Slick Rick sounds like he is tripping balls!

Miss V is now juggling her identities like every other superhero. Do I do this as Bruce Wayne? Or at Batman?

I love how you interspersed Miss V's discovery of the bond with President Eden's broadcast. That was a nice touch.

Uh oh, Miss V is feeling guilty. That is not a good sign in a Raider. She might be in the wrong line of work.

Like SubRosa said, it was a nice touch alternating between the radio and Taneesah's actions. Yeah, she was quite struggling with stealing from Silver.

Lopov: Yes, the second bond has been found. Every time I find one of these I get a little rush. They are like little confidence boosters. Like an Easter Egg hunt for adult gamers.



HA HA H AHAHA AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HA HA HA!!! This quote made my day!!! Whoo!

Just for background's sake, the inconsistent way Slick Rick speaks (more lucid some days, totally wacked on others) is based on a real-life guy I used to work with long ago. Guy was all messed up some days, although I can't say for sure if he ever used lysergic dietthylamide acid. Or shrooms.


Acadian & SubRosa: Thanks for the kind words on her juggling identities and mixing the radio broadcast with the final moments. Silver's radio was blaring as I wrote all that so, me getting into my character's head (while feeling her anxiety) sort of built that scene toward the end.

Yes, she is in the wrong line of work, that is true. She's 19 though, basically still a kid. She had a religious background but (as we'll see maybe) rebelled against it She's basically struggling between her upbringing, and all the lowlifes she's been taken in with, in the largely moral-less Capital Wasteland.

Basically, we all made some questionable choices in those years as we try to figure it all out.

RaderOfTheLostArk: Uh oh, no RaderOfTheLostArk

I have no idea what you are talking about.

He'll take you up, he'll bring you down,
He'll plant your feet back on the ground.
He'll fly so high, he'll swoop so low.
Timothy Leary.

This post has been edited by macole: Sep 28 2021, 01:07 AM

Chapter 32: Jericho

Date: Sunday, September 9, 2277, 2:17 PM

Minimum Temperature: 63.0 °F
Maximum Temperature: 81.0 °F

Location: Megaton's plaza


Next target for Taneesha was Jericho. One active raider, planning to prowl the place belonging to one former raider. Jericho would be of particular interest for Taneesha. Who exactly was he? Who was this dude, this bully who went around verbally abusing half of Megaton's adult population? One thing's for sure. Taneesha Jones was about to find out.

...Problem though. Where exactly did Jericho live?

Taneesha slogged out of bed when she felt like it, got her gear together, and left Springvale school. Changed out of her raider armor into an outfit of lighter clothes made of brahmin skin. Not exactly a stylin' Prewar dress like the one she'd previously worn into town. Lately she'd been rocking the clothes of a socialite, but was now dressed like a sharecropper.

Nevertheless, she was ready for the day.

Back in town, she searched for Jericho's place. Taneesha's plan was to break into his home during daylight hours. Jericho always seemed to be walking about town during the day, threatening and terrorizing its inhabitants. Often, he'd end his daily stroll with a stop next to Brass Lantern. There, he'd give poor Jenny Stahl a hard time.

So Taneesha knew his daily habits. Problem was, she couldn't find the bully's home. And today, Jericho himself was nowhere to be seen. But one is not successful at missions unless one's got the ability to think on his or her feet. Time for a new plan.

Step one. Her new idea was to wait until the *bunghole* showed up. ... Step two: she'd wait until he went home. She would wait all day if she had to. She would then follow the prick, find out where he lives. But she would not search his home then and there, right after he got home, and maybe went to bed. Why trundle through the den of a bear, when that bear has a daily habit of leaving? ... So, step three: the rest of her scheme stayed the same. She'd wait until he wasn't present before beginning her prowl. Heck, if she got there early enough, she'd have all day to perform her ... investigation.

But Jericho was not here today. Maybe because it was Sunday. Was the bully also religious?

"Anything's possible," Taneesha muttered.

After loitering around the Brass Lantern for a couple hours, eating and smoking and drinking Nuka Cola, the prospective prowler was getting seriously bored. She decided to search Church of Atom. Maybe the lowlife had become recently religious, and had recently joined. Maybe he'd be in there right now, praying to that stupid bomb.

"Let the men, women, and children come forth, to behold the power of Atom..." Confessor Cromwell lectured to his followers, almost as if on cue.

