The woman looked at him as he bowed to her respectfully and she had to pause, almost lke it was a joke in some fashion, she eyed Charging Bear for a moment before lOwering her head, her hand coming away from the pummel of the sheathed blade.

"..Os da sunalei.. Da qua dov Gangatsu." The woman started with greeting him, once again, yet this time in his native tongue. The asian knew Cherokee, it wasn't clumsy or slow, she understood what she was an introduction. She watched his face to make sure he understood what she said. Last thing she needed was to speek to the Native Son and he not understand a word of what she said. Some people think that's funny, but it's by being forced into the chinese society that she even knew how to speak it.

" That doesn't sound good, Them dust adders attack the town trying to drive Evans and the deputies out of town. I still got the dynamite from 'em trying to blow out the Grand Bull Saloon. The Marshal's office is gone, blasted to dust... And it gets a little crazy after that.. Ya know your voice, 'ight? Your heritage tongue. I'm gunna need someone on my side if I have to stay here long and I don't want to say all this out loud, 'speically wid this..." Lifts her chin slightly to Alouette. " Around... Might be harmless since yer eatin near it, but I dun't mess with machines.."


[Translation: Good morning, my name is Gangatsu.]

In reply to Dr. Dexter Ward (msg #43):

Augustus' eyes widen a little at the mention of Charging Bear being an officer of the law.  Maybe he never knew it, maybe he simply forgot.  Either way, he feels the need to loosen his collar a bit.  His hand scrapes against his face, finding it quite rough.  Happy to find a new topic, he offers, "I must look a fright.  With all the excitement last night and waking in a laundry, I haven't had a moment to clean my self up.  My apologies, sir.  This is no way to arrive at a host's breakfast table."  All true, but more likely just an easy way of steering the conversation and, perhaps, allowing him time to himself to consider his options...

"Ah. Of course. If you feel the need to freshen up, there is a powder room just upstairs. There is a quite competent barber in town, if you require his services. however, I must say you are in a better state for all your adventures than most who dine at my table. The Dust adders have shockingly poor table manners." Ward sips his orange juice.

"It was a damned soul wearing ash and dust," Alouette supplies. "Danny Albatross stopped moving and the cattlehands wanted to burn him or put him in he pit where the bodies are buried...self instructed: too much risk of contamination, sickness, witchcraft...so he is in the cold food room now and Dr.Ward says he wants an or-top-see before he lets Danny Albatross go to the church."

It looks up at Gangatsu, clearly hoping she'll change the doctor's mind. "Danny Albatross should go to the church, Fox With Large Knife," it says, recognising her now it can see under the hat. "-he needs to rest properly."

It cranes to see if Gangatsu's got anything. "Self is angel...what is dynamite? Where is Ambrose? Are you a man or a lady? ! "
The automaton finally notices the now impressive collection of ants on its sunwarmed surface. "Howdy, ant! ...ants...many ants..."

OOC: Sorry for the delay, my weekends tend to be full and this past one was no exception as I was working Staff at AWA (Anime Weekend Atlanta)

Charging Bear arches an eyebrow at Gangatsu's use of his native tongue. Replying in kind, "Good morning, Gangatsu. My name is Charging Bear and yes I know my voice"* it is obvious that this is his native tongue as there is no pause in the phrasing or words. He smiles, "But perhaps English would be best with Alouette. I heard some of what happen when Dr Ward's men returned last night, late."

Look back to Alouette and the ants makes him glad not to have them on him. "Alouette dynamite is an explosive. Ambrose is still in town and Gangatsu is a woman. Now stay there please, I'll get some water to help remove the ants, as I'm sure Dr Ward doesn't wish for them to be inside his house." He looks to Gangatsu, "Come let's see Dr Ward, and did you want something to eat?"


OOC:
*I've little to no knowledge of Cherokee/Tsalagi language and have no desire to butcher the language... so True-Type brown is used instead.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Mon 20 Sept 2010.

At the offer of the chance to clean up, Augustus smiles gratefully, "Thank you, sir.  I really do appreciate it."  He glances down at his remaining food attempts to decide his course: finish breakfast first or clean himself up (and have a moment's priavacy to think).  He mutters a bit to himself, something about "...cleanliness...godliness....how he doesn't have a big ego, its just a saying..."  Ultimately manners (and privacy) seems to win out against his stomach and he rises from the table, with a last wistful look. "If you'll excuse me, Doctor,"  with that he begins to head for the afforementioned powder room..unless anyone's arrival stops him....

