[Hector hums in acknowledgement of the nod. He slides his hands down to rub the scruff of the wolf's neck. Alucard seems pleased with everything so far, but who knows if he's been properly petted before? Hector has to show him everything so he can have a real idea of what he likes best.
He lets his mind wander while he pets, moving from neck to shoulder blades, scratching down the spine.]
You'll have to roll over if you want belly rubs.
[He murmurs like he would to Cesar or any of his other dogs. Most of his focus is on wondering if he can get the wine bottle open with one hand.]
No, those are Trevor and Sypha privileges. Alucard instead stays curled up where he is, with a very, very happy rumble coming when Hector goes for the scruff. There's something about that spot (no Alucard, it's because it's a neck you walking cliche) that's just very good.
[Hector runs a finger over the cork in the wine bottle, but he’s not going to be able to get it without two hands and a corkscrew. He sets the bottle on the couch beside him and returns to two-handed pats.
He works his way down the wolf’s back, stopping at the spot just above his tail, the returns to the head to focus on the areas Alucard seemed the most fond of. Ears, under the ears, neck scruff, repeat. It’s calming. This is how he spends a lot of evenings.]
If you spend too long like this, will you smell like wolf to other vampires?
[Alucard's pretty sure he can convince Hector not to drink all night if he's cute and fluffy enough. So that's the goal, all happy rumbles and soft little shifting moments to provide Hector the best access here.
But the scruff? Aw yeah, that's the real spot. Just stay there forever.
Hector's question causes the wolf to pick his head up, then tilt it back and forth. So-so. Kind of. With other stuff mixed in.]
...I suppose there are worse things you could smell like.
[And with that, Hector is back to petting. Alucard seems sold on the neck, so he focuses there. Wolves are tough, so he digs his fingers in deep, stronger than he is with Cesar or his other, more delicate animals.]
You ever tempted to just...stay a wolf? It seems far simpler.
[Hector isn't sure he wouldn't, if he had the option.]
[The question, about just being a wolf forever, gets an emphatic nod yes. Maybe a little too certain. It's hard, trying to elaborate in this form, but he tries to snuffle loudly for emphasis.
It is easier. Fewer dreams. Less complex thoughts. It is wonderful.
Just like the fingers in his scruff. There's a softer noise, and Alucard gives up. His head rests on Hector's leg.]
[Hector shifts and gets himself into a more comfortable lounging position on the couch, because let’s be real, this is his evening now.]
Good boy. [He murmurs reflexively, giving the wolf a scratch behind the ears as he settles back down.
If it didn’t cost anything, then why wasn’t Alucard a wolf more often?
...ah, the Belmont and the Speaker, and the weight of the castle placed upon his back like mythical Atlas.
Hector wouldn’t let himself get entangled in such things, but Alucard is an entirely different beast than he is.]
You’ll have to turn back in the morning. I’m teaching you how to make proper Greek food, not making it for you. And I’m not convinced a canine’s tastebuds are distinguishing enough to appreciate it. Never met a picky dog yet.
That gets a little wolfy laugh, coming out as an amused snuffle. He's quiet after that, so very content and ready to just call it a night. Because it has been a night, a strange one, and that's all that needs to be done.]
Mmmrrr.
[With that acknowledged, Alucard settles in, and soon enough, drifts off to sleep. If big paws pin Hector to the sofa, well, so be it. He'll be that way all evening, snoring softly and sometimes running in dreams. Nothing else comes.
In the morning, there's the smell of bread already baking when Hector rises. The wolf is gone. There's a dhampir in the kitchen, trying to make pita.]
[Hector isn't long in following the wolf into sleep, his strokes gradually slowing until his fingers rest still in the pale fur.
When he wakes, he brushes the stray hairs off of his clothes and stretches. He wanders into the kitchen and takes a moment to study the scene before he finally speaks up.]
I told you, stovetop is the way to go. Just because you can put them in the oven doesn't mean you should.
