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Post by elizar on Sept 25, 2009 6:01:47 GMT -5
"Before we start luring them away I hope." Roundup said. Heavensangel had gone to cook the dish.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 25, 2009 18:57:18 GMT -5
"Thank you." Rihanna had barely spoken when a noise at the door drew her attention...
Annalise Crawford navigated the busy streets of a reconstructed Corpus Christi, mounted on a seal-brown Thoroughbred mare of Argentinian lines. The mare stood out by her huge, floating movement, contrasting against the scrubs and carthorses hauling wagons, surreys and cabs through the market district. The woman astride her wore a wool poncho of off-white, grey, red and black patterns, along with a somewhat weathered vaquero hat and flowing bombachas over gaucho boots that were about as seasoned as the hat. Annalise had inherited her mother's fondness for South American riding attire, not to mention the fine horseflesh that continent still produced.
The protein-hunger gnawing away inside her reminded the girl that it had been eight hours since she'd put away her last piece of jerky and vegetarianism simply wasn't an option for her. Her eyes started scanning the various establishments, looking for a place that served honest red meat. Finally, she pulled up before a tavern that promised all that, plus a hitching rail and water trough for her horse. After dismounting, Annalise slackened her mare's girth, took the bit off her halter-bridle and tied the animal by a rope before allowing her to drink - she would give the mare a feedbag's worth of COB later - and threw the saddle bags and rifle bucket over her shoulder. The hour was late and she hoped their kitchen was still open...
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Post by elizar on Sept 25, 2009 19:35:53 GMT -5
Roundup looked up and saw the guest. Quick assessment revealed to him that he couldn't place her occupation. She was too much of a traveler to be tied down somewhere. She didn't have the menancing look or scars of a gun-for-hire, and she was too well 'prepared' for a relic hunter.
Of course it just meant that she could be just something else, or one of the previous choices but with a little mix in it.
"The oven's still on." Roundup said. "I'll take your order for the cook." He put the menu on the table, but did not stood up. This place wasn't as neat as other places after hours. Nor did the guest look posh enough to warrant posh treatment.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 25, 2009 20:18:48 GMT -5
Rihanna was also surveying the new arrival, with great discretion. The woman's gear was of good quality, but too well-seasoned to be the trappings of a poser. When she removed her hat, it revealed a voluminous fall of wavy, dark-caramel hair, checked at the nape by a leather cuff. Hair wraps and beads framed her face, which had some slight freckling across the sharply defined cheekbones and aquiline nose. Her eyes were the semi-metallic gold of a puma's, and suggested that she could be dangerous to people who pushed their luck. Rihanna was content to leave her alone.
"Is there any smoked brisket left?" the woman asked Roundup.
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Post by elizar on Sept 25, 2009 20:47:52 GMT -5
"I'll go check." Roundup said and stood up. He looked over to Rihanna, giving a controlled alarmed look, as if to tell her to yell if the guest seemed to be about to do something.
He disappeared into the kitchen and shortly after reappeared, with beer bottles for all three of them. "He'll do it." He said to the newcomer. "And I have to say that you don't look like a Hasher. I'm called Roundup here, what's your name?"
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 25, 2009 21:49:56 GMT -5
The stranger did a brief "size-up" take of Roundup before divulging her name. "Annalise." Her eyes were calm and steady, only looking away for a second or two as a CV jeep man eased by outside, a little close for the comfort of the mare, which snorted and raised a hind foot in protest.
"Manners, Lola!" she called out in a firm tone. "Put that foot down!" The mare ducked her head and settled.
"You'd think an eight-hour ride would take the vinegar out of her, but no." Annalise sighed.
Rihanna didn't drop her guard entirely, but somehow the woman seemed a little more "human" now and less like an apparition. Oh, that face would still turn heads when fully revealed, but Annalise did not broadcast "immediate threat" vibes. The others carried on as before, a bit more muted in case the newcomer wasn't the sort whose sensibilities tolerated bawdy hash songs. Was this woman from one of the outlying farms and ranches, or more of a nomad? A bit more time would tell.
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Post by elizar on Sept 26, 2009 6:40:25 GMT -5
Roundup smiled, but got the general idea that the stranger wasn't really going to be talkative at the moment, probably not until she had her meal.
