Disclaimer: All of Hellsing and its characters are copyright to Kouta Hirano. Any original characters belong to the author of this fanfiction.

HELLSING

EREBUS

Here standeth the Bird of Hermes,

Eating my own wings to make me tame...

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

The Mystery of Cheddar

Thursday Early Morning, February 12, 2032, Bilbie Bed and Breakfast...

Seras Victoria stood on guard at the bedroom window while Alex slept. Her master, Alucard, had somehow managed to bring along both their coffins, most probably within the infinite shadows of himself that hid so much more than people could see. So when dawn broke, she would catch some sleep herself. The Count sat in the corner, and the blonde knew he was watching her. Probably knew what she was thinking about. It's only been a couple of hours since the girls reported their findings, but he had no input to provide them. After all, he was merely there for protective observation. Protection for Alex. In all the time she had known him, Seras had only ever glimpsed a side of him that could express a human emotion such as love. Was it love? Seras wasn't sure. But perhaps it was the only way he knew how to express it.

It had been a year and a half since his return to reality. Integra had explained to Seras thirty years prior the circumstances of his disappearance, and somehow the Draculina was able to sense that Alucard was not really gone. Over time, Integra had begun to doubt his return, but Seras' faith never wavered in her master. That faith had proved victorious, but something had changed in him. He was still the same Alucard she knew, but he seemed...more at peace with himself. Seras recalled all the memories she had of him, thinking back to that fateful night in Cheddar, to her first mission, and the Millennium War.

As she reminisced the past, she heard movement behind her and looked behind her to see that Alucard was gone. Blinking, she sought him out with her mind's eye, finding him rather easily. Closing her eyes in concentration, she levitated upwards and phased through the ceiling. Soon enough, she joined her master on the roof, staring at his back with a quizzical expression. The Count was quiet as he stared out into the night, wind blowing gently through his thick mane and coat flaps.

"Master?" she asked, standing behind him.

He didn't turn at her voice. "You were thinking of that night we met in Cheddar." She blinked then looked down, nodding as she made a sound of affirmation. "You've come a long way since I turned you into a child of the night." When she said nothing, only then did he turn to face her. "You've become a fine Draculina, Seras."

She opened her mouth, closed it, then tried again, "Why did you turn me into a vampire? Why me? These questions have always plagued me. Master, you could have just let me die that night, but you didn't. We didn't know each other at all, but you turned me anyway."

He tsked, smiling with amusement. "Seras, have you forgotten? It was you who made the choice. I simply put the bullet in your chest. I didn't save you at all, I merely provided you with an option." He walked closer, stopping before the she-vampire, his form towering over her. "When I looked at you that long distant evening ago, you were nothing but a scared little police girl who only wanted to live through the night. That was the choice I gave you, to die as a human, or live as a vampire." He placed a hand atop her head. "But why, you ask? It's simple, Seras Victoria. After serving with humans for so long, their sentiment rubbed off on me and when I saw you, I didn't see your typical garden-variety human, I saw a human so much like the ones who defeated me over a century ago." He dropped his hand, continuing, "Giving up is what kills people. And while you were in a situation that was as close to hell as one could imagine, you chose not to concede to death. Instead, you chose to fight for your life. That is why I turned you into a vampire."

Seras swallowed, in awe of her master. "You don't think of me as a disappointment?"

His smile almost turned fatherly. "Seras, I have never been more proud of a fledgling, than I have been of you. I always had faith that you would come to understand what it means to be a vampire. Even in my absence, you took it upon yourself to fill in my shoes in protecting our master, and not once have you doubted my return. You've become a fine Draculina, and I won't always be your master. That, I guarantee."

This surprised her and she couldn't help feeling a little sad. "But, master, what if I...?"

"Surely you don't wish to be my servant forever?" When she said nothing, he sighed. "Nothing lasts forever, Seras. I know that far better than anyone. But one of these days, I will not want you as a servant that follows behind me." She looked up at him, almost looking hurt, and he added, "I would, however, like you as an equal that stands beside me."

The hurt dropped entirely, bewildered by this claim. Seras felt an immense urge to tackle Alucard with a hug, an overjoyed smile on her face. "Master!"

He grinned. "Until then, continue to work hard as you always have, Police Girl."

The blonde scrunched up her face childishly that almost rivalled Alex's infamous scowl, nearly making Alucard laugh. "When are you going to stop calling me that entirely?"

