Hellsing Michiru Otori/Bond Story

A vampire hunter who swore revenge against vampires after her parents were killed by them. Clumsy by nature, she is nevertheless a skilled tactician. From "Lost Vampire."

Stage Girl Talk

Michiru:

We'll be starting practicing for "Lost Vampire" today. Let's hear some of your goals before everyone gets here.

Mei Fan:

Great idea! Me first— Just kidding, I'll pass it on to Shiori who has the vampire role!

Shiori:

What!?

Michiru:

Haha, you got put on the spot. All right, then let's start with you, Shiori.

Shiori:

Ah, yes! Um...

Shiori:

Vampires used to be scary for me when I was little, but a vampire play changed my view for me.

Shiori:

They were refined and, more than anything, I was moved by the romantic story. Ever since then, they've become a role that I'd want to play one day.

Shiori:

Now that I've been given the role of a vampire, I will instill the fear and awe that I felt as a child. I'll do my best!

Michiru:

Nice, nice. What about you, Mei Fan?

Mei Fan:

Yes, when it comes to vampires, they are the classic of classics in the world of books, movies, and plays – a stage that is most fitting for Edels!

Mei Fan:

I don't play the role of a vampire this time, but with the pride of becoming one who lives in a world where they exist, I will put my utmost effort into the performance!

Michiru:

Seems like both of you have had an interest in vampires since you were little. In which case, I'm sure you've heard the names of the characters already?

Shiori:

Alucard, the vampire, and Hellsing, the vampire hunter. Both are very famous names.

Mei Fan:

Yes. Alucard is a common alias used by vampires. Michiru-san's role as Hellsing has become a synonym for vampire hunters.

Michiru:

That name is used in "Lost Vampire" because of that same image, but I suppose it's rare for Hellsing to be a young girl.

Michiru:

Hellsing's parents were killed by vampires when she was young, which led her to become the personification of revenge who uses any means necessary to hunt them.

Michiru:

Until at last, she finds the oldest remaining vampire, Alucard.

Shiori:

When you hear about it like that, you'd think it'd be a serious story filled with suspense all the way.

Michiru:

Haha♪ You wouldn't think from this synopsis that Hellsing would be a clumsy girl when fighting vampires.

Mei Fan:

I think it's clever. Making the main character a little slow will prevent the story from becoming overly heavy.

Shiori:

The scriptwriter told me it was written this way to maintain a balance between tension and relief.

Mei Fan:

Normally a scene where she panics during a vampire hunt over having left things behind would never appear in your usual revenge story.

Michiru:

I like the mismatch♪

Michiru:

How Hellsing's clumsiness isn't solely used as comedic relief is also nice.

Michiru:

Hellsing herself is well aware of her flaw of making mistakes so she prepares multiple backup plans.

Mei Fan:

People who can turn their flaws into strengths are so admirable.

Mei Fan:

Thanks to that, even the vampire hunting scene puts you on the edge of your seat. I think it's such a good script.

Michiru:

That's why we mustn't rely on our personal feelings and make sure to act it out carefully.

Michiru:

I feel close to Hellsing's clumsy side, but I almost mustn't stray away from her vengeful side.

Shiori:

I plan on playing Alucard while being fully aware of him being a vampire who doesn't suck blood.

Mei Fan:

Because this Alucard is a vampire with a brutal past that is now living life as a peaceful human.

Michiru:

The most important thing is to have a mutual understanding with the directing and scriptwriting groups.

Michiru:

We have to accurately understand the meaning behind the character names, origin of the place names, every single word in our lines, and the title.

Shiori:

The meaning behind the title... "Lost Vampire – They Look Like Us"...

Michiru:

The title is symbolic too.

Mei Fan:

That's right. I was thinking about the meaning of the title after reading the script—

Mei Fan:

The meaning of "Lost Vampire" is similar to that of a lost puppy – a vampire who is astray.

Mei Fan:

I think it's talking about Alucard, who has long stopped sucking blood and is living in a human town...

Mei Fan:

A lost vampire... When you translate it to mean a vampire was lost, it points to the meaning behind the answer that Hellsing reaches at the end of the story...

Mei Fan:

That's what I thought, but was this made misleading on purpose?

Michiru:

Rather than being misleading, isn't it more like a double meaning?

Michiru:

There are many scenes in the play where it's implied that Hellsing and Alucard are similar to each other, so I'd like to properly express those in our performance.

Michiru:

When the audience notices the double meaning, it'll feel nice. That said, if we put too much emphasis on it, they'll get spoiled, so we should be careful about it.

Mei Fan:

I see. Balance is important here too.

Michiru:

It feels like a challenge for Edels♪ Shiori, did you feel anything after seeing the title?

Shiori:

The subtitle, "They Look Like Us", left a deep impression on me.

Shiori:

Humans and vampires are rivals, and yet, both mentally and physically, they take the form of a human.

Shiori:

That's why, whether it be frightening vampires or crime committing humans, it's better to live side-by-side...

Shiori:

That's what I thought the theme of this piece was.

Michiru:

I was also curious and asked the scriptwriter, but it's just like you said.

Michiru:

Our acting will establish the meaning behind the title, "Lost Vampire – They Look Like Us"...

