Scene #8947: Sad Swordboy in the Sundew Kingdom

Owner	Pose
Sarracenia	Despite all the radio chatter, Alucard actually said yes to visiting the Sundew Kingdom and meeting its princess, Sarracenia! The princess wants to make a good impression on her newest target...er, acquaintance! Although, she is not quite sure what Alucard looks like. So, she has given him instructions to meet her in the main square of town. She also gave him a description to work with. Look for a tall woman in a red royal gown with shining copper hair, a crown on her head, and a burgundy red metal flower in her hair. It would be pretty obvious even without the description, though. Whether using the one road leading through the forest from the closest crossroads or flying in, one thing that is immediately striking is just how big the trees are and how dense the underbrush is. Another is that a good portion of the population are rather odd plant people with heads like pitcher plants but full of shark-like teeth. Instead of typical arms and hands they have giant leaves as both, and roots for legs/feet. Many are dressed in conquistador style armor and carry spears. The town guards perhaps? One other thing that might catch his attention is the aerial docks. Wooden airships that look basically like someone took a wooden sailing ship and stuck helicopter propellers on them come too and fro, and a few heavy ships are visible with gunports and more robust propellers. The grandest of which is the Sundew Sovereign, a Spanish galleon style airship some 200 feet long with a golden effigy of Sarracenia on the front of it. It is currently docked at the top of the air docks.
Alucard	In a strange twist of fate, Alucard is running late. It's not because he's had too much to drink, or he's gotten waylaid. He got a bit lost on the way. It is, after all, his first trip outside of his own universe. Directions to the Sundew kingdom, which gates to take and all that, are well and good, but they still can't defeat rank and complete inexperience. On the bright side, he's only about fifteen minutes late past his scheduled arrival. MOMENTS AGO A massive white wolf barrels down the only road leading into the capital. The beast sprints far faster than a natural creature and, given the local fauna, stands out even more. Claws scrape on the road's cobblestones as the creature skids to a stop, the guards wide eyed at such a creature. When he shifts back to himself, adjusting the lapels of his long coat, they only goggle a little bit less. It's a big multiverse after all. "Gentlemen. ...Gentle-plants," he greets them, striding through the gates without another word. Apparently plant-people aren't that weird to him. NOW The son of Dracula's long strides eat ground as he takes in the town, heading for the square in search of his royal meetup. The Princess likely will not have any trouble guessing who he is, given his height and how pale he is. His eyes, golden like a wolf's, glitter in the sunlight as he approaches the only obvious target. He bows, courtly and genteel. "Your Highness, I presume," he states, not asks.
Sarracenia	A massive white wolf definitely garners some attention. Guards he passes in that form talk to each other in gravelly and somewhat alarmed voices but do not raise weapons since the wolf seems non-hostile. As he passes through the gate they continue staring at him. Which is somewhat odd since they have no obvious eyes. Fifteen minutes is not long really, but for an impatient princess it is an eternity. So, when Alucard does finally arrive the princess has a bowl of ice cream from a nearby shop. Rainbow Vanilla Pop Rocks ice cream. She blinks in surprise then she curtseys quickly, a red plastic spoon still between her lips. "Gweethins!" she says, then blinks again and mmphs in annoyance at herself before pulling the spoon free and sticking it in her bowl. She curtseys again and laughs self-consciously. "G-greetings! Alucard, I presume?" she says in return. She takes a moment to look him over, then smiles cheerfully. "Welcome to the Sundew Kingdom! I am, as you surmised, Princess Sarracenia Sundew. But, please, you may call me Princess Sarracenia. How was your trip? I hope you did not have too much trouble finding your way." she says, then motions toward the ice cream stand nearby. "Would you care for some? I would feel quite rude enjoying such a treat without offering to buy my guest some as well."
Alucard	Alucard straightens to his full height, resting his left hand near his hip. It's where his sword would be if he brought it. He's not expecting trouble, so it sits in the castle alone. He feels just a little off balance without it, but he seems to be managing. His right hand reaches up to push a few locks of lightly wavy, pale blond hair from his face as he regards the Princess. This is his first time in actual public since Trevor and Sypha left on their adventure. He can feel the anxiety crawling up his spine, but his face shows none of it. "Correct, Your Highness," he replies smoothly. His head tilts slightly at her offer, hair threatening to spill over his shoulder and back into his face again. "What...What is that? I am unfamiliar." History Fact: Ice cream was not a thing in Europe until the mid to late 1500s. Alucard comes from 1477. Ice cream is entirely alien to him!
