[Alucard channels every ounce of his father's presence, staring down at the peacock with the disdain Dracula reserves for the surname Belmont. It isn't a bad impression, all things considered, and he knows the stare he gives could freeze rivers. There are no clever words, only the quiet relief of watching the peacock finally retreat and the aggressive Not Caring in his voice.
But then they're away from the other predators. Alucard doesn't care about what rules have been broken. He's safe for the immediate present. That's all that matters, and whatever defense is needed, they'll use.
The wings may not be around him. But Alucard sits down next to Trevor, and there's a hand that reaches out Trevor's without even waiting for permission.]
Don't be. [He sighs, breathing out two soft words, clearly wounded:] Tainted blood.
[ He looks up in confusion at the hand. He's been trying not to touch Alucard more than necessary, because he's not even sure he knows what the rules are anymore. Cautiously, he extends a wing again, not wrapping it around Alucard but offering it in case it's wanted.
He's not good with this, but he can understand when he hears hurt, if nothing else. ]
He was trying to goad you into attacking him. It's- not worth paying any mind to.
Hardly the first time it's been thought. [He says that part with a crisp certainty, one that's trying not to dwell on what was said. Alucard fails only seconds later, when his tone shifts into something more tired.] Simply the first time someone's said it to my face.
[It's in part hurt and in part understanding that Trevor is his only chance at survival tonight that has Alucard taking Trevor's hand. For those same reasons, he scoots a little closer, so that anyone else looking in on this scene will take the optics as romantic and claiming.]
Tonight, I fear previously established conventions need to be cast aside in order to survive.
[ He doesn't want to. All else aside, it's- nice, the way Alucard's long fingers rest in his hand. But it's intimacy of necessity, not choice, and finding it pleasant at all feels wrong.
He shakes his head, dropping that subject. The extended wing falls onto Alucard's shoulder again. It's more careful this time and he measures Alucard's response, ready to pull it back the second there's any indication he's doing something he shouldn't. ]
[Later. The future. Alucard's mind is focused on only the present, on surviving it, on making sure that he manages to come out the other end. He's good at resolve, at steeling himself and getting through difficult things. But he's also far too spoiled by his father's presence, and perhaps tonight he's coming to terms with how tenous that cna be.
His father is as well. Badly.
Alucard doesn't let go of Trevor's hand, and at the sudden statement, there's a weak but clearly delighted laugh.]
You want to be careful with that, you're already on her shit list.
[ But there's no reproach in his voice, and he chuckles. ]
She's- ruled by whim. She takes an interest in something - you, right now. Father- Leon, back before he was like this. All of us at some point or another. Or maybe not you, yourself. Maybe she likes the idea of a war with your father.
The ones she made herself, they take it hard when she gets bored of them. Act like dicks to be interesting to her again. Act like they think she would, because they think that'll get her attention.
[ It doesn't work most of the time, of course. Because she expects them to act like she would. It's far more unexpected and interesting when they act like Leon, and then she has to pay attention. Then, awkwardly because he doesn't particularly want Alucard to feel sorry for the fairy, just to feel less hurt. ] She'll eat them, if they're too boring.
I think you've already found I am not Sypha, and thus poor with words.
[Sypha would be able to endure this much easier, wouldn't she? Her words with the Queen would have been exact and resolved the situation already, whereas what is he? A spoiled dhampir too used to extra protection forced to deal without it.
His face is already long as Trevor speaks. But the words war with your father put a real fear on his face, one that can't be hidden.]
The idea, but not the practice. I...can't think of an idea that's bound to have more human causalities, in truth. [Because of course they will. Disposable meat shields.]
I'm....well. That's one way to address that issue. [His voice is flat. The hand in Trevor's is still gripping tightly, because it's still stuck at the comment from before. War with Dracula. For fun.]
Casualties don't rally matter to her. She's- [ He takes a moment to try to work out how to explain it. ] Made of human fear of the unknown. Anything short of total human extinction won't harm her, and any attempt at that will make her stronger before it makes her weaker, since it'll make them so much more afraid. War would be a slaughter for anyone in its path.
For as long as I remember, our father has been making sure to keep them apart from each other. Our queen can't go to Dracula directly as long as he's here. It's worked. But we never expected him to have a family, and the Queen never promised that you would be Leon's opponent alone.
