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Post by Victoria Angel Paulsen on Mar 28, 2013 7:09:04 GMT -5
"That's a beautiful dream, Juliet," she answered as the girl told her.
She wasn't sure she wanted to answer her question, but she also didn't want to be rude, and she still was finding no sleep coming to her.
"I was born there, I just survive, I guess," she started. "When I was young I was sold to a crime lord. I had to learn to fight to defend myself. I got away, and I've been looking over my shoulder ever since. Getting into scraps and just having trouble find me really."
She looked over at Juliet.
"I've really wanted to get off that rock for some time now."
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Post by Juliet Harwood on Mar 29, 2013 0:10:35 GMT -5
"I can't blame you." Juliet had heard about things like that -- children being sold or simply taken off the streets -- but they had been only rumors, things her parents spoke of in hushed voices when they didn't think she was listening. "I'd probably want to get away from there too."
She stretched out in the bed, wriggling her toes against the sheets. It was still strange, but not in a bad way. "Anywhere in particular you'd like to go?"
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Post by Victoria Angel Paulsen on Mar 29, 2013 7:31:58 GMT -5
"Not really," she answered honestly. "Always just thought I'd find a good ship and captain and just travel, you know?"
She turned and propped herself up on one elbow and laughed a bit as Juliet wriggled her toes.
"I would like to see the core planets, though. Harder to steer clear of the Alliance there. Just don't trust them."
She had her reasons, and though she wasn't really interested in answering why, she would if the girl asked. She had become a good friend over the time they had traveled together. Now more than ever she wanted to help Juliet find her husband.
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Post by Juliet Harwood on Mar 29, 2013 19:06:58 GMT -5
Juliet didn't feel the least bit indignant when Victoria laughed. She even smiled a little, realizing how silly it must look and how... girlish. It didn't seem insulting at all, simply finding a little joy where she could.
"I've heard the core planets are beautiful," Juliet said. "Not enough open space for me, though." She had never formed much of a political opinion. Whitefall was a bit too isolated for that. Her parents had grumbled about the Alliance, though, and one of her uncles had been killed in the war, but she had been too young to remember him well.
It must have been the talking that did it. Juliet yawned a little but hid it behind her hand. She didn't want to just fall asleep in the middle of a conversation.
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Post by Victoria Angel Paulsen on Mar 30, 2013 7:24:53 GMT -5
Victoria took no offense when she saw Juliet yawn behind her hand. She was getting tired too, maybe it was the conversation.
"I've heard that too. We should get some rest, we have a long way to go I think," she said solemnly. She didn't want to sound like she didn't think they would find him, because she did think they could. The hardest part though was getting started, finding the right leads.
She wondered though, what would be the man's excuse for leaving his wife behind like that, without even so much as a 'screw you, i'm gone'.
She wondered how Juliet would take his reasoning. She had become a friend, and Victoria didn't want to see her get hurt.
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Post by Juliet Harwood on Mar 30, 2013 10:06:11 GMT -5
Juliet nodded and curled into a little ball. She would find Preston if she had search every planet and moon in the 'Verse, and he had better have a good explanation for what he did. If what he told her didn't satisfy her, they would have a heated argument at the very least. She could run a ranch without him, but she would rather not be alone.
Her eyes closed, and she drifted off. She slept well but had some rather odd dreams that slipped away almost as soon as they had finished. In the sleepy moments just before she fully woke up, she wondered if they meant anything, like some of the hands' children had insisted. On reflection, though, she decided that everyone wandering around singing and a watermelon-eating contest probably wouldn't shed any secrets about her mind.
Some early morning sunlight came through the window, but it wasn't as early as she would have had to wake up on the ranch. Travel was wreaking hell on her schedule. In the night, she must have rolled to her other side, and she turned her head to see if Victoria had woken yet.
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Post by Victoria Angel Paulsen on Mar 30, 2013 11:29:13 GMT -5
The trip had taken its toll on Victoria. So had the near fight from earlier. She tossed and turned as she slept, but finally, hours later managed to get comfortable enough to pass out completely. When Juliet looked over to see if she was still sleeping, she would see that she was, sprawled out over the whole bed, covers half on her and her left arm flung over the side of the bed, her head half on the pillow.
She was breathing steadily, slowly, but the sunlight through the window didn't seem to bother her. She would probably be out cold for a couple more hours.
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Post by Juliet Harwood on Mar 30, 2013 17:04:38 GMT -5
Juliet sat up and stretched. Quietly, so as not to wake her traveling companion, she got out of bed, set the sheets in some form of order, and crept to the bathroom. The Sally Ride had been rather cramped when it came to bathing, and she took her time in the shower and gave her hair a decent combing.
Victoria was still asleep when Juliet stepped out of the bathroom, but she didn't want to wait for the woman to wake up before going out to breakfast. She took a little money and pulled a little poetry book Preston had given her for her birthday from her pack. On the front page, she wrote a little message and moved her bookmark so it was marking the right spot.
