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I do not. If nothing else, I relish it.
[He just likes being bossed around by speakers, what can he say?
There's no reaction to the finger in his side besides a soft huff.]
We could go steal all Trevor's shirts so he has to join us in being shirtless.
[He just likes being bossed around by speakers, what can he say?
There's no reaction to the finger in his side besides a soft huff.]
We could go steal all Trevor's shirts so he has to join us in being shirtless.
[This is totally fine and normal, shush Leon.]
I'm glad that that much as been made clear at this point.
[Pet carrier or not, Alucard moves them over to a section of the book stacks that are on the first floor of the hold. That much is a blessing, because that's even Alucard can't imagine carrying the whole thing up the stairs and down the narrow aisles.
He moves down a few feet, past one or two shelving units, cheerful enough.]
No. I know how to manage my strength.
[But more importantly: there's a section of shelves that are so very shiny. Silver. Alucard clears his throat and gestures at them.]
You'll have to check the dates on journals, I'm not sure which volume is the correct one.
I'm glad that that much as been made clear at this point.
[Pet carrier or not, Alucard moves them over to a section of the book stacks that are on the first floor of the hold. That much is a blessing, because that's even Alucard can't imagine carrying the whole thing up the stairs and down the narrow aisles.
He moves down a few feet, past one or two shelving units, cheerful enough.]
No. I know how to manage my strength.
[But more importantly: there's a section of shelves that are so very shiny. Silver. Alucard clears his throat and gestures at them.]
You'll have to check the dates on journals, I'm not sure which volume is the correct one.
[Trevor, in all his infinite wisdom, only has so much awareness of Adrian's own feelings on the matter. There's some vague assumption that perhaps Adrian is only humoring him, but Trevor's never been adept at reading people. In fact, he makes a point not to, and merely assumes that everyone in this world dislikes him to a certain degree. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, but by his own figuring, he's just never been proven wrong before.
And he hasn't danced in years, so he's fully anticipating this will be a massive disappointment for Adrian. But damnit, he's trying, and he'll embarrass himself just this once if it means rounding out this night properly for Adrian.
It's a short walk to the dance floor, and despite Trevor's boasting, there's not nearly enough space for proper waltzing here. Ah well. He can improvise. One hand at Adrian's waist, the other holding his hand aloft in all the typical fashion, Trevor pauses for a moment with a sheepish grin, trying to pick out a rhythm.]
I haven't done this in years, and you're going to regret accepting this invitation.
[And into a simple step sequence.]
And he hasn't danced in years, so he's fully anticipating this will be a massive disappointment for Adrian. But damnit, he's trying, and he'll embarrass himself just this once if it means rounding out this night properly for Adrian.
It's a short walk to the dance floor, and despite Trevor's boasting, there's not nearly enough space for proper waltzing here. Ah well. He can improvise. One hand at Adrian's waist, the other holding his hand aloft in all the typical fashion, Trevor pauses for a moment with a sheepish grin, trying to pick out a rhythm.]
I haven't done this in years, and you're going to regret accepting this invitation.
[And into a simple step sequence.]
[Beyond small, there are a few other couples on the floor. Alucard's grateful for that, as it means they're not likely to draw all eyes in the place to the two of them. This isn't the sort of privacy Alucard might have wanted for such a personal moment, but this isn't a date he's in control of. In truth? Not having that control is thrilling.
His hands are cool against Trevor's warmer skin, and he squeezes Trevor's waist for a moment as a means of reassurance.]
I doubt that.
[And so they begin. Alucard's eyes remain on Trevor's face, rather than looking down at their feet. He knows how to waltz, and for all of Trevor's protestations, he's good too. All it is is a moving a little slower to account for the size of the dance floor.]
There. You're doing fine.
His hands are cool against Trevor's warmer skin, and he squeezes Trevor's waist for a moment as a means of reassurance.]
I doubt that.
[And so they begin. Alucard's eyes remain on Trevor's face, rather than looking down at their feet. He knows how to waltz, and for all of Trevor's protestations, he's good too. All it is is a moving a little slower to account for the size of the dance floor.]
There. You're doing fine.
