Damn, why do I keep writing such heavy stuff?

WARNING: This chapter contains period-typical racism (including racial slurs), graphic violence, and semi-sexual content. Though, you pretty much already have an idea of what this fic is by now if you've read this far.

"Good morning, all!"

Tina dropped her fork into her eggs as the baron burst into the dining room. She hadn't expected to see him at his early hour. Fortunately, the curtains were drawn like always.

"So." Alastor clasped his hands together as he looked between Niffty and Husk. "Which one of you would like to accompany me on my errands today?"

"No thanks." Husk rubbed his temple. "Still hungover from last night."

As he said this, he sipped his Irish coffee.

"Very well," Alastor said. "Niffty, we'll leave as soon as you've finished breakfast."

"Actually, sir," Niffty said with a grin, "why don't you go with Tina this time? I mean she's been here half a year and you haven't taken her out once."

"Hmm. That's true." Alastor looked down at Tina who was picking at her eggs. "What do you think, Tina? Care to join me on a little excursion?"

In truth, the idea of going into town with Alastor made Tina nervous. Rumors were already circling over her appearances with the baron's servants. Who knew what people would think if she appeared with the baron himself?

However, she was eager to get out of the mansion, so she agreed.

Tina thought she would just be carrying Alastor's black parasol to shield him from the sun, like she'd seen Husk and Niffty do. While she did hold it high above his head, when they entered New Orleans, the baron draped his arm around her shoulders and pressed her to his side.

"What are ya doing?" she whispered.

"Easier to stay under the parasol this way," Alastor said through his veil. "Don't look so flustered, or people will get the wrong impression."

"Right. That's what'll give people the wrong impression."

Sure enough, many passersby stopped and stared at the pair. She could only imagine what they were all muttering to each other.

"Now isn't that funny?" Alastor chuckled.

"What?" Tina asked.

"I have an exceptional hearing, you see. And they seem to think we're romantically involved in some way."

She glanced at his black-gloved hand on her shoulder. "Wonder why that is."

"Oh, let them spin their wild tales. You should consider this a compliment, dear. Now no one will dare trouble you."

She glared at him. "Easy for you to say, Sugar Daddy."

"Pardon?"

"Oh just shut up."

They hit the grocery stores first, getting the items off Niffty's list. Then they went to the liquor store for Husk.

"You realize Husk, Niffty and I could've gotten these things ourselves, right?" Tina said. "Why risk the sunlight to come out here?"

Alastor shrugged. "It gives me some semblance of humanity, I suppose. These places aren't open at night. Besides, there are certain items I require that Niffty and Husker do not have a keen eye for."

He stopped in front of a Vodou shop. Tina stepped back.

"I ain't going in there. I don't trust any of that Voodoo shit."

"You'd think you would with the company you keep, but I understand." Alastor reached into his suit pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Why don't you go peruse that dress shop over there and buy yourself something nice?"

Her eyes widened as he handed her a fifty-dollar bill. "Al, this is way more than—"

"Think nothing of it, pet." He took the parasol from her. "Consider it a reward for your services."

She scowled. "Keep talkin' like I'm some hussy ya hired for the day, and I'll toss that hat right off your head and watch ya sizzle like a sausage."

Alastor laughed as he entered the Vodou shop. "I'd like to see you try!"

Tina rolled her eyes and went to the dress shop across the street. Just as she was admiring a lovely violet gown in the window, someone bumped into her.

She fell to the sidewalk, dropping her shopping bags and the fifty. Before she could grab the bill, an orange high-heeled shoe stepped on it. Tina looked up to see a plaid skirt, followed by an orange blouse, then a pair of blue eyes framed by golden curls, topped with an orange wide-brimmed hat.

"Oh, a thousand apologies!" the woman said, batting her eyes. "I didn't see you there! Course, you can't blame me since you're barely noticeable."

Tina scowled, but tried to remain composed. "Nice to see ya too, Miss Poulin."

"Oh, didn't you hear?" She waved her fingers, showing off a golden wedding ring. "It's Mrs. Léon now."

Her chest stung, more from broken pride than a broken heart. "Congratulations, Mrs. Léon. Sorry I missed the wedding."

"That's okay, you weren't invited."

"Whatever." Tina yanked at the bill from under the lady's foot. "Now if you could just step off—"

"What's this?" Mrs. Léon picked up the bill and gave a dramatic gasp. "Oh, Tina! I had no idea that times were so tough that you would resort to stealing!"

"Stealing? No!" Tina stood. "That's mine!"

"Right." She giggled as she waved the bill teasingly. "As if a Negress like you could ever earn this much in pay."

Tina clenched her hands into fists. "You give that back right now, Caroline, or I'll—"

"You'll what?" Caroline huffed. "And did I say you could call me Caroline, nigger?"

That was the last straw. Tina slapped the heiress across the face.

At this point, they'd drawn a crowd of spectators.

Caroline whined. "Did you see that? That nigger just slapped me! She's trying to take my money!"

