"In his own way, yes, he's tried to explain it." It was a very... excited explanation. Georg hadn't seen Herbert so happy in a long time. So even if he doesn't understand it entirely, he's happy that his son is happy.
"You and Solin are... the same person, somehow? At least that's how I understood it. He was speaking very quickly and bouncing as he told me, which made him a little hard to understand." And then Herbert had hugged him, which Georg is fairly certain he hadn't done for years.
The smile that crosses Alfred's lips at this is soft, fond. He can only imagine how Herbert must have gushed about it all, and the mental image leaves his heart full.
"Yes. Like... he's been trying to come back, over multiple lives, and I'm...the first to make it here. To come back to him. It's part of why I was pulled here."
Okay. Okay, Alfred. You can do this.
"Which...well, there's... something very important I need to ask you. About Herbert."
"The same soul, over and over. Trying to make its way back to Herbert. Perhaps that's why you were able to say no to Death. To come back like that. Because of your connection to him. That thread you spoke of."
The smile on Alfred's face warms his heart. He nods, tipping his head to the side in question. "Of course, yes. You may ask me anything, and I will do my best to answer it."
"Apparently Solin put that thread there...so...so maybe so. It was meant to be. We are meant to be."
Reiterating all this helps Alfred feel more resolute. Drawing a long breath in to steady himself, he tries his best to stand tall, to look Georg in the eye.
"It's almost been a year, and...and I know the Ball is coming up. I...I love Herbert. I love you, too. I love it here. It's where I belong. So...."
Trying to be formal, like someone might have done in Georg's time, Alfred bows low, before Georg, before the headstone of Adela, trying to keep the shake from his voice.
"...I would like to ask you...for your permission to ask Herbert to marry me."
Georg beams and embraces Alfred tightly, kissing him on both cheeks. "My magnificent boy," he smiles, holding him at arms' length to look at him. Reaching up with one hand to stroke his cheek.
"My son has been happier than I've seen him in centuries, since you came to the castle. I could think of nothing he would want more, than to be promised to you."
The joy in that reaction from the older vampire is met with a giddy giggle from Alfred - he leans into the embrace, into the kisses, into his touch.
It still...confuses him, a little, the nature of what he and Georg have. But it doesn't seem to bother Herbert, nor does it bother Georg. So...he simply accepts it for what it is.
"Thank you, Georg," he finally responds, a little choked up. "I - this means everything to me. I was...I was thinking of doing it at the Ball. If you would let me. I know the Ball is... it's yours, and I don't want to overstep any lines.....
"Why yes of course. I ought to make my usual speech, but then I can hand the reins over to you. I think it's very courageous of you, to want to propose to him at the Ball.
Not that he'll say no, of course," Georg assures him quickly. "But you're rather claiming him in front of all the others, aren't you?"
"Oh - of course, it would be wrong if you didn't." The idea of making such a show of it all sends a needle of panic through him - but...it feels right, and Georg is being lovely to allow it. Herbert deserves his own chance in the spotlight.
"I...yes," he stammers, clearly as nervous as he is excited. "Especially with...well, with how...last year's Ball went, I...I think it's...right. That I own up to it, and declare myself as...as one of you, now."
He smiles, crooked, still just a little snaggletoothed.
"And I'm not just claiming him, Georg. I'm...declaring myself as his, too."
"It provided us with a good story to tell, if nothing else. The coven gets such little excitement in their lives, and you managed to provide them with some entertainment.
And now, this Ball, you'll give them a reason to be joyous. A wedding." He slides his fingers over Alfred's jaw, touching his chin lightly.
Though he does frown, faintly, at the thought of losing Alfred as a companion. "I'll understand, of course, if you wish to be only his."
"Well, I'm...glad to hear that, at least. I was a little worried, in case I had...upset anyone." It sounds a bit silly, now that he's said it, given the nature of the brood.
He shivers lightly as his jaw is stroked, letting his chin be gently tilted. He catches that bit of sadness, and he contemplates it for only a moment.
"...What he and I have is something very important, but...what you and I have is... different. I am promising myself to him, to stay at his side for eternity, but...."
