[closed] winter pool time

[cryptsleeper]

Who: Alucard, Sypha, and Trevor
When: Early in the month
Where: The Pool of Desire and the route there and back
What: Quest
Warnings: Added as appropriate



Quest description

Comments

[cryptsleeper]

On the road again
[It wasn't until they were all deep in the Wilde that Alucard realized that he probably suggested this adventure on purpose. Going on an awful road trip had forced the three of them to get along with each other once before, the emphasis placed on the need to deal with each other to just survive. It isn't too much different now as they walk through the Wilde, and there's comfort in the familarity. Same nonsense. Same people. Maybe a similar enough result.

Well. Mostly the same people. Alucard is himself in all aspects save his powers. Trevor is himself but also sometimes a bat. Sypha is...well, she's Sypha, just with slightly different magic. The emotions are where the difference lies this time around - Alucard is no longer all grim purpose and the weight of Wallachia on his shoulders. Trevor has fresh trauma to process. Sypha is adjusting to new circumstances.

Some things don't change though, for up ahead, there's a noise. A growl. Alucard's sword is out in mere seconds, all instinct.]

Someone confirm what's ahead.

Clear waters

I think I've found--

[The words die on Alucard's tongue. The mechanism of how this pool manifests is still poorly understood, and he doesn't know if calling out to the others will make the thing disappear. It could. It could not. It was for that reason that they each had a sample jar, and out of instinct, Alucard stoops to try and fill it.

His eye catches the surface.

The pool is said to reflect a heart's desire.

So it is a small wonder that what Alucard sees starts as one thing, then becomes another. His mother, alive and well, embracing his father. The obvious one. The one he anticipated, because what comes next is Trevor's face (sometimes as pale as Dracula's with fangs slipping over his gums, sometimes so very human) and Sypha's. They're embracing each other (expected) and himself (less so.) The tone impossible to tell, except Alucard knows exactly what that tone is and--

--it was unclear if someone else could also see the viewer's desire, if they were summoned to the pool. Shit.

Shit.]

Never mind!

[He shouts it in an absolute panic.]

clear waters

[quickwhip]

[ Trevor's got himself wearing a goddamn cloak with a hood because, traveling during the sunlight hours is... well, he's not bursting into flames yet. But the light of the sun drains him the more the weeks go on and while they're out on this little adventure, he'd rather not feel the need to constantly park himself under a tree and nap for a few hours.

So, that all in mind, he's a little out of it at times. But not so out of it that when he hears Alucard's shout, he bolts his way on over with a speed he's still adjusting to. Thanks, vampire speed! ]

What? What is it?

[ He comes up behind Alucard, cloak wrapping around him and... nearly tripping over the damn thing as it gets tangled up in his feet but thankfully!!! He doesn't. Catching is footing as he looks about, hood knocked down. ]

I don't... see anything? Am I supposed to?

[cryptsleeper]

[The cloak was a reminder of circumstances. All the more reason this thing was important: they wouldn't be able to move around in the daylight as a trio soon. To take advantage of that is important.

Trevor's...right. Alucard misses having that level of speed at his command. He doesn't startle when Trevor appears, but he is damn sure to tear his gaze away from the pool below. There's now nothing there.

Good. Thank fuck.]

I believe so. But it may not work with two people looking at it.

[quickwhip]

Looking at what?

[ It takes him a moment before it clicks that the blond means the pool of water there since... right. That's what they were here in the first place, wasn't it? ]

Oh. The water you mean.

[ Rubbing at his neck some, he SORT OF LOOKS TO IT from where he's standing. But... not really at the same time. ]

Did you see something in there?

[cryptsleeper]

Yes, the water.

[Master of the obvious: Adrian Tepes. For a moment he says nothing more, shaking his head as if that's the key to completely reorienting himself.]

I think so. [Something he can happily breeze right over thank you!] Do you have the sample jar?

[quickwhip]

Should have it on me... somewhere.

[ He feels around in his cloak for a moment before he pulls out the aforementioned jar and hands it off to Alucard. You know, if he wants it. And because you know he's gonna ask it ]

What did you see?

[cryptsleeper]

My parents.

[The response is automatic as he takes the jar. Alucard's eyes return to the water, careful and a little wary of bending down to get the water immediately.

A moment of awkward silence passes. He crouches back down, and dips the jar into the water. Quietly, the dhampir hopes that there will be no return of the images from moments before.]

[quickwhip]

To be with them again?

[ Since... this pool is about desires or something, right? So, makes sense he would see, you know, a happy family reunited and all that. ]

[cryptsleeper]

For them to just be both alive again.

