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Post by Aziraphale on Nov 2, 2008 18:05:04 GMT -5
*In the week after their argument, Aziraphale had noticed some strange behavior on Herbert's part. He kept his hair tied back tightly, and left his usual finery put away. Aziraphale didn't understand it. Perhaps he'd been doing this to impress him- to be some sort of martyr. It annoyed him.*
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Nov 2, 2008 23:17:40 GMT -5
Herbert was now sitting by a window, staring emptily out at the darkness outside and hiding his hands in his lap. He didn't blink much. Nor did his expression of extreme worry change.
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Post by Aziraphale on Nov 2, 2008 23:43:01 GMT -5
*Azriphale approached him, frowning. This behavior was entirely unlike him- even if he was trying to be a martyr, being so quiet and so subdued was very strange.*
"Herbert?
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Nov 3, 2008 0:04:13 GMT -5
Herbert jolted in his chair and turned to face him.
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Post by Aziraphale on Nov 3, 2008 6:43:59 GMT -5
"Are- are you all right?" *he asked, the perplexed frown on his face deepening.*
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Nov 3, 2008 11:45:17 GMT -5
"Oh yes, I'm quite fine," Herbert said, his mouth pulling into a wide, forced smile. He slipped each of his hands into their opposite sleeves as he spoke.
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Post by Aziraphale on Nov 3, 2008 12:11:09 GMT -5
"You've been acting very peculiar la-" *he stopped, midword, and peered at Herbert's sleeves.*
"What's the matter with your hands?"
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Nov 3, 2008 12:18:20 GMT -5
"Nothing, nothing and more nothing," he said, leaning back and trying to look relaxed. "A mishap with some candle wax is all."
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Post by Aziraphale on Nov 3, 2008 12:20:59 GMT -5
"Let me see-"
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Nov 3, 2008 12:27:19 GMT -5
"You don't want to. It would put you off your tea."
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Post by Aziraphale on Nov 3, 2008 12:29:22 GMT -5
"Herbert, please..."
*He was being far too matter of fact- there was something else going on. It was so unlike him.*
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Nov 3, 2008 12:34:54 GMT -5
"Here," he said, getting up and practically flapping them in the angel's face, revealing that the skin was a patchwork comprised mostly of shiny pinkish burns mottled with white between thin channels of stretched-looking unburned skin. The nails were bitten down to the quick- they were far too ragged for their length to have been intentional. Just as quickly, Herbert pulled the hands back to hide their shame.
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Post by Aziraphale on Nov 3, 2008 15:39:21 GMT -5
*Aziraphale cringed at the quick glance he was able to catch.*
"That is hardly a 'mishap with candle wax,' Herbert. What have you been doing?"
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Nov 3, 2008 15:41:45 GMT -5
"I told you. Candle wax."
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Post by Aziraphale on Nov 3, 2008 15:45:16 GMT -5
"Then you must have been doing it purposefully- just tell me. I won't be angry."
*Had he been intentionally hurting himself? He'd never thought, despite his many... issues, that he would do something like that.*
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