symphonyofthenight | [the last voyages] ic inbox

Why a coffin?

[ There are vampire-like things in the stories from her world but she really doesn't know a lick about the Earth-lore kind. ]

If you do not mind my asking, that is.

I thought it fitting.

[He said wryly. Then resumed more seriously.]

I am a dhampir, a half vampire. Vampires typically sleep in coffins with the soil of their native land surrounding them. Especially to recover their full strength after exertion. [Or getting heavily wounded and needing time to heal. He didn't need that anymore, but it had become his...'home' wasn't the right word, but his place to sleep eternally nevertheless. Familiar, that was the word. Familiar and convenient.]

[ She listens with utter earnest. She knows that there are 'vampires' on the ship, but they never seem to cross her path. She should perhaps learn more so she is prepared for such things?? ]

I see, so it should be quite a comfort. Your coffin has what you need, your soil? I apologize for not knowing more. I am from a different world than many of you.

No. Originally it was kept underground on my native land, and that was enough. This is not my native land and there is no soil here.

[He held up a hand to ward off any further offers.]

But I don't really need it. As a dhampir it's not as important to my strength, and nor am I recovering from any ailment. [Somewhat more wryly:] And currently I may as well be more human than vampire with the way things are here.

[ She notices that all offers of comfort are waved away. She can stop asking for now but makes the observation. She mulls over how to ask her question without offering something. ]

You're at peace with that?

At what?

[He asked for clarification, head slightly tilted to one side as he gazed at her with his unnaturally yellow eyes.]

Feeling more predominantly human at this time.

[Alucard considered this for a moment.]

It seems appropriate.

['Seems appropriate' and 'sounds satisfied' were not quite the same thing. If anything, the youth sounded conflicted in his answer.]

I am here to earn redemption, and that would be more easily achieved without access to my dark lineage. Would it not? I cannot easily harm others or escape punishment for my actions with these limitations put upon me.

['I can live as my mother would have' goes unsaid. That thought gave him comfort. And yet- he was also uncomfortable, not for the lack of strength or powers or the familiarity taken from him, but for the lack of those things when it came to protecting others. He didn't think he would need such things, but he'd been here just long enough now to realize there would always be some reason to shield others from darkness like his own. And as the saying went: fight fire with fire, or darkness with darkness.

He was trained as a soldier, he could always go back to being one. Was it more blessing or curse?]

[ Curious. Vampires have been both inmates and wardens alike, so it cannot be dark by course alone? But that feels like a question that will take several perspectives to better understand. For now, it seems most appropriate to accept that this is how Alucard feels on the topic. ]

I think there is some merit to that. To have peace of mind that you can do little harm while you consider your situation and learn to trust yourself anew.

[ It's familiar to her, even. And she gave her defensive-only knife to Jinx for the same reason. ]

[Alucard merely nodded in response at first. He seemed to sink into thought for a moment to take in her words. There was comfort there, hearing someone else mirror his thoughts on the matter. A part of him relaxed at the validation.

Another part of him gnawed at the cage. He shoved it deep down, attributing it to his dark heritage rather than any practicality on his inner self's part. He was part vampire, he would always have these conflicting pieces within him, this darkness warring with the light. He accepted that for what he thought it was.

He nodded again.]

Yes. I think so.

[Or perhaps I hope so.]

I know that the next month is a very inconsequential amount of time. I always found my temporary wardens very irritating.

[ She know! How many temp-wardens had she told to stop badgering her to graduate and go away? A whole handful! ]

But I am always here to help, even if it is just to listen or serve a cup of tea.

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