The Baron leaves the sorting room (Open RP)

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

The Baron was exceptionally relieved to leave the sorting room, which had been getting rather cramped.  Although it had been a somewhat enlightening experience, he now found himself filled with a great deal of questions, such as where to find decent rooms, where that library was, and, how to find the Muggle Studies Department. The hat had left him with a burning need to watch something called "The Maury Povich Show". Not understanding things was troubling, and this needed to be remedied.

He recalled that A did say he'd show him around, and, didn't say when, so, he decided now was as good a time for any, and looked around for one of those weird little house elves. Unsure of just what to do, he barked out, "House elf! Come here, now!", feeling rather silly about this. He made sure to not act surprised when one did actually show up. "Go and tell A that I need to know where things are." It ran off, presumably to do so. They sure are ugly little things, he thought, but, at least they do take orders. And looked easy to kick if they did happen to disobey.

Adjusting his suspensors slightly, he straightened out his robes, and took up a good portion of the hallway while attempting to wait patiently. This wasn't one of his strong points, unless it involved being patient with long and convoluted plans within plans.

Comments

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

"That would be the Sorting Hat," he said and shook his head without elaborating. He still wasn't sure the Hat hadn't molested him, and assumed it might likely be some bizarre rite of passage for every Hogwarts student.

"This is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, located in Scotland. The year is 2009 A.D. Although if you're from another world," here he gave the Baron a cursory once-over with a genial smile, to hopefully lessen the impression of predatory appraisal, "none of that may matter very much to you. This is a boarding school of sorts, but from what I hear classes are rarely held. I've gone the independent study route, myself—the library is impressive." He held up the thick tome he was carrying as though to illustrate this.

"I'm happy to help however else I can until the person you're waiting for arrives," he offered with another pleasant smile. Assuming the desired form of 'help' didn't involve activities best abstained from when in the middle of a public hallway, of course.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Vladimir returned Jasper's smile with a thankful one of his own, incredibly relieved to hear a clearly worded explanation of exactly where he was, from someone who appeared normal enough. This wasn't an easy place to believe, but, he'd already had indications that he was not only far away from his own world, but also his own time.

"You've already been exceptionally helpful. That's about the most thorough explanation of the facts I've heard so far. They're hard to believe, but, so's the rest of this situation." He rubbed at his forehead one-handedly, confessing, "It's all been a bit much, and, I can't figure out why I'm here. And to all appearances, stuck here- I believe that my home's in a distant galaxy, and doesn't exist yet. But things could be worse."

There were definitely far worse things than speaking to such a lovely man that he didn't own, who was offering assistance for no reason, and, was he even showing some vague sense of interest? He was certain that it was just a general curiosity, and not the incredibly unlikely sort of interest he'd prefer, but he'd enjoy the company at least. He smiled and asked, "I've been told the library is a worthwhile place. So you've found it helpful, then? Others have mentioned that the education here is rather, hrm, informal."

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

All too easy to mistake a vampire's interest as something other than what it really was—as something altogether more innocent. It wasn't as though Jasper even intended to cheat on his 'diet' and start dining on humans again, but the desire for human blood was still powerful enough he'd unconsciously been moving just that little bit closer to the Baron as they talked, as though he couldn't help himself.

Humans did have the most appealingly irresistible scent, to him...

"I only recently arrived here as well, but knew beforehand what to expect. I don't envy those of you coming in blind," he said, looking simultaneously sympathetic and vaguely amused. "From what I was told, nearly no one intends to come here anymore. And some apparently showed up right after dying. You're on the planet Earth right now, by the way, located in the Milky Way galaxy. You're not the only one from another planet to—get sent here, if that's the right term for it.

"The library is more than I'd hoped for," he admitted with a hint of genuine enthusiasm. Which was a compliment, considering the sheer number of colleges he'd already attended. He'd been perpetually in school for several decades now. "It seems only Divination and Herbology are offered with any regularity. If you'd like to learn other forms of magic, you're far better off researching it yourself, I'm afraid."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Although he definitely didn't recall dying, he was beginning to think it a potential explanation, and that Hell was proving a far pleasanter place than he'd anticipated. He knew he had to be misinterpreting Jasper's apparent friendliness, but, he could not miss noticing that such a desirable man had moved closer, and without being given an order to. Without thinking about it, he too drifted a bit nearer to Jasper, noticing what lovely eyes he had, and silently cursing the fact that this situation might be more confusing than the Sorting Hat.

"I had no warnings at all. I didn't believe that magic actually existed until I came here. It appears I need to spend some time at this impressive library, which sounds as if you think very highly of it. If this is Earth, we must have forgotten about magic, as Earth was a legend from ancient times. I am, or. . .will be. . .the Siridar-Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, ruler of Giedi Prime and Lankiveil, and recently governor of Arrakis. Which I expect means very little to you." He gave Jasper his most charming smile, inwardly berating himself for his own behavior. He was 80 years old (although he didn't look much more than 50, thanks to spice treatments), and had spent most of his later years learning that slaves were the easiest option for a corpulent old tyrant. He knew better. But yet, here he was, trying out the full titles and lists of holdings, attempting to impress. "And whose acquaintance do I have the pleasure of making?"

Damnit! he thought. What the hell am I trying to do here? I should be working out the intricacies of this place, and not fishing for unlikely attention from this damnably tempting creature. Why the hell must he have such lovely eyes? Of course, had the Baron realized just what sort of creature Jasper was, he might have found him easier to resist. At the moment, he was just mildly annoyed that he didn't have much of anything to impress him with, and more annoyed with the fact that he was trying to, despite the futility.

