Who: Alucard and Dracula. What: Alucard comes for a visit. When: After these texts. Where: Dracula’s home. Rating/Warnings: Low / Mild talk of vampirism. Status: Complete.
At first, Vlad had merely assumed his eyes were playing tricks on him. When he walked by the bathroom in the morning and didn’t see his reflection he didn’t think much of it, until he went to brush his teeth and shave and realized that it wasn’t a trick. It was very much a real thing, and, despite the panic that was setting in, he at least had enough sense to get a hold of the one person he could think of. And that was Alucard.
The other man’s lack of urgency did little for Vlad’s own unsettled feelings. How could Alucard seem so calm? How was this, of all things, normal? Vlad had read things on that network of people who dream and seem to acquire traits from them. He didn’t pay it much thought at the time. The internet was a place where people could say what they wanted, where maybe other people had influenced their own perception of things. Now, he wasn’t so sure. As he waited for his friend to show up, Vlad stared at the black screen of the television, as if willing his reflection to come back.
Alucard had yet to lose his reflection or gain his other more obviously vampiric traits. He could however appear from inside a mirror, change himself into a many eyed hell hound and do all manner of other things. So he believed he could be of some help to Vlad, it was interesting to say the least that his friend had dreamed of vampires. How close would their dreams be he wondered?
Walking up the path he knocked on the door and waited, he didn’t think it would help the other man any if Alucard simply appeared inside his house. His years in the secret service doing unspeakable things had taught him a level of calmness few others possessed or understood. Ideal for some things even if it did frustrate Integra to no end.
Glancing up at the knock, Vlad stood up and walked to the door. He ran a hand over his face before he opened it, and, at the very least, he managed to smile a hair. “Hello, my friend,” Vlad said. He stepped aside so Alucard would come in. “Thank you for coming. I am sorry if I have inconvenienced you in some way.”
“No inconvenience at all my dear man” Alucard assured him as he stepped inside, “Anything I can do to help I am more than willing to do. How are you holding up?” he asked in some concern.
“That is very kind of you.” And Vlad meant it. He was suddenly very thankful he’d been placed in a consulate so near to people he already knew. He moved in through the house, to the kitchen. “It is a strange thing. I am trying to work out exactly how to deal with it in day to day living. From what I have read, this seems to be a dilemma that will not go away soon. Would you like something to drink?”
It was very lucky that Vlad had come to work so close to himself and Integra, he had a feeling he’d be able to help him. “It is strange. Some people adapt and others do not. I believe I am one of the lucky ones who has adapted” Alucard said, “Water thanks” he nodded.
Vlad nodded, getting water for Alucard and some tea for himself. He wanted something stronger, but in the presence of company he’d settle with tea to calm his headache.
“How do you adapt, to such things?” He sat down, frowning at his friend. “I cannot see it being easy.”
“At first it isn’t. But you can use the dreams to help, as your dream self learns and adapts you need to use that to calm yourself here. Experiment with what you can do in a safe room and you’ll eventually have control of any...abilities you gain” It definitely helped that Alucard’s real past was in an elite secret service, calm was his default setting.
Vlad raised his eyebrows. “I will become a monster. If I look to my dreams, I am lost.” He scoffed into his tea, shifting in his seat. “And I …” He faltered for a moment, feeling ridiculous even bringing it up at all. “If I should get certain cravings, from these dreams, what then?”
“You are not a monster, not anymore than I am” Alucard said, “You can learn from your dreams but they do not control you. Thankfully those cravings have yet to come but I know someone with a gift. When or if the time comes he will create a cup which will never run dry, fill it once with blood and you will forever be able to drink from it”
The thought made Vlad laugh. The whole conversation made him laugh. He was surely going crazy, or stuck in some bizarre dream. “I will never get used to this place. I will try to follow your example.”
Alucard knew he must appear to be rather strange taking it all in his stride, but between his dreams and previous occupation he was very much a calm person. “And I will try to aid you as much as I can."