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And you expected me to take blood from an injured man who needed it more.
[He keeps walking.]
If I wanted to wipe out an entire town, I wouldn't have helped your ancestors murder my father. If that isn't enough for your insane Belmont logic, then we will never move beyond this point.
[He's gone after that. A bat. Flying back to Sypha's bed.]
[He keeps walking.]
If I wanted to wipe out an entire town, I wouldn't have helped your ancestors murder my father. If that isn't enough for your insane Belmont logic, then we will never move beyond this point.
[He's gone after that. A bat. Flying back to Sypha's bed.]
[Hector hands over a couple of large cloves. Alucard, don't kill yourself via garlic just to impress this loser.]
I am not one to skimp on garlic, but that is plenty for the size of the batch we're making. We don't want one element overwhelming it.
[He turns back to his grated cucumbers. Idiot. Hector is supposed to be instructing, not babysitting.
He gets to the end of the cucumber, and of course because he's more focused on keeping an eye on Alucard than on his task, he manages to nick his finger along with the last bit of cuke.]
Fuck.
I am not one to skimp on garlic, but that is plenty for the size of the batch we're making. We don't want one element overwhelming it.
[He turns back to his grated cucumbers. Idiot. Hector is supposed to be instructing, not babysitting.
He gets to the end of the cucumber, and of course because he's more focused on keeping an eye on Alucard than on his task, he manages to nick his finger along with the last bit of cuke.]
Fuck.
A willing man, yes! That's the only thing that matters.
[ He's just yelling at a bat now. At a bat that's flying away.
It shouldn't matter. Alucard isn't who he thought he was. He's just another person who Trevor doesn't know and whose opinion he shouldn't give a shit about. But it does. Alucard is family. The only family he has left. And to know that the only family you have is too far gone to be allowed to survive-
I wouldn't have helped your ancestors murder my father.
-oh.
He stays there, not following, waiting for Alucard to do whatever needs to be done to get this thing out of Sypha. ]
[ He's just yelling at a bat now. At a bat that's flying away.
It shouldn't matter. Alucard isn't who he thought he was. He's just another person who Trevor doesn't know and whose opinion he shouldn't give a shit about. But it does. Alucard is family. The only family he has left. And to know that the only family you have is too far gone to be allowed to survive-
I wouldn't have helped your ancestors murder my father.
-oh.
He stays there, not following, waiting for Alucard to do whatever needs to be done to get this thing out of Sypha. ]
[For a very long time, the castle is quiet.
Then it erupts all at once, shuddering and shaking and all but howling. It's heart has been ripped out of one chest, and it wants to go back, back, back to the source that it knows will keep it alive.
Alucard doesn't care. He holds the heart in his hands, moves it over his chest, snarls that awful feral snarl he heard from his father in the past.]
You made a rash choice already. This is temporary.
[It's just like dragging a kicking and screaming child. That's what Alucard tells himself as he forces the rest of the castle upon himself. Takes it all to heart, and in one awful exhale, tries to force the thing to settle.]
Manifest nothing else save a coffin. I'll rest.
[They liked him better in the coffin anyway.]
Then it erupts all at once, shuddering and shaking and all but howling. It's heart has been ripped out of one chest, and it wants to go back, back, back to the source that it knows will keep it alive.
Alucard doesn't care. He holds the heart in his hands, moves it over his chest, snarls that awful feral snarl he heard from his father in the past.]
You made a rash choice already. This is temporary.
[It's just like dragging a kicking and screaming child. That's what Alucard tells himself as he forces the rest of the castle upon himself. Takes it all to heart, and in one awful exhale, tries to force the thing to settle.]
Manifest nothing else save a coffin. I'll rest.
[They liked him better in the coffin anyway.]
[ Naturally, the castle being a difficult fuck, the castle manifests a coffin that is built into the floor. He couldn't drag it along if he tried. Which means they need to come back here once they find somewhere. Which means they have less time.
Sypha wakes in the morning whole and human and not nearly keen enough, in Trevor's opinion, to start wearing clothes again. He convinces her, fusses over her for the morning, but by afternoon she's impatient to leave even if she isn't really well enough to be walking around yet.
