Fantasy Ain't No Rest for the Wicked Pt. 2

[Aridis]

Even knowing that he couldn't die from such wounds, Blair still flinched at the gunshot. Sisceal looked like minced meat after the first shot, she wasn't keen to check on his condition after the second. There probably wasn't a worse sight than seeing someone's face half blown off, but she wasn't curious enough to confirm that. Thea's small rant about his moral transgressions just made her solidify her decision to stay out of this shit. Everyone seemed to have their own opinions on the matter, she wasn't quite qualified to do the same.

Connor and Abel didn't seem too bothered at the news that the blacksmith wasn't human. It was just another obstacle that they could deal with. That was both reassuring and so very concerning at the same time. Either they were experienced with this kind of scenario, or they were simply too tired to care. Or, it was a mix of both. Blair ended up stepping a little behind Abigail to get away from the patron's gaze. Even without looking at him, she could feel his eyes on her and it was unsettling. If they were about to have a repeat of the Gnawbones fiasco, she might just have to risk getting shot to get the hell away from the Horsemen. There were few uneventful days around them and it was starting to weigh on her.

She kept her head down, not wanting to accidentally look at Sisceal's injuries or get another headache from glancing at the blacksmith. Blair did raise her voice so that Connor could hear her clearly, however. Less bullets flying around would be preferable. "Er... According to--" There was a moment of pause, as she realized that referring to the woman as 'Sisceal's daughter' might potentially get her shot too. "--This young Miss, the Virtues are aiming to catch y'all tomorrow. She offered information and a map she got from them. In exchange, she gets a few free shots at uh... him." Blair gestured in Sisceal's direction.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Abel glanced at the fae-fastened father, the warm, shifting light of the campfire picking out the carnage of his wound. The flesh bloomed like a pale flower, blood running in thick rivulets down, seeping into the heated dirt beside his head, chips of bone, slicked with red, protruding through the sea of crimson, mangled meat. His yellow, pitiless eyes narrowed. The grip on his revolvers tightened, but the Horseman of Plague did not shift as though constrained within a singular moment, even his shadows ceased their coiling embrace.

Then came the flash of a weapon's discharge, its loud report echoed on the weeping wind. For a moment, Abel had thought his reflexes subsumed him, shooting the priest out of instinct and principle. The hidden gun clattered against the ground anchoring his thoughts. Connor spoke, eyes possessed with a tired rage, questioning the favour offered. Abel hummed. A low, almost imperceptible noise, smothered beneath the loud crackle of the flames and the steady winnow of the wind.

Before he could answer, Blair spoke, voice strung and strained by discomfort. Raised a fraction for the clarity she sought to impart on Connor. Abel nodded to her words. "It's as she says." Abel said, voice blunt, dead. He looked to Thea, the teal fire smouldering in her emerald gaze. "Fine, then. The matter's concluded." Abel agreed. He lowered the revolver leveled at Thea, silver barrel gleaming in the ghostly moonlight.

His yellow eyes, ignited like an auburn brazier, turned to Sisceal. "Never," he said coldly. "Threaten me." Abel's voice suffused with a glacial hardness, poisoning the very air with his noxious, miasmic maleficence again. A ripple shot through his hardened muscles beneath his pale skin. The only warning graven into scrimshawed bones. The presence was gone, silenced by the Horseman's efforts. He breathed, though his eyes had not closed, he sought the quiet of his mind, the silence which ebbed the exhaustion's edge to his mind.

"We're clearing out." Abel said, his aim still trained on the blacksmith. He wondered whether Sisceal's spawn would lead them astray, a map provided by their enemies could be proven useful or deliberate bait, bearing only tainted fruit. However, abandoning this place remains the only solution.

 

[Karcen]

" The serpent father must be losing his touch if they caught up so fast, or maybe the stars weren't right for him and his children " Abigal sighed seeing as her little trick hadn't bought them as much time as she hoped. This did mean her tricks wouldn't be as effective from this point on. Still there were other tricks she could use on them, but they might require time.

Thedrama between the others over threats was not really intresting boys being boys. It was always funny how she seemed the most stable around here. She certainly had the most stable family life given she has none. Blair had mostly hidden and the mysterious girl was just bring dragged around by them, they should do something nice if they hit the time. Blair was stuck with them now as a virtue wouldn't care if she wasn't really a horseman she was involved. Hostages were just collaborators when the paperwork was filled.

As abel said they were leaving Abigail let out an annoyed sigh slash whine that only younger people made when told the plan was changing " Can I at least pick our next stop a town would be nice maybe we can doll Blair up? She might be as cute as Thea there if cleaned up. " her tone was playful as she asked but the other horsemen would know she had a plan to hopefully slow the virtue. No one could stir up a mob better than her.

