[The video opens up in the parking lot of what looks like either some sort of hotel or a villa. Given that Helen is wearing the same clothes as she had been when they'd been discussing his plans to take a second chance at reviving his species (as is the young man who'd been present for that discussion as well), it's probably the latter.
Naturally, it's Tesla who speaks up first, and it's pretty clear that he's continuing a conversation that had already been under way.]
Oh. Oh, I'm selfish?
[Unsurprisingly, Helen sounds distinctly less than amused by this, she turns to glance over at Tesla, even as the three of them continue walking.]
Shocking, I know.
Because I tried to save my race from extinction?
[Tesla offers an 'are we really doing this?' sort of smile to go with the comment, and to be fair, it's almost a good point. If one ignores the various ethical concerns involved in what he's been doing. Which Helen very clearly isn't, and when she answers she's very clearly on the angry end of 'fed up with this shit'.]
Because you used innocent children in a potentially deadly experiment.
There was that. [The young man chimes in, either in an effort to be helpful, or simply to get in on the conversation.
Either way, Tesla just rolls his eyes and raises his hands as if to say, yeah whatever.]
Professional jealousy.
[The implied accusation doesn't seem make Helen any happier, unsurprisingly, her voice rising into something approaching anger.]
You've no idea what you've unleashed! [The conversation derails there as three teenagers - two male, one female - in sunglasses come sauntering out from behind a semi.] Ah, let me guess. This must be your graduating class.
[Tesla doesn't directly answer. Instead, he approaches the teen who seems to be the leader of the little group, looking him over approvingly.] Incredible...it worked.
[There's a brief pause, as the leader's gaze flicks over Tesla in return.]
You're coming with us.
[His voice is lower than one might expect, and a little bit growly; he's barely even finished speaking when the other young man of the group steps forward as if to grab Tesla's arm.]
But you didn't even say please.
[This is pretty clearly a delaying tactic, given that he's barely finishes speaking when he calls on his vampiric ancestry, fangs and talons springing forth... and then he steps back as the three teens follow suit, leaving Helen and young man with her to fight the vampires.
A moment later, after she's managed to temporarily repel the attack of one of the three, Helen calls back to Tesla:]
Nikola, what the hell are you doing?
[Tesla doesn't directly answer the question, but given the way he mostly seems to be content to lurk on the edges of the fight and the comment he offers when he does finally speak up, it's clear that he's mostly just sort of. Observing what his latest creations are capable of.]
Crude, yet magnificent.
[It's at this put that a car comes out of nowhere and runs straight into Tesla - he goes down, flailing, as the two teenaged vampires break free of the fight. They drag an unprotesting Tesla to the car, before throwing him into the trunk and peeling off, leaving Helen, the young man who'd been with her before, and the female vampire behind.]
[When the video picks up again, it's pretty clear that some time has passed. Partly for the fact that Tesla is now standing in the middle of what looks like a fairly posh apartment, but also for the fact that it's clearly night.
Standing opposite Tesla are the two young men from the previous encounter, and a young woman; it's the same young man who seemed to be the leader of the group last time who speaks up, glancing briefly to the others (who are flanking him) as he does.]
This was your idea, remember?
No, no. [Tesla begins, and he sounds both displeased and perhaps a little desperate] The spontaneous generation of vampires decades ahead of schedule [he pronounces that last the British way] was not my idea. I had a plan, an intricate, ingenious design, and, strange as it may sound, it did not involve you blowing away your friends and taking over. Do you have any idea what you've become?
[The leader of the little group of teenaged vampires doesn't seem to be the least bit impressed by Tesla's rant, although it's the other young man who answers.]
Well, that's why you're here, to fill in the gaps for us.
[Tesla's answer comes almost immediately, for all that he's likely still not super thrilled with the situation.]
Sanguine vampiris. [He begins, as he starts to slowly circle the others.] The preeminent race on the planet. Born for greatness, bred to rule. Kings and pharaohs.There was a time when we sighed,and the world trembled.
We know. [The young woman purrs, sounding entirely too self-satisfied.] We read your journal.
Look, let's just cut to the chase, okay? [The leader of the group interjects.] You chose us not because of who we are, but because of who we'll become.
[Tesla turns away from the group at that, a look of distaste on his face as he does so.]
How astute.
[This comment goes entirely unanswered, as the leader of the group continues on.]
Our parents have more money than God, and they hold positions of power and influence all over this world.
[This, at least, gets Tesla's attention and he turns, slowly, to face the others as he speaks.]
And in a few decades' time, you would have stepped into their shoes, creating a new ruling class, returning us to the old ways.
[This, however, doesn't seem to quite be to the taste of the leader of the group.]
So let's bring it on. [he begins, not so much impatient as entirely sure of himself.] Now. And if anyone stands in our way, they'll die.
Nice. [Tesla answers, lips curling in exasperation and disgust.] All the subtlety of brain surgery with a chainsaw.
[There's a huff of laughter from the leader at that, either at the absurdity of the imagery or the fact that Tesla isn't quite what any of them might have expected.]
