Catch All II

[cryptsleeper]

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[cryptsleeper]

Actually, it's neither. Others gave me the name for so frequently acting as an inverse of my father. I'll spare you my middle name, as I still don't know how he came up with it.

[Fahrenheit? Really? And it has never been explained to him either.]

Yes, that's my understanding. I'm only here to be the doorman, I don't intend to listen in to the preamble or the death cries.

[Alucard's tone is completely serious.

[petcromancer]

Well, you've chosen to use it.

[He'll try to discover the middle name in time, now that he's been told it's terrible. Hector can't leave a mystery unprobed.]

That's a waste. You should at least see if you can't get a pool going on which forgemaster survives.

[These independently wealthy lordlings, they've never had to earn money to fund their own research and it shows.]

[cryptsleeper]

Things stick, over the years.

[Alucard's laugh is short and sharp. Hector can actually be funny - who knew? The dhampir mostly just pays attention to his dog.]

While doubtlessly entertaining, it seems poor sport. What if you both survive?

[petcromancer]

I have the feeling you could quell such talk if you chose.

[This time, he's not as distracted, and he notices Alucard's laugh, and how it transforms his face for that single moment.

Fuck, had he always been that attractive??]

That does sound like the worst possible outcome for you. Well, still, something to consider before Wednesday.

[cryptsleeper]

Names stick after centuries, and if I have to fight that battle or a battle of decorum in the salon, I know which one to pick.

[Alucard pauses, sensing a fly away. He tucks it back, serious faced yet again.]

It's the outcome I'm betting on, if that gives you any sort of reassurance of what is yet to come. How's his Greek by the way, he was concerned that he was slipping into the ancient Attic dialect.

[petcromancer]

[Hector pouts frowns. He could totally maybe win against Isaac.]

I suppose having two Forgemasters is a novelty not to be wasted. There is usually only one active at a time.

[He folds the letter and slips it back into the envelope. The whole thing gets tucked into his robe. A communication from Dracula, even one this brief, isn't something he'll simply discard.]

It read a little formal, but not yet outdated. Perfectly serviceable written Greek.

[cryptsleeper]

It is an auspicious thing. Probably the real reason he's willing to engage, if I had to try and divine my father's reason for doing anything.

[Alucard watches where the envelope goes.]

I'll let him know. I also trust you won't let that fall into wrong hands. And--

[There is a beat of hesitation, and it comes with a faint bit of color to Alucard's cheeks.]

Might I offer to dogsit that day?

[petcromancer]

[He raises an eyebrow. He didn't know Alucard could have color. Interesting, a most interesting development.]

Oh? Do you think your father will keep us long?

[Or do you have a whole giant magical castle but daddy won't let you have a puppy?]

I could bring Cezar along. He is wonderfully travel-sized.

[cryptsleeper]

[It takes effort!

Stone faced, Alucard shrugs.]

For all I know this could take a minute or take hours. Regardless, it has been a little while since I've been able to enjoy the luxury of his company without my attention being pulled in twenty different directions.

[Puppies aren't forever! Alucard's old, he knows that he doesn't like the short lifespan involved.]

He is a remarkably well behaved dog, reanimated or otherwise and I would be grateful for his presence.

[There. There's an actual smile on Alucard's face. It's small, but warm and so very, very fond of the subject.]

[petcromancer]

[Hector tries for a stern face in spite of that smile making him feel a little melty.]

You'll have to promise not to spoil him. He doesn't need to eat, though he'll beg as if he does.

[He still gets treats, but Hector tries to limit him... as much as he can.]

[cryptsleeper]

Just bring whatever toy he likes, and he'll be played with and given sufficient belly rubs.

[He's still smiling. Because dog!]

I'll limit myself to that, if that's acceptable. And er, thank you for the diet clarification. I had wondered.

[petcromancer]

Very well.

[It's... not off-putting, but there's a certain fluttering sensation in his stomach that Hector can't place, watching Alucard's face. Stupid sexy dhampir.

He looks away.]

I'll arrive a little early to make sure we get him settled before the meeting. If that is all you required of me...

[Hector will head out and puzzle over this interaction until it comes time for his meeting with Dracula.]

[cryptsleeper]

Yes, I think so. I'd usually offer to escort you out, but the state of me would cause a scandal.

[Alucard totally knows how he looks. He stands up though, willing to at least move to the door to see the necro-academic out.]

Until then, Hector.

[It is polite. Pleasant, although with a little note of please leave so I can do things alone under it all.]

[petcromancer]

[He raises an eyebrow. It's daylight hours, nobody to see them but humans outside. Hector can't fathom why Alucard would care what humans think of him. Must be a vanity thing, he's yet to meet a vampire who wasn't unspeakably vain.]

I can see myself out, unless your father has played with the hallways lately.

[It's not unprecedented, but not likely.]

Until then.

cw: opium use because that stupid tfln thread is now canon in at least one au

[cryptsleeper]

[With that, Alucard says nothing more. He closes the office door behind Hector, and then busies himself with more paperwork. He truthfully would rather his father ignore the two morons making his own life more difficult, but Alucard knows that to make such a request is a losing proposition. His father will do as his father wants.

