The Highwayman's Footsteps

[stellaluna]

I want to join this looks so much fun but idk how one second haha

[stellaluna]

no what you have makes sense I just don't know what I want like characters haha I really need to get better at making them but okayy

Elayne was many things. She was poor, for one. She wasn't very nice, for another. She didn't have many friends. Not many people liked her. She was secretive. Always 'up to no good'. Yes, Elayne was many things, but she was not a deserter. Okay, so she did what she had to. She stole things, but only to make it by. Her older brother signed up to fight. He told her just a few short months prior, promised her, even, that he wouldn't do such a thing. Wouldn't leave her. Not after her father, who had finally been caught about a year back. He had been a thief and had lied his way around, but he had been a good father. Or so she thought. Her mother told her that he had only stolen once or twice, and that he had meant to pay them back once he found the money. But that's not what they said before they shot him. Who could she trust? No one. Not even herself, because how was she any better? Stealing, and not for someone else, not for a family member or even close friend. She stole to get herself by. Many would consider Elly a deserter, but who was there to desert? Her brother left, her father dead, her mother just another person who had deceived her many times in her life. She didn't consider herself a deserter, and there wasn't anyone left in the world who's opinion she valued.

So as Elly tucked another stolen parcel into her dress, she didn't feel regret in the slightest. It had been hard the first few times, but only because she feared getting caught. She didn't want to end up like her father. Or worse. In her mind, there were worse ways to go than a bullet. At least that was quick, easy even. She'd heard stories that it was as quick and easy as falling asleep. Well, almost, anyways. Now that she'd figured it out, stealing was no problem. A piece of cake. She walked briskly, but not too fast, as that might appear suspicious, to her mount. A bay stallion, with two white stockings and a star that widened to a stripe down his nose. He was a bit stocky, but still athletic all the same; perhaps a thoroughbred and draft cross. And valuable, too. He, however, was not stolen. He'd been won by her father, shortly before... Well. Maybe the deal wasn't all that honest, but it didn't matter anymore. He was hers and there was no proof that he wasn't. She touched her pale hand to his neck, giving it a gentle pat. "Good boy," Elly murmured, her voice low and quiet. It wasn't manly, but not really all that feminine either. Perhaps a result of being around her brother too much, or maybe just because she'd never had a chance to really act like a girl. Elly stood there for a moment, not all that eager to get on with her business. It wasn't hard, really, but it was tiring, always being on the run.

How's that haha

[stellaluna]

oh right sorry haha can she live in an abandoned barn in the woods

Elly gritted her teeth and hoisted herself into the saddle, silently thanking the bay for not being bothered by the fact that she had to pull on his back a lot to be able to get in the irons at all. She was only one or two inches over five feet, which was a good thing because she was often mistaken for a child, and therefore it was less likely for people to suspect something of her, but bad in the fact that try as she might she would never be as strong as she would like. Even Winchester's withers were a good few inches over her eyes. It was just bad luck that he was so tall and she so small. She clicked her tongue and pressed her legs against his barrel, and he snorted before trotting forward, out of the village limit and back to the woods. As usual Elly avoided the route that would have taken her by her old home. It wouldn't be good to run into her mother, and she didn't care to reminiscent any on all of the good times.

[stellaluna]

Elly froze, squinting slightly and lifting a dirt-caked hand to her forehead, perhaps to block the light wafting through the trees and make out whomever was questioning her. It was just a girl. Her heart had been pounding so rapidly just a moment before, adrenaline coursing through her, her muscle itching for a fight. But she quickly collected herself. She could easily defend herself against this girl without a fight. A bit cocky, maybe too confident,, but in her eyes, true. "Your land?" she questioned, tightening her grip on the reins and slowing Ches to a complete halt, though he would be ready to make a break for it at any moment. "This is the woods, miss. It's fair game." Her voice was tight, though a bit shakier than she would like, still authoritative all the same. The way her father had spoken when dealing with visitors. As if nothing could persuade her whatsoever. Her thoughts were final, and right.

