Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing (evening_epitaph) wrote in thedisplaced, @ 2018-08-21 11:14:00 |
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Entry tags: | !log/thread, integra hellsing, stephen strange (mcu) |
WHO: Stephen Strange; Integra
WHERE: Tumbleweed, right outside the entrance to Toon Town
WHEN: Tuesday, August 20, morning
WHAT: Stephen and Integra investigate something suspicious.
WARNINGS: None
STATUS: Complete in gdocs
It was always something with the town, and it was surprising how much she could get used to. The entire town had changed, turning it into something children would watch on weekend mornings. The only thing that was curious about the entire mess was how ignorant the townspeople were. Either they were very, very good about pretending, or they honestly didn’t notice. And if the latter was true, whatever sort of magic the portal, because she was happy to blame that, created was strong enough to make the locals blind. And any magic, no matter how potent tended to have a breaking point. She wondered what this was. That or the displaced all collectively lost their minds. One was better than the other. So she waited for Dr.Strange to meet her. She wanted to see if this required Alucard, and had curiosities about the magic. Stephen was an expert, and one she trusted. Plus during her visit to the Carpathians she’d found some books. All in the native tongue, and she was fairly sure they were nothing but one of them was a nicely bound notebook that was at least somewhat useful. It seemed the least she could do. In the meantime she watched, studying the buildings who both gave her a headache and didn’t, and the townspeople who didn’t notice a thing amiss. At least it wasn’t any worse. With the Cloak of Levitation billowing around him, Stephen descended gracefully from a cloudless sky and landed nearby where Integra stood. In a town that had been transformed into a cartoon, his unusual method of arrival drew absolutely no attention from the locals. Stephen’s expression revealed the level of concern he had about the most recent news. “Thank you for joining me,” he told Integra. “The Sanctum’s library makes mention of faceless entities, lumbering masses that resemble clay, which are animated by the magic of the Dark Dimension for the sole purpose of doing their master’s bidding. Mindless Ones, they are called, and I understand they can be quite formatiable in and of themselves. However, where they do, their master usually follows, and I want to be certain that these are not the creatures that have been described. I would not go investigate alone.” A pause, as he looked Integra over, and his features softened. “By the way, hello. It’s been a while.” The last time they were together in person was over a month ago, when he helped to remove the demon that had possessed Alucard. She’d half expected a portal when Stephen arrived. Too used to Alucard and his way of entering she stepped aside to let him have room. But she tilted her head, “Have you tried doing that when things aren’t all wrong?” she was curious. The town stretched around rules. No one was considered odd, so she wondered about the bending of reality whenever things weren’t all upside down. And the only test she had was one she’d only do if it was needed. “It isn’t ghouls, at least.” She gave a motion of her hand, “no screaming.” Those would be rather obvious. At least she hoped. A ghoul incursion wasn’t something she wanted to face again, and if it went unnoticed with the portal’s influence it would end very badly. So she kept hope that it would be something noticed at least. “It’s the only faceless mass in my experience. “If it is these Faceless ones of yours are the two of us going to be enough? If not, Alucard is on standby.” She’d told him what she was doing, and why. If things turned bad enough she knew he’d come. Then she smiled. She didn’t at all mind the debrief first, in fact she prefered it. Knowing what she might encounter was better than greetings. “Good day, doctor. Here.” she handed him the books. “Most likely, they’re nothing. I am not sure if you know Romanian however.” She had things for others as well, but they were home. “I hope things are well enough, this entire debacle notwithstanding.” Sickly, grey-skinned corpses with rotting and torn bodies and orange or sometimes purple eyes, reanimated by having their blood drained by a vampire - Stephen was familiar with Integra’s definition of ghouls after watching every episode of the animated show that portrayed her adventures with Alucard. He’d done so to better understand how to help with Alucard’s possession, but had learned a great deal of other things at the same time. Dressed in Nazi uniforms, Stephen had to agree with a curt nod of his head that if these faceless creatures had been those kind of ghouls, it would indeed cause a panic. “I don’t want to raise any alarm. For now, we can investigate. If there’s indeed a problem, then I’m confident I can hold them at bay long enough for you to send out an alarm.” Stephen raised his gaze upward and asked, “Isn’t