Nova forced herself not to yawn as Jericho stood before her. The armour he kept wearing for no good reason was torn and dusty, as was the old assault rifle...why did he keep going around in that getup? Was he supposed to look tough? Maybe he looked that way normally...now however it was difficult to see him as such when he was squirming before her like a shy little kid... Why was this looser yearning after her anyway?
As she watched the man rubbed the back of his head and muttered, eyes on the floor: "Well I was thinking...that...maybe...you know." If it hadn't been for the way he constantly glanced at her chest it would have been cute. "We could go and eat over at the brass lantern...? Maybe a little walk along the wall...?" The pleading tone was almost too much, fucking persistent idiot...
"Look Jericho, how many times do we have to have this conversation?" Nova tried not to sound worn out, the way Gob glanced over at her from serving the quiet Lucy West she knew she wasn't doing a very good job though... "I've told you a hundred times now, Moriarty doesn't want me hanging out with the customers, not without caps anyway." She smiled to cover the sigh about to cross her lips...and if he paid for her company it was clear what the time would be spent on.
Maybe he just wanted a fuck without paying for it? Depressing thought...though quite likely the truth.
Jericho looked away, furtively glancing on his fist, as if considering taking her by force. Of course that would lead to him getting blown apart by both Colin and Lucas...but Jericho never was very smart. He sighed. "Yeah...I get it. No one would want to hang around a former raider bastard like me..."
No, no one wants to hang around a prick who hurts you every time he fucks you for caps... "Now don't be like that honey." Ugh, sometimes she just hates herself, honey? Fucking whore. "You're okay right? Now I'm working, so did you want something else?" Of course she had lots of time to talk since the trader had moved away again, would probably be two days until someone got enough caps again...but she didn't really want to talk with this guy any more.
Jericho hesitated, a familiar look crossing his face as he reached for his pocket, an even more familiar rattle escaping the leather. Great, he had caps, just great... Judging by the look on his face Nova realised he was in a bind however. He had the caps, and obviously the urge to went his frustration in her...but pride kept him in check, as always...idiot. And as always Nova was torn between the greed for his caps, one step closer to paying her debt to Moriarty...and the disgust at the thought of being Jericho's punching bag.
God she hated this.
As Jericho pondered his problem the door opened. Nova blinked, her eyebrows shooting up at the sight of the vault dweller entering. He was alive!? Though how alive was questionable...
Dragging his feet the man came up to the counter, the stool at the corner of the counter creaked when he collapsed down on top of it with an angry grunt. His duffel bag blew up a cloud of dust when he simply dropped it down by his feet, he didn't even seem to notice the disapproving look he got from Gob, eyes distant. His vault suit was so dusty one barely saw the blue, and one certainly didn't see the yellow letters sown unto the back. Its sleeves were ripped off, exposing wiry pale arms, the right one displaying a fresh pink scar across the forearm...
His hair was covered in soot and his face, though still handsome, was marred by dark spots under his eyes. The bitterness in his face was the most obvious thing though, in fact his whole being seemed to exude bitterness. "Gob, drink over here." The man blinked, gaze going to his hands, hands that seemed to have taken a slight beating, covered in little scabs as they were. "Scotch." Heh, seemed there was hope for him yet, though the loss of innocence was a little painful to watch...
"Sure thing smoothie." Gob moved with an ease born out of practice, as always ensuring he didn't drop any of his flaky skin into the glass as he poured one up for the kid. "Haven't found your father yet have you?"
"You think!?" John didn't look up from his hands, grabbing the glass with a grimace. "It was horrible, I started off by walking in the wrong direction of all things."
Gob leant forward, resting his elbow against the counter he frowned: "You what?"
"You heard me." John brought the glass to his lips, took a sip...and immediately spat it out, his face crunching up. "Aw man! That's horrible!" Nova bit her lips in an effort not to laugh. "Leave the bottle." The kid swept the glass, then slammed it into the counter with a grimace rivalling the one before. "God that's horrible!"
"Okay then...I got stuff to do." Nova blinked, suddenly remembering that Jericho was still talking to her. Apparently he hadn't noticed her drifting off though...what a surprise. The man shrugged as he turned towards the door, his shoulders sinking as his pride won out, whew. "See you later I guess?"
"You're always welcome honey." The words easily slipped out of her mouth, a false kindness...of course Jericho didn't seem to notice, maybe he didn't want to? The former raider smiled a little when he looked back at her, then slipped out, much to Nova's relief. Now, with no real potential customers...she could relax.
Sensing her change Gob patted the counter, bony fingertips rapping against the worn wood. "Come Nova, rest those feet, have something to drink."