[stellaluna]

"I didn't say you were," Elly laughed, though it wasn't of humor. It was more of a sharp tone of sarcasm, if anything. "Would you rather me call you something else? i I can think of a few words, but I don't think you'd much like them." The girl broke eye contact briefly, turning her head away to study her surroundings. She rested a hand in the crook of her other elbow, sighing quietly. "Why should I tell you where I am going? I do not trust anyone. Why would I trust you," her tone was almost bored as she spoke. Elayne glanced down at Winchester when the girl complimented him, and she spared a toothless smile, the corners of her lips twisted just slightly upward. "Thank you. Yours is not so bad either."

[stellaluna]

Elly listened to her, before raising her eyebrows at her last statement. A part of her wanted to trust this girl, to use her barn and perhaps even befriend her. But another part of her told her that she could not trust anyone; and that she should turn down this offer and keep on moving. The truth was, though, Elly was tired. Tired of moving, tired of not speaking to anyone, just tired. So she found herself hardly questioning her, giving her nod and slipping off the side of Ches, her boots hitting the ground hard. "If you insist," she added, for the show of it perhaps. She didn't want to seem gullible or weak. Usually she was full of quick remarks, and not very friendly. But she was hungry, and maybe this girl had some food. And maybe a place to rest, even if just for a little while. She led Winchester to the barn, untacking him and carefully placing her a tack in a corner where it was out of sight. She would check on it in a little while. It was too valuable to be stolen. Speaking of stolen, the parcel from earlier was still in her saddlebag. If the girl knew about that, she might not be so eager to let her step foot on her property, let alone invite her to stay. But she wouldn't find out, so it shouldn't be a problem. Elly left Winchester settled down with a flake of hay and some water, and of course a loving pat. She walked back to where she had started, wincing at the soreness in her legs.

[stellaluna]

"Sort of," Elly said automatically, not overly eager to give out information about herself just yet. She figured that though she didn't trust the other girl yet, she could at least talk to her, no harm in that. She was, after all, inviting her into her home. She couldn't be all that bad. "Wouldn't really call it living. I move around a lot," she explained as she followed the other girl out of the barn, examining the building's features in appreciation, her head tilted up slightly and light eyes wide. That was the one thing she really didn't like about herself: her eyes. At one time she had, but that was before her life now. They were light green, with flecks of brown and gold. Quite uncommon in the area. Her hair, a dark mousy brown, was nothing out of the usual. But her eyes stood out, which wasn't good. Not for her. She followed the girl into the house, nodding slightly. "That is good," Elly answered, trying her best to be somewhat cordial. "My name is Elly," she offered eventually, though her voice was cautious. A name held a great deal of power.

[stellaluna]

Elly nodded in response, tucking a piece of unruly dark hair behind her ear carefully. She slowly took a seat as well, pondering this girl's name, trying to decide if it was a nickname for something or if she just had been given a man's name. Not that there was anything wrong with that. Her own full name was Elayne Shila [might change her last name that's the first thing I thought of hahaha], but she'd always gone by Elly because that's just what everyone had called her, and she hadn't had the thought to ever change it. It was the one thing that everything that had happened to her wouldn't take away from her. It was a sense of identity and belonging that she so badly needed.

[stellaluna]

one of my favorite characters died on this show and I've seen it before but I'm crying help

Elly raised her eyebrows, offering a slight smile. "If you say so, but I'm not that much of an agreeable person, so I don't know if the feeling will be mutual." She grew quiet once he entered the room, eyeing him cautiously. She gave a slight nod when Gus introduced him to her, though she did not speak either, simply mirroring his expression and returning his stare.

Sorry short I'm a wreck hahah

[stellaluna]

downton abbey it's honesty the best
but iT JUST MAKES ME CRY AND IT'S SO GOOD

Elly watched as the two spoke back and forth, one eyebrow raised curiously. She almost wished for a friendship like that, someone whom she could say what was on her mind to and would know that they wouldn't throw it back at her later. She was broken out of her daydream when Hansel left for the barn, and she glanced back over at Gus. "You know each other better than you let on," she commented, not in an unkind way, though. It was just a statement.

hahahaha maybe u should BUT I LIKE HER NAME