[Alucad retreats without another word, taking the form of a wolf and not a man. It's not a clever attempt at a metpahor either, it's Alucard admitting that to be a person right now is the most exhausting thing. He'd rather have an inhuman form.
He sleeps as a wolf too, curled up in a small nest of blankets he assembles for himself from the bunks below deck. It isn't terribly comfy, as the blankets are coarse and itchy, but he's exhausted. No one cares about that once they're exhausted.
He rises with the moon. Well, a little before that, as he works to make himself presentable first. When Alucard returns to the deck, it's with his hair swept up and off his neck in a neat bun, his ankles and wrists healed, and a far greater sense of both decorum and presence than the stressed, terrified, exhausted mess he was earlier.
More to the point: he approaches Hector and the first words out of his mouth are:] I would like to apologize for my earlier behavior. The circumstances made me far more disagreeable than I wanted to be.
[Alucard has spent the day resting and pulling himself together; Hector has spent that same time wildly working to keep them ahead of any pursuit. There are a couple of newly cobbled winged creatures perched on the ship's mast, and in spite of the failing light, he still has the ship going at full speed.
He's running on fumes now (and no rum), and he's not interested in sweetly kissing and making up.]
Yes, no shit.
[Cesar is on deck, too. Hector had sent one of his undead crewman to retrieve him from the hold after Alucard went below deck. He, at least, pads happily over to Alucard to greet him.
Hector tosses a little pouch at Alucard. It smells of ash and blood.]
I've been very careful to forge my crewmen to obey none but me. [A necessary precaution when living among creatures for whom mutiny was the normal means of advancement in the ranks.] When I activate this, they will react to you as if you are me. You will command their complete loyalty.
[It's a dangerous thing to grant another person. Alucard could take control of the ship with what Hector is about to grant him. It's Hector's only choice, though. It would take longer than he's got to fine-tune the order of command in their minds, and he needs Alucard to be deputized to act while Hector speaks. Enemies could fall upon them at any time.]
If you're carrying anything especially flammable, you'll want to remove it before I trigger the enchantment.
[Alucard pauses, looking up first. The winged things are...who the fuck is he to tell what's new and what isn't? He was barely paying attention earlier today, and now is no time at all to ask questions.]
...As you like.
[He isn't going to press that issue then. Cesar will get a proper greeting in time, and for now, Alucard's eyes remain on Hector himself.]
I understand. Unless there is a true emergency, I do not plan on disturbing them from their current tasks.
[That much is a truth. More than that, Alucard hasn't truly commanded a full ship. Not really. Most of his were automated things, much like Dracula's, that responded through buttons and controls rather than man power.]
There is nothing of a flammable nature on my person. Am I allowed to ask after our route and current trajectory?
[Without ceremony, Hector snaps his fingers, and the pouch erupts in blue flames. It burns in Alucard's hand, consuming the pouch but touching nothing else and producing no real heat. When the pouch is completely burned away, the flame dissipates.
Cesar quirks his head and gives a snorty pug sniff at the dhampir. It is not a smell that lingers over Alucard, but the little dog has no other way of perceiving the familiar aura that now surrounds him. The crewmen and forged creatures turn their blue eyes in his direction for a moment, but in the absence of new orders, return to their tasks.
Hector leans against one of the rails, now that the spell is done.]
That depends. I know the strongest vampires have ways of seeing far beyond their reach. Does that extend to listening in as well?
[So far, the sight of just a ship in the water won't give their enemies too much context, but openly discussing their location could be far more detrimental.]
[There's no reaction from Alucard as the pouch burns, beyond a momentary look of discomfort at the sudden brighteness. Once it's done, Alucard simply breathes out, ignoring the stares. Cesar will get a few good cuddles once Hector's below deck though.
Alucard pauses at the question. He then nods.]
It could. I know most of those involved with my father's work aren't expert spellcasters, but some of their humans could be. It is a risk. One we should avoid.
[The nearest crewman turns to fetch quill pen and parchment at his master's orders. Hector sighs and follows him into the captain's quarters. It's easier to write at his desk than on the deck of a ship with failing light.
He writes out the following message, in Greek:
Resupply at Free Port Carmilla, if you read this, fuck you Verify rumors of the boogeyman Send message to the witch Reassess from there
[He translates the name of Freeport into Greek to try to further obfuscate their plans in case someone is watching, and also has a list of multiple coordinates scrawled on the page. The correct one for their destination, he smudges a drop of blue ink beside.
