damagedlittleprototype-blog

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

             "Even if I owned or had any need for a house, I don't see                              what good putting one up for ante would do in a game of cards..."

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

"That's good, then. Lucky though, that I found you, if you don't rarely wander by yourself,who knows what could have become of you." she declared. 

Eliza was surprised by the lack of trouble down this far, though. After the harmless mole rat, and the coyote off in the distance, all she seemed to see were Bighorners. 

"Though, so be honest, if you hadn't gotten so stuck, you probably would have been fine." She sighed. "It was never this uneventful in DC."

She hummed mechanically, picking up her pace to bring up the rear again. She had slowed down a pace to marvel at the red mountains. She did have a strange curiosity, an urge to visit them, but it was mostly due to how off limits they seemed. 

Maybe when she was alone again she would visit if she were down this way again. 

"Do you have to deal with raiders a lot? I wager that as a single trader, all alone, you’d run into quite the amount of trouble." she asked, wondering how she had made it this far on her own. Unless she was an exceptionally skilled marksman, or a very fast runner, it didn’t seem so probable.

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

   One thing Eliza liked about the Mojave was that everything was bright. Back at The institute, or really anywhere north, everything was grey. There was green sometimes, sure, but it was sparse, and dappled with more greys. It was like nothing was alive, or had much promise of becoming so. 

Here though, browns and reds and oranges laced the dirt, speckled the dry grasses, dusted the skylines. Eliza was finding more and more that she could admire small, beautiful things, and at the very least save the images in her data banks, should she ever need them. 

  Everything here was also very rustic. The Commonwealth, The Institute and DC were all tall spires and shining obelisks of buildings. The glint from the sun reflecting off some of the buildings that still stood was enough to blind just about anyone. 

Here the brightest thing was the Vegas strip. From miles away it was a giant homing beacon for any wayfarer who had enough caps to get in.

And before that any wayfarer who could find their way into Freeside. It was mapped into her navigational systems, but for the life of her, she could not find a door inside. She had been wandering the perimeter for what seemed like hours, and still no luck. 

It was getting to the point where she was on the lookout for anyone who might help her after getting a laugh out of a bot with a friend navigational system. ...

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

"--What is that thing you're wearing?"

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

Eliza snorted, no, for certain it wasn't all that hard to find. A huge place such as this. And it was obvious looking around that people before them had already wiped the place clean. 

She heaved a sigh and moved forward, her eyes focused on a wall in the back, illuminated by lantern light. Probably hers. But it was a good place to sit. It allowed a decent vantage point as well, and a clear shot for the door should you need to either run or start shooting. 

"You can relax, I already told you I wasn't here to harm you. I've disabled my firearms anyway--not that they'd do any good in my current state anyway." She admitted,though, not to her own benefit. It didn't matter how cozy one was to a person, it was a bad idea to reveal your weakness to someone who might kill you. 

She didn't count on that happening though, not tonight at least. 

Open starter

  "Please..you can stay if you wish, it is no issue with me." She assured her. "Besides, it is my understanding that two individuals who don’t want to kill each other is better than one individual, uncertain if anyone is going to come in and kill them." She shrugged, turning her attention from the girl, to the walls. She was looking both for items to scav or salvage, as well as electrical sockets or circuit boards. Anything to show this place had power. But, like most things, there was nothing unless you had a generator with you. 

She may have seen a few stimpaks, but those were utterly useless to her. If this woman didn’t take them first, she’d scoop them up in the morning. Good for trade, anyway. 

"Where are you from, then? How’d you find this place?"

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

She hummed mechanically, picking up her pace to bring up the rear again. She had slowed down a pace to marvel at the red mountains. She did have a strange curiosity, an urge to visit them, but it was mostly due to how off limits they seemed. 

Maybe when she was alone again she would visit if she were down this way again. 

"Do you have to deal with raiders a lot? I wager that as a single trader, all alone, you'd run into quite the amount of trouble." she asked, wondering how she had made it this far on her own. Unless she was an exceptionally skilled marksman, or a very fast runner, it didn't seem so probable.

Yes,  cute. Soledad was always partial to those giant rodents for some reason. They were funny and they large sniffling noses…

She looked over towards the red canyons with one hand shielding the sun from her eyes. She squinted at them, her travels never really took her those red mountains.

"Nu-uh, not really. None of my routes really need me to go there. Why?" she looked at the peaks with a look of concern. "I’ve been at the base, there’s usually hunters round those parts that trade skins."

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

--so, my computer fried. 

Not quite sure whats wrong with it, or when I can take it up to get fixed, 

but consider this a hiatus, yeah?

I'll try and get on when I can, to reply to whatever I owe, but i won't be on terribly much for a bit

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

She nodded, understanding his course of action entirely. Most of her passage through the Capital Wasteland was bought through trade caravans and the protection they mutually offered each other. 

