exsiliumlogs | (Partially-closed) Old new bonds

Entry tags:

(Partially-closed) Old new bonds

Date & Time: Oct 1st
Location: Unit 196, West Wing
Characters: Seras Victoria

bloodthirsts, Walter C. Dornez

angel_of_death and open to other residents of Unit 196, jump in to the existing thread or make a new one as you like.
Summary: After finding Walter injured in the wave of new transports Seras brings the young butler back to her quarters to make sure he gets his rest. Continued from here
Warnings: Language

[Seras pushes open the door to her unit with Walter in tow, poking her head in first before stepping into the room properly. It seems empty at the moment, no sign of Sango (and Kirara), Rudy or Nill. That's good for now.]

Here we are, Walter, a bit more cramped than we had it down in Exsilium but comfortable enough.

[Which is putting it lightly. From your own personal room with communal living area to a smaller space with two sets of bunk beds and a small sink shoved into one corner. Seras hadn't even been able to bring the coffin she'd so briefly enjoyed in Exsilium up to the moon with her, it took up too much space when she already had the massive Harkonnen to account for. The discomfort she'll suffer from sleeping without one is something she'll just have to deal with for the near future.

The Draculina indicates the bottom bunk on the let side of the room as she closes the door behind Walter.]

This one's mine, so please make yourself at home.

[Next to the bed is something that might catch Walter's interest, the Harkonnen cannon is leant carefully between the corner of the bunk and the wall, the end of its barrel coming close to the ceiling.]

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Ah...

[While Walter makes it clear enough that he's heard her, there's about a snowball's chance in Hell that he'll actually feel at home in this place. Adjusting to the actual living conditions is another matter, though, and something easily done for the youth. The presence of the weapon helps-- gives him something to focus on other than his own thoughts about the past and future for the moment. Pausing beside the bed, he allows his gaze to rest on the armament.]

Is that the gun you told me about? It looks like a cannon.

[A highly mobile cannon for personnel use; it's an interesting concept. Most of the ones he sees on a regular basis are much larger, either part of a tank or part of a fixed position on the ground for defence against attacks from the air.]

Yes! That's the Harkonnen. A cannon just as you say.

[She says enthusiastically with great fondness.]

It fires 30mm rounds in a variety of shell types. You're welcome to examine it if you like.

[Seras steps over and lifts it in one hand away from the wall, laying the length of the cannon across the floor instead.]

It is -- will be -- your work after all.

[Stepping back to clear way for the cannon to be laid on the ground, Walter reaches behind him in order to set the saucer of dirtied food into the bowl of the sink where it will not risk getting knocked over or otherwise falling.]

What sort of shell types?

Depleted uranium rounds and armour-piercing incendiary.

[Seras explains, moving towards the bowl of food after he put it down, she picks it up with the intention of rinsing it off for him.]

With blessed silver in the mix of course at home, though I doubt they have that much in supply here. Hopefully we won't be fighting many vampires or the like.

Edited 2013-10-06 22:24 (UTC)

[With Seras taking up the task of tending to his meal, Walter is free to examine the weapon at his feet. Crouching down once more, he looks over the cannon that has been laid out.

From his perspective, it appears to be a breech-loader, and from the single barrel it appears as though it would only be able to fire one shell at a time. In the hands of a vampire and against a single target one targets neatly lined up, it would work well, but in an enclosed space like this with so many people around, it might be a problem.

Perhaps, then, Seras was speaking about the sort of fighting they'd be expected to do for the Initiative.

Walter is still far from sold on the idea of fighting for these people. Especially after they dragged from his important mission against his will.]

It's large, but the mechanism looks fairly simple. It shouldn't be a problem to maintain here.

[Placing a hand on the floor to support his weight, Walter bends to have a look at the bipod set about midway down the length of the barrel. He grimaces as his back throbs in protest at the action, his stretching aggravating the damaged muscle tissue around his spine-- one of the areas that had been subjected to the werewolf's attack. But while he is grateful to have his face hidden from Seras' view, the small grunt of pain that passes his lips is something he doubts will go unnoticed, much to his chagrin.

He's going to be made to rest, and he knows it. And Walter doesn't like it one bit.]

