gʀɑɦɑɱ ɦɑʆɗɑʀ, ɛรquiʀɛ (businesslike) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-11-24 09:51:00 |
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Madison was actually quite a lively city, especially this time of year - art, music, marathons, nature walks, fall festivals - and it was also cold. Much different than Orange County, where the warmth still touched everything, all that balmy breeze and beach weather. It was starting to get slightly more autumn-esque in their home, but nothing like here, where temperatures plummeted to the low 30s (Fahrenheit) and layers were required for most. The chill didn’t prevent outdoor activities, however, being that most citizens were used to the frigidness of this month - the thing about it was that the sun still shone, which meant that Jonathan expected to pull clouds in here and there if necessary (no way would they actually stay with his parents - his mother offered, it wasn’t happening). However, during this trip, he was also going to attempt to get away with sleeping during the day like usual and arising when the sun set so potentially crisping and having to change the weather wouldn’t be an issue. He’d told his mother that Vlad kept a nocturnal schedule because of the nature of his work - going on Romanian time and everything - and Jonathan did the same, since the lawsuit he was involved in now dealt with a time change as well, and clients in England. It wasn’t a lie, not really, just a finely-crafted exaggeration of the truth so he wouldn’t have to be a zombie while visiting. For now, he’d keep it simple. The hotel was cushy, and located in downtown Madison near all the historical sites - seemed pointless to stay in a Bed and Breakfast when they’d sleep through the Breakfast so it was a place that offered many amenities and best yet, privacy. When the sun set, the day after their initial arrival, he couldn’t delay the inevitable and they’d have to get into the rental car and make the drive to his parents Victorian (how ironic) country farmhouse. It would actually be a very nice drive. Madison was pleasant, and he’d...missed this place. To a degree. Jonathan closed the laptop he’d been checking his work email on, and rummaged for the car keys on the bedside table. “Ready? I guess the good thing about it is that they go to bed around 9:00 so we won’t have to be there all night,” he grinned. Thanksgiving would be a different story - no doubt his mother would be cooking forever and looking forward to spending the whole day with them. It was very beautiful, in a quaint way. Vlad found himself liking it, and, while he had no problems now with the sun (and seemed to settle into his original dream self’s ability to be alert during the day), he was glad that Jonathan had gotten them out of day time visits. The way the sun reflected off the snow was hard on vampire eyes. He took the aforementioned eyes away from the window, where’d been watching the snow fall and the people pass on the streets, turning to settle his gaze on Jonathan. It was possible that his lips even turned up into something of a smile. It was hard to not be happy in such situations. Even for Dracula. “As ready, I think, as I am going to be,” was the reply. Vlad found himself uncharacteristically and vaguely worried. As a general rule, he never cared what people thought of him, but he wanted to make a good impression. For Jonathan’s sake. It was always hard to bring someone home, particularly when that someone was a man. He walked across the room to get their coats - pausing to press a kiss to Jonathan’s hair. Hellfire, Jonathan wished that he could actually be alert during the day without feeling the need to faceplant into the nearest soft surface - but he was still quite young in terms of vampirism, still getting used to it, and he expected that it would take awhile longer for that to happen. As for the sun, he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to withstand the rays - each universe was different, and in the one where he’d been turned, the sun was literally a killer. He supposed he’d just have to wait and see. He’d also fed recently, before they left - the last thing he wanted was to be hungry and distracted with the telltale heartbeats of his own parents. Slipping into his coat, he leaned in and returned the kiss - but on the corner of Vlad’s mouth instead, nosing briefly like a big ol’ cat would. “It’ll be good,” he said, and headed for the door. “I’ll give you the personalized tour on the way - you