JENNA: * Jo pulls the shirt over her head, a little disappointed that the backrub is done, but willing to let that go in favor of sleep. She shifts out of Shane's way, sliding off the far end of the bed and walking around to lean against him with a faint sigh.

JUSTIN: * Shane turns toward her, letting her leaning body fall into his chest, and he curls his arms around her in a loose embrace. "First time you've slept in this bed in quite a while, hm?" He turns his head slightly to stare down at it, awaiting their weary bodies. "And this time with company. Hope you don't mind."

JENNA: "It was too big for me back then," she says, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Maybe it'll be just about right with both of us." She nuzzles against him wearily, wanting to lie down, but not particularly wanting to move. For the moment she settles for continuing to lean.

JUSTIN: * Shane smiles, brushing her hair back and kissing her forehead. "One way to find out, right?" He bends a bit to slip one arm around her knees, and in one smooth motion he has her off her feet and cradled in his arms. He steps around the bed with her in tow, and lays her down in the spot prepared for her. "Under the blankets tonight, if it's all right with you." He brushes a hand at her cheek, then circles back to his side, working off his belt and pants before slipping under the covers.

JENNA: "That's fine." Jo nestles down, tugging the covers up without complaint and watching him silently as he gets comfortable. When he's settled, she lifts herself up and bends over him, brushing his hair back before kissing him gently -- almost apologetically.

JUSTIN: * Shane kisses back, placing a hand to her back and easing her down to rest against his chest. "Seems just about the right size to me, what about you?" He combs at her hair a bit, and gives her another soft kiss. "I think I hear sleep calling my name already."

JENNA: * Jo relaxes against him, smiling. "Feels about right to me ..." She kisses him again, lingeringly, then eases down onto the bed itself, resting her head against his shoulder. "Far be it from me to keep you away from rest." She grins, then winds an arm around him and gives him a squeeze.

JUSTIN: * Shane gives her nose a little tweak and grins, snuggling up to get even more comfortable before he closes his eyes. "You say that as if you aren't tired, too... We'll see who falls asleep first." His head tilts to the side, stopping when it touches the top of hers, and he gives a quiet yawn.

JENNA: "I wouldn't dream of trying to compete," she murmurs sleepily, hand curling against him as she relaxes, closing her eyes. "Too tired." And her head is spinning with the information she's had to process in the last half-hour. She sighs drowsily, attempting to push it all away in favor of rest.

JUSTIN: * Shane murmurs something quiet and comforting, but he isn't still more than a moment before his weariness begins to drag him into slumber. His body relaxes into the bed, and against his bedtime companion, and before long he's breathing with sleep's rhythm.

JENNA: * Jo sleeps well through the night, stirring earlier than usual -- before the sun has really had a chance to break across the window of her room. She briefly snuggles closer to Shane, then remembers why it is she did come awake and sighs. It's a little bit of a job disentangling herself from him -- and taking extra care not to wake him up -- but she does the best she can about it and makes her way to the window, opening it and looking outside for a few moments.

JUSTIN: * Shane rolls over in his place, but otherwise doesn't wake or stir at her movement. Something unintelligable comes out of his mouth, muffled by the pillows and blankets, but he's silent again afterward.

JENNA: * Jo glances back over her shoulder when he stirs, but she's satisfied to see he remains asleep. Then she trots back over to her packs, fishing around for the money and removing her parents' share. This she tucks away, making her way back to the window and climbing out. She makes her way rapidly to her hiding place, which she hasn't visited in some time, then tugs the bills out and sets them there, closing it up again carefully. This done, she sits down on the roof, staring out at the city as it slowly wakes.

JUSTIN: * Shane remains unaware and generally unconscious for the next hour or so, at which point the sun's reached a position in the sky where its rays can finally assault his defenseless body. He wakes slowly, but he's surprisingly functional, with only a mild case of his usual grogginess. Jo's absence is noted instantly, but he only assumes she's elsewhere in the house. He sits up with a stretch and a yawn, then slings his legs off the bed and leans to grab his pants.

JENNA: * Once the sun's up, Jo decides she'd probably better get back down before anyone decides to go looking for her, and she makes her way rapidly back to her room. She slids back inside the window without looking, feet slapping against the floor as she lands. She blinks, catching sight of Shane, then wanders over to her boots and leggings. "You're up early.

JUSTIN: * Shane jumps slightly, turning at the sound of her entrance. "Clearly not as early as you." He stands up, giving his pants a final tug before fastening his belt. After this, he hops the bed, skittering across it until he's sitting on the edge facing Jo. "And where were you, exactly? Monkeying around on the roof?"

