Danse gets a strange visitor
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The sound of sizzling meat fills the air along with the crackle of the fire as he slices off the last of the meat and hands the femur bone over.
Dogmeat yaps in excitement as he accepts the gift and instantly begins gnawing at the bone, tearing into the cartilage to make his way to the marrow.
Danse chuckles at the sight before sighing as he wraps the Grizzly's pelt tighter around himself "We need to either get to a warmer climate or find better shelter, as this cold weather is not good for our health...especially now that there is only the two of us" he shivers as he stabs a piece of cooked meat and slowly takes a bite "You know, I think I miss the slight twinge of rads" he shrugs "Could almost believe we are back home with the taste, only we are without the radiation" after they have their fill, he leaves the rest of the meat to smoke before wrapping himself tighter and making sure his BoS flag is secured on the trees as a wind breaker as he settles in for the night "You ok to keep a look out, Dogmeat?"
He barks and lifts a paw as confirmation as he slowly settles in the snow and keeps his ears cocked for any sound, other than the shifting ice on the Lake surrounding the island they are currently camping on.
The Paladin smiles as he closes his eyes "Good Boy" with that he slowly drifts off...
...only to slowly wake up a few hours later to the sound of a one sided conversation and frowns at the sight of a man in a suit and top hat, sitting beside Dogmeat by the fire. He stiffens at first but after noticing Dogmeats relaxed body language, he slowly sits up.
The man smiles "Ah. You are finally awake Peter"
Danse frowns "Who?"
"You" at Dogmeats huff, the man smiles "Ah, I apologise I didn't know you preferred to be referred to by either your last name or Rank" he nods "It's nice to meet you Paladin Danse"
He glances between Dogmeat and the Stranger "How do you know my name and who are you,?"
"I'm an Accountant of sorts and I know you" he sighs "I am sorry for the loss of your Lover and Leader, Arthur Maxson, it could have been many other ways if only Nate would have chosen a different ending" at the look of confusion, he waves him off "But that has happened and is unchangeable...the real issue is the here and now" he cocks his head to one side "Considering you have already unknowingly changed the course of so many fates already"
Danse just stares at him and huffs as he rubs a hand over his face, hoping to rub the sleep fog from his mind "Look Mister, I have no idea what fates you are on about...but considering you know if Maxson and Nate, is it possible you can take us back?"
He shakes his head "I'm afraid that power doesn't reside in me and besides, you should have died on arrival to this time" he gives him a thoughtful look "But I believe the mixture of green Radiation, blue electricity and the pearlescent rift somehow caused you to survive the time jump without the protection of the watch...however it was a one way ticket seeing as it lead to the Time-Travellers death"
He thinks it over and frowns as he turns his gaze to Dogmeat "If what you say is correct, how did Dogmeat survive the 'jump' as it were? Considering he never got hit by the Radiation lightening and was neither in the blue teleport electricity?"
A chuckle is his only answer followed by a smile "Dogmeat is rather unique, besides we are moving off topic...now about these fates of which you have moved off course" he slowly leans back "Many lives can be saved but at what cost? As many that hadn't passed, have now done so by your actions" he lifts both hands and mimics a scale "Take that Train Job of Colm O'Driscoll...the Van Der Linde's were meant to take the job and even though they succeeded in robbing the train and sometimes allowing survivors" he shrugs "Your actions have lead to the O'Driscoll's completing the robbery by blowing up the tracks and causing two further trains of innocents to be killed" he lowers his hands "There was always four endings to this arc's story, but your actions may lead to a fifth ending where many others could also change their fate" he slowly stands "I think I shall enjoy seeing how your decisions and choices have effect on this story...however I shall lend you a hand on this chapter" with that he hands over a sheet of paper, which is revealed as a map of the five States, before stepping back and lets out a soft whistle.
Danse frowns at the move and quickly pockets the map as he shifts onto his feet at the sound of something approaching through the snow, only for his eyes to widen at the sight of a pure white horse
"This is Tulpar, she'll help you out of this snow and only if she likes you and if you gain her trust will she stay with you" he shifts to face the Paladin and bows "Until our next meeting" with that he turns and leaves, his footprints quickly disappearing as the snow falls.
Tulpar flares her nostrils at the odd scent of the man in front of her. She slightly rears at his approach, but calms as he gently pats her
"My, you are a pretty creature" he turns to Dogmeat "Well, looks like we have a new friend" he turns to glance in the direction the odd man left "I wonder just who was that strange man?"
Dogmeat huffs and stands as he rubs noses with Tulpar before turning back to his treat.
He chuckles at the move and sighs as he gestures to the little camp "Make yourself at home, we shall leave at Dawn and hopefully find a way out of this snow by Dusk" he searches his pockets and smiles as he finds an oatcake...but his smile falters as he recalls Kieran giving it to him the morning before the O'Driscolls were attacked (I wonder if Kieran made it somewhere safe, or if he suffered in death), he quickly shakes off the depressing thoughts and hands over the biscuit.
She accepts the food with a happy huff of hot breath before cocking her ears as she slowly moves closer to the warmth of the fire and carefully lowers herself to the ground. Once settled, she bobs her head and nickers as Danse lays down beside her. She turns her attention to Dogmeat as he gnaws at the femur and huffs as she lowers her head to the ground, enjoying the warmth of the fire against her snowy pelt as she slowly drifts off into sleep.
