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Afraid I don't get to go anywhere. Sacred duty and all. I do appreciate the warning, though. Thank you.
[ She looks down, refraining from actually poking at the chest injury but examining it. It's healed over, at least superficially. Doesn't look as bad as the amount of blood on the man's clothes implied. She could have probably checked that first, wouldn't have even needed to check the mouth for fangs to see if this was a vampire. ]
I have blood. Enough to spare that we can get you back on your feet and you can walk out of here, at least. And- I'm hoping you know anything useful about how to get around this place. [ If she's going to be going further into this castle, she's going to be seeking out every advantage she can get. It's not cheating, it's making efficient use of vampires you find on the floor. ] That sounds like a good trade, doesn't it?
[ She looks down, refraining from actually poking at the chest injury but examining it. It's healed over, at least superficially. Doesn't look as bad as the amount of blood on the man's clothes implied. She could have probably checked that first, wouldn't have even needed to check the mouth for fangs to see if this was a vampire. ]
I have blood. Enough to spare that we can get you back on your feet and you can walk out of here, at least. And- I'm hoping you know anything useful about how to get around this place. [ If she's going to be going further into this castle, she's going to be seeking out every advantage she can get. It's not cheating, it's making efficient use of vampires you find on the floor. ] That sounds like a good trade, doesn't it?
[ He shrugs. He's not great at making people feel better about themselves, so he's not going to try.
The next few days are- weird, but bearable. With a massive effort and against Sypha's advice, the castle manifests a corner of a soldiers' dormitory for them to sleep in. Trevor treks into town, finds work at the houses along the road and returns with supplies and a newspaper each day. It's not really enough, but they can supplement it with whatever Alucard manages to hunt. Spring Heeled Jack, the Jumping Devil, any of his other names - they show up in the newspapers regularly, but not concerning anything dramatic enough to warrant action. No matter how much it grates at Trevor to see the lists of London's missing and do nothing.
Eventually, though, Trevor doesn't return at his usual time. It's probably past midnight when he knocks at the cottage door. ]
Castle? It's the Belmont.
The next few days are- weird, but bearable. With a massive effort and against Sypha's advice, the castle manifests a corner of a soldiers' dormitory for them to sleep in. Trevor treks into town, finds work at the houses along the road and returns with supplies and a newspaper each day. It's not really enough, but they can supplement it with whatever Alucard manages to hunt. Spring Heeled Jack, the Jumping Devil, any of his other names - they show up in the newspapers regularly, but not concerning anything dramatic enough to warrant action. No matter how much it grates at Trevor to see the lists of London's missing and do nothing.
Eventually, though, Trevor doesn't return at his usual time. It's probably past midnight when he knocks at the cottage door. ]
Castle? It's the Belmont.
Once a week if I'm alone, at least three times a week if I'm not.
[That statement gives Alucard pause, because he's realized that he's up on his week. So he has to go back to the starters and he scoops up one of the jars.]
Speaking of, it seems. I can make a second loaf, if you'd like.
[Take out dhampir bread.]
[That statement gives Alucard pause, because he's realized that he's up on his week. So he has to go back to the starters and he scoops up one of the jars.]
Speaking of, it seems. I can make a second loaf, if you'd like.
[Take out dhampir bread.]
[Alucard tries not to just fall atop Trevor at that. He wants to, God does he want to, but that'd be painful for Trevor and that's unfair. It's already unfair how good Trevor's hands feel against him and--]
Yes. Yes.
[The third yes isn't a yes at all, just a long, slow hiss in reaction to how good it feels to have teeth and lips against his neck. It shows there, it shows with how suddenly Alucard thrusts, it shows in how loud the moan that follows is.]
Fuck.
Yes. Yes.
[The third yes isn't a yes at all, just a long, slow hiss in reaction to how good it feels to have teeth and lips against his neck. It shows there, it shows with how suddenly Alucard thrusts, it shows in how loud the moan that follows is.]
Fuck.
I don't trade with--
[Words hurt. That much Alucard realizes when he tries to speak. He has to move. He has to move now before his father gets any further. Before this young woman on the steps of the castle is attacked as well.
He can't make a deal if he's desperate.]
Who're you?
[Words hurt. That much Alucard realizes when he tries to speak. He has to move. He has to move now before his father gets any further. Before this young woman on the steps of the castle is attacked as well.
He can't make a deal if he's desperate.]
Who're you?
[The big white wolf manages to drag in a deer early on, and so that's food for days. Sypha's ability to manipulate ice is an absolute blessing in this case, and so it goes that Alucard can at least prove himself by making the group's meals. It isn't fancy, but it works.