[Harkonnen is doing what Seras had hoped for the moment Walter had laid eyes upon it and distracting him, giving him something to focus on other than the load of information she'd laid upon him from their meeting. She takes her time while he examines the weapon rinsing off his meal and from her perspective it looks fairly decent. Safe enough to eat anyway, though given its cold and now wet state Seras can't imagine it being particuarly appetising.

She puts the bowl down in the sink until Walter's ready to eat it and turns back to him njust in time to hear the grunt of pain and observe the stiffness in his position.]

I've had lot's of practice, though I'd be grateful for your help with it.

[Seras comes up behind him, hands on her knees as she leans over the teenager.]

But that can wait, you should let me take a look at your injuries, Walter.

[Tipping up his chin, Walter ignores the added pain of the bruised tissue on his neck and turns his head to look up and over his shoulder at Seras. With her standing over him like that it occurs to him that he's in a vulnerable position. But even so, she does not seem to be exploiting it.

Perhaps she really is one of their own.]

The only broken skin is on the inside of my cheek. I don't think you can do anything about that, or the rest.

[Nothing Walter would be willing to let her do, anyway.]

[Seras frowns.]

Are you sure you don't have any bruised or broken ribs? Does it hurt to breathe?

[Because honestly if the Captain hit Walter like he says he did she's shocked if that's all he came away with. She remembers how her own limbs had torn and broken from the werewolf's monstrous strength when she tried to block him and Walter didn't have anything like a vampires resilience.]

[Bugger. She really isn't going to let him slide by on this, is she.]

I have a few bruises.

[On more than just his ribs, in fact. But he's stubbornly trying to make it come off as less of a burden than it really is, even though he knows by this stage he isn't going to get any peace until the girl knows the extent of his damage.

Gathering himself back into a crouching position, Walter slowly rises from his spot on the ground, only to pivot in order to take a seat on the edge of Seras' bunk. It's cramped. But not so nearly cramped as a submarine, he imagines.]

If you insist, I'll let you have a look.

Please Walter, it'd put my mind at ease.

[Seras smiles hopefully at him, glad he's starting to give in. It really would put her at ease, she knows Walter is tough but she still can't help worrying.]

I promise if it's not too bad I'll shut up about it.

[With an exaggerated sigh, Walter at last complies with Seras' wishes.]

Ten to one you won't shut up about it, then.

[Reaching up to loosen his tie, Walter slides the knot all the way down the strip of fabric until it simply falls undone. Setting that aside, he continues to divest the area of his torso one layer at a time, his deft fingers working to undo the buttons of his waistcoat first, and after setting that next to his tie, the buttons of the shirt underneath.

It only takes the first, top-most button of his shirt to be undone before the first of the bruises exposes itself to the light of the room. It's so large it's difficult to even tell it was made by a thumb, and as the second button comes undone and the fabric of Walter's collar begins to fall away from his skin, it becomes clear that the bruise circles the entirety of his throat.

He had been choked with both hands.]

[She grins at him, shrugging her shoulders.

Then the smile falls aways, Seras doesn't mean to stare while he undresses but it doesn't take long for the damage to start being revealed. Her eyes take in the mass of bruises that are just around his throat, her mouth falling open for a moment.

Then her teeth clench together, barely restraining the snarl that wants to burst forth. The anger she feels will be over five decades too late unless the Captain shows his snout around here, which she is in two minds about whether she wants. The violent side of her craves to take it out on the werewolf, the more rational part never wants to see any of Millenium ever again, leaving them buried.]

That filthy mongrel.

[Her voice is low and constrained, hands clenched at her sides, quite distinct from the brighter tones she typical uses.]

[Walter doesn't object to Seras' choice of words. After all, his manner of speaking can be quite coarse, even when his temper hasn't been riled. It's a little comforting though, in ways Walter won't admit, to hear the almost-growl of Seras' voice. It makes him feel even more secure in his assessment of her as an ally. And to that extent, he opens up a little bit more.]

If Alucard hadn't finally woken up and given me a hand, I would have blacked out. I had my wires around him, too.

[There are numerous points of that statement, though which one the Draculina will hone in on, if any, Walter can only guess at. Will it be the muted resentment he held against Alucard for sleeping so long, or the even quieter gratefulness that he had managed to step in just in the nick of time? Or will she notice the part that has Walter the most concerned-- the part where his wires were ineffective against a target-- the very first target they had been ineffective against in his entire tenure at Hellsing?

