The wind blew subtly through the afternoon air, giving an uplift to the sense of emptiness that was the Capital wasteland. The shale rocks in the distance where covered with a slight dusty fog that rolled over the landscape slowly.
The clouds mustered together lowly and thickly, only allowing the slightest bits of rays through their siege on the sky.
To Valentyn it was a lovely sight as she sat upon a high hill. Resting upon a rock as the wind flowed through her dark hair. She held a blank face but she was taking in the beauty of the scenery. Despite living in a vault all her life she could still see the loveliness of the land. Even if it now was dust and cracks as series of small settlements were scattered over what was left of a nation 200 years gone.
The sky was particularly darker towards the south back off into the mountains. While the sun off to the north peering in just enough to give the right luminescent glow of light into the sky, countering the gloom behind the woman.
It was a sight, and she missed no chance to enjoy it. After all there were little luxuries in this world, and this was one of the few she ever enjoyed. Especially with what she was faced with having to do.
It was mostly the reason why she found herself taking in the view. To escape. A moment to breath and let her thoughts run through her mind at least in order. It was like piecing a puzzle in her brain. Although it wasn't a tough puzzle.
The pieces were quiet easy to fit together though. She even questioned why she was out here, in the middle of the wastes, starring at nothing but sheer ruin. Much like how her life was becoming.
Valentyn leaned forward and clasped her gloved hands together. She held a look of thought on her face as she looked about the wastes. The woman was here to think. Thinking about the deal she made with Ahzrukhal weeks ago when she first entered the Ninth Circle. How she was to rid the ghoul of people who crossed him. Even when she did go out and kill someone it wasn't because it was the honest truth. She killed a man for no reason. Despite the fact he was a chem addict and a loser was no reason in Valentyn's mind to do rid of him. That was her thought in the end.
Her eyes looked off into the direction of Megaton. Looking at the metal walls and wiring. She lowered her eyes.
When she entered Underworld she was at first nervous and unsure. No one really welcomed her there accept Winthrop, Carol and Greta. Three people who treated her with friendliness and welcoming. These people made a way into her heart and memories. There was no way she could be faced with breaking it up and kill someone who very well didn't deserve it. None of them deserved the heart ache of losing a loved one.
But there was that constant tugging in her chest that always made a grimace come about her white features.
The realization with the fact that she would have to kill Greta in the end, no matter what. There was no other choice for Valentyn to make.
If I don't do this, I'll never get ahead and find Dad. I won't get my answers for why he left. Why we lived a lie. I'll be stuck working for Ahzrukhal…and even then I bet he'll just get Charon to kill me after a certain period of time. Either way someone will die…and I can't let it be me, but I don't want to kill Greta. I couldn't do that to Carol and Winthrop.
They would find out eventually that I did it and I would be screwed any way.
I never should have stepped a single foot in that bar…now look where I am
And what am I doing this all for? …..
Charon
…
I'm doing this for Charon.
I need someone like him just to make sure I can get through a day. But is this choice really worth the prize? How can I think this though?
Of course it is! I'm doing this so Charon no longer has to be some tool, some dog to a monster like Ahzrukhal.
… but if I kill Greta…wouldn't I be no better then Ahzrukhal?
Will Charon hate me in the end? Will he just wait for the day when he can kill me?
I don't want to be someone that he hates in the end!
Things are all just to complicated. How can I go forth when there is no security in any way I look at this!?
The woman folded her head into her dusty hands, shaking her grief filled head. There was no right way of looking at what she had to do. She would just have to hope for the best in the end, what ever choice she makes. Valentyn would have to trust that Charon might not even bat an eye to what she will do. But that was highly unlikely since the ghoul warned her fair enough of what was to come.
Valentyn would have to face the fact she would become someone she feared becoming. How she would take her first steps into dealing with a lifestyle she either wise would never pursue.
Charon was better suited for this style of life then she was that's for sure.
Then again Charon killed indiscriminately. Only doing so when his life was threatened or when Ahzrukhal's life was on the line. Disobeying an order from Ahzrukhal held the same reaction.
Charon could kill without second thought then why couldn't she?
What is it that makes him so cold to death? He never thinks a second thought to the life that is at the tip of his barrel. He pulls the trigger without regret…. He said he was raised by people who were like slavers or mercenaries. People who were the nastiest pieces of work you could come across. But I wasn't raised like that…..but Dad did teach me to prepare for change, whether it was good or bad, always learn to adapt. That was how you survived…
It began to pull together in her mind of what she would do. Slowly she was receiving an answer to the question that plagued her like a mental sickness, boring a way into her mind like a parasite.
Valentyn would have to learn to mentally detach herself from her emotions. Learn that life is a game that must be taken seriously. If she didn't it would be certain she would never exceed past this point.
Valentyn would just have to hope for the best and that Charon would not think her anything less then a person who had to do something just to get ahead in life. After all isn't that what most people out here did?
It hardly seemed like anyone can live honestly out here in this unforgiving hell hole. No one made a life from being the Holy walker of the wastes. And to Valentyn it was starting to seem like that was a role she was not suited for. But nor did she want to be someone that was hated. Better to be known as someone with very little profile. And the more she ran that through her head the better it was sounding each time.
Slowly Valentyn lifted her head up and sat back on the rock she was resting on. Her glassy green orbs looked up at the sky above. A few black birds glided on the chill winds up high above her head.
She took the chill air into her lungs deeply and released it in a long exhale. She felt a slight uplift in her sadness, but only just. The answer to her ultimatum would mould her into a new person but the fact of having to do rid of a precious life to do so still weighed heavy on her shoulders.
No amount of shrugging could take it off.
Valentyn turned her head back to the sun as the light faded out behind a large gloomy cloud. A chill wind came over that was enough to make her shiver.
The woman gave a slight huff and rose to her feet. Looking over the land once more before retrieving the rifle that was placed beside her on the rock.
She slung the weapon onto her slender leather shoulders and departed her way down the rocky hill.
She would return to Megaton for the evening. Though she doubted she would return to Underworld anytime soon. Even though she was getting used to the thought of what she had to do, she still didn't want it to come any quicker then it needed to. Though time felt short.
Valentyn traversed the dried land on her way back to Megaton, she was out looking for some game to hunt but she didn't really have any luck.
Oh well.. Looks like it's going to be a box of…whatever is in the house….yea no I need to find some meat…. ugh! No home yet…. I need to find something for dinner
Valentyn stopped with a trudge. She tossed her head from side to side, checking out the surrounding area for something that would give her a sign that an animal had come through. Particularly a mole rat or something small. Just nothing to big. She wasn't in the mood to try and take down something bigger then her. Just keep it easy and simple.
Valentyn quickly traversed a large hill till she reached the top. There was a flat paved road that stretched out a long ways but the road was broken up and badly cracked all down the stretch. Valentyn raised her hand up to look up and down the road for any sign of something killable.
Maybe if she looked a little further down the road she would catch her eye on something suitable enough. Slowly she went down the road and when she did so she removed the large rifle from her back, readying herself in case she found something or needed to defend herself.
Valentyn walked past the old Corvegas that were lined up unevenly down the road, every now and then there was a truck that had several holes punched into it. The signs of bullet hole was clear but Valentyn saw nothing of the ones who could have laid them into the metal.
They were probably long gone by now, for all Valentyn knew they were probably years old.
CLANG! CLANG!
…
Valentyn shot her head in the direction the loud noise was coming from, her eye's narrowed towards the end of the truck.
CLANG!
Could it be a mole rat?…
She pondered for a moment, not stepping any further till she could debunk what was moving around in the hollow back of this old pre war truck.
Mole rats sometimes hid in spaces like the back of this truck, sometimes when they strayed to far from a burrow and needed a place to hide out till it was safe. That or it was looking for food.
