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Politics changed it's identity. I understand that much.
[The rest of it though? Alucard goes somehow even more still.]]
You're the only one from your line?
[The rest of it though? Alucard goes somehow even more still.]]
You're the only one from your line?
Yeah.
[ There's no emotion in it, really. Nothing beyond tiredness. ]
The coffin was the only thing that was left. You're all that was left. I fucked up at protecting everyone else, but I can still protect you.
[ There's no emotion in it, really. Nothing beyond tiredness. ]
The coffin was the only thing that was left. You're all that was left. I fucked up at protecting everyone else, but I can still protect you.
[Tired seems to be the universal mood. But Alucard's face is so very still, he's all that's left. The house then. The hold. It's all...]
...Politics did it then?
...Politics did it then?
[ He nods, then looks over at Sypha. ]
They said that her people, any people who didn't worship at our churches, weren't protected by the law. We disagreed. Shit went bad. Church saw it as a declaration of war against them. New Domnitor saw it as a grab for power.
[ He sighs as Sypha snores quietly, tugging the blanket around herself more tightly. ]
Couldn't protect them, either.
They said that her people, any people who didn't worship at our churches, weren't protected by the law. We disagreed. Shit went bad. Church saw it as a declaration of war against them. New Domnitor saw it as a grab for power.
[ He sighs as Sypha snores quietly, tugging the blanket around herself more tightly. ]
Couldn't protect them, either.
[Alucard breathes out only two words, soft and truly pained.]
Oh, Belmont.
[No wonder Sypha's continued on with him. No wonder to so much.]
I'm so sorry.
Oh, Belmont.
[No wonder Sypha's continued on with him. No wonder to so much.]
I'm so sorry.
[ It was always going to be humans who killed them, not monsters. It could never end any other way. ]
They've left the principalities, for the most part. Heard some of them left Europe altogether. Her caravan's the first I've run into since I was a boy, and they were only there to look for something.
[ For Alucard, more than likely, though fuck if he'll ever get a straight answer out of that old man. ]
Wish I could have woken you to better news.
They've left the principalities, for the most part. Heard some of them left Europe altogether. Her caravan's the first I've run into since I was a boy, and they were only there to look for something.
[ For Alucard, more than likely, though fuck if he'll ever get a straight answer out of that old man. ]
Wish I could have woken you to better news.
[Alucard lets out a soft noise. It's miserable.]
Where are they going then?
[He fell asleep before America was even discovered.]
I don't know why the spell allowed for this.
Where are they going then?
[He fell asleep before America was even discovered.]
I don't know why the spell allowed for this.
Crossing the ocean, to- oh. Shit, yeah. Folk found some countries while you were asleep. Guess that's something for you to get used to. There's vampires there, but not- not 'my business' vampires, you know? Last we heard they had a queen who kept them all in line. All relatively peaceful. No need for my kind to interfere.
[ Perhaps he should find a way to get Alucard there, once this is all done. If there's anywhere he could be safe and happy, that'd be it. ]
I didn't even know there was a spell, until she told me. Tried everything a normal person would think of to wake you, then just assumed you were dead.
[ Perhaps he should find a way to get Alucard there, once this is all done. If there's anywhere he could be safe and happy, that'd be it. ]
I didn't even know there was a spell, until she told me. Tried everything a normal person would think of to wake you, then just assumed you were dead.
....A land mass that was unexplored. I...yes. I suppose the world is big enough for such a thing.
[He takes that in stride at least, and questions nothing of the current vampire population living there. The son of Dracula belongs in no such place. Especially if news of his awakening reaches their ears.
Carefully, Alucard rises to his feet.]
They truly did scrub the records then.
[He takes that in stride at least, and questions nothing of the current vampire population living there. The son of Dracula belongs in no such place. Especially if news of his awakening reaches their ears.
Carefully, Alucard rises to his feet.]
They truly did scrub the records then.
Alucard knew that taking D in meant that the castle, large as it was, would be that tiniest bit more cramped. Would feel smaller, would shift home by a few hairs. Alucard also knew that he couldn't turn D away. It'd be cruel, and his mother would come back to haunt Alucard for the choice.
