|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:08 pm
Karin lurked at the entrance to the Dragon's Eye Inn, waiting, anxiously. It was sad to think that Alex's mysterious letter had cast this strange situation in an even more ominous light. It was impractical for her to be this nervous and jumpy she knew. There had been plenty of opportunities for the people behind it all to take any of the displaced arrivals like herself away. But she knew human nature- if she and Rick were going to change as Alex had, she really didn't trust herself to the kindness of this superstitious town's people.
It was equally as sad to realize that the only things she had were what she carried on her. A frightening thing to consider, as her knowledge of woodlands survival was based on search and rescue. She didn't think that anybody searching for her had rescue on their minds.
She also felt strangely naked, dressed in native gear she'd bought in town and not the familiar and comfortable weight of her bright yellow firemen's gear. It felt like some sort of betrayal, but the practicallity of the situation overrode that. Yellow was not conductive to a furtive leave from town.
Karin sighed. It all seemed even more surreal just standing there, watching as people went about their business. She hoped Rick came along soon, before she talked herself out of fleeing.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:59 pm
Well, at least it was something to look forward to, if anything.
In one sense, it gave him a sort of thrill. He had always wanted to feel like someone that everyone was hunting (or in this case, going to hunt) or the only sane ones that actually knew what to do. Rick remembered himself almost on the brink of screaming at the television, "Get the hell outta there!!!"
This time, he got to do things the right way. Hopefully, unlike the movies, there wouldn't be some dramatic happening that would end up forcing him and Karin to stay in the town.
Quietly, he slipped around chairs and tables alike, heading for the front door of the inn. As he exited, he felt the cool air hit his face. Lack of air circulation within buildings was a complete drag, he noted.
Turning to his right, he spotted Karin, waiting for him as she had. Something told him that he could trust her for now, and probably a good time.
"Thanks for waiting," He said, stopping two feet away from her with a small, two tan-fingered wave.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:14 pm
Karin broke out in a smile at his approach, her relief almost palpable. "Not a problem." She gave a weary sigh. "I really hate being alone, so I'm glad for the company, even if I wish the situation were better." Now that they were actually heading out, it was much easier for her to relax, the sharp pricking of anxiety fading somewhat. "Ready to head out?"
She had memorized the way to Jonas's shop and fell into an easy pace heading towards it. No hurry here, or at least no appearance of one. Just two people, out for some daily shopping. The easiest way to pretend that nothing suspicious was going on was to make it so. Besides, they had plans to discuss.
"I've never been much for camping expeditions. Do they even have tents around here?" She mused, rolling thoughts around in her head. Karin still had most of the coins the baron had given out. Maybe she could trade off some of her gear instead. Jonas was a pawnbroker, after all. And coins might work better as bribes later on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:50 am
Rick thoughtfully stroked his chin as they walked, taking some heart in her confidence.
"Well, we're in, what, the equivalent of the medieval ages, right? They obviously have cloth, and they obviously have sticks. Someone must've put the two together by now. If not, we'll be the first," He chuckled wryly, "Hopefully I'll be able to find Sir Steel as easily as you're able to find your pawnbroker."
He hoped that no one would be listening in on their conversation---at least, no one unwelcome. That'd be the pits, just knowing that they needed to leave, and suddenly were arrested by guards.
Don't jinx it, doooon't jinx it... He warned himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:13 pm
Rick's revelation actually startled a laugh out of her. "I never really gave much thought to trying to recreate stuff here. I bet we'd be a hit with indoor plumbing," she said, pausing to browse a bit at a nearby stall. Had to keep it casual, after all. "Kinda makes me wish I'd paid more attention in shop class," she added, a touch wistfully. "Or chemistry."
Karin grinned, bouncing back from the momentary rush of melancholy. "Let's keep our fingers crossed. A little extra luck in this manhunt for Mr. Steel can't hurt."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:09 pm
"That, or they'd call us some sorts of witches or whatever they do whenever they don't want to believe something that works," Rick reasoned with a sigh, walking with his hands slid in his pockets.
"I'm fairly sure that I know the path that we took to get here. If I retrace those steps, we'd likely come across him. Either way, we'll be out of here," He mapped out loud.
"How much further?" He asked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:00 pm
She shared a sigh. "Ha, probably true." In spite of that reality, her mood remained somewhat uplifted. "I guess we can leave that as a back-up plan for finding this Steel-guy, should Jonas be unable to help us." Or unwilling, but she didn't want to dwell on a negative thought like that. She and Rick were going to make it out of town, before the puppetmaster behind this whole situation started pulling strings.
