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"Perfect!"
It's cute, really, and he just can't help himself - when Adela's back is turned and Georg is occupied, he looks to Herbert's tiny face over the woman's shoulder, and...he grins. Easygoing enough, but displaying the cruel points of his retracted fangs.
Hopefully the kid grows up a fighter.
Settling nearby Georg, the smaller man tightens his smile again, watching him sweeten his tea. Cute. The whole family is...cute. The very least he can do is humor a conversation.
He doesn't pour himself any tea just yet, though. He's waiting for Georg's focus to land on him, to meet his eyes.
"Just passing through," he chuckles. "I'm a musician, you see, and I do odd jobs. Nothing glamorous. Just wherever the winds take me."
It's cute, really, and he just can't help himself - when Adela's back is turned and Georg is occupied, he looks to Herbert's tiny face over the woman's shoulder, and...he grins. Easygoing enough, but displaying the cruel points of his retracted fangs.
Hopefully the kid grows up a fighter.
Settling nearby Georg, the smaller man tightens his smile again, watching him sweeten his tea. Cute. The whole family is...cute. The very least he can do is humor a conversation.
He doesn't pour himself any tea just yet, though. He's waiting for Georg's focus to land on him, to meet his eyes.
"Just passing through," he chuckles. "I'm a musician, you see, and I do odd jobs. Nothing glamorous. Just wherever the winds take me."
"A musician! You'll have to play for us, then, tomorrow. Do you play piano? I'm absolutely horrid at it, but Adela plays beautifully. Herbert is still learning, but he's so much like his mother I'm sure he'll pick it up quickly."
He turns his attention back to his guest with a warm smile. "I'm sure if you stay for a few days, we'd find some sort of work for you. It's lucky you passed by."
He turns his attention back to his guest with a warm smile. "I'm sure if you stay for a few days, we'd find some sort of work for you. It's lucky you passed by."
"Oh, I can. My best instrument is the pan flute. Mine is in my satchel, right now."
The moment he has eye contact, Kronid seizes his chance - he hums a low, long tone, reaching out into his host's mind to daze him. Not a lot...just enough that he won't notice the flask being slipped from his pocket, or the red liquid he pours into his teacup from it.
Once the flask is back away, he stops humming, lifting the cup to his lips and sipping from it slowly, keeping himself in check so his fangs don't drop. It's difficult. He's so thirsty, and oh, so tired of rabbit blood.
"You weren't kidding about being friendly, were you? I wasn't expecting such hospitality."
The moment he has eye contact, Kronid seizes his chance - he hums a low, long tone, reaching out into his host's mind to daze him. Not a lot...just enough that he won't notice the flask being slipped from his pocket, or the red liquid he pours into his teacup from it.
Once the flask is back away, he stops humming, lifting the cup to his lips and sipping from it slowly, keeping himself in check so his fangs don't drop. It's difficult. He's so thirsty, and oh, so tired of rabbit blood.
"You weren't kidding about being friendly, were you? I wasn't expecting such hospitality."
For a few moments, his mind feels blank. Like time stops, almost. The world dissolves around him --
-- and then it's back, and Georg blinks a few times, slowly, coming back to himself. "Er -- apologies. I was... woolgathering. But I do try to be hospitable. My family was blessed with so much, why shouldn't I share it?"
-- and then it's back, and Georg blinks a few times, slowly, coming back to himself. "Er -- apologies. I was... woolgathering. But I do try to be hospitable. My family was blessed with so much, why shouldn't I share it?"
The smile the seemingly younger man gives Georg is charming, so charming - he shakes his head. "Oh, no apologies necessary. It is getting terribly late, for those of us who aren't used to traveling by moonlight for clearer roads."
A wry little smile crosses his lips.
"Well - that is a kind way of thinking. I have very little to offer in return, I'm afraid...but perhaps a bit of entertainment? I have a parlor trick I can do that no one has ever been able to figure out."
A wry little smile crosses his lips.
