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Herbert automatically reaches out to touch that glorious rear end, but he stops himself. He was going to be good, he said. So he bites his knuckle to try and suppress a pleased noise, instead.
"Share my crypt, I mean. Yes, of course. It's big enough for the two of us."
"Share my crypt, I mean. Yes, of course. It's big enough for the two of us."
Once Herbert settles, Alfred calms...and, steadying himself, he sets to work. The tremors in his hands still as he sets to careful brush strokes, every touch gentle, careful. Tracing the lines he had just learned against the vampire's skin, rendering him in paint.
He looks over, every so often, to compare what he is doing to his subject. And every time he does...every time, he wears a soft little smile.
Alfred has never been with a man before. He's never flirted with one, never slept in one's arms. But in spite of all this, in spite of what had brought him here, he finds that he is...starting to feel at home. Not necessarily in the castle, but....
Herbert. Herbert is beginning to feel like home.
So if he's going to do this, he's going to do what feels right. He's going to be a gentleman, and he's going to treat Herbert like....
"...You look like a Prince," he mumbles, absently, lost in his thoughts. "Out of a fairy tale."
He looks over, every so often, to compare what he is doing to his subject. And every time he does...every time, he wears a soft little smile.
Alfred has never been with a man before. He's never flirted with one, never slept in one's arms. But in spite of all this, in spite of what had brought him here, he finds that he is...starting to feel at home. Not necessarily in the castle, but....
Herbert. Herbert is beginning to feel like home.
So if he's going to do this, he's going to do what feels right. He's going to be a gentleman, and he's going to treat Herbert like....
"...You look like a Prince," he mumbles, absently, lost in his thoughts. "Out of a fairy tale."
"Oh! Oh. Good, that's. What I meant."
Standing back up, he sets the shirt aside, hanging it up. He glances shyly to Herbert for a moment before setting to more of his undressing. First he slips out of his boots, setting them aside...then go the socks, rolled down his (toned, so toned) legs and set aside.
Then go the pants, unbuttoned and stepped out of.
Lucky for Herbert, Alfred is a briefs man, clean and rosy pink, and his patience in staying his own hand is rewarded with a much better view.
Standing back up, he sets the shirt aside, hanging it up. He glances shyly to Herbert for a moment before setting to more of his undressing. First he slips out of his boots, setting them aside...then go the socks, rolled down his (toned, so toned) legs and set aside.
Then go the pants, unbuttoned and stepped out of.
Lucky for Herbert, Alfred is a briefs man, clean and rosy pink, and his patience in staying his own hand is rewarded with a much better view.
"Oh, you torture me." Herbert sits on the ledge that surrounds the tub, crossing his legs at the ankles and pressing his hand to his mouth while he watches Alfred slowly reveal most of the rest of himself.
"Shall I turn away while you slip into the bath? To preserve your modesty."
"Shall I turn away while you slip into the bath? To preserve your modesty."
"A prince!" Herbert looks delighted, fanning himself a little, trying not to feel too flustered. Alfred treats him so well. Herbert isn't very good at it yet, but Alfred is teaching him how to sew. How to embroider and make pretty things. And he loves it. He loves who he is around Alfred.
No one's every painted his portrait. Oh -- perhaps many years ago, there was a family portrait. When his mother was still alive. But no one's painted him simply because they want to. Because it makes them happy.
"I have to keep you around, now. You're a great boost to my self confidence.
No one's every painted his portrait. Oh -- perhaps many years ago, there was a family portrait. When his mother was still alive. But no one's painted him simply because they want to. Because it makes them happy.
"I have to keep you around, now. You're a great boost to my self confidence.
"What? What did I do?"
Alfred turns around for a moment, confusion on his face - but then he realizes the meaning, and he blushes deeply, feebly wrapping his hands over his bare chest.
Not over the more salient thing, though. The contour to the front of those briefs certainly doesn't make him look as tiny and unassuming as his usual manner of dress would lead one to believe.