So he had given D a room, encouraged him to explore, and then set about examining the debris that came through with the vampire hunter and his parasite. It was remarkable, the technology, ahead of Dracula's own future thoughts. That in and of itself was remarkable and slightly terrifying, but more than that? It was thrilling.
He sat up for evenings on end, making sense of the component parts. Taking notes, drawing diagrams, making a list of queries he'd ask D when he thought the time was right. It was all wonderful, save for the feeling of being watched.
Because of course. A man can't find a purpose instantly. It's a horrible thing, having the world turned on it's head like this. But all the same--
--"You can come in."
He knew that D was outside the office he used for himself. It was impossible to not overhear the conversation.
So he had given D a room, encouraged him to explore, and then set about examining the debris that came through with the vampire hunter and his parasite. It was remarkable, the technology, ahead of Dracula's own future thoughts. That in and of itself was remarkable and slightly terrifying, but more than that? It was thrilling.
He sat up for evenings on end, making sense of the component parts. Taking notes, drawing diagrams, making a list of queries he'd ask D when he thought the time was right. It was all wonderful, save for the feeling of being watched.
Because of course. A man can't find a purpose instantly. It's a horrible thing, having the world turned on it's head like this. But all the same--
--"You can come in."
He knew that D was outside the office he used for himself. It was impossible to not overhear the conversation.
I suppose. I only ever heard that you'd been there since the Hold was built. But if you were there when Dracula was killed, the timing's all wrong for that.
[ He looks out at the darkness of the ship's hold. ]
I don't know shit about you, really. Just that I have to keep you safe.
[ He looks out at the darkness of the ship's hold. ]
I don't know shit about you, really. Just that I have to keep you safe.
I wasn't. The--
[Alucard pats his side, and the letters sound against his hand.]
The record was altered for my own safety. That's all. I know why they did that for me, but I am not sure why all the generations maintained my presence in the Hold.
[Alucard pats his side, and the letters sound against his hand.]
The record was altered for my own safety. That's all. I know why they did that for me, but I am not sure why all the generations maintained my presence in the Hold.
Because it was the way it was always done, I suppose. Or we thought it was. Nobody was about to question something Leon himself had put in place.
Shit, if I'd known- I don't know what I'd have done. But I wouldn't have hauled you around in view of every vampire who's come to try to kill me. It's a wonder this didn't happen sooner.
Shit, if I'd known- I don't know what I'd have done. But I wouldn't have hauled you around in view of every vampire who's come to try to kill me. It's a wonder this didn't happen sooner.
D stiffened immediately at the invitation, Adrian's voice calm and low and making it quite clear that he knew both that D was there and that his own hearing was just as gifted. That there was a chortle of amusement from the parasite before it withdrew beneath his skin again hardly helped matters.
He stared at the door for a long moment, almost considering simply turning away and leaving Adrian to his privacy. It was one of the rooms D hadn't attempted to explore; it was Adrian's castle now regardless of its origins and having an interloper, even an invited one, would likely chafe. D had no reason at this point to take in every room in the place either, so once he'd gotten a sense for where Adrian preferred to spend his time, he made certain not to enter those rooms.
Their senses were enough that neither needed to be in the same room to keep an eye on each other anyway, so the distance hadn't felt a barrier in that respect.
But that made it feel no less strange to be invited in now.
The door swung open in slow silence under his hand and while the invitation had been to enter, D remained largely in the doorway, his dark eyes flitting about the room to take it in quickly before settling on Adrian's pale form.
"...what have you learned?"
He stared at the door for a long moment, almost considering simply turning away and leaving Adrian to his privacy. It was one of the rooms D hadn't attempted to explore; it was Adrian's castle now regardless of its origins and having an interloper, even an invited one, would likely chafe. D had no reason at this point to take in every room in the place either, so once he'd gotten a sense for where Adrian preferred to spend his time, he made certain not to enter those rooms.
Their senses were enough that neither needed to be in the same room to keep an eye on each other anyway, so the distance hadn't felt a barrier in that respect.
But that made it feel no less strange to be invited in now.
The door swung open in slow silence under his hand and while the invitation had been to enter, D remained largely in the doorway, his dark eyes flitting about the room to take it in quickly before settling on Adrian's pale form.
"...what have you learned?"
Leon keeps all the prying eyes out. I understand but...
