closed rp Post

[assjerky]

CLOSED RP POST with okiedokies art by pignk

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[assjerky]

Loaded indeed. He hadn't decided what he thought about it all himself. He didn't think for a second she was actually attracted to him, cause, fuckin' look at him. Best to take it at face value: she was curious.

And horny. One of the horniest he'd ever met. And that was saying something, he'd lived in Hollywood for fuck's sake.

By midday they came upon a trading post. Out of habit, the Ghoul tilted his hat down, obscuring the fact that his nose was missing. He couldn't completely hide the fact that he was a ghoul, but he could make it less obvious. Helped a little that he was walking side by side with a smoothie. Speaking of which...

"C'mon, Vaultie, let's find you some clothes."

[okiedokies]

Eventually, Lucy had started to talk again but it was a fairly mundane conversation considering all the different topics they had covered in the last few days. Or, you know, her humping him in his sleep. Apparently.

She perked up when the trading post came into view because she was always curious about things on the surface and the people she could meet. A sideways glance had her catching the way he drew his hat down and she arched a brow curiously before she realized that he was doing it to cover some of his face.

"I can go in alone if you want?" She offered, just in case he didn't want to go in and deal with people.

[assjerky]

He scoffed softly and angled his head to send a look at her from beneath the tipped brim of his hat. "So you can get fleeced by some forked tongued swindler? Naw, don't think that's gon' work, Vaultie. Saw what passed for your negotiation tactics live an' up close." To quote Ma June, fuckin' Vault Dwellers. "You can take point, but I'm gon' stick close enough to make sure ain't nobody tryin' to rob you blind."

[okiedokies]

What a complete one-eighty from using her as bait and then selling her. Now he seemed almost…protective.

Her features softened briefly as she smiled at him but she caught herself with a little cough as she glanced at the trading post. Pursing her lips, she considered his words before making a decision. “Why don’t you take the lead this time and I’ll watch you? Then I can learn how I should interact with people up here.”

[assjerky]

Protective of their resources. That was his story. He was stickin' to it.

He sent her an amused glance, shook his head slightly as he ambled up the rickety wooden steps of the small ramshackle building, passing brahmin and carts parked outside. The way she talked was just so goddamn weird. Nothing like a Wastelander, nothing like the world that existed bedore the bombs drop.

The interior was packed with salvage, but it didn't take more than a quick glance to identify an old bookshelf and repurposed to hold a messy piles of haphazardly folded clothing. The man behind the counter didn't even look up from a Grognak the Barbarian comic he was engrossed in, though a few fellow travellers sent the two of them confused and concerned looks as they passed.

"There ya go," he drawled, leaning against the wall near the shelf. "See what you can find."

[okiedokies]

They could both spin it however they wanted.

Lucy was aware of the guy behind the counter looking at her curiously because of the bright blue suit but that the main reason they were there. It would feel strange to be without it since it was almost like a second layer of skin to her but she also recognized that she didn’t want to be in it anymore. Partially because it made her stand out but also because she didn’t want to be associated with what it stood for anymore.

She started poking through the clothes until she found a couple of pieces. Then she looked up curiously. “Is there somewhere I can change?”

The guy pointed out a space in the back and she nodded before glancing over at The Ghoul, checking him for a moment where he was standing before she slipped into the back. She hadn’t found a jacket and a hat yet but she had found a couple tops and a pair of pants. Clothes that felt weird when she peeled off her vault suit and changed.

When she emerged a few moments later, probably just long enough to make the Ghoul itchy, she looked hesitant but hopeful as she found the Ghoul. She held up her arms like she was asking what he thought as she turned slowly. She had changed the vault suit for a pair of slim fitting dark brown pants and a short white top underneath a fitted almost vest like top. It showed a little more skin than she was used to but she was going to look for a jacket.

Turning to face the Ghoul, she arched a brow and smiled. “Well, do I look like I could fit in now?”

[assjerky]

The Ghoul dug out a cigarette and an old scruffed lighter out of his coat, and was smoking it with his hat tipped down while she changed. She took long enough that the proprietor was starting to look up from his comic and squint at him. He didn't have to be looking at him to see it, he could feel the suspicion.