"...Yes, please," he stammers, clearly overwhelmed, but very much wanting to get in the water.
Alfred turns around for a moment, confusion on his face - but then he realizes the meaning, and he blushes deeply, feebly wrapping his hands over his bare chest.
Not over the more salient thing, though. The contour to the front of those briefs certainly doesn't make him look as tiny and unassuming as his usual manner of dress would lead one to believe.
"...Yes, please," he stammers, clearly overwhelmed, but very much wanting to get in the water.
"Mhm," he affirms, the little smile on his face widening. It's...sort of fun, making Herbert smile like this. Maybe there's something to this whole courting thing, even if his personal approach is...a bit gentler.
The second comment, though, stings a little, echoes of old hurt crossing his face in little shadows as he works.
"... You're the first person who has really... wanted to keep me around at all, I think. So maybe it's good for mine, too."
The second comment, though, stings a little, echoes of old hurt crossing his face in little shadows as he works.
"... You're the first person who has really... wanted to keep me around at all, I think. So maybe it's good for mine, too."
Edited 2021-11-24 18:34 (UTC)
He makes a show of covering his eyes and turning his back to Alfred, to let the poor boy preserve a little bit of modesty. He's seen enough to whet his appetite, certainly.
"Let me know when it's safe to turn back. I'll wash your hair for you."
"Let me know when it's safe to turn back. I'll wash your hair for you."
Whewwww.
Wiggling himself out of the briefs once he knows he's in the clear, he finally climbs into the tub with a little splash - and letting out a little moan of relief at the feeling of the warm water.
Not thinking too hard about how that moan is gonna sound to someone not looking.
After a moment of settling in (and making sure the bubbles are obscuring him) he clears his throat softly before, timidly:
"Okay. I'm - it's safe."
Wiggling himself out of the briefs once he knows he's in the clear, he finally climbs into the tub with a little splash - and letting out a little moan of relief at the feeling of the warm water.
Not thinking too hard about how that moan is gonna sound to someone not looking.
After a moment of settling in (and making sure the bubbles are obscuring him) he clears his throat softly before, timidly:
"Okay. I'm - it's safe."
"I very much like having you around. You've taught me new things. Made me feel useful. And besides that, I enjoy your company."
His father has such a magnetic draw that people seem unable to resist. He always has, even before they were turned. Herbert always felt the need to do everything grander, brighter, just to be noticed. But Alfred notices him without all that. It's a nice feeling.
His father has such a magnetic draw that people seem unable to resist. He always has, even before they were turned. Herbert always felt the need to do everything grander, brighter, just to be noticed. But Alfred notices him without all that. It's a nice feeling.
Herbert turns back around, resting his arms on the edge of the tub and his chin on his arms, watching Alfred fondly. "Hey ho. Do you feel warmer now? More relaxed?"
The little greeting is met with a nervous chuckle - but it's a friendly one, this time, a little less scared. He looks back at Herbert, briefly...actually meeting his eyes.
And then looking away, like something he thought startled him.
"Mmhmm. It's...it's much better. Thank you." The scent of roses is filling the air, the grime from the muddy snow outside washing away to little more than a bad memory.
And then looking away, like something he thought startled him.
"Mmhmm. It's...it's much better. Thank you." The scent of roses is filling the air, the grime from the muddy snow outside washing away to little more than a bad memory.
'Made me feel useful.'
He looks up at Herbert right at those words, clearly understanding them, feeling them. The force of them chases some of those shadows away, and that tiny little smile draws out into an incandescent grin.
"I enjoy your company, too, Herbert. Very much."
He looks up at Herbert right at those words, clearly understanding them, feeling them. The force of them chases some of those shadows away, and that tiny little smile draws out into an incandescent grin.
"I enjoy your company, too, Herbert. Very much."
"I'll wash your hair for you, shall I?" He moves around to situate himself in a better position to do so, pushing up his sleeves. "After the night you've had, you could use a little pampering," Herbert explains, carefully cupping water in his hands and pouring it over Alfred's hair, running his fingers through his hair to get it properly wet.
