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[We're still alive, aren't we? Trevor grumps, but opts to make himself useful by picking up Sypha and carrying her out of the way of Alucard's kitchen wizardry. It prompts a hint of a squeal out of her, but soon enough Trevor's dropped himself into a chair and dragged Sypha into his lap with him, which means she's back to getting her recommended morning's dose of cuddling while they set up to play audience for the show.]
It still doesn't seem very fair, though, that you have to cook your own surprise breakfast.
It still doesn't seem very fair, though, that you have to cook your own surprise breakfast.
Between the dream and this, I think I'm good on surprises for at least two months.
[There's warmth in his voice at that, and it's impossible to stop the smile that crosses Alucard's face when he sees the exact position the two have settled into. It's enough of a sight that he'd prefer to admire it for a minue or two, but food and they're probably hungrier than he is. So Alucard's eyes linger for just a moment, before he goes and gets half a dozen eggs (two each) begins cooking in earnest.]
Comfy enough?
[There's warmth in his voice at that, and it's impossible to stop the smile that crosses Alucard's face when he sees the exact position the two have settled into. It's enough of a sight that he'd prefer to admire it for a minue or two, but food and they're probably hungrier than he is. So Alucard's eyes linger for just a moment, before he goes and gets half a dozen eggs (two each) begins cooking in earnest.]
Comfy enough?
Once Treffy gets his elbow out of my side —
[Which, of course, really just prompts him to dig it further into her side, even as she squirms and he play-wrestles her until they're some semblance of comfortably settled again.]
And just how long is "a bit" before you explain this dream of yours, exactly? You can't keep mentioning it but then keeping us in suspense!
[Which, of course, really just prompts him to dig it further into her side, even as she squirms and he play-wrestles her until they're some semblance of comfortably settled again.]
And just how long is "a bit" before you explain this dream of yours, exactly? You can't keep mentioning it but then keeping us in suspense!
[Alucard doesn't have to turn around to know what's going on. He has witnessed the War of the Elbows many times (he has defended his own honor in quite a few), and there's a regular pattern to it all.
He has the eggs in the pan and is working on them by the time the war's over. While he works, he begins to explain.]
Well, I wasn't very well going to talk over you two while you were doing that, now was I?
[The eggs are done. He takes them off the stove, the rest of the cooking done by the pan's remaining heat, and then he goes for the bread box. Good, crusty rye for toast. A bread knife lives in that box, so he takes that out too.]
I had an actual, lucid conversation with my mother. Not just a replay of memories.
He has the eggs in the pan and is working on them by the time the war's over. While he works, he begins to explain.]
Well, I wasn't very well going to talk over you two while you were doing that, now was I?
[The eggs are done. He takes them off the stove, the rest of the cooking done by the pan's remaining heat, and then he goes for the bread box. Good, crusty rye for toast. A bread knife lives in that box, so he takes that out too.]
I had an actual, lucid conversation with my mother. Not just a replay of memories.
[Well, that shuts the two of them up fast. Especially because Alucard really isn't one to be given to whimsical fantasies when it comes to something like this, which means the natural logical conclusion is that he's not describing a fantasy at all, but a reality.
And that's...well, that's just...]
In...in your dreams?
[She glances at Trevor, who looks just as perplexed and at a loss as she feels herself.]
How did...that come to pass...?
And that's...well, that's just...]
In...in your dreams?
[She glances at Trevor, who looks just as perplexed and at a loss as she feels herself.]
How did...that come to pass...?
We did spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out the mechanics.
[Nerds. He comes from a line of nerds. Sure, one was a vampire king for centuries, but still a goddamn nerd.]
I'm sleeping in between the two of you again this evening. To test at least one theory.
[The bread, once sliced, gets stuck onto a long skewer. Alucard then walks over to the fire box for the stove, opens it, and sticks the stake-o-bread in for just a few quick moments.
The toast gets pulled out seconds later, and maybe the most remarkable part of all of this is the total lack of grief around Alucard as he's discussing this. A thawing well. Slow and sure.]
[Nerds. He comes from a line of nerds. Sure, one was a vampire king for centuries, but still a goddamn nerd.]
I'm sleeping in between the two of you again this evening. To test at least one theory.
[The bread, once sliced, gets stuck onto a long skewer. Alucard then walks over to the fire box for the stove, opens it, and sticks the stake-o-bread in for just a few quick moments.
The toast gets pulled out seconds later, and maybe the most remarkable part of all of this is the total lack of grief around Alucard as he's discussing this. A thawing well. Slow and sure.]
That would lend itself to some very interesting magical questions, if the simple act of sleeping between Trevor and I is what caused something like that...
[Hypothesis: can she and Trevor summon back the dead by creating some sort of weird magical resonance that acts on whatever is dropped in-between them. WILD.]
...Alucard, you're...sure it was her? From the way she spoke, and the things she said to you...?
[Hypothesis: can she and Trevor summon back the dead by creating some sort of weird magical resonance that acts on whatever is dropped in-between them. WILD.]
