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Event #3 A Tale of Three Cities
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Airships
[Alucard had hustled everything he could in order to afford passage back to Krimnos and then some. He has plans now, important ones, ones that mean once he returns to Krimnos he must find a horse and supplies, move himself further into the mountains. This is homecoming. This is examining his family's legacy a century onwards. This is seeing to home, to a grave, to everything that his father and mother built. Everything he built.
For now though, for now he stands on the deck as Krimnos comes into view for the first time. Alucard's gloved hands grip the railings tightly. He leans over, the wind sending his hair back. The bitterness of it stinging his eyes.
What sprawls before him is strange and familiar. What he sees brings no true cry of home, for his home was not the city itself, but there is such a deep ache inside. It works it's way out. It becomes a breathless sigh, impressed and swept away for the changes. He doesn't know what he expected. But here it is all the same.
Things begin anew.]
I wonder how many of the old streets remain.
[He recognizes some layouts. Paths he used to take. And others are new.]
Nothing beside remains (CLOSED)
[Alucard had planned to make this trip alone. There were only two people he would ever want at his side for this, and at the time he decided to return home, neither of them stood. Now, now he has Trevor. The anger about resurrection left aside, Alucard is glad for it. Grateful, even if he's yet to say it out loud.
The Tepes home was out of the city. Had been put there on purpose, for there were fewer prying eyes who would judge a vampir his love of blood magic. So it takes two more days to get there, horse and all. (Alucard is not Trevor, he does not have such great steps.) A surreal two days, for the route has not changed. Oh, there are more houses now, a hamlet has become a proper village in one or two places, but everything else is unchanged. There are trees Alucard recognizes, and oh, they have grown.
They're close now. It'll be around the next bend, and already Alucard's heart is in his throat. He can't see any spires towering above the trees. He accounted for that fact. Spires are weak against winds and snows and a century without anyone to put the right protection spells in place.
Against the cold, Alucard shrinks into the fur lining of his coat. Nearly buries himself in it, because to do so is to hide the look of terrified anticipation on his face. (Gloved hands mean that Trevor cannot see how white knuckled he is.)
He hasn't said anything in two hours.]
A Tale of Three Cities: Krimnos
[The castle’s not capable of hosting either of them for more than one night. It hasn’t been prepared for the winter, there’s not enough wood to keep a fire roaring, and food isn’t abundant either. So back to Krimnos it is.
Back and arriving to attacking soldiers. Soldiers in the color of a city that has long been dead, just as so many others that Alucard has encountered have been. It is the eyes that unnerve him most. Terrible dead things.
He’s not a distance fighter. Alucard’s skill lies in the closest possible range, all longsword and fury and feral magic, mixed together to announce that he stands for himself and will not tolerate anyone encroaching upon his person. It was what kept him safe when traveling the world in life.
In death and reanimation, the sentiment remains the same. At least for now.
So he descends the city’s walls powered by his own feral magic, the kind that lets him float and land with perfection, and he lays in.]
Wildcard
[Alucard had hustled everything he could in order to afford passage back to Krimnos and then some. He has plans now, important ones, ones that mean once he returns to Krimnos he must find a horse and supplies, move himself further into the mountains. This is homecoming. This is examining his family's legacy a century onwards. This is seeing to home, to a grave, to everything that his father and mother built. Everything he built.
For now though, for now he stands on the deck as Krimnos comes into view for the first time. Alucard's gloved hands grip the railings tightly. He leans over, the wind sending his hair back. The bitterness of it stinging his eyes.
What sprawls before him is strange and familiar. What he sees brings no true cry of home, for his home was not the city itself, but there is such a deep ache inside. It works it's way out. It becomes a breathless sigh, impressed and swept away for the changes. He doesn't know what he expected. But here it is all the same.
Things begin anew.]
I wonder how many of the old streets remain.
[He recognizes some layouts. Paths he used to take. And others are new.]
Nothing beside remains (CLOSED)
[Alucard had planned to make this trip alone. There were only two people he would ever want at his side for this, and at the time he decided to return home, neither of them stood. Now, now he has Trevor. The anger about resurrection left aside, Alucard is glad for it. Grateful, even if he's yet to say it out loud.
