A/N: This story was pretty well received. Considering there is only one other in the category, I figured there would be less traffic. Oh well, good news is good news! Welcome all, and I hope I don't promise too much with this speedy update. Truth is, I already had chapter 2 almost finished when I released chapter 1.
Chapter 2
Four hours later, Arthur finally found civilization. After watching the scroll videos several times just to make sure he wasn't drunk or addled. The whole Aura thing still boggled his mind, and he had to pinch himself a few times just to test it. Sure enough, if he focused on it, the strange barrier appeared, turning a painful pinch into a dull prod. He'd considered experimenting with the knife, but a smart cowboy did not use a knife while on horseback, even if his intent was to cut himself. She mentioned Semblances, special abilities unique to each individual person, but so far he hadn't seen any evidence of that yet. The Aura he could use was slippery, too; if he was distracted, it still hurt same as always. He'd need to practice with it, preferably before he got into a gunfight. Unless this strange place had no guns and everybody skipped around holding hands. Summer talked about people out to kill her and hurt her family though, so I doubt that's the case. Arthur considered as the wavering shadow of a city grew closer.
He passed a few people and nodded, their clothes consisting of light cloth that covered all of their skin. Considering how sunburned his arms and neck were, he wished he had thought of that when he'd packed back in Beaver Hollow. Of course, trekking through the desert had not been in his plans for his final trip out.
"Ma'am." Arthur tipped his hat to a woman comfortable enough to walk without a hood or hat; a blonde haired woman with tan features and a bright smile as she returned his greeting. When she walked past, however, Arthur nearly fell out of his saddle. A long feline tail protruded from her tan robes at waist height. Either she had a large cat she'd taken a trophy from and stuck it to her behind, or this woman had a tail! She didn't notice his confusion, but the two guys behind her certainly did. Their disapproving looks reminded him that this kind of thing was normal in Vacuo, even though he'd never seen anything like it before.
"Vacuo is a strange place." Arthur sighed, removing his hat to rub his temples with his free hand. Summer's videos had mentioned people called 'Faunus' that had animal traits and features, but he had assumed a tribal inclination like some Indians he had met out west. To find that they had actual functioning animal parts, judging by how the blonde woman's tail had swayed back and forth so naturally, was still something of a shock. Time for the aged pirate rum, he figured, and dug the long necked bottle out of his saddlebag. One long pull of liquid fire later, and Arthur realized he didn't particularly give a damn what people had attached to them. A pleasant buzz hummed in his mind, and an easy smile spread across his face.
Closer to the city, away from the outer layer of tents and covered vehicles (horseless carriages had apparently become a thing VERY quickly), the adobe walls of the city loomed over him. Arthur squinted at the large entrance, wide enough to allow ten horses shoulder to shoulder, and the two large metal gates that stood open. Four guards stood in the middle as a myriad of people passed between them, their eyes scanning the people going by them for any mischief. They wore tan robes with metal badges pinned to the chests, and the robes parted in the center that showed weapons on their hips and white uniforms underneath. Their heads were wrapped as well, leaving only their faces exposed. Not a one of them had facial hair, strange as it was to Arthur, but they all seemed confident and alert.
As they stared at him, it finally occurred to Arthur that he was the only man there on a horse. He'd seen a few pulling carts earlier, but using one for personal transportation seemed a little odd to the people around him. Arthur took their looks in stride, used to standing out from time to time. This wasn't his first rodeo.
"Mornin', fellas." Arthur greeted, earning nods from three of them. He made to steer Famine past them, but the one that had not nodded stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"You'll have to stable the horse. We don't allow large animals inside the city." He said without hostility, though there was little kindness as well. Arthur bristled at first, but once again reminded himself that he was a stranger in these parts. Weird thing that they were worried about the horse, but not the guns on his belt. They did things differently, and it was up to him to catch up. Didn't help his temper though, fueled by alcohol and the bizarre circumstances he found himself in.
"Mister, everything I own is on this horse. I ain't just gonna hitch him to a post. Know anywhere around here that's good?" Arthur tried to keep his irritation out of his voice, and if the guard had a problem, he didn't show it.
"If you're going to be in town for a few days, there's a barn down that way that will board him for a decent price." The man pointed to Arthur's left along the wall, where a large wooden building could be seen over the tents. "If you're not sticking around, he can stay by the gate, and I'll instruct the watch to make sure no one messes with him. No promises on that, though; I can't make everyone do their job right." It was a fair point, really. Given that he knew exactly nothing about the place, there was little he could guarantee on getting out before sundown. On top of that, he didn't feel like chasing down a fence because some little alley rat ran off with some of his belongings.
"Yeah, I'd better head to the barn just in case. Appreciate the help, partner." Arthur nodded and turned Famine toward a dusty trail that lead to the barn. The guard returned the nod with a wave, then went back to watching people come in and out. Not quite a rough start, but not the in and out that Arthur was anticipating. Then again, Vacuo appeared to be quite the city. The adobe walls were at least twelve feet in height, and even up against them, a few stone towers rose up inside the city. It made sense, though; Vacuo was the oasis in the desert, and a center of commerce as well as survival.
The barn was remarkably cool compared to the desert heat, and run by a Faunus named Mickey; a young man with close cropped black hair and brown eyes that twinkled with mischief. He wore a simple tan shirt and brown apron over blue jeans and boots, and he had a cap that was constantly twitching. Arthur was secretly thankful for the cap; he still wasn't used to the whole Faunus thing, and he didn't want to offend the guy that was going to watching over all his worldly possessions.
"Whoa!" The young man gushed over Famine, even as the horse tossed his mane smugly. "What a beautiful horse! What's his name?" Arthur dug the lien and Summer's scroll out of his saddlebags before handing the reins to Mickey, who honestly had never stopped examining Famine to consider his cargo. He kept the Relic in the bags, figuring it would be safer here since he was entering a city. Pickpockets getting his super secret cargo was not in the cards today.
"Famine. He's been with me for a long time, and has gotten me out of some serious trouble. You gonna take care of him?" Arthur knew he would, judging by the starstruck look on the boy's face.
"Oh, you know it sir! A specimen such as this deserves the star treatment. I've got some oats in the back, and we're air conditioned in here. No more desert heat for him." Mickey thumbed is nose as he lead Famine to an empty stall, his hands already going to the myriad of buckles that kept Arthur's alligator skin saddle on the horse. "How long are you planning on staying?"
"Well, for tonight at least. I gotta see a doctor and find out a safe way to Vale without going broke. How much for two nights, just in case?" Arthur kept his hand in his satchel, not wanting to show how much lien he had. It was an old bargaining trick; if the merchant couldn't see what you were working with, he'd highball the price and give you an idea of what you could haggle down for. Mickey, however, proved that unnecessary.
