>>5867754You try to mantain your optimism as you trek along the treeline, dodging boot-snarling roots and deceptively sticky mud-patches, but as neither Branwen nor Earl reveal themselves to you your spirits begin to flag. Maybe they really haven't arrived yet? But that would mean you've wasted all this time for nothing, and when you go get Gil and he asks what you've been doing you'll have to say you've been wandering around pointlessly, and what then? That simply cannot happen. It's unthinkable. They have arrived, somewhere, and you need to stop and consider the available facts. If they aren't in camp, and they aren't directly arriving, but they are nearby, then... could they be in the Landing? But what for? There has to be a good...
...Aha! You got it! Your dectectiving skills are as unmatched as ever, and when you look into the snake's beady little eyes you see complete agreement. It's settled, then. You must embark. Onwards to Lindew's Landing, where Branwen and Earl *must* be—
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They are. Of course they are. You didn't doubt your intuition for even a second. As a bonus, unnecessary but appreciated, they're even doing what you deduced they would be. The old Richard would've dropped dead if he'd seen you march over here, or he would've taken all the credit, but the snake just lays there. You scratch its head.
They are having an argument— the general store's door is propped open all the way, so it's carrying out into the street.
"For the last time, it's no shirt, no shoes, no service."
"Man's half-dead, left his shoes'n the ass-crack of the Flats, and you have the *nerve* to—?!"
"Whoa, hey, leave the guy alone. Not like I'm all that presentable—"
"Yeah. And I recognize you two, by the way. I don't deal with criminals. This is a legitimate business, not a fucking fence, and I don't want to be involved in—"
The store owner cuts himself off: you have strolled in. His eyes go real big. "Holy shit."
Huh? Is it you? Well, it's about time somebody recognizes your inherent aura of impressiveness. "Yes! Hello! I have arrive...eth. Are you denying these fine folks their legitimate purchases?"
"Charlotte? Wow! Just the kid I was hoping to see!" Earl is talking, which is an excellent sign, and looks approximately like a regular human being— maybe a smidge fleshier than normal, but nothing you'd notice if you weren't looking. He has pants on, but (as you anticipated) no shoes or shirt. "We were just coming to see you!"
"Good timing, Fawkins." Branwen's leaned over the general store guy's counter. "Got a problem. Some real bright spark thinks he ain't selling what we're buying. Can you wrap your skull 'round that?"
The general store guy is on the other side of the counter, pressed against his seat, looking at nobody but you. Even for your aura of impressiveness, it's a bit much. Did you put your cape on the wrong way around? (You check: nope.)
(2/4?)
