Kristin Blamco - Dreams & Flashbacks
The Berserker Princess, fueled by the psycho-laced stimpack had conquered her very first foe. A super mutant, wielding nothing more than a bumper sword had fallen to her now-broken sledgehammer. Her battle-sisters cheers could be heard from all around the rocky canyon. Those that had opted to using conventional firearms had signalled to their father that Kristin had succeeded, in melee combat no less.
Kristin, however, had collapsed to her knees. While coughing up blood, she could feel a definite swelling on one side of her face somewhat numbed by the effects of the stimpack. The injured Princess was aided by her battle-sisters, helping her to stand up and walk.
"Not just yet!", bellowed the voice of Kristin's father as he approached the dead super mutant, "You have made me proud beyond words, my dearest daughter! This - ", he held out the sword claimed from her opponent, "This is your blade now. You have earned the right to don the finest armor we have available. For you, Kristin Blamco, are the first of your sisters to willingly choose the path of the blade and succeed!"
Content that she could bring such joy to her father, the injured Princess grabbed the grip of the sword, only to underestimate it's weight and drop it. Her father laughed, "Fret not, you will get used to it."
"Why do we do this?", uttered the injured Princess, "Beyond the glory of combat, I mean."
It's not just about combat, Kristin. How many lives do you think you saved here today?, Kristin's father cut in.
"My own?", Kristin answered weakly, beginning to feel the extent of her wounds.
"Think beyond yourself.", her father replied with a soft-hearted smile, "Potential is key. This beast had the potential to kill one, two or maybe even ten people. Perhaps someone else would have struck this beast down. You never truly know and that's the very point."
Kristin's father stopped to stroke his beard, frowning ever-so-slightly. "How do I put this..."
"The Brotherhood hole themselves up in a bunker. The NCR squabble amongst themselves. The Legion care not for their fellow man. New Vegas cares only for itself. But what can we, as Blamco's, do? We can fight for others much like we provide for others. We fight where others may run. And in the face of ridicule, hopelessness and death: We remain brave above all."
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8 years have passed since that speech.
And Kristin Blamco took those words to heart.
[hr]
Kristin Blamco - Megaton: Moriarty's Saloon
Face your fears
And Kristin Blamco took those words to heart.
[hr]
Kristin Blamco - Megaton: Moriarty's Saloon
Face your fears
The Sleeping Princess stirred from her slumber, vastly underestimating just how physically drained she was. Blinking softly, she discovered Jonathan standing nearby, he must have been the source of the disturbance.
"I have brought you clothes," Jonathan started firmly, "I'm sorry if they aren't of the best condition, they were the best I could get at such a time." he continued as he put the paper bag on the bed, next to her feet.
"Thank you...", murmured the Sleepy Princess, slowly getting her bearings once more as she sat up and pulled the paper bag onto her lap. Growing eager to inspect her new set of clothing.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll be in the bathroom. I need to change my clothes." Jonathan concluded, entering the nearby bathroom and closing the door behind him, leaving Kristin to her own devices.
If one could imagine a mini-Kristin pressing the power button on her brain, the real Kristin jolted awake when she properly took stock of what she was wearing, or more accurately, what she wasn't wearing. Putting her bra on once more, she bit her lip anxiously - had he seen? Of course he had seen! This was going to devalue her argument somewhat. On another note, he didn't take advantage of the situation - and for that, the Princess was thankful. Falling asleep without securing the room was careless, then again, she was used to having 17 Butler Bots guarding her room in New Vegas at all times.
Kristin emptied the contents of the paper bag onto the bed. Of all the things that Jonathan could have found for her, this article of clothing was not something that she would particularly wear back at home. Not out of snobbish contempt, don't get her wrong, she was just unaccustomed to clothing bearing the signs of fire damage.
