Hi everyone!
So, for those of you that follow either Ahro or I (or both) on Tumblr, you might have stumbled across this already. We are currently running an RPG blog based around the Fallout game universe. We've decided to turn the Rp into an actual fic as well. This is the fruits of our labors. Each scene that we complete will be a chapter posted here under my FFN name, and later under Ahro's LiveJournal. Here is the first scene of our RP in fic version. But if you follow us on tumblr... here:
falloutarthur. tumblr. com (Arthur is played by me, Hellie Ace)
and
falloutalfred. tumblr. com (Alfred is played by the wonderful Ahro)
You get to see the current progression of the story along with Ahro's beautiful artwork and emotes she draws for this. The lines in the RP are accompanied by uniquely drawn expression for Alfred and Arthur. :) Plus we have killer music on the blogs too. You can also ask Arthur and Alfred questions via the ask box and we respond in character with a cool display and more emotes.
But if that's not really your thing, you can always just read it here. :)
So before I leave you guys alone to read, here is a small list of terminology you should know in case you've never played the fallout games. I will update this list when I update the blog's so if you ever need to look up something it will be here in this first chapter or under either blogs' "terminology" page.
Terms:
Vault = Nuclear bomb shelters designed to house entire human populations of up to 1000. They are equipped with automatic day/night cycle lights, areas for food production, oxygen ventilation, water treatment, training facilities and apartment housing. Vaults are generally underground or contained within hills or mountains. Massive, intricate doors to the outside remain locked at all times and are only able to open via a special code accessed through a specific computer within the Vault. Very few people know these codes.
Auto-Doc = Automatic Doctor. Marvels of Fallout technology, auto-docs are small cylindrical rooms equipped with medical tools. The rooms can perform all the functions a regular human doctor can, but clinics are required to have a human doctor on staff 24/7 in case the machine malfunctions.
EML = Emergency Medical Lab. These are the clinics and hospitals of the Vaults. Trained doctors, nurses, lab techs and auto-docs work here with at least one doctor on staff 24/7.
V.A.T.S. = Vault-tech Assisted Targeting System. In the fallout games, the VATS system was incorporated into weapon targeting and allowed the player to choose shots more accurately. In the AU, the VATS system acts as the training facility's gun range operational system.
Now then, on to the first scene!
Nineteen years stuck inside an underground vault. Two hundred years since that vault had been closed to the outside world for civilian protection, and not one more year would pass if Alfred had anything to say about it.
"Ugh, I'm ready to get out of this place, Mattie!" Alfred whined as he kicked at one of the four rusty metal walls that closed off the small two-bedroom apartment. Which was just that, two beds and a table with a single partition between the two. It was like that for every family in Vault 101. Probably the same in other Vaults around the country, but for all Alfred knew their Vault could be the only one still left intact after the Great War. Or, the above world could be flourishing, while they were all still hidden away in fear of radiation and the mutants it spawned.
"You've been ready to get out since you were ten." Alfred's almost identical brother replied, rubbing at his forehead out of agitation.
Alfred's rampaging was a daily occurrence, one generally only sated after his regular target practice. It was still early, so Alfred's pent up need was being released on the already damaged walls of their home.
"Just settle down, Al."
Alfred ignored his brother and continued to land punches against the metal (he had asked for a punching bag but was denied, so this is what they would get instead.) His punching quickly stopped though when his 10mm pistol was thrust in front of his face.
"I really don't feel like apologizing to our neighbors again, so do you think you could at least head down and wait outside of the shooting range 'til it opens? You can punch on the walls out there all you want."
Alfred let his shoulders slump as he took his pistol from Matthew, eying the polished metal as it reflected the reds in the walls. It was never anything special, but it worked well, and he was a damn good shot. He would be a fine addition to Vault Security; however, he had better plans as to what his training would be used for.