The color drained from Tina's face as she realized her mistake. The crowd shouted around her.

"That nigger's crazy!"

"Someone get the police!"

"That poor young woman!"

All of Tina's bravado vanished. It didn't matter what she said. No one would listen to her. The scale of justice was tipped out of her favor.

Then she felt a familiar pair of leather hands on her shoulders.

"Is there a problem here, mademoiselle?"

Tina had never been so glad to hear the baron's voice.

Caroline gulped as she stared up at the veiled man. "B-Baron Bruneau! I, err, dropped this bill here, and this awful Negress tried to take it! When I picked it back up, she attacked me!"

"This bill?" Alastor stretched out his arm and snatched the fifty from Caroline's fingers. "You mean the same bill I gave to my dear lady friend not five minutes ago?"

Caroline paled. "Y-You gave her—?"

"Of course, I did." He hugged Tina to his chest. "You see, Miss Davis is such a good shopping companion, ensuring I stay out of the sun which I am deathly allergic to, I gave her the money to treat herself."

His shadow seemed to expand, covering Caroline. "And you should know, mademoiselle, I don't like it when my companions are treated with disrespect."

Forcing a laugh, Caroline held up her hands and backed away. "M-My mistake, B-Baron Bruneau, sir. I h-had no idea she was one of y-yours."

His red eyes glowed through his veil. "And don't you forget it."

Caroline bolted off, soon followed by the rest of the crowd. Alastor turned Tina to face him and stooped to her level.

"Are you injured, my dear?" he whispered.

Tina shook her head. "I'm fine. Let's just…go home, okay?"

After gathering their groceries, Alastor took Tina by the hand and led her back to the bayou.

"An acquaintance of yours?" he asked once the town was out of sight.

Tina huffed. "That was Caroline Poulin. Well, she's Caroline Léon now that she's married Ethan."

"I see. She's the heiress your former lover left you for."

She nodded. "I don't care anymore that he chose her over me. But does she have to be such a bitch about it? And where does she get off tryin' to frame me for theft? Does she think I'm gonna try and steal her husband from her? I ain't even seen Ethan for six months!"

"Despite the circumstances, I'd say you handled yourself rather well, my pet." Alastor chuckled. "Although, slapping a white woman in public may not have been the smartest move, but it was rather entertaining to see."

Instead of a witty retort, he was met with silence. He glanced sideways at her downcast expression.

"Hey." He stopped and knelt down to her. "It doesn't matter what anyone says. You're better than her. Better than all those swine." He lifted her chin with his finger. "Not to mention infinitely more beautiful."

Tina giggled. "Be serious."

"I am." He gently wiped a tear from her cheek. "And I'll prove it to you. Let me take you out tonight."

She tilted her head. "Out?"

"After a day like this, a night on the town is what we both need to lift our spirits. We can go to a picture show, or dancing, whatever you like."

Tina thought about it. "That does sound fun."

"Splendid!" He got up and clapped his hands. "Meet you in the entrance hall after sunset?"

"Sure."

And then she smiled, and for the first time in seven decades, Alastor could've sworn he felt a beating in his chest.

"What in the world possessed me to do a thing like that?" Alastor thought aloud.

"Ask a woman out, ya mean?" Husk grumbled as he brushed his employer's hair. "I got news for ya, sir. Nearly every man alive has done that at some point."

"Be honest, Husker." Alastor stared into the mirror, in which only Husk was visible. "I haven't seen my reflection in seventy years. I haven't lost my charm, have I?"

"You will if you don't keep still and let me untangle these knots." Husk tugged on the brush. "Why you so nervous, anyway? You act as if you've never been alone with the girl before."

"I don't know." The baron tapped his fingers together. "It's just…when I asked her, it felt…different, somehow. When I saw how miserable she was, my only thought was to cheer her up and next thing I know, I'm proposing a night on the town. And when she said yes and smiled at me, I felt…"

He put a hand to his chest. "Almost as if I were…alive again. Except I never felt that way while alive."

"Did you feel lighter than air?" Husk asked as he squirted lavender oil onto his hands. "Giddy as a schoolboy?"

"Yes. Have you ever had a feeling like that, Husker?"

Husk rubbed the oil into the baron's hair. "Once or twice."

"It's not an illness, is it? Because you know I can't get ill."

"Boss."

"Maybe it was from being out in the sun too long?"

"Boss."

"Or maybe I got too close to the garlic in the grocery store?"

"Boss!" Husk stepped in front of him. "If you'd stop and fucking listen for one second, I'll tell ya what's going on with ya."

"Well, don't just stand there." Alastor waved his hand. "Get on with it."

"I think," Husk said, pointing the brush at him, "that you're falling in love with Tina."

Alastor blinked, and then laughed. "Oh, Husker, you kidder! As if a heartless creature of the night such as myself could be capable of something so pure as love!"

"You ain't heartless. And just cuz it ain't ever happened to ya before, doesn't mean it can't ever happen."

