forum I summon thee @Young-Dusty

Started May 08, 2019 by @amber_is_in_a_loop

tune

(Yeah it's nice to be back, I've missed you all ^^' How've you been?)
Blowing a stray strand of hair from her impassive face, Charlotte shook her head. "I've heard the name, though not more than that."

(I've been good! I've actually been on vacation with my fam the whole week, and we're headed back tomorrow. It's really nice to see my older sisters, they live halfway across the country from us normally)
Rick rubbed the back of his neck. "What you were sayin' about Axel kinda reminded me. Travis….he's a nasty feller, no two ways about it. I've run into him a couple of times, and each time he made me a little more nervous. These days he's running the group that hunts Deorns, I think." He sighed. "I'm not really sure why I brought him up–I'm just glad we won't have to deal with him on this job. Do you get much news about the bandit tribes back east?"

(Ooh that must be so nice! Visiting family is always such a nice time isn't it? I'm getting homesick a little right now on my side of things, so I get where you're coming from :)

"What won him such a reputation?" she asked, seeming slightly concerned.

(It is nice ^^ What are you doing away from home atm? Is it because of school?)
"Well, that's what I was gonna say, is he used to be part of a tribe called the Devil-Birds and picked up some bad habits in that company. He's not your ordinary bruiser, though–he's got a healthy dose of cunning, and he's real good at getting people to do what he wants." Rick sighed gravely. "When I first met him, he had a group of followers, but they all seemed downright terrified of him. And when he was talkin' to me, he seemed so friendly and cheerful. Folks like that are nothing to mess around with, that for sure."

(Nah school's basically over now. I'm spending a week in Berlin for an exchange, then I've got one day at home on Friday, then we're off for another week in the south of France… All a bit hectic and I'm feeling vv tired, but I'm just trying to enjoy the trips)
Charlotte listened intently, furrowing her brow. "Sounds like a threat if I ever heard one. And for your previous question, I'm fairly isolated. I learn what I can when travelers pass through, but that's a limited amount, and a bit too subjective for my taste. It amounts to gossip."

(Ah, I see. That does sounds pretty hectic XD I hope it's fun though ^^)
"Fair enough. I s'pose my views are a bit narrow too, whether I like it or not. And it's true that most of my news is a bit out-of-date. It could be that Travis bit the dirt by now…with a lifestyle like that, it's a pretty common thing."

"I'd say that being conscious of your opinion is half the work," Charlotte assured him. "Have you got your own enemies that send you towards such horrible men, then?" Charlotte asked lightly, not realizing she was slipping into 'chatting'.

(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.

(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.