"I have the most marvelous shampoos. I take great pride in my hair, after all."
"I have the most marvelous shampoos. I take great pride in my hair, after all."
He's always felt somewhat in his father's shadow. His father, who can so effortlessly win over mortals while Herbert often ends up having to eat his intended because he doesn't have Georg's natural charm.
But Alfred lets him be himself. His whole self, even when he's too much.
"I enjoy it when you smile. You have such a lovely smile, Alfred. I want to make you smile more."
But Alfred lets him be himself. His whole self, even when he's too much.
"I enjoy it when you smile. You have such a lovely smile, Alfred. I want to make you smile more."
"Th-thank you. Your hair is very...it's very nice. And shiny. I can tell you take c-care o-o-"
All at once, Alfred's words sort of dissolve at the feeling of Herbert's fingers running through his hair. He goes very quiet, but not with terror this time...no, he is, at present, being surprised by Something Else.
Something that makes him let out a sort of high, keening whine in the back of his throat, a flush rising over his ears, his shoulders, his chest.
Uh oh.
All at once, Alfred's words sort of dissolve at the feeling of Herbert's fingers running through his hair. He goes very quiet, but not with terror this time...no, he is, at present, being surprised by Something Else.
Something that makes him let out a sort of high, keening whine in the back of his throat, a flush rising over his ears, his shoulders, his chest.
Uh oh.
He spends a moment thinking about this - about how doting Herbert has been, about how he's never come first in anyone's life before. Has anyone ever actually told him they want him to be happy? Not his parents. They always told him what would be best, not what would make him happy. Not the Professor. He concerned himself with what would be best for HIMSELF, not for Alfred. Never poor, forgotten, scared little Alfred.
But here, of all people, is a vampire. A male vampire, telling him he has a lovely smile. That he wants to make that smile happen more often.
He starts to move back to the canvas, but pauses - and turning his head back to look at his subject, he draws a breath and speaks, directly, calmly: "You know...I'm still afraid, Herbert. I think I can never really be completely unafraid. I don't think I have it in me. But...I think...."
A tear runs down his face, still young, still clear.
"I think I'm...happy, here. With you."
But here, of all people, is a vampire. A male vampire, telling him he has a lovely smile. That he wants to make that smile happen more often.
He starts to move back to the canvas, but pauses - and turning his head back to look at his subject, he draws a breath and speaks, directly, calmly: "You know...I'm still afraid, Herbert. I think I can never really be completely unafraid. I don't think I have it in me. But...I think...."
A tear runs down his face, still young, still clear.
"I think I'm...happy, here. With you."
At first he worries he's hurt the poor boy somehow, but he realizes that that is not a pained noise. And that adorable blush might not be from the heat of the water.
"Oh-oh," Herbert singsongs, gently scratching his nails over Alfred's scalp. He takes his hands away for only a moment to pour shampoo into them, then starts working the lather through Alfred's hair with a grin. "I think I've hit upon something."
"Oh-oh," Herbert singsongs, gently scratching his nails over Alfred's scalp. He takes his hands away for only a moment to pour shampoo into them, then starts working the lather through Alfred's hair with a grin. "I think I've hit upon something."
"IiiiiiIIii - hhhh - it's j-juuu- just-"
He tries to respond in that little space between touches when shampoo is being obtained, he really does - but the sensation of the nails over his scalp drives all sense from him, another strained groan catching in his throat and rumbling a little in his chest. No one has ever washed his hair for him like this before, and he is rapidly learning that it feels...good.
Very good.
Thank goodness for the bubbles in the bath, he thinks, as he tries desperately to find some kind of composure.
He tries to respond in that little space between touches when shampoo is being obtained, he really does - but the sensation of the nails over his scalp drives all sense from him, another strained groan catching in his throat and rumbling a little in his chest. No one has ever washed his hair for him like this before, and he is rapidly learning that it feels...good.
Very good.
Thank goodness for the bubbles in the bath, he thinks, as he tries desperately to find some kind of composure.
