The Bright One

[lionbright]

There's a dark, slender boy walking toward the house, his bewitching face as pale as salt at the moment, and he's dressed for travelling in the dead of winter at least a thousand years ago.  He has the bearing of a prince and a warrior, for all that he's never seen a battle, and carries no weapon.  The sheath that held his hunting knife is empty.

Comments

[mancalledspade]

Since he's likely to be descended upon by Arthurians, here's more of a shock: a tall, slender man, blond and beardless, from the 1930s, smoking a hand-rolled cigarette out on the porch. He raises his eyebrows, deepening the triple "v" of his face (the creases of his forehead, his eyebrows, and his mouth). "You look like hell. Did you run into something in the woods?"

T: No worries - lag is a problem for some of us in the "right" timezone too. XD Welcome.

[lionbright]

In fact it's a relief to find someone offering concern, even if the face is unfamiliar and the clothes are strange.

"In the woods--? Well, yes--I've been travelling with my brother." Cautiously. "And my cousin. We've been fighting."

[He's staring at the curious hat--it's wonderful. Smooth and soft, and you can tilt it over your eyes in bright sunlight.]

[mancalledspade]

Said hat is tilted back a bit with one thumb, so Spade can take a better look. "Well. Better than some of the alternatives. You've just arrived, then."

[lionbright]

"May a person stay?" Still looking around in wonder, because it does seem real. He starts forward suddenly, reaching toward the cigarette. "Sir, the paper is alight! Keep it from your lips--"

[mancalledspade]

"Wha - oh. No, it's supposed to do that." He takes a drag. "See?"

[lionbright]

"What is it? To make a light?"

[mancalledspade]

"No. Some people enjoy it. Calms the nerves. It's an acquired taste."

[lionbright]

"May I see?" He wouldn't dare the fireeating trick, but he's fascinated with the light. "It was winter, where I was."

[mancalledspade]

He hands him the cigarette. "Getting on toward it, here, but not quite yet."

[lionbright]

"The paper's so fine." He hands it back. "Sorry. I should not have touched it."

He holds up a smeared and filthy hand.

[mancalledspade]

"Hell, I'm smoking it, not eating it. Don't worry about it, kid."