Recruitment
Contrary to the expectations of many, the Hellsing Organization worked like a small town in the fact that everyone knew everything about everyone else except in the case of Alucard, not counting the few that were brave enough to ask and those stupid enough to do it in such a way that they left the next day and were never heard from again. This was fairly advantageous because it ensured that the soldiers kept out of trouble, the safety of the staff, and that nothing happened without Sir Hellsing's permission, but rumor flew at the speed of a bush fire doused with heavy doses of hydrogen sulfide and pure oxygen.
Surprisingly, one of the few to whom the gossip was horse elbows was Pip Bernadotte. As a rule, he spent more time on reviewing previous forays and preparing the best way to train for the next. This was currently requiring a broadening of his horizons and he spent most of his waking hours in the library, poring over vampire lore and mythology and sketching out their methods of hunting and plans to counter them in a notebook that he kept with him. Since the beginning of the month, attacks had increased dramatically, leaving the Wild Geese and both vampires to handle several infestations a week.
However, a successful captain knew what was going on around the barracks and surprisingly, he had found a source of information in Seras Victoria. Her timid and polite attitude had caused the staff and soldiers to deem her as safe, but out of deference to her master, they let her be. It was not often that Alucard involved himself with household affairs, but when he did, he interfered with a heavy hand so that he had no cause to repeat it and it was often remembered well and talked about for weeks until Walter put a stop to the horrified chatter. Currently, she was informing him why one of his men, Private Benjamin Wilkins, a doe-eyed virgin and the frequent butt of company jokes because of it, had recently gained more confidence. So far in her story, they had found a kindred spirit in one another with both of them being inexperienced rookies.
"So, we were talking about books one night and he asked me a question about Dracula. It was why the horses died when Dracula's brides danced around them, but were fine when Dracula brought Jonathan Harker to the castle. I didn't know, so I asked Master that question the next night on his behalf. He said that Stoker had been heavily influenced by the Irish folk tales that his mother told him and integrated them into the story and asked to meet Wilkins because he was impressed that someone had caught that. I arranged it and they talked the entire night away in the library. I didn't hear much of the conversation, only that Dracula was his late sister's favorite, which explained why he was so familiar with it."
"Then what happened?"
"Well, some of the men hung Wilkins up as a joke because they said he would be good bait for the vampire a few nights ago. Master showed up a few minutes later and once he had their attention, asked them why they were holding a double standard and thought that only straight people who weren't rapists could become vampires. They panicked and immediately untied Wilkins and then he told them, 'Gentlemen, it is said that the two things certain in life are death and taxes and I am assured that I could do more harm to you than your taxes ever could.' Since then, they've left him alone because he's now been designated as the vampire's favorite." She paused and added, "Well, that's what Master told me."
"And God help the poor bastard who crosses your master." Pip leaned back in the chair, cigarette dangling from his mouth as he thought. "It's good of you to notice things; I've been noticing things, too."
"Like what?"
"Well, for instance, you're keeping less of a distance now, but it's still a pretty big distance."
She blushed and crossed her legs. "We may fight often on the range and field, but this isn't about you."
"So, it's not because I grabbed your ass by accident when I mean to reach for my ammo?"
"No."
"Or the Eskimo song?"
"No."
"And definitely not when I—"
"You're not doing yourself any favors by going on," she said a bit snappishly. "I told you that it has nothing to do with you or your men; do you really feel the need to pry into my personal business?"
"Girlie, I'm the one who works with you the most and it's a pain in the ass if I don't know why one of my soldiers is acting strange."
"I'm not one of your soldiers! I'm…" She stopped and dug her gloved fingers into her palms.
"A vampire?" He laughed halfheartedly. "I thought we'd already figured that."
"Yes, but…" Seras realized that to say that he didn't know what it was like would be useless because the difficulty was implied. As it was, she could barely keep a handle on herself. It had now been a month since she refused to drink blood and more side affects seemed to crop up every day. When she had despaired aloud on one occasion and asked her master, he raised an eyebrow at her and speaking slowly and simply as if it was a child that he addressed, replied "You know as well as I do why, police girl."
"Mignonette," Pip entreated, moving to bridge the gap between them. She could see the vein pulsing under his skin and his heartbeat grew in sound by the second. Steeling herself and pushing her chair back, she stood. Her legs quivered, despite the fact that the sun would not rise for another four hours and she drew back. "Captain, please keep yourself on that side of the table. I have to leave right now."
She left without looking back, eyes fixed determinedly ahead. Behind her, the captain sighed heavily as he watched her depart. He knew that it was a vampire thing, but he felt awful. Not even the sight of her derriere could console him. He had no doubt that they would be hearing about this tomorrow, but at the moment, he couldn't have cared less. What he needed was a drink and a smoke and neither would get themselves. He got up, pushing the chairs back in before he absconded in the opposite direction.
A/N: Private Benjamin Wilkins belongs to the user LadyTerragon on Deviantart; she merely let me borrow him. For Hellsing, I always assumed that the disclaimer was implied.
