A New Beginning

Prequel II - Bath Time, The Sequel, part I

The unmistakable sound of heavy rain, tranquil and lulling – until you're forced to step outside that is, promptly goes from muffled to piercing as the door to the local guesthouse swings open, making the clerk shift his attention from the guest book to the brawny man entering the establishment. The only visible part of his face under the black leather hat is an unshaven jawline, but the clerk nonetheless recognizes the stranger immediately. He tenses up. Partly because the hostel's full tonight and he's in no position to accommodate a drop-in visitor, but mostly due to the firearms around the stranger's waist, combined with the black kerchief draped around his neck.

"Evnin'."

"Good evening, sir. Nice to see you again."

"I'm in need of a wash. Can you arrange?

"A bath? Were you not here just- eh, I-I deeply apologize for my crude and ill-mannered candor, sir. I can assure you this is not how I-"

"'S all rite. I was passin' thru when it started rainin' like a goddamn dam broke upstairs and both me'n my horse was gettin' chills. I just thought a hot bath would be nice."

The stranger's conduct and way of speaking, although polite comes off as somewhat abrasive, a striking contrast to the genteel and well-articulated man behind the counter. Despite his grim appearance, he's always been civil, however in this day and age, one can never take such for granted, especially when it comes to men looking like him. So it is not without tincture of apprehension that the hostel clerk responds, "Certainly, sir. We, um, have a full house tonight so I am afraid most of our staff are dutifully engaged but I am certain we can arrange something for a returning customer."

"Thanks. Is, um, miss <y/n> available?"

The receptionist does his best to hide his surprise. Though the request for a specific girl is not common it's certainly not unheard of either, tough commonly proposed by regulars only. It wasn't the first time this particular fella had swung by, but he's not solicited the hostel's services frequent or often enough that a bond with any of the girls would be deemed expected or even reasonable, especially a girl that has been working for the establishment not even three full months. Surely, he must know her from somewhere separate from this, he muses to himself.

"I shall go and check, sir. Whom may I say is asking?"

A sudden wave of self-consciousness has the stranger seriously consider excusing himself and leave. A sudden flare of lightning illuminates the small and dimly lit reception, making him hesitant to go outside. The flash is soon followed by rumbles, low at first then without warning grows deafeningly loud, as if mother nature herself is telling him to stay. Moreover, his faithful stallion, which he'd been fortunate enough to stable has served him well the last few days and she both needs and deserves a rest. And he has been thinking about you. More than he cares to admit. After days of thinking back and forth about returning in hopes of seeing you again, he ain't about to back out now.

"Sir?"

"Uh, Arthur Morgan."

"Very well. I will be right back, sir."

Though he didn't even make it past the counter before you found him instead.

~*~

"Mr. Robins! The Vanderhorns would like to see you. Something about the drawers in their room not opening."

You deliver the message to the clerk that you got from the chambermaid whom in turn had received the complaint from a couple currently staying at the guesthouse. Too preoccupied with pondering why Mr. Robins seems to be so pleased to hear of this inconvenience, from one of the hostel's most faithful regulars nonetheless, you take note of but do not glance at the man beside you.