Joe Rennie. Celeste's diner. Morning.

Joe's eyes widened slightly in panic as Celeste also collapsed to the floor.

Damn it. Why did I sleep? If I'd left last night I could have gone to ground. Got some sleep after I was safe. Now She's out too, I still need to talk to her about this meal for everyone. I can't do that now can I?

From behind Joe came the voice of the trader, Duncan, "[censored]!" he exclaimed, "Joe if I heard you correctly, get these two to a doctor they are a pretty serious case, Celeste seems to have collapsed due to stress. Why? I'm not sure she seemed fairly happy for awhile." he paused for a moment and caught his breath before continuing "Lead me to her home so she can lay down in her own bed and when the doctor is done with those two" he pointed at the two newcomers "Send the doc to Celeste."

"Ok. Thanks for the help.... Duncan isn't it? I actually need to see the doctor for Harold too. Her house is across from the shack," Joe began to lift Celeste from the ground, "Help me get her up and we'll take her there. You don't know where the doctor's house is do you? I havn't had a chance to greet them properly yet."

He turned to the old timer. "Drifter are you ok with these two for a moment? I'll get the doctor as soon as I can."

Duncan Talson

"Ok. Thanks for the help.... Duncan isn't it? I actually need to see the doctor for Harold too. Her house is across from the shack, Help me get her up and we'll take her there. You don't know where the doctor's house is do you? I havn't had a chance to greet them properly yet."

Duncan knelt down and supported the other side of Celeste "Sorry Joe, haven't been there myself, hell I didn't even know we had a doc, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it I guess, right now we just need to get her to a warm place, shock is a nasty thing and that's what she'll be in when she wakes up."

at that moment antoher man Duncan hadn't met before came over he was of a medium height and farely slim and called out "need any help?"

"gladly" Duncan called back, "if you happen to know where the doc is could you run and grab them, if not try and do the best you can for these two" he indicated the two men in the booth "keep them as cool as possible, stripping them down to their underwear if need be and give the unconscious one plenty of fluids if he wakes up and the other as much fluids as possible, although only in sips." Duncan redistributed Celeste's weight on his shoulder and turned to Joe "lead the way."

(ooc: Feel free to control Duncan for the walk and putting celeste in the house Kettle)

Joe and a man named Duncan lifted up Celeste and took her home.Before leaving,Rennie said to Drifter,

"Drifter are you ok with these two for a moment? I'll get the doctor as soon as I can."

"Yeah,I sure am.Once he comes,I've got to go shuck that corn and tend the other crops,so we can have this big dinner tonight.Hopefully,Celeste will be okay by then to help me cook.If she ain't,I'll take over the cooking part."

Drifter massaged more water down the unconscious man's throat,his eyelids fluttering slightly.The boy seemed to have recovered a little,as he was drinking his water.

Drifter hadn't played doctor since his mother had overdosed,he was only 6 at the time.She had always taught him what to do if that happened,massage water down her throat and turn her on her side.The man Drifter was tending to wasn't overdosing,so turning him wasn't necessary.However,sitting him up was.

Drifter hoisted the man up and leaned him back on his knee.He checked the man's pulse,and was glad when he realized his heart was still beating strong,though a bit fast.Drifter did not feel like resuscitating anybody today.

Drifter leaned the man against a booth and took the pot of Instamash off the burner.He quickly scooped it into 2 bowls,one for the kid and one for the unconscious man.He gave the bowl to the kid,and watched him eat it slowly,yet ravenously.He kept the other bowl on the counter for when the man woke up,which hopefully would be soon,otherwise Drifter would eat it.

Drifter leaned back next to the unconscious guy,gave him some more water,and lit up the last little bit of his Vegas Baby.

Those crops are ready...and I reckon the buds are too.I almost feel bad about lighting up right here in the diner,but what's the harm?I'm sitting next to two starving half-dead men.

EDIT

--Afternoon--
--Greyditch Outskirts--
--Pawnee--

Pawnee, James, and Frieda continued to walk through the wasteland with Buck running up and back along their side. Pawnee had tied the power armor to his backpack. It was extremely heavy and cumbersome. He had to hunch forward as he walked.

“I have to ask Pawnee," James paused in his step, "do you know how to wear power armor, cause I don’t. What about you Frieda?”

