Colt steps forward at that, coming in between Arl and Jougo.
"Right, let's handle it then. We'll come up with some trophy for you and you just report to your employer that the creature is dead! You'll get your pay for the job, Arl won't be accidentally hunted by the widow anymore, and it'll be the easiest job you ever finished."
Arl and her entourage arrived at Beige street just slightly after Jougo did. Colt hid his face from Jougo and his entourage, to no avail. He was using a very recognizable sword to do it.
Colt chuckles as he stopps to pick up his sword, which he hefts easily over his shoulder.
"Thanks for that. Perhaps we can catch up once we're on the road, hunting down another Red Smile Gang. Or, what was it you had in mind to do next? Maybe I'll tag along... if it suits me."
Colt nearly winked at the last bit, but that would have been horribly out of character. He's not santa claus.
"That's for later, Cee. Right now, I'M sorry. You have nothing to apologize for, Arl. You are the best friend I've ever known. I thought you didn't need me, and maybe that was true, but I needed you. I should have stayed."
"I was stabbed in the heart, Arl. That's not something I could laugh off, like all the other injuries and setbacks I've endured in life. I didn't know how to handle it. I thought my life was over, if not literally then figuratively. Healing has been the greatest challenge of my life, and it's nowhere near over."
Colt kept the hug going a little longer, not acknowledging Cee until it was done. Once he and Arl separated, he looked towards Cee, and then back to Arl to speak.
"I've been good. No, not quite. I've become better."
Colt straightened up and looked around. Failing to spot any of the mercenaries that were recently hired to kill Arl (other than himself), he relaxed slightly and waited for her to turn around and see him.
"Yeah, I'd say so. Actually, I'm not sure if I've EVER turned down one of those jobs. As long as its for a good cause, I just kind of go with it. What do you do when you need money?"
Colt started rooting around in Arl's pockets and slash or bag and pulling stuff out.
"Right, let's handle it then. We'll come up with some trophy for you and you just report to your employer that the creature is dead! You'll get your pay for the job, Arl won't be accidentally hunted by the widow anymore, and it'll be the easiest job you ever finished."
"Oh. Yes, we should certainly see Ollie as soon as we can manage."
"Thanks for that. Perhaps we can catch up once we're on the road, hunting down another Red Smile Gang. Or, what was it you had in mind to do next? Maybe I'll tag along... if it suits me."
Colt nearly winked at the last bit, but that would have been horribly out of character. He's not santa claus.
"I've been good. No, not quite. I've become better."
"I missed you, Rainbow Girl."
Colt merely nods his acknowledgement of Arl, then after a few terse seconds, he smiles and kneels and opens his arms.