" oh and Thea next time you come by I suggest you have a name and iron. That or flowers abd a pretty dress I am sure we could find some place nice for a date " giving the girl a good hint towards dealing with her dad or the fae holding him on this plane.

 

[Axeykins]

"I ain't got time for that, but I'll gladly show you some lead too if you keep this up." Despite the glare towards her, the young woman suddenly felt her cheeks flush. A slew of emotions both worry and fluster that she did not expect nor want in those moments. Hair tips flaring up in fire she gave her cheeks a quick slap to refocus herself at the task at hand. She'd have to mull over whatever that was later. "I know I know, but you don't have to keep lecturing me on it every time." She looked back at the old dwarven man briefly. Much as she huffed and puffed she was getting nowhere real fast before making her pact. Damn near died out there even."You just have to learn to keep up with me once in a while. Specially when we're this close. I'd have had him if you had those damn weapons ready by now. I know he's even playing possum right as we speak. He's taken harder hits back home and knows it. Always has been a good performer." She waved a hand in the direction of her father still bellyaching on the ground. Giving his boot a little kick. "Git up already you old jackass. Unless you want to screw over your pals too acting like dead weight soon as paw paw or one of the others finds y'all."

The old priest's good eye flickered towards her and then the rest of them. Shooting Abel a particularly cold glare as it passed over him for the admittedly well deserved attitude he'd gotten from the man. He was tempted to make a retort. The only thing stopping him was the idea of getting more holes in him or outright decked in the face. That being said, with a ragged cough and a grumble he got up off the ground easier than he should have. Spitting more bullets out onto the ground through his exposed jaw. He stood looking like a ghoul himself shredded to bits, but he was standing fairly steadily. Certainly more than he usually had after getting wounds to this degree with twice the attitude on his face. Enough to match his daughter on surprisingly

Thea looked rather content with herself for outing his act. As promised she produced a map she'd swiped and copied from their persuers. "They're not too far from here but the tricks I've seen which I'm guessing was from all you have worn em down for the day. You should have time for some rest here if need be, least till dawn. The hounds that PawPaw has out can't quite get her yet either. Seems they have a limit of how far they can go from the man." She measured it out for them from the last place she saw him. "All of your usual hideouts have been mapped out but not all searched yet. Looks like they're goin from the outside in to attempt pinching you in somewhere. Slow to move though despite knowing them all since they haven't gotten the word to everyone just yet with some discourse between them all not believing their fellow Virtues. You got em good getting the old coot out of retirement suddenly. Some are busy with other places you hit too providing aid. They're trying to get smaller guys out but you know well how that goes. No patrons means they're no match for you lot." As she explained more details of her mappings she made sure to clearly a mark to highlight every rout or rumored location the lawmen would be. "Any other questions?"

 

[Soviet Panda]

"Hounds and Virtues coming at his beck and call. Who the hell is Pawpaw and how come we've never heard of him before?" Connor voiced aloud as he craned his neck to get a look at the map Thea revealed, his revolver unconsciously never wavering from the dwarf no matter which way he swayed. "And how do they know our hides?" At the moment, he did not want to think about what that meant. "We got to go somewhere they won't think then. Abigail, you might get to sleep in a bed sooner than you thought." If they knew their hides out in the wilds, then perhaps they could hide amongst one of Abigail's cults, after she's gone and made one if necessary.

For Hother's part, seemingly now unconcerned with the pair of revolvers still pointed at him, his gaze never left Blair, though she now hid behind the Horseman of Death. "Girl," he called out, " I am Hother, Lord of the Forge, Patron of the Crafts, and Hoarder of Knowledge. I have answers for your questions, but now is not the time for them. Call my name, and I will answer. We may discuss my conditions when that time comes." His words were said calmly, and without raising his voice, but they sounded like the ringing blows of hammering steel. "Thea, once you're done here, I will meet you at the wagon. Do not tarry, there is work to be done." And just like that, he vanished. There was no flash, there was no sign of his departure. He was simply there one second, and then not the next. While Hother did have a flare for the dramatic, as Thea could attest, he was capable of simply doing things as quickly and efficiently as any of his power could.

 

[Aridis]

When Abigail suggested "dolling" her up, Blair automatically glanced down at her own outfit. Admittedly, her clothes were a little worse for wear. She only took what she needed, and weeks of almost nonstop travel hadn't been too kind to the fabric. Her spare clothes were in a very similar state. Up until this moment, she hadn't thought that it was that bad. Someone needed to give her a detailed manual on how hostage scenarios were supposed to work, because this was far outside of any expectation she had. "That's not necessary..." Blair murmured. "I'm fine as I am. I don't want you to waste your resources on something like that."

