Catch All

[cryptsleeper]

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[cryptsleeper]

Might be never.

[He knows it'll be never. Alucard's confident with that much at least.]

Can I have another blanket?

[miraclewhip]

That's-

[ -sad to think about. But it's been less than a day. It's not been long enough to give up. ]

-yeah, sure. There's a guest room down the hall. I'll go raid that. Need anything else, if I'm running errands?

[cryptsleeper]

No. Thank you.

[Just blankets for sad vampire.]

[miraclewhip]

[ He grabs everything soft from the guest room. And from the room next to it. Bedding, curtains, cushions. As much as he can carry. There's one thing so far that helps, that he's actually asked for, and so he goes all in on that, dumping it all on the floor and sitting near Alucard.

Another blanket first, a heavy woolen one, and he wraps it tightly around Alucard's shoulders. He lingers again when he does, but only for a second. ]

Don't fucking remember how to do this. Think you need two chairs, and-

[ Is he planning to make a blanket fort? Because it sounds like he's planning to make a blanket fort. ]

[cryptsleeper]

[It's the weight of the blanket that helps. Alucard pulls it close around himself, managing to tuck his feet under too. There's some part of him that realizes that he's immobile and vulnerable like this, but the rest of him? The rest of him doesn't care one bit

Trevor's doing....something?]

What are you doing?

[miraclewhip]

[ Instead of answering, he drags a chair over. Then another. And drapes the curtain he took down from the room across the hall over both of them. That's how it works, he's pretty sure.

That done, he sets about bringing the pule of bedding in. Arranges pillows and cushions around Alucard. ]

Look, I've not had a chance to do this in years. Humour me?

[cryptsleeper]

[What the fuck?

Alucard keeps watching. Tilting his head and....

...a blanket dwelling?]

Am I meant to go in it?

[miraclewhip]

I'd thought that was rather obvious, yes. If you're going to be sitting on the floor for hours at a time, you may as well be comfortable sitting on the floor for hours at a time.

[ He sighs, because his first instinct is to keep being dismissive. Distant. And maybe that'd be more comfortable for both of them. But it's not going to help. ]

It's a smaller space. It'll feel safer. We know- [ God this is hard. Why can't Sypha just turn off her magic so she can be the one to do this? ] -we know you're afraid. We can't make it right, but we want to make it easier. I- used to do this on the bad nights. When people came back injured, or didn't come back at all. Made me feel like I had control over something, even if it was just my tiny little space.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard listens. It's....it's stupid. He shouldn't call it stupid but it is ridiculous and he wants to dismiss it all. He controls the castle. It's his home but--

--no. His home betrayed him just as much as anything else.

So he can try it, at least.]

I'll try.

[miraclewhip]

Thanks. For humouring me.

[ He stacks cushions around Alucard. Wraps more blankets around him. Buries him in a mountain of things that can't hurt him. ]

You want me to stay a while?

[cryptsleeper]

[It's a little fiefdom of soft things. Alucard doesn't move much but he's warm now. A little comfier.

He doesn't feel human. Not by a long shot. But it helps.]

If you want.

[miraclewhip]

That's not exactly a helpful answer.

[ He huffs and settles down next to Alucard. The mechanics of being in the little soft space mean that he's closer than he might otherwise be, but he tries to make himself small. Less threatening. He's less nervous about this than he was last night. Alucard seems less likely to make any sudden movements. Or any movements at all. ]

No complications with the burns?

[cryptsleeper]

[He's still very much not caring. But he's quiet. Trying to be very small, especially when Trevor enters the bat cave.]

Not that I can tell.

[Alucard and feeling things aren't really getting along yet.]

Just hurts.

[miraclewhip]

Honestly? I'd be more worried if it didn't.

[ Not that he isn't worried. The burns not healing is unusual. He remembers how quickly Alucard healed from the whip. He reaches for Alucard's hand, looking at the band of cloth around the wrist. No discolouration, nothing to indicate the skin's broken. That's good, at least. ]

The only things I can give you for the pain right now are- Belmont things. I'll ask Sypha to look at your father's books tomorrow.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard withdraws his hand after it's clear Trevor's done looking. It too retreats into the blanket pile. He closes his eyes and tries to lean against one of the soft walls.]

