wildcard_of_the_desert | [PSL] Hunting Trip

[PSL] Hunting Trip

[Trouble came wandering back into Primm late one afternoon. No, this was not the sort of trouble the residents had dealt with before, with raiders and convicts. Sibyll is a different sort of trouble, one that's not necessarily bad. She had brought order back to Primm, even if it wasn't ideal. She had arranged (with more then a little legwork) for the NCR to set up shop in the town. Taxes had jumped for everyone, but there was now a permanent troop stationed in the town. There was also someone else keeping the riffraff at bay, and that was who Courier 6 was interested in meeting with today.

The sun lazily crept towards the horizon as she finally reached the town limits. It was hot and she was wearing a coat of dust from the road, but that's the Mojave for you. She had a cursory nod for the NCR soldiers and they gave her one in return. So far Sibyll had been nothing but helpful to them. There were some odd rumors around her, possible associations with the Crimson Bull, but nothing solid ever came out of them. Besides, how could someone who had brought so much good to the desert be with the Legion? Sure, sometimes her aid came with a price, but who didn't do that?

She made a beeline for the houses. She was a woman on a mission and she needed help. Rather specific help. And she had just the person in mind. With a smile, she rapped on the door to one of the houses, waiting for an answer.]

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[The courier chuckles as the door closes, catching sight of a runaway eyebot and a little girl chasing after it.

Next stop was the casino. The place was mostly abandoned now, but there was still the persistent smell of cigarette smoke and a figure sitting at the bar at the far end of the room.]

Can I get you a refill?

[Grinning, Sibyll settles down next to soldier.]

[ There weren't people holed up inside of it anymore, that was for certain. They'd gone back to their daily lives... but Snake still took to coming here. It was a place to relax-- at least whenever Primm Slim wasn't badgering him about the Vikki and Vance casino.

He places his cigarette to his lips, taking in a drag when Sibyll sits next to him. The old mercenary glances at her before exhaling, smoking coming from his nostrils and mouth. ]

You again...

[ Snake looks down at his glass. ] What are you doing back here?

[Now the hard part: how to broach her idea. Asking outright would definitely result in a 'no'. Snake probably also wouldn't respond well if she tried to appeal to some abstract moral duty or similar nonsense, unless maybe she dragged his makeshift family into the picture. Money, on the other hand, was probably an option.]

Snake, what've you heard about Sloan?

Nno.

[ That was a quick response; Snake knew about the miners there who had been making cement for the NCR. He knew about how their work had stopped, due to an infestation of beasts.

He looked over at her, frowning. ]

I may be old, but I'm not crazy.

[Dammit. The NCR had probably already tried to convince him to do something about the problem. Still, Sibyll was not one for giving up so easily. She turns to look him dead in the eye.]

Snake, I need the best, which is what you are. And opening that highway again is going to help you all so much. People will start traveling through Primm again on their way to New Vegas. And if Primm thrives, so do Sunny and Otacon.

[ Hearing their names mentioned, Snake stares hard at the Courier, his eyes narrowed. He stood up from the bar, looking down at her before starting to walk away. ]

Yeah, I'm sure a bunch of people will be excited to come to Primm and be bossed around by the NCR. Good thinking.

[ Shakes his head. ]

[She watched him in silence for a few seconds. She could have pointed out that the NCR presence in Primm is as much his doing as it was hers. After all, the NCR had not been her first choice for bringing back order. Her first choice was now walking away from her.

But reminding Snake of this fact was counterproductive. He'd just hide away and brood. Sibyll needed him in action. Time to be contrite.]

Snake, wait.

[The courier chases after him, darting in front of the old soldier as he reached the door to prevent him from leaving. Tilting her head down, she blinks up at him with large, dark eyes.]

Snake, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I just really need the help, and you're the only person I knew would be able to pull it off.

And that's not even mentioning any sort of compensation for your aid yet.

[ He stopped when she ran in front of him, blocking the exit. Seeing those big eyes made him hesitate-- all right, he was listening now. ]

I'm the only person? You haven't met anyone else, or do you just mean in the area?

[ The sound of compensation was appealing, though, so he continued to stand there. ]

I've met plenty of other people. But no one in this entire desert could even dream of having your skill when it comes to remaining unseen. I need you, Snake.

[She adds just a hint of desperation to her voice. It was not difficult to do. She wasn't sure she would survive on her own. But this highway needed to be cleared.]

Need me, huh...

