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Owen never wanted to believe this would happen.
He really tried to stop what happened and look at where that got him. He almost died. Hell, he felt dead. But then, Missy, sweet Luanne, saved him. He thought his happy ending was finally here. The picnic where he finally asked for her hand with a fragment and she said yes- oh, life seemed perfect. He even had stuff saved up for when they left.
Then, Shep was put into jail. Good grief. And of course he had an offer. Leppy’s location so it wouldn’t die for every valuable the town had. Every. Single. Valuable.
He hated this.
Despite his fear, he pressed the diamond shard in Luanne’s hand and closed her palm around it. “Keep it.”
She smiled at him, her more nervous smile, and put the shard into her dress pocket. “I will.”
݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁
Missy wasn’t strong. She thinks her only good qualities are her kindness, and even then it’s practically useless in a world where people have blasters. She, despite this, still likes to believe everyone has good inside of them.
Right now, though, she can’t help but feel terrified and lost. Shep, someone whom she yearned to understand just as she could understand Bunny and Sausage, wasn’t good. She knows that he’s a bandit, but she had some naive hope inside of her that he would try just as Sausage tried.
But, of course not.
She eyed her pocket, looking at the diamond fragment. She had to put on a brave face at least now. This shard was important to Bunny. She wouldn’t allow it to go. She just hopes Shep won’t notice it, and if he does… she'll try her best to keep it safe.
She moves most of the valuables with Bunny. Putting in iron scraps and other diamond fragments. She can’t help but wonder what's so special about the one in her pocket. As she sets the last crate down, she waits. Owen moves to stand beside her, holding her hand and glaring at Shep as he does so. Shep just gives a small smirk as the rest of the town brings their stuff in piles.
Finally, the last box was set and loaded into the cart. Shep chuckles, “I thank you all for the donation…However,” he turned to Missy and Bunny as the rest of the town followed his gaze. “You haven’t given me something else.”
Bunny’s hand folded into a fist, and he stood infront of Missy. “What is it, Shep?” He tried not to let his face show it, but he was a tad upset—His bait didn’t work. Another random fragment he left out of the other boxes didn’t work to keep what Luanne should be allowed to keep.
Shep clicked his tongue, “Hm, pretending to not know…” He held up the shard in his palm. “I saw the bait you tried to use to throw me off; it didn’t work. I want that pretty old diamond fragment Missy has in her pockets.
Owen clenched his teeth and was about to speak before Luanne moved him aside. “Owen, it’s okay…he can take it.” She looked scared, but she kept her hand on his shoulder. Owen stepped forward despite her words.
“No, he doesn’t just get to take something like that!”
“Bunny-”
“Just because he’s a no-good thief means nothing! If you-”
“Owen!”
Owen fell silent.
“I know that you want me to keep it. I know that. But it’s better to find the narpies and keep everyone in town safe instead of risking it all for a fragment.” She pulled out the shard and walked forward.
Owen couldn’t help but stand frozen as it fell into the palms of Shep. He saw Missy’s tense figure, and he didn’t move until Shep took onto a horse and drove outta town. The town had a tension that wasn’t there before.
Sausage was the one to speak first. “So…what was that about-?”
“Nothing.”
“We can talk after getting the narpies.”
The two spoke at the same time before looking at each other and looking away again.
Sausage’s eyes widened with what seemed to be understanding before Sausage made a zipping motion to his lips. “Yep…after the narpies!”
Everyone slowly got onto their steeds and groups formed. All ready to get the narpies.
݁ .‧₊⋆.٠༺✶༻٠.⋆₊‧. ݁
Despite the questions the preacher had along the way, Owen ignored them. They could do this later. He could ignore every question about what happened before that. But, before long, every narpy was collected, and everyone was back in town.
The narpies were set all together and slowly morphed into one again. Martyn hid away from prying eyes but not for long. Owen eventually noticed him, and slowly Martyn was integrated into the group; barely, but he was. They all stood in a group, trying to decide what to do next before Eloise finally said something.
“I know we're debating on what to do next, but I would still like to know the importance of the fragment.”
Owen almost immediately froze.
Missy smiled a bit. “I suppose it’s not that big of a deal…in terms of story, that is.”
“I asked her to go around with me for the rest of our lives.” He took a breath.
Everyone else seemed to fall silent, realizing what that meant. Sausage took his hat off and held it to his chest. “I respect your love for each other.”
Luanne seemed confused for a moment before shock fell over her. “Oh my,” She blushed. “I feel stupid.”
Owen turned to her, confused, before she continued. “I just now realized that was a-a proposal…I feel mighty bad now.”
Owen’s mouth fell open in shock. “You didn’t know!?”
“I thought it was you being cute! Oh my, how many other signs did I miss?”
Owen was silent for a beat before he asked, “Is your answer of yes still real?”
She turned to him, still embarrassed but smiling, “Of course it is.”
Bekyamon looked between the two of them, “Well now, it’s mighty important we get our stuff back.”
Sausage nodded along, “Exactly!”
Abolish pulled out his Quaser, “Then let’s do it.”