While I waited for the first large shipment of cement to arrive, I wondered what I'd do with the smaller shipment that Lucy Abernathy had brought over. My original plan for the wall had been predicated on two assumptions: first, that initially I'd only need housing for me, Holly, and the Ainsleigh family, and second, that I could use the collapsed houses as wall segments. Neither assumption was true anymore. On one hand, now I had three more people to house -- and honestly, I doubted they'd be the last. On the other, I really needed to clear those collapsed buildings to open up locations to lay down new foundation. While there were other potential locations, they had more uneven ground and would need more extensive work to lay in foundations.

 

I had a series of meetings with Winter and with the Donahue sisters to come up with a new conceptual plan for the settlement. One question that came up early on was how we'd situate the trading post that the sisters wanted to establish. My gut reaction was to keep it inside the wall, but to my surprise Lonnie disagreed. She argued that we should set up a warehouse inside the wall, but that the trading post itself could - and should - be outside. That way, we'd have fewer outsiders in near the housing. Not only would that improve the physical security of our residents, but it would also make it harder for spies to evaluate our defenses from the inside. I challenged them on this, asking if they were really comfortable working outside the wall, and they pointed out that it would still be a big improvement compared to their earlier nomadic lifestyle.

 

I still wasn't completely convinced, but after a trip back to the vault to update Holly, Stef, and Fred on developments, I had a long chat with Holly about the security plan. She agreed with Lonnie - if the sisters were willing to run the trading post outside of town, that was safer for everyone except maybe the sisters themselves. Holly accompanied me back to Sanctuary afterwards and took a tour of the sisters' house. She gave me a frank look then and told me firmly: it wasn't just a good idea to keep visitors out of the housing area, I had to keep them out. If all the new houses were going to be like this, she explained, Sanctuary was going to be a huge prize for a raider gang bold enough to take it. It was going to be important for the nature of Sanctuary to stay a rumor, as opposed to a known fact, as long as possible.

 

Before she returned to the vault, Holly sketched out her idea for how the initial wall would look. She wanted to go with a larger perimeter than we'd initially planned, keeping the prototype wall in place to save resources. Also to save precious concrete, she wanted to regrow the damaged areas of privet hedge and just close off those areas with chain link fence while the new hedge filled in. She explained that a dense hedge was almost as good as a wall against most potential intruders. Even if it didn't keep out a determined enemy, it would slow them down enough for the settlers to mount a defense. 

 

 

She recommended tearing down the ruined house next to Winter's place and turning that into the trading post - as well as possibly installing a watchtower or even a machine-gun nest on the upper level, so a two story building. I thought it was an interesting idea, and promised to look into if it was viable to do. Finally, she recommended I put some smaller gates at a few of the hedge breaks - more security doors than full-size gates - to let the residents come and go more easily. I still needed to work out the material requirements, but I thought her plan sounded like it could work.

 

When the first big shipment came in on the 15th, I'd already laid down chain link fence at most of the gaps in the hedge. In the process, I'd also torn down most of the wooden fencing inside the security zone, since I wasn't ready to commit to keeping the yard dimensions the same as before. Indeed, I might even ultimately put in more (if smaller) homes or work spaces in those back yard areas. From there, I got to work putting in concrete walls. I slightly adjusted the fabrication pattern, so that instead of a solid blue wall like the prototype, the new segments had smaller bracing sections painted yellow, mimicking the vault suit colors. 

 

I chose to build the wall segment for the approach to Vault 111 first, mostly so I could test out some ideas I had for improving on the prototype design I'd made earlier. I finished up as the sun was starting to set, and took a moment to admire my work. I think it looked pretty sharp - the yellow columns gave the wall more visual 'pop,' and the additional features such as the screened viewport and the barbed wire toppers left me feeling like this design was a lot more secure than my first attempt. As I worked on this, I also decided to simplify the overall plan by removing the standalone security doors other than the one I'd built when I was first moving in. I didn't really want more ways in, and the main gates should be sufficient for settlers to come and go from the secure area.

 

 

Before I started on the next section, I changed tack and laid down the foundations for the trading post. At first I'd thought about using the existing foundation for that collapsed house. Compared to the house I made for the Donahue sisters, it was still in good condition and looked suitable for building something new on top of it. However, I wanted to change to alignment of the plot so that the entrance to the trading post would face towards the road, rather than a corner pointing that way. I managed to get the old foundation ripped up and the measurements made for the new one, but the sun was setting fast and I decided to get some sleep before I started installing the new foundation.