"I guess we'll continue our discussion tomorrow." Roundup looked over to Rihanna. "Where should I meet you and when?"
Heavensangel came out with both of the dishes for Rihanna and the new guest. He put them down for each with an "Enjoy" for each. He noted that Roundup had already put down the beer for the two. "And those have already been paid for." He noted, specifically for the guest.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 27, 2009 17:27:17 GMT -5
"I'm staying at the Belliveau Inn." Rihanna answered. "They have a cafe. I'm usually up pretty early, and Sandra's staying at the public portion of the air station."
"Thank you." Annalise smiled pleasantly. Rihanna studied her unobtrusively. There was something familiar about this girl, not in the met-before but related-to-someone-I-might-know sense. She was not here sightseeing, that much was certain.
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Post by elizar on Sept 27, 2009 17:41:08 GMT -5
"I'll make my way to the air station cafe first to settle the bill." Roundup said. "Just warn Sandra that I'll pick up her bill." He noticed Rihanna look at the guest. He was curious as well, but didn't want to intrude on this. He cast a very careful glance at the guest, then looked at Rihanna with a questing look. They were close enough that the guest would hear whatever they were saying, or even wispering.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 27, 2009 20:59:27 GMT -5
Annalise duly attacked her portion of Texas-style brisket, a generous cut. The sauce was tangy with peppers and local herbs, the fries fresh-cut and the salad was fresh enough. Better than some other places she'd been to. She heard "Belliveau Inn" and wondered if they had a stable, or at least access to one.
"I'm sure Sandra will appreciate it." Rihanna smiled.
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Post by elizar on Sept 28, 2009 13:19:28 GMT -5
"So, should I meet you at the air station or go to the hotel once I've finished business?" Roundup asked Rihanna.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 28, 2009 16:57:46 GMT -5
"I'll be down to the station anyway." Rihanna said, "So that might be the best place, around eight or so."
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Post by elizar on Sept 28, 2009 17:54:35 GMT -5
"I'll see you then." Roundup said and stood up. "I have few things to take care of tonight, but I'll meet you at the air station's cafe." As he and Rihanna exchanged goodbyes, he left the building after throwing Heavensangel a comment as he was cleaning the kitchen.
==========================================
Sandra stretched as she felt that it was time to wake up. She woke up nearly always at the cracking dawn. She rolled on forward and looked around the open space of the station. Today was it, taking down one of the several threats that were to the humans in this world. At least they didn't have to deal with mutated forms of themselves or some animals. She smiled inwardly to herself as remembering some humans presenting her some old computer game called Fallout 3. What happened to the first two they didn't know. One said he did have the first one, but it wasn't playable now. Her attempts at playing it went though badly, as the game wasn't developed for mechanian's control.
Sandra headed towards the cafe for her breakfast.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 29, 2009 18:52:05 GMT -5
Annalise had found a stable across from the Belliveau Inn, in what used to be a strip mall. The former storefronts were now filled with box stalls, and Lola was occupying one of them now. After dressing, Annalise checked on her mare, then headed back across the street for breakfast.
Rihanna had already eaten, and was on her way to the air station fuel bar. She saw Sandra heading in, and the other helos were already there. It was easy to wonder what Ian was doing for food as he was staying well away from this place.
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Post by elizar on Sept 29, 2009 19:03:26 GMT -5
Sandra was about to begin to speak before the server interjected. "Don't worry about the price." She said. "You breakfast will be covered."
"What is it?" Sandra asked. There were few to no times where she could have something for free. She eyed the others subtly to see who was the most excited, or projecting "I'm gonna get laid tonight" vibes.
"Nothing to worry about. Ashley came here and told us he's buying whatever you're ordering. Apparently your partner managed to do a very convincing act."
Sandra softened a bit. The extra human to help with Liriel. She nodded. "Alright, thank her for me." She said.
"You're welcome." A man approached the two and smiled. "You couldn't just say 'he', 'him', 'his' or anything defining the gender in that sentence, could you?"
"I'm the owner's daughter, so I can't get fired for that." The server said and stuck her tongue out in a rather childish way. The mood overall was very light, so there were no hard feelings going around.
"I'll still just have the regular tropical blend." Sandra smiled and nodded to Ashley. There was no sense into getting three-course-meal for free.
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