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[reposing]

The conclusion of the mission in the heart of Paris had finished by Alucard's lone hand -- technically, in any case. The building in which Millennium was inhabiting and running tests, evidently, had already seen its blood bath from someone else: one of their own, more or less. Alucard returned to the Hellsing manor with the blonde-haired vampire, covered in dried blood and wearing clothes that don't fit him, scrubs and a lab coat -- and a giant scar on his chest that he could not hide.

The vampire's name is Adrian. Beyond being a pet project, he doesn't remember anything else outside of a life of Millennium. It begins there, and ended with circumstances Alucard only described in a laugh and a Don't interrupt his reading time.

The elusive new vampire is not seen for another day. Then, as if he has always belonged in Hellsing manor, he walks the halls with a regal elegance, fully dressed this time and certainly much more put together. There is almost always a suspicious look in his golden gaze, skeptical as he looks at most people, but significantly less lost than when he'd first arrived.

Reluctantly, he does approach one Trevor Belmont, a book under one arm.

"Alucard has instructed me that I should be introducing myself to the rest of the organization," Adrian says, sounding bland and distant.

Comments

[stoneup]

Trevor Belmont, up-and-coming member of the Wild Geese, is perhaps a poor choice when it comes to people to approach to start introducing himself to the organization. Having a makeshift family cobbled together out of people equally as damaged as himself has, of course, given him a better self-esteem -- and that's just made him more of a menace, honestly.

He has to wonder what the pretty-boy vampire is doing approaching him, but -- well. He hadn't been planning on answering Adrian until he had spotted him out of the corner of his eye. He recognizes the man from their Paris mission, and he's curious about him.

"Well, usually when you introduce yourself you give your name. Might want to start with that."

[reposing]

There's a moment as he looks at the mercenary, both curious and dubious. The Wild Geese dont seem like much to him, but he also doesn't want to doubt or disappoint Alucard.

"They called me Adrian," he answers finally. Because he doesn't remember a name other than what he was called, truthfully.

And with Millenium, who ever he was before did not matter.

[stoneup]

For future reference, definitely doubt and/or disappoint Alucard.

"Right, so that's not an answer, but ... moving on."

He wipes his hand on his pants (why does he even need to do that?) and offers it out to Adrian after a moment.

"Trevor Belmont of the Wild Geese." He sounds so very proud of the name, and of the association he has to it -- it's almost kind of gross.

[reposing]

"Is it not a name?" he says flatly. "A common one in Europe, so I've read."

There's a squint as he peers at Trevor, the way he wipes his hand off (why??) and holds it out. For a moment, Adrian holds still, as if truly debating taking his hand, because it would mean touching him.

The Wild Geese aren't exactly known for their hygiene, evidently. Not that Adrian has room to talk until recently, but that's part of why he thinks of it as so important. Eventually, he reluctantly takes Trevor's hand and almost immediately regrets it.

"I surmised based on the matching uniforms," Adrian muses. "You have been with them long, I take it?"

[stoneup]

"Right, but I asked your name, not --" And he trails off, as if deciding he doesn't have any interest in pursuing that line of thought further.

Why on earth would you regret shaking the hand of such a rugged and manly man, Adrian? His fingers aren't even sticky, we promise!

He does smell faintly of beer, but to be fair -- it's past noon, isn't it? They're supposed to be celebrating the Paris victory. He smirks, shaking Adrian's hand firmly (and ending with a squeeze, even).

"Mm. I look like that much of a wrinkly bastard, do I?" Trevor chuckles.

[reposing]

As the topic is dropped, Adrian takes the cue to not bother explaining.

The squeeze just makes him jerk, not expecting it. For a brief moment, it does break through Adrian's bored-like expression, and he looks confused before he pulls his hand back, placing it back over his book.

"Not so much. More like you've steeped with them for awhile," Adrian says sharply, distracting himself from how puzzled he feels.

[stoneup]

To his credit, Trevor doesn't do anything unnecessarily asinine like try to keep Adrian from drawing his hand back, even if he smirks when he sees that reaction pass over the vampire's otherwise passive face.

He does, however, let out a sharp bark of laughter at Adrian's answer. All right, so the pretty boy had a little bit of a bite to him. He couldn't say he was too surprised, considering how Alucard had reportedly found him.