it too sunny for Alucard to be going out, anyway?” A gift of books was always welcome, and he accepted them with a smile. “I don’t know the language, but it’ll give me a chance to learn. With my photographic memory, it won’t take me very long.” It was also a great excuse to do something new. “My birthday was last month, so I’ll consider this a late present.” He winked. “Do you know what these books are about? Do they come from your world, this one, or some other?” With a complicated gesture, which generated sparks from Stephen’s hands, the books disappeared - sent to the Sanctum where they could be stored safely until he could read them later. “I’ve managed to avoid being transformed into something ridiculous this time around, so I consider that a positive thing.” He still was embarrassed by the memory of when, earlier in the year, he became the androgynous supermodel, All. He’d written as All on the Network, but the only people who seemed to take notice were Integra and Alucard, so he considered himself fortunate. "I doubt you could raise alarm," she added. Her tone wasn't harsh, just factual. "At least not with the townsfolk. They don't see anything amiss." She studied the environment. between all the colors people milled about, going about their days. "In truth, it's a concern. Every magic has some sort of break, and this doesn't seem to be it. But if the townsfolk are in direct harm, they do notice. It's the only sort of relief I have if a ghoul incursion was to occur, and even then I wonder about the what if. Even one ghoul can create more on it's own, and if it isn't caught on time..." she let it trail off. It was her foremost concern. The vampires of the town seemed to be the well behaved sort and therefore she had no need to intervene. Ghouls, however, were an entire problem on their own. "I wonder what it is, that makes them blind to all this. Part of me is grateful. They'd just panic." She waved a hand to the question about sun. Truthfully, ever since Alucard had been turned back to square one, as it could be said, the answer was probably. "Oh, he'd complain to be sure. He always does when business has him be awake at this time. But he will come. Sunlight's troubling, no more. And you won't need to wait long." She could count on that at least. And while she wasn't exactly pleased Stephen had taken a look into her life, it also meant he understood the type of violence Alucard would bring. "Happy belated birthday then and magic, so they claim. Old folk tales, more than like. And from this one. I had an opportunity to visit the Carpathians. Quite lovely, actually." An experience to be treasured. She watched, curious about the magic. It was always fascinating to see. “Both me and Alucard seem to be unaffected as well, some fortune at least. I keep hoping for some sense among the chaos, but I suppose that’s an empty hope.” She nodded before starting to walk. Out of instinct she crossed her arms. One hand had the fingers touch the hilt of her blade, the other rested on her gun. Just in case. “Hrm.” The corner of Stephen’s mouth quirked into a wry smile. “It’s the Portal’s influence that makes them blind to everything that’s going on, which is a bit disconcerting when you think about it.” He looked at Integra out of the corner of his eye. “There’s not much discussion about this, but there’s certainly a sentience behind the events happening here. Our comings and goings, appearances and disappearances, all these strange events,” he gazed the the manifestation of cartoon people all around them as they walked, “There is intention. Forethought. It is not as random a chaos as some believe. The mere fact we’ve been asked what sort of gifts we want from our world at Christmas, and we receive them, ought to prove that point. Call it Santa Claus, but it’s still evidence of a consciousness. “It’s not far from here,” Stephen commented as they headed in the direction of the pit. Yes, he could’ve quickly taken them there with a portal, but this way they could continue to talk. He noticed where her hands went - to her weapons - and he made a small, approving nod. It was better to be safe than sorry. “Hopefully we won’t need Alucard’s assistance, but it’s good to know he’s available.” Just like Integra’s sword and gun. “Eastern Europe.” That’s where the Carpathian Mountains ranged. “Any particular reason why that area, besides the natural beauty?” "You would think," she offered once he was done explaining the theory behind the portal, "I'd be used to a vast chaotic entity that does what it likes. Or stop trying to find the why in it." Long ago she'd stopped trying to understand the why of Alucard's actions and had come to see him more as the creature he was then anything else. "And yet," she added with a light shrug. "Then in my experience it's best to plan ahead as best one can. Predicting, or attempting to, the portal might be folly. I think we should be glad it's only testing us." She looked to where the Bureau was. Whatever it did, it only send out things that were dangerous yes, but never too much. The only thing that had cost