[I lost my log and was able to acquire it from Damien, I took out the 'From the square prefixes. Damien is on the saloon porch, the rest are in the square.]
June 18th, 1877
It is Monday morning, 9:27am.
Lockett is a friendly sort and at the greeting he slows and appraises the young man. "And good morning to you, sir!" His smile slips as he notices the rabbit skins and the question slips out before he can even consider it, "Do you realize sir that you appear to have a dead animal clinging to your belt?"
Blink. Blink. Joseph looks down, then looks up, and breaks into a broad, sunny smile. "Yes sir, I knew that already." His accent isn't local, suggestive of western Kansas or the Oklahoma Territory. "That's just my rabbits." Wow, this guy looks upper-class. "I hope it's okay, I wasn't gonna go in the saloon or nothin with em."
Damien steps out onto the saloon porch, cigar in hand. Moving to the edge of the porch he strikes a match on a post and lights up while looking around the square, taking in those who are passing by. With a lazy motion he shakes his match out and then tosses it into the street.
"Your rabbits?" The man states this as one might say 'Oh, that's just my dog.'. Lockett regards the furs with a closer glance then wrinkles his nose. "I say, maybe you ought to consider investing in a live pet or something?." This makes perfect sense to Lockett, a few dead rabbits must be fairly boring. And will smell soon too.
Upper-class, and possibly also touched in the head, Joseph inwardly amends, staring in bafflement at the older man. "Um. Well - no, sir, these are skins. I ate the actual rabbits already." He explains this gently, attempting not to sound condescending. Poor guy can't follow, it's not his fault.
Damien saunters slowly along the porch to glance in the windows of the barbershop and then checks his pocket watch.
Lockett shudders, his face looking a bit paler at the thought. "Oh. Silly me! Of course you ate them. I mean, what a delicacy rabbit can be." He sounds as convinced as a man who admits dirt makes a good meal too. The scent of Damien's tobacco reminds Lockett that he is looking to take up a new habit with his ever busy hands and the man withdraws a pouch from his pocket. The problem with this habit is one must learn how to roll, a simple task Lockett has yet to master.
Ooh, tobacco. Not something Joseph has anywhere near as much experience with as he'd like. He's amused by Lockett's visible disgust, and casts the man on the porch a glance as if to say - get this guy. "It's what's out there runnin around for free. You never ate rabbit?"
Damien returns his watch to it's pocket and has a seat on a bench by the shop, watching the square as he continues to enjoy his smoke.
Following Joseph's glance, Lockett finally lays eyes on Damien on the porch. He seems to have momentarily forgotten the tobacco and his conversation with Joseph, looking at the saloon owner overly long. With a blink and a start he snaps his attention back to the man with the dead things hanging off his belt. "Well, can't say as it hasn't been offered to me before, but I'm a beef man myself." He fumbles with the papers, dropping several onto the ground that flutter away. The regret at this loss leaves the man with an expression akin to tears, "Oh, no.. I really am just no good at this."
Honestly surprised by how seriously Lockett seems to be taking this, Joseph hurriedly chases after the papers, only managing to snag one. He brings it back, somewhat sheepishly. "Sorry. I could roll for you, if you like, my daddy showed me how when I was just a kid." Because now, I am A Man. "Don't take on, sir."
Damien tilts his head back to exhale a stream of smoke towards the ceiling, rolling his cigar between thumb and fingertips as he does so. He watches the two men with a slightly amused expression.
And then was what, last week? Well even if the young man only just learned chances are he is likely to be better than Lockett. "I suppose I could let you do that, but then I wouldn't learn, would I?" He takes the retrieved paper with a soft thank you and tries to determine his next step. After all, one hand holds the paper, the other the pouch and he surely doesn't have a third hand free somewhere to do the stuffing or he'd be one hell of a successful gambler. He finally asks, "How is this done?"
"Um." Joseph is desperately trying not to be immensely amused. "Usually you'd put the pouch down. Want me to hold it?" He reaches one grubby hand, genuine in the offer. "Should do it at a table, prepare in advance kinda thing."
Damien flicks some ash off the tip of his cigar, not that much has had a chance to accumulate in the short time since he lit up. He briefly wonders if he could sell tickets to the show but he's not sure even the most bored of miners would consider this to be much of an Entertainment. Now if they could work a half-naked saloon girl into that act that would be a different matter entirely. Perhaps she could lick the rolling paper when the time comes. He tilts his head considering the prospect. Maybe he should talk to Gem about it sometime.
