It's Thursday. *flop*

[socrowdedinhere]

Master: *shifts to put a hand on WJ's arm* I'm sorry.... *that he's been through that...*

WJ: *faint flinch . . . but gives the man a small grin as he looks back up at him*  Heh . . . I'd say the past is past 'cept that it keeps sneakin' up on me when I'm not lookin', ya know?  *sighs*  Anyway . . . how 'bout we round everyone up an' head back?

Master: *nods at the police station* Looks like everyone is just wrapping up in there.

*Sure enough, the last of those that had been pulled in for questioning have gathered in the lobby and are just heading for the door.*

SZ: *steps out first, giving Zisheri a /grin/ and well wishes, and then giving WJ a HUG too...*

*The others come out, ready to go*

WJ: *being more careful of the man's injuries this time, he HUGS back, /soooo/ glad to see him okay!*

SZ: *grins around WJ at Bee*

Vashti: Shall we go?

Bee: */grins/ back, then nods to Vashti*  Yeah, let's get these guys home.

*Nods all around and they'll head out, Zisheri tucked to her father's side. When they finally get back to the farm Zisheri will find her arms full with her little brother. She HUGGING HIM, and he's CLINGING back, sobbing against her shoulder that he's been so worried for her. She soothes him as best she can, crying softly and glad he's safe.*

*The mech!Amin will keep to the side, out of the way*

Master: *watches his children with a look on his face that makes it /clear/ just how much he loves them...and finally turns to the others* Thank you again, for all you've done. I will never be able to repay you what you've done for my family.

WJ: *concerned frown*  Well . . . from what you were sayin' earlier, it's not over yet.  Not by a long shot...

Master: ....It's hard to say for sure. I can't do much about bandits, but it's impossible to know how the trees will do in the next harvest...

Vashti: ...Not impossible. .....Allow us rooms for the next two nights, and your orchard will be the finest producing orchard around.

Master: ?? My lady, you can have of me whatever you wish. The rooms are yours. But...what are you going to do?

Vashti: *smiles* Make sure your trees are healthy...

Master: ?? *looks at the others*

Bee: *not surprised - he'd hoped to ask that of her himself if it wasn't too much trouble . . . just nods*  How long you think it'll last?

WJ: An' what about the increasin' numbers of bandits?

Vashti: Not much can be done about bandits. You will want to hire guards to watch over your orchards. *smirky little smile and gives a nod....Tyli and Amory step up and put down the sacks of money* Use it wisely.

Master: *just....gapes....*

Zisheri: *laughs! Life Light, this is wonderful! And HUGS her brother tighter.*

*The mechs just /grin/.*

Bee: Still . . . maybe I should do some scounting around?  *just in case*

Vashti: Do as you wish, but there is no telling if these bandits are all in one group, or opertunistic travelers, or just scattered vagabonds. You may not find much. *but she won't tell him not to, or that doing so is stupid.*

Comments

[dragondancer5150]

Bee: *shrugs* If the numbers have suddenly been getting higher in recent years, seem maybe either something's drawing them here, or they've been driven here by something else. Worth looking into, at least. I'll head out later tonight, see if I can learn anything.

*wonders if DW is being nice because I have a wifi connection here...*

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: It could not hurt to look into.
Master: ............why? Why are you helping? I don't understand. *absently wraps his wrm around his daughter when she come up by him, and rests his other hand on his son's head when the boy comes to stand before him. But his attention is really on his guests.*

IDK =/

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: Because you need it, an' we can. Because each of us, someone helped /us/ when we needed it.
Bee: *hand on WJ's shoulder* And because you took in and took care of one of ours, and were willing to give him back to us even though it'd cost you.

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *nods and smiles* Your moral view of the races helps too.
Master: *snugs his daughter a little closer, looking around at everyone...he steps away from his children and to a place before the general group before bowing deeply to everyone* Thank you. I will never be able to repay hour kindness, but I will try, you just have to say what you wish of me.

Could have /made/ myself go...but for about a half-a-gas-tank's worth of pay, feeling like-

[dragondancer5150]

((-this? Yeah...no.))

WJ: Heh...safe place ta stay till we're gone? *said with a /grin/, but then he steps up and coaxes the man up straight with a hand on his shoulder* Ya ever heard of "pay it forward"? Be willin' ta reach out an' help others in need. That's the best way ta repay us, "pay" it ta others. Regardless of race.

