Companions of the Wasteland
Chapter One: Home Again
Brunhild slid her sunglasses over her eyes as the dazzling sun threatened to blind her. She took her payment from Louise, the owner of the caravan she'd been travelling with, and waved goodbye. As soon as her boots stepped onto Crescent Row, she knew she was home. She took in the smell of fried Gator, Gator steak, and Gator burgers as she turned onto Bourbon Street.
Brunhild greeted and waved at the various citizens of New New Orleans. She'd been gone for a couple of months on a job and now she was back nothing had changed in her absence. She made her way to the Razor Gator for a celebratory drink.
The bar was just as she remembered it. Brunhild took in the scent of meat cooking and the sound of music playing from the local radio station.
Black and white tiles comprised the floor of the Razor Gator. Portraits of the Babineaux Family hung on the oak walls. The wall behind the counter, the bar counter, and stools were mahogany. The chairs and tables around the bar were made of oak. One the right were two doors leading to a men's and women's restroom. A jukebox in the left hand corner of the room played music as customers filled a few of the chairs and two seats at the counter. Hanging from the ceiling were lanterns and a fan. On the wall next to the wall behind the bar was a bulletin board of all jobs within the area.
The size of the crowd wasn't too big but it filled up a good portion of the room. Most of the customers were consolidated in the left corner of the room, with several men playing cards around a table. Out of the group, Brunhild instantly recognized Eric. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought about their last adventure. She bit her upper lip and made her way to her usual seat at the counter.
"Your move Eric," one of the men said. The man was bald and wore thick metal armor with a painful glean.
"I know I know, I'm thinking," Eric replied, shuffling his hand with a carefree grin.
Brunhild then turned to the counter where Bastien was wiping down a glass. He looked a little thinner from when she'd seen him last.
"Glad to see you came back in one piece," Bastien spoke. "The usual?"
Normally, Brunhild would say yes. Gwinnett Ales reminded her enough of home that she didn't miss it. However during her trip she had come to drink less alcohol and more Nuka Cola. She shook her head.
"Just a Nuka Cola is fine," Brunhild then slid the correct amount of caps to the bartender.
Bastien raised a brow but didn't make any further comment. He collected the caps and slid the Nuka Cola toward her.
"Thanks," Brunhild said smirking as she listened to the argument between Eric and one of the other players.
"Bullshit! You're a cheat and a liar Eric!"
You wanna say that again?"
Brunhild half turned as the crowd around the table gasped when Eric pulled a gun on one of the other players. This man had short, brunet hair in a Mohawk. He wore leather armor and his eyes went wide as Eric pointed his gun at him.
Brunhild held her breath as she waited for the eventual shootout. Her eyes followed Mohawk man as he sighed and scooted his chair away from the table. He and his friends left and Brunhild's pulse went back to normal when Eric collected the caps on the table. The crowd around the table dispersed and the tension evaporated like water in the heat.
"Hey Bastien, can I get a beer?"
Brunhild then turned back to her Nuka Cola. When Bastien handed her a beer, he gestured behind her. She nodded and placed it on Eric's table. From what she could see, he was bent over some notebook.
"Might just be better to get back to fixing things," he muttered to no one in particular.
Brunhild's brow rose and she grabbed her Nuka Cola. She took a short swig, enjoying the cold as it went down her throat.
"And what would that be? Your drinking habit?" Brunhild called back, knowing Eric may not have necessarily been looking for a response.
Eric Mallory wasn't one to shy away from anything. Whether it was a fight or a game of cards, Eric was always down for whatever. Currently, he was at the Razor Gator playing cards with some of the locals. Jacob, Lucas, and Jose all sat at a table with Eric.
Eric looked over his cards at the three others at the table. Everyone had the same slightly pained yet determined look on their face. He could feel the eagerness of the crowd around them.
"Your move Eric," said Lucas.
"I know I know, I'm thinking," Eric replied.
He pushed the rest of his chips into the center pile, then waited for the others to do the same. Everyone revealed their cards.
Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10.
"Bullshit! You're a cheat and a liar Eric!" squawked Jacob, whose mocha brown eyes showed disbelief.
You wanna say that again?" Eric asked.
He could feel the pressure increase as he whipped out his 10mm pistol. Jose, the man with the Mohawk, scoffed and stood up. The trio of men left and Eric collected the 256 caps as the crowd dissolved.
Today will be a great day, Eric thought to himself.
