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[So they go back to where they were. Alucard takes care of all his duties owed to Sypha, and then just sits next to Trevor in front of the fireplace, quiet and saying not much at all. Fingers carding through his hair. Holding him close.
There's a disgusting amount of guilt when morning comes, and the Belmont is no longer a Belmont but...god. He doesn't know why this curse functions like this now. Why it'd just turn him to stone instead of a bear again.
But it happens and Alucard adds caring for the Belmont to his duties along with caring for Sypha. He has the library now. So it goes.
He splits his attention between curses and Belmont enemies and genealogy. The latter feels easier, because there's fewer books and the last time they were updated is easier. There are notes on everything, and the Hold soon becomes a bastion of research. Alucard can't bring Sypha and Trevor with him, but they're debriefed every day. Alucard works the garden in the morning and...yes. That's a problem. He's growing hungrier day by day.
But names. He thinks he finds what he's looking for just before the new moon, and he carries the book up to the statues. It's a long shot, if giving a name will fix everything, but he'll try.]
I found the most up to date list of births. [His hands are holding a thing bound in pale calfskin, all too thin.]
The last date is from only twenty odd years ago. Four siblings. [Alucard breathes out.]
Trevor Christopher Belmont.
There's a disgusting amount of guilt when morning comes, and the Belmont is no longer a Belmont but...god. He doesn't know why this curse functions like this now. Why it'd just turn him to stone instead of a bear again.
But it happens and Alucard adds caring for the Belmont to his duties along with caring for Sypha. He has the library now. So it goes.
He splits his attention between curses and Belmont enemies and genealogy. The latter feels easier, because there's fewer books and the last time they were updated is easier. There are notes on everything, and the Hold soon becomes a bastion of research. Alucard can't bring Sypha and Trevor with him, but they're debriefed every day. Alucard works the garden in the morning and...yes. That's a problem. He's growing hungrier day by day.
But names. He thinks he finds what he's looking for just before the new moon, and he carries the book up to the statues. It's a long shot, if giving a name will fix everything, but he'll try.]
I found the most up to date list of births. [His hands are holding a thing bound in pale calfskin, all too thin.]
The last date is from only twenty odd years ago. Four siblings. [Alucard breathes out.]
Trevor Christopher Belmont.
[Vanessa must have been more shaken then she thought. It was rude, the ultimate faux-pas to take a drink before passing over a prepared cup.
With a smile of apology she offered the saucer and cup to Adrian.]
I will breathe a word to no one, Mr. Tepes. You have my word.
With a smile of apology she offered the saucer and cup to Adrian.]
I will breathe a word to no one, Mr. Tepes. You have my word.
[ There is no response. As always, Alucard reads to an audience of stone. As always, he receives no answer. Not until he sleeps.
His heart is racing, and the tiny precious things in his arms won’t stop wriggling and screaming and something is very, very wrong. He runs and he trips and twists in the air to land on his back and avoid hurting the screaming things in his arms and picks himself up and keeps running.
And then he sees it. Safety is a tall man in black robes with a white collar, with a soft voice and kind eyes. Safety is the man who he has said confession to for things as petty as sneezing during prayer and as damning as noticing how the smith’s daughter’s dress hangs differently from her body this month. The man who taught him to read latin. He’s too afraid to be proud, and he clings to the priest’s robes, burying his face there. The priest speaks in a soft voice, and his nephews stop wailing.
The priest leads him to the fireplace. The big one, where they burn people’s clothes when they get covered in vampire blood. It smells of roses. It always smells of roses, because that’s what you use to try to lessen the effects of the blood.
Hide here and you’ll be safe, the priest says in his soft voice, and he closes the great iron doors. ]
What did you say?
[ Trevor is above Alucard when he wakes, fleshy and whole as he ever is. ]
You said something. Tell me what it was.
His heart is racing, and the tiny precious things in his arms won’t stop wriggling and screaming and something is very, very wrong. He runs and he trips and twists in the air to land on his back and avoid hurting the screaming things in his arms and picks himself up and keeps running.
