Nova yawned, it was a slow day, as usual this time of the month since there hadn't been any traders coming to town yet. That meant Moriarty rode her and Gob a little harder of course, but it also meant less time on her back...so Nova couldn't complain, it just meant a different kind of misery. Though having to service Moriarty wasn't fun, even Jericho was less rough then that asshole...

From her usual corner she had a good overview of the excuse for a saloon she worked in. In the little corner room mr Burke sat, as he did most of the days since he'd arrived. She had of course tried to strike up a conversation with him, with his nice business suit and refined manners he could obviously afford her... Yet he had refused her with a cold speech full of long words that Nova hadn't really understood, except that they were less then flattering of course.

Of course many people insulted her, she had learnt to deal with it, yet she couldn't help but dislike the mysterious figure reaching for the bottle standing on the little table next to him. It wasn't the insults really, there was just something creepy about him, slimy even... Nova wasn't sure why but she was certain the man was more dangerous then everyone in megaton combined.

At least he didn't bother them about anything but another bottle when his scotch ran out. That combined with Moriarty being outside on another of his 'inspections' made for quite a pleasant atmosphere.

Behind the counter Gob stood at his usual spot, a hand grabbing a rag which he used to wipe down a worn counter. Despite it being spotless he continued, probably fearing Moriarty to find a invisible blemish somewhere when the owner came back. Nova didn't have the heart to tell the ghoul that Moriarty would find something wrong whatever Gob did if the bastard felt the need to kick him around...Gob probably knew that anyway.

At the end of the counter the old radio crackled as GNR struggled to reach them. Gob's irritated frown was quickly smoothed though, well as smooth as a ghoul face gets, when the song came through, the old 'I don't want to set the world on fire' playing through the speakers. Gob hummed with it as Nova closed her eyes and leant her head against the wall, thank God for Three Dog...without him they would probably go nuts.

The front door creaked as it opened, a gush of dry wind striking Nova in the face. She almost managed a smile, if one didn't breathe it it felt like fresh air...like she was out in the free with no worries.

Of course that was complete bullshit and Nova could only sigh as the door closed behind the new arrival. Probably Jericho coming with another lame offer instead of credits...opening her eyes Nova raised her eyebrow at the odd sight. Well that if anything was a new arrival...

His wide shoulders hung low, hands limply hanging by his sides. A duffel bag hung over his left shoulder...and he was wearing a blue and yellow jumpsuit Nova recognised. A vaultie here? Nova had seen a lot of things, and thought nothing could faze her anymore, yet she found herself curious at seeing someone casually wearing such an item as if it was a second skin.

The kid was definitively young, in a way he looked younger then the children around Megaton. She supposed he was was handsome. Sporting a square jaw, a clean shave and a face unmarked by scars he was different from most people she'd seen...he wasn't even dirty. His brown hair was cropped short and his blue eyes were large...yet barely visible due to his head hanging low.

Nova sighed, she recognised the look the odd boy sported, the guy might even be paler then he really was because of it. It was the same look she had sported the first time she had been forced to kill an aggressive customer... It wasn't a look one usually saw either, most here had killed at least once after all. Had he just left the vault or something?

Gob was also watching the newcomer with curiosity, milky eyes glancing at the pristine jumpsuit and the healthy looking face...then down at his own rotten skin and torn shirt. Apparently it was hard to digest the difference, the ghoul should be used to it but...there was something different about the boy, he radiated health that could make any wastelander jealous.

Finally the kid looked up from his boots, eyes red with tears blinking as he tried to focus on the surroundings. His face was pathetically easy to read, he looked like a child who had just lost his parents, his dog and everything that had ever meant something to him. Trying not to think of her own buried folks Nova held back a snort, another one who wouldn't survive a week in the wasteland...

"Oh my god!" Dropping out of her reverie Nova found the kid staring at Gob in...revulsion? Fear? She didn't really recognise it. Neither did Gob apparently who had decided to take the precaution to take a step back, eyeing the stranger warily. "Are you all right!?" The man rushed to the counter even as he begun to dig into his duffel bag. "Oh man, oh man...hang on! Dammit I know there's bandages here somewhere!"

Nova couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in amusement as Gob scratched his flacking neck, obviously confused. "Eh kid...what are you doing?"

"Don't talk! You should lie down! Don't worry though, I got a few stimpaks..." The boy dug furiously among his belongings, panic colouring his voice. "Don't die!"

"I'm not dying kid, haven't you ever seen a ghoul before?"

"A...a what?" The kid looked up from his furious search, his face flushing in innocence.

Nova shook her head, then noticed Mr Burke. The man wasn't hiding his interest in the little exchange, or more specifically, the new arrival. She couldn't really see his eyes under the shadow of the hat and the dark glasses, but she suspected they weren't kind ones. What was he doing here anyway? He seemed like one of those fancy coats living in Tenpenny towers...what interest did he have in megaton? Or in an idiot like this guy?

Meh, why did she even care? She was a whore, no one important, and especially not someone wanting to confront anyone important...despite how ugly her life was she was quite fond of keeping it.

