You Picked: Buy Him a Drink


Her gaze softens. There're rules to the wasteland she's so used to living in; every man for himself. This meant no free stuff. Period.

But this man- she had to have mercy on him; he was desperate and lonely and sad. Plus she had a soft spot for ghouls. Once, when her camp was raided by some exceptionally frivolous Great Khans and she was left bound by rope in a cave infested with Mole Rats, a ghoul heard her muffled yells and got her out. He could have just walked by, left her as a nibbling post, but he didn't.

And all this guy needed was a little water.

Her lips lift into a bright smile. "Sure."

The bartender saunters over, "This guy givin' you any trouble, miss?" He eyes him as if he's a feral tearing her into pieces.

She sets her glass down and giggles, "No, of course not." Her hands dig into the small coin bag and scrape up three more caps. They jingle like bells as they spill onto the countertop, "Wine, please." The ghoul's face lights up brighter than The Tops itself.

The bartender's pressed eyebrows release. He smirks and nods lightly in the ghoul's direction, "Alright."

The ghoul holds the wine glass as if it were the Holy Grail itself. He tips it over his cracked lips and the wine spills down his pumping Adam's apple and onto his tattered clothes.

The woman laughs, and the bartender awkwardly stares, then goes back to cleaning some cups in the back.

"You sure're thirsty." She says as he sets it down.

His back's straight now, and the desperate look's been replaced with sincere gratitude and refreshment. His veiny eyes meet hers, "You cannot believe what you've done for me...Thank you. I was about to die of thirst, I swear." He laughs weakly, "I'd shake your hand, but I'm sure you wouldn't like that..." He glances down at his cracked hands.

But her hand is already out for him to shake, "It's not like it's contagious." She gives him another warm smile, "I've touched worse anyways."

"You are the nicest woman I've met." He pauses to wipe his eyes, then accepts, "I'm Eric."

"Nice ta meetcha, Eric."

Eric gingerly swings around on his seat to face the counter, "Ladies dressed as fancy and as pretty as you usually don't have time for guys like me."

"Oh, that's just because it's usually true. I got this dress wandering the wastes. Kept it in good condition." Her fingers gently caressed the brown fabric of her Pre-War relaxed wear. It buttoned up to the collar and came with a tight black leather belt that hugged her waist and a shiny pair of black heels: the only thing that made her feel like a woman in this apocalypse.

"You're one of the only ladies I've seen that look good in a brown dress, you know that? Goes well with your green hair stuff. Reminds me of nature in a way. Like before the War."

She blushes slightly, "Oh, thank you."

As the bartender gets to work cleaning his cup, Eric stands up and bows low, "I don't know how I'll ever repay you. I hope you can forgive me- I have to go. My shift starts in a few."

"Oh, absolutely. Where do you work?"

His eyes trail the floor, as if ashamed, "Gomorrah. I-I had to, really. I'm paying off a debt. My son...he needed medicine from The Strip. I had to pay to get in and pay for the medicine. It's the only way to get out of the hole I'm in." He gulps down a breath, "I hate it."

Then he leaves her with the words, "Hope we meet again, friend."


Okay, so this is where the stories mostly split. Before I could just send you to the same sort of chapter and continue it from there, but that's not how it's going to be anymore. So, you ready to do some thinking? Choosing your next chapter is going to be a bit complicated. I hope I've made it a bit clearer here.

Continuing your story depends on some factors. If you've forgotten some of the choices you made you can always go back to the earlier chapters. I'll mark in the titles where the choices are. I've also made a Story Insignia, which will show up in the titles, too, and help guide you through your individual journey. Some will evolve over time.

If you:

- Followed the Rules at the entrance and had Fox go after his Rabbit's Foot, go to Chapter 10

This Story Insignia is: !

- Refused to Give up your Weapons at the entrance and had Fox go after his Rabbit's Foot, go to Chapter 11

This Story Insignia is: ?

- Followed the Rules at the entrance and didn't go after the Rabbit's Foot, go to Chapter 12

This Story Insignia is: '

- Refused to Give up your Weapons at the entrance and didn't go after the Rabbit's Foot, go to Chapter 13

This Story Insignia is: -