[Well, so much for soothing his poor Earl and bringing him away from grief over the loss of his dear wife. What good of it all if he has only led him right into the reality of his son's condition? In a way, it's not, but they're bringing up the roots of the man's problems, and Vincent isn't facing them alone anymore. He will worry, as fathers do, but he will not stay up reading books that hold no meaning to him to try and stave it off now.]

[At least, Undertaker hopes he will not. What he does do is scoot a little more to face Vincent fully and gather both hands in one of his own while he lifts the other to cup the cheek nuzzling into him. His voice softens, offering reassurances and certainties that he feels in himself.]

My lord, I will not lie to you on this. It is possible that a demon can hurt me, maybe even kill me. A grim reaper is only a human, killed by his own hand and bound to the heavens. But I am not without my own experience, and I have fought this demon before. It isn't your soul it wants, although it may use you to get the one it needs. If push comes to shove, you would better serve your son to stay far away, and I know you can't do that.

[He pauses there, stroking his palm down against Vincent's cheek as he would have done for his son decades ago, perhaps if he'd fallen off his horse or lost a fencing match.] I will keep you in the loop with what I learn, my lord. There are purification rituals that may help here in this world, but I need a little more time to research it all. The texts are very old, and this is not our home. For now, love your son. Love your son as if today is your last with him.

[He can't help the glimmer in his own eyes then, feeling the emotion well up in him, but with a blink it's gone. His smile softens that much more, thumb stroking over the man's cheek once before settling the hand back down on the shoulder again and leaving it there.]