Old-dirt town

[Tancer Fang]

((From Tails workshop))

Vanessa slowed to a walk, entering the rather dusty town. The female canine still in her arms. With a whistle she looked around. "Weird place, huh?"

For the 4 adventurers it would surely be a sight to see, the entire edge of the town for about 600 feet was dessert. Complete with cacti and tumbleweeds. The town itself was dust covered and looked straight out of an old west movie.
The only explanation was, it had been dropped here from a old west type setting, the world rip had created some pretty unique settings.

The sign that they passed as they walked in read "Old-Dirt", No one was out on the dust roads, as it seemed late. The sun was setting and the air was cooling.
With a big yawn Vanessa set down Semyl "I'm tired, I want to get some sleep."

[Tails]

Tails, while in the bi-plane, navigated to a landing site.

Tails connected his watch to the airplane's console and asked. "CT23, can you give an engine check?"

CT23: Tails, your wish is my command.

Afew moments later...

CT23: Engine is just fine.

Tails smiled. "Good. We'll continue the checks once we land."

CT23: Affirmative.

Tails landed on the other side of town on a runway and made his way to a parking lot for bi-planes.

Tails asked CT23. "Can you check the electronic system and the tires?"

CT23: Gas is fine, the electronic system is A-ok. The tires are fine to. Starting diagnostics now.

A few moments later.

CT23: Everything's superb.

Tails turned off the Tornado. "Copy that. Thanks pal."

CT23: Welcome.

Tails stepped out of the Tornado and searched for Vanessa and Skyes and Semyl. He was able to find them after a few minutes and waved them over.

"C'MON GUYS, TIME'S A WASTIN'"

Tails' stomach growled. He didn't know about them, but he knew he needed a bite to eat.

(Coming from "Tails' Workshop" in Great Forest. Note to self: Tails' adventure started in Tails' workshop.)

[Skyes Lowell]

Semyl could have easily kept up with Vanessa, who the dog had taken an interest in. She chuckled and was about to tell Skyes something until she noticed he was lagging several yards behind.
"G-g-geez- *huff* you guys ran nonstop."
"Pffft. That was nothing. How come you can't keep up with her?? She was carrying me! Which was a little odd, but still. You don't have to be such a big, slow clunker."
"H-h-hey, that's a common misconception about large people! We run fast! Just..... not for long."

----------
"Yer' tellin' me." Semyl told Vanessa, peering around at the oddly fashioned town. "Heh, reminds me of one of those old western shows Skyes used to love to watch~"
"DUDE, check this out!" Skyes shouted from behind, looking at the 'Old Dirt' sign in amazement. "It's TOTALLY LIKE ONE OF MY FAVORITE WESTERN SHOWS!!!"
"Hahahaha, told ya. Weeeeeeell... It can't be that big of a town. finding an inn and something to eat should be... a... er... Skyes? I think we have a problem."
"Huh? What?"
"We don't know where they are from. And they don't know where WE are from."
"So?"
"So there could be lotsa problems. What if they've never seen 'our kind'? For all we know, they could all be these 'humans'. Or bugs. Or some kind of thing that has four arms."
"I don't think we're in any immediate danger. Our world had humans too. And if they're bugs or aliens- well- perhaps they can be the friendly sort?"
"Okay, fine. Granted that, Skyes, what if they don't speak our language? Better yet, what if they don't even deal in the same cash we do? I don't feel like dishwashin'."
"Hmmmm.... I see where you're coming from. BUT! I speak in twelve languages~! That's twelve chances for us to communicate with them."
"...Bull. You only speak seven fluently."
"Four, actually. And the other eight are rudimentary but still slightly understandable."
"So in other words, I should have brought a pocket translator because at least then I would be able to blame mispronunciation and horrible grammar on a device, not my brother?"
"Er- Look, we're not going to get anywhere just standing here and being cynical. Come oooooooon, Sis', it's a western town! I LOVE western themes! I think I was destined to come here!" he said happily, dashing into town.

----------
Semyl frowned, staying close to Vanessa. "Ehg. Mom always said men never grow up. HEY, SKYES, DON'T WANDER TOO FAR, YOU MIGHT- ah, forget it." She had to admit, this was the first time he genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself out of their world. She might have shared in his excitement had she not had a certain fox on her mind.
"Ajiryn said he'd meet us back at town if we were to separate... but he meant the one we came from, not this dusty place. He'll probably miss us while trying to get back, unless he also runs into us here. ..........Be safe..."
"Seeeeeeeeeeeemyyyyyyyl~! I think I found an inn! Or something like it."
"H-huh?? O-oh, sorry, I spaced out. Er........ how can you tell? I can't read the sign. It's all- dirty an' stuff."
Skyes grinned smugly and crossed his arms. "It's always the place that has two floors. Every cowboy knows that!"
"You're not a cowb- oh brother... he's not listening..." she sighed, watching him speed off to look through a window. "Well.... I'll leave it up to you, Vanessa. Eat, sleep, punch people in the face- sounds like we've got work to do~!" she chortled.
"Skyes shouldn't wander around so freely- ...eh, he looks like he's having fun. I shouldn't be a buzzkill. Maybe I better watch how much of a ruckus I cause."

