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Darkseeker
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Avery sat down heavily, trying to calm himself down, but he couldn't. Frustrated, he started to wring his fingers painfully, trying to distract himself, so he would let himself relax. After a moment, he leaned against Aspen, closing his eyes. "I don't understand anything anymore," he murmured softly. " I don't think I deserve to be happy with you." Avery desperately wanted to voice his fears, but he was scared that his dark thoughts would either irritate or frighten the other man, and he would lose his friend, and possible lover. After a few moments of hesitation, he looked up at the sky, watching the clouds drift lazily by, and pointed up at one. "That one looks like a horse." After he was sure that he'd re-engaged Aspen in conversation, he looked at his hands, and took a deep breath. "I just feel...like I don't deserve to be happy. Emily doesn't get to be happy, and won't ever. Robbie isn't happy, and there's nothing I can do about it. But me? I'm fine in my position, and I have you. I think. That doesn't seem fair." |
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Neutral
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Prince Avery didn't take his hand but he did sit down which surprised him a little. He knew the prince was hurting and had been hurting for a while, possibly even before he had moved to the UK. Aspen sat there, debating what to do. He wanted to wrap his arms around the prince and tell him everything was going to be okay. Another part of him wanted to kiss him and make him forget about every problem that laid heavily on his heart. However, both those moves seemed selfish so he didn't. Instead he just waited for the prince to talk or move or do something. Finally, the prince leaned against his side. "I don't think I deserve to be happy with you?" He heard him finally mumble. Aspen wrapped an arm around him, his hand going to run gently through Avery's hair,'But haven't you been unhappy for long enough?" The prince made a comment about one of the clouds and his gaze followed his finger pointed to it. He could see it very loosely resembling a horse. After a few moments, the prince continued his earlier thought, elaborating what Aspen knew all along. "Emily's death is not your fault and your brother is doing better," He said in a harsher tone, his voice barely above a whisper. He made sure to soften his voice before continuing,"You blame yourself for things you are not responsible for. You feel guilty and have been punishing yourself for quite a long time. It doesn't seem fair for you to put yourself through the amount of pain and guilt that you are." He took a moment, letting silence fill the air. "You deserve to be happy too," He finished, his gaze moving away from the prince and back to the clouds. He nudged him with his shoulder, nodding to another cloud that was dancing in the sky,"that one looks like my dog...back home. His name was Blaze." |
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Darkseeker
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Avery closed his eyes, feeling his internal struggle growing.
"I know, but..." He trailed off, too tired and stressed to argue a lot. "I'm sorry. I'm being unreasonable. It's just hard today, because...because it's her birthday. She would've been twenty."
He heaved a sigh, and started to zone out, but snapped back when Aspen started talking again.
"Oh. Do you miss your old home? I wish I had somewhere to run back to, to always have memories of."
Avery picked Zara up off the porch where she was sunbathing, and snuggled the top of her head. "Hey, baby," he murmured softly, talking in a voice he usually reserved for very special occasions. He looked up from the cat as Lorenz walked up to the porch, eyes averted to give the Prince his privacy. "Sir?" The bodyguard said. "There's someone here to see you, and I think I ought to give you a bit of a warning before I bring him up."
Avery paled, confused and scared. "Why? Who is it?" Lorenz put a comforting hand on the young prince's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Avery. It's Miss Emily's younger brother."
