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]

[The question surprises him, but the answer forms easily in his mind. He looks up from the hand resting on his hair, perhaps appearing half his age due to his earlier crying.]

Yeah. I'm good.

[Everything that has transpired, everything that has brought his life up to this-- Everything's as right as rain, including his broken limb.]

[doubletap]

[ Alex nods, accepts it at face-value. There's only one other thing to get clear on, and that includes prodding Neil toward a nearby box to sit on, fishing in one of his waist-packs for another doctor's bag. ]

My turn to play nurse-maid again. Sit.

[goodfight]

[Ah, yes. Neil essentially crippled his arm from feelings. The humility prompts the young man to obey.

He sits and silently holds out the affected arm. Meanwhile, his line of sight settles on the dent on the wall, assessing the damage.]

So do you think Vault-Tec accepts caps or credit?

[doubletap]

[ Alex goes to work in a few quick motions, finishing the act with a shot of Super-Stimpack to seal the deal. He pushes back his hair from his face, shaking his head. ]

The assholes owe you money, if anything. And half the Mojave as well.

[goodfight]

[Neil makes a noise.]

I heard the old world had civil courts where you could demand monetary restitution for pain and suffering.

[What a concept. He'd think about it more but instead finds himself blinking rapidly at the aid used.]

Isn't that a little overkill?

[doubletap]

[ He snorts at the thought of civil courts. ]

Nothing a bullet between the eyes can't solve faster. And anyway--

[ He smiles, near dangerously. ]

Nothing but the best for the person who belongs to me.

[goodfight]

[It takes him a minute, a moment's delay. Then the meaning slaps Neil across the face with the force of a bag full of pre-war coin.

He sheepishly scratches his cheek with a finger.]

Belong to you, Alex?

[doubletap]

[ He reaches to rest a hand on Neil's hip possessively. ]

You're not going to leave me. You won't stop loving me. Doesn't that mean you're mine?

[goodfight]

[Therein lies reason in the Courier's words and warmth in his touch. If Neil's skin was not bright red before, it is definitely now.]

...Yeah. Guess it does.

[doubletap]

[ Alex smiles, and leans in to kiss Neil's forehead. And keeps to his agreement--to try and be more transparent. ]

Good. I'm glad for it. I want you, and I'm going to keep you.

[goodfight]

[Is it just him, or is his heart pounding? Does it matter?

Neil reaches to touch fingers to the other's cheek.]

That's all I want.

[doubletap]

[ Neil touches him, and Alex smiles quietly. Something he's been doing more and more lately. He rests his head against Neil's, something that feels more intimate to him--surprisingly--than other deeds. ]

You're sounding pretty happy, Mr. Park. Finally getting into the whole relationship thing?

[goodfight]

[Quiet affection will always be a comfort, and it is here, close as they are, that Neil feels the beats in his chest lower their intensity.]

I know I've been putting up a fight for no particular reason, but yes. I'm finally getting it.

[doubletap]

[ Alex makes a face, pulling his head back. ]

So basically, you're making me grateful to a shit vault and not want to leave it.

[goodfight]

Let's not go that far.

[Not when they couldn't put all responsibility on a Vault-Tec vault. Neil thinks for a moment, mulling on the response, the topic, and everything in between. Something shifts at the conclusion of that logic.]

That Bill guy sent a private email to the Overseer through Byron's terminal.

[Which they can safely assume that the latter has administrative access.]

Our cave-dwelling friend was in possession of two uniquely branded weapons. If you're just a run-of-the-mill vault dweller, they're not going to let you have any access to that sort of artillery. I should know.

[He coughs.]

Which means he's either administrative or security.

[doubletap]

[ It doesn't change what Alex said, and he's more than a little uncomfortable about being indebted to Vault-Tec at the moment. He allows the subject change and only shakes his head. ]

Still nothing we're going to find out unless we move forward. These tragedies are always set up like mysteries. We got to keep moving.

[goodfight]

[What is that term? "Nothing ventured, nothing gained?"]

Right.

[His arm and self mended, Neil moves to stand. His stomach growls, as though protesting the effort, and the young man frowns.

Pointedly, he eyes the food on the shelf.]

[doubletap]

[ Alex manages a feigned glare, then moves to leave the supply closet. ]

Stock up for later; don't eat it all now. We don't know how long we'll be here.

[goodfight]

Boo.

[Without wanting, Neil gives something like a pout. Even as he doesn't know why he's so caught up in food--his love for it aside.

As he leaves the closet, he stashes several boxes of various edible treats into his pack. He then pulls out a punga fruit, something he had procured and refined in the swampland. Thought it is not something relished, it does reduce the amount of radiation in the body.

Alex, therefore, should have no complaints about Neil eating this particular food.]

[doubletap]

Cute.

[ He speaks to the opposite wall about Neil's pout in the hallway, waiting for Neil to catch up. When the younger man does, gross fruit in hand, Alex shakes his head. ]

Can't stop eating, huh? Food whore.

[goodfight]

[Neil takes a generous bite out of the fruit before bothering to address the other man.]

I'm starving. That means I eat everything.

[Though he really shouldn't be. He had that box of Sugar Bombs earlier as well as a full meal before they even set foot in Vault 7.]

[doubletap]

[ Shakes his head again, then drops a hand onto Neil's hair. ]

You should apparently go on a diet. You shouldn't even be hungry.

[goodfight]

[Despite the pressure on top of his head, Neil frowns.]

What? For my girlish figure? I'll probably burn all the calories in an hour.

[From a variety of activities. Usually the ones involving getting shot at.]

It is weird, though. Maybe-- [And the thought is funny.] --it's all psychological?

[doubletap]

[ Alex snorts, and moves to walk forward. ]

Yeah, well, a lot of stuff's in your head. Apparently focusing on food more than me is at the top of the list.

[ ...Ah, another slip. They move forward, to view stairs heading down into the dark. ]

And to the right you'll see the stairs into hell and my fading dignity.

[goodfight]

[More exists in the words than meets the ear, but Neil only shrugs. Allows matters to further slip.]

We've all got our vices. [Bad habits and destructive steps.] Mine's just more apparent than yours.

[The stairwell, in contrast, is the very opposite of apparent. Neil peers down.]

Hell is a black hole?