Survival - Gaiden

Welcome to the SECOND CYOA of RECB! I was inspired by BastionCon who in turn is helping me with this kind of format, which I admit I am not used to, and made more convoluted last minute by ideas I've came up with sorta last minute (Well, more like last three hours ) anyway, if my ideas don't stick no worries x) I'm going to start it off now so... enjoy! OH!! And if you wish to make an appearance in this, lemme know!

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Thursday, September 24th, 1998
...4:37 PM

Speeding down the interstate and merging onto Stone Ville Road, Isabella 'Bella' Knight's black motorcycle chugged along as amber light cascaded through the layer of furs and pine that flanked either side of the leather clad motorist. Her bright blue eyes were tired from seeing the constant greenery. It was also rather odd, for the past twenty minutes or so, there was no traffic coming from the Raccoon direction of the road. It wasn't that uncommon for a seasoned traveler like Bella, but it stuck out and was noticeable like one of those stupid signs you'd see on the side of the road-



-a cherub faced kid with a sneer, pissing with his ass hanging out! Who the fuck made those?? Better yet- WHY DO they keep making them?!

She'd been through Raccoon City countless times, as it was the traditional Illinois pitstop her family took when travelling to Uncle Gary's; but the last time she was 17. Sure, it was probably cheaper in the long run and better to fly to Uncle Gary's, but her parents loved to road trip, and so did she. They would stop off in Raccoon and then resume in the morning or they'd stay an extra night for supplies and the like. She was thinking of doing the same, given the Mojave Desert was still gonna be there no matter how long she stayed in Raccoon.

Besides... my ass is sore, and I need to stretch out my legs! She thought at the prospect of stopping in the city. She heard there was some sort of convention going on at the Clock Tower, and this was on top of the College Football Season, or was it High School...? She mentally shrugged, the prospect of stopping by Emmys for some burgs and fries before swinging over to the Clock Tower felt exciting enough for her to shift the Harley Softtail into high gear and fly towards the fork in the road.

---



Bella pulled up the visor of her red helmet, her crystal blue orbs shifting as she looked upon the sign in front of her. If she continued on Stone Ville Road, she'd be able to take a more direct route into Raccoon City whilst able to see it all- the mountains, Victory Lake, the Raccoon Dam, the forest and the city itself in the distance.

However, she wanted to take the longer route into the city, in spite of the greenery surrounding her growing 'stale', she enjoyed the forest shade and wanted to see if the old 'witches hut' down the road was still there. Her father used to tease her as a kid about that place, which likely as her Uncle Gary put it, 'was some forgotten hunter's blind' rather than some forest hag's place of residency.

At the same time, a gas station was along that same path, she could make out the 'TexaGo' logo in the distance, and given she had no traffic to influence her decisions, she kicked down the kick stand and sat there for a moment or two to analyze her options.

She looked down at her gas, she had enough to get into Raccoon and around the city, but it would probably be wise to stop now and refuel, walk around, have a smoke and maybe buy something to nibble on that didn't taste like sawdust and stale, melted chocolate. It would also let her reevaluate her decision of either going the more direct 'detour' or the less direct and preferred route- if only to satiate her childhood curiosity. She could also just, ignore both options and simply ride into town and get a proper, greasier meal and maybe a beer.

"Hmm... Decisions decisions..." hummed Bella, leaning over her handlebars.

The Softail rumbled as the woman tried to make up her mind...

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MENU SCREEN (lol)

Bella Knight

Health: 100% (Reaches 50% = Hobble; 25% = Weakened/slower speed/cannot climb well; 0% = Death)

Stress¹: 0% (Reaches 25%= Fail Rate up 5%; 50%= Fail Rate up 10%; 75%= Fail Rate up 15%/Unable to perform certain actions;  100% = Fail Rate up 20% and Bella will be stressed out)

Status²: Fine

Inventory (Waist Bag): Motorbike keys, Wallet ($500 cash), pack of cigarettes (x19) [-25 stress each], roll of breath mints (x10) [-10 stress per use], 3x granola bars (+5% Health), bottle of water (+10% Health), small bottle of lighter oil [50/50], BIC Lighter [30 uses/disposable], Cheap Zippo [50/50]

Ammo: None

Key Item: Lockpick Set (Can pick locks of doors, cabinets, etc with a physical lock stealthily without having to expend ammo; increases stress by 5% when attempt fails- at 75% stress she is too jittery to use; cannot use at 25% health either)

