Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #4: Black and White, in Hats and Horses (5/28/98)
Note: The first part of this log is missing.
Nick: I think perhaps you'd better do the library work.
Nick: I might be able to suggest a few titles, though.
Eliza: ~disappointment~
Eliza: OK, thank you.
Nick: Actually, if you want help on the theory, you really should ask Linn.
Nick: She's a whiz at transfer math.
Eliza: Linn?
Nick: Just tell her what answer you're looking for--and don't tell her what it means.
Eliza: Really? Linn?
Eliza is very surprised.
Eliza: OK - I'll ask her.
Eliza notices the train is slowing down.
Eliza: Where is Snake? Were we getting off here?
Wise Snake reappears, swinging the medical satchel over her shoulder.
Wise Snake looks mildly surprised that they aren't already up and ready.
Wise Snake: Come on... we're getting off here.
Nick looks up, raising an eyebrow.
Nick: Find any work?
Wise Snake: Yeah, there was this lady pregnant with triplets!
Wise Snake: She had no idea.
Wise Snake: That she was pregnant, I mean.
Eliza looks horrified.
Linn figures that the command to pack was meant for her, since she's the only one with luggage.
Wise Snake looks around to make sure everybody is there, then walks towards the door.
Eliza hopes she will be able to send a telegram from here.
Nick sticks close to Snake, not knowing what sort of ambient they will find at their latest destination.
Fitz is sitting in a private booth with McCullum and the Gen.
Fitz is leaning forward, whispering and looking very needy and nervous.
McCullum: I told you there was nothing to worry about, he is ex-Tecton.
McCullum pats Cord on the shoulder.
McCullum: If you have never had transfer from a Donor you should try it at least once! And there is no danger of you being made junct, none at all isn't that right Cord?
Wise Snake steps out of the train onto a deserted platform.
Fitz licks his lips.
Eliza looks around at a station somewhat more townlike then the last.
Fitz: How much was that again?
McCullum names a figure.
Linn piles out after, dragging her suitcase and bag.
Wise Snake squints at the faded sign on the dilapidated station: "Angst Bluff"
Fitz feels cautiously in his pocket and pulls out a small pile of cash, pulls of the quoted amount and puts the rest back in his pocket.
Eliza: You want a hand with that bag, Linn?
Linn: Thank you.
Linn hands the bag to Eliza.
Linn: It does get heavy.
McCullum gazes hungrily at the pocket.
Eliza picks up the bag.
Eliza: It is heavy isn't it? What do you have in here?
Eliza suspects bricks.
Linn: Books, mostly.
Cord nudges McCullum.
Eliza: Books!
Eliza: ~excited~
Eliza: Books on what?
Fitz: So, where do we go?
Fitz: I mean, I'm ready now!
Wise Snake frowns, then ignoring the others, begins to walk along the boarding platform.
Linn: Some novels I've been meaning to read, and a few of my favorite collections of mathematical teasers.
Eliza follows Snake, dragging the bag.
Nick keeps pace with Snake.
Eliza: Oh, nothing on transfer mechanics?
McCullum: Wherever you want. Of course you would want somewhere discreet.
Linn: Transfer mechanics? Why, no.
Fitz: Well, can't go to my place with the missus and the kids.
Cord: Yeah c'mon Fitz, won't take long.
Cord: How bout round the back?
Eliza: Oh, Nick said you might be able to help me with a problem.
Eliza: But I'll talk to you about it later if that's okay?
Linn: Certainly. [absently]
Wise Snake turns and gives Linn and Eliza an odd look.
Eliza catches Snake's gaze and pretends she doesn't.
Nick: Any place in particular we're heading for? [to Snake]
Fitz licks his lips again.
Eliza: ~hungry~
Fitz: Why not here?
Fitz: I mean, this booth is sort of private.
Fitz: Place is empty.
Fitz has a lean and hungry look.
Fitz: ~need~
Wise Snake is distracted by Nick's question.
Cord: OK sure let's go.
Wise Snake: Yeah, I want to...
Wise Snake is distracted again by something she zlins across the way.
Cord hold out his arms.
McCullum moves out of the booth.
McCullum: I'll just wait outside.
Cord glances at McCullum.
McCullum smiles at them and heads out of the café.
Nick drops some of his blanketing effect to let Snake zlin more clearly.
Cord: Ohh you'll like this Fitz, I assure you.
Wise Snake cuts across Nick's path, nearly tripping him, and walks purposefully toward a small ratty cafe.
Fitz moves over into the seat vacated by McCullum.
Fitz is too nervous.
Cord: ~~welcoming nager~~
Fitz licks his lips again and lunges forward to take the Gen into transfer position.
Cord: ~~desire to give~~
Cord: Yeah that's it.
Fitz has some trouble as his laterals search for the laterals of a channel.
Wise Snake enters the "Rusty Kettle"
Fitz latches on and makes 5th contact and starts to draw.
Nick pulls up short to avoid sprawling, then swerves after Snake.
Cord smiles ~~SLAM~~
Linn looks in surprise as Snake heads off.
Eliza is glad that the cafe is there as she is hungry.
Linn: Bum Bum, what's over there?
Fitz collapses in a heap.
Wise Snake manages to convert collapsing into a heap into a graceful stagger into a table.
Cord quickly riffles thru Fitz's pockets for all he can get, then scampers out of the café.
Bum Bum zlins.
Bum Bum: Well it seems to be an... yeow!
Eliza: You okay?
Nick catches up to Snake just as she sprawls.
Nick: Snake, are you all right?
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Eliza jumps aside as a man rushes past her.
Cord: Hey Mc where are ya?
McCullum: Psssst.
Wise Snake scrabbles for purchase and pushes herself away from the table, zlins Cord leaving.
McCullum: [rough whisper] Over here!
Cord: Hehe sucker, look what we scored.
McCullum: How much you get?
Cord: Fool Sime didn't even know what hit 'im.
McCullum: Keep your voice down!
McCullum: That was too quick, the next train isn't for 20 minutes!
Wise Snake: Shen.
Wise Snake: Come on, Nick.
McCullum zlins Cord.
Cord: Ahh dun worry, they're too stupid to catch us.
McCullum: He going to come around anytime soon?
Wise Snake does her best to hide any debilitating effects as she weaves over to Fitz 's collapsed body.
Eliza keeps her hand on Bumanuel's arm until his face turns back to the right colour.
Wise Snake kneels by him and takes his arms.
Cord: Praps, praps not.
Cord smirks.
Fitz is out to it, but alive even if in need and a mess.
McCullum: Yeah well, let's just lay low until the train gets here.
McCullum: Come on, over here.
Nick follows Snake.
McCullum: Anyone see you?
Nick: What happened?
Eliza sits Bumanuel in a booth and slides in next to him.
Eliza: ~support~
Cord: Nah they didn't see a thing.
Cord: We'll just stay round the station and grab the next ride outta this dump.
Nick sees Fitz's condition and understands.
Nick: Shen!
McCullum has his doubts about Cord's intelligence.
Nick opens up the medicine satchel and starts fishing for useful medications.