"Well - that is a kind way of thinking. I have very little to offer in return, I'm afraid...but perhaps a bit of entertainment? I have a parlor trick I can do that no one has ever been able to figure out."
"Oh please!" He leans forward, setting his tea aside for the moment, looking thrilled at the prospect of a magic trick.
"Yes, that sounds delightful. I would love for you to show me."
"Yes, that sounds delightful. I would love for you to show me."
His own teacup is set aside as well - Georg won't notice the liquid inside it, after all. Nothing more than tea to him.
Kronid smiles impishly, tenting his grimy, long-nailed fingers. This man seems easy to impress, anyway. This is all almost TOO easy.
"If you put both hands behind your back and put any fingers down that you like, I bet that I can tell you not only how many fingers you are holding up, but which ones."
Kronid smiles impishly, tenting his grimy, long-nailed fingers. This man seems easy to impress, anyway. This is all almost TOO easy.
"If you put both hands behind your back and put any fingers down that you like, I bet that I can tell you not only how many fingers you are holding up, but which ones."
Georg arches an eyebrow, deeply curious as to how the stranger might pull off this trick. "I'm intrigued. All right," he says, moving forward a little in the chair to put his hands behind his back, putting down two fingers on one hand and three on the other.
Smirking a little, he watches Georg prepare...and then shuts his eyes to focus.
"Tch-tch-tch. Tch-tch-tch." He makes a clicking sound with his tongue, an idle thing - maybe a little peculiar, but not so out of the way for a man thinking. What Georg won't know is that the sounds bounce, echo, mapping the room, the space between them, the position of his body.
Before even opening his eyes, he holds up his own fingers in a perfect mirror of what Georg is doing.
"...Easy."
"Tch-tch-tch. Tch-tch-tch." He makes a clicking sound with his tongue, an idle thing - maybe a little peculiar, but not so out of the way for a man thinking. What Georg won't know is that the sounds bounce, echo, mapping the room, the space between them, the position of his body.
Before even opening his eyes, he holds up his own fingers in a perfect mirror of what Georg is doing.
"...Easy."
Georg laughs in surprise, looking positively delighted. "That's an incredible trick! Not only a musician, but a magician as well. You'll have to do that one for my son, tomorrow. He'll adore it.
Tell me you'll stay on a few days. You must. I'm certain we can find a few odd jobs around the house for you to do, if you'd like, but you're more than welcome to simply stay as my guest."
Tell me you'll stay on a few days. You must. I'm certain we can find a few odd jobs around the house for you to do, if you'd like, but you're more than welcome to simply stay as my guest."
Finally, the Count's long locks are softening up - his work is paying off in the form of smooth dark hair running against Alfred's long fingers, the dust and cobwebs swept neatly out by the brush, by the careful attentions of gentle hands.
He smiles, fondly, nodding a little.
"...I love the roses," he affirms, voice soft. "I'm - well, I'm used to not having much. Traveling with the Professor, I had...well, I had two sets of clothing and little else. I never want you to think I'm ungrateful for...well, for anything here. You have given me a home. That's - that's more than I could have ever asked for."
A beat, and then, deciding to meet Georg in the middle -
"I will never turn down a book recommendation, though."
He smiles, fondly, nodding a little.
"...I love the roses," he affirms, voice soft. "I'm - well, I'm used to not having much. Traveling with the Professor, I had...well, I had two sets of clothing and little else. I never want you to think I'm ungrateful for...well, for anything here. You have given me a home. That's - that's more than I could have ever asked for."
A beat, and then, deciding to meet Georg in the middle -
"I will never turn down a book recommendation, though."
"Of course, of course. However could I turn you down, Georg? You've been nothing but lovely so far."
The lies come so, so easily, practiced on his tongue. He takes his teacup back up, sipping from it, letting a tiny shuddering sigh out into the blood inside. With his eyes shut, focusing, he could also hear the other man's heartbeat. The blood pumping.
