JUSTIN: * Losing him will definitely /not/ be that simple, as Shane puts great effort into staying as close to her as he possibly can -- almost to the point of shoving people out of the way, but he doesn't want to start any trouble. He tracks her through the crowd toward the market area, making sure that if he needs to, he can dash forward and snag her at a moment's notice.

JENNA: * Jo is peripherally aware of his pursuit, but she doesn't let it bother her, sizing up the market stalls and judging who will have what she needs. Deciding to take a moment to sort it all out, she darts out of the crowd and into the shadow of one of the larger shops in the area. Then, after a few moments' hesitation, she goes inside.

JUSTIN: * Shane grounds to a halt and changes direction to follow Jo's sudden change of course, ducking through the door after her and quickly scanning to see where she's gone.

JENNA: * There isn't much place to hide -- though the store is spacious, it's very open -- and Jo is making very little effort to do so. She's peering around the good with interest, almost as if she hasn't noticed Shane's entrance at all. There's a brief clatter, and a girl suddenly stumbles around the counter from the back, shoving her thick glasses into place. "Welcome to Jael Family Market!" she says a little breathlessly, peering at them both. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

JUSTIN: * Shane certainly doesn't open his mouth, having no money and too busy making sure Jo doesn't try to filch anything. He steps up beside her, clearing his throat quietly as if to announce to her his presence -- or warn her, depending on how she takes it.

JENNA: * Jo continues to act as if she hasn't seen or heard him, and when she turns to walk to the counter, she shoulders past him impolitely -- an acknowledgement of his existence, perhaps. Then she ambles over to the counter and smiles at the girl behind it. "How much," she asks idly, "would this be worth?" And she sets something on the counter with a faint clunk. There's a sudden, hissing intake of breath from the shopkeeper -- and then she begins to babble. "Is that a Juno-class pistol? Military grade? Where did you get it? It's in top-class condition! --- might have to file the name off ... this is worth a /mint/ --"

JUSTIN: * Shane mutters something under his breath about the impolite gesture, and folds his arms over his chest indignantly. He's scanning the merchandise as the shopkeeper begins her speech. For a moment, he's unconcerned -- hardly even listening. Then all at once, he notices the sudden lack of weight on his belt, and the words "Juno" and "pistol" blow through the back of his head like a gunshot. He whirls, practically leaping at the counter to save his precious gun from the claws of the merchant. "DROP THAT!" He screeches, yanking it free and staring at it in disbelief. "You filthy, /wretched/--" He turns wide eyes to Jo, his face going red. He slams the pistol down on the counter, fists clenching at his sides. "You tried to pawn my own gun right under my nose?!"

JENNA: "Uh," says the shopgirl, but Jo steps in before she can get much further than that, arms folded against the blast of rage and expression as bland as she can make it. "I stole it right under your nose," she replies sweetly. "Thought maybe I'd check and see just how oblivious you really are." Her mask of unconcern is slipping rapidly, and there's a feral edge to her otherwise cool gaze. "Um," says the shopgirl.

JUSTIN: * Shane isn't even hearing the shopgirl's attempts to get in a word, snatching his gun and shoving it back into his belt before taking a step toward Jo. "You think that's suppose to impress me?! What point are you trying to prove -- other than the ones I've already made!" He growls, closing his eyes and fighting back a headache. "You're a good thief, but a lousy human being." He stomps past her and makes for the door.

JENNA: "HEY!" the shopgirl barks suddenly. "Legitimate transactions only, buddy! If you two're gonna have a lover's spat, take it the hell outta here." She pauses -- then gives a wheedling "You sure you won't sell it?" Jo glances at her with an apologetic smile and a very faint shrug, then shifts her gaze back to Shane.

JUSTIN: * Shane halts, almost shaking with disgust and anger, and lifts a finger to point back at Jo accusingly. "If there is /one/ thing I would do with this gun right now, I can /promise/ you it would not be /selling/ it." He shifts his scowl to the girl behind the counter. "And I am sick and tired of being associated with that wretched creature in that manner." This said, he barges out the door and disappears around the corner.

JENNA: "Cripes," the shopgirl says, somewhat surprised. "Guess that's a long story." Jo nods agreeably. "Thanks, though," she says with a very faint smile. "Now --" That done, she rattles off a list of purchases, and the girl obliges shortly, not bothering to comment on how odd a thing that was to say.

JUSTIN: * Shane throws himself onto a bench around the corner, utterly flustered and wondering for the first time if Jo wasn't right about him. What kind of mental illness does he have, thinking that he could follow this woman halfway across the globe in the name of justice? He pulls his hat off and runs his hands through his hair repeatedly, rocking back and forth and feeling the headache begin to take over.