"I'd normally charge twenty-five lien a night, but for such a beautiful horse, I can do forty for two nights. If you wind up leaving before tomorrow night, I'll refund the remainder to you." Mickey had the saddle unbuckled and pulled it from Famine's back, groaning at the weight of Arthur's belongings as he struggled to put it on the rack next to the stable. Free of the weight after so long, the Arabian whinnied and shook his head, glad to be free of the constricting harnesses. Arthur had made every concession to keep Famine comfortable, but one could only do so much with rabbit fur and alligator leather.
"Sounds good to me." Arthur dug out the lien, strange ceramic cards colored certain ways and inscribed with their worth. Arthur had thought them silly at first, but lien didn't look like it would burn or tear if it got wet, so there was some wisdom to it. Two green lien cards later, and Famine was stabled for the visit. A quick count told Arthur he had two hundred lien left, and he hoped it would be enough for the treatment he needed. It'd be poor form indeed if he died from TB now, after everything Summer had given him to make him better.
"Thanks for your help Mickey. I'll probably stay in town today, but I'll let you know how things go." Arthur called as he walked out. Mickey responded with something, but the cowboy was already too far out to hear him.
A short walk back to the city gates, and Arthur passed through without interruption this time. The guard that had stopped him gave him a nod and a small grin, but that was it. Once inside, however, Arthur could only gasp as he took in the city.
The place was definitely larger and better planned than Saint Denis, or any other city he'd been to for that matter. Despite its location in the middle of a desert, they had electricity set up everywhere. Displays similar to his scroll lined shops and showed wares and prices. All of them were well lit with artificial light, and air conditioned like Mickey's barn had been. People walked the stone streets in colorful clothes with designs that Arthur had never seen before. And the hair colors! Either there was a barber around here that owned a mansion, or his definition of 'natural' needed an update. Pink, red, blue, orange; every hue of the rainbow was growing out of people's heads, and in styles he would have generously considered European. Compared to most of the people walking around, Faunus or not, Arthur felt like he stood out in his regular clothes, though he guessed regular was now an objective thing.
It was only once he had wandered deeper into the city, six blocks at least, that he'd realized he didn't know where to go. He'd been so caught up in looking at his strange surroundings, he'd never asked directions to the doctor. Vacuo was too large to search on his own, and judging from the size of it any directions he received would be a little difficult to follow.
"Excuse me, sir." Arthur stepped up to a man leaning up against a wall near an alley, which was shadowed even in the late morning sun. The man was muscled, obviously so, and dressed in a white vest with black pants of all things. A blue cloth was wrapped around one of his large biceps, and Arthur could barely see a white emblem of some kind stitched into it. His hair was black and cleanly cut, and he had long sideburns. Hazel eyes watched Arthur closely, though he didn't feel like he was about to get mugged. He tensed subtly when Arthur walked up, though the cowboy couldn't quite fathom why.
"What is it?" His voice reminded Arthur of Charles Smith, though even deeper. He clearly wasn't in the mood for games, but at least he hadn't turned Arthur away.
"I'm a little new in town, and I'm looking for the doctor. Could you point me in the right direction?"
"What's the matter?" The Faunus growled. "Your scroll not work?" Uh oh. Time to cover up his ignorance of Vacuo. Arthur thought for a second, then slapped his forehead and chuckled.
"Sorry, friend. I never did get the hang of the things. Don't see much of them where I'm from." Best he act simple for now. It was an easier answer than 'some woman drugged me and dumped me on what I assume is another continent and cast a spell on me'. Seriously, Summer; what the hell?
"Give it here." The Faunus straightened up and held out a hand, the callouses telling Arthur more about him. This was a man used to working and fighting, if his worn knuckles were to be judged. Some kind of bruiser or enforcer, judging by the cloth wrapped around his arm. Whoever he worked for, they weren't total assholes. Arthur handed over Summer's scroll, watching intently as the man pushed a few icons and frowned.
"This thing's pretty old. It didn't have the navigation program, so you're lucky you asked for help." A few more taps and beeps, and he handed it back to Arthur. "It should have a map of the city now."
"Thanks, partner." Not wanting to be rude, Arthur looked around a bit as the man leaned back up against the wall. "So, what are you waiting on? Anything I can help with?" The man's brow furrowed as he frowned, and stood into a wider stance, hands at his sides.
"Why?" It was a one word demand, and Arthur held his hands up in surrender. Here he was, trying to be helpful, and picking fights by accident. Can't say Arthur hadn't done that a dozen times before.
"You helped me out, so I figured I'd return the favor. If I'm bothering you though, I'll just be on my way." Arthur stepped back to follow through with his words, but the man deflated a little, his shoulders slumping.
"No, no. I'm sorry, I just..." The man sighed heavily before shaking his head. "Vacuo's a pretty laid back place, but we still run into racists every now and then. Can't be too careful." Arthur waved off his apology, used to how Lenny and Charles would stiffen up around some of the more outspoken folk in Lemoyne.
"Name's Arthur, if that helps. Arthur Morgan." He extended his hand, and thankfully the Faunus took it without hesitation.
"Tukson. Tukson Stark. I'm sorry I jumped on you like that." He released Arthur's hand and had the grace to look sheepish. "You hear enough crap from people, it's easy to assume they're all going to be the same way." Arthur nodded and shrugged, not really bothered by the hostility since he knew it wasn't pointed at him.
"I'm used to one set of people getting the bad hand. It's human nature, really. Doesn't excuse the behavior, but it explains it. Like I said, though, you need a hand? As soon as I finish with the doctor, I don't really have anything to get to." Besides get to Vale and find someone named Ozpin, but he had time for that. Wherever the hell Vale was.
"Not really. My boss is meeting with someone to help us move cargo to the coast. We're trying to gather some building supplies for Menagerie, but so far no one wants to ship to us. It means we have to travel out and get it ourselves, and there's a bad season coming soon. The more quickly we can gather supplies, the sooner our families will be safe." Tukson pointed his chin toward the street where Arthur had come from. "A few companies here had agreed to sell to us, but their labor costs were outrageous. We offered to do the work ourselves, and they wouldn't let us in the storehouses. 'Security reasons', they said." Tukson spit into the dirt to tell what he thought about the excuse.
"These fellas willing to help though?" Arthur asked, and Tukson nodded.
"Yeah, but Sienna thinks they're shady. Our leader, Ghira, just needs materials fast, so it doesn't matter where it comes from. Sienna is inside discussing terms, but she doesn't trust these guys. They're not exactly straight, if you catch my meaning." Ah. Arthur would never admit it, but he and Dutch's boys had sold plenty of supplies 'acquired' by robbing coaches. It was easy cash if you found the right buyers, as long as they didn't report you to the law. Building materials in the west were always worth a fair price, since people were putting up houses left and right. Arthur didn't know enough about Vacuo to gauge how successful a business like that could be, but if Tukson's crew was making a purchase, it couldn't be terrible.
