Musebox

[petcromancer]

A home for PSLs.

Comments

[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.

[cryptsleeper]

You are reckless.

[Oh no. Those tummy tickles are too much. Alucard's gonna just get in on that.]

But I also don't want you to be hurt. Nor do I want to encourage recklessness once we're off this boat.

[petcromancer]

[Hector moves one of his hands to Antonius' ears so Alucard has some room on Cesar's little stomach.]

You're not, though. So it'll be fine if I do what you tell me.

[Alucard is definitely the more responsible one, so they're probably both better off if Hector's not the ones calling the shots.]

So, I won't push you anymore. But if you want anything, just say it.

[cryptsleeper]

[Very delicate fingers rub at Cesar's belly, the other hand remaining flat on the floor to support some of Alucard's weight.]

Mmm. Would it be easier if I wasn't person shaped for the next few evenings?

[petcromancer]

[Hector snorts.]

I do have some self-control, you know. That won’t be necessary.

...unless you want belly-rubs too.

[cryptsleeper]

It was more about emotional well being rather than self control, but very well.

[Belly rubs later. Spoil the dogs now.]

[petcromancer]

[Hector shakes his head slowly.]

I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me.

[He would pat Alucard's head, except they're doing the space thing.]

[cryptsleeper]

It's worth asking.

[He smiles, feeling the awkwardness of the situation to begin to well and truly settle in. Alucard's gaze shifts to the floor, and he tries to shift and settle into this.]

...If you had plans, we could do them tonight and then enforce this tomorrow.

[petcromancer]

[Oh, Alucard, this is the path that is going to get both of you hurt.]

There is a long list of lessons I’d like to teach you. But if you’re uncertain, we’re going to let these dogs, eat our baklava, and then we can go over my Latin until you’re ready to sleep so I don’t look like a bumpkin in front of your genius parents.

[Because as much as Hector wants to smooch, he’s not going to push any more unless Alucard is 100% on board.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Yes. But the good news is? Mentioning parents is a sure fire way to bring Alucard back to sensible reality. So he nods, the proposed plan far smarter.]

The second one then. Although you won't look like a bumpkin, of that I can assure you.

[petcromancer]

[Hector rubs Cesar's paw pads, trying not to let any disappointment show. He'd rather be kissing Alucard, of course, but unless Alucard pursues it, rather than just letting himself be worn down by Hector, it can't happen.

And he likes talking with Alucard, as friends. It's preferable even to being able to cuddle the wolf.]

You say that, but you haven't heard my accent when I try to speak it. My only saving grace is that the language is dying.

[cryptsleeper]

Well, then show me.

[Alucard considers this, and he shifts his entire body so it's facing Hector.

His next words are in Latin.]

I doubt it is as bad as you claim.

[petcromancer]

I can muddles through the basic, but to speak about the sciences is harder.

[He’s sure he’s flubbing some of the declensions, and his vocabulary doesn’t get him as technical as he can go in Greek or Romanian. He knows his hosts will be equipped to communicate in his native tongue, but he’s also got thoughts turned to that promised library.]

I may be hopeless.

[cryptsleeper]

The sciences are hard anyway, especially with my father's level. He invents half the vocabulary.

[Alucard's smile is soft. Trying to be reassuring.]

All will go well. At least when it comes to language.

[petcromancer]

[Ominous. Alucard's smile more than his words help reassure Hector.]

I suppose I should stick to Greek, then. That's the only chance I have of keeping up.

[He shouldn't be so nervous. He knows Dracula. But it'll be different when he reaches the castle as a guest. Especially when he is going in knowing he has deflowered his host's son....]

What about etiquette? What do I need to know before we arrive?

[See, they can fill their evening with things other than kissing. They just...need to keep busy, so they aren't tempted. Everything will be fine and not awkward.]

[cryptsleeper]

I...will be honest, I'm not sure about etiquette. It won't surprise you to learn that we rarely have long term visitors in the castle - or that my mother disdains most formalities.

[EXTREMELY HELFUL DHAMPIR RIGHT HERE. Alucard shakes his head.]

What as it like when my father visited you?

[petcromancer]

[SO HELPFUL.]

When you father came to stay with me, I was the host. By mutual agreement, we were loose with the laws of hospitality.

[Mostly, they'd been too busy geeking out having scholarly discussions, and they hadn't wanted to waste time on formalities.]

You truly think your mother won't care? Offending her is the worst thing I could do.

[Both Tepes men think she hung the moon, and getting on her bad side would get him kicked out in a heartbeat.]