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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 20:33:22 GMT -5
Herbert was looking at his own portrait, and had the strangest feeling that he wasn't exactly able to live up to himself anymore.
This was one of the reasons he tended to avoid the castle now. It wasn't that he had any quarrel with his father anymore, and he and Belle rather liked each other now, but nothing managed to shatter his newly acquired self-confidence in his equally new domesticity and... well...
Shabbiness.
The Herbert in the portrait looked sharp and imperious, dressed to the nines and with a hand on the hilt of a decorative rapier hilt, long hair pulled back with a tightly knotted ribbon at the nape of his neck. His real-life counterpart wore a slightly worn overcoat and had relatively short hair in mild disarray, and could only bring himself to look at the portrait for so long before turning around again and waiting for his father.
At least, until curiosity and nostalgia made him look at it again.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 20:44:10 GMT -5
Krolock had been waiting a long time for this moment. Not the actual departure--he dreaded that part--but what he currently held in his hands: a small, mohagony-wood box with a hinged lid, decorated with an elegant carving of a celtic knot. Inside was something Krolock had been wanting to gift Herbert with, but the right time hadn't come until now.
It belonged to Herbert's mother.
Krolock had held onto the jewelry all these years because of the sentimental value it held--while a lot of her things were long gone, this one piece had stayed because of its significance: it had been the his gift to her in commemoration of their first anniversary.
Heaving a sigh, the vampire lord quietly entered the room.
"Herbert..."
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 20:48:19 GMT -5
Herbert turned around quickly, blinking rapidly as he always did when surprised.
"Vati-"
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 20:50:40 GMT -5
His smile was gentle and a touch sad as he approached.
"It is good to see you again."
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 20:53:25 GMT -5
Herbert impulsively hurried to close the distance between them, clapping his slightly shorter father in a tight hug.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 20:57:37 GMT -5
As Herbert moved in, Krolock set the box aside and threw his arms around his son, hugging back just as tightly.
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 20:58:46 GMT -5
"You aren't angry with me, are you?"
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 21:05:31 GMT -5
"No...not at all, my dear boy."
The usual stoicism wasn't...there, at the moment. For once, he just being Johannes von Krolock, rather than The Graf.
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 21:08:13 GMT -5
"I suppose it's that... I have the most dreadful feeling that there is very little left in Paris for us," Herbert said quietly, folding his hands inside his overcoat. "For Zira and I..."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 21:18:27 GMT -5
He nodded.
"No, I suppose not, and though it's hard to think of you leaving, I will not stand in your way. After all, all children leave home someday."
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 21:20:23 GMT -5
"It just takes some of us a few centuries..."
He laughed sharply, nervously.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 21:48:25 GMT -5
Krolock's own strained laughter joined with Herbert.
"Well...I..."
He gestured toward the mohagony box.
"Remember that surprise I once promised you?"
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 21:53:31 GMT -5
"Oh..."
He smiled weakly, looking somewhat tired and, while certainly not actually [i[]d[/i], far more weighted down and far less excitable and childish than he once might have.
"I'd forgotten."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 22:22:16 GMT -5
Krolock retrieved it from the table he'd placed it on, holding it out to Herbert.
"I've actually been wanting to give you this for much longer than that...I was waiting for the right time to do so."
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Aug 1, 2009 22:33:34 GMT -5
Herbert prised open the box along the edges, and then gasped.
"Vati, you didn't..."
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