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

"This is technically the wizarding world, where we are presently. It's hidden from regular, 'non-magically inclined' people. I think the story goes they would only see abandoned castle ruins here, not Hogwarts as you and I can see it.

"I do recognise a little—Baron, ruler, governor... all positions of power, on Earth as well. More than most people are able to achieve."

And indeed he looked suitably impressed by the extensive titles, thinking it was probably the reaction Vladimir had been hoping to inspire. That wasn't vampire guile at play, but simply who Jasper was; making people feel better about themselves was just something he did. People were, after all, far more pleasant to be around when they were feeling pleased and content, and particularly when they were comfortable with his presence.

One picked up peculiar habits when immersed in an inescapable climate of emotion every day.

"Jasper Hale. Like the quartz stone no one really likes," he said with a self-deprecating smile. He had the curious feeling he should bow, that the gesture might gain him the Baron's favour, but he refrained—too pretentious. He also didn't offer his hand, though not out of discourtesy. "No titles to speak of, unless you're familiar with military ones. I was a Major, a lifetime ago."

He paused and leant in, as though imparting a secret. "How do you prefer to be addressed?" he asked quietly. Making someone feel like they were the sole focus of his attention was a habit unrelated to his bloodlust, but, coincidentally, it was difficult not to notice how near he now was to what must be an exquisite artery, judging by the smell.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Thus far, this meeting was proving the most enjoyable part of this new place, and was making up for most of the upsetting aspects of the situation. The Baron smiled curiously as he listened to Jasper, and was exceptionally pleased when he responded as he'd hoped to the titles. Distinctions between wizarding and non-wizarding worlds were interesting, but were difficult to focus on, as Jasper himself was far more intriguing. And a major, despite looking so young- this impressed him immensely, and he nodded his understanding and approval with a smile. The Baron took the comment about "a lifetime ago" to mean that Jasper was from the past. Vampires weren't even a popular element of folklore in his age, just some ancient, mostly-forgotten children's story, and, so they were a topic he'd never really thought about.

Either he's a brilliant actor and this is a masterful trap, or, magic really does exist. He didn't really care which one it was, as invisible people, house elves, and talking hats seemed only minorly magical compared to this experience. For this moment, he was perfectly content to be in an absurdly named school of wizardry where no one appeared to know who he was. A lifetime of working to advance his House's position meant that he'd upheld a lasting tradition of iron-fisted power with the usual tools of fear and cruelty. These insured longevity, as, it was important to be powerful and it was important to be respected, but, it was dangerous to become too popular. To have an entrancing young man appearing to take a genuine interest in him without any trace of fear or revulsion was the sort of thing he'd forgotten about long ago.

The sensibilities that usually ruled his thoughts kept screaming that he was behaving ridiculously, but, were choked silent as soon as Japser leaned in to him. Vladimir's blood coursed through him like it hadn't in years, and he had to take a breath to steady himself before he answered, ignoring the pathetic gasps of rationality, and immersing himself in the admitted pleasure of the situation. There was no way his strangled sensiblities could keep him from drifting that inch closer to Jasper as he replied with a slightly flushed smile. "It is entirely my pleasure to meet you, and, please, call me Vladimir. The title seems to have little meaning here, and, would only serve as a reminder of my forcibly-neglected duties." He felt that the fraudulent reasoning was rather weak; he just wanted to hear this beautiful young man call him by his actual name. "So which of these houses are you in, Japser? I have seen some splendid specimens of the stone you're called for from a world known as Hagal."

Damn it all, I know I'm being an absurd fool, it can't be what I think. I'm impressing impossible hopes upon my perception, but, I don't care. I'll try to enjoy it for whatever it is.

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

((Sorry, this became bizarrely TL;DR. You know, I think Vladimir and Smaug (whom I also play) would be an interesting meeting. Erm, interesting in very different ways than this one. ;) ))

"Vladimir, then. That's kind of funny... Vladimir is a popular Russian name in this age. Do you know the Slavic meaning? And the pleasure is mutual," he said amiably, apparently not finding it strange to be on a first name basis with someone he'd normally address as 'sir', due to Vladimir's age and the general air about him suggesting a man used to commanding authority. Nevermind that Jasper was 70 years Vladimir's senior. Old habits and all.

"I have family in both Slytherin and Hufflepuff, and had no intention of going elsewhere. The Hat thought I should be kept out of the Slytherin dungeons and... graciously... placed me in Hufflepuff." And he was definitely keeping the reasons for that to himself. No one else needed to know about his unfortunate 'dermatological condition'. "If not for my family, I suspect I'd have gone to Ravenclaw. Where were you Sorted? It's too bad I missed it—by barely a few minutes, it looks like."

Around the time he started imagining how very simple it would be to lean that little bit further, tilt his head just so and help himself—it might even be mistaken for a kiss, at first, unnaturally cool lips against wonderfully warm human skin—he knew something was frighteningly wrong. It'd been deceptively easy to become distracted and forget himself when everything about the Baron seemed to be inviting exactly that kind of activity, his mood especially. Oh, his mood made it hard to resist.

Well, Vladimir probably wasn't hoping for quite that kind of activity, he realised uncomfortably. What human in their right mind would welcome excruciating pain? And Jasper, too, would feel it, through empathic backlash. It was part of what had put him off killing humans in the first place.