JENNA: * Jo, purchases (at least the honest ones) complete, slips outside silently and starts back toward the market for a few of her more illegal dealings. She doesn't notice any sign of Shane, which is all the better for her, and she quickens her pace, wanting to make it out of town as soon as she can.

JUSTIN: * Shane looks up from his self-pity long enough to notice Jo disappearing down the street, and for a moment... he actually intends to let her go. After all the trouble she's caused, and all the chaos he's walked blindly into, he can hardly stomach the thought of more. But then... He stands to his feet, gripping his hat in his hand vice-like. If he's come all this way, why let it all be in vain. Heaving a heavy sigh, he begins to walk through the crowd, keeping Jo -- now even farther ahead -- within sight.

JENNA: * For the most part, it appears she's merely window shopping, and she doesn't really acknowledge Shane's existence until she's almost back at the docks. She pauses in front of one of the stalls and turns to seek him out, meeting his eyes and crooking her finger at him.

JUSTIN: * Shane stops when her eyes lock on his, as if running into a sudden wall. Some latent anger threatens to boil up again, but he represses it, and all that's left in a dull ache in his gut. He turns his sight away for a moment, as if debating with himself, then continues toward her slowly.

JENNA: * Jo folds her arms as he approaches, waiting until he's within earshot before she speaks. "You need ... ammunition, right?" She pauses over the word, then points at the stall she's stopped in front of. "Like those?" she asks, indicating a wide array of bullets and gunpowder, all at extraordinary prices.

JUSTIN: * Shane doesn't answer her right away, watching her with wariness. Finally his eyes flick toward the display, and the merchandise thereon. "I don't have any money." He says shortly, turning to put his back to it. The dull ache in his stomach twists, and he tries to ignore the unbidden thought that she's toying with him and his situation.

JENNA: "I know that," she says impatiently. "Which one?" Her foot begins to tap impatiently, and she hopes he won't force her to spell it all out for him in front of the shopkeeper. Of course, it would be even worse if he guessed and started yelling at her again. She frowns slightly, now hoping she won't have to guess.

JUSTIN: "It doesn't matter -- I'm not getting any." He turns her a cold glare, wishing she wouldn't press the matter. Whatever point she's trying to prove, he feels she's already proved more than she was welcome to. "Don't waste your time here."

JENNA: * Jo scowls at him, leaning closer to the vendor, who is busy with a customer. She studies the merchandise as best as she can, noting hopefully that the few guns he has for sale are set with their ammo nearby. She mentally crosses her fingers, pushing forward again until she 'accidentally' bumps into the customer and the table, stammering hurried apologies before slinking away again. She gives Shane an annoyed look, rejoining him. "Pecos," she suggests.

JUSTIN: "For what?" Shane glances at her, then shakes his head, grunting. "You have enough money left for that?" He continues to walk, though he isn't sure where he's headed. Just doesn't feel like standing still.

JENNA: "Just enough," she responds comfortably, leading him through the crowds to the edge of the city, where the rental pecos are usually stabled. "They don't cost too much, though there's a hefty fee if you don't return them." She folds her arms across her chest, annoyance prickling at her. She finds him incredibly aggravating when he mopes.

JUSTIN: * Shane isn't too happy about continuing to use her stolen money to buy themselves convenience, but if she's intent on getting a peco, he is going to need one to keep up. "Fine. Which way are the stables, then?" He finally puts his hat back on his head, though without the usual enthusiasm.

JENNA: "This way," she replies idly, skipping a little as they near the stables. In spite of everything, her cheer is increasing -- it's probably the thought of being on the road again after all this time. "Things should definitely go faster birdback," she remarks, rounding the corner to stop in front of the stables themselves.

JUSTIN: * Shane follows with a lot less zeal, arms firmly over his chest as he comes up behind her. "How do you intend to get the birds returned after the trip?" He isn't sure he /really/ cares, but it wouldn't do to have it come back to haunt them in the future.

JENNA: "The rental groups are all connected .. you return it to one and it will eventually make its way home." She trots up to the counter, smiling at the dour, middle-aged man sitting behind it. "Two for Morroc," she requests cheerily, and then man gives her an unfriendly look before quoting the price. "Five hundred ... final charge pending animal's condition on return."

JUSTIN: * Shane is feeling more ill the happier his companion becomes, distinctly aware that he is failing in his ill-conceived mission. Nothing left to do but ride the current and hope he gets where he needs to be. He leaves Jo to the dealing, walking over to give the available pecos a look.

