[Helen, Tesla and another woman are standing in what looks, mostly like a room carved out of stone. Given the pillars that are covered with some sort of writing (the camera isn't close enough to pick out exactly what sort of writing it is, much less what language it might be - only the faint glimmers of curves and edges on the metal plaques set into the pillars suggests that it's even there at all), it looks like somewhere that wouldn't be entirely out of place in some sort of funerary structure.]
Could you excuse us for just one moment? [The voice is Helen's, addressed to the other woman, just before she pulls Tesla off to one corner of the room. Only then does she continue on, in hushed tones.] I don't like any of this. We have no idea where that tunnel leads.
[Tesla, on the other hand, appears to be somewhat less impressed.]
Why would she lie to us?
[The distinctly unimpressed expression that Helen offers in return is probably more than enough to explain her feelings on the matter all the same, annoyance creeping into her voice.]
The woman is used to ruling over a population of serfs. You don't think she's working her own agenda?
Look, [Tesla answers, apparently unwilling to admit Helen has a point] if she were actually bent on world domination, why would she complicate our trip out of here?
You're assuming all of us are going. [It's a good point, in all fairness. But Helen doesn't stop there.] You're familiar with the farmer and the chicken parable?
I am. [There's a note of mild annoyance creeping into Tesla's voice now.] Which are you in this story? The chicken, or the fox?
The farmer. [Helen counters, without so much as missing a bit, and with traces of her own annoyance creeping into her voice.] I don't feel safe letting her go first and I certainly don't feel safe leaving her behind.
[Again, the point is probably a good one. But Tesla seems to be more inclined to dig his heels in rather than yield to the logic in Helen's comments.]
You have a sasquatch for a butler and you travel the world with history's most notorious murderer and now you don't feel safe? Helen, green is not a good color on you.
[The comment prompts a laugh out of Helen.]
Don't be ridiculous.
[Tesla, on the other hand, seems to be entirely commented to his insinuation that Helen might be jealous; she's barely finished speaking before he's continuing right along, glancing briefly over at the other woman, who seems to be busying herself with something on the far side of the room.]
She's intelligent, powerful, remarkably well-preserved for her age... everything I look for in a woman. [The briefest of pauses, and then his voice picks up a tone of annoyance, one which grows throughout his next sentence.] And unlike someone I know, she's actually interested in me.
[If Helen is at all bothered by this outburst, she doesn't much show it. Mostly, she seems fed up with having to deal with Tesla, which is backed up by her comment.]
I'm not engaging in this childish conversation.
[Tesla on the other hand, is more than willing to. And more to the point, isn't inclined to stop.]
The more you deny it, the truer it is.
[If he wanted to goad Helen back into the conversation, that seems to have done it, since she comes right back with a retort of her own.]
Oh, that's an excellent scientific method. [This is offered with all the sarcasm and irritation she can muster, which is fairly considerable.] Really, really good.
[It's at this point that the other woman rejoins the conversation, crossing the room in - quite literally - the blink of an eye.]
I can hear you, you know. [There's not even a trace of shame in her voice either. Rather she sounds smug about it.] Vampire, remember?
[Helen recoils, at that - or possibly the suddenness of her arrival, moving to stand next to Tesla, who mostly looks unimpressed.]
You need to learn to trust me.
[This is addressed to Helen, who stands her ground, coming back with] And if I don't?
That's when bad things start to happen.
[The other woman smiles a bit, at that, while Helen draws in a breath and takes a step back. Which is likely a perfectly legitimate response as the other woman abruptly bares her fangs and rushes Helen, slamming her back against one of the pillars.]
Afina!
[The voice is Nikola's, just off screen, the camera refocusing to catch his expression of shock. This is, presumably, the name of the other woman, but either way she doesn't react, shoving Helen to the ground before rounding on Tesla and catching his arms in her hands. He tries to break free, but to no avail, Afina eventually forcing him down to his knees before sinking her fangs into his wrist; he gasps in shock, probably at the sudden turn of events and the discomfort of it.]
What are you doing?
[He's still struggling, helpless to do even so much as break free of Afina's grasp until she breaks free of till she pulls away from his wrist and pulls him to his feet.
Which is not the reprieve it seems to be; she shoves him backwards and he goes stumbling back a few steps... and straight over the edge of a pit trap. As he falls, screaming, the video snaps back to Afina, and her parting shot in response, complete with self-satisfied grin:]
Changing the rules.