[The point is distinct, the underlying suggestion that even if Alucard isn't present, that they're together and happy is much more important. He keeps his attention on the jar, filling it up and up and up until it is full.]

Clear Waters

[strongspirited]

What is it?!

[Sypha heard the shout, the note of panic, and came running. How could she not? It was not a good thing, hearing any note of panic anywhere in Alucard's normally calm voice so she hurtles over branches and twigs to make her way to where he'd gone to investigate.

Skittering to a halt at his side, boots spraying twigs as she wobbles, trying not to skid into the pool...she pinwheels her arms...

And could probably use a hand to avoid falling in.]

Re: Clear Waters

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard grabs onto Sypha's wrist at the very, very last possible moment. Not having vampire speed is a nightmare, but more than that? The sudden yank of Sypha's wrist to keep her from falling in means that the dhampir goes falling right over onto his back. Dragging Sypha with him.

He lands with a loud thud, and anticipates Sypha landing atop him.]

Oof!

[strongspirited]

[And down they go. Flomp! Sypha isn't exactly heavy, and she doesn't land particularly hard, though she is on top of him. With a yelp, she rolls off, turning to look at him in bewilderment.]

Oh goodness! Are you alright?

[cryptsleeper]

Fine. I'm fine.

[Alucard sits himself up slowly, testing the veracity of his own words. He then nods, confident.]

Nothing's hurt.

[strongspirited]

[Sypha sits up too, rolling her shoulders.]

No? Then why'd you sound so unsettled?

[cryptsleeper]

It's nothing.

[It's absolutely something. Alucard gets up to his feet slowly, then offers Sypha his hand.]

I thought I saw something. I was imagining matters.

[strongspirited]

You sounded afraid, Alucard.

[And, standing up, she glances down at the pool and sees the reason why...

Her eyes widen very slightly, and she looks up at him with a confused expression.]

...Is it because of this?

[cryptsleeper]

[Afraid? He wants to protest, but--

--Sypha's seen what's in the pool. It's shimmering now, fading, fading, gone.]

...What did you see?

[Now he does sound scared.]

sypha; heading back

[quickwhip]

[ Brushing a few strands of damp hair out of his face, Trevor listens to the way his boots squish as he goes. They got the stupid water, this trip a fucking nightmare as far as he's concerned, and he hasn't seen a single monster to punch in the face. Monster as in... not... a nice one. Yeah, the terminology there is definitely... still something.

But, the point is, they have what they came for and so heading back is what they're up to now and Trevor could not be more thankful for it. The sun has made him feel tired during the trip despite the cloak he's worn around himself and with the whole pool of desire nonsense itself, he's ready to just go back to where they live within this world and just... wrap himself up in blankets and sleep. For a long time.

It's with walking alongside Sypha that he glances to her out of the corner of his eye. The silence being a little strange almost. Funnily enough. So, might as well say something, right? ]

Can't believe we came out here for some fucking magic water.

[strongspirited]

[Sypha is in a strange mood, herself. The water had given her quite a lot to think on, mostly, though the incident with Alucard had given her something even more to mull over. She was content to let the Dhampir take the lead so she could hang back with Trevor, in fact. There were reasons for it. Plenty of reasons.

Two big ones stood out, in fact. But that was going to be one of those things she'd have to address slowly and she knew it.

When Trevor speaks up, breaking the companionable silence, she could almost laugh.]

Can't you? Enchanted objects are really not that uncommon, and water does have a lot of potential as a magical reagent. I'm surprised they didn't want us to drain the entire pool, honestly.

[quickwhip]

Do I look like a magic user?

[ Though it's sharp, it's said in jest, really. She knows he knows diddily squat when it comes to reading and doing magic. OF it?? Yes, he knows. But actually using it is... not his area of skill. Unless it's salt. Maybe. Jut throw that shit at demons. ]

But, I guess the need to keep it flowing or whatever is why they didn't ask us to. Can't make much use of it if it's all gone in one go.

[strongspirited]

No, you look like a very tired, very disheveled vampire hunter.

[But, you know, just the truth.]

And also, yes, though if what they said is accurate, each person can only find the pool once.

[quickwhip]

That would explain why they enlist several people then.

[ And will continue to do so?? Hell if he knows. ]

Guess that's it for us.

[strongspirited]

Yes. We go home, we get paid, and then we move on to the next thing.

[Whatever that may be.]

Hopefully next time something with a little less trekking through the wilderness.

[quickwhip]

Tell me about it. I'm a soggy mess.

[ He's not as bad as he first was when crawling out of the pool of desire?? But still, damp clothes and squishing shoes is not fun. ]

Sooner we get back, the better.

[strongspirited]

Are you could, Trevor?

[It's...almost like she might could do something about that.]