Griff: Let's go over and see what happened!
Cord: besides, if worst comes to tha worst, I am sure a strong guy like you can get us outta here in a hurry.
Griff hopes it's something ooky.
Eliza: I'll stay here with Bumanuel I think.
Eliza looks at him in worry.
Cord smiles smugly at his ill gotten gains.
Wise Snake takes Fitz in a full transfer position.
Bum Bum shakes his head and seems to come to his senses.
Bum Bum: Did you see that guy just ran out of here?
Bum Bum: The Gen?
Wise Snake releases Fitz slowly.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Wise Snake: He's dead.
Wise Snake: Shenned.
Nick: Dead?
Wise Snake lets Fitz's body slump back against the floor, starts to stand, then decides the better of it and remains kneeling.
Wise Snake: Where is the proprietor of this
place ?
Adolfo: what are all of you doing in here? I don't run a shelter centre you know, buy something or GET OUT.
Eliza jumps at the big man's yell.
Adolfo looms around the corner.
Nick: That could get complicated if the authorities arrive.
Nick envisions being held for questioning, long enough for word to get back to Bender Cove and whoever they're running from.
Wise Snake cringes instinctively.
Adolfo stares down at the group as he growls.
Wise Snake: You have had a murder here, in case you hadn't noticed.
Eliza opens her eyes wide.
Eliza: A murder?
Adolfo: Seems I have the culprits here too.
Eliza: But but but....
Wise Snake looks disgusted.
Wise Snake climbs to her feet, looking like she just zlinned somebody's violent death.[fancy that]
Nick throws Adolfo an indignant look.
Adolfo calls to his wife. "Get the Sgt. Cranium here now! Fritz has been murdered."
Sgt. Cranium walks up and down the road, swinging his baton.
Adolfo: you'll not get away with this I assure you.
Sgt. Cranium is spotless, uniform neatly pressed and buttons shiny.
Sgt. Cranium likes his town the same way, clean.
Bum Bum looks at Snake, receives a nageric signal and a look from her, and touches Eliza's arm with a tentacle.
Bum Bum makes a let's-get-out-of-here head gesture and fades back toward the door.
Eliza looks at him questioningly.
Adolfo keeps his eyes trained on the murderers, ready to pounce.
Eliza follows him discreetly.
Sgt. Cranium listens to the irate woman and enters the café.
Griff drags out the door, reluctant to miss the excitement.
Sgt. Cranium: Wots all this then?
Wise Snake: Excuse me, sir. [to Adolfo] I am sure everything can be explained to your satisfaction.
Wise Snake: Ah! Local law enforcement. About time you arrived.
Adolfo: They murdered Fitz, caught em in the act I did.
Wise Snake is really wishing she wasn't here.
Wise Snake projects sincere honesty.
Sgt. Cranium glares at the dirty group of no doubt hobos arranged around the body on the floor.
Adolfo waves his finger at the scum.
Sgt. Cranium: Fitz! Done in is he!
Adolfo: Found 'em all hovering over him like vultures.
Sgt. Cranium: And who is it wot done him in?
Sgt. Cranium glares around at them.
Wise Snake: A fellow who has already run out the door.
Sgt. Cranium: A likely story! A likely story indeed!
Bum Bum: Come on. [to Eliza, once they are free of the cafe] We have to get our hands on that guy.
Nick: Would you care for a description?
Sgt. Cranium zlins Snake's honesty and is confused.
Griff: Yeah!
Adolfo: Never saw noone but them in here today, it's them that got him I tell ya.
Griff thinks detective-style chases of bad guys are really ooky.
Eliza: The one that ran past?
Bum Bum: Yeah.
Bum Bum zlins, trying to locate the nager he'd zlinned before.
Sgt. Cranium: I think, yes, I think that it would be best if you all came with me.
Sgt. Cranium: Ado, see what you can do for poor Fitz's body.
Sgt. Cranium: I'll see that his wife and children are notified poor pets.
Sgt. Cranium glares at Nick.
Eliza: Anything?
Sgt. Cranium: Now, will you all come peacefully?
Nick tries to look as honest and upright as his rather travel-worn tight jeans allow.
Wise Snake shrugs and leaves the cafe.
Adolfo: OK sure thing Sgt, just don't fall for any o' their trickery.
Sgt. Cranium looks from Nick to Snake to Linn and back to Snake.
Sgt. Cranium herds them down the road to the station.
Nick follows, offering support in a very snappy, professional fashion.
Sgt. Cranium: Be thanking you muchly Ado.
Adolfo grumbles to himself about no good outta towners.
Eliza stays close to Bumanuel.
Wise Snake has a few pills [discreetly]
Sgt. Cranium ushers them into the station and goes around the back of a desk.
Sgt. Cranium pulls out a book of forms.
Sgt. Cranium: very well now, if you will come with me I'll question you one at a time.
Sgt. Cranium leads them into a small room with a window with bars, a few chairs and a jug of water and glasses on a table.
Nick: Looks worse than the Tecton paperwork. [mutters to Snake]
Sgt. Cranium: If you don't mind waiting here?
Sgt. Cranium isn't really giving an option.
Nick: Just so long as we don't miss our train.
Wise Snake is not worried about Nick blabbing, and has Eliza and Griff safely out of the way, but is a little worried about what Linn might say.
Sgt. Cranium: if you are totally innocent in this situation you will catch your train, sir.
Sgt. Cranium realises that if he takes one of them out that will leave two alone together.
Sgt. Cranium: Hmmm.
Sgt. Cranium wishes the mayor had given him money for a second policeman - or at least a secretary.
The conductor blows the whistle as the train pulls out of town.
Sgt. Cranium: Oh well - you, miss, [points to Linn] you come with me please.
Sgt. Cranium: You two stay here.
Sgt. Cranium glares at them.
Wise Snake looks at Sgt. Cranium blandly.
Wise Snake: ~~total honesty~~
Linn shrugs and stands up.
Linn: Nick, will you watch my bags? They're a bit heavy to be carting all over the station.
Sgt. Cranium leads Linn out of the back room and into the office, closing and locking the door behind him.
Nick looks at Snake, a bit worried about the turn of events.
Wise Snake starts searching her pockets again.
Eliza hears a whistle of a train.
Sgt. Cranium: Now miss, what's your name?
Wise Snake has been looking a bit peaked ever since walking in on somebody getting slammed.
Eliza: I bet they got on that train!
Linn: Linn Haskins.
Griff: We gotta get on the train and catch them, then!
Bum Bum: No, they're still here somewhere.
Sgt. Cranium writes that down.
Bum Bum knows that he was mainly ordered to get the kids out of range of the cops, so isn't really tied in a knot about the crooks escaping.
Sgt. Cranium: Now Miss Haskins, it is Miss?
Bum Bum thinks besides, the poor guy probably had a legitimate reason for doing what he did.
Linn: As you wish.
Linn thinks it's probably a waste of time to insist on the out-t honorific.
Bum Bum has a soft spot for crooks, being one himself.
