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Post by Graf von Krolock on Sept 14, 2015 16:48:27 GMT -5
It was a moment before the door creaked open, and Johannes loomed dimly within. His mouth was a little ajar.
"...Teja?"
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Post by Teja on Sept 14, 2015 16:52:57 GMT -5
Her hand crept immediately to her throat. She looked timid.
"I thought it would be best to do this in person," she began.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Sept 14, 2015 16:56:44 GMT -5
"...come in- come in, please-"
He waved a hand distractedly for her to follow as he turned around in the darkness beyond the door. He was wearing dusty black today, which had the result of showing little of him from behind save the long cobwebby hair.
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Post by Teja on Sept 14, 2015 16:58:57 GMT -5
She stepped inside and let the door shut behind her, then paused, blinking, trying to be able to see in the dark. She crept after him, not wanting to go into the rest of the house; she had intended to say her piece and leave, to prevent it from being dragged out, but she couldn't find her voice now.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Sept 14, 2015 17:08:55 GMT -5
"You have caught me at a disadvantage, I'm afraid," he said awkwardly, gesturing at his partially open dressing gown with a slight grimace. "I wasn't expecting company-"
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Post by Teja on Sept 14, 2015 17:12:04 GMT -5
"I thought- Herbert wrung a promise from me to come back today. I thought he'd have told you that."
She remembered other things Herbert had said the night before.
This time Johannes was going up the stairs, and she was mildly anxious about that, though she supposed he needed to finish dressing and would change in a room, then join her in the hallway, and they would return downstairs, and...
She bit her lip, thinking still on Herbert.
"...were you very hard on him?" she asked gently.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Sept 14, 2015 17:13:10 GMT -5
"He's fine," Krolock said abruptly. "He's out."
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Post by Teja on Sept 14, 2015 17:18:03 GMT -5
"He was afraid you'd be angry at him."
She remembered more bits and pieces of their conversation, and hesitantly reached out and touched Johannes on the hand.
"...and I was afraid you were angry at me."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Sept 14, 2015 17:21:43 GMT -5
He moved his hand away from her slowly, but looked up at her all the same.
"...merely overwrought," he said softly. "Forgive me."
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Post by Teja on Sept 14, 2015 17:43:31 GMT -5
She looked back at him so long she grew embarrassed, and turned her face away very quickly. This wasn't going as she planned.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Sept 14, 2015 17:44:16 GMT -5
He cleared his throat.
"Never mind. Come into my study. We can discuss things there."
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Post by Teja on Sept 14, 2015 17:45:39 GMT -5
"I- yes, all right," she said, with some reluctance. She followed after him, watching his robe billow behind him. She was considering re-buttoning her cardigan; it was chilly in here, too. Perhaps he'd have a fire in his study.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Sept 14, 2015 17:51:24 GMT -5
There was a thin beam of sunlight cutting through the dusty air;. Johannes stood to the side of the drapery, briefly, harshly illuminated before tugging it shut.
"I apologize, but I am not yet dressed. I cannot withstand it so focused as this with no native soil beneath me."
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Post by Teja on Sept 14, 2015 17:58:19 GMT -5
"I understand," she said primly, looking around to see if there were any places to sit. There was a candelabra illuminating the desk he had undoubtedly been sitting at. She drifted towards it.
"What have you been reading?"
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Sept 14, 2015 18:00:14 GMT -5
"The newspaper," he said dryly, and then laughed.
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