cryptsleeper | Catch All

[At the apology, Dorian gives a laugh, half mirth and genuine disbelief at the state of the stairs - and the alternative route being offered to him now. Through his stay in the castle thus far, he's grown more accustomed to its nature, so clearly beloved even in its relative disarray. Without Alucard's presence to attend to it, he could see it falling to beautiful ruin, preserved in dust and stone.]

Oh, don't apologize, I'm certain I need a bit of exercise after all this lying around on couches I've been doing.

[That's not exactly true, as he's taken to a habit of wandering - wherever he's deemed allowable to go, at least - in the evenings. Part of it is to get a better mental picture of castle's layout, part of it is to entertain himself. Most of it serves to distract him from thoughts of home, thoughts of Alexius, or thoughts of the men who have sold off everything valuable he owns including his amulet. Ah, well.

Dorian climbs down carefully, then joins Alucard where he stands at the door. There's a sharp attentiveness to Dorian's expression. He's not trying to conceal the bright light of his interest in this excursion.]

You can hardly expect to get away with mentioning a sea monster, so yes, I'll take that view.

Then that gives this plan a greater chance of success.

[That's all that matters. What happens to Hector after, Alucard will need to pay attention to, but he isn't worried. Being scarred by this kind of loss seems to have already decided Hector's course, and it isn't the path that Dracula took. That is more than enough. Isaac? Isaac needs to be stopped.]

I'll help you pay for passage. Nothing that would rouse suspicion, but enough to ensure they'll let you aboard. [It's easy enough to manage.]

What is the average time you'd need to conjure? I can't permit it on these grounds directly, but I know the valley well enough at this point. There are spaces you can take advantage of.

[Alucard lets out a soft laugh at the first comment. Dorian's humor is a good match for Alucard's own sense of it, rarely veering into Too Dark territory. Letting the man have free run of the castle has hardly proven to be worrisome either, save for the few times early in Dorian's residency (and maybe that's the best way to think of it, a scholar in residence) where Alucard became worried after a prolonged absence.

The Hold then. Alucard opens the door with no fanfare, and he steps in first. His hand moves to the left, clicking the lightswitch on. (It was a requirement that the Hold get up and running on eletricity, because like Hell he was happy using torches around all the books.) It isn't the dramatic thing that was his first encounter with the place, Sypha's flame lighting every torch, but oh, it's still something.

Alucard steps aside to allow Dorian in properly, fully expecting the man to run down the stairs to begin exploring. All the same, he points right ahead, to where the sea monster skeleton remains hanging from the ceiling.]

As promised, the afformentioned monster. 1200s, dragged out of the Black Sea.

[In spite of his overall state of grief, Hector finds himself raising an eyebrow. Adrian has opened his doors to Hector, fed him a meal, and is now giving him an allowance. Young Master Țepeș, taking in strays. What a strange world, where Lord Dracula’s son could become his reluctant ally.]

So eager to be rid of me, you’ll throw coin at it. [He teases. He could insist that he needs to charity and could make his own way, but why complicate the matter? Pride pales in the face of his revenge.]

It’s hard to say. This is something new. A handful of hours, maybe less if I have the crystals, and somewhere to forge near water. That should make it easier to focus on conjuring an aquatic form.

[He’s not sure if the location has any real bearing on it or if it’s all due to his internal sense of theatrics.]

[Alucard knows that if he was not alone in the house, this discussion would be so very different. The tone, the terms, even the willingness to assist. Hector is a massive problem and has caused so much destruction both by allying with Dracula and then serving under Carmilla. But there's more sympathy in the vampire because of loss, and because there is a far greater threat than Hector afoot.

He can lie to himself about the reasons for why he's allowing it. Pragmatism, mostly. Honoring his father's fondness for the man. But no, it's the same sense of loss, and wanting to avoid a second coming of Dracula's fury either by resurrecting the man himself or having another follow that path of grief and devastation.]

What am I supposed to do with all of it anyway besides buy more books that are usually inaccurate? [They're so, so inaccurate.]

There's a stream up in the mountains, I believe.

['A Massive Problem' is probably what will go on Hector's gravestone. By Hector's scale, this interaction is actually going rather well.]

You really do need to get out more. [Hector doesn't doubt that Adrian has more money than he knows what to do with, but as someone who has never had much coin in hand, Hector's got plenty of notions to how it could be spent. Hell, if the inaccuracies bother Adrian, he could patronize scholars to write new ones.]

Point me in the right direction and I'll be off to see it done. [They have their plan sketched out, now all that's left is the doing. Hector...probably has more of a chance of winning with Adrian's plan than he would have blindly charging in on his own.

...he supposes he should say 'thank you', but he won't. If Hector survives, he'll raise a pet and send it toward the castle for Adrian to find. The dhampir would likely say 'no' if he asked about it, so if he doesn't die, he's going to just do it.]

I get out plenty, thank you. [He says it a little too defensively, as if this isn't the first time he's had the accusation that's leveled at him. In many ways, staying in the castle isn't a choice. But Alucard does not suspect he'd enjoy much of being among other humans, even if the act of travel is something he would doubtlessly enjoy.]

