Blood & Dust - A Post-Apocalyptic Pseudo-Western Character RP
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((Yep. That's perfect.))
"And I told you! The Seamstress over on 5th street only charged five credits for quick jobs!" Diplo exclaimed at the Merchant whose patience was clearly wearing thin. Diplo was getting flustered now.
"And I told yer' metal face, I want sixteen! Maybeh you should go an' marry the ol' seamstress if she's so great!"
"I already told you! She was decapitated in an unfortunate weaving accident last week!" Diplo sighed and stepped away from the stall. He brought his handkerchief to his brow and wiped it. Of course he was incapable of perspiration but old pre-programmed habits die hard. Surely there was somebody around here that could help him address such an elevated form of what was essentially highway robbery!
Diplo surveyed the busy marketplace and spotted the man he'd come to known as the local Marshal conversing with a delinquent across the square. He hurriedly made his way over,
"Masterson! Oh Mr. Masterson Sir!"
Jonahs laughter filled the room, there wasn't many things he enjoyed more then spending time with his buddies. Besides exploration of course, but they understood. He loved them even more when they told him rumors about the next big adventure.
" Hey, for real though, someone ACTUALLY took that old relic, hilarious right. Buuut, whats not so funny, is that the old Marshal is hiring people to go retrieve it, " Michael booped him on the nose, " Someone like you. "
" YES! " Jonah said
His outburst startled the three guys around the table with him but it quickly turned to amusement as he started dancing around the table.
" Woah, calm down there, you're gonna get me a noise complaint like last time Michael told you a rumor. " Daryn, the owner of the shack said.
He momentarily stopped, " Sorry, buddy. I'll come back for a drink whenever I get back. " He said as he got his coat and made for the door. " Oh, and drinks are on me whenever I get back. "
The cheers gave him the only good bye he needed as he left, practically skipping across town searching for the marshal.
Inside the dingy room he had just left, the three men inside made bets on whether he'd return or not.
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Sami stood uncomfortably in the door way to the tailor, he was in a bit of a predicament. On his last walk on the outside of town, his overcoat had gotten ripped. Normally he'd take care of it himself but his latest hunting trips had yielded nothing and with the last of the material having been used long ago. He had to talk, to people. He knew it was stupid, he had survived the worst the facility could throw at them and he was scared of talking to mere... people?
" Hey, do you need something or you just gonna stand there blocking the doorway. " The fat body of the tailor said to him.
" Oh, yes, my condolences. " He looked around at the people trying to get by and hurriedly scooted out of there towards the tailor. " Can you fix my coat? "
" Of course I can fix your coat boy, " He took a closer look, " Looks like just a patch job, should be done in an hour. "
Sami stood staring at the man for an uncomfortable amount of time, he noted that he seemed to sweat much more than other people he met. Sami wondered if he knew.
" Well, are you gonna give me your coat? Or keep staring at me. "
He quickly stripped the coat and offered up another apology.
" How much does this cost? " Sami said
The fat man tilted his head and did a double take on the boy before him. He couldn't see much of his build because of the clothing but the way he moved suggested confidence in something. Haggling, he reckoned. Was not one of them.
" Well for first time customers like you. " He beamed, as his face spread into a divine grin. " I can do 500 credits. "
Sami thought for a moment, before setting the credits down on the table and walking away.
" Pleasure doing business with you. "
There was something off about that transaction that didn't sit right with him he thought as he walked towards the market district. But, like a puzzle, it just wouldn't fit together.
" Dinner, should help. " Sami said to himself.
Looking quite hopeless and lost, unknown to him, the marshal might have spotted him walking by.
((Here you go. @BirdCrow ))
Malin nodded and thanked Mr Thatch. "Thank you Mr. Thatch, you will not regret this. I will do my absolute best to help him with his mission." She paused and double-checked her holster to make sure that her trusty sidearm was still there. "Now if you exscuse me I have a marshal to find."
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Too busy inspecting her gear, Malin was completely unaware of Sami and accidently bumped into him. She looked up. "Sorry sir, my bad."
Malin retracted her holographic screen, currently showing a log of sorts, before nervously smiling at Sami. "Are you alright?"
