Win their trust

A plan is taking shape. You have always been better at scheming than at cleaning pipes and metal grating… which you have to do a lot when you live in a Vault. Maybe that is why the Overseer chose you for this. Or maybe the Overseer knew that promising you answers about Daisy would be enough motivation for you to get your ass in gear.

But you can worry about that later.

Cherry continues to challenge you with her gaze, but you match her. You’re taller and larger than she is, and you are not easily intimidated. Queen Tess is still here, now standing off to the side, probably wishing she could disappear. You wish she’d disappear as well; she’s in the way.

“Can I sit?” you ask, gesturing at the sofa.

“Why?” Cherry asks, all suspicion.

“I have a business proposal.”

“Yeah?” She sneers. “I thought you came here looking for those two useless, thieving pricks.”

“I did. For business,” you add, putting your hand on your hip.

Cherry snorts and flops on the couch. She’s not being very demure, and you can see between her legs. It’s not an explicit view; she’s wearing underwear, but that old T-shirt is still a tease. Cherry is no Daisy… she’s skinnier, smaller, her hair isn’t as pretty, and she’s mean. The glimpse still triggers a memory for you: Daisy lying beside you in bed, probably asleep, wearing just a pair of blue Vault panties.

You focus.

“What’s that thing on your head?” Queen Tess asks.

You instinctively reach back to touch the metal object in your neck.

“I fell down,” you say. “My Vault had to put it in to help me get better, I guess.”

“Weird. And shut up,” Cherry barks at Queen Tess, who cringes. “What’s your business proposition, Vault Girl?”

“Everyone I fucking meet thinks I’m spying,” you tell her bluntly. This scheme is great because you’re telling the truth. “But I’m not. You know what that makes me think?”

“What?” Cherry asks, looking serious now instead of cocky.

“That maybe I should try it.” You have her attention, so you walk over to the sofa and sit beside her. She tenses. “Relax. I’m unarmed,” you say. “Your people wouldn’t have let me in otherwise.”

Cherry knows that’s true. She still folds her arms and scoots away from you.

Now that you’re close, your smoldering gaze works on her. Cherry no longer feels like she’s in charge. You have the upper hand. In terms of personality, this girl reminds you a lot of Trixie.

“Can we talk alone?” you ask her. She’s nervous, but she wants to look tough.

“Go away,” she snaps at Queen Tess, who leaves looking dejected.

You’re alone with Cherry. The building is old but solid. You heard muffled laughter a few minutes ago, but that’s about it. You feel confident that no one is listening in.

Great… now all this spy stuff has you worrying about it too. But it’s OK. You have a plan.

“Seems to me like there’s an opportunity here,” you say to Cherry, who is still suspicious and guarded. “I didn’t come here to spy on you. I came as a favor to Reggie because she promised me something.”

“What?”

“A house.”

Cherry snorts but says nothing.

“So I’m thinking… that I take Shiv and Shank back with me,” you suggest.

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Excuse me?”

“Think about it. I get my house. And I earn Gurlberg’s trust.”

“And what do I get?” Cherry asks.

“You could make a friend.”

She isn’t stupid. She understands what you’re proposing. If she takes this deal, it’ll put you in a bind. It will also put you in a position of power. Nothing’s ever easy or simple. Cherry knows that.

She crosses her bare legs and clasps her hands, assuming a sullen expression. She’s not upset, she’s just thinking. So she no longer feels like she has to put on an act with you. The cards are on the table.

“I know you can’t trust me,” you tell her. “I’d give you collateral.”

“What?”

You show her the D.I.C.K. device. All Vault-Tec is valuable.

“What is it?” she asks, unimpressed.

“Doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’ll want it back. Do you want to make a deal?”

She scowls at the wall for a moment. “Can you find out where Boss Murphy keeps the shit she steals from me?”

“Are you sure she’s doing it?” you ask.

Cherry laughs bitterly. “Yeah.”

“Then I’ll find it,” you say.

Cherry looks at you and nods, then points at the device. “And what do you want in return?”

What you really want is Queen Tess’s DNA. She’s hung and she’s a beauty; her DNA will almost certainly please the D.I.C.K. device. But you aren’t sure how possessive Cherry is of her, so you aren’t about to say that right now.

“What have you got?” you ask.

“I can pay. Or I can give you chems.”

“Are you Striker’s supplier?” you ask.

“Mind your business, Vault Girl.”

“Fair enough.” You hand her the device, then offer your hand. Still suspicious, she shakes it. “My name’s Jane.” You lean back comfortably. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Sure,” Cherry says.

“Hey, I saw Queen Tess when she came to yell at Boss Murphy. You said she can’t get it up?” you ask personably.

Cherry snorts derisively. “Stupid wimp wouldn’t know what to do with it even if she could.” She rolls her eyes.

“I don’t have that problem,” you say.

Cherry tenses slightly. She looks at your face, then at your crotch. She’s already seen the bulge. You gaze at her.

“What?” she asks, blushing.

“You just seem tense, that’s all,” you say.

“Is there really a whole Vault of girls like Tess?” Cherry asks, unable to help herself.

You nod. “Want to see?”

“Sounds like you want to show me,” she replies.

You point at the door. “I can just take the girls and go,” you say.

She puts her hand on your thigh and glares at you, then jerks her chin toward your groin.

“Shut up,” she says.

Smiling, you unzip your bodysuit and pull your cock out of your underwear. It’s not as long as Tess’s, but it’s noticeably thicker. Cherry’s eyes get huge as you give it a few pulls and it swells in front of her.

“It’s OK,” you say.

She reaches out, and her tiny hand is cool on your skin. She’s impressed. Cherry seems to notice how transfixed she is and looks up at you, blushing, but all she gets is your lusty gaze, right into her eyes. She wants you, but everything is politics. Even this.

Let her do what she wants?

Or show her what you can do?