[He is, indeed, doing both. The stove has one lump of dough rising up, whereas Alucard appears to be using an early pizza peel with the oven, taking another pita out.]
[In that moment, Hector is struck by how alike Alucard is to his father...at least, the version that Hector had known first, who had sought Hector out in his seclusion just to know the truth behind the rumors about him.
He looks away and clears his throat. Maudlin this early in the day, and he didn’t even spend the evening before getting drunk.]
Fine. Do it how you wish. I’m going to check on our yogurt.
[There is an ache within him. Not for love of his former master, but of the sheer loss of his potential. Dracula could have been so much. Alucard could be so much, were he not shackled to his father’s ruins.]
Take half of one from each cooking method and let me know which one's better? I'll finish the rest of the dough by your preference.
[Perhaps he yells it into the fire as he removes another pita. But all the same, the concentration means he misses the way Hector looks away. How his words sound.]
[Hector ducks into the alcove where Dracula kept his strange ice box. He takes a deep, steadying breath, then pulls out the bowl of chilling yogurt.
Gods, he has so many more feelings about Dracula than he does his own parents.
He gives the yogurt a quick stir, silently declares that it is coming along nicely, then returns to the main kitchen area with, hopefully, no sign of any unsightly emotions.]
Alright, let me see...
[He assesses a sampling from both groups. Pockets achieved in each...a uniform color on the oven-baked, some crisp dark spots on the stove-baked for extra texture.... Of course Alucard would have to pick this up like he does everything else, the smug, infuriating bastard.
...so like his father...]
They are both good. It’s a matter of personal preference whether you prefer them soft or crisp.
{Alucard sniffs at the air as Hector departs. The smell isn't terribly strong, but the yogurt has only aged over night. Besides, that's not the point. The cucumber is the point.
Paul Hollywood's Hector's return comes with a dhampir who watches the entire matter progress. He leans in a little, intrigued. Wanting the judgement and...]
[No soggy bottoms allowed. Hector places the yogurt down and starts assembling the ingredients for the tzatziki.]
I prefer them crispy. It's what I grew up with.
[There is very little he remembers fondly of his childhood, but this memory, this preference remains.]
Did you have a chance to check on the lemons? I could fetch them while you finish those. I won't start on the sauce until you can give it your full attention.
[Hector takes up the two little lemons and squeezes one. It is more rind than fruit, but he can probably get enough juice.]
It'll be enough to help flavor the sauce. We can use oil as well.
[He takes a knife and starts peeling cucumbers. That step, he has full faith Alucard can manage on his own, so there's no need for him to wait so Alucard can observe it.]
Have you tried your pitas yet? Make at least a few whichever way you prefer them.
There should be some kind of grating device to your left in the cabinets below. If you believe adding some of the rind would help, then take advantage of it.
[Dracula invented the zester send tweet.]
In truth, I was biased towards crisp anyway.
[Sometimes a vampire just really likes to gnaw on something. It's good for the fangs, or so that's the lie Alucard's going with.
Regardless, he keeps going with the bread, having only four pitas left.]
[Well, might as well take advantage of all the technology the castle has to offer. Hector retrieves the tool from the cabinet and gives it a try. After attacking it from a couple of different directions, he falls into a rhythm.]
See, I told you that was the way to make them.
[Don't ever question his judgement again...on this one very limited context. Question just about every other life choice he makes.]
Basically, we need to grate the cucumber and mince the garlic, then it's just a matter of combining it all and letting it chill a little longer. We can switch off; I'll take garlic, you finish this.
[In deference to that super-human sense of smell, though he knows it won't hurt Alucard.]
I think there's a second if you'd like to take it with you.
[Alucard only lets out a snort-laugh at Hector's smugness on Proper Pita Preparation. On topics of food, it may be easier to yield to the necromancer. But only food.]
Are you offering to take the garlic because you're simply offering, or are you afraid I'll have an allergic reaction?
[Hector hands over a couple of large cloves. Alucard, don't kill yourself via garlic just to impress this loser.]