[ It feels different, out here. It was hard to tell, what with the panic caused by Sypha's condition earlier, but the place where Alucard was kept - it felt safe. So far as any part of this fucking place could ever feel safe. For the moment, at least, the joking drops as they pass through the door. Sypha's walking at his side, but he hangs back to let her pull ahead. ]
Teeth, stay in the lead. I'll take the rear. [ Sypha stays between them, in other words. It goes against- basically fucking everything he knows- to not put himself between her and the closest vampire, but Alucard hasn't actually given that many signs that he can't be trusted. ]
Teeth, stay in the lead. I'll take the rear. [ Sypha stays between them, in other words. It goes against- basically fucking everything he knows- to not put himself between her and the closest vampire, but Alucard hasn't actually given that many signs that he can't be trusted. ]
[Teeth?
The nickname gets a huff of annoyance, but there are more important things at hand. Alucard knows the routes of the castle well, and his wolf nose means that the approach of anyone is something that he can anticipate.
It takes time to reach the engine room, coupled with a few close encounters. More than once the wolf tenses, and there is movement just down a corridor or somewhere from above (for sometimes the corridors are very strange indeed.) But more than that, the journey to the engine room is to journey through the centuries of the castle itself. Stone changes. Some ceilings are vaulted and towering, others far too squat with thin holes only meant to let arrows escape. It is the only way to date the castle's component parts, and Alucard tries desperately not to.
He's hurting his home. The thing that has protected him just as surely as his parents have. Where he's grown up. Where he's taken his first steps, where he's learned so much, where no mob can reach him. And maybe that's why he hated the plan, really. Destroying the engine meant destroying the last and greatest defense that home ever had, and that aches.
Alucard had his plans for when he was out of the box. They have all been dashed.
The engine room is a vast place, and Alucard nudges opens the door with hesitation. There is no one, but this room is attuned to his father. That won't be for long.
He then sits himself by the door, making it clear that he is not moving from the spot.]
The nickname gets a huff of annoyance, but there are more important things at hand. Alucard knows the routes of the castle well, and his wolf nose means that the approach of anyone is something that he can anticipate.
It takes time to reach the engine room, coupled with a few close encounters. More than once the wolf tenses, and there is movement just down a corridor or somewhere from above (for sometimes the corridors are very strange indeed.) But more than that, the journey to the engine room is to journey through the centuries of the castle itself. Stone changes. Some ceilings are vaulted and towering, others far too squat with thin holes only meant to let arrows escape. It is the only way to date the castle's component parts, and Alucard tries desperately not to.
He's hurting his home. The thing that has protected him just as surely as his parents have. Where he's grown up. Where he's taken his first steps, where he's learned so much, where no mob can reach him. And maybe that's why he hated the plan, really. Destroying the engine meant destroying the last and greatest defense that home ever had, and that aches.
Alucard had his plans for when he was out of the box. They have all been dashed.
The engine room is a vast place, and Alucard nudges opens the door with hesitation. There is no one, but this room is attuned to his father. That won't be for long.
He then sits himself by the door, making it clear that he is not moving from the spot.]
[ Four years ago, on the night when Adrian was almost driven from Lupu, the world lost three hours of sunlight. Dawn came late the next morning, and dusk early the in the afternoon that followed it. The winter was harsher for it, the things of the night bolder.
There had been burnings before, of course. But now, now the smell of blood and charred flesh is on the air at all times. Hard, dark times need scapegoats and fearful people find them in their hundreds. An inventor is one of them - a religious man, who only wished to use his machine for duplicating texts to allow even the poorest man to find comfort in a copy of the Bible. His work burns with him and his secrets are lost to all normal means.
The Silk Merchant does not employ normal means. All attempts to track down anything of the late inventor's work lead to him and the caravan he travels with (the speakers warn against seeking him out, but there are fewer of them these days). His wagon is an extravagant one, pulled by a unicorn of all things, with silkmoths flitting in and out of it. There are in fact a few bolts of silk at the stall he keeps, but none of his customers seem to walk away with any of it regardless of how much money changes hands. ]
A way to copy books? Oh, I think for such esteemed company- [ His smile grows a little. There are few pleasures in life that he enjoys more than having something that someone else needs. There is something delightful about having that sort of power - petty power though it may be - over a representative of Dracula himself. -I may just have something like that. ] -I may have something a little like that.