"You've never had anyone wash your hair before, I take it." He tries to keep his voice light, but a bit of teasing creeps into his tone. How could it not? When Alfred is so... teasable.
He gently massages the shampoo into Alfred's hair, perhaps going a little more slowly than necessary. Really luxuriating in the act of touching Alfred like this. "Does that feel good?" he purrs near Alfred's ear.
He gently massages the shampoo into Alfred's hair, perhaps going a little more slowly than necessary. Really luxuriating in the act of touching Alfred like this. "Does that feel good?" he purrs near Alfred's ear.
"N-not since I w-w-was a...a child....?"
The slow touches are making him squirm, and he is most definitely losing the fight to keep Certain Thoughts at bay. That would be enough, really, but the purr in his ear - he can't help himself, his eyes fluttering shut, the sound that comes out no longer a whine, but a low, very lewd moan.
He bites his lip, completely forgetting that he still has yet to retract the second fang and sending a little blood running down his chin.
Well, he's gonna be embarrassed about this once he gets his wits back in a minute or two.
The slow touches are making him squirm, and he is most definitely losing the fight to keep Certain Thoughts at bay. That would be enough, really, but the purr in his ear - he can't help himself, his eyes fluttering shut, the sound that comes out no longer a whine, but a low, very lewd moan.
He bites his lip, completely forgetting that he still has yet to retract the second fang and sending a little blood running down his chin.
Well, he's gonna be embarrassed about this once he gets his wits back in a minute or two.
"And now you're grown. Such a big strong man." He trails just the tips of his nails lightly over Alfred's neck, enjoying the noises he's able to elicit from him.
"Tip your head back for me, mon cheri. I'll wash all the shampoo out for you." He squeezes Alfred's shoulder, so, so tempted to lean in and lick that blood off his chin.
"Tip your head back for me, mon cheri. I'll wash all the shampoo out for you." He squeezes Alfred's shoulder, so, so tempted to lean in and lick that blood off his chin.
Nope, that's it, he can't recover from this. Somewhere in the back of his head, he's mortified that he is completely hard under the layer of bubbly water - it's really all he can do not to touch himself, given that Herbert's hearing would most CERTAINLY pick up on the splashing that would happen.
So now he has to just...live with that, breathing heavily and saying nothing as he keeps his eyes shut and tilts back his head obediently.
He's being teased, he gets that. But the way it feels....
So now he has to just...live with that, breathing heavily and saying nothing as he keeps his eyes shut and tilts back his head obediently.
He's being teased, he gets that. But the way it feels....
He carefully pours more water over Alfred's hair, working his fingers through it. Massaging his scalp gently, trailing his nails down over his neck and shoulders before moving back up to his head.
Herbert can practically smell the lust coming off of Alfred. The sheer need and want in the expression on his face, the way he's breathing. Herbert wants him. Wants to climb into the tub and just --
But no. He'll wait. He'll be good.
Herbert can practically smell the lust coming off of Alfred. The sheer need and want in the expression on his face, the way he's breathing. Herbert wants him. Wants to climb into the tub and just --
But no. He'll wait. He'll be good.
Oh, this is getting unbearable. No matter how hard he tries to ignore it, every touch, every little scratch of Herbert's nails against his scalp, his neck sends a thrill of heat down through him, the breaths his body still needs to take for now coming in low, shuddering thrums.
He just - he can't help it. He feels more hot blooded than he did before, maybe, or maybe there's another reason -
But slowly, trying to be subtle about it, he slides a hand across the bottom of the tub, making his way towards touching. He opens his eyes a little, heavy and half-lidded, face flushed, lips parted and still bleeding, gazing up at Herbert....
He just - he can't help it. He feels more hot blooded than he did before, maybe, or maybe there's another reason -
But slowly, trying to be subtle about it, he slides a hand across the bottom of the tub, making his way towards touching. He opens his eyes a little, heavy and half-lidded, face flushed, lips parted and still bleeding, gazing up at Herbert....
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