[ He looks down at the book, not quite taking in the words anymore. They don't really seem real. The people that Leon dedicated himself to protecting couldn't be just as bad as the things he's protecting them from. ]
There's sunlight at the estate, during the day. But it's not real sun. It's magical. We won't get any advantage from it. No time is really better than any other.
She is. [ A pause. ] I waited until she was asleep to leave.
[ She hates him and he hates her, but she also hates being alone and he gets it. ]
Just before dawn. The night creatures will be resisting him, too. But if we win, they might take the opportunity to strike us before we can recover to take the gate for their masters. If we can win at dawn - the real dawn - then we'll have until dusk to make sure they can't do that.
She's in the big leather chair with the dragons carved into the armrests. All curled up like an animal. It's [ HEART-STOPPINGLY ADORABLE. ] fucking hilarious.
[ He curls up himself, trying to imitate it, but he doesn't get quite as tiny and perfect as Sypha does. ]
The two of you are human. He'll spare you if you ask him to.
That's the least comfortable chair here. [His father loved that chair, his mother hated it, Alucard agreed with mom. But good. She's resting, and not on the floor.
Alucard does laugh a little at Trevor's attempt to imitate Sypha's state, but then? Then he sobers up terribly.]
[ He sighs at that. Sypha will assume he's trying to get them to stop. She knows better than Alucard does that things like him aren't trustworthy. He looks about, then tries clumsily to change the topic. ]
[ That changes the stakes here, doesn’t it? He’s asking Alucard to give up his last connection to his family to survive. Sypha will lose her means to protect people, but she’ll also lose the things that she needs to protect them from. He thought he was asking the most of her.
...whatever happens at dawn, one of them loses all they have left of the people they love. ]
I was too young to remember meeting them. My sisters just said that they were clever. Father never talked about them. I know- I know they helped to make us like this. [ Making him and his siblings into Dhampir, he means. ] And that without that, we'd have had to die.
If they'd have wanted magic to stay, then I owe them it.
[ He tries to think of something. He really does. But the truth is, none of them really have anything to talk about that isn't emotionally fraught. Strategy, the place they're in now, Sypha and her awful tea, the book in front of him, magic. Even the awful dragon chair. All of them are tied up in uncomfortable feelings. And it's hard for him to tell what's bad and what's not, the grief still being so fresh. Nothing's really sunk in deeply enough yet to act on it. He's tried complaining about Sypha, which he feels is a good and inoffensive topic, but Alucard doesn't like it much. ]
Is- that what all humans eat? The meat-leather?
[ Because Leon insisted on teaching him and his sisters to cook, even if none of them really needed to eat human food. And exactly 0 of it was dried meat. None of it was a soldier's rations at all, even though he was undoubtedly familiar with them. ]
[ It's a genuine question, not an attempt at calling Alucard out for eating what has the best ration of nutrients to ease to come by. Even if maybe the topic of eating is also not a good one, considering recent events. ]
I don't think I've ever known anyone's favourite food. Is that yours? The leather meat?
[Alucard takes a sip of the awful tea. His face curdles, and so that? That means he chugs the rest down in one fell swoop. God. It isn't going to work, why did he just do that?
His face contorts. Easier to focus on Trevor's question.]
I don't think I have a favorite anymore. I don't have the luxury of enjoying meals.
Oh. Not leather-meat. And probably not old blood tea.
[ Well. Now he knows two foods that AREN'T Alucard's favourite. That's a start! Not a GOOD start to his attempts to know things about people, but a start. ]
...do you think she has a favourite?
[ Not that he's going back and forth about whether he has a crush on Sypha or hates her or anything. ]
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[ There’s the main ingredient. Fermented goat blood. ]
Any better? [ He kind of wants to ask if it hurts. He’s just not sure what he’d do with either answer. ]
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[Hell no. He knows better than to drink blood. Blood sausage is one thing but this? This is probably full of bacteria.]
A bit, yes. I'll be fine come morning.
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[ He looks down at the book, not quite taking in the words anymore. They don't really seem real. The people that Leon dedicated himself to protecting couldn't be just as bad as the things he's protecting them from. ]
There's sunlight at the estate, during the day. But it's not real sun. It's magical. We won't get any advantage from it. No time is really better than any other.
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[He's confident, but that's because there's no other option. He's ready or they die. Easy as that.]
You know the place better than we do. We'll follow your lead on when to begin.
[Alucard sits up a little bit more, and he grabs the dried meat. He needs to keep eating, and this is actually pretty good as far as rations go.]
Is Sypha asleep?
