[ He breathes out deeply, settling his head into the pillows properly. There’s probably no such thing as comfortable right now, but this is as close as he’s likely to get. ]
Wouldn’t have. Not as long as you had the last moth. [ He’s being stubborn about this, but it backfires. Sypha’s the one to catch on. ]
If there was never a chance of the Queen finding her way here- [ Her eyes narrow ]
...it’s not her you were talking about, is it? It’s a different ‘she’. Your- ‘vampire bullshit’?
[ Ugh. Uuuuuugh. He’s gonna get in so much trouble with dad for scaring his husband if he tells the truth, but- ]
Speak. Truthfully.
[ -But Sypha Belnades is very dedicated to protecting her boyfriend, and he literally cannot not tell them the truth, because she’s also in possession of a will of steel. ]
...A vampire we thought we’d killed [ Please at least let him get away with not specifying Carmilla in front of his husband. ] is gathering forces under the pretence of rescuing their stolen prince from us. I fucked up investigating her, one of her human prisoners betrayed the others while I was leading them away. He thought she’d pay well if he put me in a box, I suppose.
[That's more than Alucard would have even thought of, and no wonder she angered the Faerie Queen. Alucard doesn't say that out loud, but oh, he listens. Listens and...
...oh.
Carmilla's name isn't said, but he knows her all the same. She was dead. Leon said it was so, it was the only reason Alucard even followed after the man who murdered his father. If he could kill Carmilla, he could make sure no one else tried to do the same thing with Alucard.
It was a child's logic, of course, but it had long since proven true.]
That's enough.
[His eyes meet Sypha's, betraying to her how much more meaning there is here. Sypha's been coming to the castle for so long, she's learned about Alucard's past. She couldn't not, not when she's spent so much time going through Dracula's and Lisa's books.
She won’t make it here. If she does, your guard- [ That is to say, that one bunny- ]
Stop. Just rest.
[ Sypha sighs and looks away, a hand settling on Alucard’s shoulder. ] You should rest, too. We all should. He’s stable, that’s all that matters for now.
[Alucard lets Sypha guide him away, deep into the castle. It's the castle that guides them to somewhere safe and away from Trevor, a room of soft sofas and cushions on window niches, a warm, roaring fire in addition to the natural heating of the castle. Somehow in all of the panic and fear that the vampire's going through, Sypha's hands find his and she tries to calm and soothe him. It quickly escalates into lips over lips, and it's been some time since they've shared a passionate round of making out.
The sun does indeed rise. Alucard rises with it, and so when Trevor wakes, there is water, juice, and some soft, fluffy scrambled eggs waiting.]
[ It’s awkward. Even with his antlers cut down to tiny stubs hidden entirely beneath his hair, he can smell the speaker on Alucard. It’s fine. The marriage is in words only, after all. It’s just- still a little awkward.
He pulls himself up a little, hissing as he bends but eventually managing. The one healthy moth leaves him to perch on the edge of the glass of orange juice and drink. Nom nom nom. ]
He’ll be back sooner or later. If I had to guess- he’s probably trying to work out if the box asshole left any clue as to how to get to her.
[Admittedly, it's also upsetting that Leon wouldn't prioritze his son's well being first, but Alucard won't say that out loud. His eyes go to the butterfly instead, and he tilts his head slightly.]
It wouldn’t be better. Just different. Ought to get used to eating as a human, if I’m going to be stuck like this a while.
[ He pokes at the eggs again, then tries to put a little in his mouth. Eating successful. ]
We’re meant to stay away from you, all of us except Juliet. But- shit. Desperate times, desperate measures. Someone’ll need to come collect the speaker when it’s time for her to return, too. I can’t take her back like this.
[ It's been a while since Leon and the castle have disagreed on something, but they may start. But that, that Treovr wants nothing to do with. He doesn't like squabbling with castles. He just wants to do his work and- well, no. He WANTS to do his work. He's unlikely to be able to do much for a while yet.
The next attempt at eggs ends with him freezing long enough for the eggs falling off the fork. The castle hums with electricity, every light turning on at once as they do when Leon arrives. ]
[Alucard understands the castle to be the last vestige of his father in the world. A single connecting thread to Dracula's will, the part of him that sought sanctuary from the world. It grew up with Dracula, and now it knows that above all else, it would want Alucard safe. But safe doesn't always mean the same thing to the same people, and he's witnessed the disagreements once or twice before.
