"What the fuck kind of shit is this?!" demanded Baldassare as he, Alois, and Sister Dorothy made their way to the church. "I look like a fucking idiot! If someone sees me like this, I'll murder you, blondie!"
In reality, he simply looked like an ordinary child. The coven leader was unhappy that since his clothes no longer fit since his transformation, he had to use some of the clothes donated to The Wolf's Glen. He now wore a T-Shirt with monster trucks on it, shorts and sandals. He was not happy.
"Language, Baldassre!" the nun scolded as they walked. "You should never curse someone, that's a sin! It's especially rude if you've only just met them."
"He works for the Watchdog and is a bloody woofter." The remarkably older vampire complained. "Ha! Get it?! 'Woofter'?!"
"I heard you, kiddo." Alois answered. "Nice pun. Ha! Get it?! It's like 'nice one', innt?"
"Are you making fucking fun of me!?" Baldassare snapped.
"Yes." The blonde said bluntly. "You make it easy."
"Please stop fighting." Sister Dorothy interjected. "You shouldn't squabble."
"Hey, isn't being gay, like a sin, too, or something?" asked the other vampire. "Why are you picking on me?"
"Jesus didn't say one single thing about being a homosexual, so no." the nun replied. "That excerpt that's often quoted by hate-groups is actually from the old testament, not the Bible."
"Ciel was right. He said I'd like you, Sister." Grinned the Macken. "Can't say the same about Baldassare, but he was still right about my impression of him."
"Hey!" the ten-year-old-looking vampire barked, causing Dorothy to giggle.
"Sir Phantomhive certainly does have an odd sense of humour." The woman said. She looked back at the blonde as she led them. "You talk about him like you're close. Are you friends?"
"Oh, yeah. You could say that." Alois somewhat bashfully replied, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn't know why, but discussing their relationship with the nun was somewhat embarrassing. They walked in silence for a bit longer before Alois had to ask the question that been on his mind for a while.
"Uh, I'm sorry if this seems a bit weird, but, isn't associating with demons kind of…?" he trailed off, unsure of exactly what word he needed. The nun simply giggled again.
"Not at all." She said. "God loves everyone, including demons. The only reason I would not want to associate with someone is if they aren't a good person and wish to spread hate."
"And yet Baldassare is here because…?"
"He's a bit of a lost soul. He can be very sweet once you've gotten to know him."
"I am not 'sweet'!" Baldassare shouted. "I'm the baddest vampire in this city!"
"Not really, I know of someone tougher than you." Alois stated. "She works at H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G." At that, the nun stopped in her tracks for a moment.
"We do not discuss those people around here." She said. "Unlike Mister Phantomhive, everyone is certain that they are real, and their soldiers can be cruel."
Alois looked at the ground for a moment, trying to think of something to say. It was almost a given that the soldiers would frighten the supernaturals. It was their duty to exterminate them, after all. Alois also knew what giving someone a gun was like; how that power could turn even the meekest of people into bringers of death. Power could make a person drunk and do awful, unspeakable things. He knew this firsthand.
"I know." He said simply. "I'm sorry."
"Now maybe you'll get why we hate your kind." Baldassare said. He had taken the turtleneck out of the bag with his clothes in it and put it on, rolling up the sleeves so that he could use the arms.
The vampire walked past the blonde and up to Sister Dorothy before grabbing her hand and leading her forward. Silently, the blonde watched them before following. Indeed, this world was different from his own. Alois knew the Hellsings to be some of the most morally just people he knew, but here, it was they were the monsters, and he was one of the boogeymen that mothers would warn their children about. By the light of the any streetlamps that lit up their path, he walked forward, dwelling on the grim thought as he repeatedly put one foot in front of the other. He didn't say anything else until they reached the church.
A scoff came from Baldassare as he saw the Mercedes Benz in front. Did the Phantomhive know anything about subtlety? Then again, the rambunctious nosferatu was certainly not one to talk. When they got to the door, however, he was actually hesitant to go inside. With a scowl, Baldassare looked down at his attire.
