Fandom Fallout New Vegas: East of the Sun, West of the Moon [Closed]

Samuel was surprised that the hostage situation was able to be settled without bloodshed and it made him think, Boone was right about her not being able to make it in the NCR and that sorta worried him. If people like her couldn’t make it and they can find peaceful solutions then what did the NCR stand for?

Bloodshed? Was true peace fought with nukes or words?

The discomfort with such an idea made his brows furrowed as the Followers started seeming a little better in comparison — but did they know when violence was the right answer? Was violence an answer at all to them? It was a predicament. He hated it, he hated this; stuck between a personal war and a real one.

Could he abandon his boys? Could he make peace in his own way? Would his men follow him into that dreamy idea of peace?

Sam snaps back to reality as they cross the Strip and Boone spoke of the Kings. “Those Elvis impersonators? Really? Seen it around here them folks are trouble.”

Boone knew the Kings from his time at the NCR, and the idea of them being trouble sounded far fetched. He didn't hide his scoff, just said, “Seems like they just want to protect natives of Freeside.” He and Aelia had been bothered by a few down on their luck individuals while they waited for their passports, but one of the Kings had cleared it up quickly and apologized for it.

Seemed there was a resource issue.

They hadn't had time to investigate it.

“Something about resource issues. Couldn't tell you what,” he hadn't gotten into it. “They stealing from the NCR?”

That could be why Samuel thought they were dangerous, as they passed the Lucky 38, and kept on towards the Tops, with it's ridiculously colored sign. Boone had no idea what ‘theme’ it was meant to represent, even back in the day, and had less of an idea now.

Probably because he wasn't from the past.

At least Gomorrah and Luxe were obvious.

Samuel was probably bias about the Kings due to hearing from other soldiers that there’s been issues with them lately but maybe they weren’t trouble and this was a misunderstanding. He could probably look into it after this, maybe help clear tensions with the Kings.

He looks up at the Tops sign once they get to it past the Lucky 38, his eyes focused on the strange sign. He kinda shares similar thoughts with Boone wonder why the hell it was designed that way — maybe top hats? Tops, top hats? Was once a more glamorous place? Who the hell knows.

Sam would approach the door and open it and hold it open for Boone; his parents might of taught him very little besides farm work but his mom was strict on manners still existing, he couldn’t abandon them!

Swank perks up at the door opening and seeing that familiar weird green/tan maybe brown? Who knows; it was NCR colors and that’s all that mainly mattered. The hell did the boys with the bear want? Probably just more gamblers, but maybe he was wrong on that.

Boone arched a brow when the door was held open for him. It was something he would have done for Carla, but not something he ever considered with another soldier, or, hells, even another woman. It was perceptible over his glasses, but he made no comment on it as the casino had to get anxious.

“Fellas! Welcome to the Tops,” a slimy grin spread over the lips of the greeter, “If you wouldn’t mind leaving your weapons here, you’ll find the Tops has all the amenities you could possibly want.”

“Just want one,” Boone said, but he took his rifle off his back and laid it down, before taking his combat knife and putting it on the desk. He knew how the casinos operated. “Looking for a woman. Red hair, scarred here,” he pointed to his forehead.

The man seemed to get a bit anxious at that, but laughed it off with, “Oh, her!” he said, “yeah, that cat came through not long ago, left not long ago, either.”

‘And this place isn’t throwing a fit?’

“Went up to see the Ben-man,” he said, “she yours, pal?”

Boone wrinkled his nose at the suggestion, “Where’d she go?” he ignored the question.

“Can’t say,” he shook his head.

Samuel noticed how far Boone’s brow raised after he held the door for him, was it really that uncommon? He kinda found it funny. Sammy guessed that manners were more of an old world thing werent they? He decides not to focus on it really as he walked in after Boone.

Hearing the greeter he sighed, damn casino rules. Samuel sets his shotgun, his knife… his pistol AND FINALLY his explosives on the front desk. He was basically a walking artillery. He let Boone speak first but when they were told that Aelia already came through — it left him surprised by the lack of chatter their was about her around.