Taneesha Jones double-checked to make sure Jericho wasn't standing right there in front of her, mesmerized by Cromwell's sermon. He wasn't, so she moved into the church itself. Moved through all its rooms, especially scrutinizing its basement chapel. No Jericho.

"Hey it was worth a shot. Damn."

Speaking of shots, Taneesha decided to head over to Moriarty's and have a couple. Tomorrow was another day. Maybe Jericho would show up tomorrow.

"I mean, he always shows up. He always is just there," Taneesha said as she moseyed over to the bar. "Maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow's another day."

"See ya soon, drunkie," Gob the ghoul bartender said with a facial expression which could have been a smile, as Taneesha bought some brew.

Taneesha blushed as she took the beer to her usual spot next to Lucy West. "Say, you're becoming quite a fixture here!" Lucy quipped as her new housemate had a seat.

"Tomorrow's another day," Taneesha started, knowing Miss West would not exactly know what why and what. "A toast to tomorrow."

Good thing was, Taneesha did not need to wait until tomorrow to find the next bearer bond. After drinking for awhile and then going to Lucy West's house for a few hours of sleep, Taneesha returned to Moriarty's around midnight. She searched its back room, where Colin Moriarty had his office. In a crate (and under a holotape and a chessboard) she attained her third document.

"Two more to go," she smiled, looking forward to whatever Dogmaster had planned for her next. "Bring it on, bubs!"




Monday, September 10, Noon
Again, it seemed Jericho was one huge no-show. Maybe he'd gotten killed! Maybe his rampantly runny mouth had run all over the wrong tough guy, or tough gal. And he was dead in some ditch by now. Again, Taneesha got bored. Though she had eaten at Brass Lantern several times by now, she'd never realized that the eatery had an indoor cafeteria as well until now. On a whim, she decided to search inside this area as well....

"Got somethin' to say me kid?"

... and was surprised to find the ruffian right there inside. In fact, he was leaving. He was going out while was coming in.

Taneesha followed Jericho outside. Immediately, the guy began giving Jenny Stahl some trouble. "Jenny, you're looking fine today. Why don't you give a man something sweet to eat." And when that didn't seem to go anywhere, "What's your problem, anyway?"

"Don't play stupid with me Jericho," Jenny said to him, annoyed. "You know what my problem is."

"Look Jenny, that was years ago," Jericho whined. "I'm a different man now."

"People don't change Jericho. Now order something, or move on."

Jericho did not have a reply to this, so Taneesha stepped in. "Say man, what's your deal? Why you always gotta be giving her a hard time?"

"Huh? Look," Jericho spat. "Another one of you wasteland *bungholes*." He lit a cigarette, blowing smoke straight at her. "I don't like you. Stay away from me, and we'll have no trouble."

"Oh, so you don't want trouble. Coulda fooled me." Taneesha kept her tone of voice conversational as she slung her tough talk. Not trying to draw any attention, except from the douchebag standing before her. "What, you don't like that when a girl talks back to you? Because nobody talks back to you here in town."

"None of your *ducking* business."

"So, this is what you do all day. You couldn't handle it out there with the raiders and the deathclaws, so all you do is give us townies *crap* all day. ... Oh yeah, I know a few things about you," she bluffed. "'Cause it's easy to abuse and mock upon those who are weaker than you. Mm hmm. Tell me it ain't so, you ugly yao-guai-lookin' mother *clucker*."

Go ahead, try and take your fist to me, loser, she thought in the silence which followed. I got my Tazer ready for you. ... She honestly had no idea how crime worked now in Megaton; it wasn't like there were rules posted anywhere. Would she get arrested if she buzzed him with her gun? Even if he started it? Would Megaton's officer arrest the man if a brawl occurred? ... Or was he too much of a fixture here in town, somebody above Megaton's new laws? She'd wind up cooling her heels in jail while Jericho continued his daily menace. Hmph.

"Heh, yeh right," said Jericho, folding his arms. "I don't think so."

"Well I do. Go ahead. Come at me, fool. See where you wind up." Taneesha continued to keep her voice low, so that maybe Jenny Stahl could hear her, but no one else. "I got you, any time. Right here, right now, in fact. You want somebody to pick on? Here I am."

"You're joking right?" the meanie shrugged her off. "Come back when you got some fight in you. Until then, save your threats."

