Could have fooled me, with the amount of fucking notes your dad made about the shit they did have.
[ He has, apparently, been reading. His shoulders slump, in the way they so often do when he finds an unforeseen flaw in a plan that he'd thought was solid. ]
[ He's enough of a strategist to know when he's beaten. And this part- this part, at least, is technically for Sypha. He can let Alucard see it without ruining all the rest. He gives a defeated sigh and- ]
It's- [ He makes a few false starts at describing the problem and then sighs in annoyance. ] -it's easier to show you than it is to explain. But you have to close your eyes until we get there.
[ Acceptable. Helium balloons don't exist yet, so Trevor sadly has no frame of reference to make the completely sensible suggestion that Alucard just float and let Trevor pull him around to sidestep the problems of stairs and uneven ground entirely.
And uneven ground is a problem, occasionally in places where it probably wasn't on the rare occasions that Alucard's been in this part of the estate before. Trevor warns him, and they go slowly, and thankfully nobody falls over. And then there's a pause, the sound of something being opened, and Alucard is led forward again, and then it's closed again behind him. ]
Open your eyes.
[ It's. Very bright. It's a small building, made with a wooden frame covered with white cloth that's gone slightly transparent from being treated with linseed oil, and the sunlight filtered though the cloth is- everywhere. There are wooden boxes at each side of the narrow path through the middle of it, about knee high and filled to the top with soil.
And Trevor is sheepish, not meeting Alucard's eyes and rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. ]
[About that Treffy. Mom figured the whole tie a leash to floating son thing out years ago, and it was effective.
But who is Alucard to complain about walking hand in hand with Trevor through the summer's heat, focusing on everything but what isn't seen? There's flowers heavy in the air today, mixed with something slightly damp in the forest. It rained recently, and there must still be puddles that remain and...
...and then Alucard's taken aback by what he's seeing. He has an idea of what it is, or at least what it's meant to do, and why heated floors are so important. A little delighted laugh escapes him first, and it's all Alucard can do to not just rush forward and explore the inside.]
It's perfect.
[He's smiling. One of those real smiles, just sheer happiness. Rarity of rarities.]
But yes, a steam line from the castle to here wouldn't work, not with the Hold as it is and not if we're still entertaining the notion of being able to move it for emergencies. But we can make it work quite easily.
It's- Leon wrote about it. That your father was working on something to keep Sara's people from going hungry, before they were called off to war and it all went to shit. Except he never fucking finished it, so- most of this is a guess.
He had the place heated with alchemy bullshit, so that he could trick plants into thinking it was summer all the time. And I thought that raising the beds off the ground would at least keep them from dying to frost, but I'm not certain now that it's finished, and I can't exactly light a fire in here to keep it warm because it's made of wood and cloth and oil and-
[ This is so fucking awkward, and he's not even looked up to see Alucard's face. He's not good with the 'giving' part of gifts. Or even the 'talking about giving' part of them, in this case. He likes working on this shit, he likes people having the shit he's worked on, and he hates the step in the middle. Because it involves admitting that he cares. And it doesn't help that this is him asking Alucard to fix his own mistakes. ]
-and also fuck, Pliny the Elder has a lot to fucking say about emperors who are far, far too fond of cucumbers.
[ YOUR DAD REFERENCES SO MANY STUPID FUCKING TEXTS IN HIS WORK. HE HAD TO READ SO MUCH TO FIGURE THIS OUT. ]
Pliny the Elder is, indeed, a man who needs to get to the point sometimes.
[ALUCARD IS SO??? PROUD???? OF THIS?????? And just!!! He nudges Trevor gently to try and get him to look up, because he needs to see this face. Alucard knows he does, because he's thinking about this so much and Alucard's actually got a few ideas now and he's grinning even wider.]
All the sun coming in alone is going to do wonders, although when Sypha sees this I'm going to suggest a few flame retardant spells because it's still oil in the middle of the sun. [Safety first!] But we can figure out the heating, I know exactly what books to look for now.
[ He repeats with a put-upon sigh, because it's easier to say stupid shit than to acknowledge that he's doing something that's A Big Deal and that he's put effort and feeling into and then he actually looks at Alucard and. Fuck. Fuck. He's making that face. What is he even meant to do about that face? It's so bright and perfect and really they could just leave Alucard here the problem would be solved and all the plants would grow toward him, that smile is so bright and warm.
