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smallestapplin · 4 months

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I love your stories and the way you write! I'd like to request a story for Alucard as a loving yandere, it's rare to see anyone writing for game castlevania these days!Perhaps female s/o originally found him and awakened him to help beat dracula together after Richter went AWOL and afterwards he took her with him home?

I am so sorry. You sent this back in august and I've been dying 😭 I hope you like it, though I'm very sorry if it's a little all over the place. Please enjoy QwQ also I love you, thank you for allowing me to write castlevania. I adore the games so much.

🔞Cw : light possessive/yandere thoughts🔞

Word count : 2,044

When Alucard was awoken he expected to see a Belmont, or someone related to such, knowing the only reason to awaken him is for dire circumstances. Yet when his golden eyes opened to see who, it was just…you?

The tall vampire lowered himself to the ground, walking towards you. His eyes never leave your frame.

“I’m sorry for waking you up, but I knew you’d be the only one who could help us.”

“What happened.” He sighs, knowing exactly what you’re going to say.

“The castle of Dracula is back.”

Because of course, it is.

“But with its sudden appearance, Richter went missing!”

“Richter?” He supposes that’s someone of importance.

“Yes, he’s a Belmont and was determined to put an end to this, but he hasn’t been back for three years and that castle is still there. Please, I don’t know who else to turn to, no one else is strong enough to face the monsters of that castle.”

You don’t back away as he gets closer, it intrigues him.

He takes notice of how small you are compared to him, but that’s not saying much as he’s aware his height is not humanly possible to reach.

“You’re no Belmont, who are you?” His eyes never leave you, taking in every detail he can.

You have no courting gifts on your person, so you’re not a lover of one.

His ears twitch at the sound of your name, one which he repeats.

“I am a friend of the family, and I’m worried for him. I’d like to help you defeat Dracula and save my friend.”

He hasn’t had a companion in what, three hundred years? Oh, Trevor is mocking him in the grave, he just knows it.

“You may tag along, but I warn you this will take longer with you traveling with me. Dracula’s monsters are not to be underestimated.”

Why is it that when your eyes light up he feels something…warm inside his chest? He’s a monster just like the rest, he shouldn’t taint such lively humanity.

“Of course! I’ll do anything I can to help!”

The vampire hums, walking passed you as he takes his leave, with you tailing right behind him. He hates the feelings stirring inside him, he’s a creature of the night, a disgrace, and you are a saint in his eyes.

Day in and day out as you two travel, heading straight for Dracula’s castle, he can’t help but find himself smitten with you.

“Do you need to eat?”

“If you’re asking if I need blood, no I don't, I can eat whatever you bring.”

“Oh.”

He finds it so cute how you worry over him.

You’ve only met him days ago and yet you still insist on checking on him. You’re so warm, so inviting.

That Belmont is lucky to have someone like you as his friend.

But something twists in Alucard’s chest, something darker. Just how lonely had he been all this time? It was better for everyone in his mind, and yet here he is, longing for you to stay.

It grows each night as you sleep peacefully at your little campsite.

Every time he looks at your resting form, he can’t help but feel the urge to hold you, to have you, to listen to you whisper your love for him.

You wouldn't want a monster like him as a lover, he's a vampire for heaven's sake! You deserve someone who could properly love you as you should be.

And yet each night he finds himself sitting closer to you, each night he finds himself inching closer to your sleeping body.

If he's close enough he could feel your warmth.

How he wishes to curl around you, cape over you two just to bask in it.

The weeks it takes you two to get to the castle are some of the best and worst for Alucard.

You seem to find his dry humor and sarcasm hilarious, even shooting back with your sass.

He wonders how the Belmont managed to have you so close...

With the castle in sight, he can't help but feel a pit form in his stomach.

He's just one step closer to losing you.

"Alucard quickly, the gate!" Your voice brings him from his thoughts as he sees the gate's door being raised.

He huffs, grabbing you, having you over his shoulder as he sprints towards it. His vampiric speed lets him get there just before it closes.

And with a jump, he makes it, landing perfectly.

His arm around your hips and thighs doesn't loosen, but he can feel you shaking.

"Are you alright?" His voice was low, edging on being gentle.

You take a shaky breath, trying to steel your nerves.

"Yeah...yeah I'm okay. Just a warning next time, please?"

Next time? You want to spend more time with him, is that what you're saying? He carefully sets you down, making sure you're behind him as he turns to face the rest of the castle.

He narrows his eyes which stay locked onto the enemies ahead.

The low deep growls of the beasts before you keep you on guard.

"Stay behind me. I will protect you."

He stayed true to his word, you're almost certain he didn't even need you here. You watch in awe how the dhampir makes quick work of enemies, most of the time he'd catch them before they could even touch you.