At times like this he wished his wedding band was too conspicuous to ignore. Of course, the significance might have been lost on Vladimir, anyway, since he appeared to be wearing a multitude of rings himself... As subtly as possible, Jasper slowly straightened his posture, but didn't step away yet. Maybe the truth would be the kindest thing now. 'I'm sorry you smell so good, I really must go now before I eat you'? Okay, maybe not.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

((I went and did the TL;DR back again, sorry! =) It's been all too interesting a scene- Vlad's a complex character so it's affecting him a lot, and Jasper's empathic so can pick up on the emotional effect. And I've been thinking he needs to meet Smaug too. Luckily he's been warned about talking dragons.))

I wonder if this lovely creature realizes the effect he's having. He's got to know, he does it so beautifully. He found himself having to concentrate to actually listen, as he was using all his self-control to resist the temptation of hauling Jasper off to somewhere that wasn't a hallway. Not that he'd have managed had he tried, but, he was still blissfully unaware of the vampire's true nature. The worst is that I don't know if I want to haul him off to do -that-. Or if I just want to enjoy his company. Not that I'd complain about both.

And Russia! So this was the past, and, his family's legendary homeland was a real place. That was almost, but not quite as remarkable as this young man who was the most magical thing he'd seen so far. His eyes met Jasper's and he nearly choked on his words, forcing himself to resist the urge to lean in that slight distance and kiss those far-too-desirable lips.

"What you tell me is amazing, Jasper. Russia is a legend in my culture, an ancient place out of a distant past, and, my family claims direct descent from its rulers. Vladimir is an old family name- I have been told that means a great ruler, but, it is possible it's changed in translation over thousands of years. Standing on the same world as the birthplace of my line nearly makes up for being pulled away from my home. Not that I'm finding it so bad here now- it appears this place holds many pleasing surprises."

It didn't even register that Jasper had described Slytherin as a dungeon- usually Vladimir paid careful attention to details, but, the most interesting one now was this beautiful, polite, well-spoken man, who'd even achieved an impressive rank despite his apparent youth.

"I admit I was hoping you'd been placed in Slytherin, as that is where the hat placed me. Those I've met from the house have seemed intelligent, interesting individuals. But it appears that Hufflepuff isn't lacking for those either. Perhaps once I've found suitable quarters and settled in, you might drop by for a visit? It would be more comfortable and relaxing than a hallway, and I would love to enjoy a bottle of wine with a new friend." He gave Jasper the most charming smile that he could manifest, hoping fervently that he'd agree.

Damnit! Why am I doing this? Lovely young majors aren't interested in fat old tyrants. . .but damn it all, I'd be happy just to spend some more time with him. He kicked himself repeatedly inside, but, Jasper made him feel so unusually good. He just wanted to enjoy his company, even if it made him painfully aware of his age and his suspensor-supported mass. Beneath that, it made him feel almost young again, and stirred some almost-forgotten place in his mind, and that was so welcome that nothing else mattered.

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

((Eh, I give up fighting the TL;DR. I like how you've been playing the Baron—how he seems to judge everyone by their potential usefulness to him... It'll be interesting to see what he'll make of Jasper when and if he finds out any part of the truth.

Oops, so of course I mess up on the math.))

"You're a descendant of the tsars?" he asked with sincere amazement in spite of his growing discomfort. "That's what Russian monarchs were called until 1917—just 92 years ago, in this world." He didn't mean to always sound like such a walking encyclopedia slash calculator (vampires of Jasper's sort possessed perfect recall and an incomparable mental capacity when actually utilised, which was sadly rare—they'd presumably make formidable Mentats in the Baron's galaxy), but couldn't really help himself when talking about anything that genuinely interested him.

And of course, Jasper's interest in their conversation had thus far been in no way false, nor was his interest in the Baron feigned, at least on a platonic level. If this was going to develop into any sort of friendship, he knew he'd have to be far more mindful of his body language in the future.

"That's very close to the original meaning. The Slavic word volod is 'to rule', mer is 'great', and mir is 'peace'," he said, careful to enunciate the slight difference between the latter two. "So I guess you're technically supposed to be a peaceful ruler, not a great one."

He smiled wryly. "From what I hear, Slytherin is where the silver-tongued politicians, megalomaniacs, and other sordid types get sent," he said lightly, clearly teasing. "Of course, that doesn't explain how my brother ended up there. Best not to take the prescribed House traits too seriously. Hufflepuff is the 'miscellaneous' House it seems—at one time known for having paedophilic werewolves, demons, vampires, general sociopaths, and those too dangerous for Slytherin..." And obviously the vampire population was still thriving.

He was positive nothing good could possibly come from being alone with Vladimir in a private setting, but at the same time felt adverse to being the cause of disappointment. "That's very generous of you to offer," he said, some of his uncertainty colouring his tone and causing him to inwardly cringe, hoping it wouldn't be misinterpreted as coyness. (And the outward irony of the situation—that the imposing Baron had more to fear from Jasper than the reverse—was not lost on him.) "Once you're settled," he agreed, sounding more decisive, and suppressed a sigh. He probably couldn't dig himself in any deeper if he tried.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

((I have no idea yet how Vladimir will react to the truth if learns it- he's got a few bizarre traits, so it could be all wrong, heheh. I prefer the novel/miniseries depiction to Lynch's, he'll be using the charismatic and scheming approach, rather than the pus and screaming- everything needs to be analyzed for usefulness. Happy you've been liking it- been having a great time here.))

