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Post by Teja on May 22, 2014 13:25:03 GMT -5
She looked extremely crabby at this, which did not make her look any prettier.
"Regardless of whether or not it's true, it's very rude to say so."
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on May 22, 2014 13:32:02 GMT -5
"It's a compliment, dear. You are very pretty."
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Post by Teja on May 22, 2014 13:53:39 GMT -5
"You ought not to make personal remarks," she said, already feeling like she wished she'd never said anything at all; this was exhausting. "Nevermind it - I think I'll go. Thank you for the tea and for- your company," she said as she stood up very politely but determinedly heading towards the door, feeling if she didn't stride she might stop and not leave and look foolish.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on May 22, 2014 14:24:35 GMT -5
"Herbert," Johannes was saying irritably as he descended the stairs, "you failed to inform me we had company."
Herbert made an indignant noise and leapt up toward his father.
"Vati, I thought you liked-"
Johannes saw Teja and froze except to hold up a gloveless hand to silence his son, who folded his hands and lowered his head.
"I- pardon me, I was not speaking of you, my dear."
He continued to glance back at her as he approached the door and opened it onto a small group of children crowding the gate around the porch.
The sound of childish chattering that had been coming from the porch abruptly silenced.
"Have you no parents to stop your prying? Shoo!"
He waved a hand and they scattered, yelping. Johannes shut the door grimly; from the other side of the door came a child's voice excitedly saying "Did you see his hands?"
Johannes idly pulled on a pair of gloves left on the shelf over the coat rack and stepped out of the anteroom.
"These little hooligans will not be repelled," he sighed. "Herbert, why didn't you tell them to leave?" "I didn't hear them," Herbert protested. "Honestly, Vati- I was busy-"
He jerked his head significantly at Teja, whom Johannes glanced at again and seemed to take a moment to respond to.
"Ah," he said smoothly. "My apologies, child. You have caught us in a somewhat undignified and- ah- domestic time."
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Post by Teja on May 22, 2014 14:52:44 GMT -5
Teja was too relieved the count had come downstairs to feel anxious now, but she did not feel that she was entirely welcome - though at the same time, she did not get the impression she was about to be banished, either. Welcome or no, she knew Johannes would accept her being there. He was too unfailingly polite.
She couldn't deny him the same courtesy.
"If it's not a good time, I can..."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on May 22, 2014 14:55:31 GMT -5
"It's no trouble," he reassured her. "What brings you here?"
Herbert started to answer. Johannes preemptively silenced him.
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Post by Teja on May 22, 2014 14:58:49 GMT -5
She glanced aside at Herbert, shyly avoiding his father's eyes. It was a little uncomfortable, telling this to him in front of Herbert. She couldn't understand why that was, as she'd just told him. But she felt constrained by his presence.
"I... I only... It's just silly; I wanted to talk, Loki's run off, it's nothing-"
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Post by Graf von Krolock on May 22, 2014 15:06:10 GMT -5
"Run off? Come, come. We may discuss this over-" "Tea," Herbert interjected.
Johannes gave him a please-shut-up smile.
"...yes. Herbert, do you mind?"
Herbert frowned as the gears turned in his head. Then he scowled.
"I poured the tea-" "Herbert. Please ."
Herbert sullenly began tromping toward the stairs, glancing back at them while Johannes lead Teja back to the couch.
"My apologies, child."
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Post by Teja on May 22, 2014 15:22:37 GMT -5
She looked unbelievably guilty. "He's not too upset, is he? It's just- I don't really know your son very well. I'd hoped to speak to you-"
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Post by Graf von Krolock on May 22, 2014 15:25:29 GMT -5
"Me?"
He chuckled.
"Herbert may be overwhelming, I know, but I am most certainly too much the opposite."
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Post by Teja on May 22, 2014 15:27:01 GMT -5
"Underwhelming is the last word I'd use. And you're rather.... more polite," she said, blushing.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on May 22, 2014 15:30:30 GMT -5
"He has not much of what one calls a filter," Krolock conceded grimly.
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Post by Teja on May 22, 2014 15:32:47 GMT -5
"I don't warm to people quickly," she confessed. "It's nothing to do with Herbert, I would just... prefer to talk to the person I plan to talk to, and not have to deal with newcomers."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on May 22, 2014 15:35:17 GMT -5
He nodded.
"Loki ran off?"
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Post by Teja on May 22, 2014 15:38:45 GMT -5
"He left a note," she supplied unhappily. "He said it's nothing to do with Fandral, and, yesterday. But I'm-"
She made a faintly frustrated, desperately unhappy sound, shaking her head.
"Last night we made up, and now I've got a note saying he's going to be away for a few days, completely nonspecific-"
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