lives had been the attacks during the cruise. And that had been a thing of that particular world, and not directly tied to the portal. "But you are right. Further proof lies in how all powers are nulled within the Bureau. It's defending itself at it's most weakest, which also means mortal ways of trying to take it down wouldn't work." "I think he hopes otherwise." Unlike her father she wasn't holding Alucard back because she disliked how he did things, more that she held him back until he was needed. But she knew he was getting restless. Hopefully she'd find something for him to do. At Stephen's question she looked to him. She could, of course, decline to answer. But save from Elsa, who she'd discovered had disappeared, Integra had few people she'd term friends. Before she'd held the world at bay, but in this world she needed to be less Hellsing because she could see how it could become a cage. And she did like the doctor. He'd done her a favor and seemed willing enough to bicker with Alucard. "Alucard wished to show me his home, and I never had a chance to actually see it. Plus there is the advantage of not needing to go through the airport.” “There’s no possible way to figure out how or why, when the Portal has effectively limited our powers and abilities. Even the Eye of Agamotto, an Infinity Stone and one of six immensely powerful elemental crystals created at the creation of the universe… has been reduced to little more than a trinket, with a mere fraction of its power.” Stephen frowned, looking down at the artifact hanging around his neck. If only he could get the Eye to work properly, so many questions could be answered. He sighed and shook his head as they continued closer to the entrance to Toon Town. “Alucard is looking for a reason to stretch himself, now that he’s free of Schrodinger?” Stephen tried to keep his voice level, because while he knew Integra could keep the vampire in reign, still… somebody with Alucard’s devastating abilities was dangerous. When she told him that Alucard wanted to show her his home, Stephen’s eyebrows rose with suspicion. “Alucard never struck me as the sentimental type.” Automatically, he suspected there must’ve been some other reason. She studied the necklace, not exactly sure what it all meant, and could only guess at the meaning of ‘Infinity Stone’ but it’s name proved many things. That the portal could, in effect, stop something that was as close to a fingerprint of God wasn’t soothing. “What does it do, or what is it supposed to do, your Infinity Stone? Because, I think it proves my point. It limits, so it remains safe. That it can limit something so powerful is worrying. This portal could very well decide to kill us all, and I doubt we’d have a lot of options.” She considered the question. “He is a violent creature at heart, but there hasn’t been any cause for me to unleash him. So I suppose the answer to your question is that once there is he will ,as you say, stretch. In this I ask your trust.” Her perspective on things was different, she was aware of herself enough to know that. There were times and instances where Alucard’s particular skills were needed. And she knew what she’d term enemies would not be the same as others. “He has his whims,” she offered. “And home is a particular thing for us all.” To answer her question, “Infinity Stone is contained inside this Eye of Agamotto, enabling the bearer to use the Stone’s immense power without needing to come directly in contact with it. It is able to control the flow of time, either forward or backward. Thus, it may turn something back to its previous state or accelerate its time in order to apply changes that have not happened yet. Using it while meditating lets you see into the future, including all possible outcomes. It can rewind time to undo entire events, and even bring back the dead. “I’m not sure if the Portal is malevolent,” Stephen thoughtfully said. “It has, no doubt, the ability to kill us all, if it so desired. But instead, it sends things like this our way,” he gestured to the Toon characters that surrounded them to indicate what he meant. “It’s actions are whimsical, and while people have died here, it was only indirectly the Portal’s fault. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that the Portal was testing us.” Something about the way Integra spoke about Alucard - maybe it was what she said, combined with the tone of voice that made him curious. “Is there something going on between you two beyond the dynamic of Master and Servant?” Time manipulation. That was an interesting thing, and powerful too. Definitely useful, and somewhat proof that time wasn't as solid as it looked. "That is an interesting object. What are its limits now?" Stephen still wore it, and she doubted he would if it was completely useless. "My point exactly," she said after he commented on the Portal's testing. "I don't know if giving the Portal intelligence is wise, but it does show cunning. If your Gem was at full power you could simply go to when it was created and stop it from occurring. It shows preservation skills, if