JENNA: "I was watching the sunrise," Jo responds, sitting down next to him to tug her gear on. "And delivering the money." Probably best to get that in the open now so as not to have to explain it later. "I'll tell them where to find it before we go.. they can't turn it down if we're not here." She shrugs and stretches, flopping back again for a moment.

JUSTIN: * Shane pats her stomach, grinning a bit. "A shame we'll miss the look on their faces, though. But I guess that can't be helped." He scratches at his cheek, sighing quietly. "Suppose I should get a bath now, while things are quiet."

JENNA: "Mm," Jo replies. "I should go down and see if Mom wants help with breakfast ... she always did when I was little." She sits up again slowly, deciding she'd much rather lie in bed another hour. "Go enjoy your bath," she says with a grin, and gets to her feet. "I'll see you in a little bit."

JUSTIN: * Shane gives her a tiny wave, fetching his shirt and pulling it on (if only for the walk to the bathroom), and scoops up his boots and socks to carry. "Sorry I'll miss out on the fun." It's the truth. "But, I wouldn't mind seeing what you can do in a kitchen." He smiles slyly, stepping over to give her a squeeze before he starts for the door.

JENNA: * Jo snorts, watching him leave before heading downstairs herself. As expected, her mother is in the kitchen and more than happy to have help with the matter of breakfast. It's a simple matter of eggs, toast and bacon, even if the egg-gathering has to be done by hand. Things are ready to go to the table soon enough -- certainly by the time Shane is back from his bath.

JUSTIN: * Shane feels a little awkward about using the bath at first, seeing as he hardly knows the people who own it. At the same time, though, it's nice to be in a bathroom that hasn't been used by hundreds and hundreds of dirty travellers before him. The bath goes fairly quickly, as he's more concerned about breakfast than a relaxing soak. Unlike Jo, he dries off proper -- taking a moment to sort his hair out -- before wandering out in the direction of the delicious smells.

JENNA: * Jo and Elle are setting the table when he comes out, and Marcus has already taken his seat, paging through a book as he waits for everyone to come to the table. Jo offers Shane a small wave, slipping back into the kitchen for drinks before she settles in her place.

JUSTIN: * Shane waves back, smiling boyishly at the sight of it all. It's been a very, very long time since he's gotten out of bed to a home-cooked breakfast made by his mother. Even if this isn't technically /his/ mother. He quickly finds his seat beside Jo, offering quiet good mornings to her parents.

JENNA: * Marcus returns a grunt -- apparently he's not a morning person -- but Elle is friendly enough, seating herself once everyone else is ready. "Where are you two heading next?" she asks, and Jo glances at Shane with a shrug. "We hadn't really ... back north?" She sounds uncertain and shortly returns to her food.

JUSTIN: * Shane rubs at the back of his neck, and shortly shrugs in turn. "Back north is as good as anything..." He smiles slimly, picking up his utensils and cutting into the food. "I suppose that's something we'll have to discuss in more detail before we get too far."

JENNA: * Jo nods, and Elle looks between them both a moment, hesitating. "Well, that's as good as anything. I was going to say there are probably some jobs lined up around the market if you were looking for anything." She seems to assume they came on the tail end of a job -- a reasonable assumption any other day.

JUSTIN: "Oh... uh." Shane glances over at Jo, and shifts in his seat. "We... Um, well we don't really need the money... right now..." He isn't sure just how much of the story Jo would want him to divulge. They're her parents, so if she wants to tell the tale, he'll leave it up to her.

JENNA: * Jo nods quietly, finishing a bite of her food before continuing. "Our last job paid really well. We can afford the trip back north." Elle looks hesitant again, but she nods, smiling. "Well, I'm glad you're doing well." She turns back to her food, looking somewhat melancholy, but Marcus only grunts again. "If you're going to do something, may as well do it well."

JUSTIN: * Shane nods slightly and distracts himself with his food, shoveling it in as much as he can without looking like a pig. He can only keep it up for so long, though, and he's eventually forced to slow, swallowing some water to keep it all down. "This is very good food." He swipes at his mouth with a napkin, looking between Jo and Elle.

JENNA: * Elle smiles. "Why, thank you. It's not much, but the chickens were at least in a good mood." Jo snorts faintly. "If that was a good mood, I'd hate to see a bad mood." Marcus utters a faint snort. It seems Jo got some of her speed-eating habits from him, as they seem to be in competition for who will finish their meal first.

JUSTIN: * Shane's brows lift a bit, and he sits up a little straighter. "You have your own chickens?" This he finds highly interesting. "Perhaps I should consider that... Fresh goods are the best goods, after all." He goes back to his eating, looking like he's giving this some serious thought.

