Musebox

[petcromancer]

A home for PSLs.

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[petcromancer]

[Hector doesn’t mind. He lives for spoiling his pets.

He settles his back against the wall so he can keep mindlessly petting into the night, until the dogs are all asleep.

Of course, then he’s trapped, unable to get up and head to the hammock without waking them. It’s fine, he’s slept worse places. He leans his head back and lets himself doze.]

[cryptsleeper]

[So the voyage goes. Alucard shifts between his forms, playing with the dogs to help tire them out, and then sitting with Hector to advise him of things like how the castle requires very strong legs because of all the stairs. He speaks a little of his parent's current research, and soon enough, they reach their destination.

From ship to carriage, from carriage to walking on foots into the forests of Wallachia, where the castle waits for them both. Within it's walls, the castle moves high into the Carpathian mountains, and Hector is properly welcomed.

For people who have not hosted guests in...well, never as a couple dealing with a human, the whole affair is pointedly low on formalities. Lisa is the warmest thing a room, asking Hector after his work and his personal life (and petting the dogs), with Vlad just beaming. Alucard listens, and then?

Then the work begins. Alucard doesn't have a need to be hovering with his father and Hector, and his own pursuits turn inward towards architectural design. He sits in his own work spaces, drafting, stopping for meals or to hunt for food, or to greet Cesar when the little dog pokes his head in.

Working with Dracula demands a night schedule though, and it's only now, a week in, that Alucard has well and truly seen Hector go past his own rooms. At that, the dhampir sticks his head out, an arm full of pug.]

Hector?

[petcromancer]

[The journey has been a whirlwind. Hector tries not to have a hopeless crush on Alucard as they travel together, but Alucard makes it difficult, by being Alucard. It's terrible.

At least when they get to the castle, Hector is too nervous, then too busy getting settled in to dwell long on his feelings. Dracula really is a genius, and Lisa has a way of making him want to do great things to impress her. He needs their parental approval, so sue him.

Hector's always kept strange hours, but getting onto a regular nocturnal schedule is tricky. He feels like he is just now getting his footing.

And he immediately loses it the moment Alucard calls his name. Literally, he misses a step and has to flail to regain his balance. Smooth. So smooth.]

Alucard, there you are. Your mother said you'd be up here somewhere.

[Maybe Alucard didn't see. With his superhuman eyes. That are looking right at him.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard does see that missed step. He just has the good grace and manners to ignore it.]

I am. I was also wondering if you could take Cesar? As grateful as I've been for his company while I've been working, he's also terribly distracting.

[Yes, Alucard's been petting the dog on his lap for hours while trying to do architectural drawings.]

[petcromancer]

[Oh. Is that all Alucard wanted from him?]

Of course. He hasn't been making a nuisance of himself, has he? I thought he ran off to explore the castle. I didn't realize....

[That he'd made a beeline for Alucard's room as soon as Hector had gotten too engrossed in his work to pay proper attention to him.

Hector steps into the room to collect his wayward pup and also get a better look at what Alucard's been up to. He's wildly curious.]

[cryptsleeper]

Of course not. But I wanted to make sure he found his way to you without encountering too many stairs.

[Cesar seems happy enough to see Hector, although he does give Alucard a moment's look of betrayal. Alucard shakes his head, then steps aside.

It's a drafting studio, one with a large table and a number of plans scattershot over a few long tables. They show interiors with gears and other mechanical elements, not terribly unlike what exists in the castle at the moment.]

[petcromancer]

He made it up here on his own. Unless...he didn't make you carry him up here, did he?

[He wouldn't put it past the lazy little scamp.

Hector takes a look around Alucard's studio. What is privacy?]

Did you draw these?

[Hector only understands architecture as it relates to biology, so it all seems intricate and amazing to him.]

[cryptsleeper]

As much as I'd indulge him, I promise you he came here on his own.

[Alucard stands aside to allow Hector in properly. Cesar definitely wants attention, but Alucard has learned to ignore the pug. Sometimes.]

I did, yes. My father and I are collaborating on making a private keep for myself.

[petcromancer]

[Hector always tries to keep some sort of treat or toy on hand for Cesar. Today's distraction is a little strip of rawhide, which he tosses across the room. Cesar yips, then bounds over to it and flops onto the floor to begin chewing on it.

Hector shakes his head at the pup.]

At least he got some exercise on the way up. I'll have to carry him back down when I go.

[Which doesn't seem to be immediately. Hector's glad of the chance to catch back up with Alucard.]

Decided you needed a space of your own, huh? Has that been in the works long?

[cryptsleeper]

I think we both spoil him.

[Not that Cesar isn't worth spoiling. Alucard watches him go ham on the rawhide, smiling at the whole scene.]

This has been a collaboration for some time. It's more an exercise in creation rather than an intent to move out.

