The morning sees them make port, and once Alucard sees to their travel plans for the next day, Hector leaves the dog’s in the safety of a rented room in an inn and drags Alucard out for sight-seeing. Literally, he is tugging the cuff of Alucard’s sleeve to pull him along.]
A day is scarcely time for everything. There’s the library, of course, and the church has architecture impressive enough to merit a visit —can you enter a church? — and we’re spoiled for options for food. Did you like the baklava? I can get better for you here.
[He’s talking a mile a minute, wanting to make sure Alucard is impressed.]
[Istanbul is a city of minarets, a riot of colors, a true crossroads of humanity. Alucard can pick out so many languages as they walk. He wants to just stare at the architecture, for what's here? It's a mad mix of the Byzantines and their golden mosaics, the stately ruins of ancient Rome, the wild organic intricacies of the Ottoman understanding of art and how it combines with their faith.
But they've eaten poorly on the journey, and that seems the best place to start.]
Something more substantial than baklava, I think.
[He's shed his coat for the day, opting for a simple tunic and his trousers, blonde hair pulled back in a loose ponytail.]
And yes, I can enter churches and mosques. If we're permitted in is another question entirely though. [But also:] Perhaps we'd be wise to see if any of the ḥammāms permit westerners as well. I'm developing a fine patina of sea salt.
[Hector missed a step, and stumbles before he recovers his balance.]
Is that...something you want to do together?
[Hector has lived in places with public path houses before, and there isn’t anything inherently sexual about them...but at the same time, naked. Naked with Alucard. It’s both the best and worst idea ever.]
Food, then we can figure out if there’s a ḥammām that will take us.
[The smell of sweets and savory meats can lead even a human nose to market food stalls.]
Try whatever you want. I recall favoring the kol böreği last time I was here. I’ll get another and you can try it.
[Yeah Hector, he definitely caught that reaction. Alucard's thoughtful sounding enough about it though, making it sound less like a judgement and closer to an honest consideration. On the topic of food, Alucard's eyes return to the street around him. Considering. And then reaching a simple conclusion:]
Why don't we split up for fifteen minutes, find what we can, and then meet back up with whatever bounty we have? It'll let us cover more culinary ground.
[Probably for the best, for the sake of Hector's sanity. He nods at Alucard.
And Alucard? Splitting up is not how you do a date. You're supposed to walk together, bumping shoulders and sampling one another's purchases. This is what Hector gets for trying to stealthily date a novice.]
Alright, if that's how you want to do it. Meet back here, and make sure you keep an eye on your money purse. There are always pickpockets around markets like this.
[He shouldn't feel worried about leaving Alucard to his own devices. Alucard made his way to Hector's island on his own, and he is physically stronger and more magically inclined than anyone he could possibly run into. He's just...so sheltered.]
[Look. Look! How is he supposed to know how to do a date!]
Of course.
[Which means that for 15 minutes, Alucard is left to his own devices. He's already been in the city walls once before heading to Hector, but he had focused only on getting the right ships. With all the time he has now? He spends almost all of it distracted in a bookseller's shop (helpfully next to a place selling food.)
When Alucard returns? He has three books and one large thing of lahmacun that is folded on itself like a calzone.]
[Hector is relieved when Alucard returns. When he sees what Alucard brings with him, he sighs and shakes his head. Oh, Alucard, you nerd.]
At least if I lose you, I know where to look.... I got a few dishes to share. There's some shade by the gate where we can sit.
[Hector can supervise to make sure Alucard eats instead of reading through their break. He's not used to being the responsible one. Heaven help them both.
Hector has a couple of offerings. He has his kol böreği pastry, a tantuni, and a couple of desserts- the greatly anticipated baklava, a couple of kaymakli kayisi apricots, and a handful of sticky lokma wrapped up in a cloth.
Apparently the main bazaar has an entire area dedicated to books of all sorts and languages.
[Sorry Hector. He's going. You'll have to go with him or go to the baths.
The gate Hector says, and Alucard starts walking in that direction. He's going to occupy himself on the ship with his new books, not now.
Once he settles down against the gate, Alucard does move the book aside. His own selection pales in comparison with Hector's, and for a moment he feels overwhelmed with overabundance. It takes a few moments to make a selection, but finally Alucard gets started. Kol böreği first, and Alucard's noise of delight at it says everything.]
We may want to invest in a few of these for the boat ride...
I think I saw a few things in Greek. Plenty in Latin, if that's also something you have a reading knowledge of.
[Alucard doesn't actually know. For all the time they've spent together lately, the more academic questions have been eschewed. There'sthe reason of but the dogs tho, and then there's the kissing.
But Alucard keeps eating, careful not to take more than half. Hector needs to eat as well.]
