2017-05-05: Making Sense to Yourself
- Log: Making Sense to Yourself
- Cast: Josephine Lovelace, Rudy Roughnight
- Where: Silver Coast
- Date: May 5th 2017
- Summary: Out hunting, Josie encounters Rudy. A discussion about current events occurs and some wisdom's passed on. Josie talks out her thoughts.
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
Somewhere between the hinterlands where beasts of horror dwell and settlements, there are those that have taken advantage of the risk in order to secure some of the best land. Far enough away from the settlements to not have the same level of protection afforded to Hilton citizens, brave souls come out for the promise of extra grazing lands and less people to tell them how to live their lives. However, that comes at a cost. Monsters, desiring food without effort, come out here looking for the easy meal or sometimes lone human who seems easy enough to eat on their own.
A nice place for a Drifter to make some money. And Rudy seems to be attempting to do what he often tends to do, lead a simple life.
Currently the young man is charged to watch a barn of cattle, seeing as the ranchers that owned the place have reported odd beasts that have been recently sighted in these parts. He hasn't given it much mind, but considering that he has a powerful ARM and can wield a knife better than some, he doesn't seem too worried. At the moment, he's perched on wooden fencing as the beasts are already holded up in the barn. A decent distance away, the ranchers' house stands where the people have already taken advantage of their hired help to get some much delayed shut eye. From time to time, Rudy glances up from the wood carving he's idly working on, looking up to check the horizon, both in studying the open plains as well as the dusty trail for signs of any sort of trouble.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
It's always trouble for the folks out living on their own in this world, isn't it? In her time as an archaeologist -- and a Drifter -- Josie's come across more than a few settlements left behind by the people who /didn't/ manage on their own. No wonder people gravitated towards towns, but then those had their own problems.
The strange beasts crawling the lands are exactly why she's out this way today. Having departed the Port Timney area for a time following the attempt to explore the depths of the twisted grotto, Josie had set out on her own for a bit -- there's a bounty on the creatures, and she's got bills to pay.
And she's a little curious about the twisted creatures.
Besides, even if they're also paying for exploration nearer to where she'd ended up setting base (for now), Penelope had seemed agitated after that last expedition.
The black and white pigeon's enjoying the chance to fly free right now, well ahead of Josie as she heads across the fields. Looks like there's a place up ahead. It'd be a good opportunity to ask if anyone's seen something.
So it is that a strange-looking bird (a pigeon with some unusual coloration) abruptly settles on the fence next to Rudy. It tilts its head at him, shining black eyes staring at him expressionlessly.
It won't be hard to miss Josephine, either, even before she gets within chatting distance. She's tall.
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
As the bird makes its way toward Rudy. It lands and tilts its head, taking in Roughnight. In response, the boy mirrors the movement in a curious fashion, an innocent confusion upon his face as this is not the sort of creature that usually is out and about around dusk.
The answer to the unspoken creature is soon known as Rudy finds that there is a person making their way down the trail, perhaps move toward the ranch or just aiming to move past it. Either way, he hops off his seat as he takes in woman, studying her features. The setting sun makes it hard to figure it out at first, but as she closes the distance, recognition dawns upon Rudy's face. "Hey, didn't expect to see a familiar face out here," he states with a small smile once she gets into conversation range. Rudy's not one for shouting most times, after all, and being so close to sleeping cattle and people on guard well, just seems considerate.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"Penelope!"
Josephine picks up the pace a bit.
"There you are -- oh, you found a friend!"
Josie smiles brightly at Rudy. "Hi there! I was passing through and she got away from me for a moment. It's been a while since she's gotten to stretch her wings. Are your parents home?" She pauses, though, looking Rudy over carefully, her brow creasing briefly as if she's reassessing the situation.
"Older than you look, huh?" ...Just how old did she think he was?
She approaches him, even as the pigeon on the fence tucks in and begins the important process of grooming her feathers, and offers him her left hand. "I'm Josephine, Josephine Lovelace. You're not just the farmer's kid, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
"I don't have parents."
