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"And I think I would be happy to teach you." Solin can't stop grinning either - a nervous grin, but...an amazed one. A giddy one.
He feels - he feels something, here. He feels something and he doesn't want whatever it is to stop.
"Yes!" The word is blurted out, and he laughs at himself, at his eagerness.."I mean - of course, yes, I would...I would love to."
He feels - he feels something, here. He feels something and he doesn't want whatever it is to stop.
"Yes!" The word is blurted out, and he laughs at himself, at his eagerness.."I mean - of course, yes, I would...I would love to."
"Then let's. As enjoyable as I find dancing with you, of course. And I truly do. We'll have to dance again, sometime. But if you come out into the hallway with me, there's an alcove not too far away, with a bench we could sit on. I'll even get us another drink, if you want one."
"You would only do it again because I haven't stepped on your foot yet."
But he laughs, not pulling away, but ready to follow.
"That sounds wonderful. Lead the way. I - I only had the couple sips of wine you saw me drink, though. I I am fine without. Your...." Oh, should he?
Eh, why not?
"Your company is intoxicating enough."
Nailed it.
But he laughs, not pulling away, but ready to follow.
"That sounds wonderful. Lead the way. I - I only had the couple sips of wine you saw me drink, though. I I am fine without. Your...." Oh, should he?
Eh, why not?
"Your company is intoxicating enough."
Nailed it.
"Oh!" Hebert laughs, loud and light and bright. Absolutely delighted at the joke. He presses a quick kiss to Solin's cheek, blushing at the boldness of the move.
Bolder still, he slides his fingers down Solin's arm to take his hand. "You are quite the charmer. I'm thoroughly charmed."
Bolder still, he slides his fingers down Solin's arm to take his hand. "You are quite the charmer. I'm thoroughly charmed."
Solin's heart skips a beat at that little kiss - the line had been more than worth the self-embarrassment if that was the result. He grasps back at the hand that slides down to take his, grin a little bit dopey.
"I'm not usually," he admits, laughing softly. "We shepherds aren't known for our social graces. The only living things I've ever swept off their feet have been lambs and ewes."
"I'm not usually," he admits, laughing softly. "We shepherds aren't known for our social graces. The only living things I've ever swept off their feet have been lambs and ewes."
"I bet you look completely adorable, holding a lamb. Like a French pastoral painting, with the sunlight in your curls." He leads Solin to the hallway outside the Grand Ballroom, where there is indeed an alcove with a bench.
He sits, and leaves enough room for Solin to sit with him. "Have you always lived in the village?"
He sits, and leaves enough room for Solin to sit with him. "Have you always lived in the village?"
"Oh, now who is poetic?"
Still blushing at the kind words, he breathes a little sigh of relief as he is ushered out of the crowded, noisy ballroom - but still when gestured to sit, he does so rather close, like he can't bear to get too far away from Herbert.
And maybe he can't. He's utterly taken, watching the other man with rapt attention.
"I have, yes. The farm got started by my grandfather, but - well, I'm all that's left, now. It's a lot of work, and I'm not...very social, but I like it."
Still blushing at the kind words, he breathes a little sigh of relief as he is ushered out of the crowded, noisy ballroom - but still when gestured to sit, he does so rather close, like he can't bear to get too far away from Herbert.
And maybe he can't. He's utterly taken, watching the other man with rapt attention.
"I have, yes. The farm got started by my grandfather, but - well, I'm all that's left, now. It's a lot of work, and I'm not...very social, but I like it."
"It's the same with me, actually. The castle has been in the family for almost four hundred years now. Our family has always lived here and I'll likely continue living here. With whomever I settle down with, and our children, and so on."
Herbert tangles their fingers together, holding their clasped hands in his lap with a faint smile, rubbing his thumb over Solin's hand. "We don't farm, but father does garden -- flowers -- and I like helping there. Mother has a small garden of her own, with some vegetables. I always always covered in dirt, as a young child."
Herbert tangles their fingers together, holding their clasped hands in his lap with a faint smile, rubbing his thumb over Solin's hand. "We don't farm, but father does garden -- flowers -- and I like helping there. Mother has a small garden of her own, with some vegetables. I always always covered in dirt, as a young child."
"Four hundred years...that's amazing. It's a beautiful castle. This is...the first time I've worked up the nerve to come to one of your parties. I was feeling a little out of place, actually, before you came up to talk to me."
Briefly, Solin looks down at where their hands are wound together. It feels like a perfect fit. His chest feels...warm, and there's a glow to his smile when he looks back up to listen.