 

When I got back to my home, I found Winter and Scout in my living room, just finishing up a meal. They offered me a share - there were some leftovers on the stove - but I declined. I was tired and filthy, and I just wanted a shower before I got to bed. Ducking into the bathroom, I found Lonnie looking at herself in the mirror, and she crooked a smile at me as I entered.

 

"Did I see you laying out the foundation for the trading post?" She asked.

 

"You did. I've got all the measurements done, so I'll get started first thing in the morning. What about you? What have you and your sister been up to?"

 

 

She shrugged, "not as much as I'd like, but it'll do for now. We found a little pier north of town, looked like a good fishing spot maybe if we can do something about the rads. Problem is, we also saw signs of Mirelurks, so we decided to leave it alone for now."

 

When it became obvious I didn't know what she was talking about, she explained in more detail - a quick overview of the different types of Mirelurks as well as where they normally live.

 

"Do you think this is the start of a hive, like at the Castle?" I asked, connecting the dots with some other things I'd heard recently.

 

"Naah, I don't think so. Probably just a hunting spot for them, with the actual hive further inland, maybe in the mountains to the west. Though we might want to run it down so we know what sort of trouble we're looking at eventually. For now, they won't be too frisky; it's just too cold for them."

 

I agreed with her thinking about eventually trying to find the hive - maybe even wipe it out if it was small enough. As I undressed and climbed into the shower, I asked her how she was settling in. I hadn't forgotten that Lonnie had been uncomfortable with my ideas for the dress code, and I appreciated that ever since she made her commitment to me in the living room of her new house, I hadn't seen that miniskirt on her.

 

From the tenor of her voice, I imagined she might have been blushing a little, but show only paused a moment before she answered.

 

 

"I still feel a little anxious sometimes, but you're right about the vault suit being comfortable. I, uh, I was always a little shy about my chest. I always tried to wear baggy shirts or layer on a coat, and I expected Winter and Tracey to pick on me for it. At least a little. But they didn't, and that made it better. I think it helps that it's all girls here, too."

 

"That's going to change some day, you know," I said as I worked up a lather in my hair, "how do you feel about that?"

 

"Ugh, I mostly just try not to think about it. You sure this can't be a no sausages allowed club?"

 

"I thought about it," I admitted, "but that's not realistic. There's only so many folks out here, and if I find someone who's got a skill we need, I can't be picky. Besides, wouldn't I be a hypocrite if I go on about how everybody's looks are good and valid, but then start judging folks by their junk?"

 

"Ah, maybe. But men are dogs, even the good ones... they're just good dogs. I don't know how I feel about having them looking at my butt all day."

 

I turned around slowly, scrubbing under each arm, and I considered her with a critical eye when I was facing her. "You say, that, but I notice you make sure everyone can see your pussy," I pressed.

 

It was true, too. Lonnie had a thick trapezoid of pubic hair on her mound - fluffy enough that my mind had strayed to thoughts of running my fingers through it at least once - but she kept the parts below it well trimmed. I imagine Winter was sharing the clippers she'd brought with her from the vault. It was an interesting look, and it rather forcefully drew the eye to her slit. Not that I was complaining or judging; the way she'd styled herself looked good with the vault suit.

 

"Yeah, that's a funny story actually. I ended up with it like that because that miniskirt Winter made for me ended up with curly bits poking about above and below, and she helped me trim it back. After I lost the miniskirt... well, I liked the way it looked. So I kept it that way."

 

"Good," I said, "I know I told you I didn't want people using fashion to divide into groups, but your body belongs to you, and if you want to use it as a canvas for self-expression, I think that's good. Your body hair is just as much part of that canvas as the hair on your head," I said, pointing at the undercuts shaved into the side of her head.

 

As I moved to washing all the suds off my body, Lonnie shook her head slowly. "You really are one of a kind, Charley. I'm glad I met you though. Hey, speaking in hair, do you dye your hair? I've never seen a color like that before."

 

"No," I said, "this is my natural color, sort of. When I was in the vault, I got exposed to all kinds of chemicals, and one of them permanently changed my hair color."

 

"Seriously? Like there was a chemical spill or an accident or something?"

 

"No, nothing exciting like that," I said, now toweling off my hair, "the scientists who ran the vault did a lot of experiments, some of them with medicine and chems, and as a resident I took part in the trials. Price of admission, I guess."

 

"Wow, that's... kind of harsh. I don't know if that feels right to dangle something like staying a vault to get people to be lab rats. So... its all pink now? Like even under your arms and stuff?"

 

That was a good question, actually. The light 'peach fuzz' hair that you can only see if you look really closely was still very fair, with no signs of a pink or reddish tint. But then again, I'd been keeping my pits shaved, more by force of habit than anything else. I wondered what color they'd be if I grew them out.

