Kaitlyn
Jade was confused at first, usually people took anything the first chance they got. That may have just been the environment she was used to but then came the others request, the ground? Distance? Well okay, to each their own. She leaned forward to put the canteen in the middle of them before straightening back up.

"There you go" She offered in a hushed tone, she began to wonder why the other seemed so weary. She didn't want to ask too many questions. She heard them utter their name. Charlie. A nice name, it seemed to suit them. Did they worry that she would try to hurt them? The water was just a rouse instead of being kind. How odd, paranoid even. But she had met some rough around the edges people in her travels as well so it wasn't like she didn't understand. 

"Its nice to meet you Charlie" 

She offered a small smile, hopefully the stranger would warm up, if not this would make for one awkward trip. She liked to talk to pass the time, ask questions, part of why she tried to hitchhike as much as possible, she hated to be alone with her own thoughts. Somehow her parent's always crept into them, she had second thoughts about running away sometimes but it was far too late now, if she went home, they would be liable to actually kill her. Unsure of where she had been or they would assume the worse and accuse her of being tainted. 

"So..." She trailed off "What brings you out travelling? Or to Briar Ridge?" She figured it was a simple question, everyone had a story after all. She would share hers if asked although it would seem as if she was just being unreasonable. She had a decent home, she just felt suffocated by her parents expectations. She knew that others had it rough. She wondered what she would do when she got to Briar Ridge, were the people welcoming?
Richard
Once Jade has put enough distance between herself and the canteen, Charlie creeps out from behind the tree. Their clothes are worn and oversized, with dirt smeared against the cuffs of their shirt and the knees of their pant legs. Either they haven't been idle long enough to clean their clothes, or...

....Did they steal dirty clothing, somewhere?

They snatch the offered canteen from the ground and, with shaking hands, they screw the top open as fast as it will allow. Even with the desperation in their movements, however, they drink from the canteen slowly; though a few drops of water escape past their lips and onto their chin.

After a few moments of breathing deeply, and one more swig, they hold out the canteen to Jade. It's progress, however small, but the suspicion in their eyes still remains.

"...I'm looking for a place to stay, set down roots, maybe. What about you, Miss Grant?"
Kaitlyn
Jade looked at the tattered clothing of her new found friend... Something she hoped to fix. They must've been so dehydrated watching as fast as they chugged down the water. She hesitantly spoke up "Charlie... Be careful.. You'll make yourself sick." She warned although she looked to the canteen, small progress. She gently took it from them 

"Just call me Jade but... I think I'm looking for the same thing, Charlie... Just a place to make my own, set down roots, maybe learn different things? I was raised in a very... Traditional household." 

She used traditional as a lack of a better word. She didn't want to say it was hell because... Well she didn't know the others story but she didn't want to be insensitive. She looked to their clothing once more "I think... I may have a shirt that will fit you a little better." She set down the military duffle bag, she sifted through before finding a linen shirt, white, clean. Maybe smaller than their current shirt 

She had a natural tendency to help others, she didn't want anyone to feel alone. Even if she felt alone sometimes herself.. She didn't want to exchange the shirt the way they had exchanged the canteen, the shirt would get dirty... "May I hand this to you Charlie?" She spoke in a bit of hesitance 

"I don't want to set on the ground for it to get dirty... But maybe if you don't want that.. I can hang it on a tree?" She began to look around for an available branch. Anything?
Richard
Again, their eyes dart down to Jade's hands, brows furrowing. Another kindness, one that sits unnaturally in their chest. How long has it been since someone's done something so genuine for them? Not... Horribly long, but the search for the memory still strains their mind.

"I... Can't accept that, Miss Jade." A step back. "You've already done enough for me."

Surely she'd need it for herself? They didn't have much in their own bag, of course, and the thought makes them adjust the rope keeping it tied to their body. Jade's was better suited for actual travel, while their own was only meant to be thrown in a trunk: the leather was darker now, from use and dirt, but they were thankful that it actually held up still.

"I can find something in the town, surely. Keep your shirt, please."

Of course, *How* They would procure such an item goes unsaid. Plenty of homesteads had available clothing, and they wouldn't miss a shirt or two.
Kaitlyn
Jade frowned "Of course you can, please, I insist... Your shirt is hanging off of you. What kind of friend would I be if I let you travel in a tattered shirt? I promise it won't affect me none." She tried to reassure them. She wanted to help. This was how she showed her care for someone, trying to help. 

"I haven't done anything Charlie, except give you the water but even that would be common courtesy, no?" She questioned unsure if she was the weird one "Back home, we all helped each other out... And I would really like you to take this Charlie..." She pleaded. 

She didn't want them to get too cold with a shirt so thin; she wished she had an extra jacket. Perhaps when they got to town, there would be someway to scrounge for clothing or perhaps she could use some of the money that was brought with her. Either way, she would make sure her friend had enough. 

She held the soft linen shirt out to them; she was stubborn. Caring but extremely stubborn. If they didn't take it, she would concede and put it on the ground between them but either way, the linen shirt was NOT going back in her bag. "My bag is already on my shoulder anyways, and it's soooooo troublesome to go back into it to put this back." She was exaggerating but that was obvious by the mischievous grin painted across her lips
Richard
Charlie's hesitation is still clear on their face. Friend, she had said. Did she... Really think that, only after just meeting? Maybe, in another time, Charlie wouldn't have questioned it. They would have welcomed the kindness, welcomed the offering of companionship.

Now? They would have to accept this for as it is, even though it settled under their skin wrong. Her stubbornness came from a place of naivety, but they still hesitated to break it. Perhaps it would be a kindness to do so, to warn her of all the horrible things, to make her heart stone.

....Someone else will have to do it, someday.

They caution a step forward, then another, and another. Charlie reaches for the linen and takes it from Jade, silently marveling at how *Soft* It felt. They'd grown used to scratchy fabrics, to the wind finding it's way into their clothes as it hung loosely off of them. This shirt looked closer to their size, perhaps only needing a little bit of mending.

Their thumb brushes over the fabric of it as Charlie considers their options, but they come back to reality at Jade's 'complaints'. Their brow continues to furrow, but their expression turns into one of exasperation, rather than annoyance.

***She reminds me of Lillian.***

"Thank you, Miss Jade." Instead of actually putting it on, or stuffing it into their bag, they simply... Slink it around their shoulders, much like a towel.