♜ | 014 | Voice

[fuckyoucynthia]

[Cooper sounds brisk, like he's a man who lives by a schedule. And he likes his schedule.] Train's leaving for Kansas City in four hours, folks. Don't miss it, we won't be holding the line for you. Next one heading that way won't be till tomorrow.

Henry, you keep your nose outta trouble, understand?

[Private to Una]If there's anything I can do

Comments

Private

[mrs_persson]

There's nothing needs doing, Mr Cooper.

...

When will you be back?

Re: Private

[fuckyoucynthia]

I'm taking another train back in later tonight. [Which actually mans a double shift and no sleep, but he'd rather be here than towns away.]

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

Well then. You are keeping busy now, aren't you?

Don't wear yourself too thin, now.

Re: Private

[fuckyoucynthia]

I don't much care for idleness, lately.

[Aw she cares. c:] Yes ma'am, I look after myself.

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

[She wishes she didn't, but she can't help it.]

And be careful. There was some stranger came around last night looking for a place to stay, and while he seemed mighty plausible, something about him just didn't seem right. Said he was a US Marshal and maybe he was, but he was a twitchy one.

Re: Private

[fuckyoucynthia]

[ALARMS] You sent him on his way? What'd he look like?

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

He sent himself on his way, more like. Said he had kin somewhere out of town he wanted to be sure of. Anyway, I do recall what he looked like. Dark hair, mustache. Good clothes, but they'd seen better days, I reckon, just like the rest of him. Riding a brown horse, or maybe a bay.

Re: Private

[fuckyoucynthia]

[Well now he doesn't want to leave them alone.] You tell the sheriff? I don't want you gettin' into trouble, Una. [Pause.] Miss Pearson.

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

[There's a little pause before she answers, and maybe there's just the slightest quaver in her voice.]

Course I told him. Don't you worry about us, W-Mr Cooper. The good Lord will look after us.

Re: Private

[fuckyoucynthia]

[He's been learning to hate going to Church over this.] I'm sure He will, and in His stead, I told Henry to be sure to keep an eye on you.

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

Henry's a blessing.

...so you've talked to him, then. He was asking after you.

Re: Private

[fuckyoucynthia]

I have. [Pauseeeee] I told him he should stick with his schooling. Hope that was all right.

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

Well, it's no more nor less than what I've been telling him. Maybe he'll listen best to you. [It's a joke. Mostly.]

Re: Private

[fuckyoucynthia]

He oughta be listenin' best to his mother. He's achin' to get outta town, though. Wants some real experiences away from here.

Maybe I could take him to Kansas with me, some time. Free'a charge, a'course.

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

[Silence.]

He's still a boy, William.

[Yeah, the mask is slipping a bit. Well. A lot.]

Re: Private

[fuckyoucynthia]

[He isn't entirely sure if he wants to think of that as a good thing or not, really.] I know, Una, that's what I said to him. Still, a boy gets to be a man some day. Innit better to have one around while he's on his way?