the pier.

[doubletap]

Let him just say it now--the kid had a lot of problems.

I mean, not really a surprise or anything--Alex had found him dried out in a desert, for crying out loud--but god damn.

Let’s recap.

Alex Seattle Geer found himself in love with a Vault brat from the Capital Wasteland with a daddy complex the size of Hoover Dam. Said kid loves him back--sometimes. Said kid would probably rather put another bullet between Alex’s eyes rather than spend time with him, and didn’t this just go to show it. Neil leaves to check up a rumor, said he’d be back shortly--shortly became two days and by then Dogmeat was back, meaning Neil took off somewhere he was worried the dog would get hurt at. Two days turn into two weeks and counting, and by then, Alex has tracked Neil’s steps, found the fucking pier, the fucking tool of a woman looking for her child, and all of the pieces are too easily placed.

Neil left for Point Lookout. And Alex, ED-E, and Dogmeat are left hanging in the wind.

Alex has been fucking camping on the dirty sand and shit next to that pier, waiting for that stupid kid to come back on that stupid ferry the woman told him about. Tobar the fucking Ferryman, and Alex feels like shooting the asshole just for submitting to Neil’s request. Probably not the guy’s fault, but-- Hell. Yeah. He didn’t traipse all over the goddamn country just to be left in the dust. Is the kid even coming back? Who fucking knows.

Alex will just.

Wait here.

Until Neil comes back.

Yeah, that’s not pathetic at all.

Comments

[doubletap]

There's an easy way to get out of this, he thinks, and maybe if he was back in the west, Alex would take it. Here, for some reason, he can't swallow the lies.

He takes a hand off the LAER+ to rub at his chest. "...I'm going to be straight with you. It's not just that. Back west, I decimated a Brotherhood Chapter. Xavier took offense. I don't--"

Alex winces, wishes he had brought his stimpacks upstairs with him. Pretends that's the reason he pauses. "...Don't blame him, to be honest."

Behind Cooper and Larry, Washington drops his head into his hands.

[vacuus]

Larry absorbs the information, momentarily forgetting that his arms are still stuck dumbly up in the air.

What he gives next proves telling. Perhaps provides clarity for the stranger where none existed prior. "Lost Hills cut us off," is the start, "when Elder Lyons refused to abandon the people in this wasteland over pre-War technology. Xavier was formerly part of the...loyalist chapter who viewed Lyons as a traitor."

Of course, he'd have taken offense.

"But I've always been with Lyons," Larry continues, gravity in his voice. "Lost Hills abandoned us to the mutants." Got his kid sister killed. "Why should I care what happens in the West?"

[doubletap]

Alex's eyebrows raise. He makes no attempt to conceal his surprise. "...Neil didn't see fit to mention there was different factions out here," he says slowly. Neil mentioned an elder who wasn't into genocide, but nothing further than that.

"Hard to believe there's an elder that cares about people over tech," Alex says, and Washington, sighing heavily, gives credit where it's due.

"I'm not saying they've been completely good to us," the man explains. "But there's a definite difference between the Outcasts and Lyon's Brotherhood."

Alex watches the guard for a moment, then turns back to the BOS man. "...Some people care about what happens in different places, but not what's going on under their noses." NCR, for one, BOS for another. "Seems like a crime to wipe some of you guys out." Alex pauses. "But I have a problem with the whole tech over people aspect. What you say you guys aren't."

[vacuus]

"We're dying." A strange comment, but one the man feels need to be driven home. "Lyons passed. His daughter was killed in action. Maxson's too young--"

He pauses, knowing the blasphemy other Brotherhood members would accuse him of speaking. Still, he continues, "--to understand. And he's the one who's pushing to reunite both factions. We've already compromised on several points to appease the Outcasts."

There is a breath out as he feels the muscles in his arms ache. "It won't be long until Lyons' Brotherhood is no more."

[doubletap]

There was something in this. Something that reminded him of a city long since gone. A shine against dust storms and dying sand.

He swings the LAER+ over his shoulder, wincing as his skin pulls. "Let him go," he says quietly to Cooper. If the man still wants to shoot him, let him. Alex is hardy enough to withstand another set of blasts. Cooper pauses, then lets go, stepping away, gun held down and out, ready to pull up in a moment.

Washington takes a step back. Yay, he thinks. Now the last surviving BOS member will shoot us dead. Drew only thinks to be stupid, to ask, "...What about the Project? If the real Brotherhood is gone, who will back us protecting the water supply?"

