shatterverse | (no subject)

In Metropolis....

Eden McCain has a table to herself at a coffee shop - notebook papers are spread over it with titles like 'Main Character' and 'Subplot 1'. The great post-apocalyptic novel isn't going to get written any other way! She felt like dressing like a cliche artist - and is wearing a navy blue beret.

Tom Therin is whistling cheerfully to himself as he walks down the street, idly looking for pockets to pick.

On the Cooper farm....

Bridgette Dubois has a stuffed pony, a lion, and a unicorn in a semi-circle on the lawn to the Cooper house. "Whoever wants me to sing Lion King at the talent show, say aye!"

The stuffed animals are silent, but Bridgette - after checking on Marie, who claps her hands in agreement an area to her left - nods as if they actually spoke. "All right - how about Sound of Music?"

Oliver Wycliffe, dressed in white and looking thoughtful, is riding his stallion Beauregard down the road to the farm.

Dana, an extremely tired-looking young woman in ratty jeans and a T-shirt, is waiting nervously in front of the hospital, gnawing on her lip.

[ooc: Tag one, tag all, but please let me know which one you're tagging!]

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While unexpected, it is an answer. Oliver's expression gentles as he opens his mouth to reply to Mel--

-- but Jack sufficiently distracts him. His face grows cold and his body tenses...but that's about all he can do. Justice really doesn't work when the criminals are better armed than the cops.

"Perhaps not in this circumstance," Oliver says. "I'm one man with my own biases."

He doesn't add that something must be done nevertheless. He's waiting for Jack to take his hand off that sword.

Mel in turn scowls at Jack. "Don't think I won't, you go for any more hands. Both of you."

This is why she never wanted to be in charge: decisions like this. Not like she can fine him; there's no money. She's reluctant to banish him while keeping Oliver here. She can't...

"Work," she says firmly. "You're going to stay here for a while, and see me everyday and I'm going to make you work in the fields. Tonnes of jobs for you there."

And Jack did save her daughters' lives.

That's rather soft for a missing hand. Oliver frowns.

But given her obvious resistance to a cell, which is something that would better be discussed with the entire community anyway....

"I can keep an eye on him and make sure he reports," he offers.

That Oliver thinks it's not enough is some comfort to Jack.

Not being able to leave... he scowls, but says nothing, which in a way is concession.

Mel's about to say she has it, but she nods to Oliver. "Yes, thanks."

Continuing, though, as she wasn't done, she puts out her hand to Jack. "Weapons. You'll have them back when you can leave."

Oliver doesn't know the 'I'm watching you' gesture. But the sense of it is very much present in the glance he sends Jack.

Jack smirks almost involuntarily at the threatening glance, but scowls even deeper when Mel says that.

She's telling the truth. Out of everyone on this farm, Mel's one of the few who don't lie as a matter of course. It doesn't make him like her, but it does mean he knows he's not going to lose his possesions...

When he unslings his sash, folds it around three guns, two swords, and a powder case, and hands them over.

Oliver just stands silent and looming and alert.

Also mildly envious at the sight of such familiar weaponry, not that this last one shows.

Mel pulls them to herself, barely giving them a glance. Instead, she glances at Oliver quickly, before turning back to Jack.

"I'll put these away. And will see you after getting something to eat. By the gate to the fields."

Jack nods heavily in lieu of a bow.

"I'll take the time to tell my girl I'm staying."

Oliver won't speak until Jack leaves.

"Thank you for helping this issue get resolved," he says to Mel, relaxing enough to give a short, weary sigh.

And today had been going so well, too.

Mel swallows, still thinking too hard, eyes at Jack's retreating back.

"If it is resolved," she says.

A grunt of agreement follows.

Oliver takes another moment to collect his thoughts. "We are fortunate that he was so cooperative."

Others might not be.

"Yeah," Mel agrees. "Well, he was just protecting a friend."

"He was," he agrees blandly.

"Any society must have a system of justice," he subject-changes.

"My experience is that it's never actually justice," Mel remarks bluntly.

"I'll admit you know more than myself of building a society from the ground up," Oliver replies, for the sake of a fair argument.

"Not all who commit crimes will return. If one gets caught, where shall he be put?"