Board Thread:Fanmade/@comment-27358240-20180405224623/@comment-26912075-20180412193236

In the wasteland, a single engine can be heard moving. The heavily decayed trees kept along with their slow rot into non-existence, as the crack's in the road signified to any traveler to not walk or ride upon it. Still, in this vast land of grey, Paulie persevered. Though the bleak sky concealed the ever descending sun, and though the weather could, at any moment, rain inches of acid down upon him, turning him into nothing more than a slight remembrance on the tongue of the shogun, Paulie didn't seem to care all that much. He wasn't overly cautious and checking corners as he was in the Capital, but instead found himself in an unusual and possibly unfitting sense of ease. He continued to ride through the wasteland until he happened upon a small village that, while it's buildings are broken and chipped beyond recognition, Paulie felt nostalgic for. The greenery of the ground still leaped up and clung to the building's edges, which is quite a sight considering what has happened and is occurring just a dozen or so miles southward. While the city may be claimed for several different groups, none would be so brave as to venture there, as all its value had been drained many years ago. Or, at least, that is what those groups had believed...

Paulie rode into the city center, stopping for just a brief moment to lackadaisically check his surroundings for possible threats. Paulie saw nothing of the sort. He continued to look around until he reached the back end of a building that used to be a bar. He places his hand on the wall next to him, slightly flinching because of the cold, while navigating around the plethora of broken bottles that lied in the grass before him. After he passes by that minor obstruction, he reaches what he had sought after, a moss-covered door to the old cellar of the pub. Paulie reached down and knocked on the door three times, each with varying intensity. The door then slowly opened, revealing the figure of a middle-aged woman wearing a blue dress with a gun pressed tightly against her bosom. Her worried expression disappears as she sees the shape of Paulie looming over her. Her blue eyes and tired face put on a smile towards him and Paulie does the same.

"Welcome home, Paulie."

"Glad to be back, Linda."

Paulie climbs down into the chamber to find a room with plastic covered furniture, obscene amounts of dust, and a single candle to light it all. Paulie drops off a bag he was carrying in.

"These are the provisions for this week, Linda. I hope you have enough for both you and Maryanne." Paulie walks over to the corner of the room to find a baby carriage covered in dust, with a sleeping infant laying inside. "She's doing well, I see."

Linda looked at him solemnly, but regained composure and joined him in looking at the toddler. "I suppose she is for what it's worth. It's hard to raise a child like this in this world." Paulie placed his arm around the woman, and she laid his head upon him.

Paulie lifts his arm towards the table where the candle sat in the middle of the room and the adjacent couch. "Shall we?"

"Yes."

They sat on the couch and talked about many things while the sun drew deeper into the evening. Eventually, however, the conversation ceased, and Paulie informed Linda that he had to go.

"Promise me you'll return this time."

Paulie laughed at that a little. "Haven't I told you? One day, I'll bring you and Maryanne to the capital, and we will all sit in luxury. All conflict will be over then. The perfect life if I have a say. Until that happens, I must live and continue my duties." Paulie raised his arm and waved to Linda. "Be safe. Know that I will always love you. I hope that's enough to satisfy you for now." Paulie rose from the basement and returned to the surface, a satisfied look remaining on his face. After a few seconds of taking in the environment, he returned to his vehicle and set out back for the heart of the Crimson Dynasty, determined to see his promise through to the end.