He'll recover the engines, rearrange them, and render all your work and effort moot anyway. The three of us leave and fight another day with a better plan.
Or I go back in the box and you're out her prophecy.
You don't get to threaten to go back in the box. You're the one who gets threatened with the box.
[ He's tired. This is hard. He doesn't need this shit. He pushes himself back to his feet, checking the whip at his waist. He doesn't know that Sypha's going to be able to keep going once she wakes. This asshole's just trying to run away.
Fine. He'll do this alone. ]
Go back to sleep, then. Point me in the direction of the engines first, if you're feeling charitable. If I find this soldier on the way, maybe they'll be some use.
She said we were looking for a- [ a person. He doesn’t finish that sentence, because it’s an asshole thing to say even for him. He ends the sentence weakly instead, gesturing at Alucard.. ] -soldier.
You want me to leave, leave and let him continue to kill people when I might at least be able to slow him down, because she turned out to be right that there was a prisoner here?
[Alucard's slow eyebrow raise responds to looking for, almost daring Trevor to finish that thought. He doesn't, and that's good enough for Alucard. At least for that.]
I want you to leave so that there is a plan in place that has a greater chance of success than the nonsense you have just described. If the prophecy has any accuracy? It won't matter and there will be a victory in my father's death all the same.
And if it doesn't, then this might be the only shot we get. It was a miracle that we managed to get to the castle without it noticing us and moving this time. We're not going to get lucky twice.
[ He has a time limit now. Once Sypha wakes, he knows, she'll be eager to see their trapped saviour. And she'll take his side, because for the entire time he's known her she's always been eager to take any side that is 'not trevor'. If he wants to stay here, he has to go now. ]
If the prophecy is right, you can leave me here to do my work and I'll be hale and hearty when you come back.
⁹[This is stupid. This is so stupid, and Alucard absolutely hates it. Trevor's point about luck in finding the castle and going unnoticed is true. But...
it's still too risky.]
You don't move away from anyone else in this place, not when it's in defense mode. You'll die.
[That part is a frank assessment.]
If you do what you intend to do now, you rob the world of a third person in the attempt to stop my father's hand. I am also not above knocking you out and carrying you both over my shoulders if I must.
Probably. Your dad doesn't seem to have any need for prisoners anymore.
[ You know what? He's going to call Alucard's bluff. He didn't go back into the box when he threatened to, after all. He probably won't knock him out. Probably. He stretches (god, he's tired), and faces back in the direction he was initially heading. ]
This is fucking stupid. I'm going to go bleed on a machine. Keep her safe and on the offchance that this works, have her seal everyone inside and then throw the castle into the ocean.
[Alucard sighs. He doesn't want to do this, but here. Trevor's forced his hand, and finally, his sword is withdrawn from it's place at his side.]
You're correct. This is stupid.
[It's so easy to bar Trevor's escape. Alucard uses his sword to block off the full of the hallway, daring Trevor to either limbo under the sword or actually fight.]
[ He does not, thankfully, walk into the sword. He looks from it to Alucard, then bends to crawl underneath the sword. You know what? He's done taking this vampire seriously. He tried that, it didn't help. Time to just be a shit about it. ]
If you wanted me on my knees, you could have just asked. You're pretty enough.
[ He should run. If he can get away, if he can ditch his companions and get to the engines and disable them- that's the most he'd ever be able to achieve here. He's under no illusion that he can make any difference whatsoever in a fair fight against Dracula, and Dracula's own refusal to take care of his own wellbeing cuts off all paths he has to make the fight unfair.
He doesn't. It makes him a shitty Belmont, means he's probably turning his back on the only chance he'll get to end this, but he turns and pushes past Alucard, returning to the room. ]
Easy. Shit, stop trying to get up.
[ Sypha's already halfway out of the bed when he gets in there, and he guides her back down. ]
I found this asshole. He's decided he's in charge.
[Alucard's honestly relieved when Sypha wakes, and thus pulls Trevor out of Bad Decision Station. He's slower to follow after the Belmont, mostly because he does not wish to intrude upon a more personal moment that this doubtlessly is.
He's proven right, of course, not just the way he pushes past Alucard but how he speaks to Sypha. That's...familiar. But he doesn't flinch, and that's an progress.]
[ Sypha tries to get up again at that, and eventually and silently reaches a compromise of sorts with Trevor sitting up and supporting herself against him. She blinks slowly a few times before her eyes focus on Alucard. ]
[This is not the time to be bickering but Alucard doesn't care. He'll bicker if he wants to. He'll leave his box behind. But.
