Neither were subtle or undramatic people, although my mother always protested the accusation. [There's a soft huff, too fond.] But when one shows up, stabs the front door of a castle, and demands to learn medical science and then berates one of the most powerful vampires for a lack of hospitality--

[They were both forces of nature. Together, they were better than they ever were apart.

Alucard seems to deflate as he trails off. He can't know that Hector's shared even a portion of what happened, but he is aware of the direction this stands to go in if he keeps talking. Maybe Geralt's not the worst person to admit patricide to, given the circumstances and the Witcher's profession, but he's never quite said what happened out loud before. He's never had to. Trevor and Sypha were there. Hector could infer. Sumi and Taka were...they only worried about the castle and fighting vampires.

Their images conjure an actual shudder, and Alucard find himself pulling his coat around him tighter, burrowing into the furs.]