Alucard can only breathe out at all of that. It's remarkable progress. Beyond even his father's wildest dreams, most likely. Yet it ends in the worst way possible and oh, that? That makes him ache. There's no other way around that.

"And you truly wish to return to that?"

Maybe that wasn't the right question. Alucard's face is mortified as soon as the question leaves his lips and yet he's asked it all the same.

"Ignore that, it was inappropriate."