forum I summon thee @Young-Dusty

Started May 08, 2019 by @amber_is_in_a_loop

tune

SWEET XD Do you think there's anything else that needs to get settled? Or should we just start in and work out the details as we go?

I would say work it out as we go, we've got enough basics. What do you think?
I've got to go for now though, see you!

I agree, it's usually more fun that way ^^
Okay, I have to go soon also. Seeya!

Alrighty would you like to go for a starter or would you rather I?

I'll set the scene for like time of day/weather/etc. if you'd like to start from Charlotte's perspective after that? We can have our characters meet pretty quick I think ^^

Yup sounds great!

(Okay! Here goes! ^^)
It was raining pretty hard that evening. The long springtime grass had been beaten down by the sudden shower, and the trees were bowed by occasional gusts of wind, but none of this stopped the birds from going about their usual business, and plenty of other animals still foraged for food despite the downpour. There was thunder and lightning, but it was on the distant horizon, and for the most part the storm consisted only of the rain that drenched everything for miles around.

The rain beat down on the thin wood walls of the house, rattling the building to the core. Charlotte sat in the central room, far away from the doors and therefore the warmest in the rainy season. The drumbeat of the drops on the tiled roof provided a comforting sound, a confirmation that even in the world they lived in Nature held the upper hand.
She sat silently, cleaning off vegetables she'd picked that morning. She wore layers of wool sweaters, chilled by the wind rushing in from the flatlands around her.
(if you'd like https://www.notebook.ai/forum/general-writing/general-writing-critique)

(ty! I'm not very good at giving critiques/advice but I'll keep it in mind! ^^)
About a half-mile from the house, a figure appeared through the sheets of rain. Rick had been caught out in the open by the bad weather, and at first he'd hoped it would be over soon like many spring storms–but it seemed he'd misjudged this time. Brushing droplets of water off the brim of his worn baseball cap and shouldering his backpack, he squinted ahead to see if there was any shelter nearby.
After a moment, his eyes lit on the faint glow from the house's window and his heart lifted. Maybe he could ask the resident if he could wait out the storm with them, if he was polite. He knew that people were often wary of strangers in these parts, but figured it was worth a shot. Stepping carefully through the slippery mud and grass, he made his way over to the house and knocked on the door.

Charlotte jumped, caught by surprise. Who the hell would be out here, especially in this weather? She carefully set down the half-clean carrot, but tucked the knife into her back pocket.
She edged towards the front door, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. "Who is it?" she called brusquely through the door.

Rick just barely heard her over the wind and tried to sound as polite and friendly as he could. "Just a traveler from down south, Ma'am. I hate to bother you, an' I understand if you turn me down, but the weather's pretty nasty out here and I thought I'd ask if I could come inside for a spell."

Charlotte hesitated. He sounded nice enough, but you never could know.
She decided on letting him in but questioning him further. She tugged the door open to a very well-built man, sporting a travel backpack and baseball cap.

Rick quickly took off his hat and gave her a cheerful smile, noting her wariness and resolving not to test her trust. "Evenin'. Name's Rick, Rick Longpaw. And what might be your name?" He had a pretty strong southern accent and a naturally good-natured voice.

Charlotte eyed Rick; he was evidently from what had been the South. He seemed relatively harmless upon first impressions, and friendly.
Charlotte ignored his questions. Falling into a lean against the wall, she asked, "What are you doing in these parts?" she asked casually.

He stuck his hands in his pockets, not seeming at all put-off by her implied suspicion. "Oh, just lookin' for work. Not having much luck, either, but that's neither here nor there, I guess. I thought I'd head north a bit since I don't go that way much lately." He shrugged.

After a considering pause, Charlotte held out her hand. "Call me Charlotte. I've got a couple rooms upstairs."

Rick brightened and gave her hand a grateful shake. "Thank-you very much, Miss Charlotte!, I truly appreciate it. Sure is a nice place you got here–is it really all yours? Not many people live alone in these parts, 'least not to my knowledge."

Charlotte nodded. "Just me," she said simply. "I run this farm occasionally hostel," she continued on a slightly lighter tone.

She led Rick into the main room, where the table still stood laden with fresh vegetables, a thin sponge and a bowl of water.

"I see." Rick stepped inside, having to duck his head slightly to get through the door. "And is this area pretty pleasant to live in, then? Seems isolated enough, anyway. Do you have bandits this far west?"

(His reason to travel? Well he's a mercenary so he can only find work so many places, and I think Charlotte was gonna ask him to go with her her once she found out about her "kids" being in danger)

(Right okay. Does she find out he's a mercenary, or does she just ask him for help under another pretense?)

"I see." Rick stepped inside, having to duck his head slightly to get through the door. "And is this area pretty pleasant to live in, then? Seems isolated enough, anyway. Do you have bandits this far west?"

Charlotte paused before answering. Were all of these questions purely curiosity? Determined to maintain her guard up, she piled the vegetables onto the far counter and cleared the table, with a wave indicating to Rick to take a seat.
"Pleasant is maybe not the right word, but I get by. Besides, I enjoy solitude."

(Hmm, Maybe she tells him what's going on, and he admits his profession and offers to help?)

(We shall see)

(k)
Rick nodded in understanding, setting down his backpack and sitting down with a grateful sigh. "Solitude's nice sometimes, I s'pose. Not really something I'd choose for myself, if I had my 'druthers, but to each their own." He shrugged his coat onto the back of the chair and started unlacing his boots, which were soaked through. "I promise I won't bother you with my company for long, just until the weather looks clear again. If there's any way I can repay your hospitality, you just say the word."

"Count on it." Charlotte started busying herself with the kitchen, sliding the precautionary knife onto the counter an inch away from her hand. "Would you like anything to warm you up? Food or drink?" she offered kindly, acting the hostess.

(oof I'm about to leave for a couple hours, seeya later ^^; )
"Oh, well thank-you, but only if you have enough to spare. I wouldn't want to steal what you can't truly give me." Still, he couldn't quite hide the way his eyes lit up at the mention of food.

(bye :)
Charlotte noted the change of expression. This guy might not be so bad…
"It's no problem," she assured. "What can I get you? We've got a range of teas, coffees, fruits and vegetables, some bread, butter, eggs, nuts, might be some biscuits somewhere?"