The ones who aren't worth your time will always carry themselves in the same way. Overly assertive, demanding respect without ever truly having earned it. You learn to pick out the demeanor over time.
[Speaking of perspective. This is a nice one.]
Mm, much better. You have a terrible habit of making me terrified to turn the gas on, in case I elbow you in the face.
Do you remember when I broke Trevor's wrist? Now stretch that guilt out for six weeks.
[Alucard, if nothing else, knows how he will react in certain situations.]
Hmmm. [There's a quite consideration as Alucard rests his hands on the top of Sypha's thighs. His bathrobe sleeves cover said hands, and perhaps it looks a little silly. From where he stands, he can press a very soft kiss to Sypha's chest.]
Self assured without being overbearing. Someone who knows her skills, will talk of them happily, and is open to new theories. Just enough arrogance because you know you stand taller than your peers.
[If the coffee decides to be done now, at this precise moment, she is going to break the entire coffeepot into pieces. Fortunately, it has the good sense to carry on a little longer, which frees her to pull her shoulders back just slightly, arching her spine a touch in an almost-but-not-quite lean into the touch of his mouth.]
What a way to describe someone. It almost sounds as though you are in love with her.
[The water has to boil first, and then the coffee must simmer for a full seven minutes. There is time enough for indulgence, and Alucard kisses the same spot again.]
[She says, as she picks up a hand and strokes it through his hair, raking the strands back and around to where her hand settles at the nape of his neck and holds there.]
[Which means he nudges Sypha so very gently with his nose, and looks up at her with a grin that's both terribly fond and the tiniest bit cocksure, because he actually is aware of the answer.]
[The best part of this angle is that if Alucard wants to kiss Sypha on the lips, he has to stand on tip toes. Which he does without question, because there are mornings where this doesn't happen. Grumpier ones, or ones that involve someone's hangover, or mornings where there's too much to do.
Sure, he's absolutely going to taste like last night's entire buffet (so much blood sausage), but that's the risk with morning kisses.]
[Like it's going to stop her from reaching for another kiss while he's close at hand, though, because the standing on tiptoes is actually very charming a look on Alucard, and she in turn likes the experience of leaning down to reward him with them.]
Hmm. I suppose poor Muffy will have to go on being disappointed. I'm not nearly tired of going with you yet.
[Terrible protest. But true, there's no point in doing that before coffee. Speaking of, the water has hit a boil, and he nudges Sypha gently to request that she let go for now.]
I intend to make that true for a lifetime. But I suppose that means I must give other things as well.
[There's a very thoughtful hum.]
I've been thinking about the other space in the garage, you know.
[She SUPPOSES she can be generous, just this once, and at length releases him from her trap. She stays on the counter, though, because it's a fun vantage point for watching him. Sometimes she likes being tall.]
[Once at the stove, Alucard turns the burner down to a simmering heat, and he knows the timing by heart now. The rest is easy. To the fridge first, for bacon, potatoes, and other leftovers. He's sick of eggs, so for today, it's hash.]
If I got you two a car to experiment with, would you leave mine alone?
[Was there a second half to that question? Probably. Did Sypha hear it? Verdict is still out. There are, after all, much more pressing things to be concerned with and all of them are their own car.]
Oh no, we'll buy you this thing and teach you on it too. This is absolutely about keeping my car pristine.
[And about doing something nice, but he's terribly worried about that car. It is less about the expense and more about the sentiment, as it was a precious last thing that he and his father considered before everything went to hell.]
Oh, of course not. You have to be comfortable behind the wheel, and that is a very personal choice.
[He smiles, quite pleased at all of this, and removes the bacon from the pan it has been frying in. It goes onto a plate, and then all the other components of the hash go right into the pan.]
There's a few sellers that are all on the same road.
[He exchanges the tongs used for the bacon for a wooden spoon, and is careful as he moves everything in the pan.]
And of course. I just know that one day theory will become practical application
Aha, see, so you did have it all figured out. How much trouble will I be in if one of your pieces of bacon goes missing before breakfast is ready?
[It's not a non sequitur if you say it real casual and all in the same breath.]
...It's an expensive gift, a whole car. Even if I'm sharing it with Trevor. Have I done anything for you that is equivalent in how special that is? Not equal, perhaps, but at least comparable.
[He pauses, and one of the three plates he put aside is grabbed. Two rashers of bacon, and he offers the plate with a very smug smile indeed. He knows.]
Are you saying neither of you are worth expensive gifts? It's far more practical than some others I might think of. And it will keep you thinking and experimenting for years to come.
You eat the bacon, it isn't a waste. And there's a reason I do it, which you'll reap momentarily.
[Sypha, trust the dhampir with food.]
I don't know how many times I will have to repeat that having you here at all is beyond anything else I could ever ask of you. Either of you. That I can give you additional comforts makes me happy, there's no requirement to mutter about what is and isn't fair.
Oh, don't get grumpy. Making you happy just by existing is a passive thing. Sometimes I just want to know I do active things, too. Then making you happy wasn't just a phenomenon; it came about because of my intent.
[She loudly crunches her bacon as if for emphasis, or at least for punctuation.]
I want to love you actively, Alucard. I want to throw myself into it and love you so hard that I could go faster than a ninety-mile-an-hour death machine. That's all it is. I want to do, from love, and see the results in you. I love you too much to let my love sit still.
[He's just adding things to the pan at the exact right moment and letting the bacon fat sizzle and interact with all the water in the leftover potatoes first! So he has time for a better and less childish response!]
Maybe I should not have called the car that. [He says in very honest apprasial of his own words.]