JENNA: * The birds look well-kept, and when Jo ambles over to join him, she peers at them with uneducated interest. There isn't time for an awkward silence before the clerk comes around with the pair they've rented, and Jo straightens, thanking him and trying to restrain a grimace at the smell of the animals.

JUSTIN: * Shane turns his inspection to the beasts they'll actually be riding, and is pleased to note that they've been given a decent pair of birds, and not the runts of the flock. Under normal circumstances, he would probably assist her in mounting, but no such feelings of chivalrous duty seem to tug at him this day. Without a word, he steps over to his peco and mounts, rearranging his sword for comfort and looking down at her expectantly.

JENNA: * She would be fairly unlikely to accept his help in any case, springing to the back of her bird without so much as a glance in his direction. She waves thanks to the shopkeeper, who pays her no heed whatsoever, then pauses and flings the now-empty money pouch over her shoulder to land in the street. Then, again without looking at Shane, she clucks to the bird and starts it out of the city.

JUSTIN: * Her lack of interest suits Shane just fine -- certainly more so than whatever game she was trying to play at the ammunition display. He takes the reigns and wordlessly nudges it on after her.

JENNA: * She starts humming again as they strike out west, keeping to the main road for the time being, as it goes largely in the direction Jo wants to go. She twinges mildly at the thought that Shane is still tagging along behind her, but she's sure she'll be able to figure something out before she reaches Morroc. It doesn't seem right to strand him in the desert ... maybe they'll run across a merchant caravan. She glances at his sullen expression, and her humming ceases for a moment. "It's your own stupid fault," she mutters under her breath, and kicks her peco into a faster trot.

JUSTIN: * Shane arches a brow, noticing the glance and the inaudible sound of something said under her breath. He snorts quietly, frowning to himself and thinking about how happy he'll be when she's put away and he doesn't have to think about any of this anymore.

JENNA: * Jo gives a very faint sniff, and the humming resumes, though she keeps the peco moving at an accelerated pace. Just as well to get a jump on things while she can and make as much time while the travel's easy. She thinks about telling him they won't be stopping 'til after dark, but she decides he probably doesn't want to talk to her anyway.

JUSTIN: * Shane is content to keep his silence, and would ride for days straight if he had to without complaint. The only thing he can think of is to keep moving, mainly for fear of what he'd think of if he didn't devote his attention to making forward progress. Watching the back of Jo's head and ignoring the knot in his stomach, he eventually becomes oblivious to the passage of time.

JENNA: * Jo keeps up the pace until evening, until she feels the peco is beginning to flag, then she slows a bit, scouting around for some water to make camp near. She knows of a place nearby, as long as she's not too far off in her calculations, and she makes for it with an encouraging trill at the bird. It squawks something disgruntled.

JUSTIN: * All obliviousness aside, Shane is beginning to feel a little saddle sore after a full day of riding. And all the zoning out he may have mustered hasn't prevented him from realizing how dark it has gotten. When Jo finally makes a decided change in direction, he can only hope it is to take a pit stop. Regardless of any claims he may have made to himself about riding for days.

JENNA: * Jo is relieved when she proves to be correct, and she reins in the peco, swinging down almost in the same motion to tie it to a nearby tree. She fishes around in its saddlebags for feed and tends to its needs before looking around for materials to build a fire.

JUSTIN: * Shane walks his bird over to park it beside hers, slipping down from the saddle and tying it up to the tree with its partner. He fishes through the saddlebags on his mount with some weariness, going about the task of laying down the feed with great disinterest.

JENNA: "The fire has to stay small," Jo remarks suddenly, gathering stones and wood as she finds them. "Payon's very protective of its forests." Once she's gathered enough to start with, she crouches down and starts to work. "So dinner might take a while longer to cook than before." Provided she manages to catch any, she thinks wearily.

JUSTIN: * Shane flops onto the ground and pulls his knees up to rest his arms on, mustering little more than a mumble of acknowledgement. He hadn't even noticed he was hungry until she mentioned anything, perhaps losing the feeling amid the ever-present knot that has taken up residence in his gut.

JENNA: * Jo glances at him again, this time becoming downright exasperated. "I know you can't fish, so how about you make yourself useful and gather some more firewood? This won't last us the night." She then turns to her packs, searing for line amid her jumbled belongings. "I'll be at the river, catching supper." The pecos, meanwhile, are squawking at each other conversationally.