"I've never touched it in my life," Frieda snapped, "Pawnee, if you need a secure place to keep it, you can lock it up in my shop. Vict won't ask questions, and if he does, I'll just tell him I'm studying its electrical configuration."

Pawnee nodded, “thanks. I want to try it on first, but maybe I’ll come by and drop it off.”

Greyditch began to loom on the horizon. Buck took off towards the town.

“Something’s up,” Pawnee muttered. He motioned for James and Frieda to stay close.

After a few minutes, Pawnee could see several people walking down the road, ahead. It was Joe and another man - they were carrying Celeste across the street.

“Celeste?” Pawnee dropped his pack and took off in a sprint, running up to the men. Celeste look pale and completely catatonic, “what happened to her? Is she okay?”

Jimmy Leggio - Celeste's diner - Late morning

"Gladly" the man called back, "if you happen to know where the doc is could you run and grab them, if not try and do the best you can for these two" he pointed to two men in a booth "keep them as cool as possible, stripping them down to their underwear if need be and give the unconscious one plenty of fluids if he wakes up and the other as much fluids as possible, although only in sips."

Jimmy looked to the two men. The old man, Drifter, was tending to the unconscious, although he hardly seemed unconscious anymore. Drifter was spooning some food into the man's mouth, insta mash it seemed. Jimmy looked to the other man, the younger one he had seen limping through the town earlier. He was drinking the water himself. Jimmy removed the tight, constricting jacket from around his torso and placed it on the ground, next to the young man. He knelt on and looked at him.

Keep them talking, someone had told Jimmy. Keep them talking and they will be fine. The young fella didn't look in the worst shape, but Jimmy figured he may as well look like his helping. He jumped up and dashed to the counter and looked behind it, seeing odd shaped pieces of what looked like meat. Jimmy didn't want to say what shape they reminded him off. Jimmy grabbed one and returned back to the man. He tossed the meat and him.

"Eat up, son," Jimmy told him, before repositioning himself on the ground.

"So, what's your name, friend? What happened you?"

Joe Rennie. Grayditch street. Morning.

"Yeah, I sure am. Once he comes, I've got to go shuck that corn and tend the other crops, so we can have this big dinner tonight. Hopefully, Celeste will be okay by then to help me cook. If she ain't, I'll take over the cooking part."

Tonight. Excellent, Drifter I could almost kiss you, you crazy old bastard. That was exactly what I needed to know.

Joe made eye contact with Jimmy, as the slaver entered and nodded slightly. Hoping Leggio took his meaning, and realised that Joe now had a plan.

Once Duncan and Joe had carried Celeste back to her house, they lifted her up the stairs and lay her on the bed. Joe turned and looked at the man.

Seems a trustworthy type, she'll be alright if I leave him with her won't she? Saying that, why the hell do I care?

Joe's face became the mask of concern again.

"Thank you for that Duncan, could I ask another favor from you though please. I'm quite busy still, security is taking up pretty much all of my time," he chuckled slightly, "I suppose that's how it should be for the secutrity chief. Could you stay with her till she comes round? Let her know I had to dash, but I'll be back to check in on her as soon as I can."

Nick Parker - Greyditch - Afternoon

For the rest of the morning and through noon, Nick trained Katie after much whining from her, begging him to do so. After the regular exercise routine and marksmanship routine, Nick grabbed Katie's hand and dragged her towards the diner. She blushed intensely and blabbed nonstop before Nick shushed her. Jimmy was there.

Nick sighed. "It's the slaver. We need to talk to him about Celeste."

The two headed into the diner and Nick sat next to Jimmy, who was tending to an unconscious man. "Good afternoon...slaver," Nick said with pure venom in his mouth. After countless contracts involving slaver assassinations, all the way to Paradise Falls itself, Nick learned to hate them with every fiber of his body.

Katie looked at the two uncertainly before sighing and got out her Colt .45, hoping Celeste walked in so she could annoy her. She spotted Allison right outside the diner as a sort of spy, waiting for the sudden moment. Katie smiled, knowing not only will it help with the task but she'd get her revenge.

When Hawkeye passed out, he started having a Flashback, to the day he escaped The Pitt

--------------------------------
Hawkeye

Slave Quarters

"Hawkeye don't!" said his girlfriend, Milly, who had fallen for him when Wild Bill went missing.