I am not one to skimp on garlic, but that is plenty for the size of the batch we're making. We don't want one element overwhelming it.
[He turns back to his grated cucumbers. Idiot. Hector is supposed to be instructing, not babysitting.
He gets to the end of the cucumber, and of course because he's more focused on keeping an eye on Alucard than on his task, he manages to nick his finger along with the last bit of cuke.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He lets his mind wander while he pets, moving from neck to shoulder blades, scratching down the spine.]
You'll have to roll over if you want belly rubs.
[He murmurs like he would to Cesar or any of his other dogs. Most of his focus is on wondering if he can get the wine bottle open with one hand.]
no subject
No, those are Trevor and Sypha privileges. Alucard instead stays curled up where he is, with a very, very happy rumble coming when Hector goes for the scruff. There's something about that spot (no Alucard, it's because it's a neck you walking cliche) that's just very good.
A happy snuffle follows. More please.]
no subject
He works his way down the wolf’s back, stopping at the spot just above his tail, the returns to the head to focus on the areas Alucard seemed the most fond of. Ears, under the ears, neck scruff, repeat. It’s calming. This is how he spends a lot of evenings.]
If you spend too long like this, will you smell like wolf to other vampires?
no subject
But the scruff? Aw yeah, that's the real spot. Just stay there forever.
Hector's question causes the wolf to pick his head up, then tilt it back and forth. So-so. Kind of. With other stuff mixed in.]
no subject
[And with that, Hector is back to petting. Alucard seems sold on the neck, so he focuses there. Wolves are tough, so he digs his fingers in deep, stronger than he is with Cesar or his other, more delicate animals.]
You ever tempted to just...stay a wolf? It seems far simpler.
[Hector isn't sure he wouldn't, if he had the option.]
no subject
It is easier. Fewer dreams. Less complex thoughts. It is wonderful.
Just like the fingers in his scruff. There's a softer noise, and Alucard gives up. His head rests on Hector's leg.]
no subject
[Hector nods, not needing any more explanation than that. He is of the same opinion.]
Does it take energy to maintain the form?
[He curls himself up on the couch as much as he can without moving the leg Alucard is using as a pillow.]
no subject
Alucard pauses, lifting his head up to let Hector readjust properly and finish getting comfy.]
no subject
Good boy. [He murmurs reflexively, giving the wolf a scratch behind the ears as he settles back down.
If it didn’t cost anything, then why wasn’t Alucard a wolf more often?
...ah, the Belmont and the Speaker, and the weight of the castle placed upon his back like mythical Atlas.
Hector wouldn’t let himself get entangled in such things, but Alucard is an entirely different beast than he is.]
You’ll have to turn back in the morning. I’m teaching you how to make proper Greek food, not making it for you. And I’m not convinced a canine’s tastebuds are distinguishing enough to appreciate it. Never met a picky dog yet.
no subject
That gets a little wolfy laugh, coming out as an amused snuffle. He's quiet after that, so very content and ready to just call it a night. Because it has been a night, a strange one, and that's all that needs to be done.]
Mmmrrr.
[With that acknowledged, Alucard settles in, and soon enough, drifts off to sleep. If big paws pin Hector to the sofa, well, so be it. He'll be that way all evening, snoring softly and sometimes running in dreams. Nothing else comes.
In the morning, there's the smell of bread already baking when Hector rises. The wolf is gone. There's a dhampir in the kitchen, trying to make pita.]
no subject
When he wakes, he brushes the stray hairs off of his clothes and stretches. He wanders into the kitchen and takes a moment to study the scene before he finally speaks up.]
I told you, stovetop is the way to go. Just because you can put them in the oven doesn't mean you should.
no subject
[He is, indeed, doing both. The stove has one lump of dough rising up, whereas Alucard appears to be using an early pizza peel with the oven, taking another pita out.]
I wanted to see which was more effective myself.
[Son of A SCIENCE NERD.]
no subject
He looks away and clears his throat. Maudlin this early in the day, and he didn’t even spend the evening before getting drunk.]
