[God, Hector is pathetic. That small smile, that little chuckle, and Hector feels like he could melt into the floor.]
Take your time. The water's fine. I'll be here when you're done.
[Hector can sit and let a cup of tea grow cold in his hands while he tries to not panic about how Dracula is going to know he's got a hopeless crush on his son the second he crosses the threshold of the castle. Is impaling as painful as they say? He's probably going to find out.]
[Well, mom's there, so there probably won't be impalement.
Either way, Alucard does end up taking his time. It's closer to half an hour, and most of it is the novelty of the heated stones that can be used for lying down on. His own body temperature, running as cool as it does, means that absorbing heat and having something like a normal human's temperature? That's an absolute novelty, and one he rather enjoys.
But there's salt to be rid of and a long journey ahead, so Alucard forces himself upright and scrubs through all the build up. Moreover, he takes advantage of the deep pools to truly wash out his hair, and oh, it feels so much better.
He finds Hector again, hair sodden but looking otherwise immaculate.]
I think that next time, I'm going to have to allocate more time for this place.
[Hector will show Alucard other ways to warm his body up any time he wants.
Even with wet hair, Alucard looks perfect, and Hector has the horrible impulse to muss him up. He resists nobly.]
I hear your castle has some fine baths. You won't suffer too much until you can come back. You did want to go back to the book market, didn't you?
[He's absolutely dangling that carrot on a stick to make sure Alucard doesn't go away feeling too bad that they rushed through this part of their journey.]
[It would be but Hector think about how loud the dhampir probably will be.]
We should focus on the pastries.
[Alucard makes a point to get a few heartier and meatier options in addition to more sweets, aware that they have a voyage ahead and that there may be rats on the boat.
The boat is mostly of luxury goods, and Alucuard has parlayed passage by offering his own sword as a means of protection. Such as it is, their room is a little larger than last, with an uncomfortable mattress of hay or a hammock. Alucard's certain that the hammock will be more comfortable.
They leave in the evening light. Alucard's happy enough to eat some of their own provisions rather than take from the crew, and when all is said and done, he flops backwards, his head on the mattress and the rest of him on the floor.]
You come from a castle. You shouldn't be sleeping on the floor.
[If he thought he could convince Alucard to share the mattress with him, he might try, but that seems even less likely than the two of them in the hammock.
He's pleased that Alucard checked the structure of the hammock before rejecting the idea.]
You just got yourself clean. Take the hammock.
[Hector trusts the dogs to keep the rats off him while he sleeps.]
You did as well, but I won't fight you further about this.
[But he isn't getting up either. There are dogs to pet, but Alucard's eyes meet Hector's, quietly asking why he's still standing when he could be down here, cuddled up against the dhampir.]
[Hector rolls his eyes at Alucard's look, but he absolutely joins Alucard half-on the mattress and in cuddle range. He scoots up against Alucard's side and reaches an arm across him to scratch Cesar's head.]
You know, you still haven't shown me your transformation.
[Hector is weak, Alucard. He needs to pet all the dogs.]
[Look Hector this has been a journey of vampiric self discovery and one thing Alucard has walked away with is that he really, really enjoys being snuggled.]
That's true, I haven't.
[Watching Cesar react to the attention, Alucard hums thoughtfully.]
In a few more hours. Once it's certain the ship is at rest.
[Well, Alucard is in the right place, sandwiched between two dogs on one side and one Hector on the other, the two sides of which are reaching across him to pet. Hector nuzzles his face into Alucard's neck, inhaling the scent of soaps and oils from the bath.]
That's a promise, and I'm holding you to it.
[So, that means that they both have some time to kill, and that Hector shouldn't wear himself out on petting just yet. He wonders if Alucard the wolf will smell as good as Alucard the dhampir.]
[Alucard shifts and wiggles a little to adjust the new (warm, wonderful) weight on his neck, but that's truly all he fusses with. There's a content sigh that follows, and you know what?
He would be just fine if this was the entire voyage. Curled up, being held, petting dogs.]
I would expect no less. But I'll smell closer to wet dog, you know.
[Hector is hoping for more before the end of this journey --he has so much to teach Alucard-- but for now, after some hours of running around the city on their errands, he's content with just this as well.]
Wet dog smell's no deal breaker.
[He scoops Cesar up and deposits him on Alucard's stomach for easier access. Antonius immediately fills the vacated space at Alucard's other side. The dhampir is truly being cuddled on all fronts now, on this sad gross straw mattress.]
You are the first and only person who will ever utter those words.
[Even Alucard can't stand his own wet dog smell. But that's hardly the point. The point is dogs, and he's so happy to move a hand to pet under Cesar's chin. This? This is probably spoiled in spite of the nightmare of a mattress.
So he stays snuggled up for an hour more, and then he nudges Hector gently with his elbow.]
Everyone else needs to learn to appreciate dogs more.
[Hector grumbles into the crook of Alucard's shoulder. Smelling wet dog means you have been graced with the presence of a dog, which is always a good thing.