JUSTIN: * Shane does as he's told without comment, trudging off into the woods to search for some suitable firewood. Every so often he's convinced he sees eyes watching him from deep in the thick underbrush, but he chalks it up to his stress level. It isn't long before he comes back with two armfuls of dry wood to place near the camp.

JENNA: * By that time, Jo has disappeared to the riverside, where she's rigged herself up some fish-catching gear and is setting about her assigned task. It isn't far, and thus her humming can be heard drifting quietly up from where she's seated. The birds have finally settled, leaving that as the only sound aside from the crackling fire and rustling leaves.

JUSTIN: * Though it goes against his better judgment (and mood), Shane follows the sound of humming down to the riverside, quietly seating himself in the grass beside Jo. He doesn't say anything at first, just watching the water.

JENNA: * Jo doesn't appear to notice him at first, threading her line through the water with an air of near contentment. For a moment, her humming stills, then she gives the line a sharp jerk, tugging a larger, silvery fish out of the water. She snatches it before it can hit the ground and tosses it on a small cloth she has spread nearby, where it joins one other. "Good fishing here. That's why I like this spot." She glances at Shane. She doesn't seem to expect a response, re-threading the hook and tossing it back in the water.

JUSTIN: * Shane, despite all his efforts to the contrary, is never very good at being silent for extended periods of time. "You camp here often?" He supplies her a question to fuel the conversation, watching the silver glimmer of moving fish, just beneath the surface of the water.

JENNA: * If she is surprised by his response, the only indication is a glance in his direction. "Whenever I'm in the area ... it's a long walk from Morroc." She plays the line out a little, smiling as another fish moves in with interest. "There's another good spot near Prontera, but it wasn't on the way this time." Her lips purse slightly, and she twitches the line again, attempting to pique the fish's interest a little more.

JUSTIN: * Shane watches with some interest, as the fish fancies its own doom in the form of Jo's line. "They aren't very bright creatures, are they?" He chuckles, uneasily. It seems a little early to try being chummy again.

JENNA: "Mm-mm," Jo agrees, wiggling the line again, then giving a short "Hah!" of triumph when the fish bites down. The line once again makes its graceful arc out of the water, and the flopping fish joins its companions on the cloth. "One more should do it," she says absently, then glances at Shane. "Think of it this way -- if they were any smarter, we'd be going hungry." The ghost of a grin crosses her face, and she tosses the line back in the water.

JUSTIN: * Shane nods agreeably, a smile twitching the corners of his mouth. "I suppose when it is put that way, we can be grateful for their stupidity." He glances at her makeshift fishing rod, fidgeting in his usual manner. "Might... might I try? I promise not to break it."

JENNA: * Jo blinks, looking at him in surprise. "If you like," she says after a moment, offering him the thin line across the space between them. "It doesn't matter if you do.. I have more." She hesitates, then shrugs. "It's just a matter of making them think it's food."

JUSTIN: * Shane peers at the instrument in his hands, attempting to visualize how he's going to make use of it. "That sounds easy enough..." He drops the end into the water, much like he saw her do, and drifts it around until he can see the glimmer of submerged scales shifting nearby.

JENNA: "It isn't as hard as I thought it would be," Jo says, gaze quietly fixed on the fish. "But Fray was always a lot better than me." She rests her chin on her hand, eyes still watching the water, and after a moment, she begins humming again.

JUSTIN: * Shane sneaks a sideways glance at her, twitching another brief smile, then his eyes dart back to the water as he feels a slight tug at his hands. "Do you like music? I hear you humming often." He flicks his wrists a bit, attempting to persuade the fish into more than a nibble.

JENNA: "I only know a few songs.." She hesitates, then lowers both hands to her lap, gaze lowering to the riverbank. "My parents used to sing sometimes. I tried to remember them after I left." She reaches one hand up to scratch her cheek. "Of course, I don't know the words anymore."

JUSTIN: "Really? My parents taught me a lot of songs when I was young." Shane almost forgets about the fish, and scrambles to grab the line when the creature decides it wants a bite. Catching hold, he gives it a mighty pull and falls over onto his back, the fish flying into a nearby bush.

JENNA: * Jo bites down on a sudden snort of laughter, jumping to her feet and hurrying to rescue the fish before it gets lost, eaten or too messy. "I wasn't with them very long." She straightens, turning to face him with fish in hand, and unwinds the hook from its jaw. "Congratulations, by the way."

