could be missed entirely. On either side of his face, near-white blond hair hangs from underneath the hood, laying against his chest in gentle waves.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Everything is as the girls' minds projected...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He stands near where the last young woman was found. Silently he turns his head from one side to the other. And audibly sniffs. "...It's been too long," he breathes quietly. He crouches, lowering himself to the ground where the old bloodstain rests, and reaches out to touch the stain. His voice still quiet, but humming inexplicably with power, he speaks. "...<span style="color:xterm196">Dark Metamorphosis</span>..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A malevolent red aura glows around the cloaked figure for a moment, then the stain begins to disappear. It seems to be drawn up into the gloved hand of the cloaked figure...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>Ever since the attacks first began, Jonathan hadn't went far from the Lot. Though a cursory sweep of the outer Castlegrounds had revealed nothing of interest that he could tell, he hadn't had the time for the deep searching he would have liked -- after all, that would have left the town unprotected. "I'm tellin' you, I saw it! I did! This big white wolf with purple marks! Or .. was it purple with white marks? No no, it was -- " Poco was silenced by Jonathan's hand settling itself gently onto his head. "I believe you. I have to go out and patrol now, but I'll definitley keep my eyes peeled for this mysterious wolf you've seen, alright?"<br><br>The brother-sister pair waved Jonathan off from their humble home as he secured Bruford's sword onto his back and continued out onto the darkening streets. The rumors had only gotten worse, about oddly behaved bats and strange mist. Most didn't believe Poco terribly, believing he was spinning a tall tale, but Jonathan was more than willing to give the benefit of the doubt given the oddities that Dio tended to surround himself with. If this vampire were at all similar, familiar wolves or bats would not be a stretch.<br><br>Truthfully, the darkness that settled over the Lot is what allowed Jonathan to catch wind of the cloaked figure. An ominous red glow rarely insinuated anything wholesome in his experience, lo and behold, when he arrived on the scene to check it out ...<br><br>A figure, draped in a deep black cloak, with pale skin and near snow-white hair. He couldn't exactly tell with it hunched over, but the figure did seem shorter here in the real world than it did in the minds of those girls ... but even still.<br><br>His boot dug deep into the dirt road as leather strained under the clenching of Jonathan's fists. A pose was struck dramatically with such force of prescence that it would be hard not to notice. "Vampire! Your acts of vulgar and grotesque heresies end right here, right now! I won't allow you to get away with it any longer!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard freezes. He could smell the approach, sense the power. But too late, as the voice breaks into his thoughts before he can create an escape plan. He could dissolve into mist and likely escape, even now. But something stops him. Something about that tone, if not the voice itself, strikes a familiar chord to Alucard.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's righteous indignation. That is the voice of a hero, even Alucard can hear that. The voice of a man willing to give his life to see that the people of his world could live peacefully. This man was this world's protector.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The problem is, Alucard sensed something in the area was familiar as well. If it was familiar to him, then it was a bad thing for this world. A beast from the castle, one of its minions that had escaped? Had this world ever faced such horrors? Could this man stand against those horrors?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He has to know...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...Won't you?" the cloaked figure speaks, his deep baritone voice still quiet. He stands slowly -- yeah, this guy's still quite a bit shorter than Jonathan. But still a vampire, and probably still dangerous. "...Can you stop these vulgar and grotesque acts?" He turns slowly, seeming to not move his legs as he turns. "Can you stand against them?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He makes no move to attack, not yet. The hood lifts, just enough to observe the larger man. Jonathan may get a better look at the face underneath as he does, since Alucard will have to tilt his head up so far.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>Jonathan's strong jawline tightens as his expression gets harder in his indignation. Deep, shiny black hair and blue eyes stare unflinchingly at the shorter of the two. Jonathan acknowledged the threat that was being posed by his enemy, he was not dismissing it -- but he had the bravery to stand up to it like a mighty wall of steel, none the less. Jonathan changes from his struck pose to an amalgamated stance of boxing and martial arts, breathing in deeply, audibly. <span class="underline fg_n bg_n ++ u">"Koooooooooh....................."