Office Hours, Tuesday evening

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal had been wary about coming back here after all the singing on Friday, but things today seemed fairly sane. Or at least largely within the bounds of science and psychology that he could extrapolate to. Which was good, because he had finishing touches to put on tomorrow's lesson, now he'd been assured the proper ingredients.

[OOC: Open door, doing paperwork, please drop by! Still needing a TA...]

Comments

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It was late enough that Drac had been able to make his way to the school without setting himself on fire, despite all the attempts at exploration by the young wolf cub, now at his heels as they made their way around the corner to the offices.

Drac let the load of books he'd floated along behind them fall neatly to his desk and then the two made their way down the hall to another office.

"Ahh. You're in." Drac smiled his best Welcome To My Hotel smile. "At least, I presume you're Doctor Lector?" From the way Mavis was bouncing around and sniffing eagerly, that is. This was at least someone she knew... this wasn't the 'holy rabies' barking he'd come to recognize already.

"I... am Count Dracula."

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal looked up from his papers to eye the man in his doorway. He'd seen the man's name in the directory; still, he wasn't entirely convinced. Then again...

He raised an eyebrow as the corner of the fancy cloak let off a wisp of smoke in the sunlight. "I am. One moment." He pulled the drapes closed; he'd gone with a good, solid fabric as fitting for the environs, fortunately. "Please, come in. You're Mavis' father?"

He frowned briefly at the enthusiastic pup bouncing around the room, but it didn't seem to be tearing anything up.

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

Well, of course she was behaving! She was a Dracula! Also, her father wasn't above using his powers to stop her when she got too far out of hand.

The gesture at the window was appreciated and earned the man points in his favour. Drac swept his now normal again cape back into order and gave a bow as he stepped into the room.

"I am. She has told me that she enjoyed your class. You were curious about... allergies?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"Yes." He waved Dracula to a chair. "I've found that it tends to be counterproductive to poison my students." There were better ways, were he so inclined. And so far they'd been remarkably pleasant, for teenagers.

"She mentioned garlic; I will actually have some in the paté for tomorrow's class, but I'll make certain to let her know before we begin."

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"It would be appreciated if you did alert her to its presence, yes." Drac took the chair, flaring his cape to flow over the back as he did. "Garlic makes her throat swell shut. Not very pleasant, you understand."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I should imagine not." Hannibal's eyes followed the flare of the cape briefly. Well, at least the man had a certain style, even if it was a bit overdramatic.

"I'm pleased to hear Mavis is enjoying the class. What brings you here, then?"

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Sadly enough, the dramatics were his natural state.

"Is it unusual to be concerned when it comes to my daughter and her allergies? Especially one so severe?"

There was eyerolling from the pup in his lap at the word 'concerned'.

"She explained your class is about the ethics involved in dining. That sounds a fascinating topic. And a bit of an advanced one."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course it is natural for a parent to be concerned, but I assure you, I am very careful with my students." Hannibal gave him his most grave and reassuring expression, then sat back and adjusted his jacket.

"As to the class - I believe too many people have allowed themselves to mindlessly consume whatever is placed before them. No questioning, no thought, no true appreciation." He steepled his fingers. "I want to challenge their preconceptions; cause them to think."

"What of your class? 'Monsters and Humans'?" he prodded. "I imagine you have a number of preconceptions to work with yourself." Such as the fact that you shouldn't be real.

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"You don't find that sometimes thinking too much about food has bad results as well? I have had chefs at my hotel prepare menus that cannot please any palate but the ones in their minds."

At the mention of his class, though, Drac had to raise an eyebrow. "And preconceptions would be the entire point of my class. My original concept, at least. I have had to make some, uh, alterations, after my first session."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Perhaps you have simply had the wrong chefs," Hannibal commented sympathetically. "I am quite a fan of meticulous planning when it comes to meals, although I will admit that making do with what you have at hand can be an interesting challenge." He gestured towards Dracula. "As I imagine you're finding, if you're having to alter things in the middle of classes."

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"Yeeees." Drac could see the point, but, "Perhaps I am simply too used to accommodating others; I run a hotel, you see. So even nouveau but be more common than many in the culinary world would like."

"As for my class," He shifted slightly, allowing Mavis to jump from his lap. "I was not expecting there to be humans here, I confess. It has made my topic a bit... difficult. I plan to now use the class to teach the children acceptance and how to ask questions rather than simply assume the worst of their fellows." How Monsters and Humans could get along, rather than how Humans want to kill all Monsters.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal conceded with a nod. "The hospitality industry often must have different priorities than chefs." He'd stayed at a few such hotels, more's the pity. Though one or two of their chefs had made quite good food when he was done with them.

"Critical thinking and respect are skills I try to encourage myself; one lamentably lacking in quite a few schools." For all that it gave him more fodder, it did make the world a more dreadful place.

He eyed Dracula curiously. "If not humans, what did you expect to find here?"

