[Jade Muggeridge]

(OOC note: try to remember to use timestamps -- I've found they are actually really helpful, though we didn't start the RP by using them.)

EDIT!!

CELESTE BROWN ~~ Diner ~~ Late afternoon/early evening

The diner cleared out before Celeste knew it. The men seemed to have discussed something about wrangling up some brahmin for the town, and they left to prepare. Sue left after Brandy had. Joe and Harold were nowhere to be seen.

The greasy man from the night before came in with a stack of flyers. It looked as though he were going to start up a barbershop. Good idea, we could use one of those. I should send Jesse in for a shave.

"Mind if I leave these here?" the man asked.

Celeste gave a small smile. "Oh, sure. That's fine. I'm Celeste, by the way...I don't think I caught your name?"

She learned the man's name was Frank. She gave him a cup of coffee and set the leaflets onto the edge of the bar.

I wonder what happened to everyone else. I haven't even seen Drifter all day. Maybe he's sleeping off his hangover. It can't get easier to deal with that when you get older. Celeste took it as a blessing in disguise and focused her energy towards doing the deep clean she wasn't able to late the night before.

The sun was just about to set when Vict entered the diner. Pawnee was walking by, as well, but she couldn't call out to him, having to pay attention to Vict. By the time he had decided on an order, Pawnee was well out of sight. Vict took his Mirelurk cakes to go, and that was it for the rest of the night. When the caravan could be seen plodding by, out of town, she decided that it was time to close. No one had been in, other than Vict, for hours after Frank, and she welcomed the change in activity compared to the night before. As she was closing up, she hoped Joe would come by and she could ask if he would like a cup of coffee at hers, but he never did.



~~EARLY MORNING THE NEXT DAY ~~ Diner

Celeste contemplated wearing the same pink sweater from the day before -- ironically, it now smelled like detergent -- but thought against it. There is something about a clean shirt to help get the day started right and chose a lavender v-neck with a white tank top underneath.. She hummed happily to herself, took down the CLOSED sign, and immediately busied herself with making some coffee.

Pawnee walked in, light purple circles underneath his eyes, which were a little bloodshot as well. Was he drinking again last night? He re-directed them onto the counter, as though the sunlight coming through the ceiling was paining him.

"Morning Celeste," he mumbled, "could I get a cup of coffee and some YumYum eggs?"

"Sure thing," Celeste cooed, and turned to gather up his order.

"Can I ask you something Celeste?"

"Anything," she replied with a smile, though she worried about him. His tone was sad and she finally got a whiff of the stale booze on his skin as she moved to stand in front of him at the bar.

He sunk into his seat, "Frieda. . .she. . .she's really mad at me. Brandy kissed me - it was just on the cheek - a thanks for the meal - but Frieda saw it and flipped out. I think she broke off whatever we had together, and now I feel terrible. I tried to make it up to her, but I don't think it mattered. . . she came to see me last night - but didn't let me talk. What do you think I should do?" Pawnee stared into Celeste eyes, and then at her chest, though they were sort of right in his face, "I've really fallen for her. How can get her to trust me again? I tried apologizing, and giving her gifts, and helping out with her. . .personal stuff. . .and nothing's worked."

Celeste took a deep breath. She was a little conflicted, she had to admit. She didn't like Frieda, and she didn't really want to see her with Pawnee. Unfortunately, here he was, bleeding his little heart out to her, and looking every bit the lovesick, heartbroken man he claimed to be. Either you tell him to forget about Frieda, which is what YOU want and would make you happy, or you help him, which is what HE wants and would make him happy.

She took the high ground.

Celeste poured a cup of coffee and placed it in front of Pawnee. His hands cupped the mug but he didn't drink right away. "Well...that's quite the situation, there. I don't know Frieda all that well, but it does sound like she was hurt by what you did -- not that I know why, you were making a new friend, it was just harmless, and Brandy couldn't have known you were...together," she mumbled, getting off track. She tilted her head and smiled softly at him. "Just keep trying to show that you care, really. Show her she can trust you. Don't let other girls kiss you while she's around," she winked.

Pawnee winced.

"Sorry. I mean it, though. Just keep trying. If she doesn't come around, well..." Celeste sighed. It was never nice to have to break reality on someone when it came to subjects of the heart. "Well, then I'm sure Brandy would be keen. She definitely seems to like you. I think she'd even be good for you." She turned around and served up his eggs.

She was setting down the plate when she noticed Joe coming into the diner. Speaking of matters of the heart... Her heart gave that familiar little flutter and she grinned. "Good morning, Joe," she smiled. "Don't speak too loudly, Pawnee overindulged last night."

[sw1ss]

James wilson – Grayditch arms - evening

"I guess I'm ready James if you are"

James and Brandy and started to walk towards the diner, just a couple places past Greyditch Arms on the left she asked " That one looks good James." Brandy stood in front of the house daydreaming for a minute but snapped out of it when she heard a dog barke must be Pawnees dog,

"James, yeah, this one will be fine, Sue had said something about clearing it tomorrow." Brandy said with a nervous look on her face

James studied the door, the door appeared to be locked but a good kick ( or a gunshot ) would quickly bring it down…

“getting dark now , do it tommorrow “ James said, brandy appeared to be looking at duncan on his brahmin but Looked back at James "Getting comfortable on the couch "Since I'll be staying here in Greyditch, guess I should talk to Frieda tomorrow, try to set things straight." a worried look came across her face as she looked at Sue and James.

“don’t worry almost eveyone in town is friendy, besides I’ll protect you, if Fredia starts a catfight ” James jokly replied “ anyway lets head back to the shop”

---


back in the shop, brandy had sat back down of the couch, Sue was getting some food from the kichen and James had sat back down on the old chair , in the corner and looking at Brandy

“So brandy what bring you to Grayditch or should I go first?”


OOC: @F8lcobra: after your next post James will clear the house ( in the story's morning , not real-life )

[Leonie Connor]

Brandy - Grayditch Arms - evening


“So brandy what bring you to Grayditch or should I go first?” James asked

Brandy suddenly felt awkward where to start, what to say, she took a deep breath "My brother Ricky, his friends and I were heading to south to Rivet City. We set up camp just outside Grayditch, the boys had went out scavenging for the day. When they got back, Ricky sent me into town to sell some moonshine." she peered up at the ceiling fighting back tears "then... well,...I was me lastnight and this morning. When I went back to camp after the mess I caused with Pawnee and Frieda, the camp was empty." a tear ran down her cheek "They left me, Ricky had said I carried to many things before, and that I took to much time observing things and held them up. Guess they thought I would be alright here in Grayditch." unable to look James in the eye at this point she rested her head on the back of the couch pushing her glasses up and wiping her eyes with her hand.

Brandy looked to see if Sue was in earshot and leaned towards James "Sue doesn't talk much does she? I mean, I don't want to seem rude." easing back onto the couch "what brought you two here to Grayditch?"

[Amy Gibson]

James wilson – grayditch arms – late evening

They left me, Ricky had said I carried to many things before, and that I took to much time observing things and held them up. Guess they thought I would be alright here in Grayditch." unable to look James in the eye at this point she rested her head on the back of the couch. Brandy pushed her glasses and wiped her eyes with her hand.

“wow sorry I asked “ no-one , not even the a [censored] up slaver-raider should have that happen to them…

Brandy looked to see if Sue was in earshot and leaned towards James "Sue doesn't talk much does she? I mean, I don't want to seem rude." easing back onto the couch "what brought you two here to Grayditch?"

“Its okay Sue’s a mute, she can’t speak. About 10 years ago, before I met her. She got into a knife fight in Rivet city, got stabbed in the vocal cord , still has a small scar on her neck ”

Sue had come back into room and gave James and Brandy nuka-colas and had she sat down at the table and started to fiddle with the door lock James had brought earlier.

