[04: video] - I know you said he's just a dog astray

[emptynight]

[The impact with the ground triggers the PCD's on button and the video flicks on. The camera has landed against a rock or something, giving it a skewed view of the sky, of skeletal trees and grey clouds. There's movement though, against the trees. A familiar figure, usually careless and flippant, with a pet name and some irritating compliment on his lips. This time, however, Thomas looked focused, and he moves with lean, predatory grace as the cavalry saber in his hands gleams silver. He's moving between the stand of anemic trees, sparring against invisible opponents, practicing or reliving some old encounter, every so often the saber biting through a tree limb to send it to the ground.

The feed continues in this vein for a few minutes, before a sweep of silver above the PCD sends a skeletal tree branch falling on top of the PCD, obscuring its view once more.]

Comments

[harmoniousstorm.livejournal.com]

[...Sweetheart? Now that is a first. Nicest name he's ever been called. Weird. But then again, this guy had weird written all over him.]

And if I am?

[emptynight]

[Thomas gives the screen a jaunty salute with the saber.]

Then I'd say put your money where your mouth is, darling.

[harmoniousstorm.livejournal.com]

[Another pet name. Weeiiiirrddd.]

Gladly. Just tell me where you are and I'll be there.

[Of course, he isn't gonna use a sword. Not his style.]

[emptynight]

[Thomas grins, and sends his current coordinates on the PCD. Well, kind of current. It's about a hundred feet away from where he'll be in about five minutes, so he can watch for the approach.]

Well aren't we eager. Don't keep me waiting, darling.

[harmoniousstorm.livejournal.com]

There's nothing else to do in this dump.

[With that he clicks off the feed and goes out on his way. He's been spending a surprising amount of time walking around lately, but sitting around made him a little stir crazy at the moment. So when he picked his way to the clearing he looked like he might actually be enjoying himself a little bit.]

[emptynight]

[By the time Xanxus gets to the clearing, Thomas is about twenty or so feet away, sitting on a low branch in one of the trees that still has branches. The cavalry saber is sheathed at his hip and a heavy, bent-bladed knife rests in his lap as he watches.]

Well doesn't someone look pleased with himself.

[harmoniousstorm.livejournal.com]

Didn't I say there was nothing else to do in this dump?

[Besides, the fresh air felt nice. Not that he'd ever say that out loud. Besides, this guy was weirdly charming. He wanted to figure out why.]

[emptynight]

[Thomas drops out of the tree with a thoughtless, easy grace, landing lightly on his feet.]

Oh there's plenty to do, sweetheart. There's at least twenty types of animal out in the Wastes that'll try to eat your face.