“Truly? She’s already gone?” Sam asked just to be sure and clicked his tongue in slight annoyance.

The greeter shrugs, “Gone as quick as she came.” They state which made Samuel furrow his brows. “Is this “Ben-man” about?”

Samuel asked the greeter and they nod, “Yeah, just came back down. Why? You wanna speak with him too?” They asked which got Samuel to look at Boone.

He didn’t know if they’d need to, of course he didn’t know “Ben-man” was that rat bastard who shot just the woman they were looking for in the head. Or how he even survived that encounter with her. From what Sam has learned so far Aelia seemed the type for reason and maybe they came to an understanding. This was his guess.

Samuel had...a lot of interesting weapons. Boone took note of it, but wouldn't ask after any of it immediately. The explosives were the most obviously questionable, but Boone knew they could come in handy in plenty of situations. He just wasn't terribly versed in their use. As a sniper, he wasn't getting close enough to need them. Ever.

'Might want it now.' Seeing the 'Ben-Man' -- ridiculous nickname -- would be more fun with a grenade.

Boone knew he could pick him out of a crowd, and grunted an affirmative. He didn't trust this situation at all, or Benny being alive, for that matter. Aelia hadn't talked like she'd be leaving him alive. Then again, she hadn't talked like she'd actually try to reason with the Legion before, either. Boone didn't know everything. "Yeah. Think we will," he didn't bother to ask for Benny, or where he was, he just walked around the desk and into the casino, now that he was properly disarmed.

He wasn't stopped, of course. There was no real reason to stop him, or Samuel, for that matter, and it didn't take long for Boone to pick Benny out of the crowd.

He was the only one in such a gaudy suit, like a calling card, and Boone made a beeline straight towards him. "Hey!" he snapped aloud as he got close to draw the man's attention, ignoring the way guards hovered around Benny.

There Benny stood on the outer platform looking over the slot machines and tables in front of him, his eyes were focused on the bottle of whiskey he currently had in his hand; gotten it after the chat with Aelia. It was warm but he didn’t care as he needed the edge taken off him.

It was sharp, burned the throat: just what Benny needed. His mind a whirlwind of ideas after speaking to his little project also, he could possibly be a step closer to victory. He’s got the ace up his sleeve.

His thoughts, however rapid and racing, soon went to the back of his mind as he was snapped to reality at the snapping call. Benny turned his gaze upward to the voice to see Boone starting a quick approach with Samuel tagging along behind him.

“Whoa, whoa! Hold your horses there. Someone seems snippy.” Benny’s performative voice expressed as he whistled and his guards were at full attention as they looked at Boone and Samuel, just in case.

Samuel cleared his throat, “You who call Ben-man?” Samuel asked as he honestly never went in the Tops he heard names but didn’t see faces. Wasn’t really a gambler.

Benny couldn’t help but chuckle when the nickname was said. “Might be, cool cat, I might be. Who’s askin’? To what do I owe the pleasure of the NCR at my casino?” His act was dripping with sarcasm and a thick tone of snootiness towards them. His own disliking of the NCR influencing his tone.

Boone was not at all impressed with Benny’s demeanor. He glared behind his glasses, pausing only once he was close enough, and had the other man’s attention. Samuel cleared up the identity – or tried.

Boone didn’t really need him to, he was dead certain this was the one who shot Aelia.

He should be dead.

“Not NCR,” Boone said, “don’t have to follow their rules,” the words were laced with enough implication to be a threat, “looking for Aelia. We know you saw her. Don’t know why you’re still breathing,” Boone said. He was lucky, really, that Boone was willing to believe Aelia was still alive, and the doorman hadn’t lied to them. “Where did she go?”

He wasn’t really subtle.

Or tactful.

He was really hoping this bastard wasn’t going to try and play any games with them about her location.

Benny wasn’t too pleased by the threat, he’s already had his life threatened today he wasn’t about to play around. “Now, boy, don’t know what idea you got in that cap of yours but I’d suggest not playing with the hand you got.” Benny warns as he glared a bit back at Boone.

