Catch All

[cryptsleeper]

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[cryptsleeper]

[There's a scant movement of Dracula's fingers, and the embers in the fireplace change. There are true flames now, the fuel they're devouring unclear and not worth asking about. The glow means that there is an hour of light at least.]

Very well. Your answer gives me no sense of how they are being taught to control these impulsive responses - some of which I realize are inherited traits. Or am I more correct in saying that they have learned nothing at all, based on past and recent events?

[He's also kind of angry about trying to kidnap his son. Maybe. Is he trying to parent shame? Abso-fucking-lutely.]

[miraclewhip]

They learn the law, and they learn that there are consequences for breaking it. Would you ask more?

[ Leon nods in appreciation at the newly burning fire, but does not put out the candle. It was a gift, after all. From his ex’sweird castle child who has a new stepmom and loves her better. But a gift nonetheless. ]

[cryptsleeper]

[Stepmom is awesome and son is Acceptable. Castle adores stepmom.]

Those involved in tonight's actions are barred from hunting for fourteen years. One cycle for each year that has passed between the last hunt and now.

[The words are a little too calm. Daring Leon to contradict or to bargain.]

[miraclewhip]

Twelve. Fourteen may just as well be nineteen.

[ Which. Dracula almost certainly knows and is planning for. Leon considers, and then looks up. ]

In return, I will also refrain from our great hunt.

[cryptsleeper]

Fine.

[Not fine, but math is not something even Dracula can argue with. He's old enough to know better than to try again on that particular point.

The next part gets nothing more than an arched eyebrow. By now, Dracula's cheek is resting in the palm of his hand, and he seems nearly bored by all of this. But an arched eyebrow from Dracula is real surprise on another man's face.]

Very well. Along those lines, said hunt does not enter the immediate territory of Wallachia for seven cycles. You may pursue quarry elsewhere on the continent, save Carmilla.

[That is Dracula's hunt alone.]

[miraclewhip]

No.

[ Leon shakes his head. Fairies don’t do land borders. ] ]

You know that I have no authority over the queen. And you know that their kind care nothing for lines drawn upon maps by men. Even if I could grant your request, ‘Wallachia’ means nothing to them.

[cryptsleeper]

Your sons and daughters remain out of my lands then. The rest of their kind does not concern me.

[Theirs. Not yours. Because so far as Vlad Dracual Tepes can tell, Leon Belmont has remained so very human where his offspring have become more and more fae over the successive generations.]

I am more than happy to mark the borders for their edification.

[miraclewhip]

We go as we please. No.

For seven cycles, you, yours, and any other you name will not be our quarry. Should you maintain order and justice in your lands, we will have no reason to be here.

[cryptsleeper]

No.

[His eyes are the only thing that move. The settle on Leon, and they s t a r e.]

What you describe is already in place. It instructs and imparts no new wisdom to those who have erred so foolishly time and again, Belmont.

[miraclewhip]

Very well. Then I offer nothing in its place, and we hunt what we please.

[ Leon looks back, rather than staring. He blinks without any concern for seeming weaker for it. ]

Time and again, you say. We are discussing compensation for one incident only.

[cryptsleeper]

And shall I ignore the fact that what is in the box you hold tried to steal from my household in the form of my son?

[miraclewhip]

[ Leon raises an eyebrow. ]

Is your son a possession of yours?

[cryptsleeper]

He lives under my authority and his care is my responsibility as well as duty. Anything that would dare to take him away without his say so or mine is worth addressing.

[Not directly engaging with the rest of it! Nope!!]

[miraclewhip]

But is he a possession of yours?

If not, then he is the insulted party. Not you. If he wishes to discuss punishment or compensation with me, I will listen.

[cryptsleeper]

The insult reflects upon the whole of this house.
You also know that by default, any dealings with fae are political matters, Belmont.

[It's a perk of being king of the vampires.]

Or are you finding ways to avoid this because rendering that boy into a single moth was a preemptive measure to shield him from worse reprisals?

