[center][h3][color=ed145b]Ryder,[/color] [color=0076a3]Lauren,[/color] and [color=572449]Diana Lovegood[/color][/h3][/center]

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Lauren kept eye contact with Ryder as he spoke, listently intently to what he had to say. She nodded when he placed a hand on her shoulder. She followed him to the gate. As it opened, Lauren raised her her gun and leveled it on the incoming person. This was the first time in a while a straggler approached like this- brazenly and in the open. It was the first time ever someone came to them singing, though. The guard had to respect that. Lauren chuckled at Ryder's comment. She raised her gun a little, a gesture to the stranger.

[color=0076a3]"Guns on the ground, hands in the air, lady!"[/color] Lauren called out to her, not wanting to take any chances. She had seen quick draws before. The horse was a variable Lauren wasn't particularly fond of, either.

Hearing Lauren be so commanding just reminded Ryder of why she was one of his favorites. Lauren was the type of woman Ryder greatly admired. Strong, honest, didn't take anyone's shit. She was one of the few around here that got away with more things than she honestly should. But, her loyalty to Ryder was obvious and clear everyday. Ryder couldn't imagine having anybody more loyal or resourceful on his side. Between her, Natalie, and a couple others, he was a lucky man, indeed. In this world, it was hard to find useful and loyal people. For now, he waited to see what this strange woman would do once the gate was completely open.

Diana studied the woman trying to decide if she was naturally rude or power hungry the former preferable to the later. 
[color=572449]"Well I have a gun and dropping it might prove as dangerous as drawing it, it's a pistol"[/color] she looks behind her at her bedroll.

Her hands are raised and she is exposing her palms to the nervous people at the gate. 
[color=572449]"I'm a Doctor seeking a position in a village where I can practice my skills and hopefully find a young person or two to teach. I can fight if I have to and my mount matched to me so I'm good at mobility attacks.
I can cook and I can sew and don't mind working hard if I can have access to water to clean myself.
I can claim that as a Doctor I am here to preserve life but that's meaningless so I guess I'll say I hope this works well for all involved.
Now if you want me harmless let me dismount then its just me and yall won't shoot redhawk.[/color]

Diana smiles her sweetest and honest hopeful smile as she waits to see how fate plays out.

Ryder tilted his head to the side after the strange woman finished her little speech. Amusement lashed through him, causing his lips to twitch upwards. What was this, a fucking [i]interview[/i]? He let out a low whistle, studying the woman atop the horse. He looked like he wasn't worried about her presence at all. "[color=ed145b]Damn! I don't remember putting an ad in the paper for a doctor,[/color]" he said, grinning at his own little joke. 

Diana giggled at the big man's joke about her situation that fit proving he was at least intelligent a good sign when dealing with potential religous zelot or hopeful warlord; she was crossed fingered for Leader sort. 

[color=572449]"News paper, haven't had one of those in a bit; Name's Doctor Diana Lovegood and I'm here to help"[/color]

Lauren raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ryder. She made a motion with her head, signalling the two armed men to follow her when she moved. This Doctor was on a mission, apparently. A do-gooder of some kind. Still, they could use a doctor, a real one. Especially if it meant keeping Grace the Saint, alive. Maybe Grace really did have some guardian angels, after all, Lauren thought. She was interested to see where this went. At the very least it would be entertaining. As far as she could there really was just one of her. There was no real cover to hide behind. There were armed guards in well-placed positions. She felt confident that they had nothing to fear. At the very least they could just take all her stuff, but having a medical proffesional onboard would be useful. That was up to Ryder. 

[color=0076a3]"All right...keep those hands up then. "[/color] Lauren slowly approached, the two armed guards following behind her. It didn't look like she was armed, besides a baseball bat. Good for smashing zombie skulls, but the three of them could handle it easy. She made a gesture for one of the boys to circle round behind her.

