Drifters

Inti's Watcher

Marie cleaned her pistols. The rostari had assured her they could do that for her, but she preferred doing it herself. She wanted to be fully aware of the possibility of any piece breaking.

"Marie, try this," Louis said, offering her his new six shooter. "The trigger feels like pulling fish bones."

"No thank you," Marie told him, smiling. "You convinced me to buy a rifle, I'm not adding to my collection again just yet."

"They can't spend all their money on weapons for one person," Ebba said. "Their samurai needs a ranged weapon."

"I still haven't tested his aim," Marie said. "I need to get him in here one of these days and…"

The door to the shooting range opened, and the samurai in question stepped in.

"Speak of the devil," she finished. "Razan, take Louis' gun and see if you can hit a target."

Razan bowed, walking to the group.

"I'm not handing my- Do you even know how to use this, lad?" Louis asked, holding his weapon lovingly.

"Toss it in the air while chanting a magic phrase," Razan said, his face perfectly neutral.

Marie shared a smile with Ebba as Louis sputtered.

"Is that a natural talent, or did you practice?" Ebba asked, taking the gun from Louis and handing it to Razan.

A smile twitched on Razan's lips as he took it, flicked the safety off, and aimed. "It is partially natural, but my uncle encouraged me to perfect the ability." He pulled the trigger.

Paint hit the outer ring of the target. He fired again, hitting only slightly closer. Marie took it from him.

"Your form is wrong for something so small. This is a one-handed weapon, not two," she said, showing him how to hold it.

Razan took it back, aiming properly. He pulled the trigger, this time hitting only two rings off from center. Which, admittedly, was poor in comparison to everyone else in the room.

"I prefer swords," he shrugged, bowing as he held the gun out to Louis. "Thank you for allowing me to practice."

Louis grumbled, taking it.

Razan turned slightly to look at the whole group. "I have a question: is there a provision for formal duels here?"

"Absolutely," Louis answered. "They take a full day to set up, and can't be held Friday or Saturday, but they do happen."

"When you enter a duel, the rostari provide you with whatever you need to win," Ebba said. "If you're lacking equipment and don't have the credits to buy any, initiating a duel is a good way to get things. It's also a good way to get attention, especially at the times of year when half the ship leaves on holiday. And, of course, if you really want to punch someone in the face, it's best to do so in a duel."

Razan nodded thoughtfully.

Marie smiled. "Do you want to challenge Antoni to a duel?"

"No," he answered. "I'd like you to challenge him. If it is allowed, I will join you or take your place."

"Why would I challenge him?" Marie asked, crossing her arms.

"He believes groups consist of two men and two women because these people are fated soulmates," Razan said, intelligent amusement sparking in his eyes.

Marie watched him critically as Ebba laughed.

"He's wrong," Louis said, reloading his weapon. "Does he know groups are sometimes rearranged based on people falling in love or completely failing to work well together?"

"Maybe there's merit to the idea," Marie said slowly. "Who knows, maybe Razan truly is my soulmate."

Ebba moved behind Marie and slid her arms over her shoulders. "Hmm, young, strong, and we know he looks good with his shirt off… We could do worse." Her grin was audible.

Razan grinned back. "Bring me enough alcohol and I'll try anything."

"Excuse me," Louis said, extremely offended. "I disagree with whatever you're thinking."

"You can participate," Ebba said off-handedly.

"I agree with whatever you're thinking."

Marie smiled at him. "Louis, my love, would you mind demanding Antoni duel you for the audacity of implying anyone other than yourself is my soulmate?"

"Of course I wouldn't mind that," Louis said. "Duels can be between any number of people. I'll call for a duel, you and Razan can immediately join as allies."

"Now who's being left out?" Ebba muttered.

"You can join on Antoni's side," Louis suggested. "After all, you're in my group and we are soulmates. Or, you own my soul, which is practically the same thing."

"Can people have multiple soulmates?" Razan asked.

"We'll have to ask Antoni," Marie said.

"No, don't ask him," Ebba said. "That would lead to more questions, and it would quickly reach the point where he'd think we were making fun of him. Granted, we would be, but…"

Razan cleared his throat. "May I leave the details of calling for a duel to you?"

