Without missing a beat, Alfred takes the brush and starts to work, brushing out Herbert's long blonde locks in steady, gentle strokes. As he does, however, his face furrows just a little further in confusion as he tries to think back.
"I - yes, I have, but - when I heard it first, I thought-"
Oblivious.
"I found Sarah singing it, so - so I thought it was her. It was you?"
"Sarah?" He bares his fangs a little in obvious distaste. "You mean you didn't hear me that first night at the inn? I was calling to you so you'd notice me, perhaps look out the window and see me. Which you didn't and that's fine, but Sarah?
Uh-oh. Alfred's hands still for a beat before they resume, and he swallows hard.
"Well - I did hear it outside - but I didn't know it was you, because Chagal told me it was the wind, and then...ah, yes, Sarah was singing it, the night she left for here? And then again here, while I was trying to find her, and...."
"The wind! Oh that Chagal," he huffs, crossing his arms petulantly. "Well now you know. I've been singing that song for three hundred years. If she sang it, she stole it from me."
Well now he's done it, hasn't he? He cringes, and if he could be seen behind Herbert in the mirror, it would be a sight indeed. Maybe for the best he doesn't cast a reflection anymore.
"Well, she...I don't even know if she knows where she got it, then? And - and if it was you I heard the first time, then, well, I - I really liked it-"
It actually brings him a measure of happiness, knowing it was Herbert behind that moment that had stirred his heart so.
He's still sulking just a little, shoulders slumped. But not quite as much as they were before. But he wants to be coaxed out of his sulk just a little further before he gives in.
Even if Alfred could tell there's a bit of fishing happening here, he would still hurry to comfort his lover - the brush is set down, strong arms wrapping around Herbert from behind, cheek pressed against his back.
"Of course I did, Engel. It - it reminded me of the Sirens, from the Ancient Greek stories. I was mesmerized. It...it stirred something in me, when I heard it. When I heard you."
"Ooh, I stirred something in you, hmm?" He reaches behind him to squeeze lightly at whatever part of Alfred he can reach. "Then I can forgive you," he smiles, his pleasure clear in his voice. "That was my aim, you know. To sing you a siren song and hope to lure you to me. But you made me work to get you, and I don't mind that at all."
There's a ticklish little giggle as Herbert grabs at him - the tension of the moment passing and leaving Alfred with a little smile again.
"You did. All I could think about was what beautiful lips must be out there, singing those notes." He nuzzles into his lover a little before pulling back just enough to resume brushing.
"Believe me, it would have been much easier if I had known it was you in the first place! I might not have bothered with Sarah at all."
Maybe.
Of course, he knows full well that part of the problem was just him being gullible.
"These lips. Which are yours whenever you want them. Any time of the night, you need only ask." Herbert hums contentedly and settles back in to let his damp hair be brushed.
"Well, you needn't bother with her any longer. Unless it's at family dinners, of course."
Biting his lip for a moment, he leans forward, brushing his lips right against Herbert's ear to murmur, soft and low: "I'll have to take you up on that, Engel."
...and then once he recovers from trying to be sultry, he kisses the vampire at the base of his jaw, laughing softly.
"I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to bother with me any more than I do with her at this point."
"No one to sing with." There's moment of sadness there, a wistfulness in his voice. But then he takes one of Alfred's hands to kiss his knuckles, squeezing it tight.
"Now I have you, though. I could sing a little something while you played piano. If you'd like."
"Then we ought to. We'll gather everyone around and play and sing for them. A lovely little night of entertainment for everyone." And a chance for Herbert to be at the center of attention, which he loves.
"Perhaps I want to show off how incredibly talented you are. You can do so many lovely things, Alfred. You make so much beauty in this world." He looks down at the sleeve of his shirt, which has flowers embroidered on it where a blood stain used to be.
"Well...sort of. Most of the time it isn't creating beauty...."
Reaching up, he twists two lengths of Herbert's long bangs back behind him, tying them off neatly so he can pin a bow on. Leaning forward, he smiles over his lover's shoulder, eyes bright.
