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Do it.
[ That's not the usual response to any suggestions that they call in Dracula. He boops the little dog's nose again, getting an excited yip instead of a howl this time and letting her chew at his hand. That keeps her quiet for a while, at least, and it'll be a few minutes before she gets rough enough to risk drawing blood. ]
That sounds like a recipe for embarrassing stories about how they dealt with this when you did it.
[ That's not the usual response to any suggestions that they call in Dracula. He boops the little dog's nose again, getting an excited yip instead of a howl this time and letting her chew at his hand. That keeps her quiet for a while, at least, and it'll be a few minutes before she gets rough enough to risk drawing blood. ]
That sounds like a recipe for embarrassing stories about how they dealt with this when you did it.
Yes, cheese cloth will do nicely.
[Hector knows where the cloth is, and he grabs some on his way back. He lays it out and uses his non-injured hand to start transferring the grated pile over.]
We’re trying to get as much moisture out as we can do it doesn’t water down the sauce. Old Greek grandmas will tell you to drain it overnight, but this works just as well and doesn’t waste time.
[He gestures for Alucard to take the cloth. He’s got a bandage to keep dry.]
[Hector knows where the cloth is, and he grabs some on his way back. He lays it out and uses his non-injured hand to start transferring the grated pile over.]
We’re trying to get as much moisture out as we can do it doesn’t water down the sauce. Old Greek grandmas will tell you to drain it overnight, but this works just as well and doesn’t waste time.
[He gestures for Alucard to take the cloth. He’s got a bandage to keep dry.]
See? All the more reason not to call.
[That yip is an absolute blessing to hear, and Alucard keeps petting her to encourage the yips and the gentle chewing of Trevor's hand.]
How's your headache?
[That yip is an absolute blessing to hear, and Alucard keeps petting her to encourage the yips and the gentle chewing of Trevor's hand.]
How's your headache?
My headache’s doing just fine. Seems to be having the time of her life.
[ He does try to take his hand out of her mouth to pet her, but the little excited yips threaten to become awoos once more. Nope, she gets to keep that hand. He leans his head against Alucard’s thigh, sighing fondly. ]
Probably should have listened to a few more of those stories before we got ourselves into this, hmm?
[ He does try to take his hand out of her mouth to pet her, but the little excited yips threaten to become awoos once more. Nope, she gets to keep that hand. He leans his head against Alucard’s thigh, sighing fondly. ]
Probably should have listened to a few more of those stories before we got ourselves into this, hmm?
She's having a little too good a time.
[Oh thank god, she doesn't revert to the awooos. Alucard ruffles under her chin, soft and caring.]
No amount of stories could predict everything though. [Alucard bounces her gently on his leg, using his other hand to stroke through Trevor's hair.]
Okay. I'll go call him.
[Oh thank god, she doesn't revert to the awooos. Alucard ruffles under her chin, soft and caring.]
No amount of stories could predict everything though. [Alucard bounces her gently on his leg, using his other hand to stroke through Trevor's hair.]
Okay. I'll go call him.
Woah. No. Don’t actually do it.
[ How dare you call his bluff like this when he’s trying to bully you. ]
We’re just encouraging her, you know. She’s going to figure out that doing this makes us fuss over her.
[ How dare you call his bluff like this when he’s trying to bully you. ]
We’re just encouraging her, you know. She’s going to figure out that doing this makes us fuss over her.
Trevor, if he says exactly what you do, then please feel free to hold it over me forever. But until then, you need to take this howling monster off of my lap.
You’re really going to call him. Adrian, it’s two in the morning.
[ Because Dracula is known for his fondness for keeping reasonable daytime hours. He does scoop Elisabeta up with his free hand, though, letting her continue to mouth at his other. ]
C’mere, Lisbet. Papa’s going to call grandpa. You can howl at him, if you want. Maybe he’ll know what the f-
...what the first thing we should try is.
[ Nailed it. ]
[ Because Dracula is known for his fondness for keeping reasonable daytime hours. He does scoop Elisabeta up with his free hand, though, letting her continue to mouth at his other. ]
C’mere, Lisbet. Papa’s going to call grandpa. You can howl at him, if you want. Maybe he’ll know what the f-
...what the first thing we should try is.
[ Nailed it. ]
D remains silent as Adrian takes his leave and he's left alone in the room. He'd made his point, and no matter how much Adrian might avoid it, the truth won't fade so easily.
He moves out of the chair and stretches out onto the bed, still fully clothed, and closes his eyes. But if Adrian hasn't yet gotten too far, he might hear another conversation.
"Haha, you sure are a cold one."
"I thought you were asleep." D didn't open his eyes, and the other voice continued.
"No thanks to you running me ragged all the time. But I heard enough of that last part. And I know what's really going through that head of yours."
There's no answer from D, but that doesn't stop the creature.
"You're thinking about what might happen if he ends up like him, what you might have to do. And you want to stop it." The voice is muffled and one might imagine D squeezing his hand in a tight fist to try and silence the voice.
