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I'm solid.
[ It's not a lie. He's feeling steady now. In control of himself and the persona he's trying to show to everyone. ]
I get caught on things sometimes. It passes.
[ Some of them do. Not all. But that's a secret he intends to take to the grave. Or at least back to Chorus, where he can find Washington and Carolina, and then nothing at all will matter. ]
[ It's not a lie. He's feeling steady now. In control of himself and the persona he's trying to show to everyone. ]
I get caught on things sometimes. It passes.
[ Some of them do. Not all. But that's a secret he intends to take to the grave. Or at least back to Chorus, where he can find Washington and Carolina, and then nothing at all will matter. ]
Well, should you wish a drinking partner next time, barring any unforeseen calendar arrangements, I imagine I will be free.
Huh. I'll take you up on that.
[ Godric didn't push the issue. Just accepted it. So. That's something, too. ]
[ Godric didn't push the issue. Just accepted it. So. That's something, too. ]
[ Trevor studies Godric carefully for any sign of a lie in those words, but vampires have few tells to begin with and this one... well, he's exceptionally well controlled. Which could lend credence to his claims or just make them more of a convincing smokescreen. Ultimately uncertain, he breathes out slowly.
It's extremely stressful for Trevor, being so close and not fighting. Godric's unnatural stillness is setting off every alarm he has, his instincts screaming danger at the lack of breathing, the absence of those slight movements other creatures make to show they're alive.
This is an undead thing, borne of chaos and death and evil. No one in all of the Belmont legacy has found one to depart from that nature for long. You cannot trust him.
And he won't.
But he finds he does believe the words, the admission that Godric stepped into the light of day. Not a single tell and yet it rings true. ]
Hmm.
[ That seems to be all he's got for a long moment, as he's already issued a threat and not had it risen to. That's rather infuriating, honestly. ]
Say you're right, and it is not. What do you intend to do with yourself from now on?
It's extremely stressful for Trevor, being so close and not fighting. Godric's unnatural stillness is setting off every alarm he has, his instincts screaming danger at the lack of breathing, the absence of those slight movements other creatures make to show they're alive.
This is an undead thing, borne of chaos and death and evil. No one in all of the Belmont legacy has found one to depart from that nature for long. You cannot trust him.
And he won't.
But he finds he does believe the words, the admission that Godric stepped into the light of day. Not a single tell and yet it rings true. ]
Hmm.
[ That seems to be all he's got for a long moment, as he's already issued a threat and not had it risen to. That's rather infuriating, honestly. ]
Say you're right, and it is not. What do you intend to do with yourself from now on?
( another slight gesture, this one a shrug, suitable for a boy of sixteen rather than a creature of millennia. it does not make him look young. )
I intend to assist our fellow displaced as much as I am able. Even lacking the strength to which I am accustomed, I am a formidable protector.
( he cannot be everywhere at once. but a single life saved is worth all efforts, to him. )
I intend to assist our fellow displaced as much as I am able. Even lacking the strength to which I am accustomed, I am a formidable protector.
( he cannot be everywhere at once. but a single life saved is worth all efforts, to him. )
[ That's an interesting tidbit of information -- some of this vampire's abilities have been restricted by whatever experimentation has been done on them. But Trevor finds himself lingering on the fact that Godric is currently reminding him of a certain dhampir he knows. One he misses despite himself. Alucard is a cockwart, but he's Trevor's friend regardless of their natures. They've fought together in every way imaginable, and come out of the flames with a stronger bond than Trevor could ever have imagined.
Part of him wonders if Godric could wind up like that, a friend, and he resents it deeply. It screams against his instincts, makes him feel like he's going soft believing any of this. God but he needs a drink. Another one. Several. His scowl deepens, though his words are mild -- it's fairly clear for someone as experienced at reading people as Godric that he's angry with himself as much as anything. The vampire before him. This situation. The absence of his comrades.
Sypha would want him to try and make nice. His dead family would want him to whip out the wooden blade in his pocket. Alucard would mock him for his deliberation and probably insult his attempt at intimidation. Fuck it all. ]
Then we have a similar mission. Do you believe the power granted to you here will help or hinder this intention?
[ A clumsy attempt at digging, but he wants to know. What can you do, Godric? ]
Part of him wonders if Godric could wind up like that, a friend, and he resents it deeply. It screams against his instincts, makes him feel like he's going soft believing any of this. God but he needs a drink. Another one. Several. His scowl deepens, though his words are mild -- it's fairly clear for someone as experienced at reading people as Godric that he's angry with himself as much as anything. The vampire before him. This situation. The absence of his comrades.