Weapons: Bella's Combat Knife

Entourage: Nobody

Optional Action³

[Search] [Encourage] [Smoke/Eat]

Command-

A) Stop at the overlooking TexaGO gas station in the distance to fuel up and grab some snacks

B) Take the scenic "detour" and admire the scenery at the Raccoon Dam (-50 Stress [lol just as an example of stress relief events])

C) Continue forward to Raccoon City and don't stop at either location

---

¹: Bella's Stress. Something I wanted to introduce that I thought may be fun to play with Essentially, this secondary factor raises the FAIL Percentage or the success rate of enemies and negative effects. Some items and events can raise or lower stress by a set amount. Bella's actions will be governed by her stress, as well as her ability to perform special tasks such as lockpicking- which she is incapable of doing if she's over 75% stressed. Depending on her stress level, her failure rate for actions can be increased as little as 5% or at worst, 20%, which is added to the existing choice's failure rate (like a Debuff). In other words, her stress level has a negative impact on her skill checks and saving throws. We'll focus on Bella for now, till I'm confident in keeping other character's stress levels in check xD

²: Status is another factor I want to include, as I am including the following Statuses: Fine, Buzzed/High, Bleeding, and Poisoned.

Fine is... well, fine.

Buzzed/High is when any of the characters use alcohol or marijuana to relieve stress (candy is dandy, liquor is quicker, and sex doesn't rot your teeth~) and has pros and cons. Pro- Stress is LOWERED till 0% and LOCKS till status is removed and damage is nullified by 10%. Con- Skill Check Difficulty is RAISED by 10% as is the fail rate for Saving Throws to account the loss of dexterity.

Bleeding happens when a particularly grievous wound befalls the player either by environment, or random chance from an enemy encounter. Bleeding DECREASES Health if not treated by 1% if stress is 0-25; 2% if stress is 26-50; 5% if stress is 51-75, and 10% if 76-100. To make things worse, for each update the wound isn't treated, STRESS is raised by 1%. Wounds can be treated with Hemostat, bandages (makeshift or otherwise) sutures, or cauterizing- but treatment takes time and can't be done during combat or a risky event (Like climbing, swimming, balancing, driving, etc). Bleeding also allows characters to be tracked easily.

Poisoned happens when a character is envenomated or poisoned by a BOW or the environment. Like Bleeding, poison reduces overall health between updates, but is somewhat better to manage than Bleeding. Simply, every update left untreated, characters will lose 5% of their health. Poison is cured with Anti-Venom, Blue Herbs, and Herbal Tabs.

³: Optional Actions- kind of going somewhat old school Action Adventure with this option, which may or may not only apply to Bella (as I've made this more convoluted than necessary already xD). For now, we'll go with the idea its only Bella specific. SEARCH allows Bella to look about for random items, to look about the environment. During combat, this increases her failure rate by 5% but potentially allows her to find useful items. ENCOURAGE raises her failure rate to 10%, but in exchange, a member of her entourage or a survivor she's encouraging will get a 10% gain in their saving throw. SMOKE/EAT allows Bella a chance to raise some HP or Stress during combat but can only do one or the other.

These Extra Options are unavailable if Bella's Stress is at 75% or higher or for context reasons (like encourage when she's by herself), with the exception of Smoke/Eat.

Option will be ignored if there is a tie between optional actions or no option is chosen.

---

Option A- TexaGo (Click)

So I like the scenic route, but gassing up and getting even a few more supplies would be smart. So I gotta say A. Great start btw!

Another one! And more stats to worry over? Sign me up!

I choose A- get yourself some Swiss Rolls and a Pepsi

A -TexaGo, that sounds like a proper In-convenient store/gas station.

You Heathen how dare you suggest Pepsi and a swiss roll, Bugles and SoBe.  Or worse a plain hot dog and bathroom sink water

A: Mellow Yellow and some Bugles ;3

(The Beginning: Choice A)

---

Bella continued to debate her options, the detour path seemed like a fun option and a moment to really take in the city, as the gas station looked lonely and abandoned from here. That was till she saw a big old truck, like the kind you see on safari's parked up front. It was the first vehicle she'd seen in nearly forty minutes, so it lifted her spirits somewhat and helped make up her mind. I feel less like the last gal on earth at least, and may as well top my gas off and replace these stale granola bars! Bella determined, and nonchalantly kicked the stand upward with her heel before driving the Softail towards the TexaGo.

