♢♡Craig♡♢

The carriage man was a little displeased when he came to pick me up and I said we'd be taking four more home. Four of us climbed into the carriage and Evan said he'd be fine to sit next to carriage man and chat, even though Jonathan volenteered Luke to take his place. Luke did not approve. The ride was shorter with people to talk to and Evan opened the door for us, smirking. "Your man 'ere can't drive a horse right, Craig" He tells me, but I ignore him.

Everyone takes a large look around, glancing over the busy fields and the bright house and turn long stretches of empty land that'll probably turn into more fields. Of what, I don't know yet. "Gee" Brock says, but that's it. Jonathan snickers a little and Luke walks further up the path, towards the house. We follow, but I begin to turn to the fields. "C'mon, let's go this way! The house isn't much, but I wanna explore" I edge them on with promises of adventure and they follow happily, Brock basically skipping.

Right before we leave though, Brian shows up to ruin the fun. "Mister Craig!" He calls, looking at the others with me. "Oh, come closer Brian!" I laugh, so he does. Brock introduces himself without asking or being told to, a grin on his face. Jonathan is next, then Luke. Evan grimaces before shaking Brian's hand. Brian looks at his hand, shocked by the roughness I guess. "Boys, this is my personal servant, Brian. He's Irish, not British" I tell them just so they don't think he's family or nothing.

"Pleased to meet friends of Mister Craig's. Would you like me to have a slave bring you refreshments, sirs?" He asks, folding his hands behind his back. Evan frowns but the boys all say yes, so Brian is off again. Brian returns quickly with "Soon" on his lips, so we begin walking. Evan walks next to me, Brian and Brock behind us, then the Dennis brothers. We talk in our own factions, pleasant nonetheless.

"Is your brother working today, Evan?" I ask, finding Evan is my height so I mustn't look down nor up. "Nah, he ain't got work 'til next week. He's glad about it too. He'll leave this job once he has another set up" I frown at that, and Evan notices. "He don't like whipping other people. No one should" He adds. I shrug. "They're just niggers" I say, but Evan grimaces. "No body is 'just' any body"

Our conversation stops when Luke gasps and there's a sound that resembles that of a startled cat.

We all spin around to see a short slave boy standing there with a tray of lemonade, quivering so hard the cups are near spilling. Luke laughs off his fear. "You startled me" He tells the slave, who still shakes. "Are you just going to stare?" I ask, and his dark skin becomes red. "I-I'm surry, sirs" He says shakily, extending out the tray. Brian tsks and helps the poor lad.

"What's your name?" He whispers, I don't think he wants us hearing. "M-Marcel" The slave tries to whisper too, but his voice cracks and it becomes heard. Luke frowns. "Y' don' need to be 'fraid of me. I o'nly hit if the man deserves it" Luke says, Evan scoffing next to me. The slave flinches anyways and nearly bolts once Brian hands everyone a glass of lemonade.

We start walking again but it takes Luke awhile, like he's sad or something. Forlorn would be the right word. Strange. We continue the walk and the tour, chatting and enjoying the warm air and crisp wind. Jonathan complains about his bones. Luke tells him he's loony. Brock and Evan begin to laugh. Oh yes, I definitely like it here.