The doors creak ever so slightly with a new arrival, and it would take a moment for mortal eyes to adjust to the gloom inside.  Fortunately, the patronage of this place are almost exclusively adapted for such condition, rendering the atmosphere preferential to most of them.  A few lamps provide some amount of light, and revealing the chairs, tables, and clientele to be somewhere just short or further than A Nightmare Before Christmas.  A few chairs squeak, some furtive nods and even a few louder greetings are offered up, and the overall volume picks up again once the new arrivals are assessed or recognized.  A single caw can be heard from above, as a crow stares down.  From behind the bar, with varying species sitting and ordering, a dry and irritated voice calls out, a skeleton in uniform waving a bottle in your direction.

"Welcome to The Funny Bones.  Ya want something, just come up and order.  And no fuckin' tabs for newcomers.  Just 'cuz I have to put up with John's shit don't mean you can get away with it, alright?"

Situated in an opportune spot in Limbo, where many new deceased and others enter, the Funny Bones is a bar and bounty post remarkable in the absolute grumpiness of it's owner and server, Todd.  It's also noted for being the favored haunt of some of the most dangerous and famed bounty hunters-- or rather, in times of extreme hunger, a hunting ground. . .
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:41, Thu 26 Dec 2019.

"Well don't you know how to impress?" Minori teased, slipping her arm out from Johns. She gave the place a good once over before sauntering towards the bar. Her head tilted back to see if the Wedigo would follow. "I'll have a Grim Morrow on the rocks, please." She told the bartender. Presenting a cherubim-like grin. "Shaken, not stirred."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:01, Mon 20 Jan 2020.

The Windigo in question had stopped to remove his hat, jacket, and backpack, the first of which he hung on a spindly coat rack near the entrance.  Pointedly ignoring any stares the regulars gave him with his entrance, he only reacted to the head tilt of his companion, following dutifully behind her and giving her a strangely genuine smile.  Even with his shark-like teeth showing, there was very little hunger in it--there was almost a tenderness to it.  this likely made the scene all the more disturbing for those who knew the bounty hunter in-question.

When he arrived behind his 'date,' he casually slid an arm around her waist, his usually bare and heavily scarred forearms now covered by the full-length sleeves of his flannel shirt, one he had freshly changed into.  Her request got him looking back at the skeletal bartender.

"That'll be on my tab, Todd.  One Burning Bush, rocks for me."  Looking back to the kitsune, he continued "Know how to impress?  No.  Know where to get good drinks?  Yes.  Ya want anythin' else for now?"

"And how much is he payin' you?" Todd asked the Kitsune while preparing their drinks. The eyes in the room growing wide. "Also your tab covers for one, add ons have to come out of pocket." He stated gruffly, not even looking at John.

In moments, he placed two glasses on the counter before them. One was a cocktail; a dark reddish-orange liquid bubbling vigorously with fog, and garnished with a single black cherry on top. The other agitated with swirling vibrant colors in a high ball glass, and decorated with a flaming sprig.

"Enjoy."

"Quite the sum, actually." The woman said, starring up at John. "I suppose I could offer to pay for both. After all.. " She paused, grabbing the cocktail and raising it inches away from her lips.

"You did offer me a good time."

She took a sip. In that second, her eyes trickled down to the other patrons in the room; their mouths largely agape. Minori gave them a wink and looking towards the Skeleton, watched as their spine bent back to let out a laugh.

"Oh, I like her. You're good." They said, the air around them now relaxed. "Todd. Welcome to The Funny Bone, Miss?"

"Minori." She replied, "And thank you."

The comment from Todd got the bounty hunter's attention, and worse, his smile.  The sharktooth grin he had seemed to sharpen and turn almost imperceptibly brittle, even as he accepted his drink , a few tendrils of frost creeping from the cracking wood beneath his boots.  His voice, still flippant and friendly, took on a slight edge.

"Todd-"

And then the damn kitsune opened her mouth, and he could feel the entire bar turn it's collective attention on him and his companion.  The frost evaporated quickly, and Minori could feel the body temperature of the Elder ratchet up several degrees, especially as the quiet in the bar drank in the implications of that statement.

Her grin sealed it, and he forced any sort of crimson that may have begun to spread across his scarred and weathered cheeks and shifted his grin to match hers in confidence.  The little fox, she knew exactly what she was doing.  He swore he could almost feel a few drips of water from his icen heart from the sheer. . .whatever it was she was inflicting on him.  Alright darling, two can play at the lovebird game.