"I have to!" he said "I want freedom from this putrid hell hole. You should do the same"

"If you leave, don't forget me!" she said

"I won't" he said with a parting kiss. Hawkeye went into his footlocker, pulled out his Autosaw, a Chinese pistol, a grenade, and a prison knife.

He ran up to a slaver, who he had no idea who he was, but he ran the knife into him, and then used him as a shield, the others didn't fire, because they were short on slavers.

"CUT HIS HEAD OFF MARGIE!" screamed a raider as a woman ran toward Hawkeye. He grabbed his Chinese pistol and shot her.

"[censored]!" said the Raider "Leave him! Hes just a-" she was shot by him

"I AM NOT A 'SCAB' I AM A HUMAN!" he roared as he shredded, and shot the slavers and raiders. He reached Mex's Checkpoint, he knew the ambushers would come out of a building.

"Scab..." was Mex's last words, he ran toward Hawkeye, but Hawkeye grabbed him by the neck, stuffed the grenade down his armor, and threw him on the ground. He was distograted into gory, and bloody bits. Hawkeye shot the Ambushers and other guards with ease.

Hawkeye ran for the hills, he crossed the bridge, and entered the tram car, he took it down into the Capital wasteland.

Then, He woke up
-----------------

"Who the [censored] are you people" he demanded "Where am I?"

FRIEDA ~~ Grayditch outskirts ~~ early afternoon

Frieda, James, Pawnee, and Buck were approaching Grayditch. The walk back to town was slower, as Pawnee insisted on hauling the power armour on his own. He had smiled and said something about not making a lady get herself hurt with such a heavy thing, and she just shrugged and carried on, content not to have to carry it if he didn't want her to. As they drew closer to the main drag of town, there was activity around the diner. A man in rags was unconscious and being carried into the diner by Drifter, but what caught her -- and Pawnee's -- attention most was the small, busty woman being carried towards one of the ruined houses: Celeste.

What kind of funny business is this? Frieda frowned. Pawnee shrieked, dropped his bag, and took off into the street. Frieda and James exchanged a look. The other man was still wearing a sling, so she wasn't about to ask him to haul Pawnee's gear. She stooped and shouldered the pack, and dangled the helmet on her wrist from its strap.

"MOVE YOUR [censored] USELESS ASS!" a shrill female voice was shrieking in her ear.

She was breathing hard, her face very close to the ground. Her legs were shaking and she struggled to stand, the heavy armour on her back. "Please," she panted, "my supervisor said--"

"I don't care what your supervisor said. You think that being FRIEDA gives you some immunity to [censored] hard work, that you're better than the rest of us," the woman spat.

"N-no, it's just...I just..."

The woman's face was now looming in front of her nose with a wicked grin. "Get up, and get moving. This is the Enclave, not the Vault Tec Company baseball team. GO!"

Frieda was sweating and panting. Twice in one day? This is [censored] out of control. When she straightened she noticed James was looking at her with a concerned expression.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"S-sure," she breathed. "I'm fine." Frieda offered a smile. "I'm not going to make it too far with this, I'm going to lock it up in my shop." She broke away from James and ducked into Spark and Flame, which was unlocked and open for the day. She tossed it into her locker and closed it up, leaving it secure, before collapsing in front of it feeling dizzy and disoriented. She took some deep breaths to slow her heart rate, before deciding to head back towards the diner to find out if there was some way she could help.

Drifter - The Diner - Afternoon


Drifter greeted Johnson as he walked in the diner to help him care for the unconscious man and the boy.

"Hey there bud,these two don't need much more than water and food,but I'd definitely appreciate it if you helped me keep an eye on them.Things can turn sour quick for someone starving like this poor guy."

Drifter tilted his head towards the unconscious man.

All of a sudden,he awoke,and exclaimed, "Who the [censored] are you people?! Where am I?!"

Drifter sat back up and grabbed the man's shoulders.

"Whoa,slow down there buddy.You're safe now.You've been through a lot,by the looks of you.Simmer down,demanding to know who I am is know way to treat me,after I dragged your starving ass off the street.Have some water,and some Instamash.You'll feel better soon,we've got a doctor on the way to give you a little checkup.By the way,my name's Drifter.Welcome to Grayditch."

Drifter handed the man the bottle of water and a bowl of instamash.He stood up and grabbed some mole rat sausage from behind the counter,cut it up into chunks,and walked back over to the two men.Drifter dumped the sausage chunks into their bowls.

