WAH

[capcious]

Who: WAH
Setting: WAH
Summary: WAH
Warnings: WAH
Other: WAH

WAH

Comments

[capcious]

WAH

the institute

[capcious]

[Shaun's birthday.

They haven't been back to the Institute since Deacon was kidnapped.

Zetta doesn't know how she feels. She really, really doesn't. She just knows that today is not going to be a good day. She's looking forward to going back home even before they leave.

Zetta is holding onto Riley and Ferran tightly as the blue-white light of the molecular relay fades away. When she looks up at him, Riley is blinking as his eyes adjust. It's stupid of her to still constantly fear that he's going to disappear on her, but -- fuck. It's alright, he's still here. He's right here.

And he's laughing quietly under his breath, saying,] That was a lot more pleasant than the other thing. [The time travel device, she knows he means.]

[reformedcriminal]

Being in a roll-over in a sports car at 90 miles an hour is more pleasant than that thing.

But I would almost make the trip via molecular relay daily for the showers alone. Wait until you see them. If they were only larger they'd be perfect.

[Casa del Deacon is good, and makes him feel like he has a bit of civilization again, but it doesn't have the pristine air of the Institute. But he's made his choice and he'll hold to it.]

[safeshot]

[Riley laughs again, leans over to kiss his hair.

The Institute looks... like nothing on the surface. Smooth metal, clean curving lines... clean air. The darkness of these back rooms and hallways gives way to bright, clinical lights, and the Institute is quiet until they get closer towards the main hub. There's a clear glass balcony, and it's easy to see down to where there's a crowd gathered, in a sea of robes. They're clustered around a man with gray hair, who seems to be giving a speech.

Judging by the way Zetta is holding on to him tightly, he... can guess.]

[reformedcriminal]

There's Shaun. He looks just like you.

[And watching him in charge, holding the crowd's rapt attention, all these brilliant people looking to him for leadership, Ferran's chest fills with pride. He probably shouldn't feel proud of Shaun's role with the Institute, but regardless of the morality what the Institute does (and Ferran's never been overly concerned with morality), Shaun grew to be an impressive man.]

[safeshot]

He... He really does, [Riley agrees quietly. He can only see so much from this distance, but even from here, it's clear. He swallows, and holds Ferran and Zetta closer.

His son. That's... That is -- his...

They talked about him, finally. So it's not like Riley's entirely unprepared for what he sees, for any of this. But... that's... That's still... his son. The son that he felt slipping out of his arms at the same time as that -- pain... that cold... that -- ]

Breathe, [Zetta murmurs to him, but it's at the same time as Shaun looks up at them, the same time Shaun sees them, and smiles, and Riley can't breathe at all.

Zetta starts to pull him away from the balcony. She's frowning.] Riley. Breathe, and look at me.

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran moves to stand between Riley and the balcony edge, blocking his view of Shaun a little, hoping that would help let him ground himself.]

We have quarters here, if you need to prepare yourself before you meet him.

The Institute, cont.

[timesbureaucrat]

[They talk with Shaun for hours. About Riley, about family, about the day Shaun was born and the things they'd planned to do for his first birthday and were never able. They talk about Institute affairs as well, in particular the ramifications of the arrival of the Brotherhood of Steel. During the long conversation, Ferran mentions the synth boy, and they decide that Riley should see S9. They take their leave and let Shaun return to his work, agreeing that they'll meet for dinner later to say good bye before they go back to the surface.

Nathan is prowling restlessly outside Advanced Systems. As soon as he sees them approach, he hurries forward to grab Zetta and Ferran by the arm and pulls them away from the lab.]

It's about bloody time you got down here.

[capcious]

[Zetta gives the hand he's using to touch her an incredibly dirty look, then jerks her arm away. This was so not the best way to see Nathan again, not after the run-in with his lookalike and all the paranoia about how much they can trust him.]

What the hell is your problem?

[timesbureaucrat]

[He doesn't try to grab Zetta's arm again, but his fingers twitch anxiously with the need to get them moving quickly.]

Not here. Come with me.

[Oh yes, manners.]

Please?

[There's an edge of genuine desperation in his plea.]

[capcious]

[Zetta raises her eyebrows, then flicks a glance towards Ferran. In another second, she nods. If their concern about him has to do with his connection with Shaun, well -- Shaun isn't a threat right now. Ferran was right; Riley is going to be a huge asset in convincing Shaun to turn the Institute around, Zetta can already tell.]

Alright, alright. Fine.

[timesbureaucrat]

This way.

[He leads them to his spartan quarters, saying nothing along the way. He doesn't ask who Riley is; it's obvious to anyone with eyes. And he accepts that Riley will be coming along with them.

Once in his room, he gestures to the couch, offering them a seat while he paces.]

There are rumours that the Brotherhood of Steel has arrived in the Commonwealth. Is it true?

