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[Umm, yes. Hector gives Alucard a raised eyebrow to convey 'of fucking course.'
Hopefully Trevor has no objections to an evening of heavy petting.
Of course, the danger here is Hector is going to cuddle up with a big fluff and spend the evening drinking and petting.]
Of course, the danger here is Hector is going to cuddle up with a big fluff and spend the evening drinking and petting.]
Mmm. Very well.
[He probably does
Oh no cuddling a dog, how terrible. After a few steps, Alucard has no human shape at all. Instead he looks up at Hector with big wolfy eyes, and a soft huff means that whenever Hector's ready, they can get moving.]
[
Oh no cuddling a dog, how terrible. After a few steps, Alucard has no human shape at all. Instead he looks up at Hector with big wolfy eyes, and a soft huff means that whenever Hector's ready, they can get moving.]
[It is difficult to disagree with him, the idea that belief equals reality. She knows those who would certainly disagree with him, but then again they would disagree with her as well. Vanessa Ives has dedicated her soul to an entity that is actively silent when demons shriek freely.
All of those racing thoughts don't help her now as he remains cool and removed. Impossible to read. But he hasn't laughed, his look isn't full of contempt...]
Yes. My friend Mina, she has been taken by a fiend, fiends such as we speak about.
All of those racing thoughts don't help her now as he remains cool and removed. Impossible to read. But he hasn't laughed, his look isn't full of contempt...]
Yes. My friend Mina, she has been taken by a fiend, fiends such as we speak about.
[Hector takes his wine bottle and nods for the wolf to follow him. If memory serves, there is a sitting room nearby.
Once he can settle down for the long haul, Hector turns to the wolf and starts a nice two-handed behind-the-ear scratch. The fact that Alucard is a killing machine of fangs and claws gives Hector no pause. He is used to wild animals as pets, and he is practiced in giving them affection.]
Let me know if there's any spot in particular you like.
[His voice goes softer, more indulgent, when directed at an animal. He is consciously refraining from calling Alucard a good boy.]
Once he can settle down for the long haul, Hector turns to the wolf and starts a nice two-handed behind-the-ear scratch. The fact that Alucard is a killing machine of fangs and claws gives Hector no pause. He is used to wild animals as pets, and he is practiced in giving them affection.]
Let me know if there's any spot in particular you like.
[His voice goes softer, more indulgent, when directed at an animal. He is consciously refraining from calling Alucard a good boy.]
[And so asking about Romanian folklore from a stranger. Alucard can follow the logic, although it gives no comfort.
Even if he begins with an attempt.]
I'm sorry the circumstances are as such.
[But to fight it. That's the question.]
Taken only in spirit?
Even if he begins with an attempt.]
I'm sorry the circumstances are as such.
[But to fight it. That's the question.]
Taken only in spirit?
[This is much safer in every way. Alucard tells himself that as he trots beside Hector, and as he flops down on the sofa next to him. There's far less awkward here, and no risk of another kiss. There's only extremely warm hands petting him, and for a touch starved dhampir, it feels wonderful.
His only response to Hector's offer is to make a content snuffle, not moving. Hector's petting in just the right spot.
I mean you can call him a good boy but i can't promise a good response....]
His only response to Hector's offer is to make a content snuffle, not moving. Hector's petting in just the right spot.
[Finally pulling her eyes away from him and returns them to the safety of her clasped hands. Fingers entwined, clinging to one another as if there was nothing else solid in this room.]
In body and spirit. We search for her, she calls me, leads us...
In body and spirit. We search for her, she calls me, leads us...
[On this one, there's no hiding the reaction. Alucard hisses softly, and it has a sympathetic enough undercurrent. But there's also a cringe, unmuted.]
In body is where I begin to truly worry then. How long has she reached out for? How many days?
In body is where I begin to truly worry then. How long has she reached out for? How many days?
[Hector shifts a little, exploring how head-scratches and below-the-ear rubs are received. One doesn't pet a dog and stick to only one spot.]
Is your sense of smell stronger in this form?
[He asks without any expectation of an answer, to fill the silence. Not that Hector has any regrets about what happened earlier, but wolf-form might have been more practical for their sniff-test.
He doesn't know if information is perceived or retained differently when Alucard is wolfed out, but Hector will try to remember to ask about the grave-smell when Alucard is human again.]
