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"I wouldn't ask you to leave."
That feels important to emphasize right now. D isn't being asked to scoot out now, and it isn't going to happen in the future either. There's no need for it, and...he has to really say this, doesn't he?
"It's...this is as close to any safe haven you'll have, and I'm glad to provide it. What I saw was simply a part of yourself, and I've be the worst of all hypocrites if I truly judged you for it, D."
That feels important to emphasize right now. D isn't being asked to scoot out now, and it isn't going to happen in the future either. There's no need for it, and...he has to really say this, doesn't he?
"It's...this is as close to any safe haven you'll have, and I'm glad to provide it. What I saw was simply a part of yourself, and I've be the worst of all hypocrites if I truly judged you for it, D."
I'm trying to treat you as a...whatever this is.
[Because they aren't enemies. Or friends. Or even work place associates. They are simply two people in each other's orbits and you know what? He's retreating into the joke for a moment.]
You don't smell like a besotted maiden anyway. You smell like yourself. And your pets. And whatever it was you ate earlier with all the herbs.
[Because they aren't enemies. Or friends. Or even work place associates. They are simply two people in each other's orbits and you know what? He's retreating into the joke for a moment.]
You don't smell like a besotted maiden anyway. You smell like yourself. And your pets. And whatever it was you ate earlier with all the herbs.
[ Another set of creaks and groans, through nothing near as violent as the movement, and the entrance hallway expands outward a little. There are doorways where there ought to be doorways, but beyond most of them is more of that writhing darkness. The engine room connects to the entrance, which is not exactly accurate to the way the castle’s layout should be. Inside there is the castle’s heart, withered and stuttering and burning so, so low.
The other room isn’t a room so much as a few spots of things visible in that darkness through a door that ought to lead to the library. Tiny things - a wolf doll, a portrait of Lisa, a simple silver ring. Things that it’s kept, things that it’s strained against centuries of exhaustion to keep, that remind it of happier times.
Other things appear too, in the entranceway. Skeletons, fanged ones. At least six of them, some bones bleached cleaner than others by time. ]
Shit.
[ That explains it. ]
Hey castle - can you hear me? You weren’t hiding in the Abbey, were you? Not really. You wanted to be found, found by people who wanted to steal Dracula’s secrets. Lured them to the Abbey and trapped them there.
[ It gave up its body to make sure that nobody would ever access Dracula’s knowledge without its say so. To draw any enemies to itself and keep Alucard safe. There’s a note of accusation to Trevor’s tone, but even he has to admit - shit, good castle. ]
The other room isn’t a room so much as a few spots of things visible in that darkness through a door that ought to lead to the library. Tiny things - a wolf doll, a portrait of Lisa, a simple silver ring. Things that it’s kept, things that it’s strained against centuries of exhaustion to keep, that remind it of happier times.
Other things appear too, in the entranceway. Skeletons, fanged ones. At least six of them, some bones bleached cleaner than others by time. ]
Shit.
[ That explains it. ]
Hey castle - can you hear me? You weren’t hiding in the Abbey, were you? Not really. You wanted to be found, found by people who wanted to steal Dracula’s secrets. Lured them to the Abbey and trapped them there.
[ It gave up its body to make sure that nobody would ever access Dracula’s knowledge without its say so. To draw any enemies to itself and keep Alucard safe. There’s a note of accusation to Trevor’s tone, but even he has to admit - shit, good castle. ]
[ His back hits the soft mattress, and then his mind registers it. Alucard is above him, resplendent and very, very naked. Somehow the fallen sheet pooled around his legs makes him seem more naked than if it weren’t there. ]
Oh. Shit.
[ He’d been intrigued by the curses, still very much is, but it’s hard not to complain anyway, especially when Alucard’s hand strokes over the fabric. It’s too much and too little at the same time, and when he breathes out it comes out as a long whine. ]
Sinful trousers. Good curse.
Oh. Shit.
[ He’d been intrigued by the curses, still very much is, but it’s hard not to complain anyway, especially when Alucard’s hand strokes over the fabric. It’s too much and too little at the same time, and when he breathes out it comes out as a long whine. ]
Sinful trousers. Good curse.
[It hurts. Not physically, Alucard knows that the castle would never do that to him, but as it unfurls itself, it becomes clear the castle has worked to look after itself. Maybe it was wrong for him to be in the Hold. The castle could have protected him without falling into ruins.
He sees the engine room in the wrong place, but it' not as bad as the things that show through the darkness. Those ache, and Alucard focuses only on the skeletons. Gets up and inspects them, to see if their clothing gives any of their identities away.]