And then he sees it. Safety is a tall man in black robes with a white collar, with a soft voice and kind eyes. Safety is the man who he has said confession to for things as petty as sneezing during prayer and as damning as noticing how the smith’s daughter’s dress hangs differently from her body this month. The man who taught him to read latin. He’s too afraid to be proud, and he clings to the priest’s robes, burying his face there. The priest speaks in a soft voice, and his nephews stop wailing.
The priest leads him to the fireplace. The big one, where they burn people’s clothes when they get covered in vampire blood. It smells of roses. It always smells of roses, because that’s what you use to try to lessen the effects of the blood.
Hide here and you’ll be safe, the priest says in his soft voice, and he closes the great iron doors. ]
What did you say?
[ Trevor is above Alucard when he wakes, fleshy and whole as he ever is. ]
You said something. Tell me what it was.
[Alucard, to his credit, doesn't jump when Trevor is above him. It's simply unsurprising and it feels...right...for Trevor. But then Alucard tries to remember what phase of the moon they're in. If it matters now, because at least Trevor is flesh again.
Alucard sits up slowly. Looks at him quietly, then blinks.]
Your name.
[He says the two words with all the gravity he's got.]
I found it. It's Trevor Christopher Belmont.
Alucard sits up slowly. Looks at him quietly, then blinks.]
Your name.
[He says the two words with all the gravity he's got.]
I found it. It's Trevor Christopher Belmont.
Then I assume that our previous agreement still holds?
[Alucard doesn't mind the faux paus. Barely noticed it, and that's a blessing of being a stranger to certain customs. He takes the cup and wraps both of his hands around it, simply absorbing the warmth.]
[Alucard doesn't mind the faux paus. Barely noticed it, and that's a blessing of being a stranger to certain customs. He takes the cup and wraps both of his hands around it, simply absorbing the warmth.]
[ He steps back, slightly unsteady, folding himself onto a sitting position on the floor. ]
Trevor.
[ And he repeats it. It's- it sounds familiar. Teardrops burst against the floor, but it doesn't occur to him that they're from his own eyes. ]
My name was Trevor.
Trevor.
[ And he repeats it. It's- it sounds familiar. Teardrops burst against the floor, but it doesn't occur to him that they're from his own eyes. ]
My name was Trevor.
Is.
[Alucard doesn't know what to do here. So he just. Moves onto the floor next to Trevor, and sits there, so very still.]
You're here. And alive.
[Alucard doesn't know what to do here. So he just. Moves onto the floor next to Trevor, and sits there, so very still.]
You're here. And alive.
Is.
[ He doesn't sound entirely certain about that, but he looks up. He's noticed the tears by now, but he doesn't know why they're happening or how to make them stop. They keep falling, and somewhere behind them in the room, soft footsteps shuffle about. Cloth drags along the floor. ]
I know what's in there. And I think I know what I am. I don't know the word for it, but I know-
Moroi. [ The voice is sharp and weary, but not angry. Warm in the way that spent coals are warm. Behind Trevor stands the speaker, delicate and fleshy. ]
[ He doesn't sound entirely certain about that, but he looks up. He's noticed the tears by now, but he doesn't know why they're happening or how to make them stop. They keep falling, and somewhere behind them in the room, soft footsteps shuffle about. Cloth drags along the floor. ]
I know what's in there. And I think I know what I am. I don't know the word for it, but I know-
Moroi. [ The voice is sharp and weary, but not angry. Warm in the way that spent coals are warm. Behind Trevor stands the speaker, delicate and fleshy. ]
[Alucard places his hand on Trevor's thigh, in case he wants something else to hold. But then another voice enters the room and Alucard thinks he could be forgiven for thinking it a figment of imagination.]
A spirit that...dwells in a bear. [There's the undertone of duh and he understands. The Belmonts were accused witches and murdered. This all makes sense.]
The only question is what triggered such a thing - it isn't as if this is a natural occura--
[Wait.
There's three sets of breaths in the room.
Alucard looks over his shoulder and then nearly falls over.]
Sypha?!
A spirit that...dwells in a bear. [There's the undertone of duh and he understands. The Belmonts were accused witches and murdered. This all makes sense.]
The only question is what triggered such a thing - it isn't as if this is a natural occura--
[Wait.