“Anyway Two things brought us to Grayditch, money in selling guns to the settlers, mercs and caravans and the Talon company.” “A group of talon mercs ambushed my caravan killed two Brahmin, three men and broken my arm, I really pissed off their boss"

James turned an looked at Sue, who was trying to put the door-lock togther "A while back I freed a bunch of slaves,including Sue and killed their boss’s daughter, one mean [censored] ”

“ Anyway it looks like you have had a long day, l’ll let you get some sleep and tomorrow I clear that house for you ”

------------------------------
James Wilson – early morning – outside Brandy new house

James had woken up very early to catch whatever was inside of guard, Brandy, Sue and most of town (apart from Pawnee and Celeste) were asleep. drawing his magnum, James aimed his gun at the door.

“BANG”

Shooting off the door’s lock James open the door…

Nothing was there…

Walking around the house, there was nothing “dangerous inside.” in fact the only thing James had found was two radroaches in one of the rooms, that James had pistol-whipped (whacked with pistol) to death...

I’ll should of chosen this house when I arrived, no ghouls

After clearing the house James head back to Grayditch arms, Brandy had just woken up " morning Brandy I'll cleared that house for you , only two radoaches" picking up a 10mm pistols James gave it to Brandy " but take this just incase anything crawls in "

@f8lcorba: I didn't mention any of the houses details & funiture so that you could decide whats inside/what the houses looks like :biggrin:

[Bereket Fekadu]

Frank-diner-afternoon

Frank was surprised when Celeste took the leaflets with no arguement,he wasn't used to people being friendly with him.
''Frank Smith's the name love,'' try to sound normal.

She popped a cup of coffee in front of him, and he gently sipped away. Was is always this quiet in the diner? Or did he just miss everyone, it'll be a early tomorrow I think, I need to make myself abit more known around here.

He shrugged, left a couple of caps on the counter since she seemed busy with tidying. He nodded to her and swiftly left in time to meet with the trader.

''Erm...howdy?''

''Yes chap,'' the trader answered.

''I equire a electrical razor of some kind my good fellow. Do you have any such item?''

''Don't really come across that sort of thing mate, but wait a moment....'' The trader grasped to bottom of one of his sacks.''How 'bout these?''

He hung a very beat up pair of, what appearred to be, animal shears in front of him. ''Used on bighorners I think,'' he said scratching his head, ''no idea if they work, 10 caps?''

''I'll have 'em,'' Frank replied straight away, he expected nothing.

''Anything else?'' the trader inquired.

''Actually, I am trying my hand at being a barber, got anything else I could make of use?''

''Just some scissors....oh and a straightrazor.'' The trader replied.

''I'll have the scissors, not the straightrazor though.'' Frank answered, loading the clippers and scissors into his bag.

''You sure? They're good 'uns.''

''No...trust me, I have them types of blades covered.

[.X chantelle .x Smith]

Brandy - Grayditch Arms - Evening


“Its okay Sue’s a mute, she can’t speak. About 10 years ago, before I met her. She got into a knife fight in Rivet city, got stabbed in the vocal cord , still has a small scar on her neck ”

"Oh my" Brandy replied with a look of sorrow on her face.

Sue had come back into room and gave James and Brandy nuka-colas and had she sat down at the table and started to fiddle with the door lock James had brought earlier.

“Anyway Two things brought us to Grayditch, money in selling guns to the settlers, mercs and caravans and the Talon company.” “A group of talon mercs ambushed my caravan killed two Brahmin, three men and broken my arm, I really pissed off their boss"

"Just the two of you took out a group of mercs? That's um wow" glad they are on my side staring with her eyes wide open.

James turned an looked at Sue, who was trying to put the door-lock togther "A while back I freed a bunch of slaves,including Sue and killed their boss’s daughter, one mean [censored] ”

She smiled at Sue "That must have been horrible, being a slave, I couldn't imagine. Thank goodness for James."

“ Anyway it looks like you have had a long day, l’ll let you get some sleep and tomorrow I clear that house for you ” James piped up

"Yes, it's been a rough day, I'm beat. Still can't believe I'm going to have my own house." she clapped her hands together, excitment filling her yet once again. "Good night James, good night Sue."




Brandy - Grayditch Arms - early morning



“BANG” a gunshot rang out, causing Brandy to stir and sit up on the couch.



" morning Brandy I cleared that house for you , only two radoaches" picking up a 10mm pistol James gave it to Brandy " but take this just incase anything crawls in "

Taking the pistol from James "Oh thank you so much, I'll get around and head over to look inside, thanks again for everything, I have some caps in my suitcase, I can give you for letting me stay here lastnight." she spoke wearily as she still was waking up.


Brandy - Her new house early morning


Brimming with happiness, Brandy made her way to the house she had picked out. Standing out front taking it all in for the moment, thinking on what the couple of days had been like. maybe things are finally turning around...I hope She readied the pistol James had given her, checked the safety on it and gently pushed open the front door. She crept through the house holding the pistol out in front her, a couch and cabinet sat in the living room, covered in dust. Turning to her right, there was a kitchen, an oven, sink, and a cutting board on the counter. Gonna take me awhile to clean all this up, slowly making her way up the stairs she saw a couple dead radroaches nasty, a chill shot up her spine. Back downstairs, she opened the door to the basemant, it was dark and musty.

When she got to the bottom of the stairs she had a look around "This place is perfect, I can distill my shine down here." she whispered to herself. She could here something in the corner behind a file cabinet perched on top of some rubble. She cautiously went to take alook, she let out a blood curling scream and darted back upstairs tripping over an old busted up end table falling onto her rear. The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs, her pulse intensified, a bead of sweat rolled down her forehead, heart racing, pointing the pistol at the doorway. "oh my God, oh my God" she gasped. At first sight of it she started squeezing the trigger as fast as could, closing her eyes as she fired the last two rounds from the clip. Feeling a nudge against her feet, breathing hard and fast, she opened her eyes and blew the strands of hair from her face. There at her feet lay dead a molerat, "YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSS" she yelled, jumping up and running outside, she stood triumphantly on the street I did it, I can't believe it and nobody got hurt I did it her thoughts becoming words "I did it, James, I did it." she handed James the pistol "I'm going to goto the diner and tell Celeste."


Brandy Celestes Diner early morning

Brandy walked into the diner brimming with confidence and a smile on her face, "Celeste guess what" she chimed, she saw Pawnee sitting there, the smile immediately disappeared from her face. "Pawnee, you ok?" she asked him "I guess I over reacted to what you said yesterday, and I didn't mean to cause any problems for you, I am soooo sorry."

[Alex Vincent]

Duncan Talson - Grayditch Intersection - Late Afternoon

Duncan sat upon Jane waiting for people to see the commotion, none came except for James who was coming back from the wastes and told him to “ Be careful riding that Brahmin whilst in town" which Duncan gave a polite nod to and a little later on Btandy gave him a wave which he returned. Looks like the boys ain't comin, oh well Megaton isn't to far and I don't think i'll get much trouble that my .357 couldn't handle. Duncan's main concern was driving the Brahmin back to Grayditch. It was tough herding one Brahmin by oneself, let alone 15. He gave a sigh and decided there was no time left to waste by waiting, he gave one more look over the town then set off at a pace that would give them a chance to catch him but also give him a chance of getting to Megaton before Moriaty ran out of rooms for the night.

[Taylor Thompson]

Joe Rennie. Joe's house. Early morning.

Joe had spent most of the previous day after speaking with the large blond who called himself Scythe, looking for Jesse. He had come up with a plan to remove other problems in town too. As a regulator it was only a matter of time before Jesse figured out what was going on, plus there was his new friend Harlon, "God's bounty hunter". Joe had little doubt that the man would side with Jesse if the slave business or the thefts were exposed.