But Walter doesn't end it there. The nimble fingers continue their work, one button after the other slipping open until his shirt parts away from his torso, the bottom only held in place by the hem of his pants as he drops the collar of his shirt back and over his shoulders. As the fabric slides down and the sleeves bunch up around his forearms, the second massive bruise is exposed to the open air of the room. This one is on his back, though, so it will take a bit of craning to see.]

[Her expression wavers between anger and exasperation.]

Of course, I think he enjoys making a point of being fashionably late.

[It sounded just like something her Master would do, sleep and wait until after he was initially needed so he could make a grand entrance.]

They didn't work?

[Your shadow didn't work. her conciousness whispers to her. If the monster that had been the Captain could repel those then a non-supernatural, albeit extraordinarily effective, weapon like wire was probably within his power to stop as well.

Her eyes are drawn as he bares his torso, the crimson sweeps over him, assessing the damage. Seras is by no means a medic, she only has basic first aid training that she learned to assist the human soldiers under Hellsing's command but she does her best. There's also a small wince in sympathetic rememberance of what it was like to have a mortal's healing rate.

If it is just heavy bruising and broken ribs she knows there's not much she can do, rest is the only thing that will heal them. Also as far as she's heard so far Walter is breathing normally, which with the lack of other symptoms suggests he's managed to escape without any lung injuries.]

[Fashionably late. It's an appropriate term, Walter thinks-- especially since Alucard had taken on the form of a girl at the time. Either way, the comment makes for a point in Seras' favour in Walter's eyes. Few are the ones who actually understand what it really is like to work with his partner, and Seras seems to at least have a minor grasp on the truth. It's a refreshing change from the inaccurate rumours he's had to hear during his work with the organization.

Unfortunately, whatever ease Walter felt from the hint of understanding vanishes the moment she addresses his wires. His body tenses, aches rising from the abused areas of his flesh to protest now that the adrenaline has worn off. His fingers curl, and he leans his head forward, ashamed that he had not managed to find a means of dealing with the situation before his untimely interruption by the Initiative.

His wires. Simple as though they may seem, they and the situation itself are surprisingly complex. As such, he struggles to find the words to explain.]

It's more like they stopped working. And only the parts that touched him, too. As soon as they cut past his skin, all the parts touching him seemed to lose all the enhancements that we made to them.

[Those enhancements being subtle to the oblivious eye, but obvious to the person who actually knew what was behind them. No ordinary wire could respond so easily and precisely to one's movements, or cut through metal even when they had not been stretched taught beforehand. But it was true that they weren't entirely supernatural, either; their foundational construction had been of steel.

Luckily, any effect the werewolf had had on them had been temporary. But even so, the experience remains unsettling for Walter, even now.]

[She nods. Though what enhancements? Seras had wondered about Walter's wire before, it didn't seem humanly possible to wield the way he did but if Hellsing had done something to make them have some power of their own, well, that would make sense.

It's a question for another time.]

A monster through and through. I wonder if it was particular to his kind... I think only Master would know that though.

[Seras looks aside for a moment. Then back at Walter's bruising.]

You were right, I don't think there's much more I could do for your injuries than an ice-pack if I can get one. Rest is the only real cure.

[When the verdict on his injuries is given, Walter heaves another sigh. It hurts, but other than a minor quirk of his brow he gives no hint to his pain.]

I thought so.

[The show-and-tell through with, Walter crosses his arms and reaches to clasp his fingers around the edges of his shirt, sliding it back up and over his shoulders until the second bruise is once again concealed. As he busies himself redoing his button, he speaks, imparting what information he knows about the enemy.]

Alucard said he had thought that all the werewolf's kind had been destroyed. He seemed to know what they weren't weak against, but didn't really say much beyond that.

[Pausing in his task of re-buttoning his shirt just before reaching the last button, Walter moves his hands a little ways in front of his chest in order to count off on his fingers.]

Crosses, ceremonial items, and holy water. He said they were all ineffective.

You will rest though, won't you?

[It's the voice of one who knows him, disconcerting as that might be to the young butler. She knows how he hates to sit idle.

Seras listens.]

It's only silver that works. So far as I know.

[A silver tooth from the mouth of Holocaust victim over fifty years prior, thrust directly into the beasts heart. That was what it took.

Sometimes it's disconcerting to remember that it was the Captain himself who told her how to do it, that it was only because he wanted to die against a worthy opponent that she and Pip won at all.]

