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[symphonyofthenight]

Alucard

"..."

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[symphonyofthenight]

The library, your room perhaps. A secret passage to another realm held within the confines of this vessel. [What. Don't question him. It's possible in the Demon Castle, why not here.] I wasn't going to assume. You left me no choice.

[artistinexile]

As I know of no such realm and my room is currently buried in paperwork, I believe the library will have to suffice.

Are you available tonight?

[symphonyofthenight]

Yes.

[artistinexile]

Then I look forward to meeting you there this evening.

Until then.

[Thrawn signs out and goes to reserve a conference room for this purpose]

[symphonyofthenight]

[Alucard will go there that evening and wait for Thrawn in the lobby.]

[artistinexile]

[Thrawn, walking with hands behind his back as he's wont to do aboard his many other ships, stops at parade rest in front of Alucard. He silently observes him, and allows Alucard to observe him in turn.

After a moment, he smiles. It's not wide, and not for long: he smiles like he's had to practice at it, much more comfortable with curious stoicism. But his eyes lighten, and remain alight for some time.]

Good evening, Alucard.

[symphonyofthenight]

[Alucard dipped his head. He did not bother to feign a smile nor any other expression.]

Thrawn.

[artistinexile]

I am he.

[he answers in the Chiss form, though no one here knows it. Thrawn gestures, then leads the way into the library for further study]

[symphonyofthenight]

[Alucard cocked his head slightly to one side, but did not question the response. He followed when Thrawn began to lead the way.]

[artistinexile]

[Thrawn, hands behind his back, walks with swift military precision into the room he's reserved. He gestures to one of the chairs in the room]

Please. Sit.

[he does the same]

[symphonyofthenight]

[Alucard sat in the indicated chair with a languid ease. He sat in a relaxed manner rather than with rigidity as one might expect of his stoic nature. He stared at Thrawn as he waited.]

[artistinexile]

[withdrawing from his collection a stacked book filled with art prints from the last five centuries, he settles it in front of Alucard and opens it up to him]

Please; browse until you find something worthy of your attention, and tell me why you are drawn to it.

[symphonyofthenight]

[If this were Netflix Alucard he'd casually flip to a Leonardo da Vinci painting and then proceed to tell a story about how he met the man. Alas, this Alucard simply stares at the book impassionately as he flips through the pages until he lands on Saint George and the Dragon by Raphael and hesitates for a few seconds.

However, he'll move on unless questioned.]

[artistinexile]

[Thrawn, being Thrawn, catches that out almost immediately. He allows Alucard to continue flipping, but when he's done, he will reach out and turn back to the page in question]

Why this?

[symphonyofthenight]

[Alucard hesitated to answer, staring impassively down at the page until words finally spilled from his lips, haltingly at first as he tried to figure out what to say without stopping entirely.]

...the knight... he wields his weapon triumphantly against his greatest foe... slaying it, defending the lady and all those that fear its reign of terror. He is victorious. The land is safe once more.

[artistinexile]

Indeed. Is it only the subject matter that appeals to you, or perhaps you enjoy the brighter, more robust colors the artist uses?

[symphonyofthenight]

[Alucard considered the painting for half a moment.]

I am unfamiliar with the composition and technique of this artwork, nor do I know of the modern re-talings of his story. But I do know he was a saint long before I was born and there have been many depictions of his feats over the centuries. This was merely...here.

[artistinexile]

Indeed.

I am a stranger to most worlds here. Who is depicted?

[symphonyofthenight]

Saint George, or George of Lydda before his martyrdom. He was a soldier in the Roman empire. He worshipped a monotheistic god in a time where the Roman emperor still worshipped as a pagan and had many Christians killed for their beliefs. Hence his martyrdom.

The depiction of him slaying the dragon... whether it is myth or not is debatable. [In his world at least where such creatures would exist.] Whatever the case, the visual representation speaks for itself.