Blood & Dust - A Post-Apocalyptic Pseudo-Western Character RP
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Diplo sighed as Malin wandered off without even addressing him, she was clearly caught up in her own thoughts. Still, he didn't want to be left alone and trailed her from a distance over to the Sheriff's Office.
"I'm with her." Diplo said to the desk clerk, flashing his badge. She merely waved him through and he was able to catch up with Malin just as she reached the office door,
"Hey wait up!" Diplo said in a hushed tone, mimicking catching his breath, "I didn't want to hang around alone out there, I'd be worth a fair bit at the scrappers and some of those hobos had a mean look in their eye.."
Malin turned towards Diplo and smiled. "Sorry for leaving you back there, I got a bit carried away with my own stuff." She nodded towards the door. "Shall we?" Malin pressed down the door handle and stepped in, while making sure that the door wouldn't close itself on Diplo. She nodded towards Masterson and remained silent untill spoken to.
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Eagle looked at Eliza. "Got any more witty comments or are you going to behave like a good girl?"
"Got any more witty comments or are you going to behave like a good girl?"
"Oh, I've got plenty of 'comments'." said Eliza, smiling. "I'm not a good girl. I'm not even a person. I'm less than a person. I'm practically the scum of the Earth. And I honestly just stopped giving a shit a long time ago." The smile faded.
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Masterson looked over, as did Nathan. "Ahh, was wondering when you'd show up. Was talking to the Sheriff here about our thieves, and getting my revolver back." said Masterson, straightening up from where he was standing. He had been propped against the wall across from the sheriff's desk, holding a rather large silver revolver in his hands.
The sheriff was simply sitting back in his chair, a mound of papers and gun parts in front of him along with a tan cowboy hat. The office looked a bit more messy, with boxes and paperwork scattered everywhere. There were wanted posters tacked all over a cork board next to the desk. Eliza's face easily recognizable on one of the posters, wanted for $50, 000. "Evenin'. I assume you're...Malin and you're Diplo." said Nathan, nodding to each of them.
"Yep. Malin, the political envoy from the UNC, and Diplo. The synth that hid out for 300 years inside of a bunker in Houston." remarked Masterson. "Well, better tell them what you told me, Nathan."
"The thieves you're looking for passed through here, alright. Turns out they also had forged Republic Marshal badges, from what Masterson just informed me. None of these men are actual Marshals." explained Nathan, offering a piece of paper to Malin. "Nicolas Ortega, John Harris, Lionel Walker, and Richard Travers. Fake names and fake badges, all of them. But we didn't that find out until AFTER they had left on the train to Memphis with their cargo. They didn't let us look in the box, claiming that it was 'top secret' and that only Marshals and Rangers could look in it. We just waved it off as normal Marshal bullshit." he continued, cutting a look to Masterson. Whom returned it.
"Next train to Memphis leaves tomorrow morning if you plan on chasing after them." he said finally, looking back to Malin and Diplo.
((No hard feelings! I know it can get a bit hectic.))
"Tomorrow morning? Blimey, they'll be miles ahead by then.. Don't suppose there's any functioning VTOL's around, eh?" Diplo remarked, "Heck I'd even settle for an old fashioned horse! I saw one earlier in the street but I could've sworn it had a third eye, damned thing is still freaking me out!" Diplo paused again, "Or.. A car!"
"Mutants, robots, convicts and now hobos." Slade started murmuring to himself or to anyone listening "Marshall is running around with a fucking circus."
Eagle continued to look at Eliza. "You're self-pity isn't helping anyone, least of all yourself. If you want to get rid of that knot inside your head you better get yourself together and start doing something good for once." He paused and looked off into the distance. "It gets better. I speak from personal experience."
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Malin nodded when Nathan said her name. "Pleasure to meet you sir." She then inspected the papers thoroughly taking extra care to memorize the faces of the fake-marshals. She then passed on the papers to Diplo. "Make sure to save a still on your memory bank if you have one."
"Do the trains ride straight for Memphis or are there any stops along the way?" asked Malin as she crossed her arms. "We're going to need more eyes and ears if there's any waystations along the rail."
Malin then looked at Masterson. "Speaking of which I need to talk to you. In private."
Eliza grunted. "Not if you've got living, breathing proof of your fuckups." she muttered to herself.
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"There's a single stop halfway down the line. Boughton, over in what used to be Arkansas. I imagine they'll stop there, then continue on in the morning. I can have a chat with the conductor in the morning, and have him gun straight for Memphis if needed." explained Nathan.