I can go get a map of the area for you - it'll be to your long term benefit.

[Hector may need to know the area better than just turn right at the big tree. Of that much, Alucard is confident. There is a pause in him though, aware that he hasn't asked an important question.]

Will you need food and other supplies? Forgive any rudeness when I say your task at hand seems to have discouraged proper packing.

[Hector is also 200% right about the fact Alucard would refuse the dog, but only because he'd be expected to.]

[Adrian's protests sound exactly like what a hermit would say. Hector's a hermit, he should know. But if Adrian's dead-set on his castle-dwelling ways, Hector has not the standing nor the inclination to press the issue any further. He shrugs.]

If you have a map small enough to be easily carried, I'll take it. [He does at least have a few essentials stowed on his person- weapons, a flask for water, a few coins and flint for a fire or for kindling the spark of unlife. The rest, he can find along the way or live without. He has a meal in him now, so he's probably set for eating for a day or two.]

You needn't concern yourself with the rest. I don't want to be weighed down. I can resupply in Bralia, when I have my new summoned friends to help bear the weight.

I believe I do, if you'll give me a few moments to find it.

[With that, Alucard rises to his feet. There'll be a map. Coin, as promised, and at this point, an extra water flask and food because if nothing else, his mother would accept nothing less. Hospitality is important, but more than that, this plan needs to work. Needs to. So giving extra food and water? That's insurance.

Alucard's not about to let Hector know that though.

Oh who's he kidding, this is a chance to be a smartass, he's going to take it.]

Because extra pieces of dried meat weigh ever-so-much.

[Adrian goes away and comes back with the provisions Hector actually needs but is too stubborn to ask for. He feels like a child being chastised for his bravado, and he grumbles.]

...would’ve been fine without it....

[He reminds himself of his mission, of Rosaly, and forces himself to put aside his sulking. Even if Adrian is a know-it-all. An insufferable one. He rises up from his seat, startling the fairy on his shoulder, and takes the offered supplies.]

So, you work your magic, I sneak off and work my magic, and then you call upon your Speaker so the farcical hunt can begin?

Perhaps, but if the weather turns, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[That's his story and he's sticking to it! Alucard has the map aside though, because this is important. He unfolds the full of it, the things not being much larger than a slightly larger than average book. The whole thing is hand made, and clearly comes from after Dracula's defeat. The castle is well marked, as are the ruins of the Belmont home. The whole of the terrain is meticulous, and okay, Alucard totally made it himself because he's a nerd.]

In so many words, yes. And if there is failure, then the Belmont assists us to destroy Isaac.

[One slender finger points at a stream that cascades down from the higher elevation, then starts to trace it's route.]

This is about five miles from where we are now. Probably the best source of water for you to work with, and I know that there's a cave system further up.

[Hector and the fairy both study the map, although Hector's not sure if she can actually make anything of it, or if she's just mimicking him. The spot Alucard indicates should give him adequate shelter to work.]

That will do.

[He doesn't want to think about the Belmont being unleashed as plan B. He's heard horror stories about the man, ranging from 'he can singlehandedly kill a horde of night creatures with his whip' to 'he can singlehandedly kill a horde of night creatures with his stench'.]

And you're going to watch me with your remote viewing. Do you have to know where I'll be to do it, or can you find anyone?

[He's not planning on doing anything that he needs to hide, necessarily, but the idea that Adrian can spy on him is still disconcerting. Useful in this context, but still not filling him with warm feelings.]

I don't need to know where you are precisely. It just helps. And I will strive not to intrude on personal moments.

[It may not be easily accomplished, but Alucard does believe in putting in a level effort to avoid being a creep while a person sleeps or truly needs time alone. The cave, the cave he can find effortlessly. The route to the east? That'll be harder.]

Do you have any other questions or worries?

[It's a question that's tinged with actual concern.]

"I'm sorry but I—" [ How should one word this? He doesn't want Alucard mad at him, but... ] "I can't rest any longer. I'm afraid I've started to feel more unwell from lying still than from my wounds. In any case, I've endured worse than this many times before."

[ Mathias scolded him similarly, too. ]
"...So what are you sorting now?" [ Leon ungracefully attempts to change the subject. ]

Is it something that takes vampiric blood?

[‘Is it something Isaac could have learned to do,’ he doesn’t ask. Even if Isaac couldn’t, there are others who want him dead. He thought he’d made a safe home for himself and Rosaly, but he’d been living on borrowed time. He doesn’t thing Adrian would spy on him, but the thought of anyone from his past having looked in unseen on his new life sends his stomach churning. His face loses its color.

He’d never truly been free of that darkness. It followed him like a plague on the wind.]

It doesn’t matter. Look when you need. I’ve got nothing left to hide.

[NICE TRY LEON. Alucard's face becomes even harder set at the very casual approach to change the topic.]

