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Post by Graf von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 18:03:04 GMT -5
Johannes smiled.
"Better?"
He made room for Herbert beside him.
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 18:12:10 GMT -5
He joined his father with hidden reluctance.
"I'm sorry I made you leave home for this place," he said, hanging his head. "I didn't think about it. I was just being a baby."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 18:17:43 GMT -5
"No, no," Johannes said. "The fault was mine, truly."
He tucked a swathe of Herbert's hair behind his ear and kissed his temple.
"I should have never allowed such difference between us."
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 18:24:48 GMT -5
His stomach dropped. "-Difference?"
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 19:13:37 GMT -5
"Such petty differences. My boy, you deserve the world," Johannes said, smiling as he put his hands on either side of Herbert's face.
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 19:17:27 GMT -5
Herbert felt a little claustrophobic and pushed his father's hands away, getting abruptly to his feet and pacing the room before taking a chair again, this time not beside his father.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 19:23:07 GMT -5
"I think I may stay after all," Johannes said. "I gave the matter a great deal of thought while you were away. Not in New York, surely. Perhaps across the river. A stone's throw away, as they say. Might that make your restless wings rather less clipped?"
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 19:25:58 GMT -5
"No," he croaked. "I don't even know what that means, for a start."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 19:31:20 GMT -5
"You know I can't very well just leave you here," he said, standing and crossing to where Herbert stood.
He put his hands on his shoulders and smiled warmly.
"And perhaps you are right. Perhaps I have not given this new world its due. A little, ah- petty vanity was the term, I believe?- might be precisely what I need, yes?"
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 19:34:09 GMT -5
He hadn't called his father petty or vain. At least he thought he hadn't. Maybe his father had called him that and was trying to soften the blow. He didn't remember anymore.
"Well, you need patience," he said a little warily. "I suppose I got that one from you."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 19:54:02 GMT -5
Johannes laughed and patted his cheek.
"Well? How do I look?"
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 19:55:55 GMT -5
"Sit down, father, let me trim your hair for you and you will look stunning,' said Herbert, exhausted of most of his characteristic exhuberance, but laying his hand on his father's shoulder with a little push to have him go sit down and swiveling away to go get the grooming scissors from the bathroom.
If nothing else, he could definitely, objectively say he needed the time to clear his head.
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 20:27:19 GMT -5
"Oh, Herbert, don't be ridiculous. You're still recovering from your fit."
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Post by Herbert von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 20:28:26 GMT -5
"Oh, I can see straight, don't worry," he said with a little affected laugh. "That's the only straight thing about me."
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Post by Graf von Krolock on Jul 2, 2017 20:43:10 GMT -5
"Herbert, it will fill in on its own. You must be patient, my boy. Come back, please."
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