Is your sense of smell stronger in this form?
[He asks without any expectation of an answer, to fill the silence. Not that Hector has any regrets about what happened earlier, but wolf-form might have been more practical for their sniff-test.
He doesn't know if information is perceived or retained differently when Alucard is wolfed out, but Hector will try to remember to ask about the grave-smell when Alucard is human again.]
[It's still difficult to talk about, the pain, the guilt, the fear. Her head bows and she works to calm her breathing, to hold back the emotion that is not appropriate to express at this moment.
When she finds her calm, when she hears his hiss of breath Vanessa raises her head to regard him.]
It, it is not consistent. Sometimes she appears, or speaks to me through dreams, through the tarot.
When she finds her calm, when she hears his hiss of breath Vanessa raises her head to regard him.]
It, it is not consistent. Sometimes she appears, or speaks to me through dreams, through the tarot.
[Verdict: below the ear rubs are way better.
As for the question, the wolf nods his head in the affirmative, before it settles down. It's nice, Alucard things, resting his head atop his paws and closing his eyes. Not a bad way to spend an evening at all.]
As for the question, the wolf nods his head in the affirmative, before it settles down. It's nice, Alucard things, resting his head atop his paws and closing his eyes. Not a bad way to spend an evening at all.]
[Alucard's gut is to say that he can be of no more help. Whatever is going on, it is likely too far gone. It will require the woman Mina's death, and that is a cruel thing to voice.
But he nods along. Says nothing for a moment, then clicks his tongue softly.]
And there is no set schedule. Our stories have not touched upon such circumstances before.
But he nods along. Says nothing for a moment, then clicks his tongue softly.]
And there is no set schedule. Our stories have not touched upon such circumstances before.
[It is Vanessa's turn to nod along this time as she gazes first at him. And when she feels the heat and tears sting her eyes she diverts her look to the half empty book shelves.]
But you believe that there is no hope. That there is no way to wrench her free of the vampire's grasp but through death?
But you believe that there is no hope. That there is no way to wrench her free of the vampire's grasp but through death?
Any time the undead and the living become entangled, it ends badly.
[He says it softly. And for the first time in all of this, there's actually a note of something personal in the statement. Alucard is pointed as he averts his own gaze in an attempt to offer Vanessa an inch of privacy.]
How long has this been going on for?
[He says it softly. And for the first time in all of this, there's actually a note of something personal in the statement. Alucard is pointed as he averts his own gaze in an attempt to offer Vanessa an inch of privacy.]
How long has this been going on for?
[Hector hums in acknowledgement of the nod. He slides his hands down to rub the scruff of the wolf's neck. Alucard seems pleased with everything so far, but who knows if he's been properly petted before? Hector has to show him everything so he can have a real idea of what he likes best.
He lets his mind wander while he pets, moving from neck to shoulder blades, scratching down the spine.]
You'll have to roll over if you want belly rubs.
[He murmurs like he would to Cesar or any of his other dogs. Most of his focus is on wondering if he can get the wine bottle open with one hand.]
He lets his mind wander while he pets, moving from neck to shoulder blades, scratching down the spine.]
You'll have to roll over if you want belly rubs.
[He murmurs like he would to Cesar or any of his other dogs. Most of his focus is on wondering if he can get the wine bottle open with one hand.]
Do you have first hand experience with this?
[There is something merciful in him being as frank and honest as he is with her. It settles a cool calm on her aching heart. For the moment it feels as though she can take deep, full breaths once more.]
A month, if not longer. We fear that she is a pawn in a very awful and dangerous game.
[There is something merciful in him being as frank and honest as he is with her. It settles a cool calm on her aching heart. For the moment it feels as though she can take deep, full breaths once more.]
A month, if not longer. We fear that she is a pawn in a very awful and dangerous game.
Edited 2019-11-19 03:18 (UTC)
[ They're in a laboratory, and it looks as if a hurricane has torn through half of it. Tables are reduced to splinters, bookshelves smashed and their contents torn and scorched. What was once probably very elaborate, precise equipment now just broken glass and twisted metal on the floor.