Samuel steps forward, “Listen, we’re just trying to find Aelia. We’ll be out of your hair in no time; we just need a place.” He tried to cool tensions but the glare stayed on Benny’s face.

“Oh really? Well even if I did know, why would I say anything? You boys ain’t been the most pleasant sort. I suggest you get out the casino, she ain’t here and this cat knows where not to stick his business.” Benny tried to dismiss them with a wave of his hand, he wasn’t looking for a fight but he wasn’t afraid to give them one.

Samuel lets out a long sigh and turned to look at Boone, “She walked out of the Lucky 38 once, you think she went back in?” He asked just to cover their tracks a bit on where she could have gone. A thought crept into Sam’s mind; ‘What if this creep killed her?’

Sam shakes off the thought as he really didn’t want to go down dark paths like that. Not good for the soul.

‘Boy?’ Boone straightened up under that insult, obviously bristling at being called a ‘boy’ by this man. Samuel stepped up to interject before things got too heated, though it amounted to nothing. Boone was more deeply concerned that the entire casino was lying to him and Aelia was actually dead, as Sam asked about the Lucky 38.

“Tch. Don’t see why she would unless she had her package.” The damn platinum chip, which Benny likely still had. Which—

“Boone?”

Boone whipped around to see Aelia in the casino. Relief flooded him, his body beginning to relax – before he remembered he was angry at her. Relief shifted to agitation, and he pointed at Samuel, “He wanted to talk to you. Samuel. NCR. There. Done.” Boone resumed his gruff indifference.

Aelia couldn’t hide the bit of hurt that touched her expression at the casual dismissal, before she let her eyes fix onto Samuel, and she sighed, “Look, I already got Crocker’s letter. I’ll see him when I have time.”

Boone snorted, suddenly surprised, and interested, “Crocker sent you a letter?”

Aelia gave Boone a hard side-eye, but nodded. “Apparently it isn’t just Caesar interested in me. Should I also ignore Crocker’s desire to talk?”

“That’s completely different!”

They were starting to turn heads, with Crocker and Caesar being dropped so easily into the conversation.

Samuel would listen to Boone’s answer before they were interrupted by a voice, he turned to look at the woman that he remembered seeing. Now confirming that was Aelia he gave her a smile and tipped his hat. “Howdy, ma’am. Names Samuel Wilson, Lieutenant of Riot Squad. I just had a few questions and I’ll be out of your hair.” He states his business and more of a proper introduction.

Samuel raised a brow when Crocker was mentioned; the Mark of Caesar and a letter from the Ambassador? This lady really was special!

“I’m not here to ask you to visit Crocker, I had no idea a letter was sent out. I was informed of something you have that could be of interest for the NCR to know; the Mark of Caesar.” Sam starts his explanation. “I’m not here to confiscate it before you worry, I just want to know who gave it to you and to possibly see it. Of course that is, if you’ll allow me.”

Samuel spoke respectfully even with the heads turning their way, he kept calm and kept a small respectful smile on his face. There was one man in a checkered suit however who was all too invested in Aelia’s return.

Benny shakes his head, “Now, as much as I enjoy watching you soldier boys do your work; this can be done another time right? Your attention is gonna worry people with such names, ya dig? Besides, she and I got business. You can wait can’t you?” Benny would give an almost impatient and smug look which made Samuel whip around and look at Benny.

“This will only take a minute, again, if she allows it.” Samuel stood firm on getting his chance to speak first.

Aelia appreciated Samuel’s more formal manner against the chaos of Benny and Boone right then. He got to the point of what he wanted, though Benny clearly thought he could monopolize her time. “You can wait, Benny,” she decided, “but I do agree, this is probably a conversation for outside the casino,” she said and stepped back, “is that all right with you?”

Boone shot a glance at Benny, definitely wanting to ask why that piece of work was still alive. He didn’t care if he got an answer in front of Benny or not, but he was probably going to get a more honest one away from Benny. “Fine by me,” Boone said, glancing at Samuel for confirmation, though doubting there’d be any argument.

