cryptsleeper | 20s AU Post

20s AU Post

Current Carmilla plot outline
--Post-fire, Carmilla and Mr. Peanut team up mostly to use each other. Carmilla's spent the past several months (since November, it is now February 1925) networking, and it's clear to her that Alucard's not suited for the position and that the other two are the obvious weakness. Mr Peanut needs something back, so this is perfect on her end. Mr Peanut can only imagine the joys of vampire blood in his work, and he'd like an army of vampires for his own ends.
--Shit stirring from Mr Peanut (all of March?)
--Mr Peanut also begins to sell mis Miracle Serum, which has vampire blood in it.
--Gang is very much trying to murder Mr Peanut during this.
--Start of April, vampire gets a call from one of the blood bank contacts that 3 patients have come in and are displaying some bizarre signs. Investigation yields the fact that they're in process of turning, and they've all taken the same serum.
--Additional investigation reveals O FUCK IT MR PEANUT
--Meanwhile Carmilla's been made aware of a familiar she didn't sire, so she knows something's up. Big fight with Mr. Peanut and thus Mr. Peanut is left depowered
--Gang commits a murder
--Carmilla's well sured up on her contacts now, and it's time for open rebellion (mid-April)
--In a more subtle attempt to let Alucard just step aside, she cuts the breaks on demon car and shows up to gloat/suggest he not pull a dad and go to deal with his grief quietly while she runs the city. The how he wants to do it is up to him (black widow joke goes here.) Treffy and Sypha walk in.
--1 week of straight up rebellion; feedings, no help from allies, need to do damage control instead of fight carmilla, every dracula rule is
--MEANWHILE IN GRAVITY FALLS, triangle shows Vlad what's up to try and psyche him out, somehow this finalyl snaps Vlad out of his depression and he heads home
--Just in time for Alucard and Carmilla to be tearing each other to bits in one of the bayous, it's not going well
--Vlad coming in means the king of vampires is accosted by a belmont with a pair of blessed knitting needles and a speaker with a fucking gun and he's just like what the shit happened to the world while i was gone
--Wards around the fight means that only demon car can break the wards, everyone has to pile in.
--Carmilla gets her ass kicked AND SENT TO THE JUSTICE DIMENSION

THEN THERE WERE FAERIES.
--Prior to all of this the vampire and Sypha have done a shit ton of research on how to get their Belmont back
--Sypha has also been practicing debating with dad, which leaves everyone Very Tired.
--When Trevor is actually snatched up (1 year after marriage, it takes fae effort. Taking Arn's shape fails, so it's a lot more kidnapping by force), Sypha and Alucard go into Faerie
--But they're playing this as politics, not as heroes rescuing their damsel, so that means the faeries are just "wait what now excuse u?"
--There are 3 gates and 3 trials (the particulars we're still bullshitting.) Each is asked to sacrifice 3 things. (Alucard: voice, his titles as bestowed upon by his father and his people, i forget the third; Sypha: her human form (she's a birb), fuck what were the other two)
--They enter the court at the end of the third trial. After LITERALLY ALL THE TITLES Sypha declares she Speaks for Trevor Belmont
--Claim debate over Trevor, turns out that the rules are in Sypha's favor.
--But that means debating to leave Fae without giving up what they've chosen.
--Sypha lawyers it all out, Alucard is a safety deposit and hangs out with Fae!Trevor
--In the end, safe passage out of Faerie consists of Sypha giving up her memory of the necromancer (billed as a great mage she studied under), the vampire gives up his immortality, and Trevor is replaced with Carmilla (dad was aware of this option and OK with it), but Trevor has his ability to swear taken. He now soundslike a rubber ducky when he tries
--Everyone gets home okay, except for the AU of this AU where the gang fails, but Trevor's on their doorstep like a bat out of Hell because time doesn't work right and he's been in Hell for a WHILE.

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Don't be a smart-aleck.

[She says, to Dracula's son, a literal vampire (or at least half of one) who, even injured, could still probably eviscerate her faster than she could blink, if he wanted to.

As the blood and dirt starts to wash away, she's got a much better vantage point on the actual nature of his wound, and she winces to look at it. It's deep, and ugly. There's no chance it won't scar.]

...I should tell you now that I have never done this before, in practice. I know the theory. And if you know something I do not about your own...anatomy, tell me. But this will get infected if it stays open. I think it will need to be sewn shut.

[Alucard didn't figure it out at first. It was only after he relayed the particulars of Trevor's heritage that Sypha smacked him and informed Alucard what he actually said was I'm not bothered about you going to Hell. Then the subject had just never come up again, meaning there was no chance to apologize.

