Remmy’s lips turned up in a boyish smirk, his hand lifted to acknowledge Coltrane, while he tried to recall the last time Simon had eaten and his memory came up blank. A slight guilt edged in at the thoughtlessness before he spoke, his conversation became a hope to enlighten himself about the man who had approached him and likely gather some other information about Chico itself.
 
Remmy’s eyes noted Simon’s focus had drifted off, the man’s mind set on the food not that Remmy could blame him. Finally waited until Coltrane had settled in a seat and introductions were over, the Cajun began to speak. “Sadly, it’s harder to do then it looks. It’s best to say the trip was a hellish experience and one I don’t think either one of us would likely repeat. So… you mentioned a highway was where you two met? Bet you were nervous when they came upon you or was it the other way around?”
 
The man was genuinely curious, a faint hope to pull his mind away his ward while Simon ate. His arms crossed over the bar counter where he leaned into and listened to Coltrane’s answer, his eyes fixed upon the man. 

“For all I knew they could’ve been a bandit convoy and I’d seen enough of their kind down in Southern Cali to know that would’ve been bad news. So yeah, I was on edge, but at the time I didn’t have a lot of options left after so long out on the road,” Coltrane answered, furrowing his brow for a moment as his gaze shifted down towards the table in reminiscence. “I had a gun hidden at my back, just in case. Never needed to use it, luckily enough.” Leaning forward, Coltrane gulped down a small glass of water he’d also grabbed from the bar when he’d fetched a decent meal for Simon, before rubbing a hand against his stubble as he spoke. 

“Anyway, I’m glad I ran into them. If it wasn’t for that, fuck... I don’t know how I’d have done. Things are pretty fucked out there as it is, but California - down South anyway, is completely overrun if you head anywhere near where L.A used to be. Bandits are all over, too - those Condemned assholes are even worse than the others when it comes to things and well... let’s just say we had our differences after I hit back against a few of their guys.” Again, Coltrane furrowed his brow and averted eye contact with either of the two, reminiscing on times since past. “Doesn’t matter now I guess, they’re back there and I’m here.”

“Yet,” Simon sighed between bites. His plate sat half empty from what had was given. For a moment, he eyed the remnants, then chuckled, smiling to Remmy and Coltrane. “Doesn’t matter [I]yet[/I]. Coltrane met us after we escaped the soldiers. One-double oh-seven. Didn’t matter. Now they’re here, think we’re them, and probably aren’t leaving. Welcome to yet.”

Cupping his face in his hands a moment, Simon took a deep breath. “My head’s light, but better. Thanks. We should think about the soldiers though. Evergreen has... had, a Council. Howabout here?”

“Well that’s good to hear and it could be worse, brah. At least you know your lady friend and the rest of your group made it here alright.” Remmy trying to sound positive then became silent. 

It seemed he was rather pleased to hear Simon suddenly speak, even if the topic was gloomy and foreboding. The Cajun’s fingers had found their way to the necklace at his throat and in idle habit started to play with it between his thumb and index, his eyes turned to the table. His attention now forced onto other matters and it was clear he was trying to recall any information on the current haven. After several minutes in silence, Remmy leaned back and slammed his palm upon the table in frustration, not having any luck on the matter. 

“I don’t think the Sentinel stationed in this Haven would be able to help us much other than givin’ us supplies and possibly, if my luck holds out, a ride out. He won’t want to draw too much attention to himself because that puts his usefulness at risk.” Remmy seemed slightly disgusted at that fact, before continuing. “And I have to admit, my knowledge of Chico is rather lackin’ as our Pod doesn’t usually cover this far out just like the military so currently, I’m rather useless right now.” 
 
Curious, Coltrane raised an eyebrow as he heard the various names being brought up. Evergreen, 1007, Sentinel - neither of the two he really understood, other than the possibility of it having been mentioned in passing conversation during his brief time in the haven. Bringing a hand over his jawline and rubbing it almost habitually, Coltrane spoke up once more. “Hold up a sec- what’re you talking about, exactly? I’m guessing this ‘one double-oh seven’ and Evergreen is related to those military folks you came in with, right? What’s this about exactly, cos I’m kinda lost here.”

Unaware of the men and women crowding at tables all around them, Simon sighed and met Coltrane eye to eye. He explained Evergreen before the Outbreak as well as how it’d evolved with the new world. Council, Military and Civil Defense, solar panels and hydroponic gardens and bazaars. Everything synonymous with hope, he described there, like some rumoured Promised Land. 

“After the one double-oh seven pushed back Legion, they took over. Our balance broke and most of us you met back then, we barely escaped with our lives. They offer aid in exchange for power, then they take over. Now they’re here,” Simon-Pietro concluded before sitting back, seemingly worn out.

Not a yard away a small group leaned toward their neighbouring table. Mouths agape, they looked to one another, and stood. The group dispersed throughout the eatery, the story they’d heard following each one. Each version came twisted, worse than the one before, and always louder. 

“I’m... sorry.” Coltrane eventually answered, feeling sympathy for the two at the concept of losing what they’d once called home. “I guess that explains why there’s an issue of them being here, but we can’t let them do the same to this place - especially not Chico.” Without particularly realising it, Coltrane’s tone seemed to flare up as elements of his own temper seemed to seep out from his calm exterior. “When I found this place, with you and the others.... I couldn’t explain it with words, but this place is worth protecting. There’s got to be something we can do, Evergreen never had any warning but we can warn the council over here, right? There’s enough people here to defend this place and the fortifications look like they could hold off an assault if they had to.”