He sends the message back with the zombie and calls up through his door.]
I need to sleep. Wake me at the first sign of pursuit.
[For the past 24 hours, it feels like all Alucard's done is follow Hector about. To not have to do that is good, and with Hector out of sight, Alucard scoops up Cesar and starts to pet him right behind the ear. It's a form of stress relief, because now that Alucard's slept, his mind is a storm of trying to figure out what to do.
Hector's note doesn't fill him with too much hope. It's the start of a game plan, one that needs much more elaboration. There's no quill to respond with, and Hector cant' see him nod.
All Alucard can do is respond through the door:]
Understood on all accounts.
[The zombie is sent back with the message, so Hector can dispose of it. Alucard demands nothing more. No food or drink, just nothing but himself and the dog and the moon that is starting to rise in the sky.
To Cesar, the dhampir only sighs.]
I don't think there's a single steady course ahead of us.
[Cesar licks Alucard’s nose while he’s high enough to reach his face. To him, this is a wonderful adventure, and the number of masters to site upon him has doubled. All’s well in the dog’s world.
Hector drops the note into one of the oil lamps to burn. He lays down in his bed, but it takes a while for sleep to find him. He’s not used to his ship operating without him, and letting go of the control is hard.
He sleeps, but he’s up before the sun rises to make sure nothing’s caught fire in his absence.
Not hearing any alarms, he ducks into the hold and comes up with breakfast and a flask of ale. He has to be allowed to drink something, and spirits keep easier than fresh water on long journeys.
He has enough that he could share, but he’s no longer gong out of his way to push Alucard to eat.]
[The night is mostly spent balancing the wheel in one hand and Cesar in the other, the little dog barely being placed down unless Alucard absolutely must. The only time must enters the equation is a small change in the winds at 2 in the morning, and it's managed with a quickness and calmness.
He doesn't ask after breakfast when Hector appears on deck. What he does do is place Cesar back down on the ground so that the little dog can greet his person properly, that way Alucard does not appear to be a dog thief.]
There was little to be concerned with, and what small issues did present themselves, they were quick to be resolved. Cesar was also very good company, thank you for letting him stay up.
[He's formal, not only with explanation but with how he holds himself. It's an attempt to respect ship hierarchy, especially since there's been no insistence on it.]
[Hector has to juggle his food so he has a hand to pick up Cesar, but he does it, because he's Cesar's actual master. He flips the dog over in the crook of his elbow and gives his belly scratches the way he likes. Cesar doesn't need any reminders of who loves him best in all the world, but one can never be too safe.]
Yes, he's a good little first mate. The best you'll find on land or sea.
[Seems someone's in less black of a mood, at least. He lets Cesar back down before the pug can start sniffing at his breakfast.]
A little stiff, but I'll loosen up as I work.
[He frowns at Alucard.]
I already know you're an asshole. No need to pretend at being polite with one another now.
[He pulls out his compass and checks their bearings. On track, for what its worth.]
[There's actual gratitude there. Alucard had expected Cesar to be brought inside when Hector went to bed, as there's no doubt that the dog is precious to him. Probably the only thing he likes, if Alucard was to guess.]
The bandages will need to be changed before the sun sets again. They'll become saturated with the ointment if they stay on too long, and I don't want that to create it's own problems.
[It's...it isn't concern exactly, but Alucard is the son of not only Dracula, but of his mother too. He had seen her work as a doctor growing up, and absorbed more than his fair share of the information. Hector's probably right, he's an asshole, but Alucard knows his mother would disapprove of just letting an injury go unchecked.]
We're on the same boat, literally and metaphorically, Hector. And you risked everything for my sake, for some reason. I don't intend to be an asshole and disrespect that. Managing to live with each other is the goal right now, and that means at least trying to be pleasant and aware of hierarchies at play.
[Alucard shakes his head. Why is his bothering?]
If you'd rather I take my leave, then I will do so.
[If Hector had wanted to be truly kind to Alucard, he would have left Cesar with him while Alucard was resting in wolf-form. Letting Cesar stay out at night...that was just practical. Those two obviously enjoyed each other's company, and Hector had needed to sleep. It was nothing that required thanks.]
I'll defer to you on the bandages. I know more about flesh after it's gone necrotic, not before.
[He could manage it on his own, but if he can surrender this one worry to focus his mind on greater ones, he'll do so gladly.]
