Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
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Post by Zeus on Mar 25, 2013 18:14:43 GMT -5
As Kazmier steps out of the cart he thinks to himself about his mission. Being alone without any support unnerved the young stalker, but his father and all those at Baumanskya and the other stations of the alliance were counting on him. He was given the assignment to trek to Polis from his home station and then go into the Library. There were rumors of a secret base under the behemoth building with untold secrets and pre-war tech that Baumanski needed. Kazmier wasn't given any backup for the mission as they council feared that it would attract too much attention.
Loosing his train of thought by a guard bumping into him gave Kaz his next thought. He needed to resupply food and water at the market place and more ammo. His charger would keep his battery opperated things going but he needed medical supplies and other neccesities for the trip. After haggling down a vendor for some goods, Kazmier found the bar and decieded now was a good time to drink his fears away.
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Mar 27, 2013 18:17:34 GMT -5
"Pour us another one", said Balalaika, holding out an enamel cup. The barman, a grizzled man of forty, looked at her disapporingly.
"I'm not going to serve you another drink", he said, "that's the fifth vodka bottle you've had 'on your credit', and I've been told you sleep out on the platforms."
"Hey, fuck you", spat Balalaika, "accomodation is expensive in Polis."
"Yeah, sure. You're just a tramp, now get out before I call the guards."
"Fine, fine..."
Balalaika rose from her stool, glowering at the bartender. She swayed slightly as she weaved her way through the bar's smoky interior. She left the bar and stood, drunk and morose, on the platform. All around her were various shacks and tents housing Polis residents. The bar itself was a dirty old army issue tent that reeked of tobacco and cheap booze.
The short stalker swore and trudged off towards the edge of the platform, sitting down and letting her legs dangle over the edge. With a melancholy sigh she dug into her pocket and extracted three bullets, all that remained of her personal wealth.
A cart clattered by, its electric engine humming away. Balalaika gave work some thought, and tried to think of the kind of metro-based jobs she could do. Polis had no need of people like her doing station work, but they always needed stalkers and other gunslingers to go to the surface. Balalaika did not want to do the latter, not after the last time. She'd had her share of Moscow and its radioactive ruins.
But the more she thought of it, the more it seemed that she did not have much choice in the matter. Caravans were only a temporary and poorly paid job, and most stations preferred using local guards to hiring strangers. Maybe underground exploration had money in it?
If there was anything to be earned from exploring the Metro, Adder would be rich, she thought. Adder got along almost without any kind of income.
Balalaika suddenly needed a smoke. She reached for the tattered cigarette pack she kept in her pocket, but found it empty. She turned clumsily around and gave the platform a cursory look, searching for someone who might be generous enough to give her a cigarette.
Eventually she saw a young and nervous-looking man make his way towards the bar. She stood up and went towards him, calling out as she walked.
"Hey bro", she said, "you don't happen to have a spare smoke, do you? I'm dying for a fag."
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Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
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Post by Zeus on Mar 28, 2013 1:09:20 GMT -5
As Kazmier shyly approached the tent-bar, a short and obviously intoxicated stalker approached him and said "Hey bro, you don't happen to have a spare smoke, do you? I'm dying for a fag."
Kaz looked at one of his pockets and pulled out a whole pack and tossed it to her. "Here, I don't like to smoke. I'm going to go have a drink before I depart, I don't suppose you would like to join me?"
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Mar 31, 2013 16:25:01 GMT -5
Balalaika smiled at her good fortune. A whole pack of smokes! She tore the packet open and pulled out a single cigarette. Holding it between her lips she reached for her lighter. As she lit up, the generous young man said:
"I'm going to go have a drink before I depart, I don't suppose you would like to join me?"
A free drink too?
"I'd love to, chellovek", she said, puffing happily on her cigarette, "but I'm a bit skint. Last job didn't go too well and all that...where're you going?"
