Robbie, Mae and Scarlett - Saloon
More and more,
Robbie was beginning to feel he was finding his mental as well as his verbal footing in the current situation, which although it was a new one to him, he had essentially put himself in. The insecurities brought on by his inner musings were loosening their restraints on his fairly small but very much still growing frame, and with them the restraints on his tongue as well. He was relaxing, letting the initial tension seep from his shoulders, down long his arms and leave his body as though it was dripping from his fingertips, and it was enough for him to start enjoying the inviting warmth of the body next to him, and the fingers trailing down his chest, rather than keep racking his brain for something to say, and fighting the blush from spreading on his cheeks.
Although, the next question the young lady -
Mae Starr she had told him her name was, and it seemed quite a fitting one - asked him, following her introduction, did nearly make him falter, ever so slightly, and ever so briefly.
"I'm curious", she said, in a tone of voice that in a way seemed to mirror the suddenly thoughtful look in her eyes. "What brings you into town?"
It was a bit of a tricky one, because how did he answer it, without risking even trickier follow-up questions, or telling an obvious lie? She may not know who he was, and
Scarlett may be pretending she didn't, but it was evident that their collegue, the third woman, did, and so he couldn't just tell
Mae that he was just passing through, or that he was in town for business. Those who knew who he was usually knew some of the reasons why he'd left town in the first place, which meant it would seem odd if he'd chosen to pass through when he didn't have to, since Morgan's Creek held few good memories for him. And he was clearly too young for the latter; to be in town for business. If he said he was in town for supplies, questions regarding where he currently lived, and with whom, might arise, because not many, if anyone, knew that he was riding with outlaws, and he'd much prefer to keep the lid on that one.
So, in the end, what he came up with, would be part truth, and part fairly believable fiction;
"Nostalgia, I guess", he said, while glancing around the Saloon, his gaze landing ever so briefly on
Scarlett for a moment, mostly as a pure reflex, since she was the one who knew he would have to lie, as well as the one that was probably hoping that he would, and not be stupid enough to tell the actual truth.
Because really, what young man wouldn't seize any opportunity to impress a lady, and try to entice her by seeming dangerous, and thus brag about hanging out with a bunch of bandits, especially if it was true?
However, tempting though it was,
Robbie knew better.
"I used to live here", he thus explained as his eyes returned to
Mae. "Was born here, and left a few months ago. So when I was in the vincity, I figured I'd see if anything's changed. Got a little homesick, I s'pose."
And then some more truth, as a little something to hopefully switch the topic back to less risky ground;
"Plus I felt like a drink", he added with a slight smile. "And some... good company?"
Alright, so it wasn't the smoothest line in the book, but come on, he was just a beginner, so who could blame him?