Musebox

[petcromancer]

A home for PSLs.

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[petcromancer]

[There will come a day when Hector doesn't ruthlessly take advantage of Alucard's sensitive neck, but it is not this day.]

Shhh. It's because I'm so talented, and you're so gorgeous.

[He follows Alucard up, not quite going so far as to tug him back down, but still keeping close, in case he's willing to be persuaded.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Yeah it's called when Dad Shows Up.]

Mmm. It is tempting, but I am also a very firm believer in not being tossed overboard.

[petcromancer]

[Hector sighs, but flops back on the mattress.]

This is a vacation for you. You could be a little less diligent.

[Alucard is a good boy, though, and Hector isn't really trying to convince him anymore. They can't stay in the cabin all day.

Alucard is leaving Hector alone with his thoughts, which is probably dangerous. He's going to be scheming all day.]

[cryptsleeper]

And risk being tossed overboard? I think not.

[Fair passage and all. With that, Alucard finally gets up, taking a few precious minutes to un-dishevel himself. That's important, and when he exits, he looks perfectly presentable. No sign that anything's happened at all.

So it goes. The sea is almost eventful when Alucard's keen eyes spot another ship over the horizon, but it's another trading vessel and they all move on without incident. He's good for catching things, and that? That's all there is for the day.

He returns to the cabin with the sunset.]

[petcromancer]

[Hector cleans himself up as well, and finds ways to pass the time so he don't spend the whole day wondering what else he can get away with. He takes a walk around the parts of the ship where he is permitted. He finds a dead rat, which he sneaks back into the room and animates. He lets the dogs chase it around the room until they tire- they really do need their exercise- before he lets the energy animating it dissipate. He finds a port hole to toss it out of, and the gulls take what they can of it before it drops into the ocean for the fish. It's the circle of life.

Before Alucard comes back, Hector does his best to tidy up the room. Alucard worked all day, even if there was no real need of it, and the least Hector can do it try to make him comfortable.

When Alucard returns to their cabin, Hector ushers him to sit down.]

Have you eaten? We still have a few of our pastries left.

[He circles around behind Alucard and starts to rub his shoulders. He isn't practiced with massage, but he does have a very thorough working knowledge of the musculature of the human body. Long day at work, take a load off, Alucard.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard's more inclined to pet the dogs than to sit once entering the cabin, as he's sure he has been missed. But in being ushered to sit down that means the dogs have a lap to climb into instead, and so Alucard doesn't fight against sitting.

It's feels strange to be this...he doesn't think fawned over is correct. Focused on perhaps, and so with Hector's hands working at his back (Alucard would point out that his natural healing abilities means he experiences no aches or pains), his hands move to pet the dogs.]

I have eaten, and I was going to wait a bit before reaching for the baklava.

How did you spend your day?

[petcromancer]

[Shhh, Alucard, it doesn't have to be strictly medicinal. Maybe Hector just likes an excuse to touch you.]

Nothing much. Stretched my legs, exercised the dogs, thought about how nice it would be to have you back here.

[He's not going to interrupt dog-cuddle time, though.]

I take it the seas were quiet.

[cryptsleeper]

[Hector. He's not good at thinking like that yet.]

Mmm, they're weathering being cooped up fairly well.

[For emphasis, Cezar gets a scratch under the chin.]

They were. It's looking like rain tomorrow though, so plan your time accordingly.

[petcromancer]

Yes, they've been very good. We'll have to pick them up a treat when we reach land.

[Hector doesn't have to reach over Alucard to stroke them. The dogs both know when they are being praised, and their tails wag.]

So what you're saying is, I'll be cooped up tomorrow and should get all of my energy out tonight?

[It's absolutely not what Alucard was saying. But it could be.]

[cryptsleeper]

[They're Such Good Dogs. Which means scratches behind the ears from the dhampir.]>

I can save a few bits of meat from tomorrow's meal in the mean time.

[So. Much. Sausage. Alucard gets it, it's salted and will survive at sea, but still.

Also Hector. Hector please. Alucard's hum of interest is low, and he angles his head back so Hector can see the raised eyebrows on the dhampir's face.]

How much thought have you given this?

[petcromancer]

[Hector shrugs. He's behind Alucard, but still touching, so even if Alucard doesn't see it, he probably still knows.]

