Dracula tried to be invested, but he found he just wasn't.
Sure, the ship was quite impressive in its grandeur, sleek modern designs, and amenities. But in truth, when it came down to it, it was in almost every way similar to the way his own hotel was. He saw no difference in the way the fishmen carried out their duties in the same way his zombie bellhops or witch maids did, or in the activities that were offered - like the swimming pool and lavish buffets - or in the entertainment provided, like music and special performances. He understood that he nor his friends had never been on a cruise before, but it was really starting to annoy him of how much everyone was gushing over it. He listened as Murray held up his brochure, gawking at everything aforementioned and eyeing the full-service spa.
"Woo!" he cried. "I'm gonna have to get me a seaweed re-wrap!"
Dracula rolled his eyes. "Oh wow," he said sarcastically. "It sounds like everything we can do… at ourHOTEL."
"I know," Murray laughed out gleefully. "But it's on thewater!"
The vampire suppressed a groan.On the water.Like that madeallthe difference! He was glad Mavis was several paces ahead of him. His daughter, as amazing as she was, had single-handedly put together the vacation with the purpose of having her father enjoy every bit of it, spending a week away from the turmoil of running Hotel Transylvania, making it live up to its five-stake rating by running everyone else's vacations. He didn't want to disagree with her and appreciated the effort, smiling politely and eager to spend more time with her at the very least. But, his lovely daughter didn't know his true feelings on the matter. The truth was, he enjoyed his work. If 'Dracula' was to ever be used in the same sentence as 'vacation' it would be because he was managing their holidays, not because he was actually taking one. Seeing his guests happy because of his doing and knowing that they would return always made his day. And, working also kept him distracted from other thoughts - ones he was finding harder to suppress as of late, and always felt awkward when he did entertain them. That desire to maybe, justmaaaybe, find love again. He wouldn't dare think of what kind of way that would affect his daughter if she heard that he was going to be with someone other than her mother. So, he did what he did best, and kept it from her. Mavis would eventually find out - he didn't know how, or when - but he promised himself she would.
A loud burst and colorful splash in the sky drew Drac's attention upward where, above the deck, shone a myriad of fireworks on beautiful display. The monstersoooedandahhhed, but Drac only scowled a bit more. He had yet to see anything marvelous to really capture his attention. What was so great about some measly fireworks?
"Ohhh, that's nice," Frank commented next to him, in awe of the show.
"Frank," Drac grumbled, "'fire bad,' remember?"
"Oh, yeah, right," the monolith agreed half-heartedly. Then he smiled. "But, uh, maybe you'll find yourownfireworks on the cruise?"
Drac heaved a sigh, annoyed at the hopeful look on his friend's face. Once again, Frank - and not to mention his other friends Murray, Griffin, and Wayne - were attempting to fulfill their self-assigned mission of finding Drac a new zing. He knew it wasn't likely to be possible, so why even try?
"It's not the Love Boat, Frank," Drac countered. "I'm just here to have fun with my family." He relaxed his posture at the last statement, believing it himself. This vacation was uncalled for, thrust onto him when he least expected it, but, since he was here and not required to carry out his regular duties, he may as well make the most of it. He peered up with the new perception on his situation, actually starting to enjoy the sparkling fireworks, when a rush of air from behind the man startled him. Swooping in just inches above his head, a figure in white gracefully flew through the crowd and landed high up on the mast. They straightened, and Drac could now see it was a woman in a captain's uniform. She stood proudly and waved down at everyone.
"Ahoy there! Welcome aboard!Bienvenido! Willkommen! Dobro pozalovat! Huanying!"she cried out cheerily. She even went on to greet Bigfoot with a hearty, "Wreeeerrraaarrooorr!"
Impressed, Murray turned to Drac. "Whoa! Who isthat?"
But Drac did not answer the mummy. A feeling had seized him, a feeling he hadn't felt in so long. But when he saw this woman, he knew instantly what had happened to him. A pinkish-purple flash sparkled in his eyes, the pupils dilating. His heart raced and his knees weakened. His throat went dry and his body tingled pleasantly. Because after over 120 years, somehow someway, it had happened again. Count Dracula hadzinged.