know, point out my high school, the parking lot where I smoked my first cigarette, the lake where I ripped my pants while ice skating on my first date, all those glorious landmarks.” Vlad snorted, a soft scoff as he nuzzled Jonathan in turn. “I am so glad to hear that you have always been awkward. Let us hope your mother chooses to spare your embarrassment.” He put on his own coat and wrapped a scarf around his neck, then around Jonathan’s, making sure to tuck it in. The dead didn’t feel the chill like the living, but it was nice to have something warm to nestle into to. “Ah - before I forget.” Which was impossible. Vlad never forgot anything. He went to his carry on bag, rummaging through it for a moment. He outstretched his hand to Jonathan to reveal two rings in his palm - titanium, because silver was out of the question and gold seemed too garish for anything but an accent. “I recall you enjoying when I am spontaneous. And if we are to spend eternity together, and we are quasi-engaged, it seems appropriate. You do not need to wear it in front of your parents.” Well, that was a lot. And stumped even a man of great intellect, hence why he responded with a very brilliant, “What?” Jonathan then dropped the keys he was holding, suddenly afflicted with a case of butterfingers, having watched Vlad go back to get...something. Rings. A ring. That was a ring - two rings, one was supposed to go on his own finger? He had those in his carry-on luggage the whole time? Sneaky. Of course he was awkward now too, when being given an official engagement token - it was a personality quirk of his, a rite of passage. Vampirism didn’t suddenly turn Meeeeeeester Haaaarkeeer into some kind of smooth operator. “I am, I do, I enjoy that...quite a bit,” he fumbled, picking up the keys and stuffing them into his coat pocket. His eyes were shining, an electric jade, when he went to take one of the rings - it fit perfectly, naturally, on the correct finger on his left hand. “Your moments of romance...” Voice saturated with love, he felt it best to say the words anyway, when he tossed his arms around Vlad and kissed him. “Te iubesc. I’ll wear it in front of my parents, in front of everyone.” Titanium was perfect too - it would last a very long time. Not as long as he would love Vlad for, but it came close. Vlad was not quite so … Schmoopy. His romantic side had shown itself as much as it was going to with the gift of rings - something of an engagement but not quite. At least, an engagement with no pressing need for dates and planning. But his lips did quirk up, and he felt a deep level of self satisfaction as he returned the kisses he received. “Te iubesc.” He slipped on his own ring, enjoying the cool weight of it. They were bound together for better or worse regardless. “Now we must hurry, before we are late. I will not have your parents’ first impression of me to be a tardy one.” If Vlad ever crossed the line into schmoopy, Jonathan would probably think he’d been body-swapped. It just wasn’t him, but that was just who he was, his personality - and at any rate, Jonathan could be delightfully schmoopy enough for the both of them. A healthy amount - if there was an excess then it just got to be far too vomit-inducing to handle. Mostly he was just lovestruck. That couldn’t be helped. “No, no, we can’t have that,” he chuckled, glancing down at the ring one last time before actually leaving (and patting his pockets to make sure he had everything). “My mother especially is looking forward to it, I’m sure she’ll try to feed us no matter what time it is.” The rental car was a sleek Sedan, and Vlad would have to suck it up and let Jonathan drive since he only knew where they were going - but it would be quite scenic, and no danger of crossbow bolts shattering windows or demons falling from the sky. Sometimes he didn’t miss you at all, Orange County. “I hope Felix hasn’t destroyed Ethan’s ranch yet.” It’d be a good test run, leaving the pup there for when they went overseas - a longer amount of time if that happened, but he’d be good there. Lots of room to run around and frolic with horses. For this, Vlad wouldn’t mind Jonathan driving. It reminded him of not so long ago, when he’d somehow convinced his then brand new intern to carpool to the consulate, cryptic conversations as they learned to know one another in this life. He had never expected this to come of it. “I am certain he will be fine. Your friends, I am certain, are capable of handling it. If it is a disaster