ᏚᎪNᏩᏚᏌᎬ

Chapter 1

Leonard Trembly was a man in his late 20s who had lost his mother and father from a ship wreck 2 years ago, which gave him the rights to his father's tobacco business. He lived alone in a mansion (not counting the 100s of staff members of course) and spent his days doing paper work at his father's old desk. He could still hear his father say to him: "My boy, one day you will take over my business!" And then he would carry on about being a man, and dedication, and hard work until it would confuse and mangle Leonard's child mind. These talks often had his eyes glaze over, and he'd begin thinking of how much fun he could be having outside. He never thought much of work until he grew older, and started to actually begin to gain an interest in what his father babbled on about.

It was summer time and Leonard was having a hellish time in his thick black cotton clothing, sure it was fashionable but it had him constantly wishing to stay cool- and eventually he would wound up taking off his dress coat. Fashion no longer mattered when you're trying to work at your desk, but you're sweating like a pig... If pigs could sweat that is. He looked at his pocket watch and grunted seeing it was 4:56 pm. The maid was late with his evening tea, he impatiently drum his fingers on his desk. A tick.
"My apologies master Trembly!" A stout short maid by the name of Lorene panted, rolling in a tea cart. She exhaled and wiped the sweat from her brow dabbing herself neatly with a handkerchief.
"Mm. No need to apologize Lorene..." Leonard said humbly trying to hold back his irritation "Might I ask, why you took so long?" He said watching her pour his tea, "Oh, a young man stopped by, he said his name was-"
The young only man who would ever have business concerning him was,
"Edmund Nathaniel?"
"Why, yes exactly... Should I let him in master Trembly..?"
"Yes, please."
He watched her hobble out and he smiled thinking of Edmund.
Edmund was an old childhood friend of his. He met him from school, and they had often studied together and played with Edmund's dog, Truancy. Leonard sighed yet smiled when he saw the familiar curly black hair and big brown eyes of Edmund. His normal reaction would be to get up and hug him bouncing around like a young woman who was gifted the dress she always wanted, but he simply stood and held out his hand for Edmund to shake it, like proper gentlemen greet. He was a grown man, and men do not bounce around like children.
Edmund however ignored his hand and pulled him in for a hug "Leo it has been forever!!" He exclaimed in joy.
Leonard simply laughed "More like three years-"
"-Exactly forever!" Edmund cut him off not understanding how his good childhood friend didn't look excited to see him, or at least didn't show it.
"Three years is not forever Edmund... What have you come for?" Leonard asked hoping he wasn't here to 'borrow' money again.
"Why, to see my good friend of course!" Edmund exclaimed. He was so happy to see the familiar pale skin, the short but thick wavy hair that would cover up a good portion of the right side of Leonard's face, and the small but notable freckle under his left eye.... His 'beauty mark' as the girls from school used to called it. "Ah. I see." Leonard gave him something of a skeptical look and put his right hand behind his back and motioned over to the tea cart "Would you like to join me for some tea then?" He asked.
"Yes, of course!" Edmund grabbed a chair from the side and pulled it up in front of Leonard's desk. Leonard sat back down glancing at his pocket watch and sighed as Lorene made a second cup of tea for Edmund and hurried off leaving them scones.
"Edmund, I know you wouldn't just come here out of the blue to just visit. We just aren't like that anymore. Now what do you want." Leonard waited for Edmund to respond. 5 seconds... 10 seconds.. 30 seconds... A minute.... "Well?" He asked.
Edmund sighed "Fine, I... I need a place to stay.. I'm afraid yet again I've run out of money.... I know I ask a lot of you old friend but... I promise I'll make it up to you."
Leonard wanted to say "Why of course you can stay." But the words never came to his mouth all he could hear was his father's words spilling out on him and mixing together yelling in his ears about Edmund, and business, along with responsibility, and above all, manhood. This overwhelmed Leonard to a full extent, and he stood from his chair franticly looking at his pocket watch. Order was the only thing that could keep him sane, and hell time was the epitome or order. After staring at his watch is a flustered fashion he softly cleared his throat looking back to Edmund.
"I-I-" he grunted, restarting. "Pardon me, but I am very, VERY late for a hair appointment." He grabbed his dress coat slipping it on and put on his top hat.
Edmund watched him with surprise "You- You don't have to, if you don't want to!" He hurriedly explained as Leonard went for the door, stopping him in his tracks. Leonard didn't turn to face him and studied the half opened door in front of him. Freedom shining out, his brain begging him to escape this uncomfortable situation. Damn it Leo, you're a business man handle this like a business man. He took a deep breath in. "I will... Think about it." He muttered loud enough for Edmund to hear, then he fully opened the door and walked out, Leaving Edmund alone in the office confused. Euphoria.
