Wow, ok, so I've had a hectic couple of months facing near homelessness and moving house and Brexit and... yeah. It's been rough. But I never forget my OTP! And I binged the first two seasons yesterday so full of inspiration.

-YD-

Something hit the back of his head, another landing over his shoulder on his desk. Vlad turned round, sighing.

"What?"

"I'm bored."

"What do you want me to do about it?"

Ingrid shrugged, then flicked another peanut at him. She wasn't even eating them, just using them for ammunition while Vlad did his schoolwork. He'd gotten a bunch of books out on vampire law, like she'd asked, but she didn't seem interested in actually doing anything with them just then.

"When is this coronation thing happening again?"

"Uh, four nights from now. So long as you don't stake anyone or mention you are half breather, it'll be fine. You will have to wear a cape though."

"Seriously?"

"Respectable attire for the coronation. I'll have to wear one too, which I'm not thrilled about either."

She cocked her head.

"Why?"

"Because Dracula cloaks have huge collars, and I have a small head. I look ridiculous, basically."

He gestured to the cape slung over the wardrobe door, complete with ridiculously high collar. Ingrid actually snickered at it.

"I don't even own a cape."

"Stand up?"

Ingrid raised an eyebrow, but complied, watching him warily as Vlad stood next to her for comparison before nodding to himself.

"My mum left some behind, she's not much taller than you and floor trains are in fashion again this century. Want me to show you so you can go through her clothes and I can do my homework in peace?"

That seemed to appease Ingrid, who followed Vlad to the attic, where one of the paintings of Magda resided under a half-fallen dust sheet next to several of her old trunks.

"That's her I take it?"

"Yep. Magda Westenra."

"Not Dracula?"

"Nope. Never married my dad officially. But she left us for a werewolf, so... go nuts, take whatever you want. She buys more clothes than even immortal people can wear and Lucifer only knows when she'll be back here."

Ingrid frowned.

"Then why is it all kept?"

"Cus dad sort of loves her as much as he hates her, and sort of hopes she'll come back to him even though they make each other miserable and/or murderous. And if she did, she'd stake him for throwing everything out. But seriously, have at it. Gotta look the part for the Coronation, right?"

Vlad left her to it - there were several chests, all packed with various designer vamp wear. Ingrid was likely to be too short for some of the things, but Vlad had little doubt she'd find something in there. He returned to his homework no longer being pelted with peanuts, and actually got it finished before any sign of Ingrid's return. The attic was void of her too, Vlad eventually locating her all the way down in her basement room, trying on outfits.

"Is this on right?"

She gestured to her cape. Vlad eyed it, nodding.

"Uh, almost. Here, the clasp can be fiddly."

He tried to ignore the gentle but pervasive scent of her perfume when standing so close, the cool skin of her throat brushing his knuckles as he twisted the clasp until it was locked in place properly.

"There."

Hellfire, Ingrid looked the part. The colour of her underbust corset was a deep purple, matching the lining of her cape and the dusting of makeup over her eyes. She'd probably have to wear her hair up to not get it caught in the clasp, which would only expose more of the pale, graceful arch of her neck. The high collar that looked ridiculous on Vlad highlighted Ingrid's cheekbones perfectly.

"Well, you'll definitely look like all biter for the Coronation."

"I'm assuming that's meant to be a compliment."

"Depends if you want to look like a vampire. It'd be an insult to me, but I hate being a vampire."

Ingrid already seemed to be taking to it better than Vlad expected he would in the future. He was still waiting for the rampant bloodlust to kick in, but so far Ingrid seemed remarkably in control, or perhaps her urges were muted because of her half-human side. There wasn't a lot on Dimidius transformation, and even less information on them long-term - they never lasted that long. Technically, the punishment for being a Dimidius was banishment, but they always seemed to mysteriously die...

Maybe if she stuck around Castle Dracula long enough, Vlad could take notes on Ingrid. They might come in handy in the future...

His brain hurt every time he thought about that. With the Coronation terrifyingly close, Vlad was worried the whole Chosen One thing was going to come out, and he didn't want it to. He didn't want to be any vampire, let alone a special one. And yet, his heart thrummed with a deep, painful certainty that it was all true, that whether he liked it or not, his future was coming to claim him.

"Do all vampires wear suits, or is your dad just dramatic?"

"Depends. Some wear military gear, because they've lived long enough to serve in several wars. Some just wear sunproof leather, and some are more casual, although generally it's all still in black. Most will be wearing suits for the coronation though, because it's the fashion of the century still. We're more... black, black and a splash of one colour. My only waistcoat is red, but it matches the lining of my cape."

Given the blatant distaste Ingrid (and their father) had for Vlad's usual wardrobe, a chat about fashion was definitely weird to be having with Ingrid, but if she had questions he could answer, he was hardly going to refuse her.

"And let me guess, women all wear dresses?"

"Yeah... girl power is a slow process in the vampire world. Most of our population was alive when women were still seen as objects, not people. Most vampiresses don't stand for that nowadays, but anyone who's been married over three hundred years and isn't the oldest surviving member of her clan tends to follow that whole 'lower than men' line of thought."

I can change that.

The thought rose, nudging Vlad with the reminder he'd be Grand High Vampire some day if he claimed his place. Maybe that was why the evil powers that be chose him - both because they'd be getting a kick out of watching him suffer vampirism resentfully, but also because if he did, Vlad knew he'd do something with that power.

If he took his place, he could change the vampire world.

-YD-

I won't promise to be reliable, cus... I'm not, but I do promise to do my best!