Holly Remm's Story

Shilo opened his eyes to a room that was still shrouded in darkness. This is how he preferred to wake up, quietly and slowly adjusting to the light. He had never liked it when he was younger to have his parents' servants come in yelling good morning to him and opening up the curtains for him. He lifted himself up onto his elbows and looked around his room, letting his eyes adjust. He like his room, it was simple and yet elegant. He had a big, four-poster bed where the posts had carved leaves on them and was placed in the middle of the wall. The windows were to the left of his bed and took up most of the wall, though there was windowsill seating all along that wall. His wardrobe was a dark mahogany and was placed facing the bed. To the right of his bed was the entrance door, another door leading to the en suite bathroom with a big leafy plant between the doors. Close to the windows in the corner were two dark green arm chairs and a coffee table making the two chairs and the windowsill seating in that corner a small sitting area. A large bookshelf was between the sitting area and his wardrobe; it contained tons of old, leather bound books and of course a great sound system that would make his whole room fill with the music. He wasn't much of a reader, though it was something to do at times when there was nothing else to be done.

He clambered out of bed, in only his pajama pants and put on a shirt so as to make Remm more comfortable when she came in. He opened the curtains and looked outside. His room was overlooking the back of their estate and the huge garden. Shilo was grateful for this because he didn't really care for the whole city look and at least this way he could pretend that they owned forest land. He smiled to himself as he saw bird flit through their garden glad that they were enjoying it. A couple years ago he had put some bird baths in, so now it made him happy to see them being put to good use.

Shilo's mornings were always the lazy part of his day and lazy moments he didn't mind. He brushed his teeth and went over to his bookshelf. He turned on the music and it started playing the Louis Armstrong CD he was listening to last night. The song "La Vie en Rose" came on and he smiled to himself. This song was one of his favorites, not because it was romantic, but because it was easy to hum and sing along to. He sat by the window and watched the people pass by the manor below.

When Louis's voice came on sings, Shilo began to sing as well. Though his voice wasn't very jazzy like Louis's, it certainly smoothed up Louis's scruffy voice. Shilo's mother always said that his singing was very soft and smooth reminding her of a fresh coat of snow.

"Hold me close and hold me fast
The magic spell you cast
This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me heaven sighs
And tho I close my eyes
I see la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart
I'm in a world apart
A world where roses bloom

And when you speak...angels sing from above
Everyday words seem...to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me
And life will always be
La vie en rose."

Remm walked down the corridor, hearing the sound of music echoing from Shilo's room, which obviously meant he was awake. She whistled along to the song as she walked. When Remm reached the room, she quietly peeked into Shilo's room.
"Good morning!"
She whispered. Inviting herself in, she slide stepped into the room. She was holding a tray, with a cup of coffee, pancakes, syrup, and there was a couple pieces of shellfish on the side.
She set it down on the bed, and sighed.
"There's a Ball tonight, held by Mr.Forsburg."
Remm sat on the bed, and brushed the bangs out of her face. She silently scuffed to herself,
"I hate Balls..."
Her eyes wandered to the pancakes and syrup. She quickly shook her head, and gave a soft smile to Shilo.
"Anyways, here's breakfast."

Shilo heard Remm come in and turned to look at her, still quietly humming to himself the tune that was playing. She was carrying his breakfast of coffee, pancakes, and some shellfish. He smiled at the shellfish. Sure it was odd that he had it in the morning, but he couldn't help it, shellfish was one thing he would never give up.

Before Remm came to give him his breakfast she sighed and sat down on the bed. "There's a ball tonight, held by Mr. Forsburg," she said, pushing some bangs out of her face, "I hate balls.."

Shilo couldn't help but smile at her disdain. They weren't his favorite in the world either, but he also knew that it was best to make a bad situation good again instead of making it worse.

Remm then realized she still had his breakfast and gave a small smile, "Anyways, here's breakfast." He got his breakfast, saying thank you to Remm, before immediately going towards the shellfish. Once his shellfish was gone he looked up to Remm.

"What else is on the schedule today?" he asked, "Because if we have a break in the schedule of doing nothing then we could maybe hit the town, maybe even go to a music or art store? I would also need to get a present some time for the Forsburg family while we're out, but that shouldn't take too long. What do you think?" He began to eat the rest of his breakfast, saving the coffee for last and all the while humming the Louis Armstrong and glancing out the window at the people who walked by. They always had somewhere to go, never slowing to see the others around them.

With the silence coming from Remm, Shilo let himself ramble a little bit; something he rarely did, but felt he needed to do every now and then, "I'm hoping to get some more sheet music for my violin, we could even look for one that has words to it so you can sing along ."