The Baron drifted a slight bit closer as he listened to Jasper with a content smile, musing that he'd have made a far pleasanter mentat than Piter with the training. Piter had his uses, but he was both expensive, and rather distasteful- he seemed to actually enjoy causing pain, rather than using it as a necessity. It had its place, but, Piter's stupid glee over it was irritating.

"I expect it's very possible- tens of thousands of years have a way of mixing up history, but, my family has maintained this about our decent. So I believe there's truth to it. But, I can't say I've had a very peaceful reign. The Imperium is, or will be, a cutthroat empire, and so the House has had to rely on strength and wealth as our primary means of survival. Open war's rare, but, vendettas are long-lasting." He felt a deep pang of disappointment, and couldn't help but sigh sadly and confess, "I was about to finally finish a ten-thousand year long kanly- that's ancestral vendetta- but, it appears I'm not to know the results." If he'd vanished, he hoped that Feyd-Rautha would be able to handle it. He'd tried his best to prepare him for the future. He was going to miss his lovely nephew greatly- he wondered briefly if he might be seeking something to assuage that loss with his interest in Jasper.

His current company was too enthralling to focus on the disappointment- he'd have time for that later. Everything about Jasper was charming, and he seemed to want to please, and, didn't appear to want anything from it. This had to be impossible, but, at the moment he'd be content to give him whatever he could if it might buy a chance at more of his time. "I suppose the hat might have made an appropriate choice for me- decades of running a Great House tends to lead to a reputation for all three, if you're doing it right." He grinned slightly, but knew it was true- if half the other houses didn't loathe you, you were probably too popular. Dangerous. "But you hardly seem miscellaneous to me- I'm extremely curious to learn more about such an intelligent and apparently talented young man." Not miscellaneous, but definitely dangerous. Still, if I'm stuck here, I might as well try to enjoy it, even if he's stirring up these damned forgotten notions, and it's stupid of me to even think it might go anywhere.

It was like the rush of a generous spice treatment multiplied several times over when Jasper agreed to a future meeting. The apparent mixture of shyness combined with what looked like firm intent was almost too much, and Vladimir struggled against the urge to wrap an arm around the slender form standing so near him. He was behaving foolishly enough as it was, but, this young man was intoxicating. He didn't want to screw up possibilities, no matter how unlikely. Who was he to start judging possibilities in a magic school, anyway? Besides, his eyes were so beautiful.

"Looking forward to our upcoming meeting shall make trying to settle in here much more tolerable. At least there shall be something to look forward to afterward." He smiled at Jasper, delighted with the prospect, despite knowing he was getting in too deep as well. Of course, he thought it was because Jasper's company could swiftly become addictive, and wasn't likely to go where he hoped it would. But he was enjoying feeling like the possibility might be there, no matter how small it was.

((I wonder how the presence of the spice would affect a vampire? It's definitely in Vladimir's bloodstream, what with the regular spice treatments. Spice is weird stuff, more ingestible life or something than a drug proper, and the whole mystical component of it seems like it might be noticeable by sensitive sorts.))

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

(('All wrong' = fun. The pus-oozing and insane screaming portrayal always kind of baffled me, too.

Oh, from the beginning I've been playing it as though Vladimir's blood smells more enticing than a regular human's, due to the spice, which was why Jasper was all up in his space right off (and partly why he hasn't simply fled yet), haha. Jasper just hasn't realised it yet himself. Given that with enough practise vampires can apparently even smell specific illnesses and diseases in humans... he may figure it out eventually.))

"If you had access to detailed records of your lineage, you could, in theory, meet your own ancestors in this world," Jasper murmured, mostly just thinking out loud. It was a small mercy he couldn't read minds as his brother did—he might have found the comparison to Piter uncomfortably apt; he'd fulfilled a similar role during the first century of his life, with more wholesale slaughter, and far less enthusiasm.

"You were settling an ancestral vendetta," he said evenly. His posture had stiffened somewhat at that, but rather than seeming a hostile gesture, it only really served to bring out his soldier's bearing. "By that do you mean simply murdering your enemies?" The question was nonjudgmental. He'd be a hypocrite on every level to think anything was wrong with that. "Or something more subtle, I'm guessing? That's an extremely long time to hold a grudge. You must have been planning something... well. It's really too bad you're missing it, Vladimir."

The 'apparently talented' comment made him laugh softly in the manner of someone enjoying a private joke. He too often forgot how humans saw him; everything about him was designed to appeal to a vampire's natural prey, and draw them in. Always embarrassing to be reminded of how he could affect humans like this. And they couldn't even see his extensive scars, which might have broken the spell for some—might have caused Vladimir to wave off his offered assistance and very wisely avoid him entirely; the man clearly possessed a very shrewd intelligence when not blinded by the supernatural, after all. To those who could see, Jasper suspected he looked a lot like a mangy leopard unwillingly adopted by the pride of far more majestic lions who were his family. He even had appropriately golden eyes. They all did.

He really should have offered his icy hand when introducing himself. It might have at least made the man think twice before inviting Jasper over for any reason. As he contemplated this, he watched the Baron with an oddly intent expression, almost as though looking through him. It would be such a small matter to influence his emotions and attempt to right the situation... but perhaps a little too dishonest.