Sgt. Cranium: What are you doing here in Angst Bluff?
Linn: Trying to get a bite to eat before the train leaves.
Linn: The dining car fare gets monotonous after a while.
Sgt. Cranium: And where are you heading?
Cord cheerily waves out the window as the train leaves the station, giggling aloud.
Linn: What am I hiding?
Cord knows he is way too smart for 'em.
McCullum wishes he would try to be less obvious.
Sgt. Cranium: Heading miss, do pay attention.
Sgt. Cranium: Where are you heading.
Linn: You must excuse me, it's been a long journey.
Cord: OK Mc how much did ya sell me for?
McCullum: Just shut up and give me the money.
Cord hands over his cache.
Bum Bum glances up as the train goes by, and does a double take.
Sgt. Cranium taps his pencil impatiently.
Bum Bum: That's him!
Sgt. Cranium: Anytime you care to answer, miss.
Bum Bum is momentarily overcome by a weird urge to... do something about it.
Linn: I am heading west, in the company of my friends.
Sgt. Cranium: West, I see. And what is the purpose of this journey?
Bum Bum augments towards the train and, in a foolhardy act, grabs a railing as it rushes past.
Sgt. Cranium writes it all down.
Wise Snake: Nick? I.. realize the time and place are awkward, but...?
Linn: We wished to see some of the country.
Wise Snake looks at him pleadingly.
Eliza shrieks.
Nick: Of course.
Sgt. Cranium: so it's a joy ride around the country is it?
Sgt. Cranium writes that down.
Sgt. Cranium: Now, tell me what happened in the café?
Linn: Would you rather I told you that I was being kidnapped?
Adolfo barges into the station puffing and panting. "Sgt! Sgt!"
Sgt. Cranium looks up.
Wise Snake gives Nick her arms.
Sgt. Cranium: Adolfo, I'm in the middle of interviewing a suspect.
Adolfo: I just saw one of them make good his escape on that train.
Bum Bum hauls himself up onto the platform and pulls open the door.
Adolfo: Bet he's the one that got Fitz.
Sgt. Cranium jumps up.
Sgt. Cranium: You mean there are more of them!
Nick takes Snake's arms and offers a solid nager for her to work against.
Sgt. Cranium looks at Linn.
Sgt. Cranium: OK, who was it?
Adolfo: Shoulda known it was him by those beady eyes how they just stared at ya.
Bum Bum bursts into the car and zlins for the "bad" guy's nager.
Sgt. Cranium leans forward threateningly.
Sgt. Cranium: How many more of you are there?
Nick: ~~ steady support ~~
Linn: You could always stop the train and find out, you know.
Eliza grabs Griff by the arm and drags him back the way they came.
Cord looks back over his shoulder at the ruckus.
Eliza: We have to tell Snake!
McCullum tries to pretend he is asleep.
Cord kicks Mc. "Shen we gotta go!"
Wise Snake does her best to rebalance her systems after the shock she took at Fitz's death.
McCullum: Wha???
Bum Bum: There you are!
McCullum: Who???
Bum Bum leaps forward with full intent to snatch Cord.
Bum Bum has a good deal of practice at this sort of thing, being junct.
Sgt. Cranium glares at Linn and grabs her arm, dragging her back to the locked room.
Sgt. Cranium unlocks the room and thrusts Linn inside.
Linn: Really! [indignant at such treatment.]
Wise Snake sighs and releases Nick.
Cord jumps over a couple of seats stepping on people as he goes. "Help! Help, a murderer is after me! HELP!"
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Sgt. Cranium: We just heard that your accomplice has made his get away on the train. You can be sure that we will catch him, and in the meantime, you lot can just cool your heels in here!
McCullum manages to get in the way as much as possible.
McCullum zlins Bumanuel.
McCullum starts yelling too.
McCullum: HELP! Junct!
McCullum: JUNCT ON THE LOOSE!
Nick nods acknowledgement.
Cord pleads, "help, please anyone don't let him get me too! PLEASE!"
Bum Bum , hoping to catch McCullum by surprise, shoves him at a window [hard]
Sgt. Cranium locks the door, puts the key on the nail on the wall and heads out with Aldolfo.
Cord notices as several travellers avert their attention to the approaching Sime.
McCullum grabs Bumanuel's arms to stop himself falling.
McCullum falls anyway.
Linn looks at Nick and Snake.
Linn: Are you all right, Snake?
Bum Bum snatches at Cord.
Cord ducks and scurries under some legs.
Cord reaches the emergency brake and pulls
it down hard.
Passenger screams as she is sent flying by Cord and falls into the chasing channel.
Passenger promptly has hysterics.
Bum Bum augments to avoid the flying passenger [barely]
People all over the train are having panic attacks and attempting to climb out of windows.
Bum Bum dives under the same legs, after Cord.
Luggage falls out of the overhead rack and falls onto passenger.
Cord jumps out of the door as the train screams to a stop.
Bum Bum moves with a predator's uncanny grace.
Bum Bum leaps after him.
Bum Bum: [singleminded intent]
Eliza drags Griff back to the café.
Bum Bum augments to pounce on Cord.
McCullum pulls the emergency brake.
The train screams to a halt, bucking and twisting.
people fall everywhere as the train slams to a stop.
Nick looks around the locked cell.
Nick: Now what?
Cord lies still not even twitching, as he slows his heart rate to an undetectable level.
Wise Snake probably would have refused to walk into a cell if she were in full operating order.
Traveller gets up from the floor and glances out the window to see that predator hovering over an apparently dead Gen.
People lay all over the place, some hurt, some knocked out.
Eliza watches the cafe carefully from across the road.
Eliza: They aren't in there, Griff.
Eliza: Where are they!
Traveller screams in terror. "Look outside, that crazy man is killing him!"
Griff: There was a policeman. Let's try the jail.
McCullum makes his way out the opposite side of the train and takes off into the fields.
McCullum reckons he can always get another Gen.
Eliza bites a finger nail nervously.
Eliza: OK, but stay with me, keep quiet and don't run off, OK?
Griff: Sure, Eliza.
Griff is quite willing not to run off, as long as Eliza wants to run in the same direction as he does.
Eliza is surprised at Griff's easy acceptance.
Eliza: OK then, where is the police station?
Griff doesn't have the faintest idea.
Griff: Over that way. [points]
Bum Bum pins Cord's arms and drags him up.
Sgt. Cranium strides along the street towards the station to see about having someone at the next station ready to pick up the suspect.
Cord lays limp and motionless.
Eliza pulls Griff back into a doorway.
Eliza: Look, a policeman!
Bum Bum starts walking back along the tracks, hauling the awkward body, muttering to himself.
Bum Bum knows the guy is faking it because he can still zlin the pulse of selyn production.
Bum Bum is NOT fool enough to zlin any more than he has to, though, after what he zlinned the guy do earlier.
Griff: Yeah!
Cord keeps playing dead, waiting for a chance to flee.
Griff looks down the tracks.
Griff: Look! It's Mr. Bum Bum!
Eliza: ~relief~
Eliza: We will wait for him then.
