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"It isn't what I ever pictured either, Herbert," he murmurs,resting his gaze where the cold, delicate hand sits atop his. They look so different, still.
"But I can't imagine anything else, now. And...besides...I like who you are. You're better than you think you are, I think."
"But I can't imagine anything else, now. And...besides...I like who you are. You're better than you think you are, I think."
"I don't think anyone has told me anything like that before. That I am -- that I could be better than what I am." He takes the hand on his shoulder and kisses his palm lightly. "You're a good boy, Alfred. You've been a ray of sunshine in my life when it was very badly needed."
If there is one thing that Alfred appreciates about all of this - it's Herbert's willingness to try. Even if he doesn't understand, he trusts Alfred implicitly. Has anyone ever done that before?
Flipping the vampire's hands over after the kisses, he reciprocates, eyes sparkling.
When Koukol brings what he asked for, he thanks the servant fervently, moving to the hearth. He places the corn in with the oil, puts the lid on, and beams.
"Now we wait a minute...."
Flipping the vampire's hands over after the kisses, he reciprocates, eyes sparkling.
When Koukol brings what he asked for, he thanks the servant fervently, moving to the hearth. He places the corn in with the oil, puts the lid on, and beams.
"Now we wait a minute...."
After a minute or two of Herbert trying not to stare at the kettle over the fire, there's a popping noise. And then another. And then many.
"Oh!!! Oh? What -- what's happening in there, what's going on?"
"Oh!!! Oh? What -- what's happening in there, what's going on?"
The part of Alfred that has read a number of bodice-ripping novels almost can't bear the idea of parting, especially as he shudders at the touch of his partner's fingers tracing his hips -
But of course it's right, Herbert is right. Alfred sneaks another quick stroke in before nodding a couple of times, wordlessly agreeing.
Well, almost wordlessly.
Hurry.
But of course it's right, Herbert is right. Alfred sneaks another quick stroke in before nodding a couple of times, wordlessly agreeing.
Well, almost wordlessly.
Hurry.
"Oh, your hands are so -- oh Alfred, I can't wait to have your fingers in me." He pulls his shirt off and steps out of his trousers, toeing off his socks quickly. Then he sets about helping Alfred get rid of his shirt, too.
"I...know what that's like. But...well....
That's just it, Herbert. There isn't anything wrong with what you are. It's just... there's always space for all of us to learn. I suppose that goes on forever."
He's a little sheepish as the hand is kissed - but then he slides forward in the grip, running his fingers on impulse through Herbert's hair.
"...I try to be. But... I'm not perfect either. I think we need each other. Sunshine doesn't really mean anything without moonlight."
Oh.
Corny. And a lot.
He reddens a little at the sentiment, trying not to cringe away.
That's just it, Herbert. There isn't anything wrong with what you are. It's just... there's always space for all of us to learn. I suppose that goes on forever."
He's a little sheepish as the hand is kissed - but then he slides forward in the grip, running his fingers on impulse through Herbert's hair.
"...I try to be. But... I'm not perfect either. I think we need each other. Sunshine doesn't really mean anything without moonlight."
Oh.
Corny. And a lot.
He reddens a little at the sentiment, trying not to cringe away.
"It's okay, that's why it's called popcorn!" He shakes the kettle around a bit as he speaks - it's big, and heavy, but he's more than strong enough to handle it as though it were more of a saucepan.
"Steam builds up in the kernels, and then it explodes a little bit - the corn sort of...turns inside out, and gets bigger."
"Steam builds up in the kernels, and then it explodes a little bit - the corn sort of...turns inside out, and gets bigger."
Edited 2021-12-19 07:15 (UTC)
"Oh, you magnificent boy. Are you calling me your moon?" He can't quite -- no, he can believe that Alfred would say something like that about him. Because that's the sort of person Alfred is. And there's an earnestness in everything he says and does that makes Herbert want to believe him.