...Alucard, you're...sure it was her? From the way she spoke, and the things she said to you...?
No, I think that there was much more to it than that, but it might have well been a factor and--
[Sypha, he's going to turn around, and point an entire stake of bread at you for doubt.]
Believe me, certain things said would be beyond myself to create. Such as notes on how to repair the castle.
[Sypha, he's going to turn around, and point an entire stake of bread at you for doubt.]
Believe me, certain things said would be beyond myself to create. Such as notes on how to repair the castle.
[Don't you threaten her with pain*, Alucard!!]
Notes for repairing the castle! That's...very specific! But it would also be immensely helpful, considering how broken it happens to be, at the moment...
[Because you broke it, Trevor reminds her, helpfully.]
Notes for repairing the castle! That's...very specific! But it would also be immensely helpful, considering how broken it happens to be, at the moment...
[Because you broke it, Trevor reminds her, helpfully.]
[Alucard can only nod in agreement with a reminder of whose fault it is, but he at least has the good sense to turn around and remove the toast and get it all on plates. Eggs too.]
We can focus on that part later. The point is, the dream was much realer than it ought to have been, and I put stock in it.
[And clearly, he is happier for it.]
We can focus on that part later. The point is, the dream was much realer than it ought to have been, and I put stock in it.
[And clearly, he is happier for it.]
[And that's what kept you in bed until halfway to noon, Trevor sums up, because Trevor has priorities. Trevor also has a mighty hunger, just as Sypha does, and as food starts coming off of the stove and onto serving plates, their attention abruptly piques and hones in on the dishes in Alucard's hands.]
Well. Even if it is, it's good to see you so happy. You don't look even the slightest bit gloomy!
[She doesn't mean to imply the for once that's suggested on the end of that, but it's probably there anyway.]
Well. Even if it is, it's good to see you so happy. You don't look even the slightest bit gloomy!
[She doesn't mean to imply the for once that's suggested on the end of that, but it's probably there anyway.]
[Trevor is rewarded with a stink eye for the comment, but the food gets put down on the table all the same. The other two will have to untangle themselves to actually come and eat, so Alucard sits himself in the chair that will let him see that particular process unfold.
...but really, Sypha. He heard that implied for once. He's not going to call her for it though. Better approach: distract.]
Do your people have anything in your histories about distinguishing true dreams from the more mundane ones?
...but really, Sypha. He heard that implied for once. He's not going to call her for it though. Better approach: distract.]
Do your people have anything in your histories about distinguishing true dreams from the more mundane ones?
[What follows is the very definition of a tragedy: the food is out of reach, but to get it, Sypha would have to abandon her comfortable cuddle huddle. Thus no matter what she does, she is deprived and that's terrible.
Trevor, on the other hand, knows what he's about, and what he's about right now is breakfast. So Sypha ends up lifted and carried over to the table, where she can be comfortably deposited in a chair of her own before Trevor claims one within reach of the breakfast plates.]
Mm...that depends. Do you mean distinguishing them while you are having them, or after the fact, once you've woken up?
Trevor, on the other hand, knows what he's about, and what he's about right now is breakfast. So Sypha ends up lifted and carried over to the table, where she can be comfortably deposited in a chair of her own before Trevor claims one within reach of the breakfast plates.]
Mm...that depends. Do you mean distinguishing them while you are having them, or after the fact, once you've woken up?
For the sake of curiosity, either.
[It's ridiculous how Sypha just refuses to accept that food means the end of cuddle o'clock. He'd point out that if the two stayed in bed this problem wouldn't exist, but they made their (very sweet) choices.
Alucard does nudge his foot against hers though. Since she's now terribly free from being cuddled.]
[It's ridiculous how Sypha just refuses to accept that food means the end of cuddle o'clock. He'd point out that if the two stayed in bed this problem wouldn't exist, but they made their (very sweet) choices.
Alucard does nudge his foot against hers though. Since she's now terribly free from being cuddled.]
Well, of course the most obvious difference is that a real dream has to include a message. Every culture distinguishes prophetic dreams as something separate, and for good reason, because that sort of dream comes from the outside, while the others only come from within.
[She hums softly, nudging his foot right back; she's still a little miffed about the lack of cuddles, but having a project to think about is certainly helping somewhat with distracting her from it.]
Another strong signal is being able to recognize that a part of the dream does not make sense. If it is a dream entirely of your own creation, then it will always seem to make sense, even where it is nonsensical. To be able to recognize that something is wrong is a hallmark of something else causing it.
[She hums softly, nudging his foot right back; she's still a little miffed about the lack of cuddles, but having a project to think about is certainly helping somewhat with distracting her from it.]
Another strong signal is being able to recognize that a part of the dream does not make sense. If it is a dream entirely of your own creation, then it will always seem to make sense, even where it is nonsensical. To be able to recognize that something is wrong is a hallmark of something else causing it.