"Thanks, Matt. I'll catch ya later." Grabbing up his holster and belt, he slung the worn leather across his chest and clipped it to his suit, the brown contrasting against the blue and yellow color scheme of the Vault 101 Jumpsuit that every civilian wore. No class. No style. Alfred hated the lack of individuality. Skills were the only thing that you could use to stand apart from the rest of the crowd.
Moving towards the door, he paused to look back at his brother. Giving him a confident wink, and that thousand-watt smile in reassurance.
"Don't worry, little bro. It'll be another lovely day in Vault 101!"
Huffing a bored sigh, Arthur stared down at the small pistol laid out on the rickety desk before him. He ran his fingers over the worn metal of the barrel absently. It was such a simple looking thing on the outside, but Arthur knew it had complex guts: springs, chambers and hammers that all worked in unison to fire bullets. It was a simple concept, but an intricate deed.
Arthur nudged it across the table with his index finger, listening to the metal scrape obnoxiously. While it was a supposedly simple-complex device, Arthur probably could have taken it apart and put it back together, understood it, maybe even if liked it if he really wanted to. Not that he did, in fact, he'd much rather have tossed the thing away and gone to read over his medicine books. But there was always some rather ridiculous demand for a certain number of people in the Vault to understand guns and know how to use them. Arthur was, much to his dismay, in that category. He didn't know why he'd stupidly chosen to train with guns, but that was just life. Just another daily acceptance that was as normal as eating or sleeping.
He forced himself to set the gun aside and simply let his head fall to the desk. The resounding thump and pain that followed made him wince, but it wasn't enough to rouse him from getting up from his seat in his living quarters. Blinking, he stared at the little nicks and scratches in the metal surface for a while, thinking about nothing and everything all at once. It was early, but his mind was already awhirl with stray thoughts. Unsurprisingly, they wandered to his time-consuming job as a doctor.
His last shift in the Emergency Medical Lab had been long, boring and uneventful. A few scrapes and a child with a broken wrist had been the most exciting highlights. He thought about the way he'd been bored enough to deny the Auto-Doc making a proper splint and had done it himself. Most of the doctors would have laughed at that, but Arthur didn't exactly care. There weren't a lot of other EML staff, but for the most part, Arthur wasn't overly fond of any of them. He preferred the solitude of his books and watching the Auto-Doc operate.
Letting his thoughts stray off again, Arthur began to drum his fingers on the desk, absently killing time and avoiding thinking about the pistol that seemed to mock him from only a few inches away.
After what felt like hours, but was probably closer to a couple of minutes, Arthur raised his head from the desk, blearily glaring at the gun again.
No. He still preferred his medical books. But then a brief notion crossed his mind.
Sure he was positive he'd be on the medical staff the rest of his life and have no use for a gun, but maybe if he practiced with the boring thing a bit more, he would start to like it better? He'd pulled gun apart a few times, did target practice every now and again, but the weapon wasn't anything important in his life. It wasn't coveted like his medicine manuals or his lock picking kit. It was just there, simple-complex and utterly uninteresting. Guns were guns; they did one thing: kill. That was boring, and not how Arthur's strangely complex mind liked things. But maybe it could do more if he tried? He might begin to like the cold metal in his hands as much as he liked the feel of a syringe between his fingers.
Reaching out, he snagged it by the trigger guard and dragged it to him. Arthur eyed it for a moment, still wondering if a bit of target practice might be a good idea. Would it really hurt to shoot a few rounds just to see if he could grow to like the gun?
Finally rising from his seat, Arthur walked over to the small box he kept on the topmost section of his full bookshelf. Quickly dialing the lock code, he opened the box to reveal his standard issue shoulder holster and another small white box that contained ammunition. There was an empty space where the gun was meant to rest as well.
Strapping on the holster, Arthur grabbed his gun before shoving it into the slot, and then made for the door.
The brief walk to the gun range contained in the lower levels of the Vault was uneventful. Arthur passed a few people, mostly folks he knew or had treated before. Some offered a smile or a greeting, to which Arthur politely returned with a nod, but never moved to engage any of them.