Sypha would want him to try and make nice. His dead family would want him to whip out the wooden blade in his pocket. Alucard would mock him for his deliberation and probably insult his attempt at intimidation. Fuck it all. ]
Then we have a similar mission. Do you believe the power granted to you here will help or hinder this intention?
[ A clumsy attempt at digging, but he wants to know. What can you do, Godric? ]
( there is a war beneath this man's skin. he is being civil, despite the fact he has very little reason to be and, it seems, very little desire. but he is making the attempt, and despises doing so.
godric glances across the room, briefly focused on nothing at all before his focus returns to the man before him. )
I have not yet discovered what it may be.
godric glances across the room, briefly focused on nothing at all before his focus returns to the man before him. )
I have not yet discovered what it may be.
Edited 2020-01-21 15:58 (UTC)
You may discover it randomly, as I did; I would advise you be on your guard should you begin to glow. It may be something that causes you to hurt another without meaning to. And I do hope you'll be able to keep your word, vampire, for everyone's sake.
[ This is probably his cue to walk off dramatically, but Trevor lingers. Still angry, still conflicted, fighting his own nature even as they speak of Godric changing his. He will not let a vampire be more controlled than him.
And then it occurs to him that there's one way to know for certain if he needs to keep part of his focus trained on Godric. ]
Give me your hand.
[ This is probably his cue to walk off dramatically, but Trevor lingers. Still angry, still conflicted, fighting his own nature even as they speak of Godric changing his. He will not let a vampire be more controlled than him.
And then it occurs to him that there's one way to know for certain if he needs to keep part of his focus trained on Godric. ]
Give me your hand.
( again the veiled threat. godric says nothing to acknowledge it, merely offers out his hand. he assumes the man wishes to trigger the empathy bond, an endeavor to discern the truth of what he says. he has nothing to hide, and so does not shy away.
nor does he try to temper it. two thousand years of emotion will doubtless be difficult to bear, let the human take what he will of it. in this, they will learn each other's measure.
when trevor takes it, there first comes that sense of age, creeping in like a low fog. yet, it does not come as a blow but as a gentle encompassment. he exists as a place outside the human comprehension of time. peaceable. quiet.
there is serenity in his touch. an absolute stillness. old lakes and ancient standing stone. there is nothing human in him, but there is also very little vampire. he simply is, a force of nature, an eldritch creature who has chosen to tarry here a while, and bow his head to human whims. there is love, and yearning, and regret. the sorrow he spoke of is pervasive and bone deep, entrenched in the marrow of the mind. something wild and fey and utterly without master. there is a loneliness wended through the rest like silver thread stitched into a tapestry of the glittering dawn. there is hunger, too, a pervasive pressure at the edge of awareness. omnipresent, yet ignored. diminished in size and scope for the inattention it has received.
but of rage, but of savagery, all is quiescent. )
nor does he try to temper it. two thousand years of emotion will doubtless be difficult to bear, let the human take what he will of it. in this, they will learn each other's measure.
when trevor takes it, there first comes that sense of age, creeping in like a low fog. yet, it does not come as a blow but as a gentle encompassment. he exists as a place outside the human comprehension of time. peaceable. quiet.
there is serenity in his touch. an absolute stillness. old lakes and ancient standing stone. there is nothing human in him, but there is also very little vampire. he simply is, a force of nature, an eldritch creature who has chosen to tarry here a while, and bow his head to human whims. there is love, and yearning, and regret. the sorrow he spoke of is pervasive and bone deep, entrenched in the marrow of the mind. something wild and fey and utterly without master. there is a loneliness wended through the rest like silver thread stitched into a tapestry of the glittering dawn. there is hunger, too, a pervasive pressure at the edge of awareness. omnipresent, yet ignored. diminished in size and scope for the inattention it has received.
but of rage, but of savagery, all is quiescent. )
( he might have been contented to leave it at that. yet a short time later, he returns to this conversation. )
What did you hope to gain by telling a vampire hunter of me?
( of all the people he has divulged his nature to, only ephemera feared him. it is a reasonable, logical conclusion to have come to, and he does not think himself incorrect. )
What did you hope to gain by telling a vampire hunter of me?
( of all the people he has divulged his nature to, only ephemera feared him. it is a reasonable, logical conclusion to have come to, and he does not think himself incorrect. )
[ Yeah. That. ]
An exchange of information. I asked him how you go about killing a vampire.