He reads the papers though. All of them. It's a struggle, getting up to speed with the world, and so for the rest he relies on Sypha and the wisdom of the Speakers. She doesn't mind, but some days her throat goes raw and Alucard apologizes profusely and lets her rest.
They don't worry much when one or the other comes in late. They can't, this is night work. So when Trevor approaches at midnight, the most the castle does is grumble in greeting.]
He reads the papers though. All of them. It's a struggle, getting up to speed with the world, and so for the rest he relies on Sypha and the wisdom of the Speakers. She doesn't mind, but some days her throat goes raw and Alucard apologizes profusely and lets her rest.
They don't worry much when one or the other comes in late. They can't, this is night work. So when Trevor approaches at midnight, the most the castle does is grumble in greeting.]
Don't trade with what? With Belmonts?
[ And that's his answer, isn't it? It's all any vampire really needs to know about who he is. It will have to suffice for now, anyway, because Juliet's head snaps up suddenly, staring through the castle's doors. Something is coming.
What happens next happens in an instant. Something smashes against the ground, and the thick smell that night creatures use to mark territory fills the air. Then the woman's arms are wriggling under Alucard's body, hoisting him up, and she's running. She hops over the side of the staircase, back against the castle wall, cloak wrapped around the both of them to make them harder to see from the outside. There's the beating of wings, thousands of them, and then nothing once more.
Juliet remains very, very still for a minute or so longer. Eventually, she can't hold her breath anymore and exhales, sinking to the ground and setting Alucard down, but she still speaks no louder than a whisper. ]
You felt that as well, yes? He's- gone somewhere.
[ And that's his answer, isn't it? It's all any vampire really needs to know about who he is. It will have to suffice for now, anyway, because Juliet's head snaps up suddenly, staring through the castle's doors. Something is coming.
What happens next happens in an instant. Something smashes against the ground, and the thick smell that night creatures use to mark territory fills the air. Then the woman's arms are wriggling under Alucard's body, hoisting him up, and she's running. She hops over the side of the staircase, back against the castle wall, cloak wrapped around the both of them to make them harder to see from the outside. There's the beating of wings, thousands of them, and then nothing once more.
Juliet remains very, very still for a minute or so longer. Eventually, she can't hold her breath anymore and exhales, sinking to the ground and setting Alucard down, but she still speaks no louder than a whisper. ]
You felt that as well, yes? He's- gone somewhere.
[ It's too much. Alucard on top of him, the long moan that comes from him, the sudden change in speed - he's been on the edge for so long now, and no amount of effort can keep him from going over it with that. He pulls Alucard tighter to him, biting down as he moans out something probably-obscene against Alucard's neck.
It takes a moment for his body to relax, far his arms to loosen around Alucard and his lips to fall away from his neck. When they do, he slowly, not at all in time with Alucard's movements, brings a hand up to his cheek and strokes it lightly with a thumb. Not quite oversensitive enough to ask him to slow, just- content and overwhelmed. ]
It takes a moment for his body to relax, far his arms to loosen around Alucard and his lips to fall away from his neck. When they do, he slowly, not at all in time with Alucard's movements, brings a hand up to his cheek and strokes it lightly with a thumb. Not quite oversensitive enough to ask him to slow, just- content and overwhelmed. ]
Belmont?
[The question is one with fear radiating in the background. Shit. Shit, they could just be using him to lure Dracula into a trap. It'd be perfect, his father wouldn't fall for it and--
--and then all the things from the pit escape the castle. Alucard can't see them, but their scent is impossible to mistake, as is his father's intent. They're the first wave in humanity's destruction.
The Belmont is still moving him along. Putting him down on the ground, and yet she hasn't reclaimed her cloak in full.]
To recruit, no doubt.
[The question is one with fear radiating in the background. Shit. Shit, they could just be using him to lure Dracula into a trap. It'd be perfect, his father wouldn't fall for it and--
--and then all the things from the pit escape the castle. Alucard can't see them, but their scent is impossible to mistake, as is his father's intent. They're the first wave in humanity's destruction.
The Belmont is still moving him along. Putting him down on the ground, and yet she hasn't reclaimed her cloak in full.]
To recruit, no doubt.
[Alucard isn't surprised that Trevor finishes as quickly as he does. The vampire after all went for the most sensitive of all Belmont spots, and he lingered. That they got here at all is a miracle, although there is a horrible part of him that regrets he couldn't see Trevor's face.
