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Lightbringer
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Zephen tapped his finger against the table impatiently. He had just finished writing his plea but Hollis was nowhere to be found. Checking his watch revealed there was only ten minutes left of breakfast. With an annoyed sigh, the prince resigned himself to the fact that Hollis wasn't coming. That just left the question of what he was going to do now. After some debate, Zephen decided he would email his request to the headmaster and catch Hollis later. Because that's really the only thing he could do at this point that didn't go against his morals. With an internal groan, the prince stood up and headed to the music room. . While Zephen wasn't thrilled for the music class, he was quite interested in everything eles the school had to offer. His parents had promised him that this was a top tier school, but with Hollis as one of it's attendees, the prince was skeptical. He had no idea how he would fit into this new place and just how advanced the lessons were. Obviously he was going to be the best student Forelsket had ever seen, but still, he had the right to be curious. As he was walking down yet another hallway, he heard raised voices coming from a dark classroom off to the right. Intrigued, he glanced at the partially open door as he walked passed. "...just shut up, okay?!" Before Zephen could take another step, a girl came rushing out of the classroom with tears in her eyes. . Trying to avoid running into the prince, the girl turned to the left. However, the movement was so sudden she ended up twisting her ankle and falling. Zephen instinctively reached out, catching the girl before she could hit the ground. The girl immediately flushed as she came face to face with Zephen's chest. "Th- thank you..." She whispered as she immediately pulled away. The girl had medium length black hair and very dark brown eyes. Zephen nodded half heartedly, more interested in the boy who quietly snuck out of the classroom. What had happened in there? Zephen turned back to the girl a moment later, putting on a charming smile. "Are you alright, dear?" The girl just stiffly nodded her head before quickly walking off. . Zephen glared at her back, annoyed that she had the gall to just walk off like that. What was with the people in this school being so rude and disrespectful? With a huff, the prince continued his journey to the music room. When he got there, he was shocked to see Hollis standing in the middle of everything. It seemed like almost everyone knew and were friendly with him. Besides the first years, of course. The way everyone looked to Hollis reminded the prince of himself. Back at home, he was the center of attention. But now, thanks to a stupid death threat, he was now nothing more than a side character. Or perhaps maybe even the antagonist in Hollis's "story". . Still, subconsciously, Zephen couldn't help but admire Hollis. He looked... good, in the spotlight. So much so that he ended up standing in the corner, watching each smile that lit up the other boy's face. Despite wearing the school's uniform, Hollis still managed to stand out somehow. And as their eyes met, the prince took a deep breath before finally approaching. He did his best to act friendly, smiling sweetly at Hollis. "May we talk for a second?" He asked, the desperation in his voice breaking through his carefully placed relaxed facade. . Once the two were out of the way, Zephen took a big deep breath before speaking up. "I need... your help. Please. I can't... sing. And I... really need... your help." He started reluctantly, the words tasting foreign on his tongue. "I can help you with PE, if you like, so please just... help me not embarrass myself." He added. He ran a hand through his perfectly brushed hair without thinking, a sign of the stress that was weighing on him as he glanced away. The action caused his hair to fall out of place, giving him somewhat charmingly messy appearance. "It's just... I've never tried to sing before. Yesterday, even when I tried, my voice locked up. I don't know what to do if the headmaster won't let me switch classes." Zephen turned back to look at Hollis once more, trying not to look absolutely pitiful but failing miserably. He felt sick admitting his weaknesses, but doing so was his only chance at survival. |
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Darkseeker
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Hollis didn’t want to leave his friends. He had just managed to settle back into the company of people who actually liked and appreciated him. Now, of all people, *Zephen* was dragging him into the hallway. Hollis tried not to show how much it annoyed him, though his reluctance was evident in the slow, distracted way he trailed after the prince. He tugged absently at the cuffs of his shirt, his thoughts already drifting back to the altos and the fun conversation he was missing. The hallway was quiet, the distant hum of the school buzzing faintly in the background. Hollis leaned lazily against the wall, half-listening until Zephen finally spoke. Then, as the words registered, his wide hazel eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms. “You want *me* to help you learn how to sing?” Hollis blinked, his tone as sharp as his freshly manicured nails. “And in return, you’re going to help me with PE?” He gave a dry laugh, shaking his head. “First of all, darling, I’m not taking PE if I can help it. I’m not giving up my senior solo because some idiot in the office couldn’t figure out my schedule. Second, there are *plenty* of people here who give private lessons. I don’t see why I should be the one to do it, especially when, let’s be honest, you haven’t exactly been my biggest fan.” Just as Hollis finished, the sharp sound of Ms. Ahlgren’s heels echoed down the hallway. She stepped into view, her expression as stern as ever. “Mr. Halvorsen,” she said, her voice clipped. “If you plan on staying in this class, you will learn how to be polite. The headmaster was very clear: you’ll remain in choir only if you can provide a valid reason. And I fully intend to tell him that your reason is tutoring Mr. Lytton. