[Alucard gestures for Trevor to follow. He knows one of the dried fruits sellers usually has it and---
--he's right, and he haggles for the honey alone with a new supply of dried dates because he is actually running low. It is more expensive, but it means Alucard is walking away with a larger jaw of honey than usual.
He hands that bag of goods to Trevor.]
Can you carry this please? It's a little too heavy, and we still have to go get the meat.
[ It's theoretically one of the reasons he came along, after all. Even if the real reason was closer to just wanting to spend time with Alucard. It seems like it would be difficult to carry much and to use the cane. He hooks the bag from a wrist so that he can continue clutching the flowers, and now the jar of honey, against himself. His presents. His presents from Alucard. ]
Yes. Sypha's diet needs more protein, now that she can stomach it. Chickpeas and other legumes are fine, but it'll be better like this.
[He takes a sudden turn, and things change. There's now meat behind all the counters. Chickens and cows, fish brought in from the sea. No pork for all the obvious reasons.
But it's fish that Alucard goes for first. Picking three out, hoping Sypha will be willing to try and eat the whole thing.
His eyes go to Trevor every so often, just watching him react.]
He looks around, finding less game than he expected. Much of the meat is from livestock, and he's not very accustomed to the idea of farming. Chickens, he knows, and those are what he gets distracted by while Alucard pays for the fish. They're laying hens rather than birds for eating, and he crouches down by the cage to look at them as they wander about or sit in perfect chicken-shapes to snooze, unbothered by the crowds. ]
I wanted to find birds to put in the garden, before. [ He says. ] For eggs. And company. But I think Eight would have bothered them.
Alucard laughs a little though, then guides Trevor to their last spot. One of the meat vendors, rushed and overwhelmed. Alucard knows them and knows that now isn't the time to talk. He gets a full bird and some hind quarters, and that's that. Tasks Trevor with carrying the bag, and then?
Then they wind their way home. The streets have more people now. A few that know Alucard and say hello, but understand that he's coming home from shopping and needs to keep his forward momentum. He has a patient, proably.
He unlocks the door. Heads in and immediately starts unpacking the groceries.]
[ He's learned where a few things go by now and he puts those things where they ought to be, but putting things away is still a job that's mostly Alucard. Instead, he just clings to his flowers. ]
Is it always like that there? With the people and the noises and the hens?
[The fish and chicken get placed in the cool spot for now, a thing ALucard's rigged up. It'll keep for two days - the fish will spoil first, so it'll get eaten later today. The fruit goes into a bowl on the counter, the vegetables under one of the counters. The honey? That he keeps out, taking down a single cup from a small rack.]
Mmhmm. We went early, so it's less crowded than normal.
[He opens the jar, pouring a little bit into the cup for Trevor before offering it to the fae.]
Here. I don't know how much you want right now, but it's a start.
[ He drains the cup as well as the qualities of honey actually allow, then sheds a few moths. They crawl over the cup, eating at the leftover honey. A few more land on the flowers as he looks around for a place to put them. ]
[He's gotten used to the moths falling off of Trevor, doing things, then returning. He doesn't blink at it anymore. Just walks over to a small shelf of books and other things, which has a cabinet underneath. From there a tall vase -chipped and beat to hell, but a beautiful peacock blue-green - emerges, and Alucard offers it.]
[ He places one slightly-dusty hand against Alucard's face, then presses his lips lightly against his.
It's a soft, quick kiss. One that only tastes of honey a little, one that's over almost before it's begun. He lingers for a second afterward, stroking his fingers over Alucard's cheek before slowly lowering his hand. ]
[ The second kiss is a little more forceful and a lot more awkward, because he's grinning into it. It means there's a clicking of teeth against each other and lips- basically about in the right place for a kiss.
It's an awkward, clumsy kiss. But he's smiling and he still tastes of honey. ]
[Awkward and clumsy seems about right, honestly. This is awkward. Alucard's still not entirely sure he he feels right now beyond awkward and unsure that this is entirely right but--
--he's kissing someone and he isn't scared, and that's amazing.
[ He wants to kiss Alucard again. But Sypha does need to eat. So does Alucard, for that matter. He's the only one who's had a meal this morning. So he just nods, delighted. ]
[He doesn't. Not over the next few days, and not ever again. Alucard's careful when he cooks. Makes sure that Sypha's diet is rich in protein, with meat for one meal and then lentils or beans the other two. She gets snacks. Alucard writes down her progress once a day, and she gets to the point where she can contact her people.
But it takes time to beat back how close she was to death. When she rests, Alucard sees other patients again. Goes out sometimes, other times has some come to him. He's warm and familiar and as soft as he can be during those moments, even when the news is bad.
