[Alucard watches with his usual polite interest, even thought necromancy continues to not be his thing. Mostly his eyes are on his guests. Some are focused on the topic. A few are bored, but are enjoying the surroundings. Roughly a 60-40 split, and Alucard couldn't be more satisfied with that.
He leaves as the q&a begins, ensuring a refreshed snack table when Hector concludes. But unlike most times, when he hovers at the table, tonight he's more social. When Hector finds him, he's speaking to a witch in particular.
It was an introduction he wanted to make anyway. Alucard's smile is soft when Hector approaches.]
[Posturing? A little. But he's got a group of witches to impress, apparently, and also he's genuinely proud that people find his work interesting.]
But if you happened to mention the especial attention this lecture garnered next time you're in earshot of Isaac, it might help, uh, motivate him to greater innovation.
[Alucard fights the urge to roll his eyes at the posturing, but they'll get over that in a moment.]
Doubtlessly. [Just. Pissing contest later. Alucard gestures to the young woman beside him, who clearly isn't thrilled at missing a portion of whatever background this conversation requires. She's dressed plainer than some of the others visiting on Alucard's invitation, but Alucard's not letting onto why.]
Hector, I'd like to introduce you to Rosaly. Her family's from a little further West, with a specialization in combining magic and medicine.
[There's a polite hello, that was an incredibly interesting perspective you got into tonight, and Alucard lingers. He'll fade away in a few moments.]
[Hector turns from Alucard to Rosaly, giving her his full attention for the first time.
She's standing in a room filled with creatures of unearthly beauty, dressed in simple clothes. Her human face has tiny flaws that stand out only by comparison to the perfection of the vampires around her. Her hands, small and delicate, show the signs of use.
And yet...
...and yet suddenly, all of the air is gone from the room, and the simple act of trying to summon a breath feels monumental. What are words? What are intelligent thoughts?
The silence stretches on, and Hector panics. Words, they don't have to be good ones, he just needs any words to gasp out.]
Rosaly offers Alucard a little sidelong glance, and the dhampir looks politely baffled enough. Really Hector, he's gonna have to wingman you with this?]
You should ask him about his dog. Modern medical wonder the thing is.
[Hector lights up too, and he begins to extol Rosaly with the virtues and struggles of his dearly departed dog. Rosaly is a good listener who asks questions and makes clever observations. Hector is starry-eyed for the whole conversation, and it isn't immediately obvious if it is because of the subject matter or because of the company.]
Alucard spends the rest of the evening like he normally does. He talks in little groups when pulled into them, he clears empty plates of food, has a few side conversations that would look like flirtations if it weren't for Alucard's sour disposition. The hours grow later. The witches mostly depart first, and the dhampir sees them out. Then the vampires do and--
--still here.
With a very small smile, because Alucard loves being right, he walks over to the pair.]
I'm afraid I need to ask you both to think about leaving.
[Hector looks up, blinking at Alucard in confusion. Alucard isn't overly charitable, but for him to interrupt a conversation --Rosaly was telling him of her first cat, which she'd spelled to glow to alleviate her fears of the dark-- after only a few minutes... that's completely rude!]
Alucard, surely you can give us a few more...
[He looks around, prepared to argue that Alucard can spare them a few more minutes, given how slow the local vampires are to leave...
...and notices for the first time that the room is empty, save for the three of them. Oh.]
Ah. Um, Rosaly, do you have an escort back to your lodgings?
[Oh, not on your life, Adrian. But maybe it'll be a little less vehement, given how distracted Hector will be.
Rosaly leads Hector out of the room, which, honestly, thank the Dark Powers. At least one of them has some sense. Hector is perfectly content to be led around by a pretty young witch. Three blocks is certainly not enough, but it'll be a wonderful start.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He leaves as the q&a begins, ensuring a refreshed snack table when Hector concludes. But unlike most times, when he hovers at the table, tonight he's more social. When Hector finds him, he's speaking to a witch in particular.
