sleepytimejunction | ❧ open rp

[When he hears the whip, he knows Trevor is up and ready to fight; he watches how it causes the demon's chest to explode in a fiery mess, something he dodges easily enough.

He looks up after hearing his name, then tips his chin up to reveal the glint of silver around his throat. Even in this form, the collar remains, making him now look like an exotic pet. It appears no matter what form he takes, it resizes to adapt to his body.

With a leap, he snatches one of the flying demons out of the air, dragging it down to the earth below. Shaking his head viciously, he snaps bones and tears into flesh. It's violent, lacking any sign of the regal man from before, now content to kill whatever enemies decide to follow them. He did promise to keep Trevor safe, and he's had enough of being a hapless prisoner to anyone.]

[ So it is Adrian. Good to know that he isn't going to have to fight the big angry wolf, and useful to know that he should probably avoid hitting the big angry wolf with anything blessed.

It's good, to be able to defend himself again, to not have to wait for Dracula's leave to use the whip. To mostly be covered in the blood of things that aren't himself.

There are a lot of demons. Not all that Isaac means to send to the border, more than likely, but a substantial first wave. Enough that it'll take time to rebuild the forces after a loss like this, and enough that Trevor's left gasping down air desperately by the end of the fight. A few have made it through, flying ones too high for either of them to pull down, but no more than three or four. Those, they'll have to trust their Speaker to see to. ]

Fuck, that was more than I expected. [ He gasps out, slowly getting his breath back. So he might be a little out of practice, after a long period of only either fighting one on one of acting as a glorified punching bag. ] You still alive, not-a-fucking-dog?

[When the fight is more or less finished, Adrian shifts back, upright and human looking. He spits out a glob of meat and blood before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.]

More or less.

[Adrian pauses, glancing him over, then places a hand on Trevor's shoulder to steady him.]

We should make some distance before having you rest again. [He hesitates, then he asks quietly:] Are you all right?

[ He's had the dubious honour of being on Adrian's bad side before. It wasn't- quite this bad. It's hard to say for sure whether the period of captivity has added an edge to him, or whether he was holding back before for knowledge that he facing a human, or if this mess of gore and bone is just a consequence of having to fight desperately against the numbers they were facing. ]

Been better. I'll live.

[ It's hard to tell at a glance, so much of the blood is from things other than the two of them, but his own injuries amount to cuts and scrapes. Nothing too deep or dangerous. He's concerned with something else.

Carefully, he wades through the corpses, digging through the various creatures, comparing their hands to his own, pausing at one the the gargoyle-like things. ]

[Whatever the reason, there is no explanation given. Adrian doesn't seem particularly ashamed of his methods, and he had been just as brutal the brief moment he came across Trevor in the castle before their escape. Though it is clear that with Trevor he had a certain odd etiquette and almost politeness with how he fought him, more clean and honorable, he has it less here.

He watches Trevor for a moment, how he digs through the monsters, and there is a brief moment of confusion before he sees what he's doing.

Ah.

Adrian approaches, his hand gentle at Trevor's elbow.]

Trevor--

[Adrian stops himself for a moment, then looks at the hunter, brows knitted.]

You aren't like the forgemasters' beasts.

...yeah.

[ He doesn't sound convinced. He's a beast, he got made this way by the forgemasters. The only difference here is that he didn't die beforehand.

He pauses, turning the hand over. One less finger, but otherwise it's the closest match so far. When he continues, he at least sounds more himself. ]

It's- just good fucking strategy, isn't it? To know what the fuck you are. If I'm going to start belching up fire I'd like at least some warning.

I admit, I cannot completely understand how it must affect you. To know that-- you are once a man, now somewhere in between.

But I always have been. I have never... [Adrian pauses, trying to not make this sound like it's about him.] To be both human and monster is something I do know.

And you're still the same asshole that rudely woke me from my sleep. That, I can assure you. [And if either one of them have any concerns of losing control, well, that's still Adrian.]

It's- [ The Belmonts fight monsters, son. ] -about normal, really. Risk of the job, when you're dealing with- you know.

[ When you're hunting Adrian's kind. He lets the hand drop to the ground again, wiping the blood from his hands onto his already-bloody clothes. ]

And you apparently are, in fact, a fucking dog. [ He smiles, and it's not real but it's a valiant attempt. ] Thanks.

I know.

[Adrian sighs and rolls his eyes.]

And how fortunate that I have a collar to match, hm? Just don't put a leash on me.

Only if you ask, I promise.

[ COPING WITH TURNING INTO A MONSTER BY HITTING ON A VAMPIRE: A SELF HELP NOVEL BY TREVOR BELMONT. ]

You're right about needing to make some distance. A mess like this is going to attract all kinds of shit I don't want to deal with. [ More monsters, local wildlife, people with questions- it's that last one that concerns him. ] How are you with running water? There'll be a bridge about an hour's march north.

