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Aaron let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding as soon as he slid the door shut behind him, only realizing how tense he’d been when his muscles started to relax, shoulders complaining painfully as he stretched out his neck. He paused only to make sure all the curtains were securely drawn before making a beeline to his room, moving to shut his door behind him. But when he reached for it, his hand found only air.

Right. Hopefully he’d have the chance to ask about that tomorrow. 

He put his shoe shining kit away and began his morning routine on autopilot, avoiding the line of sight to the living room as he changed even though he knew the Count was still outside. Briefly he examined his pants, the knees of which were hopelessly tattered and bloody from the glass. He frowned at them. Normally he would have fixed them, but they were too torn up in too small a space to repair without butchering them further. A shame. 

Varis’ words echoed on loop through Aaron’s head as he showered for the third time that night, eager to wash away the blood on his legs and the product in his hair and the feeling of the Count’s hand around his throat. Although, all things considered, Aaron thought he’d gotten off pretty easy. His punishment, humiliating as he was sure it would be, was nothing compared to the horror stories he’d been imagining as he waited. Varis wasn’t going to put his eyes out, he wasn’t getting caned, or otherwise mutilated, and despite his earlier comment, it looked like Varis was keeping him around. He counted himself lucky. He wasn’t looking forward to his punishment by any metric, but considering he had been [i]directly disobedient[/i], he supposed he should be grateful that the Count had been so merciful. 

Still, he couldn’t quite shake the things that Varis had said about their Lady - ugh, he was never going to get used to that - from his mind. Would she really take an interest in the people in his memories? He couldn’t imagine why any of them would be worth her notice, or at least her efforts, and he hoped he wouldn’t have to find out. Was there even anything he could do at this point to protect them, or had the damage been done? 

It was only after several minutes of scrubbing at his eyes to get the last of that pencil off that Aaron finally made himself get out, going through the rest of his routine on autopilot as he fell deeper and deeper into thought. He was about to get into bed, in pajama pants and shirtless as always, when another wary look at the empty door frame and the house beyond made him throw on a t-shirt as well. He was deliberating filling out his journals when a [i]ding[/i] from his phone caught his attention, a notification from an unknown number popping up on screen.

[i][Color=82ca9d]> Hey, You still up?[/color][/i]

Oh, that must have been Salem. Aaron read the message a few times, turning the lights off and climbing into bed before replying. He cast a weary look at the door, and the light coming in from the rest of the house. That was going to be annoying, he could already tell. He rolled away from it, focusing on his phone. 

[hider=Texting Salem][i][color=f0d705]> Yeah, why?[/color]
[Color=82ca9d]> No reason I guess
> Say, um. I can't seem to sleep, dorms a bit eerie when you're by yourself.[/color][/i]

He was still by himself? Aaron would have thought that with the business at the Marivaldi dorm concluded, he would have returned by now.

[i][color=f0d705]> Oh, is Lucan still not back?[/color]
[Color=82ca9d]> Haven't seen him since his match. Hope he's ok.[/color][/i]

Aaron’s thumbs hovered over the keyboard, wondering if he should tell Salem what he figured Lucan was doing. Luckily, another text came in before he had the chance, a welcome change of subject. 

[i][Color=82ca9d]> Speaking of the match, have you seen Lilie?[/color]
[color=f0d705]> I was talking to her, but I haven't seen anyone. Came straight back.[/color]
[Color=82ca9d]> Oh so she's up to?
> Well, mind adding her to a group chat or something? I was hoping to ask you two something
> ...if that's ok that is…[/color][/i]

Aaron frowned at the messages. Salem was sounding a lot more like he had at orientation now, the indignance from dinner long gone. Maybe the night’s events had chastened that rebellious streak he apparently had in him. 

[i][color=f0d705]> Oh, I mean I can, but I think she might be sleeping.
> I can give you her number at least, though.
> What did you want to ask?[/color]
[Color=82ca9d]> Well I figured maybe
> If you guys wanted
> We could…
> Hang out?[/color]
[color=f0d705]> What, tomorrow? I think she wanted to find you anyway, I think she wants to apologize for leaving you.
> Apparently her night was pretty eventful too, heh.[/color]
[Color=82ca9d]> Well, I was hoping for tonight?
> Figured you could come down to my dorm since I've got all this free space.[/color] 
[color=f0d705]> Oh[/color][/i]

Aaron’s brow furrowed, sympathy for Salem suddenly gripping him. The poor man was in a new place, couldn’t contact his family, and on top of it all, Lucan was apparently nowhere to be found. Of course he was lonely. Who could blame him? Unfortunately, given his predicament, there was nothing Aaron could do to help. 

[i][color=f0d705]> That’s nice of you to invite me, but I'm afraid I can't.
> Count Varis[/color][/i]

He stared at the blinking cursor for a second, remembering what Count Varis had told him. Even in his messages. Aaron sighed, deleting the name. 

[i][color=f0d705]> Master is
> Well
> He’s not very happy with me, heh.[/color]
[Color=82ca9d]> Oh. That's ok then...Maybe Lilie still can?[/color][/i]

Thank goodness, a way out of that depressing line of inquiry. 

[i][color=f0d705]> Maybe!
> Here, why don't you ask her?[/color][/i]

He pulled up Lilie’s contact in his phone, sending it to Salem. 

[i][Color=82ca9d]> Sure, thanks![/color][/i] 💚[/hider]
That conversation was over, and Aaron took a moment to enter Salem’s number into his contacts. Spellman was his last name, right? He also made a contact for Varis’ number, entering it simply as “Master.” He wasn’t a huge fan, but it was best to play it safe in case the vampire looked through his phone again. Whatever, he’d get used to it. Realistically, he chided himself, it wasn’t as big a deal as he was making it. 

While he was taking care of things, Aaron opened up his alarms, doing some quick math in his head. Breakfast would be delivered at eight, and he was meant to write lines for an hour before that; but he couldn’t just roll out of bed and start writing, so he needed an alarm for… he’d say 6:30, just to be safe. Maybe he’d get the mail before writing his lines, and catch a bit of the evening sun. Good thing he was going to bed so early; he realized only then how the night’s events had exhausted him, and it looked like he’d be having an early evening tomorrow. Hell, with 1,000 lines to get through, he’d probably be having quite a series of early evenings. He nearly groaned at the thought.

His messenger app told him he still had one unread message, from Lilie. When he opened their conversation, he was surprised to see not just one, but three messages he hadn’t read. Upon closer inspection, it looked like the first two had come in while Varis still had his phone. 

[i][color=00BFFF]> sounds complicated
> but the good part is that its over! And then tomorrow is going to be a good day!

> If you ever wanna talk or anything just let me know, okay? I have to keep my first friend close! :D[/color][/i]

Despite the somber conversation with Salem and the night’s events still weighing heavily on him, not to mention the thought that Varis had seen every message between them except the last one, Aaron couldn’t help but smile. He wasn’t sure if he’d take advantage of her offer - he had never been much for that sort of thing - but it was just so kind, he had to accept. Not to mention the thought that she already considered him a friend lifted his spirits immensely. She was his first friend too, he supposed, though he was pretty sure she didn’t mean it the same way he did. He thought on his response for probably longer than he should have, a million different options circling his mind until he settled on a simple one. 

[i][color=f0d705]> I will! See you tomorrow :)[/color][/i]