Taneesha nodded, and backed off. Now was not the time. If either he or her started a fight right here, chances are either or both of them could get arrested. It seemed Jericho already knew this. Taneesha smiled, suddenly realizing her heart was racing. Ready to go. But also, she was thinking she'd just dodged a bullet. Her mission today was not to get into some huge mess with the barn troll, it was to figure out where he lived.

...But it sure felt good telling Jericho to go stuff himself! She took a moment to feel the pride.

Taneesha walked to Jenny's side. As she did so she patted the cheap-looking gun at her side, and made sure Jericho saw her do it.


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

Confessor Cromwell's Congregation

Pounding Pilsner

Bond, Third Bond -- (nice try, Lopov!)

More XP! Come on Level 5!

Tough Talk

"Oh look, another one of you Wasteland *bungholes*...."



Confronting

This post has been edited by Renee: Jun 26 2022, 03:24 AM

Taneesha is going on her secret ID once more. She is on a stealth mission, like Batman wearing a disguise to infiltrate a criminal ring.

Uh oh, the scumbag Jericho is not cooperating! Maybe he is passed out in Moriarity's saloon?

Hah! She scored a bond from Moriarity. She should have left a bottlecap mine in its place...

It took me a long time to realize you could go into the Brass Lantern as well. Most of my characters never do.

Now she found him, and MVD is picking a fight! I guess you still get the town turned against you if you kill him. I never tried.

A long time ago I also had a character that wanted to talk to Jericho about something and couldn't find his home either.

Looks like Colin didn't hide the bearer bond good enough. The good thing is that he'll probably blame the theft on Silver.

Jericho is provocative but he won't allow to be provoked.

Now follow that bunghole, Taneesha Jones!

Bond number three! Woot!

You go, girl! Give that Jerrico bully his attitude back with interest!

Somehow, she's got to still figure out where the dude lives. . . being real low key oughta do it. . . oh, wait. . . .

Acadian -- Yes indeed, somebody has to stand up to Jericho. And that someone is my character. There are a couple others she'll maybe give the same treatment in town; Moriarty himself can be a real ass.

I am glad you seem to have enjoyed the showdown between those two!


Lopov -- First of all, happy 34th to you. I hope you had a good one, and your silence here in the forums this weekend tells me you're probably inundated within your family.

In fact, Jericho's home is really easy to find, and obvious. But I messed up something in the GECK because I duplicated his home to be Megaton's Jail. After duplicating, I somehow erased Jericho's Home, so that now his home hasn't got anybody's name on it. In RP terms of course, this worked out perfectly. Because why would he want his home's name displayed to the public? And yes, she's about to follow that *bunghole*.


SubRosa -- Oh yea, she is definitely getting the hang of subterfuge by now.

I have no idea what would happen if Taneesha became vicious, and attacked him out in the open. You have to also remember that in my Megaton, it is possible to get arrested if somebody picks a fight, and the Player is the one who instigated that fight.

That is why I was sort of *hoping* Jericho would lose his cool, and began trying to beat my toon in the process. Part of me was curious to see what would happen. But after exploring all dialog options with him, all it leads to is a bunch of fluff & tough talk. No action.

A bottlecap mine for Moriarty? We'll see what we can do.

Chapter 33: Bonds, more Bonds.

Date: Monday, September 10, 2277, 6:36 PM

Location: Megaton

It took three hours of waiting, three hours of stare-downs and casual taunts and insults between Megaton's bully and Taneesha Jones. Jenny Stahl maintained her cool as she served a few customers. Confessor Cromwell continued to preach. Lucas Simms and Megaton's law enforcement lady stayed out of the simmering feud happening right in front of them, as well they should. For a long time now, everyone had tolerated Jericho's behavior. Why couldn't somebody in town take initiative and do something about him?

Finally, Jericho seemed to have enough. Taneesha was gulping down a Nuka Cola when all a sudden, the former raider abruptly turned, and began walking up the ramp adjacent to Brass Lantern. Miss Jones waited a moment, then followed him up the ramp.

Jericho sauntered slowly --cloop, cloop, cloop-- until he came to Lucy West's outdoor patio. Here he had a choice: keep walking straight, or turn left, continuing up another ramp. Jericho turned left. Taneesha followed. The bully walked until he came to a metal hut. By now, both he and Taneesha were two stories up, directly above The Brass Lantern. He opened the hut's door, and went inside. Taneesha shook her head, wondering how she could have missed this door, which she was sure she had checked at least twice.

