In short, a response too extreme in either direction would work against us. To not respond adequately enough would suggest that we cannot defend our own territory. But a disproportionate answer would make it seem as though we are scared, or perhaps hiding a greater weakness behind a show of strength.
[She reaches across the table, palm-up, looking for his hand.]
The eternal balance. And smokescreen, for that matter.
[That hand doesn't find Sypha's. He's focused on getting the rest of his pancakes in him before the idea of eating churns Alucard's stomach too much. They are very good pancakes, although he'd prefer if there were blackberries at the market right now. Much tastier to have them in the batter.
The eternal thought is also there, weighing in Alucard's mind. No one would be stupid enough to attempt this if Dracula was still present in the city.]
Doubtlessly Belmont records can be crosschecked for age in order to produce an actual list. Although I expect certain friends of his would be better up to date.
[After a minute, when he doesn't reach for her, she subtly turns her hand over and curls the fingers in, surreptitious and nonchalant. It's a little awkward to leave it there, near him, but worse still to have to pull it back, so she focuses instead on eating her pancakes one-handed as well.]
What a shame we sinned all through Sunday, instead of allowing him to go to church.
[Because she sounds so penitent about that, oh, yes.]
Well, perhaps they will forgive him a belated visit. Should we all go, or just drop him off while you and I go back to the forest?
[Under the table, there's a very, very soft nudge from Alucard. He saw the hand he just. Everything's tiresome already. He'll take her hand later. In the sunshine.]
Oh, I imagine that they'll forgive him. If he misses things, then it's a whole heavenly host of speculation for them, and I imagine that counts as a blessing.
[They're a little too on the nose, those Church Ladies.]
We need him for the work. Also, I think knitting is at 3 today, and I expect to be done by then.
[She doesn't take her hand back, still, but the nudge is at least reassuring. She'll move the next opportunity she can get to do it casually; for the time being, the pancakes are soft enough and sufficiently saturated in syrup to break them apart one-handed with the edge of the fork.]
Then it seems as though we have a plan. And all that remains is to get some breakfast into Trevor, so that we are all ready to go at once.
[There's the tell-tale sign of a thudding noise coming from the general direction of the stairs. Alucard hums in approval, and by the time Trevor's actually down and in the kitchen, Alucard has made sure that the cover on Trevor's plate is removed, there's two very, very strong cups of coffee at Trevor's place, and they're all about as content as they're going to be today.]
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[She reaches across the table, palm-up, looking for his hand.]
Neither defensive nor aggressive, but assertive.
no subject
[That hand doesn't find Sypha's. He's focused on getting the rest of his pancakes in him before the idea of eating churns Alucard's stomach too much. They are very good pancakes, although he'd prefer if there were blackberries at the market right now. Much tastier to have them in the batter.
The eternal thought is also there, weighing in Alucard's mind. No one would be stupid enough to attempt this if Dracula was still present in the city.]
Doubtlessly Belmont records can be crosschecked for age in order to produce an actual list. Although I expect certain friends of his would be better up to date.
[He loves the Church Ladies.]
no subject
What a shame we sinned all through Sunday, instead of allowing him to go to church.
[Because she sounds so penitent about that, oh, yes.]
Well, perhaps they will forgive him a belated visit. Should we all go, or just drop him off while you and I go back to the forest?
no subject
Oh, I imagine that they'll forgive him. If he misses things, then it's a whole heavenly host of speculation for them, and I imagine that counts as a blessing.
[They're a little too on the nose, those Church Ladies.]
We need him for the work. Also, I think knitting is at 3 today, and I expect to be done by then.
no subject
[She doesn't take her hand back, still, but the nudge is at least reassuring. She'll move the next opportunity she can get to do it casually; for the time being, the pancakes are soft enough and sufficiently saturated in syrup to break them apart one-handed with the edge of the fork.]
Then it seems as though we have a plan. And all that remains is to get some breakfast into Trevor, so that we are all ready to go at once.
no subject
[There's the tell-tale sign of a thudding noise coming from the general direction of the stairs. Alucard hums in approval, and by the time Trevor's actually down and in the kitchen, Alucard has made sure that the cover on Trevor's plate is removed, there's two very, very strong cups of coffee at Trevor's place, and they're all about as content as they're going to be today.]