some town in S.C. / Bill and Bors / Open

[no_andy_taylor]

Bill hated traveling. Maybe not so much as he once did since being with Clarice, but it was different with her.

For one thing, Clarice was there, and for another, it usually involved popping around. Done in a blink, and back just as quick and easy.

It was nothing like the trek he and Bors were on now. Three days journey on lightening manes, what a pain in the ass, literally.

And, they were escorting a pain in the ass. Joy.

The mayor had business in Charlotte, though, and he wouldn't hear of anyone else doing the job of getting him there but his very best.

Which meant Bill and Bors.

In reality the trip wasn't going so bad. They made it this far, mostly without any hitches. One more day should see them across the border and there.

It was just, Bill hated being away from Wheelsy for so long. Places like this also made him uneasy. Strange folk, in a strange town, and arriving in the middle of the night didn't help anything.

After getting the mayor settled in Bill was ready to find a room for himself and turn in, but Bors wasn't quite ready for that yet.

"C'mon, mate, road's left me parched, let's 'ave a drink." Clapping Bill on the back, Bors nodded towards a tavern across the street from the inn.

Bill eyed the place and shook his head.

"Yeah, I need a drink from that place like I need a hole in the head, c'mon. I'm beat."

"S'jus' a little fun. We need a break after 'aulin' 'is majesty around. I'll even buy."

Still hesitant, Bill let Bors lead them across the road and into the tavern.

Bill was going to regret this, he just knew it.

Comments

[chaos_twisted]

The tavern was a busy place, tables crammed full and people talking to each other. A bit rough around the edges maybe but an older Olia woman was brooking no nonsense; when fights looked to be brewing the people doing the starting were uninvited.

Suddenly, surprisingly, and usually missing choice bits of clothing. It never paid to upset a space master after all.

The crowding was slightly problematic though, it meant that there was no table for the pair, though there seemed to room at a smaller one. A lone woman was seated in a corner, feet propped up on a second chair, but that left two across from her free. She was picking her way through a light meal, one composed of mostly bland, invalid foods.

[charged_wth_service]

Bill balked again when he saw the crowd.

"This place is packed, Bors."

Undetered, Bors nudged his friend on.

"It's not so bad. Only means a couple strangers are more like t'go unnoticed."

Rubbing his neck and jaw with a sigh, Bill followed Bors in.

Bors led the way to what seemed to be the only seats left open. Standing before the chairs, he smiled down at the woman sitting opposite.

"Evenin', luv, y'mind if we two gents have a seat? S'a packed 'ouse."

[chaos_twisted]

The small woman, blond, blue eyed, and human...lifted her gaze and offered a heart stopping smile. "I don't mind," she allowed. "And the food makes up for the crowdin' I promise."

If they didn't order what she was having anyway. "You're not locals."

[no_andy_taylor]

Bill's gaze shifted from eying the room warily to her when she spoke, and yeah, that was quite a face and smile.

"Thanks, sweet'eart." Bors gave a smile, pulling out a chair for himself. Before taking a seat he leaned over to Bill and whispered, "Close your mouth, sheriff, you're catchin' flies."

Bill's mouth shut and he sent a glare at Bors who replied with a cheeky smile.

Pulling out a chair, Bill had a seat.

"We're travellin'," he replied to her. "Just passin' through."

[chaos_twisted]

Yeah, she was more than passing pretty, but she had the pale look of someone recovering from a bout of illness. The smile was real though. It was always good to see another full human, and a healthy seeming one at that! And to be fair, the katzu was a charmer too!

"Well, welcome to town gentlemen. Where are you passing from and to? Are you in a caravan?" She had the interested note in her voice that meant she might be looking to travel herself honestly. "Also the roast is wonderful tonight, that's why it's so crowded. That a new barrel of brandywine was brought up."

[no_andy_taylor]

"Yeah? I guess we'll 'ave to 'ave somma that, then." Bors rubbed his hands together, eager for both the booze and the meat.

Her smile was almost familiar, as were her features, but after being hung up a moment, Bill moved past it.

"We're on business. Headed up t'Charlotte by way of Wheelsy." He hoped the 'business' would keep her from asking to come along. Not that he'd mind the company, but the mayor might.

Of course, then again if she was alone he couldn't rightly turn her away. The roads could be dangerous, and she looked to be a bit under the weather, too.

[chaos_twisted]

"Just tell Merra when she comes by. She'll get an order in for you right quick!" Merra was one of Traver's nieces, and she did well working here. "What kind of business?" She asked, easy and simple. She liked knowing what folk did!

"For a moment I thought you might be headed up farther, you being human and all."