Victora -- I've gone out to breakfast, maybe asking around about Preston. I'll be back in a bit. -- Juliet
That done, she took one of the keys to the room and crept out to the lobby. No one gave her a second glance as she strolled out, and a familiar-looking man even averted his gaze. She wondered if he was one of the men from the previous night, but he was gone before she could get a good look. A grizzled man stood at the desk now, and Juliet walked up to him and asked, "Excuse me, sir. Where can a girl get some breakfast?"
"Two blocks down. Ask for Joel Rogers. He's got a little place that serves just about anyone."
"What about information?"
"Ask for Joel Rogers."
Juliet thanked the man and went out.
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Post by Victoria Angel Paulsen on Mar 31, 2013 8:55:02 GMT -5
Victoria woke up about an hour and a half later. She was a bit embarrassed by the way she had passed out, but looking through bleary eyes was immediately over it as she saw that Juliet was gone. She was relieved when she saw the note Juliet had left, and she hoped that the girl had at least taken the pistol with her. Being unarmed could possibly get her into trouble.
She stood up and stretched out all the kinks from the position she had slept in and went to the shower. She made it quick and got dressed even quicker then went down stairs. The grizzled looking man at the desk looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Before she could ask anything he answered.
"Two blocks down for breakfast, ask for Joel Rogers."
She nodded and headed that way. She hoped the man had told Juliet the same and that she would meet her there.
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Post by Juliet Harwood on Mar 31, 2013 10:13:12 GMT -5
Joel Rogers's restaurant was packed with miners, but Juliet managed to find a little table in the corner. A tired-looking waitress brought her a meal of toast and eggs, which she devoured. She hadn't known she was so hungry until she put the first bite in her mouth, and she had to resist the urge to buy a second plate. The food was cheap, but unless she picked up a job somewhere, cheap wasn't good enough.
When the waitress returned to pick up the plates and the money, Juliet gave her a little extra tip and asked, "Where can I find Joel Rogers?"
"He's in the back," the waitress said. "You might have to wait a bit, though. Lots of people want to see him this morning." She jerked her head to the back wall. "There's a little room where you can wait."
Juliet nodded her thanks and wove through the crowds to the back wall. A half-hidden door opened at her touch, revealing a small room with a few chairs. A man sat in one, lounging against it and toying with a little knife. He glanced up at Juliet as she entered but said nothing. She sat down and waited.
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Post by Victoria Angel Paulsen on Mar 31, 2013 12:04:56 GMT -5
She entered the restaurant only minutes after Juliet had finished eating and went into the back room. A woman greeted Victoria with a nod and brought her a plate when she sat down.
"My friend might have come through here earlier. She was looking for Joel Rogers," she asked as much as stated as she shoveled food into her mouth.
The woman rolled her eyes and pointed to the back, where the door was slightly opened. Victoria nodded a half thank you. The woman looked tired, but that was no reason to act the way she was. She put it out of her mind and quickly finished her food.
She stood up and went to the back room, where she entered and saw Juliet waiting, and a man she didn't know.
"Please tell me you brought the pistol I gave you," she whispered into Juliet's ear.
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Post by Juliet Harwood on Mar 31, 2013 13:43:04 GMT -5
Juliet was a bit surprised to see Victoria there, but she supposed it would be nice to have company. Whoever Joel Rogers was, he was influential, and he was probably one of those people who could look at her and make her feel like a foolish little girl. Influential people often were.
"Not to fret," she whispered back, touching the side of her jacket. It had belong to a hand's son and was a bit large for her, but that only made it good for hiding things. The son had sewn pockets to the inside, and he had stitched them in strongly enough to hold a pistol. "I'm no fool."
A door on the other side of the room slid open, and a burly man stepped into view. The lounging man got to his feet and strode in. The door closed behind him, leaving the two women alone.
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Post by Victoria Angel Paulsen on Mar 31, 2013 13:55:22 GMT -5
She nodded and smiled. Juliet was a smart girl. She saw the man get up and walk to the burly looking man. She found it odd that they didn't disarm him when he went in. If Joel was as influential as they said, then he would be protected well.
"You reckon that's him?" she asked Juliet, nodding her head towards the burly man. She doubted it herself, but you never really could just assume.
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Post by Juliet Harwood on Mar 31, 2013 14:09:55 GMT -5
"Probably not. Likely a bodyguard." Juliet swallowed. She should have figured he would have bodyguards. She might even get searched unless she acted so innocent that they would barely notice her except to laugh at the idea of a little girl coming here. It would be hard, but maybe she could be extra difficult with Preston to make up for it.
"Victoria," she whispered, "do you suppose they're going to search us for weapons? Do you think maybe if I act enough like a little kid they'll assume I'm not hiding anything?"
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Post by Victoria Angel Paulsen on Apr 1, 2013 16:27:01 GMT -5
"Couldn't hurt to try," was her answer. It was a possibility, maybe. Juliet did give off the vibe of an innocent. Victoria, on the other hand, was armed to the teeth, and was more than sure that they would want to disarm her.
The lucky thing was that Juliet's weapon was concealed, where Victoria's were out there for the verse to see.
"How good are you at the innocent act?" she giggled.
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