[ The speaker continues to be difficult. So very, terribly difficult.In the end, the most he can get her to agree to is to wait until Dracula is gone and return to stay at the castle.
Alucard's horse is gone from the stable when he returns in the small hours of the morning, and the castle is silent. It's the first time since the start of the celebrations that it has been peaceful here, and that's- well. It's something. Better than the alternative, at least for now, though god knows if he'll still think that when this becomes the way things are every day and the quiet starts to set in.
It's a few hours of spinning thread - that had been Lisa's idea, before she was taken away, that he should do work with his hands to keep himself occupied when things were bothering him - before the castle announces the return of the hunting party. He goes first to Alucard's chambers to draw a bath for him and then makes himself scarce in his own room. Alucard will know where to find him, when he's done. ]
[The hunting part is and isn't a somber affair. There are those among the number that are wild and are happy to act as agents of chaos to announce the group's approach to the village. To let panic set in, to force a hunt of the unwanted priest. Others are quiet atop their horses, watching the carnage but saying nothing.
Both Dracula and Alucard fall into the latter camp as they sit upon their horses in the center of the village, waiting.
The priest is found after a time. Dracula says nothing - only watches as his son announces the crime and the punishment, tearing out the priest's throat in one fell swoop. There are others dead already, and the vampires in their group have taken their fill. When Alucard lets the body go, there is plenty of blood that has gone to waste. A matter done on purpose - that not even their blood is fit for consumption.
Those who helped hide the priest are already dead and consumed. Those who remain are reminded of consequences, and that is all. The group leaves, and Alucard returns to his chambers in the small hours. He and his father had a long discussion after everything, and that was more important than even washing off blood.
When Alucard does return, he takes the damned crown off and goes for the bath. Settles into the warm waters immediately and then:]
[ He doesn't like it. Dracula's way of doing things is cruel, unnecessarily so. That was why his family took up arms against him, after all. He was kinder, by all reports, before his wife was taken from him. Merciless toward suspected spies, still, but not toward those uninvolved.
Some days, he can't stand himself for staying here. If Alucard weren't the closest thing to family that he had-
-there's no sense taking that thought to its conclusion. Alucard is the only family he has. The castle makes sure that he can hear his voice even though the walls and without him shouting, and he heads for Alucard's rooms. Pulls his chair up next to the door to the washroom so they can talk without him entering. ]
[ It's the sort of dismissive that makes it sound like he's trying really, really hard to be dismissive. The sort where he knows he's powerless. That being dismissive is the only option he has left. ]
[ He has no sympathy for Dracula here. Or maybe too much sympathy, an understanding of how having someone dear stolen away feels, of how dark it leaves ones’ mind. He knows why Dracula is all the crueller now.
He had a choice. Both of them had a choice. Trevor chose to become Alucard’s protector when he could have been a feral, angry, twisted thing. And Dracula chose to become a tyrant when he had the chance to see that Lisa returned to a kinder place. All the anger that Trevor reserves for himself can be turned on Dracula for that. ]
But who gives a shit? Her reacting means she’s home. That’s all that matters.
[It was as close to an actually emotional conversation as he's ever had. That he'll be bringing home a wife who has changed and will hate him in turn. That he's leaving a son to be something he wasn't truly meant to become.
Alucard is quiet for a very long time after that. Water sloshes around a few times, but that's it. All the vampire can think of is what lies ahead, and the awful truth of it all.]
I'm scared, Trevor.
[Not Belmont. Just Trevor. Always Trevor when it's the two of them.]
The vampire has added extra bubbles to the bath, covering almost all of him. His bloodied clothes are hidden away, crown just put off to the side. The blood on him is gone, long since dissolved into the water.]
[ He walks in, averting his eyes despite the bubbles and kneeling by the bath. It’s not the first time that he’s known that Alucard’s been afraid, but it’s the first time in a long time that he’s admitted it. That- shit, that means that things are desperate already. He tucks a lock of wet hair behind Alucard’s ear. ]
I can’t tell you that it’s going to be fine. Probably won’t be. It’s probably all going to go to shit faster than a viking after pig’s blood.
[ He’s not great at being comforting. ]
But I’ll be here when it’s going to shit. And I’ll kick your teeth in if you fuck up and do something she’d hate.
Oh, I know. If he has a problem, I’m pretty sure the castle will take my side. It’s the one that has to deal with the latrines.
[ But he just goes very, suspiciously quiet. He can’t tell Alucard that he did the right thing. It’d be plainly false if he did, he’s made no secret of the fact that Alucard isn’t allowed to approach him after these hunts without bathing even when it was his father doing the killing and him simply observing. ]
She won’t hate you. She never could. She’ll be pissed, and I’ll be pissed that you upset her, but- she won’t learn it until she’s home. Adrian, if she’s pissed, she’ll be here. Even if she never forgave either of you, she’d be not forgiving you here. She could never speak to either of you again but she’d be not speaking to you while being safe and helping people.