not a direct desire to live. Another question might be what is it testing us for. But it may not be a question we can answer, or it can answer." She knew the feeling of being tested. Alucard had ensured she'd been worthy of wielding Hellsing's greatest weapon. Not everyone enjoyed such things, too attached to going their own way. She'd used it to form her own path and grow better from it. It did give her an ability to be somewhat used to having things thrown at you you could only really deal with and not predict. But it didn't help her like the Portal, or it's whims. Stephen's question startled her, somewhat. She was a private person at heart, even saying as much as she had she wouldn't have before. And in truth, the answer to the question was 'yes', but that would bring questions of its own. So instead she looked away and to the crowd of...well they weren't people exactly. Just shapes. Tall but somehow without real shape. Faces with no real definition. It was confusing and looking too long seemed an invite for a headache at the very least. It was also a distraction. "We're here it seems." “So it would seem.” All other topics of conversation faded far into the background, which exactly what the emerging crowd of people were doing, if you could call them people at all. They had an unusual way of receding, even as Stephen and Integra walked toward them and got closer. Their homologeous bodies were grey, without any distinquishing features, and their equally vague faces reminded Stephen of something a child would draw. Stephen walked among them, and the figures paid him absolutely no attention. Frowning as he looked around, he finally said, “I think I remember seeing something like this in an anime.” And Stephen ought to know - since his arrival to Tumbleweed, part of his study included learning about the origins of his fellow Displaced, which included watching various animated series, Japanese anime or otherwise. They weren't really any danger, no matter what they were. They seemed happy enough to walk out of the hole, and then just walk around, blending into the background so well that after a while they simply seemed to become it. It was almost sad. She glanced to Stephen at his comment. She did her own research, had her own studies. She might focus on what she was familiar with, but she'd expanded that. Like the doctor, she wanted to know. Be prepared. "Do they ever explain why their crowds are just shapes?" According to Stephen, her own life was able to be watched. She wasn't particularly fond of it and avoided it, she had lived it there was no need to open old wounds, but now she wondered if the very people of her home had been regaled to this. She rather hoped not. "At least they don't seem dangerous. Small blessings I suppose. I hardly think we're needed here." She did frown when one of them broke from the crowd. She frowned and set her hand a bit more firmly on her gun. The creature seemed to take more shape, become less bland and more defined. While London had put her naturally on edge, she started to be able to see that as the thing became more of a person he seemed more excited than anything. By the time he approached her, all energy and happiness, she'd let go of her gun. It was curious to see how the thing had gone from bland nothing to someone exiting that kept talking about children, and happiness in a way that she couldn't really make sense of. By the time he was done she had a cigar and watched, somewhat amused, as the man now ran off. Integra had quit smoking, partly because her favorites weren't readily available and partly because she'd been asked and did want to end the habit but she wasn't without her vices. And being handed a smoke? It couldn't hurt. Except that it did. After she'd lit it, she'd only had one drag before it exploded. She was stunned for a moment before she cursed. And while she never took the Lord's name in vain she'd been surrounded by military men all her life, and when she'd been small she'd been able to hide better and had picked up her fair share of colorful words. People assumed she was too innocent to know of them. And while her temper hadn't been obvious yet, it was now. “No explanation,” Stephen casually replied. “It’s either a stylistic decision to keep the focus on the main characters of the show, or laziness on the part of the animators. I think… in this particular instance, it’s the latter.” It was curious to watch the background character step into the foreground, literally by becoming more defined, and Stephen watched in apprehension, though he did not automatically assume they might need to defend themselves, like Integra did with her gun. The man looked happy, but disheveled, with his tie loosened in a way that suggested happiness, not drunkenness. “It’s a girl!” He exclaimed, “It’s a GIRL!” Clearly, he was celebrating the birth of his child with the cliche of excitedly passing out cigars. The cigar that Stephen found shoved in his hand even had a pink band around it. Because Stephen did not smoke, he slowly blinked at the cigar, wondering what to do with it, but then