The tone is rather matter of fact, as if the boy with the blue hair was talking about the weather or the price of grain. The knife is put away as the hand is offered. "I'm Rudy Roughtnight and no worries on your bird," he continues, giving the hand a firm shake. The smile is warm, even if his conversational skills seem a little odd. "I think I've seen you around the Starfall Saloon, but I guess you were busy with other things." Rudy is a quiet boy, so it's little surprise that he would notice someone before they notice him. It's easy to be missed when you're doing everything possible to avoid drawing attention to yourself.
A glance is given at the place as he processes finally the question of his age and his profession. "Been paid to make sure nothing bad happens to the cattle here. Been saying stuff about monsters. I haven't seen anything, but seems to have lucked out," he replies. Another glances is given and seeing as there are no monsters (within his view), Roughnight turns his attention back toward Lovelace. "What brings you out here? Not much to see about these parts, after all."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
'I don't have parents', the kid says. This is a little bit awkward. Josie pauses.
For a moment.
Then, brightly, she declares, smile and all, "That's okay! Neither do I!" ...What?
Without missing a beat, she follows it up with a, "Nice to meet you, Rudy! By the way, you can call me Josie -- I'd prefer, it really." Good handshake. Hers isn't bad on her end, either -- firm, but not hand-crushing.
Now that, that /also/ throws Josie. However briefly. "Oh, have you? Gosh, my mind must be going already... And so young, too!" She sighs, all mock-despair for the moment. "Well, then, it's good to meet you again, Rudy! I'm there pretty often, I suppose." She smiles, just a little sheepishly.
"No monsters tonight, huh... That's actually what I was taking a look around for. You've probably heard a few reports about some strange animals, right? They're paying a decent bounty for those. It's not my usual preference, but... you know how it is. Bills!" She shrugs helplessly, coupling it with a wan smile. "Besides, after the attack on Port Timney... It's not safe to let those things run wild."
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
Most people would be troubled by the cheery response, Rudy just gives a nod as if saying silently 'fair enough'. Rudy gives a small smile. "It's fine, I'm not the sorta person that really sticks out in big scenes and the Saloon has a lot of larger than life people that go through it," he admits as he rubs the back of his head with a faint chuckle.
The mirth is swiftly cut short however, as Lovelace speaks of monsters. His brown eyes show a hint of concern. "I saw something about bounties offered in the Adventurers' Guild, but not much else. I didn't even know it was really an issue until I was offered this job." A glance is given toward the gun Josie wears, as if deciding based on the armament that she's capable of handling herself and that alone. "So, what have you found out about those things? Sure you know a bit if you're hunting 'em."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
There's all sorts of sad stories out in the wastes. Orphans, abandoned children, remnants of family wreckage, unwanted scions, you name it. Honestly, it's better just to smile and make what you can of life rather than dwell on it.
And hey! It means she and he have something in common!
"You can say that again," Josie says, thinking back to a barfight or two. Or three. She glances away for a moment, over at Penelope. Who is still preening herself thoroughly.
"Yeah, I don't think you could miss the posters if you tried." She pauses, regarding him again. "You're a Drifter?"
This pause is shorter, ended by a firm nod. "Not bad," she says, apparently having decided somehow that 'yes he is'. "I set out when I was nineteen, myself, so not bad -- it's kind of like you're a bit of a prodigy or something." Josie, apparently, approves of child adventurers.
"I was actually there for the attack on Port Timney, so... I've been looking into it since then. ...What can I say?" she says, shrugging. "I was curious. Anyway... From what I can see, they're animals, but they're twisted, somehow. There's some sort of..." She pauses, frowning. "It's hard to describe. A... haze?" The frown deepens. No, that's not quite it, either.
"They're more dangerous in groups, though some of the larger ones... I wouldn't try one of those alone. Luckily, I haven't seen any big ones yet." She folds her arms over her chest. "Not outside their nest, anyway."
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
A simple nod is given at the question of Rudy being a Drifter or not. "Not sure if I'd consider myself a 'prodigy', but I've been told I'm decent at what I do. Still have a bit to learn, tho'."
It seems if Roughnight's a gifted soul, it's a talent that's tempered by humility. However, it's not something he really focused on, as the subject of the Hellions is much more important than his merits as a Drifter or a Digger.
"Seems rather odd, monsters that come out of a fog," Rudy replies, clearly taking Josie's words as a serious warning to consider. "Heard of stuff turning animals feral or making them more aggressive, but this seems like something else altogether," the young man muses as he rubs his chin with a gloved hand. "Well, if I ever come across one, I'll do my best to take no chances."
