temp pinned.

( and how could an old cowpoke say no to a face like that? )

ay . . . órale. well, ma'am, lemme at least find us a room or somethin'. ain't right, lettin' a nice señorita like y'self layabout out in the sand. there's a motel not far from here, i reckon. 'bout . . . eight-'n'-half miles that-a-way.

( a little smile. ) yeah. i guess you will.

still, i dunno, ma'am . . . i ain't sure you want a shaggy ol' dog like *me*. y' better off wi' one o' the richer, fancier men out there.

16.

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❝I am 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒂, last of the amazons, daughter of Circe, princess of Hell, witch of the wild isle. And you will not have this world while I still draw breath!❞
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well i don't want a sandy ass.

( considering. ) alright. but not out here. lady like you deserves somethin' nicer. 'sides, you'll learn real fast, sand gets *everywhere*. an' i mean *everywhere*.

well i sure do.

aw, well. i ain't no prude, ma'am. sure i screwed enough folk in my time.

thing is, they ain't usually so nice *and* pretty at the same time like you is.

howdy percy.

y' laughin'. i'm askin' what's a thot an' y' laughin'.

naw! naw. you don't gotta do any o' that. i mean, i'm old enough t' be y' papa. i heard a whole lot worse in the wasteland.

. . . what's a thot?

( he smiles too, tries to hide it by dipping the brim of his hat and covering his eyes. ) don't i know it.

oh, sure is. sometimes. 'pends on the people involved, i guess. just wasn' expectin' that from a pretty lil' vault dweller like you, 's all.

it's, uh . . . sure is awful forward, ma'am.

that's a relief. 'cos i thought you was gon' say you just stole 'em or somethin'.

where is that ranger? he owes me a pack o' seventh stars, i tell y'.

||: yea i gotta ask what would/does "only one account per person counts" even actually mean? do THEY get to pick the account? thats so funny

( climbing down a ladder: ) *al-right*, kim-girl, that there's the last o' them improvements t' your radio tower. she's gon' pur like a kitty who done got the roach. awful nice o' those folk to offer you all these materials f' free. where'd you say you got 'em from again? @warriorblood.bsky.social

i ain't never heard o' no talkin' sea-creature that ain't!

yeah, y' gotta be *real* careful with them mirelurks. never know what they're gonna do next.

same old same old, kid. y' makin' any new friends?

howdy, kid. you bein' good now?

who? i'll get 'em.

well, i try my darndest. here. lemme give y' a leg up . . .

lemme give you a hand up, miss maclean. she's a lot sweet from up top.

y' got a name, ma'am?

cooper howard? naw. man's too clean t' be a real cowboy. never seen a picture that don't look fake.

she's as real as the days is long. an' . . . ( he leans in; ariel whinnies, standing tall and proud, eyeing lucy carefully. ) she says she'd love t' have y'. she likes it when she gets fussed o'er.

be my pleasure, ma'am. ( he tips the brim of his hat. )

m' horse, 'course. what's a cowboy without a horse?

( he whistles. ) ariel! here girl! ( the mare comes clip-clopping, whinnying, shaking her head. he buries his head in the arc of her neck. )

now you be real good, 'kay? we got a guest.