When the time comes, Hector lifts Cesar again and whistles for Antonius to come to him, then rolls from his side to his back, giving Alucard a precious foot of space free of man and undead dogs.]
Am I allowed to watch?
[He doesn't know what the transformation will entail, but he's wildly curious.]
I can't say that there's much to observe, in truth.
[Alucard draws himself up, and he walks a few steps. It's as he moves that the transformation occurs, perhaps too fast, perhaps with too little fanfare. His features shift, morph, become elongated and then more canine, until a large wolf is standing there, tail curled up very slightly.
That same wolf then walks right back over to Hector, aware that there's only 1 reaction here: pet the dog.[
[Hector's reaction is to pet the dog while also asking every imaginable question- where did the clothes go? Does Alucard's weight remain the same? Can dogs see in color?
Cesar and Antonius immediately abandon Hector to examine this new friend who smells alike-but-different from Friend Alucard. They bump against him and sniff and playfully dart around him, an invitation to play.
Meanwhile, Hector is examining the wolf form as he strokes and scratches. Alucard appears, by all metrics Hector can measure, to be an honest to God wolf. The pelt, the bone structure, even the large paw pads and extra digit on the front paws.
Needless to say, Hector is thoroughly petting this dog and he is delighted.]
[Hector's questions do get a soft growl of response, because Hector he can't reply??? Like this?????
But he is happy to sniff at Cesar and Antonious. Paw at them, sniff, but he doesn't play until Hector is done Examining The Wolf. Then the wolf is happy to just move and dart a little, not exactly giving chase but definitely helping the other two to get in a bit of exercise.
And again at the question, there's a soft huff! He has to be a person to reply you know!]
[The dogs have been troopers on this journey so far, and Hector eventually withdraws so they Alucard can help them get some of their pent-up energy out.]
Now you’ll definitely be their favorite.
[There’s no weight behind the teasing, though. Hector can’t blame his pets. Alucard is his favorite too.]
[Alucard snuffles for that, but you know what? It's so much fun to run with the dogs that he keeps at it until it seems the other two are going to slow down. There's not much jumping about on Alucard's part, just quick movement to give chase, and then letting the other two run themselves mad. It's stupidly endearing. A reminder of why it's nice to not be human some days.
But it all winds down, and when that happens, Alucard settles back down beside Hector, now human.
[Hector watches the canines at play, absurdly fond. It's almost scary, how much he doesn't mind his dear pets cozying up to someone other than himself. Hector has often felt content in his cabin on the island, but rarely happy.
He lets his arms wind around Alucard and nestles his nose into the back of his neck the way Alucard seems to like.]
I suppose I can let spoil them, as long as you're staying near me and not luring them away.
[Because that's the fear, that Alucard will decide he likes traveling more than he likes Hector and go off on his own fabulous adventures after he drops Hector off at the castle.
The point of action for that is to make sure Alucard is well versed in all the benefits of his presence.]
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Take your time. The water's fine. I'll be here when you're done.
[Hector can sit and let a cup of tea grow cold in his hands while he tries to not panic about how Dracula is going to know he's got a hopeless crush on his son the second he crosses the threshold of the castle. Is impaling as painful as they say? He's probably going to find out.]
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Either way, Alucard does end up taking his time. It's closer to half an hour, and most of it is the novelty of the heated stones that can be used for lying down on. His own body temperature, running as cool as it does, means that absorbing heat and having something like a normal human's temperature? That's an absolute novelty, and one he rather enjoys.
But there's salt to be rid of and a long journey ahead, so Alucard forces himself upright and scrubs through all the build up. Moreover, he takes advantage of the deep pools to truly wash out his hair, and oh, it feels so much better.
He finds Hector again, hair sodden but looking otherwise immaculate.]
I think that next time, I'm going to have to allocate more time for this place.
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Hector will show Alucard other ways to warm his body up any time he wants.Even with wet hair, Alucard looks perfect, and Hector has the horrible impulse to muss him up. He resists nobly.]
I hear your castle has some fine baths. You won't suffer too much until you can come back. You did want to go back to the book market, didn't you?
[He's absolutely dangling that carrot on a stick to make sure Alucard doesn't go away feeling too bad that they rushed through this part of their journey.]
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Hector just don't do that in the house....]I did but...
[Alucard pauses, and then considers the time. There's a soft click of his tongue.]
We need to get going so we don't miss our boat. The books will be here another time.
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Sounds like the boat is free game.]So soon? We at least have time to pick up a few more pastries to take with us, right?
[Maybe they should have bathed together after all, if only to give Alucard a little more time for shopping.
He'll go without complaint though, to pick up their dogs, belongings, and snacks so they can be early to their ship like good little passengers.]
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It would be but Hector think about how loud the dhampir probably will be.]We should focus on the pastries.
[Alucard makes a point to get a few heartier and meatier options in addition to more sweets, aware that they have a voyage ahead and that there may be rats on the boat.