It's Alex who laughs to this, something hurt in the sound. "Kid, I tried to tell you before. The real Brotherhood is the Outcasts, apparently, and the ones I killed back in the Mojave. This guy--" he says, and looks to the man in steel. "--and the people who died, those are the ones who are abnormal. The Brotherhood of Steel doesn't give a shit about you," Alex goes on. "But apparently this band of brothers did once."

[vacuus]

They let him go, allowing him his momentary freedom. Larry simply holsters his rifle and starts to stretch out his limbs, thinking he might as well. Give him a chance to enjoy something normal before an end. Maybe.

Maybe, as the stranger from the West gives words that Larry can appreciate, that has him remembering a time not so long ago. Of Reddin and her goofy smiles.

"Xavier. He was always one step away from opening fire on us." Larry looks toward the aforementioned entrance. "Maybe today's the day he finally snapped. Park, you know." He laughs uneasily. "He had a 'disagreement' with the Outcasts years ago over a pre-War artifact. They were still shooting at him the last I heard."

And such behavior can be an excuse. A reason.

[doubletap]

Alex shifts his weight idly, wishing for a moment to put himself back together. His eyebot lowers his hovering to look at Alex, offering a questioning beep. Alex whistles an I'm fine, then a low negative-- He doesn't want ED-E calling more attention to himself until they know this man exactly. Watching the exchange with fascination, Washington blinks a moment, then gives a groan and crosses the room--giving Larry a wide-berth.

When he's near to Alex, he offers him a stimpack. Taken aback, Alex blinks. From what he's gathered, these aren't as easy to come by in this Wasteland. "...Is he okay?" the man asks quietly.

Taking the medical chem, Alex injects himself fluidly, nodding at the man. "Worst part over. He should be fine once he gets some solid rest." His eyes raise to the Brotherhood man, as Washington moves to lean against a desk closer to Alex than he was. The strange solidarity is immensely touching in this messed-up wasteland.

"Xavier... Neil had me kill that guy as soon as he started mouthing off. Spat out the word Outcasts like it was the plague." He pauses a moment, then shoves a hand through his hair. "Listen, are you going to be shooting me any time soon? 'Cause if not, you wanna take off your helmet? Can't stand taking to a guy you can't look in the eyes."

[vacuus]

Larry watches the exchanges with bated breath, noting both in silence. It isn't until the stranger asks a question that he reacts.

He reaches upward to undo the latches. There is a hiss as the air inside and out reach an equilibrium, and gently, Larry lifts his helmet up and into his arms. Beneath the metal is a striking man nearing his thirties, green-eyed with curly hair as red as red can be.

"I can imagine why. I heard he'd brought his dog with him when he paid a visit to their base," he comments, his voice now clear to the air.

[doubletap]

The guy's younger than Alex, but older than Neil. Other than that, he only notes the details to remember for later. He moves toward a desk, hopping to desk on it and gesturing the guy over. Washington watches him, and Cooper returns to an opposite corner, keeping guard on the different exits. Drew, noticing his small unit's positions, shifts a little until he decides to prop himself in front of the main exit out. Alex tries to hide his smile at the effort.

Something that turns into a full laugh, full of bitter mirth, at the explanation. "God, Dogmeat was with him? That kid is protective as a mama bear over that mutt."

[vacuus]

He steps toward the stranger without hesitation. Without tension, as it melts away at that laugh. Larry stops at a respectable distance, a grin fighting a losing battle over dominion of his face. "That's right."

To even his own surprise, he salutes the man before him, out of respect for another. "Knight Larry Ellis of Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel," he gives.

[doubletap]

If he was surprised before, it quadruples in the next moment. His eyebrows shoot skyward again, and he moves to speak, but ends up just moving his mouth. Alex laughs somewhat awkwardly, and shoves a hand through his hair again. "Alex Seattle Geer," he replies. Without looking away from Ellis, Alex points a finger out at each guard in the room. "No speaking of this outside this room. Especially to Neil."

He then sighs, giving a wry smile to Ellis. "I was going to be named Paladin in the Mojave Chapter before I blew up their base."

[vacuus]

Surprised, Larry blinks openly at the reveal, before a more thoughtful expression takes place. "Then I guess my report stating that this was an internal incident shouldn't entirely be incorrect," he comments.

With that, the knight extends out a hand, an offer for a favorable truce. "Almost-Paladin Geer," says Larry with a ghost of a smile. "Please tell Knight Park that I still greatly appreciate his kind gesture to this day."

