Love What You've Done with the Place {Dracula}

[Hades]

A man in a crisp business suit strode into the casino, bits of smoke trailing off behind him leaving strange curled clouds that were whisked outside by the closing door. HE grinned wide as he looked around. "Well, well, well, seems like someone's been doing some spring cleaning,' he strode in, beaming at some of the staff who seemed to shuffle about. "Oh, hey, zombie minions. Very chic, very in, gives that place a nice homey touch. Yo, you," he snapped to one of them, pointing, "gimme a drink. Surprise me with your wit."

He kept going, pausing at a slot machine. Grinning, Hades took a coin out of his pocket, slid it into the machine, and pulled, all within a few seconds, almost while he walked by. Three skulls showed and coins started pouring out. "Wouldja lookat that? I'm a big winner," he made a raise the roof gesture just as the servant/employee returned with his drink. Hades scooped up some coins and dumped them onto the tray before taking his drink. He took a sip, saluting his appreciation.

"Hat's off to the guy in charge around here. Oh, yeah," he looked up, finding a camera, "nice to meet you. Wanna come out and greet me? I mean, hey, I'm just some random guy walks in to your, I'm gonna go with lair," he took a sip, "orders a stiff drink, fucks with your staff. Maybe that's normal for you. How should I know? Might be your thing,' he chuckled, polishing off the drink. He threw the glass behind him, leaving it to shatter and for any available minions to start sweeping it up.

[Vlad Dracula]

There was a man in Dracula's casino. Alright, so it wasn't his casino, but it was his current base of operations until he could find an acceptable dark manor or castle or something in the residential district where he and Morgana could conduct their dark business. And there was a man, walking around as if he owned the place. Dracula watched on the surveillance screen, a slight frown creasing his forehead as he observed Hades' flashy entrance. What an interesting person, he thought. There was something reckless about him, something careless, but there was a confidence behind it that people who were only reckless didn't have. Yes, Dracula decided, he would go down and meet this visitor.

He descended the stairs from the upstairs office. He didn't bother putting his coat on, the waistcoat and neatly pressed collared shirt he wore most of the time made him look respectable enough, and he had other ways of commanding respect if that didn't do the trick.

"Some random guy?" he said, approaching from across the room, coming to stand next to one of the poker tables, running his fingertips along the polished wood on the edge. "Please, don't sell yourself short. Clearly there's more going on here than all that." He gave Hades a very visible once-over, eyes traveling down the length of the other man's body and then back up to his face. "People disrupting my peace and quiet, that's not out of the ordinary. But you are, aren't you?"

[Hades]

As soon as the owner showed up, Hades turned to face him. As soon as he got a good look, Hades let out a low whistle. So that's what had caught his attention: someone had done one of those tricks to avoid death. Sneaky, sneaky guy.

"Please, that was just to get your attention," Hades said, spreading his arms wide. "And it worked, didn't it? But yeah, kiddo,' he walked over to to the poker table, "I'm definitely a bit out of the ordinary. But you know all about that, don't you? You death cheater you. Not my mess," Hades held up his hands, "since you're clearly someone else's problem. Just a paperwork mess waiting to happen. Impressive, really."

Hades nodded, then extended a hand, smiling darkly. "Hades, lord of the dead, god of the underworld, and I just love what youv'e done with the place."

[Vlad Dracula]

Kiddo. Kiddo. He could not remember ever having been called kiddo in his life, even in his actual living life, before he'd become a vampire. This was a first, and he didn't experience a lot of firsts anymore. He wasn't sure whether he ought to be offended or amused, and ended up somewhere between the two. He shook the hand that was offered, giving Hades about as warm a smile as he was capable of mustering up.

"It's a pleasure," he said, contemplating whether to use his various titles and nicknames, since it seemed that was what the situation called for. "Vlad Dracula, Voivode of Wallachia, supplier of the dead. I suppose I've sent a few people your way, haven't I?" He held the handshake just a slight moment too long, then released, leaning to the side against the poker table, crossing his arms over his chest. "Perhaps that'll make up for the paperwork, at least in part, hm?"

