"Allow me to start by saying I do know how my son is, in that he prefers the companionship of men. I find nothing wrong with this. I, myself, have had male companions on the past. So please, do not worry that I will judge either of you for that.
Alfred swallows very hard, nodding along a bit as Georg speaks - he of course has been told that the older vampire has been with men before, but he isn't about to cut the Count off.
"I - I understand. And I want him to be happy, too."
"I suppose I am curious -- and please, of course, tell me if this is a step too far. However I am curious to know whether or not you've been with another man. Or, I suppose, you're young enough, if you've been with anyone at all?"
He leans forward, his chin delicately resting against one hand, his expression genuinely curious.
The young man's jaw goes a bit slack for a moment at the boldness of the question - and he reddens, deeply, suddenly very sheepish under the earnest, curious gaze of his lover's father. Oh, boy. How to - how to say this? For a long moment, it's sputters and stammers, before finally Alfred's voice returns, a bit strained, and quite small.
"...I...had never been with...anyone, before. But, ah. I...have...now?"
"Aah, I see. So your only experience is with Herbert, then. Interesting." He taps his finger against his chin, studying Alfred with intent. "It's good then, I think, that I came when I did. I do know you enjoy books. You're a very smart young many, and study well. At least that's the impression I've gotten from you, that you're a studious young man."
If so, then it's a good thing Georg made a trip to the library before coming up here. If nothing else, Alfred can study his way into things.
Well, at least he isn't upset about that - but now Alfred REALLY does not know where this conversation is going, and inwardly, he's panicking just a bit. Mentally, he reaches out to Herbert, trying to be subtle about it in front of the much more powerful Count -
'...Herbert, your father is in my room and talking to me about my intimacy with you? He...he brought books?'
Swallowing hard, he nods, his eyes flicking to the little shelf where the books he had borrowed before That Night had been. He had since returned most of them to the library. "Yes, I-I do well with...with research."
Herbert winces from his room at hearing that because oh dear, how very awkward for Alfred. He grimaces and sends back, 'Well. Try to have fun, let me know how it goes?'
Georg looks faintly amused but says nothing, passing his hand in front of his mouth to hide a smile. But the conversation, he feels, is necessary. He wants them both to have a good time of it, and for Alfred not to be quite so panicked when the subject comes up. Perhaps giving the boy a little more knowledge on the subject will boost his confidence.
"And that is exactly why I've brought you the books. All sorts of subjects, from romance to intimacy and everything in between. I thought it could be helpful to you, to be able to approach my son with a little more... knowledge. A little more confidence. You're such a curious young man. Surely you will want to know all the ways two bodies can fit together?"
He's too bewildered by this entire conversation to notice Georg's little smile - he doesn't realize that his attempt at being subtle was basically useless, and assumes the amusement is probably because he might match the color of his favorite socks by now.
"...Th-thank you, Georg," he mumbles, voice absolutely tiny as he tries not to...think too hard about the last part of that comment. "I...ah...y-yes, ah. H-he's been...t-teaching me, too...?"
"Has he!" His eyebrows raise in surprise, because his son has been very quiet about the details of their relationship. "And has he been patient enough with you? Taking his time, explaining the intricacies of everything behind it. Not just what feels good, but why.
Has he been making certain that you feel good, as well?"
Oh boy. This is...this is a lot of questions. Alfred fidgets with his hands, eyes wandering away from Georg to the fire in an effort to try and escape his gaze for just a moment, at least in his own view.
"Y-yes, he has been very, very patient," he murmurs, awkward but wanting to stick up for Herbert's efforts in all this. "And he - he's explained things...we-well? I mean, when we've - it's been - I mean-"
"So he's pleasing you." Georg tips his head to the side with a thoughtful expression. Good, good. At least Herbert isn't being selfish in their love-making. "Your... experiences so far have been satisfactory.
