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[ The bear continues to make himself scarce for the next fortnight. He can be found in his garden, preparing for spring, and in his den but he doesn't go seek out Alucard for any reason and tries to keep to himself. Food still arrives at Alucard's door - deer, rabbits, the occasional birds or boar. Firewood, too.
When the blizzard begins, there's suddenly a lot more of the latter. More vegetables, in order to make some use of plants that the snow is certain to kill off.
Until things stop arriving, around the fourth day of the snow. ]
When the blizzard begins, there's suddenly a lot more of the latter. More vegetables, in order to make some use of plants that the snow is certain to kill off.
Until things stop arriving, around the fourth day of the snow. ]
[Alucard makes the wheeled platform for Sypha first. She has four small wheels, a support in the back, and strong rope so she can be pulled with ease. She goes from bedroom to library to back, and those are the rooms Alucard is in most days.
He cooks. Leaves some of that cooked food out for the bear, sometimes walking it over to the den when he can and then---
--the snows begin. Alucard knows a bear is warm, but then he realizes how close it is to the new moon. Then there's nothing at the door on the first night and--]
I'm going out.
[He says it to no one, and he takes his wolf form. It's warmer. Easier to deal with the snow.
The den is the first place he goes.]
He cooks. Leaves some of that cooked food out for the bear, sometimes walking it over to the den when he can and then---
--the snows begin. Alucard knows a bear is warm, but then he realizes how close it is to the new moon. Then there's nothing at the door on the first night and--]
I'm going out.
[He says it to no one, and he takes his wolf form. It's warmer. Easier to deal with the snow.
The den is the first place he goes.]
[ The bear is not there.
But something is. A human with roses growing through his skin on one side, large and hirsute and curled into a tight ball and half-frozen. He's breathing, but he's not responsive. ]
But something is. A human with roses growing through his skin on one side, large and hirsute and curled into a tight ball and half-frozen. He's breathing, but he's not responsive. ]
[The wolf sniffs the air.
Smells bear-ish, like how Alucard smells in wolf form versus not. The fur note is an undercurrent now, and the wolf? The wolf approaches the human carefully. Nudges at his side, making a soft whimpering noise.]
Smells bear-ish, like how Alucard smells in wolf form versus not. The fur note is an undercurrent now, and the wolf? The wolf approaches the human carefully. Nudges at his side, making a soft whimpering noise.]
[ Despite the layer of frost that Alucard's nose pushes away, his skin is hot to the touch in a way that fever couldn't account for. Almost painfully so. He doesn't stir, that takes too much energy, but a raspy voice comes from somewhere behind a mess of long, matted, knotted hair. ]
Go back to your quarters. This'll- this is good. You'll both be free to leave soon.
Go back to your quarters. This'll- this is good. You'll both be free to leave soon.
[There's a huff. Then a louder whine as the wolf's paws start to try and dig the man out of the snow.
Free isn't fair to the man. Dying cold and alone is no fair death to anyone.]
Free isn't fair to the man. Dying cold and alone is no fair death to anyone.]
You're going to freeze. Just go. I want this.
[ It's hard to see with the frozen mess of hair obscuring his face, but he's frowning. This is annoying. Talking is hard. Standing to push the wolf way is impossible right now. He's so close, so close to being rid of this curse, and he can't do it because the cold makes it impossible to be rid of this wolf. Ugh. ]
[ It's hard to see with the frozen mess of hair obscuring his face, but he's frowning. This is annoying. Talking is hard. Standing to push the wolf way is impossible right now. He's so close, so close to being rid of this curse, and he can't do it because the cold makes it impossible to be rid of this wolf. Ugh. ]
[That gets a louder whine. Unhappy and distressed, nose now brushing over Trevor's face. Warm(ish) breath against all that hair.]
Rrrrf.
Rrrrf.
Why?
[ That's a little more pained. This isn't fair, he almost managed. He could have just slept and never woken up. It would have been as painless as anything like this could be.
He tries to move his arm, bringing it maybe an inch closer to the wolf. ]
What do you want?
[ That's a little more pained. This isn't fair, he almost managed. He could have just slept and never woken up. It would have been as painless as anything like this could be.
He tries to move his arm, bringing it maybe an inch closer to the wolf. ]
What do you want?
[...Ugh, words can't happen as a wolf. Alucard sighs, giving up and resuming his human form.]
Resolution. Real resolution, not a random man dying a cold, lonely death in the middle of the snow.
Resolution. Real resolution, not a random man dying a cold, lonely death in the middle of the snow.
[ He sighs. He doesn't have the strength for this. Just let him die, Alucard. ]
Do what you wish. I can't stop you.
Do what you wish. I can't stop you.
Why do you want this death so badly?
[He asks as he just hefts up the Bearmont like he's a grape. A grape one has to princess carry.]
[He asks as he just hefts up the Bearmont like he's a grape. A grape one has to princess carry.]
[ His skin is burning hot to the touch, though it immediately becomes cooler as he's pulled away from the bottom of the old fireplace. By the time he's in the air, it's started to grow cold. A few footsteps away and it's at around the right coldness is probably ought to be at. ]
Hurts.
[ Is all he can manage in response, at first. And really, that could be the full answer. He has thorns growing out of his skin, it's unpleasant. But more than that- ]
We fight monsters. That doesn't stop just because we become them.
Hurts.
[ Is all he can manage in response, at first. And really, that could be the full answer. He has thorns growing out of his skin, it's unpleasant. But more than that- ]
We fight monsters. That doesn't stop just because we become them.