Joe had intended to tell the two men about Scythe's offer in the hope that they too would go to the red house to meet their deaths. If they were the victorious then Joe could pass it off as what he intended. Pass it off as the security chief sending the grizzled veterans to save a young man's life. Unfortunately he had been unable to find either man.

He awoke early the next day with Harold's braying snore startling him from sleep. He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but the noise was just too much. He dressed quickly and quietly slipped out of the front door.

[i]Well if Jesse of Harlon are in the diner then I'll let them in on the plan. If not... Well four hundred caps isn't bad for a quick conversation with Pawnee isn't bad." As he neared the diner Joe could see the young man sitting at one of the tables inside, talking to Celeste. As he approached he caught the end of the conversation.

"Well, then I'm sure Brandy would be keen. She definitely seems to like you. I think she'd even be good for you." Celeste turned around and began to serve up some eggs.

She was setting down the plate when she noticed Joe coming into the diner. She grinned. "Good morning, Joe," she smiled. "Don't speak too loudly, Pawnee overindulged last night."

"I'll do my best to whisper then Celeste, I just need a quick word with Pawnee. Then I'll leave him to nurse his hangover. If you put the pot on, we'll have a coffee after." Joe smiled over at her. He quickly crossed the room and dropped himself into the seat opposite the young man.

"Morning Pawnee. Got a job for you if you're up to it." The young man met Joe's eye and indicated for him to continue. "Well I was talking to that trader yesterday and he was saying that he found one of those pip-boy wrist things. Well I was thinkin that one of those could make my job a whole lot easier. He says that it don't work, so he didn't bother to bring it with him. But your lady, Frieda isn't it? She could get it working again."

Joe leaned back in his chair a little. "So I got thinking about your offer the other day, how you could find anything I need. I'd go fetch it myself, but I'm still busy helping set the town up. The trader said that it was in a red building about a mile away. You keep whatever else you find in there, I'm just after the gizmo. Though once we get it working, if there is anything stored on there about using power armour then I'll bring it straight to you. How's that sound?"

Once his business with the boy was concluded, Joe crossed to the bar and hopped onto a stool. The new girl, Brandy, entered behind him, but appeared not to notice Joe. She said a quick hello to Celeste and then headed over to Pawnee's table.

"So, Celeste. How about that coffee then?" He smiled across at her.

[Nikki Morse]

OOC: I should point out that James is no-longer wearing the sling but his left arm is still bandaged and he can't hold, lift or use heavy items (e.g a assault rifle)

James wilson – Grayditch – early morning

James had heared a gun shot come from Brandy house and walked outside to see what had happen.

"YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSS" Brandy shouted , jumping up and running outside her house , before running up to james.
"I did it, James, I did it." she handed James the pistol "I'm going to goto the diner and tell Celeste." Did I miss something? But before James could ask Brandy, she had ran off to the dinner..

(brandy's house)

James had entered Brandy’s house; to see what she had found, a dead Molerat on the in floor of the basemant, it had been hiding in a cabinet

This must be her first kill; she’s very excited about it but it’s mole rat, more dangerous “things” lurks in the wasteland …

Crudely Scratching “Brandy” into the side of the pistol with his switchblade, James left the pistol on the couch and left Brandy's house walking back to the Grayditch arms

(Grayditch arms)

Changing out of his Blue Combat armour, James put on a pair of faded blue Jeans and a black business shirt and rolled up the sleeves. Looking at the door-lock he had brought yesterday need that metal-worker to install this, should also put up a sign on the door, do it after breakfast.

Putting on his sunglasses on James walked outside and headed towards the dinner, brandy was talking to Pawnee, Joe had entered the dinner and some guy carrying a sack walked into the dinner behind Joe.

Wonder what’s for breakfast today

[Chris Duncan]

Frank- his house- early morning

He suddenly awoke from a dreamless sleep, on the old sofa again.Never be bothered with those stairs. Gave himself a quick stretch, before grabbing a sack and heading straight out the door.

He wandered down the road passed the other ruined homes, lovely morning. I can see the diner being a habit for me.

He entered and went up to Celeste,

''thought you might make use of these,'' he remarked before slinging the sack on the counter. Damn molerats

[Julie Ann]

Rusty Jake

Greyditch - Jesse's Back Patio - Afternoon

Rusty had dozed off in the sun. His head rested on the back of the chair. He softly woke up at the sound of a door being opened. He spoke his last words of the dream like some do. He murmured, "I'll [censored]in' kill you Jones." His eyes slowly opened with the sun peaking through the clouds. Another weird dream, great. I hope no one heard that. He wondered what time it was so he looked at the position of the sun, still afternoon.

He started putting his weapon back together, and in forty five seconds he was done, suppressed and all. Valentine threw on his holsters, and holstered his two handguns. The Bounty Hunter placed his tomahawk in the sheath on his thigh.

Rusty looked over the clothesline. He walked over to the threads and got a got whiff, they smelled better, but from the smell he could tell they weren't dry. He turned around to walk inside and saw Jesse standing there. Valentine was surprised, "How long were you there?"

-

Harlen Jake[/u

Greyditch - Evening

Harlen watched as Duncan strode off on a Bessey of a Bhramin. He shook his head, Ah, well darn, woulda been fun. You gotta do what ya gotta do though. He went inside the diner and sat down the booth he'd been sitting in for the past couple days.

The wise hunter kelt his peripheral vision on the blonde newcomer, He must really think he's special, scythe and all. If I foil his plans, I'll love to show him what the world's smallest man playin' My Foolish Heart on the world's smallest violin looks like. Heh, I always get a kick outa that. Harlen ended up having supper and returning to Jesse's home to call it a day.

-

Rusty Valentine

Greyditch - Early Morning - Jesse's Home

Rusty had woken up early after sleeping like a baby. He quietly checked the rooms to see that his father had already checked out, and Jesse was still snoozing. He went back to where he rested and did a small warm up for a work out.

Valentine took advantage of his body feeling absolutely fine for the moment and did sixty push ups. He followed up with some ballistic stretching, then elevated push ups. Rusty continued with more ballistic stretching then 10 one armed push ups, each arm.

Rusty then washed up and got dressed. He was starving, he'd stayed in the night before and just snoozed after Harlen told them the trip with Duncan was cancelled. Rusty didn't like that his father was the messenger but he went with it anyway.

The young man went outside and checked on his clothing, dry and it smelled good. He took them off the clothesline and folded them up. He left put his black duster on over everything in the early morning. It was an early morning, beautiful. The sun was just peaking over the horizon, the crows were crowing, and everything made it feel like it was spring.

Rusty walked back inside, placed his clothing in his satchel and headed off to the diner in his black tie; vest; dress shirt; slacks; steel toe boots; and under all that his reinforced leather armor.

He walked into the diner and was hit by the amazing smell of eggs and coffee. Rusty could see Celeste slaving away behind the bar, he couldn't help but want to help her. He threw off his duster, rolled up his sleeves and without even asking got to work on scrubbing the dishes.

-

[u]Harlen Jake

Greyditch - Early Morning - Celeste's Diner

Jake watched his son get to work on those dishes. He could tell Rusty was starving, but could see something else in the boy's eye. He could see that his son liked Celeste, enough to help her with dishes.

He watched to to work together, and Celeste thank his son, who just smiled it off and said, "My pleasure, honestly."

Haen sat alone in Jesse's booth, This could be the start of something. He continued to eat his breakfast as the sun rose over Greyditch.

