He wasn't exactly forthcoming with what he knew. Probably playing the angle of "if I share the information you won't have any reason to come back" or something. All we know is that he claimed to know the Brotherhood better than anyone in the area.
[They probably should've pushed that to find out more. But Zetta was too busy lowkey having a meltdown and Riley just didn't think of it, wouldn't have.]
I can't blame a guy for being cagey. Okay, we should follow up on this.
[He's still not ready to give his opinion on whether they should make a serious push to try to get Lone to defect, but he's giving his approval on further pursuing the possibility.]
Are Institute scientists allowed to leave the Institute? Like, do field work or anything? Do they stay down there all the time by choice or is it a rule?
Kellogg said it wasn't common for scientists to go to the surface. [A pause, as Zetta's mouth twists a little.] When I was in his head in the Memory Den.
And Lone's job is to head the S9 project, so I have no idea how we'll be able to bullshit something to sneak him up to the surface. But I'm sure we could think of something if it's what we need.
It's not something we need, but I wouldn't mind checking him out sometime. In the totally non-sexy, assessing a possible asset kind of way. But we've got other priorities first. Like Mercer.
[He steps away from Zetta and paces around the bowling alley, looking from her to Ferran and Riley and back again.]
I don't know how long you guys have been travelling to get here. We need to pitch camp or are we heading out?
We're making an exception for Mercer. Some of the new settlers there are talking about joining the Minutemen, which might be kind of inconvenient if we're running synths through there.
Yeah, alright. Greentop Nursery and Taffington Boathouse are the closest settlements. So unless you want to head over to the Slog, those are probably our best choices. Preferences?
I like the Slog. Those are cool ghouls. [Diamond City crapped on them and they thrived anyway, and didn't become bitter about smoothskins even though they had ever reason to.]
Greentop Nursery is okay, too. Taffington Boathouse has all that stagnant water that tends to attract bloodbugs, so I'm not so into the idea of bedding down there.
Let's hit the Nursery. The settlers don't use the Pre-War house, we can get more privacy there than at the Slog.
[And what Zetta wants most right now is to bed down with them and not have to deal with the outside world. That's not going to happen, not until they can go back to Spectacle Island, but she's going to try to get as close to that as she can.]
[Zetta grins slyly.] It's like you can read my mind. [Even though he didn't, not entirely. She'd been actively trying to not get her hopes up for that, since she knows how unlikely it is, but... christ. If only.
Riley's eyebrows shoot up his forehead in amusement -- and surprise is definitely there, too, since he knows how high of a statement that is coming from her.]
Yeah, I guess I should come clean. Back when I was eight, I was kidnapped by this weird shady group who implanted some experimental tech in my brain. Ever since then I can sort of read minds. Not, like, word for word, but I can pick up impressions. Totally useful in my line of work.
It... First it was just his voice -- your voice. It was the other you. And then... I guess he shared a memory? That must've been what it was. I saw where they live. And it was the three of us -- of them... just, being together. The way we used to be, before the war.
It was overwhelming, [he admits with a small laugh.]
It'd be nice, wouldn't it? Being able to share minds like that.
[Riley knows they should be vigilant right now, but he can't help himself from reaching out for Ferran's hand. He's smiling softly, unaware of Ferran's sudden concern.]
[He starts at Riley's touch, having been lost in his thoughts, but he quickly grips Riley's hand and squeezes, flicking him a small smile.]
I don't think you'd really want to see everything that's inside my mind.
[Or maybe Riley would, because Riley tends to think better of him than he probably deserves. But Ferran doesn't want Riley to know that he's actually a far worse person than Riley probably realizes. Riley knows about his old job, of course, but he doesn't know the details. And he doesn't know all the things Ferran got up to before that job either.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[They probably should've pushed that to find out more. But Zetta was too busy lowkey having a meltdown and Riley just didn't think of it, wouldn't have.]
no subject
[He's still not ready to give his opinion on whether they should make a serious push to try to get Lone to defect, but he's giving his approval on further pursuing the possibility.]
Are Institute scientists allowed to leave the Institute? Like, do field work or anything? Do they stay down there all the time by choice or is it a rule?
no subject
And Lone's job is to head the S9 project, so I have no idea how we'll be able to bullshit something to sneak him up to the surface. But I'm sure we could think of something if it's what we need.
no subject
[He steps away from Zetta and paces around the bowling alley, looking from her to Ferran and Riley and back again.]
I don't know how long you guys have been travelling to get here. We need to pitch camp or are we heading out?
no subject
It's been... a day, [Riley agrees.]
It's been a hell of a fucking day, [Zetta corrects.] What's wrong with Mercer? I thought we weren't allowed back at safehouses yet.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Greentop Nursery is okay, too. Taffington Boathouse has all that stagnant water that tends to attract bloodbugs, so I'm not so into the idea of bedding down there.
no subject
[And what Zetta wants most right now is to bed down with them and not have to deal with the outside world. That's not going to happen, not until they can go back to Spectacle Island, but she's going to try to get as close to that as she can.]
no subject
[...and stuff.
Okay, might not be enough privacy for "and stuff" but a guy can hope.]
no subject
Riley's eyebrows shoot up his forehead in amusement -- and surprise is definitely there, too, since he knows how high of a statement that is coming from her.]
no subject
no subject
Riley looks thoughtful.] You know, I think that might've been the weirdest part of that whole alien visit. The telepathy, I mean.
no subject
Ferran gazes at Riley as they set out.]
What was it like?
no subject
It... First it was just his voice -- your voice. It was the other you. And then... I guess he shared a memory? That must've been what it was. I saw where they live. And it was the three of us -- of them... just, being together. The way we used to be, before the war.
It was overwhelming, [he admits with a small laugh.]
no subject
[Which suddenly makes him wonder if his alien self had abused his telepathy when they were together and Ferran never knew it. That's disquieting.]
no subject
[Riley knows they should be vigilant right now, but he can't help himself from reaching out for Ferran's hand. He's smiling softly, unaware of Ferran's sudden concern.]
no subject
I don't think you'd really want to see everything that's inside my mind.
[Or maybe Riley would, because Riley tends to think better of him than he probably deserves. But Ferran doesn't want Riley to know that he's actually a far worse person than Riley probably realizes. Riley knows about his old job, of course, but he doesn't know the details. And he doesn't know all the things Ferran got up to before that job either.]
no subject
That's alright. Whatever you'd want to share would be enough.
You see what we have to live with? [Zetta stage whispers to Deacon up ahead of them.] He's such a fucking sap.
no subject
[Deacon's never known anyone who was so consistently and perfectly decent and noble. It's almost freaky.]
no subject
What? I'm just being honest.
"Just."
no subject
no subject
"Honesty" is a naughty, naughty word, [Zetta clicks her tongue.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)