Wilde West 2

Josie had! And then goes downstairs to retrieve her stew and her coffee. Mmm, coffee. [5/4/2013 11:27:32 PM] Khiro: It's damn fine coffee. Damn fine. [5/4/2013 11:28:46 PM] Josie: Josie sips at it, and looks for the blue girl. [5/4/2013 11:32:07 PM] Khiro: She's back behind her bar. [5/4/2013 11:32:23 PM] Josie: Josie sits there, and will eat her food. "You Miss Merril?" [5/4/2013 11:33:48 PM] Khiro: She nods. "That I am." [5/4/2013 11:34:34 PM] Josie: Josie nods too. [5/4/2013 11:34:46 PM] Josie: Mr. Statler sent me here. Said it was the best place in town. [5/4/2013 11:37:04 PM] Khiro: Merril:  He's a dear. Best sheriff we've had. [5/4/2013 11:37:45 PM] Josie: That's real good to hear. Seems real nice. [5/4/2013 11:38:23 PM] Josie: That can be a real hard thing to do, stay nice and enforce the law. [5/4/2013 11:41:29 PM] Josie: Takes the right kinda person in the right kinda town to do it. [5/4/2013 11:42:00 PM] Josie: Doesn't work too good in a town fulla strangers. [5/4/2013 11:43:19 PM] Josie: Do a lot of strange folk pass through here? [5/4/2013 11:43:28 PM] Khiro: Merril nods. "Didn't hurt that our last Sheriff was a real piece of work." [5/4/2013 11:43:46 PM] Josie: Huh, really? Real strict or the opposite? Either's bad. [5/4/2013 11:45:18 PM] Khiro: Merril:  Oh, he was on the take. On Viskav's payroll before Statler and his boys all them out. [5/4/2013 11:46:21 PM] Josie: Who's Viskav? [5/4/2013 11:46:35 PM] Josie: Josie is not, it should be noted, showing her badge. [5/4/2013 11:49:17 PM] Khiro: Merril:  Real scum of the earth, that one. Name a vice, and he pushed it. [5/4/2013 11:50:10 PM] Josie: Still around? [5/4/2013 11:52:59 PM] Khiro: Merril:  Oh, no, Statler and his boys drove 'em out. Last sheriff went with 'em, and Statler got elected. [5/4/2013 11:53:39 PM] Josie: Hm. He got family? [5/4/2013 11:54:37 PM] Khiro: Merril:  Viskav? Nah. I heard that a week after he got driven out, one of his boys killed him in his sleep. [5/4/2013 11:54:55 PM] Josie: Nah, I mean Statler. [5/4/2013 11:55:58 PM] Khiro: Merril:  Not here. Back east. He had a wife, I hear, but he don't really talk about it except when he's drunk. [5/4/2013 11:57:19 PM] Josie: Josie nods. [5/4/2013 11:57:35 PM] Josie: Married to the job, I expect. [5/4/2013 11:59:20 PM] Josie: Mentioned some folk sounded interesting to me. Walter Rivers? [5/5/2013 12:01:03 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Never met the man. And I've lived here for close to twenty five years. Bit of a recluse. Doesn't come out to town meetings or anything. Just holed up all day with his books. [5/5/2013 12:01:55 AM] Josie: Huh. Sounds like an easterner. [5/5/2013 12:02:21 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Heard he's from London originally. [5/5/2013 12:04:35 AM] Josie: Pretty far east, then. [5/5/2013 12:04:59 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Don't know if it's true or nothin. But I hear he speaks real proper. Don't know if he's got an accent. [5/5/2013 12:05:29 AM] Josie: Like a good book myself. Maybe I'll go see if he's got any. [5/5/2013 12:13:53 AM] Khiro: Merril laughs. "Good luck with that.  Apparently only the mayor gets in to see him." [5/5/2013 12:14:30 AM] Khiro: Merril:  A lot of folks say that is because of Walter that none of the bad critters bother the outlying farms. [5/5/2013 12:14:55 AM] Josie: So he's a good kinda recluse. [5/5/2013 12:15:17 AM] Josie: Well, I'm not the mayor. Might be worth a try anyhow. [5/5/2013 12:15:44 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Dunno if it's true or not. Other folks say it's the Outrider that keeps stuff away. [5/5/2013 12:16:37 AM] Josie: Outrider? [5/5/2013 12:18:43 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Yeah. Some folks say that he scouts the wilds around the town and keeps em clear. [5/5/2013 12:20:05 AM] Josie: