Election Day

[goodfight]

[Once upon a time, blah, blah, blah, and thus, the Lone Wanderer brings a stray named the Courier from the not-so-radioactive Mojave Wasteland back into the highly radioactive Capital Wasteland.

It has proven to be the worst idea in the history of all ideas. A wanderer and his dog could go into a town and the town would live their silly lives without a care. Two wanderers, a dog, and an eyebot are, to say the least, a walking disaster. Neil really should have kept the tour restricted to Megaton. Neil, however, has been keeping his mouth shut on the matter because a part of him finds the venture very entertaining.

And so the duo are now on their way to the Republic of Dave, a settlement to the north of Washington, D.C. At nineteen, Neil had set foot in the place once and once only. Then, after speaking with its "citizens", he hightailed it out of there as soon as he got what he came for. The place is the headquarters of a cult in the guise of a democracy, the leader has as big of an ego as Eden, and Neil doesn't know why they're going back there.

He says as much to Alex.]

I still don't know why I'm going back there.

[A pointed look to the older man.]

And taking you with me.

Comments

[goodfight]

Oooooh, what's a cyborg?

[She watches in awe, thoroughly taken in by the idea of such a being she has no clue about. And who can blame her? She believes her dad is the rightfully-elected sovereign of a country named after him, for Pete's sake.

Alex, on the other hand... Neil watches the other out of the corner of his eye before finally shaking his head. He cannot shut down the android-bodyguard-who's-really-a-cyborg-instead because half of that ridiculous introduction is true. Alex Geer is a cyborg. One, because he said as much. Two, because Neil smartly ignored Alex in favor of his own expertise in human biology. Any medical doctor after several months of apathetic observation could figure it out--the older man runs on something partly inhuman.

Besides, things are coming along as expected. Neil means this venture to be a tour, and a tour sometimes requires playing pretend.

He clears his throat dramatically, interrupting the exchange.]

If you could just take us to the President now, that would be most appreciative. My manservant and I have a lot of track to cover before the next sunrise.

[The girl cants her head, eyes darting between the fascinating cyborg bodyguard and his charge. Finally, she goes to undo the locks and open the door.]

Okay, but you better let President Daddy know about your cybowhatsit bodything, or you're both in danger of getting kicked out.

[doubletap]

[ The girl turns to the locks and Alex strides forward, taking the opening to cop a feel on Neil's ass as he passes. Mid-stride, he glances back, waggling his eyebrows. The calm remark is only moderately lowered in tone. ]

Manservant. That's a new invitation.

[goodfight]

[There is a hand at rear, an act that calls for retribution or at the very least, a reaction. His passes for mild: Neil stiffens momentarily, fighting successfully against the red threatening to invade his skin, to give Alex what he thinks is a most appropriate answer.

His tone is even.]

Maybe if you're good at it, that can be more than an invitation.

[As the girl is preoccupied with opening the gate, Neil takes the second to delicately bat his eyelashes at Alex, before following the other man into the Republic of Dave.]

To the back house, Manservant, and do be quick about it!

[doubletap]

[ Ohh... An actual invitation. How rare. Alex's eyebrows raise higher.

Only to laugh at the second. He reaches to snag the shorter man by the elbow, giving no leeway for escape. Well, maybe. Neil is horrifically strong. ]

Your bodyguard requires your safety first, sir. If you'll accompany me...~

[goodfight]

[The actual invitation might have downgraded to a mere hopeful if the Lone Wanderer hadn't locked himself into participation. Instead, he allows himself to be dragged away, his lips locked into a frown.]

Oh, so my safety's suddenly a priority, huh? Was it also a priority when that Super Mutant nearly took off my head and you were nowhere to be seen?

[Which isn't true, per se. Alex would have been there, if such a there had actually happened, watching with great enthusiasm. This, Neil is most certain.]

[doubletap]

[ Conversationally, as he matches Neil's tone: ]

I didn't know that you were so into roleplay. There were a few things that could have been tried already. However, that Super Mutant was none of my concern, young master. I was delicing your mutt as you requested.

[ Smile, smile. ]

[goodfight]

Heh.

[His lips pull briefly into a smirk.]

You've only begun to scratch the surface, Mr. Geer, and by golly, old chap, I told you to do that five days ago!

[He pokes a gloved hand against the other's temple.]

When we get back, me and your memory module are going to have a talk.

[doubletap]

By golly, old chap, huh.

[ This is said in the same conversational tone as to not raise suspicions of others. Meanwhile Alex is scratching along his jawbone. ]

How about you can look into whatever of mine that you want as long as I can culture you up a bit. Do more than just scratch the surface.

[ ...Yeah. Take that however you want. What the ever. ]

[goodfight]

[The denizens of the so-called republic pass by with wary stares and mutters, but they seem generally uninterested in the pair and largely unaware of their conversation. Therefore, Neil takes the risk and snorts at the innuendo.]

That's if you can sell me on your idea of culture, old man.

[Everything else regarding the exchange, however, stops at the door. Neil turns to Dogmeat, who has been happily following along, his tongue stupidly flapping out of his mouth.]

Stay, Dogmeat! Don't move until I come back!

[The dog freezes in his motions, as if shocked by the command. He then looks up to whine at his owner, who attempts to break free of Alex's hold to pet the damn pathetic dog.]