He's right. It's horrible logic to consider, but no part of it is wrong either. If she's angry, she's home. In the end, home is really the only part of this that matters.
Alucard's arms reach out and latch onto Trevor. The hug the Belmont is pulled into is an expression of all the remaining fear in Alucard's body, and the way he clings betrays exactly how much he knows he's taking a dive off a terrifying precipice.]
You're right.
[The inappropriateness of the arrangement sails over Alucard's head.]
[ Oh. Oh. This is no more close than they have been before, but Alucard’s always been clothed before. Clothed and also not warm and damp.
Slowly, suddenly very conscious of himself, he brings his own arms around Alucard. Hands in his wet hair, every nerve focused on the feeling of his chest rising and falling against him. The heat of the bath makes him warmer than usual, almost human. ]
She could never hate you. Hate what you did, maybe. But not you. Nobody could.
[Alucard's not considered optics. All he knows is that after his father leaves tomorrow, Trevor will be the only person he can rely on. No vampire can be trusted. Their neighbors, as polite as the mages have been, will wait only a little while before playing with politics. It'll leave Alucard so very alone.
So he clings tighter. Murmurs into Trevor's skin:]
I need you.
[And as for the rest he can only hum in agreement.]
Always will.
[Mortality is a nightmare, after all. Alucard knows his parents have argued that point before. Never has Alucard wondered what might happen if he and Trevor never needed to part until now.]
[ He pulls Alucard closer, just for a moment, and then tugs away. He wants to be here for Alucard, of course he does. But he needs to not be doing this. To be somewhere else, very quickly, before Alucard looks at him too hard. ]
I better make sure I don't die of cold, then. [ With one last stroke of his hair, he lets go entirely. ] Let me change into dry clothes, I'll be back once you're out and dried off.
[Alucard lets go, but it's with deep reluctance. His arms slough off, and then that's that.]
Then in just a few minutes.
[They'll have to keep this kind of behavior to themselves after Dracula leaves, even more so than they do now. It's that awful thought that gets the vampire up and out of the bath tub when Trevor's gone. He dries off quickly, the towels all too fluffy. When he emerges from the bathroom, it's in his bathrobe, but nothing underneath save for the towel.
[ He hurries back to his own room. Just- deal with the situation quickly and furtively, get changed, be back before he's missed. Easy enough.
And then partway through this task there's a knock. Well- shit. ]
One- [ fuck. ] -One moment!
[ He's been meaning to change into his night clothes, but instead has to practically dive into his formalwear from the night before, so quickly that he's only just finished lacing the shirt with his teeth when he opens the door. His trousers are on backwards, but that's what we call present Trevor's problem. The neck armour has been left on Alucard's dresser, because he didn't think he'd need it. ]
Sir.
[ On the bright side, that first problem has resolved itself remarkably effectively. ]
[Dracula is as he always has been. Impossibly tall and towering, projecting presence and authority with so much might that the use of compulsion is unnecessary. His eyes move down to Trevor, considering his....
...well.
Measured and considering, he begins:]
I clearly interrupted your evening routine. I'll give you a moment to adjust your trousers.
[ He backs into his room, closes the door, and quickly rights himself. This was already the worst day and is swiftly becoming the very worst day. He's more put together when he opens the door, even though it can't have been more than a minute. ]
[Dracula nods once for Trevor to follow him, then begins to walk. He knows he'll be followed, because Trevor has been a part of this house for long enough. Lisa would consider him an adopted son by any definition after this duration of time, but she's not here. Hasn't been. She'll be satisfied enough by Alucard's protective nature of the Belmont, and that they have looked after each other.
He leads them both to a side room, one with soft furnishings and no fire in the fireplace. Dracula himself stands at the window, not quite brooding but edging close to the definition. When the door is closed, Dracula begins.]
Are you prepared for what will be asked of you in my absence, Belmont?
I am prepared to protect him with my life. To see his enemies dead. To- [ and he only pauses for a moment. ] -see him choose the paths that will see him and your lands safe, even those that he might find... at odds with his mother's wishes.
[ Even those that might be unbelmontlike, he means. He doesn't sit, because he knows better than to believe himself on casual enough terms with Dracula to do so without leave. ]
But I can't say yes to that question. Not without knowing what more you'd ask of me.
[There's a soft noise of acknowledgement when Trevor says at odds with his mother's wishes.]
The topic of the day, it seems.
[And why wouldn't it be? This is all for her sake.]
