Note: Happy Friday the 13th.
"Yeah. I don't remember anything about Saturday. But I know that… the plan was to go to the math and sciences building. And, part of the plan was, in the… chem lab," her brow scrunched at the connotation she'd been unable to omit, "…in a beaker… when you mix a bunch of oils you can make glass invisible. …So I was going to try it, to make a glass rod invisible by putting it in the oil. I'd never had a chance before, so that's something I wanted to try. …" It was quiet, and Francine frowned at the ceiling as she lay on her bed, daring Seras (whom she couldn't see) to laugh and refuse to believe her. Francine had wanted to try the experiment for years. To try and do it herself after a teacher had shown it to the class in elementary school.
Too irritated with the story, Francine pushed herself up, but became neutral when she saw no evidence of doubt in Seras' expression. The blonde was all earnestness and nervousness, quiet, obedient and attentive. Francine thought it was weird, but she also wanted this reaction. Therefore she couldn't comment on it. "So what does your sister know?"
Seras' fingertips tapped together as she rummaged through her vocabulary, grammar, motor skills – how was she supposed to communicate this? What was she going to say? 'Talk to her,' had been the extent of the plan. No speech had been prepared in advance. No list of questions to read off. No, most likely she wouldn't get the chance to ask any questions tonight…
Seras looked up sheepishly, testing her words by bouncing them off of Francine's face, "So you don't remember anything from Saturday? Just, nothing?"
A bland, emotionless, perhaps bored stare. But no real frown or negativity. "That's right."
Wow… her Master had been pretty sloppy… careless… or… Was that what happened to people every time he erased their memories? Actually… that might just be the case…
Seras asked, "So you don't know which teacher it was-?"
"I wasn't even sure if it was a teacher." A flat, harsh voice responded and Seras watched the girl. But the annoyance wasn't directed towards her. Thank goodness. Francine continued as Seras kept an eye on her mood, "I wasn't even sure if… any sort of 'getting caught scenario' had taken place. There wasn't anything to 'get caught doing', either way." She grumbled, and spat out certain words like pits or seeds that had gotten caught between her teeth. Then her eyes narrowed, her expression darkening quickly, falling beneath a new shade of thought.
"But of course everybody wants to believe that this 'worst case scenario' happened. … That I'm being 'punished' for something. That I got 'what was coming to me', essentially. …Typical things. Bull shit things. …All crap." Now words were popping like a vat of acid, and the corrosive sound of her hatred burned into Seras' cheeks. "All of the rumors are lies – 99.999% of them are complete and total fiction. …I thought… that- that I'd just been dumped outside in the rain, or something. Really. Nothing happened. Nothing consensual… and nothing nonconsensual. … Nothing. At. All."
Francine sniffed and coughed while Seras scratched her upper lip for the sake of looking like she was doing something. Seras swallowed and hoped the burning in her face wasn't too noticeable, though it felt like someone was holding two lit matches next to her cheeks. "According… to- well, um, Alucard." (Still awkward saying that name…) She cleared her throat to finish what she wanted to say. Hoping it came out…the way she had in mind. "…Nothing like that- was, anyway. –Just that, apparently… you two were there, in the classroom. And then… the teacher walked in. And…" Seras ducked her head and couldn't go on. Only staring into the floor, feeling like a partial failure, wanting to be a bit more like Sir Integra, if possible…
Not her Master… nooo, no never - but Sir Integra was a good role model. She was perfect, actually.
While Seras had been talking, Francine was alert and listening to each detail – though without recognition – and she didn't have any problem with how Seras had given her the information. If Seras had known too much detail, that might have disturbed her. And the girl's timidity made Francine feel like she was in control, though Seras was the one with the information. Francine sniffed, "Which classroom did this happen in?"
"I-I'm not sure. He- I mean, she didn't say." Seras tripped over her native language.
"He?" Francine probed, needling each word that was mentioned. "Who's he?"
"I meant 'she'." Seras assured her.