In turn, if you could not put your sword to work, you decided to put your mage abilities to good use then, healing Alucard when the hips got to be too much for him.

Death couldn't get close to you, even when taking Alucard's items and yours. Yet you two held firm, pressing onward to put a stop to this and find your friend.

Walking through the castle, getting closer and closer to the end of the hallway you have to tell him.

"It's impressive how quickly you adapt to using weapons and items that aren't yours."

To you, you think he glances at you casually, as if he's done this all before.

But you miss the soft look in his eyes.

"My father and his minions made sure I could fight. I honed my skills in killing any monster in my path."

You know there must be so much to his story but you don't press for more, he's been through enough.

"Still, the skill of yours is deserving of praise. Do you think you could teach me sometime?"

Alucard can feel his heart pounding.

Why do his hands feel clammy? Has the room gotten hotter? Before he could answer as you two walk through the door, his words die in his throat at the sight of a human sitting in the stadium, laughing.

"Who are you?" But his question goes ignored.

"Servants, come forth from the gates of hell!"

Alucard widens his stance to fight, placing an arm in front of you to block you, yet his attention is pulled from the man to the two summoned monsters on either side of you two.

You jolt forward, hands on Alucard's bicep as you seem shocked.

"....Your blood. The scent of your blood. You're a Belmont!"

"Richter!" You finally call out, you should be relieved to see your friend is alive but it's tainted in confusion and hurt at his behavior.

"Attack! Rid my castle of these pests!"

With that he sits back, watching you and your companion fight for your lives against the Minotaur and werewolf. Though he's so disappointed when you two manage to beat them, and leaves before you could land the final blow.

You rush over to Alucard once it's safe, worry etched on your face.

"Are you okay? You didn't get hit too bad, did you?" You check him over, unaware of the emotions coursing through him at that moment.

He grinds a hand up slowly, placing it on your cheek, his thumb lightly rubbing across your skin.

"I'm alright, but what about you?"

He could feel a foreign feeling bubbling in his throat, almost akin to a purr when you lean into his touch.

"I'm fine. But that was Richter but he...he'd never want to resurrect Dracula, or do anything of this."

His heart hurts seeing you so conflicted.

"Worry not, we will stop him."

"Just...please don't kill him."

Alucard takes a deep breath, easing the anger welling up inside him. Do you want to protect that Belmont? He might've been your friend, but he just sicced monster at you two without a care.

He even had the nerve to call you a pest!

But how can he say no to the pitiful expression of yours?

"I'll do what I can."

Making your way once more through the castle, finding relics that you need, and trying to fight monsters for their items. You run into Maria, who's so happy to see you, even if she questions the stoic man next to you.

Alucard stays quiet as you two converse, though you seem relieved when she hands you the holy glasses. You're quick to hand them to Alucard.

He's already tired of everyone when he defeats a possessed Belmont, that annoys Priest Shaft by having the nerve to make him go through another castle.

But you are at his side, talking with him, healing him, and giving him just small touches to his arms and back.

He never realized how touch-starved he had become.

His quick strides become slow, he doesn't want this adventure to end, he needs to keep you with him.

He can't let you go, he can't let anyone hurt you.

As the castle goes up in a blinding light, he can faintly hear you happily chatting with your friends, how you sound close to tears knowing they made it alright.

The words of his father rang still clear in his ears.

'You're more like me than you think.'

He dreads ever thinking he'd be anything like Dracula.

But as he looks at you, he sees your smile.

He can understand his father's actions a little better.

Just the thought of you dying sends him into a frenzy.

"Alucard, I-"

"Come with me."

You jump back, a little shocked at his words.

"I'm...I'm sorry?"

The nearly seven-foot-tall man hunches over, making himself level with you.

"Join me in my travels. You make a perfect companion."

After watching you fight alongside him, even watching you fight the fake versions of his old friends in there.

How you came right back to his side to offer him comfort.

How you did the same right after the fight with the succubus.

He needs you.

You make him feel loved, and wanted, even if he's just a monster like the rest.

"What!? You can't expect them to go with you!"

His golden eyes lock with Richter's blue ones.

The Belmont looks flabbergasted the dhampir even suggested that.

"Richter, let them decide. They did save you and the world with his help you know."

He snaps his head towards Maria, mouth agape.

"I understand that, but who knows what other dangers they could face out there!"

Your chuckle brings them all to silence. Richter has always been so worried for you and your safety, much like a protective brother to you.

"Thank you for the concern, Richter, but I think I'll be fine." You look to Alucard, a soft smile on your face.

"I'd love to join you. This entire trip has been so much fun."

You can feel your knees go weak at the barely there smile that graces Alucard's face.

"I won't let you regret it."

As you bid farewell to your friends, promising to visit them.

