[center][color=8dc73f][b]Aponi - Just outside The Strip[/b][/color][/center]


Aponi’s heart raced as her brown eyes went from soldier to soldier, she listened but acknowledged nothing. She knew what Alex said could possibly come to fruition, she had seen it before when others had lost Calypso's favor. But, like with Shelby, Calypso treated Aponi like her own child, to a point. She had also seen the NCR run over people, her own people before she was taken back east. Though tempting, all Aponi could think was that she would be by herself, surrounded by people who run through settlements to acquire more land. Along with bringing brahmin barons, like the one who did much worse to her than Calypso ever had. Hesitantly, Aponi very slowly got up off the couch, her wrists sore from the Ranger’s grip they had when they disrupted her peaceful evening. Her nerves were tense, she looked around at all if the soldiers again, then the ghoul, then Alex, “No,” she whispered taking a cautious step towards the door.

She stepped towards the door, grasping the doorknob firmly and inched it open just waiting for Alex to yank her back, but he did not, he allowed her to leave as he said he would. She silently slipped out, her moccasins barely making any noise, then suddenly she took off in a dead sprint until she reached the end of the building. Being Native American she was more than adequate at being exceptionally quiet and stealthy. She peeked around the corner and saw one of the Rangers come out and head her way. Running as fast as she could, Aponi got to The Strip entrance where she ran into Reggie and Waylon who were returning from McCarran after dropping some goods off at the vertibird. “What's up with you kid?” asked Reggie.

Aponi looked back, eyeing the Ranger in the distance, “I just want to get back to the room.” She felt more comfortable with the pair, but choose not to say anything to them yet about what had happened, partially out of fear of upsetting Calypso. 

Reggie and Waylon looked back to see what Aponi was looking at but the Ranger was nowhere to be seen, they shrugged it off knowing how timid Aponi could be and escorted her back to The Gomorrah.


[center][color=8dc73f][b]Shelby - The Gomorrah [/b][/color][/center] 

[I]What the hell?[/i] Shelby was somewhat confused by the woman's sudden actions and apparent emotional distress as she saw the trails of tears. Clearly the woman would be quite a challenge for Shelby. She wrapped her arms around the distraught woman, running her hand on the back her neck feeling a scar. “Just relax, it'll be alright…” she paused because the woman still had not revealed her name, “I have issues to. I don't know what you've got going on, but I'm not going anywhere until Mr. House lets me out of here so,” Shelby hugged the woman firmly, “You can talk to me if you want to. I'm no therapist but I've been through my share of shit.”

Shelby could feel the woman's rapid heartbeat against her chest, “C’mon Hun, let's go lay on the bed,” she coaxed the woman to the bed and they both laid down. She ran her hand on the woman back and felt a few good scars through her blouse, she sighed, “I was whipped by an asshole back home, I was beyond myself that my parents would allow that shit,” she took the woman's hand and placed it in her own back, “Feel those?” Shelby put her hand on the side of the woman's face, “You know an awful lot about me, why won't you tell me your name, maybe we can help each other. Besides, if you're going to be around while we are here in New Vegas, it would help me to trust you more.” Shelby wrapped her leg over the woman and smiled at her, “I mean, since you live out here and we'll be heading home soon, it'd be nice since I may not see you again after we leave.”