I was supposed to save Eleanor, not want to sleep with her. And Cal, while fair game, was in love with Eleanor. Did I want to get messed up with that?
Kind of, yeah.
We reached town and I parked next to Scissors. I helped Eleanor off their ride and quickly dropped her hand.
"Ready for the grand tour?" I exclaimed and waved my arm at the large sign above us. "This is Scissors, named after the owner of this fine establishment. It's our watering hole."
"Watering hole?" Eleanor asked.
"Bar. Alcohol, music, obnoxious dancing. You ever been to one?" I knew the answer, but rather enjoyed it when she got uncomfortable. "It's alright, I'll take you sometime. Let me show you the rest of the town."
Callahan and Eleanor followed behind me while I took them past various buildings.
"That over there is Desperate Pleasures." I pointed to the tallest building still standing from before the bombs that I'd seen. It was five stories tall and housed the most unsavory members of town.
"Why did they paint over the original sign?" Eleanor pointed to the large piece of wood that used to sayDesert Point Pleasures. I grinned.
"Everything gets renamed in the wastelands. Before the bombs, this was a fancy hotel. Now, it's rented by the hour. You ever hear the phrase 'desperate times call for...'"
"Desperate Pleasures! I get it!" She squealed. She frowned an instant later. "Oh. So it's..."
"It's a whore house, sweetie. Which, I'd stay any day over Decimal's Row."
"Decimal's Row?" Cal asked from behind us.
"The church. They own a whole street. It's their own little cult. They do nothing but preach about sin and take people's money. Come on, there's a few more places I want to show you."
I went through the town, pointing out townsfolk and various things I thought they'd find useful.
"Now, it's important to know where all the PHUCKs are. There's one, but they have them probably every 20 miles or so. They’re pretty identifiable."
"Fucks?" Callahan asked.
"PH. President Harrison's Urgent Care Kiosks. PHUCK for short. If you get hurt, go get PHUCKED. They have just about anything you'll need. You can usually get one of their doctors to attach limbs even. Now, for the grand finale." I grinned. I'd been waiting to get to this place. "I have someone I want you to meet, Eleanor."
"Me?" Her brown eyes grew large and shiny.
"Yes, doll, you. Come," I offered my hand and she took it without hesitation. My eyes flicked to Callahan's. He glared but said nothing. "You coming?"
"Actually, I'd like to check out these med stations. I'm intrigued."
I shrugged and turned back.Together, hand in hand, Eleanor and I walked past Decimal's Row to a small building with a small sign on a post in front of the steps.
"Sketchy Shit," Eleanor said, giggling after. "I love this town. Everything is named so... fun. Wait, let me guess before we go in." She scrunched her face up in the most adorable way and then shook her head. "I've got nothing."
I tugged her up the stairs and through the swinging doors.
"Boogie? You here?" I called into the dimly lit room. A loud buzzing filled the room. It stopped.
"I'm here."
Eleanor looked around. The walls were decorated with large pieces of parchment with drawings all over them with prices underneath. There were shelves of stuffed animals and behind the counter were various jewelry for noses and ears and the like.
"Is this a?—”
Eleanor was cut off as a large, burly, hairy man stepped out from the back room, gloves still on, looking annoyed. He looked from me to tiny Eleanor beside me. "What's this?"
"This is Eleanor. She wants to tattoo."
