-Jonathan Private Conversations- [15strangers]

[crouching_sin]

Comments

[backuphero]

[It isn't that he's suddenly gone numb, or overloaded, but Jonathan looks very far away at the second statement.]

"Who needs a Dark Lord when we can do this to ourselves"....

[He shakes his head, eyes clearing.]

I didn't... it was cruel of me to make you answer that, even if I didn't know. I said I'd tell you about the Castle if you did, though, didn't I?

[crouching_sin]

You did. I'd be interested in knowing a bit more about it.

[backuphero]

[He takes a deep breath, in the manner of someone about to begin telling a story they've heard many, many times.]

So we don't know which came first, the Castle or Dracula. What we do know is that the Castle is alive, and a creature of chaos. That description came straight from the son of its master. It's never reappeared with the same interior twice, though the layout is always roughly the same. When its master is defeated, it... the exterior usually partially collapses, sometimes completely. Knowing what we do now, I think it's safe to say that's the chaos creature leaving the way a snake wiggles out of an old skin.

I don't know where to start talking about the one I've seen myself. It's not a normal manifestation, there are monsters the old stories definitely didn't describe, and with Brauner in charge it's... he's running his own power through it to control it.

[He shakes his head.]

Give me somethin' I can focus on to answer?

[crouching_sin]

[... Right. There's a lot to unpack there.]

Dracula's castle? So he's not dead? No Harker to k -

[He stares at Jonathan for a moment before laughing.]

Of course. Morris. That makes sense.

[backuphero]

Quincey was my grandfather, yes.

[He's not quite bristling - after all, he's used to people recognizing the book.]

We're not sure if he's resurrected or not, Brauner's got the Castle's power so bound up with his own that for all we know he could be sealed off somewhere. As to the Harkers... who d'you think I'm named for?

[crouching_sin]

Heh. Well, it's a generic-enough sounding name. Which isn't a bad thing, mind you.

In any case, I suppose I should ask... who's Brauner?

[backuphero]

[He heaves a sigh. He's not going to touch that "generic" remark, wouldn't even if he didn't have the kind of post-cry headache he hasn't had in years starting to clang around behind his eyes.]

Brauner is... we aren't totally sure. He was a painter when he was human, we know that much... the way he's got the Castle contained is running power through pieces of his work. He's taking its power for himself. He thinks of Dracula as a failure, since he's never managed to conquer humanity... he thinks he can do better.

[crouching_sin]

... Ah, one of those types. So he's some sort of demonic mage or some sort? Do you have anyone searching for his paintings? Destroying those sounds like it would cut him off...

[backuphero]

"Or some sort", yeah. Rumors were that he got himself turned on purpose, or did it to himself... and yeah, my partner and I were working on that. Not destroying, but neutralizing them, she'd match her power to the... I guess you'd call it current? Frequency? The way the paintings were real. We'd go in and fight through to the embodiment of his will in the painting, kill it, and that'd take care of that. Problem is we don't know how many he's got linked in. Could be eight, could be eighty....

[crouching_sin]

Ah, like the Harmonizer. I understand. Somewhat similar to how Kazuya and his friends went inside of Kuzuryu's mind... but heh. Don't give up. Even if it takes forever, there's at least a solution.

[backuphero]

There is. One way or another... there is.

[He makes a noise that's not quite a laugh or a sigh, somewhere between the two.]

Of all the people... but you've been kind to me. Thank you. I just... I wish there was something I could do.

[crouching_sin]

[He shrugs, shaking his head.]

Unless you have the sort of power that can help beat up the future King of Demons - or God Himself - there's not much you can do.

[He'll... ignore that 'kind' comment.]

[backuphero]

[Jonathan bows his head, letting his eyes fall shut.]

My father did. He didn't pass it on before he passed on. I'm sorry.

[crouching_sin]

[He snorts.]

I was being sarcastic, Jonathan. I didn't expect you to. It's fine - there's no need to beat yourself up over it.

... Though what kind of power did he have, out of curiosity?