When he arrived at the gun range, he pulled the 10mm pistol from its holster, and swiped the barrel clean with an old rag he'd brought with him. Satisfied with that, he stuffed the rag back into his pocket, pulled out the box of ammunition and began loading the clip. As he pushed the bullets down on the spring, he heard the sound of heavy footfalls approaching.
Arthur glanced up, wondering who else could possibly be at the gun range. This place wasn't exactly a hot spot or frequented by the average Vault dweller. The few times Arthur came down here, there was rarely anyone else present.
Now though, a tall blond was walking into the range, looking cocky and poised. Arthur tipped his head to the side as he watched the new blond with a sidelong look. He was vaguely familiar. The man's name was on the tip of his tongue as he continued to load the clip. What was it? Albert? Alvin? Aaron? Wait, wasn't it Alfred? Yes, that was it! Alfred…
Ahh, yes, training, the highlight of his day, and the best opportunity he had at being destructive without having to pay for it.
The training room was one of the few larger facilities in the vault. Along with the shooting range, a large gym also encompassed much of it. Without knowing how long their Vault would be sealed off for, a gym to keep its occupants in shape without the luxury of a large expansive world was necessary. However, this early in the morning the training room was usually empty.
Usually.
"Woah- if it isn't stick-in-the-mud, Artie! Never thought I'd see you out here at such an hour. Who are you tryin' to impress?" Alfred sneered as he moved past the shorter blond to take up at an adjacent spot along the range. Pulling out his pistol to quickly give it a once over before lodging a clip into the handle. His hand fiddled with the controls on the V.A.T.S. to bring down the distant targets along the range 150 yards out.
"Stick-in-the-mud?" Arthur mused aloud. Who did this guy think he- oh, wait…. right. Now he remembered Alfred; he couldn't recall anything fond though. They'd only ever talked occasionally, usually during training. The conversations hadn't been anything important or deep or Arthur would have remembered them and Alfred more clearly.
He had to keep himself collected to avoid looking too flustered. Squaring his shoulders, Arthur set his hand on the V.A.T.S. controls to bring down his own targets.
"No one, Alfred. I'm simply here to keep from getting rusty. Working 12 hour shifts at the EML doesn't exactly give me a lot of free time to practice."
Arthur couldn't help but smirk darkly.
"Not that you'd understand the responsibilities of an actual profession though." The shorter chided with bitter amusement.
Alfred sent a quick glare over his shoulder at the older man's jibe.
It was true, he still had two years before he could officially join Vault Security. It was a painful realization, especially when his best friend, Gilbert, had already made it into their ranks within the past year. Thanks to that, Alfred had found his training sessions rather lonely, what with Gil working the over nights.
However, these feelings were not something he made known to anyone, so Alfred let his irritated expression show only fleetingly before moving to place his ear protection on and get his head into his training. While at the same time he brushed off the jab as if he hadn't heard Arthur through the muffling of the gear.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of awesome coming from my skills." Alfred chided as he aimed up his sights on the distant human looking target that hung from the wall. Pulling the trigger with confidence, and enjoying the next millisecond response of the bullet cutting through the heart of the target.
With a 'woop', he looked over his shoulder at the other blond, flashing his famous smile in the process.
"I do hope all those hours you spend slaving away in that lab haven't hindered your marksmanship. Of course, even if you are a pathetic shot, you'd have someone awesome like me protecting you." He grinned as he brought his arms up again, placing another shot straight between the eyes of his target.
Arthur didn't get a chance to respond before Alfred's first shot. When the bullet punched through the target's chest, piercing the heart, Arthur gawked.
He felt his face flush with annoyance when the cocky blond shot him a blinding grin and boasted. So Alfred was a good shot, a great shot actually, but that didn't mean anything! Right? No, Arthur forcibly decided it wasn't jealously he was feeling, and that he could do just as well. Then came the second perfect shot, and Arthur wasn't entirely sure it wasn't jealousy this time.
