DoughboyJones
It Wandered In From the Wastes
Here's another one. I hope you like it. Read the post entitled "My first fanfiction ever' first or this one won't make much sense! My apologies to anyone who read the story before I edited this in.
"How much is that one?"
"What one?"
"That combat shotgun."
"8,000"
"8,000!? For a beat up old City Killer?
"Take it or leave it, Pal. I'm not here to haggle with cheap punks."
"I'll leave it"
The young man walked away from the table disgusted. Every gun trader in this bazaar seemed to be conspiring against him and his effort to find some halfway decent firepower. He wasn't sure what exactly he was gonna get for 3,000 caps, but it had to be better than the old 10mm Colt his grandfather had left him. He still couldn't believe he only got 250 caps for that.
The day was winding down and the merchants began packing up. The best deal the young fella could find was a sawed off double barrel for 500 caps. It seemed like a good buy until he observed the stamping on the barrel stating it was a 16 gauge. Like he'd EVER find shells for that. Screw it. Hands in pockets and head hanging a bit, he started to make his way out of the merchant district.
"Psst! C'mere kid" a deep voice called to him.
"Them merchants are expensive, aren't they?"
"Expensive ain't the word for it, I couldn't afford anything."
"So I noticed. What're you looking for?"
"A gun."
"I see, what didja have in mind?"
"What do you care?"
"Well, if'n you're interested I might have something right up your alley."
The stranger produced a pair of Desert Eagles from under his dusty cloak. The young mans eyes lit up.
"How much?"
"2,500"
"REALLY!? What's the catch?
"No catch, I just don't want 'em anymore. They bring back a lot of bad memories. That and I'd hate to see those merchants get ahold of 'em."
"Can I look 'em over?"
He took one is his right hand racked the slide to the hold open position and looked it over.
"Wow, .50 caliber! This'd ruin somebody's day."
"I've seen that gun blow a deathclaws head clean off"
"They're in such good shape, you know you could get a lot more for these."
He pressed the release button and let the slide slam forward with a forceful and satisfying 'Clack'.
"Only people who could afford to pay what they're worth probably wouldn't use them for any good purpose. What 'line of work' are you in?"
"I run with the caravans and I'm sick of being undergunned when we run into raiders."
"I'd hate to see the world without a nice young man such as yourself, there's a shortage of those lately if you've noticed."
"I know, most people my age are trying to kill me."
An awkward silence ensued.
"You want 'em or not?"
"Yeah"
He handed over the 2,500 caps, in reply the stranger unbuckled his holster, handed it over, smiled and nodded. "All I ask is that you take good care of them." With that he turned around and walked away.
The kid looked the whole rig over, he couldn't believe how nice it was. The pistols were gorgeous, the leather was beautifully engraved. He noticed a name carved on the inside of the belt. "HEY! Thanks a lot Jack!" he shouted enthusiastically towards the stranger.
The man stopped suddenly and stood silently for a moment.
Finally he turned his head and replied with a somber, "Don't mention it kid." and continued on his way....
"How much is that one?"
"What one?"
"That combat shotgun."
"8,000"
"8,000!? For a beat up old City Killer?
"Take it or leave it, Pal. I'm not here to haggle with cheap punks."
"I'll leave it"
The young man walked away from the table disgusted. Every gun trader in this bazaar seemed to be conspiring against him and his effort to find some halfway decent firepower. He wasn't sure what exactly he was gonna get for 3,000 caps, but it had to be better than the old 10mm Colt his grandfather had left him. He still couldn't believe he only got 250 caps for that.
The day was winding down and the merchants began packing up. The best deal the young fella could find was a sawed off double barrel for 500 caps. It seemed like a good buy until he observed the stamping on the barrel stating it was a 16 gauge. Like he'd EVER find shells for that. Screw it. Hands in pockets and head hanging a bit, he started to make his way out of the merchant district.
"Psst! C'mere kid" a deep voice called to him.
"Them merchants are expensive, aren't they?"
"Expensive ain't the word for it, I couldn't afford anything."
"So I noticed. What're you looking for?"
"A gun."
"I see, what didja have in mind?"
"What do you care?"
"Well, if'n you're interested I might have something right up your alley."
The stranger produced a pair of Desert Eagles from under his dusty cloak. The young mans eyes lit up.
"How much?"
"2,500"
"REALLY!? What's the catch?
"No catch, I just don't want 'em anymore. They bring back a lot of bad memories. That and I'd hate to see those merchants get ahold of 'em."
"Can I look 'em over?"
He took one is his right hand racked the slide to the hold open position and looked it over.
"Wow, .50 caliber! This'd ruin somebody's day."
"I've seen that gun blow a deathclaws head clean off"
"They're in such good shape, you know you could get a lot more for these."
He pressed the release button and let the slide slam forward with a forceful and satisfying 'Clack'.
"Only people who could afford to pay what they're worth probably wouldn't use them for any good purpose. What 'line of work' are you in?"
"I run with the caravans and I'm sick of being undergunned when we run into raiders."
"I'd hate to see the world without a nice young man such as yourself, there's a shortage of those lately if you've noticed."
"I know, most people my age are trying to kill me."
An awkward silence ensued.
"You want 'em or not?"
"Yeah"
He handed over the 2,500 caps, in reply the stranger unbuckled his holster, handed it over, smiled and nodded. "All I ask is that you take good care of them." With that he turned around and walked away.
The kid looked the whole rig over, he couldn't believe how nice it was. The pistols were gorgeous, the leather was beautifully engraved. He noticed a name carved on the inside of the belt. "HEY! Thanks a lot Jack!" he shouted enthusiastically towards the stranger.
The man stopped suddenly and stood silently for a moment.
Finally he turned his head and replied with a somber, "Don't mention it kid." and continued on his way....