BANG!… CLANG, CLANK!….CRASH!
That's not a mole rat.
All the noise was not assuring it was a mole rat. There was to much being thrown about the back of the vehicle for it to be a mutated mole. Valentyn gripped her rifle tighter. This was not a reassuring situation. It could be a yao guai sniffing around for food, but then again Valentyn could hear no persistent growling echoing out of the metal walls.
What is in there?
Valentyn crept up to the end of the trailer ever so quietly. She was not about to let anything get the upper hand on her. Securely, she raised her rifle up to prepare to blow away anything that dared leap forth at her.
"Oh man there has to be some here….Fuck!"
Valentyn raised her dark eye brow to the young but raspy voice that was coming from the back of the trailer. The voice sounded like it hadn't had any water in centuries but what tone was behind it was young but deep. However Valentyn could see very little past all the metal containers that obscured the source of the voice. But Valentyn was certain the source was male.
Her eyes widen when a metal box came flying her way and she abruptly moved to the side so the container would hit the pavement and not her.
The box hit the ground with a clang but now the woman was determined to see who was rummaging through the trailer.
Raising a foot up Valentyn lifted herself with her rifle raised to get a clear view into the back of the truck.
There was a long moment of silence that hummed in the air when white misty eyes looked up at large mossy green ones.
His weathered and exposed tissue that was run with cracks and flaking husk was clear to the woman that she was looking at a ghoul. One she was not familiar with nor had she ever seen him before.
The rotted features of the ghoul were blank but he looked at Valentyn wide eyed, like a deer caught in the head lights. There was no better way to describe the look about his face. Valentyn could only stare back. It struck her odd, but her gaze was held for a moment at the dark sunken skin around the ghouls eyes. It made his white orbs stand out even more. Maybe that was why she found herself looking on with a stupid expression about her face. Which was made much more serious when the ghoul bounced up and pointed a 10mm pistol straight at her.
"Don't step any closer!….who are you?!" the ghouls shouted at Valentyn.
The woman would have thrown her hands up but she couldn't help but notice the lack of clip in the pistol. Valentyn made a pathetic look at the ghoul.
" what!? What's wrong with you are you def?" he asked with a high pitched voice. The ghoul was more frightened then angered. And he was failing trying to put on the tough guy persona.
Valentyn however still kept her grip tight on the rifle. But she really saw no threat.
"you do realize there is no ammunition in your pistol?" she said flatly, staring at the ghoul from the other end of the trailer.
The ghoul stared for a moment as his mouth slowly hung agape to the woman's observation. His eyes began to shift in a panic, but lowered the weapon.
" maybe you should just put the gun down completely…" Valentyn suggested, nudging her rifle downwards to gesture the ghoul to put his weapon down.
The ghoul complied and lowered the pistol, placing it on the ground slowly and raising his hands up slowly.
"You're not a raider are you?" he questioned with some hesitation in his voice.
Valentyn raised an eyebrow.
"No… why do you ask?" she questioned back.
the ghoul looked about the trailer he was in, hands still raised. He took a moment before looking back at the human in front of him.
" I was being tailed by a patrol of them just down the road…I thought maybe they had caught up with- OH SHIT!"
The ghoul threw his hands over his head and ducked down to the sounds bullets implanting into the metal of the vehicles that were lined up behind. Valentyn whipped around to see 5 raiders encroaching down the road towards them.
"Shit!…" she said as she dove deeper into the truck, taking cover from the hail of bullets that were still coming.
Great, I so didn't want to deal with this shit right now…
A sneer came over her white face as the shouts and calls from the raiders taunted their trapped prey.
"Oh fuck we're so screwed!" the ghoul shouted from behind the boxes.
Valentyn dared to steal a peak passed the boxes she had cover from. Quickly she whipped the rifle up and lined up the scope on the closest raider that was making his way down the road to them.
Her cross hairs perfectly placed over the head of the raider. She pulled the trigger with little hesitation. Feeling the recoil in her arms as the bullet flew forth.
Faster then the blink of an eye the raiders head was dispersed and sprayed over the corvegas hood.
But the rest of the raiders didn't stop at the one death of their fellow punk, but still they pushed forward.
"This is so bad! … fuck this I'm out!" the ghoul raised up to his feet, catching Valentyn's attention from the corner of her eye.
"You just stay the fuck there if you want to live through this!" she shouted back at the ghoul who looked at her surprised but crawled back to the position he was in previously.
Valentyn turned her head back to her scope, a bitter grimace was across her face at the current situation. She quickly went to seek out her next target but it was proving to be difficult with the constant fire upon them. She growled as she leaned back for cover from the assault.
"Look I could deal with these guys better if I had someone to give me a little cover!" she shouted as she tried to see an opportunity for her to strike back.
"What do you expect me to do! I have no ammo! Why the fuck do you think I was in here to begin with!?" the ghoul's eyes narrowed at the woman who was giving him the same amount of distain. The ghoul could only throw out his hands and make an astonished gesture to her.
Valentyn rolled her eyes and drew her attention back to the raiders who were still assaulting the truck the two were stuck in.
There was a little bit of slack when they had to reload and Valentyn took the opportunity to throw her rifle up and asses the situation. She noted the raider standing on the hood of a car. He was quickly reloading his assault rifle to take fire upon the head and shoulders that were aiming for his form.
Valentyn kept her sights but aimed lower then the head. She pulled the trigger twice directing the two shots to the hood of the car that the man was standing on. At first when the bullets made impact. The raider looked down between his legs for a brief moment before shooting his head back up to look at the woman in the truck.
But suddenly an explosion erupted forth in a nuclear mushroom cloud. The blast was strong enough that it knocked the other raiders clear off their feet.
Valentyn threw her head up past the scope to see the wreckage and the splayed out raiders on the earth.
The ghoul peaked his head past the metal boxes to view the situation that was unfurling. At first he didn't react but when he realized the series of fire popping off in the car ahead of the one that had just gone off, his white eyes widened in those black sockets. Quickly he leapt forth and grabbed Valentyn's shoulder roughly in a tug.
"GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE MAN! RUN!" the ghoul was high stepping it out of the trailer and Valentyn nearly fell flat out of the trailer.
"WHY!? WHAT THE FUCK!" was all she could shout back as she stumbled forward on all fours like some weird mix of human and frightened animal.
The ghoul quickly ran down the broken road a distance before leaping into the air dramatically and landing in a cloud of dust in a ditch just off to the road. He shot his head up and looked at the woman who had followed him. Out of instinct to danger the ghoul shot his hand out and grabbed the leather of her jacket, gripping it tightly and pulling the woman down harshly into the earth.
"Hey! What the fuck is wro-"
SPARK! CRACK!
….
KABOOOOOM!
….
KKAHHBOOOOOOMM!
Valentyn hadn't a moment to complain at the action the ghoul used to get her down she was more occupied in protecting her ears from the repeated blasts of the cars that continuously exploded like a row of dominos going over.
The raiders that were knocked down by the first blast hadn't even gotten a moment to react to the situation and were caught up in the explosions.
Valentyn at first didn't dare remove her hands from her ears. But the sounds of wreckage hitting the earth was enough to make her take her hands from the side of her head.
The hollow echo in the air as fire rippled through it was the only thing to be heard.
Valentyn looked up into the sky in disbelief. Even the ghoul who was next to her did the same.
Every thing was silent aside from the fire, and it seemed like a long time they looked up into the grey sky as dust and metal fell down to earth. Not all of it was metal though , Valentyn and the ghoul both jolted back when a carcass hit the earth in front of them heavily and rather wetly.
