Love of the Bounty

[Kuuroinochou]

Love of the Bounty​

[Geryon and Kuuroinochou; PMs welcomed and enjoy!]​

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The three moons shown in the night sky as the young beauty perched upon a single tree slept. Her cloths wrapped about her as makeshift blackets. She sighed forelornly at the sudden realization of her current perdictament. As it were she had no money, no home, no food or drink, nothing to call her own save for the clothing on her back.

At every city or township she travelled she couldn't stay there longer than a day before someone got wind of her bounty and began their hunt for the young thing. Why there was a bounty on her head was anyone's guess, she herself didn't even know. It happened suddenly one day she was living with a quaint family off in the country side, the next minute the sheirf came with full force in search of their bounty, her to be exact. They didn't find her but ended up destroying the lives of innocent people all for one young soul.

Her family had been so kind to her, packing what they could of food, drink and clothing, they handed her some small cash to help her in her journeys and then sent her on her way. She'd never seen or heard from them again. While they were not her true family it was the closets she would get to having one.

Now she was left in the forest, to fend for herself. Sighing, the young lass Vivi Kinyanjui watched in the distance the flickering of city lights. For once she would be able to roam about, usually busy cities like this didn't have wanted posters plastered about, though they did get plenty of broadcasts on various bounties. Hopefully she would be able to keep herself hidden in a larger city then that of a smaller township. Yawning she settled herself down for the night, tomorrow she would make her way into the city and possibly find some new cloths and some food. Albeit she'd have to steal which would only add to her bounty should she get caught...

"What did I do?" she questioned to the moons glaring sadly at the city. Truly what did she do to acquire such a bounty... a 50mil dollar bounty to be exact.

----
Name: Vivi Kinyanjui
Age: 18
Ht: 5'5"
Wt: 115lbs
Appearance: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/Kuuroinochou/goddess11gaia.gif
History: Born on old Earth, after a devistating war which left the planet in near ruins, Vivi hitched a ride with the outlanders who charted a map for a new planet. Touching down on New Earth (for lack of a better term), she made a home for herself in the forests and woodlands of this near to barrin wasteland. Eventually she was adopted by a farm family and given shelter for many moons to come. This was until her home had been attacked and a 50mil bounty was placed on her head. The reason behind it has yet to be determined, which brings Vivi to her current travels in search of the meaning to her bounty and the attack on her make-shift family.
Other Notes: Vivi has hidden abilities that she does not use too often, its a side affect of her space travels to new earth.

 

[Geryon]

James Carver

James Carver sat in a dusty cantina, brooding. He had his own table in the corner, as well as a large radius where few people would chance taking a seat. He was a frequent here, and his temperament was well-known. Even to those who didn't know Carver's particular tendencies were put off by the hulking, scarred man who never spoke and rarely raised his eyes.

Several weeks ago, Carver had managed an escape from the most renowned prison in the galaxy: Pegasus. He had been part of an experiment on that remote desert planet, an experiment to see if a human female could survive in the all-male death camp. His cellmate was the object of that experiment, a space pirate from a wealthy family. She hadn't survived. It was her that planned the breakout, her that provided the means of his escape. They had made grand plans together. They were going to rule the galaxy. Now, however, Carver sat in the muggy bar drinking alien swill, everything a reminder of his lost Kila. Before Pegasus... before Kila, he had lived on the blasted surface of Old Earth, a small-time terrorist, making a living on the pillage of remote settlements. Now, because of her, Carver was one of the most wanted men in recent existence. That suited him, at least, but his dreams of burning out the stars had died long ago. They had died with Kila.

The bartender shot a dissatisfied, but cautious, glance towards Carver. He had been doing that more and more frequently the past few days. That meant the tab was running high, and it would be time to leave soon. Carver had never experienced a city, let alone a completely new planet, before his capture on Old Earth. This was the only big city he had ever seen, and now he would have to run, again.

Name: James Carver
Age: 32
Ht: 6'8"
Wt: 275 lbs.
Appearance: Carver is tall and heavily muscled. His skin is very tanned and crisscrossed with a multitude of pale scars. He has strikingly blue eyes, and keeps his head shaved.
History: Carver was born on Old Earth, after most life on the planet was burned away following the invention of plasma weaponry. He was something of a pirate, rampaging through small human settlements for food and supplies. His reckless aggression and terrible murders were known across the planet, but never warranted much attention from the galactic community. eventually, however, he was apprehended and incarcerated in the super-maximum security prison on the planet Pegasus. His cell mate was a female pirate, a top-ten wanted criminal, intended to prove that females could face the rigors of Pegasus successfully. She was killed in a breakout planned by herself and Carver, while James escaped to our present setting. Find James Carver's background in its entirety at https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=327096&highlight=Galactic+Prison+Pegasus (A thread that was dropped due to my co-poster's lack of interest, but still a great story. Unfortunately I had to invent something to tie it in with this plot...enjoy!)