[ He takes what looks like a leaf of paper - a thick one, oddly patterned - and lets a quill hover over it. ] Your patron - just how much does he want these secrets?
There had been burnings before, of course. But now, now the smell of blood and charred flesh is on the air at all times. Hard, dark times need scapegoats and fearful people find them in their hundreds. An inventor is one of them - a religious man, who only wished to use his machine for duplicating texts to allow even the poorest man to find comfort in a copy of the Bible. His work burns with him and his secrets are lost to all normal means.
The Silk Merchant does not employ normal means. All attempts to track down anything of the late inventor's work lead to him and the caravan he travels with (the speakers warn against seeking him out, but there are fewer of them these days). His wagon is an extravagant one, pulled by a unicorn of all things, with silkmoths flitting in and out of it. There are in fact a few bolts of silk at the stall he keeps, but none of his customers seem to walk away with any of it regardless of how much money changes hands. ]
A way to copy books? Oh, I think for such esteemed company- [ His smile grows a little. There are few pleasures in life that he enjoys more than having something that someone else needs. There is something delightful about having that sort of power - petty power though it may be - over a representative of Dracula himself. -I may just have something like that. ] -I may have something a little like that.
[ He takes what looks like a leaf of paper - a thick one, oddly patterned - and lets a quill hover over it. ] Your patron - just how much does he want these secrets?
[The past four years have seen Dracula become far more cautious than his family thought the man could ever be. Lisa's medical practice has endured but only barely, and his father sleeps in the second basement rather than the castle in case something should happen. He does not travel. Whenever the clinic is open, Alucard is home, a quiet assistant who is learning the trade. (He is, but he is also keeping his mother safe.) At night, he is a person for only a few hours so that his father can see him, and then he falls asleep as a wolf.
None of the three are happy about it. Lisa knows her so longs for more than being stuck in a village. Dracula knows Lisa misses the freedom of movement. Alucard knows his father's heart would give out from worry if he was still a mortal man. But they're all scared for each other, and those things bind them all tightly together.
It is with his father's leave that Alucard has gone to the market. The burning of the man in Germany has done nothing for Lisa's desire to share her work with the world, and between Alucard and Lisa, they have developed a ruse. A book of some old known cures, a few new ones, and a few harmless myths that are taken for truth. It won't alert censors in the way that printing a Bible will, but it shall spread a little bit of new knowledge. Make the world a little brighter.
(Dracula was concerned when the sun rose so late that first night, four years ago. Something is wrong. He doesn't know what, not even now.)
Alucard is dressed as only a peasant, and even his hair is made a mess. He knows the Silk Merchant won't buy it, but that's fine. It's for those he meets on the road anyway. The wagon unnerves him (that unicorn looks unhappy), and so does the whole of the transaction.
He's stiff. Formal. The Son of Dracula for whatever currency that carries here.]
He pays in coin only. 300 gold pieces.
[Alucard's eyes fall on the paper, watching.]
None of the three are happy about it. Lisa knows her so longs for more than being stuck in a village. Dracula knows Lisa misses the freedom of movement. Alucard knows his father's heart would give out from worry if he was still a mortal man. But they're all scared for each other, and those things bind them all tightly together.
It is with his father's leave that Alucard has gone to the market. The burning of the man in Germany has done nothing for Lisa's desire to share her work with the world, and between Alucard and Lisa, they have developed a ruse. A book of some old known cures, a few new ones, and a few harmless myths that are taken for truth. It won't alert censors in the way that printing a Bible will, but it shall spread a little bit of new knowledge. Make the world a little brighter.
(Dracula was concerned when the sun rose so late that first night, four years ago. Something is wrong. He doesn't know what, not even now.)
Alucard is dressed as only a peasant, and even his hair is made a mess. He knows the Silk Merchant won't buy it, but that's fine. It's for those he meets on the road anyway. The wagon unnerves him (that unicorn looks unhappy), and so does the whole of the transaction.
He's stiff. Formal. The Son of Dracula for whatever currency that carries here.]
He pays in coin only. 300 gold pieces.
[Alucard's eyes fall on the paper, watching.]
I was expecting more of a- giant monster sort of thing.
