I just don’t understand the idea that all characters in a thing have to be paired off perfectly evenly and especially when they’re not even well matched in those “perfect” pairs.
I get it, it’s an angsty pain to navigate a dynamic that includes some people running as free agents, but isn’t it better to create a more balanced romance even if it breaks some hearts?
Gives nose/forehead kisses: Oh gosh, I can totally see tol Krolock bestowing gentle forehead kisses on smol Alfred
Gets jealous the most: I think Alfred gets more insecure than jealous, and Krolock will get territorial when somebody flirts with Alfred but not jealous per se
Takes care of on sick days: Both, though they don’t really get sick.
Drags the other person out into the water on beach day: Definitely Alfred – I can imagine he might have enjoyed swimming as a human, and he drags a very protesting Krolock into the nearest lake come summer
Brings the other lunch at work: Since neither eat lunch in the traditional sense, this doesn’t apply tbh (though in a human AU I’d say Alfred)
Tries to start role-playing in bed: I think Krolock takes the lead in bed in general
Embarrassingly drunk dancer: Both.
Firmly believes in couples costumes: Krolock, for sure – that’s the guy who color-coordinated his ball outfit to match Sarah’s dress, after all.
Breaks the expensive gift rule during Christmas: Krolock. Alfred mentions he’s interested in a book? Krolock gets him an original edition of everything that author has ever written.
Makes the other eat breakfast: I think Krolock (at least initially) has to gently force Alfred to feed.
Remembers anniversaries: Both
Brings up having kids first: Neither – I don’t think that would ever become a topic for them. Krolock has already experienced fatherhood, and Alfred never really thought about it.
Kills the bugs: Krolock. Alfred can’t bring himself to do it, but he’s scared of some creepy crawlies so his bf saves him.
First to define them as a couple: Krolock, when he pulls Alfred close at the next year’s ball and introduces him as his consort.
Who hides their guilty pleasures longer: Alfred, bless him.
Snorts while laughing: Krolock. He laughs rarely, and snorts are a sign that his laughter is genuine.
YAY thank you for wanting my Krolfred Opinions. ❤ I put them under a cut bc they’re pretty long.
Gives nose/forehead kisses: I know we’ve all said the same thing, but certainly Krolock kisses Alfred’s forehead the most, though Alfred has the kiss-on-top-of-the-head market completely cornered. And the head kisses aren’t limited to Krolock, he’ll happily bestow them on Sarah and Herbert as well, when in the right mood.
Gets jealous the most: Building off of Jade’s headcanon, I would say Krolock has territory issues and Alfred has some heavy insecurity that can cause tension. I think to a certain extent, they both sometimes get worried that one day one will fall out of love with the other, but one day they’re still together fifty years down the line and it’s clear that there isn’t really anything that can tear them apart.
Takes care of on sick days: I haven’t made up my mind about vampires and sickness yet, but definitely Alfred would end up having to take care of Krolock. For days, Krolock would be shugging off symptoms and insisting they’re nothing, but Alfred would eventually force him to get in bed and stop skulking. Krolock also gets unbearably cranky when he doesn’t feel well, but Alfred will tell him stories about growing up with his siblings in
Königsberg and will braid his hair back, and somehow that makes things a little better.
Drags the other person out into the water on beach day: Neither one, but Herbert will drag them out to lakes in the summers on cool evenings. Alfred doesn’t particularly like being in bathing suits and tries to avoid the water, but Krolock’s used to it and was actually the one that taught Herbert how to swim in the first place, so he’ll join in most times.
Brings the other lunch at work: Jade once implied Alfred takes a thermos of blood to work with him at the university and that’s still a real concept that I love. If said thermos really is a thing, Krolock undoubtedly brings it to him when he forgets it from time to time.
Tries to start role-playing in bed: Oh boy. I would honestly say I think they both think about it for a long while before anyone actually brings the idea up. I think Krolock proposes things fairly easily to Alfred, but Alfred is pretty heavily embarrassed trying to request certain things, himself.
Embarrassingly drunk dancer: They get drunk and dance together. Herbert is obviously massively humiliated, even though they’re home and no one else is there to see.
Firmly believes in couples costumes: Krolock. He likes to match. He’s very matchy matchy when he’s paired up with someone. I think Fiona mentioned his matching with Sarah as a prime example.
Breaks the expensive gift rule during Christmas: I think the possession of the family wealth plays into this heavily, but it’s obvious to me that Krolock would break that rule almost constantly, year-round. He spoils all of them; Sarah, Herbert, and Alfred, but he’s definitely the kind of dude who would buy pretty much anything Alfred vaguely mentions that he wants.
Makes the other eat breakfast: They’re both pretty terrible about actually consuming humans on the appropriate schedule simply because of how emotionally draining the hunt is. Krolock struggles even at 300+ years old, Alfred really struggles as a new baby fledgling. I explore this a lot more in my fic, if anyone’s interested. 🙂
Remembers anniversaries: They very much have the Ben and Leslie from Parks and Rec issue of both remembering the anniversaries, but they have to like…out-gift each other. Krolock wins this nearly every time, he’s a chronic gift giver, but Alfred still tries to surprise him every time anyway.
