♢♡Craig♡♢

The road to the Wilde Estate is long but when we finally arrive, I nearly run into the door. I go to knock but Brian grabs my wrist. "Craig, you need to calm down first" He murmurs, brushing his thumbs under my eyes and smearing tears. His hands run through my hair and then he takes a step back, nodding. "Deep breath" He instructs, which is annoying, but works. I thank him quietly before finally nodding, taking another deep breath.

A slave about an inch taller then me opens the door before raising an eyebrow at me. "I request to speak Mr. and Mrs. Wilde, please" I try to look proud and strong, but I feel tired and deflated. The sun is setting rapidly and I fret I won't have enough time. The slave closes the door and it is reopened by a servant, guiding Brian and I into the den. "Mr. Thompson's boy, yes?" I assume the man lounging with the newspaper is Mr. Wilde. Here goes nothing.

"Yes sir. I have something to ask of you, sir" I say curtly, Brian standing behind me respectfully and simply listening. "Which is?" Mr. Wilde asks, looking amused. I want to snap at him but I take another deep breath to control myself. "I'm sure you know your son, Tyler, has been imprisoned" They both stiffen at that, but then Mr. Wilde scoffs. "Yes, t' faggot"

"Pardon my tongue, sir, but Tyler is much more then the names you wish to call him, and being his parents you should respect him as much as he respects you" I try to keep the growl in my throat, hearing Brian's breathing catch behind me. "Ex'cuse me?" Mr. Wilde asks darkly, his voice seemingly dripping. "Tyler, from my understanding, is your only child? He will surely hang by sunrise if someone does not help him. You are his parents, for Christ's sake, so help him!" I snap, swallowing and continuing before any of the adults in the room can.

"I apologize for my outburst. But please, help your son. He is a truly kind man and the fact that he is homosexual shouldn't affect your views towards him" I say, slowly calming myself down. Mr. Wilde folds his newspaper and lays it on the coffee table, deciding his words as he stands. I can see where Tyler gets his massive stature from, now. "You al'ready made t' point Tyler is our only child. Difficulties in 'is birth made it impossible for 'is mother to bear another child. I 'ave no siblin's, nor does m' wife. So, our son, the Wilde's on'ly heir, tells us we shoul' free t' niggers and let 'im marry a man. Who in t'eir right mind wouldn't kick him out?" Mr. Wilde growls.

"I will be attendin' t' hanging tomorrow, along wit' my wife, and we will gladly see our faggot son hang for 'is crimes to 'is family and to 'is town. I find it appalling, Mr. Thompson, that your father raised you t' speak out like this" Mr. Wilde tells me, looking like he wants to spit at me feet. "Well someone must, now don't they!?" I scream, stepping forwards. Oh my, this is a bad idea. Brian stops breathing entirely.

"If everyone in this goddamn town stands and watches, nothing's going to change, now is it!? You should be proud of your son for trying to do something about it! So maybe he is homosexual, maybe he does live in defiance of god, but let god judge him at the gates, not yourself! You know sir, you're lucky to even be standing on this ground right now! It used to belong to someone else, didn't it!? These slaves of yours used to belong somewhere else, so did your wife, so does your jewels, so does your money! And your son belongs somewhere better then here!" I growl, breathing hard.

I smooth down my jacket and step back from the slack-jawed Wilde's. "If you won't help your son with the wealth you oh-so-obviously flaunt, I will do it myself. So, if you were looking forwards to the hanging, I hate to disappoint. Good day" I snarl, spinning on the palm of my foot and storming back to my carriage, Brian running after me. "Oh sir, that was poorly done, sir are you alright?" He fusses, even as we climb into the carriage.

"No need to call me sir, Brian. Call me Craig. And yes, I am quite alright. Carriage boy, take us to the prison!" I shout, picking my wallet out of my pocket. "Craig" Brian says, his tone soft and pleading. "Someone has to help him, Brian. It's a shame that someone ended up being me" I mumble in response, dropping my forehead to Brian shoulder. "Thank you"