[Log] It's in the blood

[bloodthirsts]

Who: Integra, Alucard, Seras and OPEN to all residents of Helsing Manor.
When: Day of Integra's arrival.
Where: Helsing Manor, Sector 4
Summary: Integra has arrived and been escorted to her new residence by Alucard, time to meet the extended family!
Warnings: Probably safe for kiddies... probably

Integra's arrival had put a certain frantic energy in Seras, an excitement, much akin to what she felt when Alucard had arrived but... unlike Alucard, her Master, Sir Integra was from her time, she knew Seras. There was a relief in that, as much as she was attached to Abraham, Doctor Seward and the young Walter, she sometimes wished to have someone to talk to about the present issues she had been facing in her own world.

Not that Integra had ever really been one to just sit and chat with the young draculina...

Miss Integra's arrival here also reassured Seras that she was alright, something that had bothered her a lot since she had regained her memories. Even if others had said they were always sent back home at the time they were taken she couldn't help a niggling doubt that it wouldn't be so. What if something happened because she wasn't there? What if she let Master and Sir Integra down, even if it wasn't her fault really.

She shook those thoughts out of her head. Seras had gone and retrieved the requested aspirin, as well as hurried to inform the other members of the house of the impending arrival if they hadn't yet seen the network post and now stood waiting in the entrance hall with no small amount of impatience.

Comments

[tinyvampiregod]

The horse was obviously not alive, red eyes glowing like embers, visible even in the light of day. Alucard was not harmed by the daylight, he only hated it. But at last, at long last, after maneuvering the horse into a gallop for a fair few furloughs, they reached the Winther Stoker Mansion- the Hellsing headquarters in this place.

With nary a show of fanfare, the horse's hooves pounded up the drive and stopped. Alucard dismounted first, of course, and offerend Integral a hand down. Even if it was from a rather short distance, it was a gesture of respect for who she was more than for her sex. "Your Grandfather's new residence," Alucard explained, arching one brow.

[integra_hellsing]

Integra took the offered hand and slid from the horse with a small nod of thanks to the vampire. Looking up, she took the sight of the mansion in... it was certainly large. Looking back at Alucard, her own brow lifted. It was very odd to hear that statement.

"Thank you," she stated quietly, stuffing her hands into her pockets. Without another word, she merely began to stride up towards the door, pausing. Technically, this was not her house. It would be rude to just barge in like she owned the place, wouldn't it?

Instead, she merely turned to look at the vampire again. She'd just wait for him. "Shall we?"

[bloodthirsts]

Integra didn't have to wait as the door opened, revealing the smiling face of Seras. "Miss Integra, welcome!" she stepped aside and motioned for the other woman to come inside. "I'm so glad to see you. Was the journey over alright?"

It was almost an afterthought to look to Alucard and greet him, "Master." Something she wouldn't have done under other circumstances, but this was an exception.

[tinyvampiregod]

Alucard arched a brow to Seras, but did not make note of the occurrence, obviously the Draculina would be excited over having her Master-by-proxy of her own world and time back with her. He turned his attention to dispatching the horse, returning it to shadow and within himself, closing down the temporarily released restriction three and turning to follow Integral to the manor.

He made no reply to the minor acknowledgement, only kept an eye to the surroundings.

[integra_hellsing]

Integra blinked when Seras opened the door so quickly. Unlike Integra, she looked cheery and pleased. Well, at least one of them was happy. Integra merely nodded in greeting to Seras, stepping inside. "It's good to see you as well. Yes, it was fine, thank you."

The Hellsing heiress glanced around... the home seemed even large on the inside than it did on the ouside. It seemed inviting and warm enough, though, which was a plus.

But this wasn't home, and it never would be. She didn't care if she was here for the rest of her life; she'd never consider it home. Home was in London. Home was burning and falling apart. She frowned and remained silent, forcing her chaotic thoughts away. She could think later when she was alone, now was not the time.

[bloodthirsts]

"Walter made tea ready for you, Miss Integra." Seras informed her, shutting the door after both Integra and Alucard were inside. "He said it was ceylon." Not that she was especially informed on tea, but it had seemed important when the young butler mentioned it. Back when she could drink the stuff Seras had stuck to buying brand names from the supermarket.

"Mr. Van Helsing and Doctor Seward should be down shortly to say hello. The tea's ready in a drawing room this way." she gestured.

Integra's silence spoke volumes, it was enough to make Seras rein in her joy at seeing the other woman certainly. As happy as she was after seeing Integra again she had to remember what environment she had surely come from before this...