What's his name, and where do you find him? [5/5/2013 12:21:58 AM] Khiro: Merril:  He might just be another tall tale, to be honest. As long as Wilde has been here, there's been tales of the Outrider. [5/5/2013 12:22:57 AM] Josie: Could be that's him, then. [5/5/2013 12:23:04 AM] Josie: Or one of his. [5/5/2013 12:23:19 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Walter, you mean? [5/5/2013 12:23:37 AM] Josie: Yeah. [5/5/2013 12:23:46 AM] Josie: If the Outrider started up same time as he got here... [5/5/2013 12:24:39 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Walter showed up about ten years after Wilde got started. [5/5/2013 12:25:31 AM] Josie: Been here a while, then. [5/5/2013 12:25:47 AM] Josie: You said he talks to the mayor, what's the mayor like? [5/5/2013 12:25:56 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Plus, I think he's near a hundred. [5/5/2013 12:26:20 AM] Josie: Doesn't mean much, for some folk. [5/5/2013 12:28:21 AM] Josie: What about the mayor? [5/5/2013 12:30:06 AM] Khiro: Merril:  Well, Walter's human. [5/5/2013 12:30:13 AM] Khiro: Merril:  What about the mayor? [5/5/2013 12:30:33 AM] Josie: If he talks to the mayor, what's so special 'bout the mayor? [5/5/2013 12:30:41 AM] Josie: Josie smiles. [5/5/2013 12:31:27 AM] Khiro: Merril:  He founded the town. Or was one of 'em that did. [5/5/2013 12:32:01 AM] Josie: Oh, I see. [5/5/2013 12:32:17 AM] Josie: Another person might be interestin' to talk to. [5/5/2013 12:32:46 AM] Josie: Well. I'd best get movin' if I want to see the town before dark. [5/5/2013 12:32:50 AM] Josie: Josie stands up. [5/5/2013 12:36:01 AM] Josie: Thanks for the food. And the coffee's grand, too. [5/5/2013 12:38:27 AM] Khiro: Merril:  'Course. How long you stayin'? [5/5/2013 12:38:56 AM] Josie: Not too sure. A couple days at least, probably, maybe a week. [5/5/2013 12:39:56 AM] Josie: Be back later, miss. [5/5/2013 12:40:17 AM] Josie: Josie tips her hand and heads out to find the brothel.

Josie was going to the brothel! [5/5/2013 9:30:02 PM | Edited 9:30:49 PM] Josie: Josie wanted to talk to the proprietess and find out if she recognized Fennick. [5/5/2013 9:30:27 PM] Khiro: Kiska is the proprietess of the brothel. [5/5/2013 9:31:03 PM] Josie: ((Gah. I knew that.)) [5/5/2013 9:34:07 PM] Josie: Josie goes there, anyway! [5/5/2013 9:37:22 PM] Khiro: The brothel is called Lamplight. It's very nice from the outside. [5/5/2013 9:39:18 PM] Josie: Josie hates this part of her job. But she does it anyway! [5/5/2013 9:39:25 PM] Josie: Josie heads in! [5/5/2013 9:40:10 PM] Khiro: It's pretty nice on the inside, too. Smoky, dimly lit, but nice. [5/5/2013 9:40:42 PM] Josie: Josie peers around curiously at the decor and the people. [5/5/2013 9:44:16 PM] Khiro: There are a couple of gentlemen sitting on couches, drinking brandy, smoking cigars, chatting with some of the girls, but that's it. The front room of the place is a small, cozy lounge. A bell on the door rings as you enter. [5/5/2013 9:49:39 PM] Josie: ((Back. Sorry, the discussion about great gouts of blood going everywhere reminded me I needed to shave.)) [5/5/2013 9:50:15 PM] Josie: Josie looks at the bell, then checks the men surreptitiously for signs of Fennickness. [5/5/2013 9:51:42 PM] Khiro: Nope! Neither of them appears to be your man. One is too fat, the other is too old. [5/5/2013 9:52:32 PM] Josie: Josie looks for a free girl to talk to! ... will probably choose the one that looks most clothed, even if she's not totally human. [5/5/2013 9:53:24 PM] Khiro: A few moments after you walk in, an attractive woman with strong slavic features comes in. [5/5/2013 9:54:06 PM] Josie: Josie feels unaccountably grubby. Probably because she dresses like a man and just got done with a long, enfrumpening train ride. [5/5/2013 9:55:30 PM] Khiro: She has clear blue eyes and hair so blonde it's almost white. You'd guess she's in her forties. She's got a sturdy build and is rather full figured, dressed in a very nice gown. She eyes you. "Welcome to Lamplight.  