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Beyond the fact that they are to be living together - truth be told, at heart, Alfred is also simply interested in the Count. He may no longer be with the Professor, but he is still a researcher at heart...and here he is, embracing a man who has lived for actual centuries. He must have such stories to tell, and he must not have had anyone to tell them to for a very long time.
"Thank you." He chuckles at the attempt to reciprocate - not because it's clumsy, though. "...Well, you can ask me anything, too. But I'm not very interesting."
"Thank you." He chuckles at the attempt to reciprocate - not because it's clumsy, though. "...Well, you can ask me anything, too. But I'm not very interesting."
Herbert had been busy carrying a deer back to the castle; something that will last the four of them a few days at least. And Koukol will certainly have a feast on his hands, to boot.
What he was not expecting was to see Alfred in the woods, muscles rippling in the moonlight, chopping down a tree. He frowns, faintly confused, and sets the deer down for the moment. "I was just bringing back dinner. And you are -- what are you doing?"
What he was not expecting was to see Alfred in the woods, muscles rippling in the moonlight, chopping down a tree. He frowns, faintly confused, and sets the deer down for the moment. "I was just bringing back dinner. And you are -- what are you doing?"
Herbert opens the door with a grin, happy to hear Alfred in such a good mood. He's seen him scurrying about the castle, collecting things, and had decided not to ask. To let Alfred surprise him with whatever project he's working on, now. Herbert loves and encourages all of Alfred's little projects. Anything that helps his new partner feel more at home.
"And what have we here, mon chaton?" he asks, kissing Alfred on both cheeks.
"And what have we here, mon chaton?" he asks, kissing Alfred on both cheeks.
"I am - mmph - cutting - HHH - down - this-"
With a series of loud snaps, the trunk starts to give - and dropping the axe, Alfred hurries to place himself under the break point, catching it and straining, fangs bared, to bring it down to the ground gently. With every feeding, the young vampire's already notable strength has...certainly grown.
With that done, he huffs in relief, pushing his hair out of his face.
"...I am getting us a Christmas tree," he finally finishes, a little exhilarated by the effort and the reason at the same time. "For the castle."
With a series of loud snaps, the trunk starts to give - and dropping the axe, Alfred hurries to place himself under the break point, catching it and straining, fangs bared, to bring it down to the ground gently. With every feeding, the young vampire's already notable strength has...certainly grown.
With that done, he huffs in relief, pushing his hair out of his face.
"...I am getting us a Christmas tree," he finally finishes, a little exhilarated by the effort and the reason at the same time. "For the castle."
The pet name is relatively new - Alfred hasn't asked why Herbert has picked it up, and he hasn't quite clocked the reason for himself.
...Which is comical, as he purrs low in his throat at the kisses, beaming.
"This," he practically chirps, holding out the basket, "Is your first sewing lesson! I found some scraps, some really pretty old shirts that I think are yours, and...well, I thought why not tonight?"
...Which is comical, as he purrs low in his throat at the kisses, beaming.
"This," he practically chirps, holding out the basket, "Is your first sewing lesson! I found some scraps, some really pretty old shirts that I think are yours, and...well, I thought why not tonight?"
Oh, oh my. Herbert's hand goes to his chest at the sight of Alfred wrestling the tree to the ground. He feels flustered.
And then -- oh if he didn't already want to kiss Alfred for his show of strength, he certainly does for his sweetness. "A Christmas tree? I don't think we've ever had one before. That's very lovely of you, Alfred."
And then -- oh if he didn't already want to kiss Alfred for his show of strength, he certainly does for his sweetness. "A Christmas tree? I don't think we've ever had one before. That's very lovely of you, Alfred."
How darling his little kitten is. With the way he purrs at any affection given, or nuzzles up in his lap when he's feeling affectionate himself. The way he likes to have his hair petted. All very sweetly catlike.
"A sewing lesson? Well how lovely. I never learned, and it's such a useful skill to have. Come in, come in, you can show me and I'll do my best to learn."
