[...This is ridiculous. Alucard's about to say the word, just as he's about to shed his shirt as well, but there's a sudden shadow behind Alucard and he freezes.]
...Father.
[There's Dracula's usual look of distaste at Trevor before his attention moves to Alucard and Sypha.]
This place isn't safe for extended recovery, Adrian. The defenses allow for tracking, and I can't say with confidence that this is the last time some mortal will be that stupid.
[ Sypha has a hand over Trevor's mouth before he can defend his good cave to Dracula any further. She looks like she's about to say something, but she doesn't have it in her to actually apologise to Dracula on Trevor's behalf. Besides, it's clear enough that he isn't in his right mind. ]
We can't move him far without daylight. [ 'Without Leon's aid', she means, though she has the good sense not to mention the man by name right now. ] Where would you have us go?
[Alucard looks as if he's waiting for the ground to open up when Trevor opens his mouth. It's his boyfriend, so it's his role to apologize.]
Medication. I'm sure you know the rest.
[Dracula's eyes narrow just a hair, suggesting that while that may be true, he knows that it really is just medication loosening lips. For once though, he isn't offended. His gaze instead turns to Sypha.]
There are spaces in this country that I marked out for my family as defensive dwellings should the need for them arise. It takes precious little effort for me to transport the whole of your surroundings into such a location.
None of these places are intended to keep the fae out, but they are cloaked from most other things. Under normal circumstances I would make those modifications, but these are not normal circumstances.
Move us, then. [ Sypha says, then catches herself and remembers her manners at least a little. ] We would be grateful for your aid.
[ Trevor says nothing because he understood maybe three of those words that Dracula just said. He's taken notice of the blood on Alucard's back instead, reaching out unsteadily for him. He sniffs at the general direction of the wound, eyes narrowing in concentration. ]
No silver. Iron, but it's forged. Safe. You'll be fine.
[Drugged boyfriend has the absolute best priorities. However Alucard is still covered in blood, which means he doesn't sit himself down beside Trevor immediately. He leaves his father to look around the cave and account for what must be transported, allowing himself to find their water bucket and wash the worst of the blood off. Alucard's shirt is discarded as well, changed out for a clean one and--]
It is in your best interest that you all sit while this cave moves.
[It's as close to the concept of please sit as Dracula will ever get. Alucard simply does as he is told, and he settles back down beside Trevor.]
You are. And- [ He frowns. He doesn't remember what it was he had to say.
Instead, he grabs at Alucard's arms, arranging them around himself and Sypha Putting everything back the way it was before, the way he likes it. ] -you're back. Don't go again. I don't like it.
[Alucard sighs, immediately using the hand he has closest to Trevor to try and stroke his back. Soothe whatever he can, because holy shit he just killed a man out of a need to protect the other two and...
...and who that makes him like is a thing to think about indeed. Dracula ignores the display in front of him, and focuses on the magic require for this next step. There are things to murmur, symbols to etch into the rock with long, long nails, and then there is a low rumble in the ground itself.]
Trevor, I may have to get up in a few minutes, okay?
[Alucard knows his father. He saw that injury, he'll want to inspect it.]
[ He sinks against Alucard. Predictably, he doesn’t like it. ]
I don’t like it. [ His voice lowers, speaking into Alucard’s shirt. Not actually enough to keep anyone from hearing, but an attempt is made. ] I can’t keep her safe, on my own. Not like this. Don’t go.
I promise. And I won't let anything happen to you either.
[You know who's joining Sypha in eye rolling? Dracula. You know who's having a moment with his Totally Not Daughter In Law? Dracula.
Thank God Dracula's still focusing on moving this cave, because otherwise he'd be rolling his eyes even more. Below them, there's a slow roll of the floor, like a gentle wave going over the ocean, and then there's a soft shake.]
This place is safe enough for the time being. Adrian, I would have words with you.
[He kisses Trevor's forehead once before withdrawing. Trevor's loopiness and turn of phrases makes up for some of the nightmare of having him be like this, and when he withdraws in full, it is to rejoin his father at the mouth of the cave.
