Thomas had spent the early morning hours in his family home alongside his younger siblings who had been tasked with attending to the property fences. In other words, it had been a laid back and informal morning, the way Thomas liked them. It was refreshing after all the tension boiling over in town. Almost everyday now there were fights, either with words or fists, in the bars or streets. And the lower districts where Thomas spent most of his time sneaking around and liberating people of their purses had been growing steadily more and more treacherous with growing hostilities between the southern citizens and the northern ones.
But he couldn't hide from it forever, eventually he would have to go back in to run errands. At least in doing so he'd be able to hunt down Johnathan. The two having been close since they first started walking, Thomas would follow Johnathan anywhere like a second shadow unless family called. Lucky for him they rarely did, this morning being an unusual occurrence. Now finished there though, Thomas said his farewells and kissed his mother good bye before shrugging on his long weatherworn coat and headed for town. First, to find Johnathan. Second, to drag him along with him as he went about his errands.

Johnathan awoke in his cottage just outside the city greeted by his wife Laurie who had just woken as well. Never being one for sleep John jumped up and threw he coat on grabbing the tea that his wife had brewed him. "Thank you sweetheart" He kissed her cheek and left out the door in such a rush, as quickly as he had woken, he was gone. He had no children for he was still of a young age and his wife and him had only recently married, but he loved her very much. John walked outside squinting in the light of the day, it was a crisp October day, the middle of fall that had the chill in the air saying that winter was just around the corner. He walked over to the carriage and opened the door. "Shall we ride to town sir?" The man in front asked. "Aye, I assume that I am to meet Thomas. Make haste please." He answered the driver quickly and handed him his payment.
John was worried to ride into town, this talk of the new Senate election and the man running for it that was causing many outburts because of his wants to end slavery. I would not like to be caught in a brawl.. John thought to himself, shaking his head at the thought, just what he needed, to come home with a bloodied nose.

Thomas had turned up his collar against the teasing chilly breezes that had come blowing down the dirt road at his back. Sticking his hands deep in his pockets he walked along at a brisk pace carried by long legs and the desire to get out of the open. The road was empty but for him at the moment, and he could hear very little other then the occasional bird song. Along either side of the road stretched grass and farmland with a tree or bush here and there but up ahead he could see the tops of buildings beginning to appear.
Then there came the sound of hooves and the unmistakable jingling of a carriage. It coming from behind, Thomas stepped off to the side of the road and glanced over his shoulder to catch sight of the approaching carriage. Not taking long to recognize the passenger and the driver, Thomas started walking again but this time backwards, watching the quickly approaching vehicle with an amused expression.
"Bit late this morning aye John?" He called, his breath coming out in a faint cloud as he spoke.

John stepped out of the Carriage down onto the road, turned around and closed the door. "Aye, Slept in" John chuckled leaving a still grin on his face. He waved the man in the carriage off. As the horses began to move away pulling the carriage with them he turned back to Thomas. "I assumed I would be seeing you in town friend. How is the family?" He asked with a smile. Thomas and John had always been close but ever since John had moved out of the city they had little time to spend together, for he tended to his family and Johnathan tended to his wife and house. "I'm hoping all is well" He paused and looked over his shoulder "Especially in times like these..." He continued tightening his jaw.

"These are not the days for sleeping in" Thomas said with a snort, watching as the carriage pulled off before starting down the road again now alongside John. "Familys good, loud and large as ever so not much changing there. So far they've been clear of the trouble, hoping it'll stay that way." He was quiet for a bit as if brooding on how to make sure it did stay that way, but then seemed to shake off the troublesome thoughts for lighter conversation. "How's your dear wife? Still mad at me for breaking her chair? I swear I meant it when I said I'd replace it, even though she called me a liar. I wouldn't go back on that promise!" Thomas added this last part quickly as an after thought, that easy grin sliding across his face despite the hurriedness of his remark.

John laughed "Oh but Thomas that was her favorite dining chair".
"No she is fine, working hard these days, trying to clean and make the house presentable for we are having her parents come down for the holiday" John rolled his eyes and grinned. The walked a corner and John stopped. "Have you heard of this talk for freeing slaves? The south would not have it, the running will never have Lincoln put into Senate at this rate." John looked around and whispered "Much has been said that he is doing the work of the devil... I personally do not agree. I have met many a black men in my day, they are men like us I say, let them vote and have Jobs as we do." John paused and moved on past the subject. "Well not as..we do.. you and I do not have jobs" He laughed and nudged Thomas' shoulder. He looked across the street as the shops and taverns began to open. "Shall we get a drink?" He asked Thomas politely with a smile gesturing towards the now opening bar.