As the other Horsemen gathered around the map, she happily stayed in the back. The less she knew about hideouts and such, the better. The only time that she actually shifted her position was when she needed to keep Abigail between her and the dwarf. Her efforts appeared to have been in vain, however. No matter how much of a barrier she tried to place between her and the blacksmith, he almost seemed to stare through her body-shields right at her.

The discomfort only grew worse when he actually addressed her. Blair made the mistake of looking right at him while he spoke, which just prompted another flash of that extremely unpleasant pressure in her head. She still couldn't quite process his appearance without her eyes crossing. There was far too much to process after Hother made his offer for knowledge. How did he identify her as someone who needed answers? What were the conditions he spoke of? Why would he offer such a thing at all? And most importantly, who was she? These thoughts, along with a nonstop stream of 'fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,' kept her from processing just about everything else.

On top of everything, now Blair had to worry about the attention being placed back on her. Fantastic. Revealing her ability to see spirits and souls was bad enough. Nothing could stay simple.

 

[Axeykins]

The young woman couldn't help her look of confusion at the lot of them. It hadn't crossed her mind that she'd have to explain it to this group. She figured they already knew. "I'm honestly flabbergasted y'all don't know Pawpaw. Maybe you recognize him under the name Jean-Paul Packard, ex Virtue, Humility. One of the true originals not these knew wannabes like Truth or Justice. Y'know the lot I've heard the stories of your tangling with them before it's hard not to. Books and leaflets all about it everywhere from all sources human and not. That's why he's got those hounds. Nobody's seen him in ages until his home was wrecked by a couple a you." She motioned to the group. Unsure of exactly which two were the culprits this time.Least that's why I've heard in passing. They've shot down all the birds or beasts I've sent out to listen in. Her eyes narrowing slightly as the old dwarf disappeared. Another surprise to her in truth. Normally at the first sign of a real tight situation Hother was gone before one could blink. Exiting quieter than the faintest breeze. This time he talked to one of the strange women of the group though. What was that old man planning?

Brushing the oddities of her patron to the back of her mind for the time being she turned her focus back to answering questions. The more they lingered the more all of them were on limited time. "Other answer you're lookin' for is right there." Her finger immediately shot over to her father. "He's the reason they know. Him and a Virtue. You weren't found and run out of that town for no reason that while back. Right before this current mess you're all in. If what I heard was right about it, it ain't something worth another bullet from me if that means anythin', but whatever actions you wanna take is up to you. They don't know paths you take at least just where all these hideaways are out there and weren't on the move towards them until people got riled up. Wasn't worth their efforts to be on a completely blind wild goose chase. They also have no idea who any allies of yours are or where the deepest holes you can go to are. Weren't smart or patient enough to ask about those they only wanted your mainstays."

 

[Karcen]

" oh please what is money for if not to spend it, besides not like I pay for anything Abigail assured Blair and that was true why pay when you could make people think you did and you didn't plan to let them live long anyways. " Though I do suggest you don't listen to the short one, there is always a cost and payment never ends " so many patrons didn't let you just quit there was no I'm done with them. A deal struck with the super natural lasted an eternity unless the other side broke the deal first.

The news of heading to a city was for her goid news, thru would find allies willing or otherwise. The others were about as deadly regardless of where one was, but Abigail only got more dangerous as she was given people and time. As she had planted seeds in Thea she could do so to a city and with time and some pushing from her she could make civilians a protective mob. If the virtues were smart they would have already gotten agents around, but they were busy with the others how like men out here to forget just how dangerous a woman could be.

" Well then lovely Thea it is nice to put a name to the virture following us I just knew a certain pair of people riled up a wasp hive " though the name of a virtue meant little to her. " How like the boys to make a mess and leave it to the women to clean it up " she teased though she was getting ideas if the got time she might be able to call in a few favors and get some puppies of her own, though those alone or even a mob likely wouldn't get the virtue, but it sure would fuck with him.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The Horseman of Plague went to the map, features obscured by the misty shadows clung to his visage like lichens overgrowing a graven statue. He sensed Sisceal's attention, lambent eyes snapped to meet him. His amber braziers flared, illuminating but bereft of warmth, a coldness in the shifting tides of fire. He breathed, loosening the tension that wracked his limbs for a moment, clenching and unclenching his hands. He kept himself aware of Sisceal's presence, but brooked no further distraction from this ordeal. Abel casts a glance to Thea as he delineated the identity of their pursuer and his posse of divinity. He crossed his arms across his chest, eyes scanning the wrinkled map.

Abel nodded once. "A city is the most likely recourse now, not without its own obstacles, but from there, we can hem their options." He said, svelte finger tracing a path to one of the cities. Then he clenched his fist, withdrawing his hand. His head shifted, glaring at the dwarf whose keen interest in Blair soon began to wither Abel's stoicism. Stoking a pale pyre within his soul. Even as he vanished from sight, slipping beneath the gossamer veil of reality to the undercroft housing horrors, hanging hooks with alluring prizes for the desperate, the damned, and the discarded.

