Catch All

[cryptsleeper]

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[cryptsleeper]

Thank you.

[It's still uncomfortable, Trevor's look. Alucard doesn't know how much he trusts this conversation and it's follow through, but at least it's something. For now, the fae seems to understand, and that? That's actually a first.]

How many siblings do you have? The stories never mentioned anyone outside the main two.

[miraclewhip]

Three sisters. I'm the youngest. I think we were all from after the deal.

[ Oh right, the deal. Alucard asked about that. ]

Nobody ever put to paper the consequences of breaking it. I don't think anyone ever foresaw all the- fires. But it'll be less for me than it would have been for my father. It would have been less still if it were indirect, but that didn't work.

[cryptsleeper]

Probably. It was only ever Leon and Sara that I heard of/

[Alucard leans forward a little, trying to snatch another blanket from the bed.]

...How were you attempting to be indirect? I don't recall much.

[miraclewhip]

I wanted to make a deal with him. Make him forget you. But I couldn’t be this shape in the church, and he never left. So I put the plague in him.

[ That’s. A hell of a thing to say. ]

I thought he’d realise he was sick and that you could help, and he didn’t. And then I tried dragging it out again to show everyone what the real monster was, and they just started the fire anyway. And then I ran out of ideas and just stole the stake. I thought if I just dragged the stake off, maybe it wouldn’t matter that you happened to be attached to it. But- even if that would have worked, it didn’t seem like it would fix anything to leave you alone like this.

...I have it, if you want it. It’s mostly there.

[cryptsleeper]

You gave him plague?

[There's disblief. Alucard then shuts himself up and keeps listening.]

I'd be dead. Which was the original intent. [Well. His only way out. Alucard's finger hooks onto a blanket and he drags the whole thing over.]

It's probably best you destroy it.

[miraclewhip]

Only a little! To scare him! [ That makes it okay, right? ] And I dragged it back out of him again. It’s fine.

[ He looks over Alucard, at that. Almost a little hopeful. ]

You don’t think you’ll need it?

[ He’s been worried. ]

[cryptsleeper]

[Somehow it's the defense of only a little! that gets Alucard to laugh. Actually laugh, although the volume of it is fairly muted.]

Perhaps a man like that was better off with the plague in him.

[He's just saying.]

I think you wouldn't allow it even if I said I did.

[miraclewhip]

[ He's laughing. He's laughing and it's quiet and no less anemic than his smiles but the sound of it is wonderful.

It's enough that he doesn't wilt at the new topic. ]

I won't stop you. Not once you're well enough to go. I don't think I can. Not unless I keep you locked here forever. And I think you wouldn't like that.

[cryptsleeper]

No, you're right about the last part.

[But he understands that Trevor would rather not. Alucard sighs, tucking himself in a little more in the blanket he's grabbed.]

I suppose that the agreement never forbade them from keeping an eye on us, did it?

[miraclewhip]

Only from interfering. We could always watch.

[ ...that sounds worse than it is, doesn't it? He's not been stalking you, promise! ]

-I've not been, though. Watching, I mean. Not much. There's no sense in it, if there's nothing we can do to help.

[cryptsleeper]

No, I suppose not.

[Alucard's snugged up and comfortable now. With that, he lets out a soft sigh.]

If you want to take a second chair rather than sit on the bed for the bit, I think that'd be okay. I'm going to rest my eyes.

[miraclewhip]

[ He shakes his head, standing and moving a bedside table over beside the chair, so that he can put water and books where Alucard can reach them easily. ]

I'll head out for a little while. You going to be okay there for a couple hours?

[cryptsleeper]

Yes, I think so.

[Water and books. That'll do. There's a moment's exhale, and then Alucard closes his eyes entirely.]

Thank you.