Wise Snake looks at Nick and Linn.
Wise Snake: What are you staring at?
Nick: The walls?
Nick: Each other?
Nick: There doesn't seem to be anything else TO stare at.
Bum Bum sees Eliza and Griff and heads in their direction.
Wise Snake sighs and pulls her lockpicks out of her pocket.
Cord moves a hand closer to Bum Bum's pocket as he is carried.
Wise Snake zlins carefully, and detects the policeman heading back to the station.
Bum Bum zlins Cord's intent and smacks his wrist sharply with a tentacle.
Sgt. Cranium, having made the arrangements, heads back to the police station.
Bum Bum: What, do you think I grew up sleeping on a featherbed? Get your greasy paw off my stash.
Cord stiffens, startled.
Wise Snake kneels in front of the lock and deftly picks it.
Eliza starts walking towards the channel and his captive, glad to see that the "captive" is still alive.
Eliza: Is that him then?
Cord: OK OK you have me, put me down ya big oaf, I can walk myself thank you.
Eliza looks at the Gen with interest.
Bum Bum swings Cord down to his feet, but keeps a firm grip, holding the man's wrists pinned behind his back.
Bum Bum: Yeah, that's him. Slippery little bugger too. I couldn't grab both him and his pal, though.
Eliza: [to Cord] Why did you kill that man?
Griff looks at Cord, since he's the first Official Bad Guy the kid's seen. (knowingly, that is)
Bum Bum actually has a lot of respect for a slimy, conniving Gen with a nager like Cord's and wishes he'd met him before getting down on his luck and becoming Snake's slave.
Cord: I didn't mean to, I dunno what happened, honest. I just got scared and ran.
Eliza looks at Bumanuel.
Eliza: He's lying isn't he?
Wise Snake slips the picks back into her pocket and steps out of the cell.
Wise Snake: Are you two coming?
Nick offers an arm to Linn and follows.
Bum Bum: Naw, he's telling the truth.
Cord: Nah, honest miss, I was too frightened to stay so I just had ta run.
Bum Bum understands about killing by accident.
Bum Bum also understands that killing by accident is often preceded by an actual intent to harm.
Eliza frowns.
Cord: that guy was in need, and um, I just tried to help him, that's all. Just help him, I promise.
Eliza: Well, we think the police have Snake and the others at the police station.
Wise Snake zlins about for anybody actually inside of the station.
Eliza: We should take him down there and explain everything.
Cord shows a well practised look of concern and worry on his face.
Bum Bum: Now THAT's a lie.
Bum Bum: ... I think.
Bum Bum suspects this guy is the equivalent of a 3rd order Donor.
Sgt. Cranium approaches the station, proud that he finally has people locked up.
Wise Snake walks out of the station, coming face to face with Sgt. Cranium.
Sgt. Cranium: Wot's this then!!!!
Sgt. Cranium steps back in shock.
Wise Snake nods to him and starts to go around him.
Nick blocks the shock before it disturbs Snake.
Sgt. Cranium lashes out a tentacle [probably foolishly] and grabs her.
Sgt. Cranium: Where do you think you are going!
Wise Snake looks down at the tentacle, then back up at him, meeting his eyes.
Wise Snake: ~~that was foolish~~
Wise Snake: To catch our train. Unless you have any additional questions?
Sgt. Cranium lets her go.
Sgt. Cranium: I can't let you go. [half pleading] You understand, don't you?
Sgt. Cranium: now then, just come peacefully
Wise Snake blinks.
Wise Snake: No.
Nick: Actually, we don't.
Sgt. Cranium wonders what he will do now.
Sgt. Cranium: Errr, right then.
Eliza: We just have to work out where the police station is.
Bum Bum: It's not that hard. The police station is always in the crummiest, crime-iest part of town.
Bum Bum scans about, then starts off toward some likely-looking crummy streets.
Eliza looks around at the spotless buildings.
Eliza: I don't know about this town, Bumanuel.
Bum Bum glances at Eliza in question.
Griff: That makes sense.
Eliza: It's awfully neat.
Sgt. Cranium goes carefully hypo and grabs Snake's arm again - this time more firmly.
Nick reaches out to place a firm hand on Sgt. Cranium's arm--just on top of the laterals.
Nick: You don't want to do that.
Wise Snake meets Sgt. Cranium's eyes again.
Wise Snake: [strange, pale gaze]
Sgt. Cranium is afraid, and when big men get afraid they sometimes do silly things.
Bum Bum walks down one street, then another.
Bum Bum zlins a disturbance up ahead.
Sgt. Cranium: Get your hand off me!
Sgt. Cranium swings at Nick with his baton.
Wise Snake augments and catches the baton with her other hand.
Nick lets his hand tighten in warning.
Nick: Why don't you let go of that?
Sgt. Cranium groans and sweat runs down his face.
Nick: Somebody might get hurt if you keep swinging it around.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Nick 's tone makes it clear that "somebody" isn't him.
Sgt. Cranium, from his perspective, is the only law available between the townspeople and these three killers.
Sgt. Cranium: [poor man]
Bum Bum: Come on guys, I think I found it.
Bum Bum: Baton waving bozo up ahead... has to be the police station. And nobody could forget Snake's nager.
Eliza: They ok?
Griff follows eagerly, wanting to see the policeman beat up the Bad Guy.
Bum Bum: Er...
Bum Bum is having trouble making out exactly what is going on.
Bum Bum starts hurrying, pushing Cord along.
Wise Snake: Come on. Let go of me and the club.
Cord falls over.
Cord: Arrgghh me ankle!
Wise Snake: I didn't kill that renSime and I'm perfectly willing to answer your questions so long as you behave like a rational adult.
Nick grins at Sgt. Cranium--not nicely.
Wise Snake: Not, for example, locking us up and leaving the building.
Nick is, in fact, giving a good imitation of a Giant Killer Gen.
Wise Snake looks really annoyed.
Sgt. Cranium: [sweat beads into his eyes]
Sgt. Cranium: I can't do that.
Bum Bum: Whoa!
Sgt. Cranium: Due process of the law. You were caught red handed.
Bum Bum nearly stumbles over Cord, and has to stop to pick him up onto his feet again.
Cord: It's okay, I wont run. You can let me go now.
Eliza runs ahead a little.
Bum Bum: Just a few more yards and you're out of my hands.
Wise Snake: Look.. if you'll zlin up the road a little to your right, you'll zlin the real killer coming.
Eliza: Snake!
Sgt. Cranium zlins a young woman running towards the group yelling.
Sgt. Cranium: her?
Wise Snake is standing in the street with some renSime clutching her arm, Nick clutching the renSime's arm, and the two Simes clutching the two ends of a police bat.
Wise Snake: Not her! Behind her. In the custody of my partner.
Wise Snake curses the man's short range.
Sgt. Cranium zlins further.
Sgt. Cranium: Ah! A junct! That explains a lot!
Sgt. Cranium is happier to let go of Snake now.
Eliza runs up to them, ignoring the policeman.
Eliza: Snake, are you all right? Bumanuel caught him!