But why wait? We're here right now.
[This, at least, manages to turn Tesla's tone into something closer to amusement when he speaks again, although it's very clearly the sort of amusement that has an understood 'yeah no' attached to it.]
Oh, and you think that your 24 years' experience has prepped you for ruling the earth?
What are you saying? [The leader asks, clearly not quite as good as picking up on the unspoken bits of what Tesla has to say as some of people who know him better are.]
I'm saying you'll blow it. [Tesla clarifies, and the leader's lips pull into a thin line as he steps back a pace.] You've turned what was supposed to be a symphony into rock and roll! [A brief pause and then he's abruptly yelling although it trails off a little at the end of the outburst.] French-Canadian rock and roll.
[At the end of his tirade, he turns back to look out over the balcony he's half-leaning against. Behind his back, the leader of the vampires rubs his face a bit before turning back to Tesla - who still isn't looking at him.]
You know, I was hoping you'd be a little bit more cooperative.
[Halfway through the comment, Tesla turns in that direction a little, but it isn't until he starts his own that he finishes turning, a bright - and likely partially forced - smile on his face.]
Yeah, well, life's a bitch, and then you don't die. [He holds the grin for a beat, before half-turning away in disgust again; at a brief nod from their leader the other two vampires approach him without a word.] Oh, what, we're going to do this old-school? Is that it? You're not facing Magnus. This is me. [With a hiss, he calls forth his vampiric ancestry, claws held up as if ready to attack at a moment's notice] Bring it on, kiddies.
[The camera winks out.
And back in, at a lower angle and from outside the building - from this angle it's clear that what had looked like a posh apartment is more likely the sort of suite one happens to find at the top of high-rises. A moment later, Tesla comes into frame, falling rapidly - whatever sort of fight went down earlier it doesn't seem to have gone well at all.
As he falls further, the camera pans down, catching the brief moments of flailing before he lands - heavily - on a car, which all but crumples under him. And no surprise, really, given that he'd likely been falling at terminal velocity. Or at least, what would have been terminal if he weren't also an immortal vampire.
As it is, the camera simply pulls in closer. Close enough to catch his groan as he pulls in a breath, rolling his head to one side a little before he speaks.]
I hate them. ['Them' is presumably the vampires he's created, and judging by the lack of immediate vitriol in his voice, it's more of a complaint about the situation than anything else.] Oh, I hate them.
[It's only then that he rolls off the ruined hulk of a car, rolling his neck and shoulders to snap everything back into place, as the video cuts out again, this time for good.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cw: mention of experimentation on dubiously willing (teen) subjects
Naturally, it's Tesla who speaks up first, and it's pretty clear that he's continuing a conversation that had already been under way.]
Oh. Oh, I'm selfish?
[Unsurprisingly, Helen sounds distinctly less than amused by this, she turns to glance over at Tesla, even as the three of them continue walking.]
Shocking, I know.
Because I tried to save my race from extinction?
[Tesla offers an 'are we really doing this?' sort of smile to go with the comment, and to be fair, it's almost a good point. If one ignores the various ethical concerns involved in what he's been doing. Which Helen very clearly isn't, and when she answers she's very clearly on the angry end of 'fed up with this shit'.]
Because you used innocent children in a potentially deadly experiment.
There was that. [The young man chimes in, either in an effort to be helpful, or simply to get in on the conversation.
Either way, Tesla just rolls his eyes and raises his hands as if to say, yeah whatever.]
Professional jealousy.
[The implied accusation doesn't seem make Helen any happier, unsurprisingly, her voice rising into something approaching anger.]
You've no idea what you've unleashed! [The conversation derails there as three teenagers - two male, one female - in sunglasses come sauntering out from behind a semi.] Ah, let me guess. This must be your graduating class.
[Tesla doesn't directly answer. Instead, he approaches the teen who seems to be the leader of the little group, looking him over approvingly.] Incredible...it worked.
[There's a brief pause, as the leader's gaze flicks over Tesla in return.]
You're coming with us.
[His voice is lower than one might expect, and a little bit growly; he's barely even finished speaking when the other young man of the group steps forward as if to grab Tesla's arm.]
But you didn't even say please.
[This is pretty clearly a delaying tactic, given that he's barely finishes speaking when he calls on his vampiric ancestry, fangs and talons springing forth... and then he steps back as the three teens follow suit, leaving Helen and young man with her to fight the vampires.
A moment later, after she's managed to temporarily repel the attack of one of the three, Helen calls back to Tesla:]
Nikola, what the hell are you doing?
[Tesla doesn't directly answer the question, but given the way he mostly seems to be content to lurk on the edges of the fight and the comment he offers when he does finally speak up, it's clear that he's mostly just sort of. Observing what his latest creations are capable of.]
Crude, yet magnificent.
[It's at this put that a car comes out of nowhere and runs straight into Tesla - he goes down, flailing, as the two teenaged vampires break free of the fight. They drag an unprotesting Tesla to the car, before throwing him into the trunk and peeling off, leaving Helen, the young man who'd been with her before, and the female vampire behind.]