But I follow your point. But I also can't tell you how to repay anything I do, because it's on you to figure out. I...actually don't know how to even make a suggestion on where to begin, if I'm being entirely honest.
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[Speaking of perspective. This is a nice one.]
Mm, much better. You have a terrible habit of making me terrified to turn the gas on, in case I elbow you in the face.
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[So boastful, Miss Belnades.]
Mmmm, so what demeanor do I have, then? Is it the kind worthy of time?
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[Alucard, if nothing else, knows how he will react in certain situations.]
Hmmm. [There's a quite consideration as Alucard rests his hands on the top of Sypha's thighs. His bathrobe sleeves cover said hands, and perhaps it looks a little silly. From where he stands, he can press a very soft kiss to Sypha's chest.]
Self assured without being overbearing. Someone who knows her skills, will talk of them happily, and is open to new theories. Just enough arrogance because you know you stand taller than your peers.
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[If the coffee decides to be done now, at this precise moment, she is going to break the entire coffeepot into pieces. Fortunately, it has the good sense to carry on a little longer, which frees her to pull her shoulders back just slightly, arching her spine a touch in an almost-but-not-quite lean into the touch of his mouth.]
What a way to describe someone. It almost sounds as though you are in love with her.
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[The water has to boil first, and then the coffee must simmer for a full seven minutes. There is time enough for indulgence, and Alucard kisses the same spot again.]
And it has never been a secret.
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[She says, as she picks up a hand and strokes it through his hair, raking the strands back and around to where her hand settles at the nape of his neck and holds there.]
And does she love you, too?
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[Which means he nudges Sypha so very gently with his nose, and looks up at her with a grin that's both terribly fond and the tiniest bit cocksure, because he actually is aware of the answer.]
Does she?
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With abandon.
[And she grins right back, reaching with her unoccupied hand to flick the tip of his nose.]
Desperately. Madly. Recklessly. And with every breath.
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Sure, he's absolutely going to taste like last night's entire buffet (so much blood sausage), but that's the risk with morning kisses.]
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[Like it's going to stop her from reaching for another kiss while he's close at hand, though, because the standing on tiptoes is actually very charming a look on Alucard, and she in turn likes the experience of leaning down to reward him with them.]
Hmm. I suppose poor Muffy will have to go on being disappointed. I'm not nearly tired of going with you yet.
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[Terrible protest. But true, there's no point in doing that before coffee. Speaking of, the water has hit a boil, and he nudges Sypha gently to request that she let go for now.]
I intend to make that true for a lifetime. But I suppose that means I must give other things as well.
[There's a very thoughtful hum.]
I've been thinking about the other space in the garage, you know.
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[She SUPPOSES she can be generous, just this once, and at length releases him from her trap. She stays on the counter, though, because it's a fun vantage point for watching him. Sometimes she likes being tall.]
What about it?
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If I got you two a car to experiment with, would you leave mine alone?
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[Was there a second half to that question? Probably. Did Sypha hear it? Verdict is still out. There are, after all, much more pressing things to be concerned with and all of them are their own car.]
That I could drive? Whenever I wanted?
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[Because that's an honest fear. One punctuated, for some reason, by the sizzle of bacon being placed into a pan.]
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[She's actually kicking her feet a little, she's so excited by this.]
Are you sure this is really about preserving your car, and not just that you want to do something wonderful for us, as usual?
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[And about doing something nice, but he's terribly worried about that car. It is less about the expense and more about the sentiment, as it was a precious last thing that he and his father considered before everything went to hell.]
We could take care of the matter after breakfast.
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[Leave it to Alucard to make an entire plan and only then reveal it to the world.]
...You'll still let me sit in it, though, won't you? Even if it's just when you're in it, too?
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[He smiles, quite pleased at all of this, and removes the bacon from the pan it has been frying in. It goes onto a plate, and then all the other components of the hash go right into the pan.]
There's a few sellers that are all on the same road.
[He exchanges the tongs used for the bacon for a wooden spoon, and is careful as he moves everything in the pan.]
And of course. I just know that one day theory will become practical application
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[It's not a non sequitur if you say it real casual and all in the same breath.]
...It's an expensive gift, a whole car. Even if I'm sharing it with Trevor. Have I done anything for you that is equivalent in how special that is? Not equal, perhaps, but at least comparable.
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[He pauses, and one of the three plates he put aside is grabbed. Two rashers of bacon, and he offers the plate with a very smug smile indeed. He knows.]
Are you saying neither of you are worth expensive gifts? It's far more practical than some others I might think of. And it will keep you thinking and experimenting for years to come.
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[Not that she's complaining, because she's about to be busy chewing on her prize of bacon.]
It's not about worth it! Just about being fair. It's harder to gauge when the things I do to make you happy are also things I don't go out and buy.
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[Sypha, trust the dhampir with food.]
I don't know how many times I will have to repeat that having you here at all is beyond anything else I could ever ask of you. Either of you. That I can give you additional comforts makes me happy, there's no requirement to mutter about what is and isn't fair.
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[She loudly crunches her bacon as if for emphasis, or at least for punctuation.]
I want to love you actively, Alucard. I want to throw myself into it and love you so hard that I could go faster than a ninety-mile-an-hour death machine. That's all it is. I want to do, from love, and see the results in you. I love you too much to let my love sit still.
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[He's just adding things to the pan at the exact right moment and letting the bacon fat sizzle and interact with all the water in the leftover potatoes first! So he has time for a better and less childish response!]
Maybe I should not have called the car that. [He says in very honest apprasial of his own words.]
But I follow your point. But I also can't tell you how to repay anything I do, because it's on you to figure out. I...actually don't know how to even make a suggestion on where to begin, if I'm being entirely honest.
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