100 Theme Challenge #83

Sequel of #82.

83. Message

Rowan kept being pushed around by strangers who didn't even acknowledge him. They probably didn't know who he was, and he made no attempt to let them know either. He drank the wine too fast, it was already getting to his head and vision a bit. He asked a servant to bring him water, he couldn't begin to loosen himself around these people, and he still had to find Letha, the only person he considered his friend, other than his family in this crowd. He knew her and her father were supposed to be present tonight. He sighed in defeat and gave up, deciding he'd better hide in a corner until the night was over.

He found an empty table by some miracle and sat on a comfortable chair, telling himself he wouldn't move for a while. He observed people conversing together, recognized some faces, but he wasn't the kind of person to try to make conversation unless on his parents forced him to. He wished he'd brought a book, at least he'd had something to do. Clarity slowly came back to him as he drank some more water, and he saw Randa discuss with a tall man, and it was obvious to him she was under his char. He seemed nice, so Rowan relaxed. He let his gaze wander and suddenly caught the eyes of another man on him. Taken slightly by surprise, h saluted ut of politeness, and the other's lips widened. First thing Rowan knew, the crowd was dispersing itself to let the stranger come closer.

"May I join you?" He asked, looking down at him and the smile still grazing his lips. His hand was already on the opposite chair's back.

"Sure, feel free to join me in my boredom," Rowan answered. To his surprise once again, the man chuckled and slid in the chair closest to him. He looked at his glass.

"Only water? That might be the reason of your bored mind."

Rowan grimaced. "I'm trying to please my mother for tonight, so no alcohol to distract myself, sadly."

"Are you Rowan, by any chance, the son of the hosts?"

"Yes, I am. I'm afraid I don't know your name…"

"Brandon Appleton. I'm Letha's brother. She told me much about you."

Rowan smiled. "I didn't know she had a brother. She was supposed to be here tonight, wasn't she?"

"Sadly no. She had other matters to attend to, so I'm her substitute. I'll let her know you asked about her, she'll be pleased."

A servant walked by them, conveniently, and Rowan took two cups of wine. He offered one to Brandon.

"Here, perhaps this shall help loosen our bowties, figuratively speaking, of course. I feel like it's getting tighter and tighter."

"Let me help." Brandon leaned closer and deftly loosened his neckwear, and Rowan couldn't help but stare at him as he felt his warm fingers against his neck. He had aristocratic features, with a straight nose and full lips. Even his eyebrows were perfect.

"So you're present tonight to support your sister?"

"Partly, and there's always entertainment," he replied, earning him a curious look but a crooked smile.

"Entertainment, you say?"

"All sorts of. The old ladies making it their mission to embarrass their husband is one, and also all the younger people eager to find someone to fumble their way with in the gardens on in an isolated room," Rowan said with a smile before sipping his wine. It was expansive one, it probably cost more than a whole month of a common man's salary.

"You believe yourself mature enough not to do that anymore?" Brandon teased him, eyes shining with amusement. His own bow tie was loosened, dangling from his neck, and a few buttons of his shirt were opened. With his slightly tousled hair, Rowan felt breathless for a few seconds. He averted his gaze to the people still surrounding them.

"I believe my needs can't be satisfied such way anymore. I tell my parents and sister what they want to hear, but I…" He frowned. Why was he telling this man, someone he'd just met, all of these things? He'd kept his secret for so long, and at the first occasion, he was ready to spill everything to a perfect stranger. This was not the way to do in this society. Though Brandon didn't seem affected by his confession, instead he continued to smile with those dimples.

Music softly started from somewhere, the dances were beginning. People slowly made way for a dance floor, and Rowan watched with fondness his sister introduces the dance with the same man she was talking with earlier.

"Let me recite a poem for you, I wonder if you know it," Brandon suddenly said after a shared silence. On a calm tone, and with his bright eyes anchored in Rowan's, he began: " Then, at the point of agony and when all is beyond help, the tree's buds burst as if in jubilation, then, when fear no longer exists, the branch's drops tumble in a shimmer, forgetting that they were afraid of the new, forgetting that they were fearful of the journey - feeling for a second their greatest security, resting in the trust that creates the world."

Other couples were joining the dance floor, linking arms and smiling at each other. Rowan tried to understand what Brandon meant by telling him that poem, what he was trying to tell him since the beginning of this conversation.

"Do you…" he started to ask, but stopped himself, unsure, but Brandon still understood and nodded.

"What if we stopped being afraid of the new, Rowan?"

He raised up, offered his hand to him.

"Would you like to dance with me?"

Rowan threw glances around, then at Brandon's open face, then his outstretched arm, ready for him. He got up from his seat and, throwing him a wide grin, joined their hands together.

(What is 100TC?)

The poem is taken from Yes, Of Course It Hurts, by Karin Boye.