#you're just like one of those stars up there; verse - tbd.

[aloneintheafterglow]

Guilt immediately engulfed the man as he realized that he had stumbled upon a much shorter, frightened young woman. Several logs falling broke him out of the staring match, one making it as far as a mere inch from his boot. He tipped his head up, taking in the moment when the brunette reached for something else. He meant no harm, but he was constantly in survival mode which prompted him to raise the revolver - a lapse in judgement as he soon realized that she had only picked up a guitar. It was quite beautiful, piquing his attention in the midst of what aught to be a show-down.

"I promise," a palm faced her, a sign of surrender, as he slowly lowered his weapon, tucking it into his belt as a non-verbal form on guaranteeing a non-combative counteract. He didn't bother to buckle the revolver, as there was still a chance that she would turn the situation against his favor. It had occurred one too many times in the past.

"I'm not going to aim it at you - again," the tremble in his voice was slowly dissipating, an attempt to diffuse the tension. A deep breath pushed through his nostrils as he raised his other palm to face her. "I'm sorry for startling you - you don't owe me a thing, and I know. But, all I ask is if you can just look the other way and I'll be out of your hair before sunrise."

* ❁  ─── the night held an icier temperature than usual, it made for restless sleep and the fireplace was yearning for another block of wood anyway. chatter of her teeth hitting together caused for the curly haired brunette to wrap herself in an extra coat before going out in the shed, securing it around her tiny frame over her long night dress. she wasn't expecting a THUD of the shed door to push itself open while her back was turned in the midst of picking out wood to carry in.

it made her JOLT, the firewood rolling out of her arms, onto the floor and narrowly missing crushing her feet once she spun around on her heel. doe eyes widened at another figure in the same building with her, especially at the sight of a man. startled out of her skin, lucy gray quickly backed away into a corner and grabbed for her guitar leaned up against the nearby wall. she was going to hit him with it, risk damaging her most prized possession if it meant saving herself. until eyes landed on the gun and that was no match for wood and some strings. ❝ you sure? cause i ain't ever had an intruder before that wasn't tryin' to harm me. ❞ heart slammed in her chest, staring at him like a cautious animal, ❝ and you're pointin' a gun at me. ❞