{open party post | who is the tall, dark stranger there?}

[tubemods]

The sun rises on another day in Devil's Creek, painting the night sky a burnt orange and the edges of clouds a pale yellow. Although not a large town by any stretch of the imagination, the early morning hours are the most quiet it will ever see. The night's chill still holds close to the dirt, keeping people inside, tucked away in their beds.

A perfect time for a return.

Three horses, three riders with one less rider than they left with come into town at quiet trots. Anyone awake this hour and foolish enough to look outside their window may recognize the silhouettes, but most are smart enough to leave it be. The riders don't linger long, going their separate ways in town. A long, low howl of wind whipping through the distant gorge signals the night's work is done.

In a few hours, the sleepy town awakens. It's a busy day today. Although the general goods store is always there and always open for business, shipments and other businesses from the city have arrived today for some trade and everyone could use a few supplies they won't get for another couple of months. By the time everyone has set up their carriages and stalls, the sun has climbed into the sky, warming the city's dusty town square as well as its streets and alleys.

There also seems to be the arrival of some more new faces this morning and to these outsiders, there seems to be something that's going without saying among the natives. It's the same thing they've thought of the other newcomers to their little town over the past couple of days.

Old Nibbles might just have a feast in its near future.

Comments

[instinct]

Derek rolls his eyes. He has trouble believing that: the gold rush is just about over. But if she's going to pay him, then he'll do just about anything she wants.

"I've prospected before, year or so back," he tells her. "Old Gryff had a claim — still lives in town if you need a reference."

[callszombiebullshit]

Zoey blows out a breath. He had a point there, but at least he wasn't holding it over her head like she was stupid.

"Yeah, well, apparently he doesn't take kindly to a lot of things." She moves to pat the horse's neck, mainly as a distraction. She doesn't really like talking about God.

[wontturntofoam]

For a moment, Idris considers just making a dash for it. Ditching his stuff and running the hell away before the angry grave keeper gets close enough to kill him and add him to the scariest garden in the world.

But... his camera... his gear... it's important! Important and heavy and easily breakable and the thought of this stranger taking his rage out on it as Idris flees is just not worth thinking about.

So instead, Idris grabs the camera, gently lays it and the tripod it's sitting on down in the grass so that it has some protection, then sidesteps away from it. With a little luck, scary tombstone man will follow him, and leave the camera itself alone.

[instinct]

Neither does Derek, so they're even there. He swims a little closer to the bank, looking up at her. There's an easy topic-change, and it's the fact that he was swimming for pleasure earlier, but that time has passed, and now it's solely for modesty.

"Don't s'pose you'd be willing to turn your back so as I can dress?"

[instinct]

The scary tombstone man does choose to go for the man instead of his equipment, grabbing at Idris' clothes and hauling him in close with a strength borne of plenty of hours as a ranch hand, and maybe a little extra.

"This is private property. You think you can just stick your nose in wherever you like?" he growls, eyes flashing, still furious.

[callszombiebullshit]

"Oh." She lets out a laugh. "Sure, sure. Done teasing you."

Zoey turns away and focuses on checking the horse's saddle even though she checked it not long ago. It gives her something to do while she waits.

[wontturntofoam]

Idris has, thankfully, shot up like a beanpole in the last few years, or he'd be lifted clean off his feet by Derek at this point. As it is, he stumbles, almost losing his footing as he's dragged forward, and it's only by grasping hold of Derek's wrists that he manages to keep his feet.

"Look, this place... the ruined building and the tombstones? It's just-- dramatic looking and deserted looking and I'm a photographer." He manages to blurt out, keeping his voice almost level, "And then you came out, and-- you look pretty dramatic as well, and people like getting their photograph taken!"

This is almost accusatory. How dare you not like it, Derek?

[sucking]

Lydia catches his initial reaction and she's not sure that she wants to accept the skills of any man that his first instinct is to create such a fuss over her request. Her eyes don't wander from his features as he speaks, though, and she appreciates his offer of a reference.

"That won't be necessary." If he had anything to hide he wouldn't have offered up a name in the first place. "Though, I would recommend you refrain from making your negative opinions of my claim so obvious - silent or spoken."

[notreadyforthis]

Crazy might still be on the menu, though not the aggressive kind. Being raised as undead — even a helpful undead — does strange things to the mind. Xiridan tries not to feel disappointed. Maybe Skeel's hiding somewhere, and isn't bothering everyone like she thought he might.

It's easier than thinking that her charge got left behind.