"Of course she's good, Todd.  I'd never take any less than th' best cuts, an' she's th' finest."  He rested his chin on her head for a moment, well aware of how bad it was for one of his kind to make food jokes, but hell- there was no way she was going to want to stick around after this night, so he might as well make the best of it while he could.  Her scent distracted him momentarily as he also added offhandedly "An' no way, darlin'.  What kind'f gentleman would I be if I let ya pay for me after bein' th' one to invite you out?  Oh no, no.  I've got some principles left in me.  Somewhere."  His chest pressed against her back from his position and as he took a sip of his drink, a single quiet, crackling sound could be heard from it, but only for those immediately next to him.  Damn little fox.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:26, Sat 25 Jan 2020.

"With that aside." Todd said, his sockets now finally turned to John. "Tell me, how'd it go?"

The hunter shrugged, the slightest hint of a head shake insinuating the true depth of the story to the bartender.

"More complicated than expected, but with this little lady, we got payed and it more'r'less checked out, right?" He looked down at the slender vulpine who was still not moving away from him for some reason, and the grin was still in place.

"It's th' Guild's problem now, Todd.  And 'sides, I got t' meet Minori on th' job, so I'd call that a real win, wouldn't you?"  The implications of it all hit squarely home into the hollow chest cavity of the skeleton: something was off, truly off, and it was nothing to discuss so openly.  Especially if Mister Winter himself wasn't gonna brag about it.

"Got anythin' ya wanna add, darlin'?"  A soft chime from his phone reminded him that he still had that second bounty he needed to complete, and if he took too long, it would be troublesome.  And then a second chime alerted him to a new bounty, and he turned to look at the poster.

"Cut th' shit, Steve.  Todd already told you the tax-boy is off-limits damnit."

Johns discretion came as no surprise to the Kitsune. Knowing what they did now, and with so many open ears, it made sense to omit most of the details. She gave the Wendigo a knowing smile; shaking her head as she confirmed, “No. I believe it’s as you’ve said, my dear.” Taking another sip from her glass.

"Okay, stop that." Todd said curt, "You're scarin' my customers. And if that's the case, then I guess there ain't nothing more to discuss." The skeleton grabbed a white cloth from underneath and started wiping down the counter. "Hey Minerva?" He shouted across the room to where an Arachne hung below the ceiling. "Take Steve home would ya? I'm cuttin' him off."

"Fuck you Todd!" Another man shouted from amongst the booths. Minori looked over, in her sight was a Gremlin holding fast to their drink. While their feet flailed about like a child having a tantrum.

"Yeah, yeah..." Todd replied, looking towards Minerva. "Web 'im if you have to."

The Arachne grinned.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Sun 26 Jan 2020.

"We're customers too, asshole," the hunter reminded the skeleton.  Still, at least he had the decency to pull his head away from hers and step back a tad.  His arm remained around the kitsune, though.  "An' come on.  Everyone here knows my bark is worse'n my bite."  His smile was now threatening to return its normal smug and intimidating default state, despite his best efforts to the contrary.

Once the gremlin started a scene, though, the Windigo let out a small laugh, and leaned down to Minori's height.  "Table jus' opened up if yer up for it, Minori."

This was accompanied by a hissing noise that quickly escalated to an indignant howl before trailing off into muffled shrieking as the petulant Gremlin was knocked from the chair and went tumbling across the bar to land against a wall, thoroughly cocooned in webbing and with a smiling Arachne bearing down on him.  The Windigo led the way around the new scene, only stopping briefly to exchange some words with the spider woman as she was picking up the problem-patron.

"Thanks fer the table, Mini-me."

"You know it, Wintergreen," came the chirpy reply from the Arachne, as she flashed a quick grin at John.

The hunter was already pulling out a chair for the kitsune when he heard that, and his eyes narrowed momentarily in a slight wince. "She's a regular here," he offered to his companion as a defense.  "Likes ta give nicknames to the other regulars."  The giggling at the potential trouble she had caused could be heard coming from the librarian-turned bouncer.

"If ya want anythin' though, I'll pay at least.  Now uh. . ." The Windigo internally scratched his head as he seated himself once she had settled in.  "I guess we got some things ta discuss.   An' plenty of time ta talk an' get to know each other."  He offered her a weak shrug.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Sun 26 Jan 2020.