 

"As far as I know, yes - but I admit there are a few spots I haven't let grow out since I left." My legs too, I realized as I talked through it. "Maybe some time I'll let myself get hairier in order to find out. For now though, I need to get some rest. Come visit me tomorrow and I'll show you how the trading post is shaping up. Start thinking about what color you want it painted."

 

We parted ways then, her going to collect Scout and return to their home, me bidding them both farewell and, after exchanging hugs, heading back to my own room. The next morning, I rose early and got right to work on the foundation. Carla was just pulling into town with the next delivery of cement, and I showed her where to drop it off. We chatted only very briefly, confirming she'd had a safe run out to Sanctuary and offering to have the girls cook her up some breakfast. Accepting me offer, she tied up her brahmin and followed the smell of food cooking into Winter's house.

 

I'd decided to build the warehouse into the back of the trading post, so the sisters could pass into the post from the settlement without having to walk through the main gate. By putting in rolling security shutters of the same sort I'd used to protect my house's front door, I was confident that any unwanted guests wouldn't be able to bust through if we didn't let them.

 

The answer, incidentally, was 'green.' Scout explained to me that they'd gone over all the options and they thought that one would be the most 'inviting' looking. Jokingly (OK, maybe half jokingly) she added, when we build a brothel, then we should go with red. I'd already laid down most of the foundation by then; plain concrete for the warehouse, engineered wood for the trading post, as well as a brick-topped veranda. The sisters had mentioned that one thing the trading post needed was food services, and I thought a spot for outdoor dining sounded like a good idea. 

 

 

After I got the first portions installed, I took a break from the trading post to build the settlement's main gate. Since I knew I might have to fortify it further, I didn't bother with the barbed wire for this part, but otherwise I was very happy with how it looked. More importantly, I ran out of steel before I ran out of concrete, something I had Carla's timely delivery to thank for in its entirety. After a break to scrap some metal debris down by the riverbank, I got back to work on the trading post - before I could put in the second floor I needed to finish the warehouse, so that was my next priority.

 

But step by step, the trading post came together. A week later, including a substantial diversion to salvage those wrecked cars from the Red Rocket, the structure was complete. Winter even made a cute little awning to go over the outdoor dining area. The trading post, in the end, consisted of three distinct areas. First was the "outside the wall" part, which had the restaurant and trading area for the Donahue sisters. Behind them, with powered steel shutters they could drop in the event of an attack, was the warehouse where we planned to store our trade goods and supplies. Accessible by a staircase in the warehouse was the third area: an upper floor with balconies where we eventually expected to be able to post guards. All the electrical conduit was on the upper floor as well, including ample hardwire power drops to connect spotlights and other defense equipment. When that redoubt was fully equipped, raiders were going to find trying to rob the trading post to be a very dangerous activity.

 

The sisters moved in on the fifth day, having just concluded rather lengthy negotiations with Carla to help them put together their initial inventory, and Scout took me to task a little for my choice of artwork.

 

 

"Charley," she said, "don't you think this is a little overboard?"

 

Trying my best to be innocent, I shrugged. "This was pretty normal back before the war. The government really wanted everyone to have lots of kids, and they felt this kind of artwork would keep that fresh in their minds. It's part of the old world charm."

 

She laughed at that. "Next, you'll tell me they have to strip down if they want to come in."

 

I thought for a moment on that. "You, know, Scout, you might be onto something."

 

"Uh, uh, no one's going to trade here if you do that. Besides, there's already rumors going around that you're running a sex cult here."

 

"So I've heard. But the issue wouldn't be the rule. It would be communicating the rule, and also making your customers thirsty for what you have to sell. What do you think about maybe putting a decontamination station by the bridge, make everyone drop off their clothes for free cleaning and rad removal? It would also give us a chance to search them for weapons and screen for anyone we don't want shopping here."

 

Scout just shook her head slowly. "This is my fault for giving you that idea, isn't it?"

 

I winked to her. "Yup. Now I think I need to take a shower - I'm filthy."

 

As I left, I heard her mumble. "You sure are," followed by a laugh.

 

What a week. After months of slow progress, everything had finally fallen together and we'd made a huge surge towards getting where we needed to be in the spring. The trading post was complete, and just needed stock to fill up the warehouse. Two of the big wall sections were done also, including one of the large gates. The sisters finally had something more productive than scavenging to do, and Carla's repeated visits had kept our critical supplies flowing in to fuel the project. My next order of business was going to be finishing the wall, and beyond that - finally completing the rest of the housing. 

 

 

Then, just as I was getting ready for lunch, I finally remembered what I'd been meaning to talk to Winter about.