Wul Nomn

Take a closer look at these faces.

It was the dark of the night, a full moon illuminated the whole town spreading like waves of milk even through the colored windows of a certain palace in the center of London.

Ruckus was the normal order in that castle and that evening was certain no exception.

Roger knelt on the carpet was so busy working around a weird machine to not pay any attention to the boys he summoned to his room.

Well this until a certain friend of his, who claimed to hate him, begin to buzz around him.

“What’s this devilish invention of yours now ?”

Alfons’ annoyed voice reached his ear along the low sigh of displeasure falling from them.

“Nothing much you see actually I am not the inventor of this … I am merely fixing it.”

In that moment some kind of dust fell on his face, with a scoff Roger took off his glasses polishing them on his shirt.

“Most inventions are created this way.”

The fact Alfons was peering around Roger’s room, even if touching all his stuff, was good in itself because it meant he had no intention to wander around the castle and ignore what he had to say.

“… Why did you call us here ?”

Elbert monotone voice broke the stillness of the air, feeling his piercing blue gaze on him Roger looked back, after placing yet another screen on the strange device.

“In a minute I will tell you but first please look that way.”

As he spoke he indicated a point in the background of his room, his brown hair covered from a long burgundy drape.

“… and smile.”

His voice came out muffled, nonetheless his guests placed themselves in front of Roger, … or whatever thing had swallowed him.

“Smile … why ?”

“I need it to test something.”

A graceful sigh flow from Elbert’s lips as he did what he was told whereas his attendant rebuffed annoyed.

“I swear you adore treating us like mice for your games, don’t you ?”

“On any other occasion I will agree with you … but this time I assure you it’s something worth of it.”

“If you say so I trust you.”

At Liam’s voice Elbert jumped on the spot whereas Alfons frantically searched around the owner of the voice.

“Hahaha I am here. I apologies if I scared you all.”

“In all truth Alfons’ reaction was delightful it’s not often you can see him taken aback by something.”

With nonchalance Harry slide in the room, going to side next to Liam, who still reeled in delight at the reaction of his friends.

“My, my Harry I don’t know what you are talking about, because you see a gentleman is required to keep composure in any occasion … including in the case of silly pranks.”

With that he shot a sidelong glance to Roger, who had just emerged from the drape.

Roger smiled broadly at Alfons stingy remark, infuriating him even more.

“Now that you are here please come closer.”His calm deep voice instructed his guests as his fingers nimbly skipped to adjust some lens in front of the box.

“Like this ?”

Liam jumped in next to Harry who reluctantly had took place next to Alfons, glued to Elbert’s side.

“I really don’t see the point of it.”

Harry casual statement was soon followed by Liam cheerful voice

“Relax Harry I am sure this gotta be fun.”

“As you see dear I am not the only one who sees your ruckus as quite pointless.”

With a gesture Roger brushed away Alfons’ remark.

“In an instant I will explain everything.”

With no further ado he resumed his position, his back toward his bed he slide under the burgundy drape hiding partially a strange box.

“If I may have your attention I need you to smile for the camera.”

“The … what ?”

Alfons’ shocked voice reached his ear, a smile curling Roger’s lips at his reaction, his thumb pressed lightly on a button attached to a long and slim handle attached to a rope, that was in a way linked to the camera.

“I will tell you later.”

With a mixture of feelings everyone obeyed as a flash of light brightened the whole room.

“Why do I see white ?”

Liam curiosity was unstoppable.

“Is this normal ?”

As it was Harry practicality.

“Yes you will see it for a while blink until it will vanish. It’s merely a side effect of the light being so strong as to temporarily burn into your retinas.”

Roger came out from the drape, readjusting his glasses on his nose.

“I really desire to hope you are right. You see it would be a mess am I to no longer be attractive.”

Alfon’s haughty words masked doubt as he pressed his fingers on his eyes, before shooting Roger a glare.

“That could never happen, Alfons no matter what.”

A light manic smile curled Elbert lips as he approached his attendant cupping his face only to gaze into his grey eyes.

“I was right there is now way your beauty may be tainted.”

Elbert long fingers moved up and down Alfons cheek in a way it was a caress but the look in his eyes was one Alfons had seen many times already … mostly directed at objects.

“Elbie dear.”

“… Yes.”

“I would be glad if you had enough kindness to not taxidermy me.”

“Oh don’t worry about it.”

Elbert said to not worry and yet the murky water in his eyes told Alfons the contrary, but before it could develop in something else a cough pulled them away from what they were doing.

Liam wandered around the room taking objects to admire, only to have Harry scold him to put them back into their own place.

Roger in the meanwhile uncorked a bottle, pouring them in a basin with a paper in it.

“Now thanks to my potion we can look at the picture immediately after it was made.”

Roger words were enough to call his friends attention to him.

“Otherwise ?”

“Otherwise we should have waited some hours but fear not I have it right here.”

With a proud smirk Roger produced something from a wet basin on the table, putting it to dry on a coat hanger.

Four pair of curious gazes looked to the blank paper as the owner of the room busied himself around the camera.

“What is this ?”

Liam’s curiosity never failed to please Roger, even more because it seemed he was the only one genuinely interested in his device.

“It’s a camera it manage to take pictures.”

Roger beamed as he fretted over to shake the paper on the hanger.

“Like paintings …"

Elbert’s asked walking closer to study what Roger was doing.