"Thanks buddy." Nova stretched, her body numb from lack of movement. She only allowed herself to do that now, Gob's roving eyes didn't bother her like that of her customers...and John seemed content to stare at the counter. She felt a slight pop as something came back into place, oh thank god for the little things in life... "So what got you all riled up?" She directed the question at the vaultie, who still didn't even seem to have noticed her.
Pouring himself another drink the kid snorted. "I went west instead of east, got shot at...killed a bunch of raiders...and then ran out of water." He emptied the next glass with far less of a face, apparently having decided that he would tough it out despite obviously hating the drink... "The only good thing was meeting this trader who..." He trailed off, his gaze distant...he blinked, sudden tears appearing.
"Who what?" Gob asked, not having picked up on the sudden grief in his customer's face.
"Oh god...I didn't even ask his name!" John's face broke into a disgusted look, the grip on his glass tightening. "I talked about so much with him! He gave me a good deal! I trusted him and...I didn't even ask his name!" He emptied the next glass, barely indicating that he had felt the taste of it. "God I'm a horrible person..."
Nova exchanged a look with Gob. Of course they if any were familiar with self loathing, Gob might not have a reason but...they still understood it. Still, the kid seemed to loath himself over nothing... Placing a hand on the man's shoulder Nova tilted her head a little closer while grabbing her own glass with her free hand. Radiated water...Gob hadn't dared serving her anything better with Moriarty about to come back...ah damn. She didn't blame the sweet guy...but it was still a shame. "Don't worry about it, he died right? So it doesn't really matter anymore."
"It does to me." The kid's hand shook when he poured himself a new glass, his eyes unfocused. "He was a good man, and should be remembered as such. Yet I don't know his name...pathetic really, what is your name worth if there's none to remember you?"
That hurt. Ignoring the sudden sting at her own heart Nova shot Gob a look, the ghoul having that look of badly concealed depression about him again... Who would remember him? Who would remember her? And if someone did remember either of them...what would they be remembered for? Damn kid...Nova couldn't really make herself angry with the boy for making her feel the way she did when she looked at him though. It was like seeing a man being torn apart by heavy radiation, his essence eroded by a unstoppable power around him...who could hate such a man?
How long until he became another wastelander? Who would never even contemplate shedding a tear for another man? Not long now...it was the sad truth of the wasteland. The kid raised his glass, spilling a little on the counter as he did so: "Well, here's to the trader, may his efforts be remembered."
"I think you should take it easy on that stuff..." Nova muttered, daring to stop John from sweeping the drink by placing a hand on his, holding the glass away from his lips. Any other customer would have at least slapped her for such audacity...this guy didn't even look at her as he gently placed the glass back unto the counter however.
"You're right...I'm not like them." The kid muttered the words, a sullen expression on his face. He was obviously not going to specify who them were, but it was a pretty easy guess...though the thought of this child becoming a raider was laughable...didn't he realise he would most likely die before falling to their vices? Not that a little jet at times wasn't wrong... "I will not be like them." He pushed the glass away, suddenly looking angry.
"How did he die?" Gob shot her a look even as Nova regretted the question, the kid was too fragile for such questions...
"Super mutants." The kid snorted at the word even as the others in the bar tensed. Super mutants...everyone knew of them, the rising power in DC, those who slowly seemed to dominate the world, the green death. "Stupid name if you ask me...." He grimaced, as if he had spent a lot of time thinking about it and still found it unpleasant. "Came out of nowhere, I swear...just out of nowhere." He chuckled and gave the filled glass a longing look. "Did you know they're quite fast runners when they need to? One of them chased me for hours...hours I tell you...."
Nova watched as the kid drifted off again, his mind lost in memories, his mouth twisting into a snarl of disgust...not fear...disgust. "Hours of fleeing...pathetic." Jeez...to bother pointing out that he would most likely have gotten killed if he'd stayed and fought was probably a waste of time...once a fool always a fool.
"How did you get away?" Gob was looking at John with an intense gaze, he had always been a sucker for the stories of those going outside, at least when they must have had a happy ending...the sweet guy still believed in the 'good fight' bullshit Three Dog spoke of...Nova was a little jealous of such blind faith actually.
The kid laughed and shook his head, it wasn't a bitter laugh though, a little mad perhaps...but mostly amused. "Would you believe it if I told you I ran straight into a minefield?" Nova blinked, actually finding herself a little interested. "I only realized it when the oaf at my back tripped on one though, tore him to pieces." The vaultie laughed, yep, madness....definitively. "I actually earned a bundle selling a bunch of them to Moira, though I saved a few of them."