Can't you tell them not to and be listened thanks to how the forge works?
[He can't speak Latin, but reading he can manage with time and a reference book. He needs to brush up on it in preparation for Dracula's grand library, but definitely not in front of any of the Ţepeşes.
Once Alucard has sampled the dishes, Hector begins to eat. They're going to need energy for all of the book shopping and architectural tourism they'll be doing today.]
I could, but I won't. They're living creatures. [basically] I try to let them act freely, unless it endangers them. [or occasionally if it interferes with kissing a very hot dhampir].
There may be specialty shops that focus on only one language. We'll have to see.
[Yeah, he sounds more than a little excited about that possibility.
Alucard's approach to their feast is to take a little of one dish, move onto the next, and then return to where he's started. It's a careful rotation, although one he fully admits is odd. Truly it's just to keep any one set of flavors from being overwhelming.]
Ah, I see. Well, there may be foods we bring back that are not safe for dogs to eat.
[Hector can’t help but smile into his lunch at Alucard’s enthusiasm for book shopping. Hector’s interests are...niche, to put it delicately, so he often goes away from booksellers disappointed. Seeing Alucard so hopeful and excited...it makes the world feel like a kinder place than Hector has experienced.]
Books before our bath? If you want to spend more time here, we could delay our departure another day.
[He knows Alucard is eager to be home and assure his parents of his safety, but Hector doesn’t want him to go away having missed out on anything.
It’s totally just that and not also the niggling fear that Dracula will take one look at him, know he’s been kissing his son and heir, and put a clawed fist through his heart.]
Do you want me to order the dogs not to eat your snacks?
I can always come back. [Perhaps that's a little too optimistic. But Alucard does want to return home sooner rather than later, and to delay departure might impact all the other time tables they must take advantage of once they reach Wallachia itself.] Baths are more important when traveling.
[He hasn't had a real bath in a while, Hector. He hates it.]
Mmmm, I think that might be required. But only this once.
[Probably best to go bathe before they are laden with more books, unless they are taking a trip back to their rooms midday.]
Ok, but really, just the once. I don't want to make a habit of it.
[He has the power that could wreck havoc on the world, but his temperament prevents it. Hector prefers to let everyone be, as long as they aren't actively harming him or his.]
Are you ready for dessert?
[He holds up a lokma between thumb and forefinger. Just platonically offering to hand feed a friend, totally not a date.]
We still have to carry all of them. [He shakes his head gently at that.] I'll be fine. I promise.
[And that's that, in the end. Alucard has always been fine. There's no reason to presume that things will change, not really.
But as for desert? Alucard's eyes linger on the lokma for a moment, ready to insist that Hector need not hold it like that, but...it's far too thick with honey, and there's no merit in both of them getting sticky yet.
So he leans down and takes a bite. What if his lips accidentally brush against Hector's fingers in the process?]
[Hector’s heart skips a beat when Alucard indulges him and takes the honeyed morsel from his fingers. While his fingers are still sticky with honey and saliva, he picks up a second lokma and brings it to his own lips. Delicious.]
We’ll come back.
[He promises, because ‘fine’ is a state to be endured, not something that you should aim for. He offers another dessert for Alucard to sample.]
It's entirely likely we'll have to. Istanbul is the crossroads of trade, and...well. [Alucard pauses, considering phrasing.] They are trying to invade Wallachia and the kingdoms around it. Dealing with the Ottomans will be inevitable.
[You know what? He's just going to shut up and take that send lokma. Probably smarter.]
Well, if they try to enter your father's lands, they'll soon learn their lesson.
[The Ottoman Empire may be vast, but they are no Dracula.
Hector lowers his hands.]
Do you not like them? Or do you not like this?
[Maybe they are attracting the odd stare, but Hector's enjoying himself. He's sure Alucard looks handsome and noble enough that he could be mistaken for a servant feeding his lord.]
In fairness, I suspect he'll just move up into the mountains for a time.
[Alucard is also well aware that his mother will want to offer medical aid instead. He's not looking forward to watching this particular fight, and hopefully it can be avoided. it won't be.
Alucard pauses, tucking a few stray strands of hand.]
Neither. But I am capable of feeding myself and I think it unfair for only you to have sticky fingers.
[Hector makes a noncommittal hum. Human politics mean little to him; for all of the variations between their practices and policies, most civilizations agree that they won’t suffer a necromancer to live.]
Your father has the right idea, not tying himself down to a single place and having to weather the changing tides.
[Hector steals a piece of baklava for himself, then starts to wipe his fingers clean.]
So is that how you want to spend our time on the boat? I’m not opposed.
[The mental image of Alucard, draped on a couch, accepting morsels from Hector’s fibgertips... um, bath soon? Cold bath soon??]