"Oh, I do think I belong in Hufflepuff," he said vaguely, the intent expression becoming slightly unfocused for a moment as he tried to discern a particular sound in the distance. His inattention could easily be mistaken for any number of things. A blink and he was back to what passed as normal, for him, and he pointedly eyed Vladimir's all too resplendent attire before returning his gaze to the man's face. "Are you sure you won't mind people thinking you're mingling with the commoners when they see me slinking into your room like a stray?" he asked with a faint, amused smile. "And you're not waiting for a boy named A, by chance, are you?"

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

((Poor Vladimir's getting himself into it, the potentially dangerous ones are so much more interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing where the madness leads, as it's sure to be somewhere all wrong. And yes, all wrong = much fun.))

Listening to Japer, Vladimir was only pulled in further. He kept finding his eyes drawn to Jasper's, entranced by their unusual color. Eyes like a laza tiger. What a sight this one would be in the arena, I expect he'd put on a show to rival my lovely Feyd's. Everything in his demeanor suggested that he was entirely honest about his military rank, and, there was nothing like deadliness to add that extra touch of beauty.

"It's a complex vendetta, and, the end's far more intricate than simple murder. I expect that it would have been over tens of thousands of years earlier, if that worked. The whole situation's probably better explained over wine and dinner. It's a formal variety of vendetta, called kanly- or it will be called that." He realized it would probably take hours to explain the admittedly convoluted system that was the Imperium's solution to avoiding the economic disasters of open warfare. "From what I know of ancient warfare, it was more open and often more prolonged. I'd found an opportunity to put a truly exquisite plan into motion, that would have finished matters in a single night, while positioning my house in the right place for the next move."

He sighed a bit worriedly- even if the Atredies matter was handled well without him, he wasn't sure that his nephew would succeed in the last steps of the plan. He hadn't explained them yet, in entirety. "That move was going to put my nephew on the Imperial throne, where he'd have looked lovely. You remind me of him a bit." It wasn't so much a physical resemblance as one of overall poise and demeanor, although bit of the physical resemblance was there too, and he couldn't help but envision the battle-sculpted body beneath Jasper's clothes. Vladimir had spent a great deal of energy in trying to shape his nephew into someone capable of leadership, which meant encouraging a well-spoken manner and an observant, cunning intellect, and Jasper appeared to have these qualities as well.

Beautiful and potentially brilliant, Jasper was too valuable an opportunity to waste. He had managed to reign in his desire to reach out him up till now, not wanting to scare him off. But the comment about slinking into his room, delivered with that charming little smile, filled him with a surge of hopeful pleasure, as surely Jasper couldn't be entirely clueless as to what was on his mind. This young tiger can come -slinking- in any time he wants. . . and how'd he know I was waiting for A, anyway? A flicker of wonder passed through him at this, what with being in a magic school. Could he have some sort of telepathic ability, despite not being a Bene Gesserit? It would go a long way towards explaining his damnably perfect behavior. The wonder quickly passed, however, as he remembered yelling at the house elf. A lot of people had probably heard that. The obvious explanation tended to be the right one.

He hoped that Jasper wouldn't flinch away as he reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder with a slightly suggestive smile. Or flinch away too quickly, at least- he'd been playing coy perfectly so far, and Vladimir was enjoying the act. "Scandal always adds a bit of spice to life- let them think what they'd like. It can be amusing to see what they come up with. And yes, I actually am waiting for A- I expect he'll be here soon, but, I'm still not sure how big this place is."

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

"I would be interested in hearing the full story sometime, if you feel like sharing. And naturally I'd also like to know more about this nephew of yours whom I remind you of, so I'll know whether I should take offense or be flattered," he said lightly. And he would like to know more, pending his personal space would be left intact. Learning about the various intricacies of that strange and subtle warfare of the future would also hopefully keep the conversation off himself. "Although dinner is more of a... family affair for me. We like our traditions," he said, his smile suitably apologetic. "So maybe another venue, if you wouldn't mind. I'm told Slytherin has a bar you shouldn't miss. And I did promise the proprietress I'd stop by eventually..."

He hadn't realised his joking comment could be received as something decidedly more salacious than he'd intended. He'd been aiming for maybe vaguely threatening, if anything. The smile had probably ruined it. Why had he smiled? He felt unpleasantly light-headed and remote from himself, though the burning ache of his thirst worsened with each passing moment. The smell... it wasn't precisely like human blood, but somehow something—more, more human than anything he'd smelt before, if that were possible. It held him there even while he knew something unspeakably horrific might occur if he didn't leave soon.

With concentrated effort he remained still as Vladimir touched his shoulder, and he watched the man curiously for any reaction he might have. Perhaps the complete lack of body heat wouldn't be noticeable beneath the layers of clothing, but the unnatural hardness might be—it would be like touching a clothed, stone statue, rather unlike the feel of supple human flesh and bone. Of course, it could conceivably be mistaken for hard muscle.

"Big enough to easily get lost your first time through," Jasper replied and chuckled quietly. "You chose your guide well. A's a good person... extremely forthright." But so naive and trusting. He seemed so innocent. Now that Jasper had a pretty good idea of where Vladimir's interests lay, he wondered if he should be concerned for A. "I like him," he added, with just enough exaggerated affection to perhaps give the Baron something new to consider. Let them think what they'd like indeed. "I'm due to help him in his garden soon. I'll be surprised if he didn't invite you to see it."

