[Riley feels like he's walking in on the middle of a TV show he hasn't been watching. He's been more than willing to let Zetta have control over the situation, and Ferran seems to have taken a backseat as well, but... It's almost amazing to watch. This man is so much like Zetta. Riley isn't sure what's making her so cold to him, but he can see that he's finally responding in kind.
This is absolutely going to be too little too late, Riley has no doubt, but he figures it's worth trying to soften the edges anyway. He stands, to show that he's not planning on pushing their luck, but he offers his hand out for a shake along with a small smile.] It was good to meet you. [... as if this was some pleasant visit. He isn't realizing it's his Pre-War showing.]
[Riley laughs sheepishly, sticking his hands in his pockets.]
Alright, fair enough. I guess we kind of skipped that part. Still, I mean it.
It's not often Zetta decides to actually give a straight answer to someone when she's in a mood like this. [Not that she's agreed to help him get revenge, not yet, but the fact that she didn't say no straightaway even though she's pissed is telling, too -- No, Riley's meaning when she gave up the answer to the question of Shaun's plans.]
Nah. I'm just the only one with any people skills.
[Zetta snorts behind him and he glances over his shoulder at her, grinning. Her arms are folded again and she's several steps away from the couch towards the door. She's clearly wanting out of this room, but Riley turns back to the conversation.]
Well, I mean... The Brotherhood isn't the only problem. Just the newest one. I'm sure I'll get to hear all about whatever's bothering her once we get out of here.
[Riley's persistent friendliness is getting Nathan to lower his hackles against all odds. But as he begins to think more rationally instead of in anger, two truths become clear to him. 1) He wants to destroy the Brotherhood of Steel. And 2) He doesn't want to alienate Zetta needlessly. She's the only person in ages worth talking to.
He sighs in defeat and holds out his hand for a handshake.]
[Riley blinks a couple of times, clearly surprised that this is actually working at all, let alone so well, but he doesn't hesitate to take the offered handshake.]
Riley. [Because there's no point in saying his last name, obviously. And now it's time for him to pull out a social card he learned a long time ago:] So, what is it you do here? [Ask about his job. If there's anything he learned from being around scientists thanks to Zetta, it's that showing interest in their jobs and projects almost always gets them to warm up. Hell, it works on Zetta, too.]
[The technique works as well on Nathan as it does on all the other scientists of Riley's acquaintance.]
I work in Advanced Systems, mostly weapons' development, but lately I've been working on a special project I was hand-picked to carry out. Researching the development of a synth child.
[He's not sure what practical purpose this project serves, but his ego is stroked to have been chosen for it, regardless.]
[The synth child. The one that's based off of Shaun when he was younger. The one that Zetta and Ferran wanted him to meet.]
So you look after him? [Riley has to try to keep himself from asking what he's like, and instead stay on the track of looking at it as a project.] What all does that usually include?
[Nathan looks at him like he's crazy. Or like that's the stupidest question he ever heard.]
Yes, of course there are other children here. The Institute wouldn't have lasted very long if at least some of the members didn't procreate. We boast some of the finest genes in America. Besides, just because we're scientists it doesn't mean we're dead from the waist down.
[And after that rant, he should probably explain why S9 doesn't play with them, since there are children.]
The other children didn't take well to S9. We keep him separate from them now. It's better for all involved.
I don't have friends or family, and I'm just fine.
[Because clearly Nathan is a happy man who is satisfied with his life.]
Besides, we can't just build friends for him. Well...perhaps the robotics lab could, but it would be irresponsible in the extreme to create more synth children until we've completed our assessment of S9. And synths, by their nature, have no family.
And maybe adults can get by being on their own for a while, but kids are still growing. They're still learning how to interact with people, and trying to figure out who they are. I'm not saying you should, uh, rush the project and make more synth children, but... Socializing with your peers is an important part of growing up.
And... Family is more than just people you're related to.
You know which ones were giving him the hardest time? [Zetta's voice is icy. She was letting Riley handle this -- up until that. Now, she has to step in. And, honestly, she's fucking pissed anyway.] Because I have some brats to fucking educate.
It doesn't need to make him friends. It needs to fucking stop the behavior.
Is there even anything you can do? [Riley says softly.
Zetta makes a frustrated noise.] No. Because they would've learned that shit from their parents and the rest of the goddamn Institute. I swear to god, nothing fucking changes. [Her anger is spiking again. She wants to fucking hit something. She couldn't adequately protect Riley from this shit, or undo the damage it did to him. And now she can't keep it from happening to her fucking son.
