[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]

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.