Bum Bum drags Cord the rest of the way over to the bunch.
Nick therefore lets the policeman go.
Wise Snake stands back about 2 feet before releasing the end of the baton.
Wise Snake massages her bruised arm, looking irritated.
Wise Snake: Great.
Wise Snake: Sergeant, here is your killer.
Bum Bum thrusts Cord forward.
Bum Bum: He had an accomplice too, a renSime.
Bum Bum: I couldn't grab them both.
Cord: KILLER? Hey, that's a bit harsh, lady.
Bum Bum thinks also McCullum probably could have clobbered him if it had come to that.
Wise Snake looks at Cord oddly.
Wise Snake: You killed him, did you not?
Wise Snake: I zlinned you do it.
Wise Snake really wishes she hadn't.
Eliza pants, out of breath.
Sgt. Cranium: Well, now.
Cord: it was an accident, I was just trying to help the guy.
Sgt. Cranium looks a bit helpless.
Eliza: That's a lie!
Wise Snake: You Genslammed him.
Wise Snake: After first enticing him into transfer.
Sgt. Cranium pulls himself together.
Wise Snake: I zlinned the whole thing, I mean, you were doing it in a public place!
Cord: Wha... what's that?? Never heard of such a thing.
Sgt. Cranium: Right then! You all come with me.
Sgt. Cranium grabs Cord by the arm and drags him into the station.
Wise Snake turns and starts walking towards the train station.
Cord wishes the Sgt. would let the others go, especially that woman.
Sgt. Cranium: Hey you! [yells at Snake] I need a statement!
Cord: Noo it's okay Sgt., I'll tell ya everything.
Wise Snake reaches into her pocket, muttering something about bugs, or bug repellent, or something.
Sgt. Cranium shakes him slightly.
Nick raises a questioning eyebrow.
Sgt. Cranium glares after the retreating group, then drags Cord into the station.
Wise Snake pulls out a rumpled piece of paper.
Wise Snake: Now, to our real business here.
Eliza remembers that she still hasn't eaten.
Eliza: ~hungry~
Griff wonders if it will be as ooky as an encounter with a Read Bad Guy.
Wise Snake: Ah... [zlins Nick, Griff, Linn, and Eliza]
Wise Snake: Lunch first?
Griff: Yeah!
Eliza: ~relief~
Wise Snake sighs.
Eliza: Thanks Snake
Wise Snake: No problem.
Wise Snake thinks, aside from a massive additional delay and more chance of being seen or apprehended by law officials.
Wise Snake would be more worried about this but she has taken so many little pills of different colors she is actually feeling relatively mellow for her.
Bum Bum clears his throat.
Bum Bum: Isn't anybody going to congratulate me or anything?
Eliza: Oh! I'm sorry Bumanuel.
Bum Bum zlins her for sincerity.
Eliza: ~sincere~
Bum Bum grins.
Eliza smiles at him.
Bum Bum looks to Griff for confirmation.
Wise Snake, whose own part of the whole escapade consisted largely of getting slammed by accident and then getting locked up in the slammer, hastily draws attention away from Bum Bum.
Wise Snake: Look... how about that place. [points to a restaurant nearby]
Eliza is just happy to have them thinking about food.
Wise Snake ushers them in that direction, looking over her shoulder.
Eliza thinks about food.
Nick glances back, but sees nothing more interesting than lunch.
Eliza: ~soup, bread, pasta, ice cream~
Waldo the waiter wipes down the tables.
Wise Snake resists the urge to go hypo, and instead carefully zlins the restaurant before entering.
Welma the waitress folds the napkins.
Bum Bum enters.
Waldo looks up with a huge smile
Waldo: Welcome to Waldo and Welma's Wonderful World of Waffles!
Wise Snake: Six.
Wise Snake would have an awfully bad feeling about this, if she weren't so tanked.
M'sara is a teenage gen, male, sporting a rather large black eye.
Waldo yells 'TABLE FOR SIX!"
Welma: You don't have to yell Waldo, I'm right here.
Welma glares at him.
Welma: ~men~
Welma starts to set a table for 6.
Wise Snake blinks several times at the loud yell.
Nick wishes Waldo and Welma were wonderfully efficient.
Waldo: Would you care for something to drink before you see the menu?
Wise Snake: Water only for me.
Welma gets the condiments and puts them in the middle of the table next to the plastic flowers.
Eliza: I'd like some orange juice if that's possible.
Bum Bum: Do you have a good Por--- [sees Snake's look] --- water for me also.
Waldo: Certainly, certainly. I believe your table is ready.
Griff: I want wallaberry juice.
Waldo: So that's two waters, one orange juice, one wallaberry juice [looks at Linn expectantly]
Waldo: Here is the menu.
Waldo hands a menu to Snake and Bumanuel, pointedly not handing one to the Gens.
Wise Snake sits down.
Wise Snake looks up in confusion at the menu distribution.
Eliza looks over Bumanuel's arm at the menu.
Linn: Tea.
M'sara walks along the street trying to see out of his one good eye.
Bum Bum shrugs and opens his wide enough so Eliza and Griff can see too.
Waldo: And one tea.
Waldo: Thank you very much, I'll be back with your drinks directly.
Wise Snake hands her menu to Nick and leans back, closing her eyes.
M'sara is hungry but isn't sure if he wants to risk trying to get Waldo to serve him again. Though he knows that trying to cook for himself can be dangerous when he can't see properly.
Nick scans the menu, holding it so that Linn can read over his shoulder.
M'sara sidles up to the front door of the restaurant, trying to sneak a look inside. When he can't see any immediate sign of Waldo he steps in and makes his way over to one of the tables.
M'sara walks into one of the chairs. "Ouch"
Waldo returns with the tray and puts the tea in front of Bumanuel, the orange juice in front of Snake and the wallaberry juice in front of Linn and the waters in front of Eliza and Griff.
Waldo looks up. "Welcome to Waldo and Welma's Wonderful World of -- oh, it's you."
Linn sighs and redistributes the beverages.
M'sara: Hello Waldo. Can I get some food?
Waldo: You got some money this time?
Wise Snake's laterals flick out as she zlins the newcomer [eyes still closed, leaning back]
M'sara: ~Pain from his eye, and burnt hands. Otherwise he is just very hungry ~
Nick bends over to whisper in Snake's ear.
Nick: Another potential customer?
Wise Snake: Yeah.
Wise Snake opens her eyes and studies the newcomer and Waldo.
Nick is all in favor of any work, being tired of close confinement with an irritable reptile.
Waldo: You got some money this time M'sara?
Waldo: ~irritable~
M'sara is too worried about Waldo to bother with the newcomers. "Yeh, I've got money."
M'sara reaches into his pocket and pulls out a very tattered note.
Waldo: Very well, have a seat.
Waldo sniffs.
Eliza drinks her orange juice in one go.
Eliza looks sideways at Griff's wallaberry juice.
Eliza wonders what a wallaberry is.
Linn primly sips her tea.
Wise Snake stares intensely at M'sara.