*nodnod* *snugs*

[socrowdedinhere]

Master: *straightens easily, the look of a weary leader back in his eyes, but also hope, pride, and gratitude. He’s tired, but he’s got hope of being /able/ to stand now. He nods* That, I can do.
Vashti: Then that is all we ask.
Master: *smiles* That and some rooms and hot meals. Come. *will lead them to a long house with a number of rooms...it’s not the best of places, but then this is a farm, even his own rooms aren’t very big or lavish. This is where hired workers could stay if they had no other home or home was far enough away that they’d just stay for a while before taking a trip home. Most of them are empty right now too, seeing as he’s had to let go of many of his workers, and hasn’t had the money to really be buying too many slaves....* I hope these rooms will be sufficient for you. My lady, my personal rooms are open to you if you prefer.
Vashti: *shakes her head* These are more than fine. Thank you.
Master: *nods* I will let our cook know that we have guests. Please, make yourselves at home.

[dragondancer5150]

Bee: *to Vashti* I'm going to lay down for some recharge. *since he'll be out most the night, likely*
WJ: *catches Master's arm, a /sheepish/ look on his face as he remembers and holds up his wrist* Oh, a-an', ah . . . this? *in the confusion of everything else, he still has the slave bracelet on*

[socrowdedinhere]

Master: Oh, yes. *points out the small....well, likely a little storage hut* Gosner is in there, he can get that off for you. *he’s kind of really glad now he never did the branding thing...didn’t have what he needed for it, and didn’t like the idea of hurting someone like that.*

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: *IS GLAD TOO - nods* Thanks. Do I need anythin' from you ta prove ta him it's okay?

[socrowdedinhere]

Master: *shakes his head* You should not. If you do, let me know.

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: *nods* Thanks. *will head over*

[socrowdedinhere]

Gosner: *is an elderly J’har man. He’s got one of the bracelets on too, and is digging around for something in the shed. WJ may or may not recognize him as the same man that put the bracelet on him. He was rather withdrawn then* Oh, hello, sir.

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: *he...y-yeah, the memory is vague at best, few to no details . . . he gives the man a small grin* Hi. I've, ah, come ta get this taken back off...? *holds up his wrist*

[socrowdedinhere]

Gosner: Ah yes. *nods* You’re the one that helped save Miss Zisheri? *If WJ has learned much at all of the aging of J’har.....it says a lot about this house and the family it’s belonged to for generations, that this man actually looks to be in his late 70’s* *waves WJ over as he moves to find some different tools*

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: *probably really /doesn't/, honestly...nods and crosses the room to wherever indicated* Thanks. Um . . . I'm Jack, by the way. We . . . didn't really get ta properly meet before. I'm sorry.

[socrowdedinhere]

Gosner: *gives his arm a pat before positioning it on the table so he can get the bracelet off* You weren’t in a state to be meeting anyone. I’m glad you’re doing better now. I’m Gosner. And Thank you, for helping Miss Zisheri. I’ve been with this family since the Master’s grandfather was a child, all of them mean a great deal to me, the children especially. *with a tool and some leverage that would be impossible to get on your own, he pops the pin out of the bracelet and it easily opens* There. *he takes the bracelet and the tools to go put them away*

Sorry...thought I'd replied!

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: Really, so long? Wow... *as the bracelet's removed* Thanks. An' no problem. For as much trouble as I know I've been, everyone's been really good ta me, an' Zisheri's a /really/ good person. I'm /really/ glad we've been able ta help.

Np. =3

[socrowdedinhere]

Gosner: *soft laugh* I’ll be two hundred forty-seven in a few months. *gives WJ a grandfatherly grin* This has been a good family to serve, it’s been my honor to see so many generations grow and prosper.

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: *nods - he's /heard/ how long J'har can live...if just given half a chance rather than be beaten and tortured into an early grave* I'm glad you've had a safe an' lovin' place ta live. Hopefully, with what we're - me an' my friends - with what we're doin' before we head back to our /own/ home, there'll be many /more/ generations get ta live an' grow here.

[socrowdedinhere]

Gosner: That would be wonderful. *gives his arm another pat* It was good meeting you, lad.

