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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Fuck.

[The word is said with an ice cold fury from the depths of the castle's labs. Alucard has been there for over 48 hours now, working himself to the bone.

When he had gone to the hospital again, he asked after any new supplements or medications any of the afflicted had been taking within the past few weeks. It ought to have been recorded, but Alucard could not remember the information, nor could he be sure that the question covered things that weren't strictly prescribed by doctors. There were always brews and home remedies sold by small time practioners that could escape the mind in such dire circumstances. Tracking those could maybe lead to some kind of common gathering spot for all the victims.

Such as it was, there was one supposed cure-all that three of them had taken. Facilier's Ruby Tonic: A Miracle Draught for All Ills. Sold at one of the open Saturday markets by a young woman with brown hair and sea-green eyes, at least according to the one man lucid enough to answer the question.

That same man had his wife bring the remaining draught to be studied, because Alucard bullshitted something about contamination concerns. He had brought it home and...

...and now he understood.]

Trevor?!

[It was the kind of yell that Alucard always relied on when they were in the house but far apart. Within a single name though there was real panic.]

[ Trevor doesn't usually go into the labs. There's a deep discomfort to them, seeing the tools of human science where the Belmonts had had the tools of magic. He has his Belmont bullshit, and he can leave Alucard to his science bullshit.

But that is pretty distinctly him being summoned. So away he goes, following the voice through the castle. The tone of it, though, is different. He takes a little longer than he usually might and when he does arrive it's clear why - the Vampire Killer is at his hip. He stopped to arm himself.

Panic could mean anything, after all. ]

What's happening?

I have a source.

[Alucard doesn't gesture Trevor to the microscope that has left large circles under the vampire's eyes. He instead points him to the little bottle of liquid that sits on the lab bench, cap screwed on tight and the little black label proudly bearing it's name.]

Someone's been bottling vampire blood and using a third party to sell it as a cure-all.

[His voice shakes when he says it. Mostly it's from rage, that someone would be so stupid and irresponsible as to do something so awful. Fear remains though, not as muted as the vampire would like and clearly ill at ease.]

They all bought it from the same market stall. That young boy in the church, his family must also have had it.

Shit.

[ His hand was at the whip, it now falls limp at his side. Everything just falls into place like that, doesn't it? The reason all of the turnings happened after injuries or bouts of sickness, the reason that the doctors who helped those people didn't seem to be a connection. It wasn't a doctor who gave the medicine to them, it was something they bought from a stall.

He lifts the bottle, looking at the label. There's something familiar about it, but he can't quite place what. ]

Fuck, that's- [ He grits his teeth, hissing out air between them as he tries to gather himself. With immense effort he manages to put the bottle down properly instead of smashing it. The last thing they need is a lot of broken glass and vampire blood. ] We know now. That's the important part.

We don't know how many people bought this.

[There's more out there. Alucard's hand rests on the lab bench, curling into a fist. He can feel his own nails threatening to become claws, and he has to exert all the control he can to keep them as nails.]

I'm going to use the power of this office to recall it. Buy it back. Whatever it takes. [There were always little connections to the city's government, rarely used. This was the time to use it.] That will prevent more turnings and deaths but...

[He breathes out, steady as he can.]

We have to find the source of this and quickly. I have the market, and we have two days to prepare. Place is only open on Saturdays.

We can't be the ones to investigate, not at first. Anyone who'd be pulling this shit knows who you are, probably who I am. They might even recognise Sypha. I can ask the babas for help, but-

[ -They are kind of almost at war. They'll be willing to help resolve this, but he can't guarantee it'll improve things if they get involved. ]

-your friend. The ghost lady. She'd be able to track down any paper that advertised the stuff and find out who paid for the advertisement, yes?

They need to at least know the cause of that boy's close call. [It won't prevent a war, but it will make a point: this may not be entirely the fault of vampires. Someone else could be manipulating the circumstances.

Alucard breathes out shakily.]

Charlotte? Yes, I believe she would. I can also trust her to keep the search to herself for the time being, as she'll recognize the circumstances as the dire things they are.

They do.

[ He doesn't take Alucard's hand. Not yet. He wants to, but he's going to talk about doing something stupid and holding Alucard's hand while he does will just make all of this worse. ]

All else fails, I'll bite the bullet and try to find which vampire it is. We can get some information out of them. [ He's been resisting using the blood to track the vampire down. It's risky, using blood for spells. ] I'll need you around for it in case shit goes south.

