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[ Normal and formal are about the same thing with Leon. ]
If I may use your name, then-
[ His smile is still sad, but it's genuine. Trevor squeezes Alucard's hand softly. ]
-Adrian Fahrenheit Tepes. It is an honor. I am Leon Belmont, of the House of Belmont. And the fact that we are speaking- I understand that it means that things have changed.
If I may use your name, then-
[ His smile is still sad, but it's genuine. Trevor squeezes Alucard's hand softly. ]
-Adrian Fahrenheit Tepes. It is an honor. I am Leon Belmont, of the House of Belmont. And the fact that we are speaking- I understand that it means that things have changed.
[Alucard nods once. In his stomach there is a stirring of butterflies. Or perhaps moths would be the more effective comparison. Either way they flutter.]
They have. But could we discuss this while sitting down, please?
They have. But could we discuss this while sitting down, please?
You just have honey? And I thought we would have to make do with the sweetness from the pears. That's-
[ He smiles, taking the honey. Adds a spoonful of it to the batter. He'll coat them with some more, once they're done. ]
Look at you, making her day.
[ He smiles, taking the honey. Adds a spoonful of it to the batter. He'll coat them with some more, once they're done. ]
Look at you, making her day.
I have sugar as well. What spices do you need for this? I have cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, or you could just rely on the allspice.
[He's not sure what Trevor means. So the Belmont gets a confused head tilt.]
[He's not sure what Trevor means. So the Belmont gets a confused head tilt.]
Mm. Guessing you wouldn't keep rosewater around here. Clove. And pepper, if you have it. Offsets the sweetness a little.
[ Also salt, because he uses salt for everything. But that's already to hand. And Sypha? Sypha is so enchanted by all of this talk of foods she could never afford to try. It also calls for ale, but he's guessing from the smell that Sypha already put that in the batter. RIP the bottle he thought he'd hidden so well in the wagon. ]
[ Also salt, because he uses salt for everything. But that's already to hand. And Sypha? Sypha is so enchanted by all of this talk of foods she could never afford to try. It also calls for ale, but he's guessing from the smell that Sypha already put that in the batter. RIP the bottle he thought he'd hidden so well in the wagon. ]
That's one of the only things I don't have. Would orange blossom suffice?
And of course I have pepper.
And of course I have pepper.
Oh. But I cannot-
[ He can't kneel down while sitting. How are you meant to revoke a vow in an appropriately dramatic way of nobody is kneeling. Trevor opens his mouth to say something but Leon shakes his head, apparently coming to a conclusion. ]
-Of course. Follow me.
[ He leads the both of them into the estate. There is a small sun room just off the entryway, somehow looking both impeccably clean but also like it hasn't seen use in lifetimes. The plants are healthy and seem well enough cared for, even if they've started to take over just a little. He gestures to a small table and chairs ]
[ He can't kneel down while sitting. How are you meant to revoke a vow in an appropriately dramatic way of nobody is kneeling. Trevor opens his mouth to say something but Leon shakes his head, apparently coming to a conclusion. ]
-Of course. Follow me.
[ He leads the both of them into the estate. There is a small sun room just off the entryway, somehow looking both impeccably clean but also like it hasn't seen use in lifetimes. The plants are healthy and seem well enough cared for, even if they've started to take over just a little. He gestures to a small table and chairs ]
[It's more time spent holding Trevor's hand. More time spent just floating along, taking advantage of the spell for as long as it can last. He loves this spell, wants to be spoiled by it for just a little longer.
His eyes go around the estate in wonder. It's so big. It feels so old, so lived in, but still....there's something missing. Something that's been missing for a very long time.
The feeling intensifies in the sun room. Alucard doesn't remark upon it, he simply settles into the spot and then meets Leon's eyes.]
After a lot of thought, I'd like to revoke the agreement you made with my ancestors. [He pauses, then adds:] But you already knew that.
His eyes go around the estate in wonder. It's so big. It feels so old, so lived in, but still....there's something missing. Something that's been missing for a very long time.
The feeling intensifies in the sun room. Alucard doesn't remark upon it, he simply settles into the spot and then meets Leon's eyes.]