[When the video picks up again, it's pretty clear that some time has passed. Partly for the fact that Tesla is now standing in the middle of what looks like a fairly posh apartment, but also for the fact that it's clearly night.
Standing opposite Tesla are the two young men from the previous encounter, and a young woman; it's the same young man who seemed to be the leader of the group last time who speaks up, glancing briefly to the others (who are flanking him) as he does.]
This was your idea, remember?
No, no. [Tesla begins, and he sounds both displeased and perhaps a little desperate] The spontaneous generation of vampires decades ahead of schedule [he pronounces that last the British way] was not my idea. I had a plan, an intricate, ingenious design, and, strange as it may sound, it did not involve you blowing away your friends and taking over. Do you have any idea what you've become?
[The leader of the little group of teenaged vampires doesn't seem to be the least bit impressed by Tesla's rant, although it's the other young man who answers.]
Well, that's why you're here, to fill in the gaps for us.
[Tesla's answer comes almost immediately, for all that he's likely still not super thrilled with the situation.]
Sanguine vampiris. [He begins, as he starts to slowly circle the others.] The preeminent race on the planet. Born for greatness, bred to rule. Kings and pharaohs.There was a time when we sighed,and the world trembled.
We know. [The young woman purrs, sounding entirely too self-satisfied.] We read your journal.
Look, let's just cut to the chase, okay? [The leader of the group interjects.] You chose us not because of who we are, but because of who we'll become.
[Tesla turns away from the group at that, a look of distaste on his face as he does so.]
How astute.
[This comment goes entirely unanswered, as the leader of the group continues on.]
Our parents have more money than God, and they hold positions of power and influence all over this world.
[This, at least, gets Tesla's attention and he turns, slowly, to face the others as he speaks.]
And in a few decades' time, you would have stepped into their shoes, creating a new ruling class, returning us to the old ways.
[This, however, doesn't seem to quite be to the taste of the leader of the group.]
So let's bring it on. [he begins, not so much impatient as entirely sure of himself.] Now. And if anyone stands in our way, they'll die.
Nice. [Tesla answers, lips curling in exasperation and disgust.] All the subtlety of brain surgery with a chainsaw.
[There's a huff of laughter from the leader at that, either at the absurdity of the imagery or the fact that Tesla isn't quite what any of them might have expected.]
But why wait? We're here right now.
[This, at least, manages to turn Tesla's tone into something closer to amusement when he speaks again, although it's very clearly the sort of amusement that has an understood 'yeah no' attached to it.]
Oh, and you think that your 24 years' experience has prepped you for ruling the earth?
What are you saying? [The leader asks, clearly not quite as good as picking up on the unspoken bits of what Tesla has to say as some of people who know him better are.]
I'm saying you'll blow it. [Tesla clarifies, and the leader's lips pull into a thin line as he steps back a pace.] You've turned what was supposed to be a symphony into rock and roll! [A brief pause and then he's abruptly yelling although it trails off a little at the end of the outburst.] French-Canadian rock and roll.
[At the end of his tirade, he turns back to look out over the balcony he's half-leaning against. Behind his back, the leader of the vampires rubs his face a bit before turning back to Tesla - who still isn't looking at him.]
You know, I was hoping you'd be a little bit more cooperative.
[Halfway through the comment, Tesla turns in that direction a little, but it isn't until he starts his own that he finishes turning, a bright - and likely partially forced - smile on his face.]
Yeah, well, life's a bitch, and then you don't die. [He holds the grin for a beat, before half-turning away in disgust again; at a brief nod from their leader the other two vampires approach him without a word.] Oh, what, we're going to do this old-school? Is that it? You're not facing Magnus. This is me. [With a hiss, he calls forth his vampiric ancestry, claws held up as if ready to attack at a moment's notice] Bring it on, kiddies.
[The camera winks out.
And back in, at a lower angle and from outside the building - from this angle it's clear that what had looked like a posh apartment is more likely the sort of suite one happens to find at the top of high-rises. A moment later, Tesla comes into frame, falling rapidly - whatever sort of fight went down earlier it doesn't seem to have gone well at all.
As he falls further, the camera pans down, catching the brief moments of flailing before he lands - heavily - on a car, which all but crumples under him. And no surprise, really, given that he'd likely been falling at terminal velocity. Or at least, what would have been terminal if he weren't also an immortal vampire.
As it is, the camera simply pulls in closer. Close enough to catch his groan as he pulls in a breath, rolling his head to one side a little before he speaks.]
I hate them. ['Them' is presumably the vampires he's created, and judging by the lack of immediate vitriol in his voice, it's more of a complaint about the situation than anything else.] Oh, I hate them.
[It's only then that he rolls off the ruined hulk of a car, rolling his neck and shoulders to snap everything back into place, as the video cuts out again, this time for good.]
((video links: beginning - 0:54; 1:27 - 3:38))