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Chapter 5 – For Good or Ill

3 weeks later

Chrys collapsed onto her rented bed. It had been three long weeks since her time spent in the storage room closet at the Ninth Circle. It wasn't until two days afterward that she could actually do something because Barrows found a spare pair of glasses lying around. They weren't her exact prescription, but they definitely reduced the blurriness. Her eyes hurt after wearing them for so long though and she wished she could have her own pair back, but she dreaded setting foot back into the Ninth Circle. She stared up at the ceiling and sighed. Over these past few weeks she had been doing odd jobs for Winthrop in order to raise caps for her goal of gaining enough to bargain for Charon's contract. She knew that Ahzrukhal wasn't going to let it go for any measly price so she needed to get a good solid amount in order to give her a bit of leeway with him. So far, she had raised about 1,600 caps.

Altogether she had risen more than that, but she had to keep paying for room and board here at Carol's, even though the kind matron had offered a great discount, Chrys paid full price. She was determined, but she wasn't going to short-hand the people that had helped her throughout this whole ordeal.

She sighed, she had to get Charon out of there, and she had to free him. Whether the last thing would be possible, she wasn't sure but she had to try.

"Here's your dinner." Greta called out to her. Chrys groaned and rose out of bed to make her way to the dining area.

"Thanks again Greta." Chrys smiled and sat down at the table where the ghoulette had set the food down.

"Yeah, whatever." Greta said and headed off back to the kitchen. Greta could be very fierce and protective, but unless you were Carol, she didn't bother to show any inkling of like towards you. She had guts and fire that would probably offset even Ahzrukhal, but Greta just didn't bother to get involved. Though Chrys had heard that since Greta and Ahzrukhal were technically business rivals, Greta did whatever she could to avoid him so he wouldn't have an excuse to use Charon on her. Chrys figured it was good thinking, but Ahzrukhal probably saw it as a cowardly move.

Chrys ate her food slowly, trying to savor what she could. In order to save money, she only got two meals a day, rather than the usual three she got every day in the vault. She was rather shocked that she had lost a bit of weight and was starting to slim down a bit. She was starting to look a bit more like Amata in terms of body shape. Honestly, she wasn't sure how much that would actually help her, but it gave her a bit of personal accomplishment.

When she finished she brought the plate over to a sink and washed it off then set it on a stack of other dishes that had recently been used. She waved to Carol as she left to go find Winthrop in order to get started on repairing the next piece of equipment needing their attention. When she found Winthrop he was standing outside of the Chop Shop, Barrows' and Graves' medical office. The name was disturbingly fitting.

Winthrop looked up at her, "Hey if you want to sit this one out, it's okay."

Chrys gulped, "No… I think I'll be fine. What do we need to do?"

"Graves' computer is broken."

"I can fix that fast."

"I just want to be sure you can handle being in there. The last time you went in there, you didn't come out so pleasant."

"Well last time I was in there was because I had been bitch slapped by a Super Mutant."

Winthrop gave a dry laugh at that, "Always one to humor yourself aren't you?"

Chrys smiled, "Of course." She was afraid of the two feral ghouls being kept in the Chop Shop but Barrows and Graves had assured her that the two of them were well confined and hadn't escaped in decade. The latter comment did nothing to assure her.

He clapped her on the back. "This could be the last one?"

Chrys smirked and nodded. "If they give me 400 caps."

"Oh. You know sometimes your humor is misleading."

"It's called sarcasm."

Winthrop smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Chrys had gotten used to the gesture over the past week which had become much more common as she proved her worth and her wealth of knowledge for repairing almost everything.

"I'm gonna miss you when you're gone. Provided you ever leave this place." Winthrop teased.

Chrys shrugged, "I will… one of these days. Once I finish what I need to get done."

The two entered the Chop Shop and set to work fixing Graves' computer. Chrys found it to be a quick fix and the looming stares of the two glowing ghouls didn't do much to deter her from working. When the job was done Graves proceeded to give Chrys 150 caps. It wasn't the 400 she needed but it was still a good amount. She exited to see another overnight drunk get tossed out of the Ninth Circle. Charon's imposing form looked even more imposing standing on the second floor above her.

