[ This is his fault. It's his fault, and he's painfully aware of it. But there's nothing he can do to make it right. ]
There's a scrape on your scalp I couldn't get to through the hair. [ Is all he says after a while, soft and distracted. ] I don't think it's anything worrisome, but you should take advantage of this place's magic water while we're here and get it cleaned up. You'll be more comfortable, if nothing else.
[Alucard can't recount the last time he bathed. Hot, warm water? Oh, he can only dream of it. But there is something more important that he needs to do first, and that requires standing.
There's a groan of effort as Alucard rises to his feet, trying not to bump against the Belmont.]
I need a stick or something to steady myself against. There should be something here that will speed my recovery.
[ He hauls himself to his feet. The movement is easier than it seems to be to Alucard, but it's still a struggle. Just until Dracula's gone. His body only needs to hold itself together for that long. ]
Can you lean against me?
[ It's a genuine question - he doesn't know if Alucard'll panic as much as he does when touched if it's him who is touching someone else. ]
If not- shit, I don't know. There's a curtain pole up there, but I don't know how you'd feel about me tearing parts off your house.
[This'll be taken the wrong way. So Alcard clarifies, forcing his eyes to meet Trevor's.]
Even in his madness, I do not believe my father would forgive me for leading anyone to his coffin at the heart of this castle. It's one of his few remaining secrets, and I would like to honor that.
...yeah. I understand. Trust me, I'm more than happy to not see any more of his secrets than I already have.
[ The ceilings here are far, far too high, and the curtain pole is a good three times his height away from the ground. He takes a second to judge the distance and then sends the whip flying up there to coil around one of the wall fastenings, pulling it until it snaps and curtains and pole come crashing down in a torrent of heavy velvet. Moonlight floods into the room through the window, and he digs through the layers of curtain to find the pole and offers it over. ]
If you found where the bathroom is, then you’ve found….the kitchen’s a few doors down. [Where we lived. Home.] Stay in that area, you’ll be fine.
[And so the vampire departs, but not before carefully folding Trevor’s cloak and handing it back. Better that that not be exposed to Dracula’s coffin.
It’s such slow going, moving down corridors with the curtain rod as a staff. It takes an hour to reach it, the heart of the castle, his father’s crypt. Gears turn and churn overhead. The castle tells him it’s okay, and exhaustion shorts any other more emotional reaction. The dark obsidian gleams in the electric light, and Alucard climbs in to rest.
He is gone a day and a half. It is a day and a half of deep sleep, the enchantments and great glass vials of blood working their magic. That and the familiar, much missed scent of Dracula. It’s hard to say what it is that restores the vampire, but he is restored. The wounds healed as best as they can be, and when he walks into the library, he moves as if he has never been injured at all.
His hair and the rest of Alucard is also clean. Shining almost, all dirt from his skin gone, his hair combed and neat. Healthy isn’t the right word, but recovering is.]
Is my cloak dry yet?
[The castle told him one of the humans was here. It didn’t say which.]
[ The cloak is actually spread over his lap at present, as he works on patching a sizable hole in it. Sypha's spare robes are folded neatly next to him - with her doing all the actual work, he's taken on more menial tasks. The laundry, keeping her fed, and now darning clothes damaged by battle and travel.
And then he looks up, and for a moment he doesn't speak. ]
-it was just- just about dry this morning. I'll be done soon.
[ Shit. Shit. Shit, he should not be staring at the vampire like this. ]
[Alucard blinks once, and tilts his head at the Belmont. He doesn't know why he's being looked at like that. He's never seen a gaze like that before, and so his eyes move to the cloak and what it is Trevor's doing with it.]
I....oh. Thank you, you didn't need to do that.
[He's safe in this house. He doesn't have to leap to defend himself for once.]
[ A lock of hair escapes from behind Alucard's ear when he tilts his head and falls forward, and Trevor's eyes follow it more closely than they've ever followed a night creature. His mouth hangs open just slightly, as if he was about to say something but thought better of it. There's a needle in the fleshy part of his thumb and it takes him a good three seconds to notice.
Shit.
He looks away from Alucard when he speaks, because that's the only way his thoughts are going to be at all coherent, cheeks rapidly flushing the way they do when he has to ask Sypha to please change clothes in the wagon where people can't see. ]
-don't like leaving things broken. Feels wrong not to try to make them right.
[Alucard's nostrils flare. Blood. He knows the scent, and moreover, he knows Trevor's scent. He's consumed it enough, after all.
But he isn't hungry. He can't remember a time when that wasn't the case, and in that is a terrible, wonderful luxury. Being home. Resting. Oh, everything's still shit, but slightly less shit. It feels worlds better.]
I see.