JUSTIN: * Shane rubs at the back of his neck as he sits himself upright, smiling modestly. "Well, I just tried to follow your example... I suppose I should work on my aim." He takes the cloth with the fish, lifting the package and holding it up for her to add the new addition. "My parents died when I first joined the guard. It was their idea that I should join, really... I hadn't had any interest in it before. But they were old, they had a peaceful end." He clears his throat, afraid of steering the conversation into the dirt. "I've never thought much of my own voice, though, so I can't say any songs would be fresh in my mind."

JENNA: * Jo steps over to join him, setting the fish carefully with its brethren, then goes about coiling the line. "I don't really know what my parents would have wanted .... and I couldn't say much about my own voice.." She glances at him and shrugs, heading back to the fire. "I usually don't have an audience."

JUSTIN: * Shane hefts the fish and follows after her, glancing into the forest a couple times before hurrying to her side. "I may not be the best judge, but your humming hasn't scared me yet." For a brief moment, he wonders at his sudden change in mood -- and notices that the knot in his stomach seems to be gone. This worries him.

JENNA: * Her mouth twitches into a faint smile. "It's nice to know I can carry a tune." She feels oddly pleased, but to distract herself from that, she makes for the fire and seats herself near it, gesturing for Shane to set the fish down. She pulls out her knife, quickly whittling at a few sticks to roast the fish on while she waits for him to settle.

JUSTIN: * Shane sets the package of fish down next to her, seating himself on a rock beside. "Everyone has their hidden talents, or so the story goes." He deposits his hat on the rock, staring at the small fire in front of them.

JENNA: "I suppose." She tugs the package closer and scoops up one of its residents, gutting it neatly and tossing the extraneous pieces in the fire. "At that age, I never banked on it. My talents ran more to the streets, so I followed them." She guts the second fish, and the fire fizzes and pops as she tosses its innards into the flames.

JUSTIN: * Shane shifts in his spot, half frowning and hoping she can't see it. "That seems to be the case..." He crosses his legs in front of him, keeping well clear of the fire. "I was often told I didn't have what it took to reach my current position. Now that I have it, I'm just as often ridiculed for not trying for something better. I've come to the conclusion that I'm never going to please anyone, so I just do what I do. It's not much of a life, but it gets me by." He fiddles with one of the sticks she's shaved, twirling it idly in his hands.

JENNA: * Jo glances at him with a faint smile, willing to bet it's more than just his ambitions that get him mocked, but she doesn't say anything, gutting the last fish and holding her hand out for the stick. "My guild values me primarily for stealing and information-gathering -- I'm one of the few whose specialties lie that way." She pauses broodingly and shrugs. "You should do what you want. In the end there's no one to please but yourself."

JUSTIN: "I try to put others first, when I can... but..." He shrugs slightly, and eyes her hand nearby. After a moment he realizes what she's aiming for, and hands her the stick. "I can't say I approve of your choices, but I suppose we've already been over that." He sighs heavily, leaning back and staring skyward. "I'm surprised you talk to me about it at all, considering who I am and why I'm here. Doesn't seem like it would be something you'd care to elaborate on."

JENNA: * Jo takes the stick and skewers the fish on it, anchoring it in the dirt over the fire and reaching for the next one. "It doesn't bother me. It's a job like any other job... some people are guards -- some are thieves. One feeds the other. And all of them feed the merchants."

JUSTIN: * Shane's sense of ethics finds this simplification highly debatable, but the mood really doesn't call for an argument. He shrugs his shoulders and slides down to use the rock he'd been sitting on as a backrest instead. "I guess." He watches the fish cook. "Doesn't it worry you that you could end up in prison, though?" Part of him wonders at the choice of wording there.

JENNA: "I try not to worry about it ... if I get caught, I get caught. If I can't get un-caught, I'm not doing my job very well." She pauses, stringing up the last fish and placing it with the others. That, at least, is what she says -- a mantra she learned early on to keep her from being too afraid. She almost believes it now, at least. She turns to him, resting her cheek against her fist to avoid the fish mess smeared on her hands. "Do you ever worry one of your criminals is going to kill you?"

JUSTIN: * Shane smirks, shaking his head a bit. "With the sort of rabble I have to deal with? Certainly not..." He picks at the grass underneath him. "You're the first to give me so much as a bruise. I worry about my superiors more than I worry about my prisoners."

JENNA: "Your superiors?" She sounds puzzled for a moment, though she feels she probably shouldn't. "I wouldn't think you'd have to worry about them so much in your line of work." She peers at the fish, one hand rubbing fitfully at her belly.

JUSTIN: * Shane snorts, flicking a wad of grass into the fire. "It's not the same sort of worry, I suppose. But most of them will melt your face off over the littlest thing."