[ That's what Leon's journals always made this thing sound like. A horrible creature that spewed fire and stank of sulphur and magic. This is- well. All of that except the 'creature' part. Sypha is quick to point out thed20 part of the machine that controls it, and Trevor moves toward it cautiously. Nothing happens. ]
Time to see just how bullshit this whole thing is-
[ He slices his hand without so much as wincing - adrenaline, mostly, he's too full of it to feel anything - and presses it against the device. For a moment, the lights flicker. Then the castle flickers. The machine around them comes to live, roaring and clanking and then, then, it stops. Everything stops. At the other side of the device stands Dracula, holding it all still.
Trevor's swing is quick, and his shortsword buries itself in Dracula's neck before he catches it with his free hand. As if plucking a petal from a flower rather than wrestling a weapon from a not-small man while half-beheaded, he tugs it from Trevor's hands and tosses it into the turning gears. It's gone in an instant, chewed up between them. The cut on his neck is healed entirely by the time he lifts Trevor from the ground by his hair a fraction of a second later, effortlessly tossing him aside and towards the turning gears that just devoured the sword. ]
[ That's what Leon's journals always made this thing sound like. A horrible creature that spewed fire and stank of sulphur and magic. This is- well. All of that except the 'creature' part. Sypha is quick to point out the
Time to see just how bullshit this whole thing is-
[ He slices his hand without so much as wincing - adrenaline, mostly, he's too full of it to feel anything - and presses it against the device. For a moment, the lights flicker. Then the castle flickers. The machine around them comes to live, roaring and clanking and then, then, it stops. Everything stops. At the other side of the device stands Dracula, holding it all still.
Trevor's swing is quick, and his shortsword buries itself in Dracula's neck before he catches it with his free hand. As if plucking a petal from a flower rather than wrestling a weapon from a not-small man while half-beheaded, he tugs it from Trevor's hands and tosses it into the turning gears. It's gone in an instant, chewed up between them. The cut on his neck is healed entirely by the time he lifts Trevor from the ground by his hair a fraction of a second later, effortlessly tossing him aside and towards the turning gears that just devoured the sword. ]
Hmph.
[The wolf has no idea why a giant monster would be what's there, but at least Sypha's got the right of it. Alucard continues to stand watch at the door, stiff and prim and just wanting to leave already, because this isn't safe. They aren't safe. This is the castle's heart, and to escape is going to be a true nightmare. All paths that lead to this place have windowless rooms, and now? Now they shall be ambushed on all sides by vampires.
He's justified in his terror when Dracula himself appears, and for a split second in the madness, Dracula's eyes meet those of his son. In that moment, the awful gravity of the situation truly smacks Alucard, and he knows how deeply awful this situation is. He is betraying everything for the sake of the world. That fact must now be armor against the emotional turmoil of it.
There's one path that has a small escape route. Alucard enters the engine room, letting out a short, sharp howl to draw the attention of the other two to the smallest of doors, hidden away in an alcove. Sypha won't leave Trevor behind, and if she's smart, her magic will be a merchant for time, letting Trevor withdraw and---
--the gears.
Alucard is no longer a wolf. He is a man. He is a man running to save a Belmont from being crushed by Dracula's castle.
No God or Devil is going to help him at this point.]
[The wolf has no idea why a giant monster would be what's there, but at least Sypha's got the right of it. Alucard continues to stand watch at the door, stiff and prim and just wanting to leave already, because this isn't safe. They aren't safe. This is the castle's heart, and to escape is going to be a true nightmare. All paths that lead to this place have windowless rooms, and now? Now they shall be ambushed on all sides by vampires.
He's justified in his terror when Dracula himself appears, and for a split second in the madness, Dracula's eyes meet those of his son. In that moment, the awful gravity of the situation truly smacks Alucard, and he knows how deeply awful this situation is. He is betraying everything for the sake of the world. That fact must now be armor against the emotional turmoil of it.
There's one path that has a small escape route. Alucard enters the engine room, letting out a short, sharp howl to draw the attention of the other two to the smallest of doors, hidden away in an alcove. Sypha won't leave Trevor behind, and if she's smart, her magic will be a merchant for time, letting Trevor withdraw and---
--the gears.