"What else is on the schedule today?"
Shilo asked.
"Because if we have a break in the schedule of doing nothing then we could maybe hit the town, maybe even go to a music or art store? I would also need to get a present some time for the Forsburg family while we're out, but that shouldn't take too long. What do you think?"
Remm thought for a second before she answered.
"Well, we have to pick up your suit...I insisted that they bring it here, but the owner refused. Yes, then there is a present, but then...I guess we have a lot of free time on our hands."
For about a minute or two, there was an awkward silence, before Shilo spoke up.
"I'm hoping to get some more sheet music for my violin, we could even look for one that has words to it so you can sing along ."
She smiled,
"That'd be great!"

"That'd be great!" Remm said. Shilo smiled at her, even though they've only known each other for almost a year, he figured that he knew his friend pretty well; and he definitely knew that music was her favorite, especially singing.

"Great! Well then let's get going before we lose time," Shilo said. He finished his breakfast quickly and went into his wardrobe where he grabbed a random shirt and pants and headed to the bathroom to change. Fortunately for him all the clothes in his wardrobe were presentable and match most everything else, so even if he wasn't looking to what he grabbed his father would feel he looked decent enough to go out into society. Today he was wearing a white button-up shirt and jean, add a vest to jazz it up and he was ready. He brushed his hair quickly, while poking his head out the door.

"Tell the driver we won't be needing him, we can just walk it won't be that far. Also if you could be so kind as to grab my wallet, I'll be downstairs in a few," He told Remm before he popped back inside the bathroom to finish getting ready. It wasn't long before he was heading down the hall. The Diamonfair's hallway was richly made, not because of the decor but more from the colors. They only used the deepest and richest of colors such as mahogany, velvet red, and gold. Shilo was grateful they didn't have too much decor to add to it because he felt otherwise it would be too much. There were some paintings on the walls, but not of him or his family, those pictures were downstairs in the lounge room. These were old paintings passed down in his family. They were a painting of his ancestors. The head of the houses mainly, though a few scattering paintings were the head and the family as well; even a servant might slip in for the painting, but that was a rare sight.

Shilo passed his little sister's room; Dalia. He loved her very much and longed to take her outside, but his parents treated her like a glass doll, she was never allowed to leave the house. He knew why, though he didn't agree. When Dalia was born she caught an illness that sent her to the hospital only about a month or two after she was born. They thought she was going to die, but in the end she survived by the help of some amazing doctors. To Shilo this proved that she was strong and could handle herself, but to his parents this meant that she could break easily. He knocked on her door and peaked in.

"Dalia, I'm heading into town do you need anything?" he asked. Dalia looked up, she was a very small girl with big sad looking eyes that seemed to glisten purple in the right light.

"Maybe some peaches," Dalia said. Shilo smiled and bowed to her, making her giggle.

"You're wish is my command." He knew that she could easily just ask one of the maids to bring her peaches, but for some reason she preferred it if Shilo bought them from the markets in town for her. Either way, it made her happy so who was Shilo to ignore that. He ran downstairs meeting Remm. It was warm out today so he wasn't going to bother with a coat. Then they were heading into town.

The streets were busy with people as some prepared for balls, galas, parties, while others were rushing to work for those who were going to have entertainment tonight. It didn't take them long to get Elliot and his family a gift; a simple bottle of the finest Bordeaux in town, simple yet extravagant is what the Diamonfair's were known best for, besides his father's work in the hotel business. He decided to wait on the peaches for Dalia till later so they wouldn't go bad and so the two were heading off to the music store. They were about a block away when Shilo saw Apollo and his servant in their path. The change between Shilo's calm and quiet face to the mysterious and respectable facade was nearly instantaneous when he saw Apollo among the crowd. But the change was there none the less.

"Apollo," Shilo greeted as they came into hearing distance of each other, "Are you ready for the ball tonight?"

"Tell the driver we won't be needing him, we can just walk it won't be that far. Also if you could be so kind as to grab my wallet, I'll be downstairs in a few,"
Shilo told Remm.
"Alright."
She picked up the wallet, and realized she wasn't properly dressed... She quickly brushed her hair, and slipped on a plain white t-shirt, and black yoga pants, that went down to her knees. She went down the stairs, just in time to see Shilo run down not to long after her.
While they were out, they had happen to run into Apollo, and Mio.
"Apollo."
Remm heard Shilo greet him.
"Are you ready for the Ball tonight?"

" I’m not lost.. nor have I ever been in this house. I’m Renee, the head charge of the servants under the young Miss’s employment. Now, I suggest that you cover up that painting there, young man.. the Miss doesn’t take too kindly to people snooping in things they shouldn’t be.” Axel had his head bowed guiltily, before looking up and seeing the look in her eyes that made him relax, just a bit, though not completely out of the woods just yet. "Im sorry! I didn't mean to snoop but I just-"Just as Axel was beginning to ramble, music began to slip down the hallways, echoing off the walls and covered paintings. The music room, could it be..? ”Ah.. the young Miss is playing again... It’s been while, ever since her..... well never mind."