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vivi had made her way into town shortly after sun rise, it was early thus far, a few people would be miling about but nothing to catch a person's attention. Perfect. She had to lay low to keep people from noticing her. If her green hair were any option and her bright gold eyes, it was hard to hide such features. But she did well enough thus far.

With her cape and cowl pulled safely over her head she ducked into a local pub, noting how empty it was. This was the perfect place to snatch purses and wallets then duck out and get lost into the city. She would have to wait until the crowds grew before making her pickings.

As she entered she kept her eyes obverted heading for the bar she asked for some water. The bartender snickered at her, noting her delicate frame. "Girlie, shouldn't you be at home tending to the children?" the barkeep asked, Vivi did not pay him any mind. Simply flashing her golden eyes upon him with purpose.

"Water, sir." she said softly, he looked her over a bit more approvingly then shrugged. Tossing a dirty glass of water her way he smiled knowingly. "This is dirty." Vivi stated the obvious glaring at the man.

"So it is. This is a bar, either drink or get out. We aint so rich here." the man offered almost daring Vivi to drink the water. She opted not.

"Please do you have anything else to drink?" she asked softly; her voice barely above a whisper.

The barkeep laughed uproarishly at her, "This is a bar, we got plenty to drink all of it fire water. If you want pure water drink what's in front of you. Our fire water will cost ya."

"I don't have any money."

"Too bad." came the retort. Vivi sighed staring at the glass of water in front of her. It looked good to her but she could see the foggy clouds of dirt and particle floating in the glass. There was no way she would subject herself to such germs. Sighing she pushed the glass away, unknowingly it tipped from the counter to crash on the floor. "Aye girlie, you gonna pay for that glass you broke?" the barkeep asked.

Vivi turned around dismissively. "No." she said simply arching a brow in warning. The barkeep chuckled not so much on the entertained side either.

"You best be payin' for that there glass. I said before, we aint no rich here."

"As made obvious by your survice. I'm not paying for the glass..." she said again and made her way for the door. The barkeep pulled out a shot gun blowing a hole right in front of her face against the wall. She turned around abruptly frieghtened yes but hardly waivering. "The hell?!"

"Pay up or get your pretty little head blown off." He offered as a new option.

Vivi glared at him, she knew she had no money to pay and getting out of this pub wasn't going to be easy with a shot gun aimed at her head. Goodness was everything bad luck with her? Well at least he didn't know about her bounty...

Oddly enough a broadcast on the small black and white vid-screen (or tv), blared over the line. "Are current bounty list has brought to our attention a young little fillie. Age 18, cute as a button, long wavy green hair, golden eyes, and as child like as any one girl could be. That's right folks she may look innocent but don't let that fool you. If you find this lass, bring her in dead or alive for your 50mil shek reward." With that much said more information flashed on the screen and the barkeep turned to look Vivi over.

Vivi sighed inwardly... 3,2,1... "Hey you's that girl on the tele!" The barkeep shrieked.

Vivi groaned. "How astute." she offered as another hole blew out in place at the wall behind her. She was bettin at this point this man had no fair aim. She raised her hand over her head chancing a look around the room for any escape.

 

[Geryon]

Despite all the problems Carver had faced in recent months, he slowly began to acknowledge that his mind was quieting. He wasn't overcome by his blind rage quite so often, but he still preferred his isolation. He could now look at the people coming and going without the horrific images of pain and death. Accompanying this came a newfound appreciation for the female aspect of his species. This new ability to see and appreciate without hurting was a good thing, he concluded, and enjoyed practicing his new mental control.

The perfect opportunity presented itself in the dying darkness, a beautiful young woman with green hair and wonderful golden eyes entered the bar. James's eyes followed her across the wide tavern floor, drinking in every curve of her body and every intricacy of her flowing step. A tiny smile pulled at the corner of his mouth, another new expression. He managed to watch the girl without staring... if he frightened her she would no doubt leave in a hurry. Her squabble with the bartender went unnoticed, however, Carver's attention had not improved with the rest of his sanity, and he still had trouble focusing on more than one thing at a time.

Sighing she pushed the glass away, unknowingly it tipped from the counter to crash on the floor. "Aye girlie, you gonna pay for that glass you broke?" the barkeep asked.

Until the shattering clash echoed through the relatively quiet room, Carver hadn't even noticed the girl was about to leave. The sound of destruction pulled him back to his senses.

"No."

Carver managed a slightly larger smile of approbation... this girl was interesting indeed.

The barkeep pulled out a shot gun blowing a hole right in front of her face against the wall.

Although Carver had indeed been doing better, he was still far from a completely normal man. The blast of the shotgun instantly registered as an act of aggression, which would normally have been enough to make him clench his teeth and struggle with his self-control. This particular act of aggression, however, was directed against this stranger whom he had decided he liked. The smile vanished from his face.

Silence settled on the barroom, by now Carver was alone, hidden in the corner, with his pretty stranger and the bartender. Crackling through the dusty quiet, the television announcer sang out an accurate description of the pretty girl who had captivated Carver.

