Room 303, Sunday late evening
Really, it just bent the brain to think about how he was phoning home sixty years into the past.
Walter sat on his bed with Pup on his lap and drew a deep breath while he waited for someone in 1944 London to answer the phone so he could talk to his employer.
"Simons? Walter Dornez calling for Sir Hellsing."
"Walter! My dear boy, it's been too long." Arthur Hellsing sounded as jovial as ever. And thankfully sober. "You're not wasting my money there, are you?"
"No, sir. I've been earning good marks in my classes."
"Excellent. I expect no less of you. To what do I owe this telephone call?"
One made between parties separated by over 3600 miles and six decades? Walter thought he had a good reason for extreme long distance calling. "I want to work, sir. I know things from here that could help the war effort."
"What kinds of things do you think you know that can help? You know you're a valuable weapon. We'll have use for you soon. What else?"
"Sir, there are history books here that tell the story of the War. You know we're in 2006 here. I know what's going to happen. It would be invaluable."
In the pause, Walter could hear the familiar flick of a lighter and then the sound of Arthur exhaling heavily. He could almost smell the cigar smoke. Strange, the things that will make one homesick.
"I know you're in 2006." Arthur finally said. "Don't think I haven't thought about that. Don't think I haven't thought about it long and hard, my boy. But from your letters home, I know that you're in a different world in more ways than one. What you think you know could be dangerously wrong. It's not worth the chance."
"But sir--"
"No buts, my boy. You aren't the new Oracle at Londinium. You're Hellsing's Angel of Death. That's quite enough." Walter heard Arthur suck in more smoke and exhale. "Tell me. Can you send me some cigars? You know how difficult it can be getting supplies these days."
Just like that? Walter held his phone away from his head and scowled at it. "Sir, can we talk about cigars after we talk about business?"
"We did talk about business. Now we're discussing cigars."
"Yes, sir." Walter rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'll have some cigars sent to you. Now about other business--"
"Panatelas. Don't forget."
"No, sir. I don't forget. About the other business. I want to go on the Poland mission. Even if Alucard argues. I need to do something useful at home." Walter paused before adding, "Please."
"Why would Alucard argue when you two work together so well? He trusts no one else around his coffin."
"Right. No reason. Just let me know. I'll even make sure I stay up to date with school. You won't be wasting my tuition money." Walter hated feeling as though he was begging, even if he was trying to keep his tone even.
Nazis in the park had made it hard to want to stay here. But he didn't really want to leave, either. A mission home was a compromise he could live with.
"I'll keep that in mind, my boy. I think you and Alucard are the only pair for this job. And speak of the devil, do you want to speak with him?"
"No. I have to go. I have a commitment to meet and I can't be late. You can give him my regards." It was sort of true. If you looked at it sideways. He should check in with Nadia.
"Don't forget those cigars."
"I won't, sir."
"Good lad."
Walter cut the connection and dropped his phone on his bed. Was that really a good idea? Did he really care if it was? At least he'd be doing something.
Walter sat on his bed with Pup on his lap and drew a deep breath while he waited for someone in 1944 London to answer the phone so he could talk to his employer.
"Simons? Walter Dornez calling for Sir Hellsing."
"Walter! My dear boy, it's been too long." Arthur Hellsing sounded as jovial as ever. And thankfully sober. "You're not wasting my money there, are you?"
"No, sir. I've been earning good marks in my classes."
"Excellent. I expect no less of you. To what do I owe this telephone call?"
One made between parties separated by over 3600 miles and six decades? Walter thought he had a good reason for extreme long distance calling. "I want to work, sir. I know things from here that could help the war effort."
"What kinds of things do you think you know that can help? You know you're a valuable weapon. We'll have use for you soon. What else?"
"Sir, there are history books here that tell the story of the War. You know we're in 2006 here. I know what's going to happen. It would be invaluable."
In the pause, Walter could hear the familiar flick of a lighter and then the sound of Arthur exhaling heavily. He could almost smell the cigar smoke. Strange, the things that will make one homesick.
"I know you're in 2006." Arthur finally said. "Don't think I haven't thought about that. Don't think I haven't thought about it long and hard, my boy. But from your letters home, I know that you're in a different world in more ways than one. What you think you know could be dangerously wrong. It's not worth the chance."
"But sir--"
"No buts, my boy. You aren't the new Oracle at Londinium. You're Hellsing's Angel of Death. That's quite enough." Walter heard Arthur suck in more smoke and exhale. "Tell me. Can you send me some cigars? You know how difficult it can be getting supplies these days."
Just like that? Walter held his phone away from his head and scowled at it. "Sir, can we talk about cigars after we talk about business?"
"We did talk about business. Now we're discussing cigars."
"Yes, sir." Walter rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'll have some cigars sent to you. Now about other business--"
"Panatelas. Don't forget."
"No, sir. I don't forget. About the other business. I want to go on the Poland mission. Even if Alucard argues. I need to do something useful at home." Walter paused before adding, "Please."
"Why would Alucard argue when you two work together so well? He trusts no one else around his coffin."
"Right. No reason. Just let me know. I'll even make sure I stay up to date with school. You won't be wasting my tuition money." Walter hated feeling as though he was begging, even if he was trying to keep his tone even.
Nazis in the park had made it hard to want to stay here. But he didn't really want to leave, either. A mission home was a compromise he could live with.
"I'll keep that in mind, my boy. I think you and Alucard are the only pair for this job. And speak of the devil, do you want to speak with him?"
"No. I have to go. I have a commitment to meet and I can't be late. You can give him my regards." It was sort of true. If you looked at it sideways. He should check in with Nadia.
"Don't forget those cigars."
"I won't, sir."
"Good lad."
Walter cut the connection and dropped his phone on his bed. Was that really a good idea? Did he really care if it was? At least he'd be doing something.