The rest of him doesn't care, because that moan against Alucard's neck? That's caused his hips to speed up, wanting to catch up. Wanting to be able to fall over Trevor and simply be there, shuddering and whimpering in the aftermath of it all.
Trevor's hand stroking his cheek nearly causes it. The warmth and stickiness against Alucard's chest nearly causes it. But it's seeing how wonderfully overwhelmed Trevor looks that after a few more moments, has Alucard finish with a loud, lovely shout.
And all at once, he collapses on top of the Belmont, utterly done in and smiling.]
The rest of him doesn't care, because that moan against Alucard's neck? That's caused his hips to speed up, wanting to catch up. Wanting to be able to fall over Trevor and simply be there, shuddering and whimpering in the aftermath of it all.
Trevor's hand stroking his cheek nearly causes it. The warmth and stickiness against Alucard's chest nearly causes it. But it's seeing how wonderfully overwhelmed Trevor looks that after a few more moments, has Alucard finish with a loud, lovely shout.
And all at once, he collapses on top of the Belmont, utterly done in and smiling.]
[ There'll be other opportunities to see his face. It's not like this is anywhere close to the last time they'll do something stupid like this.
It's always nice, having either of their weights upon him. Alucard cool and slightly heavier, Sypha lighter and warm. Makes any place feel like the safest in the world. He pulls Alucard in tighter against his chest and- well, he's made a mess of both of them, but that can wait. For now, he brushes his lips softly over the corner of Alucard's mouth and brings a hand up to stroke his hair. His breath is still unsteady, body still trembling. But Alucard is cool and pleasant against his overheated skin and fuck, he just wants to keep touching him even now.
It's a while before he speaks. ]
So- that's going to happen every time I get drunk and say stupid shit?
It's always nice, having either of their weights upon him. Alucard cool and slightly heavier, Sypha lighter and warm. Makes any place feel like the safest in the world. He pulls Alucard in tighter against his chest and- well, he's made a mess of both of them, but that can wait. For now, he brushes his lips softly over the corner of Alucard's mouth and brings a hand up to stroke his hair. His breath is still unsteady, body still trembling. But Alucard is cool and pleasant against his overheated skin and fuck, he just wants to keep touching him even now.
It's a while before he speaks. ]
So- that's going to happen every time I get drunk and say stupid shit?
[Both of Alucard's arms are wrapped around Trevor before he can even register the action. It's good, like this. Warm. Safe. Loving, and that last part is the single most important part of it all. That an the kisses Trevor still presses against Alucard's cool skin. Those feel like a little blessing.
In the quiet, Alucard nestles against Trevor with the same quiet joy, saying nothing at all but clearly happy. His arms are loose around Trevor, and for all the world, he could stay like this the whole night.]
Just when it becomes a joke we can really spin out, I think.
In the quiet, Alucard nestles against Trevor with the same quiet joy, saying nothing at all but clearly happy. His arms are loose around Trevor, and for all the world, he could stay like this the whole night.]
Just when it becomes a joke we can really spin out, I think.
-Good to know that works on Dracula himself.
[ She wafts at the air in front of her face with one hand. Usually a few drops of the stuff is enough to mask her scent when she's observing night creatures. Panicking and throwing the whole bottle on the floor was maybe a little much. But at least nothing here smells of Belmont.
Everything is just going to smell of night creature for a while. That's fine. This is fine. She's going to die stinky. ]
Probably one of the big ones who lives in the hills. They haven't come here yet, and- oh! Right, yes. Belmont. [ ...she takes Alucard's hand and shakes it. ] He sort of- landed his castle in the middle of my observation project and recruited my whole study sample.
[ Ruining a science project is absolutely the worst thing Dracula has done to anyone today. ]
[ She wafts at the air in front of her face with one hand. Usually a few drops of the stuff is enough to mask her scent when she's observing night creatures. Panicking and throwing the whole bottle on the floor was maybe a little much. But at least nothing here smells of Belmont.
Everything is just going to smell of night creature for a while. That's fine. This is fine. She's going to die stinky. ]
Probably one of the big ones who lives in the hills. They haven't come here yet, and- oh! Right, yes. Belmont. [ ...she takes Alucard's hand and shakes it. ] He sort of- landed his castle in the middle of my observation project and recruited my whole study sample.
[ Ruining a science project is absolutely the worst thing Dracula has done to anyone today. ]
[Alucard has no idea what's going on, until he sniffs and--oh. That is actually clever, obscuring one's smell like that. It makes the vampire blink once in surprise, but the rest of it is just.
He can deal with night creature smells. Belmonts? That Alucard has some doubts about, and he's wary at just...having her take his hand and treating this as normal.]
