[color=00aeef]FRIEDA RICHTER[/color] - Salem Diner

Rook seemed to make a point of replying to her such that Brandy wouldn't hear.  “Rook is disappointed in Shooter Lady. Rook would have expected her to learn some kind of tolerance in the wastelands. Now you will be looking for a reason to just murder Rook and justify it by saying Rook was being bad. Shooter Lady is no different than the raiders in the Pitt.”

[i]A super mutant judging me?  That's definitely a first.[/i]

Rook called for a beer for her, and the man introduced to her as Ace popped off the lid of a darker coloured beer while Brandy popped out from behind the bar with beers, herself.

[i]Well, all right!  No complaints on this development.[/i]  She made to take a swig when the grubby fellow took the liberty of sitting next to her and extending his hand.

“Thomas Beauregard Sykes the III, entrepreneur extraordinary, purveyor of wares far and wide. I do not believe I’ve had the pleasure of gazing upon such graceful flower before. Your beauty surely lights up this bleak and sad wasteland."

Frieda blinked, but did not shake the man's hand.  "Um...thanks.  It's Ric -- [i]Frieda[/i]," was all she could manage in response.

“To new friends and a new home, CHEERS!!!” Brandy chirped, raising her beer and looking at Frieda expectantly.

"Sure.  Cheers," she replied, holding up her own bottle a little timidly.  She took a good mouthful of the dark beer, impressed at its taste.  There were at least a couple folks back home who brewed their own beer regularly, and the taste of the stout reminded her of them.  "What did you say this was called?  It does taste fresh."

“You know Brandy, you tug at my belt, put your hand in my pocket…Call me old fashioned but some guys like to be wined and dined before they get this far,” Ace said with a smirk as he sipped on his whiskey, “I’m not just a piece of meat you know.”

Frieda took another swig when suddenly Brandy slammed the bottle down and covered her mouth, spitting beer into her hand, and causing Frieda to jump.  Brandy looked up at her then to Ace and turned towards Frieda, “[i]Oh my God[/i],” she blushed, “I didn’t me…I didn’t mean it like that.” She waved her hands at her face fanning herself, “Frieda, that doesn’t make me a floozy, does it?” 

Frieda burst out laughing.  "A floozy?  Certainly not.  Unless...well, did you really put your hand into his pocket?"

Brandy let out one more long exaggerated breath, “He is cute,” she whispered.

"Well, then go for it," Frieda murmured back.  "If he ever breaks your heart, I'll kick his ass, myself."

A short woman with curly hair drew up to the bar, smiling and bubbling on about being the proprietor of the inn.  Frieda noted the information for later.  She was getting tired of lugging her stuff around and with it getting dark, she would have to look for some kind of apartment in the morning.

[i]I guess that means I'm going to need a job.  A real, paying job.[/i]  She sat quietly as Brandy introduced herself to the woman who called herself Celeste and continued to sip on her beer, watching Rook scarf down a veritable mountain of food out of the corner of her eye.  He said something about the beer to Brandy, but Frieda didn't catch it.  The beer was going down very easily.

She idly watched Ace take several orders at once and struggle to fulfill them at all quickly.  It would seem that serving bar wasn't exactly his natural talent.   She took another drink just as Brandy was whispering to her, again.

“Will you come with me?”

"I -- wait -- what?" Frieda stammered, caught off guard.  She noticed Brandy dabbing at the front of her dress where the beer had landed on it, while sneaking glances at Ace and grinning sheepishly.  "...oh.  Uh..."  She looked at Rook, seemingly completely focused on his food and drink.  "Uh, sure.  Okay.  Lead on."  Frieda had a flashback of being twelve and thirteen all over again, when her classmates used to giggle and dash around to avoid the boys, while seemingly, desperately, wanting their attention.

Sometimes, it worked.

Frieda tossed back the rest of the stout and plunked the bottle onto the bar, before rising to follow Brandy.