---

The amber light of dusk continued to fall through the canopy of the trees in godly rays and beams. The light catching off Bella's bike as she rolled the shiny black motorcycle right along a vacant pair of gas tanks just opposite of that aforementioned truck:



Bella glanced it over as she applied her kickstand once again and cut the engine of the rumbling Harley Softail, killing the lights and taking a moment to lean back and relax a moment. "Almost there..." she mumbled to herself, her blue eyes glancing back over to the truck. She noted it was parked where diesel was offered over petroleum, and also made a note of the huge exhaust pipe jutting from the hood. The hell do you need something like that for? The Australian bush? Bella mentally commented. She didn't see its owner but could see a weapon rack through the windows behind the passenger and driver's seat, with a... M16 hanging above it? It had a scope and bipod, but a small magazine. AR-15, a hunter I suppose? She thought. Whoever owned the vehicle would have gotten along well with her Uncle Gary, he was something of a gun enthusiast to put it lightly. Bella was pretty sure if her Aunt didn't pass away, she'd have left him by now for his love of guns. Hmm, I bet $20 that the person who owns that truck looks like your typical redneck survivalist type. ZZ Top Beard. Flannel. Camouflage. Or denim coveralls. Probably crazy eyed, with a Viet Nam Veteran or trucker cap. Your stereotypical 'deliverance' type.

The woman snickered at the thought as she slid off the side of her bike, swinging one of her long, slender legs around as she disembarked.  



The tall, lithe and dark-haired Bella Knight pulled off her red and black helmet. Her medium long, silky raven black hair drifted down from its confinement and splayed across the back of her neck. She sets the helmet down on the seat and begins the boring process of filling up the half-drained tank. She used one hand to unzip her riding suit down to her collar bone, while the other pumped the gasoline into the tank. It felt nice to feel the cool wind on her warm cheeks. Her bright, crystal blue eyes danced as she scanned her surroundings, and parted stray raven bangs from her left eye.



She could see that the station was surrounded by dense woodland. The sign and pole it hung off of was brown and red with heavy rust. Similarly, the partly sheet metal walls of the station were also patched with rust. Only a singular large window with a neon sign read: "OPEN" with the 'O' being unlit. A few posters for your typical brand name cigarette companies were on display as well, including one she didn't recognize called 'Lone Wolf Cigarettes'. There was also a neon light reading 'COLD BEER' in an upper corner. Beyond what was obscured by advertisements, store hours and gas & diesel prices, she couldn't see into the store due to the shutter like blinds being half closed. Bella could only make out your typical white metal or plastic shelving units seen in every other convenience store or gas station in America through the glass door.

Bella was looking at said door when she saw a figure approach behind it. The door swung outwards, the 'ding-dong' of a robotic greeting bell pinged, and the 'We're Open!' sign hanging off its peg swung as the figure's form took shape in the amber rays of dusk.

The woman's bright blue orbs fell upon the man's features as he stepped out of the store. Well well... I was right in some ways, but still off the mark about this one. Guess I would have lost $20... The blue-eyed beauty thought.

The man exiting the station, heading for the big truck was a tall, young-looking man. Clean shaven, medium long red-brown hair with long and parted bangs like curtains that fell to the eyebrow or just over his deep blue eyes; hair styled like Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic or Johnny Depp in 21 Jump Street.

He wore a red, tattered scarf or bandana around his neck, which made her laugh internally about calling him a 'Red Neck' and wore a brown hooded work jacket under an olive drab field vest with brown pocket flaps.

He had military fatigue-like pants, camouflaged of course, with the pantlegs tucked behind a pair of black military jack boots. A pair of black, fingerless gloves adorned his hands.



...very off about this one. Bella mentally hummed, glad that her preconceptions were mostly wrong about this one. However, having taken in and absorbed the Hunter's...attractive details, the dark-haired beauty suddenly felt a lack of resistance on the handle of the gas pump! A buzzing from the handle snapped her out of her trance, causing her to blink her baby blues and turn to the gas pump's LED screen. "Shit!" the biker chick cursed, biting her plush lower lip as she tapped on the machine and quickly set the handle back into the slot.

[+3% Stress]

She felt slightly flustered, but also curious. She gently poked her head from the side of the gas pump's boxy frame, her bright blue orbs falling upon the handsome Hunter who was carrying a box of supplies and sliding them into the bed of the truck.