"Hey you's that girl on the tele!" The barkeep shrieked.

James was an outlander, true, but he had lived his entire life as a fugitive, aside from his weeks in captivity, and knew the effect a bounty had on the general population. Especially the under-classes.

"How astute." Vivi remarked as the barkeeper wrenched at the slide of the shotgun, ejecting the spent cartridge and readying another. Luckily for the frail little girl, his cautious aim was upset by the glint of a heavy pewter mug crashing into his jaw.

"What the fu-" the fat, dirty man burbled through a mouthful of blood and bone fragments, before his comment was cut short by a heavy wooden chair mashing his head into the wall behind the bar. James had been planning to leave anyhow. He emptied the cash box and headed out the front door, not even sparing a glance for the woman whose life he had probably just saved.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vivi blinked watching the events take place, part of her was thankful for the common theif, and the other part wished he would have kept to himself. With her avenue of escape mapped out she quickly gathered a bit of food and drink and rushed out into the street.

She could bare make out the man who'd saved her. She wasn't going to assume he saved her for a reason, perhaps it was just the right time to make his move and in doing so she had been spared. "That's it." she decided on the excuse and walked purposefully down the dirt road.

She kept her gaze on the man as he wove himself through the streets, traffic and other passerby. Where was he going? She wondered licking her parched lips, she covered herself tightly with her cap pulling the hood over her frame to keep out of sight.

Blinking once and the man was further down the road. Blinking twice and it was almost a pain to eve keep up. On the third blink he was gone. She whipped around looking this way and that but no where was the man. "Figures." she said softly, holding her spoils to her protectively she continued down the road making distance between the bar and herself.

She ducked into a dark alley way, sliding down the cool brick wall to sit on the ground beneath her. Sighing she took the time to eat her spoils, some cheese, bread and a bottle of wine to wash it down with. It wasn't much but it would do. Once she finished up she saved a bit of cheese and bread pocketing the items and making her way down the road once more. She wasn't looking for that man but for some reason she just knew he was nearby, the only question remained. Where exactly was he?

 

[Geryon]

Carver began to think the girl from the bar was more of a nuisance. She wouldn't get out of his head, and every time he thought he'd lost her, a flash of green curls would appear in the crowded street. No matter how he turned or twisted, she always seemed to be right there, almost teasing him.

Several minutes of strolling, admiring the wares of various storekeepers and street hawkers finally managed to wrestle the thoughts of the curious girl into some sort of control, and Carver managed to come to the conclusion that he needed to leave as soon as possible, before the bartender was found, if it was still possible. With a determined grunt, he started off down the street... and realized he wasn't sure where to go. He wasn't familiar with this city, or any city, and couldn't remember where he had entered or how to get back there. He decided that a city was a clump of buildings in the middle of the wilderness, and that he therefore would be able to find his way out by following the roads... they had to lead out, eventually. Without much confidence in his plan, he marched off through the throng of people, round several twists and bends in the street, packed with people wherever he went. He shouldered most aside easily, and began to concentrate less on the mob and more on his direction. Around the next corner, he ran straight into a dusty cap, which exploded off its owner's head in a brilliant flash of emerald locks. He stared down at Vivi, blinking in surprise for a solid half minute before offering a hand off the ground.

And he had JUST stopped brooding over the woman!

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vivi wiggled her nose looking up past the expand of clothed chest to find the one she hadn't expect to run into, literally. Her green curls fluttered behind her as her golden eyes took in the man before her.

"Oi." she said softly her lips pursing into a simple 'o' shape as she blinked the sun's light from her eye. That began to prove useless so she brought her hood over her hair to hide her locks and block out the sun. This served to hide her features and only her gold eyes were visible through the sun's vibrant glare.

What was she to say to him? What was there they could say? He hadn't saved her life for any particular reason did he? Or was it all a fluke? She had to know and yet she was afraid he might not enjoy her prying questions. Shrugging mentally, she ventured to ask. Doing so she bow softly then returned her gaze to him. "Thank you." she said, it seemed most proper to thank him for her life. However it left her to wonder what was suppose to become of that next...

Then she remembered the broadcast, did he hear it? Was he a bounty hunter after her bounty? She took a few cautious steps back, pulling her cape about her shoulders more firmly.

 

[Geryon]

"Thank you." she said.

This was a bit of a shock, at no point in his memory could Carver find an instance where he had been thanked. This revelation send his mind reeling, as it made him realize that at no point in his memory had he ever done anything for someone else. All this considered, he was quite unsure how to reply. So there he stood, mute and blank, gazing across at the beautiful girl who was apparently becoming more and more uncomfortable.

Oh, the television! Luckily Carver had never cared for money, or he might have been tempted to drag the girl in. No, then it would be back to prison for him... or worse.