He glanced around, monitoring his faithful little staff closely. "I'm glad you approve of the renovations." That was a lie, he couldn't care less what anyone thought about what he'd done with the eJoin me at the bar? I've got some very nice wines, if you're into that, and plenty of other things if you're not."

[Hades]

"Dracula. You know, I think I've read your book. Bit dreary," said Hades, holding up a finger. "And hey, like I said, you're off my books, Vladdy," he made a cutting motion with his hand, smoke curling around his fingers for a moment. He kept his attention focused on the vampire. Oh, there was a part of Hades that was all but screaming at him to take this guy in. To drop him into Tartarus for appropriate judgement. Something told Hades this guy would deserve some kind of special punishment too. Bu Hades could also all but smell the kindred spirit thing they had going on here.

"I'm not one to turn down a good vino," agreed Hades, he started sauntering over toward the bar, bits of smoke leaking from around his feet. It would almost be hard to really notice them, as if he didn't quite exist around the heels. Hades' gaze swept over the assorted alcohol, then around. Yes, definitely hypnotized staff, and someone had some very good tastes in alcohol. This place did seem like a fairly decent place ot set up shop, certainly brighter than Hades' home...

...at least when Persephone wasn't around.

Just thinking of his wife made the god's eye twitch as he turned back to the vampire. "I gotta wonder though. Whole place seems to be centralized more on that castle up there. Big school building, can't miss it. But you, big hotshot Vlad Dracula, you're down here,' he gestured. "Nice place, but nothing on a castle. Enterprising death god's gotta wonder why. The wine?"

[Vlad Dracula]

"Yes, I suppose you don't have much use for those of us who don't have souls, hm?" Dracula said, smiling. "And as for the book, well...you know, when someone that bitter writes something like that, it's bound to be a little less enthralling than the reality of the matter, isn't it?" He was none too fond of the random nicknames this person was giving him, but there were worse offenses, and he was also a little uncertain about the whole smoke thing Hades had going on. He wasn't going to make a fuss about it, but he did glance around instinctively to make sure the casino wasn't on fire.

"I've spent plenty of time in castles," he explained. "And I'm in the process of finding something more substantial here; I don't actually own this building, and while I suppose I could begin the process of purchasing it, I'd rather acquire something a little more...homey. The school is the focus though, you are correct. I have my own interests to pursue here."

He was behaving in a much more welcoming manner than he usually would have, but he too had noticed that despite the annoying nicknames and smoke and talk of cheating, there was something about Hades that struck him as familiar. Not in an I can trust this person sort of way, because Dracula trusted no one entirely, ever, but a familiarity nonetheless, the feeling that the two of them would likely see eye to eye on some things. He gestured for the bartender, and had one of the nicer bottles of wine brought out that he'd stored away here.

"I think you'll like this," he said, setting the bottle down in front of Hades. "It's a 2010 Barolo, and I've been holding onto it, but I think good company warrants good wine, wouldn't you say?"

[Hades]

"Bitter people write nonsense all the time," agreed Hades, face locked into a serious position for a moment. "I speak from experience, of course, Vlad, but you figured that already," some of that bluster was starting to melt away as the conversation deepened. Hades all but took a seat at the bar now, but his attention remained fixated, as always, on Dracula himself.

"Guy like you doesn't have the money to buy this? Or are you just figuring that squatters' rights are the way to go? Like your style all the same,' Hades nodded, looking around again. Yes, this place was definitely too noisy for him in a lot of ways, or maybe just the wrong sorts of noises. Hades' gaze lingered on a few of the slight touches, tapping his fingers against the counter.

