[ perhaps it's funny: alucard doesn't see himself as part of that reason, not really, but he definitely needs it--perhaps not most of all, but somewhere in the middle. he just doesn't realize it, not quite. doesn't need to, right now.

he huffs a laugh, about it being a feat, and his thumb idles along the line of anderson's jaw, thoughtful. ]

We're still not even sure if I'm going to burn or not, so that much will be an adventure.

[ he pauses, at what the priest says to him, and he searches his face quietly for a long moment. there's an emotion there, one that aches, and he finally looks away. ]

I had no one, at the time. Alienation--is a constant, for me.

[ he looks at him again, and smiles, and cants his head. ]

I would have been content, if there'd been someone like you.

[ it's so similar to what he'd told anderson at the end, isn't it? but anderson hasn't heard that, yet.

still, he means it. ]