Voodoo - Charm City

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

It's a long bit of walking from Philadelphia to DC, but Voodoo and his people have a few advantages in that regard. One is that Ellen's provided them with a map of the route she took, including landmarks along the way. Another is that, while it's a good distance, it's nowhere near as long as the trip from Canada or New York to Philly. Perspective can be key.

The route on the map doesn't go anywhere near I-95 for most of its length, though. And there's a thickly drawn band around a not inconsiderable piece of territory- most of which is inside the curve of what used to be Interstate 695.

Comments

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Joe gives Voodoo a flinty look as he steps across the threshold, eyeing the room in a quick, practiced sweep. Once he's satisfied he grunts and turns partway, enough to keep an eye on Voodoo as he calls, "We're good, boss."

"Thank you," says Russel, unperturbed, and steps up himself. "Let's see if we can't get this over with. The less fuss the better."

[boston_bruiser]

And Voodoo, in turn, lifts his NVGs off his face and rolls his eyes at Joe.

"We're just passing through on the way to D.C. Came down here from Niagara Falls. Rescued them-" he nods to Josepha, Kate, Al, and Hector "-from some slavers. Ain't never came through here before. Far's we know, Omar's just a guy with a shotgun who likes Sugar Bombs."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"From Niagara?" says Russel, dipping his head to eye Voodoo over the tops of his cracked glasses. "That's a long way for a man to travel who isn't on the trail of some kind of profit, or trying to shake someone off his trail."

"'Specially when he sounds like he comes from the Commonwealth," Joe mutters.

[boston_bruiser]

Okay, now they're starting to piss him off.

He crosses his arms, closing the distance until he's within an arm's length of the both of them.

"You got a problem with me? Then don't insinuate shit like a little bitch."

He looks to Joe, then Russell.

"Like I said - you want beef, I'll oblige you. But you two? Ain't gonna come outta it in one piece."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

The two men look at each other.

Eventually Russel says, "The last time a man who sounded like you passed through these parts, he said he was from the Commonwealth Reclamation Bureau, hot on the trail of some kind of- android, or something. Man was pissed as hell when he found out he'd have to go around the EZ if he wanted to see the Institute alive again."

"Made some kind of a deal with Omar. Safe passage, in return for I don't know what," Joe adds. "But a whole lot of people who crossed Omar the past two, three years, man, after that Commonwealth SOB came through, they got real sick real bad, real fast."

"And the ones who didn't suddenly found themselves somewhere else to live," says Russel, sliding his glasses up his nose with one finger. "Their call, of course, but it leaves the rest of us wondering just who else he's got his eye on."

[boston_bruiser]

Voodoo shrugs. "Try asking him."

A beat, as he registers how they take the sarcasm.

"-okay, look: we didn't make a deal with Omar. He just pointed the church out as a good place to spend the night. So far I'm inclined to believe him. If you're lookin' for my help to take him down, you ain't gonna get it."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Joe's got a positively furious look on his face at that, but Russel merely looks thoughtfully from Voodoo to the people elsewhere in the room. When he looks back to Voodoo he says, "Sugar Bombs, huh? He looking for 'em, or he have them with him?"

[boston_bruiser]

"Had about four or five boxes, last I saw him. Figure he must really like the taste. Didn't ask for help lookin' for them, though."

To Joe:

"Your face'll stick like that, you keep doin' it."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Joe steps forward; Russel lays a hand on his shoulder. "Joe," he says firmly, "go shut that door."

"Russel-"

"Shut that door."

Joe spins on one heel and heads for the door. Russel shakes his head, then says to Voodoo, "Not surprised. He probably thought you'd've asked for a cut. He's got a ghoul from the Capital working for him, some kind of scientist. He's doing something with Sugar Bombs that doubles the strength of his Jet."

[boston_bruiser]

"So he's a dealer. This ain't my town; what makes you think it's my concern?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"The man's got ambitions. Most of them pointing him north from here," says Russel. "Strangers in town seem to end up getting roped into 'em. Long as all you're doing is passing through, we're good."

[boston_bruiser]

"Glad we could get that sorted out."

As Joe comes back, Voodoo looks to him, then back to Russell.

"Anything else? Or are you headin' on your merry way?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I believe we're good," says Russel. "Glad we had this talk. Joe, we're going."

"Fine by me," mutters Joe. "Place gives me the creeps anyway."

Russel briefly touches his brow in something not entirely unreminiscent of a salute, opens the door, and steps out into the night with Joe at his heels.

[boston_bruiser]

Voodoo returns the gesture and watches them leave, ascending the belltower once they're a safe distance from the front door. Their conversation resumes as they head off into the night, clarity fading with distance, and they eventually disappear behind an embankment.





Then - gunfire and shouts. It's too far away to make out specifics, but there's definitely an automatic weapon or two among them putting down rounds. Voodoo crouches down in the tower, but none of those rounds are coming his way.

Eventually, that too dies down. All is quiet once more.