[To which statement Alucard is confirming the truth is, who is to say. But there's a heavy sigh out of him in the next moment.]
That does confirm my theory though, for whatever good or ill that brings us from here on out. This place is most likely stuck on a single day, and all supplies and the like restock themselves over the course of the evening.
That'd be convenient if we could actually make use of any of this. But-
[ A single, repeating day. ]
Once we've got our bearings and know what we're actually looking for, it might be worth watching for any changes throughout the day.
[ Alucard did make specific mention of most of the medicines being used up. That had been- maybe a little later than mid-afternoon? His memory of yesterday is a little foggy. If any of the bottles are full in the morning and empty in the evening, they can use Mathias' notes on Sara's treatment to figure out what day this is.
But not until they know if that's information relevant to what they're doing here. If not, it's torturing Alucard for no reason. ]
[It is a good thought. Alucard goes still, contemplating. His father's logic, he has to apply it here. It's harder to reach through and determine the meaning at the moment, it's such a version of the man that he has never met.
No.
He knows what this is.
One last day before everything went to shit.
It fit. Dramatic. Important. That tiniest bit of sentimentality that was always something his mother brought out.]
We'll do it once I'm on my feet again properly. Ought to start at midnight, to be thorough, and I'd like at least one night's sleep that isn't under some weird magic shit before I try to stay awake all night.
[ See? He's actually taking into account the fact that he needs to rest! Are you proud, doctor dhamphir? ]
[In any other situation he'd be sobbing from joy.]
We'll bring mattresses in from the servant's quarters that way it's more comfortable than a load of blankets and the floor.
[But now Trevor's mentioned the matter of dreams, and Alucard pauses, unsure of how to proceed here. They...they really ought to talk about it. But Trevor's finally in a decent mood and that means ruining it would be cruel.
So Alucard just shakes his head, a soft noise escaping his throat.]
I think we have to convince Sypha to find a way to build walls between dreams if we need to use those spells.
Oh. Shit. I'm- [ The dream wasn't particularly noteworthy to him so much as the waking up unable to move. But he's used to being inside his own head. Alucard and Sypha aren't. ]
[ It takes him a moment to realise what this is. And when he does he almost laughs. His own stupid game being turned on him again.
He holds on to Alucard's hand for just a little longer. He doesn't have to tell the truth until the contact ends, after all. And then he lets go. ]
The- experimentation is new. Since last summer. [ Because shit if that whole mess didn't leave his subconscious with several thousand fun new toys to play with. ]
[ It's changed over time, of course. It started out as just the compulsion. The demands not to breathe. Familiar events replayed, but with the vampire responsible wearing Alucard's skin instead of his own. Sypha was there, back then, with the speakers, in the roles of the hapless victims. ]
About three and a half since Leontine started showing up.
[ So the first summer after Dracula's defeat, around the time when the two of them had finally managed to convince Alucard that whatever it was they had between them, he was welcome and wanted within it. ]
[That...tracks. And all of this is a horrible way of sorting out any lingering guilt about the thing that the three of them had come to share, because one of them was the son of Dracula.]
I see.
[It's not a conversation. That's the rule. But Alucard's still listening, and he can't tell if this session is over yet.]
This is normal. Before you it was other shit. And it's-
[ -it's not the fire. It's better than the fire. If it weren't for the paralysis and for the sharing, this would have been a comparatively good night. ]
-it's not going to stop. Not without the drink. Just change into something else, once my mind gets bored of this shit.
[What a horrifying playground for dreams both their heads are. One day there will be a dream shared that is not horrors, but for now, for now this knowledge shall have to sit with them both.
A kiss, to Trevor's forehead. This is done. Resolved.]
[ He half considers taking his own turn, and his hands hover over Alucard's after the kiss is done. He decides against it.