Francine's eyes narrowed. "… How did Alucard get this information? You said she saw it? How could she see it? She was out with that- that- ugh…" Francine cringed, shutting her eyes as if the conjured face made her want to vomit. When they opened, she could only squint and her mouth worked itself into angular frowns. "That douche guy on the basketball team– who isn't even a starter. And she's- or they're dating, or else he's like stalking her- Sorry, I just hate guys like him. So full of themselves, and so full of shit. Thinking girls are only good for one thing, and expecting everyone to worship them. Like they're sex gods. Don't know how to respect women. And now he's dating a Freshman, just stooping lower and lower- And- I- Mmm, no, I don't know. But I heard that they- well." She cut off, clenching her teeth. Stung by self-reproach as she regretted what she'd allowed to slip out, and what material she'd referenced when forming her opinion of these people, this person... who the blonde girl was undoubtedly friends with. Francine winced and dark, uneasy eyes checked Seras, but found no hostility, no response at all. She probably didn't like John either, Francine thought, feeling a bit more comfortable as no anger or annoyance manifested as seconds passed. She felt more grounded as she went on with a sense of calm assurance. "Gossip isn't fact. So, who knows what's really what."
"Well, Alucard did have the date. But then she got back. She…she was mad, so she went for a walk." Seras manipulated the truth, which luckily responded with ample flexibility. "And- Since she likes rain anyway. Storms, especially- Lighting. And all… Just…quirky."
"Uh huh." Francine responded, but Seras thought the subtle nod and mute snort that came with it seemed to be affirming her observation about Alucard.
"And… well-" Seras pulled out bits of the story Alucard had reported to Integra over the phone, "You guys had used a key to get in, and the door was unlocked, and Alucard was at the building and just went in – didn't really expect it to be open, I think. But anyway, a teacher had found you two, and- and he was yelling at the- counselor, and Alucard just heard yelling, and followed it, and found the classroom."
It was quiet. Suddenly aware of the floral bed and third person in the room, Seras looked down at Rebecca who was looking up at her. Possibly… still staring at her since the last time their eyes had met… The thought unnerved the fledgling, and she peered at the girl on the floral-print comforter. Frowning out of restlessness, wanting to ask her to look away, but finding no socially appropriate way to do so. Thankfully Francine was able to distract her from the strange roommate.
Francine was staring neutrally into the carpet. "Which teacher was it?"
Seras said nothing. She didn't know if she should tell. What she was allowed to do at this point, since her Master had gone through the trouble of erasing her memories to begin with…
Francine leant against Seras' thoughts with her tone, steering them into a more convenient path, "Do you know? Is this the 'He' you didn't want to talk about? It's not like I'll get him in trouble or anything. I just want to know if he's one of my teachers or not."
Still Seras dithered, but she had no alliance, no bonds that tied her to Father Anderson. So she answered, "Mr. Anderson. The big, scary calc teacher who hates everybody."
Unable to tell if Francine was familiar with Father Anderson or not, Seras was about to try and reword that gush of too-much-already that had come out… when Francine said that she knew who she was referring to. And Seras mumbled an "Oh," and was again quiet.
"Is that all Alucard knows? Did… Does she know where… "he" went?"
At first the Police Girl thought Francine was talking about Father Anderson, but when she considered the number of males the question could apply to, her Master was omitted since he was supposed to be a "she" right now, and it made more sense for the girl to be talking about the counselor in the context of the question. "I- No, she doesn't." …Well, he technically didn't go anywhere. He just got…butchered and eaten. …By two monsters.
Seras sort of felt sorry for the vampire now, though he was an 'enemy'. Having to deal with Father Anderson… all alone… and then be eaten by her Master… A really, terrible, agonizing end. Poor guy. And he'd been a fledgling… somehow like her… But what was the difference? Fledgling versus vampire. She was a vampire, wasn't she? But now she was getting side-tracked, getting into her own problems when she should be concentrating on Francine… and Rebecca. Seras stared back at the dark grey eyes that rarely… rarely seemed to blink. Ehhhmm… creepy, creepy, creepy girl – anyone ever teach you not to stare? Or was that just with pointing…? Seras was muddled and jolted when Francine's question prodded her.
"You're sure she doesn't know? She doesn't know if he was arrested? Or… how bad- Because… it could affect his career… the rest of his life. And if that's just because people think something happened, when nothing really happened. I mean, we kissed. We held hands. That's really the most I've ever done. The last boyfriend I had, I was thirteen and he was my age, and I thought he was immature and boring, and maybe just a little bit stupid. And this… well, supposedly… he'd never been comfortable enough to date anyone before. So this was, supposedly, new to him too. He had a real… just, anxiety problem." She went quiet, unable to continue. Finally… for the first time, she'd missed him. For just an instant. Or else, she'd felt bad about it, for him, what would happen. Since, if he'd dumped her, he'd never have done it for the sake of being mean, or because he didn't care or respect her. None of that. It would've been him chickening out of the relationship, to slink off alone. But no, they'd been caught. Apparently, maybe… she hadn't been dumped.
