The Vampire's Apprentice

Clancy just continued smiling and shook his head. "A ficticious creature. Beyond that, you shall have to learn of him yourself and tell me what you find."
 
Kitty huffed, pouting, then went to scribble out the name on her notepad for later. She then found another question to ask. This one made her grin.

"What's the worst pickup line you've ever heard?"
 
"Oh dear," Clancy sighed, rolling his eyes to heaven. "Well, it has not been until recently that it was considered decent for a woman to... what is the phrase... oh, yes, make the move on a man. They still did, of course, but with far more elegance than a man trying to pick a woman can usually muster. Things like delicately asking for a light or the time or something similar. When I was a young one, however, I heard many, many perfectly horrible lines. Most of them said by my own mouth."
 
"Hmm... worst... possibly, 'I seem to have lost my number. May I borrow yours?' Or perhaps, 'I have a place in Miami [or similar exotic local] if you are availible next weekend.' Then again, there is of course, the variations of, "It is illegal to look that good!'"
 
Kitty made a noise somewhere between a groan and a snicker. "I suppose those are pretty bad. Last question; which decade do you think had the best style?"
 
"I don't know," he admitted. "Not this one, at least as far as the celebraties and the casual street person are concerned. I do not think this particular era has a style. Anything that is good is the type of thing that transcends decades."
 
She thought about this for a moment. Then a moment longer. Finally, she nodded in approval. "That's a good answer. I like that answer." Kitty picked the pencil out of her ear again and wrote it down.
 
"Yes, there is." She set the pad aside and tucked the pencil back behind her ear. "Stay put; I'll be right back."
 
Clancy's brow furrowed in confusion, but he returned to his seat. What could this be about? He ran down a list in his head, but none of those possibilities seemed to fit.
 
Just a little too much enthusiasm caused her to trip on the way up, but she caught herself with her hands and continued at a slightly slower pace. About two minutes later, she returned with the box in her hands, making sure not to trip on the stairs this time. Kitty offered it to him. "If you're going out, I suppose you'll need this."
 
"What is it? A Draculan cape?" Clancy asked in amusement as he looked the box over. It looked almost like a hat box, but it couldn't possibly be that. Then he opened the box, and all mirth drained. He stared at the fedora nestled amongst the tissue paper like a treasure hidden in snow.
 
Though she tried not to, Kitty couldn't help but fidget as any person giving such a gift would, watching his amusement fade into a solemn stare. Did he like it? Had she done a good thing, or had she stepped too far?
 
There was a strange lump in his throat. Solumnly, he lifted the hat out of the box with both hands then delicately settled it on his head. "A perfect fit," he said once he felt he could speak normally.
 
Clancy rose and smiled as he tipped his hat at her. "I feel quite like myself, as well. This was an excellent choice, Miss Kitty. Whatever made you think to get this for me?"
 
"You lost your last one, and you seemed sad. I wanted to make you happy again." Kitty answered, smiling wider in return.
 
"Hmm." Clancy ran his fingers around the rim of his hat then gently patted Kitty's shoulder, his eyes crinkled in pleasure. "I should likely be off now. I do not think there will be any specific chores for you tomorrow, but you should likely stay close to home in case of Neighbors."
 
The girl nodded, happy that he was happy. "Goodnight, Mr. McCleary. Do try to avoid other mythical encounters while you're out and about."
 
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