He's given affection in return. His patients pay in coin or in food or when they can. Old women come into his home fussing and then staying for tea, and Alucard introduces Trevor to them. My long term patient's companion and an old friend from Wallachia. It gets Trevor fussed over as well, as Alucard's grandmothers know how little he speaks of Wallachia.
In the evening hours, Alucard rests on his little sofa, but also against Trevor. The kisses are slow and cautious, but they're there and there's a quiet joy in every single one.
The week ends. The sun sets, and the last call to prayer echoes through the city. Alucard's routine for the week concludes with a last walk, one that he's taking Trevor on.
He made sure to explain the bathhouse's concept and etiquette earlier in the day. That you strip down, you walk into the baths with a towel around your waist, but most men drop it afterwards. That you don't stare, but you're free to be social - and Alucard often isn't.
Which means that here, now, Alucard's absolutely nude and lying on a warm marble slab in the bath's hot room. A beautiful domed thing with fine stone on every surface, there is a central slab where men congregate. Some washed. Others talking. And around the room are smaller little siloed areas with smaller stones to lie on, buckets of water under facuets, and fine fixtures.
It isn't the most beautiful of the hamams in the city, but it doesn't have to be. It's local, and Alucard has his little spot in one of the silos where he can lie down and let the week's grime shed itself.
His feet and their scars are obvious. But no one asks here.]
[ It's a comfortable routine. When Sypha is strong enough for it, and when they're certain beyond doubt that she can't infect anyone else, he lifts her and shows her around the surgery. Lets her look out of the windows at a strange city. She's trying to be brave and it seems to help, to give her things to focus on. The old ladies who visit are kind to him, even if one or two of them look at him like they know more than they're meant to. And when Alucard sits down to rest in the evenings they sit together. There are kisses. Tiny, careful ones.
Everything is careful.
He does try not to stare. Mostly succeeds, only failing enough to appreciate the ways things have changed and the ways they havn't. The burn scars healing into ugly things, as painless as they will probably ever be. The places where bones are still visible. The ones where they aren't anymore. There are no new scars, none that he can see that he doesn't remember seeing before, and that's a relief. ]
You've been safe here. [ He says, perched on the side of the slab. He still has his towel and hasn't quite got his head around how this place works yet, just sitting and enjoying the warmth of the room. ] I'm glad.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Honey! For him! He's going to have flowers and honey and he went on a date with Alucard and Alucard is GIVING HIM PRESENTS this is the best day. ]
Show me?
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--he's right, and he haggles for the honey alone with a new supply of dried dates because he is actually running low. It is more expensive, but it means Alucard is walking away with a larger jaw of honey than usual.
He hands that bag of goods to Trevor.]
Can you carry this please? It's a little too heavy, and we still have to go get the meat.
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[ It's theoretically one of the reasons he came along, after all. Even if the real reason was closer to just wanting to spend time with Alucard. It seems like it would be difficult to carry much and to use the cane. He hooks the bag from a wrist so that he can continue clutching the flowers, and now the jar of honey, against himself. His presents. His presents from Alucard. ]
What's left? Just meat?
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[He takes a sudden turn, and things change. There's now meat behind all the counters. Chickens and cows, fish brought in from the sea. No pork for all the obvious reasons.
But it's fish that Alucard goes for first. Picking three out, hoping Sypha will be willing to try and eat the whole thing.
His eyes go to Trevor every so often, just watching him react.]
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He looks around, finding less game than he expected. Much of the meat is from livestock, and he's not very accustomed to the idea of farming. Chickens, he knows, and those are what he gets distracted by while Alucard pays for the fish. They're laying hens rather than birds for eating, and he crouches down by the cage to look at them as they wander about or sit in perfect chicken-shapes to snooze, unbothered by the crowds. ]
I wanted to find birds to put in the garden, before. [ He says. ] For eggs. And company. But I think Eight would have bothered them.
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[The chickens are where Alucard heads next, so it's actually rather good timing. He looks at Trevor, then the hens, then back to Trevor.]
I'm nearly done. I'm getting some of their less living relatives, and then we can head back.
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[ He waves to the hens. ]
Bye. We're going to buy some of your dead friends.
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[Trevor plz.
Alucard laughs a little though, then guides Trevor to their last spot. One of the meat vendors, rushed and overwhelmed. Alucard knows them and knows that now isn't the time to talk. He gets a full bird and some hind quarters, and that's that. Tasks Trevor with carrying the bag, and then?
Then they wind their way home. The streets have more people now. A few that know Alucard and say hello, but understand that he's coming home from shopping and needs to keep his forward momentum. He has a patient, proably.