"A sewing lesson? Well how lovely. I never learned, and it's such a useful skill to have. Come in, come in, you can show me and I'll do my best to learn."
And as usual, Alfred is oblivious to how he looks - he does know that Herbert likes seeing him use his strength, though, so his smile turns sheepish as he approaches his partner, reaching up to tuck a stray lock behind the older vampire's ear. Little affections, happening more and more often the longer he spends at the castle.
"I thought it would be fun - liven things up a little, maybe. I know you haven't celebrated, but I...well, I've always been fond of it, so...." There's a little part of him that wonders if this is too presumptuous - but he has been repeatedly told to make himself at home, after all, and...maybe this will dispel a little gloom.
He even has a little menorah for Sarah, if she wants it. The days are wrong, no doubt, and she's hardly about to pray these days, but...well, the sentiment is there. A vague little olive branch.
"I thought it would be fun - liven things up a little, maybe. I know you haven't celebrated, but I...well, I've always been fond of it, so...." There's a little part of him that wonders if this is too presumptuous - but he has been repeatedly told to make himself at home, after all, and...maybe this will dispel a little gloom.
He even has a little menorah for Sarah, if she wants it. The days are wrong, no doubt, and she's hardly about to pray these days, but...well, the sentiment is there. A vague little olive branch.
The obliviousness of his own nature, perhaps, can also be argued as catlike.
Whatever the truth, Alfred likes the nickname. It feels...cute. And he does like cats.
Grin broadening, he scurries through the door, moving to the sofa and placing the basket down on a nearby table. "We can start you on something simple, I think, just threading the needle and getting used to stitching things together. I'm going to try to fix these shirts up for you," he continues, pulling out one of them and holding it up. There's a substantial stain from blood spray running down one sleeve and down one side of the collar, but the lace is still intact, not eaten by moths or decayed by light.
He takes a seat on the sofa as he arranges things, stealing giddy little looks at Herbert.
He's never actually...taught anyone anything before.
Whatever the truth, Alfred likes the nickname. It feels...cute. And he does like cats.
Grin broadening, he scurries through the door, moving to the sofa and placing the basket down on a nearby table. "We can start you on something simple, I think, just threading the needle and getting used to stitching things together. I'm going to try to fix these shirts up for you," he continues, pulling out one of them and holding it up. There's a substantial stain from blood spray running down one sleeve and down one side of the collar, but the lace is still intact, not eaten by moths or decayed by light.
He takes a seat on the sofa as he arranges things, stealing giddy little looks at Herbert.
He's never actually...taught anyone anything before.
"I think it's wonderful." He cups his hand over Alfred's cheek and kisses him softly. "You'll of course have to show us how everything is done. The decorations and all of that. But if I know you, and like to think that I do, you have all that squirrelled around somewhere. You've been planning, you sneaky little thing."
"You really think you can fix that?" He tilts his head to the side, looking at the the blood stain running down the sleeve. "Not that I doubt your mending skills at all, not in the least. If anyone can work miracles on that shirt you can.
Show me how to thread a needle, please. I'm useless at domestic things, and I want to be better for you."
Show me how to thread a needle, please. I'm useless at domestic things, and I want to be better for you."
"I can't wait to be able to see myself every day again. Though I do so love it when you help me with my hair. It feels so much nicer when you brush my hair then when I do it myself." He watches Alfred's hands as he paints, how gracefully they move. His long, talented fingers. So mesmerizing.
The kiss is sweetly reciprocated - he's well past the point of jumping and flinching now, and has really come to enjoy the way the two of them never seem to be able to keep from touching each other for very long, in kisses, in the holding of hands.
...Alfred's smile also grows a little wry, slightly snaggletoothed fangs glinting in the moonlight. "It's hard to hide much of anything from you, Engel. I'm...I'm still not great at being silent, to begin with. But I do have plenty to ask your help with, if you're willing?"