Come the evening of the meeting, Alucard is far more eager to take care of Cezar than he is anything else. He's dressed in his usual ornate clothes (but never a wig, because fuck you his hair is gorgeous), and the two necromancers are lead into the same room that is always used for lectures. The set up differs though - there are three armchairs around a table. A carafe of red wine has been set out, along with a selection of smoked meats and cheeses. A small table is placed besides the tallest of the armchairs, although there is nothing upon it yet.

Alucard closes the door once both Hector and Isaac are inside, and his cooing that We're going to have a fun night! I got a new toy if you're interested.

Dracula arrives five minutes later. Takes the chair, and bids them both to speak as academics. To be civil in debate, and so it goes. The king of the night world listens, asking questions when the topic veers from the work of necromancy and towards the personal, seemingly trying to understand each man.

At some point, a long box is placed on the table besides Dracula's chair. At another point, the box is opened, revealing an opium pipe.

Morning comes. Dracula departs, leaving both men to find their way home.]

slightly tweaked AU, since Alucard has the dog

[petcromancer]

[The sun is rising, Hector is muddy-headed and exhausted, but he can't stumble home until he finds his dog.

Still feeling the sluggish effects of the opium, he sleepily wanders into three different studies, one coat closet, and narrowly misses falling into one room lined entirely with spikes, before he finally ends up at a door where he hears playful barks and some low cooing on the other side.

After a couple swipes at the door knob, Hector finally staggers in to Alucard's study. Now he's the one in a scandalous state of undress. His hat has been missing for hours, and he's shed his outer layers to leave himself with trousers and a thin linen tunic.]

Cezar? Here boy, g'boy. [He calls out.]

[cryptsleeper]

[What Hector has stumbled into is Alucard's personal living room. He has his actual bedroom behind another door, but this? This is where he spends most of his time when not at the office. It's more medieval in here, stone walls with tapestries of fantastic beasts and library shelves with books - some contemporary works, most older. There's a sofa in front of the fireplace, where Alucard's laid out with the pug sitting on his chest.

There's a happy bark! as Cezar runs over to greet his human properly, and Alucard sits up slowly. He's kept on all his finery save his coat, and taking one look over at Hector, there's a long sigh.]

You look terrible.

[petcromancer]

[Hector does not even notice that he's in Alucard's chambers. He's got tunnel vision for his dog.]

Cezar, who's a good boy? You, it's you <3

[He scoops up the pug, a little shakily, and receives a few nose-kisses before he deigns to respond to the dhampir.]

Oh fuck off, Alucard, we cannot all be Adonises.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard blinks.

He.

He heard that correctly, right?

Yes, he did, and so Alucard is absolutely tired and offended.]

Excuse me?

[petcromancer]

[Hector's head is in the clouds, and he doesn't recognize that he's offending his host. He continues to let his puppy give him greeting kisses.]

We can't all look like... like that. [He juggles Cezar so he can wave one hand vaguely at Alucard's whole thing.]

Well, maybe vampires can, but mortals? Nah.

[cryptsleeper]

[Oh good lord.

Alucard finally sits up, and crosses his arms. This is absolutely ridiculous.]

I'm ignoring all of this and blaming it on my father's terrible choices. [He's up now, and pauses to grab his coat.]

Come on, you're going home.

[petcromancer]

[See, the problem is, when Alucard sits up, freeing up half of a lovely, comfortable couch, Hector steps forward and plops himself down on it. Thanks, Alucard, he was getting tired of standing.]

What's terrible? We talked... no fight to the death... Isaac and I might even cl'aborate on a lecture.

[They'll see if that idea survives once sobriety hits. Dracula did give them some very tantalizing ideas to pursue that they didn't run into fundamental ideological differences on.]

[cryptsleeper]

[No this is the opposite of what he wanted. Alucard groans, and moves so that he's looming over Hector, arms crossed. Goddamnit. Leave it to his father's stupid solution to leave him with cleaning up this mess.]

Well that is actually music to my ears and incredibly heartening, it occurs to me that you need to get yourself home before anyone notices you're gone, and you are in no state to escort yourself along the roads.

[Well...]

If you intend to live, I mean. A few street urchins could have a field day with you and make your family's life fairly miserable.

[petcromancer]

[Hector settles deeper into the couch, letting Cezar slide down to his lap. He stares up into Alucard's eyes.]

Have you looked into my family?

[Hector hates them. He's distanced himself from them as much as he's been able to. If it wouldn't disrupt his work or endanger Cezar, he'd gladly let urchins terrorize his parents.]

[cryptsleeper]

Of course I have. I wasn't about to let anyone just wander into this home unknown and unresearched.

[Alucard nudges Hector's leg with his foot.]

Your being missing would be a public scandal and embarrassment, which I think everyone is keen to avoid at this point at night. Plus I think we can both agree Cezar travels safer in darkness.