[miraclewhip]

This was punishment from his own kind, for striking down a man of god. If you demand greater punishment, it will be done. But I would understand what the punishment is for.

[ He sighs. ]

I know nothing of the incident you are discussing. I heard only that the boy meant to pay a dowry. If he made an attempt to steal your son, I would hear about it.

[cryptsleeper]

I advise that you review any marriage proposals within your own House from here on out then.

[There's a weariness as Dracula explains the particulars. That weariness soon changes into a low anger as he details exactly what it took for Trevor to cease, what was left as a dowry, and how it is that his own home had to be coated in iron to finally put the matter to rest.

That he's only medium-annoyed is nothing short of a miracle.]

I am aware that the matter is now resolved due to his involvement with the Speaker, but I would have acknowledgement of the matter.

[miraclewhip]

It is difficult, I admit, without the use of names.

[ Leon listens, he sighs a great deal, and he holds his hands neatly on the table. ]

You are accusing the boy of being a fool. Even under the old laws, that is not a crime. He took your son with him, but only when both of their hands were forced by one of your own kind. And then he released him. After which he gave you unwanted gifts. I will discuss compensation for the insult with your son if he wishes, but none of our laws were broken.

[cryptsleeper]

A period of observation would deal with that particular problem.

[He is a fool, Dracula does not say. Who did not understand rebuffs and requires too much effort to get information through his head.

His eyes narrow. True. No laws were broken. But it still rankles that anything would make a move on his son, nevermind a Belmont.]

Then at the very least, see that future generations know better than to approach this House with such thought.

[miraclewhip]

Very well. While we discuss what you ask of me, we will consider how, without names, we ought to know a member of your house from any other.

[ okay so maybe even the purest soul can act like a little shit sometimes. ]

The Belmont party will not participate in the next great hunt. Was there anything else you wished?

[cryptsleeper]

If there are more than three of us in number, the information will reach your ears.

[Hey. Leon. Fuck you.]

No. Our business is concluded. I trust that you can see yourself out, for the obvious reasons.

[miraclewhip]

Of course.

[ And, naturally, Leon proceeds to do his utmost best to get lost. He ignores the paths the house presents him with, going through doors he shouldn’t, up and down stairways that the castle meant to lead him away from and through at least two secret passages that he only knows of because four centuries ago Mathias once drunkenly told him about how cool it would be to hide a door in a bookcase. As soon as he is confident that he is out of Dracula’s earshot (oh, he will know. But he won’t know right away.) ]

Castle, if you show me to where the son is, I will leave you willingly once my business is done.

[cryptsleeper]

[The castle, naturally, fights this. Once it knows that the Belmont is straying from it's paths, it sends him down the darkest ones. It threatens to take back the candle it gave him, and oh the flame flickers from phantom winds. Dracula has retired to bed. It has it's own will now.

There's a rumble under Leon's feet that threatens to have the stones give way. No. The castle doesn't care what the Belmont wants. The castle is made to keep people safe, and Lisa and Adrian are the two it must keep safest.

Those are it's instructions and those have been ground into it's very being now.]

[miraclewhip]

[ He sighs. The castle is a difficult child, isn’t it? Without light, he cannot fight it. ]

I mean no harm. But I understand. Your task is your task, and I cannot fault you your loyalty. Lead me to your doors.

[cryptsleeper]

[Leon has made it into one of the spires, in truth. It means that to return to the doors, it is a very long walk indeed. But in returning to the doors, there is one kindness the castle does make an effort for: there are windows all along this route.

The other kindness is not calculated. Alucard crosses Leon's path by true fortune, the vampire carrying a carafe of water meant for Sypha's room and knowing it will be needed.

He stops when he sees Leon. Tenses entirely, because he does not know how to read the man's mood (his father is clearly exhausted, it shows in the castle) and because he absolutely just saw Leon take a sword to his own grandson.]