Confirm with the boy's parents that the stuff is out of the house. [A pause, then:] I don't know why I just said that. I know you'll do it.

[Alucard has no place in telling Trevor how to do Belmont business. He's simply worried, and at the mention of the vampire, Alucard is given pause.]

If this was done without their knowledge, surely then they must have felt the turnings. I have office hours tonight, perhaps...

[Perhaps this shall be brought to his attention, giving them new information.]

How do we spin this to make it look like we have the matter under control should that happen?

I will. I’ll see if I can figure out who recommended it to them, if anyone. And- shit, I’ll try to keep either of them from going to the market and smashing the whole lot.

[ He considers the question, looking Alucard over. ]

First of all, get a couple hours sleep. You look like shit. Tell them that as long as they cooperate, they won’t be held responsible for any of the turnings. It shouldn’t be a long list of people who have access to their blood, I expect they’ll be able to name the source immediately.

Remind them we don't have the source yet, the source is what matters the most. If they do that, they'll just send the source underground and cause more turnings in the long run.

[Alucard grumbles at the word sleep, but he knows that Trevor's right. He has worked himself for far too long without rest to get to the bottom of this, and it is a victory of sorts, having the source.]

That'll have to do. It...I'd like you there tonight, if you can. It would help me.

I’ll make them aware. They don’t know it’s turning, but they don’t need to. More people poisoned is also kind of shitty.

[ He takes Alucard’s hand now, pulling back the work glove just enough to kiss his wrist. ]

Of course.

Yes I...poisoning, that's a good way to describe this to the public. Not unusual for these sorts of homemade cures either. [There's a softer noise, and Alucard looks around the room they're in.]

She hated these kinds of things, you know. Because they could do harm so quickly, and the way the sellers tried to prey on little anxieties. [There's a pause, then clarification:] As much as she could hate something, I suppose.

[Strong dislike and disapproval. That was the most Lisa Tepes ever got to hate.

It's a thought that means he nearly misses the kiss to the wrist, until a part of the vampire feels so very anchored in reality and less exhausted for it.]

Maybe I should just go sleep there. Or...

[He trails off, at a loss.]

Can hardly blame her. I’m hardly one to talk when it comes to made up medical bullshit but- ugh.

[ He shakes his head. No sleeping in the office. Not even now. Especially not now. ]

Bed. Just for a couple hours. Then shower and clean up. It’ll be easier to believe youhave this all under control if you look the part.

You don't sell it to a public who barely understands how medicine works. It's...specialized, and highly secret for the most part. There'd be a lot of judging, but this is a different breed all together.

[Alucard wants to protest. Point out the whole of the town house isn't the office, but there's no point. There's an underlying sternness in Trevor's voice that he doesn't have it in him to fight against. So instead he turns, starting to put the equipment away.]

Would you wake me up then, please? I don't trust myself to rouse at the appropriate hour.

Of course.

[ He doesn't know enough about how the lab is supposed to be to help with putting the equipment away. Even if he did, he doesn't like it if the others touch his Belmont bullshit without his say-so, so he really ought to leave Alucard's science bullshit alone. ]

Go be dog-shaped for a little while. I'll stay with you and wake you up when it's time.

In a moment.

[He finishes cleaning up the lab first, and Alucard is so relieved that his taking wolf form won't be a surprise.

Eventually he's woken up. Goes through the work of showering and putting on his office hours clothes, which means a suit and tie, and then it's only a matter of waiting. Waiting for the sun to go down, allowing them both precious time to settle into their usual office roles.

It works like this: there's an actual desk. There's a chair to the right of the desk for Trevor, and then there's two chairs opposite them. There's the sitting room on the other side of the townhouse's first floor for casual discussions as well, but things always must start in the office. Everything is formal. Calm. Controlled. Administrative rather than court-like, because Alucard is still regent. This is just waiting for his father to return.

Tonight, only five minutes after sundown, the doorbell rings. Alucard always answers the door, but Trevor goes with him for security's sake. (Now, more than ever, the threat of assassination is high.) To see Carmilla there, face contorted in barely controlled fury, that in and of itself is terrifying.

Then she comes in and demands to know why she had her blood call to blood in the city, as if she was siring a new vampire, and Alucard wants to scream.]

[ As Alucard sleeps Trevor lies next to him, stroking his fur. It's all they get right now, a few hours of rest and happiness, before they have to return to the world as it is, and it ends all too soon.

The night begins in the worst possible way, and it immediately becomes a fortunate thing that Alucard asked him to be here. He walks behind Carmilla as she's led to the office. Once she's there he does not sit and he does not take his hand from the handle of the Vampire Killer.