Leonard hurried down the hall. He wasn't late for his hair appointment. He doesn't even know if thats such a thing. What the bloody hell is a hair appointment? Never the less, Leonard wasn't one to lie- well. To friends. But he and Edmund's relationship grew more... complicated as they grew older. He rushed down the stairs to the outside of the mansion, and sighed walking through the beautiful green fields he'd owned. Something was always therapeutic about a good walk... A few minutes of going along, and he'd arrived in town. He never really wanted to live very far form town, made business and socializing easier. Leonard then saw his neighbor, Mr. Thomas being pulled along by his two rowdy wolfhounds. As the man and his pack grew closer, he knew conversation was inevitable. comically enough, Mr.Thomas was having a hell of a time keeping his hounds under control.
"Lillian don't smell that- oh Lewis Jr. please!- Lillian what did I say!!"
Leonard chuckled and walked up to him "Need a hand Lewis?" He asked.
"Oh! Leonard my boy, I insist!" He chuckled handing him Lillian's leash.
Well, no escape it seemed. Leonard sighed and began his banter. "Three dogs Mr. Thomas my my, this isn't like you at all." He petted Lillian's head with a small smile. At least the dogs were nice. Smelly, however.
"I have recently gained interest in the sport of hunting!" Mr. Thomas declared with a proud goofy grin.
"A fine sport it is.." Leonard stated watching Mr. Thomas wipe the sweat from his head and fixed his comb over. He wondered if it was now just being held together with dog slobber. "Lewis Thomas!!" A woman cried. Leonard gazed up. She was hard to miss, storming over wearing this large pink and crimson dress. What a get up. She was stout like Mr. Thomas and had a pound of make up on her face, Leonard couldn't help but visibly cringe. She waved around this gaudy parasol over her head, decorated with roses. Mr. Thomas sighed "Here comes my wife.."
"How could anyone miss her." Leonard muttered as she hurried over.
"Thomas how dare you leave me alone in the park like that!" She snapped. If she didn't have all that make up on her face would be bright red. She scoffed and turned away with a fat lipped pout, only to glance up and see Leonard. Her face suddenly softened.
"Oh, why hello Leonard darling~!" She giggled, and twirled her parsol. Leonard tried not to laugh, and managed to successfully hold it in; he was taught well from his mother to be a gentleman around all women. "Hello Mrs. Thomas." He smiled politely, earning another little giggle from her.
"Please forgive me darling but the dogs had to go for a walk-" Mr.Thomas hastily began only to be shut down by his snappy bitching wife.
"Oh excuse me for interrupting your lovely walk with the oh so important dogs!!! Yes those dogs are far more important than your wife!!! You and your dogs and... And this silly obsession with hunting!" Mrs. Thomas complained. Leonard looked at the two unsure as to if he should leave or not.
"B-But darling!-"
What had occurred next was the most obscene dramatic argument the Earth had ever known about dog hunting, sex, and lack of respect. Though... Miraculously... This argument had managed to be boring as all hell. Leonard stood there, yawning and glancing down to Lillian. Who also yawned in turn, then went back to panting.
The bickering ended with Mrs. Thomas stomped off in a huff, and Mr. Thomas frowning like a sad puppy.
He sighed looking to the dogs. "I don't want to get rid of my babies..."
Leonard cleared his throat, falling back into consciousness. "You know Mr. Thomas, I could always keep Lillian and Lewis Jr. At my place. It would be no trouble. You can always pick them up for hunting, and they will be well cared for." He offered. He liked dogs. Besides, Mr.Thomas was a good business partner, and it was important to stay on his good side.
Mr. Thomas raised his bushy brows at him in surprise "You would do that?" He asked.
"What are friends for?" Leonard smiled taking Lewis Jr.'s leash. "Now go calm Mrs. Thomas before she sets the town on fire." He gave a charming grin.
Mr. Thomas laughed, but it fell into a frown when he realized this was all too possible. Then he ran off as fast as he'd came,
"Margery! Margery wait!" He called after Mrs. Thomas.
Leonard sighed. "Well." He looked to the hounds "You three better be worth my time." He muttered, and with that he made his way home. The walk wasn't all that easy however, he was pulled, yanked, and constantly shushing. It was a war. The struggle of pulling them around, and them returning the favor resorted in the destruction of his hat. Not all soldiers come back home. He finally made it however, and quiver handed the dogs off to a butler, instructing him to get food and water for his new pets. Leonard dusted himself off with a grunt. Damn filthy dogs. He grimaced seeing some slobber plastered onto his pant leg, then looked up to see Edmund sitting on the stairs. Watching this whole ordeal with a grin.
"So, if you're letting a few dogs stay, can't I stay?"
"... Yes... Well..." Leonard sighed and straightened up facing Edmund. "I've come to a conclusion Edmund, I'll let you stay." Edmund's eyes lit up, and his sprung up from his seat on the steps, his dark curls bouncing with him as he rushed over for another hug.
"Oh thank you! Thank you so much!" Much to Leonard's dismay, the man tugged him into a firm tight hug.
"Alright alright thats enough..." he gently pushed the frizzy man away. Enough dogs for today.
"Well... Damn good that hair appointment did!" He chuckled at Leonard's messy hair. "Hey didn't you have a hat earlier..?"
Leonard grumbled, "Come, I'll show you to your room." He sighed taking off his cotton dress coat once more.
Edmund ran up the stairs after him excitedly, "Thank you again, you won't regret it!" He grinned, nudging his old friend in the ribs.
"I hope not." Leonard mumbled to himself. His bruised rib told him he would.