Always always trying to catch up. Think Renfield has an alchemy spell for making more hours in the day?

-YD-

"What are you doing here?"

"Your brother invited me. Well, your mother."

"You could have said no."

Ingrid didn't actually look totally annoyed. More... confused. Or at least, the closest thing to confusion that dared display itself on Ingrid's face. Vlad was getting much better at reading her expressions.

"I could. But I wanted to meet your family."

"Why?"

"Curiousity."

Ingrid's brow quirked slightly, but before she could answer, her mother was calling over to them.

"What are you two whispering about?"

"Nothing mum. Are we eating?"

Sally rolled her eyes, fussing around Vlad in a way that reminded him very much of Mrs Branagh, and not at all of his own parents. He thanked her for the drink she put down in front of him, very aware of Ingrid's eyes on him. Since there was no real definition of what he and Ingrid were, despite the physicality when they were alone, Vlad was a little unsure how to act with her. It wasn't like they could talk vampires in depth.

Bats, he was watching Ingrid's final human days with her human family right now. That was... heady. And Ingrid gave no indications that time was running out, no massive push to make the most of it. They still had no idea what to do when it came to her post-transformation - clearly, as his father was (mostly) managing, a vampire could live amongst breathers, with self control and mindful behaviour, but Ingrid would be a fresh new fang, with constant breather company and nobody to keep her hunger in check twenty four seven. There were options like stasis spray to dull the scent of blood, the sound of a heartbeat, but using that full time would require the human two being told what Ingrid was.

Telling Sally that her one night stand had been with a creature of the undead. Oh, and that Vlad was also one of those creatures.

There was little doubt such a thing could go catastrophically wrong.

"Vlad! Want to play football?"

Young George asked, looking hopefully over at Vlad while he held the ball in his outstretched arms. Standing, Vlad nodded.

"Sure, but rugby is my game so go easy on me yeah?"

"Where would the fun be in that?"

Oh, he was definitely Ingrid's little brother.

"Good point."

Robin wasn't a fan of sports and his brothers were twice Vlad's size, so mucking about with sports for the fun of it was not something that happened to Vlad. Which meant that those few minutes just kicking a ball with the younger Giles sibling was a great deal of fun. Even if Ingrid laughed when he almost tripped.

"Hope you boys worked up an appetite!"

It wasn't fine dining, but given the bizarre offerings Vlad got from Renfield daily, things like chips and chicken nuggets and vegetables were novelty and delicious. Seeing Ingrid eat at home was a different experience to seeing her eat at school, where she picked at her food and ate carefully rather than consume for enjoyment. Vlad didn't miss that she favoured the meat portions over the vegetables and carbohydrates, vampire hunger flickering in and out. That was likely permanent now, not something he expected to wane before her sixteenth birthday and certainly not after.

"Why are you so excited about food?"

Ingrid actually asked as they sat outside after lunch, George and Sally working on an artistic... something. Vlad didn't want to be rude by asking what it was.

"You've never seen what passes for biter cuisine have you?"

That earned him a faint sneer of disgust.

"Now you say that, I remember that I've seen your butler."

"Yeah. And he is uncommonly able to tolerate things no human should, especially when it comes to food."

If not for the incident with Renfield's father, Vlad wasn't sure he'd believe Renfield was all human. Ingrid glanced over at her brother and mother, face tightening in thought.

"Do I tell them?"

"That's up to you. If you choose to and they don't take it well, I can hypnotise it out of them. I would rather not though."

"You could what it out of them? This is my family, not a party trick."

"No, no. It's a power. Is it not in the books I gave you?"

The look on Ingrid's face told Vlad she had not actually finished the books. Since she could get any information she wanted from him anyway, he supposed it made some sense that she hadn't opted to trawl through ancient tomes written by pretentious biters.

"There should be a chapter that mentions it in at least one of them. If not, I definitely have more at the castle. But it would work. I just don't like using powers on breathers."

"Is Vlad your boyfriend Ingrid?"

George seemed to appear from nowhere, wide grin on his face and Ingrid's resignation saying that he'd probably brought it up before. Vlad was saved coming up with an answer while panicking by Ingrid.

"No, now go away you little pest."

"She said no mom!"

Vlad did his best not to laugh. He was mostly successful. Ingrid could tell though, so he was probably in trouble. Given that he was quickly learning that he liked Ingrid being rough with him... Vlad didn't mind the idea of being in trouble too much, though he was probably the only person who thought that. Ever. Everyone else probably prayed for a quick and merciful death.

Reluctant as he was to leave observing Ingrid in such a uniquely homely situation, Vlad knew he had to leave before it got dark, in case his dad came out looking for him or went off hunting the locals. So he bade the family farewell, heading home just as darkness fell and his dad overreacted as though Vlad had left an ominous note about becoming a vegan in a sunshine country like Australia.

"I had no idea where you were! Were you at least out causing trouble?"

"No! I was just out dad. It's what people do. Socialise. Without any mass murder!"

"Sounds ghastly."

Thankfully, Vlad was saved the drama of having to answer by a thunderous knock at the door. When opened, all that was there was a solitary bat. Slightly confused, Vlad winced at the irate shriek of said bat, who flapped in a circle before taking off. Puzzled, he eventually looked down and saw a thick letter stamped with the VHC logo.

"Awesome!"

"What is it Vladdy?"

"Oh, just some info I requested from the High Council. Nothing you need to worry about."

Hustling up to his room, Vlad eagerly tore the envelope open, a couple dozen sheets of parchment packed with information falling free. Well, it was more condensed than scouring every tome of movement watching downstairs... Turning on his bedside lamp and hunting for his bag of sweets, Vlad sighed. He'd better get started.

-YD-

Oh, I wonder what Vlad could learn!