No. He wasn't going to fall for this. He wouldn't stoop low enough to give Alfred the satisfaction of beating him.
The emerald-eyed blond took aim after putting on his ear protection, and squeezed the trigger.
And thoroughly embarrassed himself when the bullet barely grazed the target's shoulder. He felt his own shoulders slump pathetically, but he had the decency not to show it for too long on his visage. Arthur didn't dare look over at Alfred for fear of seeing that cocky, smug, triumphant grin he knew was probably be plastered all over the taller's face.
Instead, he took aim again and tried for a better shot with new resolve. The second bullet pierced through the target's belly. Arthur knew for a fact that if the target had been live, the shot would have torn open the lower half of the liver. It wasn't Alfred's dual kill shots, but the older took great satisfaction in knowing it would have been an excruciating wound, one that had the potential to cause a huge loss of blood and possibly death.
Arthur, encouraged by the second shot's improvement, went in for a third. The bullet clipped the same side of the torso as the second's had. Grimacing internally, Arthur lowered the gun, and glared death at Alfred. He'd been hoping he could have some witty comeback, but those three poor shots left him nothing to boast about.
"Protect me from what?" He snapped instead. "My ill and wounded patients?" With an airy scoff he took to trying to aim again. He'd get in a decent shot if he had to stand there all day. The shorter didn't want to admit he was a 'pathetic shot' as Alfred had so blatantly put it, but with the fourth shot missing completely, the brooding feeling of failure started to weigh on his jealous heart.
Damn it all! He'd never been good at this, but this was one worst streaks he'd ever had! Arthur blamed it on the irritating blond beside him and his own lack of recent practice.
"I think I can handle that on my own!" Arthur growled out after the fifth shot missed as well.
Alfred sat back on his heels as he watched the young doctor grow increasingly frustrated as shot after shot went far from a critical blow to his target, some missing entirely.
Running a hand through his hair, he returned his pistol to his holster, locking the safety as he did, and moved over to the disgruntled doc.
"Haha, at least you tried. Though, you'd have a better chance if you relaxed some." Smiling, he moved towards Arthur.
"Open up your stance some," Alfred knocked his boot against one of Arthur's own to make him widen his position, "and relax your arms a tad. You're too stiff. You look like you're afraid of the recoil." Alfred lifted his arms up to display how his elbows were not locked, but slightly bent while aiming.
"Give it a shot now." Alfred grinned as he stepped back some, swinging his arms up behind his head and relaxing his weight on one leg.
Arthur could only blink in confusion. Was Alfred being, dare he say, nice? It threw Arthur completely off, and left him standing there like an idiot. When Alfred nudged his foot, he limply followed along, still in shock. People weren't nice to Arthur. People demanded he fix their wounds. They bothered him about symptoms, recovery times and fees. Arthur helped other people, but other people weren't supposed to help Arthur. He was a doctor, after all.
He listened to Alfred's advice with the same dumb look on his face before finally realizing that the taller actually expected him to follow through, rather than stand and gawk. He mentally shook off the stunner, and tried to focus on what Alfred had instructed to do.
It seemed to work, too; Arthur let his muscles relax, raised the gun and just stopped thinking. It was a lot easier than struggling around the jealous outrage that had been whirling around in his mind only a moment before. He squeezed the trigger, beaming triumphantly when the bullet pierced into the right side of the target, slicing through where a lung would have been.
"Well, I'll be damned…" He mumbled, shaking his head before glancing over at Alfred. The easy smile on his face, entirely devoid of the anger that Arthur had been feeling earlier, made his chest ache with guilt. He felt like a real ass.
"I suppose I owe you an apology, hmm?" The doctor stared down at the space between his boots, avoiding looking back at Alfred.
