Warnings: Sympathetic Remus, trains, train sickness, suspicious behavior, negative self-talk, a suspicious lack of garlic (not pictured)
Logan decidedly did not like trains. They were far too fast and far too shaky for his tastes. The world was moving too fast around them to be properly appreciated and they kept offering him drinks that smelled of rotten grapes.
His father had had several of these drinks throughout the journey and Logan decided he did not like them either. They made people act very silly and Logan didn’t want any part of that. Both because he loathed the idea of acting anything less than as intelligent as he knew he was and because he wasn’t sure he could afford to be silly in the first place due to his… considerable size and strength. It just wasn’t wise.
As a result, he spent most of the three day trip sitting in a seat and gripping either side of it, fighting off the nausea caused by the world racing past and trying to ignore his father loudly singing songs he didn’t know.
He was extremely grateful to finally arrive in Whitby, still feeling a little green. His uncle pat his arm sympathetically as they gathered their luggage.
“Life on the rails isn’t for everyone,” He said kindly. “Some just take to it better than others.”
“I am not one of them,” Logan replied grouchily. “I would be perfectly content to never experience that again.”
Uncle Roman laughed. “I’m sure. Hopefully we’ll be in Whitby awhile, then.”
Logan grunted in agreement as he hefted up the remaining bags.
His father, meanwhile, was practically bouncing and running, eager to get going. When they finally did set out it was all Logan and Roman could do to keep up with him! He prattled on and on about previous visits to Whitby and how he’d take Logan all over the place to this and that store and location.
Gradually, Logan realized… his father was nervous. He was distracting himself and trying to think about anything other than his own uncle’s potential reaction to his son- to Logan, the world’s first artificially born human being. The thought made Logan’s own chest heavy but before he could act on it his thoughts were interrupted by-
“We’re here!” His father said, forcibly cheerful.
Logan looked over at the building he gestured to. It was reasonably sized- though most things were in comparison to the small apartment and lab the three of them had been living in. It looked for all the world like just a rather large house, plenty of rooms with plenty of windows each, except for the sign hanging above the door that bore the doctor’s symbol and the name “Van Helsing” in scripted pen.
Logan’s father happily bounced up to the door, Logan and Uncle Roman trundling along behind him with all the bags.
Father lifted his hand to knock just as the door swung open. In it stood a man with a kind, round face, framed in curls with small glasses perched on his button nose. He had a briefcase in one hand, clearly about to head out, and he was talking to someone inside, clearly not having seen them yet.
Heedless of any of this, Logan’s father embraced him enthusiastically, catching the man off-guard entirely.
“Uncle Patton!” He cheered/
“Remus?” The man- Patton- said incredulously. “My dear boy, whatever are you doing here?”
Uncle Roman cocked his head to one side. “Remus! I thought you sent word ahead!”
Remus pulled back to look over. “I had! But he didn’t respond so I figured that he was either dead or missing so we’d better head over anyway just in case! But he’s not! Hooray!”
Uncle Roman facepalmed. Dr. Patton, however, just looked a little on the pale side.
“Goodness,” He muttered. “Did you send- oh dear. I’m afraid I’ve been a bit preoccupied as of late. I haven’t had the time to check my mail beyond a few urgent people. I- oh no. Oh dear.”
Uncle Roman stepped forward with a polite smile. “We’re terribly sorry if it’s a bad time, Uncle. We just… It’s been so long since we’d last seen you and we found ourselves in a desperate need of a vacation. We can stay in a hotel if it would be preferable to you, and stay out of your hair as much as you need.”
Dr. Patton’s face softened. “Oh… Oh stuff and nonsense! You’re family, of course you can stay here. It’s just… a mite difficult at the moment. I’m in the middle of an urgent situation you see and- oh just come in, come in! I’ll fetch you a spot of tea.”
The two of them shuffled in at Dr. Patton’s request, and Logan followed awkwardly. Why, oh why could no one make doorways taller than seven feet? Ducking was growing tiresome.
Dr. Patton’s eyes widened as he caught sight of Logan.
“Dear Lord in heaven,” He said. “You’re a well-fed fellow, aren’t you? You must be from the country. I’m Doctor Patton Van Helsing, and yourself?”
Logan smiled crookedly. “My name is Logan, sir. And, no I’m no from the country. Just from Bavaria.”
Dr. Patton frowned slightly. “You don’t sound German…”
“...My father is English.” Logan said after a moment.
“He’s a friend of ours, Uncle.” Uncle Roman covered smoothly. “He doesn’t travel much so we thought we’d let him join. I hope it’s not terribly inconvenient.”