It was an introduction he wanted to make anyway. Alucard's smile is soft when Hector approaches.]
That seemed to get a good response. Well done.
no subject
I always get a good response.
[Posturing? A little. But he's got a group of witches to impress, apparently, and also he's genuinely proud that people find his work interesting.]
But if you happened to mention the especial attention this lecture garnered next time you're in earshot of Isaac, it might help, uh, motivate him to greater innovation.
no subject
Doubtlessly. [Just. Pissing contest later. Alucard gestures to the young woman beside him, who clearly isn't thrilled at missing a portion of whatever background this conversation requires. She's dressed plainer than some of the others visiting on Alucard's invitation, but Alucard's not letting onto why.]
Hector, I'd like to introduce you to Rosaly. Her family's from a little further West, with a specialization in combining magic and medicine.
[There's a polite hello, that was an incredibly interesting perspective you got into tonight, and Alucard lingers. He'll fade away in a few moments.]
no subject
She's standing in a room filled with creatures of unearthly beauty, dressed in simple clothes. Her human face has tiny flaws that stand out only by comparison to the perfection of the vampires around her. Her hands, small and delicate, show the signs of use.
And yet...
...and yet suddenly, all of the air is gone from the room, and the simple act of trying to summon a breath feels monumental. What are words? What are intelligent thoughts?
The silence stretches on, and Hector panics. Words, they don't have to be good ones, he just needs any words to gasp out.]
Um... hello.
[Fucking nailed it.]
no subject
Rosaly offers Alucard a little sidelong glance, and the dhampir looks politely baffled enough. Really Hector, he's gonna have to wingman you with this?]
You should ask him about his dog. Modern medical wonder the thing is.
[TAKE THE GODDAMN BAIT HECTOR]
no subject
Yes, the dog that I have.
[Great start, great start.]
Uh, his breed stems from the Orient. His name is Cezar, and he is a fully living reanimation.
[His faculties begin to return as he falls into the familiar topic of declaring the wonder and glory of his very excellent pug.]
no subject
Oh! Now that's fascinating, how precisely does the reanimation impact his day to day life?
[And with that? Alucard's gonna take a tiny step back. If Hector can swim on his own from here, Alucard's going to pay mind to other things.]
no subject
no subject
Alucard spends the rest of the evening like he normally does. He talks in little groups when pulled into them, he clears empty plates of food, has a few side conversations that would look like flirtations if it weren't for Alucard's sour disposition. The hours grow later. The witches mostly depart first, and the dhampir sees them out. Then the vampires do and--
--still here.
With a very small smile, because Alucard loves being right, he walks over to the pair.]
I'm afraid I need to ask you both to think about leaving.
no subject
Alucard, surely you can give us a few more...
[He looks around, prepared to argue that Alucard can spare them a few more minutes, given how slow the local vampires are to leave...
...and notices for the first time that the room is empty, save for the three of them. Oh.]
Ah. Um, Rosaly, do you have an escort back to your lodgings?
no subject
[So yes, Hector.
Alucard's trying not to be smug when he smiles. He's trying really, really hard.]
It's only three blocks away. I'm sure you two can make a meal of the distance.
no subject
[Hector says, without any notion where Rosaly is staying. SHUT UP ALUCARD.
Also, THANK YOU ALUCARD. He turns to the dhampir and gives him a nod.]
I'll, uh, see you next Sunday.
[Rosaly takes Hector's arm before he can even start to flail through the motion of offering her his elbow.]
no subject
[Alucard's going to just watch them go. Smiling. Proud. He did something right, and something Hector clearly needed.
Now maybe he'll fight less with Isaac????]
should we wrap here?
Rosaly leads Hector out of the room, which, honestly, thank the Dark Powers. At least one of them has some sense. Hector is perfectly content to be led around by a pretty young witch. Three blocks is certainly not enough, but it'll be a wonderful start.]