[ WEEK ONE ]

[sheriffexe]

WEEK ONE

CURRENT POPULATION: 40 It's a rather quaint town when you get down to it. At least, that's what the Sheriff would argue. Warm and dry in the mornings and afternoons with a brisk coolness in the evenings. The perfect type of weather to just sit out on your rocking chair and observe the comings and goings. ... Of course, there's not much in the way of comings and goings when there aren't any actual people here to watch. Nevertheless, don't let that get you down! The town is your oyster and those roosters won't stop crowing until everyone's out of bed. Up and at 'em, rise and shine, it's time to make the day yours! After all, there's nothing wrong with the town today and you might just want to savor it while it lasts. This post functions as the general mingle post for the week. Wanted Posters and other small events will be posted in top levels below. If there's any questions or requests, please send a PM or shoot a PP to robowest.

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[bittybat]

Monday

[Well, it looks like they aren't leaving, so, as frustrated as he is, Damian buckles in. Being leisurely and patient aren't his strong points; he's always itching for work, for being busy.

So he opts to spend most of Monday by the Watering Hole in hopes of catching fish for supplies. He's still in the Robin uniform despite having ample opportunity of changing.

For now, he's only caught one fish that's strung up on a fishing stringer. Beside him is the rest of his catch: an old, ugly, water-logged cowboy boot with a rusty spur; a tattered linen bonnett; and what seems like a leather belt or a leather pouch's strap. Pennyworth, the tuxedo cat that follows him like a shadow, is currently stuck head-first inside of the cowboy boot.]

Tuesday + Wednesday

[Surprisingly (or worryingly), Damian is missing all of Tuesday, and then also Wednesday morning and early afternoon. (Pennyworth hangs around town and can be seen alone here and there.)

When he comes back to the land of civilization, he doesn't go into town. Anyone near the homestead can find him walking in, leading one of the horses that had been there by a rein. Strapped across the saddle, as plain as day, is a dead juvenile deer. Looking at Damian, the answer of how is clear: over his shoulders is a Native-looking shortbow and on his back is a simple, tailored quiver with four home-made fletched arrows.

Even if someone is watching, he doesn't say anything, but continues on to set up the tongue-out deer and prepare for dressing it.]

Thursday

[The Homestead has become Damian's second hotel.

Damian can't find anyone who seems to be taking care of the farm, so he decides to just do it himself even if the animals seem fine. Others can find him wandering around the place doing basic farm chores: milking the cows, feeding the chickens or gathering the eggs in a basket.

Behind him, a small tuxedo cat pads after him, though it's often spending its time sunning nearby while its master tends to other things.

If they listen closely, they might can hear him sometimes talking to the animals.]

Wildcard

Hit me up with your own prompt, or ping me at moetan!

thursday

[cherrypuncher]

[Yuna wishes she could visit the homestead more than she does, but it's so far away and there's so much for her to do, she feels, in the town with everyone else. But she's gotten a chance to take the hike up today, brought a basket herself to collect more flowers with (right now it has a couple water bottles in it). She's a little surprised to see Damian there already—but she grins once he comes in sight, cheerfully waving her hand over her head.]

Hey! Helloooooo!

[bittybat]

[Just when he thought he could get away from everyone ever.

While he doesn't return Yuna's wave (sorry, Yuna), he does pause to watch her approach. He's stubbornly still in the Robin uniform, or half of it anyway. Most of the outer layers have been stripped off to leave him in a black undershirt, pants, boots, and a domino mask.

It's fine, he's actually washed it...

There's a small mound of hay under one arm. He waits for her to get closer so he doesn't have to yell.] What are you doing?

[cherrypuncher]

I'm here to pick flowers! [She proudly presents her basket in front of her. The water bottles inside it roll around a little.] Right now what I'm doing is talking to you, though. But flower picking's what I came here to do!

[bittybat]

[Pick flowers... By the twist of his lips, he's giving Yuna a strange look. He peers at the basket, the bottles, then at her again.] Why are you picking flowers? Medicine?