As if on cue, he looked down at her, maybe he knew she was watching him. His expression was still blank. Void of emotion as Ahzrukhal had ordered. She sighed and flashed a wry smile to him, but he just turned and went back into the bar, albeit slower than other times he reentered the bar.

After saying bye to Winthrop she headed to Tulip's shop, other than Winthrop and Carol, Tulip had become her most trusted friend here in Underworld. Tulip was reorganizing her store, a usual past time the ghoulette took up when nobody came in to trade.

"Hey uh Tulip?" Chrys asked as she entered the store and set her bag down. The ghoulette turned from putting some Sugar Bombs up on a shelf.

"What's up Chrys?" she asked thoroughly escaping from her reorganizing.

"I was wondering… do you have any old magazines?" Chrys asked.

Tulip cocked her head to the side, "Why?"

"I need to learn… um… bartering. I figured maybe there was some old magazine or book that could help me."

"Well I haven't seen a magazine in forever… I think all of the magazine production companies were back out west." Tulip drummed her hands on the counter as she thought, "And I don't have any books aside from Paradise Lost. Especially not a skill book."

Chrys gave a disheartened smile, "Well there goes that option."

Tulip looked at the vault dweller with pensive eyes, "You know… you have a pretty look. I'm pretty sure if you just turned the right cheek you'd turn Ahzrukhal into putty in your hands."

"I can't do that seduction stuff and I'm already pretty low on Ahzrukhal's list."

"You offer a way for him to make some profit so I think that puts you high on his list." Tulip said as she turned back to reorganizing.

Chrys looked along the expanse of the shop counter and sighed, "Guess it couldn't hurt to try bartering now."

Tulip turned her head, "Do you have the caps?"

"Almost I think. I don't know how much he's willing to part with it for, but I've got 1750 caps… give or take a few." Chrys looked down at her bag and bumped it with her foot.

Tulip smirked, "You have a dad to track down so you can't keep busting your ass here. What's the worst that can happen?"

Chrys gulped.

"On second thought don't answer that. Just go." Tulip said, making a "shoo" gesture for Chrys to get moving.

Chrys smirked and headed out the door taking deep breaths in order to brace herself for the inevitable "confrontation" with Ahzrukhal. She climbed the stairs and entered the Ninth Circle, trying to put on the best blasé expression she could. 'I can do this. I can do this.'

She walked up to the counter and took a seat on one of the barstools. Uncomfortable as it was, she let herself feign relaxation as she set her elbows up on the counter and cradled her face. She eyed Ahzrukhal from down the counter. He gave a curdling smile and slowly walked over to her.

"Look whose back. If it isn't the little smoothskin?" Ahzrukhal said in his usual sleazy bastard tone.

"Yep. I'm back. Not here to cause problems this time I promise. Unless troubling you for a… Nuka Cola is a problem?" She faked a smile. Ahzrukhal fell for it though as he brightened up a bit and turned to grab a Nuka. She wasn't up for trying alcohol so hopefully that wouldn't be detrimental in her negotiations.

When he presented it to her, she slowly took a sip from it. "So I'm guessing business is still going well after my little stunt? My apologies for my actions by the way."

"Business is fine as always my little smoothskin." Chrys repressed a shudder at that statement, "I accept your gracious response as overdue as it is. But I still must offer my apologies for defiling that precious face of yours." He grabbed her hand and pressed a chaste kiss to it, following it up with a pleading smile. It never would have worked in a thousand years, but she needed to play along.

She waved off his hand and smiled, "It's quite alright Mr. Ahzrukhal. I hope we can put that big misunderstanding behind us. And I didn't return sooner because I was… afraid… afraid that maybe you would be very… upset with me."

"Only for a few miniscule moments dearie. But that event is all behind us. I'm sure it's even left Charon's mind if you asked him."

Here was something she could use, "Would you mind if I asked him?"

"He's just an employee. His opinion doesn't matter, but if you want… go talk to him."

Ahzrukhal made a gesture to Charon, communicating that it was alright to speak. Chrys stood slowly, flashing another smile to Ahzrukhal, before turning and wlaking over to the table closest to Charon's corner.

She sat down and sat patiently waiting for him to join her. After a moment he pulled a chair out and sat down. Stoic as ever he kept his eyes locked on her. Chrys turned around to see if Ahzrukhal was watching, sure enough he was as he "cleaned" a glass. She returned her focus back to the bouncer and smiled the simple smile she had given him earlier.

