Chapter Text
The Brighton rose.
A gorgeous, solid yellow rose that can light up any room with its radiant color. Often used to express first greetings, friendship and joy.
Destiny is a strange thing.
It can bring us together and tear us apart in the same breath. Some people go about their lives without giving it a second thought, while others believe this ever-present force dictates their every action. Some believe that destiny brings them love. Some believe it brings nothing but destruction. You'll get a different answer depending on who you ask.
But if you were to ask Boothill, he would smile and respond in a boisterous voice that he did believe in destiny, quite firmly, in fact. He would say that it had guided his hand at every moment. As a Knight of Beauty, Boothill has very strong convictions, beliefs, and an unbreakable moral compass. He has dedicated his mind and body to The Beauty, swore to search for THEM no matter the cost to himself. Destiny is a core part of who he identifies as. And as it would so happen, destiny has brought him here, racing through the cosmos as emergency alarms scream at him inside of his ship, the One and Only.
Helping those in need will often bring him into the middle of the IPC's path, which the company isn't too fond of. He does his best not to bother them, stay neutral, but they aren't as courteous. And as it stands, one of the ships Boothill so happened to pass wasn't as keen on the idea of Boothill being so close and started to give chase. Boothill was forced to veer left and right, up and down. He was a skilled driver, and racing was something he was passionate about, but even he made mistakes. Accidentally ramming the One and Only into a piece of debris in his path, Boothill realizes that the front engine has been damaged, and the left engine was clipped as well. He needed to land immediately. The problem is, he's currently in the middle of nowhere, and the nearest planet that would accept an unannounced breach would require a jump that his beloved ship simply could not handle.
In the passenger seat, a little girl would squeal and laugh with delight as Boothill bobs and weaves his way through debris, rocks and other ships. The ship danced gracefully despite the damage and alarms, and if the Knight wasn't so busy avoiding the current danger, he would be singing his praises to the One and Only at the top of his lungs. Glancing to his side, he smiles at the little girl and makes a sharp turn to the left, his heart racing.
"Doin' alright, darlin'?" He asks his passenger.
The little girl would clasp her hands together and nod. "Yeah!"
"Can you do me a favor, doll?" Boothill slams his foot down on the accelerator and dips the nose of the ship down, ducking under a massive asteroid. The girl laughs and grabs onto the armrests of her seat, which she was tightly secured to. "Can you press that red button in front of you?"
The girl grins and scans the control board in front of her until she spots a large, shiny red button. She presses it firmly, and a small radar pops up on a small screen in the middle of the dashboard. A distress signal, one that Boothill is sure would reach somebody, anybody. The radar beeps in Morse code: S.O.S.
"Thank-" Boothill slams on the brakes and jerks the steering to the right, narrowly dodging another asteroid. "Thank you, darlin'."
The IPC ship behind Boothill wasn't as lucky, and crashed into the rock full force. The girl watches it happen on the monitor, displaying the rear camera. She frowns and turns to the Knight. "Will they be alright?"
"Ah, well," Boothill chuckles. "Their friends aren't too far; they'll get the help they need." The answer seems to satisfy her, so she relaxes back into her seat. The Knight glances over to the radar and sees a very distant signal trying to make its way to the One and Only. Beaming with relief, Boothill punches in the code that the radar displayed and waits for his call to be picked up.
It's a little fuzzy at first, but eventually the picture clears up. Soon enough, the staticky microphone also clears, and a gentle voice comes through. Displayed on the monitor was a woman with bright red hair, simple golden glasses, and a hand-woven scarf made from a soft-looking scarlet material. Himeko. Boothill smiles at the sight and sound of her.
"This is the Astral Express. Who is speaking?" She asks, but her visible smile says that she already knows the answer.
"My dear friend!" Boothill laughs, sounding somewhat nervous. "How wonderful it is to see ya, it's been a long time. How have you been?"
"Hi Miss Himeko!" The passenger squeals, waving at the screen despite there being no camera to convey her gesture back. The redhead smiles and closes her eyes with a fond little huff.
"Hello, Boothill. Hello, Clementine. I've been quite fine. Never a dull day…Not that I mind." The red-haired woman adjusts her glasses with her middle finger. "But I don't suppose you are contacting us just to catch up, hm?"
"Ahah, sadly no. Got into a bit of trouble with some IPC folk, and my front engine is pretty badly damaged. She ain't gonna last much longer if I don't find a place to land, but she can't survive another jump. I don't suppose I could occupy your cargo bay for a while?" Boothill smiles awkwardly, never able to get used to asking those around him for assistance. In this case, however, it was an emergency, so he swallowed his guilt.