And- shit. He just wants to make him keep making that stupid perfect smile. ]
This was the last of it. If you want to see the rest.
[There's a hand in Trevor's before he can protest. To drive the point home, and because he knows that face is the best way to make Trevor keep doing something, he nudges Trevor gently.]
Because you'll have to do this for her. I'm the practice.
There's- not a lot to explain, really. This is the only thing that needs it, and you understood it the second you saw it.
[ Because Alucard's brilliant. Both of them are. He loves them both so much. And in truth this doesn't feel like enough, but it's what he can achieve with what he's good at - work and not being afraid of filth and memorizing the fuck out of every relevant text in one of the smaller sections of Dracula's library (because what use does a vampire have for texts on the best soil conditions for growing certain kinds of fruit? He half-suspects that most of the books in that section were acquired as gifts for his wife). ]
But I'll show you. Come with me.
[ He opens the door of the he-doesn't-know-that-it's-called-a-greenhouse-yet to lead Alucard into the old kitchen gardens of the Belmont house. It's split into two parts, now, with a wall between the parts closest to the old house (where the mass grave is, and the whole thing is alive with wildflowers this time of year) and the part where he's been working.
He's been working a lot.
The plants that were there for Belmont Reasons, the aconite and dogrose and hawthorne and sloe, all of them have been dug up and moved into the great mess of wildflowers. Still there if they're ever needed, but far enough away and controlled enough to not be a danger to the vampire and forming a tight barrier of thorns around the grave. In their place, the garden is- right now it's a lot of dirt, because things take time to grow. Some of them won't be ready for this harvest season (though the spinach is already showing signs of being an overachieving little shit that's going to take over everything if left unchecked, and the strawberries are already starting to bar fruit). But they're there, even if some of them are still only barely visible above the ground. Along the garden side of the wall, close enough to the mess of wildflowers to hopefully attract occupants come next spring, are five bee skeps.
And he's watching Alucard's face so carefully now, watching for any reaction at all. ]
I- don't think bee stings should hurt you. So it seemed like a waste not to have them.
[Alucard's not sure what to expect. In part because the greenhouse is so much that it doesn't feel like there can be even more to add on, but because it's so thought out. It makes so much beautiful sense. Because it's from Trevor, and because he cared enough to do it. Cares even as he still mutters that he doesn't, because that mutter is only habit now. He's cared the whole time, he just expresses it so differently than the other two of them do.
More than that, this is building on the estate. Alucard was certain it would simply become a ruin, or else there would be later Belmonts who may wish to build the home up again. Maybe one day they will, when the castle is out of wings that can be closed off due to the power of memory. Maybe one day they'll leave Wallachia and scatter, or else meet up with those more distant relations Trevor mentioned. The future is gloriously open.
He nods to the graves respectfully as they go past. It is right that all the things to protect Belmonts are growing there now, and the rest is for the living. Alucard can ping onto the familiar plants without wondering, and strawberries are going to get eaten tonight.
The future is also full of bees, which is a brilliant touch that has Alucard's face nearly in pain from how big the grin on his face is.]
An apiary. To ensure the sustainability of everything.
[Alucard pulls Trevor so very close. So Trevor can see his goddamn face.]
[ Alucard's face is filling his entire vision right now and it's terribly overwhelming. He's figured out how to react to warmth, how to react to warmth even when he can't just make a stupid comment to shrug it off. This is too much. This is him being looked at the way he looks at Sypha and Alucard when they're too busy talking about some magic bullshit to see him. Being looked at in that way that it's only really fair to look at people when they can't see you because what the fuck is he supposed to do with a face that bright and lovely and perfect? ]
I needed something to keep me busy. [ What he does in the end is to busy his head in Alucard's shoulder, because he can't fucking talk while looking at that face. It's too much. His heart might just burst. And- it is true what he's saying. Because at least the first week of his recovery wasn't spent working, just on sitting here and processing everything once the adrenaline was gone, and keeping busy was an excellent way to keep him from going too far into his own head. ] You know how I get when I'm not doing anything. It seemed as good a thing to work on as any.