Brings up having kids first: Alfred. This is how it happens: For days, Alfred is in a strange, somewhat aggressive and defensive mood, and Krolock too starts to take on an irritable edge. One very early morning, they’re preparing for bed and (Jade came up with this part) Krolock makes some cutting comment about Alfred’s attitude and Alfred dissolves into tears. He reveals that it’s really all been about grieving the fact that he’ll never get a chance to have children. Coming from a family of six, counting his parents and himself, Alfred has always had a desire to start a nuclear family with someone, but being a vampire and in a relationship with another man prevents this from happening. However, Krolock is quick to swoop in with reminders of how well he acts as a parent for others and that he does not have to produce offspring of his own to consider his life complete. Alfred knows he’s right, but he’s still always slightly melancholy when children are brought up in conversation.
Kills the bugs: Alfred. He’s not a fan of it, but Herbert and Krolock refuse, leaving him with the job.
First to define them as a couple: 😉 that’s fanfic spoilers.
Who hides their guilty pleasures longer: Alfred struggles to keep anything hidden because when he’s passionate, he can’t help but tell everyone about The Thing. Krolock on the other hand seems largely unclockable, but he really loves truly bad literature. Imagine the worst romance novel your local book store has, Krolock probably picked that one up. Bad sci-fi series? Definitely. Cozy Mysteries that grandmas read? His favorites.
Snorts while laughing: Alfred, and Krolock absolutely loves to make bad jokes just to see Alfred’s grin.
(2/2) and time passes and the count is confused and entranced and tries to figure this odd boy out and falls in love in the process – but thinks he’s not worthy of being loved, after all, he indirectly condemned alfred to this fate, he’s a monster, he mustn’t take advantage of the boy’s isolation ( alfred can’t really relate to the other vampires in the castle) – meanwhile alfred is falling hard and fast for the count and thinks krolock doesn’t want him. mutual pining all around.
first off – honestly, the reception to the #krolfred content has been way better than i was expecting – i’m glad so many people are into it, because it has RUINED ME UTTERLY. i think about these vampires more than is healthy, probably, and im glad instead of messaging @penhales at 2am with headcanons and sketches no one asked for, i can subject y’all to them instead B)
secondly – YES ABSOLUTELY you hit the nail on the head. imo krolfred works best when alfred is turned, because krolock, for the first time in his 300 years, has the opportunity to have a companion. someone educated and lively and curious and compassionate in all the ways alfred is – and someone who will stick around, and if there’s anything alfred is, its loyal. and i really think krolock would be charmed by that, and then exactly as you said – a lot more than charmed, eventually.
i just. i LIVE for krolock – strong, stalwart, “I Have Never Had an Emotion in All My 300 Years (Except for When I Cry Alone in the Graveyard Sometimes)” von krolock falling for this little prussian nerd who still has a heart of gold even after its stopped beating. alfred is such a surprise but he would be exactly what krolock needs, even if krolock is terrified of accepting it.
and krolock is perfect for alfred in the same way! insofar as i’ve been able to get out of most performers’ alfreds, he’s a lifelong afterthought for most of the people he cares about. he toodles around transylvania with a batty old professor and Falls in Love with the first girl to make prolonged eye contact with him. he NEEDS attention, and patience, and krolock has nothing but time and no one but alfred to spend that time with (and, of course, herbert – but i think after so long watching his father be in his Moods and wallow in his grief and guilt, herbert might not be so active in trying to pull him from that dark place, because thats just How Dad Is)
anyway this is probably mildly unintelligible, bc i am giddy about this ship (and pleased penhales and i have been such a terrible good influence lmao)!!! I LOVE IT TOO MUCH
(and uhhh at the risk of spoilers/rigging the hype train, i think you’re really gonna like the rest of An Independent Will, wink wink nudge nudge)
but then alfred goes to this important research mission to transylvania and the fam is certain this is his ticket to a professor’s office. around a year later, alfred comes back (in this version he’s still human) and is all: “mama, papa, here’s my boyfriend!” krolock glides into the room. fog machines are on. mom and dad are speechless. their son is dating a count. (2/2)
AHHHHHHHHH THIS IS GR8 LMAO
tfw ur son goes off to get an education and brings home a 300-year-old late-40s-lookin vampire lord
Your OTP trapped in a cave during a blizzard. However, after the initial cute/awkward cuddling-to-stay-warm, it becomes Person A desperately holding close a paling and nearly unconscious person B, begging them to stay alive until help arrives.
@fish-d@penhales Human!Alfred as B and Krolock as A? With the added angst that Krolock has no body warmth to share with Alfred?
Your OTP trapped in a cave during a blizzard. However, after the initial cute/awkward cuddling-to-stay-warm, it becomes Person A desperately holding close a paling and nearly unconscious person B, begging them to stay alive until help arrives.
@fish-d@penhales Human!Alfred as B and Krolock as A? With the added angst that Krolock has no body warmth to share with Alfred?
Oh man that’s so cruel of you, I absolutely love it. I’m not a big fan of the power imbalance Human!Alfred has with Krolock, but I’m a big sucker for “Clinging To My Boyfriend For Life”
‘By what instinct do you pretend to distinguish between a fallen seraph of the abyss and a messenger from the eternal throne–between a guide and a seducer?’
‘I judged by your countenance, sir: which was troubled: when you said the suggestion had returned upon you. I feel sure it will work you more misery if you listen to it.’
‘Not at all–it bears the most gracious message in the world: for the rest, you are not my conscience-keeper, so don’t make yourself uneasy. Here, come in, bonny wanderer!’
He said this as if he spoke to a vision, viewless to any eye but his own; then, folding his arms, which he had half extended, on his chest, he seemed to enclose in their embrace the invisible being.
‘Now,’ he continued, again addressing me, ‘I have received the pilgrim–a disguised deity, as I verily believe. Already it has done me good: my heart was a sort of charnel: it will now be a shrine.’
Penhales 