Gently, he reaches out to brush a lock of hair behind the older vampire's ear.
"If he is all right with, ah...with sharing, from time to time...then...I am, too."
"What you and he have is very rare, and very precious. I wouldn't wish to stand in the way of that." But then Alfred is touching him, fussing with his hair, and Georg's smile gradually returns.
He leans in to kiss Alfred's forehead, fingers stroking his neck. "When all is said and done, and the two of you are promised to each other, I'll ask him. I wouldn't want to ruin your surprise, after all."
Alfred smiles sweetly - at the respect he's being shown, at the gentle kiss, at the touch. He's glad that Georg understands. He sort of knew that he would.
The fingers grazing across his neck still sense a noticable shiver down his spine, though. Hard not to let the mind wander to other situations he had been touched that way.
"Thank you. It means so much to me, that you - that you accept me like this. I know, for you, the amount of time I've been here... it's a drop of water in a river."
Well, that does it - Alfred is sweeping in in a flash to wrap Georg in a tight hug, misty-eyed, but practically glowing with happiness.
"I am so happy to be here. Really. And...and I would be honored if...if with this marriage, if I could...take on the family name?"
It's time, he figures, to let poor, frightened little Alfred Schreiber finally rest. He had served his purpose...but the Alfred here now is someone new. Someone more...real.
"Oh Alfred, yes of course," Georg envelopes Alfred in his cloak, embracing him as tightly and securely as he can. "I would be honoured to share the Von Krolock name with you. To have you as part of this family.
For so long, it has only been myself and Herbert. And now the castle feels full of life once more."
The word rings true, so true. This place is his home, these people are his home - almost one year ago, he was where he is now, cowering, crying, hungry, and broken.
Now he's wrapped in a strong, loving embrace, crying because his heart is full to bursting. There's no fear, now. There's only love.
"...You know...I would have never guessed that my real life would begin with my death. But I feel full of life, too. Because of Herbert. Because of you, Georg. Thank you. Thank you for...for seeing me."
"Sometimes we need others to see us before we can truly see ourselves." He raises a hand to gently wipe away Alfred's tears, brushing their mouths together lightly. "You have so much more life to live now, and so much more chance to live it. And now you are surrounded by others who love you, who care for you. Who want you to live your best life possible."
Alfred does not flinch as his tears are wiped (he's long since gotten used to long nails coming near his eyes, after all), reciprocating that light, gentle little kiss and beaming up at the much older vampire. His fangs are still crooked, always crooked, but...he's getting the knack of it, slowly but surely.
Besides, whether he agrees or not, it does make him look cute, harmless.
"It's wonderful. It means so much to me. And...."
Reaching up, he gently runs his long fingers along Georg's jawline, a soft, affectionate little motion. "And everything I can do to bring more happiness to the both of you...I will do. Gladly."
Georg looks quietly awed at the gesture. Like he can't quite believes he deserves this. Not one, but two lovers. One who is fiery and passionate and keeps him on his toes, and the other who is so sweetly attentive. So attuned to his moods and needs.
He leans into the touch, eyes fluttering shut at the show of affection. "There is nothing I can think of that brings me more happiness than simply having you near to me."
He blinks, feeling more vulnerable than he meant to be, and adds, "And I'm certain Herbert feels the same."
That is...a very sweet, honest thing, coming from Georg. It isn't that he's not honest, it's just that he holds a lot back, lets a lot hide behind a great many meandering words. Alfred sort of thinks of the way the older vampire speaks as him trying to build a maze around his heart, and you really have to work at it to get there.
He's learning how, bit by bit.
"I'm glad," he nearly whispers, smile bright. "It's nice, being able to make the people I love happy like that."
"How were we blessed with someone so good and kind as you?" He can't imagine ever feeling like he deserves all this happiness. He's felt the same way before, with other lovers, but nothing quite so strong. Not since Adela, all those years ago.
When he had said that Alfred's soul was already theirs, it was meant to be intimidating. Not a hope, like it had now become. The desire for Alfred to belong to them, body and heart and soul. The knowledge that perhaps, in fact, he already does.