Dr. Patton shrugged and seemed to accept that, ushering them all into the sitting room.
“Oh, I’ve the space,” he prattled. “Just be sure to keep an eye on one another, I’d prefer no one underfoot nowadays. Besides, times are dangerous and we can’t afford to lose track of one another.”
He cast a nervous glance towards the door before turning back to them with a smile.
“I’ll go get some rooms ready for you all- um- and ask if my dear friend Mr. Holmwood would mind putting on a cup of tea for my guests?”
A man that Logan hadn’t noticed stepped forward, shaking his head. He was short and portly in stature, but made up for it with an exceptionally tall hat.
“I don’t mind at all,” He said. “You might warn Mr. Harker that we have company.”
Dr. Patton nodded. “I was planning to do so. Thank you kindly, Mr. Holmwood. I’ll be back down in just a few moments, my nephews!”
With those words and a wave of his hand, Dr. Patton practically flew up the stairs, leaving them with Mr. Holmwood. Mr. Holmwood made no move to start the tea, merely staring at them, gaze repeatedly returning to Logan as he scanned the trio.
Uncle Roman coughed. “He seems a bit frazzled. Are things at the clinic particularly busy right now?”
Mr. Holmwood raised a brow and shrugged. “I suppose that depends on your perspective. There’s only the one patient here, but we’ve been rushing to help another and to kill off the illness before it spreads.”
“Do you help at the clinic, then?” Logan asked.
“Only for this.” Mr. Holmwood said. “I’ve… a personal stake in it.”
They lapsed into silence. Logan wondered idly if he was ever actually going to make tea.
“What’s your relation to the good doctor, then?” Mr. Holmwood asked. “He called you his nephews, I know, but I haven’t heard him speak of family.”
Logan’s father smiled. “Well! He’s our mother’s older brother! She met a nice gentleman in Geneva and popped out us and our younger brother, Romulus. She died some years back, but Uncle Patton has always been kind to us!”
“...I’m sorry for your loss.” Mr. Holmwood said awkwardly.
Father waved it off. “It’s no issue. It’s been years and we’ve kept busy. Roman with his silly scribbles and myself at university.”
“What is it you study?”
Father faltered some. “Oh, uh. Science mostly. Trying to determine the origins of life…”
“Our family has a great many doctors,” Uncle Roman laughed. “I’ve no interest in the scientific arts, I’m afraid, but my brother could hardly wait to get his hands on all the fancy lab equipment that Ingolstadt provides him! Following in the footsteps of our other, unfortunate family members.”
“More's the pity.” Mr. Holmwood said with a small smile.
He turned to Logan, likely to ask him what his area of study was, but at that moment the door knocked. All eyes turned to it.
“...Are you expecting company?” Remus asked.
“In a sense,” Mr. Holmwood said.
He crossed to the door and opened it, letting none other than Nate P. Morris step through, brown package still tucked firmly under his arm.
“Sorry fer the delay, Andy.” He said. “Ah had te cross by the graveyard an’ check up on our… special frien’ there, so ah was a bit delayed.”
“It’s quite alright, Doctor Van Helsin hasn’t left yet,” Mr. Holmwood said. “Tread lightly, though. ...We have a bit of company.”
The two looked over, into the sitting room, Nate looking at them all in surprise.
“Well ah’ll be,” He said. “Mr. Freankstien, waht’re ya doin’ here?”
Father frowned and started to answer but Dr. Patton came down the steps before he could get a word in edgewise.
“Oh! Mr. Morris, thank goodness. Were you able to find it?”
Nate pat the package. “Jus’ where ya said it’d be, Doc.”
“Excellent!” Dr. Patton turned to them apologetically. “I’m terribly sorry but I’m afraid the three of us need to head out. Your rooms are just up on the next level- the three with open doors- but I must ask you not to enter the two locked doors. Those are the rooms belonging to myself and my current patient. Perhaps I’ll take you to meet him later, but for now simply let him rest. Apart from that you're welcome to explore my house as you please until I return. I should be back before morning. Farewell!”
He picked up his briefcase and the three of them were gone before the Frankenstiens could comprehend that they were leaving.
“...Well,” Father said. “That was… a welcome. I think.”
“He’s probably just busy,” Uncle Roman mused. “He wasn’t expecting us, after all.”
“Which is his own fault.” Father pointed out.
“I suppose…” Uncle Roman exhaled forcefully. “Alright. Let's go find our bedrooms.”