There's three sets of breaths in the room.
Alucard looks over his shoulder and then nearly falls over.]
Sypha?!
Edited 2019-12-18 23:51 (UTC)
If it is still agreeable to you. From my perspective you are perhaps uniquely qualified in this matter.
[There was an unspoken 'but' there. But she had reacted strongly to his confession. And while her reaction was valid she is aware that from his perspective it might be just a little too much. The human freaking out and making accusations. She had been there before, certainly not to the same extent but sometimes she could still see the terror in her parents eyes.
Another sip of tea.]
[There was an unspoken 'but' there. But she had reacted strongly to his confession. And while her reaction was valid she is aware that from his perspective it might be just a little too much. The human freaking out and making accusations. She had been there before, certainly not to the same extent but sometimes she could still see the terror in her parents eyes.
Another sip of tea.]
I’ve had a lot of time to observe.
[ She stretches before sitting with them, bringing her knees up to her chest, and looks at Trevor with a soft sigh. ]
You’ve loved me for a long time, haven’t you? It just never worked, because it needed to be ‘someone’ who loved, and you never thought of yourself as someone until this very moment. And you-
[ She looks at Alucard now. ]
You could never have loved me truly enough for it to count, for the spell. You don’t know who I am, not really. We’ll be having dinner together and you’ll be making that right. [ And she smiles. ] Just in case this happens again, so you can love me properly.
[ And now she’s done claiming ownership of two boys, which was of course a matter of pressing concern. ]
[ She stretches before sitting with them, bringing her knees up to her chest, and looks at Trevor with a soft sigh. ]
You’ve loved me for a long time, haven’t you? It just never worked, because it needed to be ‘someone’ who loved, and you never thought of yourself as someone until this very moment. And you-
[ She looks at Alucard now. ]
You could never have loved me truly enough for it to count, for the spell. You don’t know who I am, not really. We’ll be having dinner together and you’ll be making that right. [ And she smiles. ] Just in case this happens again, so you can love me properly.
[ And now she’s done claiming ownership of two boys, which was of course a matter of pressing concern. ]
I.
[Alucard just. Sits there for a few moments. Just letting his stupid mouth hang open and trying to make sense of just about all of it. That Trevor needed to view himself as a person that...that makes sense.
As does the part where Alucard couldn't properly love Sypha because being turned into stone makes it hard.]
Wait.
[Alucard brings his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose.]
This doesn't mean the entire curse is lifted, does it? It's just most of them.
[Alucard just. Sits there for a few moments. Just letting his stupid mouth hang open and trying to make sense of just about all of it. That Trevor needed to view himself as a person that...that makes sense.
As does the part where Alucard couldn't properly love Sypha because being turned into stone makes it hard.]
Wait.
[Alucard brings his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose.]
This doesn't mean the entire curse is lifted, does it? It's just most of them.
Nothing is lifted, not yet. You’re still bound to your word, even if we’ll be able to break the spell if you leave.
[ Her face falls a little. ]
I know how to break all of this, but- another season. I want a season together, at least. Just one. I’ve barely had a chance to know you both.
[ Her face falls a little. ]
I know how to break all of this, but- another season. I want a season together, at least. Just one. I’ve barely had a chance to know you both.
...I'd like to at least be able to leave to get food off the estate.
[He's...definitely going to kill the mood, but Alucard's stomach then chimes in even louder.]
[He's...definitely going to kill the mood, but Alucard's stomach then chimes in even louder.]
Oh. Oh, shit. I didn’t think- I’ll hunt. I need a while to think about all of this anyway.
[ It’s the first Trevor’s spoken since Sypha piped up, and by the sound of it he’s just as shaken by all of this as Alucard was at first. ]
[ It’s the first Trevor’s spoken since Sypha piped up, and by the sound of it he’s just as shaken by all of this as Alucard was at first. ]
The garden has provided and a few animals have gotten in but...I need something substantial. With blood.
[Fuck.]
Will you be okay alone?
[Fuck.]
Will you be okay alone?
Something like that, yes.
[[this actually seems like a logical spot to end the thread!]]
[[this actually seems like a logical spot to end the thread!]]
