synthneon | [ curse redux ] | ❝ in these cathedrals we roam, where shadow people dance. ❞

(continued from here)
Waking up in the bed of his family's guardian angel was the one thing that Richard Belmont never thought would happen. Hell, he had expected her to turn down his rather backwards way of asking for help. He lay there, staring up at the ceiling above them. Part of him thought there would have been a feeling of regret. Maybe even a bit of sense that sleeping with someone from his past life would have been bad karma. Instead he was left with a sense of--well, Richard wouldn't call it peace. It was more akin to a feeling of being settled. It was similar to the feeling he had when he finally mastered Vampire Killer.

Not that there was much point dwelling on it. Richard had learned that if he dwelt on things for too long then his mind wound wander, and there would be several conclusions and rabbit holes he'd regret. He turned his head enough to look for a clock. They did have to be at the airport at the right time. Otherwise Mr. Dracula's Son himself would be upset.

Although, Richard did feel like making the bastard wait just a bit. Payback for all those early morning and late night lessons. Things that fit better around the dhampire's nocturnal nature.

He sighed and pulled himself to sit up as he scrubbed at his face. He certainly didn't regret it. That much he was certain of by now. Now he simply wondered what would be next. They'd go off, fight Dracula again, probably make Alucard even more unbearable to be with. Then... what?

Shit. That was exactly why he hated when his thoughts wandered too far.

"What time is it?"

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"I'm not his nanny."

She and Alucard... Well they didn't hate each other, but 'friends' might not ever be the appropriate description for them either. She picked on him, but she picked on lots of people.

"There abouts. Dracula is...very prominent in Tzimisce legends, even though he isn't one. They respect him, at the very least, if not outright fear him. If there are any in Wallachia, they could be fanatics, which will be just extra fun.

And just in case, if there are any, don't let them touch you."

"I was thinking something more of a permanent bed. With a stake."

He didn't truly believe Alucard or Bet would kill each other. They had been around for centuries and still managed to hate and respect each other from afar.

Richard sighed before strapping Vampire Killer to the clip on his pants and reaching for his coat. "Well, if he is a vampire who manages to keep coming back to life despite being dead? Then that is something to fear. I'm just surprised no one tried a truce between the two families of the undead."

He paused. "Why shouldn't I let them touch me?"

"I've got no reason to want him dead. But if I did, I'd use fire. Stakes don't always work, like you think they do."

She pulled on a shoulder rig, and then a black leather jacket over it. Socks and black leather boots. She looked like she should be in a biker gang.

He had so much to learn, and so little time to learn it all. It made a knot if worry form, between her shoulders. It was good he'd come to ask her for help. As skilled as he was, as tucked by destiny, he was still going to need it.

"They're fleshcrafters. A brush of their fingers, and you've got a stump instead of a hand. Or no mouth. They're sadists beyond compare.

Hell, they probably made Dracula want nothing to do with us, after the whole Cathedral of Flesh incident. I wouldn't blame him, if the story is even a quarter true."

"Hm. You'll need to talk that over with Alucard then."

Although he didn't rely on just the stakes. Most of what he had was iron, blessed items by a holy site and a proper priest. As well as some... other arcane methods. Though, he would be the first to admit he had little knowledge in the magics. He left that to his half-vampire friend and the other magic people they came across in their travels.

Richard, at least, was liked more than his previous life.

"And here I thought the idea of cattle was bad enough." He sighed. "Well, I guess that's one way to lose your hand."

He clearly still had Trevor's humor. Or lack there of.

Well, Bet had always found him funny. Now was no different, as she chuckled, tossing her hair.

"Let's avoid it, if at all possible. I like you with two hands."

She glanced around. Dressed, packed, that was everything. She zipped up the duffle, and lifted it without so much as a grunt of effort.

"Did you drive here?"

"I bet you would." Richard let the tease hang in the air before he moved to pick up her bag of... guns. It would be a headache to see how she would get this past security. The mind she could trick--metal detectors? How did vampires even handle the modern era?

"I... may have."

Oh was he in for a surprise. Not how heavy the gun bag was -oh it was heavy, but no. The real surprise would come at the airport.

"Leave it here. We'll take mine. There's a go bag in it I'll need, anyway."

She turned, and hauled up the fuel tank, tucked it under her arm. The last thing she grabbed was an actual scabbard, with a sword in it. Probably a rapier, by the look of it.

"And no parking fees."

"What the fuck--how heavy IS this thing?!"

There it was. He found out how heavy.

Richard paused. "A sword? Really?"

"Fucking heavy, love," she said with a grin.

"Yeah, a sword. When the ammo runs out, it's as good as anything, in taking down monsters. I'm a fair swashbuckler, you know."

"You could of put it in multiple bags. Distributed the weight more."

He looked at the bag with a classic Trevor-over-dramatic-sigh. "I wasn't aware people still fought the Hellspawn with swords. Other than my family."

"Or you could have let me carry it." She intended to be wearing most of it, when the time came.

"I've been using a sword since I was twelve. It's like a part of my arm. And most 'Hellspawn', younger than a century, don't know anything, about how to handle them. Gives those of us that do an advantage."

There was a bit of a tease in there, about the Hellspawn bit.

There was a look that crossed his face, as if his pride was damaged. But, Richard said nothing and moved aside for her to grab the bag. He learned ages back that vampires (even half of ones) were stronger than humans. Alucard had once put a younger Richard in his place.

"Oh, well, be my guest."

Well that wouldn't do.

She moved over to him, ignoring the bag, and instead she tugged him up to her by his shirt front, laying a quick, rough kiss on him.

"Don't," she said softly. "Your manhood doesn't hinge on being able to bench press more than me. You could kick my ass with that whip, so it's apples and oranges, love."

She wasn't great at the whole feelings thing, but she knew a kicked puppy look, when she saw it. And she wasn't about let him have on to dumb ideas, or let him stew in them.

[ curse redux ] | ❝ in these cathedrals we roam, where shadow people dance. ❞

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