Masterson nodded. "That'd be best. We'd rather not risk riding there in the bus. Its outside Republic territory, which means more bandits and mutants willing to try and take us out."
"Alright. Get your posse over to the train station around 7 AM. I'll see what I can do." said Nathan, before looking to Malin and Diplo. "Nice meeting you two. Hope you have a good night, and a safe trip in the morning." he stated, with a hint of a smile.
Afterwards, Masterson strolled over, motioning for them to follow as he stepped out into the hallway. "We can talk in private over at the hotel." he said, glancing back to Malin.
Diplo nodded at Malin before abruptly slamming the pictures and documents up against his visor one by one, "Done! Speaking of which, you'd think they would've chosen better fake names! John Harris, Lionel Walker, what is this? Amateur hour? I would've gone with something much more nuanced like Hugh Jazz or Jenna Tools myself.." Diplo chuckled to himself.
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Diplo stepped out into the hallway with the others, "I shan't impose on you two any further, I'll meet you back at the hotel, don't have too much fun without me!" Diplo grinned at the two and winked at Masterson before turning and scurrying off down the hallway.
Eagle chuckled. "Stay classy, Cohen. Stay classy." He tapped her on the back. "Chin up. At least you know that girl is coming for you. Few have the luxury of actually knowing when their time is up and who's after them."
"Besides, she has to go through me first."
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Malin bid Nathan farewell and wished him luck before following Masterson out of the room. "Not needed. It'll just take a minute." She nodded towards Diplo. "Go to the lobby. We'll be right there." Malin then motioned for Masterson to follow her inbetween a pair of file cabinets.
"I'm not going to wear this," she said gesturing towards the deputy shield. "To retain my diplomatic rights, legal diplomatic rights, I can't identify myself as a deputy. If this is an issue for you I'll just carry the badge in my pocket but for both yours and my own sake I needed to bring this up."
She paused and nodded towards a pair of deputies passing by. "Also, I need to get a message back home. Any good place at the hotel where I can speak undisturbed?"
After listening to the exchange between Eliza and Eagle, Slade chimed in.
"Oh, quit it." Slade, rolled his eyes. He had heard it all before and was unamused. Looking at Eliza, he continued "Nobody here can understand the pain of having your fuck ups remind you they exist. My heart bleeds for ya" He placed his palm on his chest for his mocking sympathy. The old man continued "Think about it, you're raider scum given a second chance. Most of you morons don't live past twenty-five and end up dead either by overdose or severe blood loss. Don't waste your chance by whining about your life." He looked towards Eagle next "Unless you have your undying love to pledge next, let's get moving."
Eagle grunted. "Lead the way, lawman." He grabbed Eliza. "Let's go."
"Your room. You're the only woman with us besides Eliza, and we're not lettng her stay with you. She'll stay in the same room as Jasper, since he's keeping an eye on her. The rest of the group will be divided up into their own rooms, which we'll figure out back at the hotel." said Masterson. "As for the badge, pocket it and only use it when you need to. People are more inclined to listen to a Marshal's deputy than a political envoy here. Well, at least till we're out of Republic territory. Sound good?"
He holstered his revolver, tucking it into what seemed to be its home under his arm beneath his duster. "Lets go gather up the others, and get settled in for the night."
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Eliza eyed Eagle for a moment, a look of confusion appearing on her face. "This has been the weirdest fucking moment with you, and that bothers me." she said. "I get you're being the nice guy or whatever, but I simply need my guns. Once I have them, I can deal with that bitch myself."
"C'mon." Slade motioned for Eagle to follow him. "Jonah, you better come with if you want to get a good room in the hotel."
"Go fuck yourself, cowboy. Or just wait a few hours. Then you can bend over and let that abomination you call a horse do it for you." spat Eliza. She then looked to Eagle. "I can fucking walk, and I'm not running anywhere. You don't have to jerk me around like a god damned child." She had had enough of being dragged about for the day.
A moment later, Jasper chimed in from behind them. "Shut the fuck up, Cohen, or I'm taping your fucking mouth shut." Eliza cut him a hateful look, but went quiet.
Malin nodded. "Understood." She followed Masterson and as they left the sheriff's office she made sure that the badge was in her coat pocket.
The hoverbike rider puts down his drink after seeing something quite out of place for a city like this. A woman was being dragged around in chains by a robot. Maybe she's a captive or a slave that's gonna be sold at an auction? She looked quite pretty, and tough too. She'd make a fine addition to the rest of his people. He better act fast then before someone else buys her.
"HEY! Tin man!" Roadrash screamed to get Eagle's attention. "How much for the slave?"