The boat is mostly of luxury goods, and Alucuard has parlayed passage by offering his own sword as a means of protection. Such as it is, their room is a little larger than last, with an uncomfortable mattress of hay or a hammock. Alucard's certain that the hammock will be more comfortable.
They leave in the evening light. Alucard's happy enough to eat some of their own provisions rather than take from the crew, and when all is said and done, he flops backwards, his head on the mattress and the rest of him on the floor.]
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Hector watches with a raised eyebrow.]
You're not planning on sleeping on that thing, are you?
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Well, one of us has to.
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Not necessarily. If we keep still, we could probably both fit into the hammock.
[Even on a nicer ship, there will be rats scurrying around when the lights go out.]
If not, I’ll take the mattress. I’ve slept on worse.
[But really, sharing the hammock, Alucard will definitely be kept warm enough.]
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[Alucard's eyes go up to the fixtures the hammock hangs from, and he frowns.]
We may fit, but I suspect it wouldn't support both of our weights.
I don't mind the mattress. I can ignore anything that scurries.
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[If he thought he could convince Alucard to share the mattress with him, he might try, but that seems even less likely than the two of them in the hammock.
He's pleased that Alucard checked the structure of the hammock before rejecting the idea.]
You just got yourself clean. Take the hammock.
[Hector trusts the dogs to keep the rats off him while he sleeps.]
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[But he isn't getting up either. There are dogs to pet, but Alucard's eyes meet Hector's, quietly asking why he's still standing when he could be down here, cuddled up against the dhampir.]
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You know, you still haven't shown me your transformation.
[Hector is weak, Alucard. He needs to pet all the dogs.]
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That's true, I haven't.
[Watching Cesar react to the attention, Alucard hums thoughtfully.]
In a few more hours. Once it's certain the ship is at rest.
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That's a promise, and I'm holding you to it.
[So, that means that they both have some time to kill, and that Hector shouldn't wear himself out on petting just yet. He wonders if Alucard the wolf will smell as good as Alucard the dhampir.]
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He would be just fine if this was the entire voyage. Curled up, being held, petting dogs.]
I would expect no less. But I'll smell closer to wet dog, you know.
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Wet dog smell's no deal breaker.
[He scoops Cesar up and deposits him on Alucard's stomach for easier access. Antonius immediately fills the vacated space at Alucard's other side. The dhampir is truly being cuddled on all fronts now, on this sad gross straw mattress.]
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[Even Alucard can't stand his own wet dog smell. But that's hardly the point. The point is dogs, and he's so happy to move a hand to pet under Cesar's chin. This? This is probably spoiled in spite of the nightmare of a mattress.
So he stays snuggled up for an hour more, and then he nudges Hector gently with his elbow.]
I need a little space to transform.
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[Hector grumbles into the crook of Alucard's shoulder. Smelling wet dog means you have been graced with the presence of a dog, which is always a good thing.
When the time comes, Hector lifts Cesar again and whistles for Antonius to come to him, then rolls from his side to his back, giving Alucard a precious foot of space free of man and undead dogs.]
Am I allowed to watch?
[He doesn't know what the transformation will entail, but he's wildly curious.]
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[Alucard draws himself up, and he walks a few steps. It's as he moves that the transformation occurs, perhaps too fast, perhaps with too little fanfare. His features shift, morph, become elongated and then more canine, until a large wolf is standing there, tail curled up very slightly.
That same wolf then walks right back over to Hector, aware that there's only 1 reaction here: pet the dog.[
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Cesar and Antonius immediately abandon Hector to examine this new friend who smells alike-but-different from Friend Alucard. They bump against him and sniff and playfully dart around him, an invitation to play.
Meanwhile, Hector is examining the wolf form as he strokes and scratches. Alucard appears, by all metrics Hector can measure, to be an honest to God wolf. The pelt, the bone structure, even the large paw pads and extra digit on the front paws.
Needless to say, Hector is thoroughly petting this dog and he is delighted.]
Why have we not been doing this every night?
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But he is happy to sniff at Cesar and Antonious. Paw at them, sniff, but he doesn't play until Hector is done Examining The Wolf. Then the wolf is happy to just move and dart a little, not exactly giving chase but definitely helping the other two to get in a bit of exercise.
And again at the question, there's a soft huff! He has to be a person to reply you know!]
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[The dogs have been troopers on this journey so far, and Hector eventually withdraws so they Alucard can help them get some of their pent-up energy out.]
Now you’ll definitely be their favorite.
[There’s no weight behind the teasing, though. Hector can’t blame his pets. Alucard is his favorite too.]
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But it all winds down, and when that happens, Alucard settles back down beside Hector, now human.
He's absolutely figured out spooning now.]
Only for a time. They're still yours.
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He lets his arms wind around Alucard and nestles his nose into the back of his neck the way Alucard seems to like.]
I suppose I can let spoil them, as long as you're staying near me and not luring them away.
[Because that's the fear, that Alucard will decide he likes traveling more than he likes Hector and go off on his own fabulous adventures after he drops Hector off at the castle.
The point of action for that is to make sure Alucard is well versed in all the benefits of his presence.]
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