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It was rare Alfred found himself the first one of the two to go to sleep. But after how long that night felt, he didn’t really find himself caring. The Professor had once again been picking through every text he could to determine if vampires could change shape (despite many attempts by older vampires trying to explain if it was possible it was difficult and rare as none of them could do it) and his never ending stream of thought had become Alfred’s background noise while reading on his own topics. Granted, he had long moved past vampires and now instead focused on whatever called to him at that moment in time (a perk of having all the time you need). His current focus was connecting various star charts and astronomical research to see how the ancients knowledge found in books only held in their library and the more modern texts that were supposedly cutting edge overlapped and where improvements and regressions had been made. He had found two texts almost identical in thought and was trying to crack if one was a rework of the other, when he was suddenly whisked away to determine if a partial transformation was possible and he had to coax the professor away from jumping off the stairs in the ballroom to gain wings. He knew he couldn’t be injured as badly as when he was alive, but it did not stop his worry and probably never would. The rain didn’t help either. While he couldn’t explain it, as he was technically dead, the rain still had its effect of making time feel slow and lazy. Between all of these factors he found it a miracle he didn’t pass out in the bath, instead managing to hold out until nestling himself in the coffin.
He had all but drifted off when the loud opening of the coffin startled him slightly. He felt a hand reach down to quickly brush across his face, “did I wake you?” a gentle voice said as he felt a familiar weight slip behind him. If you had ever told him he would one day find sleeping in a coffin comfortable and he’d be aware he was in said coffin, let alone with another person, he would have laughed. But now it was just normal. “Only a little” he heard a quiet hum followed by a sniff as his husband’s head came to rest behind his own. “Did you…?” “Use a new soap? Yes-” as much as he enjoyed the small talk they shared before the daybreak he found himself a little too tired and out of it to fully engage, “-and before you say anything I like it and plan to use it more than just this once.” Herbert, for what it’s worth, was usually the one who knew what types of products to look for and Alfred was grateful for that. But every so often he still enjoyed finding and choosing something himself. “I will have you know I do not mind it, I was simply curious” his arms had fully wrapped around Alfred now “it suits you.” “Good” “good?” “Good” he felt Herbert chuckle slightly as sleep began to take him again “sleep well my love” “you as well Bertie.” With that Alfred truly couldn’t stay awake any longer and drifted off.