He exhaled a plume of grey smoke as the Vaultie finally ducked out of the alcove and did a little spin. Weren't as perfect a fit as her blue jumpsuit, but even that helped her fit in. He took another drag, the orange glow illuminating his face as he studied her, his expression hard to read. "Yep, think that'll do," he replied, dropping his cigarette and stubbing it out with his boot. "Find a hat. Your nose is turning redder by the day."

[okiedokies]

Lucy figured that agreement was as good as any she was going to get and so she flashed a smile before she turned to start looking through the rest of the things. Eventually she came up with a simple hat the same shade as her pants and a jacket. Not one as long as his but it hung past the curve of her backside and it looked like it was good enough to protect her from the elements.

Once she had them in hand, she moved over to him with a curious look on her face. “What now?”

In other words, how was she going to pay?

[assjerky]

While she hunted up a hat and a coat, the Ghoul took her pack and rooted through it until he came up with a box of snack cakes. Barely waiting for her to acknowledge she was done, he ambled up to the counter and slid the box across to the shopkeep. "For the clothes," he drawled, carelessly shoving her vault suit into the pack before handing it back to her.

The owner blinked, and seemed like he was about to protest before he got a good look at the box. "Hey are those pre-w--"

"Shut the fuck up," the Ghoul interrupted smoothly, staring the shopkeep down until the cap dropped in his head. The last thing they needed was other folk overhearing pre-war food.

"...yeah, okay," the guy responded, taking the box and whisking it off the counter, stashing it somewhere out of sight and picking up his comic again.

"Dandy. Lesgo, darlin'." The Ghoul strolled out of the creaky building, unhurried but with purpose. Best to move on and get gone before anyone looked too hard or too long.

[okiedokies]

“Okay,” Lucy nodded at The Ghoul as she tugged her new jacket on, noting it was a size or two too big for her but maybe she would appreciate that at night when she could use it for a blanket. Then she wouldn’t need to cuddle up to The Ghoul for heat even though he would be warmer than her jacket. She also wasn’t going to look too closely at the fact that she felt a flicker of disappointment at only using her jacket at night.

Brushing those thoughts from her mind, she turned to look at the man with a bright smile. “Thank you for your help and the clothes.”

Then she turned to hurry after The Ghoul as the guy blinked at her.

[assjerky]

The Ghoul whistled for Dogmeat, who was sniffing curiously around the placid brahmin, as he led the way back to the highway. He didn't try to talk until the trading post was well behind them, and he was sure they weren't being followed.

"So how's it feel, Vaultie?" He glanced at her as he took his canteen out for a sip of water. He hummed as he drank, then passed her the canteen. "Hm. Guess I gotta stop callin' you that now."

[okiedokies]

She had noticed that he glanced around enough that she felt the need to do the same, checking their surroundings to make sure that it was just them as they walked away to continue on their trek in the same direction her father had gone.

“It feels weird,” she told him truthfully as she glanced down at herself. “But it’s strangely…freeing. Comfortable.”

Then she looked at him, considering. “You don’t have to.”

[assjerky]

The Ghoul made a vague sound of acknowledgement, lapsing into silence as he screwed the top back on his canteen and stowed it. He'd probably still call her Vaultie when it was just the two of them, but around anyone else, well. Might be best not to advertise it.

"Don't look half bad on you, neither," he remarked--probably the closest thing to a compliment to come out of his mouth.

[okiedokies]

It would probably be fine if he called her Vaultie when it was just the two of them, like it was his own personal nickname for her that he wouldn’t share with anyone else.

“Thank you,” she looked pleased because she didn’t want to look silly and she figured that him saying that meant the clothes worked as they wanted. Then her smile grew as she patted the jacket. “There are also a lot of pockets.”

[assjerky]

The Ghoul hummed softly in amusement at her obvious delight, eyeing the road ahead of them as they headed deeper into the Mojave. "Yeah, somethin' them vault suits lacked, huh," he remarked, considering saying more but ultimately deciding against it. Telling her he knew that well, cause he was probably the first person to put one on, would open up a terrible, painful door. "Think we're getting close to the split in the highway. Real curious to see which way your daddy headed." Both led to New Vegas, but one was more direct--and more dangerous. Still, maybe the risk would be worth it to him, in that big tin can suit.

