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[By the time Trevor finishes dressing the bite, Alucard's body has relaxed again. He's not curled up in on himself, and one hand reaches out for Trevor to try and have him return to the fold. The warm, warm fold.
The scent of the peel is--
--Oh.]
S'for your blood sugar. You should eat the whole thing.
The scent of the peel is--
--Oh.]
S'for your blood sugar. You should eat the whole thing.
My blood's plenty sugary. [ He says with a shrug, but after turning over the fruit once more (it's bizarre, that there's fruit that grows already chopped. probably castle magic) he does, finally, eat it. Eats it and then does return to the warmth of the bed.
This is probably going to be how things are until Alucard recovers, isn't it? Ah well. He can't say he minds. He puts one arm over both of them, hand stroking at the small of Sypha's back while the other is in Alucard's hair, combing through it with his fingers. ]
This is probably going to be how things are until Alucard recovers, isn't it? Ah well. He can't say he minds. He puts one arm over both of them, hand stroking at the small of Sypha's back while the other is in Alucard's hair, combing through it with his fingers. ]
[A week in, and Alucard feels mostly better. The wound from the meat hook has healed entirely, and with it has been no lingering pain at the site. There's no scar either, which is nothing short of a small mercy in everyone's opinion.
His leg is taking longer. Carmilla's age meant that anything done by her hands directly would scar, and her clawmarks are her last legacy to the dhampir. Slow healing clawmarks, although the material closest to the bone has now closed up. (Thank God Alucard has said outloud, and genuinely meant the words.)
He's able to be out of bed though, and that's the important thing. Alucard likes being on one of the library sofas nearest the windows the most, able to look out at the snowy mountains of the Carpathians and know that he is home, he is safe, and he is so very well protected. The castle. Trevor. Sypha. Safety is a luxury and Alucard wants nothing more than to bask in it.
But his mind still wanders. Thinks of Carmilla and her last moments, and what it was that she saw. She spoke of Dracula, Alucard remembered that much, but...
...he's waited until the morphine has been unneeded. He's on smaller doses of normal pain killers now, and he's less loopy for it. Less cuddly too, although he will lean against one or the other in place of the arm of the sofa if they are near by. (They always are.)
Lunch today. Alucard smells it and Trevor before either walk through the door.]
Belmont?
His leg is taking longer. Carmilla's age meant that anything done by her hands directly would scar, and her clawmarks are her last legacy to the dhampir. Slow healing clawmarks, although the material closest to the bone has now closed up. (Thank God Alucard has said outloud, and genuinely meant the words.)
He's able to be out of bed though, and that's the important thing. Alucard likes being on one of the library sofas nearest the windows the most, able to look out at the snowy mountains of the Carpathians and know that he is home, he is safe, and he is so very well protected. The castle. Trevor. Sypha. Safety is a luxury and Alucard wants nothing more than to bask in it.
But his mind still wanders. Thinks of Carmilla and her last moments, and what it was that she saw. She spoke of Dracula, Alucard remembered that much, but...
...he's waited until the morphine has been unneeded. He's on smaller doses of normal pain killers now, and he's less loopy for it. Less cuddly too, although he will lean against one or the other in place of the arm of the sofa if they are near by. (They always are.)
Lunch today. Alucard smells it and Trevor before either walk through the door.]
Belmont?
[ Lunch was troublesome for a while, but the castle has finally, finally given back the kitchen knives. It's yet to let him get anything he can use to hunt, which would normally be a concern. But somehow, the pantry never runs low. And while he should know better than to accept food from a creature he doesn't understand and while he's fairly sure this isn't something that it can keep doing forever, the alternative is all of them starving. For now, he can work with this.
It's soups and stews mostly. They started out as light things until he knew for sure that Alucard could keep food other than blood down, and by now they're heartier affairs, better suited to the cold. Even if they never actually experience the cold in here. If he does all the preparation, it's fairly foolproof in case he's not able to cook - even Sypha can handle putting a flame under a pot and putting a lump of dough into the oven. And it's as good an excuse as any to make bread. He likes making bread. You just have to do everything you're meant to do, and it doesn't go wrong unless you fuck up. ]
Yeah, me. [ He sets the tray down on a low table near the sofa, tugging it over with his foot. Stew and bread with butter, water, a couple pills that Sypha said were the right ones and that need to be taken with meals. No blood, not for now. ] Think you're going to be able to eat?
It's soups and stews mostly. They started out as light things until he knew for sure that Alucard could keep food other than blood down, and by now they're heartier affairs, better suited to the cold. Even if they never actually experience the cold in here. If he does all the preparation, it's fairly foolproof in case he's not able to cook - even Sypha can handle putting a flame under a pot and putting a lump of dough into the oven. And it's as good an excuse as any to make bread. He likes making bread. You just have to do everything you're meant to do, and it doesn't go wrong unless you fuck up. ]
Yeah, me. [ He sets the tray down on a low table near the sofa, tugging it over with his foot. Stew and bread with butter, water, a couple pills that Sypha said were the right ones and that need to be taken with meals. No blood, not for now. ] Think you're going to be able to eat?