[That sounds suspiciously like a metaphor. It is also the moment that Alucard realizes that some of his hair has escaped, and he pauses to tuck it back behind his ear.]
[ WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT SOUNDS LIKE A METAPHOR HE'S JUST TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO FIX CLOAKS GOSH. ]
Just about. Sypha says that once the castle moves she can make sure that the magic around the hold doesn't tear it apart, which sounds- better than the alternative.
[ That was the main difficulty here. Alucard can move the castle, with nobody trying to stop him. But none of them knew what putting the castle into Dracula's magical barrier would do. They still don't, but Sypha's at least confident that she can make sure that it's 'not destroy the castle, them, and possibly that entire part of Wallachia'.
I see. [Alucard has a thought, but he doesn't articulate it. Not yet. Not until he's sure.] I'll check in with her soon then. The castle might have thoughts, although it's...it's unhappy. Why we're here. What we mean to do.
[It's furious. It's weeping. Alucard knows because it reflects every feeling inside of him right now too.]
[ That, he's not hurt by. It makes sense. this castle's fought off generations of Belmonts - no doubt it wants him out. ] No to worry. Just a little longer, and you'll be free of me.
[ He does look up at Alucard again after a moment, trying not to stare like he did before. It's hard. He's- fuck. If he weren't well aware of what compulsion feels like, he'd suspect it. He's so impossibly beautiful. ]
It only ever welcomed two other people besides my father. It tried everything it could to get Carmilla out.
[Poor thing failed, and it bears that shame.]
Both. [He sits down opposite of Trevor, folding his hands and resting them on his own lap.] We...spoke, such as it was, for a very long time. It knows you two are here to help me. It won't try and cause harm, unless my father asserts full control of it. Even then, it'll try and give you some kind of notice.
Appreciate it. [ And then, addressing the walls- ] Thanks for the cooperation, castle.
[ He finally, finally brings his hand up to his mouth, licking the tiny puncture from the needle to clean it, then hands over the cloak. It's absorbed a fair amount of heat from being over his lap, and it radiates warmth in a way that it probably doesn't while Alucard wears it. ]
Hope I didn't fuck it up too badly. You look- [ beautiful. ] -more comfortable like this. I'm glad.
[There's a moment where a soft vibration responds, localized to only Trevor's feet. It's a soft thing, one with no ill intent. Alucard expects Trevor does not require interpretation for that, and so he takes the cloak instead.
It's cleaned. It smells clean, although it carries his own scent of earth and bone. Carefully, he wraps it around his shoulders again and pulls it tight. Oh, it's warm in the castle now, but that may not last forever.]
You did fine.
[As for the other thing, Alucard lets out a soft snort.]
First time I've had a proper bath since....everything.
[ You smelled really bad, is what he’s saying. Not that he had any room to complain when they first found him. ]
I- have bad news. I think.
[ He’s still receiving visions from Dracula, a side effect of being used to seal him away for so long. Or maybe Dracula just trying to fuck with his head. It’s hard to say if they can be used for strategy, not knowing if Dracula is sending them deliberately or not. But if Dracula has a human serving him, one who can use the tools of the hold-
-Alucard fears the Belmonts. He needs to know that there’s a chance their weapons could be turned against him. ]
There’s a forgemaster. I think. Or he wants me to believe there’s a forgemaster. At least one. I thought he’d just been gathering the natural night creatures, but-
[Alucard's already to respond to Trevor's smart remark, but then the mood becomes painfully somber instead. The dhampir goes still, the hand that has tugged his cloak around him now reaching up to bury itself in the cloak's fur collar.]
How do you know any of this?
[He isn't demanding, thankfully. Just cautious and worried.]
[ He says it like it’s normal. Like it was just a pleasant conversation and not Dracula filling his and his siblings heads with visions of what he planned to do to them, with the deaths of every one of their ancestors. ]
He has less control over it now. Probably didn’t want us to know that he had an ally.
[Alucard has an idea of what Trevor means, and there's a horrid, ragged little sigh that follows. Of course. His father can send visions of death to the Belmonts, but not reach out to his son. No. Why would he?
There's a horrible ember of jealousy in the pit of Alucard's stomach. But...no. This is fine. If this ends badly, then it ends badly. He's always considered that option.]
The plan remains unchanged. We move when you and Sypha are ready.
[ They’ve never had a choice, and this doesn’t change that. ]
We expect more resistance, but the castle’s defences will protect us from the worst of whatever army he has. The bigger problem-
-a human forgemaster would be able to use my family’s tools. If you see him, you need to flee. Leave him to Sypha and I. To you, he’ll be as deadly as Dracula himself.
I'll take the blows. If we lose each other in moving forward, we may be on paths that twist away from each other entirely. We can't let each other out of our sights, do you understand?