"Hello Charon. I was wondering if there were any… hard feelings between you and I over my insurrection on your affairs a couple weeks ago?" She aasked attempting to get the question Ahzrukhal was expecting her to ask out of the way first.

Charon eyed her and shook his head. "No."

"No contract or orders from Ahzrukhal is influencing your answer?"

His cheek twitched a bit. "No."

"I know I'm not your employer… but may I ask for you to be honest with me? Please?"

Charon made no movement this time. "You made a comment that has left me confused for some time now, but I have no animosity towards you. I think you are naïve and stupid for getting involved and trying to stop me."

Chrys breathed in, she was worried if his sense of morality was as dry as Ahzrukhal's, but she remembered how he treated her and she didn't think someone who lacked morality would act in such a manner.

"Nevertheless, I envy your ability to make such a choice and admire that you… stood up for another person on your own accord." Charon held eye contact as Chrys expected him to. She averted her eyes for a moment and ran her hand through her bit of hair that fell around her ear, tucking it back behind it.

She hushed her voice a bit, "Are you able to make any choices on your own?"

"Very few under presiding orders."

"And otherwise?"

"It depends on my contract holder."

"Can you be freed from your contract?"

"No."

'Damn.' "If I can get your contract from Ahzrukhal, would you mind teaching me the ways of the wasteland?" It wasn't a question she had originally thought of asking as she had in the many scenarios she played out of this conversation in her mind.

"You are in need of it. But if you were to become my employer then I would have no choice but to do as you ask."

She sighed, "I want… need to learn. I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines watching you do all of the work. If we're traveling together, we're traveling as equals. I'll pay you even, if that makes you feel better."

Her statements obviously caused some confliction in his mind as he adjusted his position on the seat. Chrys just gave another smile, "I'll get you out of here. We'll figure these things out when you're free to talk. Believe me I won't order you silent like pompous ass-hat over there." She stood up and crossed her heart, "Promise."

She returned to her barstool seat and focused back on Ahzrukhal. As much as lying and bullshitting was against her nature, she had a notion she could mess with. "Well it's sad to say, but apparently he does harbor some bad feelings towards me on the account of my, well, involvement. It looks like he takes his work very seriously and doesn't like the job being left unfinished."

Ahzrukhal's eyes flicked to Charon, who was probably back at his post in the corner. He returned to Chrys after a second and faked a look of surprise, "My deepest apologies. He is very devoted to his job and his employer of course. Things like his morality do get in the way of course and he does hate those who get in his way."

"His main purpose is to protect you though isn't it?" Chrys inquired as she drew circles lazily on the counter.

"Why yes it is." Ahzrukhal leaned in closer, much to her chagrin.

"Does he treat or view everyone in this bar with the same animosity? I mean, he probably doesn't like the thought of you being close to all of these people who can pose a possible threat." She was taking a big chance with this but it would test the waters.

"Hmm. Well he always has that same demeanor there in his corner, but I tell him only to step in when I'm in obvious danger. All the people who have wanted to kill me, however, are already gone." Ahzhrukhal gave a smile at that. It disgusted her since she already had a clue as to what Ahzrukhal did to those people or more of what he made Charon do.

"So why keep him here?" She asked stopping her circle drawing.

Ahzrukhal tapped a little beat on the counter, "Well that is a good question isn't it?"

"If all your supposed threats are gone and you have little to worry about in terms of people paying you, previous event excluded, why is he necessary? I mean he probably deters people from coming in here with his presence." She hiked a thumb over her shoulder and shook her head back and forth, "Not good for business and Greta gets a lot of business and she doesn't have an imposing ghoul in her corner does she?"

She could see that gears turning in Ahzrukhal's mind. He gave her an inquisitive look as he leaned closer to her. "Maybe you would take him off my hands then? I've heard you've been in need of some… assistance."

"I didn't realize he was for sale!" Chrys faked the surprise and excitement as best she could, but it seemed to have worked.

"Of course. Just make me a good enough offer my little smoothskin."

She wanted to vomit.

"Well how about…" she reached down and picked a bundle of caps from her bag, "500 caps?"

