[It's easy to ignore the iron. It's harder to walk carefully into the area, and so Alucard decides to float just a little bit, as to not disturb any of the furs. He is aware that this is Trevor's bedroom most days, and he's trying to be respectful.
The vines guide Alucard's eye upward though, and while he doesn't dare to to touch the thorns, he suspects that this element is important.]
Wait. No, if they originate here, then the origin is in the ground....
[ It's not a large area. Big by the standards of fireplaces, yes. Big enough for Trevor to sleep in if he's curled up tightly. But Alucard could probably touch both opposite walls at the same time.
The thorns do indeed become thinner as they go upward, which suggests that the origin is below the dirt on the floor of the fireplace. There's no way to learn more without disturbing the earth and making the intrusion clear, but the dropped tool does happen to be a small trowel. ]
Shit. [Alucard breathes out, and floats down to his knees.] I'm sorry.
[Slender fingers disturb the furs, moving the trowel until it is gently wedged between fur, floor, and thorns. It's an elaborate and bullshit excuse for him to move everything, and...the trowel finds purchase in the dirt.
[ The vines grow thicker as he digs down. More numerous, until it becomes clear even through the small hole that this, whatever is here, this is the source of every one of those roses.
Before long, the trowel hits something solid with a hollow, woody sound. ]
[Alucard whispers the matter to no one in particular, and he picks his head up for a moment. It feels precarious, how quiet things are. He strains his ears, listening for an approach, but then returns to the thing below.
He uses the trowel's edge to brush of a little bit of dirt. Not a bone, not a bone, not a bone please...]
[ It’s not a bone. It’s a cluster of roots, scorched and knotted together into what looks like the top of a lumpy, hollow shape. The shape is fairly large, maybe a third of Alucard’s height across. ]
[ It doesn’t react. But it’s solid, and the sound of the trowel hitting it echoes, and since Alucard has bat hearimg it’s clear from the way the sound bounces that There’s something in there. ]
[Alucard doesn't want to break it open. It could impact the environment and make the grounds unliveable. That's unacceptable, and so Alucard crouches there, staring at the whole damn thing like that will finally reveal the secret within.
...And it does. Alucard extends his nails and scribbles something madly into the dirt. An illumination spell, an attempt to get a sense of what's inside. An x-ray.]
[ The magic moves through the thing in the same way that the sound had, bouncing over surfaces to give a picture of the inside of the know of roots.
It’s distorted, hard and brittle where softer skin ought to be, and curled in upon itself, but it’s a body. Three of them, to be exact. Two very small and one larger. The larger of the three hangs in the centre of the thing, suspended by vines. The source of all of them.
In the distance, something heavy scrapes over the ground. The hunt is over. ]
[Alucard frowns. Three small humans, much like a bundle of fetuses. He isn't sure what it means, his only thought is of mandrake roots and how they supposedly look like humans.
But Alucard hears Trevor's approach, and so he replaces the dirt as quickly as he can. Tamps it down. Replaces the furs. And for good measure he withdraws from being inside the fireplace, but not removing himself from the den's area. There are still tools he's dropped, and so when Trevor returns?
The vampire is on his hands and knees, scooping up another scattered tool.]
[ The scraping stops, and Trevor stalks in. He looks around at what’s happening before picking up a dropped work glove in his jaws, bringing it to Alucard. ]
You’ll need to make more of the medicine.
[ It’s one of Vlad’s inventions, if one dedicated to Lisa. A medicine for the sicknesses caused by proximity to the night creatures. He’s been bringing back the bodies of late, so that Alucard can take samples to brew it, before heading back to put that medicine into whatever water supplies the might creatures have tainted.
For the moment, at least, Alucard is off the hook.. ]
[Alucard does take the work glove, but he brushes against Trevor's fur before he puts it on. It's a thing he's trying, petting the bear every so often.]
[ He makes a soft noise, like an exhale but louder, leaning into the contact. He's started to be used to it, by now. The touching, that strange warmth that he doesn't deserve. ]
No more so than they usually do this time of year. Come summer, most of them will have moved on. I shouldn't need more than last time.
[ Then he raises his head to sniff at the air. Something seems wrong. ]
[ Then he turns and enters the den, pawing at the furs to feel for anything underneath them to make sure he can return the tools. And then freezes. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong.
Every flower in the area turns to face Alucard. When he next speaks, it comes out as a growl. ]
[Them. So Trevor has known what he lies on top of to some degree.
Alucard knows better than to lie. He never did it in front of his father, and he won't do it now. It'll ruin everything, but better truth be the destruction than a lie.]
I only found them. Did nothing else. Returned dirt to where it was. No finger even brushed over that hollow form.
[ The only answer that Alucard receives is a low snarl, and that itself is the only warning he receives before he's being charged down by a bear. He launches itself at Alucard, all claws and fangs, as thorny vines stretch out to block off every exit but the way to Alucard's own wing. ]
[On some level, this is what Alucard expected. An angry bear. And yet he had hoped otherwise. That Trevor might have a moment of sense in him and let Alucard at least get a single response to what he's found.