Himeko would frown, which caused a small spike of adrenaline for the Knight. In the Express, the redhead would tap away at the keyboard she was in front of and pull up the interstellar map. A grin would slowly break across her face.
"Have you been traveling for long?"
"W-well, yes, I have," Boothill stammers, caught off guard by the question. "Why?"
"Washtopia is quite close by; you wouldn't require a jump."
Boothill blinks and tries to think for a moment. Has he truly traveled that far? Risking a glance to his side, he checks his own personal map and realizes that, yes, he was within range of Washtopia. He thought he was several hundred miles away from it, too caught up in the racing and dodging to fully register how far he's come. His shock easily gives way to relief and joy, his voice suddenly loud once more.
"Well I'll be! Hah! Looks like I'm in luck, then." Boothill cheers.
"I can ask PomPom to make a brief stop there, and we can load your ship. It shouldn't be too busy there, I'm only seeing one ship at their docks right now." Himeko closes the tab with the map and smiles, folding her arms over her chest. "Are you sure that ship of yours is going to fit in the bay? Or perhaps it would be best for you to leave it at Washtopia for repairs?"
"I could never part from my beloved ship for long, with all due respect, ma'am," Boothill laughs. "While it may be a tight squeeze, I can certainly make it work. Done it before, can do it again!"
"Hmm…As long as you're sure. I will notify PomPom and Welt of the changes. Drive safely, I don't want you getting stuck." Himeko says, pointing at the screen.
"Wouldn't dream of it, ma'am."
"Very well. I will see you in about half an hour." Himeko nods and switches off the connection before either Boothill or Clementine could say their farewells.
The little girl at Boothill's side leans over to her father as far as her seatbelt would allow, beaming with barely contained joy. "Are we gonna see Miss Himeko and Mister Welt?!"
"Indeed we are, darlin', looks like we may be stayin' with them for a while too!" Boothill looks over to his daughter, lips spread in a wide grin. Clementine gasps and throws her arms up into the air, squealing at an ear-piercing decibel. Boothill snorts out a laugh before carefully adjusting the direction of the ship to glide towards Washtopia, careful not to put on too much acceleration.
Clementine, vibrating in her seat, looks out of the window to her right and can't help the fascinated gasp that escapes her. She frantically presses herself against the glass and watches as the Astral Express passes by them. The golden lights that bleed through the train windows reflects beautifully in the little girl's green eyes. The Knight lets her have a few more minutes of excited staring before gently tugging onto her shoulder.
"Alright, let's sit back down. Ain't gonna be a smooth ride," Boothill says gently.
Clementine lingers for a moment, thinks about staying regardless, but figures it's best not to argue. Pressing her back firmly against the seat, she swings her legs back and forth. Well, tries to, the seat is a little too big for her. It was a quiet ride, one that bathed the father-daughter duo in comfortable silence, the type that didn't need to be filled. The closer they got to Washtopia, the more the smell of soap and polish filled the One and Only. Boothill scrunches his nose and Clementine sinks in her seat a little bit, nostrils flaring. He would typically turn up the AC to filter these scents out, but he didn't want to strain his ship any more than he has been.
The overall landing was alright, if not a little shaky, but this was Boothill's specialty. Racing and risk-taking, it was what he lived for when he wasn't carrying out a mission. He's the first to step out, making sure it was safe for his girl. He's never seen it so empty before. Nobody was here, save for a few repair people and one very beaten down ship in the furthest parking area available. Sleek, a beautiful red with golden floral patterns and…a massive chunk missing from the rear. Leaning to the side, he attempts to see if the pilot was still inside the vehicle, but all the windows were tinted and dark. Placing his hand over his chest, Boothill says a quick prayer for the occupant, wishing them good health and recovery if needed.
Helping his daughter out of the massive gray ship, scooping her into his strong arms, Boothill rounds to the front and flinches at the damage. This is going to take quite a lot of time and effort to repair. And credits…
A sigh escapes past his gray-painted lips and he finds his posture failing him. Clementine rests her head on her father's shoulder and looks up at him. "What's wrong, papa?"