...Alfred's smile also grows a little wry, slightly snaggletoothed fangs glinting in the moonlight. "It's hard to hide much of anything from you, Engel. I'm...I'm still not great at being silent, to begin with. But I do have plenty to ask your help with, if you're willing?"
"Well, I - I have an idea. It will be very pretty, I think, if it works."
Smiling, he passes Herbert a needle and a spool of thread, taking another up for himself to demonstrate. Happily, seeing the tiny eye of the needle won't be a problem with heightened senses...but the thread might be a little difficult to wrangle with those nails.
"It's...not to be better for me," he says softly, his smile turning shy. "It's...for us."
Drawing the tip of the thread through his lips to wet it down, he holds up the needle, pushing the thread through the eye and pulling it over on itself. "Like this."
Smiling, he passes Herbert a needle and a spool of thread, taking another up for himself to demonstrate. Happily, seeing the tiny eye of the needle won't be a problem with heightened senses...but the thread might be a little difficult to wrangle with those nails.
"It's...not to be better for me," he says softly, his smile turning shy. "It's...for us."
Drawing the tip of the thread through his lips to wet it down, he holds up the needle, pushing the thread through the eye and pulling it over on itself. "Like this."
"I like that you're not so sneaky as you think, sometimes. I think it's adorable." They rarely pass each other without touching in some way, which Herbert adores. He loves everything about holding Alfred's hand, or taking his arm, or sweeping him into a kiss. He loves that Alfred will let him do that, now.
"Yes, of course I'm going to help. I want to make this a glorious Christmas for you. For all of us."
"Yes, of course I'm going to help. I want to make this a glorious Christmas for you. For all of us."
Alfred knows he's being watched...but he finds that he really doesn't mind, a bit to his surprise. His hands are something he's always been a little embarrassed about, if he's really honest. They're the roughest thing on him, callused and coarse from work, from whittling stakes, from cuts and scrapes he never had time to properly bandage. The least he can do is keep his nails neat.
"I like doing that," he murmurs, pursing his lips for a moment as he adjusts the colors in the painting's irises. "Something about it is really...calming, for me. I like quiet things like that, I think."
"I like doing that," he murmurs, pursing his lips for a moment as he adjusts the colors in the painting's irises. "Something about it is really...calming, for me. I like quiet things like that, I think."
It takes him a few tries, but he manages, eventually, to do it. He pulls the thread through the needle, leaving a lot on the tail end so it doesn't fall out. "Well I'm exhausted now," he sighs, staring at his needle and thread. "How long did it take you to be able to get it right on the first try like that?"
"It's very relaxing for me, too. It's very calming. The way your fingers work through the worst of the knots, before you run the brush though it as well. I absolutely adore your fingers, Alfred. They're able to do so much. So much skill, in those long lovely digits."
"It just means I've done really well if I catch you by surprise." But he does redden, just a little, expression fond.
"I'm glad. It...means a lot to me, that you're willing to try new things with me." Looking back towards the tree, he reaches out and gives a brief squeeze to Herbert's hand before moving towards the trunk. He slings the axe in a little holder on his back, evaluating the best way to tackle this.
"We should get both th-th-the...deer...and this inside, then."
"I'm glad. It...means a lot to me, that you're willing to try new things with me." Looking back towards the tree, he reaches out and gives a brief squeeze to Herbert's hand before moving towards the trunk. He slings the axe in a little holder on his back, evaluating the best way to tackle this.
"We should get both th-th-the...deer...and this inside, then."
"Well you seem to have a good handle on the tree. I can handle the deer. I'll bring it to Koukol, and he can take care of it." Koukol is very talented at bleeding out and breaking down the animals they bring home. Making sure he can get as much use out of each animal they bring back for him.
"Or I could bring the deer in and come back to help you with the tree, if you'd like an extra set of hands."
"Or I could bring the deer in and come back to help you with the tree, if you'd like an extra set of hands."
Oh.
Cute.