</span><br><br>His chest expanded with the drawn out breath, ripples of light beginning to emenate from his form like waves of heat. The changing motion of his arm from a defensive to offensive form left behind trails of afterimages, muscles buldging tight against dark blue leather. "With this <u><b>SENDO POWER</b></u> I'll show it with certainty!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="underline fg_n bg_n ++ u">"ZOOOOOOOM PUNCH!"</span><br><br>It was a simple boxing jab, easy to dodge at such a long range. It'd just require the vampire to move backwards. But, Jonathan's fist accelerated, his arm seeming to stretch longer than the bones would allow with a small wet pop, telescoping towards Alucard's face in a reddish-gold-orange rush of lightning.<br><br>An attack meant to simultaneously make a statement, and put distance between the two of them so that Jonathan could reach for his sword.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard sees the shift of stance, and his gray eyes narrow beneath that hood. Breath, pooling in Jonathan's lungs, igniting a fire that Alucard can sense. A fire that rings bells of alarm in the vampiric side of his nature in a way that few things can. His eyes widen, and he has time to draw in a breath of shock before the fist comes at him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes, he could dodge. But if he doesn't feel the strength behind the blow, he won't know how strong this man is. So instead he crosses his arms before him, to block. The blow still drives him back though, as he uses the momentum from the punch to leap back.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As he does, more of the figure is revealed -- Jonathan might recognize his clothing as a nobleman's garb, done in black. The vest is trimmed in silver, the overcoat trimmed in gold. A rich man's clothes.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, as it seems Jonathan is retrieving a sword, Alucard does the same. It's a thin long sword with a simple design. But it looks much larger than a man his size should be able to use one-handed; it's the length of a bastard sword. But he wields it as a longsword.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And still he doesn't attack. He waits for Jonathan. His hood is still up for the moment, still hiding some of his face. He stands still as death, not fidgeting the way humans do.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>The dress of a wealthy man -- Jonathan knew it well. His Father, Dio and himself all dressed similarly through most of their lives. Dio especially had a love for reds, golds, and blacks where as Jonathan and his Father preferred shades of blue, red being something worn rather rarely. Jonathan's keen eye settled firmly on Alucard's blade of choice, unsurprised that Alucard could wield it so. He was an inhuman monster, after all. Jonathan's own sword of Luck &amp; Pluck was uniquely, a longsword custom made for the Black Knight Bruford. It held the general shape of a longsword, but the length and thickness of its blade was closer to a traditional english greatsword. Alucard's wasn't much shorter, really.<br><br>Jonathan, as well, held his sword in one hand, the other kept free.<br><br>Jonathan didn't give Alucard much time to strategize. His experience with vampires and their ilk taught him one thing: not to let them recover from being caught unawares. If this fiend wished to engage in sword to sword combat, he had a nasty surprise in store for the vampire, the same sort that would have very nearly killed Dio, he was sure.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Have at you!"<br><br>His charge seemed to be with reckless abandon, but there was something cunning, specific, about it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard holds the blade in his right hand; it's reasonable to assume that he's right-handed and that approaching from the left might put him off his guard somewhat. His eyes follow Jonathan's movements however, and he raises the blade, as if to block. However, Jonathan might find something odd happening. When he swings...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...A reddish aura pulses around the cloaked figure, and his image seems to be pulled to one side so fast it leaves afterimages. But Jonathan should watch his back. Because after a second or two, the images reappear, as if being 'put together' again.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Behind him!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He emits a loud hiss of triumph as he reappears behind Jonathan, and raises his blade to swing! It's a slice aimed at his back. But it won't be deep, even if it does connect.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard doesn't want to kill this man. He just wants the man to REACT as if he intends to. Only when a hero believes his life is in danger will his true colors show.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>"!?!?!?!"<br><br>Jonathan's memory flashes before him, to his second encounter with the vampirized Dio Brando. How he'd seemingly faded into the night in his retreat -- was this a similar feat? The all too familiar noise reached his ears. That /noise/. Just hearing it was associative enough to make his already expanded lungs burn in overstress as Jonathan breathed in deeply through his nostrils.<br><br>A sword, that meant he was going to be attacked through blade rather than vampiric power. Leery, the monster might be, of physical contact..