Abraham was not happy about the attic. When Abraham had directed the vampire to roll up his rug and return it to the attic, the previously somewhat contrite vampire had reacted badly. He'd snarled and growled, standing on the rug beside his coffin, and Abraham had forced him to roll it up and followed him as he carried it upstairs and restored it to the pile of unwanted rugs.
He considered restricting the vampire to the basement again, but on second thought ordered the unhappy vampire to keep him company in the study as he worked. From now on, the vampire would be in the study he used as an office, in the basement, or in the hallways in-between. The vampire had wilted a bit more at this, but obediently followed him to the office. Once there, the vampire perked up somewhat at the view out of the window, and curled up quietly on the windowsill, watching the lawn. Alucard eyed the bookshelves briefly, tempted to read one of the enticing texts, but a quick glance at his still-irate master convinced him that now was not the time.
Abraham finished the list of ammunition types and amounts he planned to order, and looked over at his vampire. He was still fuming over the attic disaster, but the vampire looked, well, sad. He wasn't saying anything, but he was very quiet and clearly trying not to anger Abraham any further. Abraham felt a small amount of guilt; he'd reinforced his anger by using the binding to punish Alucard. He was very new at controlling it and very angry at the vampire. After all, he'd trusted the vampire with a small amount of freedom and look at how that trust was repaid! However, his inexperience meant that he had been more heavy-handed with the punishment and caused more pain than intended, and as a result the vampire was being...well...not morose, but almost timid. He was certainly sulking! He hadn't said anything since being forced to return that damn gaudy carpet to storage.
"Alucard." Another twinge of guilt as the vampire startled and then watched him warily. However, he wasn't going to have a sulking vampire in his office while he worked. "Are you planning on just sitting there all evening?" A puzzled glance from the vampire. After all, what ELSE should he be doing? "Make yourself useful. I'm well aware that you can read English, so you can help with the paperwork. Sort these by date, newest on top." And with that, Abraham walked over to the surprised vampire and dropped a stack of reports into his lap, then returned to his own work.
Looking up from his desk a moment later, Abraham smiled slightly to see the look of total, puzzled surprise on the vampire's face. However, the bribe of SOME sort of meaningful activity combined with the order (although unenforced) from his Master soon had him flipping through the papers. Abraham went back to work to the sound of shuffling papers. Sooner than expected, the vampire was standing quietly in front of the desk, proferring a neatly stacked and sorted set of reports.
Surprised, Abraham accepted the papers and turned back to work, only to become aware, a few seconds later, of the vampire still standing in front of his desk.
"Yes?" Abraham demanded, looking up at the vampire, wondering what the hell the beast wanted now. Alucard remained quiet, fidgeting nervously under the almost-glare his master was levelling at him.
"Speak, damn you. What now?" The vampire wilted slightly under the irritation in his master's voice. He was much too new to his servitude to understand what could anger his Master, and he had no wish for a repeat of punishment he'd been subjected to earlier. But dammit, he was BORED.
Pause. More shuffling. Sensing that his Master was growing angry, Alucard finally spoke. "I..would like..." Pause. "I...mayIreadabook." The last was said in a rush, worried that his master was about to lose patience.
Abraham sat back, surprised. His first thought was of a pile of valuable books, pages ripped out, scattered about the office. Then again, if he was here with the vampire, well, why not? He could certainly superivise the vampire to make certain he behaved. And he was curious. What sort of book could interest a vampire?
"You may choose one book. Do not damage it, and do not leave the room with it."
Alucard immediately went to the bookshelves. Abraham watched him unobtrusively as the vampire skimmed sections, finally pausing to remove a text, then retiring again to the window with his prize.
An anthology of midieval poetry. Who would ever have expected it?
XXXXXXXX
A companionable hour passed, the vampire quietly reading, and Abraham finished his list and opened the London paper. He became gradually aware of the vampire standing in front of his desk, and looked up to see Alucard standing there, book in hand.
"May I read another?"
Abraham smiled slightly. He should have expected that the vampire would tire of the poetry quickly. "Not to your taste, was it?"
A puzzled look, and a hesitant, "I'm sorry, I don't understand?"
Abraham sighed. "Place the book exactly where you got it, and then get another."
Alucard returned the volume of poetry, and to Abraham's surprised, picked up another book of poetry from beside it! As he watched, the vampire returned to his window seat and began to read. This time, Abraham noticed how quickly the vampire was turning pages. Surely he wasn't READING the book, was he? Abraham went back to his newspaper, only to find the vampire in front of his desk again, wanting another book.
By the time Abraham was ready to retire, he'd accepted that the vampire was actually enjoying the chance to read. He'd given in to necessity, and now the vampire's lair had a chair, a small table, and almost a dozen books waiting to be read. He hadn't been foolish enough to offer the vampire any decent furniture, but if the vampire reduced those to kindling in boredom it wouldn't be much of a loss. He'd offered a candle, but the vampire had assured him that it would not be necessary, looking longingly at the books and clearly anxious for his master to leave.
The room looked so barren, with only a rickety chair, a low, scratched, scuffed table, and a coffin, and Abraham felt slightly guilty again. The vampire was so skittish and quiet that Abraham was beginning to doubt that the mess in the attic was designed to anger him. The vampire was certainly a selfish beast, incredibly self-centered and while brilliantly intelligent, it was not entirely a human intelligence. Angering Abraham might have been an unintended consequence of the vampire simply being himself. Living with the monster was going to take some effort on both their parts if it was to be successful.
XXXXXXXXXXX
When Alucard awoke the next evening, he was annoyed to find the scent of his Master in the air, fresh and near his coffin. He HAD locked the door, dammit. However, the anger quickly faded into a surprised pleasure as he realized that another, superior table had been added to his room, and that the meager amount of furniture was now arranged on HIS rug.
Abraham went down to the basement later that evening. Alucard hadn't shown up in his office yet that evening, and a tentative feel at their bond seemed to direct him towards the room he'd allowed the vampire. Entering the basement lair, he was surprised to see his vampire sprawled out comfortably on the carpet, entirely engrossed in a book.
