(1942-07-19) Wolf in the Fold
Wolf in the Fold
Summary: Wolf is back again. Now she's on her own, and her first order of business has been to help with the sandbagging. She pauses at the Community Hall for a rest and runs into Jesse
Date: 1942.07.19
Related: None
Players:
jesse..wolf..

Wolf just got off the bus. Literally. Her luggage is still at the bus depot, on a high shelf so it doesn't get wet. When she saw the state of the town, Wolf realized that whatever is left of her mission here was going to have to take a back seat to helping as best she can to keep the whole town from becoming a lake prematurely. So outside her area of expertise, but she's strong no matter which form she's in, and she can sling sandbags with the best of them. So here she is, in her Raphael form, covered in mud and soaking wet from sandbagging down by the river. She pauses at the community hall to catch her breath and warm up, sitting on the door mat close to the entrance, as not to get mud anywhere it isn't already. She tries not to think about the mission she just left, about the betrayal there, about how she's basically on her own now.

Jesse was working at the McComb place, dry and safe from the rain…until time to go home. Then, of course, he gets caught out in the rain. There's a scowl as he quickly makes his way to one of the points of shelter; Town Hall. He quickly jumps up to the overhang at the entrance and takes a few moments to rest. Maybe his nose and ears are getting used to the rain because he notes that someone else is also there. "Wonder if it'll ever stop raining," is offered to the unfamiliar scent.

Wolf looks over at Jesse tiredly. Poor folk, bare feet, probably blind. "I was just wondering that myself," she drawls. "I've seen you before. That business at the Gallows back in January? My name's Raph…" She sighs as her voice comes to a halt. "Call me Wolf, actually. Raphael was never really my name."

Jesse always has bare feet until the snow starts. Then he gives in and wears boots. He tilts his head in the direction of the voice and gives a grin, "Wolf, huh? Interesting name. I'm Jesse…and you mean that weird thing that happened at the Gallows?" With that poor man dying after that crazy fight?

You say, "I've had enough lying for one lifetime. Wolf's been my nickname since I was a little girl." She nods. "I'm the one who fired the crossbow. Lucky to have missed you with the shotgun, too." Wolf pushes her sodden bangs away from her face. "I've been away a long time in Chicago. Have there been any other incidents like that?""

There's a confused look at the mention of lying but Jesse doesn't stop her from her confession to a relative stranger. "I'm glad you missed me with the shotgun too…" although he didn't see any crossbow. "Chicago? And you came back here?" Why would anyone do that? There's a shrug at the question of incidents, "Dunno. Heard tell of some shadowy figure that got scared off by some other guy…someone else was found dead…not sure they're related."

Wolf frowns, invisibly. "That's not good." She leans against the door itself. "I was in Chicago being told by the Church that they have no further use for me, that my sinful habits overshadow my value to them, and I should find a convent and commit myself to it if I want to avoid the fires of hell. That took them six months to decide. I know why they decided it, and it had nothing to do with my habits as a sinner. I'll tell you more if you ask, but you'll sleep better nights if you don't know.

Jesse just shrugs, "I ain't really the church-going type, even though the Preacher's been good and helpful to me and mine." Mostly him. "Some Church folk only like others who do just as they do…and if you don't, they get all snooty about it. Good riddance, I say. If God meant for us all to act like that, he wouldn't have let us think different."

Wolf smiles sardonically, and you can hear it in her voice. "The church is infected with people who mistake their word for the word of God. It's always been that way." She closes her eyes. "Let's just say I was more like a secret agent than not. And now I'm just Wolf, back in the only place that ever felt like home to me. I've been sandbagging all morning down by the river. How're you 'n yours doing in all this?"

"Part of the reason why I don't go." There are many more parts. Jesse just sort of smirks, "Ain't a bad thing to find a home and figure out what you want to be doing, I guess." Not that he's found it either. "How's the river looking? Me and mine are on high ground. We'll be ok."

You say, "We keep sandbagging, it keeps rising. Either we'll run out of sand and muscle or it will run out of water, one or t'other." She looks at Jesse and reaches out to touch his shoulder. "No, it ain't bad to find a home. Long as it doesn't wind up underwater." She lets her language dip into the improper, despite her knuckles stinging in memory of the nuns who corrected it so often. "That's good about you and yours. I don't suppose your friend Clifton's still around. The photographer?"

Jesse doesn't flinch away from the touch, but he does tilts his head towards it as it wasn't quite expected. Interesting. "I don't know that it'll get that bad, but yeah. I just hope it stops raining before all the crops get washed away." That…could be really bad for those who grow their own food and can't always buy it. There is a slight tension though as Clifton is asked after. Yet another woman after him too? What -is- it about them?? "Clifton? Yeah. He's around."

Wolf notices the tension on Jesse's face, but doesn't connect it to her question. She shrugs. "He was kind to me. I thought he was sweet on me at one point. I was more flirtacious when we met than I am right now. You're not seeing me… so to speak… at my best." She smiles a little. "Which is too bad. You seem kind too."

Jesse is quiet for a moment as he takes in her words but he finally offers, "Clifton can do what he wants with the women. I ain't courtin' right now." Maybe not for a good long while if ever again. "I'm too nice, so I've been told."

Wolf lets her head slump forward. "There's no such thing, Jesse. Kindness is what keeps civilization worth having. You might need to watch out for yourself more, but a body can never be too kind. In my experience, a man who tells another man that doesn't have that man's best interests at heart."

"It weren't a man," who told him that. It was the woman who betrayed him. Jesse just gives a shake of his head, "Don't really matter anyhow." He's trying to move on and not dwell on it. Some people are just cruel.

Wolf frowns again. "Sorry to hear it." She looks away. "I've spilled my guts at you. You can do likewise if you see fit." She takes a deep breath. "If not, I should get some food and try to find a place to live."

Jesse gives another shake of his head, "Naah, but thanks. Kind of you to offer, but it's on me to get over it and just complainin' keeps bringing it up." The less he talks about it the faster it'll go away, right? Besides, he's not supposed to complain. Adults don't whine about stuff like that. "Food…well, if you've got money there's the diner. And the hotel if you need a place to stay while you're lookin'. Bet some of the old biddies might have a room to let if you pass muster."

Wolf chuckles softly. "I very much doubt I'd pass muster." She gets up and pats Jesse on the shoulder. "Thank you kindly. I hope to see you around."

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