InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I believe in Snape! Snape-ism!"

Aiden Shepard [ Abraham Van Helsing ] (arcere) wrote in bellumlogs,
@ 2010-07-14 13:50:00

Entry tags:

dracula, van helsing

Who: Vlad and Aiden.
What: An unexpected meeting.
Where: The building lobby.
When: Early afternoon.
Warnings: Raaaaaaeeeeeeeg.

The full moon's failure had unsettled Aiden, he'd admit. The building hadn't failed to screw up their lives on a single one since he'd gotten there, so the sudden lack was ... discomforting. Oh, sure, he was glad for it, because it meant less insanity to try and deal with, but at the same time he didn't know what it meant. Had the building expended all its energies for that month sending them back in time? Or was it just planning something even worse and trying to lull them into a false sense of security? Either way, he'd spent the rest of that night awake, until around 4 AM he figured nothing was going to happen.

It occupied a lot of his thoughts over the next few weeks, but faded in light of the fact that he had a life to live and work to do. It lingered on the edges of his thoughts as he headed out one day to try and pick up a couple of books. The store didn't have any of the ones he wanted but did have other things. He browsed for a while before buying a faded but detailed account of one man's life during the industrial revolution. It wasn't likely to be interesting, but at least it would put up with note-taking well. And hadn't been altered thanks to a certain impossible event.

So with that in his pocket, Aiden headed back to the building. He wasn't really paying attention as he pushed back in through the doors, his mind focused on other things - on the draft he had to send, on the contacts he had to keep up with, on the idea that he was living in a place with no sense and no sanity and he really wasn't entirely sure why fate seemed to have it out for him.

(Post a new comment)

nobleblood
2010-07-14 07:19 pm UTC (link)

This was probably the least stressed Vlad had been in a while. Things seemed to be relatively quiet, and the failure of the last full moon meant that he and Max had more time to figure out a way to keep Brian in the dark for as long as possible. At least he'd remain oblivious for a few more days, at least until the next full moon - but now no one had any idea whether anything would actually happen or if it would pass as uneventfully as it had before.

Despite that, the only thing he was concerned with at the moment was that Helena's birthday was coming up. He had a few ideas as to how to spend the day, depending on what other plans she had, but today was going to be dedicated to finding her the perfect gift. Cain and Abel were left behind in the apartment - much to their chagrin - and he headed down the stairs with fresh purpose in his mind. Unfortunately his thoughts were otherwise occupied, so he didn't notice the man coming in the front doors at the same time he was heading out. Looking up at the last moment, Vlad managed to avoid a head-on collision, but bumping into each other was inevitable.

"I apologize, I--" He cut himself off when he realized who it was, and his apologetic expression vanished under a cold stare. "Oh. It's you."

(Reply to this) (Thread)

arcere
2010-07-14 07:28 pm UTC (link)

A shape loomed out of nowhere and Aiden just barely stopped himself in time to avoid running full-on into the other person. They hit in any case, and he stepped back out of habit. A brief apology lined up in the back of his throat when he looked up and heard the voice and everything seemed to freeze. The words crumbled and dropped into his stomach, weighing it down.

It struck him vaguely that this was the first time he'd ever actually met Vlad, face-to-face - at least while he was himself. The dream had been so real and agonizing but it was fuzzy now, no matter how forcefully he pinned the recollection to the inner walls of his mind, so this was all somewhat familiar while being awfully new at the same time. His expression of frozen shock lasted a grand total of five seconds before he grit his teeth and glared, feeling the rage start to unfreeze his muscles.

A thousand words piled up in the back of his throat and blocked each other off. Aiden's fingers curled around the handle of the hunting knife in his pocket, which he never left in a drawer any more in case something like time travel happened again.

