Open Post

[outtathedamnway]

Hey there, Mister! Open post for PSLs/whatever.

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[the_widow]

[ Four points wasn't just an intersection of two roads, it was a point where multiple smaller townships met and divvied up the land between them. It made the particular area an amusing spot for people of their ilk, as the jurisdiction of one town ended at the line of another, and one step could separate one from the law with full and legal standing.

Not that legality ever did much to stop a bullet, but the idea was amusing enough to make it a memorable spot nonetheless. Once Sadie double-checked her saddlebags and what she's stowed in her satchel, she swung up into the saddle and gave Bob a good nudge to the ribs to start him on the way.

It wasn't quite an hour from camp, close enough to make an easy ride, but far enough away that she hadn't been bothered by anyone else wanting to ride along. She light up a cigarette and hummed quietly as she and Bob made their way to the meeting point, honey brown eyes scanning the horizon for signs of a change in the weather or more threatening things. She'd learned to be wary in a canny way since she'd started taking excursions with the other guns of the gang. And her eyes were as sharp as her tongue.

She arrived a little before Arthur, at least before she noticed him. He was surprisingly stealthy for a man of his height and breadth. ]

[outtathedamnway]

[It didn't take Arthur long to get to the general area. He started on the main path at first. There were a couple of wagons, a few stray single riders coming in the other direction, but no one who was looking to start any trouble. No one who looked worth troubling with either. Arthur had always been one to pick fights mainly when it was needed, not just for the sake of it, for no point. If he was that hard up on money, then maybe. But for now, there wasn't any need. He'd just said a friendly enough greeting to a few passersby, before deciding to move away from all of that.]

[With a pat to her side, Arthur offered his Kentucky Saddler, Umbra, a peppermint to thank her, not that he ever needed much of an excuse to give his horses treats. Then he turned along off-trail, figuring to cut the distance with a way he knew that would take him there quicker... not to mention, he just preferred it overall, as there was more of interest to see along the way. He had that kind of eye that got caught by an intriguing detail here and there, something he might sit down and idly draw later on when he got the chance... an abandoned farm way off in the distance, a distinct rock formation, or a large bird in flight, taking off just ahead...]

[Sure enough, the short cut did mean he came from an unexpected direction, slowing down as they approached.]

Thought I'd take the scenic route.

[the_widow]

[ It would come as no surprise to see Arthur spoiling his horse, the man was sweeter and gentler with the animals than almost any person she'd ever seen him with. Had she never witnessed it she might have a different idea of who he was, then a far more complex and complicated person she found him to be. For all his size and brutality, he was capable of so much kindness and had a soft heart.

It was impossible not to hear about his romantic past when she had spent time early on with the ladies of the gang. They all had strong feelings about his former lady love, and while she could understand both sides of that whole mess, she could hardly help but be touched by how deeply Arthur had the capacity to feel. She'd seen other levels of that with how he took care of and looked after the gang, he seemed to feel like a self-appointed protector. Once the shock of her situation had worn off, she'd learned quickly to respect him for his actions in the face of other's behavior.

Those reflections faded as the familiar broad shoulders came into sight, and she offered a tip of her hat to him. The night was warm, a mild breeze kept the flies off and the temperatures more or less comfortable. Her horse was idly grazing as she finger combed a tangle from the mane. She offered a smile at his reason for approaching from an unexpected direction. ]

Sounds 'bout right. Just been enjoying the quiet, that opera was ringing in my ears for at least two miles of the ride.

[outtathedamnway]

[If he were asked, or it were mentioned to him, of course, Arthur would gruffly deny anything of the sort, that he still had any kind of goodness left in him. He had seen quite a bit, a lot of different people coming and going into his life, and he was sure he could make enough of a judgment on himself, compared to a lot of the others. Well, maybe he'd admit there might be a few people out there worse than him, but only a few. He just knew it was a hard life, and it made for hardened men, made him into who he was now. A criminal, a good for nothing thug. Good people... they didn't last long out here like this, and that was why he'd protect any of them as much as he could. Did that make him any good? Even a bit? There usually wasn't much time to think about this sort of thing, and he'd definitely have to save it for later, much later.]

You can't be too careful... or else you'll find yourself humming it next time you're doing chores around camp.

[He had been there and done that and was guilty of such just a couple weeks back while chopping some wood. He'd quietly cursed Dutch for that, but at least there'd been no witnesses.]

Glad I could give you an opportunity to escape that fate. Meat supplies were getting a bit low, anyway.

[That and he's all in favor of having backup around while scouting the area. There may be more where that first camp of bandits had come from, and if so, it'd be good to deal with that before they started getting too close to camp.]

[the_widow]

[ Which is why Sadie, intelligent woman that she was, wouldn't force such opinions on him. Arthur could let insults roll like water off a duck's back, but give him one once of kindness, and he'd drop it like a two dollar pistol. Most of the others would take praise, hell most of them took their own praise, but not Arthur. Never him, she knew he thought of himself as nothing more than the brute enforcer who was strong enough to look after the rest, so it was his job. He never let himself think that maybe his looking out for others had way more to do with the size of his heart than his shoulders.

It was, at times, infuriating. It also meant you'd only ever get the straight truth out of him, without embellishment. She liked that, it was good to know where you stood and get a good read on things sometimes. ]

If I do you have my permission to shoot me.

[ Her wry smile slipped only long enough for her to set a cigarette between her lips and light it. ]

Escape is something we all need now and then. Even you.

[ She gestured at him with two fingers while holding the smoke. ]There's more to life than just doing jobs and hunting for the gang you know.

[outtathedamnway]

For that offense, I'd definitely shoot without hesitation. Put us both out of our misery.

[Arthur said in that gruffly wry sort of way he has himself. He appreciated that people liked to liven things up at camp, but there were some entertainments that were definitely... more worth it than others.]

You're gonna have to remind me what else there is, as I can't say I've thought of much else for a good while.

[Times had been tough, to say the least, and Arthur had been doing all he could to make sure they didn't get any worse. He felt himself responsible, in many ways, to see to it that everyone was looked after. Protected, for one, but also there were a lot of other things beyond that. There were all those nagging little things that needed doing around camp, smaller chores, but then there was hunting to see to, getting supplies, and obtaining money, in any and every way that entails... Then there was always one more situation where he'd go and get more blood on his hands because... well, someone had to do it. He was the man for such jobs. It's just what he did and always would do.]