"Wintergreen." Minori repeated. Her lips spread into a genuine smile. "It's cute."

She sat down and thanking John for his chivalry, gave a slight nod as he attempted to small talk. "Of course. Though I fear I may not be as interesting." She expressed, resting her hands on top of the table. "Allow me to start, what drove you into a life of the hunt?"

He waved to Todd, the universal signal to keep the drinks coming.  Then her first question caught him, and his smile diminished as he subconsciously rubbed one hand, claws retracted, across the stubble that perpetually worried his face.

"What drove me?"

He tried to think back, and his eyes gained a slightly hollow quality as he did so.  What was it-  there were snippets-  A winter night, the coldest in three-hundred years at least.  There were mountains and dens, there was the expanse of the Wastes and Limbo. There were other figures, faces. Echoes of people past, each one rolling into the other, so many that counting was pointless.  There was flannel, and take me but not them, please Father Winter, you can have mercy, we know you can- he blinked, and any brief hint into the psyche of such a creature as he was shut immediately.  His grin returned as he leaned back slightly, and gave her another weak shrug.

"Sorry ta disappoint ya, darlin', but it's about what ya'd expect from me-  Needed food, needed cash.  Always gotta eat, since I'm such a growing young man-" He laughed, though it seemed like not all of his icen heart was in it, "-An', well, when yer as old as I am, this job's pretty much a dream landin' fer me.  Keeps me comfortable, payed, and stable."  He tried quickly to recover, or perhaps move away from that.  They wanted that, he could tell.  They seemed more insistent on this.

"An' you?  How's a beauty like yerself take up with lowlifes an' thugs?"  He asked, pointing to himself on the last word.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:55, Sun 26 Jan 2020.

There is a moment of silence shared between the two as Minori stares intently into the mans eyes. Another half-truth. She smiled, feigning ignorance as she made her response.

"I would hardly consider you a thug, Mister Winters." She let out a small chuckle. "As for me, I was told I needed to experience the real world."

Her head leaned slightly back to finish her glass.

"Ahh~ You were right. This place does serve high quality drinks."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:53, Tue 28 Jan 2020.

"Flattery'll get ya everywhere, Minori." The Windigo took another drink himself, in an oddly controlled speed and precision.  Even after she answered and seemed to finish off her drink, some of his remained, and he seemed to slow down even more.

"Someone old ya ta experience the 'real world,' an' so that meant bein' a bounty hunter.  Who exactly told ya that? Yer Family? Yer Mate?  Some. . ." He swirled the drink around in his glass as he thought about what he knew about kitsune, and the world for it, ". . .elder in yer clan or tribe?"  Her comment about drinks got a small nod from him, and he took another measured sip.

“Not exactly.” Minori replied; thanking Todd after offering her a second glass. “I doubt there was any thought that i’d become a huntress when said those words, my siblings. The more obvious career choice would be to take up home as a temple guardian, deviant spirit, or maybe a geisha.”

She leaned over the table and flashed the Wendigo a grin. “What do you think? Would I have made a pretty hostess?”
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Tue 28 Jan 2020.

“Absolutely gorgeous,” John agreed with a ready smile, and desperately trying to not imagine her in that sort of position or clothing.  Judging by the slightly increased rate of sound in his chest, which was normally lucky to reach more than a couple soft clicks and cracks every several hours or even days, he was failing.  Letting his momentary control falter, he finished his drink and requested a matching drink to what the kitsune had ordered from Todd, leaning forward after receiving it.  Now incredibly close to her face again, he looked into her eyes intently for a good, long moment, his smile vanished and then returned in a much less confident, more confidential one.

“Absolutely beautiful and ravishing?  Oh yeah, no doubt.  Keepin’ ya entertained an’ happy?  No.”  He took a drink.

“Ya don’t strike me as th’ geisha-in’ type, no matter how damn good at it ya might be.  Ya could, if puttin’ up with me is any indicator,” He gave her a wink at that.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:17, Tue 28 Jan 2020.

Minori laughed. "You flatter me Mister Winters, though your words ring true." She moved back to straighten her posture. "I suppose I should thank Vlad for our meeting then. After all, it was he that begged for my help. Speaking of which--"

She took out her phone to check for any recent messages. "I should make sure he arrived home safe."

---

Minori's Phone --> To Vlad

Minori: Hey, are you alright? :<

---

"I hope you won't mind me being curious, but is there anyone you're currently seeing Mister Doe?" She asked, looking up from her screen to him.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:28, Tue 28 Jan 2020.

