I feel numb most of the time

Lower I get the higher

I'll climb, and I will wonder why

I got dark only to shine

-Marina and the Diamonds, 'Numb'

Sitting at the bar in the Third Rail three brunettes chat amicably among themselves. The first of them is a male, his chestnut brown hair is swept into an urban ranger style. He wears heavy metal armor and his gas mask is pulled onto the top of his head. A scar on his left cheek is shown, healed long ago. He is tall, taller than average with ocean shaded eyes. He has outdoorsman facial hair. Reinforced metal gloves rest on his hands which are wrapped around a beer.

Sitting on his left is a petite female, wearing darkly tanned leather armour with a white blouse underneath. Her hair is shoulder length, dark brown and slightly curly. Her dark eyes gleam with warmth as she listens attentively as her male companion is speaking excitedly. Small freckles grace her face, lending her a slightly mischievous aura.

On her right a taller woman subtly examines all the patrons of the bar with grey green eyes peering through her rectangular shaped glasses. Her chocolate brown his is pulled into two low pigtails reaching to her elbows. She wears a light leather armour covered with a mud and blood stained white lab coat. A surgeon mask is pulled down around her neck as she carefully examines a vodka bottle.

Turning towards her friends the woman with glasses warns quietly, "We have to be careful around these parts. The guy who runs this place is a real dick, so we'll have a drink, rest up, trade our shit than get onto our next contract. I don't want to scrape your guts of the pavement anytime soon."

The man rolls his eyes and replies with a grin, "Yeah, yeah. We get it Hazel. Nothing too exciting or fun."

The petite lady however nods in agreement, concern written on her face, "I think Hazel is right, Carter. This place has some pretty bad rumors going about what Vic does to us drifters."

Carter frowns at his girlfriend, darkly glancing up at the guards at the door, "I wouldn't let them do anything, to either of you. So don't worry, alright Clairmont? Besides, we make up in skill what we don't have in numbers."

With a small smile Clairmont nods before calling to Whitechapel Charlie, asking for another drink. As Carter and Clairmont are drawn into a conversation with the british handyman, one of Vic's men slides into the seat next to Hazel. Said woman glances at him from the corner of her eye before turning away and pretending he had not approached her.

In an arrogant tone the ginger haired tapped the table and said, "I haven't seen you around before, miss. Would you like a tour of the city?"

With an irritated sigh Hazel turns and looks at him with a harsh glare, "No."

The large man leans forwards slightly, "Come on lady, don't be like that. Surel-"

He is suddenly yanked back by a blond man with a shoulder length ponytail. His mismatched green and brown eyes narrow at the taller man, "I suggest you leave us drifters alone. We are the main source of income in Goodneighbor after all, and if we start disappearing your paycheck will get cut. So beat it Lonnie."

Lonnie sneers at the lithe man before he storms out of the Third Rail dramatically.

Grinning, Carter pulls out the stool next to him, "Thanks man! Have a drink on us for sending that scumbag out of here. I'm Carter by the way."

"I could have handled that, but thank you anyways. You saved me the effort of knocking him down a peg." Hazel says as she pushes her glasses up, and then waves at him lazily.

Clairmont laughs lightly and shakes her head fondly, "Don't mind Hazel, she's too serious for her own good. I'm Clairmont, it's a pleasure to meet you."

The blond blinks in surprise before smiling brightly at the trio as he takes a seat next to Carter, "My name's Wesley, and it wasn't a problem. Us drifters have to stick together after all. Especially in this town."

"That's right," Carter agrees, "We'd get nowhere if we don't help each other out every once in awhile." Turning to the robot bartender Carter orders a beer and places it next to Wesley, "Here, to show our appreciation."

Taking a drink of the beer, Wesley starts a conversation, "So where are you guys from? I came from Little Lamplight which is back in the Capital Waste."

"Isn't that the place that is run by kids?" Clairmont asks curiously.

Wesley nods at the short woman, "Yeah, it's actually not a bad place y'know. Kids are pretty good at keeping everything cool. It sucks that you have to leave when you turn 16, but that's the rules. It wouldn't be Lamplight if not."

Hazel nods in understanding, "I see, that is understandable. As for us… Well, our parents were raiders."