<br><br>Jonathan abruptly collapses one of his knees, dropping his body down by a near quarter of his height as his sword of Luck &amp; Pluck rose above his head. The golden blaze around his body began to compact and focus when the two swords meet, Jonathan just barely managing to perform an uncomfortable overhead block in his rapid crouching maneuver, leaving one boot caked with mud. His armored shoulders tensed under the strength Alucard's swing no doubt carried with it by default, yet, held steady. "This is -- courage! <span class="underline bold_fg_w bg_n ++ huw">HAMON SENDO!</span>"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u><b>METAL SILVER ... OOOVERDRIIIIVE!</b></u>"<br><br>The silver gleaming edge of Jonathan's swords suddenly turned alight with crackling azure lightning racing up and down its form. In turn, it suddenly became a brilliant and fiery gold, transferring its sparks onto Alucard's family heirloom, and as a result ... <br><br>The Hamon inside of Jonathan's sword was surging into Alucard's, and in just a moment, it should enter the vampire's hand, his arm! "HUOOOOOOOOOOH!"<br><br>Jonathan tensed his legs and pushed with his whole body, upwards.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The swords clash with a metallic sound. Good, Alucard thinks. He's strong, and perceptive as well. Appears to trust his instincts, and doesn't question them. But Alucard isn't convinced just yet. Strength and smarts aren't everything. This young man is brash, openly challenging a vampire at night. But does he have the resolve to go through with it if his life is truly in danger?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard seems to meet Jonathan's bare strength relatively evenly. The pressure on the crossed swords should be enough to tell Jonathan that he is indeed crossing swords with a supernaturally strong creature. But not more pressure is applied, there's no attempt to overpower Jonathan in that instant. The visible part of the face is calm and flat, displaying no emotion; none of the smug glee that Jonathan has seen before in these sorts of foes. Only calmness.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then Alucard realizes that he's got problems of his own. There's a split-second when he senses that power again. And then the blade of his own sword is acting as a conduit for whatever that strange power is. It reaches his hand before he can leap back, and he emits a cry of pain. Jonathan's moving then, and Alucard uses that momentum to push off of the crossed swords, leaping back out of range of that energy.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The leap is supernaturally far, and the cloak billows out as he flies back. For a split-second, the underside of the cloak is visible -- red and glowing, pulsing like a heartbeat. And then the cloak actually flaps once, like nothing so much as a great pair of wings, carrying him back yet farther.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While his landing is light, he seems to slouch, the sword arm hanging before him as if he did not possess the strength to move it. Wisps of smoke rise from his arm, and he is visibly baring teeth in pain. NOW he's shaking -- that hurt! But the baring of teeth shows the fangs. They're not quite like Dio's, though. While the top fangs look positively deadly, his lower set of teeth look pretty normal.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>Jonathan's eyes narrow in on the fangs -- there was something off about them. Deadly, for sure, but not the mouth full of razors most vampiric ilk tended to possess. None the less, Jonathan now stood back at his full height, breathing in deep and regular intervals. The creature's arm was smoking, but it hadn't been destroyed, a sign that his Hamon perhaps had not gone deep enough. A testament to the sheer speed his opponent preferred to move at, blitzing around the edge of ones vision. No more, Jonathan vowed.<br><br>Holding his sword with one hand, a very sharp pointing motion was made with his finger. "Those three women -- why them? They all bore a great similarity to one another, tell me why that is!"<br><br>There was something un-natural about that cloak. Jonathan didn't want to get too close again, without having a chance to figure out its exact abilities. "And the oddities that have occured here, the mist, the bats, and I bet even that wolf Poco saw were all your doing!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard had not actually seen the three women; he had been unable to enter the place where they were recovering, even in his mist form. It wasn't that there were no places he could get in. But the roses around the house had made it impossible for him to enter, as if an unbreakable barrier. It wasn't unheard of, though, for vampires to prefer a certain kind of prey. But then suddenly something sparks in his mind. A realization. His lips part for a breath of surprise. Young, beautiful, blonde women?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''('...Mother.')''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That part he leaves unsaid. Now is not the time for that. But he does answer that second concern there. His momentary look of surprise fades, replaced by that calmness again. "...Does it surprise you that a vampire should be able to change his forms?" Even here his voice is quiet and devoid of much emotion. "Then you have much yet to learn about vampires, young man, before you may hope to save others from them." There is a hiss in his voice as he continues, "Allow me to demonstrate..." His off-hand raises, glowing a bright red. A quick sequence of arcane movements, and then his voice booms out, echoing abnormally, "<span style="color:xterm196">SOUL STEAL!