TEO TORRIATTE , steel ball run

alas, the show must go on

THEY SAT up quickly in the bed they awoke in, patting around the left side of their head where the bomb from Oyecomova had exploded and killed them. Nothing. Of course there's nothing... but Avery feels that a throbbing phantom pain at the side of their head that exploded. They're in their bed in the hotel of the checkpoint town, tangled in sheets and sweating bullets.

Avery begins to hyperventilate... It was quick... but excruciating... They place a hand over their mouth, hunching over as they calm their own shaky breaths and huffs.

After a few moments, they calmed themselves... Avery moved their hand over to their face as they grazed their fingers on the left side of their face, near their ear— there was a gentle numbing sensation there? Almost like a sleeping limb. They sighed softly... Avery had to force themselves out of bed. As they do, that shooting phantom pain in their head faded but.. the slight numbness didn't leave...?

Avery grabbed their favorite gray ribbon and placed their dusty black hair into a loose low-ponytail— their favorite hairstyle...! They grabbed the indigo newsboy's cap resting on the bedside table. It was Avery's ol' lass, the good reliable cap after years of use. Oh! They couldn't forget their Flint Lock! Avery's father gave it to them for their 14th birthday... They remembered that day well. They placed it on their belt harness.

They grabbed one of the bandage wraps and wrapped it around their torso. They wore all their usual clothes. Avery went over to their stuff, taking out the small notepad and pen they brought along, inside they wrote: 'Third Death, Explosion to the Left Side of the Head.' and underneath, 'Slight Numbness on the left side of face near the near.'

Avery just hoped they didn't have to die in the same painful.. avoidable way as before— so painful... that was a total pointless death... but alas...

'The Show Must Go On'... always.

Avery experienced the Oyecomova fight the same way— as they had made no changes to their actions... Though— instead of following after Gyro and Johnny, Avery chose to stay behind with Mountain Tim to take care of him. Avery wasn't going to feel that pain again if they could avoid it even if... being alone with Mountain Tim with no backup like Gyro or Johnny made their hands shake in anxieties and their chest pound without any clear reason... What a dumb irrational fear... right?

They knew Johnny & Gyro could deal with that weirdo and that Mountain Tim definitely needed some first aid or he could die... plus, Avery knew they would just slow those two down if she followed again... Yeah...

Avery crouched down beside Mountain Tim in the much more quiet town. "Are you okay?" Avery softly asked, while treating Mountain Tim's wounds as best as they could— taking one of the bandage wraps they had and wrapping it around the wounds Mountain Tim sustained (after giving him medicine of course). "I'll live, Evermore..." Mountain Tim chuckled weakly... resting his head back onto the ground.

Avery blinked down to look at Mountain Tim— their hands finishing the bandaging with tying the loose bandage in a knot, making sure it was secure. Their fingers grazed over their work to make sure it was all in order.

"You should— you should probably drop out of the race. Wounds like this... will only slow you down the entire race. I'm sure there will be one of the rescue groups near this checkpoint. I can... help you over— if you'd want?" Avery asked, placing their hand on Mountain Tim's back, helping him sit up.

Mountain Tim just chuckled slightly, "I can get there myself, sugar." Avery's mouth was agape slightly.... "Sugar?" they mumbled, cocking their head to the side. The only response Avery got was another weak chuckle from Mountain Tim.

"Well—" Avery began to speak, taking a slight pause to think on how to string their words together, "—if you don't want me to help you there..." They gently pressed their fingers to their mouth, thinking, "Here." Avery reached down to their belt harness— pulling out their precious Flint Lock and placing it in Mountain Tim's hands. "Take this... to protect you," Avery nodded as they placed their hands back in their lap.

Mountain Tim grabbed the Flint Lock pistol, fiddling around with it in his hands, "Mmm... thanks, I'll treasure it." He chuckled, coughing slightly before speaking, "Though... I think you should retire from the race too, Evermore."

"Huh? Me too...? I can't see why, I mean— I'm perfectly able to, you know?" Avery replied, almost more curious at his suggestion than confused. They pushed themselves off the ground — out of breath even at that simple action... "Why would you suggest that, if I can ask...?"

Mountain Tim hummed... he placed the Flint Lock into his holster before he warned her, "You're not strong like a lot of the other people participating in this race. This is above one's bend, Evermore. Someone as sweet as you, sugar... you don't deserve to get put through the rough and gruff of this."

Avery sighed, before solemnly nodding — as if they heard it all before, "Thank you." That's all they say. Even though Avery knew Mountain Tim was a good man with good intentions, their heart pounded in their chest nonetheless.

They hopped onto their horse, looking back at Mountain Tim before riding off — leaving to follow Gyro & Johnny. Hopefully, they had already dealt with Oyecomova... The path was mostly clear. Avery had spent too long with Mountain Tim... they thought. They just hoped Avery didn't lose Johnny and Gyro.

When Avery got there, Johnny and Gyro were talking— yelling... about something. It seemed like they just got out of a fight.

"Um..." Avery began to speak  softly as they approached the two of them, "Hey... I hope you both didn't intend to leave me behind back there with Mountain Tim." They stopped their horse beside them, it looked like Johnny was calming down from something— while Gyro seemed fine. Huh...?

Gyro was the first to notice Avery — smirking at Avery with his golden grills which... made Avery sigh, albeit endearingly. "Heh. Don't worry, Evermore. I couldn't dream of leaving you behind with that weird hat guy!" Gyro proclaimed, winning a soft giggle from Avery. Since Avery was close enough, he patted their back roughly. "Haha— ow." Avery lightly punched his arm in response to Gyro's unnecessarily ROUGH patting.

"Nyo ho ho— HEY!" Gyro frowned at Avery, looking at them with a dumbfounded and annoyed look. "Pfft— hehe," Avery covered their mouth, trying to muffle the beginnings of a laugh as they began to laugh at Gyro's annoyed expression. Gyro couldn't hold his annoyed expression and joined in, "Hehehh!!"

"You two are weird..." mumbled Johnny, shaking his head with a sigh; looking not far away from the two of them and their banter.

Avery had successfully reunited with them! They just hoped that was the LAST time they had to use their Stand— yes. That's what Mountain Tim called it...

Well... either way... the only way is forwards.