Pretty sure you’re meant to marry me before you ask me to undress the moment I get home.
[ He’s still laughing at his own absolutely-just-a-joke as he moves into the side room and sets about loosening the many, many straps holding all of the metal on him. Jokes aside, it’ll be good to be free of the weight of it all.. ]
She’s at sea, best as I can tell. A vampire called Godbrand made port back at Braila to gather what remained of her forces. They expect her to need at least another year before she can leave her coffin safely, let alone do anything more. [ He sighs, setting down a pauldron. ] Sorry I couldn’t do more. Hard to catch up with a boat by horse.
[ He’s still laughing at his own absolutely-just-a-joke as he moves into the side room and sets about loosening the many, many straps holding all of the metal on him. Jokes aside, it’ll be good to be free of the weight of it all.. ]
She’s at sea, best as I can tell. A vampire called Godbrand made port back at Braila to gather what remained of her forces. They expect her to need at least another year before she can leave her coffin safely, let alone do anything more. [ He sighs, setting down a pauldron. ] Sorry I couldn’t do more. Hard to catch up with a boat by horse.
Ask Sypha. She can explain it to you.
[ He continues the long, involved task of taking off the armour, occasionally tutting at a piece that needs maintenance of some sort. Eventually he’s down to a padded gambeson, which he sets about unbuttoning. The castle is always strangely warm, even when the world outside it is cold. He doesn’t need this much padding. ]
I’ll keep an ear out, then I next leave, but- [ He thinks for a moment, staring into space. ]
-will you both manage, if she does?
[ He continues the long, involved task of taking off the armour, occasionally tutting at a piece that needs maintenance of some sort. Eventually he’s down to a padded gambeson, which he sets about unbuttoning. The castle is always strangely warm, even when the world outside it is cold. He doesn’t need this much padding. ]
I’ll keep an ear out, then I next leave, but- [ He thinks for a moment, staring into space. ]
-will you both manage, if she does?
...another year or so, then.
[ His voice takes on a distant tone, like he’s not quite talking to Alucard. ] i can manage that.
[ He remains still for a moment, as if frozen in time, and then suddenly starts again, digging about in his pack for a plainer tunic. When he speaks, it’s directed at Alucard more properly. ]
I’ll be here.
[ His voice takes on a distant tone, like he’s not quite talking to Alucard. ] i can manage that.
[ He remains still for a moment, as if frozen in time, and then suddenly starts again, digging about in his pack for a plainer tunic. When he speaks, it’s directed at Alucard more properly. ]
I’ll be here.
Then she’d show up here and you’d be asleep. That’s not better.
[ He shrugs off the gambeson, revealing- well. What’s left of his torso after the year of captivity. Even now it’s not exactly a pretty sight. The most dramatic mark, though absolutely not the only one, is a large chunk of flesh missing from one side of him, where a quarter of the spell to seal Dracula used to be carved before the church cut it off his body. ]
Nothing you’ve not seen - and put back together - before.
[ Look away, vampire. ]
[ He shrugs off the gambeson, revealing- well. What’s left of his torso after the year of captivity. Even now it’s not exactly a pretty sight. The most dramatic mark, though absolutely not the only one, is a large chunk of flesh missing from one side of him, where a quarter of the spell to seal Dracula used to be carved before the church cut it off his body. ]
Nothing you’ve not seen - and put back together - before.
[ Look away, vampire. ]
Shit, did you go and get yourself a sense of modesty while I was gone, Mr. ‘Destroy my only shirt please’?
[ But he pulls on the tunic quickly. No sense in making the vampire uncomfortable. ]
She’s not going to be killing or capturing anyone. I’ll see to it.
[ But he pulls on the tunic quickly. No sense in making the vampire uncomfortable. ]
She’s not going to be killing or capturing anyone. I’ll see to it.
Just you, then. You’re welcome.
[ He finishes fastening the tunic, nodding. ]
Lead on, then.
[ He finishes fastening the tunic, nodding. ]
Lead on, then.
[ There is a dog he can’t pet and this is the worst.
Sypha has a hundred thousand questions, and he talks to her well into the night until he practically falls asleep against her and she declares that they can continue tomorrow. He’s still partially asleep as Alucard leads him through the castle. ]
It’s perfect. I-
[ Look he hasn’t had an actual bed in so long. This is wonderful. ]
-I know this is hard. And I know you’re trying. I- thanks. I appreciate it.