"But I'm so fond of it," he proclaimed. "Don't expect me to drop the habit so easily, Police Girl." She huffed and this time he let out a chuckle. Such a child, he thought fondly. His features softened, becoming more serious. "I'm also aware of your thoughts on this case. It's quite possible that a vampire was created during the events of that night in Cheddar. That priest wasn't exactly discriminate."

"But, why here?" Seras asked.

"Why not?" he replied easily. "Cheddar is only miles away. And thirty years is plenty of time for them to learn how to hunt discreetly." He looked over the entire village. "It's possible they may claim yet another victim tonight. Thirty years can work up a thirst, especially when a vampire becomes more confident with every kill." Seras nodded in agreement. "Alexandra will have to continue the investigation during the day without you."

"But, master, I'm perfectly capable of going out during the day."

"A growing vampire needs her rest. I will accompany her."

"I'm not a child," she muttered, pouting much like a kid would, making him grin.

Thursday Midday, February 12, 2032, Bleadon Village...

The village offered an entirely more lively atmosphere during the day than at night. It was something Alex found familiar, thinking of when she used to live in Gravenhurst with her parents. However, it was vastly different as well. For one thing, it wasn't as big as her hometown. For another, Gravenhurst didn't have a vampire lurking about. She had already reported hers and Seras' suspicions to Integra over the phone this morning, but Seras was apparently ordered by Alucard to get some sleep, so Alex thought she would have to do some solo work. That is until Alucard turned into the teen girl, putting the brunette off balance by his change in appearance.

Alex glanced at Alucard from the corner of her eye. For once, he was slightly shorter than her. His hair was so much longer, the ends very even. As before, he wore shades to hide his abnormally coloured eyes, this time black, as opposed to the amber or indigo lenses she was used to. His apparel consisted of a long white skirt, black boots, a white woven turtleneck sweater, white gloves, and a long white coat. Atop his head was a white furry hat similar to what Alex imagined women wore in Russia. Other than his appearance, nothing else seemed different about him. Even the way he walked was the same.

This is so weird, she repeated to herself for the dozenth time as the pair walked through the village. "I thought you were only here to observe," she murmured quietly, knowing full well he could hear her.

He responded casually in a feminine voice laced with British, "I am observing. I'm also here for your protection, my dear Alice."

And you're the Mad Hatter. Alucard grinned as though he heard her thought. She sighed, "I've never been good at this whole investigation thing, even in video games. What am I supposed to do at this time of day?"

"You're asking as though I am privy to your games. However, this assignment is no different from a puzzle, or a stealth mission. Don't you have to look around to find keys to the next area?"

Alex stopped, blinking. "You're right." She looked around, trying to recall some pieces of information. If this really was a video game, she'd pull up a mission log. Unfortunately, this was real life, and she couldn't pull that sort of classified information out in the open, not with this many people out and about. "Damn..."

Knowing what she intended, Alucard started walking off. "I believe the closest house is this way."

It took mere moments for the hunters to reach a small single-floor house, sky-blue paint chipping and peeling from the siding. Window shutters swung side to side, rapping harshly against the windows or the siding, depending on which way the wind blew. Police tape was crossed over the front door, barring access to civilians. In all honesty, Alex wasn't too familiar with police procedure and how Hellsing dealt with the authorities. All she knew was that breaking the seal was considered a serious breach. Perhaps it was better to climb through a window.

While she pondered over this, Alucard didn't express the same concern, simply moving forward and forcefully opening the door, snapping the seal and stepping inside. Alex gaped, looking side to side to make sure no locals had seen his poor discretion. Satisfied that no one was around, she rushed inside, quietly closing the door before turning to the vampire with a scowl on her face.

"Are you crazy?! Nobody is supposed to know we're here to snoop around!" she scolded.

"Relax, my dear," he half-soothed, more focused on the task at hand. "If need be, I can alter their memories." He inhaled through his nose, expelling a breath through pursed lips. It was faint, but the smell of death lingered.

The huntress sighed in exasperation, letting the issue lie for the moment. Leaving Alucard to his sniffing around, she took out the file, finding the appropriate report. Reading it over, it was the same for all missing-persons in this case. No sign of struggle, no indication of foul play. The owner was a woman, late forties. Never married and no children. Any immediate relatives lived elsewhere in England. Looking around the family room, there was furniture with floral upholstery, and rustic wood. In a wide shelf, typical knick-knacks were positioned on display. Nothing seemed to be missing. No broken lamps. Nothing. Everything seemed spotless.

