Gaining Strength [Part 6]
Jun. 27th, 2020 11:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Frankenstein needs to gain strength to protect humanity; the werewolves might hold the key to that.
Notes: Frankenstein decides werewolves are the bigger threat AU.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 1,783
Total word count: 12,852
Status: Work in progress
It was nice to meet a werewolf who didn't seem to look down on humans. Frankenstein kept a hold of his dagger though - he had been deceived before.
As they walked, Frankenstein rubbed an arm and then looked down, frowning. Goosebumps had raised over his skin. What...? It was a warm day - he shouldn't be cold.
And now that he was paying attention, Frankenstein could feel a weight softly pressing on his shoulders. An invisible weight that was far too familiar.
Frankenstein stopped. "What are you doing?" he demanded, glaring. Was he being lead into a trap, where the pressure would increase until he couldn't move again?
"Hm?" The werewolf looked at him over his shoulder. "Calling the others so I can talk with 'em."
Summoning a group? Frankenstein still didn't move. "And do what?" One-on-one, Frankenstein could subdue a werewolf if he had the element of surprise; with a pack, he couldn't do that.
"That'll depend on what I hear."
Of course a werewolf wouldn't trust his word. But...it was still a better than what he'd seen of the other werewolves. Frankenstein started following him again.
The pressure stayed in the air for a few more minutes, whatever the werewolf was doing, and they could use that pressure to communicate with each other over long distances? That had to be useful. Far more convenient than carrier pigeon and faster as well. Was there a pattern to the pressure or could the pressure only convey basic messages? Frankenstein continued to mull over the possibilities as they walked.
When they stepped into a clearing, Frankenstein paused. He recognised the place. He found it a few weeks into his exploration - it was a big clearing with a throne hewn from stone. He hadn't thought much of it - he'd assumed it was a relic of an older time, since the clearing had been empty whenever he'd passed.
It wasn't empty now, numerous werewolves circled around the front of the throne.
The werewolves turned when they entered, and kneeled.
What-?
"My Lord."
"Welcome back, Lord Muzaka."
The murmurs from the werewolves' bowed heads
made Frankenstein halt in his tracks.
He glanced over his shoulder, and there was no-one else there.
"Yo," the werewolf -Muzaka?- said, striding forward as he waved a hand in greeting. "Thanks for coming." Without hesitation he sat down on the throne.
Frankenstein couldn't get his thoughts moving again - they were stuck on the fact that that werewolf was the leader of the werewolves. Frankenstein didn't know much about them, but wasn't the Lord supposed to be the strongest of them all?
He knew werewolves were long-lived, but he hadn't expected the Lord to appear so young, though that could explain the silver hair. It would also explain the difference in clothing from the other werewolves.
And to run across the Lord's path so soon...
Frankenstein became aware of the werewolves glancing in his direction in confusion as they stood up. It wasn't the glares or sneers of someone looking down on him though.
And...if the Lord hadn't been aware that humans were being attacked, then it wasn't a concentrated effort by werewolves to dominate humans. It seemed safe enough and Frankenstein sheathed his dagger.
"Maduke," Muzaka said, his attention on the other werewolf that wasn't wearing a cloak. A second in command? Did their clothing signify that? Then all the werewolves who wore white cloaks... All the werewolves he'd attacked wore the same - were they warriors? "Those werewolves you heard complain about being chased away by nobles..."
Frankenstein couldn't stop the smile that broke out on his face. The other werewolves weren't paying attention to him anyway to see it.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Can you bring them here? I wanna talk with 'em."
"Of course, my Lord." Maduke disappeared with a hiss of rustling leaves.
"Oi," Muzaka called over, "what're you still doin' all the way over there?" He gestured Frankenstein closer.
Hhn. Again, he was entering a pack of werewolves clustered around him, but this time it was with his own will and not on his hands and knees.
"This is Frankenstein," Muzaka said. "He told me somethin' pretty interesting."
The other werewolves were looking at Frankenstein curiously again.
Was this his cue to explain?
"My Lord?" the red-haired werewolf said.
Muzaka just smiled. "Better to wait until Maduke brings them here."
That answered his question, then.
It didn't take long before Maduke returned with two werewolves. One Frankenstein remembered.
"Hey, you're the human with the claw!" one of them said, her eyes wide. She had short brown hair that stopped around around her ears.
Maduke glared at the werewolf. He had had his mouth open to speak when the other spoke first.
"Oh?" Muzaka said, resting his chin in his palm as he leaned on the armrest. "How'd you recognise him?"
"It was when we'd attacked the human village a couple months ago," the brown-haired werewolf said, nodding.
