the story in which Alex Seattle Geer is right for hating enclosed spaces,

[doubletap]

and Neil Park is blamed for his knowledge of vaults.

---

Terminal Entries:

1st Floor, Vault Entry-Room Computer:
- Data Entry 1: Year 20XX, Month XX; There's no escape.
- Holotape Entry 1: Y#4@ SDhig^8705 H98 [data corrupted]; This is hell and I want out of it.

1st Floor, Cafeteria Luncheon:
- Holotape Entry 2: Private Recording; I've had better?

1st Floor, Cafeteria Supply Room:
- Inventory List: Inventory List; A list of food....
- Data Entry 2: Shift Notes; Maybe I should tear the walls down.

1st Floor, Broken Cave:
- Data Entry 3: Preparations; Everything's fine.
- Data Entry 4: Near the End; I'll tell you the truth, but I won't give up my soul.
- Data Entry 5: Finally, the End is at Hand.; This is far enough.

1st Floor, Office:
- Data Entry 6: Vault-Wide Public Service Announcement; Get back to work everyone.
- Data Entry 7: Locked Administrative Reply; You're reaching for straws.

1st Floor, Administrative Secretary's Office:
- Data Entry 8: Drama Hoes; It is sort of funny that people aren't able to lie, though.
- Holotape Entry 3: Bill Self-Log; Byron's access still works everywhere.

Comments

[doubletap]

Alex feels strangely complimented by Neil referring to Alex's chest as a mass and keeps the smile, even as curiosity takes over. "You had a childhood bully?"

[goodfight]

At the continuance of what was honestly a slip, Neil frowns, countenance reeking of unease and disquiet. "Oh, geez," he starts nervously. "Five-year-old me was a runt. Used to say and do things that didn't make a lick of sense to anyone. Dad put up with it, Amata put up with it, but the rest of my class... Not so much."

He suddenly scoffs, as if disgusted by the memories. "Especially Butch DeLoria and his fuckbuddy-in-closed-doors Wally Mack," he continues, annoyed.

[doubletap]

He means to tease. Means to ask more. Instead he leans in, tone almost intimate. "Wish I knew you. I'd have liked you."

[goodfight]

If Alex aimed to distract, it is working 100%. Neil shifts to watch the other man, pupils widening. "...Kid me would have probably driven you insane," he mutters, flustered.

[doubletap]

He isn't quite sure what's causing the reaction in Neil, but he's not mad at it. Alex grins easily. "Kid you sounds awesome. We could have had adventures."

[goodfight]

They could have had adventures. It's a nice statement to cover the slip of quiet misery that was his childhood, and to that thought, Neil grins back. "We could have loosened the bolts in the pipes and flooded an entire level," he returns. "Or dug a tunnel right into a molerat's burrow."

[doubletap]

Alex snorts before giving a groan. "A molerat's better than a tunneler at least...."

[goodfight]

Ah. That is perhaps yet another question. Neil watches Alex, eyes seeking for reactions. "I had a question about those, actually," he says quietly. "About tunnelers."

[doubletap]

And there is that quick bright rush of fear, replaced with something firmer. "...They're from a place called the Divide. And I'll tell you about that... Later."

Please don't ask.

"But Tunnelers... The people who lived in the towns in the Divide, pre-war, they went down in the ground when the bombs hit. And they stayed there all this time. They're something between your Trogs and the Spore Carriers from Vault 22. Except fierce enough, quick enough, and more than fucking strong enough to down a western Deathclaw in two hits max. They come in groups, out of the ground, surge up and surround, and being trapped with them in the dark is enough to think it's over."

All of it.

"And due to events, they're awake now. Aware that there's more than just their underground. I was warned they'd be spreading. Didn't know they already started."

[goodfight]

Unless you're bullheaded with a skull as thick as a vault door, you couldn't miss that expression, that telling fear. But Alex says he will speak about the Divide later, and Neil isn't that much of an asshole to force an account from another. Instead, he accepts the explanation offered and moves on to the more obvious point.

"I see," Neil replies, more to himself than anyone else. "You used that flare gun on them. Had me throw the flashbangs over the grenades. They have a sensitivity to light, correct?"

[doubletap]

"That's pretty much their only weakness," he gives. "And it's not much of one as you have to constantly use them or they'll come back. They have a queen in place, and I think the rest just drag anything moving back to her."

Down into the dark.

[goodfight]

Neil automatically squeezes the hand in his before chancing a reply. "You know what you want to do with them?"

Because as it is, the future looks pretty damn bleak.