Your...
[He didn't hear that right, did he?]
Sorry, your study sample?
He can deal with night creature smells. Belmonts? That Alucard has some doubts about, and he's wary at just...having her take his hand and treating this as normal.]
Your...
[He didn't hear that right, did he?]
Sorry, your study sample?
[ He enters, sighing and dropping the bag. Its contents are a little mud-splattered but the bread still seems edible and the paper still legible. Sypha's already asleep by now, but Alucard's usually still awake. ]
Someone's been following me. Took me a couple hours to lose them. [ A couple of hours and a lot of trekking, if the mud and the way he immediately sits on the ground in exhaustion is any indication. ] If they're human, I think I've lost them. If they're a vampire, I may not have.
[ But that's the ideal. They want to lure vampires here. They absolutely do not want humans seeing them enter this house. ]
How has the castle been?
Someone's been following me. Took me a couple hours to lose them. [ A couple of hours and a lot of trekking, if the mud and the way he immediately sits on the ground in exhaustion is any indication. ] If they're human, I think I've lost them. If they're a vampire, I may not have.
[ But that's the ideal. They want to lure vampires here. They absolutely do not want humans seeing them enter this house. ]
How has the castle been?
Good enough. I'll try to only say really good stupid shit.
[ It's just pleasant, when they're like this in any configuration. Just about the least alone anyone could possibly be. And this is one of those times where, nope, he's not going to be moving for a while. Alucard can carry him to one of the baths if he wants, but he's not going to be moving anywhere under his own power. ]
How hard do you think it'd be to get Sypha to make the Dark Mistress into a Dark Goddess?
[ He really enjoyed that worshipping thing, okay????? ]
[ It's just pleasant, when they're like this in any configuration. Just about the least alone anyone could possibly be. And this is one of those times where, nope, he's not going to be moving for a while. Alucard can carry him to one of the baths if he wants, but he's not going to be moving anywhere under his own power. ]
How hard do you think it'd be to get Sypha to make the Dark Mistress into a Dark Goddess?
[ He really enjoyed that worshipping thing, okay????? ]
Right, my study sample. I've been out here all winter observing them. And just as the season starts to change, just as I'm nearly done, he shows up and they all just wander to the castle. That's not a representative sample at all! I'm going to have to do this all again next year if I don't die.
[ This is the WORST. She peeks her head out of her cloak to confirm there's nothing around. ]
Oh, right. You're dying, aren't you? That's important. [ How to prioritise, starring weird Belmonts. ] Do you need blood? I don't mean to brag, but I'm all full of blood. And you're going to show me how to get through the castle, so it's only fair.
[ Did Alucard agree to do that? No, but it probably doesn't matter. ]
[ This is the WORST. She peeks her head out of her cloak to confirm there's nothing around. ]
Oh, right. You're dying, aren't you? That's important. [ How to prioritise, starring weird Belmonts. ] Do you need blood? I don't mean to brag, but I'm all full of blood. And you're going to show me how to get through the castle, so it's only fair.
[ Did Alucard agree to do that? No, but it probably doesn't matter. ]
Show her what you showed me and I don't think she'll resist at all.
[The words are warm, threaded with a laugh wrapped around them. This is so silly that of course they turned it into this. No one should have ever expected otherwise.
Alucard's not inclined to move at the moment. He simply puts a kiss to Trevor's nose.]
I'll repay this in the near future.
[The words are warm, threaded with a laugh wrapped around them. This is so silly that of course they turned it into this. No one should have ever expected otherwise.
Alucard's not inclined to move at the moment. He simply puts a kiss to Trevor's nose.]
I'll repay this in the near future.
[Alucard is still awake, sat up in bed while Sypha dozes. He doesn't sleep unless they're all home right now, if only for safety's sake.
He's spent today talking with the castle. Learning about what it has done in the centuries, and murmuring apologies all the while. He should have insisted the Belmonts bury him here. Not the Hold.]
More talkative today. [He says that and only that before seizing upon Trevor's words.]
Did they begin to follow only after sunset?
He's spent today talking with the castle. Learning about what it has done in the centuries, and murmuring apologies all the while. He should have insisted the Belmonts bury him here. Not the Hold.]
More talkative today. [He says that and only that before seizing upon Trevor's words.]
Did they begin to follow only after sunset?
[Alucard just.
Stares.
Because half of this is actually interesting, the whole talk of observing night creatures from a biological stand point, and the rest? The rest is enough to make him white knuckled. So he takes a moment to wrap his head around everything first and then:]
Did not agree to that, and frankly, I'm not sure of what's going on never mind what my body has decided to do.
