[There's a sigh that follows, and Alucard can feel how weary it sounds. Or a huffy, morose teenager. Sypha might call it the latter, but at least his reasons for it are justifiable.]

I understand your point. [That the world will come knocking, no matter how many walls he puts up to keep it at bay. Still, this thing, the one thing that at least lets him pretend there's space to deal with it--]

A series of escalating events unfolded prior to Ambrose's decisions happened that have given me the need for time away and apart.

[Honesty without detail. Maybe this is too much and he should leave already. The thought is tempting, and Alucard suspects that at this point, Geralt would allow it. Only one drink, after all.]