What if she hadn't been dumped? She'd wandered out into the rain in a state of shock.
All of her previous emotions seemed to well up and revolve, thoughts switching perspectives, crumbling under new considerations, new potentials. Maybe things weren't over. Maybe this meant she actually felt something for him – but then, she remembered all the times when she'd assessed her feelings, and confirmed nothing that strong could be pulled out of the relationship.
Realizing the blonde girl hadn't replied, Francine detached herself from her 'weak' thoughts. "So you, or she doesn't know anything about that?"
"N… No just- only what she saw. Yelling, and then she had to leave. Mr. Anderson really hates her." Seras mumbled a bit, her conscience beginning to itch as the lies continued – she needed to smooth some of this out with chunks of truth. Like, Anderson definitely hated everybody. He definitely hated her Master. And-
"I thought Alucard was a super genius. The teachers don't necessarily like her, but I didn't think any of them could hate a good student."
Seras gave a nervous laugh that made the nape of her neck tingle. Probably the pitch of the laugh itself… she thought, assessing the feeling. "No. He- he just hates Alucard. And Alucard hates him. They have a weird hate-hate (yet sorta can't leave each other alone) kind of relationship."
Francine watched the girl, deciding to take a little time off from her troubles to relax and delve into other topics. She reclined back more comfortably. "Oh, I bet Blake loves that."
Quizzical baby-blue eyes blinked. "I don't… think I know a Blake."
"Oh, John. John Blake – I just tend to call the athletes by their last names. I… I'm not too fond of jocks – like I said. And sorry, 'bout all that. But um, yeah – it's just I've sort of thought he was the 'jealous type'. And… a guy who really goes after his conquests. Or what-not."
Seras didn't have a response, so she just hummed.
Rebecca, apparently, had looked away from Seras long enough to check the digital clock that sat on her nightstand. Her voice startled Seras, who was unable to recognize where it'd come from, having forgotten about the girl and never having heard her speak before.
"It's almost eleven. We should get to bed. I've got a test and a quiz tomorrow."
"Oh," Seras knitted her fingers, embarrassed by her lack of consideration, her carelessness, her inability to stay longer when she'd yet to really conduct a proper investigation. (Meaning, no investigation at all.)
But there was always tomorrow. And she'd probably accomplished more than her Master had that night.
It was promised, before Seras left, that they'd meet together to talk in the dining hall the next day. Though, they neglected to go over whether or not the No-Life-King was allowed to join them.
*~*~::..+..::~*~*
The Vampire Alucard stood on a street corner at a four-way intersection, lights switching soundlessly from green, to yellow, then red and another would turn green as a walk sign would come on. Before the eyes of the diminutive nosferatu, the great tiny Dracula, an illuminated white figure appeared, beckoning him to cross the street. But Alucard remained standing, motionless as the white figure became a red, flashing hand. And then a stable red hand, forbidding passage.
Only then did the vampire finally decide to cross the street. There being no cars. It being around four in the morning. Having accomplished nothing in a span of six or so hours. As he crossed the street – a small, lone figure under the street lights – he heard an engine across the way, heading with the green light that would not direct it into the vampire's path. So Alucard kept walking, a blank face staring nearly sightless into the lights, or alternately at the sidewalk beneath the red opposing hand.
And then as he came to the sidewalk, he realized a motorcycle had pulled over and was near the curb. It took only a moment for the vampire to realize what was going on, but the man had already dismounted and walked around his motor vehicle – taking a pad out, and a pen, already clearing his throat and adopting an obnoxious wide-legged stance of authority.
"Are you aware that J-walking is a crime? You see that sign-" He indicated the red hand to the pale girl, but noticed that she just stared at him, dazed and yet somehow completely indifferent to his opinion. He frowned, confident that he could easily remedy her delinquent habits. She was wearing the school uniform – likely she was off-campus without permission, or if not that, it was well past the curfew.
The officer cleared his throat again, but choked. Astounded and half enraged when he saw that the teenage girl had turned her back to him and was now walking away – casually, sauntering down the sidewalk. He broke his wide-legged stance of authority to hurry after her, raising his voice and roughening the edges of his words with a growl. "Hey! You know evading arrest is-"
Alucard turned to watch his lips move, not registering what dribble poured forth. Dully, he saw the notepad open, thin pages fluttered in the breeze. Ah. He hadn't noticed the breeze before. It was quite pleasant. And he appreciated the fact that pants were so convenient in such skirt-filling conditions. …Hmm… yes, pleasant weather.