She walked over to his door.

"A-ha."

It's because Jericho's home was not listed as Jericho's home., Taneesha noted. The door's placard was blank, in fact.

"Nice."

As much as she despised the man, she had to admit living in an unlisted house was clever, for somebody of his reputation. Anybody coming into town looking for him would not just be able to surprise him in his own hut.

"In any event, the fool's back home. Don't know if he's sleeping or not, but all I gotta do now is wait 'til he's out, again. Out and about."

She squatted down, groaning in her uncomfortable shoes, and checked his lock with one of her hair pins. The pin was inserted the until she felt resistance. In a matter of seconds, she'd determined that his home would not be so hard to break into.

"Time to move on, I guess."

During the last couple days, Taneesha had been itching to get back out into the Wasteland again. Itching to go find some place to raid. Last time she'd checked her stash of caps back in Springvale, she was surprised to find she'd already spent more than 300 over the past few days. Some of these 300 caps were for necessary expenses, such as food and clothes. But she'd also been spending money on booze and chems, specifically sedatives. Here is where the bulk of her savings had gone.

Because of this, she would need to either curtail her spending, maybe even seek a cure from Doc Church. Or return to the Capital Wasteland, where a lot of caps could be earned, especially if she looted the right hideout. She felt herself edging toward Option Two.

"Let me just find one more of these bonds," she told herself. "After that, you can go and have whatever fun in the Wasteland you desire."




8:32 PM
Find another bearer bond? She didn't have to wait long.

She wanted to be thorough about her searching. Who knew when Jericho might emerge from his lair? So she returned to Brass Lantern's indoor cafeteria area, which had more rooms than she'd previously thought.

The initial eatery area did not yield any bonds of course, but deeper inside the place were a couple bedrooms, an upper bedroom and a lower one. In the upstairs section, Taneesha found the fourth bond. It was right in the open, on a bookshelf. Nobody around. Easy to snatch.

She removed the document from its shelf, then returned downstairs, grinning. To celebrate, she bought a bowl of Sugar Bombs from Brass Lantern's indoor chef, and had some proper dessert.

Next, she returned to Lucy West's place. Changed clothes from green 'n' lean to brahmin skin blah. She chose to head to Moriarty's, to celebrate further. Lucy West was in her usual spot, of course; the two ladies sat in their usual seats.

After a couple of drinks, Taneesha decided it wouldn't hurt to prowl the place's upstairs rooms. Maybe Nova, the tavern's prostitute, had a bearer bond hidden in her room. Though Taneesha was feeling the onset of drunkeness by now, maybe she could still pick the lock to Nova's room. Risky, but hey.

She did not have to go that far. Bond number five was located in one of the bar's upstairs rooms (not Nova's) and this room was unlocked. Again, it was not hidden, in fact was placed in plain sight, right atop an open table.

"Oh ... yessh!" she slurred, while her vision blurred. "Come to meee, mama!"

The alcohol was talking by now, and Taneesha had to steady herself as she stole bond number five. She squealed a little right then, knowing she had completed her mission. Slick Rick said all she needed to do was find five of these damn things, and now she had done so. Dealing with Jericho would not be necessary! Maybe she'd still mess with the man some time in the future, but she would not need to case his place.

Time to head back to Springvale Elementary. Time to get paid, and then Capital Wasteland, here we come!





Tuesday, September 11, 12:32 PM

Back to Springvale. Vicious returned to the school with an extra strut him her step. "Just the man I'm looking for. How ya doin' Slick?"

"Hey there girl. Whatta surprise." Today Slick did not seem so torn up on whatever he was on a couple days' previous. "How's them bonds been comin? Got any more for me, er, us?"

"Oh yes. I do got something here for you. Five of them, actually." Vicious opened her backpack, and spilled all five ancient American documents upon a low table. "So what's next? You guys want me to go shoot down some super mutants? Glam on some ghouls? Heck, maybe you want me to electrocute some Enclave?"

"Uh, did I say five?" Slick folded his arms. "I really meant ten. Yas. Ten. 'Cause Dogmaster already knows there is more out there." He shook his head. "So no five. Yes, ten. ... Hey, uh. Hey! ... What is you doing?"

"I'm going to *smuck* you up Slick Rick, right here, right now. That is what I'm doing."

"Hey, uh... whoa. Put that down, Vicious!"

