AN:
my way of telling about the newest movie, just told my way.
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Dracula thought he would never have to privately chat with his sister over respecting his wife when she turned down as invite. One that was to be apart of sample tasting of this season's new menu followed by a drinks and dessert. Most of the family attend since Mavis wanted to expend her basic of cooking skills for Jonathan and Dennis. Heather and Jarlath liked to socialize with new members of their family over a few spirits and food. Jonathan like recalling most of his experiences with all kinds of street food from street vendors to food stalls in back allies. Dennis and Vlad happily were just to enjoy the environment of smiles and chatter that Dracula adored. Hazelcape adored sharing her recipes as Ingerman and Breandán were force to attend to stay out of trouble.
Didn't seem to turn Lydia's head when she decided on her usual cup of chilled blood in a clean glass at meal time without a straw. Not wanting any of that blood-like substance or a blood substitute her brother had come to preferred as nutrition. Making clear she wanted a monster to delivery her meal to her room on a wooden platter then over a sterling silver trey. Instructing for the door to be knocked on three times then have one of the shrunken heads announce the monster. Completely dismissing the whole conversation that Dracula tried to have with her before she left him. Exiting the room when she passed Hazelcape with her nose turned up at her entering as she pushed a dessert cart.
"Have a great night." Hazelcape tried to call to her.
"..." Complete silence from her.
"Don't try." Dracula welcomed Hazelcape.
She ended up having strands of her hair pushed aside so he could place a kiss on the corner of her lips before looking to the cart. Where she placed a a few new dishes she made using blood substitute she picked up that morning with her brother. Going on about how she made Breandán a taste tester for most of the dishes that now lay before him.
"Is this Velvet Blood Cake with Scream Cheese frosting?" Dracula couldn't believe she could replicate a delicate recipe.
"Trying to get the right amount blood and scream cheese was the problem," She picked up a fork. "My brother spoke about it being to sweet."
Which was turned down when a fork or two was take from the slice laying on the cart wheeled in by her for Dracula. A second or two needed to be taken for the late alone to be processed on his taste buds before he decided wrong the teen was. Which earned Hazelcape a thumbs up as he put the fork down beside the half eaten cake slice to comfort her. Knowing she was having hardest time among their family members in being rejected by his sister and nephew during their stay.
"Are sure my brother and Ingerman can't pull a prank?" She repeated a question.
"As much, as I would like to see Lydia annoyed over mischievous act," Dracula loved the idea. "Lets just give her time."
"Is what we don't have since she'll be leaving?" She asked not knowing
He sighed and stated she wouldn't be staying long to even help Hazelcape further plan for the wedding like their family had been doing. Two ha picked a date and a theme for the simple get ceremony with a reception to boot. Heather and Mavis had helped in details for the wedding attire wedding party will wear on that day. Breandán and Ingerman were stuck handling the more human or monster related problems fro food allergies to manners. Jarlath was a form of moral support when more bigger problems had her ready to pull her hair. Jonathan was already agreed to do music and handle food in his usual care free way when he was asked.
"There goes my plans in asking if she knows anything about your mother's wedding gown?" She said sigh pulled at Dracula's heart.
"I though your wanted to wear your mothers... " He watched her waved her head back and fourth.
"When the humans took my mother's life," She recalled the day. "They also burned down our home and everything inside."
He ended up taking up one of her hands with his own to show her that the pain of losing her mother was a shared experience. Changing the subject to she possibility wearing her step- mother's wedding dress before biting his tounge.
"A backless, thigh high slits in the skirt, with full lace over lay, halter top front gown?" She describe Heather wedding dress.
"Knowing her," Dracula didn't want to imagine. "..have your tried asking my dad?"
"Vlad is the reason I wanted to ask your sister." She sighed.
Once more her hand was gently rubbed by his own for a few passing seconds before their moment was interrupted by Jonathan. He came running into Dracula's most private study with his nose acting as his guide and stomach growling. Seems he was following the smell of sweets that was being carried by the dessert cart being wheeled around.
"Have as much as your want." Hazelcape used her shadow to bring a fork from kitchen.
"I certainly will do." He took the fork and got to tasting.
Dracula knew they were going to ruin his appetite by allowing him to snack between meals without much of a care. His mind was calculating on where he could find a suitable wedding dress for Hazelcape beside his mothers. Only answer that came to him was one that had been storage for so long that he already began to forget.
"I may have the answer..." He was quieted by Hazelcape.
"I am not wearing that one until I know your truly ok with it." She assured him.
He ended up leaning toward her just enough to place a simple kiss upon her forehead with smile on her lips already forming. Telling her they would think of something for her since the wedding date they had chosen was way off.
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Hazelcape ended up going to one of the many attics of the hotel to work on a secret project she tried to keep herself. Now the odd bit attention start to swirl around what she was doing as Dracula turned a blind eye. When the zombies were once seen carrying a treadle operated sewing machine through the hotel after hours. Which was first spotted by Mavis when she taking Dennis to his day school or human related activity. Where Hazelcape made day trips to the near by towns to get her hands on black streams of lace and fabric. Seen driving her mother's Nissan Leaf eco hearse to and from the hotel on her days off by Vlad. Jonathan barely cared when he joined in on her looking at bridal fashion magazines or looking over patterns. Jarlath and Ingerman were always taking turns to help by carrying something or acting as a model.