"How do I get out of here?" he finally demanded, "Out of the city, I mean... I have to leave." Then, remembering the mauled barman and the TV announcer, "You probably should, too." James was the farthest thing from a social person, knowing little of the intricacies of normal human interaction and actually understanding less. The girl seemed no more comfortable, and James was at a loss as to how to calm her down. "The police... they're after me too. I'm sure there's a bounty on my head, as well. Just tell me how to get away from this place."

 

[Kuuroinochou]

She still remained on egde as she eyed the stranger cautiously. This could all be a trick for all she knew but she had always had the weakness of caring for others; even complete strangers. Sighing she turned away from him walking purposefully to her next destination. "Follow me." she said simply keeping her voice just barely above a whisper.

As she led her companion in and around the city it became more evident that something was amiss. Cops were out more now, trotting about on horse or in vehicle. Such an odd mixture of the two, Western and Tech aspects of old Earth.

She ducked into an alley sliding the stranger behind her as a horse bound cop trotted by looking around. Obviously the barkeep had come too and called the authorities. They were probably looking for the both of them. Great more heat and probably a bigger bounty on her head for helping him. "Who are you?" she asked simply, needing to know the depth of which their being together would cause. It probably wasn't smart to travel with another bounty but if hers were bigger he wouldn't make much of a difference.

As they walked down the streets another broadcast was blaired over the vid-coms announcing the discription and bounty of a James Carver, who was worth 50mil. Both of them together made that 100mil bounty. She stopped in her tracks to look at the vid-screen and then looked to the man behind her. "You." she said rather than asked and continued on, it was then the slimy voice of the barkeep went over the coms. "I was minding my business when someone smashed me over the head. That girl with the 50mil bounty was here, she's in this town right now."

Vivi sighed, "We gotta move..." and as she said that a whistle was blown from not to far away. She turned to find a small regimen of cops making their way on horseback toward her. Grabbing Carver by the arm she began running. "Hurry this way." she wasn't familiar with this city but being a constant target gave her resiliance that others would find baffling. She cut through crowds of people, ducking past buildings and other such odds and ends until they managed to make it to the train yards. "We shouldn't be together out bounty will track too much attention." she said this as she was walking away, leaving him no room to argue. Though she did venture a look behind her at the man...he was rather handsome rugged yes but handsome just the same. She smiled.

 

[Geryon]

Follow me." she said simply keeping her voice just barely above a whisper.

Carver was happy to comply, of course, and not only for the direction. His present company was better than anyone else he'd spent time with recently, even if she was still prickly and suspicious. As they made their way through the city, however, the path to Vivi's trust presented itself.

"I was minding my business when someone smashed me over the head. That girl with the 50mil bounty was here, she's in this town right now."

The devices posted around the town had released the value of Carver and Vivi's capture to the public, and James was unsure how to feel. Either this planet had grossly underestimated his value, or Vivi was just as dangerous as he. Looking the tiny beauty over, he grinned and assumed his presence here must be underappreciated by the local authorities to warrant a reward equal to hers.

A whistle was blown from not to far away. Vivi turned to find a small regimen of cops making their way on horseback toward her. Grabbing Carver by the arm she began running. "Hurry this way."

As she tugged him along, ducking and weaving through the mob, Carver's considerably larger frame bumped and knocked about all the people his smaller companion was able to skilfully dodge. Although this likely created quite a scene, they made good time, eventually coming to a land transport station not unlike some Carver had seen on Old Earth.

"We shouldn't be together out bounty will track too much attention." Vivi said, pulling away from him upon entering the train yard. Carver was suddenly slightly disappointed at the prospect of being on his own again. This girl was very alluring and he had come to enjoy her company somehwta in the short time they'd spent together. He had always worked alone, however, and saw no need for this to change, despite an impressive collection of pretty features and exciting curves.

As she paced away, Carver was about to make his own way onto one of the departing trains when he caught a blur of green hair and the sudden appearance of Vivi's big, beautiful eyes as she turned to look back at him. A cute smile spread across her face, somehow adjusting her features into an even more beautiful and radiant image. It was very infrequently that anyone smiled at him, especially as pretty a smile as hers.

"If you think that would be best," Carver said, shrugging and turning away, trying his best to remain unaffected by her stunning grin, "thank you for your help, anyway. Maybe I'll see you again."

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vi gave the stranger a warming smile and a wave before she melted into the crowd. Hiding herself under cape and hood she wove her way through the throngs of people to find her transport train which would take her to another city; as this one was hot.

It wasn't long before her caped appearance began to draw attention, as one person after another began turn eyes upon her. A random man in the crowd pulled at her cap bringing it from her shoulders to fall at her feet. Dressed in a simple summer dress with a speghetti straps she turned glaring at the man. So as not to draw attention she reached down to grab her cape playing her role cool and calm for they may not have known who she was, and the cape could have fallen on accident.

"Its her!" A shout from the crowd bellowed from a random bystander, and that was all Vivi needed to know as she snagged her cape and made a mad dash. She was stopped almost as soon as she started a hand grabbing fist fulls of her hair and yanking her back to punch her in the gut where she fell to her knees.