Trevor versus food goes about as well as expected, but then Leon arrives and--]
I'll go greet him.
[Alucard rises to his feet, and the castle twists and turns itself as to guide Alucard to the main entrance. Leon is...complicated. Alucard has always known that to be true, as he's had no illusions about what Leon's done: he is his father's murderer. That truth lies at the heart of every interaction. But he is a murderer with a sense of responsibility, although Alucard has never quite understood why. Nor has he ever asked. Leon saved him from Carmilla - literally scooped him up and carried him into the morning light - and that is the counterbalance to it all.
The question of responsibility, why Leon's done any of it, Alucard has never asked. He's always been formal and cautious in Leon's presence, if not a little awkward as well.
Some things don't change, as Alucard enters the room. He hasn't changed his shirt (it is still splattered with Trevor's blood), and there is exhaustion on his face as he greets his Not-Godfather.]
[ Leon is as he always is. Always tired. Always distant. Always warm beneath it. Sometimes looking through Alucard rather than at him, as if there should be something else there, and then catching himself. ]
Adrian. [ The rabbit was at his feet, she hops over to Alucard's instead. Leon's eyes catch on the splatters of blood and he sighs. ] Thank you for your hospitality.
[The first thing Alucard does is scoop up the rabbit and hold her close. Somehow, he's sure that the rabbit is like Trevor. This is only one form. But he doesn't care. The rabbit makes him safe. That's all there is to it.]
Trevor's healing but...[Alucard shakes his head, miserable.] His entire body was pierced, it's only because of his nature he's survived at all. Do you want to see him or...?
[It's hard to tell Leon's affections for his kids. Mostly because Alucard's not sure it exists. He's never seen it, that much he knows.]
[ The rabbit sniffs at Alucard happily before burrowing into his arms. Bodyguarding is the best job ever it's like 95% 'get cuddles'. ]
I ought to- yes. [ Even Leon understands that he would be being a real fuckup by saying 'yeah I need to talk to him about what he learned while he was out'. Look at him, doing a halfway decent impression of a father with a normal, uncomplicated relationship with his children. ]
[Happily enough for Leon, Alucard understands the question to be medical rather than trying to seem like a good parent. Asking how in tact horns are is a weird question, but the phrasing is appropriate enough.
Alucard strokes the rabbit gently as he starts to walk, feeling the castle twist and turn under his feet so that they're back from whence he came.]
Hmm. Very well. If anything has followed the castle back, he'll be unable to tell. Be aware.
[ It almost feels like the rabbit is nodding in response to that one. Leon reaches the door the the room where Trevor is being kept, then pauses. He breathes in deeply, hesitating before touching the handle. ]
You are both well, the speaker and yourself? You were not attacked?
[There's a low rumble beneath their feet, and the reverberation means two things: that nothing followed them back and fuck you Leon for thinking that I wouldn't notice.. Alucard decides there's no comment at that, and so the bunny is just snugged closer to Alucard.]
No. The castle just drove itself to where Trevor was, and Sypha helped me get him inside. It moved here after that.
[ Leon enters the room, closing the door behind him. The conversation that follows is hushed, and the rabbit does her best to be cute and fluffy to keep Alucard's attention from it. If he does listen, though, there are words spoken that he might recognise. Carmilla's name. Ones that he might not. A 'Rheinfeldt'. Trevor's done flits between businesslike and defensive, Leon's remains as it always is.
[Alas, vampire hearing has it's perks and it shows. He strokes the rabbit's fur as he listens, careful not to put too much pressure on the bun but the stress of just hearing Carmilla's name showing. Even now she's a terror to him, and knowing she's alive? That's worse.
He hugs her close, aware that the gesture is closer to the action of the seven year old he once was instead of the twenty year old sheltered thing he is now.
When he walks in, there's very little hiding the concern on his face.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Move freely.
[But as for not knowing, well, Alucard doesn't like that. Not one bit.]