Not many of them liked to travel this far south though. Seemed the more chance there was of a challenge around, the scarcer they became. 

"I know a way..." She offered. Did she? She had heard of several evasive paths before, but she also had previous dealings with super mutants, and while highly unintelligent a lot they were, their sensory capabilities were remarkable. 

"I could show you, I was headed down there anyway, and besides--" she paused, giving herself time to check her references briefly. 

"I believe humans often have a saying about safety in numbers?" She fumbled, not quite recalling what the quote was.

Something about travelling in groups being beneficial....  

       ”I had feared as much. Thank you.” He had found that directions given by humans tended to be woefully imprecise, and was once again thankful for well-calibrated spatial awareness. “I do not know for certain, yet. I hope to be permitted to salvage the vessel’s lower decks for technology I would be unable to find elsewhere, but there is no guarantee it will be functional.” But far be it from him to miss an opportunity to find and stockpile rare parts - having them around was as sensible for him as carrying stimpaks was for a human.

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

"Please..you can stay if you wish, it is no issue with me." She assured her. "Besides, it is my understanding that two individuals who don't want to kill each other is better than one individual, uncertain if anyone is going to come in and kill them." She shrugged, turning her attention from the girl, to the walls. She was looking both for items to scav or salvage, as well as electrical sockets or circuit boards. Anything to show this place had power. But, like most things, there was nothing unless you had a generator with you. 

She may have seen a few stimpaks, but those were utterly useless to her. If this woman didn't take them first, she'd scoop them up in the morning. Good for trade, anyway. 

"Where are you from, then? How'd you find this place?"

Open starter

  Once, Eliza had seen a dog that had been left behind in a burnt out city. It’s owners probably perished with the town, and the dog was left alone. It sat in the corner, shaking tremendously, and snarled and snapped at anyone who tried to get close. 

Eliza spent nearly a day trying to get the dog some food, but couldn’t get close enough, so eventually she just threw a brahmin steak at it, and sat across the road with some water. The dog devoured the food, and traipsed right on over to Eli, tail wagging, for the water. 

This girl reminded Eli a lot of that dog. Put on a good show of being tough, but really, she was just scared and not very trusting of strangers. Not that she knew anything about this girl outside the waver in her voice and her instinct to keep her guard up. 

It was a good instinct, at least.

"I need a place to recharge…" she began. "To rest…I need sleep, and this place looked empty." She admitted. No sense in coating her words with fallacy. It was a simple truth and she wasn’t here for any nefarious means. 

"what are you doing here?" she countered, folding her arms across her chest, waiting for a response.

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

So he was on a salvage mission. Eliza had all but given up on those herself. Nothing she ever seemed to find meshed well with her circuitry or general build. And she could hardly do repairs on herself, for whatever reason. 

Still, parts would be useful to have on hand. 

"You're traveling alone?" She asked, standing up to approach the man.

"Then you must be aware of the super mutant camp just outside of the city, yes?" She asked, hoping this might entice him to ask her to tag along. She had never been to Rivet City. Her mission never took her down that way, though she supposed now she was without a direct order, there was no reason not to visit.

DAMAGEDLITTLEPROTOTYPE HAS BEEN REGISTERED

     ”Pardon me. Am I going in the correct direction if I wish to reach ‘Rivet City’?” He waited politely for a response from the young woman, taking note of but not commenting on her curious - and familiar - headgear. He had been told that sort of thing was rude.

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

"Rivet City? I'd hardly say so..." she began, studying the man who approached her carefully. He was a curious sort already...polite. That alone was enough to deem someone strange out here. 

"You're a bit too far west. What's in Rivet City?"

DAMAGEDLITTLEPROTOTYPE HAS BEEN REGISTERED

     ”Pardon me. Am I going in the correct direction if I wish to reach ‘Rivet City’?” He waited politely for a response from the young woman, taking note of but not commenting on her curious - and familiar - headgear. He had been told that sort of thing was rude.

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

Once, Eliza had seen a dog that had been left behind in a burnt out city. It's owners probably perished with the town, and the dog was left alone. It sat in the corner, shaking tremendously, and snarled and snapped at anyone who tried to get close. 

Eliza spent nearly a day trying to get the dog some food, but couldn't get close enough, so eventually she just threw a brahmin steak at it, and sat across the road with some water. The dog devoured the food, and traipsed right on over to Eli, tail wagging, for the water. 

This girl reminded Eli a lot of that dog. Put on a good show of being tough, but really, she was just scared and not very trusting of strangers. Not that she knew anything about this girl outside the waver in her voice and her instinct to keep her guard up. 

It was a good instinct, at least.

