Re: The Aristocrat/The Carnie
Leo walked in contemplative silence, not immediately responding to being corrected. Having his handshake be ignored had rubbed him the wrong way, but when it came to his speech being criticized he was not bothered. It seemed like a silly thing to care about words and tenses when, in the end, the other party understood what you meant to say.
Once out of the dining car, the boy fished a battered package of cigarettes from his pocket along with a little silver lighter. A cigarette was brought to his lips, and the lighter flicked it's tiny red tongue into the air. Those green eyes lingered on the flame which was allowed to dance a bit longer than necessary to light his smoke. They seemed to feast on the sight of it. But then it was gone, back into his pocket, and Leo was left smirking with the cigarette dangling from his lips as casual as you please.
“Y’know, you oughta try to relax more. Don’t be so strict ‘bout rules. Loosen that tie a bit.” He breathed a thin plume of smoke. “You ever been to the circus? Lots of fun t’be had at the circus.” Like a count would deign to be at such a place, surrounded by normal people, breathing in sawdust and popcorn. Leo was simply making conversation.