I walk into the Silver Rush, this not being the first time I've been here. I spot a nice lookin plasma defender on the counter. I already was lucky enough to find a multiplas rifle, so with that side arm I'd be set. I walk up to the counter. "How-how much for that right there?" I ask Gloria.
"This? 500." She says. A tad on the expensive side but.. I'll take it.
"Alright, I-I got the caps for that." I nod and grab 5 of my 100 cap bags. I sort my caps into different value bags, more efficient than sitting there counting out 500 individual bottle caps. She sits and counts the caps. A considerable amount of time passes. She nods.
"That's 500. Take it." She says. I grab the defender. It looks nice, a real steal for the quality. She don't know that though haha.
"I'd also like to-to buy about uuum 200 rounds of-of small energy c-cells and 200 microfusion cells." I say. She counts out the ammo while I set a few more bags on the counter. We trade caps for ammo. I nod.
"I think we trust eachother enough that I don't have to count these caps." She smiles.
"Y-yea, trying to ch-cheat people only ends badly for all involved." I smile, happy that I have that kind of reputation.
"Mhmm." She says. "Anything else?" She asks. I shake my head.
"Oh, um, now I've got a new gun.. I figure I don't need this one a-anymore. How-how much could I get for that?" I set my modified laser pistol on the counter. She picks it up and examines it. She notices the upgrades and the sturdyness of the weapon.
"I can give you 150 for it." She says.
"I may not be the the smartest man around, b-but I know that's the price for a-a standard laser pistol. That's much more." I nod. She huffs.
"Alright, 250 sound good?" She asks, getting the caps together.
"Sounds amazing." I perk up and smile. She hands over the caps and I'm on my way. I holster my new gun and put a few energy cell packs in my ammo belt when I hits me. I wonder if the Followers need any more help. I like them, they give me hope. I mosy down to the fort and walk in. I ask Julie if she needs any more help.
"Oh, I think we're good. You've helped so much. Actually, you've helped us so much we'd like to make you a Follower." She says.
"Oh-oh um I couldn't. I-I'm not smart enough." I say.
"Nonsense, you've been great at getting our own water pump up and running! And you did it all because you were sick of the kings charging for water. We could use someone with your kind of initiative." She says. "Here, take this." She offers me a lab coat. My heart jumps. A lab coat. It's been a long time since I've worn one. I take it and put it on.
"Th-thank you Julie. I-I don't know what to say." I smile.
"You don't have to thank me. Now if you really want to keep helping ask the other doctors. I know Arcade Gannon has been frusturated with his work lately." She says and walks away before I can ask who that is. Huh. She did gesture towards a tent in the back. I shrug and walk over. Lab coat on under my back pack. There's a blond man sitting at a table, papers scattered around. A nuka cola on the corner of the table next to some plants. He's rubbing his temples in frustration. This must be him I guess. I walk in a little bit. Formal greeting, he's a doctor. I'm a polite idiot.
"D-Doctor Gannon?" I say to get his attention. "Um, Julie. She sent me. S-said you need help?" I say. He spins around in his chair.
"Oh, well, you can ask her for another job. I'm fine." He says and looks back at his paper.
"You don't look fine?" I say quietly. He's pretty handsome. I love the way he wears those glasses. I've only seen him from afar, never knew his name until now.
"Well, I am." He snaps.
"Doctor Gannon? There's no-no-no shame i-in asking for help." I say. He sighs. I sit in a chair next to the plant side of the table. He doesn't look like he's feeling well. "What are you um working on?" I ask.
"Oh, you know just looking for alternatives to medicines in common plants." He says. "We've been relying on scavenged pre-war medicines and eventually well run out. When we do we need something to fall back on." He says.
"Oh, sounds cool!" I say. It really does sound cool.
"If you say so, I think it's fruitless, pointless, generally a huge waste of time." He says.
"Oh, well at least y-you got these uhm plants! These sh-should be enough to keep the a-air fresh in here." I point out.
"Yea, you're right." He says.
"H-how long have you worked on this?" I ask.
"A few years I think." He says. My eyes widen.
"Oh, that's a uh, long time." I say.
"Yep." He says.
We talk a little more and he goes on about how he doesn't like doing this but how he doesn't mind. He doesn't like being around a lot of people. Neither do I.
"Hey, could you um, help me do things? Like, travel w-with me? You're really smart, and stuff." I say, going hard on the idiot act.
"Oh, huh, you sound like you really do need some help. Listen, I'll help you. You just can't do anything stu-" he clears his throat. "I mean, don't help bad people? If you do, I'll leave. Make sense?" He asks. I nod.
"Yes Dr. Gannon." I say.
"You can call me Arcade." He says.
"Oh-okay Dr. Arcade." I smile, really trying to play up the idiot thing.
"No, just Arcade." He chuckles and blushes.
"Arcade, g-got it." I smile.
"Do you have a place to sleep tonight?" He asks. "I know you just became a Follower today." He says.
"Oh, um, I have a room at at the Wrangler." I say.
"Okay, that's good." He says. He looks at my arm. "Is that a pip-boy?" He asks. "Where'd you get one of those?"
"Uh, found it?" I shrug.
"Huh, that's an expensive piece of equipment. You must have found it." He says a little quieter as if talking to himself.
"Y-yea, I found it." I smile. "I-I bet it on a game of Caravan once. I-I didn't lose it though. Won 5000 caps th-that day. I'm uh good at Caravan." I say.
"Oh, I believe you." He says.
"I-I wouldn't be walking around with 20,000 caps if if I weren't good." I say.
"You're kidding." He smiles. I shake my head and put my bag down in front of him.
"H-have a look. Most of my bag is caps." I say. He unzips it and there sits my amount bags of caps. 100's, 50's, and loose amounts for smaller purchases.
"M-most of it is in my room i-in a safe at the Wrangler. It's safer that way." I say. "I always keep a-at least 3000 on me. Just in case. Th-the raider that takes me down is gonna have a-a-a great day." I laugh.
"Yea seriously." He says. "Maybe you should leave a little more in your room. Make room in here for more supplies." He points out.
"Y-yea, I'll take your advice." I say. "You know, i-it's getting late. I'll see you in the uh, the morning. We can head out then." I say. He nods.
"Alright, it was nice to meet you. I don't think I caught your name?" He says.
"Well, I never threw it." I chuckle and smile. "Haha, it's Tony. T-tony Gold." I say.
"Nice to meet you, Tony." He says, and I leave. I walk into the Wrangler and into my room. I lock the door behind me. I sigh a sigh of relief.
I'm now laying in my bed, in my underwear. I'm reading a book of mine for the hundredth time (exaggeration, more like third time). The Art of War. I still don't think I got a one hundred percent understanding of it. I have notes on it and everything. I think this time I'll get it though. The Art of War. It's a broad topic. I yawn and roll over. Setting my book on the table next to the bed. I cover up and go to sleep. Ah, I can't wait to get to know that handsome doctor a little more.