But it caused you to be hurt. We should know. It almost impacted the deal.
no subject
[ He breathes out deeply, settling his head into the pillows properly. There’s probably no such thing as comfortable right now, but this is as close as he’s likely to get. ]
Wouldn’t have. Not as long as you had the last moth. [ He’s being stubborn about this, but it backfires. Sypha’s the one to catch on. ]
If there was never a chance of the Queen finding her way here- [ Her eyes narrow ]
...it’s not her you were talking about, is it? It’s a different ‘she’. Your- ‘vampire bullshit’?
no subject
Or human bullshit?
[Rarely does Alucard swear. It sounds super strange coming out of his mouth, if he's being honest.]
no subject
Speak. Truthfully.
[ -But Sypha Belnades is very dedicated to protecting her boyfriend, and he literally cannot not tell them the truth, because she’s also in possession of a will of steel. ]
...A vampire we thought we’d killed [ Please at least let him get away with not specifying Carmilla in front of his husband. ] is gathering forces under the pretence of rescuing their stolen prince from us. I fucked up investigating her, one of her human prisoners betrayed the others while I was leading them away. He thought she’d pay well if he put me in a box, I suppose.
no subject
...oh.
Carmilla's name isn't said, but he knows her all the same. She was dead. Leon said it was so, it was the only reason Alucard even followed after the man who murdered his father. If he could kill Carmilla, he could make sure no one else tried to do the same thing with Alucard.
It was a child's logic, of course, but it had long since proven true.]
That's enough.
[His eyes meet Sypha's, betraying to her how much more meaning there is here. Sypha's been coming to the castle for so long, she's learned about Alucard's past. She couldn't not, not when she's spent so much time going through Dracula's and Lisa's books.
Softly, his shoulders slump forward.]
I'm going to go get some water.
no subject
Stop. Just rest.
[ Sypha sighs and looks away, a hand settling on Alucard’s shoulder. ] You should rest, too. We all should. He’s stable, that’s all that matters for now.
no subject
[Alucard lets Sypha guide him away, deep into the castle. It's the castle that guides them to somewhere safe and away from Trevor, a room of soft sofas and cushions on window niches, a warm, roaring fire in addition to the natural heating of the castle. Somehow in all of the panic and fear that the vampire's going through, Sypha's hands find his and she tries to calm and soothe him. It quickly escalates into lips over lips, and it's been some time since they've shared a passionate round of making out.
The sun does indeed rise. Alucard rises with it, and so when Trevor wakes, there is water, juice, and some soft, fluffy scrambled eggs waiting.]
Your father is slightly delayed.
no subject
[ It’s awkward. Even with his antlers cut down to tiny stubs hidden entirely beneath his hair, he can smell the speaker on Alucard. It’s fine. The marriage is in words only, after all. It’s just- still a little awkward.
He pulls himself up a little, hissing as he bends but eventually managing. The one healthy moth leaves him to perch on the edge of the glass of orange juice and drink. Nom nom nom. ]
He’ll be back sooner or later. If I had to guess- he’s probably trying to work out if the box asshole left any clue as to how to get to her.
no subject
[Admittedly, it's also upsetting that Leon wouldn't prioritze his son's well being first, but Alucard won't say that out loud. His eyes go to the butterfly instead, and he tilts his head slightly.]
Would necter be more helpful since....
[Moth.]
no subject
[ Feed him flowers om nom nom. He pokes at the eggs but doesn’t try to eat them yet until he’s had a little more of the juice. ]
He’ll be pissed that I dragged you into this, but- it’s going to be fine. We won’t let her get to you.
no subject
[It is all so weird to say. Nothing about this isn't weird, honestly. Alucard sighs, runninqg a hand through his hair.]
The castle just landed where it did. He can fight it instead.
no subject
[ He pokes at the eggs again, then tries to put a little in his mouth. Eating successful. ]
We’re meant to stay away from you, all of us except Juliet. But- shit. Desperate times, desperate measures. Someone’ll need to come collect the speaker when it’s time for her to return, too. I can’t take her back like this.
no subject
[He falls silent, and then there is a sigh.]
The castle can steer Sypha back to her people though. That much is easy.
no subject
[ It's been a while since Leon and the castle have disagreed on something, but they may start. But that, that Treovr wants nothing to do with. He doesn't like squabbling with castles. He just wants to do his work and- well, no. He WANTS to do his work. He's unlikely to be able to do much for a while yet.