Yeah. I'll-
[ He raises a hand to touch the thorns. They're plant matter again instead of stone. ]
I'll be fine. I've hunted like this before. Just- need to think. I'll bring back something squishy.
[ He stands and leaves, and as he does, Sypha leans over to whisper- ]
So who's going to tell him about clothes?
[ He raises a hand to touch the thorns. They're plant matter again instead of stone. ]
I'll be fine. I've hunted like this before. Just- need to think. I'll bring back something squishy.
[ He stands and leaves, and as he does, Sypha leans over to whisper- ]
So who's going to tell him about clothes?
[ It's the busiest the castle has been since Lisa was first taken, with representatives of the vampires of all regions. Loud and overwhelming. Last time, Dracula had summoned his generals to have them seek out any way to return his wife to him from the land of fae. This time, he summoned them to oversee a transfer of power to his son, to free him to go personally.
They had both been children back then, but now Alucard stands like a living star in his robe and crown before the guests. As the castle begins to lead the guests to their own rooms at the approach of dawn, Trevor steps away for a moment. Alucard needs him now, but he has other things to attend to.
It's in Alucard's room that he reappears, knocking only out of habit before entering and coughing out an awkward apology. He knows tonight was difficult for Alucard, and that he shouldn't have left him alone to deal with the weight of that crown. But he'd rather he deal with the intruder they had tonight than anyone else they might have run into. ]
The intruder- she's having breakfast. With your leave, I'll turn her loose before your father wakes tonight. He doesn't need to know she was here.
[ Sometimes when you host important events, Speakers sneak in to hear the story. These things happen. ]
They had both been children back then, but now Alucard stands like a living star in his robe and crown before the guests. As the castle begins to lead the guests to their own rooms at the approach of dawn, Trevor steps away for a moment. Alucard needs him now, but he has other things to attend to.
It's in Alucard's room that he reappears, knocking only out of habit before entering and coughing out an awkward apology. He knows tonight was difficult for Alucard, and that he shouldn't have left him alone to deal with the weight of that crown. But he'd rather he deal with the intruder they had tonight than anyone else they might have run into. ]
The intruder- she's having breakfast. With your leave, I'll turn her loose before your father wakes tonight. He doesn't need to know she was here.
[ Sometimes when you host important events, Speakers sneak in to hear the story. These things happen. ]
[Alucard doesn't know if Trevor's given him a few minutes alone on purpose or by pure happenstance. Both are likely, as they've known each other for over half their lives now. They understand each other, even if there are lines of expectation (and Dracula) that suggest they should not be as close as they are.
Regardless, he takes those moments alone to shrug off the heavy robe. It is a combination of dark furs and darker cloth that suggest a moonless night, and to be free of it is a very literal weight off his shoulders. All the other decorative elements follow, save the crown itself - and that's for a much more practical reason.
He's sat in front of his dresser and it's mirror when Trevor comes back, fingers carefully digging into his own intricately done up hair. This is the reason the crown's been left be: it's tangled. He needs another set of hands to get it out, and while Alucard is always loathe to use Trevor in place of attendants or servants or whatever else, sometimes he has to make that request.]
I agree entirely, especially since he's in a foul mood about doing this at all. Did she say why she's here?
Regardless, he takes those moments alone to shrug off the heavy robe. It is a combination of dark furs and darker cloth that suggest a moonless night, and to be free of it is a very literal weight off his shoulders. All the other decorative elements follow, save the crown itself - and that's for a much more practical reason.
He's sat in front of his dresser and it's mirror when Trevor comes back, fingers carefully digging into his own intricately done up hair. This is the reason the crown's been left be: it's tangled. He needs another set of hands to get it out, and while Alucard is always loathe to use Trevor in place of attendants or servants or whatever else, sometimes he has to make that request.]
I agree entirely, especially since he's in a foul mood about doing this at all. Did she say why she's here?
Speaker. You know what they're like.
[ He doesn't need to make the request. Trevor pulls a stool up behind Alucard's chair, carefully starting work on releasing the delicate wirework of the crown from his hair. It's calming work, after the fuss that was finding a way to get the intruder safely out from a crowd of vampires while figuring out if she intended any harm toward Alucard. ]
She was here to witness the event. It's a good thing, means word'll spread quicker. Should have probably put her in a dungeon, but it didn't look like she'd had a good meal in weeks.