"Don't be ashamed, Balda. He can't antagonize you if you don't let him." Sister Dorothy said, opening the door. She smiled as she laid eyes upon the two figures who stood inside, as did the blonde menace.
The church lights weren't on, as all of them could see in the dark. The only thing that illuminated the room was the light of the moon shining through the large glass windows that ran along the walls of the building. Inside, Sebastian stood with Ciel who was leaning against one of the pews. Upon setting eyes on the group, the bluenette offered them a smile. Moonlight cascaded down the demon's pale features, bringing them into views. The sight made Alois' heart rate speed up a little. Sister Dorothy looked at the blonde curiously, while Baldassare shuddered as he glared at the Phantomhive with disgust.
"What the fuck kind of expression is that, mutt?" the petite coven-leader hissed, capturing the nun's attention.
"Baldassare, we are in a church!" she scolded, immediately forcing the older vampire to back off.
"Hello, Babyface; Sister Dorothy." Greeted the bluenette.
"Don't call me 'Babyface', Dogbreath!"
"It's good to see you again, Sir Phantomhive; Mister Michaelis." The nun replied, offering the oldest of the demons a polite nod. Sebastian returned the gesture with a courteous grin, and offered a small bow.
She walked into the room and took a seat on one of the pews. She was soon followed by Baldassare while Alois shut the door behind them before joining his own group, standing right next to his beau. He didn't attempt to be affectionate in any way, given how closely he was being watched by Babyface and the nun who owned the church they stood in. The woman smiled warmly and said:
"It's been a while. You've changed your appearance again."
"Well, I'm not exactly 'welcome' around here." Ciel stated. "How long has it been? Four years?"
"Just about." Sister Dorothy replied. "Your smile has changed." She added, tilting her head, slightly.
"Has it? I hadn't noticed." Said the watchdog. "Four years ago is around the time where Jim started working with us."
"'Jim'?" asked Baldassare. To that, the blonde raised his hand, slightly.
"That would be me." He said, not even flinching as the volatile vampire stood up.
"You said your name was 'Alois' at The Wolf's Glen!" he shouted.
"Only certain people can call me 'Jim', Peterpan."
"Oh, fuck off! Don't you fucking-!" Baldassare was about to go off on a tangent when he suddenly just stopped. It wasn't because Sister Dorothy was seated near him and it wasn't because he was in her church. Despite the scolding look he got from the nun, his train of thought was brought to a crashing halt as another idea now stood in its path.
"Wait…" he said, raising his finger. He pointed it at the blonde menace before finally saying: "You're gay for the Watchdog aren't you?! Sick fuck!"
"Well, I would certainly hope he is." The Phantomhive coolly replied. Without even the slightest hint of embarrassment, he grabbed the Macken's hand, staining the other man's cheeks pink. "He is my boyfriend, after all. We would have some serious problems if he wasn't."
Baldassare stared at the couple, eyes wide and mouth agape. While Sister Dorothy simply giggled, the more petite vampire shuddered. Ciel Phantomhive, boogeyman and murderer who has picked at him and intimidated for many, many years, was in a romantic relationship? With another man?! The concept completely baffled Babyface.
The coven-leader was familiar with concepts that couldn't be understood by "ordinary" people. He was soaked in self-hatred because of his appearance. He despises his face, his voice, the way people react to him, and even how he reacts to all of this. He had tried to take his own life on multiple occasions. Many times, he had shot himself in the head with an ordinary bullet, only to heal moments later. When he switches to an anti-freak bullet, however, he hesitates. This fact only makes him loathe himself more, as he lacks the resolve to break the curse of being forced to live in the body of a child forever. If Baldassare had the chance to go back in time and kill his ten-year-old self before he became a vampire, he would. He most certainly would, and without a single moment of hesitation.