"Of course," Louis said. "Marie isn't the only one who can trick people into doing what she wants them to. Together we could probably get him to challenge us. When would you like the duel to be?"

"Next Tuesday."

"It shall be done."

Razan bowed to him.

"And don't worry," Marie said, keeping her face neutral. "If it's implied we're doing this so you can have Innoka, Ebba will immediately proposition her."

"I might do that anyway," Ebba said thoughtfully. "She is very pretty."

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"I wouldn't interfere if she accepts, but if you make her uncomfortable I will run you through with my sword," Razan promised.

Ebba moved to stand beside Marie and looked him over, grinning. "Which sword?"

Razan sighed and left.

Peter stood still, arms in front of him, waiting for Juan to strike.

It didn't take long. Juan made two jabs then a side-strike, all of which Peter blocked. Peter then tried to punch Juan, and was blocked.

"This is boring," Grace decided, watching them from where she sat a few feet away. "Put some effort into it."

Juan dropped his fists, smirking at Peter. "How about we both try hitting her?"

"As long as you don't use claws," Grace shrugged, pushing herself to her feet.

"Two on one? Is that fair?" Peter asked.

Suddenly Grace lashed out, hitting him hard enough in the shoulder to make him stumble back a few steps. His foot went out of the ring.

She smiled sweetly. "There, now it's just me against Juan; much better."

Juan snickered, then punched her in the stomach. She doubled over from the impact, but blocked his next strike and swung to hit him in the face. He ducked, but wasn't prepared for her left-handed uppercut to the jaw. Grace looked triumphant as he fell backwards to the ground.

"Your turn," Juan groaned at Peter, pulling himself out of the ring.

"I'll go easy on ya," Grace promised with a wink.

Peter nodded, adjusting his hat and poncho as he stepped in. He got into a proper stance, waiting.

Grace's eyes went to his hat. She moved in with a feint, then whacked the hat off his head as he dodged. Peter grumbled, aiming to punch her shoulder, but she blocked the strike. They traded a few more blocked blows, then Peter managed to land a strike on her side. She grunted, hopping sideways, and moved towards his shoulder. Peter was expecting a hit, but instead Grace grabbed his poncho and spun around, pulling it over his face.

Surprised, Peter lashed out blindly. Her palms hit his back, and he stumbled to his knees. When he got the poncho back down, he saw he was out of the ring.

Grace thumped the hat back onto his head, screwing it on. "I win."

"Pretty sure you cheated," he said, sitting on his heels to adjust his hat.

She flicked it off with a finger, smiling. "There's no sun here; you don't need a hat."

"I'm used to wearing one," Peter shrugged, retrieving it.

Juan spoke up. "A cowboy needs a cowboy hat."

Peter nodded at him.

Grace rolled her eyes, then helped him to his feet. "Right. Ready to go again?"

He set the hat on his head, taking a deep breath to judge how much pain he was in. Surprisingly, hardly any. Peter finally felt like he might survive another year. He held up his fists.

"Let's go."

Marie smiled at her cards. They were worth absolutely nothing.

"She's bluffing," Louis told Ebba.

"I haven't said anything yet," Marie pointed out.

"You turned all your cards 'up'," Louis said. "You only do that when you have a terrible hand. Thus, whatever you're about to say is a bluff."

"I- You're impossible," she decided, setting her hand down. "I fold. Is that a bluff?"

"No, my love, that was a wise decision."

Ebba smirked at him. "If only you had a better hand than me."

"But I do," he said. "It is not the best hand, but it is quite good."

"No better than mine," she shrugged.

"I rather doubt…" He trailed off, watching someone walk through the common area. "Antoni! Come, I have a question for you!"

Marie leaned back, watching the young man walk over with Mateo in tow. They smiled and bowed politely.

"I heard you believe our teammates are our fated soulmates or some such nonsense," Louis said, setting his cards down. "Is that true?"

"It isn't nonsense," Antoni said seriously. "We are put in teams of two men and two women on purpose-"

"Yes, because the rostari like having varied teams with multiple specialties," Ebba cut him off.