"Question is, is it because you actually care about him, or are you finally getting tired of killing every one of his creations that you come across?"
He moves out of the chair and stretches out onto the bed, still fully clothed, and closes his eyes. But if Adrian hasn't yet gotten too far, he might hear another conversation.
"Haha, you sure are a cold one."
"I thought you were asleep." D didn't open his eyes, and the other voice continued.
"No thanks to you running me ragged all the time. But I heard enough of that last part. And I know what's really going through that head of yours."
There's no answer from D, but that doesn't stop the creature.
"You're thinking about what might happen if he ends up like him, what you might have to do. And you want to stop it." The voice is muffled and one might imagine D squeezing his hand in a tight fist to try and silence the voice.
"Question is, is it because you actually care about him, or are you finally getting tired of killing every one of his creations that you come across?"
It's four in the morning there and there's plenty of night left.
[It's December. Lots of long hours. Alucard rises up, and then snorts when Trevor manages to not drop a f-bomb.]
Nice save.
[And off a very tired son goes to call his dad over the viewing mirrors.]
[It's December. Lots of long hours. Alucard rises up, and then snorts when Trevor manages to not drop a f-bomb.]
Nice save.
[And off a very tired son goes to call his dad over the viewing mirrors.]
Hey, it’s hard keeping a clean mouth on no hours of sleep.
[ He lets the kid amuse herself by chewing on him a little longer while Alucard makes the call, up until-. ]
Okay, okay. You’re going to draw blood if you keep going and papa gets weird about that. Give my hand back, you can have a toy-
[ THE AWOOING BEGINS ONCE MORE, MORE POWERFUL. ]
[ He lets the kid amuse herself by chewing on him a little longer while Alucard makes the call, up until-. ]
Okay, okay. You’re going to draw blood if you keep going and papa gets weird about that. Give my hand back, you can have a toy-
[ THE AWOOING BEGINS ONCE MORE, MORE POWERFUL. ]
[And the moment the awooing begins anew is the moment that Dracula picks up the damn viewing mirror, only to be faced with a version of his son that has clearly not been sleeping, definitely looks like a tired parent, and might like to maybe do a murder.]
I presume that racket is why you're calling closer towards daylight?
[Alucard nods, miserable.]
Every time we hope her vocal chords might get her to stop, they heal and the cycle begins anew.
I presume that racket is why you're calling closer towards daylight?
[Alucard nods, miserable.]
Every time we hope her vocal chords might get her to stop, they heal and the cycle begins anew.
[It's nice, having someone who knows the kitchen so well. Alucard has seen Trevor and Sypha in the kitchen before, but they're not good for kitchen collaboration. Trevor will eat just about anything, and Sypha always makes far too much. It's understandable given their circumstances, but still. Annoying.
There's a laugh at the mention of Old Greek Grandmas though.]
Would salting it help too?
[All the same, Alucard takes the cloth and begins to wring the moisture out. There's a lot, and dhampir strength? That's super good at helping the process along as it turns out.]
There's a laugh at the mention of Old Greek Grandmas though.]
Would salting it help too?
[All the same, Alucard takes the cloth and begins to wring the moisture out. There's a lot, and dhampir strength? That's super good at helping the process along as it turns out.]
Alucard in fact hears none of the conversation. His shoulders are up around his ears, too defensive to truly listen in. D has in fact called him out. The words ring in his ears, And when the Belmonts are dead, when all you have is empty rooms and forgotten legacy...?
Oh, there was more to it than that. Alucard knows there was more to it than that, but he can hardly make himself care. He has thought so many times about what he'd do when no Belmonts remained, and every time he dealt with the thought anew, he ran from it.
He'll be nothing. Easier to go to sleep again and be awakened if needed. And if he is never needed again, then so be it. He knows the other option, the path of his father, that is unacceptable. So it cannot be contemplated at all.
Oh, there was more to it than that. Alucard knows there was more to it than that, but he can hardly make himself care. He has thought so many times about what he'd do when no Belmonts remained, and every time he dealt with the thought anew, he ran from it.
He'll be nothing. Easier to go to sleep again and be awakened if needed. And if he is never needed again, then so be it. He knows the other option, the path of his father, that is unacceptable. So it cannot be contemplated at all.
[This is no laughing matter, Alucard. If you ever get your dhampir butt to Greece, you need to be forewarned.
Hector nudges the bowl of yogurt closer to Alucard.]
The salt goes in once we start adding the flavoring. That's enough. You can dump it in.
[If he lets Alucard keep going, they'll have pureed cucumber, not grated. Show-off.]
Hector nudges the bowl of yogurt closer to Alucard.]
The salt goes in once we start adding the flavoring. That's enough. You can dump it in.
[If he lets Alucard keep going, they'll have pureed cucumber, not grated. Show-off.]
Frankly, I'm surprised she can fit this much air inside her.
[ He tries pets, rocking her gently, that sort of thing. Usually he's a little more willing to play rougher - he has enough experience dealing with pups to know how far he can go without risking hurting or scaring her - but not while he's this tired. And certainly not when her grandfather can see. Eventually he just sighs, offering her the other hand. ]
There, the right one has better calluses. Take you a little longer to get through the skin.