[cherrypuncher]

No, for pressing! [She's entirely unperturbed by the look she's getting, responding as delightedly as ever.] There are lots of different kinds of flowers here, even some I've never seen before, so I want them for my collection.

thursday

[hydrokinetics]

[Look he's determined to get the horses to talk to him. That's it, that's one of his goals, but even though he logically knows his powers currently aren't working it's something he has to try. It's why on this day Percy's also approaching the homestead, Mrs. O'Leary the miniature hellhound-turned-mastiff-puppy trotting along faithfully and sniffing around for any intruders. Luckily she veers off to check out the rest of the farm while Percy goes alone.

It's about the point that Damian's feeding chickens that Percy spots him and he stops, watching for a moment.]

So you're the one taking care of things around here. [Why the hell did they bring actual children here, yikes.]

[bittybat]

[Percy, you are also an actual child to most people.

Damian pauses only long enough to finally glance up. He's long since seen Percy wandering toward the homestead. The pail he has is full of scratching feed, and he had been tossing it out here and there by the handfuls.

Lots of brown hens. At least a dozen or more. The lone rooster is keeping a careful eye on them from a yard or so away closer to the coop, strutting proudly.] Someone had already been caring for things here, but I haven't seen anyone else. No one has come as far as I can tell.

But there was feed and water when I would leave and return.

[hydrokinetics]

[Percy's been to probably exactly one ranch in his whole life and it's an experience he doesn't want to repeat, so he's watching Damian curiously. He does throw a glare at the rooster because that thing was probably responsible for waking them all up this week.]

From what I can tell the only people we can see are the ones who got off the train with us. […he's not a detective or anything, but he can think of context clues.] You haven't seen any footprints or tire tracks or anything? It doesn't add up.

[Ghosts could be doing it, but Percy's not entertaining that thought yet either.]

[bittybat]

No. [Damian will entertain the thought of ghosts once he's used up all other manner of reason, especially robotic ones.] The only people who didn't get off the train with us are the Sheriff and, now, those two in the jail.

Did you talk to them?

[That damn alarm clock rooster does suddenly let a familiar, loud bellow of cockadoodling. It's worse when he's close by.]

[hydrokinetics]

[That rooster would make for good fried chicken. Don't tempt him, man. He shakes his head.]

Just the one, Ao. She seemed as lost as we are. Did you get anything different out of them? [He's just assuming Damian tried since he asked first.]

oh deer

[sweats]

[ Have a Winston and Will, who both sort of look surprised at the whole deer thing. Will was considering getting some firewood, set up a small camp so he could fish through the night and fill up the fridge of the hotel. Of course, then there's Damian, the overachiever, and Will just looks mildly surprised to see a 10 year old hunting on his own.

Then, finally -- ]

Need help?

[ Sure, he's more of a fisherman but he's hunted himself in the past. ]

i had a fucking fishing prompt but you chose the deer bc you're hannibal trash

[bittybat]

[The only reason Damian pauses as long as he does in motion and answer is because Will has one of the few greatest gifts to man: a dog. Winston isn't as regal-looking at Titus, but he does look like a very good boy. Soft and good with a fluffy and curly tail.

Why are there so many good doggos here?] No. [But he glances up at the horse a moment, then back to Will.] Do you know how to unsaddle a horse?

stop judging me with your eyes

[sweats]

[ His eyes flick between Damian and the horse before giving a nod. Admittedly, not really since he's never had much experience with horses -- his childhood was boatyards and metal working and he wasn't at muskrat farm for the horses -- but it at least won't be the first time he's done this, so this kid won't have to try doing everything alone.

He'll approach and keep himself relaxed while he does it, not focusing on Damian but the horse. Of course he's picking up on Damian's wary... everything so he's trying not to make the kid uncomfortable. Coming in too strong would probably do that.

Winston seems to pick up on it too because he sniffs the air a little before looking at Will and as Will moves towards the horse, Winston moves towards Damian with a friendly sort of curiosity. Whuff. ]

[bittybat]

[What Damian really likes about animals is their perception. An animal can tell you a lot about a situation or a person. While Winston is a good sign, Damian also knows the dog could be bias if it belongs to this man.

The horse will be a better judge.

Gently, Damian places a palm on the horse's neck and lets Will approach.] Her name is Raet. [Because he had decided. A smooth, beautiful cream-colored mare with a blond mane and tail. Gentle and curious.

Damian watches both Will and the horse. Once he's sure the horse isn't going to throw a huge fit from the get-go, he loosens the rein in his fingers so he can still hold it while squatting for Winston. He stretches out one fist so Winston can smell him.] There's some blankets at the stables.