JENNA: * Jo looks extremely doubtful. She has very little fondness for chickens. Elle speaks before she can, however. "Well, it's a nice enough thought, but they're not very portable, dear." She smiles, finishing off her eggs and buttering a slice of toast. "You can likely buy them fresh in any small-town market, however."

JUSTIN: * Shane stops his eating for a moment, looking about before swallowing. "Of course... Have to think of portability..." He takes a long sip of his water, and sits back in his chair for a bit, staring down at his food. "Speaking of small towns, perhaps we should stop in Hugel as long as we're heading north. We didn't give a proper visit the last time we passed through."

JENNA: * This earns him another doubtful look from Jo, as she has no idea what the hell he means by "proper visit." It doesn't last long, however, and she shrugs. "That's fine." Elle looks at him inquisitively. "Hugel? What an unusual name ... that's in the Republic?"

JUSTIN: "Yes, ma'am. Small seaside village." Shane smiles a bit, and turns Jo a slightly annoyed glance that fades quickly. "We've made a few acquaintances there that I wouldn't mind catching up with. The last time we passed through town, it was on... business." He scratches at his nose, and goes back to his food, picking at what remains of his meal.

JENNA: * Jo rolls her eyes very slightly, finding one night's meeting on a job unsuitable criteria for an 'acquaintance.' She doesn't say anything, but her gaze does drift to her arm, and she applies herself to her food with a little more gusto. "I see," says Elle. "Well, it's good to have contacts wherever you go, I imagine." This seems to be largely directed at Jo, who ignores it.

JUSTIN: "Contacts and friends." Shane says shortly -- probably also directed at Jo, though he's sure she doesn't agree in the least by her response to their mention. He shakes his head, and finishes up his food before sitting back again. "Well, /I/ want to catch up, at least. Jo's not particularly social." He slides her a look, smiling slimly.

JENNA: "You can catch up with whoever you want to. Leave me out of your speculation." She sets her empty dishes aside and gives Shane a flat stare. "I'm going to get the birds ready," she says coolly, getting to her feet. Elle looks somewhat surprised, arching a brow as her daughter departs for the stairs. "I take it things didn't go smoothly on your first visit," she says after a moment.

JUSTIN: "Not particularly." Shane says simply, swishing the water around in his glass. "Though I'm not sure why she insists on holding it against the villagers, when I'm the only one she had reason to be angry with." He shrugs his shoulders and draws Jo's empty dishes over to stack with his own. "They're nice folk, and as far as I'm concerned, she should be grateful for the help they provided in tending her wounds."

JENNA: * Elle tuts him, shaking her head, and watches the stairs where Jo disappeared. "Well, if I had to guess, her reasons are more complex than simple resentment. But I have to confess her priorities are very different from most folks'." She shrugs, glancing sideways at Marcus, and smiles. "She at least didn't say she wouldn't go."

JUSTIN: * Shane half-frowns, rubbing at his forehead and looking somewhat agitated by the entire affair. "She didn't, no... But I hope she doesn't let her unique priorities cause any unnecessary insult to people who mean well." He gathers his pile of empty dishes and gets slowly to his feet, ferrying them into the kitchen to be washed. "I will never understand how one person can be simultaneously so simple, and yet impossible to figure out..."

JENNA: "Well, she is a woman," Marcus remarks, grinning at his wife, who tuts him loudly. "We'll see her when we go outside, likely," Elle says, taking her own dishes and Jo's to the kitchen. "I hope this won't cause any undue friction ... I'm sure she'll come around on her own."

JUSTIN: * Shane snorts, but he smiles a little, tiredly. "Spats like this are fairly regular." He turns the water on, and slips a dish into the sink to start scrubbing. "I can't blame her for them, but I can blame our differences." He pauses in his work, leaning against the counter and staring at the running water. "Sooner or later we'll get tired of being angry and we'll forget about it, until the next time."

JENNA: * Elle smiles briefly, nudging him gently aside. "You don't have to, really. I don't mind doing dishes." She takes up his post without waiting for a refusal. "You should go and help with the preparations -- we'll be out shortly." Elle manages to look both content and sad at the same time.

JUSTIN: * Shane sighs lightly, toweling off his hands quickly. "Well, if you insist..." He puts on a slight smile, and goes about collecting his gear, coat, and hat from where he left them the night prior. Once suited up, he steps outside and shields his eyes against the morning sunlight, looking around for any sign of his partner.

