Amy threw herself onto the bed and cried. More and more it felt like this was becoming a pattern. She would try to do something nice for or with Sonic, and Sonic would either blow her off for something else, or he would show up, and just as Amy was starting to enjoy herself. He'd say or do something that completely destroyed either the mood or the event, sometimes both. So Amy cried, she cried till her designer pillows were covered in snot and her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. However, just as she was about to start in on another round of sobbing there was a knock at the door, a knock. . . and a voice. The voice was young sounding, yet deep, and strong, with a faint, almost unnoticeable trace of an accent. It was a voice of sophistication, class, and intelligence, and Amy had never once been disappointed to hear it since first encountering it nearly four months ago.
"Amy? Are you alright?" Drying her eyes, Amy tried to make herself look halfway presentable as she went to greet her guest. Opening the varnished bamboo door, Amy smiled at the visitor who was easily a full head taller than her, the difference in height owed to the most drastic dissimilarity between the two of them. He, Amy's newest and closest friend, was a human. He wore a red dress shirt, with a black unbuttoned sports coat over it. Black dress pants and dress shoes adorned his lower half, and a black belt with silver buckle was wrapped around his waist. He had long coal black hair, mostly strait but with a slight curl to it. Noble aquiline features, dark brown, almost black, eyes, and extremely pale skin, really did make him look like the reincarnation of the creature his name had come from.
"Alucard. . ." Amy breathed out, hoping he wouldn't notice she had been crying, however that hope was soon proven to be a forlorn one, as Alucard frowned.
"You've been crying again." He said, a dark undertone to his voice as he made the observation, Alucard hated seeing Amy cry. "Why?" He asked, he likely already knew the reason, but Amy still tried to brush him off.
"Oh, it's nothing, just. . . just banged my shin on the table." She stated, certain that Alucard would see right through her. . . he always did.
"The table in question wouldn't happen to be blue now would it?" He asked calmly, Amy looked suddenly guilty. Alucard sighed, her expression was all the conformation he needed. "Well, I suppose it's really none of my business, but you know I hate to see you unhappy, perhaps these will help?" With that Alucard pulled a small golden cardboard box from inside his coat and presented it to Amy. She instantly started drooling as she stared at the words La Chocolate Supremos written on the box in fancy script. Snatching the box from Alucard's hand, Amy wasted no time in tearing it open and throwing one of the gourmet chocolates into her mouth. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as the sweet confection melted on her tongue.
"Mmmm, Alucard you're my hero!" She groaned, as she shoved two more of the chocolates into her mouth. Alucard chuckled as he watched Amy devour the sweets.
"Well. . . I have my moments I suppose. . . May I come in?" He asked, polite as ever. Amy nodded as her mouth was currently too full to talk. Alucard smiled as he entered, following Amy to her couch as he patiently waited for her to finish her treat. "Do try not to choke." He said with a smirk. Amy simply swallowed and looked guilty.
"He he, sorry, I really needed this." She replied. Alucard nodded, as he pulled a handkerchief from a pocket and offered it to Amy.
"I figured as much, now why don't you tell me what happened?" He asked. Amy wiped what was left of her tears from her face and sighed, suddenly looking depressed again.
"I finally got Sonic to agree to a picnic, we were going to meet on this beautiful hidden lagoon I found, just the two of us. I worked my fingers to the bone making us lunch, getting the beach towels, and even bribed Eggman to not attack us today with some extremely expensive imported mustache wax, but then. . ." Here Amy started sniffing, and her eyes started to water again. Alucard gave Amy a sympathetic look as he sat down next to her on the couch.
"Go on. . ." He stated, placing his hand on Amy's shoulder for reassurance. Amy nodded.
"Well. . . I got there and. . . then I find the entire village there! Apparently Sonic told Sticks, Knuckles, and Tails, and then they told their friends, who told their friends. . . AND NOW THE WHOLE TOWN KNOWS WHERE MY SPECIAL LAGOON IS!" Suddenly Amy clenched her fists, her expression becoming one of supreme anger. "And do you know what Sonic said when I demanded an explanation?" She asked through gritted teeth.
"What did he say?" Alucard asked, his tone curious. Amy threw another chocolate into her mouth, chewing harshly and swallowing before she answered.