The laugh that emits from the man can only be simply called a giggle. A giggle plain and simple. "Of course, how silly of me." Lockett offers the pouch towards Joseph and introduces himself, "I am Nathanial Edward Lockett, the Third." He now has a free hand! This is an achievement in the art of rolling a cigarette. "And you are?"
This is the most entertained Joseph has been in a while. "Joseph McClendon. Um, the first, I guess." He takes the pouch and holds it open. "See, now put the paper flat in your hand and hold it so's it don't fly away. And put some on the paper, and roll the paper. It ain't too difficult."
Damien draws on his cigar then slowly exhales the smoke, nodding to himself. The symbology would be clear enough that even the crudest of the miners and ranch hands ought to pick up on it. Might give a slight boost to the business the girls are doing.
With the flourish of an artist, Lockett smoothes out the paper in his palm careful to brush off any remaining road dust that might be on it. He folds his thumb down along the top edge to keep it from flying away. Another tuck, another brush at miniscule dust and Lockett looks quite pleased with himself. "Ah! This is something I can do, rather like palming a card." The man winks, "Not that I have ever done such a think! No! No! That would be
immoral." He reaches for the pouch and grabs enough tobacco to choke a small animal, nearly half the contents.
Whoa. "Sir! Sir, no sir. Just a little tiny bit." Joseph is wide-eyed at the possible waste. "Holy crow. You'd kill yourself smokin that much at once. A little bit."
Colin strolls off towards the east side of Maddock.
Catching the excited utterance, Damien turns his attention back to the square. What are those two up to now? He chuckles as he catches sight of the mound of tobacco that Lockett is planning to smoke.
Lockett is so surprised by Joseph's sudden remark that breaks into his intense concentration that he jumps. Not a simple jump, but a startle that causes most of the tobacco in his grasp to be tossed towards Joseph and the ground. Now, there's a serious waste. "Oh!"
Gah! Joseph instantly drops to his knees to try and retrieve as much of the tobacco as possible before it gets tangled with dust and blown away. "Aw, hell!" he swears, upset. "I'm so sorry."
Damien shakes his head in amusement. Perhaps these two have promise after all. They might make an entertaining act during the lunch hour.
"Good God! Get off your knees, man." This strikes Lockett as inwardly funny, after all, it falls pretty low on the list of things he ever possibly thought he would be saying willingly. He clears his throat and reiterates. "Leave it be, it's likely soiled with dirt now. Tell you what, I shall hold the pouch and you can stuff the paper."
Sheepishly getting back to his feet with a handful of dusty tobacco, Joseph blushes scarlet. He does, though, stuff the retrieved backy into his coat pocket instead of just letting it blow away. He can get a few smokes out of that if he's lucky. "Um, yes sir. Good idea." He offers the pouch back over, reaching for the paper. "I'm, uh. I'm really - that was my fault."
Colin strides over from the east.
Damien draws again on his cigar, still looking rather amused. He glances at the shop behind him again and pulls out his watch to check it once more.
Lockett tks softly, "Of course it wasn't your fault. A man should never drop his cards, or his tobacco for that matter." He now holds the pouch, glancing in to view the remaining contents. "Perhaps I should consider a different hobby." At this he glances towards Damien again, watching the man smoke his cigar. "Cigars might be just the thing."
Apparently Joseph wasn't kidding - he carefully pinches the correct amount of tobacco out of the pouch and rolls the cigarette with easy deftness. "I wouldn't say it qualifies as a hobby, sir. Just smokin. Here you go."
A figure emerges into the square from East Maddock, his face red, sweaty, and somewhat dirty... for now he has his hat off and tucked under his armpit. He looks around, then at the Saloon Porch, noticing the smoke, he starts patting around on himself, and then pulls a small packet of cigarettes and some matches from his left pocket. He slides one out of the pack and pops it into his mouth, taking a match from the box and striking it on the side, it lights up. He holds the lit match to his cigarette and puffs a few times, then when the cigarette is finally lit, he flicks the match to the ground and places the matches and the pack of cigarettes in his pocket, he puffs and then looks relieved as he blows the smoke from his mouth. "Ahhh...a well deserved smoke." He looks around and nods his head to Lockett and Joseph, approaches them...
Damien tilts his head slightly to the side, watching the new comers approach. A third member for the comedy act?