Alucard is no longer a wolf. He is a man. He is a man running to save a Belmont from being crushed by Dracula's castle.
No God or Devil is going to help him at this point.]
My work is difficult, nowadays. Risky. He could see his way to 400, I'm sure? To support my work, so I can rescue the ideas of other geniuses.
[ Just the ideas, not the people themselves. Those aren't nearly as profitable to rescue from the flames. He writes something on the strange paper and the ink sinks in with the all too familiar smell of burning. The moths stop flying in and out of the wagon. He writes something more, and a horned man emerges. His gaze doesn't leave the floor as he approaches the stall, holding out a small bottle. ]
The last thoughts of a certain inventor. My assistant can put them to text for you, once the coin is mine.
[ Just the ideas, not the people themselves. Those aren't nearly as profitable to rescue from the flames. He writes something on the strange paper and the ink sinks in with the all too familiar smell of burning. The moths stop flying in and out of the wagon. He writes something more, and a horned man emerges. His gaze doesn't leave the floor as he approaches the stall, holding out a small bottle. ]
The last thoughts of a certain inventor. My assistant can put them to text for you, once the coin is mine.
Three hundred and fifty. Dracula does not bargain like a fishmonger's wife.
[Alucard doesn't like this at all. He doesn't like that the person matters less than the idea, and he does not like the horned man that emerges. He is...he's ill. Alucard can see that much is true, by the way he carries himself. It's too brow beat, too worn too...
...Ugh.
That is no assistant. Alucard knows the Turks and others keep others as property, and this is no better.]
[Alucard doesn't like this at all. He doesn't like that the person matters less than the idea, and he does not like the horned man that emerges. He is...he's ill. Alucard can see that much is true, by the way he carries himself. It's too brow beat, too worn too...
...Ugh.
That is no assistant. Alucard knows the Turks and others keep others as property, and this is no better.]
[ This is better than he expected.
In most ways, at least. He didn't want Sypha to be here when they had to do this, but- well, you can't have everything. He can't sacrifice the world for her. If she has to go with them- so be it. The castle responded to the blood. He knows it did. So she can just kill all of them - the three of them, along with every vampire in this place, and-
-she doesn't do that. Instead he feels a gust of wind at his back, keeping him clear of the gears just long enough for Alucard to grab him. And that's stupid. Infuriating. They're going to die anyway- ]
-Sypha! The castle- Put us into the sea!
[ Sypha looks horrified for only a moment as she realises what he's asking of her, and then she presses her lips into a thin, determined line and nods. The castle flickers again, for a moment everything feels impossibly light in the water-that-isn't-there.
Dracula had been lunging for Sypha, but he's forced to return to the device. He plants both hands against it, suddenly shaken in a way that he wasn't by there being a sword in his neck. The castle falls still again, disappointingly not full of water, but Dracula's fingers tremble with effort. Sypha trembles, too, her whole being focused upon trying to move the castle. It wouldn't be close, in a battle of magic against magic. Not even Sypha can compete with Dracula in that. But with her connection to the castle strengthened by the blood of Leon Belmont it's a stalemate between them. ]
In most ways, at least. He didn't want Sypha to be here when they had to do this, but- well, you can't have everything. He can't sacrifice the world for her. If she has to go with them- so be it. The castle responded to the blood. He knows it did. So she can just kill all of them - the three of them, along with every vampire in this place, and-
-she doesn't do that. Instead he feels a gust of wind at his back, keeping him clear of the gears just long enough for Alucard to grab him. And that's stupid. Infuriating. They're going to die anyway- ]
-Sypha! The castle- Put us into the sea!
[ Sypha looks horrified for only a moment as she realises what he's asking of her, and then she presses her lips into a thin, determined line and nods. The castle flickers again, for a moment everything feels impossibly light in the water-that-isn't-there.
Dracula had been lunging for Sypha, but he's forced to return to the device. He plants both hands against it, suddenly shaken in a way that he wasn't by there being a sword in his neck. The castle falls still again, disappointingly not full of water, but Dracula's fingers tremble with effort. Sypha trembles, too, her whole being focused upon trying to move the castle. It wouldn't be close, in a battle of magic against magic. Not even Sypha can compete with Dracula in that. But with her connection to the castle strengthened by the blood of Leon Belmont it's a stalemate between them. ]
[Alucard has Trevor slung over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. It's the only way all three of them are going to be able to get out at this rate, because the battle plan is a mess and--
--shit.
