By Any Means Necessary

Aimee Paddock | 27 | Bandit

[teddycarlisle]

[mutters under his breath, waves his bracelet above hers to transfer some credits]

A few more creds and we’re even on that car. [smirk]

[aimee-paddock]

You keep challenging me and those credits aren't going to count. Extra work deserves extra pay.

[teddycarlisle]

[pauses and stares] Pft…I coulda’ done that. [he bites into the apple he held onto]

[aimee-paddock]

I'm sure.

Pay up, bucko.

[teddycarlisle]

Think fast!

[aimee-paddock]

Ah — HA!

[catches all four balls in her hands, pausing with a smirk on her face] Told ya I could do it, didn't I?

[roderick-nott]

Look, I’ve got no time to waste so if you’re going to jerk me around I’ll find someone else who can get me a way in with or without blueprints. And it probably isn’t as steep as what I made the trek to get for you.

So cough it up and I’ll hand you my end of the bargain, or leave.

[aimee-paddock]

Toodles, cowboy. 

[stands up and finishes her drink before walking towards the door]

[roderick-nott]

Then why didn’t you? 

I’ll answer that— because you know as well as I do that the prize I’ve got is worth more than the rest could top. So if I were you I’d go along with how we’ve always done it.

[aimee-paddock]

Or maybe I thought I'd give you a chance that you are quickly losing.

[shifts herself to almost stand up, putting her messenger bag strap over her shoulder] I didn't risk my life to get jerked around, Nott.

[roderick-nott]

You know how this goes, Paddock.

Come on, show me what you got and I’ll produce what I’ve got. Our trades haven’t deviated and they won’t start now.

[aimee-paddock]

Ah, difference here is what you want I could sell to any number of people. So maybe you should show before I get up and leave and dump this beauty off on someone else.

I think we could all stand to shake things up a bit.

[roderick-nott]

It’s possible.

And hey, I’ve got a good record with being suave with women.

[aimee-paddock]

Your record is failing because this foreplay is boring me.

Show me whatcha got, big boy.

[tonywittick]

Fieldwork || Aimee & Tony

[tonywittick]

The gears in Tony’s own head began turning at the idea once Aimee proposed it.  News buildings would be perfect; bringing him there would be like taking a kid who’d just gotten his allowance to a candy store. The length of time he would be gone was the only potential issue. The other Carnies would be likely to ask questions about what he’d been doing once he got back.  Still, he knew how to lie in order to deflect their questions, and most people generally knew how to mind their own business. So the benefits were vastly outweighing any possible drawbacks.

“News buildings, huh? That sounds perfect.” He pauses, rocking on his heels a bit as a large grin appears on his face.  In the end, this was what he came for. He’d spend whatever time necessary to carry it out. “Eh, what the hell, I’ve got plenty of time. Lead the way, captain.”

Slightly contradicting his words, he walks a little further in, feeling the opportunity awaiting him now more than ever. He was half-tempted to just head in right now and check everything out. Of course, he refrains, but god, there was something waiting in there, he could feel it. Hopefully his excitement was well-founded and it was something good.

[aimee-paddock]

Aimee nodded in response to Tony's eagerness. She let him get ahead, still trying to figure out the best way to work through the city. It wasn't safe, structurally or socially, to just wander in. She'd planned on stopping in the neighborhood for the night to collect themselves before heading inside, but now it almost seemed like it'd be better to risk the ruins at night and get to the building by dawn the next day than stop. Aimee stopped near a highway sign that had been tagged and damaged over the years and wars. 

"Let's take this way in and then we can split off at the right exit. I've got a map in my backpack we can use if we need, but we should just try to stay quiet, keep our heads down and move fast. It'll be a long run, but I think that's the safest way." Aimee pressed her lips together in a hard line as they continued forward. The news building she had in mind had a couple offices around that could possibly help her satisfy a few of her client's needs. 

"Easy there, Skipper. I don't think I've ever seen you this excited," she joked, a small grin pulling at the corner of her mouth. Even if she kept people at arms length, she still was curious and friendly.

[roderick-nott]

Would’ve tried harder if I was hittin’ on you, Paddock.