He unlocks the door. Heads in and immediately starts unpacking the groceries.]
Thank you for your help with the bags.
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[ He's learned where a few things go by now and he puts those things where they ought to be, but putting things away is still a job that's mostly Alucard. Instead, he just clings to his flowers. ]
Is it always like that there? With the people and the noises and the hens?
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Mmhmm. We went early, so it's less crowded than normal.
[He opens the jar, pouring a little bit into the cup for Trevor before offering it to the fae.]
Here. I don't know how much you want right now, but it's a start.
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[ He drains the cup as well as the qualities of honey actually allow, then sheds a few moths. They crawl over the cup, eating at the leftover honey. A few more land on the flowers as he looks around for a place to put them. ]
Do you have a vase? Or a tall cup?
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Will this do?
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[ He puts the flowers in there. Water can happen later, he'll need to bring some in anyway. It's one of the jobs he's decided is his. ]
Thank you. For all of this.
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Speaking of. He makes his way over to the sofa, knowing he'll have to stand for a little while to make breakfast. He's earned himself a break.]
I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thank you for the flowers.
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[ Not flowers anymore, but better. He moves over to sit with Alucard, bringing his knees up to his chest to smile over them. ]
Adrian?
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[He glances over, tilting his head at Trevor.]
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[ The ideal sort of time to be kissing someone, tbh. ]
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Oh.
Alucard's cheeks flush, but his response? Is to angle his face upwards to Trevor.]
Yes. Please.
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It's a soft, quick kiss. One that only tastes of honey a little, one that's over almost before it's begun. He lingers for a second afterward, stroking his fingers over Alucard's cheek before slowly lowering his hand. ]
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But oh.
Oh.
He's wanted this kiss for days now. It's sweet and fleeting and has the after taste of honey, and--
--and he laughs, in spite of himself.]
One more?
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[ The second kiss is a little more forceful and a lot more awkward, because he's grinning into it. It means there's a clicking of teeth against each other and lips- basically about in the right place for a kiss.
It's an awkward, clumsy kiss. But he's smiling and he still tastes of honey. ]
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--he's kissing someone and he isn't scared, and that's amazing.
When he pulls away, he's smiling more.]
I'm going to start breakfast, okay?
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Hurry up, before you get all skinny again.
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[He doesn't. Not over the next few days, and not ever again. Alucard's careful when he cooks. Makes sure that Sypha's diet is rich in protein, with meat for one meal and then lentils or beans the other two. She gets snacks. Alucard writes down her progress once a day, and she gets to the point where she can contact her people.
But it takes time to beat back how close she was to death. When she rests, Alucard sees other patients again. Goes out sometimes, other times has some come to him. He's warm and familiar and as soft as he can be during those moments, even when the news is bad.
He's given affection in return. His patients pay in coin or in food or when they can. Old women come into his home fussing and then staying for tea, and Alucard introduces Trevor to them. My long term patient's companion and an old friend from Wallachia. It gets Trevor fussed over as well, as Alucard's grandmothers know how little he speaks of Wallachia.
In the evening hours, Alucard rests on his little sofa, but also against Trevor. The kisses are slow and cautious, but they're there and there's a quiet joy in every single one.
The week ends. The sun sets, and the last call to prayer echoes through the city. Alucard's routine for the week concludes with a last walk, one that he's taking Trevor on.
He made sure to explain the bathhouse's concept and etiquette earlier in the day. That you strip down, you walk into the baths with a towel around your waist, but most men drop it afterwards. That you don't stare, but you're free to be social - and Alucard often isn't.
Which means that here, now, Alucard's absolutely nude and lying on a warm marble slab in the bath's hot room. A beautiful domed thing with fine stone on every surface, there is a central slab where men congregate. Some washed. Others talking. And around the room are smaller little siloed areas with smaller stones to lie on, buckets of water under facuets, and fine fixtures.
It isn't the most beautiful of the hamams in the city, but it doesn't have to be. It's local, and Alucard has his little spot in one of the silos where he can lie down and let the week's grime shed itself.
His feet and their scars are obvious. But no one asks here.]
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Everything is careful.
He does try not to stare. Mostly succeeds, only failing enough to appreciate the ways things have changed and the ways they havn't. The burn scars healing into ugly things, as painless as they will probably ever be. The places where bones are still visible. The ones where they aren't anymore. There are no new scars, none that he can see that he doesn't remember seeing before, and that's a relief. ]
You've been safe here. [ He says, perched on the side of the slab. He still has his towel and hasn't quite got his head around how this place works yet, just sitting and enjoying the warmth of the room. ] I'm glad.
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