----------
Skyes strolled about, wishing had brought something a bit more country looking than a tunic. He had all sorts of western outfits back home- wherever the time warps placed it, that is. Being here was like being in a dream- if only he had some awesome boots, a cool hat, and a revolver...
"...it'd be like what I dreamt of as a kid."
He turned around at Semyl's giggling and stared at the two women oddly. "Those two get along a little too well for my comfort- ...eh, she looks like she's having fun. I shouldn't be a buzzkill. Maybe I should be a little more open to letting her do what she wants. Who would it hurt?" he asked himself, before grunting and facepalming. "...Who am I kidding? Those two will start up the entire town if they get into a fight- and I'll be dragged in and used as a diversion, and- and-" The answer to his previous question was simple.

Him.

----------
"Hey, where did the kid go- ah, there he is." Semyl tapped her foot impatiently, watching Skyes practically prance about as she waited on Tails and Vanessa.

[Tancer Fang]

Vanessa made her way into the Inn, noticing that the inside was as dusty as the outside of the town was.
"Hy guys, it doesn't hurt to breath in here!" She motioned for Skyes, his sister and Tail's to come in.
Behind the counter was a gentlemanly looking fox, who had appeared from the back roo upon hearing the commotion. He was greying in the hair and wore a white shirt with veritcal black stripes. He sort of looked like a dealer from a fancy casino.
"Uh yes, Ma'm." He spoke in his gentle voice "How may I serve you?"
The blue cat leaned on the counter, moving closer in. "How much is for a room" "2" chimed in the female dog, thinking ahead of the blue cat, 1 room would be needed for the guys and one for the gals. "2 rooms?" Vanessa quickly corrected herself.

"$1.50 each per night, now if that is too ex-" "I'll take them!" Vanessa placed a 5 dollar bill on the counter and barely waited for the clerk to give her her key, she raced up the stairs in her hyper excited state of being.

[Tails]

Tails thought about Robotnik as he slowly walked his way toward where his friends were, or his companions he should say.

When is Robotnik going to be up to anything? I want to get him now. And this time I'll do it all without Sonic. I can do this.

When Tails reached the apartmenrt complex with Semyl and Skyes, he was breathing hard from all the walking he was doing.

He asked over his breathing. "When are we getting something to eat?" The fox boy was catching his breath.

The fox boy sat on a nearby bench. "If you guys wanna go into your rooms, go ahead. I think I'll stay out here for awhile and cool myself down."

[Skyes Lowell]

Semyl giggled and beckoned for Skyes to bring Tails along. "Nonsense. with how much we apparently just paid them- I'm assuming their inflation rate hasn't kicked in- I think we can dare to ask them to bring food upstairs for us." she said, staring at the paper currency- it looked strange, but even she knew that this was apparently a lot for this town's time period.
"Awesome, Sis. Awesome. I get one with Vanessa, and you and the kid-"
"No. No no no. Nononononononono. No."
"W-what?"
"I got two rooms for a reason, stupid. One for the guys, and one for Vanessa and me."
"Whaa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa? Y-you wouldn't- actually separate me from-"
"I cut her off and said 'two' for a reason. You are NOT gonna share a room with a random woman you met today."
"Bu- but I don't even do anything!"
"Look, Skyes, I'm on your side. Meaning, if I don't separate you two, especially at night, you'll do something stupid and all your progress is for naught. In other words, I can make sure you don't screw up talking to her when I'm not around to coach you. And let's face it- you don't know how to talk to her."
"I talk to a lot of women, what are you talking about?"
"But none that are anything relatively like me, much less someone who would put a fist through you if you mess it up."
"What a gyp! I demand co-ed! I demand-
"See ya later, Skyes~"
"Gah! She ignored me..... well, Tails, what now? Head up and see if they'll bring us food?"

[Tancer Fang]

The blue cat came down the stairs just as ecited as she had gone up. "I heard food? I want some food!"
She bent over the counter staring at the gentlemanly fox "Where can I get food?"
He gave back a small smile, pointing to the diner area in back of the inn. "If you would have a seat, miss." He said. Vanessa looked back, then at the group. "Alright you bastards, who's hungry?"