He is a wolf after a step. It's the wolf that runs, but...
...he's petty. He wants to make a point.
Alucard returns to human form and slows. Lets the bear charge into him, taking the damage.]
[ Trevor doesn't slow. He charges Alucard, claws digging into his back and teeth into his neck. Vines writhe about like thorny whips, coiling around his wrists and tightening. ]
[ There's no response. His teeth and claws remain where they are, blocking the skin from knittng together, but they don't dig in further. The weight above Alucard grows heavier. Colder.
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The vines guide Alucard's eye upward though, and while he doesn't dare to to touch the thorns, he suspects that this element is important.]
Wait. No, if they originate here, then the origin is in the ground....
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The thorns do indeed become thinner as they go upward, which suggests that the origin is below the dirt on the floor of the fireplace. There's no way to learn more without disturbing the earth and making the intrusion clear, but the dropped tool does happen to be a small trowel. ]
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[Slender fingers disturb the furs, moving the trowel until it is gently wedged between fur, floor, and thorns. It's an elaborate and bullshit excuse for him to move everything, and...the trowel finds purchase in the dirt.
He keeps the area discreet. Small. Careful.]
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Before long, the trowel hits something solid with a hollow, woody sound. ]
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[Alucard whispers the matter to no one in particular, and he picks his head up for a moment. It feels precarious, how quiet things are. He strains his ears, listening for an approach, but then returns to the thing below.
He uses the trowel's edge to brush of a little bit of dirt. Not a bone, not a bone, not a bone please...]
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[Alucard uses the trowel to gently poke at the lumpy hollow shape. Touching it is a bad idea. But if this thing reacts, well, that tells him a lot.]
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...And it does. Alucard extends his nails and scribbles something madly into the dirt. An illumination spell, an attempt to get a sense of what's inside. An x-ray.]
Let's see...
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It’s distorted, hard and brittle where softer skin ought to be, and curled in upon itself, but it’s a body. Three of them, to be exact. Two very small and one larger. The larger of the three hangs in the centre of the thing, suspended by vines. The source of all of them.
In the distance, something heavy scrapes over the ground. The hunt is over. ]
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But Alucard hears Trevor's approach, and so he replaces the dirt as quickly as he can. Tamps it down. Replaces the furs. And for good measure he withdraws from being inside the fireplace, but not removing himself from the den's area. There are still tools he's dropped, and so when Trevor returns?
The vampire is on his hands and knees, scooping up another scattered tool.]
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You’ll need to make more of the medicine.
[ It’s one of Vlad’s inventions, if one dedicated to Lisa. A medicine for the sicknesses caused by proximity to the night creatures. He’s been bringing back the bodies of late, so that Alucard can take samples to brew it, before heading back to put that medicine into whatever water supplies the might creatures have tainted.
For the moment, at least, Alucard is off the hook.. ]
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[Alucard does take the work glove, but he brushes against Trevor's fur before he puts it on. It's a thing he's trying, petting the bear every so often.]
Are they intensifying?
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No more so than they usually do this time of year. Come summer, most of them will have moved on. I shouldn't need more than last time.
[ Then he raises his head to sniff at the air. Something seems wrong. ]
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Understood. I'll get right on it.
[Shit. Alucard doesn't freeze up, but he does sigh in an apologetic tone.]
Some of the tools rolled into your den and wedged themselves under your furs. I apologize.
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Did you find them?
[ Then he turns and enters the den, pawing at the furs to feel for anything underneath them to make sure he can return the tools. And then freezes. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong.
Every flower in the area turns to face Alucard. When he next speaks, it comes out as a growl. ]
What did you do?
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Alucard knows better than to lie. He never did it in front of his father, and he won't do it now. It'll ruin everything, but better truth be the destruction than a lie.]
I only found them. Did nothing else. Returned dirt to where it was. No finger even brushed over that hollow form.
[He stays so still.]
Who are they, Belmont?
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He is a wolf after a step. It's the wolf that runs, but...
...he's petty. He wants to make a point.
Alucard returns to human form and slows. Lets the bear charge into him, taking the damage.]
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But it's still painful with Trevor's claws in him. With the threat of ripping his throat out from behind. Being pinned like this.
A sharp hiss of pain escapes the vampire, even as his skin starts to heal the moment it can.]
Belmont.
[He's calm. Confident. Collected.]
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This is what becomes of oathbreakers. ]
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Our agreement: I don't get hurt.
You've broken that. Not entering the den was no formal agreement, only a matter of respect.
[Let giving voice be what breaks this. Please. Please.]
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He miscalculated.
Shit.]
She's going to be stuck like that forever then.
[To hell with this. Alucard yanks his wrists upward, well aware that vampire strength should give him some leverage.]
You broke the agreement and she's going to suffer.
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