(Untitled)

[777thdegree]

A while back, Balthazar went back to New York, to make sure Dave hadn't managed to kill himself in some new and creative way. This was after making sure his other apprentice fully understood that he meant what he said about training on her own.

The door slowly opens, and a small, tousle-headed blond-haired boy peers around the edge, his

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[never_b_free]

His garb is noticed by a red haired woman who might be from the orient. Not the far orient, just the orient. She is sitting at a nearby table, poking at what looks like some form of seashell with sharp implements.

"Finally, someone who dresses like a sane person walks in." She comments at the boy at the door.

[777thdegree]

The lad, who hasn't yet been as far as London, tragically wouldn't know the orient from the far orient if they both got up and smacked him in the face.

However, she does look fairly exotic. Maybe she came with Merlin? But he always heard that Merlin travelled alone. Who knows, with wizards?

"I... beg your pardon.... my lady?" He has no idea if she's titled, or not, but it doesn't hurt to be polite.

[never_b_free]

"And one who talks like a sane person as well." She smiles; the politeness is greatly appreciated.

"You weren't expecting to walk into here, were you?"

[777thdegree]

His eldest brother is the one who has the easiest way with women - indeed, the rumor around the manorhouse is that if he keeps at his courtship of the young Lady B______, there will be a wedding by spring. His next eldest brother is completely hopeless, but that is alright - he is also in holy orders.

Poor Balthazar hasn't even had a chance to try out his skill, as of yet, and is completely flustered.

"N-no, milady - I mean, yes, milady, but I did not expect it to look as this."

[777thdegree]

The boy's eyes are as wide as saucers - he has heard many stories of the creatures who live outside of the normal day-to-day life, of dragons and pixies, basilisks and grindylows and... and fairies.

In the general course of things, he knows very well to keep his mouth shut unless asked to speak.

But this is definitely not the general course of things.

"Sir, are you an angel?"

[777thdegree]

He would just plop himself down right here - he is the third son, not the first, and he is well used to it. But the cloak is new, and he doesn't want a scolding from his nurse for getting it dirty so soon.

So he scampers (in those boots), over to the nearest table to fetch away a chair. There is much little man-child grunting as he pulls it back, the legs scraping against the wooden floor. Once he gets it into place, he climbs up into it, his feet ending up a good foot above the floor.

"My nurse says fairies are angels, sir, but Cook says they are the dead doomed to walk the earth after they were buried in unsanctified ground, but you do not look dead."

[sunbaked_baker]

The woman in the green sweater and blue jeans, bringing in from the kitchen a fragrant tray of various baked goods, is probably not the manor cook he knows, either.

"Good morning," she greets the young boy, smiling slightly. He looks as though he might not have come here before - he's got that look.

[777thdegree]

"Good morn." The lad replies politely, pushing back the hood of his cloak, even though that exposes his embarassed blush. He is hardly ignorant of what a female looks like under all of her usual skirts - he has a younger sister who had detested clothing of all kinds when but a babe, and the manor house is not so large that accidents do not happen. But this ... Girl? Lady? Is boldly strolling about with barely anything on at all!

His tutor never said what to do in this sort of situation.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Are you all right?" she asks, kindly. "You look as though you weren't expecting to find yourself here."

[777thdegree]

she isn't acting like a loose woman (a term he's heard Cook use, though no one will explain it to him, but he gathers that it is bad), so he smiles hesitently back, like one who suspects a grand trick is being played in him.
"No, mistress, I mean, yes - I did mean to come to the Hall, but... Did Merlin do all of this?"