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Well, I won't say anything if you won't.
[It's a very silly secret, but the whole conversation is silly. The tone of it is a pleasant contrast to the moments before and, indeed, now.]
Yes, I do. The home is small, and I prefer to look after my own affairs rather than use another's labor.
[It's a very silly secret, but the whole conversation is silly. The tone of it is a pleasant contrast to the moments before and, indeed, now.]
Yes, I do. The home is small, and I prefer to look after my own affairs rather than use another's labor.
[Well yes Hector, yes they are.]
How many cloves then? Half a head?
[Alucard holds his hand out and wiggles his fingers. Give garlic plz and thank.]
How many cloves then? Half a head?
[Alucard holds his hand out and wiggles his fingers. Give garlic plz and thank.]
Alucard's next response is flat. It strives to lack emotions, and even then, it is hard.
"An ambitious man of the Church was responsible for my mother's murder. A crowd egged it all on. I will honor and respect my mother's love of humanity, and I will love who I choose, but I cannot and will not approach a whole society."
Lisa's murder had only been the beginning though. The start of the so-called Burning Times. Alucard watched the books about witches be published. Saw the Reformation make it worse. Grieved because his pain was no longer an isolated pain, and that was unfair to so many more people.
"An ambitious man of the Church was responsible for my mother's murder. A crowd egged it all on. I will honor and respect my mother's love of humanity, and I will love who I choose, but I cannot and will not approach a whole society."
Lisa's murder had only been the beginning though. The start of the so-called Burning Times. Alucard watched the books about witches be published. Saw the Reformation make it worse. Grieved because his pain was no longer an isolated pain, and that was unfair to so many more people.
[In all of this, Alucard understands one important point. The most important. The one that makes everything harder. The castle wants to live. To keep existing. To be. And God if it wouldn't be easier if it wanted to rest now, rest like Alucard does. They could both fade away, and trouble the Belmont and the Speaker no more.
Alucard sighs. Runs his hands over the stone floor, and doesn't even pretend to be surprised when silent tears hit the floor.]
I don't know if I can give you any of those things. I doubt I can give anything at all now.
Alucard sighs. Runs his hands over the stone floor, and doesn't even pretend to be surprised when silent tears hit the floor.]
I don't know if I can give you any of those things. I doubt I can give anything at all now.
[ The speaker's eyes are still closed when she stands, placing a hand softly on Alucard's head. The castle can try to offer comfort, right now. It has the capacity. It has the speaker's memories and knows what comfort is. ]
I wish to be what I was. [ It's using Sypha's voice, but Sypha would never have such difficulties with words. It pauses between each one, struggling to speak in a human tongue. ] At your side or at your father's.
I wish to be what I was. [ It's using Sypha's voice, but Sypha would never have such difficulties with words. It pauses between each one, struggling to speak in a human tongue. ] At your side or at your father's.
A secret Baklava affair. How scandalous!
[Out of all the secrets in the world Vanessa must hold in her heart that one may be the easiest. Her smiles are lighter, more frequent now.]
I was surprised when you greeted me at the door. You're a unique man, Mr. Tepes, I cannot recall any other man that I have met that does not have help. Do you cook your own meals, or are you a member of a club?
[Out of all the secrets in the world Vanessa must hold in her heart that one may be the easiest. Her smiles are lighter, more frequent now.]
I was surprised when you greeted me at the door. You're a unique man, Mr. Tepes, I cannot recall any other man that I have met that does not have help. Do you cook your own meals, or are you a member of a club?
D listened silently, no longer pushing now he felt that he had gotten some of what he'd been seeking.
"So that's it," he murmured. "Maybe we're not that different after all."
A faint smile touched his lips and D sank back in the chair, letting some of the exhaustion win out in a small way. "For all your talk of moving on and not resigning myself to my fate, you've done exactly the same and resigned yourself to living here, apart from everyone."
"So that's it," he murmured. "Maybe we're not that different after all."
A faint smile touched his lips and D sank back in the chair, letting some of the exhaustion win out in a small way. "For all your talk of moving on and not resigning myself to my fate, you've done exactly the same and resigned yourself to living here, apart from everyone."
Sit. Let her rest, please.
[He doesn't want comfort. That much Alucard knows, because why does he deserve any of it? He's a patricide. Among so many other errors.]
I can't have you take a life. You know my mother would be furious.
[He doesn't want comfort. That much Alucard knows, because why does he deserve any of it? He's a patricide. Among so many other errors.]
I can't have you take a life. You know my mother would be furious.
She would. But she is not here. She will not return.
[ The castle's tone doesn't change - that's a human subtlety that it can't even begin to manage. But the energy of the building swells with some sort of feeling.