Sarracenia	It has been so long since someone showed proper respect that Sarracenia is practically vibrating each time Alucard says 'your highness' or 'princess'. She giggles a bit and takes another bite just as he asks... 'What...what is that?' Sarracenia blinks and stares lightly for just a moment. "What is...this?" she asks, just to make sure she hears him correctly. It is then that she realizes he is from a fairly ancient period of Earth history. Her eyes widen and a delighted smile forms on her face. "Oh. My. Goodnes. Have you never had..." She smiles brightly and scoops up a bit of the rainbow dessert. "This is ice cream! It is a frozen dessert made from milk! There are dozens of flavors, but mine is a particularly unusual and delicious type! Rainbow Pop Rocks! It may be a bit extreme for a first time, though. But, if you would like to try it...!" And without really asking or thinking about the possibility of someone not wanting to try it, she walks over to the ice cream stand and smiles to the merchant. "A sampler please. Vanilla, chocolate, and Rainbow Pop Rocks." A bowl with three small scoops of those choices is provided, and Sarracenia grabs one of those red spoons before twirling once as she steps back toward Alucard. "Here~ Try each one, and whichever is your favorite we can get a full bowl or cone for you~ There are also toppings! But, those are a bit more advanced and take some time to learn which you like."
Alucard	"Ice cream," he says. The concept makes sense, there's just no refridgeration where he's from. Though that may change with the Joining. His quizzical head tilt straightens as she explains. "The wonders of technology," he murmurs drily. "Where I am from, freezing things is only possible in the winter, and to keep things cold, cellars are used. Though temperature may vary depending on the weather," he says pleasantly as he explains. Just don't look at all the weird technology in his castle. Half of it is probably magic anyway. He watches her bustle off, a little bemused, but also simply grateful for some basic human kindness and interaction. He takes the sampler dish and peers at it like a dog would an unfamiliar toy. He even takes a sniff, his enhanced senses firing strangely with the mixture of the cold and the trio of smells. "You are very kind, Your Highness," he says quietly, taking the spoon and scraping a small bit of the rainbow onto it. "I do not understand why the others on the ...communication sorcery are so cruel to you." He slips the taste of the pop rocks into his mouth, his fangs prominent for the first time, and he twitches at the tiny explosions.
Sarracenia	Sarra giggles a bit at the idea of freezing things in winter and trying to keep them a while in a cellar in spring. "Not quite ideal for frozen treats during the warmer months, hm?" she says as she hands the bowl over, then watches much like a child handing someone a thing they are excited about. Bottom lip lightly bitten, eyes practically sparkling as Alucard chooses the pop rocks ice cream, then waiting excitedly for the verdict. She can't help a slight giggle at the flinch from the tiny explosions. "It is quite tasty and fun, right? A dessert is not just about flavor, after all~ A proper dessert entertains as many senses as possible!" The subject of comm magic cruelty comes up, and Sarracenia huffs. "It...is a long story, one which is not flattering for any of the parties involved. It really is good advice to stay out of it unless you wish to join another war so soon after escaping your castle." She forces her smile back after that. "But, you did not come here for more depressing things, did you? I have many fun activities in mind. The ice cream was not actually even one of them. More of a whim, something which you may find I indulge in quite often~" She takes another bite of her own ice cream, then shivers in delight at the flavor and popping before giggling a bit. "Of course, you may direct things in whichever direction you wish. But, I thought perhaps a nice walk around the city, then through the castle to the flower garden in the central courtyard, and finally a ride on my airship!"
Alucard	"The flavor is pleasant but the ... tiny explosions are strange," the dhampir states, peering at it. "Not unpleasant, however." In turn, he tries the other two, eyes widening slightly at the richness of the chocolate and, well, vanilla is a luxurious, expensive ingredient where he is from. "I have had enough of war for the moment, I believe," he says quietly, something distant and tragic flickering through his eyes. "Still, you have shown me nothing but kindness." Something else crosses his face quickly. Despair and fear and deep to the bone regret. It's gone as quickly as it arrived. "Should you need it, you have my sword." He pauses, finishing the pop rocks first. Like he's going in order of what he likes least to most. "Which I did not think was appropriate to bring on a social call to a new ... acquaintance." Sarra begins listing an itinerary, and he simply nods along. All of this is new. "I will follow your lead, Princess. This is your land, and you know it intimately. As your guest, I will trust you to lead me on an ... adventure."