"I've got some experience with people like that. If you need any more security, I'm quick with a gun. It's about the only trade I have." Arthur offered honestly, patting his right holster for emphasis. Tukson looked him up and down again, this time for real, and he nodded slowly.
"You certainly look it, but no offense when I say we can handle ourselves. There's a lot of trust in security like that." He shrugged in apology, and Arthur nodded in understanding. Before he could offer his goodbyes, however, Arthur and Tukson both started when raised voices could be heard in the alley. Tukson and and Arthur shared a look, and then both took off into the dark path between buildings. Dust kicked up as they ran, turning a hard right as Tukson barged through a partially closed door on the inside wall. It was lucky Arthur had followed, because the cowboy saw a shadow to Tukson's left that the Faunus had either missed or ignored.
Arthur saw the glint of a blade, and he was in motion. His hand reached out and grabbed the wrist holding the blade, hauling the attacker out into the light while Tukson tackled another. Arthur missed what all else was happening inside the building, so preoccupied was he in fighting over the knife. A masked man, wearing black robes of all things, snarled as he fought for control. Arthur twisted the man's wrist and got behind him, pinning the blade flat between the two of them. The man struggled at first, and put up less resistance than Arthur was anticipating, but quickly found he was overpowered. He dropped the knife from his pinned arm, but grabbed it as it fell with his free hand.
Swinging without looking, the stranger barely missed Arthur's ear and forced the cowboy to pull back. The added space was enough for the stranger to wrench his arm free and face Arthur. His dark eyes glinted with malicious intent as he reversed the knife, though the way he held his arm told Arthur that some damage had been done. Arthur drew his own blade, the hunting knife he'd had engraved with skulls back in Valentine. The two circled each other slowly, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Arthur knew that the first clash had to go in his favor, or he'd be spilling blood all over the sandy ground.
Time seemed to slow as he focused on the blade, watching it waver this way and that as the man feinted. The world took on a golden hue, and Arthur calmly batted the knife away with his palm. Still caught in the spell, he smoothly carved a line up the man's forearm and sank his blade deep into the opposite shoulder. When the hilt of his knife met flesh, time resumed, and he was almost startled by the loud scream of pain that came from his attacker.
The other man's knife sank into the dirt between them as he fell to a knee, clutching Arthur's knife as blood spurted around it. Not wanting to go another round, Arthur clenched his fist and landed one solid punch, right along the man's covered jaw. His pained cries ended abruptly as he lost consciousness, slumping to the ground the rest of the way. Arthur tore some of the man's cloak away and rolled him over, grasping his knife firmly. With a sick slurping sound he removed it, then immediately held the scrap of cloth down over the wound. It grew wet and sticky immediately, and Arthur had to tear three more strips to bind the wound. Everything inside was quiet, so he figured he had time. In a few seconds, he had the man's shoulder wrapped up snugly and a stretch of rope around his wrists.
Once he was done, Arthur wiped his knife off with the remaining cloth and sheathed it, then stepped into the building. The meeting room was small and dark, perfect for some under-the-table deals like the one Tukson described. Six men lay on the floor, and judging by the blood on the ground, two were dead. Tukson was standing, however, and his employer was as well.
She was... well, Arthur was still getting used to the Faunus, but there was no denying that this woman was gorgeous. Her skin was a dusky shade, and darker in stripes down her arms like a tiger. Two cat ears sat proudly atop her head, gold ear rings looped through them. Her human ears were pierced as well, though partially hidden by her short, dark hair. Amber eyes studied him even as he did her, and he was reminded of a cougar he had fought in a cave once before. This woman was not to be taken lightly.
Her clothes were, if nothing else, as exotic as she was. Her shoulders were bared, though a stiff collar came up to her neck. The shirt was black with white highlights at her throat, shoulders, and chest, which was partial shown by a small, diamond shaped keyhole. Her robes fell across her legs, though he could see the toes of her boots could be seen beneath the flowing cloth. A cut up the side at her hip exposed dusky striped flesh and some strange type of pants or stockings. To Arthur, she looked like of a very expensive Chinese lady, though he doubted she would appreciate the comparison. And he realized he was staring at her still.
"Uh, ma'am." Arthur nodded in her direction, then looked at Tukson. "Everyone make it out okay?" The male Faunus knelt down next to one of the groaning men on the ground, and his gritting teeth told Arthur that all was not right.
"For the most part. Cain took a blade to the arm, but he should be alright. His Aura will heal it, but he can't fight right now." Tukson looked up from his comrade, a man with no animal traits to be seen at a glance, and nodded toward Arthur. "This is Arthur Morgan. I was speaking to him outside when we heard the noise, and he offered to help."
"And help he did." Sienna's voice was silken, smooth, but carried the edge of authority. She kept a respectful distance away, but turned to face Arthur with a small smile. As she did, Arthur heard the faint clink of metal. Whether it was a hidden weapon or an addition to her bizarre outfit, he couldn't tell. "I fear Tukson would not be here right now had you not intervened. I appreciate the help, Mr. Morgan, but why would you assist us like you did?" Even though he'd saved her man, she was still suspicious, and rightfully so. Arthur held up a hand to show he meant no harm.
"I was passing through and asked Tukson here for some help with my scroll. We don't get much use out of them back home." Not technically a lie. "We heard the commotion, and I figured it was the right thing to help out since he helped me out. I'd be less of a man if I hadn't." The answer seemed to satisfy Sienna, and she nodded in thanks.
"Not everyone shares your outlook, but I do thank you for saving my friend. However, I'm afraid he got hurt for nothing, it seems." She huffed, crossing her arms and cocking her hip in a pose Arthur was more than familiar with. Extra parts or not, Arthur knew a frustrated woman when he saw her.
"I'm guessing you're not getting those supplies you wanted." Arthur asked, and her eyes cut to him dangerously. She studied him for a moment, then looked over at Tukson, who grinned guiltily.
"Sorry." Sienna rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, but it was Arthur she spoke to.
"Unfortunately, yes. Things got messy before they ever told us where the supplies were located. Even if we knew where they were, it would be no small task to take them by force. And if anyone catches wind that the White Fang were going through a fence to get supplies, no one will deal with us. Our ship on the coast leaves soon, and we have nothing to show for it." The man named Cain sat up with Tukson's help, groaning as he held a hand over his wounded arm. Sienna's eyes softened for a moment as she looked at her wounded man. Arthur stepped back and made room as Tukson lifted his fellow Faunus up on one shoulder, and together the three of them walked out of the back room. Arthur closed the door behind them, sealing in the five men that Sienna and Tukson had fought. Sienna examined the man that Arthur had stabbed as they passed, and she looked over at the cowboy.