A part of him wondered how Blair weathered in all of this: among company, but alone in the pitiless darkness, beset by things that hunted in places far deeper and darker than the one in which they currently stood. He could not fathom the reason for his newly-wrought concern, clutching like a pall within his core.

His eyes narrowed. "We are moving." He answered coldly, and began his preparations.

 

[Soviet Panda]

Connor could almost hear the soft scratching of pen on paper as Sammael took his notes, just out of sight and almost out of mind. One of the biggest damn fish there could be, one of the original Seven Virtues, Humility. Well, perhaps not the original, just like how he wasn't the original War it was possible someone else had taken up the name. But if he knew anything about the things making deals with the Virtues, it was no doubt the original contractor. "Shit," was all he said in acknowledgment of this new information.

He nearly put a round in Sisceal out of principle. But Abel was right, they needed to get moving and now. They couldn't sit around and wait for the snake oil preacher to pull himself together while the noose was pulled about their throats. Another night sleeping in the saddle, then he thought as he to began packing his things and putting them on Stepper, who seemed excited at the opportunity to stretch his legs.

"You got to much energy, you stupid horse." There was a small amount of humor in Connor's voice as he patted and settled his massive steed. He could feel his long years of gun slinging and rough riding starting to weigh down on him, yet Stepper could care less in acting his age.

"Think we should do something about Blaire? Could tie her up and blindfold her right here. Virtues will find her tomorrow and there wouldn't be any way for her to know where we're going besides 'a town'. Not as bad as them knowing all our hides."

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The footfalls of Stert snapped against the cold dirt, trotting to Abel, his kitbag slung over his shoulder. The steed's body, pepperpotted silver and black, gleaming in the pale, warm glow of moonlight enmeshed with the campfire's dimming illumination. The horseman, a monstrous shadow against Stert's pockmarked ivory, tossed his bag onto the horse's rump. A shiver ripped beneath Stert's taut skin, muscles rippled and pulsed with consternation. Lifting his hand, Abel's fingers ran through the steed's mane, placating the fear beneath his steed's steadfast discipline.

As he fastened the saddle's binds, Abel heard Connor's voice over the wind's horrid moan. He flexed his fingers, arms outstretching to opposite sides of Stert, head bowed as the Horseman of Plague muttering virulently to himself. For a moment, he plunged his arm in the gelid, dark waters of his mind, stemming the fire that broiled beneath the surface. His breathing rasped, the tattoo of his heart steadying. He inclined his head, grasping his long coat. Abel spun, boots grating against stone and dirt.

"Do something about Blair?" Abel repeated as he walked closer, dragging his long coat on over his cloth shirt. His yellow eyes flared beneath narrowed, shadowy slits, head tilted slightly to one side. Exhaustion wrought fury, a fire stoked. "We would not need to do anything about Blair if we had never taken her since the beginning of this debacle." Abel went on, gesturing to the woman, voice colder, harder than the frigid night. "And now you wish to bind her, make a distraction of her for the Virtues to find?" He said, tugging his coat straight. "She has been with us for too long, bled with us, and rode with us. She is a beacon now, if nothing else, to us now. A scent for hounds, not so easily cleansed. And lastly, practically, she possesses something of value, or rather she is." Abel concluded, rolling shoulders, exhaustion clung to him like glittering hoarfrost.

He turned back, boots crunching the grass underfoot to Stert. He mounts his steed and hands coiled around the reins. Abel wondered if there had been a third reason for his decision, obfuscated beneath the discipline he venerated. He discarded such concerns, dismissing the undue thought.

 

[Aridis]

"You can't be serious." The words left her before she could stop them. Every day since meeting the band of Horsemen, she had contemplated escape. Every time even the slightest bit of danger came about, she swore that she'd just turn around and run. However, Blair never actually came up with a plan of what she'd do if left on her own. She never thought past 'I'll just run away' because she didn't think she'd ever make it that far. In fact, the amnesiac had done such a good job of keeping her goddamn head down and following along with their bullshit that she didn't know where she was anymore. Any maps that she had were practically useless without a point of reference. And she'd be damned if she even came close to considering going back to the ghoul-church to retrace her steps.

"Can't you at least dump me close to one patch of civilization and move onto the next?" Blair pleaded. "I don't exactly have my bearings straight out here! And I sure don't want to try my luck at the mercy of these 'Virtue' folk!"