"A little meat is good for you,help you get back on your feet."

Drifter leaned against the counter,looking back and forth between Johnson and the man dressed in slave rags.

Just then,a man and a woman walked in,the man sitting next to Johnson.The man addressed Johnson,saying, "Good afternoon...slaver," with a look of absolute hatred on his face.

Drifter raised an old,bushy eyebrow at this,and addressed the two.

"Howdy,sir.I don't think we've been introduced...I'm Drifter.Now,how do you know this man is a slaver," Drifter eyed Johnson cautiously "Because we've got what looks to be a slave right here on the floor,and I sure don't want to see any trouble between the two."

Drifter started speaking directly to Johnson now, "Well,Mr.Johnson...what do you have to say about all that?I'm not the hero type,but I sure ain't gonna take kindly to the re-enslavement of a newcomer."

Hawkeye started eating down the food and drinking the water, it was one of his first meals since The Pitt, he looked at the kid who was also eating it, he looked at his bowl, he walked over to the kid.

"Here ya go, some food for ya" he said

He went back to sit down, he noticed a magazine on the floor.

Fixin Things

It said on the cover, he saw ad boards for it in The Pitt, but never actually read it. He opened the book, prepared to find pictures, but all he found was words, odd words. He had no idea what they meant. He got up and walked over to the man who had saved him.

"Sir. Do you know how to read this?" Hawkeye asked.

Then, the man who was standing next to him shot Hawkeye a look.

(OOC:Infantry,Read this.http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/893712-so-you-think-you-can-rp/)

Drifter - The Diner - Afternoon

The slave got up and produced a magazine,from the floor.

Fixin Things

"Sir. Do you know how to read this?"

Drifter sighed deeply,and responded to the slave.

"Son,I can read okay,but to be totally honest,I'm better at blowing smoke rings and this whole magazine looks like gibberish to me."

Not even a thank you...ungrateful little [censored].


Drifter gave Johnson a look,a look that said We'll talk later.

Drifter shook his head in disgust,and stalked out of the diner towards the garden.

In the garden he found peace,stripping the corn,digging up the carrots and potatoes,and picking the buffalo gourd.

Drifter laid out a blanket,and started shucking the corn over the blanket,saving the corn husks to make rolling papers with.

After shucking the corn,Drifter took the roots and greens off the carrots and potatoes,and stuck them on the blanket with the corn.

The buffalo gourd was similar to cabbage,so he cleaned off the dirt and stuck them on the blanket with the rest of the veggies.

As Drifter was getting ready to go wash them,he remembered the Vegas Baby.He turned around,and saw it was already 4 feet tall.

Ready?!Already?!

Drifter uprooted the Vegas Baby,and started pruning the leaves with his multi-tool.After all the leaves were gone,he bundled the plants in his arms and ran to his house.Inside the house,he hung them up,one by one,in the closet to dry.

These buds are going to net a ton of caps...

After exiting his new home,he jogged back to the garden,and grabbed the blanket full of crops.He walked back to the diner,lugging the huge blanket full of unnaturally large corn,potatoes,and carrots.The buffalo gourd,he could not say,because he had never seen it before,but they were the size of soccer balls.Once inside the diner,he lifted the blanket onto the counter,and started cleaning the veggies one by one.

I love being lost in my work...

OOC:Got it, Edited.

Hawkeye looked at the book with a strange, curious look

"Hmmm.." he said, then he saw the man who had saved him leave the diner

"I should thank him..." he said to himself.

Hawkeye saw him come back in, he went behind the counter. Hawkeye was shy as a mouse, so he waited until the man was done cleaning the last food.

He walked up to the man and said "Im shy, and im sorry I didn't say this earlier, but im really thankful for what you did with me, anyone else would've left me for dead."

Hawkeye gathered his belongings and said "Im sorry if i caused any trouble, im not sure anywheres safe, they might come to get me, ill keep out of peoples lives, ill live in the alleys."

He ran out of the diner, and ran into a alley, he laid down the mattress he had been carrying since he found it in the Slaver Checkpoint. And he went to sleep.

Drifter - The Diner - Afternoon

Drifter almost didn't hear the slave walk up behind him.Drifter nearly turned around and smacked him,as a reflex.

