Promises

[Alice Gregory]

Alice, Seth and Tonka settled into a routine in Oberon. Seth helped out with the security and did stalker type runs with other guards which kept them fed and sheltered. Not to mention that Violet and Red took care of them too. It didn't mean that the ex-prostitute wasn't getting restless sitting around what felt like all day. There wasn't much to do as far as forms of entertainment and with her previous job out of the question she didn't have any work either.

Eventually she started to talk to Seth about teaching her how to stalk. She'd only been on the surface the one time she got sick but her face was healed and she figured it was time to try it. To give her something more than a mundane life of hoping he came home every day.

The argument always ended with. "I know you're capable I just don't think its the right time yet."

Finally, Alice made it the right time by convincing her brother Derek to stall Seth, as he was the partner for that day, to let Alice come along. "Today," she said to her Dorogoy.

@Dragon

[Seth "Aleksandr" Redford]

Seth had been ready to go for a while now. The extra delay had him shifting in place, side eyeing Derek irritably. The man kept holding them up for various reasons - making sure he hadn't forgotten extra filters, checking this and that. By the time they reached the entrance, Seth was grinding his teeth. One more delay and he intended to leave the other behind. 

It was as he was preparing to do just that when Alice appeared. She was dressed for travel and carrying a pack as she stated her intention. 

"I'm not so sure today is the best time," Seth frowned, looking over his shoulder toward Derek - though, now that he was speaking the man looked primed and ready to head out immediately. 

@Morrigan

[Alice Gregory]

"Its never a good time Dorogoy. I want learn and unless you want someone else to teach me, we're starting today," she said to him.

@Dragon

[Seth "Aleksandr" Redford]

Seth ground his teeth as he searched for an argument. In the end the look in her eye led him to relent, "No time like the present, right?" He sighed. 

@Morrigan

[Alice Gregory]

“Derek helped me pack so I should have everything. We can talk about it more when we come back,” she said to him as they prepared to leave and the airlock started to open.

@Dragon

[Seth "Aleksandr" Redford]

Seth shot Derek something of a dirty look, but held his tongue. He had been promising to take her up for weeks now. Knowing Alice like he did, it really wasn't much of a surprise that she'd taken matters into his own hands. And now there was no argument to keep her here - at least, none that didn't stem from his own fears. 

"Let's head up, then," he said, starting for the air locks. 

@Morrigan

[Alice Gregory]

Alice smiled over to her brother as she followed Seth up toward the steps. He really couldn't blame Derek too much, he was trying to reconnect with his sister who he thought had been dead for twenty years. He was trying to give himself points.

Derek had gotten her a rifle but she also had her desert eagles in her pack just in case. She wanted to thank Seth for relenting but she figured he was upset enough as it was. She needed this though and she was just happy to not be stuck in the station again.

The run itself was supposed to be simple. Just an attempt to find some supplies in areas they hadn't checked before even though the city seemed to have been scoured.

@Dragon

[Seth "Aleksandr" Redford]

The airlocks opened with a grinding groan of rust and metal. The guards stepped out for a moment, peering upward, then motioned the trio onward. Seth took the lead as they started up the dilapidated escalators. He adjusted his mask a final time as they neared the top, then set both hands on his rifle. 

"Looks calm enough," he observed once they were fully on the surface. It was quiet, save the sounds of loose snow being driven by the wind, "Look sharp." 

@Morrigan

[Alice Gregory]

Alice had to admit the mask was uncomfortable. Her wounds had healed but the skin was still tender. She ignored it as she followed Seth up the escalator toward the top. It was the second time in a long time that she'd actually been on the surface and she didn't want to admit she was anxious. She breathed out slowly as she nodded to Seth.

She wanted to do this.

This was important to her.

She needed this.

Derek bumped her shoulder and was smiling behind his mask as she noticed she stopped moving for a second. "You've got this," he said to her.

Alice smiled back and nodded as she followed after Seth.

@Dragon