[ Brutal honesty seems like the way to go at this point. ]
Take it you know about the other one.
An exchange of information. I asked him how you go about killing a vampire.
[ Brutal honesty seems like the way to go at this point. ]
Take it you know about the other one.
[ That could mean a whole lot of things. ]
And?
And?
( and the thread's not done, god, ephemera!!! )
I caused her to lose interest in her human victim. The rest is irrelevant.
I caused her to lose interest in her human victim. The rest is irrelevant.
[ He has a feeling that's code for more vampire stuff. Which is probably something he's just gonna have to live with now. Great. ]
Look. I don't understand half of this shit. But you've been straight with me so far. Can you deal with her or not?
Look. I don't understand half of this shit. But you've been straight with me so far. Can you deal with her or not?
I have been without blood for too long to be her equal in a fight, but I can certainly distract her such that others may assist in restraining her.
What did Mr. Belmont tell you of our weaknesses?
What did Mr. Belmont tell you of our weaknesses?
And if I got you some blood? The local hospitals should have plasma and their security's probably shit.
[ He's more than wiling to rob a hospital if it gets the job done. ]
Sunlight, silver, beheading. Wooden stake. Something about holy water and crosses.
[ This is very clearly not his area. ]
I'm not strong enough to go up somebody like you, even a younger one, or however the fuck that works. Not without armor. But if I got somebody to make silver bullets at a high enough caliber, something big enough to take a person's head off, would that work?
[ He's more than wiling to rob a hospital if it gets the job done. ]
Sunlight, silver, beheading. Wooden stake. Something about holy water and crosses.
[ This is very clearly not his area. ]
I'm not strong enough to go up somebody like you, even a younger one, or however the fuck that works. Not without armor. But if I got somebody to make silver bullets at a high enough caliber, something big enough to take a person's head off, would that work?
[ Godric is something Trevor hasn't experienced since perhaps early childhood -- peace. The sorrow, the regret, the loneliness and longing is all familiar, but the calm that comes over him is foreign as this city. Is this what it feels like? That gentle serenity has his fingers curling around Godric's hand seeking more of it, to bury himself inside the cocoon of self assuredness. It's terrifying and comforting and absolutely overwhelming, and so for a long moment he holds on.
Unfortunately, where Godric is at the eye of life's storm, tranquil and silent and certain, Trevor is himself the hurricane.
His emotions are tumultuous and powerful, chaotic and confused. A cacophony of fear and misery borne of grief, loneliness, violence, a lifetime spent fighting to survive on his own against what for most would be insurmountable odds. He feels adrift here, is latching on to this vampire as something he knows how to face, to behave around, and is angry at Godric for defying his expectations. There's that urge to set the universe right as he knows it, a deep need to belong and have purpose protecting people because if he's not a protector, he's just the same worthless cynical drunk he was for nearly half his life. He is alone and he's afraid and everything is different from what he knows. All he wants is a friend, some peace and guidance. All he wants is to be sure of who he is again. There is goodness there, so pure it would be as blinding like the midday sun if it weren't covered by the dark clouds of everything else.
He does not hate Godric. He hates the evil he knows, that he's seen and fought and been scarred by. The vampires of his world thrive on chaos and pain, but Trevor knows that's not all they are. Someone proved that to him, not too long ago. There's fondness there and in it hope for these two, if only he'd let there be. But his need for something he understands is more consuming.
Also he's drunk, which surely the vampire could smell and see in the flush on his skin, but somehow not dulled by it.
Then it's over, Trevor yanking his hand back as if he's been burned, expression unreadable. There are tears shining in the corners of his eyes, but they don't fall. He blinks them away and stares at Godric as if trying to make sense of a puzzle he's only first laid eyes on. ]
You're hungry even now, Godric.
[ There's no accusation in his voice, though. Maybe a hint of concern. ]
Unfortunately, where Godric is at the eye of life's storm, tranquil and silent and certain, Trevor is himself the hurricane.
His emotions are tumultuous and powerful, chaotic and confused. A cacophony of fear and misery borne of grief, loneliness, violence, a lifetime spent fighting to survive on his own against what for most would be insurmountable odds. He feels adrift here, is latching on to this vampire as something he knows how to face, to behave around, and is angry at Godric for defying his expectations. There's that urge to set the universe right as he knows it, a deep need to belong and have purpose protecting people because if he's not a protector, he's just the same worthless cynical drunk he was for nearly half his life. He is alone and he's afraid and everything is different from what he knows. All he wants is a friend, some peace and guidance. All he wants is to be sure of who he is again. There is goodness there, so pure it would be as blinding like the midday sun if it weren't covered by the dark clouds of everything else.