You don't open an already bleeding wound further to drain it, and anything he could ask of is too recent. Later. He'll confirm that Alucard doesn't hate him for this later, once it's had time to heal over a little more. Instead he pulls his arms around the vampire, pulling him close with force that he would never dare hold Sypha with, that would be outright crushing if he were anything less than what he is. ]
Neither of you deserve to be inside my head. It's pretty shitty in there. [ It's another apology, if a clumsily worded one. ]
[It's not something Alucard expects. Not the hug and not the pressure of it. Intensity is the better word, because that's what this vulnerability has snapped into now that the moment has passed. He doesn't mind. He squeezes back, letting the little bit of him that took yesterday's comments personally get out of his system for good.
There's also no words for that. Just a mutter of something that can't be understood, and another, tighter squeeze and...]
[ He laughs at that. Because what a thing to worry about, but because there's a note of truth to it. A note of something that maybe both of them are a little too aware of. That this isn't a ghostless place. Leon might be bones in a crypt hundreds of miles away. Dracula might be ashes in a tiny jar a few hundred feet from that crypt. But part of them is still here, trapped in this day four centuries back. Watching and disapproving immensely.
Trevor is used to disapproval. May as well get it out of the way. ]
Hey, Leon's horse, or Dracula's horse, or whoever's horse you are. I'm fucking this vampire.
[The bark of laughter that escapes Alucard's throat surprises even him. Leave it to Trevor to just...just dash every lurking fear in a way that's so crude but feels so terribly right for the moment.
And kissing him is terribly right too. No gentleness, just fierce love because if they're going to be rude and make a point, then they really ought to go all in.]
[ He can worry about this shit in his dreams. In the waking world he's not considered the approval of anyone outside of the three of them to be terribly important in a long, long time. The fuck is approval worth, next to love?
He should probably be pushing Alucard to be slightly more delicate about this. Concussion and all. But the idea of getting kissed into unconsciousness is fucking hilarious even if it's unlikely to actually happen and he pushes back into the kiss as if he's turning it into a contest, scraping teeth against fangs and making it as clear as possible just how little power anyone's disapproval has over him. ]
[Delicate will come back into consideration when the kiss is broken, coupled with an embarrassed vampire who just realized he overdid his reaction. (It's like the first time they tried to sleep together, and there was Trevor's broken wrist to show for it.) In the moment though there's only the two of them and the reminder I love you.
The only thing Alucard's careful about is fangs. Because that's always a problem, not just after an evening of the word being used as an effective insult.]
He breaks the kiss eventually, sooner than he otherwise might, because right now his head spinning like this is probably something he ought to be avoiding. Instead, he presses his forehead against Alucard's. ]
Shit, I'm going to be covered in hay too now, aren't I?
Please. We've not been out here for that long. I've never been that quick.
[ Is he going to be a completely embarrassing human being for as long as possible to chase off the lingering concern of this being wrong? Hell yes he is. ]
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[ He looks over the hay, remembering Alucard's request. ]
Looks about the same as yesterday, for what my recollection of yesterday is worth.
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[To which statement Alucard is confirming the truth is, who is to say. But there's a heavy sigh out of him in the next moment.]
That does confirm my theory though, for whatever good or ill that brings us from here on out. This place is most likely stuck on a single day, and all supplies and the like restock themselves over the course of the evening.
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[ A single, repeating day. ]
Once we've got our bearings and know what we're actually looking for, it might be worth watching for any changes throughout the day.
[ Alucard did make specific mention of most of the medicines being used up. That had been- maybe a little later than mid-afternoon? His memory of yesterday is a little foggy. If any of the bottles are full in the morning and empty in the evening, they can use Mathias' notes on Sara's treatment to figure out what day this is.
But not until they know if that's information relevant to what they're doing here. If not, it's torturing Alucard for no reason. ]
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[It is a good thought. Alucard goes still, contemplating. His father's logic, he has to apply it here. It's harder to reach through and determine the meaning at the moment, it's such a version of the man that he has never met.
No.
He knows what this is.
One last day before everything went to shit.
It fit. Dramatic. Important. That tiniest bit of sentimentality that was always something his mother brought out.]
That's worth doing. Good idea.
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[ See? He's actually taking into account the fact that he needs to rest! Are you proud, doctor dhamphir? ]
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We'll bring mattresses in from the servant's quarters that way it's more comfortable than a load of blankets and the floor.