I think so, yes.
[Alucard shifts himself around so that his feet are now on the floor, rather than pushed up against the arm of the sofa. The stew smells wonderful (there's so much protein, and he wants protein more than anything else.) But he takes the water first and the pills, making sure that Trevor watches him do that before he focuses on the stew.]
May I ask you about something?
[Alucard shifts himself around so that his feet are now on the floor, rather than pushed up against the arm of the sofa. The stew smells wonderful (there's so much protein, and he wants protein more than anything else.) But he takes the water first and the pills, making sure that Trevor watches him do that before he focuses on the stew.]
May I ask you about something?
[ He knows Alucard needs protein, not so much because he has any clue about nutrition but because the castle keeps filling the kitchen with meat. He's not discussed that because it doesn't seem important and also an abundance of meat is not a great topic of conversation, considering recent events. ]
If it's about the orange stuff, I don't fucking know. [ Sweet potato. The castle gave him sweet potato. ] It cooks well enough, and I don't think the castle's going to be giving us anything poisonous.
If it's about the orange stuff, I don't fucking know. [ Sweet potato. The castle gave him sweet potato. ] It cooks well enough, and I don't think the castle's going to be giving us anything poisonous.
No. It's about....about what happened, just prior to her death.
Oh.
[ Please ask him more questions about sweet potatoes instead. ]
You- what did you want to ask?
[ Please ask him more questions about sweet potatoes instead. ]
You- what did you want to ask?
Something happened before I had the upper hand. She seemed to see a vision or some other image of my father. I had no such thing in my sight.
[Alucard's not reached for his spoon yet, which means he won't be eating until there's an answer. His eyes rest on Trevor, but the only emotion there is a quiet, calm curiosity.]
[Alucard's not reached for his spoon yet, which means he won't be eating until there's an answer. His eyes rest on Trevor, but the only emotion there is a quiet, calm curiosity.]
Oh.
[ Shit. He hadn’t thought that Alucard would know. He hadn’t thought of anything, really, other than driving her back somehow. ]
Shit. Guilty conscience?
[ ...even if Trevor were at all a competent liar, which he is not, ‘carmilla was stopped by her conscience’ isn’t exactly believable. ]
[ Shit. He hadn’t thought that Alucard would know. He hadn’t thought of anything, really, other than driving her back somehow. ]
Shit. Guilty conscience?
[ ...even if Trevor were at all a competent liar, which he is not, ‘carmilla was stopped by her conscience’ isn’t exactly believable. ]
[That? That just gets a very flat, very unimpressed, not at all convinced look.]
Try again.
Try again.
[ There’s no reason not to tell Alucard. No reason other than that what happened in the slaughterhouse was bad enough without him knowing there was a witness to it. He’ll be happier not knowing. ]
I don’t know. Maybe she really did piss him off enough for ghost bullshit.
I don’t know. Maybe she really did piss him off enough for ghost bullshit.
You know you are not a very good liar, correct?
I- yeah.
[ Fuck. He sighs, looking up. ]
Just- You could take it for what it looks like. Him trying to make things right? You’re sure you wouldn’t rather it be that?
[ Fuck. He sighs, looking up. ]
Just- You could take it for what it looks like. Him trying to make things right? You’re sure you wouldn’t rather it be that?
Trevor, if it was really my father, he would have done so much worse, even as a spirit. [Alucard knows his father's rage.]
Please. The truth.
Please. The truth.
[For once, Trevor doesn't argue with the notion of a bath. Not that he has the strength to refuse it at this juncture, but he's not genuinely thrown off until Adrian's last question.
Would he be acting the same? Why should he act any differently? But the answer's as immediate as it's asked. Because while they terrify Trevor in equal measure, he still seems to be under the impression that Adrian wouldn't care if anything befell Trevor. Or that he wasn't important enough for anyone to warrant mourning. Or that they were both better off -- more effective -- without him anyway. Adrian and Sypha make Trevor better, and make him want to be better. But he doesn't believe for a second that he's more than a whining child to either of them, and he's only himself to blame for it.
Adrian is a vampire prince. Sypha is a magickal powerhouse. Trevor can throw a punch. Useless.
Trevor sighs, and rolls his head forward again, trying to find the words to put to this.]
You don't think you'd handle it better than she would? Not that I'd wish it on either of you, but if one of you were to find me gone...
[He'd want it to be Adrian. He'd trust Adrian to do what needed to be done, were he turned into some monstrosity, raised or forged or however the fuck these bastards toyed with their dead. But that's not permission to be reckless, and Trevor realizes -- perhaps a beat too late -- that he shouldn't treat it as such.]
We'll go together from now on, all right? All three of us. You have my word.
[But rather than conviction, it comes out dull. Defeated.]
Would he be acting the same? Why should he act any differently? But the answer's as immediate as it's asked. Because while they terrify Trevor in equal measure, he still seems to be under the impression that Adrian wouldn't care if anything befell Trevor. Or that he wasn't important enough for anyone to warrant mourning. Or that they were both better off -- more effective -- without him anyway. Adrian and Sypha make Trevor better, and make him want to be better. But he doesn't believe for a second that he's more than a whining child to either of them, and he's only himself to blame for it.