Eliza wonders how the money is going to last.
Nick makes a mental bet with himself as to whether he's going to get to eat before Snake gets her tentacles on M'sara.
Wise Snake: Hello. [to M'sara]
Welma comes over to the table with a pen and pad.
Welma: What can I get for you folks?
Nick nods.
Welma tries to smile at them but when she sees the condition of their travel stained and crumpled clothing her face falls.
M'sara hands over the note with a grimace. "Just as long as I can get some food into me I'll be right."
Waldo makes the note disappear and heads of into the kitchen.
Bum Bum: I'd like the braised asparagus and a half serving of nut-and-cheese balls.
Eliza: I'll have the double waffles with parsnips and ice cream.
Linn: Pancakes and maple syrup.
Welma writes it all down.
Welma looks at Griff.
Griff: I want the double waffle with all the whipped cream.
Welma looks at Snake.
Wise Snake: What I want isn't precisely on the menu...
Wise Snake: Can I get just a plain apple?
Welma: I'd be happy to make it for you if I can.
Welma: An apple?
Welma: certainly.
Wise Snake: Yes, and can you wash it fairly well?
Eliza: Snake, that isn't much.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza.
Eliza: You haven't eaten much lately.
Eliza: ~worry~
Wise Snake darts a glance at Nick, then back at Eliza.
Nick: Pancakes, fried eggs, toast and jam. Apple jam.
Wise Snake: Well, ah,
Nick: And some of that pastry, as well.
Wise Snake: I'll sample off Nick's plate.
Nick has long since learned to order for two.
Wise Snake hasn't had much of an appetite since leaving the city.
Welma: Very well.
Welma heads off to the kitchen.
Nick fortunately has enough appetite for both of them.
Eliza: I hope it doesn't take long.
M'sara looks over towards the scrawny looking Sime. "Ah, hello?"
Wise Snake turns to look at M'sara.
Wise Snake: Hello.
Wise Snake decides what the hell, and gets up and goes over to sit across from M'sara.
Wise Snake: Can't help but notice you are a bit down on your luck right now.
M'sara: Down on my luck, well that's one way to put it. [looks down at the floor]
Wise Snake zlins him again.
Wise Snake: Perhaps I can help?
Wise Snake catches herself pulling the kind of maneuver she would try in Bender Cove, and stops to wonder why the hell she is bothering.
M'sara: Are you a channel? [rising hope, quickly squashed]
Wise Snake has absolutely nothing to gain by giving charity to every bum she finds in every town from here to... wherever.
Wise Snake: Yes, I am.
Wise Snake frowns slightly as she experiences an internal quandary.
Nick sighs, then gets up to join Snake, unwilling to let his channel work in this ambient without protection.
M'sara: I don't know how I'd pay you. Ah, I could take care of your horses or something and feed them. Hay is something I have plenty of at the moment.
M'sara: I run the stable here in town, or at least I used to. [looks down hearted again]
Wise Snake: What happened?
Wise Snake reaches forward carefully for the guy's burned hands.
Eliza looks over the back of the chairs at him.
Eliza: What happened to your eye?
M'sara: Oh just the usual, a Sime town, they wanted a Sime-run stable. [lets Snake take his hands] I objected and my eye is the result. I'll move on eventually to somewhere a bit more friendly to Gens.
Wise Snake zlins the injured hands.
Wise Snake: And these?
M'sara: My hands are simply the result of putting out a cooking fire. I've had worse.
Wise Snake: Ah.
Wise Snake projects a healing field.
Nick thinks that this guy reminds him of Alea.
Nick is still mourning his two pairs of pants.
Wise Snake 's laterals extend, moving over the injuries.
M'sara 's selyn production rises slightly in response to the work that Snake is doing.
Wise Snake does what she can for his hands, then reaches to his face.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Welma comes out of the kitchen with the food and starts to put it on the table.
Waldo follows with a second tray.
Nick sees his dinner arrive and hopes that Snake doesn't take too long.
Wise Snake concentrates her attention upon the injured eye, encouraging the tissues to speeded healing.
M'sara sits there perfectly calm as Snake works, then he starts talking again. "I was raised here on this side of the border, it's better now than what it was when I was a kid. My father was rather grateful that he didn't have to kill me when I turned Gen. I'll find somewhere I suppose. Uhm, I could pay you with a horse if you want? I've got a spare horse or two as well."
Eliza hears that and sits up.
Eliza: Spare horse?
Eliza looks hopefully at Snake.
M'sara: Aha, I've got 2 stallions. I'll be keeping one for myself but you can have one, and I'll sell you the tack to go with it.
Eliza: What good is a stallion unless he is breeding stock?
Eliza: More trouble then they are worth!
Eliza watches Snake work on him with interest.
Eliza turns, takes a mouthful of waffle and parsnips and turns back again.
M'sara: You can ride 'em, if you know what you're doing that is. These two have both being trained as riding horses. They'll need a firm hand on the reins, otherwise they are capable of doing anything, but they can be ridden.
Eliza snorts.
Wise Snake finishes working on him.
Wise Snake: Ah.. well, if you are offering one in trade....
Eliza: Not much point of keeping them entire if you aren't breeding them.
Eliza didn't think Snake would take him up on it.
Eliza: ~excitement~
Wise Snake: Please excuse Eliza, she has a penchant for sterilization.
Eliza: I do not!
M'sara: Well you're planning on stopping somewhere aren't you? A grouping such as yourselves with one [looks at Snake], or is it two [looks an Bum Bum] channels? Without Householding colors on, or Tecton badges are probably planning on stopping sooner or later. Besides a stallion is always handy if you need to run away from something.
Eliza: ~annoyed~
Eliza turns around and attacks her waffles.
M'sara blinks and then starts smiling when he realises that he has both eyelids under conscious control. ~ happy ~
M'sara: A spare horse always comes in handy. [he says with an air of finality]
Eliza concentrates on ignoring them. Penchant for sterilization indeed!
Wise Snake: Please... come join us.
Wise Snake gestures to the table.
M'sara: Thank you [to Wise Snake]. My name's M'sara, anyway.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake returns to her seat.
Wise Snake: Sorry [whispers to Nick]
M'sara stands and then joins the other table.
Nick waves away the apology, and attacks his meal with the ferocity of, well, a hungry Donor.
Wise Snake picks up her apple and examines it visually and nagerically, then sniffs it suspiciously.
Eliza pushes away her empty plate.
Wise Snake detects no dangerous pesticides and takes a cautious bite, chewing slowly.
M'sara looks at all the food laid out on the table and sits back in his chair waiting for his own meal to turn up.
Waldo returns to their table and puts the bill unobtrusively in front of Bumanuel.
Eliza wipes her mouth with a napkin.
Wise Snake doesn't feel any burning sensation or taste anything nasty, so cautiously swallows.
Eliza: Snake, would it be okay if I sent Mostan a telegram?
Wise Snake chokes.
Eliza: You okay?
Wise Snake starts coughing and grabs frantically for the water.
Eliza: Quick - she is choking on that apple!
