Breakfast in the Manor
The acrobat and prospector were very different people. One hyper, energetic, social. The other quiet, serious, reserved.
But that didn’t matter to Mike Morton. He found Norton Campbell endearing, no matter his faults. He thought the burn scar, the crooked smile, and the stick of metal that went through his nose were beautiful. Everything about the prospector was ethereal, Mike had found himself hooked the moment their eyes had met.
He made it his mission to get closer to Norton.
“Good morning, Campbell!” Mike chimed, hopping into the seat next to Norton. “How are you?”
The prospector stared at the smaller man for a few seconds before his usually flat face morphed into a soft, warm smile. “Good morning, Morton. I’m okay.”
That smile melted Mike’s heart. It pulled him in deeper. He didn’t remember the last time someone had looked at him in such a genuine way.
“How are you?” The question was endearing, as well. The gentle tone of voice when he said it, no trace of malice or disdain, like how the other survivors spoke to Mike.
“I’m okay as well,” The acrobat replied, a smiling crawling onto his face as he took in Norton’s features. His mouth was slightly crooked, like half of his face was smiling and the other half was not. Smooth, chocolatey eyes. Or eye, he should say. His right eye was damaged and fidgety, its original color lost to the burn scar around it. Mike wondered how far the burn continued down his chest, the guilty image of Norton shirtless flashing in his mind for a split second. He silently cursed himself for having such thoughts. A black rod of metal was pierced through Norton’s nose. His hair was black, the top flat from the heavy hat he wore during matches. Another, less shameful image of Norton popped into the acrobat’s head, his hair fluffed up. He couldn’t suppress his happiness at this. Norton was much taller, and unlike Mike’s lean figure, his arms were strong and calloused, presumably from lots of long hard work. He appreciated that in a man.
Mike realized he had probably been staring for a little bit too long and wrenched his gaze away from the beautiful prospector, focusing on the breakfast that had been so generously provided by a group of survivors.
“Do you have any matches today, Campbell?” He brought himself to ask. He didn’t want this conversation to end after a simple good morning, he had set a mission to get to know this wonderful man.
“Only one. Right after breakfast. You?”
“I’m off for the next few days. They really overworked me this week! God, multiple matches a day… I deserved this break.”
Norton smiled at him, flashing those perfect teeth that made Mike forget how to breathe for a second.
“What’s with that look?” Mike asked, certain that light pink was dusting his cheeks.
Norton laughed. “It’s nothing. I just like the way you pout,” He explained, still picking at his food but not eating as he watched Mike’s expression change.
Before Mike could reply, probably about to say something that would fluster him more, two women approached Norton from behind and tapped him on the shoulder.
Emma Woods, the gardener, and Melly Plinius, the entomologist.
Emma smiled sweetly, but said nothing. She never spoke, just gave a series of pretty smiles and wide eyes that eventually grew creepy.
Melly dipped her head as an apology. “I’m sorry for interrupting you, but our match will start any minute now. Emma and I came to get you,” Melly’s features were shrouded by a veil, her beekeeper mask she always put on before matches. Nobody (besides Emma, perhaps?) had seen her without it so far, but it was obvious she was a woman of high class and respect.
Emma nodded cheerily, as if a confirmation that indeed, the pair had arrived to gather Norton.
“Good morning, Plinius and Woods. I’m coming,” Norton turned to Mike. “Sorry… do you think you could take care of my dishes for me?” He asked, already standing up to leave with Emma and Melly.
“On one condition,” Mike said teasingly.
Norton grinned at this little game. “Yes?”
“You have to come talk to me again after your match.”
His grin wavered, confusion filling his features. “I would’ve said yes to that even if you weren’t doing a chore for me,” he mumbled, starting to follow the partners out of the dining room.
“I know you would’ve! Good luck with your match, Campbell!” Mike shouted after him.
A smile played on his lips as he watched Norton slowly fall behind the two ladies, who seemed to be leaning on each other as they walked.
How cute! Mike laughed to himself, cleaning up both his and Norton’s silverware from the dining table.