The Bostaurus Settlement; Pit Stop!

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Buck would lead the newcomers on into the heart of the Bostaurus Settlement, past many cowpokes of many types. Many of them looked onto the newcomers with warm, welcoming eyes, though some of them found the two of them rather strange looking; possibly because they were the ones that hadn't ever seen their kind before, wherein many of the older ones probably had, since they dealt with the trade more often than the younger ones.

"This way!" he said, reaching a nice little log cabin house with a field beside it. This was the Wilde House.

Joseph, Buck and Mildred listened to the tale in depth as the two kids would bring water to both men sitting down, and also having two tall glasses of milk for themselves, which they'd gathered during the man's detailed explanation of his endeavor. Though the kids remained quiet, they were actually rather fascinated with all of these things that they'd never before heard of, or even thought really existed. It all sounded kinda fantastical to them, but apparently it was true, and that made it all the more interesting.

Milly: Woooow! That doohickey was given to you by a spirit?! That's real cool!

Joseph grunted, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest again, before closing his eyes and contemplating what he'd just heard. He sat thoughtfully for a moment or two, before grunting again, "... Well now! Seems like y'all been through a lot. Sounds to me like y'all need some help." He tapped his hoof on the ground a bit, smiling and opening his eyes, "Weeeeell, I ain't gonna make ya do nothin' y'all ain't wanting to. You are guests, after all. But if ya need ta stay the night, or take some supplies, the Wilde house is certainly open to ya. I'm sure my wife wouldn't mind, since y'all come from so far off and prolly got far ta go." He scratched his head a bit, placing his elbow on his table as he tried to think. It seemed like his thoughts were a little bit strained about some of the things that were explained. "I ain't real good about them whole 'spirits' and whatnot. Can't really right wrap my head 'round that sorta thing. Wish I could help ya out with it, but the best I can do is take ya to the market, or even offer some of the stuff we got here for ya. Feel free to leave whenever y'all are ready, be it today or tomorrow."

Buck: Heh, I wouldn't mind hangin' out witcha, Elliot! Maybe I could show ya 'round the town or--

Milly: NO, I WANNA DO IT, BUCKY!! Y'all interrupted me before I could really get ta talkin' with him. Go talk to that girlie! I bet yer more innerested in her, anyhow! *sticks tongue out*

Buck, blushing, "DANGIT, MILLY!!"

Joseph: Now, settle down, y'all. Ain't polite to our guest here, y'all bickerin and carrying on...

Buck&Milly: Yessir...

Joseph: 'Sides. Ain't y'all's decision ta make. That's up to Mr. Elliot here what he wishin' ta do. He might not even be here longer than supper, iff'n that's when he wanna leave.

It was clear that Joseph, in his age, had gotten more of a level head than when he was a younger Wilde, where he was more or less just like his kids, and his headstrong nature was more than prominent. The years had taught him not to be so feisty, but it was surely still there in him.

Rather suddenly, as if being cracked with an electrical whip, Tzita jolted up and out of her sleep with a gasp of air, like life had suddenly been breathed back into her body. She looked around, seeing that some time had passed since she had first gone to sleep, but not too much; no more than an hour or two, if even that long. She remembered the dream she had vividly, including those words that were said to her in her slumber...

Quote :

"Selfishness is not only simply thinking of yourself more than others, but also thinking of yourself instead of others, or completely disregarding others and only acknowledging yourself. 'Self'ish. Whilst your heart is in the right place when it comes to the spirits, as it is for those around you... You seem to be lacking."

She lowered her lids solemnly, feeling, for once, sort of bad about what she did... And that a spirit had seen her, understood it better than and before she could even notice, and chastised her about it all at once. She felt like a fool... And was embarrassed that she had now clearly seen what type of person she was to others... To the beings that she revered so much. In her shamefulness, she didn't quite want to get out of the bed just yet... She just wanted to sit there for a bit and think about what she'd been through in that dream... and what it all meant. The spirits, especially the ancient ones, were always watching and always around, and to them... she just looked like a selfish little girl. In all her years, maybe that's all she'd ever been... She could barely stand it. (9:49)

"That's very kind of you, but I would need to consult my partner." El was gracious for their kindness and hospitality, but he didn't want to accept their offer just for it to turn out that Tzita wanted to get moving as soon as possible. Gathering supplies, or accepting rations from them was a good idea either way. El had no idea just how long he, and Tzita, needed to travel and this was only for the first spirit. There was a great many others.

