Expectations.

Disclaimer: Hellsing belongs people who are not me. I am making £0.00 out of this fic, it is written purely because I have a burning need to create. Although I would like to own Alucard . . . then he'd be mine.

Rating: G

Authoress note: Seras decides that Alucard is not 'Dracula'. AU setting/Cannon divergence – Seras realises Alucard is Dracula shortly after the Valentines attack. Before Brazil.

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"Dracula isn't real," Seras said firmly, walking into the kitchen to find Walter alone.

"Oh?" Walter frowned at her looking away from the cutting board. "Don't let your master hear you say that, he gets funny about unexpected things and I can just imagine that questioning his existence would be one of those things."

"That's not what I mean Walter and you know it," Seras said. "Have they still not replaced the kitchen staff?"

"Clearly not," Walter gestured to the empty room. "But it is no bother, I can mange a simple thing like this."

"Can I help?" Seras offered, Walter shook his head. "There is nothing for you to do, I am almost finished here. But more to the point, what do you mean?" Seras sat down to watch Walter work.

"I've read the book," she started. "and I've seen hundred of movies and he's always portrayed as this smooth, charismatic man."

"Your master can be charismatic when it suits him," Walter said.

"I'm sure he can," Seras admitted. "But he has to put effort into it, in the book and the films its effortless. The books and films portray a creature of effortless charm and romance, something no woman or man could say no to even if they wanted to."

"How many times have you said no to your master?" Walter said. "I've managed half a dozen and I've known him for years."

"You're being deliberately argumentative," Seras muttered. "Master is a psychopath, he's not effortlessly charming or delightful, he's insane."

"Well, yes," Walter said slowly turning to face Seras. "The book did not include all of his personality traits that is true and perhaps it did exaggerate those it chose to include. But that book was written with a purpose in mind and an honest depiction of your master was not said purpose."

"Purpose?" Seras asked

"Yes, it made your master fictional. You think Abraham was the only vampire hunter after him? No. Once the book was published your master became a made up monster that no self-respecting vampire hunter would pursue. Abraham got to keep him to himself without worry of theft."

"That sounds, well awful actually," Seras said.

"Abraham wasn't a nice man," Walter turned back to his chopping. "A nice man could not be able to capture Dracula."

"I see," Seras said.

"But, if I may ask, why the sudden realisation and why so angry?" Walter asked. Seras looked down at the table top, drawing circles on it with her finger while she tried to put her words into an order that didn't sound ridiculous.

"To be honest I'm not sure," she said. "It's just, I read the book when I was younger and I had an image in my head of what he was, meeting him now, he's just not what I was expecting," Seras shrugged. "So I thought my memory was bad and I read it again and it just makes him sound so…"

"Suave?" Walter provided, Seras nodded.

"You're disappointed?" the butler asked, Seras blinked at the question. She wasn't sure, she was irritated but was she disappointed? "Please Miss Victoria tell me what's wrong really." Seras sighed and gave in.

"We've had some new recruits start this week," she said slowly, feeling out her words before speaking. "Two of them were women, and I thought I could finally have some company but all they cared about was bloody Dracula," she growled before putting on a squeaky voice. "Did he take you flying? I bet it was romantic, did he take you out for exotic meals and take you dancing?" Seras glared at the butler. "Can you imagine Master dancing? It's just wrong!"

"Calm down Miss Victoria," Walter said, coughing into his hand to cover a laugh, Seras glared harder at him.

"It's not funny, Walter," she said. "I tried to tell them. I tried to explain that he's not a romantic tragic monster, he's a blood thirsty lunatic."

"Charming," Alucard materialised from the shadows behind the fridge. "To think I hear my name and come here to find you bragging about bad mouthing me to the new recruits."

"Don't worry," Seras rolled her eyes. "They didn't listen, your unrivalled image of a charming Prince is still intact."

"Good," Alucard settled across from her.

"Bloody stupid book," Seras grumbled.

"To be honest I think Stoker had a little-bitty crush on me," Alucard gave her what he obviously thought was a charming smile, it wasn't, there were to many teeth involved for it to be anything but frightening.

"Not working," Seras said.

"You know me to well," Alucard huffed.

"I don't now you at all," Seras corrected. "I just know what you aren't."

"I don't understand why the new recruits having a misconception about me would bother you so much, surely you should feel honoured to know something of the truth when all other know lies."

"I think Miss Victoria is frustrated," Walter joined them at the table having dealt with the dinner.

"Everyone who reads the book will think you're something that you're not," Seras muttered putting her head in her folded arms on the table.

"Maybe that was the idea," Alucard said. "Like Walter said earlier."

"How long were you eavesdropping?" Walter asked but was ignored.

"The book made me into something that could not possibly be real, something fictional, and something that no educated man would ever question the validity of."

"Or make the connection," Walter said. "Those who did meet you would never connect you to the character in Stoker's book."

"Exactly," Alucard said. "as I said you should feel honoured, you know the truth. Would you rather have the pretty lie?"

"No," Seras admitted. "I'd rather have the truth any day, even if it is disappointing."

"You are disappointed," Walter said.

"A little I guess," Seras shrugged. Alucard frowned.

"It's been years, decades even since someone was disappointed in me."

"Yeah well, I'm sure you'll live," Seras muttered.

"Considering that I have been dead for centuries, no," Alucard said. He watched Seras for a long moment before smirking. "If you are able to set your disappointment aside, who were these new recruits?"

"Alucard," Walter said. "No. You cannot go frightening the new recruits again." The butler looked uncomfortable, "Integra gave me a very firm telling off last time you did that."

"But how else am I supposed to set the record straight and give poor police girl a chance to say I told you so?" Alucard purred at the aging butler.

"Do not be using Miss Victoria as an excuse," Walter grumbled, he watched as Seras began to smile and stood up.

"Now Walter, you know I wouldn't let him torment the new recruits," Alucard raised an eyebrow at her. "But I do think I saw something interesting outside to distract him," Seras tugged on Alucard's arm. Walter sighed, two against one seemed very unfair. Seras grinned wider seeing Walter's defeat "come on Master lets set the record straight."

End Chapter One

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