"You bound his wounds? That's quite kind considering he was trying to kill you." There was no suspicion in her voice, only curiosity, but Arthur knew he had to give a good answer. He sighed heavily.
"It's a couple of things, really. He was quick, but I can tell he's young. I've killed many a fool over many a foolish thing, but I didn't feel like it today. I'm not going to do him any favors, but I didn't need to kill him, so I didn't." Arthur gestured at the three of them. "Besides, you really want people to see you guys walking out of an alley where a murder occurred?"
Sienna looked down as she considered it, before finally shrugging nonchalantly.
"It's not like they can report us to the police without first explaining why we were meeting in the first place. From the looks of them, these men were organized, and not the type to make reports. Even so, I appreciate that you were trying to prevent further trouble. It is an... honorable thing. We Faunus don't often encounter people like you." Arthur took it as praise, and judging from Tukson's surprised look, it was rare from a woman like her. He grinned and removed his hat, scratching his ear and not meeting her eyes.
"It's what anyone worth a damn would do. Besides, I can't say I don't know what you're going through. I've lived quite the life, and it wasn't always done the legal way. If your people need help, ya gotta do what you gotta do. Speaking of which," Arthur nodded back in the direction of the alley as they turned down the street, ignoring the perplexed looks people were giving them. "Where are you going to get your supplies now?"
Tukson and Cain looked over at Sienna as well, but if she was nervous about having all eyes on her, she didn't show it.
"We'll find some way to make do. I'd say we have another day and a half before we miss the boat. That's plenty of time to make arrangements." Arthur had a comment on offering help, but it died as his lungs reminded him that he still was not in peak physical condition. A racking cough escaped from him even as he covered his mouth, though it did not paralyze him as it had done in the past. Sienna and Tukson paused as he coughed, and maintained a certain distance when he finished. Arthur sighed as he looked at his hand, and was surprised to find far less blood than was normal with TB. Whatever spell this Aura stuff had put on him, it sure came in handy.
"You mentioned a doctor." Sienna stated. "I'm guessing it was for that?" Arthur nodded, wiping his hand down the front of his vest in absence of a handkerchief. The blood smeared across the white scales, and Sienna's eyes lingered on it before looking back up at him.
"Yeah. Bacterial infection, almost killed me to be honest. Met a woman that activated my Aura and pointed me here for treatment." Arthur spit into the dust, ignoring the looks from passersby. "I still need medicine, but I'm far better off than I was."
"It seems kindness follows you everywhere." Sienna commented with a smirk. Her eyes flicked to Tukson and their injured friend, and her smirk broadened into a predatory grin. Coupled with her tiger stripes and the ears on her head, it was a fearsome look. "I have a proposition, then." Arthur had heard that phrase before, and his first instinct was to say no. However, he was new to the place, and if he was going to find this Ozpin guy, he needed friends. Besides, there was nothing stopping him from cutting ties if things got too complicated.
"Alright, shoot." He held his hands up. "Not literally, though." Sienna chuckled at the joke, then inclined her head towards Cain.
"My friend here needs treatment for his wound before we start traveling, whether we complete our mission or not. Even though we handled most of those men, I'm sure more will be between here and the clinic. Since you need medication as well, why not go with Tukson and make sure there are no... unscheduled interruptions?"
"Alright. Seems fair to me." Arthur held up his scroll. "To be honest, I'd rather trust him than this little thing." Tukson laughed this time, and Sienna nodded in agreement.
"I appreciate your help. Now go, before someone investigates the alleyway. When you're done, have Tukson bring you back to where we're staying. At the very least, we can feed a kind stranger." Sienna fluttered her fingers toward the three men and turned, striding confidently back into the crowds that walked the busy streets of Vacuo. "Take care now, boys."
Arthur waited until she had disappeared from view before he let out a low whistle. What a woman. He could see why Tukson and Cain had no problems taking orders from her. She was driven and confident, he could see that, and judging from the five men they'd left inside the back room she could handle herself in a fight. She also cared enough to make sure her men got the care they deserved. In a way, she reminded him of Dutch, though he realized that was a poor compliment given his old leader's recent behavior. Tukson grinned at his reaction and shifted Cain to walk a little better.
"Careful, she might have heard that. Come on, the sooner we get this poor fool looked at, the sooner we can get back." Arthur agreed, and came around to take Cain's other arm. Even though he'd been stabbed in the arm, the way he was limping suggested that it was not his only injury. Arthur paid special attention to be gentle, and once he was situated nodded to Tukson.
"Alright then, lead on."
Together, the three of them staggered through the streets of Vacuo, once again exposing Arthur to the bizarre culture that danced all around him. People holding scrolls up to their ears, walking in pack while dressed in brightly colored clothes that were alien to him, and some of them were sipping drinks from specialized looking cups. Arthur had asked about the scrolls, and both Cain and Tukson looked at him in surprise.
"Man, you weren't kidding about never using them." Tukson smirked. "You can use them to call other people all over Remnant, provided you're in range of the CCT. Of course, once you get out into the wilderness they're useless, but I'm surprised you've never worked with one. Where did you say you were from again?" Ah shit. Now he had to lie, and lie well. If they suspected him of getting cagey now, heading back to their camp could have an entirely different outcome. He couldn't tell the truth either, since they'd either call him crazy or a liar. So, he settled for a half-truth.
"Spent some time in a place called Rhodes for a little while, but I've been moving from town to town since I was young." Arthur shrugged, then apologized when it made Cain wince. "Spent so much time hunting, fishing, fighting, and surviving that I never really took in the sights. Biggest town I ever saw had maybe four hundred people." That was a blatant lie, but he had to sell it. If they thought he should know better than he did, he was better off telling the whole truth for all the good it would do him. If they thought he was from somewhere more populated, though, it wouldn't explain why he was so unfamiliar with the technology.
"To think, Vacuo probably seems big to you then." Cain laughed painfully. "Welcome to the absolute dirt hole of Remnant. The weather is harsh, the land is rough, and the people are both. At least, on this side of the Kingdom they are." Kingdoms, huh? Every day, it sounded more and more like he was stuck in some Eastern European mess, though he'd never heard of Faunus and Aura back home. Whatever the hell Summer had done to him, Arthur kept wondering more and more if he hadn't stepped into a little too much bullshit.
"Most of the people in Vacuo don't actually live in the city itself." Tukson explained, taking a side street that had a building with a bright neon sign, the medical cross flashing red within the shade of the taller structures. "It's a real dick move not to help people when you're moving through the desert, and a lot of people outside of the city are pretty helpful. Here though, you get all the cast offs that can't find it in themselves to be decent to others. Vacuo's considered one of the fairest Kingdoms when it comes to the Faunus, but lumber and building supplies are so rare that we had to come to the city."
