Though Loretta knew that Emma was lying about her knee- thinking back to it, Emma was probably pretty damned lucky that her knee wasn't broken- she didn't really give a damn. The woman was full of pride, and in the Wastes, that was about the only thing that most people had, so Loretta let her keep what she had left of it. Loretta replied to Emma's tightening grip over her hand by giving her own bony knuckles a bit of a returning clench before answering, "<span style="color: purple">Yeah, I'll be there for you, whether you like it or not. Can't go on knowing I could've saved someone's ass and just left 'em. That's probably the reason you're still living and breathing now instead of swishing around in a deathclaw's guts.</span>"<br/><br/>Leaning her head to the side a bit, she then said, "<span style="color: purple">If I had to, yeah, I'd pop Darion, but it's not likely we'd ever come to that. He's got a chip or two in his shoulder about the NCR too. He's an ex-Ranger for a reason,</span>" looking back at Emma. She seemed a bit lost, like she was trying to fish through about fifty different things to say before picking just the right one. Considering her recent luck, she imagined something else kinda retarded would come up, but didn't really give a shit, and wouldn't until it happened.<br/><br/>She didn't say anything about the bounty, though she knew where Emma was coming from. Loretta didn't doubt that the grudge between the Gangers and the con wouldn't be immediately solved by a few thousand caps. It didn't mean that they couldn't hope, though. Emma making it known how she saw Loretta's determination to be 'the good guy' after the shit she'd been dealt for a hand in life made her heart pump a little harder just once or twice, though it really made an impression. "<span style="color: purple">Thanks,</span>" she said quietly. "<span style="color: purple">I... well, it started after I got back at the Vipers. Found the ones that were responsible and blew their brains out, but I found myself still feeling... <i>unsatisfied</i> about it all. Yeah, vengeance is nice and all, but it doesn't really make you feel better. Saving someone does.</span>" She leaned a bit closer, the movement being from a subconscious instinct. Her voice also lowered to almost a whisper.<br/><br/>"<span style="color: purple">If I can make the world better, I'll do it. Even if it's just one person's own little world, it's worth dying for. It doesn't matter how bitter of a cunt they may be, it'll always be worth it. Maybe they'll learn to help out too, huh?</span>" Her words sounded very tired; not the same sort of low growl that a ghoul always had, but something weary. "<span style="color: purple">I know it's more fantasy than anything else, but it's something to hope for.</span>"<br/><br/>Loretta suddenly had a look and feel about her that was just as lethargic as her words. "<span style="color: purple">...I'm getting tired,</span>" she said, looking at Emma in the eyes once again before letting her hand go and fall to her side. "<span style="color: purple">I imagine we'll be sharing a bedroll when we're out and about anyway, but you're more than welcome to stay in my room if you like. Gotta get used to being around people who aren't shooting at me or being shot at again...</span>" she said with a yawn before moving to her bed and flopping on it, not even bothering to take off her clothes or put on the blanket. She unbuttoned and unzipped her pants to let some air flow about, but she kept them on out of being so accustomed to having to sleep with her clothes on. Immediately after, she closed her eyes and visibly began to relax her worn out body.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>