And then she explains her grievance.

Trevor doesn't often speak at these meetings, but he knows a weakness to strike at when he sees one. Carmilla doesn't know what's happening. She doesn't understand the gravity of the crime. Trevor can inform her of it, and then Alucard can offer her an escape from it. ]

You came here to admit, then, that you are the one who has been going about turning children, violating Dracula's first edict? [ He growls, fingers curling more tightly around the Vampire Killer. Oh, they know it's not her. But she doesn't know they understand that. It's a weakness that Alucard can use. And fuck, it's gratifying to see the look on her face. ]

[It's a face that lasts only for a moment. A simple, gobsmacked moment before Carmilla is back to fire and fury, saying nothing but communicating how dare you with every inch of her being. Alucard watches this, and then it becomes clear what they can do.

There's other ways to track the flow of this awful medicine after all.

When Alucard holds up a hand, there's no released tension from the room.]

Then that means your own blood has been used to paint you as an enemy of this House, and whoever is responsible has been far too bold with the nature of this crime. [Here is the trick.]

Blood has always called to blood. We can track the matter through that same blood, should you allow it, and justice can take it's course as it must.

[ Carmilla's eyes narrow. The fury does not leave her face, but its target is elsewhere now. ]

I will cooperate. Learn who has done this, tell me, and I shall take my course.

[ Trevor bristles at her speaking to Alucard like this, but does not move. He could do this, fight her here and kill her, and they'd have the reason for it. Proof of her misdeeds. But they'd also lose their best chance at fighting the one who did this.

He remains still. ]

Your cooperation will bring this to a swift and decieve end. That is the cold truth in the face of this injustice and horror.

[Alucard is sitting in his chair like the throne it isn't, his eyes ice cold and posture nothing short of imperial. Gloved hands rest on either arm rest, and he looks at Carmilla as if he is a giant observing a bug.]

But I cannot permit rogue justice. In residing here, you've placed yourself under my Father's laws, and that means abiding by them as they are written. No sentences may be carried out by any other hands. Investigations may be delegated, capture may be done by another, but the final judgement can only be done by the vampire in charge. To go against that act would force me to become your enemy, and I would loathe to act against someone as venerable and noble in fang as yourself, Carmilla.

When I say We cannot permit that, know that you will be kept in full knowledge of all developments. The fact that you had blood taken without your knowledge is alarming enough to Us. That it has been used in this way...the sentence will match the crimes.

Very well. [ She says with a long intake of breath. ] But you must be quick about it. If that matter is not dealt with in good time, I will take matters into my own hands.

[ She rests her hands upon her lap delicately. ]

Now. What cooperation would you ask of me, my Lord? You will have it, as soon as I have your word that blame for this- [ And she raises a hand to her lips, pretending at searching for the words. ] -dreadful situation will not fall upon my back, regardless of how loudly certain dogs might bark.

In the matter of this turning, it is known to Us that you are not culpable.

[The words are exacting because they both know that the other is an enemy. There's no denying it, there has been no denying it for some months now. There are too many murmurs for it to ever be denied.

Alucard rises, every bit the prince and regent he pretends to be these days, hands resting flat upon the table. There's another bonus in having Carmilla's blood, having it be given freely, but that is for Trevor to make use of and make use of well.]

I need a small sample of blood, and that requires I fetch the safe and appropriate equipment to do so, if you will forgive my temporary absence from this room.

[What it really is is asking if Trevor can handle this, all without even looking at the Belmont.]

I should have thought there blood aplenty in the city, to cause this mess. But very well.

[ Trevor lets Carmilla speak first, and then just takes his seat. He doesn't speak, but it's a signal that he's content to remain here while Alucard leaves and a promise that he won't do anything stupid. ]

[Alucard takes his leave with no more words. He wants away from Carmilla as quickly as he can, and he trusts Trevor entirely. Part of him hopes that she'll make a wrong move. Do something stupid. Give them cause to end her here and now, because one thing is clear to them both: she's playing politics because she isn't powerful enough to take Alucard in a fight.

So much the worse for the city.

He goes upstairs, finds the right equipment, and returns with a needle, a rubbing pad, a tube and a hose that goes right into it. The tube is small on purpose, but it'll give them both more than enough.

But Alucard knows better than to get started. He lets Carmilla inspect the tube first, to ensure that there's no trickery in it.]

It's as small as we have, I'm afraid.

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