The most loyal of us all.
[They're pained words, sighed as Alucard pokes at one of the fangs.]
But you deserve better now.
He sees the engine room in the wrong place, but it' not as bad as the things that show through the darkness. Those ache, and Alucard focuses only on the skeletons. Gets up and inspects them, to see if their clothing gives any of their identities away.]
The most loyal of us all.
[They're pained words, sighed as Alucard pokes at one of the fangs.]
But you deserve better now.
[The start of a low laugh escapes Alucard's throat, but it doesn't grow louder. There is only the vampire, only his hand, and only the vampire's face coming closer. Close enough to whisper into Trevor's ear, teeth grazing against the earlobe there.]
Roll over onto your stomach.
Roll over onto your stomach.
[Well, that seems to be all the talking they are doing about it. Hector shifts so he can sit up on the couch.]
It's tzatziki. I didn't anticipate the vein our experiment would take when I made my breakfast.
[Not that he does much planning in any aspect of his life other than his forging, so he can't say this particular day's poor decisions are atypical. But they are steering the subject away from that.]
Did Cesar help you get your answers from the Speakers?
It's tzatziki. I didn't anticipate the vein our experiment would take when I made my breakfast.
[Not that he does much planning in any aspect of his life other than his forging, so he can't say this particular day's poor decisions are atypical. But they are steering the subject away from that.]
Did Cesar help you get your answers from the Speakers?
...How precisely do you make it? It's quite good.
[Talking food is one way to pivot, at least. Alucard lets out a soft sigh, but he reaches over to fuss at Hector's hair at least a little. Some of it is out of place.]
Not really. But he did get a lot of attention, so he was happy enough. Turns out Speakers are immune to cute animals. Developed defenses and whatnot.
[Talking food is one way to pivot, at least. Alucard lets out a soft sigh, but he reaches over to fuss at Hector's hair at least a little. Some of it is out of place.]
Not really. But he did get a lot of attention, so he was happy enough. Turns out Speakers are immune to cute animals. Developed defenses and whatnot.
[ Sypha pushes past Alucard, at that, while Trevor looks about outside the castle. ]
I don’t think it can ever be a castle again, not any time soon. Not on the outside. It could attach itself to one, but it couldn’t bring it with it when it moved. [ She clicks her tongue, frowning. ] It needs a new body building for it. The old fashioned way - brick by brick. But in the meantime, I can help it a little now it’s out of the church.
[ Trevor reenters, dusting off his hands. ]
Little cottage on the outskirts of some city, lots of places for chickens to sleep, but no chickens. That’s where we are now.
I don’t think it can ever be a castle again, not any time soon. Not on the outside. It could attach itself to one, but it couldn’t bring it with it when it moved. [ She clicks her tongue, frowning. ] It needs a new body building for it. The old fashioned way - brick by brick. But in the meantime, I can help it a little now it’s out of the church.
[ Trevor reenters, dusting off his hands. ]
Little cottage on the outskirts of some city, lots of places for chickens to sleep, but no chickens. That’s where we are now.
What do you need for that? I--
[He's useless, that much is clear. Just here. Sitting in a ruin. Making the other two fix everything. Alucard sighs, walking over to the door Trevor's just headed out of.]
Any good food resources?
[He's useless, that much is clear. Just here. Sitting in a ruin. Making the other two fix everything. Alucard sighs, walking over to the door Trevor's just headed out of.]
Any good food resources?
It's yogurt with cucumber, oil, and herbs. Your father's library will have recipe books. You could make it.
[Hector is taking that 'quite good' and burying it very deep down to consider much later. He snorts as Alucard brushes at his hair, but he doesn't duck out of the touch. In his own way, he's just as needy and touch-starved as Alucard is.]
That just means we need to find something they haven't built up a tolerance to. Have you ever seen a baby otter? No one can resist that.
[Hector is taking that 'quite good' and burying it very deep down to consider much later. He snorts as Alucard brushes at his hair, but he doesn't duck out of the touch. In his own way, he's just as needy and touch-starved as Alucard is.]
That just means we need to find something they haven't built up a tolerance to. Have you ever seen a baby otter? No one can resist that.
I could. Or I could make an attempt while you supervise.
[It's an attempt for whatever this is to not be a full out rejection. Just an experiment. Absolutely nothing else.]
But that begs the question of where one acquires a baby otter. Not that I've ever seen one.
[It's an attempt for whatever this is to not be a full out rejection. Just an experiment. Absolutely nothing else.]
