"How doesn't he fall on his butt? - wondered Victoria, watching her master, rocking recklessly on his chair's hind legs, - it must be one of those mysterious vampire abilities... " They were sitting at a table in the darkest corner of a bar. Victoria couldn't have ever imagined that bar-hopping was popular among vampires too. Master had just ordered two double portions of vodka.
"It's for educational purposes, - he said, winking to her, - I'll teach you how to make the most popular drink among our kin!"
When the portions arrived, another lecture began.
"Ya see, mere alcohol doesn't affect us because of our metabolism, but "Bloody Mary" does. So, if you want to relax after a hard working night..."
"Bloody Mary?"
"Yeah. We can't follow the original recipe completely because of that annoying restraints… But this will do as well. - a long arm sporting a white glove appeared from under the table with a pack of medical blood and carefully added the red liquid into the vodka. - Here we go! Simple, huh?"
Victoria took the glass and sniffed the cocktail cautiously.
"And what's wrong with the original recipe?"
"The original recipe advises to choose a young maiden and make her drink alcohol. When she starts to see something like pink elefants, the drink is ready. Some snobs insist on choosing maidens by name, so that it would match the title... But really the most important thing is the blood type. It has to be A."
"Why?"
"Because it's saltier... Why don't you drink? Give it a try."
Victoria sipped a bit. Warmth ran along her veins immediately. The taste wasn't too bad... She drank more.
A couple of hours later the noise in her head became rather loud and the vision slightly blurred.
"Whoa... I haven't been drunk since our graduation's celebration in the Police Academy..." - she thought and giggled suddenly. What'd her former professors have said, seeing their best student drinking blood and vodka. In a company of a vampire to boot.
"I'll go refresh myself a little, Master," - she said, rising and looking around for the ladies' room door.
"Sure, - answered Alucard, searching for something in his numerous pockets, - I'll fix another drink for us so far."
"Where did you get so much blood, by the way?" - asked Victoria curiously.
"In the fridge, of course, - the vampire casually shrugged his wide shoulders, - You should know that the red fridge in the corner of the kitchen is for us, in case you ever want a snack... But I've taken all the stock out this time. Walter will be furious. He's such a nag sometimes... "Expenses this, expenses that!" Duh!"
Looking into the mirror of the ladies' room, Victoria splashed her burning cheeks with cold water. She had never hoped to see a blush on her face again, remembering the stories of nosferatu's eternal paleness... It was so relieving to see that normal human blush! "Like a schoolgirl on her first date, - thought Victoria, smiling, - Wait! For strangers we may really look like a couple…" This idea pleased her somehow. The girl headed back to the table, still smiling. Her smile faded, when she walked up to the table. Master was careless, having left an empty blood pack on the table and a waiter looked at it with wide opened eyes already.
"Master, what are you doing? - she yelled, - You shouldn't leave trash like that! We don't need rumors!" - added she in a stiffened whisper.
"Huh? Ah, that... You are right. I work for the trash cleaning division, after all! Heh-heh-heh!" - nothing could spoil Master's spirits this evening.
"Let's finish our drinks and leave. Please, Master! That waiter looked scared... What if he calls the police?"
"Ha, afraid of your former colleagues, aren't you, cop? Bwahaha! What can they do to us? Shoot us on the spot?"
"Hellsing's existence is top secret, Master! Lady Integra will be very displeased!" - pleaded Victoria.
"All right, if you insist... - Alucard threw a banknote on the table and got up on his feet, - The night is young yet! We'll have fun elsewhere."
It did sound somehow alarming, but when they walked about a hundred yards down the dark street, Victoria sighed with relief. And gasped at the next moment.
"I forgot my handbag! Wait a sec, please!" - she asked, running back to the bar.
"Take your time, Victoria, - smiled Alucard, waving his hand lazily, - we are not in a hurry, are we?" For the first time in many years his loneliness retreated a bit, leaving him unusually relaxed. Only for a few minutes though, because soon a cry rang over the deserted street.