She wasn't expecting anyone to come to her rescue in this situation, but Abel pulled through. She couldn't exactly call the Horsemen reasonable, but he was the closest to it in her eyes. He had initially been against dragging her along as a hostage, and it was relieving to know that he still maintained that mindset. The backup was both reassuring and made the reality so much worse. Blair hadn't thought to apply all of the outlaw's troubles to herself until the threat of splitting up arrived. Of course the Hounds would track her down even without being left behind. "I don't suppose there's some magical away to quickly rid myself of that scent, is there?"

There wasn't. She knew there wasn't. Dolly was more or less ready to go. Blair didn't have a lot of belongings that needed to be packed back up. However, she wasn't about to jump on her horse if she was going to be yanked back off of it. Her feet were going to stay planted on the ground until she was certain that she wasn't about to be blindfolded and bound within the next few minutes.

 

[Axeykins]

"Tell me about it. They're always making a mess of things." She huffed. Her eyes immediately shooting over to Connor with his little comment on the one named Blair. If she hadn't exhausted all her anger on her father she would have up and decked him then and there. "Sadly no way with these hounds. They're from his pact. They smell you by what weighs heavily on your soul, what you'll be judged for. This lot has so much on em that their scent will be here for days since they settled for a bit....an' all the blood." She shrugged nonchalantly. Snapping to make her own fiery steed manifest in a flare of whirling greens and blues. She couldn't be too much longer either. Didn't want to be caught and Hother would get annoyed after too long.

"She's seen and knows too much too. Aside from being a lil more cold-hearted than when we found her it'd be useless to leave her here for them to find." He shifted from heel to toe uncomfortably. Knowing damn well what she'd get if they just left her. "They may not punish her but they'd send her to the one I spilled my guts to. Burn the truth out one way or another or kill you trying. We can't leave her here defenseless and lost." He whistled for Stryker to come over. Course the beast eagerly did with Thea around. The giant steed adored her because of how much she'd spoiled it. It was immediately poking at her in search of sugar cubes or an apple which she of course provided. Again from some unknown compartment or pocket or who the hell knows what on her.
Sisceal took this opportunity of distraction to rifle through his bags as they prepped to leave. He kept it closer to him, but the shine of high end fabricks with even more high end embroidery on a very expensive dress was hard to hide even in the dim lights. Anxiously folding them over as nicely as possible before trying to hand them to Thea. Whispering something personal under his breath to her. It was a tension filled silent exchange between them after that. She took it along with a stuffed creature came wrapped up inside along with a large amount of money. Giving him quite the scowl the entire time as though she was ready to slap or shoot him, but her arms extending was neither. The young woman instead wrapped them around him in a pity hug. Breaking it soon as her eyes began to get wet. Both of them stepping away awkwardly from each other to get back to their own business. Without even trying they were mimicking each other's movements step by step.
"I'll let y'all figure this out. I've got to get going. Don't want caught by them either." She sniffled. Trying to keep a stern face. "I'll throw them off best I can for you."

"Let's get going soon as possible. I'll bandage this up on the way, sleep on the horse again. My vote is we don't leave her here either. Too risky for us and for her."

 

[Karcen]

" Leave her behind, death would be a mercy with an angry old virtue catches up. Brainwashing, forced contracts, tortures that make even me uncomfortable that is what awaits " Abigail said her tone making it rather clear she was against leaving their little stray behind. She was finally growing a spine as well, she would make a horseman yet.

The virtues and their hounds would be annoying illusions only worked so well on super natural sense, but they had been confused once before, so there was a chance they would be confused again, but their handler would be more aware. conner was very much out voted in this matter and not one of them would want to have to try to deal with the other three. Even Abigail who could control what they saw and felt didn't like her odds against them unless she had the element of surprise to separate everyone. Still they had yet to need to fight in such a serious manner and yet to plan against those around you just in case was the way of the outlaw or the cultist.

Abigail chuckled at what Blair herself said " Our little girl is growing up so fast " She teased " i am sure you will make a fine horseman one day " the choice to be anything else had already been taken. She was with them and once the virtues had her face they would make sure everyone knew it.

Abigail waved over her mount the creature disguised as a horse trotted over seemingly far more obedient than a normal horse to the point she never needed to tie it up. if only that were the case, but it was no earthly creature, btu a "gift" from her patron. It was her keeper in a way to make sure she didn't try to renege on her deal and the souls flowed. " though before we get into town we will need to stop so i can put a glamour on everyone so they don't know who we are on sight " another useful ability from her illusions was to hide just who she was from others, and to do the same for others. They could hide from all but the super natural which was on their tail, but an angry mob in front of them was worse than a virture that was a distance behind them in terms of short term survival.

 

[Soviet Panda]

Connor stood tall when Abel began to approach him, one hand coming to rest on a pistol with his other hovering by his knife. He was ready for a fight, one he was confident in at the very least walking away from. But luckily for all involved it didn't come to that, as Connor knew when he was beat. He looked around with a sneer on his face, ready to retort and explain his thinking when Abigail spoke and said the stray would 'make a fine horseman'.