"Why didn't you go to another Kingdom, then? Even if they're nicer, rare commodities don't come cheap." Arthur asked as they approached the door, taking most of Cain's weight as Tukson opened it for them. The injured Faunus complained about it, but the other two ignored him and ushered him inside. The waiting room was clean, except for a thick mat at the door, and two couches sat against the left and right walls. A small counter sat next to the door, with a bored looking blonde woman sitting at the desk. She looked up when they came in and waved them over.
"Vale's a little dicey at the moment, since one of our demonstrations turned bad. Atlas won't sell to us at all thanks to the Schnee Dust Company, and Leader Belladonna is in Mistral right now. He figured we should try our luck here just in case he failed." Cain explained while Tukson filled out the paperwork, looking quite out of placed looming over the receptionist. To her credit, the woman did not look overly concerned by the large White Fang agent. Arthur carried Cain over to one of the couches and gently sat him down, earning a nod of thanks as he sat down beside the Faunus. Tukson followed behind soon after, and pointed his chin toward the desk.
"The lady said she needed to see you. Gotta fill out some paperwork." Arthur sighed and nodded, standing up and allowing Tukson to take his place. The woman at the desk slid a few papers on a clipboard over to him with a pen, one that was clearly both more advanced yet of inferior quality to the one Jimmy Brooks gave him so long ago. Three sheets and what felt like an eternity later, he'd either filled out or made up everything on the forms, and turned them in just in time for the doctor to come out for Cain. Arthur waved them on, and both Tukson and Cain followed the elderly man in the white coat back into the clinic.
Settling in with a sigh, Arthur resigned himself to wait.
An hour and a half, a somewhat invasive examination, and eighty lien later, Arthur was the proud new owner of a bottle of pills, inscribed with his name and instructions for taking them. It was amazing to find that between Aura and Vacuo's advanced medicine (according to Arthur, anyway) he could not only survive TB, but also recover from it in a matter of days. He didn't know what the hell were in antibiotics, but right now he didn't particularly care. By this time next week, he'd be free of the death sentence he had carried around for so long. Cain's arm had been wrapped with bandages, and he'd been sent on with some pain meds. The doctor had administered some directly as well, which meant that Arthur and Tukson were carrying him back to the White Fang's camp. They had been forced to stay out of the city, due to the cost of rooming over a dozen people and storing their vehicles. It was apparently easier to sleep in the cab of a truck for a few days than it was to rent a room. There were tents and bedrolls as well, of much better quality than the ragged choices Arthur kept on his saddle, and it seemed he'd be staying close to one of the fires.
The guards they had passed on the way out of the city were not the same ones Arthur had seen upon his arrival, and he did not like the way one of them sneered when they saw Cain's clearly Faunus traits. Still, he bit his tongue and focused on getting their loopy friend back to camp so he could lie down. When they did reach the camp, he found that the White Fang were comprised entirely of Faunus, though not all of them were as obvious as Sienna and Cain.
Sienna had met them when they approached, her shoulders a little less tense now that she was surrounded by her own people. Her smile was easier as well, and she took the arm Arthur was using to support Cain as he passed off the doped up Faunus.
"Thank you again for your help, Mr. Morgan." She said, leading them into the corral of trucks. Just like the covered wagons that Arthur was used to, they had circled the trucks for protection. Whether it was from the elements or other people was Arthur's guess. Together, she and Tukson slowly settled Cain down onto a mat, though Tukson stayed nearby just in case he needed anything. With him finally taken care of, that left Arthur and Sienna free to wander around camp. Sienna led him away from the tent toward the fire, where several long logs sat as seats and turned to face him when she reached it. She stuck her hand out, and Arthur took it with some reluctance.
"I never fully introduced myself earlier. I am Sienna Khan." Her grip was strong, but not painfully so. Arthur shook it once and let go. "I hope I wasn't too rude with you, but you must understand. It's not often we meet humans that genuinely want to help without some ulterior motive. You not only put your life on the line for a total stranger, but you helped another to the doctor. You are... strange, if you don't mind me saying." She glanced away at the last part, and Arthur did as well. Such naked praise wasn't really something he was used to.
"Ah, I just did what anyone else should do. No point in making it something it's not." Arthur rubbed his arm, looking into the fire instead of at Sienna. "Just because everyone else has a poor opinion of you doesn't mean I have to agree on principle. That and... well, there was once a time when I was just like the men we fought today. Thanks to a stranger being kind, I got a second chance to live. If helping you paid even a tiny part of that back, then I'd gladly do it all over again." Arthur could see Sienna staring at him from the corner of his eyes, and to his surprise she laughed.
"Now see, that is a reason I can believe. No matter how selfish it sounds, no sane person is truly that altruistic. I find it more than favorable that you have some debt to pay, some kind of guilt to absolve. If you had told me you had done it simply to be kind, I would not have believed you." Her amber eyes danced in the fire's light, and Arthur returned her gaze. It was like staring down a predator, and he wasn't sure if he was prey or not. A thrill crept up his spine, one he had not felt since his younger days. He'd promised Mary that there would never be another woman, though she had finally let him go according to the last letter she had sent him. The very last she would ever send, evidently. But right now, he felt an ember stirring in the fire he'd put out long ago.
"Well, why should I not have helped, then?" He challenged, out of curiosity as much as he wanted to shift the conversation to something other than himself. Sienna did not comment on his deflection, and instead held up hand, counting off of her fingers.
"The danger of interrupting a meeting with organized criminals. The risk of arrest when you assisted someone involved with said crime to get medical attention. The fact that we are a Faunus rights group used to persecution and malice from humans and you are a human," Sienna ticked off each point as if she were quoting a grocery list, and Arthur shrugged every one of them off.
"Like I said, there was a time when I would have been the one setting up the ambush and selling stolen goods. I'm not a good man. I've seen good men, killed them too. Over small, insignificant things that weren't worth their lives. As for risk of arrest, I've had my scrapes with the law before. Nowhere around here, thankfully, but I know what the inside of a cell looks like. I spent most of my adult life with a bounty on my head." He gestured up toward her Faunus heritage, which flicked at his attention. "As for having them ears; I haven't got a reason to hate you. Why should I, when I have so many other problems in the world? I've got enough enemies without inventing more."
"Hmm." She purred. "If only the rest of humanity shared your philosophy. Still, it's not an uncommon one. Most people would rather ignore us or offer a polite hello and little else, but as in most things the extreme are usually the loudest. You've mentioned being out of touch with the rest of the world, but have you heard of the Schnee Dust Company?" When Arthur shook his head, she continued.
