[color=mediumspringgreen]“I think I’m in love, Charlton.”[/color] Eris said as they floated past him on their rubber pool floaty. Charlton stood on the side, a lemonade pitcher on a platter in one hand, and a towel draped over the other. With both hands full, he wasn’t able the swat the annoying fly buzzing in front of his face, yet he tried to answer anyway.

“Sir, you just met her yesterday. Don’t you think you’re being a bit...repetitive with this relationship?” he asked, as he wriggled his nose slightly to the left.

Eris perked their sunglasses up, and looked at Charlton quizzically. [color=mediumspringgreen]“What do you mean by ‘repetitive’?”[/color] they asked. Charlton twitched his nose.

“What I mean Miss, is that you have a certain way you go about dating. And I have to say, it’s not a very good course of action.” He said. “Each girl usually ends with some form of tears, be them angry or sad.” Eris sighed. They had to admit that Charlton was right in a sense. They weren’t really good at relationships. Or flings. Or friendships. Or really any kind of non familial relationship. [i]Thank god for Charltons limitless patience with me.[/i] 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“Well,”[/color] They said. [color=mediumspringgreen]“You may be right, but I’m no quitter.[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]And there’s always room for improvement, right Charlton?”[/color] Charlton nodded, more so in the hopes that it would get rid of the fly than in agreement. Eris leaned over the side of their pool floaty, and ran their arms through the water in a large arc. The water drenched Charlton, but at least the fly had gone. 

“Thank you, sir.” he said, gratefully. Eris smiled, and gave him a thumbs up.

[color=mediumspringgreen]“No problem my favorite butler.”[/color] They said. 

“I am your [i]only[/i] butler, madame.” He corrected. Just then, they both stopped talking as they could hear the very loud crash coming from the dining room, followed by a “Goddammit, Vivian!” from Mr. Goodoire. Eris sighed, and got out of the pool, taking the towel with them into the house. 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“Stay here.”[/color] They commanded. Charlton nodded reluctantly, and stood by the poolside. Eris walked into the house, their feet slowly hitting the cold, marble floor as they made their way onto what may have been the second domestic dispute that day. Their father stood menacingly over a miss Vivian Hildegard, the housemaid. Angrily clutched in his hand was a shattered glass, what looked to have previously been a wine glass. He was hanging onto it so furiously that it bit into his hand, and blood seeped from his palm, dripping onto the newly waxed marble floor.

“How many times have I told you?” Their father asked her. Vivian had shrank down in a hunched position, holding a silver platter to defend herself with. Eris could see the angry expression on Mr.Goodoires face, and immediately upon seeing it felt a pang of annoyance at his robust anger. “You have to polish every single glass. Every. Single. One. Or they get grimy, and dusty. And no one wants to drink out of glasses with shit on them, Vivian.” He said.

Eris huffed.[color=mediumspringgreen] “Oh lay off her, old man it’s just a few glasses.”[/color] They said. Mr.Goodoire turned to face them, and Eris could see a vein popping out of his neck. [color=mediumspringgreen]“You’re always bitching about something or other, and it’s usually stupid.[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]If you do have to complain, please do it quieter.”[/color]

“You...You have the audacity-!” He raised his hand as if to slap them, but before his hand could reach their face, Charltons hand was there to block his. Mr.Goodoire looked up, surprised to see the butler had appeared. 

“I believe you have had quite enough excitement for today, sir. Please, take a nap. I will sort out miss Hildegard myself.” Mr.Goodoire snatched his hand away, and glared at Charlton. He sulked away from the scene leaving just the two of them. Vivian had snuck away long ago. 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“I thought I told you to stay put.”[/color] Eris turned to him, crossing their arms. 

Charlton nodded. “I know you did, but he seemed...prone to old ways back there. A repeat of something like that is something I can’t let happen again, sir.” he said.

[color=mediumspringgreen]“You know if he gets pissed enough, he’ll finally fire you right?”[/color] Eris said, seriously. Their voice held no concern or reproach, just a deadpan reminder of the power their father held over him. Charlton gulped, and nodded.

“Yes. I understand. I wouldn’t be any help to you then, would I?” he said. Eris just shook their head. 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“Next time, just let me take the hit, Charlton.[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]We’ll deal with it afterwards.”[/color] Charltons face was grim, but understanding. 

“I understand. But you have to know how hard that will be, Miss.” he said. They walked up to him, and gave his cheek a painful pinch. 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“Stop thinking, Charlton.[/color] [color=mediumspringgreen]It’ll do you some good for when ‘Next time’ comes.”[/color]
……..
Final Notes: I know this is really short, but i haven’t had time at all to write, as I am away at my grandmothers and had to attend a funeral. I’m also not talking in my signature [color=thistle]Liseran Thistle[/color] color because i’m so pooped lol.