"Forgive me," he says, voice choked. Realizing that his own eyes had become misted with tears. "It's a joyous occasion. I'm merely happy for you. For all of us to have you."
It's with a bashful smile that he tries to accept that compliment. It's still kind of hard not to deflect those sorts of comments...but they're given so freely, so often to him that he can't help but start to believe them, at least a little.
Alfred has long since gotten used to seeing Herbert's eyes full of tears - but Georg, much less so. His other hand finds the other side of his jaw, holding his face tenderly with both hands.
"Don't be sorry," he murmurs, shaking his head. "You don't have to be sorry about crying in front of me. I'm...I'm glad that you trust me like that." A pause, consideration, then.... "...I used to be afraid of you, Georg. But...I'm not anymore. Not at all."
"There was a part of me that wanted to be feared by you, at least a little. Or at least, fearsome enough to be a curiosity. I wanted to be for you the sort of darkness you couldn't help but peer into, to want to explore. To seek out that same darkness within yourself."
But oh, so much more of him wanted to be adored by Alfred. To have just this; Alfred's hands against his face, his lips whispering sweet words to him. This, he had wanted since seeing him standing in the window with his candle.
"It worked," Alfred chuckles, softly, "It definitely worked. I...feel that darkness come out, a bit, sometimes, especially when we're...ah...together."
He strokes back along Georg's jawline with both hands, walking his fingers up to smooth his hair behind his ears. "I sort of...I sort of like that, you know. You and Herbert both call to...different parts of me. I'm still figuring it all out, but it's...."
He sniffles a little.
"I feel like I'm finally learning who I actually am. And...and I think I like him."
Georg sighs and shivers, holding still and allowing Alfred to touch him. So sweetly. Always so sweetly. "You are so many things I had no idea I was yearning for until I met you. Like I dream I couldn't quite remember, a memory I couldn't quite place. Something I didn't dare believe could possibly be real.
I very much like who you are. Who you've grown to be. I'm only glad that you like him, too."
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"You and Solin are... the same person, somehow? At least that's how I understood it. He was speaking very quickly and bouncing as he told me, which made him a little hard to understand." And then Herbert had hugged him, which Georg is fairly certain he hadn't done for years.
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"Yes. Like... he's been trying to come back, over multiple lives, and I'm...the first to make it here. To come back to him. It's part of why I was pulled here."
Okay. Okay, Alfred. You can do this.
"Which...well, there's... something very important I need to ask you. About Herbert."
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The smile on Alfred's face warms his heart. He nods, tipping his head to the side in question. "Of course, yes. You may ask me anything, and I will do my best to answer it."
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Reiterating all this helps Alfred feel more resolute. Drawing a long breath in to steady himself, he tries his best to stand tall, to look Georg in the eye.
"It's almost been a year, and...and I know the Ball is coming up. I...I love Herbert. I love you, too. I love it here. It's where I belong. So...."
Trying to be formal, like someone might have done in Georg's time, Alfred bows low, before Georg, before the headstone of Adela, trying to keep the shake from his voice.
"...I would like to ask you...for your permission to ask Herbert to marry me."
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"My son has been happier than I've seen him in centuries, since you came to the castle. I could think of nothing he would want more, than to be promised to you."
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It still...confuses him, a little, the nature of what he and Georg have. But it doesn't seem to bother Herbert, nor does it bother Georg. So...he simply accepts it for what it is.
"Thank you, Georg," he finally responds, a little choked up. "I - this means everything to me. I was...I was thinking of doing it at the Ball. If you would let me. I know the Ball is... it's yours, and I don't want to overstep any lines.....
Maybe...maybe speaking."
'If I am brave enough.'
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Not that he'll say no, of course," Georg assures him quickly. "But you're rather claiming him in front of all the others, aren't you?"
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"I...yes," he stammers, clearly as nervous as he is excited. "Especially with...well, with how...last year's Ball went, I...I think it's...right. That I own up to it, and declare myself as...as one of you, now."
He smiles, crooked, still just a little snaggletoothed.
