[There's the truth of it though. Alucard feels no particular sorrow about the man's death, only that he himself had to perform such an action. And that's something that deserves more reflection, doesn't it? The man was a threat, and would probably have brought them all to harm. If not now, then later. Death was a mercy, for if Dracula had seen to any of this, the man would be begging for release.
He listens though. Quiet. Thoughtful. Nodding along, stunned that there's something rarer than vampires and fae and other things.]
So to know how many of them are out there is an impossible task. [He knows Leon is aware of the fact there's more Trevor parts out there. That Alucard's nervous about that fact.]
But it requires magic of some sort to activate spell components and to use them in a skillful manner, yes?
No more magic than is used in recalling a story. It is- I am no chirurgeon. I couldn't begin to explain it as it deserves to be explained, I will try.
A friend [ Mathias. ] told me once that human thought produces tiny sparks in the mind. The Collector remembers, and then uses those sparks to activate the components. Just as you'd put a spark on dry wood to make a fire.
...Intent. [Sypha's explained it so many times.] Memory and intent, like any good Speaker telling a story from the records.
[Alucard understands the mechanic now, although he has absolutely no love of that knowledge. If anything, he chafes against it, even more horrified than before.]
Of course I do. He was without both horns and wings, and those were sold off for parts. This could easily happen again.
Most of our kind would never have been freed from the ordeal without a rebirth, and so we have few methods to right the situation. And the parts are dead, so most divination would fail to locate them.
I apologise. Magic has never been a strong suit of mine. Enid will continue her research, with luck she will find something.
The recovery's taking far longer than we expected. This fever is...[terrifying, if Alucard was to be honest. He settles for just shaking his head in mild distress.]
There are other people who will help train me to look. [200% dad magic.] But we're all running on low energy at this point, the three of us.
I would offer you more aid, if I could. The situation is unusual, for our kind. To be unwilling to be reborn, nor to ask for our queens favour. And whatever sanctuary I could offer will be rejected by your father.
I can be here by day, if you wish, but I fear I can offer little more.
It's a gesture his mother used to do. Still does, when alucard is sitting near her and truly thinking too hard.
Alucard shoves that thought aside in favor of just focusing on the important part.]
Thank you. We all appreciate it, please know that. I...[He pauses, not sure if good night or good morning is appropriate.] I will see you shortly before sunset.
[Alucard withdraws at that, retreating back to the cave. He can't tell if Trevor's stirred or not, but he immediately resumes the spot where he was, arms around them both and feeling even heavier from a need for sleep than before.]
[ Trevor has noticed the absence. Not entirely consciously, he's still hovering between sleep an waking, but enough to attach to Alucard like a vice when he returns. Sypha is more awake, if only by a little, and her hands are in his hair and head upon his shoulder almost as quickly.
He wakes properly a few hours later, predictably trying to disentangle himself from the others without waking them. The medicine's worn off, and the pain is back along with his mind and a stubborn dislike for burdening the other two. A meal is laid out - nuts and fruit and dried meats, and if Alucard wakes it's to Trevor halfheartedly trying to chew at a piece of dried hare. He's going to need to take the medicine again eventually, but he'd like to at least have a few moments of rational thought. ]
[Sleeping is lovely. Sleeping is very much needed, and Alucard drifts back to that state quickly. Under almost any other circumstance, he'd be terrified to be guarded by Leon Belmont, but here? Now? He feels safe under that watch.
Being awake, only after his side has gone cold, Alucard is not terribly surprised to find Trevor doing his best to treat the entire situation as if it isn't happening. The food that's there, that's lovely, but seeing Trevor slightly more to rights is....
Wonderful. But oh, he needs to keep resting.]
Good morning.
[Sypha's gone back to sleep too, and Alucard does not intend to disturb her.]
[Alucard's gotten good at not overthinking fae bullshit. But he has noticed that while Juliet may have brought the food, Trevor's arranged it because everyone's likes are accounted for.]
How is the pain today?
[Not are you feeling any better? Alucard has learned from watchig his mother's bedside manners.[
The pain's doing great. It's having the time of its life.
[ He chews the meat, then tries giving a real answer. It feels too much like complaining, but the other two get antsy if he tries to downplay it. ]
Better than it has been. Good enough to keep down food, at least. Still waiting for the fucking fever to break. [ Not for the first time, he gives a harsh little laugh. ] Before you ask, no. I've not been scratching it.
[ His eye, he means, still covered by a thick medicinal smelling paste with a dressing over it. Sypha's constantly reminding him not to scratch it. ]
[Better than it has been means a lot. It makes the vampire almost happy to hear, and he finally reaches for the piece of dried deer that's been left out in his little portion area.]
