[img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/da/2c/a2/da2ca20cee604f0c98b23e3e97f74a05.jpg[/img]

[i]How was he feeling?  Seriously?[/i]  He had just collapsed.  He briefly considered some flippant responses but better sense - and the fact that he was feeling too roughed up to encourage the officers to add another layer of beatings to the way he felt.  Besides, he was having a hard enough time with their accents.  The woman was the only one he’d understand very well.

[color=0072bc]“Not so well,”[/color] Xavier’s strange accent betrayed him instantly.  He could have attempted a southern accent, but knew better.  [color=0072bc]“But I wasn’t drinking.”[/color]  Then a thought hit him.  It was stupid and risky, but ….  [color=0072bc]“I was on the trail … and slipped on my duster to step away from camp to … uhm … “[/color] his face reddened as he glanced in the direction of the lady, [color=0072bc]“relieve myself.”[/color]  He cleared his throat nervously.    He spoke up louder and added, [color=0072bc]“but if I HAD been drinking, you’d be perfectly correct in suspecting so.  Apparently I don’t hold my liquor well.”[/color]  He looked away embarrassed, [color=0072bc]“poorly enough that local law usually bans anyone from letting me imbibe and fines those who sell to me.”[/color]  He looked back and grinned a little.  [color=0072bc]“I got a little wild THAT time.  And the casino?”[/color]  He actually laughed.  [color=0072bc]“I got banned for life.  But I wasn’t cheating or anything.  THAT would have been too easy.  But even falling down drunk I beat them at their own games.”[/color]

Then Xavier calmed down.  [color=0072bc]“They didn’t let me keep the money though.  The Law, that is.  But I was politely asked to leave after pointing all the ways the House cheated.  Good people losing hard earned money on the false promises of wealth against the odds.”[/color]

Again Xavier allowed a moment of silence for the men to absorb his story.  It was based on truth.  If he hadn’t been who he was, he would have probably gone to prison.  Then he tried to stand again and slowly stood up.  He stopped halfway and crouched back down.

[color=0072bc]“I fell a ways back.  Fell a pretty long ways.  Bit shook up.  Oh, my things.  When I was away from my camp … everything was sort of taken.  All I had left is what was on me.  Just a few knick knacks in my pockets.  I haven’t eaten in a bit.  So I was going to look for work.  But I am afraid that in my condition I wouldn’t be much use on the river.  Besides, I think I already swallowed half of it.”[/color]

The officers noted that Xavier’s hands didn’t have the look of a man accustomed to a life of labor.  [color=f6989d]“What DO you do?”[/color]

And that was the question he had dreaded.  But there was no avoiding it.  [color=0072bc]“Really, I am a scholar.  But I need the same things any man needs.  Food,”[/color] he stopped and looked down, [color=0072bc]“most definitely clothing, and a place to sleep - preferably one that I don’t have to share with more legs than myself.  The other night an arachnid looked at me very hungrily.”[/color]

[color=f6989d]“A what?”[/color]

[color=0072bc]“Spider.  Arachnid is a spider.”[/color]