"Im shy, and im sorry I didn't say this earlier, but im really thankful for what you did with me, anyone else would've left me for dead."

"Don't mention it...I was dragged out of that very spot on my first day here.And no,they would not have left you for dead.I was just quick about it,because I was in the same position at one point."

Drifter continued to clean the veggies,and the slave said,

"Im sorry if i caused any trouble, im not sure anywheres safe, they might come to get me, ill keep out of peoples lives, ill live in the alleys."

Drifter called after him as he ran out,yelling

"Hey!Don't forget to come to the town dinner tonight!You don't have to live in some god damned alley!"

Drifter sighed,and addressed Mr.Johnson.

"Johnson...do us all a favor and get that boy some clothes.He's probably still in that alley,and if you can go to your shop,grab him so clothes,and get him dressed,then I will be able to repay you as soon as the next caravan comes into town.We can't have bums living in the alleys,for Christ sakes.I'll let him take a downstairs room in my own house,until we can find him one.Just go grab him,get him dressed,and inform him that we will be having a town dinner here in the diner tonight."

OOC: I turn my back for a day and already, two pages have spurted up. This Rp burns through fast.

Ryler North


"Oh dear Lord!" The woman exclaimed, rushing around the end of the bar, "You poor dear! Where did you come from? --it doesn't matter now, we'll take care of you. Duncan, can you help me get him into a booth?" She weakly pulled on Ryler's left shoulder in an attempt to get him standing again.

Oh, dear. The woman is mothering me. But he didn't mind. Perhaps it was out of the kindness of her heart. Another man entered the diner, "Hey boy,you hungry?Come on in and sit down,you look like a damn train wreck." They dragged him to the circular, metal booth. The elderly man slapped Ryler. Hard. "Hey,wake up boy.You look like an overdosed jet junkie."

"Uh, oh, sure," the woman mumbled. "I'm about to bake up some biscuits, does that tickle your fancy? I've got some mole rat sausage as well...and coffee." She shimmied back behind the bar and pulled out a bottle of whiskey, measuring out a shot. The woman returned to the booth and placed the whiskey in front of the Old Man, giving a warm smile to the young man. Then, she introduced herself, "What's your name? I'm Celeste Brown, that's Drifter, and you're in the diner at Grayditch." She put a hand on her hip and stuck it out just so. "Did any of that food I just described sound good to you?"

"Ryler. Ryler North." He looked up at her, "Thankyou."

Insta-Mash and water was brought to him. Drink slowly, he told himself. He nodded a thankyou, before downing and gulping the food and water. He started to get his strength back, but he badly needed sleep. Across the street, yet another man collasped. Another man, with black hair and striking blue eyes entered Grayditch. Somebody called out his name, which was Joe. Soon people were barking orders the Celeste. She too, collapsed from stress. Others ran to her, to see if she was alright. Soon after, more people entered Grayditch. A middle-aged man with jet black hair and later, a scruffy kid his own age.

The group began speaking if the town doctor, and ordered someone to fetch him. The middle-aged man grabbed Ryler some meat,"Eat up, son," he told Ryler, before repositioning himself on the ground."So, what's your name, friend? What happened you?"

"Thanks, I'm Ryler North," he managed, "Raiders...all the blood...they're all dead...they're all dead." His eyes were wide. He could start thinking staright again, "Celeste", he pointed to her, "Place a wrapped shirt or towel under her head. Let her rest, and when she wakes, leave her be from work."

OOC: Whew! I'm done. Forgive me if I missed anything out.

James wilson – graydtich – afternoon

"S-sure," she breathed. "I'm fine." Frieda offered a smile. "I'm not going to make it too far with this, I'm going to lock it up in my shop."

Something is wrong with her, not sure what though….

Looking towards the dinner , the two people that had fallen over were back on their feet. James entered the grayditch arms and placed the laser rifle & ammo on table next to Sue, grabbed a bottle of water from the kicthen and head back to the dinner.

When james reached the dinner , someone was talking…

“Thanks, I'm Ryler North," he managed, "Raiders...all the blood...they're all dead...they're all dead." His eyes were wide. He could start thinking staright again, "Celeste", he pointed to her, "Place a wrapped shirt or towel under her head. Let her rest, and when she wakes, leave her be from work."

“What happen to Celeste?, Are u okay? ” james asked….

Three people ill on one day , what the [censored] happened?