Both person's mouths were hung open to the sight of the mangled torso of a raider. The charred remains stank the air up thickly as several more chunks of body parts and entrails slapped upon the earth.
The ghoul grimaced sourly at the burning body at his feet, kicking out harshly to push the wreaking corpse away from the remains of what was his nose. He turned his head to look at the woman beside him who was also looking back at him. They both held a wordless expression to the whole fiasco that unfolded in these few short moments.
At first Valentyn said nothing to the ghoul who stared at her. The ghoul turned his head away just the slightest to look at the scene before them, he let out a huff of astonishment before trying to pear over the slope to see the scene they had fled from.
"Holy shit!" the young ghoul said looking over the scene of tossed over vehicles and trucks.
Fire and debris was scattered everywhere and the road was considerably blackened from heat by the blasts. The amount of destruction was enough to make Valentyn's mouth hang.
"whoa!… " was all she could say, looking at the scene.
"Aren't you glad I pulled you out of there with me" the ghoul said cockily to the human beside him, placing his hands on his hips, looking at the woman then back to the scenery.
Valentyn shifted her dark ringed eyes over to the ghoul blankly.
"Aren't you glad I came along when I did?" she retorted back in much the same manner.
" hey, those raider's could have walked right on by and not found me and I would have been home free!" the ghoul replied back raising his thin eyebrows. Or at least what was left of them.
Valentyn frowned just the slightest, looking at the ghoul with her brows knitted.
"I hardly think so, if you made enough noise to get my attention I'm pretty sure those raider's would have found you by now…"
Valentyn looked up at the ghoul, tossing her hand on her hip as she slung her rifle onto her shoulders. Shaking her head pathetically.
"Or maybe not, we'll never know…" he replied shrugging his shoulders up into his neck, tossing his head to the side carelessly. But he did smile at the woman softly.
Valentyn looked at him flatly, at his display of carelessness. Though she took a moment to observe the ghoul in front of her.
He was a young ghoul, it looked like he had only just entered the later stages of ghouli-fication but not much of his skin was soft and pink, surely the blackened socket that housed his foggy white eyes did tell he was weathered. He hardly had hair on his head but it made up for covering most of his head in a single thick strip that was dyed a deep violet down the middle of his head, lofting slightly in his face.
This ghoul was taller then Valentyn but only by a few inches, but even then it seemed to make all the difference in stature. His clothing was dusty and mostly deep grey, almost black with a black scarf wrapped highly around his neck. Much of his outfit was held together by self sown material, accompanied by a large bullet belt slung over his chest.
The ghoul indeed looked like he traveled some, Valentyn noted the large satchels that were secured to utility belts that rested on his hips.
"Uh huh…" she said flatly. Looking the ghoul up and down.
"Trager's the name!" he said happily giving his hand out to the woman who looked at his hand and then him but then took to returning a friendly hand shake.
"Valentyn…. Nice to meet you….what are you doing all they way out here?" she asked releasing Trager's hand.
The ghoul made a subtle grimace as he reached to rub the back of his neck, glancing at the ground before returning his white eyes back to the woman.
"well that's kind of a long story, you see…. I'm a procurer of special merchandise and those raiders you blew to shit were going to rob me, it's a good thing you came along when you did…god knows what those crazy fucks would have done to me"
The ghoul expressed his gratitude to the woman but didn't really give much into who he was. Though Valentyn didn't really think she need to know much more. It was plain to see this guy was a chem dealer. Not that this bugged her much. She enjoyed the odd mentat once in awhile.
She nodded her head in response to the ghoul's words.
"so that was why you were scrounging in the back of a truck, cuz they were chasing you for Chems? …. " she asked cocking her head to the side.
The ghoul frowned slightly to this response. He slipped his hands in his pockets and bit his lip.
"well I wasted all my bullets trying to fight them off. I thought maybe there was some ammunition in the back of the trailer. You just caught me at the right time…or wrong…I don't know?! Does this really matter? I swear it's the truth!" Trager bounced in his spot, beginning to fidget in his coat to Valentyn's reply.
At first she stepped back with a slightly put off face, she couldn't understand why the ghoul was getting so upset.
"alright buddy calm down, I don't have anything against your story. It just struck me as a little weird to find a ghoul scavenging around in the middle of no where, especially when there's raider's involved. Then for sure something up" she stated.
The ghouls face softened considerably to Valentyn's words. He could have sworn this chick was going to bust his ass worse then those raiders could have. But it seemed like he struck out on meeting someone who wasn't being an asshole.
" and if it makes you feel any better I don't have anything against you being a chems dealer. Just so long as you don't cause me shit." she said wagging her white finger at Trager.
The ghoul chuckled softly and smiled.
" I will keep that in mind." he said smiling at the girl.
"Where are you heading from here?" Valentyn asked slinging her rifle onto her back.
Trager at first didn't answer, he looked about the scenery and shrugged once again, curling his lip slightly.
"well…I was heading to Megaton. I stop there once in awhile to sell my goods and such, but I don't know if I will be stopping for very long. Town law has it's ways of making sure people like myself don't stick around very long. So I think I might just pass on through to the next settlement"
Valentyn starred at the ghoul quietly for a moment. She pondered his words for second in her head.
This guy doesn't really have any where to stay… but I'm not sure if I want someone I hardly even know in my house at the moment….
"you do know there's a saloon that offers a bed right?" Valentyn said suggesting a place for Trager to stay.
Though the ghoul grimaced to her suggestion.
"Moriarty and I don't really get along. Sure I still sell him my goods but there would be no way he'd let me stay any longer then to do business."
The ghoul kicked the ground with his heel, looking at the dust that billowed up each time.
"oh well…I'm sorry to hear that. Moriarty is a dick anyways." Valentyn waved her hand aside like it was nothing to bug the ghoul.
Trager lifted his head and looked at Valentyn with white eyes. She couldn't help but smile softly at the ghoul when he smiled at her, those black sockets lifted when he did smile. Trager had this weird skull like look to his face that added to his personality. In short order she found herself staring for a long period of time, that she hadn't noticed the obvious look on the ghouls face.
The ghoul waved his hand in front of Valentyn's face to get her attention. She shook her head briefly before looking at the ghoul puzzled.
Trager straightened up and chuckled to himself.
"how about we make our way back to Megaton… maybe we can share a drink and talk? Sound good?" Trager said offering an eyebrow up.
"oh! Uh.. Yeah for sure that sounds great!" Valentyn answered back gleefully.
Trager could have laughed at how quick the woman perked up at the offer. The ghoul nudged his head over in the direction they would begin traveling. Valentyn smiled as she joined the ghoul on the trek down the broken road.
The smoke and faint green clouds billowed up slowly into the air and surrounding area. They left the destruction of the traffic jam behind them as the two paired up and made a way back to Megaton.
The two approached the outside of Megaton, Trager looked the rusted walls up and down slowly. He held a firm face in his observation but was lagging behind Valentyn.
She slowly turned to see if the ghoul was still following her. The silence that was about his face caught her attention.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, stopping and facing the ghoul.
Trager shook his head from his thoughts, looking at the woman before giving a half sided smile.
"yeah, man. It's all good. I just haven't been here in a long time…." Trager trailed off from his sentence slightly.
Valentyn frowned just the slightest to this.
"Come on Trager. I'll put in a good word with the town Sheriff and you really shouldn't have a problem with sticking around." Valentyn gestured for the ghoul to come over. Trying to smile just enough to encourage him to come forth.
Trager lowered his head and shook it with a huffy raspy chuckle. Casually walking up to the woman. He had a smile on his face.
"I really appreciate it, but don't go putting your name on the line for a chem dealer. Things tend to go sour pretty quickly for people" he said with some concern.