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"Monsters," Drac admitted. "I would never have allowed Mavis to come here, otherwise. The brochure we received stressed acceptance and safety for us, so I assumed it was human-free. Imagine my surprise when I met my students."

[sharp_as_knives]

"You have had bad experiences with humans? I can see where it would be a shock, to be surrounded by them. And you are very careful of Mavis." Hannibal dropped easily into nosy psychiatrist mode.

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The look, Hannibal was being given...

"Bad experiences. You could say that, yes. And I won't let them harm Mavis." His fangs appeared extra sharp in that smile. Want to go into that a bit more, Doctor?

The rubbing of the suddenly-whimpering wolf-pup against his leg caught Drac's attention, and he leaned down to rub her ears. "Speaking of, Mavis will not be in your next class."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I won't pry." Right now. Hannibal raised a hand. "You undoubtedly have your reasons. And Mavis is still young; as her father, it's natural to want to protect her from harm."

He frowned slightly. "I do hope you feel she is safe in my class; I would hate for you to feel anxious, or for her to miss this opportunity. Let me reassure you, none of the students have shown her the slightest hostility."

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"I am glad to hear that, but no." He lifted the wolf's head a bit. "This is Mavis."

The pup sat on her haunches and wagged her tail. And butt. Very un-wolf-like, but so very Mavis.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal stared at her for a moment. There was no denying the expression on the wolf's face was remarkably similar to Mavis', but still.

He flicked a glance back at Dracula, but the man was clearly serious. And as overprotective as he was, Hannibal would have thought it highly unlikely for him to be mistaken. If such a thing as shape-changing were actually possible.

He should've just given up applying any sort of scientific sense to all this when the singing had started.

He frowned. "I take it this was sudden." Dracula didn't seem the type to spring this on professors with no warning. "And she can't change back?"

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"I do not know. Normally we can't change into anything but bats, but," Drac shrugged. Shrugged. Definitely not twitched. His vampire daughter was a wolf. This was just a TEMPORARY THING, YES. "Teenagers. They go through so many phases."

Martha, why didn't you warn him this happened to vampire girls at a certain age?

Because it didn't

[sharp_as_knives]

"So I'm told." He hadn't exactly had a typical childhood he could compare it to. Nor had he ever gone changing into animals.

"How long has she been like this?" He eyed her. "Can she still understand us?" He raised his eyebrows at the wolf, directing the question as much to her as her father.

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"A few days. She was attempting to illustrate a point and instead of a bat, she transformed into this." Drac frowned and looked at her. "She seems to understand what I say, but I cannot understand her. I am afraid Wolf is not one of the languages I speak; I could never get the howls correct."

To prove she could understand, Mavis released a howl of her own. It was rather sad sounding and Drac immediately left his seat to kneel next to her.

"What's wrong my little one? Tell daddy! What's wrong? Are you hur-"

He was cut off by an excited Mavis now trying to bite his nose and yipping at him as she bounced, obviously in play.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Well, her personality seems unaffected." Hannibal's lips twisted in amusement. There was something incredibly amusing watching the impeccably dressed and equally postured Count being attacked by a cub.

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You should see him when she's sick!

Drac sighed, flicking his wrist to send a small ball of purple mist bouncing around the room so that she could play with it as he returned to his chair.

"Yes. Though at times, she acts like she did when she was only 88. But I don't know if that is because of the excitement of being away from home or this."

[sharp_as_knives]

Eighty-eight? "How old is she now?" He watched her chase the purple ball. "Has she never been away from home before?"

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"A hundred and fifteen." Drac waved a hand. "I know, I know. She looks younger. She should grow a few more inches before she's 120."

He settled in the chair, crossing his legs again. "I run a hotel, exclusive for monsters. There's no need to leave home."

[sharp_as_knives]

"If you'll forgive me saying it, Count," (He could be deferential when it suited his purposes needed!) "children often wish for things that aren't needed. And new experiences can be good for them." He sat back, nodding at the wolf cub. "And perhaps for adults as well."

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"At a hotel," Drac was too pleased that someone knew the proper way to address him to be mad at the interference in his parenting skills. "New experiences come to us. Just last month we hosted our first Wendigo wedding." The write-up in the papers had been very complimentary about the hotel!

"And Mavis is safest at home with me."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I imagine that's true," Hannibal conceded. "Still, perhaps coming here will serve as a good experience for you both." And that was as blatant as he cared to get in one session.

"Wendigo?" He frowned, changing the subject and trying to place the word.

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"Wendigo. I know, I know. But they specifically asked, and I made it plain that they would have to obey the rules of the hotel, including the ban on eating other guests."

"Though I had to maintain a tight control over my chef. He was looking forward to trying his hand at cooking human."

Not going to happen on Drac's watch. Sorry Quasimodo.

[sharp_as_knives]

So many possible replies! And he was trying so hard to be good here. "I thought you had no humans as guests? Or were your chef's culinary skills simply not up to it?" It was, granted, an acquired skill.