When he gets this way, it is usually Sister Dorothy who helps him find his feet again. It is her sincerest belief that not even the cruelest of people should have to consider taking their own life to end their suffering. The nun was the sort of person who would help someone, anyone, no matter who they were, or what their problem was, and Baldassare was no exception. In fact, of all of the people that she had offered help to, it was Baldassare who was the most grateful.
This is why Baldassare isn't afraid of being killed by H.E.L.L.S.I.N.G. No, they would do it quickly. His suffering would end. It was Ciel Phantomhive, however, that truly terrified him. The Watchdog would make him suffer before killing him. He might torture him physically, but would definitely pour salt in all of Baldassare's emotional wounds.
Baldassare is a gang leader trapped in the body of a child. It took him over two centuries of squabbling amongst the "grown-ups" to get where he is, and he had been subject to horrible treatment simply do to his face; his baby face. He did not want to endure that sort of torment ever again. If anyone in his coven called him "Babyface" or anything similar, Baldassare would have their legs broken so that he could beat them over the head with a chair until he calmed down. Sometimes, the chair would break and he would need another. The leader would prove that he is in fact that as many times as necessary, but it was the Watchdog who rendered it all meaningless. Ciel was still more powerful than Baldassare would ever be, and he would pick at the vampire's psyche as he pleased. It is perhaps this reason, that the coven leader was reluctantly willing to provide information.
Now, this horrible, fearsome demon, who frightened the night-king of London's supernatural underworld, was in love? Stupidly so; with another, similarly infuriating man? That was too much for the vampire to wrap his head around, and as usual, that made him angry.
"What the fuck?!" demanded the coven-master, baring his fangs. "How the fuck is that possible?! You're the Watchdog! You don't do that!"
"Do you have a problem with it, Babyface?" inquired the Phantomhive, raising an eyebrow.
Those words burned Baldassare like the inferno of Dante. Veins were visible on the vampire's forehead as he seethed. Baldassare's breath was heavy and he clenched his fists. Blood dripped onto the floor as his nails cut into his palms. His eyes were aflame; wide as they glared daggers at the Phantomhive with his face contorting into a snarl.
"Don't…" he growled, his body shaking. "…Call… Me…" Slowly he turned and bent down, digging his fingertips into the wood of one of the large pews as he began to lift.
"…'BABYFACE'!" he roared picking up the pew and hurling it at the demons despite his small stature.
Without even looking at each other, the demonic duo moved both spreading apart from one another to properly catch the rectangular piece of furniture. Gently, they set it down as the irate vampire came on the offensive again. It was Alois who countered him, placing one foot on the back of the seating and spinning his other around to strike Baldassare upside the head. His foe went flying into the far corner of the room as Sister Dorothy watched in horror.
"Stop it!" she shouted. "That is enough!"
Baldassare stood up, his eyes never leaving the bluenette as he rubbed his cheek. A growl escaped his throat as he weighed his options. He didn't want to destroy Sister Dorothy's church and he certainly didn't want to know what the Watchdog would do to him if he continued. With a click of his tongue, he straightened his posture and lifted his turtleneck just enough so that he could pt his hands in his shorts pockets.
"Fine." He griped, still glaring at the demons as he walked back to his original position. As he did so, he pointed a finger at them. "But don't either of you fucking faggots call me 'Babyface' again, got it?!"
"Still as temperamental as ever, I see." Ciel said with a sigh.
"Maybe even more so than you when I first met you, huh, Ciel?" mused the more fair-haired of the demons, wrapping an arm around the bluenette's shoulders as he turned his attention to the irritable vampire. "And I already told you, I'm not gay. I love Ciel, and Ciel just happens to be a man."
"You're still the Watchdog's bitch, either way." Snorted Baldassare. "You sure look like you take it up the ass, doncha? Fucking cock-sucking dick-socket…"
"Wha'd you fucking say?!" Alois demanded, furrowing his brow and taking a step forward. He had to he held back from the rude blood-sucker by the bluenette. Ciel covered his mouth while he was at it.