So it'll be for now. Halloween will come and go, and they'll talk about it then. Maybe punch a fae or two. Drape the Belmont in iron if need be, since that's something that has no effect on the vampire.

Silence means that Alucard sits down in the chair he's been using, picks up the book he's been using to pass the time. A thick old thing from his mother's collection.]

That sounds very fine. In the mean time...[Alucard's eyes go to the clock they've put on the table.] I suppose I should entertain the thought of starting lunch.

[In any better time, Alucard would actually laugh at being told off. As it stands, he accepts the chiding for what it is, since he can't alienate the only help he's received. The only help that's willing to risk so much for well, a stranger. Who only knows him by reputation, and what a terrible reputation it is.]

If there is anything at all I can think of, I will say so. These injuries usually heal within seconds, and you can see the flesh trying to do so. There's...something preventing it. So do whatever you determine is appropriate.

[It isn't dramatic to say his life is in her hands. Just accurate.]

If I wanted to, more than likely.

[ He shrugs. ]

But that would be a blood thing, not a me being any good with magic thing. Belmont blood interacts with Dracula's magic, and any magic based on his work, in odd ways. Always has. Since most vampires in Europe use magic based on his work, it's always served us fairly well. Except when they have squabbles among themselves and decide to grab one of us to use for materials.

[ Sometimes you want to leave a massive stupid hole in your defenses just in case your ex bf ever forgives you and comes back, okay???? ]

This will hurt. Perhaps terribly.

[She's digging in her bag again, looking around for supplies, and eventually finds a steel needle and heavy thread. Chewing the edge of her lip, she surveys the gash in his chest once more, and ventures carefully.]

Tell me what happens when you burn yourself. On a stove, or on something hot. How do you heal yourself from that? Does your body mend beneath the burn and push out the burned portion?

That's fine.

[Sypha, he's pretty sure this can't get worse. Pretty sure.]

Similar to that. The flesh moves layer by layer, inside out, to put it all to rights. Does that make sense?

I think so, yes.

[She draws a deep breath. Lets it out. Seems to center her focus.]

Then what I propose is to cauterize the wound to keep it from bleeding, until I can stitch it closed. Then, with a bandage and your...hospital supply, perhaps that will be enough help for your body to manage on its own.

[She pauses again.]

But I cannot safely touch the wound as it is, from what you have said. So. I will put the spell in your hand, and you —

[...]

I need you to do it to yourself.

[Alucard listens. He's careful to understand the proposal. Burn it to stop bleeding. Bandage it. Go home, and then....deal with the rest.

And have him do the actual burning.

It's actually a terrifying concept but it'll have to do. He nods.]

Have you managed to put spells in people's hands before?

...How very strange. Almost as though you are fated enemies, or something like that.

[OR VLAD'S HOPING FOR AN UNEXPECTED BELMONT BOOTY CALL but let's just pretend like nobody's thought of that, how about.]

Well. Fate or not, here you are, enjoying the hospitality of the castle. And...to be fully honest, I was asking all of those questions because I was curious if you could find my people, with a trick like this. Where they are now. So it sounds like you could, if you had something of them to track, and a proper map to show with it.

I can hold them in my own. I just thought it would be more elegant to set it in your palm than to put it over your wound and have you slap it down into place.

[Setting her needle and thread aside in a clean, protected place a moment, she closes her eyes and shapes her fingers into a steeple. When she pulls them apart again, there is a small, firecoal-glowing ball of fire in her right hand, resting against the palm.]

I follow the concept. I am also in no place to refuse any of your suggestions.

[He watches her though. The needle being threaded, the little thing of fire that's there. Alucard's certain that this will either be a medical breakthrough or just send him to the world of unconsciousness. Either is good.]

Tell me when you're ready.

...You didn't ask why I agreed to help you, when our elder refused.

[Her eyes slide open slowly, measured and calm, revealing blue eyes gone just a little too intense with the whisper of magic. The ball of fire skims through the air, slowly coming to rest against his hand, where oddly it only gives off the barest hint of heat, as though glassed-in by some unseen force.]

Survive, in order to ask me when we are done.

[She nods slightly, and readies herself.]

I don't question offered help.

[She's doing it, and that's all that matters. She helped. Whatever her motivation, he ultimately doesn't think it terribly important. Not right now.

The heat in Alucard's hand is a terror. It brings to mind too many other horrible things, even if what is there is the barest of hint of warmth. He's ready. He's as ready as he can be, and Alucard turns his focus to the matter at hand and only the matter at hand.