[tinyvampiregod]

"I can still smell your blood," Alucard looked up to her, at the drying smudge of blood half wiped away. 100% virgin Hellsing blood. Female. Such a thing was delicious torment, and perhaps odd to point out in polite conversation if it were anyone other than members and the head of the Hellsing organization.

He vaguely wondered, in a droll fashion, whether or not they would share custody of him. Odd days were Integra, even were Abraham. The amused thought curled up one corner of his mouth in a faint smile as those burning red eyes glowed deeper in the dim light of the manor's interior.

[integra_hellsing]

The mention of the butler had Integra straightening, mouth pressing into a thin line. Her expression, other than that, remained neutral for the most part. "How kind of him... my favorite."

Finally, she turned her attention back to the vampires, nodding again to Seras. She wasn't really sure how she felt about meeting these two people; excitement? Shock? She couldn't quite place it, and didn't feel like pondering it, either. "Of course. Thank you," she responded.

Glancing back down at Alucard, she had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. "Yes, I would imagine you would be able to," came her bland response, before she turned to head into the direction that Seras had pointed out.

[bloodthirsts]

Seras blinked for a moment, her eyes glancing between Integra and Alucard for a moment. "Oh good..." Walter must have remembered from when the young Integra was here before, she should inform her mistress in on that if she hadn't already been told, actually.

She moved to walk slightly behind Integra and motioned when the correct door came in sight, "In here, Miss Integra." Inside the tastefully decorated drawing room was a waiting table with fresh white tablecloth and on it a full teaset, hot and steaming and ready for Integra to make according to her tastes. As well as that the promised painkillers lay in plain sight, as did a small medkit Seras had brought out just in case. "Is there anything else you need?"

[tinyvampiregod]

"Mm." She was a Hellsing, they were stalwart and strong humans, but human none the less. He followed behind both Seras and Integral, moving to take up residence in one of the shadowed areas near Integral, close but not too close.

He was watching her, taking in every nuanced movement, every word, eyes sharp and focused.

[integra_hellsing]

What a lovely room. Integra moved in and immediately sat down. The adrenaline rush from home was gone, and she suddenly felt very tired. Not only from the war, naturally, but from trying to wrap her head around all the information thrown at her when she arrived on that ridiculous baseball diamond.

At first, the heiress stared down into her teacup, before she finally moved to take a bit of sugar -- not much, mind you, just enough for a bit of sweetness. Stirring it in, she took a sip, having to fight the urge to gulp the whole cup down. She hadn't noticed how thirsty she'd been, either.

Popping the aspirin, she cleared her throat, taking note of that little medkit. "No, this is fine."

[bloodthirsts]

After a moment Seras sat as well, watching her with concern. There was suddenly a lot she wanted to ask Integra, things she wasn't sure she should say in front of this Alucard. "Were you pulled here from much the same time I was?" she asked, trying not to get into specifics.

Obviously Integra had come from the attack on London, but exactly when was a whole other ball park.

[tinyvampiregod]

He noted Seras' vagary and pursed his mouth in slight amusement, waiting to see where this line of discussion was going. From what he had been informed of, one forgot this place almost entirely once they returned back to their own place in their own universe.

[integra_hellsing]

Glancing up at Seras, she frowned again. "No, I was not. The last thing I remember before arriving here was leaving Alucard to fight an opponent on the ground, while you and I entered the Major's airship."

Integra wasn't going to go blurting out ALL the details. Perhaps Seras would figure it out on her own eventually, maybe even Alucard would. Here and now, however, it wouldn't do any good to tell them certain details.

[bloodthirsts]

She blinked wide eyes, "I see." So her and Integra were going to face the Major while Alucard stayed behind... she wondered who the opponent was, but the fact that Integra had phrased it as 'opponent' struck her as significant. Seras nodded, glancing down at the tablecloth for a few seconds. "I'm relieved to see you anyway, sir, I worried when I realised I'd been taken away."

[tinyvampiregod]

"Speak freely," Alucard finally interjected, moving to stand closer to Integral's left hand. "Nothing will change the future from the past. All of what we learn and do here is stricken from our minds before returning."

A flash of white, white fangs and the flaring of red irises as the shadows darken around him to a velvety thickness, "Or so I am told."

[integra_hellsing]

Integra nodded to Seras. "Mm. How very strange this place is... you have been here, and yet I just saw you at home."

Looking back at Alucard, she merely hummed in thought. Speak freely? Absolutely not. She wasn't sure how this Alucard, partnered with the young Butler, would react to the news, or if he'd even believe her. And Seras... no. She couldn't, and wouldn't, do that to the draculina.