Eagle stopped and stared at the biker. "She's not for sale. Last time someone tried to claim ownership they lost their manhood."
“Then what’s with the fuckin’ chains then if you’re not gonna sell her?”
Slade stopped after the biker started yelling and Eagle opting not to ignore him (like he should). Annoyed, he turned around.
"State marshall business, move along."
((Sorry for the late reply. I made my last one before bed.))
Wesley mulled over the decision while the assorted characters surrounding Jasper argued with and assaulted one another. Overall, they seemed an unreliable lot and the whole initiative just seemed like a bad decision. "I've got nothin' better to do," he said with a shrug. "Sign me up."
The bums let out a cheer for their 'friend.'
---
Two Days Earlier
The sun was setting over Dallas when "Big" Dick Warner, a local bully, was making his rounds. This time of night, it was easy to tell who the marks were by the way they stood around. People with connections, people who could fight back, they were the types who had places to be. The weak, the poor, and the sick were the ones who would fold when the fists started getting thrown, and Dick wanted his money quick. One of his favorite spots was this little ally between a restaurant and an old brick building where the local homeless tended to congregate with hobos and other sketchy sorts who only had a pocket full of change, the kind of men who would rather relinquish their half-day's pay then lose one of their remaining teeth.
As he sized up the gallery, one of them took off running. Small loss, Dick thought to himself, he won't have much if I hit him up yesterday. It suddenly occurred to him that a fresh face was squatting in the corner. He was an older man with a beard and a wide-brimmed hat and a heavy coat. As Dick approached, one of the bums tried to rouse the older man, who kept waving him away as if he was trying to sleep. Perfect, Dick thought to himself. "Alright boys, listen up. I'm taken everything you got on you, and if you play nice and don't hold me up, I won't have to leave you broken tonight."
"Where's the sheriff?" Wesley asked quietly.
"Don't bother," one of the other men, a traveler named Clemmons, answered. "The law don't care 'bout no-lives like us."
"That's a shame," Wesley grumbled as Dick walked over to claim his tribute.
Clemmons turned and began to fish out the little bit of cash he had on him while Dick, a GEH standing almost a foot taller than anyone else in the ally, loomed over him and cast an intimidating shadow. With a shaking hand, Clemmons pulled out a handful of coins, only to drop a few as he surrendered them. Dick seized upon and pushed him into the wall.
"Now didn't I say not to waste my time? Whadaya want me to do, huh? Stand here like a fool while you pick up your pocket change?" He reared back and punched Clemmons in the face before dropping him. With a powerful kick, everyone in the ally shied back, except for Wesley, who merely closed in behind the giant man with a look of disgust on his face.
"Enough o' that, ya sonofabitch," he rasped.
Dick was overjoyed. He was gonna get to break this old man in half. "Aww, now ya done it you geezer-" he started to say as he reached for the man's collar.
Wesley wasn't having any of it. He threw a hand full of sand from the pocket of his coat into the brute's eyes before grabbing his hand, and with a quick snap, broke Dick's pinky so it was hanging 90 degrees out from the rest of his fingers. While the bully cried out in shock, Wesley picked up an old tire iron from the trash heap and struck Dick in the head, knocking him out and leaving a bloody welt on his head. The bums quickly joined in to give his unconscious body a few extra welts and maybe a broken rib before they carried him out to a neighboring street corner and dumped him on the concrete... minus some beer money for the group.
The Next Day
Dick was walking along the same street he terrorized the previous day. It wouldn't be long before he was back at his routine, shaking weaker men down for their cash and blowing it on booze and cheap women, but for right now, he kept his head down and focused on not letting his limp be seen to well by his regular victims. He glanced at the alley he visited at least once a week, and there, in the same corner, Wesley sat with the same ugly expression, warning him to stay away. Dick kept on walking.
Jasper looked back to the older man, and nodded. "Alright. Let's get you sworn in then." he said, before digging into one of his pockets. The swearing in process was quick, really. Didn't even take thirty seconds. Just raise your hand and say a few words. Jasper handed him a badge afterwards, signifying that he was a Marshal's Deputy now. Afterwards, Jasper explained the nature of the current job. "You'll be paid compensation after the job is finished." he said, finally.