The reality of all this is still settling through the haze - that comment is equal parts enticing and terrifying, and he can't quite string words together to respond.
Once they're apart, he fumbles to remove the jacket, barely kicking the boots aside before Herbert is back and helping him with the shirt.
Attentive blue eyes travel up and down his lover's naked form in front of him, and that doesn't much help him find words, either...really, it's all he can do to work out of the rest of his clothes, even with help.
It would go faster, if it seemed like he could bear to stop touching Herbert now that the dam has broken...but his fingertips find their way across contour after contour intermittently, from nape of neck, to abs, to small of back and inner thigh.
Is...
Alfred TEASING Herbert?
"H-help me step out of these," he mumbles huskily about his underwear and stockings.
(He, of course, thinks nothing of the little mark on the back of his left calf, just below the knee, standing out sharp in its little star shape against his pale skin.)
Once they're apart, he fumbles to remove the jacket, barely kicking the boots aside before Herbert is back and helping him with the shirt.
Attentive blue eyes travel up and down his lover's naked form in front of him, and that doesn't much help him find words, either...really, it's all he can do to work out of the rest of his clothes, even with help.
It would go faster, if it seemed like he could bear to stop touching Herbert now that the dam has broken...but his fingertips find their way across contour after contour intermittently, from nape of neck, to abs, to small of back and inner thigh.
Is...
Alfred TEASING Herbert?
"H-help me step out of these," he mumbles huskily about his underwear and stockings.
(He, of course, thinks nothing of the little mark on the back of his left calf, just below the knee, standing out sharp in its little star shape against his pale skin.)
Edited 2021-12-19 09:06 (UTC)
"Explodes a bit?" His hands flutter a little before he clasps them at the chest, eyeing the kettle warily.
Koukol also hangs back, unsure how he's meant to eat the exploding things.
Koukol also hangs back, unsure how he's meant to eat the exploding things.
"Then you be my sun and I'll be your moon." He takes Alfred's hand and kisses his fingertips. One at a time. And then his palm. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me, I think. Certainly the sweetest and most poetic."
Alfred reddens a little, but...he manages not to flinch, not to pull away. His smile is sweet and a little sad - not because of this, no, but because...he understands.
What it is not to be told you are worth it.
"It's a deal, then. I...I definitely have needed your guidance to get through the nights."
A pause.
"I...I like poetry. I'm glad you like it, too, so I don't have to...to hide it."
What it is not to be told you are worth it.
"It's a deal, then. I...I definitely have needed your guidance to get through the nights."
A pause.
"I...I like poetry. I'm glad you like it, too, so I don't have to...to hide it."
"Yes, just a little. You'll see!"
While Alfred mans the kettle, he idly wonders what the Count must be thinking, hearing the sounds from wherever he is. If Herbert is reacting this way, it's plain this concept is alien to the whole house.
So it's with no small amount of glee that he lifts the lid once it's all done, showing how the two cups of corn had expanded out to fill a substantial amount of the large kettle.
"There it is!"
While Alfred mans the kettle, he idly wonders what the Count must be thinking, hearing the sounds from wherever he is. If Herbert is reacting this way, it's plain this concept is alien to the whole house.
So it's with no small amount of glee that he lifts the lid once it's all done, showing how the two cups of corn had expanded out to fill a substantial amount of the large kettle.
"There it is!"
Oh, that nearly shatters his heart.
"My darling, I do love poetry. But even if I hated poetry, I would never, ever, want you to hide that you love it. Or sewing. Or painting. Or any of the things you enjoy doing. Think of this castle as your freedom. You are completely free to be just as you are, no questions asked, no judgements made."
"My darling, I do love poetry. But even if I hated poetry, I would never, ever, want you to hide that you love it. Or sewing. Or painting. Or any of the things you enjoy doing. Think of this castle as your freedom. You are completely free to be just as you are, no questions asked, no judgements made."
Oh. That...that thought strikes him harder than he would have expected. Freedom. Being himself. Doing what he loves, without the threat of disapproval.
