[ Everyone's talking about the new arrival to the village, a pretty young man who has moved into the house atop the hill overlooking Euchronia. It's in decent condition, but the boy has a lot of work ahead of him, if he wants the place ready to start planting crops and tending to livestock. The grounds are overgrown, the buildings in need of some patching up.
Those villagers eager to get to know an outsider and help him feel welcome soon stop by to introduce themselves, inviting him to visit their shops and the market. Nosy ones aren't far behind. Strohl, whose family owns the sprawling pastures on that side of the village, is among the first wave of visitors.
He's rather curious to meet Will — excited, really. Brisk steps take him to the top of the hill, past the farm's gates, and to the front door. Housewarming gift tucked beneath one arm, he knocks twice before stepping back to wait.
From here, he can take a better look at the grounds just outside the house. Not too bad, but if Will needs another pair of hands around here, he has neighbors willing to lend him that. ]
[ In some ways, perhaps, Will hasn't been the best new neighbor.
He didn't really mean to be rude, of course. But after he packed his meager bags and settled into the overgrown plot of farmland, Will just sort of... forgot himself. Yes, there were people in town that he probably ought to have introduced himself to, but he had enough groceries to avoid a trip to the store for a short while, and there was so much to do on the farm! Cutting grass, plucking weeds, cleaning up stray rocks and fallen branches that were blocking his access to the soil...
It was fun to lose himself in it for a little while. Life in the city was rough to Will. He'd tried his best, really, but on his own, he just couldn't conquer the systemic issues that plagued him. No one wanted to hire an elda, and no one wanted to look at one, either. He persisted in a barely-functional apartment for a time, taking any odd job that would have him — dishwashing that dried his hands out and left him with broken skin over his knuckles, shelf-stocking that kept him out of view of the customers — but in the end, he'd jumped at the chance to take over an old plot in Euchronia Village, far from where he was.
Even so, Will assumed that no one would want to talk to the elda farmer on the outskirts of town. So it was a surprise when Bardon, the bumbling mayor, welcomed him with open arms and no judgment in his heart. Afterwards, Fidelio and Basilio, two paripus brothers who run the carpenter's and blacksmith's respectively, came by to pay their respects and also, presumably, secure his custom; that made sense, given that they were both paripus, and seeing that two paripus had settled into town so easily did bring some peace to Will's heart.
But today's guest —
Will gapes a little when he realizes that the young man in front of him is none other than the son of his landlord. Ah... what did he come down for? Is he behind on rent already? He's handsome — dazzling, really, and with a sort of look in his eyes that suggests he doesn't know how handsome he is. Will suddenly feels underdressed in his plain mockneck shirt and house pants. ]
Ah... good morning! Can I help you?
[ Will's voice is a little too high and panicky. Maybe he's the nervous type...? ]
My name is Will. I've just moved here...
[ Wait, he probably knows that, since... his father is... right... ]
[ The door opens, and Will comes into view on the other side. He looks as startled as he sounds — giving him a fright with a surprise visit definitely isn't what Strohl had in mind. Hastening to reassure Will, he offers him his hand to clasp and shake. ]
Mine's Leon Strohl, but everyone apart from my parents just calls me Strohl. My father's told me about you, and I wanted to meet you and welcome you to the village myself, that's all.
[ With his other hand, he holds out his gift for Will. He supposes he could head back for now, if Will was busy (or getting a little overwhelmed by the number of visitors turning up on his doorstep), but he is hoping to talk to him properly for a while. Not as the son of Will's landlord, just as someone who'd like to help Will settle in.
He probably isn't that much older than Will, is he? His father thought so, anyway, even if it's a bit hard to tell. Maybe they could become friends. ]
Sorry, were you in the middle of something? I can come back later. Or, actually, could you use a hand around here?
[ Strohl casts a glance back over his shoulder, at the tall grass and other obstacles left to clear away. It would be fun to tackle the lot together, wouldn't it? ]
Oh — no, I — I couldn't ask you to work for me! I've been clearing that field for the last two days already.
[ It is rather fun to tackle it, though... which is part of why Will is so embarrassed. Hard to explain to one's neighbors that you haven't gone to see them because pulling up the weeds was just more fun... Will finds himself mechanically accepting Strohl's gift without remarking on it as his brain struggles to catch up with what his limbs are doing. ]
I'm just embarrassed because I — well, I don't even have any shoes on, and I wish I had tea or snacks to give you...
