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

1st Floor, Office

[goodfight]

[Alex succeeds in opening the door, paving the way for Neil to move into the next room, gun leveled casually toward the interior.

The next room reveals itself to be an office, Pip-Boy light revealing two desks with two terminals and other sundry objects. A visual sweep reveals nothing; ears to the walls and feet to the ground pick up more the same.

He lowers Pa's Fishing Aid.]

Question: Given the possible "influence" in this vault, should we exercise discretion? Keep our mouth shut, basically.

[doubletap]

[ A sight the same as a million other places, the same million other things. It's stuff like this that makes him feel old. ]

...I need to move on soon.

[ Is the murmur, emotionally prompted and almost unnoticed by Alex himself. He moves to answer Neil instead. ]

I don't think we can, not fully. Lax inhibitions and all. We'll end up saying stuff regardless, and anyway--

[ He gives a self-mocking smile. ]

Not like there's anything to hide between us, right?

[goodfight]

[Neil can't help the eyebrow that shoots up at the aside.

Calling attention to its existence, however, is unwise, at least for this moment. The other man would attempt to bottle up, or clarity would become muddled in the expression. It would absolutely do something to them right now, he believes, if they go into the wrong sort of talk.

Therefore, Neil is willing to address the actual response to his question.]

...Right, Alex.

[Right. The younger man moves toward the nearest terminal, his free hand reaching to press the power button.]

[doubletap]

[ There's a strange feeling that washes over him, one he doesn't like feeling. It's rare, but he recognizes it:

Guilt. Something he could have done better, but didn't.

He slips the survivalist rifle through the loop on his back, cinching it at his shoulder. ]

I'm not keeping you out on purpose.

[goodfight]

[The statement is enough to draw Neil's eyes away from the terminal screen, to rest on the other man.

The emotion swirling beneath them is curiosity.]

And I never said I'm entitled to your secrets.

[doubletap]

[ He groans in frustration, half shifting away. Squeezing a hand through his hair, he shakes his head. ]

You've got to understand, more than anyone. If you aren't used to having someone around, you're as hell as not used to speaking things that are important.

[goodfight]

[It's intriguing, how Alex reacts. It is a rather nice change of pace from the usual Mr. I-Keep-It-Together.

Neil cants his head slowly, eyes following the motions before them.]

Alex. I get it. I'm not accusing you of wrongdoing here.

[doubletap]

[ He pauses. Stops to glare for a moment at Neil in suspicion.

Then gives it to the air. ]

...There's a lot I've had to get used to, too.

[goodfight]

[A beat passes before Neil releases a sigh.]

From the way you were going about things, I wouldn't have guessed that about you.

[doubletap]

[ He blinks, once, and does nothing else. ]

What do you mean?

[goodfight]

[The younger man straightens in his stance, the barrel of the shotgun lowering toward the ground.]

For a guy who "doesn't do relationships," you seem to know what you were doing about this one. To me, at least.

[doubletap]

I just wanted you. It made it simple.

[goodfight]

[Again, he raises an eyebrow incredulously. His lips, on the other hand, cannot hide their want to twist upward.]

...You're so weird.

[doubletap]

[ He frowns slightly, and if one didn't know better, one could say that Alex Seattle Geer looks embarrassed. ]

Like you always tell me.

[goodfight]

[This time, Neil does smile.]

And hell if I'm going to stop.

[doubletap]

You seem to like weird.

[goodfight]

[A laugh.]

Feel like I've heard that before.

[doubletap]

Well, I hope it lasts.

[ --You liking me, that is. His mouth closes on the sentiment. ]

[goodfight]

Unless someone else removes another piece of my brain, I don't foresee that changing any time soon.

[Is the cheerful response.

His body, in contrast, does not share his sentiment about removing grey matter. Thus, when Neil reaches for the terminal keyboard, his hand quietly shakes.]

[doubletap]

I'd kill them if they tried.

[ He watches Neil's hands instead of his eyes. ]

[goodfight]

If I don't get to them first. Also, what the hell, fingers?

[The shaking proves to be counter-productive to his goal. Which is always bad. Every time he references that murky old swamp, he hasn't been able to keep his limbs calm for hours.

Neil frowns. He closes and opens his hand before attempting again to press the keys.]

[doubletap]

[ The distance proves too much for the moment, and it only takes two long strides to step beside Neil and reach to take his hands. ]

Sometimes I wish you weren't so capable so I could kill things for you.

[ He smiles wryly. ]

But I'd rather do things like this with you, dumb as this is. I haven't had someone on the same level with the same interests before.

[goodfight]

[Another's hands around his serve to regulate the movements somewhat, even as Neil frowns further, his dark eyes watching the conjoined hands.]

You never had a best friend is what you're saying.

[doubletap]

[ Narrows eyes half-playfully, half-not. ]

Well, that's a way of lessening it, yeah.

[goodfight]

[He flusters, as if caught off-balance.]

Well, you're using the same definition Da-- Er, same one I was taught as a kid!