Catch All

[cryptsleeper]

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[petcromancer]

You said you haven't moved things around. I'll be fine.

[Hector dresses. He may not know every corner of this castle the way Alucard must, but the path from his old quarters to the kitchens are familiar and takes no thought.

He joins Alucard in the kitchen, fully dressed and damp hair combed into at least a semblance of order.]

We can start on the yogurt as the base, but it won't be ready until tomorrow. I can leave you instructions...or I can come back to finish it.

[It's not like he has anything pressing going on these days.]

[cryptsleeper]

[While Hector puts clothes on, Alucard goes about fussing in the kitchen. He has the milk out at least, and he's rummaging around for a cucumber when Hector walks in.]

Well, the matter of remaining overnight is answered by asking if Cesar will be okay on his own for the night.

[petcromancer]

[Hector steps in beside Alucard and begins wordlessly measuring our ingredients. Alucard is a genius; he should be able to keep up without Hector coddling him.]

I always make arrangements for my pets when I go out. I never know when I’ll run afoul of an angry mob and be away longer than I planned.

[So Hector is staying the night, he guesses. It’s no more or less bizarre than any of the rest of this.]

[cryptsleeper]

At least I don't need to worry about you getting lost here.

[Trevor and Sypha are going to have to be told about this. But for now, cooking. Which means Alucard's eyes are on Hector as he works, keen and intense and perhaps paying too much attention.]

What acid are you using?

[petcromancer]

[Not getting lost is one benefit of Hector's history of betraying humanity to side with the vampires. Basically the only benefit, in fact.]

Lemon juice, if you have it. Your father used to have a tree in the conservatory.

[He rifles through the jars of herbs and spices on the shelves, pulling down the ones he typically uses. There are exotic plants that he usually doesn't have access to in these stores, but he really wants the mixture to impress Alucard, so he sticks to what he knows. Alucard already said it tasted good, though that was just the aftertaste, sampled a few hours later....]

I tend to go strong on the seasoning, but it might be overwhelming for someone of your physiology. I'll have you sample as we go, and we can adjust as needed.

[cryptsleeper]

[The dog is the other benefit.]

I know the tree, but I don't know if it has fruit at the moment. Do you have a second option if that's the case?

[He catches the spices being used, aware that this is perhaps more access to spices and herbs than Hector may have in his more usual circumstances.]

I'll bow to tasting as we go, at the very least.

[petcromancer]

We can make do with white vinegar if we need.

[Cooking, like necromancy, is flexible. You use the components you have, and so long as you have a decent foundation and some creative, it usually turns out well enough.]

You know, if you really want to learn Greek cuisine, you should take a trip there. I can make a few dishes passably, but you could learn from the masters of their arts.

[Hector knows Alucard has resigned to keep himself locked away in the castle, but really, a man with the abilities and longevity of a dhampir could do so much with the right instruction.]

[cryptsleeper]

But lemons first. It seems more correct.

[Alucard pauses at the mention of going to Hector's homeland. The smile on his face is pained, and he knows Hector's doing this out of kindness.]

Perhaps one day, when things are safer here.

[petcromancer]

Life isn’t safe. If you wait for a convenient time, it will never happen.

[Hector lives the opposite way, impulsively, never planning anything. It hasn't killed him yet.

He shrugs. It doesn’t really matter to him either way... except that necromancers, as a rule, hate wasted potential. Alucard should thrive, not secret himself away. Not that Hector cares.

He doesn’t sound convincing even to himself.]

Whatever we use, we won’t need it ‘til we have the yogurt ready. I recall there being at least one starter culture last time I used this kitchen.

[He looks around. Even if Dracula didn’t eat, he dabbled in all kinds of studies, and kept so many oddities close at hand for experiments.]

[cryptsleeper]

You know what I mean.

[When things aren't hanging by a thread like they are now. Dracula's death has been a new host of problems, with vampires trying to take his place. It's exhausting, and Trevor and Sypha are away too much. The castle and Hold need protecting. That is the end all and be all of it.]

Hm. I might have put it in the pantry with my bread starters.

[Because of course he has those.

Alucard gestures Hector over to a small closet door, revealing a pantry. He's sure Hector must have seen it before, but it's newly reorganized with spices labeled, pickled everything, and in one corner, a small army of starters.]

See anything familiar?

[petcromancer]

['You know what I mean', Hector does not retort. They both have valid points, and both of them are too stubborn to be moved.

He steps into the pantry and begins to poke around at the starters. He opens a few jars and sniffs at them before finally settling on one.]

