Alternative Methods.

[doubletap]

Has sex become repetitious? Feeling sore in certain areas? Well, good news! Your boyfriend has sent you on a quest to find different ways of having fun gay sex. Yay!

Find the following people and seek out their knowledge:

• Arcade Israel Gannon (=D)
  
• Jimmy (Westside)
  
• Old Ben (Freeside)
  
• Doctor Alex Richards (Novac)
  
• Ignacio Rivas (Helios One)

Good luck, Wanderer!

Comments

[goodfight]

Annoying. It is damn near aggravating to hear Alex claim responsibility for something of Neil's. The younger man glares back, even after the kiss.

"You didn't let me down," he retorts. "There was just a lot of misunderstandings, that's all. Don't fucking blame yourself or think you have to make it up to me, alright? It's fine now."

[doubletap]

"It's not fine," he says quietly. He watches Neil intently. "This was a mistake that was made. It's fine now, logistically... If it was explained."

He's irritated, suddenly, at Arcade explaining something that Alex should have. That also probably looked like Alex was a complete asshole, of letting that go on for so long. Fuck. He'll probably need to talk to Arcade as well.

"Talk to me. If there's anything weird, anything you don't know or isn't familiar, talk to me. I probably don't know half the amount of stuff some people do, but this is a two-person activity, and I'm involved as well. Don't cut me out because it's something embarrassing or seemingly weird. I want to listen, remember? I want to be there for you."

[goodfight]

"It was explained," Neil mutters, losing the heat in his eyes. "And before you think otherwise, I told Arcade I purposely didn't bring it up to you." Before Alex starts to believe that Neil would throw his boyfriend under the bus.

"I remember. I'm not planning on doing that again." On hiding matters for the purpose of saving his own dignity.

[doubletap]

He runs a hand over Neil's hair, quieter. "...No wonder you wanted other ways to do stuff."

[goodfight]

Alex gives a partial fact. Indeed, Neil had sought for alternatives to avoid the more unpleasant side of full-on sex. There were, however, other reasons as well.

"It isn't just that," he says carefully. "I've been...really overwhelmed by it lately. In the good way, I mean, but still. Get pretty worn out, as you already know." Evident by the amount of dozing Neil's gotten into since Vault 7.

[doubletap]

...Alex narrows his eyes slightly, trying to define what Neil is saying.

"...If you don't define for me what that means, I'm going to go ahead and assume that it's just too good to deal with," he gives lightly.

[goodfight]

ARGH.

"The last couple of times we did it, I conked out so hard after and lost half the day," Neil states blandly. "That freaking sucks balls, losing time."

[doubletap]

"The question is... why, though? Would it even matter if we did something else--it might just have you react the same."

[goodfight]

His face gains a nice shade of crimson. Nevertheless, Neil blazes through the conversation. "Because we're dating now. Somehow, that detail just intensified everything by tenfold. That's why I thought to try your quest, Alex. To see if there is an alternative that wouldn't cause issues. Wouldn't lead to us reducing the frequency."

A beat passes. "Even if I'm generally neutral about sex, it's something that I enjoy doing with you."

[doubletap]

...And Alex blinks. Slowly. Nothing of what Neil said just now was expected, most of which--

"I knew physically you liked it... But you yourself actually enjoy it? I didn't know if maybe--" You didn't like it at all.

[goodfight]

There exists no hesitation. "I like it."

He attempts a smile, tinged with melancholy. "It's a more concrete way of telling me that you love me, I think."

[doubletap]

There's a reiteration, enough to soften Alex's reactions, enough for him to gently pull Neil back against him again. "It is," he repeats. "For me.

"You keep saying things are different because we're dating," he goes on. "We were dating before, you know? The only difference now is the going steady part: The outlined exclusivity."

[goodfight]

Again resting against the other man, Neil releases his tension. He eases back into the comforting hold.

"Feels like a whole new ballgame," he tells Alex. "Is it really just a matter of being exclusive?" That you feel like the world around you can explode, for good or for ill.

[doubletap]

The tension seeps from Neil and Alex wraps his arms around him again, content.

"Nah, it's not because of that. It's because it's something that's it." He leans to nuzzle slightly. "You're my only. I'm keeping you forever, 'member?"

[goodfight]

Forever. Forever sounds marvelous. Neil presses his face against the other's skin, breathing in his scent.

"Yeah," he murmurs, quiet and soft. "I remember."

[doubletap]

Alex reaches a hand to pet through his hair, more at ease now that Neil was talking to him, laying against him. "...Tell me about the asexuality thing," he says quietly, still petting.

"Why was it hard to hear?" And why it made Neil wonder if it was all unnecessary?

[goodfight]

The hand through his hair threatens to instill sleep in an already emotionally drained Neil Park, but he manages to think back. He pulls apart the emotion that stuck to him when Arcade and he discussed the finer points of the sexuality.

"I could start see where there could be problems. Problems that can't possibly be resolved, no matter the attempt. Sex is a big deal to most people when it comes to their partners. What if I couldn't satisfy your needs? What if what we each want sexually is irreconcilable due our individual preferences?"

Neil pauses to breathe, to regulate. "What if all that research and questioning won't be worth shit if I can't get myself into them?"

[doubletap]

Alex starts at the end. "That's an odd sentiment coming from a scientist. You research for knowledge's sake, not for any personal gain."

[goodfight]

"I know, right?" Neil laughs, decidedly unamused at himself. "That's what I get for having a stake in it instead of sticking to objectivity."

[doubletap]

Alex quiets, then continues petting Neil's hair. "In case I need to make it clear," he starts. "You satisfy me."

[goodfight]

Alex speaks in an expectant way, and yet, Neil's heart quickens minutely. "Now," he says. "Maybe years from now, what I'm offering won't be enough."

[doubletap]

They've had this conversation in that vault, but maybe it bears repeating. "Tell me what you're offering, then."

[goodfight]

He doesn't remember what he might have said before. Right now, Neil only has the present. "All of me." Everything and anything that he can reach.

[doubletap]

Despite knowing the answers, his heart flips in his chest. He stops petting to hold Neil close instead. "Then why would I ever be unsatisfied?"

[goodfight]

"Who can say?" He smiles into Alex's skin. "There are so many reasons, especially if you give me the time to come up with them all. You know how much of a paranoia junkie I am."