Avery's lips quivered, and he turned to Aspen. "I-..." (Sprinklin some *DRAMA* in there >:D) |
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Neutral
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"It's okay, you are allowed to feel whatever you are feeling," Aspen's voice was gentle at that statement. No wonder why the prince was hurting. Birthdays become complicated when that person is dead. When asked about his home, he clenched his jaw a little. Home was complicated. He grew silent, avoiding the question. He didn't want to tell Avery about home and he hadn't meant for the conversation to drift on him. Luckily, he was saved from answering. Hearing Lorenz's voice behind him, he quickly removed his arm from the prince and scooted a respectful distance away. He knew his actions were delayed and the body guard definitely saw despite his best actions. He just wasn't one for public displays and he was pretty sure that he wasn't supposed to fall for the prince. He listened to Lorenz, pausing. He saw the prince look at him and stutter a bit. After a few minutes, he stood up. "Go talk to him, Your Highness," He took the hint to leave those two alone. He also put formality back into his voice but only because a royal staff member was around,"I need a shower and to change out of these wet clothes." He moved to head back inside and toward his room, offering Lotenz a friendly but uncertain smile on his way back inside. |
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Darkseeker
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"No, wait..." Avery said quickly, his voice shaking. "I don't want to go alone. Will you go with me?" He held out his hand, begging Aspen to take it. He heard Lorenz clear his throat behind him, and he sighed. "If you want to," he whispered, "you can follow." He tried to smile, but couldn't bring himself to cheer up. Instead, he straightened his suit, cuffing his sleeves at his elbows, and smoothed his messy blonde hair. Avery took a deep breath, and followed Lorenz to the front gates, where a fancy car awaited the permission to come inside. Lorenz nodded, and the gates slid open, and the car pulled inside. The white vehicle had barely stopped when the door was opened, and a young man stepped out. He didn't look much like Emily, except for his skin. He had her beautiful, porcelain skin. But, his hair was dark brown, and his eyes were a light, gentle amber. He wasn't smiling, but he didn't look displeased. He was dressed in a sharp suit, obviously taylored just for him. As the young prince watched, the boy turned and saw Avery, and for a brief second, he did smile. Something inside Avery crumbled. That smile was so, so familiar. He turned away, searching for Aspen, trying to find something to ground himself with, to try to keep at bay his swirling memories. |
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Neutral
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Aspen paused, hearing the prince call to him to wait. He heard the tone of the voice and it was enough to cause his heart to break. Talking to Emily's brother was going to be hard for the prince. Turning back around, he took the prince's hand but only to give it a gentle squeeze. "Give me a moment to change out of these wet clothes," He finally said, his voice low and quiet. He wasn't about to have another bad impression in front of anyone connected to the royalty,"I won't be long, promise." His hand slipped from the prince's and he hurried up the stairs. He was already a walking bad impression, with money tight. He didn't have to look like one as well. He quickly changed, finding that a few suits had made their way into his wardrobe. He put one on, finding it fit a little large but not noticeably too big. He didn't bother with the tie, knowing he wouldn't be able to tie it for the life of him. Once dressed, he headed down the stairs and toward the front gate. He arrived just in time to see a young man with brown hair and amber eyes step out. The man's looks and posture alone screamed of importance, something Aspen's would never. Aspen was too busy taking in the newcomer than to notice that Prince Avery's gaze was searching for him. The poor man's gaze remained locked on Emily's brother. |
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Darkseeker
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Avery reached out, brushing Aspen's arm. "I don't think I can do this," he murmured, but finally, his brain kicked into overdrive. His usual false smile slipped across his face, and his posture shifted to a middle ground, not tense, but definitely not relaxed. The familiarity of the situation was almost soothing, and Avery turned back to the young man, extending his hand. Emily's brother was still smiling, and Avery's heart was still breaking, but he kept himself collected. "I'm Kelvin," The young man said, his voice calm and collected. "I believe you knew my half-sister."
Avery's calm façade didn't flicker. "I did, she was my best friend for a very long time. Is...Is there a reason you waited so long to find us? I knew she had half-siblings, but, after she...after her death, we never heard from any of you." His voice was cool and calm, hiding the hurt that he truly felt. "Oh." Kelvin's face had fallen, and he furrowed his brow. "I never thought of it that way. My whole family was grieving, and that didn't feel like that proper time to leave them." |
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Neutral
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A hand brushed his shoulder, causing him to flinch away before he realized it was just the prince's touch. He heard what the prince murmured and moved to stand side by side next to him. He made sure his hand brushed Avery's back as he did as a way to silently comfort him. He didn't know what else to do or that there was much else he could do without the action raising suspicion. He just wanted the prince to know he was here for him. Aspen stayed silent, listening to the two of them. He was well aware of his ability to appear invisible so he wasn't surprised that his presence was never discussed. |
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Summer 
Day Weather: 
