[color=39b54a][b]Dr. Arthur West - Ace's Diner[/b][/color]

[i] "I appreciate your discretion.  It's one of the swear words in the wasteland, but understandably so.  Not many surface rats -- [i]folks[/i], I meant folks, live to tell about when we come to town." [/i]

[i]And its certainly not the only one[/i], Arthur thought grimly. 

Arthur listened intently as Frieda told him about her brother, about how she'd looked up to him, and how he'd apparently gone missing while out on a mission. It was a heartbreaking story to be sure, and Arthur couldn't help but relate it to his own experiences. 

[i]"Everyone moved on, almost like he'd never even existed.  His shadow was lifted off of me and my life but I was still almost invisible and no one seemed to care that he deserved better.  Hell, that I deserved better.  So, I decided to search for closure, myself.  If they wouldn't care, I would show Brian that I at least did.  That I [i]do[/i]."[/i]

"Well if its any consolation," Arthur offered, "I understand how you feel. I lost someone as well. A very good friend of mine: a colleague, as a matter of fact, someone I trusted with my life...and who shouldn't have trusted me with his..."

Arthur might have gone into more detail than that, but he was suddenly (perhaps thankfully) interrupted by Steve, who seemed to be carrying an unconscious man on his shoulder....although a closer look revealed that he was as dead as a door-nail. 

[i]
“Hey doc," he called out, "I found you a blood bag, I’ll leave them at the clinic for you.”[/i]

"Oh...well thank you I...wait what?" Arthur's eyes grew wide as he realized just what Steve had meant by 'blood bag', "Oh good lord!" He nearly shouted, "Don't take that..." his voice trailed off as Steve exited the diner, having either not heard or outright ignored his protest, "Good god I hope at least he has the common sense to keep that thing [b]outside [/b]of the clinic..."

"Uh..sorry Frieda, you were saying?" He continued, turning his attention back to her.



[i]Frieda took a slow breath, held it for a moment, then exhaled. "Honestly, even if I wanted to go back, I'd be shot dead at the door.  But if things don't work out, I just might go knocking.  I'd rather be executed than die at the hand of...of one of them," she nodded towards the door, heavily implying a reference towards Steve.[/i]



Arthur gave an understanding nod, "I...I see what you mean."

[i]"Would you both shut up?" hissed the rude waitress.  "We're all tryin' to listen to the news."[/i]

Frieda stuck her tongue out at the waitress, then glanced over at Arthur to roll her eyes and wink.

"Rather angry young woman isn't she?" Arthur remarked, before he too tuned into the radio announcement. Apparently, the Minutemen had assaulted a Gunner position somewhere in the city, and emerged victorious. Arthur didn't have much love for the Minutemen, not after certain events, but he knew that the Gunners were a far more present and insidious threat. That became all too clear as well once the radio DJ had stated that a group of them had escaped the attack and were likely to be heading north.

"Well that's not good..." He said, stating the obvious, "Gunners are well armed and well trained. Raiders are one thing...Gunners are quite another. Perhaps we should double the watch for tonight? Or...maybe even call for The Minutemen?"

[i]Or maybe someone else... [/i]He thought, giving a glance over to Rick, [i]A single Courser...that's all we'd need.  [/i]