[That weight there is so very lovely. A bit too warm, it is summer after all, but that's not important. What's important is the fact that there's tears threatening to leak out not for sadness for once but sheer and unrestrained joy.]
Best thing.
[Because if Alucard says anymore his voice is going to crack. It probably does as he says another thank you, and he nudges at Trevor again because he needs to see that this is the happiest the vampire's been possibly ever. That's the point, isn't it? The whole thing the first time that Trevor knocked him to the floor for want of happiness instead of instinct for killing vampires was predicated on. Happy for once in his fucking life.]
Well good, because you're making this fucking weird.
[ That was probably meant to come out a little harsher than it actually does, because it comes out sounding so ridiculously adoring that he's not sure the words actually came out of his own mouth. ]
I'm going to blame this shit on you when Sypha sees it, because I'm not dealing with this twice.
[ But he's putting his arms around Alucard, pulling them closer. He's maybe, maybe a little bit proud that he has it in him to make one of the two best people in the world so happy. ]
You both deserve all of this. You both deserve so very much.
MMmmmm, she won't buy it. She's been working with me in the lab most days, and we've both been aware you've been out here.
[There's arms right around Trevor back. They're the same arms that have held Trevor through far too much trauma and recovery lately, and so to have this wonderful, boundless happiness instead is the greatest joy.]
Then I'll just hide in the hold until everyone's done having feelings at me.
[ Oh, he's laughing as he says it, but it's a legitimate threat. This is overwhelming. But it's also wonderful. So, so wonderful. They've been through so much for his sake, it's nice to be able to start repaying that. ]
Impossible. We'll never stop having feelings at you or about you, and you just need to get used to it.
[After so many years, he's still not, and it's a little upsetting some days. But today isn't such a day, and Alucard can only nuzzle the top of Trevor's head. They are here and alive and whole in the beautiful summer sun that actually sets without resetting.]
Well shit. You should have told me that before I got attached. Too fucking late now.
[ He'll always be a little like this. It's hard to grow accustomed to being surrounded with this much love after so long of being deprived of it completely. But he'll try. Maybe. Every now and then. ]
She won't buy that, either. Because I'm not going to tell her about it until the thing's finished. And I saw you looking at the strawberries. You're going to serve them to her, because of course you are, and so she's going to know that you've known a while as soon as she sees the plant.
[Gentle and possessive. Far better than having to weaponize it as the turning demanded of them.]
I am going to clamp down on every urge I have to grab said strawberries, suggest you just stuff them into your mouth right now, and go to the library so I can help you figure this final part out.
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cryptsleeper) wrote2018-11-10 11:26 pm
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[SYPHA STILL BROKE IT.]
But the Romans did not have a magic demon castle, Belmont.
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[ He has, apparently, been reading. His shoulders slump, in the way they so often do when he finds an unforeseen flaw in a plan that he'd thought was solid. ]
Well. Fuck.
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[Alucard smiles. Innocently. Because honestly, he still has no idea what the fuck Trevor's doing.]
I can tell you what part of the library the books are located at and leave you to your own research.
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[ He's enough of a strategist to know when he's beaten. And this part- this part, at least, is technically for Sypha. He can let Alucard see it without ruining all the rest. He gives a defeated sigh and- ]
I need your help.
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[Which means the vampire is extending a hand up because really, Trevor. Florr?]
Then tell me what you need specifically in regards to help. Beyond heated floors.
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[ GOSH! ]
It's- [ He makes a few false starts at describing the problem and then sighs in annoyance. ] -it's easier to show you than it is to explain. But you have to close your eyes until we get there.
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[Alucard will give him that one. He was asking about books to boot! And....
...Trevor Belmont what are you doing out there?]
Very well. But let me get out the castle door and down the steps first before I do that.
[Alucard is so very intrigued though.]
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And uneven ground is a problem, occasionally in places where it probably wasn't on the rare occasions that Alucard's been in this part of the estate before. Trevor warns him, and they go slowly, and thankfully nobody falls over. And then there's a pause, the sound of something being opened, and Alucard is led forward again, and then it's closed again behind him. ]
Open your eyes.