And then the chaos ends, in one particular section. Lisa's books are left untouched. Her own equipment is still whole - recently polished, even. Her chair by the bookshelves is so untouched by the chaos that not even a splinter of wood or a fragment of torn paper has dirtied it, and its cushions have been fluffed recently.
Juliet says nothing, which is uncommon for her. She always has something to say about everything, and often a few sentences more than needs to be said to communicate. But now, now she just tugs at Alucard's arm and then reaches up, pulling his face down against her shoulder, burying it in her hair and collar so he doesn't have to see any more of this.
She'll start talking again in a moment or so, suggest that he become a bat so she can carry him through without him seeing anything more. But for now she says nothing. ]
And then the chaos ends, in one particular section. Lisa's books are left untouched. Her own equipment is still whole - recently polished, even. Her chair by the bookshelves is so untouched by the chaos that not even a splinter of wood or a fragment of torn paper has dirtied it, and its cushions have been fluffed recently.
Juliet says nothing, which is uncommon for her. She always has something to say about everything, and often a few sentences more than needs to be said to communicate. But now, now she just tugs at Alucard's arm and then reaches up, pulling his face down against her shoulder, burying it in her hair and collar so he doesn't have to see any more of this.
She'll start talking again in a moment or so, suggest that he become a bat so she can carry him through without him seeing anything more. But for now she says nothing. ]
[ It's similar, the texture of it. Thick and rough and maybe not washed as recently as it ought to have been, with tiny missed bits of leaves still there in it. Trevor reaches his free hand up unsteadily. He can't quite manage the precision of movement needed to stroke Alucard's hair, but he just about manages letting his hand flop down on the top of his head. ]
We're not dead. [ He confirms, because that's the only true, positive thing that could be said about this. ]
Away from the road. It's about a quarter-mile, but there's a bit of land that's no good for farming. Shouldn't- [ Shit, talking hurts. ] -shouldn't be anyone there.
[ As for what'll happen if the castle comes here without a building to inhabit, that's going to have to be something they figure out as they go along. He needs to go somewhere to treat this thing, and anywhere nearby has suddenly become wildly unsafe. ]
We're not dead. [ He confirms, because that's the only true, positive thing that could be said about this. ]
Away from the road. It's about a quarter-mile, but there's a bit of land that's no good for farming. Shouldn't- [ Shit, talking hurts. ] -shouldn't be anyone there.
[ As for what'll happen if the castle comes here without a building to inhabit, that's going to have to be something they figure out as they go along. He needs to go somewhere to treat this thing, and anywhere nearby has suddenly become wildly unsafe. ]
[It's the worst of the flashbacks so far. The broken glass. The feeling of just barely surviving. All of it. And that Trevor's hair may as well be his great-aunt's does nothing to help.
The dhampir is as still as the grave, unable to move. Caught between two times, screaming at both in terror for very different reasons.
We're not dead.]
Okay. [He breathes out. Centering himself. Returning to the present.] We'll go there.
[They have to move. That's good.]
Put your arms around my neck.
The dhampir is as still as the grave, unable to move. Caught between two times, screaming at both in terror for very different reasons.
We're not dead.]
Okay. [He breathes out. Centering himself. Returning to the present.] We'll go there.
[They have to move. That's good.]
Put your arms around my neck.
In my way.
[There's no point in trotting out a sob story at the moment, and so Alucard focuses on the issue at hand. Not the past. Not the aching stupidity of everything that happened because an ambitious man of the cloth wanted to advance his place in the world.]
Your instincts are likely correct. But the cat-and-mouse element is uncommon enough.
[But that is not why Alucard is being consulted.] The state the obvious part is that she needs to be found first, because you cannot apply appropriate protections to severe the bond remotely.
[There's no point in trotting out a sob story at the moment, and so Alucard focuses on the issue at hand. Not the past. Not the aching stupidity of everything that happened because an ambitious man of the cloth wanted to advance his place in the world.]
Your instincts are likely correct. But the cat-and-mouse element is uncommon enough.
[But that is not why Alucard is being consulted.] The state the obvious part is that she needs to be found first, because you cannot apply appropriate protections to severe the bond remotely.
[Belly rubs?
No, those are Trevor and Sypha privileges. Alucard instead stays curled up where he is, with a very, very happy rumble coming when Hector goes for the scruff. There's something about that spot (no Alucard, it's because it's a neck you walking cliche) that's just very good.
