Henri grinned at the idea of this poor hopeless young vampire being thrown back through the glass doors of Liefde Towers by his Clan leader and had to admit it was an amusing visual. He could see it happening; he had heard many things about Alfarinn through the years and none of them had led him to believe that the Elder was in any way a pushover.
He saw an expression of peace cross over Rowan's features as his friend rested his head on Cris's shoulder. It was sweet; Henri wondered if Cris knew just how big a change this was in Rowan, yet it suited him.
"Of course, I am at your disposal," he said out loud to Cris's request that he help out Security while there. "I came here with no other goal in mind."
Cris's voice entered his head again and Henri glanced at Rowan. [Does he? Then we shall make sure that belief is not misplaced. He has many protectors who would be willing to help him, but he never asks for their assistance. He can be a stubborn man.]
Henri was well aware that the statement could apply to both of the men sitting at the table with him but for now Rowan was the subject of that observation. It was very true; Rowan had had a few enemies when younger but over time his natural good humor had won him far more friends than enemies, and even some of those in the latter category had found themselves victim of said charm. Henri might not have believed it if he hadn't seen it several times, but it was not unheard of for Rowan to convert someone hostile toward him and make them see things in a different light, even without using his gifts.
Henri couldn't help but smile at Cris's next words. "Ah. L'amour. I will make sure to make a very thorough study of Nachton."
He looked at Rowan again. "Before I do any such thing, however, you will drink and you will drink well. I will not have you run yourself dry when I am here and perfectly available."
Henri would brook no refusal. He had promised Christian that he would see Rowan fed before he left the apartment, and he wouldn't have gone back on his word at any rate.
Just Like Home (private)
Henri was up and about before Christian or Rowan were; that was to be expected. They had looked like hell. Well, Rowan had - although Henri was giving Christian the benefit of the doubt and assuming he normally looked a bit healthier. Henri had slept a lot on the plane though, and hadn't been terribly tired so before the sun rose he'd managed to make a short shopping trip and return to the apartment without trouble.
He made a short, quiet call to Renee from the privacy of the small guest room to reassure her he'd landed safely and that Rowan was currently all right. Then he went out to the kitchen, put on the apron he'd brought with him, and located all the supplies he would need. The kitchen was well-stocked; obviously Christian did a bit of cooking himself. It sure wasn't Rowan.
Everything was neat as a pin, which pleased Henri. Of course they couldn't be inconvenienced by food borne illnesses but the majority of the Earth's population could so he was very meticulous in his own kitchen and took great care with this one, too.
Security might be his profession; one might even narrow that down a bit to assassination, or information-gathering, but baking was his first love. He always joked that it was a good thing for him he was turned before he became too fat. As he mixed ingredients, though, he also thought. He thought about the man who was trying to kill his only child. His brother, his very long-time friend.
He was glad he'd come. He didn't think anyone here was incompetent; Chief Bern wouldn't put up with that. But if anything happened to Rowan and he'd been stubbornly sitting in Paris he wouldn't have forgiven himself.
There was little he could do for now, but perhaps paternal instinct made him want to do something for Rowan, and for Christian. So he turned his thoughts back to several centuries ago and found his hands unconsciously kneading dough into an old favorite of Rowan's. Comfort food, that was the term for it. It needed coffee, but he wasn't entirely sure when either of the two men in the upstairs room would be awake.
So he kneaded and he thought, and pretty soon he'd come up with a fairly impressive array of things to put into the oven and not very many practical solutions to what was ailing Rowan - except for one, and that would require getting blood on his hands. Henri was fine with that.
Henri
12 years ago
Christian Bern
12 years ago
Cris sighed happily, done with both his coffee and his breakfast. He had Rowan's hand in his, extra help to watch Rowan and the potential for a very good day following the doctor's orders.
Speaking of the doctor, he raised his eyebrows at Rowan's statement that he tried to treat all his patients with attentiveness and care. [Just not the extra special care...] His mental sending dropped off into the unspoken question. Cris knew the answer but he couldn't help teasing Rowan about what they had been doing last night and his lover's promise that he did not use that form of alternative medicine on other patients.
Wrapping an arm around Rowan, he squeezed his partner tight. Cris smiled across the table at Henri and expressed his thanks for the help. "Thank you. It is very much appreciated.â€
Henri seemed amused by their relationship but at least he also seemed pleased by it. Nothing had been said but Cris was nosy and talented. When it came to how Rowan's Creator felt about his relationship with his son, you can bet that he was going to at peek with his empathy. It lifted the last bit of nerveousness, that he had not realized he had felt, to know that Henri was enjoying seeing them together. In fact, he seemed quite pleased and perhaps even almost smug. It was in the manner of an indulgent father who had years worth of experience with the very situation his son, the one who claimed he would never be in this situation, now found himself in. Rowan had mentioned to him that Henri and his wife had tried to get him to settle down for years. It must be fun to see the rebellious redhead finding out that there was something to this whole love thing after all.