He took a moment, listening to the music that filled the hallway. The piano had been his favorite, Axel wasn't great at it but it's pleasing to his ears, especially when someone else is playing it. He closed his eyes, letting the music fill his body and slow his heart, it had a soothing effect on him. A gift his father had given his mother had been a keyboard, a high tech one that even had keys light up to help teach you how to play. His mother had played it for him every night since he was young, and he hadn't realized now how much he missed that sound, and his mother. His stomach turned. "Put that cloth back on the painting then come with me, Mr. Sparks." He opened his eyes, the moment broken as his brows furrowed at the command.

Recluntantly, he sat his tray down once before to grab the cloth, but then paused and turned to Renee. "Why are all the paintings covered? Every single of one of them.. If their anything like this one,"He paused, taking a glance back up to the mother-daughter portrait. "What gives?? If I could ever paint something like this for me and my mother, I'd have it front and center." He droned on, squinting his eyes as he tried to figure out how to rehang the cloth without knocking the painting off the wall.

As carefully as he could, he climbed onto the tables positioned in the hallway, letting the cloth spread out once more as he hooked a bit of cloth around a corner. He frowned and paused again, he didn't really want to cover it. It was too great of a painting, such a personal one as well, but he found that he'd never understand the upperclass and the things they do. His frown deepened as he continued to recover the painting the best he could, "I just don't understand. Why have all these paintings done only to cover them? Is that what the upperclass do? Do things just because..?" He questioned, going to hop back down after hanging the cloth only to throw himself off balance as the table wobbled when he shift. "Ahh!" Flaing, his hands grabbed at air before hitting the ground hard, sending the contents on the table flying along with the already ruined breakfast and tea, once again on the floor and scattered about. Axel groaned, a foot still in the air before it fell limp to the ground, his body physically giving up. He closed his eyes and just laid there, miserable and irritated.

"Why would my father ever recommend this.." He muttered irritatbly to himself, his fist balled as he buried his palms into his eyes, taking a moment before roughly sitting up. Without another word he began to clean up another thing he managed to mess up, violently positioning the table back to it's upright position before grabbing up the ruined breakfast, another stain of tea on the floor. "Sorry.. Im just a screw up. Luckily, you won't have me for long. Im sure Mistress Victorique is signing me off as we speak."
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Even after snapping himself out of his stupor to avoid walking into traffic, Apollo still found himself in a daze, his memories still holding him as his brows furrowed. Once more, he was off, this time rooted to his spot before a voice pulled him out again, "Master Apollo. Master Apollo!" It took him a moment, but Apollo turned to look down at his maid, he eyes held with concern as he stared back at her with dull eyes, still not all the way there. "You forgot to get the Forsberg's a gift." She stated calmly while his brows furrowed in confusion, his mind still foggy before suddenly snapping back into the present. The present! The Ball! "Oh yes, of course.." He murmured, his blue eyes clearing and once again vibrant as he seemed to come back to life. He stood taller, his hands freed from being buried deep into his pockets and now hung at his sides, his posture relaxed like usual. He looked like himself, but he was having a war inside of him. He turned around ready to go back the way he came as he began to open his mouth, "Look, Mio, I-"

"Apollo," A familiar voice called out to him, cutting him off, "Are you ready for the ball tonight?" Apollo halted in mid step, his brows furrowed a bit before turning around. Once facing Shilo, any sign of trouble or confusion had been wiped before fully turning around. A full smile graced his face, his charming aura back as he greeted his fellow peer. "Shilo! Of course I am, Im always ready for a good party. I was just on my way to pick up a party gift for our host, what brings you here? Gift shopping as well?" Apollo spoke, his voice flowed from his, confident and strong as he stood, subtly positioning himself in front of Mio. His body acted on his own, though he didn't dwell on it as he took a moment to even nod his head towards Shilos maid, Remm, a smile still present on his face.

"Im sure you're as excited as I am?" Apollo questioned, keeping polite conversation. Though Apollo was looked up after by many, so was the male before him, and even Apollo admired him and the way he held himself. They never really hung out, but during the balls or even moments like this, Shilo was great company to keep. "Would you and Remm like to accompany us while we shop? Im also trying to kill time before my mother gets her chance to sink her claws into me."He added with an eye roll, recalling back to the very conversation. His mother, being as cunning as ever, always tried to get him to agree to let her dress him up herself like she used to. Since she wouldn't be present for this upcoming ball, the begging had come on thick, and with a couple bats of her eyes, Apollo had given in to his mothers pleas. He shuttered at the smile she had given him when he said yes, he knew he had probably made a mistake. A big one.