"I need a place to recharge..." she began. "To rest...I need sleep, and this place looked empty." She admitted. No sense in coating her words with fallacy. It was a simple truth and she wasn't here for any nefarious means. 

"what are you doing here?" she countered, folding her arms across her chest, waiting for a response.

Open starter

  Sighing, Eliza neglected to heed her warning and moved closer. She could tell instantly from the quiver in her voice that the girl wasn’t going to harm her. 

"I’m sure you would, but I’m not here to fight." She assured her, disengaging her own weapon, the red dot on the girls chest from her laser disappearing.

"I wasn’t aware this place was occupied. Better you than Raiders, though." She offered. Humans liked small talk, right? It made them feel at ease…or at least, Eliza had had previous luck with the concept. 

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

Sighing, Eliza neglected to heed her warning and moved closer. She could tell instantly from the quiver in her voice that the girl wasn't going to harm her. 

"I'm sure you would, but I'm not here to fight." She assured her, disengaging her own weapon, the red dot on the girls chest from her laser disappearing.

"I wasn't aware this place was occupied. Better you than Raiders, though." She offered. Humans liked small talk, right? It made them feel at ease...or at least, Eliza had had previous luck with the concept. 

Open starter

  ——Slowing to a halt as she entered, Eliza sighed and locked her target on the possible assailant. It was just a girl. A quick study would prove she was nervous. Her shaking hand was evidence enough, even though she was apparently trying her hardest to be stern. 

"You shoot, and I shoot." Eliza called, taking another step into the store. 

"I wasn’t planning on killing anyone today though, so I would suggest putting your gun down." She cautioned. Eliza was really in no mood, and she didn’t even know if she had the strength or fortitude right now to accurately shoot or kill anything. 

She was so tired. 

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

Eliza shrugged, her eyes still trained on the mountains. 

"Dunno. Just heard a lot about them, I suppose.  The mountains, and the people who...I believe own them? Or at least claim them as their own." She spoke, wondering what sort of group would want to live on such land. Dry, hot, no real vegetation to speak of...

but she supposed that would explain the lack of wildlife out here. Save for the mole rat they passed. 

"I suppose so…" she shrugged, not really able to grasp a clear concept of fear. It seemed strange to her to fear something that was so easily dismantled, but the image Soledad provided was a humorous one. She smiled just a little as Soledad giggled. 

It was a bit funny. 

The mole rat disappeared from sight, and a slight but much appreciated breeze picked up for a moment. 

"Cute?" She asked, facing her companion again. They were bald and wrinkly and irradiated. None of those things came close to the definition, but then, Eliza supposed peoples opinions differed on the subject. 

They were not cute though. 

Changing the subject, Eliza turned her gaze to the right, her eyes falling on the red mountain peaks in the distance. 

"You ever go up there?" She asked, nodding towards it. Though she was sure the answer was going to be ‘no’. 

[damagedlittleprototype-blog]

----Slowing to a halt as she entered, Eliza sighed and locked her target on the possible assailant. It was just a girl. A quick study would prove she was nervous. Her shaking hand was evidence enough, even though she was apparently trying her hardest to be stern. 

"You shoot, and I shoot." Eliza called, taking another step into the store. 

"I wasn't planning on killing anyone today though, so I would suggest putting your gun down." She cautioned. Eliza was really in no mood, and she didn't even know if she had the strength or fortitude right now to accurately shoot or kill anything. 

She was so tired. 

Open starter

    Larger than quite possibly any building she had heretofore seen in her travels, Eliza approached with caution. A place this big was bound to be swarming with something. Raiders, bugs, rats,wolves…who knew what was beyond those dirty, broken glass doors. The graffiti everywhere would suggest Raiders. But aside from that, there were no other telltale signs. No spoils of victory, no bodies hanging from lamp posts or tied up in cages. 

                                     She hated Raiders. 

     In fact, aside from the graffiti, which was outdated, and amateur at best, the place seemed untouched. Like no one even bothered with it in all this time. Hell, even the sign was still intact.

Whatever it was now, it once upon a time was a supermarket. Scanning the area before making a move, her sensors indicated nothing surrounding the perimeter. There was a family of coyotes over the hill, but they were no threat.

Moving closer, her thoughts swam with the untapped potential inside. She thought at least, there were some salvageable items, or even something good enough to sell. At best, it would be somewhere safe. Somewhere she could recharge for a few days. She knew she needed it, she hadn’t powered down in weeks and her aim was unsteady recently. 

She needed sleep. 

       The door creaked open, the metallic grinding noise echoing in the vacant aisles. A stale air hit her in the face, dry and cool, and above the echo of the door sliding closed behind her, a chamber of a gun sounded.

She wasn’t alone. 

So much for her nap.