Look, come and sit and we'll have breakfast, or I'll have breakfast and you can watch. I know we're in this together. Neither of us can afford to part ways right now. But you're not a member of my crew, and I'm not your captain, so there's no need for us to act like it. We're on equal footing, for better or for worse.
[Because Alucard won't let Hector see to his needs, and in terms of a plan, Hector is open to suggestions. Getting caught up in ideas of hierarchies or roles is going to hinder more than aid them.]
It looks like we made good time last night. If the winds stay favorable, we can reach the port before dark. I know a trader who is willing to stock a ship and then forget about it, so long as he's paid properly. That will help us no matter where we go.
[The wolf would have whined and tried to withdraw even further from any interaction. It had all worked out for the better as far as the pug was concerned, and...
...was that a joke?
Alucard isn't sure, but there's a little soft noise that's almost a laugh.]
The goal is to avoid your area of expertise.
[It's as much a joke as Alucard will dare to attempt right now. The tension, it needs to break and break fast, because Alucard knows it'll spell doom just as much as anything else with.]
All right then. [To breakfast. To not dealing with hierarchy. To all of it. There's a certain calmness when Alucard says those words, and then he pauses.] I'm a decent enough cook, for your future reference. [And that's not a brag, that's just true.] I'd also like to transfer full command of your crew back to you, before I eat anything.
[That's just a decent thing to do.]
Mm, I think there are Speakers on that port, yes?
[They'd be the best way to check in about the Belmont armada, so far as Alucard can tell.]
[Hector studies Alucard closely as they sit down. A cook, like a medic, is something he's never bothered with on his ship of undead. With only himself to benefit from it, it had seemed an unnecessary luxury.
He's eaten a lot of jerky, hard tack, and dried fruit. Forget that he just called Alucard an asshole not a minute ago. He is of the angels.]
Do you mean you can make this actually appetizing?
[He gestures at his rations, which he's done nothing to prepare but fishing them out of one of the barrels below deck.]
Yes, then, we'll stick to your expertise and leave mine for if anyone unsavory reaches us.
[Maybe he can learn to put up with Alucard and share his dog if real food is on the line. A way to a man's heart, as the saying goes.
Hector sits on deck with a crate to serve as their table. Said jerky and hard bread, he places in the middle. He uncaps the flask and takes a long sip before adding that to the communal pile as well, in case it gets confiscated. ]
I can break the spell, but we'll have to redo it each night if we end up needing to maintain that same speed. Are you alright with that?
[It's not a hard thing to replicate- ashes, a strand of hair, a force of will, and a few drops of his blood, bound into a bundle. But Hector has to imagine the casting of it feels intrusive.]
I suppose there will be a few. There's Speakers around most every port, these days. I don't know what they're after, but I've seen one or two lurking around our destination.
[Hector's not sure why that would matter. They tend to keep to themselves, and they have no maritime fighting force, as far as Hector knows.]
I can, if appropriately supplied. What does your merchant usually have available?
[Alucard had to learn to cook as a child. His diet was too specialized for him to be without the skill, as Dracula wasn't going to and his mother expected that there would be times in their lives where they would be far from each other. Boat cooking is very different, but it's still a skill to have.
Real food, proper real food made in a house, probably would get at Hector's heart if Alucard had the opportunity. That won't be happening, and so Alucard simply walks over to the makeshift table. It's easy enough to use his nails to crack the hard bread into smaller pieces and to shred the jerky.
Yes, he's shredding the jerky to put it on the bread so it can have a little bit of flavor. Sue him.]
That's fine. The spell works, and I feel safer having to physically hand over the command every sunrise.
[It keeps things above board. Even.]
Mmm. They're one potential route ahead, I believe.
[Hector draws his rapier just far enough out of its sheath at his side to expose the blade. He touches a finger to the sharp edge and gives himself a little nick. He snaps the fingers on his other hand, and the blood flares up in blue flame. The aura superseded over Alucard's fades away.
Hector continues the conversation as if he hadn't just done a minor work of blood magic over breakfast.]
He's always going on about how he could send me with porridge or lentils, if only I'd invest in a real cook-pot. He'll have other ingredients, but he only mentions the basics to me. He knows I am a lost cause.
[Cesar dances around the crate, begging for a treat, so Hector scoops him up and offers him a little slice of jerky. The dog doesn't need to eat, but he enjoys it, and it does not hurt him.]