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to return to PE?” Hollis’s scowl deepened, his frustration clear as he opened his mouth to argue. But he knew better than to push Ms. Ahlgren. With a groan that was practically theatrical, he relented. “Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll do it. Just let me stay in choir.” Ms. Ahlgren gave a curt nod before walking away, leaving Hollis to glare at Zephen. “Great,” he said sarcastically. “Let’s get this over with.” Hollis turned on his heel and led Zephen into one of the practice rooms adjacent to the choir room. The small space was cozy, dominated by an upright piano and lined with shelves of sheet music. Hollis dropped onto the piano bench with a graceful but dramatic sigh, tapping a polished finger against the instrument’s glossy surface. “All right,” he said, his tone brisk. “Do you even know what range you sing in? Tenor? Baritone? Bass? Or are we starting completely from scratch?” He pushed down the middle C key, the clear tone ringing out, and he hummed it, easily matching the sweet note. “Match this pitch,” he instructed, his voice softening slightly as he slipped into teacher mode. His eyes flicked up to Zephen, appraising him. “Let’s see what we’re working with.” |
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Lightbringer
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(Sorry if towards the end my writing gets kinda bad. I actually finished it last night but I was too tired to actually post it so I went to bed but turns out I forgot to save the last half of my writing so I had to do it all over again T.T) . Zephen could hardly believe his ears. He had opened up and showed Hollis his vulnerable side, and that's how the other boy was going to react?! If they were in his castle, any one of the servants would have slapped him right then and there for being so disrespectful. The prince had seen it once with his own eyes. His older brother, Tristan, had brought home his girlfriend one day. But halfway through dinner, she blurted out she wanted to break up with him and spouted the meanest things. The servant closest to her just raised her hand without a word and slapped the other girl. Surprisingly, she even got praised for it by the king himself. And the prince was sure the same thing would have happened had they been in Luminara. . Zephen's hands balled into fists at his sides, fighting the urge to just punch the other boy. Even when the prince wasn't actually trying to start a fight or rile him up, it seemed as though they always ended up arguing. But this time... Hollis's words stung a little more than Zephen cared to admit. The prince had dared to be vulnerable and try to get along, yet Hollis had the audacity to talk like that? Just as the prince opened his mouth to retaliate and say the meanest thing he could think of, Ms. Ahlgren appeared. If it weren't for the sound of her heels giving her away, the prince could've sworn she teleported there. . Zephen couldn't help but smirk, feeling smug as the music teacher scolded Hollis and practically forced him to help in one fell swoop. Even when Ms. Ahlgren left and the other boy turned to glare at him, the prince couldn't hide how proud he was of his victory. He no longer felt the need to retort, knowing Hollis was already burning with anger on the inside. Unlike most times, though, Hollis couldn't exactly fight back, which thrilled the prince. With a confident smile on his lips, the prince followed Hollis into the practice room and happened to catch a glimpe of the other boy's face. For a split second, Zephen couldn't help but think that the other boy looked cute when he was practically pouting like that. But of course, the prince's subconscious was quick to bury the thought. . Zephen grabbed a neaby chair and sat down with exaggerated elegance. "Didn't you listen to me? I've never tried to sing before besides for my siblings's birthday parties. I don't know a lick of music, let alone "range" and whatever eles you were talking about. My studies focused elsewhere since Father and Mother believed there were more important things for me to learn." He said with a wave of his hand, trying to seem unaffected even as his stomach churned uneasily with nerves. As Hollis asked him to match the pitch, Zephen's bravado quickly vanished as his face paled slightly. He was just now realizing that this was indeed the real deal, and that made him tense. What if Hollis used this against him later? Or bullied him? The prince had never been bullied in his life, but he wouldn't put it past the other boy to ruin that record. Although... a part of him highly doubted he would do such a thing. Still, Hollis definitely had the connections to make rumors spread like wildfire... . Zephen glanced away, not having the courage to look Hollis in the eyes as he let out a sound that... resembled a hum at best. It was so quiet even the man himself could hardly hear it. He clenched the the sides of the chair in his hands as he tilted his head down, his hair falling over his eyes as he did so. Feeling angry, mostly at himself for being so pathetic, Zephen did the one thing he knew how to do - lash out. "I hate this! I hate music and I hate this stupid school!" He shouted as he suddenly stood up. He grabbed the chair and faced it away from Hollis before sitting down again with a huff. |