You will need to be his eyes and ears for the machinations of others, more than you are presently. I do not doubt that those beyond our borders will conspire should my absence drag on for more than a month or so. You already spirited that Speaker in and out with great skill to derive information from her.
[Congratulations Trevor, you're head of the royal intelligence agency.]
[ Well, he knows. Time to employ the strategy of just being mostly honest. ]
I met with her again today while your party were hunting. With your leave, sir, I mean to invite her into the castle. She wishes to document your son's period of interim rule, and has offered her magic and her people's knowledge of the affairs of our neighbours as payment.
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Alucard's horse is gone from the stable when he returns in the small hours of the morning, and the castle is silent. It's the first time since the start of the celebrations that it has been peaceful here, and that's- well. It's something. Better than the alternative, at least for now, though god knows if he'll still think that when this becomes the way things are every day and the quiet starts to set in.
It's a few hours of spinning thread - that had been Lisa's idea, before she was taken away, that he should do work with his hands to keep himself occupied when things were bothering him - before the castle announces the return of the hunting party. He goes first to Alucard's chambers to draw a bath for him and then makes himself scarce in his own room. Alucard will know where to find him, when he's done. ]
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Both Dracula and Alucard fall into the latter camp as they sit upon their horses in the center of the village, waiting.
The priest is found after a time. Dracula says nothing - only watches as his son announces the crime and the punishment, tearing out the priest's throat in one fell swoop. There are others dead already, and the vampires in their group have taken their fill. When Alucard lets the body go, there is plenty of blood that has gone to waste. A matter done on purpose - that not even their blood is fit for consumption.
Those who helped hide the priest are already dead and consumed. Those who remain are reminded of consequences, and that is all. The group leaves, and Alucard returns to his chambers in the small hours. He and his father had a long discussion after everything, and that was more important than even washing off blood.
When Alucard does return, he takes the damned crown off and goes for the bath. Settles into the warm waters immediately and then:]
I'm back.
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Some days, he can't stand himself for staying here. If Alucard weren't the closest thing to family that he had-
-there's no sense taking that thought to its conclusion. Alucard is the only family he has. The castle makes sure that he can hear his voice even though the walls and without him shouting, and he heads for Alucard's rooms. Pulls his chair up next to the door to the washroom so they can talk without him entering. ]
Unhurt?
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[The one hurt Trevor can't protect him from. Not really. Alucard's voice sounds weary even through the door.]
We...talked for a while, afterwards.
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[ It's the sort of dismissive that makes it sound like he's trying really, really hard to be dismissive. The sort where he knows he's powerless. That being dismissive is the only option he has left. ]
About anything I ought to know about?
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[Alucard hugs his knees close to his chest, water sloshing around as he does so.]
He knows that it's too much and that she'll be furious.
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[ He has no sympathy for Dracula here. Or maybe too much sympathy, an understanding of how having someone dear stolen away feels, of how dark it leaves ones’ mind. He knows why Dracula is all the crueller now.
He had a choice. Both of them had a choice. Trevor chose to become Alucard’s protector when he could have been a feral, angry, twisted thing. And Dracula chose to become a tyrant when he had the chance to see that Lisa returned to a kinder place. All the anger that Trevor reserves for himself can be turned on Dracula for that. ]
But who gives a shit? Her reacting means she’s home. That’s all that matters.
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[It was as close to an actually emotional conversation as he's ever had. That he'll be bringing home a wife who has changed and will hate him in turn. That he's leaving a son to be something he wasn't truly meant to become.
Alucard is quiet for a very long time after that. Water sloshes around a few times, but that's it. All the vampire can think of is what lies ahead, and the awful truth of it all.]
I'm scared, Trevor.
[Not Belmont. Just Trevor. Always Trevor when it's the two of them.]
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Let me in? You must be clean enough by now. I’ll help with your hair.
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[Alucard waves a hand and the lock clicks open.
The vampire has added extra bubbles to the bath, covering almost all of him. His bloodied clothes are hidden away, crown just put off to the side. The blood on him is gone, long since dissolved into the water.]
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I can’t tell you that it’s going to be fine. Probably won’t be. It’s probably all going to go to shit faster than a viking after pig’s blood.
[ He’s not great at being comforting. ]
But I’ll be here when it’s going to shit. And I’ll kick your teeth in if you fuck up and do something she’d hate.
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[Look. Just. Don't bring up Godbrand ever why is that so hard?
Alucard shakes his head. Trevor's close enough that he can just angle his head over the tub and have it rest against Trevor's shoulder.]
Too late. Taking a life qualifies.