But Valentyn wasn't all to deterred with what Trager said. It seemed like a lot of things were going sour as of late. She was starting to get used to that fact.
" trust me I know, but it's alright…I seem to find myself in a lot of situations like that" she said as she turned away to lead Trager to the front gates of Megaton.
Trager raised a chalky brow to Valentyn's answer but said nothing. Probably something he would be better off asking about later. He watched the woman ahead of him lead the way to the gates. Which parted like a giant metal mouth.
The small two person party entered the busy settlement. Many of the residents were going about their daily business not really heeding Valentyn but a few took notice to Trager but didn't say anything.
There was a small caravan of to the side of the gates, the merchant was standing with his guards talking to Simms who turned his head just enough to Catch a glimpse of Valentyn and the ghoul who followed her in.
Simms quickly excused himself from the caravan to address the woman who had returned to town.
"bringing back some of your friends from Underworld I see" Simms addressed Valentyn with a firm booming voice.
The grip she felt on her chest and ears drew the woman's head directly to the source of the voice. Valentyn's heart sank for a brief moment but then she began to wonder why, it wasn't like she had done something wrong, but still she straightened up and faced Simms.
Trager on the other hand was standing behind the smaller, he knew there was hardly a chance for him to enter without there being something said or done.
The ghoul chuckled slightly when the man walked up to them.
"oh uh….he's not from Under World. He's a friend of mine though, he won't cause any trouble if that's the concern?" Valentyn looked up at Lucas somewhat sheepishly.
Trying to butter the sheriff up was probably not the greatest plan but she tried to make it seem like this ghoul was nothing more then a friend…even though she just met Trager and honestly didn't know much of him, but she wasn't partial to leaving people for dead in the wastes, especially people who didn't deserve that.
"No… but I do know his type of person though, and I'm just giving a fair warning I don't take well to having my town fed those kind of substances, the wastes are more likely to kill you, why add more fuel to the fire?"
He said crossing his thick arms over his broad dust covered chest, Trager said nothing and kept his mouth shut. But nodded politely, ensuring his free access to the town. But still Simms dark eyes processed the ghoul cautiously but showed no teeter in thinking other wise.
"No I know Simms, trust me… he's a good person. He wasn't going to stay for long."
Valentyn looked over her shoulder and up to the ghoul who was still behind her but watching the man ahead of them. Trager's silence was not comforting however and she began to wonder if this was a good idea after all.
But the ghouls expression changed quickly and he gave Lucas a wide smile.
"Don't worry sir, I'll be on my best behaviour while I visit your lovely town" Trager interjected with a wisp of Charm that even made Valentyn look up at him with a slightly surprised face.
Simms on the other hand could taste the sarcasm that was stewed into the ghouls words, his brows lowered slightly.
"Glad to hear it…" he said weaving his distaste for the person standing behind Valentyn.
Simms gave her one firm look before turning his eyes back to more pressing matters. Valentyn could have sworn there was a spike of needles jabbing into her when Simms stared down at her before leaving. It made her white chest heave with an exhale.
God I hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass….
"Come on, let's go find that drink I promised you!" Trager said placing his black gloved hands on her leathered shoulders with a pat.
Valentyn's brows knitted slightly but then loosened at the thought of a nice cold beer.
"To the Brass Lantern then" she said. Turning and looking at the ghoul who's smile was now a curvy grin.
The two tromped down the Hill into Megaton to the Brass lantern, the sweet taste of aged wheat and hops was awaiting.
" Soooo…. What's this I hear? You've been to Underworld and didn't tell me? I think you should share this little story with me" Trager inquired to the woman who sat directly across an old and cracked table from him, sipping her beer.
A shapely brow raised on Valentyn's face as she lowered the dark bottle to the surface of the table, her pink tongue slipped over her dark lips licking the sweetness of the beer away.
She let out a breathy exhale.
" oh please don't make me talk about that place" she said with some displeasure in her tone.
"Hey come on I told you where I was from, at least entertain me with how you found yourself there?" Trager had a poking tone in his voice. He was curious as to why a smooth skin found themselves in such a place, it had to be interesting.
Valentyn's expression furrowed into a pitiful look.
" you just said where you were coming from, you didn't actually tell me where you're home is…." she paused and watched the ghouls white eyes stare right at her. Yet again she let out a huff.
" …well I guess I just found myself there. I heard about it and was curious so I went looking, I like the place just fine, even though at first I was stared at like roles had been reversed, but I made a few friends there…I just don't care to be returning any time soon that's all…."
Valentyn trailed off towards the end, this caught the darkly ghouls attention as he drank the beer rather quickly. He observed her for a moment from across the table. She stared down at the table top. Faint dim light was peering through the little pin holes that were punched into the thin metal walls of the Brass Lantern.
The corner of Trager's mouth made a slight frown to her words. He was certain there was more to the story then she lead on. There was little chance she was there for simple trade. Her whole look about her was more deeper then the story she told. Even the weapon perched upon her back said volumes.
The way the raiders were quickly handled supported Trager's theory that she was some kind of Merc or wanderer looking for a few caps. Though she matched the description of the person who came crawling out of a vault just a few months ago.
Trager rested back into his seat as it made a metallic creak to his weight.
" I have a different question for you instead.." Trager said calmly, still keeping the conversation alive, since Valentyn had become noticeably silent.
" sure… shoot" she said simply.
" how do you live out here in the wasteland. I have my ways of making a few caps, but someone like you must have other means then just selling Chems and scrap like most people. Come on don't lie."
Trager cooed the last part out a little to smoothly for her liking. She kind of sat back into her chair but not fully. She just stared blankly at the ghoul across from her who was smirking devilishly, pressing his cracked and flaking lips to the mouth of the bottle.
" Well y-yeah…I mean no…I don't really do that or atleast not much. I try and make a few caps by hunting game whenever….but that doesn't really line your pockets as good….I guess you could say I hire my skills to people who can pay for them."
There was a long pause from the ghoul but he nodded a response. Valentyn stared back at Trager waiting for something alittle more validating to the information she just gave out to him.
Flickers of fading light from outside cast it's rays over the deep Sockets of Trager's eyes which were looking off into the distance before they drifted downwards then back up to the woman who was intently waiting for him to continue.
" and my guess is that you hire out your skills with that rifle on your back, a hired gun, eh?…. Hmm"
Valentyn's soft green eyes assessed the look of thought that carved itself about Trager's peeling face. She knew his next few words would be something that she might not feel like doing, given her current situations.
"would you be interested in hiring your services out to me?"
There was hardly any response of yes or no about her white face as she stared off at the ghoul, who was offering out his hand for acceptance of his prior question. Valentyn chuckled slightly as she shook her head and smiled some what bitterly.
Valentyn had hardly been free of Underworld for less then 4 days now. 4 days since she left Underworld to escape the act she was forced into committing. 4 days since she left the Ninth Circle behind. 4 days since she had last seen Charon's face. And 4 days just to by time from Killing Greta.
It only took less then that for someone to come ask her for the use of her weapon in their needs alone. The swelling sinking feeling in her gut was like an acid festering and peeling away her stomach lining. It made her have a bitter taste in her mouth.
She slowly shook her head negatively to her friend across from her who's expression had also gone slack to her body language.
"I'm not so sure I am up for wild adventures in the wastes…." her voice was held in the back of her throat with reluctance.
Trager's face went considerably disappointed, his features dropped into a frown as he coiled back from across the table top into his seat.
"now.. Don't be too hasty to say no, I can compensate your services fairly, with more then just caps too. " he enticed, trying to change the woman's mind.
Still the woman slunk back further into her chair, any further she would fall back onto the floor.
" at least let me tell you what you would be doing for me, you might change your mind then, come on just listen to me before you decide?…."
