Any Random Stuff to do with The Race to Save Element Kind

All That Effort

Wash brushed some dust off his beloved scarf and draped it over his shoulders as a reminder to tie it later, then focused on putting on his boots. He had border duty this morning, and was one of the few that didn't mind it. All it entailed was standing around with a gun and occasionally shooting the beasts that came out of the forest- nothing big. There was a knock on the door, and Wash recognized the voice that followed. He didn't much like it's owner, but never said that outright.

"Alright, it's time to get your asses out of bed! You have border protection today!"

Wash rolled his eyes, muttering, "Whatever Holen," and continuing with getting ready.

After he had finished, he put his personal gun in its holster and left the building, approaching the town's outer border. People refused to leave their houses until there were guards stationed around the perimeter and Wash could see their worried faces through the windows. He observed the nearly empty borderline, aware he could pretty much pick any spot he wanted, and took position at the gate.

Men and women alike filed out of the main building with their guns at the ready, placing themselves equal distances from each other. A couple of them looked at him sideways and muttered things either to themselves or to friends, taking home the point that he didn't belong. He attempted to ignore their mumbling as they passed and focused on the treeline.

As time passed, his focus began to fail. He would glance at other border guards and at his feet, occasionally fiddling with his gun. He felt a small tug on his pant leg and he resisted the urge to kick whatever it was, instead casting his gaze to the source. A little fruit girl - he recognized her. She was quite the adventurer, and loved flowers. He smiled faintly.

"Hey Pybi, how are you today?" he asked, still glancing between her and the treeline.

She smiled and hugged his leg. "I'm doing okay. I'm scared to go pick flowers, but it's okay."

"To pick flowers? You mean ones outside the border?"

"Yea... Because of the big monsters that come from the trees. They're dangerous and nasty."

He nodded. "They are, and I wish they weren't here too. What flowers did you want?"

Pybi pointed out to a patch of golden flowers about forty or fifty feet outside the border. "Those ones. They're really pretty, and I've never seen them here before. I've seen most flowers by now."

Wash thought for a moment, probabilities running through his head.

"...Do you want me to get them for you? I know how fidgety you get when something's out of your reach."

Pybi's eyes lit up and she gasped, a big smile coming to her face. "Would you really do that Mister Wash?"

He nodded. "I wouldn't mind doing it for you."

She squeezed her hold on his leg extra tight. "Aw, thank you Mister Wash, thank you! You're really nice!"

He chuckled. "Oh, it's nothing, Pybi. It won't be so safe to stand in this gap here, so why don't you go stand by Tetinel and wait for me?"

She nodded and let go, jumping up and down a few times before racing to stand by the other man.

-----

Oleander was resting one arm on the wall, watching as Wash spoke to Pybi. Of course she didn't tell him, but this was all just a test. To determine two things - if he would be kind to arguably the cutest little girl in the town, and if he was stupid enough to send her to get the flowers. It seemed like, based on the body language she could observe, he was incredibly kind to her and was going to get the flowers himself.