"Hey yourself, Loverboy." Gerhard replied, not one to skip a beat. The poor boy seemed anxious beyond belief, like a baby mouse unsure of whether to approach or flee. It was alright, though. Gerhard didn't need to go far from the cafeteria, as the halls themselves were quiet enough. He could lean back against one of the pvc poles holding the tent up. Thus doing so, he stared off into the space in front of him, recalling old memories.<br/><br/>His mind drifted back to his first meeting with Caraline, those few years ago by the crackling campfire. She had almost screamed out with terror when Gerhard had come bumbling into the tent, looking for anything he could use to fight the old gang. As for his part, he had been just as shocked as her, but to see such a beautiful young woman sleeping there before him.<br/><br/>They had spent the next thirty minutes just talking. He was able to make her laugh, and from there she told him how her brother was their leader. How she worshipped him. Gerhard could see that, but also saw she lived in constant fear of him. Her entire life had been sheltered, under his protection to be sure, but also his tyranny. Recalling the events that would then soon transpire, a soft, wistful smile played on the surface of his lips.<br/><br/>Several tears rolled down his check, starting from the inside corner of his eyes. They collected together at the bottom of his chin, only to fall and be swallowed up by the parched, thirsty desert floor.<br/><br/>Gerhard blinked, as if snapping back to reality, and noticed that Dan had been standing there the whole time, a strange look on his face. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to propose to someone you've just met?"<br/><br/>A wild grin flashed upon Surov's face. "Well, know I've thought about it, and I guess I'll say yes." Gerhard went up to the young man, and snapped his arm around the poor boy's neck, drawing Dan close into him and ruffling his hair roughly with his knuckles. He'd always wanted to give a noogie to a little brother, but his mother had died before it could be so. Undeterred, Gerhard whispered into Dan's ear:<br/><br/>"I'll say yes... but not to you. If you even think about molesting me while we're on the road together with the others, I swear, I'll kill you." Gerhard practically dragged Dan back to the main flaps, the entrance to the cafeteria. With all his force, he launched  dan through the entrance flaps.<br/><br/>Gerhard marched back in himself, and strode directly up to the table. Dan seemed to do the same, albeit he gave perhaps a much wider berth to Gerhard that he did before. "Excellent." Gerhard thought, and sat back down at the table. "Enough talk." was all he said, softly, but with a determined force of expression.<br/><br/>"Let us proceed."