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"I understand you have already had a quite interesting evening Count."

It wasn't a question, Dracula didn't doubt that Mycroft Holmes, had not only had a report from Sergeant Anderson but had probably even watched the video footage. It this was not the first time in his 500+ year of existence, that Dracula had met a Mycroft. These seemingly passionless fish, quiet, patient, seemingly harmless; these were the men who destroyed empires for the intellectual exercise.

"It was…educational Mycroft…I can call you Mycroft?" Dracula replied, and once again it wasn't a question, even if Mycroft Holmes did object to such a familiar address, he wouldn't dare say so now.

To object would reveal something about himself, and Mycroft was a chameleon, always adapting, always using the shadows.

Recognising the verbal backhand and point scored, Mycroft merely nodded. Stepping back as he considered his next move. His questioning of Agatha, and his own research, had indicated that Count Dracula was an educated man. Not only that, he was an intelligent one; these things were not always complementary, as Mycroft had daily proof. Yet he doubted the Count was smarter than he was, which made him ideal in Mycroft's eyes.

"I confess I am glad to have a few moments alone with you, without Captain Van Helsing…"

"As flattering as that is, I'm afraid you really aren't my type Mycroft." Dracula interrupted, his fangs on display as he smiled, a familiar shit eating grin, that said he knew that was not what Mycroft had meant but that he just enjoyed fucking with him. "Sorry, no hard feelings I hope?"

So perhaps he wasn't as ideal as Mycroft had hoped; the man's sense of humour was going to test him, but he was the best prospect Mycroft had found in a century.

"So other than my overwhelming sex appeal." Dracula paused, watching as Mycroft squirmed on the hook. "Why did you manoeuvre yourself into being my liaison?"

"Because you need me Count…"

"Oh, and magnanimous soul that you are, you just offered yourself up…"

"No, I also knew I could benefit from working with you." Mycroft finished, busying his hands with pouring out two glasses of one of his finest vintages, a forty-year-old Russian chess master, who also had a penchant for opera composition.

Sniffing the offered glass, then taking a sip, Dracula was impressed. The slippery snake had good taste at least, and perhaps that combined with the fact Agatha considered him a friend, perhaps he could allow Mycroft to finish making his pitch without further interruption.

"You will be walking into a snake pit; a fact I am sure you are already aware of. What you are lacking is not ability, it is knowledge; all the dirty little secrets the other Elders and their clans would rather you never found out. I could provide that knowledge."

Tilting his head back Dracula studied Mycroft closely. "And why should I trust any information you would pass to me?"

"Because it would be in my interest to see you shake things up. Your arrival is the most destabilizing, and potentially the most rejuvenating thing, to happen to our community in the last hundred years. New leadership, new ideas…"

"Your ideas?" Dracula corrected Mycroft, a smile playing about his lips, when Mycroft himself almost smiled. "And what would you get out of this Mr Holmes? So far it is all talk about benefits for me, but what is it you want?"

"Adoption." Mycroft answered simply.

"What?" Dracula scoffed, yet when Mycroft remained deadly serious, Dracula added. "Why?"

"Because I am only a few years away from my majority and I am still clanless." Mycroft answered simply.

"And this is a problem?" Dracula asked, genuinely confused. Agatha had been relieved to be an orphan, and angry to have him return, because it meant she lost power over her own life; and here was Mycroft Holmes willingly offering him that power, why?

"It's perfectly simple. When I turn 150 I will gain my citizenship and as I have no clan, I will gain my own seat on the Grand Council, but that vote is for all purposes meaningless. My vote, my voice will be powerless without a supporting voice in the Elder Council. I will continue as I am now, a lacky for the powerful…"

"And you are fed up with people like Gilles de Rais yanking your chain?"

"I would prefer to think of it, as working with someone who will appreciate, and use my talents appropriately." Mycroft replied with a tight smile. "You will have two clan seats to fill…"

"Ahhhhhhhh." Dracula lifted his glass in a silent toast. Well played Mr Holmes.