It's fine. Don't waste time. It's bearable.

[Better than the other pain.]

[miraclewhip]

We have nothing but time. You're worth at least a little of it.

[ He needs to be doing something. He can't stand how useless he is. Can't do anything for Sypha. Can't do anything for Alucard. If he isn't doing something, it doesn't seem like there's much reason not to ride for the nearest village and the nearest village's tavern. ]

-Shit, we didn't bring you food, did we?

[ They havn't had a real mealtime today, just grabbing from their remaining supplies of bread and dried meat in the wagon in between tasks. So it never occurred. ]

[cryptsleeper]

M'not hungry.

[He probably should eat. But there's no appetite. Just stomach churning self loathing.]

Not going to be.

[miraclewhip]

You need food, or you need blood.

[ He tries to be matter of fact about it, at least. ]

I’d rather you tried the food first, if it’s all the same to you.

[cryptsleeper]

I don't need either.

[A lie. Obviously. That Trevor can't fight, because Alucard's not looking at him and now he's moved the blankets over his head too.]

[miraclewhip]

[ Well that’s bullshit.

But Alucard’s also closed himself off. More than before. He sighs, reaching to put a hand on his shoulder. ]

I’ll bring breakfast in the morning. Same rules as before, otherwise. I’ll only bother you at dusk unless you come looking for us.

[cryptsleeper]

[Moving away takes too much effort. So he stays still with the hand on his shoulder.]

All right.

[After a few days, they'll get sick of it and leave. Alucard's sure of it. But until then, he can be quiet and stay put.

He sleeps at least. Coiled up in his blankets and the fort. It is safe. It is soft. No one's coming to look for him for hours, and he can relax just an inch.

Tonight he doesn't dream. He's too tired. He's too tired to do anything. Weak. Wilting.

But that means come morning, he doesn't move when Trevor walks in with breakfast. His eyes just flicker open, and he manages a greeting in the form of a tired mmmmmph.]

[miraclewhip]

[ Breakfast comes mostly from their own supplies. They've not had time to poke around the castle yet, much less to hunt and forage. Hard bread with a cup of broth to soften it in. Dried meat, cheese and preserved cabbage and mushrooms.

And a small amount of red liquid, about a thimble's worth, in a bottle wrapped with a cloth soaked in water and frozen. ]

Same to you.

He puts the tray down by the blankets, but doesn't come closer.

I'll be hunting, today. She won't leave the castle. [ That's the plan. One of them is there at all times. ] I'll be back at sunset with dinner.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard doesn't look at the food. Or at Treevor. Just at the floor, where the blankets and all the soft things meet the edge. His little boundary.]

Go northwest, the older deer are there.

[Or at least they were last he checked]

[miraclewhip]

Thanks. I'll try to bring back something better than this.

[ He leaves without saying anything more. Sypha's presence can be felt throughout the day. Never coming to the door of the room, but footsteps outside, trying to go undetected. A soft 'be well', spoken as if she doesn't expect it to be heard.

Just as he said, it's dusk before he returns with another tray. This meal is still not extravagant, but it's at least something made in an actual kitchen. Venison, with boiled dark green leafy vegetables and roast carrots. No blood, this time. ]

The kitchen gardens seem to have enjoyed the last decade without anyone to bother them. Good news for us, give or take a mountain of fucking nettles.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard goes back to his fort. His little safe spot in the world, where nothing can touch him. He knows that he is safe here if nothing else, and that does bring some comfort.

He dozes on and off the day. Ears flicking when he hears Sypha, but never much moving. That requires too great an effort.

When Trevor arrives with dinner, much of the breakfast tray is well, half eaten. Alucard's grazed when he has stirred, but then gone right back to resting and avoiding everything and every one.]

Nettles can be used for soup.

[He offers the suggestion sleepily. He lifts his head, tired eyes meeting Trevor's.]

How many deer did you see today?