She checked the kitchen next, but other than a handful of dirty dishes in the sink, it too was spotless. The bathroom also revealed nothing, so she moved on to the bedroom. The bed, also covered in sheets with floral print, was perfectly made. The neatness didn't sit right with Alex. Everything was too perfect. Other than residual dust from neglect and the police looking for prints, the entire house was devoid of imperfections that would serve as clues. For her first assignment, Alex certainly wasn't off to a great start.

"Alexandra," she heard Alucard call out. She sought him out, finding him in the den near the kitchen. He stared through the screen at the backyard, a subtle grin on his features. "In the garden, I smell something interesting."

"Is it flowers?" she asked sarcastically.

His grin widened, baring his pearly canines. "It's death."

"Y'know, if you kept the little girl voice, you'd be the epitome of creepiness saying stuff like that." The Count merely smirked at her remark. Staring at the garden, Alex then stepped through the door, the vampire remaining inside. She looked back at Alucard as she held the door open. "Whereabouts exactly?"

"It's your assignment," he reminded her.

She sighed, muttering grumpily to herself, "Oh yes, how could I forget?" At least he gave her a head start on where to look.

Taking her hand off the door, it swung shut, the girl briefly hoping it had hit the vampire's nose. Her mind focusing on her search, she carefully observed her surroundings. A patio chair there, a group of flower pots there. Snow covered the ground, but dry grass lined the picket fence, sticking out of the white layer, possibly where the flowerbeds would be. The ground covering wasn't vast enough to cover a body, but if Alucard could tell that death occurred here, Alex could take his word for it. However, at first and second glance, she saw nothing.

After a moment, she came back to the screen door, staring at the vampire. "Alucard, whether or not this is my assignment, it's also Seras'. Seeing as how you're the one who told her to get some sleep, I doubt Sir Integra would object to me asking you to point me in the right direction. Like it or not, stud, you're Seras' replacement." Her expression and tone was resolute, brown pools unblinkingly locked on the Count.

After a moment of consideration, Alucard smiled. "Very well. I'll participate. However, if you're going to become a regular vampire hunter, you're going to have to start figuring some of these things out on your own eventually."

He stepped out into the sun, the door snapping shut again. Alex watched him intensely, studying his movement as he scrutinized the yard. Mere seconds after he began, he strode over to the back gate, opening it. Alex remained close beside him, stepping through the gate. She frowned, staring in the direction of the cliffs.

Alucard placed his hand on the gate, regarding Alexandra. "During investigations such as this, it's best to picture what may have occurred. Read the atmosphere, as it were. Consider this. It's late at night, possibly snowing. The woman is home, having just finished eating her dinner, and so she places the dishes in the sink. And just as she was about to wash them, she spots a stranger through the kitchen window at the back gate. This stranger appears cold, and perhaps hungry. Maybe they were, but not in the way the woman would expect. What do you think would happen next?"

Alex considered the scenario, picturing it in her head. "One of two things would happen. One, she'd tell the stranger to go away. Maybe she'd warn them with calling the police."

"Or?" he urged.

"Or...maybe she came out to invite them inside to warm up and eat."

"Very good. Now the question is, which scenario is more likely?"

Alucard watched as Alex ran the calculations through her head, her features exhibiting her rationalizing. "I want to say the latter." When she turned to Alucard for confirmation, he merely sent her a sideways glance, smirking that typical way with fists on his hips, as though waiting for her to explain her answer. She huffed, feeling like she was in school again being told to show her work. "Well, if she was cautious in the first place, she could warn them off from her door. She wouldn't need to come outside. Most people would keep themselves at a distance if they felt threatened."

His grin widened. "Well done. What else?"

She stared. "She went outside, not feeling threatened at all. Puzzled, maybe, but that's all. She probably brought a blanket out, and when she approached, they pounced her."

Alucard's smile softened in a way that seemed congratulatory. "Very well done, my dear Alexandra. You'll make a fine vampire hunter yet."

Alex expressed surprise. "You mean, I'm right?"

"Indeed. As a vampire, I can read the scene far more easily than you. Now, all that's left is to find the vampire. Unfortunately, this one covers their tracks quite well. After all, they've been in hiding for thirty years." At the girl's puzzlement, he explained further, "You heard what those men said at the saloon. About the quarantine of a nearby village three decades prior?" She nodded. "The village they speak of is none other than Cheddar."

