Servienne (LGBT)

18-Invitation

Valet :  (noun) A man's personal attendant, responsible for his clothes and appearance.

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    It was nearing the middle of the springtime now, the blossoms taking full bloom along branches and animals emerging from the long winter. Spring had come early this year, so it was to last a long time, but it felt like decades had passed within those last few months, and the exceptionally uncharacteristically mild winter had made it feel as though the spring was a curse to ever end.

  They came sometime at the beginning of the week when the cherry blossoms had sprouted in full breadth, the noble sons whom Aaron knew well. As royalty, he had grown around other members of the aristocracy, so it was no surprise. He would have been happy to hear about so much company in his castle at one time had one of those people not been his uncle. It wasn't Ivor's fault, what Aaron felt and why he was so troubled, but he couldn't get his mind off of it. Perhaps friends could distract him? That was the hope.

  It was a few hours after they had arrived that Aaron went to go greet them all, having been told that they were lounging in the gardens near the pool and the croquet field; he'd always thought the game was rubbish, ridiculous, and boring, but he knew that the gentry played it to feel some level of highness in all their arrogance and inherited glory. He was no different to them, in the end, but at least he had some pride about it.

  Down the halls lined on the right in towering, clear windows, looking out over the flowers and fields of perfectly cut grass, Aaron smiled when he saw a group of young men about his age swarmed, lounging in chairs and one swinging from a hammock a few feet from the rest of the group, hanging between two oaks. Heading out the doors leading to the area, his smile widened to even show his teeth as the others looked over, one hopping to his feet. "Aaron!" He called, rushing over. "Luther," Aaron said, examining him. The man, just younger than himself by a few months, had grown so much since the last time Aaron had seen him. His once messy appearance was cleaner now, light gold hair cut nicely, and bright, light blue eyes knowledgeable. His clothes were fine and neat despite him supposed to be relaxing, and he looked like he was prepared for a formal event to occur at any second.

  The man who stood up after Luther, in contrast, had his dress shirt buttoned messily and with a few buttons on top undone, black hair mused and black eyes tired. Luther and Aaron embraced tightly, and he patted Luther's shoulder before withdrawing, looking at the other with a warm smile. "Roman, you're still the same as ever. While you, Luther, I'll be damned. You actually look like a functioning adult." Luther laughed to that while Roman rolled his eyes, silent. Aaron walked over, placing a hand on Roman's shoulder. "It's been so long, my friend." He looked to the rest of the group. "It's been so long since I've seen any of you. My sincerest apologies for the isolation I've exhibited in the last year. Sadly, it has been no better since then."

  "Why is that, old friend?" A man lounging along one of the chairs asked leisurely, dirty blond hair falling over dark ocean eyes. "Is it because you're stuck in such a wondrous castle? Poor you."

  Ah, yes, Finchum O'Mally, the cockiest and coldest man Aaron had ever met by far in all his life. It was just in his personality, but sometimes it bubbled an annoyance beneath Aaron's surface. Aaron scoffed. He knew how to handle Finchum. "Oh, Finny, Luther was telling me you exploded when they all painted your horse last spring! I'm sorry I missed it, but honestly, can't you take a joke, my friend?" Finchum flinched He hated the nickname "Finny" and he hated hypocrites--thus he hated that he had acted as one himself, just as temperamental and bratty as Aaron admittedly could be. Aaron couldn't help but smile. "Lighten up, guys," Luther said a hint of worry in his voice, and when Aaron noticed, he nodded immediately. He didn't want to worry Luther; he knew how the kid got.