Send them in the wrong direction

"Well, if I have to be honest, I'd suggest going back south. I hear there's a ghost town in that direction off the path. I believe there's a small group of bandits down there that might be using mutants to do their, ah, stealthier objectives."

He laughs. "Bandits doing something stealthy?"

"Mutants are cheap on the market, if you can find them, and it keeps any real contracts away from them." You shrug and then sigh. "Bandits up here aren't all that dumb. Contracts and bounties stack up over the winter, get enough them piled up, you could face some real heat."

Suddenly, your first common doesn't seem all that stupid. Ashley thinks for a moment and up at you. "Subbies aren't that kind of trouble. We'll just stick around in town for a bit. Maybe over the weekend we'll feel a braver and check 'er out. Until then, I think my crew and I will be resting."

Fuck. That didn't work. Did I make this worse?

"Well, I suppose we'll be seeing each other pretty frequently then, won't we? I'm also staying here for the winter."

Ashley expression changes. Darkens notable. "Hopefully we won't be butting heads all that often. I don't much like fighting over meals or scraps."

"I'm doing aight. If you guys want all the spoils, by all means." You try to find some common ground, but something in his demeanor has changed. "With that said, I'd be willing to lend a helping hand out."

Your eyes switch to Delilah, who had been listening the whole time. She perks up and blushes when she notices your eyes on hers. "Oh...Well, uhm yeah...Being a tavern and all we can also offer free nights..."

She gives you a small smile before she drifts to Ashley, who is now looking at her too. She stammers and lets out a half-hearted laugh. "That'll allow a better income for you bounty hunters. Contractors don't only take money, in fact they are less likely at times."

Ashley starts to nod. "It takes someone with a cold heart to live the life of a true bounty hunter. Being flushed with cash and being able to go anywhere you want is nice though."

Delilah blinks. "Surely, you don't have that much money."

He smiles and leans into the counter. "Pretty much. I came out of Florida. You know how far that is from here?"

"Florida? I've always wanted to see the place for myself. I've heard rumors that's recovered fairly-well since the bombs have dropped." Delilah leans closer to you. "You've been down there haven't you?"

You open your mouth to say something, but Ashley is quick to cut you off. "Mexico too, during the little Lone Republic dispute. Shoot, them Mexicans tried to hire to into one of their hired arms. Being born in this here country however, I decided to reject the offer."

Whenever actual politics got involved, Delilah usually fell away from the conversation, and this was no different. Her expression lights and she looks at you, shrugging, indicating that she's now lost interest with the counter. You came back in and craned your neck. "Back to business. I'll help you search even. I could use some time out of this tavern."

"Hey, that doesn't sound too bad of a idea. How about we meet up in the morning and do A proper ride out to Lakeside?" He extends his hand out and you shake it.

"I'll meet you in the morning then." You tell him just as Delilah sighs. Apparently, you'll have to visit her before morning breaks.