[ He squeezes Alucard's hand back, the wing around him growing heavier as it dissolves into many many moths crawling over his shoulders. ] This is- probably a lot. Sorry.
[There's a heavier and heavier exhaustion that settles over Alucard as Trevor keeps speaking. His shoulders slump, his head tilts downwards even more, and the moths on his shoulders don't even react to their sudden presence.
He brings his free hand up, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.]
It's a lot, yes, but understanding it all is important. [The only important thing.]
Is there any way to extend the keeping her away from immediate family? [There is a sidelong look to Trevor, one that clearly means Alucard is speaking of his mother. Dracula might be able to control himself with this. But harm coming to Lisa? Oh...the world wouldn't survive that rage.[]
[ He actually goes still at that, his hand going loose in Alucard's- he's not seemed particularly bothered by any of this so far, but talk of Lisa- ]
-she's safe. She's- shit, she's as safe as anyone can be. You saw what happened when I tried to go near her home when she wasn't in it, let alone if she'd been there.
[ He's clearly agitated by talk of Lisa, but he tries. He frowns and he thinks and- ]
-what do you think she would do, if something she didn't understand tried to threaten her? And what do you think most humans would do? Or your father? Or you? Anyone else would attack it, or run away from it, or try to do what it wanted. She'd ask what it was and try to figure out how it worked and-
[Alucard opens his mouth to protest that his father is a scientist too, that he works to understand but that isn't entirely true. He'll understand the natural world, but rarely the nature of others. He has the things he will go into rages about, and the safety of his family is the number one thing. Threaten them and...
...they've both seen that result.
Trevor's assessment is entirely true. But there's another quiet realization.]
My mother is her antithesis, and thus always immune and safe.
[He and his father aren't that exact antithesis. And thus, Alucard is here.]
And so I'm the easier candidate to needle him towards even dancing around the thought of war.
[The sigh he lets out is exhausted, and there's a note of pain in that too. Being used against one's own family, that's...that's a hard thing to bear.]
[ He rubs the back of his head with his free hand. The weight on Alucard's back shifts a little to form wings of his own, black velvety ones with a trim of gold. ]
Leon thought that was why I wanted you for my husband. That I'd just say it so that it was said and then leave you be, so that you couldn't be targeted. I hadn't even realised. [ He chuckles, a little sheepishly. ] He was furious.
[In the heat of summer, Alucard hadn't been wearing his usual coat. The weight of suddenly something being on his back is bizarre, but his state of mind doesn't really allow for questions. He just pulls the edges of those wings closer towards his chest, like he would with his coat.]
Mm. I think I see why - it's harder to rectify the matter now because my father is the way he is.
[Local bat dad complicates everything news at 11.
There's a moment where Alucard's eyes glance around.]
Is there anyplace more...inside...that we can sit? Forgive me if sitting anywhere in the opens leads to a feeling of vulnerability here.
[ ...though it's not like Alucard particularly wants to be here. ]
There are places, but they're- [ for people who want privacy for kissing reasons, and enchanted appropriately ] -liable to mess with your head. We can go further into the woods, if that would help.
[ He stands, pulling Alucard to his feet, and those wings coil around him as bast they can. The wooded area is strange. It isn't so dense that it should be difficult to see far ahead, and yet things keep appearing suddenly. Trees, beds of flowers. Eventually, a silvery structure spun from what appears to be spider thread, hanging from one of the larger trees. Trevor tilts his head at it. ]
That- shouldn't be there.
[ On the one hand, he doesn't like it. On the other, it is a hidden place. And it doesn't seem like it's one of the sex tents. ]
[Alucard's already accepted the wings as a sort of shield for the time being. He may not be proud of the fact they give him a measure of comfort, but that's where they're at this point. He will take any scrap of comfort as he can get it.
His hand remains in Trevor's as they move through the woods, looking down every so often to ensure the forest floor isn't so dense. Instead, the world expands under his feet and...]
If it shouldn't be there, then I don't think we ought to trust it.
[Then he stops, looking at Trevor with a greater concern in his eye.]
We are. Keenly, if this is any indication. You said you wanted an inside place, and-
[ And one has appeared. Because of course. ]
I think this is as alone as we're going to get. [ And then after a moment, because he has no idea how long they've been walking. The sun doesn't move. He doesn't really grow hungry or thirsty, he's too on edge to grow bored. ] How are you feeling?