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

Vladimir did not let his hand linger on Jasper's shoulder long- Jasper was having too much of an affect on him. He'd met a few pretty ones in the Sorting Room, but, none this interesting. Even touching his cold, clothed shoulder was energizing. Why the hell's he so cold? That must be me, is it rather hot, and he's definitely got my blood flowing. A simple pleasure, but exquisite- there was something enchanting about his demeanor, and he felt and looked like a living statue- Vladimir could imagine the body beneath the clothes all too vividly, and, lifted his hand as soon as he realized how absurdly fascinated he was. I need to be cautious- he's a laza tiger, and, has to be up to something. But what is something? That's the question- it might not be bad.

He pulled at his robe, finding it mildly uncomfortable, now convinced it was too warm. "Ah, a bar. . .hrm, no, you drop by once I've settled in, I'll send a note- it'll be more comfortable and civilized than a bar." Simply telling people things was a long-time habit, and, it was evident from his tone he hadn't concieved the possibility of disagreement. "I'm not much for bars, what with all the riff-raff, and obnoxious behavior. And, I've been told that the bar is a questionable establishment. I would very much like to get to know you better, so I'd rather you remain sensible and awake." He smiled apologetically- the only interest he had in this bar was to meet the proprietor and see who went there. He'd been warned about it. Potentially useful, but not a place to relax.

He's up to something and underestimates me, or he's insinuating something. Damnit! This is perplexing. Why am I not lying when I say that I want him awake and sensible? Perhaps because drugging them gets tiresome. This sounded like an excuse, an attempt to rationalize this unusual interest, which seemed to go beyond the obvious physical urges, but he tried to ignore it. "I doubt it'll be too soon. I need to get some rooms prepared, and am particular. Although I'd like you to join me for dinner, there's always conversation. I could tell you more about the future and my nephew Feyd-Rautha. He is also my heir, in defiance of tradition- so it's an entirely good comparison."

"It is interesting that you mentioned tradition. I'm interested in what the traditions of the past. I expect that most of what we believe was distorted over time, and, by tradition itself- traditions may be a dangerous thing, that turn comfort into a trap for the mind and the spirit." He frowned, finally not staring at Jasper, and instead, off into space thoughtfully. Removal from the place he was used to caused him to consider it even more analytically than usual. "Something lead us to where we ended up, a dangerous state of stagnation- perhaps I'm here to try and figure out what that was."

He smiled apologetically again, returning his attention to Jasper. "I apologize for the distraction. I have a habit of observing patterns- even this short time separated from my usual environment is allowing me to look from a different angle. Although I should be looking at this school now- and A is a nice young man, isn't he? Seems rather innocent, but enthusiastic, bright, and proud of his garden. I'm looking forward to seeing that." It didn't appear that he himself had developed a similar interest in A. Cute and helpful, yes, but, no apparent edge- the innocent bit just wasn't interesting in that way. Still, if Jasper was fond of him, it could be amusing to all meet up sometime- perhaps it would provide some voyeuristic entertainment.

((Yeah, Vlad's awful. =P Even the wedding ring would do nothing to shake him, as he's from a culture where marriage is a political thing, and everyone just keeps concubines. Or in Vlad's case, slaves. The word monogamy's a weird foreign concept, so he's clueless. I have no idea what the hell he's up to- he obviously has a thing for Jasper, but, is getting annoyed that it appears to be beyond the obvious one.))

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

((His reaction re: A made me laugh a lot. Poor A, if Vladimir ever invites him over with Jasper hoping for a show... Then again, with all the magic-induced hijinks and mishaps that regularly happen at Hogwarts, who knows. Vladimir might even find himself de-aged to his much hotter, younger self after eating hexed chocolate, and find some people are more receptive to his attention then. ;) And I like how things are becoming kind of convoluted—makes it much more interesting!))

Though the Baron's touch had lasted barely a moment, it felt much longer to Jasper. It was all he could do not to catch the man's hand and wrench it back, not to his shoulder but to his waiting mouth, wrist forward and exposing the maze of veins. He'd never favoured that method when humans had been on the menu—too slow, too unnecessarily painful for his prey—but he wasn't quite in his right mind at the moment, either. The tantalising sound of Vladimir's heartbeat was unbearably loud in his ears, too perfectly clear, drowning out everything else.

He unconsciously clenched his jaw, dimly noting the taste of venom in his mouth as he struggled to concentrate on what the Baron was telling him. Something about bars. Not liking them. There was something that sounded a lot like a command as well, but he may as well have been speaking another language for all the sense it made to Jasper (and, quite possibly, he actually was—the translation charm at Hogwarts usually made it difficult to know what language someone was really speaking when it all sounded like English to Jasper.)

"Sensible and awake," he repeated with placid amusement that belied his badly shaking hands, now clasped behind his back. It took effort not to accidentally destroy the book in his hands. "Mm, you must think I'm a lightweight, Vladimir," he murmured in a low, velvet voice that he really hadn't meant to use. A vampire's voice. It always made his words sound inexplicably filthy, regardless of what they were. "But suit yourself," he quickly continued, trying to sound normal, "that's understandable. I can see why a bar wouldn't be an atmosphere you'd enjoy. Good luck with your rooms, and I'll look forward to that conversation, of course." He didn't sound offended—just eerily calm. It was an odd relief when the Baron finally looked away.