Opening a nearby closet door had revealed a full-length mirror for her to properly model her new clothing. The plaid skirt was frayed at the edges, but it rested above the knees, an acceptable length. A stained, or rather burnt sleeves of a button-up white dress shirt was next. It was one size too large for her, but this was remedied when she opted to roll up her sleeves. Digging through her bag, Kristin fetched her emergency stockings, an item to keep her legs warm during cold days. The black stockings contrasted well with the white shirt. Stepping back to adjust her hair, she played with the idea of tying it up or letting it hang loose. She decided on the latter, all her hairpins were being used to substitute for missing buttons on the shirt.
Overall, she looked like a college graduate playing up a school uniform for a party. It was quite the departure from her silver plate-reinforced leather armor appearance. She didn't dislike it, but she could see the potential for this being an outfit for Jonathan's excitement.
Oh dear.
Her mind just had to go there.
All dressed, with little else to do, Kristin was left alone with her thoughts. Of which she had many, and of those thoughts, questions, unsettling implications and the much-loathed creep of vulnerability had arisen. Kristin appreciated the little gestures of kindness that was given to her, yet the manner in which they were handled and the harsh coldness that emanated from Jonathan made her question why he was still around.
Kristin wanted nothing more than a guide on the East Coast, since Lucy Black had refused. And while part of her entertained the notion of friendship, her relationship with Jonathan had grown strangely complicated. One moment, she was aiding him in battle with near-flawless communication, the next, she was talked down to for her inability to keep up with #411's web of manipulation. It was clear that Kristin preferred the direct approach, one steeped in honesty. Jonathan, however, had no qualms with subversion. As impressive as his display was, it did raise the worrying question: Was he just humoring her?
It wouldn't be the first time that she had lost friends to attempted exploitation because of her wealth or influence. Although in the East Coast, Kristin possessed neither wealth nor influence. She had a family name and the abilities to prove it, that was all.
Even if that weren't the case, what was Jonathan's plan for the Blue-Haired army of untrained young females? Surely he could not ignore that. They would needlessly be marching to their death, and while Kristin would prefer to train these females to be competent in their own right...she would much rather convert them to a more peaceful cause. That of Blamcoism, with an army of her own, cheese will run through the streets. Either way, her conscience will not allow her to stand by while these girls were being used as cannon fodder.
Kristin replaced the dead energy cell on her mini-microwave, heating white cheese and noodles while she waited for Jonathan.
She couldn't put this off forever, Kristin needed to talk to Jonathan and discover what kind of future they would have together.
Knocking on the bathroom door, Kristin paused a little before she piped up.
"Mister Jonathan.", she was being formal, that wasn't a good sign. "Thank you for my outfit, it's - erm - certainly different from what I usually wear."
Noticing the gap between the stockings and skirt, she imagined that this outfit might have some implications on its own. Something which she needed to rectify immediately.
Be brave at all times.
"I - I - ", Kristin almost punched the door in frustration. She's fought super mutants in melee combat! What was so preposterously difficult about this kind of confession!? With a sigh and a pause, she swallowed her pride and continued. "I don't know what you think of me, or what kind of person you think I am - and that's something I want to discuss - although, I fear that I might have the wrong impression about you - which is also something I want to discuss - and there are things I need to explain - but you - I don't know if you want to in the first place..."
She was babbling nervously. Then silence fell. A few moments passed before a softer, less-strained reply had followed.
"I didn't have enough money to afford two rooms. Then the clothes, and the radiation happened - I trust your judgement, so I got undressed.", Kristin audibly groaned and just blurted out the next sentence. "I'm a virgin, okay? This is not how I want it to happen, not that there's anything wrong with you!", she added earnestly.
She was happy that a door was separating them.
"I'm just not ready for it at all.", Kristin concluded sadly. More disappointed with herself, of all the things that could strike fear into her heart, it was the act of sex and the vulnerability surrounding it. "I'm sorry if I ruined your evening."
She opened her mouth to say more on the subject, but she was feeling painfully insecure as it was. "I made us dinner if you would like. Finely sliced brahmin jerky & noodles, topped with white Blamco cheese."
Even in the brief role of BlamCo Hostess, she couldn't move past the awkwardness.
"I'll understand if this is our last meal together."