I see. That would explain why Alucard's bullets penetrated his arm all the way. Silver's a standard component of our ammunition.

[Refastening the last button, Walter pulls on his waistcoat and continues speaking as he buttons it up as well.]

And where will you sleep? Are we to share the bed?

[There's a hint of scepticism in Walter's voice at that. Sure, he recognizes her as one of Hellsing's own-- by extent, one of his own. And sure, she is going to the trouble of looking after him and seeing to it that he rests. But Walter knows full well that there are certain particular problems that have a chance of coming up with a vampire sharing a bed with a human, let alone such a small bed. The problem is, there isn't much in the way of an alternative, unless the lower bunks are high enough off the ground for someone to slip underneath them.

...Still, that seems rather rude. Especially after the trouble Seras has gone through for him.]

[Seras straightened up after her assessment was over and now she leans against the bedpost with loosely folded arms and eyebrows raised for a moment at the question. Her reply is a little flat for the rudeness of his tone.]

We both know that could be a bad idea.

As it is I'm rather close with one of the others who lives here, she won't mind me using her bunk when she's not around. Otherwise I'll wriggle underneath, it'll feel a little closer to being in a coffin at least.

[She seems rather put out as she mentions that, making it clear she'd rather have a coffin to rest in than a bed.]

[Thinking for a moment, Walter lets out a contemplative hum. He knows by the tone of her voice that he's come off as rude, and being that she has been so patient with him thus far he actually feels a little bad about it. As such, the least he can do is come up with something slightly more workable for them both.]

We can take the bedding from the bunk they assigned to me. You can at least have a pillow and something other than a cold floor to lie on.

[Part of him wants to suggest that he just go back to his quarters and rest there, though he knows that it will only be so much time before he feels compelled to get up and do something. And from their interaction thus far, Walter thinks it's safe to assume that Seras is already wise to that part of his character. The idea would probably be politely shot down.]

Good thinking.

[The smile comes back onto her face easily. Seras is a little surprised he hasn't tried to say he would just go and rest in his own room but glad, if only just for a day or two he'll stay with her.]

Budge up.

[Seras sits herself on the other end of the bunk from him.]

Well, I suppose I better answer any questions you have and tell you a couple things you should know about the moonbase, then you can get your sleep. I can show you how to use your tablet later as well.

[Obliging the request, Walter scoots over to make a little more room for Seras on the bed. He's a little too pained and a little too bewildered to think entirely straight, so the questions for now remain simple-- predictable, even.]

I don't suppose you know why the idiots yanked me away from the middle of a fight.

[Because, really, if they could pick people up from different points in time, why not five minutes or an hour later? Or, say, after the world war was over, since the Allies apparently won given that it had taken so long for the Letztes Bataillon to show up again. Well, that and the fact that Seras was clearly speaking in English and Hellsing still existed. Those were pretty damn strong hints, too.]

And what's all this about them needing us to fight a war for them?

Afraid not, I can only hazard that whatever criteria they use isn't specific. They look for people who meet their standards and take them wherever they find them.

Though if it's a comfort when they send you back it should be to the exact moment that you left.

[At least in her previous experience. From what she's heard around the place it's the exact same scenario in Exilium too.]

There's a single totalitarian government in place which controls the entire world here and the Intiative is rebelling against them. From what I understand the Initiative's people didn't have a chance against the United Earth military alone and the only way they had to recruit help was the technology to pull people from other worlds. So that's what they do and they send us on missions to try and change events in the past so that the United Earth will never exist, or will weaken enough to be defeated.

[It should be a comfort to learn that he was likely to be sent back to the same exact moment he had been taken from, but it isn't. It isn't because, unfortunately, the moment Walter had been taken from was the exact moment after Alucard had run off and left him to handle the werewolf by himself. It would be a difficult situation to suddenly find himself back in, one in which going back unprepared could cost him his life-- or possibly the already limited success of the mission itself.

But as unsettled as Walter is about it, he doesn't voice his concerns for the time being, allowing Seras to continue on with her explanation instead and doing his best to listen even as the unpleasant thoughts refuse to go away.]

So in other words, it's the usual SNAFU for me-- just less vampires and more evil humans?

[She wishes at somepoint she'd found exactly how that mission would end. The only comfort she could give him is that he would live through it and to a respectable age aftwerwards.]

