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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[ In trouble or not, he’s at least managed to set the tone they want. Alucard being treated as another guest, the party’s atmosphere largely unchanged. Trevor nurses a glass, managing at least for now to resist the temptation to do anything more. He elbows a nearby vampire. ]

Hey, where’s the boss. Got to pay the man my compliments.

[ They’re guided through the house to a sitting area that’s a little calmer than the rest of the place and a man in a garish suit patterned rather like one of Agatha’s tablecloths. He looks up from his glass coolly and at once Trevor becomes aware of a gap in their intelligence.

They know that this man was close friends with Dorian and only distant acquaintances with Dorian. They don’t know which Dorians. Trevor tenses, trying to gauge whether the man’s look is that of a man staring down his friend’s executioner. ]

[The man doesn't miss a beat after that moment over the glass. He's all charm, walking over with his hand extended and drink still in hand. When he speaks, the accent is most certainly not that of New Orleans, but from much further north.]

Adrian! I know that this appearance is all politics, but I'm glad to have you all the same. From the sounds of it, you've already gotten as warm a welcome as any guest receives here.

[Alucard's hand takes the man's, and he shakes it with a calm and cool throughness that is absolutely not what he needs to be projecting.]

If that's standard greeting then, I must admire your commitment to equality.

[That gets a very big laugh from the man, along with a bigger grin.]

That's the idea! No one's ever going to outdo Our Lady of Celebrations around these parts, but if I can host something different for the folks closer to my age, then we're all happy at everyone's events. I haven't heard of your hunter friend showing up in such a state to one of hers, so I take that as an honor too.

[The vampire's eyes seem to challenge Trevor's act, at least for a moment. Alucard picks up on it too, but he's very quick to fix the matter.]

Trevor, this is Philo, one of the younger generations around these parts. He was turned...I suppose what, in the--

[And at that, Philo jumps right in.]

1865, near the end of the war. My regiment was from Connecticut, and well, that's a whole other story. Been here for some time now, but the city's ever changing and that suits me just fine.

Always a lot of turnings, when things get shitty. Gives people a lot of reasons to think about mortality, I suppose.

[ He's back to English. There's not a great deal of sense in pretending right now. At least not in front of their host. He still doesn't know which Dorian this guy liked, but there's no sense in playing dumb at someone who knows you're only playing it. ]

If it's any consolation, I plan on actually being in this state in an hour or so. Didn't want to being the mood down in the meantime. [ He rubs the back of his neck, a little embarrassed at being caught out being sober. ] We got word that Dorian's friends were meaning to start shit with- Dorian's friends here. I think we'd all rather avoid anything happening that might catch the interests of the elders, you know?

That it do. And I appreciate you dropping the guise as well. It isn't a bad humbug for most folks here who are already so far gone that the idea of a hunter showing up to a party fulla bloodsuckers won't give them pause.

[Alucard just looks tired at this. Philo's a talker. Not his favorite vampire.]

It's as my associate says and you've already summised. Politics. It isn't as if we expect you not to enforce your own rules about starting such fights, but...

Insurance. Understood, gentlemen, understood. I had hoped that tonight might just be an olive branch for everyone who took sides and opinions in the situation, but there is alcohol involved.

[Alucard can only nod.]

We'll blend in as much as possible. I...the band is quite good. [Alucard's eyes do travel to Trevor's for a moment. They may have to fake it. Or well, not fake it at all, but play along a little harder than they might.]

A bad- humbug.

[ He repeats it slowly, and then shrugs. It's probably just one of those weird american sayings, like jumping out of a train. He just slaps Alucard on the back instead, guiding him away. ]

That's the spirit. You may yet experience fun tonight.

[Alucard manages a more polite good bye before Trevor guides him away, and while they still need to keep the act up for everyone else it's...

...interesting. This is the first time he hasn't truly been held up to any sort of expectation in terms of how he ought to act or behave as the most important person in the room. No one thinks he is here, and that brings a sense of freedom the dhampir has long since lacked.

He pauses, then looks sidelong to Trevor.]

We could dance.

'Could' is a strong word.

[ -he says that, but there's something to Alucard's voice. He doesn't even need to say anything else. He sighs, extending a hand. ]

I hope you weren't expecting any dances from this century.

You can still say no, I promise.

[Right. As Alucard takes Trevor's hand in his and squeezes.]

No, I wasn't. But luckily for you, the current dance trends are hardly difficult to pick up and everyone here is too drunk to notice anyway.

[He pauses, then grins with confidence.] Or you can do what Sypha did during waltzes at Theodora's the first few times and stand on my feet.

And ruin your first real party this year? Not happening.

[ But he does need to not stand out too much, and- well. Standing on Alucard's feet is the better option for that. Humiliating, but better. He moves in close, placing his feet over his (this was probably easier with Sypha and her smaller feet). ]

Lead on.

What do you mean real party?

[He leans in to plant a moment's kiss under Trevor's ear. It isn't much, but it's an attempt to be reassuring. Because the tempo has just changed to something far more frantic, and Alucard wiggles his feet under Trevor's.]

I lied. Feet on top of feet don't work for a dance like this.

Any party where you don't spend half the time standing around being important and miserable.