Sarracenia	While Sarra was hoping to find someone else who likes the Rainbow Pop Rocks flavor as much as she does, she cannot fault someone for liking chocolate or vanilla. She smiles as Alucard appraises them. "I am glad you like it!" she says. She nods in understanding at his reply about war and blinks in surprise at the pledge. And her expression grows more concerned at the flash of emotion. She hesitates a moment before placing a hand on Alucard's forearm. She does not know what to say, but perhaps a gesture of support is enough. She can't help a slight giggle at the comment about his sword. "I doubt it would have been a problem, but I appreciate the consideration." As Alucard leaves her as the party leader for their adventure, Sarra smiles brightly. "Excellent! I am sure any of my subjects would tell you I do enjoy a good adventure~" She takes Alucard on a tour through the castle town. It is a fairly small town, with architecture of mostly wood and alabaster stone. Much like outside the walls, there is only one main road through the city which leads to the castle itself. The square which they met in has a statue fountain of someone looking much like Sarra, but could be most any princess from this land or even this world. Like any small town, there are plenty of stalls and stores along the main road, along with a spa that the princess seems quite enthused about. She even asks Alucard if he would be interested in a day of pampering and seems quite happy to pay for it. Given his opinion on the princess so far though, he may find it strange that the people in general seem to avoid the princess. She greets a shopkeeper here and there from those shops she frequents herself and shows Alucard those shops, but the people's attitudes toward her range from indifferent to slightly negative judging by their faces. "And this is the power-up shop." she says eventually, actually stopping in front of this one. "They supply me with power-ups, which can give me and my allies many different powers. Most come with some sort of magical costume change, such as raccoon ears and a tail." She pulls out a leaf from her purse and gives it a squeeze. In a puff of white smoke, she now has said ears and tail. She displays both with a smile. "Cute and useful! It allows me to fly in addition to the accessories~" The tail even wags lightly back and forth.
Alucard	The dhampir follows dutifully, his long strides altered to match Sarra's pace. He moves languidly, like some kind of stalking predator, full of calm confidence and assurance. He takes in the sights, his marble-white skin almost gleaming in the bright sun. The long coat doesn't seem to bother him too much. Vampire Powers, clearly. When she touches his arm, he tenses for an instant, so quickly that it's easy to miss. Something has traumatized this young man very badly, but he is hiding it in microgestures that are hard to see if one isn't looking for them. He takes in the tour, the offer of a spa day gets a smirk out of him for reasons unknown, but it's the closest to a real smile that he's had. It makes his golden eyes twinkle. At the Power Up Shop, he tilts his head at the leaf, and when she activates it, an eyebrow raises. "Ah. Yes. I am familiar with transformation magics. Though mine are a bit more ... complete than that." He pauses for a moment. "It is fetching on you, Your Highness."
