A.N: You people and your ideas are crazy, but I love them. I'm so glad everyone is enjoying themselves, and I'll try to keep the flow going nicely.
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"Do you think I should wear my habit?" Yumiko asked offhandedly as she brushed her hair in front of the mirror. The young nun had seemed to have calmed down considerably after having seen the two heads of the organizations now under this roof treat each other rather civilly. Even Heinkel had been surprised no blood had been shed thus far.
"Do you really think they vould care one vay or the other?" Heinkel sniffed in indignation and went back to staring at the ceiling. While Yumiko had mellowed somewhat, Heinkel on the other hand was now more on edge than she usually was before even the most dangerous mission. Part of her attributed it to the fact that she was missing the comforting weight of her desert eagles at her sides, for she had opted for a smaller more easily concealable Glock this time around (despite what Maxwell said she would never go anywhere unarmed); but really she was just itching to get a look at the demon that Maxwell had suggested they befriend. The last thing Heinkel wanted to do was underestimate this hell spawn.
Yumiko frowned and turned to look at her long time partner. Sometimes she wished she wouldn't always be so serious. With a sigh the dark haired woman bounced onto the bed to sit next to her.
"You really should try and relax a little. Keep your eyes open yes, but this is the closest thing we are going to get to a break for awhile." The young nun's eyes were so gentle and imploring was all that Heinkel could think; it was amazing that Yumie was lurking just below.
"If you say so," the German woman said before taking off her sunglasses. She took a deep breath and gave her a small smile, attempting to not look so intimidating. It really wouldn't do for her to scare this vampire girl with her infamous glowering looks.
"That's better," said Yumiko, returning the smile.
"You should leave your hair down I think," Heinkel finally answered the nun's earlier question. "It's a shame I only get to see it vhen..." she trailed off.
"When Yumie is awake?" she asked a bit sadly. When her darker personality took over she only ever really remembered snatches of things, but sometimes she wished she could be as free and uninhibited as her other self.
"Yes I suppose so," Heinkel said in a whisper, reaching out to brush the long dark hair out of her partner's eyes. The other woman unconsciously leaned into the warmth of the slight touch. She was really the only person she could trust, that would accept her as she was.
"I-," a sudden knock at the door interrupted Yumiko, and she nearly leaped back off the bed to answer the door.
"Are yeh two ready for dinner?" Anderson asked eyeing Yumiko's slightly flushed continence with slight curiosity. Part of him always wondered why the two women always insisted on sharing a room...
"Of course ve are," Heinkel said with a kind of grim determination that made it sound like she was ready for a war. She brushed past Anderson with an odd look on her face as she went to meet up with the others.
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After quite a few cups of eggnog all around, Integra and the wild geese were quite ready to tackle anything. After an extensive "tactics" meeting, the geese were sent ahead into the dining room. If everyone could just manage to play nice for the night they could make it through this.
"So Master, you haven't given me my orders for this night. Do you plan to leave it up to my discretion?" Alucard asked as he slinked from the shadows when the kitchen had emptied.
Integra smirked, before lighting a cigar and taking a long drag off of it.
"You know exactly what I expect of you servant," she said a bit darkly as her gloved finger traced the rim of her empty glass.
"No tell me Master what you want of me," his voice was deep and slightly teasing as always as he stepped towards her. The shadows that cast upon her from his tall form seemed to radiate a sort of cold, and she fought the urge to shiver.
"I expect you to avoid conflict tonight," she said, chewing absently on her cigar. She hadn't really decided...Would it be wise to actually have Alucard at the dinner table? He was rather threatening, even when he didn't mean to be (which was very rarely), but she didn't delude herself into believing he wasn't her trump card. He was the true power of the Hellsing organization, but was it wise to bandy him about?
"I want you at that dinner, in case anything goes wrong," she finally decided. "But if at all possible I would prefer you not make an actual appearance; just keep an eye out."