He paused to glance back to the others, as they headed off to the hotel. A hell of a bunch they had. Two mutants, one a lawman and one a slick gambler. Some robots. A raider. A political envoy from a far away nation. Two scavengers and a wandering GEH. Now they had a hobo following them around. Masterson always was sort of the oddball when it came to recruiting people. Most of the other Marshals would always pick nothing but humans. Guys that looked like they were practically made for the jobs that they were recruited for. Not Masterson. Masterson recruited really anyone, if he thought they could be of use. Its how he had always been. Some thought that Masterson just saw something in people. Regardless if they were human, mutant, robot...if he thought you had something to offer, you were hired.
Guess some of it rubbed off on Jasper, as he just hired a hobo. Plus, he had hired Eliza, a known murderer and raider, and talked Masterson into keeping her. Jasper shook his head, then looked back to Wesley. He motioned for him to follow. "We're heading over to the Lone Star Hotel for the night. We'll get you set up with a room." he said, before looking over to the marshal's station where Mariuz was. "MARIUZ. We're heading to the hotel for the night. Let's go." he yelled, trying to get his attention. Hopefully the boy doesn't fall off the damn bus.
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As Masterson and Malin returned to where the Hotel was, they noticed Slade and Eagle speaking to a rather large mutant riding a hoverbike. Hoverbikes were extremely rare, Masterson himself having only seen maybe one or two in his lifetime. Both were in use by the Rangers. This one had weird markings on it. Almost tribal. Maybe he was from out further west? Roswell? Sin City? Or even farther out, in California? Masterson motioned for Malin to head on in, he stepped over to where the mutant was. "Evenin'. Nice hoverbike." he said, looking it over again before looking up to the mutant himself.
This guy is huge! Muscular, probably a heavy hitter. Built like a tank, almost. He pondered to himself. He could use a heavy hitter, especially if the guys that they were chasing were GEHs or had friends. ESPECIALLY if they had friends.
“Evenin’. Nice hoverbike.”
“Whoa now, old man. In case you’re wondering, it ain’t for sale.”
“Whoa now, old man. In case you’re wondering, it ain’t for sale.”
"Nah, not lookin' to buy. I'm actually thinkin' about offering you a job. There's pay involved, before you ask."
"Marshal?" Slade did a double take to Masterson "Are you sure? Pot callin kettle black, but you see him?"
A job? Somebody wants to hire Roadrash? He's no mercenary, and he's not too keen on doing favors for people he doesn't know. But there's pay, and it better be good if he wants Roadrash to consider it.
"Now what kind of pay are we talking here? And what kind of job too?"
"Are you sure? Pot callin kettle black, but you see him? You did hear him trying to buy Eliza as a slave, right?"
Masterson glanced to Slade. "Eliza can handle herself. She castrated Jack Dixon. As for this guy, we could use the muscle." he said, before glancing back to Roadrash.
"Now what kind of pay are we talking here? And what kind of job too?"
"Basically its a a retrieval job. Thieves stole something from the Republic of Texas, and we're gonna go catch them and bring it back. You'd be paid compensation for everything when the job's finished. Fifty dollars a day, plus extra for anything you might lose along the way. And you get to keep whatever you find out there."
"Uh-huh, so are you boys cops or something?"
"Uh-huh, so are you boys cops or something?"
"Yes. I'm a Republic Marshal. Slade over there is one of my deputies. The girl in chains, Eliza, is working with us for a pardon."
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He jumped back up on the bus with his tools in tow around his waist, and a bag of various scrap on his back. The other mechanics stopped and watched with curiosity as the new hire got to work on the Marshall's gun.
Chance: 2/5 + Trait = 3/5
Roll: 3
Action: Successful.
Mariuz toiled away at the the machine gun's innards for a few minutes, tweaking bits here and there and replacing broken parts with new ones. Newer springs, a replacement firing pin, some oil. Soon enough, the weapon was working a bit better than before. Not a whole lot better, but it'd last a few more months before needing to be checked out again. Or completely replaced, whichever came first.
“Hmm...”
It did sound quite convincing. Going on a trip with a few lawmen to retrieve a stolen object while being paid and compensated along the way, as well as being able to keep whatever loot he comes across. But he’d be working with total strangers in a place far, far away from home with no support. His mouth opened, about to decline Masterson’s offer, but he remembered something before he could utter a single word. He remembered why he was here. He reminded himself as to why he’s so far away from home.
“Alright, Mister Marshal, ill join your lil’ shindig. But this better be worth my time.” he says rather sternly.
“Alright, Mister Marshal, ill join your lil’ shindig. But this better be worth my time.”
"Alright then. Well, come on in with us. I'll get you sworn in, and caught up to speed with what I know. You can get more drinks, or some rest before morning." said Masterson. He motioned for him to follow, before heading towards the hotel's doors.
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