[ He's kind of a shitty jailor. ]
[ He doesn't need to make the request. Trevor pulls a stool up behind Alucard's chair, carefully starting work on releasing the delicate wirework of the crown from his hair. It's calming work, after the fuss that was finding a way to get the intruder safely out from a crowd of vampires while figuring out if she intended any harm toward Alucard. ]
She was here to witness the event. It's a good thing, means word'll spread quicker. Should have probably put her in a dungeon, but it didn't look like she'd had a good meal in weeks.
[ He's kind of a shitty jailor. ]
Thank you.
[It's calming on Alucard's end too, having someone else just comb through his hair. He feels himself start to relax, bit by bit, although that's a low bar. He had barely slept in the preceeding days, and he isn't sure how much rest he'll be getting from now on.]
Is it wise, having word spread quicker that my father is elsewhere?
[It's calming on Alucard's end too, having someone else just comb through his hair. He feels himself start to relax, bit by bit, although that's a low bar. He had barely slept in the preceeding days, and he isn't sure how much rest he'll be getting from now on.]
Is it wise, having word spread quicker that my father is elsewhere?
Double-edged sword.
[ He doesn't look like he's capable of being as careful as he is. It'd be quicker work if he wasn't, if he worked a little more roughly and didn't take pains not to tug at Alucard's hair at all. But for now, at least, there's no hurry. And there's a quiet satisfaction that comes from doing things like this right. ]
If anyone's stupid enough to risk it, it might spur them on to learn that he isn't here. It's a real danger. But it's better they learn from the speakers. That way we know for sure what they're hearing. If they heard it through the networks of his generals, it would get tangled up with people's judgements. Different people interpret things in different ways over and over, add parts or forget them, and suddenly we have people deciding whether or not to take action based on something that isn't even close to the truth. If people are going to think this is a good time to fuck around, I'd rather they think that based on our actions rather than something we have no control over.
[ He doesn't look like he's capable of being as careful as he is. It'd be quicker work if he wasn't, if he worked a little more roughly and didn't take pains not to tug at Alucard's hair at all. But for now, at least, there's no hurry. And there's a quiet satisfaction that comes from doing things like this right. ]
If anyone's stupid enough to risk it, it might spur them on to learn that he isn't here. It's a real danger. But it's better they learn from the speakers. That way we know for sure what they're hearing. If they heard it through the networks of his generals, it would get tangled up with people's judgements. Different people interpret things in different ways over and over, add parts or forget them, and suddenly we have people deciding whether or not to take action based on something that isn't even close to the truth. If people are going to think this is a good time to fuck around, I'd rather they think that based on our actions rather than something we have no control over.
[The sigh that Alucard lets out is one of the more needy ones. It betrays his stress, but also his desire to just curl up and stay away from the world. He knows why this is happening. He understands that it's probably the best chance to bring his mother home, as all other attempts have failed. But none of that makes it easier to be put in charge, convinced that no one will listen to him.
He rests one hand on top of his own shoulder, hoping for Trevor's to brush over it.]
Understood. And I presume you've discussed any strategy for dealing with the rumor mill with my father, so I won't waste time or breath fussing over it.
[Alucard knows that security is a tenuous thing to discuss with the Belmont, but certain topics like Alucard's safety are permitted.]
He rests one hand on top of his own shoulder, hoping for Trevor's to brush over it.]
Understood. And I presume you've discussed any strategy for dealing with the rumor mill with my father, so I won't waste time or breath fussing over it.
[Alucard knows that security is a tenuous thing to discuss with the Belmont, but certain topics like Alucard's safety are permitted.]
We do what we can to keep people from doing anything stupid. I’ll deal with it when they do.
[ He pauses for a moment to lay his hand on Alucard’s. ]
That’s all you need to worry about. You’ll be back in the library all day by the end of the year.
[ He pauses for a moment to lay his hand on Alucard’s. ]
That’s all you need to worry about. You’ll be back in the library all day by the end of the year.
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