"Ha!" The short, sharp bark of laughter escaped before he could think to hard about keeping it in. "I never took you for the teaching type." He wanted to say other things, such as how they were the 'Four' Horseman, not the Four Horseman and Someone They Picked Up Along the Way. And how he very much doubted Blair would survive long enough to get a chance at the title. He was fairly certain her best bet at survival was to agree to getting left behind and having the Virtues find her. It might not be enjoyable, but she'd certainly live longer.

"Well, Blaire, looks like you're one of us now whether you like it or not. Hope you're a fast learner."

"We'll stop for you to do your thing, don't you worry, Abigail. Won't make much sense to escape the Virtues just to get caught by some county sheriff."

 

[Aridis]

Oh, wonderful. Just because she didn't remember her sins didn't mean that she didn't have any. The idea of causing misery in others didn't bring her any joy, but that didn't exclude her from having been the source of intense suffering in the past. Either she'd barely register as a threat to the hounds, or she'd be a more captivating target than all of the horsemen combined. That wasn't a gamble that Blair was willing to take. Abigail and Sisceal's own accounts of what might lay in store for her weren't any more enticing. In truth, they made her more desperate to keep her distance.

"I hope so too..." She murmured in reply to Connor's antagonistic resignation. Her small victory had very quickly turned into yet another problem. Joining the Horsemen indefinitely and possibly sharing their title was never her intention. "All I want is a chance at survival without soul-crushing torture. I don't need much beyond that."

As soon as her semi-freedom was guaranteed, Blair practically launched herself onto Dolly's saddle. She wasn't about to cause any further delays in their travel. Her hip crunched uncomfortably from the quick movement, but without the pain it didn't linger in her mind as a problem. Even if it had, Sisceal was dealing with enough of his own issues for the moment. She wasn't going to request the favor of minor healing when he was recovering from several gunshot wounds and exhaustion. With her own standing in the group, it would probably take an actually fatal injury for her to consider asking at all. That was a later issue to deal with.

"Thank you." Just as they were starting to abandon their failed attempt at a campsite, Blair voiced her gratitude to the other three horsemen. She couldn't offer much else than that, but she was truly grateful. At least Connor didn't have to worry about her running off when his back was turned, now. Not after they all made such a fuss about it.

Maybe a baptism would get the hounds off of her trail. That was like a big holy bath that washed away sins. Who's to say that it couldn't wash away Horsemen stink? Then again... getting anywhere near a church would probably be a death sentence. And it probably didn't work if the person getting baptized didn't actually intend on properly following the religion and was just doing it for selfish reasons. A baptism maybe wasn't the way to go... She had time to brainstorm other ideas.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

His flint-edged gaze met Connor's, fiery wisps of amber swirling on a tide of shadows. Suddenly, the air stiffened. Seized by the suffocating canker of contrasting purpose, Abel felt his skin crawl from the sheer potency, hands rigid, fingers drawn on the grip of his pistol. For a few long seconds, seconds that last for ages, Abel had locked eyes with the Horseman of War, saying nothing. The wind whimpered slowly, dark coat flapping gently. Then Connor glanced, features twisted into a sneer, frustration on his lips, eager to dispel their convictions with retorts of his own, until Abigail's words shattered his focus.

Abel turned and went to Stert, ignoring Connor's pithy comments. Unable to relish in the bitter humour lining his tone. His hand rested on Stert's saddle, leaning forward, his shoulders slumped. Abel breathed, trying to work the fatigue from his body. He realised his fist had been trembling, the sudden adrenaline rush refusing to dissipate. He mounted Stert, giving silent thanks that they're departing from this forsaken place.

He flexed his wrists, turning Stert. The horse grunted, throat rasping with relief. It seemed as though the stalwart steed is glad they're leaving at last.

Abel half-turned when Blair spoke, yellow eyes lingering on her pale features. Despite all of his discipline, such gratitude clearly caught him by surprise. He returned gaze forward, cuffing the weariness crusting at the edges of his eyes. "It's nothing." Abel dismissed, voice tight with exhaustion. "Between you and I, it would've been better: had you kept your distance that morning." He said softly, voice bent by the barest hints of a flickering warmth. Brought up from the dark, cold depths by the incongruity of appreciation — he wasn't aware of it.

 

[Axeykins]

Well well well, looked to be they had another among their ranks. It had been an eternity since he had seen them adopt a new member. Stranger manner than he was used to for it but least she seemed to be finding her voice in the process. Even stranger yet was seeing a softer side to Abel seeping through the cracks at the same time. Ex-lawman still had a spark of good left in him deep down. Blair was lucky she made such an impression on him. Otherwise who knows what her fate would be.