"Oh, nothin' that can't be solved, darlin'. Don't you worry yer little head 'bout it." Boothill grins and ruffles her hair up, being careful not to tangle it in his glove. Clementine giggles and does the same to him, just with a little less caution. As Boothill waits for the Express to dock, he continues to assess the damage to his ship. Aside from the actual shell of the ship being damaged, he needed to replace the compressor, the intake and a few of the pistons for the front engine. The side that got clipped wasn't in the worst condition, but the inlet would need a few panels replaced. In theory, it shouldn't be the most complicated procedure; it's mostly about where he would find these parts, and how he would procure them when he isn't exactly drowning in credits.
The Knight eventually sets Clementine down and takes a peek at the underside, which he immediately regrets. He actually needed to replace all of the pistons, fix the slashed open hydraulics, replace the hydraulic fluid, not to mention that he already needed to refuel and…
Boothill groans and runs a hand through his black and white hair, gritting his teeth. This was going to take forever.
His spiral of dread is interrupted by a sudden rumbling, quickly followed by a loud train horn. Clementine squeals and starts to jump up and down, unable to contain her excitement as she sees the Astral Express slide into view, another flawless landing. Before her father can catch her, the little girl makes a full sprint towards the train. Chasing after her, Boothill's armor echoes loudly until they both stop in front of the main entryway. The door slides open and Himeko is the first to greet them. Her half-lidded eyes bring a smile to Boothill's face.
Himeko was a well put-together woman, her suit always just so, her hair perfectly brushed. Her cane always buzzed with a certain amount of power, power that Boothill has been lucky enough not to witness himself.
She leans onto her cane and crosses one ankle over the other. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting long."
"Not at all, ma'am," Boothill bows to her. "I was just lookin' over my ship is all."
"And how does it look?" Himeko inquires. Her only answer was a quick, nervous laugh out of Boothill, who then sulks and rubs the back of his neck. "I see. Well, if you give us a moment to completely clear the cargo bay, we will help load your ship in and you can continue your assessment. We will, of course, help you where we can."
"Yer much too kind, ma'am, thank you so much," Boothill sighs. Clementine, losing her patience, leans left and right to try to see past Himeko. The two adults knew she was looking for Welt; he was her favorite. Himeko steps aside, and the little girl wastes no time racing inside. Boothill lets a breathy laugh out, running his fingers over his forehead in a massaging motion. "Guess she's pretty sick of bein' cooped up in the ship all day."
"She takes after her father. Always looking for adventure," Himeko says with an adoring smile. Boothill straightens himself a little, grinning proudly. "Why don't you come in, I'm sure you're hungry and want to stretch your legs as well."
The Knight would bow and accept the redhead's offer, carefully stepping inside before calling out to his daughter. The older woman, however, stays where she is for a while. Her golden eyes gradually find themselves drifting to the only other ship in the lot. Sighing through her nose, Himeko steps off the Express and takes a few long strides towards the wreckage.
"You've done quite the number on your poor ship this time," She says to seemingly no one. A few soft, mechanical clicks and the pinging of sharp heels sound behind her soon after. She's not alarmed. Rather, she knows them quite well.
"I guess so," A gritty voice replies.
Himeko turns towards it. "It's been a while, hm?
The figure in the shadows would cross their arms. "I suppose it has, Himeko."
Clementine's thudding footsteps rattle the floorboards, drawing Welt Yang's attention. The man turns around and beams with joy at the sight of the little girl, immediately dropping to his knees and opening his arms for her to crash into.
"Clementine, what a pleasant surprise!" Welt chuckles. The older man looks around for any signs of the little girl's father, but she must have outrun him this time. With an overdramatic groan, Welt stands up and lifts Clementine high into the air, a smile gracing his aged features. "You've gotten so big since the last time I saw you."
Clementine beams, curling her arms up to flex her muscles. "Big n' strong!"
Welt chuckles, bouncing her a little in his arm. "Look at you, you'll be a Knight in no time!" The encouragement causes the little girl to squeal with delight, kicking her legs as best she could without hurting the other man. Soon enough, Boothill caught up and lit up at the sight of Welt.
"My dear friend!" He calls out, opening his arms as if the brown-haired man were a sight to behold. "Oh, it's been far too long! How've you been?"
Welt turns, the brown coat on his back fluttering. He always wore higher-end, fancy clothes, something Boothill appreciated deeply. His sense of fashion was impeccable, always donning tight-fitting silk with golden leaf accents. While the color palette was nothing of interest, mostly consisting of browns, grays and whites, he always managed to make it work. He flashes a smile to the Knight of Beauty.
"Boothill, I'm happy to see you safe and sound. I heard that you and your ship had a bit of trouble today." Welt arches a brow as he speaks.
Boothill offers a lopsided, awkward smile. "Ah, yeah, well, you know how those things are," He waves his hand.