"I was acting rather rude, wasn't I? I'm sorry about that." Arthur mumbled. Humility was so embarrassing, but Arthur still felt as though he owed it to the blue-eyed man beside him. Besides, was there really a point in making an enemy of the taller blond? He seemed, well, nice. Nice enough anyways, as far as the doctor could tell.
Alfred laughed,
"Nah, buddy, I just wanna make sure you don't miss and shoot me in the back or anythin'. I'm the last person you'd want in your clinic."
Alfred then leaned forward, whispering, "I don't know how you work around some of those nurses in there." He growled suggestively as he pulled his pistol from his holster and returned back to his previous position to take aim once more.
"Anyways, at least I won't have to worry about you in the marksmanship competition in a few weeks. Gilbert would be unbearable if he was shown up by some doctor." He laughed loudly as he took another few quick shots with the automatic, each one connecting around the middle of the target's chest.
So, sure, Alfred was nice. But he was cocky. Very cocky. Arthur noted, filing that away for later. If he had to deal with Alfred again, he'd remember not to flatter his ego too much.
Arthur cocked a brow, looking unimpressed at the suggestive comment. "The nurses aren't my type. At all." He returned, shrugging nonchalantly.
"But, you know, with the way you shoot, I wouldn't be worried at all," the doctor offered a rare bit of praise. "Just deflate that big head of yours, and you could win."
"Hey, hey! Thanks for the vote of confidence, doc! I'll make it a point to be your personal bodyguard if any of your patients get too randy with you." Alfred beamed proudly, winking as he loaded another clip into his pistol after the first one was spent.
Arthur gave a brief nod of thanks.
"Yes, well, I do hope it won't ever come to that. I'd rather not have to call Vault Security in on a sick patient. Then again, I'd hope a sick patient would never act, err, well, you know, rowdy with me." Just the odd idea of a randy patient made Arthur flush a little. He'd had a few winks and the occasional all to obvious brush before with some delirious patients, but it had never come to anything aggressive.
The emerald-eyed blond watched with concealed interest as Alfred continued to flaunt his marksmanship talent, still trying to remember who 'Gilbert' could be.
"Heh, I don't know doc," Alfred began as he rested his pistol on the counter to lean up against the small dividing wall for a stretch. "Those chems you guys give out can make people pretty delusional. Someone may think you're a pretty nurse." He laughed.
Arthur flushed, tugging awkwardly at his collar.
"Let's just hope such an adverse side-effect never happens. Oh, but wait, about Gilbert… Is he the new security agent?" Arthur queried suddenly, cocking his head and struggling to picture a face, but pale hair and an obnoxious attitude similar to Alfred's came to mind after a moment.
"Speaking of randy, yes, Gilbert is the new security agent, as well as my best buddy. Sadly, with his 'new title', he hasn't had much time for me. Not that I need him or anythin', just makes me want out of this hole even more." Alfred grumbled to himself, moving the distance of the target on the V.A.T.S out another hundred yards before firing away his frustration at the thing.
Arthur cocked a brow. Apparently Alfred wasn't too pleased with this.
"You don't exactly sound happy about your friend's promotion. It's an honor to have a noble profession like protecting people," Arthur noted sincerely, leaning his shoulder against the small dividing wall that had once stood between them. "But I wouldn't worry about it. You're not too far off from joining him, are you? What, another year maybe?"
"Oh sure, I'm happy for 'im." Alfred picked up his pistol absently along with a cloth that had seen much use with the excess of grease smudges through the white linen, and proceeded to wipe the barrel down. "It's just rude they stuck him on midnights. It's a dead shift what with curfew. His skills are gonna go to waste workin' at such a time. It's a disservice to him and VSec."
"I'm sure it's only a brief position. There are just older and more experienced security personnel that are likely more comfortable with the job than he. But if your fiend is as good as you say, then he shouldn't have any problem advancing up the ranks, should he?" The doctor folded his arms before his chest, shrugging casually.
