Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="orchid blossom" data-source="post: 2690500" data-attributes="member: 12815">Leaving Promise CityRuby stands waiting impatiently for everyone to show up at the stage. Kate is already there waiting and Jake is helping arrange the gear into spots most advantageous for the trip. Ruby adjusts her travel hat on her head a few times and fingers the plain brown box in her hand. She continues to fidget until she finally gets into the stage and chooses a spot by a window, facing forward. Once Jake gets in the stage she pulls her feet upunderneath herself, wraps her arm around his and rests her head on his shoulder. "I wish this trip was over already," she says to her friends, before closing her eyes.Once they arrive, Nanuet helps pack any gear that they don't need inside the stage and helps Minerva into her seat, taking his right next to her.Kate let the others board the stage first as she took one last look around the town.  Standing a little way down the street was Conrad Booth.  Their eyes locked for a long moment until Kate heard someone inside the stage say her name.  Jake's hand was there waiting to help her in.  She took one last look and climbed into the stage.Nanuet says, "Well, another adventure has found us, let us hope that we fair as well as we have till now.""I'm hoping for just a bit better and that my bandage bag will come back just as full as it left," Kate said.The heads of the companions bob as the stage jerks forward to begin the trip to Tombstone.  No one else has joined the sombre companions on their trip to Tombstone, but Chuck relays that they have several orders to pick up to replenish stock that was depleted during the festival.  "Don't think we ever had half that many people in Promise City, sure was exciting.  Hope we get the chance to do it again.""Perhaps with a few less uninvitied guests next time," Kate smiled.  "But is was a great deal of fun.  I think I'll have fewer responsibilities and enter some of the competitions if we do it again."With all the craziness of the Cowboy Gang and getting shot it hadn't occured to Ruby that all those extra people in Promise City meant extra money in their pockets. Ruby opens her eyes as they hit a bump and she says, "I wonder how the Lucky Lady did during the festival. We must have made a pretty penny, sure to be more than enough to do up the Lady the way I want to." If I make it back that is... "I want to make it really nice."Occasional idle chatter fills the otherwise uneventful stagecoach trip to Tombstone.  The stage lurches to a stop at the usual stop and Chuck is there to help the ladies down and begin unpacking their bags from atop the coach. "Should I be expecting you folks on any particular stage.  Do I need to save seats?" he says handing a package down to Jake.Ruby gently takes Chuck's hand to exit the coach. As she steps down, "No, Mr. Nevers, I don't believe we know when we'll be back. But you can believe we'll all be glad to see you when we do." She smiles at him and even if it's not her normal dazzling smile it's still impressive. Once he wished her good evening and turns away the smile drops off her face and she rubs her butt. "Ooowwww. I hate that trip." With sleepy eyes she turns to the others, "Let's go to the train station and find out about the tickets. I'm getting tired."Nanuet who has the look of a stranger in a strange land just stands with his jaw open and his eyes wide.  Minerva chuckles and gently closes his mouth for him.  "Sorry" he says with a smirk.  "Every time a see a larger and larger town I still get shocked."  He grabs his and Minerva's belongings and says "Someone else will have to lead the way.""I've spent plenty of time at the train station here, I can lead."  Kate picked up her own small bags and started toward the station.Ruby begrudgingly picks up some bags and starts the walk towards the train station. When they get there she sits on a bench while Jake goes to inquire about buying them all tickets, how long the trip will take and also asking if there are any sleeping cars available.As they walked to the station, Kate became more and more stiff.  Every corner of this city was a bad memory, and the Katherine who had lived here crept back into her spirit with every step. The train station was a little better.  It was the one place in Tombstone where something good had happened.  But it wasn't enough to wipe out the ugly stain over the town.  "Gods, I hate this place," she muttered to no one in particular.Jake makes his way to the ticket booth just as the man is about to hang a sign on the window. "Oh, you just caught me, I was heading for a break.  What can I do for you?" "When is the next train to New Mexico territory?" The spectacled ticket booth worker climbed back in his shack and squinted at the schedule. "Well there is one that leaves tomorrow at 10:00 AM that heads to Albuquerque.  Tickets would be $4 a person, ride is about 10 hours." "I'll take 6, first class." Jake says. "Here you go Mister, that'll be twenty-four dollars please." Jake hands the man a few crisp bills as the ticket clerk stamps the tickets.   "Be sure to be here at least 15 minutes before departure to insure proper storage of your luggage please.  Have a nice day." the clerk says handing the tickets to Jake.Jake came back over with tickets in hand.  "No train until tomorrow morning," he said, "but at least we got first class." "I'll have time to visit Tom, then," Kate said quietly.  "Well, if we have to stay overnight, we might as well stay in style.  Big Nose Kate's?"Jake chuckles, "Big Nose Kate's it is.  Seems funny that style in Tombstone is associated with someone called big nose."  Jakes chuckles some more.  "Let's go get rooms at Kate's."Kate nodded.  “Not very polite, I suppose.  Miss Haroney is very kind though, and hers is the nicest establishment in town."Ruby smiles, "Maybe we can get our old room..." her voice trails off as she reconsiders. "Well, maybe we'd better get a different room. Anyway, lets go." Jake has been trailing behind the group, weighed down by Ruby and his gear.  He ask waves to Minerva and quietly says, "Pede usted detectar si hay una brujería en Ruby?" ** can you detect if there is a sorcery on Ruby?"Si, I could do that. but do you think that is necessesary?" Minerva asks.Jake looks ahead to make sure that Ruby is not noticing their conversation.  