Adam headed back to The Layover after a bite at The Oasis. It was just a sandwich, far smaller and less fancy than the meal he had earlier but it tasted much much better. Eve had even comped him the cost of the sandwich, she wasn't supposed to as the bar was not hers but as a 'friend' he got some perks. It was nice to know he really did have a friend. Two now, since he considers Salvatore one too. His efforts to rebuild a life for himself had not been in vain, he was making something, albeit slowly.
Once he was at The Layover he topped up his room, adding an additional 2 days just so he wouldn't have to worry about running out on another trip yet. He had wasted time… and money, he was now down to 1645, still quite a sizable amount. But considering yesterday he had over 3000 caps he had thrown a lot away. Whatever, he was over his inner crisis and could look forward again, neigh, he had to look forward. He needed a new plan, a new goal. He may have been programmed to head to Second Life but now he was a free man, he would find a direction, if not now, eventually. For now he was content to just live.
He used his last washer dryer coin to wash his vault suit. Once it was clean he put it back on and stared at himself in the mirror for a while. This is who he was now. And that was okay.
Finally, a day of self-doubt and discovery was over, he went to bed.
The next day, after spending 35 caps on breakfast, he sought out Salvatore, heading to ghoul town. Unlike the other times he came to visit him he didn't have a plan in mind, he probably should get out there and do some more work, but he was set for a little bit and hadn't given any thought on where to go or when. If nothing else he just wanted to update him on his schedule.
"Good to see you up and about, kid." Salvatore grinned as Adam entered the Inn.
"Took me a minute, I had to sit with your words and figure it out. I also got advice from another friend." Adam said as he took a seat next to him.
"What matters is you pulled yourself through." He flagged down Claire. "I'll buy a drink to celebrate. I mean regardless of the outcome you did what you set out to do." Adam chuckled softly and then sighed.
"I kind of… went a bit hard yesterday with the drinking… I'm fine now but I'm going to pass on the drinks today." Claire walks over.
"Well I have plenty more than just alcohol." She said with a smile and then looked at Salvatore. "Not that you'd know it by looking at him."
"How I spend my caps is my business." Salvatore said back as he hid himself behind his glass, sipping at it. She shook her head and then looked at Adam again.
"How about an ice cold Nuka Cola?"
"That sounds fantastic actually." Adam smiled.
"Wonderful, I'll put it on Salvatore's tab, he did offer after all, I ain't about to let him make a liar of himself~" She said playfully with a wink to the two of them before walking off to grab Adam the drink. Salvatore sighed and Adam chuckled.
"Ah kid…" Salvatore said changing the subject. "I feel bad about telling you this, especially since after what you just learned but… I got another job. I won't be gone for too long, just a week or two probably, but I'm not going to take your requests while I'm busy."
"Ah." Adam said with some surprise. He was caught off guard by the suddenness but this was always an outcome, Salvatore did tell him from the outset that he was his for hire whenever Adam needed but that he wouldn't wait around like a puppy.
"I didn't know how long it would take to pull yourself out of your dark cloud and I got offered a contract so I snagged it. Sorry." Adam shook his head with a smile.
"No, it's okay, I knew this was always a possibility. I can make due without you for some time, go make your living, man."
"I'll toast to that." Salvatore said as he raised his glass as a salute and then drank it, a moment later Adam's Nuka Cola arrived. "So are you still Adam? Planning on changing your name?" He asked, curious.
"No, I'm still Adam." He sighed as he uncorked the Nuka cola and pocketed the cap. "The other me died when the bombs fell, no doubt. I am me, he is me, and I am him, I can't live as anyone but myself, no sense trying to be someone else." Salvatore let off a single laugh.
"Can't say I understand what you just said, but I also get it. Be yourself kid, like I told you in the building."
"It was good advice." Adam grinned, sipping at his drink again. God, the Nuka cola was good today. He really should drink more. He loved Nuka Cola.
Adam hung out with Salvatore for another hour or so and then headed back into Midway proper. He still had plenty of caps. Even if he wanted to wait out the time until Salvatore got back he could probably manage it, though if he was going to do that he would rather head back to Naper, it was cheaper. But Midway was the land of opportunity. Even if he wasn't going to go on any more runs until he was back, which was unlikely, he could still find plenty of other jobs to do. He had options.
For the moment he decided to spend some time doing odd jobs around to pad his finances a bit, as well as take on more item requests.
Adam had begun to notice that people had started to recognize him. Not so much on sight or even by name. But he was creating waves as the man who 'could get anything someone wants done.' Which was an extreme exaggeration and worried him about what kind of requests might come his way. But having a reputation preceding him was useful, he had already gotten more requests for items in a few hours than he had the last few times he did this collectively.
One or two of the requests were so simple he could buy the item from a vendor. Those he delivered the same day, usually he made a loss of caps doing it this way, but to help this reputation he was apparently building it was useful. Overall he only made a loss of 12 caps. Definitely worth it.
Obviously he couldn't complete any of the more difficult item requests today, but he did manage to do two odd jobs while he was out in town, netting him a collective 142 caps. It really did show that he could make a living doing this if he put his mind to it. He had so many marketable skills after all. But nothing was as fulfilling as being a Scaver so he wasn't looking for a job change.
Dinner time rolled around and he went to the food court to grab a meal. 39 caps today. He went with something more exotic, perhaps as a symbol of embracing his new life, his new future. The dish was middle eastern in origin, but was something that only existed after the bombs fell, or so the vendor claimed. Either way it was tasty.
However half way through his meal he was met with an unexpected visitor taking a seat across from him at the food court table. Deccanus.