The bottle settled, and Hades smiled. "Definitely agreeing with you there," he said, gesturing. The bottle uncorked, while Hades looked to Dracula. "So you want to be the head honcho, man in charge, Overlord Dracula. Has a nice ring to it, gotta admit," Hades nodded a few times. "Look, gonna level with you. I got a minion, keeps running here, and I can't have that. Messes up my plans. And if that isn't enough, some of my relatives have taken up shop up at the big castle on the hill." Hades looked that way, snorting. "You got this whole, mob boss meets undead overlord thing, going on here. Like it. Wears well on you. So, kinda begs the question, don't it? We gonna be allies or enemies?"

[Vlad Dracula]

There was a way to these things, these first meetings, Dracula knew. They would both stand around and puff up their chests while they tried to figure out what the other's bottom line was, and then they'd settle in. Wine helped with that, usually, as did common interests, and Dracula had a feeling they would somehow find plenty of those.

"It's not a question of money," he explained, taking the glass of wine the bartender slid over to him, and swirling it briefly. "It's a question of what I'd prefer to do with my money, really. I'd rather invest it in something a little less centrally located, if I'm honest. There's something to be said for having a place away from all the action, especially when you have to seclude yourself all day until the sun goes down. That's the thing about schools; they do so many things during daytime hours and that's just horribly inconvenient for me."

He glanced over at Hades, giving him a slow smile. "If I were running that show up on the hill, I'd have to change the scheduling quite a bit. I'm not sure they're ready for that just yet." He took a long sip of wine, then set his glass down and leaned on his forearms on the bar. "I think if you were planning to make an enemy today, you wouldn't have dressed so well, am I correct in that assumption?" He gestured towards Hades' whole ensemble. "And I am never in a hurry to make enemies myself; it's unavoidable throughout the years, but that doesn't mean I have to go looking for them, hm?"

[Hades]

Hades nodded again. "Gotta get that little castle in the country, eh?" he said, chuckling. "I get it, I get it. Always been a fan of the house on the hill myself, but hey, each their own and all that jazz," he took a sip of the drink now, savoring the taste. More bits of smoke seemed to be leaking around his hand. Hades didn't even look to Dracula, but he could feel that smile on there, mentions of the plan.

"Got me there, Vlad," admitted Hades, setting his drink down. "Now, there's a few people here. They start as enemies. Mess up the plan, screw with my wife," his hand flared for a moment, but he shook it, shrugging, "and well, can't blame a god for losing a bit of his control, amiright? But why go looking for enemies when you could have a few more allies? Something tells me, you and me, we got goals that'll work in line with each other. I'll go one further," Hades leaned in, "you've clearly been hanging around here longer than me. Got a read of the lay of the land and all that jazz. So I'm willing to follow your plan," he pointed toward Drac, "so long as it doesn't ruin my time table too much. You get what I'm saying here?"

He took another sip, eyes flashing dark as he did. Just a few more subtle shows of power, not quite flexing, but still showing that they were on equal footing. Talk as companions, partners, allies, not as lackey to boss. Because while Hades was pretty sure he could incinerate this guy, seemed like Dracula had a plan, and Hades was more than a little curious to see how things lined up.

[Vlad Dracula]

Dracula huffed out a short laugh. The way Hades put it, little castle in the country, as if he, Vlad Dracula, were looking for a retirement home or some such thing. No, he just valued his privacy, that was all. The castle on the hill would come, but not until the time was right, until all the pieces were in place. "The hilltop will be reached, but there are things to attend to first," he said, shrugging. "I am not a particularly patient man, but I do know the importance of timing and having all your things situated properly before you embark on an ambitious undertaking."

He shifted closer as Hades went on speaking, eyes locked on the other man's face before fire flared up in his hand, at which point he glanced over at that instead. He didn't move back, resisting the instinct to do so with a little effort. A wife, hm? "Understandable," he said, taking another sip of wine. "It is easy to lose our hold on the wilder parts of our nature when the people we love are concerned." Never mind that there were only about five people in as many centuries that Dracula would ever have remotely have suggested that he loved.