[okiedokies]

“Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with them but,” she trailed off with a shrug, feeling a momentary flash of guilt. Knowing what she did now twisted up how she felt about Vault-Tec and the vaults, so it left her feeling mixed when she went to say something bad about the suits after so many years, her entire life, of believing certain things in a certain way.

She looked over as he wondered out loud about the route her father could have taken. “Which way will we be going?”

[assjerky]

"Well we ain't marchin' into Deathclaw territory," the Ghoul drawled. "There's a third option too. Sayin' fuck it to the highway and cuttin' through the desert." He ran his tongue over his teeth and hummed thoughtfully. "Think taking the Eastern road's still our best bet. Have to be loaded down with supplies to survive that, an' theres no NCR patrols to keep things 'civilized' off the highway."

[okiedokies]

"I can agree to that, I would like to avoid Deathclaw territory very much," Lucy nodded before falling silent as he continued with their options, her gaze dropping briefly and then sweeping away. "I'm going to trust you to choose since you know this area and I don't, I'm going to rely on your choice. But if you ask me, Eastern road sounds like a good road to take."

[assjerky]

"It's the long way 'round, mind," the Ghoul pointed out, rolling a shoulder, his eyes focused on the cracked and broken road. He didn't add that if it weren't for her presence, he'd probably risk cutting through the desert. Weren't near as hard for him to survive those harsh conditions. "He took a shorter route, he'll get there 'fore we do. Means we'll have to pick up the trail." His lips twitched into a wry sort of smirk. "Lucky thing I'm real good at pickin' up trails."

[okiedokies]

He didn’t have to make the addition that they were choosing a different route because of her since it was easy to figure out. She glanced down the road, clearly considering telling him they could go the shorter, more dangerous route but she decided against it.

“I’m sorry,” she told him as she focused on him again. She waited for him to look at her before sighing softly. “It’s my fault we’re going the slow route, right? It’s going to slow you down in the search for your family.”

It seemed more of his conversation with her Dad was coming back to her.

[assjerky]

The Ghoul glanced at her with a raised eyebrow, then frowned, exhaling a sigh with a low sound deep in his chest, part thoughtful, part quiet exasperation. Couldn't say he didn't know this was coming, eventually. "Ain't your fault, Vaultie," he replied gruffly. "Been on this path for 200 years. Taking the highway ain't gonna make it take that much longer, in the grand scheme of things."

[okiedokies]

Lucy half expected him to react the same way he did when she asked who he was but found herself somewhat pleasantly surprised when he did. She was also relieved in the sense that he didn't blame her for having to slow down his search.

"You made it sound like my Dad knew where they were," She decided to push her luck, biting the inside of her cheek. "Were they in a vault?"

[assjerky]

"Yep. Just don't know where." He hesitated, scanning the horizon, sucking at his teeth. May as well just fuckin' rip the scab off. If he didn't, she'd keep picking at it. And he had implied he'd tell her how he knew her daddy. His steps slowed as he spoke, until he came to a stop, so they could stand face to face. "...My ex-wife. She worked for Vault-Tec. Your daddy was her assistant. He got himself a long freeze, reckon she did too. Her, an' my daughter both."

[okiedokies]

She looked pained as her heart ached for him, so much so that she didn't notice any other feeling she might have had at hearing him refer to his wife as an ex. At the same time, one shouldn't assume that someone being their ex meant that the feelings were gone. She knew feelings could be complicated after all.

"Your daughter?" She tilted her head to the side. "How old is she?"

[assjerky]

"She was 7." Wasn't what she'd asked, exactly, but he was fair sure that was what she meant. Honest answer to her exact question was, he didn't know. She could still be 7. She could be 77. She could already be dead and gone.

He didn't know, and not knowing was hell. Every goddamn day for 200 years. He turned and kept walking. All the shit he felt, thinking about Janey, he didn't want it showing on his face.