You're blind to how Alucard eyes your neck.

If he turns you, you'd be stuck with him for the rest of your life, you could never leave him, and you'd be his betrothed for the end of time.

He could make or find you two a nice place.

Oh, he wants to hold you like he's dreamed of since the start of your journey.

And now you'll be alone with him, with no one expecting you home soon or at all.

You're his now.

He won't make the same mistake his father made, he will never leave you alone.

#castlevania x reader #castlevania sotn x reader #castlevania alucard #castlevania alucard x reader #yandere #tw.yandere #cw.yandere #yandere alucard x reader #castlevania yandere alucard x reader #fem reader #lowkey I forgot fem pronouns and I'm so sorry about that #but just in case #mdni

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hillbillyoracle · 7 months

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How to Have Better Conversations

I’m writing this at the request of my partner. She shared she’s really been struggling with making conversation more than usual lately. I shared some thoughts on how I navigate conversations she found useful and asked if I’d be willing to make a resource or write more about it. This is not meant to be a definitive expert guide, it’s built from my observations and experiences as someone who is autistic and has to navigate a lot of social situations completely manually. This is how I break down the individual components of conversation.

When I spelled this all out, one of her takeaways was that conversations actually involve a lot of microdecisions and that’s why they can be so tiring. And I think that’s totally correct. But I think it’s also why some people can thrive with them because it’s actually a lot of difficult decisions that are tricky to pull off well so when you can and do, there’s a real sense of accomplishment that can make talking more appealing.

I have a feeling this post will be overcomplicated and convoluted to a lot of folks but maybe there’s a handful of folks for whom it is helpful. Take what works, leave the rest. Summary at the end.

Types of Conversation

Topics of conversation are decently important in my experience. They ultimately let you know where the conversation will go - whether it’s likely to end in a dead end, what sorts of things it will allow you to learn about the person you’re discussing with. In my experience, just about all conversation topics fall into one of four camps.

While I talk about Best Use and Don’t Use here - most conversation in the following topics will fall somewhere in-between. They’re just sign posts, not rules.

The focus is on you. Me topics are ultimately about telling a story about yourself with some amount of conscious intent.

Best Use

The best use of this is setting expectations and conveying preferences. This allows your talking about yourself to serve a purpose that ultimately assists the other person in knowing how to understand and interact with you best without necessarily demanding certain treatment front. They might change or not change how they interact with you and this can show how responsive you might expect them to be.

Examples:

“I’m a writer so I don’t work 9-5. If I reply at odd times, that’s probably what’s going on.”

“One of my favorite ways to get to know someone is to grab a hot drink and go for a walk with them.”

Don’t Use

The worst use of this is look a certain way - knowledgeable, impressive, interesting. Basically any use rooted in getting another person to like you. Genuine connection doesn’t start from a place of elevating one person over another. Plus honestly 90% of people just do not care about why you think you’re interesting, important, etc and hate feeling pressured to validate you.

Examples:

“My boss was even stumped by the issue but I figured it out on my own.”

“All my friends say I’m the best at baking.”

“I keep a bunch of tools in my car, I’m ready to fix anything anywhere.”

You

The focus is on the other person. You topics are ultimately about letting the other person share the story of themselves.

Best Use

The best use of You topics is to better understand how a person understands themselves. Open ended questions that invite them to show their thinking as well and shows you how they reason. The common acronym FORD (family, occupation/occupy time, recreation, dreams) is a decent

Example:

“So how did you find yourself in this city? What was that journey like?”

“Why did you take up [your hobby]? What drew you to it?”

Don’t Use

Don’t use you topics to actively try to find fault with someone else. It’s great to have standards and hard no’s for your friendships and relationships. But poking around for them upfront can alienate people who you’d otherwise like - suspicion is not a desirable quality in a friend or potential partner. Ultimately you have to let a person show you who they are and make a personal call. There’s no short cut.

Example:

“So why did you and your ex break up?”

“So you get angry easily then?”

Both

The focus is on a shared expertise/language, not on the story of either of you.

Best Use

The best use of both topics is to notice things about them they wouldn’t think to explicitly share necessarily and to connect in a way that only people with your shared interest or expertise allows.

Example:

My partner and I both have a background in academic medical research. However when we talk about it, it becomes apparent that my focus is on the practical and researcher side and hers is on the data and compliance side. It’s interesting to note where our similar interests compliment and diverge.

Don’t Use

Don’t use both topics to try one up or show you know more than the other person. The minute you do that the shared aspect - and therefore connection - is gone.

Example:

I once went on a date with a man who spent a half hour explaining how GIS systems work in a very “look at me” way after I mentioned I had used them when I was studying forestry in college. It was boring as hell.