As there's no one to stop Augustus at the moment, with Abraham in the kitchen and the others outside, Augustus reaches the powder room quickly, there to be alone with his thoughts.

"Gangatsu has legs!" Alouette exclaims, pointing. It's never seen a woman without a full-length skirt before. "Dr.Ward is hostile to ants?"

There's a long, still pause, since watching all the ants takes up most of the thing's ready thinking power. If Gangatsu's still about it'll address her with "Where does dynamite live?"

"I don't think so but most people find ants unpleasant as they tend to bite us." Charging Bear says with a smile. With that he will walk inside the house.

"Ah! Greetings, Mr. Bear!" Ward says to Charging Bear as soon as he comes into view. "I was wondering where you'd gone off to. Would you care for some breakfast?" He's probably not aware that CB had already eaten. "I had something I wished to discuss with you, though it can wait until you've breakfasted."

With a slight nod Charging Bear smiles and sets down an empty glass and plate upon the table. "I've already enjoyed the fine cooking of your man. I went out side to make sure Alouette didn't cause more trouble for him as well as to enjoy the morning air."

Ward chuckles. "Yes. Our Friend Alouette has certainly caused quite a disturbance for Abraham." he says, then pushes away his plate. "Very well. I suppose I shall get down to business, then. Last night, while we were having our troubles here, some of my hands decided to get rowdy in town. Apparently, they attempted to run Marshal Evans out on a rail. The ringleader of this little escapade, Nathanial Frost, has crossed a line, and needs to face the consequences of his actions. I intend to turn him over to the Marshal, but there is a complication."

He leans back. "Nathanial is popular with the men, and I do not know if they would be willing to turn him over to the law simply on my say so. I will confront them, and I was hoping that I could count on your support when I do, as you are a representative of the Law. I am hopeful that this will not be a violent confrontation, but I wish to be prepared in case things turn for the worse. Would you kindly assist me?"

"I'm not sure it is a kindness, but I will aid you in this. It seems another deputy has just arrived, perhaps with similar intentions." Charging Bear glances toward the door he had just come through. "Perhaps we would do well to detain Mr Frost now before he and the others have had a chance to awaken."

Ward nods. "Very well. I shall wait for Mr. Spotswood, who has also agreed to accompany us, to return from the powder room."

He stands, and clears the plates from the table.

Charging Bear nods, "Then we wait for Mr Spotswood then."

In the privacy of the powder room, Augustus undresses down to his undershirt and pours out the jug of water into the washbasin.  Scooping up the water in his hands, he scrubs at his face, trying to scrub away all the dirt and confusion of past days.  Wet hands are run through his hair and he stares at himself in the mirror.

"Well, what is to be done with you, Mr. Spotswood?  Sooner or later these lawmen are bound to catch word of you..."  A cough racks him.  Nasty, bilious black fluid is spit out into the basin.  He reaches for a towel and looks back to the mirror again.

The man in the mirror, stained lips smiles back for a moment, "Augustus...  That cough is getting worse...  Do you /really/ want to walk away from the Doctor's offer?  He could help...  Maybe he could protect you..."

The scientist eyes his reflection suspiciously, "Or maybe he'll just turn us in for the criminal we are.  he's got every right.  Respectable doctor can't be associating with lawbreakers."

Again the the reflection-self gave a smirk, "Ah, but this "respectable" Doctor allready works with bad men.  He's trying to keep them on the straight and narrow, maybe make something good.  He /wants/ to help people just like you."

Augustus is taken aback by this revelation.  Its true, though he hadn't considered it.  Scrubbing at his face with a towel, he mutters, "Maybe by helping Doctor Ward I can scrub away the tarnish of my past."  Invigorated by his thoughts, he turns and begins to dress again.  He brushes out his jacket and shakes out his shirt.

For a long while, the stained-lip reflection in the mirror watches its more tangible half.  A black smile grows wider.

--

Refreshed, Augustus steps out of the powder room and heads back towards the dining room.  A bit more spring to his step.  Upon seeing the gathered group, he smiles and clasps his hands, "So...when do we start?"