Frankenstein saw the werewolves around him glance at each other. What did that mean? To say that so brazenly, was attacking humans accepted amongst werewolves?
Muzaka arched an eyebrow. "And why did you attack a human village?"
"Because..." the werewolf trailed off, her eyes darting to her companion.
"Yeah?"
The silence hang heavily in the air, dragging out with each breath. The only sounds was the birdsong and the wind brushing through the trees.
"You don't wanna answer?" Muzaka said, still relaxed on his throne.
"A-ahm..."
"So you just remembered I don't want anyone hurtin' humans?" Muzaka sighed. "Live with them if ya want, but don't try to rule over 'em. They're their own people."
That was one of their rules? It wasn't quite the same as the nobles' creed to supposedly protect humans but hm, there was something in place.
And how had he never heard of werewolves living with humans? Frankenstein only heard of the horror stories. Had he missed something in his research? Was that the excuse given whenever werewolves had been driven away by nobles? Or was it only the horror stories that spread, rather than the ones where werewolves could live harmoniously with humans?
Muzaka gazed at the pair for a couple seconds. "Until you're willing to tell me, you'll be locked up. If you still won't tell me later, then you know what the punishment will be."
They way the pair were staring at a spot below Muzaka's feet, it had to mean death.
Muzaka looked at one of the werewolves in the circle and jerked his head to the side. The werewolf nodded and guided the pair away.
Frankenstein frowned, watching them. No chains or shackles? ...But from the way the pair hunched as they walked, their feet dragging, were they being kept in place by the other werewolf's presence?
An invisible power that he wouldn't have been able to know about or measure just from the blood...
"Maduke," Muzaka said, turning his attention to the other werewolf, "if anyone else comes to you complainin' about nobles chasing them away from human settlements, let me know."
Maduke ducked his head. "Of course, my Lord."
"How long will they be detained for?" Frankenstein asked, watching the trio disappear into the treeline.
"Until I get back," Muzaka said as he stood up, interlinking his fingers and stretching his hands towards the sky. "I can question 'em again then."
Frankenstein snapped his focus back to Muzaka. "'Until you get back'...?" Frankenstein repeated quietly. Was he saying-?
"Yep," Muzaka said, grinning as he swung his arms down, and gone was the quiet seriousness he'd displayed moments before. "I'm gonna go travelling now."
"You are not," Frankenstein ground out, drawing himself up. It didn't do much, with Muzaka standing on the throne foundation adding to his height. "That's not all of the werewolves that acted against your word." Did he not care?
Frankenstein heard the other werewolves suck in breaths but he continued glaring at Muzaka, not breaking eye contact.
"Just how long are these trips of yours?" he demanded.
"You will lower your lip towards the Lord!" a red-haired werewolf snapped at him.
Was baring teeth considered threatening to werewolves? They'd mentioned that the first time he'd encountered them as well.
Muzaka waved her down with a chuckle. "It's fine." He turned back to Frankenstein, his expression still clear and friendly. "They're a couple months at a time, not that long," he said. "They'd still be here."
Frankenstein pursed his lips. Damned long-lived werewolves. Of course they had the time to just wait until later. "That was only two werewolves - there were at least ten werewolves who attacked that day." Even though he had caught and killed a few, that still left more from that one attack roaming free to attack humans again. "They won't be the only ones who attack humans, and what would happen if they escape or are let out before you return?"
"They won't."
Muzaka trusted his people that much, even after they had proven capable of breaking the rules he'd set?
"Just like they wouldn't hurt humans?" Frankenstein retorted, glaring.
Muzaka stilled, gazing at him. "...Hm."
Muzaka didn't say anything for a few seconds, his brow furrowed. "All right, I'll stay," Muzaka said, nodding.
...He'd listened to him and changed his mind? Though, Muzaka had already proven he was willing to listen, but it was still a surprise.
"So what'll you be doin', Frankenstein?" Muzaka asked him.
Frankenstein arched a brow. "I'll be staying until I'm sure humans aren't in danger from werewolves anymore." That was one of the main reasons why he was there, after all.
Muzaka grinned. "Great!"
Muzaka really didn't act like any leader Frankenstein knew of...
* * *
Frankenstein felt lighter as he walked back to his lab. More settled.
He had been able to kill a few werewolves, yes. But now that their Lord was aware and keeping an eye on things, that should make things easier.
It might make it harder, if those werewolves went underground and hid, but it at least meant they wouldn't attack humans as often.
He sighed. What would the werewolf Lord's blood look like in comparison to his other samples? There shouldn't be much difference, but maybe there was, and the only way for him to find out would be to see it himself.
There was very little chance he would get a sample from Muzaka, however.