I wonder if we could disguise our ship as a Seeker vessel. They wear those robes that hide most of themselves.
[Alucard's used to seeing his father's magic at work, and so...yeah. Blood magic over breakfast isn't too big of a deal. The most reaction Alucard makes is a sniff at the blood in the air, and that's quickly ignored.]
I'll write a list before I go to sleep, and we'll go from there. The only request I will insist upon is blood sausage, to meet my dietary needs.
[Blood sausage was the quick fix when other sources weren't available, and Alucard would feel safer with the stuff readily available. There was no snacking on Hector, mostly because he needed to be on the top of his game. Having less blood impacted that.
At least Cesar's cute. There's a soft laugh at the little dance, and how satisfied he looks once it's achieved.]
Absolutely not. The Speakers don't need more violence visited upon them.
[Hector opens his mouth to protest that it would only impact the Seekers if they got caught, but sees Alucard’s expression and shrewdly shuts up.]
Do you think they know something, then? Or know something and will share it with us?
[Otherwise, what’s the point of caring whether they’ll be at Freeport or not?]
You can use my quarters. It’s the only place with a writing desk to make your shopping list, and we’re on opposite schedules anyway. There’s no reason for you to sleep on those rotten bunks below when the actual bed is free.
[It’s a new ship, and these new quarters have no feeling of ‘home’. Hector hasn’t had a ‘home’ in a very long time. He sees no reason to get territorial over a room he only uses to sleep in. It’s not like it’s his lab or anything important.]
I can't say for sure. Speakers are not information brokers, and to treat them as such is folly. I'll have to try, and it is probably wiser that I do so alone. It will have less of a...ganging up on a group aura, and the Speakers have that problem enough.
[Alucard is careful with the response, but he also means it when he says he wants to bring as little heartache to the Speakers as possible. He knows their history and that it is rife with persecution. Bringing Dracula down upon them is cruel.]
There may be wolf fur on your things then.
[It isn't refusing, it isn't fussing, it isn't turning his nose up at it. A big difference from yesterday, and a gentle point.]
[That is so obviously a joke. Hector can't pretend to be offended for more than a second.]
I will leave them to you. The less small talk I have to do, the better, and splitting up will let us cover more ground, so to speak.
[Stocking up the ship is definitely his preference for the two errands.]
That's nothing new. I've had a wolf before. They used to joke that my workshop at the port doubled as a menagerie.
[Except all his pets are gone now, save Cesar. Hector drops a hand and the little dog bumps his head against it, stealing the morsel of bread he was holding.]
Though, if you always sleep in the body of a wolf, it's a wonder you had a human-sized coffin on your ship. Or must you take that form because I haven't a coffin to house you?
[Something close to a smile passes over Alucard's face at the attempt to make a joke. It doesn't stay for very long, but it's the first time he's made anything like a pleased or happy face since all of this began.]
Mmm. We should only be apart for a short window though. [The reason being obvious: you don't split the party. Not in this much danger.]
I'm sure that it did. [Alucard can't see Cesar being Hector's only pet.]
Being a wolf means that dreams are simpler right now. That's all.
[Alucard shreds a little bit more of the jerky, and he holds it low at Cesar's level. If he has to talk about an Emotion, he's doing it with a dog in his lap.]
[The ghost of a smile that flits over Alucard’s face is a hint of what the man might be like when his life isn’t imperiled. Hector’s curious. It’s a secret to work on unveiling while all his other studies are on hold.]
I’ll not let Saint Germain keep me longer than he must and I’ll hasten back to your side before you pine away in my absence.
[The common languages between then seem to be ‘sarcasm’ and ‘dog’, and Hector can live with that.
Cesar abandons Hector for Alucard’s jerky, the little traitor. He’ll take treats and shows of affection from where’re they come. Alucard’s lab puts him in closer proximity to food and to noses to lick, which are his main goals in life.]
That is what the rum was supposed to be for.
[He sighs. Can’t fault a man for using his shapeshifting abilities to his advantage. If Hector could be a wolf, he damn well would.]
The actual Count is in this corner of the world now?
[Alucard raises his eyebrows slightly, intrigued by that thought. He has been asleep for far longer than he thought, if those are the changes that have been made.
But at any rate, Cesar gets a few more bits of jerky, before Alucard gently ushers him back towards Hector. He can share the dog.]