[Alucard pauses.
And then he reaches into his coat pocket, taking the last letter out.]
You couldn't have known. This is the truth of all matters. It'll...just read it.
[Alucard pauses.
And then he reaches into his coat pocket, taking the last letter out.]
You couldn't have known. This is the truth of all matters. It'll...just read it.
"A few things, but," Alucard began, turning to face D. On his face were spectacles modified to serve as magnifying glasses, and he paused so he could take them off.
The room itself was half library and half lab, with a shelf of immaculate books and a grand desk in one area, and the rest dominated by simple laboratory tables and clean work spaces. A top one of those workspaces was where the debris sat, carefully laid out and labeled.
Alucard waved D over with a gentleness he was working hard to keep going, striving to be kind and accommodating to his guest for as long as possible.
"How well can you draw, D?"
The room itself was half library and half lab, with a shelf of immaculate books and a grand desk in one area, and the rest dominated by simple laboratory tables and clean work spaces. A top one of those workspaces was where the debris sat, carefully laid out and labeled.
Alucard waved D over with a gentleness he was working hard to keep going, striving to be kind and accommodating to his guest for as long as possible.
"How well can you draw, D?"
[ True to his word, Trevor does in fact enter the castle in muddy boots. The castle clears up the mud itself, of course, but he’s eager to find out what being cursed involves nonetheless. He was meaning to wear the muddy boots all the way to the bedroom. That, at least, the castle will not tolerate. It’s on his third trip through the same few rooms over and over again that he finally concedes and takes off the boots. ]
Oh, your Divinity-? shit. [ He had been meaning to be a little more deliberately silly about this, but shit. It’s just a sheet, but Alucard really does make it look like some sort of divine garb. There’s more sincerity to it when he continues. It’s still stupid, but he’s taking being stupid seriously. He kneels by the bed, eyes lowered. ]
This humble sinner has soiled your domain.
Oh, your Divinity-? shit. [ He had been meaning to be a little more deliberately silly about this, but shit. It’s just a sheet, but Alucard really does make it look like some sort of divine garb. There’s more sincerity to it when he continues. It’s still stupid, but he’s taking being stupid seriously. He kneels by the bed, eyes lowered. ]
This humble sinner has soiled your domain.
He crossed the room at the gesture, his pace measured and unhurried and indicating absolutely nothing of his ongoing caution around Adrian except for the very faint air that he were waiting for something. Adrian to send him away, perhaps, tell him he's unwelcome and unwanted and D would leave without question. The fact it hadn't happened yet hardly making a dent in the expectation.
But the question that did come gave him pause and D stood, considering it and Adrian, his gaze lingering over the debris and tools that the other used.
"I've never tried," he said at last. "I suspect very well."
But the question that did come gave him pause and D stood, considering it and Adrian, his gaze lingering over the debris and tools that the other used.
"I've never tried," he said at last. "I suspect very well."
[Alucard knew the moment that Trevor was in the house that the castle wasn't going to let the mud really get this far. It was perfectly fine, the mud wasn't the point anyway. Just an excuse to be indulgent in a new way, like when Trevor insists that Alucard is nothing but a prince and it all gets wonderfully out of hand.
But waiting is hard, and Alucard fidgets and grumbles with arranging himself just so until Trevor's scent announces his arrival. At that, Alucard goes still, the sheet covering almost nothing at all now. He's laying on his side, one hand supporting his head, the other lazily moving over the sheets and--
--oh, he doesn't have to tell Trevor to kneel. That's a lot.
Alucard reaches his free hand down, stroking Trevor's cheek and then gently, gently tilting his chin upwards.]
It is an insult, of course, but a modest one. We can't control the rain, after all.
[He leans in. Just a little. Just enough to brush his lips over Trevor's.]
But waiting is hard, and Alucard fidgets and grumbles with arranging himself just so until Trevor's scent announces his arrival. At that, Alucard goes still, the sheet covering almost nothing at all now. He's laying on his side, one hand supporting his head, the other lazily moving over the sheets and--
--oh, he doesn't have to tell Trevor to kneel. That's a lot.
Alucard reaches his free hand down, stroking Trevor's cheek and then gently, gently tilting his chin upwards.]
It is an insult, of course, but a modest one. We can't control the rain, after all.