Alfred tries his best not to stare as Herbert works to thread the needle, but watching him work so hard at it is...well, it makes him feel a little fuzzy inside. Is this how Herbert feels watching him do things?
"It takes a lot of practice," he admits, pulling out a suitably long piece of thread, holding both ends tightly between his fingers, and then cutting the spool end against his fang. Oh wow. That's much easier than with human canines.
"I've been sewing since I was just a little boy. Six, maybe." Going slowly so Herbert can see, he knots his thread over at the end, once, then again.
Cute.
Alfred tries his best not to stare as Herbert works to thread the needle, but watching him work so hard at it is...well, it makes him feel a little fuzzy inside. Is this how Herbert feels watching him do things?
"It takes a lot of practice," he admits, pulling out a suitably long piece of thread, holding both ends tightly between his fingers, and then cutting the spool end against his fang. Oh wow. That's much easier than with human canines.
"I've been sewing since I was just a little boy. Six, maybe." Going slowly so Herbert can see, he knots his thread over at the end, once, then again.
"Six!" Herbert looks impressed, carefully concentrating on making his knot. He ends up making a few knots in a row and frowns, note sure where he went wrong.
"I was a hellion, at six. Always running around, getting into everything all the time. Always hanging at my mother's skirts, bothering her every moment of the day. Clinging to Father's ankles."
"I was a hellion, at six. Always running around, getting into everything all the time. Always hanging at my mother's skirts, bothering her every moment of the day. Clinging to Father's ankles."
Oh. He blushes a little at that, stealing a little smile over towards Herbert. Does he know how Alfred feels about his hands? Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't...but he always seems to find a way to celebrate everything about him. It still flusters him.
"...I try," he says, stepping back from the easel. "And...speaking of that, I...I think I'm finally done."
It's true - it looks more like Herbert now, the nuance to the eyes corrected, a bit more highlight added to the spots moonlight tend to illuminate.
"...I try," he says, stepping back from the easel. "And...speaking of that, I...I think I'm finally done."
It's true - it looks more like Herbert now, the nuance to the eyes corrected, a bit more highlight added to the spots moonlight tend to illuminate.
"You know, I...I think I can handle the tree?"
Experimentally, he stoops down, suspenders straining against his back as he leverages the trunk from the ground. It takes him a moment of adjustment...but then he rolls it up, bracing it against his shoulder. He looks very amazed at himself - surprised that he has passed the greatest test of his own strength yet. It's hardly a small tree, large enough to adorn the castle's massive ballroom.
"...Mmhmm, I've got it. We can walk back together."
Experimentally, he stoops down, suspenders straining against his back as he leverages the trunk from the ground. It takes him a moment of adjustment...but then he rolls it up, bracing it against his shoulder. He looks very amazed at himself - surprised that he has passed the greatest test of his own strength yet. It's hardly a small tree, large enough to adorn the castle's massive ballroom.
"...Mmhmm, I've got it. We can walk back together."
A fond chuckle escapes the younger man - he makes an extra knot on his own thread, then another, mimicking the problem. "It's okay - if that happens, just center one of the knots, and tie one on top to bring them together, like this."
Alfred looks to Herbert as he talks about his Mother, lips curled into a curious little smile. He really hasn't heard very much about Herbert's past - it feels wrong to press - and it's always a bit like a peek behind the curtain when he gets bits and pieces.
"I was just the opposite. I was a fussy little thing. Mother doted, but always tried to teach me to do things to occupy my time. Father taught me letters." A pause. "...I can imagine you being a handful, though."
Alfred looks to Herbert as he talks about his Mother, lips curled into a curious little smile. He really hasn't heard very much about Herbert's past - it feels wrong to press - and it's always a bit like a peek behind the curtain when he gets bits and pieces.
"I was just the opposite. I was a fussy little thing. Mother doted, but always tried to teach me to do things to occupy my time. Father taught me letters." A pause. "...I can imagine you being a handful, though."
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