Saoirse Cry

“I’m okay,” Jessica replied, although she did let out a groan as she walked. “It’s not that bad, it only grazed me. I can patch it up easily. It’s not the worst I’ve had.” It was difficult to say whether the worst injury she’d ever had was from fighting the Super Mutants in the Jefferson Memorial, from the Radiation Poisoning she’d received when switching on the Purifier, the time a Deathclaw chased her off a short cliff, or way back in the Vault, when a sixteen year old Jessica had gotten the shit beaten out of her by Butch and the rest of the Tunnel Snakes. The memory of that made her wince again, but not because of the injuries they’d given her. Because she remembered how her father had fixed her up, how furious and terrified he’d been when Officer Gomez had carried her into the Infirmary, how he’d promised he’d always be there to fix her.

Expect he wasn’t there anymore. It might have been ten years ago, but it never stopped hurting.

“Don’t worry about me, I can look after myself.”

And there it was, the number one lie that everyone told. ‘I’m Okay, I’m fine, Don’t worry about me, It’s not bad I promise.’ While in theory the bravado made one look ‘tough’ to Bonnie it made her lips curl in a slight worrisome frown. She couldn’t help but feel mildly responsible for that, even if it was a graze. The redhead stopped loading the rounds, copper coated slugs threaded between the gaps between her fingers. She stared at the other, curiously. Exactly who was this girl? She wasn’t a common gun-for-hire, no she was something far different. Asking would be rude, brash and probably anger her further.

“Fuck!” Jessica yelled as a bullet just snagged her calf, but the Raider who had fired it was soon dealt with. While she wasn’t about to admit it, she was grateful for the shots fired by the other woman, as it allowed her to focus on the Raiders that she could see, rather than worrying about ones that were hidden.

And, within merely a few minutes, the shooting had stopped, and the Raiders lay dead. Jessica paused for a moment. It had been ten years since she’d first been forced to kill someone, but she still felt bad every time she took a life. In all that time, there was only one death that she didn’t regret. She would never regret killing Colonel Autumn.

She took whatever ammo, food, and medical supplies were in the camp and stuffed them into her backpack, before walking back over to the woman. “Nice shooting,” she said, her voice slightly flat.

While the shooting itself was indeed short-lived in her opinion she was soon glad for the conclusion of the firefight. While she didn’t take a shot intentionally aimed at her, it still was far from a trivial task. “And alas, that’s all she wrote.” The redhead grumbled, scanning the area with her scope and taking note if there were any stragglers. 

Whilst the other looted, she still kept watch over the compound, rifle tucked into her shoulder tightly, finger bridged against the trigger guard to ensure that she didn’t accidentally discharge her rifle. Nestling her rifle on one of the few entrances, the Scotch-woman unlatched the magazine, counting the shaded points of the .308 bullets. Counting five in all she soon rocked the magazine back in place and continued her overwatch until the other had finished looting. 

Ellie felt a little taken aback. Was Bonnie shaming her for not having been born overseas? It wasn’t her fault… Still, the brunette shook the feeling off and shrugged. “Suppose so. I never learned to swim. The potomac was too radioactive to swim in. And vaults didn’t have enough water to spare,” She commented, remembering DC’s abysmal atmosphere. Her parents had considered it a new start, but her older brother had told he he’d rather live in the wastes of Brighton than be stuck there for the rest of his life. It’s probably why he packed up and left, never to be seen again, when he turned 18.

“A drink sounds great! You know a good place around here? I’m a newbie around these parts after all,” Ellie grinned, the freckles on her cheeks suddenly more visible. “How about I buy us a round and you buy the next, alright? I think I’ve got enough caps for a shot of whiskey or two…” She dug around in a satchel that hung around her waist, the tinkle of tin caps evident. “Yeah, should be enough. You guys use caps here right?”

“Aye that’s what I was gettin’ at as well. I never learned how to either. I sink better than I float.” Bonnie chuckled, not even recognizing how much of a bitch she may have sounded with her last comment. “But ey, that makes two lovely lasses who can’t swim, which we prolly shouldn’t in some o’ this damned water and not to mention diggin’ bouts in trash, trynna’ find scrap. Least... That’s what I was planning on doing and... well... looked like that’s what ye were doing.” She clasped her hands together for a moment and shifted in her spot. “But alas potato, potata. I’m assumin’ and makin’ an ass bout me self ain’t somthin’ I’m keen on doin.”