Aelia was prepared to lead them outside, if Samuel was all right with it.

Benny could stay, or he could follow along. She’d already mentioned the Legion and NCR coming to court her, so none of this was likely a surprise to him. Somehow, she found it hard to imagine him leaving his casino, though.

Benny wasn’t about to leave the security of his men, not with the threatening tones he just got and especially after guns were given back. He already knew about everything so any conversation that needed to be had; he didn’t much care for besides his own needs.

“You take your time, pussy cat. Benny boy shall be here when you return.” He gave Aelia a wink and fake smile.

Samuel looked to Aelia and tipped his hat to her, “Thank you, ma’am. I won’t take up too much of your time I promise.” He swore as he decides to take the first move towards the outside as he was eager to get to this.

Sam had a lot on his mind, took much for a soldier. He had to think and not get himself in trouble with Aelia if he wanted information; play smart and be himself. That should get him what he needed. He was a trustworthy fellow but he understood if reservations were had about him knowing all this.

He just hoped things went smoothly.

Even Aelia had to wrinkle her nose at Benny Boy. How did he say that with a straight face? Well, she didn’t think of it long, leading the way out of the casino and stepping a bit aside from the entryway of the Tops.

“Why is he still alive?” Boone asked, but Aelia held up a placating hand. His questions could be dealt with later. He huffed, but nodded, looking towards Samuel.

Aelia took the golden mark out and offered it to Samuel so he could get a good look at it, “This is what the legionnaire gave me,” she said, “I’ve…seen him before but I don’t know who he is,” Aelia said, “other than a frumentarii. He said this would grant me safe passage through Legion territory, so that I could visit Caesar.”

“Trap.”

Aelia ignored Boone.

“It’s a risk I have to take,” she said to Samuel, rather than Boone.

Once just outside the Tops and off to the side Samuel takes the Legion Mark and held it in his hand, he felt the weight of it, sized it up for memory. He took in every little detail just to make sure he didn’t lose a single thing about it; information like this was precious since he couldn’t bring it in. Sam wasn’t about to attempt confiscation,

Not with the thought he had in mind.

“Not a trap.”

Samuel’s voice was steady and sure as he hands the Mark of Caesar to Aelia once again, “It’s a test. To see if you have the audacity to see him, I’m sure Caesar somehow knows you’ve been running around with NCR,” Sam gestured to Boone with his hand.

“Caesar maybe a ruthless man but even he knows how to exchange words, he’s a leader. An unkind, cold, calloused leader but still a leader. The Legion isn’t known for kindness toward women yet gave a woman their mark?” Samuel states as he pondered.

“I understand that your business isn’t technically my business, I don’t know you, but should you see Caesar… I wanna know how that goes. I’m not doing it outta curiosity, I’m doing it for information. Anything my people can use. Of course I hate the idea of you going as much as your friend but,” Sam paused; glancing at Boone then back at Aelia.

“Anything is useful during a time like this and when in hell would the NCR ever get an opportunity to have someone inside The Legion?”

Aelia took the mark back, and tucked it away in a pocket once more. Even if it wasn’t something as precious as it was, it was still, definitely, gold. People would kill for that. Samuel seemed invested in the outcome, which, Aelia supposed anyone in the NCR would be. “Going to see Crocker isn’t enough?”

Of course, she wasn’t sure she’d tell Crocker everything.

She’d barely told anyone everything. She rather regretted telling it all to Boone now that she knew he wasn’t going to support this venture. She sighed at his insistence that this was a good way for the NCR to get information.

She was hardly settled on supporting them. “If I find you again, I can tell you about it. Maybe you can keep Boone out of trouble,” but probably not. She knew what Boone wanted, and it was blood. “but don’t worry. I don’t plan to go alone.”

“Who are you bringing?”

“Benny.” Not that Benny knew it.

“The guy who shot you in the head?”

Aelia nodded.

Boone palmed his face.

Samuel realized he seemed rather insistent when he heard Aelia’s sigh and he cleared his throat, “Apologies, madam, I’m getting far ahead of myself. That’s your own choice on the matter.”