Their stupid plan worked.
More than that, Dracula knows it worked. Alucard has seen fear reflected in his father's eyes too much of late, and oh, oh that moment just caused the tiny bits of Alucard's heart that have reconstructed themselves to shatter again. The thought about home, protection, and in Dracula's case, a life's work are shared and neither of them can dwell on it.
Alucard runs back to the alcove. He keeps his speed human because he must, but once Sypha's there, he can pick her up too. Run and never stop, run to the end of the Earth and then let the other two do whatever stupid plans they want.]
Come on! This way!
--shit.
Their stupid plan worked.
More than that, Dracula knows it worked. Alucard has seen fear reflected in his father's eyes too much of late, and oh, oh that moment just caused the tiny bits of Alucard's heart that have reconstructed themselves to shatter again. The thought about home, protection, and in Dracula's case, a life's work are shared and neither of them can dwell on it.
Alucard runs back to the alcove. He keeps his speed human because he must, but once Sypha's there, he can pick her up too. Run and never stop, run to the end of the Earth and then let the other two do whatever stupid plans they want.]
Come on! This way!
Of course not. He pays fairly for things of great value.
[ But he knows when he can't barter and won't push his luck. The Merchant writes on the strange, patterned paper again, and the man tenses. He falls deadly still for a few seconds and then moves, pouring the bottle's contents over sheets of more normal-looking paper. As it soaks in, the papers fill with words. It's a stream of consciousness, structureless, containing everything from the understanding of printing books to fear over the oncoming burning to hope that loved ones will be safe in these dark times.
Toward the end, another thought train joins those - an offer to make the death painless and take away the fear in return for his thoughts. ]
Our methods produce- disorganised results, I'm afraid. But you will find the information you seek there.
[ But he knows when he can't barter and won't push his luck. The Merchant writes on the strange, patterned paper again, and the man tenses. He falls deadly still for a few seconds and then moves, pouring the bottle's contents over sheets of more normal-looking paper. As it soaks in, the papers fill with words. It's a stream of consciousness, structureless, containing everything from the understanding of printing books to fear over the oncoming burning to hope that loved ones will be safe in these dark times.
Toward the end, another thought train joins those - an offer to make the death painless and take away the fear in return for his thoughts. ]
Our methods produce- disorganised results, I'm afraid. But you will find the information you seek there.
I would not expect a dying man's thoughts to be organized.
[Alucard would be a liar if he said he wasn't interested in the magic. He watches as the man tenses, and he understands two things. First, how commands are given here - they're written. And as for the rest, it's a brutal thing to witness, for as the words appear on the paper, Alucard's insides wretch. The man's final thoughts were bought. A promise of mercy. Alucard doesn't know if the Merchant truly made that come true. He has doubts.]
May I read the material over to confirm that fact? I would not wish to return without a careful inspection of such an item.
[Alucard would be a liar if he said he wasn't interested in the magic. He watches as the man tenses, and he understands two things. First, how commands are given here - they're written. And as for the rest, it's a brutal thing to witness, for as the words appear on the paper, Alucard's insides wretch. The man's final thoughts were bought. A promise of mercy. Alucard doesn't know if the Merchant truly made that come true. He has doubts.]
May I read the material over to confirm that fact? I would not wish to return without a careful inspection of such an item.
[Trevor is fairly sure he wouldn't be as graceful with any other partner. But they've always been like this. Fighting, sparring, and even more clandestine activities, there's always a natural ebb and flow between them, a rhythm they fall into without really trying, and that's part of why Trevor's likes it. It's not easy, but it comes easily; settles naturally, if he just lets it.
What a sight they must be. Trevor wishes he could see them from the outside, observe this dichotomy of grace. Mostly he wishes he could see Adrian; just watch him dance, because he must be breathtaking. Maybe he can bring Sypha and Adrian back here before their opera date, hang behind while they conquer the dance floor together. Watch. That would be lovely.]
And you. When did you have formal training? [Trevor lifts his brow; he's impressed. Adrian is just full of surprises.]