[no_andy_taylor]

"Will do." Bors nodded, turning his head to look for the girl as he answered her question. "No'fing big. Jus' escortin' our mayor. Settin' up trade an' whatnot."

Bill tilted his head at her statement, curious.

"Yeah? Why's that?"

[chaos_twisted]

"Oh, I've no head for tradin'." Darlene sighed a little wistfully. "Must be fun though, gettin' things where they need to go." She'd had a very different education than most. Trade was kind of strange and exotic!

"And, well, humans are goin' north to petition for the cure you know? Whole bunches of them"

[no_andy_taylor]

"Me neither," Bors admits. "I'm just an escort."

"Cure?" Bill glanced at Bors then back to the woman. "Cure for what?"

[chaos_twisted]

"Well, you look like you'd be a good one!" Darlene offered cheerfully. Bors did indeed look healthy and hale enough for escort (read guard) duty!

"And you know..." she shrugged then applied herself to her soup for a bit. "...there's humans up there who are healthy."

[no_andy_taylor]

Bors's smile that he took the compliment with sobered as she mentioned sickness and cures.

Bill was intent to find out what she was talking about.

"There's healthy humans here, too," Bill replied.

"Is somethin' goin' 'round?" Bors asked, keeping his voice carefully low.

[chaos_twisted]

"Not really. The humans here are still getting sick way too often and still aging too quick you know?" Not the way any body should wear out. She chuckled a bit wryly and ate her own bland meal. "The stronger ones, the healthier ones, are cross breeds you know? Nothing wrong with that but the straight humans aren't recovering even after twenty years or so. Up north is a place with a lot of truly healthy, not breaking down, pure humans."

[spaceformykits]

In a different area of the tavern and divested from plot a lone Katzu woman was settled at a table enjoying a meal and a drink. She was a bit younger than Bors, and probably Dahnil or Falna from the looks of her dark skin and vibrantly chartreuse eyes.

Arebah was taking a bit of a break from her trip with Remy to check in on some clients she had in the South, and would be hopping a Space Master back to her wagon in the morning.

[charged_wth_service]

Navigating the crowd, Bors steered Bill to a table nearby.

Being the friendly sort, Bors flashed her a smile and leaned over to ask, "You know what's good, darlin'?"

The accent was all English, but the 'darlin'' had a bit of a drawl borrowed from his time here in the south.

[spaceformykits]

"The rabbit is good, but the chick-chick was too old when it was killed." Arebah said with a smile. Her own accent was mostly Virginia, but shadows of the Katzu Territories from Africa hinted that she hadn't always lived in America.

It was always good to see other Katzu. Always.

[charged_wth_service]

"Oh yeah? Been a long time since I had a good coney. You, Bill?"

Bors nudged Bill who turned his attention away from a group of men playing a game in the corner.

"Yeah, that sounds good." Bill nodded, and gave her a smile.

Bors turned on a grin, and bowed his head to Arebah.

"Me name's Bors, 'e's Bill. Passin' through t'Charlotte."

[spaceformykits]

"Arebah." she said in turn, with a nod for each man, "This is part of my usual route, but tonight I'm just in for a while...I have a client in the area, but I'm on a trip with someone else out near Texas. Caught a Space Master out here, back tomorrow."

[charged_wth_service]

"Nice t'meet you," Bill replied.

"What's your business?" Bors asked curiously.

[spaceformykits]

"A pleasure." She assured Bill gravely, then turned her attention back to Bors, "I am perhaps the last lawyer on the east coast. I write contracts for everything from adoption to land use, I help adjudicate between people who are quarrelling, pretty much whatever a judge of lawyer did Before."

[charged_wth_service]

Leaving Bors to talk with her, Bill put in their order.

"That right? Seems like a good service to be offerin'. Must keep you rather busy."

[spaceformykits]

"It does, but I am used to being busy." she smiled, with pride, "I have twins." And that's the reason for the pride...not many Katzu have ever had them, and it was a good thing, "They're in their twenties now, but those first few years were rather busy indeed."

[charged_wth_service]

Bill looked over when she mentioned twins, and set a beer that had arrived in front of Bors.

Bors beamed.

"Really? Well congratulations, girl. You know all about 'ard work, then."

[spaceformykits]

"So I do." she agreed, "Clanless, my husband was Alnat." And she's so very Dahnil, "They each have a child of their own, too. Young, but..." better young than not at all.

[charged_wth_service]

Bors nodded, knowing the end of that unfinished sentence. His eyes flicked briefly to Bill who had turned his attention back to the table game, and then Bors gave a sympathetic smile to Arebah.

"So you're a grandmum, eh? I've got a couple of those little ones meself. Some days I'd pull me 'air out if I 'ad any."

Reaching up, he ran a hand over his short cropped hair and laughed.