[ Johnny can't say he was expecting Alucard's endless gratitude - this is not his one and only friend from back home, after all, and even Gyro would probably have something negative to say about a rescue this haphazard - but this is not a decision Johnny makes entirely lightly. It is dangerous and he should leave, except for all that little factors that added up together into him staying put.
He's curious about this place too. His youkai, for all its faults, emboldens him about what he could theoretically dig himself out of. And perhaps just the smallest shred of humanity, stretched out to a man that's shared a few clever insights with Johnny even if they've never really gotten along--
And then Johnny gives an attempt and that attempt is marked as falling dreadfully short, and what little scarred tissue that makes up his self-esteem takes the brunt of that disappointment. ] Because being careful really kept you safe, [ he snarls, although it comes a half-beat after his expression is openly stricken and hurt. He's already shoving it aside in favor of aggravation.
Johnny's still catching his breath, but he presses himself up enough to drag himself forward and then turn around to sit on his ass, facing the stairs, so he can pull his legs up off the steps with his hands. ] Besides. In theory, I can fly. But the jackass in my head only wants to help if my body is in danger.
So I need to be the one to help you, but if I got caught, I'd just put on my mask and let that demon-thing give me enough power to break out. [ He says this like it really was his plan from moment one and like it makes perfect sense, as he flips over to look over Alucard and the rest of the room at large, one initial scope for clues. ]
Exactly. If I still managed to fall into a dreadfully mundane trap such as this, then I don't want something to happen toβ ( Alucard trips on his unprecedented words, just as Johnny argues his heroic logic. part of him expected Johnny hadn't thought this through, but that idea doesn't settle entirely well; he's impulsive as hell, dangerously so, but he isn't...stupid. Alucard knows that.
but what truly snaps his voice out of his throat is what he realizes he nearly says. it isn't 'I don't think you're capable,' because even if he didn't think so, Tatsuo would never allow him to say it. what it is...
I don't want something to happen to you.
and that sits strangely in the pit of his cold stomach, and he can't understand why the concept matters so much. it's...natural to feel that way about someone you're partnered with for safety. is it his pride? because Alucard only came here to make sure Johnny wouldn't hand himself in danger, and only wound up doing that for himself?
Alucard is made to surface from a submersion he didn't realize he'd slipped into, eyes awake and hard as he blinks into the present, looking at Johnny. sweat has his hair sticking to his temples, pain wandering through his body in waves. self-aware remorse bends his expression, but they don't have time for him to try to walk his own ass through unprepared apologies. )
βYes. ( they need to focus on this first. Alucard swallows and looks back over to the half-crumpled rug. ) I attempted to move it to check for any trap, but it seems it was a trigger to another.
Not my brightest idea. ( but what else could he have done? if anything, it might have triggered either way, and wouldn't it have been worse not to bother checking an obvious detail? ) I didn't notice anything obvious under the rug; I'm not entirely sure the mechanism is hidden there with it.
[ 'I don't want something to happen to--' and it rings between them, awkward and obvious and hard to avoid looking at. Johnny just stares, eyes wide and not able to hide how hard it's hitting him to read the rest of the implied sentence. Offense at being offered help when he doesn't need it is so easy to feel and so familiar by now, but it doesn't cover the full extent of his emotions about being offered anything. And this isn't help, but a brief hint that Alucard cares--
Johnny swallows, hard, and sits up taller, shoulders back entirely because his body urges him to give in to how tired he now feels. ] Okay. So leave the rug alone.
Whatever releases it, it would be wherever the people controlling it would want to be standing, or reach for. So they wouldn't need to turn their backs to get to it, but it would be far enough away that something the size of any random youkai couldn't reach it...
Or. [ Johnny looks back over at Alucard. And damn, he doesn't look great, sweating and breathing heavier, but he doesn't look like he's about to pass out and Johnny can't do anything about it until they get the trap to release anyway, right? So... ] Or maybe it's not a...physical release?
Wouldn't exorcist humans have magic, in a place like this?
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He's curious about this place too. His youkai, for all its faults, emboldens him about what he could theoretically dig himself out of. And perhaps just the smallest shred of humanity, stretched out to a man that's shared a few clever insights with Johnny even if they've never really gotten along--
And then Johnny gives an attempt and that attempt is marked as falling dreadfully short, and what little scarred tissue that makes up his self-esteem takes the brunt of that disappointment. ] Because being careful really kept you safe, [ he snarls, although it comes a half-beat after his expression is openly stricken and hurt. He's already shoving it aside in favor of aggravation.
Johnny's still catching his breath, but he presses himself up enough to drag himself forward and then turn around to sit on his ass, facing the stairs, so he can pull his legs up off the steps with his hands. ] Besides. In theory, I can fly. But the jackass in my head only wants to help if my body is in danger.
So I need to be the one to help you, but if I got caught, I'd just put on my mask and let that demon-thing give me enough power to break out. [ He says this like it really was his plan from moment one and like it makes perfect sense, as he flips over to look over Alucard and the rest of the room at large, one initial scope for clues. ]
...Was the trigger under that rug?
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but what truly snaps his voice out of his throat is what he realizes he nearly says. it isn't 'I don't think you're capable,' because even if he didn't think so, Tatsuo would never allow him to say it. what it is...
I don't want something to happen to you.
and that sits strangely in the pit of his cold stomach, and he can't understand why the concept matters so much. it's...natural to feel that way about someone you're partnered with for safety. is it his pride? because Alucard only came here to make sure Johnny wouldn't hand himself in danger, and only wound up doing that for himself?
Alucard is made to surface from a submersion he didn't realize he'd slipped into, eyes awake and hard as he blinks into the present, looking at Johnny. sweat has his hair sticking to his temples, pain wandering through his body in waves. self-aware remorse bends his expression, but they don't have time for him to try to walk his own ass through unprepared apologies. )
βYes. ( they need to focus on this first. Alucard swallows and looks back over to the half-crumpled rug. ) I attempted to move it to check for any trap, but it seems it was a trigger to another.
Not my brightest idea. ( but what else could he have done? if anything, it might have triggered either way, and wouldn't it have been worse not to bother checking an obvious detail? ) I didn't notice anything obvious under the rug; I'm not entirely sure the mechanism is hidden there with it.
no subject
Johnny swallows, hard, and sits up taller, shoulders back entirely because his body urges him to give in to how tired he now feels. ] Okay. So leave the rug alone.
Whatever releases it, it would be wherever the people controlling it would want to be standing, or reach for. So they wouldn't need to turn their backs to get to it, but it would be far enough away that something the size of any random youkai couldn't reach it...
Or. [ Johnny looks back over at Alucard. And damn, he doesn't look great, sweating and breathing heavier, but he doesn't look like he's about to pass out and Johnny can't do anything about it until they get the trap to release anyway, right? So... ] Or maybe it's not a...physical release?
Wouldn't exorcist humans have magic, in a place like this?