(no subject)

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier half walks, half falls through the door. He is, in a word, wet. Half drowned might cover it better. He’s soaked to the skin and clutching a large bundle wrapped in oil-skin to his chest.

He blinks under the bright electric lights of the Bar and sighs, falling against the door. He whispers a prayer of thanks before staggering to a table. Inside the bundle are his mother’s books, mercifully undamaged as he lays them out to dry, fanning the pages out with infinite care.

He doesn’t seem to notice his own soaked state, or the puddle forming around his feet. Feel free to throw a towel at him.

Comments

[1stwitness]

"What in the world happened to you?" Ichabod appears from somewhere, not really associating this young soldier with the boy from Antioch but kind by nature, and wraps a towel around his shoulders.

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier accepts the towel with a grateful smile, pushing his wet mane back and dripping. "Our ship was caught in a storm. The captain is a master of his art and we are in safe hands but as I feared, water had gotten into the hold. At least the wrapping kept my mother's books dry enough."

[1stwitness]

"And those would have been in your quarters, surely, rather than in the hold? Or... no, I do recall most crew being quartered down there."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Our ship is a small one and our journey not overly long. What few cabins there are must go to the captain and his crew." He gives a deferential little smile. "Crusaders travelling westward are but cargo."

"You have known the sea, sir?"

[1stwitness]

"I sailed to the New World, some years ago. I don't intend to make the journey again."

[equal_of_any_man]

"I envy you that. The Americas sound a place of great wonder unknown and untold in my time." He smiles warmly, "Chocolate, foremost of all."

[1stwitness]

"It was only available as a drink when I was first there. But in my new century, it is one of the compensations."

[equal_of_any_man]

"I have grown very fond of it in my time here. And miss it greatly when I return to my home."

[1stwitness]

"A shame you can't take it with you, but I imagine the explanations would be difficult."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Indeed." Olivier laughs. "Though it is a transgression I have considered many times."

He towels off his hair, looking down at his clothes and sighing. "I dare not ever dry out. If I return dry it will seem too strange."

[1stwitness]

"True enough", Ichabod agrees regretfully. "You'd better not stay too long, then, or else we'd have to throw a bucket over you before you leave."

[lt_blade]

Sonya does indeed toss a towel at him, or rather she tosses one over his head. "Most people change out of their clothes when they go swimming."

Of course she knows he wasn't swimming, not the way he was carrying the books, but he's so thoroughly soaked that he might've well have been.

Sonya took a seat next to him at the table. She looks like she needs a good nights sleep and maybe she's skipped a meal or to, but she still manages a small grin in his direction.

[equal_of_any_man]

He catches the towel absently, using it to mop up the drops falling from his hair, making sure they don't fall on his books. "I am not a strong swimmer. I fear if I had gone overboard then I would be in God's hands."

Once the books are properly set out to dry, he falls into a chair at her side, looking just as tired. He offers her a warm and grateful smile. "I greet you, sister. I am so very glad to be here."

[lt_blade]

"Or back here as a permanent resident, it's been known to happen." She recalled that some people bound here were just that back in their own world. Not that the other idea was a bad one, but she'd miss the guy and she had so few friends left.

"Greetings. Just where were you headed anyway, and why bring the books if there was a risk of damage" She tried to look at what was in the books, but the writing was Arabic and not one of the languages she could translate.

[equal_of_any_man]

"So I am told. My friend Gavroche is so bound to this place. As wonderful as this place is, I would not wish that." He ruffles dry his hair, looking something like a dark-haired dandelion.

"Our ship hit rough seas and water flooded the hold. I was afraid they would be damaged. It was kind of the bar to bring me here."

[guppy_sandhu]

"You look damp." Guppy comments, bringing him a towel from the bar. "Are you okay?"

He looks different from when Guppy last saw him, perhaps just wetter.

[equal_of_any_man]

"Our ship struck rough seas and I had to be sure my books were undamaged." They are the most precious things he owns.

A little taller and a bit older perhaps. His face has lost its roundness for the leaness of adulthood.

[guppy_sandhu]

"But you're not injured?" Guppy asks.

[equal_of_any_man]

"Not at all." He shoots Guppy a warm smile. "I'm told my father was a sailor as well as a soldier and it seems I have his gift for bearing the storm well. I alone of all my company have not been ill from the journey."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy laughs.

"Then you have a stronger stomach than I have."

[equal_of_any_man]

"I find wild beauty in the sea and a comfort in the roll of it. Something my fellows find strange. I have slept better on the ship than I have in many years on land."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Maybe it's the rocking." Guppy suggests. "My kids would probably like it."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Perhaps." He smiles. "You have children?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Yes, three." Guppy says. "Five, three and one."

He smiles fondly.

"They keep me busy."

[ooc: Fade this one since we have a new one? Thanks for the thread :)]

[equal_of_any_man]

A proud father, something Olivier loves to see.

{ooc: works for me. Thank you!}