The Tepes home was out of the city. Had been put there on purpose, for there were fewer prying eyes who would judge a vampir his love of blood magic. So it takes two more days to get there, horse and all. (Alucard is not Trevor, he does not have such great steps.) A surreal two days, for the route has not changed. Oh, there are more houses now, a hamlet has become a proper village in one or two places, but everything else is unchanged. There are trees Alucard recognizes, and oh, they have grown.
They're close now. It'll be around the next bend, and already Alucard's heart is in his throat. He can't see any spires towering above the trees. He accounted for that fact. Spires are weak against winds and snows and a century without anyone to put the right protection spells in place.
Against the cold, Alucard shrinks into the fur lining of his coat. Nearly buries himself in it, because to do so is to hide the look of terrified anticipation on his face. (Gloved hands mean that Trevor cannot see how white knuckled he is.)
He hasn't said anything in two hours.]
A Tale of Three Cities: Krimnos
[The castle’s not capable of hosting either of them for more than one night. It hasn’t been prepared for the winter, there’s not enough wood to keep a fire roaring, and food isn’t abundant either. So back to Krimnos it is.
Back and arriving to attacking soldiers. Soldiers in the color of a city that has long been dead, just as so many others that Alucard has encountered have been. It is the eyes that unnerve him most. Terrible dead things.
He’s not a distance fighter. Alucard’s skill lies in the closest possible range, all longsword and fury and feral magic, mixed together to announce that he stands for himself and will not tolerate anyone encroaching upon his person. It was what kept him safe when traveling the world in life.
In death and reanimation, the sentiment remains the same. At least for now.
So he descends the city’s walls powered by his own feral magic, the kind that lets him float and land with perfection, and he lays in.]
Wildcard
[ He has an eyepatch again. He didn't, the last time he walked this road. It had been taken from him before Alucard and their companion had saved him from, if not the gallows themselves, the consequences of being too large for the gallows. For the best, really. Where they were going nobody would care about old crimes and two eyes were needed (even with two, Alucard's father had been too fast for his eyes to follow).
Now, the opposite is true. There are more people here, now. An inn or two by the roadside that wasn't there before. And there cannot be anything at the castle so terrible as Dracula was. Secrecy is more important than depth perception. ]
Going to guess that you don't want me to ask if you're ready.
[ Last time he asked that, the answer had been 'no'. He doubts it's changed. ]
It's just stone. Whatever's become of it, it can be undone.
Now, the opposite is true. There are more people here, now. An inn or two by the roadside that wasn't there before. And there cannot be anything at the castle so terrible as Dracula was. Secrecy is more important than depth perception. ]
Going to guess that you don't want me to ask if you're ready.
[ Last time he asked that, the answer had been 'no'. He doubts it's changed. ]
It's just stone. Whatever's become of it, it can be undone.
You can take that silly thing off. There's no one here but us.
[And the wolf. And the possum. But that still counts as us as far as Alucard understands it, so there's no point in clarifying the statement.]
I know. I know.
[It's just stone. A helpful refrain, one Alucard latches onto as the castle comes into view again.
The central part stands. Which means that beyond the front doors, there is the great hall, the staircase that leads to his father's study, and then a series of formal rooms after it that have doubtlessly been ravaged by time and treasure seekers. The lone spire that stands was once his mother's lab, which means that there's naught but broken glass to be found
It's hard to know how to feel at the moment, not when the doors are still holding fast in spite of the fact that they could have fallen off their hinges so many years ago. They have to investigate for the sake of knowing what's in there, they'll have to manage to stay the night for it's already threatening to get dark, but it can only be one night.]
It isn't all rubble. That's...heartening.
[Either enough magic endured or enough fear of his father endured.]
[And the wolf. And the possum. But that still counts as us as far as Alucard understands it, so there's no point in clarifying the statement.]
I know. I know.
[It's just stone. A helpful refrain, one Alucard latches onto as the castle comes into view again.
The central part stands. Which means that beyond the front doors, there is the great hall, the staircase that leads to his father's study, and then a series of formal rooms after it that have doubtlessly been ravaged by time and treasure seekers. The lone spire that stands was once his mother's lab, which means that there's naught but broken glass to be found
It's hard to know how to feel at the moment, not when the doors are still holding fast in spite of the fact that they could have fallen off their hinges so many years ago. They have to investigate for the sake of knowing what's in there, they'll have to manage to stay the night for it's already threatening to get dark, but it can only be one night.]
