Josie had been on the hunt ever since they'd returned from the expedition. Every other day she'd ask for a date or something, but Afton simply didn't have the time to accept... The more he rejected her, the more blatant her offers began to get.

Raul had just left to go to the bathroom while he was waist-deep in metal while wielding some steel. He'd heard someone come into the room but he'd just assumed it to be Raul, but was obviously mistaken when someone gave his ass a firm slap. He wouldn't have really minded it, had said person not cupped his cheek longer than even a prostitute would deem socially acceptable. ​ ​

"Err, Raul? I get I'm not familiar with pre-war Mexican culture, but, I am one-hundred percent sure this ain't part of it." Afton diplomatically states.

"I doubt it is, you have a nice butt though, Afton." Josie's familiar voice says, giving a brief squeeze as she does so.

...

"What is true is the fact that this counts as sexual harassment... Maybe I should tell me boss on you." he sarcastically retorts, wondering whether he should change the situation before Raul gets the wrong idea... Is it the wrong idea though...?

"I'm sure the boss won't mind it." she drawls as if stating the obvious.

Afton shakes his head and pulls himself out from where he's working, giving Josie a steady look, "Maybe my daughter will?" he asks, his lips upturning as he does so.

...

"D-daughter?" she stutters out, unsure how to respond.

Afton nods, "Yeah, as much as she wants to forget it, Glados is technically my daughter." he chuckles.

*Dink!*

A small piece of metal falls from the roof and smacks him in the head, shocking Josie but just making Afton grumble, "Veery funny, Daughter!" he enunciates.

*Clank!*

He sidesteps the next piece of metal that'd fallen from the obviously 'derelict' room. He ignores the orange light shining from where the pieces had fallen and looks to Josie, "Was there something you needed?" he asks, not wanting to get into 'this' at the moment. Once he was finished wielding the Vertibird chassis he needed to check on the information his spies' in the NCR embassy should be sending.

She crosses her arms and stares at him for a couple seconds before finally getting to the point, "Why are you avoiding me?"

...

"Why am I avoiding you?..." he blinks, having expected another date request.

"Yeah, I thought she agreed on trying 'this'" she gestures back and forth between them, "I get that you're busy, but could you spare some time? I'm sure you could get at least an hour, right?"

Afton shrugs, "Squeezing out time in my schedule is not the problem, is the fact I'll be thinking about shit I have to do even if I did. Do you really think that'd be enjoyable to do? Our dates can at least wait until I've dealt with the NCR convoy, after that, I promise I'll make time." he states.

Josie's posture slumps slightly at this, she knows it's true but seems disappointed and put out that it's the case. She releases a long sigh and nods, "Alright, but don't complain when I'm on you once this is done..."

Afton waves her off, "Don't worry, I won't... Now, you wanna help with this?" he gestures at the tool cabinet, "Grab a wielding mask and help me with this."

Elsewhere :

Tamia had just come back from speaking with Mr House. She wanted to confirm that nothing needed to be done before she went out to explore the region where the railway tunnel led. She had no idea how long she'd be, so it would be prudent to make preparations.

House needed a few small things done, but said that he had other people working on it at the time. So, she was free for a week or two until the shit between the NCR and Legion finally started. She'd spoken with Afton and acquired a small unit to assist her with this, though, she would have liked more than what she got...

She had four Ultimo-Bots equipped with flame throwers, and six Cyberdogs that would be used for combat, scouting, and marking coordinates for teleportation. That was it as far as her 'troops' went. She had received a small equipment upgrade as well though.

Her Power armour had been modified by Afton so it could produce small forcefields from the wrist guards. Apparently, they'd block most energy weapon projectiles, but it'd be unlikely to stop multiple .50 cal bullets.

That wasn't all though, Afton had gifted her with a new, unique weapon... He said it probably wouldn't be effective for anyone else, and she believed him once she started using it. It was a Proto blade, like the Proto axes before it and the Ultra Chainswords that were derived from those.

There was one BIG difference though... The fact that the sword as HUGE! It was so big she had to wear it on her back as the metal spine of it that stabilised the energy blade was almost 6ft long alone!

She'd heard of weapons like it used in the past, though, they were entirely made from steel. They were called 'Great-Swords', but most consider them fantasy as they looked too heavy to properly wield.

This Proto-Greatsword was also heavy, so much so that without her Power armour she'd quickly get tired from swinging it around, but it also provided other benefits. Its weight made it almost as effective as an Ultra Chainsword when it came to sheer cutting power. And its blade was so wide that she could literally use it as a tower shield to block weapon fire when she needed to.

Truly, anyone who saw her fully armoured and charging them with that purple Proto-Greatsword would undoubtedly shit themselves. She'd even tested it against the same Saturnite plating that was used for Bulwark Power armour, and surprise, surprise, it cut through with minimal difficulties.