"After the Faunus Rights Revolution, a brutal war that we Faunus fought in order to be allowed into the Kingdoms, humanity promised to treat us fairly and equally. The SDC is a shining example of how hollow that promise was." Sienna sneered at the mention of the company, and ugly look crossing her face that had Arthur wondering just how bad it had been. A few other White Fang members passed by and overheard, and they too showed visible agitation at the mention of the SDC. "Reduced security around Faunus workplaces. Long hours and low wages. Skipped inspections and unsafe mines to work in. No insurance for the families of those lost in tragic, preventable accidents." She clearly could continue, but Arthur got the picture. It sounded like Leviticus Cornwall all over again.
"I've seen people like that before. Not the SDC, but something similar. A big company with lots of money and plenty of friends in high places." Arthur's expression soured. "It didn't go too well when we were involved." Eagle Flies had been forced to bury his last son, and the entire Wapiti nation had been reduced to refugees and fugitives as the government had forced them off of their land. Yeah, the story Sienna told was familiar indeed.
"I'm sorry that you're familiar with such tactics. But you clearly know what oppression looks like. So far, our leader has demanded we fight these cowardly tactics with peace and demonstrations. There have been successes here and there, I will admit, but it is not enough." Sienna shook her head slowly. "We cannot continue this way and get the results we desperately need. Today was just one more example of why action is required. Being forced into dealing with criminals due to the way we are taken advantage of."
"Is there no one that will listen to you?" Arthur asked. "I've helped with civil rights before, and I know it's not done in a day. Surely there are some out there that are listening, though." There had always been good people too, like Thomas Downes and Captain Monroe. No one was ever allowed to suffer alone, even if it took some time to get anything done. That's just how people were; you got the good with the bad.
"There are, but many powers at work make those with any kind of pull choose between supporting us or saving themselves. Their choice is expected, and perhaps not their fault. It would be foolish to ask someone to put their family on the line for strangers." Well, he didn't really have much in the way of family, did he? With Summer dropping him here in Vacuo, which he still didn't where 'here' was, there wasn't much he had at risk save his horse and his belongings. Summer had asked him to find Ozpin and deliver the Relic, but if he helped these people out along the way?
"Well, I suppose I could help out a little." Sienna smiled as he offered. "If you'll have me, anyway." Sienna chuckled and shook her head, though at what he couldn't quite guess.
"Given that Cain is going to be on bed rest for the next few days, I suppose we could take on a hired gun." She looked him up and down, more for show than anything. "You seem decent enough... for a human anyway. Interested?" She held her hand out, and he shook it with a grin. She returned his smile, and he laughed a little at the 'interview'.
"That's the most praise I've heard in a long time. Count me in, I suppose." Arthur looked around at the tents, then back to his new employer. "I ain't asking for much, but any extra tents around here? Most of my things are on my horse." At the mention of Famine, Sienna's brows rose in surprise.
"Wait, you're serious? You actually rode a horse here through the desert?" At his nod, the composed woman could no longer help herself and burst out laughing, covering her mouth as she did. Her laugh brought a smile to his face, and the others around camp turned and looked when they heard it. A few appeared shocked, seeing Sienna talking and laughing with a human of all people. It wasn't impossible, to be fair, but a long time had passed since she had enjoyed the company of a human. The fact that Arthur was oblivious to such a change made it all the stranger.
"No need to be hurtful now." Arthur chastised with a chuckle, even as Sienna's shoulders continued to shake with mirth. She finally got herself under control, and she shook her head once more.
"You truly are a strange human." Sienna said with wonder, and Arthur couldn't really contradict her. Even back home, he'd found himself in some truly odd situations, and it only took so many before he wondered if in fact he was the strange one. The incestuous cannibal couple in between the towns of Rhodes and Valentine, the Grays and the Braithwaites, the strange doctor and his murderous metal child; all of the strange people he had met on the frontier, and the only real common factor had been Arthur Morgan himself.
"I'll take that as a compliment, ma'am." Arthur tipped his hat and reached into his satchel, pulling out the medicine he had purchased while Cain was getting his arm examined. According to the instructions, he was to take them twice a day, once every twelve hours. His first course would be after dinner, but the days events had him planning for an early nap if he could get one. The meds said not to take them on an empty stomach, so food and some sleep were fast approaching.
"You can take one of the spare tents we have in the trucks until you retrieve your loyal steed," Sienna smirked once more. "Until then, Tukson and the others should be starting on dinner soon." When Arthur rose to help, however, the tiger Faunus held up a hand.
"None of that. I'm sure you're used to helping out with a meal, but Tukson, Cain, and I are the only ones that know you. Some of the others may not take kindly to a human preparing their meal." As she said that, her eyes roamed to a young man dressed in a black jacket and pants, his crimson hair barely concealing two curled horns. His eyes were concealed by a strange slitted visor, its white ceramic surface hiding any emotion save for the young man's disappointed frown.
Arthur eyed the young man for a moment, then nodded and remained in front of the fire. Sienna smirked as his cooperation, then stepped away to speak to a few other Faunus. Arthur watched her go, and he had to force himself to look away from her swaying hips. That outfit didn't help, either.
"Where was she ten years ago?" Arthur muttered. Shaking off his daze, the gunslinger looked down at the medication again. Figuring now was as good a time as any, he open the bottle and dumped out two little brown capsules, as directed. Tossing them back and swallowing with a little difficulty, Arthur hoped that Vacuo's medicine was a damn sight better than Saint Denis'. His Aura, whatever the hell it was, seemed to have kept him from dying, but it would be nice to to double over coughing in the middle of a shootout. The doctor had told him to give it a week or so, and then he would be free.
The White Fang hustled and bustled around, though most of the trucks appeared to be empty. Clearly, they had been intended to haul cargo like what Sienna had been trying to purchase, but the sight of their empty holds left a slight frustration stirring in him. Even with his help, the locals were being less than helpful with the White Fang. According to Sienna, Vacuo was more tolerant than some of the neighboring countries. That didn't explain why they had found so little success. Still, he wasn't the closest thing to a local around here, so he'd leave that quandary to the people it affected. Instead, he'd focus on people watching and waiting for the food to be prepared. The Faunus that helped around camp reacted to his presence in a variety of ways. Some waved as they passed, which he reciprocated, while others gave him distrustful looks and avoided him. He ignored those, preferring not to cause any trouble with Sienna's people after she graciously offered him food and a place to sleep.
After half an hour, he grew bored of watching the people around him, and decided to examine his scroll a bit more. From what Tukson had said, the device was pretty important and useful. He poked and prodded the screen, going through different programs with very little understanding. He could read the words, but the meanings were lost to him. 'Home screen', 'contacts', and the 'address book' had not been what he had first assumed. He felt like a kid with his first book, flipping through the pages without a clue in the world.
Do you want to allow 'contacts' access to your location? The little screen read. Not really seeing a reason not to, Arthur pressed 'Allow' and continued exploring the little device.