"Jim, calm down. You're in a church." The Phantomhive said. Quickly, he took his hand away from his beau's mouth and looked at it. "Did you just lick me?!"
"Who cares?! We're demons! And we kiss all the time, so what's the big deal?" the blonde asked. "I'm gonna beat the shit out of that assclown!"
"You've already kicked him in the face." Ciel stated. "Frankly, I'm surprised you'd kick someone who looks like a ten-year-old…"
"Well if I hadn't, you would've had to! Or maybe Sebastian!" The blonde stopped struggling for a moment and cupped the bluenette's cheeks in his hands to make him look him in the eyes. With a perfectly serious face he said: "Picture it for a second: Sebastian; beating up a ten-year-old." As the bluenette tried not to snicker, the butler only sighed.
"Please don't imagine that." Sebastian requested, shaking his head in disapproval.
"I'm almost three-hundred years old, you smelly taint-licker!" Baldassare interrupted, only to finally be smacked upside the head by the Sister.
"We do not you that kind of language here." Sister Dorothy scolded, furrowing her brows at the older vampire. Somehow, Baldassare seemed to shrink a bit.
"Fine…" he grumbled, diverting his gaze toward the ground. With that, Ciel took this as a perfectly good chance to set things back on track. Taking a seat, he asked:
"Right, so why don't we get down to business, then?"
A/N: Jesus Christ, Baldassare...
Calm yourself...
Looks like Alois has another nasty nickname... "The Bitch Of The Watchdog"...
Super...
Questions?
"How did you decide to name him Baldassre?" by OteenagedreamO
Well, this time, I wanted a specific sort of sound, so I started looking for Italian names because they just happen have that sound. As to whether or not Baldassare really IS Italian or not? I have no idea yet. I just know I wanted him to sound like he could be from the renaissance, for some reason. I felt like it suited him.
So then I come across the name of this author from the 1500s named "Baldassare Castiglione", who wrote a book called "The Book Of The Courier". Wikipedia says about the book:
"The book is organized as a series of fictional conversations that occur between the couriers of the Duke of Urbino in 1507 (when Baldassare was in fact part of the Duke's Court). In the book, the courtier is described as having a cool mind, a good voice (with beautiful, elegant and brave words) along with proper bearing and gestures. At the same time though, the courtier is expected to have a warrior spirit, to be athletic, and have good knowledge of the humanities, Classics and fine arts. Over the course of four evenings, members of the court try to describe the perfect gentleman of the court. In the process they debate the nature of nobility, humor, women, and love."
Since this is the exact fucking opposite of Babyface, so naturally, I was sold on it.
"How do vampire covens work?" by CiaranMichaelis
Okay, so covens are actually kind of all over the place. They can be really small, like, just a couple guys, or they can be really big like Baldassare's. Small covens usually have little, to no structure, while bigger ones usually have the same, or similar structure. There's only a handful of "Big" covens, but there's tiny ones out the wazoo, man.
At the top is the Boss/President/Head/Whatever-that-particular-coven-goes by. That's Baldassare's position. Directly beneath the leader are three to five vampires known as "Generals". Baldassare's coven is big enough to need five.
The generals take orders from him and give them to their own little group called a "Sect". Baldassare has absolute power over all of them, but he doesn't have to talk to them directly. The generals do that. Each general has power over all lower ranks, and can even give orders to someone outside of their sect, however, each general has the power to override an order from another if issued to a member of their own sect. It is typically avoided.
Beneath the generals in the sects are three other ranks, known as "Bones", "Skins", and "Meats", (although the terms can change with each coven.) "Bones" are a higher rank, as they have seniority over "Skins". They simply have more respect. "Skins" are kind of "newbie-vampires". They're still figuring stuff out and the Bones help them out with that. The "Meats", though, are the lowest of the low. Baldassare actually doesn't have this rank in his coven fore reasons that will be explained in the next chapter. "Meats" are humans who are allied with the coven, often with the intention of becoming vampires.
For more info, just ask.
Until the next chapter, my duckies~!