[FUCKING EXCUSE ME. Adrian honestly almost chokes at that.

But-- right. Back to business.]

I'll slow down. Though, there may be an easy way to work around that.

[ The reaction gets an honest to goodness laugh out of him, at least. He probably shouldn't be putting an uneasy friendship with the only ally he has at risk for the sake of his own amusement, but- it's nice, to pretend that things are some form of normal if only for a moment. His tone is warmer when he continues, almost genuine concern. ]

Just slow down? Will you be okay otherwise? How to work around it?

[That's incredibly rude and Adrian isn't going to hide how he looks a bit put out. But, at the same time, he is a little glad to hear something... pleasant from Trevor. He doesn't think he's heard a genuine laugh out of him ever.]

You'll carry me, of course.

[A beat, then with clarification:] I will transform into a bat and stay on you. If you can move for me, then it won't be an issue.

Oh. Yeah, that's probably easier than scattering the bridge with grave dirt.

[ Much, much easier, since grave dirt is one of the few ridiculous things he doesn't make a point of carrying around. He kicks dirt over the fire and sets about walking again, leaving the mess of demons behind them. It'll attract wild animals, the wild animals will make a half-decent distraction to slow down the next wave. ]

Could carry you without you being a bat, if you wanted. It'd just be weirder.

Probably yes.

[Adrian keeps up with his pace, then sighs with a small roll of his eyes.]

Weirder for whom? I'm not even convinced you could carry my weight.

Weirder for everyone.

[ ALL HUMAN CONTACT FALLS UNDER THE BELMONT'S DEFINITION OF 'WEIRD'. He looks Adrian over, considering. ]

'course I could.

[ watch what you say next, adrian, because he's about 5 seconds away from trying to demonstrate. ]

How fortunate that it's just you and me, then. No one else to be privy to our shenanigans.

[because that's what they are]

For a few seconds, maybe. Not for a whole bridge.

True. Nobody to see.

[ And after a moment more of what can only very charitably be described as thought, he leans down to catch Adrian’s knees above his arm and sweep him up. ]

There. Now it’s weird.

[Really, Adrian doesn't know what he expected. That maybe his weight would be enough to make Trevor buckle and decide it's a terrible idea after all, but the man is deceptively strong.

Trying to steady himself does not make it any less bizarre: he's put his arms around Trevor's neck, very carefully not making a sound, but it's still-- Trevor carrying him. Like he's a fucking princess.]

You're making it weird.

You issued the challenge.

[ It wasn’t a challenge, Trevor. He’s laughing again, shaking Adrian around a little with the force of it.

Even now, even after everything, he’s still a fucking idiot. ]

Demonstration enough for you?

[It's that genuine laughter from before, so terribly rare, and how awful that truth is but he's earned it twice now. Adrian turns his head, as if to hide his smile, not wanting to just give him any satisfaction.]

Yes, you've proven what an oaf you are. Put me down already, you're not carrying me all the way to the bridge.

Maybe I don’t want to.

[ He kind of does want to. Adrian isn’t extraordinarily heavy for a man his height, but Trevor is still tired and weakened and probably ought to be sparing his energy for things that are actually important. But this is funny, and it’s the most human contact he’s has in a decade. And-

It’s probably not appropriate even by his standards to be dragging Adrian around against his will when this all began because he’s a kidnapper. He hurriedly puts Adrian down after a moment, awkwardly. ]

Ah. Right. Sorry.

[There are conflicting thoughts to go with that. He knows that Trevor is just playing; that doesn't come into question. But he isn't sure if this is... flirting either? Is that what it is? He doesn't have much experience with it, admittedly, outside of Godbrand's lewdness really. Rest in pieces, Godbrand.

But it ends, and he's confused and assumes he's overthinking all of it anyway. Adrian rolls his shoulders back.]

It's fine. I...

[If nothing else, he says honestly:] I don't believe I've seen you actually look that happy before. I'm glad you still can be.

[ Look even Trevor isn't sure if Trevor is flirting. He scratches the side of his face, still cautious until he can be certain that he's not fucked up massively. He's an asshole, not a-

-whatever he would be if he didn't have his low, difficult to figure out standards. The kind of person who'd hurt Adrian more than he already has. ]

Didn't think I was capable of it. But- I'm out of that place, and alive, and nobody I give a shit about is going to die for it. Whatever else is happening, that's something. [ And, added after a moment- ] Makes a difference, not being in this alone.

And about how many people are even on that list? [He says it, teasing, but-- well, he is touched. Not that he wants to admit to it. It's easy to feel better after escaping Father and the court, and that much is true: this would be all the more horrifying alone.]

...I'd thought myself alone, after everything would be done. If I succeeded in stopping Father and was alive after.

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