[ Bashfully, Will nervously rubs one foot against the other as though that might somehow solve the problem of his lack of hospitality. He was simply shuffling about inside his mostly-bare cabin when Strohl knocked, and his shoes are right in front of him if he needs to step outside, but he feels... flustered, somehow, as though he's been caught in a state of undress. ]
...You're very kind. No, please, there's no need to come back later. I want to sit and talk with you, if you — if you don't mind. [ Finally, he remembers the gift box. ] Er — should I open this?
[ Will is quick to protest, pulling Strohl's full attention back to him. Wait, shoes? Strohl's gaze drops to Will's feet before he hurriedly looks up again so as not to embarrass Will even more. His free hand lands on the back of his neck, rubbing it.
As endearing as it is, Will seems so flustered, put on the spot, that it might be a good idea to give him some time to take things one by one and recover. Though Strohl opened his mouth to point out that Will isn't asking him to do anything and couldn't have known that he had another guest to expect today, he decides against it, settling for completing their handshake with a smile. Then, now that Will's invited him to stay for a chat, he takes off his own shoes to stand there in his socks, leaving both of them more or less barefoot. ]
Well, it is yours to open whenever you'd like.
[ And when Will does open the box, he'll find that it's filled with an assortment of items meant to make his early days in the village a little more comfortable while he's bustling about his new home: a tin of tea leaves, a jar of honey, another of jam, a cloth parcel of freshly-baked pastries, and a loaf of rustic bread with a wedge of cheese to accompany it.
Belatedly in turn, Strohl remembers to let go of Will's hand. Will might need two to open his gift... ]
Anyway, thanks. I was hoping that we could sit and talk, too.
O-Of course! We can talk as much as you want. About anything you want.
[ Strohl addresses Will's embarrassment over not having his shoes on with a stroke of genius: by neatly removing his own. It's the sort of considerate gesture that Will has not received in many long years, and it makes the young elda's stomach (or is that his heart?) flip as his guest — his landlord's son — so easily and casually makes himself at home in his little home.
The warmth from their handshake seems to linger on Will's palms. The olive skin stretched over his cheeks has now turned a vivid pink.
He's... He's so nice. ...What did he say his name was, again? ]
I'll open it now, then. If you don't mind.
[ Will takes the gift box over to his singular small table, the selfsame one which Strohl will have to take a seat at, given that the cabin has been furnished with nothing more than this table, a few chairs, and the bed in which Will sleeps. The box isn't the sort that is particularly finicky to open — one pull of the decorative ribbon holding the lid to its container, and Will can see the spread of delicious gifts within. His eyes widen even further, though that already seemed impossible given the way his eyes are naturally large as saucers. Delight twinkles in his eyes as he takes in the pastries, the jam. ]
Oh... This is wonderful! You shouldn't have!
[ It's a considerate gift, though. After paying for rent in advance, Will didn't have much in the way of savings, and hasn't bought anything from the local stores in a while; he has simply eaten whatever he could forage from the fields and forests around his farm. Berries, roots, little mushrooms. Between this and his fruitless endeavors in the city, he hasn't had real food in a long time. He's hungry...
And Strohl may have just earned +500 friendship points all at once... Not fair! Isn't he supposed to be limited to only one gift a day? ]
[ Strohl has followed Will into the cabin, taking in its interior along the way, but he doesn't sit down at the table yet, standing beside it instead to watch Will open his gift box. It's hard not to do it expectantly, full of anticipation, as if Will is a gift box being unwrapped himself. Again, a smile spreads across Strohl's lips, elated now, as soon as Will's features brighten with delight. ]
I'm glad you like it. Hopefully you'll think it all tastes as good as it looks. You're going to need your strength, handling your farm!
[ And it doesn't look like Will has much to work with in his cabin... That's worrying. Is he even getting enough to eat? It's no good if he's pushing himself to clean everything up by himself first. It must be lonely up here, besides.
Maybe he's used to all of it, as an elda, which is worrying, too. ]
If you've the time, you could have lunch or dinner with us now and then. What kind of food do you like?