Can I help you?" [5/5/2013 9:56:02 PM] Josie: Lookin' for Miss Kiska. Or Missus, not too sure on the honorific. [5/5/2013 9:56:54 PM] Khiro: Woman:  You can call me Miss Kiska. Can I see your badge? [5/5/2013 9:57:09 PM] Josie: Am I that obvious? [5/5/2013 9:57:29 PM] Josie: Josie moves her vest and coat aside, and shows the badge, which is hooked on her belt. [5/5/2013 9:57:35 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  I've been waiting for someone to show up since Fennick crawled through here. [5/5/2013 9:57:52 PM] Josie: So he *has* been here. Your people all right? [5/5/2013 9:59:26 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  Yes. We kicked his sorry ass out of here. He was tight with Viskav, I don't think he knew that we'd had a change in management. [5/5/2013 10:01:39 PM] Josie: Heard of Viskav, didn't sound like the kind of man you'd want as a client. And Fennick sure isn't. Glad to hear nobody got hurt. When was it, and what was he doin' about that eye? [5/5/2013 10:02:27 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  Viskav used to run Lamplight before we ran him out of town. It wasn't quite so posh then. [5/5/2013 10:03:15 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  He was wearing an eyepatch. [5/5/2013 10:03:34 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  'Cept when he was tryin to use it. [5/5/2013 10:04:22 PM] Josie: Josie shakes her head. "Not too bright, fortunately. He give any indication of where he was goin' next? Did he only talk to you or one of your people?" [5/5/2013 10:06:04 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  He came in, hoping to find Viskav, or one of Viskav's boys. I told him that none of those people were here anymore. He tried to charm his way into a place to stay for a few nights. It didn't work. I kicked him out. [5/5/2013 10:06:11 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  he only talked to me. [5/5/2013 10:06:20 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  wouldn't let him near any of my girls. [5/5/2013 10:07:05 PM] Josie: Thank goodness. Haven't much liked followin' his trail of hurt people around. When was he here? [5/5/2013 10:07:24 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  Not four nights back. [5/5/2013 10:08:21 PM] Josie: Any friends of Viskav left here in town? [5/5/2013 10:08:31 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  Not that I know of. [5/5/2013 10:08:50 PM] Josie: No indication of where he went next, huh? [5/5/2013 10:09:22 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  I hear that after Viskav died, soem of his men holed up somewhere not far from town, but I don't know where. [5/5/2013 10:09:39 PM] Josie: Josie nods. [5/5/2013 10:10:21 PM] Josie: Anything he said comes to you later--and it might, you never know what'll jog a person's mind back to a thing--you send a message on to the Imperial. Kate Candlemas. [5/5/2013 10:13:02 PM] Khiro: Kiska:  Careful with Fennick. He's got some magic in that eye. He gets you, everything he says seems mighty reasonable. But it only works on someone once. [5/5/2013 10:13:34 PM] Josie: ... explains a lot. [5/5/2013 10:13:47 PM] Josie: Thank you for your time, ma'am. [5/5/2013 10:14:03 PM] Josie: Josie tips her hat and heads out. This time she's actually going to try to track down Rivers. [5/5/2013 10:14:51 PM] Josie: Josie probably has to get directions from somebody, but then starts walkin'. [5/5/2013 10:15:57 PM] Khiro: The Rivers estate is a ways outside of town. It'll take some time to walk. [5/5/2013 10:16:59 PM] Josie: Josie checks reluctantly for a horse to borrow! [5/5/2013 10:18:21 PM] Khiro: The Sheriff might be able to help you with