vocalistyodels | OPEN POST

[He doesn't miss her eyes lifting to the hat perched on his head. It's a small thing, but it shows that she's maybe piecing things together... hell he doesn't want to get his own hopes up that if she did realize who he was she won't be disgusted or horrified at what he is.

Who he is now. It's like Dogmeat can sense his unease, nudging at his free hand with a soft whine. Damn dog really had wormed her way into his closed off heart. Petting her head absently, he'll hold the hat out closer to Janey, meaning for her to take it.]

Well then, think we should find some place little quieter to have a talk.

[He didn't expect her to go some place with him completely alone, but out in the open with all these people around? Cooper would prefer a smidge of privacy, even if that meant a lone corner of a market or casino. The ghoul nods over at one of the big fancy buildings. The casino is massive, most likely has a bar and rooms to rent. Bar would be good, still "public" but would give them some semblance of privacy without him trying to creepily get her all alone.]

There anyone here that'll be missing you?

[Is she here with anyone? Alone? If she wanders off will they come looking? If she's here all on her own... hell he can't imagine her fighting through the wastes all alone, he doesn't want to.]

[That Dogmeat likes him so much, likes him enough to try and make sure he’s all right, or so easily ask for pets, she’s not sure which, earns him several more points in his favour. Even if she didn’t. Suspect. Hope. She glances around them, gives him a lopsided little smile.]

Probably a good idea.

[She’s careful. She’s learned to be careful, since she first came to the Wasteland. Telling a stranger, even if that stranger might… not be so strange, that she’s alone seems a foolish mistake to make. So despite… everything. Despite what she hopes… she treads carefully. Continues to tread carefully.]

We’re supposed to meet later.

[That’s a lie, but he doesn’t need to know that. She’s alone. And has been for. A long time.]

So I have time for that talk.

[He's real good at reading people, not that he doesn't get some things wrong now and again, but the years have giving him a lot of time to study folks. How they work, how they think, what gets under their skin... he can use that to turn people into their own worst enemy and manipulate them into positions he can take advantage of.

That's not what this is at all. Not this time, but he's more than certain Janey is lying to him and he's not exactly thrilled about that possibility. That she's alone out here, has been alone, for who knows how long.]

Then let's talk.

[Cooper motions for them to walk and Dogmeat follows on their heels.]

Won't take up too much of your time, wouldn't want to ruin your plans.

[As they get to the entrance of the casino the ghoul stops to turn towards Dogmeat, giving a little sharp whistle and waving her off.]

Go on, ain't gonna let you in here.

[To her credit Dogmeat doesn't fuss too much, heading off to do her own thing as if understanding completely. Probably to go find something to eat or take a little nap in the shade some where. After a moment of watching the dog head off, Cooper looks at Janey and reaches to hold the door open for her.]

Ladies first.

[Janey hopes she’s not making a terrible mistake. But she has to know. She needs to know. She’s been searching for so long… She needs to know. After a moment, she’ll fall into step with him. Just a walk with a man and his dog.]

I appreciate it.

[Like she actually HAS plans for him to ruin. Better that he think that, than know the truth, though. Better he think someone is expecting her.

He moves to hold the door open for her, and she hesitates, hesitant to let someone behind her. Even him, with her suspicions and hopes. She’s hesitant to let anyone. But then she nods a little, takes a little breath, and slips through the open door.]

[He let's her go in first and thankfully it's not one of the casino's that expects you to hand your weapons over, but they've got plenty of security very blatantly keeping an eye on things. Cooper tips his hat to one as they walk in, taking step beside Janey and motioning towards the bar.

Course a place like this serves drinks, the more drunk the more stupid and loose with their caps they tend to be. Just smart business. There's the bar, but they've got some tables too, he'll pull out a seat for her at one, away from everyone else.]

I'd ask if you want a drink, but you ain't look old enough for that.

[Not like anyone gives a shit about that sorta thing now a days. The ghoul moves to the opposite side of the table and sits, leaning forward on an elbow.]

So how old are you? Was a variable we weren't sure what to expect at this point. Depending on what vault you was in and all that.

[And when she would have come out of cryo, if she even had.]

[Janey looks at him when he pulls out a seat for her, but she does sit down after the briefest pause. She’s come this far, after all. And they need to talk. She needs to know. She almost asks for a drink anyway, after that comment, but she doesn’t. Not right now. Not for this. Instead, she just… studies him.

