[Alucard suspects that it'd have been done even if he didn't ask. None of the three full time residents of the castle are exactly happy with this turn of events, and the paranoia has only grown. In two day's time, Dracula departs for real, and the paranoia of something happening has only grown.
But the kiss is reassuring in a way it has no right to be. Alucard sighs for the illusion of safety that comes with it.]
I'm going to try and sleep. If you want to get our visitor out of here, now's probably the right time.
[His eyes go to the window, and behold. The sun has risen.]
[ He bows before he leaves. He knows Alucard hates that sort of thing, but he likes to do things correctly. More than that, they can’t really afford to drop that formality right now. Not with Dracula as on edge as he is.
Especially not with their intruder causing so much bother. She doesn’t leave. Nothing short of actually throwing her out seems like it will work, and- maybe he’s a bit of a sucker, but he doesn’t do that. Or inform Dracula. Or put her in the dungeons. He locks her in his own quarters with a couple of books to occupy her.
He enters Alucard’s room probably an hour after he probably should have been back, sneaking in as quietly as he can and sitting down in the large overly-cushioned chair by the bed to sleep a little himself.
[The rest is easy enough. Alucard goes about his usual settling into bed routine, changing into his night clothes and making sure every pin has been removed from his hair. Once he's satisfied, he climbs into bed, which for this time of year is thick with warm furs. Alucard likes their weight. It give the illusion of being held when he otherwise can't be.
But he doesn't fall asleep. Not yet. Trevor's not back, and so his eye remain fixed on the door. He's not impatient, but he is worried.
[ He probably should have physically thrown her out. It'd be one less thing bothering Alucard, and keeping things from bothering Alucard is about 90% of what matters to him. ]
I've hidden her in my room. I'll take her food and she can stay there until your father leaves. I'll try to deal with her again then. I don't want to risk making a fuss while he's here.
[Alucard sighs heavily, and with that? He's out of bed. His bathrobe is in the closet, that doesn't take too much effort to go and get.]
He'll smell something amiss if she's here for more than half a day. Let me speak to her. Maybe she can take another story as payment for doing as asked.
[ Please don't get out of bed. Please don't - nope, there he goes. Trevor sighs and walks over to the dresser, where he put down his sword when he first came back into the room. Just in case. He didn't really need it for dealing with the speaker when he was alone but if Alucard's going to be there, things are different. ]
[ He looked like a living star an hour and a half ago. Now he's wearing a dressing gown with a sword tucked into the belt of it. And maybe (absolutely) Trevor's biased, but he doesn't seem an inch less radiant.
He leads Alucard out of his own chambers, into the smaller room nearby. Where there is, indeed, a Speaker perched on the bed. With a book larger than her torso. ]
You both have swords. [ She says before anything else, looking over them both a little warily. ] May I ask what for?
[Alucard knows how high his contrast has been. It is his preference to appear as he is now, in warm, fluffy clothes that are so very comfortable indeed. He's used to Trevor's all too impersonal room, but the Speaker?
She's new. And as nice as it is to have another human around, it can't last.
He doesn't move. But he does sigh.]
Speaker, it isn't safe for you here. Neither of us can vouch for your safety against Dracula at the moment, and we have no desire to see you or your people face harm for coming in to do your work.
[ Trevor gestures wildly at Alucard when she says that. See? She's being so unreasonable! It should not be this difficult to convince someone to leave Dracula's castle! Historically people WANT to leave Dracula's castle very quickly!
The speaker just continues. ]
There is a story here, and I intend to see it unfold. I stay in these halls to bear witness, or I leave with the hunting party in the evening.
[ And Trevor freezes in horror at that. Any right-thinking person would freeze in horror. A single human, inviting themselves to a hunting party of vampires. That's unthinkable and not liable to end nicely. ]
Then I will make you a promise: when my mother is returned, I will permit you safe passage back through these doors to collect the rest of the story. Until then, stay with your people. Pass on this first portion, because if you do not survive this night, the tale will not be told at all.
[Alucard doesn't flinch at the threat. He can't, because he's Practiced now.]
[ She looks down at her hands, sighs, and looks up. ]
You know of my people, yes? How our ancestors hear the stories we tell? My grandfather heard one such story ten years ago. A year from now, Dracula returns to this castle and declares war upon all living things. He wishes to prepare by protecting as many people as possible, but I- I have to know why.
[ He takes that as permission to take over. Not to throw the speaker out, at least, but to step between her and Alucard. ]
Go, get out of his earshot.
[ She's about to complain, but he shakes his head and continues. ]
Come tomorrow morning, once the hunting party has left and had time to make distance. We'll discuss this then. You're not going to learn shit if Dracula kills you.