JENNA: * Jo gives a very faint snort. "I see." She pauses to turn the sticks and expose the other side of the fish to the fire. "I suppose there's some of that in the guilds, as well ... it's part of why I stay away as much as I can." She glances at her hands and gets to her feet, deciding now's as good a time as any to wash before eating.

JUSTIN: * Shane glances at her and watches as she stands, then awkwardly pushes to his own feet. He follows along as she heads to the river to wash up, again watching the forest as they move further from the light of the fire.

JENNA: * Jo kneels next to the river, dousing her hands in the flow and scrubbing them against each other until she feels the grime slipping away. "You said ... you hadn't traveled much?" she says suddenly, glancing back at him. "Have you ever been far from Juno?" Even though they're feeling reasonably clean, she lets her hands dangle in the water, waiting for a reply.

JUSTIN: * Shane crouches beside her warily, imagining what his discomfort would be like if he were to slip and fall in. "Ah... no, I haven't ever left Juno." He slips his hands under the water and rubs them, remembering the last time they debated how healthy river water was.

JENNA: "Hmm.." Jo brings her hands up, cupping some of said water between them, and takes a brief draught of it. "You should try visiting the cities when there isn't a rush," she suggests after a moment, dipping another drink from the water. "Prontera is a little loud .. but Alberta's market is second to none. And a few of the inns have a nice view of the ocean."

JUSTIN: * Shane shakes the excess water from his hands, standing back to his feet and peering back at the small circle of light, down the path between the trees. "It seems like an awful lot of travel, when I have everything I need right in my own home." He smiles vaguely, wishing he was there right now. "I'm not an adventurous spirit."

JENNA: * Jo rises shortly after him, arching an eyebrow. "I don't know how you can claim that, having followed me all this way." She turns back toward the fire, wiping her hands on her trousers as she goes. "They're not very adventurous towns, anyway ... well, unless you get lost."

JUSTIN: * Shane follows after her again, dabbing his hands on his coat and looking more or less embarrassed. "I probably wouldn't find my way between them, and I'm not much good with nature..." He keeps his eyes firmly on her back this time, ignoring the sounds from the forest.

JENNA: "That's what guides are for," Jo says comfortably, making her way back to her place by the fire and hurriedly turning the fish again. "There are more expensive services, too, but I've always stuck to walking or riding." She grins at him. "My few times asking random strangers for help haven't all ended badly, either."

JUSTIN: * Shane plops down into his spot, nestling against the rock. He eyes the fish, feeling his hunger starting to gnaw, but turns his attention to Jo instead. "I wouldn't think a traveled person like you would need to ask for help."

JENNA: * She laughs, feeling her stomach twinge as the fish, nearly done, give off an extremely pleasant aroma. "I didn't start off well-traveled. I spent a lot of time lost in the larger cities at first. Well, maybe not Prontera ... but Alberta can be a maze." Finally satisfied with the state of the food, she plucks two of the sticks from the ground and hands them to Shane.

JUSTIN: * Shane accepts the fish sticks, leaning one cautiously against the rock beside him to devote his attention to the other. "I am not sure I like the big crowd. Too many ways to go, too many people to look out for... Juno only ever gets that crowded on a holiday." He blows some of the heat from the fish. "And even then, it only seems so crowded because it isn't all that large when you get down to it..."

JENNA: "It's large enough ..." She smiles wanly, reflecting that this perception could partly be spurred by the fact that she has a violent aversion to heights. "Or at least I had to ask for directions.. But the caravanners were good people." Her smile becomes somewhat ironic. "I'm not sure how much the people in your city charge for directions, but I didn't really want to find out."

JUSTIN: "Charge for directions?" Shane scoffs at the idea. "There is nothing to be gained but an ill reputation to charge for friendly advice." He takes a bite of his food, nearly choking on a bone in his moment of righteous indignation.

JENNA: * Jo starts laughing, pulling back from a bite of fish so that she doesn’t burn herself or choke similarly. "That doesn't bother the merchants, from what I can tell -- or any number of other people." Still chuckling faintly, she turns back to nibble on her fish.

JUSTIN: * Shane coughs a bit, pulling the bone from his mouth and stomping it underfoot with a frown. "Well I consider it an honor to help a person in need. You've actually paid someone for something as simple as directions?"

JENNA: "Mmmhm." She glances at him sideways, considering for a moment whether she ought to remind him of her earlier tale. Then she shrugs slightly. "The first time I went to Alberta," she says lightly, "for one. Though, as I said, he didn't ask for money."

