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Dogmeat groaned as she settled herself down, an old stuffed bear pinned between her paws. The trio had stopped for the night along the Long 15, long since abandoned after the NCR collapsed. Still, there were enough derelict trading outposts to scavenge a few decent meals, and it was well-trod enough that the local wildlife knew to stay well away, even if it had fallen into disrepair.
Lucy coughed, a branch shifting on the fire and sending soot and sparks up into her face. “Darn it, I thought I’d gotten the hang of fire building.”
“You play around with it too damn much, no wonder it collapses on you.” The Ghoul was lying, straight as a board, hat pulled down over his face. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Lucy huffed, sitting back down on the makeshift seat she’d procured. “It’s just smoke. Probably inhaled worse on the way here.”
“Good. Hate to mess up that pretty face.”
In the distance a pack of coyotes howled out to one another, the only sound in the quiet night aside from Dogmeat chewing on her bear. Lucy poked idly at the fire with a stick, trying not to think about what the Ghoul had just said.
“You think so?”
“Think what?”
She huffed. “That I’m pretty.”
The Ghoul sat up, setting his hat aside. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Lucy shrugged, not taking her eyes off the fire. “Not many people have expressed an interest is all. I mean, there was Maximus, and I’m pretty sure I caught a few of the Vault Dwellers in 4 taking a look, but… It’s just nice to feel desired sometimes, you know?” She looked up at the Ghoul, his face an entirely unreadable expression, even taking the Ghoul-ness into account. “What?”
“You want to feel desired? Wanted? Lusted after?”
She could tell from his tone that he was teasing her, and taking great delight in doing so. Against her will, Lucy’s cheeks blazed red, something she hoped was barely visible in the firelight, and she turned away, pouting into the darkness.
“Naw, come on now, Miss MacLean. Can’t be saying things like that and turning away, you didn’t even give me a chance to say yes.”
“What, that I want to be Lusted After?”
The Ghoul tutted. “That you’re pretty.”
Lucy turned back around, beaming with delight. “You really think so!?”
The Ghoul rolled his eyes, laying back down and pulling his hat over his face. “Miss Lucy, I’m two hundred some-odd years old, and it’s been at least that long since I set my eyes on someone as pretty as you. I’m old, kid, I’m not blind.”
Lucy lay down, staring up at the stars, her cheeks still blazing red, but no longer with embarrassment. He thinks I’m pretty, she thought to herself.
Maybe I think he’s handsome too.