Rough eye brows perked up in an attempt to make the woman feel alittle more softly to the situation the ghoul was about to present her with. Trager focused his white eyes on the green orbs of Valentyn.
"Alright tell me what you have in mind. But that doesn't mean I'm saying yes" she said crossing her arms, she sipped the remains of her beer, listening intently to Trager's proposition.
"that's all I'm asking, you see there's a place called Evergreen mills just south west of here. It's a long travel and dangerous like crazy, but so worth the parole once we get there. Just the only down side is that the place is packed to the nuts with Raiders. I've been there before and man did I rake in a whole shit load of caps from just one night." Trager rested his arm across the top of his chair, leaning back as he told the woman his story and plan.
"if you have been there before then why do you need me?" she said flatly faintly raising a brow.
"I just said the journey was dangerous, I didn't make it there by myself the first time, I had a merc with me who was watching my back the whole way. We made it there but after that night he ended up gutted cause he picked a fight with the toughest ass in there. Since then I haven't been back there and I'm dying for a chance to get back there and make a fist full of caps, if you help me I'll cut you in on the caps and give you some of the specialty product everyone wants to get there hands on, come on so what do you say, will you come sell drugs to Punks with me?"
Trager batted his eyes at Valentyn who curled her chin downwards and looked at him pathetically at the attempt, but she still didn't hand over her truthful answer to his question.
Though her face went sour quickly afterwards. To the thought of the ghouls words.
" I'm not sure I still want to do this… it sounds like it's way out of my hands, sorry Trager I'm just gonna have to say no"
With that Valentyn stood up from her seat. Trager darted his head up and looked at the woman. He quickly rose to his feet, sliding his chair across the floor to which it wailed as it scraped across the ground, catching some of the other costumers attention.
"Wait, wait!…" he said as he danced into her pathway, raising his hands up excitedly to slow down the woman's pace for the door.
Valentyn stepped back and breathed in slight protest to the ghouls actions of stopping her from walking away.
"… would you at least, think about it? That's not to much to ask…. I'll be here for one night at the least, just tell me if you change your mind. If you don't then oh well. Nothing gained nothing lost. We go a bout our miserable lives like everyone else."
Trager tossed his hands out to the side carelessly and relaxed in his words. He wasn't pressuring Valentyn into saying yes but he just wanted her to know the offer was still there if she wanted to grasp it with both hands.
Though she was thrown off by the whimsical and nonchalant personality he had at times. It reminded her to much of Ahzrukhal. And she wasn't to sure if that was Trager's true personality or if her was just severely laid back and dumb to the world.
"We'll see, I'm not promising anything… thanks for the drink Trager…. Have a good evening"
She slipped her slim frame around the bar counter and past the ghoul who looked off blankly into the space that was the tin wall. His narrow eyes darted the ground as he heard the woman's heavy boot steps exit the restaurant.
It seemed like both of them knew more to each other then they cared to express. Something about Valentyn struck Trager as off. She may have said she traveled to Underworld and stayed… even made a few friends. Though to Trager his interoperation of friends meant something else. And this woman struck him more of that type which was why he offered her the opportunity to sink her hands in some real cash.
Plus knowing how to handle a weapon like that had it's benefits. Trager saw his chance to make real caps and she seemed like the type to make that happen.
Valentyn's behaviour may not have said she was a bad person but Trager knew she was something more then a hired gun.
Valentyn however shut the door to the Brass Lantern and rested her body against the door as her chest heaved out a heavy breath of relief. It was more stuffy in there then it seemed, even with all the holes and openings in that place. She grimaced briefly before departing and slinking up the metal ramps that weaved up and down Megaton.
Fuck, hardly a week free for myself and already I'm trying to be roped into doing less then reputable things…not like murdering isn't disreputable, but now the work seems to be coming freely now….
"hey there sweet cheeks, killed any scabs lately?!"
Valentyn curled her thickly padded shoulders into her white neck at the sound of that god awful voice that made her skin crawl.
Jericho's weathered face was held in a cocky smirk that bled sinister. Staring at the fine form of the woman who graced his eye sight from the corner.
His smirk grew bigger at the creepy crawlies the woman writhed in when he called out to her.
"Jericho….fuck off" she said turning to the ex- raider that was strongly ogling her.
"come on, I'm just trying to strike up conversation. You seem so down lately. Maybe you should pop a few mentat and just fly away. I'm sure that Trager could fix you up with something good" Jericho hummed.
Valentyn lowered her shoulders and looked at Jericho puzzled for a moment.
"You know Trager? " she said inquiring on how the raider knew the ghoul.
" oh course I do, lot's of people around Megaton know him. I just know him alittle better because I met him in Evergreen Mills years ago. He was still selling back then too." he chimed, leaning against the firm wall of his shack.
" you met him at Evergreen Mills?…. Why does that place play such significance lately?" Valentyn scowled to the repeated presence of this particular location. It was full of raiders and horrible people, why was this so relevant now?
"Fuck yeah!…I saw the meat bag of a body guard he brought with him too, hehehe that guy was not the sharpest set of nails I've seen, watched my buddy gut that guy and wear his entrails for a scarf. It still makes me laugh even when I look back now" Jericho laughed out a cough that wheezed at the end.
Valentyn how ever was not enjoying the flashback Jericho shared. If anything it was putting her right off the thought of going with Trager. Though her fate would probably be ten times worse then the Man who was with Trager at the time.
" why are you telling me this?….I have more important things to do…" she said crossing her arms in disgust.
" just thought id share my experience of the place with you, since you'll be visiting that place rather soon, I'd love to see how much you change when you come back. That place can fuck some people right up…well…if you live to leave that is. "
Jericho hoisted his leathered frame from the wall, laughing wildly as he round the corner and drifted off to Moriarty's.
"See you later Sugar Tits!" he said waltzing up the ramps.
She balled her fist up tightly and scowled. The boiling in her veins made her mad. Jericho always had a way of ticking her off. Even when she had the best controls over her emotions and the worst was that Jericho knew it too. Valentyn huffed through her flared pierced nose and sauntered up to her shack. Grumbling hatred to the raider.
I'm not going to that place and it won't change me in any way if I did. It wouldn't turn me into someone more likely to do bad things, or make it easier to kill people… that's not what I want.
….but I am running low on caps….
Valentyn knolled the thought in her head but she still pressed for it not to say yes and give in.
The tumblers fell nicely into place when the key was twisted in the metal tunnel that allowed her to enter her home of metal and rust.
She lazily tossed the keys to the table near the door where they slid over the metal surface.
Valentyn ran her slim fine fingers through her scalp, messing up the large and thick amount of hair that was her head. The blackened brown tangles fell loosely over her shoulder as she removed the heavy equipment from her body. Her white skin relished in the relief of being freed from the weight and wear of her worn attire.
The rest of this evening would be spent in the confines of the shack, where the wind swept through the peaking holes in the walls and floors. It was uncertain how the night would truly be spent, since despite having a little social interaction, Valentyn felt no urge to do much. Maybe the simple up keep and polish of her equipment and weapons was in order later this evening.
Though Valentyn was caught in thought of what she would do next, the woman walked over to the heart shaped bed and sat on it, aloofly un-attached to the surrounding of her home. Disbelief to the fact Valentyn was facing a place where she was stuck. At times she hated how she faced certain things with embrace while other's she was flatly stubborn and naïve too.
Delivering a sound punch to this side of her personality seemed almost tempting if it was possible.
Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to go with Trager to Evergreen Mills? Despite the dangers that were well ahead of them in this journey, the possible threat of being killed by Raiders was not all that welcoming to her senses and put her off even more.
