“Your money or your life,” drawled Jack as he entered his usual routine. As far as he was concerned, it was a fair transaction: they either paid him in caps, or he took their lives as payment. Without fail, one was worth more to them than the other, though it was fairly obvious which he valued more.
“J-just a moment,” his target stammered as she rummaged through her pouch. “You’ll have your m-money.” Women made for easy targets, especially if they traveled alone. And not for particularly sexist reasons. Whatever Jack may be - bandit, desperado, raider - he was no bigot. No, he stole from everyone equally.
“Right, ya got another minute,” he responded. His patience was wearing thin, but his wallet was even thinner. He needed the caps, and he needed them immediately. So he waited. Waiting on a lady was the polite thing to do, anyway, he reasoned, and he was nothing if not polite. Even when relieving her of her valuables.
“One minute’s just enough time for you to reconsider robbing me,” the woman before him spoke, voice as clear as a non-irradiated day.
Jack raised an eyebrow. “An’ why would I do that?” In this situation, he clearly had the upper… hand? The sharp blade of an old sword rested upon his collarbone before he had time to react. He swallowed hard in an attempt to maintain his composure. “Right… Maybe this ain’t worth it after all,” he admitted.
“Good choice.” The sword did not budge an inch, its cold steel biting ever so slightly into Jack’s neck.
“So, uh, lady,” he began.
“My name is Alexis White, and you shall address me accordingly,” she interrupted him. Perhaps more accurately, the prick of her sword interrupted him.
“Miss, uh, White, would you mind…” his voice trailed off as he flicked his eyes toward the blade.
“Not until you answer my question: what is your name?”
“Jack. Jack Cobb, ma’am.” She gave a satisfied nod before removing her sword from his neck.
“Well, Mister Cobb, you’re in luck. I happen to be require a few extra guns for my journey. It’s a paying job, naturally, and you’d be smart to accept my offer while it’s fresh,” Alexis shifted her sword arm menacingly. “But before I continue, tell me, is this how you treat a lady? Waving a gun in her face with a bandana over your mouth like some buffoon. For shame, sir.” Jack couldn’t believe it. Here he was, a simple Raider trying to earn a not-quite-honest living, being lectured by the woman he was robbing. Not that he was exactly in a position to interrupt, of course, but the irony simply did not escape him. He removed his mask and his hat like a gentleman ought to and bowed his head.
“Sorry, ma’am. Won’t happen again.”
“And about the job?” Jack hesitated. He did not like the direction this was going. A job where the pay, let alone the details, was not yet laid out meant trouble, and lots of it. Sensing his indecision, his would-be-employer flourished her blade.
“Well, I’ll take it,” he acquiesced.
Miss White smiled at his response and tossed him a small pouch. “Here’s a hundred caps for your trouble. I’ll be calling on you soon. Don’t disappoint.” Her tone was merry, but it failed to hide the menacing implications of her words.
As he watched her stroll away, Jack was struck by a strange thought: Did the money mean he just successfully robbed someone, or did he just gain employment in the most unexpected way? It was a thought that would trouble him for the rest of the week.
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