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[stand_unshaken]

 

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[dog_eat_dog]

Cute. Don’t worry, I’ll take that to my grave.

[ The bond between man and fake horse runs deep. She’ll rib him for it, but it’s admittedly nice to see that kind of sentiment out of a man. Out of anyone still hardened, actually. ]

You gonna be sad to leave her behind when you get out of here?

[stand_unshaken]

[He nudges her to get off, so he can stretch his legs as well.]

Don't think so. It's good to have a good bond with your horse, helps in tight spots. But horses do come and go.

[dog_eat_dog]

[She's more than happy to hop down, feeling bandy-legged and rattled by the whole thing, but it wasn't awful. Kind of fun under the thought that she could fall and crack her head open, actually.]

They probably don't live real long in your line of work. Some guys I know, they go through a dog a year if they're lucky.

[stand_unshaken]

Sometimes it's best to leave 'em behind if they're likely to make you with the law. Sometimes you gotta steal another one. I don't like it, but it's a fact of life.

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah, I know how that goes.

[It is a little different when it's people you're ditching, though. Different again with guns.]

No point getting too sentimental in the end.

[stand_unshaken]

No point whatsoever.

[He lets out a sigh, leaning one forearm on the horse while he looks out over the horizon.]

You surprised at all I was an inmate over there?

[dog_eat_dog]

[She considers that for a second, and then shakes her head.]

I've never actually known you as an outlaw, no matter what you've said you've done. So sure –– kind of unusual to see you as anything but a warden.

[stand_unshaken]

[He shakes his head as well and considers that.]

Ain't that peculiar? You go from one life to another, and suddenly you're no longer who you thought you was.

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah.

[She's not certain she likes the idea, even if she's done it before and will do it again.]

Would your gang back home recognize you, if they showed up here?

[stand_unshaken]

Hmm.

[He considers the question as he idly strokes the horse's flank.]

Think you might not recognize me. You find a way to be, even if they change all around you and you no longer know quite why you still stay. I think I'd find it too easy by far to become that person again.

[dog_eat_dog]

[She folds her arms, watching him.]

Not to jinx you from seeing your people again, but I hope that doesn't happen. Or, if they do show up... that they follow your orders for once.

[stand_unshaken]

Now that ain't too likely at all. I think Dutch liked gathering people around himself who'd listen to no one but himself.

[dog_eat_dog]

Well, no Dutch, then. What about everyone else?

[stand_unshaken]

Would they follow my orders?

Hell. I don't know. I don't know that I'd want 'em to.

[dog_eat_dog]

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

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]

[“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]

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.

[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]

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

Smart man. I think you'd like him.

[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.]

[stand_unshaken]

Me too.

Anyone you'd wanna see here?

[dog_eat_dog]

[ She ponders that for a moment and shakes her head. ]

No one for good reasons.

[stand_unshaken]

Really? No one you'd want as warden or inmate?

[dog_eat_dog]

If any of my guys showed up as inmates, I wouldn't want them to see me differently than they know now. And... I think I'd do something stupid if any of them came here as wardens.