abraxaslogs | [ CLOSED ] here in this garden of bones

[ He peels off more crackling, sucking a bit of salted grease and butter from the tip of his thumb. The kick goes unremarked upon beyond the lightest quirk of his eyebrow.

He nearly laughs, too, if only because least judgmental is both accurate and yet wholly not. Jaskier is judgmental in the pettiest of ways, but. Far less so where it counts the most. Where it weighs the heaviest. He knows what Alucard means. ]

He's persistent, I'll grant him that. Did you ever straighten out your many ribbons?

[ The ones they fussed over for hours, that is. Later, Geralt will be able to see for himself when he and Jaskier fuck on top of the desk, but. Alucard need not know about those details. ]

Like a dog with a bone. [There's no denying the warmth and affection there. Jaskier's just....what Alucard needed, when he needed it most. A friend, even if it started with Jaskier almost peeing on him in wolf form. Which is hilarious now.]

For now. Watch, when the seasons change we'll be adjusting the florals in the office and that'll come with new squabbles.

[He'll look forward to it.]

Did Jaskier ever give you anything during your recovery? I've meant to ask.

[does the bard still have a vial of his goddamn blood rattling around.]

Mm. Florals. A most pressing matter.

[ He pours more wine. Eats more pork. The meat is beginning to give way to bone; Geralt has an appetite fitting what one might expect by looking at him. If he didn't hunt his own meat, it'd be a much greater pain in the arse.

Oh. Yes, the vial. ] Took it back. Said he'd promised.

[ Geralt had found no need for it in the end—his injuries were heavy, but not life-threatening—and hadn't questioned it much when Jaskier said he needed it returned. He assumes it's to do with Alucard's blood within it. He does understand. Ciri's blood is not exactly something he'd want floating about for others to consume or experiment with. ]

When aren't they?

[Alucard pauses, just long enough to get up to the kitchen. He comes back with a cake that's just big enough to be split in two, scented with citrus and garnished with candied orange peels against a light frosting that is far infinitely more delicate than everything else available at the moment. It gets cut in two, and a warm, gentle walnut smell adds to the air.]

Just so you're pacing yourself properly.

[The vial gets a nod, and a gentle sigh of relief.]

I had a feeling, since your hair still looks like it does, but I wanted to be sure.

[ Should have realized Alucard had dessert prepared. Geralt chews thoughtfully, then leans forward to sniff it. Hm. Delicate. ]

You mean it doesn't look like yours.

[ Unreasonably and inexplicably glossy. Now that the cake has arrived, Geralt does not hesitate to take a curious bite out of it. Whether he's meant to or not. Alucard should know by now he doesn't give a shit about the rules of dining unless he's a good reason to bother. ]

New experiment or a recipe from home?

[Alucard really didn't expect anything less. He'll wait to finish his meat first though, as meat-cake-more-meat is not his preference.]

--Mmm.

[Fuck it, Geralt should know this just in case.]

The former. And I began to realize I did not know the abilities my own blood had, given that vampire blood can create other vampires. Anything mine does is temporary except for improve one's hair.

[Alucard also knows Geralt isn't an idiot. If he puts two and two together with VIiktor, so be it.]

[ A beat. Then: ] I was talking about the cake.

[ Considering the sheer deadpan, that's probably a joke, but it's difficult to tell with Geralt. He absorbs the information. Blood experiments are nothing new. (Look at Ciri.) It's a powerful ingredient, whether in magic or science.

Wait—

He peers at Alucard. Is he putting it together? Somewhat. Geralt does not speak to Viktor frequently enough to fully notice the state of the man's hair, but. Likely, the next time he sees Viktor and looks, he'll realize. ]

And its other properties?

Edited 2023-06-09 01:07 (UTC)

You're correct. Everything about my appearance is perfection itself, and it extends to cake.

[Alucard can't beat Jaskier in the vain category, but by god he can try.

There's a small shrug.]

Healing, mostly. Good for injuries that might be hard to triage otherwise. Little bursts of other things. No one's going to be biting necks or in want of blood.

[ The quiet chuckle escapes him. Geralt leans back in his seat, watching the flickering candles for a moment. He's known Alucard for a while now; it's safe to say Alucard seems better than he has been compared to their early days together.

It's gladdening to see. There will, he thinks, always be some conflict over being torn from their homes into a new world. But it isn't the worst. He doesn't know if he could claim he'd be any better off at home. Few of them left behind a comfortable, easy life. ]

Good to know. [ Makes him wonder if Alucard's come across the only other vampire he knows of in this sphere. Louis. ] And don't worry. Your secret's safe with me.

[It'd be hard for the dhampir to be worse than he was at first.

There's a faint nod of his head. Alucard can believe that Geralt won't share the information. He's reliable when it comes to keeping personal details personal.]

Thank you. The circle that knows is small as to not compromise my safety. [Because that's the nightmare. Someone captures him and keeps him just alive enough to sell his blood as some miracle cure-all.]

--Does Roach need anything?

[He forgot his third guest!]

[ He glances outside the window where Roach is tethered. She's in a shaded little spot with a trough of water, which is plenty for her. Geralt might be fond of his horse, but she's still a working, travelling animal. Minimal maintenance is vital. ]

She can have an apple.

[ They're not going far, anyhow. Geralt came to visit Alucard, not to work. A leisurely sort of trip. He'll be returning to Cadens after this. Perhaps a short detour to the gather a few ingredients in the desert outback. Though, given he's been riding for almost a full day: ]

You've room for an overnight guest?

[Geralt you're the worst horse girl.]

I'll indulge that and make sure her water's topped off.

[Everyone is a guest, everyone deserves good treatment.]

Sure, if you don't mind sleeping about five inches from where you're sitting now. I'll be out here for a few days more. [Sleeping, mostly.] It's only a matter of me grabbing blankets from one of the niches.

[The blankets are light, really there just because Alucard enjoys making a blanket nest for himself no matter the situation. That his yes is instant also says a lot about how far his trust has developed.

He lets out a soft huff of amusement at that revelation, then takes another bit of food. Honestly, this isn't a bad evening. It's quiet. Just enough other people in it. Ideal, really.]

[ CLOSED ] here in this garden of bones

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