"G'luck out there. An make sure he don't go dyin to someone else either. Got a score to settle still so. So watch him.." Thea gave her last choked up words with a point of her revolver at her dad as she headed out of their camp. Steed burning footprints in the ground behind her barely illuminating the strange fog as she headed directly back to Hother. He may have some way to throw them off and some questions to answer.

Sisceal said nothing as he watched her flee into the night. Praying quietly to himself that she'd make it back safe and sound. Maybe relay a message back to her mom or 'uncle' if he was lucky enough to gain that much of a favor from her. He then forcefully yanked Stryker closer and heave himself on top, bastard was still in a foul mood even after being spoiled. The exposed white maw he'd haphazardly wrapped up with a bandaged clattered together in the effort. Making him wince. The blood had slowed but now began the slow stitching together of sinew and skin again. He just knew Una was enjoying this somewhere over a glass of wine. If it had been anyone else he'd get some help. "Let's get going. Some of our horses can't go too fast they're still rough from before. And Abby, if you can give us some good disguises as we get into a town as always I can forgive the little tricks you were trying to pull. I've seen your messings before. Just don't do it again." It was a slight warning. He hadn't seen his little girl in forever so God knows what she was like now but the flushed face and her behavior was more than enough to make him suspicious of meddling from the more mind altering memer of their group. Least he hoped so otherwised he'd sound painfully like his own father.

 

[Karcen]

" Don't worry about it, he's just grumpy " Abigail chuckled as she mounted her horse which wasn't a horse.

Abigail let Thea go without any more teasing, perhaps they would meet again or maybe they wouldn't. Life was like that when you were an outlaw you never knew if you would meet anyone again. It didn't help Abigail tended to leave death and madness in her wake so she burned her bridges and the time.

" once we are nearby I'll make make sure we look like upstanding individuals, anyone have any requests " she said taking her not horse's reigns and starting off.

 

[Soviet Panda]

"Yes, make me a foot taller, blonde haired and blue eyed. Smooth out these wrinkles while you're at it." Connor said, leaning back in the saddle, hands waving in the air for emphasis and guiding Stepper with his knees. "If you can make a fairy queen jealous, that'd be perfect. Let's really kick the shit and see what we hit." Hell, if he could he'd try to get under Sammael's skin while he was at it, but he very much doubted the old demon really cared as long as he got his story. Speaking of, he had a feeling he was due for a visit. Something about his next chapter. Hopefully it'd be his last and he'd be able to get his wife and kid out from Below and on the right path to a comfortable life. It'd have to be without him, though.

"Lead on, oh knower of cities. I'm sure you memorized where exactly the closest city was, so let's go and get to it."

 

[Aridis]

"I've definitely learned my lesson about minding my surroundings." She muttered back to Abel. If only she had paid better attention that day, she wouldn't have stumbled across the Horsemen. At least, that's what Blair liked to think. With her luck, they might've still crossed paths further down the road.

Thankfully, Dolly still had a bit of energy to burn. She was probably the only fully normal horse in the herd, but she refused to fall behind the rest. Then again, it was probably the nonstop adrenaline that was keeping the mare going. Like all of the days before, Blair made sure to keep out of grabbing distance of any of the Horsemen. However, now it was just a force of habit than a result of actual paranoia. There was a weird form of trust that she was starting to build with the group of criminals. At least the majority didn't seem interested in throwing her to the dogs anymore. Or the Hounds, to be precise.

In response to Abigail's question, Blair simply shrugged. "Dealer's choice? Not sure if you even need to bother with me."

 

[Worthlessplebian]

For a moment, Abel inclined his head, admiring the way the moonlit streaks played through the panoply of jade, the way it cast them in deeper shadows then jagged scars of light, subdued, and how it gleamed on his steed's mane. He turned his gaze to the pale rider beside him, looming just out of reach. His yellow eyes, ablaze with a coldness seldom possessed by ice, were on her fully. But almost gone amidst the twisting shadows. He nodded his approval slowly. "Good, good. That'll serve you well in our presence." He allowed, returning his gaze to the darkened path ahead. He took a measured breath, staving off the malady of fatigue picking at his features.

Abel shrugged. In the pale, cold night haunting them, his mind wandered. Visions of a sun-streaked town and winnowing wind flashed before his eyes, memories undisturbed for a decade. He looked at his hands, the balmy wind crossing gently over his knuckles. One hand went up, disappearing beneath the mass of coiling shadows. Then suddenly it hesitated, withdrawing back to the worn-leather reigns of Stert.

He thought of the effort, the agony he endured when marshalling the mephitic shadows snapping about him. Abel wondered when it became so difficult. It always seems to take longer for his mind to harness the darkness bleeding from him, the morass of shadows clinging to him, his ivory skin almost like a conductor for the inky nocturne. "I will see about that." Abel answered, stolid voice tight and low in the groaning wind.