A happy snuffle follows. More please.]
No, those are Trevor and Sypha privileges. Alucard instead stays curled up where he is, with a very, very happy rumble coming when Hector goes for the scruff. There's something about that spot (no Alucard, it's because it's a neck you walking cliche) that's just very good.
A happy snuffle follows. More please.]
"I really don't."
Alucard could have sworn that time and again, he had made it clear to D that he took looking after guests seriously. Someone of D's circumstances deserved at least that much until a pathway home could open.
He makes sure that D is in the castle, but rather than go anywhere else, Alucard moves in the direction of D's quarters.
"Slightly. Take off your hat and let me see your hands, I need to understand how bad this is."
Alucard could have sworn that time and again, he had made it clear to D that he took looking after guests seriously. Someone of D's circumstances deserved at least that much until a pathway home could open.
He makes sure that D is in the castle, but rather than go anywhere else, Alucard moves in the direction of D's quarters.
"Slightly. Take off your hat and let me see your hands, I need to understand how bad this is."
Yeah. I can do that.
[ It's still unsteady, the way he moves his arms, and he has to move them one at a time. But he gets them around Alucard's neck, holding on as tightly as he can manage.
And it's- strange. More than most things so far. The moment was too panicked before, in the burning cottage, to appreciate the fact that this coffin man, the man he's been dragging around with him all his life, is alive. Alive and real and dragging him around in turn.
He doesn't know how to feel about being protected, but it seems. Nice. He's got a hole in him and he's bleeding and fuck if he's going to have anything close to a peaceful sleep for the next month no matter how much he drinks. And yet it's nice, to know that he can be at least a little weak right now, if only physically. ]
You're looking for a stream - you don't need to cross it. [ Alucard has already crossed water. That was very much a thing he did. They were in a boat. But still. ] Follow it until everything gets really fucking overgrown.
[ It's still unsteady, the way he moves his arms, and he has to move them one at a time. But he gets them around Alucard's neck, holding on as tightly as he can manage.
And it's- strange. More than most things so far. The moment was too panicked before, in the burning cottage, to appreciate the fact that this coffin man, the man he's been dragging around with him all his life, is alive. Alive and real and dragging him around in turn.
He doesn't know how to feel about being protected, but it seems. Nice. He's got a hole in him and he's bleeding and fuck if he's going to have anything close to a peaceful sleep for the next month no matter how much he drinks. And yet it's nice, to know that he can be at least a little weak right now, if only physically. ]
You're looking for a stream - you don't need to cross it. [ Alucard has already crossed water. That was very much a thing he did. They were in a boat. But still. ] Follow it until everything gets really fucking overgrown.
I am sorry. It is a nightmare situation that I would not wish on anyone.
[It feels as though he has let her in on some great, untouched, part of his life with his minor confession and to continue to prod would be a great unkindness after all he has shared with her this afternoon.
A wetting of her lips and another nod. He had brought this up previously and it struck her as something to return to later.]
We have nearly had him in our grasp only for him to slip through our fingers. Such is the game of cat and mouse. I was not there but she was nearly in our grasp.
[It feels as though he has let her in on some great, untouched, part of his life with his minor confession and to continue to prod would be a great unkindness after all he has shared with her this afternoon.
A wetting of her lips and another nod. He had brought this up previously and it struck her as something to return to later.]
We have nearly had him in our grasp only for him to slip through our fingers. Such is the game of cat and mouse. I was not there but she was nearly in our grasp.
"Monsters still roam the lands and attack the people here," D returns. "I can wait until Wallachia is stable again. I have time."
Millenia of it really. Even without food, D doubted it would be enough to kill him. The Sacred Ancestor had made sure his 'success' wasn't so easily ended.
At Adrian's insistence D sighed but removed his hat, setting it aside on the bed and offering his hands. Despite his efforts they still tremble slightly but otherwise there isn't a mark on him.
Millenia of it really. Even without food, D doubted it would be enough to kill him. The Sacred Ancestor had made sure his 'success' wasn't so easily ended.
At Adrian's insistence D sighed but removed his hat, setting it aside on the bed and offering his hands. Despite his efforts they still tremble slightly but otherwise there isn't a mark on him.
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