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Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
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Post by Zeus on Mar 31, 2013 22:57:55 GMT -5
"I'd love to, chellovek, but I'm a bit skint. Last job didn't go too well and all that...where're you going?"
Kazmier thought to himself Should I tell her where I am going, I don't know if father would approve. But... the company should be nice and having an extra gun at his side never hurts.
"Well, I'm from the stations of the Baumanski Alliance, and have been sent on a scavenging mission to The Library in the dead city. There are rumors of pre-war technology in the bowels of the building and we need it to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands." Kaz started to rethink asking her to come along but he quickly removed those thoughts from his mind.
"So I guess if you need some compensation you could tag along and help me find whatever tech in the area. Could be dangerous," He smirked "so what do you say?"
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Apr 2, 2013 14:24:06 GMT -5
At first Balalaika expected a simple caravan escort job. Her hopes were shattered when the young man mentioned the Library and the dead city. The fact that he smirked while talking about it unsettled her even more.
"The Library...you crazy?", she said, "have you ever been there? When Polis sends people to the library they send a small army. The place is a death trap filled with mutants..."
You need money, though.
"Maybe...maybe if you hired more guns you'd have a better chance at succeeding", she said. "But do not underestimate what you're up against, chellovek. The library's taken many lives."
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Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
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Post by Zeus on Apr 2, 2013 23:28:24 GMT -5
"Maybe...maybe if you hired more guns you'd have a better chance at succeeding", she said. "But do not underestimate what you're up against, chellovek. The library's taken many lives."
Kazmier understood the stalker's concern about the job and her recomendation of looking for more gunmen, but he feared there would be no time to sit around and wait. He replied with his smirk still there "I would love to sit around for some more people, but I fear the time is short. I have been ordered to continue on to the Library as soon as possible. I know the risks but it is mandatory to move as quickly as possible."
He continued after a long breath, "I am willing to wait for one day, but after that I'm moving on, with or without you. Keep in mind you will be payed quite handsomely.." He started his way to the bar and stood outside the entrance and gestured towards her if she wanted a drink and headed inside.
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Post by CaptainNips on Apr 8, 2013 5:00:11 GMT -5
Drunken laughter filled the bar, streaking into the smoky air. Mikhail sat alone. His presence almost dominating the room, all customers had seemed to congregate away from the Hansa fighter's table. But you couldn't blame em, the man surely didn't look welcoming. The man's head was shaven, some crooked scars going down the side of his head. The Hansa soldier was stocky and obviously well-armed. Mikhail drew his Bowie knife and began to spin it on the table, sticking it into the old wood. Mikhail's helmet was placed on top of the table, an ominous skull drawn with chalk onto the visor.
Mikhail then sighed and smoked his hashish in peace while playing with his knife. Blowing out a train of smoke into the air.
Nothing like a good break in Polis with my smokes. I wish every day was like this...
That's one thing about I like about Polis... unlike the Ring Line, they don't deprive me of my hash.
Mikhail chuckled to himself, silently. But the man coughed right after, already feeling light-headed.
But the people are so... dodgy around here. Glad to offer business but... dodgy.
He shrugged and looked from his seat, having a good view of the entrance. A tall and short bearded stalker entered, obviously not from here. From beyond the entrance, the Hansa fighter could just make out short stalker. Mikhail squinted his eyes and broodingly watched the pair, continuing to smoke his hash.
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Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
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Post by Zeus on Apr 8, 2013 9:27:45 GMT -5
Walking into the bar he immediately choked on the smoke and smell of alcohol. After coughing for a few seconds Kazmier looked around at the packed bar and couldn't find a table, until his eyes met a rough looking figure. He realized he is from the Ring Line, and he looks like he could kill a demon with his bare hands. Kaz felt slightly intimidated to go over there, but alas there were no more seats in the bar.
Taking a deep breath Kazmier made his way to the Hansa's table, he warily said "Hello, do you mind if I share your table?"