Except when he stands there, he is at the front door of a small cottage that sits alone in the mountains, looking over one of the great forests of Wallachia. There are quiet words exchanged, and then Dracula does as Alucard expected and inspects his son's wound for signs of magic.
They're there. Faint. Hard to catch without a trained eye, the kind of thing meant to mark a murderer. They are gone with a wave of Dracula's hand, but the seriousness is still there. In their low voices, they discuss how to destroy the other parts of Trevor that were used for spells (For your sake, not his Dracula insists), and that will be done tomorrow.
Dracula does not leave even then. He takes the shape of a large wolf, and dismisses his son for the night. Any guard duty can and will wait until morning.
When Alucard returns again, it's having utterly washed himself off, and he settles down where Trevor would have him.]
[ He sinks into Alucard's arms, burying his face in his shirt, tugging Sypha over so to be trapped between them. ]
Adrian. [ It's muffled by shirt, but he says it softly, testing the sound on his lips. Sypha seems worried for a moment, not sure what might come of him learning Alucard's name. Nothing comes of it, of course, he just keeps babbling contentedly. ] My beautiful Adrian. My brave Adrian. Keeping us safe.
[Alucard understands how he's gotten the name. His father must've let it slip and...well, Trevor's alive so there won't be any attempt at take backsies
Then again, if Alucard knows his father, his father is assuming that all the drugs will keep Trevor from properly remembering. Which is a fair enough thought, although Alucard has some doubts.]
Don't want to sleep. Want to kiss you. Both of you. [ He doesn't, really. At least no more than usual. And if he did, then the first step would be removing his head from where it's hidden in Alucard's shirt. He's just learned, even in his addled state, that saying things like that is the best way to be fussed over and allowed to rest instead of sleeping. To have one of them read to him or tell him stories form memory. ] If I sleep-
[ He pauses, and then trails off, shaking his head. ]
[ The chances of the secondary effects of the anesthetic working aren't as high as they used to be. It's not every night he finds himself in the same dreams as the others. He's been wary of sleeping lately.
Not that it's managed to stop him from doing it a lot. Just like it doesn't really stop him from settling against Alucard, babbling slowing just a little. ]
[It seems hard to do. Alucard sighs, and he focuses entirely on running his hand up and down Trevor's spine. It's a foolproof way of getting him to slow down a bit. Relax. Maybe sleep a bit more.]
[ It works. It always works. Any tension that remained in him fades, the babbling stops. Before long, his breathing has slowed and his hands and feet twitch occasionally, like a dog dreaming of chasing something. ]
[Alucard find himself drifting at one point, but it is long after Trevor has settled in. He doesn't dream tonight, not this time, and Alucard stirs only when his father hand comes and gently rests on his shoulders.]
I am departing. You'll need to wake and resume your watch.
[Sleepily, Alucard blinks once or twice in response, and nods in the affirmative. It's only after Alucard sits up that Dracula disappears properly, and Alucard frowns a little for his father's absence.
The other two don't feel safe around him, but Alucard does. That's yet to change.]
[ It's only about a half-hour after Dracula leaves that the sun stretches out over the woods. With it, comes a presence. There would have always been a presence, after the events of last night.
Leon doesn't enter the came, doesn't ever look, but his calm voice drifts in ]
You can sleep, if you wish. Nothing will come close.
[Alucard is already up, his eyes wide awake and focused on the mouth of the cave. The rest of him wants to just fall back asleep, relieved for the first time to ever hear Leon's voice. It would make Trevor happy, to not be disturbed but...
...best Leon be informed of what happened.
It is with all the care in the world that Alucard slowly replaces himself with the blanket again. It's warmed, it smells of him, and this should only be a few moments more. He rises to his feet, and vaguely Alucard wonders if this sense of responsibility is genuine or if it comes from the nonsense claiming bond.