[He leans in. Just a little. Just enough to brush his lips over Trevor's.]
"Do you think you could draw the device that sent you here? I have an inkling of what it might have looked like, but I'd like to know for sure."
Alucard was seated on one of the lab stools, and there was a second one beside him. Without another word, Alucard slid over his notebook to D, a crisp, blank page staring up at the other Dhampir.
"I can stand and give you space to work, if you need me to."
Alucard was seated on one of the lab stools, and there was a second one beside him. Without another word, Alucard slid over his notebook to D, a crisp, blank page staring up at the other Dhampir.
"I can stand and give you space to work, if you need me to."
[ He listens intently, fighting the urge to snatch that letter from Alucard’s hands. Another connection. One more, after years of nothing. He manages not to. ]
Shit, you knew her. And this must have been after Dracula’s death.
[ It seems like a stupid statement of the obvious. Left unsaid is the ‘but before-‘. ]
I’m sorry for your loss.
Shit, you knew her. And this must have been after Dracula’s death.
[ It seems like a stupid statement of the obvious. Left unsaid is the ‘but before-‘. ]
I’m sorry for your loss.
Yes.
[Before everything. Just as he was being put into that case. The letter is returned to where it came from. But what gets Alucard to look up, genuinely surprised.]
It's...I.
Thank you. And I'm sorry for all of yours.
[Before everything. Just as he was being put into that case. The letter is returned to where it came from. But what gets Alucard to look up, genuinely surprised.]
It's...I.
Thank you. And I'm sorry for all of yours.
"I remember it." That seemed a step in the right direction at least and D carefully took the seat by Adrian. He considered the page before him and took up a pencil, looking over at the other man at the offer.
"No. You don't have to leave. You can tell me if you need more detail on it."
That said, D turned his attention to the page again, brow furrowing as he considered how to come at this. It wasn't like any other skill he had, his particular line of work leaning more towards the more physical pursuits. But he knew almost instinctively that if He'd thought it worthwhile, then D would know how to use this skill too. Whether he wanted to or not.
After a moment he growled softly, a sound of frustration at the back of his throat; he could see the image but translating it to the page felt just out of reach. So he shifted his focus, muscles in his jaw twitching like he were biting down and the faint sent of blood blossomed in the air.
His eyes narrowed and took on a bloody light and the pencil skittered across the page, tracing out hard, sharp lines at inhuman speed, uncaring of the paper or the pencil gripped in fingers starting to look more like claws than hands.
"No. You don't have to leave. You can tell me if you need more detail on it."
That said, D turned his attention to the page again, brow furrowing as he considered how to come at this. It wasn't like any other skill he had, his particular line of work leaning more towards the more physical pursuits. But he knew almost instinctively that if He'd thought it worthwhile, then D would know how to use this skill too. Whether he wanted to or not.
After a moment he growled softly, a sound of frustration at the back of his throat; he could see the image but translating it to the page felt just out of reach. So he shifted his focus, muscles in his jaw twitching like he were biting down and the faint sent of blood blossomed in the air.
His eyes narrowed and took on a bloody light and the pencil skittered across the page, tracing out hard, sharp lines at inhuman speed, uncaring of the paper or the pencil gripped in fingers starting to look more like claws than hands.
[ This is probably about 12 different sorts of blasphemous. But it’s also fun. Loving. Harmful to no one. He leans into the touch, at first, and lets Alucard move his head back. He leans forward when Alucard’s lips brush his, chasing the kiss before remembering his role and sinking back. His eyes are meeting Alucard’s now. ]
I come to your alter to show contrition, your Divinity. What penance would you ask of me?
[ TELL HIM MORE ABOUT THESE CURSES. HE’S FASCINATED. ]
I come to your alter to show contrition, your Divinity. What penance would you ask of me?
[ TELL HIM MORE ABOUT THESE CURSES. HE’S FASCINATED. ]
[THE CURSE IS BUTT STUFF but in the mean time....
Alucard sits up in bed slowly. Hair falling over his shoulder. Fabric following.]
Come up on the bed beside me, and kiss all that you see.
Alucard sits up in bed slowly. Hair falling over his shoulder. Fabric following.]
Come up on the bed beside me, and kiss all that you see.
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