Zeke squints intently at the little garter snake. The room seems to be spinning a bit and some of the colors blur together.

That moonshine must really be kickin' in. I seen dozens and dozens of garter snakes since I moved out into the woods, and none of them look like that beast! Good snakes, though. They make a real mean stew!

Zeke coughs.

So...how long you and...Winona...known each other?

Stew.

You're disgusting, tuck that bowie knife away and don't come anywhere near my Winona.

Ruby slowly tightens the dangling strings of her sweatshirt to close off Winona's protective hoodie cave even further.

I found her about a year ago and she's been my buddy and travel companion ever since. She's my Ambuh, only I would never lose her!


...yikes. You went too far this time, idiot. Why would you say that?

Ruby looks up at a silent Zeke. She avoids eye contact and tries to change the conversation.

So uhhh...how's the camper looking?

Zeke stares blankly ahead, Ruby's words drowning out as he focuses on the last thing she said.

Ambuh...

A flash of anger washes over him and gives way to pure sadness and emptiness. He gingerly reaches into his pocket and pulls out his amber-trapped mosquito. A few tears form in his eyes as he opens his palm and stares down at it for a brief moment.

Oh, Ambuh. If only you could see the mess I'm in now! You'd be laughin' that cute lil laugh of yours, I just know it. Just like you did when I fell off my barstool right before walkin' you home that fateful night. WHAM! Oh how you laughed! You always did have that wicked sense of humor 'bout ya.

Zeke begins to stroke the mosquito longingly.

...what have they done to you, girl? If only you could just...reach out and tell me. If only you could tell me who to exact my vengeance on. That's all I need...I'll do the rest.

Suddenly, he seems to register what Ruby just said and pockets the mosquito.

Uh...ahem...the camper. This ol' girl will at least get 'round town for a bit, but she'll need a new tire before long, thing got beat up pretty bad!

Say...where were you headed, anyway? Y'know, before our...misunderstandin'.

Ruby’s green eyes light up as she watches Zeke fiddle around with his golden trinket. She begins to speak but is hardly registering what she’s being asked.

..a new tire, yeah.

Her gaze holds on Zeke’s amber colored trinket as he quickly pockets it. She looks up and acknowledges the tears welling in his eyes.

What was that? I want it. It’s important to him, probably irreplaceable. That’s the best. It’s mine now. Payback for the tire. I’m going for it.

Ruby realizes that Zeke had asked a follow up question and snaps to it. She flashes the smile that she’s practiced in the mirror countless of times and prepares to turn the charm on.

Oh! I was just driving back from the laundromat to the campground I’ve been parking the camper at these last few days. You like camping?

Ruby moves by Zeke as she speaks and heads towards the driver’s seat. As she scoots past him she feigns a stumble and plants a hand flat on his chest, delicately and quickly slipping her other hand into his pocket to snatch her prize.

Madam Drrrrector @ 18/7/2018 8:40

Stealing from the pocket of a man who pointed a gun at you and ran you off the road is DEFINITELY Act Under Pressure Roll +Cool

[DEFINITELY not!

• Pickpocket. When you steal something small, roll +Charm. On a 10 or more, you get it and they didn’t notice you taking it. On a 7-9 either you don’t grab it, you grab the wrong thing, or they remember you later: your choice.]

Curtis rolled a 4 +2Charm = 6

You oh so subtly move around Zeke, placing your hand on his chest in a perfect feigned fall...

...but then he flinches back, and you lose your balance for real, and your other hand is too preoccupied to grab onto anything but Zeke himself. You kind of pull on him, but all that does is spin you in mid air, so instead of falling on your face, you fall onto your back.

Good job, master thief. Your fake trip turned into an actual fall.

You can see the bit of his trinket sticking out from his pocket, but then he turns to look at the disaster you just enacted in front of him and it's gone and out of reach.

Well...that was embarrassing!

Ruby scurries up to her feet and pretends nothing just happened in a failed effort to look cool. She checks on Winona after her spill and confirms that she's safe and sound in her protective hood cave.

Anyway!

Ruby plops down in her cushioned driver's seat and sticks the keys in the ignition. Her key chain is overcrowded with many gems, fobs, and assorted ornaments with different names on them. None of them say the name Ruby.

She twists the key and the engine sputters to life. The camper is back in action.

...where to?

Zeke watches as Ruby seems to trip over her own two feet on the way to the driver's cabin. Before he can do so much as extend his hand to help her up or utter a "You alright?", she springs back to her feet and scurries away.

What an odd lil' lass I've stumbled myself upon.

Zeke walks up to the driver's cabin, ignoring Winona's hissing as he brushes past. He notices that the passenger seat is full of maps and a mountain of other crap, and proceeds to clear it off with one swipe of his hand.

Zeke then plops down and puts his feet up on the dash, before finally answering Ruby's question.

...where we goin', you ask? I don't know. Wherever you like, darlin'. Let's just see where the road takes us.

...

...say, you ever tried homemade moonshine before?

With that, you get ready to take off for whatever the roads of Maine hold for you... whether its Amber... or a strange new mistake.... or perhaps kidnapping and assault charges.

Whatever lies ahead, you've got your shotgun and a bottle of moonshine and pure stupid determination to keep you going strong. And more than that, you've got yourself a friend, and that might just be the one thing you've really been looking for, long before you ever started the hunt in the first place. Maybe long before Amber, even. You've always just wanted a kindred spirit on your side.

You put a hand on Ruby's back, a symbol of your newfound camaraderie.

"Don't touch me," she says, and you take your hand away.

You're going to be great pals.


The road unwinds ahead of you, and you feel like it's all going to lead somewhere great.


To be continued at a later point.....