"There's nothing else to say about it," she replied to him finally, leaning back in her seat. "London is destroyed because of the Major, and Seras and I need to return as soon as possible to finish him."

She would have to keep her thoughts tightly concealed, lest Alucard attempt to break into her mind and find things out on his own.

[bloodthirsts]

"I haven't seen you in almost two years." Seras confessed suddenly. "Though I didn't realise that until I got here." her fingers played with the fabric of her trousers. "I was taken to another city like this one, I was there for around a year and half but my memories were taken. When I left there I came here and remembered everything..."

Then she nodded in conclusion to Integra's words. "That's exactly it, things are... were, bad, back there." An understatement to be sure. "We need to defeat them."

Finally and completely.

She hadn't said anything about her present to anyone here except for the vaguest mentions. Seras couldn't comprehend how they would react, except badly and then sitting knowing it would happen and they couldn't do anything about it...

[tinyvampiregod]

Alucard would likely react poorly to learning what happened with Walter, best not to tell him. For now, he lapsed back to silence and let the two reacquaint.

[master_helsing]

"Hark!"

A guttural yet modulated voice hollered from the top of the grand stair-case that weaved down to the massive foyer below. Van Helsing in all his legendary demure stood like some valourous knight at the top of a dragon's mount at the top-most case, his hand situated upon the head of a sculpted cupid, who's twin fluttered its stony wings at the adjacent banister.

Fashionably late was all the rage in his time, though he was actually preoccupied with a call to Dr. Seward who was stuck behind his desk at the local sanitarium. The old man was fortunate to have a nearly full house-hold to greet his future heir, of whom he had so adored when he last laid his eyes upon her. Ah, but how she had grown... and how hardened she looked now.

Where had that fresh face and eyes of pure innocence gone to? Alas, he was not so forward to bring this immediate concern to light. He smiled, with a killing kindness suitable only to a Helsing and took a bow once he descended the dark claret flight of steps and approached.

"My Lady Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing... It is with much delight und rejoice to welcome you back, alas, though I know not if you can say such to myself."

There was no doubt he was beyond elated to see her again, yet he was unsure if the core had even allowed her to remember.

[integra_hellsing]

Integra, for a split second, felt her heart absolutely stop upon hearing another voice. Not because it frightened her, heavens no. Simply because she could only imagine who it belonged to.

As soon as it kicked back into gear, however, she was on her feet and facing the man that she'd only ever seen painted portraits of, the man whom had managed to defeat Dracula himself, and the legend that she'd only been able to read about in the novel he'd written, and in his own personal diaries and notes. Never in her life did she think she'd have the honor of meeting Abraham van Helsing.

Considering that this was Hellsing's founding father, not to mention her grandfather, she bowed politely as well, unsure of what else to do in such a situation. It wasn't as though she had family to greet at home, namely ones whom she considered farther above her in sheer rank. No, no one could top Abraham.

When he addressed her, Integra straightened. How to reply? What did she call him? Abraham? Mr. van Helsing? Not wanting to sound awkward or leave it at a pause, she began. "Thank you, grandfather. Indeed, I cannot say the same. You are not the first to have told me that I have been here before, but I do not have any recollection of such a time spent here."

It was hard, she was realizing, to keep such a neutral mask on her face. Finally, however, she allowed a tiny, rare smile to grace her features. "I do hope that you can forgive me."

[master_helsing]

It was star-striking to see her radiant with such elegant maturity. How familiar her looks were brought forth pangs he had not felt since he last seen his wife in sane mind. Yea, the oval shape of her face, that white-gold mane, though her eyes were clearly of his own, she was a match for the woman he doted and loved once upon a time.

Steely irises misted but slight, only to be blinked away as only a gentleman with any sense of pride would do. Despite his attempt to perceive himself as the strong head of house-hold, he was a father and grandfather first before any duty he held to the Crown and the Lord. He showed this in a most paternal manner, sweeping forward to bring the young woman into a vigilant embrace.

It was neither too snug or too loose, but one that knew of his bounds as still, in some ways, a familiar stranger to her. His words were soft that only she could hear, spoken in a lulling tone that denoted his rich heritage... something he had been told was faintly lost down the line.

"Mein Liebling Püppchen, there is nothing of you to forgive. Nay, it is your forgiveness in I that need be plead. For I have placed most terrible a weight upon you without consent."

[integra_hellsing]

Yes, this man was everything she'd imagined and dreamed of him to be. She'd read the novel more than once, seen the movies on countless occasions, and yet nothing could compare to the real deal.

