roseofthevault

[roseofthevault]

deadeyedrifter

Could he what, now? Hold on a fucking minute. What exactly did she think she was gonna do with this kid? Was she just going to take it under her wing? ‘Cause he sure as fuck wouldn’t and no one else in their right mind was going to take it off their hands.

Still, whatever the next few steps, priority right now was to get it to shut up. He saw the merit in that, at least.

“All right, pal,” he spoke softly, squatting beside the body of their fresh new orphan’s previous caretaker. “Enough of that, huh?” He gathered the infant up and cradled it in the crook of his arm. “Shut the fuck up, before you get us into more shit.”

Crude as his words were, it seemed to be working. The baby was still noisy, but they weren’t wailing across the commonwealth. That gave Susette a moment to rifle through the dead parent’s pockets, looking for anything that might identify them.

She came up with a dirty, blood-smeared silver locket and a folded paper that looked like some kind of scrawled ledger. She could look at it more closely when they got to a settlement. Goodneighbor was likely close enough.

“Do you think you could hold them until we get somewhere safe?” She asked, licking dry lips and ignoring the growing desire to dig out her Med-X.

Mutant Mayhem

[roseofthevault]

deadeyedrifter

The look on Rick’s face, on the other hand, was one of weary resignation. Of course. Of fucking course. A gross waste of bullets and now this. Why not? Never so much shit that you couldn’t pile on more.

With a long-suffering sigh, he put his spare cartridges away and hauled his backpack over his shoulder. He trailed after Susette and joined her at the body of the mutants’ victim. The wailing and squirming from the bundle of cloth seemed to increase exponentially with every minute that passed.

“… Well, shit.”

Susette mentally echoed the sentiment, slowly taking a knee. With her uninjured arm she carefully peeled back the cloth from the bundle to reveal what was underneath. The red-faced baby, splattered in muck and gore, grew louder.

Instinctively, she reached for the infant when her shoulder screamed in protest. She took a sharp intake of breath, and looked up at her reluctant companion. “Can you help me pick them up?”

Mutant Mayhem

[roseofthevault]

deadeyedrifter

“Watch your step,” he added, more as an afterthought. Must be a right mess between there and here. He dropped his bag and rummaged around for a box of spare cartridges. He’d burned through three magazines over the course of this shit show, so he pulled one of the empty ones from the belt strapped across his torso and filled it back up, while Susette made her way out.

“By the way,” He released the empty magazine from his handgun and switched it for a full one before he holstered the weapon. “Looked like we risked our hides for nothing. I passed that body they were dragging. Didn’t have time to check, but–" He cut himself off, frowned, and turned his head toward the mutant’s camp. “… Do you hear that?”

Susette did hear that. A growing wail that sounded like an infant broke the sudden quiet in the aftermath of the battle. Susette had little experience with children, being so rare in the vault by design and outside of it by hardship, but she could place that sound anywhere.

With a look to Barrow bordering on horror, she made her way quickly, and stiffly, over to the corpse she’d wanted so valiantly to save. There, swaddled in a makeshift sling across their chest, was a wailing, wiggling lump trapped under bloody fabric.

Mutant Mayhem

[roseofthevault]

deadeyedrifter

He counted the seconds until the blast, and clicked his last magazine in place. The explosion shook the street, the zing and whine of laser fire framed the cloud of dust in a red glow, and Rick turned around on his stomach with his pistol up on the what used to be a shop window’s sill.

Bright red flashes gave him an inkling of Susette’s position inside the building across. Wary that a stray bullet of his could hit her, he took his time with his shots and aimed where it counted; at those fuck-ugly heads. Eyes and ears. If they made an unpredictable move and he missed, the bullet would most likely bury itself in the ceiling instead of Susie Q over there. As meddlesome as she’d proven to be, he didn’t wish her any ill per se.

In the ear-splitting noise and the chaos of the crossfire, seconds felt like minutes, and yet it was all over in a blink of an eye. Rick was down to his last cartridge when the last of the mutants dropped. He pulled himself up to his feet, and stepped out of the old store front.

“Hey!” He called across the street, “You all right?”

Susette slowly lowered her gun, her harsh breathing more from the pain throbbing in her shoulder than exertion. Everything, save the shout from her temporary companion, was deathly quiet. She didn’t hear a mutant, or a dog, or the sounds of combat. Just her own sharp exhalations in her ears.

She cleared her throat and called back, beginning to walk forward. “I’m fine!” Another breath. “I’m coming to you, now!” Best not to be shot if he was nervous (though she hadn’t seen anything like nerves on the man before).

