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[That comes with a head tilt.]
You had something in mind?
And yet.
Sypha doesn't look at either of them. Her shoulders sink and she drops the ring to the floor. ]
I'm a Belmont. I come to this castle to kill monsters. The way we've always done.
[ And then? He lets the morning star unfurl, walking slowly toward Alucard. ]
Who are they, Alucard? Who have you fucking murdered?
[Alucard doesn't even blink at the morning star. He only holds Trevor's gaze. There's a pointed attempt to hold no emotion there, to be the ice cold thing they found below Gresit.
He manages that petite miracle. He stand his ground.]
Leave. Decide what to do with the Hold, I want no part of it or it's contents. It is a museum of death, nothing more.
[ He places Alucard's hand back down on the table, brushing his fingers softly over the knuckles of it, then lets go. ]
I still owe you payment for her treatment, after all. And- I'm sure it won't surprise you that I don't really deal in coins.
[ He's hesitating. That's stupid and he knows it. Hesitating when dealing with a monster gets you killed.
So he flicks his wrist and the whip comes alive like a cruel metal snake. A long chain of silver, threatening to coil itself around Alucard at the hands of someone he might have once believed he could trust. ]
Who the fuck are they? What have you done?
Often times I end up bartering. I'm listening, Trevor.
[Alucard withdraws both of his hands, folding them neatly in his lap.]
[And here they are again, aren't they? Under Gresit. To times before, when Belmonts that walked this castle met with fangy ends.
There's no panic when his flesh burns yet a fucking gain from Belmont weapons. Things hidden in that damn Hold. But Alucard is still more powerful than a Belmont, and so he uses the chain's hold on him to but yank Trevor, hopefully drawing him out of the room and into the corridor. A narrow place. Bad for whips.
There's no words. Only furious survival instinct kicking in.]
[ And that's the problem, isn't it? They trusted him. They thought that left to his own devices he would not be a monster. Not go about stealing screaming people from nearby villages and putting them on sticks.
He growls it as Alucard drags him forward, using the momentum to get close. Trying to get the chain around his throat. ]
[ It's the simplest thing, but there's not much else he can offer. ]
Simple things, with little spells. Things that won't draw suspicion.
[Again there's no response. Just an angry noise as Alucard uses his purchase on the chain to try and slam Trevor against the nearest corridor wall as he finally passes out the door. It hurts. The damn thing hurts but not as badly as the silver chains did and--
--fuck.
The memory just spurs him on.]
Did you have specific items in mind?
[It's a mildly curious question. One that's clearly eager to listen.]
You said you didn't like the noise. If I made curtains that didn't allow sound through-?
[ He studies Alucard's face as he speaks, looking for any sign of disapproval. ]
Is that why we did all of that? Because you wanted to start your own people on sticks collection and didn't care for the competition?
[Alucard nods at that. Smiles a little wider.]
That'd be very nice, I think.
[Finally that summons words.]
Shut up.
[They're spat out with a new level of fury Alucard's never unleashed at Trevor.]
I've already explained myself. You didn't care to listen.
[ The cloth for the bandages has been much quicker, but if it's for Alucard then he wants it to be better. Not suspiciously good, but he wants to be able to take some pride in it. ]
You're ready to go upstairs?
[ He recovers, though there's going to be a hell of a bruise to deal with later. For now, he still has the whip coiled around Alucard's arm. It's not ideal, but it's better than having to get it to Alucard in the first place in the narrow corridor. He tugs. He's not going to dragging Alucard across the room and slamming him into walls in the same way that the vampire can, but he can at least pull the chain tighter.
He can hurt him, and right now maybe he wants that as much as he wants answers. ]
I am, yes.
[Alucard's careful as he stands. Put both of his hands on the table to steady himself, because he wants to at least do that much before Trevor scoops him up yet again.]
You'll find I weigh more now.
It's hardly my fault that you don't listen.
[Part of Alucard's hindbrain clocks that Sypha? She hasn't said anything. Done anything. Normally by now she stops their stupidity.
But he's still chained. In pain. And so Alucard slams his entire arm against the wall, looking to break the tension on the chain.]
[ He's careful as always when he lifts Alucard, but he's right. He's heavier. Sturdier.
It's not a full-on princess carry, at least. More him making a chair with one arm and supporting Alucard in it with the other. He's trying to do all he can to not be weird. It's just that he's naturally kind of weird. ]
Doesn't feel like carrying around dry leaves anymore. That's a relief.
He takes the star of the whip into his hand, wrapping his fist around it. If the whip won't work, he'll just get the consecrated metal to Alucard the old-fashioned way. He dashes forward, ready to- ]
We'll leave.
[ He freezes halfway to punching a vampire. Sypha finally speaks, voice small. Not looking at Alucard still. ]
Just tell us their names so we can mark the graves, and we'll leave.
[Alucard is ready for that next move. He's halfway into leaping at Trevor when Sypha finally speaks, and...
...he almost crashes. Doesn't, he's too graceful for that, but her awful tone is enough to snap him out of fight mode. Ground him just enough to give the worst reply, his own tone firm and unyielding.]
They made an attempt on my life. Their names die with them.
[He remembers the routine. Where to hang onto. How to move.]
I'd hope not. And you'll be happy to know there's a pack of grandmothers here who have tried to get more skin on me. It's never going to take, i'm afraid.
[ -maybe it doesn't matter what they thought. They were wrong. He was no better than the night horde after all. ]
We have to bury them. This is wrong. Too cruel, no matter what happened.
Please, Alucard. Just this one thing, for the person we thought you were. And then we'll leave you.
[ It's a comfortable routine, at least for him. Alucard's warm body and slow heartbeat against his cooler one and constant thrumming of tiny moth hearts.
The journey up the stairs is careful but steady. ]
Let me take care of you, while I'm here? Consider it part of the bartering.
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