That's right, everyone rub it in and enjoy your smoke. Because in a moment, Lockett is going to be joining them. He accepts the cigarette and places it in his mouth. He stuffs the pouch away and pats around for a match glancing up at the approaching figure. Lockett openly stares, his mouth going wide open slack at the man's appearance. Unmoving, mouth hanging ajar the white paper cigarette slowly peels off his lip and drops to the ground.
Also glancing towards the newcomer, Joseph stares as openly as Lockett, eyes wide. He notices the falling of the cigarette, though, and tears his eyes away from the giant to snatch it up.
Colin finally stands near the two men, "Colin Musgrave, pleased to meet ya." He sticks out his hand, waiting for it to be shook... then noticing their gawks, "Close your mouth, the ground doesn't need watering today." He chuckles slightly.
Damien taps his cigar against the edge of the bench, knocking a little more ash off the tip, as he watches the exchange.
Tall, dark and sweaty, with a sense of humor to boot. These are the reasons Lockett went west. He leaps ahead of Joseph, will hip check him if need be, to accept the offered hand and shake quickly. "Nathaniel Edward Locket, the Third." He smiles widely up at the tall man, "Pleased to make you acquaintance, sir!" He has completely forgotten his cigarette that Joseph retrieved, he also has forgotten to let go of Colin's hand.
The sun hangs directly overhead, its light warming your shoulders.
No need to hip check. Joseph gratefully slides a half-step backwards, happy to allow Lockett to intercept the big guy. He quietly pockets the cigarette. No sense in wasting it.
Damien glances over his shoulder again, perhaps wondering where the barber is.
Colin smirks to Lockett, and chuckles slightly, "The third, hey.." He looks him over, "Mighty big words..." he jerks his hand away, a few moments are good enough for him... he looks at Joseph who isn't quite as
aggressive to shake his hand as Lockett, "Hey.." he tips his head. He then puffs on his cigarette and blows a circle of smoke out. He then stands up straight and wips some sweat off of his brow, "Never seen you two around before, you new in town?"
Lockett watches the smoke drift into the air before realizing there was a question some there within the man's words. He nods quickly, "Suppose you can say that. I was here once before, but moved on. Place sure ain't like I recall it to be." Cigarette. That's right, he was going to have a smoke. Now Lockett gets down on his hands and knees and starts sifting through the dust, "Ah.. Mr. Musgrave, would you mind lifting you boot a moment?" That little thing must be down there somewhere.
"Hey," says Joseph, subdued. He's deeply intimidated by Colin and shuffles another half-step back. "Yes sir." New in town. On
realizing Lockett's looking for his smoke, he clears his throat and watches with innocent interest.
Colin looks down at the man on the ground, and slowly lifts his boot, "What the hell are you doing?" He puffs on the smoke again, then briefly takes it out of his mouth and flicks it to get some of the excess ashes off.
Beginning to grow bored now that the Entertainment seems to be over, Damien studies his cigar, once more rolling it between thumb and fingertips with a thoughtful look.
"Getting dusty." This is a dejected reply as the man stands and brushes away the dirt. "I seem to have lost something." About two dollars worth of tobacco to be exact. He abandons the search altogether, deciding that he needs to choose another hobby or go broke. Noting the rising sun, Lockett glances towards the saloon. "Oh! How the time passes, all this pleasant socializing and now I find I am late for work."
"It was real nice meetin you, Mister Lockett," says Joseph, ever-so-polite. He starts sidling cautiously away, not really wanting to be left alone with the Very Tall Person.
Damien tilts his head back to blow smoke rings at the porch roof and then checks his watch again. Slipping it back into his vest pocket he shakes his head and stands.
Colin shrugs, and puffs the smoke again. "You work there?" He nudges his head towards the saloon... He then looks up at the saloon, noticing the figure of Damien on the porch, "Sir." He says towards the porch. Then turning
back to Joseph, "Where are you going, want a cigarette?"
Lockett chuckles lightly, "I do indeed. When the cards are in my favor." Which they have not been these last few days. But Lockett's learning the crowd, marking the tells. Soon it will be payday for the overly flamboyant man. He starts towards the porch, stealing one more glance towards the tall man with a wistful sigh.
Ooh. Joseph hesitates, weighing up Big Scary Guy against Possible Free Cigarette. He reluctantly strolls back over again, eyeing Colin with the natural suspicion of the teenager confronted by a man a full foot taller than himself. "If you're offerin. Sir. Yes please." He casts Lockett a glance as the man heads off. Simple in the head. Shame.
Damien nods politely to Colin when the man speaks to him then turns and steps back inside the saloon.