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Darkseeker
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Hollis did his best to hold it together. He felt his jaw tighten as Zephen admitted he didn’t even know his vocal range, let alone how to match a pitch. A barrage of sarcastic comments danced on the tip of his tongue, begging to escape, but he swallowed them down. *What kind of school even lets someone into choir without ensuring they can carry a tune?* He leaned back slightly on the piano bench, his dark eyes narrowing in impatience as he repeated the middle C. It was the most basic task, and Hollis couldn’t fathom how someone could struggle with something so simple. His hands hovered near the keys, ready to snatch them away in exasperation, when Zephen finally attempted the note. The sound was barely audible, shaky, and just a hair flat. Before Hollis could gently—or not-so-gently—offer constructive feedback, the prince seemed to snap. Zephen launched into a tirade, his voice rising with frustration. He ranted about the school, the unfairness of being placed in choir, and how much he despised the entire situation. Hollis blinked, utterly stunned, as a flurry of insults and complaints poured out of Zephen’s mouth. It was, in Hollis’s opinion, entirely uncalled for and, frankly, pathetic. Hollis blinked twice, then stepped back from the piano, his expression shifting to one of pure disdain. His features, usually so composed and polished, were drawn tight with irritation. He clasped his hands together, fiddling absently with the rings on his fingers as he took a slow, deliberate breath. “You’re insane for dragging me into this,” he said sharply, his voice low but cutting. “Choir is supposed to be enjoyable. It’s supposed to be a way to express yourself, not a punishment. But clearly, you don’t want to be here. And if you don’t care, you’re never going to improve. This is ridiculous. You don’t like me, and believe me, the feeling is mutual. I’m not about to waste my time babysitting someone who disrespects me *and* this class.” He turned on his heel, tossing a final, biting remark over his shoulder. “Come find me when you decide to grow up.” With that, he strode out of the practice room, his posture rigid and his expression unreadable. When he reached Ms. Ahlgren, he didn’t bother to soften his tone. He interrupted the ongoing practice, launching into an explanation of why he should no longer be responsible for Zephen’s lessons. His words were clear and impassioned, but Ms. Ahlgren, who had clearly dealt with Hollis’s dramatic tendencies before, barely spared him a glance. “Mr. Halvorsen,” she said coolly, cutting him off mid-sentence, “we’ll discuss this after class. For now, you’ll return to your place and sing with the group, or I’ll have to reconsider your continued participation in this class.” Hollis opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. He forced himself to relax his shoulders, plastered on a saintly smile, and returned to his usual place among the altos. Outwardly, he looked composed, but inwardly, he fumed. *Why couldn’t people just act normal around me?* he thought bitterly. *It’s always over the top or rude.* His chest tightened at the thought, the sting of Zephen’s outburst still fresh. As the choir began to sing, Hollis did what he always did—he channeled his emotions into the music. His voice rang out, smooth and powerful, standing out even among the altos. But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t stop replaying the disaster of the last few minutes. |
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Lightbringer
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Zephen didn't have the energy or the desire to answer as Hollis stormed out. He was just... done. The prince wanted to go home and back to the way things used to be. He wasn't understood here like he was back home. Atleast, Hollis didn't understand. Thinking back on it now, he hadn't even tried to talk with his roommate yet or anyone eles for that matter. But deep down, he hadn't done so because he doesn't know how. Back at home, he basically had everything handed to him on a silver platter. And now all of a sudden he had to fend for himself in a completely foreign place? That didn't seem fair to the prince. With a loud sigh, Zephen's head dropped onto his knees as he continued to calm down. Would there ever be a day he would get along with Hollis? . A few minutes later, Zephen had regained his composure. He went over to the piano and sat down again. He gently pressed a key, wondering which one Hollis had been pressing. He frowned when a high pitched sound came out instead of the calming note he had heard before. After a few attempts using trial and error, along with his ears and common sense, the prince found the note Hollis had been playing. Feeling