Though this may prove to be a trip that may harden her yet to the harsh reality of life and the devilish games it can play on you. Valentyn was seeking a method of becoming numb to ways of killing, like the person she so desperately worked to obtain.
Then again…if I go, it's not like I can't kill someone for getting in my face. Their all Raiders and mindless freaks. I have no qualms about killing someone who would have no problem doing it to me… this isn't really sounding to bad after all.. I might just get that thicker skin I need.
Deciding if she was truly accepting Trager's proposition was difficult but she now found herself siding with the positive way of looking at things.
But to be plainly honest she was finding the importance of getting to know the mattress underneath her much more enticing then seeking Trager out right now and telling him she was willing to go on this journey.
It was all to simple for the woman to just fall back onto the heart shaped bed and curl up into sleep, her body yearned for thisopportunity to sink into a state of utter relaxation.
She submitted to it willingly.
The hallowing wind swept in stealthily through the old and creaking doors as they shut, with a clunk, the old copper lock bolting in place by withered flaking hands that were cuffed by a well worn business suit.
His eyes watched the yellowed hands do their work in Locking up the Doors to the Ninth Circle. It had been a steady day and it was clear to see about his employers face that he was undoubtedly displeased with the pace of customers coming in today.
Charon stood with his arms crossed like a stone statue of sheer strength and force in his dark and mouldy corner, but even his employer did not flinch to his movements. Ahzrukhal seemed to be the only one who did not cower under Charon's imposing mass.
The shorter of the two whisked his way behind the bar to gloat in a darkly loomed corner that was boxed off by marble counter.
" this is rather displeasing, I do have to say. Yet again that broad across the way has managed to swindle me of willing costumers….hmmmm this is rather upsetting." Ahzrukhal wheezed in the corner of the room, safely behind the marble slab were several bottle of Alcohol were glazing in the amber lighting.
Charon merely Stared off with heavy eyes to his boss. Ahzrukhal briefly met his employees eyes whilst leaning on the counter top, contemplating his lost income for the day.
Charon could feel the stir of grief that was to be fall him in the next few moments of Ahzrukhal realization. He didn't second guess the feeling. It was instinctual to know what was coming next. Though to Charon for a simple second this task that was to be dealt seemed nothing more then bothersome to him, but he quickly suppressed the notion and deemed it useless to his needs.
"What would you have me do about it?" Charon offered up.
At first Ahzrukhal didn't answer, his eyes simply narrowed to the source of the raspy voice that spoke up from it's dishevelled corner. The ghouls hands were clasped together covering the view of his mouth that was clearly held in a scowl, Charon could easily read his employer even when the man's back was turned to him.
Though the scowl slowly swept up into a familiar devilish grin that made Charon clench his jaw just by habit.
Ahzrukhal rose up off the bar like a threatened snake and hummed in response to his employees offer.
"why Charon I do believe it has been while since we've seen out little kitty cat. I do wonder what she is up too? Since it seems that she is not taking care of her part of our deal…. She has not proved disappointing till now."
His hand found it's way to his square and wrinkled jaw as he brushed the thought of Valentyn through his mind.
Charon however simply blinked unattached to the words that just came from his bosses mouth. But yet he still held faint interest to his employer.
Charon knew well enough what was to be asked of him next. Slowly he pushed his armoured frame from the peeling wall with a heavy exhale. His face was stoic while Ahzrukhal's grin could only grow.
" ah Charon I do love it when you know what I want without me even having to say a thing, it will be a shame to have to give up such a good employment so soon" Ahzrukhal wheezed out a chuckle.
The corner's of Charon's mouth tightened downward slightly, he would have to collect any supplies for the trip. Something in him told Charon that this was going to be a longer trip then usual.
" do try and get her to Rid Me of Greta…. It would be a shame if she refused. If she does I am sure you know what to do in that circumstance. I do look forward to seeing our little Pussy Cat rather soon" Ahzrukhal purred placing his withered hands into his worn suit pockets. Rocking on his heels with that snide snake like grin that stretched over his scabbing face like a wide cracking crevasse.
Charon gave a subtle nod and removed his hardened stare from the devil behind the bar and made wide and heavy steps to the back door.
Yes, it would be a shame if Valentyn didn't pull through with her end of the deal. It would mean that would be her end. Though to Charon this would be a disappointing fact. Despite the act of murder she would play out was not amusing to Charon one bit. He was reminded of all the lives he took while working Under Ahzrukhal's fist. The subsequent despatches of innocent people was what Charon was raised to do, created to act out. He was well aware of this.
There was fair warning given to this woman by Charon's lips. She knew what she faced. if she lived through this, it would undoubtedly Change the woman who came through doors alittle more then a week ago.
But Charon found it hard to come up with an answer to this situation. He was not sure what he would make of it, even after this all happens…if it does. Charon was not sure if even then he would know what he would think of Valentyn.
Though his self opinion was stepping in the way of what was to be done at hand. The ghoul grumbled to himself as he swept down the top floor to the steps. A few of Underworld's residents coiled away to the towering ghoul who was growling and grumping when he hulked past them. Trying not to get in Charon's way as he departed the Museum.
Charon truly was the 800 pound gorilla in the room when he was present. There was hardly a time where his presence wasn't noted.
The ghoul entered the night from the museum's main doors, he would travel through the night to seek out Valentyn. Yet again to bring her back to the Devil.
How Charon was getting sick of this repetitive game. The Ghoul growled deeply in his throat as the night swallowed his threatening frame into the blackness.
Plink… plink ….plink…
The sink dripped the diluted water from the mouth of it's rusted facet. The droplets clustered and swirled down the dark abyss of the drain. Much of the house was quiet and unmoved.
The few lights that were on in the home made it seem rather empty and lonesome but with just the slightest bit of warmth pushing back against the cold interior. The only sounds or sense that were heightened was the sound of the few people in Megaton that were engaging in there usual bouts of the late evenings. On occasion Megaton could be rather quiet and not see a single person grace the walk ways till early dawn. But that was rare.
However Valentyn was not stirred from her sleep by the frequent sounds of people walking by or under her home. She simply stayed rested atop of the red bed in her living room. Nothing could possibly disrupt her from her slumber.
BANG BANG BANG!
Valentyn's eyes shot open and she jolted to the sudden metal banging that rattled her ear drums with pain. She griped to the soreness in her weary eyes when they came unglued with the yellowy sleep that had her eyes so perfectly sealed shut.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Oh how her head panged each time the metal was beat up at her door step.
Valentyn groaned as she forced herself to pull her body from the velvet bed and make her way by shuffling to the door. Rubbing her blackened eyes from sleep as she grabbed the handle.
" yes, yes I'm coming hold you water…"
Valentyn's sentence fell short when she pulled the thin sheet metal door open to see the familiar face she made friend with earlier today.
"Trager?… what are you doing here?" she inquired staring at the ghoul who's chest heaved with pulses of shortened breath.
But the ghoul gave no words of explanation as he quickly shoved his way into Valentyn's house and frantically sought something out.
"H-hey what do you think your doing!?" she yelped as she followed the ghoul, shutting the door and throwing her hand onto his wide shoulder and halting him from proceeding any further.
It was clear that Valentyn wasn't pleased with the sudden intrusion and unpleasant wake up call. She held a deeply annoyed face to Trager who turned and looked at her with the hurried expression.
" I need a place to hide… I pissed someone off pretty bad it the saloon and now that Simms dude is looking for me…." Trager urged as his white orbs quickly scanned for a place to hide.
"You what!? And you came here!? What the fuck man!" BANG BANG!
Valentyn's eyes shot wide open to the sound of the door being beaten on once again. Her heart literally skipped in her chest and it made her huff out in frustration to the on coming sudden unexplained intrusions. This was rather unfortunate and she was getting grumpy over it.
