by Lazy Kitsune » Thu Jan 12, 2023 7:13 pm
From what brief interaction with them you had, it seemed like Combs was more of the talker of the two, although it would be worth taking a moment to talk with them both. They came armed at least, the larger of the two carrying a mean, though simple looking shotgun, while Combs had a varmint rifle slung over his shoulder. They seemed to have split up to mingle with your group separately, giving you a chance to observe how they interacted with different members of your team and to try and talk to them individually.
You catch Curtis letting out a whistle as he approaches Decker, whose currently bent forward tinkering with her Gatling Laser. "Well, don't we have a beauty over 'ere." Curtis says as he walks up to her side, though the 'beauty' in question isn't remotely the kind you had grown to expect the men around here to be talking about. His eyes trace up and down the form of the Gatling Laser as Decker worked it over. Seeing the newcomer's appreciation for her weapon, the Paladin stood up straight and gave it an appreciative tap.
"Oh yeah," she says, smirking as she speaks. "This piece of equipment has kept myself and those close to me safe through a fair few firefights. The UB-FRIED 3000 Gatling Laser, the prewar model that made the H&K L30 redundant. Instead of wasting power on rotating the barrels, the barrels fire in rotating order, keeping it steady while allowing a more constant rate of fire - less of a worry of over heating then you would get by firing a laser through a single barrel over and over again. Got a longer effective range than most heavy ordinance. Light doesn't exactly have a drop like a bullet, after all." She speaks about the weapon with a surprising amount of admiration for your usually more stoic protector. Boys and their toys, you suppose.
"I ain't ever seen nothing quite like this..." Curtis says, before reaching out with a hand and looking towards Decker. "May I?"
Decker folds her arms over her chest and appraises Curtis before giving a cautious nod. "Sure, just be gentle. I've just got done fine tuning it."
A big grin spreads across Curtis's face and he runs his hand across the Gatling Laser's barrel, feeling the metal under his palm. "So this is the kind of fancy weaponry you Brotherhood types get to walk 'round with? And you carry this heavy thing? Stronger than you look."
Decker bristles a little at that comment, shifting her stance with discomfort as she sighs. "Used to be stronger. Now I can't hold it as steady as I used to. Not without my armour at least, but that's out of juice at the moment."
"Be a shame to leave this beauty out of action. 'Specially if we get in a firefight with those raiders looking to make a move on Arlington. Hey... I know its a big ask, but I don't suppose you'll let me take her for spin if we get into trouble. I'll make sure to return her as good as I got her once the fighting's done."
Decker huffs as she thinks his request over. "It isn't Brotherhood policy to let civilians walk around with our tech. Or any advanced tech for that matter. But... we are trying a new friendly face approach to these things. And you look like you might be strong enough to hold it properly... It'll be Newton's call, she's in charge. But I won't object if she doesn't."
Curtis grins like a kid on Christmas morning. "Thank you kindly, ma'am. Clifton Curtis." he holds out a hand for her to take.
"Paladin Jay Decker." she replied, taking his hand in a firm shake. "A pleasure."
Meanwhile Combs had gone over to kneel beside Cotton while she set up a small makeshift workstation for herself in the shade of Xiphos One. He titled his hat up as he looked over the various gadgets and pieces of scrap electronics she seemed to be sifting through, a quizzical look on his face. He looked back and forth between the mess and the Scribe's face, before he finally spoke.
"Awful young for a soldier, aren't you?" he asked.
His voice caused Cotton to jump, who seemed to snap out of some tech based trance she has put herself into as she worked. Gasping as her body settled down from the flight of fight instinct it had kicked off a moment earlier, she pressed her palm to her chest. "Gosh darn it, you really rattled me like a Gecko in a rad storm there, mister. Sorry, didn't notice you come over. I get a bit focused when it comes to my work, didn't mean to be rude or nothing. I just get into patterns of work easily, my mentors used to call it my Mr Handy mode. You'd think it be useful but it used to drive my ma mad, always having to clean up the loose wires and bits of scrap I left in my room from projects I'd start but never get round to finishing. Bit of a Bloatfly on a Bighorner ride when it comes to managing my personal projects, you understand?"
Combs chuckles and shakes his head. "I don't think I understand at all, miss, but I like the way you talk."
"Thank you!" Cotton replies, smiling before returning to her workstation. She pauses once more and looks back at Curtis. "Oh, wait, you asked me a question didn't you? I'm sorry, my brains all-"
"Its okay." Combs says, holding out his hand. "Just thought you were a bit young to be a soldier, is all."
"Oh, well, Brotherhood starts its training much, much younger than I am, but I'm not really a soldier anyway. I'm a Scribe. My jobs more... tech, research... wires and electronics and stuff. The others are the real fighters, I just make sure their gear is still working properly when they're all done."
"Ah, so you're the brains of the operation then?" he asks. "Impressive."
"Oh, no, no, no. Goodness, no." she says, blushing and letting her head sink in between her shoulders. "Goodness, no. I'd get the operation lost somewhere up north, without a map and probably all in our underwear, given a day in charge. I mostly just fiddle with techy things. Try and give answers to what Newton asks me and see if I can come up with a gadget or keep someone's gear in working order."
"Still impressive all the same for someone who only just looks old enough to have a shot at the Spit Bowl. Why don't you come round some time if your crew swing by Arlington again. I'm sure you'll wow us simple folk aplenty with your gadget know how. Brains as pretty as yours will have men lining up to buy you a drink."
Seems like Combs was quite the sweet talker, and it seemed to be working on Cotton given the bubbly giggle she gave in response. There was room in either conversation for you to interject yourself, and it was probably good to swing by to both at one point or another, it was just a matter of deciding who you wanted to check in with first.
~Yawn