He took the cup of water that was for him and drank a small amount of it, before sitting the cup back down. Weirdly, he didn't feel that tried at all, nor thirsty. "I would rather enjoy a tour of the town though, how about we all go together when Lady L'sia wakes up, Buck, Lady Mildred?"

Buck and Mildred both perked up immediately, smiling big and wide at just the offer, before turning to their father, who would take a sip of his water. "That sounds like a mighty fine idea, iff'n ya ask me... Let these two young'n's show y'all our little town. Ya might find somethin' strike yer fancy before ya go."

Buck: Yeah! I can't wait! I hope she wakes up soon, then!

Milly: Yeah! Me too!

Each of them would then, on their own time, sip down their drinks casually, the two kids in high anticipation for a trip outside and the father happy that they could go out of the house and get out all that energy. Since Buck hadn't done too much field working today, he was probably still pretty full of it, and it wasn't good for a boy to not be tired at the end of his day, in Joe's eyes. Waste of energy and a waste of a day, to him.

Before too much longer, the front door would open and through it would come a slightly chunky woman rather modestly gowned in a long blouse, carrying a handful of groceries.


Following rather closely behind, with bags of groceries of his own, was a large, bull-like man similar to Joseph, though more hunched over as if at any moment he could have touched the ground and started galloping on all fours. His hair was white and drooped over his bullish snout, barely revealing his face. It looked like, if he were able to stand fully upright, he'd be roughly the same height as Joseph, though.


Joseph would immediately turn when he heard the call of his wife, rising from the table. "Excuse us one moment..." he'd say to Elliot, before turning to his kids, "Come on, help yer Ma with the groceries..." The two of them would get up just as quickly and rush to their mother, grabbing the bags out of her hand immediately before Joe would come to help his father with those in his.

Buck: MA!! We got some visitors from way far away come to rest up at our house!

Milly: Yeah! They're real nice and sweet-like, and they got funny legs! I ain't never seen their type 'afore!

Joseph: Now, that's enough y'all. Take them there groceries and put em up. Let Ma and Pa talk about it. *Turns to his father* Get on in here, Dad, I gotcha.

The woman and the older bull seemed shocked to hear of visitors at first, but then the woman smiled warmly and turned to her husband, "Well now! Ain't that a stroke of good luck! Ain't everyday we get some nice comp'ny, is it, Joe?"

"Yeah..." he grunted, closing the door behind them and walking toward the kitchen, "They're humans, though, he says. You know the kids ain't seen one of them before... They ain't been out bartering with em, like we do. But this'n's a good'n, so we ain't got nothin' ta worry about..."

She sighed with relief, knowing how humans could be sometimes, "Haaaah... That's good, then. Well now, let me go meet them! Come on, Dad, let's go meet our guests..."

The old man seemed a little gruff, snorting and walking past the two of them, skeptical about the human types. He didn't say much of anything, but he did feast his eyes upon the young man at the table. Meanwhile, Joe and his wife would walk in whilst Buck and Milly tended to the groceries.

Joseph: Now, Elliot, this here is my wife, Elizabeth, and my father, Tank. Y'all, this here's Elliot. He's a human come from faaaar'way lands. I haven't met his partner yet, I hear she was tired and needed some rest... But I figger she'll be up before supper. What Buck says, they needed a place ta rest 'fore they set back out, and they might be needin' some support. I know we ain't got much, but way I see it, iff'n we can help em out, might as well 'fore they get on their way.

Elizabeth: Oh my! Well! I do declare, that is a mighty fine idea! It's a pleasure, Mr. Elliot!

Tank: Hrmmm... How'dyado...?

Joseph: Don't mind my pa, too much. He ain't none much of a talker. Ain't learned too much speech none. Mostly speak in our native tongue. He understands real good, but when it comes ta speakin, well, that ain't his forte, I'll tell ya.

The old man huffed and snorted, as if he were a bit upset about what was said. But didn't say anything about it.

El stood from his seat, as it was only polite to do so, when the new people were finally fully in the house. He wanted to offer to help with the groceries, but Joseph, Mildred and Buck were done with doing so before he could speak up. He supposed maybe he was getting a little tired. He just wasn't actually feeling it.

He walked over to were everyone was gathered, and bowed his head politely to the woman of the house briefly. "Ah Lady Elizabeth, I might have mistaken you for Lady Mildred's sister. You keep a wonderfully tidy and charming home. I felt more welcome in it than I did in my own home." He rose around the middle of his speech before he turned to the elder of the house. "And Sir Tank, I do very well and I think your speech is impeccable."