JENNA: * Jo is nearby, tying the pecos temporarily to a fencepost. They're both saddled up and appear ready to leave any time, squawking and ruffling their feathers. She glances up when Shane walks out, then turns back to the birds, pretending to tighten a strap that doesn't really need tightening.

JUSTIN: * Shane trudges in her direction, looking suddenly very weary. "You're in a bit of a rush for someone who doesn't want to go to Hugel." He stops by his peco, double-checking the harness and saddle, most uselessly.

JENNA: "I don't mind Hugel," Jo retorts. Then she falls silent and shrugs. "I.. it's not a bad place." She stops again, frowning, and double-checks her saddlebags pointlessly. "I just ... don't have anything to say to them." She shrugs again -- halfway -- and becomes annoyed with the gesture and stops.

JUSTIN: * Shane rubs at his face, then steps over to lean against the fence. "So don't say anything to them." He crosses his arms over his chest, and stares at the house across the street. "I don't know what they did to deserve that sort of dismissal, though."

JENNA: "I'm not dismissing them," Jo snaps. "I did the job, I said my thank-yous. I was unconscious for half my time there, so you'll have to forgive me if I didn't make any lasting bonds." She shakes her head sharply. "I don't think any less of them than people anywhere else. Or any more."

JUSTIN: "If you don't think less or more, then you shouldn't have any opinion at all." Shane retorts, voice rising slightly to match her own change in tone. "I don't see why it bothers you so much. If you don't want to talk to them, fine! Why should it bother you if I do?" He pushes away from the fence, taking a few steps before stopping, eyes boring into the ground.

JENNA: "You make me feel obligated. You act like I should want to talk to them just as much as you do." She shakes her head. "Talk to them if you want. I don't care." She shifts her pack, wishing she could mount up and somehow escape this conversation. Unfortunately, she's still waiting on her parents.

JUSTIN: * Shane sends her an agitated look over his shoulder. "I never said you had to talk to them, I just think the way you're reacting is unfair." He comes back to the fence, leaning heavily on his arms. "You didn't just say 'no thanks' or something, Jo -- you were outright offended by the very idea of talking to those folks."

JENNA: * Jo shakes her head, then gives another, very faint shrug. "Think what you want." She's spared from any more arguing by the appearance of her parents, who pause at the front walk, apparently uncertain what they're interrupting. Jo pulls away immediately, however, not sparing Shane a glance.

JUSTIN: * Shane intends to remain right where he is, but in the end, he decides that his frustration with Jo is not grounds for being impolite to her parents -- who, so far as he can tell, have proven to be much more agreeable than their daughter on all matters. He pushes away from the fence and steps after Jo, pulling his hat down from his head as he goes.

JENNA: * Jo is in the middle of farewell embraces when he arrives, and she pauses to murmur something to her mother before stepping away. Elle looks puzzled, letting her go reluctantly, then smiles at Shane, spreading her arms for him to come get a hug, too. Marcus stands off to one side, likely willing to settle for a handshake.

JUSTIN: * Shane gives Jo a passing glance as she goes by, then turns his attention back to her parents. He blushes slightly at her mother's look, but steps forward and leans in to give the woman a parting embrace nonetheless. "It was a pleasure to meet the both of you." He says, directed -- as stated -- to both of them, and when he pulls back from the hug, he offers his hand to Jo's father.

JENNA: * Marcus takes it with a nod, shaking, and Elle smiles. "Of course. Please, come back any time you're in the area." Jo nods, though she doesn't say anything, then adds a quiet, "Don't forget to check," before walking back toward the pecos. "I won't," Elle replies with a faint smile, though Marcus looks puzzled.

JUSTIN: * Shane gives a brief bow before turning around, slapping his hat back onto his head as he makes for his peco. He doesn't look at Jo -- probably because he knows she isn't going to look at him, and there's no point in trying to re-establish communications until they're at least out of the city. He reaches his mount and quickly unties it, before hopping up into the saddle.

JENNA: * Jo swings up and starts for the city entrance, glancing back only once and uncharacteristically to see her parents waving farewell. She returns the wave, then picks up her pace as if trying to shake off the strangeness of the past couple of days -- not to mention her mood.

JUSTIN: * Shane glances over his shoulder, as well, giving a brief wave before turning his attention back to the road. Unable to help himself, he sneaks a few glances over at Jo, but none of them bring him any sort of relief. Finally he gives up on the silence, even if they aren't yet out of the city. "We don't have to go, if you don't want to."

JENNA: * Jo pulls her peco to a halt, staring over at him. "I said it was fine. It's fine." She starts moving again, not particularly wanting to discuss Hugel again. "I wasn't lying." She turns him a tired smile, an attempt at a truce. "Besides.. you'll whine for weeks if I don't let you."