[ There's plenty to talk about, but they might as well start with that, especially if Will isn't against the invitation. To be fair, having meals with his landlord's family could be too strange an idea, so Strohl wouldn't mind just joining Will somewhere every so often, either. ]
[ The offer is almost too generous. Will's imagination might be getting ahead of himself; he somehow imagines himself sitting down for dinner with the Haliaetus family, Strohl's stately father and beautiful mother seated across from him at a table which for some reason must be graced with a gingham tablecloth...
...It's a tempting mental image, but he shakes his head to rid himself of the thought. He doesn't belong there! Not in such a nice place! ]
I couldn't! I've only met your father once, and I don't want to impose. I'm just trying to — to make a quiet living out here. I don't mean to bother anyone or... I mean, I couldn't trouble you.
[ Well, that explains why Will hasn't been to see anyone in town yet, if he thinks of his presence as bothering people. It's not hard to think of how his being an elda would have shaped this worldview — though being a shy and unassuming elda doesn't stop him from bustling about his kitchen to fetch some extraordinarily simple, plain plates and knives (to help spread the jam). ]
Would you like to eat some of this together, though? It's all so beautiful, and you... [ You're beautiful too, he almost says, but that's not an entirely logical way to finish that sentence. ] You seem like you might be a little hungry. At this time of day.
[ Covered up his little stumble well enough!
It's true that his kitchen shelves are bare, but if it means he can keep Strohl with him a little while longer, Will doesn't mind using up some of the gorgeous bread and cheese he's just been gifted. ]
[ Right, inviting Will over for lunch or dinner might be too much, at least when they've just met. Strohl tells himself to be more careful, stop overwhelming Will with every other sentence out of his mouth. He wants to apologize and assure Will that he's not imposing on anyone, but he thinks better of that, too. Chances are, it's only going to make matters worse, at this rate...
He moves to pull out the chairs for the two of them to take a seat once Will has set the table. ]
Honestly, you'd be doing me a favor. Just like you are now.
[ It's said with a chuckle as Strohl finally sits down, tilting his head at the spread that was meant for Will's use. Well, not that Will isn't using his gifts as he pleases by choosing to share them with a guest, who is actually a little hungry at this time of day.
Still watching Will with interest, Strohl opts for a change of subject, something that should let Will talk about himself without having to feel self-conscious. ]
A quiet living... You're in the right place for that here. How are you finding it so far?
[ It's a relief that Strohl accepts the offer swiftly. Will knows he shouldn't feel quite so nervous, not when Strohl has been such a pleasant guest and has thus far shown no signs of either running away or spitting at him in disgust, but he finds himself seized by a slightly irrational desire to keep the handsome clemar in his humble cabin for as long as possible. Nervous, and not quite showing it, Will flashes the young man an unintentionally dazzling smile as he begins setting the table for their meal. He only has plain brown plates and simple cutlery, but it will do. ]
It's wonderful out here.
[ He says it in a soft, worshipful tone that suggests he means it. Serenely, as he places things on the table in front of Strohl, Will elaborates: ]
I used to live in a little town in the forest like this one. But it burned down long ago, when I was a boy. [ He does not elaborate on the reason it was burned down, but it seems possible that Strohl knows enough about the elda to guess. ] After that happened, I moved out to the city for a while, but... it wasn't such a good place to live, for someone like me. So I wanted to go somewhere that felt... natural and free again.
[ He gazes with a smile out at the window, but then... blanches slightly when he realizes that there are still boulders and fallen trees out in the field. Ahhh, those need to be cleared...! ]
The farm is still a bit of a mess, but I'm working on it! I'll pull things together one step at a time!
[ It's good to see Will smile; Strohl finds that he rather likes watching the boy light up with that sort of radiant elation. He tries not to gawk at him like an idiot, but an echo of Will's remark passes through his mind: it's all so beautiful. He's not thinking about the table, although there is something charming to the way Will sets it, but the look in Will's striking eyes. The curve of his lips. Will's murmured answer, making Euchronia Village the most wonderful place in the world.
Strohl's own smile fades, though, as Will shares bits and pieces of his life before moving here. On the one hand, it's pretty amazing that Will can still smile like this and find joy in things, but on the other, it's such an awful thought that he's gone through so much just because he's an elda. The fire that burned down his forest home can't have been an accident... It'd be naive to think that it was. And it's not too hard to guess at the reasons why Will didn't feel welcome in the city, nor to realize just how long he must have been out there on his own.