"He said. . ." Here Amy made air quotes as she badly imitated Sonic's voice. "'Gee Amy, if you wanted it to be just us you should have said something.' When I specifically told him twice, that it was going to be just us, and that it was a special place I wanted kept secret! " Breaking down once more, Amy threw her arms around Alucard's chest, crying freely into it. After a moment's hesitation, Alucard returned Amy's hug.
"There, there, Amy. I'm sure Sonic didn't mean to do anything wrong, he just. . . forgot." Amy shook her head as she looked up into Alucard's eyes with tears running down her face.
"I'm s-s-so tired o-of this!" She wailed. "I'm tired of Sonic never keeping his promises! Never listening to me, and treating me like dirt! I just wish. . . I wish he was more like. . ." Suddenly Amy's voice became a whisper as her eyes widened as if she had just had a startling realization. "More like you. . ." She breathed out, her face suddenly becoming flush. Alucard however, shook his head.
"Amy. . . you're emotionally distraught. We both know that come tomorrow you'll have forgiven Sonic." He stated calmly, but firmly. Amy suddenly looked crestfallen. "You've known me for a mere four months. I've never so much as met your other friends, and I'm not about to ruin our friendship just because we both. . . had a moment of weakness." Alucard stated hesitantly. "I won't pretend I don't care for the idea. . . it would have been impossible not to consider it in the presence of. . . of a girl like you. . ." Alucard stated in a low voice, averting his gaze as he spoke. "However. . . much though I trust and care for you, I would need to see evidence that you were truly done with Sonic before I could even consider such a thing. . . I'm sorry." Amy nodded as she released the hug.
"I understand Alucard, I'm sorry I said that to you. You're right, I'm not thinking clearly. . . look, I hate to ask this since you just got here, but could I have some time alone?" She asked quietly. Alucard nodded.
"Of course. . . I'll see myself out." He replied. Rising and heading for the door, Alucard was stopped halfway by Amy's voice.
"Alucard?" She asked, her voice so soft that it could barely be heard.
"Yes Amy?" Alucard asked, turning to face her.
"Do you. . . do you think, that we could ever work?" She asked hesitantly. Alucard stood for a moment considering the question.
"If you ever truly were able to put Sonic behind you. . . then yes. . . I think we could." He replied cautiously, before turning and leaving Amy to consider things on her own.
A short journey on foot put Alucard safely outside of range of Amy's home. Allowing Alucard to discorporate and make his way back to his hidden underground home. Once there he took a deep breath. . . and smiled. Everything was going according to plan. Slowly but surely, Amy was becoming more and more infatuated with Alucard, and more and more unhappy with Sonic. Careful application of mental persuasion, as well as his extensive knowledge of psychological manipulation, was swiftly driving Amy ever farther into his embrace.
If he was honest though, the biggest help to the whole process was Sonic himself. Sonic may have been a "Hero" by the standards of the intellectually inferior populace of this pitiful island. . . but Alucard: AKA Dracula, knew better. Sonic was only a hero because it was the best way to keep himself in the spotlight. Sonic was hypercompetitive, ego-maniacal, and, Dracula suspected, slightly sociopathic. A real hero, would have stopped Eggman permanently ages ago, either by killing him, or locking him in jail. Sonic however, kept letting him go. No doubt realizing that without Eggman's constant attacks, he'd swiftly lose the adulation he currently enjoyed.
It had taken surprisingly little effort to get Amy to start recognizing Sonic's flaws. She was, until Alucard came into her life, a classic enabler. She put up with Sonic's obviously self-serving behavior because her crush on him blinded her to reason, much like her idiot friends. Most of what Dracula did was less manipulation and more counseling, gently prodding Amy to stop giving Sonic a free pass on his behavior. This process was helped by the fact that Dracula was psychically upgrading Amy's intelligence, slowly molding her mind into something far greater than it had been. He also was slowly making her less. . . morally unambiguous, in certain ways. Granted not in any manner she would notice till the time was right.
If Una had been there she would doubtless have asked why Vlad Tepesh Dracula, had become so enamored with this one mortal. To which he would have replied, that he had decided to explore the emotion of love. Una's parting words had given him the idea, and so, upon coming across Amy, A mortal with whom he had an odd fascination. Dracula had decided to see if he could transform her into a being he could feel genuine love and affection for. So far his experiment seemed to be bearing fruit. . . as he had developed an inexplicable dislike for Sonic. Not due to any particular personal slight, but because he was toying with Amy's heart. Though if Dracula was honest, it may have simply been his distaste for arrogant fools in general that provoked the feeling.
