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For the past day or two, ever since he stopped by the Cooper farm and got his car fixed up, Neil has been driving aimlessly around Kansas and the surrounding area.

He's usually happy to stop for a chat. There really isn't that much to do around here except talk to strangers.

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Bridgette gives a disappointed, "Aw."

Oliver comments, "We have a robot around the farm - or I believe so, I've not seen him lately - named Thrust. He's a transformer, and has both a motorcycle form and a robot form. Good fellow to have in a fight."

"That's good to know. Technology like that is... scarce, where I'm from."

"And the world outside the farm can be quite perilous. I'd avoid going to Jacksonville - last I checked, there were zombies there."

"Where's that?"

No skepticism for the news of zombies. Neil has seen enough of this world's bizarre quirks to err on the side of caution.

Oliver begins to point the directions, then fishes around the inner pocket of his grey suit and pulls out a travel map, which he'll hand to Neil and point out the way to Jacksonville.

The fishing around causes a few pamphlets to fall to the ground - Christ In Your Daily Life and 'He Died For Your Sins' - The Glory of the Gospel - which he gathers up, with a small frown at his carelessness.

Neil doesn't comment on the pamphlets. He notices, but he doesn't comment.

He does pay close attention to the directions. Jacksonville: place to avoid. Duly noted.

"How'd you lose your eye?" is Bridgette's next question.

Oliver looks up from stuffing his coat pocket full of pamphlets to frown sharply at her. "Miss Dubois, remember your manners," he lectures.

"What?" asks the oblivious Bridgette - who's not quite so oblivious as she appears, but she's learned that being a kid lets you get away with a lot.

Strangely, Neil grins.

It fades after a second or two.

"Got in a fight," he says neutrally.

"With--"

"-- Miss Dubois--" Oliver warns.

"-- who?" she finishes.

He raises his eyebrows-- one in plain view, the other hidden by the patch.

"Somebody tried to kill a friend of mine."

"Did you kill the guy who tried to kill your friend?" Bridgette asks eagerly, as if this were a totally normal conversation.

Oliver wears an expression of exasperated despair as he tries to figure out how to punish the girl. Children are so tiring!

"I don't know."

At least Neil doesn't seem to mind the questions.

That's not the awesome conclusion to the story she was hoping for. "Oh."

"Well, I think we've taken up enough of this gentleman's time, Miss Dubois," Oliver interjects, to keep Bridgette from asking more rude questions.

He smiles, perfectly polite.

"And I'd hate to interrupt your riding lessons any further. I'll see you around."

The car starts moving again.

There's a quick, grateful nod from Oliver. Even Bridgette's pretty accepting, because she'll probably see him again soon, and she can ask him questions without Oliver getting huffy.

Oliver immediately turns back to Bridgette and corrects her posture on the horse. Bridgette sighs.

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