"You," he managed. Cliche or not, repeated or not, he wasn't going to address Vlad by name. "Going out in the daylight? That's bold of you."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nobleblood
2010-07-14 07:52 pm UTC (link)

And his day had gotten off to such a good start before this. Although he knew Aiden's face very well, they hadn't really met properly - not in person, at least. It was either Dracula and Van Helsing who faced of, or dream encounters that weren't real despite feeling otherwise. He'd killed this man's sister, but even as he studied him Vlad couldn't bring himself to feel guilty. It happened too long ago, and he didn't even know which woman had been his sister. If he'd been a better man, maybe he would have begged his forgiveness, or at least been consumed by remorse. Then again, he fought those feelings so fiercely that he had no idea what would happen if he stopped one day and let the entirety of what he'd done wash over him.

The last thing he wanted was a physical confrontation in such a public place, but if Aiden made any move to attack him then he was going to defend himself - he was justified in that, at least. Vlad raised his eyebrows, scornful. "Oh, yes. It's so very bold of me, considering the fact that I have done it countless times in the past." He made no move towards the doors, not yet. "In fact, depending on the day I happen to like sunlight. Sorry to disappoint you."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

arcere
2010-07-14 08:07 pm UTC (link)

Every inch of Aiden screamed at him to just pull out the knife, to gut the man right here on the lobby floor, the law be damned. But some core of his mind that had been lost in thought ever since that first full moon made him hesitate, though it couldn't stop his hand from tightening around the knife so hard his knuckles were stark white in the darkness of his jacket pocket.

"Oh, I was just thinking how bold it was that you'd try killing someone without the cover of darkness." He would do anything to irritate and infuriate Vlad out of hate, to insult him until he hit some mark, somewhere - or maybe to drive the man into attacking him first, so he could claim self defense when he slashed open Vlad's throat. "I assume that's the only reason you'd want to go out these days." It was playing with fire while covered in gasoline, and almost senselessly petty, but he couldn't help it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nobleblood
2010-07-14 08:14 pm UTC (link)

Every fiber of his being was on guard, waiting for the moment Aiden would snap without warning and come at him. He was fairly confident in his chances to survive an attack, and if he was lucky he might even be able to kill the other man and claim self-defense. That would make the count 2-0, as he'd already gotten rid of one Van Helsing before... actually, Emil had gotten rid of himself, but the principle was still the same.

Vlad laughed at that, full of derisive humor and mocking ridicule. "You really are quite amusing when you want to be, Aiden. Yes, clearly my entire life only revolves around murder. I am nothing more than a monster, a one-dimensional evil being whose very existence is blasphemous. Have I missed anything?" His taunting smile vanished, replaced by an icy glare. "You know nothing about me, fool, so save your self-righteous nonsense for someone who cares."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

arcere
2010-07-14 08:27 pm UTC (link)

Quite amusing. It took all his self control not to lunge right then and there. His jaw clenched so hard it hurt, but Aiden stood his ground, firmly between Vlad and the doors leading out of the building. He wouldn't back down, he wouldn't move away. It would have been wonderful to move forward, knife out, but no, he'd already been rationalizing that. Another option was to hit Vlad - the memory of how many times he'd nearly broken those teeth in that dream meeting brought him a little comfort - but still no. Don't attack him first. Don't give him an opportunity to win against you.

"You forgot animalistic, but otherwise that's a fair description. I know plenty about you. What is there to know about someone who tears out girl's throats in dark alleys and drinks the blood?" Psychopathy, delusions, unrestrained violence ... there had been a time when Aiden tried the psychological method to find Vlad, but he'd discarded it pretty quickly. All the better, it seemed. "I care. I know there's plenty of people in this building who would care. And families here who I'm sure are just dying to know why their loved ones are dead and just who's responsible."

It was a risk - he didn't know if Vlad had actually killed anybody here, though the idea of doubting it was a difficult one for him to parse. The man was a killer, through and through; why would he stop just because he'd moved into an insane building?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nobleblood
2010-07-14 08:37 pm UTC (link)

Once again he was struck by a feeling of familiarity, like he'd experienced something like this before. It took him a moment to realize that their back-and-forth exchange of goading and hatred reminded him of Emil. That was only natural, of course - they were both Van Helsing, so it wasn't a stretch to think that there would be some similarities. Aiden seemed much more sane, but anyone could be pushed into madness if enough force was used. He just needed to figure out how resilient the man currently blocking his exit was.