"You haven't noticed what my sister was up to?" Breandán once asked Dracula.
"Why would care what wedding related stuff my future Zing is doing?" Dracula came to answer him.
"Really?" Breandán tried to not laugh. "You think that's what she doing?"
"You are starting to make me regret wanting to bond with you?" Dracula hatred when Breandán got like this.
Over to the vampire Breandán slid a rough drawing his sister had down during dinner prep with him just hours ago. The only thing that could be made out was the fine detail of a dress done up in black and model after his late wife's everyday gown. Lace accents and beading alone told anyone how much work was going into simple outfit for a wedding.
"Can you watch the front desk?" He asked Breandán.
"Go ahead and keep the volume down." Breandán waved his hand at him.
Green puff of smoke and squeaking of a bat flying off didn't bother Breandán much after a year or two being in this place. He smirked at what was going to happen once his sister's secret she told everyone that knew Dracula to keep. Put him in a good mood for the rest of the day as Dracula flew his way through the hotel looking for Hazelcape. What he found was a attic space completely transformed to a working area for a someone planning a wedding. The furniture was goth mixture of Victorian age accessories of dark colors in open floor plan. In middle of it all was a tailor's dummy that held replicate dress modeled after Martha's dress and Mavis' wedding gown. Bits of a wedding veil that Heather wore and other finer details could be found.
"I knew he would give me away!" Dracula heard her.
He slowly turned to find Hazelcape standing at the only way in and out of the place with roll of toll in her arms. He stopped and looked for her to the dress on display in the middle of the room twice before moving toward her.
"I wanted this to be surprise," She wen to explain. "Mavis saw that I was struggling to find a dress and told me to use my natural talents. So I started designing a dress using women of your life s my inspiration while sticking to traditional appearance."
She would have gone on about the space she was using was because of Mavis and all the stuff inside was her mom and father. When she was scooped up by Dracula and drawn into his arms as the roll of toll was dropped from her arms. Around the room he slowly spun her noticing not to knocking anything over with his arms securely holding her. Stopping near a Edwardian Sofa done up in painterly printed velvet in a midnight black / rust colourway, deep buttoning and pleated detailing finished with a scroll braid. Where he stopped and sat her down with his taking place right next to her for them to view the dress.
"I thought I was bit of a micromanager as Mavis puts it." He pointed out her display boards and the dress.
"Well your so busy running the hotel, being a grandparent to Dennis, father to our son, and so much more," She listed. "That I take over plans for our wedding."
He smiled gently before he came to agree to hand over the half way point of planning their ceremony to her. Knowing from what she been doing under his nose so far was amazing feat since he didn't notice a thing.
"My brother gave me away?" She asked figuring who gave her away.
"I think there is something wrong with him," Dracula honestly spoke. "I mean Johnny is easier to keep track of when he's running around."
"You could speak to my parents about sending him off to a Correctional school." She brought up old subject.
Bringing up a old threat her step-mother and father tried against her brother sounded brilliant to Dracula when she shared the memory. Since the moment she spoke about happen around the time her father introduced them to Heather. Breandán had been completely against having another women as a mother figure in his life with fiery angry. One that had him rejecting Heather every time she tried to interact with him when he was doing a hobby or interest he liked. Almost got him sent away to place overseas to correct his behavior until the day he got a high fever and bed ridden.
"Heather stayed by his side until he got better and that's when he realize that she was worth knowing." Hazelcape smiled, "He's not all that bad."
"Fine, I'll let him stick around for a bit longer." Dracula let go of the idea of sending Breandán away.
"Good." She gave him a side wards kiss.
Which he accepted before being asked how he was going to break the news to everyone about retiring and giving the hotel to Mavis. He laughed in his usual way with a hint of frustration after practicing his speech alone in their room. Had her guessing the side topic of Johnny being the bit of the problem since Dracula was still uncomfortable around him.
"You'll think of something," She reached toward his face. "Just don't take things to far, I want you around to help raise Theodorus."
"I promise." He accepted her fingers upon his cheek.
A kiss would be shared by them if one of the staff didn't interrupt them by reminding them of their reality at the moment. Hazelcape had to check in on their son in the case of his nanny as Dracula left Breandán at the front desk.
"Tonight?" Both asked the other.
"Don't your self to death." Hazelcape let him go.
Dracula gave blew a kiss to her in which she caught with a wink of her eye as she watched him exit the area. Knowing he was rushing back to the front desk in which he left Breandán doing god knows what to the guests.
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Hazelcape could have sworn she went by that tree for the 5th time when she was chasing her saber tooth kitten and Tickles. Trying to get one of them to stand still enough to place one of their leashes on. Failed on a repeated basis since she ended up being lured out of the hotel and into the darkness of the forest. Not noticing she would end up lost in the woods with out a single way back when it was to late. Left her to wander further into these woods with those pets still running away from the sight of her.
"This isn't good." She whispered to her self.