He does not hate Godric. He hates the evil he knows, that he's seen and fought and been scarred by. The vampires of his world thrive on chaos and pain, but Trevor knows that's not all they are. Someone proved that to him, not too long ago. There's fondness there and in it hope for these two, if only he'd let there be. But his need for something he understands is more consuming.
Also he's drunk, which surely the vampire could smell and see in the flush on his skin, but somehow not dulled by it.
Then it's over, Trevor yanking his hand back as if he's been burned, expression unreadable. There are tears shining in the corners of his eyes, but they don't fall. He blinks them away and stares at Godric as if trying to make sense of a puzzle he's only first laid eyes on. ]
You're hungry even now, Godric.
[ There's no accusation in his voice, though. Maybe a hint of concern. ]
The preservative they use in the blood is unpleasant to ingest, but it would suffice.
Holy water and crosses do not work, at least on the vampires of my world. The idea of a singular faith being effective against my kind when others are not is a form of propaganda we have perpetuated to protect ourselves.
( he does not like giving away vampire secrets, that is something ingrained in him bone-deep, yet if the awareness already exists he will not lie. )
I would rather you not kill her. To my understanding, she is not like this normally. Something of this place has caused her to become so.
Holy water and crosses do not work, at least on the vampires of my world. The idea of a singular faith being effective against my kind when others are not is a form of propaganda we have perpetuated to protect ourselves.
( he does not like giving away vampire secrets, that is something ingrained in him bone-deep, yet if the awareness already exists he will not lie. )
I would rather you not kill her. To my understanding, she is not like this normally. Something of this place has caused her to become so.
Edited 2020-01-21 19:39 (UTC)
( the man is a maelstrom, but it washes over and past him. he is as a mountain, untroubled by the howling gale. human emotion is complex and frenetic and as grasping as a drowning man clinging to what he can claim in the kingdom of his watery grave.
and then the man pulls back, and godric settles into his cross-legged repose, hands folded, spine straight. )
Yes. It is insatiable. But one adapts.
and then the man pulls back, and godric settles into his cross-legged repose, hands folded, spine straight. )
Yes. It is insatiable. But one adapts.
[ Trevor is quiet for a long moment, considering. He just felt for himself that Godric can handle it -- and God help him, he's thinking of the vampire by his name already. He sighs, then says what he does next with sincerity. ]
I will feed you. If you need it.
I will feed you. If you need it.
[ And of course it's possible that the rules are different for vampires from different worlds. Just in case it wasn't complicated enough. ]
I'm willing to follow your lead on this one. But she's already dropped bodies. There's going to be a reckoning one way or another.
I'm willing to follow your lead on this one. But she's already dropped bodies. There's going to be a reckoning one way or another.
( doubtless, the turnaround in this conversation has felt like nothing else so much as whiplash to this young man. he was so ready to stand stalwart against something he perceives as an enemy of humanity, and godric feels poorly at having left him bereft of purpose. that desire, that need to be useful is the same as ephemera. it is a sign of how poorly used they've been by the world.
he could say no. he has no especial need, presently, to feed, though he will by needs require it sooner or later. but there is a cost to the offer, and he means it sincerely. let the man have his use. )
Very well. How would you prefer to go about it?
he could say no. he has no especial need, presently, to feed, though he will by needs require it sooner or later. but there is a cost to the offer, and he means it sincerely. let the man have his use. )
Very well. How would you prefer to go about it?
I will see what can be done.
The next time you see fit to approach another for weapons against my kind, you might instead consider asking me directly.
( he isn't angry. just resigned, and somewhat disappointed. )
The next time you see fit to approach another for weapons against my kind, you might instead consider asking me directly.
( he isn't angry. just resigned, and somewhat disappointed. )
[ That. Hnn. Yeah. That's a thing that happened.]
Most people take that sort of thing personally.
[ Sharkface isn't among them. It's what he does, and what people have tried to do to him for as long as he can remember. But he knows that's not how the rest of the universe operates. ]
I got no intention of going after you.
Most people take that sort of thing personally.
[ Sharkface isn't among them. It's what he does, and what people have tried to do to him for as long as he can remember. But he knows that's not how the rest of the universe operates. ]
I got no intention of going after you.
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