"Such wacky nonsense!" Alastor rubbed the back of his neck. "Me, in love with my primary food source. As if she could ever…" He bit his lip. "Though, out of curiosity, does she ever…talk about me with you?"

"Trust me." Husk rolled his eyes. "She's as much an idiot as you are."

"Oh, good." Alastor paused. "Wait. What do you mean by that?"

"Master!" Niffty threw the door open. "Tina's just finishing up her dinner and will be ready to leave soon!"

"Now?" Alastor stood and fiddled with his bowtie. "Oh, but my tie is crooked, and my jacket's wrinkled, and where did I put that hat?"

Niffty gave Husk a questioning look. He returned it with a shrug.

"Sir." Niffty curled her finger. "If I may?"

Alastor bent down and allowed Niffty to redo his bowtie.

"There's no need to be nervous," she said.

"Why does everyone seem to think I'm nervous?" Alastor asked.

"Well, it's no surprise. This being your first real date and all."

"This is not a date. This is merely two adults, going out for a lovely evening of entertainment."

"Uh-huh." Niffty smirked. "Is that why your shirt is inside-out?"

"What?" Alastor dashed behind a dressing screen. "Husker, why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to see how long it would take for you to figure it out," Husk said.

"Well this is just perfect." He hastily undressed himself. "What would Tina say if she saw me like this? At this rate, the picture will be half over before I get myself in order!"

"Relax, Master," Niffty said. "I helped Tina get ready, and she's just as much a nervous wreck as you are."

"Why?" Alastor's voice cracked as he turned his shirt right-side-out. "Is she nervous to…be seen with me?"

"Oh, no, no, no. She's nervous because she has no idea what your intentions are."

"Intentions?" He gulped as he buttoned his shirt. "A-Aren't my intentions obvious?"

"Not really, Master." Niffty shrugged. "As an objective observer, your signals are a tad mixed."

"What signals? Radio signals?"

Husk facepalmed. "He has no idea, Nifft."

Niffty gasped. "You mean neither of them realize how much they love each other?"

"Not you too, Niffty." Alastor stepped out from behind the screen, his jacket hanging from his arm. "Like I told Husker, Tina is nothing more than food to me. A piece of amusement, at most."

He handed Husk the jacket to hold it up for him. The corners of Alastor's mouth twitched as he slid his arms in.

"I mean…even if that weren't the case…" He gazed into the empty mirror. "It would never work."

"Why not?" Niffty asked. "The two of you get along, don't you?"

"Yes, but I'm a vampire, and she's mortal. Eventually, she's going to grow old and leave this world, while I remain frozen at thirty. Forever."

"It doesn't have to be that way, though."

Alastor looked at her in horror. "I am not changing her."

"But you'd be together forever." Niffty put her hands to her chest. "It would be so romantic!"

"Yes, romantic." He gestured to the mirror. "To turn her into this? A soulless being forced to survive on blood? No. I swore I'd never condemn another to this fate."

"Have you thought to ask her?" Husk inquired.

"Yeah," Niffty said. "I mean shouldn't you at least find out how she feels about you before dismissing any chance you might have with her?"

The baron shook his head. "Tina is too sensible. She'd never fall for a monster like me. Oh, she may tolerate my company, but to become a vampire's mate?" He sighed. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Niffty, but love is not in the cards for me."

"Don't say that." The maid crossed her arms. "Everyone deserves love. Even vampires."

"Very kind of you to say, Niffty, but also naïve." Alastor finally found his fedora on his bed. "All I want is to enjoy this evening with Tina. After all, I…don't know how much time I'll get with her."

His smile almost wavered, but he shook it off. "Anyway, where are my sunglasses?"

When Alastor saw Tina in the entrance hall, she took his breath away. If he had any breath, that is.

She wore a purple, velvet dress with sequined accents, a matching coat hanging from her arm. Her curled bob was topped with a purple felt hat, wrapped in a white ribbon. She tugged at a pearl choker concealing the wounds on her neck as she drank in Alastor's appearance.

He had ditched his usual pinstripe suit for a tweed one, making him look less like a baron and more like an average Joe. On his nose was a pair of green-tinted spectacles, turning his red eyes to brown. With a gentle smile, he tipped his fedora and bowed to Tina.

"Ma chère," he said as he took her hand. "You look positively ravishing."

Tina blushed as he left a chaste kiss on her knuckles. "And you look positively…different."

He straightened up. "Well, I can't afford to stand out like I do in the day. You don't want people staring at the two of us all night, do you?"

She frowned. "People are gonna stare regardless. If not for those glasses, then the fact that you're a white man out with a black woman will certainly turn heads."

"These?" He fiddled with the spectacles. "Believe it or not, these attract less attention than my red eyes. All I have to do is say that I have a unique eyesight condition that requires green-tinted glasses."

"At night?"

He shrugged. "People will believe anything. As for the two of us being out in public…" He took her jacket and moved behind her. "I'll just explain that I'm black myself."