"Yes my Master," he said with a flourishing bow. There were a great many things he could do that didn't involve him making an "appearance" in the traditional sense of the word. Oh yes, he would have his fun tonight.
The corner of Integra's mouth twitched as she stood to leave the room. She could just imagine the kind of chaos having him at the dinner table coolly sipping his blood would have caused. But lest they think she was giving into them, the Police girl would be there right at her side.
"Be good my pet and perhaps I'll have a Christmas gift for you," the normally quite icy knight murmured before brushing past him.
Alucard chuckled softly as the door slapped closed behind her. Pet indeed. He sniffed before eyeing the gigantic crystal bowl they had all been drinking from. Curious he ladled himself a glass full and took a sip.
"Blech," was his first reaction, but actually it had a rather pleasant after taste. It was no steaming cup of blood, but with a shrug he tipped it back and finished it off.
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The dining hall was all set up for what looked to be a spectacular feast. In addition to the main table, several extra smaller ones had been dragged in from the barracks to accommodate the number of people. As always for the Christmas Eve dinner everyone would be eating together.
As the Iscariots entered the room one by one they didn't really know what to think. White lights had been strung up around the room's tall columns, and the great stone hearth was roaring. Various tasteful decorations adorned the room, giving it an overall warm and cheery sort of vibe. This wasn't exactly the kind of feel anyone was expecting to get from what was supposed to be an austere British dining room. The merrily chatting mercenaries currently occupying many of the smaller tables indeed gave the place the look of a lavishly decorated beer hall.
"Ah good evening. Punctual again I see," came the voice of the ominously ever present butler to Maxwell's left, causing him to jump slightly.
"Ahem yes, well naturally," the Iscariot leader replied. His eyes darted to and fro, expecting something horrible to jump out and shatter the growing air of civility.
"So where are our hosts?" Anderson asked with an equally darting look around the room. After what had happened in his room earlier, he didn't know what was going to randomly pop out of a wall next.
"Waiting for you of course," came the cool cultured voice of said hostess from the doorway. This time it was Alex who jumped. Damned heretics and their non squeaky shoes.
"Well don't just stand there, have a seat," Integra fairly purred. The blonde woman was very obviously enjoying witnessing the Iscariot's discomfort. She may be housing her cordial enemies this night, but by God it was them who were in unfamiliar territory.
Enrico raised an eyebrow at the woman before motioning his entourage to take their seats at the long table. "After you Milady," he motioned for her to go ahead, his voice dripping with false sincerity. Something felt a bit off, Integra should have been just as wary and uncomfortable as the rest of them. Now she fairly oozed an aura of calm superiority, her movements looser and more relaxed than he had ever seen her. Strange, she had seemed to stiff just a few hours ago when she had greeted them. He couldn't help wondering what had changed as he unconsciously watched the sway of her hips as she passed. He quickly shook himself and found the little place card set in front of his seat. Just a few seats down from Integra, brilliant.
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Seras once again found herself skulking down the hallways of the Hellsing manor. After what had happened earlier, she wasn't exactly as scared as before, but she was still rather disturbed. At Integra's insistence she would be attending tonight's meal with the Iscariot. Frankly she couldn't imagine why, it wasn't like she ate or anything. But nonetheless she couldn't exactly ignore an order from Sir Integra, indirect or not. She slinked down the stairs and peeked around the corner, it looked all clear.
"What on earth are you doing?" a masculine voice asked from behind her. Seras let out a squeak and spun around, ready to attack.
"Oh...Pip. Jesus you scared me," Seras said, attempting to catch the breath she no longer really needed to take.
"Everyone seems so jumpy today," he drawled, lazily looking her up and down. She was wearing a simple dark green summer dress with matching heels. Thank God she wasn't wearing one of those terrible sweaters again was his first thought, his second being that she looked damned good tonight.
"I wonder why," she mumbled, going back to peeking around the corner.