[Lavender Brown]

OOC: I am going to post again soon, and be warned, it will be a long post

--Morning--
--Celeste’s Diner--
--Panwee--

"Well...that's quite the situation, there. I don't know Frieda all that well, but it does sound like she was hurt by what you did -- not that I know why, you were making a new friend, it was just harmless, and Brandy couldn't have known you were...together," Celeste mumbled. She tilted her head and smiled at Pawnee. "Just keep trying to show that you care, really. Show her she can trust you. Don't let other girls kiss you while she's around," she winked.

Pawnee winced, “yeah – I know I screwed up with that. Yah don’t have to rub it in more. She already did.”

"Sorry. I mean it, though. Just keep trying. If she doesn't come around. . .Well, then I'm sure Brandy would be keen. She definitely seems to like you. I think she'd even be good for you."

Really? Brandy?

Pawnee thought that Brandy was as cute as a button, but just wasn’t sure if she had that certain spark that had drawn him to Frieda. Then again, he barely knew her. She seemed friendly, caring, and might not be prone to insane fits of jealousy. She was also closer to him in age, and he could be the mature, 'tough' one in a relationship.

But Frieda’s so. . .facinating. . .

"Good morning, Joe," Celeste’s beaming voice interrupted Pawnee’s thoughts, "don't speak too loudly. Pawnee overindulged last night."

“Hey there Joe,” Pawnee raised his cup of coffee to him like he was going to toast.

"Morning Pawnee. Got a job for you if you're up to it," Joe chimed, "Well I was talking to that trader yesterday and he was saying that he found one of those pip-boy wrist things. Well I was thinking that one of those could make my job a whole lot easier. He says that it don't work, so he didn't bother to bring it with him. But your lady, Frieda isn't it? She could get it working again."

“I guess she could. But. . .why are you telling me?”

Joe leaned back in his chair. "So I got thinking about your offer the other day, how you could find anything I need. I'd go fetch it myself, but I'm still busy helping set the town up. The trader said that it was in a red building about a mile away. You keep whatever else you find in there, I'm just after the gizmo. Though once we get it working, if there is anything stored on there about using power armor then I'll bring it straight to you. How's that sound?"

Mmmm. That could be perfect. The more times Frieda sees me doing nice things for people, the harder it will be for her to stay mad at me. . .I hope. . .and getting my armor working would be a nice kicker to boot.

“Alright Joe,” Pawnee winked at him, “be happy to help. Hope you can throw some caps my way if the armor thing doesn’t work out,” he shook Joe’s hand, “thanks for the job. You’re a really nice guy, Joe. Hey Celeste,” Pawnee smiled at her, “I saw you and Joe dancing the other day, and I’ll tell you, the two of you made such a cute couple I almost blushed.”

Pawnee didn’t notice how Joe reacted to his remark. The man got up from his seat, and while Pawnee gathered his things to seek out the pip-boy, Brandy approached him out of nowhere.

“Pawnee, you ok?" She seemed to fawn over him with quivering eyes, "I guess I over reacted to what you said yesterday, and I didn't mean to cause any problems for you, I am soooo sorry."

“Nah, you didn’t overact at all. Frieda did. I’ve never seen a girl get so jealous so quickly, but maybe she’s been burned bad before and you can’t really blame her,” Pawnee smiled with a shrug, “you’re the sweetest for apologizing though. I had some of your moonshine last night, and the mutfruit flavor was out of this world. If you brew any more, send it my way. I could go around selling it for you too if you want, you brew it, I hawk it. I’m a pretty good salesmen. . .I think.”

Pawnee stood up. He grabbed Brandy’s hand and softly kissed it, “I’m sure Frieda won’t hurt a hair on your head. Celeste will make sure of that. This towns got enough tough guys, and Brahmin wranglers, so I’m really glad that now it’s got another angel in it like you.”

Brandy gave him a smile wider than the ocean.

With that, Pawnee walked out of the diner. He whistled for Buck, and then began to head out of town, towards the red house Joe told him about. He felt rejuvenated and happy again. Maybe it from his conversation with Celeste – maybe it from speaking with Brandy again and seeing a little twinkle in her eyes. Pawnee wasn’t sure, but he felt that things were looking up.

[Hussnein Amin]

(OOC -- Edited...@Wolfman, Rusty should definitely reply. If he acknowledges Joe, as well, all the more fun! Rusty probably will be interested in the conversation...)

CELESTE BROWN ~~ Diner ~~ Morning

Celeste watched impatiently as Joe had a conversation with Pawnee. She was so distracted she didn't notice Frank come in until he was immediately in front of her at the bar. He tossed a sack nto the counter and said, ''thought you might make use of these."

Celeste gingerly peered into the sack. Molerat meat! She couldn't help but give the greasy man a grin. "Thank you, Frank! You've saved breakfast, I think." She reached over and poured him a cup of coffee. "Let me get one into a frying pan for you," she said, placing the coffee cup in front of him before sweeping one steak into a frying pan, and the rest into the fridge.

She swept some hair off her forehead and saw James come in. She gave him a warm smile and brought a cup of coffee to his table. "Fresh this morning, got some Molerat steak care of our new barber, Frank, over there." Celeste nodded towards where Frank sat at the bar with his coffee. "Shall I fry one up for you? I think I'll make a punga fruit salad, too, if that interests you."

The man who had collapsed the day before came in wearing a long, black jacket. He looked around for a moment, a little disoriented. "Good morning!" Celeste chirped. "Come on in, coffee's ready and all. Here," she said, taking the man's elbow and leading him to a booth. "Now, then," she smiled, wiping her hands on her skirt, which had become a little clammy, "what can I get for you?"

Brandy walked in and engaged Pawnee after he had stood up to leave. Joe squeezed past the young people and gave her a brilliant smile. Oh, Joe, you're adorable but so confusing. He sat on a stool in front of the bar. "I'd love that coffee now, Celeste."

"All right." She went behind the bar, took out two clean mugs, and filled them up. I guess now's a good a time as any. "Joe," she began quietly. "I've been thinking..."

Celeste took a breath and gave a smile. "The other night was incredible. I really enjoyed, ahem, spending time with you. But then, yesterday, you hardly said two words to me. I just want to be honest. I think we, well, could be good together, but you don't seem interested. If you're not, then just tell me..."

[Janette Segura]

(OOC: some character development, here, you can easily skip this and carry on. Only the very end of the entry affects Persephone. )

FRIEDA ~~ Grayditch/outskirts ~~ Early morning

She ran even farther out of town than she had for the past three days. Something was stirring inside her and it bothered her.

She missed Pawnee. It was strangely difficult to wake up all alone that morning.

That's stupid, Frieda thought, her feet rhythmically pounding the hard-packed dirt. I only knew him for five minutes.

But he's spent much longer than that in your mind...

She ran faster.

Frieda ran past the Super Duper Mart, its Raider gang tags brightly-coloured blemishes on the sand-blasted store's exterior. She turned west, following the broken down road, and came up a hill. She was about to blow right past what looked like some rubble when she stopped short, panting, having realized what she saw wasn't plain rubble -- they were metallic panels. She frowned and walked up the hill.

Once she made it to the top of the hill, she recognized what had been an old Enclave outpost, when they staked themselves out in the Capital Wasteland for that short amount of time. Every time she found one, her anxiety towards the mystery of the Enclave grew stronger. Like all the other outposts, this one had been ransacked clean and defaced with the words "[censored] YOU". Someone had even gone so far as to paint some kind of crest, a sword with a vine or something. There were a couple of crates wide open and empty, a chair, a table missing a leg, and the shell of a terminal. She knelt down, sweating, catching her breath, hoping something would look familiar.

Nothing did.

Am I [censored] Enclave or not? Frieda frowned even more deeply. She straightened, wiped the dust off her hands, and then she heard a low growling, and not too far away. She turned slowly and saw a Yao Guai on top of the rock face looking down into the skeleton of a camp. Frieda whipped around and began to run back down the hill without a second thought. She heard an intense crash from behind her as the beast jumped down in pursuit. She slid down the embankment on the loose dirt and immediately began to run back towards Grayditch.