Though she was more focused on stuffing her friend somewhere so she could quickly answer that dooming door behind her.
"Ah fuck Trager!… what the fuck did you do!?…. Here, hide up stairs, there's a spare room, lock yourself in there and Shut up!"
Valentyn repeatedly shoved Trager up the stairs forcefully if not almost in a brute fashion. The ghoul hurried his feet up the metal plating of a stair case, tripping his way up the stairs several times before ducking into the room above the stairs.
By now Valentyn was certain that who ever was on the other side of the door heard the commotion and any and all doubt was removed that Trager was hiding out here. Their hissing and cluttering was loud enough to escape the thin walls to the outside.
BANG! BANG!
FUCK!
Valentyn leapt over the bed and stumbled onto the cold floor , where she kicked up her heel and launched herself forward to the door, not wanting it to be forcibly opened by the person on the other side. She straightened her self up and fixed her hair that was clouding her vision like a sea of darkened vines.
Slowly she unlocked the door and opened it. The muscle in her chest that pumped the need life source through her white skin was pulsing hard in her chest she thought she could have passed out from it.
"Good evening" Simms addressed. Looking at the mess of breath that was Valentyn.
Her eyes were wide and she gave him a breathless smile as she peered up at him.
"H-hello… or uh good evening…" she said looking about the darkness out side " is there something I can help you with, Simms" she said keeping the door closed in on her small frame as she stood between the taller man and the threshold of the house.
Simms however, was well aware of the exhausted woman in front of him, and even he had to admit she was not looking very innocent to Simms just knocking on the door.
" I was actually looking for that Ghoul who entered town with you earlier this evening, Trager. I noticed him slithering around the common houses selling Chems to the settlers. I don't take to that kind of behaviour in my town" he pointed to the woman in front of him. Studying her face for any indication that would give him an answer.
Her brows knitted up in concern to Simms words as she tried to put on that she knew nothing about the ghouls prior interactions around town. Because honestly she didn't have any clue, though Valentyn figured that wasn't going to be a good excuse to Simms.
" oh… well I am sorry to hear that… but I haven't seen him all evening…." she replied back politely, not wanting to give Simms any reason to enter her home.
" that's unfortunate. Because I saw him run this way when I confronted him…. I figured since you knew him that he would come seek you out." Simms crossed his arms like usual, he looked down at the woman with uncertain eyes.
"No I'm sorry Lucas, but I haven't…I am sorry you caught him doing such shitty things but he hasn't made himself present"
Simms was silent for a moment but gently nodded his head in response. Valentyn was being rather polite and Simms didn't feel like pulling the brutish side out just to find some Chem dealer who may not even be there. Valentyn was nice enough of a person that Simms would feel bad about forcing his way in.
Instead he backed away from the door and removed his weathered hat from his head, and placed it gently over his chest in a polite gesture of gentlemanly etiquette.
" I thank you for your time then… sorry for the interruption. Have a good Evening Valentyn"
And with that Lucas turned on his heels and departed the shack, leaving Valentyn with a racing heart and fluster.
She shut the door and placed her body weight against it as she let all the built up air she was holding her lungs out in one long dragged out huff.
What a pleasant way to wake up….now to deal with the shit who was up stairs.
"Trager….. You can come down now." she said in a annoyed pitch. For a moment there was no sign that Trager was going to remove himself from the room and it was only when Valentyn dared to grace the stair case did Trager poke his scabbing head from the room.
He peered down with a puzzled expression about his decay face and slowly left the safety of the spare room. Valentyn gazed up at him with her hands held out at her sides with both eyebrows raised, she gave him an annoyed look which made the ghoul rub the back of his neck with an unsure smile as he departed down the steps to confront the woman who was noticeably un impressed with the whole scenario.
" that was a close one, thanks for ducking for me, man. Some people just don't like how others live to get by…" Trager trumped as he took off his gear and threw it off to the corner where it would be of no nuisance to Valentyn.
Valentyn however was not nearly as pleased as Trager was to how things unfolded in the last few moments, she didn't like being hung like a red flag to stand out to everyone in town, especially the law bringers.
She much more preferred to keep things within her own world.
" oh well I'm glad your happy that you got away, but I don't really appreciate the local constabulary beating my door looking for people I hardly have any affiliation with!" she spat at the ghoul who sat himself upon her velvet bed.
" You need to relax, man… he didn't suspect a thing. Nothing bad happened"
Trager removed his boots from his tired feet, curling his toes freely from the confines of the firm leather.
The ghoul looked about Valentyn's abode, admiring the lamp that hung just off from the bed he was sitting on.
The two female figures pressed together made the ghoul smile cockily as he shifted his eyes back to the woman who's arms were crossed.
" you into that kind of stuff?" he asked with a heavily implied flirt.
Valentyn gave him a quick "Huh?" and looked up at the ceiling, staring at the suggestive chandelier that was hanging above their heads. There was a moment of awkward silence from Valentyn as she processed what Trager asked her. It wasn't even relevant to the situation at hand and it made her brain skip.
"Yes!…. I mean no… I mean…. My sexual orientation is none of your business! " she barked in a confused response to Trager.
The ghoul chuckled to himself at Valentyn's reaction. And she huffed a pout as her white shoulders tensed up into her neck.
"this has nothing to do with why you're here Trager…. " she grumped.
" it's plain to see why I'm Here Valentyn, I made it clear to you when we met today that I don't stay in any one place for to long, what just happened on you door step was good proof of my point. Is that a good enough reason why I'm sitting here?" he answered back to her, but not in a snide tone but one of confirmation to her question.
Valentyn didn't reply, she simply observed the ghoul in her house and bit her lip.
" maybe if you were more reserved in your selling habits you wouldn't have gotten caught" she opinionated.
"There's nothing wrong with how I sell my chems… just you come across the occasional dick who just wants to fuck you over….I'm sure you've met people like that in you're time out in the wastes"
Valentyn slowly turned her head up to the ghoul, his heavily implied voice bugged something in her.
"plus I wasn't planning on leaving till you told me you're answer to my earlier offer?"
Valentyn bit the inside of her cheek, she was hoping the ghoul had forgotten about that. But that was a stretch. But she did come to the agreement with herself that she would take up the offer. But her face told a different story to Trager.
" Come on, I doubt Ahzrukhal would pay you as much and give you a bonus on top for that matter" Trager said in a somber voice that rung in her head.
Wait what?….
I did not just hear that name… I must be going def or something…
Her eyes narrowed to Trager who was now smiling at her pleasantly, though her reaction was not nearly the same. Her darkened lips hung apart wordless to the ghoul.
"Did you just say Ahzrukhal?…" she questioned the ghoul with a bitter taste in her mouth that swelled on her tongue.
The ghoul smirked to her response once she heard that name, Trager bobbed his head in a positive confirmation to her question.
"you heard me right" he answered back. Looking at her with cold white eyes.
Valentyn curled back up the steps slightly, not trying to get away from Trager but mentally trying to get away from the name of the person who was a utter bitter sickness to her.
"How do you know Ahzrukhal?" she asked in a low pitch.
" what do you mean, how do I know-…. I'm a chem dealer! I go around and sell my goods to whoever wants to pay for them, Ahzrukhal is one of them, he sells them to his costumers from time to time. He's one of my longest standing buyers aside from Moriarty!"
Trager removed his heavy jacket and tossed it off to the side, leaning back on the bed with his bare exposed arms, looking at her with a smug smirk.
" What make's you think I know him…or even work for him for that matter?" she hissed, becoming more annoyed the more she felt like she was being held hostage into doing something that she didn't want, or like she was trapped.