that. There's no horse rentals. [5/5/2013 10:19:21 PM] Josie: Josie goes to track him down! [5/5/2013 10:19:44 PM] Khiro: He's in his office, probably! [5/5/2013 10:21:07 PM] Josie: Hey. I know it's imposing on your goodwill some, but do you know where I might borrow a horse for this afternoon? [5/5/2013 10:23:37 PM] Khiro: Statler:  Where you headin'? [5/5/2013 10:26:05 PM] Josie: Rivers. He might be able to help. [5/5/2013 10:27:29 PM] Khiro: Statler:  Well, you can use Abeline. Chestnut mare in the stable. [5/5/2013 10:27:34 PM] Josie: ... don't worry, he ain't on the arrest list, nor even the questioning one. [5/5/2013 10:27:37 PM] Josie: Josie nods. [5/5/2013 10:27:45 PM] Josie: I'll take good care of her for you. [5/5/2013 10:27:57 PM] Khiro: Statler:  She ain't fast, but she's tough. [5/5/2013 10:28:09 PM] Josie: Stubborn's better than fast. [5/5/2013 10:28:17 PM] Josie: Horses and the law are alike that way. [5/5/2013 10:28:33 PM] Josie: Josie smiles infinitesimally again, tips her hat, and heads out! [5/5/2013 10:33:24 PM] Josie: Josie saddles up the horse, and heads for the Rivers place! [5/5/2013 10:39:58 PM] Josie: ((All shaved. Nothing like fresh blood running down your legs, what a feeling. *grump*)) [5/5/2013 10:40:52 PM] Khiro: ((Hee.)) [5/5/2013 10:41:14 PM] Josie: ((Might as well take a goddamn cheesegrater to them.)) [5/5/2013 10:41:31 PM] Khiro: It's not hard to find the Rivers Estate. It's pretty big. [5/5/2013 10:42:29 PM] Josie: Josie looks for the estate, and the house on it. [5/5/2013 10:42:52 PM] Khiro: Not hard to find! It's an old house. [5/5/2013 10:43:19 PM] Khiro: The entire estate was probably once a ranch, or something. [5/5/2013 10:43:41 PM] Josie: Josie heads there, watching for riders, guards, or anything that seems out of place. [5/5/2013 10:48:11 PM] Khiro: Nope! Nothing. [5/5/2013 10:48:46 PM] Josie: Josie dismounts, ties up the horse to something convenient, and knocks on the front door. [5/5/2013 10:53:50 PM] Khiro: There are door knockers! [5/5/2013 10:55:03 PM] Josie: Josie knocknocks! [5/5/2013 10:56:00 PM] Khiro: You wait for a few moments before the door opens a crack. "Can I help you?" [5/5/2013 10:56:01 PM] Josie: (( http://handwritingonthe4thwall.tumblr.com/ )) [5/5/2013 10:56:09 PM] Josie: Lookin' for Mr. Rivers. [5/5/2013 10:59:18 PM] Khiro: Voice:  Mr. Rivers is not taking callers. [5/5/2013 10:59:24 PM] Khiro: The door closes. [5/5/2013 10:59:38 PM] Josie: He'll take me, if you tell him I'm here. [5/5/2013 11:00:40 PM] Khiro: No answer! [5/5/2013 11:00:48 PM] Josie: Josie knocks again. [5/5/2013 11:05:41 PM] Khiro: Voice, through the door. "Please leave.  Mr Rivers will not be seeing you today." [5/5/2013 11:05:58 PM] Josie: Ain't for me, it's for the town. [5/5/2013 11:06:33 PM] Josie: Josie waits a few minutes to give them a chance to change their minds. [5/5/2013 11:06:57 PM] Khiro: No answer! [5/5/2013 11:07:09 PM] Josie: Josie nods, and heads back to town! [5/5/2013 11:11:23 PM] Khiro: Okay! It's starting to get dark by the time you get back to town. [5/5/2013 11:13:02 PM] Josie: Josie heads back to the Imperial, to hang out and listen to folks. Unless the piano's playing; then she'll stop by the doctor's. [5/5/2013 11:13:42 PM] Khiro: Piano is playing as folks head there for dinner. [5/5/2013 11:14:54 PM] Josie: Josie stops, and heads for the doctor's place instead. [5/5/2013 11:18:11 PM] Khiro: Okay! He operates out of a small building near the Sheriff's office. [5/5/2013 11:18:42 PM] Josie: Josie returns the horse first, then. [5/5/2013 11:19:02 PM] Josie: Josie makes sure to clean her up and make sure she's fed and comfortable. Animals usually like her. [5/5/2013 11:22:51 PM] Khiro: Abeline is a pretty easygoing animal. [5/5/2013 11:23:27 PM] Josie: Josie gives her some extra love, then, as far as grooming goes, and then goes to find the sawbones.