Mutant Mayhem

[roseofthevault]

Starter Call

Like this post for a starter for this justice baby; I’d like to get her some threads

That said, if she’s not to your taste I have other characters listed here that you’re welcome to request in the replies instead.

[roseofthevault]

deadeyedrifter

The first shot leveled the missile bearer. The second took out the one with the makeshift rifle. Their pals downstairs were bound to have heard that, and so there was no time to waste. He stuck his head out of the window. These type of flat-roofed office buildings ought to have drain pipes just about–… there. He swung his rifle over his shoulder and got up on the windowsill. It was a bit of a reach, a bit of a leap of faith, but he made the jump and half clambered, half dropped down to the street. He passed the corpse they’d seen one of the mutants drag behind them from upstairs. He hadn’t time to check, but it looked really, very dead. As he suspected. Well! Good that all this trouble had a worthwhile purpose!

Good thing, too, that his hand had already been on the pistol at his hip, because when he turned the corner he found himself face to face with a hound. He fired into the foaming maw that opened up before him. Oh, and here came the rest of the party, pouring out from the door. He emptied his clip into them, and in the same movement pulled out the grenade Miss Hairbow-for-Brains hadn’t wanted him to throw, earlier. He pulled the pin free with his teeth. He couldn’t toss it inside, not knowing Susette’s present position, so he rolled it toward the side of the pavement by the door, and ducked for cover in a windowless store front across the street.

She felt the elevator shudder again as the mutants exited in a rush. That must be Rick, calling them away with a distraction. It was up to her to get down and get in behind them. Fine, she could do that. She could do that without the Med-X.

It might kill her, of course, but she could do it.

She dropped down through the hatch, her knees protesting. She had no choice, though. Her arm wouldn’t support her weight with this messed up shoulder, let alone lower her to the ground. Her laser pistol was up and even that made her muscles scream, but she moved out anyway and took the first shot she came across. Right to the back of the skull of a large, green brute, sending him staggering forward.

That grenade Rick had rolled towards the door went off, ripping the legs out from underneath another. From there, Susette kept firing. Her survival, and possibly Rick’s, depended on taking them down as fast as possible. But there was hope. They were nearly home free.

Mutant Mayhem

[roseofthevault]

Excuse me but you’re not being very nice.

[Dollmaker is here, have an ad blocker or you’ll get popups.]

[roseofthevault]

newvegasboy

“Oh, yes, I’ll be alright! And will do.” Despite her earlier scare, she seemed as buoyant as ever. She was quick to match Susette’s stride, abreast, and stole a glimpse of her ‘saviour’ of sorts.

Perhaps it was a little too early to be deeming anyone her saviour, but she couldn’t find another word for it. Saviour, protector, liberator, rescuer… Each sounded just as comical as the last.

“What are you doing out here?” she opted to ask a minute or two into their trek. “I mean, I’m glad I found you but - I’m curious.”

“I mostly live out here.” Susette replied. She wasn’t averse to conversation, so long as it wasn’t boisterous. There were plenty of people who didn’t seem to understand how to modulate their volume, and that was a problem. Talking was fine, especially if it took off the edge of the situation.

“I’ll guard caravans, or escort travelers.” She climbed up over some rubble, cautiously, and when it was clear on the other side she offered a hand to Rosemary. “Whatever help’s needed at the time.”

[roseofthevault]

newvegasboy

Rosemary was more or less oblivious. Sure, she knew she was pretty, at least in most standards of the term, but unless she was seeking out clients, she would just as easily forget.

“I do!” she chirped, turning to rummage through her bag. She pulled free a sheath, then pulled free a semi-automatic pistol from that same sheath (odd place to put a sheathed gun, in one’s bag, but the sheath was there to prevent accidental discharge). It was something that she’d only tote whenever she was travelling to and from Diamond City; she didn’t trust the Wastelands enough to roam about without protection, and while she’d rather avoid a fight, she was willing to use it if necessary.

“That’s good. Keep the safety on for now, if you could.” It sounded patronizing, but Susette always worried a panicked charge would set off a bullet and make a situation worse than it needed to be on accident. She pulled out her own pistol and checked the charge on it. Good enough.

“Do you think you’ll be alright to walk a mile or two, Miss Rosemary?” Susette asked, starting to lead the way. She knew, at least, that the first few blocks were relatively clear. It was the ones that came after that were questionable.

