tampered | Log: Complete

Current Mood: nervous

Log: Complete

When: May 4, Night
Rating: E for everyone?
Characters: Doris Lang [

hunterborn], Integral [

favored_son]
Summary: After decades of separation for D, but only a year of separation for Doris, the pair finally see each other again.
Log:

Although Doris was a capable hunter in her own right, D did not like the idea of leaving her to fend for herself in the City. There were creatures that she would not be prepared to deal with who wouldn't mind taking advantage of her. The dhampir made quick work of saddling his horse, and set out for the beach at a steady canter.

D was somewhat uneasy about seeing Doris again, though his expression and actions showed no sign of it. She had been dead, like Leila and so many others throughout the millennia. From her communications over the network, he had ascertained that no more than a year had passed for Doris.

Part of him hoped that seeing her again would go better than the same situation had gone with his mother.

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She waited nervously on the beach. The last message he'd sent her was to keep her weapons ready. What weapons? She'd been milking the blasted cows when she was... taken... What was she supposed to do, fight off attackers with the bucket (which had actually been in her hand when she awoke).

Thus far she hadn't had any problems with the residents she'd met. Most were helpful. However, just the mention that there were vampires in the City worried her. Although D had assured her those in his company were trustworthy--for the most part--how many others were there?

And what other sorts of monsters were there that could be worse than those on the frontier?

Why couldn't she have been taken while practicing with her whip? Although she could be skilled in a fight, a dented metal milk pail (which was currently upended and being used as a seat) was not going to help her much.

Besides the typical worries of a stranger in a strange land, Doris was very anxious to see her hunter again. He had left so abruptly after defeating Count Lee that she wasn't even able to say goodbye... It had been a year since then, but she hadn't forgotten about him. How could she?

But as she waited another thought crossed her mind. The people here were from different times. His mother, who had an extremely long name that she already couldn't remember and a masculine title that made no sense, said that she was from the past before the great catastrophe that destroyed the planet... If she was from such a long time ago, then could the D currently on his way to find her actually be her D? Apparently he remembered her, so they had met... but how much time had elapsed for him? Dhampirs didn't age... it could be the same year she had experienced, or decades...

She didn't know, but when she heard hoof beats approaching she couldn't dwell on it any longer. She stood from her make-shift seat and turned toward the approaching steed, the wind catching her hair and throwing it into her eyes, blurring the approaching rider.

D checked his horse to a trot as he neared Doris, giving himself time to look her over. She seemed fine--and weaponless, but that could be remedied. The dhampir drew rein just a stride away. He was dressed much as he had been when they'd met, in a heavy, dark cloak, armor, and broad-brimmed hat. Without dismounting, he offered her his gloved hand to help her onto the horse's back. "We shouldn't linger. It isn't safe for you to be out here unarmed."

It was him. It was definately him. Other than the different locale it was like the night he approached her on the highway outside Ransylva, other than the fact she was not waiting to attack him this time...

He slowed his horse to a trot. She wanted to say something, anything, but her voice stuck in her throat. He stopped the horse within arms reach and she stared up at him finally able to see his face. She still couldn't find her voice.

"We shouldn't linger," he said without dismounting. He reached down to her. "It isn't safe for you to be out here unarmed."

She nodded and took his hand, hating the fact that she could feel her fingers trembling when they touched. He pulled her up on the horse behind him. She couldn't help the blush that crept over her cheaks at the nearness, instantly remembering what was happening the last time they were this close.

She hesitantly placed her hands on his hips to steady herself as he urged his mount forward again. Finally her voice came back just a little, though she wasn't sure he heard her over the wind. "D... I'm glad to see you again..."

D nodded as he guided the cyborg down the beach, towards the dense forest. The horse held to a ground-eating gallop as they passed between the trees, deftly weaving a path between trunks and thick undergrowth that would have been dangerous for a normal animal. Its owner had no desire to linger beneath the heavy limbs.

Once the small group emerged into the city proper, D again checked his mount, this time to a walk so that he and Doris could speak. "You should have a chance to prepare before you meet my family," he said. "The vampires are not like what you're used to, and my mother and grandfather can be difficult to get along with at times."

Doris blushed furiously as she clung to D's back. When he had originally helped her onto the horse she had planned on the least amount of physical contact as possible--that is until he had urged the cyborg into a harsh gallop that caused her to almost go right over the horse's rump, despite the fact that she'd been riding since she was four.