You're such a curious young man. You'd been seeking something in the castle that night. Something beyond vampires, or even beyond Sarah. Something beyond anything you understood. I could feel that in you. Not just in your thoughts but in your entire being. You'd been yearning for something for a long time
If he weren't already dead, Alfred is certain he would have perished on this loveseat a few minutes ago. He didn't know what he expected out of this night, but discussing how sex with Herbert has been going with his father? Not what he expected for certain.
The question catches him off-guard, just a little...but it does make him look up, timidly, with a little nod.
"I'm happy to hear that. Sometimes it can take us some time to find what we want. Sometimes we never find it at all. Or even worse perhaps, we think we find it and what we finds turns out to not be what we wanted or needed at all.
But I could sense that in you, the moment you came to us. You were seeking something and you weren't sure what it was. There was... a lostness about you. Something adrift."
Some of the tension, the terror leaks away from Alfred's expression at this - a little smile tugs at his lips, sad and sweet. He's silent for a beat, until -
"...When we met, Georg...I was scared. Really scared. I had...no idea what I was doing. I thought I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. But...it brought me here. So I guess it was at least part right." Absently, he presses a hand to the scar on the side of his neck.
"You know...I...I think...I've dreamed of this place before. A long time ago. It felt familiar, when I walked up. I still don't know...what it all means. But I'm...less afraid, now? And I'm starting to feel like...."
"One of the hardest things to find, I've discovered over the years, is yourself." He reaches over to stroke a finger over Alfred's cheek, tapping under his chin. "But if you feel you have found yourself with us, then that is pleasing to here.
Perhaps you have found your true self, here in the darkness. The darkness often hides things we do not know we seek. But if you know the right questions to ask, the dark can often give us what we never know we needed."
In spite of himself, the stroke across Alfred's cheek makes him redden and squirm a little - maybe it doesn't help that he finally unburied the memory of That Dream, and has finally been attempting to process it ever since.
He nods a couple of times, unsure what to say - and trying very, very hard not to look at how many sex guides Georg has brought into his room. Maybe this introspection was, juuuuust a little bit, an attempt to shift the subject. But it worked, at least for a minute or two.
"Ah, yes," he finally agrees, voice a little meek.
"You're a good boy, Alfred," he says, pressing a light kiss to his forehead, as he stands. "You still have much to learn, about many things. I hope that my son and I can teach you what it is you want to learn. What you need to learn."
He picks up the set of books he's chosen for Alfred, setting them carefully in the boy's lap. "Here you will find all kinds of useful information. From the theoretical to the practical and all manner of things in between."
Reflexively, on instinct, he leans into the kiss - and he's confused when he feels his heart leap a little. Oh, damn his excitability. His cheeks burn a little bit as his thoughts wander further than he would perhaps like them to.
Though...wait, did Georg just insinuate - no, no, that couldn't be.
Right?
Shaking himself from the confused face journey he perhaps didn't realize he was on, he looks down to the books, blushing deep, and back up at Georg. "...Th-thank you. I will...I will definitely...study...them."
He'd been watching Sarah for some time when Alfred had arrived, but immediately there was something in Alfred that drew Georg to him. He could see immediately what his son saw in this boy. So handsome. So... innocent. Something that the darker part of him longs to corrupt. But he tries to press that part of himself down, push it aside.
So he'll settle for this. Helping Alfred in his journey with Herbert. "And of course, if you have any questions, either one of us would be more than happy to help you. Though I can understand wanting to go to Herbert, first."
Alfred is, of course, oblivious to Georg's thoughts about him. He's left instead stumbling over the idea that his boyfriend's father is offering Help, just nebulously enough that it can be taken to mean in general, but in the vicinity of the topic, of the books....
Hm.
He tries to get a smile onto his face, but it's not hard to tell that it's confused, flustered. "...Y-yes, of course," he murmurs, idly opening the top book on the pile and hurriedly closing it again with a start when the page has an...Illustration.
"I do appreciate your guidance as well," he finally manages, struggling with his composure. "I spend more time with Herbert, and he's been...he's been wonderful, but I know there are things you probably would know...ah, a little more about."