"You want to follow my plan, hm?" he mused, looking at Hades' hand again. "I think you might like my plan, as it stands, if you have ever thought of expanding the reach of your control...but there are parts of it I feel you might take issue with." Namely the parts where he would be turning large numbers of people undead. If one vampire was evidence of cheating, surely an army of them was a coup or something. Unless, perhaps, their souls ended up with Hades once they were destroyed. Dracula had never been very sure or interested in what happened to souls after a person was turned into a vampire; he only knew that the soul certainly wasn't inhabiting that body anymore. "How can I be sure," he went on, reaching over to run one cold fingertip along the edge of Hades' hand, where fire had been seen a short moment prior, "that you're serious about this? Allying yourself with someone whose existence might be thought by some to defy your whole purpose, how do you justify that?"

[Hades]

"I'm not a fan of waiting either," admitted Hades. "But we got a while, you and me, don't we?" he flashed a slightly sardonic smile at that. Personally Hades didn't mind the whole immortality thing, probably because he'd actually been around long enough that immortality was mostly just 'existing" as far as Hades was concerned. And when he had his wife...

..which he didn't at the moment. He waved off Dracula's comments. "Everybody's got a weakness," he offered. "Mine just happens to be immortal, ridiculously hot, and way better than any of us," he took a drink of his wine, savoring the taste of the grapes as they burned. Wine always did remind him of the few people he actually cared about. Harvest. Wine.

Plans. And questions; "See, here's the thing: I don't wanna stick around here. I got plans of my own, and they involve setting up shop somewhere else. You and me? We aren't fighting over the same little patch of dirt. You can have this place, just so long as it's not somewhere that my little minion wants to run away to as a summer home. And hey, if you can give me a little muscle to help me overthrow some annoying siblings and get some order in my house," Hades shrugged. "Why the hell would I give a shit what you do in your own realm? You'll give me some more work, but not like the heroes haven't figured out how to cheat death before."

Hades paused, holding up a finger. "And that's the problem you should really be worrying about. This place attracts heroes like flies to dung. Kinda makes you wish you had a flyswatter on hand, amiright?"

[Vlad Dracula]

Dracula could have pointed out that he was also immortal and ridiculously hot, but he decided to take the vaguely more modest angle. He did not like the idea of having weaknesses; exploiting them, certainly, but discussing his own was always a touchy issue. He didn't have the luxury of speculation, either. Other people you had to guess at...did they have abandonment issues from their terrible parents? Were they afraid of heights? Spiders? Dracula, though, his weaknesses were all right out there in the open for anybody who wanted to do a little reading (thanks to that idiot Harker). He couldn't afford to be weak to anything else, not when his existing shortcomings were common knowledge.

"Better..." he echoed. "That's a matter of perspective, I think. I don't think many people are better than me when I'm at my best." He reached for the bottle and poured more wine into his glass. "I should warn you," he said slowly, "my ambitions reach far beyond this little patch of dirt. It is my belief that there is no one more qualified to govern this entire realm, and by realm I do mean world, no one more gifted with the abilities necessary to guide the inhabitants of this earth than I am." There, that was out in the open, then. Shoe one, I want to take over the world.

Hades had a good point; there were much less qualified people than Dracula who had managed to avoid dying before. People who would probably like to cause Hades a lot more trouble than he intended to, which was none at all, if this played out the way he wanted to.

"The heroes will come here when they have a reason to," Dracula predicted. "By then, it is my hope that I will have relocated to somewhere more secure. They are all busy with their silly politics and reunions at present, and I expect that once they have finished merrymaking they will come for me. I have no intention of showing my hand too quickly, though."