not as exposed and vulnerable as he had been before, he tried matching the pitch again. After striking the key over and over while using his best judgment, he managed to sound decent. Zephen messed around a bit more as he did his best to match the different sounds the piano made before he ended up wandering back to the music room. . Right as he cracked the door open to observe the class, he was hit with the beautiful music the choir was creating. It took his breath away because it was that amazing to him. He had never heard something so lovely before. He was used to the rough voices the people of Luminara tended to have. And according to his parents, music was only a distraction, so they hadn't bothered to show him the beauties of sound. But now that the prince was experiencing it first hand, he kind of understood why it was important to Hollis. Speaking of the other boy, despite being amidst all of the other singers, his voice rang clear, even to the prince, who didn't have any experience with music. Seeing Hollis standing there, so passionate, reminded Zephen of himself whenever he got to have swordsmanship lessons. Swordsmanship was the best, and he was beginning to realize that choir was Hollis's swordsmanship lessons. . Zephen ended up trying to quietly match the sounds that he was hearing. It was hard to keep his voice steady on one sound when dozens of voices were singing in all different pitches, but he did his best to follow Hollis's voice, since that was the easiest to decipher. However, his voice naturally slipped up the scale and followed along with the higher singers pretty easily. Of course, while he could follow along, his techniques were practically trash compared to everyone eles. He wasn't used to singing though, so before long, he had tired his voice out. That's why he ended up going back to his room. There, he practiced his swordsmanship... with an imagery sword and opponent. . As Zephen moved gracefully across the room's floor, he thought about singing and what had happened just half an hour ago. He guessed he shouldn't have blown up, but... Hollis still could've been a little nicer about everything. Suddenly a thought struck him, causing the prince to pause. That was it! Singing is exactly like fighting. You have to control your body(voice) and there's all different techniques and styles. A hint of excitement sparked in the prince's eye as he started moving again. This time though, Zephen imagined the song he had heard the choir singing before quietly syncing both his voice and movements to the song. After a while the prince ended up making his very own little melody to hum as he continued practice. With a big grin on his face, the prince wondered if this was what Hollis had been talking about when he said it was supposed to be fun. ~~~ Zephen plopped down on his bed, panting heavily. Moving and singing at the same time had given the prince an advanced work out - one he definitely wasn't used to. He was exhausted, but happy. Sword practice always cleared his head, helped him think and made him happy, but adding singing gave him an extra fun challenge that he normally didn't have. The prince's mind and body were throughly exercised despite the day only beginning. With a quiet sigh, Zephen got up to change out of his sweaty clothes. After that was done he got on his computer, once again doing his research on apologizing. And after this morning, he desperately needed to learn ASAP. So that's what he was going to do. |
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Darkseeker
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Choir ended far too soon for Hollis’s liking. The hour had slipped by like a fleeting dream, leaving him reluctant to step back into the mundanity of his day. His next class was mathematics, a subject he had always considered his personal nemesis. Derivatives, equations, and all those lifeless numbers felt like a cruel joke, and he had very little desire to wrestle with concepts he deemed entirely irrelevant to his existence. Thankfully, the universe—or rather, the school schedule—had gifted him a healthy gap between choir and his next obligation. Without hesitation, he spirited himself off to one of the practice rooms, a routine he had adopted during his very first week as a student at Forelsket. Back then, he had been an eager yet slightly nervous new face in the crowd, finding solace in these small pockets of solitude. Over time, it had become a sacred ritual, a personal vow he had no intention of breaking. Hollis stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with a satisfying click. A soft smile spread across his face as he walked to the piano in the corner, the familiar sight instantly easing his shoulders. This space was his sanctuary, where the pressures of classes, social expectations, and whatever else the day threw at him faded into insignificance. Here, he could lose himself in music, and nothing else mattered. He paused for a moment, taking a deep, centering breath. Then, he pressed a few keys, letting the notes bloom into the stillness. He moved into his usual warm-ups, running scales to ensure his voice was still limber from choir. Satisfied, he began experimenting with songs that pushed his limits, reveling in the challenge. He especially loved melodies that let his voice swoop and soar, highlighting his breath support and range. Folk songs and hauntingly beautiful pieces from movie soundtracks were his favorite—there