Now they were approaching the city itself, the horse slowed to a merciful walk, and he finally spoke. She abruptly pushed back so that she no longer clung to him now that she wasn't going to fall.

"How are the vampires different?"

"My mother controls my father. Seras is almost human by choice. The other, Dracula, is young enough and weak enough to be vulnerable to the average man or woman. Unfortunately, my father enjoys games. At times, it may be best to simply ignore him."

The horse's shoes clattered on the pavement. D let it choose its own path on a loose rein. It knew where they were going. "You'll probably like Seras, and my father would not hurt you, but don't let your guard down near Dracula."

Doris paused, glancing about the buildings as they moved. Her curiosity was starting to overrun her nervousness.

"How can your mother control you father?" she asked. The idea seemed ridiculous to her. Unless she had misunderstood and D's mother was the vampire of the relationship and not his father. But he had said his "father's fledgling" earlier."

"Seals. My father has an arrangement with my mother's family. They made him stronger, but he is bound to serve them until the seals are released." He almost smiled as the horse made the final turn towards home. "Besides which, he loves her. That is enough even without the seals."

The horse headed for a building that did not particularly stand out amongst the others, but D indicated the structure with a nod of his head. "Building 3. My mother should be waiting for us."

Doris smiled. There was something strangely warming about hearing him speak this way. During the time they had known each other there were no casual conversations.

They'd only known each other for a week, Doris reminded herself as they approached the building he drew her attention to. It didn't seem that short a span of time. Then again, enduring trauma like being attacked by a noble had caused her to attach herself to him more than what was healthy. She realized this, but that didn't change how she felt.

He hadn't spoken much then. He was surprisingly talkative now... but then again, he was merely informing her of what to expect. She glanced around his broad shoulder to get a better view of building 3.

Integral was waiting outside the flat within the building; she was holding a lit cigar between her gloved fingers. She was dressed as usual with her black suit, red cravat with a silver cross pin in it, standing beside the door of flat number eleven. She knew D was going to see the girl but, as hostess, it was polite she welcomed and introduced herself to the newcomer guest.

It was also a chance to keep an eye on Alucard, in case he decided to grace them with his particulary pleasant presence and games.

Once they arrived at the building, D removed the horse's tack and left it to its own devices. The hunter slung the saddle over his shoulder with ease that spoke of his immense strength, and led the way to the flat.

He paused when they reached his mother, standing off to the side so the women could take stock of each other as he introduced them. "Doris, this is my mother, Sir Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. Mother, this is Doris Lang."

To say she was apprehensive would have been an understatement. She was surprised she hadn't fallen flat on her face when D helped her off the back of the horse. Being flung into this world was daunting enough--then to see him again and now to be introduced to his family of all things. She knew it was just a kindness but for some reason she couldn't help but feel the apprehension of a new bride being brought home to meet her new family. That was ridiculous, she knew, but that was indeed the feeling that she was getting.

It took her a moment upon seeing the figure waiting at the flat to realize that it was a woman. She was clothed in a dark suit with thick shoulder pads. Other than the length of her hair and the somewhat delicate features of her face Doris would have been convinced the tall woman was actually a man.

Her embarrassment multiplied when D introduced the woman as his mother--again with the masculine title, which was starting to make a little more sense. She felt the blood rush to her face and wanted to hide. She was normally confident and never showed such weakness in Ransylva. But this was not Ransylva. She did not know the people here and did not know how to react to them. Trying not to fidget, she hastily inclined her head to the tall woman before her. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

Unlike the apprehension the other woman was feeling, Integral was placid and relaxed. She was grateful this guest had indeed a pulse (a requisite most of those she related herself with lacked) and was completely human. But, other than that, she remained neutral in her opinion or view about Doris Lang.

Only time would tell if she would endear herself to Integral's circle or not. The knight would give her a chance. In a brief scan, she could tell Doris didn't carry any weapon within her person.

No doubt that would have made her an easy prey for any vampire or monster of her world.

Stepping forward, Integral gave Doris a slight bow and replied with a formal welcoming voice: "Pleasure to make acquaintance with you, Miss Lang. Do come inside. D shall show you the room you will stay." Her blue eyes met her son's of the same colour, motioning him to proceed. "Carry on."