I sill refuse to be fighting this anything but sober. Not against Carmilla, even if her natural effect is to drive a man to drink.
[Alucard's eaten everything he's been given, which is an accomplishment in and of itself.]
I wasn't intending on plaguing you with fur, I promise.
[And that too is said with a certain lightness that also hedges close to a joke. This? This almost feels nice. Normal.]
I'll be back out with the list before I rest for the day.
What are you talking about? He is just some crazy old man who showed up at the port a while back. He dresses himself in the most ridiculous fashion, but he's usually got wares enough to sell.
[The idea that Germain is anyone important is laughable to Hector. He tries much too hard to be mysterious to actually know anything of worth, right?]
I expect a celebratory drink when we put a stake through her heart.
[He mutters, because he has to have something to look forward to if he's going through the foreseeable future sober.
Hector's pleased with breakfast. Alucard ate something, so the nagging worry that the dhampir will collapse or go on a rampage subsides, and they're managing to get along. Who knew he had it in him?]
Alright, rest while you can. I'm going to press hard today to try to reach port before sundown. There's few places not under your father's control that will welcome a ship docking after dark, for obvious reasons.
{Alucard's not going to explain the Count, because he still doesn't entirely understand the Count himself. He knows knows him to be a man of infinite resource, so perhaps being a merchant is not that far out of the realm of possibility.
With that, Alucard rises to his feet.]
We will, I promise. Let me go begin on the list.
[With that, Alucard withdraws entirely. He spends a good 15 minutes writing a list, one that's even annotated (OATS-- 2 lbs, no more, they go rancid quickly due to natural fat content ; BLOOD SASUAGE -- Dietary supplement for myself, I will not need blood if I have this). It's folded and handed to Hetor, and then Alucard simply falls asleep in his wolf form beside Hector's bed.
He doesn't stir until woken, his wolf form just curled up into a tight little ball and trying to be even smaller somehow.]
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no subject
He sleeps as a wolf too, curled up in a small nest of blankets he assembles for himself from the bunks below deck. It isn't terribly comfy, as the blankets are coarse and itchy, but he's exhausted. No one cares about that once they're exhausted.
He rises with the moon. Well, a little before that, as he works to make himself presentable first. When Alucard returns to the deck, it's with his hair swept up and off his neck in a neat bun, his ankles and wrists healed, and a far greater sense of both decorum and presence than the stressed, terrified, exhausted mess he was earlier.
More to the point: he approaches Hector and the first words out of his mouth are:] I would like to apologize for my earlier behavior. The circumstances made me far more disagreeable than I wanted to be.
no subject
He's running on fumes now (and no rum), and he's not interested in sweetly kissing and making up.]
Yes, no shit.
[Cesar is on deck, too. Hector had sent one of his undead crewman to retrieve him from the hold after Alucard went below deck. He, at least, pads happily over to Alucard to greet him.
Hector tosses a little pouch at Alucard. It smells of ash and blood.]
I've been very careful to forge my crewmen to obey none but me. [A necessary precaution when living among creatures for whom mutiny was the normal means of advancement in the ranks.] When I activate this, they will react to you as if you are me. You will command their complete loyalty.
[It's a dangerous thing to grant another person. Alucard could take control of the ship with what Hector is about to grant him. It's Hector's only choice, though. It would take longer than he's got to fine-tune the order of command in their minds, and he needs Alucard to be deputized to act while Hector speaks. Enemies could fall upon them at any time.]
If you're carrying anything especially flammable, you'll want to remove it before I trigger the enchantment.
no subject
...As you like.
[He isn't going to press that issue then. Cesar will get a proper greeting in time, and for now, Alucard's eyes remain on Hector himself.]
I understand. Unless there is a true emergency, I do not plan on disturbing them from their current tasks.
[That much is a truth. More than that, Alucard hasn't truly commanded a full ship. Not really. Most of his were automated things, much like Dracula's, that responded through buttons and controls rather than man power.]
There is nothing of a flammable nature on my person. Am I allowed to ask after our route and current trajectory?
no subject
Cesar quirks his head and gives a snorty pug sniff at the dhampir. It is not a smell that lingers over Alucard, but the little dog has no other way of perceiving the familiar aura that now surrounds him. The crewmen and forged creatures turn their blue eyes in his direction for a moment, but in the absence of new orders, return to their tasks.
Hector leans against one of the rails, now that the spell is done.]
