LtCmdr Tamio K'Wara - Oh, we're doing NAMES now!

[LtCmdr Tamio K'Wara]

(( Main Thoroughfare - Old Trail Town, Holodeck 1, Deck 02, USS Artemis-A )) 

Tamio watched as Vitor bargained with the horse dealer, finally reaching a settlement of some kind. Whether it was a good settlement or not, however, they were all too inexperienced with Earth Economic History to know.

Silveira: I have no idea if that's a good deal, but I would take it.

Jovenan: We have that kind of money, right?

K'Wara: We're in the Holodeck, we can just handwave it.

As though to prove their point, they held out their hand and a wad of dollar bills manifested itself with familiar promptness.

Munro: Let's do it. But I'm not sure we need the cart?

That query stumped the charming Portugisian for a moment, putting his face in a sheepless manner that Tamio hadn't seen before. Even he could be stumped then.

Silveira: Well, the truth is that I can't ride a horse, but I can handle a chariot.

Jovenan: That’s alright, it’s still better than what I can do. ::to Munro:: Do you think we can all learn horse riding, or will the chariot be necessary?

Munro: The programme will adjust to your experience. So it won't be that much different from riding a hoverbike and you won't be thrown off unless you want to or the story calls for it. And don't worry safeties are on.

Tamio had participated in too many athletic holomeets to take 'the safeties are on' as the comfort it was intended as. While no serious harm would come to them if they fell off of these temperamental beasties, it would - for sure - still hurt. Tamio barely trusted their balance issues when flying shuttles with both feet planted on the deck. Being suspended in the air by a massive beast of burden?

Silveira: Well in that case I am up for the saddle.

Let no one say a pilot was willing to be upstaged.

K’Wara: As they used to say, 'giddy on up'?

Western Man: You folks talked enough? I’m already close to losing money dealing with you, I ain’t got time to waste too.

Ever the consummate professional, Jovenan turned about and addressed him calmly.

Jovenan: Just a moment longer, good sir! ::to the others:: I say we go for it.

Munro: Let's get the horses :: the western man :: What you got for us then?

They and Vitor remained standing for a few seconds, watching the women approach the salesman, when Vitor dipped his hat.

Silveira: Horse riding it is.

K’Wara: ::sheepish grin:: So it seems.

The salesman, meanwhile, was busy running his spiel about the horses they had to pick between.

Western Man: Good choice, gentlefolks. Let’s see the fares, then. These here are Willow, Rusty and Clover. ::pats a horse’s side:: You ain’t gonna find better carriage draw horses anywhere on this side of the Mississippi. Or if you still want those docile riding beasts, Scout and Annie will do the job. Then there’s Thunder. Can run faster than a bullet. Didn’t do much good for the previous owner, but ain’t the horse to blame for a bad aim, ain’t it?

Munro: I've got Thunder :: smiles confidently :: Scout and Annie for my col - friends here :: points to Tamio and Jovenan :: And Rusty for Our Man Silver.

Tamio had been inspecting the two horses named as 'Scout and Annie', and the one that'd been identified as Annie, a tall chestnut-colored horse with a blanket of white fur across the rump, aimed her large dark eyes at Tamio, bumping their hand with her snout in search for a treat. They patted the horse's long neck, as the others finalized the trade.

Silveira: Rusty it is then.

Jovenan: Response

The horse dealer, however, was acting strangely, suddenly very jittery and eager to be rid of them. But also remarkably cooperative? 

Western Man: I had no idea, please please, you can have them for 200 :: swallows :: We had heard you were … taller.

Tamio noted Ava's look. She'd clocked it too.

Munro: What you say Silver? Do you accept this man's apology?

Silveira: There’s no reason to apologise, and if it’s a fair deal I am pleased with it.

After saddling up on Annie, Tamio led her gently towards Jovenan and her horse of choice, leaning down slightly while watching the interaction between Vitor and the horse dealer.