Unconsciously, Strohl's hands curl into fists until he catches himself. He laces his fingers together on his side of the table while he can't trust himself to say anything straightaway, dismayed.
But Will likes it in the village. He'll hopefully have plenty more wonderful, peaceful days here. ]
...You know, I actually thought to myself that the farm's looking a lot better already, thanks to you. It'll be all the way there in no time, but the important thing is that you're settling in.
[ Sitting back, Strohl rubs at the back of his neck again. ]
Maybe I could show you around town a little whenever you'd like a breather?
[ Blissfully oblivious, Will doesn't pick up on how the somber tale of his past struggles seems to get Strohl a little down; he's only concentrating on spreading some cheese over a loaf of bread, his knifework a little unsteady but meticulous. ]
Would you really? I'd be ever so grateful if you did.
[ With small, slim fingers, he sets one loaf of bread aside to cut another. This time, he coats it in a thin layer of glistening jam. ]
But only if I wouldn't be imposing on you. I'm sure you have lots of other very important things to do, as the son of the Count...
[ Then he puts his utensils down, dusting his fingers of crumbs very delicately, and shifts the plate over on the table. ]
Here you go.
[ He turns the plate over to Strohl — ah? Seems like he's gone ahead and fixed Strohl's plate for him. One slice of bread with cheese, the other with jam. Was it necessary? Of course not, but there's something about the solemnity of the young clemar at his humble dining table that makes Will just sort of want to do things for him. Dote on him a little, perhaps... ]
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no subject
Those villagers eager to get to know an outsider and help him feel welcome soon stop by to introduce themselves, inviting him to visit their shops and the market. Nosy ones aren't far behind. Strohl, whose family owns the sprawling pastures on that side of the village, is among the first wave of visitors.
He's rather curious to meet Will — excited, really. Brisk steps take him to the top of the hill, past the farm's gates, and to the front door. Housewarming gift tucked beneath one arm, he knocks twice before stepping back to wait.
From here, he can take a better look at the grounds just outside the house. Not too bad, but if Will needs another pair of hands around here, he has neighbors willing to lend him that. ]
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He didn't really mean to be rude, of course. But after he packed his meager bags and settled into the overgrown plot of farmland, Will just sort of... forgot himself. Yes, there were people in town that he probably ought to have introduced himself to, but he had enough groceries to avoid a trip to the store for a short while, and there was so much to do on the farm! Cutting grass, plucking weeds, cleaning up stray rocks and fallen branches that were blocking his access to the soil...
It was fun to lose himself in it for a little while. Life in the city was rough to Will. He'd tried his best, really, but on his own, he just couldn't conquer the systemic issues that plagued him. No one wanted to hire an elda, and no one wanted to look at one, either. He persisted in a barely-functional apartment for a time, taking any odd job that would have him — dishwashing that dried his hands out and left him with broken skin over his knuckles, shelf-stocking that kept him out of view of the customers — but in the end, he'd jumped at the chance to take over an old plot in Euchronia Village, far from where he was.
Even so, Will assumed that no one would want to talk to the elda farmer on the outskirts of town. So it was a surprise when Bardon, the bumbling mayor, welcomed him with open arms and no judgment in his heart. Afterwards, Fidelio and Basilio, two paripus brothers who run the carpenter's and blacksmith's respectively, came by to pay their respects and also, presumably, secure his custom; that made sense, given that they were both paripus, and seeing that two paripus had settled into town so easily did bring some peace to Will's heart.
But today's guest —
Will gapes a little when he realizes that the young man in front of him is none other than the son of his landlord. Ah... what did he come down for? Is he behind on rent already? He's handsome — dazzling, really, and with a sort of look in his eyes that suggests he doesn't know how handsome he is. Will suddenly feels underdressed in his plain mockneck shirt and house pants. ]
Ah... good morning! Can I help you?
[ Will's voice is a little too high and panicky. Maybe he's the nervous type...? ]
My name is Will. I've just moved here...
[ Wait, he probably knows that, since... his father is... right... ]
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Mine's Leon Strohl, but everyone apart from my parents just calls me Strohl. My father's told me about you, and I wanted to meet you and welcome you to the village myself, that's all.