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Apr 8, 2013 15:54:47 GMT -5
"The surface will wipe that smirk of your face, mark my words", said Balalaika, who was starting to wonder if the young man had any experience. She'd known a few cocky young scavengers who had not heeded the tales surrounding the Great Library, and none had returned.
Nevertheless, a free drink was a free drink, and the youngster had agreed to wait for a day. Perhaps they'd be able to recruit a sizeable group of experienced scavengers. She followed the young man into the bar, giving the bartender an insolent smirk. The bar, however, was full and there was not a single table free. Balalaika followed her young companion to a nearby table. The table's sole occupant looked like an old soldier, or perhaps a caravan guard. Balalaika saw him play with a vicious-looking knife and reached for her own in case things went awry.
The young man hesitantly approached the lone occupant of the table: "Hello, do you mind if I share your table?"
"Do you mind if we share your table?", said Balalaika, butting into the exchange. "And that's a nice knife you have here...you a caravan guard?"
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Post by CaptainNips on Apr 8, 2013 17:33:51 GMT -5
Mikhail noticed the pair coming towards him. He looked at them questioningly.
The young man spoke, "Hello, do you mind if I share your table?"
The female stalker butted in, "Do you mind if we share your table? And that's a nice knife you have here... you a caravan guard?"
Mikhail nodded and replied shortly, "Indeed, for the Hanseatic League. Now please... sit."
Motioned to the two seats at the table and plucked his knife out of the wood. As he sheathed his Bowie knife, the Hansa guard removed his skull helmet from the table. He then stoically studied the pair with his dark green eyes, smoking his hashish.
"You two don't look like you're from around here, you Stalkers?"
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Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
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Post by Zeus on Apr 8, 2013 23:53:02 GMT -5
"You two don't look like you're from around here, you Stalkers?"
Kaz took his seat unequipped his pack and VSS Vintorez and carefully set it on the ground. "I can't speak for my new acquaintance here, but I am a stalker from the Baumanski Alliance." He waved over a server and ordered a glass of whiskey. "Can I buy you two a drink?" He said in a cautious but cheerful tone.
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Post by CaptainNips on Apr 9, 2013 1:53:23 GMT -5
Mikhail nodded to the Bauman, "Poka (Thanks)."
He then extinguished his hash roll into the table as he waited for Balalaika to speak, creating a small scorch mark in the wood. The Hansa leaned back in his seat, looking towards the female Stalker.
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Post by Lawnmower Joe on Apr 9, 2013 10:03:06 GMT -5
"I'm what could be considered a stalker", said Balalaika, raising an eyebrow as she caught a whiff of what the stranger was smoking.
A soon to be retired stalker, hopefully.
The young man, who'd revealed his affiliation with the Bauman crowd, offered Balalaika and the other stalker a drink. Balalaika smiled slightly and nodded. "Da, a drink would be nice."
She eyed the two stalkers seated beside her. She'd never worked with a Baumanskayan before and had seen very few of them round the Metro. In any case, if they managed to recruit the burly stalker they'd just met they would stand a much better chance at surviving the Great Library.
"Oh, I'm Balalaika by the way", she said.
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Zeus
Nosalis
Posts: 87
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Post by Zeus on Apr 11, 2013 1:54:16 GMT -5
"Oh, I'm Balalaika by the way", she said.
"A pleasure to meet you two." Kaz said sipping on his glass of shroom whiskey. "My name is Kazmier, you can call me Kaz. Outside Balalaika and I were discussing a job, if you perhaps would like a hefty payment, you could always come with." His courage building and his excitement started growing.
"You see, I was sent from my station alone to go to The Library. It may seem odd that a young man is going alone into such a death trap, but it isn't my first time in. I'm looking for any pre-war tech and having some extra guns at my side would be much appreciated. For your help the Baumanski Alliance will handsomely pay you in bullets or whatever you wish." He took another sip of whiskey, "So what do you say?"
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