Georg settles himself in the chair again, watching Alfred do his best to keep his composure, to bring his thoughts together and form words. He remembers what it was like, to be young and awkward and fumbling. And so he'll be patient.
At that last statement his eyebrows go up again and he steeples his fingers, watching Alfred curiously. "Is that so? Of course, I'm willing to answer anything you might wish to ask me."
Hesitation, a bit of hand-wringing...and then, slowly, he starts to speak again, brows knitting together. "There is...there is one thing, but it's not about...." He can't finish the sentence, instead tapping his finger on the book.
"I was...I was curious...have you ever...seen...Death? Like...the Reaper?"
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2022-01-01 04:58 am (UTC)Oh, this. This is one of....those talks.
Instantly, Alfred's palms are sweating, and he presses them against his lap as subtly as he can.
"...Of course, Georg. I... I'm not looking to keep any secrets. It's all a bit new to me, but...but I want you to be comfortable with it, too."
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Date: 2022-01-01 06:18 pm (UTC)I want my son to be happy. That's all."
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Date: 2022-01-01 08:02 pm (UTC)"I - I understand. And I want him to be happy, too."
Oh God, where is this going to go from here?
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Date: 2022-01-02 01:46 am (UTC)He leans forward, his chin delicately resting against one hand, his expression genuinely curious.
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Date: 2022-01-02 01:55 am (UTC)The young man's jaw goes a bit slack for a moment at the boldness of the question - and he reddens, deeply, suddenly very sheepish under the earnest, curious gaze of his lover's father. Oh, boy. How to - how to say this? For a long moment, it's sputters and stammers, before finally Alfred's voice returns, a bit strained, and quite small.
"...I...had never been with...anyone, before. But, ah. I...have...now?"
He drops into deafening silence.
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Date: 2022-01-02 02:09 am (UTC)If so, then it's a good thing Georg made a trip to the library before coming up here. If nothing else, Alfred can study his way into things.
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Date: 2022-01-02 02:22 am (UTC)Well, at least he isn't upset about that - but now Alfred REALLY does not know where this conversation is going, and inwardly, he's panicking just a bit. Mentally, he reaches out to Herbert, trying to be subtle about it in front of the much more powerful Count -
'...Herbert, your father is in my room and talking to me about my intimacy with you? He...he brought books?'
Swallowing hard, he nods, his eyes flicking to the little shelf where the books he had borrowed before That Night had been. He had since returned most of them to the library. "Yes, I-I do well with...with research."
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Date: 2022-01-02 02:38 am (UTC)Georg looks faintly amused but says nothing, passing his hand in front of his mouth to hide a smile. But the conversation, he feels, is necessary. He wants them both to have a good time of it, and for Alfred not to be quite so panicked when the subject comes up. Perhaps giving the boy a little more knowledge on the subject will boost his confidence.
"And that is exactly why I've brought you the books. All sorts of subjects, from romance to intimacy and everything in between. I thought it could be helpful to you, to be able to approach my son with a little more... knowledge. A little more confidence. You're such a curious young man. Surely you will want to know all the ways two bodies can fit together?"
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Date: 2022-01-02 02:56 am (UTC)He's too bewildered by this entire conversation to notice Georg's little smile - he doesn't realize that his attempt at being subtle was basically useless, and assumes the amusement is probably because he might match the color of his favorite socks by now.
"...Th-thank you, Georg," he mumbles, voice absolutely tiny as he tries not to...think too hard about the last part of that comment. "I...ah...y-yes, ah. H-he's been...t-teaching me, too...?"
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Date: 2022-01-02 03:14 am (UTC)Has he been making certain that you feel good, as well?"
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Date: 2022-01-02 03:32 am (UTC)"Y-yes, he has been very, very patient," he murmurs, awkward but wanting to stick up for Herbert's efforts in all this. "And he - he's explained things...we-well? I mean, when we've - it's been - I mean-"
God.
Why.
"It's been...very...good?"