Alucard's far more keen on speaking to Sypha now, and when he does walk over, it is very slowly. If Trevor wants him a certain distance, he'll respect that.]
My name is Adrian Tepes, known to the Wallachians as Alucard. Your...associate...here stumbled upon my crypt in an attempt to find the castle's engine room.
[ She tries unsteadily to stand, and Trevor gives a sharp, stern no. ]
The engine room. We were going there, and then the bird-men attacked and-
-and they threw you down the stairs, and that was fucking awful. Glad you remember.
[ Slowly, she raises her hand to her bandaged head, nodding. If nothing else, it seems like she's completely lucid. She looks up at Alucard, the pain fading from her face as her eyes grow wide with wonder. ]
The soldier. I knew we would find you here. You will come with us, yes?
No, but the people of Wallachia aren't. Their church murdered my mother in a manner that is whatever the opposite of subtle is.
[He's cold and clipped when he says it. Better that than an emotional mess, Alucard supposes. What he wants to do is inquire about the bird men but...]
I doubt your plan's chance of success, Speaker, and from what the Belmont says, there's no second plan in case you're captured or otherwise found out in your attempt. As I have tried to press upon the Belmont, it's smarter to retreat now and return to fight another day.
[ They speak at the same time, and on her third attempt Sypha manages to push past Trevor and stand, walking over to Alucard, the plush wolf still in her arms. ]
If we're captured, there's no room for a second plan. We die. If your father isn't taking blood, that means capture isn't going to happen - there's no use for prisoners. We do this now, we do this now and we succeed, or we don't do it at a-
-we are Wallachia's people. Is this what you would ask of us? To right our own small part in the wrong that was done to you?
[Alucard's gonna just let Sypha keep Moon-moon. She needs something comforting right now, and Trevor's probably it, but he's not as snuggly.]
What I'm asking is that you both listen to me here and now, or that you at least implement a second plan now before you insist on moving forward. Is that much agreeable?
Let's say that your insane plan to get to the engines work. What happens if we're attacked on the way out, whose lives are the priorities? Where are you intending to do as you retreat? What will you do should the plan with the engine fails entirely?
If there's a chance of escape, Sypha takes priority. If not, and if she has control over the engines, castle goes in the sea. If everything goes to shit, we smash everything we can before we die, slow everything down long enough that her people can evacuate as many people as will follow them.
We're not afraid to die, Alucard, so long as we're doing something.
[ She's right, technically, but Trevor's stomach twists at that. She's not supposed to be the one who says that shit! If anything was going to convince him to call this off and leave, it would be Sypha saying that. ]
If the plan fails, we smash the engine. Then we can retreat. It won't be repaired instantly, we'll be able to come back.
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[ He leans back, hitting the back of his head against the wall a few times with a quiet snort of air each time. ]
Fine. Help her find this soldier and get them out of here, if you believe in that shit. I’m staying.
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Or I go back in the box and you're out her prophecy.
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[ He's tired. This is hard. He doesn't need this shit. He pushes himself back to his feet, checking the whip at his waist. He doesn't know that Sypha's going to be able to keep going once she wakes. This asshole's just trying to run away.
Fine. He'll do this alone. ]
Go back to sleep, then. Point me in the direction of the engines first, if you're feeling charitable. If I find this soldier on the way, maybe they'll be some use.
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I am almost certain that if your friend wakes, she'd point to myself as aforementioned subject of said prophecy, Belmont.
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She said we were looking for a- [ a person. He doesn’t finish that sentence, because it’s an asshole thing to say even for him. He ends the sentence weakly instead, gesturing at Alucard.. ] -soldier.
You want me to leave, leave and let him continue to kill people when I might at least be able to slow him down, because she turned out to be right that there was a prisoner here?
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I want you to leave so that there is a plan in place that has a greater chance of success than the nonsense you have just described. If the prophecy has any accuracy? It won't matter and there will be a victory in my father's death all the same.
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[ He has a time limit now. Once Sypha wakes, he knows, she'll be eager to see their trapped saviour. And she'll take his side, because for the entire time he's known her she's always been eager to take any side that is 'not trevor'. If he wants to stay here, he has to go now. ]
If the prophecy is right, you can leave me here to do my work and I'll be hale and hearty when you come back.
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it's still too risky.]
You don't move away from anyone else in this place, not when it's in defense mode. You'll die.
[That part is a frank assessment.]
If you do what you intend to do now, you rob the world of a third person in the attempt to stop my father's hand. I am also not above knocking you out and carrying you both over my shoulders if I must.