Nevertheless progress had been excellent, today's little talk with Amy had proved that she was coming around. Soon it would be time to move on to the second stage of this experiment. First however, he needed to take Sonic's place as "The Hero" in Amy's eyes, and then reveal to her his true nature. This was the delicate part, and timing was everything. Heading over to a specially prepared console, Dracula tapped in a password and brought up the view of the surveillance drone he had set to monitor Amy's home. He had originally stolen it from Eggman, but had upgraded it with a variety of useful gadgets. Including night vision, enhanced sensor suite, reinforced chassie, and optical camouflage. And it appeared he had tuned in just in time to see Sonic appear at Amy's doorstep with flowers. . . this might prove to be enlightening.
"Hey Amy you home?!" Sonic called, knocking loudly on Amy's door. It took Sonic several more tries before Amy finally answered, and when she did, her expression was anything but friendly. "Oh hey, there you are." Sonic stated, oblivious to Amy glaring daggers at him.
"What do you want Sonic?" She asked, her tone like acid. Dracula had seen this play out before. Sonic would flash his smile, offer some half-assed apology, give Amy some flowers, and then she'd melt. As before, Sonic offered his signature cocky grin.
"Hey. . . about the lagoon, sorry I blabbed to everyone about it." And here he offered the flowers, it was almost as predictable as a metronome. "No hard feelings?" He asked, in a manner that he must have thought looked suave, and Dracula was surprised to find his jaw clenching slightly.
"No." Amy replied, her tone like ice. Dracula raised an eyebrow. . . this was different.
"No?" Sonic asked, looking slightly stunned.
"No." Amy reiterated firmly. "I'm done Sonic. . . we are done." Dracula felt a slight smile appear on his face. . . this was definitely new.
"C'mon Ames." Sonic replied with a laugh. "You don't mean that."
"Oh, I don't do I?" Amy asked, in a tone that any man with an ounce of awareness knew to be leery of. "Time after time Sonic I've put my heart out for you, only for you to stomp it into the dirt!" Sonic's expression swiftly changed to one of uncertainty as Amy started advancing toward him, continuing her tirade the whole time. "Whenever it suits you, you blow me off to spend time with your friends, you openly flirt with girls in front of me, you make fun of my interests, you mock my dreams. . ." Sonic stopped as he felt his back hit a tree, feeling actual fear as Amy glared into his eyes with an expression that was nothing short of hateful. "and every time you come here with the same dammed flowers AND THE SAME WORTHLESS APOLOGY!" Amy paused, taking a moment to calm herself before she continued. "You always assume that I'll come running back to you, that there's no way I could ever live without Sonic the fucking Hedgehog!" Amy declared, before taking a deep breath, and smiling. "But I'm done with that now. . . because I found someone else." Dracula had to restrain a laugh at the reaction that got. Sonic's mouth fell open and his eyes bugged out in a superb impression of an overstuffed fish.
"Wait. . . are you serious?" Sonic finally managed to ask. Amy nodded.
"Yes I am. For the last four months I've been seeing him. He's kind, gentle, sophisticated, intelligent, he listens to me, he encourages me, and unlike you, he's always there when I need him." Amy declared smugly. Sonic however, to Amy's astonishment, just laughed.
"Lemme guess, is his name: Ben and Jerry's? Look Amy, I get you're upset, but come on? Making up an imaginary boyfriend just to make me jealous?" Dracula frowned, wondering for just an instant if the arrogant hedgehog would be so cocky if he knew the true identity of Amy's new paramour. Amy, gave Sonic a look of disgust.
"What on Mobius did I ever see in you." She snarled, before turning around, heading back into her house, and slamming the door. After a moment, Sonic just shook his head, and ran off. Dracula however, smiled. . . it was time to up his game.
The next day at around noon, Dracula received a very expected call from Amy, headed straight for her home, and donned his Alucard persona. Not long after his awakening, Dracula had acquired a cell phone and other. . . necessities, in a city on the mainland, modifying the memories of those he interacted with to sow the seeds of his greater design, Amy however, was the only one who knew how to contact him directly, and he wanted it to stay that way. He was quite eager to see what kind of greeting he would receive from his friend. He had dressed in a new outfit, black jeans, white T-shirt, black dress boots, a black belt with silver buckle, and a black denim jacket. Knocking on the door, Alucard swiftly adopted a gentle smile as he heard Amy practically run to the door before pausing briefly and then opening it. As she did, Alucard sensed someone watching them, though he needed no special powers to know who it was.