[doubletap]

He has no reason not to take the man's hand. Alex grasps it firmly, then, out of seemingly nowhere, makes a face. Almost-Paladin. "...Man, that sounds gross. Don't say it again. And tell him yourself," he shoots back. "He should be more himself in a couple of days."

And all of this only leads into what he was telling Neil downstairs, about not letting people take the fall. "Though I have a better plan for fixing this." Somewhat fixing this. (There's no fixing this.) "When is the next contingent coming through here? --Or, how long until you guys are missed?"

[vacuus]

A gentlemen's agreement is a much better ending, although it's difficult to take much of anything seriously when the guy hates the title so. Larry grasps the hand in turn before releasing. "I can wait around a couple of days," he states.

Maybe longer from the sounds of it. "The next inspection isn't planned for another three months, but they will start to wonder about us in a week."

[doubletap]

"Just need a couple of days, really," he says, pulling back his hand. He hops off the desk, cracking his neck and running a hand over his chest once more. ED-E beeps in question, and Alex again whistles a negative.

Drew can't pretend tact. "Are you actually talking to it--"

ED-E makes a rude sound, and Alex smiles tightly. "Him, actually. Not it." He looks back at Ellis. "Got two more questions for you at the moment. Do you have casual wear on you? If not, I have something that should fit you. Second."

He pauses, then shifts to face the guy directly, giving an intent look. "Are we honestly good here?"

[vacuus]

A couple of days to wait around for the Lone Wanderer and take responsibility for the dead. The task will prove grim, regardless of how everything played out, but no matter the length of time, these men were his comrades-in-arms. There are holotags to gather and possible pyres to build.

And a safety inspection to complete.

Larry almost does not notice when Geer addresses him once more. "...I'm assuming you need to borrow my power armor," he says. "No, I don't." As for the second question--

"So long as you let me have the holotags and aren't aiming to shoot me later," Larry starts, "we are 100% good."

[doubletap]

This kid is a mess. In the way that he would fuck up and get royally screwed about all of this. He's smart, but doesn't have the mind for it. Alex shakes his head. "Your assumptions would screw you over rather than not. If I had wanted to clank in metal, I would have grabbed one of the ones from downstairs. Nah, you need casual wear, 'cause if civilians show up to ask for water or trade, we don't want them telling tales of a BOS member being here. From now on, you're either Rivet City or just a merc."

Despite the half-lecture, Alex smiles to soften it. "I was planning on bringing you the tags anyway, Ellis. But stay up here while I clean things up. Good or not, you shouldn't have to see your comrades dead by a man you're planning to work with."

A beat, then he thinks to clarify the unsaid. "And I'm not going to shoot you. You know Neil. That's good enough for me."

Cooper pushes himself off the wall. "I'll come help you downstairs. You look like shit."

Alex narrows his eyes. "Thanks, brofriend. I'll dress up more for you later."

Cooper snorts, and moves to walk past Alex to the basement.

[vacuus]

The knight almost scoffs at the plan, picturing himself dressed in casual wear, pretending to be just what he would have been if his mom hadn't come along into his dad's life. The offer to bring him the tags, however, sobers him, and the man simply nods. "I'll need headgear," he comments as an aside, a finger pointing up to his head. "No one outside of my family has these red locks."

A very distinguishing feature for a guy in the Brotherhood of Steel.

The clarification is appreciated, and Larry again moves his head up and down. "If you guys don't mind, I'm going to finish up the task I was working on," is the follow-up to the general group. "Keep my mind off things."

[doubletap]

Alex looks at Ellis for a moment, then glances at Drew. "Drew," he says sharply, making the kid jump up. "Help Knight Ellis here with his task, will you? He's down a couple of people."

Solving the keeping Ellis out of it and Drew preoccupied at the same time. As well as making sure Ellis isn't alone to start brooding and getting Drew the chance to see one of his heroes up close. Alex turns to head down, then stops to pause near Washington. The man takes off his helmet, revealing premature salt and pepper hair. Not like Alex has any room to talk. "Short on helmets?"

Alex grins. "Actually, yeah. They're not really my thing. Got a dog out west who hates the things."

"Hats?" Washington asks, walking over to Ellis to hand over the helmet. "Here you go... If you want it, that is." Not nervous. Not nervous.

"He was a cyberdog," Alex calls back from walking downstairs. "Had a couple of weird tics like that. You're with me, Washington, come on."

Giving a half-feigned, half-real groan, the guard leader follows.