Mina Murray paced the floor. She might be dead, but for a dead woman she could be and was extremely lively when she worried. Near her sat a man in modern clothing of the sort one would wear travelling the African veldt country. This was hardly unusual, as he had done and would do this for rather a long time. As far as he was concerned, he owed it to Africa. For more than one reason.
Mina spoke. "This may seem small of me. But in the midst of all this madness, the main thing that will not leave my mind is that I can be open about my unlife again."
The hard eyed man spoke with firmness, and a underlying compassion not at all at odds with his severity. "As long as you let them think it a result of the Virus, you mean? Just as well. There may BE new vampirism as a side effect, you know. Seriously, the only way a league of help will be Extraordinary nowadays is if they are male." That actually got a small smile before she began to pace again.
"Please, lover. It's hard enough worrying that the ultimate cause of mine is possibly still alive! Yet you're right, a League of Ladies may be needed, if only as a example." Mina puffed out a breath as the idea jelled in her spirit. Her usual conflict of hunting instinct and self control aside, Mina had to admit it would be good overall to get her hand back in. Shake the dust off, as it were.
The man with two famous rings and a pair of extremely powerful modified automatic pistols leaned forwards. "You've been going on about that ever since Hammer Films! What has you thinking he's somehow still with us?" The frequently revivified and much more vital Allan Quartermain might not consider himself a son of England after his first death, but he certainly considered his on again / off again love Mina to be worthy of attention. The Phantom (said alias chosen as a deliberate insult on the long dead arch criminal and general asshole Moriarity) knew all the details of Ms. Murray's disaster ridden relationship with Dracula by this time, as well as the sheer repressed gall felt by Mina over her divorce from that weak reed Harker. He tended to go along with inquiries involving the former to keep Mina's mind off the latter.
"Well, I actually missed his little clue when the jelly first issued it. Or, I should amend, inspired it. In the dreams of a then young musician." Mina rolled her eyes at Allan's wince, as they both had moved far past Victorian mores and tastes in most everything over the years. Rap music and other hardcore sounds was still a bit abhorrent, however.
To Allan's slightly wearied "Dare I ask what song?" Mina simply gave a slightly predatory smirk (Oddly apropos to Allan, given the subject) and hit the play button on a portable tape player/radio she'd brought in before his arrival. He just shook his head as the lyrics sank in.
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
At this, Allan turns to speak on this to Mina, but sat back and thought about it at her headshake.
I see a line of cars and they’re all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens ev’ry day
I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then I’ll fade away and not have to face the facts
It’s not easy facin’ up when your whole world is black
As the song went into the gentler bit, Mina said sadly "Like Hyde, he never hid his darkness. Even from himself, Allan."
No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes
As the headman for the Stones picked up the pace for final drive of the piece, or nail in the coffin depending on one's turn of mind, Allan noted seriously "He was really like that before he became a vampire, you know. I assume that last was;"
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
Hmm, hmm, hmm,...
Mina answered "As close to a apology as the man is ever likely to come, yes. He's kept his distance. I guess I'm content with that." She fell silent as Jagger's voice lashed out in pale imitation of the Impaler's wrath towards all his betrayals both during and after his living days.
I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah!
"So that ancient nastiness spawned from man being unmanly to fellow man is just out there somewhere?" Allan didn't move to hold Mina. That was a imposition that might get him killed again, as she was a fully active and powerful vampiress in her own right.
"Yes. One reason I am thinking of starting a new League is to check up on matters, and make sure he's not given cause to go off on mankind again. It was too close, his conflict with Van helsing over me. Far too close. I'd rather that not happen again. And Allan? I miss you."
Allan thought on the many ways to take that, then sighed. "I thank you for the concern, but I know your mind by now, grant me that much. Still, I'll admit I could use some time as someone other than the latest Walker descendent." Allan let Mina reflect on his faith that despite a shared hunter's frame of mind, she was in his eyes not one to be drawn to the former Wallachian warlord. And it wasn't like Allan didn't know how hunters thought. Then he impishly added "Are you sure you trust me with a likely not miniscule number of superpowered ladies? Given my obvious attractions, I mean."
Mina showed a profound relief in Allan's loving trust in her smirk and twinkling eyes as she responded "Sex? Allan, we're too damned old for me to care about that. As if either one of us hold back on that front! I was referring to love, and romance. Oh, by the way; thank you." She held his hand rather than comment further, and Allan contentedly dropped the riposte he was about to come back with.
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by CrystalBlaze
(Posted Sun, 19 Jun 2005 19:45)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.