[Alucard relents. Trevor knows when to step in, and nine times out of ten it's emotional things that he needs help with, rather than the physical. (Not that there hasn't been the rare moment of assassination attempt.)
He steps back to allow Trevor more room. Nods to show he's fine with this arrangement.]
Until then, Speaker.
[There. He doesn't retreat, because Alucard needs to make sure the Speaker leaves. But after that? Then he's going right to bed.]
[ He leads her out in relative silence, and the castle slams its doors behind her. The second it does, Trevor turns. He extends his arms, waiting and tensing them, ready for Alucard's weight to fall into them. ]
[His room. It's the only place where this kind of a gesture is allowed, and Alucard falls into Trevor's arms so easily. Wraps his own around Trevor's mid section and just pulls himself in close, his forehead resting against Trevor's neck.
He's warm. Warm is a good place to start, and they've stood like this time and again, trading off the role of comforter. It's the foundation of everything rather than the bullshit gifting that Dracula had arranged. They look after each other. That's all it is in the end.
This is just bigger than most of the gut punches from over the years.]
[ He wants to say that she's lying. But speakers don't. Part of his wants to take this to Dracula himself, because whatever might trigger such an outburst is surely something he wants to avoid. He doesn't. He knows better than to come before Dracula with word of what he might be fated to do,knows better than to imply there's some force in the world more powerful than him.
He just holds Alucard. Holds him tightly, so that even though his voice doesn't betray any shock, Alucard can feel it. ]
The speaker has the right of it. Whatever happens, happens either here or with the hunting party. If it happens with the hunting party, your father is there. If it happens here, I'll protect you.
[Of course it isn't a lie. Speakers don't do that, especially not with stories. But this is the worst kind of omen one could recieve at the outset of such a precarious matter. It casts a long shadow.
They're both unnerved. He hates it.]
Mmm.
[It's honest consideration as much as it is acknowledgement that Trevor's as steadfast as he could ever be.]
I'll spend time with him before the group departs in the evening. [Alucard is expected to go, after all. The first kill will be his, as is expected. They've heard tell of a village that has been harboring a priest. That will be the only kill Alucard makes.]
Stay for the night?
[In his own bed, he means. Where it'll be warmer, and another heartbeat will be as soothing as anything amid the panic.]
[ Which is to say that whatever happens, he doesn't want to see it. He doesn't like it. The men who killed his family they may be, but they're also the men his family fought for. He doesn't like it, and more than that he doesn't like what Alucard has to do.
But his grip softens and he bends to lift Alucard, up and into the bed. ]
Of course. [ And he leans forward to kiss Alucard's forehead. ] My light.
[Alucard usually fusses if Trevor lifts him at this age. It was funnier when they were teenagers, Trevor eager to show off his strength and getting a good laugh at the vampire's reaction. These days it feels childish but...
right now it's fine. Fine except for one element, and Alucard nudges Trevor gently.]
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[Alucard suspects that it'd have been done even if he didn't ask. None of the three full time residents of the castle are exactly happy with this turn of events, and the paranoia has only grown. In two day's time, Dracula departs for real, and the paranoia of something happening has only grown.
But the kiss is reassuring in a way it has no right to be. Alucard sighs for the illusion of safety that comes with it.]
I'm going to try and sleep. If you want to get our visitor out of here, now's probably the right time.
[His eyes go to the window, and behold. The sun has risen.]
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[ He bows before he leaves. He knows Alucard hates that sort of thing, but he likes to do things correctly. More than that, they can’t really afford to drop that formality right now. Not with Dracula as on edge as he is.
Especially not with their intruder causing so much bother. She doesn’t leave. Nothing short of actually throwing her out seems like it will work, and- maybe he’s a bit of a sucker, but he doesn’t do that. Or inform Dracula. Or put her in the dungeons. He locks her in his own quarters with a couple of books to occupy her.
He enters Alucard’s room probably an hour after he probably should have been back, sneaking in as quietly as he can and sitting down in the large overly-cushioned chair by the bed to sleep a little himself.
Why are speakers Like This? ]
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[The rest is easy enough. Alucard goes about his usual settling into bed routine, changing into his night clothes and making sure every pin has been removed from his hair. Once he's satisfied, he climbs into bed, which for this time of year is thick with warm furs. Alucard likes their weight. It give the illusion of being held when he otherwise can't be.
But he doesn't fall asleep. Not yet. Trevor's not back, and so his eye remain fixed on the door. He's not impatient, but he is worried.
So when Trevor does come back, Alucard sighs.]
Everything go okay?
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[ So that’s a no. That’s how he says no, things did not go okay. He huffs, leaning his head back and pulling a blanket over his chair. ]
Fucking hate speakers sometimes.