"You know that, and I know that." She slid her arms into the sleeves. "But ya look white. Without proof of your heritage, a relationship like ours would be considered illegal."

"Relationship?" Alastor stiffened. "What relationship?"

"I mean it does look like we're on a date," Tina said as she buttoned her jacket.

He gulped. "It does?"

"I know this ain't a date," she said, turning to face him, "but others might think differently. We could get in trouble with the law."

"Law?" He huffed. "You think I, a vampire, am afraid of the law? My dear, my dear." He opened the front door and offered his arm. "You underestimate my abilities."

She accepted his arm and allowed him to lead her out into the night. "But you've got enough to worry about, hidin' what ya are. Ya don't wanna give the police another reason to investigate ya."

"All the more reason for me to go out incognito," he said. "No one outside the household knows what I look like. If there's any trouble, we can easily slip away."

"How?"

Alastor stopped, the corners of his mouth reaching to his ears. Then he slid his arm out of her grasp, stepped in front of her, and crouched down.

"Climb on."

"What?"

"Trust me." He looked over his shoulder. "You'll be perfectly safe."

Still wary, Tina tightened the strap of her purse, climbed onto Alastor's back, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She yelped as he lifted her legs around his waist and rose.

"Hold on tight," he whispered.

Then, with the speed of a cheetah, he broke into a run. Tina screamed as her hat went flying off. She buried her face into his neck.

The wind whipped against her cheeks and stung her eyes. She closed her eyes to avoid losing them to bugs or branches. She clung tighter to Alastor, whimpering for him not to let go. His arms continued to support her legs.

It hadn't even been a minute when he stopped at the edge of town, but Tina felt as if she'd just come out of a hurricane.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Instead of responding, she slid off his back and plopped to the ground.

"Yes, I know." Alastor helped her to her feet. "The first time can be a bit overwhelming."

The world around her spun as she put a hand to her head. "My hat."

"Oh. My apologies. Wait here."

He zipped off and returned a few seconds later with her hat in hand.

"Why didn't," Tina sputtered as she put her hat back on, "you tell me you were so fast?"

"You never asked." He brushed the brambles off her coat. "Now you see there is absolutely no danger in the two of us getting caught."

"Won't us runnin' off in a blur raise even more questions?"

"Naturally, but who would believe such a thing?" He chuckled as he put his arm around her shoulders. "Even the most superstitious would play the whole incident off as a figment of the imagination. Especially with the right persuasion."

Tina was afraid to ask what that meant. "So, what picture are we seeing?"

Alastor pointed to the movie theater across the street. The marquee read: Now Playing: Dracula.

Tina rolled her eyes. "Ya tryin' to be ironic?"

"I didn't see it when it first premiered," he said as they stepped in line. "I also read the novel some time ago and am rather curious."

"I wondered why that book was in your library."

When they reached the box office, Alastor said, "Two please."

The cashier squinted at the couple. "You two are going in…together?"

There were disapproving whispers behind them.

"Ah!" Alastor smacked his forehead. "I see the confusion!" He leaned onto the counter and whispered, "I know I may not look it, but I'm also a Negro. On my mother's side, you see."

The cashier stared at Tina. "Got any proof?"

Alastor sighed. "Look at me, my good man."

As the cashier turned back to him, Alastor lowered his spectacles, his red eyes glowing as they locked onto the man's.

"You can tell I'm a Negro," Alastor said. "Can't you?"

The cashier's eyes flashed red. After blinking several times, he apologized and handed them two tickets.

"Thank you, my good man!" Alastor snatched the tickets. "Have a lovely evening!"

Once they were inside, Tina whispered, "Oh, so you can hypnotize people now?"

He pushed his glasses back into place. "Only when necessary. I'm afraid we'll still have to sit up in the balcony."

She shook her head. "Next you're gonna tell me ya sleep in a coffin or can turn into a bat."

"You've seen my bedroom, chère. And I'm afraid what you heard about vampires turning into bats is entirely fictional."

"Good."

"The animal form varies. In my case, I can become a deer."

Tina looked up at him. "A deer?"

"I'll show you later." He pointed to the concession stand. "Popcorn?"

"Well, that was quite a deviation from the original source material," Alastor said as he and Tina walked out of the theater arm in arm.

"I don't mind that they changed the plot around a bit." She groaned. "But did they have to turn a strong, intelligent heroine like Mina into a helpless, useless damsel in distress? In the book, she was the one who didn't fall under Dracula's spell, and played a crucial role in his defeat. But all she did in this movie was get bitten and kidnapped by the villain! What the hell?"

Alastor chuckled. "I think it amusing how Hollywood seems to think we vampires like to trance about in opera capes."

"I don't know. I think you'd look kind of dashing in one."

"You think so? Should I try sleeping in a coffin as well?" He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Or seduce impressionable young women?"

She laughed as she pushed his face back. "As if any woman would be stupid enough to fall for a tall, dark stranger who dresses like a creeper. No wonder Dracula had to use hypnosis."