Your studies have been going well, I take it?

[petcromancer]

So you don't want your own place.

[Alucard. ALUCARD. Think of what you'd have the freedom to do in your own private keep. You are killing this necromancer.]

My studies are going well. Your father and I have theories about a new application of necromancy. He's getting the materials ready so we can start trials soon.

[Well, at least Hector has his work. They both have their work. Who needs kisses when there are theories to test.]

[cryptsleeper]

Not especially.

[LOOK MOM IS MORTAL HE ONLY GETS 1 LIFETIME WITH HER!!!]

...Materials. [For necromancy.]

I trust it will be ethically sources.

[That's a Lisa rule, to say the very least.]

[petcromancer]

Don't fret. We're starting with animals. Between the predators in the forests and animals slaughtered for meat, there's no shortage of materials we can collect without harming anything.

[Hector wouldn't kill an animal for no reason. His ethics are probably backwards, but they make sense in his little world.]

You know, having your own keep would mean having more independence. A quiet study. Privacy.

[cryptsleeper]

May I ask which animals you intend to begin with?

[Mostly so he knows if they're the kind he and Lisa use for food.]

I suppose. And the castle can feel as if it has no privacy even if I am in the tallest tower and I know my parents are in the underground chambers.

[petcromancer]

[Hector shrugs. It’s not the most glamorous, but...]

I usually start with rabbits. There’s never a shortage of them, and the successes make good pets.

[So hopefully the Tepes household likes bunnies.

...and speaking of dumb horny creatures....]

Yes, I would think a young man like yourself might appreciate a little space. For your studies. Or if you wanted a study partner.

[You know, either/or.]

[cryptsleeper]

Mm. Usually I don't hunt them either, so you won't be dipping into our food supply.

[Alucard usually relies on deer and wild boar for protein, and he keeps a careful eye on the populations as to not over hunt.]

Is that a proposition, Hector?

[Study partner. Right.]

[petcromancer]

That is the hope. I shouldn't need many to test the theory.

[It should be low-impact on the environment and sustainable. Dracula said that would be important. This is why Hector needs a mentor.]

It could be, if we had a little privacy.

[He gives an over-exaggerated shrug of his shoulders. Presumably, Alucard's quarters have some degree of seclusion from the rest of the castle.]

[cryptsleeper]

What is the theory, if I may ask?

[Alucard can read that shrug now. There's a few ways of responding to it, but they all begin with a very careful consideration. Hector is here, which means Hector probably should be prioritizing the work and not risking them both. Hector stop taking calculated risks you're bad at math

Do you believe that wise?

[petcromancer]

I want to see if, instead of animating a body, I can use alchemy to create a new, viable body. Something made of rabbits, but not a rabbit. Something new.

[He wants to know if he can. Maybe he'll make a jackalope. It'll be great.

shhhh, leave his math alone.]

No, but I still want to. I said I'd leave it to you to decide. I'm just...reminding you of the options.

[cryptsleeper]

But does that mean you're transferring the soul of the original thing, or trying to create life in some other way?

[While jackalopes sound amazing, the rest is just interesting. Enough to make the vampire very thoughtful.]

Mm. I admit that one had not sprung to mind. Thank you for that.

[petcromancer]

Animals don't have souls, technically. They have spirits. It's semantics. Nature is full of spirits that are waiting for a new vessel, and I want to see if I can create a new body for one.

[It's more than a simple transfer. It is becoming a creator. The church would burn everything in a twenty mile radius if they knew. So that's fun.

If Alucard wants to distract Hector from the other conversation, this is the way. Focus back on the work.]

You're welcome to come to the lab when we begin, if you're interested.

[cryptsleeper]

So it's transmutation?

[Alucard this isn't Fullmetal Alchemist, stop.]

I'll await to see what happens, but once you have gone through the process a few times, I would be incredibly interested in observing.

[petcromancer]

Yes, but for living creatures.

[This is revolutionary, Alucard, be impressed.]

Alright, I'll show it to you when I have it perfected. But you're welcome to come observe me any time.

[He doesn't wink, but it's a very near thing.]

[cryptsleeper]

It doesn't need to be perfect. Just working. A third set of eyes less expert in this magic could be a potential benefit.

[Alucard's own interests mean that he pursued fewer dark arts than his father. He is literate and skilled in them, but re-animating the dead and interfering with souls? That is not the dhampir's domain.]

If you want to spend time with me though, you could simply say so.

[petcromancer]

You'll see the simple solution through the overly-complicated theories your father and I come up with, you mean.

[He's teasing, although it wouldn't surprise him if it turned out that way. Alucard or Lisa, raising a perfect blond eyebrow and pointing to the obvious flaw in the plan...]

I thought it was obvious that I wanted that, Alucard.