Sipping on his drink, Dracula pondered his options. He did have two seats, one of which he intended Agatha to fill. Something that Mycroft had no doubt worked out. His clan was otherwise a little sparse on options.

"Do you really think tying your banner to mine, is a wise move Mycroft? I imagine it will put several noses out of joint, and I am not known for being diplomatic."

"Perhaps not but you have charm, and I am not ignorant that many would call you magnetic…It is a unique skill…" Mycroft answered carefully. It was not a skill that people could learn by ingesting, as such it was something beyond the reach of any, that did not have it naturally. With his guidance Dracula could rise high and quickly, and with him so would Mycroft.

The soft rapping on Mycroft's office door cut off any more of this conversation, and Dracula couldn't help but lean forward in interest as he could already tell who was behind the door.

"Agatha." Mycroft greeted her without his fake smile, it was a measure of their friendship that he didn't attempt to pretend with her.

"Mycroft…Count…" Agatha greeted them, and inwardly Dracula sighed, they were back to titles again… it really was one step forward, three back with Agatha.

"So how are we getting along?" Agatha asked, turning her accusing gaze onto Dracula, who feigned an innocent shocked expression.

"It has been most enlightening." Mycroft replied politely.

"Indeed." Dracula added, nodding towards the other man, before his gaze was drawn back to Agatha. "Mr Holmes has much to educate me on."

"Excellent so does this mean I can return to my usual assignment?"

"Agatha you wound me." Dracula sighed, and at least 50% of that was genuine. "I didn't mean to upset things, I did everything you asked me to do. I stayed quiet, I only restrained him after he attacked me, and I let him go when you asked. Are you really going to punish me for being out of my depth?"

Oh, that smug, self-righteous, sanctimonious bastard…If Agatha could burn those thoughts into his brain she would do, and it seemed from Dracula's amused expression he had gotten the gist of her thoughts, without her needing to vocalise them. And yet he had a point…a small point.

"Do you even give a damn about how he is doing?" Agatha demanded, forgetting her resolution to maintain the appropriate deference in front of others.

"I care that you care." Dracula answered honestly. "I mean I barely knew the man, just a quick bite after a workout, plus he overcharged."

"See this is why…this is everthing…grrrrrrrrr." Agatha was struggling to maintain a hold on her own temper. "You are so irresponsible. You feed wherever you damn well like, and you drop the corpses when you are finished with them."

"Well I am hardly going to keep them around." Dracula wrinkled his nose in disgust. "A clean slaughterhouse, remember?"

"That is hardly something I am ever going to forget!" Agatha spat. "But it's more that you don't even bother to check if you have even turned any of them. How much more 'family' do we have scattered around the world, because you have all the control of a…of a…"

"Agatha when did you last feed?" Mycroft cut in, and it was a timely interruption, although Dracula had been quite enjoying the way her eyes had darkened and her fangs grown more prominent.

"I don't…what does that matter?" Agatha growled at Mycroft, who quickly moved to his sideboard and removed another glass.

"Last night she had a couple of glasses, and I doubt she has fed since." Dracula supplied, nodding in support as Mycroft poured Agatha a large glass; it was a sacrifice of a good vintage, but Agatha was worth it.

"Drink." Mycroft insisted, forcing the glass into her hand.

"Mycroft…"

"Drink!" Dracula commanded, bringing the full weight of his influence as Elder to the discussion, and as much as Agatha glared at him, she didn't dare disobey.

The glass went down quickly, and Dracula silently instructed Mycroft to refill it, whilst mentally noting to have Renfield send the other vampire something special as a thank you. He was a man used to getting his way but that didn't make him rude.

Feeling a little calmer Agatha almost felt ashamed at having lost control so easily, and yet she was not a woman to shy away from things just because she was embarrassed. Facing them both, Agatha was surprised to see understanding and not censure, even Dracula had abandoned his usual mocking for concern.

"Forgive me that was…"

"Agatha stop, family does not need to apologise." Dracula insisted, watching as his use of that word had the same effect on her, as it had in the cells; there was still a chance to salvage things it seemed. "Just promise me, you will start taking better care of yourself."