She looked up to find a group of towering men smiling. "Aye, she'll make us rich for sure." One man spoke, holding her by her lush pool of green hair. She yelped squinting eyes upon the bounty hunters. They all laughed uproarishly at her expression, as one reached down to pick her up heafting her small frame over his shoulder.

"Put me down...please just let me go!" she cried, pleading for release. The man laughed slapping her backside before plowing through the crowd his friends in tow. They made their way past Carver where she turned pleading eyes upon the stranger begging for his assistance. It was only fair she helped him didn't she?

 

[Geryon]

"Put me down...please just let me go!"

The cry reached Carver's ears over the din of the crowd, and he turned slowly, hoping he was wrong about the shrill voice's similarity to Vivi's.

The man laughed slapping her backside before plowing through the crowd, his friends in tow. They made their way past Carver where Vivi turned pleading eyes upon the stranger begging for his assistance. It was only fair, she helped him, didn't she?

Carver let out a long sigh, gazing into the pitifully helpless eyes of the green-haired woman being carried like a sack. Before the man could drop the hand he'd use to smack Vivi, Carver was holding his wrist in a thick, massive hand. Before the fool's friends could realize what was happening, Carver twisted the kidnapper's arm behind his back and, with a terrifyingly calm demeanor, yanked his wrist straight up in the air with the sound of tearing tendons. The fellow let out a shriek and dropped Vivi, cradling an arm dislocated at a crazy, sickening angle. The girl scrambled to her feet as her assailant's companions slowly realized what had just happened. Luckily Carver's impressive size, combined with their ringleader's even more impressive injury convinced the men to make themselves scarce in as short a time as possible.

"You alright?" grated Carver, walking calmly over to Vivi and casting cautious glances at the surrounding mob. "That's two to one, you know... you owe me."

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vivi looked up a soft expression on her face. "Yes I'll live." she said her heart still beating fast. She looked around frantically calculating just how long they had before those thugs collected the attention of the authorities. "Well I'm about to save your butt again... come on." she said taking him by the hand and jumping on the transport train before them. There was no telling where it was going to go but any city other than this one would be great.

As the doors closed whistles were blown as the cops came into play but there was no stopping the two as the train blew its horn and began its departure. Smiling she looked up at her unlikely companion, "A proper introduction I suppose is in order...though you arleady know who I am. Until things settle down call me Tera." She said readjusting her cape which she managed to snag during the commotion.

"We need to find a place to lay low, the'll be looking for boarding passes and I don't have mine. What about you?" she asked, making her way to the private carts. Once there she found a vaccant room and slide within, allowing Carver to follow.

Taking a seat she looked out the window happy to find the city flying past which soon turned into nothing but desert wasteland. In between each city was nothing but desert, mostly cowboys lived in these barren lands. She looked out boredly turning to Carver who was silent for the most part ever so often.

 

[Geryon]

Carver followed Vivi... or Tera, on to the departing train, barely even hearing her introduction. "Hardly..." he thought to himself, "I could have jumped on a train quite fine on my own..." but accompanied her to a vacant booth in the more comfortable section. "I don't think I've ever even seen a boarding pass..." he murmured, eyeing the other passengers wandering around.

Taking a seat she looked out the window happy to find the city flying past which soon turned into nothing but desert wasteland. In between each city was nothing but desert, mostly cowboys lived in these barren lands. She looked out boredly turning to Carver who was silent for the most part ever so often.

"So, Vi... I mean Tera," he said, gazing out the window at the waste, so reminiscent of his old home, "how did a delicate little thing like you come to have such a bounty? 50 mil is a high sum for someone as pretty as you... I thought only gruff, dirty scoundrels like me could cause that much trouble. Did you run away from your rich daddy and he posted a reward for your return?"

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vi chuckled at that question, sure she ran away and now her father has a reward for her, dead or alive. Didn't he hear that part? She wondered.... shrugging she turned gold eyes upon him removing her cape and folding it neatly next to her on the chair. "Actually no. I got the bounty for just being me. I woke up one morning and the next thing I know the sherrif and his boys are knocking down my door. They arrested me briefly but my family at the time managed to get me loose so I ran...been running ever since."

She turned to look out the window a sad smile on her face. "So you see, I want to know just as much as the next person why this bounty is on my head, why its so damn high, and what I gotta do to get it removed...sort of being killed or turned into the authorities." With that said she turned back to him. "So why does a gruff dirty scondrel like yourself have a bounty?"