"Hey Bastien, can I get a beer?" Eric asked as he pocketed the caps.
Eric sat back down, pulling out his small red notebook as he did so. He looked through the list of prospective jobs. He took the beer, popped off the cap, and took a slow drink.
Clear a Molerat hole-Not worth the caps
Rescue Kate Winslow from Raiders-Like to have run off/died
Go with hunting boat to get Crevette-Dangerous. But pay is good
"Might just be better to get back to fixing things," he muttered to no one in particular.
"And what would that be? Your drinking habit?" Said a voice from near Eric and he couldn't help but smile.
Eric looked to where he heard the voice and felt a familiar warmth in his chest as seeing Brunhild. Outwardly, he shook his head and continued to drink.
"Maybe, maybe not. Would you like to indulge with me?" Eric asked patting at the spot where Jose had been.
Brunhild then sat down bringing her Nuka Cola with her. She downed her Nuka Cola quickly before collecting the cap and throwing the bottle away.
"In what exactly?" Brunhild asked.
Another easy smile stretched across Eric's face. His stomach did a backflip at her presence and he ignored it.
"In a beer, in a good old conversation. Whatever it is that you desire," Eric replied and ordered two more beers. He took another drink of his first. "I've had a good string of luck today, might as well share the winnings."
Brunhild's blonde hair shone in the bar lighting as she popped the cap off the beer and raised it up.
"To your winnings," she said and threw it back.
Eric was happy to see that she accepted and finished off his first. He was happier still to see her throwing it back with the best of them.
Some women know when they have it, that's for sure, he thought.
"So Blondie, what brings you back? Been a while since I've been you around," Eric said and opened up his second beer.
Because I notice when you aren't, a voice in his mind quietly added.
Brunhild shrugged as she took another drink. She leaned back in her chair before speaking.
"I was working as a guard for a caravan for the past few months. I didn't make it back to New New Orleans until this morning."
She let out a loud, long burp before taking another sip. Eric nodded and took another drink.
"Come on, has to be more to the story than that. Nothing fought? Nothing gained?" He prodded.
Brunhild shrugged again. This time, Eric looked around the room to see the other men ogling her. He was glad he was talking with her.
"Not really. Although I did encounter the biggest gator I've ever seen yesterday on my way back here," she took another swig of beer.
Eric took another drink and made a quick jot down in his journal. Hunt and sell gator? He ordered another beer, despite the buzz in the back of his head.
"Yeah I've fought gators before. Nasty bastards. The radiation only made'em meaner." Eric sighed and leaned back in his chair, "So, what plans do you have? Any job I could tag along with?"
Brunhild let out another loud burp. She removed a stray bang from near her eyes.
"I don't know yet. I was supposed to meet a potential client here but if I don't have anyone I was hoping you had some jobs for me to do."
"Well you know me," Eric pushed his journal over to Brunhild. He pointed to the small list of jobs he had written down, "I guess the best would be to find Kate Winslow. But we only get the full pay of 300 caps if she's alive. 100 if she isn't."
Brunhild nodded, "Sounds good to me. Just as soon as I finish my beer and get some things straightened out, point me in the right direction."
Both put their respective bottles to their lips and drank again. Eric was the first to put his down.
"Good, I was starting to grow bored here without you. Need something to do anyway."
That statement was more true now than most knew. Sure, Eric had put his past behind him. And sure, he had a new life now. But when he was in the quiet too long, his mind would always drift back to then. To the old life he had.
"I plan to head out tomorrow if that would work with you," Eric said.
"Sounds good. What time are we leaving and where should I meet you?" Brunhild asked as she finished her beer.
"Outside town at the docks by dawn by a boat called Perdrix. It's pretty big and mostly white," Eric answered. "It should be a three hour trip."
Eric then pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. He gave Brunhild his most charming, if drunken, smile.
"See you tomorrow Blondie!" He called over his shoulder as he left the Razor Gator. He chuckled at the nickname as he made his way home.
Author's Note: So as promised, here's the story about Brunhild and Eric's relationship. Unlike the one-shot, this will be a joint effort between Malachi288 and I. I would once again like to thank Malachi for his contributions and allowing me use of Eric Mallory.
I would also like to dedicate this to Fallout 76. Let's hope it's a good one!
Disclaimer: Bethesda owns Fallout, Malachi288 owns Eric Mallory & Bud (sorry Bud), and I own Brunhild