Alfred sighed,
"Sure, he'll work up the ranks, but how long will it take?"
Alfred then rested his freshly cleaned pistol back on the counter and then reached below it to pull out a 10mm SMG that had previously been concealed. "The way they run shit around this place is so damn backwards. It's like they don't want competent personal. Like they're hidin' somethin'." After loading a clip into the sub-machine gun, Alfred shouldered the weapon and began to fire off small bursts down the range into the mid section of his target. Quickly riddling the target with holes.
Arthur furrowed his thick brows, wondering just how frustrated Alfred might really be judging by the ferocious way he was unloading into that target. Was he really so fed up with Vault life? But what other life was there, besides going to the surface to die? There was nothing up there but lethal radiation and feral mutants.
But then Alfred's earlier quip about getting out suddenly came to full attention in the forefront of the doctor's mind, clicking together and making sense.
"Wait a moment! What do you mean you want out? Out where? To the surface? Have you got a death wish!"
"Does it look like a few mutant house pets would come near me?" Alfred glanced over at him, and pulled the trigger again to illustrate his sincerity.
"Mutant house pets…" Arthur smirked, head bowed, avoiding Alfred's eyes. "No, I'm afraid I couldn't picture you being bested by an isotopic cat. But," Arthur sighed quietly, observing the metal tiles between his feet. "Who's to say the surface world isn't Hell? There could be monsters clawing at the doors right now. Is it really worth it? To risk life and limb just for the small chance you could find some new world up there? To be torn apart by savage beasts or choke on your own polluted blood when the radiation gets you, just to chase a child's dream?"
"We've got chems for radiation, plus suits to help ward it off. Besides all of that, how do we not know it isn't safe up there by now? We could be the last Vault still sealed while the surface is bustling in a new age." Alfred pulled the trigger again, clicking the gun empty before finally turning to face the doc now. "Don't ya wanna see what's out there? A land with no walls, and an endless sky above our heads. Just like in the photos of our textbooks we were shown while growin' up. Ever since I saw that blue sky…" Alfred paused as he slumped back against the wall again, a hand going up to run through his hair as he let out a sigh. "I've done nothin' but dream of bein' under it. I've spent my whole life in here preparing for what could be out there in the hopes that I could survive by myself, just for the freedom of livin' under that sky." He sighed again, "The Vaults weren't meant to stay closed forever. It's 'bout time we start seein' what's out there for ourselves."
Arthur thoughtfully listened to Alfred, strangely not minding when the blue-eyed blond leaned on the wall as well, their shoulders nearly brushing.
As he heard the hopeful, longing tone of Alfred's voice while he spoke of the grand world above and bright skies, Arthur felt a strange pang in his chest. It was something about the taller's voice, something about the foolish dream, something about the way that it was so lovely and entirely pointless.
Arthur hunched his shoulders a little; he was a bit embarrassed to be having such a strangely intimate conversation with someone he didn't know that entirely well. Arthur didn't do personal, not really. He had a few friends on the medical staff, but most of them were as closed and reserved as he. Alfred was like a shiny new book. All freshly printed words, pages turning crisply for Arthur as he talked about longing for an endless blue sky. It was entirely strange and new and fascinating.
"Of course I dreamed of the pictures. You don't think as I child I didn't want to know what the warmth of sunlight felt like? Or see the clouds? Of course I did, everyone does. But that was when I was a child, Alfred. We're adults now." Arthur murmured, a drop of nostalgic sadness in his voice.
Feeling like an old man for trying to quell those strange, childish dreams, Arthur tried offering a tiny smile to consul the taller. He nudged Alfred's arm with his elbow, still avoiding the bright blues.
"But what do I know? I'm just a doctor." The emerald-eyed doctor shrugged again. "Maybe the doors will open one day, and maybe you're right. It would be a nice surprise to be greeted by blue skies, wouldn't it?"
Alfred pushed off from the wall as he listened to Arthur's own reminiscing of blue skies and dreams, but his disregard of striving for it saddened Alfred.