[ It's. Very bright. It's a small building, made with a wooden frame covered with white cloth that's gone slightly transparent from being treated with linseed oil, and the sunlight filtered though the cloth is- everywhere. There are wooden boxes at each side of the narrow path through the middle of it, about knee high and filled to the top with soil.
And Trevor is sheepish, not meeting Alucard's eyes and rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. ]
It's- it's for Sypha.
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But who is Alucard to complain about walking hand in hand with Trevor through the summer's heat, focusing on everything but what isn't seen? There's flowers heavy in the air today, mixed with something slightly damp in the forest. It rained recently, and there must still be puddles that remain and...
...and then Alucard's taken aback by what he's seeing. He has an idea of what it is, or at least what it's meant to do, and why heated floors are so important. A little delighted laugh escapes him first, and it's all Alucard can do to not just rush forward and explore the inside.]
It's perfect.
[He's smiling. One of those real smiles, just sheer happiness. Rarity of rarities.]
But yes, a steam line from the castle to here wouldn't work, not with the Hold as it is and not if we're still entertaining the notion of being able to move it for emergencies. But we can make it work quite easily.
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He had the place heated with alchemy bullshit, so that he could trick plants into thinking it was summer all the time. And I thought that raising the beds off the ground would at least keep them from dying to frost, but I'm not certain now that it's finished, and I can't exactly light a fire in here to keep it warm because it's made of wood and cloth and oil and-
[ This is so fucking awkward, and he's not even looked up to see Alucard's face. He's not good with the 'giving' part of gifts. Or even the 'talking about giving' part of them, in this case. He likes working on this shit, he likes people having the shit he's worked on, and he hates the step in the middle. Because it involves admitting that he cares. And it doesn't help that this is him asking Alucard to fix his own mistakes. ]
-and also fuck, Pliny the Elder has a lot to fucking say about emperors who are far, far too fond of cucumbers.
[ YOUR DAD REFERENCES SO MANY STUPID FUCKING TEXTS IN HIS WORK. HE HAD TO READ SO MUCH TO FIGURE THIS OUT. ]
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[ALUCARD IS SO??? PROUD???? OF THIS?????? And just!!! He nudges Trevor gently to try and get him to look up, because he needs to see this face. Alucard knows he does, because he's thinking about this so much and Alucard's actually got a few ideas now and he's grinning even wider.]
All the sun coming in alone is going to do wonders, although when Sypha sees this I'm going to suggest a few flame retardant spells because it's still oil in the middle of the sun. [Safety first!] But we can figure out the heating, I know exactly what books to look for now.
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[ He repeats with a put-upon sigh, because it's easier to say stupid shit than to acknowledge that he's doing something that's A Big Deal and that he's put effort and feeling into and then he actually looks at Alucard and. Fuck. Fuck. He's making that face. What is he even meant to do about that face? It's so bright and perfect and really they could just leave Alucard here the problem would be solved and all the plants would grow toward him, that smile is so bright and warm.
And- shit. He just wants to make him keep making that stupid perfect smile. ]
This was the last of it. If you want to see the rest.
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[There's a hand in Trevor's before he can protest. To drive the point home, and because he knows that face is the best way to make Trevor keep doing something, he nudges Trevor gently.]
Because you'll have to do this for her. I'm the practice.
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[ Because Alucard's brilliant. Both of them are. He loves them both so much. And in truth this doesn't feel like enough, but it's what he can achieve with what he's good at - work and not being afraid of filth and memorizing the fuck out of every relevant text in one of the smaller sections of Dracula's library (because what use does a vampire have for texts on the best soil conditions for growing certain kinds of fruit? He half-suspects that most of the books in that section were acquired as gifts for his wife). ]
But I'll show you. Come with me.
[ He opens the door of the he-doesn't-know-that-it's-called-a-greenhouse-yet to lead Alucard into the old kitchen gardens of the Belmont house. It's split into two parts, now, with a wall between the parts closest to the old house (where the mass grave is, and the whole thing is alive with wildflowers this time of year) and the part where he's been working.
He's been working a lot.