"Well, yes, but that is not all," Antoni said. "We all die at the same time. Two men and two women dying in interesting ways within minutes of each other cannot be chance. There are greater forces at work. Through our deaths fate works to introduce us to our soulmates."

Ebba shrugged. "It's actually about a week."

"Still, a relatively short amount of time."

Louis slowly got to his feet, frowning. "Sir. Are you insinuating that Marie is not my soulmate?"

Marie tried and failed to not smile. This was about to be fun.

"Well, no," Antoni answered. "It would be Ebba."

Ebba very obviously covered her laughter with a cough. She looked up innocently. "I'm sorry?"

Louis ignored her. "I can forgive you for not knowing, sir, but from the first moment I turned and looked Marie in the eyes-"

Right before she punched him to the ground. That had been a fun pub brawl.

"-I knew she and I had a special connection. After that moment we spent days in each other's company-"

Two weeks in the same prison cell, to be exact.

"-and every moment I fell deeper in love. I asked her to marry me a score of times-"

Twice directly after that brawl while he was drunk, once every morning in prison, and a few times after they'd escaped.

"-but she always evaded me. And then I died. But! The fates saw our love was true and pure, and brought her to me after all these years!" Louis turned a glare on Antoni. "And yet you dare claim she is not my soulmate? How dare you, sir!"

Antoni managed to not back down. "If you were truly soulmates, why did she reject your offers of marriage?"

"Because people thought we were already married," Marie answered calmly. "It would have been awkward to announce we weren't. I believe us living together while unmarried was illegal."

"Yes, you see, my love for Marie is so deep I do not care for the laws of mortal men," Louis huffed. "I'm sorry, sir, but this cannot stand. I demand you divest yourself of this belief immediately."

Antoni's face went through a range of colors. "No! I will not change my beliefs simply because-"

"Then I demand a duel!" Louis snapped. "If you win you may continue believing whatever you damn well please. However, if I win you will never mention this silly idea of yours to anyone under penalty of being removed as team leader."

By this time they had an audience, and Marie heard the crowd murmur.

"A duel?" Antoni echoed. "People here have actual duels?"

"Yes! And I challenge you," Louis stated firmly.

"If- If I win, you will agree that Ebba is your soulmate, not Marie," Antoni decided.

Louis looked at Ebba. "If she agrees to those terms."

"Certainly," Ebba said sweetly. "Although I may have to duel Marie if that happens, so please don't lose, dear."

"I cannot lose when something so important is at stake," he said in a low voice, glaring at Antoni.

"Very well," Antoni decided. "We shall duel."

"Thank you, sir," Louis said. "Next Tuesday we will battle. Marie, my love, will you fight at my side?"

"Naturally," she agreed.

Antoni turned around. "Mateo, will you fight with me?"

The Mexican shrugged.

In the crowd, Marie spotted Razan holding Innoka's hand. She grinned.

"Razan! Will you join our duel?"

He bowed as Antoni's glare shot towards them.

"Innoka! You will fight at my side!"

"I will not fight at all," she stated.

"You have to," he growled.

"No, I do not."

Louis interrupted. "The laws of duels insist everyone involved must know the risks and agree to join regardless. Innoka is clearly not agreeing."

Antoni glared at him, then turned to Ebba. "Will you-"

"Absolutely not," she said quickly.

He looked to the crowd around them, no one stepping forward to help. Marie got the impression it would have been taboo. Finally he gave up.

"Very well. Mateo and I will duel you, Marie, and Razan for my idea of soulmates."

"Thank you, sir," Louis said, holding out his hand. "I look forward to it."

Antoni accepted the handshake, and the crowd began to disperse.

Ebba looked at Louis. "A score of times? You only asked me to marry you once."

"Aye," he said, sitting down again. "She never accepted."

"It was a habit," Marie said. "We'd wake up in that dark, musty prison, then he'd give me his brightest smile and ask me to marry him. After which I would punch him in his teeth."

"And you always pulled your punches," he sighed longingly. Then paused, and looked at her. "Marie, my true soulmate, will you marry me?"

She smiled. "No. But ask me again after we win the duel."

Louis beamed. "Certainly, my love."