"Andrius." The butler put down the rolling pin and turned to see Lady Maria.
"M-Maria, what are you-" Andrius clears his throat and bows at the waist. "How can I be of service?"
"Would you care to accompany me to the patisserie downtown?"
"Milady," Andrius began solemnly. "Your father the King has forbidden me from fraternizing with you. I am, ah, beneath your station."
"Pssshh." Maria responded, not a least bit dissuaded. "This isn't a date or something. I have a sudden craving for caramel apples and wish to purchase one posthaste." She looked up at the butler. "Surely my father would approve of being escorted this late in the evening?"
"It is a clever excuse, milady." Andrius replied, a hint of a smile on his face.
She turned for the door with a wave of her hand. "This isn't a date, I simply want a caramel apple and you are the first person I ran into."
"If you insist." Andrius put down his baking tools and went to fetch his coat.
"If you're going to be seen with me in public you could at least put on something nice." Maria rolled her eyes and left.
Andrius felt the familiar sting of embarrassment and went to procure something less indicative of his station.
...
Old Man Magna heard the younger butler enter the servant's quarters, but did not look up from his book.
"Evening Magna." Andrius called.
Magna turned the page. "Evening, Andrius."
Several minutes past. The two butlers had an unspoken bond where each respected the other's privacy, but when the younger returned in casual clothes Magna actually looked up from his book. "And where do you think you're off to tonight?"
Andrius stopped, unsure of how to respond. "Lady Maria has requested an escort downtown. I am accompanying her."
Magna eyed the young man knowingly. "King Spiffeh will not be pleased to hear of you seeing his daughter. He will want to know about this."
"This was not of my making, Magna." Andrius replied. His eyes were resolute. "Do this for me?"
Magna chuckled and returned to his book. "Godspeed."
Andrius left with a spring in his step and an excited wave. Magna smiled and shook his head. "Oh, to be young again."
...
The walk downtown was pleasant. The town was bustling in its post-dinner errands and the night was cool yet inviting. Andrius walked aside Maria at a respectable distance. While those in town certainly knew of her, he was an unfamiliar face. She spoke of her studies and her brothers' progress in school. He spoke of the many habits and oddities of the servant staff, including Old Man Magna and himself. She laughed on occasion, and his spirits were reservedly high.
They arrived at the local patisserie and she went to purchase her desired treat while he went to procure something warm to drink. They sat in by the window looking out over the town square.
"Do you have other aspirations for the future? Besides working for my father, that is?" Maria asked, looking up at him from her dessert.
Andrius smiled. "Actually, I would love to open up a little bakery somewhere."
She frowned. "A bakery?" That only demonstrated his lack of proper breeding. No man of stature would submit himself to such a menial occupation, even if he were pressed into service as a butler through unideal circumstances.
"I enjoy working with my hands. And food makes people happy. A warm loaf of bread is sheer joy. Even here, this patisserie..." the young butler carried on, and she could see the fire in his eyes conveyed the honest truth that the young man wanted nothing more than to work an honest job. She had noticed he took an interest in baking a couple months ago after the sudden death of Titus, a fellow serving lady.
She frowend, but was not displeased. "And you plan on baking for the rest of your life?"
"Not solely." He replied, sipping from his glass. "I'd like to start a family some day, and I have friends down here in town that I will still see."
She looked out the window briefly. It had begun to lightly snow while they were inside. "I don't suppose you meet many people in our service, let alone women who are interested in butlers."
"Who's to say I'm looking?" Andrius replied, a bit of a laugh in his voice.
Yes, the rumor was that he was interested in her, though he never partook in such talk himself.
"I merely want to do what I love - which is bake." He paused, turning slightly red. "And be with the people we care about. What is more important in life?"
Maria might have blushed if she had not expected this - he wore his heart of his sleeve, but somehow she found it endearing.
"Well, we should probably be off." Maria stood.
"Yes, I suppose we should. Your father will be cross if you are out this late unpermitted."
"Let me handle my father." Maria replied dismissively.
They departed after Andrius bade farewell to the shopkeep.
He arranged a carriage to pick her up, and helped her inside. "Milady, this is where I leave you." Andrius stated simply.
"You're not returning?" Maria asked. This was unexpected.
"No, I will enjoy the walk in the snow later this evening, but I think I'll swing by the pub and see if my friends are there."
Right. His friends. Wait. He has friends? At the pub? Deplorables, father called them.
"Well its not my business what you do. Suit yourself." Maria said haughtily.
Andrius bowed from the waist. "Thank you for allowing me to accompany you, milady. I enjoyed these moments together."
"Now don't go getting emotional on me." Maria replied. "I'll see you back at the castle."
"Very well. Take care."
And with that, the carriage was off. Andrius sighed and headed off to the pub where he would be, no doubt, chided for once again allowing himself to become interested in her. As he walked in the front door the inebriated cries of "ANDYYYYYYYY" echoed from the familiar booth where his fellow deplorables waited.
CUTTING IT SHORT BECAUSE HAMMER
WOULD ADD SPY AND FIRE AND UT BUT HAMMER MEANS VOTECOUNT INCOMING
"This is the true face of a man who plays paladin."
THEY WILL LIVE AGAIN IN FREEDOM IN THE GARDEN OF THE LORD
THEY WILL WALK BEHIND THE PLOWSHARE
THEY WILL PUT AWAY THE SWORD
THE CHAIN WILL BE BROKEN AND ALL MEN WILL HAVE THEIR REWARD
"This is the true face of a man who plays paladin."
"You are the Joker of mafia players" - Oversoul
"last time I was scum with Firebringer
his first post in the scum PT was "yes I rolled scum!"
I decided to post "haha just don't post that in the main thread", but to get up to date on the main thread first.
His first post in the main thread was "yes I rolled scum!" -popsofctown
"You are the Joker of mafia players" - Oversoul
"last time I was scum with Firebringer
his first post in the scum PT was "yes I rolled scum!"
I decided to post "haha just don't post that in the main thread", but to get up to date on the main thread first.
His first post in the main thread was "yes I rolled scum!" -popsofctown
"You are the Joker of mafia players" - Oversoul
"last time I was scum with Firebringer
his first post in the scum PT was "yes I rolled scum!"
I decided to post "haha just don't post that in the main thread", but to get up to date on the main thread first.
His first post in the main thread was "yes I rolled scum!" -popsofctown
did another ms user do something lovely? recognize their achievements here!