The journey to London is slower with her still recovering. It's three days instead of one with frequent breaks to make sure she's eating a little every hour or so and resting enough. But they're lucky. The spiritualist's house may not have been ungodly enough before Sypha walked into it, but it was certainly ungodly enough after. And the line doesn't run through it, but it runs close enough that static electricity gathers in Sypha's clothes and hair. She'll need to find a way to work off that excess magical energy once she's less drained - right now she probably needs all she can get - but they can figure that out later. The issue is just getting back to Alucard.
Trevor goes alone. They're short on time, and Sypha still isn't well enough to travel quickly and they don't have that much time left. It means leaving her alone in a strange city, which isn't ideal, but she has access to magic enough to hopefully defend herself.
He knocks on the coffin, because that's how you interact with coffins I guess. ]
Sypha wakes in the morning whole and human and not nearly keen enough, in Trevor's opinion, to start wearing clothes again. He convinces her, fusses over her for the morning, but by afternoon she's impatient to leave even if she isn't really well enough to be walking around yet.
The journey to London is slower with her still recovering. It's three days instead of one with frequent breaks to make sure she's eating a little every hour or so and resting enough. But they're lucky. The spiritualist's house may not have been ungodly enough before Sypha walked into it, but it was certainly ungodly enough after. And the line doesn't run through it, but it runs close enough that static electricity gathers in Sypha's clothes and hair. She'll need to find a way to work off that excess magical energy once she's less drained - right now she probably needs all she can get - but they can figure that out later. The issue is just getting back to Alucard.
Trevor goes alone. They're short on time, and Sypha still isn't well enough to travel quickly and they don't have that much time left. It means leaving her alone in a strange city, which isn't ideal, but she has access to magic enough to hopefully defend herself.
He knocks on the coffin, because that's how you interact with coffins I guess. ]
[ The thing that approaches Alucard, stalking closer and closer, is not Dracula. It is not any part of Dracula that he has ever known. Not the loving father and not the vengeful widower. It's a thing of bones and rotting flesh and ash, the centuries-old corpse of Mathias Cronqvist animated by the grudges of all he hurt.
It moves closer, slowly, shuddering, dissolving into ash around the stake as it reaches out for Alucard.
Something peices through it, stopping a hair's bredth from Alucard before it pulls back. The wraith is lit from within for a moment. And then it burns away from the inside. Burns into ash and a single wedding ring. ]
God- oh god- please tell me I didn't hit you with that. No, you're still there. Good. That's good. I-
[ Juliet's tone drops, and her slightly pannicked babbling fades into quietness. She drags herself into the room, bloody and bruised and one arm hanging broken and useless at her side but still mostly whole. She drops the morning star, moving over to Alucard. Taking his hand with her one good one. ]
-I'm so sorry.
[ She squeezes, then lets the energy leave her. Falls to her knees in exhaustion in the ruined bedroom, extending her arm to Alucard to offer comfort. ]
This was- best for him. If he was the man she loved, if he was more than my family thought he was, he wouldn't have wanted to become this. You did him a kindness.
It moves closer, slowly, shuddering, dissolving into ash around the stake as it reaches out for Alucard.
Something peices through it, stopping a hair's bredth from Alucard before it pulls back. The wraith is lit from within for a moment. And then it burns away from the inside. Burns into ash and a single wedding ring. ]
God- oh god- please tell me I didn't hit you with that. No, you're still there. Good. That's good. I-
[ Juliet's tone drops, and her slightly pannicked babbling fades into quietness. She drags herself into the room, bloody and bruised and one arm hanging broken and useless at her side but still mostly whole. She drops the morning star, moving over to Alucard. Taking his hand with her one good one. ]
-I'm so sorry.
[ She squeezes, then lets the energy leave her. Falls to her knees in exhaustion in the ruined bedroom, extending her arm to Alucard to offer comfort. ]
This was- best for him. If he was the man she loved, if he was more than my family thought he was, he wouldn't have wanted to become this. You did him a kindness.
