Catch All

[cryptsleeper]

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[cryptsleeper]

What I am is half of the thing you said I was not the last time.

[He remembers. Not-vampire. Let the fae do the hardwork, and let it be without giving away any names. Alucard remembers that instruction. He can hear his father's voice in his head.]

There is an inn an hour's walk from here. I have no fear of you or your people's Hunt.

[miraclewhip]

Half of-

[ He gives this some thought, and it's obvious when it dawns on him what Alucard must mean. His wings twitch, a fur of his collar stands up just a little. That's new. That's interesting. The feigned disinterest is gone, and he looks over Alucard again properly. ]

The inn isn't your home. Won't protect you. Can you make it home?

[cryptsleeper]

Correct.

[There aren't many vampires out there. It may be easy to deduce, but as far as true names go, Alucard has at least two to afford him protection. In the immediate aftermath of the last time, his father had added other titles as well, carefully crafted and purposely long to deal with any fae that might want to be clever.

At least the question throws the vampire off, just by a hair. His eyes narrow, his eyebrows come closer together in quiet confusion.]

How do you mean?

[miraclewhip]

The inn isn't yours. We can hunt there, if we please.

[ Concern crosses his face at that, just for a moment, before it's replaced with something altogether more devilish. ]

I could hunt there, if I pleased.

[cryptsleeper]

Public and open spaces aren't guarantee enough from your people's rituals. Why is that?

[The last comment though, that has Alucard tense up. His entire body does so, snapping to attention, sliding into a more combat ready stance.]

You gain nothing from it.

[miraclewhip]

A vampire really ought to understand the importance of going where one is invited. Or perhaps you would only need to half-understand it, I suppose.

[ He watches, amused, as Alucard tenses. His smile widens. ]

I could gain you. That'd be something.

[cryptsleeper]

So in theory, that would apply to a main room, not a private room that's being rented out and occupied, thus requiring permission to enter.

[Confirm the rules. That's key here, Alucard remembers that. Be calm is the other, and that is put to the test as the fae speaks far too casually of taking the vampire away from Wallachia.

Alucard knows that he can't mention his father and what might happen if that happened. It'd be encouragement, not deterrent, and demand a higher ransom.]

Mm. I'll pass.

[miraclewhip]

You could test, if you wanted.

[ His grin only grows wider. He moves closer, within sword range now. ]

Are you sure? I could keep you safe and warm and fed on honey and figs and songbird blood. It would be so much better than wandering around forests with books.

[cryptsleeper]

Answer the question, Yes or no.

[Firm. Demanding. A command, because that's one of the few good ways to deal with the fae.

Alucard doesn't move an inch from where he stands. His sword is as straight and steady as if he's anticipating moving to attack. He may, at this rate.]

I categorically refuse.

[miraclewhip]

Unless you've been living there a while- no. It isn't your room, and the changing of coin doesn't make it so by our laws.

[ He moves closer still, until he's very much starting to be within Alucard's personal space. ]

A shame, my kind's reputation as lovers is very well-earned.

[cryptsleeper]

[That is a problem. Alucard knows he's two days out from home.]

By your laws, what does make the difference?

[It's a step too far. There's a flash of movement, and the blade of the sword is no longer simply ready. It rests against Trevor's neck instead, the razor thin edge of it drawing blood in the tiniest amount. There's a chance it might heal, Alucard doesn't mind. He's made a point, and that his hand is so steady should signal to the fae to knock it the hell off.]

Anything that requires being held apart or departing these lands will never be a thing that holds interest for me.

[miraclewhip]

Hmm, what will you give me, if I tell you?

[ He moves back only a little. Only enough to wipe a finger across the cut and extend the hand toward Alucard's face in offering. The cut doesn't heal immediately, but nor does he seem overly bothered by it. ]

I could convince you.

[cryptsleeper]

Your life.

[Alucard's cold confidence is something that is absolutely inherited by his father. Even if this caused a Problem with the fae, he knew his father. The rage that some fae would even consider taking his son into the realms beyond would be more than enough.

It wasn't a smart thing to fall back on, but some truths never were.

Alucard takes a single step forward, so that the sword remains within the same range it was only moments ago.]

Your blood does not interest me.

[miraclewhip]

Is that yours to give?

[ His tone is warm, despite the blood trickling from his throat. Warm and soft and almost a little too earnest, in a way that makes dishonesty almost seem preferable. He reaches forward, wiping the blood against Alucard's lips. ]

Whose blood does? I could find them for you You could feed only upon them.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard doesn't like this one goddamn bit. He can't respond with Trevor's blood on his lips, he has to take a moment to raise his other hand and wipe it off on the sleeve of his coat. That's...actually not the worst thing he could do, if he understands how fae magic works. But the blood's gone, he can respond.]

Right now you've made that so.