What a sight they must be. Trevor wishes he could see them from the outside, observe this dichotomy of grace. Mostly he wishes he could see Adrian; just watch him dance, because he must be breathtaking. Maybe he can bring Sypha and Adrian back here before their opera date, hang behind while they conquer the dance floor together. Watch. That would be lovely.]
And you. When did you have formal training? [Trevor lifts his brow; he's impressed. Adrian is just full of surprises.]
I was very bored, as was my mother. Don't laugh.
[Alucard never expected to actually use the skill. Dancing like this wasn't common in Romania, and no one his age was likely to have learned it unless the family was truly moneyed. So...of course it would be with Trevor. Of course.
It's easy like this. As well as Alucard knows the steps, there's a true joy in letting Trevor lead. That joy has come to be a truth for all of the evening, because precious few things have been in Alucard's control. It's a romantic surrender, and all he wants now is to return home and be on the sofa the two of them, the dhampir simply curled up against Trevor's side, being held.
More than that, he wants to kiss the Belmont. Stupidly, desperately, and with a gentle enthusiasm that's suitable for a spot like this. That's for after the dance is over though, and they're not close to that point yet.]
[Alucard never expected to actually use the skill. Dancing like this wasn't common in Romania, and no one his age was likely to have learned it unless the family was truly moneyed. So...of course it would be with Trevor. Of course.
It's easy like this. As well as Alucard knows the steps, there's a true joy in letting Trevor lead. That joy has come to be a truth for all of the evening, because precious few things have been in Alucard's control. It's a romantic surrender, and all he wants now is to return home and be on the sofa the two of them, the dhampir simply curled up against Trevor's side, being held.
More than that, he wants to kiss the Belmont. Stupidly, desperately, and with a gentle enthusiasm that's suitable for a spot like this. That's for after the dance is over though, and they're not close to that point yet.]
[Trevor laughs anyway, but it's good-natured, rather than the sardonic snicker Adrian likely expected. More of these little peeks into the dhampir's youth. The more Trevor hears, the more he wants to know, and not for the sake of anything other than-- It's Adrian, and Trevor wants to know him. Intimately, all the little secret parts that pieced Adrian into the man Trevor's holding now; Trevor wants to know them all. Maybe here on this dancefloor -- feet miraculously missing one another with every step -- is as good a time to start as any.]
You speak of her so often; you make her sound extraordinary.
[As dangerous as it should feel to take any manner of vested interest in Dracula's wife... Well. Trevor's already thoroughly defiled Dracula's son. Surely asking about his childhood was no sin at this point.]
What else did boredom teach you?
You speak of her so often; you make her sound extraordinary.
[As dangerous as it should feel to take any manner of vested interest in Dracula's wife... Well. Trevor's already thoroughly defiled Dracula's son. Surely asking about his childhood was no sin at this point.]
What else did boredom teach you?
She is.
[Lisa Tepes, as much as the years have been unkind to her lately, is a remarkable woman. Not because she's romanced a vampire that's 900 years old, not because of her son, but because of her scientific research and where it can lead medicine in the centuries to come. Alucard and his father have tried to champion her at every moment they've been granted, and it's come with humiliation of late.
But that doesn't exchange how extraordinary her mind is, nor how caring she is to her patients and to her family. There may be a day where it's safe to introduce his mother to both Trevor and Sypha.
It isn't tonight.
Alucard shakes his head a little at the question.]
So much anatomy. I don't advise being the child of doctors, you will have highly specific medical knowledge.
[Lisa Tepes, as much as the years have been unkind to her lately, is a remarkable woman. Not because she's romanced a vampire that's 900 years old, not because of her son, but because of her scientific research and where it can lead medicine in the centuries to come. Alucard and his father have tried to champion her at every moment they've been granted, and it's come with humiliation of late.
But that doesn't exchange how extraordinary her mind is, nor how caring she is to her patients and to her family. There may be a day where it's safe to introduce his mother to both Trevor and Sypha.
It isn't tonight.
Alucard shakes his head a little at the question.]
So much anatomy. I don't advise being the child of doctors, you will have highly specific medical knowledge.
Is that so bad? It's practical, at least.