</span>"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's a pull. A pull deep down, as if being drained of blood. But it's not blood. It's energy. The pull is aiming back at Alucard, seeking to steal some of that precious life energy from Jonathan, to heal himself. It's not much, hopefully just enough to heal Alucard's mangled arm.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>A name like 'soul steal' did not inspire good feelings. Jonathan tried to hold his weapon up defensively, but it was for naught -- his life force was being drained and he could feel it. But, for Alucard, trying to tap into that well and drink from it was like trying to carefully remove a drop of water from an ocean. A human's life force would naturally give them, give or take, a hundred years. Jonathan easily had ten times that, most probably, more. "Gh -- it can't be?! My life is being drained without direct contact?! This is an ability beyond even Dio..!"<br><br>How could he counter something like that? He was only as effective as his sword's reach right now!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unless ...<br><br>Jonathan sprints away, seeming to turn tail and run. It brought him no small amount of shame to look like that, but, Alucard wouldn't be alone for long. As Jonathan, a mere twenty or thirty seconds later, has performed a loop through the part of the village they were fighting in, coming out a fair way behind Alucard's previous position. "VAMPIRE!"<br><br>Jonathan held in his free hand, a clump of rose petals. They were crackling with golden-orange flames, a fire that did not burn them.<B><u>LIFE MAGNETISM OVERDRIVE!</u></b>"<br><br>Jonathan hurled them like a volley of knives, and the petals surprisingly cut through the air like razers in their course towards Alucard.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard's eyes narrow as Jonathan seems to be... well, doing the smart thing, actually. A demonstration of a power that had little in the way of defense against... anyone would run. Anyone SHOULD run. He was a bit disappointed, but also pleased. Not that he'd made Jonathan flee. That he'd convinced the man to flee... and keep his life. Perhaps now he'll stop with this 'hero' business. Alucard relaxes his stance, heaves a bit of a sigh, and sheathes his sword.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...That should dissuade any more foolish heroics. Brave, yes. Strong, yes. Almost a pity. But only shame and a pointless death awaits those without resolve..." There is no contempt in these words. In fact they're spoken almost... gently? These words were not for Jonathan's ears. But yet Jonathan may catch some of them as he returns.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard's eyes widen as he hears the voice, and he whirls to look. "What...?!" That power... Richter could do something very much like that. He could set his whip aflame with no apparent means to do so. The Vampire Killer burned with flames that did not harm the whip or his hands, but seared his enemies as surely as if he had set them aflame himself -- the flame of his spirit. Then could this young man possess the same power?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then suddenly a multitude of what he would swear were razors are flung at him. They tear into the cloak, and sprays of blood meet the air. They tear into the hood as well, pushing it back to reveal his face. The wounds visible on his cheeks smoke, as Jonathan might expect, but they bleed as if they had been inflicted on a human.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And through that volley of razor-like petals, the dhampir lunges, fangs bared. The growl in his throat changes to a throatier sound, and in mid-run he places four feet on the ground as a wolf. It is indeed much like what Poco described. That lavender wolf charges, faster than any normal wolf, so fast it leaves a blur behind it, and leaps at Jonathan, maw snapping viciously.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>Jonathan felt a smidgen of satisfaction of finally cracking that cool exterior. It had almost reminded him of Bruford at first, but -- it was different. He could tell, the difference between genuine stoicism and what had to have been at least, partially an act. But, there was still something off here. He'd struck several direct hits on the creature with his Hamon, and true enough, the wounds smoked, burned to molten ash. However, as well, they bled. Something that no vampire or zombie should be capable of doing in response to a Hamon-inflicted injury.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then, the monster changed forms.<br><br>It had not been lying, it was completely capable of altering its physiology at high-speeds. About as quickly as Dio could regenerate, even! Now that lavender beast was charging at him, Jonathan's mind barked only one recourse.