Frieda was fast, but the Yao Guai was faster, barreling at top speed on four legs. She heard it gaining and dove to her right, rolling on the rocks and dirt, just as the monster lunged. She coughed as she inhaled the dust kicked up by her body and scrambled onto her backside. The Guai was hardly deterred and was beginning a slow prowl towards her. She swallowed and narrowed her eyes, waiting for its next move.

It lunged. Frieda flung herself out of the way but one of the Guai's massive, strong paws caught the back of her left calf as she moved. "Ahaaaaa, [censored]!" she screamed. Her right hand fell to her plasma pistol and in a fluid motion it was unholstered and humming, warming up to fire. The Yao Guai licked her blood off its paw, seeming to grin.

Frieda pushed herself to her feet, her calf throbbing, pointing her pistol directly at the monster's face. The Guai growled again and lunged once more. She stumbled backwards and lost her aim, firing the bright green bolt that hit its left foreleg instead of its face. The beast howled as it landed, but after regaining its footing, continued to advance, undaunted. Frieda fired two more shots at the same leg, the gruesome smell of buring hair and flesh filling the air.

That seemed to be the trick. The beast howled in pain, its left foreleg broken and burning. It growled and snapped at the air in front of her, trying to drag itself forward with one good foreleg. Frieda walked up and kicked it underneath its beastly chin. "Sorry, buddy, better luck next time. Looks like breakfast won't be on me, today."

The Guai tried to lunge again but landed on its face, scrambling with its claws to draw itself towards her. She stepped backwards, perversely satisfied. Frieda kicked it in the head again before firing a final three plasma bolts to its skull. Its cranium exploded and its massive body crumpled to the ground, twitching.

Frieda fell onto the ground, her leg throbbing and dribbling blood. Running all the way back to town seemed plausible, the cuts weren't too deep, but the whole area felt sore and bruised. She pushed herself up and began to jog slowly, testing her leg. It seemed to handle the jogging fairly well.

As she entered town again, the sun was well in the sky, and the diner was rife with activity. Impulsively she scanned the diners for Pawnee but didn't see him. She cut through the familiar alley to her house, cleaned up her leg, changed, and put her long hair into one long ponytail tied at the base of her skull. Frieda made her way down the street and deliberately passed Pawnee's house -- Why do you torture yourself? on her way to see Doctor Ramesh.

She entered the general store and clinic. "Good morning," she called in. "I'm here for my appointment..."

[Lynne Hinton]

Joe Rennie. Celeste's diner. Morning.

Joe sat watching Celeste as she poured two cups of coffee. He couldn't help but think of the things Pawnee had said to him, "Thanks for the job. You’re a really nice guy, Joe."

You won't be thinking that when you get where you're going pal. That fellow Scythe doesn't look too friendly. And he said he was with a crew. If he's the public face of the group then I'd rather not meet the others.

The other thing the boy had said also echoed in Joe's mind, "Hey Celeste, I saw you and Joe dancing the other day, and I’ll tell you, the two of you made such a cute couple I almost blushed.”

Now why the hell would you go and say something like that? You've caused me enough trouble with her. Telling her all about the dead slave. I had plans for you Pawnee, uses. But that one little outburst proves to me that you can't be trusted with important information. You'll just give it away. I think that getting rid of you could be a great idea. I just hope she didn't take too much notice of what you said.

Celeste crossed back to Joe clutching two cups of coffee, she stood opposite him, her face serious. "Joe," she began quietly. "I've been thinking..."

Oh no, Pawnee you bastard. I know what's coming here, before she even says it I know what's coming.

Celeste took a breath and gave a smile. "The other night was incredible. I really enjoyed, ahem, spending time with you. But then, yesterday, you hardly said two words to me. I just want to be honest. I think we, well, could be good together, but you don't seem interested. If you're not, then just tell me..."

Well isn't this just fantastic. Either I say yes, Harold finds out and kills me. Or I say no, she tells Moriarty why I've upset her, then Harold finds out and kills me. What the hell do I do here? I guess that as Harold isn't here I should play it safe and keep her happy. Then I'll worry about that freak later.

He fixed his most serious face on and looked deeply into her eyes. "Celeste, of course I'm interested, you're fantastic. I was just really busy yesterday, plus you'd given me the cold shoulder in the morning. We talked that over, but still I'm the head of security, there are going to be days where I'm just too busy to talk to anyone, you included I'm afraid. That was nothing personal, I just had things to do. I really enjoyed.... Spending time together too and I agree, we could be really good together." He smiled and gently brushed some hair back from her face.

He leaned closer and added in a whisper. "Though I do think we should play it cool around Harold. I really don't want to make the big fellow jealous." Joe stood back, still keeping eye contact.

She bought every word.

"So, what do you say then Celeste? We going to give this a go? I'm in if you are darlin'."

[SEXY QUEEN]

OOC: Wheew. Now I'm drained. . .hope its good.

--Mid-Morning--
--Red House Two Miles Beyond Greyditch--
--Pawnee--

Pawnee saw the house a few hundred yards up ahead. It was rather conspicuous, with a white roof and red siding that was weather-beaten and peeling off slowly. Scrub littered the front lawn and all of the windows were open and broken.

Wonder why the trader would just leave the pip-boy there instead of carry it with him into town? Can’t weight much. Eh, who cares?

Pawnee approached the house with his assault rifle at his side - just in case anything unexpected happened. The sun beat down on him, making sweat trickle down his forehead.

Buck began to tense up. Pawnee could feel it. He turned to the dog and leaned over petting him.

“Something bad up ahead?” He idly mused.

The dog barked once, as if that would answer Pawnee’s question. Pawnee tightened his grip on the weapon and approached the front door of the house. He could faintly hear music playing inside.

What’s going on?

He opened the front door with his rifle drawn, aiming into the interior of the house.

The house was empty except for a desk with a radio on it, blaring jazz. A woman was standing in front of the radio with her back to Pawnee. She had long dreadlocks and thick combat armor. She turned around.

“Howdy Pawnee,” she smiled.

How does she know my name?

The woman was just about the ugliest girl Pawnee had ever seen. Her face was littered with metal studs and bisected by dozens of tribal tattoos. Her eyes looked dead. He immediately guessed that she was a raider and went to pull the trigger, when someone tackled him from behind.

The unseen attacker was as strong as an ox. He pinned down Pawnee’s arms. All Pawnee could do was wiggle. Buck snarled furiously for a moment and then Pawnee heard the dog let out a whimper of pain.

“Get off me you son of a [censored],” Pawnee writhed on the floor, and was kicked in the face with a large boot. The sole of the boot came down over and over again on his head, opening up a large gash on his eye and splitting his lip.

“Watch the face,” someone sniffed, “he ain’t worth nothing if he can’t be ID’d.”

Pawnee felt a metal chain being wrapped around his hands. He tried to fight it, but wasn’t strong enough. He hands were lashed together and he was picked up and tossed aside, onto his back.

There were three people in the room with Pawnee. The ugly girl, a mean looking man with a ghoulish face, and a [censored] giant in blue combat armor. Buck got back to its feet and tried to maul the woman, and she and the ghoulish man fought with the dog, pinning it down, and then tying its legs together with strips of Brahmin hide.

“Leave my [censored] dog alone!” Pawnee shrieked, “stop it! You’re hurting him!”

The woman kicked Buck, hard. It whined again. She drew a knife, “what? This little mutt? He’ll make a good meal.”

“[censored] you!” Pawnee snarled. He wiggled around trying to free his arms but it was useless.

The giant pulled a long scythe off of his back and lowered the blade down to Pawnee’s neck.

“That’s no way to treat a lady, Pawnee,” the man crowed, “forgot your manners?”