Well. He could continue his research in the meantime.
Summary: Frankenstein needs to gain strength to protect humanity; the werewolves might hold the key to that.
Notes: Frankenstein decides werewolves are the bigger threat AU.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 1,783
Total word count: 12,852
Status: Work in progress
It was nice to meet a werewolf who didn't seem to look down on humans. Frankenstein kept a hold of his dagger though - he had been deceived before.
As they walked, Frankenstein rubbed an arm and then looked down, frowning. Goosebumps had raised over his skin. What...? It was a warm day - he shouldn't be cold.
And now that he was paying attention, Frankenstein could feel a weight softly pressing on his shoulders. An invisible weight that was far too familiar.
Frankenstein stopped. "What are you doing?" he demanded, glaring. Was he being lead into a trap, where the pressure would increase until he couldn't move again?
"Hm?" The werewolf looked at him over his shoulder. "Calling the others so I can talk with 'em."
Summoning a group? Frankenstein still didn't move. "And do what?" One-on-one, Frankenstein could subdue a werewolf if he had the element of surprise; with a pack, he couldn't do that.
"That'll depend on what I hear."
Of course a werewolf wouldn't trust his word. But...it was still a better than what he'd seen of the other werewolves. Frankenstein started following him again.
The pressure stayed in the air for a few more minutes, whatever the werewolf was doing, and they could use that pressure to communicate with each other over long distances? That had to be useful. Far more convenient than carrier pigeon and faster as well. Was there a pattern to the pressure or could the pressure only convey basic messages? Frankenstein continued to mull over the possibilities as they walked.
When they stepped into a clearing, Frankenstein paused. He recognised the place. He found it a few weeks into his exploration - it was a big clearing with a throne hewn from stone. He hadn't thought much of it - he'd assumed it was a relic of an older time, since the clearing had been empty whenever he'd passed.
It wasn't empty now, numerous werewolves circled around the front of the throne.
The werewolves turned when they entered, and kneeled.
What-?
"My Lord."
"Welcome back, Lord Muzaka."
The murmurs from the werewolves' bowed heads
made Frankenstein halt in his tracks.
He glanced over his shoulder, and there was no-one else there.
"Yo," the werewolf -Muzaka?- said, striding forward as he waved a hand in greeting. "Thanks for coming." Without hesitation he sat down on the throne.
Frankenstein couldn't get his thoughts moving again - they were stuck on the fact that that werewolf was the leader of the werewolves. Frankenstein didn't know much about them, but wasn't the Lord supposed to be the strongest of them all?
He knew werewolves were long-lived, but he hadn't expected the Lord to appear so young, though that could explain the silver hair. It would also explain the difference in clothing from the other werewolves.
And to run across the Lord's path so soon...
Frankenstein became aware of the werewolves glancing in his direction in confusion as they stood up. It wasn't the glares or sneers of someone looking down on him though.
And...if the Lord hadn't been aware that humans were being attacked, then it wasn't a concentrated effort by werewolves to dominate humans. It seemed safe enough and Frankenstein sheathed his dagger.
"Maduke," Muzaka said, his attention on the other werewolf that wasn't wearing a cloak. A second in command? Did their clothing signify that? Then all the werewolves who wore white cloaks... All the werewolves he'd attacked wore the same - were they warriors? "Those werewolves you heard complain about being chased away by nobles..."
Frankenstein couldn't stop the smile that broke out on his face. The other werewolves weren't paying attention to him anyway to see it.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Can you bring them here? I wanna talk with 'em."
"Of course, my Lord." Maduke disappeared with a hiss of rustling leaves.
"Oi," Muzaka called over, "what're you still doin' all the way over there?" He gestured Frankenstein closer.
Hhn. Again, he was entering a pack of werewolves clustered around him, but this time it was with his own will and not on his hands and knees.
"This is Frankenstein," Muzaka said. "He told me somethin' pretty interesting."
The other werewolves were looking at Frankenstein curiously again.
Was this his cue to explain?
"My Lord?" the red-haired werewolf said.
Muzaka just smiled. "Better to wait until Maduke brings them here."
That answered his question, then.
It didn't take long before Maduke returned with two werewolves. One Frankenstein remembered.
"Hey, you're the human with the claw!" one of them said, her eyes wide. She had short brown hair that stopped around around her ears.
Maduke glared at the werewolf. He had had his mouth open to speak when the other spoke first.
"Oh?" Muzaka said, resting his chin in his palm as he leaned on the armrest. "How'd you recognise him?"
"It was when we'd attacked the human village a couple months ago," the brown-haired werewolf said, nodding.