I leave all questions about scratching to Sypha. [He smiles though, small and maybe a bit fragile, but it is a smile all the same.]
Your father's taking today's watch, so neither of us have to step away from you.
[ He only vaguely remembers his time with the medicine, a blur of infuriating confusion, but Sypha's told him how it makes him act. It's embarrassing. ]
I'd survive if you did need to leave, you know, no matter what I say when I'm like that.
[ He frowns. There was something important, something that he could tell was important despite the feeling that his mind was at the bottom of a bag of sand. He has, of course, failed to remember it. ]
We moved. There was magic. That's- about it, I think.
[Alucard nods. That's the only important part, and he takes a moment to nibble on the apple that Juliet managed to find in all of this.]
We've still in the cave, but it's been mapped into the interior of a house in the mountains. It's got more protective spells over it. So if you go outside, you'll see a house instead of a cave.
[ He does get up to try to look out of the mouth of the cave, but he doesn't get far. One step. Two, and then his legs buckle under him and he's back on the floor. ]
I'll take your word for it. But shit, a house. Been a while since we've hidden out in one of those things.
[ He grumbles, because of course he grumbles. He can do this himself, he just made a tactical decision not to. And he's spent so much of the last few weeks wrapped within a cocoon of the other two that maybe he'd appreciate a little space.
...except he also appreciates being held like this while he has the faculties to understand it. He continues grumbling, leaning his head against Alucard's chest. ]
[Alucard is glad that this doesn't end up with and sort of fight. He has Trevor in his arms, and that's all that could ever matter in this moment.
Upon exiting the cave, there is a small open door. It's wooden, with a little full moon stained glass looking out into the world.
There's a cool breeze that blows past them both when Alucard steps outside. On it is the scent of pine, mixed with wild flowers and purest ozone. It's lovely, and Alucard sighs with contentment to see the whole of the forest stretch out below them, before more mountains form again.
He takes a few steps out, unsure if he should bother Leon (who may well want time with his son) or ask for space for the two of them. In the end, Alucard decides to be selfish, and he settles down with his back against the wall of the little cottage. It's all stone, with a secure roof and windows with dark red curtains that are drawn.]
[ Leon only looks up to nod to the both of them before returning to his watch. He's gained a companion since he spoke to Alucard last - the lion from that first hunt Alucard joined them on. It's massive, pearly white with its mane streaked with gold and bright blue eyes., and he strokes it head softly.
The air is- pleasant. There's nothing wrong with the cave, but it does start to grow stuffy sometimes when there's a fire burning there. He breathes deeply, lying against Alucard's chest. ]
[Alucard tries to ignore Leon's companion. It unsettles him, even if it means more protection. He remembers the lion. Everything from the Hunt. Every detail that set all of this in motion and....
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[There's the truth of it though. Alucard feels no particular sorrow about the man's death, only that he himself had to perform such an action. And that's something that deserves more reflection, doesn't it? The man was a threat, and would probably have brought them all to harm. If not now, then later. Death was a mercy, for if Dracula had seen to any of this, the man would be begging for release.
He listens though. Quiet. Thoughtful. Nodding along, stunned that there's something rarer than vampires and fae and other things.]
So to know how many of them are out there is an impossible task. [He knows Leon is aware of the fact there's more Trevor parts out there. That Alucard's nervous about that fact.]
But it requires magic of some sort to activate spell components and to use them in a skillful manner, yes?
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A friend [ Mathias. ] told me once that human thought produces tiny sparks in the mind. The Collector remembers, and then uses those sparks to activate the components. Just as you'd put a spark on dry wood to make a fire.
[ He finally looks over at Alucard. ]
You worry.
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[Alucard understands the mechanic now, although he has absolutely no love of that knowledge. If anything, he chafes against it, even more horrified than before.]
Of course I do. He was without both horns and wings, and those were sold off for parts. This could easily happen again.
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Most of our kind would never have been freed from the ordeal without a rebirth, and so we have few methods to right the situation. And the parts are dead, so most divination would fail to locate them.
I apologise. Magic has never been a strong suit of mine. Enid will continue her research, with luck she will find something.
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There are other people who will help train me to look. [200% dad magic.] But we're all running on low energy at this point, the three of us.
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I can be here by day, if you wish, but I fear I can offer little more.
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I won't demand so much of your time. Just...just for today. We all need the rest, and then our watches can begin anew.
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Rest, then. You have more than earned it. Nothing will come close until sunset, and you will call on me should you need to rest further.
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It's a gesture his mother used to do. Still does, when alucard is sitting near her and truly thinking too hard.