Got something for me?

[aimee-paddock]

You just like pretending you can try harder than that.

I dunno, do you have something for me?

[aimee-paddock]

Wait, what?

If you're trying to hit on me, you're failing miserably.

[tonywittick]

Fieldwork || Aimee & Tony

[tonywittick]

Tony shrugged, slowing his pace a bit to let Aimee catch up to him. “I couldn’t really get specific before. Wouldn’t want too much to let slip if the message got intercepted, right?”  There wasn’t really much merit in keeping his motives obscure now that she was here. If Aimee were going to help him, after all, she’d need to know exactly what to look for. Besides, what good would lying do him here?

“Basically I’m looking for something that can tell me what happened here,” he states, stopping and turning on his heel to look around at the scenery more closely. “I mean, the lousy government system didn’t spring up overnight. They’re hiding the full story, and it’s my business to find that out.” A spark of eagerness in his eyes, he looks at Aimee. “So you know how to find traces of the people who lived here, right? Anything that might have evidence to how this place became a wasteland will work, really. Old official looking files, abandoned journals, cryptic messages on the wall saying ‘Here’s what happened in case any lovely young scavengers happen to read this…’ Well, you get the picture.” 

[aimee-paddock]

Aimee listened, a small smile creeping on her lips as Tony kept talking. "So you'd be fine raiding any old place and getting some personal stuff you can find?" She pursed her lips and thought, closing one eye and looking up at the sky. "There's a couple of specific places I can think of. If we can find a 'burb area that isn't completely taken over by a group that's a start." The stretch ahead of them was all houses and businesses — the skyscraper city line peeked over the houses in the distance. Aimee didn't need to go all the way into what was left of New York, but she could. And with Tony with her, it may be even safer. "If you're willing to spend a few more days out here, we could go check out some of the old news buildings."

She let the offer hang in the air while she started processing the best way to even attempt such a thing. The city was falling to pieces and it was more dangerous than some of the others given its proximity to New Hope. More wanderers, more nomad groups and more New Eastern Front patrols. Though that was the case, she was guessing news organizations didn't rank high on the priority lists of scavengers. Asking through some of the more friendly nomad communities she knew, cash in a few favors here or there — It just might be doable.

[seth-sparks]

Right, right… [scratches slightly at the light scruff of facial hair beginning to crop up on his cheeks]

[frowns as he considers this] I mean… [groans a little and scrubs his hands down over his face] Fuck. Yeah, I can’t do that. [shakes his head and sighs a bit] Alright, what’re we talking about as far as cost? [gives her a look] Good thing is I can easily enough borrow a vehicle and then I can test my theory on how well you fit into an automotive trunk.

[aimee-paddock]

Cute. Really cute. I can fit into a normal car trunk. If you can fit into a tiny electric car to drive it, that trunk would be a challenge.

Four thousand credits, you adorable, moral sasquatch you. 

[seth-sparks]

[stares blankly at her for a few seconds before responding] Yeah, that’s exactly what I had in mind. How’d you know all this time I’ve been just secretly dying to try out my acting skills? It’s like you’re a goddamn mind-reader or something.

[chuckles a little in spite of himself and then focuses back on what she’s saying] Precisely. Already checked a few out around here and there’s nothing that’ll work for the location I need it. [considers her question and shrugs a little] Not kosher at all so long as it gets me what I’m looking for. You have something or someone with such an item in mind?

[aimee-paddock]

To be honest, anyone in the Outlands has something like that. Finding one the size you want would just be a matter of shopping.

The catch is that to get it for you, I'll be leaving some family without heat. It's no skin off my back, but if you want something with morals and less chance of a body count, I'll have to hit up a ruined city. That trip will cost you. And I might drag your ass with me so I can test my theory of finding a door you can't fit through.