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[ You know what? He's going to call Alucard's bluff. He didn't go back into the box when he threatened to, after all. He probably won't knock him out. Probably. He stretches (god, he's tired), and faces back in the direction he was initially heading. ]
This is fucking stupid. I'm going to go bleed on a machine. Keep her safe and on the offchance that this works, have her seal everyone inside and then throw the castle into the ocean.
[ He sets off with a halfhearted wave. ]
Have a good life, asshole.
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You're correct. This is stupid.
[It's so easy to bar Trevor's escape. Alucard uses his sword to block off the full of the hallway, daring Trevor to either limbo under the sword or actually fight.]
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[ He does not, thankfully, walk into the sword. He looks from it to Alucard, then bends to crawl underneath the sword. You know what? He's done taking this vampire seriously. He tried that, it didn't help. Time to just be a shit about it. ]
If you wanted me on my knees, you could have just asked. You're pretty enough.
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Wait, what now?
[He's not offended, just...confused.]
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[ He gets up and continues walking. ]
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But, good news. There's a soft noise from the bedroom, followed by a very pained ugh. Alucard's expression remains glaring and unimpressed.]
Good, you can be in the room with me.
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He doesn't. It makes him a shitty Belmont, means he's probably turning his back on the only chance he'll get to end this, but he turns and pushes past Alucard, returning to the room. ]
Easy. Shit, stop trying to get up.
[ Sypha's already halfway out of the bed when he gets in there, and he guides her back down. ]
I found this asshole. He's decided he's in charge.
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He's proven right, of course, not just the way he pushes past Alucard but how he speaks to Sypha. That's...familiar. But he doesn't flinch, and that's an progress.]
I leveled critique at a plan. That's all.
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[ Sypha tries to get up again at that, and eventually and silently reaches a compromise of sorts with Trevor sitting up and supporting herself against him. She blinks slowly a few times before her eyes focus on Alucard. ]
You found-?
-This asshole, right.
[ That earns him an elbow in the ribs. ]
The soldier, Trevor. The soldier!
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[This is not the time to be bickering but Alucard doesn't care. He'll bicker if he wants to. He'll leave his box behind. But.
Alucard's far more keen on speaking to Sypha now, and when he does walk over, it is very slowly. If Trevor wants him a certain distance, he'll respect that.]
My name is Adrian Tepes, known to the Wallachians as Alucard. Your...associate...here stumbled upon my crypt in an attempt to find the castle's engine room.
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[ She tries unsteadily to stand, and Trevor gives a sharp, stern no. ]
The engine room. We were going there, and then the bird-men attacked and-
-and they threw you down the stairs, and that was fucking awful. Glad you remember.
[ Slowly, she raises her hand to her bandaged head, nodding. If nothing else, it seems like she's completely lucid. She looks up at Alucard, the pain fading from her face as her eyes grow wide with wonder. ]
The soldier. I knew we would find you here. You will come with us, yes?
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[He's cold and clipped when he says it. Better that than an emotional mess, Alucard supposes. What he wants to do is inquire about the bird men but...]
I doubt your plan's chance of success, Speaker, and from what the Belmont says, there's no second plan in case you're captured or otherwise found out in your attempt. As I have tried to press upon the Belmont, it's smarter to retreat now and return to fight another day.
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I- I am sorry for your loss. Terribly.
[ They speak at the same time, and on her third attempt Sypha manages to push past Trevor and stand, walking over to Alucard, the plush wolf still in her arms. ]
If we're captured, there's no room for a second plan. We die. If your father isn't taking blood, that means capture isn't going to happen - there's no use for prisoners. We do this now, we do this now and we succeed, or we don't do it at a-
-we are Wallachia's people. Is this what you would ask of us? To right our own small part in the wrong that was done to you?
[ Goddammit Sypha ]
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What I'm asking is that you both listen to me here and now, or that you at least implement a second plan now before you insist on moving forward. Is that much agreeable?
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[ Sypha purses her lips at that, holding the wolf a little tighter. ]
What- eventuality- did you wish to plan for? The prophecy didn't include a 'how', only a 'who'.
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[The wolf plush is coming with them isn't it?]
That's all I wish right now.
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We're not afraid to die, Alucard, so long as we're doing something.
[ She's right, technically, but Trevor's stomach twists at that. She's not supposed to be the one who says that shit! If anything was going to convince him to call this off and leave, it would be Sypha saying that. ]
If the plan fails, we smash the engine. Then we can retreat. It won't be repaired instantly, we'll be able to come back.
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