[In that moment Juliet reaches him, Alucard says nothing. He only takes her hand, trying not to focused on how battered and bruised she is. Or he is for that matter, for the dhampir is just as unsteady as the Belmont, shaking and terrified and so, so beyond any emotion he's experienced before.]
They're both gone.
[He whispers that, and then the memory is no more. Darkness embraces the dhampir, and oh, what a relief that is. It grows heavier as the days pass. Warmer. Safer in it's way, and Alucard is sure it is consuming him. Even as the castle tries not to. Even as it runs on it's lowest setting.
It takes effort to force the coffin lid open. Some of it is from the exhaustion, but the rest is a desire to keep away from the world.
What Trevor sees below him is a skinnier Alucard, flesh hanging from bones, cheeks thin, color all but gone. A vision of what Alucard might be like if he truly took after his father.]
The work is done?
They're both gone.
[He whispers that, and then the memory is no more. Darkness embraces the dhampir, and oh, what a relief that is. It grows heavier as the days pass. Warmer. Safer in it's way, and Alucard is sure it is consuming him. Even as the castle tries not to. Even as it runs on it's lowest setting.
It takes effort to force the coffin lid open. Some of it is from the exhaustion, but the rest is a desire to keep away from the world.
What Trevor sees below him is a skinnier Alucard, flesh hanging from bones, cheeks thin, color all but gone. A vision of what Alucard might be like if he truly took after his father.]
The work is done?
It is. She's still there. Will you be able to move the castle, if you can use her as a guide?
[ He looks worse. Worse than Sypha was after this long. As bad as she had been after a month. Fuck, it's a good job they left Sypha behind. ]
[ He looks worse. Worse than Sypha was after this long. As bad as she had been after a month. Fuck, it's a good job they left Sypha behind. ]
Yes. If she can reach out, then the castle will do the rest. It'll recognize her and hone in on where she is.
[It'll be exhausting. But so be it.]
If I survive that, then the castle will graft onto whatever room or building you've chosen. Just as before. Do you have any other questions?
[It'll be exhausting. But so be it.]
If I survive that, then the castle will graft onto whatever room or building you've chosen. Just as before. Do you have any other questions?
Just one more.
[ He’s been thinking about this one a lot for the last few days now. ]
Promise you won’t do it again, and I’ll stop with the ‘killing you’ thing. Fair?
[ He’s been thinking about this one a lot for the last few days now. ]
Promise you won’t do it again, and I’ll stop with the ‘killing you’ thing. Fair?
[Alucard breathes out. Someone saw sense, but he keeps those thoughts and all the others at bay. He only nods once.]
I only ever intended to do it once.
[Which Trevor MIGHT HAVE KNOWN EARLIER but you know.]
Close the coffin lid. Should this all be managed, I will need blood. Sausage form will do.
I only ever intended to do it once.
[Which Trevor MIGHT HAVE KNOWN EARLIER but you know.]
Close the coffin lid. Should this all be managed, I will need blood. Sausage form will do.
Elisabeta.
[It's maybe the hundrenth time that Alucard has said his daughter's name in the space of two hours. It's also not the first or even second night that he's carried around a howling wolf cub in the house, bouncing her up and down. Offering chew toys. Trying to play with her as a wolf. Howling with her as a wolf.
None of it has worked, because upon discovering that howling is a thing she can do it's been the only thing Elisabeta has wanted to do.
In the basement, because the basement is at least sound proofed, Alucard sits down and puts her in his lap. She's a fluffy little creature like this, a far cry from the toddler with her mother's hair (with father's hair texture) who's already too good at running around the house and causing joyful chaos.]
Please. Please no more howling, we all have headaches.
[It's maybe the hundrenth time that Alucard has said his daughter's name in the space of two hours. It's also not the first or even second night that he's carried around a howling wolf cub in the house, bouncing her up and down. Offering chew toys. Trying to play with her as a wolf. Howling with her as a wolf.
None of it has worked, because upon discovering that howling is a thing she can do it's been the only thing Elisabeta has wanted to do.
In the basement, because the basement is at least sound proofed, Alucard sits down and puts her in his lap. She's a fluffy little creature like this, a far cry from the toddler with her mother's hair (with father's hair texture) who's already too good at running around the house and causing joyful chaos.]