then it is likely our friend Will Graham could take him.” Vlad settled into the seat, leaning back into it, face stark white against the bundle of his black coat and dark scarf. He was keen to watch things as they passed. Another part of Jonathan to commit to memory and stow away. “He definitely could, if need be.” Jonathan reached over, using one hand to drive, to steer - the other, went to cover Vlad’s and settle there too, on the man’s thigh. Enhanced senses were helpful while operating a vehicle, as he’d come to figure out - plus, he was highly attuned to cop cars, not that he planned on speeding as opposed to enjoying the drive. “Will already has three dogs, why not another?” he asked rhetorically. True to his word, on the way to their destination he did point out the ‘important’ landmarks, relics of his (awkward) youth - things he definitely wanted to share with Vlad, since it was his first time in Madison and Jonathan’s first time back in quite some time. It didn’t take them long to get to the house, which was large and very classic - it was old, actually, over one-hundred years and had a wraparound porch, a swing there too, perfect for when the weather was warmer. Inside, his parents had done some upgrades (like turned a wood buffet into a kitchen island) but all that old-world charm was mostly intact. Up to the door, and Jonathan knocked - he was nervous, a little, mostly because his conservative parents may have had time to adjust to the idea of their son being with a man, seeing it was different. However, when his mother - he had her eyes, those green peepers - opened the door, she didn’t focus on Jonathan being accompanied by a man but rather how pale her baby looked. “Jonathan, I can’t believe you’re really here, you look so....oh my goodness, honey, did you get carsick??” Now, normally he’d move to soothe her or distract her but he couldn’t actually go into the house yet. “Can you, um...invite us in?” he asked, rubbing his forehead. “Of course, of course, come in, both of you!” How strange that he would need an invitation, silly! The tour amused Vlad. They were very different people, he and Jonathan, and he found that he enjoyed it more than he'd have thought. It was a shame he would have no such things to show Jonathan in Europe. Not really, anyway. The perks of spending much of life homeschooled. Arriving at the house, Vlad was pleased. Not that he had anticipated being displeased by the venture. He'd always appreciate older things - even before his vampirism, he'd gravitated towards a more classic esthetic. The house was charming in an old American sort of way. With the snow around, it was rather like a story book picture, and Vlad dutifully stood behind Jonathan at the door. Can you invite us in. Vlad's lips quirked up. He followed his other half through the door, into the cozy warmth full of expected smells and sounds. "He has a poor diet of cigarettes and coffee which I am trying to break him of." Nevermind that Vlad had completely broken Jonathan of any diet save for a liquid one. But Vlad smiled all the same, a smile that had been practiced over the years and - unless you knew Vlad - looked very much at home on his face. “Doesn’t he just? You really need to quit those awful things, Jonathan, they cause cancer.” His mother whacked his arm and then turned to smile - a bit shyly, she was somewhat bashful because she was meeting her son’s, uh, special friend - at the guest Jonathan brought with him. “I’m so pleased to meet you though, you must be Vlad, oh, my - such a handsome one, isn’t he? I wasn’t expecting you to look like...actually, I don’t know what I was expecting, but I’m so glad you’re here!” A Harker trait, probably, to babble when nerves struck. How cute. She’d do what she did best though, she’d offer fine hospitality. “Please, sit down. I’m Susannah, by the way, can I take your coats? Joseph will take your coats, honey, take their coats.” As soon as Jonathan had his off and not one nanosecond later, his mother tossed it at his father - olive toned and tall as a redwood, obviously that’s where the freakish height came from. As soon as he was done being the coat rack, he returned to offer a hand to Vlad to shake. “Joseph Harker. It’s nice to meet you.” The look on his face was one of a conservative man who supported and donated religiously to the Republican party and yet was trying to reconcile that with the fact that his only son was doing the same-sex thing. He was trying. She was very sweet, Susannah