"Um, shall I escort you into the dining room?" Pip asked with a lopsided grin.
"Would you?" she said with a sigh of relief. It was ridiculous really, seeing as she could handle herself likely better than he himself.
"Of course," the mercenary said, his smile only broadening as he held out his arm for her to take it. She smiled nervously, and wrapped her hand in the crook of his elbow. All nervousness was temporarily forgotten as she thought about how warm he felt...and how good he smelled.
As they entered the beautifully decorated dining hall, Seras unconsciously leaned her head into the side of his arm. If anyone cared to look, they appeared to the entire world as a happy couple strolling arm and arm.
Seras and Pip scanned the table, looking for their seats.
"I'm over here," the vampire said as she pulled away from him, her face slightly flushed. She looked down as she felt the slight warmth in her cheeks, she still blushed right after she'd fed it seemed.
Without really looking Seras took her seat, at the left side of Integra. With a sigh of relief she sunk down into the plush cushioned chair.
"Good evening Sir Integra," she said, her eyes shifting onto the people sitting around her. Everyone seemed fairly busy talking amongst themselves, so no one had really paid her much mind. She was glad to see Pip sit down in the seat directly across from her. To his right was an empty seat, and to her right sat a tall blonde man with his back to her, talking to another blonde priest with what sounded like a German accent.
"Glad to see you could make it Officer Victoria," Integra said with a slight quirking of her lips. She wondered if the young vampire realized she looked very much like a wide eyed kitten, the way she snapped to look at everything that moved.
"Have you met Maxwell yet?" Integra said, indicating the man sitting next to Seras. She shook her head when he quickly turned around .He eyed her with curiosity and mostly veiled revulsion.
"Maxwell this is Officer Seras Victoria, one of Hellsing's greatest assets."
"Hello," she squeaked at him. The way he was looking at her made her decidedly uncomfortable.
Enrico looked at this girl in front of him, instantly recognizing her as the person he had seen fall through a wall outside his bedroom a few hours ago. She didn't look like much of a vampire, with her big limpid eyes and innocent face. Remembering what he had early said himself, he quickly smoothed his features into a lazy smile.
"Pleasure to meet you," he said in his most charming voice, and took her hand in his to place a chaste kiss on the back of it. It was smooth and cool to the touch, like a peach.
Seras blinked at him, quickly pulling her hand away from him. She was surprised not to see a look of disgust flitter across his face when he touched her, as this was the reaction she always expected when people touched her bare skin. Seras flushed yet again and tried to smile, what was it with her lately? First the whole thing with Anderson...And speak of the devil.
The blonde vampire felt herself inwardly flinch as the tall, ominous priest took his seat next to Pip. The feeling of stinging silver flashed through her mind as her eyes focused the gleaming cross around his neck. She was quickly snapped back to the present at the feeling of a soft touch on the back of her hand. She looked over, and realized Integra had placed her hand on top of her. The small gesture from the usually severe woman seemed to infuse her with strength. Seras smiled shyly at her, before looking at Anderson. He quirked an eyebrow at her, obviously remembering earlier, then gave her a broad and rather threatening looking grin.
Integra squeezed her hand slightly, and Seras smiled again at her, before turning on Anderson and giving him her best impression of master's fangy grin. The priest looked a bit shocked, but slowly his smile softened before he went back to talking to the dark haired woman across from him. Integra patted her hand before pulling hers away asthe staff started bringing in platters laden with food.
Bring it on world, Seras thought as a very large crystal bowl of eggnog was placed on the middle of the table.
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Well there you go, that's 90 of the setup I think. It took me awhile as I tried to fit in all my ideas. The next chapter will either be a bit more set up and an "ending", or just an ending. I haven't decided yet. This is your chance to get your ideas in, or if you like you can write a little ficlet using my setup n.n I'll post it here if you like (and credit you fully) or you can post it yourself. Either way I know I've got a lot of work cut out for me!