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"Human free since 1898," And Drac preened hard at that, thank you.

"But there are any number of monsters out there that eat flesh, including some who eat other monsters. Hence the ban. If someone wants to bring their own food, it still has to follow the rules. I'm very particular about what can be served on our menus. No monster should feel unwelcome at Hotel Transylvania."

As to the chef... "Chef Quasimodo has assured me he can make the finest delicacies from humans. I have assured him that will set Human and Monster relations back centuries."

[sharp_as_knives]

"No doubt that's true." If unfortunate. "What did these wendigo do, then? You can't have a wedding without a reception." Call it professional curiosity.

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Drac waved his hand. "We had a variety of foods. Including substitutes. While not exactly the same thing, they do provide the nutrients needed. And Quasimodo is clever at what he does."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Apparently there are a number of meats that taste similar to human." At least enough that humans couldn't tell the difference.

He pointed at Dracula, smiling. "Though you bring up the subject of tomorrow's class nicely. Eating isn't always about nutrition. At least, I should hope not."

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Drac chuckled. "There supposedly are. We used some of them, and also meat substitutes. You get used to using substitutes really quickly after hearing some of the horror stories."

"We made sure the couple and their guests were well entertained and fed, even if their primary choice in cuisine was not available. I have been told that the location and safety more than made up for the lack of human on the menu."

He raised an eyebrow at Doctor Lecter. "Eating not about nutrition? That's an interesting idea."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Horror stories?" That did sound interesting.

Then Hannibal shook his head. "Surely you've consumed things purely for the pleasure of it before? Your chef must prepare beautiful and tasty dishes that aren't all about the nutritional content." If not, he wasn't sure who he ought to pity more.

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"Well, yes, he does." Drac had to think about this a moment. He leaned back in his chair and templed his fingers. "I guess I wonder if nutrition can be dropped at all from the conversation. The idea that it needn't be considered is... odd, to me."

[sharp_as_knives]

"It is generally one of the considerations," Hannibal acknowledged. "But if I may present an example, at human weddings cake is traditional these days. It has little to no nutritional value; its value is in its beauty and taste and the tradition behind it."

He would have loved to ask about the "drinking blood" thing, but Mavis had seemed to enjoy his food, and in any event he suspected it would be rude.

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"Surely you mean nutritional purpose? There is still value, though it may not be positive."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I stand corrected." Hannibal nodded at him and tried not to sigh. "But yes, I suppose everything has a value. It's simply not always the driving force behind its consumption. Or even a strong consideration."

He shook his head. "Eating would be terribly dull if nutrition was our only worry. Nor would my dinner parties be quite so popular," he added. "But I'm curious about something you mentioned earlier - horror stories involving substitutes?"

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Drac shook a finger at that. "No no. Horror stories involving use of the real thing. Monsters being poisoned, mostly, through their food. Purposely or not. Or being hunted for simply trying to survive."

[sharp_as_knives]

"Ah. In that case, your attention to Mavis' allergies makes even more sense." Hannibal shook his head. "It's a terrible thing." And if he referred as much to adulterating food as killing people, well.

"Are monsters openly known where you're from, then? You seem to have a thriving community."

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Drac shook his head sadly. "No. We hide in the shadows, now. Some of us can blend in with humans, but there is always the fear of being discovered. A place to be safe and themselves is a welcome rest."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I imagine it would be." Hannibal smiled rather grimly. "As I'm sure you're aware, humans are very good at persecuting even other humans. Blending in may be easier, but there is always that fear. It's good that you can provide a safe haven."

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"It was the dream of my wife and I, to provide a safe place for our daughter to grow up. For our friends to visit in safety and without fear." It was something he could do and not grieve. "They are family to me; we protect our family, do we not, Doctor?"

[sharp_as_knives]

"We do indeed." Hannibal nodded. "I regret I have no remaining family by blood, but I also have friends who are dear to me, and I will do whatever I can to keep them safe." Even if it meant framing them for murder and sending them to prison. He knew he had a different idea of "safe", okay; it would all end up best for Will in the end.

"And children should always be protected from those who would harm them." Whenever feasible, anyway.

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"Exactly. And speaking of children," Drac looked over at Mavis, and narrowed his eyes. She'd been incredibly silent for a long time... "Mavis?"

The pup looked up, innocence written all over her face.

"Mavis?"

"Whfflp?"

Drac held out a hand and she dropped her head sadly. Walking over to him, she spat a well chewed pen into his hand. He sighed.

"My apologies, Doctor. I believe it is time to feed my daughter." He wrapped the pen in a handkerchief and offered it to the man. "I will replace this."

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal tried not to look too pained; it was a nice pen, but not irreplaceable. "I probably should have kept a better eye on that." He took it gingerly and gave Mavis an exasperated look.

"I realize you're missing class tomorrow, but I assure you ink and wood were not on the menu. I'll find you other things to eat if you wish to make up the time."