K'Wara: He's got a way with people.

Jovenan: Response

Munro: Atta boy.

Ava was by her ride as well, and with the money taken care of, Vitor joined the rest of them.

Silveira: Which one is Rusty?

Jovenan: Response

With all of them saddled up now, Tamio was able to see the differences in behaviour between the horses. While Annie had barely acknowledged their presence on her back, contently resting until such a time as she was prompted to move, Thunder wasn't making Ava's job easy. He wasn't mean, necessarily, but definitely not an easy horse.

Munro: It's okay.

Silveira: It isn’t that bad.

Annie stepped a bit in place, and Tamio tightened their grip on the reins.

K'Wara: Buddy, we haven't even cleared the hangar bay yet.

Jovenan: Response

Now fully in charge of her steed - or at least as much as she was going to be - Ava's wanderlust manifested itself once more.

Munro: Let's go find some bandits!

Tamio sometimes had to remind themself that Ava was, in fact, not a Security Officer before she'd been shuffled into Command. She sometimes made it easy to forget that fact.

Silveira: And if that doesn’t work I have a few things for us to cook us a picnic.

A brief expression of horror crossed his face.

Silveira: Dammit I forgot one thing…. Beans…

Tamio laughed out loud.

K'Wara: Small mercies!

Munro/Jovenan: Response

As they trotted around a little, trying to get accustomed to the way riding felt in the Holodeck - they had little doubt it was very different to what the actual experience would be like - they watched some more strangers approach the horsedealer. An entirely unnotable event, but Tamio knew better than to underestimate the leaps of logic the Holodeck sometimes made to get them embroiled in whatever chaos Ava had programmed for them today.

Sure enough, within moments, the horsedealer pointed them out to the men, and Tamio looked around the others.

K'Wara: New friends?

The strangers got close enough that they both removed their hats in that Western greeting that seemed to have become intrinsically linked to wearing a cowboy hat, and Tamio mimicked them to the best of their ability.

The strangers, however, seemed primarily preoccupied with Vitor.

Sheriff: Are you Silver? ::he looked at Munro, Nan and Tamio in turn:: Are you all with him?

Silveira: Why are you asking… Sheriff?

Munro/Jovenan: Response

The older of the two men with star emblems rode closer to them, and Tamio sat a bit straighter in their saddle. They felt like they'd been thrown into the deep end, considering how little they knew about the western genre of holomedia.

Sheriff: Samson. Elias Samson. I'm the sheriff around here and when Hoss here ::he pointed to the Horse Trader:: said Silver was in town I had to come and shake your hand.

oO What a lucky coincidence that you happened to come around before we left town. Ah Holodecks, never change. Oo

Silveira: The pleasure is mine, Sheriff Samson. Vitor Silver… At your service.

Tamio looked to the others with a grin.

K'Wara: Do the rest of us get fancy names too, or are we "Silver's Possé"?

Munro/Jovenan: Response

Sheriff: I don't know what brings you to Cody, but please, allow me to offer you a drink at the Gilded Chairs.

Tamio could tell that there were going to be strings attached to his offer before it even finished, and they looked around at the others.

K'Wara: Gee, I dunno, Sheriff. Silver here has some mighty important business to be attending to. You know, beans and such.

Munro/Jovenan/Silveira: Response

Sheriff: ::clearly put on the spot:: ... Of course. My apologies. Bounty hunters of your caliber pass through Cody so rarely, I got ahead of myself.

Tamio watched Sheriff Samson quietly, before looking at the others with a slight sigh. 

K'Wara: I mean, I guess we can at least hear him out?

Munro/Jovenan/Silveira: Response

K'Wara: Hey, you heard him. We're "bounty hunters". Shouldn't we live up to the rep? ::peers at Ava:: In the spirit of adventure, and all that?

Munro/Jovenan/Silveira: Response

TAG/TBC

LtCmdr Tamio K'Wara

Chief of Ops

USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1