Pretty much.

Though... about vampires. There is one here, from our world. He arrived when I did and to put it lightly... he's a complete arsehole. However right now he's not a threat, though he bears watching still, of course.

Is there a particular reason that he's not a threat? Vampires with foul tempers aren't exactly known for their restraint.

[In indulging in their appetites or causing other, even more malevolent sorts of trouble, which concerns Walter greatly. Consequentially, the "why" of the matter is very important to him. Is it the vampire practising an exceedingly rare moment of policing himself, or is something else keeping him in check? Whatever it is, Walter wants to know.]

[Just thinking about it still amuses Seras.]

There's a curse on him. If he hurts anyone the damage will be inflicted back on him. I discovered it when I fought him here.

[Well. That is curious. Strange enough to temporarily draw Walter out of his funk and back to full attention.]

Does it completely repel the damage, or does it just inflict the same sort of harm?

[Because there is a difference between the two, and it's an important one.]

[Count on Walter to focus on the details.]

The same sort of harm, I think. I felt it when he hit me. I've been keeping an eye on him to be safe but I think it put's him off risking attacking anyone.

[As cocky as he gets, Walter has always been a "prepare for the worst" kind of person. Though in his old age it will show less in his talking through it with others and more in his making bigger and better weapons. And, to an extent, his hiring practices.]

We'll still need to keep a close eye on him. If he bites someone, a vampire recovers from that. A human doesn't. We don't want an outbreak of vampirism on our hands. Especially in a small space like this.

Edited (Altering the wording a bit felt appropriate.) 2013-10-21 23:08 (UTC)

I know... but I can't really keep him locked up, I would if I could. Even just outright kill him but that sort of thing wouldn't go down well here. It's alright to tell people what crimes he's done but so far here he hasn't done a thing except be digustingly vulgar, it'd be my word alone.

[She fidgets, scratching her head in irritation at the idea.]

[In a simultaneous show of agitation, Walter's fingers curl inwards, his hands clutching into fists against the sheets of Seras' bed. With brow furled and upper lip curled, he speaks, his voice dripping with disdain.]

Well, that certainly doesn't inspire me to have a great deal of faith in this Initiative. It sounds like a real botch job of an operation.

You're telling me.

[She says in glum tones.]

It's driving me barmy everytime I hear that ugly bugger. I don't think I ever met someone so horrible.

[Aching, tired, frustrated, and angry over having been yanked from a situation that was more than life-and-death for a lot of people, Walter finds it easy to get drawn into negative thoughts. But as pessimistic as he is and as much as he complains, he's also a fixer by nature.

So, while he doesn't know Seras all that well, he at least makes a passing attempt at cheering her out of her funk. While still facing out from the bed, he leans in her general direction, a small smirk playing on his lips.]

Well, if you do end up killing him-- or hurting him-- I'd be happy to clean up the evidence.

[She blinks, then tilts her head and grins at him, glad someone here understands her feelings without even having to meet Jan and for that small effort. It means a lot more from him than it would from anyone else here.]

I know I can rely on you.

[She laughs then.]

We'll see how well my patience holds out.

[Entertained and somewhat cheered by Seras' positive response, Walter relaxes just a little bit more, his eyes closing as he echoes part of her response.]

We'll see.

[That done with, he turns his attention to the sink, and the food Seras had been kind enough to wash off for him.]

I guess I'd better eat that now. We wouldn't want the effort to go to waste, right?

Oh! Good point.

[Seras had quite forgotten about the food with their conversation. It was so easy to get distracted.]

Then you should really get some rest.

[With a sigh, Walter concedes the point. He was actually starting to get a little tired. The adrenaline of battle had worn off, and so had the edge of his anger.

He is still angry about his displacement, though. Thoroughly so.]

I will. But first we need to get the bedding from the room they assigned me. I haven't gotten the room number from them yet. I didn't exactly listen to their introduction speech.

Don't worry about that. Use mine and we'll sort it out later.

Better yet, you rest and I'll find it out for you.

[Walter nods, getting up shortly thereafter to retrieve the bowl of meagre sustenance from the sink as he replies.]

That's probably for the best. I can't imagine they'd want to see me again tonight, and I'm certainly not anxious to talk to them. Incompetent bastards.

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(Partially-closed) Old new bonds

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Sorry this took me so long! I got distracted.

No problem :D

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