Frankenstein saw the werewolves around him glance at each other. What did that mean? To say that so brazenly, was attacking humans accepted amongst werewolves?
Muzaka arched an eyebrow. "And why did you attack a human village?"
"Because..." the werewolf trailed off, her eyes darting to her companion.
"Yeah?"
The silence hang heavily in the air, dragging out with each breath. The only sounds was the birdsong and the wind brushing through the trees.
"You don't wanna answer?" Muzaka said, still relaxed on his throne.
"A-ahm..."
"So you just remembered I don't want anyone hurtin' humans?" Muzaka sighed. "Live with them if ya want, but don't try to rule over 'em. They're their own people."
That was one of their rules? It wasn't quite the same as the nobles' creed to supposedly protect humans but hm, there was something in place.
And how had he never heard of werewolves living with humans? Frankenstein only heard of the horror stories. Had he missed something in his research? Was that the excuse given whenever werewolves had been driven away by nobles? Or was it only the horror stories that spread, rather than the ones where werewolves could live harmoniously with humans?
Muzaka gazed at the pair for a couple seconds. "Until you're willing to tell me, you'll be locked up. If you still won't tell me later, then you know what the punishment will be."
They way the pair were staring at a spot below Muzaka's feet, it had to mean death.
Muzaka looked at one of the werewolves in the circle and jerked his head to the side. The werewolf nodded and guided the pair away.
Frankenstein frowned, watching them. No chains or shackles? ...But from the way the pair hunched as they walked, their feet dragging, were they being kept in place by the other werewolf's presence?
An invisible power that he wouldn't have been able to know about or measure just from the blood...
"Maduke," Muzaka said, turning his attention to the other werewolf, "if anyone else comes to you complainin' about nobles chasing them away from human settlements, let me know."
Maduke ducked his head. "Of course, my Lord."
"How long will they be detained for?" Frankenstein asked, watching the trio disappear into the treeline.
"Until I get back," Muzaka said as he stood up, interlinking his fingers and stretching his hands towards the sky. "I can question 'em again then."
Frankenstein snapped his focus back to Muzaka. "'Until you get back'...?" Frankenstein repeated quietly. Was he saying-?
"Yep," Muzaka said, grinning as he swung his arms down, and gone was the quiet seriousness he'd displayed moments before. "I'm gonna go travelling now."
"You are not," Frankenstein ground out, drawing himself up. It didn't do much, with Muzaka standing on the throne foundation adding to his height. "That's not all of the werewolves that acted against your word." Did he not care?
Frankenstein heard the other werewolves suck in breaths but he continued glaring at Muzaka, not breaking eye contact.
"Just how long are these trips of yours?" he demanded.
"You will lower your lip towards the Lord!" a red-haired werewolf snapped at him.
Was baring teeth considered threatening to werewolves? They'd mentioned that the first time he'd encountered them as well.
Muzaka waved her down with a chuckle. "It's fine." He turned back to Frankenstein, his expression still clear and friendly. "They're a couple months at a time, not that long," he said. "They'd still be here."
Frankenstein pursed his lips. Damned long-lived werewolves. Of course they had the time to just wait until later. "That was only two werewolves - there were at least ten werewolves who attacked that day." Even though he had caught and killed a few, that still left more from that one attack roaming free to attack humans again. "They won't be the only ones who attack humans, and what would happen if they escape or are let out before you return?"
"They won't."
Muzaka trusted his people that much, even after they had proven capable of breaking the rules he'd set?
"Just like they wouldn't hurt humans?" Frankenstein retorted, glaring.
Muzaka stilled, gazing at him. "...Hm."
Muzaka didn't say anything for a few seconds, his brow furrowed. "All right, I'll stay," Muzaka said, nodding.
...He'd listened to him and changed his mind? Though, Muzaka had already proven he was willing to listen, but it was still a surprise.
"So what'll you be doin', Frankenstein?" Muzaka asked him.
Frankenstein arched a brow. "I'll be staying until I'm sure humans aren't in danger from werewolves anymore." That was one of the main reasons why he was there, after all.
Muzaka grinned. "Great!"
Muzaka really didn't act like any leader Frankenstein knew of...
Frankenstein felt lighter as he walked back to his lab. More settled.
He had been able to kill a few werewolves, yes. But now that their Lord was aware and keeping an eye on things, that should make things easier.
It might make it harder, if those werewolves went underground and hid, but it at least meant they wouldn't attack humans as often.
He sighed. What would the werewolf Lord's blood look like in comparison to his other samples? There shouldn't be much difference, but maybe there was, and the only way for him to find out would be to see it himself.
There was very little chance he would get a sample from Muzaka, however.
Well. He could continue his research in the meantime.