Hmm... its been a while since I've talked to somebody. I am pretty sure he's a local too. Could find out if there's anything special going on in the city, maybe get some recommendations? She thought, before her eyes became heavy lidded.

...he's also pretty cute too~ He's got that Depp/DiCaprio thing going on with his face and hair. He's tall, slender but not a twig either. Could be fun to flirt with a stranger! Who knows how long I'll be staying in Raccoon anyway? Bella smirked. She could be pretty bold at times, and the sexy biker didn't have an issue making a move on a stranger; and given her attraction to this Hunter's physical appearance, it was simply a bonus. Could do for some company, maybe invite him to share a beer at one of the local bars, and see where it can lead from there? So long he's into the idea, I can care less if he's gay or dating someone. Though... he does seem awfully busy... Bella frowned at this realization, as the crate he held seemed to have supplies like canned and dry goods. She got an 'Uncle Gary vibe' for a moment, as the one-legged man that was her Uncle liked to prepare as well... granted, he lived in a town in the middle of the Mojave Desert with a population of like '52' on a busy day.

The Hunter yanked up a cardboard tray that contained a hotdog on a bun and began eating it with one hand as his other tied down a tarp over the boxes with bungee cords. Seems he was in for a bumpy ride, wherever he was headed.

She stood there and pondered her options... Hmm... come on to him lightly? Come on strong? Leave him be? Hrmm. Tough decision...

The Hunter looked like he was almost finished with what he was doing, so Bella had to make a decision now...!

---

MENU SCREEN

Bella Knight

Health: 100% (Reaches 50% = Hobble; 25% = Weakened/slower speed/cannot climb well; 0% = Death)

Stress: 3% (Reaches 25%= Fail Rate up 5%; 50%= Fail Rate up 10%; 75%= Fail Rate up 15%/Unable to perform certain actions;  100% = Fail Rate up 20% and Bella will be stressed out)

Status: Fine

Inventory (Waist Bag): Motorbike keys, Wallet ($500 cash), pack of cigarettes (x19) [-25 stress each], roll of breath mints (x10) [-10 stress per use], 3x granola bars (+5% Health), bottle of water (+10% Health), small bottle of lighter oil [50/50], BIC Lighter [30 uses/disposable], Cheap Zippo [50/50]

Ammo: None

Key Item: Lockpick Set (Can pick locks of doors, cabinets, etc with a physical lock stealthily without having to expend ammo; increases stress by 5% when attempt fails- at 75% stress she is too jittery to use; cannot use at 25% health either)

Weapons: Bella's Combat Knife

Entourage: Nobody

Optional Action

[Search] [Encourage] [Smoke/Eat]

Command-

A) Introduce self to the Hunter (Friendly Approach, 10% Approval [+ or - depending on success]), Success Chance: 60%) [More Dialogue]

B) Introduce self to the Hunter (Flirty Approach, 25% Approval [+ or - depending on success]), Stress -10 [success], Stress +10 [Fail] Success Chance: 40%) [Unique Dialogue]

C) Ignore the Hunter, he seems busy... Go inside the Gas Station.

(Update 2: Introductions~ Choice B)

I'ma gonna go with B; curious to see this flirty approach! Best to try! Go get that boy >:3

B. All in for the hot dog hound getting verbally chew up too

Hmm, perhaps B as well, kinda curious

UPDATE 1: TexaGo (click). Choice B

---

Bella didn't take too long to make up her mind. Those plush lips painted in fire engine red perked up at the corners into a warm smirk, as she grasped the zipper of her riding suit and zipped it down further...



The cooler air flowed against her bare skin, her breasts bobbing a little more noticeably as she smoothly ambled her way around the gas pump. She made her way over to the diesel pump, the attractive hunter, and his oversized truck. His back was to her, which made the scenario in her head all the more delicious.

She paused beside the diesel pump, leaning against it with her arms folded under her ample, bouncing bosom. Her lidded, cool blue eyes glared with flirtatious intent at the back of his head, and would fall upon his eyes after she got his attention.

"Hey there, handsome~" the dark-haired Bella purred, grabbing his attention.