Duncan Talson

As Joe and Duncan walked Celeste to her home, Duncan recognised the man from his first day in the diner run up to them with worry in his voice “what happened to her? Is she okay?”

"It's alright young man, she fainted due to some stress, she's going to be alright, we shouldn't crowd her though, come to her house in a couple of hours and check on her. That's where we are taking her now" Duncan flashed a friendly smile to the man and continued on his way.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the two men placed Celeste on her Bed Joe turned to Duncan with a concerned look on his face and spoke to him

"Thank you for that Duncan, could I ask another favor from you though please. I'm quite busy still, security is taking up pretty much all of my time, I suppose that's how it should be for the secutrity chief. Could you stay with her till she comes round? Let her know I had to dash, but I'll be back to check in on her as soon as I can."

"No problem Joe" Duncan said quietly "I'll make sure no harm comes to her, you do what you gotta do and hustle on back here when you get a spare moment" with that Duncan watched Joe go.

He took up a seat in the opposite end of the room where he had a clear view out the door, then unholstered his .357 and rested it on his thigh while he rocked back on his chair. the man must care for his people to be concerned for Celeste like that, that, or he's her beau Duncan let out an amused sigh at the prospect. the man doesn't exactly seem like the type to settle down, more a lone ranger, but I guess men can change.... men can change. The last part of the thought gnawed at him. Duncan had changed who he was so many times the novelty had worn off and his more in depth history was buttoned up tighter thatn a nuns corset. No one else alive knew very much about him. The things he had to do to survive, the men he has killed, his secrets were just that secret. "after all the best way to keep a secret is to keep it to one person." he breathed out, hoping not to rouse Celeste from her state. let her come to when she's ready, the diner can go a few hours without her he turned back to the door and stretched, it was going to be a bit of a wait.

Jimmy Leggio - Celeste's Diner - Afternoon

Things heated up fast, too quickly for Jimmy to really comprehend what was going on. Jimmy had been talking to the young boy, asking him about what had happened him and his name.

"Thanks, I'm Ryler North," he gasped, "Raiders...all the blood...they're all dead...they're all dead." His eyes shot open and darted around the diner. "Celeste", he pointed to her, "Place a wrapped shirt or towel under her head. Let her rest, and when she wakes, leave her be from work."

Jimmy was about to calm him down and tell him that Celeste was going to be tended to when a man, Nick Parker and his girlfriend, crouched next to Jimmy.

"Good afternoon...slaver," Parker hissed at Jimmy. Jimmy slowly looked up at the man, silently slipping his hidden hand into his jacket on the ground and unhooking his holster which contained his 10mm.

"Howdy,sir.I don't think we've been introduced...I'm Drifter.Now,how do you know this man is a slaver," Drifter threw Jimmy a small, untrusting look "Because we've got what looks to be a slave right here on the floor,and I sure don't want to see any trouble between the two."

Drifter looked at Jimmy. "Well,Mr.Johnson...what do you have to say about all that?I'm not the hero type,but I sure ain't gonna take kindly to the re-enslavement of a newcomer."

What the [censored]? How does this piece of [censored] assassin know anything about me? Just as Jimmy was to reply to the allegation, the slave sitting between Jimmy and Drifter stood up and began walking around. He asked Drifter a question, and he got up to go to the slave. With Drifter temporarily occupied elsewhere, Jimmy turned his attention to Parker.

"Come find me later. We'll discuss this in private. And do your wife a favour, learn to control your [censored] mouth, lest you piss me off too much," Jimmy spat at the moron who could have easily had him found out. He readjusted his attention to the young man before him.

"Ryler was it? Don't you worry about anything, you're in good care here," Jimmy hummed warmly, before looking at Drifter, who was outside in the garden, simultaneously washing some of the fine crops he produced and talking to the slave.

"Johnson...do us all a favor and get that boy some clothes.He's probably still in that alley,and if you can go to your shop,grab him so clothes,and get him dressed,then I will be able to repay you as soon as the next caravan comes into town.We can't have bums living in the alleys,for Christ sakes.I'll let him take a downstairs room in my own house,until we can find him one.Just go grab him,get him dressed,and inform him that we will be having a town dinner here in the diner tonight," Drifter yelled from the garden once he noticed Jimmy. That's Mr Johnson, you [censored] inbred, Jimmy thought, but he smiled and waved at Drifter.