The rabbit blood really isn't enough anymore. He's STARVING. But he must be patient, play the game carefully.
"I haven't quite decided where to go next, anyhow. That's the trouble with not settling down, isn't it?"
The lies come so, so easily, practiced on his tongue. He takes his teacup back up, sipping from it, letting a tiny shuddering sigh out into the blood inside. With his eyes shut, focusing, he could also hear the other man's heartbeat. The blood pumping.
The rabbit blood really isn't enough anymore. He's STARVING. But he must be patient, play the game carefully.
"I haven't quite decided where to go next, anyhow. That's the trouble with not settling down, isn't it?"
"I can't imagine it," Georg admits, leaning back in his chair again, resting his chin against his hand as he watches his guest. A striking young man, really. But... those days are behind him. He has settled down, and his mind shouldn't wander at the sight of handsome men any longer.
"I grew up in this castle. I traveled to Germany for school, which is where I met Adela, but we came home and were married not long after I graduated. I've never really felt that urge to explore. That... wanderlust. Perhaps to my detriment."
"I grew up in this castle. I traveled to Germany for school, which is where I met Adela, but we came home and were married not long after I graduated. I've never really felt that urge to explore. That... wanderlust. Perhaps to my detriment."
...Ah. Kronid may look young, but he's been around for long enough to know that look in Georg's eyes. Looking at him that way.
It's helpful, when the inclination is already there. This really is like taking candy from a baby. (Or a father from a child, some long-buried part of him hisses from the dark corners of his dusty heart.) With calculated motions, he opens his posture a little bit. Letting Georg look a little better.
His fingers start to drum a little pattern on his teacup, bright eyes meeting his host's. He seems...susceptible. Time to start by planting the seed. Less a Siren's song, more the stoking of more youthful embers. It's actually a pity he's so hungry. This fellow isn't unattractive in his own right.
"Well, you may tell yourself so, but - and you'll forgive me for saying so - we all feel those...urges. The lust for novelty. It's just that some are better at resisting than others, hm? And just as well. Roustabouts like me, broken from our humble little shackles, would be ever so lost without sturdy men like you."
It's helpful, when the inclination is already there. This really is like taking candy from a baby. (Or a father from a child, some long-buried part of him hisses from the dark corners of his dusty heart.) With calculated motions, he opens his posture a little bit. Letting Georg look a little better.
His fingers start to drum a little pattern on his teacup, bright eyes meeting his host's. He seems...susceptible. Time to start by planting the seed. Less a Siren's song, more the stoking of more youthful embers. It's actually a pity he's so hungry. This fellow isn't unattractive in his own right.
"Well, you may tell yourself so, but - and you'll forgive me for saying so - we all feel those...urges. The lust for novelty. It's just that some are better at resisting than others, hm? And just as well. Roustabouts like me, broken from our humble little shackles, would be ever so lost without sturdy men like you."
Edited 2022-03-02 02:20 (UTC)
"Sturdy!" He turns his head to half-hide a laugh. There's been a shift in the tone of the conversation, he feels, and he's not certain quite what to do with it. What to do with himself, in this situation.
He ought to do precisely nothing. Let Kronid go to his room, and Georg retire to his own. But... there's no harm in talking, is there?
"I'm not quite sure I'd ever use that word to describe myself. May I ask where all you've traveled? I'm sure you have marvelous stories."
He ought to do precisely nothing. Let Kronid go to his room, and Georg retire to his own. But... there's no harm in talking, is there?
"I'm not quite sure I'd ever use that word to describe myself. May I ask where all you've traveled? I'm sure you have marvelous stories."
Ha.
Cute.
"Stable, I mean. Like your stone castle. Strong and steady, seeing strangers through storms." Alliteration is an easy trick for hypnosis. Less obvious than breaking into song, but a good way to tug the snare just a little bit tighter. He makes a show of licking his lips to moisten them, looking away a moment in apparent thought.