[capcious]

[Riley has no idea who this is, other than apparently that one alien that came to get the device. Except he's got a scar now. Riley sits down on the couch, but Zetta remains standing behind it, arms folded over her chest.

She raises an eyebrow when that, of all things, is what he asks.] Yeah, they invited themselves in on a giant ass blimp not that long ago. Why?

the surface, the next day

[capcious]

[Zetta remains in a bad mood until they visit S9. Watching Riley talk with him and teach him little games slowly chips away at her until she's closer to her default "in the Institute" state. She's tense all through the dinner with Shaun, but seeing him truly take to Riley is... a comfort. An immense comfort. But along with it is a tiny, horrible little seed of jealousy. Shaun is taking to Riley more quickly and readily than he took to her. She tries to ignore it, but the mood she's been in all day makes it impossible.

She cannot describe how relieved she is when they return to the surface.

They hike a ways to the General Atomic Galleria, where they're due to meet up with Deacon. Zetta's shoulders are still hunched, her mood sour, as they cross through the gates. The bowling alley is the most intact building, so that's where they're supposed to be going. There are crows perched up on the wall. Zetta can't tell if they're Watchers or not. She flips them off anyway. She can hear Riley laughing quietly at her as he pulls open one of the doors.]

[ersatzeverything]

[Deacon looks up from behind the counter where he's rifling through the shelves looking for good scavenge.]

So, how'd it go? Uh, not good I'm guessing. [He can read the simmering tension in Zetta's face.]

Does this mean I should pack? Get ready to flee the Commonwealth? Go into witness protection before the coursers come after us?

[safeshot]

No, nothing like that, [Riley says, cutting Zetta off before she can answer "yes" to all of the above like he knows she wants to.] Nothing bad happened. She's just having a bad day anyway.

Fuck everything, [Zetta agrees angrily.]

[ersatzeverything]

I thought that was Ferran's motto. He's gonna sue for, like, trademark infringement.

[Deacon pushes himself onto the counter to slide over to the other side and pads over to Zetta.]

[capcious]

[It's embarrassing how much she's missed him. It's only been the better part of a fucking day, jesus. But she's reaching to wrap her arms around his neck as he gets close enough, anyway.]

[ersatzeverything]

[He leans down to kiss her on the forehead.]

Hey.

You know what's guaranteed to lift any bad mood? Bowling. And look at that, we just happen to be in a bowling alley.

[Deacon has never bowled, doesn't know the rules, and has no idea if it's even fun or not. But the idea isn't necessarily to convince Zetta to go bowling, it's to chatter and create a distraction from her mood.]

greentop nursery

[capcious]

[As predicted, the settlers don't mind them crashing in the Pre-War house overnight. They usually prefer their hand-built shack because the roof keeps the rain out better, but it's a dry night so it shouldn't be any kind of problem.

Zetta has gotten so used to roughing it that this is a damn good set-up. She can make herself comfortable here with only the bedding they've carried with them. Riley has to admit, he's surprised, even though he knows he shouldn't be. They've been out here for months; just because it's new to him to see them taking to a life like this, that doesn't mean it's new to them.

The mole rats make themselves comfortable in the living room, and they set up in one of the back rooms, in what was probably someone's bedroom before the bombs fell.

Adjusted or not, Zetta quips dryly,] Happy Valentine's Day for us, [once they're settled.]

[reformedcriminal]

How many people remember Valentine's Day, I wonder?

[Just because Deacon referenced it, it doesn't mean that it's still celebrated in the Commonwealth. Deacon drops all sorts of Old World trivia in his conversation that's largely forgotten by society.

It's not just idle curiosity that makes him ponder it. If it's still a known holiday, the chances of other settlers going off to celebrate, and the chances of people taking special care to leave them their privacy, increase.]

[capcious]

They still remember Halloween and Christmas, [Zetta points out.] But haven't really heard people talking about holidays much outside of that.

I hope it's still celebrated, [Riley says wistfully.] I'd think people would need it now more than ever. You know, a day to spend with the people you love...

Don't let him give you the wrong idea, [Zetta drawls to Deacon.] Valentine's Day was as horrifically commercialized as Christmas.

[ersatzeverything]

People still remember Valentine's Day. Nick Valentine's heart signs would be pretty weird otherwise. Without that context it'd just look like he's saying "robot dick by day, red hot lover by night."

Which, you know, could be true. But probably not the kind of advertisement for his business that he wants.

[capcious]

[Zetta snorts loudly.]

Please. How could anyone think he could possibly have a dick? Which is ironic, given the whole detective thing, but seriously. He's, what, a weird Gen 2? Those totally don't have dicks.

[ersatzeverything]

Hey, he could still be a red hot lover, even without a dick. I mean, you are, and you don't have a dick.