Not far from the fire, Sienna and her disgruntled lieutenant stood next to a large pot, where Tukson was whistling absently as he added spices and stirred a massive serving of noodles. Adam sneered in the direction of Arthur, an expression Sienna frowned at when she saw.
"Is there a problem, Taurus?" She asked haughtily, knowing the answer but daring him to voice it nonetheless. "Speak up, or does the cat have your tongue?" Adam's snort told her he was in no mood for such jokes.
"Why did you bring him here?" The young Faunus demanded. "You just met this human, and you already brought him into our camp? What if he works for the SDC, or the government? How can you trust him?" Adam's left hand rested on his blade, Wilt sitting at the ready should its master ever call for it. Sienna kept a watchful eye on the sword, lest her second in command get any rash ideas.
"I brought him here as thanks for his assistance, and if it makes you feel any better, I don't trust him. Not fully, anyway. The reason I've been so nice to him is that for the first time in a long while, I had a conversation with a human that did not lie." Adam balked at the simple answer, and almost looked like he was going to stomp off.
"I'm glad that our squad leader's motivations are so juvenile." He snarked, and clearly intended to end the conversation there. Sienna's hand on his right shoulder stopped him just as he took the first step.
"I know you have plenty of reason to hate humans, but I can tell you right now that Arthur is different. He showed only surprise when he saw that I was a Faunus, and continued to be gracious and polite with us. When I asked him why he helped us, he told me that he was struggling to right some past wrongs. He even admitted to banditry in the past." Sienna watched him even now, smirking at the frustrated frown on the man's bearded face as he continued to tinker with his scroll. "When was the last time you met a human who did not lie and cheat for his own goals?"
"By his own admission, he was a bandit. Does that not fall into the category of lying and cheating?" Adam swept his hand aside in frustration. "And yet you brought him here, to where our brothers and sisters sleep? What do we have to gain from him?" Sienna gave him a hard look, and in the end Adam was forced to look away. Next to them, Tukson's distracted whistling became much more forced and desperate, even going out of tune as he struggled to focus on the food before him.
"I have an idea to get our supplies tomorrow. If Arthur is agreeable, and I'm sure he will be, we will spend half the lien they were asking for and being headed toward the boat by noon. Not only that, but Cain needs to heal, and we're down a guard." A mocking tone entered her voice. "I do not doubt your ability to fight, Adam, but you were not born with eyes in the back of your head. Until Cain is back in fighting shape, we need another guard to watch the flank. So unless you can somehow watch both sides of the convoy and sleep when necessary, he's coming with us. His end goal is Vale, so when we meet up in Menagerie with Ghira, we'll go our separate ways. Until then, find a way to control yourself. Polish your sword, if that's what pleases you." Adam growled, and his thumb pushed Wilt from Blush just enough to be a threat.
"And where exactly will he be sleeping? Will you be sharing your tent as well as our camp with your pet human?" Sienna's eyes narrowed dangerously, and she shifted slightly. As she did, the ominous clink of chains caused the tension to rise.
"I can assure you, Adam, it takes far more than polite conversation and honesty to join me in my tent. Maybe he should stay with you instead? It seems like you have a lot of frustration to work out with him." Her calm veneer cracked a little as she bared her teeth. "And secondly, I truly cannot recall ever having to answer to you, young Taurus. Perhaps you need reminding of your place." The two slowly sank into their ready stances, Adam's hand creeping over to wrap around the hilt of his sword.
"Food's ready!" Before their standoff could evolve into something more, Tukson stepped between the two of them, his arms up to defuse any hostility. "Well, it's almost ready. Ten minutes tops. Don't...don't fight. You'll ruin the noodles." It was a lame excuse, really, but it did remind them of where they were. All around them, many of the White Fang were watching, their preparations for the night's meal postponed in the anticipation of an oncoming fight. Sienna and Adam were no pushovers, no matter how young the boy was, and a fight between the two of them would level their base camp. Not to mention the attention it would draw from the city guards.
"Well, for the sake of the noodles, I suppose we can postpone this little discussion." Sienna's tone indicated that there would indeed be a discussion, but she slowly stood into a more relaxed pose, Adam doing the same. They released their weapons, although Sienna's chains had never been revealed in the first place. Not wanting to leave the point unmade, however, Sienna grabbed Adam's arm as he made to step past her. He stiffened, but that was all he did as she leaned in close.
"Make no mistake Adam, we need this. The sooner Kuo Kuana gets these supplies, the sooner we can pressure Ghira into settling down as Chieftain. If the White Fang is going to go in the direction we need to, these supplies MUST make it back to Menagerie." She nodded her head toward Arthur, who was watching them curiously. "If putting up with one human is all you have to do to accomplish that, will you? Or should I find another lieutenant that doesn't run at the mouth at the slightest inconvenience?" Adam glanced at her out of the corner of his mask. She knew he had more reasons to hate humans than most, given his history with the SDC. But his constant paranoia against Arthur was likely to turn someone that would serve her purposes into the danger that Adam perceived him to be. The young man hesitated, and clearly had some biting retort, but ultimately nodded his head and turned away. Sienna released his arm, and the two of them left Tukson to sweat it out as he finished preparing the night's dinner.
Sienna walked back over to where Arthur was sitting, and he slid over on the log to allow room for her. The tiger Faunus nodded her thanks and took the offered place, her face pensive as she did so.
"Trouble in paradise?" Arthur asked, and Sienna chuckled at the term.
"Not quite. Young Adam is among the number that do not trust humans, no matter the circumstances. Then again, he has more reason than most to do so." She brought up two fingers to her eyes, and nodded toward the young Faunus as he stalked out of the camp. "He was branded by racists on his face, the reason he wears that mask. A rough childhood at the hands of similarly bigoted humans, and he's resolved to distrust them entirely."
"I can see that, at least. There's a lot of hate in that boy." Arthur shook his head slowly. "I've seen where that kind of hate can take a young man, and I'll say it now; he needs to let go of some of that anger, or he and everyone he cares about will suffer for it." Sienna looked down and away as Arthur said it.
"You speak from experience?" Arthur nodded.
"The people I told you about, the big company that wanted their land. There was a young boy, son of the local chief. He was so angry, and there was... there were others that fueled that anger. The leader of our gang fanned the flames for that boy, and soon we were launching raids against the company. It was foolishness from the start, but our leader Dutch insisted that it was worth it. While the government focused on the natives, we could pull a big score and escape in the inevitable dust up." Arthur looked down at his hands, ashamed of what they had done. "I brought that boy back to his father with a bullet in his gut and the army on our heels. All because Dutch wanted to rob one more train, one more oil field, one more stage. It was always one more, like we were just one bad deed away from freedom. Looking back on it now, I see what kind of fool he played me for."
