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Aaron all but flinched at the outburst. Call it a Pavlovian response, but he couldn’t help it; Varis’ protests were entirely expected, but his anger rang an alarm bell in the back of Aaron’s head nonetheless. His apprehension turned to muted surprise, however, when Varis cut himself off, silent and still for a moment before launching into some kind of un-aimed tirade. Aaron’s eyebrows crept further and further upward as he watched it unfold, the Count hissing at the air and hurling what must have been curses in languages Aaron didn’t even know into the emptiness around them. Aaron had seen his share of tantrums coming from his master, but despite the shouting, slamming of doors, and miraculous way they always managed to swing back around and bite him in the ass, they were never so… entertaining. 

It was a horribly inappropriate thought, wholly unfit for the situation or the task at hand, and not to mention generally uncouth, but Aaron had to be thankful for Varis’ blindness because despite all that, he couldn’t quite stop a grin from climbing up his cheeks. Maybe it was the shock of the whole situation that made him struggle to contain a chuckle, but he had just never seen the cool and confident Varis so damn conflicted. And over something as otherwise innocuous as digging, no less. Sure, it was a pretty grave insult to force a Count of his stature into labour like this, but these were special circumstances and for crying out loud, he was practically in a physical altercation with himself. By the end of it, shameful as it was, Aaron had to clamp one hand firmly over his mouth to keep from laughing - after all, Varis would probably kill him the second he became tangible if he heard. 

[color=f7976a]“Where’s the shovel?”[/color]

The shock and hilarity that accompanied the question were almost too much to bear, and the laugh that snuck up on him took Aaron by surprise - he had to clamp both hands over his mouth and squeeze his eyes shut to keep it contained until it passed. He had to focus on breathing again - this was neither the time nor the place to be struck with a laughing fit, come on, the stakes were high and time was limited - and eventually pulled himself together enough to let his hands fall and speak without giggling again. 

[color=f0d705]“It’s this way Master, about four steps from where you’re standing. Follow my voice,”[/color] he instructed, ignoring how [i]weird[/i] it was to be the one telling [i]Varis[/i] what to do. He was careful that Varis didn’t step on the tiles, and took a moment to manoeuvre him around the open door and into the hollow of the tree. 

[color=f0d705]“It’s right in front of you, Master,”[/color] he finally reported once Varis was in position. [color=f0d705]“Just reach forward, about shoulder height, and you should feel the handle. Once you get it, I’ll guide you back out.”[/color]
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