[doubletap]

[ Which, of course, works because of Neil's damn inhuman strength. Alex shrugs and leans back, watching judgmentally at the act. At the damn pathetic owner petting the damn pathetic dog. ]

Why do you leave him anywhere? You seem to have an unnatural fixation on your canine friend.

[goodfight]

[Neil ignores the judging to straighten as well as suppress the need to scratch the dog's ears.]

Because our fun will be ruined when Dogmeat decides to tear out President Dave's throat at my inevitable annoyance. Also, there's nothing unnatural about my affections.

[doubletap]

ED-E.

[ Alex does a high whistle and the eyebot lets out a soft sounding sad beep. Alex yawns and turns to Neil, playful tones vanishing with the lack of witnesses. ]

There's a lot unnatural about all of this. But let's get it over with.

[ Meanwhile ED-E was floating near to Dogmeat, trilling a stanza hopefully. ]

[goodfight]

[Dogmeat, who otherwise would have stayed lonely and abandoned, barks happily at the prospect of the eyebot's company. Neil watches this for a beat before holstering Pa's Fishing Aid.]

Such is our lot in life.

[He opens the door, revealing stairs and a dining room. A fair-haired woman standing against the wall to the left of the staircase spares them a casual glance.]

Rachael said you were coming. He's in the office.

[She thumbs over her shoulder, indicating the direction.]

Thanks.

[Neil glances at Alex and then moves past the woman toward the opening at the end of the hall.

During the fours years, Dave hasn't changed at all, except perhaps maintaining a little less hair and a little more gut. He also does not recognize Neil at first, until a brief reminder causes him to rattle off how he might once again annex the Capital Wasteland. In the end, the President is only distracted. The reason?]

We should make this quick. I have an election to oversee, and today is the deadline.

[An election that is likely skewed toward the current incumbent's favor. Neil closes the conversation as requested, gaining a temporary 'visa' for his cyborg android bodyguard in the process. Tipping his head toward the exit for Alex's sake, he then exits the office, mumbling to the man beside him.]

To this day, I still haven't a clue as to why I didn't just shoot him in the face.

[doubletap]

[ Something has been rising in Alex as the talks commence. He was planning to just zone out and stare at the wall, however something had perked his interest.

Something that was enough to override the innuendo that could have been placed at Neil's remark of shooting someone in the face as they walked out.

Alex's eyes were bright and open, the same kind of expression he made when talking about space ghouls (ghouls in space) or desiccated corpses and their masculine robot girlfriends. The man nearly thrummed with a high energy, a grin threatening to peak. ]

...There's elections? There are candidates voted in for this Republic of Dave?

[goodfight]

[There is something wrong when Alex blatantly ignores the obvious, and Neil stares at the other in dismay.]

You missed a blatant opening, old man. What is the matter with you?

[Apparently, the matter is that Alex seems ready to bust out of his skin over pseudo-democracy and the exercise thereof. It is almost enough to make Neil's eyes roll out of their sockets. Almost.]

Yeah, pretend elections. There's only ever one candidate.

[doubletap]

[ ED-E, well used to his master's moods, chirps to the dog.

Alex, more prone to giving himself over to euphoria, looks at Neil with manic eyes. ]

But there could be more.

[goodfight]

[Dogmeat, confused by this seemingly optimistic spin on events, cants his head at ED-E and whines in a question while Neil more or less does the same.

Minus the whining. Instead, he gives Alex an incredulous look.]

Except you're not a citizen of the Republic of Dave. How do you expect to participate in a pretend democracy you're not even a part of?

[doubletap]

[ And there is that grin. ]

Couldn't an "Ambassador" make me an honorary citizen?

[goodfight]

[Alex asks for the impossible, and the fact shows on Neil's expression.]

Pfft. Of the Capital Wasteland, maybe.

[There is a moment, then. A brief spark of something, enough for common sense to scream for him to keep his mouth shut.

Except Neil doesn't really do that.]

You're better off convincing "President" Dave you're looking to be naturalized.

[doubletap]

Oh.

[ The expression is almost disappointed. ]

That's all? I didn't know that was an option.

[ Moves to head back inside. ED-E beeps once before giving up. ]

[goodfight]

[Neil spares the poor "sidekicks" a look, the emotion somewhere along the lines of pity. Then he turns to follow, mumbling under his breath.]

Hoh boy, here we go again...

[The man called "President Dave" is right where the men left him, sorting through his empty beer bottles and cigarette butts. Without looking up, he says:]

Yes? What is it now?

[doubletap]

[ The dimwitted President Dave didn't know what he was in for. Expecting an ignorant bodyguard, the man instead gained a confidante. Within minutes, Alex had convinced the man to open up about his fears of usurpation by those present, as well as his loneliness in his lacking relationships and the void present all throughout his life. Despite the despairing topics, the man ends his monologue with a genuine thanks, appreciation in his eyes and care in his tone.

Thus, Alex Seattle Geer became a citizen of the Republic of Dave.

Out the door, he whistled openly, strolling further away from the house. ]

[goodfight]

[Dave caves like dirt beneath one's heels, leaving Neil very little room for participation. Instead, he watches the beginning of what will be a wreck, giving no words until the pair are safely out the door.

Then he gasps, the sound edging exaggeration.]

So that's how you do it.

[doubletap]

[ Alex, for his part, remains clueless on the matter. He pauses, looking back. ]

Do what?

[goodfight]

[Neil closes the distance, nodding intently. The man has always wondered, and this is quite a fortuitous discovery.]

Get men under your spell. Do your bidding.