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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[ 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.]

[ Snake eyes the sniper rifle, noticing the customization... and he smirks. ]

So, what was that about more visitors to Primm? [ He shakes his head, slinging his own rifle over his shoulder. ] Nobody's that selfless...

Cause and effect. Sloan becomes safe, travelers from California prefer going to Vegas through Primm and Goodsprings. Taking the other route through Novac adds about a day and a half to the trip, from what I've gathered. It'd cut costs for traders to take the 15. And along the way, well, maybe they'll just stop in your area and spend all their caps at the Vicki and Vance instead.

I'm not that hopeful. [ Grunts. ] If I were coming from California just to go to New Vegas, I wouldn't be wasting my time at some shitty casino that can't hold a candle to the lights and glamor of the Strip.

[ He might be basically the unofficial!Sheriff of Primm (regardless of NCR presence), but that doesn't mean he can't badmouth it. ]

If Primm does happen to do better because of this, then that's great. Maybe I'll retire early.

Grateful enough that you don't need to be paid?

[She strongly doubts that, but it never hurts to ask.]

Sure, if you want to do this alone.

[ Eyes her. ]

Don't give me that look. I'm good for the caps. Here.

[She tosses him a small bag that clinks with the sound of bottle caps.]

The foreman said he'd pay us, too, but it's NCR money from miners who haven't worked in weeks, so I wouldn't expect much.

[ He catches it, immediately putting it away into his inventory. It felt heavy enough, that'd be good. ]

NCR money, huh. Well, might be able to use it when the NCR in Primm... Not sure any of their gear will be useful to me, but no sense in not trying. [ His former commanders were all up in California, and they probably wouldn't recognize him now. After all, he didn't look like an old man when he was part of their ranks. ]

Just convert it to caps. They're more useful.

[She falls silent, the playful expression falling away as well.]

You refused to be the sheriff of Primm before. Should the NCR pull out of Primm, will you refuse to do so a second time?

[ Not this again. Snake growls, tempted to reach for a cigarette, but he doesn't really want to attract attention from raiders or scorpions. Instead, he just lets his shoulders sag. ]

I told you before... I'm no hero. I don't have a right to lead these people out of the darkness, not while I'm still trapped in it. [ Not to mention... how many years had he got left? A year if he was lucky? ] They don't need an old man like me, they need someone who's going to stay around... Take care of them.

I can't be that person... I'm just an old killer.

No, they just need someone to keep them safe. You don't have to lead anyone anywhere.

[Her plans were already in motion for Vegas. All she needed was to hammer out the fine details, like clearing up Sloan.]

...The NCR will not be in the Mojave for much longer. They will lose the dam and be forced to pull out of this area, Primm included. The town will need someone else to step up.

[ Snake eyes her carefully, his gaze drilling into her expression before he looks away. ]

What the hell are you up to? I can't really see the NCR giving up the dam so easily, the Legion either.

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Interplay had no idea how much metal people would carry around using bottle caps as money

hahahaha

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