[Hades]

"Good, you don't think small picture. And hey, if I wanted to just set up an earthly realm, that would be the end of this conversation. Be all nice to meet you, thanks for the drink, look out for the dagger. But," Hades stretched his arms out wide, "I'm not interested in this world, for starts. And for another, I'm not interested in this plane. Even if I wanted this little dungheap, I'd be taking over the celestial version. Whatever that is."

Which had Hades wondering for a moment. He knew his world had Olympus, and he was more than vaguely aware of other pantheons out there. Could there be a similar setup here in this place? Be interesting to see if the gods of Trenale would object to their moving pieces across the game board.

Though at least Vlad had thought about the actual people likely to notice piece movement: other pieces. "Not bad, not bad at all. Heroes though: tricky things, them. They'll show up when your plans aren't completely locked in place. Somebody screws up," he gestured, smoke beginning to draw a picture of his own frustration: a pair of minions failing to kill a baby, "whole thing falls to pieces. So we gotta be ready for them to show up when we aren't. And I'm already moving my pieces. Got a minion or two: working on snagging a few souls. Trade spies, all that fun espionage, spy v spy stuff." He finished with another drink, dismissing his smoky illusions.

[Vlad Dracula]

Small picture was definitely not Dracula's style, no, not at all. He was mildly insulted at Hades' description of this world as a dungheap, because he was not intending to be supreme ruler of a dungheap, and he was of the belief that this place had unending potential. But then, he didn't have the option of just waltzing off to another plane of existence and taking over that. He had to work with the world he was given. And if he was honest, he didn't mind that. It seemed a little premature to be thinking about other realms when he hadn't even gotten through the one school in this one yet.

He assumed the people at the school would come for him because that was what people did; they could rarely stomach the idea of a vampire skulking around feeding off them even if they didn't know his plans, but so far he had no reason to think anybody was aware of his presence that he hadn't deliberately tipped off. Granted, he was sure Elsa or Will might have mentioned something to someone, but he had been very polite to both of them, and he didn't think he'd given either of them any reason to raise any alarms.

"I have been recruiting as well," he said, observing the smoke that was gathering in the air. That was unsettling, but he was starting to accept that there was no fire accompanying it that would endanger him. Hades didn't seem like he'd come here to light the building on fire, after all, so Dracula tried to trust that he knew what he was doing with all this smoke and mirrors nonsense. "It is difficult to know who to trust...or rather, who can be counted on to be predictable. Trust is not something I am in the habit of handing out whatsoever, as I'm sure you know how dangerous that can be." Maybe he didn't...a god of the dead was something entirely different from being undead. People were generally accepting of the fact that everyone must die eventually, and while that might conjure up some bitterness, it probably didn't make them as openly hostile as it did when you were the one doing the killing while you yourself refused to let death have hold on you.

[Hades]

So two recruiters, at the least, probably three, given that Vlad already had someone as a partner. Hades nodded, grinning at that. The more people they had, the better. Vlad could probably have less of an aura than Hades, while Hades could perhaps offer more than the vampire could. He also found himself agreeing.

"Exactly," he said, 'you and me, we know what the other wants. You want to be king of this world. I want to be king of the next. So everything we do, it's gonna be toward those. I don't trust some guy who won't die, and you're not gonna trust a fasttalking god of death, no matter how handsome, charismatic, and obviously on your side he is," Hades ran his hand through his hair, flashing a quick smile to try and include Vlad in that.

"Gotta admit, my main minion? About the only thing that's predictable about him is that he fails. Name's Panic, and he lives up to it in the worst way. Kid's been running around making friends though, and when I say jump, he's already in the air before even thinking of asking me how high," Hades took a sip. "Hope you understand if that's the only one I'm gonna give way right now. Oh," his gaze went hard, "and we're not working with the other Olympians, unless someone named Persephone shows up. You do that, I'm gonna drag your ass to wherever hell's keeping a spot warm for you." Though technically, Hades would work with one or two... mostly one... mostly Dio, who barely counted as an Olympian when you got down to it. Hades didn't count him, that was certain.