It isn't all rubble. That's...heartening.
[Either enough magic endured or enough fear of his father endured.]
Edited 2019-01-15 01:35 (UTC)
There's no need, unless you expect trouble.
[ Sir this is his emotional support eyepatch.
To someone who'd never seen the place in its prime, it would have seemed ridiculous to say that there's not a lot of the place left. It's still a castle, after all, even in ruin. But he had seen it when it was whole, and what is left is barely bones. It's practically another of those great skeletons littering the land.
Except for the fact that he doesn't fucking like those skeletons, and while he didn't much care for this place before either, it had seemed like it might grow brighter and warmer. One hundred years ago, it had seemed like it might eventually become- if not home, then a place he'd be able to return to for sanctuary.
He sets the wolf down on the ground. ]
Best we make sure nobody else has settled in here, before anything else.
[ This is Alucard's home. Alucard's business. Alucard's right to take the lead and determine what they do. But- best to at least offer to take the lead. Best to have a task, to keep moving and be a step ahead of the emotions. ]
[ Sir this is his emotional support eyepatch.
To someone who'd never seen the place in its prime, it would have seemed ridiculous to say that there's not a lot of the place left. It's still a castle, after all, even in ruin. But he had seen it when it was whole, and what is left is barely bones. It's practically another of those great skeletons littering the land.
Except for the fact that he doesn't fucking like those skeletons, and while he didn't much care for this place before either, it had seemed like it might grow brighter and warmer. One hundred years ago, it had seemed like it might eventually become- if not home, then a place he'd be able to return to for sanctuary.
He sets the wolf down on the ground. ]
Best we make sure nobody else has settled in here, before anything else.
[ This is Alucard's home. Alucard's business. Alucard's right to take the lead and determine what they do. But- best to at least offer to take the lead. Best to have a task, to keep moving and be a step ahead of the emotions. ]
[Alucard frowns at the word trouble, but lets it go.
Better to focus on the practical parts first. Trevor's right, someone might have still settled in. Which means he has to walk in and survey every room, if only to know he can sleep comfortably for a single night. That's fine. He can focus on that.
There's a simplicity to dismounting the horse. To walking up the steps to the front doors, his eyes searching for the marks made by his mother's knife years ago. There are additional marks there now, carvings on the door made by various hands, some the written names of those passing through, the others likely the claws of animals.
When Alucard presses a palm to the door, there are none of the magics that ought to be. The castle is inert, and that is no surprise. The door opens without a sound. Silence, it seems, is king here. Even the wolf's quiet, and that's never her M.O. (At the moment, she's just standing next to Trevor.
The main hall is still large and intimidating. The staircase is there, in good condition from what Alucard can see at his current vantage point. Moth eaten carpet, stains and tears from animals. A few scorch marks in a circle, suggesting long gone visitors who used the place to shelter for the night. Nothing seems terribly recent.
Alucard's eyes rest on the staircase.]
Up or ground level?
Better to focus on the practical parts first. Trevor's right, someone might have still settled in. Which means he has to walk in and survey every room, if only to know he can sleep comfortably for a single night. That's fine. He can focus on that.
There's a simplicity to dismounting the horse. To walking up the steps to the front doors, his eyes searching for the marks made by his mother's knife years ago. There are additional marks there now, carvings on the door made by various hands, some the written names of those passing through, the others likely the claws of animals.
When Alucard presses a palm to the door, there are none of the magics that ought to be. The castle is inert, and that is no surprise. The door opens without a sound. Silence, it seems, is king here. Even the wolf's quiet, and that's never her M.O. (At the moment, she's just standing next to Trevor.
The main hall is still large and intimidating. The staircase is there, in good condition from what Alucard can see at his current vantage point. Moth eaten carpet, stains and tears from animals. A few scorch marks in a circle, suggesting long gone visitors who used the place to shelter for the night. Nothing seems terribly recent.
Alucard's eyes rest on the staircase.]
Up or ground level?
[ There aren't many places with Trevor-sized doors. This is one of the few, and he doesn't have to duck to enter. Which is nice. He does bend down anyway, though, the scratch the wolf's head. Dog is on her back, making that constant wary hissing. It's nothing to do with the castle, probably. He does that about everything that isn't food. ]
Ground level first. If there's something on the ground floor and we head upstairs first, we let it cut off our exit route.