[ The howling does, at least, stop again. If only because she has something in her mouth. ]
[ He tries pets, rocking her gently, that sort of thing. Usually he's a little more willing to play rougher - he has enough experience dealing with pups to know how far he can go without risking hurting or scaring her - but not while he's this tired. And certainly not when her grandfather can see. Eventually he just sighs, offering her the other hand. ]
There, the right one has better calluses. Take you a little longer to get through the skin.
[ The howling does, at least, stop again. If only because she has something in her mouth. ]
Oh?
She's chewing on Trevor.
And that isn't a valid long term solution?
[Alucard's groan and glare has been perfected thanks to Dracula's parenting advice.]
I'm sure you have gardening gloves of hide somewhere?
She's chewing on Trevor.
And that isn't a valid long term solution?
[Alucard's groan and glare has been perfected thanks to Dracula's parenting advice.]
I'm sure you have gardening gloves of hide somewhere?
But the salt would remove moisture from the cucumbers through osmotic pressure.
[He's using science for food, Hector! But fine, he dumps in the damn cucumbers.]
[He's using science for food, Hector! But fine, he dumps in the damn cucumbers.]
[ Right. Of course that's Dracula's solution. It doesn't really hurt, no more than any pup playing rough would, but still. He rolls his eyes. ]
I've just been using my hunting gloves for the garden, Do we want her chewing on night creature leather?
[ Genuine question there. ]
I've just been using my hunting gloves for the garden, Do we want her chewing on night creature leather?
[ Genuine question there. ]
Practicality is such a wonderful trait to possess. A pity more don't.
[Even with the coffee and the Baklava her mouth begins to water without her bidding.]
Stufat, that sounds delightful I can practically smell it now. I do possess a fondness for way too much garlic that gets me every time. Who taught you your culinary expertise?
[Even with the coffee and the Baklava her mouth begins to water without her bidding.]
Stufat, that sounds delightful I can practically smell it now. I do possess a fondness for way too much garlic that gets me every time. Who taught you your culinary expertise?
You can experiment on your own time. This is how I know to make it.
[Look, Hector can’t judge if you want to defy the Gods and Greek Grannies with your scientific pursuits, but there’s a time and place for it.
Hector takes the bowl and stirs the cucumber into the yogurt.]
Just be careful not to dehydrate the cucumbers, and to mix it enough that the salt gets evenly distributed.
[He reaches for the next ingredients- salt, the sad lemons, and olive oil.]
[Look, Hector can’t judge if you want to defy the Gods and Greek Grannies with your scientific pursuits, but there’s a time and place for it.
Hector takes the bowl and stirs the cucumber into the yogurt.]
Just be careful not to dehydrate the cucumbers, and to mix it enough that the salt gets evenly distributed.
[He reaches for the next ingredients- salt, the sad lemons, and olive oil.]
Are you implying that you haven't already warded and cleaned that leather so that it can be worn and be child safe?
[Alucard lets out a noise that's a little wolfish in and of itself, and so that? That seems to sober Dracula somewhat. As enjoyable as making the Belmont miserable is, there's a more important matter to attend to.]
Has she been only around the three of you since she discovered her ability to howl?
[Alucard lets out a noise that's a little wolfish in and of itself, and so that? That seems to sober Dracula somewhat. As enjoyable as making the Belmont miserable is, there's a more important matter to attend to.]
Has she been only around the three of you since she discovered her ability to howl?
Safe for her to touch and safe for her to ingest probably aren’t the same thing, Mr. Tepes.
[ He half considers just taking his hand out of the kid’s mouth and letting her deal with this conversation. But no. Playing nice with the father in law. ]
No. We let her go to playdates like this of course she’s not seen anyone but us.
[ He half considers just taking his hand out of the kid’s mouth and letting her deal with this conversation. But no. Playing nice with the father in law. ]
No. We let her go to playdates like this of course she’s not seen anyone but us.
Perhaps you should enable those playdates.
[Alucard coughs.]
I know you're not joking but, father are you serious?
[Dracula's just going to look at his son and son-in-law like the idiots they are. So much so.]
With other dogs. So that her calls are responded to and she can be socialized in that form. It worked with Adrian.
[Alucard coughs.]
I know you're not joking but, father are you serious?
[Dracula's just going to look at his son and son-in-law like the idiots they are. So much so.]
With other dogs. So that her calls are responded to and she can be socialized in that form. It worked with Adrian.
You’re saying we need to take her to the dog park. That we need to take your granddaughter, put her in the car, and take her to the dog park to be a dog.
[ Sounds stupid to him, except for- ]
And he’s saying that they had to do this with you. Well sh- sure. Sure is great to know.
[ Nailed it once again ]
[ Sounds stupid to him, except for- ]
And he’s saying that they had to do this with you. Well sh- sure. Sure is great to know.
[ Nailed it once again ]
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