He ruffled her hair. "You would certainly give him a challenge, my pet. Even though you did offer yourself to me willingly."

"Yeah, yeah." She waved her hand. "But ya know I put my foot down at the whole becomin' an immortal bride for all eternity thing."

Alastor suddenly held a very guilty look. "Oh?"

"Well, at least without asking."

His grin brightened. "Oh?"

"Don't get any ideas now." She pointed up at him. "This is only our first date, after all."

Alastor gulped. "So…you do see this is a date?"

They both stopped and stared at each other, Tina's cheeks redder than blood.

"I… Is it?"

Alastor rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I, uh… That is, I…"

He was interrupted by jazz music from up ahead. The couple turned the corner to see a group of street musicians playing brass instruments.

"Will you look at that?" Alastor said. "Who needs a club, when we can dance right here?"

Without waiting for an answer, he took her hand and spun her into the cobblestone street. Tina would've berated him, if she weren't too busy laughing.

"For a hundred-year-old man," she said as he twirled her into his chest, "you're pretty spry."

He chuckled. "I told you, I have a lot of free time."

Sometime during their dance, Alastor managed to slip a fifty into the band's open saxophone case. At this, the saxophone player whispered to his friends. Then the upbeat tune lulled into something slower, and more romantic.

The couple stopped and glanced at the band. Tina blushed, Alastor bit his lip.

"We, uh," she stammered, "don't have to…"

He lifted her chin, locking her eyes onto his. Then he took her by the waist and pulled her close. Holding her hand like a delicate flower, he led her into a slow waltz.

"Uh, Al?" Tina said. "You're not usin' your hypnosis thing on me, are ya?"

"What makes you say that?" Alastor asked.

"Cuz I…" She wanted to say that she couldn't seem to stop focusing on his gaze. "Never mind."

"Trust me, darling." He raised his arm to twirl her. "I would never do that to you."

When he drew her back in, her hand went to his chest. "Why?"

"Because," he whispered in her ear, "you're much more entertaining when you're in your right mind."

At this confession, Tina was hit with a wave of contentment. Something she hadn't felt in a long time.

With Ethan, there had always been this sort of power imbalance. If she were upset at him, he would win her over with some expensive gift. She should've seen just how unhealthy their relationship was from the start, especially when he would never take her out in public. He had always said it was for her protection, but now Tina started to think that it had really been because he was ashamed of her.

Alastor didn't make her feel that way. He had risked discovery just to take her to a picture. And now, he was dancing with her in the middle of the street like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Yes, it helped that he was black too, but he had the chance to pass off as white. He could've sat on the lower level of the theater, but had instead sat in the balcony with her, despite disapproving glares.

If people asked too many questions, his secret as a vampire might get out. A mob could ransack his home, torch him, or stab him with a stake.

But Alastor didn't seem to care about any of that, only her.

Comforted by this thought, Tina closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest. There was no heartbeat, but she felt his body stiffen.

Alastor stared down at her in bewilderment. No woman had ever gotten this close to him before, except during feedings. But she was actually comfortable enough to put her head against his chest.

Even more amazing was the fact that she was smiling. She was honestly, genuinely smiling. For him.

His hand left her waist and trailed up her back. Tina released a satisfied moan, and Alastor froze.

Her body was so warm against him. Her smile was absolutely lovely. Her lavender-peachy scent was like opium to his nostrils.

It had been ages since he'd desired to feed on her. The past few weeks, he'd only done it out of necessity. But with every time his skin touched hers, there came that overwhelming sensation to do more. To hold her, to protect her, to…treasure her.

Alastor was beginning to wonder if Husk and Niffty had been right. That he wasn't interested in Tina solely for her blood.

He wanted all of her. Wanted her to be his. For him to be hers.

For a vampire, there was only one way to ensure that kind of future.

"Tina?"

"Hmm?"

Alastor clicked his tongue as he tried to find the right words. "About…what happened in the picture we saw tonight…"

"Yeah?" She lifted her head.

"I…" He was momentarily lost in those dark, enchanting eyes. "Do you think…? That is, if I asked, would you…?"

"Yeah?"

As she inched closer, he cast a panicked glance at the band. "N-Not here. Let's go somewhere more private."

They did not walk arm in arm this time, but hand in hand, their fingers laced together. Both were too flustered to say anything, until they came to the city park.

"God, it's beautiful out here." Tina gazed up at the starry night sky.

"Yes," Alastor murmured as he focused on her face, illuminated by the streetlamps. "Beautiful."

Indeed, she was the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid eyes on. Why had it taken him so long to realize it?

Perhaps, it was because he hadn't fully gotten to know her until now. How at ease he felt in her presence, yet so nervous at the same time.

"So," Tina said, "what was it ya wanted to ask me?"

"Ah, yes." Alastor tugged on his collar. "See, what I wanted to ask was…"

He stopped at a bench and sat down. Tina joined him.