I think this is the one.

[If it is not the exact one, it will do.]

You're moved things around. Do you bake breads often?

[cryptsleeper]

Once a week if I'm alone, at least three times a week if I'm not.

[That statement gives Alucard pause, because he's realized that he's up on his week. So he has to go back to the starters and he scoops up one of the jars.]

Speaking of, it seems. I can make a second loaf, if you'd like.

[Take out dhampir bread.]

[petcromancer]

It depends. Are we pretending like it never happened? [Hector doesn't think he needs to clarify 'it'.] If so, I don't need a pity loaf.

[He takes the jar and leaves the pantry.]

You'll want pita bread with the tzatziki, if you know how to make it.

[Back to shop talk, because talking about feelings for more than a second is like pulling teeth with these two.]

[cryptsleeper]

No, it was a travel loaf, Hector.

[He was being genuinely nice you knucklehead. Alucard sighs, pausing to grab the container of flour before following Hector out.]

I know what it looks like, but how is it baked to ensure flatness?

[petcromancer]

You flatten out the dough with a rolling pin and bake it on the stove, or on a heated stone in the oven. It'll puff up and make a nice pocket in the middle.

[Bread is definitely the safer of the two topics. How is Hector supposed to know how to deal with genuine niceness?? Help. Well, Alucard said 'was', so maybe the pity loaf is no longer a concern.]

They are quick to make and best fresh, so we can make them tomorrow. Although if you want to practice, they are the superior form of bread and you can put anything in them. It won't be a hardship to use up a batch.

[cryptsleeper]

I'll try the oven first, and see if it puffs up to your standards.

[Alucard is going to just. Stick with bread, really, it is the safer topic.]

mmm. Watch me make the dough and then tell me if I have to make any chances while it proofs over night.

[petcromancer]

The recipe is pretty straightforward.

[Hector watches, though, as Alucard begins to mix up the simple dough, and intercedes to make sure the proper amount of olive oil gets mixed in. There shall be no sub-par pitas on his watch.]

You shouldn't need to do anything else to this tonight. You don't divide and shape the dough until shortly before you bake them.

[Hector has to wonder how they will pass the time until then, if not cooking or kissing.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard's fine with having someone else add the oil. It means his doughy hands aren't touching the oil jug, and that does make life a little easier.]

Very well. If the texture of the dough is acceptable to you, then we're done for the evening.

[Well USUALLY this is the "play with the dog" time but SOMEONE left the dog home.]

[petcromancer]

It’ll do.

[Hector looks through a few more cabinets until he finds a bottle of wine to steal. He’s not getting through this evening without some sort of social crutch.]

What do you do for fun around here? Cards, chess, dark hunts for increasingly more challenging quarries?

[cryptsleeper]

[Make out with the Belmont and the Speaker duh????

Alucard doesn't begrudge Hector the wine. Instead he focuses on cleaning off his hands, and contemplating well, snack options all things considered.]

Reading. Housework, as there's many more repairs left to do. Cataloging in the Belmont Hold. Running with the local wolf pack.

[petcromancer]

[Well, that's not really an option for Hector, is it? It would totally be an option if it was up to Hector.

He sighs.]

Anything I can help with? I am not good at sitting quietly to pass the time.

[cryptsleeper]

[Pretty sure Trevor would veto that one, sorry buddy]

Would be better if I was a wolf?

[He's offering to let Hector pet the woof.]

[petcromancer]

[Umm, yes. Hector gives Alucard a raised eyebrow to convey 'of fucking course.'

Hopefully Trevor has no objections to an evening of heavy petting.

Of course, the danger here is Hector is going to cuddle up with a big fluff and spend the evening drinking and petting.]

[cryptsleeper]

Mmm. Very well.

[He probably does

Oh no cuddling a dog, how terrible. After a few steps, Alucard has no human shape at all. Instead he looks up at Hector with big wolfy eyes, and a soft huff means that whenever Hector's ready, they can get moving.]

[petcromancer]

[Hector takes his wine bottle and nods for the wolf to follow him. If memory serves, there is a sitting room nearby.

Once he can settle down for the long haul, Hector turns to the wolf and starts a nice two-handed behind-the-ear scratch. The fact that Alucard is a killing machine of fangs and claws gives Hector no pause. He is used to wild animals as pets, and he is practiced in giving them affection.]

Let me know if there's any spot in particular you like.

[His voice goes softer, more indulgent, when directed at an animal. He is consciously refraining from calling Alucard a good boy.]