"It would make your life a lot easier if you stayed away from the IPC," Welt teases lightly.
With a confident smirk, Boothill puts his left hand to his chest, his right hand thrusting towards the ceiling. "I have vowed to offer my assistance to those in need, my friend! Even if it means facin' danger at every turn, I know The Beauty would guide me to safety every time!"
Clementine cheers, mimicking her father's pose to the best of her ability. Welt sighs fondly, shaking his head.
"So long as you remain in one piece, I suppose that's alright." Boothill hums with pride and bows to the older man. "Now then, I'm sure that you two are hungry. I'll see what I can find in the kitchen." Squealing the whole way, Clementine clings onto Welt and starts listing off the endless kinds of food she wants to try during the visit. Boothill's smile slowly fades as he watches them leave, his mind immediately brought back to the task at hand: His ship. He slowly walks to the very end of the Express, basking in the scent of the freshly cleaned halls.
When he arrives, he is met with three figures he immediately recognizes. A young man with short but wild hair, accessories everywhere you look, a young pink-haired woman who seemed more interested in her book than anything else, her muted expression and clothing contrasting with the other boy perfectly. Last but certainly not least, PomPom, looking as dashing as ever. They turn to Boothill and waddle closely.
"You're lucky we got this place cleaned out in time! PomPom almost had to take back their offer!" They squeal.
Boothill bows his head. "I'm grateful yer allowing me to stay. I apologize for all the hassle. If I'd be able to get this done on my lonesome, I would, but I-"
"Boothill!!" The young man suddenly screams from the middle of the room, looking over the moon as he rushes over, scrambling for his camera. "It's been so long, how have you been?!"
"Dan Heng, my dear companion!" Boothill laughs. "I've been mighty fine, how have your adventures been treatin' you?" Dan Heng would pull the taller man down, raising his camera for a selfie. Boothill, being rather used to this, throws up a peace sign and a dazzling smile, effortlessly beautiful. The flash blinds him for a second, but after a couple of blinks, everything is back to normal.
"I've been great! March 7th has been teaching me how to play chess, and I think I'm getting pretty good at it," Dan Heng remarks, thrusting his thumb to his chest. The Knight glances over to March 7th, who looks up from her book with a furrowed brow.
"You lost in seven turns," She says flatly.
"And last time it was five, so I'm improving!" The boy barks back with a confident smirk. Boothill laughs at the two of them fondly and puts his hand to his chest.
"Then I wish you luck on yer journey to becomin' a chess master. You'll get there in no time."
"Thank you!" Dan Heng flashes a sharp, toothy smile. "Say, what even happened to your ship? I heard you had to dock for a while."
"I was attemptin' to pass by a fleet of IPC ships, though they did not allow me to pass. I ended up gettin' in a chase and rammed my ship into some obstacles in the process," Boothill sighs, deflating the more he spoke. "I'll probably have to stay for about a week to get it back in workin' condition. Problem is that I ain't have anything to repair it with."
March approaches as the Knight speaks, tucking her book under her arm. "We have plenty of spare parts you could look through. Next time I see the twins, I will ask them if they have any. I know they like to keep any scrap and trash they find."
"That would be wonderful, my friend, thank you so much." Boothill bows deeply, breathing a small sigh of relief. "PomPom, am I clear to start loading the One and Only?"
PomPom would nod, squeezing their eyes shut. "But don't scratch the Express! Be careful!"
"But of course." Boothill smiles and starts to open the side of the car with the assistance of Dan Heng and March. Descending the ladder to the docks, Boothill walks back to his ship and prepares for loading. A quick flash of red, however, draws his attention. Assuming it was Himeko, he turns to see what she was doing, but finds no one is there.
"Himeko?" He calls out, confused. There was no answer. With a frown, he continues on his original task. The loading itself went smoothly, with March and PomPom guiding him where they could. After somehow managing to fit the ship into the bay without a single scratch on the train, Boothill takes a little more time to assess the damage, making a mental list of materials he could need. March and Dan Heng start to close the bay door, the pink-haired girl seeming unenthused by Dan Heng's complaints about the weight of said door. The Knight can't help but spare one last look at the lonesome ship in the dock.
He truly hopes the pilot is okay…
"Papa!" Clementine squeals, leaping off the couch at the sight of her father. Boothill's chest fills with warmth as he squats down, arms open for Clementine to crash into. He squeezes her tight and kisses her head.
"Have you been good for Welt?" Boothill asks, already knowing the answer.