[color=0076a3]"Gonna pat you down now."[/color] Lauren said, shouldering her gun by it's loop. The doc's clothing was a bit baggy, there could be a knife or something under there. Lauren was confident that with her being surrounded, the "doctor" wouldn't try anything stupid. One thing that struck Lauren as she began roughly placing her hands on various articles of clothing, checking for weapons and the like, was that the doctor smelled like...soap? Weird. Usually people were in pretty poor hygiene out there, alone. I mean, in toxo, it's not like the place was filfthy but this woman, upon closer inspection, was aggressively well-kept. Lauren didn't find anything after her thorough search, save a surgical kit that clipped on. Lauren unclipped it and held it infront of her to make Lauren's point.

[color=0076a3]"Okay, doc, this is how it's gonna work. Until you can prove yourself, we own you. Own your stuff, own your horse, own your soap. Keep that in mind before you pass through that gate."[/color] Lauren kept eye contact, standing close to the doctor. 

Diana sighs as she pictures one of the local wood carvers spotting her blades and care kits and taking several of the percision tools so as they can carve a better bare and the thought makes her queasy.

[color=572449]"I don't mean to sound demanding, but in my bags are very hard to replace surgical tools which I ask be treated as the medical tools they are, and Redhawk is a good horse if you're a woman, but if I were a Man near him I'd keep my eyes open.
Also in the bags are my apothcary tools and drugs I've learned to make; I'd watch the drugs people get curious and my poppy and peyote sends them on a vision quest and some are just dangerous to use if you don't have the skill"[/color] Diana says with a hopeful smile.

She knows she is their figurative property and gets the feel this is a militant society and needs she try and adjust her skills with people to these people.
What did these people expect of her, would she be forced at hard labor or allowed to be a doctor, a real doctor; one not worried about HMOs or all the bullshit admistrators. She wondered if in this small community she could watch over them as they fought of who knows what sort of flu to come, delivered their babies and helped keep them healthy.

Lauren clipped the surgical kit onto her belt-loop. [color=0076a3]"Yeah. You [i]don't[/i] wanna sound demanding. That wouldn't be polite."[/color] Lauren was wondering about the thought process of this woman, "Diana Lovegood." Doctor Lovegood? Sounded made up. Either way, it was kinda funny.

[color=0076a3]"Okay, Doctor Lovegood, any reason your name sounds like you're in a porno?"[/color] Lauren said, signalling one of the guys to look at the horse a little closer, breaking her eye-contact with Diana. 

[color=0076a3]"Watch it,"[/color] Lauren said to the armed guard before Diana could respond. [color=0076a3]"Redhawk doesn't like men."[/color] She said, laughing a little bit. The guard smiled, but still kept his distance from the animal as he looked for weapons or points of interest.

Diana sighs as she glances at redhawk then relaxes seeing he's being good as if he knows their situation.

[color=572449]"The name comes from Cornwall and is spelled Luggar, Luggard, Loveguard, Lugard, Lovegrove, or Lovegood; my dad was Elijah Lovegood, my mom Tisha Moon-[/color]

[color=0076a3]"Okay, slow down there, champ."[/color] Lauren rudely interrupted, causing Ryder to grin, [color=0076a3]"Didn't ask for your life story."[/color] Lauren quickly glanced over her shoulder at the guard behind her and Ryder, flashing them a befuddled look. Returning her focus to the situation at hand.

[color=572449]"You aren't the first person to point out how my last name sounds like a pornstar name or the last. I'm not trying to fight just point out the tools, drugs and everything I have be used to save your's or someone you care for's life"[/color]

Says Diana softly almost as if she were sighing.

Lauren smiled. [color=0076a3]"Well, originality died long before everything else did."[/color] She said, ignoring her comment about the contents of her saddlebags. 

Though she kept her eyes on Diana, she turned her head to the side and raised her voice so Ryder could hear her. [color=0076a3]"Whaddya think, Ryder? She seems clean."[/color] Both in the sense of she had no weapons on her, and no apparent ill intentions, and literally clean. 

Usually, Ryder would have jumped in and taken over this whole process himself, but he found enjoyment in watching Lauren do her thing. A reminder of what she could do, and how she could inflict the rules, was always nice, since she would often be put in charge of her own groups or when Ryder and Natalie were gone. It wasn't often he let somebody else take charge like that, but at times, he liked to see what his people were capable of. After all, he had to make sure he was training them right, preparing them for this world, hardening them. He wasn't only here to lead them; he was here to [i]help[/i] them, too. They were his people. He smirked when Lauren acknowledged him. [i]That[/i] right there was why she was at the top of his list. She didn't forget about him, proving her loyalty in that little moment. It made pride swell in his chest.