Vlad didn't confirm or deny what he said, simply shaking his head. "The man who came before you tried to warn the building about me and failed. There are some who believe the rumors, but most do not - and that's all I care about." They were, at the moment, nothing more than rumors - one man's claims didn't constitute as proof. There was no one to back up his claims either, which made him even more unreliable. The implication that he'd killed someone here, however, made him laugh again. Aside from the homeless wretch and the man in the park, he hadn't killed anyone - and he knew for a fact neither of them had any family to miss them. What Dracula had done was a different story, but he didn't count that toward his own personal murder count.

"Have you noticed that we live in New York city? Of course there are families who want to know who killed their loved ones and why. You really are deranged if you think I had anything to do with even one of the countless murders the police have to deal with, but please, feel free to go through the records of every single missing and murdered person in the last few months and blame it on me if it makes you feel better." He'd been careful - the woman in the alley had her throat slit, but he'd made it appear as a suicide; and the man in the park had been so far from his usual method of killing that no one could pin it on him. Vlad was safe, and nothing Aiden said would convince him otherwise.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

arcere
2010-07-14 08:53 pm UTC (link)

Again with the last Van Helsing. Aiden wasn't sure how he felt about the fact that people kept mentioning him - that he seemed to come up without warning and haunt Aiden's actions. He wasn't going to judge the man, since he'd seemed to have the same sort of vendetta Aiden did. But he hadn't been successful. Shane mentioned that he'd drowned, and it hadn't been Vlad's doing. That they knew of.

Warning the building was an idea. But most of the people living here were as callous and preoccupied as he was, and since it apparently hadn't worked in the first place, he figured he'd been right in not bothering. His revenge was a personal thing. Aiden did not want to get other people involved. Even if they knew, even if it was people who were on his side and knew about Vlad, like Oliver and Joanie, he didn't want to have them involved. Most of his reasons were selfish; a few were out of concern for them.

"The only thing that's going to make me feel better is killing you," he snapped. "I'd be deranged to think you weren't involved in at least one case somewhere in this city. That sort of thing damns you just as much as it protects you." An awful thought clawed for attention, but he buried it. "Do you think I don't have a record of what happened to my sister? Are you so arrogant to think that there aren't police files of the things you've done, out there in the world? They may not have your name on them, but they are there, and they are proof." Or so he assumed. That kind of death ... people would notice. Right?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nobleblood
2010-07-14 09:04 pm UTC (link)

Vlad rolled his eyes, wishing Aiden would just move and let him get on with his day. Actually, if the man would go drown himself in a well like Emil had, that would be even better. Was it really so much to ask to be left alone? "Well, unfortunately I cannot let you kill me, so I suppose you will just have to deal with your problems like everyone else." He knew he was going to be one of those lucky murderers who were never caught, and whether it was justified confidence or misplaced arrogance, he didn't really care. He'd escaped blame so far, hadn't he? His contacts in Romania told him that the police were very close to announcing the murders as unsolved, and soon enough they would just become a series of cold cases, nothing more than boxes on shelves.

"No, actually, I am very aware that the police keep files on crimes. But they need a little thing called evidence to link them to someone, and funnily enough there seems to be none that connect any such murders to me. I was never questioned by the police, nor was I even a suspect. Files are only proof that a crime was committed, not that I had anything to do with it." He regarded Aiden with a derisive stare. "Now, can you please get out of my way and stop wasting my time?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

arcere
2010-07-14 09:13 pm UTC (link)

Arrogant. Arrogant, infuriating, made him want to lash out - and Aiden realized that Vlad was succeeding where Aiden had wanted to. That Vlad had the upper hand. That everything he said was like water under the bridge to this man. Even if he confronted him by asking him how it felt to be responsible for the terror and lives of so many innocent people, all he'd probably get was a laugh. Maybe a little condescending reasoning, and Aiden knew that if Vlad so much as made a passing insult in regard to his victims, this conversation would turn into a deathmatch. He wouldn't put up with his sister being slandered by the man who killed her.

The anger was burning in his veins. He felt it cracking his teeth, splitting his skin, exploding in flames from every inch of his body. The awful thought surfaced again and escaped as he fought with his rage, taking advantage of the moment.