"Yeah! He had a bunch of good snacks this time," Clementine giggles. "Did'ja get the ship fixed?"
"Not yet, darlin', that's gonna take a while. I've gotta find some parts before I can start repairin' everything."
"But we can stay here, can't we?!" The little girl asks eagerly, giving her best puppy eyes she can muster. Boothill chuckles and pats her head.
"Yes we can, doll. Why don't you get yer stuff from the ship, that way we can get our room set up. I'll meet you there in a minute."
Clementine gives her father a quick salute and scrambles down the halls Boothill just came from. The Knight would smile, standing back up to follow, but something catches his eye once again: a flash of red, same as before. He turns immediately, seeing the door to the next car close. Curiosity gets the better of him. When he opens the door once more, he is met with the sight of Himeko and a stranger. Himeko didn't seem alarmed by the stranger's presence, her body language relaxed and off-guard. She was speaking, but Boothill couldn't hear what was being said. The stranger nods along, wild red hair bouncing along.
Boothill was drawn to the other figure's clothes, it was unlike anything he had ever seen before. A sharp, black tricorn with gold stitchwork and two roses pinned to the right side. A black, silk capelet that rose to the neck, almost as high as their chin. Beneath, a beautiful crimson red shirt with puffed sleeves that ruffle at the ends. A black vest hugs their figure beautifully, accentuating a thin waist that would make anybody look twice. A large lace jabot, the same color as their shirt, clings tightly to their neck, adding a bit of volume to the whole outfit. Tight black pants with a pair of silver belts cling to his hips. Black thigh-high boots with thin stiletto heels that shaped his legs beautifully, a single rose on each side of the ankles. A rapier hangs in plain sight at his hip, glimmering prettily in the yellow light of the Express.
Boothill's never seen any kind of attire like this before, but it all worked perfectly. The stranger gestures with their hands, revealing black leather gloves. This person was covered from head to toe, not a sliver of skin showing, save for their face, not that Boothill could see much of it.
Himeko nods once again, her golden eyes traveling behind the guest, locking onto Boothill.
"Boothill," She calls out. "Is there something that you need?"
The stranger immediately turns, a stern look on their face. As they turn, a holster becomes visible on the other side of their hip, a pretty white firearm sitting inside. Their hair completely covered their right eye, their tricorn obscuring it even further. They wore a scowl, lips tilted in disapproval. On the left side of their head, a single strip of white hair could be seen. Boothill was curious about it, but knew he couldn't jump into a conversation like that right off the bat. Realizing he was staring, the Knight straightens his posture and bows to both of them deeply.
"I didn't mean to disturb your conversation, ma'am, just saw somebody I didn't recognize and thought I would investigate," He says smoothly.
Himeko nods with approval, gesturing to the guest. "This gentleman will be staying with us for a while. I apologize for not informing you earlier; it was just as much of a surprise to me."
Boothill smiles and shakes his head. "It happens, no need to apologize to me."
The red-haired woman nods and turns back to the guest. "I should get going to prepare for our next route. You two can certainly get to know each other if you please. Dinner will be in a few minutes."
She gently pats the stranger on the shoulder, who subtly nods to her. Once Himeko has left, Boothill approaches the red-haired man and smiles. The stranger looks the Knight up and down, his scowl only deepening. Nothing is said for a while, the seconds feeling like minutes between them. Boothill stares into their beautiful gray eyes, noting the…clock hands? The Knight was no stranger to prosthetics and enhancements, especially when it comes to eyes. Clementine had a prosthetic eye, so he knew quite a lot about them. The Knight has never seen this kind before; a red pupil framed by two mini golden clock hands. It was beautiful, don't get him wrong! So, so beautiful.
Eventually, the stranger's lips part. "Do you always stare at people like a lost dog?" Their voice was…Not quite human. Boothill wasn't sure how to describe it…it almost sounded slightly mechanical. He was never one to judge; he doesn't know what this gorgeous stranger has been through, so he tries not to react.
"My apologies, where are my manners?" Boothill beams, pressing a hand to his chest as he bows. "My name is Boothill, I belong to the Knights of Beauty. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The stranger didn't reply to the black and white-haired man, only blinking slowly with an unimpressed expression. Folding their arms across his chest, a couple of clicks sound out, ones that make Boothill perk up like a cat.
"I never thought I would meet a Knight of Beauty here, of all places. Shouldn't you be out there looking for your precious Aeon?" While the question was laced in sarcasm, Boothill took it literally, jumping at the opportunity to speak of his beloved Aeon.