[seth-sparks]

You’re so thoughtful. Looking out for me like that. [rolls his eyes and refrains from chuckling…a little]

[nods] Ribcage’ll usually do the trick to change a stubborn mind. [rolls his eyes once again - this time a little more obnoxiously] For fuck’s sake. Yes, I’m suggesting you take a babysitter with you. [shakes his head and releases a huff of breath] Jesus Christ. The shit you come up with sometimes. [shakes his head] Look, I need a space heater. Can’t be electric. Gotta run on some sort of fuel. Need’s to be fairly big in size. That was a quiet way of me offering to go with you if you think you can find me one. I’ll pay tops for it so long as we can get one in damn good condition. I need it for my sist— [clears his throat a little to cover up his words] I need it for someone.

[aimee-paddock]

[snorts] Oh — Yeah! You should go with me and we can recreate the scene from those fantasy Lord of the Rings movies. You be the tree guy and I can be the hobbit person riding along on your shoulders. Really inconspicuous. I dig it.

[sighs, looking up as she thinks] Riiiight, and you need me because anything in city will be electric. How kosher do you wanna be about obtaining this for your someone?

[seth-sparks]

[raises his eyebrows and a little and then rolls his eyes] Again with the mental capacity jokes? [shakes his head and gives a slight snort of a laugh] You know, Aimee - I can always count on you keeping my ego in check. I appreciate it. Really. [shakes his head again]

Oh? [frowns just a little and reaches for the package] What the hell happened? You have to slit someone’s throat for it? [studies Aimee a second and raises an eyebrow] You need someone to accompany you next time you go out for me, Shortstack?

[aimee-paddock]

You're welcome. You get a big head and the height, people will start to think you're overcompensating for something. 

Nah, not throats. I wouldn't want to stretch and damage my delicate frame. Just a nice knife between the ribs in the right place does the trick. Just had to off a few to get out in one piece. [raises her eyebrows in return] What, like a babysitter? I think I can handle your errands and not have to split the payoff.

[tonywittick]

Fieldwork || Aimee & Tony

God, this place couldn’t be worse for wear. No wonder only the most desperate people hung around here. Well, those and the people looking for something. At the moment, Tony falls under the latter category.  He wants to learn exactly what brought about the government’s plans, to tap into the secrets they seem so bent on keeping from the general public. Where better to go than one of the sites of the old world’s ruin?

 Of course, Tony’s not foolish enough to go in there completely alone. Although he didn’t really want to get any of the other Carnies involved in this one; Who knows how some of them might react to him snooping around? Luckily, Tony knew someone who was skilled in scavenging around. It had been a few years since they saw each other, and he hadn’t been entirely sure she even knew he was still alive, but those were minor details. When he sent out a message to her indicating he needed help scoping the city ruins, she seemed to be willing. He figured she would be. If he knew anything about Aimee, it was that she wouldn’t pass a chance to profit.

“Well, here we are.”  He looks at the area, doing his best to try and scope out where best to look, even if Aimee would be better at figuring that out. “God, there’s a reason this is the old city…even the slums are better than this.” Giving a small chuckle, he takes a step towards the broken-down remains. “Will give it one thing though, it’s a lot less crowded. So, where to start?”

[aimee-paddock]

Hearing from Tony had been a surprise, and Aimee wasn't completely sure whether it was good or bad. They'd gotten along well enough when they'd met years ago, but it was more due to the fact that that together they had eachother's backs and apart they could easily get the other. A solid sense of self-preservation kept them cautious friends. Either way, Tony had wanted to go to one of the older cities in the New Eastern Front, and Aimee didn't mind having extra manpower to get a couple things she hadn't attempted to get by herself.

"Yeah." Tony was already out and wandering around while Aimee turned off the jeep and hopped out. She partway climbed into the backseat to grab her duffle bag and sling it over her shoulder. A quick press of the button and the vehicle honked back to tell her it was locked. "The slums are better, but just because it looks abandoned definitely doesn't mean it is." Aimee laughed to herself, remembering her first time making that mistake. It was the only time it happened since. 

She set off walking, hoping to keep up with Tony despite their height difference. "That depends. What exactly are you coming out here looking for again? You weren't super specific when we first started this whole thing. The only reason you got away with that is I know you."

[aimee-paddock]

That's fascinating, but you didn't answer my original question.

Who told you to come here and what do you think you're getting by showing up at my doorstep?