You can have my girl, but don't touch my hat [OPEN]

[toooldforlosing]

Who: Raylan Givens AND YOU
What: Out and about! Let me know where you're running into him.
Where: Mog Hill, mainly, and the environs.
When: All day Coardi
Notes: Despite his inner rage, he'll be friendly and polite enough to new (and old) acquaintances. Feel free to assume he's doing any of the things mentioned below, but if you want him for other plots, just hit me by PM or on plurk (prettiestwhistles)
Warnings: None for now

Raylan is angry. There are some who might argue Baedal has nothing to do with that, but it's different here than it was at home. He's a prisoner, even if his prison is city-sized. Even if he's free to run every morning (like he does) and go to the bar every night (...which he usually does too, though more for eavesdropping and brooding than to get properly drunk). Working for the sheriff feels like collusion, but at least Norrington hasn't asked him to do anything he can't do, so far.

The militia's broadcast had turned his stomach, but he doesn't know whose brain to put a bullet into for that. A criminal, even a band of criminals... you can fight that, he thinks. A corrupt government that rules by martial law - that's something else again.

So he gets up, goes for a run, works his beat, goes shopping for goddamn groceries, spends his evenings in bars, and bites down on how much this place rubs him wrong.

He thinks he'd best not get questioned by the militia again, because he doesn't know if he'll be able to keep his mouth shut. But even those who don't know him well might be able to identify a man with an itchy trigger finger.

Comments

[toooldforlosing]

"Sort of," he says, smile fading. He's not pleased about it, really, but he has a narrow skill set. "I, uh, didn't hit it off with the militia early, but the sheriff deputized me."

[controlledvariable]

"Ah," the wariness is back in full force, "How's that working out for you?"

[toooldforlosing]

"Norrington seems like he's just doing his best to keep the peace," Raylan says, quietly. "But frankly, I just gotta eat until I get out of here."

He pauses, then says, "You still want me to buy you that coffee, or you done with my company now?" He won't blame her - his own feelings on Baedal's infrastructure are complicated and mainly negative.

[gotbottle]

"Well, maybe you just have sensible moments."

She shrugs, taking a sip of her drink. "Trouble, kinda," she goes on. "I was passing out leaflets for the political party. Didn't really have anything better to do with myself right now and I didn't much feel like sitting at home and, like, trying to sleep and failing. Thought maybe the air and the chance to feel like I was accomplishing something might help."

[controlledvariable]

Steph nods at Yarlan's answer, then gives him an evaluating look. She doesn't trust the militia at all, but Raylan seems to be in a similar position. And the fact he's understanding of dissenting opinions of the militia goes a long way in convincing her he's an alright dude.

"I'm usually a pretty good judge of character, and I won't blame you for the company you keep," She smiles, small but genuine, "Let's get that coffee."

[charismatic]

Will grabs a couple more random things, shaking his head. Aside from the weirdness of not recognizing everything he's eating, switching back to real food from space rations has been a tiny shock in the overall process of trying to adjust to... everything. “No ice cream?” he asks.

[toooldforlosing]

"Easier to find ice cream than bananas, weirdly enough." Enough ex-pats with a taste for the former, Raylan guesses. "I mean, I'm not willing to swear it's made with all the same ingredients you'd expect, but..."

[toooldforlosing]

"Did it?" He doesn't expect a real answer, though he wouldn't turn one away if she gives it.

[toooldforlosing]

"Sounds good. Been healthy enough for one morning." He's more than used to people who distrust cops of any kind - his demeanor isn't purely a show, but he's long perfected walking the line between "not quite one of them, not quite not" when dealing with civilians.

"How do you take yours?" he asks, as they go in.

[controlledvariable]

She gives a mock gasp, looking shocked, "Are you saying coffee isn't good for you?" Because the mood needs lightening, and Steph's always up for making dorky jokes.

"Cream and one sugar, please."

[charismatic]

“Tastes the same is good enough,” Will agrees. He finally finds some apples – or apple-like fruit, he has no idea - and reaches over for them. “I'm used to – well, was used to – synthesized foods, mostly. A lot of it didn't really taste right, but I never knew the difference until I got a chance to taste the real thing.”

[toooldforlosing]

"Right. Go settle, I'll get the drinks." He'll even refrain for asking for whiskey in his, because he is a stand-up guy.

[toooldforlosing]

"That sounds pretty terrible, if you don't mind the comment." He's still, after all this time, not quite used to people coming from places and times so different from his own.

[controlledvariable]

'Kay," She smiles and goes to grab them a table, picking a spot that gives them both a view of the exit, because she's paranoid like that, and figures he might be too. It's a little out of the way of the other customers, just so they can talk without being overheard.

[charismatic]

“Oh, it was awful,” Will agrees. It definitely wasn't the main reason for the space colonies to rebel, but it was part of the larger problem of resource availability. His stomach had been upset the entire first month, after he went back up to space. “It looks like everything they have here is natural, though.” So far as he's seen, anyway, and that isn't really all that much, yet.

[gotbottle]

She studies him across the table for a few long moments, as if sizing him up all over again. She doesn't really need to; she decided a long time ago he was trustworthy. And more than just worth her trust, but that she was also willing to give it.

But actual forward movement toward that, a definite move to tell herself that yes, she does trust him, will trust him... well. Is it time?

She smiles at him, warm as ever, but sad around the edges. "No, not really. I think the place is starting to eat at me, a little."

...Apparently, it's time.

"But I'm sure it'll pass. So tell me about this trouble you came looking for."

[toooldforlosing]

It's not a bad guess; Raylan always prefers to be facing the door, ideally with his back to a wall.

He returns with a couple coffees, his black, hers with cream and one sugar.
"So." He settles himself after he's set down the drinks. "What do you do? Did you do? Either."

[toooldforlosing]

"I've said I gotta get out since I arrived," Raylan said, lowering his voice. "That opinion's only gotten stronger." In light of recent events, and in light of his longer time to observe the city.

[toooldforlosing]

"For most definitions." He didn't think Baedal was growing its food in labs, for the most part, no. "Solid enough, at least."

[charismatic]

“Point,” Will says, looking down into his basket. “I'm Will, by the way,” he adds, looking back up and offering a hand to shake. He should probably not get so used to talking to random people that he starts forgetting to introduce himself.

[controlledvariable]

"I was at college before I came here, working at the library there for a little extra cash. Now I'm doing the working part without the studying part." She hasn't even bothered to check out what the actual college courses are like, she doesn't have the money for it, and it's not high on her list of priorities.

[gotbottle]

"Yeah." She wraps both hands around her drink, her expression grim. "Yeah, I agree. I kind of lost track of trying to figure out how, for a while, there. I should get back into it."

[toooldforlosing]

"What did you study back there, then?" he asks, genuinely curious.

[toooldforlosing]

"It's hard, when you're pushing and don't make any progress. Like you're just shoving yourself up against a wall. Not many people that can maintain that all the time without any kinda break."

[controlledvariable]

"Social studies, philosophy, and computer science." It's a bit all over the place, but she's in her first year and hasn't really decided on her major yet.