"It sounds like quite the tale." Sienna said softly. "Whatever happened to your gang?" Arthur winced at her question, as it was one he had not yet asked himself since coming to Vacuo. What had happened? Micah had been snaking around, that was for sure, and Dutch had been going crazy. John Marston was in prison, awaiting a hangman's noose, and Sadie Adler had been drowning in rage. Bill was being the dumbass they all knew him to be, and Abigail and Jack were just...caught in the crossfire, he supposed.
"I don't know." Arthur admitted. "I found a woman, tied up and ready for some real nasty business just outside of Annesburg. I saved her from the inbred savages that had trussed her up, and she noticed I was dying. She told me she could get me fixed if she sent me away, as long as I brought some Relic to a man named Ozpin. Next thing I know, she's slipped something in the evening meal and I'm waking up in the desert, with Aura and my horse pulling me through the sand." Arthur chuckled as he watched Tukson start bowling out dinner for everyone. "It's almost enough for me to not trust anyone's cooking."
"I'm sure Tukson won't do anything too rash, especially given what all you've done for us today." Sienna said with a sly grin. "But if all of this is true...where ARE you from, Arthur? You sound so traveled, yet you aren't familiar with anywhere I've seen or heard about. This Annesburg, a big company seizing native land, being a bandit; where did all of this happen?" Sienna didn't sound distrustful, merely curious, but it still reminded him that he was in unknown territory, carrying out a supposedly dead woman's wishes and carrying some of her belongings. It wasn't the strangest thing he'd ever done, but the Faunus, the technology, Aura... where the hell was he?
"Most of it took place between the states of New Hanover and Lemoyne." Arthur answered honestly. "Those states are part of the United States of America. Surely you've heard of the U.S.?" When Sienna shook her head slowly, Arthur felt his gut drop like he'd just looked over a steep cliff. How far away was he? Even in America, he knew about England, France, Germany, Russia, the whole nine. Before he could go deeper into his own introspection, Sienna gently picked up his scroll. A few quiet ticks later, and she turned it sideways, presenting a map for him to see.
It wasn't a map he recognized.
"We're here, in Vacuo." She pointed to a small dot on the western continent. "This is Vale, Atlas, and Mistral. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. As far as I can tell, there's never been a 'United States of America'." Sienna sounded like she was apologizing, but Arthur was too dumbstruck to comment. Summer had said... just what in the hell had that woman done to him?! Dutch Van der Linde, Leviticus Cornwall, the Wapiti nation; not a one of them had ever been anywhere near where he sat at this point in time. It couldn't be real, shouldn't have been...unless...was he dead? At the end of it, Summer had seemed a fever dream more than anything, but he'd trusted his own eyes and ears. Now, though, surrounded by such bizarre things, this being some kind of weird afterlife wasn't off the table.
Arthur looked at Sienna, and he could tell from her sympathetic expression that the face he wore was one of a man truly lost. The tiger Faunus placed his scroll down and sat quietly while Arthur grappled with his new sense of hopelessness and doubt, even as Tukson approached with two bowls of steaming food. She took them and sat hers on the ground, holding Arthur's in her hands as she waited for him to say something. The gunslinger just stared into the fire, his wide eyes searching for answers that it would never provide.
"Maybe...maybe it was once around here. Kingdoms and countries have risen and fallen for centuries." Sienna hypothesized. "Maybe Summer just...sealed you away for a while. You said that she'd saved your life, right? Maybe you were just in the desert for longer than you thought." Arthur's gaze snapped to her, and for the first time since he'd met her, Sienna flinched.
"You believe me?" Arthur breathed out. "All the crazy shit I'm spewing out, and you believe me?" Sienna handed him the bowl, the warmth of it doing little to distract him as he stared down into the broth. Wavy white noodles sat in some kind of tomato based sauce, if the red was anything to go by. He could also spot some meat and a few vegetables.
"You say these things with the confidence of a man that believes them." Sienna explained, picking up her bowl and blowing some of the steam away. "I've been lied to many times in my life, especially by humans. In time, I've come to learn the tells that a kind face might have. And every time we've spoken, you've said every word as if it were the truth. So either you're some secret agent," That earned a snort from the gunslinger, "or you genuinely feel that these events happened, in these places. I can't say I know where you came from or how you got here, but I'm left with one of two choices." Sienna offered him a fork to eat his broth with, guessing correctly that he would have no idea what to do with the chopsticks she produced. Also, she only had her one set.
"And those are?" Arthur stuck the utensil into the bowl and wrapped the noodles around it, pushing them around as he waited for her answer. His stomach had been close to growling a few minutes ago; now he could barely think of eating.
"You are either crazy, and you do not have the bearing of a crazy person." Sienna smirked at his reply of 'gee, thanks', "Or you actually lived these tales you tell, and how you got here is a mystery. I choose to believe the second one."
Arthur's thoughts ran to his conversation with Summer.
"I can't say I've ever heard of the place."
"Nope. It's not North, South, East, or West of here. Not that I've found, anyway."
She'd been right, though he didn't have the context of what she spoke of at the time. Now, as he stared at the strange map outside of a strange city sitting next to a strange woman, it began to dawn on him just how far out he really was.
"Well..."Arthur searched for something to say, he really did. When nothing came to mind, he reluctantly brought the fork to his lips, savoring the flavor of the stew Tukson had made. "At least the food is good." Sienna less chuckled and more outright laughed at his lame statement, earning more looks from around the campfire. With bowls in hand, more White Fang members sat down around the fire, and their conversation was no longer private.
"Like I said before," Sienna's laugh colored her voice as she too tasted some of the stew. "You truly are a strange human." And this time, Arthur agreed with her.
After dinner was finished, Arthur was allowed to at least help clean the dishes. The rest of camp either grew a little more familiar with him over the course of the meal, or Sienna and Tukson had told the story of how they had met him. Cain would have likely done the same, were he not high on painkillers and giggling at the setting sun because it looked like a sinking orange. Arthur's own meds seemed to have their side effect as well; the moon wasn't even out yet, and he was already feeling drowsy. The bottle warned that the meds would make him sleepy, and it wasn't lying. So, the gunslinger asked around for a spare tent and got it set up quickly, barely even removing his gun belt before he crawled inside and fell asleep, his dreams grappling with the same quandary he had faced at dinner. As Arthur Morgan slept outside the walls of Vacuo, uncertainty clouding his mind and haunting his dreams, the shattered moon rose above him. He never even realized that his problems were only just beginning.
Far away on another continent, another man's scroll pinged with a notification. The man drew it from his pocket with disinterest, taking a sip of brandy as he did so. When he read the text, however, Qrow Branwen spit his drink out all over the barmaid that had brought it to him. In a moment of rare clarity and speed, he paid for his drink and left a sizable tip before the woman even had the chance to slap him, his weapon strapped onto his back.
I'm sure everyone can sense the coming storm here.