[roseofthevault]

newvegasboy

Rosemary cast a glimpse over her shoulder just to ensure that no one was sneaking up on them. She couldn’t see anyone, nor hear anyone, so she hoped they were safe. That gunfire had given her quite the scare; she still had residual palpitations from both the bullets and the exertion, but the tides of terror were beginning to ebb thanks to the promise of help.

“My name’s Rosemary,” she beamed broadly, hastening her step to clear what distance remained between them. “It’s nice to meet you, Susette!”

It was a little difficult to ignore just how pretty this woman was, but this was a serious situation and Susette did her best. She wasn’t completely immune, her train of thought stuttering across the tracks for a brief moment as Rosemary came closer. Still, she managed to get in back into gear by reminding herself that this lovely lady was depending on her for help.

“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Susette stumbled through the polite reply for just a moment, then cleared her throat. “Do you have a weapon, Miss Rosemary?”

[roseofthevault]

newvegasboy

Oh, good! She hadn’t unsheathed a gun or knife or bat at the sight of her. Maybe she was good news, after all. Rosemary continued to approach, quickly shedding the reluctance from earlier as she stepped over a rather large pile of rubble.

“I’m lost,” she declared. “… Well, that’s, um, that’s not the whole truth. I ran this way to escape the sound of gunfire. Do you happen to know a way to Goodneighbour that avoids,” she pointed in the general direction of which she came, “that route?”

“Yes, we can find another route.” Susette agreed readily. There were a few options, though they’d have to go the long way around to avoid the main path. If there was gunfire, either there was trouble with super mutants or raiders raising a fuss. Concern for the latter had her wanting to go, to see if she could intervene...but, no, she had a responsibility in front of her now to see this lady back to Goodneighbor safely.

“We can take a wide arc around to get to Goodneighbor, though we’ll need to be careful. The routes don’t stay clear for long.” Susette looked her over once more, then said, “My name is Susette. Could I ask yours?”

[roseofthevault]

Susette’s head snapped up at the entreaty. She’d been standing idle, daydreaming. Nothing had happened that day, and what little ‘chores’ she’d had to do around her current safe house were completed quickly. Someone in trouble wasn’t ‘lucky’, per se, but it did mean she had something to do again.

This woman certain was beautiful, and knew it. But that dress--what possessed her to wear something so fine walking the streets where everything from raiders to bloodbugs and super mutants regularly patrolled? It took guts, and a bit of foolhardiness.

“What’s wrong?” Susette asked, none of her snap-judgment in her tone. She didn’t know why the woman was wearing a short, bright, poofy dress in the ruins, but that didn’t have any real bearing on the situation at hand.

@roseofthevault

Gunfire. Rapid, ear-piercing gunfire. Rosemary had been padding down the rubble-ridden route she always took when coming to and from Diamond City, head bowed beneath the angry glare of the sun, when she heard it. Her heart thumped against her chest, like hammer against cloth, and her eyes widened in nothing short of terror.

Raiders. Or maybe super mutants. Either way, she didn’t want to hang around to find out.

She ran, fast, deviating from her route in her haste to get as far away from the gunfire as humanly possible. She only slowed when her legs started to ache, pausing against a boarded up store in an attempt to muster her breath. Finally, chest heaving, she surveyed her surroundings.

Where… was she, exactly?

She could always backtrack, but she feared running headfirst into a danger personified if she did. Anxiously, she stepped forwards, stare sweeping up and down the barren street.

Well, it would have been barren, if not for the woman standing near the heart of the intersection. Rosemary squinted her eyes, trying to secure a better look, and tentatively began to approach her. Whoever she was, she sported long flaxen hair and - was that a shield fastened to her arm? Yes, that was definitely a shield fastened to her arm.

Please don’t be a raider, she pleaded, waving her hand in an attempt to procure the woman’s attention.

“Hey, hello! Excuse me, can you help me?”

She was just far enough that she could bolt around the corner if it turned out she was trouble.

[roseofthevault]

deadeyedrifter

Time was running out in multiple different ways. For all the force he had to put on the old doors, the pipes he clung to started to give, coming away from the wall under the strain. He wedged his shoulder in between the elevator doors, then managed to squeeze a leg through, gaining steady footing on the other side.

Now they were getting somewhere. And a good thing, too. He glanced down, and saw her close the hatch. Oh, perfect. That meant the mutants were searching the building.

With one last push, and a screech of protest from the old mechanism that made him cringe, he slipped through to the second floor, and–…  Jesus Christ. The air was thick with dust and grit. Part of the ceiling had collapsed in the missile fire. He pulled the collar of his t-shirt up over his nose and stayed close to the wall, navigating the rubble.