Ahzrukhal laughed, "Ma'am you wound me for offering such a -"

"1000 caps?" She offered quickly adding another bundle and placing both on the counter. 'Hopefully Door-in-the-face persuasion works in my favor.'

The ghoul scratched his chin as he eyed the bundles. Sadly with word traveling quickly in Underworld, CHrys had to suspect he knew she had been working her butt off to make caps and that she had more than just 1000 to offer. He returned his eyes to her face and shook his head.

"1500?" She added her last large bundle. She placed her hand on all three bundles. "And no strings attached, just a piece of paper."

Ahzrukhal smirked and eyed her again. In a swift move he nodded and took her caps while handing her a crumpled and folded piece of paper he had withdrawn from his inner-jacket pocket.

Chrys smiled, this time genuinely and almost breaking her character, and stood up.

"You can break the news to him." Ahzrukhal said as he lifted one of the bundles and shook it by his ear.

"Gladly." She muttered.

She picked p her bag and trotted over to where Charon stood.

"Hey guess what big guy? I kept my promise!" She ecstatically showed him the contract. If he was surprised he didn't show it.

"You bought my contract from Ahzrukhal?" He asked after a couple moments of just looking at the piece of paper in her small pale hands.

"Well yeah. Cost me an arm and a leg but I got it. I don't make promises lightly." She said as she stuck the piece of paper in her bag. Charon turned his view toward Ahzrukhal and then back to her.

"Would you excuse me? There is something I must take care of."

"Well sure I don't see why not." Chrys said with a smile. "I'll be over by the door."

Chrys headed towards the door, when she turned she saw just in time to see Charon blow Ahzrukhal's head off with two shots from his shotgun. Her jaw dropped as she watched the large ghoul casually put his shotgun back over his shoulder and collect the bundles of caps lying on the counter. He walked over to where the petrified girl was and presented the caps to her.

"For good or ill, I serve you."

She looked down at the caps and then back up at him, her mouth still wide open. Patrons of the bar were crowding around Ahzrukhal's dead body and quickly making their way away from Charon or Chrys.

"You hold my contract now and it gave me the opportunity to rid the world of that disgusting rat. I apologize if your intent was to be peaceful, but I could not leave that bastard here alive. Now from this moment on, for good or ill, I serve you." Charon stated as an explanation and apology.

She slowly took the cap bundles and put them in her bag. She looked back up at him and finally closed her mouth. "Umm. Well… I guess we better get acquainted." She held out her hand. "My name is Chrysanthemum Winchester… but I prefer to be called Chrys."

Charon eyed her hand but didn't return the gesture. "Charon. Call me what you would like mistress."

Chrys sighed and pinched her nose. "Well I guess we better get started then. Got anything here you need?"

"Possessions? No."

"Well do you need anything from the store?"

"Ammo mostly. If you can spare it, the occasional food item."

Chrys chuckled a bit, "Of course I'm getting you food! A big guy like you has got to work up a big appetite." She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. Before she could put them back on she could see the blurred image of Charon moving and presenting her with something. She placed her glasses back on to see that Charon was holding her original, and better, pair of glasses in his large hand.

"My glasses!" Chrys exclaimed in delight. She took off the other pair and stuffed them in her bag and quickly accepted her own from Charon. Putting them on brought great relief to her eyes. "Thank you so much, I was wondering what happened to them!" Without thinking she quickly wrapped her arms around the ghoul's midsection and hugged him. She let go a quick second later and skipped happily to the door. "Come on let's go!"

Charon stood there shocked for a moment after his new employer's spontaneous embrace. He turned his head to see the other ghouls in the bar watching with surprised- and jealous- faces. He growled at them and proceeded to follow after the bubbly Vault girl.

The thought of leaving this place for good was comforting and knowing Ahzrukhal was dead brought him a smattering of resolution, but he held no optimistic feelings for this compassionate and naive new employer of his. He still questioned how she made it this far out in the wasteland given her ignorance. 'And you have to teach her how to survive. Fuck, this is going to be impossible.' He would protect her, no denying that, but whether he would be able to teach such a person so polar opposite of him would be debatable. However, she seemed eager to learn, or maybe just eager to leave.

Nevertheless she did just do two things he thought were impossible.

She bought his contract from Ahzrukhal.

And she touched him… without disdain or fear.