Please. Please no more howling, we all have headaches.
[ He says nothing, just heaves the lid back onto the coffin. Still hurt, still angry, but at least no longer destructively so. ]
[She's terribly wordy, isn't she?
It is a very rude thought, and for that much, Alucard chides himself. The rest though, the rest means he keeps staring at the Belmont and listening to what is frankly an insane plan. And a business proposition if he's heard it all right: guide the Belmont through the castle and make sure they both survive, and that'll be that.
She's not joking, so he doesn't ask that. Instead he asks:]
Do you truly believe that here, now, in this moment, you are equipped to remotely fight my father?
It is a very rude thought, and for that much, Alucard chides himself. The rest though, the rest means he keeps staring at the Belmont and listening to what is frankly an insane plan. And a business proposition if he's heard it all right: guide the Belmont through the castle and make sure they both survive, and that'll be that.
She's not joking, so he doesn't ask that. Instead he asks:]
Do you truly believe that here, now, in this moment, you are equipped to remotely fight my father?
I was only trying to get a gauge.
[And make a point. Alucard goes about working with the garlic with no issue at all, seemingly all too content doing the work. He almost hums as he works.
A sudden sharp scent fills the air. Alucard's nostrils flare.]
Bandages are in the cabinet to your right. Second shelf. It'll be int he first aid kit.
[And make a point. Alucard goes about working with the garlic with no issue at all, seemingly all too content doing the work. He almost hums as he works.
A sudden sharp scent fills the air. Alucard's nostrils flare.]
Bandages are in the cabinet to your right. Second shelf. It'll be int he first aid kit.
Well, I can always offer the recipe.
[It doesn't even have to be a secret. Alucard simply sits there, folding his hands in his lap and quietly nodding along.]
I cook myself as well. It has helped me become familiar with all the markets here in London. Your butchers are very friendly.
[It doesn't even have to be a secret. Alucard simply sits there, folding his hands in his lap and quietly nodding along.]
I cook myself as well. It has helped me become familiar with all the markets here in London. Your butchers are very friendly.
"No." The correction is immediate and cold. This? This is territory Alucard has worked to stay away from. D's stampeding into it. "I experienced things and made a choice to be here and to associate with the humans I associate with."
Beyond that, D is fixed with narrowed eyebrows and a thin, unhappy frown on Alucard's face.
"I'm closing the door on this conversation."
Beyond that, D is fixed with narrowed eyebrows and a thin, unhappy frown on Alucard's face.
"I'm closing the door on this conversation."
And ruin the fun? You would never.
[Despite being delivered with knowing smirk she is not certain at all. It's a pragmatic solution and he certainly seems like a pragmatic gentleman.
Among other things.]
Truly. What is your favorite dish for you to make then, when you're feeling in a mood.
[Despite being delivered with knowing smirk she is not certain at all. It's a pragmatic solution and he certainly seems like a pragmatic gentleman.
Among other things.]
Truly. What is your favorite dish for you to make then, when you're feeling in a mood.
Anyone else might have accepted the note of finality in Adrian's voice, but D often pushed where he wasn't wanted and this struck him as no different. The worst he could imagine this coming to was a fight or Adrian asking him to leave, neither of which carried much threat to him.
"So you stay here, away from the world, and keep humanity at large at a distance," he continues, pressing on with the same calm, relentless tone. "Choosing only a few to see as worth your time. It seems you take more after him than your mother in that respect."
His eyes narrow slightly. "And when the Belmonts are dead, when all you have is empty rooms and forgotten legacy, what need will you have for humanity then? What will you think of them all when that day comes?"
"So you stay here, away from the world, and keep humanity at large at a distance," he continues, pressing on with the same calm, relentless tone. "Choosing only a few to see as worth your time. It seems you take more after him than your mother in that respect."
His eyes narrow slightly. "And when the Belmonts are dead, when all you have is empty rooms and forgotten legacy, what need will you have for humanity then? What will you think of them all when that day comes?"
[Yes, Hector can see how tough and not affected by vampire stereotypes Alucard is. He’ll be sun tanning next.
