The rest of the walk to Diamond city took an hour, and when they got there around 4 according to Anne's pipboy. She started making her to the detective agency, saying how they could stop in at the market after.
They entered and he could hear a conversation going on.
"Come on Nicky. I'm just asking for your opinion. It'd be a great quote." the woman had a thick accent, and he saw the woman who'd come in with Anne the day she hired him. What was that a week ago?
"She's my client Piper. Why don't you learn not to snoop on a woman's private affairs." the synth reprimanded. Pipers eyes moved to the door.
"Well well, speak of the devil." Oh, so they were talking about her. Great.
"Good to know I'm popular," Anne mumbled, rubbing the back of her head, "Find any leads Nick?" she asked, Piper looked at them with a confused look.
"What we talking about?" Piper said.
"Found a chip in the guys head. Not for Poker….well...not a good game of poker." MacCready shrugged from behind Anne. Piper just looked more confused.
"That guy, Kellog, was almost all machine. In his brain, there was some chip. Nick was looking for a place where I could try and get it...looked into." Anne said walking towards the two. MacCready looked around, noticing the girl from before. He smiled at her and she turned around making her way around a corner out of sight, though not quick enough to hide how red her face was getting. Damn that feels good.
"Oh yeah, that makes more sense," Piper said sarcastically throwing her hands up. Nick sighed and looked at her.
"Man worked for the institute, that makes more sense kid," Nick turned his attention back to Anne, "Look there's a place in Goodneighbor called the memory den. Relive the past moments in your mind as clear as the day they happened," Oh god not that place, "If anyone could get a dead brain to sing, it'll be Doctor Amari, the mind behind the memories."
Anne looked at him shaking her head, "Who's this doctor Amari?" she asked. MacCready had lived in Goodneighbor for a few months and he'd only heard that name a couple of times.
"I'll let her give you her life story in person," Nick said and Piper cut him off before he could continue.
"Whether we're riding this crazy brain train or not, we can't all go running across the commonwealth. So who's coming with you?" Piper asked. MacCready felt his stomach clench. Was she gonna send him back to Goodneighbor?
"I have to go to the memory den either way if I'm gonna introduce you to Amari. But if you want to head there together, just say so." The synth said. MacCready's stomach got tighter. Does everyone want to travel with her?
She stood there for a moment in silence, clearly thinking. Please pick me.
"I think I'm gonna stick with Mac, we've got some stuff to do," she said and a wave of relief washed over him. Oh, thank god.
"Alright well, I'll meet you there," Nick said, pulling out a cigarette.
"While you two are out, I'm going to do some more research. I'll be at the Publick if you need me," Piper started making her way out, walking past MacCready, "And by the way, at some point, you owe me an interview. I want to hear this how this whole story got started." she walked out of the building, eyeing up MacCready on her way out.
Nick looked at the two of them after Piper left, "Can I talk to you for a second kid," he said, looking at Anne, "In private." his yellow eyes shot to MacCready. Anne nodded glancing at MacCready. He sighed
"I get it I get it. I'll be outside." he walked outside pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. He stood on the side of the road, looking at the people walking around. Kids ran by him.
Duncan's birthday is in a few months. He should get him something, though what he didn't know. The kid had enough toys. When Lucy was pregnant MacCready had brought everything he could find home. Blocks, teddy's, toy cars. Whatever he could get his hands on. He remembered being back on the farm, waking up some mornings and stepping on something and just...swearing. Then he'd see Duncan in his crib sleeping. That's when he decided to quit swearing...as much. The last thing he wanted was for Duncan to grow up to be like him, he wanted his son to be better.
His mind drifted to the medicine they'd sent back. It would be another week until it arrived, and then another 2 weeks until he could find out if Duncan was getting better. He sighed, wanting to know now. He'd never been patient, that's what Lucy had been good at. It's why he drank.
He heard the door shut behind him and he looked back. Anne stood there, her face flushed, he handed her the cigarette and she took a long drag.
"Something happens in there?" he asked and she shook her head.
"We just talked about some stuff...he reminds me of my dad sometimes," she said handing the cigarette back. MacCready raised an eyebrow and she shook her head.
"He's way too overprotective sometimes." she laughed making her way to the market.
She was at the diamond city surplus selling stuff they had scavenged, MacCready hung back smoking when he noticed her point at something. The woman behind the stand said something and Anne picked something up. A holotape? She put it in her pipboy and music started to play. It was only a few seconds but then she took the holotape out.
"300 caps." the woman said and MacCready coughed on his cigarette. 300 caps for what?!
"200," Anne said, leaning on the counter.
"250." Anne shook her head.
"Travis was the only one who would've bought. 200," she said again and the woman gritted her teeth.
"Fine," she said and Anne took the holotape and the woman still handed her caps. She must've sold a lot. Anne walked away pleased, placing the holotape in her pocket. MacCready looked at her confused.
"What the hel-heck did you buy for 200 caps if it's not a weapon?" she looked up at him and shook her head.
"I'll show you once we're in the dugout," she said making her way through the market.
"Swatters will win you the game. The game of beating people up that is." Anne stopped, turning to a man in a baseball uniform holding a bat. There was a weird expression on her face.
"What's a swatter?" she asked. Oh god. He could already see the man's eyes light up and he chuckled.
"A rookie eh? A swatter my friend is a Diamond city tradition. See it used to be this whole place was a stadium. And two teams would meet and play a game called baseball," the man spoke slowly, like he was speaking to a child and MacCready almost started laughing He has no idea who he's speaking too, "One team would beat the other team to death with things called Baseball bats, and the best bats were called swatters. True fact." A sly grin spread across Anne's face.
"Oh really, what kind of teams were there?" The man started rambling about whatever he was trying to sell and he just stared at Anne. Amusement was behind her eyes like she was hearing the funniest thing she had ever heard. He could watch her do this all day.
"Hey dumbass, that's not how baseball was played." again he almost laughed, watching the man's expression turn to shock and then anger.
"That right little miss smarty pants? If you're such an expert, how do you think it was played?" oh this is gonna be good.
"The teams would also beat the spectators to death. That's how the term spectator sport got started," she said smugly, leaning back on her feet her arms crossed. He came up behind her and leaned in close to her ear.
"Yeah something tells me your making this all up?" he whispered and she glanced at him grinning.
"I like my version better." the man said glaring at her. She waved her hand, walking away from the stand. MacCready followed her feeling giddy.
They made their way to the dugout, and Anne rented a room, but before she did she went to the bar and bought a bottle of wine and whiskey. Anne approached him, placing the whiskey in his hands.
"I think we have comics to read," she said making her way past him towards the door with a two scratched on it. MacCready chuckled and they made their way into the room.
AN: Sorry for the short chapter guys, next week will more than make up for it, promise. Also, this isn't just my story, this is OUR story. You guys can have an impact on this, so I have 2 questions, and I would really appreciate your feedback. Feel free to PM me your ideas or response, or leave it in a review.
1. What ending? I can download an ending that makes it so that everyone isn't killing each other, or I can go for an in-game ending. Let me know what ending you prefer, and if you have no preference I will go with my own ending, which isn't one in-game. It will be similar to other endings, but with slight differences.
2. Do you want smut? This story is rated M mostly because of the amount of violence and language along with some future stuff. But there is no smut. I can write smut, but I want to know what people want. If I don't get replies I'm going to make an executive decision on the topic.
Again your feedback is GREATLY appreciated. Anyways see you guys next week.