Harker. Vlad would know in an instant on the street that she was Jonathan's mother - and that Joseph Harker was Jonathan's father. Jonathan was a prime example of how genes could blend and mix. Vlad barely had time to adjust his sweater (after his jacket jostled it) to return the handshake. Cold, but firm, eye contact unwavering. Vlad knew how to shake hands. "Vladimir Dracul." The name flowed off his tongue, more like a spell than a statement. "But Vlad is preferred," he added, with a nod and another smile at Mrs. Harker. "It is kind of you both to invite me into your home. You will forgive me - I had meant to bring a gift, but I admit I was worried we would be late. I will make sure to remember it." After all, it was rude not to, and Romanian tradition insisted on a nicely wrapped gift or flowers. Jonathan smiled a little, as his mother clasped her hands together by her heart and looked so fond, like she might burst into tears. Conservative housewife, star member of a sewing circle she may be, but it wasn’t difficult to win her over. Be nice to her baby boy and that was good enough (and get him off the cigarettes, also a point in Vlad’s favor). “That’s so generous of you, thank you,” she said, and fussed over them a bit more until they were seated. “You came such a long way, from California - it must have been a tiring flight. But oh, I’ve been keeping up with the news, all the goings on, from here.” Shuffling on the coffee table, she pulled a basket of magazines from the shelf underneath, going through them. “We’re just so proud of Jonathan!” Of course, the magazines were all those supermarket tabloids featuring covers that teased the details of Zelda Hoffman’s love babies with her attorney, but that didn’t matter to Mrs. Harker in the slightest! Her baaaaaaby was a successful lawyer! However, Jonathan coughed into his fist. “Mom, isn’t there...whiskey or something? Drinks? Dad’s been home-brewing, right?” “He has, spends more time with his oak barrels and corn, so much corn, than anyone else these days but three months - it’s about ready, honey, isn’t it?” Meeeeeester Harrrkeeer (the elder version) nodded. “I’ll get us all some. It actually turned out well.” The strong silent type, yes. But he went to fetch them glasses and Susannah, sensing that her son wanted her to not bring out the baby photos quite yet (all in due time), focused back on the guests. “So, Vlad, Jonathan tells us you’re a diplomat of sorts?” Vlad allowed himself to be shuffled and seated, sitting near Jonathan but not too close as to scandalize Mister Harker, Sr. His lips quirked at the tabloids (he didn't enjoy them remotely, but he wouldn't rain on Susannah's parade). Let her be proud of Jonathan. There was no reason she shouldn't be. "Oh - yes," he said, seeing the conversation was going to rapidly move along. "I am a consul for Romania in Los Angeles. Like an ambassador," Vlad added, as some people had a hard time understanding what an ambassador does, let alone a consul. "Most of my work is simply approving visas and maintaining international policy. It is not so exciting as it sounds." Look at Vlad, playing humble. It wasn't a mask he often wore, but it seemed to suit the situation. "It can be something of a lonely life, as sometimes you may need to move or travel more often than not. I am happy to have found someone who does not mind it much." He glanced at Jonathan with something of a smug but fond smile, teeth glinting. Humble Vlad, now that was delightful. Jonathan grinned a bit too, the fangs stealthily bared for a moment - just for a second, before he maintained a more closed-lipped smile, a smaller version of the blinding one. And he sat pretty close to Vlad - even had a knee resting in his lap, sort of, because he had long legs, alright. When he crossed them, that’s just where everything ended up. It hopefully would not scandalize anyone too much - he’d work up to the marriage announcement, it didn’t have to be right this minute; after all, they were going to be in Madison for a few days. “No, I don’t mind - international work is rewarding, so I’m glad to have found someone in that area too,” Jonathan said. “Besides, we keep the same schedule. It comes in handy.” Well, color Mrs. Harker impressed! “Maintaining international policy, that must be hard work too, but I’m sure you’re very good at it. I never expected Jonathan to settle with....what I mean is...well, we were surprised to hear of everything but you seem well-matched, and you’ll take good care