“Who are you?” Pawnee’s eyes darted wildly, “what do you want? If its caps – I got em. I can get more.”

The man kicked Pawnee in the gut, and he grunted in pain.

“We’re here courtesy of Cree. You got a bounty on your head boy, that we’ve been itching to collect.”

“Cree?” Pawnee shook his head, “you got this all wrong. Cree is my brother. He wouldn’t put no bounty on me.”

“Ten thousand caps,” the ghoulish man seemed to chuckle, “one of the highest bounties we’ve eva gone for.”

Ten thousand?!?!?

“Wha – whu – why? We’re kin,” Pawnee blubbered, “I – I. Why?”

“Are you really that [censored] ignorant that you don’t know?” The man with the scythe squinted.

“I never did nothing to Cree!” Pawnee pleaded, “this is a mistake!”

The man with the scythe grinned, “nothing, eh? What about getting his wife killed? And your other brother, Lakota? What about making Cree a wanted man?”

Pawnee blanched, “La – Lakota’s dead?”

“Guess he is ignorant,” the ugly girl muttered. She pressed her boot down on Buck’s neck.

“Cree called you the little Romeo,” the man with the scythe began, “said you were always trying to stick it wherever it’d fit. That included Chomper's girl – the leader of some raider set he said ya’ll were in. You screwed Chomper’s girl and he found out about it. Chomper let you off easy, branded your arms so I heard. . .but you were a little punk. Instead of taking your punishment like a man, a few days later you killed him in his sleep, like a coward, and then ran away.”

“Chomper was dike!” Pawnee shouted, “why would Cree care that I killed him?”

“Cree said that Chomper’s set took vengeance on him and Lakota since you ran away like a little [censored]. They killed Lakota, and Cree’s wife too. Beat Cree half-to-death, but he managed to crawl away. He joined up with a rival set and rose up their ranks. Now he’s the top dog in Norfolk. He had every member of Chomper’ set put to death. . .all that’s left is you.”

“Cree wants me dead?” Pawnee dumbly mumbled.

All three bounty hunters chuckled, “you got his brother and his wife killed. Almost got him killed. And got him kicked out of his set. He wants your [censored] head. Told us to bring it back to him, with or without the rest of you attached to it.”

Pawnee’s mind swirled. He began to tear up, “but. . .but we’re brothers.”

“You [censored] him royally,” the man with the scythe smiled, “and there’s no hotter feud than a blood feud.”

Pawnee quivered, trying to think of a way out of the situation. He came up blank.

The bounty hunters seemed to feed off his fear. The one with the scythe spoke.

“Now Cree asked us to rough you up bad before we turned you in. Normally, I’d wait till we were closer to Norfolk to give you your beating, but since you’ve been such a [censored] to find, I think we’re going to beat the piss out of you now. . .and then.”

The man waved the woman and tribalish ghoul forward, “make him hurt bad. Keep his face intact though – and nothing to the legs. He’s still got a long way to walk.”

Pawnee closed his eyes at the beating. The two bounty hunters began pummeling him. His body ached – a stabbing pain.

The man with the scythe didn’t get his hands dirty. He studied Buck, who was now hogtied, and then Pawnee’s pack.

“Look at this,” he pulled a power fist out of Pawnee’s bag and slipped it on, “this is a nice piece of gear, boy. Where’d you get this?”

Before Pawnee could answer, the man used the power fist to punch him in the face.

Pawnee blacked out for a moment. His nose was broken, he was sure of it. Blood poured down his lips and he felt the queasiness of a concussion. He had never hurt so bad in his life – even the branding had been a scratch compared to this. He began to cry, really cry, not just tear up.

Pawnee cried like a baby.

“Save them tears boy,” the ghoul hissed, “I’m sure your brother will do much worse to you than this.”

“Please!” Pawnee began to beg, “please! I’ll do anything. Anything ya’ll want. Please! Please!”

“What the [censored] do you think you could do for us?” The woman hissed.

The coins. . .

“The bounty,” Pawnee slurred, blood now filling his mouth. He spat a mouthful of it onto the floor, “I’ll pay off my bounty. Take it. Please! Stop! Please!”

The man with scythe motioned for his companions to stop beating the boy. He watched as Pawnee continued to pathetically sob.

“You have ten thousand caps?” He said blankly.

“Check my pocket,” Pawnee moaned through the pain, “there’s a coin in there.”

The man with the scythe pulled out a knife and slit Pawnee’s pocket open. The gold coin dropped out from it and clanked on the floor. He picked it up and studied it. He then bit down on the gold.

“This is real?” He hissed.

“I swear!” Pawnee whimpered, “its real gold its real!”

“This ain’t worth ten thousand caps.”

“I can get more,” Pawnee spluttered, “a lot more. Ten thousand caps worth!”

The man with the scythe grabbed Pawnee by the hair and stared straight into his eyes, “how many of these are there?”

There were twenty five coins in the safe. Frieda and James each had five. Pawnee had given one to Celeste which left him with fourteen.

“Ten,” Pawnee muttered, “that’s ten thousand caps.”

“You’re lying,” the bounty hunter spat, “there are more. I can see it in your eyes. Fifteen.”

I don’t even have that!

“Fine,” Pawnee sobbed, “fifteen. . .but I don’t have them on me. I hid them around Greyditch.”

“Where?” All three bounty hunters seethed.

If I tell them, I’m as good as dead.

“I –I hid some and left some with people in town for safe keeping. . .let me go back and I’ll get them. I’ll bring them to you. I swear!”

“[censored] that,” the woman hissed, “he’ll just run away.”

The man with the scythe scratched his head for a moment. He walked over to Buck and motioned as if he was going to behead the dog with the scythe.

“NO!” Pawnee wailed.

“This mutt means the world to you, doesn’t he?” The man raised an eyebrow.

Pawnee solemnly nodded.

“Go into town and get the coins. If you try and run away I’m going to gut your dog,” the man snarled, “got it boy?”

“Yess.”

“And that blond in town. The one who runs the shop? You’re girl,” the man continued, “if you tell anyone about this or try and run, I will gut her too.”

Frieda? How does he know about Frieda?

“Please. ..she ain’t got nothing-”

The man kicked Pawnee in the chest.

“I will kill your dog, that blond, and that brunette I heard you were chasing too,” the man’s eyes were ablaze. GET ME THOSE COINS BOY or kiss them all goodbye,” he turned to the others with a smile, “untie him.”

“You sure?” the woman squinted.

“Yeah,” the man nodded, “do it.”

The bounty hunters untied Pawnee, but he could barely stand. They propped him up and forcefully walked him towards the door.

“And boy,” the man with the scythe added, “give this to Joe Rennie,” he handed Pawnee a sack of caps, “tell him thanks. He’ll know what I mean.”

Joe?

“You got no allies in town,” the bounty hunter grinned, “you try and screw with me - you, your dog, your girls, and all of your friends are dead. Don’t even get them involved. Don’t bring anyone back here with you or your dog is dogmeat. Just get the coins and bring them to me. You've got three days.”

--Afternoon--
--Frieda’s House--
--Pawnee--

It took several hours for Pawnee to stagger his way back into Greyditch. No one seemed to be around. No one greeted him. No one helped him.

Pawnee’s nose was shattered and was now black and blue. He was dazed from a concussion and had vomited several times on the way back. Blood seeped out from his gums and his ears. His vision was blurry. Every muscle ached.

He walked up to Frieda’s house and opened her door. He then collapsed in the threshold, in a bloody puddle.

“Freeedaaaa,” he said in no more than a whisper, “Freeedaaaa. Heeeelp. Heeeelp me.”

He lost consciousness.