... no. S9 isn't her son. Her son is perfectly happy. They're going to be having dinner together later, as a family, on his birthday. Breathe. Fucking breathe.]
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This is absolutely going to be too little too late, Riley has no doubt, but he figures it's worth trying to soften the edges anyway. He stands, to show that he's not planning on pushing their luck, but he offers his hand out for a shake along with a small smile.] It was good to meet you. [... as if this was some pleasant visit. He isn't realizing it's his Pre-War showing.]
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Your attempts at Old World pleasantry might be a bit more believable if we'd actually been introduced, Mr. Reynolds.
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Alright, fair enough. I guess we kind of skipped that part. Still, I mean it.
It's not often Zetta decides to actually give a straight answer to someone when she's in a mood like this. [Not that she's agreed to help him get revenge, not yet, but the fact that she didn't say no straightaway even though she's pissed is telling, too -- No, Riley's meaning when she gave up the answer to the question of Shaun's plans.]
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What has she got to be so vexed about anyway? It's my mortal enemy that's waltzed into the Commonwealth.
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[Zetta snorts behind him and he glances over his shoulder at her, grinning. Her arms are folded again and she's several steps away from the couch towards the door. She's clearly wanting out of this room, but Riley turns back to the conversation.]
Well, I mean... The Brotherhood isn't the only problem. Just the newest one. I'm sure I'll get to hear all about whatever's bothering her once we get out of here.
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He sighs in defeat and holds out his hand for a handshake.]
Dr. Nathan Lone. How do you do.
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Riley. [Because there's no point in saying his last name, obviously. And now it's time for him to pull out a social card he learned a long time ago:] So, what is it you do here? [Ask about his job. If there's anything he learned from being around scientists thanks to Zetta, it's that showing interest in their jobs and projects almost always gets them to warm up. Hell, it works on Zetta, too.]
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I work in Advanced Systems, mostly weapons' development, but lately I've been working on a special project I was hand-picked to carry out. Researching the development of a synth child.
[He's not sure what practical purpose this project serves, but his ego is stroked to have been chosen for it, regardless.]
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So you look after him? [Riley has to try to keep himself from asking what he's like, and instead stay on the track of looking at it as a project.] What all does that usually include?
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I've given him tests in mathematics and logic, monitored his activity levels and physical abilities, read books to him...
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Yes, of course there are other children here. The Institute wouldn't have lasted very long if at least some of the members didn't procreate. We boast some of the finest genes in America. Besides, just because we're scientists it doesn't mean we're dead from the waist down.
[And after that rant, he should probably explain why S9 doesn't play with them, since there are children.]
The other children didn't take well to S9. We keep him separate from them now. It's better for all involved.
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But... After hearing that -- He's glad he's asked anyway. He frowns a little.] Why? Isn't he lonely?
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[Isn't that enough? What more company does a boy need than a few hours with an uptight man with no sense of fun?]
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Riley just smiles, softly, sadly.] Kids need friends and family, just like adults do.
[Which is a much nicer way of saying what Zetta is biting down. He's not a fucking pet guinea pig who's happy to stay in a cage.]
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[Because clearly Nathan is a happy man who is satisfied with his life.]
Besides, we can't just build friends for him. Well...perhaps the robotics lab could, but it would be irresponsible in the extreme to create more synth children until we've completed our assessment of S9. And synths, by their nature, have no family.
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And... Family is more than just people you're related to.
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What do you suggest? Shall I bribe the children to play with him? Threaten to vaporize them if they don't emotionally bond sufficiently?
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[A beat.] Wait... Why is it better for him to be away from the other kids, anyway?
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[Nathan was afraid S9 would get hurt.]
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They were bullying him?
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He was crying nearly daily. I think he was grateful when we told him he wouldn't be playing with the other children any more.
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[He clasps his hands behind his back.]
Tommy and Danny seemed to be the ring leaders.
Whatever education you might give them, however, is unlikely to make S9 friends.
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Is there even anything you can do? [Riley says softly.
Zetta makes a frustrated noise.] No. Because they would've learned that shit from their parents and the rest of the goddamn Institute. I swear to god, nothing fucking changes. [Her anger is spiking again. She wants to fucking hit something. She couldn't adequately protect Riley from this shit, or undo the damage it did to him. And now she can't keep it from happening to her fucking son.
... no. S9 isn't her son. Her son is perfectly happy. They're going to be having dinner together later, as a family, on his birthday. Breathe. Fucking breathe.]
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