otherways A little bit of history

[h2_muses]

Van Helsing, as he is known to do, has just finished testing the repairs that have been made to his weaponry and is on his way back to his quarters where he's certain he will find a set of orders that sends him off to some distant somewhere for the next month or so.

It happens a lot. Sometimes he hates it; sometimes he doesn't mind. He's not sure which it is just now.

Comments

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Well, I do, but it's better not to get into it right this moment. That is..."

He looks at Van Helsing.

"How long are you going to do this, then, Van Helsing?"

[i_vanquish_evil]

"Do what? Fight these creatures of evil?"

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Well, yes."

He looks at Van Helsing as if this were the what anyone would expect to be asked.

"You're a handsome enough man, after all, with decent prospects, or the Church could of course set some up for you."

[i_vanquish_evil]

"Or the Church could eat my shorts"

"Prospects for what?"

Yes - Van Helsing is dense and a bit behind the times and uneducated in many ares. Also - subtle doesn't always work well with him, but then Carl alread knew that.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"A marriage or something," he answers, "I mean, you won't be around forever, after all. I will miss you, of course."

[i_vanquish_evil]

He blinks. He inclines his head to the friar, "Thank you," and it comes out both grateful and confused and, thus, he feels his face redden a little. Rarely is anyone complimentary of him, much less would they express saddness at his loss. For a moment, he sees Carl a little differently.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

The little friar blinks at Van Helsing.

"You do, of course, realize you're the only person I could consider a friend, don't you?"

[i_vanquish_evil]

The larger monster hunter blinks right back.

"No, actually, I hadn't realized that." He narrows his eyes. "You have no friends here?"

He likes Carl well enough, he doesn't see why others wouldn't.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Too brilliant," he says dismissively, "90% of the people here don't understand me and the other 10% hate me for what they can understand of it."

He smiles cheerily at Van Helsing.

[i_vanquish_evil]

"My math isn't the best, but you've managed to get to 100%, so I'm not sure where I fit in your little equation."

He's quite certain he's not part of the 10% and while he might fall into the other 90% - because he only half understands half of what Carl says half the time - he certainly does't hate the man.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"I said 'of those here'." he explains calmly. "You're something quite different, Van Helsing."

[i_vanquish_evil]

"So what am I?" This is plain old ordinary curiosity.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"A friend, as I said," and he looks away as he starts... bustling about. There doesn't seem to be a point, other than bustling.

[i_vanquish_evil]

He smiles, knowing Carl can't see him. "Again, thank you."

He takes a breath. "And you do realize that you are the only person here that I can call friend? There is no else one here who likes me at all."

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"That's because they're blind idiots," he answers quickly enough. "I mean, really."

[i_vanquish_evil]

"I feel they would claim that I'm overly aggressive and uncontrollable."

He's been told as much.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Nonsense," he answers with a snort, "Besides, I find those qualities attractive to a certain degree."

He looks away.

[i_vanquish_evil]

Van Helsing mentally finishes that sentence with 'in your women' (b/c he wouldn't know to finish it any other way) - and offers a nod. "Of course," he replies with a hint of a smile.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Especially in my partner."

What he means by partner is a little bit different than Van Helsing might think he means.

[i_vanquish_evil]

Surely.

He tilts his head. "Do you live to confuse me?" He is actually almost smiling - better confused by Carl than cornered by the Order.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Yes, of course, just as the sky is green and the grass is blue."

He smiles and it is, despite everything, a warm smile.

[i_vanquish_evil]

"Of course."

He locates another batch of weaponry to tuck into the bag.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

He walks over and watches Van Helsing for a moment before leaning over to watch more closely.

[i_vanquish_evil]

"Have I forgotten something?" He looks up, almost face-to-face with the friar.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

Face to Face? Yes, that'd be it. Because he leans down just that much more to press his lips to Van Helsing's in a soft, sweet kiss even as his hand brushes against Van Helsing's cheek.

[i_vanquish_evil]

At first, he's not sure exactly what is happening, then realization dawns and he draws away sharply.

"What are you doing?" A confused frown creases his brow.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

He almost snorts. As it is, he just looks at Van Helsing, not moving.

"And here I thought I was being obvious."

[i_vanquish_evil]

"Then I shall rephrase - why?"

This should make for an interesting explanation.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Because I want to. I should think you'd be aware that this is the reason I do most things."

[i_vanquish_evil]

He nods.

"Yes, but aside from your desire to do such why? Why would you want to kiss me?"

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Because you are exceedingly kissable, for a variety of reasons."

He turns his head to give Van Helsing a small smile.

"For one, you've never been kissed by anyone but Anna... and considering her dental hygiene, I'd like to disqualify her. For another, you're more than somewhat handsome. For another, you're a very close friend and there's nothing wrong with that deepening into something more. And lastly... well, that's none of your business and I'd like to keep it to myself for the moment.

I'm deeply in love with you, you great dolt.

[i_vanquish_evil]

Another frown - still confusion, but a frown none-the-less.

He takes a moment to ponder some of what Carl's said:

The first is true; the second, he hadn't actually considered; the third he doesn't understand; and the fourth has him intrigued.

"I'm still not sure I understand."

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"What part is confounding you?"

This was usually the best way to work through problems with Van Helsing. He wasn't stupid; he was just uneducated.

[i_vanquish_evil]

"Deepening?"

He hopes that's enough.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

"Yes. Making something more of something than there was, to be exact. Taking a friendship and making that relationship more than a friendship."

[i_vanquish_evil]

"I'm still not..." his phrase is cut short by a cough from the chamber door.

"Cardinal Jinette," he nods in the Cardinal's direction.

The Cardinal, stone-faced and firm, says, "It is time you were leaving."

Van Helsing nods once to the Cardinal as the man turns to go.

"Come along, Carl," he says, taking up his shoulder bag and donning his hat.

[i-read.livejournal.com]

He looks like he wants to blow something up.

In the, er, angry sort of way.

But he goes.