The Windigo’s smile relaxed some as she let out a laugh.  When she mentioned the young vampire, he leaned forward more to check her message, a flicker of emotion sparking in his eyes.

“He should be seein’ a doctor first.  I know a decent one, if ya want ta send the kid an address.”  Hell, with any luck, this might get Irvine off his case about his overdue payment.

He was just taking a nice, relaxed drink when the little vixen decided to spring what could only be described as a complete ambush.  Her question caught him so off-guard that he coughed a little from choking on the drink and it froze in his throat.  His body temperature, already dangerously warm for an entity of ice, ratcheted up another several degrees, and he swore that he could feel more of his heart melt as his cheeks burned brightly, making the scars stand out even more.

“A-Am I seeing anybody?”  Restating the question, and with a stutter no less, was surprisingly not doing him any real favors.  Nonetheless, he pushed through it, though without anywhere near his usual level of cavalier demeanor.

“You...may find this hard ta believe, darlin’, what with my good looks and charming personality,” he finally managed, “B-But I am distinctly not seeing anyone.  Totally single.  N-No offense taken, but now I’m curious.  Why, uh, why do ya ask?”  His voice, face, body all were an open, unguarded book at that moment, no half-truths or lies in sight: just complete curiosity and almost...hope.

"That's awfully kind of you. May I--"

The Kitsunes face turned from relaxed to bewilderment as the mans demeanor changed. She watched as his face became colored in red-- wait, was he embarrassed? The stutter that followed indicated as such and Minori couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Talk about a break from expectations.

"You're right." She said smiling. "That is hard to believe. Though not to despair, it means we have more time to spend together. I'd feel awful if I were taking you away from someone else."

She gave him a wink. This was--in all honesty--surprisingly fun.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:29, Wed 29 Jan 2020.

The Windigo’s blush steadily increased as the kitsune replied, the warmth in him fueling more and more of the melting he was now very certain was threatening to turn his existence into slush.

“Though not to despair, it means we have more time to spend together. I'd feel awful if I were taking you away from someone else." How the cursed hellscapes was he supposed to interpret that-  he blinked, the implications hitting exactly at the same time she winked, and the results were everything that a flirtatious fox could have hoped for- the red reached the point that he was practically scarlet, and he broke eye contact to stare at the table for a moment.   His heart was hammering at approximately two-thirds a mortal’s normal heartrate, which for him was the fastest it had ever reached, to his memory.

The little vixen seemed to be pointing only at one possibility, wasn’t she?  Admittedly his track record with understanding females wasn’t exactly stellar— his exes would happily attest to that, the two that weren’t imprisoned or dead, but this had to be as clear as crystal.  Or at least very translucent ice.

He took a few moments more to try and restore at least some semblance of stability to his pulse, and then very, very carefully looked first at the table, and internally winced: nearly the entire thing was coated in a centimeter-thick layer of frost and ice.  He let out a sigh, and then made eye contact with her.  His eyes were as open as earlier, but with a new softness to them.  He carefully laid out a hand on the table, palm up, next to hers, but didn’t move any further.  Scars, weathering, even open muscle and other odd textures showed on it, as he finally got the courage to speak again, this time very, very quietly.

“W-Well ya know what they say about finders-keepers, darlin’.  But...A-Are ya...are ya really, really sure ya want that?  Th-this- I mean...do ya mean...”  He looked at her hand, then his, then back to her, and even through the mass of blushing, managed the softest, most vulnerable and shy smile an elder cannibalistic horror could possibly give.  And internally, he hoped to...well, they all hoped they hadn’t misread her.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:21, Wed 29 Jan 2020.

The fox moved back as the table became nearly covered in ice. Her nerves now slightly on edge. Did she mess up? Perhaps John had taken her words as an insult. Or she had embarrassed him to the point of outrage. If so she needed to apologize this instant before being turned into an ice sculpture herself.

"Uh...Mister Winters I--"

She stopped after noticing his hand rested against the table. Did he want her to take it? Why?



At once a wave of relief washed over Minori. "Oh thank goodness." She thought. "Looks like he's not upset after all." Her eyes climbed up to meet his. It was strange. Despite being an incarnation of winter, there was warmth behind them. But, shouldn't the roles have been reversed? After all it was her that forced them to work together, not the other way around. Maybe she was reading into the situation wrong? No, this was just how people talked to one another.

