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witticasterSigh. Idk about whether it's as ic as I want it.
"And this is a Golden Broadsnout, it's a really good card," Sebastian informed his parents, holding up a brightly coloured playing card emblazoned with some kind of dragon. It was rather amusing, Archie thought, to see him so intent on his newly declared hobby of collectible trading cards. Considering how often he had mentioned school friends in the same breath as the cards, it wasn't hard to guess why he'd grown interested; still, Sebastian had seemed happy enough to spend the afternoon walking to the store with his parents and making the best of that week's pocket money. "I already have one, but Rory Knight said he'd trade me a Terrorstorm for one, so now I can. And this one--"
He was interrupted by a crack in the pavement, which the toe of his shoe inevitably found. Catching his balance before he hit the ground, however, sent his cards flying into the air and into the road. The moment Sebastian had righted himself and seen the fate of his new possessions, he exclaimed, "My cards!" and was beginning to dash forward to rescue them.
William called out for Sebastian to stop, mind the cars, but it was Archie who caught the boy round the middle as he tried to dart out into the street, heedless of oncoming traffic. Sebastian strained against Archie's grip, still crying out for his cards, and nearly slipped Archie's grip.
Catching him once more by the back of the shirt collar, Archie pulled him back and held the struggling boy at the waist despite his protests. "Father will get your damnable cards, now stand still."
Only when he saw Sebastian's expression change, from concern for his things to confusion and fear, did Archie realize that he had used a volume and tone of voice he thought he'd left in the Navy. The sound of his breath, rushing into his lungs in short bursts, was suddenly loud in his ears, mixing with his heartbeat and overwhelming every other sound. He shut his eyes, tight, trying to get his breathing under control, and heard
"And this is a Golden Broadsnout, it's a really good card," Sebastian informed his parents, holding up a brightly coloured playing card emblazoned with some kind of dragon. It was rather amusing, Archie thought, to see him so intent on his newly declared hobby of collectible trading cards. Considering how often he had mentioned school friends in the same breath as the cards, it wasn't hard to guess why he'd grown interested; still, Sebastian had seemed happy enough to spend the afternoon walking to the store with his parents and making the best of that week's pocket money. "I already have one, but Rory Knight said he'd trade me a Terrorstorm for one, so now I can. And this one--"
He was interrupted by a crack in the pavement, which the toe of his shoe inevitably found. Catching his balance before he hit the ground, however, sent his cards flying into the air and into the road. The moment Sebastian had righted himself and seen the fate of his new possessions, he exclaimed, "My cards!" and was beginning to dash forward to rescue them.
William called out for Sebastian to stop, mind the cars, but it was Archie who caught the boy round the middle as he tried to dart out into the street, heedless of oncoming traffic. Sebastian strained against Archie's grip, still crying out for his cards, and nearly slipped Archie's grip.
Catching him once more by the back of the shirt collar, Archie pulled him back and held the struggling boy at the waist despite his protests. "Father will get your damnable cards, now stand still."
Only when he saw Sebastian's expression change, from concern for his things to confusion and fear, did Archie realize that he had used a volume and tone of voice he thought he'd left in the Navy. The sound of his breath, rushing into his lungs in short bursts, was suddenly loud in his ears, mixing with his heartbeat and overwhelming every other sound. He shut his eyes, tight, trying to get his breathing under control, and heard