"Hi. . . Alucard." Amy greeted, sounding slightly nervous. "Come in." She stated, standing aside so he could enter. Alucard smiled inwardly as he caught the delicate lilac scent of Amy's favorite perfume, and noticed she'd gotten her quills styled, as well as a manicure, and a new dress. Walking into the living room Alucard grinned.
"Always delighted to receive an invitation from you Amy, I trust you are feeling better?" He asked, noting that their uninvited guest had shifted to a position under one of Amy's windows. Amy nodded, and motioned Alucard over to the couch where she bade him sit. Taking a seat next to him she took a deep breath.
"Alucard. . . do you. . . remember what I asked you yesterday?" Amy asked hesitantly. Alucard nodded.
"I do. . . why?" He asked, acting as if he had no idea what this was about. Amy once more took a deep breath.
"Because I. . . I broke up with Sonic. . . for good." Playing his role to perfection, Alucard feigned being stunned.
"You what?!" He asked, as if unable to believe it. Amy nodded, her expression determined.
"I broke up with Sonic." She declared happily. Amy then proceeded to tell Alucard about what had happened the previous day after he left, not leaving out a single detail. Alucard once more played his role, first looking shocked, then angry, and finally proud. "So now. . ." Amy finished after her story. " I want. . . I want to give us a chance. That is. . . if you're willing?" For several moments, Alucard pretended to consider the idea, hemming and hawing a bit, before finally turning to look at Amy.
"Amy. . . are you. . . are you really sure about this. . . sure about me?" He asked, feigning worry. Amy gave him a reassuring smile as she took one of his hands in hers and looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm one hundred percent positive." She declared, giving Alucard's hand a gentle squeeze. Nodding he gazed deeply into Amy's eyes.
"In that case. . ." Alucard began, softening his gaze in a way that he found always enchanted mortal women. "would it be to forward of me to request a kiss?" As expected, Amy suddenly looked utterly star struck, before her expression became one of seductive playfulness.
"Not at all. . . my dear Alucard." She replied smoothly, raising her head as Alucard slowly lowered his, both parties closing their eyes. However, just as Alucard and Amy's lips were about to meet, there was an urgent knock at the door and their eyes snapped open. The interruption was both foreseen and part of the greater plan, yet Alucard felt strangely annoyed by it, as he was forced to pause barely an inch from Amy's oddly enticing lips. Amy was also clearly unhappy with this turn of events as her eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"Sorry, but. . ." Amy trailed off as she gestured at the door. Alucard nodded in understanding, while concealing his disappointment just enough that Amy would think he was trying to hide it, but not enough to prevent her seeing it.
"Go ahead, it will keep." Alucard stated. Rising to her feet Amy headed toward the door, visibly restraining her temper. Meanwhile, Alucard planned his next move. From his position in the living room Alucard saw Amy violently throw open the door to glare at the expected form of Sonic T Hedgehog. Before Amy could say so much as a word, Sonic launched into what was quite clearly a hastily improvised speech.
"Hey Amy, sorry to interrupt but did I leave my favorite scarf in here yesterday?" Amy opened her mouth to, if her expression was anything to go by, tell Sonic in no uncertain terms how unwelcome he was, but Sonic never gave her the chance. Cutting Amy off before she could get a word in. "No, you're right, not your job to keep track of my stuff, I should just come in and look for it." Amy's eyes widened in momentary shock as Sonic brushed passed her and entered her house in a blur of cobalt. He made a show of blasting through the house searching for his 'Lost Scarf' before stopping in the living room. Acting as if he hadn't noticed Alucard before now, Sonic skidded to a halt in front of him. "Oh hey, sorry I didn't know Amy had company." Sonic declared, putting very little effort into acting surprised, however Alucard refused to be ruffled as he put on a congenial smile.
"Quite all right." He stated calmly, as he rose and extended his hand. "Alucard. . . Alucard S. Dalv , and you must be Sonic?" Alucard asked, staying perfectly polite. "Amy's told me all about you." Sonic stared at Alucard's extended hand with a slightly cold expression.
"Funny. . . she never told me anything about you." He remarked darkly. Alucard shrugged.
"Well, we're all entitled to some secrets I suppose." He replied, and Sonic frowned.