She might lose interest, if we have it done with. You could rest then. [ But tired is good. Tired isn't hungry. They dont' have to resolve that issue yet. ] But- it's probably going to be shitty. It's your choice.
[Alucard considers this. He considers it for a very long moment, and then he straightens up entirely. The wings that were curled around himself are moved back to where they ought to be, and when he steps forward (Trevor's hand remains in his, he understands that this is required) it's with the same kind of stalking movement that Dracula relies upon.
If the goal is to be bored, then what is more boring than simply aping Dracula being bored and zoned out from whatever the situation at hand is?]
Onward then. If you suspect the structure is impacting perception, remove me from the space immediately.
[Those are commands. Alucard's learned how to issue them from Sypha, but rarely has it been in Dracula Voice.]
[ It’s an order. He doesn’t get those often, not unless Sypha thinks he’s in danger. Trevor freezes for a moment and then his arms hook around Alucard’s back and the back of his legs, lifting him.
It’s a poorly worded order. ‘Remove me’, not ‘Lead me away’. ]
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But then they're away from the other predators. Alucard doesn't care about what rules have been broken. He's safe for the immediate present. That's all that matters, and whatever defense is needed, they'll use.
The wings may not be around him. But Alucard sits down next to Trevor, and there's a hand that reaches out Trevor's without even waiting for permission.]
Don't be. [He sighs, breathing out two soft words, clearly wounded:] Tainted blood.
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He's not good with this, but he can understand when he hears hurt, if nothing else. ]
He was trying to goad you into attacking him. It's- not worth paying any mind to.
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[It's in part hurt and in part understanding that Trevor is his only chance at survival tonight that has Alucard taking Trevor's hand. For those same reasons, he scoots a little closer, so that anyone else looking in on this scene will take the optics as romantic and claiming.]
Tonight, I fear previously established conventions need to be cast aside in order to survive.
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[ He doesn't want to. All else aside, it's- nice, the way Alucard's long fingers rest in his hand. But it's intimacy of necessity, not choice, and finding it pleasant at all feels wrong.
He shakes his head, dropping that subject. The extended wing falls onto Alucard's shoulder again. It's more careful this time and he measures Alucard's response, ready to pull it back the second there's any indication he's doing something he shouldn't. ]
The ones the queen made herself are just dicks.
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[Later. The future. Alucard's mind is focused on only the present, on surviving it, on making sure that he manages to come out the other end. He's good at resolve, at steeling himself and getting through difficult things. But he's also far too spoiled by his father's presence, and perhaps tonight he's coming to terms with how tenous that cna be.
His father is as well. Badly.
Alucard doesn't let go of Trevor's hand, and at the sudden statement, there's a weak but clearly delighted laugh.]
Sounds like the personality is inherited.
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[ But there's no reproach in his voice, and he chuckles. ]
She's- ruled by whim. She takes an interest in something - you, right now. Father- Leon, back before he was like this. All of us at some point or another. Or maybe not you, yourself. Maybe she likes the idea of a war with your father.
The ones she made herself, they take it hard when she gets bored of them. Act like dicks to be interesting to her again. Act like they think she would, because they think that'll get her attention.
[ It doesn't work most of the time, of course. Because she expects them to act like she would. It's far more unexpected and interesting when they act like Leon, and then she has to pay attention. Then, awkwardly because he doesn't particularly want Alucard to feel sorry for the fairy, just to feel less hurt. ] She'll eat them, if they're too boring.
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[Sypha would be able to endure this much easier, wouldn't she? Her words with the Queen would have been exact and resolved the situation already, whereas what is he? A spoiled dhampir too used to extra protection forced to deal without it.
His face is already long as Trevor speaks. But the words war with your father put a real fear on his face, one that can't be hidden.]
The idea, but not the practice. I...can't think of an idea that's bound to have more human causalities, in truth. [Because of course they will. Disposable meat shields.]
I'm....well. That's one way to address that issue. [His voice is flat. The hand in Trevor's is still gripping tightly, because it's still stuck at the comment from before. War with Dracula. For fun.]
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For as long as I remember, our father has been making sure to keep them apart from each other. Our queen can't go to Dracula directly as long as he's here. It's worked. But we never expected him to have a family, and the Queen never promised that you would be Leon's opponent alone.