He breathes out. Keeps his eyes down on his chest, not at the intense blue ones tending to him.]

I don't know if it's why we got into this shit, [ Leon and Mathias' story is long lost to the Belmonts by now. ] but it may well be.

[ He gives that some thought, looking over his papers. He had a map of the whole of the country (not a GOOD map, but a map nonetheless) that he'd bought when he first arrived here and used to track the castle. ]

Across the entirety of the country? I managed with the castle, but- Belmonts and vampires, you know how it goes. With a possession to focus on, I could try. [ He traces the route from New York southwards. ] It's easier in places I've been. I- think this is the route I ended up taking from the boat to here? I'll know if they've crossed it, or if they've been close to either city. But I don't know that I'll be able to find them across the whole country.

Fuck, nearly noon already?

[ There are no windows in this room, because even with layers and layers of protection spells it seemed like a good idea to make their base of operations anywhere that might suddenly toss broken glass at them. But he's seen the viewing mirror last maybe an hour or two ago. The sky had been so dark. ]

From the colour of the sky, I'd thought it was still before dawn. [ Fucking storm. ] At least that means sun exposure likely isn't a problem until it passes.

The storms make it hard to track the time of day.

[He's walking over to the door. Gestures Trevor to come along with him.]

But you're right about the exposure. It'll be night by the time everything clears, which is best for assessing the damage for those that must rely on the night.

[It's going to be a very long night.]

We'll need all the energy we can get.

And also best for anyone who's been driven to desperation to set out looking for prey. Do you have another radio? It'd be best to keep up with the human stations as well as vampire ones. If there is news of any attacks, that'll be where to find it.

[ He gives a snort of agreement. He hasn't slept, and so Alucard has stayed awake as well. Out of what he's starting to suspect might be sympathy. It's unnecessary, but he can't bring himself to complain about it. Which is as close to gratitude as he usually gets. ]

She has the right of it, sleeping through all this shit. I'll try to get an hour or so myself if things stay calm.

[ He does not trust himself not to do something ridiculous if one of those crashes wakes him up. ]

[ Halloween was always a private sort of time for Trevor (most times have always been private sorts of times for Trevor, but that is beside the point). The opposite is apparently true for this whole fucking city, human and vampire alike.

He doesn't join in the festivities. He doesn't know how this will happen, if it happens tonight. He's read the stories, of course. Maybe a beautiful lady will lead him away from the crowds and he'll be too drunk to see the black hooves under her skirts. Maybe it'll be a pillar of flame consumes him and burns out and leaves nothing. Maybe everything will just steadily grow quieter until he realizes that the world is still and everyone's faces are wrong. Whatever happens, it's not the best thing to throw at a city where the slightest thing could throw off the balance. He'd rather not innocent people witness fairies. He'd really rather vampires not witness them.

He remains at the castle, and he knits, and before Alucard and Sypha set out he slips a letter into each of their pockets. ]

Open should you find your number one less after midnight.

[ Sypha's envelope is thicker, stuffed with runes scribbled on scraps of paper and an infuriating lack of instructions for what to do with them. Enough to use to track her people for a year, if she only does so once a month. Alucard's only has the letter. ]

Adrian,

I was not instructed to write this. I am doing so, and that means that this is within my nature. I did not believe it was. I do not think that it was, back in winter. This is inconvenient and I am not certain that I like it, because I now have to account for the fact that fondness for the two of you is part of who I am. It is much easier to account for my own nature when my own nature is simply 'an unpleasant person', and not 'an unpleasant person to whom these two people mean the world'.

I don't like it, and I would ask you to stop changing my basic nature without my say-so. And you would not listen, because you rarely do when anyone demands unkindness of either of you. It is infuriating.

Perhaps, given more time, you would have shaped me (kicking and screaming, I would add) into the person you both deserve me to be. I am certain that you will shape this city (probably also kicking and screaming, unfortunately) into that it deserves to be. No doubt you will do it in the same way, with more kindness and understanding than it has ever earned.

I have never been afraid. I am still not afraid. Please do not think that I was afraid when I left. But I think I may regret leaving you so soon. I think I would have liked to remain long enough to see what you made of me.

You are both dear to me, and I have every faith that you will find in each other everything that you deserve. But I still wish that I could have given it to you both myself.

Thank you.

ps. Sypha gets the dog photographs.