"Dare I ask why?" Nova exchanged a look with her friend, both realising they were dealing what a complete nut job, probably the worst kind...those who thought they could change the world. She should have known...
"They killed my trader friend, they might kill more people." The kid smiled, reached out to the glass...and emptied it with a single swig. The kid grinned with alcohol induced bravery. "So I'm going back to burn that mutant camp to the ground."
"You're nuts." Nova snapped. Great...another walking dead man, she had seen too many by now. A shame, she actually liked this one... "Attacking a camp of super mutants is suicide!"
"We'll see..." The kid grinned, thoughts of glorious victory no doubt running through his foolish skull. "I'm leaving tomorrow though, and..." He suddenly hesitated, a flush beginning at his throat. "...I think I'll need a good night's sleep."
Heh, so much for his high morals and frightened disposition. Nova actually chuckled under her breath as a muttering Gob suddenly got very interested in serving the half-sleeping Lucy at the other end of the counter. Oh well, caps were caps and this guy would probably not last long... "Sure thing honey...right now?"
"Yes, I need as much sleep as possible." John agreed, wobbling as he came to his feet and pushed a few caps in the general direction of Gob. "I'll pay tomorrow okay? I don't...trust myself to find the caps right now." A stupid giggle escaped him.
"Sure thing." Normally Nova would have blankly said no, but she knew this kid wouldn't run out of his payment, he was too much of a goody two shoes. Getting to her feet she offered her shoulder to the swaying vaultie. "Ooof! Wow...you're heavy." Nova smiled, it wasn't pleasant leading drunkards to bed...but at least this one didn't smell as horrible as they usually did. The smell of innocence still seemed to linger about him...
Leading him to a room was easy, they were just a few feet away from the bar after all. Closing the door she reached towards her blouse with practised fingers...and watched as John merely collapsed on the bed, lying on his side with his back facing Nova he seemed awfully small all of a sudden. "Erm...John? What are you..."
"I don't want to sleep with you." Okay, not even a whore liked to hear that, at least not when it was so casually thrown at her. Then she caught it...a slight sniff at the end. Had he begun to cry...again?!
"So what do you want me to do then?" Nova asked, letting her arms fall to her side. God please not something weird, she hated the weird...
"Just...sleep." The kid struggled to speak, his knees slowly coming up to his chest. "Close by...please?"
Nova blinked, she had seen quite a few customers let their masks fall for a time when with her, they had never wanted real comfort though...not in the way this one seemed to want it. "O...okay." Hesitating a little she slowly made her way to the bed and laid down. The man made no move, not the slightest indication that he felt her movement behind him. She edged closer...no movement...finally she found herself pressed up against his back.
Now she felt it, a slight shaking. It wasn't the shaking of fear she had felt before when she had touched his leg, this was the shaking of crying. How could one man cry so much? They never seemed willing to cry like this, heck...she had stopped crying long ago. Sure he was a vaultie...but had he really been raised to be so...so...weak?
Sighing she placed her left hand over his stomach, gently pulling at him into a snug hug from behind. She could feel him shaking...even through the suit...a slight whimper reached her ear. Along with a whisper. "I just...want to sleep...why can't I sleep...?"
She wavered, unsure how to do this thing...something far different from what she was used to. "S...sch...hush...it's okay." Her free hand came down to his hair, gently running her hand through the soft fuzz. She let her fingers play with it...as a mother would have done with her son... Nova's heart sank, the thought of it hurt...but she continued none the less. "You're safe here, none can hurt you...it's okay."
The man shook and quivered, his sobbing so quiet she could barely hear it. Guilt...it was a new thing. Nova smiled, the thought was comforting... "You know...no one but you would feel guilty about any of this, you're very odd...a better person then anyone in the wasteland perhaps. Perhaps that's your cross to bear?"
The man stiffened for a moment, then resumed his crying. Was it just her or...was he pressing closer? Warm and cosy...it was odd really, Nova blinked in surprise...was she feeling comfortable with a customer? "Would you rather not care? To be one of them? Another uncaring wastelander shrugging at the deaths of those around him?"
"N...no." The man snivelled, his shaking diminishing. "No..." His shoulders slumped a bit...relaxing under her light touch. "No...I wouldn't..."
"Good." Nova caught herself smiling. "Now sleep...sleep." She yawned silently, sensing how the kid begun to drift off...his shaking finally stopping. A content sigh escaped him even as a soft snore reached Nova's ears. She felt her eyes begun to fall too...something that she had done having turned her drowsy as well...drowsy and content.
Her sleep was dreamless.