Hector sucks on his finger on the way to first aid kit, tasting cucumber and blood, at least he didn’t get any mixed in with the grated cucumber. Once he cleans the grater and throws that last bloody stump of the vegetable...and bandages his finger, a distant third concern...the damage will be undone.
He washes his hand and wraps up his finger with a little strip of cloth. There, good as new.]
Come watch this next step. It’s important. We need to drain the cucumber before we add it in.
Hector sucks on his finger on the way to first aid kit, tasting cucumber and blood, at least he didn’t get any mixed in with the grated cucumber. Once he cleans the grater and throws that last bloody stump of the vegetable...and bandages his finger, a distant third concern...the damage will be undone.
He washes his hand and wraps up his finger with a little strip of cloth. There, good as new.]
Come watch this next step. It’s important. We need to drain the cucumber before we add it in.
Didn't even know pomeranians could howl.
[ She's not really a pomeranian. But she's a very, very small wolf with Sypha's red, flyaway hair, and the difference is a matter of semantics. He fights back a yawn as he sits down on the floor next to Alucard's chair, reaching up to try to pat her. Predictably, she howls at him. ]
That's just rude, Lisbet. [ Belmont reflexes, he manages to boop her nose in between howls. That gets him, guess what, more howling. ] She's finally managed to get back to sleep. Came down here to warn you.
[ She's not really a pomeranian. But she's a very, very small wolf with Sypha's red, flyaway hair, and the difference is a matter of semantics. He fights back a yawn as he sits down on the floor next to Alucard's chair, reaching up to try to pat her. Predictably, she howls at him. ]
That's just rude, Lisbet. [ Belmont reflexes, he manages to boop her nose in between howls. That gets him, guess what, more howling. ] She's finally managed to get back to sleep. Came down here to warn you.
Trevor, you're only helping her case for being a noise box.
[Alucard sighs, at least petting the back of the wolf cub's back which, on occassion, seems to mute the howling. At least for .5 seconds.]
We'll stay down here then, so at least one of us can sleep.
[Sypha's the only one really working right now - Alucard's requested two weeks of vacation time for looking after Elisabeta, and it has ended up being perfectly timed.]
I'm so close to calling my father for advice on the matter now.
[Alucard sighs, at least petting the back of the wolf cub's back which, on occassion, seems to mute the howling. At least for .5 seconds.]
We'll stay down here then, so at least one of us can sleep.
[Sypha's the only one really working right now - Alucard's requested two weeks of vacation time for looking after Elisabeta, and it has ended up being perfectly timed.]
I'm so close to calling my father for advice on the matter now.
[MAYBE HE WILL.
Or maybe he'll just make a point of not reacting to the smell of blood in the air. Until Hector's back is turned. And he checks the grater for any blood.
Nope. He wasn't gonna lick it or anything that'd be gross.]
Does that require cheese cloth or something else?
Or maybe he'll just make a point of not reacting to the smell of blood in the air. Until Hector's back is turned. And he checks the grater for any blood.
Nope. He wasn't gonna lick it or anything that'd be gross.]
Does that require cheese cloth or something else?
I might consider it if it was going to truly lead to ruin.
[She's got him on pragmatic, that much is certain.]
Mmm. Well, I've a fondness for blood sausage, but that's not something I'd count as cooking exactly. Stufat is our version of a lamb stew that's rather heavy on garlic and makes the house smell quite pleasant.
[She's got him on pragmatic, that much is certain.]
Mmm. Well, I've a fondness for blood sausage, but that's not something I'd count as cooking exactly. Stufat is our version of a lamb stew that's rather heavy on garlic and makes the house smell quite pleasant.
Alucard's frown deepens. He shouldn't be surprised that D has ignored the request to stop the discussion. That lack of surprise doesn't erase the hurt of it, or the truly sour tone that comes out of the dhampir's mouth next.
"D, I said this conversation is over."
The finality brushes against something angrier. One that also suggests that D?
D has hit way too close to home.
"Go recover. I have work to do."
"D, I said this conversation is over."
The finality brushes against something angrier. One that also suggests that D?
D has hit way too close to home.
"Go recover. I have work to do."
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