"I'll see you there, marshall." Slade nodded before he led his horse through the market. Stopping at the few sellers along the way that were willing to speak to him for supplies. After spending roughly half the earnings for Johny's apprehension he headed to the Lady Luck.
Outside the bar, he dismounted from his horse and went inside. The bar wasn't anything special. Same watering hole you'd find in any big settlement. Same drinks, same smell and the same glares from people unused to seeing a mutant walk by them while having a drink. He walked to the bar and tried to get the woman's attention.
"You Lilith? The marshall send me."
Eagles gestured with his hands. "... the lizard's teeth were this size and it could bite through a solid peice of steel." Lilith shook her head as Eagle shared his story. "Now you're just messing with me." She turned towards Slade. "Welcome to Lady Luck. If Masterson sent you he must have a good reason." She grabbed a clean glass. "Anything to drink?"
Meanwhile Eagle turned to look at Slade. "You got some cool eyes there, friend. How do you do it? Hologram? Wasteland magic?"
"Whiskey will do just fine, darlin." Slade said before turning to Eagle. "It's called mutation, rusty. Side effect of being a walking horror movie."
After depositing the majority of his winnings into his bank account, Ozzie had retrieved his backpack and stocked up on some supplies in the market.
Lady Luck, usually a place he avoided but given that he was there on the Marshals invitation it was another matter.
Leaving his backpack in the checkroom, he entered the main bar. Walking up to the bar, he noticed a dark figure talking to a robot.
"My my", he said with a chuckle, "If it isn't the immortal lawman. Any luck chancing those demons o' yers? Ya'd think something would have come up in... what is it? 30? 40?".
"Whiskey comin' up", replied Lilith before turning around to grab an old bottle of Michter's. Meanwhile Eagle chuckled and tapped Slade on the shoulder. "I'm just messin' with ya." He extended one of his hands. "You're Slade right? Name's Eagle."
"Give it or take, I'd say about fifty." Slade turned his attention to Ozzie. Word about the Bakerworths had made its way to him, but he didn't expect to see the man to show his face, or be bold enough to talk to the lawman. Either he's got balls or he's up to something "Orleans has been missing it's favorite son, Ozzie. Sherif Jacobs has been looking all over the swamps last I hear."
"Mr. Clarke, please! I am a synthetic humanoid organism designed for the highly specific purpose of busting caps in punks!"
Masterson watched as both Slade and Ozzie departed, before glancing over as someone came running up to him. He noticed as he looked about that it was that one synth Diplo. Emerged out of a bunker somewhere around here a while back, having been locked in there for quite a long time. Probably from back during the war. So far, he seemed to have adapted to life here in Houston quite nicely.
"Masterson! Oh Mr. Masterson Sir!"
"Afternoon, Diplo. Something wrong?" he asked, turning to face him. He then noticed another man walking by. He had a sort of mercenary look about him, with an old pre-war helmet and some gear on. Probably one of the wanderers that past through here on the way to God knows where. This one looked like he was lost, though. Or down on his luck. One of the two.
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Jasper nodded. "Good. Deputy, let him out too. Mr. Boombox, I've got a job for you if you're interested." The deputy complied, stepping over and unlocking Boombox's cell with his keys.
Eliza observed, eyebrow raised. "Some kind of fucking posse you're gatherin' up. Also, how am I gonna help while wearin' cuffs? I can't use a rifle or anything like this." she said, looking up to Jasper.
"You're not getting a gun unless the Marshal says to give you one." Jasper said, cutting her a look. Eliza rolled her eyes in response.
"And what does this job entail?"
"And what does this job entail?"
"The Marshal here in Houston is gathering up a group to track down some thieves. They stole a rather large artifact from the Museum. If you join up, you'll be deputized and paid for your work when the job is finished." explained Jasper. He pointed to Eliza. "Unless you're like her, in which case, all you get is a pardon."
Eliza cut him a look. "Wait a god damned minute, everyone else is getting PAID to do this? And all I get is a fucking pardon?!"
"A pardon, and your life. Remember, you were going to be hung." responded Jasper, looking down at her.
Eliza grunted. Fuck. "...whatever. If I find anything valuable out there, I'm fucking keeping it."