[But now Trevor's mentioned the matter of dreams, and Alucard pauses, unsure of how to proceed here. They...they really ought to talk about it. But Trevor's finally in a decent mood and that means ruining it would be cruel.
So Alucard just shakes his head, a soft noise escaping his throat.]
I think we have to convince Sypha to find a way to build walls between dreams if we need to use those spells.
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[ Oh. ]
Oh. Shit. I'm- [ The dream wasn't particularly noteworthy to him so much as the waking up unable to move. But he's used to being inside his own head. Alucard and Sypha aren't. ]
Shit. I'm sorry.
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[That's Trevor's get out of jail free card. Take it, you stupid possum of a man.]
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[ That's. Probably the least convincing Trevor's ever sounded. And he's sounded pretty not convincing in his life. It's worse than I don't care. ]
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They're going to have to do this, aren't they?
Alucard walks over, aware that he is goddamn covered in hay and will not live this down for some time, and puts his hand in Trevor's.
Same game. New venue.]
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He holds on to Alucard's hand for just a little longer. He doesn't have to tell the truth until the contact ends, after all. And then he lets go. ]
The- experimentation is new. Since last summer. [ Because shit if that whole mess didn't leave his subconscious with several thousand fun new toys to play with. ]
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[Carmilla is still the worst. On this, they can all agree.]
The rest is four years old at least then?
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[ It's changed over time, of course. It started out as just the compulsion. The demands not to breathe. Familiar events replayed, but with the vampire responsible wearing Alucard's skin instead of his own. Sypha was there, back then, with the speakers, in the roles of the hapless victims. ]
About three and a half since Leontine started showing up.
[ So the first summer after Dracula's defeat, around the time when the two of them had finally managed to convince Alucard that whatever it was they had between them, he was welcome and wanted within it. ]
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I see.
[It's not a conversation. That's the rule. But Alucard's still listening, and he can't tell if this session is over yet.]
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[ -it's not the fire. It's better than the fire. If it weren't for the paralysis and for the sharing, this would have been a comparatively good night. ]
-it's not going to stop. Not without the drink. Just change into something else, once my mind gets bored of this shit.
Is that all you needed to know?
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[What a horrifying playground for dreams both their heads are. One day there will be a dream shared that is not horrors, but for now, for now this knowledge shall have to sit with them both.
A kiss, to Trevor's forehead. This is done. Resolved.]
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You don't open an already bleeding wound further to drain it, and anything he could ask of is too recent. Later. He'll confirm that Alucard doesn't hate him for this later, once it's had time to heal over a little more. Instead he pulls his arms around the vampire, pulling him close with force that he would never dare hold Sypha with, that would be outright crushing if he were anything less than what he is. ]
Neither of you deserve to be inside my head. It's pretty shitty in there. [ It's another apology, if a clumsily worded one. ]
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There's also no words for that. Just a mutter of something that can't be understood, and another, tighter squeeze and...]
...I think the horses are watching.
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Trevor is used to disapproval. May as well get it out of the way. ]
Hey, Leon's horse, or Dracula's horse, or whoever's horse you are. I'm fucking this vampire.
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And kissing him is terribly right too. No gentleness, just fierce love because if they're going to be rude and make a point, then they really ought to go all in.]
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He should probably be pushing Alucard to be slightly more delicate about this. Concussion and all. But the idea of getting kissed into unconsciousness is fucking hilarious even if it's unlikely to actually happen and he pushes back into the kiss as if he's turning it into a contest, scraping teeth against fangs and making it as clear as possible just how little power anyone's disapproval has over him. ]
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The only thing Alucard's careful about is fangs. Because that's always a problem, not just after an evening of the word being used as an effective insult.]
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He breaks the kiss eventually, sooner than he otherwise might, because right now his head spinning like this is probably something he ought to be avoiding. Instead, he presses his forehead against Alucard's. ]
Shit, I'm going to be covered in hay too now, aren't I?
[ Yup. ]
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He laughs at that too, not moving from this perfect spot.]
Sypha's going to yell at us both for the best assumption.
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[ Is he going to be a completely embarrassing human being for as long as possible to chase off the lingering concern of this being wrong? Hell yes he is. ]
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