Sarracenia	The tensing does not go unnoticed, and so Sarra withdraws that hand, but not quickly. "You did mention not having anyone to talk to. If you do want to talk to someone, I do not mind listening." she says. She cannot help admiring the dhampir's form and grace as they walk. The smirk is close to a smile, and Sarra can't help mirroring the smirk a bit. "I see there may be some kind of story regarding you and spas?" she says, prying just a bit. 'It is fetching on you, Your Highness.' Sarra is speechless for just a moment, and she stammers and smiles shyly. "O-oh~ Well, thank you!" she says, tail wagging more. "If you wish to try any yourself, I would recommend the fire or ice flowers. They do not grant additional accessories, but they do give your clothes a new color scheme in addition to letting you throw fire and ice bolts." She is clearly quite fond of her items. Next, she takes Alucard into the castle itself. Like one would expect of a castle, the entrance hall is large and grand with tapestries and armor decorating the place. She leads him past the throne room, which is empty today. "Usually you might meet the King and Queen here, but they are off visiting the King and Queen of the Mushroom Kingdom, one of our more influential neighbors. But, beyond here..." She leads him to a large door behind the thrones and a short hallway there which connects to a large kitchen and dining hall at either side. Another large door is at the end, and when she opens that one... It is the royal courtyard, filled with flowers of virtually every type and color that could be found in this world. Except curiously for the color pink. There are no pink flowers anywhere, and indeed there have been no pink decorations to be seen. Only the princess's color of red and some greens and browns which are likely her parents' chosen colors. There are also fruit trees of many varieties. Perhaps the most interesting are the starfruit trees. The courtyard is in the center of the castle, visible from basically every window on the interior sides of the castle. The princess twirls a couple of times and smiles happily. "And this is perhaps my favorite place in our city! The Royal Courtyard~ Please, feel free to enjoy any of the flowers and fruits! I am particularly fond of these odd fruits." She takes one of the starfruits, holding it so that the bright yellow star shape is evident. "They have a wonderfully sweet yet tart taste~"
Alucard	"Oh, not me. Not exactly. It merely reminded me of, on our travels, when Sypha was browbeating Trevor into taking a bath." He pauses briefly. "Strangely, she managed to convince him and they -both- disappeared for a time," he finishes very drily. "I have -no idea- what they were doing," he adds, veritably dripping with sarcasm. It seems like when he's not having trauma thoughts, Alucard has a sense of humor! It might even be a little bawdy! Back to the power ups. "I believe I will pass. If only because...I can already do most of those things on my own. I learned sorcery from my father, you see. The power in my blood lets me...shapeshift as well." The castle. It's so much brighter and more airy than his own. Cleaner too, but then again, there was not an intense battle done in this place. Once inside, Sarra will absolutely be able to notice that his footfalls are silent. Even on stone. Once they break into the courtyard, his eyes widen slightly. Further showing how different it is with all of the plant life. He draws a deep breath through his nose, heightened senses taking in the pleasant odors of the flowers. "This is lovely. Very different from my home. Thank you for sharing it with me, Your Highness."
Sarracenia	The princess cannot help a light blush and a bit of a laugh at the sarcasm. "Indeed. It is a mystery." she adds with humor of her own. The princess is not too surprised when Alucard passes on the power-ups. "Ah...that makes sense. While I enjoy using them, most elites I meet do not need such crutches to deal with the threats to be found out in the Multiverse." The lack of footsteps from Alucard goes unnoticed at first. In the quiet halls the princess's heels click quite loudly. But, eventually she notices that there is only one set of clicking. She looks down at his shoes to make sure they are touching, then up at him. "You have...incredibly light footsteps." she comments. "That must be helpful when..." she starts, then blinks and coughs lightly into a hand. "...ah, anyway." As Alucard takes in the sights and scents of the courtyard, Sarracenia smiles warmly. "You are quite welcome, Lord Alucard~!" It kind of just slips out. He keeps referring to her as highness and she knows he also is a highborn. She looks a bit uncertain after realizing she said it, but her smile diminishes only slightly and only for a moment. "Well, I know you can fly on your own, but there is only one more thing to see on the tour of my kingdom. But, it can wait until you have enjoyed the garden as much as you would like." Sarra gives Alucard plenty of time in the garden, and once he seems ready she takes him back through the castle. Their next destination is on the other side of the town, so she calls a carriage. It takes them to the airship docks, and she leads him to the central elevator. They have a wonderful rising view of the city as they head toward the very top. It makes it clear just how tall the trees are, rising above the city walls with trunks as thick as the castle towers. Bugs the size of people - some of them even vaguely human shaped - can also be seen flying among the treetops. The elevator takes them right to the boarding ramp of the Sundew Sovereign. The ship is obviously a point of pride for the kingdom in general and the princess in particular. It is a work of art as much as a warship, with carefully crafted decks and railings that have been lacquered and polished to a near mirror shine with gold inlays along the sides. And of course that golden figure of the princess on the bow. The three masts each sport a pair of giant wooden propellers, which are turning slowly to keep it in place. The princess curtseys once they are aboard and smiles brightly. "Welcome to the Sundew Sovereign! The symbol of our country's prosperity! As the end of the grand tour, we can take a flight around the kingdom! If you wish to return home tonight allow me to fly you home aboard the Sundew Sovereign! Or...you are welcome to stay in the kingdom as long as you wish! Forgive me if I am being presumptuous, but it did not sound as if you would be excited to return to your castle."