[ Also, stairs are always kind of fraught for him. And they look to be in good condition, but it'd be nice to put them off just a little longer. ]
Ground level first. If there's something on the ground floor and we head upstairs first, we let it cut off our exit route.
[ Also, stairs are always kind of fraught for him. And they look to be in good condition, but it'd be nice to put them off just a little longer. ]
Right, yes. Of course.
[That was the other advantage of having Trevor along. At least one of them could be grounded in strategy.
Ellis, who up until this point has pretty much been flopped all over Trevor the second he's given her attention, is actually still. Even with Dog hissing, because that's what Dog does and she's figured out which hisses are actually an alert of a problem versus Not Liking a thing. Her ears twitch, but there's nothing.
Alucard just nods, and he starts to walk to the stairs and beyond them. The castle's main body has always been accommodating to those of Trevor's size, but the doors to the individual rooms are not quite as helpful.
Not that there seems to be much to worry about. Those ground floor rooms are all there for show. None with fireplaces. None that held anything important, because these were for the rare guest. Alucard still goes through them slowly, mindful of overturned and destroyed furniture, pieces of broken pots, or else glass that has been brought in from elsewhere and shattered.]
We'd do best to use some of the destroyed furniture in here for warmth tonight.
[Horrible thing to think. Painful to say. But needed, and the furniture's beyond saving anyway. Best put it to use.]
[That was the other advantage of having Trevor along. At least one of them could be grounded in strategy.
Ellis, who up until this point has pretty much been flopped all over Trevor the second he's given her attention, is actually still. Even with Dog hissing, because that's what Dog does and she's figured out which hisses are actually an alert of a problem versus Not Liking a thing. Her ears twitch, but there's nothing.
Alucard just nods, and he starts to walk to the stairs and beyond them. The castle's main body has always been accommodating to those of Trevor's size, but the doors to the individual rooms are not quite as helpful.
Not that there seems to be much to worry about. Those ground floor rooms are all there for show. None with fireplaces. None that held anything important, because these were for the rare guest. Alucard still goes through them slowly, mindful of overturned and destroyed furniture, pieces of broken pots, or else glass that has been brought in from elsewhere and shattered.]
We'd do best to use some of the destroyed furniture in here for warmth tonight.
[Horrible thing to think. Painful to say. But needed, and the furniture's beyond saving anyway. Best put it to use.]
[ He's concerned about Ellis, though he's not yet figured out enough about these creatures that there's any more connection between her and Alucard than her simply following him around.
But he can hear the pain in that statement. ]
Still some daylight left, if you want me to gather firewood. It'll be damp, mind. So- I suppose it's 'up or down' again, but with where you want the damage rather than exploring. Burn the things down here, or smoke damage upstairs from burning damp wood. Or suffer without.
[ It won't be comfortable, but he'll be able to survive the night with nothing worse than superficial frostbite if they can find something thick and dry to wrap himself with and put between him and the stone floor. There's a lot of meat between his internal organs and the outside chill. Alucard, though, even if he is a dhampir, is a skinny fucker. ]
But he can hear the pain in that statement. ]
Still some daylight left, if you want me to gather firewood. It'll be damp, mind. So- I suppose it's 'up or down' again, but with where you want the damage rather than exploring. Burn the things down here, or smoke damage upstairs from burning damp wood. Or suffer without.
[ It won't be comfortable, but he'll be able to survive the night with nothing worse than superficial frostbite if they can find something thick and dry to wrap himself with and put between him and the stone floor. There's a lot of meat between his internal organs and the outside chill. Alucard, though, even if he is a dhampir, is a skinny fucker. ]
Main hall for a fire then. There were scorch marks along where the carpet used to be, which means that any marks made can be covered up. It isn't...ideal, but I don't think we can go without.
[Trevor's too big for the wolf to be of any use to the both of them, and Alucard's noticed that she's sort of behaving herself at the moment. That's concerning in and of itself, but there's no time to dwell.
There's likely to be at least some surviving textiles further up and further in, so that's what Alucard decides to focus on.]
