Keksefuzzy
Member
No sooner had the final shovel of dirt fallen over the grave than talk about 'the next husband' began. Lance stifled the sigh on his lips and nodded along, knowing his parents only had his happiness at heart. At least, what they thought would bring him happiness.
He knew his mother and father been watching the Keeler family especially closely for the last twenty years as Eric aged; he had been one of the longer-living partners, actually. 93 years old before he finally succumbed to mortality and became...well, the small pot of dust which now lay beneath the earth at Lance's feet. Next to the previous pot, and the one before that, and the one before that. The vampire ran his fingers through his short, black hair and cleared his throat to rid himself of the small amount of emotion which had gathered there.
"Don't worry, Lancelot," said Thomas, the patriarch of the family, as he read far too deeply into the cough and wrapped his cold arm around his son's shoulder. "Your replacement husband is ready to be picked up as soon as you are prepared. Your mother and I worried when the one we picked out for you went off to war because the next choice is far too young, but luckily for you he came back early!"
Thomas beamed and released his son, turning to his wife, Guinevere. "We will need to stock the pantry with food fit for a younger human, my love. The 'meal replacement shakes' this generation came up with worked well for Eric, but I doubt the new boy will want to subsist on a liquid diet."
"As soon as he gets here, I will put in an order of things he likes. Don't worry, dearest. Obtaining food is so much easier these days. It will be here within the hour." Guinevere waved her cellphone at Thomas, who scowled. He'd never really gotten used to technology, despite being present for every step of it.
Lance did his best to ignore both of them. They always acted like this was no big deal. But then again, they had been together for literal centuries and never had to experience the loss of a spouse. And ever since he started thinking about the whole arrangement like receiving a new puppy instead of a replacement for Abel, his own emotional reactions had lessened. "You can pick him up whenever. I already cleaned out Eric's room. He didn't need anything but his bed for the last six months anyway."
Thomas frowned, but nodded. "Alright. Why don't you go up and change, and I'll meet you at the car. I'll grab the dowry."
Ten minutes later, the 1965 Ford Mustang that served as the family car rumbled down the mountainside toward the city of Hilldale. Despite supernaturals being out in public now, the Hargrave vampires had chosen to stay on the same property they'd owned since 1235. The castle had long since been replaced by a series of modern-for-their-time homes, currently settling on a pair of 3-bedroom, redbrick houses with pleasant gardens and nice plumbing.
Lance spent the twenty minute drive staring out the window, remembering all the changes that had come over the landscape in his lifetime. It was unrecognizable every trip, constantly in flux. Even in the lifespan of his last partner, the city had gone from small dwellings and a handful of factories to a bustling metropolis of skyscrapers and smog.
He preferred the old version.
The car came to rest in front of an unassuming family home with a garden and a pack of dogs roaming the premises. Lance watched the dogs for a moment, hoping they would be staying with the family. One 'new puppy' was sufficient at a time. Thomas stepped out and Lance followed directly behind him, wondering what this year's model would look like. He selfishly preferred the tall, slender ones with nice chests, but after so many...he knew to just accept whatever.
Thomas knocked on the door, setting off the dogs so the whole neighborhood would know the Keelers had guests.
He knew his mother and father been watching the Keeler family especially closely for the last twenty years as Eric aged; he had been one of the longer-living partners, actually. 93 years old before he finally succumbed to mortality and became...well, the small pot of dust which now lay beneath the earth at Lance's feet. Next to the previous pot, and the one before that, and the one before that. The vampire ran his fingers through his short, black hair and cleared his throat to rid himself of the small amount of emotion which had gathered there.
"Don't worry, Lancelot," said Thomas, the patriarch of the family, as he read far too deeply into the cough and wrapped his cold arm around his son's shoulder. "Your replacement husband is ready to be picked up as soon as you are prepared. Your mother and I worried when the one we picked out for you went off to war because the next choice is far too young, but luckily for you he came back early!"
Thomas beamed and released his son, turning to his wife, Guinevere. "We will need to stock the pantry with food fit for a younger human, my love. The 'meal replacement shakes' this generation came up with worked well for Eric, but I doubt the new boy will want to subsist on a liquid diet."
"As soon as he gets here, I will put in an order of things he likes. Don't worry, dearest. Obtaining food is so much easier these days. It will be here within the hour." Guinevere waved her cellphone at Thomas, who scowled. He'd never really gotten used to technology, despite being present for every step of it.
Lance did his best to ignore both of them. They always acted like this was no big deal. But then again, they had been together for literal centuries and never had to experience the loss of a spouse. And ever since he started thinking about the whole arrangement like receiving a new puppy instead of a replacement for Abel, his own emotional reactions had lessened. "You can pick him up whenever. I already cleaned out Eric's room. He didn't need anything but his bed for the last six months anyway."
Thomas frowned, but nodded. "Alright. Why don't you go up and change, and I'll meet you at the car. I'll grab the dowry."
Ten minutes later, the 1965 Ford Mustang that served as the family car rumbled down the mountainside toward the city of Hilldale. Despite supernaturals being out in public now, the Hargrave vampires had chosen to stay on the same property they'd owned since 1235. The castle had long since been replaced by a series of modern-for-their-time homes, currently settling on a pair of 3-bedroom, redbrick houses with pleasant gardens and nice plumbing.
Lance spent the twenty minute drive staring out the window, remembering all the changes that had come over the landscape in his lifetime. It was unrecognizable every trip, constantly in flux. Even in the lifespan of his last partner, the city had gone from small dwellings and a handful of factories to a bustling metropolis of skyscrapers and smog.
He preferred the old version.
The car came to rest in front of an unassuming family home with a garden and a pack of dogs roaming the premises. Lance watched the dogs for a moment, hoping they would be staying with the family. One 'new puppy' was sufficient at a time. Thomas stepped out and Lance followed directly behind him, wondering what this year's model would look like. He selfishly preferred the tall, slender ones with nice chests, but after so many...he knew to just accept whatever.
Thomas knocked on the door, setting off the dogs so the whole neighborhood would know the Keelers had guests.