“Yes but more real.”

Alfons scoffed.

“Only you can give credit to such craziness. Why on earth would someone want a photo of other people ?”

“Not only of other people even of objects, animals, everything that pique your interest.”

“Alfons, is this beautiful ?”

Elbert monotone voice broke the tensions as he indicated the camera, Alfons sighed detaching himself from the wall only to approach him.

“It may be but I see it as an useless occupation of space.”

“I see …. then I don’t want it.”

“Look something it’s appearing on the paper.”

Harry voice called the others to crowd around him with mixed expression.

Everyone but the inventor who with a rapid smile took carefully the photo after sliding a pair of white gloves on.

“These are …. us ?”

Liam incredulity was really a delight, it made Roger proud of explaining things he had interests on.

“But how is it possible ?”

Harry wondered fixing his mint eyes on the paper as more figures began to appear under his gaze.

“Science my dear kids, as I promised it was worth it.”

“If you said so.”

Alfons bitter remark seem to have touched a nerve since Roger approached him showing him the newly made photo.

“You can’t see it do you ?”

“See what ?” A challenge in his rey gaze Alfons looked in Roger amber eyes, wariness clear in the tight line of his lips usually curled in smiles.

“This may be a way to break your fate.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

“Laugh as much as you want … but you know I may be right.”

“There is no way to tell.”

Alfons shook his head.

Unbelievable.

Roger told him the fates of the curses were fixed and yet now he claimed there were ways to change them all … even his.

The prospect was too tempting to be true.

Maybe not … but if there is a possibility to avoid it, this may just be it.

Alfons sighed a dejected sound as his shoulder slumped, he had long given up hope to be normal why calling that out in question of the blue.

“… Alfons.”

Elbert’s voice pulled Alfons away from his gloomy thoughts as he turned to look at him.

It was only when he looked at his bright sea blue eyes, Alfons felt fulfilled.

Something stirred in his heart pulling him to listen to Elbert, only to not dump his mood Alfons told himself.

It was so rare seeing Elbert blue eyes so cheerful or once Alfons found himself thinking that maybe taking pictures of something so beautiful wasn’t something so bad after all.

“Roger may be right … but regardless it made me happy when we posed for a portrait together … and I felt the same way now.”

A light troubled smile curled on Elbert’s lips as he looked at Alfons, with a soft sigh he approached his master.

“It made me happy too, Elbie.”

Heartfelt words, that should have not been spoken, rolled out from Alfons tongue but seeing the glimmer of happiness in his master’s blue eyes Alfons couldn’t help but deem his honesty was worth it.

“I am … very glad to hear it.”

“Let’s see what we have here.”

At last Alfons returned next to Elbert who was right now gazing at the photo Roger hold in front of him.

“See everyone came out so good.”

“Except you Alfons.”

Roger’s remark made his friend chuckle, Alfons poked Roger forearm with his gloved index fingers unable to let it slide with no reply of sort.

“I see, old sport you are jealous because I came better than you.”

“Oh my someone has such a boosting ego.”

“Ohh look my hair came blurred.”

Liam complain was fast replied by his friend.

“Only because you didn’t stop moving.”

Harry answered brushing his hand on Liam rose locks until a smile crept back on his face.

“Ahah it may be it but you Harry look sooo sly.”

“Well I can’t help it.”

“Ahh I am sure your smile could look honest if you want it.”

“Why should I want it ? It’s funnier this way.”

“You re so right.” Liam winked at Harry.

All the while Elbert and Alfons still admired the photo, not knowing what to say.

A strangely forlorn gaze in Alfons eyes as he caressed it gently, stopping his fingers more than appropriate on his master face, only to slide to his clothes. feigning ignorance to the mad clamoring of his heart in his chest

“You look so pretty there Alfio.”

Elbert’s compliment made Alfons’s happier than what he would have liked to admit.

“Nothing in comparison to you my dear Elbie.”

“Is this photo beautiful ?”

“Honestly …"

Alfons was to reply -No, but the hopeful glaze he read in Elbert eyes made him hesitate.

“I don’t know. "

“To me it is.”

Elbert rare determination made Alfons heart jump with a bittersweet feeling

“Roger.”

“Yes.”

“May I have it ?”

Roger couldn’t suppress his surprise as he gazed back at him, usually so aloof.

“Oh yes … if no one had anything against it.”

“Oh no don’t worry you may keep it.”

Harry shrugged his shoulder leaning back against a wall he keept an eye on the bouncing Liam, smiling at his enthusiasm.

“If it makes you happy I am more than pleased to let you have it.”

Liam winked at them before hooking his arm with Harry conducing them out of the room.

A bittersweet smile on Alfons lips he followed Elbert out of the room not before he stopped to thank Roger.

It was highly uncharacteristic of him but Alfons felt he had to say something to his former friend.

Anything.

Even though he knew Roger didn’t asked for it.

“Roger.”

In answer he looked at him with a smile on his lips, for the hunter there was no need for words but for the mirror there was.

“I don’t believe in it … but thank you.”

Thank you for making Elbert smile.

A thought Alfons would have never revealed to anyone ... but himself.

Alfons kept his reply concise and short as it was proper, unable to express in words all he wished to say to his friend.

Maybe once he could have been more honest with Roger … or maybe not.

After all it was more fun this way.

With such thought Alfons waltzed out of the room with a smile.