turing completeness

"You always used to come on the foraging expeditions with me, Shux. I haven't seen you around lately."

Elma didn't sound hurt, but if she had, Shux wouldn't exactly be able to blame her. They'd switched from collecting nuts to shooting the squirrels themselves, and hadn't stopped to confide in Elma the reasoning.

The truth was that reclaiming what the plains had already dropped instead of intercepting invasive critters was just...boring. Slow. It wasn't about proving herself to the men - showing she knew how to load a shotgun whether or not she could get the chance to straddle a tree branch in pants - or separating herself from the women, children and miscellaneous.

Then there was the fact that the group who'd deemed themselves "prospectors" were the ones really gathering resources that would be helpful for any chance encounters with other settlers: gold. Meanwhile, the "curators" fashioned jewelry or handicrafts from found material. Nobody was really supposed to be gathering birdseed, but it was better than a misplaced baby blanket, twice-trod and thrice-dirtied.

Elma smiled, quirking a brow as they watched Shux fidget. "It's okay. I understand, this isn't much fun, and you don't get to call the shots like I do. But I would have appreciated some explanation, or at least some warning first. That's all."

"Nahhh." In one pink-haired shake, Shux returned to form. "You're right, I should have said something. Sometimes the gals get so cliquey, though. Like, not your wagon, not your campfire. Who cares? Be reasonable. I'm not drinking your water or eating your hardtack. I'm just trying to socialize."

"Come back and socialize with me, then. We'll gather sticks-" Shux groaned, though with a snort of laughter "-and see if we can't scrounge up some flint. Maybe we'll roast a possum, string some beads. If none of that suits you, then we can steal Maurice's shotgun and get some training in."

No fun? Who said anything about no fun? Elma was most certainly not above mischief. "You got it, Colonel!" And now they really did both burst out laughing.