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[stand_unshaken]

 

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[dog_eat_dog]

Fair enough. Guess some of them might balk, too, seeing you as a warden.

[stand_unshaken]

He considers the feeling, then nods. He hasn't been needed by an awful lot over the past few years, and it's making something coil in his stomach that he doesn't like.

"Don't think I like what it might mean. Something playing with me."

Audio

[dog_eat_dog]

It’s much more of a challenge to escape the law when they’ve got more at their disposal.

cw: era-appropriate but still racist term

[stand_unshaken]

Oh, yeah. I was by their side killin' and robbin' all these years, I'd understand a little resentment.

I don't know, though. Charles, I could see bein' here as a warden. Big Indian fella, calm as anything, smart as hell. There's a man you can really rely on.

[dog_eat_dog]

“It’s not a great feeling,” she agrees. “But I’d rather know and head it off before it decides to come looking for us.”

Audio

[stand_unshaken]

I would kindly remind you what I came here for. I don't need more of a goddamn challenge to keep me and my people safe. Hard enough as it is.

[dog_eat_dog]

[“Resentment” feels like a mild understatement, given Ellie, but Tess doesn’t feel like getting into that, either.]

What’s a guy like that doing in a gang?

[stand_unshaken]

"Right you are." It's pulling them easily towards the deck, his trepidation growing as they go- but it feels good, to, to be going there. Like he's going in the right direction.

"Let me-" When they get to the door, he pushes forward, a shield if need be.

Audio

[dog_eat_dog]

Easy. It was a joke, old guy, not saying you couldn’t handle it.

[Not a very nice one, though, she can admit that, at least to herself.]

[stand_unshaken]

His daddy was a black man, and his ma was Indian. As far as I know, they lived with his mother's family until the government got in their way. She got taken by the military, he became a drunk, so Charles headed out alone. Think he was about the same age I was when he left home.

[Arthur pats his horse again, then turns to look at Tess once more.]

Hardens you, bein' out in the open at that age. We was all too glad to have him with us, knowing what he does about nature, about animals. And it's good to ride with people after many years alone.

Audio

[stand_unshaken]

Yeah, well, maybe you ain't too funny. [He can grouch a little; she can take it.]

[dog_eat_dog]

What a gentleman. Tess steps in behind him, letting her backpack hang low off one shoulder in case she needs her gun. She peers around him, though, and is both surprised and bothered when no one’s there. Nothing immediately obvious, anyway.

Audio

[dog_eat_dog]

Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard that. Come on. I’ll help you with those Pinkertons, you know. Bring an AK-47, they won’t know what’s coming.

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah. I’ve seen that a lot. Military started scooping up orphaned kids a while back, raising them as soldiers so they don’t fall into gangs or something, like any of us want to recruit kids.

[It’s hard enough to find reliable adults.]

Pretty miserable, being dragged into gang shit so young, but sometimes it seems like the best choice.

[stand_unshaken]

There's really nothing there that he can see, yet, but there's a pull inside of him anyway. He keeps his arm stretched out a little, not exactly keeping her from moving ahead of him but... urging her not to.

And then his eyes drop to an egg, lying comfortably against the headrest of one of the deck chairs, and it just feels right to go towards it. He throws Tess a concerned look, frowns- what the hell?

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess meets his gaze with a somewhat confused look. An egg? It looks like a giant egg. She knows, somehow, that it’s the thing calling for them, and it feels that much more intense the moment she knows that’s what it is.

She looks out to open space and it’s star field and then back to Arthur.

“We should grab it and go. Figure out what it is when we’re not in the open.”

[stand_unshaken]

I don't know what that is, but I hope it causes a big fucking explosion.

[stand_unshaken]

He was out there until last year, which I'd wager is even more miserable.

Smart man. I think you'd like him.

[stand_unshaken]

"You get it," he tells her, somehow reluctant to pick up something that's making him feel protective and strange. "I'll cover you."

[dog_eat_dog]

Six hundred rounds a minute, barely heavier than a pistol.

[stand_unshaken]

[That deserves a low, impressed whistle.]

Now that I'd take home with me.

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah. It’s hard going it alone, but I can’t imagine getting swept into Dutch‘s shit that late was worth it, either. I hope he shows up, anyway.

[Arthur could always use more friends.]

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess nods, slipping around him and bee-lining for the egg. She gives it a cursory look before picking it up — no moisture, no spores, nothing indicative of a trap or hazard.

It’s surprising to her how quick the plea to be found turns into contentment. She almost hesitates to put it in her bag. Tess isn’t so sure she likes that, but it is what it is.

“What the hell...?”

[dog_eat_dog]

Definitely something to grab before going. They’re hard to carry in the QZ but when I can, I do. You’ll like them.

[stand_unshaken]

Me too.

Anyone you'd wanna see here?