With nothing but a stare as a response from Sami Malin smiled and excused herself. Most wastelanders were silent types, the man she had bumped into was perhaps no different.
After moving on she approached Masterson. "Good day marshal, I am an envoy with the UNC. Malin Lejonsköld. I believe we met during the celebrations."
Malin tapped on her holster. "Mr. Thatch agreed to let me accompany you on your mission. I've promised to help you with your mission in any way possible."
Oh no, he was doing it again, the staring. And she had been so polite too.
" Miss, I am alright! " He said following after her, " Please take this as an apology. "
But as it became increasingly clear to Sami, he had given the last of his credits to the tailor. With nothing to show for his interruption between the two's conversation he merely froze in panic.
Masterson raised an eyebrow as Malin introduced herself to him yet again, then explained that Thatch had sent her. Wonder what she told him to get him to send her? She was the envoy from the UNC, which he already knew from yesterday, but she didn't seem like she'd fit in well with a Marshal's posse. "Are you sure about this? We're probably going to be dealing with armed thugs, so I hope you can use that weapon well."
He then noticed the man from before had walked over. The one that looked lost and miserable. "...You okay there, mister? Need something?" asked Masterson, as the man simply stood there frozen in place.
“Sounds good to me homie!” Boombox cheerfully expressed. “Mo’ money is always good!”
"Alright. Come with me." said Jasper, motioning for Boombox to follow as he tugged on Eliza's cuffs. They passed by the deputy, who was given a fright as Eliza made a little jump at him.
She grinned and chuckled. "Nice fuckin' with ya, Deputy! Hopefully I won't see you again!" she said, winking at him before returning her attention to Jasper as he spoke up.
"Taking her guns too. In case the Marshal decides to let her use 'em." said Jasper, glancing back over his shoulder. Eliza grinned even more.
"Her rifle's in the cab'net over there. Ammo belts are in the desk drawer with her revolver." responded the deputy, still waiting in the hallway. Jasper walked over and pulled Eliza's rifle from the gun cabinet, before reaching into the deputy's desk for the ammo and her revolver. He looked the revolver over for a moment, before glancing back to Eliza. It was clearly a gunslinger's weapon, the hammer's spur having been altered so it rose above the back of the weapon. Perfect for fanning of the hammer, which was perfect for hosing a target down with lead. Eliza had killed two Marshals with this revolver that Jasper knew of, as well as several others. He understood the Marshal's hesitation in letting her use her weapons. She could easily gun him down along with Jasper if she chose to do so.
Eliza's grin behind him turned into a smug smile. She knew exactly what he was thinking about. "...you gonna gawk at my gun, or are we gonna go see your boss?"
Jasper grunted, turning around and heading towards the door.
Diplo hurried up to Masterson,
"Mr. Masterson, Sir! I have an urgent matter to bring to your attention! That... That... That INBRED of a 'tailor' over there wants sixteen credits to sew my button back on!"
Diplo pointed to the stall across the square, the man behind it raised his eyebrow and began to cackle,
"Now I fully understand that we are in a post-apocalyptic wasteland full of undesirable types but does anyone around here have some human decency?! This is my original cloak, it's older than this entire city! I simply can not have it wasting away, it's bad enough the nanoweave has begun to fray.."
Diplo paused for a moment to compose himself,
"Sir I shall require a firearm at once in order to take matters into my own hands. It's about time I gave my combat software a workout anyway, it's only been what.. 300 years or so? What do you want to bet I can hit him in his big stupid head from over here! I'll bet you 16 credits!" Diplo giggled to himself as he turned his gaze back to Masterson.
What do I want? He thought to himself. Sami certainly couldn't keep the marshal waiting forever.
" A place for myself " He paused, " You don't look like your in the real estate business though, not that I have any money left anyways. "
Sami jingled his empty pockets.
" Is there some sort of unemployment office in this place? "
"Is there some sort of unemployment office in this place?"
"If you're looking for a job, I've certainly got one for you if you're interested. Depends on how well you can handle a weapon." said Masterson. He then looked over to Diplo.
"Sir I shall require a firearm at once in order to take matters into my own hands. It's about time I gave my combat software a workout anyway, it's only been what.. 300 years or so? What do you want to bet I can hit him in his big stupid head from over here! I'll bet you 16 credits!"