OOC: Hope that was worth the read guys. I’m going to be taking a weekend vacation in Washington D.C. for my birthday, so I might not be able to post all weekend. I hope someone takes care of Pawnee until I get back :blush:

[Shelby McDonald]

@SentientSurfer: great post!

OOC: the bottom part of this post is a flashback of when James freed Sue around five years ago; you can skip it if you want


James Wilson – Celeste dinner – morning

James had sat down in an empty booth when Celeste walked over and brought a cup of coffee to his table. "Fresh this morning, got some Molerat steak care of our new barber, Frank, over there." Celeste nodded towards where Frank sat at the bar with his coffee. "Shall I fry one up for you? I think I'll make a punga fruit salad, too, if that interests you."

“ I’ll have some of that Molerat steak , no Salad please”

Drinking his coffee James looked out the window, Sue was walking towards the dinner James thought back to the first time he met Sue; a nervous young girl, enslaved by the Talon company.

------------------------ Flashback start -------------------------------------------------------------------------

James Wilson – Talon company camp – midnight - five years ago

“Kill that [censored], No one attacks the talon company” the female leader shouted

Bang, bang, bang (gunfire)

James had come across a talon company camp at night and killed the two guards but had alerted the three inside. However they barely had any time to get ready, one wasn’t even dressed (in underwear)

Tipping over the table they had grabbed any weapon they could and fired at the door, with James outside.

Bang, bang, bang (gunfire)

“Give up and you can go” James shouted whilst firing his gun “ Never! I want this [censored]s [censored] head” the merc shouted back.
stupid mercs , now they have to die! Opening his bag, James pulled out a grenade and threw it down the corridor.

“Retreat” on of mercs shouted

Bang

The grenade had killed the undressed merc, injured the other, in the left leg and the female leader had run into the back room ..

Walking down the corridor the injured merc had crawled to the door “let me in” he shouted but then turned to James “please don’t kill me” he begged

“ Get up and go, before I change my mind” within seconds the Injured merc got up and limbed towards exit whilst James reloaded his rifle he better not come back

Turning in attention to the backroom, the cowardly leader had locked the door, there were other people in room as well, one of them was shouting “help”

Drawing his magnum, James kicked the door and before the Female leader could react James punched her in the face. The merc fell backwards, dropping her pistol on the floor...

Looking a round room there were five people tired up at the back of room two women,two men and a ghoul “ kill her “ the Ghoul shouted at James.

“Ha you wouldn’t dare kill me, my daddy will hunt you down like a dog” the merc said. “ Just watch” James replied, shooting her in the head. what a [censored]

James walked over to nervous –looking, black-haired women on the floor and began to untie her” hello what’s you name? I’m James ” James asked, “ She can’t talk but her names Sue” one of the men replied….

------ end of flashback ----

James snapped out of his flashback just as Sue came into the dinner and sat down next to James in his booth " oh hello Sue"

[Dustin Brown]

CELESTE BROWN ~~ Diner ~~ Mid-morning

"So, what do you say then Celeste? We going to give this a go? I'm in if you are darlin'."

Celeste was positively thrilled. "W-well, yes," she breathed. "I just finished saying that, didn't I?" She giggled. She bobbed up and down like a girl, hardly able to contain herself. A sudden thought came to her and she let out a gasp in realization. "I bet dad did it on purpose! Set us up like this, I mean. He wouldn't have sent you here with me otherwise, right?"

She took a drink of her coffee, suddenly energized. "I think I'll write to him about it right now!" she squealed. Celeste ducked down and pulled out some paper off a spare clipboard, forgetting for the moment that she had steaks on the stove and other customers to serve.

[CHangohh BOyy]

Joe Rennie. Celeste's diner. Morning.

"I bet dad did it on purpose! Set us up like this, I mean. He wouldn't have sent you here with me otherwise, right?"

"Hmmm, could be right there." Joe winked at her, then took a long gulp of coffee. Trying to think of a new subject to steer the conversation towards.

Suddenly Celeste blurted, "I think I'll write to him about it right now!" she squealed. Celeste ducked down and pulled out some paper off a spare clipboard, forgetting for the moment that she had steaks on the stove and other customers to serve.

A sudden wave of panic overcame Joe mid-gulp. He sprayed coffee across the counter as he spluttered and almost choked. After a few moments trying to regain his breath and his composure Joe turned to Celeste. "Sorry about that.... Went down the wrong way." He said, pointing at his coffee cup.

"Well you can if you want, but this is more our thing right now. I'm sure it's all going to work out, but do you really want to go telling everone while it's so new to us? Plus Colin is my boss. As much as he likes me, I'm not sure he'd be too happy with me being involved with his favorite daughter."

Joe paused. appearing to think about what he'd say next. "No, now I think about it. I think that it'd be for the best if we just kept this between us for now."

He looked at Celeste and raised his eyebrows at her, "So what d'you think?"

[Natasha Callaghan]

Rusty Valentine

Greyditch - Celeste's Diner - Mid Morning

Rusty looked at the dishes, dumbfounded. He looked around him behind the bar, and there was no sink. No sink?! What kinduva diner doesn't have a sink?! Are we eating on dirty dishes? Blah, nastiness if we are.

"Good morning!" Celeste chirped. "Come on in, coffee's ready and all. Here," she said, taking the man's elbow and leading him to a booth. "Now, then," she smiled, wiping her hands on her skirt, which had become a little clammy, "what can I get for you?"

Rusty took his duster off and threw it beside him in the booth. He looked at the plate before him, his father's plate, "I'm good, thank you Celeste, I'll just have what he's having." He pointed to his father's plate and pulled it toward himself.

Harlen scoffed at this. Rusty just looked at him and asked with a mouthful, "What?" He plucked his father's silverware from his hand. Celeste went on her way. Rusty exclaimed, "Ooooooh! This is so good!" He ravenously ate his father's meal.

Harlen shook his head and sat back in the booth.

Rusty looked to his pops, for some reason his anger had subsided, for the moment. He asked him with a mouthful, "Who's that guy across from Celeste?"

Harlen looks behind him, "Oh, that's just Joe, he's head of security. Somethin' tells me though he ain't really in it for the security."

Valentine didn't hear the last part as he stopped listening after he got his answer. The young hunter continued to eat the as he eavesdropped on Celeste and Joe. He saw Celeste cross back to Joe clutching two cups of coffee, she stood opposite him, her face serious. "Joe," she began quietly. "I've been thinking..."

Rusty almost choked on the eggs he was eating in laughter. Oh, he's screwed. Rusty could see it in the security guard's eyes, Ha! He knows it too. Oooh, this is too good.

He saw Celeste take a breath and give a smile to Joe, "The other night was incredible. I really enjoyed, ahem, spending time with you."

Rusty mentally commented on the conversation as he ate. Heh, incredible, really? With Joe? Ha! She'd wouldn't be able to walk right for a week after I got done with her, haha! She'd probably need reconstructive hip surgery.

"But then, yesterday, you hardly said two words to me. I just want to be honest. I think we, well, could be good together, but you don't seem interested. If you're not, then just tell me..."

Oh, and he just through her to the curb like a piece of meat? That's classy, puh! Celeste needs a real man to take care of her, goodness. A gentleman of class. And look at me, I'm lookin' like a playa in my debonair clothing. I should sweep her off he feet. He continued to eat his breakfast.

Joe fixed his most serious face on and looked deeply into her eyes. "Celeste, of course I'm interested, you're fantastic."

Oh, bull crap Joe. Don't fall for it Celeste, you're smarter than that.

"I was just really busy yesterday, plus you'd given me the cold shoulder in the morning."

Right, too bust for a good woman like that? Puh! She was given you the cold shoulder cause you treated her like a one night stand, [censored].