The blond chokes on his drink and splutters in surprise, "Whoa, really? I've never met a raiders kid. On account of the whole murdering and pillaging thing that most of them have going on."

Both Carter and Clairmont burst into laughter while Hazel sniggers and rolls her eyes in exasperation, "Seeing as we haven't done the whole 'murdering and pillaging thing' when we entered the bar, you can safely assume we won't kill you and loot your corpse."

"At least not yet." Carter adds with a wink.

Wesley snorts, "You guys are my type of people. So what brings you to Goodneighbor? Most drifters tend to visit Diamond City instead of this place."

"Supplies of course." Clairmont replies as she turns her attention to their new acquaintance , "We have a job to do nearby and it would be a bother to go all the way to Diamond City and back just to pick up some supplies."

Wesley nods in agreement, "Yeah, that would be a pain in the ass. If you don't mind my asking, what type of job is it?"

"Some Gunners pissed off a man who's paying a pretty price for their heads. We figured it would be easy enough for us to take them. I mean, a bit of jet goes along way y'know?" Carter replies with a grin before Hazel reaches around Clairmont and knocks him upside the head, "You better not pop too much of that stuff, the doctors over charge addichol. I am not paying for that again."

With a grin Carter replies snarkily, "So what will you use the caps for? Your Blamco's Mac 'N' Cheese hoarding problem?"

Hazels cheeks flush scarlet as she turns away and takes a swig of her vodka, "I don't know what you're talking about."

As if telling a secret, Clairmont whispers loudly to Wesley, "She has a stash of them at every settlement and outpost we stop at. We've never been able to find them though."

Leveling a glare at her friends regains her composure and replies, "See! No proof of anything. Innocent until proven guilty."

Wesley breaks out into laughter, nearly toppling out of his chair. After a moment he looks back to see Hazel's put out expression and snorts, "Really? Mac 'N' Cheese?"

Giving Carter a joking glare Hazel replies to Wesley haughtily, "At least it's better than drugs. Carter."

The four of them burst into laughter. Clairmont giggles and slams her hand onto the bar while Hazel tries to restrain herself but only ends up laughing harder. Carter then high fives Wesley, and turns towards the girls, "Can we keep him?"

Making a mildly offended noise Wesley interrupts, "I am not a pet you guys."

With a glint in her eyes, Hazel pretends Wesley had never spoke, "Well… I don't mind as long as he's house trained. I couldn't have a mongrel in our radiant presences. It would ruin our reputation."

"Well," Begins Carter with a mischievous grin, "Are you?"

Wesley splutters in surprise and amusement, "I- Yes of course I am! Geez, maybe I shouldn't have shooed that brute away."

Clairmont lets out a light laugh, "It's a good thing you did though. The last time someone pulled something like that Hazel tested out one of her experimental serums on him. The results were rather… explosive."

Wesleys eyes widen, "Remind me not to piss you off, Hazel."

With a disappointed sigh Hazel finishes off her vodka and says, "It's such a pity. I wanted to try that new radscorpion extract I recently made on him. Oh well, there's always next time I suppose."

"Where did you get radscorpion venom?" Wesley asks in confusion.

Teasingly Clairmont replies, "From a radscorpion of course. We killed it and Hazel harvested the venom, and then distilled it to make the poison even more deadly."

Finishing his beer Carter stands up and stretches his arms, "I'm getting tired, I think we should head over to the hotel now. We have a big day tomorrow anyways."

Nodding in agreement Hazel stands up and offers her hand to Wesley. Taking it they shake hands and Hazel says, Thanks for the help. We'll definitely have to hang out again sometime."

Wesley nods with a smile as Clairmont exchanges farewells with Whitechapel Charlie, "Yeah, when you guys get back from your job come back here and we'll have another drink."

Giving a small mocking salute Hazel follows Carter and Clairmont out of the Third Rail.

This chapter was made to introduce these characters. Remember this is Pre- Sole Survivor so Nate/Nora won't be showing up right away. I don't know when I'll get around to putting up a new chapter cause I have tons of stories on the go and all of them are going to be decently long ones. I might put up a poll to decide which one I'll be working on most... I'll let you know with the next update if I'm putting one up. Well, I'll see you all later!