Greetings from Big MT
Chapter One: New Reno's Sweetheart
New Reno, aside from New Vegas way down south, was the largest city in Nevada, and a hub for Traders and Caravan Companies alike. Although claimed by the NCR and therefore subject to its taxes and somewhat oppressive laws, the city was also a hotbed of the chem trade, as well as a large distributer of locally sourced Pornography, and gambling casinos. Being farther to the north, the temperatures were far colder, especially in the winter time when snow was falling… like now.
The people of this city were all bundled up as they trudged through a foot of snow on the ground, most of it wet and slushy, while the dark clouds above were heavy with even more to come, but hey, as long as the falling snow wasn't green there was no need to worry, right? At least, that was what the local business owners would say, including the owner of the Desperado Club, one of the largest casinos in New Reno, and playing house for the most talented acts in Nevada.
A number of years before, during the time of the Enclave occupation, the Desperado Club had been a dingy low-end dive, but thanks to the NCR's booming economy, the place had been actually reworked into something halfway respectable. Instead of bare concrete walls, an ivory-white color made the whole place look bright and happy, as did the working lights and properly insulated floors. This afternoon the casino's main theater had guests seated around every table, not because of the heavily discounted lunch special, but because of their top billed performer, who was about to go onstage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention." The heavy middle aged man in a white smoking jacket said in a thick accent. "Hope all are enjoying the Brahmin Chops, but now we ask that you lift your eyes to stage, for serenade by wonderful girl with body of Goddess and voice of Angel. Ladies and Gentlemen, I Jesus Mordino III and the Desperado Club present, New Reno's Sweetheart… Ms. Tonya Greene."
There was a light applause as the music started, and then Tonya slowly came out from behind the curtain looking like the spitting image of Vera Keyes as she walked up to the edge of the stage. After leaving the Sierra Madre and its curses behind, the Courier had gone home to New Reno, and although still taking jobs with the Mojave Express whenever she got itchy feet, for the last six months she had been exploiting the hell out of being stuck with the voice of the pre-war starlet… as well as the dress which she had kept.
"You had plenty money, nineteen twenty-two." She began to the captivated audience. "You let other women make a fool of you, why don't you do right? Like some other men do."
It was true that Tonya didn't like to stay in one place for very long, but during the weeks that could pass between a delivery job, singing at the Desperado Club was a great way to make ends meet. Thanks to having Vera's voice, whereas she hadn't even been able to carry a tune before, all of the casinos in town had fought over her, and the tips from customers were, well… a lot more than she could have made doing deliveries.
"If you had prepared twenty years ago." She continued, smiling sweetly as customers filled the tip jars. "You wouldn't be a-wandrin' now from door to door, why don't you do right? Like some other men do."
Performing in front of a crowd wasn't nearly a difficult as Dean Domino had made it sound while they were at the Sierra Madre; just leave the stage and keep singing while walking around the room, brush against a customer here, wink at one there, and the tips would come flying in. Did she get groped once in a while? Yes. Did customers sometimes offer large amounts of caps to sleep with her? Yes. But the Courier wasn't a Freemont Street Hooker, as that Ghoul had once called her, so the offers were declined… by casino security if her own words weren't enough.
"I fell for your jivin' and I took you in." She sang, lightly rubbing a man's shoulder while passing. "Now all you got to offer me's a drink of gin, why don't you do right? Like some other men do… get out of here and get me some money, too."
Applause filled the room when the song was over, followed by whistles and a few shouted marriage proposals while she returned to the stage; making sure to wave and smile as cutely as possible before vanishing behind the curtain… where she was able to finally take off those damn heels that were absolutely killing her feet. Why heels, she thou? Why did everyone insist that all female performers had to wear heels? All they did was hurt her arches and force her to take smaller steps, just so that the customers could see her ass move a bit more.
"Tonya, sweetheart, great number." Jesus said, coming backstage as the orchestra started to play. "The jars are full of caps, and casino full of suckers, er, customers to play games and slots. Oh, had good idea to go with outfit… here, put this on over cute button nose."
