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Darkseeker
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Avery shrugged, still keeping his hands deep in his pockets. "I guess we can start in the rose garden," he said in a subdued voice, already turning to go that way. He veered away from the house, walking under a small trellis at the far end of a perfectly manicured lawn, and heading into the rose garden beyond. The bushed were neatly pruned, and the blossoms were large and full. Avery brushed his finger over one, the vevetly petals feeling softer than usual under his touch. He sighed softly, and went to his favorite part of the rose garden. Here were some of the rarest roses in the world: Juliet Roses. The bloom's tight center, and almost cuplike shape were his favorite flowers, and he relaxed slightly, surrounded by them. They were in their prime, and he knew he could pick some, if he felt like it. Avery shoved his phone in his breast pocket, and crouched to examine a rose that seemed less full than the others, and he eyed it critically, but gently, and examined it. |
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Neutral
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Aspen was relieved to hear that the peach garden was not his favorite. He never thought he would be so happy to hear the mention of a rose garden. He didn't have anything against flowers, he just didn't see the point in wasting money trying to grow one. Perhaps it was different for people that had the money for this sort of thing. He followed Prince Avery, observing his behavior. He watched his fingers brush the roses as they walked by, he heard the sigh, and he noticed the prince began to feel relaxed. Well, he assumed it was that by the way his posture changed and his facial expression change. The rose garden was beautiful. He couldn't tell what roses were planted where but he could tell a variety of different roses were here. It must have been hard work planting and designing a garden like this. "Wow, it must have been hard work planting and keeping maintanence of such a garden," He commented, moving beside the prince. He crouched down beside him to look at the roses that he was eyeing,"What a green thumb your mother must have." |
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Darkseeker
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Avery's gaze dropped. "Mum stopped working in the garden after Robbie was around five. The public said it wasn't very queenly of her. I think she really misses it. She wasn't originally Royal," Avery said, sadly. "She was a duchess, but with no close relation to the crown. She thought she'd be free her whole life. Then she and my da met at a party. She didn't recognize him, and they really hit it off. Mum was too in love to change her mind, and she gave up her dreams for their life together." Avery pulled a small pocketknife out of his suit jacket, and carefully cut the slightly imperfect blossom, bringing it to his face so he could catch the sweet scent. He rolled his fingers over the stem, barely noticing when the pad of his finger was pierced by one of the thorns. He stared at the blood beading on is finger, and curled his hand into a fist.
"It's strange being back here, after all these years," he whispered. "It doesn't feel right." He straightened, keeping a tight grasp on the bloom.
"Do you have a favorite flower? There's a man made meadow on the other side of Windermere. It might be there." |
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Neutral
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"That must have been tough, going from one lifestyle to another," Aspen sympathized. He couldn't imagine how hard it had to be to adjust to such an extraordinary lifestyle. He kind of wished the queen hadn't changed herself to fit the media or given up gardening. It would have sent a powerful message that royalty wasn't different from any other person. But then he also understood why she did it. He grew slightly alarmed when the prince pricked his finger on the rose. He waited for an explanation, half expecting not to get one. The prince was never a friend of talking. "It's strange being back here, after all these years. It doesn't feel right." That would have to be as good as one that he was going to get. He stood up when the Prince did and gently took his hand that was curled into a fist. He gently uncurled it and pulled out a handkerchief, placing it on the finger pad that he pricked. "I'm here if you want to talk," He squeezed the other man's hand before letting go,"You know that." "Do you have a favorite flower? There's a man made meadow on the other side of Windermere. It might be there." Sighing, he shook his head. He didn't know much about flowers. The farm didn't have any. "I have never had the time to grow interested in planting anything other than what I did back home," His voice grew tight at the mention of home, indicating that it was a sour topic. He'd rather not talk about the peach farm. |
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Darkseeker
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Avery was still struggling to keep his emotions far away, and nodded solemnly. "I think I'm going to go back in, unless you'd prefer me to stay?"
Just as he finished speaking, his phone ranging. He gave Aspen a tired and apologetic smile.
"Sorry, I really ought to take this. It's my dad." He stepped slightly away from the other man, and pulled out his phone, softly answering the call. Raw emotion flashed across his face, and he let out a shuddering breath, quickly hanging up. He started towards Windemere, and then whirled around. "It's Robbie. There...there was some kind of accident at the track, and-" Avery cut himself off, keeping back his tears. "I'm sorry, I have to go. I can't lose him too, not now." He ran back to the looming house, dropping the blossom as he went. Avery went to the front of Windemere, and there was a car already waiting. He quickly got inside, and then he let his emotions come. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he buried his head in his hands, praying that the car would go faster, that they would make it to the track and that Robbie would be ok.