Unfamiliar with this information, she asked, "What exactly happened in Cheddar?"

"Oh? The Police Girl never told you how she became a vampire?"

She shook her head. "To be fair, I never asked. She was there?"

Alucard recalled the memories with some fondness. "Indeed she was. When she wakes, she can give you the whole story. It's not up to me to shed light on her past."

Thursday Evening, February 12, 2032, Bleadon Village...

Both hunters had reached similar conclusions at the other empty houses. Each time, something had lured the victim out of their house, pouncing them, as Alex had put it. However, it became clear to Alex that she had misunderstood Alucard when he said he smelled death. Initially, she believed he meant that the victims had been killed on their properties, when he actually meant the creature itself who attacked them. He never indicated the smell of blood at all.

By the time they returned to their room at the bed and breakfast, Seras was already climbing out of her coffin, yawning a, "Good morning," as they came through the door. "Any luck?"

The Draculina was brought up to speed on what Alex had learned thanks to Alucard's insight, though Alex withheld the bit about Cheddar, as she wanted to ask Seras about it when they were alone. With Alucard's word to confirm that it was a vampire, all the girls had to do now was find its lair. The Count opted to remain in their room while they went out again to further investigate.

The air at night felt colder than it did during the day, but Alex didn't feel bothered by it as they trekked outside. Brown pools turned to the stars, the new moon hardly visible in the sky. Things were quiet again now that the locals had either gone home, or were enjoying a cold beverage at the available pubs. Hesitation plagued the human as she puzzled over how to broach the subject at the forefront of her thoughts. All things considered, Alex really didn't know that much about Seras, and bringing it up now seemed incredibly belated.

The vampire seemed to notice her indecision before asking, "Something on your mind, Alex?"

Having been caught, Alex had the brief decency to look flustered. "Actually, yeah. There was...something I neglected to mention earlier. Alucard told me to ask you about it." Curious, Seras just stared at her, waiting for her enquiry. The brunette inhaled and exhaled nervously. "How did you become a vampire?" At this, Seras stopped, her azure gaze staring off into space. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

The blonde shook her head, smiling at her companion amiably. "No, it's alright." She resumed walking, but only so far as a wooden bench, brushing off snow before taking a seat. Alex mirrored her actions, joining her. Seras had that far-off look again as Alex patiently waited. "My father was a police officer. Someone he was investigating decided that he was sniffing too close, and so they sent a couple of men to deal with my father." Alex's eyes widened, having an idea already of where this was going. "My mum hid me in the closet, telling me not to come out no matter what. I remember being afraid and crying. Then I heard the gunshots. I came out to find my parents murdered."

Alex quietly hissed, "Jesus..."

Seras lowered her gaze slightly. "I grew angry and grabbed a fork, stabbing one of those men in the eye. The other shot me, and I watched helplessly as they violated my mother's corpse. Somehow I managed to survive..." She paused, staring at her gloved hands as she clasped them tightly together. "While I stayed at the orphanage, I decided I wanted to become a police officer. Everyone thought I was squandering my future, telling me to consider other options. By that point, I had made up my mind."

"Then what happened?" Alex gently asked.

"I became what I always said I would be," was the simple reply. "I went through the academy, took all the training, earned my badge." She remembered how proud she felt at the time, a brief smile curling her lips before her features transformed into an unpleasant and thoughtful expression. "Eventually, we received a call from Cheddar. At first we thought it was just a normal homicide, but the reports grew stranger as they came in. Eventually, I was sent in, and everything was quiet at first." A frown deepened. "Turns out a monster had been killing everyone, and even killed my coworkers. That monster was a vampire, and everyone he killed had turned into ghouls."

"So, naturally, Hellsing would show up," Alex said, understanding.

Seras nodded. "Although, help hadn't arrived just yet. I ran for my life, and that bastard had caught up to me, threatening to rape me because he didn't want a vampire with free will running around. And that's when I met my master. But that vampire priest thought he was dealing with a human, so he ordered the ghouls to kill him, and I'm sure you're aware of my master's methods."

Hearing all this sounded very familiar, Alex thought. "Let me guess, he let them try, and essentially gave it back."

