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[If there's one thing Adstringendum is good at, it's yanking people around. Where Horst had been laughing and giddy the night before, he's...well, not now.]

Mina was sent home. I'm sure those of you who knew here are aware, but....

[But he personally checked everywhere she could possibly have gone. Just in case. Hope springs eternal, they say.

As he shuts off the feed, there's the faint sound of something German-sounding. Or maybe it was just static.]

[A few hours later: Private Video to Raven]

Are you awake?

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You know where to find me.

[And off goes the feed.]

[Al's never liked the church. Too many bad memories, too many deaths. His eyes are drawn to the altar momentarily, but Horst wins out.

Silently, a little fussily, Al unfolds the fuzzy blanket he's carrying and pulls it around Horst's shoulders. It's more for comfort than warmth -- but it's red, and incredibly soft.]

I pull this out for the bad days.

[A tiny, weary smile, but he tugs Horst towards the pews to find a seat.]

I can have some ready when you come over.

[A flick of her wrist and the huge wardrobe is silently moved in front of the window, masking it completely.]

[She can't help but blush at his touch. And then she starts chuckling softly because well, it tickles...] You too. Have you fed or is it just the booze?

Oh. And what does he thank me for?

I... saw Miss Mina left and I knew... [He'd be upset.] So I stayed up. [She's quick to move close to him and climb in his lap to hug him.]

Expect me right after sundown.

I fed. [Although from his tone it's clear he doesn't remember when. It leads him to try to remember how much he's had to drink, but he lost count around the third bottle of whiskey. Good thing he's already dead or he'd have just killed himself with alcohol poisoning.

He rolls them over so she's on top of him, and he absently strokes her hair.]

He's glad you let me stay here I think. And tomorrow, I'll stay with him....

[Horst comes home, hair even messier than usual, and with his clothes smelling of booze.]

What are we moving?

I'll leave the door opened.

It gets a lot of use, then?

[That was supposed to be a joke. It doesn't come out that way. He lays his head on Al's shoulder when they're seated and just closes his eyes for a moment.]

Ah. [She smirks slightly.] So he's not the jealous and possessive type then? Good to know. [She starts tracing circles on his chest with the tip of her fingers, the usual comforting gesture she uses with him.] It feels something has changed between you two since the last event. You're closer somehow...

[Horst gathers her up and hugs her, careful not to squeeze too hard.]

Don't let me ruin your beauty sleep.

[He exhales softly and rests his chin atop her head] I won't do anything stupid again. I promise.

You're drunk.

[His sleeves are rolled up. He's sock-footed and pushing a desk, too.]

I don't want you touching my things.

I'm tipsy, and you asked me to help. I'm a vampire, I can handle my liquor even better than when I was in college.

[He moves over and grabs the desk, lifting it as easily as if it were made of cardboard]

Where?

More than I'd like it to.

[Al slides an arm around his shoulders, under the blanket, and strokes his hair. It's slow, repetitive and hopefully comforting.]

.. to the corner.

[Johannes stands back, swiping his sleeve across his forehead.]

You need to be less willing to help people.

You aren't ruining anything. But I didn't want you to have to be alone. [She rests her head against his chest. It was a pure effort to stay up at this point but she was going to.]

I can't really do anything but stay by you when you're sad, so I'm doing just that.

Oh, rumors of my services precede me. That's kind of them.

[He sets it in the corner as Johannes asked, and turns back to him.]

[He jerks at that; normally it'd be a joke, but after that week?]

I don't--

What do you mean?

More along the lines of why I can't figure out why you came back to help me.

[He's not complaining. Okay, well, he is complaining, but just because Johannes always complains. He starts pushing at another table, trying to slide it perpendicular to the first.]

[He laughs softly]

It only took seven months, but you're finally letting me in your home routinely. We've made progress.

Guess I'm just... going soft.

That's not true. You do much more, Alice.

[He cradles her, still so that if she falls asleep he won't wake her.]

Help me make cookies tomorrow?

We could always fix that. [No conversation is complete without innuendo.]

Why mess with the dynamic we've spent twenty years forming?

[He moves this table, too.]

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