Catch All

[cryptsleeper]

Comments

[miraclewhip]

You can’t double-break a deal. It’s either broken or it’s not.

[ He squeezes Alucard’s hand. ]

And you’re the injured party. You’d get a say in the consequences. And I trust you.

[cryptsleeper]

If that's the case, then I'll stop worrying about it.

[He squeezes back. Just a little.]

I'll have to go out and get more food tomorrow.

[miraclewhip]

Whatever's going to happen, it hasn't happened yet. I think since you're the one who was hurt by the deal being broken, it's only your intervention that'll set off the consequences. Nobody else other than the queen can do that.

[ This is nice. Just sitting with Alucard, touching him, talking. ]

Can I go with you? I'll look human.

[cryptsleeper]

I also presume the rest of your family has rather ceased to care, all things considered. [Something Alucard does as well, which comes with a laugh.] They might even approve.

[As for going with him? Alucard nods.]

Just leave one moth with Sypha? And follow my lead, ways here are different than your own courts and codes. Though no less complex, I expect.

[miraclewhip]

I will.

[ IT'S KIND OF A DATE. A DATE TO GET GROCERIES. HE'S KIND OF CONVINCED ALUCARD TO TAKE HIM ON A DATE. THIS IS SO GOOD. And they havn't let go of each other's hands yet. He could burst with happiness. ]

I'll be good. I promise.

[cryptsleeper]

[It really is a date Alucard just hasn't realized it yet.]

Show me what you're going to wear out?

[miraclewhip]

[ He has to let go of Alucard's hand for that. He does, only a little reluctantly.

He stands and moves in front of Alucard, hiding first his antlers and then his wings, then the collar of fur around his shoulders. He looks human enough. Unfortunately he's still dressed in a thin sleeveless shirt, mostly open at the back to accommodate his wings, and a long skirt. Because 'what you're going to wear' apparently refers only to body parts, not to actually changing clothes. ]

Is this human enough?

[cryptsleeper]

[Watching the glamor go to work is an interesting thing. It's also nerve wracking, having magic used in the house so freely. He's still scared of the stuff, mostly because he doesn't want his new life to be ruined by echoes of old.

But he nods when Trevor's done.]

The clothes need a little work, I'm afraid. The rest is fine.

[miraclewhip]

I can make clothes. I've watched people. Seen what they wear.

[ He sits back down next to Alucard, almost mostly human this time. The brightness of his eyes will be harder to detect by daylight. ]

I'll do it tonight. You can tell me if I've done it right in the morning.

[cryptsleeper]

That'll do.

[Alucard pauses.

And then he closes the gap between them, sitting right next to Trevor.]

You'll be okay working all night?

[miraclewhip]

I can't do much while you're seeing patients in the day anyway. I'll sleep when we're back.

[ He reaches out his hand. He liked that. The hands. ]

And working will make the waiting go faster.

[cryptsleeper]

[You can has hand, Trevor. With fingers lacing with yours.]

Then that's what we'll do.

[miraclewhip]

It'd have been better if it hadn't needed her to get sick, but-

[ He curls his fingers around Alucard's, smiling. ]

-I'm glad I saw you again.

[cryptsleeper]

Plague can't be controlled so easily.

[Oh.

Alucard's aware his heart rate has picked up. That there's color in his cheeks and shit.

This is so much more than being used to Trevor's presence, isn't it?]

What else occupies your time?

[miraclewhip]

[ He tilts his head at the flush in Alucard's cheeks, then smiles wider. Oh. He's happy. He's so happy. ]

I hunt. And I weave. For the Queen, sometimes. Usually for mother and her court. I find books and secrets for my sister's library. And sometimes I watch people.

[ Fairy life. ]

[cryptsleeper]

[Nope. He can't do this. It is ridiculous and it will still end badly but fuck.]

You'll add visiting here to that list, every so often?

[miraclewhip]

Always, if you'll allow me. Before anything else.

[ He squeezes Alucard's hand. ]

Let me take you to bed?

[cryptsleeper]

[Isn't that moving a bit fas--

Oh God, he's really in it, isn't he?

Alucard just squeezes back.]

If I say no, you'll just insist until I agree. [He knows that much.] Lead on, Belmont.

[miraclewhip]

Of course not. I'll just stay here with you until you fall asleep.

[ It is a proper princess carry, this time. Careful and delicate and adoring. ]

But then if I did that, I'd have less time for weaving. Maybe I'd have all of the trousers done except the backside tomorrow, and I'd have to walk around with my arsecheeks hanging out.

[cryptsleeper]

[Oh.

Okay, that's new information: he enjoys being scooped up like that.]

Hm, that'll get you arrested. Let's avoid doing that.

[miraclewhip]

Fine, fine.

[ He'd laugh, but right now he just wants to focus on this. On Alucard in his arms, almost close to being the right weight and stronger and happy. He's not started moving toward the stairs yet, just savouring this. ]

I promise not to go out bare-arsed.

[cryptsleeper]

I'm considering that legally binding.

[Faerie promises and all.

It's...nice. Being held. Knowing there's no ulterior motive. Knowing he's safe. And maybe because of that? Alucard's relaxed. Fine not to be moving immediately. Just there. Being held.

He rests one arm on Trevor's, and wraps the other around his shoulder just to hang on a little better.]

[miraclewhip]

Well, it's a promise to you. You get to choose the consequences if it's broken.

[ They're so close like this. It's wonderful.

He does eventually head up the stairs. Lays Alucard out delicately on the bed. ]

I'll see you tomorrow.

[cryptsleeper]

Good night.

[Alucard's pretty sure that he waits until Trevor's gone to let out a sigh and try and get himself back to rights. It isn't that he doesn't like Trevor or doesn't appreciate his presence. Quite the opposite. But that's the problem.

He's meant to be alone. It's safer, because even if there's time spent with Trevor? He is still beholden to the fae and their Queen and that sounds like a bad thing to get mixed up in on principle. There's a reason his family made the decisions they did.

But it feels so good, not being alone. Letting his heart flutter and know that at least from Trevor? There's no harm. He isn't threatened. This is just...

...it's nice.

He falls asleep with that debate in his head. Rises still unsure. Dresses himself in his tunic and trousers, with his coat folded over his arm. He'll wash his face and then they can go. Coffee and breakfast can be gotten at the market.]

[miraclewhip]

[ He looks human, when he comes to bring Alucard his cane. Normal, even, if just a little scruffy. He can't even glamour a decent beard, it seems, and so he's still stuck with just stubble. But he's dressed like the people he's observed, with even the little details of wear woven into the fabric. His hair is tied back. His eyes are still too bright, but it takes some observing to notice that in daylight.

His wings aren't glamoured away so much as discarded entirely, the moths that make them up still asleep on the walls of the quarantine room. It means he can actually cover his back properly. And true to his word, his backside is covered. ]

Am I decent enough?

[ Please take him on a date!!!! ]