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Some Age, Others Mature. Some Do Both.; (solo)
Topic Started: Aug 28 2009, 05:49 AM (192 Views)
Dave Vaz
Member Avatar
Ready! Set! Fail!
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Dave was exploring buckettown, all of its corners and cracks, abandoned areas and overcrowded bars. At least, as overcrowded as they could get with the amount of people residing in the town. He had avoided more menacing-looking people and made sure to keep his musket well in everyone's view, so as to ward off any vagrants looking for an easy fight.

After a while, he started noticing some good defensive positions, more because of the lingering thoughts of the signback threat than curiosity. Having reached the town centre, he looked around and went down the last road he hadn't explored yet. It led off to a fork with two tents to his left and a large building to his right. He noticed there were a few small ruins on the other side of the road. The walls seemed solid, though as he approached, he noticed the place was already occupied with a hooded figure. Possibly a squatter of some sort.

As he turned to leave, he noticed the figure was gesturing for him to come closer, an old bony hand trembling slightly. At first, Dave thought it was just another poor soul asking for some money, but something about him changed his mind. He walked over to the old man as he took off his hood. That's when he saw the flaking skin, dangling loosely from old age and cracking under the pressure of mutation. He looked as if he were in his late 70s, though considering he had signs of ghoulification, he was probably older than that.

"The desert sun isn't too good for my scalp these days... sorry if the hood was making me look too suspicious," the older man said apologetic, though somewhat cheerfully.

Still a bit stunned, Dave crouched down next to him, speaking slightly confused. He had never seen a half-ghoul before, "It's.. it's uh, perfectly fine. I'm Dave... is everything all right?"

"All right? Heheh oh I'm fine," the other said with a tired smile. A tiredness not coming from lack of sleep, but from a long life. He looked down and shuffled at something on the floor half-hidden under his robes, "Food is very hard to come by... it always has in these parts. Do you want to know my story?" Before Dave could reply, he kept going: "maybe not, but you will anyway! I've been all over the south. From Florida to Texas, I've seen it all. I used to be a mercenary when I was your age! Oh yes... I've fought against everything and everyone.

"Name any body part and I've been shot, stabbed or beaten there. Heheh there's a reason why I've never had kids aside from being a bit of a ghoul... at least, not any kids that I found out about."

Dave was frowning internally, though his face only showed a delicate smile. This old coot was probably senile and on top of things he was telling his life's story... he probably hadn't spoken to anyone in a while.

"Now... I can see your not exactly the fightin' type."

Dave resented that somewhat. It sounded as if the man thought of him as inferior. He straightened his back and scowled slightly.

"Oh don't get so up-tight. There's nothing wrong in having more brains than brawn. But since you use brains, there's a few things I can teach ya..."
Dave Vaz:
SPECIAL: 6, 6, 4, 6, 8, 5, 5.
Level: 1. Karma: 0.

Rachel “Rae” Johansson Mayu Frederick:
SPECIAL: 5, 6, 6, 2, 10, 7, 5.
Level: 1. Karma: 0.
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Dave Vaz
Member Avatar
Ready! Set! Fail!
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
"You see, one thing I've learnt is that no matter what bandit your fighting, they fight by trying to make you afraid of them. The trick is to not let yourself fall for your fears. Make them afraid of you. Use anything you have at your advantage, be it a big gun, agility, some good thinking, yelling louder than them and rushing at them with a pickaxe in hand... whatever works."

The old man was all giddy... at least he looked that way, considering the twinkle in his eyes, "but don't make the same mistakes as them! They don't get afraid of things easily... and for goodness' sake, man, put on a stronger posture; you look like teddy bear hunched over like that!"

A long, sturdy wooden cane came flying out of nowhere and snapped Dave in the back. He gave out a grunt and squinted in pain as he straightened his back quickly. That was a bad spot.

"That's better..." the other stated with a more satisfied tone, "I bet you spend your free time readin' and the like. I'm fine with that, but you better start rememberin' to keep it straight and as tense as a whip... Now, I heard there are some o' those signbacks headin' this way. I never fought them -- they didn't make such a fuss about them in my fightin' days... I hadn't even heard of them before. But you can be sure about one thing: they still fight hopin' your afraid of 'em. You use your pretty little head and use your smarts and you'll make it out alive... unless they outnumber you about four to one. Your chances go downhill from there..."

At this point, the old man looked at his wrist, as if checking an old watch or pip-boy. His arm was bare of course, but he still faked the motion, "Oh my, look! Time for my nap! Nighty-night! Heheheh," he said, falling over into a bundle on the floor. If one didn't know there was someone under there, one would think it was nothing more than a pile of useless junk.

Dave watched for a few moments, completely puzzled, glad that the hood, overcoat and general crap was a good camouflage for the old man; thieves weren't a rare thing in the wasteland and he would be easy to rob. Dave looked around, checking if there was no one looking and took the small hide out of his pack, hiding it under -- what he hoped to be -- the upper part of the robe, in front of the chest. He was a funny one, though still insane. It was a pity, too, since he had really gotten the feeling the being in front of him had been somewhat legendary. Of course, everything the man had said could have been a complete fabrication, though somehow, there was still an aura of trust about him.

Replacing the shemagh over his face, Dave stood up and began to walk away, only to notice he had barely spoken. In fact, he didn't know the old man's name. There was a momentary impulse to turn back and ask, though the pile of junk was completely still. He's already asleep... I guess I'll have to ask him some other time.

As he walked off back towards the town centre, the memory of Betty and Roman started coming back to him. I haven't seen them since the auction... I guess I'll go look for them. Knowing Betty she probably got herself into a pretty bind. Not that I know her all *that* well...
Dave Vaz:
SPECIAL: 6, 6, 4, 6, 8, 5, 5.
Level: 1. Karma: 0.

Rachel “Rae” Johansson Mayu Frederick:
SPECIAL: 5, 6, 6, 2, 10, 7, 5.
Level: 1. Karma: 0.
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Zilabus
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Er'ry day I'm overseein'
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
What a little shorty. I can't send you empty handed though.

Quote:
 
Rewards
Nuka Cola x1


OH HELL YEAH! ENJOY IT!
Eli "Slim" Ambrose
SPECIAL: 3, 9, 2, 7, 9, 3, 7
Level: 5
Bucket town reputation: -175
Equipment
Weaponry: Molotov, Cherry bombs, Combat Knife, Laser pistol, Tack Mines, Smoke grenades, Syringes.
Armor:Post-war suit Tattered leather jacket
Inventory
Homemade shotgun, Gumballs, Bedspread
Mentats x3, Psycho x2, Jet x1, Wiskey x2, vodka
4 1/2 x Hides, 15 LSB dollars
Appearance
Caucasian
Very tall, lanky, and slim, jet black hair in a greased into a subdued pompadore style. Dark eyes and a cleanshaven face. Brown Windowpane suit.

Kelly "Featherweight" Capozzi
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