"... It's just shining a light on what's already there."
"How does this always end up with you complimenting me in some way," he teases, reaching up to set his hand against Alfred's cheek. "Not that I'm complaining, of course. You can compliment me all you like.
You have such a poetic way of speaking, you know. Perhaps that stems from your music."
At this, the younger man just smiles. He knows a part of it is deflection, but he really does love complimenting Herbert, telling him how wonderful he is. His lover may not admit it, but he needs that just as much as Alfred does.
"Maybe," he muses in a soft little purr, nuzzling into Herbert's hand, "My family name does come from a line of writers, too. It was the only part of my family I ever felt any kind of connection to. I...I like it, saying these things to you out loud."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 01:09 am (UTC)"I - yes, I have, but - when I heard it first, I thought-"
Oblivious.
"I found Sarah singing it, so - so I thought it was her. It was you?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 01:13 am (UTC)Don't tell me she's been singing it, too."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 01:18 am (UTC)"Well - I did hear it outside - but I didn't know it was you, because Chagal told me it was the wind, and then...ah, yes, Sarah was singing it, the night she left for here? And then again here, while I was trying to find her, and...."
His voice peters out, sheepish.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 01:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 01:38 am (UTC)Well now he's done it, hasn't he? He cringes, and if he could be seen behind Herbert in the mirror, it would be a sight indeed. Maybe for the best he doesn't cast a reflection anymore.
"Well, she...I don't even know if she knows where she got it, then? And - and if it was you I heard the first time, then, well, I - I really liked it-"
It actually brings him a measure of happiness, knowing it was Herbert behind that moment that had stirred his heart so.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 01:44 am (UTC)"Really? You liked my singing? Truly?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 01:51 am (UTC)"Of course I did, Engel. It - it reminded me of the Sirens, from the Ancient Greek stories. I was mesmerized. It...it stirred something in me, when I heard it. When I heard you."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 02:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 02:16 am (UTC)"You did. All I could think about was what beautiful lips must be out there, singing those notes." He nuzzles into his lover a little before pulling back just enough to resume brushing.
"Believe me, it would have been much easier if I had known it was you in the first place! I might not have bothered with Sarah at all."
Maybe.
Of course, he knows full well that part of the problem was just him being gullible.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 02:28 am (UTC)"Well, you needn't bother with her any longer. Unless it's at family dinners, of course."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 02:50 am (UTC)Biting his lip for a moment, he leans forward, brushing his lips right against Herbert's ear to murmur, soft and low: "I'll have to take you up on that, Engel."
...and then once he recovers from trying to be sultry, he kisses the vampire at the base of his jaw, laughing softly.
"I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to bother with me any more than I do with her at this point."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 03:07 am (UTC)After a few moments of quiet, he adds, "I used to sing all the time. When I was younger."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 03:37 am (UTC)The statement made into the quiet feels...personal, charged, and so it's gently that Alfred replies.
"Did you? ...Why did you stop?"
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 05:20 am (UTC)"Now I have you, though. I could sing a little something while you played piano. If you'd like."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-24 07:33 am (UTC)"I wouldn't like that, Engel, I would love it. I would love nothing more than to make music with you."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 02:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 02:37 am (UTC)He places a little kiss at the nape of Herbert's neck.
"It could be a lot of fun."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 02:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 03:09 am (UTC)Reaching up, he twists two lengths of Herbert's long bangs back behind him, tying them off neatly so he can pin a bow on. Leaning forward, he smiles over his lover's shoulder, eyes bright.
"... It's just shining a light on what's already there."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-30 11:57 pm (UTC)You have such a poetic way of speaking, you know. Perhaps that stems from your music."
no subject
Date: 2022-01-31 12:30 am (UTC)"Maybe," he muses in a soft little purr, nuzzling into Herbert's hand, "My family name does come from a line of writers, too. It was the only part of my family I ever felt any kind of connection to. I...I like it, saying these things to you out loud."