was something about their wistfulness that struck a chord deep within him. Time always seemed to slip away too quickly in these moments, and though he could have easily stayed for hours, Hollis knew better than to overindulge, especially this early in the school year. With a reluctant pout, he wrapped up his practice and left the room, already anticipating his next visit. As he stepped outside, he was greeted by the gentle patter of rain, which quickly escalated into a steady downpour. The fat drops splattered against the pavement, creating puddles that reflected the gray sky. Hollis couldn’t help but smile; he had always found something romantic about rain, even if it wasn’t exactly kind to his hair or his clothes. He skipped a few steps, spinning briefly on the slick path as the rain soaked through his shirt. The moment of whimsy didn’t last long, however. “Ugh,” he groaned, realizing his mistake as his carefully styled hair began to flatten, and his button-up clung uncomfortably to his skin. Muttering under his breath, he broke into a jog, heading for the boys’ dormitories as quickly as his damp loafers would allow. By the time he reached Magnus’s room, he was thoroughly drenched, and his earlier joy had been replaced with irritation. He barged in without thinking, tugging his soaked shirt over his head as he went. “Isak,” he called, his voice muffled by the fabric of his half-removed shirt. “Can you even *believe* it? They really have those boys out there running in the rain. Magnus is going to catch the death of him, I swear.” He stumbled toward the bathroom mid-rant, peeling the shirt the rest of the way off and tossing it toward the hamper in a sodden heap. His tie followed shortly after, landing in an unceremonious pile on the floor. “You don’t think Magnus would mind if I steal some of his clothes, right?” he called over his shoulder, rummaging through Magnus’s wardrobe without hesitation. “I’ve only got one other button-up, and it’s *ruined*. God, I probably got mascara on it too.” He pulled one of Magnus’s shirts off its hanger and tugged it over his head, taking a moment to smooth the fabric before stepping back out into the room. Except, when he looked up, it wasn’t Magnus or Isak who greeted him. "Oh, yeah," he muttered darkly, his fingers stalling on one of the buttons. "I forgot. Sorry." He tossed his damp curls, having no intentions of sticking around, and moved quickly for the door. |
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Lightbringer
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Zephen had been nose deep in his research, so as Hollis came storming in, the prince startled. His head jerked up, confused as to why anyone would enter a room without knocking. Ugh, the lack of manners in this place was sickening. But as Zephen caught sight of Hollis, his jaw dropped and his mind went blank. What in the-? He was speechless, yet somehow amused. The sight was so hilariously... normal, that he didn't dare speak up as Hollis started his rant. A noble wouldn't be caught dead like this, so the prince couldn't help but watch curiously. He chose to ignore the mess Hollis was making of the room and instead focused on how adorable he looked all sopping wet. He couldn't help but smile, though he quickly covered it with his hand, knowing his amusement wasn't proper. . As Hollis finally realized who he was talking to, Zephen forced a neutral expression onto his face. "Wait!" He called, practically jumping out of his bed. He grabbed Hollis's wrist before he could fully leave. When the prince realized what he'd done, he quickly released the other boy. "Sorry, just... wait a second, okay? You changed your shirt, but you didn't dry off at all, so you're only getting that shirt wet too. Not to mention your pants and hair. Atleast dry off first before you leave, or eles you'll get the floor wet as you walk. You can borrow some of my clothes once you're dry, and then you can go back to your room and wear whatever you want of your clothes. You can just throw my clothes away after if you want. I can always buy new ones." . As Zephen said this, he unzipped one of his suitcases and brought out a towel. Without a word, the prince dropped the soft fabric onto Hollis's dripping hair. He then stepped back, watching the other boy carefully. Why had he done that? He could've just let him go. I mean, Hollis was probably still mad because of everything. But still, a part of Zephen hated the thought of Hollis getting sick because of his wet clothes. And maybe... if he could get the other boy to let down his guard, maybe the prince could apologize for everything. Although, he was definitely still hesitant about doing so. What if he messed the apology up? And then Hollis hated him for the rest of his life? . Zephen swallowed uneasily, half expecting Hollis to tear him apart. Yet despite knowing that's what would probably happen, the prince acted as if this was just a common occurrence. Without a word he started cleaning up the mess Hollis had made, all the while almost praying that the other boy would stay. He grabbed the discarded clothes and hung them up in the bathroom. After that he got another towel and started wiping the water off of the hardwood floor, making sure that no one would slip later. Once that was done, Zephen got to his feet once more. He glanced up, hoping to see Hollis still in the room, drying his hair. |
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Spring Month: 3 
Day 