You had exposed bone among those injuries. I don't care if you've endured worse, you're going back and resting. If you desire the presence of another person, very well, I'll move such things closer to myself, but you are not the church's Christ where you can rise from near death after only three days.

Viewing mirrors? No. Anyone who understands the mechanism can use them. The trick is locating one in the first place, as they're very hard to come by. I've never seen one that wasn't a full length piece, and that would not travel well.

[There was one in the Belmont Hold after all, and Belmonts didn't always truck with magic. It did leave quite a few questions about why both his father and Trevor's family seemed to have one, but...those were questions left unasked.

Alucard knows the real fear in the question is Isaac though. He clicks his tongue softly.]

I realize that's scant comfort, but based on what you've said, he's not the kind of man who would travel around with such a large object.

[As for the rest, well. Alucard's not sure how well he's communicating that this is an attempt to give Hector a modicum of dignity, but he is very clearly failing.]

As you say then.

[ Leon's attempt backfires, and as Alucard lashes back at him with hard to hear reason, he can't look him in the eyes. He hasn't had anybody treat him so coldly in a while. He does, however, understand that the dhampir is speaking in his best interest, so defeated, he lets his head hang in his shame. ]

"I understand. If it's too much trouble, I shan't disturb you anymore."
[ Alucard keeping him company is too childish a request, he feels guilty for having desired it. ]

[Alucard sighs, and he brings up one hand to his face to pinch his nose. He's overstepped and snapped, he knows that much. He gets up from where he's set up shop, and as he does so, he mutters more to himself than to Leon:]

Every Belmont is like this, I shouldn't be surprised.

[With that, he actually disappears off for a few moments, only to return with his arms full of blanketing and pillows. Those get plopped down next to the lectern, and Alucard disappears off again. When he returns, it's with a small sofa behind him.

Sypha needs comfy reading nooks, and so some of the castle's furniture got moved.

The sofa gets put next to Alucard's work space. Then there's the pile of sof things, before Alucard's attention returns to Leon.]

Is this an acceptable compromise?

[ Every Belmont? ]

[ Leon's eyes follow the retrieved couch, the blankets and the pillows, and he only wonders why Alucard has brought them. Actions that almost contradict his earlier scolding. Leon blinks a few times as Alucard settles the items confused by his actions. He can't tell if he's an annoyance to him or not. ]

"You didn't need to, but thank you."
[ At this point, however, not taking him up on his effort would be more rude than to leave it and return to his other nest of bedding. Leon slowly angles himself, lugging his injured body onto the couch. ]

"What is the Belmont you're familiar with like? I can't tell if my later to come bloodline is being insulted or not." [ Still frowning. ]

I very clearly did.

[Alucard will live with having Leon Belmont hover over his shoulder and try to watch him work. Anything to keep the man sitting still and continuing to recover, rather than being an idiot and aggravating the wounds further.

He himself settles back down on the seat he had been on, fingers ghosting over the books he needs to catalog.]

Trevor Belmont. Current generation, involved with Dracula's defeat. He is....stubborn. Foul mouthed, scarred, and he cares about the work. Bad at sitting still, worse when it comes to sitting still while injured because to be still is an alien thing to him.

[In those words, there's a flicker of warmth. Fondness.]

“I see. It seems that the latter is certainly something we may have in common. Although I’d like to think I’m far from foul-mouthed.” [ Leon shifts some in the couch to make himself more comfortable, watching Alucard’s hands as he sorts the books. ]

“I wonder what happened to his manners.” [ Because they aren’t something he’d like his family to lose. ]

[So Isaac had likely found him a different way. It's not very reassuring, but there's nothing to be done about that.]

You're right. He'd rather do his spying with forged night creatures, who are loyal to his will. He is not one to look on without meddling.

[And if the mirrors were portable, Lord Dracula would have carried one with him in his travels, surely, and checked in on his bride while he was away. He would have seen her in danger and rushed to her side, and the history of Wallachia might have been changed.

He frowns at the dhampir. He doesn't need Adrian worrying over his feelings.]

Look, you're probably the most trustworthy person to have possession of a mirror. You said you'd be mindful, so if you take a look and I'm taking a piss or something, I'm confident you'll look away. Isaac has taken everything from me, and there's no price too high to pay for stopping him.

You're the exact opposite of him in the language department, rest assured.

[Alucard opens one of the books, turning to the title page, and then letting it rest. His hand reaches for a pen, and he pulls over another, much thicker book to him, and starts to shuffle through the pages.]

The manners are...personality, for the most part. The rest is a story that I am not the correct person to tell it. It'd be best for you to hear it from a descendant.

[Somewhere in that, there's a compliment. But somehow it feels incorrect to respond to it, so all Alucard can really do is incline his head in quiet agreement. This is a delicate alliance (and it is an alliance, there's no dancing around that basic fact) and it needs to be built on a sense of mutual trust. That trust exists right now, and it's so, so fragile.]

We seem to be on the same page about everything then. [Which is a blessing in and of itself. This would be so much harder.]

And when this ends, we leave each other be.

Catch All

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