How was he to tell her how he felt? After all, to be with a vampire required the ultimate sacrifice. And what woman in her right mind would allow herself to become a soulless monster for the love of a man? The movie had at least gotten that part right.

He didn't want her to reject him, but he also couldn't bear the thought of coercing her either. Not through hypnosis or any other means.

But he had to know, at least to dispel these feelings before they developed any further. Or else he wouldn't be able to handle their next feeding.

"Al, it's okay." Tina laid her hand over his. "You can tell me anything."

Alastor rubbed the back of his neck, still refusing to look at her. "If…I were a man, Tina…a real man, would you…would you think me…attractive?"

He winced at how pathetic that sounded.

"What makes ya think I don't find ya attractive now?" Tina asked.

He turned to her with his eyebrows raised. "You…do?"

"Well, yeah, I mean look at you." She gestured to him. "A girl would have to be blind not to find ya attractive."

"That's…" Alastor crossed his legs. "That's not what I mean."

She scooted towards him. "Well, what do ya mean?"

"I mean…" He gulped as her face moved closer to his. "If I asked you to… Do you…would you…?"

"Would I what, Al?"

Her lips were but a breath away. Alastor was compelled to close the distance between them, and taste more than just her blood.

"What the fuck is this?" said a voice.

The couple turned to see three white men in suits and fedoras come up the path towards them.

"Hey, fella," said the man in the middle. "What you think you're doing, kissing a nigger?"

Alastor recoiled from Tina. "I wasn't… That is, I wasn't planning to—"

"So what if he was tryin' to kiss me?" Tina stood from the bench. "You boys got a problem?"

The baron couldn't help widening his grin.

"Who, us?" said the man on the left. "Nah. If ya wanna get it on with a nigger, fella, it ain't our business."

The third man sized Tina up. "Maybe we can get in on the action?"

Tina scoffed. "Excuse me?"

"You will do no such thing, gentlemen!" Alastor sprang up and stuck his arm in front of her. "As you said, this isn't any of your business. So please, walk away now, before you do something you regret."

The men laughed.

"Come on," said the first man. "Don't keep the dame all to yourself."

"Of course," said the second man, "we could call the cops, if ya want."

Tina held up her middle finger. "Go suck each other's dicks."

The men howled.

"Feisty one, ain't she?" said the third man. "She'll be fun."

From Alastor came the growl of a panther, his eyes glowing as he took off his fedora. "Tina, hold this for me while I deal with these bastards."

"Oh, you wanna go, buddy?" asked the first man.

Alastor calmly removed his spectacles, folded them, and handed them to Tina. "I'm going to give you to the count of three, gentlemen, to make your departure," he said, taking his gloves off next, "before I gut you like the pigs you are."

"He serious?" said the second man.

"One…" Alastor slid out of his jacket.

"I think he is," said the third man.

The coat dropped into Tina's arms. "Two…"

"Fuck this." The first man drew a pistol.

There was no "three."

With a beastly roar, Alastor pounced on the first man just as he pulled the trigger. The bullet bounced off Alastor's chest as he pinned the man down, bared his fangs and tore open the bastard's throat.

Tina ducked behind the bench, holding Alastor's things close as she watched the fight.

The other two assailants whipped out their own pistols and fired at the vampire. He didn't even flinch. When they ran out of bullets, Alastor grinned up at them, blood dripping from his mouth. Screaming, the two men tried to run for it, but the baron was too fast for them.

He caught one, ripping his arm out of its socket like a doll's. He left the now one-armed man wailing on the ground as blood spewed out of his side. Alastor then snatched up the third man by the ankle and held him upside-down.

"I-I'm sorry!" he cried. "Please, I'm sorry!"

"Don't apologize to me," Alastor said.

"Then who the fuck am I supposed to apologize to?"

Alastor sighed. "Chivalry truly is dead."

His claws glinted in the moonlight as he dragged them down the man's middle, from the pelvis to the throat. Alastor dropped him and went over to the one-armed victim, who was still alive, and sunk his teeth into his neck.

Tina looked away and covered her mouth. One would think after six months of allowing a vampire to feed on her, she'd be less squeamish around blood.

But this scene was brutal. Alastor hadn't shown a shred of mercy to these men. He hadn't even made their deaths quick, but dragged them out so they could suffer. She could still hear one man whimpering and the other screaming.

Then all was silent.

Tina turned back to see all three men laying lifeless in pools of their own blood. Alastor stood, wiping the blood off his mouth with the back of his hand. Tina cautiously rose to her feet, her arms shaking as she scooped up Alastor's things.

"Oh, dear." He looked down at the red blotches on his white shirt. "Niffty is going to scold me for this."

"A-Al?" Tina said.

As if just remembering she was there, Alastor's head shot up. He smiled as he approached her, showing off his blood-stained fangs.

"Apologies for that, darling." He knelt down and took her face in his hands. "Are you alright? You look almost as pale as me."

"I-I'm fine." Tina stepped back. "Though you're gettin' blood all over me."

"Oopsie. Let me get that for you."