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[Alucard sighs, and with that slowly sits up in bed.]
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[ He probably should have physically thrown her out. It'd be one less thing bothering Alucard, and keeping things from bothering Alucard is about 90% of what matters to him. ]
I've hidden her in my room. I'll take her food and she can stay there until your father leaves. I'll try to deal with her again then. I don't want to risk making a fuss while he's here.
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He'll smell something amiss if she's here for more than half a day. Let me speak to her. Maybe she can take another story as payment for doing as asked.
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[ Please don't get out of bed. Please don't - nope, there he goes. Trevor sighs and walks over to the dresser, where he put down his sword when he first came back into the room. Just in case. He didn't really need it for dealing with the speaker when he was alone but if Alucard's going to be there, things are different. ]
-I could just carry her out, if you want.
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[He shrugs the robe on. Ties it. Grabs his sword and puts it on his waist.]
If that's also ignored, then carry her out I suppose.
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He leads Alucard out of his own chambers, into the smaller room nearby. Where there is, indeed, a Speaker perched on the bed. With a book larger than her torso. ]
You both have swords. [ She says before anything else, looking over them both a little warily. ] May I ask what for?
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She's new. And as nice as it is to have another human around, it can't last.
He doesn't move. But he does sigh.]
Speaker, it isn't safe for you here. Neither of us can vouch for your safety against Dracula at the moment, and we have no desire to see you or your people face harm for coming in to do your work.
Please, let us see you safely out these doors.
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[ Trevor gestures wildly at Alucard when she says that. See? She's being so unreasonable! It should not be this difficult to convince someone to leave Dracula's castle! Historically people WANT to leave Dracula's castle very quickly!
The speaker just continues. ]
There is a story here, and I intend to see it unfold. I stay in these halls to bear witness, or I leave with the hunting party in the evening.
[ And Trevor freezes in horror at that. Any right-thinking person would freeze in horror. A single human, inviting themselves to a hunting party of vampires. That's unthinkable and not liable to end nicely. ]
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[Alucard doesn't flinch at the threat. He can't, because he's Practiced now.]
Do we have an agreement?
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If I leave, I leave with Dracula and his party.
[ Okay, that's enough of that. Trevor looks to Alucard, frowning. ]
Do I have your leave to throw her out?
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[Alucard looks to Trevor. The blink he offers is the in one more moment response.]
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[ She looks down at her hands, sighs, and looks up. ]
You know of my people, yes? How our ancestors hear the stories we tell? My grandfather heard one such story ten years ago. A year from now, Dracula returns to this castle and declares war upon all living things. He wishes to prepare by protecting as many people as possible, but I- I have to know why.
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Alucard meets Trevor's eyes. Trevor knows Speakers better than this, but...it's worrying. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.]
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Go, get out of his earshot.
[ She's about to complain, but he shakes his head and continues. ]
Come tomorrow morning, once the hunting party has left and had time to make distance. We'll discuss this then. You're not going to learn shit if Dracula kills you.
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He steps back to allow Trevor more room. Nods to show he's fine with this arrangement.]
Until then, Speaker.
[There. He doesn't retreat, because Alucard needs to make sure the Speaker leaves. But after that? Then he's going right to bed.]
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He's warm. Warm is a good place to start, and they've stood like this time and again, trading off the role of comforter. It's the foundation of everything rather than the bullshit gifting that Dracula had arranged. They look after each other. That's all it is in the end.
This is just bigger than most of the gut punches from over the years.]
Shit.
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He just holds Alucard. Holds him tightly, so that even though his voice doesn't betray any shock, Alucard can feel it. ]
The speaker has the right of it. Whatever happens, happens either here or with the hunting party. If it happens with the hunting party, your father is there. If it happens here, I'll protect you.
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They're both unnerved. He hates it.]
Mmm.
[It's honest consideration as much as it is acknowledgement that Trevor's as steadfast as he could ever be.]
I'll spend time with him before the group departs in the evening. [Alucard is expected to go, after all. The first kill will be his, as is expected. They've heard tell of a village that has been harboring a priest. That will be the only kill Alucard makes.]
Stay for the night?
[In his own bed, he means. Where it'll be warmer, and another heartbeat will be as soothing as anything amid the panic.]
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[ Which is to say that whatever happens, he doesn't want to see it. He doesn't like it. The men who killed his family they may be, but they're also the men his family fought for. He doesn't like it, and more than that he doesn't like what Alucard has to do.
But his grip softens and he bends to lift Alucard, up and into the bed. ]
Of course. [ And he leans forward to kiss Alucard's forehead. ] My light.
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right now it's fine. Fine except for one element, and Alucard nudges Trevor gently.]
Wait. Wait. Swords.
[They both have theirs on them after all.]
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