"I...I see." Looking back at the pair Nova found the little boy pause at the explanation Gob had offered him. Then he suddenly, without a hint of falsehood, stretched out his hand across the counter. "Guess I owe you an apology then huh?"

Gob hesitated, then took the offered hand. Huh...not many people would want to shake the hand of a ghoul...especially not when it was their first encounter with one. Nova guessed the guilty look on the boy's face had more to do about it then any real interest to touch rotting skin. "Heh, you're okay smoothskin, take a seat. The name's Gob."

"John...and cheers." The kid took a seat in one of the stools, the old leather creaking under him. The eyes were still red and shining with sadness, but at least he wasn't crying, his fascinated gaze focused on the ghoul. He was obviously struggling not to stare at the rotting skin of the ghoul, but at least he was trying, which was better then most. "You haven't seen an elderly bearded man? Probably wearing a lab coat? Named James?"

"Well..." Gob rubbed the back of his neck, a leathery piece of skin rolling off his back even as the ghoul licked his broken lips. "Kind of yes, but Moriarty would have my ass if I told you. You'd better talk to him, besides, he's the one that guy spoke to."

"Moriarty?"

"He's the owner of this place, grey beard and hair, should be easy to spot. He's somewhere outside right now, should be back later though." Gob leant forward, to his honour the kid didn't recoil that much when the rotting face came closer. "Don't be surprised if he charges you for the information though." The ghoul whispered the words in confidence, drawing a smile from Nova, always the sweet guy, even when it could mean his own skin...

"Charging me? For information?" The boy frowned, obviously disgusted with the mere thought of such behaviour. Sort of foolish little cutie...

"That's how the wasteland works honey..." Nova suddenly spoke up while leaving her corner, making the boy jump with surprise. He hadn't even noticed her...tsk...probably because of Gob but still, the boy really was fresh into the wasteland. Sitting down next to the kid she smiled at him and offered her hand. "I'm Nova..." Switching over to the husky voice she used for customers was second nature to her by now.

"John." The man shook her hand, a frightened look on his face. Nova barely registered Gob sighing as he moved to clean a glass. The boy's face turned from frightened to earnest within moments though as he spoke again: "You wouldn't know anything more about James then Gob here would you?"

Nova laughed, keeping it as sultry as she could. "Oh I don't really pay attention to such things, though I guess he was handsome. Not like you though..." Gob muttered something under his breath as he walked over to the shelves in the back, absently beginning to make inventory on what little was there. She couldn't believe that he still got jealous, it was sweet but...

"He's my father." The kid recoiled a little, the frightened look returning. Oh damn, he couldn't be that inexperienced...

"I can tell, it's a long time since two cute men in a row came here..." She placed a hand on the kid's knee, oh man...he was trembling! Smiling reassuringly she patted the hand he had now placed on the counter. "Now, aren't there something else you want to talk about?"

"Uh...like what?"

"Like the fact that there are quite a few comfortable beds on the second floor..." She purred while scratching at the leg, hoping the boy wouldn't notice how chipped her nails had gotten, the way he quivered under her was a good sign though. "And for you...well you're so handsome...a hundred and twenty caps and I'll give you some really nice company for the night." Of course he didn't need to know a hundred and twenty was the standard fee, they never did.

"You don't..." The kid's voice broke, his face going from strawberry red to pale in moments as the meaning of her words got through that innocent mind of his.

"So, want some fun?" Nova tried, smiling as she leant back, letting a hand run down her throat and towards her cleavage. Hell, if she got this one on the hook Moriarty might not bother her this evening and she would get some sleep after what obviously would be a quick lay...

"Uh...erm. Yes, I mean no." The boy's face cycled through emotions as he tried to answer her. Wow...she better get him now before he got robbed and dropped in a ditch somewhere. "I mean I don't have the caps..." Ah, dammit. "...not that I would actually spend them on...not that I don't mean you're not...erm..."

Nova chuckled inwardly as the kid struggled for words. Never mind that he couldn't afford her, this was amusing enough to be worth some shit from Moriarty. "I mean you're beautiful but I wouldn't do something so low as...not that I'm implying that you're...I mean..." The boy's face got redder and redder as he slowly realised he was babbling himself into a corner.

"Tell you what, get me a drink and I'll forgive you." Nova looked over to see Gob walking back to them, the relief on his face badly hidden. She really should have a talk with him...but given how the rest of Gob's life was it might be a little cruel taking away his hope. He really was too sweet to hurt like that...

"S..sure." The kid gestured for the ghoul, breathing a sigh of relief when Nova removed her hand from his leg he said: "Whatever she wants, plus a glass of water for me." Water, of course, what a kid. Nova could only hope the guy wouldn't be killed before he even left Megaton, and the poor bastard was going to talk to Moriarty of all people...he would be a beggar by the end of the day.

At least this way she got a drink...while Nova reached for the vodka Gob reached under the counter, his raspy voice surprisingly friendly towards the innocent fool. "Sure thing kid, clean water or...?"

The kid actually looked offended, as if someone had offered him to choose between a thousand caps versus shit. "Of course clean water, there's another kind?"

Nova couldn't stop herself from laughing at him.