Steve 2: River of Fear

Roscoe opened the door to his bunk, balancing a large tray on one hand. "Hello, Steve!" he said cheerfully, placing the tray on a barrel before the previously-little-used hammok. "I didn't know what kinds of things you'd like to eat, so I brought a little bit of everything."

Roscoe smiled a wide, sharp silver grin, and gestured at the spread before him. Cheeses, meats, fruits and breads were represented, along with deck tar, an assortment of stones, metal shavings, half a burnt torch, a shoe, and a small pile of rock salt.

Having just made a third search of the bunk for any route of egress, Kossiss scrambled back into the bunk when she heard the sound of the warforged returning. The sounds of the large folk, like much else about them, annoyed her. She was careful to conjure an appropriately resigned expression when the living golem entered.

She eyed the offered items, steeling herself against taking the large folk's succor. Her whole body stilled as she silently glared at her captor. Never again.

Roscoe gestured at the offerings, and shrugged. "I know what most meat-creatures I've met like to eat, but I know dragons have different digestive systems, and since you're a dragon-marked dragon-riding dragon-creature, I thought maybe you'd want something more unusual? I tried to get some saltpeter, but Yarr asked why I wanted it, and then she wouldn't let me have any. All there is to drink is water or alcohol, and frankly alcohol weirds me out, so I hope you don't mind water."

With a gangly gracelessness, he sat down on the floor and held his forearm in front of him, revealing a small compartment. "I used to keep tea here for my father, but I ran out a few years ago and just forgot to fill it up again, and then later on I need a place to keep my Healsquitoes, but if you like tea I can find another place to put them and go check the market when we get back to Highmark. I still have father's teapot, but I should probably check it's integrity before we start using it again. I don't really know how long porcelain is good for, he said he'd had it forever but I'm starting to think that was an exaggeration. Do you like to play checkers?"

(Sorry to interrupt, but I just had to say: Roscoe is ADORABLE!)

Kossiss maintained her stare, but it softened under the adorable outburst. The golem actually sounded genuine. Uncurling on the hammock, Kossiss reached for a bit of meat and gave it a sniff. She kept one eye on Roscoe during the entire movement, not speaking before she was settled back a safe distance.

"I thank you for your hospitality," she responded, quietly.

Roscoe smiled even bigger. "Well hey, what's yours is mine, right, Steve? Or wait, no, I've got that one backwards again. Comes from learning it from a thief, I suppose." he scratched his head idly, lost in recollection. "At least I think she was a thief. She ran off with anything that wasn't nailed down, and pried up much that was. Really was a shame she didn't put the same kind of effort into checking for traps, but with all that loot she just didn't have a chance of making it to the surface when the floor fell out..."

He blinked a few times and seemed to remember where he was. "Sorry about that, I get talky with new people. If you want, we can put up soundproofing or something in your bedroom - I assumed you'd take over the bedroom, since I don't really need sleep. I guess that means I'll have to get you a bed, too. And probably figure out if the plumbing works. And introduce you - Oh! You're going to like Miss Rosamund, Steve, I just know it. She's our landlady, and she runs a little orc diner down the road - great stuff, I hear, and since you seem to like the meat I bet you'll like that too. Oh man, I guess I need to get an icebox now, and things to cook with, and a trash can - basically right now all I have is books and a few chairs, and my workshop."

"Man, it's a good thing we're getting a bonus for this mission, we'll be able to pick up most of the stuff we'll need when we get home. I think we're gonna stop by the Goliath camp, since we got the drakes and all, and see if we can do a twofer, so we might be able to get all the things you'll need in one go. Unless..." He cocked his head to the side, and squinted. "Do you know if the tax rate goes up when you have a dependent?"

Kossiss's eyes widened through Roscoe's rambling, not sure response was merited. His words seemed kindly enough, but he also seemed to be planning on holding her prisoner. Or did he? His intentions, despite the his earnestness, were difficult to discern. As he came to the pause after his final questions, Kossiss answered without thinking.

"Lowers, actually."

She froze, unsure. She quickly grabbed another piece of meat and shoved it in her mouth avoid speaking further.

Roscoe raised his brows in surprise. "Really? Wow, I should have looked into starting a family a long time ago."

Kossiss coughed, gagged the chunk of food in her mouth, and settled into a lengthy coughing fit. She waved off Roscoe's attempts to help, backing as far into the bunk as possible. When she had regained her composure, she stared at Roscoe uncertainly.

"S-starting a family?"

Roscoe sighed contentedly, and nodded. "Yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love my friends, but it's just not the same, you know? And Miss Rosamund is great, but she's got her own life, with the diner and the warehouses and the grandkids. It'll be nice to have someone who understands, who's always there for you, and who you can be there for too." he looked up, a little sheepish. "I've been getting really lonely these past couple of years. Sometimes I talk to my dad, but it's not like it was anymore. I miss having someone to talk to, who actually talks back."

Kossiss's eyes narrowed, her posture even more defensive.

"I don't want to get murdered like my friend, but what the hell are you talking about?"

Roscoe blinked several times in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean? Why on earth would I murder you?"

"Y-you're friend seemed to have no problem with k-killing me and leaving my body for your guild," Kossiss replied bitterly.

"I thank you for standing up for me, but it sounded like I represent little more than a curiosity. In that regard, as your friend pointed out, I am of almost the same value to you dead as alive." She blanched, seeming to have realized what she'd said only after finishing.

"Obviously, I'd prefer the latter," she added, looking sheepish.

Roscoe sighed, and passed a three-fingered hand over his face. "Yeah, when they get going in a battle, they're pretty much down to kill anything that moves. Especially Tzesira. In the first part of the fight, we'd subdued a young warrior that I wanted to take back with us, but yeah. Tzesira happened to him."

"Really, the thing is though, is that you were trying to kill us TOO then, and that really does make it different. I mean, I'm not trying to upset you, but I'm certainly not gonna hold it against you that you were shooting lightning bolts at us when all the rest of your guys were doing the same thing. "

"And yeah, I imagine that the guild is gonna want to take a look at your mark, and there's gonna be some political stuff probably, but that's not why I didn't want them to kill you. I mean, don't get me wrong, your mark is *really really cool* and I'd like to know more about it, I love the history of old things like that, but you really weren't a threat to us at that point so I see no reason why we should have killed you."

"I don't hold it against you that you killed Arkere. He was an enemy combatant, and I do understand the rules of warfare." She paused, looking down and aware before adding, in a quieter tone," I do."

"So what do you want of me? Your guild will kill me before they let you keep me, make no mistake. They have no tolerance for things outside their rule books."