Michiru:

It would be best if we could give such a performance♪

Shiori:

Yes, we definitely won't betray the expectations of the audience members! Their imaginations will definitely run wild after reading the title!

Mei Fan:

Let's make this a performance that will surpass those expectations! That's the duty of an "Edel"!

Michiru:

Both of you are raring to go. Let's keep that image in mind and do our best in today's practice!

Unchanging and Changing Things

Michiru:

(Hellsing)
"Looks like a trap can be set up in this bush here... All right..."

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"Oh, Hellsing?"

Michiru:

(Hellsing)
"Aahhh!?"

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"What are you doing over here?"

Michiru:

(Hellsing)
"Uh... Um... Right! I was going to lay a trap!"

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"A trap?"

Michiru:

(Hellsing)
"Yes! The water here is clean so the fish is delicious, but there aren't many chicken dishes so I figured I'd catch my own..."

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"Oh, well, you should've told me."

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"Tell me when you've successfully caught one. I'll make a chicken dish that you can only eat here."

Michiru:

(Hellsing)
"R-Really!? I'm so happy!"

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"I look forward to it too. See you later..."

Michiru:

(Hellsing)
"......"

Michiru:

(Hellsing)
"She saw me... I can't set a trap here anymore..."

Michiru:

It's perfect up to here. Let's try the fighting scene where we reveal our identities.

Shiori:

Oh, in that scene, I turn back into the brutal vampire Alucard of the past. Can I show you my acting for that first?

Michiru:

Of course♪ Shall I give the cues so can you do a solo scene where the peaceful Alucard suddenly changes?

Shiori:

Okay!

Michiru:

Then on the night of the battle, after Hellsing invites Alucard to the Wolf's Tail— And start!

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"Didn't you say the same thing yesterday and then drank so much that you fell into the lake?"

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"You can't even walk straight anymore. The moon isn't out tonight so watch where you're going."

Michiru:

Here, Hellsing stabs Alucard with a wooden stake! And Alucard suddenly changes—!

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"Yes, you'd always known my true identity."

Shiori:

(Alucard)
"And you only got close to me so that―"

Michiru:

All right. Let's stop here.

Shiori:

Um, was something off?

Michiru:

Your acting was really good. Did you use preexisting vampire works as reference for your acting after the change?

Shiori:

Um, yes... Since she's a terrifying vampire, I used vampire movies I found scary as reference.

Michiru:

The peaceful Alucard before the change too?

Shiori:

I used vampires that gave off a noble air instead of frightening ones as reference for that.

Michiru:

Come to think about it, you did talk about this with the scriptwriter.

Shiori:

Yes, you taught me the importance of communication.

Michiru:

Yes, that attitude is great, but you might do better to do improvised acting here.

Michiru:

The atmosphere before and after the change is like that of completely different vampires so it doesn't feel like you're playing the same character.

Shiori:

Oh...

Michiru:

This scene asks for a sudden change so it's not a bad thing to be aware of the differences.

Michiru:

But because of that, the character's consistency fades. Do you understand?

Shiori:

Yes... You're right. Now that you've told me, I think so too.

Shiori:

I have to hold onto the similarities between before and after the change and keep it consistent.

Michiru:

Now that I think about it, you've never had a role with two faces, have you?

Shiori:

N-no! Can I ask for your advice?

Michiru:

Sure. If I were in your shoes... I might look at the people around me for hints.

Shiori:

People around me?

Michiru:

Yes, take Akira for example. Oh, I don't mean to go and ask them what to do, okay?

Shiori:

Um... Do you mean to use people like Yukishiro-senpai as reference?

Michiru:

Yeah. Akira is usually uptight and dignified but—

Michiru:

When she's speaking as "Frau Platin", she gives off an even stricter air.

Michiru:

But how about Akira when she's eating spicy food?

Shiori:

Um... Oh!

Shiori:

She's still confident and dignified, but it kind of makes you feel a bit closer to her.

Shiori:

It catches you off guard that she has such a side to her too.

Michiru:

That's right. What's important to being able to portray both sides of Alucard might just be the "unchanging things" about her.

Shiori:

Being aware of the unchanging things in my portrayal is what makes it a sudden change and not a transformation.

Michiru:

This is just my way of thinking. It's because there are similarities that it becomes another side of that person.

Shiori:

Come to think of it, I also went to Yukishiro-senpai for acting advice the other time and she was dignified, but also kind and thoughtful.

Shiori:

This is also an unchanging thing and that person's other side.

Michiru:

I think so♪ I think people are like dice and have many different faces. Use it as reference if it helps.

Shiori:

Okay!

Michiru:

Let's take a break and then try it again. We should strike while the iron is hot.

Shiori:

Yes! I'll go get some water first!

Michiru:

(Heh heh. So she was dignified but kind and thoughtful. Recently, Akira has been doing well even without me by her side.)

Michiru:

We'll make this play resonate in people's hearts and become unforgettable. Just like a wooden stake stuck inside a vampire's heart♪

Michiru:

I asked the scriptwriter about Hellsing's background story. She cut ties with her friends and siblings to hunt vampires.

Michiru:

This background story is tailored to her revenge, but if it were me, I would never be able to cut ties with my friends.

Michiru:

But if they were taken from me by vampires, I would seek revenge until the red blood of vampires turns blue♪ Just kidding♪