Gangatsu was a little distracted by the news the Alouette shared. Danny was dead, and the Doc was planning to slice him up and perhaps even burn the fellow up and burn him like the other bodies the Undertaker taken care of.  Her brow narrowed and this mechanical creature kept trying to talk to her. She glared at it a little and  moved away again as it spoke to her. A sharp perk of her brow as  Charging Bear wished to share information with this walking tinker, was he mad? It had the mind power of a child.


" Pardon?" She partially growled, the man explaining the dynamite and the fact that she was a lady. The machine didn't seem to know she had legs, as if ladies float on air under their long dresses, but the Fox eyes narrowed in a bit of annoyance. She was not a social being in any regards and the only person she trusts was in her head and a crafty sonavabitch.

" A fox in da hen house makes a big commo'ion. Someone wit' a gun's gunna notice it, darlin'. Step lightly now."

Her eyes narrows, the soft clink and chime s that sound like spurs made her eyes shift at the movement. SHe didn't notice that Charging Bear was headingin inside, offering her breakfast, she had been lost in her world of thought.

" No, don't.." Her warning coming too late, she hesitated, but that man moved on before she could tell him of everything. Shit. This wasn't good! She looked to the automan and her lip curled slightly in a slient swear.

" Machine... You follow me. I was here to try and save Danny, but if he's dead. I can't let Doc Ward burn him. He's a victum in all this. My fault I brought him back to town.... Dammit, I hope you understand.. Don't say nothin' about what I say unless your talkin around Ambrose, you hear me, thing?" Her shoulder rolls a bit, grabbing her sword's hilt before looking to the door. Adjusting the straw hat and moving to hte door with a bit of trepidation.

" They skin foxes in Texas, don'dey?"

The man said with a skeletal grin forever ripped open on his face. The image so vivid, she almost wavered from the strench of his rotting corpse, but that imagry flashed away, leaving only the queasy feeling of her breakfast unsettling within the pit of her stomache. She pressed on and although the urge to take off her sandals upon entrying the house irked her, she didn't comply.  Walking in through the empty door, she hear a little bit of the explaination and only a flair of her nostrils to the man's insight on what happen. Spotswood soon joined while the raven haired woman stewed in her silent rage.

" No one's gunna help you, Doctor Ward.. Why should they.." The ominous sound of the samurai came in, her hand at the ready with her sword. " Did you tell them that the Adder's blew up the Marshal's station and tried to do the same at the Grand Bull Saloon? They tried to KILL Ambrose Evans, town folk, deputies, and a couple of travellers like myself and little Katy Devons. I have the dynamite from that damn night. I, and a lot o other folks, seen Nathaniel Frost unviel his face and shoot Evans. I disarmed the wily bastard and Evan's happened to live. I have Frost's gun and the speical ghost rock powder bullet he did it with..." Her free arm went out side and dug in her pack, her voice growing a bit harsher in tone.

" Did you tell them the truth about those six Yankee boys that were imprisioned and harvestin' Ghost Rock like this. In a mine shaft. On your property, Doctor Ward? The woman picked up a blue jacket piece that looked like it was cut from a uniform, the contents was a black and white speckled two ounce of Ghost Rock and actually passed it away from herself to Alouette. "Did you tell them about Tex? My, that's a big secret to keep, but all this land, don't have to worry about people poking around.. Did you tell them that you paid off the undertaker to burn the bodies. You ought to be arrested and sentenced for the murder of the Yankee, Danny and trying to cover up whatever you done to them.. His blood was too thick for him to bleed out." She moved forth toward Doctor ward with a suspicious motion, looking at the man, this man whom was the catalyst of it all. He had to be. He was the only one with money and power over the whole town.

" You dealin' wit oni-orochitengu, Doctor Ward, that demon serpent from that christian bible?" Her tone mellowed for a moment, sounding sincerely curious, though her lip quivered lightly, either in madness or sorrow,  it brimmed in her eyes at the horrible thought. " Like Gus did fer his brother, Tex? Hmm? What did you offer, what you get out o it? Was it worth bringing up all this ill-will on to others for a jump in power? Was it worth your very life to hurt people like me? Tell me! He's DeAd! My beloved! Ripped apart by time I found a half of his body. What in the hell did you do, you evil fu'kin bastard?!"