 

[Axeykins]

"Surprise me, long as you at least don't make me look too old or ugly. Not feelin in the mood to deal with that I want to be able to still do my job in town. Nobody listens to a face that's hard to look at." He grimaced as he rubbed the side of his face. The bandages were already being soaked through. He wondered if she could hide it still while he was healing or if it'd be a nightmare of a visage falling apart to others while it did.

He gave Stryker a firm kick to try and get the horse moving. It snorted angrily but kept moving forward. "Like Connor said you're the expert on towns among us right now. How to hide in em the best so lead on Abby. We desperately need to rest before we keel over like some of our horses are likely to do at this point. I've got a lot of money on me still for whatever is the nicest place you want to hook us up with too. Thea gave me what her mom told her to as usual when I meet her out in the wilds. Been a while but she still remembered and it'll set us up with food and a roof for a good while while PawPaw hunts us down."

 

[Karcen]

" My my such a picky bunch " Abigail chuckled no one had anything specific, though none but Abigail likely ever thought about changing their looks like she could. It was a mystique she tried to cultivate that nothing about her was certain that no one knew just what was truth and what was lies. That was just how she lived her life and how she liked things. Abigail had been far to sentimental as of late and far to open. Abigail wanted to recapture some of her normal nature, her normal mask that hid the pain and scars from her life from the world. It was a simple truth she had made her choice and she could only keep walking that road, but she didn't have to let others know how much the road hurt to walk.

" hmmm let see" Abigail decided to weave her magic on the go. For other horses this might not be the best idea but her horse was no normal beast, the others likely suspected it was some monster that Abigail rode but little could they know how right they were. Blair might not, but she barley knew them now. She would weave the spell over them all selecting traits with soft movements of the hand and slight tone changes of chants.

Connor would get his request a foot taller, blond hair blue eyes, though Abigail also made his face softer, younger, and lacking in facial hair. Overall he was a tall but young man that had an oddly innocent look to everything. His clothes would be cleaned and made to look a bit higher class than before like he was some rich boy from a bigger city out on what he thought would be a fun adventure in the west.

Blair would find her hair darkened to black, her skin given a healthier tone and her eyes turned an emerald green. She would gain a delicate application of make up and find her assets made larger. her clothes likewise were upgraded to make her look like some girl that their rich youth had roped into an adventure gone wrong. Abigail also made Blair have a slightly older air to her, a certain strength of features not found in youths, though only enough to match the age of connor's guise.

Able had not really answered the question so she took it as dealers choice. she would add to their narrative, well city boys needed their muscle. Able would find his clothes replaced with something lose short sleaves tighter pants, though that was only because the pants were filled with muscles and her arms grew far thicker. She made his face a criss cross of light scars, a square chin and a strong look. He didn't look ugly with the scars but it all created a rather rough and handsome figure. his hair and eyes remained the same. he looked like the kind you would find in a bar looking tough and offering protection a body guard.

Now for the horseman of famine, this was a tough one not to old not to ugly, but fitting the little story she was writing in her head. Well the idea of the man being a father was still fresh in her mind so she changed his white hair blonde, red eyes blue, and made him taller. She gave him a stronger stern face along with a beard and mustache. He looked like an older Connor, the father of the runaway boy. his clothes were of higher quality but far more practical a man that had status, but knew the world unlike his son.

With that the story of a pair of young lovers along with a bodyguard running off only to be taken by home by an annoyed father was complete they just needed one thing. Abigail's skin darkened reddening matching to tone of the Indian natives. Her clothes seemed to melt away becoming the lighter almost revealing tribal garb of sone group or another. Her eyes became a brown and so did her hairs as a simple headdress appeared on her brow. Now they had a native guide. It was a story right out of the pulp novels of lost travelers being led to civilization by a kindly native.

" There we are now let you guide do her job She teased wanting to see if anyone figured out the story she had crafted.

 

[Soviet Panda]

Connor gave himself a brief inspection as they rode, filling in the blanks of the story Abigail had made for them. The only sign of understanding he gave was a mirthless, almost maniacal laugh as everything clicked into place. It was something Sammael could have written had he a more tender heart. "I hope you don't give your sense of humor up to your patrons, Abigail." he shouted over the wind of their passage. This would be a long trip, no matter how he looked at it. He had to play a character now, and he had to stick to it if he didn't want to attract the attention of the Virtues tailing them.

Tonight would be a long one, for all of them, but hopefully they'd be able to rest for a while in that town he saw on the map. What was it called again? It took him some time to remember what he had read, absent mindedly keeping Stepper away from the other horses so he wouldn't bite at and otherwise antagonize them while he did so. Ah, he remembered, it was the respectable town, of Sourcreek.