Dotchan wrote:

This is something I've pondered for a while, but reading Nicholas

Leifker's "Do Not Go Gently" has helped me crystalize the scene much more
sharply.

Not a lot of spoilerage, but be forewarned anyway.
---
        Integra slammed her tightly clenched fist into the solid oak desk,

not doing a particularly good job of hiding her trembling rage as she read
her father's last will and testament.

Integra: What the hell is this? What does he mean by 'My butch daughter gets
nothing unless she marries Ranma Saotome'?"

"This--this--"

        I kept my smirk to myself,

That would be a first on Alucard's part. He's not really given to hiding his
emotional state.

        She glared at me, and for a moment it seemed like her icy blue

eyes could set me on fire. "...and naturally, you were so amused that you
agreed to his harebrained idea?"

Oh, I picture her language choice as being a bit more colorful than
'harebrained.'

        "Of course. I always knew you Hellsings did some rather outrageous

things in the name of protecting Queen and Country, but I didn't quite
expect him to come after me, or to have such a tempting deal."

Actually, I don't know why he would consider it tempting, unless there's a
particular reason he wants the Hellsings subservient to him instead.

        I purposely directed a half leer at her, and she actually flushed

slightly. So she was not made of stone, after all. "I...I suppose I
shouldn't be surprised," she finally said, now mostly recovered from her
shock. "I've often wondered what Father did to tame you, the legendary
Alucard." She laughed bitterly. "And now I know."

        I nodded curtly. "I gave my word that the choice will always be

yours." This time, I grinned at her, baring my sharp fangs. "Besides, I'm
infinitely more patient than you will ever be."

        She turned to face the window, lighting a cigar. "We'll see about

that."

        I had to smile again. Now _there_ was the Integra I knew, whose

blood had called to me twenty years ago. No wonder her father had dared to
offer her in exchange for my servitude.

        I was definitely getting the better end of the deal.
---
Hey, how else was Daddy Hellsing supposed to take down the biggest, most

badass vampire out there? Bleed on him? ;p

Hey. A nice idea that fits. My pet theory was that he allowed himself to be
bound because he actually has some axe to grind with the Hellsings. Death
wouldn't be good enough. Far better vengeance would be to 'serve' them until
one of them became desperate enough to make themselves *willingly*
subservient to him. Given how often he complains about being bored, I can
literally see him being patient enough to wait generations until one of them
gave themselves to him. As I said, a pet theory.

As far as the name spellings go...*shrugs* to each their own.

Dot's preferred schema:
*Hellsing (symbolism = fun!)

Actually what happened is the company that did all the emblems for the
organization messed up on the spelling. By the time Abe (the founder)
discovered the error, it was simply cheaper to change the family name than
redo everything.

*Integra (at least whenever people who know she's female refer to her)
*Celes (first impression stuck)
*Alucard (more fun symbolism, and an Obvious Clue as to his true identity)

It's been used before countless times. Personally, I think he's deliberately
throwing everyone off with the alias, and is in fact  Count Yorga in
disguise. ^_^ (Kudos to you if you know the reference, doubly so if you've
seen it)

DB Sommer

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