After a lot of thought, I'd like to revoke the agreement you made with my ancestors. [He pauses, then adds:] But you already knew that.
I'm guessing yes? They're both flowers. Honestly, I think the rosewater may have just been for- you know.
[ For feeling safe from vampires. ]
Shit. Last time I checked it was hard to come by if you weren't on good terms with the church. Is there a secret fucking vampire spice market we never managed to find?
[ For feeling safe from vampires. ]
Shit. Last time I checked it was hard to come by if you weren't on good terms with the church. Is there a secret fucking vampire spice market we never managed to find?
No, we just had money and easy access to the trade routes.
[Duh?????]
And sometimes you go to Istanbul for spices if you're my father courting my mother. Even though you're already married.
[Duh?????]
And sometimes you go to Istanbul for spices if you're my father courting my mother. Even though you're already married.
Ah, not going through Italy, then. We couldn't get shit from Italy after the church decided they didn't care for us.
[ He laughs, tilting his head slightly. ]
If giving spices is how vampires go about courting then shit, I don't know what to say.
[ He's giving them so many different ones! ]
[ He laughs, tilting his head slightly. ]
If giving spices is how vampires go about courting then shit, I don't know what to say.
[ He's giving them so many different ones! ]
Of course not. Why go to Italy when you have a far more direct line?
[Obviously????]
...Well. It's how he did it anyway.
[Obviously????]
...Well. It's how he did it anyway.
I did.
[ There are three seats. It works well enough, though Leon doesn't sit yet. Instead, he kneels. Bows his head. ]
Adrian Tepes, eldest Son of Vlad Tepes, last descendant of Mathias Cronqvist. For three centuries I and my own have sworn not to interfere in your family's journey. In return, for your safety, we took three secrets.
I will see this knowledge returned to you. In turn, will you free us from this oath?
[ There are three seats. It works well enough, though Leon doesn't sit yet. Instead, he kneels. Bows his head. ]
Adrian Tepes, eldest Son of Vlad Tepes, last descendant of Mathias Cronqvist. For three centuries I and my own have sworn not to interfere in your family's journey. In return, for your safety, we took three secrets.
I will see this knowledge returned to you. In turn, will you free us from this oath?
Because we were kind of invested in not slighting the pope further. Was that not a priority for your dad?
[ PROBABLY NOT. He pauses, and there are words on his lips. 'How would you go about it'. Probably not an appropriate thing to ask right now. ]
Well, if it makes the fritters taste right then I accept whatever feelings the pepper's communicating.
[ PROBABLY NOT. He pauses, and there are words on his lips. 'How would you go about it'. Probably not an appropriate thing to ask right now. ]
Well, if it makes the fritters taste right then I accept whatever feelings the pepper's communicating.
[--?!?!?
Alucard looks to Trevor because the kneeling. What the fuck??
He's not sure what else to do. Alucard's eyes return to Leon, betraying the bewilderment.]
You're free. And whatever those secrets are, keep them unless you deem them safe to share.
Alucard looks to Trevor because the kneeling. What the fuck??
He's not sure what else to do. Alucard's eyes return to Leon, betraying the bewilderment.]
You're free. And whatever those secrets are, keep them unless you deem them safe to share.
I'll get you your pepper if you shut up about the pope.
[He means it as a joke. It even comes out that way.]
Anything else I need to bring?
[He means it as a joke. It even comes out that way.]
Anything else I need to bring?
[ Trevor just shrugs, because this is just how his dad is. Seriously, you should see him talking to Sara during an eclipse. ]
Very well.
[ Leon stands. He raises his head and keeps it raised for a moment, looking upward to force back tears, then lowers it once again and smiles, sitting down. He reaches a hand across the table. ]
It is good to meet you. Better still to see you whole and well.
Very well.
[ Leon stands. He raises his head and keeps it raised for a moment, looking upward to force back tears, then lowers it once again and smiles, sitting down. He reaches a hand across the table. ]
It is good to meet you. Better still to see you whole and well.
[That actually sounds adorable.
But okay that's just. Alucard pauses, then tilts his head.]
It's...good, to be standing here. You raised a good son.
But okay that's just. Alucard pauses, then tilts his head.]
It's...good, to be standing here. You raised a good son.
