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

[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!

[doubletap]

[ Alex snorts, and in a fit of whimsy, brings Neil's hands up to his mouth to bite his fingers. ]

So you do end up comparing me to your old man in the end.

[goodfight]

[A groan escapes from his lips as he himself shivers from the touch. This is a severe step up from previous scenarios, where Neil might have punched Alex on the arm.]

You're not my dad.

[doubletap]

[ Expecting a slap or a sharp remark, both reactions catch him off guard. Blue-gray eyes flash in a familiar way at Neil's shiver. He keeps the other's hands near his lips. ]

...Apparently not.

[goodfight]

[Neil stares at him, watching the all-too familiar expression with something akin to horror and mild interest.]

...Does doing things include using that power of yours?

[doubletap]

[ Keeping the expression, he raises his eyebrows. ]

I thought that didn't work on you.

[goodfight]

...It doesn't.

[A pause before he mutters:]

But I also have no idea when you're actually being..."nice". Guys just seem to lose their minds for a second and do whatever you say.

[doubletap]

It's called listening, Wanderer.

[ He lowers their hands, though keeps them together. ]

If you haven't noticed, I'm good with people. Don't like a lot of 'em, but I'm good with them. I understand where people are coming from, and what they want and need. Most people just want that--someone to understand them.

[ He watches Neil for a moment. ]

Most people would give up a lot to have that.

[goodfight]

[He absorbs this for a good minute.]

...I get what you're saying.

[Makes a good deal of sense, really, even if that is not Neil's way.

Huh, now he can't help thinking about it, and his face shows.]

[doubletap]

Do you now?

[ He asks near playfully. ]

[goodfight]

[...Now he does. Kinda. There is just one thing he's missing.

Neil narrows his eyes.]

Are you talking about you or me?

[doubletap]

[ He wants to say, "who knows?"--wants to hold to the theme of teasing and lightness. He tries for it--and chokes on the words.

A hand on his throat, glaring at the floor, he spits out the truth instead. ]

Both of us, in my view.

[goodfight]

[The guy chokes in a not-funny way. A likely attempt in lightness.

It is this that has Neil looking on with veiled concern.]

Could you elaborate?

[doubletap]

[ It annoys him, and for some reason, depresses him as well. He lets go of Neil's hands fully, moves to open up a cabinet full of useless crap like duck tape and a wrench. ]

Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you're perfectly fine not having someone to try to understand you.

[ Maybe I'm just fooling myself. What's with the dramatics, Alex? ]

[goodfight]

[His hands are still shaky without another to press them together, but the detail isn't as noteworthy as Alex. His words and the emotion shown, specifically.

Neil watches the other watching the contents of a cabinet. It would be funny at another time.]

...You know, I never had someone try to understand me. It was always about something or someone else.

[doubletap]

[ When he turns to look, there's anger in the expression. ]

I know that! It pisses me off. You deserve better than that.

[goodfight]

[For once, something like melancholy touches his countenance.]

I don't know.

[Neil starts to press his hands together in an attempt to replicate the calm.]

Feel like it's my lot in life. For being born and all.