[It was very much needed. And Jaskier, it seems, was the right person to open up to about it.]

--Of course he did. [There's a shake of Alucard's head, but it comes with a note of genuine fondness in spite of it all. He continues to dislike Hector for any number of reasons, but the dhampir has a few suspicions about the bard's influence being a positive one. He'd rather not disrupt that, even if he considers Hector's past actions pointedly unforgivable.

Satisfied with the joinery work for the section he's working on, Alucard moves onto the next, leaning forward to scoot another piece of stone back in place. It is that point when Geralt speaks again.

There's a shake of his head, stray strands of hair peeking over Alucard's shoulder and threatening to get in the way. He uses one hand to clear them out.]

I'm not sure. The supply of damaged stones is finite, and once I'm done... [He doesn't know. There's still a nap to do, but there's time to come before it. Somewhere, in all that trailing off, he realizes it is ominous. Maybe that's a truth.

It is maybe the best and worst person to admit that truth to.]