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That's- I can do that. Just give me a little while.
[ He picks up the blanket, arranging it around Alucard as best he can without it actually touching him. ]
Stay here. Or make yourself easy to find, if you go somewhere else.
[ He picks up the blanket, arranging it around Alucard as best he can without it actually touching him. ]
Stay here. Or make yourself easy to find, if you go somewhere else.
Mmm.
[He can stay. He can do not moving.
He can even tug the blanket around himself a little more, the weight of it comforting if nothing else.]
[He can stay. He can do not moving.
He can even tug the blanket around himself a little more, the weight of it comforting if nothing else.]
[There's some fancy footwork involved in getting the blanket moved from the foot of the bed to within arm's reach. Some squirming. And then---
hah! Blanket get!
Alucard pulls it up the rest of the way, draping it over them both.]
I do too.
hah! Blanket get!
Alucard pulls it up the rest of the way, draping it over them both.]
I do too.
[ He's gone a while. And he smells different when he returns, hands cupped around something. A little like wood smoke but off somehow, more fragrant.
He brings his hands close to Alucard, still clasped around something. ]
I need you to breathe in, when I open my hands.
He brings his hands close to Alucard, still clasped around something. ]
I need you to breathe in, when I open my hands.
[He notices the smell first. It's strong. Distinct. It drifts into the room and something in him relaxes.
Relaxes?
He tenses at that.
Then relaxes.
The feelings flip flop the closer and closer Trevor gets, until he's in the room. Alucard can feel every part of him tighten.]
What is it?
[There's still terror there, but muted now.
Relaxes?
He tenses at that.
Then relaxes.
The feelings flip flop the closer and closer Trevor gets, until he's in the room. Alucard can feel every part of him tighten.]
What is it?
[There's still terror there, but muted now.
[ He puts his weight on the blanket and then pulls it tight around both of them. Maybe it isn't too much of a surprise that he likes to be wrapped up like this, considering what he is. A safe, comfortable cocoon of arms and blanket.
He barely needs to move at all to kiss Alucard one last time, they're so close. ]
Sleep well.
He barely needs to move at all to kiss Alucard one last time, they're so close. ]
Sleep well.
[One last thing before they sleep. Both of them.
Alucard leans in, forehead resting against Trevor's.]
Trevor?
Alucard leans in, forehead resting against Trevor's.]
Trevor?
One of the pomanders. You filed the recipies under non-human medicine and tools for allied vampires. The kind for new fledglings.
[ Which is to say that it's close to as strong as it can get without risking being permanent, made to numb the pain of the transformation and to suppress all emotions rather than simply preventing aggression. The strain and agony of transformation and the initial hunger make new fledglings dangerous to deal with non-violently but also wreaks hell on them mentally. It's best, at least according to Belmont wisdom, to suppress all of that initially and lower the dose later. The easiest way to allow those turned against their will to continue to live.
He opens his hands. ]
Breathe in.
[ Which is to say that it's close to as strong as it can get without risking being permanent, made to numb the pain of the transformation and to suppress all emotions rather than simply preventing aggression. The strain and agony of transformation and the initial hunger make new fledglings dangerous to deal with non-violently but also wreaks hell on them mentally. It's best, at least according to Belmont wisdom, to suppress all of that initially and lower the dose later. The easiest way to allow those turned against their will to continue to live.
He opens his hands. ]
Breathe in.
Hmm?
[ His arms are coiled around Alucard now and he smiles, stroking his back gently. ]
[ His arms are coiled around Alucard now and he smiles, stroking his back gently. ]
[His brain catches up. Slowly. Carefully. It knows what the stuff is, the uses, why it's so good for newly turned vampires but--
--it's a weapon in the right hands, and he knows, he knows he can't trust anyone. Especially not an entire family of vampire hunters.]
I can't. You'll just hurt me it'll be the same thing--
[He backs away. Or tries to. The effects of the smoke prevent that much, because that? That involves aggression.
--it's a weapon in the right hands, and he knows, he knows he can't trust anyone. Especially not an entire family of vampire hunters.]
I can't. You'll just hurt me it'll be the same thing--
[He backs away. Or tries to. The effects of the smoke prevent that much, because that? That involves aggression.
[ Well shit. On the one hand, it's a good thing he used such a strong dose. On the other? Alucard was never scared of him when he was actually trying to kill him. This is- disturbing. ]
I'm not going to hurt you.
[ He reaches out, holding the pomander's iron chain in both hands. This part is, he knows, probably going to be the worst. There's no way that hands reaching for his neck is a good thing right now. But if he can just get the pomander around Alucard's neck, he can tend to the rest of those burns. He can try to have a normal conversation.
He'll apologise later. ]
I'm sorry. It'll be easier soon.
I'm not going to hurt you.
[ He reaches out, holding the pomander's iron chain in both hands. This part is, he knows, probably going to be the worst. There's no way that hands reaching for his neck is a good thing right now. But if he can just get the pomander around Alucard's neck, he can tend to the rest of those burns. He can try to have a normal conversation.
He'll apologise later. ]
I'm sorry. It'll be easier soon.