"How was I to know that the chair would break if fallen into? Really it's your fault for keeping weak chairs." He huffed, hunching his shoulders against another cold wind and taking on a serious expression as Johnathan switched to the topic of politics. "It's not the work of the devil to say a man is a man. And it's none of my business anyhow. Its not as if people hear what we say, leave it to the politicians and their beards John, let's get drunk early in the morning and stumble about in the evening to get our business done hm?" Pulling a hand out of his deep pocket, Thomas threw an arm around John's shoulders and steered him towards the bar. "And I promise, I will not start a fight this time. I'll just finish any that happen to stumble our way, sound good?"

"Aye sounds good friend but if you do get into a fight I will only watch as you get your ass kicked " He chuckled and walked toward the bar.
Walking inside the place was empty the air changed from a crisp chill from the breeze outside to a warmer welcoming feeling indoors, he was never shy from a drink but it was the first he felt a sense of loneliness in one. He pulled up a wooden stool the the bar counter and ordered a large mug of Pine-Apple Beer. His favorite as he always orders it, although Laurie always brews the best homemade beer. "Gone hunting lately?" he asked his friend as he sat. "Heard in the west there is great game" He stated setting his mug down.

"You have so little faith in me my friend, it wounds my black and rotten heart" Laughed Thomas, releasing Johnathan once they were inside and slipping onto a chair beside him. He ordered the cheapest beer the establishment kept in stock, looking more for having something to swallow then having something that tasted good. Besides this complimented his purse more then something of higher quality. Accepting his drink from the bartender he cupped the mug in both hands and rested his elbows on the worn bar top. After taking a long drink of the dark substance, he set it down with a thud and laced his fingers together.
"Aye, Daniel and I went a few days back. Didn't catch much though, if the game is plentiful it's not where we went. It's big though, saw tracks all over the place." He said, nudging the mug this way and that in random patterns with his elbow. "Foot prints to, someone's been awful busy out west lately. Looked almost like a highway."

"Aye, I hear of many people moving out west" John looked down at the table contemplating the idea. "Possibly we shall join them?" He grinned "I'm not sure Laurie would be amused by the idea.." Just had he finished his sentence the doors to the bar swung open. The outside chill found its way into the room and made Johns hair stand. Two men walked in one tall and stern the other shorter with a big black beard. They walked in swiftly and took a seat. Their presence was unwelcoming to John, although he couldn't put his thumb on why. He watched them closely as they sat. "Lady, I'll have your finest beer" He barked at the woman at the bar, she quickly strode over with a mug of expensive beer. The man chugged the beer and wiped his chin on his sleeve. He rolled the mug onto the floor and discussed something with the man he walked in with. John still walking cringed at his actions. "Seems like a southerner. Damn plantation owners come to the north and think they can own the town" He snarled.

Thomas just laughed softly at the idea, before looking around when the doors banged open and the boisterous new comers came marching in.
"Ah they'll get whats comin' to them soon enough." He said quietly, picking up his mug to finish of it's remaining contents. "Most likely at my boot but we'll give 'em a chance to walk clear first hm? Its the polite thing to do." Amicably he thanked the barmaid for his drink, pushing the now empty mug away from him before stopping the one the new comer had tossed aside with his foot. Stooping down he caught it up with a finger and threw it at the southerner. "Oy! Don't know what its like where you come from but here we set these on a table, not on the floor." He called out, clearly not intending to do the polite thing as he had suggested earlier. "But I guess that can get confusing for your type, the difference between a floor and a table I mean. Must be a big change comin up here where its civilized and people have decent furniture."

John hid his grin. Here we go.. He thought watching Thomas throw the mug. John set his beer down and pushes it away sitting back in his chair. "I'm sorry what was that you miserable Yankee?" The man spat back. "Oy kick his arse" the smaller man added. Johnathan pushed his stool back and stood up. Couldn't stay out of trouble once Thomas..

Thomas was grinning ear to ear now in that mocking way of his, clearly enjoying this more then he had a right to. He was still lounging in the stool, his elbows propped up on the counter behind him and seeming at ease. This wasn't his first bar fight though, and despite his outward appearance he was ready and able to leap to his feet at a moment's notice and deck this obnoxious man with a solid punch.
"I think you heard me pretty damn well. Or are you lot deaf as well as dumb?" He taunted, gaze darting between the two and landing on the smaller manwith a snort of disgust. "What, cant kick it yourself? Scared? Come on you bearded idiot I'll give you a real Northern welcome."