JUSTIN: * Shane reddens in the face, half of which is hidden by his fish. "...oh." He pulls it away, rubbing his hair. "Right. That one." He sniffs, and turns back to his food, pretending not to be as curious as he is. Mainly for his own sake.

JENNA: * She arches an eyebrow, nibbling on her own food for a few moments before continuing. "He asked," she says finally, "for a kiss. I was sort of glad at the time, as I didn't have any money." She returns her attention to her food again, hungrily working her way through the first fish.

JUSTIN: "You /kissed/ him?!" Shane's charade dies in one horribly dismayed look. "A stranger, just like that?" He pulls his fish away, suddenly losing his appetite. "The nerve of the fiend to even /ask/ a lady such a thing... it's, it's unspeakably piggish!"

JENNA: "I did /not/!" Jo splutters, jerking the remains of the fish away before she can bite down on the wood instead. For some reason, she feels the unspeakable urge to burst into giggles, but she manages to stifle most of it. Her grin is, however, a bit wider than normal when she continues. "He certainly /thought/ I was going to, right up until the last second." She casts Shane a sideways glance. "Then I punched him instead."

JUSTIN: * Shane feels a wash of relief -- a sensation that is in stark contradiction to the hollow feeling he gets when he realizes he might not have cared for all the right reasons. He immediately pounds all these thoughts to the back of his head, and shifts uneasily in his spot. "Oh. Well, I suppose he had that much coming." He eyes his fish again, as if apologizing to it for his lost appetite. "If it was even half as hard as you hit me, I am sure he would think twice about making such demands again."

JENNA: * Jo's mouth twitches, and she finishes off her first fish, setting the stick aside. "He was a fairly good sport about it.. and he'd already taken me where I needed to go." Her grin becomes slightly more vicious. "He did beat a fairly hasty retreat." She leans back, picking up her second fish and starting in on it slowly. "Most of the time it is money, though."

JUSTIN: * Shane nibbles absently at his fish, knowing that he's still hungry whether he feels like it or not. He pulls it away for a moment, sniffing. "It is a wonder you'd have any money left for shopping, with people asking for your money around ever corner. Though with the sort of prices I saw, I suppose there isn't much the average person can afford anyway."

JENNA: "Some things are harder to come by than others, even in Alberta." She pauses, then sits up suddenly, as if she's just remembered something, and hurriedly anchors the stick in the ground. Getting to her feet, she trots back over to the pecos and shortly returns, pack in hand. She sits once again, sifting through it and looking faintly pleased with herself.

JUSTIN: * Shane tilts his head to the side, watching her trot off and come back again with a quizzical look. "What's all this, then?" He pushes up to his knees, shuffling over to have a look at her pack. "I thought you only had enough money left for the pecos."

JENNA: * Jo gives a soft "Ah!" as she finally finds what she was looking for, lifting it from her pack and offering it to him. "You need these for the pistol to be useful, right?" She glances at him curiously, then her gaze flicks to the ammunition she holds in her hand. "Are they the right kind?"

JUSTIN: * Shane's eyes narrow as he inspects the small, silvery objects in her possession with bewildered scrutiny. "What on earth..." He gets to his feet suddenly, eyes going wide. "Jo -- no, you didn't! You stole from that merchant?! After I said -- what were you thinking?!"

JENNA: * Jo blinks, expression going momentarily blank as her gaze follows him to his feet. Her mouth opens, then snaps shut, and an embarrassed heat rises into her cheeks. "We -- you need them, right? It's no good to have a useless weapon --" Her fingers close around the ammunition, drawing it instinctively back.

JUSTIN: * Shane covers his face with his hands, shaking his head before pushing them back through his hair in an exasperated manner. "I was right there, I was right /there/ -- why didn't I see you do it?!" His face looks a different sort of angry than she would be used to, far more distraught and conflicted. "You know I can't condone theft! You know it!"

JENNA: * For a moment, Jo looks confused as to which statement to respond to -- if he saw her do it, she wouldn't be doing a very good job, would she? Instead, her face goes even redder, and she withdraws the offered ammunition entirely, scooting herself around so that she's facing the pack and not him. "Fine then," she mutters, sounding sullenly embarrassed. "I'll just sell them in Morroc."

JUSTIN: "WHAT?! You will not fence stolen merchandise! And the last thing Morroc needs is ammunition for a deadly weapon!" Shane almost lunges forward to snatch the pack away from her, but he stops short, feeling a weird mingling of guilt in his anger. "Look, I appreciate the notion -- you're right, my gun is fairly useless without bullets. But you /stole/ them! How could I accept stolen goods?!"

