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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[mal_badinlatin]

She might hear hoofbeats crunching through the snow and if she follows the sound with her gaze, she'll spy a man in a brown leather duster, with a shotgun slung over his shoulder, riding a chestnut horse, and coming toward her.

Mal has been keeping himself -- and some of the masterless horses -- from getting stir crazy during the winter months. But he's not above helping a discombobulated girl.

[gritted]

She turns at the sound, a bit startled. "Excuse me!" she says, her voice a little shakier than she intended. "Could you inform me of my present location? I believe that I am lost, and I need to return to where I was as soon as possible."

[mal_badinlatin]

The horseman reins in the animal a few paces from her. "Ho... Ho, there," he murmurs to the horse, which takes a few sidewise steps before standing still. "This place? They call it th' Mansion, ain't heard it called by any other name. I'm Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Mal fer short. And you 're?"

[gritted]

"...I do not wish to know the name of this place, sir. I only wish to know how I may get back to the Choctaw Nation. I have--friends there, people that need me. And I'm on an important mission." She pauses. "And my name is Mattie Ross."

[regency_twihard]

Once she's settled, if Mattie should venture into the main room that evening, she might find an old-fashioned looking girl curled up on a couch, a shawl wrapped about her shoulders and a throw blanket tucked about her feet. Her attention is wrapped in the book she's reading, and from the look on her face, it's a rather thrilling book.

[gritted]

Mattie is exploring, and when she ventures into the common room, she sees the young woman sitting there.

"Hello," she says a bit stiffly. "What are you reading?"

[regency_twihard]

The girl looks up from her book. "This? Oh, it's The Monk, and it is the most horrid thing ever written," she says, with that kind of horrified glee most kids use when they're talking about ghost stories. "Are you new here?"

[gritted]

Mattie nods. "I suppose I am, yes. Why are you reading it if it's horrid?"

[killedthesnake]

Neville is bundled up very well, accustomed to cold winters back home, and he's walking toward the lake. He's been forcing himself to take a daily stroll as he had spent far too much time in his greenhouse in recent months.

He's curious if it's frozen yet, as well as anxious to see if any plants have withstood the low temperatures as of late.

[gritted]

Mattie's out by the lake, walking around a bit and catching some fresh air. When she spies the young man, she nods to him, as a greeting.

"Hello," she says. "It's quite cold out, but I wanted to get some fresh air. My name is Mattie Ross. I suppose I should introduce myself to people here, so...here I am."

[killedthesnake]

Neville looks up at her approach, mildly surprised by how forthright she is. He smiles in greeting. "I take it you are new?" he asks. "I'm Neville Longbottom, and it's nice to meet you."

[gritted]

"I am new, yes. Do you go for walks often, Mister Longbottom?"

[ninja_niko]

Some time later, when Mattie's adequately settled, she might come across some uplifted trailer trash in the common room.

Niko is reading Nietzsche and frowning quite a bit - he'll probably be glad to be disturbed.

It's a bit chilly, so he's actually wearing his signature trench coat, even inside, though he's not wearing boots, but rather some woolly slippers that we can probably safely blame on Jaenelle.

Punting this one, but if you want anyone in particular, feel free to poke me! <3

[gritted]

Mattie's actually sitting nearby, looking curiously at some of the magazines there--she's really not sure what they're supposed to be. When she sees Niko, she'll turn towards him, intrigued.

"Hello, sir," she says politely. "I have never been more of a reader myself, but I am curious as to what you have there."

[ninja_niko]

"Nietzsche," Nik replies. "Ever heard of him? He's a grumpy old German man who thinks God is dead."

He doesn't mind the interruption - he actually was getting fairly annoyed with his reading.

[gritted]

She shakes her head. "No, I have not. Is it boring?"

Why not? ^_^

[nuns4money]

Meet Eda, the nun with the gun, Mattie.

She'll be nearby the kitchen, drinking a glass of whiskey, and checking up on Anna Lee. (Thats her guns name, by the way.)

She's in a nun habit, but her manner is anything but holy.

hee!

[gritted]

Mattie's in the kitchen as well, looking for a cup for milk. She spots Eda, and turns towards her, surprised.

"I don't believe I've ever since a nun...drinking whiskey and handling a gun," she says slowly. "Or is that habit a pretense?"

[nuns4money]

Eda looks up at the girl, then smiles.

"You're a smart one, aren't ya? Yes, I dress as a Nun to pay the bills... also this outfit is comfy."

[gritted]

She blinks. "That is...very curious. But clever."