Midway pt. 5 Like Mind
My sister was displeased to say the least. She didn't care that we had our get together at a time when there was a killer somewhere in the kingdom. She was displeased by the choice of guests we invited into our home.
Sky - you invited strangers into the castle
Louis - they were vetted by the the Reeves, everyone was and is safe
Sky- this isn't about safety
Par- then what is this about, they weren't "workers" they were good people
Sky- good people? A night from another kingdom, a scientist who's only major success is a slightly brighter light than candles, a winch clearly looking for a crown , and perhaps the worst is the literal circus perform, do ether of you want to be king , do you care about the reputation of the crown at all
Louis - Sky your looking at this to deep , a few unique guests are not going to give the kingdom a bad reputation
Sky- but would you care if they did
Louis - of course I'd care , god , you act like your the only one here fit to wear a crown but your so detached from everything
Sky- I would keep our people safe, I would make sure our family name stood with honor untarnished by scandal and rumor
Louis - you would keep our people scared and soulless under the military's boot, we wanted to have some fun something you should learn to do,
Par- Sky , this isn't a battle, you don't need to guard us from life
Sky -and I suppose you think you'd be a better ruler as well , even after the events of the past days
Par- I don't want to rule anything, but if I did I wouldn't let fear of how we might look stop us from living life , and sure maybe we could have waited to have our guests, but no one is going to die or rebel against the Kingdom over my first kiss, our family name is still good
How we managed to get so far from our united selves was a mystery, but I know it started with a choice. Four guests each unique in their own way, and they were there for me. I made my decision of who to approach first in a most uncommon shallow way. Santo was the most out of place but he was the easiest to approach.
My brother took the other guests on a tour of the castle leaving me with Santo.
Santo - so I'm the first to be looked over am I
Par- looked over ?
Santo- inspected, your brother was vague in his description of what you wanted with all of us , but he made it clear that we were her for an opportunity to get close to you
Par- and that's something that you want , you are here after all
Santo- I haven't made up my mind
Par- so a prince of the kingdom you live in still requires stipulation
Santo- there have been many kings queens and others of royal titles that have proven vetting is always necessary
Par- and what have you concluded about me thus far
Santo - that your nowhere near as abrasive as your brother , and your actually talking to me so your not a biased aristocratic like your sister
Par- careful , that's my family your talking about
Santo- am I wrong
There was a nice chemistry brewing between us. He didn't seem intimidated by my title and I think that allowed us to talk without as many red lines to avoid. We sat to eat lunch. The cook made quite the spread all of which was to my taste, vegetarian.
Par- I'm sorry I can have them bring some kind of meat for you
Santo - no need , I'm a vegetarian
It made sense why he was so lean.
Par- I've never met a lion that could survive without meat
Santo- Its not by choice, I can't eat anything with blood
Par- I'm sorry
Santo - don't be I haven't had meat since I was a young cub so I don't really miss it
Par- It's still rare, you must have a lot of meals to make up for what you can't have
Santo- meals are rare
Par- your not poor are you
Santo- no , not at all , I mean I've invented a way to go long periods of time without food , it's a special drink of mine
Par- that's amazing how you make these new things , King Father always said I had a brain but you, you know how to use yours
Santo- I'm not that special, it takes a hundred failures to come close to a single invention worth use
Par- but you keep trying
Santo- I suppose I do
I'm not sure but I think I made him blush.
Santo- I have to say , your not what I was expecting
Par- what were you expecting
Santo- not this, royals tend to be so set in their ways, closed off, or don't care for what the common people they rule over have to say , but you , you seem more interested in what I do than the people who hire me
Par- well we don't all see science and innovation as witch craft and black magic
There was a pause , but it was good. For a brief moment no words need be said as we shared a smile and equal comfort.
Santo- would you like to see my work shop
Par - right now
Santo- unless your done with me already
My brother was keeping everyone else occupied so I was free to leave with Santo, but I was uneasy. I never left the castle without my brother or sister. But there was a good wind in the air and I threw caution to it.
I debated with myself on taking royal guards but I knew that would be too much. As we walked the cobblestone streets I didn't feel fear. I was over come by the banquet of new things I'd never seen for myself. Little things like the shops and parks. Fae was an old kingdom and many of its buildings were lush with overgrowth and the most unpredictable beauties. And of course there were the things I could have gone without seeing like the many homeless, and the decrepit state of land still untouched after the "War of The Mad King" generations before my time.
Santo and I finally made it to his work shop , a small little house hidden away in a wooded area. We were so far from the castle , and it started to set in just how long our walk took. The sun was beginning to be low as he unlocked the doors to his home and we stepped in.
Santo- Its not much , but it's mine
From front to back top to bottom all my eyes could see were wood and metal forming the most elaborate things, things that I did not understand and I appreciated .
Par- it's beautiful
As the suns light fell it became harder to see until he pulled a lever and lights illuminated everything. Where to begin, I think that's the question on our minds at the time. He took my hand in his and pulled me into the weaving of beautiful madness.
Santo- this is my life , this is what I do
Par- I can only imagine what your house must look like if this is your workshop
Santo- this is my house, or it will be when I can afford to but it from the owner
Par- the owner
Santo- he's a nice man , let's me conduct my experiments how I wish as long as I don't burn the place down
Par- but where do you sleep, where do you eat
He showed me to a wall in the corner of the room and pulled another lever. Right before my eyes everything sank into the floor and the walls as it turned from a workshop to a bedroom. It was a less impressive sight.
Par- you sleep here , in this small place
Santo- we can't all afford gold encrusted castles your highness
Par- I didn't mean it like that
It was almost depressing. At least as a work shop the many inventions that took up space made the room feel like a marvel, but with only a bed and wardrobe I couldn't help but feel guilty. I knew that when our day ended I would return to a castle and he would stay in that place. King father once said " never pitty a man who has less, but don't assume that they want what they lack", if Santo was happy then I had no reason not to be.
Par- it's getting late , I think I should be getting home
Santo- before you go , let me give you something
He went over to his bed and pulled a box from under it. He took from the box a small rod like thing.
Santo- this is a light similar to the ones I put in your castle, you can carie it with you
He handed me the light and it was relatively easy to use with only a simple switch to turn it on and off. But it's light was strange.
Par- why is it blue
Santo- different chemicals
Par- well thank you but I didn't bring anything to give you
Santo - just say you won't forget me when your back home and I think we'll be even
Par- I think I can do that
I didn't know if it was right to hug him or kiss him , so I went with the more awkward choice of shaking his hand before leaving. I wish I'd done more than shake his hand. It was a nice day.
As I started my walk back to the castle I got lost in thoughts of all that Santo showed me and the many things he could show me in the future. I got so lost in thought that I became lost in reality. Those beautiful streets seemed menacing in the moonlight. One might have feared spirits as they walked the abandoned night streets. But I could see the castle in the distance so I kept walking.