<br><br>His blade was cast aside?! Even though Alucard was blurring forward at a speed that gave Jonathan a mere moment to react, he responded with nothing less than a fully powered attack from the front! Air was sucked in deep, expanding his chest. At the risk of exposing himself to a lethal attack from those snapping jaws, Jonathan tries to pin the wolf's head between his fists. "<span style="color:uxterm214">HAMON!</span>"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The one in a million ripple!<br><br>"<span style="color:uxterm208">OVEEEEEEEEEEERDRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!</span>"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alucard had once heard an ally of his say something that stuck with him. Something that had shaped his thoughts, even if he didn't realize it, even before he heard it. For a man to fight a monster, he must be willing to place his life in jeopardy. He must be willing to throw away the concept of defense at the right moment, and face the monster's attack, even if it means his death. For monsters must die, lest they feed upon the innocent... and sometimes all a man can do is drag the monster down to Hell with him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'Killing you is what's most important. Living through it is a luxury.'<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then here is Jonathan. At the charge of a mad beast, he should dodge. Block. Something! But no... the sword is dropped, and the fists clamp around the sides of the wolf's head. The wolf emits a surprised yelp, and soon changes back again. He tries to pull free, but it's not fast enough. In the next instant, the sensation of the fires of a hundred suns explodes through him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The skin exposed to the hamon begins to smoke and burn, and he emits a cry of pain. But the flesh does not 'melt', as Jonathan may be accustomed to a vampire's flesh reacting to hamon. The skin sizzles and blisters, as a human's skin might when exposed to flames. The attack also blasts him down the street quite a ways, too. He hits the ground once, with a grunt, and then rolls and bounces along the street a short distance before coming to a stop, facedown on the ground.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He is still as death. But though the body smokes and Jonathan can still hear the skin sizzling, the body does not disappear.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>Jonathan let out a small breath of a relief -- he hadn't been killed. No matter how close to the wire it was, he'd still gone above and beyond merely destroying his enemy with him. Yet, he still felt perturbed -- this Vampire should have been obliterated by a direct Hamon charge like that. Jack the Ripper and even Tarkus hadn't stood up to it, a direct hit vaporized the gargantuan Vampire's body. Yet, all he'd seen were blisters on porcelin white skin.<br><br>Jonathan reclaims his sword, and tentatively, approaches the smoking body. A body that should not be there. "You're no Vampire, nor a Zombie. Yet, still, you're a denizen just as heinous."<br><br>Jonathan stopped a good five feet away, eyeing Alucard warily, almost as if expecting him to leap to his feet and retaliate.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the vampire's hands twitches. It seems that Jonathan's assessment was correct, this one isn't dead. Not yet. But he doesn't leap to his feet. No, he very slowly begins to get his hands under him, to push himself up to a kneeling pose, one foot upon the ground.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As he draws himself up slowly, the extent of the damage is seen. Both sides of his face are burnt horribly where Jonathan's fists had been a few seconds earlier. Smoke sill rises from the burnt skin, but it does appear to already be healing. And as he rises to one knee?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He laughs.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not one of those loud, maniacal cackles, either. It's the low, breathy chuckle of someone who is genuinely amused. And also in pain. Because Alucard might not be full vampire, but he is half. And he's wholly in pain!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...A foolish move," Alucard intones, voice still flat. He makes no move to rise yet, remaining on one knee, his head down. He isn't looking up at Jonathan yet. "Had you been a split second too late, I might have taken your head off. A split second too early and you might have lost an arm."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>"The one who is too scared to act will never do anything -- I told you that your reign of terror ends /tonight/." Jonathan's face remains stern, but he was unsettled. This Vampire's personality was unusual, to say the least. He couldn't get a good feeling about it, in other words, he was facing an enigma. An unknown quantity.<br><br>"An arm, or my head ... it doesn't matter if it means destroying you."<br><br>Still, the adrenaline rush wouldn't last forever. He'd start getting tired soon, and while he could power through it, he'd rather not fight a Vampire while totally exhausted.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...I see."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Right there. THAT was what Alucard had been looking for. This isn't a man who plays hero for the sake of the glory. This is a man willing to lay his life down for what he believed in, to sacrifice himself for the safety of those he cares about. So... an ally.