[Dice roll: 29/100]

The young man paused at the sound of her voice, and swiftly turned around to face her, hotdog and bun half hanging out from his mouth as he blinked at her with his dark blue eyes. His face became flush, and had she approached just a tad differently, he would have likely choked on his snack! He was about to start talking when he realized he had the hotdog still in his mouth. "Humph?" the hunter's voice was muffled, glancing down at the hotdog hanging from his lips. Without questioning it, he pulled the remainder out and tossed it behind him without a care. She smirked at his reaction. "Oh, you didn't have to do that. Seems like a waste. Hmhmhm~" Bella hummed.

The young man wiped his mouth with a napkin and shook his head. "Nah, it didn't taste all that good anyhow." He explained, as Bella's boot falls crunched against pebbles and twigs under foot, her approach was bold and deliberate as she took her thumb and rubbed the corner of his mouth, before applying it to her plush red lips. Her big, crystal blue eyes never leaving his as she sucked the remnants of the juices onto her tongue. "Mmm... I dunno." she began, licking her lips. "Taste's pretty good to me. Either you're lying to me," she continued with a seductive hum in her tone. "...or maybe its you that tastes good~" she purred with a mischievous wink.

The handsome hunter's face became flush, his eyes wide as he looked into hers, and down her body which was nearly riding against him. He gulped, and slowly smirked, which made Bella's stress wash away~

]Success~]

"Hmhmhm, you're cute. You gotta name, hon?" the seductive biker inquired.

The young man, still quiet seemed to be lost in space for a moment, before answering. "Jack. Jack Cavanaugh." He said with a smile.

"Bella Knight~" purred the sexy blue-eyed drifter, batting her long lashes and making her eyes become very lidded and seductive. "Sorry, if I interrupted you handsome, I just couldn't help but introduce myself after seeing you." Bella explained.

"It- it's no problem. And a pleasure to meet ya, Bella." Gulped Jack, who now leaned against the bed of his truck, arms folded, nodding as he continued to glance her up and down.

The woman smiled with lidded eyes. "Pleasure's all mine~" Hook. Line. Sinker. Heh heh, this is fun~ Mentally hummed Bella, who felt pretty good about her decision to flirt with the young man. His reactions were infectious, and she kept eating them up as he dished them! "You sure I'm not being a bother, Jack?" She cooed.

"A bother? N-no. I was just... well, it doesn't matter." Jack stammered, rubbing his neck as he looked away for a moment before glancing back at her. "So, are you new to Raccoon City, Bella?" He inquired, as he seemed interested in her as well, which was a relief.

"Hmhm, 'yes' and 'no'," chuckled the woman whose crystal blue eyes fell down his chest. She took a step closer and allowed him a better view of her jiggling inner cleavage and a glance down her suit and her toned, athletic tummy. "I used to come here with my parents every other summer, to visit my Uncle Gary." She explained in a low, husky tone. Her bright blue orbs raised up to meet him. "I haven't been out this way, however for nearly seven years. A lot of things change in seven years." The dark-haired woman cooed.  

She could hear Jack gulp audibly as he couldn't help but draw his eyes down her suit, being so intimately close to him. She smiled and he smiled back, flustered. "Ah, so you're visiting him I take it? Gary... Gary... I may know him, whereabouts does he live?" He asked.

Aww, so cute~ She hummed, and closed her eyes, giggling. "Well, I'd be surprised if you did. He lives in Dryfield, Nevada after all~" She teased him, reopening her lidded blue eyes and took another step closer. He could smell her sweet, alluring perfume this close.

To this Jack flustered more, which only spurred Bella more, making her more interested in Mr. Cavanaugh in the process.

"Nevada...? That's... that's a bit of a drive." He answered, his tone showing some concern, but he also just noticed the big knife on her waist bag's belt and seemed to breathe something of a sigh of relief. "I take it you're just passing through then, yeah?" Jack further inquired.

"Thats sweet, but I'm a big girl, I know how to handle myself!~" she giggled, folding her arms under her chest, raising the breasts as she batted her long dark lashes. "Well... I'm not thinking of driving all the way to Nevada tonight! I mean, it's pretty much a straight shot from here." She explained, and with another step forward, Bella placed a hand on his left shoulder. "Maybe... I'll stay a while~" Bella winked.

The wind seemed to pick up around them, causing her dark hair to flap against her slender neck, and she winced a little, feeling her hair assault her left eye. There was an... odd odor coming from the woods, something that smelled like rancid meat or a dead skunk. Both of them were put off by the smell. "Something's dead out there, phew." She said suddenly, before smiling up at him.