[doubletap]

The hand in his own makes him able to laugh, nervous and helpless. "Not at all. I was hoping I'd die before they started leaving the Divide. Or that they would just go back to sleep. It's just another thing--"

And just. Fuck.

"--I'm responsible for."

[goodfight]

There is weight behind that laughter, death behind his answer. Neil looks on, mind stewing over both.

"I would ask why," he finally says, "but I'd rather wait for your story. Now, though, just remember you don't have to take this on by yourself."

Alex has his family, after all. And Neil.

[doubletap]

He means to explain it, that truth he just uttered. He wouldn't have to give everything away, no--just that one solitary part. About the explosions that shook the underground. However--

However.

"--just remember you don't have to take this on by yourself."

Alex just stares, the reason why most likely obvious. "What do you mean?" he finds himself saying dumbly. "It's my responsibility."

[goodfight]

The question is to be expected. It's easy to understand the confusion in this person's eyes because sometimes, Alex Seattle Geer can be so fucking stupid. Just like everyone else. And of course, it is this fact that tickles Neil above others.

He offers a lopsided grin. "Your responsibility includes understanding your limitations," he points out, "and knowing when to ask for and accept help. If you're going to tell me that you are the best and only solution to these things, then I'd say you're just playing around."

A pause. "You don't know where to begin, right? Others might."

[doubletap]

Neil speaks in a way others wouldn't, without condescension or mocking, and Alex wonders where this person came from. Where this calm man in full control of his person came from. He thought he was traveling with this angry young kid.

"So I'm off-balance," he starts slowly, full of unwanted truth. "You're really calm and wise right now and it's not really normal. You're being really kind."

Like Neil said he wanted to be, back in the Capital.

[goodfight]

This confession, on the other hand, takes Neil aback. On instinct, the young man starts to scratch the back of his head with his free hand, in an attempt to detract from the awkward expression invading his features. "Well, geez," he says softly. "I thought I was just, uh, being myself, I guess."

Speaking an ancient truth. With kindness, apparently.

Neil blushes darkly at that thought as his mouth moves on its own. "Is that bad?" he begins. "I'm relieved to hear I ain't throwing fits in your direction, but I'm also really confused if I should be. Or not. I...think."

[doubletap]

When Neil blushes, Alex rebalances. Smiles at him. "Glad to be learning another side of yourself, then. I've liked every part of you I've met so far. And it's not bad at all."

And because he can't stop himself--

"It's really attractive."

[goodfight]

Such pleasant words are passing from Alex's lips to Neil's ears, and if the latter's flustered state is of any indication, Neil finds himself more than a little affected. His hand moves to cover his eyes as though thoroughly embarrassed.

"...There's some weird tingly shit going on in my chest right now," he confesses, "and I don't know if they're appropriate for this conversation."

[doubletap]

"Yeah, I call it squishy girl feelings. It's how I feel when you smile at me when no one is around." Okay, you... didn't have to say all of that, Alex Seattle Geer. He sighs loudly, then shifts to lean back against the wall, and against Neil's shoulder.

He tips his head to lean against Neil's, re-entwining their fingers. "We can try a different line of questioning."

[goodfight]

Calling it squishy girl feelings does little to lessen the aforementioned sensations carrying on in Neil Park's chest. They, in fact, nearly cause his heart to stop when Alex mentions private smiles. Neil groans in affect, before shifting his head to bury his eyes in the other's light hair.

This and the subsequent affection help calm, and Neil accepts the opening into a new topic graciously. The Tunnelers and this Divide would wait for another day.

"Sure," he says as his brain scrambles for the most appropriate question. "You, uh, ever date anyone else?"

[doubletap]

Instead of mocking, Neil groans, and Alex is starting to understand that underneath all of the biting remarks, Neil Park is more kind than he lets on. Alex nuzzles lightly, enjoying the moment in all of its mess.

Until the question isn't about the "normal" past and about more specifics. Alex twists his head to look at Neil. "What? No. Never."

[goodfight]

Sob. No, that was also not the most appropriate question Neil could have brought to the table. It's too late to backpedal now, though, judging by Alex's slightly panicked tone. Neil might as well own up to it.

"I heard you weren't the type," he mutters unhappily. "People said you preferred one-nighters. I...didn't mean for that question to just come out, but I've always been curious."

[doubletap]

"Thought I told you that," Alex says, calming at the unhappy tone in Neil's voice. He rests their hands in Neil's lap, fingers stretching out to run down his thigh. "Only wanted you like that. You're the one for me."