City folk? Amber didn't strike me as the type. Is this man trying to pull the wool over my eyes?

As Toddy gets up, Zeke leans against the doorframe, making it clear he's still only leaving when he says he can.

Emily Matthews, huh? Of...Ore...uh...gen? I ain't passed no geography classes but the basic levels, but I do remember that being an awful long way from here. Maybe you's right. Or maybe...you're trying to send me a long ways away from here to get me outta yer hair.

Zeke grabbed a nearby flask of moonshine to wash down the stew from before. With a satisfied sigh, he continued.

I've got something of a proposition for ya, Toddy. Ya see, I'll be headin' out to Oregon in the mornin'. What do ya say...you accompany me on this trip? If you're telling the truth, no worries, I'll drop you off here as soon as I see that this Emily is the real deal. If yer tellin' the truth, nothing to worry about...right?

@boc rolled 5. (4 + 1 = 5) + I Know My Prey (+1) + Tough (+2) = 8

Manipulate Someone
Once you have given them a reason, tell them what you want them to do and roll +Charm.
For a normal person:
• On a 10+, then they’ll do it for the reason you gave them. If you asked too much, they’ll tell you the minimum it would take for them to do it (or if there’s no way they’d do it).
• On a 7-9, they’ll do it, but only if you do something for them right now to show that you mean it. If you asked too much, they’ll tell you what, if anything, it would take for them to do it.

"Man you want me to go to fuckin'... fuckin' Oregon? With you? That's a day's fucking trip at least! W-- I..."

He's trying to process this. It's an absolutely fucking insane request. But... you're absolutely fucking insane. And you have a knife. And he really enjoys being alive. So... maybe the fucking insane thing would be to turn you down.

"Okay. Okay man. Okay, but... I need to... to at least call someone. I got a business to run. I'm a manager. Of whores. I gotta call in and make sure things don't go to shit. And... I won't mention the knife or you at all but you gotta let me call in. And then I'll go with you. DEAL?"

Zeke looked down at the knife in his hand, and back at Toddy, who looked abjectly terrified.

My god. I'm becoming my father.

Well, you ain't gonna get no cellular reception out here. How's about you jump into my pick-up and make the call on the way outta town? Just...as long as you ain't gonna pull no funny business.

Zeke took another swig out of his moonshine.

He glances at the moonshine and at you. "You serious? You're gonna dr... nah whatever. At least it ain't murdered in a shack."

He breathes deeply. "Alright man, that... that sounds fair."

This is fucking nuts.

"Let's head on out to Oregon, then."

Zeke holsters the knife and aggressively wraps his arm around Toddy.

I'm glad we could come to an understandin'! I think this is the beginning of somethin' beautiful. Let's just hope you was tellin' the truth!

Zeke laughs a bit too loudly as he jovially slaps Toddy's shoulder.

Is this Emily really gonna know anything of importance about Amber's disappearance, being all the way out there in heckin' Oregon? I find it doubtful, but it's about the only lead I got. And if this villain is still holding out on anything, mayhaps his guilt will catch up to him on the road.

Here goes nothing, I s'pose...

Toddy locks up as soon as you put your arm around him. This is definitely the worst day of his life, and very likely the last.

You drag him out to the pickup behind your shack and leave his hands bound as you run back inside to get your stuff. You gotta bring some stew for the road! You pack your other gear as well, and by the time you get back, Toddy is... right where you left him. Surprisingly.

It's time to hit the road, and with one more gulp of moonshine, you fire up the truck.

[...]

Makadewa, Maine
Outside Robinson's Dry-Clean and Laundromat


Toddy Villain leans against the building trying to look casual while he peers inside the building before turning to his captor travel partner.

"Y-you sure you saw the lady go in there? Cuz I ain't seein her." He adds under his breath "maybe cool it on the fuckin booze and you wouldn't be wastin all our time"

Eight days. Eight whole days it's been since we departed on this adventure. The plan was so simple at first: find this Emily woman and confront her about anything she knows about Amber's whereabouts. But soon as we rolled into town...something seemed fishy about it all. This girl was already packing up and getting ready to head across the country...for what? My daddy always used to tell me: never shoot a lone critter if you can help it. Eventually, they're gonna lead you back to their pack and you can get yourself a full dinner. Not that I was necessarily fixin' to shoot this lass, but you get the picture.

And so, she led us on this merry chase all the way cross country to this little northern town. I mean, I've lived in the middle o' nowhere my entire life but I ain't never see someone hurtin' so bad to visit. Much less drivin' across the entire country to get there. The whole situation was as curious as ever, but I finally felt like we was nearin' the promised land. I was growin' more convinced than ever that she knew something about my lost Amber. Hell, I was startin' to think she might just be behind it all.

Toddy, would you quit yer hollerin' for just a moment! You've been squealin' like a stuck pig this entire trip. She's probably just crouchin' behind some dryer right now. Where could she have run off to anyway?

Zeke dismissively takes another swig of his moonshine and turns up the radio to listen to some Willie Nelson for the fifty-seventh time this trip.

Toddy just barely manages to avoid screaming. Fucking hates that song. Fucking hates this guy. Fucking hates this shitty ass pickup and this shitty ass town. Toddy hates everything.

He leans against the building into almost a fetal position, trying to cover his ears without pissing off "the boss."

He stays like that for a bit but then he notices something is off. Wait, did the door just open up? He shoulda heard the little bell, right?

Wait!

He watches closely from his spot and then runs over to the pickup and knocks on the windsheild to get your attention.

"YO! Z! The fuckin sister just walked out and went down the road a ways while you were listening to Nelson again! She got into an RV! Let's go!"

Now that's what I'm talkin' bout brother! Hop on in!

Zeke eases the gas pedal down which causes a sickening screech and clunking to be emitted from the engine. It was a minor miracle they had gone undetected this long while tailing this girl.

Finally, it's time for some gosh-damn answers.

Toddy actually does hop on in for once. Finally, you'll get your answers and he'll get the hell out of here and back to his girls in Tennessee.

You two barrel down the road after the RV, Toddy pointing out roughly where he thought he saw it heading.

[...]

As you speed down an old unmarked road out of town, you see the RV up ahead of you, driving along.

"There she is! That's the one!" Toddy yells, pointing at it as if it wasn't the only other vehicle on the road. "We gotta get her to pull over!"