honest_johns | (no subject)

(no subject)

Alain's sitting on the paddock fence, boots hooked below the lowest rail. He's smoking.

The horses have already eaten all the lumps of sugar he brought for them, and have wandered off to graze again, for the moment.

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Lilly's walking towards the stables to check on Duncan when she spots Alain. She hesitates for a moment and then heads in his direction.

"What up, sai?"

Alain smiles at her over his shoulder.

"Wèi, Lilly."

She smiles back at him, leans up against the rail to watch the horses.

"How's tricks?"

"Well, thankee."

A glance. "How are yours?"

Could be a serious question, could be small talk. That's up to her. His voice is conversational.

"Not too bad," Lilly says consideringly. "I'm living the suite life with Mel these days, so that's all hoopy. And I remain unshot- thank you again for that, by the way,- so really, death's going well."

He grins. "Good to hear."

At the thanks, there's a don't worry about it handwave.

"Yeah, it is," Lilly agrees.

She props her chin on top of the fence and watches the horses.

Silence, briefly.

Calmly, "You did well. Kept your head, and kept your face well."

He slants a glance down at her. "Took a foolish risk at the end, though."

All said mildly.

Lilly looks up at him.

"Oh really? With what, exactly?"

She doesn't sound upset at all, just curious. At least for now, that's all there is.

His look shades a little towards You should know this. But only a little.

"Ended well, that move to disarm him." Pause. "Might not have. Very easily. Brave, aye, but if he was a shade quicker and meaner you'd have had a hole in yourself instead of that box."

Lilly figured that would be it. She shrugs.

"Yeah, I know. But he was facing the way you came in, odds were pretty good he'd have shot me anyway when the door opened.

Calmly, "He's not that fast."

A pause.

Relenting a little, "You weren't to know that. About him or me, mayhap. But for next time, if there is one. You jump a man with his finger on the trigger, the gun's going off. Luck and ka where it's pointed that instant. It's a bad bet to take. Unless you don't care if you die, or you've no other option."

She's not a gunslinger, and not really a fighter. Not being trained as one. But if she's to go about strapped and walk into deals such as that one, she's getting lessoning.

"I didn't really have any other options that I knew of," Lilly says. "The Dreaming wasn't working, I didn't know there was another door because my back was to it, and I had a twitchy guy with a gun on me."

She shrugs.

"I figured I might as well try something, and the way Ming stared before I thought tossing the diamond at him might buy me enough time for it to work."

He nods.

Risk paid off, this time.

"It wasn't bad thinking," he admits, eventually. Neutrally, though. "Still a big risk. But it wasn't bad thinking."

Lilly laughs a little.

"Thanks. Maybe I have a future as a criminal mastermind after all."

A faint snort of laughter.

Lilly grins.

"You can be my first mate," she offers. "I'm sure we'd have lots of exciting adventures while committing dastardly crimes."

Drily, "Say thankya for the offer."

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