"Well… what I think isn't really relevant to you. Sure you've got plenty of problems keepin' this place in line and everyone healthy." Alfred shook his head as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Arthur couldn't help it when his shoulders slumped. Alfred had such a strange mind; Arthur had probably just upset him with his common rationale.
"That's not true, what you think does matter to me." Arthur said without even thinking about it. He bit his lip, unable to call the words back no matter how much he wanted to. Why the hell had he just said that? You didn't say things like that to someone you'd just started talking to. Great, now on top of offending him, Alfred probably thought he was weird too.
You really need to work on your social skills, Kirkland. This is almost painful… Arthur chided himself before sighing his frustration aloud.
"My thoughts matter…" Alfred said quietly under his breath, his hand going up to scratch at the back of his head.
When Arthur heard him, he attempted to atone for his strange words.
"I mean, everyone's thoughts and opinions matter in some way, right?" He offered, watching Alfred move away. "It's just, we have responsibilities, and a duty to our lives here. Not out there." Arthur returned, nibbling at his bottom lip.
"Duty to our lives." Alfred repeated under his breath, tsking as he faced away from the doctor until he looked briefly over his shoulder at him. "So, they have you just as much brainwashed as the rest of 'em."
It was one thing Alfred had talked to Gil about for years. Conspiracies that the leaders of Vault 101 knew what was on the surface, yet enjoyed their power so much that they built up lies to keep everyone under their thumb. It was one of the reasons why Alfred believed they put Gilbert on the midnight shift. Keeping him away from Alfred. Away from the possibility of bringing about a revolt.
Now, the only person Alfred could rely on for anything was his younger brother. He was quiet though. Kept out of trouble. Alfred needed more people by his side to fight back against their power hungry leaders, but fear kept that from happening… and he hated it.
Unable to stop himself, a sneer curled Arthur's lips back when he heard Alfred practically call him just another sheep in the flock.
"I'm not brainwashed! You don't know me! Besides, what 'brainwashed' fool would sit here and listen to your ridiculous notions, huh? Maybe I just like it here, ever consider that? You of all people ought to know that your kind of radical ideas have no place here. Anyone else would have called you crazy or reported you."Arthur squared his shoulders, his viridian eyes narrowed. "I haven't done either of those things now have I?"
The sudden outburst from behind him at Alfred's comment wasn't entirely unexpected, even as Arthur stated that he hadn't exactly given Alfred reason to believe the doctor was completely following along blindly. Alfred had just developed blinders over the years that no one thought for themselves anymore. Too many people he had trusted turned their back on him.
"You're right, you didn't give me much of a reason to assume you were a lemming like the rest of the place seems to be. I guess," Alfred paused, turning around and rubbing at the back of his neck. "You have my thanks then." He stopped rubbing at his neck and shoved his hands into his pockets, "but that doesn't mean your way of thinking couldn't possibly change." He started as he rested his weight back on his heels as he looked down his nose at the doctor. "You say you felt the same about those pictures in those books, but that dreams were just foolish children's ideas. Could you at all be persuaded in opening yourself back up to such ideas?"
Alfred knew it was a long shot. He barely even knew the doctor, and they had only just started talking. If there was even a lick of a chance that, given some time and egging on, Arthur might open up to Alfred's plans. Perhaps even take over where Gilbert left off.
"You're thanking me?" Arthur blinked in surprise. Why in the world would Alfred thank him? He'd just yelled at him! But somewhere in Arthur's heart, he could actually understand why, sympathize with such a freethinker, as odd as it was. Alfred seemed so sincere, as if he really were thankful for the simple fact that Arthur hadn't judged him for his outlandish dreams.
The doctor shifted uncomfortably, wringing his hands out of nervous habit.