of him, won’t you, Vlad?” Ohmygodmotherreally. Vlad gave a light shrug, very demurely. Demure, humble, smiling. Honestly, who even was this guy? It was likely that he would return to his stoic, unimpressed self the moment they were back in the car. “It is not an occupation for everyone. By good fortune I have Jonathan to remind me not to feel so stressed by things. He worries, I think, too much about me to care for himself. So I do not mind doing that for him. I would certainly let nothing ill befall him.” Vlad paused, glancing at Jonathan. “That is correct wording, yes? Sometimes,” he said, back to Meeeeesus Haaaarkaaaarrr, “even after so many years of speaking English, I forget things.” Mr. Harker, Sr. would probably enjoy stoic, unimpressed Vlad. In fact, one night during the Madison vacation they could just sit and be stoically unimpressed about world affairs together while Jonathan shopped for Wisconsin-themed gifts for Zelda and others; that way he wouldn’t have to drag Vlad to stores he’d probably find uninteresting and, hey, it was good bonding. But as for Meeeeesus Haaaarkaaaarrr, she certainly appreciated the smile and the humble nature - he was such a nice man, wasn’t he? “Oh, you speak English beautifully,” she assured him. “And Jonathan is certainly good at worrying about others - in turn, I worry about him so I’m glad he has someone there for him too.” “Perfectă engleză,” he told Vlad, with an amused squint of those forest-green eyes (and only Jonathan could read the different meanings behind Vlad’s own squinty-faced looks; he was well-versed in that). That’s when the whiskey arrived and of course Susannah added, “I put together something to go with it - “ Which probably meant a whole loin of pork and a gallon of mashed potatoes, though Jonathan hoped not, “...can you get that, honey?” She turned back toward Jonathan and Vlad, “You two must be hungry! Are you? It’s just cheese and things, but I can - “ “No, mom, it’s fine. We ate at the hotel,” Jonathan jumped in. Or...ate before they came here in general, but their dietary preferences didn’t need to be discussed with his parents. True to her word, she’d prepared things to eat - but it wasn’t just cheese, it was a whole bunch of different kinds that went well with a sweeter whiskey (brie, swiss, havarti), and also dark chocolate and a fuckton of apples and pears. All showcased nicely on the tray Mr. Harker, Sr. brought in. “I think I’ve got everything, Sue, unless you want to defrost that loin of pork - “ It was said with dry humor. “No, this is lovely! Sit, darling. We’ll eat and drink and I’ll show Vlad all of Jonathan’s baby pictures and school photos!” God, just give Jonathan the whole barrel of whiskey. Please. Eventually, yes, Vlad would worry about making a good impression with Jonathan’s father, but he had learned that once you charm someone’s mother, you can’t ever do much wrong. So it was with an all too amused smile that Vlad agreed to the photo viewing. He wasn’t even going to be sorry about it, either. He moved to make room on the sofa, encroaching on Jonathan’s space. “I do not think you have all that much to be embarrassed of,” Vlad said. His hand gave Jonathan’s knee a consoling pat and Vlad smirked at him over his glass of whiskey. Which wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t really that up to Vlad’s standards, either. He politely covered up his distaste with some apple. “No, you’re right, I was an adorably awkward child,” Jonathan stated, leaning against Vlad a bit - it was comfortable, and he wouldn’t even mind the foray down Memory Lane. Much. “You’ll be enthralled and entertained, no doubt.” It might even make him laugh, genuinely - which was rare for the likes of Dracula, but if anything could coax one out of him it would probably be hilarious stories of Jonathan’s nerdy youth. And maybe later Snobcula could give Harker, Sr. whiskey-brewing tips and anecdotes. He had the time to work on it now, given he’d just retired from many years as an estate planning attorney. Had his own practice and everything - apparently, being a stuffy lawyer ran in the Harker family. And Jonathan was fond of them, he loved his parents, which was also obvious. He was glad that he got to introduce someone special to them - it hadn’t really happened often, but it seemed to be going well. So he’d endure the showcasing of horrible photos he wished his mother had burned. While simultaneously wondering how much whiskey it would take to get him drunk, that’s all. |