Sypha has a hundred thousand questions, and he talks to her well into the night until he practically falls asleep against her and she declares that they can continue tomorrow. He’s still partially asleep as Alucard leads him through the castle. ]
It’s perfect. I-
[ Look he hasn’t had an actual bed in so long. This is wonderful. ]
-I know this is hard. And I know you’re trying. I- thanks. I appreciate it.
Just sleep, I think. It’s been a long journey.
[ Sure enough, he sleeps through both breakfast and lunch, and all attempt to wake him are met with exhausted, incoherent grumbling. It’s mid-afternoon when he finally rises, which is shameful.
He drags himself to the library. No doubt at least Sypha will be there, going over some book or another. And then he freezes in the doorway, one hand reaching for a whip that isn’t on his belt right now. The other slowly curls into a fist, short nails cutting into the flesh of his palms. ]
[ Sure enough, he sleeps through both breakfast and lunch, and all attempt to wake him are met with exhausted, incoherent grumbling. It’s mid-afternoon when he finally rises, which is shameful.
He drags himself to the library. No doubt at least Sypha will be there, going over some book or another. And then he freezes in the doorway, one hand reaching for a whip that isn’t on his belt right now. The other slowly curls into a fist, short nails cutting into the flesh of his palms. ]
[That's high praise from Adrian if Trevor's ever heard it, so he'll take that statement as his goal achieved. Not that they'd been such lofty goals from the start, but it's good to know he's done something to ease Adrian's strain. Given Trevor's partially-responsible for said strain, it's probably the least he can do.
He remains diligent to his task, and say what one might about his lineage, he owes his single-mindedness to the Belmonts, if nothing else. It pays off at times. Like when he's patiently and carefully cupping clean water over Adrian's head, gently combing the shampoo from his hair with both hands.
It's one of Trevor's worst-kept secrets, but he's positively enamored with Adrian's scent. This scent, in particular. It plagues him at times. They'll be doing something completely innocuous -- fetching materials from the vault, or taking an evening stroll, or some-such -- and Trevor will catch a hint of it in Adrian's wake and become suddenly undone by the memories of when he's surrounded by it. And the dhampir wonders after Trevor's amorous moods... More often than not, he's driving Trevor mad with no awareness, without even trying.
It's a blissfully long while before Trevor's rinsed all the soap from Adrian's hair. Though a task completed is no permission for the dhampir too slip away. In fact, Trevor winds both arms around Adrian's waist to keep him well and truly present.]
Anything else you'd like me to wash?
[This asked, of course, with an unwholesome smirk.]
He remains diligent to his task, and say what one might about his lineage, he owes his single-mindedness to the Belmonts, if nothing else. It pays off at times. Like when he's patiently and carefully cupping clean water over Adrian's head, gently combing the shampoo from his hair with both hands.
It's one of Trevor's worst-kept secrets, but he's positively enamored with Adrian's scent. This scent, in particular. It plagues him at times. They'll be doing something completely innocuous -- fetching materials from the vault, or taking an evening stroll, or some-such -- and Trevor will catch a hint of it in Adrian's wake and become suddenly undone by the memories of when he's surrounded by it. And the dhampir wonders after Trevor's amorous moods... More often than not, he's driving Trevor mad with no awareness, without even trying.
It's a blissfully long while before Trevor's rinsed all the soap from Adrian's hair. Though a task completed is no permission for the dhampir too slip away. In fact, Trevor winds both arms around Adrian's waist to keep him well and truly present.]
Anything else you'd like me to wash?
[This asked, of course, with an unwholesome smirk.]
[ He’s seen vampires feeding before, from people unwilling and compelled into obedience. This isn’t any of those. After the initial shock passes, and the initial shock is a lot, that much is clear enough.
And so this is- fine. It’s fine. Sypha is, as Alucard said before, more than capable of making her own choices. This is fine. Good. He’s happy for them.
The shock passes, and his fists unclench. His shoulders sink, then rise again. ]
It looks- fine. I just spooked, that’s all.
[ He pauses, thinks, and then seems to come to a conclusion. ]
I came to tell you I’d be in the hold. Have work to do there.
[ It’s true. It just became true. They deserve to be happy. There’s one thing he can do to give that to them before he can leave without worrying. ]
And so this is- fine. It’s fine. Sypha is, as Alucard said before, more than capable of making her own choices. This is fine. Good. He’s happy for them.