"Oh, all over the place. I've been to Germany, of course - France, Russia, Egypt, and further. I've seen quite a lot of the good and bad the world has to offer."
Cute.
"Stable, I mean. Like your stone castle. Strong and steady, seeing strangers through storms." Alliteration is an easy trick for hypnosis. Less obvious than breaking into song, but a good way to tug the snare just a little bit tighter. He makes a show of licking his lips to moisten them, looking away a moment in apparent thought.
"Oh, all over the place. I've been to Germany, of course - France, Russia, Egypt, and further. I've seen quite a lot of the good and bad the world has to offer."
"Of course," he says, swallowing hard and doing his best not to so openly stare at Kronid as he wets his lips. He feels a little lightheaded, and passes his fingers through his hair. Loose, for once, and down around his shoulders. He prefers to keep it tied back during the day, but he lets it down before bed. Sometimes, Adela brushes it for him, which is terribly relaxing.
Adela -- yes. That's where his mind should stay. Not on passing handsome strangers.
"I'm certain you have. I hope that I can be one of the good things, in that case." Well that didn't come out quite how he meant it to. But now it's said and he can't unsay it.
Adela -- yes. That's where his mind should stay. Not on passing handsome strangers.
"I'm certain you have. I hope that I can be one of the good things, in that case." Well that didn't come out quite how he meant it to. But now it's said and he can't unsay it.
Yes, there it is. The subtle shift in his heartbeat, the way he starts to move, nervously, self-distraction. Starting to get a little flustered, maybe, trying to talk himself out of looking.
"Oh," he purrs into his teacup as he finishes the blood inside, "You already are, Georg." The cup is set down and his long nails find the arm of his chair. Tap tap tap. Tap tap tap. Incessant for all it is soft. Almost the rhythm of a heartbeat.
"And I'm sure you're full of surprises. Most men are. Even sweet things like you." A pause, and then some mock bashfulness. "Ah, listen to me, I have been on the road for too long, haven't I? Please forgive my indiscretion, you have been nothing but kind and here I am, looking at your pretty face like a wolf at a sheep."
Well, it isn't a lie.
It just doesn't mean what it sounds like it does.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap tap.
"Oh," he purrs into his teacup as he finishes the blood inside, "You already are, Georg." The cup is set down and his long nails find the arm of his chair. Tap tap tap. Tap tap tap. Incessant for all it is soft. Almost the rhythm of a heartbeat.
"And I'm sure you're full of surprises. Most men are. Even sweet things like you." A pause, and then some mock bashfulness. "Ah, listen to me, I have been on the road for too long, haven't I? Please forgive my indiscretion, you have been nothing but kind and here I am, looking at your pretty face like a wolf at a sheep."
Well, it isn't a lie.
It just doesn't mean what it sounds like it does.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap tap.
"Ah, no, it's -- " Georg blushes, feeling the back of his neck heat. His heart feels as though it's pounding in his chest, hammering against his ribs. Like he can hear his heartbeat, almost.
But -- no. It's simply Kronid's long, elegant fingers tapping against the arm of his chair. And he finds himself staring at Kronid's hand for a long moment before he forces himself to look back at his face again. "It's late. We're likely both tired. I'm sure you must be, for all you've been traveling today.
Why don't you let me show you to your room?"
But -- no. It's simply Kronid's long, elegant fingers tapping against the arm of his chair. And he finds himself staring at Kronid's hand for a long moment before he forces himself to look back at his face again. "It's late. We're likely both tired. I'm sure you must be, for all you've been traveling today.
Why don't you let me show you to your room?"
When Georg pulls his gaze up, the face that meets his eyes is pulled into a sly smile, just shy of showing teeth. It's all Kronid can do not to show his fangs, the urge to let them drop nearly unbearable at the sound of the human's blood rushing, hot in his veins.
But he knows his prey is caught, now. Especially with those words, and the promise they carry.
"Of course. I have kept you up for far too long," he purrs, standing, stretching languidly and carelessly as he does.
