As the weeks went by news of the Courier’s deeds reached the Mojave Outposts in more or less regular intervals. News regarding the Khans, the Boomers (How the hell he had managed to reach Nellis in one piece was subject of many a heated discussion), the Followers of the Apocalypse and the various Families on the Strip.
“Can’t believe that thing about the White Gloves, I honestly don’t”, he heard one soldier say to another in the bar one night. “I mean... okay, weirdoes, the lot of them what with their masks and all that but... cannibals?” “I’m suddenly kinda glad I never had the bucks to take Milly to dinner there”, the other replied and both of them laughed to bury the unease caused by that piece of news deep inside. “Hey Knight”, Fallers’ voice rang out and moments later, he sat down beside him. “Haven’t seen your cousin around here in a while.” “He’s the straggling sort”, Knight gave back after a sip of beer. “Said he had work to do, but what kind of work...” He shrugged. “I’d rather not know.” Fallers gave him a good natured grin. “Oh well, I guess every family has one, ey?” The unhappy grin Knight managed at that was the most appropriate answer he could give, and Sgt Fallers mercifully changed the subject after that.
Yet another week later Major Knight was due for leave. A few weeks past, he had eagerly looked forward to taking a few days off and spend some money on the Strip, and for a short time, had even entertained the thought of running into Leo again. Now, however Knight was sure that wherever Leo was, he wouldn’t be running around on the Strip, and he didn’t really fancy going anymore.
He tried to postpone the leave, telling his OIC that there was so much to do, but he just laughed and told him he’d been so dutiful and diligent and besides, had been postponed two times already. “Off you go”, he’d said, “And don’t you come back before Sunday, unless we let out an emergency call back.”
A dozen men and women from the Outpost made their way towards Vegas and the Strip the next morning, talking and laughing, telling each other how much money they’d make, how drunk they’d get and how many whores they’d bang until Knight felt sick from effort of not trying to listen to them. Faced with a whole weekend without work he realised he had been so immersed in what he did at the Outpost during the last months that he didn’t really know what to do with himself anymore when he wasn’t on duty. But if he was being honest, the thought of picking up a companions or two for a couple of nights, get drunk and gamble a bit of his heard earned wages away had lost its attraction the moment Leo had told him with a wink that maybe they’d catch up on the Strip one fine day.
After entering the Strip he fell a little back when the others began to surround a few of the dancing whores with jeers and wolf-whistles. Wondering if they were occupied enough for him to slip unnoticed out of the gate again towards Freeside to see if he couldn’t find his old friend Ben he took a few steps back, idly lighting a cigarette. He and Old Ben had made out a few times together before; he was a considerate, gentle lover and while he gave him no illusions that there was anything more going on between them he didn’t treat Knight like a slab of meat either, and he guessed it was all he could ask for. Beggars, after all, can’t be choosers.
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timeasmymeasure
My Knight in shiny Armour 3b/??
Date: 2011-11-07 02:49 pm (UTC)“Can’t believe that thing about the White Gloves, I honestly don’t”, he heard one soldier say to another in the bar one night. “I mean... okay, weirdoes, the lot of them what with their masks and all that but... cannibals?”
“I’m suddenly kinda glad I never had the bucks to take Milly to dinner there”, the other replied and both of them laughed to bury the unease caused by that piece of news deep inside.
“Hey Knight”, Fallers’ voice rang out and moments later, he sat down beside him. “Haven’t seen your cousin around here in a while.”
“He’s the straggling sort”, Knight gave back after a sip of beer. “Said he had work to do, but what kind of work...” He shrugged. “I’d rather not know.”
Fallers gave him a good natured grin. “Oh well, I guess every family has one, ey?”
The unhappy grin Knight managed at that was the most appropriate answer he could give, and Sgt Fallers mercifully changed the subject after that.
Yet another week later Major Knight was due for leave. A few weeks past, he had eagerly looked forward to taking a few days off and spend some money on the Strip, and for a short time, had even entertained the thought of running into Leo again. Now, however Knight was sure that wherever Leo was, he wouldn’t be running around on the Strip, and he didn’t really fancy going anymore.
He tried to postpone the leave, telling his OIC that there was so much to do, but he just laughed and told him he’d been so dutiful and diligent and besides, had been postponed two times already.
“Off you go”, he’d said, “And don’t you come back before Sunday, unless we let out an emergency call back.”
A dozen men and women from the Outpost made their way towards Vegas and the Strip the next morning, talking and laughing, telling each other how much money they’d make, how drunk they’d get and how many whores they’d bang until Knight felt sick from effort of not trying to listen to them.
Faced with a whole weekend without work he realised he had been so immersed in what he did at the Outpost during the last months that he didn’t really know what to do with himself anymore when he wasn’t on duty. But if he was being honest, the thought of picking up a companions or two for a couple of nights, get drunk and gamble a bit of his heard earned wages away had lost its attraction the moment Leo had told him with a wink that maybe they’d catch up on the Strip one fine day.
After entering the Strip he fell a little back when the others began to surround a few of the dancing whores with jeers and wolf-whistles. Wondering if they were occupied enough for him to slip unnoticed out of the gate again towards Freeside to see if he couldn’t find his old friend Ben he took a few steps back, idly lighting a cigarette. He and Old Ben had made out a few times together before; he was a considerate, gentle lover and while he gave him no illusions that there was anything more going on between them he didn’t treat Knight like a slab of meat either, and he guessed it was all he could ask for. Beggars, after all, can’t be choosers.