Fine. Do it how you wish. I’m going to check on our yogurt.
[There is an ache within him. Not for love of his former master, but of the sheer loss of his potential. Dracula could have been so much. Alucard could be so much, were he not shackled to his father’s ruins.]
no subject
[Perhaps he yells it into the fire as he removes another pita. But all the same, the concentration means he misses the way Hector looks away. How his words sound.]
no subject
Gods, he has so many more feelings about Dracula than he does his own parents.
He gives the yogurt a quick stir, silently declares that it is coming along nicely, then returns to the main kitchen area with, hopefully, no sign of any unsightly emotions.]
Alright, let me see...
[He assesses a sampling from both groups. Pockets achieved in each...a uniform color on the oven-baked, some crisp dark spots on the stove-baked for extra texture.... Of course Alucard would have to pick this up like he does everything else, the smug, infuriating bastard.
...so like his father...]
They are both good. It’s a matter of personal preference whether you prefer them soft or crisp.
no subject
Paul Hollywood'sHector's return comes with a dhampir who watches the entire matter progress. He leans in a little, intrigued. Wanting the judgement and...]Well, what's yours? Preference I mean.
no subject
No soggy bottoms allowed.Hector places the yogurt down and starts assembling the ingredients for the tzatziki.]I prefer them crispy. It's what I grew up with.
[There is very little he remembers fondly of his childhood, but this memory, this preference remains.]
Did you have a chance to check on the lemons? I could fetch them while you finish those. I won't start on the sauce until you can give it your full attention.
no subject
[Easy enough to do.
Alucard does pause though, and he motions to a little terra cotta bowl to his left. With two veeeery tiny lemons.]
I'm not sure that they'll be big enough, unfortunately, but I did try
no subject
It'll be enough to help flavor the sauce. We can use oil as well.
[He takes a knife and starts peeling cucumbers. That step, he has full faith Alucard can manage on his own, so there's no need for him to wait so Alucard can observe it.]
Have you tried your pitas yet? Make at least a few whichever way you prefer them.
no subject
[Dracula invented the zester send tweet.]
In truth, I was biased towards crisp anyway.
[Sometimes a vampire just really likes to gnaw on something. It's good for the fangs, or so that's the lie Alucard's going with.
Regardless, he keeps going with the bread, having only four pitas left.]
Once I'm done, what do you need next?
no subject
[Well, might as well take advantage of all the technology the castle has to offer. Hector retrieves the tool from the cabinet and gives it a try. After attacking it from a couple of different directions, he falls into a rhythm.]
See, I told you that was the way to make them.
[Don't ever question his judgement again...on this one very limited context. Question just about every other life choice he makes.]
Basically, we need to grate the cucumber and mince the garlic, then it's just a matter of combining it all and letting it chill a little longer. We can switch off; I'll take garlic, you finish this.
[In deference to that super-human sense of smell, though he knows it won't hurt Alucard.]
no subject
[Alucard only lets out a snort-laugh at Hector's smugness on Proper Pita Preparation. On topics of food, it may be easier to yield to the necromancer. But only food.]
Are you offering to take the garlic because you're simply offering, or are you afraid I'll have an allergic reaction?
[From Alucard's tone, that might be a joke.]
no subject
grategreat.]What, do you think I'm the type to worry about you?
[Man, you kiss a guy and spend all evening petting him and suddenly all of your motives are in question...]
If you want to do the garlic, feel free....
no subject
How many cloves then? Half a head?
[Alucard holds his hand out and wiggles his fingers. Give garlic plz and thank.]
no subject
Alucard, don't kill yourself via garlic just to impress this loser.]I am not one to skimp on garlic, but that is plenty for the size of the batch we're making. We don't want one element overwhelming it.
[He turns back to his grated cucumbers. Idiot. Hector is supposed to be instructing, not babysitting.
He gets to the end of the cucumber, and of course because he's more focused on keeping an eye on Alucard than on his task, he manages to nick his finger along with the last bit of cuke.]
Fuck.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)