There is a slow pause as Roughnight considers the information presented to him as well as the knowledge gathered with his own senses. "If you are planning on hunting them, seems like from your own admission it's a little risky to be doing so on your own."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"Hey, you start young, you learn young." She smiles, if lopsidedly. "I'm a little jealous. I was pretty old when I started out. Comparatively, anyway."
Josie pauses. Again. "Well, no. More like... they /have/ a fog? ...Sort of like... it's clinging to them." Unfolding her arms, she rests a hand against her chin, as if thinking it over. "There was some of that stuff in their nest, too. But the people I was exploring it with, it seemed like not everyone could see it."
Or feel it, for that matter.
"I'm still trying to figure it out, myself. There was this kid who seemed to do something to clear it out of some of the animals, but... Hm, maybe if I hunted him down..." Josie spreads her arms out, and shrugs. "Anyway -- it's good just talking about this, you know? Even if you haven't seen any of the creatures." Her smile grows a touch bittersweet, as if she's trying not to laugh at herself. "Heh, even I can be an idiot sometimes. All this wandering around trying to find clues hasn't been very useful -- I should take my own medicine and talk to people more, huh?"
Lily would probably laugh at her. And that thought there prompts Josie to frown again, recalling the event from the other day.
"Anyway, thanks, kiddo. I'm probably not making much sense to you or anything, but I feel like I owe you one just for helping me sort out my thoughts."
Now here's a clever one.
Josie shoots him a finger gun, grinning. "Bingo! It isn't. Still, that's a Drifter's life, right? Uncertain death around every corner. Still, I'll take that over a certain 'bills due, no money'." Turning, she gestures towards the bird still perching on the fence. Taking flight in a blur of black and white, Penelope quickly alights on Josie's shoulder. "Though, truth be told, I haven't had any luck today. Though, let's look on the bright side -- it means they're probably not out this way, which is good for your farmer, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
"Nothing wrong with starting late. Every thing you do, it gives you experience. As long as you learn from that experience, nothing, not even failure is a waste." The wording is a little stale, a little rehearsed. It sounds like Rudy is the mouthpiece of someone else, as if quoting a sage or a book. He does add something of his own. "I'm sure you know a lot of stuff I don't." A weak smile is given response.
As Josie spills her heart about the monsters, her hunt for them, and planning what she needs to do, Roughnight merely listens for the longest time. He packages all the information together and speaks to it all at once. As some might have noticed before, he likes to be a man of few words whenever possible.
"You're making sense to yourself and that's the important thing. It sounds like you know what you need to do, you just need to do it. It's hard though, I know a lot of people who just talk and they have stuff keeping them back." A shrugs is given. "Just happens." A brief grin is given. "Somehow, tho, you seem like the sort of person to do what she says she wants to do. Could be wrong, I tend to do that a bit."
A glance is given toward the horizon, the waves of grass that blow in the wind as if they call to Rudy. "Not exactly sure if I could be much help, but I'm tougher than I look. Next time you go hunting and you see me around, I could lend a hand if you need." Brown eyes glance back toward Josie with a child-like simplicity despite his wisdom earlier.
"I like helping."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"Mmhmm, you got it. Still, it's gotta be good to start younger." She laughs briefly, as if at herself. "A lot less wasted time that way, don't you think? But, there's no time like the present to change things." Josie does tilt her head to the side briefly, though, regarding Rudy. "You almost sound like you're quoting someone, there, kid. Seems like you had a good teacher."
Sometimes it's just good to vent for a moment, and who better than some random kid (and fellow Drifter) who Josie's just met?
Especially when the kid's a /good/ listener.
Maybe a little too good.
She smiles lopsidedly, taking him in again. "People who just keep talking a lot, huh? Now I'm starting to wonder if you're making fun of me, too, kiddo. Hasn't anyone told you about making fun of grown-ups?" She pauses here, that smile only widening in the span of silence. "Well, you should keep doing it. Even if you do piss someone off." If she's actually mad, she sure doesn't look it. Josie looks... amused, if anything.
"Well, I'll go out on a limb here and say your assessment's on mark. One way or another, anyway."
She waves a hand through the air, as if to bat the matter aside.