"It's unnecessary to apologise," he replied easily. "All things considered, you're handling the whole unexpected abduction aspect of Hogwarts very well. I find it hard to believe it's always completely random—most probably just don't bother to wonder very long about why they might have been brought here, so no one ever finds an answer... and people go on believing they're at the mercy of some capricious, omnipotent force." His tone suggested he thought well of Vladimir for not falling prey to the same trap. Vladimir's reaction to his little ruse also surprised him, which was a good thing. The man really didn't seem to have any undue interest in A, although there was something a bit peculiar about his mood.

Jasper used a passing group of students as an excuse to casually step away, back to a more polite speaking distance. Not nearly far enough away to be free of the sound of the man's heartbeat, or the scent of his unusual blood, but it would have to do. "A is perhaps a little too innocent for his own good," he said solemnly. "It would be unfortunate if anyone were to take advantage of that." He was careful to keep any implications out of his tone—he didn't feel it necessary to threaten the Baron at this point.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

((Convuluted madness is a good time. Which is why temporarily-hot-Vlad will have to happen someday, as it would be just plain wrong, and traumatic for all involved. And that also means good times. But it would probably traumatize Vlad the most, having to go back to his normal self afterward. I tend to put my chars through the mill, I'm such an abusive mun. ))

Studying people was a habit, as, understanding people was key to finding a use for them. This often turned up interesting details- although typically he'd focus on behavior patterns, especially responses and motivations, now and again it was the emotions that were intriguing. Jasper was still behaving enchantingly, and hadn't been scared off, but Vladimir could tell that there was something more to the situation. The clenched jaw, the strange calm- to the Baron, this suggested the he was nervous, and attempting not to betray it.

Vladimir would have put this down to Jasper picking up on his train of thought and getting scared, but, surely, he wouldn't be delivering such damnably suggestive comments unless he was already aware. That voice he used! Irresitible. He wondered if Jasper was just starting to feel uncomfortable with a new situation, only natural given his apparent youth. Even Feyd didn't get used to it immediately. Feyd. I miss him already, and that's why I'm acting like this. He had become used to having him around. It was odd not to have the usual entourage, but, the lack of his beloved nephew was depressing, and he could see that it would leave a painful void if he couldn't find a way to fill it.

Realizing he was seeking a replacement made it easier for Vladimir to handle the situation, so he was able to reign in his impulses better- it wasn't simple to keep his hand off of Jasper once it had been there. So exquisitely cool. . . he'd feel amazing between satin sheets. "I'll be looking forward to it as well, perhaps we could attempt to deduce the purposes of this place. I don't believe in capricious and omnipotent forces, unless a few emotional tendencies might count. And even then- there's got to be a reason." He inwardly smirked, thinking that capricious was a good word for this incident with Jasper- but at least he was aware of it. "I expect you'd last through a trip the bar, but I'm sure the evening would be more relaxing without too many surprises." Have gave Jasper a smile, the sort which said, 'Yes, I'm thinking everything you think I am. I'm also not planning to do anything about it just yet, so don't worry too much.'

When Jasper backed off at noticing the passing students, Vladimir felt another flush of elation. It looked like Jasper didn't want to be 'caught', and thus, was surely thinking about the same things. As he wasn't sure of the social order of this place, he agreed it was a wise move- so far, this place seemed open-minded, but, he was used to a social paradigm that labeled him deviant for his tastes. Admittedly, he did enjoy showing the Imperium just how effective a ruler a 'deviant' could be.

Despite finding a more comfortable mental position to work from, and more distance between himself and temptation, Vladimir's fascination hadn't decreased. If anything, it had solidified, but into something more manageable. That allowed him to breathe more easily while supressing the urge to pull Jasper into the nearest empty room. He considered the comment about A, and nodded his agreement.

"I don't know A very well yet, but, I'd agree with that. From what I've seen of him, he has excellent potential- if I caught anyone taking away from that, I'd be displeased." The flat, cold manner in which he says 'displeased' leaves no doubt that it means 'explosively furious'. "A's been exceptionally helpful, very informative. I'd be a lot worse off right now without his assistance. I may be new here, but I'm still myself, so it would be wise for no one to give him any trouble." It was plain he wasn't threatening Jasper, but was threatening a range of nebulous unknowns. He tore his eyes from Jasper long enough to look up and down the hallway. "I expect he'll be here soon- those house elves seem fast. He said he'd show me around a bit."

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

((Sorry this took ages, my internet's been down since yesterday. On the upside, I used that time to start rereading Dune since I don't remember it too well.

Psh, characters exist to be abused, over and over again. Particularly in Jasper's case, where just being around humans is painful. I'm definitely looking forward to poor Vladimir's trauma, as well. ;) Chocolate plots are always a lot of fun.))

"For whatever my insight might be worth," he agreed. "Having come here intentionally, most of what I know is merely from listening to others and simple observation." He meant unintentionally eavesdropping, what with how sensitive his hearing was, but said it in such an innocuous manner Vladimir would hopefully assume something less menacing. He wasn't prepared yet to explain just what he was, since it would undoubtedly prompt awkward questions he didn't want to answer in a public hallway. "And I suppose if you ever feel like at least visiting the Slytherin bar, I might see you there from time to time," he said, returning the man's smile with a faint one of his own.

He could sense truth in the various forms it took—tone of voice, gesticulation, heart rate, even smell and most especially by mood—and though he could be fooled, and a man like the Baron would most certainly be greatly skilled at lying, Jasper perceived no hint of deception when he spoke of A. He felt oddly mollified and maybe even a touch less guarded because of it. Whatever the man's other quirks, at least the Baron was honourable in this.