[The video cuts out.]
[And picks up again, close in on Tesla face down at the bottom of the pit trap, head tilted at an uncomfortable-looking. For a moment it almost looks like he's dead - he's certainly not moving and doesn't seem to breathing either. Then there's a sudden gasp of breath and his eyes snap open. A moment later, he starts pushing himself up, with a soft comment of 'ow' accompanying the clicks and snaps of what sounds like most of the joints in his arms snapping back into place. His neck follows suit as he rolls that also back into place with another soft comment ("Oh, that hurts.") and then he's shoving himself to all fours and then properly to his feet. There's one last set of cracks and snaps as he rolls his neck again and then his shoulders before turning to look at the (small) space at the bottom of the shaft and then up at the small square of light overhead that marks the opening.
It's a long way up. Several stories at least.]
Oh, very nice.
[Let it never be said that Tesla lets not having someone to talk to keep from being utterly annoyed. There's a brief pause, a sigh, and than he thrusts out his arms, calling on his vampiric ancestry as claws spring forth from his hands; his fangs follow suit as he throws his head back and jumps.
Clear out of the frame. There's a long moment where all the camera shows is the smooth stone wall of the shaft, then a clatter of something hard against stone, and Tesla's voice.]
No. No.
[A groan of frustration, rapidly descending until Tesla comes into frame again, landing with a heavy thud.]
That backstabbing, blood-sucking, bitch.
[The camera cuts out again.]
[And in a moment later, refocusing at a point just above Tesla as he slides back down from his latest jump attempt, claws grating against the stone as he tries - and fails - to get any sort of purchase. This time, he stays where he is when he lands, breathing hard as he looks first at his claws and then back at the (undamaged) stone wall.]
Son of a...
[His voice trails off there as he slams his palm against the wall in frustration.]
Afina! [This is called up towards the square of light overhead, no doubt in the hope that someone is still up there.] Come on! I thought we had something. Call it... [a pause as he make a 'searching for words' sort of gesture with one hand, talons still out] heat, attraction. [Another pause.] You and me, we were gonna...
[His voice trails off as he realizes no one's going to answer. There's a beat of silence and then, bitterly and to himself:]
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cw: blood-drinking, apparent death, severe joint dislocation
Could you excuse us for just one moment? [The voice is Helen's, addressed to the other woman, just before she pulls Tesla off to one corner of the room. Only then does she continue on, in hushed tones.] I don't like any of this. We have no idea where that tunnel leads.
[Tesla, on the other hand, appears to be somewhat less impressed.]
Why would she lie to us?
[The distinctly unimpressed expression that Helen offers in return is probably more than enough to explain her feelings on the matter all the same, annoyance creeping into her voice.]
The woman is used to ruling over a population of serfs. You don't think she's working her own agenda?
Look, [Tesla answers, apparently unwilling to admit Helen has a point] if she were actually bent on world domination, why would she complicate our trip out of here?
You're assuming all of us are going. [It's a good point, in all fairness. But Helen doesn't stop there.] You're familiar with the farmer and the chicken parable?
I am. [There's a note of mild annoyance creeping into Tesla's voice now.] Which are you in this story? The chicken, or the fox?
The farmer. [Helen counters, without so much as missing a bit, and with traces of her own annoyance creeping into her voice.] I don't feel safe letting her go first and I certainly don't feel safe leaving her behind.
[Again, the point is probably a good one. But Tesla seems to be more inclined to dig his heels in rather than yield to the logic in Helen's comments.]
You have a sasquatch for a butler and you travel the world with history's most notorious murderer and now you don't feel safe? Helen, green is not a good color on you.
[The comment prompts a laugh out of Helen.]
Don't be ridiculous.
[Tesla, on the other hand, seems to be entirely commented to his insinuation that Helen might be jealous; she's barely finished speaking before he's continuing right along, glancing briefly over at the other woman, who seems to be busying herself with something on the far side of the room.]
She's intelligent, powerful, remarkably well-preserved for her age... everything I look for in a woman. [The briefest of pauses, and then his voice picks up a tone of annoyance, one which grows throughout his next sentence.] And unlike someone I know, she's actually interested in me.