"What is your name, please."
The loudness and lack of a 'question' told Alucard that it had been asked multiple times already. However, he couldn't care less.
The police officer actually snarled as he made a motion that looked like he had intended to throw his pad onto the sidewalk. However, it remained in his hand at his side. "Whether or not you want to cooperate, I'm going to make a call for someone to come pick you up and take you back to the school. Are you aware of the dangers of being out this late, unaccompanied – is there anyone who currently knows where you are, young lady?"
Alucard let out a spurt of laughter, causing the officer's face to grow red, even as the light behind them turned green. Across the way, the white figure appeared once more. But no one paid it any attention.
The man turned to the side as he grabbed the radio that was clipped to his uniform. He was about to speak, already holding down the button so his clipped voice was submitted to receiving speakers, but only as a short blip that was dominated by silence. He was cut off as the rude young lady began walking back towards the street, in the opposite direction she had been headed. Unable to predict what she was going to do, he tried to get the girl to stand still again, to be a bit more obedient. But she ignored him, and to his surprise and amazement, walked up to his motorcycle – as if she were about to climb onto it.
He strode forward, but slowed just as abruptly, when – of course – the little girl didn't try to get on the bike, but merely rested her hands on it. …Though, she shouldn't be doing that either.
"Step away from the motorbike. Come back here. And stand there-" a finger indicated the space below a tree, the shadow Alucard had been standing in before. "-you stand right there, while I radio-"
Her voice cut him off, sharp, aggressive, and arrogant.
"I'm not a real person."
At a loss, the man frowned at her. What was she playing at? Was she under the influ-
"I'm not a little girl. I'm not a human being." Alucard saw the officer's eyes grow, the developing perplexity. However, the vampire was too aggravated by his fruitless hunt to even smirk at the officer. "I'm not even alive." He stated plainly, and stared deep into the officer's uncomprehending eyes.
"Oh, alright now, young lady or sir. I'm going to need to know what you've been up to this evening. Whether you think this is a game, or if you've been drinking-"
"No, no… I'm going to show you how much I care about what you can do to me. I'm dead. I'm outside of the law. If I want to cross a street. I can cross any damn street, anytime, anywhere I care to. Because why? Because I can do this."
The vampire heaved the bike into the air, the officer retreating, gaping, dumbfounded. He couldn't believe the lack of strain – weight, that was registered, but it wasn't crushing the thin little girl as she hefted it above her head, first managing her hold of the bike to get a better positioning. And then she launched it into the light of the traffic signals and streetlamps, where it soared like a fat awkward rocket in slow-motion, in a sort of leisurely, comical arch over the long arm of the high traffic light nearest to them, and then dipped down across the intersection, beneath the next line of traffic lights to crash into the street, bound, flipping over, demolishing itself against the asphalt where it crunched and scraped before sliding into the bumper of a car parked on the side of the street. Nudging the car, and at most denting it slightly, while adding some minor scrapes as the bulk of the car wavered with the transferred motion.
Lights came on across the street, in the apartment building nearest to the parked car that'd been dented, and the totaled heap of a once-motorcycle that lay against it - a somewhat disfigured tire touching a scuff-mark on the car. The officer was mute, staring at the car, staring at his bike. Too otherworldly for him to have the courage to look at the girl, to see whether she was still there, still appeared to be real, if she'd really walked away like he thought she had.
Red-eyed, ghostly pale girl in a boy's school uniform, in the early morning hours. He saw blinds move and a face in one of the windows – in his periphery. All in his periphery. He couldn't look away from the totaled bike-
He let out a yell and scrambled away when a hard open hand landed against his back with the girl's voice: "Now, should we see how much farther you'll go when I throw you across the street?"
The man staggered backwards, away from the figure in the dark, in the shadow of the tree. Hearing voices as one or more persons stepped out onto balconies or out of their apartments. Maybe someone had responded to his shout – he hoped so – he needed backup – but what if he was insane-
The hand that had gone to his radio dropped dead, as his legs became weak and then collapsed beneath him. He gaped up at the fluttering bats that the girl had seemingly evaporated into… or shattered apart and become. Darkness in the form of bats, twisting upwards and away into the night – well beyond the touch of the street lights.