[ With his other hand, he holds out his gift for Will. He supposes he could head back for now, if Will was busy (or getting a little overwhelmed by the number of visitors turning up on his doorstep), but he is hoping to talk to him properly for a while. Not as the son of Will's landlord, just as someone who'd like to help Will settle in.
He probably isn't that much older than Will, is he? His father thought so, anyway, even if it's a bit hard to tell. Maybe they could become friends. ]
Sorry, were you in the middle of something? I can come back later. Or, actually, could you use a hand around here?
[ Strohl casts a glance back over his shoulder, at the tall grass and other obstacles left to clear away. It would be fun to tackle the lot together, wouldn't it? ]
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[ It is rather fun to tackle it, though... which is part of why Will is so embarrassed. Hard to explain to one's neighbors that you haven't gone to see them because pulling up the weeds was just more fun... Will finds himself mechanically accepting Strohl's gift without remarking on it as his brain struggles to catch up with what his limbs are doing. ]
I'm just embarrassed because I — well, I don't even have any shoes on, and I wish I had tea or snacks to give you...
[ Bashfully, Will nervously rubs one foot against the other as though that might somehow solve the problem of his lack of hospitality. He was simply shuffling about inside his mostly-bare cabin when Strohl knocked, and his shoes are right in front of him if he needs to step outside, but he feels... flustered, somehow, as though he's been caught in a state of undress. ]
...You're very kind. No, please, there's no need to come back later. I want to sit and talk with you, if you — if you don't mind. [ Finally, he remembers the gift box. ] Er — should I open this?
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As endearing as it is, Will seems so flustered, put on the spot, that it might be a good idea to give him some time to take things one by one and recover. Though Strohl opened his mouth to point out that Will isn't asking him to do anything and couldn't have known that he had another guest to expect today, he decides against it, settling for completing their handshake with a smile. Then, now that Will's invited him to stay for a chat, he takes off his own shoes to stand there in his socks, leaving both of them more or less barefoot. ]
Well, it is yours to open whenever you'd like.
[ And when Will does open the box, he'll find that it's filled with an assortment of items meant to make his early days in the village a little more comfortable while he's bustling about his new home: a tin of tea leaves, a jar of honey, another of jam, a cloth parcel of freshly-baked pastries, and a loaf of rustic bread with a wedge of cheese to accompany it.
Belatedly in turn, Strohl remembers to let go of Will's hand. Will might need two to open his gift... ]
Anyway, thanks. I was hoping that we could sit and talk, too.
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[ Strohl addresses Will's embarrassment over not having his shoes on with a stroke of genius: by neatly removing his own. It's the sort of considerate gesture that Will has not received in many long years, and it makes the young elda's stomach (or is that his heart?) flip as his guest — his landlord's son — so easily and casually makes himself at home in his little home.
The warmth from their handshake seems to linger on Will's palms. The olive skin stretched over his cheeks has now turned a vivid pink.
He's... He's so nice. ...What did he say his name was, again? ]
I'll open it now, then. If you don't mind.
[ Will takes the gift box over to his singular small table, the selfsame one which Strohl will have to take a seat at, given that the cabin has been furnished with nothing more than this table, a few chairs, and the bed in which Will sleeps. The box isn't the sort that is particularly finicky to open — one pull of the decorative ribbon holding the lid to its container, and Will can see the spread of delicious gifts within. His eyes widen even further, though that already seemed impossible given the way his eyes are naturally large as saucers. Delight twinkles in his eyes as he takes in the pastries, the jam. ]
Oh... This is wonderful! You shouldn't have!
[ It's a considerate gift, though. After paying for rent in advance, Will didn't have much in the way of savings, and hasn't bought anything from the local stores in a while; he has simply eaten whatever he could forage from the fields and forests around his farm. Berries, roots, little mushrooms. Between this and his fruitless endeavors in the city, he hasn't had real food in a long time. He's hungry...
And Strohl may have just earned +500 friendship points all at once... Not fair! Isn't he supposed to be limited to only one gift a day?]no subject
I'm glad you like it. Hopefully you'll think it all tastes as good as it looks. You're going to need your strength, handling your farm!
[ And it doesn't look like Will has much to work with in his cabin... That's worrying. Is he even getting enough to eat? It's no good if he's pushing himself to clean everything up by himself first. It must be lonely up here, besides.
Maybe he's used to all of it, as an elda, which is worrying, too. ]
If you've the time, you could have lunch or dinner with us now and then. What kind of food do you like?