Stares.
Because half of this is actually interesting, the whole talk of observing night creatures from a biological stand point, and the rest? The rest is enough to make him white knuckled. So he takes a moment to wrap his head around everything first and then:]
Did not agree to that, and frankly, I'm not sure of what's going on never mind what my body has decided to do.
Looking forward to it.
[ He wants to kiss back, but he doesn't really want to move. So he doesn't, just smiling up at Alucard, one hand combing through his hair. ]
Your lovely cleanliness.
[ He wants to kiss back, but he doesn't really want to move. So he doesn't, just smiling up at Alucard, one hand combing through his hair. ]
Your lovely cleanliness.
Yeah. Means we can't rule out vampire. Little too determined to be just trying to rob me, and I like to think I don't look an easy target. Either a vampire, or a human who thinks we're up to no good here.
[ He strips to his underclothes while he speaks, falling into his own bed. ]
I'm going to stay here tomorrow, just in case. Then the day after I'll leave the town before nightfall, see if that helps us narrow it down.
[ He strips to his underclothes while he speaks, falling into his own bed. ]
I'm going to stay here tomorrow, just in case. Then the day after I'll leave the town before nightfall, see if that helps us narrow it down.
[ Oh. He isn't convinced. Oh god. She's actually going to have to do her job and convince someone to do something. The Worst Day. ]
I- don't really know what's going on myself. I know that the castle is here. And that Dracula doesn't recruit night creatures for good reasons. And that it'll have moved on by the time I get word to my sisters, so this is something that I have to do. And I know that you're hurt, and that you wanted to get away from here, which I'm guessing means that Dracula hurt you. And I know that you've had about fifteen chances by now to attack me, and that doing so would help you recover. And- please don't do that, by the way, if it just didn't occur to you yet. It'd be a terrible idea. I have a sword.
[ She smiles as she withdraws her cloak. It's pretty obviously fake, but she's trying. ]
I know that I have to go into that castle, and I know that I'll probably die there. But I'll inconvenience Dracula slightly. And I know that my not-dying means at least enough to you to keep you from trying to attack me. And that you probably like inconveniencing Dracula slightly, if he attacked you. If you guide me, I'll be much more likely to survive. And I'll try to make sure you also survive. And I'll inconvenience him more than I would alone. Which sounds like a good deal for you, right?
I- don't really know what's going on myself. I know that the castle is here. And that Dracula doesn't recruit night creatures for good reasons. And that it'll have moved on by the time I get word to my sisters, so this is something that I have to do. And I know that you're hurt, and that you wanted to get away from here, which I'm guessing means that Dracula hurt you. And I know that you've had about fifteen chances by now to attack me, and that doing so would help you recover. And- please don't do that, by the way, if it just didn't occur to you yet. It'd be a terrible idea. I have a sword.
[ She smiles as she withdraws her cloak. It's pretty obviously fake, but she's trying. ]
I know that I have to go into that castle, and I know that I'll probably die there. But I'll inconvenience Dracula slightly. And I know that my not-dying means at least enough to you to keep you from trying to attack me. And that you probably like inconveniencing Dracula slightly, if he attacked you. If you guide me, I'll be much more likely to survive. And I'll try to make sure you also survive. And I'll inconvenience him more than I would alone. Which sounds like a good deal for you, right?
Mmm, experience has long since taught me that one cannot rule out the human element. If you like, I can walk out tomorrow and see if I am targeted the same way.
[Alucard sighs, and while he does watch Trevor undress, there's nothing really there either. Just a man taking care of getting ready for bed.]
Mmm. How are the townspeople reacting to you?
[Alucard sighs, and while he does watch Trevor undress, there's nothing really there either. Just a man taking care of getting ready for bed.]
Mmm. How are the townspeople reacting to you?
They don't care for the accent, I can tell that much. Not thrilled to have a foreigner about. But it's a big enough community that everyone doesn't know everyone else. Nobody asking too many questions, at least not openly. Worst I've had is folk refusing me work.
[ He sighs, combing his fingers through his hair to get mud and leaves out of it. ]
Probably best if you don't talk too much, if you do. You talk stranger than either of us.
[ Four centuries in a box will leave one's vocabulary in languages that are not even one's first language just a little weird and outdated. ]
[ He sighs, combing his fingers through his hair to get mud and leaves out of it. ]
Probably best if you don't talk too much, if you do. You talk stranger than either of us.
[ Four centuries in a box will leave one's vocabulary in languages that are not even one's first language just a little weird and outdated. ]
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