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[ But he just goes very, suspiciously quiet. He can’t tell Alucard that he did the right thing. It’d be plainly false if he did, he’s made no secret of the fact that Alucard isn’t allowed to approach him after these hunts without bathing even when it was his father doing the killing and him simply observing. ]
She won’t hate you. She never could. She’ll be pissed, and I’ll be pissed that you upset her, but- she won’t learn it until she’s home. Adrian, if she’s pissed, she’ll be here. Even if she never forgave either of you, she’d be not forgiving you here. She could never speak to either of you again but she’d be not speaking to you while being safe and helping people.
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He's right. It's horrible logic to consider, but no part of it is wrong either. If she's angry, she's home. In the end, home is really the only part of this that matters.
Alucard's arms reach out and latch onto Trevor. The hug the Belmont is pulled into is an expression of all the remaining fear in Alucard's body, and the way he clings betrays exactly how much he knows he's taking a dive off a terrifying precipice.]
You're right.
[The inappropriateness of the arrangement sails over Alucard's head.]
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[ Oh. Oh. This is no more close than they have been before, but Alucard’s always been clothed before. Clothed and also not warm and damp.
Slowly, suddenly very conscious of himself, he brings his own arms around Alucard. Hands in his wet hair, every nerve focused on the feeling of his chest rising and falling against him. The heat of the bath makes him warmer than usual, almost human. ]
She could never hate you. Hate what you did, maybe. But not you. Nobody could.
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So he clings tighter. Murmurs into Trevor's skin:]
I need you.
[And as for the rest he can only hum in agreement.]
Always will.
[Mortality is a nightmare, after all. Alucard knows his parents have argued that point before. Never has Alucard wondered what might happen if he and Trevor never needed to part until now.]
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[ He pulls Alucard closer, just for a moment, and then tugs away. He wants to be here for Alucard, of course he does. But he needs to not be doing this. To be somewhere else, very quickly, before Alucard looks at him too hard. ]
I better make sure I don't die of cold, then. [ With one last stroke of his hair, he lets go entirely. ] Let me change into dry clothes, I'll be back once you're out and dried off.
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Then in just a few minutes.
[They'll have to keep this kind of behavior to themselves after Dracula leaves, even more so than they do now. It's that awful thought that gets the vampire up and out of the bath tub when Trevor's gone. He dries off quickly, the towels all too fluffy. When he emerges from the bathroom, it's in his bathrobe, but nothing underneath save for the towel.
But there's a knock, along with Dracula's voice.]
Belmont. I would have words.
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And then partway through this task there's a knock. Well- shit. ]
One- [ fuck. ] -One moment!
[ He's been meaning to change into his night clothes, but instead has to practically dive into his formalwear from the night before, so quickly that he's only just finished lacing the shirt with his teeth when he opens the door. His trousers are on backwards, but that's what we call present Trevor's problem. The neck armour has been left on Alucard's dresser, because he didn't think he'd need it. ]
Sir.
[ On the bright side, that first problem has resolved itself remarkably effectively. ]
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...well.
Measured and considering, he begins:]
I clearly interrupted your evening routine. I'll give you a moment to adjust your trousers.
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[ He backs into his room, closes the door, and quickly rights himself. This was already the worst day and is swiftly becoming the very worst day. He's more put together when he opens the door, even though it can't have been more than a minute. ]
You wanted to speak, sir?
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[Dracula nods once for Trevor to follow him, then begins to walk. He knows he'll be followed, because Trevor has been a part of this house for long enough. Lisa would consider him an adopted son by any definition after this duration of time, but she's not here. Hasn't been. She'll be satisfied enough by Alucard's protective nature of the Belmont, and that they have looked after each other.
He leads them both to a side room, one with soft furnishings and no fire in the fireplace. Dracula himself stands at the window, not quite brooding but edging close to the definition. When the door is closed, Dracula begins.]
Are you prepared for what will be asked of you in my absence, Belmont?
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[ Even those that might be unbelmontlike, he means. He doesn't sit, because he knows better than to believe himself on casual enough terms with Dracula to do so without leave. ]
But I can't say yes to that question. Not without knowing what more you'd ask of me.
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The topic of the day, it seems.
[And why wouldn't it be? This is all for her sake.]
You will need to be his eyes and ears for the machinations of others, more than you are presently. I do not doubt that those beyond our borders will conspire should my absence drag on for more than a month or so. You already spirited that Speaker in and out with great skill to derive information from her.
[Congratulations Trevor, you're head of the royal intelligence agency.]
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[ Well, he knows. Time to employ the strategy of just being mostly honest. ]
I met with her again today while your party were hunting. With your leave, sir, I mean to invite her into the castle. She wishes to document your son's period of interim rule, and has offered her magic and her people's knowledge of the affairs of our neighbours as payment.
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