"So. . . how did you two meet?" Sonic asked. Alucard suddenly chuckled. "What's so funny?" Sonic demanded. Alucard shook his head.
"Are we really doing this? Are we really going through this tired sitcomesque romantic conflict subplot?" Alucard asked with glance at Amy, who had appeared in the door frame with an expression of heavily restrained fury directed at Sonic. Sonic however just looked confused.
"What are you talking about?" He asked. Alucard sighed.
"Amy, would you care to explain it?" He asked, as the pink anthropomorphic hedgehog advanced on Sonic with fury blazing in her eyes. Without pausing or taking her gaze off Sonic, Amy replied.
"You've been in the bushes this whole time, you only interrupted because we were about to kiss and now you're trying to provoke Alucard into losing his temper in blind hopes of shining by comparison." She hissed through clenched teeth. "To be fair the girl discovering the plot isn't exactly untrod ground, but here's a new twist. . . ." Pulling her hammer seemingly from nowhere Amy placed the head of the weapon under Sonic's chin. "You have five seconds to get out of my house before I turn your head into a croquet ball." Amy's tone was the kind of furious calm that presaged a tempest of unimaginable proportions. It sent a chill even through Alucard's soul, before being replaced for just an instant by a strange sort of warmth. Alucard had to hold back a smile, he had no idea why, but Amy's aggression very much appealed to him. Sonic however seemed not to comprehend just how thin the ice he trod upon was.
"Oh c'mon Amy, I know your upset but seriously this is the guy you dump me for?!" Alucard shook his head as Amy made her move. Dropping the hammer, she surprised Sonic just long enough to grab him by the bandanna around his neck with both hands and hoist him into the air. Sonic stared at Amy with a shocked expression as she smiled.
"Surprised?" She asked with a chuckle. "That hammer isn't exactly light, I may not quite be in Knuckles league, but I'm no slouch when it comes to upper body strength. . . ." Here Amy dropped a flabbergasted Sonic unceremoniously to the ground. "I don't want to be your enemy Sonic, but right now you're making it really hard for me to be your friend. . . now leave." Nodding, Sonic got shakily to his feet before turning to a blur as he ran out the door. Alucard smiled as he gave a slow golf clap, genuinely impressed.
"Would it be wrong to say how much I enjoyed watching that?" Alucard asked, as Amy turned to give him a self satisfied smirk.
"Not at all. Now, about that kiss. . ." Alucard shrugged as Amy walked toward him.
"If you still-" Alucard's eyes widened as he felt his head jerked downward, his lips meeting a far softer pair, as Amy's arms wrapped securely around his neck. The kiss was aggressive, hungry, and completely unexpected. Letting Amy lead, Alucard didn't fight as her tongue entered his mouth to wrestle his own. Amy's mouth tasted faintly of strawberries, and Alucard wondered if it was because of a fondness for the fruit or if it was her lip gloss, as he matched Amy's aggression with his own. Pulling her closer, Alucard found his hunger for her grow, intertwined with that same warm feeling from earlier. As they parted with a gasp, Alucard was mildly surprised when he went back, desperate for more. However, Amy forestalled him with an upraised finger to his lips.
"Sorry babe, but as much as I want to lose control here and now, I feel like we should at least have dinner first." Reigning himself in with considerable effort, Alucard nodded.
"I. . . understand." He stated, taking a deep breath before exhaling, unable to recall the last time a woman of any kind, had caused him to come that close to losing control with only a kiss. Alucard, or rather Dracula, had always been one to maintain composure, if he let himself go it was because he chose to do so. The idea that another could coax him into a near frenzy of lust so easily was. . . disconcerting. It made him feel vulnerable, not an emotion Vlad Tepes Dracula, was accustom to feeling. Yet as he looked at Amy's faintly evil grin, Dracula conceded that perhaps it was not so unpleasant, feeling vulnerable on occasion. "If you desire to wait. . . I will honor your wishes." He replied, as he reassemble his Alucard persona.
"Well. . . I don't want to wait too long. . ." Amy mused, placing a hand on Alucard's cheek. "So how about just until six tonight?" She asked with a seductive grin. Alucard smirked.
"Why miss Rose, are you asking me out on a date?" He asked, pretending to be stunned. Amy smiled as she turned, walking toward the kitchen with a sensual sway of her hips.
"And if I am?" She asked, glancing over her shoulder with a faintly predatory grin, that a moment later Alucard returned.
"I can think of nothing I'd rather do."