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: *catches the hand for a shake* You too, Gosner. Take care an' thanks again. *will head back out to rejoin the others*

[socrowdedinhere]

===

*The group settles in, Bee napping, the others chatting and hanging out, planning maybe. Larend....isn’t quite so upset about WJ leaving anymore, but he /will/ pester the Amin-mech until he plays disk with him again....and again, and again. At least a good two hours of play, mostly tossing the disk, some games of chase, or hide-and-seek, and other such things. Zisheri will join in sometimes and will constantly thank /all/ of them...it’ll be a good day, and soon it’s time for bed, and time for Bee to head out...*

[dragondancer5150]

WJ: *will play /some/...but really he's still in a LOT of pain, though he won't say anything about it, but he's /more/ than happy to play off and on in spurts as he's able*
Bee: *won't ask anyone to go with him but certainly won't turn it down either - another Amin, one more experienced and trained in his organic senses would be a welcome help . . . either way, he'll head out once it's full dark*

OMG! I'm starting to be able to see my desk again! *had no work, is cleaning her desk, /finally/*

[socrowdedinhere]

Sirrah: ......*will apologize. She needs to take care of a few....personal things. She’ll not be joining Bee tonight.*
Terris: *is going out with Bee. It’s better to be in pairs anyways, and Terris is an amazing tracker/hunter, more so than Amory or Tyli since he /does/ live out in the forest and not within out manor/house/city/town.*
*They’ll move along not finding anything out of the ordinary for a good long time. It’s very late when they come across a trail that could be promising.*

YAYYYY

[dragondancer5150]

((Heh...WJ won't ask her again - ONLY did the first time for Zisheri's sake, so he'd be more effective - but will Vashti approach him about healing him? =3 Ooooh, and the others don't know SZ's an altered mech too, yet!))

Bee: *is fine with that, just bids her to be /careful/ - easily follows Terris, stealthing along with him*

[socrowdedinhere]

((Since they know what she is and what she can do....yes, she’d have healed him if he wanted, and she’d offer to heal what she could of Zisheri’s wounds too, making it clear that bruising and the like will just have to heal on their own. And I’m sure it was talked about, though Bee wouldn’t know any more details than he does now (SZ was a mech, and his name. They never really got a chance to talk much because they were looking for WJ and then for Zisheri and then Bee came back and went to sleep.)))
Sirrah: < Do not worry for me, Ish’ip. There is very little in this world can harm me. /You/ be careful... >
Terris: *Is good at moving silently, and they’ll follow the trail*
*it goes out a long, long way, going from orchard, to field, to forest, and deep into that. There is evidence that this trail is used often. Just before they manage to find anything definitive, an arrow will stick into the ground by Bee’s foot, then another by Terris’s and two more between them. They’re warnings to not move.*
Voice: You move again and the next arrow fired will be in your throats.

[dragondancer5150]

Bee: */freezes/, listening hard and looking around - he's been shot at enough times to recognize warnings from misses*

[socrowdedinhere]

*A number of figures move through the shadows to surround them, all with weapons trained on the Amin. They’re dressed in dark clothing from head to two masking any defining features, though it’s clear they’re all either Human or J’har. A few will approach with ropes, intending to bind the two Amin*

[dragondancer5150]

Bee: */tenses/, ready to fight or flee* Okay, hang on. We're just tracking bandits. If you're not it, we'll leave. *is guessing they're not just by the fact that J'har are operating as equals alongside Humans* We're not looking for trouble.

[socrowdedinhere]

((He can't tell if they're J'har or if they're Human, or if they're a mixed bunch. Would that change anything? They're basically all dressed like ninja. Only eyes are actually visible.))

[dragondancer5150]

((Yes. If he can't tell, he'll have to assume bandits. If Terris doesn't stop him, he'll fight to make an opening for him and Terris to flee. And yes, he'll be willing to take injuries to escape.))

[socrowdedinhere]

*Bee moves, and so do the people in black. Bee will take an arrow to one leg, and a number of cuts before he’s finally tackled and bound. He managed to knock out three, and wound four others...or may be fatal. Terris also fights, but he too is overwhelmed, and despite taking down a number of them himself, he too will be tackled and bound. They won’t be pull back to their feet, but rather turned onto their backs with their hands and ankles bound to poles, men at each end will pick them up and carry them away.*

[dragondancer5150]

Bee: *FIGHTS, /growling/ a few insults, but goes /quiet/ as he's overwhelmed . . . testing the bonds and attentive for ANY advantages or openings at all*