From out of Jesus's pocket, he produced a pair of reading glasses, or at least the frames since the lenses were missing. According to the big man, if she went out and sang a sad song like Johnny Guitar, the customers would look at her and say 'aw, sad lonely little bookworm, just needs right man to love her', and then they would give her more tips, the casino would get more business, basically everyone would be a winner. Unfortunately, the Courier had no intention of singing God damn Johnny Guitar… bad enough it was always playing on the radio.
"Almost forgot, new man in town wants to invest in casino; rich man, could be new partner." He continued, picking up her shoes and handing them to her. "Wants to meet New Reno's Sweetheart, so put on cute heels, polish cute smile, and push up cute boobs… help me close deal, and I cut you in for ten percent casino profits."
"But, Mr. Mordino, I don't know anything about business." The Courier protested after putting her heels back on. "My resume says Courier and Lounge Singer, not Business Lady."
Immediately correcting her that she was a headliner, not some mere lounge singer, the big man motioned for her to follow him, and that it didn't matter what she knew of business, since the idea was to make the investor stare at her enough to make him not pay so much attention to the terms of the deal, but not enough so that he thought he was getting ripped off. These kind of things took finesse, cunning, and beautiful brunettes with green eyes who look like the girl on the pre-war posters.
Whether it was true or not that Tonya was a descendent of Vera Keyes, the resemblance was striking enough for Jesus to take the old posters of her performances and simply change the name, which according to him, saved a ton of caps on photographers and artists. Adding to his windfall of finding the newest and most popular singer in New Reno, cutting in a new partner would make Jesus's chances better for being able to retire sometime in his life, since the investor was a younger man, and the big man's own son was, from his own words, a failure.
"My son is such fool." He continued as they walked out of the theater. "I tell him, take life by horns like all men of Mordino family; I tell him take over casino one day, I tell him marry beautiful Tonya Greene, I tell him be man, but no. Son wants to be artist, you know what I find great artist doing other day? I catch him with New Reno's Sweetheart poster on bed, and son just pounding weasel while…
"Mr. Mordino, I don't need to know that." She interrupted, trying to push the visual out of his head. "I mean, you can tell me all about your son after the deal with your new investor. Didn't you tell me that business always comes first?"
The big man hesitated for a second, and then laughed; telling the Courier that she was absolutely right, while also giving her a playful swat on the rear. Tonya didn't have to worry about Jesus actually trying anything with her, like people like Dean Domino and Aurelius of Phoenix had done… mostly since his wife would probably skin him alive if he did, but there was certainly a lot of uh… playful touching in the culture that his family was descended from pre-war.
"Son is miserable failure, so must tell you." Jesus said when they made a stop at the bar. "Most important part of business deal, besides having beautiful woman for distraction, is having quick drink to stay loose. Investor has traveled long way, came with family from place called uh, Two Sun or something… far away, very hot, so we show him how cool New Reno can be, eh?"
"Wait a second, Mr. Mordino." Tonya said, suddenly realizing what he had just said. "Where did you just say he was before here?"
Jesus repeated that the investor came there from Two Sun, which started to make the Courier nervous, since it was primarily Caesar's Legion who did the trading in Arizona… and this feeling deepened when he showed her the strange coin that the investor had given to him as a memento. Although she only had cause to see these kinds of currency one time before, the gold disc with the balding head of an old man on one side and the figure of a bull on the other was recognized immediately.
"Mr. Mordino, that's a Legion Aureus." She said urgently after giving it back to him. "No matter where your investor got it from, if it's possible that there are Legion Scouts near New Reno, then we need to let the NCR Troopers know."
"Tonya, sweetheart, relax, eh?" The big man urged, suddenly looking behind her. "Can worry about coin later, here comes investor so look cute. Ah, welcome to Desperado Club, Mr. Phoenix… and here is New Reno's Sweetheart, herself, the lovely Ms. Tonya Greene."
Trying to push the nervous about seeing the Legion again out of her mind, the Courier took a deep breath, put on her most charming smile, and turned around… only to suddenly feel like her blood had frozen in her veins when she saw who was standing next to Jesus. She couldn't help gasping a little and swallowing hard when he made eye contact with her, and she was shaking a little when he took her hand.
"Such a pleasure to meet you, Tonya." Aurelius of Phoenix said, smirking a bit as he kissed her hand. "I am so happy to be in your home town, amans mei."