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]

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.