Getting things done.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie's sitting at the bar drinking coffee from her Winchester Birthday Present mug when she suddenly sits up a little straighter. If she were any more evident, a light bulb would have gone off over her head.

Sallie Reynolds has an ideaTen minutes later, on her coffee refill and her knees on the rug in front of the fireplace, she is starting to

Comments

[stealth_bandage]

Arcade's only been here twice now, but he definitely likes this place better than the Atomic Wrangler. It's cleaner, better lit, safer, and doesn't have James Garret in it. Granted, it's kind of weird being somewhere that doesn't have armed guards visible at the doors or ghouls on the entertainment staff, but you can't have everything.

Or possibly you can, given some of the things he's spotted coming out of that box. Hopefully Sallie won't mind too much if he leans over to have a look, his drink and book currently forgotten.

[realmrsreynolds]

She wouldn't mind - not normally.

The thing that makes right now not all that normal though is that she is in the process of pulling out a rather large black umbrella, and she keeps leaning backward until the back of her hand hits against something behind her and she jumps.

[stealth_bandage]

"Whoop. Sorry, ma'am." Arcade steps to one side. "That's... awfully big. How did it fit in that box in the first place?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"Oh! Hello there." She's used to getting walked up to - and frankly, kind of asking for it, playing with the box in the middle of the fireplace rug - so she just looks up and smiles at the newcomer.

"The box holds much more than what it looks like it should. I'm just giving it a good once-through. Needin' an umbrella in your world?"

[stealth_bandage]

"Not where I live. The Mojave region doesn't see a lot of rain," says Arcade. He glances around for a table and sets his stuff aside before crouching down for a better look. "I take it people around here get careless pretty regularly?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"Sometimes it ain't all by choice? Hard to explain - sometimes folk have to go back to their worlds quickly, they don't get a chance to get all their things before they're needed back home."

[stealth_bandage]

"Actually, that's not that difficult to believe of an explanation," says Arcade. "People come up with all kinds of urgent reasons to leave the bars and houses of temporary residence in a hurry at home. Some of them are even true. I suppose here it's just a wider variety of things being left behind...."

[realmrsreynolds]

The next thing to come out of the box is a gun-shaped table lamp.

"I'm going to have to go with a yes."

[stealth_bandage]

"You know," says Arcade after a bit, "I'm almost sure I saw one of those the last time I was in Mick and Ralph's. Who brings lamps from home?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"They might have had it made here, and then given up their room while it was still there?"

[stealth_bandage]

"I suppose I could see that," says Arcade, and then pauses. "People stay here that long? I'm sorry, I'm still fairly new here- I was under the impression the rooms upstairs were more temporary accommodations in the overnight sense."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Many of the standard rooms are, but some adapt them to be primary housing," Sallie explains. "You could spend your whole life out here if you'd like to. I know many who have - or at least make this their halfway point, 'tween to and fro."

[stealth_bandage]

"An interesting thought. Staying somewhere like this must get awfully expensive, though," says Arcade. "The place reminds me of some of the casinos on the Strip at home, even without the immediately obvious gaming tables and women and men of negotiable affection."

[realmrsreynolds]

"I'm one of the Barmen here," Sallie starts, before deciding that she should probably get up off her knees so they can speak more properly.

Once she stands: "If you're needing to stay here, we can get you settled for whatever you're able to manage. I don't put folk out."

[stealth_bandage]

"What? Oh, no no no," says Arcade, straightening up as well. "I'm well set for housing, actually. I was just commenting- people back in New Vegas have a tendency to blow into town and out again just as easily, that's all. My apologies for the mistaken impression."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Alright then, just so long as you're sure."

It is the holiday season after all. Nobody's going off without, with Sallie around for the duration.

"I'm Sallie. Sallie Reynolds. Barman, like I said, and occasional busybody. What's your name, young man?"