"Ah. There you are." Dr. Ward says as Augustus heads downstairs. "Good, now that we are all assembled--" he's cut off as Gangatsu barges into the room and launches into her tirade.

The gentleman listens impassively as she yells at him, his demeanor growing more stern and his frown deepening with her every word. Though it's the start of a warm day, the temperature seems to drop a dozen degrees as he glares at the raging Asian.

There is a silence that stretches over a minute after Gangatsu finishes her rant before Ward replies.

"I see. I do not know where you have heard these vile lies and slanders, madam, but you have been gravely misinformed as to the content of my character, and I will not stand for it."

"We gentlemen here have, just this very moment, been discussing the incident last night. I assure you that I take Nathanial Frost's cowardly assault on Dr. Evans most seriously, and we were, in fact, on our way to apprehend him for his crimes." He begins pulling one of his gloves off, finger by finger.

"As for the outlaws and renegades you mention, they are criminals, bushwhackers of the most perfidious sort, murderers, thieves, and brigands who had the temerity to camp on my land, raid my herd, shoot my hands, and Lord knows what other crimes. Any ill treatment they received when they were captured and being held was just deserts for their wickedness. Be that as it may, I had done nothing but care for the injuries and ill-health of young Daniel, as Friend Alouette here can personally attest to, and you would lay blame for his death on my hands without the slightest shred of evidence? For shame!" He walks closer to Gangatsu, and the temperature seems to fall even lower.

"And then you accuse me of witchcraft and devilry? You slander me, madam. You insult my honor, and I allow no man, woman, or other being to do so without redress."

He slaps her across the face with the glove.

"I challenge you to defend your accusations against my character tonight at sunset along the creekbed near this house. Pistols at ten paces. You may appear there yourself, if you have the courage, or you may appoint a champion to stand in on your behalf. Either way, I demand satisfaction for the slight against my honor. Now, kindly leave this place or I will have you thrown out and dragged behind a horse off my land."

He turns away from her sharply and returns to the others. "Gentlemen, I apologize for this interruption. Let us return to the business at hand."

[[OOC: O_O Shit just got real!]]
This message was last edited by the player at 08:28, Thu 23 Sept 2010.

Charging Bear watches the interchange with a look of confusion. His mind is racing, Why is she doing this here and now... with only me to back her up... is she mad? This has become a train wreak.. then Dr Ward slapped Gangatsu with the glove and issuing of the dual. This caused Charging Bear to perk up, he didn't know much about either combatant but a dual... that won't end well for anyone.

"Dr Ward ... perhaps the young lady speaks hastily, but she is here with the authority of the sheriff. I can not allow you to simply toss her out as you suggest." He turns to Gangatsu, shifting to his native tongue "You would do well to keep your wits about you. Even if Ward is dealing with the snake it won't do anyone good to provoke him."

Gus had spent the night in Ward's parlor, recovering from the gunshot. He had dreamed of...well, it wasn't important what he dreamed of, only that it was bad.

He was a bit muddled when he woke, dragged out of the depths of sleep by raised voices. On of them was the boss.

He pulled himself up, grabbed his gunbelt, yawned, and staggered out towards the foyer where all the yelling was.

"Can't a man get no sleep?" he grumbled...just in time to see the boss slap some chink woman across the face and tell her to get off his land or be dragged out.

This woke him up fully. Ward was furious, and that was bad for all concerned.

"Um, boss? What...what's goin' on?" he said, hesitantly.

---

Danny Boy was bored, and was sick to death (so to speak) of playing dead. He stood up inside the tiny pantry. There was shouting coming from somewhere...good. That sounded like a distraction.

He lay his hands on the door. The pantry was locked, but the weak point of any door was the hinges. He pictured the wood growing old, fatigued, drying out, termites eating away at the inside...and the wood responded. He didn't notice the dried goods around him spontaneously spoiling, growing rancid, and sprouting molds and mildew...he hadn't realized his sense of smell was gone.

Soon, beneath Danny's hands, one part of the door was much, much older than the rest. It would give with a good, hard shove, and Danny could be free. He braced himself, and prepared to escape.