"Does she know?" Aiden asked furiously, and almost immediately regretted it. Yes, let's not get other people involved, he thought to himself bitterly, and let's do it by getting other people involved. But it was out there now, and he wasn't going to take it back or try to hide from his words. Chances are he wouldn't be able to.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nobleblood
2010-07-14 09:48 pm UTC (link)

Vlad froze, knowing just as well as Aiden did who that her was supposed to refer to. For a terrible moment he could actually see himself lunging forward, the fangs that remained with him even after the full moon was over replacing his normal teeth and ripping into the man's neck. But as quickly as the bloody vision had appeared it was gone, and he forced his expression to become faintly puzzled. Detachment was something he was very good at - almost too good at. Of course he didn't feel remorse. Of course he didn't sympathize with his victims or their loved ones. Of course he didn't think about the pain and terror they must have felt, about how Emil must have felt when he learned his family was dead. Why face all of that when he could pretend it had nothing to do with him? Lies were much more convincing when the one telling them believed them himself.

"Her?" He shook his head with a sigh. "There is nothing for anyone to know. I have no idea what you think you are accomplishing here, Aiden, nor do I particularly want to know. Now, I will ask you again. Get out of my way."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

arcere
2010-07-14 10:11 pm UTC (link)

"I'm sure you don't," Aiden hissed, desperately fighting back the urge to scream I'll tell her what you've done, I'll tell her and she'll believe me and you know it! If he didn't take it any further, then maybe Vlad wouldn't, either; so long as it remained a hatred between them, only they would wind up dead. It hurt to know that in whatever effort and lies Vlad was telling himself, the man had inadvertently given Aiden an opportunity to avoid getting into even worse trouble than he wanted to.

No. Aiden would keep this personal, to himself, alone, until he succeeded.

Saying anything more seemed petty and pointless. Trying to keep Vlad in a conversation wasn't very appealing. He knew if it went on much longer, he'd lose control.

"This will never be over," Aiden snapped as he stepped away from the door, away from Vlad, but kept his eyes on the man in case he tried anything - in case he moved even the slightest in any direction other than out.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

nobleblood
2010-07-14 10:19 pm UTC (link)

Oh, Aiden. Vlad could almost pity him in this moment, so full of anger and hatred, just like Emil. In the grand scheme of things his death wouldn't affect very much - other people's sisters would continue to be murdered, and the world would continue onward with its downward spiral. He doubted that Aiden would find the peace he desperately craved, since his sister would still be gone. For a fleeting instant he felt something, venturing too close to that line he so staunchly avoided... but then it was gone, slapped down as quickly as it had appeared. He would kill the man before he let him turn Helena against him. Without her, there would be no reason to try. He might as well just let Dracula take over for good.

He sighed when Aiden finally moved away, although he didn't take his eyes of the other man either. "Yes, it will. You cannot keep this up forever." And I know how to disappear, you idiot. I could leave tonight and you would never be able to find me. With that said he pushed through the lobby doors, although he kept an eye on the man until he was outside and disappeared around the corner.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

arcere
2010-07-14 10:31 pm UTC (link)

Aiden opened his mouth to respond, but shut it as Vlad left the building. A parting shot seemed pointless now. He watched Vlad until he couldn't any more - saw how the man kept just as much of an eye on him, in case he suddenly rushed after him, knife upraised. But if he hadn't tried it in the building, he wouldn't try it outside, where people could see him.

He would keep it up forever. He would keep it up until one or both of them was dead. He would follow Vlad if the man ever left the building; he would cross the country if he had to, head across the ocean if necessary. The sheer, unfettered hate crossing into genuine loathing, driven even deeper after their conversation, smoldered in his soul and kept his fury alight. Vlad could go on thinking he was untouchable and revel in his arrogance, but Aiden knew that he would kill him one day, even if it took the rest of his life to do so.

Uncurling his hand from around the knife in his pocket, Aiden turned sharply and stormed up the stairs, rubbing the numbness out of his fingers with a grip so hard it hurt.

(Reply to this) (Parent)