"Anyway, if you've got a good arm and you're as good with that knife on monsters as you are on wood, then sure. We'll call it a deal. I'll even split the rewards." She extends her left hand, as if to shake on it. "60/40, though, I'm not /that/ generous. Though if you're looking for some quick cash, I'd check things out around Port Timney." She winks. "Just say a little bird told you."
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
"I did."
There is a long pause as brown eyes cast themselves downward, a silence clearly for someone no longer in this world. However, Josie continues the conversation and Roughnight seems more than willing to move on.
As the talk of making fun of adults is given, Rudy looks slightly defensive, like a rabbit figuring out how best to flee. But the not-so-sutble look for an escape route is stopped once it's clear that she's okay with his insight. Awkwardly, he rubs the back of his neck and just nods as the woman makes her offer. "Fair enough," he replies as he moves away from the fence and looks toward the horizon, as if he could see the Port from here. "I suppose I could check it out after I'm done here. Usually don't look for hunting opportunities, but sounds like people might be needing some help down there," he replies, his dark eyes glancing back to Lovelace in the wake of his words.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
Now that reaction of his earns him a briefly amused look, there in her dark eyes. She even lifts one pale eyebrow.
"Right, then it's a deal. You've got your business here, so I'll take you up on it some other time, okay?" She shrugs, glancing around herself, at the farm in particular. "Not good if you breach contract, right? Reputation's important, at the end of the day..." Josie sighs, shrugging again. "Anyway, the creatures I'm hunting seem to be coming from around there, so if you're interested, drop me a line sometime." Via the Memory Cubes, that is. Even the mail's not that fast. "I could always use a little backup. And if you don't, that's fine too!"
Readjusting the strap of her harness -- the one holding the rifle against her back -- Josie glances up at the sky.
"...Don't suppose your farmer friend'd take on a boarder for the night, huh?"
It's getting dark.
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
"I'll just make my way down there tomorrow and see what I can do. It's close enough to Adlehyde where I need to be in a few days," comes Rudy's response, as if for some reason not really up for messenger cube or mail. Maybe he's just old fashioned. But it's clear he has no intention of going back on his word.
At the talk of sleeping for the night, an arched brow is lifted toward the sky, which lowers to the woman, before shifting itself to the house. "Well, I suppose I could ask. I'm staying up the night and then sleeping outside, but he seemed nice." There is a slightly awkward pause as he looks toward the door and adds softly, "Despite smelling like corned ham and cabbage."
Roughnight turns back to the woman in question, merely shrugging. "But I'm sure he'll be fine with it," he points outs with an understated warmth.
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"No problem. I doubt the situation's going to change significantly in a day or two, anyway. Still, I might as well pass it along if you haven't heard, right? The bounty's not too bad on any of the creatures you can take down, either." Here, Josie pauses, and gives Rudy a lopsided smile. "Here's hoping your luck's better than mine, kid."
Dismissively, she waves a hand through the air. "Don't worry about it if he says no! I've camped through worse than a dark night before. Still, it never hurts to ask, right?" She pauses. The corner of her mouth twitches. "Even if he smells like cabbage."
And here, she laughs, if briefly.
Shaking her head once she recovers, Josie briefly reaches up to rub the cheek of the bird perched on her shoulder. "Might as well check in before the old man turns in, huh?"
<Pose Tracker> Rudy Roughnight has posed.
A mirthless chuckle is given at Lovelace's wellwishes. "Well, luck's never really been my thing, but we'll see how it goes," he replies with a brief smirk which swiftly fades.
A hand motions toward the dusk sky. "It doesn't seem too bad a night. As you said, camped in worse." The same hand to move the heavens soon reaches out toward Josie, however, in order to offer a final handshake. "Well, it was good talking to you and hopefully you'll be able to get a good night's rest. Until next we meet, Miss Lovelace."
<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.
"It'll be fine, even if he says no," Josie says, with a wave of the hand. She's camped out in the Aveh desert, for Fengalon's sake.
Still, any safe haven these days, particularly with strange animals lurking about. Even where someone as infamously irresponsible as this archaeologist is concerned.
She takes his hand, and shakes. With her left, of course. "Take care of yourself, kid. And by the way -- it's Josie!"
Releasing her grip, she pulls away to amble on over towards the farmhouse.