"I can imagine you gardening - now, and as a little boy. You must have been awfully adorable, running around in the mud. I'm...all right at growing, but I'm better with the animals. And I've been weaving and spinning since before I could walk."
Briefly, Solin looks down at where their hands are wound together. It feels like a perfect fit. His chest feels...warm, and there's a glow to his smile when he looks back up to listen.
"I can imagine you gardening - now, and as a little boy. You must have been awfully adorable, running around in the mud. I'm...all right at growing, but I'm better with the animals. And I've been weaving and spinning since before I could walk."
"Ah, you see? Therein lies my dilemma with you. You've gotten by with little, and so you've convinced yourself you're contented getting by with little.
But forget, for now, what you need. Think about something you want. It could be anything at all, anything in the world. The most extravagant of desires you can imagine. Things you dared only dream of.
That is what I want to be able to give you."
But forget, for now, what you need. Think about something you want. It could be anything at all, anything in the world. The most extravagant of desires you can imagine. Things you dared only dream of.
That is what I want to be able to give you."
Alfred is quiet for a long moment, thinking about this. It's true, he just... doesn't feel like he needs much. He's not a covetous person. But it's clear that Georg really wants this, really wants to do Something for him.
A dream. Hmm. His brows knit, and his hands still for a moment.
"Well," he finally starts, softly, hesitantly.
"There - is...one thing. I don't know that it's extravagant, exactly, but it's... it's something I've always wanted...."
A dream. Hmm. His brows knit, and his hands still for a moment.
"Well," he finally starts, softly, hesitantly.
"There - is...one thing. I don't know that it's extravagant, exactly, but it's... it's something I've always wanted...."
"Anything, my dear boy," Georg says, clearly excited at the notion. "Nothing is too great an ask, not for you."
The excitement is encouraging, but - Alfred is still bashful as he continues.
"Well... it's - I've always wanted a...a workroom. A whole space to...to sew, not in a corner of my bedroom. Space for fabrics, a-and mannequins, and...just...."
He sighs, a little. "I've barely been given any space, in my life, for the things I like to do. So I think if I would dream of anything...that would be it."
"Well... it's - I've always wanted a...a workroom. A whole space to...to sew, not in a corner of my bedroom. Space for fabrics, a-and mannequins, and...just...."
He sighs, a little. "I've barely been given any space, in my life, for the things I like to do. So I think if I would dream of anything...that would be it."
It seems like such a simple request. And yet, if that is what Alfred wants, Georg will hardly deny him it.
"Choose a room to your liking, that you feel will suit your purposes, and we'll move your sewing things into it. Whatever you need to make the room yours can be moved in. A table and some chairs, at the very least. If we haven't any mannequins already, we'll find some for you.
It will be a room just for you."
"Choose a room to your liking, that you feel will suit your purposes, and we'll move your sewing things into it. Whatever you need to make the room yours can be moved in. A table and some chairs, at the very least. If we haven't any mannequins already, we'll find some for you.
It will be a room just for you."
Georg may think it isn't much - but Alfred's reaction says otherwise, the way he fumbles the brush and gasps a little.
He doesn't ask for much...but he's also easy to please. Excitement rattles his tone, and he leans around the older vampire's shoulder, grin bright.
"Oh Georg - really? Really? Just for me?"
He doesn't ask for much...but he's also easy to please. Excitement rattles his tone, and he leans around the older vampire's shoulder, grin bright.
"Oh Georg - really? Really? Just for me?"
"All for you." He turns his head to press a kiss to Alfred's cheek. "I'll start setting things up tomorrow night. It may take a little, to gather everything necessary -- and no peeking, you understand?" He chucks Alfred's chin affectionately.
"I don't want you to see it until it's completely finished. I want it to be a surprise for you."
"I don't want you to see it until it's completely finished. I want it to be a surprise for you."
The kiss and touch nets Georg a boyish giggle - his expression is pure childlike excitement. The boy, for all his studious nature, wears his emotions so very on his sleeve, happy or sad.
Right now - he feels happy. Loved.
"I promise, I do - oh, thank you, Georg. You have no idea what it means to me."
Pressing a kiss of his own to the other man's forehead, he pulls back behind, reasserting his grip on the brush so he can prepare to braid.
"I know it must - it must sound like a silly thing to ask for, out of anything. But...well, even back in Königsberg, I didn't even have a desk in the Professor's office. I had a chair in the corner. And it was broken."
