Log: Complete

[favored-son.livejournal.com]

When: Jan 12th (before the joys of fear and animal curses)
Rating: General
Characters: Integral [steeldame], Alucard [thekingofpain] and D [favored_son]
Summary: Alucard suggests that parents and child spend a little time together.
Log:

Alucard had requested that they all to spend time together. D, he thought, needed some time with his parents when they weren't dead or trying to kill him. And the two of them would benefit from spending time with their son. Alucard had resolved to forget Walter and Arthur and concentrate on his family, they were what really mattered. Those he really loved.

The more time he spent in the City, the more difficult D found it to deny his parents anything.

"I know you're listening, Father," he said aloud, seemingly to the emptiness around him. "I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific in your request. Spend time together how? Have you spoken to Mother about this?"

"No," Alucard replied, materializing behind D. Shadows licked at his hat and cloak from where he stood and the vampire placed hands on D's shoulders, tucking the boy against him.

"Though I am of the mind that she will not object." And nuzzled his cheek on the top of D's head.

"Typical," D muttered, ducking deftly out from his father's hold, although the movement had the feel of a game to it rather than rejection. "Perhaps you should ask her."

"I plan on it. With you there. I should hope the small indulgence would please her," he murmured and allowed D to duck away, smirking as he turned and tweaked one of the boy's ears.

Integral could barely sleep last night, sorting the resources to plan the strategy she would lead against the Millennium Group. The cult was a blessing in disguise, the leader "god" was stupid enough to jump into conclusion it seemed. That gave Integral the time to weave a good smoke screen tactic that could buy the City some time before a serious war.

And now isn't time to fret or to be lax, she thought, absently strolling on the corridors of the flat. She missed her Mansion; the ample office gave her a sense of solitude and aided her to think.

D tilted his head as he listened to the footsteps in the corridor and smiled. "You can ask her now," he said, though he was certain his father had heard Integral moving about. "By yourself. This was your idea."

"By myself?" he asked. "Oh no, I think not." And opened the door directly in Integral's way. "Sir Hellsing," he started, then half smiled. "Master, would you care to take a break? Spend a bit of time with D and myself?"

Integral paused and turned to face Alucard. With her haste, she had forgotten to even light the cigar in her mouth. "Spare time?" she asked, incredulous, eyebrows furrowing. "Certainly, I will take a holiday when there are no Nazis or pagans to take care of."

The dhampir smiled at that and leaned back in the chair he had reclaimed after escaping his father's clutches. His booted feet rested on the table in front of him, crossed at the ankle. One developped a rather morbid sense of humor growing up a Hellsing.

With a gesture like sleight of hand, Alucard apparated a lighter in his grip and touched flame to the end of her cigar. "Everyone needs a break from plotting a war, Master. Even I did all those years ago. Only a moment. It might. . refresh your perspective."

Integral considered it as she inhaled her cigar. She was stressed and spending time with Alucard would likely increase that but… She glanced at D inside the room. She was curious to spend time with her would be son.

"What activity have you planned?" asked Integral resigned.

D raised an eyebrow in perfect imitation of his mother. "Yes, Father. What activity do you have planned?" A number of his acquaintances on the Frontier would have died of shock to hear him speak in such a way.

His cheshire grin widened as D mimicked his mother's expression. Then gave a small chuckle, "I would suggest something as mundane as a picnic, but I feel that could be ill recieved." In truth, there was little he could think of.

Integral stared at him, exhaling the smoke with an exasperated irritation. "We are not normal people, Alucard," she reminded him. "We don't do picnics. Honestly if your ideas are like that, you are wasting our time. Be serious."

"Perhaps just a talk, then," D suggested mildly, finally removing his feet from the table. His chair settled back on the floor without a sound or the slightest wobble.

"That might be best," Alucard replied, "After all, the shooting gallery, the fencing hall. .none of these are conducive to quality time, are they?" Alucard replied and stepped from the doorway, ushering Integral into the room.

Integral was dragged into the room by Alucard but she played along, wondering if this would actually bring her any benefit in direction. "We are all here. What subject do you suggest to speak about?" she asked, crossing her arms and shooting glances to both her son and her servant.

Again, D laid responsibility at his father's feet. "I believe I just said as much, but this was your idea."

"I shall remember to raise you to be more proactive in the future," Alucard replied, eyes narrowing at D. Then smirked, reaching out and stroking D's hair in tender fatherly gesture. "We could speak on whatever subject pleases you, Master. Perhaps the war, perhaps not?"

Integral sat on one of the chairs of the room, allowing her muscles relax slightly.

"No," she said, shaking her head with weariness visible in her eyes. "No war, I don't wish to hear a word from that subject or I will leave."

"Agreed," her son said. He fixed his light blue eyes on his father. "You wished for 'family' time, didn't you?" A ghost of a smile flickered across the dhampir's features. "Sometimes, on quiet evenings, we would all sit together and simply discuss trivial matters. You do remember how to carry on casual conversation, don't you Father?"

The entity in D's left hand snorted and muttered, "Do you?"