"Look kid, I gotta go. I'm sure you'll be fine, but if you feel faint, or sick, there's too many people around here anyway." Jimmy clasped the young man's shoulder and sprinted outside towards Drifter.

"Listen friend, I'm no slaver. You don't know me, and I don't know you, so you can believe what you want about me. But the Nick Parker is not to be trusted. I assure you, I'm not going to enslave that man, nor anybody else in this town," Jimmy explained, staring Drifter in the eyes. "You don't have to worry. But if you don't mind, I really need a word with Parker. Man walks around. spreading lies. I may as well ask what his problem is, so if you could get somebody else to deal with the slave..." Jimmy smiled and walked back towards the diner.

He entered and saw Parker standing next to his wife. They'd fit right in at the metro.

"You wanna talk?" Jimmy whispered to the pair.

OOC: I think I overheard Duncan’s name before. . . .

--Afternoon--
--Exterior of Celeste’s House--
--Pawnee--

“Is she okay?” Pawnee put his hand on Celeste’s arm. She felt cold and limp.

"It's alright young man. She fainted due to stress. She's going to be alright,” Duncan smiled to Pawnee as he and Joe maneuvered her towards her house’s front door, “we shouldn't crowd her though. Come back in a couple of hours and check on her.”

Pawnee backed away as the two men carried Celeste inside.

Can't be easy being the town mom. . .

Pawnee turned around. Frieda had picked up his bag and the attached suit of power armor. She disappeared inside of Spark and Flame.

Hope it’s really safe there. . . eh, Freida wouldn't back-stab me. I know her secret. She must know how to wear it though - was in the enclave after all. She could put it on and run away . . .be mighty hard to catch. . .meh. . .I'll get it back from her soon, just in case.

Pawnee pivoted slightly. James was entering his house, the new laser rifle strapped to his back. There was a crowd of people inside Celeste’s diner. He recognized Jimmy and Drifter. Two newcomers were in the diner as well – they looked weather-beaten and exhausted.

Buck barked and skipped over to Pawnee’s side. The dog whined. It was hungry.

“Don’t have anything to eat boy,” Pawnee stared down at the dog, "unless I go and raid Drifter’s crop field. . .nah, Celeste will be up soon. She'll give you some scraps.”

Pawnee walked into Celeste’s house and took a seat on a ruined couch on the lower level. It looked like several rad-roaches had been squished on the carpet the day before. Someone had tried to clean them up, but yellow and green stains still dotted the floor. Buck spent several minutes licking the goo.

Eventually, the dog hopped up next to Pawnee on the couch and closed its eyes, going to sleep.

Pawnee pulled out a cigarette and went to light it before having second thoughts.

Celeste would kill me if she knew I’d been smoking in her house.

He put away the cig and then reached into his pocket. He had kept all of the gold coins in his pocket – not his bag. He took one out and began to flick it into the air with his fingernail, idly passing the time, waiting for Celeste to come downstairs.

Nick Parker

"Come find me later. We'll discuss this in private. And do your wife a favour, learn to control your [censored] mouth, lest you piss me off too much," Jimmy said. Nick smiled. Later after much dialogue exchange between Drifter and Jimmy, he approached Nick and Katie.

"You wanna talk?" Jimmy whispered to the pair. Nick looked around. Gerald was planted all the way across town as a sentry to keep watch on Moriarty so that option was out. Cyrus was also planted much closer but still too far away for him to spot Nick. Allison was definitely out of the question, she had to keep tabs on everything going on.

Nick sighed but knew he'll be safe either way. "Mr. Johnson, I don't take kindly to slavery. for 7 years, many of my contracts involved killing your kind and I don't intend to stop now. But...I'll keep quiet...if you do a service for me. Nothing big, you don't have to kill anyone. So how about it?"

Katie looked nervously at the pair. It was as if Nick was back to his regular manipulative self after years of deteriorating after the First Squad's death. She didn't know whether to be happy...or terrified. The only thing she could utter was, "I'm not his wife..."

James wilson – Celeste diner – afternoon

"It's alright young man, she fainted due to some stress, she's going to be alright, we shouldn't crowd her though, come to her house in a couple of hours and check on her. That's where we are taking her now" Duncan flashed a friendly smile to the man and continued on his way.

