The dugout inn always had a stale air around it, a musty odour of cigarette smoke and unwashed bodies. Today was no different. Vance looked around, if his contacts didn't show up soon the McDonough's security force would surely take his stock as 'taxes'. A heavy-set man of dark skin filled Vance's view, and the little Boston native looked up at his rugged face. 'You must be Benny,' Vance said, with only a tiny bit of fear. 'Yeah,' the man replied. Benny pulled out a chair and set his massive frame down. 'So you looking for a guard or two for your caravan, heading up to Sanctuary to peddle some chems right?' Vance took a deep breath, and almost whispering, replied 'There are plenty of people here who would mug me or kill me for my stock, so I would very much appreciate you keeping your voice down in here.
The overdramatic display of secrecy did nothing to hide Vance's intentions, instead it seemed the whole tavern had their eyes turned to the pair, it didn't help that they had picked a brightly lit table in the middle of the pub, but it was close to the radio so there was some excuse at least. Both men took this signal as a sign to leave, and right on cue Vance began to drag a chipped yellow box with all of his strength to the door, only attracting even more attention.
One they were out the door and into the cold, dark diamond city night. Both parties were far freer to talk, Vance began to lash the box to a strangely healthy looking Brahmin and Benny was getting visibly frustrated. 'Now listen here kid, we discuss payment here and now or you find yourself another guard who isn't a junkie.' Vance was taken back at the aggression, his face growing red with fear. 'The talk of the town is that here to Sanctuary is one hundred upfront. I don't have that on me but I can to seventy five now and a portion of the profits later.' Benny snarled, 'And you do have a guarantee of profit,'
'Yeah yeah, theres this massive Junkie, Mama Murphy's her name, she'll pick up at least three hundred worth of Jet.'
'You know what, fine, we got ourselves a deal, but if I don't have at least one fifty in my pocket at the end of this you're gonna have your entrails looped around a Red Rocket.