 

[Geryon]

"So why does a gruff dirty scondrel like yourself have a bounty?"

it was Carver's turn to laugh. "Me? Well, I'm the terror of Old Earth, the sole reason it couldn't be reformed, aside from the dead landscape and semi-toxic lower atmosphere. I was something of a pirate, I'd roll into town and take what I wanted, whether the locals wanted to give it up or not. I've made some nasty messes all across that planet, but the coup de grace came after my capture... The New Earth government decided I had been enough of a pest for too long, and sent a bunch of grunts to get me. Dragged me off to some desert planet with several times Earth's gravitational pull... it was called Pegasus, the biggest, baddest prison in the galaxy. So now, the reason my bounty is so high is that I am sitting here in a train with you, far, far away from Pegasus. All the people I've killed and things I've destroyed don't count for much, I guess, since it was mostly Old Earth trash anyways... thats how the New Earthers look down on our planet. But once I gave them a slap in the face by getting away from their state-of-the art facility, well, the rest is history." He said in an almost bored tone, staring out the window at the sparse, spiky vegetation speeding by. "It's almost too bad," Carver said, turning to gaze into the golden pools above Vivi's nose, "I was hoping you'd be wanted for something exciting."

While James sat conversing with the girl, some member of the train staff came promenading down the narrow hall, peeking into booths left and right to check boarding passes and tickets. He was at the other end of the car, but coming steadily closer. On a whim, Carver poked his head out the door and spotted the fellow. "So what are we gonna do about him?" he asked, ducking back inside and motioning in the direction of the approaching ticket-checker.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vivi listened intently laughing a few times, yes Carver seemed like the troublesome kind while her dull boring life amounted to nothing short of 50mil for just being alive. "I really wish I knew the reason behind it. Would take a lot off my shoulders..." As Carver peeked out noting the ticket man he gave cause for them to worry.

"Well...I have been getting into trouble myself." Standing to her feet she began tying up her hair a little provocatively, her dress wrapped up to show off more than she cared to. But she knew one thing about men, some could resist being seduced. She hoped this man was no different.

"Sit tight I'll be back." Leaving the room she made her way down to the ticket man smiling and giggling ever so often. He seemed to enjoy her company which was fine with her. She took note of an empty room and yanked the man inside. What sounded like sexual noises was in fact a struggle between two people. Eventually the noises died down and Vivi came out a little dishelved but nothing worse for wear.

Returning to Carver she smiled. "All is well." she said as the man emerged from the room and didn't even blink when passing their own. She smiled to Carver then reset her cloths to normal. "While I'm not dangerous; something happened to me on my trip from Old Earth. I don't know what exactly but these abilities come in handy." She looked up into his eyes, gold orbs glowing supernaturally before they returned to a somber hue.

 

[Geryon]

Carver smiled grimly as he watched Vivi tie her hair up, snugging her dress in some secret way that hugged her curves even more provocatively.

"Sit tight I'll be back." she said. Carver nodded silently, his eyes following her tight young body out the compartment door. Several minutes later, a strange thumping reverberated through the wall behind Carver's head, accompanied by a series of stifled grunts and squeals. Vivi's transformation banished all possibility of violence from Carver's mind, and he sat a while entertaining the mental picture of Vivi's racily-tied clothing being torn off, her small body being abused in the most inappropriate ways he could imagine. When finally she returned, a bit mussed, Carver's grim smile hadn't moved an inch. "All is well."

He scanned her head to toe, almost realizing her in a new light. He relished the thought of her disrobed, sweaty form in his mind's eye.

"While I'm not dangerous; something happened to me on my trip from Old Earth. I don't know what exactly but these abilities come in handy." She looked up into his eyes, gold orbs glowing supernaturally before they returned to a somber hue.

Any question of how she had convinced the man to pass them by was erased in watching her eyes light up like golden fires. He had seen strange things in his brief time spent off Old Earth, but this was something that struck him as particularly odd, and apparently it wasn't just him. Carver's smile vanished and he arched a slow eyebrow at the green-haired woman. "That was weird." he grumbled. Maybe her "something" that had happened was a possible reason for her bounty... Carver didn't know anything about such matters, and was reluctant to ask. It seemed the kind of thing that would get him into trouble. He chuckled at that thought, instead letting his mind replay what he believed to have gone down just one compartment wall behind him.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vivi could tell by Carver's expression that he was thinking naughty thoughts, but his expression all but vanished when he reliezed what didn't go down. She smiled leaning back in her seat and chanced a side long glance at the man. "Tsk tsk...you're a naughty boy." she said softly her playfulness suddenly coming to the fore.

"Did you really think I'd take a stranger so suddenly like that?" She didn't expect an answer so opted to look out the window as another city began to show on the horizon. "Looks like we'll be in town within the hour."

Vivi allowed herself to relax fixing her cloths back to normal and letting her tresses fall down her back. In silence she looked her companion over and for the first time the idea of what she might have been doing a door away played in her mind...only it was Carver she might have been doing things with. Quickly she shoook those thoughts from her mind remaing silent least she make a fool of herself.

 

[Geryon]

"Tsk tsk...you're a naughty boy... Did you really think I'd take a stranger so suddenly like that?" Vivi chirped with a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Carver just smirked and eyed his companion in silence. "Looks like we'll be in town within the hour."