She didn't want to miss the announcement that Dracula was planning to make during Mavis first ever guest appreciation celebration. All that planning Mavis put into the food that was going to be seved to what music she wanted to be played. Breandán and Ingerman also helped out in informing the hotel's guests in their more usual ways days before. Jarlath and Heather made sure to bring it up with the staff that were working those shift so they wouldn't miss out Dennis bragged about it all his human schoolmates during his 5 minutes of show- n- tell through his pictures. Jonathan looked forward to new faces he was going to meet and leave all the worry Dracula within final hours. Was going to be missed by Hazelcape, since she planned to take Tickles and her own kitten for a walk before all this began. Where she was going to have grand moment canceled if she couldn't be found anywhere within the hotel.
"Maybe I should have told someone where I was going?" She spoke to herself.
Guilt about not leaving Dracula a note or telling Jonathan and Dennis when she ended up choosing to walk Tickles and her kitten. She never thought she would end up in the woods wondering how this happen just when the sun was raising. Worse part was the sudden feeling that was rolling around in the out of her stomach when something struck her.
"What Have I done?" She asked her self with trembling hand covering her mouth.
Remembering that a vampire couldn't step into the bright sun light for any reason froze her in her tracks. Dracula of late had always made sure she stayed by his side since the incident on the cruise liner almost ended them. Wanting her to stay safe without the threat of being crushed underneath a huge Kracken. Not that two were grateful to Jonathan for having his skills as a DJ to save everyone like he did using Dracula's help.
"What I am..." She was silence when Tickles nuzzled her.
Her Kitten would end up taking a curled up position at her feet as a form of begging forgiveness for her. She would give with sadden smile since she wouldn't be able to return to the hotel until she got her head on straight. Fores that surrounds the hotel was different during the day time the at night when everyone was activate. Trails take on a contrasting appearance from the shades that trees give off to certain spots light up.
"Your going to be here a while." She looked around. "I need to get my bearings before we start walking."
She made sure to pick a shady spot to seat under to take a seat and catch her breath when she started to worry. Hoping this would make finding her easier since she started to feel lost in the forest with early morning rays, or use her shadow powers. Figuring out how she was going to two huge animals with her through out the limited amount of shadows. Was going to be difficult for her since she never actually moved something as big as Tickles and her Kitten before.
"I should have asked dad to come along." She sighs ready to give up.
Before she could settle in for a long wait that could take all day until someone noticed she wasn't in her cottage, or in the kitchen. A shadow portal opened and out stepped her father yelling to who ever was on other end. Worried voiced asked him to hurry up or he was going to fly out there and drag both of them back.
"Dad? Dracula?" She knew those voices.
"Hey Honeybat, we got worried when Dracula couldn't find you in the kitchen." Her father looked to her. "Here I am."
She ended up running up to him and wrapping her arms around her father relieved that she was missed and being searched for. Tickles and her kitten would run through the shadow portal when Dracula started yelling. Each animal taking their chance to tackle the vampire to the ground and lick his face until covered in drool. Followed by her and her father as portal closed behind them.
"Come on guys. Off." Hazelcape gave them the usual command.
Away the animals would run off some where to leave in a drool covered Dracula who mumbled just having his suit cleaned. Had his mood improve when nimble fingers reached out to him and offered him a way to get up from the floor. He accepted by also taking advantage of her closeness by pulling into the embrace of his cloak and her warmth.
"Today is the day my daughter inherits the hotel and I retire in peace to grow old beside my Fruit Bat as we raise our nightmare." Dracula spoke of their plans.
"I can't wait to see what Mavis and Jonathan are going to do." Jarlath figured the two would change a few things around.
"HaHaha! Yes. Jonathan taking over." Dracula stiffens.
Images of lobby area covered in flashy lights that one would find in a disco as indoor yoga took place beside free-spirited skateboarders. Chanting monks or techno music that one could barely make out would be played as background noise. Made one of Dracula's start to twitch in a disturbing manner that started to make Hazelcape worry over his lack of response. She gently tried shaking him to get him to look at her or shift his eyes to tell her everything was ok.
"Sorry about that," He finally answered her. "I didn't mean to check out like that."
"Want to talk about it?" She asked.
"Nervous?" Jarlath asked with a raised eye brow.
This was where Dracula would encouraged the two go on ahead of him and meet up with the others before the big bash begins. Using an excuse he needs to rehearse his speech in which he announces he was retiring and handing the hotel over. Which Jarlath knew was a sack of lies, by the way, Dracula acted toward them without pointing it out.
"We'll see your there?" Jarlath asked allowing his daughter to walk off first.
"Yes, nothing wrong." Dracula gave a cheek to cheek grin.
Dracula had to wait for two of them to disappear before he paced as he thought of a way to break the news to Jonathan. The more and more he thought about it the more and more he felt his head start to pound away with a headache forming. To only be struck with idea of turning Jonathan into a fellow monster to make the transition more easier on him. Since not all guests liked Mavis being married to a human with a dhampir offspring to take care of. Only one answer came to his mind, Heather's locked cabinet of creature-changing potions in his basement. Endless monsters he could pick from was just sitting there not being used.