Cris felt blessed to be a part of Rowan's whole change of mind.
He tried to keep a similarly smug expression off his face when Henri told Rowan that he would drink from him before Henri left for the evening. Instead, Cris gave his partner another squeeze and then moved away. "That seems like an excellent idea.â€
Standing, he kissed Rowan gently on the top of his head and then picked up the plates they had used for breakfast. Stacking them together, he took them and the uneaten pastries back into the kitchen. "Thank you for the wonderful food, Henri. Do you mind if I share some of them?†He did not want them to go to waste and there were a few more left than they could eat while they were still fresh.
For now though he would start on the dishes. He could play pastry fairy later.
((OOC: Permission granted to go all empath on Henri ))
Speaking of the doctor, he raised his eyebrows at Rowan's statement that he tried to treat all his patients with attentiveness and care. [Just not the extra special care...] His mental sending dropped off into the unspoken question. Cris knew the answer but he couldn't help teasing Rowan about what they had been doing last night and his lover's promise that he did not use that form of alternative medicine on other patients.
Wrapping an arm around Rowan, he squeezed his partner tight. Cris smiled across the table at Henri and expressed his thanks for the help. "Thank you. It is very much appreciated.â€
Henri seemed amused by their relationship but at least he also seemed pleased by it. Nothing had been said but Cris was nosy and talented. When it came to how Rowan's Creator felt about his relationship with his son, you can bet that he was going to at peek with his empathy. It lifted the last bit of nerveousness, that he had not realized he had felt, to know that Henri was enjoying seeing them together. In fact, he seemed quite pleased and perhaps even almost smug. It was in the manner of an indulgent father who had years worth of experience with the very situation his son, the one who claimed he would never be in this situation, now found himself in. Rowan had mentioned to him that Henri and his wife had tried to get him to settle down for years. It must be fun to see the rebellious redhead finding out that there was something to this whole love thing after all.
Cris felt blessed to be a part of Rowan's whole change of mind.
He tried to keep a similarly smug expression off his face when Henri told Rowan that he would drink from him before Henri left for the evening. Instead, Cris gave his partner another squeeze and then moved away. "That seems like an excellent idea.â€
Standing, he kissed Rowan gently on the top of his head and then picked up the plates they had used for breakfast. Stacking them together, he took them and the uneaten pastries back into the kitchen. "Thank you for the wonderful food, Henri. Do you mind if I share some of them?†He did not want them to go to waste and there were a few more left than they could eat while they were still fresh.
For now though he would start on the dishes. He could play pastry fairy later.
((OOC: Permission granted to go all empath on Henri ))
Rowan Murphy
12 years ago
Rowan smiled at the sending from Cris, a little reminder about who received the most of his attention and 'special care.' Snuggling closer to his partner he sent a soft mental laugh to Cris. [Speaking of extra special care, I think you might need some more of that particular medication when Henri goes out. Doctor's orders.]
Rowan knew better than to try to stop Henri from leaving. He didn't want to be out in Nachton right now, and Henri would be perfectly safe. He was more than capable of touring a new city, or at least new in the last few decades. He'd been to Nachton before but Rowan didn't know when. Just that it had been some time now. And in truth he did want time alone with Cris. Rowan and Henri, and later Renee, had spent so much time together in the course of their lives that there was nothing unusual about Henri's little jaunt around the city. Rowan had done the same for Henri and his wife. Private time was important.
"I'm glad you're here," Rowan added to Cris's thanks. He found he couldn't say it enough. He had always been the independent type but Henri was the first thing in this world he remembered, and being with his Creator no matter where they were brought a sense of security and peace that Rowan hadn't realized he missed. Needed it, no... he was a big vampire. But he wouldn't lie, he liked a dose of home comfort the same as the next person. It couldn't get any better - this was his home now and he adored living with Cris, but putting Henri into this space made it a very nice feeling.
He made a half-scowl at Henri's insistence that he drink followed by Cris's added support. Rowan nodded in acquiescence. He would have made the same demand. He turned to his partner, though, murmuring, "Maybe you should call upon Ume. Or Aishe."
Cris had to be thirsty now too; probably not ravenous thanks to the many bags of blood and sips from friends, but his body was also still healing from wounds far worse than Rowan's and he had yet to feed himself this morning.
As Cris moved away, gathering up plates, Rowan stood and followed with empty mugs. He wasn't the neatest person in the world when left to his own devices but he wasn't a slob either and living with Cris, who liked things meticulous, made Rowan step up his game.