Seras chuckled. "To sum it up, yes. Afterwards, all that was left was myself and the vampire, and since I was the last survivor, he used me as a shield." Brown pools widened at this. "That's when my master asked me if I was a virgin."

Alex could only sigh in exasperation. "Then what?"

"Well..." Seras hesitated, before half-laughing. "He shot me when I told him I was."

"WHAT?!" She couldn't believe it! "He did not!" Seras only nodded, being totally serious. Suddenly angry on Seras' behalf, Alex moved to her feet, ready to march back to their room and give him an earful!

"W-wait! I'm not finished!" Seras pleaded. "At least hear the rest before you give him a hard time." Though she was fuming, Alex calmed down enough before sitting back down. She made a silent reminder to herself to kick his ass later. Sensing the thought, the Draculina did not envy her master if that was the case. Sighing, Seras continued, "In order to kill the vampire, he had to shoot through me." The moon was full that night, she remembered. "So, Alucard gave me two choices."

Thirty years had passed since that fateful night. Having been alone for so long since the death of her parents, she had somewhat considered Alucard as a father figure, though their relationship was more complex than that. He is her master, and she is his loyal servant. The mentor and his apprentice. Recalling what he told her before sunrise, it brought her back to that night in Badrick, her master urging her to drink his blood and become a vampire in her own right. Back then, it didn't feel right, and he called her an idiot for it. Maybe she was, but he never held it against her. In fact, not once did he reprimand her for neglecting the very thing that would sustain her. When she finally drank blood though, it was on her terms, and he seemed to be proud of her for it.

"There were plenty of times I wondered if I made the right choice," she admitted. "When I finally and truly accepted what I am, I knew then that I had." A soft smile returned, full of wistfulness. "I can't say that I don't have a regret or two, as I'd be lying otherwise. The one thing that saddens me is that I will live on while others, particularly those I care about, will either die in battle, or grow old and pass on. In the end, all I will have is my master."

The thought of Integra leaving them behind made the young vampire frown. She had to wonder what Alucard would do once their master was gone. She had no plans either, and if Alucard were to offer his blood again, thus severing the bond between sire and fledgling, she wasn't sure if she would feel free, or even more lost.

The human next to her interpreted the rest easily enough. It bothered her to know that Alucard was rather upfront with such a personal question. You're a virgin? Yes? BANG! That didn't strike her as an appropriate response at all. No explanation, no warning, just bang, you're dying. Wanna be a vampire? Since you just shot me, and I don't wanna die, FUCKING YES, YOU ASS! All this and more ran through Alex's thoughts. Thinking back to that Halloween, she remembered his promise that she wouldn't fall prey to death that night. Maybe it was because he knew she wasn't a virgin, among other reasons. She couldn't help feeling angry, because it felt like Alucard didn't give Seras a choice at all.

A hand resting on her shoulder brought the brunette out of her silent fuming. Eyes turned to Seras, finding only a smile on her face, surprising Alex. "I understand why you feel the way you do, but trust me, not once have I ever blamed Alucard for my circumstances. In fact, I'm incredibly grateful to him. I was alone for a long time, and Hellsing became my family. So please, don't hold it against my master. I don't."

Alex stared into her eyes, searching for any hint of duplicity or doubt. Nothing was there. After a moment, the anger towards Alucard crumbled away, the girl releasing a sigh. "Alright," she drawled, now downgraded to annoyed weariness. "If that's how you feel about the whole thing, then I won't even mention it."

"Thank you. My master may seem scary at times, but as I'm sure you witnessed by now, he does have a softer side."

At this, Alex smiled softly in agreement. "Yeah." She looked at the sky again. "Well, now that I know how you came to be a vampire, what I want to know now is why. Why did I need to know?" Her gaze returned to Seras. "There's no chance that another vampire was created from that incident at Cheddar thirty years ago, is there? I mean, if the vampire who threatened you wasn't willing to turn you into one, how or why would he neglect that with someone else in the village?"

The former police officer's brow furrowed together in puzzlement. "True. Though, if another vampire was made, then that would narrow down our list of suspects."

"Okay, great, but I'm not familiar with anything in England. Especially the rural areas. If we're to get anymore insight, we need to figure out the lay of the land or something."

"We can just ask the locals at the pub again." Alex eyed her strangely. "What?"

"Do we have to? It was bad enough socializing the first time..."