Second level will probably be much the same, the remaining spire is going to be absolutely littered with glass though. How sturdy are the soles of your shoes?
[Trevor's too big for the wolf to be of any use to the both of them, and Alucard's noticed that she's sort of behaving herself at the moment. That's concerning in and of itself, but there's no time to dwell.
There's likely to be at least some surviving textiles further up and further in, so that's what Alucard decides to focus on.]
Second level will probably be much the same, the remaining spire is going to be absolutely littered with glass though. How sturdy are the soles of your shoes?
They're not.
[ Look, have you any idea how hard it is to find shoes in his size while also not being able to show your face in major cities? He's lucky to HAVE shoes, even ones that are practically worn through. ]
Should have just nailed the meat from the last inn to them. That'd have done the job.
[ The cook at the last inn they ate at on the way here would have given their companion's cooking solid competition for the least appetizing thing possible. The meal had included slices of meat that even the wolf and possum didn't care to sniff at and that had taken trevor a good ten minutes to cut through. ]
[ Look, have you any idea how hard it is to find shoes in his size while also not being able to show your face in major cities? He's lucky to HAVE shoes, even ones that are practically worn through. ]
Should have just nailed the meat from the last inn to them. That'd have done the job.
[ The cook at the last inn they ate at on the way here would have given their companion's cooking solid competition for the least appetizing thing possible. The meal had included slices of meat that even the wolf and possum didn't care to sniff at and that had taken trevor a good ten minutes to cut through. ]
Then you shoudln't follow me up there. You don't need a thousand tiny cuts on your feet, and given that that's where the lab was, I know it will happen.
[Alucard makes a quiet note to get Trevor better shoes when they return to the city proper. They'll probably be on the road for a while, and it won't do for either of them to be ill equipped to handle that life.
There's a short laugh at the meat comment though.]
We'll request a to-go order when we head back in that direction.
[Ellis whines the sound of oh fuck no at that, taking it as a done deal and not happy about it. Which means she's absolutely back to her version of normal.]
[Alucard makes a quiet note to get Trevor better shoes when they return to the city proper. They'll probably be on the road for a while, and it won't do for either of them to be ill equipped to handle that life.
There's a short laugh at the meat comment though.]
We'll request a to-go order when we head back in that direction.
[Ellis whines the sound of oh fuck no at that, taking it as a done deal and not happy about it. Which means she's absolutely back to her version of normal.]
The lab.
[ He tests the stairs carefully, pushing down on them. Solid enough, at least. Should hold his weight. The levity from the stupid joke is gone for the moment, and he just stares up in the direction of the spire's door. ]
That's probably for the best. [ There are two people whose lab it could have been. And if he expects broken glass- the remains of either of their works are going to be a horribly personal thing. ]
I'll be out here. [ Unspoken - 'if you need me'. ]
[ He tests the stairs carefully, pushing down on them. Solid enough, at least. Should hold his weight. The levity from the stupid joke is gone for the moment, and he just stares up in the direction of the spire's door. ]
That's probably for the best. [ There are two people whose lab it could have been. And if he expects broken glass- the remains of either of their works are going to be a horribly personal thing. ]
I'll be out here. [ Unspoken - 'if you need me'. ]
Right. The rooms on this level can be checked. Includes his study.
[Alucard pauses as a cold nose bumps against him. He frowns down at Ellis, and he shakes his head at her.]
Same concern about broken glass applies to you. Stay with Trevor.
[There's a whine of protest, but Alucard departs for where he knows the door to the spire is. So many other doors now lead to no where at all. When he was younger, learning the right doors was an easy thing. He knows what ought to be behind each one.
The lab then. His mother's, because his father's was meant to lord over the world and bring terror into the hearts of anyone who saw that spire. His mother's, because the amount of stairs in this house was a constant cause of debate and she would not be having any of it. It was one of his parent's stupid fights, the kind that never went anywhere and was just as much a display of affection as anything else they did.
What greets Alucard is broken glass. Most of the shelves of equipment are long since overturned, the locked cabinets broken into and spilled everywhere. Books plundered from shelves (but there are still a few, which seems like a miracle.) He keeps walking, checking each cabinet in turn. It's easy to lie to himself and claim that this is all practicality, just making sure no animals have curled up, ensuring any chemicals that were there have long since dried out, but it's really about knowing how bad this is. How much needs to be rebuilt.