Carver was happy to be off the train, despite the... interesting topics it had provided. He found it too stifling, too cramped. He watched Vivi as she readjusted herself, loosening her clothes and freeing the long cascade of violently green hair. Carver noticed a certain sparkle in the girl's eyes, and realized she was watching him. Sneakily. Between the sudden consciousness of her eyes on him, and the tiny, secretive smile playing across her lips, it began to feel very exciting. A few mental scenarios later James was holding a tight-lipped, secretive smirk of his own, gazing out the window at the constantly widening skyline in the distance. He did manage to spare a few passing glances at Vivi as she sat, watching the landscape roll by, which fueled the steamy visions he entertained in the silence of the compartment until the train had halved its distance from the city.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

By now the train had stopped and everyone was rushing to gather their belongings and make their way to the platform landing. Vivi had nothing with her of terrible importance save for her current traveling companion and so she was quick to her feet; reaching over to pull Carver along as she slipped easily through the throngs of people and his bigger frame seemed to push people out of the way.

She stepped on a few toes here and there but didn't stop to apologize or access the damage as she didn't too much care one way or another. By the time they left the train platform her powers on the gentleman on the train wore off. It wouldn't matter though his brain would be too fuzzy to dechipher what had transpired and his mind would all but forget who had accusted him previously.

Letting Carver's hand go Vivi walked leisurely down the busy streets of their new destination. This town seemed more western the the last having no vid-screens to annouce their bounty publicly but instead a jail house were more than likely a picture replica of them would be posted with their bounty. These were the safer towns anyway, people didn't too much reach wanted signs keeping to their own business but it was always good to keep a watchful eye on the folks around.

As they continued on Vi began to feel her hunger pains kicking in, having not eaten in a while her stomach protested harshly with a cramp; the pain bringing her to her knees as she held her stomach. "Cripes..." she seethed trying to get a hold of herself. "I'm really hungry." she looked around not sure of which place were diners and which were bars. A diner sounded good at this point but it was too risky eating at those joints, sides she had no really money for it...hell no money at all. A bar was easier to scrap up some loose morsels but they wouldn't tide her over for very long. She looked over her shoulder at Carver who knelt beside her hands on her shoulder. "I'll be alright I guess..." she said her vision ebbing slightly. She swayed a little on her knees before she could feel herself being lifted into the air as Carver began walking with her in arms.

Rather than argue she looked around with what little vision she could to find a place they could lay low and perhaps get some grub.

 

[Geryon]

As gently as he could manage, Carver lifted Vivi up off the dusty street. "Cripes, I'm really hungry," the girl murmured, eyeing the various establishments dotting the area.

"I have the money from the bar," Carver rumbled quietly as he carried Vivi through the mob, careful to avoid bumping anyone so as not to disturb his precious cargo. "I think we've got enough for some real food," he said, glaring at a passerby who came too close, "unless you think we'll need to make it last." A soft sigh was all that he got out of the tiny woman, so with a slight shrug of his massive shoulders, he ducked into what appeared a low-key diner. With luck, the owner might even have a room for rent. Lodgings would be their next big problem, after food.

Entering the building revealed it to be little more than a large bar, the centre of the spacious main room dominated by a chain-fenced dirt ring, inside which a wrinkly old man was sweeping. The place was pretty empty, thanks to the time of day, so Carver's entrance did not go unnoticed.

The man's eyes widened at the sight of Carver's silhouette hulking through the doorway, resting finally on Vivi's dark face nestled against his chest. James set her down gingerly at a rickety table and stepped into the ring.

"We're from out of town," he began, "it's been a long trip... we're just looking for some food, and a place to stay, if possible."

A thin smile had been spreading across the man's travel-weary face as Carver spoke. "Listen, stranger," he croaked, "I got food and rooms, plenty, but they ain't free. Now, there are two ways payment can be worked out here. I make my money from sellin' food and drinks, mostly, and from the pit fights I run out of this here ring. As you can imagine, the entertainment is the big moneymaker here. Judgin' from the looks of you two, you ain't got much cash, but you're certainly a big, mean-lookin' fella, so I'll make you a deal. You fight four nights a week, you can stay here with your little friend long as you want, meals on the house." The deal sounded almost too good to be true, to Carver, "Of course, I'm sure we could work out... other options..." said the creaky old man, his eyes creeping hungrily over to Vivi.

A few minutes later he was watching Vivi hunched over her meal. not particularly good food, but it wasn't bad and the price was right. He hadn't told her what the food and lodging had cost, only that he had taken care of it. His first bout was that night, he didn't want her to worry.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vivi could only eye the man as Carver talked to him, too far away to actually hear them but it seemed he managed to make some deal or another. Didn't matter to her much considering her food was brought over and she dove in gingerly. The food could do for some seasoning or what have you but she never complained when it came her way, taking seconds she wolfed down her helping and sat back to let her food settle. "I don't know what you did but thanks...I'm feeling much better now."