JENNA: * She turns her head to glare at him, cheeks still hot. "All right, all RIGHT, shut UP." She then whips her head back around, apparently too aggravated to look at him. "What I do with it isn't your business, anyway," she mutters, shoving the lot back in her pack and getting to her feet to put it back with her peco.

JUSTIN: * Shane scampers after her, half-interposing his body between her and her destination. "What do you mean, it's none of my business? You got them for me in the first place! Don't I get to decide what happens to them?"

JENNA: * Jo stops short, looking at him almost incredulously. "You just said you don't want them! You can't choose one and then decide you want the other!" She pushes past him, snatching at her packs so hard the bird squawks indignantly.

JUSTIN: * Shane lunges ahead anyway, wrapping his hands around the package of ammunition. "That was before you said you were going to sell them in Morroc! If I let you do that, it would only make your bad decision worse!"

JENNA: * She glares at him again, taking hold of his hand in an attempt to pry him loose from the bullets. "Get off it! You said no -- you don't get to take it back!" She pauses a moment, struggling with him, and bursts out, "What is your /problem?!/ Let GO!"

JUSTIN: "I don't have a problem! You have a problem!" Shane fumbles with her hands, fighting to keep the package out of the saddlebag. "You are not putting these into the hand of some desert bandit, even if it means disgracing myself by using them!" He grabs hold of her wrists and turns her around to face him.

JENNA: * She struggles angrily against his grip, half-lunging after the ammunition as it tumbles to the ground with her belongings. She then turns back to him, planting her feet in an effort to get away -- and apparently so distressed she's forgotten her usual methods for dealing with him. After a moment, she shouts "Then if you're going to use them, why not just say so?!"

JUSTIN: * Shane practically throws her wrists away from him, stumbling back and tripping over a root. He lands on his butt with a grunt, looking disheveled and completely stressed out. "Why do you always have to make things so complicated?! You couldn't leave it well enough alone."

JENNA: * Jo stumbles backward, but she manages to maintain her balance, catching herself with the peco's saddlebags. "I thought it might help!" she snaps, snatching the package from the ground and flinging it into the saddlebag. (The peco squawks again.) "I thought --" Here she stops, sullenness creeping back into her expression, along with a hint of red. "Never /mind/." She stalks to the other side of the fire and sets her back to it -- and Shane -- angrily.

JUSTIN: * Shane stumbles back to his feet, and manages to make it to and around the fire without falling into it. He drops onto his knees next to her, glaring at the side of her face with a strained look on his own. "After all the arguments we've had about stealing, you really thought I wouldn't care?" He stares off into the forest with an angry twitch of his eye. "As long as they're here, I'll use them. It would be a waste not to. But you should have known better."

JENNA: "I didn't think it would override your common sense," she retorts, scooting away from him again. "/Clearly/ I was wrong on that count." She wraps her arms under her knees, pulling them up to her chest and wishing very strongly that he would go away.

JUSTIN: "I'm a /guard/, Jo! Thievery isn't common sense, it's criminal intent!" Shane feels like pounding his head, wondering why she can't understand this. "I am not defenseless without my gun. Is that it? You think I couldn't stand toe-to-toe with you with just a blade? I'm not that useless!" He stands to his feet, swiping at his face and walking in a brief circle that lands him on the ground beside her again.

JENNA: * Her face goes hot again, particularly as that had not been her thinking -- at least when she acquired the bullets -- and she gives him a bad-tempered stare. "You're an IDIOT!" she shouts at him, losing track of any and all logical argument. "Leave me alone! Do what you want with the damn things, I don't care anymore!" That said, she gets hurriedly to her feet and stalks off toward the forest, determined to get some peace one way or the other.

JUSTIN: * Shane stands, intent on following after her, but for some reasons remains rooted to his spot. "You can stop feeling sorry for yourself! It's not like you shouldn't have expected the results!" He tries to yell after her, but his voice is strangely hoarse and quiet. He whimpers in frustration, and paces back and forth by the fire before collapsing nearby and curling up with the intention of falling unconscious.

JENNA: * Jo doesn't go far into the woods, herself, stopping just before she loses sight of the fire and setting her back against a tree. She's relieved to note she's not being pursued, head sinking to rest against her knees as she attempts to sort out why exactly she's so upset anyway. He is, of course, right in that she shouldn't have expected anything better, but that thought gives her absolutely no comfort. She's still unable to figure it out after she drifts into a restless slumber, still leaned against the tree.