Snippets

Do they hurt?

It was a balmy evening in Estelle Manor. The library was the base for a big decision, for the upcoming move. Alexander was looking over some candidates for the new manor. Malak sent him a few stacks of folders. Each one held a photo of the gold watcher, his or her name, age, and a paragraph about their personalities. One stack he kept as a maybe, another one was top picks, and another file was reserved for the absolutely not. He fell asleep in the middle of looking through the files. When Judas came in to see how he was doing, he came in seeing the man lightly snoring. He still had his quill in his hand, and his cheek rested on a candidates picture. It seemed like he was working on sending some invitations for residents and dozed off.

He leaned in, and pat his cheek a few times. "Come on, wake up." He said getting his housemate up. Alexander jolted his head up with a yelp. A common side effect from his ptsd. It took Judas by surprise. "It's fine! You're here. In the library." Alexander's head shot in different directions trying to collect his bearings. He finally figured out he was safe, and rubbed his eyes. They had a soft amber glow, and he drifted his eyes over to see Haytham reading something. "Oh, dear was I snoring?" Haytham shook his head. "It wasn't loud enough to interrupt me." He closed the book. "You've been working your tail off. Why not turn in for the night?" He said putting the book away.

Alexander shook his head. "Not a chance. I have to send letters to everyone in this stack. I want to accept four letters." Judas looked confused. "There's only four rooms in the residential corridor. Four roommates plus you equals five. Who would you honestly have share rooms?" He opened up a portfolio on the likely candidates stack. A familiar face was inside. "Oh, so you were wanting a. bedmate." He held the portfolio open toward Alexander "Lady Isabelle....really?" Alexander blushed and took it back closing it putting it back on the stack. "It could happen." He watched Judas laugh tugging his tricorn over his eyes. They flicked a pink then back to amber when he fixed his hat. Judas sat down in a cushion chair on the other end of the room. Alexander looked at his master, and wanted to ask him something. Haytham knew Alexander had some underlying questions and grabbed his book pretending to read as he listened in.

Alexander stood up and walked over to Judas. He looked at the Englishman. "What the fuck are you looking at?" He sat across from him. "Do those... hurt you?" Judas blinked at him. "The chains. I mean.... I know you don't like people grabbing or tugging them. I just didn't know if it actually hurt you." He sounded sincere. The leader rolled his eyes. He pulled up his right sleeve. "This one doesn't bother me as much." When he looked he saw a chain that dug into his arm and looped and his arm like a vine. He leaned in and Judas pulled away.

"Don't pull it!"

He spoke softly. "I won't. I promise." He looked at the chain, and paid special attention to where it was embedded into his arm. He took a fingertip ever so lightly touching where the gold flesh met the metal. He pulled back seeing Judas tense up. He then looked toward his neck at the one hanging near his throat. His wrist was caught by Judas.

"No." He said softly.

His face was not stern. Just showing Alexander was at his limit. Alexander pulled back, and nodded. "Sorry I intruded. 'Tis not my place." He straightened himself up and went to bed taking his candle. Haytham smirked knowing Alexander had his chance. "Getting an opportunity to touch the arm of the man of your dreams?" He whispered as he passed.

"Shut up you little rodent."