middaeg | [closed] winter pool time

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.]

[ 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?

[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.

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.]

Edited 2020-02-09 22:33 (UTC)

[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?

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?

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?

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?

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.]

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. ]

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.]

[ He falls silent as Alucard says that, feeling there's... not really much to say to that that hasn't already been said. He knows it sucks that they had to kill his father. Sucks even more with what happened to his mother and no, she didn't deserve that in the least. But there's... nothing they can really do about it and people have been saved thanks to their stopping Dracula.

But... Alucard still a lost father that day and so Trevor just... gently drops a hand to the blond's shoulder. Just a quiet sort of reassurance for him. ]

Probably a bad idea to keep some of that water for yourself then.

I wasn't going to. That way lies madness.

[Alucard screws the lid back onto the jar, but he doesn't stand just yet. He remembers their awful conversation from a few days ago, and so instead, he places his hand atop Trevor's and squeezes it very gently.]

[ Trevor's hand is a little cool to the touch... going to get colder the more he becomes a vampire. Just another thing to look forward to?? Or something. Regardless, he hums a bit and offers a bit of a smile before he glances around their surroundings. ]

Guess it's best not to look at it then. Who knows what the hell would show up for me.

If you'd like to, I'll give you space.

[The cold doesn't bother him, but Alucard's probably the only person used to it. Hugging his father as a child was hugging a corpse, after all.

All the same, his thumb runs over Trevor's knuckles slowly.]

[ He considers that for a moment, even gives a bit of a peek to the pool... but ultimately decides against it. For now?? Who knows. ]

I don't need to see a tankard of ale to know I desire it.

[ Or maybe he'd see blood... there's a terrifying thought.

But he pulls his hand away and readjusts his cloak a little. ]

Did I... tell you about my getting another bond probably? Other than Sypha, I mean.

I think it moves beyond basic things like ale.

[Alucard doesn't harp on it though. He simply stands, tucking the jar into the little satchel that hangs at his side.

There's a pause at Trevor's words. Sypha was going to happen, that much was obvious and hardly something he'd want to discourage. But another person outside the two of them? That's....

...that's not his business. His face goes carefully blank, not wanting his own confused emotions to impact Trevor's decisions.]

You didn't. You're certain that you want a third?

[ Honestly, it's not like he goes looking for these things?? They just happen. Somehow. ]

He lost a bond recently and he's... a friend?

[ Ugh, yeah. YEAH. ]

He gives me blood when I need it. [ A beat. ] He's a dragon. I think his blood does something to me.

[Alucard's lips thin for a moment and...]

Oh, that explains a few things I had experienced over the past few months.

[Dragon blood, it seems, goes through bond as well.]

If that's what you wish to do, I'm not going to say no.

[Alucard does not have confidence in Trevor's decision making, but the past few months have been a little better on that front.]

You... felt it?

[ He seems... not embarrassed but shocked?? Maybe?? ]

Was it like a... warm and fuzzy sort of feeling?

Something like that. I wasn't sure of the cause, and it seemed inappropriate for me to demand an explanation.

[ Well... shit. He rubs a hand at his neck, seeming a bit sheepish then. ]

Oh... sor..ry... about that.

[closed] winter pool time

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clear waters

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Clear Waters

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