[He gestures at the room, but he really means the whole castle. It branches and twists and turns, and there's no reason to assume Dracula would not try to use that to defeat a Belmont and reclaim his son.
And Alucard cannot promise that there's part of him that won't give in and just embrace his father after everything.]
You’ll die. [ He grits his teeth, shaking his head before continuing. ] Fine. We don’t separate. But whatever means this place has to keep my family’s tools from working, it uses them. And if we come across the forgemaster you stay behind me. Sara - the Morning Star - she’ll break bones on a human. She’ll kill you.
I can't promise. I will try and avoid it, but if it is between me taking a hit or scuttling our primary objective, then I will take the injury. Is that enough?
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[ This is his fault. It's his fault, and he's painfully aware of it. But there's nothing he can do to make it right. ]
There's a scrape on your scalp I couldn't get to through the hair. [ Is all he says after a while, soft and distracted. ] I don't think it's anything worrisome, but you should take advantage of this place's magic water while we're here and get it cleaned up. You'll be more comfortable, if nothing else.
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[Alucard can't recount the last time he bathed. Hot, warm water? Oh, he can only dream of it. But there is something more important that he needs to do first, and that requires standing.
There's a groan of effort as Alucard rises to his feet, trying not to bump against the Belmont.]
I need a stick or something to steady myself against. There should be something here that will speed my recovery.
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Can you lean against me?
[ It's a genuine question - he doesn't know if Alucard'll panic as much as he does when touched if it's him who is touching someone else. ]
If not- shit, I don't know. There's a curtain pole up there, but I don't know how you'd feel about me tearing parts off your house.
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[This'll be taken the wrong way. So Alcard clarifies, forcing his eyes to meet Trevor's.]
Even in his madness, I do not believe my father would forgive me for leading anyone to his coffin at the heart of this castle. It's one of his few remaining secrets, and I would like to honor that.
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[ The ceilings here are far, far too high, and the curtain pole is a good three times his height away from the ground. He takes a second to judge the distance and then sends the whip flying up there to coil around one of the wall fastenings, pulling it until it snaps and curtains and pole come crashing down in a torrent of heavy velvet. Moonlight floods into the room through the window, and he digs through the layers of curtain to find the pole and offers it over. ]
Don't push yourself too hard.
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[And so the vampire departs, but not before carefully folding Trevor’s cloak and handing it back. Better that that not be exposed to Dracula’s coffin.
It’s such slow going, moving down corridors with the curtain rod as a staff. It takes an hour to reach it, the heart of the castle, his father’s crypt. Gears turn and churn overhead. The castle tells him it’s okay, and exhaustion shorts any other more emotional reaction. The dark obsidian gleams in the electric light, and Alucard climbs in to rest.
He is gone a day and a half. It is a day and a half of deep sleep, the enchantments and great glass vials of blood working their magic. That and the familiar, much missed scent of Dracula. It’s hard to say what it is that restores the vampire, but he is restored. The wounds healed as best as they can be, and when he walks into the library, he moves as if he has never been injured at all.
His hair and the rest of Alucard is also clean. Shining almost, all dirt from his skin gone, his hair combed and neat. Healthy isn’t the right word, but recovering is.]
Is my cloak dry yet?
[The castle told him one of the humans was here. It didn’t say which.]
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[ The cloak is actually spread over his lap at present, as he works on patching a sizable hole in it. Sypha's spare robes are folded neatly next to him - with her doing all the actual work, he's taken on more menial tasks. The laundry, keeping her fed, and now darning clothes damaged by battle and travel.
And then he looks up, and for a moment he doesn't speak. ]
-it was just- just about dry this morning. I'll be done soon.
[ Shit. Shit. Shit, he should not be staring at the vampire like this. ]
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I....oh. Thank you, you didn't need to do that.
[He's safe in this house. He doesn't have to leap to defend himself for once.]
Why are you doing that?
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[ A lock of hair escapes from behind Alucard's ear when he tilts his head and falls forward, and Trevor's eyes follow it more closely than they've ever followed a night creature. His mouth hangs open just slightly, as if he was about to say something but thought better of it. There's a needle in the fleshy part of his thumb and it takes him a good three seconds to notice.
Shit.
He looks away from Alucard when he speaks, because that's the only way his thoughts are going to be at all coherent, cheeks rapidly flushing the way they do when he has to ask Sypha to please change clothes in the wagon where people can't see. ]
-don't like leaving things broken. Feels wrong not to try to make them right.
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But he isn't hungry. He can't remember a time when that wasn't the case, and in that is a terrible, wonderful luxury. Being home. Resting. Oh, everything's still shit, but slightly less shit. It feels worlds better.]
I see.
[That sounds suspiciously like a metaphor. It is also the moment that Alucard realizes that some of his hair has escaped, and he pauses to tuck it back behind his ear.]