"While you would typically be correct, I long to find a sign of The Goddess, but I am temporarily grounded. My ship, the One and Only, has sustained some damage, which makes it unable to fly safely. Madame Himeko is nice enough to let me stay while I repair it."
The redhead looks Boothill up and down. "I see."
The Knight takes a step forward, and the stranger takes a step back accordingly. "If I may, I ain't seen anyone like you before in all my travels. Such a unique and beautiful soul," Boothill closes his eyes and reaches behind himself, causing the guest's eyes to snap to attention. "May this violet convey-"
In an instant, the two men's arms are crossed. Boothill, extending a massive violet, the largest the redhead has ever seen, that was seemingly plucked out of thin air. The stranger, aiming his gun right at the Knight's forehead, assumed he was reaching for something else. They're frozen for a moment, Boothill's eyes wide. Not out of fear, but rather, fascination. Such a quick reaction…Such a fierce expression. The redhead was filled with confusion, not understanding why in the world the Knight was offering him something like this. Slowly, the other man lowers his gun, spinning it on his finger before holstering it.
"…Apologies."
Boothill shakes his head dumbly, eyes sparkling as if he enjoyed the interaction. He kept the flower extended to the other man. The redhead takes another step back, silently declining the offer. The Knight eventually takes the hint and retracts his hand. His painted lips open to say something to the stranger, but he's quickly cut off.
"I should be going."
And with that, the redhead walks off, heels clicking loudly with every step. Boothill watches the stranger until he was out of sight. There was this lingering feeling in his chest, something Boothill couldn't make heads or tails of. It felt like a mixture of anxiety and excitement. He didn't even get the stranger's name…
Spinning the violet between his fingers, he thinks to himself that maybe next time he could give it to them. Next time…
"Where'd you go?! I was waitin' for you, you said you'd be right there!" Clementine protests, thrusting her fists onto her hips with the best scowl she can manage. She was standing in front of the guest room PomPom assigned her and Boothill, having been waiting for quite some time.
Boothill wanted to laugh, seeing how stern his daughter was looking, but knew when to play along. He curls his lip apologetically and sets his bags down. "I'm very sorry for makin' you wait, darlin', that was inconsiderate of me."
Clementine points at her father with an accusatory finger. "And just what were you doin'?!"
Boothill cracks a smile and puts his hands up in surrender. "I was greetin' another guest, your honor! Just took a bit longer than I thought it would!"
The little girl squints her eyes and rubs her chin. "Hmmmm…" After a moment of thinking, she tilts her head back. "I guess I can forgive you this time."
Boothill sighs and wipes his forehead dramatically. "Thought I was a goner there." His daughter giggles as they both enter the room, setting up all their things. Boothill sets up his single blanket and pillow on the lounge chair, already having planned to let Clementine have the bed. After everything was set up, the two of them walked to the dining cart together to join the rest of the Express Crew. Boothill felt giddy, fingertips buzzing at the idea that maybe the red-haired stranger would be there again. When the door slides open, Boothill instantly locks onto the red he sees across the room, though his shoulders sag when he properly identifies it as Himeko. He scans the rest of the room and finds there's no sign of the gun-slinging passenger anywhere.
Clementine rushes over to Welt immediately, who smiles and greets her promptly. Dan Heng is hunched over a chessboard while March 7th fiddles with her phone, only glancing up every so often to make a mindless move on the board, which causes Dan Heng to put his head in his hands. The two gray-haired twins, Stelle and Caelus, loudly argue over who is currently winning whatever game they have on their phones, and Himeko is quietly discussing something with PomPom while getting plates ready.
Boothill approaches her, smiling and bowing slightly while offering to help. She gladly accepts and hands him a few plates. Stealing a few glances, Boothill finally gathers his courage and sits up straight.
"The guest you were speakin' to earlier," The Knight starts, immediately grabbing the woman's attention. "He was quite the interesting character."
"I hope he wasn't too harsh with you," Himeko chuckles. "He has a tendency to avoid new people."
"A tendency? Have you known him for long?" Boothill asks, his eager eyes glimmering with interest.
"You could say we're old friends. We don't speak all that often, but he's one of us."
"A shame that I haven't had the honor of meetin' him sooner. He's…" Beautiful. "Interesting."
"He certainly is." Himeko gives a nod and is about to walk off when Boothill sputters, making her turn back to him.
"I never…Was able to catch his name. Perhaps I could ask you?"
Himeko would smile.
"Argenti. Galaxy Ranger."