Neither

The focus is on a topic without a shared expertise/language, not on the story of either of you.

Best Use

The best use of neither topics is a shared exploration/experience. One person will usually know a little more about a topic than the other person. The person who knows less benefits by learning about a topic they’re curious about. Their questions and observations invite the other to think about this topic in a new light so the experience winds up being somewhat shared.

Examples:

A woman in line at Lowes let me know I could overwinter mums in this area. I proceeded to ask her about how she’d taken such good care of hers and whether the effortwas worth it. She thoughtfully answered my questions and I learned a lot.

I mentioned to my partner a personal project I’m considering undertaking. She asks about my motivations for it and in doing so I have to further clarify them. She learned a little about what my project was about and I learned what I was really after, seeing it fresh.

Don’t Use

Don’t use neither topics to soapbox about things that are of solely personal interest. If someone makes it clear they’re not interested pivot to something more interesting. Even neither topics require at least a little bit of common ground.

Examples:

I regularly talk about group hypocrisies I’m trying to make sense of before realizing that people outside of that group don’t really care.

Ideal Ratio

In general, in reflecting on my own conversations, I think a ratio where more than half the conversation is on either both or neither topics are the most rewarding. It’s where neither party walks away feeling like they talked too much about themselves and when meaningful and interesting topics still have been discussed.

I think it’s a common mistake to try to get the conversation to be 50% you, 50% me. That’s where conversations feel like a job interview and get exhausting real quick. They also have an appearance of depth as people disclose more to keep the conversation going but with out a feeling of connection after because little time is spent on exploration and shared experience.

How to Respond

So knowing what topic you’re currently or want to talk about is one part of this, but the other is choosing a response. I generally let the other person’s response dictate some measure of my response.

Pivot

If someone seems negatively engaged - leaning back, looking around a lot, arms crossed, giving short answers - I pivot to a neutral topic. I find neutral topics work best because the focus is not on either of you - they don’t feel like they’re under pressure to disclose or act interested in you. Neutral topics also allow them to lead the pace - asking questions and making observations at the level they feel comfortable. If they continually seem negatively engaged, it’s usually best to bail from the conversation, especially if asking questions about the dynamic itself seems like it might not be welcome.

Matching

If someone seems neutrally engaged - mostly looking in your direction, not leaning toward or away, giving input on what you’re saying - I match and continue with the topic.

FOOL

Being a little like the Fool in the Major Arcana is actually a great way to be a good conversationalist - genuine, curious, brave, and receptive. Bellow are some concrete ways how.

Follow up questions - Good follow up questions come from a genuine place of curiousity. They also tend to either fill in gaps in your own understanding or encourage the speaker expand the discussion into a new but related area.

Observation - Observations on the topic itself are great but not your only option. You can oberve how a person seemed to feel when talking about the topic. You can observe that they’d touched on a related topic before. Comparison is a fruitful ground for observations as well - “That’s similar to…” and ”That’s very different than….”

Opinion - Offering an opinion or requesting their opinion is a good way to keep a conversation going. In general, it’s best to avoid generalizations, soften them a little to start with, and make sure there is some measure of compassion in the opinion you’re sharing. Rigidity leaves little room for discussion and exploration.

Levity - Where appropriate, make a joke, share a meme, craft a pun, tease them a little. Laughter is a shared experience that connects us.

Building

If someone seems positively engaged - leaning forward, making eye contact, coming closer to you for neurotypical people and actively engaging with the content of what you’re saying regardless of stims or eye contact for neurodivergent folks - I build on what we’re talking about. I self disclose my feelings and personal connections to the topic one step further than what the person I’m talking with has.

It’s important not to disclose a lot more than the person you’re talking with has. It leads to a vulnerability hangover for you and can be quite awkward and uncomfortable for them. If you disclose just a little more than the person you’re chatting with, then it’s much more easy to recover and match their level if they seem uncomfortable with what you shared.

Decision Tree

“What topic are we talking about currently?”

Me - Set expectations, share preferences; you focused

You - Understand you as you understand yourself; other person focused

Both - Connect over a shared language; idea focused

Neither - Connect over a shared exploration; idea focused

“What cues am I getting from the other person?”

If positive, build on current topic - be vulnerable

If neutral, match on current topic - be a FOOL*

If negative, pivot to a different topic - preferably neutral or in ratio**

*FOOL

Follow up questions - genuine curiousity - “I wonder…”

Observe - conversation, feelings, topic - “I noticed…”

Opinion - cautious, concise, compassionate - “I’ve often thought…”

Levity - make jokes, share memes - laughter connects

**Ratio

51% Both/Neither

<49% Me/You

#social anxiety #social skills #conversation #how to #life hacks #I have a feeling this might not be useful #to anyone but me #but just in case #here it is

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