[The sword moves from throat to shoulder in one flash, and this time there's no teasing. In a moment, the blade digs into Trevor's shoulder, right below the bone moving in.]

I take care of my own needs, fae. Whatever you offer, I know it comes with terms and conditions, and I am not that foolish.

[miraclewhip]

[ A sword. There’s a sword in his shoulder. Inconvenient. He looks at it, gritting his teeth (fae or not, having a sword scraping against bone is not a painless experience). ]

You are a little bit foolish. Whoever told you about my siblings and I, you ought perhaps ask them why one shouldn’t attack unarmed men in the woods.

[ Aside from the gritted teeth, there isn’t a lot of reaction to the sword. He collects the blood in his palm, outstretching it once again. ]

Offered freely. No terms.

[cryptsleeper]

No. I'll say it a third time: no.

[He could hide the books somewhere and find a way to return home faster. That's a possibility, but that requires leaving this situation unscathed first.

But Alucard is wise enough to be listening for other fae now, if that's what he means by mentioning siblings. He doesn't like this one bit.]

I've no interest in you. Your rituals only concern me for my own well being.

[miraclewhip]

[ That, he seems a little offended by. He sighs, almost sulking. ]

I don’t mean you any harm. I just want to keep you and dress you in pretty things. But you are very interesting, and my family are not the only ones who go hunting tonight. If you were mine, none of them could touch you.

You could stab me more, if that’s what you wanted. If it would make you happy.

[cryptsleeper]

Then you're no better than any other hunter who has seen my nature and demanded my head for it.

[This is going no where. Alucard withdraws the sword, and he anticipates the spray of blood that will come with the action.]

If you give anything freely before I depart, have it be this: ways to avoid the eyes of your people during this ritual, should one be caught outside. Otherwise, go. Lick your wounds and leave me be.

[miraclewhip]

There are no ways.

[ He tests the arm as blood sprays out from the cut, trying to lift it with limited success. The wing on the same side moves well enough, at least. ]

Look for a deer hunting with wolves. Shout to it, and have something to give in return for protection.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard doesn't believe the first part. The second, maybe, if the antlers on the fae's head are anything to go by. He doesn't want to rely on this fae at all.

The sword does not go lower. His eyes remain fixated on Trevor, gold, cold, and unmoved.]

Noted.

[No thank yous, no politeness, just that coldness he always projects to the world at large.]

Go then. This hunt of yours is done. I am not something you can own.

[miraclewhip]

Ungrateful fucker, aren’t we?

[ He spreads his wings, the one on the stabbed side only a fraction slower than the other, and reaches out with his good arm. He takes a lovk of Alucard’s hair, bringing it up to his lips. ]

Until sunset, then.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard hisses when Trevor's hand reaches to his hair, and he tries to swat the wrist as Trevor takes that lock of hair. He uses claws, he doesn't know if he draws blood. All he hisses out is something that may help any spells done with that lock:]

That is not freely given or paid for.

[It may do nothing at all.

In the hours between Trevor's departure and sunset, Alucard finds himself unable to even make the inn. It's closed down between the last time he went by it and now, and so it affords even less protection than it might otherwise.

But he knows the area. To the west there is a series of caves, and in the past, he has gone there to roost in his bat form if absolutely needed. The bats, they know what he is. Whose son he is, and they don't question his presence. So it is there he goes, leaving the books a little ways into the cave and then roosting directly over them, refusing to move.

Sunset comes. The bats stay where they are, not daring to hunt this evening. There is a far greater party than they that have such rights, and Alucard hates that fact. To command men, that he understands, but other creatures whose lives may depend on nightly feeding? That rankles.

He stays still all the same, thinking the words home over and over again, as if the intent will make it true.]

[miraclewhip]

[ The cave is safer than the inn would have been, not Alucard’s home but home to the bats and protected by the laws of the fae. The animals that ride with them, though, their hunking dogs and birds, they are held by no such laws. It is a large panther that first finds its way into the cave, stalking through the darkness and toward Alucard with purpose.

The Belmonts are not the only hunting party, only the ones who seek out monsters exclusively. There are others. Others with alliances and a better understanding of when Alucard is than Trevor possessed and knowledge of his value. It lunges upward, trying to capture his bat form in its jaws. ]

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard can't vocalize in more than a truly alarmed squeak in this form. It's a noise that unsettles him even as the sound escapes his throat. Echoes off the cave walls, and the bats around him do react. They unfurl their wings, squeaking furiously at the panther as Alucard tries to flatten himself against the ceiling, almost impossible to reach.

He is an esteemed guest! is the cry, like that may at least reach the ears of the panther's master and send the thing away.

Alucard manages to stay flat against the ceiling, away from snapping jaws, but he doesn't know if that will see any of his hosts hurt. He can't allow his presence to put them in danger. He can only wait a moment more, wait to see if the panther insists...]