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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.

[She meets his gaze, unafraid. Her plan is solid. It will work, and Vegas will be hers. The desert is hers, even now. The NCR and the Legion just weren't aware of it yet.]

I have an ace or two up my sleeve. I suppose Primm didn't get the lovely eulogy about the late Mr. House, did they? 261 years. Quite a long lifespan for a... man. [She doesn't hide her disgust. The thing she had killed was no man.]

We heard it...

[ Huh. So that was her... He was wondering who did the old man in. ]

So... now you're the Queen of Vegas, is that it?

I think the term 'caretaker' is more fitting. You should visit sometime. See what I've done with the place.

No... Vegas isn't for me. [ Shakes his head. ] It's a bit too far for me to walk without purpose. I'm not much for losing all my caps in those casinos.

[ He had a family now, he couldn't just booze around Vegas anymore and wake up half dead somewhere. ]

Not even to see my gun collection?

[If there was anything they had in common besides their mercenary tendencies, it was an interest in guns. By this point, Sibyll had amassed an impressive collection of trophies.]

[ He'd be lying if he said that he wasn't interested; he really did like guns. He was a bit curious about said collection... but it was all the way in Vegas? ]

That's quite a hike just to look at guns. I'm more fond of using them.

Fine, fine. Should you ever change your mind, the offer still stands. The trip should be easier if everything goes well.

[They passed by Goodsprings as twilight descended, taking an edge off of the Mojave heat. In the distance, geckos were stirring, looking around for food. While the over-sized lizards are not the smartest of creatures, they seemed intelligent enough to leave the pair alone. In the town proper, lights were starting to flicker on as the sky grew dark.]

[ Goodsprings was a nice place; Snake had traveled over there a few times when looking for work, though usually to no avail. One man had hired someone to watch his Bighorners at night, but that was about it. The pay was meager and Snake didn't really expect more than that. Now he rarely visited Goodsprings, mostly sticking to Primm.

Once they grew nearer to Sloan, the old soldier started to adjust his weight as he walked, becoming more mindful of his steps, part of his mind wondering why the hell he was doing this. It was like being paid to die... but he couldn't die. Not yet. If they could take the Deathclaws out from a distance, then it should be okay. ]

[Sibyll was also quite fond of Goodsprings. There was no way she could ever repay Doc Mitchell for helping her. All she could do was ensure that the town saw continued prosperity. In Sibyll's mind that meant that she indirectly saw to an increase into the town's economic health. No matter how Snake felt, the courier was certain that what they were about to do would help everyone. And in return, all of that would help herself.

She wasn't nearly as nervous as one ought to be when planning an assault on a Deathclaw lair. She almost seems eager to test her skills against the deadliest creature the wasteland had ever spat out. She was confident that they would win.

With a cordial nod towards the foreman, Sibyll changes her path towards the Sloan barracks. On the way, she reaches out to pet the tamed molerat.]

We'll rest for a few hours, then start hunting.

[She can't mask it now. The crazy woman is actually looking forward to this in some way.]

[ Snake leaned against one of the shacks, eyeing the molerat before taking out a pack of cigarettes and lighting up. He offers the pack towards Sibyll. ]

You smoke?

[ He definitely heard that tone, saw the glint in her eyes... Yeah, she was crazy, completely nuts, but he kind of liked that. There was a lot to keep a man scared in the Mojave, but sometimes it felt good to swallow that fear, and just do whatever the hell you wanted... If that meant hunting Deathclaws, then hell, that's what you were going to do. He'd already been paid and he wasn't about to back out... Snake wasn't like most of the sleazes in the wasteland. ]

I'll pass, thanks.

[Addictions made one vulnerable. That was one view she shared with the Legion. But Sibyll was also quite aware of Snake's views of the Legion and she didn't bring the subject up. Instead, she coos at the tamed molerat who lumbered over to inspect the pair.]

How are you doing, Snuffles? Is your leg all better?

[The molerat simply whuffed at her, but did respond to her caresses. It apparently did recognize her as someone who had helped it.]

Okay, I'm off to the barracks. I want to be at my best for this.

[PSL] Hunting Trip

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

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

hahahaha

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)