"Oh, I was well-marinated before I met most of the boys. Let's give credit where credit's due."

[reposing]

The laugh makes him tilt his head, not at all certain what to expect. Most of his social interactions have been very limited to, say, Millennium and then Alucard. Seras is... nice, though. He does like her, even if he doesn't know what to make of her.

"So you were always a mercenary? Came right out of the womb with a gun, I suppose."

[stoneup]

"Ah, I assumed you meant --" And he holds up the half-empty bottle of beer. "But no, not a gun."

Most people were referring to his borderline-alcoholism when they talk about him steeping in anything, after all (it's not alcoholism if you've got enough friends, though, right?). He pauses, considering, and then grabs one of the beer out of the crate next to him by its neck to offer to Alucard, brow raised.

"A whip."

Maybe it'll lighten him up a bit.

[reposing]

"I've seen worse," Adrian says mildly.

The bottle earns a puzzled look. He did like the wine that Alucard gave him. He can't remember having anything but that and blood before.

"That doesn't seem very practical, but then a First Lieutenant carried a scythe everywhere." Adrian opens the bottle. He gives a sniff, then frowns. Maybe it tastes better than it smells.

He proceeds to chug it all down in one go without any hesitation. After finishing the contents, Adrian wrinkles his nose.

"That isn't very good," Adrian remarks.

[stoneup]

"Well, you have met Alucard."

He waves a hand to the side, dismissive. Adrian, he's not telling you how to do your job -- don't tell him that his weapon is impractical for his! That's rude.

"Oh -- well, the first one's always a write-off." He passes over another already-open bottle. Is Trevor going to see whether he can get this new recruit drunk? Almost certainly.

Is he going to be in over his head?

Almost certainly.

[reposing]

"I like him," Adrian says sternly and decisively. Granted, he doesn't have much to compare Alucard to, but he's done nothing but treat Adrian well since he'd been discovered.

The second bottle earns a skeptical look. Hesitantly, Adrian sets down his book, which is evidently a collection of Shakespearean works; he sits across from Trevor and proceeds to down the bottle without any indication he should be slowing down.

"It's still bad," he mutters, but he feels warm in the face. Adrian blinks slowly and touches his own face, as if not expecting this outcome.

[stoneup]

"You can like someone and still know they're probably drowning themselves in alcohol," he points out, glancing over at Alucard once he's finished the second beer.

The warm flush across Adrian's cheeks -- suits him, Trevor things with only mild distress as he finishes up his own drink.

"Not everyone drinks beer for the flavor." Arguably, there were few young men who started drinking beer because they enjoyed the taste. It seemed like something you grew into, in some ways. Or ... grew tolerant of, maybe.

He kicks out a foot in front of him and leans back in his chair as Adrian sits down.

"So, 'Adrian' -- what's your story?" He knows the 'official' story, but that was hardly ever the real one.

[reposing]

"He was kind to me," Adrian mutters, feeling oddly relaxed. Ah, he realizes. He hadn't been certain how alcohol would interact with him, but. Well, now he knows. It's not a bad sensation, but he's never felt like this either. Decades in Millennium and he's never even had a taste or inclination.

Adrian puts his hand on his book, feeling his fingers over the pages, as if it offers him comfort. "I don't understand," he says. "Weren't you given a report of some kind?"

[stoneup]

Adrian, does Trevor really look like the kind of guy who either cares to or knows how to read?

He notes the way that the blond touches the book, as if it's got some sort of special significance to him. "Reports are just words on a page. You really don't listen when people ask you things, do you?"

Or maybe he really is just an isolated lab rat, but -- well, Trevor doubts it. Nobody's life is that boring, right?

[reposing]

"I listen perfectly fine. And when I don't, someone makes sure. Isn't that the way of it?" Adrian asks flatly.

"Alucard found me after I killed everyone in that laboratory. And I would do it again. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I don't-- remember anything else, but them. Their experiments, if you could call them that. If I had a life before Millennium, I don't recall it."

Words that come easier with the drink. Words that, probably, he'd have kept to himself if otherwise asked.

[stoneup]

"If you're lucky enough to always have someone to make sure for you, yeah. Big fucking gamble to take, you ask me."