Scoffing Mycroft, glanced between the two of them; both of them looking at him in surprise, at the unusual show of emotion.

"In the 123 years I have known her, Agatha has never taken care of herself, you are a braver man than I Count." Mycroft toasted the Elder vampire with the remains of his drink.

Laughing at the sudden wit, Dracula returned the toast and the friendly gesture with a smile.

"Ok what the hell did I miss?" Agatha demanded, looking between her oldest friend and her murderer/sire/current pain in the arse.

Sharing a look that merely increased Agatha's confusion, Dracula considered explaining Mycroft's offer and request. Yet he wanted to think about it himself first. He was sure Agatha would have some valuable insights, but she was biased, Mycroft was her friend, or at least Agatha thought he was. Dracula doubted Mycroft Holmes was the type of vampire to have real friends, he would have useful allies, and possibly people who irritated him less than others.

"There will be time enough for that discussion later, you were telling me about the newest addition to our clan? He will recover, improve?"

"He is already recalling things from his former life, and he has interests other than feeding." Agatha explained, this time much calmer.

It was easy to forget that Dracula really didn't know all of this. It was a good reminder for her to control her temper and keep her pride under better curation.

"I will work with him over the next few days, but if he continues to improve at this rate, he will be ready to hand over to the novices by the end of the week."

"Novices?"

"Childminders." Mycroft supplied with just a hint of sarcasm."

"Teachers." Agatha corrected, shooting Mycroft a disapproving look, that seemed well practiced.

"And my role in his 'education'?" Dracula prompted, looking between the pair. "This is new territory for me, what role does an Elder play in their clan?"

"Whatever role they want." Mycroft answered diplomatically, even as Agatha scoffed.

Amused at the interplay Dracula turned his gaze back to Agatha, who quite clearly was restraining herself. Not wanting to test that control again, Dracula resolved to ask for her true opinion in private later.

"So, I guess we play that by ear as well." Dracula suggested, earning him uncommitted approval from them both. "Now was there anything else we were meant to be doing today?"

Sharing another look with Mycroft, Agatha was happy to let him take the lead on this, he was the one who knew what he was doing.

"Two things really. We need to obtain a blood sample."

Narrowing his gaze Dracula could feel his hackles rise, that was too close to the Harker Foundation for his liking.

"Why?"

"To test the other orphans." Agatha supplied the answer. "You've been around a long time, and you travelled extensively during that time. I doubt you recall the names and faces, of everyone you've snacked on over the years. All known vampires have provided a sample, this makes it easier to track bloodlines."

"What a family reunion that will be." Dracula deadpanned, yet he conceded to the logic. "And the second thing?"

"Ahh yes." Mycroft added, this time his smile was that polite brittle thing Dracula distrusted. "We have struggled to pull together a recent list of your 'meals'…" Mycroft retrieved an iPad in which there were names and faces of all the recent missing persons, and more besides that Dracula had matched with on tinder and had suddenly gone silent.

"If you wouldn't mind indicating those you have sampled and adding any others we may have missed. It would make Captain Van Helsings's job much easier?"

"Why what is Agatha going to do, collect up my leftovers?"

"In a way yes." Agatha replied. "I am going to set my team to finding out, which if any of their bodies were recovered, and if they were what happened to them. It is most common for people to be cremated these days, as such we have a short window to intercede to save a new-born vampire before they are destroyed."

"Most of the people I feed upon just die, I know this from my own experiments."

"Yes, but every life is important." Agatha insisted. "And I won't abandon 'family' to that fate."

Nodding Dracula quickly scanned the supplied list, ticking off those he could remember…it was only when he reached the end and was about to hand it back that he remembered.

"Ah, there is one more for you list, a recent addition, Lucy Westenra. I fed on her several times, and I have found that repeat exposure increases the chances of someone turning." Dracula supplied clinically, as if they were scientists discussing the results of an experiment. "If you were to start anywhere, I would start there."

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