Jack looked a little concerned and glanced back to the bed of his truck somewhat suspiciously. He had a worrying look etched in his handsome face and a suddenly intense glare, a burning fire in his deep blue gaze. He looked a little paler, as if recalling something unpleasant. It actually alarmed Bella to a degree.

---

MENU SCREEN

Bella Knight

Health: 100% (Reaches 50% = Hobble; 25% = Weakened/slower speed/cannot climb well; 0% = Death)

Stress: 0% (Reaches 25%= Fail Rate up 5%; 50%= Fail Rate up 10%; 75%= Fail Rate up 15%/Unable to perform certain actions;  100% = Fail Rate up 20% and Bella will be stressed out)

Status: Fine

Inventory (Waist Bag): Motorbike keys, Wallet ($500 cash), pack of cigarettes (x19) [-25 stress each], roll of breath mints (x10) [-10 stress per use], 3x granola bars (+5% Health), bottle of water (+10% Health), small bottle of lighter oil [50/50], BIC Lighter [30 uses/disposable], Cheap Zippo [50/50]

Ammo: None

Key Item: Lockpick Set (Can pick locks of doors, cabinets, etc with a physical lock stealthily without having to expend ammo; increases stress by 5% when attempt fails- at 75% stress she is too jittery to use; cannot use at 25% health either)

Weapons: Bella's Combat Knife

Entourage: Jack Cavanaugh (approval 25/100)

Optional Action

[Search] [Encourage] [Smoke/Eat]

Command-

A) Change the Subject. [Friendly] Ask Jack about local events in town, and ask his recommendation for a place to stay, eat, etc. (Approval +5)

B) Change the Subject. [Flirt] Ask Jack about local events in town, and try and persuade him to show Bella around the city, to have a beer and a bite to eat together. (50% Success- he could be busy, but maybe he's interested enough to keep Bella's company a tad longer~) (Approval +10) (+5 Stress if Failure)

C) Pause the Conversation. [Tease] Ask Jack to wait for her as she goes off to pay for gas and buy some items (50% Success, +5 Approval)

D) [Snoop] Peek at the crates Jack was carrying. Did he have a dead animal in the bed of his truck? (15% Success, -5 Approval and +10 Stress if Failure; that smell bothered Bella, and remembers Jack's rifle hanging in the rack inside the truck)

---

(update 3: B +Encourage)

Oooo, sexy ;3 Hmm... B

B) May as well continue the sauce.

B- Continue the SAAAAUUUCE~

C to be different xD

(As Catherine is the master of Teasing [the Ed])

B‍�

Savages should always be part of the crowd. But I'm a heathen this time.

D. I want to see his pet store of critters

B and encourage him!

Polls are [CLOSED] :3

(Back to Update 2)

---

[Encourage]

Sensing something troubled Jack, Bella tapped her fingers on the young man's shoulder, grabbing his attention. "...I would really like it if you were to invite me to a bar~" the dark-haired beauty suggested. "Maybe something to eat as well, nothing fancy, Emmy's will do if it hasn't burned down to the ground yet." Bella snickered. "Perhaps show me around Raccoon, I recall that some sort of convention was going on among other things. Maybe even recommend a good hotel or inn to stay for the evening." she proposed with a wink.

[Dice roll: 46/100] [Success]

Jack looked at her with that same intensity still in his eyes, but they softened, and his handsome face relaxed once more. "So, you have been to Raccoon before? Heh, well it's still there. As for that 'convention' it's some sort of dress up thing, like Halloween? I think they called it Cosplay? I'm not exactly sure what it's all about, but there are some interesting costumes going on. At the museum there's also a Gala being held by that famous British Explorer, to honor some guy who established the museum. I'm guessing they were close or something. So, it's a little crazy, especially after the Football Game earlier today." He murmured and flustered at where this was headed. "I suppose I could..." he sighed mockingly, his eyes shifting down and up her body before looking her squarely in the eyes, leaning towards her with a playful smile. "But you'll owe me a date."

To this Bella flustered somewhat herself, but still kept her cool demeanor. "I thought this was. Or is this some way of trying to convince me to stay in the city for more than one night?" the biker inquired in a low, seductively husky tone.

"Maybe. Is it working?" Jack asked, still smiling.