Karin paused a moment, just to get her bearings. "It's just up ahead," She gestured discreetly towards the pawnshop, "See?"
"I hope he's open," she added as they approached. She hadn't really thought to check business hours or anything beforehand. Oh well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:54 pm
Fortunately for Karin and Rick, Jonas' pawnshop was indeed open, with Jonas sitting back behind a desk towards the back of the store. Jonas looked up to see a couple people outside the storefront, and stood up as he recognized Karin, walking over to open the door.
"Karin! this is a pleasant surprise, I hope you've been well, how can I help you and your friend today?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:57 am
Rick stood Karin silently, giving a polite nod of greeting as he slipped in behind her, clasping both of his tanned hands behind his back. He figured that he might as well let her do the talking, as she new the man better than he. At the moment, he was simply relieved that the store had been open, and nothing had gone wrong so far.
And he prayed that it would stay like that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:38 am
Karin smiled. "Hey, Jonas. Sorry, I haven't been by to grab my gear. Adjusting to things here has been a little bit... difficult and kind of hectic." She laughed to herself, oh man, was that an understatement. Her grin turned melancholy, then forcibly brightened again.
The next part was difficult for her. Jonas had been kind and helped her when she was in need of it and she didn't really want to lie to the man. However, she didn't think that telling him she and Rick needed to skip town before they turned into monsters wasn't going to go over well with him. But she had a half-formed plan for that as well.
"I don't know if you've met my friend Rick, here," she said as a brief introduction. "We're in similar situations. But I was looking for a some advice and maybe to do a bit of business. Another of our fellows has decided to try his luck out of town. We want to check on him. Also, Rick said he'd run into a Mr. Steel, who seemed to know his way around the forest." Well, it was mostly true, but still that little bit of deceit made her uncomfortable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:00 pm
"Its alright Karin, I can understand if things been a little hectic for you." Jonas said as he nodded hello to Rick "No we haven't met, nice to meet you Rick, Oh and I held onto your things Karin right here" Jonas said as he walked over to a backroom and brought out a wooden box with the things Karin had left behind when she first arrived.
"That should be everything...now I can certainly do some business and help you how however I can."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:41 pm
Rick nodded, "The pleasure is mine," Then, just as quickly as he spoke, he shifted to business.
"Do you have any outdoor survival, and/or camping gear for sale?" He was about to include a secondary statement saying that he could pay, as he reached for the bag of gold, but decided against it. Who knew what cutthroats were watching?
He did his best not to show his impatience by clasping his hands behind his back, and adopting a relaxed pose, every now and then reminded of their situation by the slight tensing in his neck, followed by the closing of his eyes as he forced himself to remain calm. Every minute spent standing was another minute that something could potentially go horribly wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 6:34 pm
Karin glanced up from sorting through the box Jonas had brought. She was torn between keeping all her gear and trying to lighten her load. It was hers, after all, but it wasn't exactly conductive to a plan involving sneaking out of town. There was also the irrational fear that if she didn't somehow keep proof of her life prior to this, of what she still thought of as the real world, that it would become all too easy to believe that it had never ever been.
Granted, her life before being pulled to this alternate reality wasn't perfect, but it was something that she had shaped with her own two hands, and she'd be damned if she let it go without a fight.
"Also," she added on to Rick's statement, "if we could rent your horse and cart, as well as your services a driver." She had a vague idea the guards might be more likely to let them pass with a known villager. Plus she wasn't exactly looking forward to walking with her fireman's gear and camping supplies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:02 pm
Jonas nodded "I do have some camping equipment, not as much as some of other shops, but I do have some things." the shopkeeper said as he walked over to one side of the room to point out some things to Rick.
"I have a couple tents, a few hatchets and axes, sleeping pad, blankets, small game traps, maps and some tinder for starting fire" Jonas explained, showing each of the items to Rick before turning back to Karin.
"sure, the least I could do is help you go out on your way if you're looking to travel out of Loghedge, anywhere in particular you're traveling to?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:23 pm
Rick nodded his approval at the multitude of camping equipment, as well as Karin's add-on to his own request. He didn't have any qualms with carrying the lot of it through the wilderness, though he knew that likely, he'd be complaining later on.
Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it, He remembered his mother telling him.
"One of everything, how much will that cost?" He asked casually.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