Being a cook/cleaner/greeter/barmaid/"mayor" can be stressful but whilst everyone is busy, I should hide those gold coins…

Heading back to his house a man in per-war bussiness suit walked into the dinner and began speaking to Nick and some woman.. james had seen this guy & his wife yesterday but didn’t know there names. I should introduce myself later

Back inside Garyditch arms, James with Sue’s help made a small hole under the fridge and placed the gold coins (in a small bag)
inside hole afterwards they covered the hole with the broken fridge "Incase Grayditch doesn’t work out....”

changing out of his blue combat armour , james dressed in his per-war suit and walked to Celeste’s house. Pawnee was aready sitting on the couch with his dog. “So Pawnee what are you going to do with your "share" ” James asked whilst taking a seat on a old chair near the kitchen

--Afternoon--
-- Celeste’s House--
--Pawnee--

As Pawnee began to nod off, he heard the front door open. He hid the gold coins immediately.

James walked into the house, wearing a prewar suit. He smiled at Pawnee and took a seat in the living room.

What’s he doing here? Sure has taken a lot of interest in me. . .been following me again? I don’t like it.

“So Pawnee what are you going to do with your share?” James seemed to put extra emphasis on the word ‘share.’

Like I’m going to tell you? What’s your angle? You going to try to steal it?

“Dunno yet. . .used to hear stories about a place called Mexico. Full of pretty women. Blue water. Parties by the beach. Maybe I’ll go there,” Pawnee insincerely smiled. He pulled out his Bowie knife and intensely trimmed each of his fingernails, glaring at James the whole time, “I don’t know. Hard to move gold . . .got to find a way to turn it into caps without buying so much that it ties you down. Maybe melt them or something. . .[censored], maybe I’ll move into Tennpenny tower.”

CELESTE BROWN ~~ her house ~~ afternoon

Celeste was crying. "I am trying, mummy, I'm trying, but I don't get it. C-can't you read it to me again?"

"I've already read it to you three times," her mother snapped. "I don't think you're going to get it. You're just too [censored] stupid."

Celeste wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "I'm just little, mummy, but I can learn. Uncle Tom said--"

"Uncle Tom is just nice to you because you're cute. I'm trying to teach you something so that you don't have to work as a [censored] saloon girl but so far the future isn't looking bright." Linda flicked the butt of her cigarette onto the floor.

"Don't smoke, mummy," Celeste said miserably.

"I'll do whatever I want. Read it again."

"Okay mummy," she murmured. "I...hmmm...." Celeste's eyes opened slowly and lay still for a moment. Her head hurt a little bit. She propped herself up and sat up on what she recognized as her bed.

She looked around and saw Duncan sitting in her room. "Duncan!" she exclaimed, surprised. "What happened? There was...oh no!" she gasped. "The man in the street, and Ryler in the diner. Oh no, are they okay?"

Celeste carefully slid herself off of the bed, realizing her headache came from the back of her skull. She rubbed it absently. "Did I hit my head...?"

She heard voices below, it sounded like James and Pawnee. She couldn't really tell what they were talking about. Duncan tried to insist that she stay in bed but she refused. "I feel fine, I just got overwhelmed for a second there." She winked. "Let's go have another cup of coffee -- I know I need one."

Celeste came down the stairs and saw Pawnee and James sitting on her couch. "Hi James, Pawnee," she smiled. Her head still hurt but she had work to do. "Don't tell me the line up at the diner stretches all the way into my house?"

James wilson – Celeste house - afternoon


“Dunno yet. . .used to hear stories about a place called Mexico. Full of pretty women. Blue water. Parties by the beach. Maybe I’ll go there,” Pawnee insincerely smiled. He pulled out his Bowie knife and intensely trimmed each of his fingernails, glaring at James the whole time, “I don’t know. Hard to move gold . . .got to find a way to turn it into caps without buying so much that it ties you down. Maybe melt them or something. . .[censored], maybe I’ll move into Tennpenny tower

“Mexcio is [censored] , I’ve been their nuked almosted as bad as here, but tennpenny tower is okay..” apart from being run by bigots

Celeste came down the stairs. "Hi James, Pawnee," she smiled. "Don't tell me the line up at the diner stretches all the way into my house?"

“ no I came to see how you where doing, I heard you fainted in the diner , I would of brought some “get well soon” flowers but they all died out around here, anyway how are you doing Celeste?” “