Alucard's eyes narrowed but he held his temper in check, "Mister Jiggles, you may join us in conversation if you keep to a pleasant note. Then we shall discuss trivial matters. Anything, I am. . only glad to have you both together." Then reclined against the wall, watching them both.

Trivial matters? What was that supposed to mean? Subjects like the weather, general health and what happened in a soccer game against Ireland? But they had none of those within the City.

Integral would try to carry on this conversation, as Alucard was unable to lead.

"There is a concert event," Integral brought up. "Are you interested in attending it? The theme of one of the performers is peace. It could be an easy target for Millennium."

"That's business talk," Left Hand pointed out blithely.

D dug his fingernails into his palm and replied in flat tones. "Behave, or you will find yourself locked outside on the roof for the night."

"Hn," Alucard replied. "A concert of peace? That does not interest me in and of itself, but a concert might be nice. D, do you enjoy music?" He asked, attempting to engage the boy.

"We might leave Mister Jiggles at home if he is so ill behaved."

Integral shot Alucard and LH reproachful looks. "Would you two stop behaving like children?" she asked. "Pleasure is always mixed with business in my life," she clarified. All she was… Hellsing.

"But it could prove an apparent distraction," she commented. "Well, Dante?"

Her son barely refrained from grimacing at the name. He'd known he should have not have told Arthur. He'd allowed himself to grow lax in this place as he recalled the life he had had before. "Perhaps we should attend," he allowed. "Will you be asking the others?"

"D, you don't seem entirely fond of your name," Alucard replied, tilting his head. "Perhaps something less inferno and more unique? We could call him after one of my brothers or perhaps your father, Master."

Integral frowned, "I like the name," she said. "You should be grateful I wasn't as original as my father in naming people like he did with me." Integral Fairbrook. Such a strange name indeed.

D winced and stared down at his boots, arms crossed over his chest. He seemed smaller, somehow, without his dark cloak shrouding his figure. "I am simply not accustomed to hearing it. I have been 'D' for a very long time."

"Then this should be a refreshing break from the future you previously lived in," Alucard replied, "Having your parents here to call you by your first name. . Dante."

Integra dropped the name subject before it ended in disaster. "Tell us about you now, son. I prefer you keep in secret what happened while I was alive," she added.

"Do you have friends? Any place you call home? Or are you a nomad?"

"The nature of my vocation requires constant travel," D supplied. "I go where I am needed, do the job, and leave. That is all there is to it."

"You are skirting the answers, Dante," Alucard replied calmly. "Tell us of yourself, we wish to know." His tone was patient and a bit gentle.

Though he was considerably insane, he had managed to raise his human children.

"Don't press him, Alucard," Integral reproached to the vampire. "Dante will tell us what he wants. Perhaps sharing a brief description of your last mission? We want to know how you slew that vampire."

D had the grace to look embarrassed. "I didn't."

"Oh?" Alucard asked, arching a brow. "Were you injured?"

Integral cut Alucard's question, knowing this was an embarrassing defeat. "What about your mission before that?" she asked, diplomatically.

"Simple, quick." The dhampir straightened in his chair as he reflected. "It was a relatively young vampire, hardly worth the title he'd given himself--not many have the audacity to call themselves "Count" without good reason. He was sloppy with his kills and left a third of a small village little more than ghouls. The mayor was one of the victims, so the sheriff was forced to issue the call for a Hunter."

Alucard inclined his head, rather proud of the boy, following in the footsteps of Hellsing and not of himself (in so much as the monster bit). "Have you no significant other? No family of your own, son?"

Integral was pleased D took care of a charlatan. Those vampires were the worst but at Alucard's question, she paused and glanced at D to see his reaction before diverting the attention. "That is far too personal, Alucard and could change the future somehow." She knew no woman would go steady with someone with a talking hand, thus spared her son the embarrassment.

"There is no one," D said bluntly. "My family is here. It's to be expected, considering what I am. Vampire Hunters can't afford entanglements."

The vampire reached out, catching a strand of D's hair and tugging lightly. "I should not want for my son to be so alone. Are you happy, D? That is what I want for you."

"Alucard," Integral shot him a "look" to shut him up. "D leads a hard life and sometimes happiness isn't the most important when you have a mission to follow."

"Very true ... and I am satisfied with that mission." D cast a significant glance in his father's direction, warning him to find another line of questioning before the truth of Dracula in D's world came up.

Alucard frowned slightly, "What are your hobbies, then D? What are your interests aside of hunting?" he asked.

To tell the truth, D had none, but his father seemed so hopeful ... D shrugged. "I care for my horse, listen for rumors of the Nobility and other Hunters--"

"--torment your partner," Left Hand supplied.

"What did you enjoy when you were with us, D? As a child, growing up?" After all, he was with his parents again, and that might help determine what they could do in the future as bonding activity.

Integral rose from the chair. "I think those are enough questions for him, Alucard." She had warned about not answering to anything relate to their shared future. "I'm tired. I should try to sleep before continuing to scheme on the conflict." As pleasant talking with them was, the built up stress and the dangerous context made her act cranky and she did not find company that comfortable.

"Of course," D conceded, rising from his own chair to see his mother to the door.

Alucard rose as well, behind the both of them, "Good evening, then Integra, D."