"I'm more than certain you must wish to find your way into bed by now."
One way or another.
But he knows his prey is caught, now. Especially with those words, and the promise they carry.
"Of course. I have kept you up for far too long," he purrs, standing, stretching languidly and carelessly as he does.
"I'm more than certain you must wish to find your way into bed by now."
One way or another.
He has to turn his head away when Kronid stretches, so as not to stare at that long, lean body. God, he has to stop looking. He hasn't been with a man since before he met his wife, and of course his thoughts do wander from time to time, but it's never been quite this bad. Quite this... tempting.
Georg brushes a hand through his hair again as he stands, picking up the candelabra from the table to light their way along the dark hallways of the castle.
"It's no trouble. I'm a bit of a night bird, as it is. I often stay up nights, lost in a book or wandering the halls like some spectre."
Georg brushes a hand through his hair again as he stands, picking up the candelabra from the table to light their way along the dark hallways of the castle.
"It's no trouble. I'm a bit of a night bird, as it is. I often stay up nights, lost in a book or wandering the halls like some spectre."
Now that they are standing, Kronid isn't tapping his fingers on the chair anymore - but they're carrying a conversation, and he doesn't want to ensnare any errant servants with a song while they make their way through the halls.
So instead he tugs his necklace out from under his collar - a little row of coins from different countries, all with holes drilled through - fiddling with them in an idle motion. Clink. Clink. Clink. He's done this enough times to have it down, know how to play different circumstances.
He would need a sound to focus on, anyway. That hammering heartbeat is enticing, and his eyes periodically flick to Georg's pulse point in his throat.
"Ah, you too? I travel by nights. Less people on the roads. I've grown...accustomed to the dark."
So instead he tugs his necklace out from under his collar - a little row of coins from different countries, all with holes drilled through - fiddling with them in an idle motion. Clink. Clink. Clink. He's done this enough times to have it down, know how to play different circumstances.
He would need a sound to focus on, anyway. That hammering heartbeat is enticing, and his eyes periodically flick to Georg's pulse point in his throat.
"Ah, you too? I travel by nights. Less people on the roads. I've grown...accustomed to the dark."
Most of the candles in the hallway are out, at this time of night, leaving Georg as the only source of light as they make their way to the guest room. The slow clinking of Kronid's necklace reminds him of the way his fingers looked against the arm of the chair and Georg lets out a shaky breath.
Everything about the man draws him in. He's enticing. Intoxicating. The scent and sound of him makes it almost hard to breath and Georg leans against the door for a moment before turning to face him with a smile. "And this will be your room for the evening."
Everything about the man draws him in. He's enticing. Intoxicating. The scent and sound of him makes it almost hard to breath and Georg leans against the door for a moment before turning to face him with a smile. "And this will be your room for the evening."
Georg's guest, of course, can see perfectly in the pitch dark...but the human doesn't need to know that, and so Kronid hovers just a little too close behind as they walk, like a moth drawn to the candlelight. More than close enough to hear the way Georg is breathing, for certain.
It isn't going to take much to get him into the room, he knows that much.
Smiling, he reaches out to rest a cold hand upon his forearm, stroking just an inch or so downward.
"I really can't thank you enough, Georg. This is nicer than anywhere I have slept...perhaps ever."
It isn't going to take much to get him into the room, he knows that much.
Smiling, he reaches out to rest a cold hand upon his forearm, stroking just an inch or so downward.
"I really can't thank you enough, Georg. This is nicer than anywhere I have slept...perhaps ever."
Just say goodnight and leave, just say goodnight and leave. The smile stays on his face, through sheer force of will, though he does glance down to watch Kronid's fingers stroke over his arm. The touch makes him shiver, faintly. A shudder creeping its way down his spine as he does his best not to sway closer to the man in front of him.
"It's entirely my pleasure. I'm happy to have you as my guest."
"It's entirely my pleasure. I'm happy to have you as my guest."
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