Monday

[heroinwait]

[That's. Uh. Quite the catch Damian's got there. Riku hasn't yet decided whether he's going to mingle with the rest of the victims that have been brought to this town yet (though it is good to know they aren't straightforward enemies?), but the islander within him can't turn away from the fishing skills on display before him.]

Try casting out near that log over there. It looks like there should be plenty of fish that way.

[bittybat]

[At first, Damian doesn't look over because he doesn't want to give someone trying to tell him (show him) what to do the time of day.

Finally, though, he does, but it's just a glance.] I know how to fish. I don't need your instructions.

There's just nothing good in the water. [Except, the next time he casts out his line, it's closer to the log in the water.]

[heroinwait]

[Well excuse him for living then

Actually no. Don't.

But Riku notices where the next cast goes, and a faint smile tugs at the corner of one lip.]

All right, have it your way. But I think one of your catches is being claimed.

[He absolutely means the boot.]

[bittybat]

[?????????

Damian looks down at the junk near his feet, then has to double-take about the cat with its head shoved halfway in the boot.] Pennyworth! [Stop embarrassing him.

The line of Damian's pole bends forward suddenly, and he has to turn his attention back to the water. A fish?! Please say it's a fish. He can't go back with just one fish. How pathetic.

While Damian's struggling, the cat plucks its head out of the boot, fur wet and prickled in every direction. It gives its head a shake, then peers at Riku curiously. In it's mouth, it has what is probably a small minnow.]

[heroinwait]

[The situation is so absurd that Riku can't help but chuckle. He's more of a dog person, but he crouches down to give the cat a scratch behind the ear. It can keep the minnow, in his opinion. It's done a lot of work getting it out of that boot!]

This is one of the cats that live out at the homestead, isn't it?

[It's a fish!

...it is a fish, right?]

i thought i tagged you earlier but then i realized i d.....idn't..........laughs and dies (thursday)

[impulsiveness]

[Maybe on another occasion he'll properly appreciate the fact that this little jerk also moonlights as a part-time Disney princess, but... not right now. He leans against the nearest wall, letting Damian milk those cows or whatever. And after a moment, he pipes up with—]

Damian Wayne.

[There's a crumpled, slightly ripped up wanted poster he's pulling out of his pocket. Seems like someone pulled it off the wall with more force than necessary.]

... Funny choice of surname.

nice u fucker

[bittybat]

[The name makes Damian whip around. No one has used it yet because either they haven't caught onto the wanted posters, or they didn't care, but hearing it makes the hair on his neck and arms stand on end.

But then he sees who it is, and his eyes narrow. Of course. And here he thought Jason had given up on him. Not that lucky.] It wasn't a choice. [It's hard to sound intimidating when you have a full bucket of milk and you're sitting on a stool beside a cow's udder.]

That is my surname.

blocked >:(

[impulsiveness]

You know that's not what I mean.

[About it being a choice, that is. Unfortunately for Damian, Jason can't be cowed (ba dum tshhhh) when the person he's talking to is too busy being the world's rudest milkmaid. Hah.]

Why?

[... Well. He has a pretty good idea of why a 10-year-old boy would have 1) a Robin uniform, and 2) Bruce's surname. He's not stupid. It's more like he doesn't want to believe Bruce kept a secret from him.]

GET OUT OF HERE WITH THOSE STUPID PUNS

[bittybat]

Why what? It's none of your business. [Damian tuts under his breath, continuing to go about his work without giving Jason much acknowledgement--though he's obviously listening, careful.]

You'll find out when you're older. [It's meant to be a teasing jab, but Damian finally turns to give Jason a once-over, and he seems strangely serious.] How old are you? Have you died yet, Todd?

LOOK THIS IS THE PRICE OF TAGGING ME

[impulsiveness]

Nice try. But you made it my business when you showed up in that suit, you dipshit.

[As usual, he's getting too worked up. Too frustrated. The vitriol is clear, but he briefly freezes up when Damian asks if he's dead... And then he snaps back.]

Make up your mind. Am I alive, or am I dead in that future of yours? Assuming I believe you, anyway. I'm not Schrodinger's cat. I can't be both at once.

[Not a direct confirmation, but his lack of surprise at being asked about it should be a good enough answer. He already suffered a heat death, buddy.]