My god since I lost my old blog I also lost the super short fic I wrote of Ria meeting @wasteland-wrecker 's OC Toby and Porter Gage at Nuka World!! So I’m reuploading it here :)
“Hey boss,” Gage called, dragging in a young woman by the scruff of her armored suit. “Found this little hellcat digging through our trash.”
Toby’s eyes flicked down to her wrists, which were bound in front of her. “Why’s she tied up?”
Gage turned his head to the side so he could see the scratch marks on his cheek. Toby sucked in a sharp breath — yikes. She bared her teeth in a gap-toothed grin that not only lacked any sort of remorse, but also promised violence should she get the chance again.
“Feisty,” he noted, one eyebrow raised. “Well, at least I’m glad you didn’t bring her here with a bullet in her head.”
Gage scoffed, rolling his eye. “Not that I didn’t want to, trust me. But I remember what you said, so...”
Toby gave him an appreciative look, one corner of his lips pulling up in an amused grin. Looking her over more closely, he recognized the faded blue and yellow of a vault suit, his interest renewed.
“I see you’re not just a run of the mill scavenger,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“And you’re not just a run of the mill raider, either.” She snorted, returning the favor of looking him over. “I’m more of a mercenary, the relic hunting kind.”
Toby and Gage shared a bemused look, unsure if she was joking or not. Her expression didn’t change, the silence drawing out awkwardly for another moment.
“Wait, what’s your name? Awful rude of me not to ask before,” Toby said.
“I was starting to wonder if this is how you treat every guest, or if I’m just special,” she said. “Name’s Ria. You?”
“Toby.” He nodded at his partner. “And that there is Gage.”
“Charmed,” she deadpanned, lifting her arms. “Now, can you please untie me? I promise I’ll play nice if you two will.”
“Fat fucking chanc—” Gage started to say at the same time that Toby stepped forward to undo the rope.
Gage grunted with annoyance as she rubbed her wrists, smiling victoriously. He shot Toby a murderous look, but the latter just shrugged, seeming a little sheepish. Ria pointedly cleared her throat.
“I don’t need to stay leashed, either,” she said, peering at Gage sideways.
He let her go, grumbling something about watching herself. She ignored him, though she was itching for another excuse to use her fists. She didn’t doubt it would come along eventually, especially with someone like him.
“So.” Toby cleared his throat. “I hate to break it to you, but I sincerely doubt there’s any, um, relics in our trash.”
She sighed as though having to explain herself was a great burden.
“I’m sure you know Sierra, right? Down in Nuka Town?”
Toby didn’t seem too sure at first, but Gage’s face lit up with recognition.
“Oh yeah, that collector maniac…” he said, grunting when Toby elbowed his side.
“That’s the one.” Ria snapped her fingers. “Anyway, we’ve worked together in the past and now she wants me to find some more stuff for her. You’d be surprised what that woman considers important.”
“One man’s trash is another woman’s treasure, I suppose?” Toby said, unsure.
“Hey, as long as I’m getting paid, I don’t question it. I’m sure even you can understand that, mister raider overboss.”
“Yeah, I can,” he chuckled, and Gage rolled his eye again at her flirtatious tone. “Actually, I might have something that could work.”
“It’s a water gun. May not seem like much on the outside, but I used it to defeat the previous overboss, so…”
She raised her eyebrows, mildly impressed, and gave him another once over. “Well, look at you, certified badass. How much do you want for it?”
“Er, well, that’s just the thing… I can’t remember where I put it, but if you can find it, it’s all yours.”
Ria’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You’d really part with it for free?”
He raised his hands placatingly. “Hey, If you really want to give me some caps, I’m not going to stop you.”
“We’ll see once I find it,” she said, nodding towards Gage. “Just make sure to keep your guard dog off my back. Can’t promise I’ll be as nice next time around.”
Gage sneered. “No promises from me, either.”
Toby let out a long sigh. “We’re all gonna play nice and that’s the end of that, you hear me?”
“Whatever you say, boss…”