He licked the blood he'd left on her cheek, causing her to shiver.

"You're so weird."

"Hmm. Not what I expected to hear you say after watching me slaughter three men." He began putting his jacket and accessories back on. "We best be off before the police arrive."

"Ain't ya worried they'll trace this back to you?" Tina asked.

"Those incompetent nincompoops?" He scoffed. "They'll rule this as a wild dog incident."

Tina squeaked as she was suddenly scooped up into his arms bridal-style.

"Brace yourself," he whispered.

She put one arm around his neck and a hand on her hat as Alastor took off.

"This is unnecessary," Tina said as Alastor put a blanket over her shoulders.

He had seated her in an armchair in her room and lit the fireplace.

"Nonsense." He sat in the other chair. "You've been shivering since we got back."

Thanks to his shadow, he had quickly exchanged his bloodied shirt for a clean one, but the metallic smell remained. It didn't bother Tina, but did, however, remind her of the incident from less than an hour ago.

"Would you like some tea?" Alastor asked. "Or hot cocoa to warm you up?"

"I'm fine." Tina hugged the blanket around her. "There's no need to fuss over me."

"I can't help it."

She looked up at him. Although his smile was there, his eyes were filled with concern.

"I hope…" He focused on the fire. "I hope you're not too shaken up over…what I did. The last thing I wish to do is make you frightened of me. But the way those men spoke about you, I just…" He winced. "They were absolutely deplorable. Don't you understand I couldn't let them get away with it?"

"I do."

His eyes popped open in surprise. "What?"

Tina pulled her feet up onto the chair. "I…I'm not disgusted by what ya did. I mean it was pretty intense, but… I don't mind it."

She smirked. "In fact, I'm kinda…touched that you'd do a thing like that for me. It's been so long since anyone's stood up for me. I'm used to doing that myself."

She paused to wipe away a tear. "And even before that, you went around town with me on your arm, not carin' what people might think. It's like I…matter to ya. I mean I know you're just keepin' me alive for my blood, but—"

"I'm not."

Tina blinked. "You're not?"

"No." Alastor stood and approached her. "Maybe I was at first, but now…"

Getting down on one knee, he took her hand. "I took you out tonight, danced with you, killed for you, because you do matter to me, Tina. In the sense that…that…I want you with me. Not just as a meal."

The blanket fell from her shoulders as Tina leaned towards him. "As…what then?"

He took a deep breath, not that he needed it. "Before we were…interrupted, I…I wanted to ask you something."

Her eyes widened. "Yes?"

Alastor gulped. "I know I'm…a monster, and that I do terrible things sometimes, and that I must smell like a rotting corpse right now. And I know after the picture tonight, you must think vampires as insincere, selfish predators, particularly when it comes to women—"

"Get to the point."

"Right." He shut his eyes. "Tina, do you think that maybe you could find it in your heart to…? That is, would you maybe want to…? Is it possible for you to—?"

"Yes," Tina muttered.

Alastor opened his eyes. "But you don't know what I was going to ask."

Just then, she brushed her lips against his. And kissed the smile off his face.

He stared at her, utterly confused. She looked back at him coyly.

"Was it something like that?"

In that instant, all his doubts on her feelings disappeared.

Alastor lunged forward, capturing her lips in his. Tina moaned as she threw her arms around his neck.

Tasting her lips was nothing like tasting her blood. This was an action she could reciprocate. For the first time, he felt as if he had something to offer her in return for all the pleasure she granted him.

Then he remembered she'd been tricked before. That another man of wealth and power had taken advantage of her affections. Before going any further, Alastor had to assure her that his intentions were pure.

"Mon amour," he whispered against her mouth. "Tu es ma raison d'être."

She pulled away to look at him. "Really?"

"Yes." He pressed his forehead to hers. "And I want nothing more than for you to be mine. In every sense of the word."

She frowned. "Meaning what, exactly?"

Alastor slid his hands onto her shoulders. "Human law may make things difficult for us, but vampire law is different." He tapped the pearl choker covering her neck. "For a creature like me, love is eternal."

Tina blinked. "Are you…saying what I think you're saying?"

He nodded. "I want you for my mate, Tina. I want you by my side for all eternity." He caressed her cheek. "But only if you'll have me. I won't be like Dracula and take your humanity without consent. I will only do it if you want me as much as I want you."

She said nothing for a long while, staring at him perplexed. "You're…serious?"

"As the plague, my darling." He pecked her lips. "I've never been more serious about anything in my existence."

"So you want me to become…a vampire?"

"And my bride." His fingers moved to unclasp her choker. "All you'd have to do is drink my blood, and we'll be together forever."

Just as he was about to remove the choker, Tina grabbed his wrists. "Al, slow down a minute."

He tilted his head. "Slow down?"

"I mean think about what you're asking." She lowered his hands and put the choker aside. "We're not just talkin' 'bout an ordinary marriage here. We're talkin' 'bout forever. Not only that, but I'd have to give up going out in the sun and eatin' real food and seein' myself in the mirror. That's…that's a lot, Al. Like I said before, we've only just had our first date, and I wasn't even sure it was a date for most of it."