"Say hello to some watts and voltage, you dork."

By now, Vicious had unholstered her Tazer, pointed it straight at him. "You little twisty-nosed twerp!" But then Springvale's chem dealer walked up, curious about what was happening. He paused, stared, put his arms up in an 'I don't want anything to do with this' sort of gesture, and walked out. Because of this, Taneesha remembered. Her stun gun. She was trying to keep it a secret.

"Yeah, okay, that's better Vicious. Put that thing away." Slick Rick made a sweeping motion across his brow. "Whoo, girl, relax."

"Oh I am relaxed," she said. "You should see me when I'm not."

"Yeah, well. Ain't nothing I can do about this one," he said, lighting a cig. "The Dog wants what he wants. Come on now, you can do this, cantcha? Just a little more, hey! This time, I promise."

Taneesha grabbed her bag, and stomped away. Stormed down the hallway, down some stairs, and into her classroom. Threw her bag across the room. Walked over to her teacher's desk, and lit a cig of her own. Sat there fuming.

"Those cheap mothers," she growled, contemplating whether she should jam some Thorazine. "I hate them!"

She started on a bottle of scotch instead. Thorazine was expensive after all, and she needed to start conserving her caps.

She grabbed her Pip Girl 2500, clicked its radio on, and dialed for Galaxy News Radio. Three Dog was in the middle of one of his silly rants, something about the Enclave this time. Vicious puffed on her cig, Vicious gulped on her scotch. She began to feel a little more relaxed. Out in the hallway, a couple of raiders were arguing about something. Oddly, this caused her to kick back and relax.

"This will be okay, Taneesha," she said slowly. "Everything will be fine. Deep breaths, girl."

But then Three Dog began talking about the wasteland's latest news. And what he had to say had her bolting red-hot out of her seat.

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

Jericho on the move

Taneesha on the prowl

Jericho's hut

Bond number 4

And Bond number 5 -- (She was drunk by now!)

"Did I say five? I really meant ten."

"Hey, whoa, whoa!"



This post has been edited by Renee: Jun 26 2022, 03:24 AM

I think this is for the first time that we see Taneesha Jones actually pissed off.

She's doing a great job with those bonds.

I wonder what did Three Dog say.

Taneesha made Jericho run home! Now she knows where his lair is. Ready for some ninja action later.

Whoa, Miss V is on a drunken roll in collecting bonds. What is she going to find next Barry Bonds? James Bond?

The Dog wants what he wants. Now that is a true statement in any context...

Uh oh, what is the Wasteland's latest news? Has that Cho Zen Wan been up to more good deeds?

How do I get one of those clever unlisted houses?

Thieving while drunk and wearing a pretty green dress with heels is generally not advised but Miss VD somehow pulls it off.

Ten?!? Ohhhhh – VD’s initial fury yielded to some pretty impressive restraint. Grrrr.

The unlisted house was a mistake, Acadian! I did some 'work' in the GECK last year, duplicated Jericho's home, and somehow erased the Name part of Jericho's original home. In terms of this story of course, it worked out perfectly. But behind the scenes things got hectic on my end, as I wondered where he's supposed to live. Does he leave town to go home? That did not make sense.

In the end, I did not cheat on Fandom, but I did have to have a look back in the GECK, which is sort of still cheating. If I'd gone on Fandom though, I would have really gotten mad at myself.

Taneesha is definitely returning to Jericho's home. She (and I) really think one of those bonds are hidden in there.

Rosa: eventually Vicious will meet "the Dog" but that's going to be way in the future. In 2022, for sure. Then we'll see why it says "the dog wants what he wants..."

Thank you Lopov. From your perspective I bet you're enjoying this as we blunder & bumble around. Now let's see what the heck Three Dog had to say...

To all: I am trying something new in this chapter. I hope it's not too nauseating!

This post has been edited by Renee: Oct 17 2021, 04:27 PM

As we last saw, Taneesha "Vicious Delicious" Jones returned to Springvale Elementary School carrying five of the bonds required for her to finish her current mission. She expected to get paid, and move on to something else. But Slick Rick informed her she needs to get at least five MORE documents before she can receive a new mission. This caused Vicious to become enraged, and storm away from her immediate boss.

Now... we find her tucked away in her teacher's classroom, suddenly interrupted by something she's heard on the radio. Whatever it is, this news has caused her to jolt straight out of her chair, alarmed and outraged.


