[There is the risk of traveling in close quarters, that someone might mutter vampire or see the damage to the dogs and demand explanations. It's one of the reasons Alucard has made a point of being visible during the day. Making sure he's seen, and if he interacts with anyone, it's only ever pleasant. He's good at it. He's learned, mostly from watching his mother at his clinic all these years.

She'll be glad to have him back. That much he knows.

But also through observation, he has caught what he thinks is something more affectionate from Hector. He's not sure, and it has seemed inappropriate to ask. They're already in close quarters, and they'll be in close quarters even upon returning home. Misinterpretation could cast a dark shadow over Dracula's plans.

So the bump against his hand definitely feels like a confirmation of suspicions. The statement gets a wry little noise.]

I'm fairly sure that's impossible, based on his circumstances.

[Forgemasters can instill loyalty, after all. And Alucard is far too new to Cesar's afterlife anyway. There will always be Hector.

He opens his mouth to respond to the question, but far too late. Hector's already made a move, and at this point, the intention is obvious. What Alucard feels as heat in his own cheeks is a faint trace of red to a trained eye.

Alucard fails to consider that Hector is the kind of person who'd notice that.]

Mm. I hadn't noticed, but that is a little better. Thank you.