[Not like vampire hunting. That's decidedly impractical in terms of the modern world, and all Trevor's varied -- near-encyclopedic -- knowledge of how to kill monsters is useless when it comes to actually living, let alone living with himself.
Trevor's grin goes positively vile for a moment.]
That highly specific anatomical knowledge seems to serve you well enough, doesn't it?
[Crude jokes during a waltz to a live string quartet in a five-star restaurant. If there were a more appropriate parallel to Trevor's entire damn personality...
[Not like vampire hunting. That's decidedly impractical in terms of the modern world, and all Trevor's varied -- near-encyclopedic -- knowledge of how to kill monsters is useless when it comes to actually living, let alone living with himself.
Trevor's grin goes positively vile for a moment.]
That highly specific anatomical knowledge seems to serve you well enough, doesn't it?
[Crude jokes during a waltz to a live string quartet in a five-star restaurant. If there were a more appropriate parallel to Trevor's entire damn personality...
Of course. Give the good man the papers.
[ Trevor does as he is told, handing over the papers. The information is indeed there, if fragmented among a thousand other thoughts. Words twist into diagrams every now and then, pictures of how a printing machine might look, where the thin lines are made up of the desperate, terrified thoughts of a man about to die. ]
I assure you, whatever complaints you might hear about my work, you will not find a single customer dissatisfied by the information I provide.
[ Trevor does as he is told, handing over the papers. The information is indeed there, if fragmented among a thousand other thoughts. Words twist into diagrams every now and then, pictures of how a printing machine might look, where the thin lines are made up of the desperate, terrified thoughts of a man about to die. ]
I assure you, whatever complaints you might hear about my work, you will not find a single customer dissatisfied by the information I provide.
[Alucard reads the papers carefully. He knows what he's looking for, but there's bile that rises in his throat as he witnesses every word. It's awful. The man's dying, and he was forced to think of this instead.
It's a miracle that Alucard's hands don't shake by the time he's done reading. But more than that, he's resolved to at least take away something from this monster.]
I'll take your assistant too.
It's a miracle that Alucard's hands don't shake by the time he's done reading. But more than that, he's resolved to at least take away something from this monster.]
I'll take your assistant too.
While it has come in handy once or twice, I--
[Oh, Trevor.
It shouldn't be surprising that Alucard's nose wrinkles up in absolute disapproval at the sudden crudeness. You killed the moment, Trevor!
To Alucard's credit, he doesn't step on Trevor's foot (in spite of wanting to) or reprimand him with any more than a moment's disapproving glance. It is coupled with a soft sigh, and the whole of the dance slows considerably. The quartet is winding down for a few minutes at least, and that means this little adventure shall be ending in turn.]
You couldn't have waited until we were sitting, could you?
[Oh, Trevor.
It shouldn't be surprising that Alucard's nose wrinkles up in absolute disapproval at the sudden crudeness. You killed the moment, Trevor!
To Alucard's credit, he doesn't step on Trevor's foot (in spite of wanting to) or reprimand him with any more than a moment's disapproving glance. It is coupled with a soft sigh, and the whole of the dance slows considerably. The quartet is winding down for a few minutes at least, and that means this little adventure shall be ending in turn.]
You couldn't have waited until we were sitting, could you?
[ There is a silence, at that. Trevor looks up just for a moment, eyes not quite focusing on Alucard properly, and then lowers his gaze again. The merchant finds his voice again quickly. ]
My assistant is not for sale, sir. Not even to a man such as your master. I trade in thoughts, not in living things. [ He absolutely trades in living things. But he does, at present, have the good sense to not advertise that to Dracula. He has not taken kindly to slavers in the past. ] Even if I did, I would be trading away my entire livelihood. I can hardly be a Silk Merchant without a weaver, can I?
[ Or, more pertinently, a trader of secrets without a fairy to pull them out of people's skulls. ]
My assistant is not for sale, sir. Not even to a man such as your master. I trade in thoughts, not in living things. [ He absolutely trades in living things. But he does, at present, have the good sense to not advertise that to Dracula. He has not taken kindly to slavers in the past. ] Even if I did, I would be trading away my entire livelihood. I can hardly be a Silk Merchant without a weaver, can I?
[ Or, more pertinently, a trader of secrets without a fairy to pull them out of people's skulls. ]
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