The shock passes, and his fists unclench. His shoulders sink, then rise again. ]
It looks- fine. I just spooked, that’s all.
[ He pauses, thinks, and then seems to come to a conclusion. ]
I came to tell you I’d be in the hold. Have work to do there.
[ It’s true. It just became true. They deserve to be happy. There’s one thing he can do to give that to them before he can leave without worrying. ]
You really shouldn-
[ He really ought to tell her not to let him interrupt them, but it’s hard to say no to Sypha. Just about impossible, actually. ]
Yeah. I’ll- I’ll try.
[ And he does. Try, at least. He heads toward the hold, answering Sypha’s questions with quiet mumbles or words of one syllable. ]
[ He really ought to tell her not to let him interrupt them, but it’s hard to say no to Sypha. Just about impossible, actually. ]
Yeah. I’ll- I’ll try.
[ And he does. Try, at least. He heads toward the hold, answering Sypha’s questions with quiet mumbles or words of one syllable. ]
[ Sypha doesn’t give up, just follows him about. She doesn’t even stop trickling blood until it threatens to get onto the books and she finally at least cleans up. And he’s gladder for it than he’d like to admit. Her presence is easier than Alucard’s, even with the awkward situation taken into account.
He just- hates it. Hates that he can’t bring himself to dismiss her, that he’s here wasting something so precious when her brilliant presence could do so much more good. Hates himself for wasting time basking in her presence when he could be doing something worthwhile for the two of them. When he carries her back up from the hold, it’s with armfuls of books from Enid’s collection. Maps. Star and sea charts. Spells. A thick almanac.
The ship holding Carmilla will have to make port somewhere, either for blood or for supplies to feed whatever prisoners are being used to provide blood. If he can figure out where-
He falls asleep in the small hours of the morning into a collection of spells for tracking creatures, in the middle of trying to make sense of them, and wakes up in terror barely an hour later. No sense trying to sleep any more. Food will keep him alert.
Except that the kitchen is occupied. ]
-Oh. I’ll- come back later.
He just- hates it. Hates that he can’t bring himself to dismiss her, that he’s here wasting something so precious when her brilliant presence could do so much more good. Hates himself for wasting time basking in her presence when he could be doing something worthwhile for the two of them. When he carries her back up from the hold, it’s with armfuls of books from Enid’s collection. Maps. Star and sea charts. Spells. A thick almanac.
The ship holding Carmilla will have to make port somewhere, either for blood or for supplies to feed whatever prisoners are being used to provide blood. If he can figure out where-
He falls asleep in the small hours of the morning into a collection of spells for tracking creatures, in the middle of trying to make sense of them, and wakes up in terror barely an hour later. No sense trying to sleep any more. Food will keep him alert.
Except that the kitchen is occupied. ]
-Oh. I’ll- come back later.
...she will, won’t she?
[ He’s been dodging Sypha’s attempt to make him talk about this through all the afternoon and evening. She’s explained and he - understands, at least so far as this being not only voluntary, but Sypha’s idea goes. That was, for obvious reasons, the part that she needed to communicate most urgently.
But - he’s going to have to actually talk about this, isn’t he? ]
...I’m happy for you both. I really am. I was worried, and I don’t think I need to be anymore.
[ Alucard won’t let any harm come to Sypha. Sypha won’t let Alucard hurt any more than he has to. ]
[ He’s been dodging Sypha’s attempt to make him talk about this through all the afternoon and evening. She’s explained and he - understands, at least so far as this being not only voluntary, but Sypha’s idea goes. That was, for obvious reasons, the part that she needed to communicate most urgently.
But - he’s going to have to actually talk about this, isn’t he? ]
...I’m happy for you both. I really am. I was worried, and I don’t think I need to be anymore.
[ Alucard won’t let any harm come to Sypha. Sypha won’t let Alucard hurt any more than he has to. ]
Page 65 of 199
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- 138
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- 144
- 145
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- 155
- 156
- 157
- 158
- 159
- 160
- 161
- 162
- 163
- 164
- 165
- 166
- 167
- 168
- 169
- 170
- 171
- 172
- 173
- 174
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- 179
- 180
- 181
- 182
- 183
- 184
- 185
- 186
- 187
- 188
- 189
- 190
- 191
- 192
- 193
- 194
- 195
- 196
- 197
- 198
- 199
- »


Page 65 of 199