Carver had managed to give her vague information on their lodgings so they made their way to the room they were assigned. Again there was a lot to be desired, bad food and horrible rooms, a dusty old matress with even dustier sheets. Shrugging it all didn't matter much she'd go down to the well house and wash them, clear out the room a bit to keep her occupied with something to do.

For whatever reason Carver had excused himself to talk to the manager again, so left Vivi to herself. That was fine with her as she gathered the sheets and made her way to the well house. Inside were plenty of women doing their laundrary which worked out good for her as she slipped past them to find a waterwell where she could clean up the sheets.

---
After washing the sheets she returned to the lodging and hung the sheets over the balcony of their room to dry in the hot sun. With that taken care of she began cleaning up the room a bit, dusting, washing and straighten things out. More or less they wouldn't be here for too long but so long as she was in a room it didnt have to be filthy.

By the time she finished her business Carver returned to find her making up the bed; the last of her chores for the day. It was late afternoon by now plenty of time for them to spend the rest of the day looking around town, which Vi suggested.

 

[Geryon]

Carver looked around the tiny room once he got back upstairs. It barely required him to even move his eyes. it was cramped and he took particular notice of the single bed. Good thing Vivi was so small, it would be a tight squeeze. Maybe he would just sleep on the floor. He was snatched out of his ponderings when her musical voice chirped in, suggesting they take a look around town. He agreed, privately thinking it should be better to keep themselves out of public view. Admittedly, though, everyone would soon know his face when he knocked around a few of the local rednecks downstairs. He led Vivi outside, glancing up and down the dusty street, most of the crowd having dissipated.

"So... where to?" he grated, noticing the people slowly trickling into their bar on the way out. Vi gave him a tiny smile and took his arm, leading him off down the packed dirt road, away from the bar.

From the town's appearance, it was well off the beaten path for most people, a small place very out of the way. Many of the buildings were wood construction, fairly feeble thanks to slow winds and hot weather. The law enforcement was comprised of a local jailhouse, home to a pair of lazy-looking officers, supposedly the sheriff and deputy. The single cell facing the street, built into the side of the structure, looked disused. There were small shops here and there, selling things from dried out food items to clothing to beads and guitar strings. Carver hadn't travelled far in his life, but even so he was surprised at the low number of truly alien looking creatures. The human race was dying, they said. Nothing more than a minority. Here, however, they formed the majority of the public. A few eerily pale beings milled around, with red-rimmed eyes and strange teeth, a bit tall and thin for a human but still basically humanoid, and a pair of fuzzy rodentlike creatures sat in front of a ramshackle house. Carver had seen their kind before. "This place doesn't seem so bad..." he said to Vivi as she walked beside him, taking in the surroundings.

 

[Kuuroinochou]

Vivi took a skeptical look around, indeed it wasn't a bad town but there had a lot to be desired, many creatures from other worlds and so forth seemed to find their way in this small area of the world. She unknowingly brushed up against Carver feeling more comfortable and secure in his presence then she had previously thought. She looked up a moment a slight blush creeping her face before she quickly averted her gaze to the scene around them.

A woman pushing a buggy with her child in side passed them by, she smiled politely allowing the woman ample room to manuevor as she returned the smile. They ended up walking around the town twice without knowing it, realizing just how small it was in a spand of a day. By this time dinner was fast approaching, "You hungry?" Vivi finally asked letting out a soft purr as the smell of something good wafted through her senses. She sniffed the air to find a bakery shop having a evening sell. Looking to Carver timidly she pulled on his sleeve pulling him in the direction of the shop. "Lets get a few they look delicious." she said stepping inside to find the manager handing out freebies to the youths.

She went up to the counter shifting around in her pocket for any left over change, but the manager didn't seem to mind and offered her a sweet. "For such a precious face you can have a free treat as well." Vivi smiled bowing politely. "Thank you..." she said and moved out of the way for another customer to get by but was roughly shoved to the side her pastry slipping from her grasp to fall on the floor.

She looked to the pastry forlornly as she noticed massive black boots squeezing the pastry to bits and then she looked up to find a rather interesting man sneering not at her, as she had expected but Carver. Lifting a brow she looked between the two before sliding to his side slightly behind him, "You know this guy?"

"So Ol' Sal gave you a job at in the rings aye? I'm a well known figure here, the current champ and aint no one's going to beat me..." Vi hide a giggle keeping close to Carver as she realized this man was full of himself; he caught her laughing and peered behind Carver to her, licking his lips. "You think its funny lass? Well now, it won't be so funny after I kick his ass and take your ass in long strides now would it?"

Vi didn't flinch at his words but she wasn't happy about them. "If you say so." Was all she replied not wanting to instigate but unable to hold from saying her piece just the same. Tugging on Carver's shirt, "We should just leave..." There was no reason to stay there and with her pastry smashed to bits she didn't have the heart to ask for another. She would return with proper payment at a later time.