[There will be more cuddles later. Promise. Cross his heart even. For now, there will just have to be this. And listening very carefully while spreading half of the eggs on the toast to just eat everything in one fell swoop.]
Well, the message point will be tested shortly, although I doubt that was the point of the whole thing.
[If anything, that felt like an after thought. But Sypha keeps talking, and he nods along.]
I see. How obvious will that hallmark be?
Well, the message point will be tested shortly, although I doubt that was the point of the whole thing.
[If anything, that felt like an after thought. But Sypha keeps talking, and he nods along.]
I see. How obvious will that hallmark be?
It could be small. But it would be the sort of thing that the dreamer could not ignore, once he'd observed it. It could be something as simple as...hmm. As simple as, "these walls are blue, but I know they're supposed to be red"! Even something like that, so long as it's wrong, could be enough. What makes the difference is what happens after you notice it.
[She shrugs a little, finally relenting enough to reach for her own breakfast.]
If the wrongness fades away, or you start to ignore it, then it isn't a real dream. If it wakes you up, it isn't a real dream. But if the dream persists despite the wrongness, then it's much more likely to be true.
[She shrugs a little, finally relenting enough to reach for her own breakfast.]
If the wrongness fades away, or you start to ignore it, then it isn't a real dream. If it wakes you up, it isn't a real dream. But if the dream persists despite the wrongness, then it's much more likely to be true.
Interesting.
[But none of it quite jives, does it? Aside from his mother being there at all and the interaction being far more real. Perhaps this is just something that won't match up with centuries of lore behind it. Just a dhampir's gut instinct and nothing else.
It's something to chew on, literally in this case.]
And the rarity of it all goes without saying.
[But none of it quite jives, does it? Aside from his mother being there at all and the interaction being far more real. Perhaps this is just something that won't match up with centuries of lore behind it. Just a dhampir's gut instinct and nothing else.
It's something to chew on, literally in this case.]
And the rarity of it all goes without saying.
Yes. Of course, dreams like that are very uncommon.
[She takes a bite of her toast, humming softly.]
Was there something wrong with your dream? Something about it that wasn't as it should have been?
[She takes a bite of her toast, humming softly.]
Was there something wrong with your dream? Something about it that wasn't as it should have been?
Beyond happening at all? No.
[He's halfway through the egg-on-toast already. And Trevor's probably checked out because this has hit exacting theories or, more accurately, "nerd time."]
[He's halfway through the egg-on-toast already. And Trevor's probably checked out because this has hit exacting theories or, more accurately, "nerd time."]
Strange...
[These boys and their inhaling their food.]
So you saw your mother, and that was all. Where did you see her...?
[These boys and their inhaling their food.]
So you saw your mother, and that was all. Where did you see her...?
[They're hungry, Sypha! Let them be!!!]
The study. Which...is not terribly unusual, in truth.
[He just doesn't go there when the other two are home. He also keeps the door closed when he isn't in there, naturally.]
The study. Which...is not terribly unusual, in truth.
[He just doesn't go there when the other two are home. He also keeps the door closed when he isn't in there, naturally.]
So, in a place where you would have expected her to be.
[Hmmm. She ponders a little more, poking at her eggs and toast not because she's playing with her food instead of eating it, but because there's something about the nudging that's helping her to think.]
...Most cultures would seem to agree that spirits will more easily be drawn back to places they were comfortable with in their lives. Things they had attachments to, as though they had created a sort of magnetism between themselves and those things in life. Like having a tether, and a lighthouse. Something to guide the way to the correct place, and something to help hold there once they arrive.
[She hums.]
You know how you feel about the study. How did your mother feel about it?
[Hmmm. She ponders a little more, poking at her eggs and toast not because she's playing with her food instead of eating it, but because there's something about the nudging that's helping her to think.]
...Most cultures would seem to agree that spirits will more easily be drawn back to places they were comfortable with in their lives. Things they had attachments to, as though they had created a sort of magnetism between themselves and those things in life. Like having a tether, and a lighthouse. Something to guide the way to the correct place, and something to help hold there once they arrive.
[She hums.]
You know how you feel about the study. How did your mother feel about it?
[Yeah, well, as Sypha totally doesn't play with her food, Alucard eats the last bit of what's on his own plate, and he moves it aside. Forearms on the table, leaning forward just a little bit more. At this point he'd debate getting up to make seconds (not unusual), but this conversation is more important.]
Usually it was the natural starting point for looking for where my father had gotten to. Then the library. Then the lab. Then the rest was just waiting for him to find her instead.
Ah. [So, that's one logical part of this explained.]
Usually it was the natural starting point for looking for where my father had gotten to. Then the library. Then the lab. Then the rest was just waiting for him to find her instead.
Ah. [So, that's one logical part of this explained.]
So, not just a place familiar to her, but a place where she was used to finding someone she wanted to see.
[Things add up, indeed.]
Were you already there when it began? Or was she there first, and you found her?
[Things add up, indeed.]
Were you already there when it began? Or was she there first, and you found her?
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