But that begs the question of where one acquires a baby otter. Not that I've ever seen one.
Is your kitchen stocked for cooking? You'll need yogurt made from goat or sheep's milk. It'll take time to set if we have to start from scratch.
[Hector doesn't know what exactly this is, but Greek food is the best and that is a hill Hector's willing to die on. So he can't refuse Alucard's request to learn to make it.]
I would need to take a trip to the coast, but I am sure I could find one. I could try to describe one, but it wouldn't do it justice.
[Hector doesn't know what exactly this is, but Greek food is the best and that is a hill Hector's willing to die on. So he can't refuse Alucard's request to learn to make it.]
I would need to take a trip to the coast, but I am sure I could find one. I could try to describe one, but it wouldn't do it justice.
Of course it is. I have a half-human diet, and I'm the best cook in the house when the other two are home. Even if they complain I serve too much blood sausage. [Sometimes, you gotta be a cliche.] I'm afraid we will have to start from scratch though.
[Cooking though, that gets Alucard up on his feet with enthusiasm.]
Can you draw it in the mean time?
[Cooking though, that gets Alucard up on his feet with enthusiasm.]
Can you draw it in the mean time?
Go prep the kitchen. I am not going to cook dressed like this.
[Their experiment is over, so he can dress again. He has his answer on the initial premise.
He pushes himself up off of the couch and steps back into the bathroom to retrieve his discarded clothes. Through the door, he calls,]
I could draw it. I might. Depends on how well you listen to instructions in the kitchen.
[Hector doesn't know what they are, but they are back to it- orbiting and antagonizing one another.]
[Their experiment is over, so he can dress again. He has his answer on the initial premise.
He pushes himself up off of the couch and steps back into the bathroom to retrieve his discarded clothes. Through the door, he calls,]
I could draw it. I might. Depends on how well you listen to instructions in the kitchen.
[Hector doesn't know what they are, but they are back to it- orbiting and antagonizing one another.]
Don't get lost en route.
[Alucard's relieved he doesn't have to be the one to tell Hector to put clothes on. It'd be wrong, coming from him.]
Oh, is that the rule I have to play by to get an otter drawing? [This is in fact much more familiar. A relief in many ways, but also a good sign. They can get past whatever just happened. It's not going to effect anything.]
[Alucard's relieved he doesn't have to be the one to tell Hector to put clothes on. It'd be wrong, coming from him.]
Oh, is that the rule I have to play by to get an otter drawing? [This is in fact much more familiar. A relief in many ways, but also a good sign. They can get past whatever just happened. It's not going to effect anything.]
You said you haven't moved things around. I'll be fine.
[Hector dresses. He may not know every corner of this castle the way Alucard must, but the path from his old quarters to the kitchens are familiar and takes no thought.
He joins Alucard in the kitchen, fully dressed and damp hair combed into at least a semblance of order.]
We can start on the yogurt as the base, but it won't be ready until tomorrow. I can leave you instructions...or I can come back to finish it.
[It's not like he has anything pressing going on these days.]
[Hector dresses. He may not know every corner of this castle the way Alucard must, but the path from his old quarters to the kitchens are familiar and takes no thought.
He joins Alucard in the kitchen, fully dressed and damp hair combed into at least a semblance of order.]
We can start on the yogurt as the base, but it won't be ready until tomorrow. I can leave you instructions...or I can come back to finish it.
[It's not like he has anything pressing going on these days.]
Area's a little too built up to hunt in, but the city proper is maybe an hour's walk. Don't know how many merchants'll be willing to take lira, but worst case there'll be people who need work done. If we need to stay a while, we'll be able to manage. Bigger concern is there's no abbey to keep people from going in here. We're going to need to defend it.
[ He walks out of the door, then turns back. ]
Hey castle, don't let me in for a moment. I want to see the place you've landed in.
[ And he passes through the door again, this time entering the cottage for real. ]
[ He walks out of the door, then turns back. ]
Hey castle, don't let me in for a moment. I want to see the place you've landed in.
[ And he passes through the door again, this time entering the cottage for real. ]
[ Oh. Oh shit. He shudders at the instruction alone, at the way he can feel it coming out as breath and brushing lightly at his hair. He hisses in air as Alucard's teeth graze against him and- shit, this is not helping with the sinful trousers situation.
When he breathes out, as Alucard's hand moves again, it comes out as a long whine. ]
Alucard- [ Wait no. ] Adrian- [ Wait, shit, no, he catches himself. One does not address goddesses by given name. ] -Your cleanliness.