A huge dopey smile began to adorn his face as he remained fixated on the woman, admiring her exuberant personality, gawking at her stunning beauty accentuated by the firework's lights, practicallydroolingas he clung onto each and every musical word that came out of those perfect pink kissable lips.
"I am Captain Ericka," she announced to the crowd.
Ericka.His new favorite name.
"And yes, I'm human, but don't hold it against me!"
Human, monster, unicorn? Who CARES. She'sperfect.
"I could not be more excited to have all of you on board our first-ever monster cruise!"
OhhHhhHhh, me too.
The monsters cheered loudly in response to her speech thus far. Drac could only stay frozen in his lovestruck daze. He thought he heard his daughter approach him and ask if he was okay, though he wasn't sure if he answered. If he did, he could hardly make sense of what it was. Heck, he could hardly make sense of whatanythingwas at that point. Anything that wasn'ther.
Ericka continued on, listing out the different activities available on board that all of a sudden didn't seem so silly anymore. Not when she was the one offering them. If it would delight her to see him and the others participate, then he would do it.
She finished her greeting with gusto, and the monsters erupted in cheers again at the sight of a fish crew performing a circus of acrobatics and all kinds of tricks.
But Drac, of course, was still only focused on Ericka.
She strolled through the deck, sweetly greeting monsters along with polite "Hello"s and "How are you?"s. It wasn't long before she noticed the gawking Prince of Darkness just a few short paces away. She blinked and proceeded to put on her most charming smile yet, approaching the man with a sultry saunter and equally seductive voice.
"So," she practically purred, her lavender-shaded eyes hooded. "You must be the one and only…Dracula."
The man grinned wider. Something about the way she said his name was like no other. It set every cell of his body on fire, and he couldn't stop himself from staring deeply into those alluring blue eyes that were getting closer and closer by the moment.
"I have waitedsooolong to meet you…"
She waswaitingto meet him? Drac bubbled with giddiness at the thought as she inched her face closer to his, so much so that he leaned back in bashfulness, shivering as he felt her breath fan over his skin. She gasped. "Oh wow, you really don't age, do you? I wouldkillfor your skin."
Compliment her!his brain screamed. She found him attractive, and it was his moment to relay how he felt in regards to her beauty. He opened his mouth, willing himself to speak. Although, what came out was not what either of them expected.
"Eh… Doobie-day-shu-la koobie day."
But as it turned out, Drac found that he hadnotutterly embarrassed himself. Ericka gasped again, delighted. "Oh! You're speaking Transylvanian! I've always wanted to learn." She cleared her throat and repeated what he had said. "Doobie-day-shu-la koobie day."
Goodness. Even herbabblingis perfect.Drac mustered his dignity and tried to talk again. All he could manage this time was, "Koobie-day."
"Koobie-day?" Ericka repeated.
Drac nodded. "Koobie-day!"Please, please, say it again.
She echoed him perfectly. "Koobie-day!"
Drac blissfully replied with, "Doola-day-shu-la koobie day."
And Ericka uttered the phrase as well, "Doola-day-shu-la koobie day." The woman sighed. "Ahh, such a romantic language. You know, there's just something about an accent that makes a man soundsooointelligent."
Drac blushed.She thinks I'm attractive AND smart."Aliboo-boo!" he squeaked in reply.
Before Drac's heavenly reverie could continue, Frank pulled him away with a nervous chuckle. "Heh heh heh, that's Transylvanian right there! He's saying 'it was nice to meet you.'"
Ericka gave a joyous little giggle. "Well then, 'Aliboo-boo' to you as well!" she called out as Frank, Murray, Wayne, and Griffin all hauled Drac away.
Drac didn't pay any mind to his friends though. He stood still in that same stiff position, warmed from the inside out with feelings of love that he thought were once long gone, repeating "Aliboo-boo!" over and over like a broken record. His outlook towards this cruise was muchmuchbetter now. Because now that Ericka was on board, he knew that he was going to enjoy this vacation forsure.