capcious | WAH

WAH

[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.]

[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.

[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.]

[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.]

no subject

the institute

The Institute, cont.

the surface, the next day