Alucard shoves that thought aside in favor of just focusing on the important part.]
Thank you. We all appreciate it, please know that. I...[He pauses, not sure if good night or good morning is appropriate.] I will see you shortly before sunset.
[Alucard withdraws at that, retreating back to the cave. He can't tell if Trevor's stirred or not, but he immediately resumes the spot where he was, arms around them both and feeling even heavier from a need for sleep than before.]
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He wakes properly a few hours later, predictably trying to disentangle himself from the others without waking them. The medicine's worn off, and the pain is back along with his mind and a stubborn dislike for burdening the other two. A meal is laid out - nuts and fruit and dried meats, and if Alucard wakes it's to Trevor halfheartedly trying to chew at a piece of dried hare. He's going to need to take the medicine again eventually, but he'd like to at least have a few moments of rational thought. ]
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Being awake, only after his side has gone cold, Alucard is not terribly surprised to find Trevor doing his best to treat the entire situation as if it isn't happening. The food that's there, that's lovely, but seeing Trevor slightly more to rights is....
Wonderful. But oh, he needs to keep resting.]
Good morning.
[Sypha's gone back to sleep too, and Alucard does not intend to disturb her.]
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[ He tugs at the meat with his teeth a little more. ] Juliet brought food.
[ ...the less anyone thinks about the implications of Juliet bringing them the meat of rabbits and hares, the better. Fairies are weird. ]
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[Alucard's gotten good at not overthinking fae bullshit. But he has noticed that while Juliet may have brought the food, Trevor's arranged it because everyone's likes are accounted for.]
How is the pain today?
[Not are you feeling any better? Alucard has learned from watchig his mother's bedside manners.[
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[ He chews the meat, then tries giving a real answer. It feels too much like complaining, but the other two get antsy if he tries to downplay it. ]
Better than it has been. Good enough to keep down food, at least. Still waiting for the fucking fever to break. [ Not for the first time, he gives a harsh little laugh. ] Before you ask, no. I've not been scratching it.
[ His eye, he means, still covered by a thick medicinal smelling paste with a dressing over it. Sypha's constantly reminding him not to scratch it. ]
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I leave all questions about scratching to Sypha. [He smiles though, small and maybe a bit fragile, but it is a smile all the same.]
Your father's taking today's watch, so neither of us have to step away from you.
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[ He only vaguely remembers his time with the medicine, a blur of infuriating confusion, but Sypha's told him how it makes him act. It's embarrassing. ]
I'd survive if you did need to leave, you know, no matter what I say when I'm like that.
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[There's warmth though, and Alucard is very bad at hiding the fact he doesn't mind when Trevor's like that in the slightest.]
And while I'm aware of that, it's distressing to see you that upset about anything, never mind my absence. [He pauses though, then has to ask:]
Do you remember much from last night?
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We moved. There was magic. That's- about it, I think.
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We've still in the cave, but it's been mapped into the interior of a house in the mountains. It's got more protective spells over it. So if you go outside, you'll see a house instead of a cave.
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[ He does get up to try to look out of the mouth of the cave, but he doesn't get far. One step. Two, and then his legs buckle under him and he's back on the floor. ]
I'll take your word for it. But shit, a house. Been a while since we've hidden out in one of those things.
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Which is bullshit, he sweeps Trevor up like a faerie princess, and that'll be that.]
I'll show you. Some fresh air might be to your benefit anyway.
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...except he also appreciates being held like this while he has the faculties to understand it. He continues grumbling, leaning his head against Alucard's chest. ]
Fine, fine.
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Upon exiting the cave, there is a small open door. It's wooden, with a little full moon stained glass looking out into the world.
There's a cool breeze that blows past them both when Alucard steps outside. On it is the scent of pine, mixed with wild flowers and purest ozone. It's lovely, and Alucard sighs with contentment to see the whole of the forest stretch out below them, before more mountains form again.
He takes a few steps out, unsure if he should bother Leon (who may well want time with his son) or ask for space for the two of them. In the end, Alucard decides to be selfish, and he settles down with his back against the wall of the little cottage. It's all stone, with a secure roof and windows with dark red curtains that are drawn.]
There.
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The air is- pleasant. There's nothing wrong with the cave, but it does start to grow stuffy sometimes when there's a fire burning there. He breathes deeply, lying against Alucard's chest. ]
...she come outside to look at this yet?
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[Alucard tries to ignore Leon's companion. It unsettles him, even if it means more protection. He remembers the lion. Everything from the Hunt. Every detail that set all of this in motion and....
no. It isn't important right now.]
She might've, then come bakc to sleep a bit more.
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