[He can back away. He can do that much, wide eyed and knowing something is wrong.
Don't.
[A single word, drenched in terror. Wanting to get away. Needing to.]
Don't.
[A single word, drenched in terror. Wanting to get away. Needing to.]
You've made good use of it. That's all the thanks we ever needed.
[ Maybe it wasn't just one last kiss before, because there's a second and a third 'one last kiss' in quick succession. Nose and then forehead, and then burying his lips in Alucard's hair. ]
Best rule I ever broke.
[ Maybe it wasn't just one last kiss before, because there's a second and a third 'one last kiss' in quick succession. Nose and then forehead, and then burying his lips in Alucard's hair. ]
Best rule I ever broke.
[ He can't bring himself to do it. Even though it's the correct thing to do. Even though it'll help. His hands tremble near Alucard's neck for a second, then withdraw. ]
Reach your hands out.
[ He holds the pomander by its chain. ]
I'll trust you to hold it instead of putting it around your neck. But only if you promise to trust me not to hurt you.
Reach your hands out.
[ He holds the pomander by its chain. ]
I'll trust you to hold it instead of putting it around your neck. But only if you promise to trust me not to hurt you.
We should talk about that rule in the morning.
[But only in the morning. Only after this.]
I'll make breakfast and we'll go out, then we'll talk about it.
[But only in the morning. Only after this.]
I'll make breakfast and we'll go out, then we'll talk about it.
Get rid of it.
[He can demand something. That's progress, even if his voice nearly cracks.]
I'll sit and let you finish just get rid of it.
[He can demand something. That's progress, even if his voice nearly cracks.]
I'll sit and let you finish just get rid of it.
Enough planning.
[ Planning is a distraction from cuddling, and right now he's not sure he'll ever want to do anything else. ]
Just this, for tonight.
[ Planning is a distraction from cuddling, and right now he's not sure he'll ever want to do anything else. ]
Just this, for tonight.
[Alucard laughs softly. He can't snuggle any closer.]
Just this.
Just this.
[ He opens his mouth to argue, then just nods and leaves the room. When he returns it's without the pomander. He doesn't approach Alucard immediately, instead tossing the Morning Star to the ground. Then the Vampire killer. Then a collection of knives and wooden and metal stakes from various places on his person. ]
Nothing left that can touch you. Can I come over there?
Nothing left that can touch you. Can I come over there?
[He watches Trevor disarm. All of it. Every last inch, and Alucard stares because he's never seen it happen.
He's safe. As safe as he can be with a vampire hunter, but he still wants to hesitate. Pain argues though, and so--]
Yes.
He's safe. As safe as he can be with a vampire hunter, but he still wants to hesitate. Pain argues though, and so--]
Yes.
[ Fuck, but it feels weird to not be carrying a single weapon.
He moves to Alucard like he's hoping to die of old age before he has to deal with this. One slow, slow step at a time. But he reaches him eventually nonetheless, kneeling down at his side. ]
You could kill me like this. I wouldn't be able to do a thing to stop you. I'm trusting you.
[ He says it very slowly, because he's- maybe a little nervous about this. The pomander was for his safety as well as to help Alucard. If he starts thrashing around when he medicine stings, there's a good chance he could do real damage. ]
Try not to make me regret it too much, hmm?
He moves to Alucard like he's hoping to die of old age before he has to deal with this. One slow, slow step at a time. But he reaches him eventually nonetheless, kneeling down at his side. ]
You could kill me like this. I wouldn't be able to do a thing to stop you. I'm trusting you.
[ He says it very slowly, because he's- maybe a little nervous about this. The pomander was for his safety as well as to help Alucard. If he starts thrashing around when he medicine stings, there's a good chance he could do real damage. ]
Try not to make me regret it too much, hmm?
Don't joke.
[He knows it isn't a joke, but still. They've seen the bodies. They must have seen the bodies by now. They must know about what happened and how this just makes everything worse.
But he's good. He stays still.]
Just do what must be done.
[He knows it isn't a joke, but still. They've seen the bodies. They must have seen the bodies by now. They must know about what happened and how this just makes everything worse.
But he's good. He stays still.]
Just do what must be done.
It's not- [ He huffs. ] -never fucking mind.
[ He picks up a scrap of gauze and soaks it, and he has to swallow and brace himself to still the shaking in his hands before he can smooth the cloth over the burns. There's not instant relief, save for the coolness of the damp cloth. There's still an hour's more damage burned into the skin than there is in the places that were treated before. But it won't get worse. ]
We're not here because we want to hurt you. You know that. You have to know that.
[ He picks up a scrap of gauze and soaks it, and he has to swallow and brace himself to still the shaking in his hands before he can smooth the cloth over the burns. There's not instant relief, save for the coolness of the damp cloth. There's still an hour's more damage burned into the skin than there is in the places that were treated before. But it won't get worse. ]
We're not here because we want to hurt you. You know that. You have to know that.
They said that too--
[And that? That finally has Alucard's head drop down in shame. He stays still. But now it's too still, more statue than person.]
[And that? That finally has Alucard's head drop down in shame. He stays still. But now it's too still, more statue than person.]
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