Sighing, Seras hooked her arm through her companion's, essentially lifting her from the bench as she stood. "Oh, come on. The sooner we wrap this mission up, the sooner we'll be able to return to London. Besides, if you're going to be a hunter, sometimes you have to talk to people."

"Fine..." the brunette drawled again.

Friday After-Midnight, February 13, 2032, Bleadon Village...

Getting information through casual conversation took a lot longer than Alex was willing to tolerate. People in general, she could handle. Drunks who wanted to get to know her and Seras a little too much? Not so much. However, their subtle enquiry was successful, and they learned of a few locations that fit the bill. Now the next step was to gear up, and narrow down the list till they found the vampire. If it wasn't found, they would need to come up with a new plan, and the quietness of this place was already getting on Alex's nerves. As she normally flourished in an urban environment, it was one of the reasons she lived in Toronto. Even Gravenhurst wasn't this dull. She supposed villages had their appeal, but if she was ever to retire, she'd rather just stay in London, or go back to Toronto.

They returned to their room, and Alex was surprised to not see Alucard at first glance. "Honey, we're home?" she tested, half-expecting him to pop up behind her. At this thought, she spun around with a wary expression, as though ready to counter-attack the vampire.

Sadly for her, she was anticipated, as Alucard still ended up 'popping up' behind her after her spin, wrapping a single arm around her middle, grinning ear to ear. The contact still managed to startle her, and he leaned in close to her ear, speaking in that rich baritone, laced with the accent she grudgingly appreciated, "Good evening, Alexandra."

Despite herself, a pleasant shiver ran up her spine, and she murmured out a quivering, "Hello." Suave bastard... Seeing Seras looking a little flustered at the somewhat intimate exchange, Alex forcefully cleared her throat, pushing off the older vampire. "We have a lead."

While Alucard was reluctant to release her, he obeyed her desire for distance. "I see, and what have you and the Police Girl come up with?"

Seras was the one to give her master the quick rundown, while Alex spent those few moments simply concentrating on slowing down her heart rate. Thankfully, Alucard was receptive to her needs, and pretended to not notice her current discomfort. It wasn't that long ago she learned of her connection to Alucard's late wife. She basically warned him off due to her confusion with her feelings. If they were ever going to be together, then she wanted the relationship to be based on the now, and not of the past. Alucard had been rather good about the whole thing, though he had his small slips. It probably didn't help that she ended up enjoying those slip ups. Like the one just now. How confusing.

"I see," he said when his fledgling finished, his smile still plastered on his face. "Then I suppose you two better get to it, while the night is still young."

"Yes, sir!" Seras acknowledged before turning to Alex, who was already grabbing her own uniform. "Guess we should change."

Five minutes was all they needed to get ready, and Alex found herself somewhat relieved to be in her olive and black attire, finishing it off by pulling on her gloves and boots. She also grabbed the high-tech goggles ordered specially for her, resting them atop her head. She added a black leather shoulder strap harness with holsters for her revolvers, securing the belt under her bodice. Seras was back in her red uniform, her eyes to match, opening the room's window wide open, as being seen was out of the question. While Alucard could erase memories, it was better to avoid the hassle altogether.

Alucard grinned at them proudly, then turned his comment to Alexandra, stating, "I love it when you're in uniform."

Once again embarrassed and exasperated, her famously endearing scowl of a face made itself known, and she refused to respond, knowing if she did, she might wake up the entire village just yelling at him to shut up. As though he heard her thought, his grin became more wicked, looking somewhat triumphant, making it comparable to one of a child who got away with doing something naughty. Rather than feed that fire, Alex forcefully ignored him, joining Seras at the window.

The blonde saluted her master in a casual way, a silent way of saying they were off before she wrapped an arm around Alex's waist. Her left arm changed, enveloped in black and red fire as she took off in flight. Alex went rigid, and the young vampire gave the trainee credit for not screaming as most civilians likely would.

A/N: Siiigh. I'm so sorry for the long-ass wait. Between writer's block, burnout, working, work-drama, home drama, and most recently, moving into my own place...yeah. I'm still in the middle of moving stress, but really I'm just trying to organize my place while juggling everything else. Right now, I have no internet, so I'm...borrowing my workplace's wifi to post this. Technically this chapter was longer, but it kept growing, so I decided to split the thing. The conclusion of this 'mini-arc' will occur next chapter. Not sure when I'll get around to my other stories. Right now, my mood is focused on this one.