After what felt like hours, Alice was finally allowed to leave. She quickly grabbed her coat she had stowed behind the bar and headed through the casino and out to The Strip.
Alice's favorite moment of the day was stepping out of that dark, smoky and odd-smelling building and into the cool night air of The Strip. She made her way to the road, passing a rowdy group of NCR soldiers who had gathered to watch a couple of the "advertisements". Shaking her head, she pulled on her coat, a duster given to her not long after leaving the vault.
When she turned towards the gate to Freeside a man standing near it caught her eye. He was smoking a cigarette and reading what appeared to be a letter. Normally Alice wouldn't think anything of it, but the lovely sniper rifle strapped to his back and the red beret atop his head interested her. She slowed her pace as she debated whether or not she should talk to him. Something told her she should.
"Hi." She said brightly as she walked up to him, he was turned slightly away.
No response.
Alice cleared her throat and glanced at the rifle, "I couldn't help, but notice your gun."
She had never felt so awkward in her entire life.
The man gave her a quick glance, "Save it, I'm not looking for a whore." He folded up his letter and stuffed it into his coat pocket.
Alice frowned, "I'm not a whore."
"Your getup says otherwise."
"Not like I enjoy wearing it, but I don't really have a choice." Alice said as she pulled the duster together to cover herself up, "And again, I'm not a whore."
"You just came from that way," He pointed towards Gomorrah, "and you're wearing the typical shit they all wear."
"Mhm." She nodded.
"So…you're a whore?" Alice stomped her foot on the ground in frustration. He let a short laugh and turned to look at her, locking eyes for a moment. "Ok, you're not a whore."
Alice threw her hands up, "Thank you, what gave it away?"
"Got this look in your eye." He finished his cigarette and flicked it to the ground.
"Huh…" She crossed her arms, "I hope this "look" is a good thing."
He stayed silent as he removed his beret to brush the dust off, "I gotta go." He placed it back and turned to head further down the strip.
"I'm Alice, by the way." She called, now annoyed.
"Boone." He called back, not turning around.
"Well, at least I got his name." She whispered to herself before walking out of The Strip and into Freeside.