John watched as the too men boiled with anger. The smaller man slammed his mug down on the table and stood up. And got into Thomas' face. "Why don't you fellows just kiss and make up already" John yelled comically. The little man swung a hard left at Thomas. In a silly fashion almost because the man was a lot shorter than him. The larger man charged John tackling him in the bar counter as a few glasses fell off and shattered to pieces on the ground. "Oy! NOT IN MY BAR" the bar-maiden yelled, everyone in the heat of the moment drowned her out. "I wasn't the one who threw the mug you oaf" He cupped his right fist in his left hand and swung hard onto the mans left cheekbone. The blow knocked the man to the side. He stood up and spit and threw a hard right that landed on Johns left eye, drawing blood.

"He's not my type I think Ill pass on the kissing" Thomas smirked in response to his friend's taunting. Then he slipped from his chair to meet the man toe to toe. A moment later the small man's fist came flying at his face and Thomas snagged it with both hands. He held it there for a second to see the look of surprise on the bearded fellow's face before twisting it sharply behind the man's back and kicking him swiftly in the ass. It send him staggering a few steps away while Thomas lazily snagged the bearded man's mug to sample its contents. He immediately gagged, spitting it back into the mug. "Agh, you turn Northern brew into sludge!" He complained, before hearing John's exclamation and looking over in time to see the bigger man strike him in the face.
"Hey! Don't hit the gentleman!" Snapped Thomas, ramming his shoulder into the bigger man to knock him off and away from John. "Not in the face at least, hes gotta keep that pretty and clean."

"Aye, why always the eye" He hissed and chuckled. The larger man go back up and swung at John again, this time he saw it and dipped under his arm, bringing his fist up into his rib cage. The man bent over in pain groaning. "Thomas I believe they turn the very air into sludge" He yelled as he swept the mans legs out from under him causing him to land hard on his face. The smaller man moved up and pulled out a pistol. The metal shined in the corner of Johns eye and he knew exactly what is was. The man pointed it at the men. "I'll be taking your money at the expense of my friends now probably broken ribs and face oy!" He spat shaking with the gun in his and switching pointing at both John and Thomas. "You stupid Yankees and your good for nothing towns and factories. All the real work is done in the south, you would be nothing without us!" He hissed into a yell. John glanced at Thomas.

"Easy, if we had money do you think we'd be lounging around here in the morning?" Thomas said in a placating tone, holding up his hands to show they were empty and glancing back at John. This wasn't the first time they'd been on the receiving end of a threat like this, so this was not new ground.
"And as far as your friend there goes, he was probably gonna get beat up at some point here! Was inevitable really, he just happened to bump into us first so we gave it to him." He was taking slow and steady steps towards the small man now, still speaking in that deceptively calm voice that didn't really reach the cold glare creeping into his eyes. "And as for the South? Tell me just what have you done there, you over saturated filthy flesh peddler? How many fields have you tilled and how many crops have you harvested by the hard labor of your slaves?" Now standing two feet from the right of the man, Thomas's tone had changed along with his glare to an accusatory hiss, disgust seeming to drip from his words like venom.

John watched his friend carefully inch towards the man. Dont be stupid Thomas... He thought. He watched man turn his gun away from John pointing at Thomas as he ventured closer. The words oozed from Thomas' mouth, John always knew that he was against slavery and what the south did. John lowered his hands as the man turned away from him, he reached back behind the counter and grabbed a bottle just for caution.

Thomas watched John out of the corner of his eye, glad to see his friend was taking the initiative and reaching for some sort of weapon he hoped.
"Come on you ignorant Jack ass, Im waiting for an answer!" He snapped, determined to keep the small man's attention fixed on him and away from John. "Tell me, what have you done?" He took another step forward, that as far as he intended to go. It wasn't like he wanted to get shot, but he wanted to give John as much time as possible to get in position.

John moved behind the small man and smashed the bottle across his head catching him as he fell. He looked up at Thomas "Had to throw the mug? He chuckled and laid the man down. "Miss please make word to the authorities, have these men picked up" He said to the bar-maiden, laid down some money on the counter "Extra, for.. um.. damages" a soft smile was on his face and he beckoned Thomas to go. They walked back outside onto the road as it had filled with many people now. "Well we have had our fun for the morning, now what?" HE asked wiping the blood from his eye once again.