That depends. I know the strongest vampires have ways of seeing far beyond their reach. Does that extend to listening in as well?
[So far, the sight of just a ship in the water won't give their enemies too much context, but openly discussing their location could be far more detrimental.]
no subject
Alucard pauses at the question. He then nods.]
It could. I know most of those involved with my father's work aren't expert spellcasters, but some of their humans could be. It is a risk. One we should avoid.
[Alucard pauses, then snaps his fingers.]
Something to write with. Use your native tongue.
[Greek, he means.]
no subject
He writes out the following message, in Greek:
Resupply at Free Port
Carmilla, if you read this, fuck you
Verify rumors of the boogeyman
Send message to the witch
Reassess from there
[He translates the name of Freeport into Greek to try to further obfuscate their plans in case someone is watching, and also has a list of multiple coordinates scrawled on the page. The correct one for their destination, he smudges a drop of blue ink beside.
He sends the message back with the zombie and calls up through his door.]
I need to sleep. Wake me at the first sign of pursuit.
no subject
Hector's note doesn't fill him with too much hope. It's the start of a game plan, one that needs much more elaboration. There's no quill to respond with, and Hector cant' see him nod.
All Alucard can do is respond through the door:]
Understood on all accounts.
[The zombie is sent back with the message, so Hector can dispose of it. Alucard demands nothing more. No food or drink, just nothing but himself and the dog and the moon that is starting to rise in the sky.
To Cesar, the dhampir only sighs.]
I don't think there's a single steady course ahead of us.
no subject
Hector drops the note into one of the oil lamps to burn. He lays down in his bed, but it takes a while for sleep to find him. He’s not used to his ship operating without him, and letting go of the control is hard.
He sleeps, but he’s up before the sun rises to make sure nothing’s caught fire in his absence.
Not hearing any alarms, he ducks into the hold and comes up with breakfast and a flask of ale. He has to be allowed to drink something, and spirits keep easier than fresh water on long journeys.
He has enough that he could share, but he’s no longer gong out of his way to push Alucard to eat.]
She didn’t give you any trouble?
[He asks, referring to the ship.]
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He doesn't ask after breakfast when Hector appears on deck. What he does do is place Cesar back down on the ground so that the little dog can greet his person properly, that way Alucard does not appear to be a dog thief.]
There was little to be concerned with, and what small issues did present themselves, they were quick to be resolved. Cesar was also very good company, thank you for letting him stay up.
[He's formal, not only with explanation but with how he holds himself. It's an attempt to respect ship hierarchy, especially since there's been no insistence on it.]
How do your injuries feel?
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Yes, he's a good little first mate. The best you'll find on land or sea.
[Seems someone's in less black of a mood, at least. He lets Cesar back down before the pug can start sniffing at his breakfast.]
A little stiff, but I'll loosen up as I work.
[He frowns at Alucard.]
I already know you're an asshole. No need to pretend at being polite with one another now.
[He pulls out his compass and checks their bearings. On track, for what its worth.]
no subject
[There's actual gratitude there. Alucard had expected Cesar to be brought inside when Hector went to bed, as there's no doubt that the dog is precious to him. Probably the only thing he likes, if Alucard was to guess.]
The bandages will need to be changed before the sun sets again. They'll become saturated with the ointment if they stay on too long, and I don't want that to create it's own problems.
[It's...it isn't concern exactly, but Alucard is the son of not only Dracula, but of his mother too. He had seen her work as a doctor growing up, and absorbed more than his fair share of the information. Hector's probably right, he's an asshole, but Alucard knows his mother would disapprove of just letting an injury go unchecked.]
We're on the same boat, literally and metaphorically, Hector. And you risked everything for my sake, for some reason. I don't intend to be an asshole and disrespect that. Managing to live with each other is the goal right now, and that means at least trying to be pleasant and aware of hierarchies at play.
[Alucard shakes his head. Why is his bothering?]
If you'd rather I take my leave, then I will do so.
no subject
I'll defer to you on the bandages. I know more about flesh after it's gone necrotic, not before.
[He could manage it on his own, but if he can surrender this one worry to focus his mind on greater ones, he'll do so gladly.]
Look, come and sit and we'll have breakfast, or I'll have breakfast and you can watch. I know we're in this together. Neither of us can afford to part ways right now. But you're not a member of my crew, and I'm not your captain, so there's no need for us to act like it. We're on equal footing, for better or for worse.