Rowan knew better than to try to stop Henri from leaving. He didn't want to be out in Nachton right now, and Henri would be perfectly safe. He was more than capable of touring a new city, or at least new in the last few decades. He'd been to Nachton before but Rowan didn't know when. Just that it had been some time now. And in truth he did want time alone with Cris. Rowan and Henri, and later Renee, had spent so much time together in the course of their lives that there was nothing unusual about Henri's little jaunt around the city. Rowan had done the same for Henri and his wife. Private time was important.
"I'm glad you're here," Rowan added to Cris's thanks. He found he couldn't say it enough. He had always been the independent type but Henri was the first thing in this world he remembered, and being with his Creator no matter where they were brought a sense of security and peace that Rowan hadn't realized he missed. Needed it, no... he was a big vampire. But he wouldn't lie, he liked a dose of home comfort the same as the next person. It couldn't get any better - this was his home now and he adored living with Cris, but putting Henri into this space made it a very nice feeling.
He made a half-scowl at Henri's insistence that he drink followed by Cris's added support. Rowan nodded in acquiescence. He would have made the same demand. He turned to his partner, though, murmuring, "Maybe you should call upon Ume. Or Aishe."
Cris had to be thirsty now too; probably not ravenous thanks to the many bags of blood and sips from friends, but his body was also still healing from wounds far worse than Rowan's and he had yet to feed himself this morning.
As Cris moved away, gathering up plates, Rowan stood and followed with empty mugs. He wasn't the neatest person in the world when left to his own devices but he wasn't a slob either and living with Cris, who liked things meticulous, made Rowan step up his game.
Henri
12 years ago
Henri smiled back at Christian and nodded. "It's my pleasure."
And he meant it. It made him happy to be of help to Rowan, and by extension to Cris. Rowan looked like he might have considered arguing about feeding from Henri for a half second, but he nodded his agreement as Henri knew he would. There weren't many people who could flat out tell Rowan what to do and get away with it, but Henri was one of them. He had spent far too long with Rowan to not have developed some kind of immunity to all that charm, both natural and gifted, and Rowan knew it. Henri had the feeling Cris was another one who Rowan wouldn't argue with either, for different reasons.
Glancing at the left over delicacies, Henri nodded at Cris again. "Of course, share away. If they meet with enthusiasm I'll see what else I might be able to come up with."
His repertoire of pastries, breads, cakes, and cookies was vast. Living in France had not kept him from learning baking techniques from all over the world. And while he didn't leave his home country often, he did travel on occasion.
As Cris, and then Rowan, moved to wash the dishes Henri intercepted them at the sink. "Please," he said, waving them away, "Go relax. Sit down. Enjoy having someone around to do this for you while it lasts."
He smiled pleasantly at them both. In due course, all the dishes and bowls and cups were clean. Everything they could take care of was taken care of, and Henri felt better about leaving for a few hours with both vampires looking as relaxed as they could be. Rowan fed as promised, and Henri felt all right about making his way into the city to observe the lay of the land. Glancing over his shoulder at Rowan and his partner, Henri chuckled to himself. Maybe he'd make them a few very long hours.
((ooc: All out))
And he meant it. It made him happy to be of help to Rowan, and by extension to Cris. Rowan looked like he might have considered arguing about feeding from Henri for a half second, but he nodded his agreement as Henri knew he would. There weren't many people who could flat out tell Rowan what to do and get away with it, but Henri was one of them. He had spent far too long with Rowan to not have developed some kind of immunity to all that charm, both natural and gifted, and Rowan knew it. Henri had the feeling Cris was another one who Rowan wouldn't argue with either, for different reasons.
Glancing at the left over delicacies, Henri nodded at Cris again. "Of course, share away. If they meet with enthusiasm I'll see what else I might be able to come up with."
His repertoire of pastries, breads, cakes, and cookies was vast. Living in France had not kept him from learning baking techniques from all over the world. And while he didn't leave his home country often, he did travel on occasion.
As Cris, and then Rowan, moved to wash the dishes Henri intercepted them at the sink. "Please," he said, waving them away, "Go relax. Sit down. Enjoy having someone around to do this for you while it lasts."
He smiled pleasantly at them both. In due course, all the dishes and bowls and cups were clean. Everything they could take care of was taken care of, and Henri felt better about leaving for a few hours with both vampires looking as relaxed as they could be. Rowan fed as promised, and Henri felt all right about making his way into the city to observe the lay of the land. Glancing over his shoulder at Rowan and his partner, Henri chuckled to himself. Maybe he'd make them a few very long hours.
((ooc: All out))