middaeg | [closed] winter pool time

[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!

[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?

Fine. I'm fine.

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

Nothing's hurt.

[Sypha sits up too, rolling her shoulders.]

No? Then why'd you sound so unsettled?

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.

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?

[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.]

Your heart's desire.

[Sypha knew without having to ask that was what it was. Alucard was a lonely soul, chained down by his own brooding nature, his upbringing, and by being an emotional trainwreck. Seeing him there in the water, surrounded by people who cared about him, it wasn't a stretch to know what he wanted.

She stepped closer, and slipped an arm around his waist, pulling Dracula's son...her friend...into a gentle hug.]

All you have to do is ask, Alucard.

You weren't supposed to--

[He just shuts up. Shutting up, he's learned, is just as important as anything else. He shouldn't try and defend everything he does. Or explain. Or anything else. He needs to let things be and to go no further there.

Sypha makes everything seem so easy. Straight forward. Obvious. He wishes that it came so naturally to him. That he could just be open with emotions. It would have saved himself and Trevor so much heartache.

He leans into the hug, arms wrapping around her and squeezing with more pressure than intended.]

[She's a hardy sort. She can take it. And give it back, wrapping both her arms around him and just...holding on. It's a little bit ridiculous that it's taken him this long to admit to her, and that it took a pool of magic water, but she can deal.

Why?

Because she feels the same way about him. And, because she wants him to be happy.]

Hugs. Companionship. It all really makes the world go round, Alucard. And if I knew you wanted that, I'd have done it long ago.

If it was that easy for me to say, you would've known before you and Trevor even left.

[It was obvious what the situation should be the moment Sypha took his and Trevor's hands and lead them both into the sunlight after Dracula was defeated. But the world needed a Belmont and a Speaker, and Alucard knew the worst of his grief was nothing he wanted to expose the other two to.

He says nothing for a moment more. Looking for words. Finding all of them wanting.]

It's so much easier with you than him.

Well. Now the cat is out of the bag, Alucard.

[And you cannot shove a cat back into a bag. It will claw you to death. Don't try it.]

...And of course it is. I mean, Trevor is a wonderful person, but he's also emotionally closed himself off from everyone.

[Which has her leaning away from Alucard, still hanging on him but not pressed in as close, looking off in Trevor's direction. ~~He's probably swearing about something~~]

He needs time, but we're getting through to him.

[Alucard's not a fan of this level of vulnerability. His instinct is to withdraw from it, just so that the focus can be on others who need it far more because of circumstances beyond their control. The worst of his circumstances? Self made.

Or at least that's his defense, and has been for some time. It's hard, even thinking about lowering that same defense.]

You're likely to be more successful than I. [If the name of the game is honesty right now, he probably needs to go all in.] And I think we're both asking too much of you.

[Sypha looks up at him, a little bewildered by the sentiment? Asking too much?

She frowns, turning the words over in her head a few times before she shakes her head in an emphatic no.]

No. I don't think that. [Her lips quirk back up into a quick smile, though it's a touch muted.]

If I think it's too much, I'll tell you. Probably scream it at you. But I don't think it's too much right now. You've been through a lot, and you need the support. So does he.

[He and Trevor both have a lifetime's worth of emotional issues, even without being here. Alucard's also always considered Sypha's own circumstances (she's never commented on what happened to her parents, and there is no way a Speaker's life is an easy thing). It still feels like demanding she shoulder two insane burdens.

But she is right. Sypha is nothing if not an expert at articulate her needs and calling the other two out on their nonsense. He remembers her far too stern rebuke in the Hold when Alucard just laid into the Belmont's every flaw. Shit. He's being a moody teenager again, isn't he?]

I'd expect nothing less from you if that becomes the case.

[His arms still linger around her, but it feels as if they should be elsewhere.]

Where do we even begin?

Small>[The question is asked softly, but with no less concern or worry than before. Alucard knows that he's failed. Better to let someone else lead.]

[Sypha shrugs at his question. That is one she doesn't have a good answer for. She does have some thoughts though, so he won't be left waiting for an answer for too long. Puffing out a breath, she leans into him again.]

It's different for everyone, Alucard. But I think that admitting to yourself what you actually want is a good start.

[Alucard has always struck her, in a way, as a paragon of self denial.]

You can reach out, you should reach out. So...if your hearts desire is to be appreciated and loved, and to return the same to us, then maybe you should say that. Even if it's just to yourself.

[Her eyes flicker down to the water, wondering if it'll work for her the same way. An image does start to form, but it hasn't grown clear yet. Maybe it's waiting on him, or maybe it's just slow.]

[He is an amazing paragon of self denial, and it comes from the wellspring of guilt within.

Alucard doesn't follow where Sypha's eyes go. She should have a moment of privacy with her own thoughts before he intrudes. Instead he closes his eyes, giving himself a moment to take a long and steadying breath.]

You make it sound far easier than it is for me. [Besides.] I think I've scuttled it anyway.

I certainly don't feel you have.

[She reaches out, putting a hand up on his cheek, turning from the reflection in the pool and trying to guide his eyes towards hers. She'd like him to look into her gaze, just for a moment.

Then, she turns his head towards the pool, gently but with tight fingers.

The vision in the water is more or less the same. Though, it's Sypha at the center, with Trevor and Alucard on either side, all huddled together into a big group embrace.

...And perhaps coloring the seriousness of the moment, she's just a touch taller than normal.]

See? Definitely not scuttled.

[It's a lot, Sypha's hand being on his cheek. He manages to meet her eyes, but there's still such shame and loneliness there. It only gets worse when she guides him back to the water. He closes his eyes after they linger for a moment, letting out a weary noise.]

Trevor and I had a very tense not-quite-a-fight that makes me concerned.

Ah..

[That doesn't make her smile waver one iota. She's not going to let that slip, even if it is worrying.]

We did too. But...he'll come around. Just like before.

...We also kissed about halfway through the argument, then continued it.

[They's Very Stupid.]

[Well that gets her attention. Sypha stiffens, her face going red.]

You what?

Please don't make me say it again, it makes the argument far worse.

[Alucard's very much just not looking at Sypha now. Eyes closed, just standing in his own shame.]

And you...did plan on telling me you had those kind of feelings for him, didn't you?

[Just kiss her, Alucard. That is the only way she'll stop teasing you.]

Well the pool did most of the work--! And then he didn't want to tell you, even though I pointed out that it was only fair and that you would find out anyway. [Guess what was part of the argument.

Also guess who isn't getting the hint.]

[closed] winter pool time

Re: Clear Waters

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