|
Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 21:44:03 GMT -5
Herbert, if possible, became whiter, and he pressed himself back into the doorway at his father's approach. Without a word or a sound he darted past him in the hall, turning around a short distance away, rubbing his hand fretfully over his face, wiping at his mouth, and then his hair. It was such a compulsive and involved series of gestures it looked like the prelude to a fit, and then Herbert said, as lucidly as he'd ever been alive or dead, "I just wanted to be part of the world. I would have wanted anyone who came from outside. But now that I'm out here I don't feel - I don't go mad like that over silly boys."
Now his eyes really did drip.
"And you want to take that away from me-"
|
|
|
Post by Graf von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 21:57:50 GMT -5
"I don't want to," Johannes sighed. "Herbert, no one wants your happiness as I do-"
|
|
|
Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 21:58:44 GMT -5
"You don't want me to be happy!" Herbert's voice rose into another wail. "You want me to be - quiet! And grateful! And devoted, but never happy-"
|
|
|
Post by Graf von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 22:32:52 GMT -5
"Are you not happy here?" Johannes demanded in utter bewilderment. "Have I not provided for you? Did I not come when you asked?"
|
|
|
Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 22:35:51 GMT -5
"How would you know what happiness is? You're never happy and you don't want to be!"
|
|
|
Post by Graf von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 22:40:57 GMT -5
"I was happy once," he said hollowly, "and I will be again! It's going to happen- I only have to look elsewhere-"
|
|
|
Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 22:41:56 GMT -5
"Not if you drive off the next girl the way you did the last one - and Sarah too!" Herbert found himself grinding his teeth. It was a very unbecoming habit in a vampire.
|
|
|
Post by Graf von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 22:45:28 GMT -5
"Then stay with me," Johannes said, holding his hand out toward his son. "Guide me. Help me. Let us be a family again..."
|
|
|
Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jun 29, 2017 22:50:26 GMT -5
"But you have to stay here, you can't - I won't go back home..."
He felt a sudden sharp pain that felt like stepping backwards onto cut glass, and then maybe falling backwards, too, but never hitting the ground, waiting for the collision.
"Can't I just visit?"
|
|
|
Post by Graf von Krolock on Jun 30, 2017 11:24:39 GMT -5
"Often, I hope."
Johannes clearly intended this to be comforting, but he fell far short of the mark.
"Come here- what were we going to do again? Yes, yes- come here, my boy..."
|
|
|
Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jun 30, 2017 11:34:07 GMT -5
Reluctantly he did.
|
|
|
Post by Graf von Krolock on Jun 30, 2017 11:38:12 GMT -5
Johannes put his hands on Herbert's cheeks and smiled up at him.
"Forgive me my impulsiveness, my boy. I hope you realize that I am proud of you, yes? You have been so brave."
|
|
|
Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jun 30, 2017 11:43:08 GMT -5
"Vati," he said, in a bit of a whine - he knew it was a whine, and he tried to help it, but he couldn't.
|
|
|
Post by Graf von Krolock on Jun 30, 2017 11:44:04 GMT -5
"Yes?"
|
|
|
Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jun 30, 2017 11:45:08 GMT -5
"Stop that, I'm not - I'm not a dog, you know."
He uncomfortable pushed his father's hands off of him.
|
|