Wasn't it?

Either way, his help would be crucial in learning more about these "Redhoods." She took his hand and with a smile said. "Of course." Thinking, "I just hope he doesn't mind that Vlad comes with the package."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:03, Thu 30 Jan 2020.

"Times up." Todd suddenly announced, standing at the edge of the booth with a mop. "The suns about to grace the livin'. So--" The man stopped when his hand touched a part of the table. His sockets turning immediately to John.

"Are you--For fuck’s sake, John. Again? Really?" He yelled, turning to walk away.  "I am raising your prices if this continues! Fuckin’ White Silence should be able to pay his way..."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Thu 30 Jan 2020.

There was a period of absolute silence as the Windigo took in her reply, and a series of almost imperceptible changes occurred before the kitsune's eyes.  The smile, still vulnerable, remained, but expanded slightly.  The warmth in the ancient entity's eyes seemed to focus, and combined with the sudden gentleness in so many of his normally predatory mannerisms, made him seem almost mortal.  A remarkably worn, rugged, and rough around the edges mortal with an odd taste for lumberjack-inspired couture and military gear, but an almost mortal nonetheless.

Very carefully, he took the hand he'd left on the table next to hers, and covered hers with it.  She was warm: absurdly, unfairly tantalizingly warm, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his own cooler temperature highlighting the disparity between them.  He looked like he was about to say something more, but-



The Elder Windigo's smile soured slightly as he turned to look at what had to be the single worst display of timing an entity in the presence of the bounty hunter had ever displayed.

"Fuck off, Todd.  Ya know what happens when I get emotional.  Lemme enjoy th' first relationship I've been in with someone tha' isn't a fucking leech or someone trying to kill me in my sleep, okay?  Do ya think you can fuckin' manage that?  Can ya at least give us that much, ya bag of bones?"

It was only after he finished snarling at the barkeep that he seemed to recall where he was and who he was with, and turned red again, the gentleness returning rapidly, along with some sheepishness, directed at the fox whose hand he still held.

". . .Sorry 'bout that.  Moments like this aren't exactly common, an' Todd's always been a wet blanket." He hurled the last bit at the skeleton who was now threatening to raise his prices.

"He's right, though: we sh'd get going.  You uh. . ." He let go of her hand finally, and came around to pull out her chair, then offered her another arm, while with his free hand he picked up his pack and gear. "Ya wanna decide where to next?  I do have another job, but I c'n put it off for a bit longer, if ya ask nicely enough."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:25, Fri 28 Feb 2020.

Relationship? Did she hear that right? No-- of course not! Surely he was just-- the Kitsunes face froze. "Oh no." At once she put on a smile though her jaw felt tense.



"A-actually..." She said, standing up. "I was thinking of calling it a night myself. Wouldn't want you getting sick of me already, now would I? And it's called beauty sleep for a reason."

She let out a small laugh, taking his arm.

"Sick of ya?  Love, th' only way that'd happen w'd be if ya tried shovin' me in th' Black Box."  His smile was the same almost-pleasant one he'd had plastered on that scarred, dangerously warm cheeks of his as he quickly transferred funds for the drinks and a portion of his tab to the irate skeleton, and casually waved his farewell to the other departing regulars.  Giving a discrete middle finger to Todd, he pushed through the doors slightly ahead of the beautiful kitsune, and walked her out towards the GAWIN stop.  Her little stutters were only making it harder for him, but just short of the station, he stopped, and held her hands in his only slightly cold ones.

His smile vanished and his eyes, which now hovered between lupine, cervid, human, and something far, far older and scarier bored into hers.  He was silent for a moment, then finally spoke, his voice a low, crackling one.

"Ya sure ya want this, sweetheart?  Yer still young, ya have plenty of other more. . ." He thought a moment, then continued carefully.  ". . .Appealin' prospects.  An' I'm not exactly th' pinnacle of society of any sort."  He seemed like he wanted to add more, but instead any sort of the emotion from earlier seemed to be held back, replaced more by the last defense he could muster: resignation and simple existence.

"Last chance ta back out from this.  From us."

Minori looked at the man in surprise. He was giving her a way out? Really? Well, that's good! Wasn't it? The two of them just met after all. To rush into a relationship now would-- well, it wouldn't be unheard of for her sisters-- but, she was determined not to fall into the same boat as them. Still, he seemed so happy earlier. Wait-- No. NO! Was she seriously considering this?