[Well, Hector will learn about Lisa's politics soon enough. Until then, he can live blissfully unaware that his soon-to-be haven may not be as safely remote as he imagines it.]
I imagine we'll take some breaks. Knowing how sweet you'll taste, I'll need to stop to kiss you.
[Also, you know, sleeping, dog petting. The essentials.
God, Hector can feel his face going red, talking about it so blatantly. He pushes himself up and dusts himself off.]
We should see about that bath, otherwise we won't be presentable enough to get into the libraries.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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The morning sees them make port, and once Alucard sees to their travel plans for the next day, Hector leaves the dog’s in the safety of a rented room in an inn and drags Alucard out for sight-seeing. Literally, he is tugging the cuff of Alucard’s sleeve to pull him along.]
A day is scarcely time for everything. There’s the library, of course, and the church has architecture impressive enough to merit a visit —can you enter a church? — and we’re spoiled for options for food. Did you like the baklava? I can get better for you here.
[He’s talking a mile a minute, wanting to make sure Alucard is impressed.]
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But they've eaten poorly on the journey, and that seems the best place to start.]
Something more substantial than baklava, I think.
[He's shed his coat for the day, opting for a simple tunic and his trousers, blonde hair pulled back in a loose ponytail.]
And yes, I can enter churches and mosques. If we're permitted in is another question entirely though. [But also:] Perhaps we'd be wise to see if any of the ḥammāms permit westerners as well. I'm developing a fine patina of sea salt.
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Is that...something you want to do together?
[Hector has lived in places with public path houses before, and there isn’t anything inherently sexual about them...but at the same time, naked. Naked with Alucard. It’s both the best and worst idea ever.]
Food, then we can figure out if there’s a ḥammām that will take us.
[The smell of sweets and savory meats can lead even a human nose to market food stalls.]
Try whatever you want. I recall favoring the kol böreği last time I was here. I’ll get another and you can try it.
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[Yeah Hector, he definitely caught that reaction. Alucard's thoughtful sounding enough about it though, making it sound less like a judgement and closer to an honest consideration.
On the topic of food, Alucard's eyes return to the street around him. Considering. And then reaching a simple conclusion:]
Why don't we split up for fifteen minutes, find what we can, and then meet back up with whatever bounty we have? It'll let us cover more culinary ground.
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And Alucard? Splitting up is not how you do a date. You're supposed to walk together, bumping shoulders and sampling one another's purchases. This is what Hector gets for trying to stealthily date a novice.]
Alright, if that's how you want to do it. Meet back here, and make sure you keep an eye on your money purse. There are always pickpockets around markets like this.
[He shouldn't feel worried about leaving Alucard to his own devices. Alucard made his way to Hector's island on his own, and he is physically stronger and more magically inclined than anyone he could possibly run into. He's just...so sheltered.]
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Of course.
[Which means that for 15 minutes, Alucard is left to his own devices. He's already been in the city walls once before heading to Hector, but he had focused only on getting the right ships. With all the time he has now? He spends almost all of it distracted in a bookseller's shop (helpfully next to a place selling food.)
When Alucard returns? He has three books and one large thing of lahmacun that is folded on itself
like a calzone.]I'm afraid I got a little distracted...
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At least if I lose you, I know where to look.... I got a few dishes to share. There's some shade by the gate where we can sit.
[Hector can supervise to make sure Alucard eats instead of reading through their break. He's not used to being the responsible one. Heaven help them both.
Hector has a couple of offerings. He has his kol böreği pastry, a tantuni, and a couple of desserts- the greatly anticipated baklava, a couple of kaymakli kayisi apricots, and a handful of sticky lokma wrapped up in a cloth.
Picnic time. How romantic.]
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Apparently the main bazaar has an entire area dedicated to books of all sorts and languages.
[Sorry Hector. He's going. You'll have to go with him or go to the baths.
The gate Hector says, and Alucard starts walking in that direction. He's going to occupy himself on the ship with his new books, not now.
Once he settles down against the gate, Alucard does move the book aside. His own selection pales in comparison with Hector's, and for a moment he feels overwhelmed with overabundance. It takes a few moments to make a selection, but finally Alucard gets started. Kol böreği first, and Alucard's noise of delight at it says everything.]
We may want to invest in a few of these for the boat ride...
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[Or a good offering for his soon-to-be hosts, if they don't already have all the books in the world.
Hector takes a seat, but don't start eating yet. Seeing Alucard's reactions is more interesting.]
Aren't they good? I told you they were.
[Yes, they can definitely take some to go when they depart.]
We'll have to protect them from the dogs, though. They don't even physically need to eat, they're just greedy.
