#and now doesnt remember any of it and instead reconstructed a fake life based on the backstories she created

[snkts]

8. someone they view as a role model

“His name is Fergus.” ‘Logan’ says, peeling the skin off a potato with a knife.

“Fergus?” Rose asks. She’s working on boiling some water in the hearth. It’s slow going, but it works. They’ll have a decent stew tonight. Logan nods.

“Big, mean old bastard.” He says, tossing the peels into a small pile. “I don’t think he started as a miner. He just showed up here, like we did.”

“I see.” Rose pressed her lips into a thin line. Logan glanced up at her and frowned. He studied her for a moment before he continued. She wasn’t happy. He had a few guesses as to why.

“He’s a good man.” Logan insists. He tossed the peeled potato in a bowl with its companions. There were a few more to get through, and he snatched the next potato with a bit more emphasis. Rose sighs.

“I’m sure he is.” She sits back and rests her hands on her lap. Logan scoffs.

“You haven’t even given him a chance.” He protests. He’s no longer paying attention to the vegetables. His frustration makes itself evident in the set of his jaw and the furrow of his brow. But he's trying to behave - for her. For his friend.

“Brendan’s mentioned him before.” Rose says. Logan blinks.

“Smitty?” He says, then frowns. He liked Smitty well enough. He was a good man. He treated Rose well. He was kind to Logan. He’d taught both of them quite a bit. Logan was more than willing to take his opinion into consideration, but… “What did he say?” Rose is silent for a moment. She moves to the table and sits across from Logan.

“... I just don’t want you around him.” She says. She doesn't meet his gaze. He stops peeling the potatoes.

“He’s taking me hunting tomorrow evening.” He said. Rose looked up. She looked concerned, and her heart rate picked up slightly. Logan stared at her, brow furrowed in confusion.

“What is it?” He set the knife down and sat up fully. “I don't… I don’t see what the problem is. I don’t understand. He’s a good man - he showed me how to throw hatchets this morning.” He gestured over to the pot on the hearth. “Besides, we’re nearly out of meat. We didn’t even have enough for the soup tonight. Let me bring something back. Even one deer would feed the three of us for a while–”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Ja–” She stops herself. He blinks, tilts his head, and frowns. The few seconds of silence fall into eternity. Rose stands up and moves to the hearth again, grabbing the poker to adjust the coals and avoiding looking his way.

“Just promise me you’ll be careful.” She finally spoke. He nodded and looked down at his own hands.

“I will be, Rose - cross my heart.”