He was shaking, scared and pale, everything he wasn't allowed to be. A strange thought hit him, and a strangled laugh tore from his throat. At least the track was inside Windemere's grounds, and the paparazzi wouldn't be able to get any pictures. |
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Neutral
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Aspen barely had time to process what he was hearing. The raw emotion on his face, the pale skin, the rambling... And then Prince Avery was running. And he was running after him. He didn't know what he was doing. He wasn't invited to go to the track for Prince Robbie. But yet, nonetheless, he fought through the guards, forced the car to stop before it left the drive and quickly climbed into the seat next to the prince. He cared for the younger prince and was worried himself. He was more worried about Prince Avery and how he was going to take it. Not well seemed to be the answer. Without thinking, he threw his arms around the other man's shoulders. He pulled him into his own body just as he let out a strangled sounding laugh. "Shhhh, take deep breaths..." He soothed him, running a hand up and down his back,"You're not going to lose him. He's going to be okay. He's a tough kid..." |
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Darkseeker
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Avery scowled. "He's not that strong, goddammit! He almost died when he born, he was too small! And then after Em..." he trailed off, and curled his hands into fists, digging his nails into his soft palms. "I can't lost him too!" The second the car stopped at the track, Avery yanked himself away from Aspen, threw the door open, and flat out sprinted across the lanes to where he saw the cars. A bright green Maserati was missing half it's hood, and had a long scrape along it. Avery was internally screaming, running to where the paramedics were. Robbie was laid out on a stretcher, and was being moved to an ambulance, but when the paramedics saw Avery, they hesitated, waiting for him to catch up. He finally made it there, and saw his brother. The younger prince's blonde curls were matted with blood, and his face was pale, his eyes closed. Avery caught his brother's hand, and squeezed tightly. "Hey, bobbin," he said softly, using a nickname he hadn't used in years. The EMT patted his arm. "He can't hear you," she said softly. "He's out cold." Avery shuddered, hating the words. "Can I go with you? Please, I need to." The EMT sighed, but nodded, and Avery followed them to the ambulance. |
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Neutral
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There was clearly so much that the older prince wasn't telling him. He didn't know what else to do, so when the car stopped and Prince Avery yanked himself free, he let him go. Just beyond the track, he could see the damaged car with its hood missing. Just beyond that, he could see the younger prince on a stretcher. He knew he couldn't talk any sense into the prince at this point or make him calm down. But he knew one thing: the prince shouldn't be alone. He watched the prince join his brother in the ambulance and the ambulance take off. "Follow them," He said softly but the car driver didn't move. Of course it didn't move, he wasn't royalty and wasn't supposed to be here in the first place. Sighing, he dug around his wallet for 20 euro. He slipped it into the car driver's pocket. "Follow the ambulance, please." The car driver still looked hesitant. Probably afraid to break the king's word. Now that was one person that would not be too happy once he found out about Aspen's appearance...however, he had a feeling that the queen could talk the king out of his nasty temper. "Please? I beg of you, you heard the state Prince Avery was in. It's not good for him to be alone right now," He insisted and after one final plea, the car took off. It followed the route of the ambulance. |
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Darkseeker
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Avery sat next to his brother, barely seeing. The sterile smell of the ambulance wasn't helping his panic, and he was still sobbing, clutching his brother's hand. He didn't want to look at anything but Robbie's hand, and his face. He was scared he was going to see something he didn't want to see. There was only one hospital on the Island, and it was rarely in use. When the Royal family was there, it was always ready just in case. Avery had always thought it was strange that his parents always called ahead to make sure everything was set, but know he couldn't be happier. The Ambulance pulled up to the hospital, and they EMTs quickly whisked Robbie away. Avery followed as far as he could, but a kind doctor caught his arm, and took him to a waiting room. "I'm sorry, your Highness, but they need to make sure your brother is ok," she explained. "They're gonna run some tests, ok? And then we'll let you know what's going on." Avery felt like he was slipping into shock. Nothing meant anything anymore, and he nodded vaguely. The doctor pushed a styrofoam cup of tea into his hands with a sympathetic smile, and then vanished. He stared into the depths of the amber liquid, and shifted in the hard chair. |
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Neutral
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Aspen arrived well after the ambulance did. He had a suspicion that the driver made sure to follow slowly. Perhaps to warn the king about his behavior or give the king time to stop him. It was something he couldn't worry much about now. Once the car stopped, he got out and went inside the hospital. It was practically empty which was odd. But yet there was a familiar face sitting in the old hard small chairs. This time the face wasn't masking any emotion. It was quite clear how distressed the prince was. "You look like you need a friend," He sat down beside the prince. He looked like he had calmed down a little but that was probably shock. That seemed to be the natural order of emotional distress. He was careful with how he spoke or even how he sat. He knew one wrong move might cause a not so pleasant emotional reaction from the prince. |
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Spring 
Day Weather: 