[Tails]

Tails pretended to not hear Vanessa and merely looked at Skyes. He spoke. "I'll go to a different restaurant and get my own food. In fact, I'll probably head back home and get food there. I have a feeling that I'll need to keep my eyes on the news in case Robotnik strikes or if my parents stop by to visit.

"Tell Vanessa and Semyl that I said bye."

Tails walked toward his airplane and took off toward his workshop to keep an eye on things. He whispered. "It was fun."

(Going to the forest - Tails' workshop.)

[Skyes Lowell]

Five Minutes Later
"A-a-a-actually, I'm not that-" "Shuweeeeeet, we're in~" "-or- I guess-"
Skyes frowned and stared at Semyl. "...What? I really AM hungry. I have to walk around with YOU as a cook."
"But- my food is okay."
"Yeah, on maybe four days of the week. All seven of them? That's just mean."
"Ouch."

Skyes sighed dejectedly and wandered aimlessly around the back of their group. To tell the truth, he was already fully prepared to drop into a nice fluffy bed and call it a night- mostly because Semyl would instigate a fight sooner or later and he didn't feel like being tonight's scape goat. Plus...
"Somethin' wrong?"
"Well, with the kid gone, who am I rooming with?"
"Noooooononononono, you're still not getting anywhere near Vanessa."
"Awwwwww maaaaan, come ON, I won't do anything! I didn't even mention Vanessa to begin with-"
"-But you were totally thinking it."
"Siiiiiiis, you know I like having someone to talk to at night. About the day, and whatever-"
"-tomorrow will bring. Yes, I know, I've only sat through it, like, 5475 times over many, many years. Nice n' sentimental and all, but I don't think you'll die without me or her for a night."
"Still, I hate being by myself-"
"Skyes, how old are you?"
"E-er- twenty-two. You should know that by-"
"And you really expect me to believe you can't sleep by yourself? What, afraid of the dark?" she scoffed.
"No! It's just- lonely. And quiet. Too quiet."
"Ooooooooh, you big baby- look, here's a potato." she snapped, snatching a rather dusty looking potato off a near-by counter and handing it to him. "You can talk to it. Pretend it's me. Or Vanessa. Heck, give it a name. Just- let me sleep for ONE night without having to share a bed with you. You always take the blankets, and then when I punch you in my sleep, you don't stop complaining about it the next day. ...Plus, I'd like to see what it's like to stretch out in the middle of the night without punching you on accident. Or kicking you. Or- you get my point. Okay, look, Vanessa's coming- just, remember the potato. Look at the bright side! You get your own room. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, Vanessa~" she said merrily, quickly shuffling off towards the cat.
"H-hey, this isn't fair- awwwww maaaan... ... ... ...You're the only one that understands me, potato. ... ... ... ... ... ... ...C-can I call you 'Nate'? And let's give you a last name....like Oliver. Yeah." he told the potato, genuinely expecting an answer.
----------

"Sooooooooooooo, Vanessa, what's the deal? Are we really gettin' star service? Do they have room for three? Where are we supposed to-"
"Four."
"What the- ah, heya Brother. ...Er- four what?"
"A table for four. Say 'hi' to Nate Oliver."
"...Skyes- tell me you didn't- I mean- it's- Nate O. the potato."
"I know, isn't it cool?? He even has a face." Skyes said, pointing at his potato.
".....he named the potato...... he GAVE the potato a name.......... Father, I'm sorry, but... Brother is going to die single. I just KNOW it." Semyl thought awkwardly. Something told her Skyes was doing this just to be a jerk- "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaitaminute- he WANTS me to think he's going crazy. He wants me to bring him to our room so he can get closer to- Va- gah, that sly bas- Ugh! I knew he was up to something! I bet if I could read his thoughts, they'd all be about how he's gonna get all smarmy with Vanessa." Semyl thought, grimacing and staring holes into the back of Skyes's head, as if she were trying to infiltrate his thoughts...

"I like corn.
















...I wonder if they have any corn. Maybe Vanessa knows if they have corn.






















......cooooooooooooorn......" was all that echoed through his head.

"I just KNOW he's thinking something about her. "Sneaky sneaky, pervert Skyes. I know what you're up to." she muttered to him.
"Buh? What're you talking about, Semyl?"
"You know what I'm talking about. You know." she huffed at him.
"I- Semyl, wait, don't go- ......guess she doesn't like corn."

[Tancer Fang]

The blue cat laughed loudly, the sister and brother did end of making a ton of funny faces when they talked. "C;mon guys, I'm getting meatloaf and steak!" Vanessa was a firm believer in the notion that since we're made of meat, all we need is to eat meat. She patted the seat next to her in the small booth.
:Since its so late we go tthe back to ourselves too! This place is so cool!" Lik ealways the littlest thing made the th blue cat shimmer with excitement.