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[Alucard doesn't actually know. For all the time they've spent together lately, the more academic questions have been eschewed. There'sthe reason of but the dogs tho, and then there's the kissing.
But Alucard keeps eating, careful not to take more than half. Hector needs to eat as well.]
Can't you tell them not to and be listened thanks to how the forge works?
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[He can't speak Latin, but reading he can manage with time and a reference book. He needs to brush up on it in preparation for Dracula's grand library, but definitely not in front of any of the Ţepeşes.
Once Alucard has sampled the dishes, Hector begins to eat. They're going to need energy for all of the book shopping and architectural tourism they'll be doing today.]
I could, but I won't. They're living creatures. [
basically] I try to let them act freely, unless it endangers them. [or occasionally if it interferes with kissing a very hot dhampir].no subject
[Yeah, he sounds more than a little excited about that possibility.
Alucard's approach to their feast is to take a little of one dish, move onto the next, and then return to where he's started. It's a careful rotation, although one he fully admits is odd. Truly it's just to keep any one set of flavors from being overwhelming.]
Ah, I see. Well, there may be foods we bring back that are not safe for dogs to eat.
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Books before our bath? If you want to spend more time here, we could delay our departure another day.
[He knows Alucard is eager to be home and assure his parents of his safety, but Hector doesn’t want him to go away having missed out on anything.
It’s totally just that and not also the niggling fear that Dracula will take one look at him, know he’s been kissing his son and heir, and put a clawed fist through his heart.]Do you want me to order the dogs not to eat your snacks?
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[He hasn't had a real bath in a while, Hector. He hates it.]
Mmmm, I think that might be required. But only this once.
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[Probably best to go bathe before they are laden with more books, unless they are taking a trip back to their rooms midday.]
Ok, but really, just the once. I don't want to make a habit of it.
[He has the power that could wreck havoc on the world, but his temperament prevents it. Hector prefers to let everyone be, as long as they aren't actively harming him or his.]
Are you ready for dessert?
[He holds up a lokma between thumb and forefinger. Just platonically offering to hand feed a friend, totally not a date.]
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[And that's that, in the end. Alucard has always been fine. There's no reason to presume that things will change, not really.
But as for desert? Alucard's eyes linger on the lokma for a moment, ready to insist that Hector need not hold it like that, but...it's far too thick with honey, and there's no merit in both of them getting sticky
yet.So he leans down and takes a bite. What if his lips accidentally brush against Hector's fingers in the process?]
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We’ll come back.
[He promises, because ‘fine’ is a state to be endured, not something that you should aim for. He offers another dessert for Alucard to sample.]
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[You know what? He's just going to shut up and take that send lokma. Probably smarter.]
You don't have to keep feeding me, you know.
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[The Ottoman Empire may be vast, but they are no Dracula.
Hector lowers his hands.]
Do you not like them? Or do you not like this?
[Maybe they are attracting the odd stare, but Hector's enjoying himself. He's sure Alucard looks handsome and noble enough that he could be mistaken for a servant feeding his lord.]
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[Alucard is also well aware that his mother will want to offer medical aid instead. He's not looking forward to watching this particular fight, and hopefully it can be avoided.
it won't be.Alucard pauses, tucking a few stray strands of hand.]
Neither. But I am capable of feeding myself and I think it unfair for only you to have sticky fingers.
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[
How did Hector ever become a general? He’s The Worst at this.Hector shrugs, but passes the cloth containing the rest of the desserts over to Alucard.]
I don’t mind it. It’s kind of nice.
[Not the sticky fingers part, but the getting to touch Alucard’s lips in public part. But Alucard’s probably right.]
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[
Hector, at least we know you're terrible at it.Alucard takes another piece from the cloth, and he chews very thoughtfully.]
There will be other opportunities, I'm sure. The current estimation for our time to port is five days.
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Your father has the right idea, not tying himself down to a single place and having to weather the changing tides.
[Hector steals a piece of baklava for himself, then starts to wipe his fingers clean.]
So is that how you want to spend our time on the boat? I’m not opposed.
[The mental image of Alucard, draped on a couch, accepting morsels from Hector’s fibgertips... um, bath soon? Cold bath soon??]
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Thankfully, Alucard is oblivious to Hector's train of thought. Is there a term for a twink who doesn't realize he's a twink?]
Not all of it, obviously, I expect that we will run out of food. I'd also rather not risk bringing that much honey, lest it invite rats.
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I imagine we'll take some breaks. Knowing how sweet you'll taste, I'll need to stop to kiss you.
[Also, you know, sleeping, dog petting. The essentials.
God, Hector can feel his face going red, talking about it so blatantly. He pushes himself up and dusts himself off.]
We should see about that bath, otherwise we won't be presentable enough to get into the libraries.
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