"I..." She started, her eyes falling to the side. "Listen, I don't want you to think i'm easy. And no, I haven't forgotten the fact that you are THE Mr. Winters."

The kitsune sighed. "Perhaps things are moving a bit too fast. I mean, why would you want to date someone you only just met?"

She let out a small joking laugh but from her tone seemed genuinely curious.

It was about as they expected-- well, as he expected.  As she broke eye contact, she missed a flash of almost-pain in the elder's eyes. She was right, though-- all common sense and logic were on her side, or at least all mortal and younger senses.  To call it moving fast was being generous.  Then, she asked the question.



He thought about just dodging the question for a moment.  Lying, even if she could sense it, was always easier for him given his. . .condition.  But she'd claimed she didn't want him to think she was easy, and that at least deserved a real answer.  So he sighed, and put a cold, weathered hand on her chin, turning her back to look into his eyes.

". . .Darlin', I might consider ya plenty of things, but I'd never do ya the dishonor of thinkin' yer easy.  Trust me: I've known easy.  Ya aren't."  That out of the way, it was his turn to break eye contact, and his hand slipped off her again.

"As for a why, I'll let ya in on a secret.  When ya get to be my age, ya learn some very real and immutable life lessons.  One of them is that nobody actually likes massive assholish cannibal horror spirits.  So when someone makes ya feel special, makes ya feel like you're not just a massive assholish cannibal spirit, that person is. . .someone ya only find every several lifetimes.  If yer lucky.  And ya shouldn't let them go."  He shrugged, and the moment of complete truth was rapidly closing.

"My uh. . .track record, shall we say?  I've never really. . .found someone like that before.  Story for a never time."  He looked back at her one more time, his eyes hard to read again, and seemed like he almost wanted to do more, say more.  Instead, he settled for putting a hand on her head, and giving one of her ears a rub, before nodding to the stop.  "Ya just said ya wanted yer beauty sleep, so go on an' get it, sugar.  I think yer pretty clear on this one.  I'll see ya later, once I deliver this fuckin' vampire.  Ya have my number."  He turned and started back in the direction of the bar, holding up a hand to wave her farewell.

A pinkish hue graced the kitsunes cheeks as John rubbed her ear. Her eyes meeting his. There was a sadness in the way he spoke, a secrete he had not yet shared-- or rather, was unwilling to. Though she had not the ability to read minds, Minori felt empathetic. She was not nearly as old as the Ithaqua but knew now more than ever, that they were not so different. Perhaps that's why they hit it off so fast because deep down, they were both alone.

As John turned to walk away, Minori grabbed a hold of his hand. Her uncertainty now absent. "We can try." She said, letting her words sink in. "At the very least, we can give this a shot."

The kitsune smiled, letting go of the wendigos hand.

The sudden sensation of warmth on his hands was enough to stop the Windigo, but the sudden tugging got him to turn around, and face the now-smiling kitsune.  He wasn't exactly sure what she wanted or was expecting, even after she spoke, so it was a good thing she let the words sink in.



His eyes widened as he finally processed exactly what she said, and as she let go, a smaller, ill-concealed version of the smile she had seen in the Funny Bones reappeared.  The hand she had been holding slid back up to her head, and with an easy tug, she was pulled right against his chest, where, even through the clothing and layers he wore, she could hear the faintest hint of glacial cracking--a heartbeat. A moment later, she felt the weight of his chin press down on her head.

"Then I guess ya got yerself th' finest bounty hunter in th' business then, honey."  A whale-like call from the GAWIN station got him to look up and pull back from her slightly, though the smile remained.  "But I think yer ride's gettin' impatient, an' I wouldn't want ya gettin' sick of me already, would I?"  He waved the GAWIN in closer, and before offering her help onto the premier transport service of Limbo, stopped her one more time.

He gave her hand a brief nuzzle, and then unexpectedly, took off his hat.  It was an old, clearly loved and worn affair, though the owner still took exceptional care of it.  With it in one hand, he raised it up, and placed it on his girlfriend's head, sinking it down well over her ears and then tilting it up so she could see again.

"Go get yer beauty sleep, or jus' enjoy yer night.  We'll start givin' this a shot tomorrow, okay sweetheart?  And. . .thank you."  He wouldn't say what for, but it clearly held some meaning to him, even as he waved her off, and took one step off, vanishing from sight.

[END SCENE]