tell the rambler, the gambler, the back-biter [introduction]

[gritted]

Mattie sleeps well, considering the long day she's had. Little Blackie is nearby her, which comforts her and makes her feel safe. She's still afraid of the snakes that come out at night even though Rooster told her that they don't attack young girls, but for now, she tries to forget that

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[in_summer_leaf]

Mattie may find Hisoka cleaning his weapons at a table in the kitchen. This is probably not the best place to do it, but he has yet to discover a good location for a small workshop. He is dressed in his denim jacket, jeans, and boots. There are corn muffins in the oven. He has a pot of tea steeping and sending its fragrance up with the steam, and there is hot coffee on the stove as well. These scents blend well enough with the smell of gun oil, to Hisoka's mind.

[gritted]

Mattie is walking by, and when she smells the gun oil, she stops, curious.

"Excuse me," she says to the man. "I could not help but notice you cleaning your weapons. It's an impressive collection."

[in_summer_leaf]

"Thank you," replies Hisoka, who is reassembling his old Browning semi-automatic pistol, at the moment. "You're new here? Muffins will be out of the oven in five minutes. Coffee? Tea?"

He stands up and removes his sword from the other chair, so that she can sit down if she wishes.

[gritted]

"I would like some coffee, yes," she replies, sitting down. "And yes, I am new."

[in_summer_leaf]

Hisoka pours two cups, one for her and one for himself. He brings cream and sugar to the table, as well, and sits down. "I've been here about five weeks. I'm Hisoka Kurosaki."

[gritted]

She drinks her coffee without pouring any cream or sugar in, and takes a moment before speaking again. "I have never heard of a name like yours. Where are you from? I'm from Arkansas."

[in_summer_leaf]

Hisoka adds just a touch of sugar to his coffee, and takes a sip. "I know Arkansas is one of America's Plains States, but I've never been there. I'm from the nation of Japan."

[gritted]

"Is that very far away?"

[in_summer_leaf]

"Around 2600 miles," answers Hisoka, "...west of Arkensas, that is. You go out to California and then sail across the Pacific ocean."

[gritted]

"That is very impressive." She's pretty awed, actually.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Well, you've come further than that, I suppose, if you've come straight from Arkansas," says Hisoka, considering Mattie with curiosity.

He gets up and pulls the muffin tin out of the oven, and decants the muffins onto a platter. He brings them to the table along with honey, butter, plates, and silverware.

[gritted]

"I suppose I have, yes."

[in_summer_leaf]

"What do you remember from just before you arrived here?" asks Hisoka. "Please, help yourself to the muffins." He takes one himself, slices it in half, and adds honey.

[gritted]

"I was sleeping, so I had many dreams." She takes a muffin, breaking it apart and nibbling on it.

[in_summer_leaf]

"And then you woke up here? I dreamed, too, just before I came here." He takes a bite of muffin.

[gritted]

"Yes, I woke up in the snow. It was most unsettling."