<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/d/d9/Alexandervalentinepushe.png)</div><br/><hr/><strong>Name:</strong>Alexander Valentine<br/><strong>Faction:</strong>None<br/><strong>Date:</strong>May 3rd, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Early Afternoon<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Outside of the New Pony Express<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Open<br/><hr/><br/><br/><br/>Alex grimaced to himself as he exited the New Pony Express and lifted a slightly charcoal stained hand up to shield his eyes against the sun. Nearly half the day gone already and all he managed to accomplish was to pen up some letters and pay for them to be sent back east. It was rare for him to ever get a speedy reply back, but the man was sure he'd earn the full wrath of his siblings if he ever missed his monthly letters. Then again, at  the ages of four and seven, only the elder of his two younger sisters - Annetta - knew her letters and how to write. Her penmanship still had room for improvement, but Alex feared his parents, mostly his mother, would have their claws in her soon in an attempt to<em>groom</em>them for her<em>future</em>. She was 'cursed', as his mother would say, because when they found out that she favored her<em>wrong</em>hand, his mother would take any steps possible to 'correct' her. Alex saw to it that their mother didn't mettle too much while he was still around, but with the lettered he received from them lately, the slanted letters and smudges Annetta used to use were gradually replaced by awkwardly penned words of someone trying to adjust to a different way of writing.<br/><br/>Sighing to himself as he stepped to the edge of the steps, Alex glanced down at his hands and rubbed his left index finger against his left thumb. Both were stained with charcoal (along with the rest of his fingers on each hand, but noticeably less so on his right hand) and he made a note to scrub them extra when he got the time to do so, but he wouldn't bother until later in the day. He'd be writing or sketching some more later when he worked in the shop, so there was little point in doing it now. However, Alex was slightly thankful for the dark suit he wore today for that reason alone, but he still cursed himself for his selection on account of the heat. It was nothing like it was out East during midday when the sun was at its peak, but it was a lesson he was too stubborn to learn even after all his time out West.<br/><br/>Unfortunately for Alex, thinking about the heat made him a little thirsty for water, which in turn made him want to hit a saloon. Then at the saloon, Alex would want for more than water and it was far too early in the far to be needing a drink or anything more. Well, for him at least.  Because while he wasn't the type to drink before the sun even set, the idea was tempting enough until he shook himself free of it. Adjusting the brim of his fedora, Alex pushed off the steps and started to make his way back to his shop near the outskirts of town. He'd grab a drink later. Maybe. For now, he needed a clear head or to lose himself in his work. There were several parchments that needed attending too and daylight was already beginning to burn as he idled about town.