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But this man probably won't accept a simple 'I didn't do it'. Particularly since Alucard has no other explanation for the attacks. He has yet to find any other evidence, but he knows it wasn't him. He has several theories... but this is not the time for them.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the situation, despite the burns and injuries, Alucard smiles. As he raises his head a little, the smile is visible. It's a small smile, but one that seems to light his face in a way that no monster should be capable of. Can a vampire experience true joy?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then he closes his eyes, lowers his head... and his body melts away into fog again. His clothing does not remain, but melts away with him. The fog begins to rise up into the air rather than escape via the streets. But before Jonathan can think of pursuing...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sounds of rapid footsteps and rapid breathing echo in the street behind him. And they're getting closer. Someone's approaching from behind him! It's a high-pitched sound, like a small person.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>That expression.<br><br>It didn't seem right on a monster's face. Of course, he knew that Vampires could feel joy, but not in the same way as a human being -- at least, not the ones from his world. It'd be more accurate to say they felt carnivorouos satisfaction. But surely, that look had not been the look of a predator. Perhaps, had his Hamon brought some part of this person to the surface, like it had for Bruford? Or was it there all along?<br><br>Before Jonathan could hesitate further, Alucard became like mist and made his escape. "!!"<br><br>Twirling Luck &amp; Pluck expertly to sheathe it, Jonathan makes haste to pursue, yet finds himself halted. Footsteps, from a being that could be nothing but tiny. " --- huh?"<br><br>Yes, that short, high pitched breathing. A girl? Or perhaps a small boy? Jonathan doesn't have to think long about which to go after before he jogs towards the noise. "Who's there, are you alright?!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Jonathan jogs toward the sound, he comes face to face with a girl. One who looks quite startled to see him! She's a pretty little thing, with her long blonde hair bound into a high ponytail with a black ribbon. She peers at Jonathan with wide green eyes as she skids to a stop. Wait... a pretty young woman with long blonde hair...?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Like the girls who were attacked...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She is not from this village, not at all. Her features are foreign. And her outfit is positively SCANDALOUS by this world's standards! Her dark green overcoat and corseted waist are nothing unusual, not even the rather low neckline. But the skirt. The SKIRT! It rests SEVERAL INCHES above her knees, displaying her legs almost completely!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To her credit, she does wear a pair of knee socks with wide green ribbons at the top, and they do cover the bottom half of her legs over her buckled shoes. But still! So much LEG on display! SCANDALOUS!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's out of breath, though she doesn't seem hurt. "Is... is he here?" she pants. A desperate look comes over her face. "Please tell me... I'm not too late...!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>Jonathan, thankfully, has spent enough time outside his own world to know to a degree, how ... ill-clothed many tended to be. Even so, he felt immensely uncomfortable in the prescence of a woman in such a short skirt. Really. That aside, however, her features immediately struck a chord of bother in him. She had a passing resemblance to his own fiance, of course, but more importantly she looked nearly one-to-one with the victims of the attack.<br><br>" 'Him?' If you mean that vampire, he's run off to lick his wounds, you're rather lucky. His choice of prey seem to be girls who look like they could be your sisters."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A pained look comes over her features, and the casts her gaze to the ground. "He... was not always so," she states quietly. "He was once a noble, honorable man. But now..." She pauses, as if suppressing a sob. Once she composes herself, she continues, "It was inevitable, I suppose, that he should fall so... his father is the Lord of All Vampires. None can expect to stand against the temptation of human blood for long, not with the impulse to take it that strong..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her brows draw down then, and she looks up again, with a determined look in her eyes. "That is why I have come here -- to stop him." The look softens a little. "I... I loved him once, and I believe he loved me. Perhaps I still do." And then the resolve returns to her expression. "But I will not allow him to hurt others any longer!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>... So that was it ... a tragic love story. Jonathan's expression eases up, softening in sympathy. "What a twisted fate. ... The words of a stranger may not mean much, but I am sorry that this has befallen you two. In some ways, I suppose we're all beholden to our lineage."