just for you Chris
Last contribution before the weekend..
After their trade was done, the companions went back outside and walked over to the villes rooming house to setup Ryan and Krysty for a few nights, and give them time to visit. They traded some more brass for 3 nights in one of the bigger rooms. Hot water was piped in from a roof cistern, and oil lamps were provided. The door had a good solid lock on it and once again J.B.’s handiwork was evident. They got settled and had some time to sit and chat. Kris had to go off and report for his sec shift and promised to stop by later. He left the room with a kiss on Rain’s cheek and a stern look from Ryan at his back.
“So, what is that all about?” Ryan accused of Rain. She sighed, slumped back in her chair and looked him squarely in the eye. “He is the nicest and most kind person I have ever met, and has a real good fighting spirit. He has taught me some good blade moves. And besides, he is real cute! I love him and he is completely loyal to me. And before you get all suspicious, it took 2 months for him to admit he liked me and I had to kiss him 1st!” “Ryan’s face turned beat red at the flurry of her rant, and felt even slightly embarrassed at his thoughts about this situation. To know his daughter took advantage of Kris and not the other way around was surprising, but not out of character. She saw something she wanted and went after it, as he would have. But the thought of his precious daughter and this boy was making him overprotective. “Don’t you think he was cool and slow about it to trick you? All men want the same thing, a good blaster and a roll with a hot woman. No difference now or 1000 years ago.” “Dad. I know what I am doing. I would not have let him near me if all I thought he wanted was my body. We talk all the time, he protects me, likes me for who I am as well as what I look like. We are comfortable around each other and he has never shown anything but kindness and interest in me. Usually when I meet someone they want to hear about you and mom. But with him he only wants to talk about me and us, and his dreams for the future. He is kind and sincere, I can smell bullshit a mile away.”
Krysty let out a whoosh of air from her lips. “All we want is your happiness and well being. Your dad and I trust you, but you know we always want you to be safe. If this boy makes you happy, then we can accept it, in time. For us you will always be the little 5 year old that started asking about blasters and how you would never leave us. It’s hard for us. We’ll give him a fair shake, and know you will make the right decisions. I was younger than you when I was with the 1st man I cared for. So I have nothing to say for that. Be careful, be safe, and watch out for him if you can. Your dad and I have a bond no one can break, and we wish you that kind of love too. If you have found it in this boy then it will only make you stronger.” “I have mom. He hasn’t made any false promises like other men have in the past, no grand schemes or thoughts of being a Barron and all that. He has looked after me and I can see it in his eyes and his actions he truly cares for me and my well being” “Ok good, I’ll talk to him and see what he wants to say to me and then I’ll let you know what I think. For now I’ll trust your judgment, but it’s hard for me to see you giving your attention to anyone. Is that understandable? “Ryan asked. “Oh of course daddy! I wouldn’t have it any other way!” And Rain walked over and gave her dad a hug. “I have to go prepare for classes tomorrow, so I’ll see you later for dinner?” “Sure, we’ll meet you then.” Ryan said. Rain left and Ryan and Krysty were left alone in the room. “She has turned into some woman eh lover?” Krysty asked. “Yeah, I just didn’t think she would grow up so fast is all. The world waits for no one I guess” Ryan sighed.
Rain had gone back to her room and when she got there felt bad for not inviting them over to see it. Not that her room was much and all. And she did have school work to do. She realized how much she had missed her parents but also how much she had grown while she was here. A ville person who commanded a lot of respect, and her studies were going well. Too well almost. She knew more than most of the other students because her parents had educated her as best as they could. Most of the basic language classes she had no trouble with of course. And her combat stuff was of course 2nd nature. It was the other classes she truly loved. Working on machines and learning skills like building wooden structures, maintaining the heavy weapons of the ville, and her frequent field trips to Dan’s shop to learn how to build the stuff the ville needed really got her attention. She felt as her time at the Brody school was benefiting her, but was looking and hoping for more. The term was about 2/3’rds over. Every student either left after the warm season to go help at their homes or to go seek warmer places during the winter. Her parents had picked where they lived carefully. It was southern enough to be warm in the winter months and not see too much snow. But not be bastard hot in the summer. J.B. had said they were in the former state of Kentucky. The soil was fertile and some in-land lakes had formed to give them fresh water close by. The Appalachian’s shielded them from any real bad Lantic storms, and because they were not near any of the bigger cities they nuclear strikes hadn’t come very close, so there were no real bad hellzones. The area made it a good place also for the redoubts, and that was why they had several near them and to the school. Being near enough to the middle of the former US had put them on the trade routes but out of the way enough to be left alone. Rain had seen a good part of deathlands in her time and wanted to see more. And when her studies weren’t really taxing her, her mind wandered to the places her parents talked about. She wanted to travel and see how the land was recovering. By herself, a trip was really out of the question. With no backup, or no one to take a watch at night, she was too exposed to attack and was defenseless when she had to sleep. But with Kris now in her life, her thoughts wandered to travels outside of where she had been. She trusted him, and had been thinking for a while about asking if he wanted to head out for an extended time with her. With her parents here she would ask them what they thought. She knew the answer; they’d be very worried. But she was really starting to be her own woman now and could do what she wanted. The rebellious side of being a Cawdor was coming out, and it was forceful! She turned her attention back to her work and planned to broach the subject later.