He took a few steps forward, resting his bat on his shoulder, his other thumb hooking into the belt loop of his pants, and eyed the doctor. Lauren wanted to see what Ryder would do. There were a lot of ways this could go, and all of them were fun. She went silent, letting Ryder take the reigns as he began to speak. "[color=ed145b]Doctor [i]Lovegood[/i], well, well, well,[/color]" he briefly bit his bottom lip, rocking back on his heels. "[color=ed145b]What a goddamn pleasure. I'm Ryder Hooper. This little spitfire of a woman is Lauren Watson.[/color]" he walked closer, getting closer to Redhawk in the process, and not minding his distance. He had doubt the horse didn't like men. He guessed he'd find out. "[color=ed145b]That's Gerald Carter, and Kevin Pang,[/color]" he motioned to the armed guards, not taking his eyes off of Diana.

"[color=ed145b]You do indeed seem clean. And like you know what you're talking about. That intrigues me. Greatly.[/color]" he clicked his tongue, and tilted his head to the side. "[color=ed145b]Let me make one fucking thing straight, though. [i]We[/i] decide what the hell is important, understand? Nobody comes up to my gate, asking for a place, with a demanding tone. We may need a doctor, but I won't hesitant to show you your place here.[/color]" he said, his tone of voice casual, as if he was talking about the weather. But, the threat was clear. He caught sight of the bat on the back of Redhawk, and grinned. "[color=ed145b]Aw, we have something in common,[/color]" he waved his bat towards Diana, narrowly missing Lauren's shoulder, causing her to flinch a little. "[color=ed145b]We're bonding already![/color]" he began to walk on the other side of Redhawk, reaching out absently to slide his hand down the horse's neck as he passed, his intent to grab the bat.

Why was it always this way, always pushing buttons buttons she refused to acknowledge.

[color=572449]"Sorry if I sound demanding but I'm a bit attached to my tools; without them someone dies or one of your men tastes ergot before I destill it and I get blamed. I was negotiating as well and I do need a place to keep the skill at medicine alive and the back of a horse means a small library. I need a student to teach or it dies when I die."[/color] Diana bites her lip then goes on, [color=572449]"I want to keep people alive and I have skills that can do that, i want to keep around me healthy, deliver the babies and watch over those babies and their health. I don't want power, not my field. "[/color]

She knew she'd rambled a bit but she couldn't help it as she thought how casually these people could abuse her or just kill her horse because they want to prove a point but she'd rolled em and now she waited to see how they felt.

Ryder was trying really hard to not laugh, but he was unsuccessful. He let out a laugh as he picked up the doctor's bat, looking it over. "[color=ed145b]You are [i]really[/i] fucking sure of your skills, aren't you?[/color]" he noted, returning the bat to its place on Redhawk. He walked around the back of Redhawk carelessly, trusting the horse to not lash out, and ended up behind Diana. "[color=ed145b]I hate to break it to you, Doc, but there aren't any babies here. Plenty of men and women to tend to, though. Speaking of which...[/color]" he stepped up beside the doctor, resting his arm on her shoulder, using her like a prop. "[color=ed145b]We may have a way to test those amazing damn skills that you love to ramble on about. We have a little birdy that could use a helping hand. Up for the challenge, Doctor [i]Lovegood[/i]?[/color]" he asked, speaking directly in her ear, and putting a little weight on her shoulder. He made it obvious she didn't have much of a choice.

[color=572449]"I am a Doctor Mr. Hooper, confidence is a prerequisite when you are cutting into a living human body. [/color] she says looking over at the man who is leaning on her.