[ He squeezes Alucard's hand back, the wing around him growing heavier as it dissolves into many many moths crawling over his shoulders. ] This is- probably a lot. Sorry.
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He brings his free hand up, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.]
It's a lot, yes, but understanding it all is important. [The only important thing.]
Is there any way to extend the keeping her away from immediate family? [There is a sidelong look to Trevor, one that clearly means Alucard is speaking of his mother. Dracula might be able to control himself with this. But harm coming to Lisa? Oh...the world wouldn't survive that rage.[]
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[ He actually goes still at that, his hand going loose in Alucard's- he's not seemed particularly bothered by any of this so far, but talk of Lisa- ]
-she's safe. She's- shit, she's as safe as anyone can be. You saw what happened when I tried to go near her home when she wasn't in it, let alone if she'd been there.
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[Alucard still isn't sure how.]
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[ He's clearly agitated by talk of Lisa, but he tries. He frowns and he thinks and- ]
-what do you think she would do, if something she didn't understand tried to threaten her? And what do you think most humans would do? Or your father? Or you? Anyone else would attack it, or run away from it, or try to do what it wanted. She'd ask what it was and try to figure out how it worked and-
[ He actually shudders at that idea. ]
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...they've both seen that result.
Trevor's assessment is entirely true. But there's another quiet realization.]
My mother is her antithesis, and thus always immune and safe.
[He and his father aren't that exact antithesis. And thus, Alucard is here.]
And so I'm the easier candidate to needle him towards even dancing around the thought of war.
[The sigh he lets out is exhausted, and there's a note of pain in that too. Being used against one's own family, that's...that's a hard thing to bear.]
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[ He rubs the back of his head with his free hand. The weight on Alucard's back shifts a little to form wings of his own, black velvety ones with a trim of gold. ]
Leon thought that was why I wanted you for my husband. That I'd just say it so that it was said and then leave you be, so that you couldn't be targeted. I hadn't even realised. [ He chuckles, a little sheepishly. ] He was furious.
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Mm. I think I see why - it's harder to rectify the matter now because my father is the way he is.
[Local bat dad complicates everything news at 11.
There's a moment where Alucard's eyes glance around.]
Is there anyplace more...inside...that we can sit? Forgive me if sitting anywhere in the opens leads to a feeling of vulnerability here.
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[ ...though it's not like Alucard particularly wants to be here. ]
There are places, but they're- [ for people who want privacy for kissing reasons, and enchanted appropriately ] -liable to mess with your head. We can go further into the woods, if that would help.
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I understand. [Both the reason why, and that Trevor is explaining this to him for an awfully good reason.]
Please lead on.
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That- shouldn't be there.
[ On the one hand, he doesn't like it. On the other, it is a hidden place. And it doesn't seem like it's one of the sex tents. ]
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His hand remains in Trevor's as they move through the woods, looking down every so often to ensure the forest floor isn't so dense. Instead, the world expands under his feet and...]
If it shouldn't be there, then I don't think we ought to trust it.
[Then he stops, looking at Trevor with a greater concern in his eye.]
We've being watched, I presume.
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[ And one has appeared. Because of course. ]
I think this is as alone as we're going to get. [ And then after a moment, because he has no idea how long they've been walking. The sun doesn't move. He doesn't really grow hungry or thirsty, he's too on edge to grow bored. ] How are you feeling?
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[Alucard lets out a long, tired noise at that. He can't pull the wings closer around himself, not anymore.]
Tired. I'd try to nap, but I doubt that would solve any of the problems at hand. If anything, it might create new ones.
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She might lose interest, if we have it done with. You could rest then. [ But tired is good. Tired isn't hungry. They dont' have to resolve that issue yet. ] But- it's probably going to be shitty. It's your choice.
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If the goal is to be bored, then what is more boring than simply aping Dracula being bored and zoned out from whatever the situation at hand is?]
Onward then. If you suspect the structure is impacting perception, remove me from the space immediately.
[Those are commands. Alucard's learned how to issue them from Sypha, but rarely has it been in Dracula Voice.]
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It’s a poorly worded order. ‘Remove me’, not ‘Lead me away’. ]
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Crap, he's still terrible at this.]
Okay, okay, lead me away, not this!
[It's probably a good mistake to make with eyes on him. It makes him look slightly stupider, and easier to underestimate.]
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