Chapter 33: The Latest News

Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2:02 PM

Minimum Temperature: 54.0 °F
Maximum Temperature: 87.1 °F

Location: Springvale Elementary School





Vicious Delicious was calm and laid-back in her teacher's chair, sipping her scotch and smoking her cig. Trying to cool off after a heated exchange with the Spingvale school raider's lame lieutenant, Slick Rick. To further help herself relax, she turned her Pip Girl's radio on, and dialed for Galaxy News Radio.

"...time to be electrified, stupefied, energized, and enormified. This is Three Dog, owwwwww!" Galaxy's disc jockey chortled. " Radio Free Wasteland, for youuuuu, no matter how bad it hurts..."

As the scotch began its swimmy effect within her head, Vicious kicked her feet up on the desk, wondering if some teacher long ago did this very same thing during lunch breaks, when all the students were off to the playground.

"And now? Some news."

As per his custom as a professional announcer, Three Dog's voice went from goofy and grabby to grim and grave. The news began with some sort of rant about the Enclave, which Vicious listened to with half-an-ear. The Enclave were building up to some sort of showdown, with John Henry Eden subtly urging them on, yar-yar-yar. Something like that. Whatever it was, these events did not much affect the lives of raiders.

Vicious coughed.

Next topical item dealt with the 'kid from Vault 101'. Lately he'd been spotted up north, making some sort of headway in the village of Arefu, where things had gone silent and serious. Vicious smiled, thinking of Lucy West, her Megaton housemate. Lucy's family had been living in Arefu, which had some of its houses located on top of a half-broken, ancient highway overpass for reasons of safety. Hopefully there'd be some resolution there. Vicious waited patiently for Three Dog to kick on some Billy Holiday or Andrews Sisters, so she could start boogeying in her seat, and forget all about this mess with upper management.

But then, everything changed with the D.J.'s next few words, and her recreationally-enhanced relaxation was abruptly interrupted.

"Also across the wasteland, an attack on Dukov's domain..."

"What?" She swished her feet off the desk, and planted them on the floor carefully, so she would not miss a word. Ears open and alert.

"...Seems that rude and redemptified rascal known as Rattler has done some damage down at Dukov's. Reports are just coming in, but sadly, seems several girls down there have danced their last dance, and maybe escorted their last Lance. Rattler, that crude, crafty cannibal, has struck again...."

"No, goddammit, NO!!!"

"Dukov himself has been noted as having survived the onslaught, but just barely. According to reports, the whorehouse's top pimp was bled and bitten, but rescued by some unknown hero. In any event, it's sounding like Dukov the dame-peddler may need to recruit some new ... aah... talent. And Rattler? Where is the man so many love to fear, and fear to hate?"

"That ... *trucker!*" Vicious was pissed. "Screw the bonds mission, I need to get down to Dukov's."

There was an instant flurry of activity as she tried to do three things at once. Caps! Gun! Ammo! Food! She'd need to head down there as soon as possible, which meant NOW. But she'd also need to go prepared, for the walk across the Potomac would be riddled with enemies. Super mutants, centaurs, mirelurks, and so on. As she rushed about her classroom, checking her locker, checking her desk, checking the trashbin, her radio continued to operate.

..."Thanks for listening chill-dren, this is Three Dog, owwwwwww!" the onair jockey howled, smile back in his voice. "You're listening to Galaxy News Radio. And now, time for some music."

The sounds of Let's Go Sunning pervaded Vicious's classroom as she scrambled and fumbled and stressed about her upcoming journey.




Though she felt confident she could make it across the river and several miles down its other side by herself, Miss Vicious thought it would be wise to try to recruit somebody to join her. Her first thought was Sal the convict, the man she'd saved from becoming super mutant meat up in Germantown. Sal was still around. Over the past couple weeks he'd been living inside the school like so many others. Vicious also knew him to be somewhat of a teetotaler. He wasn't a drunk, nor any sort of addict. Getting locked up and almost munched upon had scared him straight, apparently. But Sal was also too timid. Too shellshocked. Still too afraid to go back out there.

The two dozen others who'd been staying within the school were also no-gos. Sure, some of them might initially decide to come along; going on raids was always a blast! Problem was, the average raiders (as a general rule) were unreliable layabouts. If they couldn't get rich, or drunk, or high within a few hours' travel, chances are she'd find herself walking alone.