The castle does sit, at least, even if it struggles a little with the concept. Butt on bed, it manages. It can't quite figure out what one does with the legs. Eventually it gathers them up against its chest, using them to shield its spinning heart. That is probably what one uses legs for. ]
I refuse to die. Should the speaker be the price of that, so be it.
[ The castle's tone doesn't change - that's a human subtlety that it can't even begin to manage. But the energy of the building swells with some sort of feeling.
The castle does sit, at least, even if it struggles a little with the concept. Butt on bed, it manages. It can't quite figure out what one does with the legs. Eventually it gathers them up against its chest, using them to shield its spinning heart. That is probably what one uses legs for. ]
I refuse to die. Should the speaker be the price of that, so be it.
[Alucard at least walks over and gets Sypha's legs lying down. Tucks her back in again. She's warm and cold in all the worst ways and it needs to stop.]
No. Nor will he. But I would have you honor her wishes, above mine or his.
[He's firm on at least that much.]
Castle. What if I no longer live? What then?
No. Nor will he. But I would have you honor her wishes, above mine or his.
[He's firm on at least that much.]
Castle. What if I no longer live? What then?
[ It tilts Sypha's head to one side. Surely the answer is obvious. ]
I will find a new master. I will reveal myself to the vampires of the world and allow them to go to war over me. Whoever claims me, I will serve them.
[ It goes silent for a while, and then Sypha's body goes still. Once again it speaks solely in information, not words.
The Belmont approaches, it says. Should it bar the doors? ]
I will find a new master. I will reveal myself to the vampires of the world and allow them to go to war over me. Whoever claims me, I will serve them.
[ It goes silent for a while, and then Sypha's body goes still. Once again it speaks solely in information, not words.
The Belmont approaches, it says. Should it bar the doors? ]
No. I do not give you permission to do that. They'll treat you as a trophy and nothing more.
[He's firm about that much and--
ugh.]
Fine. But let me get to the door first. He and I need to speak.
[He's firm about that much and--
ugh.]
Fine. But let me get to the door first. He and I need to speak.
[ The castle goes silent.
It's expanded itself since Alucard was here last, but it's still nowhere as large as it was. It takes a minute or so to reach the door, and by this time Trevor is hammering on the thing. ]
Sypha! Sypha, open up! Shit, what's wrong?
[ The doors have never kept him out before. This has to mean that Sypha's got sicker, right? ]
It's expanded itself since Alucard was here last, but it's still nowhere as large as it was. It takes a minute or so to reach the door, and by this time Trevor is hammering on the thing. ]
Sypha! Sypha, open up! Shit, what's wrong?
[ The doors have never kept him out before. This has to mean that Sypha's got sicker, right? ]
[Alucard gets to the great hall.
And then he says to hell with it, and opens the door himself.]
She is as fine as circumstances allow for.
And then he says to hell with it, and opens the door himself.]
She is as fine as circumstances allow for.
[ Trevor looks exhausted. He is exhausted. Even as close as they can safely manage the journey's a long one, and he tries to make it back after his work without rest so as to not leave Sypha alone too long while she's ill.
He's also splattered with blood and ash, though he doesn't seem to be injured enough for it to be his own. ]
You're back.
[ For a single, unguarded moment he sounds happy about that, reaching out to touch Alucard's shoulder for a few seconds before he remembers how fucking furious he is with this vampire. He repeats himself, more businesslike. ]
You're back.
He's also splattered with blood and ash, though he doesn't seem to be injured enough for it to be his own. ]
You're back.
[ For a single, unguarded moment he sounds happy about that, reaching out to touch Alucard's shoulder for a few seconds before he remembers how fucking furious he is with this vampire. He repeats himself, more businesslike. ]
You're back.
Only to solve the current problem.
[Alucard is nothing but business. The ice well that another Sypha in another time described him as. Wanting to move through this and then be done. Done with these two at least. The castle too, although that thought adds a new level of guilt. Done with everything. He can go be a wolf in the woods and forget he was ever anything but.]
I will leave when that is concluded, presuming the circumstances do not destroy me first. I have a plan if you are willing to listen.
[Alucard is nothing but business. The ice well that another Sypha in another time described him as. Wanting to move through this and then be done. Done with these two at least. The castle too, although that thought adds a new level of guilt. Done with everything. He can go be a wolf in the woods and forget he was ever anything but.]
I will leave when that is concluded, presuming the circumstances do not destroy me first. I have a plan if you are willing to listen.
[ Is he 'the circumstances'? There is a 90% chance he is the circumstances. ]
I'm listening.
[ He's listening while working, at least, tossing a heavy bag down in the entrance way and fishing through it to retrieve a tiny bundle of wax cloth. He stands again, gesturing to a doorway that wasn't there when Alucard was here last. A laboratory, the castle helpfully provides. ]
I can listen while I walk.
I'm listening.