Right now - he feels happy. Loved.
"I promise, I do - oh, thank you, Georg. You have no idea what it means to me."
Pressing a kiss of his own to the other man's forehead, he pulls back behind, reasserting his grip on the brush so he can prepare to braid.
"I know it must - it must sound like a silly thing to ask for, out of anything. But...well, even back in Königsberg, I didn't even have a desk in the Professor's office. I had a chair in the corner. And it was broken."
Georg can't quite help the sneer that crosses his face at the mention of Alfred's set-up in Königsberg. He clears his throat and straightens his posture to let Alfred brush his hair.
"I'm glad, at least, that you have a desk in your room here. And soon you'll have a space for your hobbies."
Not for the first time, he thinks of hunting down and eating Professor Abronsious.
"I'm glad, at least, that you have a desk in your room here. And soon you'll have a space for your hobbies."
Not for the first time, he thinks of hunting down and eating Professor Abronsious.
Oop - there's that needle of anger that tends to come up when he mentions the Professor to either Herbert or Georg. He tries to avoid it, but also... maybe a little bit, he secretly likes the anger on his behalf.
Oblivious to what Georg is considering, he parts the hair for braiding, gently and carefully.
"...Do you have any hobbies other than gardening, Georg?" Gentle, curious. There's still so much he doesn't know.
Oblivious to what Georg is considering, he parts the hair for braiding, gently and carefully.
"...Do you have any hobbies other than gardening, Georg?" Gentle, curious. There's still so much he doesn't know.
"Very few, surprisingly. I read through my library. Sometimes by theme, sometimes by author. Sometimes at random. I do add to it, from time to time.
And I have taught myself the art of horology. As I'm sure you've been able to tell, we have many, many clocks in the castle. Someone must take care of them all."
And I have taught myself the art of horology. As I'm sure you've been able to tell, we have many, many clocks in the castle. Someone must take care of them all."
"Well, reading is always worthwhile!"
He starts in on the braid, movements even, calm, gentle. Occasionally he pauses to collect more oil to help the process along.
"You really take care of the clocks? That's - that's amazing! Clockwork is fascinating, but it's completely beyond me." There is awe in his voice - there are so many KINDS of clocks, here, too.
He starts in on the braid, movements even, calm, gentle. Occasionally he pauses to collect more oil to help the process along.
"You really take care of the clocks? That's - that's amazing! Clockwork is fascinating, but it's completely beyond me." There is awe in his voice - there are so many KINDS of clocks, here, too.
"I do, yes. We started collecting more of them after I was turned. When I always needed to know the time, to know when sunrise was.
Because I was the one with the need for the clocks, I took it upon myself to learn how to keep up with them. I have dozens of manuals for all sorts of clocks, just in case. I find the process quite soothing, really."
Because I was the one with the need for the clocks, I took it upon myself to learn how to keep up with them. I have dozens of manuals for all sorts of clocks, just in case. I find the process quite soothing, really."
OH, THAT'S WHY THERE ARE SO MANY CLOCKS. Alfred had gotten used to them by now, but had never asked, chalking it up to one of Georg's eccentricities. Knowing the reason, it all makes perfect sense.
So much of what Georg is is like a mystery he's unraveling, bit by bit. Enticing. Fascinating.
"That's remarkable - you must have such a delicate touch."
So much of what Georg is is like a mystery he's unraveling, bit by bit. Enticing. Fascinating.
"That's remarkable - you must have such a delicate touch."
"It took a few decades and some broken clocks before I was able to properly care for them. But I do like to think I have a delicate touch with them, now."
He glances down with a slight smirk. "Perhaps you can tell me how delicate my touch is."
He glances down with a slight smirk. "Perhaps you can tell me how delicate my touch is."
"Ooooh, Alfred," he purrs, letting his voice vibrate against Alfred's sensitive skin. "The things I will do to you, my sweet, sweet boy.
I wonder, do you taste as sweet as you look?"
With a practiced move, he braces his hand against Alfred's hip, wraps the other around the base of Alfred's cock, and swallows him down. He stays there for a long moment, working his tongue against him before he pulls back slowly, making a show of licking his lips. "Just as delicious as I thought."
I wonder, do you taste as sweet as you look?"
With a practiced move, he braces his hand against Alfred's hip, wraps the other around the base of Alfred's cock, and swallows him down. He stays there for a long moment, working his tongue against him before he pulls back slowly, making a show of licking his lips. "Just as delicious as I thought."
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