ARKEN

Rosscarbery

They teleported to a town, a quaint village surrounded by farmland and rolling green hills. A few main roads ran east and west, connecting the village to other towns located miles and miles apart between rural green.

The east side could hardly have been called a major business center, but what few restaurants, stores, bars, and motels the town had were there. The eastern edge bordered a large lagoon. The outskirts of the town went up, lining the northern edge of the lagoon and more houses dotted the east side of the water. The west of town was a bit more spread out and was mostly residences.

"This is your hometown?" Tobias asked, looking around at the village from the hilltop they stood upon.

"Aye, Rosscarbery. I've lived 'ere al' me life. Since oi was a wee one."

It was a far cry from the major urban development of Chicago, but Tobias was eager to have a look around and experience the Irish twist on small town charm.

"We shud git oyt av dees rags an' into somethin' better." She gestured to the dirty gray HDF prisoner uniforms they still wore.

"I agree."

Janine pointed to what could be called the center of town, where three of the major roads snaked through and met at a cluster of buildings. "There's a general store down dare. We can git sum new duds dare."

Tobias nodded, "Do Irish people just let you take stuff without paying?"

"Naw, dummy. Oi grabbed sum quid from an ex's gaff." Tobias remembered that shortly after they arrived in Ireland, Janine told him to wait. She teleported away for a couple minutes before returning. "Your ex lives in this town?"

"Naw. He lives in Owenahincha, a couple kilometers southeast."

Rather than make Tobias hobble down the hill, Janine touched his shoulder and teleported them into the store. He was startled at first and worried about someone seeing them, but Janine assured him they were fine, the place was quite empty at this time apparently. They moved quickly, grabbing some clothes and going into the bathroom at the back.

Tobias put on a pair of black pants, brown loafers, a gray dress shirt, and a horizontally striped sweater vest. He also took the time to use the sink to wash his face and try to fix his hair a little, which had become grimy in HDF captivity. He brushed it until it was satisfactory, then pulled it away from his eyes and tucked it behind his ears.

He walked out of the bathroom and waited for Janine. She came out wearing a pair of jeans, brown knee-high boots, a cream-colored sweater, brown suede jacket, and a purple scarf. She had tucked most of her long blonde hair under a gray wool newsboy cap. Tobias was taken aback a bit when he saw her. She was undeniably beautiful, but the plain gray jumpsuit and poor hygiene in the HDF lockup hadn't done her justice, she was stunning.

"Lookin' sharp, Sir." She said, admiring his choice of wardrobe. He smiled, "You look good yourself." She grinned and did a little bow, "Why tanks."

Janine put the money on the counter as they left the store. Tobias grabbed a bottle of whiskey on the way out. It had been a while since he'd had anything to drink, and he was concerned about an episode happening at any moment. A single little car drove by as they stood on the edge of the street.

"What's next?"

"It's been so long...I want ter go home and see my girlfriend again."

"Caoimhe. Of course. What's she like?"

"She's so beautiful. Big blue eyes an' lethal orange 'air. She's funny, smart, an' so blu."