[ He's listening while working, at least, tossing a heavy bag down in the entrance way and fishing through it to retrieve a tiny bundle of wax cloth. He stands again, gesturing to a doorway that wasn't there when Alucard was here last. A laboratory, the castle helpfully provides. ]
I can listen while I walk.
[Alucard ignores the blood and ash. Ignores everything about Trevor, about the bag. Why there's wax cloth. All of it isn't important.
Moreover, and this is the important part: he doesn't care.}
Fine.
[He doesn't like that doorway. Doesn't like that it means using Sypha's energy.]
The castle needs energy to endure until it exist on it's own. The buildings were fine, but the circumstances changed and it moved to Sypha as a host because of her strong will. But even that is limited, and that is why we are in the current situation now.
If a location in London can be found on or atop a leyline, then all will be well. In the mean time, I can take the castle from her.
[As almost an afterthought, he adds:] I'll have a week at most before that kills me. I'll find a coffin and rest for that week.
Saves you the trouble if all fails.
Moreover, and this is the important part: he doesn't care.}
Fine.
[He doesn't like that doorway. Doesn't like that it means using Sypha's energy.]
The castle needs energy to endure until it exist on it's own. The buildings were fine, but the circumstances changed and it moved to Sypha as a host because of her strong will. But even that is limited, and that is why we are in the current situation now.
If a location in London can be found on or atop a leyline, then all will be well. In the mean time, I can take the castle from her.
[As almost an afterthought, he adds:] I'll have a week at most before that kills me. I'll find a coffin and rest for that week.
Saves you the trouble if all fails.
[ He takes something from the cloth and places it under a mircoscope, looking it over, and then compares it to something else from the table. ]
Well, shit.
[ But he can, in fact, listen while working, and he looks over at Alucard. ]
I just need to find a place to put the castle, and- she'll be okay?
Well, shit.
[ But he can, in fact, listen while working, and he looks over at Alucard. ]
I just need to find a place to put the castle, and- she'll be okay?
I have to take the castle's heart from her, but yes.
[Alucard stays at the doorway. Wanting to get away.]
Like I said. It won't matter if it all goes to shit after I do that.
[Alucard stays at the doorway. Wanting to get away.]
Like I said. It won't matter if it all goes to shit after I do that.
Then do it. I'm renting a room from a bunch of spiritualists in the city. That's ungodly enough for the castle, right?
[ He finishes mounting whatever it was he took out of that cloth to a microscope slide and putting it alongside the other thing he was looking at. There's no particular order to it. ]
I'm getting the feeling you're upset about the killing you thing.
[ He finishes mounting whatever it was he took out of that cloth to a microscope slide and putting it alongside the other thing he was looking at. There's no particular order to it. ]
I'm getting the feeling you're upset about the killing you thing.
See if it's atop a leyline. It'll help.
[Alucard ignores the fact that Trevor's order is awful. Nope. No snide comments.]
Belmont, I don't care at this point. I genuinely don't. There is nothing anchoring me to this world, and there has not been for centuries.
[Alucard ignores the fact that Trevor's order is awful. Nope. No snide comments.]
Belmont, I don't care at this point. I genuinely don't. There is nothing anchoring me to this world, and there has not been for centuries.
I'll have her look at it once she's well enough. I've always had a shitty eye for those things.
[ Okay, that hurts a little. Enough to actually look at Alucard for a moment. He's furious and betrayed, yes, but he'd cared about Alucard before that. Cared about what he'd thought was Alucard, at least. It's stupid, but it's a little shitty to think that that didn't matter. ]
Nothing. Right.
[ He looks away, in the direction of Sypha's room. ]
Go- do whatever you have to do with the heart, then. I've missed dragging a coffin around. Did wonders for my arms.
[ Okay, that hurts a little. Enough to actually look at Alucard for a moment. He's furious and betrayed, yes, but he'd cared about Alucard before that. Cared about what he'd thought was Alucard, at least. It's stupid, but it's a little shitty to think that that didn't matter. ]
Nothing. Right.
[ He looks away, in the direction of Sypha's room. ]
Go- do whatever you have to do with the heart, then. I've missed dragging a coffin around. Did wonders for my arms.
Belmont. You're actively trying to kill me.
[It's the most he'll admit to noticing the hurt. After that, he begins to walk away.]
Leave the coffin in the castle. If I'm going to die, I'd rather be here. As the stories said I was.
[It's the most he'll admit to noticing the hurt. After that, he begins to walk away.]
Leave the coffin in the castle. If I'm going to die, I'd rather be here. As the stories said I was.
What did you expect me to do? You could wipe out entire towns if you wanted to, and the only things I can do about that are to kill you or trust that you won't. You've proven that you don't mind hurting people. How the fuck am I supposed to trust you after that?
[ He's talking at Alucard's back, now. ]
[ He's talking at Alucard's back, now. ]
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