Insect Charter: Arrow's Divide Chapter 3 Part 2

While looking at several trinkets Jorge is approached by a tall Box Elder bug. Her gray and red hue made her rather threatening despite her friendly attitude. Deep piercing scarlet eyes met his green. She introduces herself as Marion, her soothing speech and sociable attire made her stand out among the travelers. She was dressed in a rather practical manner, simple pressed long sleeved shirt with dark brown slacks and simple flat shoes. Her gray and red lined wings were dusted by travel. She wore a large weaved hat, decorated in colorful ribbons. Around her neck was a simple silk scarf pinned by a metal trinket of a cactus. She wore two watches on her left arm both were set to different times. Her appearance suggested she was wearing her finest clothes.

 

Rubin spotting the stranger talking to Jorge interjected. Her friendly tone continued as she greeted the old Wasp. Rubin had been more concerned about Jorge talking to strangers than nationalist enlistment. Rubin then made clear that he wanted to see whom she was.

 

“Well howdy, pardon my jab and hand. Marion be the name, though many call me Miss. Hayloft. Though don’t ya’ll mind such formalities, that be for ‘em cloud dwellers! Carry high chinstrap and lick shine, looking down upon us folk.” Marion said with such enthusiasm that Rubin gave pause trying to understand what she said. After his short pause he said, “Yes, good-day Miss. Marion-”  “Just Marion good Sirs.” She added, Rubin continued, “Yes mind asking what brings one like yourself out upon this day of heat?”

 

Marion gave an odd expression before a long smile was drawn across her face, “Oh pardon, I thought ya’ll be from around. Mind my assumption and such, seeing the clothes, I’d figured a support ribbon was lacking. Seeing how ya’ll carry yurself’s wouldn’t think road be home.” Rubin gave another pause, “Yes I noticed, mind me asking what colors do those ribbons represent?”       

 

“Pardon? Oh…  these h’ere representing “Freeland Party”. Assuming ya’ll seen the color’s flying on ‘em stone houses, take no head to see they’ed be supporting by all the shines and cloud dwellers of ‘em copp’a pits. Even good ‘ol Boshoff be supporten party. In my h’ere opinion, pride even stupid pride be on the rise. Since that flop of a occupation in 76’ has ya’ll stirring wits about invasion. From the Crescent to h’ere, the entire Province be feeling a wind from the west.

 

A bad and foul conspiracy has rattled pride of the Republics. Even if ‘em booters paddle home, fear lingers that monsters of a zappy nature wants the land! Talk in ‘em papers says it was a more than those bunch of licks from ‘em Western Mining Company an’ their Police. Though from what I hear, don’t take no whiskers they all be ringing and cozying up with some larger ring.

 

That’em folk over at the Citizens’ Council got a fear of annexation in the air. Ain’t no Alberni or Cinturón be admitting to such an ass whiff, I got h’ere eye to it! However it all be specu’laten and such.” Marion pointed to her left eye as if her assumption should have impressed Rubin. He on the other hand found her voice odd if not puzzling to her exact origin of birth. Regardless it carried such smoothness that it was fascinating.

 

She gave an indication that the Citizens’ Council and general public sees the growing scheme as a trend of movements by the Albernian Colonies. The conspiracy gained widespread anger after Grand Empress Luise III of the Sonnereich sent a telegram to President Boshoff, acknowledging their bravery in defending their land from the “Booters”, without the use of neighboring powers. Suggested the Sonne was whiling to offer future support to the Republics against foreign hostility. The telegram caused a huge storm in Alberni and Cinturón, over Sonnen influence in the Barren. Further mounting tensions in the region that the pact was called off not long after it was endorsed.

 

Regardless Marion said if the pact were still held up, it would have kept the shines from the Northern States in line, thus no foreign troops would be mounting at the boarders to observe the conflict. Rubin found the young bug odd in her devotion in current events, but admired her visionless attentiveness.

 

“Oh, such damning of speculations, might ya’ worry ‘em purty eyes be looking at a piddle?” Asked Rubin in a strange tone, that caught Jorge off.

 

“Mister where else ought I be look’n?”

 

“Idono, but look’n to hard and ya’ find a good ol’ potty of rumors. Still talks can bring one to know more from behind…” Rubin gave an odd exchange of glances at Marion.

 

“Though kinda funny, that I’d be talkin’ about such high-fluting topics seeing ya’ll strangers to this h’ere Barren or behind.”

 

“I wouldn’t call myself a stranger, though by age I can see the right to use that word. Nevertheless, this fine feather on my worn and beautiful head is from back east.” Rubin said while pointing to his crimson feather on his hat. Rubin not fully telling the truth mentions a group back in The Palo had the same intentions. He said that they went by the name of “Passage Estate”.

 

“Ya’ from Palo? Didn’t reckon anyone carried those anymore, unless ya’ be a husk or ghost, though mildly handsome?” Marion blushes by Rubin’s old age, “Though be seeing ya’ in the light, fingers as much. My mind thinks, that my grand mama was in a chapter of that group. For all I knew, she’d snuggled in the snuggery or gave a jam to a nimble. Regardless gave Sonneland a spit and lick, do no good in the end. Nevertheless…” Said Marion in a tone that was obnoxious that Rubin gave an odd look that did not deterred her expression.

 

“Quiet so… The Battle of Freeland was a show for all.”

 

Marion explodes into excitement. She points to another ribbon on her right chest read “Remember 1419” she then says anyone who survived the battle is a hero to her.

 

Rubin then notices that she had an object gleaming in the sun, before observing that Marion was not wearing a holster. Instead she had placed a large pistol between the waistband of her trousers and belt. It’s weathered butt and frame visible he notices that the gun had an engraving of a cactus in a similar pattern to the one on her pin. Upon further inspection her pistol was a rather expensive break open gun capable of killing large adversaries. Rubin made no mention of the gun, since most travelers in the Barren carried one, though he found it strange that a Box Elder was carrying such an expensive looking gun.

 

 

“Well my dear, even the horror could not diddle its way from our wrath, as we fought on. Still be glad that a bug of your age still see’s that the east is not forgotten. Even if Sonneland builds its Reich, home remains whole. ” Rubin said as to hide his exploring glances.

 

He then offers to buy a ribbon from her. Marion overjoyed as her eyes light up to an almost magenta hue. Lifting her head, Rubin notices that she has a drawn-on beauty mark below her right eye. She wore dark almost black lipstick that extended after she formed a long smug.

 

“My my such spouting from a bug of your age. I’d assume that kind of talk works on all the young enlistees Mister?” Marion said.

 

Suddenly it had occurred to him that he was courting Marion. His mannerism change to that of his younger days, of touching glares and hidden innuendos that he some how did not catch himself saying. He then noticed that he was gazing at Marion after it had caught the attention of Jorge. Realizing how he was acting he changed back into his fatherly from and gave her the money to buy a ribbon for his hat.

 

Marion then asked if the two were heading out of town however before Jorge could answer. Rubin says no that they plan on staying for a while doing trade at the houses.  Marion eyes turned sinister for a brief moment before turning back to her normal cheery self. She than notices some of her friends waving her over. She says her goodbyes and wish the two safe travels before walking off to meet her friends.

 

Jorge says that he and his father will enjoy their trip and wishes Marion safe travels.

Rubin gives Jorge a ridicule look of displease, before they continue with their shopping. Rubin looked back at Marion and her friends who happily smiled at the two, he gave them a half smile.