The flight had been a long one. Airport security was a real pain lately, and customs was not much fun either. Still, Walter had arrived in mostly one piece to Gotham City. Looking around the crowded airport he finally noticed a dark haired man in a brown suit with a lopsided grin waving to him and holding a sign reading "Welcome Walter!". The man took Walter's hand in an enthusiatic and sturdy handshake when he approached. "You're just like Alfred described. I'm Bruce Wayne and from what I gather you'll be taking over for my butler for the next two weeks or so." The man calling himself Bruce took one of Walter's bags and led him toward the exit to ground transportation. There was a Rolls Royce parked directly outside and the driver tipped his hat to Mr. Wayne and opened the back of the car for the two men. "You have some pretty big shoes to fill, Mr. Dolnez. Alfred has been indispensible to me for years now"
Walter climbed into the back of the car, followed by his temporary employer. The man seemed quite jovial, if a little ditzy on first impression. Honestly, he'd expected something completely different given the few things Alfred had mentioned to him. "Thank you, sir. I shall do my utmost to handle things in his absence." It was once the car door had closed and directions to return the pair to Wayne manner had been given to the driver and the privacy partition had been raised that the change came. The foolishly pleasant demenour had dropped off of Bruce Wayne like shrugging off a coat. The warm brown eyes became hard and seious, and the chisled features of his face set like a stone carving. If Walter had been anyone else, the change would have been intimidating.
"I don't know what Alfred told you, but this isn't going to be as simple as making breakfast and dusting the library. I need to know that you can keep secrets and never, ever breathe them to another soul, or I'll stick you right back on a plane home and the entire exchange will be off." The younger man stared at Walter with an intensity that he was sure only Sir Integra could truly rival in a mere mortal.
"I can assure you, sir, that if you knew half of the secrets I keep for my own master you wouldn't bother to ask me such stupid questions." Walter returned the stare with a look of utmost sincerity. "You can trust me"
Bruce smiled. He knew more than Walter would probably be comfortable with about Hellsing, thnks to Oracle. His silence now on the particulars of the secrets he kept was promising. "I hope, for your sake, that you're right." The rest of the ride to stately Wayne manner was drenched in silence and the two men wondering just what they'd gotten themselves into with this agreement.
Alfred had had a slightly simpler time of things. Customs had been the usual pain, but it was greatly helped by the fact that Master Bruce had been kind enough to let him use one of the private jets in the Wayne Enterprises fleet of transportation, rather than making him book a commercial flight. He was greeted on the tarmak by a black car with tinted windows and state flags. A younger man who appeared to be some kind of soldier greeted him, checked every piece of identifying documentation he had on him, then told him to get in the car so that he could be driven to Hellsing.
The countryside was lush and gently rolling. Alfred had missed England. He hadn't been back in years, occupied as he was with Master Bruce. The estate he was to serve for the next two weeks was just outside of London, in the countryside. An old castle that had probably been in the family for centuries. Security at the gate was impressive. Clearly this Sir Hellsing must be important to warrant so many extreme measures.
Just inside the door of the manner his "welcoming commity" was waiting. And a most interesting group it was. In the fore was a formidable looking platinum blonde woman, clad in an olive green men's suit and chewing on a cigar. She had that no nonsense look about her that gave Alfred the impression that she could stand toe to toe with just about anyone she liked and beat them into submission without ever raising a fist. Behind her and to the right was a young woman in an entirely too short khaki coloured uniform with brilliant blue eyes and a genuinely warm, welcoming smile. And next to her, the most unusual of the bunch. A tall man with a manic grin to rival the Joker's who had a mass of jet black hair falling in a mussed and unkempt mass about his head. He was wearing a bright red trench along with a large tie and hat of the same colour. A very old fashioned grey suit could be seen benieth. But the most disturbing thing was the eyes of the very same colour that stared back at Alfred. Not that red eyes were that disturbing in and of themselves. Lord knew the man had seen his share of humanoids with them and counted several of them among friends or at least allies. It was the expression the eyes held. Somewhere between stark raving lunacy, and a keen careful strategic mind that could no doubt rival even Batman.
The woman in the fore spoke, dragging Alfred's attention away from the disturbing man behind her. "Welcome to Hellsing. I don't know what you're used to, but this assignment is going to be the most unusual you've probably ever dealt with. We are a vampire hunting organization in the employ of Her Majesty, the Queen. If any of our activities are leaked to the general populace the results could be...most unpleasant. Do I make myself clear"
"I'm sure I understand the need for discretion when it comes to sensitive matters, Madame"
"Good. I'm personally against this swap. It's only because I trust Walter's judgement implicitly that I have allowed this to take place." She took a puff of her cigar and regarded her replacement butler cooly for a moment. "Don't make me regret allowing him to talk me into this"
"I may look old and feeble, but my mind is as keen and as sharp as ever. And," Alfred smiled "If you knew ANYTHING about my usual employer, you wouldn't talk to me about unusual"
Integra gave him an appraising look. She must have decided he'd do, for at length she nodded to him. "Just don't do anything monumentally stupid or I WILL let Alucard have you for a snack." If it were possible the man behind her's grin widened to even more disturbing proportions. She walked away, the man in red following her like a dog and Alfred was left with the younger woman with the cheerful smile.
"Please don't let Sir Integra scare you. She's just like that. My name's Seras Victoria and I guess I should properly welcome you to Hellsing Mr. Pennyworth. I can show you where you'll be staying if you like!" Her voice was as cheerful as her smile, which Alfred had just noticed contained rather sharp elongated canines. This would definately be an interesting two weeks!