What season are we in? Cacti are terrible for marking time.
[Walking with Jaskier through their park (still their park six hundred years on) is a ritual as old as they are. Alucard spends a few decades living in a place (Libertas this time), takes a nap in the Horizon (thirty five years, the average), then wakes up to find his friend waiting. The dhampir grumbles about being awake. Then somewhere in all of the regular greetings, routine settles in. Alucard arises and throws together something to eat while Jaskier catches him up on what's been missed over the past few decades.
Eventually the conversation sees them exit the Horizon and arrive in the park. Always arm in arm. Always at night, usually by one of the garden features. Alucard knows his friend's biases and welcomes them readily.
The world changes. But the people Alucard trusts don't. Not really, not in the ways that matter. Jaskier is a steady rock to reach equilibrium besides. The first few days awake with him around feel like a wave crashing against the rocks, then settling into the tide line properly.
This time is no different and the dhampir is just as grateful as he's ever been for that consistency.]
Jaskier;
[Walking with Jaskier through their park (still their park six hundred years on) is a ritual as old as they are. Alucard spends a few decades living in a place (Libertas this time), takes a nap in the Horizon (thirty five years, the average), then wakes up to find his friend waiting. The dhampir grumbles about being awake. Then somewhere in all of the regular greetings, routine settles in. Alucard arises and throws together something to eat while Jaskier catches him up on what's been missed over the past few decades.
Eventually the conversation sees them exit the Horizon and arrive in the park. Always arm in arm. Always at night, usually by one of the garden features. Alucard knows his friend's biases and welcomes them readily.
The world changes. But the people Alucard trusts don't. Not really, not in the ways that matter. Jaskier is a steady rock to reach equilibrium besides. The first few days awake with him around feel like a wave crashing against the rocks, then settling into the tide line properly.
This time is no different and the dhampir is just as grateful as he's ever been for that consistency.]