"Thanks anyhow. His name's Skeel, if you see him; he's not dangerous. Dangerously annoying, maybe, but not dangerous. Just a baby," she explains. "I'm Xiridan, by the way."

[consequence]

"A bit ago," she moves closer to where he's standing."I was seeing what was in the area, but I didn't see much of anything."

The whole town seemed like an episode of Deadwood and that's putting it nicely.

[ineveraskedforthis]

A strange look, strange reactions, and an even stranger set of names. But Adam won't pass too much judgment on the whole, not any more than he may have without intending to at any rate.

"Adam," he replies. He wonders a little how long she's going to be able to last in a town like this. Rumors may be just that, but there's always a grain of truth to them. And someone like her standing out to someone like him is bound to be even more so with the people that inhabit this place.

"I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled for...Skeel," Adam adds.

[instinct]

"Thank you kindly."

His voice is a little tight as he climbs up out of the water, shakes himself off, and uses his tshirt to dry of the worst of it before pulling on some damn pants. Though he keeps his back to her all through it, not wanting to know if she sneaks a peek, the back of his neck hot.

Once he's got a shirt over his shoulders, he says: "All right, I think my modesty's preserved," with a wry lilt to his tone, fingers buttoning the shirt up.

[instinct]

"Do they."

It's flat. Gives the impression that he thinks Idris is wrong. About pretty much everything.

"It's polite to ask permission first," he points out, not letting him go, like he still might clobber him. (Spoilers, he probably won't.)

[instinct]

"I haven't made any opinion," Derek lies, though it's true he didn't speak. "But if I may: the rush is over. You want to pay me to work, I'll take your money and work, but it's a fool's pursuit. Ma'am."

[sucking]

Lydia nods, "I thank you for your estimation, sir, but I would sooner put have made every effort than simply give up because others believe it's a mistake."

To put it quickly, she's too stubborn to give up just because others say she's being "a silly woman".

[instinct]

"I can respect that," Derek tells her, because he can. Stubbornness is an old Hale family trait. He wonders how she's going to get along in this town, which expects everyone to bend to its will.

"And I can put the effort in, if you'll have me."

[sucking]

Lydia gives him another cursory glance before she nods.

"You can call me Miss Martin and I am going to need a name if I'm to pay your wages."

[wontturntofoam]

"Well, I didn't think you were going to let me." Idris answers, sullenly, "In fact, I was quite sure you were going to come and hit me, so I thought I might as well get a good photograph before you did."

In other words, he took the photograph because you were so scary, Derek. It was... sort of your own fault?

"Don't you want to see it? I could develop it for you."

[callszombiebullshit]

She probably would have sneaked a peek, but she thought he was facing her and he'd catch her.

"Yes? Can't have my delicate sensibilities flustered." She turns around and tips up the brim of her hat a little. "I'd better get back to town. Enjoy turning your clean face up at God and whatnot."

[instinct]

"Good luck finding work," Derek replies grudgingly, giving her a nod, since he's not currently wearing a hat. "I'll see you 'round, Zoey." Which he means to be friendly, but it probably just sounds ominous with his stoic face.

[instinct]

"Why would I want to see a photograph of myself?" Derek asks with a scowl and a roll of his eyes. But he gives Idris a little shove and lets go of his collar, letting him stumble back (or maybe go sprawling, he's not particularly fussy.)

[instinct]

"Derek Hale," he tells her, nodding back. He waits expectantly, to see if she knows of him, the tragedy of his family and the burnt out ranch. There's an air of resignation to it, though maybe he'll be lucky enough that she won't know his past — won't pity him for it, or worse.

[wontturntofoam]

Idris does stumble, but he catches himself in time to straighten up, and make a bee line for the camera. Derek hasn't said yes, but technically, he's asked a question instead of saying no, so Idris doesn't feel rejected.

"I don't see why you wouldn't. I want to see a photo of you, and I'm already looking at the real thing."

Now that his initial fear of being punched has dampened, Idris is left with a vast pool of useless adrenaline, pouring into excitement about what this photograph is going to look like. He strips the plate from the camera quickly, and withdraws a shallow metal container from amongst his gear, to begin the brief development process of tin-type photography.

"What's your name, by the way?"

He does not mention needing this information to print as a byline to what is almost definitely going to be a great and publishable photograph.

[callszombiebullshit]

She squints a little, trying to work out whether he means it or if he's taking a jab, but despite his grumpy demeanor she thinks he's on the level. So she nods and moves to mount her horse.

"See you, Hale." And off she rides back to town.