After...well, it's dark now, that's all that is important, Alucard walks out of the lab. In his arms are a few small pieces of equipment. Five things in all, light and likely to be useful down the line. He's unsure where the other three have gotten to (and it is so strange to go from one to three.)]
[Alucard pauses as a cold nose bumps against him. He frowns down at Ellis, and he shakes his head at her.]
Same concern about broken glass applies to you. Stay with Trevor.
[There's a whine of protest, but Alucard departs for where he knows the door to the spire is. So many other doors now lead to no where at all. When he was younger, learning the right doors was an easy thing. He knows what ought to be behind each one.
The lab then. His mother's, because his father's was meant to lord over the world and bring terror into the hearts of anyone who saw that spire. His mother's, because the amount of stairs in this house was a constant cause of debate and she would not be having any of it. It was one of his parent's stupid fights, the kind that never went anywhere and was just as much a display of affection as anything else they did.
What greets Alucard is broken glass. Most of the shelves of equipment are long since overturned, the locked cabinets broken into and spilled everywhere. Books plundered from shelves (but there are still a few, which seems like a miracle.) He keeps walking, checking each cabinet in turn. It's easy to lie to himself and claim that this is all practicality, just making sure no animals have curled up, ensuring any chemicals that were there have long since dried out, but it's really about knowing how bad this is. How much needs to be rebuilt.
After...well, it's dark now, that's all that is important, Alucard walks out of the lab. In his arms are a few small pieces of equipment. Five things in all, light and likely to be useful down the line. He's unsure where the other three have gotten to (and it is so strange to go from one to three.)]
[ Christine has no wish to involve herself in the fighting outside the city's walls, but she stays stationed close to the gates for the return of the city's defenders, waving injured over to a place they can sit or lie down. ]
Let me look you over. I'm a healer.
[ She sends each patient on their way, as healed as she can accomplish without surgery. When Alucard returns, she approaches him. ]
Are you in need of healing?
Let me look you over. I'm a healer.
[ She sends each patient on their way, as healed as she can accomplish without surgery. When Alucard returns, she approaches him. ]
Are you in need of healing?
Character Name: Christine Delacroix
General Location: Didymos
Info: For the tidal troubles event: if Christine was to head out past the shore where the shipwrecks, cargo, and unusual skeletons are, could she explore these things? Could she do some looting of the ships or cargo? And would she be able to identify the skeletons as whatever they used to be?
General Location: Didymos
Info: For the tidal troubles event: if Christine was to head out past the shore where the shipwrecks, cargo, and unusual skeletons are, could she explore these things? Could she do some looting of the ships or cargo? And would she be able to identify the skeletons as whatever they used to be?
[ He shouldn't have said that he would stay, because that does mean that the option of collecting firewood is off the table. They're going to have to burn something from here. And so he takes his time with exploring the rooms upstairs instead, finding scraps of what was probably a large desk of some sort before, one with drawers that locked. He can tell because it was clearly smashed open and is far beyond repair. At least burning it won't be giving up hope of fixing something that might have been saved. The door to Dracula's study remains closed, though. That's not his to poke around in.
He's placed his finds in a little collection downstairs. The broken wood, a thick rug so they don't need to sleep on the stone floor, a set of heavy curtains, the driest and least timeworn bedsheets that he could find. None of it ideal, but warmth is more important than comfort.
When Alucard emerges, he's busied himself with attending to the wolf. The poor thing is clearly spooked by something, he couldn't really say if it's just from being separated from Alucard or being worried about him or something being genuinely wrong. He's sat on the floor, stroking her head softly, and even Dog is quiet and attempting to be comforting. ]
Your dog's fussing.
He's placed his finds in a little collection downstairs. The broken wood, a thick rug so they don't need to sleep on the stone floor, a set of heavy curtains, the driest and least timeworn bedsheets that he could find. None of it ideal, but warmth is more important than comfort.
When Alucard emerges, he's busied himself with attending to the wolf. The poor thing is clearly spooked by something, he couldn't really say if it's just from being separated from Alucard or being worried about him or something being genuinely wrong. He's sat on the floor, stroking her head softly, and even Dog is quiet and attempting to be comforting. ]
Your dog's fussing.