"Oh my~!" Elizabeth said through a giggle, "He is a rather charming one, and sweet, just like ya said there, Milly!" Tank, on the other hand, grunted through his teeth, "Ain't no need ta flatter. I is wut I is, and it ain't... fancy." He wanted to say 'impeccable,' but knew in his head he couldn't quite form the words to speak it, even if he knew what it meant from hearing the humanfolk talk for so long. He had been herded by them in times past, and he wasn't quite fond of those days. Tank was his 'given name,' and he didn't ever make one for himself. Having a human say it to him again rubbed him the wrong way, and if anything, his son could tell.

By the time Buck and Mildred finished up with the groceries, Tzita had just come from the room, grabbing the family's attention with her introduction. "Well now!!" Elizabeth said in shock, "This one here is mighty fine, isn't she!! Why, you could take HER to market and she'd do mighty well!" Buck and Mildred giggled, whilst Joseph turned a head shyly. Tank gazed at her, however, and saw something different about her... Something that made him feel not only at peace, but strangely intrigued. To her, he would say, in a rather gentle manner, "... Ma'am..." and nod his head politely, which shocked his son, Joseph, who hadn't seen his father be polite to most any human before, and sometimes, not even his own people who looked too much like them. Lucky he loved his grandkids, though, so it helped him not only warm up, but open up to others a bit more.

Joseph immediately looked to Elizabeth, who looked at him in the same fashion, as though they noticed it, too. But they didn't speak on it. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Tzita," they'd say before welcoming her into the kitchen, as well. Buck and Mildred would return to the table to finish their milk, whilst Elizabeth walked further into the kitchen. "I'll get started on supper, then, since everyone's awake! Y'all stayin' that long? Need ta know how many mouths I gotta feed, after all! Don't want none goin' hungry on my watch, no sir!"

El wasn't attempting to flatter anyone, just to pay the wonderful folks a couple comments. They had welcomed him and Tzita into their home and since they, being he and Tzita, didn't have much, besides their words, El wanted to use them. He didn't speak again for a time though, well pass when Tzita came an introduced her, pondering if he should treat the older gentleman like he was used to treating his uncle before his passing. That man didn't take too kindly to compliments either, but showing a bit of hard-work and grit was enough to make good in his eyes. If Tzita didn't want to leave immediately, and they chose to stay for at least a day, then El decided he would help in the fields. It'd been years since he did so, but you never forget the basics.

He stepped out of the gang of people and towards Tzita, as Elizabeth began to speak, and placed a hand to her shoulder before leaning down to whisper, "I need to talk to you privately for a bit, Lady L'sia," before he turned his head back to the family, "I was just about to discuss that with Lady L'sia, not that I would ever willingly pass up a home cooked meal, could we have a minute please?" More than telling her about the offer extended to them, while she rested, and her thoughts on it, El wanted to tell her about Joseph's reaction to the Ankh and to make sure that everything was alright. She seemed different, like something was bothering her, but he couldn't be completely sure.

"Take yer time," Elizabeth said, already getting started, "Won't be ready fer a while, anyhow, so y'all just gone and talk and I'll just fix y'all up somethin in the process." She did all of her cooking from scratch, so there was a lot of things that had to go into the preparation, so they definitely had more than enough time. Joseph, Buck, Mildred and Tank would all sit down at the table and begin to talk among themselves.

(I won't be posting while you talk unless I feel the need to, so skip over me until you rejoin the kitchen or until I post again.)

"Excuse us." El repeated before following Tzita, and stepping into Buck's room as well and pulling the door up a little bit behind him. As he did so, he spoke, "Is everything alright, Lady L'sia? You seem more tired than you were before your rest, if that's even possible." He turned around then to get a look at her as he crossed the room towards the small window beside the beds, right above the nightstand.

"Hmm..." Other than that, El remained silent on it, and what he thought. He tried not to read too deeply into her dodgy speech and ridged facial movements, and turned around to look out of the window while locking his hands together behind his back. "If that's all you want to say, then we'll leave it there. The family is very kind, they offered for us to stay here if we need a place to stay until we find where we need to go. They also offered to help with supplies." El informed her of all the things that had been offered to them while she was resting. He thought it was a good idea to take the family up on their offer, but not to overstay their welcome either. Maybe staying for this solitary night and then moving on sometime around the afternoon of the next day was the best option. Joseph had told him they didn't have much, and El didn't want to impose.