Alucard	Moving through the garden, it's easier to see Alucard's light footing. It's probably not magic, just skill and practice. "Vampires have excellent hearing. Silence is merely another weapon in my arsenal." For this, he takes his time, examining flowers, smelling them and just seeming to enjoy the peace generated by a place full of healthy flora. Certainly not something he has in his own castle. Alucard is only highborn by the barest technicality. Since, honestly, most of his people see him as some kind of weak abomination. Until their heads come off, anyway. Vampires are weird. "Please. My father may have been Lord of the Vampires, but I am not... I do not wish his throne. I am simply a man seeking new purpose." He really needs something to do. Being depressed in the castle is not good for him. Almost as a reminder of this, he reaches towards some bloomed red roses. With a flick of his wrist, a knife slips out from under his sleeve. His hands move with almost tenderness as he clips two blossoms free without asking. (Oops) One of these blossoms ends up in the lapel of his coat, a bright splash of red against the black and gold. With the other, he steps close to the Princess, his full height, honestly, possibly intimidating. He moves with care and surprising gentleness for both one with vampire lineage, and a warrior. He sets the blossom into the princesses's hair softly. Proximity means she might be able to get a waft of old books, leather and candle smoke from him before he steps back. "...Forgive me. I had an impulse and, as was discussed, I am merely a young man." Is he flirting or just being a courtly gentleman? Even he probably doesn't know. The garden done, possibly with some awkwardness, it's off to the other side of town. On the elevator, he marvels a little at the trees. The trees in Wallachia are large, but not this large. Though the bug-people make him squint slightly, memories of Night Creatures dancing in his head. Though these dark thoughts are washed away at the sight of the airship. It is a marvel, even to him, a slacking student of the True Science. "Incredible," he says. A man with a (theoretically repairable) teleporting castle. Gloved fingers run across polished rails, and he stares up at the propellers, shielding his eyes from the sun. Then there's the offer to let him stay. To let him be away from that tomb for a time. He visibly trembles. "I ...Your offer is generous, Your Highness," he says a bit shakily. "Forgive me, I do not...trust easily anymore. The last time I did, I was nearly killed. They preyed upon my loneliness. ...Why am I telling you this? You did not invite me here to be burdened with my sorrow."
Sarracenia	The princess does not seem to mind at all when the roses are clipped. Gardens are meant to be shared as far as she is concerned. It actually makes her smile softly. The correction at calling him a lord causes a bit of uncertainty, but it passes quickly. When he moves to place a rose in her hair though, that causes her face to become somewhat red. Now with two red flowers in her hair, one shiny metal and one silky natural, she can only smile in a flattered way. "Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I am quite impulsive I am sure. So, no apology necessary." she says, her tone soft and a bit airy. She finds herself pondering that question of flirting or courtly, and decides that it is better to let the question linger for now. Though, if it were applied to her the answer is definitely both. The princess can only watch in quiet pride and happiness as Alucard takes in the airship, obviously appreciating it. When he calls it incredible she can't quite contain a child-like giggle. "It is. It may be my favorite thing in all of the Multiverse." she says, just staying nearby as he walks the deck and looks up at the propellers. '...Why am I telling you this? You did not invite me here to be burdened with my sorrow.' The princess smiles gently at this. "Perhaps not exactly that, but I did invite you here to unburden you of some of that sorrow if it was within my power. From what you have said you have been through something that no one should have to experience. I can not even imagine what I would become if it had been me. That you have not given up on life is a testament to your strength." At the question of trust though, the princess looks gets a sad but understanding smile. She starts to reach out, but recalling what happened earlier she just holds her hands politely in front of her. "I see...well, if it helps I am sure you will hear that I am untrustworthy and monstrous if you venture out into the Multiverse much more. So, taking advantage of trust is something I have no skill in since none is extended toward me. And you are welcome to stay wherever you would be most comfortable. In a room at the castle, on the Sundew Sovereign in one of the guest rooms, or even in one of the inns in town. To be paid by me, of course." The princess hesitates a moment before adding, "Although...fair warning, if you are observed being friendly toward me you are likely to garner hostile attention from some powerful figures in the Multiverse. I would understand if you did not return or did not wish it known."