[ There's plenty to talk about, but they might as well start with that, especially if Will isn't against the invitation. To be fair, having meals with his landlord's family could be too strange an idea, so Strohl wouldn't mind just joining Will somewhere every so often, either. ]
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...It's a tempting mental image, but he shakes his head to rid himself of the thought. He doesn't belong there! Not in such a nice place! ]
I couldn't! I've only met your father once, and I don't want to impose. I'm just trying to — to make a quiet living out here. I don't mean to bother anyone or... I mean, I couldn't trouble you.
[ Well, that explains why Will hasn't been to see anyone in town yet, if he thinks of his presence as bothering people. It's not hard to think of how his being an elda would have shaped this worldview — though being a shy and unassuming elda doesn't stop him from bustling about his kitchen to fetch some extraordinarily simple, plain plates and knives (to help spread the jam). ]
Would you like to eat some of this together, though? It's all so beautiful, and you... [ You're beautiful too, he almost says, but that's not an entirely logical way to finish that sentence. ] You seem like you might be a little hungry. At this time of day.
[ Covered up his little stumble well enough!
It's true that his kitchen shelves are bare, but if it means he can keep Strohl with him a little while longer, Will doesn't mind using up some of the gorgeous bread and cheese he's just been gifted. ]
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He moves to pull out the chairs for the two of them to take a seat once Will has set the table. ]
Honestly, you'd be doing me a favor. Just like you are now.
[ It's said with a chuckle as Strohl finally sits down, tilting his head at the spread that was meant for Will's use. Well, not that Will isn't using his gifts as he pleases by choosing to share them with a guest, who is actually a little hungry at this time of day.
Still watching Will with interest, Strohl opts for a change of subject, something that should let Will talk about himself without having to feel self-conscious. ]
A quiet living... You're in the right place for that here. How are you finding it so far?
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It's wonderful out here.
[ He says it in a soft, worshipful tone that suggests he means it. Serenely, as he places things on the table in front of Strohl, Will elaborates: ]
I used to live in a little town in the forest like this one. But it burned down long ago, when I was a boy. [ He does not elaborate on the reason it was burned down, but it seems possible that Strohl knows enough about the elda to guess. ] After that happened, I moved out to the city for a while, but... it wasn't such a good place to live, for someone like me. So I wanted to go somewhere that felt... natural and free again.
[ He gazes with a smile out at the window, but then... blanches slightly when he realizes that there are still boulders and fallen trees out in the field. Ahhh, those need to be cleared...! ]
The farm is still a bit of a mess, but I'm working on it! I'll pull things together one step at a time!
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Strohl's own smile fades, though, as Will shares bits and pieces of his life before moving here. On the one hand, it's pretty amazing that Will can still smile like this and find joy in things, but on the other, it's such an awful thought that he's gone through so much just because he's an elda. The fire that burned down his forest home can't have been an accident... It'd be naive to think that it was. And it's not too hard to guess at the reasons why Will didn't feel welcome in the city, nor to realize just how long he must have been out there on his own.
Unconsciously, Strohl's hands curl into fists until he catches himself. He laces his fingers together on his side of the table while he can't trust himself to say anything straightaway, dismayed.
But Will likes it in the village. He'll hopefully have plenty more wonderful, peaceful days here. ]
...You know, I actually thought to myself that the farm's looking a lot better already, thanks to you. It'll be all the way there in no time, but the important thing is that you're settling in.
[ Sitting back, Strohl rubs at the back of his neck again. ]
Maybe I could show you around town a little whenever you'd like a breather?
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Would you really? I'd be ever so grateful if you did.
[ With small, slim fingers, he sets one loaf of bread aside to cut another. This time, he coats it in a thin layer of glistening jam. ]
But only if I wouldn't be imposing on you. I'm sure you have lots of other very important things to do, as the son of the Count...
[ Then he puts his utensils down, dusting his fingers of crumbs very delicately, and shifts the plate over on the table. ]
Here you go.
[ He turns the plate over to Strohl — ah? Seems like he's gone ahead and fixed Strohl's plate for him. One slice of bread with cheese, the other with jam. Was it necessary? Of course not, but there's something about the solemnity of the young clemar at his humble dining table that makes Will just sort of want to do things for him. Dote on him a little, perhaps... ]