"And I'm not just claiming him, Georg. I'm...declaring myself as his, too."
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And now, this Ball, you'll give them a reason to be joyous. A wedding." He slides his fingers over Alfred's jaw, touching his chin lightly.
Though he does frown, faintly, at the thought of losing Alfred as a companion. "I'll understand, of course, if you wish to be only his."
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He shivers lightly as his jaw is stroked, letting his chin be gently tilted. He catches that bit of sadness, and he contemplates it for only a moment.
"...What he and I have is something very important, but...what you and I have is... different. I am promising myself to him, to stay at his side for eternity, but...."
Gently, he reaches out to brush a lock of hair behind the older vampire's ear.
"If he is all right with, ah...with sharing, from time to time...then...I am, too."
How far Alfred has come.
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He leans in to kiss Alfred's forehead, fingers stroking his neck. "When all is said and done, and the two of you are promised to each other, I'll ask him. I wouldn't want to ruin your surprise, after all."
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The fingers grazing across his neck still sense a noticable shiver down his spine, though. Hard not to let the mind wander to other situations he had been touched that way.
"Thank you. It means so much to me, that you - that you accept me like this. I know, for you, the amount of time I've been here... it's a drop of water in a river."
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You belong here. With us. And we are so happy to have you. I know Herbert would happily take you for eternity."
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"I am so happy to be here. Really. And...and I would be honored if...if with this marriage, if I could...take on the family name?"
It's time, he figures, to let poor, frightened little Alfred Schreiber finally rest. He had served his purpose...but the Alfred here now is someone new. Someone more...real.
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For so long, it has only been myself and Herbert. And now the castle feels full of life once more."
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The word rings true, so true. This place is his home, these people are his home - almost one year ago, he was where he is now, cowering, crying, hungry, and broken.
Now he's wrapped in a strong, loving embrace, crying because his heart is full to bursting. There's no fear, now. There's only love.
"...You know...I would have never guessed that my real life would begin with my death. But I feel full of life, too. Because of Herbert. Because of you, Georg. Thank you. Thank you for...for seeing me."
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Besides, whether he agrees or not, it does make him look cute, harmless.
"It's wonderful. It means so much to me. And...."
Reaching up, he gently runs his long fingers along Georg's jawline, a soft, affectionate little motion. "And everything I can do to bring more happiness to the both of you...I will do. Gladly."
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He leans into the touch, eyes fluttering shut at the show of affection. "There is nothing I can think of that brings me more happiness than simply having you near to me."
He blinks, feeling more vulnerable than he meant to be, and adds, "And I'm certain Herbert feels the same."
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He's learning how, bit by bit.
"I'm glad," he nearly whispers, smile bright. "It's nice, being able to make the people I love happy like that."
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When he had said that Alfred's soul was already theirs, it was meant to be intimidating. Not a hope, like it had now become. The desire for Alfred to belong to them, body and heart and soul. The knowledge that perhaps, in fact, he already does.
"Forgive me," he says, voice choked. Realizing that his own eyes had become misted with tears. "It's a joyous occasion. I'm merely happy for you. For all of us to have you."
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Alfred has long since gotten used to seeing Herbert's eyes full of tears - but Georg, much less so. His other hand finds the other side of his jaw, holding his face tenderly with both hands.
"Don't be sorry," he murmurs, shaking his head. "You don't have to be sorry about crying in front of me. I'm...I'm glad that you trust me like that." A pause, consideration, then.... "...I used to be afraid of you, Georg. But...I'm not anymore. Not at all."
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But oh, so much more of him wanted to be adored by Alfred. To have just this; Alfred's hands against his face, his lips whispering sweet words to him. This, he had wanted since seeing him standing in the window with his candle.
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He strokes back along Georg's jawline with both hands, walking his fingers up to smooth his hair behind his ears. "I sort of...I sort of like that, you know. You and Herbert both call to...different parts of me. I'm still figuring it all out, but it's...."
He sniffles a little.
"I feel like I'm finally learning who I actually am. And...and I think I like him."
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I very much like who you are. Who you've grown to be. I'm only glad that you like him, too."
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