You need to call her a wolf, because we already have Dog. It will get too confusing too quickly.
[Alucard has already dealt with the fact Dog is the weirdest creature he's met, and as terribly endearing as it is seeing Dog ride around on Ellis' back, the name is still a problem.
He descends the stairs slowly, eyes analyzing what's been brought out. It's stunning to see that any of the curtains have managed, textiles can go so quickly, and the rug is...well. It'll do for a protective barrier between them in the floor. The things in his hands are fragile, far more so than ever before, so Alucard moves slowly.
The wolf doesn't really calm down until Alucard's come over and sat beside Trevor, and even then she's decided that she'd rather be smack dab between them. Ridiculous thing.]
Nothing of note aside from what you've already dragged out here, I take it?
[Alucard has already dealt with the fact Dog is the weirdest creature he's met, and as terribly endearing as it is seeing Dog ride around on Ellis' back, the name is still a problem.
He descends the stairs slowly, eyes analyzing what's been brought out. It's stunning to see that any of the curtains have managed, textiles can go so quickly, and the rug is...well. It'll do for a protective barrier between them in the floor. The things in his hands are fragile, far more so than ever before, so Alucard moves slowly.
The wolf doesn't really calm down until Alucard's come over and sat beside Trevor, and even then she's decided that she'd rather be smack dab between them. Ridiculous thing.]
Nothing of note aside from what you've already dragged out here, I take it?
[It had taken a few blows to the side to convince Alucard that maybe he'd be better served by having such a thing seen to. He wasn't the kind of dhampir that used blood to quickly heal wounds, that was against a personal set of ethics and means of controlling himself that had been established long before this death and resurrection nonsense. He was, however, stubborn and able to shrug off pain until it got bad, so...
...this, naturally.
To Christine, the resposne is not a yes. That wastes everyone's time. Instead Alucard shoves his coat aside. The issue is clear already against the white of his shirt: there's a series of stab wounds on the left side, the garment probably consigned to the rag bin for all that the fabric's holding together.]
They're not deep, just at a bad angle for any further combat.
...this, naturally.
To Christine, the resposne is not a yes. That wastes everyone's time. Instead Alucard shoves his coat aside. The issue is clear already against the white of his shirt: there's a series of stab wounds on the left side, the garment probably consigned to the rag bin for all that the fabric's holding together.]
They're not deep, just at a bad angle for any further combat.
He's Dog, she's The Dog. It's simple.
[ Obviously. ]
Stayed out of the study in case there's anything there. [ Also, because it's none of his fucking business. But it's easier to word it as a risk of potential danger, because they're apparently doing this whole thing where they pretend all concerns are practical ones and that Alucard is fine. ] There's a little surviving furniture - things that didn't look like it could have anything stored inside them, mostly. Or that didn't have enough metal to make pulling it apart worth it. Not too much is rotten. Looks like the place has stayed mostly dry. Bookshelves are mostly empty. Someone's used the kitchen while they were staying here, and you can tell because it's full of dead flies, else I'd have brought all this shit in there where it's easier to keep a fire.
[ He sighs. They probably should figure out where to set up camp for the night. The main hall would be the obvious place, but it's huge and one fire can't heat the whole room. the rooms that come off it are easier to heat, but also full of things that can burn if they don't clear them out first. ]
Bright side, turns out that Dog likes dead flies.
[ Obviously. ]
Stayed out of the study in case there's anything there. [ Also, because it's none of his fucking business. But it's easier to word it as a risk of potential danger, because they're apparently doing this whole thing where they pretend all concerns are practical ones and that Alucard is fine. ] There's a little surviving furniture - things that didn't look like it could have anything stored inside them, mostly. Or that didn't have enough metal to make pulling it apart worth it. Not too much is rotten. Looks like the place has stayed mostly dry. Bookshelves are mostly empty. Someone's used the kitchen while they were staying here, and you can tell because it's full of dead flies, else I'd have brought all this shit in there where it's easier to keep a fire.
[ He sighs. They probably should figure out where to set up camp for the night. The main hall would be the obvious place, but it's huge and one fire can't heat the whole room. the rooms that come off it are easier to heat, but also full of things that can burn if they don't clear them out first. ]
Bright side, turns out that Dog likes dead flies.
It is not and you know it.