[Because Alucard won't let Hector see to his needs, and in terms of a plan, Hector is open to suggestions. Getting caught up in ideas of hierarchies or roles is going to hinder more than aid them.]
It looks like we made good time last night. If the winds stay favorable, we can reach the port before dark. I know a trader who is willing to stock a ship and then forget about it, so long as he's paid properly. That will help us no matter where we go.
no subject
...was that a joke?
Alucard isn't sure, but there's a little soft noise that's almost a laugh.]
The goal is to avoid your area of expertise.
[It's as much a joke as Alucard will dare to attempt right now. The tension, it needs to break and break fast, because Alucard knows it'll spell doom just as much as anything else with.]
All right then. [To breakfast. To not dealing with hierarchy. To all of it. There's a certain calmness when Alucard says those words, and then he pauses.] I'm a decent enough cook, for your future reference. [And that's not a brag, that's just true.] I'd also like to transfer full command of your crew back to you, before I eat anything.
[That's just a decent thing to do.]
Mm, I think there are Speakers on that port, yes?
[They'd be the best way to check in about the Belmont armada, so far as Alucard can tell.]
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He's eaten a lot of jerky, hard tack, and dried fruit. Forget that he just called Alucard an asshole not a minute ago. He is of the angels.]
Do you mean you can make this actually appetizing?
[He gestures at his rations, which he's done nothing to prepare but fishing them out of one of the barrels below deck.]
Yes, then, we'll stick to your expertise and leave mine for if anyone unsavory reaches us.
[Maybe he can learn to put up with Alucard and share his dog if real food is on the line. A way to a man's heart, as the saying goes.
Hector sits on deck with a crate to serve as their table. Said jerky and hard bread, he places in the middle. He uncaps the flask and takes a long sip before adding that to the communal pile as well, in case it gets confiscated. ]
I can break the spell, but we'll have to redo it each night if we end up needing to maintain that same speed. Are you alright with that?
[It's not a hard thing to replicate- ashes, a strand of hair, a force of will, and a few drops of his blood, bound into a bundle. But Hector has to imagine the casting of it feels intrusive.]
I suppose there will be a few. There's Speakers around most every port, these days. I don't know what they're after, but I've seen one or two lurking around our destination.
[Hector's not sure why that would matter. They tend to keep to themselves, and they have no maritime fighting force, as far as Hector knows.]
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[Alucard had to learn to cook as a child. His diet was too specialized for him to be without the skill, as Dracula wasn't going to and his mother expected that there would be times in their lives where they would be far from each other. Boat cooking is very different, but it's still a skill to have.
Real food, proper real food made in a house, probably would get at Hector's heart if Alucard had the opportunity. That won't be happening, and so Alucard simply walks over to the makeshift table. It's easy enough to use his nails to crack the hard bread into smaller pieces and to shred the jerky.
Yes, he's shredding the jerky to put it on the bread so it can have a little bit of flavor. Sue him.]
That's fine. The spell works, and I feel safer having to physically hand over the command every sunrise.
[It keeps things above board. Even.]
Mmm. They're one potential route ahead, I believe.
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Hector continues the conversation as if he hadn't just done a minor work of blood magic over breakfast.]
He's always going on about how he could send me with porridge or lentils, if only I'd invest in a real cook-pot. He'll have other ingredients, but he only mentions the basics to me. He knows I am a lost cause.
[Cesar dances around the crate, begging for a treat, so Hector scoops him up and offers him a little slice of jerky. The dog doesn't need to eat, but he enjoys it, and it does not hurt him.]
I wonder if we could disguise our ship as a Seeker vessel. They wear those robes that hide most of themselves.
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I'll write a list before I go to sleep, and we'll go from there. The only request I will insist upon is blood sausage, to meet my dietary needs.
[Blood sausage was the quick fix when other sources weren't available, and Alucard would feel safer with the stuff readily available. There was no snacking on Hector, mostly because he needed to be on the top of his game. Having less blood impacted that.
At least Cesar's cute. There's a soft laugh at the little dance, and how satisfied he looks once it's achieved.]
Absolutely not. The Speakers don't need more violence visited upon them.
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Do you think they know something, then? Or know something and will share it with us?
[Otherwise, what’s the point of caring whether they’ll be at Freeport or not?]
You can use my quarters. It’s the only place with a writing desk to make your shopping list, and we’re on opposite schedules anyway. There’s no reason for you to sleep on those rotten bunks below when the actual bed is free.