[ He frees Alucard's feet, sighing. He's used to hearing music with this tempo, not dancing to it. It's usually just a backdrop to the drinking. ]

Well shit. Just lead, I'll improvise. I'm meant to be drunk anyway.

...I can't actually argue with that statement. Which makes me resent it deeply.

[Alucard is confident enough to take both of Trevor's hands though, before bridging the gap between them so that they're torso to torso. Easy enough to guide Trevor's hand to his hips and then to do the same, the other suspended above them.

There. And then his feet start to move, back, forth, side and side, the pattern slow so Trevor can try and get a sense of it before it actually hits the correct speed for the music.]

It's music where you're supposed to be drunk and full of sugary cocktails anyway.

[ He does try to follow, he really does, but it isn't any sort of dance he's used to. The only dance he knows that could match this speed is a galop, and he's self-aware enough to know that that would be horribly out of place here.

And so he tries to imitate. Back and forward, then to the sides, and-

-well, it's a very good job that he's been acting like a drunkard. And It's a very good job Alucard is more than capable of holding his weight without it appearing to be any effort at all, because the second he tries to match the speed of the music he trips over his own feet. ]

-let me try that again.

As many times you need.

[Alucard tries not to laugh at Trevor's mistake. So he mutes it, instead appreciating that Trevor's making an absolute attempt to do it at all.

He slows himself down, demonstrating the first step again.]

Here. Like this.

[ He tries again. Imitates. It's- easier if he tries to think of it like his lessons back at the hold. Not just the dancing lessons, but the lessons on fighting with the whip. He has to hold himself a certain way, then move into the next step a certain way.

He manages the steps this time, though he's not quite confident enough to try to match the pace of the music as he goes through them. He matches Alucard's pace instead, slow and steady. ]

That right?

[Alucard's eyes drift between Trevor's feet and those around them. Yes, this is fairly relaxing as far as parties go, but they've both long since learned that being in a relaxed environment doesn't mean a damn thing as far as Alucard's safety goes.

But Trevor nails it, and that earns a real dhampir smile. Not a put upon one.]

Mmmhmmm. Let's do it a few more times at this pace and then fa--

[Goddamnit.]

Don't take that in any other meaning, please.

[ He chuckles. He wouldn't have caught it if Alucard didn't point it out, too focused on his steps to be teasing. But since Alucard has so kindly pointed the potential euphemism out- ]

So how would you like me to take it?

[ And, just in case he's not made it clear enough, he leans in to whisper. Ruining his footwork in the process. ] Any pace you like.

[N o. What has the vampire done to himself.]

I hate you at some moments.

[Alucard maybe uses this moment to gently tap his foot against Trevor's. As a form of protest.]

Try again.

Try the dance steps, or the proposition?

[ Yes he's going to be a shit. He settles on both. Both is good. He moves back, copying the steps once more ] You'd rather you be the one to take it, then?

The fir--

[Alucard just sighs. He's doing this on purpose, the Belmont, and Alucard's letting it get to him! He's even well aware of it! But!!!!

He groans, because at least he's gotten the steps right this time. For the sake of being an ass, Alucard speeds the next iteration up, and presses just a little harder against Trevor.]

Not what you were asking for two nights ago.

[ He does flush at that. Two nights ago was- well. They've not yet properly figured out how to reduce the Belmont to uselessness, but they've managed to come close a few times. But he grins, even as he struggles to keep up with the quicker pace. He stumbles again, letting Alucard support his weight before catching himself and trying to keep going without starting again. ]

I've been known to change my mind.

Well I haven't heard a single good argument in favor of these changes.

[Two nights ago was an absolutely fascinating evening that started in the garage, meandered to the kitchen for a while, and ended up on the sofa in the living room with all three of them and a lot of pillows being spread on the floor. It was a good night, all in all, although one thing is becoming very clear: Sypha has a little too much fun directing them when she can.

The stumble isn't too bad. Alucard doesn't flinch at bearing Trevor's weight either, andno one seems to notice.]

You're doing fine. Nearly at mid-tempo now.

I'm sure I could come up with a few.

[ He does manage to find his place and continue the dance with only a few seconds of using Alucard to support his weight. There isn't a lot to it, it's just- different, to what he's used to. Quicker and bouncier with more precise footwork. ]

So, is this revenge for saying you don't know how to have fun? Or does that come later?

Maybe, but you're doing a shit job at articulating them now.

[There. They've both got it now, pressed against each other and having to do precious more than make sure that their knees and feet don't bang against each other due to poor timing. It's...nice.

And the first time they've been able to dance together at all. Alucard nearly stops to put words to that fact, but that'd destroy everything. So instead he puts a kiss to Trevor's nose, and pulls away with a smirk.]

Actually, I'm going to give you that one because I'm feeling ever-so-generous at this exact moment in time. Of late, I don't know how to do that.

So, would you like me to articulate why I might enjoy your taking it?

[ It’s not so bad, after he’s had a little while to get the hang of it. Nothing like what he knows, but not too bad. He misses a step when Alucard leans forward to kiss him, but keeps his balance and rights himself quickly.

There’s a movement before he can tease Alucard further. One man shoving another, at the other side of the room. Maybe just a drunken row, maybe something worse. Trevor switches to romanian. ]

Shit. Something happening.

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20s AU Post

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