(Thanks! I just got home and I am much tired TvT)
"Well, not enemies, really, just particularly sketchy employers. Usually I fight against th' bandits, but sometimes they're the only people around with any money. So yeah, I was actually workin' for Travis at one point." He looked down. "I hated it, to tell you the truth. That man ain't no ordinary kind of bad. I think there might actually be somethin' wrong with his head, right where your kindness and sympathies are supposed to be. Four days after we worked out a contract, I tore it up and left, and it might be the best decision I ever made."
"So like a sociopath then?" she questioned. As he went on speaking about quitting the work with Travis, her heart became heavy. Caught up in the casuality of the conversation, she made no effort to hide this, and simply nodded along.
(not so much–there's really only an hour's timezone difference between here and there. It's more the stress of figuring out how airports work and then sitting through a two hour car ride right at the end ^^; )
Rick nodded solemnly. "I ain't entirely sure, but I'd be willing to bet that's what he is. Even in that short time, he was startin' to drag me down, just like he had all the other poor guys working for him. He lets you think he cares just long enough for his opinion to start to matter, and then he turns on you. Jus' gets at you non-stop, right until you start to believe the bad things he says about you. They say some folks are pure poison, and if there ever was a man like that, it's him."
Charlotte considered this with pursed lips. "A lucky thing you got out, then," she noted distractedly. "You said he leads Deorn hunting, is that right?"
"Last I heard, anyway. Like I said, he's the kinda guy who can't usually stay in one place for long. Then again, the Deorn Hunters are a travelin' group, so maybe it's still working out for him."
"May be a chance we'll come across his group, then, considering our route?" Charlotte asked.
(As a matter of fact, I think it would be cool to meet up with the Deorn Hunters at some point–maybe after we meet an actual Deorn. Spoiler alert though, Travis isn't part of the group anymore)
"Hm, could be." Rick frowned. "I hope not, though. We've got enough on our plates already without havin' to worry about Travis and his gang."
"Agreed." Charlotte fell silent again, nerves at this conversation's casualty settling; she needed to focus on practicality and keep from caring. The latter never ended well. "Hungry?" she asked after a significant pause.
(I have no idea what happened, I think I'm kind of unsure what to say in this. Should we meet the hunters now, or arrive somewhere or something?)
(It's okay fam! I haven't been on much either because my computer's broken, I'm actually borrowing my sister's right now ^^; I agree, I think we should have something happen. Why don't we come across a tiny town of settlers and find some lunch? I'm sure we can run across some excitement there ^^)
"Sure am," Rick replied. "Let's see if the road leads to somewhere with a bit of shade we can sit in. This midday heat's gettin' to me a bit."
(sounds like a plan!)
Charlotte silently nodded, pointing ahead to a patch of road that forked left, seeming slightly greener than its surroundings. "Looks like there are people nearby."
"Looks like it. Maybe there's a tavern or somethin' we can sit in for a bit." Rick brightened at the thought of meeting new people and picked up the pace a little. "Yup, I see rooftops. Aww, what a cute little place."
There was a small cluster of houses up ahead, surrounded by some meager farmlands and flanked on one side by the river. The largest building was clearly an inn or tavern of some kind, and a few horses were hitched to the posts outside. A dog barked at Rick and Charlotte as they passed, causing some scruffy children to peer around the side of the house at them.
"I reckon they don't get many visitors," Rick remarked cheerfully. "We probably look like a mighty strange pair to them."
Charlotte's gaze lingered on the curious children, drawing a small smile from her otherwise sullen demeanour. "We can stock up, maybe get some information." They both headed for the inn, the sounds of clatters and laughter rising with each step they took.
The inside of the shabby building was dim and stuffy, but not as hot as it was outside, and there were a number of good smells coming from the kitchen behind the bar. There were quite a few people sitting in the main room, and several looked up when they entered, but no one seemed very wary or unwelcoming. The elderly bartender gave them a nod and set down the glass he'd been polishing. "Afternoon. Can I get you folks something to drink?"
Charlotte hesitated. "Whatever you recommend on draft," she said finally, looking over at Rick as they sat at a table by the grimy window.
"I'll take the same," Rick added cheerfully, leaning back until the chair creaked. "What've y'all got to eat here?"
"Roast chicken's fresh today," the old man said. "And there's always vegetable soup if you prefer."
"I'll take both if that's all right. You want anythin', Miss Charlotte?"
"Just the soup, thank you." Charlotte set her bag down beneath her chair and nearly tucked her slim figure in the rickety wooden chair, hands in her lap and gaze cast down.
"Coming up." The man left, whistling tunelessly.
Rick took a casual look around the room and twiddled his thumbs. "Kinda surprised we ain't gettin' more stares. These people must not be the curious type." He caught sight of something and raised his eyebrows. "Welp, never mind, that guy's staring at us pretty hard. Can't find a single tavern without somebody sketchy in it these days." He shrugged. "I'm sure it's nothin'. We won't be here long anyway."
Immediately Charlotte looked, expression hard. She met the stranger's unwavering stare with steel in her eyes, one of her free hands creeping down towards her bag and her weapons.
(Ooof, sorry I missed ya)
The stranger–who seemed to be an ordinary farmer of some kind–quickly dropped his gaze. He returned to his meal, but still appeared to be watching them out of the corner of his eye.
Rick tilted his head. "Well, goodness, no need to be alarmed or anythin'. I'm sure he was just admirin' our collective good looks or something like that."
With a start Charlotte looked over at Rick. "I–" Then, with a choked back snicker, "Yes, I suppose so."
(wuuuut heck yea)
He grinned. He'd managed to make her laugh! It was an achievement to be proud of, he thought. "Anyhoo, I think I see our orders headin' this way."
Sure enough, the bartender had returned with their meals, which were piping hot and looked quite good. "You folks need anything else, just let me know."
It had been a very, very long time since any compliment had been paid to Charlotte, and as heart-wheathered as she was… It felt good.
"Thanks, sir." She pulled her bowl closer to her, inhaling the scent of fresh food. "This doesn't look half bad," she commented quietly.
"It looks great." Rick dug right in happily, very hungry after their long walk. "So, if we keep traveling at this rate, I reckon we'll get to the meetin' place with time to spare. If you want, we could actually slow down a bit, save some energy. What do you think?"
"I… guess so, yeah. Maybe we take some time to rest then, here or somewhere further south," she suggested, taking small deliberate spoonfuls of her soup.
Rick noticed how mannerly she was being and tried to slow down a bit on his own food. "Sounds good. D'you think we need any other supplies from this town, or should we head right out as soon as we're done eating? I think I've got everything I need, myself."
"Maybe we can scope the place, find out as much as we can."
She noticed Rick's eating slow, and pointed it out to him. "Did you order too much?"
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