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It's a good idea. Only trouble is that any animals need a lot of food and water to get by, too. It's easier with chickens or fish or whatever because they're smaller, but it's still competition when your problem is land you can grow shit on in the first place. And too many people here are bleeding hearts about animals. You'll have to get people over that.
Got somethin' for you if you wanna come by.
[Is this him asking for a date? Maybe.]
[Is this him asking for a date? Maybe.]
[Intriguing. The novelty of being given things still hasn't worn off, and that has her doubly curious.]
Be there soon.
Be there soon.
He's refusing to think about port and the memories he gained. That's a problem he can't really solve. So he's choosing to think about this problem that he might be able to solve. He opens his door so he doesn't have to answer it when she comes and sits down at his table with a drink.
Tess lets herself in without knocking; for her there's a particular feeling of entitlement that goes into being in a quasi-relationship with someone. She's never really minded being bold.
She joins him at the table, sidling right into his space to kiss him.
She joins him at the table, sidling right into his space to kiss him.
He likes her bold, and she's always full of surprises. He pulls her close, brushing light fingers along the back of her neck.
"Good afternoon," he says with a laugh. "Nice to see you recognize me this time."
"Good afternoon," he says with a laugh. "Nice to see you recognize me this time."
She grins as he breaks the kiss, lingering with his touch and then deciding to just seat herself on his lap.
"I'm disappointed you didn't take advantage of that whole damsel-in-distress thing on the roadside," she teases. "Could've been a fun thing to think back on."
"I'm disappointed you didn't take advantage of that whole damsel-in-distress thing on the roadside," she teases. "Could've been a fun thing to think back on."
It didn't seem right. Not when she wasn't herself. Not when he was busy chasing ghosts.
He doesn't say that. He just grins, accepting her weight in his lap. "Yeah, well, ranchers ain't my type," he teases. "Close your eyes."
He doesn't say that. He just grins, accepting her weight in his lap. "Yeah, well, ranchers ain't my type," he teases. "Close your eyes."
Tess chuckles, closing her eyes.
"I wanna know what your type is, then."
"I wanna know what your type is, then."
He shifts underneath her, fishing something out of his pocket. "You should be able to figure it out by now." He loops a necklace around her neck. Colored glass beads, laced onto a ribbon, tied in the back.
"Ain't pearls but...did what I could."
"Ain't pearls but...did what I could."
She knows what it is the moment she feels it settle against her collarbone, and for an instant, she feels so much younger than she is, positively tickled by the gesture. She opens her eyes and can't quite look at it, but she knows it's there and it's hers, and that's what matters.
"Oh, you're good," she says, touching her fingertips to it and then pressing another kiss on him.
"Oh, you're good," she says, touching her fingertips to it and then pressing another kiss on him.
He laughs, deep in his chest, and happily accepts that kiss without pushing. "Looks good on you," he tells her, not addressing it. He knows he can be smooth when he wants to be.
"You really doin' alright?"
"You really doin' alright?"
"Thank you," she replies –– for the necklace and the compliment –– and she nods. "I'm alright. Lots of shit going on but for once, I'm fine."
She wraps an arm around his neck, leaning into him.
"You?"
She wraps an arm around his neck, leaning into him.
"You?"
He finally pulls back from the embrace after that, but he sits up against the wall. If she wants, she can come lean against him, or the wall, or stay right there.
"At least I was punished for it right away," he says, wryly.
He pulls her close, just feeling her weight against him.
The silence after her question should speak volumes. But, just in case, he speaks up. "Been better."
The silence after her question should speak volumes. But, just in case, he speaks up. "Been better."
She scoots over to join him. Why not?
"Yeah, that helps, it'll keep it from going to your head," she replies. "Like sticking your hand in a fire."
"Yeah, that helps, it'll keep it from going to your head," she replies. "Like sticking your hand in a fire."
"Yeah. Thick enough of a skull, you need the reminder sometime."
He sighs and closes his eyes.
"You were charmin' on your ranch."
Tess would know at least a little about thick skulls; she has one of her own. She nods.
"Yeah? It's weird, going native like that. I feel like I missed the whole port."
She would have loved to go shopping.
"Yeah? It's weird, going native like that. I feel like I missed the whole port."
She would have loved to go shopping.
"Yeah?" She idly runs a finger along his shoulder. "Something go down in port?"
He takes a breath, gathering his words. "Ghosts," he answers. "Nothin' but fuckin' ghosts."
It was pretty close to home, wasn’t it? She supposes that makes sense.
“Did you remember something?”
“Did you remember something?”
He considers telling her about Alice or Ella, but that seems like very dangerous territory. Instead, he goes the easier route. "Bit about my gang," he decides. "Seein' 'em around. Shit we did. Trains we robbed. One where...we left a man behind."
"It wasn't a good one. Not a bad one, but I don't know if it was good. Too much like home, too little like it too."
"Makes sense," she agrees. "Too much temptation. Maybe I would have just made that worse. I'm a good enabler."
She knows that feeling, at least.
"Sorry, Jake. That shit's unavoidable and it never gets easier."
"Sorry, Jake. That shit's unavoidable and it never gets easier."
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