[This fighting is much more comfortable than actual emotion. In no small part because this is a lot, but also because Alucard's hardly used to Trevor being the emotionally intelligent one. That was...well. She's not here. So maybe it does need to fall to Trevor.
At the mention of the study, he just nods.]
Another time then. [Because the lab was enough.]
First of all, Dog's dietary habits continue to conern me. More importantly, if the kitchen is in a useable enough state otherwise, I can quickly check the fireplace and make sure it's clear. It'd...it's most likely going to be gross, but between that or the other rooms, it would be the safest for a fire.
[Ellis huffs at that. Then her eyes go to the door.]
....I suppose I need to bring the horse in as well.
[This fighting is much more comfortable than actual emotion. In no small part because this is a lot, but also because Alucard's hardly used to Trevor being the emotionally intelligent one. That was...well. She's not here. So maybe it does need to fall to Trevor.
At the mention of the study, he just nods.]
Another time then. [Because the lab was enough.]
First of all, Dog's dietary habits continue to conern me. More importantly, if the kitchen is in a useable enough state otherwise, I can quickly check the fireplace and make sure it's clear. It'd...it's most likely going to be gross, but between that or the other rooms, it would be the safest for a fire.
[Ellis huffs at that. Then her eyes go to the door.]
....I suppose I need to bring the horse in as well.
Hear that, you little shit? You get to go back and eat more.
[ Dog is hissing again now. It's PROBABLY HAPPY HISSING? ]
It's- less awful than you'd expect. Whatever food was left there, it's a couple years old now, basically dust. Nothing that offended my pathetic mortal sense of smell, at the very least, just a fuckload of flies. If you check, I'll bring the horse in. [ Yeah he also forgot about the horse. ] I'll tie them up down here and cover them with one of the curtains.
[ Dog is hissing again now. It's PROBABLY HAPPY HISSING? ]
It's- less awful than you'd expect. Whatever food was left there, it's a couple years old now, basically dust. Nothing that offended my pathetic mortal sense of smell, at the very least, just a fuckload of flies. If you check, I'll bring the horse in. [ Yeah he also forgot about the horse. ] I'll tie them up down here and cover them with one of the curtains.
[ Christine puts herself in a better position to see the wounds, humming thoughtfully. He's far from the first to come to her with a wound that seems serious, but that's treated as merely bothersome and detracting from the battle they wish to return to. ]
So if I heal these, you'll be rushing off back into battle? Can I interest you in a brief respite instead?
[ She has to try. She wouldn't be her if she didn't disapprove of people rushing off to undo her work. Yet as she speaks, she's already conjuring healing magic in the palm of her hand to get started. ]
So if I heal these, you'll be rushing off back into battle? Can I interest you in a brief respite instead?
[ She has to try. She wouldn't be her if she didn't disapprove of people rushing off to undo her work. Yet as she speaks, she's already conjuring healing magic in the palm of her hand to get started. ]
[Ellis perks a little, so that means that's happy hissing.]
That's a much too excited face at the prospect of...of the meal.
[Your possum is weird and disconcerting Trevor.]
I can handle flies and faint smells. In truth it's...reassuring, to have had some of the people who were here see it as a place of refuge rather than, hm, Dracula's Fucking Demon Castle?
[He knows the wording. But back to the horse.]
Thank you. The packs on it still have all of our food, so best to bring those into the kitchen.
That's a much too excited face at the prospect of...of the meal.
[Your possum is weird and disconcerting Trevor.]
I can handle flies and faint smells. In truth it's...reassuring, to have had some of the people who were here see it as a place of refuge rather than, hm, Dracula's Fucking Demon Castle?
[He knows the wording. But back to the horse.]
Thank you. The packs on it still have all of our food, so best to bring those into the kitchen.
That would depend on your estimation of my current blood loss.
[He's terribly matter-of-fact about this, if only in an attempt to make Christine's life easier. Alucard would never demand anyone's time beyond what he needs in a situation like this, and there are doubtlessly more injured that do not have his presence of mind to indicate things quickly and clearly.]
[He's terribly matter-of-fact about this, if only in an attempt to make Christine's life easier. Alucard would never demand anyone's time beyond what he needs in a situation like this, and there are doubtlessly more injured that do not have his presence of mind to indicate things quickly and clearly.]
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