Her son nodded and held the door for Doris. Hellsing had space enough that the girl wouldn't have to share quarters, which was for the best when one considered the residents who would share her company. Integral and Seras were the only ones D would trust to be alone with her. Integral could be intimidating to even the strongest person, and Seras ... The dhampir could not put aside that Doris was the product of generations raised to fear the undead as the worst of an already harsh world's evils.

D was pleased to note that Alucard didn't seem to have an interest in bothering Doris (yet). She would have a chance, hopefully, to get used to the idea of sharing space with vampires before coming face-to-face with his father.

Doris smiled slightly. She would have thought that he inherited his stern demeanor from his father--but apparently that wasn't the case. The resemblance was uncanny. She was definitely not what Doris had pictured...

Of course, she realized she had a rather skewed view of what a dhampir's mother would be like. She was raised with the understanding that vampire victims were rarely willing, and that those victims that weren't turned were kept as mindless dolls--and those were the ones that often carried a dhampir to term.

But this situation seemed to be reversed. Sir Integ... gates... Fair... D's Mother had described the vampire as a servant, and D had said she controlled him. She couldn't fathom a human controlling a vampire. It went against everything she had been lead to believe growing up.

But then again, she'd also been raised to believe that dhampirs were untrustworthy and just as bad as the nobility--and obviously that one was not accurate. Still, she had a hard time believing that the inaccuracy could truly extend to the nobility.

Integral waited until both entered to place the cigar between her lips and follow inside. She glanced at them one more time before heading at the opposite direction, into her office. She had taken the liberty to leave a steamy pot with tea and two cups in Doris' chambers.

Tea was one of the few things Integral knew how to fix and make it edible.

D stepped to the side of the bedroom door to allow Doris to enter. He had no intention of joining her just now unless she asked it of him. It was gratifying to see that someone had taken the time to leave tea for the girl in a welcoming gesture, as he was himself a terrible host. "This should suit your needs. If you need anything, let someone know. It would be wise to get you another weapon before long." After a moment's pause, he indicated where he could be found, as well as both of his parents and Seras, but he cautioned, "I would recommend my father only as a last resort."

Doris moved passed D into the sparsely furnished room. There was tea waiting. She was grateful for that, she had had nothing to eat or drink since she arrived in this place. She turned to D, who remained outside the door. "Where should I get another weapon... I don't have any money..."

"Money is not a concern here in the same way it would be in our world," he assured her. "There are means to provide you with what you need."

"All right..." she turned away again. "I would like to do that tomorrow I suppose. Where do I need to go?"

"There are vendors. I'll take you to one." He drew back, ready to leave her to settle in.

She heard the fabric of his cape rustle and she turned quickly to see him beginning to leave.

"D..." she said, hating the desperate sound of her voice.

The hunter paused and glanced over his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow in question, but allowed himself no further reaction to the tone of her voice.

She felt herself blush and she hated it. She put her hands behind her back so that he couldn't see her fingers fidgeting with nervousness. Again, her words caught in her throat and she didn't know what to say.

"I..." she started. "Thank you." She looked up, catching his eyes. "For everything."

Hunters were rarely thanked on the Frontier. Dhampir hunters were often run out of town before they could collect payment, or immediately the money had changed hands.

D had always known that Doris was grateful. That alone had been more than enough payment for helping her. To hear her express it again, when he had resigned her to the same realm as his mother and Leila and countless others, brought the elusive, almost-smile to his features. He nodded and said simply, "You're welcome," before he retreated to his room.

She stood, staring briefly at the the wall opposite the open door.

He had smiled. Just barely, but she recognized it for what it was. She felt warm and rather content (despite the circumstances). The frustration that came from his abrupt departure seemed to have come full circle just then.

She finally moved forward and closed the door before turning to lean against it. She glanced about the room. Bed, dresser, table, two chairs. Nice and simple. She walked to the table and pulled out one of the wooden chairs, sitting down to pour a cup of tea.

She would find another whip and a rifle tomorrow--and hopefully some more clothes. Although she was never worried about clothing in general--she was a farm girl after all--she would need something more than the fabric currently on her back. She sipped the tea, feeling exhausted.

But that was tomorrow. For now, she was going to sleep.

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