Wise Snake: I'm fine.. I'm fine. [wheezes]
Wise Snake drinks several gulps of water.
Eliza reaches over and pats her firmly on the back
Wise Snake gasps for breath, clutching the water cup.
Wise Snake: No telegrams!
Eliza: Too expensive?
M'sara look's in Snake's direction, then when she speaks he nods as if another piece of a puzzle has just fallen into place.
Wise Snake: No, no.
Wise Snake: Too.. [glances at M'sara] .. no.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry.
Eliza: Oh.
Eliza 's face falls.
M'sara raises both hands as if protesting his innocence.
Wise Snake feels like a jerk and looks down, concentrating on her apple.
Eliza: maybe I could phone then?
Wise Snake: No!
Wise Snake manages to avoid choking this time.
Eliza: Can I write?
Wise Snake considers, obviously extremely reluctant.
Wise Snake: ... I guess so.
Wise Snake: If it's handled properly.
M'sara: I can arrange for a letter to be posted. It will appear to come from Gen territory if that's what you want.
Wise Snake looks at M'sara oddly.
Wise Snake zlins him.
Eliza cheers up.
M'sara: ~ just being helpful ~
Wise Snake is zlinning specifically for honesty.
M'sara: I've got a cousin over there who hates Simes. If I send him a letter from postmarked this side of the border he just tears it up. He comes in handy occasionally so I organised an alternative means of
getting mail to him.
M'sara: ~ truthful ~
Wise Snake: Unnh.
Wise Snake: Fine.
Eliza starts looking around for a pen and paper.
Wise Snake: But Eliza, not a word that suggests you are even out of town.
Eliza picks up the bill.
Wise Snake: Not that!
Wise Snake: Shen...
M'sara: It takes 3-4 weeks though, that's the only problem with it.
Wise Snake: Nick, give her a piece of your paper.
Wise Snake plucks the bill out of Eliza's hand.
Eliza: Oh, that long!
Eliza: He will be worried sick!
Wise Snake: Well, at least he will find out.
Eliza: ~almost in tears~
Bum Bum puts a hand on Eliza's arm.
Bum Bum: [whispers] I told you.
Eliza pulls her arm away
Eliza: ~all your fault~
Eliza: [men are always to blame after all]
Bum Bum shrinks back.
Wise Snake studies the bill, then reaches into a pocket for the money.
M'sara sees some of the byplay but ignores it. Unable to wait any longer he grabs a piece of fruit from the closest tray.
Wise Snake ignores M'sara's grab.
Eliza: [a tear slides down Eliza's nose]
M'sara: "Well", he says between bites, "do you want the horse or not? If you don't take him I'm only going to have to sell him for 1/10 of what he's worth, and I always pay my way so I feel I've got to give you
something ."
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Let's go have a look at him.
M'sara: Ok, he's on my property about 2 miles out of town. I've hidden them so far otherwise I never would have managed to keep them, but you can have your pick of the two.
Eliza rubs at her eyes.
Eliza: We all going?
Wise Snake: Sure.
Wise Snake: Don't want to leave any stragglers to get picked up by old what's his name.
M'sara: Ok, lets go. Oh, you've had a run-in with what passes for the law around here already have you?
Eliza gets up willingly enough, although she does wonder what Snake wants with a horse if she intends on lots of train travel.
Wise Snake: Not exactly. We witnessed a crime and were temporarily mistaken for the crook.
Wise Snake rubs her wrist again.
M'sara stands and waits for everyone else to rise. Taking the opportunity to glance towards the kitchen one more time trying to
work out if he should complain or not, after thinking about it he decides that he shouldn't push his luck.
Bum Bum: I caught up with the real crook though. [in case anybody didn't remember]
Eliza falls into place next to Bumanuel.
Wise Snake gets up, with Nick moving automatically at her side.
Eliza: ~pride in him~
Bum Bum smiles at the pleasant and uplifting feeling.
Wise Snake looks to M'sara to lead the way.
M'sara walks out the door and starts heading down a side street before remembering something. "Do any of you have horse? I walked into town I'm afraid."
Wise Snake: No.
Eliza: No, we came in by train
Wise Snake: Although if we have the one, we will have to obtain others.
Wise Snake: How far a walk is it?
Eliza: 2 miles.
Eliza blushes.
M'sara: Ok, it should take about 30 minutes to walk. This street is the quickest. And if you want more horses I can get you them, though it may take me a day or so. Most of my father's contacts will still deal with me .
Eliza didn't want them to know she had been paying attention.
Eliza: We aren't going to catch the train anymore Snake?
Wise Snake: Maybe, maybe not.
Eliza's hands are still a little sore from the last horse she rode.
M'sara starts walking down the street, carefully staying in front of everyone and trying to give the impression that he's not listening.
Eliza doesn't see why Snake is trusting this person anyway.
Eliza says softly to Bumanuel "Why are we letting this person lead us miles out of our way?"
Bum Bum considers.
Bum Bum: Because he's leading Snake and she has us by the nuts?
Eliza is shocked.
Eliza: Bumanuel!
Bum Bum waves his tentacles appeasingly.
Bum Bum: Sorry... sorry.
Eliza: ~well, ok then~
Bum Bum tries again.
Bum Bum: Maybe there is some deeper purpose we can't see?
M'sara reaches the outskirts of town, and immediately looks around before heading straight on down what appears to be a well travelled country road.
Eliza: I guess so.
Bum Bum thinks that for him at least, it's the bit about balls.
Eliza walks slower.
Wise Snake follows M'sara.
Wise Snake: [Nick and Linn are beside her]
Eliza tweaks Bumanuel's tentacle to make him slow down with her.
Bum Bum: Ow - [gets her drift and slows down]
M'sara changes direction and heads towards what appears to be a burnt out shell of a house. "The horses may be able to hear me here."
M'sara: [He says by way of explanation]
Wise Snake nods and follows, though a little more cautiously than before.
Eliza: Bumanuel, do you think it would be dangerous to send a telegram? If I'm careful in the wording?
Eliza: Three or four weeks is just too long!
M'sara reaches the top of a hill and looks around before placing his hands around his mouth and whistling. [Very loudly]
Bum Bum: If they have eyes within the Tecton, it could be. The telegram would place you at this location.
Bum Bum: If they know you are with Snake....
Eliza: I could word it so they don't know I'm with her maybe???
Eliza: ~hopefully~
M'sara sees that there is no response and tries again.
M'sara: [The soft thunder of hooves can be heard in the distance]
Fyre Storm sweeps over a distant ridge, illuminated as a brief silvery flash in the sun.
M'sara says "here they are", and he sits down to wait.
Eliza sits down gratefully next to Bumanuel.
Fyre Storm charges across the intervening space at a dead run, head down, tail raised like a banner.
Fyre Storm's shadow seems to slow, then speed all out of proportion... until it becomes plain it is not a shadow, but a second horse, black instead of white.
M'sara: [Two large horses turn up, both slightly bigger than normal, one is pure black, while the other one is pure white]
Fyre Storm slows, prancing and tossing his head.