[ But midnight passes, and he's safe for another year. Sypha returns home from the festivities first, mumbles something about Alucard driving out again to attend to one last thing and promptly flings herself into the cushions of the couch (it's all he can do to move his knitting needles out of her path) and disappears into slumber. It's easy enough to take the letter back from her and toss it into the fire. It won't be needed for another year. And maybe by then he'll hate them both again.

He stays up, knitting. Alucard should be home eventually, and he can take the letter back while he inevitably busies himself with carrying Sypha to bed. ]

It's all right. I was mostly just curious anyway.

[She shrugs a little, watching the path that he traces and smiling faintly at the route it displays.]

When I left them, they were heading west. So I expect they would not have passed over the path you took; they're heading for the opposite coast. A great number of the Speakers have congregated out that way; the story we carried from here is important enough that we are going to pass it on to as many other groups of Speakers as we can.

All right, then. Begin.

[Her needle is ready; with a tiny tongue of flame, she sterilizes it before disinfecting the thread running through the eye. This is a task that will take several hands, which is why they need to work together on it; in the instant he pulls his hand away from cauterizing the wound, she'll move in immediately to complete the stitch.

And then they'll do it again. And again. And again.]

[ He nods. ]

If you ever want to know, show me how your focuses work some time. If I can just write down the spell and have you use it, you'd probably have an easier time of it. You could even track the spread of the story, if it was important enough to you to focus on.

[Halloween comes in two waves. The first is as the 30th becomes the 31st. On that wave are the smaller revels, the ones the younger vampires and their ilk throw because they much put in appearances at the grander parties. These are wild things, closer to the nightclubs and bars in the human world, and Alucard attends those because there is a blessed lack of formality to them. Him being there is more than enough, and while it is not easy, it is easier than what comes after it. When daylight hits, all the night things run off to get their rest and to prepare for tomorrow, tomorrow is when all the important parties begin.

(What they don't tell Trevor is that the night of Halloween, until dawn on the 1st of November, means that some spirits do return to their graves. Spirits to sit and talk with the living. Alucard only mentioned it to Sypha once a few days ago, because he needed to be clear why he needed them to take separate cars. He was going to at least place flowers on his mother's grave. If she was there waiting, so much the better.)

Wave two is the important one. The one where all the celebrations compete, the one where the hunters work harder because drunken supernatural things are not uncommon on this night. Mardis Gras is still the city's biggest holiday, mortal or immortal, but Halloween reaches that very same atmosphere. There's no costumes on those that attend the parties, but rather the finest clothes. The best. The most outlandish. The drama is indulged in, and there is wild abandon.

(Sometimes Theodora mutters about the old wild hunts, but then she smiles a little too wickedly for comfort.)

He leaves the last party at 2 in the morning. A respectable time, and then to the graveyard. Until the graveyard proves to be a horrible, terrible idea, and Alucard speeds himself home in the car with a white face and a horrible wrench in his stomach that makes him want to collapse.

When he walks into the castle (from the garage), he shuffles in, closest to looking dead as he's ever pulled off in his lifetime. Drags himself past wherever the other two are, bed the only destination in mind.]

I'll bring another radio into the room, that shouldn't be hard.

[Radios are big, but at least the ones in this house have better reception than any one made by human hands. Alucard walks out into the hall, his mind considering what the best thing for them is. Protein and carbs, so...plenty of options.]

That'd be a wise idea. I can't say when the luxury of sleep will present itself again.

[As blazing, agonizingly painful as it is, Alucard is impressed as well. Not just with how she's managed to find a way to deal with the problem of his blood, but at the terribly fine control of the flame. It's rare for any mage to have that level of skill, he's never witnessed it.

Then there's the deftness of her hands. She's a steady worker. Acts like she's done this before even though that's not the truth of the matter. There's no room for other thoughts though, not until everything is done.

How long it takes to finish isn't something Alucard even remotely thinks about. All he knows is that it has been some time, and that if he did not feel the bone deep exhaustion of this all before, he feels it now. His limbs are heavy. His mind aches for all the concentration he has just exerted. And he is so very, very far from home.

She's probably missed among her people, isn't she?]

[ It's not exhaustion from the social events. He knows by now what that looks like even from the worst of them. He still doesn't attend too often, but he's got into the habit of waiting up for the two of them to return ever since the 'coronation'. He needs to be on hand, if they don't come back by down.

It's not even the exhaustion from when Damien dragged him here. It's something new, terrible, and he's already stood and put a hand on Alucard's shoulder before he can double check that he isn't actually injured. ]

You look like shit.

[ He's the most comforting presence in the city, clearly. ]

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Page 12 of 141

20s AU Post

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