Advent Of A Gunslinger

Chang had gone up to Vido’s room and knocked on the door. Moments later, the griffon would answer.

“Yo--hot damn! It’s you, amigo!” he chirped with a wide smile as he wrapped his arms around the princely primate. “So glad to see ya. Your friends are here too, yes?”

The monkey’s tail flicked straight upwards as he was forcefully brought into the griffon’s embrace. “EEK!” he squeaked, and spoke in a muffled tone as he struggled to pull away, “They are…can you let me go…?”

Vido’s eyes shifted downwards, and noticed that he was squeezing the primate rather hard. “Oh, sorry,” he said with a meek smile as he let go. “I didn’t hurt you did I?”

Chang shook his head, and straightened out his white coat. “No harm done, friend. Now with that being said, let’s analyze how you’ve been feeling these last few days, hm?”

“Alright…”

After a rather painful explanation that Vido stumbled his way through…

“...and that’s the gist of it,” he muttered while looking at the floor. “At this point, I don’t care about finding my old man anymore. It’s become more trouble than it’s worth and I simply want to see Axel reunite with his family.”

“...I see…” Chang muttered while writing something down on a notepad. The idea that Vido was fed up with the idea of figuring out the truth behind his father was certainly believable. This journey had taken him through trials and…suffering that he was simply not prepared for. Chang realized this instantly. “Seems to me that you’ve started to embrace the horrors of the world. You want to shut out what could possibly hurt you on a personal level, yes?”

“That’s…the long and short of it, I suppose,” Vido replied with a sigh, “If I knew that my papa was caught up in some drug ring or was put to death in a slave encampment, I wouldn’t know how to feel.” He scratched the top of his head with a distressed, worried set of eyes, “It’s kinda like…ay, what’s that thing called--Panda’s Box?”

“Pandora’s Box?” Chang corrected him with an understanding nod, “If that’s how you feel, I respect it. Honestly, I can relate in some ways--not to the part about my father specifically, but there are…quite the load of horrors committed by the previous Emperors that I’d rather forget.” As he continued speaking, the young prince started to idly chew on the pen he was using to take notes with. “Things that I don’t want to face. While I may have to face them someday, I’m simply not ready to at the moment.”

“...You don’t think any less of me for following that line of logic…” Vido asked with a nervous flick of his tail, “Do you?”

Much to his relief, the monkey doctor shook his head and responded with empathy. “Not at all, Vido. It’s your life. You have the right to live it and use that time to focus on what you deem most important, friend. I’m sure your father wouldn’t want you spending your life chasing him down.” Chang paused and looked at the ground before adjusting his glasses. “...Lord knows my father wouldn’t.”

The fact that someone so professional was willing to hear him out and understand his perspective put the griffon at ease. Vido could now start to focus on what was important to him: His friends that saved his life.

“That’s good to hear,” he replied, “Now…I just need to make sure I don’t let…that nastiness happen again.”

“Might I suggest carrying a sidearm?” Chang suggested, “Something quick and easy to draw unlike the bulky rifle my father gave you.”

While that was true, the idea of being put into another situation where his body could be taken advantage of put more fear through his body, displayed by a visible shiver across his skin with his feline fur standing on end. “...That makes sense. I suppose I should consider sitting out of the more dangerous situations from now on…”

Chang reached forward and put an arm around his neck. “Your friends are going to be there for you no matter what. Don’t give in to despair, friend.”

“I won’t,” Vido replied with a weak smile, “I just need time to think about where I’m gonna get myself a new piece.”

Just as he finished speaking, Martha would make herself known once more. “...I think I can help with that, sonny. I got loads of secrets stashed away for all ya’ll.”

Chang adjusted his glasses and raised a brow in response. “...Do you now?”

Vido leaned forward with an excited smile on his face. “I’m listening, senorita.”

Outside…

For the first time in a long time, Axel was able to prioritize himself and take some time to enjoy what was happening around him. The various activities around the little fair caused the normally-stoic gunslinger was actually…smiling?

“Landsakes…this here cobbler’s so good!” he squealed as he dove his face into a bowl of steamy blueberry goodness, much to the delight of the minotaur woman that made it.

“Why thank ya, darlin’,” said the white cow lady with a happy moo, “Martha told me that you’d like it. In fact, she told all of us. We did all of this for you, hun.”

“...For me?” he paused as he licked the rest of the blue filling from his lips. “...Seriously? I…damn. I dunno what’ta say.”

The minotaur woman gave him a loving pat on the head. “Don’t worry, sonny. Just enjoy yourself. Oh--one of the clown shows is gettin’ ready’ta start. Ya might wanna get on over there.”

Axel flapped his wings, causing them to buzz slightly from his enthusiasm. “Gotcha, ma’am. Thank ya.” And without any further time wasted, he flew over to one of the many seats in front of the stage where the show was set to begin.

Moments later, Clarabelle sat next to him. “How’s everythin’ so far, Axie?”

“Great…” he admitted with a small smile, “I don’t remember the last time I felt like I was in a rodeo situation. Can’t wait’ta see the girls onstage.”

“Me neither!” she replied with a wide grin, bouncing her legs in place, “I was working during last month’s show so I didn’t get much time to watch. Oooh, this is so exciting!”