Of course, then he asks her how old she is and she has to think. Because it’s not something she’s been keeping track of. There were more important things she needed to use her Pip-Boy for. She’d tried, in the beginning. But after a while. It was just time.]

Seventeen.

[Give or take. It’s close enough. Not including her time in cryo, anyway.]

Edited 2024-11-30 13:36 (UTC)

[He tries to act like he doesn't see her studying him. As if trying to figure out a puzzle. Does she realize who he is? He wants more than nothing for her to recognize him, under the monster he looks like and is now.

But maybe an ol' ghoul is scared. No not The Ghoul. Cooper is. The man he used to be, the father he used to be.]

Mm...

[Hell, seventeen. Almost a full grown adult. He could still picture his little Janey, could still see her too even now in this older version of her, but she was starting to look more like her mother now.]

They do anything for your sweet sixteen?

[He tries to keep that same cadence, the tone, like everything is a goddamn joke, but he's slipping as he talks to her. He wants to apologize for not being there for that, for not being there at all.

Cooper realizes it's a silly question to ask for someone who's just some supposed merc working for a client. Pushes past it, doesn't give her too much of a chance to question it.]

And one of these folks you meeting later... wouldn't happen to be your mama, would it?

[The idea of running into Barb out here after so long is maybe even more frightening than being here right now with Janey. For many reasons.]

[Janey looks at him strangely at that question and is about to comment, when he shifts the subject and doesn’t let actually answer it. (And the question makes her… almost certain. Almost. Not enough to risk it, just yet. But she’s almost certain. That familiarity isn’t going away.)]

No. [She swallows, looking away for a moment.] I haven’t seen her in. A while.

[Janey has… complicated feelings about her mom. Being left, being taken from her dad. LEAVING him. No, her feelings are complicated, when it comes to Barb. Then again, everything’s complicated. Both when it comes to the Wasteland and when it comes to her family.]

[A part of him already knew Barb had to be out of the picture, however that doesn't make him relax or feel any better about the situation. If Barb were here he knows for a fact she's not let her eyes off Janey. Or maybe the Barb he used to know so long ago.

So what was going on? Janey hadn't seen her in a while... that doesn't mean she's dead necessarily, but something happened. There's no other reason Janey would be out here alone otherwise. Cooper sits back, gloved fingers tapping against the table as he regards his daughter across from him with an indifferent look. It's all a mask, he can't let his feelings slip out here in front of anyone who could be watching. It wouldn't just endanger him, it would her too.]

Guess that'll make it easier to take you to him. Mama bear not around to make a scene.

[It’s so hard for Janey to pretend like she doesn’t care. To pretend like she doesn’t want to shake him, insist that he tell her the truth. That he tell her who he is. But she does. She’s gotten good at that, since leaving the vault. Hadn’t always been, though. That had been a hard lesson to learn, as young as she’d been.

Instead she rests her elbows on the table and looks at him, unable to help the way she searches his face again. She thinks. She hopes. ]

Where is he? This client of yours.

[It's hard not to take her in his arms and pull her in tight. The more he sees her, looks at her, he's 100% sure this is his Janey.

But again, not here.

He meets her eyes, doesn't look away as he waits a moment perhaps a bit too long to answer.]

... not here.

[Not here. Not here as in they can't do this here. She's a smart girl, she'll understand why he can't just give that information up where they are now. Even if she doesn't fully get who he is. By God though he hopes she does.]

But he's paid me lotta caps to take you to him and I stand to get a whole lot more once you're delivered, sweetheart. So whether these friends a yours show up or not, you're coming with me.

[He leans in on his elbows too, but still keeps some space between them.]

I don't wanna make any trouble for no one here, because believe me, I can and I ain't got no qualms about it. So I hope you don't make this difficult.

[He meets her eyes, he doesn’t look away, and she HOPES, that stupid insistent shred of hope wells up so hard in her chest she almost can’t breathe. It’s him. It has to be him. Or maybe she’s a fool and just… wants him to be. Wants a part of her family back so much that she’ll risk everything on that tiny shred of hope.

But Janey can’t help but resist, can’t help but be stubborn. It’s served her well, in her years outside the Vault. Even if just for a moment.]

And what if I did? If I’m as important to your client as you say, that’d be a whole lot of risk. A whole lot of caps to lose.

[She’s tired. She’s tired of the games. She’s tired of wondering. Tired of being almost certain of who he is. She wants answers. She needs answers. And she doesn’t want to play games anymore. She needs to know. For better or worse, she makes a decision.]

We should go, then. So I can meet this client of yours for myself.

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