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[ She hates him and he hates her, but she also hates being alone and he gets it. ]
Just before dawn. The night creatures will be resisting him, too. But if we win, they might take the opportunity to strike us before we can recover to take the gate for their masters. If we can win at dawn - the real dawn - then we'll have until dusk to make sure they can't do that.
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[It seems worth clarifying.
Quietly, Alucard considers all of this. Then he nods.]
We'll do that then. Sypha's people probably already know the best defenses.
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[ He curls up himself, trying to imitate it, but he doesn't get quite as tiny and perfect as Sypha does. ]
The two of you are human. He'll spare you if you ask him to.
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Alucard does laugh a little at Trevor's attempt to imitate Sypha's state, but then? Then he sobers up terribly.]
Why would we want that?
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[ But it's a serious topic, not one for laughing at Sypha. ]
If this turns out to be impossible. There's no reason for you both to die if we fail.
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[ He'd thought this would be an easier sell. Just don't die. Humans are stubborn. ]
I'm not saying we shouldn't try. But if anything happens to me, there's no need for the two of you to die there.
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[Different? Complicated? Alucard trails off, and he simply sighs.]
Talk to Sypha about it. I think that if I go forward with anything or not should be my choice and mine alone.
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[ He sighs at that. Sypha will assume he's trying to get them to stop. She knows better than Alucard does that things like him aren't trustworthy. He looks about, then tries clumsily to change the topic. ]
What is magic, for you?
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[It's a response drenched in sentiment, and Alucard's eyes move to the whole Hold around them. His fingers curl against the fabric of the sofa.]
It helps me defend myself, but for the decade that I've been traveling Wallachia's countryside? Magic has been the only tether to home and my parents.
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[ That changes the stakes here, doesn’t it? He’s asking Alucard to give up his last connection to his family to survive. Sypha will lose her means to protect people, but she’ll also lose the things that she needs to protect them from. He thought he was asking the most of her.
...whatever happens at dawn, one of them loses all they have left of the people they love. ]
What were they like?
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[Alucard's heart leaps into his mouth, blocking his ability to continue. There is only pained silence in response to Trevor's question.
Out of instinct, Alucard wants to curl up. He doesn't, and he knows he can't trail off either. After a deep breath, he just manages:]
wonderful. And they cared so much.
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I was too young to remember meeting them. My sisters just said that they were clever. Father never talked about them. I know- I know they helped to make us like this. [ Making him and his siblings into Dhampir, he means. ] And that without that, we'd have had to die.
If they'd have wanted magic to stay, then I owe them it.
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[That's the version of the truth Alucard is sticking with. It's easier to deal with.]
Can we please talk about something else?
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[ He tries to think of something. He really does. But the truth is, none of them really have anything to talk about that isn't emotionally fraught. Strategy, the place they're in now, Sypha and her awful tea, the book in front of him, magic. Even the awful dragon chair. All of them are tied up in uncomfortable feelings. And it's hard for him to tell what's bad and what's not, the grief still being so fresh. Nothing's really sunk in deeply enough yet to act on it. He's tried complaining about Sypha, which he feels is a good and inoffensive topic, but Alucard doesn't like it much. ]
Is- that what all humans eat? The meat-leather?
[ Because Leon insisted on teaching him and his sisters to cook, even if none of them really needed to eat human food. And exactly 0 of it was dried meat. None of it was a soldier's rations at all, even though he was undoubtedly familiar with them. ]
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[Alucard feels himself grow a little light headed. He sighs, reaching out to take the tea.]
I mostly eat this though. Easy to carry around and eat.
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[ It's a genuine question, not an attempt at calling Alucard out for eating what has the best ration of nutrients to ease to come by. Even if maybe the topic of eating is also not a good one, considering recent events. ]
I don't think I've ever known anyone's favourite food. Is that yours? The leather meat?
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[Alucard takes a sip of the awful tea. His face curdles, and so that? That means he chugs the rest down in one fell swoop. God. It isn't going to work, why did he just do that?
His face contorts. Easier to focus on Trevor's question.]
I don't think I have a favorite anymore. I don't have the luxury of enjoying meals.
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[ Well. Now he knows two foods that AREN'T Alucard's favourite. That's a start! Not a GOOD start to his attempts to know things about people, but a start. ]
...do you think she has a favourite?
[ Not that he's going back and forth about whether he has a crush on Sypha or hates her or anything. ]
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[Alucard stops, then looks down at his lap. Trevor's coat is still there and....]
Sorry, did you want your coat back? I realize you probably don't feel the chill as badly as we do, but...
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[ He doesn't exactly need it back, but it feels odd not to be wearing it. ]
I didn't know what you needed. For the blood. I get warmer if I take blood, so I thought that you might be colder.
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