"We talked that over, but still I'm the head of security, there are going to be days where I'm just too busy to talk to anyone, you included I'm afraid. That was nothing personal, I just had things to do. I really enjoyed.... Spending time together too and I agree, we could be really good together." Joe smiled and gently brushed some hair back from her face.

Oh, Celeste, don't fall for it, no, he went for the brush hair, oooh, and there she goes.

Rusty watched as Joe leaned in and whispered something to the woman he really didn't care about. He watched as Joe sat back, "So, what do you say then Celeste? We going to give this a go? I'm in if you are darlin'."

Don't fall for it, babe. Don't get swooned by that cat.

Celeste was positively thrilled. "W-well, yes," she breathed.

Ah, nit as smart as I thought, and she's just too gullible.

"I just finished saying that, didn't I?" She giggled. She bobbed up and down like a girl, hardly able to contain herself. A sudden thought came to her and she let out a gasp in realization. "I bet dad did it on purpose! Set us up like this, I mean. He wouldn't have sent you here with me otherwise, right?"

Dad? Ooh, he he didn't, then, haha! Joe's gonna lose his pecker.

She took a drink of her coffee, suddenly energized. "I think I'll write to him about it right now!" she squealed. Celeste ducked down and pulled out some paper off a spare clipboard, forgetting for the moment that she had steaks on the stove and other customers to serve.

Haha, hear that Joe, she's gonna tell daddy. You are so dead.

"Hmmm, could be right there." Joe winked at her, then took a long gulp of coffee. Trying to think of a new subject to steer the conversation towards.

Heh, she got you in the guillotine Joe, how you gonna squirm outa this one?

Suddenly Celeste blurted, "I think I'll write to him about it right now!" she squealed. Celeste ducked down and pulled out some paper off a spare clipboard, forgetting for the moment that she had steaks on the stove and other customers to serve.

Yeah, you do that, haha.

A sudden wave of panic overcame Joe mid-gulp. He sprayed coffee across the counter as he spluttered and almost choked. After a few moments trying to regain his breath and his composure Joe turned to Celeste. "Sorry about that.... Went down the wrong way." He said, pointing at his coffee cup.

Rusty could hardly contain himself, Went down the wrong way with that sudden gust of cold death creaking up on you.

"Well you can if you want, but this is more our thing right now. I'm sure it's all going to work out, but do you really want to go telling everone while it's so new to us? Plus Colin is my boss. As much as he likes me, I'm not sure he'd be too happy with me being involved with his favorite daughter."

Rusty's smile grew and he couldn't help but laugh a bit, Yeah he probably likes you so much. He's probably is like most dads. If he hears this he'll probably shove his shotty up your ass and pull the trigger.

Joe paused. appearing to think about what he'd say next. "No, now I think about it. I think that it'd be for the best if we just kept this between us for now."

Oh, your really trying to keep her from writing that letter, ain't ya? I bet she's the apple of Eden and your just Adam wanting to take a bite. If the gardener hears you took a bite of his apple, ooh, that'll be hilarious to watch.

He looked at Celeste and raised his eyebrows at her, "So what d'you think?"

Rusty put his head on the table to try and stop himself from laughing his lungs out at this situation.

[Natalie Harvey]

OOC: short post but I wanted to say hello to harlen/rusty

James wilson – Celeste dinner – mid/late morning

James had been sitting in his booth with Sue drinking his coffee but could hear Joe talking to Celeste, it sounded like Joe was trying to hide in relationship with Celeste from the other folks in town...

Well you can if you want, but this is more our thing right now. I'm sure it's all going to work out, but do you really want to go telling everone while it's so new to us? Plus Colin is my boss. As much as he likes me, I'm not sure he'd be too happy with me being involved with his favorite daughter."

So Celeste is colins daugther, that could be useful information but does Joe want to hide it..

Looking across the dinner the guy that had fainted yesterday was sitting with Harlen in Jesse booth. getting up from his booth, James walked over to them..

“ hello we haven’t met yet , the names James wilson, I saw you faint yesterday, are you okay?”

[Claudia Cook]

Harlen Jake

Greydtich - Celeste's Diner - Mid morning

Harlen shook his head at his son's immaturity. He remembers being like that though, back when he was Rusty's age. He couldn't read his son's mind but he knew if it had his son laughing it probably wasn't good.

To his right a newcomer approached and introduced himself, “Hello we haven’t met yet , the names James wilson, I saw you faint yesterday are you okay?”

Harlen looked to his son, who surprisingly regained his composure quickly. Rusty responded to James, "Well, good morning James, and thank you for the concern but I am fine. It wasn't a faint, it was more of passing out for a Monte or two of dehydration at unheard of levels. I'm doing better now though, thank you."

Harlen introduced himself, "Well howdy James Wilson, my name is Harlen Jake, and this his is my son-"

Rusty cut his father off, "Don't listen to this fool, my names Rusty Ja- I'm sorry, Valentine."

Harlen chuckled a bit at this, "You and 'yer name are hilarious. Who's gonna be afraid of the name Valentine?"

Rusty sat up and looked at his father, "Well I can tell you for a fact I've made grown men crap themselves at the sound of that name. The last twelve contracts I had, every single one of them I ended up putting the fear of God in."

The father chuckled, "You wouldn't know the fear of God even if it bit you in the ass."

Rusty clinched his fists beneath the table, "Maybe not, but my marks certainly did."

[Hayley O'Gara]

CELESTE BROWN ~~ Diner ~~ Mid-morning

Suddenly, the counter in front of her was covered in coffee. Celeste yelped, surprised by its appearance. Joe was talking but Celeste was too busy cleaning up the coffee he had spurted all over her clean counter. Movement behind Joe caught her eye. The man she had sat down with Harlen was hunched over the table and seemed to be smirking, as though he'd seen and heard their whole conversation. She was immediately irked.

"No, now I think about it. I think that it'd be for the best if we just kept this between us for now." He looked at Celeste and raised his eyebrows at her, "So what d'you think?"

She stopped sopping up the coffee. "Well...I guess, if you think that's best," she smiled at Joe. "Maybe it would help keep things from getting too complicated in town, people trying to take advantage or something."

Joe seemed to be satisfied with her agreement. She picked up the coffee pot and refilled James and Sue's coffees, then Harlen's and the man from earlier. He seemed to have gone back to the same grim expression he wore like his jeans. "More coffee, gentlemen?" she offered coolly, refilling their mugs then sweeping off again.

[Aman Bhattal]

James wilson – Celeste dinner – late morning

The father chuckled, "You wouldn't know the fear of God even if it bit you in the ass."

Rusty clinched his fists beneath the table, "Maybe not, but my marks certainly did."

Huh I didn’t know they were father and son but looking at them they do look alike

“Ha you should of seen me five years ago, I really pissed of the talon company back then , they even gave me a nickname “ Blue "armoured" demon of the south” james Chuckled

“ I run the Local gun; The grayditch arms, both of you have that bounty hunter look about you if you ever need a new gun stop by” wonder if they will come by and buy something

but before they could answer Celeste came by "More coffee, gentlemen?" she offered coolly, refilling their mugs then sweeping off again.

"thanks Celeste" James said whilst taking a slip of his coffee

[Rachyroo]

Harlen Jake

“Ha you should of seen me five years ago, I really pissed of the talon company back then, they even gave me a nickname “ Blue "armoured" demon of the south," James chuckled.

“I run the Local gun; The grayditch arms, both of you have that bounty hunter look about you if you ever need a new gun stop by."

but before they could answer Celeste came by, "More coffee, gentlemen?" she offered coolly, refilling their mugs then sweeping off again.

"Thanks Celeste," James said whilst taking a slip of his coffee.

Harlen looked James up and down. "Well Jimmy, if I need anything I'll be sure to come hit ya up." He took a sip of his coffee.

Rusty looked over to James, "Same with me, James. What kind of variety you have over there?"