Misfits, Part II: The Road Ahead

The party looked around the village. It was mostly a single main street, through which a few spare people were lazily going about their business. None of these people seemed to be any taller than Tangerine.
“This the headquarters of the Lollipop Guild, then?” Buster smirked and looked to the girls, on whom the joke was lost.
“Mr Buster, you'll notice to your left the tobacconist I promised you.” Glimmeron indicated it with his arms, “You'll also notice that due to the size of the door and roof you would have difficulty entering yourself, so I will retrieve you a selection of products later.”
“Didn't you also promise us a decent bed? I doubt they'd have anything we could be comfortable on.” Cathy raised.
“Special provisions have been made for you.” He flitted ahead and led the group to a pair of tents erected off the main street, “Inside you will find beds and basic accoutrements fit for heroes of your stature. The waitress from The Tickled Rabbit will be along later with your evening meal. I'll leave you to your own devices for the time being. Good day.”
“Thank you.” Cathy nodded her head to the fairy.
“Thank you Mister Fairy.” Tangerine smiled.
As Glimmeron departed, Buster rubbed the corner of his mouth, then addressed Tangerine “So what do you do?”
“I can make stuff happen with my brain.”
“Like what?”
“Like this.” She answered inside his head, causing him to jump out of his skin. Regaining his composure he ran a hand through his hair and stabbed a finger at Tangerine.
“Don't ever do that. I don't like people messing with my brain.”
“Sorry. I didn't know.” She said looking up at him.
“It's fine.” On instinct he reached for the cigarette packet that wasn't there, and frowned when his fingers got wind of this knowledge. “I'm gonna get some rest.” He said, departing into the tent behind him.
After several seconds he emerged again, “Wrong tent.”

“Mistress, I advise you consume your meal.” Sickle's own optimistically prepared meal went untouched.
The locals had made an effort, but the vegetables and even the meat were all alien. Tangerine poked something that looked like potato with her fork. “It's weird.”
“Take what you can get. If you don't, I will.” Buster told her, his own plate half-empty, “It's not bad.”
Frowning still, she speared the potato-thing and bit into it.
“Well?” Buster prompted her.
“It's good.” She told him after swallowing.
“Told you.” He grinned and returned his attention to his meal, then paused with the fork halfway to his mouth, “What?”
Cathy had been looking at him with an eyebrow cocked. “I can't figure you out. What are you, Buster?”
He shrugged. “When I find out, I'll tell you.”

“What do the two of you think of that Buster fellow?” Cathetal asked as she took her armour off for bed.
“He is designated an ally.” Sickle monotoned from beside Tangerine. Sickle had also been given a bunk that she wasn't using.
“I like him. He's funny.” Tangerine flopped onto her bed. “Why?”
“He's an oddity. The way he speaks, the way he dresses, the way he acts...” She hung her sword from the frame of her bed and sat down on the feather mattress.
“I think you like him.” Tangerine said with a goading tone from her bunk.
“We shall see.” Cathy responded as she lay down, completely missing the meaning.

“Mr Buster?”
“What?” Came the sharp reply from the lump in the sheets.
“I brought you your tobacco products. They're all pre-rolled and arranged in order of strength in this pouch.”
“Great. Thanks. Just leave it anywhere.” He continued to remain stationary in bed, facing away from Glimmeron.
“Okay. Good night, Mr Buster.”
“Night.”

Outside the tents in the morning, it seemed like most of the village had come to see them off. Glimmeron floated at the forefront of the diminutive crowd.
“We wish you the utmost luck, brave heroes. We have prepared for all of you some provisions,” He indicated the backpacks on the ground, one of them Tangerine-sized, “But I fear they may not last you the whole journey. However, I doubt you'll have any trouble hunting for your supper.”
“Right. Let's get this done then.” Buster slung a pack over his shoulder and started trudging off.
Glimmeron looked after him with his hands on his hips, “Not much one for ceremony, is he?”
Cathy picked up her backpack, “I'm sure he just doesn't like the attention.”
“Yes, well, you have our profound gratitude for undertaking this quest. May you all return safe.”
“Thank you.” Cathy nodded her head.
“Thank you Mister Fairy.” Tangerine said as she picked up her backpack, and was in turn hefted up onto Sickle's shoulder. The group departed, Tangerine and Cathy waving to the crowd, to catch up with Buster.

“You all ready then?” Buster asked when they reached him.
“Yup.”
“I suppose.”
“Affirmative.”
“Good. Looks like we've got a long hike ahead of us. Anyone know any good songs?”