And, just maybe, Vladimir's interest in him was not of an entirely shallow nature then, even if the proof of that largely remained to be seen. There was time for it to present itself. Unbidden came the thought that if Vladimir knew the whole truth, he might seek to make Jasper his hound, his pet, just as Maria—Jasper's maker—had. An amusing thought in spite of how grim it was. Wondering if he'd get a nice collar out of the arrangement had him smiling to himself and having to stifle a dour chuckle.

"Our feelings are in accordance then. I'm relieved there are others to look out for him here, whether he requires it or not," he admitted, and quietly sighed as he followed the Baron's line of sight. "There he is now, so I suppose I should be on my way." The sweet smell of A's blood would pose an additional temptation he wasn't sure he could handle just then.

[i-am-harkonnen.livejournal.com]

((No worries it took a bit- it's not like there's a reason to rush the plot. Good ones are well worth a wait. ; ) Dune's such a great read- it's just a shame there's not more Harkonnen bits. I've used what original canon backstory material is available to help fill out Vlad's character- there's a lot of complicated motivations it helps explain, like the Feyd attachment.))

Vladimir nodded approvingly, figuring that 'accidental eavesdropping' of the deliberate kind was included in Jasper's methods of observation. Of course, he didn't know just how acute Jasper's eavesdropping ability was, and that it probably was really accidental. He just felt that Jasper was a smart individual, and, as a smart politician, he knew the value of listening when no one thinks you are. Truly, with this sort of charisma, this young man would make a marvelous political figure- again, a reminder of Feyd. If he'd known Japser's thoughts, he'd have realized just how deeply the man had affected him- this wasn't one he'd want to keep on a leash, regardless of how pretty he'd look in a collar.

Although the Baron had virtually no one he could call a friend, given his career and responsibilities, he did have a strong tie with his nephew. He had stolen him from his brother when he was very young, knowing that the House would need a strong heir of the family blood. Given his inclinations, adoption was the only option available, and he wanted to raise Feyd under his own roof as he felt his brother's methods were weak, and would not produce a worthy heir. He took a personal hand in raising him, encouraging his combat prowess while grooming him in the subtler arts of cunning and persuasion. Feyd had been a constant presence in his life for many years now. Although 'love' was a word that the Baron of course avoided, an emotion that had no practical place in leadership unless directed at the House, he did love his nephew, and not only in a carnal way. All his hopes for the House's future were invested in him.

And so, when he smiled at Jasper, it was with an actual warmth, something he almost never displayed, except when directed at Feyd. He saw a unique potential in him, separate from anything to do with the bedroom. Although he wasn't sure what it was, it was something he wanted to cultivate and find out. He was disappointed that the time had come for this particular meeting to end, but, he also felt a slight relief. Given the strange combination of genuine and carnal interest this lovely man provoked in him, haste seemed unwise. Better to let it play out and savor any more lucky moments as they came, even if that was another single touch, than do something stupid. He already knew he'd linger over this meeting much over the coming days, even if it contained very little in the way of substance.

"That is a good way to learn. At least, I've always found those ways to be very effective, so I expect I'll be a bit more educated next time we meet. If you're there, I of course may be more inclined to pay a brief visit or two to this bar, but I'll send you a note in the coming days about a more comfortable meeting." Noticing A along the hallway he realized this meeting was about to come to a close. He couldn't entirely disguise the trace of disappointment in his voice, but his smile lingered, for it was in fact genuine. Although he managed to resist reaching out to him again, he allowed himself to drift closer for one last, brief moment, a few seconds only. "I very much appreciate your time, and, shall be looking forward to spending some more together soon. You've already made this ordeal much more bearable. Do take care, Jasper."

((This one's got great potential- looking forward to seeing where the plot twists. Let me know when it'll be a good time to start up a meeting thread. =) (TekRPG@gmail.com for email plot coordination if that's helpful.) ))

[j-whitlock.livejournal.com]

((This reply is pretty much completely unnecessary, but I thought Jasper saluting him would be amusing. Aaand I'll email you in a bit! I'm at work at the moment. There probably are a few details to work out.))

Jasper could perceive enough of the difference between Vladimir's present smile and those that came before to understand at least some of its significance. He then had the inexplicable urge to duck his head, though not entirely out of discomfort anymore. Quite the opposite, if anything. But instead, he returned the smile, his own a little freer than it had been, his manner a little less reserved. There was perhaps more to the Baron's character than he'd guessed—not that he thought he'd ever had the man completely figured out after so short a meeting. But whatever this was—a real show of emotion, a calculated ploy, some mixture of both—it was a pleasant surprise.

Maybe he didn't have to dread their next meeting quite so much. Vladimir didn't appear keen on pushing things back into the realm of the uncomfortable...

"I've enjoyed talking with you," he said, resisting the urge to step back as Vladimir moved closer. There was no sense in being rude now, even if it was technically in the Baron's best interests for Jasper to keep his distance. "And I'll look forward to your note. I'm glad I was able to help, even if only a little. Here's hoping you'll enjoy your time at Hogwarts." He touched the middle and index fingers of one hand to his forehead in a jaunty salute, in lieu of a parting handshake or bow, and seemed faintly amused by it. "Good day, Vladimir," he said courteously, and turned to continue on the way he'd been headed before. He made an effort to walk at a human pace, and that barely disguised the fact that he did, indeed, seem to slink down the hallway.