JUSTIN: * Shane doesn't find it in him to return the smile, looking no less melancholy for her attempt. "Whatever you say." He rubs at his eyes and keeps his attention on the road again, now sorry that he opened his mouth, since he knew what the response would be anyway.

JENNA: * Jo stares at him for a moment, a strange expression her her face -- something like surprise and hurt showing before she pushes both away and shrugs. "Fine." Then she picks up the pace again, trot almost turning into a gallop as she makes her way out of the gates.

JUSTIN: * Shane sighs quietly, and presses his peco to keep up with Jo's new pace, and hoping she doesn't keep it up for the entire trip again. He keeps his mouth shut about it, however, knowing that complaining is more likely to make things worse rather than better. For the time being, he is happy to just be apathetic.

JENNA: * Jo keeps the brutal pace up for most of the day, stopping only when it's time to camp and her peco is flagging miserably. She tends to it with more care than usual, however, giving it food and water before starting to make camp. They're at riverside once again, though the forest isn't very thick, and she eyes the water with considerable interest.

JUSTIN: * Shane's peco is most ungrateful for the harsh day's ride, but he manages to keep it appeased with an extra helping of food. Not yet willing to attempt further conversation, he simply gets to work on the camp, making for the woods to collect wood after a circle has been cleared for the fire.

JENNA: * Jo starts working on the fire, humming contentedly to herself and thinking ahead to a fish dinner. This good mood fades slightly whenever Shane wanders into view, but she keeps up the humming regardless, sitting back when she finally has the fire going and staring at the sky.

JUSTIN: * Shane busies himself with stacking extra firewood, regardless of the fact that they aren't likely to need nearly as much as he's providing. It keeps him busy, however, and mostly away from the source of his agitation. Even this distraction quickly wears thin, as it becomes obvious if he stacks anymore wood, she'll likely call him out on it. So instead, he goes and sits himself by a nearby tree, pulling his hat off and pretending to search through his pack.

JENNA: * Jo sighs, looking over at him, then gets slowly to her feet, ambling over to stand next to him with her hands on her hips. She debates a moment, apparently unsure what to say to him, then shrugs. "I wasn't just saying I'd go to get you to shut up. I'm not lying."

JUSTIN: * Shane digs around in his pack for a moment longer, still not finding anything satisfactory for excusing his faux search, and throws it shut in frustration. "If you wanted to go, you wouldn't have gotten agitated when I brought it up." He shoves his pack aside and glares off to the side, away from where she's standing.

JENNA: * She folds her arms, shrugging. "My reasons for going are different from yours." She walks around to stand in his line of vision. "Think what you want about it, but I don't care much about the people there. I like the countryside. I want to stand near the ocean and look out toward the island." She pauses, looking, for a moment, incredibly embarrassed. "Besides, you want to go. That should be good enough, right?"

JUSTIN: * Shane gets to his feet and moves to toss a log on the fire, an excuse to find another seat at another tree. "Fine, you have whatever reasons you need. Case closed, then." He flops onto his backside again, leaning against the tree and staring at the fire. "You can go stare at the water. I won't get in the way."

JENNA: * The look of hurt from earlier returns briefly, but she once again pushes it away, stalking after him and stepping into his line of vision once more. "Is that not good enough for you?!" she snaps. "What the hell do you want? I'm not a perfect person -- or even a very good one -- but I told you the truth!" She pauses, searching for something else to say, then gives up in disgust, stamping her foot. "I'm going to catch some damn fish," she growls, stalking back over to her pack to get her gear, then making for the river.

JUSTIN: * Shane thinks about replying, but when she starts to leave, he decides it best to just let her go. He grabs his hat and flops onto his back, draping it over his face and attempting to block out all thought. He's not successfull -- not that he expected to be -- but he stays like that anyway, hoping that if he can't see her, she won't bother with him anymore.

JENNA: * Jo stops when she reaches the river's edge, looking at her fishing gear and deciding she's too angry to try luring in some dinner. For several minutes she only stares out at the water, clenching and unclenching her fists, then she heaves a heavy sigh and kicks her boots off, followed shortly by the rest of her clothes. Then she stalks into the water, flinching slightly when the cold laps against her skin, and dives under, opting for a swim to soothe her nerves.

JUSTIN: * Shane doesn't quite nap, but he manages to get himself into a sort of half-daze that keeps his mind from thinking too much, and helps him lose sense of the passage of time. All he knows is that Jo's not trying to talk to him, and for now -- and until his mood has significantly improved -- that is good enough.