[ 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.]
[ He's an idiot. He's an idiot and it's been a long night and he probably shouldn't have even tried at this point. He's lucky he didn't end up accidentally stabbing one of them. He scoots back to give Alucard space, hastily being rid of his sword. And the ceremonial shoulder armour that Dracula has him wear in the presence of other vampires. And his boots. And- there are a lot of things he shouldn't be wearing in bed, really.
[At least that gets a laugh. It's weak and tired but it's there all the same. It also means Alucard has to get off the bed to replace his own sword where it ought to be (under the bed and hidden under a glamor so no assassin tries anything). The robe is returned to it's place in the closet, and while in there, he takes out Trevor's spare set of bed clothes. He's learned to keep them there for nights like this.
He places them beside Trevor without a word. Then he gets into bed properly, bundling himself up in the furs until all that can be seen is his head and his hair. It's a ridiculous thing, but it's how he sleeps during the coldest months.
There's a lull in watching Trevor get ready for bed. Alucard doesn't know why. The routine of it, perhaps.]
[ He's usually tidier than this, has an efficient way of folding and putting aside his clothes, but he's usually nowhere near this tired. Everything just goes on the floor, and he barely even attempts to fasten the buttons of his pajamas. Just gets them onto his person in the quickest way he can manage and turns back to lie on the bed, poking at the bundle of furs. ]
Were you intending to let me in there?
[ The sword mistake has stripped away a little of the impersonal respect that he likes to use as a safety blanket. ]
[Alucard lifts the blankets, shaking his head with fondness. These moments when Trevor slips, is more friend than professional? They're precious to him. A reminder that Trevor was really meant to be a friend instead of this.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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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[ He's an idiot. He's an idiot and it's been a long night and he probably shouldn't have even tried at this point. He's lucky he didn't end up accidentally stabbing one of them. He scoots back to give Alucard space, hastily being rid of his sword. And the ceremonial shoulder armour that Dracula has him wear in the presence of other vampires. And his boots. And- there are a lot of things he shouldn't be wearing in bed, really.
He really didn't think that through. ]
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He places them beside Trevor without a word. Then he gets into bed properly, bundling himself up in the furs until all that can be seen is his head and his hair. It's a ridiculous thing, but it's how he sleeps during the coldest months.
There's a lull in watching Trevor get ready for bed. Alucard doesn't know why. The routine of it, perhaps.]
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Were you intending to let me in there?
[ The sword mistake has stripped away a little of the impersonal respect that he likes to use as a safety blanket. ]
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Hurry, before all the warm air gets out.
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