The plants that were there for Belmont Reasons, the aconite and dogrose and hawthorne and sloe, all of them have been dug up and moved into the great mess of wildflowers. Still there if they're ever needed, but far enough away and controlled enough to not be a danger to the vampire and forming a tight barrier of thorns around the grave. In their place, the garden is- right now it's a lot of dirt, because things take time to grow. Some of them won't be ready for this harvest season (though the spinach is already showing signs of being an overachieving little shit that's going to take over everything if left unchecked, and the strawberries are already starting to bar fruit). But they're there, even if some of them are still only barely visible above the ground. Along the garden side of the wall, close enough to the mess of wildflowers to hopefully attract occupants come next spring, are five bee skeps.
And he's watching Alucard's face so carefully now, watching for any reaction at all. ]
I- don't think bee stings should hurt you. So it seemed like a waste not to have them.
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More than that, this is building on the estate. Alucard was certain it would simply become a ruin, or else there would be later Belmonts who may wish to build the home up again. Maybe one day they will, when the castle is out of wings that can be closed off due to the power of memory. Maybe one day they'll leave Wallachia and scatter, or else meet up with those more distant relations Trevor mentioned. The future is gloriously open.
He nods to the graves respectfully as they go past. It is right that all the things to protect Belmonts are growing there now, and the rest is for the living. Alucard can ping onto the familiar plants without wondering, and strawberries are going to get eaten tonight.
The future is also full of bees, which is a brilliant touch that has Alucard's face nearly in pain from how big the grin on his face is.]
An apiary. To ensure the sustainability of everything.
[Alucard pulls Trevor so very close. So Trevor can see his goddamn face.]
Thank you.
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I needed something to keep me busy. [ What he does in the end is to busy his head in Alucard's shoulder, because he can't fucking talk while looking at that face. It's too much. His heart might just burst. And- it is true what he's saying. Because at least the first week of his recovery wasn't spent working, just on sitting here and processing everything once the adrenaline was gone, and keeping busy was an excellent way to keep him from going too far into his own head. ] You know how I get when I'm not doing anything. It seemed as good a thing to work on as any.
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Best thing.
[Because if Alucard says anymore his voice is going to crack. It probably does as he says another thank you, and he nudges at Trevor again because he needs to see that this is the happiest the vampire's been possibly ever. That's the point, isn't it? The whole thing the first time that Trevor knocked him to the floor for want of happiness instead of instinct for killing vampires was predicated on. Happy for once in his fucking life.]
I don't have any more words, Trevor.
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[ That was probably meant to come out a little harsher than it actually does, because it comes out sounding so ridiculously adoring that he's not sure the words actually came out of his own mouth. ]
It's good to see you smiling, you dramatic fuck.
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[Fuck it, his voice cracks. Finally.]
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[ But he's putting his arms around Alucard, pulling them closer. He's maybe, maybe a little bit proud that he has it in him to make one of the two best people in the world so happy. ]
You both deserve all of this. You both deserve so very much.
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[There's arms right around Trevor back. They're the same arms that have held Trevor through far too much trauma and recovery lately, and so to have this wonderful, boundless happiness instead is the greatest joy.]
And we have you to make it so.
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[ Oh, he's laughing as he says it, but it's a legitimate threat. This is overwhelming. But it's also wonderful. So, so wonderful. They've been through so much for his sake, it's nice to be able to start repaying that. ]
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[After so many years, he's still not, and it's a little upsetting some days. But today isn't such a day, and Alucard can only nuzzle the top of Trevor's head. They are here and alive and whole in the beautiful summer sun that actually sets without resetting.]
I'll have the grace to look surprised though.
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[ He'll always be a little like this. It's hard to grow accustomed to being surrounded with this much love after so long of being deprived of it completely. But he'll try. Maybe. Every now and then. ]
She won't buy that, either. Because I'm not going to tell her about it until the thing's finished. And I saw you looking at the strawberries. You're going to serve them to her, because of course you are, and so she's going to know that you've known a while as soon as she sees the plant.
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[Gentle and possessive. Far better than having to weaponize it as the turning demanded of them.]
I am going to clamp down on every urge I have to grab said strawberries, suggest you just stuff them into your mouth right now, and go to the library so I can help you figure this final part out.
[More importantly:]
Is there a blackberry patch?
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