"I think we should stay the night, since we don't have anywhere else to go, but leave tomorrow afternoon. It'll give us enough time to gather information in town about anything strange happening in the area and to gather supplies of our own as well." El stepped to the side and turned around to face Tzita again, "What do you think, Lady L'sia? You are the spearhead of this mission."

As El figured, Tzita had probably been thinking about this as well and knew his plan of action would seem the most optimal. He didn't want to bring unnecessary, and unforeseen, complications to their journey when there wasn't a need to. It wasn't that he didn't think they could handle it, with their combined brain power, but he just knew it would be easier to take the path of less resistance rather than swimming up stream.

Then it happened. Genuine awkwardness and meekness from the legendary one, and El couldn't help but crack a smile. Gently, he walked over towards her, up behind her, and snaked his arms around her shoulders for a hug. It seemed like she needed one, and even if she didn't, El thought she did. "You would have done just fine. They thought you were charming from the first glimpse of you." He released her and stepped out in front and towards the door of the room. "Now, let's get back out there before they think began to get the wrong idea. especially Lady Mildred and Sir Buck. Lady Mildred implied that Buck was attracted to you, and questioned if we had that kind of relationship before trying to seduce me."

El, for once, rolled his own eyes. Whether Tzita was jealous or not, El hadn't the slightest interest in Mildred in that way. Much the same way he was able to, mostly, ignore Tzita's advances, he did the exact same to Miildred. It wasn't that she wasn't an attractive young lady, she was, but El has seen many an attractive lady and refused their advances out of his devotion to his duty. There had only been a couple he'd seen in that way, and pursued to disastrous affect. This seemed like it could escalate to that type of situation.

"Lady L'sia, I'm fairly certain that that term is racist." He whispered to her before they exited the room and he began walking on his own to rejoined the family at their kitchen table. "We decided that we'll be taking you up on your offer and are staying, at least for the night." El announced. Though he'd withheld this bit of information from Tzita, he had made arrangements with Buck and Mildred to visit town for a tour. Tzita would just been dragged along, but he was sure that she wouldn't mind.

The family had been continuously chatting about their day and how they enjoyed the company of the newcomers. Everyone did agree very much that they were nice enough folk and there wasn't a single person in the house that had anything bad to say; not even Gramps. When the verdict was confirmed that they would be staying the night, Buck and Mildred were overjoyed, and even Joseph and Elizabeth were happy. They all expressed their happiness and tokens of affection with kind utterances, whilst Elizabeth continued cooking on her stove. "Well now!! I guess I'll just be making two extra plates of food, then! I was hoping you would say that, so I already started fixin' it. If ya didn't stay, I'm sure Joe or Bucky here would've eaten yer share."

Buck: WOO!! Ain't this a hoot?! Yeah! We're gonna have a blast t'morrow, ain't we, Elliot?!

Milly: Yeah!!! We're gonna show y'all 'round the town and letcha meet our friends... Bet they'll be soooo jealous~!

Joseph grunted pleasantly, a partial moo scratching the back of his throat to show how pleased he was. However, seems like he had something else on his mind. "Well, it's a pleasure, you two! Mr. Elliot, you can bunk in Bucky's room there, and Miss Tzita, y'all can pair up with Milly. I dunno yer involvement, but I just don't want none of that while yer here." Elizabeth turned around, "Oh, now Joe!" He would cross his arms and grunt again, "Weeeell there Bessie, y'know I'm an old fashion type, m'self, so... Y'know I can't just lay aside principles for some strangers." He turned his head to address both Tzita and Elliot, "My apologies, y'all, I don't mean to be rude none, just tryna keep things clean 'round here..."

Elizabeth: Joe!

Joe grunts, scratching the back of his head, "Errr uh... 'Pologies."

Buck and Mildred looked on kinda sad, as well, like they had their own sleeping arrangements thought out in their head if Tzita and Elliot hadn't intended on sleeping together. They sighed heavily.

It was at that point they realized that there were no chairs around the table for two more. They had five for each member of the household, but they were in need of two more for the guests. Joe, of course, was the first to notice, and naturally, the first to say something, trying to make up for his little 'slip of the tongue' only moments ago. Felt it was only right. "Er... Bucky, Milly, g'won an' get them two chairs outcher rooms there and set em down fer our two guests. Make em feel welcome at the table!"

Buck&Milly: Yessir. *Rushes to the bedrooms and grabs the chairs, sets them down* Here y'are, y'all!