It's slowly and thoughtfully that he speaks again, returning his hands and his eyes to his mending as he processes his own words.
"... It's sort of weird for me, you know. Being told to...to be as I am. Because I...don't really know who that person is? People have told me that I am sweet, or good, or...or nice, but...I don't think anyone in my life before could really...tell you one thing about me. One detail about what I like. Everything I have ever done, I have done for other people."
His turn for a tear to hit the fabric he's working with. He scrubs at his eyes with the back of his hand, glancing to the older vampire.
"...Until now, I mean."
It's slowly and thoughtfully that he speaks again, returning his hands and his eyes to his mending as he processes his own words.
"... It's sort of weird for me, you know. Being told to...to be as I am. Because I...don't really know who that person is? People have told me that I am sweet, or good, or...or nice, but...I don't think anyone in my life before could really...tell you one thing about me. One detail about what I like. Everything I have ever done, I have done for other people."
His turn for a tear to hit the fabric he's working with. He scrubs at his eyes with the back of his hand, glancing to the older vampire.
"...Until now, I mean."
"Look at that!" Herbert peers into the kettle in awe, looking at all the popped corn inside it. "It's transformed. Like magic, I can't believe that."
"A lot of magic and science go hand in hand," Alfred chirps, scooping out a big handful of popcorn in the measuring cup to pass to Koukol.
"We're going to string these into thread and make garlands to hang on the tree, see?"
There is a childlike excitement in his eyes doing all this - it's his favorite holiday, after all.
"We're going to string these into thread and make garlands to hang on the tree, see?"
There is a childlike excitement in his eyes doing all this - it's his favorite holiday, after all.
"I'm getting much better at threading needles, thanks to you!" Alfred looks so excited about his popcorn, that Herbert wishes he could taste it. Koukol seems to be enjoying it, though. "So we put them on strings and hang them in the tree?"
"Well. If you'd like to make a list of all the people who have forced you to be who don't want to be, or who you aren't. And we can find then and eat them." It's a casual enough suggestion, and he bites his lip in concentration, one fang catching the edge of his lip as he tries to improve his stitching.
At that, Alfred stops short, glancing up in surprise, mouth hanging a little open. And then...he makes a new sound.
He laughs.
It starts small, a little giggle...and then erupts into something deeper, truer, screwing his eyes shut and sending him leaning helplessly against Herbert's shoulder as he struggles to find composure. The sound isnt a cruel one... it's fond, if the way he instinctively rests a hand on the vampire's chest is any indication.
He laughs.
It starts small, a little giggle...and then erupts into something deeper, truer, screwing his eyes shut and sending him leaning helplessly against Herbert's shoulder as he struggles to find composure. The sound isnt a cruel one... it's fond, if the way he instinctively rests a hand on the vampire's chest is any indication.
That melts the young man's heart a little bit, making him giggle fondly. "You are, Engel! You can do it so much more quickly now than before. You're a fast learner!"
Alfred also wishes he could eat some - he really has to figure out what he can get away with, but not today - but he contents himself with the task at hand happily.
"Yes! And we wrap it all around. We will string popcorn and dried fruits - I'll make some ribbon flowers, too. It will be beautiful!"
Alfred also wishes he could eat some - he really has to figure out what he can get away with, but not today - but he contents himself with the task at hand happily.
"Yes! And we wrap it all around. We will string popcorn and dried fruits - I'll make some ribbon flowers, too. It will be beautiful!"
Oh! How wonderful. Herbert laughs with him, setting his sewing aside and wrapping both arms around Alfred to hold him close and rub his back lightly. It's delightful, to hear Alfred really let go any laugh like this. To hear him be truly joyful.
"I'm -- " He giggles. "I'm serious. I'll eat anyone who has hurt you in any way."
"I'm -- " He giggles. "I'm serious. I'll eat anyone who has hurt you in any way."
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