Finally, she thought of Q Tip, the dude with the bleached white hair who had surprised her in Megaton's ladies room, then found her after she'd been released from jail. Q Tip might work. Vicious began searching for him. Sometimes locating a specific person in the school's darkened interior could be tough, but it didn't take long for Vicious to find him.

"Yo, whattup girl? How's that hunt for dem bonds been comin along?" He snickered, smacking his leg. Apparently, her earlier outburst had perhaps become a topic of gossip within the school.

Vicious ground her gums. This might not be so easy. "Q. Look. I need your help."

"Do you now?" He did some sort of weird movement with his hands. "The Q is always at the service of one pretty lady such as thou-self. And how can I assist?"

"Yeah, well, assist. Yeah." She paused a moment, thinking on her feet once again. "Listen. I was just listening to the news on my radio."

"Uh huh... your Pip Thingamabob has a radio, eh? Damn, how do I get one of those? Gotta get me one of those..."

"Yeah it does have a radio," she said, thinking again of how she was going to do this. "Now listen, fool. Pay attention. This is serious."

"Okay, I'm listening."

"Right. Well it seems that guy Rattler has invaded Dukov's place. He killed a bunch of girls down there. Almost killed Dukov himself, though Three Dog says Dukov survived. But a bunch of girls definitely got offed. And maybe Bratty might of been one of them."

Q Tip said nothing, his jokey mood evaporating away.

"So." Vicious paused, thinking of how she might need to ask what she was about to ask. "And thing is, yeah, maybe she is dead. No, likely she is dead. Maybe a part of the brat is now in Rattler's ..." she stopped. Couldn't finish that particular thought.

"And you want ... my help?"

"Yeah. I gotta go down there. Either way, dead or alive, I gotta know. Because unlike all these other fools in here, Bratty was an actual friend."

"And you want.... my help."

"Yes I do. Will you come with me?"

"Whoa. Wait. Whaaat? Is you serious?" Q Tip shook his head, eyes bulging. "You heard about Rattler killin a bunch of sluts over in Dukov's whorehouse, and so you want to go down there, and you also want ME to come along with you?"

"So your ears do work, fool. And you apparently just heard me correct," Vicious said quietly.

Q Tip sat on a desk. "No. No! ... No thank you," he said, tapping the desk at each 'no' with one of his fingers. "I am comfortable right here, right in Springvale. And here in Springvale I shall stay." He raised his hand, and put three fingers to his lips. "You are only doing this-here hunt now in Megaton only 'cause I got busted. That was supposed to be my job. From the moment Dogmaster sought my talents, I been the Potomac raiders' Megaton agent, 'til you came along, a'course.

"Besides," the white-haired 'Megaton agent' continued, "that Rattler dude is no one to mess with. Heard he eats people, eats their blood, their flesh, even eats their hearts if he got the gumption. So uh... sorry Vicious, but no thanks."

Funny thing was, within the last few moments Vicious had expected "no" is exactly what Q Tip might say. He would reject her request, basically. So she reached into her head. She pulled a mental trump card out of an invisible deck, and laid it on the virtual table. "Please, Q Tip?"

"No."

"But ... you can be my boyfriend," she said shyly. She batted her eyes, and sauntered up to him. "Wanna be my boyfriend, Q Tip?"

Long ago during her childhood and into her teenage years, as she snuck centuries-old romance novels and comic books, she had read how men could be influenced by women through acts of temptation. Through sultry words and suggestive moves. Hell, even the Bible had its moments. But, being a young woman living in the Twenty-Third century Capital Wasteland who had been raised by Jehovah's Witnesses, she had no idea how this was actually done. Not that it mattered. Apparently, her suggestion immediately seemed to work.

"Uh, boyfriend?" Q Tip's face went from cragged to curious. "Uh. What does that mean?"

Yeah, Vicious, good question. What does that mean? She thought a quick moment before improvising an answer.

"It means.... you decide to come with me, and you can be my boyfriend. And I am now your girlfriend." She smiled, and attempted something with one of her hands upon his arm. What exactly she was trying to attempt, she had no idea. Hey, she'd been raised by Witnesses!

Q Tip spoke slowly, trying to comprehend. "So you are saying, if I go down to Dukov's whorehouse with you, that you and I are boyfriend and girlfriend. That exactly is what you are saying?"