The next attempt at eggs ends with him freezing long enough for the eggs falling off the fork. The castle hums with electricity, every light turning on at once as they do when Leon arrives. ]
He's here.
no subject
[Alucard understands the castle to be the last vestige of his father in the world. A single connecting thread to Dracula's will, the part of him that sought sanctuary from the world. It grew up with Dracula, and now it knows that above all else, it would want Alucard safe. But safe doesn't always mean the same thing to the same people, and he's witnessed the disagreements once or twice before.
Trevor versus food goes about as well as expected, but then Leon arrives and--]
I'll go greet him.
[Alucard rises to his feet, and the castle twists and turns itself as to guide Alucard to the main entrance. Leon is...complicated. Alucard has always known that to be true, as he's had no illusions about what Leon's done: he is his father's murderer. That truth lies at the heart of every interaction. But he is a murderer with a sense of responsibility, although Alucard has never quite understood why. Nor has he ever asked. Leon saved him from Carmilla - literally scooped him up and carried him into the morning light - and that is the counterbalance to it all.
The question of responsibility, why Leon's done any of it, Alucard has never asked. He's always been formal and cautious in Leon's presence, if not a little awkward as well.
Some things don't change, as Alucard enters the room. He hasn't changed his shirt (it is still splattered with Trevor's blood), and there is exhaustion on his face as he greets his Not-Godfather.]
Leon.
no subject
Adrian. [ The rabbit was at his feet, she hops over to Alucard's instead. Leon's eyes catch on the splatters of blood and he sighs. ] Thank you for your hospitality.
no subject
Trevor's healing but...[Alucard shakes his head, miserable.] His entire body was pierced, it's only because of his nature he's survived at all. Do you want to see him or...?
[It's hard to tell Leon's affections for his kids. Mostly because Alucard's not sure it exists. He's never seen it, that much he knows.]
no subject
I ought to- yes. [ Even Leon understands that he would be being a real fuckup by saying 'yeah I need to talk to him about what he learned while he was out'. Look at him, doing a halfway decent impression of a father with a normal, uncomplicated relationship with his children. ]
How intact is he? Horns?
[ And then he fucked up it anyway. ]
no subject
Alucard strokes the rabbit gently as he starts to walk, feeling the castle twist and turn under his feet so that they're back from whence he came.]
They're mostly gone. Just little nubs.
no subject
[ It almost feels like the rabbit is nodding in response to that one. Leon reaches the door the the room where Trevor is being kept, then pauses. He breathes in deeply, hesitating before touching the handle. ]
You are both well, the speaker and yourself? You were not attacked?
no subject
[There's a low rumble beneath their feet, and the reverberation means two things: that nothing followed them back and fuck you Leon for thinking that I wouldn't notice.. Alucard decides there's no comment at that, and so the bunny is just snugged closer to Alucard.]
No. The castle just drove itself to where Trevor was, and Sypha helped me get him inside. It moved here after that.
Do you want some privacy?
no subject
[ Leon enters the room, closing the door behind him. The conversation that follows is hushed, and the rabbit does her best to be cute and fluffy to keep Alucard's attention from it. If he does listen, though, there are words spoken that he might recognise. Carmilla's name. Ones that he might not. A 'Rheinfeldt'. Trevor's done flits between businesslike and defensive, Leon's remains as it always is.
After a few moments- ]
-you may enter.
no subject
He hugs her close, aware that the gesture is closer to the action of the seven year old he once was instead of the twenty year old sheltered thing he is now.
When he walks in, there's very little hiding the concern on his face.]
Is there anything either of you need?
no subject
[ Leon is the one who answers. He looks out of the window, sighing. ]
How much must I tell you, to convince you to keep yourself safe here?
no subject
So he ends up with sarcasm, but not before placing the rabbit down on the bed beside Trevor.]
No, I'm going to go out into a world where that woman is still hunting for my head so she can murder me. Of course.
[In many ways, he still is a teenager.]
Increase my training then, in case all other defenses fail. I should be able to stand on my own feet against her in case you are all waylaid or worse.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)