Sam corrected himself and tilted his head when he learned she wasn’t going alone, the words taken right out of his mouth by Boone who asked first. When he heard who it was his face dropped; the polite smile he had been carrying shifted to one of “are you fucking serious?”. A deadpan disbelief.

It then shifts to concern to try and pull back the obvious disapproval.

“Ma’am, I hope you do not take what I say as an insult to your intelligence and more so as a concerned man of order; but are you sure whatever doctor who put you together, put you together right? You ain’t just take a bullet to the dome and not have something missing I’m sure.” Samuel tried to sound gentle about it.

“I think you need a secondary check over by another more qualified individual.” Sam added as he could not believe what he was hearing.

“That man would stab you in the back this time; no, no he’d probably get someone else to do it and then wipe the blood on his suit to take credit for the kill. Men like him don’t do the dirty work.”

He knew deep down this was a bad idea, would he expect her to listen? From what he’s learned of her, absolutely not. But it’s worth a shot.

Aelia couldn't help but be amused by the crack in Samuel’s demeanor when he began to question her sanity. ‘I never said I trusted Benny.’ She didn't.

She did trust his dependence on her. If he showed up to the Legion without her, he'd likely be crucified. He needed her, for now.

Later? Who was to say. If she didn't go his way he'd likely kill her, but right now, no. She didn't think he would.

“I'd rather go with others, and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing another doctor, but I don't happen to know any, and Boone refuses to touch Legion territory with anything other than his gun,” he at least looked guilty, “so I don't have much choice,” Aelia shrugged. “I don't doubt that something's wrong with me. I know this isn't a sane decision, but I do have leverage on Benny.”

Boone scoffed.

“It won't hold, but it'll hold this far. I don't think Caesar will be kind to a stranger showing up with the Mark, do you?”

“No,” Boone didn't think he'd be kind anyways, but he shot a sidelong glance at Samuel, a part of him wondering if Samuel would consider the risk that Aelia was all but saying.

She was willing to take him along.

Samuel thought about it, walking straight into the Legion would be suicide for him. A suicide that might be worth the risk; if he should play his cards right.

“Benny isn’t trustworthy and you understand that, perhaps you need a body you can trust. Now you just met me, you don’t know me worth a mole rats ass now but Benny is one of ‘em types to say something stupid and then try to fuck his way outta it. Always them suit types.” Samuel expressed as he stood a bit straight and adjusted his coat.

“He’d try to fuck his way outta it and frankly, the Legion would make new holes outta him to fuck. If you’ll have me; I’d be happy to assist and not go out in a blaze of glory or glazed in glory-holes. A better back to lean on should you need it.”

Samuel’s more vulgar description of Benny’s charismatic potential mishaps was probablt unneeded but it made his point. Benny was just a dude in a suit and Samuel was a Lieutenant with a good enough track record to run an entire squad unit; in Sam’s eyes this was a no-brainer.

“If I need to I can drop the uniform, to make it easier on you, that’s only if you need it however.”

Boone looked almost scandalized by the language, and even Aelia showed some surprise at the blunt way that Samuel put it. Once the shock wore away, she laughed, shaking her head a bit at the assessment.

“Well he hasn't tried to fuck his way out of the problem I am but I'll keep that in mind,” at least he wasn't that stupid. Or she'd missed the pass. Either way.

“You can't be serious….” Boone grumbled, not about Benny.

“You'll never get a better shot at Caesar,” Aelia said, “if you're so sure he's unreasonable, Boone….”

Boone understood the offer. If he could just behave, he might get to put a bullet in Caesar. No, no might about it – he would. He knew Caesar was unreasonable.

He spoke through gritted teeth, “Fine.” His fists were similarly clenched at his side.

“Well then,” she smiled, “it's good to have you both aboard. I think we should let Benny know. What's going on there should become clear, as well. I'm not opposed to putting him down later if he turns out at bad as you say, but right now he's useful.”

“When did you become pragmatic?” Boone muttered.

