if I cross the line

NIKI

Too engrossed in his task and with the hush of the rain all around - not to mention that he honestly isn't expecting someone living to sneak out of the woods nearby - Niki is understandably a bit jumpy in response to the sudden sound of a voice. Having been holding the lantern between both of his hands, he jerks and drops it in his surprise, only to try and fumble to catch it again with a soft curse. The result, naturally, is quite the comedy of errors; the lantern cracks against one of the lower branches at the same time as Niki tries to seize hold of it, and were it not for his gloves, he'd have a few very nasty cuts to his name.

Luckily, he's merely left holding bits of glass and a shell of metal as he glances towards the stranger, an apology on his tongue that's automatic and that he has to bite back all the same. Instead, clearing his throat, he bobs his head in a nod. "I was the last time I checked," he says, his accent warping around the words before he gazes back to the ruined lantern. "This was probably due for an upgrade anyway," he remarks, carefully gathering the glass inside the casing and emptying the bag he'd brought - a few candles, a sprig of dried lavender, and some incense - so he can put the lantern inside it.

"Were you worried I was not a person?" he wonders with a brief smile towards her.

my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now
I can feel the light shine on my face

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!