[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

[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.