Alucard	It has been some months since Alucard has felt any sort of human kindness. And sort of thing that approaches friendship. The princess has, honestly, in one afternoon helped to ease some of the terrible burden on his heart. Even so, it is still scary to open up. If it weren't for Trevor and Sypha, he likely wouldn't be able to interact with people at all, much less bare at least some of his heart. He turns away from the sky to face Sarra once more, his expression a regal mask, golden eyes tinged with his, apparently, unceasing pain. "I have gathered that you are, apparently, not well liked. I do not understand your feud with Miss Rook and Miss Petra, but," he says, the right corner of his lips twitching upwards. "If you were to merge them together, they would be identical to Carmilla. Ambitious, cunning, and the cruelty is the point. I will stay out of your fight, but if they wish to judge me for whom I care to associate with? That is their problem. If they wish to deride me on the...communications, let them. They do not know me and, so far, have shown no wish to. Their opinions are meaningless to me, I can only judge what I see. If they decide to make war against me for associating with you, they will find that I am no easy meat." He pauses again, thinking. "...And my name, my given name, is not Alucard. The sobriquet was given to me by the people of Wallachia. My mother's people. My name is Adrian Tepes. You may call me whichever you wish."
Sarracenia	Sarracenia sighs and shakes her head with a rueful smile. "Let us just say that it is a case of the unstoppable force and the immovable object. But, I definitely did not invite you here to burden you with my own issues. That upwards twitch and the words that follow have Sarra's lips quirking upward in much the same way. "If so, then this Carmilla must have been quite formidable and foul." She ponders saying more, but that might go against what she just said. So, she just nods at the rest of what he says on the matter. At the revelation of his name, Sarracenia's eyes widen just a bit. And perhaps the first sign that she is not as highly educated as perhaps she could be comes when she seems a bit confused by the word sobriquet. "Oh? Adrian Tepes? Hmm. For some reason I was expecting a Vlad in there." She shrugs lightly and smiles. "Well, I will ponder which I would like to use. But, if you are introducing yourself as Alucard then that is likely the name I will use since that is the name you yourself use." The sun is just about to finish setting, and the last orange beams of the evening sun shimmer against the princess's copper hair. Soon it sets completely, and stars quickly become visible. The airship sets off for a lazy aerial tour around the borders of the kingdom, showing a few more sights. A few treetop villages where those bug people live, a large number of wild piranha plants big enough that they have taken the spot of one of the trees, though are only a few stories tall. That the castle and town are built in a lake as a natural barrier to the jungle. "Oh, and since we so rarely have visitors, I arranged a little something special. Eheh...though now thinking about it it may have been a bit too much. I hope you do not mind." Sarra says, and walks to a nearby mini-cannon on one of the rails. She pulls the cord, and a flare launches. It burns bright red for a few moments before popping. A few moments later and a buzzing of propellers can be heard as five fighter-sized wooden airships come by overhead in a V formation. They launch fireworks once they have passed, which explode into various forms that Alucard might find odd but are native and popular shapes on Sarra's world. Stars, flowers, mushrooms, bombs, all with cute eyes. They make three passes: one overhead, then one to each side of the ship, before they head back toward the city.
Alucard	"Vlad," he replies quietly. "Was my father." Alucard watches the sun set behind the trees, the oranges and reds making his hair gleam like burnished gold. As it goes full dark and the stars come out, he seems to be a little more comfortable. He may not be weak to the sun, but he certainly seems to prefer full night. Half of him is still a vampire, after all. "Carmilla yet lives. She was one of the few smart enough to just leave when we breached the castle." He shakes his head, reaching up to push his hair back again as the fighters launch. The fireworks are a nice note of whimsy. This visit has been ... very up and down. It's nice to end with a show of pictures in the sky. Once more, Alucard goes silent for a long moment, watching the images of anthropomorphized objects as they burst and fade in the dark. "I ... I will accept your invitation, Your Highness. I formally accept your hospitality and guest-right, and in exchange offer you peace from me and my sword in defense of you and your holdings as long as I am under your roof. As is custom in my world." He pauses again, speaking quietly after the formality. "Thank you, Princess. For ... extending your hand."