Aelia pretended not to hear that.

Samuel started laughing a little also as he knew the way he put it was descriptive to say the least, he snorts and tried to tone down his laughter to continue their conversation. “Everyone has a reason, whether it be their own gain or madness; someone always has a reason for anything. Caesar will want his reason seen and fulfilled no matter what.”

Sam smiled once again and put his hands on his hips happily, “Well, Ms. Aelia, it’ll be a pleasure working with you. I need to tell my boys I’ll be gone off for awhile, can’t just disappear on them or they’ll be hunting us down till they storm the Legion themselves.”

He takes a step toward the doors, “I’ll get my weapons back then meet you all back outside the Tops. That work for you?” He looks back at Boone and Aelia to make sure that idea was fine with them.

Samuel would explain to his boys about what he’s doing yet he feared they might secretly follow them along if he did. Couldn’t have that, especially not his squad. They fight hard, fight even harder if it’s Legion. It’d be a death sentence to tell them why he’s leaving.

Caesar would indeed get his due.

It seemed Samuel didn't want to be around for the debrief with Benny, which Aelia didn't fault him for. She nodded, as Boone did, a bit more begrudgingly. He was less patient with all the questions still swimming in his head.

“We'll see you soon,” Aelia said before turning to return to the Tops. She and Boone wouldn't stop at the front like Samuel, but continue on to where Benny was left waiting for more.

“Okay,” she called up to him, “I'm ready to tell you about what was learned. Boone is coming with me. He's a part of the plan now.” she left no question as to that, “and trust me, when I'm done explaining, you'll want him around.” Possibly debatable.

Boone was still glaring behind his sunglasses.

“Should we head back up?” She assumed he still wouldn't want to talk out here.

Samuel would go in after Boone and Aelia to quickly speak with Swank and get his weapons and such back before he would exit the casino to go and round up his men to of course put someone else in charge; he had someone in mind already so no issue. He also had to inform them of his temporary departure. He of course would return but,

He didn’t know in what shape or when.

Benny was waiting with some patience but his nerves were making it run thin, he was anxious to set his plan into motion. Especially with how close he knew he could get, the idea of victory could be most satisfying; he needed to step on House’s balls and show him who he was messing with.

Benny snapped out of his ball stepping thoughts as he heard Aelia, “Ah, my sweet little song. Pussy cat it is good to see you returned. Not too sure about you bringing along that soldier boy toy but fine.” He held his hands up with a shrug.

“Who am I to judge who you swing with.” Benny states and noticed the larger framed soldier was gone, good, he hoped they got into an argument.

Less NCR the better.

“Let’s go doll, back up on top.” Benny would gesture as he leads them to the elevator while adjusting his suit. “Ya said we’re gonna need him, shit went that badly for ya?” Ben asked Aelia with a quirked brow.

Aelia could feel the judgment coming from Boone. His glasses couldn’t hide it, and she really couldn’t blame him. Benny just continued to feel so out of place, so bizarre, but she couldn’t quite place why. She’d been around enough people who talked weird, so it wasn’t just that, but that was a part of it.

“Boy toy?” she heard Boone mutter under his breath, not loud enough to carry.

Aelia just chuckled.

They followed Benny into the elevator this time, and when the doors shut and he asked his question, she shook her head, “Oh, no, House was delighted. Shit went that badly for you,” she said, and as the doors opened back up on the top floor, she said, “you’re coming with me to pay Caesar a visit if you want to keep playing this game.”

Which probably sounded like a threat, but as she stepped out, she took the mark out, and finally, put it around her neck. She was going to have to wear it when she stepped into Legion territory, may as well get used to its weight now. She still held the medallion out a bit towards Benny so he could see it, “Mr. House has a bunker there, and we need to go that way to increase the strength of the securitrons on the Strip.”

“We can’t do it from here?” Boone asked.

“No, apparently not. Mr. House separated the facilities. I guess he thought it’d be…easy enough to access after the bombs fell,” he wasn’t prepared for what befell him and left him unable to move about.