[It’s a new ship, and these new quarters have no feeling of ‘home’. Hector hasn’t had a ‘home’ in a very long time. He sees no reason to get territorial over a room he only uses to sleep in. It’s not like it’s his lab or anything important.]
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[Alucard is careful with the response, but he also means it when he says he wants to bring as little heartache to the Speakers as possible. He knows their history and that it is rife with persecution. Bringing Dracula down upon them is cruel.]
There may be wolf fur on your things then.
[It isn't refusing, it isn't fussing, it isn't turning his nose up at it. A big difference from yesterday, and a gentle point.]
I'll strive to keep shedding to a minimum.
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[That is so obviously a joke. Hector can't pretend to be offended for more than a second.]
I will leave them to you. The less small talk I have to do, the better, and splitting up will let us cover more ground, so to speak.
[Stocking up the ship is definitely his preference for the two errands.]
That's nothing new. I've had a wolf before. They used to joke that my workshop at the port doubled as a menagerie.
[Except all his pets are gone now, save Cesar. Hector drops a hand and the little dog bumps his head against it, stealing the morsel of bread he was holding.]
Though, if you always sleep in the body of a wolf, it's a wonder you had a human-sized coffin on your ship. Or must you take that form because I haven't a coffin to house you?
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Mmm. We should only be apart for a short window though. [The reason being obvious: you don't split the party. Not in this much danger.]
I'm sure that it did. [Alucard can't see Cesar being Hector's only pet.]
Being a wolf means that dreams are simpler right now. That's all.
[Alucard shreds a little bit more of the jerky, and he holds it low at Cesar's level. If he has to talk about an Emotion, he's doing it with a dog in his lap.]
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I’ll not let Saint Germain keep me longer than he must and I’ll hasten back to your side before you pine away in my absence.
[The common languages between then seem to be ‘sarcasm’ and ‘dog’, and Hector can live with that.
Cesar abandons Hector for Alucard’s jerky, the little traitor. He’ll take treats and shows of affection from where’re they come. Alucard’s lab puts him in closer proximity to food and to noses to lick, which are his main goals in life.]
That is what the rum was supposed to be for.
[He sighs. Can’t fault a man for using his shapeshifting abilities to his advantage. If Hector could be a wolf, he damn well would.]
Just keep off of my pillow when you’re furry.
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[Alucard raises his eyebrows slightly, intrigued by that thought. He has been asleep for far longer than he thought, if those are the changes that have been made.
But at any rate, Cesar gets a few more bits of jerky, before Alucard gently ushers him back towards Hector. He can share the dog.]
I sill refuse to be fighting this anything but sober. Not against Carmilla, even if her natural effect is to drive a man to drink.
[Alucard's eaten everything he's been given, which is an accomplishment in and of itself.]
I wasn't intending on plaguing you with fur, I promise.
[And that too is said with a certain lightness that also hedges close to a joke. This? This almost feels nice. Normal.]
I'll be back out with the list before I rest for the day.
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[The idea that Germain is anyone important is laughable to Hector. He tries much too hard to be mysterious to actually know anything of worth, right?]
I expect a celebratory drink when we put a stake through her heart.
[He mutters, because he has to have something to look forward to if he's going through the foreseeable future sober.
Hector's pleased with breakfast. Alucard ate something, so the nagging worry that the dhampir will collapse or go on a rampage subsides, and they're managing to get along. Who knew he had it in him?]
Alright, rest while you can. I'm going to press hard today to try to reach port before sundown. There's few places not under your father's control that will welcome a ship docking after dark, for obvious reasons.
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{Alucard's not going to explain the Count, because he still doesn't entirely understand the Count himself. He knows knows him to be a man of infinite resource, so perhaps being a merchant is not that far out of the realm of possibility.
With that, Alucard rises to his feet.]
We will, I promise. Let me go begin on the list.
[With that, Alucard withdraws entirely. He spends a good 15 minutes writing a list, one that's even annotated (OATS-- 2 lbs, no more, they go rancid quickly due to natural fat content ; BLOOD SASUAGE -- Dietary supplement for myself, I will not need blood if I have this). It's folded and handed to Hetor, and then Alucard simply falls asleep in his wolf form beside Hector's bed.
He doesn't stir until woken, his wolf form just curled up into a tight little ball and trying to be even smaller somehow.]
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