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Date: 2022-01-02 03:58 am (UTC)You're such a curious young man. You'd been seeking something in the castle that night. Something beyond vampires, or even beyond Sarah. Something beyond anything you understood. I could feel that in you. Not just in your thoughts but in your entire being. You'd been yearning for something for a long time
Do you think you've found it now?"
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Date: 2022-01-02 04:07 am (UTC)If he weren't already dead, Alfred is certain he would have perished on this loveseat a few minutes ago. He didn't know what he expected out of this night, but discussing how sex with Herbert has been going with his father? Not what he expected for certain.
The question catches him off-guard, just a little...but it does make him look up, timidly, with a little nod.
"...Yes. I...I think I have."
'I found him.'
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Date: 2022-01-02 06:12 am (UTC)But I could sense that in you, the moment you came to us. You were seeking something and you weren't sure what it was. There was... a lostness about you. Something adrift."
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Date: 2022-01-02 06:41 am (UTC)"...When we met, Georg...I was scared. Really scared. I had...no idea what I was doing. I thought I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. But...it brought me here. So I guess it was at least part right." Absently, he presses a hand to the scar on the side of his neck.
"You know...I...I think...I've dreamed of this place before. A long time ago. It felt familiar, when I walked up. I still don't know...what it all means. But I'm...less afraid, now? And I'm starting to feel like...."
He looks Georg in the eye.
"...Myself."
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Date: 2022-01-03 02:47 am (UTC)Perhaps you have found your true self, here in the darkness. The darkness often hides things we do not know we seek. But if you know the right questions to ask, the dark can often give us what we never know we needed."
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Date: 2022-01-03 03:12 am (UTC)He nods a couple of times, unsure what to say - and trying very, very hard not to look at how many sex guides Georg has brought into his room. Maybe this introspection was, juuuuust a little bit, an attempt to shift the subject. But it worked, at least for a minute or two.
"Ah, yes," he finally agrees, voice a little meek.
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Date: 2022-01-03 03:28 am (UTC)He picks up the set of books he's chosen for Alfred, setting them carefully in the boy's lap. "Here you will find all kinds of useful information. From the theoretical to the practical and all manner of things in between."
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Date: 2022-01-03 03:38 am (UTC)Though...wait, did Georg just insinuate - no, no, that couldn't be.
Right?
Shaking himself from the confused face journey he perhaps didn't realize he was on, he looks down to the books, blushing deep, and back up at Georg. "...Th-thank you. I will...I will definitely...study...them."
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Date: 2022-01-03 03:51 am (UTC)So he'll settle for this. Helping Alfred in his journey with Herbert. "And of course, if you have any questions, either one of us would be more than happy to help you. Though I can understand wanting to go to Herbert, first."
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Date: 2022-01-03 03:59 am (UTC)Hm.
He tries to get a smile onto his face, but it's not hard to tell that it's confused, flustered. "...Y-yes, of course," he murmurs, idly opening the top book on the pile and hurriedly closing it again with a start when the page has an...Illustration.
"I do appreciate your guidance as well," he finally manages, struggling with his composure. "I spend more time with Herbert, and he's been...he's been wonderful, but I know there are things you probably would know...ah, a little more about."
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Date: 2022-01-03 05:45 am (UTC)At that last statement his eyebrows go up again and he steeples his fingers, watching Alfred curiously. "Is that so? Of course, I'm willing to answer anything you might wish to ask me."
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Date: 2022-01-03 06:20 am (UTC)"I was...I was curious...have you ever...seen...Death? Like...the Reaper?"
Alfred's turn to come out of left field.
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Date: 2022-01-03 06:37 am (UTC)What a curious question. And such a serious question from someone so young. "Why do you ask, Alfred?"
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Date: 2022-01-03 06:43 am (UTC)He fidgets a little, biting his lip for a second.
"Well, I...I did. W-when I turned. Before I woke up. They tried to...to take me? And I was wondering if that was...normal, I guess?"
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