You've found everything else you've needed?
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Just about. Sypha says that once the castle moves she can make sure that the magic around the hold doesn't tear it apart, which sounds- better than the alternative.
[ That was the main difficulty here. Alucard can move the castle, with nobody trying to stop him. But none of them knew what putting the castle into Dracula's magical barrier would do. They still don't, but Sypha's at least confident that she can make sure that it's 'not destroy the castle, them, and possibly that entire part of Wallachia'.
He still isn't looking at Alucard. ]
If you need a little more time-
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I see. [Alucard has a thought, but he doesn't articulate it. Not yet. Not until he's sure.] I'll check in with her soon then. The castle might have thoughts, although it's...it's unhappy. Why we're here. What we mean to do.
[It's furious. It's weeping. Alucard knows because it reflects every feeling inside of him right now too.]
I'll rest there again tonight. It has helped.
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[ That, he's not hurt by. It makes sense. this castle's fought off generations of Belmonts - no doubt it wants him out. ] No to worry. Just a little longer, and you'll be free of me.
[ He does look up at Alucard again after a moment, trying not to stare like he did before. It's hard. He's- fuck. If he weren't well aware of what compulsion feels like, he'd suspect it. He's so impossibly beautiful. ]
Helped you, or helped the castle?
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[Poor thing failed, and it bears that shame.]
Both. [He sits down opposite of Trevor, folding his hands and resting them on his own lap.] We...spoke, such as it was, for a very long time. It knows you two are here to help me. It won't try and cause harm, unless my father asserts full control of it. Even then, it'll try and give you some kind of notice.
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[ He finally, finally brings his hand up to his mouth, licking the tiny puncture from the needle to clean it, then hands over the cloak. It's absorbed a fair amount of heat from being over his lap, and it radiates warmth in a way that it probably doesn't while Alucard wears it. ]
Hope I didn't fuck it up too badly. You look- [ beautiful. ] -more comfortable like this. I'm glad.
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It's cleaned. It smells clean, although it carries his own scent of earth and bone. Carefully, he wraps it around his shoulders again and pulls it tight. Oh, it's warm in the castle now, but that may not last forever.]
You did fine.
[As for the other thing, Alucard lets out a soft snort.]
First time I've had a proper bath since....everything.
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[ You smelled really bad, is what he’s saying. Not that he had any room to complain when they first found him. ]
I- have bad news. I think.
[ He’s still receiving visions from Dracula, a side effect of being used to seal him away for so long. Or maybe Dracula just trying to fuck with his head. It’s hard to say if they can be used for strategy, not knowing if Dracula is sending them deliberately or not. But if Dracula has a human serving him, one who can use the tools of the hold-
-Alucard fears the Belmonts. He needs to know that there’s a chance their weapons could be turned against him. ]
There’s a forgemaster. I think. Or he wants me to believe there’s a forgemaster. At least one. I thought he’d just been gathering the natural night creatures, but-
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How do you know any of this?
[He isn't demanding, thankfully. Just cautious and worried.]
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[ He says it like it’s normal. Like it was just a pleasant conversation and not Dracula filling his and his siblings heads with visions of what he planned to do to them, with the deaths of every one of their ancestors. ]
He has less control over it now. Probably didn’t want us to know that he had an ally.
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[Alucard has an idea of what Trevor means, and there's a horrid, ragged little sigh that follows. Of course. His father can send visions of death to the Belmonts, but not reach out to his son. No. Why would he?
There's a horrible ember of jealousy in the pit of Alucard's stomach. But...no. This is fine. If this ends badly, then it ends badly. He's always considered that option.]
Probably not. Yet we do now. How do we proceed?
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[ They’ve never had a choice, and this doesn’t change that. ]
We expect more resistance, but the castle’s defences will protect us from the worst of whatever army he has. The bigger problem-
-a human forgemaster would be able to use my family’s tools. If you see him, you need to flee. Leave him to Sypha and I. To you, he’ll be as deadly as Dracula himself.
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[That much is clear.]
I'll take the blows. If we lose each other in moving forward, we may be on paths that twist away from each other entirely. We can't let each other out of our sights, do you understand?
[He gestures at the room, but he really means the whole castle. It branches and twists and turns, and there's no reason to assume Dracula would not try to use that to defeat a Belmont and reclaim his son.
And Alucard cannot promise that there's part of him that won't give in and just embrace his father after everything.]
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Promise me.
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[Surviving Dracula is unlikely, after all.]
I can't promise. I will try and avoid it, but if it is between me taking a hit or scuttling our primary objective, then I will take the injury. Is that enough?
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[ Both. Not all. They should talk about that. ]
I- have a favour to ask. Of the castle, if I may.
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time for some EXTREME MOOD WHIPLASH
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