[If Helen is at all bothered by this outburst, she doesn't much show it. Mostly, she seems fed up with having to deal with Tesla, which is backed up by her comment.]
I'm not engaging in this childish conversation.
[Tesla on the other hand, is more than willing to. And more to the point, isn't inclined to stop.]
The more you deny it, the truer it is.
[If he wanted to goad Helen back into the conversation, that seems to have done it, since she comes right back with a retort of her own.]
Oh, that's an excellent scientific method. [This is offered with all the sarcasm and irritation she can muster, which is fairly considerable.] Really, really good.
[It's at this point that the other woman rejoins the conversation, crossing the room in - quite literally - the blink of an eye.]
I can hear you, you know. [There's not even a trace of shame in her voice either. Rather she sounds smug about it.] Vampire, remember?
[Helen recoils, at that - or possibly the suddenness of her arrival, moving to stand next to Tesla, who mostly looks unimpressed.]
You need to learn to trust me.
[This is addressed to Helen, who stands her ground, coming back with] And if I don't?
That's when bad things start to happen.
[The other woman smiles a bit, at that, while Helen draws in a breath and takes a step back. Which is likely a perfectly legitimate response as the other woman abruptly bares her fangs and rushes Helen, slamming her back against one of the pillars.]
Afina!
[The voice is Nikola's, just off screen, the camera refocusing to catch his expression of shock. This is, presumably, the name of the other woman, but either way she doesn't react, shoving Helen to the ground before rounding on Tesla and catching his arms in her hands. He tries to break free, but to no avail, Afina eventually forcing him down to his knees before sinking her fangs into his wrist; he gasps in shock, probably at the sudden turn of events and the discomfort of it.]
What are you doing?
[He's still struggling, helpless to do even so much as break free of Afina's grasp until she breaks free of till she pulls away from his wrist and pulls him to his feet.
Which is not the reprieve it seems to be; she shoves him backwards and he goes stumbling back a few steps... and straight over the edge of a pit trap. As he falls, screaming, the video snaps back to Afina, and her parting shot in response, complete with self-satisfied grin:]
Changing the rules.
[The video cuts out.]
[And picks up again, close in on Tesla face down at the bottom of the pit trap, head tilted at an uncomfortable-looking. For a moment it almost looks like he's dead - he's certainly not moving and doesn't seem to breathing either. Then there's a sudden gasp of breath and his eyes snap open. A moment later, he starts pushing himself up, with a soft comment of 'ow' accompanying the clicks and snaps of what sounds like most of the joints in his arms snapping back into place. His neck follows suit as he rolls that also back into place with another soft comment ("Oh, that hurts.") and then he's shoving himself to all fours and then properly to his feet. There's one last set of cracks and snaps as he rolls his neck again and then his shoulders before turning to look at the (small) space at the bottom of the shaft and then up at the small square of light overhead that marks the opening.
It's a long way up. Several stories at least.]
Oh, very nice.
[Let it never be said that Tesla lets not having someone to talk to keep from being utterly annoyed. There's a brief pause, a sigh, and than he thrusts out his arms, calling on his vampiric ancestry as claws spring forth from his hands; his fangs follow suit as he throws his head back and jumps.
Clear out of the frame. There's a long moment where all the camera shows is the smooth stone wall of the shaft, then a clatter of something hard against stone, and Tesla's voice.]
No. No.
[A groan of frustration, rapidly descending until Tesla comes into frame again, landing with a heavy thud.]
That backstabbing, blood-sucking, bitch.
[The camera cuts out again.]
[And in a moment later, refocusing at a point just above Tesla as he slides back down from his latest jump attempt, claws grating against the stone as he tries - and fails - to get any sort of purchase. This time, he stays where he is when he lands, breathing hard as he looks first at his claws and then back at the (undamaged) stone wall.]
Son of a...
[His voice trails off there as he slams his palm against the wall in frustration.]
Afina! [This is called up towards the square of light overhead, no doubt in the hope that someone is still up there.] Come on! I thought we had something. Call it... [a pause as he make a 'searching for words' sort of gesture with one hand, talons still out] heat, attraction. [Another pause.] You and me, we were gonna...
[His voice trails off as he realizes no one's going to answer. There's a beat of silence and then, bitterly and to himself:]
I hate her.
((video links: 6:56-8:30; 2:33-3:17; 5:33 - 5:57))