Fallout, Second Life

"Well well well, you are a sight for sore eyes." Olivia said as Adam and his group walked into Jay's shop. Jay was behind the counter, like expected, but Olivia seemed to be here chatting with him.

"Well that's what happens when you are out fighting cults and selling guns." Adam chuckled as he dropped off his bags on the counter. "Isn't that right Jay?" Adam smiled at him.

"Uhhh yeah, right." Jay said, looking a bit awkward. Adam shot him a confused look for a moment before Olivia hit him in the arm.

"Don't mind him, he's just having an off day." She said with a death glare at him. Jay seemed momentarily intimidated by Olivia before he sighed and began to take the weapons out of the bags to start a count.

"So how have you been, Adam?" She asked, leaning against the counter Jay was working on.

"Well, all things considered." He laughed softly. "Just finally got to visit some places that have been out of reach for a while, and I got some more things I have to do on the horizon. Still, now that the Horsemen are all gone, I think Chicago will start recovering."

"What about Death?" Olivia asked flatly.

"Death?" Adam asked back. "Was there ever a horseman of Death?"

"I don't know…" Olivia said, suspiciously. As if she suspected more than Adam knew. "But Chicago only dealt with three horsemen, not four."

"I mean… it was just a naming scheme, right? From what I remember Death was a boogeyman, there was no army, no evidence, just mishaps."

Olivia shrugged.

"You might be right. All I'm saying is, things in this world tend to not be wrapped up until all loose ends are tied. And right now, they are not." She then paused before adding: "That being said without all those crazies running around Chicago is a lot safer, so I know we have you to thank for it."

"I just did my part, I was no more important than anyone else."

"And look at you being all humble." She chuckled as she gently hit Adam's armored chest.

"6345 caps. Does that sound right to you?" Jay said, interrupting the conversation.

"I didn't really do a heavy inventory myself, but if that number sounds right to you, then I trust you." Adam smiled at him. In truth, with this final sale to Jay, this would make the total caps accumulated over all his journey to each settlement far more than what he made from raiding the FRS. Truly, selling nothing but guns and ammo made a huge difference. And it was not even all of them. A large portion of the weapons were kept in the armory for the Vault Guard to use for their own missions. Still, with this final bit of caps sorted, 1000 put aside for the vault again, and the rest split 5 ways, everyone was walking away with an additional 1069 caps. Incredibly lucrative. No doubt the APC which was packed to the near brim with guns was the greatest boon for this trip. Now, with 8818 caps to his name Adam was richer than ever before. He had some ideas of what to spend his money on but for the moment he was not rushing, simply having the money alone was a huge boon. Not to mention the fact that all his friends were now absurdly wealthy too. Some might argue that he as the leader should be taking the largest portion of the profit but he was quite content to spread the money evenly.

"Well, glad I could do business with you again, Adam." Jay said with a nervous smile and then took the guns into the back stockroom to organize them.

"What's with him?" Adam asked Olivia as Jay walked away. Olivia stared at Adam for a moment before she sighed.

"Truth is Midway is rife with rumors right now, Adam." She frowned. "You being a clone and all."

"Well yeah, but Jay knows me, he shouldn't be acting weird around me."

"Jay's a pushover, Adam." She said with a soft shake of her head. "He may look big and tough but he's weak to pressure. And right now he's getting a lot of it."

"From who?"

"The Guild." Olivia punctuated with a serious tone. "They have been spreading rumors about you for a while now. I'm not sure what the game is, but certainly there are some folks who are no longer fond of you." Adam frowned now too.

"I think I know." Adam said with a cold tone, but not directed at Olivia, but at Mr. Cantelli. "I am the clone of a man he hates. Then add in the fact that I was probably getting too popular in his town for his liking, two birds with one stone. He just wants to take me down a peg."

"Maybe." Olivia said back, slowly. "But don't take it to heart." She said softly. "In truth there is a vocal minority who are not your biggest fan thanks to the rumors, but the majority of the city still is rooting for you. I am one of them." She smiles sadly.

"Thanks Olivia." He smiled back.

"Now, come on, I have your request finished and I'm eager to take your caps." She chuckled and then led the group back to her own shop.

Once inside her shop she pulled out a series of metal shaped armor pieces built for a man twice Adam's size.

"For your super mutant." She smirked. Oh! Adam had completely forgotten he asked Olivia to do this for him.

"Wonderful! And will it fit her?" He asked.

"I made the straps adjustable so they can fit her just right. It's not my prettiest handiwork but it's certainly tough and will stop your super mutant friend from getting hit so often."

"Wonderful, how much does it run me?"

"That'll be 4500 caps." Adam nodded and then stole a glance at the Mark II combat armor still on its stand, he almost had enough for it again, but alas, his friend's armor came first. Still, who knows, one day it still might happen. However as he reached for his bag Percy spoke up out of nowhere.

"Actually, Ma'am." Percy interrupted. "I think me and my friends here will help pay for that." He smiled. Adam looked at him confused but before he could speak Mira did.

"You give us too much money." She said bluntly. "Besides, what do I need thousands of caps for? I'd rather spend my money on our fighting force to make them stronger."

"I agree." Deccanus said quickly. "It is only logical that we share the burden of the financial cost."

"Yeah but…" Adam said, feeling on the backfoot.

"Just accept it as our kind generosity." Percy smiled. "Besides, it's not like we are saying you can't pay for it, just let us share the cost." Adam sighed.

"Alright." He agreed, reluctantly. Everyone then chipped in exactly 1125 and the armor for Pearl was successfully purchased.

"Adam…" Olivia began slowly as he finished making his purchase. "Don't let the people who look down on you win. You have done so much for this city and Chicago. You don't deserve people's hate." Adam let off a soft chuckle and turned to look at her.

"Don't worry. They haven't beaten me yet." He said with a grin.