" Don't you listen to the radio when your near D.C? I've heard about you crawling around down their, and I quote: " Cause a little irradiated Birdy told me you've been spending some serious time down in Ghoulville" sounds like you have your hands tied up with some bad barbed wire if you ask me" Trager chimed as he kept his piercing stare on the woman who had now seated herself on the stair case.
Valentyn stared blankly off into the wall directly ahead of her, Hardly a week and she was already being plagued with Ahzrukhal's presence despite him not actually being in the room.
Though Trager's voice and behaviour gave her no reason to feel like she was trapped, Valentyn couldn't help but feel aggressive to the situation.
" plus I know where your actually from. Must suck living in a hole all your life…" Trager added.
" my life and my business with Ahzrukhal is none of your concern…." she growled.
" but you don't deny you have services with the guy either. You really shouldn't be all that put off with me asking you…I don't care what your arrangements are with him"
" then why do you care who I am to Ahzrukhal?" she inquired staring directly at the ghoul with sharp eyes.
Trager hummed for a moment then pulled himself into a sitting position where he stared back at the woman with a fruitful smile.
"I don't really… but that just makes me feel more secure about having you with me on the trip to Evergreen mills, unless your still adamant about not going?"
Trager purred the end of his words like a decrepit cat with severe mange, his eyes were just as sickly but bright as they inspected the woman ahead of them for an answer.
Valentyn gave the ghoul a hard glance and folded her lips in thought.
"I have considered your offer…."
" and what is your decision then? Trust me if you say yes I will compensate you well for your services."
" compensate me how?" she asked resting her white chin in her hand.
Trager's remaining eyebrows perked up as he reached into the large utility belts that were on his hips.
" I'll give you a free sample of the stuff I'm willing to throw into the payment if you say yes that is"
Trager pulled out a darkened bag that crinkled in his grasp. Slowly he pulled the plastic apart and pulled out a plump branch that had a large cluster of somewhat fuzzy plant that was a vibrant green. Greener then anything she had ever seen out in the wastes or in the Vault. The crystalline dust that seemed to cluster on the tips of the coning buds was glistening from what light was shining in the room. The streaks of florescent purple and faint red decorated the tips of the woven through the leaves was rather pretty to Valentyn's eyes as she observed the branch between the ghouls fingers.
"What is that?" she asked as she stood up and stepped alittle closer to the ghoul, who was smiling a good amount to her observation.
"This is Reefer my friend, and it's one of the most rarest things in the wastes. It only grows in one place out in the wastes and not many people know about it." Trager turned the branch into his hand and held it out to the woman.
"how do you take it?" Valentyn asked hanging in for a closer look.
"Simple you just roll it up into a paper, or you can eat it…though it doesn't taste all that great. Burning it is the best method, come sit and I will roll one up and you can sample the payment I have for you"
Trager patted the empty side of the mattress for Valentyn to come take a seat with him. She paused for a moment but her curiosity won over and she joined the ghoul by his side while he brought out a small brown piece of paper.
Valentyn cautiously approached the bed watching the ghoul unfold the paper and begin busting the large buds apart into tiny little pieces.
"Now watch closely, I'll show you how to smoke this shit right" Trager charmed as he prepped the plant for inhalation.
Slowly she sat herself beside the ghoul, watching closely. The next few moments were a chance to relax and un whined, Valentyn's day was much needed for an uplift. And this little plant was gonna get her there.
The amber light was so intense to sensitive pink eyes as two pairs stared up into the lewd chandelier that seemed to be so high above them like a taunt to something the two could go for right about now.
"it's so beautiful" Trager inquired buzzing to the form of the lamp that he tried to reach out for but was well out of his grasp.
Valentyn stared up blankly with a hard squint, her eyes felt glued in this position and no matter how hard she tried to pry her lids open with wide face stretches, they always ended up feeling the same again. She wasn't uncomfortable but rather relaxed and… mellowed out. Though she had no urge to get up and leave the comforts of the heart shaped bed.
The two were fanned out on the bed staring at the same thing, laying and looking up at the ceiling. The room was clouded and thick with smoke, it smelt pleasant however and Valentyn had to admit she liked the way she felt right now.
She had forgotten the troubles that she had on her plate before hand. And slipped into a state of delicious apathy.
"what's beautiful dude?" she said turning her head just the slightest to see if she got a glimpse of the ghoul who was laying above her head.
"the two chicks…. Their like fucking over our heads… that's fucking beautiful man." he said breathlessly and slow, his arms were wrapped under his head as a pleasured smile wisped on his face.
Valentyn could only giggle a response as she kicked up her feet and started rocking her legs back forth. The juke box was playing quietly off to the side as the two stoned people dazed in the smoke filled living room.
"I can't believe people don't know about this stuff, fuck I feel stupid for missing out on this when I was younger, would have made things much more interesting in the Vault."
She stretched and let out an exhale as she admired the interior of her house more so now then she cared to notice any other time.
Trager looked up above him where the woman who had so kindly let him stay, was resting bouncing her foot to the beat of the music.
" so what do you think, is it good enough to add to you're payment? Do you wanna come with me to Evergreen Mills and get a tougher skin to deal with bullshit? It will be worth your while I promise!" Trager said with a comforting tone that made Valentyn shut her eyes and smile.
" ah geez man…. Mmmm…okay fine I will. But only cuz this shit is pretty good. Alright..Trager….we're off to Evergreen mills in the morning!"
Valentyn thrust her hand up eagerly into the air with a finger directing straight to the ceiling above. Clearly stoned from the Reefer but she was certain this was what she wanted to do. It was better then having to go back to Underworld.
She pulled her heavy body up from the bed with reluctance, or at least that was how it felt.
Trager watched her rise to her feet and shuffle off to the stairs.
"you can sleep in this bed tonight. Tomorrow we shall go to Evergreen… I sure hope your right about this place.." she said with a teeter in her frame as she hung on the post awaiting her journey up the stairs to her bed.
Trager sat up momentarily and looked at the woman with glazed orbs.
"Awww…you mean we can't share this bed?" he whined In a suggestive tone that drew Valentyn's attention.
She looked at him without say a thing as her expression pursed into something alittle more perplexed and sour.
"sorry but I am not nearly intoxicated enough for that to happen… consider yer-self lucky that you're going to Evergreen tomorrow….Night Trager… and don't try anything" she wagged her finger to the ghoul as she slowly made her way up the steps.
Trager grinned like a dog with a bone…that was probably his problem to begin with, why else would he inquire to the notion of sharing a bed.
Not that Trager wasn't decent to look at for a ghoul, or by Valentyn's standards but she wasn't about to bed someone she just picked up out of the wastes
She contradicted her personality on so many levels at times even she considered herself weird. But this was no matter of concern at the moment. It may have been all the stress lately that threw her off her sex drive but she paid little mind to it.
Valentyn dragged herself up the steps to the bed room that awaited her presence. This Reefer stuff made her tired enough that her bed was a tempting comfort and she soon found her head hitting the pillow.
Little did she know that the journey she was to embark on in the morning would change how she went about her world.
AU Note: wow chapter 7 done. I didn't think I was going to stick with this story that far. And I'm glad that atleast most of it is turning out how I was hoping it would. I'm just hoping that you readers are enjoying yourselves as much as I am writing it.
I have to admit though at times I hate writing this out, but I pull through in the end : )
As for the new Character Trager, I find his Character to be amusing at times. Since he comes off as a young adult with to much cockiness but yet laid back and comforted by his trade. If anything I based him off of a friend I had while in a filming program a year or so ago. Their personalities are rather the same. If any was curios as to what Trager looked like there is a concept of him on my DeviantArt page that is in my profile page here, just follow the link.
I do hope you guys are enjoying the read. See you guys in the next update!
3