"I," Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat, wondering how the conversation had suddenly flipped on him. His collar felt hot, and Arthur was sure his face was bright red. "I don't honestly know…"
Opening up… the words sounded so foreign, like Alfred was speaking a whole other language Arthur's heart had long forgotten. It made a strange emotion well up in his chest, something he didn't like, and tried to force down.
"But why?" The emerald-eyed doctor wondered earnestly, finally looking up to meet Alfred's eyes, his own wide with earnest curiosity. "I don't understand why you're so fixated on this. And why me? I'm not like you, Alfred… we're so," He paused. Did he even know what Alfred was like? Could he really compare himself to the ambitious man before him? Probably not, but Arthur had to resign himself. This was just too strange, and intimate, and utterly confusing for the doctor. "We're different, Alfred. At least, I think we are. I don't know if I could ever dream like you do."
A sigh escaped Alfred as he felt himself beginning to pace some. Gilbert had always told him he would get nowhere fast spouting off about the sky and wide-open plains. It was about the only thing Gilbert said that made sense, but it only took a few days for Alfred to be separated from the albino before his thoughts stewed and boiled over.
Matthew could only sustain Alfred's raving for so long before he ran to hide amongst his ferns and herbs in the Greenhouse, where Alfred's blasphemous thinking would stay away. After they had lost their parents when they were young, Matthew had clung to Alfred like a lifeline, and his talk of going out onto the surface, after being repeatedly drilled of its dangers, worried the younger twin that he would lose Alfred too.
Heaving another sigh, Alfred made up his mind, and turned back around to face the doctor with a wide grin now returning to its usual place.
I still can't trust these people.
"Haha, you're right, doc! They're just silly dreams. I need to get my head out of those books and focus on what's important, and that's protectin' fine folks like yourself round the vault." He quickly pushed his ear protection back up from where it had rested around his neck before lodging a clip into his pistol once more, taking aim on the distant target as if their previous conversation was far from a big deal. Just something to shrug ones shoulders at and go about business as usual.
Arthur had watched the taller pace with a blank expression. His bright emerald gaze flickered across the man's face, vaguely wondering just what he could be thinking about with such a pensive expression.
When Alfred suddenly whirled around to face him, Arthur's eyes went wide, expecting some other wild plea for freedom and blue skies or something else as equally unattainable.
Instead, and for once, Alfred had actually made sense. Arthur couldn't help but blink in confusion.
"Y-you really mean that?" Arthur let a soft smile spread across his lips. "Thank God! I'm glad I could get you to listen to a voice of reason. I mean, really, did you honestly believe you could survive the outside?" A light laugh bubbled up from his chest. "I'm just glad you came to your senses. I'd hate to see the Overseer lock you up for such inane ideas!" He let his eyes slip to half-mast as he watched Alfred continue to practice, firing away at target after target.
Honestly, the doctor was rather proud of himself for being able to talk an ambitious fellow like Alfred down from such childish ideas. His last words hadn't been a lie. Despite only having talked with Alfred minimally, he bore no ill will against him, and in fact, actually hadn't minded the conversation. Even if it had been ridiculously charged and loaded, something Arthur generally avoided at all costs.
The emerald-eyed man watched Alfred until he finally swept his gaze away and towards the clock on the far wall.
"Oh hell!" He exclaimed, pushing himself off the dividing wall to gather his things. Grabbing his gun, he flipped the safety switch to on, and then jammed the pistol back into his shoulder holster. The little white box of ammunition he tucked into the munitions pouch on the opposite side.
"I didn't even bring my coat or cards!" Arthur grumbled under his breath as he closed the clasp over the gun before rushing to the facility doors. He turned just before exiting, calling to Alfred:
"My apologies for having to cut this short, but I have to be to work! I suppose I'll see you again later…" The doctor shrugged before offering a little parting wave, then vanished beyond the doors.
- End Scene -
So guys, whaddya' think? ;)
Oh and here are the links again...so please go follow them! :)
falloutarthur. tumblr. com
falloutalfred. tumblr. com