For the first time in front of her, Alastor frowned. "So…your answer is no."

"My answer is…not yet."

His grin returned. "You mean…?"

She nodded. "I…think I may be fallin' for ya too, Al. I just don't wanna rush into marriage right away. Let alone an eternity as a vampire." She slid her hands up his arms. "But…I do wanna try and see where this takes us."

He sighed in relief. "In that case, mon amour, may I kiss you again?"

She leaned in and whispered, "Go for it."

With her permission, Alastor crashed his mouth back into hers. Tina snaked her fingers into his hair, her arm hooking around his neck, pulling him closer. He grunted as his pelvis bumped into the chair.

Determined to get them into a more comfortable position, Alastor swept Tina up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

"You gonna drink me?" she asked, sounding much too eager about the idea.

He shook his head. "I've already had my fill tonight." He purred as he laid her on the mattress. "Now I'm hungry for something else."

Tina giggled as he crawled on top of her and kissed her again.

With all their previously set boundaries out the window, both sets of hands wandered to places they'd never explored. She groped his behind, he traced his fingertips along her neckline. Normally, such intimate contact would make Alastor squirm, but he was so overjoyed that this wonderful woman returned his love. It had been so long since anyone had shown him any sort of affection, that he wanted to lavish her with it in whatever way possible.

His lips left her mouth, pecking her cheek, then her jawline, then her throat.

"I won't mind if ya," Tina said between pants, "bite a little."

He moaned against her collarbone. "Mmm-mmm."

"Really, it's okay."

He whispered in her ear, "I refuse to scar you further."

"Okay. Can I at least bite…?" Then she remembered the consequences of that action. "Never mind. This is fine."

As they continued feeling each other, Alastor became more daring. He pulled down the sleeve of Tina's dress and pressed his lips to her shoulder. He wanted to taste every inch of her soft, warm flesh. To let her know that she was precious to him, and that until she gave the word, he would not drink from her.

Everything about her felt so alive. Her sweat mingled with the scent of her perfume. Her breath was like fire against his icy skin. Her heart beat loud enough for the both of them.

He didn't need her blood to enjoy her. She was already more than enough.

Then the mood started to escalate into something more intense. Tina was growing warmer, her breath getting heavier. Her legs wrapped around his waist, allowing him to feel the pounding in her pelvis.

She directed his mouth back to hers. Then she began work on the buttons of his shirt.

Alastor opened his eyes in alarm.

What was happening? Why was Tina trying to remove his shirt? He'd been fully aware of her physical desire, but did she really want to take it that far?

It didn't make any sense. Why would she turn down his proposal, but then attempt to seduce him afterwards? Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around?

He broke the kiss to say, "Tina?"
"Mmm-hmm?"

"What are you…?"

He trailed off as he felt her mouth on his neck, her hands pushing back the fabric from his chest, stroking his old scars. The gentle sensations were so calming that he forgot what he was going to say. Instead, he caressed her shoulders and stroked her hair, inhaling her addictive scent.

Perhaps, he could go to sleep early tonight. That way, he could guard her through the night, and for once, not wake up to an empty bed.

No, from now on, he wanted to awake in her arms every sunset.

The experience was pure Heaven. Until his member got involved.

The moment Alastor felt the stiffness in his trousers, he sprang to the far edge of the bed.

"I-I'm sorry!" He covered his groin. "I-I'll go and take care of this. Y-You wait here and—"

"You don't have to do that," Tina said as she sat up.

"What?"

Blushing, she pulled her skirt up her waist. "If ya really wanna, we can take care of it right here."

Alastor couldn't believe what he was hearing. "B-B-But…we're not married."

She scoffed as she rolled down her pantyhose. "Well it's not like I'm at risk of gettin' pregnant, right?"

"That's not…" He crossed his legs to further hide his groin. "That's not what I—"

The tights were at her knees. "And don't worry 'bout stealin' my innocence, cuz I ain't no virgin, remember?"

He gripped the bedpost to steady himself. "Maybe you're not, but—"

"It's okay." The tights were now bunched up at her ankles. "As long as we both want it, right?"

Once the pantyhose was off, she spread her legs apart. Before Alastor could catch a glimpse of her underwear, he shielded his eyes and shouted, "But I don't want it!"

Tina deflated. "I…don't understand. You said you wanted—"

"Not this!" He scrambled off the bed.

"Where you going?"

"Tina, I'm sorry, I…" He winced as he opened the door. "I just can't."

Then he slammed the door on Tina. And so, left behind any chance he might've had with her.

No matter what universe I put these two in, I just can't seem to cut them a break.

Yeah, that's pretty much my opinion of every Dracula adaptation (even modern ones) that likes to romanticize Dracula and Mina (working totally backwards from how her character was in the original novel). I may like the songs in the musical adaptation, but they're too beautiful to belong in the Dracula story.