Then taking a deep breath she tests the waters [color=572449]”If there is a person needing my help may I ask to have access to my tools and to be lead to this person as quickly as possible?”[/color]

Ryder let out a laugh right in Diana's ear, shaking her a little with the laughter. "[color=ed145b][i]Mr. Hooper[/i]? I haven't heard that in a long damn time,[/color]" he looked towards Lauren, not immediately acknowledging the doctor's question. "[color=ed145b]Why don't you show me that type of respect?[/color]" he teased, throwing a wink in the other woman's direction. "[color=ed145b]Maybe then, you'd be my favorite,[/color]" he continued, his grin becoming a little cruel along with the harsher tease. Ryder was trying to get under Lauren's skin, like he did with everybody. He enjoyed playing mind games with people; it threw them off guard, and let him have the upper hand. It was part of how he reminded everyone of their place. In Lauren's case, it was working. Fully aware of the reasoning behind his mindgames, Lauren tried not to let it get to her, but it did anyway. 

Ryder gave the doctor a shake before stepping away from her. "[color=ed145b]Of fucking course you can have access to your tools! After we go through them,[/color]" the leader said cheerily, walking in front of Redhawk and reaching out to give the horse a rub between his eyes. "[color=ed145b]Doesn't like men, huh?[/color]" he said, slightly amused as he glanced at Diana, before grabbing Redhawk's reins to begin leading him through the gate. "[color=ed145b]We'll go ahead and show you to the injured party. She's a fun party, too.[/color]" he grinned, waggling his eyebrows in a playful manner.

Diana couldn't help but laugh as she hoped the annoying and worriesome Redhawk watch his manners. Then she was crushed and worried so swallowing she makes one more request this directed at Lauren her expression honest worry [color=572449]"I know its pushing it but please don't put your hands on my surgical tools and leave me half the whiskey to clean my hands and tools. The kit came from a National Guard's little museum and is from Viet Nam. the tools are in little clips on leaf style levels and have a grab tab so if they are being inventoried they aren't soiled."[/color] then she pauses as she has a Eureka moment.

[color=0076a3]"Don't worry Diana,"[/color] Lauren responded, patting Diana's surgical tools. [color=0076a3]"Your equipment is safe with me. I'll keep all of my stupid friends from eating the drugs inside."[/color] She was still keeping watch on the surrounding area, just incase. 

[color=572449]"It might speed it up if I can have yourself or one of your men help me by handing me tools. They can't fidigit, touch their faces, lean on or touch anything but tools when I point and ask. I know that sounds bossy but at the table working with people that are not trained I have to be someone's life is on the line....[i]I'm here to help[/i]"[/color] the last bit with begging expression.

How would things fall Diana had made the decision was how they fall but she was confirmed in her choice like a Holy Oath to herself. She'd become what she had after Medschool because people and the chance of litigation made her uneasy, she had been afraid. Well she wasn't afraid no more as the saying goes and like a mother with her child Diana would see Medicine and apothecary survive as sciences.

[color=0076a3]"Well, I'll help you with that, Doc. I've got your stuff, anyway. Follow me once we get inside, your lucky patient will be in the infirmary."[/color] Lauren said, walking back inside Toxo. The horse would be led inside and hitched somewhere near the barn, and Lauren beckoned for Diana to follow her.

Ryder whistled to himself as he led Redhawk through the gate into Toxo. He ignored the two women, waving one of the other men over. "[color=ed145b]I'm going with the ladies. Take good care of Redhawk here. Beautiful horse.[/color]" the leader commented, handing the reins over. He wasn't too concerned with allowing Diana access to her tools, in all honesty. He only wanted to make it clear that her stuff was theirs now, and they decided what to do with it. Once Radhawk was led away, he turned his attention to the two women, spinning his bat in his fingers. "[color=ed145b]Lauren, take Kevin. I trust you to handle this correctly. I have some other business to tend to. Sorry I don't get to see you work your magic, Doc. What a shame. Though, if you manage to save the little birdy's life...[/color]" Ryder shrugged, not looking too concerned with the outcome either way, "[color=ed145b]We'll see what happens.[/color]" he noded at Lauren, before he began to walk away, whistling. Though, suddenly, he stopped, snapping his fingers. "[color=ed145b]Oh![/color]" he turned around, eyes locking on Diana. He shook his head. "[color=ed145b]Where are my fucking manners?[/color]" he said, swinging his bat out in a wide arch and sighing to himself. If anything, the doctor would think he was a bit on the dramatic side. He gave Diana a charming smile, beginning to walk backwards as he stretched his arms wide. "[color=ed145b]Welcome to Toxo, Doc.[/color]"