At least the dust cloud covered his approach, as he knelt by the window. He spotted a missile bearer, and another with a rifle of some sort. Both of them peered down at the street, waiting for word of their fellows. He could hear them below, stomping about and arguing among themselves. Any moment now, they’d either come out again assuming their quarry must have gotten to the upper floors by climbing the outside, or they’d discover the hatch in the elevator. Neither was any good. He needed them inside, to catch them in a crossfire, and Miss Pain-In-The-Ass back in the elevator shaft needed to stay in one piece. Better act fast. He brought up his rifle, and lined up a shot.

Susette moved to follow him the moment he disappeared into the room above. She brought up her injured arm with a hiss and hesitated. Could she make the climb? She’d misjudged her own injuries before, and nearly gotten herself killed in the meantime. Maybe it would be better, better if she just got a little bit of the Med-X. Not all of it, just a little. Take some of the edge off the jagged arcs of pain, make it easier, just a little--

She was reaching for her bag when she heard it. Gravelly, deep, angry complaints just outside the elevator shaft. Looking for them. She held her breath and felt the cart shake slightly as one stepped inside. If she tried to climb now, that one would feel it. If she moved, they’d hear it.

Barrow’s original plan would have to do, and she just hoped he didn’t come back to check on her, first.

Mutant Mayhem

[roseofthevault]

aglitchinemotion

Hah! Darla grinned, making a little sound of triumph and letting herself sink properly into the mattress. “I mean, at least now you’re actually on the bed. ‘S a good step forward! And if that’s how you sleep on a bed, I’m not gonna judge. Me…” She grunted and shifted, turning on her side to curl up. “I like to be all tucked in warm. You should take some sheet, too.” She kicked one end up in an effort to cover Susette with a corner of it, though it fell rather pathetically back on itself.

“Besides, I sleep better with someone in th’bed with me. You want me to get a good sleep, right?” Her voice became saccharine, eyes wide and lips in an exaggerated pout that twitched in holding back a grin. “After the night I’ve had?”

Susette, face down in the pillow, couldn’t see the innocent display. All that came out was another long, defeated sigh.

“Go to sleep, Darla.” She scoot over to give the other woman room and, without sheet or kicking off her boots, resigned herself to this fate.

A Helping Hand [Susette/Darla]

[roseofthevault]

aglitchinemotion

“Hey! That’s cheating!” Darla began to wiggle as Susette scooped her up, giggling wildly and kicking at the sheets to try and disentangle her legs. “Oh, come on! You’ll be all sore and cold and - “

Her legs managed to free themselves from the sheets just as her back hit the mattress with a whump. A wicked grin and she tried to catch Susette, moving to hook her legs around her hips to try and upset her balance. “Come ooon! Sharing’s good for you!” 

Susette wasn’t expecting a return assault, and, honestly, she’s exhausted. When Darla hooked her legs around the taller woman’s waist, and Su gave up. She crashed down on top of her, and sighed. She didn’t move, just lay in an awkward diagonal across the bed, face buried in the sheet.

“Is this what you wanted?” she asked, muffled.

A Helping Hand [Susette/Darla]

[roseofthevault]

Roaches shouldn’t be violent.They’re scavengers. [She’s muttering this while trying to scrub an incriminating slime trail off of the front of her shield.]

[roseofthevault]

aglitchinemotion

Darla began shedding her outer layers, first boots, then jacket, tugging the blankets up around herself. With an arched brow she watched for a long moment as Susette - her golden-haired, blue-eyed heroine - made herself comfortable on the floor. Without a blanket. With her boots on.

No, no, this would never work!

“Okay, no. No way.” Fully wrapped up now in ratty sheets Darla purposefully slid from the bed onto the floor, inching over to Susette’s side like a particularly large bloatfly maggot. “How can you sleep like that? Look, you’re the hero, you get the bed. ‘S only fair - you earned it. And there’s no point in both of us sleeping on the floor, is there? So you can get up there!” She gave a bright grin, eyes pressed into half-moons by pink cheeks. “C’mon, go get cozy. I mean it.”

Susette had just shut her eyes when Darla’s exclamation shot her upright. What was wrong--oh. She could hardly keep herself from laughing as the fully-swaddled Darla made her demands. It was just a little ridiculous. A little.

Instead, she got to her feet, crouched down, and scooped the wrapped-woman up in her arms. “Hero’s prerogative. And you’ve already made use of the sheets.” With that, she deposited Darla back in the bed. “I’ll be fine.”

A Helping Hand [Susette/Darla]