"...You do realize that if you kill him, I'd have to arrest you? I'm a Republic Marshal, after all. Also, paper money is worth more here. Credits are used up in Union territory. Five dollars will get that button sewn back on, easy." replied Masterson, not finding it all that funny. People have been killed in Houston for worse reasons. "Anyway...if you're short on money, I can give you the same job as this guy." he continued, motioning to Sami before looking to him. "Got a name?"
"A job?! Paper money?! What is this?! 2045?! Gah.." Diplo sighed, "Well I suppose it would give me something to do with my days aside from.. Well.. Nothing. It does get terribly drab around here sometimes. I'm in."
Malin nodded towards Masterson. "I'm sure. It wouldn't be my first time in combat." Before she could say more she was interrupted by Sami and Diplo. Malin listened to both in silence before speaking up. "I can pay for your button if you'd like."
Diplo turned to Malin, "Oh, thank you! Finally, some human decency! You've obviously not from around here.. No matter, I can afford to have the button fixed quite easily, it was merely a matter of principle." Diplo sighed.
Responding to Masterson, Sami said " Oh, like a gun? I've done some hunting myself. "
Sami gawked at the growing crowd of people. Jealous too, they all seemed so comfortable, not that he'd admit it.
Malin nodded in a understanding fashion in response to Diplo. "I see. In any case should your principles change the offer still stands." The envoy then studied Diplo. "Forgive my bluntness but you don't happen to be of a pre-war design?"
" Oh, like a gun? I've done some hunting myself."
"Might could use you, then." said Masterson, before looking to Malin and Diplo. "I need the three of you to head over to the Lady Luck. If you don't know what that is, its a saloon two blocks over on the south side of town. When you head in, talk to the bartender. Its usually a woman by the name of Lilith. She owns the place. Mention that Marshal Masterson sent you, and she'll put you with the others I sent over there. Then, once I get there, we'll go over the details of this job."
He glanced to Diplo. "I'd suggest getting that button put back on first. Oh, and stock up on any supplies you need. Don't want to get caught out in the wastes unprepared."
> "Forgive my bluntness but you don't happen to be of a pre-war design?"
"Oh finally somebody noticed!" Diplo exclaimed with glee, "Yes ma'am! My kind were deployed all over the states to help diffuse the riots. A few of the newer models got to venture abroad, lucky bastards.. Anyway I'm still here and they're not so whose the real winner, eh?!" Diplo chuckled.
> "I'd suggest getting that button put back on first. Oh, and stock up on any supplies you need. Don't want to get caught out in the wastes unprepared."
Diplo perked up, finally, a purpose!
"Yes sir! I've never heard of this 'Lady Luck' but I anticipate my expert navigation skills will lead me to her with haste! I shall see you shortly!" Diplo said with a bow before hurrying back over to the same tailor he'd been threatening to shoot in the head just moments earlier.
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Diplo arrived at Lady Luck just half an hour later, a satchel holding the essentials strapped around his waist. He approached the bar and was greeted with a scowl from the skimpily dressed bar maiden.
"Err, hello ma'am! Mr. Masterson sent me, said you could point me in the right direction?" Diplo said nervously, never had he seen a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Arriving right behind Diplo was Malin. She frowned when she realized that Lady Luck was not only a bar but also a brothel. She shrugged. You have to make due with what you got.
As she was observing the patrons she spotted a familiar figure. "Eagle!"
Confused, Eagle looked up from his very intense and polite conversation with Slade and Ozzie. He started to chuckle and got up from his chair. "Well well, if it isn't my favorite diplomat gunslinger!" Malin laughed as she was embraced in a hug by the massive robot.
"Last I heard you were dodging NEO patrols out in Belarus." said Malin.
Eagle shrugged. "Turns out they don't like it when folks come snooping into their factories. Had to hightail it out of there. Ship broke down halfway to Rig City so I had to call.the Marauders for help."
Malin shook her head and laughed. "You were always one to find yourself in the unluckiest situations."
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Lilith looked up at Diplo. "Welcome to Lady Luck! You can have a seat anywhere you like. Can I get you anything while you wait?"
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