[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.]
[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
[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.]
[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.]
[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.]
[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.]
[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.
[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.]
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.
[Hector sighs. Alucard is just going to keep pestering him, huh?]
Will you at least call a carriage? 'm not sure I can walk all the way home.
[A vampire could fly, or turn into mist, or whatever other such fuckery. Hector only has his legs, or the legs he reanimates, and he's been strictly forbidden by multiple people from using any of those within the city limits.]
[Against Alucard's nearly vampiric strength, Hector's drugged body has no chance of resistance. He's dragged up off of the couch. Cezar slips off of him and bounces on the couch with a startled yip.]
Hey!
...
How's a fake carriage supposed to help?
[He has no idea what he's in for, but his curiosity is beginning to peak through the opium-induced lethargy.]
[Alucard's pretty sure this opium haze will obscure much of Hector's memory, so he has no problems dragging the necromancer through the portions of the house no one sees. Through corridors of pipes and boilers, along a set of stairs that lead underground, and until they get to well, a garage.
In the middle of it is a carriage - a proper one, looking a little too suspiciously of the era. Hitched to it is a horse, ready and waiting. Except it is hardly a horse, just a robot. It and the carriage are detailed in Dracula's prefference for red and black with golden accents, striking bold gold lines that herald the art deco trend to come in the centuries.
Unceremoniously, Hector gets shoved into the carriage proper. It's a comfortable enough thing with leather seats, the windows tinted to help minimize the sun.]
The carriage is fake only in so much as the horse is fake.
[Hector doesn't really have much choice about being unceremoniously hauled through the building. Cezar trots behind them, tiny feet moving quickly to keep up with Alucard's long steps. The dhampir's arm is like iron around Hector... which isn't unpleasant, but is incredibly frustrating.
They reach the coach house, and Hector is tossed inside a very real carriage. It's too high for Cezar to follow, so he sits beneath the door and yips at Alucard expectantly. Uppies for puppy.
Hector untangles his limbs and ends up sprawled out on the carriage seat, half sitting, half lounging.]
Why the fuck would you want a fake horse. Horses are delightful.
[Stoned Hector can't think of a single instance where a machine would be preferable to a flesh and blood horse.]
[Uppies for puppy granted! And belt buckles for both puppy and Hector, which Alucard takes a moment to secure. Cezar he isn't as worried about. Hector? That's the concern.
He gives up at the sprawl. Alucard shakes his head before moving to the driver's seat. He buckles in as well, and then?
Then the engine hums to life. It doesn't roar. It doesn't kick. There is simply the sudden sense of life in the machine, and Alucard grins just a little at Hector. It is so smug.]
This would draw too much attention otherwise. You ready?
[And there. A door opens, revealing Bucharest just as the sun begins to peak over the city spires. This is not a part of the city with a great Muslim population, and so calls to prayer are a thin, distant noise. The mechanical horse makes a rather convincing whinny as they all emerge into the sunlight, and Alucard urges the thing onward.
The streets are as bumpy as one might expect, but their blows made softer for the cushioning of rich red velvet beneath them both.]
[Cesar immediately wiggles out of the belt and puts his nose to the side window. Hector lets out a long-suffering sigh and hooks an arm around his squirming torso.]
If he has a problem with horses, I could help him out. Make him something sturdy, that can see in the dark, and could pass for a horse at night time...
[The carriage is impressive, he guesses, but Hector still thinks there's no good purpose behind it.]
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[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 interactionuntil it comes time for his meeting with Dracula.]no subject
[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.]
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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
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
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.]
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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.
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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.
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He.
He heard that correctly, right?
Yes, he did, and so Alucard is absolutely tired and offended.]
Excuse me?
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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.
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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.
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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.]
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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.
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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.]
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[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.
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[You're making valid points, Alucard, but counter-point: this couch is very comfy.]
Neighbors are used t' me being out late. I'm 'absent-minded' and 'lose track of time' while I'm studying.
[And Cezar is used to traveling hidden in a basket during daytime. It's fucking adorable.]
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But Alucard really wants some sleep. He doesn't move, frown growing in size as he glares down at Hector.]
And I'm used to not being awake right now. Please let me see you home.
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Will you at least call a carriage? 'm not sure I can walk all the way home.
[A vampire could fly, or turn into mist, or whatever other such fuckery. Hector only has his legs, or the legs he reanimates, and he's been strictly forbidden by multiple people from using any of those within the city limits.]
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[Well. Hm. There's an idea, and Alucard's face almost lights up. Almost.
What he does next is reach down to haul Hector up by the shoulders, and forces him to look steady(ish.)]
Come on, we'll try out the fake carriage.
[Car. He means Dracula made a car with a fake robo horse in the front.]
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Hey!
...
How's a fake carriage supposed to help?
[He has no idea what he's in for, but his curiosity is beginning to peak through the opium-induced lethargy.]
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[Alucard's pretty sure this opium haze will obscure much of Hector's memory, so he has no problems dragging the necromancer through the portions of the house no one sees. Through corridors of pipes and boilers, along a set of stairs that lead underground, and until they get to well, a garage.
In the middle of it is a carriage - a proper one, looking a little too suspiciously of the era. Hitched to it is a horse, ready and waiting. Except it is hardly a horse, just a robot. It and the carriage are detailed in Dracula's prefference for red and black with golden accents, striking bold gold lines that herald the art deco trend to come in the centuries.
Unceremoniously, Hector gets shoved into the carriage proper. It's a comfortable enough thing with leather seats, the windows tinted to help minimize the sun.]
The carriage is fake only in so much as the horse is fake.
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They reach the coach house, and Hector is tossed inside a very real carriage. It's too high for Cezar to follow, so he sits beneath the door and yips at Alucard expectantly. Uppies for puppy.
Hector untangles his limbs and ends up sprawled out on the carriage seat, half sitting, half lounging.]
Why the fuck would you want a fake horse. Horses are delightful.
[Stoned Hector can't think of a single instance where a machine would be preferable to a flesh and blood horse.]
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He gives up at the sprawl. Alucard shakes his head before moving to the driver's seat. He buckles in as well, and then?
Then the engine hums to life. It doesn't roar. It doesn't kick. There is simply the sudden sense of life in the machine, and Alucard grins just a little at Hector. It is so smug.]
This would draw too much attention otherwise. You ready?
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What makes it move? It doesn't feel magical.
[He's groggy, but he's got a decent sense for magic. It must be one of those mechanical devices the other vampires allege Dracula makes.]
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[And there. A door opens, revealing Bucharest just as the sun begins to peak over the city spires. This is not a part of the city with a great Muslim population, and so calls to prayer are a thin, distant noise. The mechanical horse makes a rather convincing whinny as they all emerge into the sunlight, and Alucard urges the thing onward.
The streets are as bumpy as one might expect, but their blows made softer for the cushioning of rich red velvet beneath them both.]
He's proud of this one. I can't say I blame him.
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If he has a problem with horses, I could help him out. Make him something sturdy, that can see in the dark, and could pass for a horse at night time...
[The carriage is impressive, he guesses, but Hector still thinks there's no good purpose behind it.]
Does he know you're taking it out?
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should we wrap here?