Augustus is quite taken aback by te swordswoman's entrance.  Though it isn't directed at him, he can't help but back away a step or two.  To stay out of the line of "ire", as it were.  Blinking rapidly, he tries to follow it all, nodding to some points and looking very skeptical at others.  A few times he even mutters some arguments to himself about said points, but seems generally to disagree with himself and with the swordswoman.

Raising a finger, he begins to attempt a rebuttal on the good Doctor's behalf...and is interrupted by the issuing of a duel.  The gentleman in him, rather than the scientist, is spurred to action.  He steps over near Dr. Ward, saying with as much gentlemanly authority as he can muster, "I will be your second, if you'll agree, sir."  Leaning a little bit closer to the Doctor, he adds with a whisper, "But the Indian has a point...  It is no loss of honor to forgo a duel with an impetuous /woman/, even though she carries herself as a fighting man."

She flaired a bit, not even to evil dog that came close, but it's disgusting glove swatted at her. It made a slap of material to skin yet  smouldering emerald eyes only watched, her sword pulled up a little from it's sheathe as he turned his back to her.

 Her eyes shifted to Augustus as he stepped closer to Doctor Wards side to speak of something.. Gangatsu turned her head in listening to Charging Bear.  To keep her wit. He said this to a mad woman with a death wish, this was the bastard responsible for it all and no one was eager to kill him as much as Gangatsu. It wouldn't set everything right, but it was the only thing she could think of for years was finding the man responsible. She canted her head toward Charging Bear. " You didn't want to wait to hear me out. You had to say I was here. You have failed to be help, you might as well have marked me dead. He wants a duel, i'll take his witching idle hands."

 Though her eyes turned to the new man that entered and her narrowed brow softened slightly.. Staring at the man with a mix of disbelief, her head tilting slightly to the side with a bit of befuddlement that urged her to take a step closer to a white-haired Gus Shaw. Her finger pointed up toward his head as if  someone could honestly look at it and say that nothing was odd about this place or this Doctor Ward. " How did you do that to yerself.."

Ward nods to Augustus. "I accept. I might be willing to consider withdrawing the challenge, if she is willing to offer a public apology for her slander or finds some other way to make amends. But I have been wronged, and I cannot in good faith allow such horrible things to be said about me unchallenged. Would you, if our positions were reversed?"

In response to Charging Bear, he frowns and shakes his head. "Her haste does not excuse her shockingly barbaric and uncivilized behavior, and I see no evidence that she is here with any authority at all beyond your say so. Furthermore, you are here at my invitation; she is not, and has no business here. Unless she has a warrant or some other official documentation I consider her nothing less than a trespasser on my property." that coldness creeps back into his voice. "Furthermore, while you are a guest in my home, do not presume that you may allow or disallow me anything. Are we understood, Mr. Bear?"

He turns to Gus and, not replying to his question, simply states "Mr. Shaw, please escort this troublesome female off my property. By force, if you must."

Alouette hesitates somewhat to follow Gangatsu, having been told to stay put by Charging Bear, but patters up in good time to be handed some ghost rock. It promptly 'eats' it, unnoticed under the tempest of Gangatsu's wrath. It was just making to warn her that Dr.Ward will shoot her from ten paces away when he makes that very offer.

"Ambrose said Dr.Ward was not a witch, Gangatsu," it puts in, "he has traces of the sickness, too - high probabability from witched butter." It looks from one duellist to the other. "Y'all feel of angry..."

It offers Dr.Ward the vegetable steamer, then goes over and puts a gentle hand on Gus' bandaged chest (if he doesn't move sharpish). "You mustn't blow her up with a horse, Gus Shaw; don't hurt her."

Leaving Gus to make friends with his new generous quota of ants, the automaton makes to head kitchenwards, where it last saw water.

Looking down at the small woman, Charging Bear is obviously less than thrilled at her and the situation she's put him in, "I'm sorry, was there more to your coming out here than to see how those of us who were here had faired through the night... yes that's right you wanted to kill Dr Ward on his own land, where if other people weren't here he would kill you and bury you in a field, and no one would know the wiser. If you had remained quiet he would have come to town quietly with Frost, and you could have dealt with all of this there."

Taking a moment to cool off, he looks back toward Dr Ward, "I'm sorry I can't allow Gus to take this woman anywhere, Dr Ward. He can't be trusted, as he's twice tried to kill me, even after you said I was your guest."