[ He stared at her long and hard, then looked back over to the bar... No sense in him staying around here, sitting on his ass and drinking. He hadn't really been out in a while, and felt a little outdone with the fact Sunny and Otacon were bringing in more caps than he was. ]

All right. I'll help you out. [ Tilts his head a bit. ] What was that about compensation?

Ah, once a mercenary, always a mercenary. 1000 caps. [There's an unspoken "if we survive it" attached to that offer.]

[ To be fair, he hadn't exactly retired, either, but he'd become more scrutinizing of his clients as of late. Though that price certainly appeals to him. ]

Hnn... 1000 caps. [ That'd be helpful. He nods his head, adjusting his hat. ] All right... I'll help you.

Wonderful. Need to get anything before we set out?

[She had been expecting him to haggle for more based on the sheer insanity of her request. Not that she was about to let her surprise show. Smiling, she counted out the caps and offered them to Snake.]

[ He could always haggle for more later. At her question, he shakes his head slowly. ]

I've got a sniper rifle... And some other things. I'll show you how to keep out of sight, even without a stealth boy. I've got enough ammo on me to choke a bighorner, so that's not an issue.

Anything you need?

That's why I came to you. Out of everyone in this desert, you are the absolute best at this sort of thing. I even spent some time up in Jacobstown with a Nightkin, a mutant designed to be stealthy, and you're leagues better then her.

So let's clear out a nest of Deathclaws.

[ He hears your compliment and smirks. Back when the Powder Gangers had taken over Primm, Snake had given some support to the Courier from various areas around the town... as a hidden sniper. He'd taken care of all the convicts on the roller coaster track, as well. She hadn't met him until after the rest were taken care of, though. After all, he was a master at staying hidden. ]

Nightkin... Those things rely too much on stealth-boys. You've got to have more than that if you want to stay hidden. It's fine to use them, I have a few of them myself, but they're only the icing on the cake; that part comes last, or not at all.

[ He drops his cigarette on the ground, crushing it underfoot. ]

If you're noisy as hell and then throw on a stealth boy, you're just going to get shot, invisible or not.

I'm not particularly worried about being shot. Unless everyone's fears have come true and deathclaws have started carrying shotguns. At least in that case, the Dam would be the last thing to worry about.

[The courier is not entirely sure if that would be better or worse. Less pressure on her, at any rate.]

Being mauled by a deathclaw might be worse than death. At least a bullet to the head is a straight kill.

[ .... ]

Usually. [ He eyes her and begins heading out the door. ]

[When he glances at her, Sibyll raises an eyebrow in response. Was he still sore about her mentioning his family? Seemed likely.

Deciding not to irritate him further, she doesn't respond to his comment. Instead she follows him out of the casino.]

Are the Gangers still roaming around this area? Haven't actually been back up that way recently.

[ As he walks, he's holding his sniper rifle, adjusting it. ]

Yeah, here and there... Not like before. The murder of crows has been disbanded, leaving only a few scavengers. They're no threat to anyone, mostly they're running scared.

Don't insult crows by comparing them to convicts. I like birds.

[She laughs as they walk, the sun starting to vanish into the distant mountains. The road before them is painted in gold, and there's the distant cawing of the crows she likes as they look for places to roost. It'd be several hours before they reached Sloan, and hopefully it'd be an easy trip.]

[ Snake had been used to walking for hours on these old roads... He'd been hired by many caravans to guard them while they traveled, as well as traders and the like. With the old mercenary around, they may have lost a few men, but never the client and never the caravan.

As they walked, he glanced at Sibyll. ]

So why do you really want to clear out Sloan? Can't just be out of the goodness of your heart... You never really struck me as the type.

[She walks on in silence for a few minutes, a bit annoyed at how readily he saw through her. But right now she'll plays innocent.]

I can't be the savior of the desert some people like to think I am?

[ He smirks at that. ]

Sure, if that's how you want people to see you... Is that how you see yourself?

Clearing out the Long 15 reopens a better route to New Vegas. Sure, you can pass through Nipton, but it's still... unpleasant.

[Sibyll allows herself a moment to fantasize about that memorable encounter before pushing mental images away. A lack of reciprocation had cost the Legion dearly.]

Anyways, more open routes to Vegas, more travelers to Vegas and my city prospers. Everyone wins. Not to mention I recently finished customizing my new darling, and I'm tired of just using her on Fiends. She deserves better.

[Sibyll pulls the custom sniper rifle off her back, affectionately stroking the stock where a red lipstick print had been carefully painted on. Instead of notches like a traditional sniper might use to mark notable kills, she had stuck to the theme of kisses and painted three 'x's. Three noteworthy kills so far. The first of many.]

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