[ And he shuffles, trying to turn onto his stomach without detaching himself from Alucard at all. ]
When he breathes out, as Alucard's hand moves again, it comes out as a long whine. ]
Alucard- [ Wait no. ] Adrian- [ Wait, shit, no, he catches himself. One does not address goddesses by given name. ] -Your cleanliness.
[ And he shuffles, trying to turn onto his stomach without detaching himself from Alucard at all. ]
[Alucard knows that it's going to be hard for Trevor to do as instructed if they're still truly clinging to each other. So he sits up just enough to allow for movement, the look on his face clearly plotting something.]
I'll respond to all three. But only for you.
[And there it is. Trevor's managed, and so Alucard bends back down. Through the fabric of Trevor's shirt, there's a kiss right at the very top of his spine. Then another, just a little bit down.
Oh yes. A trouser curse.]
I'll respond to all three. But only for you.
[And there it is. Trevor's managed, and so Alucard bends back down. Through the fabric of Trevor's shirt, there's a kiss right at the very top of his spine. Then another, just a little bit down.
Oh yes. A trouser curse.]
[Alucard lingers at the door, allowing Sypha to explore what she can of the castle's hall. He's sure that built up is nothing to be concerned about, but the city proper? That's what worries him more, and so Alucard waits.
And says to hell with it, walking out of the door to try and understand their surroundings.]
Hm.
[It's strange. Maybe that's a defense already.]
I wonder if this place has some kind of reputation already.
And says to hell with it, walking out of the door to try and understand their surroundings.]
Hm.
[It's strange. Maybe that's a defense already.]
I wonder if this place has some kind of reputation already.
[While Hector puts clothes on, Alucard goes about fussing in the kitchen. He has the milk out at least, and he's rummaging around for a cucumber when Hector walks in.]
Well, the matter of remaining overnight is answered by asking if Cesar will be okay on his own for the night.
Well, the matter of remaining overnight is answered by asking if Cesar will be okay on his own for the night.
[ A few times, he tries to turn back. He can’t look at Alucard like this, and he wants to. He always wants to. But then Alucard kisses at the back of his neck and whatever complaints he has die unspoken. Instead, he just gives a long moan, rather more dramatically than he had expected to.
It’s uncomfortable, being confined like this, his dick trapped between the mattress and his own weight and trying its damnedest to stir anyway. It doesn’t care that there’s no room for it. If anything, that idiot is encouraged by the way it grazes against cloth whenever Alucard’s weight shifts and moves him about a little. ]
Your cleanliness. [ He’s decided, it seems. That’s the name of choice for now until he breaks character. ]
It’s uncomfortable, being confined like this, his dick trapped between the mattress and his own weight and trying its damnedest to stir anyway. It doesn’t care that there’s no room for it. If anything, that idiot is encouraged by the way it grazes against cloth whenever Alucard’s weight shifts and moves him about a little. ]
Your cleanliness. [ He’s decided, it seems. That’s the name of choice for now until he breaks character. ]
[ Outside the cottage - and it is a cottage now, and not a castle or an abbey, it’s rather underwhelming. A few chicken coops, empty. A post where horses might have been tied once. A few minutes walk through what winter’s left of the wildflowers to the next house down the road. A mile marker indicating that following that road will bring one into a city called Leeds sooner or later. ]
Ah, castle picked a hell of a place to drop itself.
[ Through the doors of the house, if entered normally, is a workshop of sorts. It doesn’t look like it’s seen use in decades, given the amount of dust, but it’s somehow gone unlooted this whole time. Bottles line shelves along the walls. Bones cover a table. Some are human-sized. ]
Doesn’t look like the owner’s been home in a long time.
Ah, castle picked a hell of a place to drop itself.
[ Through the doors of the house, if entered normally, is a workshop of sorts. It doesn’t look like it’s seen use in decades, given the amount of dust, but it’s somehow gone unlooted this whole time. Bottles line shelves along the walls. Bones cover a table. Some are human-sized. ]
Doesn’t look like the owner’s been home in a long time.
[Hector steps in beside Alucard and begins wordlessly measuring our ingredients. Alucard is a genius; he should be able to keep up without Hector coddling him.]
I always make arrangements for my pets when I go out. I never know when I’ll run afoul of an angry mob and be away longer than I planned.
[So Hector is staying the night, he guesses. It’s no more or less bizarre than any of the rest of this.]
I always make arrangements for my pets when I go out. I never know when I’ll run afoul of an angry mob and be away longer than I planned.
[So Hector is staying the night, he guesses. It’s no more or less bizarre than any of the rest of this.]
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