[hr][center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjg4LmI2MjAyYS5VM1JoWjJVZ01RLCwuMA,,/grateful-black.regular.png[/img][/center][center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjYwLmI2MjAyYS5WR2hsSUZkdmNteGtJRmx2ZFNCT1pYWmxjaUJMYm1WMy4wAAAA/grateful-black.regular.png[/img][/center][hr][hr] [center] From the old speakers surrounding 2Fort a voice, booming, confident, and assertive rang out. Reaching the ears of everyone in town.[/center] [b][i][color=gold][center]"Attention citizens of Pandor-No, shit. Attention citizens of 2Fort! This is your mayor, Handome Jack speaking. I know a lot of you are still getting comfortable. I'm sure everyone is enjoying having no bathrooms and having to drink out of a pond, but try to control yourselves and listen up. I want anyone capable of fighting, of risking their life, of truly offering something to this fledgling town to come down to my office. I'm going to start improving things things around here and to do that I'm going to need some extra hands."[/center][/color][/i][/b] [center] A brief silence hung in the air before the speakers crackled and the handsome voice sounded out once more.[/center] [i][b][color=gold][center]"Oh and it involves loot and valuables, so get your asses down here already." [/center][/color][/b][/i] [hr] [center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjE5OC5iNjIwMmEuTWtadmNuUlViM2R1LjAA/team-fury.regular.png [/img][/center] [center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjg4LmI2MjAyYS5Oam96TUNCQlRRLCwuMA,,/warung-kopi.bold.png[/img][/center] Handsome Jack sat with his feet propped up on his desk, drinking straight out of a coffee pot as he stared intently down the hallways leading to his proclaimed office space. A severe grimace crossed his chiseled face as he held the coffee pot away from himself, the murky coffee-like liquid shifting with a gravy like consistency inside the glass container. He looked at the coffee pot as if considering some alternative before shrugging and taking another swig, grimacing even harder as the barely caffeinated goo slid down this throat. [color=gold]"Uugh, this coffee tastes like Skagass."[/color] Jack muttered, eyes watering in disgust before he knocked back the coffee pot for another gulp. [color=C71585] "Then why are you still drinking it?"[/color] Jack jumped in his seat, nearly spraying caffeinated sludge across his desk as he snapped his head sideways. He met eyes with a smiling teenage girl standing next to an older women who looked down at him with an stony look of displeasure on her face. [color=gold]"What the fuck! When did you two get in here?"[/color] Jack cried after swallowing. [color=C71585]"A-a couple of seconds ago! She's really [i]quiet[/i] so I just did what she did and you didn't even notice us coming right up to you."[/color] The teenage girl shifted awkwardly in front of Jack as she gestured to the women beside her. Standing at least a full head above the young girl the women wore nearly nothing, just a bikini top, bottom, some stockings, shoes, and what looked like military rigging. [color=C71585]"A-anyway. Since we got so close I was gonna reach out and touch your nose, but then you commented on the coffee and I felt like asking since it's important to ask questions to learn. That and I was afraid that since you're the mayor that you'd have my hand chopped off if I poked your nose. Normally I wouldn't think mayors would do that but the mayor of my old city apparently stuffed a women-"[/color] Handsome Jack's eyes narrowed as the girl's words began to drone into hum of white noise over the migraine pounding inside his skull. Already he was missing his office and the big fat trap door in front of it that lead straight into a series of meat threshers. He reminded himself he was striving for redemption and all that, but the longer the teen spoke the louder his own murderous thoughts seemed to grow. [color=gold]"Does she ever shut up?"[/color] Jack asked the women and she simply wordlessly shook her head, seeming to refuse to make eye contact with the teen even as she looked to her. [color=C71585]"O-oh. Sorry! I can be quiet. Really quiet. Like I was just now. So what do you need from us Mr. Mayor?"[/color] [color=gold]"OK I'll stop you right there kiddo. It's not Mr. Mayor it's Jack. Handsome Jack. You can call me Mr. Mayor when I'm dead or after I put a bullet in my brain to cure the migraine you just made a million times worse from your mere existence."[/color] The girl winced at the comment, grimacing and turning her eyes towards the floor in a way that gave Jack a nostalgic twinge of catharsis. Setting the coffee pot down he dropped his feet to the floor and turned in his swivel chair. [color=gold]"Is anyone else coming?"[/color] Jack asked glancing down the hallways but the two women didn't speak. [color=gold]"Well I'm sure someone else will be down. In the mean time I might as well get you two out of the way. What are your names?"[/color] [color=C71585]"I'm-"[/color] [color=gold]"JUST your names."[/color] [color=C71585]"Cedar Birch..."[/color] Cedar said, with a chest fallen sigh. [color=gold]"What about you?"[/color] Jack looked to the older women but Cedar shook her head. [color=C71585]"She hasn't spoken since she got into town. I've followed her around and she's been nothing but [i]quiet[/i]. Even when the other townsfolk tried to talk to her she didn't speak. I don't think she can."[/color] Jack raised an eyebrow and grit his teeth. [color=gold]"You're kidding me, right? I wasn't expecting much but I didn't think I'd get a mute and a girl with more wood in her name then the freaking Jakobs Corporation puts in their guns. Lucky for you two I'm trying a more positive, less murderous outlook on life right now. So I'll let this slide.[/color] Cedar grimace and Quiet crossed her arms, staring Jack down with a slight glare in her eyes. Jack however just smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Besides, anyone who can get this close to a man without him noticing has some nasty, really useful experience under their belt. Am I right Ms. Quiet?" [color=red]"..."[/color] Quiet looked away from Jack but her silence was answer enough. [color=gold]"You know I'm really starting to like you! No so much you." Jack said pointing to Cedar. "I'd be great if you could just follow Quiet here and, you know, never speak again."[/color] [color=C71585]"..."[/color] [color=gold]"There we go! That's more like it. Anyway about why I called you here. I had this big, poignant speech prepared but I have such a migraine right now I'll just give you the abridged version: This place is a DUMP!"[/color] Jack's words echoed off the walls of the red and white underground offices, barely frowned out by the faint hum of reel to reel computers and the clicking of clocks on the walls. [color=gold]"We're drinking out of a pond. We have no real housing, no proper medical facilities, barely any power generation, and absolutely no defenses. The only reason people came bothered staying here is because it looked safe. And the only reason no bandits have bust in here and killed everyone is because there's nothing to really steal.[/color] Quiet tilted her head. In her mind she knew that Jack was right. This place was safe, but for how long depended entirely on them. [color=gold]"That's why I need people. People to leave town, explore what this fucked up world has to offer, and start bringing back supplies and materials. You can keep most of what you find for yourselves, but as long as you bring back something we can start to build things here in town. Like bathrooms, a kitchen, hell maybe even a bar. Definitely a bar with a way things are going. So what do you say?"[/color] [color=red]"..."[/color] Quiet looked across the desk at Jack and then briefly looked to Cedar who quickly made eye contact, smiling and looking to her expectantly. Like a puppy waiting to be pet. Exhaling she raised her hand and gave a thumbs up. [color=C71585]"Yeah I'm in this too-er I mean..."[/color] Cedar stopped herself and quickly closed her mouth. Holding up her own hand and giving a second thumbs up. [color=gold]"Perfect! Well not perfect but it's better then nothing I guess."[/color] Handsome Jack leaned forward in his chair as he spoke. [color=gold][i]"God I hope more people come. These two probably aren't gonna cut it..."[/i][/color] Above ground the early morning sun shown and the faint sound of birds could be heard amidst the high rooftops. Today was the day an adventure would begin that would change the fate of 2Fort...and the fate of the new world.