Nekoholic

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil's gaze flicked nervously between the three. Kaye was as domineering as before, Leith looked both terrified and murderous, and Jace just looked confused and wary. Finally, he whispered back to Jace, "Is there really a choice in the matter for us, though? That Leith guy is kinda scary, to be honest. Maybe they'll part ways if we just take them there, and won't bother us when we're excavating? It sounds like they only want stuff worth money, anyways, so I doubt that they'll bother reading any notes or terminals or the like."
"Your friend, the short-stack, claimed to be interested in 'water purification,'" Leith mentioned, cocking his head to the side curiously, "So I assume that you're looking for a G.E.C.K., right? That's the only reason I can think of why someone would be crazy enough to go searching through Vault after god-forsaken Vault."

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil flushed deep-red, quickly shaking his head. "We do nothing of the sort!" He then looked back at Jace, and whispered in a panicked tone, "And...and we don't have enough. She doesn't want to trade, and you would have died if I hadn't...I mean, what could it really hurt to let them come along? They only want..." He paused. What if they happened to stumble upon the G.E.C.K. or something related to it, and wanted to keep it for themselves? He was fine with them taking the littler things, even if those things were worth many caps, but he couldn't allow that to fall out of his hands after all this time, work, and pain. Not after Jace almost died. They probably wouldn't even know what it was--they'd just notice that it looked complicated and assume it'd sell for some good money, even if only because someone was curious about it.

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil glanced at Kaye for a brief moment, and then nodded. "Yes, but...they're not satisfied with only caps for their services."
"I am," Leith argued with a huff, "But she's calling the shots." He cocked his head toward her.

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

"Jace, calm down! I'm right here!" Basil said, carefully putting his hand on the Jace's to get him to lower the gun. Leith already had his gun aimed, though, finger prepared to pull the trigger.
"One warning and that's it. Drop the damn gun," Leith said.

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Leith stared down at her for a long moment. "Okay, for one, I'll pretend that wasn't offensive in the slightest because you're obviously on the 'Tats again. And two, no. I don't give a shit that you've 'quit,' but I do give a shit about you running into the face of danger just for 'fun.'"

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Leith hissed between the teeth that he had left. "No amount of caps is worth your life, Kaye. I honestly couldn't care less about my life, as I've lived longer than should even be natural as it is, but it's my responsibility to protect yours--as both a job and your friend. Vaults are unpredictable; one wrong step and you could get yourself killed." He gestured toward the kid and the unconscious man. "Those two obviously know from experience."
"This was actually caused by an unforeseen radiation storm, but okay," Basil replied nonchalantly.
"Shut up while I'm trying to make a point," Leith snapped.
"I was making a point, too," Basil responded.
Leith turned toward him, eyes narrowed dangerously. "Kid, do you even know who you're messing with?"
"A ghoul who is scared of children's stories," Basil replied.
"I swear to God--" Leith stopped himself, forcing down a gulp of air and slowly exhaling before he looked back at Kaye. It'd been a long time since he'd come across someone quite like this one. So...infuriating. Cropping such an attitude with him; it was as if he didn't even care about how intimidating and disgusting he looked. "Anyways, Kaye, I highly advise against this. Who even knows what this 'water purification research' really entails? Sounds like a lot of nonsense to me."

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil was confused for a moment. He then said, "The next Vault isn't for another hundred miles of here. And we won't be able to set out for days with Ja--my friend in this state. Are you really up for that when I'm sure that you have a route to stick to?"
"You know, the kid has a point," Leith quickly agreed, glaring at Kaye, "And not to mention that you never know what to expect in a Vault. It's too dangerous. And that we have no idea what this kid is even going into those wretched things for."
"Water purification research," he said, tired of his third-degree. It'd be especially bothersome if he had to listen to it for the next hundred miles. Guy might put a bullet in his head not even half-way there just to be on the safe side. "Vaults were known for their experimentation, so we've been looking through them for the information and resources that we need. And those ghost stories you're talking about? Well, yeah, they're all true, so maybe you don't want to come, after all, especially when I have plenty in this bag here to pay you back perfectly fine."
"Kaye, just trade with him and let's be on our merry way," Leith said, genuinely spooked now.

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil nodded without hesitation, and took the supplies. Resolving to pay once he was done, he knelt back down beside Jace and began to prep the syringes properly.
Leith watched warily, but was mildly impressed; perhaps he was a researcher then. He looked practiced. He then looked down at the unconscious man, who was more muscular than his thin companion. He had to be the muscle of the duo then. That was the only feasible way that they could survive those metal death traps.
"He said that he doesn't have enough money for even the usual prices," Leith said to Kaye, glancing at her, "So are you accepting his form of payment? And do you actually trust him to pull through?"
"I'll pull through," Basil snapped, but didn't look back at the merchant and her guard.
Leith pursed his lips, and then said, "Just know that if you try to scam us, there's a bullet waiting just for you."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Basil muttered under his breath. As he finished, he sighed in relief and looked up at Kaye, "Thank you, miss. I'll give you all the caps that we have, but I doubt that'd be enough. Like I said, though, we have stuff that you could probably sell for good money--probably more than the caps on their own, actually."

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil sighed in relief once he reached them, and grabbed the small coin purse that he kept on him. He then said, "Please tell me that you have Rad-Away and Med-X." He knew that even if he were to have the Rad-Away, it would take time for Jace to recover; Med-X would alleviate the pain of the process, as well as make it quicker. Rad-Away came first, of course, but he could hope. His thoughts wandered to last night. What would have happened if Jace had refused his offer for the Rad-Away? Would he have even made it this far, or did it not really help any, like he'd claimed it wouldn't?
He swore under his breath as he counted out the money. "Look, I don't have enough caps for the usual prices, but I'm sure we have something that you'd want. We...scavenge. In Vaults and whatnot, so we have stuff that'd sell for plenty, especially to the right person." He closed his eyes briefly as a wave of dizziness washed over him; perhaps he was becoming affected by the heat, the exertion of their journey, the radiation. But Jace was worse for wear, so he pushed it to the back of his mind. He then focused hopefully on the trader woman, completely ignoring the threatening presence on the other side of their loaded Brahmin.
"What someone like you doing exploring Vaults?" Leith asked. He eyed him up-and-down, not even caring. The kid didn't look like much, and he'd heard the horror stories of those places--well, more than just heard of them. He didn't go near them. He folded his arms over his chest, blue eyes narrowed.
"Research," Basil answered reluctantly. He shook his head, instantly regretting the movement as a spike of pain shoved itself through his skull. "Please, just...he won't make it for much longer, and we're too far away from the next settlement for him to make it. If they even have a doctor there. I haven't tried to mug or kill you yet, have I?"
Leith huffed. "Whatever. Kaye, decision's yours." He waved a dismissive hand, but kept his eyes glued onto the stranger. He hated these caravan jobs. Made him paranoid as hell. Sometimes, though, it was the only way someone like him could scrape by. He had to pay for his cigarettes somehow, after all.

Atomic Rain (Fallout)

Basil chewed his lip when Jace's consciousness faded, but nevertheless nodded and hurried toward the caravan. However, he paused, wondering if they might mistake him for a raider if he basically bomb-rushed them while screaming. Clearing his throat, he called out, "Um, hey! C-can you please help? I-I have money!" He hoped that they were able to hear him, that he had approached them properly. He really didn't want to get shot, especially not before he got Jace the treatment that he needed.