Shit, maybe there's a whole language here. Like flowers. So Pepper means 'stop talking about the pope, I hate that guy'.
[ He laughs at his own joke, then looks down at the book to double-check. ]
Clove, pepper. Orange blossom if you think it'd replace the rosewater well enough. I think that's everything.
[ He laughs at his own joke, then looks down at the book to double-check. ]
Clove, pepper. Orange blossom if you think it'd replace the rosewater well enough. I think that's everything.
It does in this dialect.
[Alucard's razor sharp with that, and he sounds close to entertained. And then he--actually goes and come back. Pepper and clove and a small bottle of orange blossom water, put off to the side from Trevor's workspace.
He's used to cooking alone. Cooking with someone else stirs far happier memories, those that become sad automatically and by no one's fault. How many times did he do this with his mother?]
Do you need me to do anything else?
[Alucard's razor sharp with that, and he sounds close to entertained. And then he--actually goes and come back. Pepper and clove and a small bottle of orange blossom water, put off to the side from Trevor's workspace.
He's used to cooking alone. Cooking with someone else stirs far happier memories, those that become sad automatically and by no one's fault. How many times did he do this with his mother?]
Do you need me to do anything else?
Trevor's eyes widen in something like horror at that. At exactly the same time, a bright smile spreads over Leon's face. He is both literally and metaphorically radiant.
I did. And my dearest moonlight did. I have been so, so very fortunate.
[ Oh god he's being a Proud Dad and Trevor hates this. ]
Has he told you about the cats?
[ HE HAS NOT. OH GOD. OH GOD THIS IS THE WORST. ]
I did. And my dearest moonlight did. I have been so, so very fortunate.
[ Oh god he's being a Proud Dad and Trevor hates this. ]
Has he told you about the cats?
[ HE HAS NOT. OH GOD. OH GOD THIS IS THE WORST. ]
Grind up a little of the pepper and clove for me? And I'll get to work on the frying.
[ He's having more fun with this than he'd likely admit. It's- nice. He's not cooked alone (or. 'cooked') in a while now, but it's. Nice. To all be here, in a proper kitchen, working together. Them at cooking, Sypha at icing her hands and suggesting secret messages to be carried by various spices. Most of them are translating to badmouthing the pope. ]
[ He's having more fun with this than he'd likely admit. It's- nice. He's not cooked alone (or. 'cooked') in a while now, but it's. Nice. To all be here, in a proper kitchen, working together. Them at cooking, Sypha at icing her hands and suggesting secret messages to be carried by various spices. Most of them are translating to badmouthing the pope. ]
--I'm sorry, what about cats?
[Alucard perks up. Significantly. Because now there's no more formality at hand, only absolutely ragging on his boyfriend.]
[Alucard perks up. Significantly. Because now there's no more formality at hand, only absolutely ragging on his boyfriend.]
About how much do you mean by a little? Give me a number for the peppercorns and gloves.
[Alucard's already grabbed the spice grinder and opened the lid.
This is...this is good. Not what Alucard expected. Not at all what he thought might ever help. But it is good all the same, and he's ready for it to keep going. Hell, he wants it to keep going, and he never thought he'd want anything again. Not with other people around.
He's relaxed. For a few glorious minutes, he's relaxed.]
[Alucard's already grabbed the spice grinder and opened the lid.
This is...this is good. Not what Alucard expected. Not at all what he thought might ever help. But it is good all the same, and he's ready for it to keep going. Hell, he wants it to keep going, and he never thought he'd want anything again. Not with other people around.
He's relaxed. For a few glorious minutes, he's relaxed.]
Three cloves. Peppercorns- maybe eight? Just enough to be warming.
[ A little of the orange blossom water and bowl of cubed pear mixed into the batter, and fritter number one goes into the oil. There's steam but no smoke and a satisfying hiss and splutter of hot oil. ]
Seems about the right temperature. Shouldn't be longer than a few minutes.
[ A little of the orange blossom water and bowl of cubed pear mixed into the batter, and fritter number one goes into the oil. There's steam but no smoke and a satisfying hiss and splutter of hot oil. ]
Seems about the right temperature. Shouldn't be longer than a few minutes.
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