El laughed at the awkwardness of Joe's formal instruction on the sleeping arrangements and El himself had no objections to them. He and Tzita weren't involved in that way, though the way they sometimes acted could fool anyone with eyes and ears. He took the seat that was brought out for him and pulled up to the table beside everyone.

"It's fine Sir Joseph, I understand the need for you to be cautious. I was raised and trained much the same way, and Lady L'sia and I aren't in the sort of relationship that would warrant the need to share a bed. I actually think it would be better to be separated."

"Well ain't that the truth!" Joe would agree, happy that Elliot could relate in a matter of thought, "See, Bessie? It don't confront them none; they understand right proper."

"Oh, hush, Joe!" she said kiddishly, shaking her head ass she stirred what was cooking in the pot, "Ain't everyone as old fashioned as you, ya old cow!" They two would share in a laugh, with some snickering accompanied by the two kids. Yet, the older Bostaurus remained fixed on Tzita, finding something about her to be more enticing than just her form; her entire aura was different than El's, and if none of the others of the family could tell, he surely could. His old eyes had seen things in his lifetime, and he was more in tune with spiritual values since he used to live wild and free in the pastures, a long time ago. He was far more in tune with nature, and that was saying something, considering that the Bostaurus' were naturally very naturally inclined. He could sense a similar energy radiating from El, but to a much lesser extent. He couldn't help but to ask about her.

Gramps: ... Pard'n, Ma'am... But uh... Is you... Humanfolk? Y'all don't seem... Humanfolk...

El laughed along with the family for a while before quieting himself. He didn't have anything else to say after that, and it seemed the attention had shifted to Tzita anyway. He wanted to give her the chance to show just how charming she really was, and just turned his head to look at her with a smileto encourage her to continue conversing if they kept asking questions. He had told them what he was, but never shared any information about her.

Gramps: Weeeell, I tell ya... Y'all gotsa feelin' 'boutcha... Ain't like none Humanfolk I done seen b'fore...

Joe grunted, snorting through his nose, "Now, that's enough, Pa! Ain't nothin' diff'rent about these here folk than anyone else." Granted, Tzita did just say that she was a Fae, but he didn't quite know what that meant save for hearing that she was a 'Witch.' Even so, he wasn't going to think of her any differently.

Buck and Mildred, on the other hand...

Buck: WOAH, A WITCH!?! Couldja do some magic!?

Milly: YEAH!! C'mon show us! I wanna see!!!

Elizabeth continued stirring the food on the stove, which was just about done. "Now, now, y'all! Not at the dinner table! And certainly not if our guest don't wanna! Don't be rude, now!" Joe grunted in agreement, "Yes... Listen to yer Ma now, kids. Don't be askin' too much or insultin' our guests."

Buck&Milly, disheartened: "Yessir... Yes'm..."

Joe: And you don't be harassin' them neither, Paw! Ain't polite.

Gramps snorted, shooting a glare at his son, "Y'all don't tell ME what ta do! Ain't I yo daddy?" He huffed and snorted and grunted, suddenly offended by his son speaking to him in such a way. "Y'all don't feel it? That there... Spirit feelin...? They both got it!"

Elizabeth could see that things were getting a little bit rowdy... Fortunately, the food was just about done, so she'd have to cut them off with announcement of the food. "Allllright y'all, settle down, now! Food's just 'bout ready! Come'n'get'it!" She would wipe her hands on her apron and step back, grabbing herself a plate. "We got... Beans and rice... Corn on the cob... And y'all's favorite... Spaghetti~!" From their crops, they were able to make a lot of food from their wheat. There wasn't a bit of meat to be served, though; naturally, considering their species.

Bessie: Dig in, y'all! Got a pie in the over for dessert!

Joe was a bit conflicted about how he was feeling, wanting to be polite for his guests, yet also wanting to be angry about how his father was acting. However, he let it be, for when his wife called that dinner was served, he was more focused on getting his meal than starting a fight with his father. He remained silent, but the family knew there was a bit of tension. They could always tell with him. Buck and Mildred also stood up and fixed their plates, but Gramps seemed to be still fascinated with Tzita.

Gramps: What's that strange feelin...? Like... Like the pastures...?

His eyes were affixed to her chest; not because of her breasts, but because of the Ankh that was there. Something about it entranced him...

(Yeah I had sent you a PM and responded to your email, but don't worry about it now.)

El got up when they were alerted that they could eat and went to make a plate for himself.