<br><br>Jonathan's eyes squint as his facial features tense back up. "That said, I don't think you should try and do battle with him, Miss. His abilities are enigmatic and deadly, even compared to the monsters that have plagued this place before. Unless you're an 'Elite' as well, it may be best for you to tend elsewhere."<br><br>It was a little hard to say that. Because he too knew the burning responsibility that she likely felt, at least, to an extent.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...We are," the woman replies. "That is why I cannot go. My name is Maria Renard. My brother is Richter Belmont, and this is his trade. We are all fated to walk this path, for the Belmonts are fated to destroy the Dark Lord Dracula each time he rises. I have been inside the Dark Lord's castle before, and fought through it in search of my brother. We both survived its horrors... thanks to him."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shakes her head. "Forgive me, but I cannot leave strangers to deal the last blow. It is my responsibility. If I cannot save him, I will be with him in his final moments..." She pauses, sighs. "Before that. Tell me your name sir, and how it is you fought him away single-handedly."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>Vampire hunters, then. Jonathan nods, though he was still mildly perturbed at the proclomation of Count Dracula. It still was not the strangest thing he'd heard of, but to think that the count truly did exist in some world, somehow ... well, it wasn't a very pleasing thought. <br><br>"My name is Jonathan Joestar. You could say my family has a history with ancient artifacts and vampires ... I fought the vampire off using Hamon, a Tibetan martial art that turned out to be rather effective against creatures of the night. Though, he was rather resillient to it, even after landing several direct hits, his body remained intact. ... I can sympathize with that feeling of responsibility. At the very least, I and my allies will fight with you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I see..." Maria replies. "You have my sympathies, Sir Joestar. Such things only bring tragedy to good people." The mention of 'Hamon' gets a look of surprise. This isn't something she's heard of, clearly. "I am pleased that it served you well. Adrian... he is very dangerous..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh but then Jonathan speaks of allies! Maria nods. "Allies? Very good. That is what we need. My dear Adrian is very powerful... he is several centuries old. I do not know how vampires in your world function... but in mine, as a vampire ages, his power increases. As he is now, it would be suicide for one to face him alone..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She thinks a moment. "Your allies... can you bring them here? I will tell you all what I can of him, all of you at once. And I know where he may be found. I know where he sleeps. Bring your allies here, and I will brief you all, and then we will go to where he sleeps and... end him." The last two words seem hard for her to say.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1107|Jonathan Joestar (1107)}} has posed:'''<br>Jonathan nods sternly. "Very well, I'll put out the call to bring the others here. If all goes well, they should arrive within several days, at most. "<br><br>And then they can finally put this nightmare falling over the Lot to rest. The people, hopefully, will be able to move on with their lives and he ... he could set out to find Dio once more, if not Tom Petty, Dire, and Straights.<br><br>"If you need a place to stay for the night, I can take you to the building the victims have been housed in. It's been warded against vampires and their ilk, it should be a safe place for you to rest."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1128|Alucard Tepes (1128)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maria nods as well. "Thank you. I am sorry that he has caused you so much pain," she replies, her voice barely above a whisper. "I cannot but feel responsible. Perhaps if I had done something sooner... I should have seen the signs before it came to this. I learned he had taken human blood in the past; I should have known he would not be able to hold himself back forever..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Strangely, when the house is mentioned, she... winces. It's a quick gesture, barely a flicker of emotion over her face. But the astute eye will catch it. "Thank you, Sir Joestar. But I must return to my sister. She is of delicate constitution. But more than that, she resembles me as well. I would not wish dear Adrian to attack her as well. Your people here are strong from their adversity. My sister would not survive such an attack."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She turns to Jonathan fully now, and makes to take his hand. If allowed to do so, she will give the hand a gentle squeeze. Her hand is cold and clammy, possibly from fright and nerves. And just maybe, the realization of what she must do to someone she loves. Jonathan will doubtless know what that feels like...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As quickly as she had tried to grip his hand, she moves away. "Take care, Sir Joestar! Until we meet again!" And then she dashes away the way she came. She is REALLY fast. Thankfully the skirt is snug, so it doesn't flip up as she runs.<br> <br>
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