Adrian is a vampire prince. Sypha is a magickal powerhouse. Trevor can throw a punch. Useless.
Trevor sighs, and rolls his head forward again, trying to find the words to put to this.]
You don't think you'd handle it better than she would? Not that I'd wish it on either of you, but if one of you were to find me gone...
[He'd want it to be Adrian. He'd trust Adrian to do what needed to be done, were he turned into some monstrosity, raised or forged or however the fuck these bastards toyed with their dead. But that's not permission to be reckless, and Trevor realizes -- perhaps a beat too late -- that he shouldn't treat it as such.]
We'll go together from now on, all right? All three of us. You have my word.
[But rather than conviction, it comes out dull. Defeated.]
I- fuck.
[ He doesn’t want to talk about this. Hasn’t even talked about it with Sypha, really, beyond telling her that Alucard was in danger and they needed to hurry. ]
I told you, didn’t I? My sisters found a way to fuck with elder vampires using the familiar bond.
[ He doesn’t want to talk about this. Hasn’t even talked about it with Sypha, really, beyond telling her that Alucard was in danger and they needed to hurry. ]
I told you, didn’t I? My sisters found a way to fuck with elder vampires using the familiar bond.
Once. In passing, Trevor.
[Alucard does take the stew in hand though, and dips his spoon in.]
What did you make her see?
[Alucard does take the stew in hand though, and dips his spoon in.]
What did you make her see?
That wasn't the point I was trying to make, Trevor.
[Alucard lets out a long breath through his nose, and then rises to his feet. He isn't going far - just to dig properly into his coat and pull out a very small first aid kit that he keeps on his person for well, moments like this. The venom has ceased spewing from the wound, and now it can be dressed.
When Alucard crouches back down, he starts to clean the wound first. There's a little bottle of rubbing alcohol in the kit along with gauze, and so the thing is scrubbed clean first, perhaps with more force than needed.]
You're a reckless idiot on most days that end with a Y. But do you do it more when I'm around because my abilities can help get you out of most situations that you get into, or do you do this exact same kind of shit with Sypha around?
[It isn't about who's finding Trevor dead. It's about how Trevor is calculating risk in the first place, and frankly, that feels worth clarifying.]
I will hold you to those words though, Trevor.
[Alucard lets out a long breath through his nose, and then rises to his feet. He isn't going far - just to dig properly into his coat and pull out a very small first aid kit that he keeps on his person for well, moments like this. The venom has ceased spewing from the wound, and now it can be dressed.
When Alucard crouches back down, he starts to clean the wound first. There's a little bottle of rubbing alcohol in the kit along with gauze, and so the thing is scrubbed clean first, perhaps with more force than needed.]
You're a reckless idiot on most days that end with a Y. But do you do it more when I'm around because my abilities can help get you out of most situations that you get into, or do you do this exact same kind of shit with Sypha around?
[It isn't about who's finding Trevor dead. It's about how Trevor is calculating risk in the first place, and frankly, that feels worth clarifying.]
I will hold you to those words though, Trevor.
I don’t know, not for sure. I figured she’d catch on, if he started talking about her being a boy, or a human. I just- gave her a guide, something for her to put her own idea of him on to.
[ It’s not an explanation. Not really. ]
She did most of the work, by knowing what he’d do if he caught her.
[ It’s not an explanation. Not really. ]
She did most of the work, by knowing what he’d do if he caught her.
[Alucard thinks he understands though. A little bit.]
You fed her memories of my father?
[It's hard to tell what his tone is. Confused. A little upset. But mostly unsure of how to interpret any of it.]
You fed her memories of my father?
[It's hard to tell what his tone is. Confused. A little upset. But mostly unsure of how to interpret any of it.]
[ He curls in on himself a little, the way he does when he’s done something the other two won’t like. When he’s hidden alcohol somewhere and the castle has dug it out to reveal the deception. He puts a hand to his side, to the chunk of missing flesh there. ]
I used to have him- a quarter of him- stuck inside me. Trying to claw his way out. I gave her that, just for a while.
I used to have him- a quarter of him- stuck inside me. Trying to claw his way out. I gave her that, just for a while.
My father did what?
[Alucard's eyes meet Trevor's, but there's horror in there. He knows what his father was capable of. He's always known. But to have that in someone's head? That is a nightmare.]
[Alucard's eyes meet Trevor's, but there's horror in there. He knows what his father was capable of. He's always known. But to have that in someone's head? That is a nightmare.]
He was in her head. Or- what I remember of him, along with whatever she knows of him.
[ He looks away, shaking his head. ]
I needed something that she couldn’t ignore. It’s all that came to mind. I’m sorry.
[ He looks away, shaking his head. ]
I needed something that she couldn’t ignore. It’s all that came to mind. I’m sorry.
[Alucard's quiet for a long time. He puts down his bowl of stew, and he reaches a single hand over towards Trevor.]
Come here.
Come here.
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