What Integra had not been prepared for, however, was a hug. Immediately, she stiffened, unable to help herself. It had been years since anyone had attempted such affections with her -- at least eight or so. If anything, the sudden motion had her slightly on edge... after all, usually when someone was in such close quarters with her, it usually was for the purpose to attempt to maim or kill.

The woman's eyes widened at his words. After a moment's hesitation, she finally lifted her arms to return the offered hug, and when she spoke, the confusion was laced in her voice. "What weight could you have placed upon my shoulders, grandfather? You've done no such thing. You have absolutely nothing to apologize for."

[master_helsing]

She was in her right to be stiff with him. Halfway through his longing to be personable, he realized the culture shock it must have seemed. He was rather unconventional for a Victorian man. Willingly expressing his emotions and open with his thoughts and feelings. It made him uncouth and eccentric in the eyes of his peers, but to those who knew him well he did nothing that did not have the most sincere amount of thought and benevolence behind it.

It was that very benevolence that hurt his father-heart for what he had done to this beautiful young woman. What sin and depravity he saddled upon her so fair shoulders. He pulled back to look at her with thick brows knit with a regret he had been harboring since he first saw her young form and realized the amount of damage he had done to his own family.

In his own eyes he was a guilty wretch of a man, who bound his blood to a demon of whom he stole from the Father of all Lies himself, just so he could protect mankind from that very demon's kin. Van Helsing had wracked himself with many pains and internal self-flagellation, swearing on his life and to his God that he would find a way to end what he had begun over a century ago.

"T'would be best for sake of one another's well being to be seated for such a chronicle to be told, dear Lady."

He took her gently by the hand, cupping his broad hearth-like digits over her own. They were hands that were stained and sullied beyond redemption, but he would see that she of the last of his offspring, would see salvation.

"Come, sit with me by the hearth."

He opened then the double-doors to the baroque-styled parlor, where tea and a box of Indian Flor de Dindigul awaited to nurse their ailments away. He could smell just from the scent of her coat that she too was a smoker; something he would have murdered Arthur for allowing if he had been the one to do so. The doors were shut behind them, sending only a look to any of the other patrons of the house to tell that they were not to be disturbed. Van Helsing then offered her a red-leather claw-footed armchair across from its pair upon which he too sat before the flickering flames of the roaring white fireplace.

"I doubt not that you might know the abhorrent responsibility that come to those who carry my name."

[integra_hellsing]

Integra could not, for the life of her, imagine what could possibly cause such guilt in this man that would make him, of all people, want to apologize to her. Had Seras told him what the future held? That was in no way his fault. In her eyes, her grandfather could do no wrong, despite the fact that she only knew him from a few scraps of paper and a few paintings.

The tone of his voice was enough to let her know that this was no joke, but in fact a very serious matter. Briefly, her eyes flickered down at his hand, now cupping her own, and without hesitation, she lightly squeezed his own. "Very well. It would seem we have much to discuss."

Walking along side him, Integra took in the details of the lovely home. It would take her a few days to get used to this -- all of this; but she was confident that within the week, she would learn not only the layout of the manor, but more about both her grandfather and Doctor Seward. She wanted to hear their story straight from the source, after all. She wanted to know more about their lives, the parts that didn't involve vampires and death. She wanted to know them.

All of that could wait, though. As they made their way into the parlor, she nodded in appreciation, taking a seat, posture straight and prim. Part of Integra wished that she'd had time to clean up a bit, it was a bit embarrassing to be speaking to such a respected man with splatters of blood on her clothing, little tears and rips here and there. She'd long ago removed her gloves, the once pristine white had been stained crimson, far beyond being able to be saved.

Despite the beauty of the room and the warmth of the fire, Integra's gaze remained only on her grandfather, listening intently to what he had to say. Ah, yes... she knew well of the responsibility. She'd learned it at a very young age, and as the years wore on, it had only piled up more and more.

"In my time, I have had the responsibility you speak of for the last ten years," she replied softly. Her tone held no accusations, no disdain. There was a bit of confusion left, perhaps, but that was it.

As a young girl, a year or so after her father had passed away, after her Uncle had attempted to murder her, after she'd met and released the monster that made nightmares into reality, she'd briefly wondered what it would have been like to be normal. To have a normal life, where her father and mother still walked amongst the land of the living; to be a family. She hadn't lingered on the thought, though. It would have done her no good, and the dream was dashed.

No, she had accepted her role and responsibility to the best of her abilities, thanks to Walter, and even Alucard.