Well, I was here all day, with little to do. A few thoughts may have crossed my mind.

[He stops the massaging and gives Alucard's shoulders a pat instead. There is something more important that his thirst.]

What about you? Have you thought about...what happened last night?

[Hector thinks Alucard was alright with their shared experience, but there wasn't much time for the dhampir to process it before he left this morning. If they aren't on the same page anymore, Hector needs to rein himself in.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Hector's right. Alucard hasn't given it much thought, because his down time is well, now. And Hector's there, meaning that he hasn't truly processed anything.

He won't be rude. Honesty is the only option.]

In truth, I haven't had much opportunity to.

[petcromancer]

[He sighs. Well, he can be patient. Contrary to all evidence.]

Alright. I'll give you time to think. I haven't eaten yet. I can take my böreği on deck.

[That'll give Alucard a little time with just the dogs and his thoughts for company.]

[cryptsleeper]

--Thank you.

[The dogs are good company. The best, and Alucard just keeps petting them, after he scootches back against the wall of the ship so he can sit up properly.

There's a lot to think about, but the future? That weighs the most heavily on his mind. As wonderful as fooling around is, and oh, last night was wonderful, they both have to think beyond this ship and the liminality of it.

No matter what thought, Alucard is sure that the rest of the voyage will be awkward.]

[petcromancer]

[Hector has his dinner on deck, under the night sky. There's only a skeleton crew on deck at this time of evening, so there's blessed quiet. He can see those rain clouds in the distance, as an absence of stars.

He has less worries about the future than Alucard. Yes, the circling around one another, trying to figure out how they fit can be awkward, but anything worth doing is worth putting effort into.

And he really likes Alucard. He should be miserable, being in such close quarters with someone else after having lived as a hermit, but he actually doesn't mind.

He heads back to their room.]

I hope the dogs didn't distract you too much.

[cryptsleeper]

[When Hector walks back in, Alucard is instead lying on his side, petting the dogs. He's no longer thinking heavily, and his eyes are focused on the dogs themselves. They'll be around for a while yet, although Alucard doesn't know how easily they'll manage the castle and the many stairs there.]

Not at all. They were incredibly conducive to thinking, in truth.

[petcromancer]

[Yes?? Could you be more vague, Alucard?]

So...are you tired?

[Or do you want to stay up and talk? Or stay up and not talk?]

[cryptsleeper]

[HE CAN!!! But he won't.]

Where do you see this going, Hector?

[Yeah. Hasn't dated before, but has an absolute mastery of the worst relationship questions.]

[petcromancer]

[UMMM. Hector sits down beside Alucard so they can share the dogs.]

I don't know. I can't see into the future. But I'd like to keep spending time with you. Court you, maybe, if you wanted that. You're an adult. Your parents can't expect you to stay alone forever.

[He shrugs.]

It depends on what you want, Alucard. We can just be friends, or we can try for more than that.

[cryptsleeper]

[Sharing dogs is very important. Alucard softly nudges Cesar over in Hector's direction.]

I'm not sure I'm ready to be actually courted yet. [This all happened much too fast.] Please don't mistake me, this learning experience has been well. [There's a pause, and a soft, happy noise.] Remarkable.

[But what he wants. Alucard shakes his head.]

But that brings us to what I want, and I can't answer that yet. The world is wide and I've seen so little of it.

[petcromancer]

[Hector scoops up Cesar and flips him over so he can rub his belly.]

That would be far off. I just don’t want you to think that I’d bed you and abandon you. But if you want this to end when we reach our destination, I’ll put it out of my mind.

[Well, that’s a lie. He won’t stop thinking about it, but he won’t mention it again.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Dogs make hard conversations easier.]

I suppose the question becomes does it help to end it now, before matters intensify further?

[petcromancer]

[Not even the dogs can make this part of the conversation better. He keeps rubbing, though, so Cesar doesn't whine at him.]

It might, if you think it should end.

[Can you hear his reluctance, Alucard?]

[cryptsleeper]

[Yes. Yes he can.]

I'm asking what's best for you.

[petcromancer]

[Hector tickles the puppy-tummy, and Cesar snorts happily. At least somebody is happy with how this is going.]

No, I don't want to stop. But we've established I'm reckless, and I don't want you to get hurt.