He does listen to what Adrian says, though, and when he speaks about not remembering anything before Millenium, Trevor lets out a 'tch' sound through his teeth and uncaps another bottle of beer for himself. There's still more in the crate, but he does't pass another one to Adrian just now.

"Well, shit. I don't think anyone here would've complained about you doing it sooner, either."

He does, though, take a long sip of his own beer.

[reposing]

"It wasn't luck. They would hurt me when I did something they didn't like or approve of." The tone used is quiet, thoughtful. He knows that Alucard and Seras don't hurt him, and if Alucard trusts these people including Integra, then that is enough for Adrian.

He takes the book and looks down at the cover.

"It would have been nice. But my circumstances now are good. Better than I would have imagined for myself."

[stoneup]

As soon as Adrian admits to that kind of upbringing from Millenium, his brows crease together with -- concern? Is that what it is? -- and he wonders when he'll stop putting his foot in his mouth.

Never, if his track record is anything to go by. He frowns.

"Well. Better late than never. You've just got plenty to make up for, then." That's -- supposed to be encouraging. He's not their leader just yet for a reason.

[reposing]

That does earn a raise of Adrian's brow. It's, perhaps, not the best, but at the same time it's more care than he's experienced through the last few decades. So, with mild amusement he asks, "Are you trying to be encouraging, Belmont?"

Adrian sounds far from offended, and instead almost looks like he could smile. It doesn't quite happen, but at least he's a step away from a resting bitch face now.

"There are a lot of things I haven't done. I'd never properly seen the outside until I agreed to leave with Alucard. A clear view of the night sky, or the lights of London in the evening." Wryly, he adds, "I also haven't killed enough of Millennium yet."

[stoneup]

"Don't sound so surprised. Mercenaries have feelings too, you know." Mostly feelings like 'violent', 'drunk', and 'horny', but still! Loyalty was threaded through his veins for his group, and so far Hellsing had treated them well. That was as much as he needed to treat them with at least professional courtesy.

He smirks, though. "Well, I'm sure we'll all be knee deep in their bodies before long and you'll be at least temporarily satisfied."

The more he talks with this Adrian fellow, the more that he finds himself intrigued with him. It's -- going to be problematic, if things progress as they are right now -- he ought not to be thinking about whether the things Adrian needs to catch up on are falling into a man's bed, after all. He takes another thoughtful swig of his beer.

[reposing]

"That seems rather unlikely." The tone that Adrian takes is almost a teasing one rather than snippy, and he isn't serious about the remark in the least. Quite honestly, everyone here has been far more humane. Not that it takes much, he supposes; even he knows his circumstances were extreme.

Adrian snorts. "As fun as that might be, I want to know more about everything else as well."

There's a pause, and almost shyly he adds, "Alucard mentioned a museum. It sounds nice. Though I suppose a mercenary wouldn't have any real interest in that."

[stoneup]

It's funny how easy it is to fall into banter sometimes, isn't it? Trevor's smirk turns just a hint wicked.

"If you stick around, I'm sure you'll find out just how I feel, Adrian." He hadn't meant for that to come out as innuendo laced as it had, but neither was he going to backpedal on it any now that it was out there. Instead, he barrels forward with the conversation, considering his options.

"Mm. So long as you're not going to make me comment on the nuanced history of the exhibit, I think I'd survive." Most museums had weapons exhibits, after all, and spending time with Adrian had it's appeal.

[reposing]

The remark and-- flirtation? It earns a puzzled looking frown from Adrian, and it doesn't do anything to help detract from the flush that's already on his face from the two drinks he downed way too fast earlier.

But the conversation keeps going, and he blinks, deciding that he's definitely just. Going to leave that alone. He doesn't really have the social graces to know what to do with that anyway.

"The only history I know is what I've read. You'd likely be safe from that," Adrian muses. "So you would... go with me?"

[stoneup]

The flush, he thinks, is rather charming. He's content for now to drop the flirtatious content of the conversation, if not the tone -- he's not one to fully leave well enough alone, unfortunately for Adrian.

"With you? Yeah, sure." He's restless by nature, and even he can only spend so many hours drinking casually before it starts to get old.