“Aye we head up a couple streets and hook ‘round towards Diamond City we could sit round and have a couple drinks there, lest ye’d like to trust some travelling merchant not to fill a bottle with Brahmin piss and call it beer.” 

Jessica, on the other hand, never put so much planning into her attacks. To be fair, they were usually provoked and occurred either in self defence, or in the defence of others. As this attack was, in fact; she was catching out a bunch of Raiders who had been terrorising a nearby settlement. Just because she wasn’t the Lone Wanderer anymore didn’t mean that Jessica had stopped trying to help when she could.

Slowly, she crouched down, moving closer to the Raider who was sat by the campfire. Two quick shots to his head had him down, and she turned to fire at the now alert Raiders.

Bonnie kept her rifle shouldered and despite the confidence of a suppressor on the end of her firearm, she didn’t want to alert the camp in any way, shape or form at least until the other wanted to make their presence known. Her finger grasped the would handle and finger curled around the trigger guard as she held the crosshair of her scope on the tip of the raider’s head. She was compensating for the bullet drop, minimal as it would be, but still enough to make a difference even at this range.

When the bullets started flying she began to take her shots, spaced out in one second intervals allowing her time to refocus, retrace her crosshair, realign and fire again. The first round that was for the raider’s head, deveated enough to hit him in the back of his neck, later coming out his throat. He’d drop instantly, then came the flurry of other shots that would be percise enough to do damage and suppress but lacking the immediate percision of a closed bolt proper sniper rifle.

Ellie’s grin only grew the more the redhead spoke. It was rare to see the brit smile like this, especially these days, but the reactions from the redhead were more than enough to cheer Ellie up. “You’ve got enough sass in you for the both of us!” Ellie chuckled, hooking her thumbs through the loops in her faded jeans. “I haven’t met someone like you in a long time. Feels nice.”

Ellie’s wardrobe mainly consisted of jeans and a tank top, paired with combat boots and a leather jacket. Which was exactly what she wore. Shrugging to shift the rifle hanging off her shoulder, Ellie took in the sight of the other. She certainly had the look of a mechanic going on; the jumpsuit, oil smudges and all. If she was a mechanic like she said she was, Ellie was damn sure she’d want to get on her good side.

“My parents came over just a few years before I was born. Guess I spent too much time around them as a kid cause I picked up the accent along the way,” Ellie shrugged again, her parents were dead now and it didn’t matter anymore. “Nice to meet you too Bonnie.”

“Mmh, Lots say that, believe it or not. Often times it’s too much for some these soft lads round’ these parts. Save... Raiders and the like who are often twice as likely to put a slug and then some in ye fore ye can even say. ‘Ohi, yer bout ay? How ye.’” It’s clear the redhead had her gripes about the land in general and in turn was voicing it, about as blunt as she could. Oddly enough, she felt much more comfortable around someone who shared a similar background.

Ellie laughed, forgetting her task of digging out the barrel and turning towards the redhead. She had a familiar accent, not an english one, but definitely from the UK. “Haha, shoulda paid more attention to your surroundings then!” Ellie couldn’t stop giggling, her hands on her stomach to keep from getting a stitch in her side. “S-sorry I didn’t mean to scare you!” She explained through a giggle. “I just heard you arguing with those guards back there and thought I’d chime in. They certainly sound like a bunch of fucking gits though.”

She hopped down from the junk pile and wandered over to the other, holding out her hand. “The name’s Ellie Langford. Used to be a Vertibird pilot back in DC. Crashed, lost most my memory, and made my way to the Mojave. Now I’m wandering about with not much to do but odd jobs for caps,” She introduced herself. She took a overly dramatic bow, her long dark ponytail flipping over her head where a pair of pilot’s goggles sat and into her face for a split moment before she stood up straight again.

“Didn’t think there’d be others from across the pond here. But I suppose Boston’s as good a place as any to meet someone from my side of the planet.”