Freelance stands some distance away.
Fyre Storm would have approached M'sara if it weren't for all the strangers there.
M'sara: This if Fyre Storm (pointing to the white one), while the black beauty here is Freelance. [said with a great deal of pride]
Wise Snake studies them both, but is obviously more intrigued by the black one.
Freelance drops his head and starts eating the grass.
Fyre Storm snorts.
M'sara: Well have you made up your mind? [grinning as he watches Snake watching Freelance]
Wise Snake: I have my pick?
Wise Snake looks at Fyre Storm again.
M'sara: Aha, you have your pick.
Wise Snake smiles softly.
Wise Snake approaches Freelance slowly, speaking quietly.
Freelance looks up at this strange creature approaching him and snorts.
Wise Snake offers a hand if Freelance wants to smell her.
Wise Snake: Shh... there, there. [nonsense]
Freelance thinks about biting the hand in front of him but noticing the the disapproving look that M'sara is giving him, settles for smelling it instead.
Wise Snake lets him have a good smell before moving any closer.
Wise Snake moves her hand smoothly to take his halter.
M'sara disappears into the burnt out shell of the house, only to reappear a minute or so later carrying 2 bridles and a saddle.
" I 'll let you have the saddle."
Freelance allows it, though there is fire in his eyes.
Wise Snake: Ah... steady, big boy. [her other hand rubs his shoulder]
Freelance thinks again about nipping a hand (or two) but again decides not to. There is something about this person that feels
'right ' .
Wise Snake runs her hands over his body and legs, examining his condition, careful not to spook him.
M'sara moves quickly and places the saddle on Freelance, expertly tightening the girth strap before handing the bridle to Wise Snake
and moving over to Fyre storm.
Freelance is in top condition, a little bit unfit maybe. But still good for many miles of hard riding.
Wise Snake takes the reins of the bridle and leads him around a little bit first, watching his movements.
Wise Snake: [whoever said "never look a gift horse in the mouth" was obviously not a Farris]
Eliza falls asleep on the grass with her head in Bumanuel's lap.
Bum Bum could get used to this.
M'sara quickly gets Fyre storm ready for [barebacked] riding, then looks over towards Snake. "Want to go for a ride?" [there is a hint of challenge in his voice, along with a bit of excitement]
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake mounts Freelance.
Freelance snorts and rears up on his hind legs, testing the quality of the rider on his back.
Wise Snake moves with him.
Wise Snake is pleased by his spark.
Freelance takes off to the north only to be joined a second or two later by Fyre storm.
Wise Snake grins despite herself.
Wise Snake: ~~exhilaration~~
M'sara: Yeh-Hah, hold on tight, they want to run.
Wise Snake wonders how he can bear to give one of them up.
Freelance effortlessly slips in a smooth stride, giving the distinct impression that he could keep it up all day.
M'sara grins, and readjusts his sitting position before giving Fyre storm a tap with his heels and slowly moving to in front of
Freelance .
Wise Snake: You going to let him do that? [softly, to Freelance]
Wise Snake leans forward, and encourages him to show his spirit.
Freelance effortlessly shifts up a gear and moves to the front again.
Wise Snake feels a reckless delight in the game.
M'sara glances over to the left with a worried look on his face, and slowly starts steering both horses over to the right slightly.
Wise Snake zlins M'sara's worry, then looks and zlins to the left herself.
M'sara: [There's nothing there expect a farm]
Wise Snake looks ahead again, but the exhilaration is gone, replaced by the usual perpetual wariness.
Freelance sees a stream ahead and gathers his muscles for an effortless leap over to the other side.
Wise Snake places her weight over his withers for the jump.
M'sara see's the look on Snake's face and starts to slow down only to realise that the stream is there so he bends over and let Fyre storm have his way.
Freelance leaps the stream effortlessly and gives the distinct impression that he wants to keep on running.
M'sara: Do you want to talk?
Wise Snake looks back at M'sara, then nods.
Wise Snake slows Freelance.
Freelance isn't to happy with the idea but slows down and eventually stops on top of another hill.
Wise Snake pats him and speaks to him in a soothing and complimentary fashion. [the horse]
M'sara slows and stops Fyre storm, and sits the with an exhilarated look on his face for a couple of minutes before saying anything.
M'sara: It's being too long since I've done this. Way too long.
Wise Snake is breathing hard and looks excited, her black hair wild and her pale eyes bright.
Wise Snake looks fairly serious, however.
Wise Snake: He is a fine animal.
Wise Snake: [he goes great with her black hair and cape too, although she didn't consciously pick him for his blackness]
M'sara: [Takes a deep breath] I wasn't being entirely honest with the you before, about how I got my injuries. The business was sold to pay my fathers taxes. I was 400 short, and my next door neighbour offered to buy these two off me for that amount. He tried to ride Fyre storm here and got thrown, which didn't improve his temper any and he took it out on my face. The taxes are now paid, but I don't really want him seeing the horses.
Wise Snake: Do they legally belong to him?
M'sara: No.. Legally, I own nothing, though this is still my land. The horses are available to anyone who claims them and I have. [with that he grins] They were mine in the first place so why not?
Wise Snake studies him.
Wise Snake: Why did you say you'd have to sell for so much lower than their value?
M'sara: I was 400 short on my taxes, and these two were all that he thought I owned. He wanted them, I wasn't going to sell them to him. He offered me what he thought was an amount of money I needed. I said no.
Wise Snake: I see.
Wise Snake doesn't ask him how he eventually came up with the tax money.
Wise Snake: Well. How much do you want for him, then?
Wise Snake rubs Freelance's shoulder.
M'sara: He was a business rival of my old man, when my father died he thought he could get the business for virtually nothing. It's taken 6 years but he has the business. It's just not worth anything anymore.
M'sara: For the horse nothing that's payment for the debt, for the tack well.. do you want horses for the others as well? I can get them, legally, but it will take me a couple of days.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake: They don't have to be of Freelance's caliber, just good travelling beasts, steady.
M'sara: 5 horses, plus 6 lots of gear, uhm, for you 400 for the horses, and 200 for the gear. Does that sound okay? I'll make sure that you get a good saddle for Freelance too, I've still got his show saddle somewhere.
Wise Snake frowns slightly as she calculates in her head.
Wise Snake finally nods.
Wise Snake: All right.
Wise Snake: We'll find a place to stay while you make the arrangements.
M'sara: Ok then. I'll meet you in town in 24 hours time. I'll have the rest of the horses and the gear. Unless you want to stay out here? The main house has survived without being burnt so far, and there are heaps of empty rooms there. Furniture in them but not much else.
Wise Snake: That would be fine.
Wise Snake, now that there is an opportunity to avoid the trains, hopes to start travelling more incognito.
Wise Snake is unaware that riding on a horse like this is going to make her about 6 times more conspicuous than she already was, which was pretty shenned conspicuous.
M'sara: Ok, lets go back and get the others shall we. I think the horses are ready for another run. [With that he grins again, giving that distinct impression that he is even younger than what he looks]
Wise Snake smiles her agreement.