Helen and Tesla are walking through what looks like some sort of underground labyrinth. Or at least something that might be a labyrinth. Either way it's very clearly all been carved out of stone; Tesla leading the way as if he knows where he's going. A moment later, they arrive in front of a sort of tunnel, studded with little lights and a series of some sort of emitters. A plaque above the tunnel reads 'Amplus Navitas.'
"Ah," Helen comments as Tesla draws to a stop, "your test."
"Yeah."
The comment is halfway to a sigh; although not one of relief. Instead it sounds like the sort of sigh someone might offer when faced with an unpleasant task that needs to be done all the same. Helen, as if noticing this fact, seems to be trying to comfort him, almost, when she speaks up again
"You tried to steal the blood once before; that means you've done the test."
"No," Tesla corrects, "I tried to steal it. I never succeeded in getting the key."
He points down the emitter-studded hallway at a low plinth on the other side. It's a little too far to see what, if anything, might be on the plinth. But rather than address that fact, he draws in another shaky breath - something entirely out of keeping, for a man who's usually so in control of himself, and Helen absolutely notices.
"You're afraid."
Tesla doesn't even try to deny it, continuing on instead.
"Your father managed to rig this tunnel here" one of his fingers draws a circle in the air that encompasses the whole of the tunnel before them "with a massive geomagnetic current, voltage derived directly from the earth. Do you have any idea how much electricity that is?"
Another shaky breath as he raises his eyebrows at Helen.
"He knew you were hard to kill."
This is offered with the verbal equivalent of a shrug on Helen's end. And as if sensing that he's not going to get any further reprieve Tesla simply dives into his next response, as if by doing so he can pretend that he isn't going to have to deal with what comes next.
"Well, this might just do it."
He takes a few steps back, shakes out his arms, and then steps hurriedly forward into the tunnel, as if he might back out if he gives himself even half the chance. The reason why becomes clear almost immediately - no sooner has he stepped into the tunnel when the nearest set of emitters comes suddenly to life, the massive current he'd spoken off lashing out at him from all directions. In fact, it looks like nothing so much as if he's in the middle of a sea of lightning; he struggles forward, each step won only with difficulty and were it not for the flash and flare of it, one might very nearly imagine he fighting against a torrent of water.
It doesn't sound comfortable either, though what few noises his makes are very nearly drowned by the crackle of the electricity. A bare handful of steps in, the tone of them change as he taps into his vampiric heritage, drawing on all he has to get through the trial he's been set.
Mercifully, the tunnel is comparatively short, and though it takes a few grueling moments longer, Tesla manages to come out the other side, collapsing on his knees in front of the plinth. One hand flails uncoordinatedly at the top for a moment before he manages to sort of pull himself up enough to be kneeling at the edge; the camera flicks back down the tunnel to catch Helen's look of concern before coming back to him as he delicately plucks an oddly-shaped key out of the plinth.
Then, and only then, does he use the plinth to lever himself up to a standing position, and someone looking closely might spot that his clothes are gently smoking, even as he offers a grin to Helen. She, in turn, makes a 'come on back' gesture at him and he steps out into the tunnel without a second thought.
...Only for the lightning to kick back in again. This time, though, he recoils instead of pushing through, rubbing his face with a hand.
"Your father really didn't like me, did he?"
This is called down the tunnel to Helen, who winces a little before answering back.
"You're an acquired taste."
"Uh-huh," Tesla murmurs, mostly to himself, with a grimace, and the video cuts out.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Bhalasaam trial
2:08 - 2:55; 3:31-4:12
lightning effects start @2:46
cw: electrocution
"Ah," Helen comments as Tesla draws to a stop, "your test."
"Yeah."
The comment is halfway to a sigh; although not one of relief. Instead it sounds like the sort of sigh someone might offer when faced with an unpleasant task that needs to be done all the same. Helen, as if noticing this fact, seems to be trying to comfort him, almost, when she speaks up again
"You tried to steal the blood once before; that means you've done the test."
"No," Tesla corrects, "I tried to steal it. I never succeeded in getting the key."
He points down the emitter-studded hallway at a low plinth on the other side. It's a little too far to see what, if anything, might be on the plinth. But rather than address that fact, he draws in another shaky breath - something entirely out of keeping, for a man who's usually so in control of himself, and Helen absolutely notices.
"You're afraid."
Tesla doesn't even try to deny it, continuing on instead.
"Your father managed to rig this tunnel here" one of his fingers draws a circle in the air that encompasses the whole of the tunnel before them "with a massive geomagnetic current, voltage derived directly from the earth. Do you have any idea how much electricity that is?"
Another shaky breath as he raises his eyebrows at Helen.
"He knew you were hard to kill."
This is offered with the verbal equivalent of a shrug on Helen's end. And as if sensing that he's not going to get any further reprieve Tesla simply dives into his next response, as if by doing so he can pretend that he isn't going to have to deal with what comes next.
"Well, this might just do it."
He takes a few steps back, shakes out his arms, and then steps hurriedly forward into the tunnel, as if he might back out if he gives himself even half the chance. The reason why becomes clear almost immediately - no sooner has he stepped into the tunnel when the nearest set of emitters comes suddenly to life, the massive current he'd spoken off lashing out at him from all directions. In fact, it looks like nothing so much as if he's in the middle of a sea of lightning; he struggles forward, each step won only with difficulty and were it not for the flash and flare of it, one might very nearly imagine he fighting against a torrent of water.
It doesn't sound comfortable either, though what few noises his makes are very nearly drowned by the crackle of the electricity. A bare handful of steps in, the tone of them change as he taps into his vampiric heritage, drawing on all he has to get through the trial he's been set.
Mercifully, the tunnel is comparatively short, and though it takes a few grueling moments longer, Tesla manages to come out the other side, collapsing on his knees in front of the plinth. One hand flails uncoordinatedly at the top for a moment before he manages to sort of pull himself up enough to be kneeling at the edge; the camera flicks back down the tunnel to catch Helen's look of concern before coming back to him as he delicately plucks an oddly-shaped key out of the plinth.
Then, and only then, does he use the plinth to lever himself up to a standing position, and someone looking closely might spot that his clothes are gently smoking, even as he offers a grin to Helen. She, in turn, makes a 'come on back' gesture at him and he steps out into the tunnel without a second thought.
...Only for the lightning to kick back in again. This time, though, he recoils instead of pushing through, rubbing his face with a hand.
"Your father really didn't like me, did he?"
This is called down the tunnel to Helen, who winces a little before answering back.
"You're an acquired taste."
"Uh-huh," Tesla murmurs, mostly to himself, with a grimace, and the video cuts out.
((video link: 2:08 - 2:55; 3:31-4:12 cw: flashing lights))