out in the world.

[nevermarried]

Book had known about the chapel for a while, and hadn't quite gotten over to it just yet. He was a nomadic shepherd, a man who tended to a flock that lived in the black. He went from the abbey to the black, and his flock, as it were, was a ragtag group of criminals that held to their own rules and morals. Where these eight people, alone in the

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[poison_lipstick]

Saffron normally wouldn't have set foot near a gorram church, but it just so happened the building crew'd put her hut very close to it. Not so close that she could see it from where she lived, thankfully, but close enough.

She'd almost turned and headed back the way she came when she saw who was standing in front of it, but after only a fraction of a second's hesitation continued the way she was going. Now was as good a time as any to find out if they really practiced what they preached. "Shepherd," she greeted, her expression neutral.

[nevermarried]

He eyed her warily, eyes twinkling. "Saffron." He paused. "Unless it's Helen. Or Brigid, or Yolanda." He paused again, a smile quirking on his lips. "How's life on the island treating you?"

[poison_lipstick]

"Saffron is fine," she replied with a sarcastic smile. "Oh, life on the island's just dandy. I'm just tickled to be stuck in the world for so long."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "How about you, shepherd? Finding enough flock to tend to here?"

[nevermarried]

"Had enough back on the boat, and most of them are here anyway." He arched an eyebrow warily. "Is being stuck in one place really that bad? Y'meet a few folk, get to know the place." He raised his eyebrow, sighing as he turned his face back to the church. "Might try enjoying yourself for a bit. Make a few friends."

[poison_lipstick]

"Never said I wasn't enjoying myself," she said. She was enjoying the hell out of herself, as a matter of fact, even though she'd had to change her style a great deal. Not really any cons to be had, at least the kind she liked to pull, but plenty of hot guys to make up for it.

"Sure, meet a few folk, make a few friends, only to have them up and disappear on you," she said, with a slightly bitter laugh. She'd learned her lesson, though. No more attachments. She'd focus on what she did best.

[nevermarried]

Book raised his eyebrows a moment before turning aside, rolling his lips before smiling softly. Sad. "Y'know, just because people leave, doesn't mean they don't deserve to be cared for." He paused. "And the risk of caring for folk is that sometimes things happen and we lose them. The risk of losing someone is the price we pay for having the chance to love them in the first place." His eyes were warm and wide, and he was smiling warmly. Woman was a nightmare, but that didn't mean she didn't deserve friendship.

[poison_lipstick]

Love. Saffron had given up on the idea of it a long gorram time ago. Round about the age of twenty, if you wanted to get particular. "If you say so, Shepherd," she replied with a casual shrug.

[nevermarried]

Book smiled. "Well, I do." He jutted his chin out defiantly, grinning. "Last I heard, I knew a thing or two about caring for folks." He shrugged. "But then, I'm just a Shepherd." His eyes twinkled.