noticed Integra lighting hers. Before he had a chance to ask if she wanted his, there was a BANG, a small flash, and a puff of black smoke. Stephen coughed as he waved his hand to help clear the smoke, and when it did he saw the cigar, still in Integra’s mouth, had exploded - her face and glasses were spotted by dark soot, and he normally straight hair was standing at end in unusual, comical angles. At first, Stephen’s eyes opened wide with surprise, but then found himself pursing his mouth tightly to prevent himself from laughing at Integra’s expense. “Admit it,” Stephen said with stifled chuckle, “You walked right into that one.” Integra was usually more cautious than this, and he assumed it was the nature of being around these cartoons that made her judgement lapse. She shot a glare at Stephen at his comment, which she knew was probably not as effective as she'd hope. She could hear the laughter in his voice, and what made it all worse is that he wasn't wrong. she had. She should have known better, but then again her youth had been one without usual weekend cartoons. Her Father had believed more in her education then that, so she hadn't considered this as an option. Still despite that excuse she still knew he had a point. Even if she very much wanted to shoot someone. Preferably the thing that had given the cigar to her. "I bloody well hate this." But as bright as her temper could flare, a flaw she knew she had, it also died quick enough. She was just glad neither Seras nor Alucard were here to witness this. It'd be so much worse then. She removed her glasses and wiped them down before straightening her hair. She was going to keep what dignity she had left, and it gave her time to calm down. She'd need to wash when she came home and God knew Alucard wouldn't let this go. "I'm never living this down, am I?" She gave wryly to Stephen. However much of an inconvenience this was and a blow to her dignity, at least it hadn't been worse. Oddly enough, all Integra needed to do was brush her hand over her hair once to straighten it back to normal, the way cartoons were able to magically recover in only a few frames, but Stephen didn’t know whether or not Integra realized this without a mirror. Stephen made a gesture and a package of wet naps appeared his his hand, which he gave to her to help with cleaning her face. “Just like way I’m never going to live down All is All?” he asked, still keeping his humor. The sting of being temporarily transformed into a character from Zoolander happened several months ago, but was still quite fresh. However, the only people who reacted to his journal entry were Integra and Alucard, so he was pretty much reassured that nobody else paid attention and would remember. “I promise won’t tell anybody what happened,” he said, giving Integra the same reassurance. “Besides, I’m certain it’s the Portal’s influence that clouded your judgement.” She took the package with a grateful smile. At least there was that. It at least helped get the worst of it off. She put her glasses back on before offering a smile to his comment. She’d been spared thinking she was anyone else, and had gotten lucky enough to avoid the other mishaps that occured on a general basis. Luck that had clearly run out now. “If it helps, Alucard prefered the whole Horseman adventure.” She’d been somewhat curious to see the whole idea of a fashion show, but she’d been glad enough to see Stephen go back to normal. “Thank you,” she offered honestly. She didn’t have to guard so much, there was no Round Table here who held her up to a standard, but she was still grateful for the offer. “While I would not mind using the excuse, I still failed to consider the possibility. I’ll simply have to correct that.” Above all, mistakes were something she chose to learn from, and she didn’t like using excuses. “But thank you for your words.” She considered for a moment then, “I see no threat here. I am curious if these things,” she motioned to the bland crowd, “will meld into the town and become part of it, whether or not they’ll become townspeople or simply disappear but that is an observation that will take time. If you like, do stop by the Manor some time. For tea, perhaps.” Other then the party she’d hosted Integra didn’t often invite people to her home. Part of it was a desire for privacy, and another part was how aware she was of how powerful invitations actually could be. Stephen agreed with Integra’s assessment of security level of the crowd with a nod of his head. Fortunately there was nothing to worry about - this time. It was her invitation that sparked new interest. He knew how she, along with Alucard, kept to themselves, and this was the first time she actually invited him over for a social reason, not just to meet to discuss weighty problems. Trying not to make a big deal out of it, Stephen smiled graciously and accepted with a simple, “Thank you, that would be nice.” He then chuckled a bit. “The Horseman adventure was my first encounter with Alucard, but I don’t remember it - I’d lost my head.” A pun with a double meaning - got to love them. “I