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]

[Whatever. Let the man have his way. Pip-Boy or otherwise. Alex pops a few commands into the device, and Neil--]

Eh?

[Neil blinks at the HUD, eyes adjusting to the words slowly forming in one corner of his vision. He cannot help but read them aloud.]

Alter...native... Me...thods...

[The meaning hits home, and the man nearly whips back in horror.]

What the shit?

[doubletap]

[ Alex lets go of Neil, breaking into laughter.

Eventually, still laughing, he wipes at his eyes and tries to speak. ]

You said... you wanted alternatives... Wanderer.

[goodfight]

Jesus Christ, old man. Whatever happened to simple suggestion?

[Comes the exclamation. Neil immediately skims through the names given and pauses at the one he recognizes.]

Arcade?

[doubletap]

[ Laughs again. ]

I thought simple wasn't something you wanted. And yep. Arcade Israel Gannon.

[ He says somewhat pleased. ]

He'll be useful to you. He's a "bachelor" like myself.

[goodfight]

[Dear god, it rings of sense. Though, the fact makes him wonder.]

What? Did you come onto him, too?

[doubletap]

Yep.

[ That's the simple part. ]

Until I realized he was looking for something serious.

[goodfight]

[A hand runs over his mouth, his expression showing intrigue.]

You were hellbent on the single life, weren't you?

[Intrigue shifts into curiosity.]

And you would give that up for a guy who generally sees sex as the gateway to diseases and unwanted children?

[doubletap]

That's not it.

[ He wasn't stuck on being single. ]

I'm just not someone that's... Hm. Good to others. So I wouldn't want to string someone along if I couldn't feel the same way back.

[goodfight]

[The response is worth mulling over. Neil crosses his arms over his chest.]

...You're a pretty nice guy, did you know that?

[doubletap]

[ Expression goes straight to nope.

Reaches to slap Neil's ass as punishment. ]

[goodfight]

[The guy hops about a foot off the ground from the slap, before pausing from his pain long enough to growl at the other.]

Fuck you, that actually hurt!

[doubletap]

[ Raises an eyebrow. ]

Guess I'm not such a nice guy, then, amirite?

[goodfight]

[Rubbing at his rump and muttering about Alex and his hypersensitivity to karma, Neil settles for glaring at the other man.

His mind settles for the previous unfinished subject.]

I'm pretty sure half of these men are going to attack me for even hinting at their 'preference'.

[doubletap]

[ Alex reaches to gently touch where he struck, leaning to kiss Neil's temple. An apology unsaid. And that's all you're getting.

He pulls back and points at a name. ]

Nah, that one's a prostitute, so he'll be fine at least.

[goodfight]

[An unsaid apology is still an apology. The harshness in Neil's gaze softens, long enough to note the name.]

Am I asking him for a lecture or a demonstration?

[Because he's sure the prostitute will try for the latter. After all, it would be a sale for him.]

[doubletap]

[ The hand on Neil's ass moves to pinch instead. ]

I had better not hear of you asking for demonstrations, Mr. Park.

[goodfight]

[Furiously slapping that hand away.]

Yeah? What if I bring another guy and pay to watch?

[He has to thoroughly understand the parameters of his objective.]

[doubletap]

[ Allows himself to be batted away.

Because he's busy cornering Neil against one of the (well-used) desks. And staring. Very Much Staring. ]

Am I not enough to occupy you now?

[goodfight]

[Before he knows it, Neil's standing against a very familiar desk. There is also staring. Very much staring at the desk.]

Oh, you occupy me enough. Sometimes more than enough.

[As demonstrated by their surroundings. His loose tongue perhaps offers more than is wanted, but as certified by Vault 7, it is the truth.]

I'm not going to ask for a demonstration, Alex. I just like to know where the lines are.

[doubletap]

Good.

[ And for once, he doesn't seal the dispute with a kiss. He stares a moment longer, then backs off.

Lines, huh. He's crossing a few himself. ]

[goodfight]

[Neil turns to watch the other man carefully before focusing on his surroundings. There are three desks. Two contain terminals.

He steps toward one as his fingers fly over his Pip-Boy. The list of names disappears from his HUD.]

...Thanks.

[For taking his request seriously, even if there is no true need.]

I'll try to be discreet.

[doubletap]

[ He steps up next to Neil, eyes on the terminals as well. Alex ruffles Neil's hair, to show that all is fine. ]

Be however you want. I'm not going to dictate how you act.

[ That said, he pulls up the call log on the first terminal. Office emails. Hm. ]

[goodfight]

[Hair ruffling proves welcoming, and with his eyes fixed on the terminal screen, Neil grins.]

So be a dick, basically?

[doubletap]

[ He gives a grin to Neil. ]

However you want.

[ A repeat. A reminder, maybe, even if it's not needed. He's not going to try to control or use him. ]

[goodfight]

[Yeah, he gets it. The thought tempers his grin a bit.]

Alright.