He continues quietly, "I don't really think she is still, but...""The powers that the gods grant me are not to be used frivolously, Senor Jake. I may need to call upon them for something more urgent before this day is over. If you do not think that she is under his control than I suggest that you just keep your eye on her. If you become more suspicious ask me again and I will accomodate your request.""Oh."  Jake says surprised.  "I suppose you know best."  Jake gives her a perfunctory smile and moves quickly to catch up with Ruby.  Hermes, what if she is?  What if Turner knows everything we are saying?They all lug their belongings over to Kate's. "Are we all getting separate rooms?""I imagine Chester and I are.  I don't know about the rest of you,” Kate said."I just thought you might not want to be alone or Jake might not want you to be alone." She shrugs, "I guess you're ok then." She glances over her shoulder at Jake and smiles at him over her shoulder then turns back to Kate. "I'm sure he's not going to let me out of his sight." She continues quietly, "I think I messed up some things with him, a conversation we had didn't exactly go as planned. I think he's mad at me.""That happens from time to time.  Tom and I used to have some pretty bad fights.  It made the making up that much more fun.  He'll get over being mad, if he is.  One thing I can tell you about conversations; the one you practiced in your head never survives first contact with an actual participant."Ruby raises an eyebrow, What is she talking about? I don't practice conversations... "It's more than just being mad...it's more...," Ruby shakes her head. I should have realized Kate would dimiss my worries.  "Thanks for the help Kate," she gives her a half hearted smile and walks a little faster to get ahead of her in silence.Kate sped up her steps to keep up with her friend.  "What's more than mad, Ruby?  You can't just start talking and then try to run away.  If I didn't understand make it clearer."Ruby slowed her pace, but only slightly. "I'm not running away. You don't understand, I guess you can't understand. It's not really mad as much as..." Ruby bit her lip before looking Kate in the eyes. "I'm pretty sure I scared him and I don't know what he'll do. He's scared, I can tell." She shakes her head, "I don't know how to explain it.""Scared is a different thing.  So let's see, you had a conversation and said something that frightened him.  And it obviously wasn't about what we're doing here.  Words can't be taken back, so you're just going to have to deal with whatever comes of them.  And that's what you're frightened of.  I can't think of much you could say that would scare Jake except that you wanted to leave him or bind him, and I doubt you want to leave him.  That leaves the other one."The corners of Ruby's full lips rise again. "Actually, it's fairly easy to scare Jake. All you have to do is mention work of any kind. Or maybe running out of Kentucky Bourbon, that would scare him too." Ruby again glances over her shoulder to Jake, who is talking with Minerva, probably making some crazy, complicated plot to kill Turner. Ruby was glad he was asking someone else about it. She turns her head back to Kate. Her smile fades. "Bind him? That makes it sound so horrible, like I want to tie him up and keep him in my closet like a prisoner or something. I only wanted to know why he felt getting married was such a bad thing, just like I asked you why you thought it was a good thing. But Jake doesn't like to just answer questions and one thing led to another..." Ruby's voice trails off again. She sighs, "Anyway, I know he's upset. This morning was very uncomfortable, like it really never has been. And I tried to apologize and take it back, but it didn't work, it made things worse.""It always does.  When you apologize, you are indicating that there is something you need to apologize for.  Words can't be taken back.  Once the cat's out of the bag, it's out.   There's not much I can say that will help.  I'd say rather than mad, he's surprised.  Men can't take a simple question as just that; they are always reading more into it.  So he is in the middle of adjusting his thoughts from a Ruby who would never want to get married, to one who would at least consider it.  Things might be uncomfortable for a little while longer while he works it out.  It won't be any fun, but I don't think he's going anywhere because of it.  After all, it's not as if you offered to get married this Sunday.""Maybe." Ruby looks uncomfortable and would be tugging on her hair if she wasn't carrying a bunch of bags. "It's so crazy, I would do anything for him, I would marry him right now if he wanted me to. But I also realize that I'm not the same person I was four months ago. Somewhere along the way I lost the old Ruby. I think it's a good thing. Maybe he doesn't." "I have a feeling he's going to figure out he doesn't want to get used to the idea. Ever. It just felt all wrong between us and I hate that. And he no longer trusts me." Ruby looks down to the dirt street. "Anyway, it's my problem. I'll figure it out.""I can't figure it out for you, I know.  I don't even have any good advice to give, but I always have an ear for you. And we can fix the trust problem by getting rid of Colin Turner.  The problem right now is he can't be sure if he's talking to us or that monster.  Even if we are sure we are ourselves, Jake can't be.""No, it's not just that. I mean, sure, some of it is, but some isn't, I know it." "As for Colin..." Ruby's eyes suddenly dart around, checking for something unseen, "What if we don't get rid of him? Have you ever considered that? I don't think he'll..." Ruby stops speaking as Jake approaches. "Oh look," she says loudly, "Big Nose Kate's, we're here." She gives him a guilty smile as she pulls the straps of her bag further up her shoulder, "Everything ok baby?""Sure, everthing is fine.  Better when I can put these things down and get a drink."  He adjusts his bags to get the door.  "I'm sure Kate's bar will be able to handle that."Ruby nods, "And a hot soak after that, before bed, sounds perfect too." She heads inside, followed by the rest of their little tribe. Jake arranges all their rooms, triple checking they are all near each other on the second floor.Ruby dumps her bags with a thump and heads to the window. She peers out into the busy Tombstone streets and is about to open it when she realizes Jake is watching intently, so instead turns back to face him."How about that drink?"Jake offers her his arm with a broad smile says, "Let us not tarry any longer, the bar beckons to us."</blockquote>

Verification