Maybe it's both. Regardless, Alucard exits the cave, opening the door and not surprised to find Leon there.]
How much of last night have you been able to guess at, versus how much must I inform you of?
Your father's magic is thick here, and so I suspect that he moved you. As for why- my daughters claim that they found the body of a Collector where you ought to be. Am I correct in my belief that the two things are related?
[ He says this with the tone of a man who isn't really asking a question. ]
They used to be Speakers, the Collectors. Took on the strengths and powers of fallen friends and creatures by carrying the stories of them in their hearts. [ He shakes his head. ] But it is easier to carry a handful of flesh than it is a story. One doesn't need to care about the origin of the flesh, nor to understand how a lump of flesh came about. So they separated, and the Speakers are as vulnerable to being collected as either of our kinds are.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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No. You left.
[ He’s cross about it. He’s actually pouting. ]
Come back.
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...Father.
[There's Dracula's usual look of distaste at Trevor before his attention moves to Alucard and Sypha.]
This place isn't safe for extended recovery, Adrian. The defenses allow for tracking, and I can't say with confidence that this is the last time some mortal will be that stupid.
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[ Sypha has a hand over Trevor's mouth before he can defend his good cave to Dracula any further. She looks like she's about to say something, but she doesn't have it in her to actually apologise to Dracula on Trevor's behalf. Besides, it's clear enough that he isn't in his right mind. ]
We can't move him far without daylight. [ 'Without Leon's aid', she means, though she has the good sense not to mention the man by name right now. ] Where would you have us go?
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Medication. I'm sure you know the rest.
[Dracula's eyes narrow just a hair, suggesting that while that may be true, he knows that it really is just medication loosening lips. For once though, he isn't offended. His gaze instead turns to Sypha.]
There are spaces in this country that I marked out for my family as defensive dwellings should the need for them arise. It takes precious little effort for me to transport the whole of your surroundings into such a location.
None of these places are intended to keep the fae out, but they are cloaked from most other things. Under normal circumstances I would make those modifications, but these are not normal circumstances.
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[ Trevor says nothing because he understood maybe three of those words that Dracula just said. He's taken notice of the blood on Alucard's back instead, reaching out unsteadily for him. He sniffs at the general direction of the wound, eyes narrowing in concentration. ]
No silver. Iron, but it's forged. Safe. You'll be fine.
[ Drugged boyfriend has priorities. ]
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It is in your best interest that you all sit while this cave moves.
[It's as close to the concept of please sit as Dracula will ever get. Alucard simply does as he is told, and he settles back down beside Trevor.]
I'm back, just as I said I'd be.
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Instead, he grabs at Alucard's arms, arranging them around himself and Sypha Putting everything back the way it was before, the way he likes it. ] -you're back. Don't go again. I don't like it.
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...and who that makes him like is a thing to think about indeed. Dracula ignores the display in front of him, and focuses on the magic require for this next step. There are things to murmur, symbols to etch into the rock with long, long nails, and then there is a low rumble in the ground itself.]
Trevor, I may have to get up in a few minutes, okay?
[Alucard knows his father. He saw that injury, he'll want to inspect it.]
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I don’t like it. [ His voice lowers, speaking into Alucard’s shirt. Not actually enough to keep anyone from hearing, but an attempt is made. ] I can’t keep her safe, on my own. Not like this. Don’t go.
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[Alucard buries his face in the top of Trevor's head, and all of his words are muffled into that spot.]
When I get up, it's to keep you both safe.
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[ He's not being quiet or subtle about this. Sypha's rolling her eyes. ]
She's the cleverest. If anything happened to her, everything would be less clever. And less kind. And less pretty, and-
[ SHE'S ROLLING HER EYES SO MUCH. And pretending not to hear. This is embarrassing. ]
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[You know who's joining Sypha in eye rolling? Dracula. You know who's having a moment with his Totally Not Daughter In Law? Dracula.
Thank God Dracula's still focusing on moving this cave, because otherwise he'd be rolling his eyes even more. Below them, there's a slow roll of the floor, like a gentle wave going over the ocean, and then there's a soft shake.]