"Hmm~" To this, Bella leaned forwards and made Jack's face turn bright red as she brings her face beside his. "Lets see how dinner goes, and then work off from there~" she whispered in that seductive, breathless tone again. She then clapped his shoulder, and backed away from his crimson face, devouring his reaction with a charming smile. "First off, don't be leaving. I gotta pay for my ride and grab some things before the attendant thinks I've bailed on paying." She snickered, her hand sliding off his shoulder as she backed away and then turned around. Bella made sure she sashayed her lovely hips as she made her way to the entrance of the shop, giving Jack another angle to admire.

---

Bella was having fun, stretching her long legs and wiggling her hips yet as she made her way inside the shop. She hummed as she had a quick look about the place. Just as she had expected from what little she could see outside; the place wasn't that remarkable on the inside.

White linoleum flooring that made her boots click as she walked, shelves filled with various convenience goods- chips, condiments, the like. She saw medicine and even birth prevention items such as condoms which made her have naughty thoughts~

She then noticed how empty the shop felt. She looked over towards the cash register and saw that no one was manning the till. Odd... didn't Jack just come out with a box of supplies? I assumed he paid for diesel as well... Bella thought and continued to look around the isles. For now, she was going to check out the isles and see if she could find anything to add to her shopping list. She had enough money in her wallet for the moment after all.

Lots of junk, but better than what I'm carrying. The blue-eyed beauty thought to herself, as she wandered over to the register. "Hello..?" She called out softly, looking around. Not many places a gas station attendant could run off to... but there was a slightly open door to the far right leading into a back room she made a note of.

Her bright blue orbs also noticed a small wall safe just behind the counter as well. Curious, she looked about and was astonished to see no form of security. That isn't very safe... she thought, and looked back down at the safe. She could tell from here, that it was one of those cheap kind, a simple lock (5/5)... Her mischievous side began to resurface, as she told herself not too, not with Jack outside... and then thoughts of him made her smirk, making her more mischievous. I doubt he'd have condoms on him if things... get more exciting~

Still, stealing from some gas station was in poor taste, especially after meeting a handsome man. Where is that guy anyway? If the attendant just showed up, it'd make things a lot easier...!

Bella had to stop and think....

---

MENU SCREEN

Bella Knight

Health: 100% (Reaches 50% = Hobble; 25% = Weakened/slower speed/cannot climb well; 0% = Death)

Stress: 0% (Reaches 25%= Fail Rate up 5%; 50%= Fail Rate up 10%; 75%= Fail Rate up 15%/Unable to perform certain actions;  100% = Fail Rate up 20% and Bella will be stressed out)

Status: Fine

Inventory (Waist Bag): Motorbike keys, Wallet ($500 cash), pack of cigarettes (x19) [-25 stress each], roll of breath mints (x10) [-10 stress per use], 3x granola bars (+5% Health), bottle of water (+10% Health), small bottle of lighter oil [50/50], BIC Lighter [30 uses/disposable], Cheap Zippo [50/50]

Ammo: None

Key Item: Lockpick Set (Can pick locks of doors, cabinets, etc with a physical lock stealthily without having to expend ammo; increases stress by 5% when attempt fails- at 75% stress she is too jittery to use; cannot use at 25% health either)

Weapons: Bella's Combat Knife

Entourage: Jack Cavanaugh (approval 35/100)

Optional Action

[Search] [Encourage] (Add Condoms (box of 6) -$3.00 from wallet [options A or B]) [Smoke/Eat]

Command-

A) Pay for Gas, nothing else. $25.00. Leave it on the table. (-$25.00)

B) Buy a soda (+10 HP, -10 Stress), small bag of bugles (+10 HP), and the gasoline. Leave it on the table (-$29.00)

C) Don't pay for anything, grab what you want and leave. The stores loss~ (Steal, +/- 10 Stress, 25% Chance of Success)

D) Don't pay for gas... get behind the counter and inspect the safe [lock pick the safe] (Steal)

E) Look for the missing Gas Station worker...

I've been playing a Rogue in games lately so I'm feeling klepto XD. Gotta say D

As much fun as D works with me, being the Deputy Mayor and a criminal....lawyer; I have to say that choice E could be a more interesting approach

I can't do it. I just can't pass up the opportunity to find out what the gas station attendant is up to. I did see clerks after all

So E

E or B

D sounds fun, but gonna have to go with E as it can be anything really from an encounter to just some guy lazing off xD

Eh, the logic in me says E, and if that fails, D or B are the way to go. Gotta clear the coast first before either altrusim or kleptomania kicks in after all.