[Alucard can tell that Trevor's temperature isn't right at all, but he has to ignore it. It is a matter for later, because now? Now the goal is to get inside.
Hurts, he says. We fight monsters he says, and that confirms he is indeed a Belmont. Not just some bear that sprung up from the curse.
Holding Trevor close means that the thorns scratch against Alucard. He's careful with that. As he walks through the door to his wing. As he heads to the washroom Alucard uses as little as he can because it doesn't have real plumbing.]
And you want the fight to be over?
Hurts, he says. We fight monsters he says, and that confirms he is indeed a Belmont. Not just some bear that sprung up from the curse.
Holding Trevor close means that the thorns scratch against Alucard. He's careful with that. As he walks through the door to his wing. As he heads to the washroom Alucard uses as little as he can because it doesn't have real plumbing.]
And you want the fight to be over?
It is over. We lost.
[ It's warmer. It's so warm here, and while he can still barely move already he can feel his body restarting. Blood finally moving into his fingers and toes again. It's a relief as much as it is infuriating. ]
I just want to rest.
[ It's warmer. It's so warm here, and while he can still barely move already he can feel his body restarting. Blood finally moving into his fingers and toes again. It's a relief as much as it is infuriating. ]
I just want to rest.
Is that why you told me to tell my father that he would only collect remains?
[Alucard sets the man down in the empty wash tub. It's an old, chipped thing but it's more than enough. There are two buckets beside the tub, and they're already warmed. (Alucard has figured out how to make hot water quickly. And keep it warm.)
The water goes in. Slowly. Carefully. Warming limbs is important.]
[Alucard sets the man down in the empty wash tub. It's an old, chipped thing but it's more than enough. There are two buckets beside the tub, and they're already warmed. (Alucard has figured out how to make hot water quickly. And keep it warm.)
The water goes in. Slowly. Carefully. Warming limbs is important.]
[ Well fuck, he hasn't been in one of these in- he doesn't remember ever being in one of these. Bathing doesn't traditionally happen to him. ]
The speaker hesitated. He- ugh, shit! [ That's proof the warm water is working, at least, as feeling return painfully to his limbs. They didn't appreciate the freezing. Not at all. ] -he wouldn't hesitate. Not if something fucked with his family.
The speaker hesitated. He- ugh, shit! [ That's proof the warm water is working, at least, as feeling return painfully to his limbs. They didn't appreciate the freezing. Not at all. ] -he wouldn't hesitate. Not if something fucked with his family.
Especially a Belmont.
[Alucard's cautious as he gathers up some water in his hands and tries to get Trevor's hair a little wet.]
What oath did Sypha break, Belmont? And does my care for her in three years and three days free her from that broken oath?
[Alucard's cautious as he gathers up some water in his hands and tries to get Trevor's hair a little wet.]
What oath did Sypha break, Belmont? And does my care for her in three years and three days free her from that broken oath?
She promised to kill a monster for me, if I saved her grandfather. Then she refused to do it.
[ His body tries to flinch when water hits his hair, but it can't quite manage that much movement ]
I think so. I hope so.
[ His body tries to flinch when water hits his hair, but it can't quite manage that much movement ]
I think so. I hope so.
Was it the bear that roams these grounds?
[Too bad Trevor. Your hair is getting gently wet. Inch by inch.]
[Too bad Trevor. Your hair is getting gently wet. Inch by inch.]
Yes. She wouldn’t kill it, and so she was punished for breaking faith.
[ Why. Why this. What has he done to deserve soggy hair. ]
...what are you doing?
[ Why. Why this. What has he done to deserve soggy hair. ]
...what are you doing?
She figured out that bear is you in another form. That you were asking her to kill you. What Speaker would abide that?
[Alucard pauses. This one's obvious, isn't it?]
Washing your hair?
[Alucard pauses. This one's obvious, isn't it?]
Washing your hair?
The fucking eye tipped her off.
[ He snorts. It still sounds more bear than human, even now. ]
Why? It’s not going to be there once night falls tomorrow.
[ He snorts. It still sounds more bear than human, even now. ]
Why? It’s not going to be there once night falls tomorrow.
You still asked a speaker to kill. That's beyond the pale for them, you know that.
[Bear like it may be, but all the same.]
Because as someone with long hair, it bothers me on principle.
[Bear like it may be, but all the same.]
Because as someone with long hair, it bothers me on principle.
[The sad truth of the matter is, if SOMEONE hadn't helped, other more vampiric someones would have, and there would have been even less survivors than there are.]
It takes me about half a day to walk it. You could likely cover the distance much faster with four legs.
[Or wings or vaporous mist or whatever other forms he has.]
Why would it? So long as you don't draw attention to yourself on the way in, it shouldn't.
[Hector has a little cabin on the side of a mountain, and he's kept a pretty low profile since the war ended. There are nothing more than vague rumors about him in the nearest village, and the humans are too scared and weak to come up and substantiate them.]
It takes me about half a day to walk it. You could likely cover the distance much faster with four legs.
[Or wings or vaporous mist or whatever other forms he has.]
Why would it? So long as you don't draw attention to yourself on the way in, it shouldn't.
[Hector has a little cabin on the side of a mountain, and he's kept a pretty low profile since the war ended. There are nothing more than vague rumors about him in the nearest village, and the humans are too scared and weak to come up and substantiate them.]
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