This place is safe enough for the time being. Adrian, I would have words with you.
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Go- do words. But come back. Please come back.
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[He kisses Trevor's forehead once before withdrawing. Trevor's loopiness and turn of phrases makes up for some of the nightmare of having him be like this, and when he withdraws in full, it is to rejoin his father at the mouth of the cave.
Except when he stands there, he is at the front door of a small cottage that sits alone in the mountains, looking over one of the great forests of Wallachia. There are quiet words exchanged, and then Dracula does as Alucard expected and inspects his son's wound for signs of magic.
They're there. Faint. Hard to catch without a trained eye, the kind of thing meant to mark a murderer. They are gone with a wave of Dracula's hand, but the seriousness is still there. In their low voices, they discuss how to destroy the other parts of Trevor that were used for spells (For your sake, not his Dracula insists), and that will be done tomorrow.
Dracula does not leave even then. He takes the shape of a large wolf, and dismisses his son for the night. Any guard duty can and will wait until morning.
When Alucard returns again, it's having utterly washed himself off, and he settles down where Trevor would have him.]
See? Back.
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[ He sinks into Alucard's arms, burying his face in his shirt, tugging Sypha over so to be trapped between them. ]
Adrian. [ It's muffled by shirt, but he says it softly, testing the sound on his lips. Sypha seems worried for a moment, not sure what might come of him learning Alucard's name. Nothing comes of it, of course, he just keeps babbling contentedly. ] My beautiful Adrian. My brave Adrian. Keeping us safe.
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Then again, if Alucard knows his father, his father is assuming that all the drugs will keep Trevor from properly remembering. Which is a fair enough thought, although Alucard has some doubts.]
Please try and sleep, Trevor. We'll both be here.
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[ He pauses, and then trails off, shaking his head. ]
I want to stay here. Awake.
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[Why Alucard is arguing is beyond him. The good part, the important part, is to just have Trevor quiet and unfussed and so very happy where he is.]
But I won't argue if you're going to insist.
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[ The chances of the secondary effects of the anesthetic working aren't as high as they used to be. It's not every night he finds himself in the same dreams as the others. He's been wary of sleeping lately.
Not that it's managed to stop him from doing it a lot. Just like it doesn't really stop him from settling against Alucard, babbling slowing just a little. ]
Don't go again. I'll chase you, if you do.
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[It seems hard to do. Alucard sighs, and he focuses entirely on running his hand up and down Trevor's spine. It's a foolproof way of getting him to slow down a bit. Relax. Maybe sleep a bit more.]
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I am departing. You'll need to wake and resume your watch.
[Sleepily, Alucard blinks once or twice in response, and nods in the affirmative. It's only after Alucard sits up that Dracula disappears properly, and Alucard frowns a little for his father's absence.
The other two don't feel safe around him, but Alucard does. That's yet to change.]
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Leon doesn't enter the came, doesn't ever look, but his calm voice drifts in ]
You can sleep, if you wish. Nothing will come close.
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...best Leon be informed of what happened.
It is with all the care in the world that Alucard slowly replaces himself with the blanket again. It's warmed, it smells of him, and this should only be a few moments more. He rises to his feet, and vaguely Alucard wonders if this sense of responsibility is genuine or if it comes from the nonsense claiming bond.
Maybe it's both. Regardless, Alucard exits the cave, opening the door and not surprised to find Leon there.]
How much of last night have you been able to guess at, versus how much must I inform you of?
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[ He says this with the tone of a man who isn't really asking a question. ]
They used to be Speakers, the Collectors. Took on the strengths and powers of fallen friends and creatures by carrying the stories of them in their hearts. [ He shakes his head. ] But it is easier to carry a handful of flesh than it is a story. One doesn't need to care about the origin of the flesh, nor to understand how a lump of flesh came about. So they separated, and the Speakers are as vulnerable to being collected as either of our kinds are.
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