cryptsleeper | Catch All

[Alucard manages to sleep, and that matter surprises himself. He doesn't let go of Trevor, but his grip lightens the longer he rests. That's the only good part of any of this, and then...

...morning comes and the world shifts beneath their feet. He's quiet as he dresses, hating that and hating that Trevor has to help put on all the intricate garments and make them all look just so. Blacks and deep moonlight silvers today, along with streaks of royal red. He's the king for all intents and purposes now.

He doesn't bother worrying about breakfast. Nothing would settle his stomach at the moment.

It's a blessing when Trevor says the word test.]

Of course. May I ask what the experiment is?

A compromise with the speaker.

[ He doesn't try to offer comfort. He doesn't know how, and even if he did it wouldn't be appropriate. But moving forward, and moving forward with something that Alucard can stomach, that's something he can do. ]

You remember the spell we used to play with when we were younger? The one for sending messages.

The one meant for only within the confines of the castle.

Meant for, yes.

[ Lisa’s distaff, the one she gave him when he first came here, leans against one of the reading chairs. The spindle rests on the chair itself. ]

It was restricted to the castle because it used the castle as a medium. [ And maybe also because Dracula is paranoid. ] That’s why it was easy to use, because the castle was doing most of the work. I’m trying to use the thread for something similar. It’ll take a lot more magic, but the Speakers have that to spare.

[Alucard's eyes rest on the spindle. It's an old stand by of a thing, drenched in nostalgia.

What Trevor is proposing, Alucard considers. His father would hate it.]

You want to use it to communicate with them remotely. Can you do that through heavy coding?

[Speaking of paranoia...]

I should be able to. Traditional coding, anyway. A magical cipher would take a while longer, if I manage it at all.

[ He takes a length of the thread, ties it into a long loop and hands it to Alucard like the world’s most boring necklace ]

Wear this.

[This isn't time for arts and crafts, Trevor!

Except it totally is. He takes the thread and drapes it around his neck, careful to make sure that it doesn't disturb his hair's styling for the day. The thread stands in stark contrast against all the darkness of the vampire's clothes.]

Does it have to touch skin?

It does, just a little. If I were going to use magic to code the message it’d need a drop of blood, maybe, but that’s going to take a lot more work.

[ He takes the thread, tucking it below Alucard’s collar to touch the skin. He brushes his cheek with a thumb as he does, softly but deliberately. It’s about the most contact they can make outside of his own chambers. ]

Just stay here and read for an hour or so. I’m going to take one of the horses a little way away from the castle. If you’re still clear a few miles away, I’ll call it a success for now.

[There's a lot of layers to get through, but Alucard does his level best to make it easier. And...there. The thread lies against bare, pale skin. His eyes meet Trevor's, and...]

We can't take more than two hours for this. I want to talk to him a little before he leaves, and his departure is set for three hours from now.+

One mile, then.

[ He brings his hands away from Alucard, only a little reluctantly. ]

I'll ride fast and be back within the hour.

Go. Be safe.

[Only the second one is a command. And then there's the little sigh as Trevor's hands withdraw, and the dhampir has to try and look at books as a distraction.]

[ In reality, it should probably take longer to walk through the castle to the stables and saddle the horse than it would to ride the mile or so. Should. The castle is helpful like that, and the library doors suddenly lead to the entrance hall and the horse is already ready. So it isn't long, really, before- ]

Reading anything interesting?

[ The thread shakes with magic, and Trevor's voice is in Alucard's mind. ]

[All Alucard does when Trevor leaves is pace. It is hard to pay attention to anything at the moment, as all he has is the worst anxiety in the world. Given enough time, he could wear a pathway into the wood.

But Trevor's voice cuts in. Alucard's concentration wraps around the thread and he attempts a response:]

Of course not. Where are you?

Clear enough, doesn't sound like anything's interfering. I'd like to do a more complete test but this'll do for now.

[ None of that is actually an answer, Treffy. ]

About a mile and a half out. Going to bring the horse back now.

Mmmm.

[He can see that non-answer, Treffy.]

How cold is it out?

Colder than it ought to be for this time of year - going to need to take that into consideration, if we're working with the speakers. Figure out how to make sure they don't just fucking starve without making it clear that we're aiding them.

[ He's talking to himself there. ]

If the snow was going to interfere, it would have by now. You manage to speak to your father yet?

Mmm. I suppose so.

[Cold. He can live with that.]

No, I was waiting for your experiment to conclude. I'll go do that now.

Go on. I'll be back before long.

[ A long pause, then- ]

-good luck. I'll be with you soon, if he's in a shitty mood.

It's today. Of course he'll be in a poor mood. Er. How does one end the connection?

[ What a weird question. ]

You just stop using the magic to- oh. Right. Castle. Shit.

[ He won't be actively using magic to maintain the connection the way Trevor is, because the castle's probably taking on that burden for him. Being helpful in an unhelpful way. ]

I'll stop on my end. And figure out that detail when I get back.

Come back safe.

[So Alucard does go. He finds Dracula, and the man is in a poor mood. A somber one. It's one that prompts Alucard to say nothing at all and simply hug his father. A gesture that is surprisingly returned, and so they go for a while in silence until Dracula dismisses his son. I've half an hour before departure. Be safe in my absence.

Not well. Safe. Alucard understands, and he withdraws to his room for the time.]

[ He heads for the library when he returns, but doesn't end up there. The castle likes to put things where they ought to be, after all, and the way to the library instead takes him to Alucard's room.

He knocks. He doesn't do that often. ]

Adrian. I'm back.

Come in.

[Alucard is sitting in the little window nook of cozy furniture in his room, blanket draped over his legs. It isn't cold, and the way Alucard's hands run over the fabric, it's about the texture and comfort rather than warmth.

He looks up at Trevor and smiles weakly.]

So you are.

[ He moves over, standing by the window rather than sitting in one of the chairs, looking down over the half-froxen world below the castle. The castle's windows don't always line up with where the room is. This afternoon this window was looking out to the south. Now it's night, and it overlooks the main doors of the castle. ]

You're going to watch him going?

I'll be at the main gate. I can't not be.

[Alucard didn't ask things like how his father would transport into Faerie and how he'd avoid landing in sunlight. He's happier not knowing.]

Will you please come with me?

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