Vicious felt some sort of shift in the room. Some sort of unseen electricity, as the guy before her changed his mind. It was almost like a bell went off, like she had done something correctly in the female department, even though she had little experience with love or romance. Q Tip was a cutie for sure, and this made it easier, of course. But she was improvising. Exerting her 'delicious' side, which was not as evolved as her 'vicious' side, this being the Capital Wasteland, and all. Maybe she was being a little manipulative too. Yes, Q Tip was a cutie, but at this moment she wasn't entirely sure she was being entirely geniune.

Was she?

"Well hell, girlfriend, let's go!" Q Tip slumped off the desk, suddenly a cowboy. Suddenly eager to rope some brahmin. "Where's my gun? Gotta find my gun first," he quipped eagerly. "I hope we do find him now, that Rattler fella. I'm gonna bust his head, if so. He ain't never gonna see us coming! ... Just let me get my things first."

"Sure, take your time," Miss Delicious said, trying to keep the worry out of her voice. What exactly had she just done?


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

Let's Go Sunning (song)

Q Tip, convinced

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Note: In Lopov's game, Rattler killed everyone in Dukov's I think, including Dukov himself. Or so Lopov tells me. Seems the snake didn't get all of them, after all.

Note 2: The moment when Vicious convinced Q Tip to come with her was made into one of those Speech Checks in the GECK. I made this an easy one, but still, there was a chance of failure there. Had he said "no" I would have honored this.

Note 3: As Cho does various parts of Blood Ties (the Arefu in-game vampire quest) I am setstaging it! So eventually things will subtly change in Vicious's world. Cho actually did these things in his own game.

Miss V is kicking back with a bottle of scotch, just like any other teacher!

Uh oh, Bratty is in trouble! I was wondering if you were going to tie in Rattler's attack on Dukov's place with your fic or not. Here is my answer. I wonder who that was that rescued Dukov? Maybe Bratty? Maybe the Stormcrow?

Looks like the Tip doesn't want any part of a Rattler crime-scene. It is hard to blame him. The Rattler has the entire Wasteland scared stiff.

Uh oh, Miss V is going all Jezebel on the Tip. He doesn't stand a chance now.

Miss VD doesn't actually have very many friends, so it's not surprising when she perceives Bratty may be in trouble, it be time to go snake huntin'.

And she discovers her feminine wiles! Well-played, Taneesha. . . well, at least for now. Ought to be fun to see how this goes!

Wow, Taneesha's got a boyfriend now. She made him an offer that he couldn't refuse.

Is it really clever to go in the area where Rattler has been spotted?

Looks like I need to reload his game and finish off Dukov.

Hey, thanks you three for your attentions. I am preparing the next chapter of MVD and this shall be her last chapter of 2021. But don't get bummed. More Vicious will be on the way some time in the spring of 2022, and my gosh there will be some thrills and chills, while my skills with the GECK get pushed to their very limits.

Next chapter should go up tomorrow.


Rosa: Heh heh, that's true about the teacher sneaking bottles of liquor. I wouldn't blame some of my daughter's teachers over the years if they had to 'refresh' themselves occasionally.

And heck yeah, Vicious is heading toward Dukov's Look out Rattler, you snakey scumbag!



You know, I thought about this and could not come to a definitive answer. In Cho's game nobody has bothered Dukov, not even in roleplay terms. I tried to think of one of your characters, but I don't know them well enough. Besides, I think Hecate or Jan might try to rid Dukov themselves! ... And Loviatar might want to join Rattler at the dinner table.

So the answer is open for interpretation, I think.


Acadian: The 'feminine wiles' part had me pretty nervous. Actually it's good that Stormcrow has a lot of romance stuff going on, this made me feel more comfortable branching into an area I haven't ever gone to. Rosa is taking way more risks than I am!

But it's also THE story. I feel and get inspirations as to which directions all these stories shall go--it's like I have to write them as they come, even if I feel sort of squeamish while doing so.


Lopov: Is it really clever for Taneesha to go to Dukov's you ask? Wait, isn't he gone from there by now?



NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

None of my characters has ever offed Dukov. He may be a pig, but my impression from talking to his 'girls' was that they were sex workers who chose to be there, and were being paid a better wage than they normally would get. So while it is still exploitative and gross, he's far from say, a Moriarity. Jan or even Hecate would save him from being murdered by raiders, let alone a monster like Rattler. Fighting people like Rattler is exactly what January exists.