[Well, unless Adrian proposes something different, that is what Hector will go with.]
I'll get by. [The people of Wallachia manage travel by wagon. He's sure he can figure out a way. If nothing else, a zombie horse that has no need to eat, though that would make it harder to travel unnoticed.]
I... [He knows he owes Adrian a great deal. He would never have defeated Isaac on his own, and Adrian has given him the opportunity to try to rebuild his life twice. He should ask for no more, but...]...I will be fine. Even with the wagon, though, some of my pets might not be suited for a life on the road.
[Deino, for one. He brought her with him because she would not have survived otherwise. She deserves somewhere she can rest until time undoes Hector's work.]
Some of them need a more stable home than I can provide. [He looks to Adrian, Deino settled happily in his lap.]
You'd know more about life on the road than I do. I'll take your word for it.
[There's no jealously in the tone. Just a statement of fact. Everyone in Alucard's life knows more about living on the road than the dhampir does.
Alucard's about to say something else, but then he realizes the gravity of Hector's words. The trust that's embedded in them, and with that, Alucard's eyes meet Hector's. There's gratitude in there, well aware that they've managed some level of trust. That's a lot, given the situation.]
[Hector breaks eye contact first. He doesn't want to leave any of his pets with someone else, but their needs outweigh his. The dogs will be able to handle travel- they find their stability in their master, not in their surroundings, but Deino needs peace, and his cat and hawk are both territorial creatures, better served to settle into a home rather than constantly roaming.]
It's only logical. There are very few people who would even accept them, and of those, less who even could see to their needs.
[And Hector knows Adrian will take care of them. He can turn into a wolf and tear a man to death, but to the little reanimated creatures, he'd be nothing but a stalwart protector.]
I assume you've room enough for a few strays in that castle of yours?
[He needs to respond to Hector's actual question. Alucard knows that. But the gratitude comes out first, voiced in a hushed tone of genuine surprise and contentment. He's never told anyone how the left behind creatures were the first that he voiced all the fall out of his father's death to, but...they were there all the same. They were friends and confidants, and they never judged.]
Yes. More than enough for whoever you wish to entrust to my care.
[Hector nods. He can't say 'you're welcome' for something like this.]
I'll leave you notes on their care. You did admirably well the first time around, but...this will ensure nothing will come up that you aren't prepared for.
[It won't stop Hector from worrying for them, but it make the worry unfounded.]
That will be very welcome. [There's a look of actual embarrassment that crosses Alucard's face, and he breaks his gaze from Hector to just off too the side.]
It'll be nice to not fly blindly. I think that they were judging me at certain points for being that foolish in my failures.
[Ah, that effort would have been lead by the cat. She, ironically enough, has a resting bitch face. He chuckles.]
They're ruthless, and they probably sensed they'd get extra attention if they acted needy. You did fine. It's a testament to your instinct to magical matters that you figured out as much as you did.
[It's easy to lean back against the ship's rail and focus on the past, rather than the future. They'll sleep soon. Tomorrow, their journey by water, and Hector's short stint as captain, ends.]
[He's nearly embarrassed by that fact, and it would be far more clear if there wasn't a faint laugh somewhere in Alucard's words. They're followed by a much more sobering sigh, and Alucard's fingers return to petting the hare that is now, for all intents and purposes, his charge.]
I know they weren't left on purpose, but I am glad they were there all the same.
[That's gratitude enough. And maybe that's the best place for all of this to end. Quiet gratitude, and the rare check in to ensure that no more mistakes of the past are repeated. ]
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I'll get by. [The people of Wallachia manage travel by wagon. He's sure he can figure out a way. If nothing else, a zombie horse that has no need to eat, though that would make it harder to travel unnoticed.]
I... [He knows he owes Adrian a great deal. He would never have defeated Isaac on his own, and Adrian has given him the opportunity to try to rebuild his life twice. He should ask for no more, but...]...I will be fine. Even with the wagon, though, some of my pets might not be suited for a life on the road.
[Deino, for one. He brought her with him because she would not have survived otherwise. She deserves somewhere she can rest until time undoes Hector's work.]
Some of them need a more stable home than I can provide. [He looks to Adrian, Deino settled happily in his lap.]
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[There's no jealously in the tone. Just a statement of fact. Everyone in Alucard's life knows more about living on the road than the dhampir does.
Alucard's about to say something else, but then he realizes the gravity of Hector's words. The trust that's embedded in them, and with that, Alucard's eyes meet Hector's. There's gratitude in there, well aware that they've managed some level of trust. That's a lot, given the situation.]
You're sure?
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It's only logical. There are very few people who would even accept them, and of those, less who even could see to their needs.
[And Hector knows Adrian will take care of them. He can turn into a wolf and tear a man to death, but to the little reanimated creatures, he'd be nothing but a stalwart protector.]
I assume you've room enough for a few strays in that castle of yours?
no subject
[He needs to respond to Hector's actual question. Alucard knows that. But the gratitude comes out first, voiced in a hushed tone of genuine surprise and contentment. He's never told anyone how the left behind creatures were the first that he voiced all the fall out of his father's death to, but...they were there all the same. They were friends and confidants, and they never judged.]
Yes. More than enough for whoever you wish to entrust to my care.
no subject
I'll leave you notes on their care. You did admirably well the first time around, but...this will ensure nothing will come up that you aren't prepared for.
[It won't stop Hector from worrying for them, but it make the worry unfounded.]
no subject
It'll be nice to not fly blindly. I think that they were judging me at certain points for being that foolish in my failures.
no subject
They're ruthless, and they probably sensed they'd get extra attention if they acted needy. You did fine. It's a testament to your instinct to magical matters that you figured out as much as you did.
[It's easy to lean back against the ship's rail and focus on the past, rather than the future. They'll sleep soon. Tomorrow, their journey by water, and Hector's short stint as captain, ends.]
no subject
[He's nearly embarrassed by that fact, and it would be far more clear if there wasn't a faint laugh somewhere in Alucard's words. They're followed by a much more sobering sigh, and Alucard's fingers return to petting the hare that is now, for all intents and purposes, his charge.]
I know they weren't left on purpose, but I am glad they were there all the same.
[That's gratitude enough. And maybe that's the best place for all of this to end. Quiet gratitude, and the rare check in to ensure that no more mistakes of the past are repeated. ]