“Well not like I have good reason to ignore them just this once hm?” Bonnie gave up a bemused look at the other’s giggling. Even if she did apologize, the woman was laughing at her and had she been in the fighting mood with some whiskey she might challenge her to a fight. Perhaps she did deserve it in her own way. “Aye least someone in the Commonwealth agrees that them fuck-wits be not only rubbish at their jobs bu-...” She trailed off and groaned. “ye know what, fuck m’ given them too much of my time.”

She tensed up as the other made her way to her and softened her expression up upon seeing the other’s features. In her mind she saw the woman as a damn beauty. Definitely looked better than any of the other lasses she came ‘ere with. Blinking, she shook the other’s hand, her own covered with smudges, bruises and cuts. Presumably due to machinery and tool mishaps. 

“That... “ The redhead blinked, soon walking up to the other and tilting her head to get a better look at the other’s face. With an almost worried expression she asked. “Have ye been takin’ chems? The fuck does that make any sense. It’d be nine in the evening not afternoon.”

"I'm not a betting man but this is a sure thing."

"My favorite place is the warm embrace of holding your hair back in a bathroom stall."

"I'm not trying to hurt you!"

"I guess that's how its gotta be."

"All that hate is gonna burn you up."

"It's such a mystery why you're here."

"I can't live without you."

"And you became as clear as cellophane."

"I don't think I can take the way you make me out to be."

"Our consciences are always so much heavier than our egos."

"I set my expectations high so nothing ever comes out right."

"Turn off the lights."

"Turn on the charm for me."

"I've got my heavy heart to hold me down."

"My head's in the clouds."

"How in God's name did I survive?"

"Make room!"

"We're taking over here."

"Cold and alone, it suits you well."

"Fate will play us out with a song of pure romance."

"Let's kill tonight!"

"Show them all you're not the ordinary type."

"Her words were swimming through his ears again."

"There's nothing wrong with just a taste of what you've paid for."

"You're guaranteed to run this town!"

"I'd pay to see you frown."

"Say what you mean!"

"Tell me I'm right."

"It's nine in the afternoon."

"Your eyes are the size of the moon!"

"What a beautiful wedding!"

"What a shame, the poor groom's bride is a whore."

"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"

"It's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality."

"Technically our marriage is saved."

"This calls for a toast!"

"Pour the champagne!"

"This is the beat of my heart."

"They haven’t seen the best of us yet!"

"If you love me let me go."

"These words are knives and often leave scars."

"Truth be told, I never was yours."

"Don’t try to sleep through the end of the world!"

"Bury me alive."

"I won’t give up without a fight!"

"You're really just climbing out the back door?"

"No one knows it's you, _____!"

"Found another victim!"

"Found another victim?"

"No one's gonna find you."

"You put a sour little flavor in my mouth."

"We're so lucky!"

"Back away from the water, babe, you might drown."

"The party isn't over tonight!"

"Where will you be waking up tomorrow morning?"

"I love them."

"5-4-3-2-1!"

"Oh, if you only knew what we've been up to..."

"Keep it secret!"

"Give it to me now."

"We're lost in a dream."

"Do it one more time!"

"Its where villains spend the weekend."

"We're swimming with the sharks until we drown."

"Ain't it so perfect."

"Our cynical minds will make it totally worth it."

"Would you change it if you could?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die."

"I've lost control and I don't want it back!"

"I'm going numb, I've been hijacked and it's a fucking drag."

"I taste you on my lips and I can't get rid of you."

"Damn your kiss and the awful things you do!"

"You're worse than nicotine!"

"It's better to burn than to fade away."

"It's better to leave than to be replaced."

"I'm losing to you, baby, I'm no match."

"Just one more hit and then we're through."

"You could never love me back."

"Your love's a fucking drag but I need it so bad."

"I don't wanna hear you've got a boy/girlfriend."

"Sometimes you're better off alone."

"f you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Never did I think that I would be caught in the way you got me." "You've gotta save your reputation."

"They're close to finding out about your girl/boyfriend!"

"Looks innocent enough, doesn't it?"

"Sometimes there are dangers involved that never meet the eye.

"No matter where you meet a stranger, be careful if they are too friendly."

"If you're gonna be the death of me, that's how I wanna go."

"I've never so adored you..."

"Don't let me do this to myself!"

"You never could control me."

"Well I never really thought that you'd come tonight."

"Give me one last kiss."

"We're far too young to die."

"Whether near or far, I am always yours."