can take you home with a portal, if you don’t want to walk back?” "Weekends would be better," She gave at his response to the invitation. "Next weeks, perhaps?" Now she'd offered, she'd commit to the prospect. And while she'd always kept herself separate from her men, she hadn't been a truly distant employer. Considering their jobs, she hadn't had the luxury of that. And she'd cared for those in her employ, known their dreams and fears. It also meant that even with the smaller house she rather missed the sound of people. And it would be nice to talk to someone else. She did roll her eye to the pun and decided not to comment on it. She nodded to the offer of a portal. "That would be kind of you, thank you.” The portals were interesting and curious at the same time. “I am curious, how far can you stretch those?” There were those who offered services like this, so it was a curiosity. “Why do you want to know?” Stephen asked, with a hint of humor in his voice. “Did you not want to go home straight away?” “What would the scenic route even be, portal wise?” She gave back, her tone light as well. “No, I’m curious because there’s others who use portals as well, and charge for their rates. I cannot really judge them on it, considering I’d very well be doing the same. But I know you,” which implied trust which was important to her. She didn’t give it away lightly, especially not after Walter. “My question is if you’d be willing to offer your own portals, if they’re needed.” She paused then tilted her head, “or teach them.” Magic was a curious thing to her, and of the ones that she figured she could learn Stephen’s stood the highest. She’d seen him bind and defeat the last of Millenium. He’d earned her regard with that. “If you would be, then I would be curious if there’s a limit, and how exactly they work.” Stephen smirked. “Actually, when I first realized I needed to earn some money in Tumbleweed, I offered my portals for a fee. I had a few clients, but I really didn’t advertise, and it didn’t earn me nearly as much money to support me, so that’s why I ended up taking that job as manager at The Magic Bag. If you need a portal, I’ll be happy to take you where you’d like to go. Teaching how to make them is another story. I’ve taken on two pupils who want to learn my brand of magic, but the only way to create portals my way is with this.” Stephen gestured to the Sling Ring, which he kept securely on a hook from his belt. “And as far as I know, this is the only one.” She nodded, "then I will keep you in mind if I need such a thing again." She might have lost Hellsing's budget, but she still made do. One advantage was not having as much to pay for. It had been an adjustment, but what hadn't been ever since she'd arrived here. "Does that actually offer anything or is it just for tourists?" There were other options but for several reasons Integra would be hard pressed to trust anything coming out of a store owned by someone known to use poison. And unlike most, Integra had been raised with the unfiltered tales. "That's a shame," she gave to the mention of the ring. But it did make it useful and valuable. It was too bad it couldn't be duplicated. "In truth, magic is a curiosity. It's always been theory beforehand.” Technically, she assumed Alucard’s bindings were magic. But it was mostly blood and wards. “But I am grateful for your answer.” There was a long, long pause. All her life she'd felt she'd been judged, and had lived in a way that dared people to think less of her. She'd never let people judge her, and walked her own path. the Table still had of course, but she'd always shown them how wrong they were. This place was different, and she'd never let anyone cloud her own path. And she didn't really feel shame, or anything else. "And doctor? The answer to your question is yes." Stephen was a smart man, she was sure he'd figure it out. They walked in silence, comfortable with one another’s company, until Integra spoke up. He was careful not to respond, since he felt somebody revealing this information was a big deal for somebody as private as her - he didn’t want to ruin her trust, nor their friendship. A simple nod was made to acknowledge what she’d said. “It’s really none of my business to ask,” he muttered, taking in the personal nature of this part of their conversation. "It isn't," she confirmed but her tone wasn't harsh. The only reason the Table had stopped asking questions was because she'd forced them to. but Stephen wasn't part of them, although it would be amusing to have had such an ally. Penwood and Irons had been formidable in their own ways, but that was different. "But you are owed a response." Stephen had, after all, done her a great service. The very least she could do was answer the question. And she was somewhat surprised that there was no comment, but also grateful. This was the first time Stephen saw Integra so content. Whatever shape her relationship with Alcuard was taking, it had a positive effect, and for that, Stephen was satisfied. Since he respected Integra’s privacy, he didn’t need to know anything more. |