"Hey Arcy, you should come with me to Gomarrah."

Arcade looked over the top of his book, eyebrow raised. He shook his head slowly before looking back down.

"No." He murmured simply. Six laughed and leaned over on the couch, poking at Arcade's ribs.

"C'mon, they have male strippers too!"

Arcade felt his face get hot. He slammed the book shut and rolled his eyes.

"You're insane. Stay away from there if you know what's good for you."

"I like the place; they're the only casino with good booze besides the Tops." The courier sighed, grinning "And the girls…."

Arcade groaned loudly, cutting Six off. He shook his head again and opened the book back up.

"Fine, have your little horn-ball fun. But when you get herpes, don't come crying to me."

"… What's herpes?"

The blonde doctor froze, a half turned page between his slender fingers. He slowly turned to Six.

"Do you want me to tell you?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"… Indeed?"

Arcade motioned for the younger man to lean in closer. He put the book down and whispered something into Six's ear.

"W-what? EWWWW! NO NO NO!"

Six sprang up from the couch like it was electrified, a look of utter horror on his face.

"Six!" Veronica suddenly called from the kitchen "Can you come help us for a second?"

"YES! DEAR GOD YES!"

He took off across the hall; eyes still the size of dinner plates. On the way out of the living room he passed by Boone, who noticed his distress and looked to a giggling Arcade.

"What's his problem?"

"I told him that if he got herpes, his penis would turn purple and fall off."

"… I'm almost certain that's not what happens."

"Shhhhhh. He doesn't know that."

Boone shrugged carelessly and shoved his hands in his pockets. He raised an eyebrow to the sound of pots and pans clanging loudly in the kitchen.

"What are they doing in there?"

Arcade smiled. He took off his glasses and began to polish them on the end of his lab coat.

"I wouldn't know." He slid them back on "But, before I forget, happy birthday Craig."

Boone visibly tensed. He turned to the doctor, grey eyes wide behind their tinted windows.

"How did you know it was my birthday?"

"You told me while we were drinking together in Goodsprings. Oh, the wonders of alcohol. She's a cruel mistress, isn't she Craig?"

Boone gritted his teeth. He sighed heavily, annoyed by Arcade's triumphant smile.

"Anything else you know?"

"I also know your favorite color, how you like your coffee and…" The blondes smile turned to a grin "Your middle name, Francis…."

Boone felt his ears get hot. He rolled his eyes, trying to cover up his embarrassment.

"Just don't share any of that with anybody, especially the birthday part."

"Why? If you don't mind me asking."

"I do mind you asking."

The sniper met Arcade's bright blue eyes. They had that judging look to them, the one that always seemed to bother him. The look that said: Oh, you mind? You're obviously insecure. Didn't you're mother love you enough?

"I just don't want a party," Boone mumbled, feeling small under Arcade's gaze "it's not worth celebrating."

Arcade nodded and picked his book back up, losing interest.

"Okay, my lips are sealed."

"Thank you."

"Ey Boone!" Cass called from the kitchen "Get your ass in here! We need you for something!"

Boone jumped a little at the sound of her voice. Slowly he turned and began walking across the hall. He knew something was up when he heard Arcade get up and follow behind him, but for some reason his legs just kept carrying him.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Veronica, Six, Rex, Cass, and ED-E where all gathered by the long dinner table, cheering. In the center sat a large cake, looking like it was filled with wild fruit or something else colorful.

"Guess you should have said you didn't want a party sooner." Arcade teased, stepping beside the sniper.

Boone's eye twitched.

"Oh, come on you sad sack of crap," Six urged, grabbing Boone by the wrist and pulling him the rest of the way into the room "at least get drunk with me."

"…. Fine."

XXxxXX

After promptly getting drunk and standing around awkwardly for a about an hour Boone decided he had enough social contact to last him a lifetime. After giving a short thank you speech to everybody (which was interrupted with several boos from a drunken Six) he headed for the elevator, trying his best to not look like he was desperately trying to get away. He traveled down to the casino floor and sat on the thick white railing by the main door. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one, watching the thick wisps of smoke float up into the Luck 38's thick, dusty air.

He pinched the bridge of his nose as he heard someone else coming down in the elevator. He guessed it was Arcade, ready with another set of personal questions and judging stares.

His eyes widened slightly when Cass stepped out, a plate of cake balanced in one hand. She swiftly walked over to him, smiling warmly.

"You didn't even try it, ya fucker. You know how long it took to make this shit?"

Boone felt an involuntary smile pull at his lips as he stubbed out his cigarette. He shrugged as she joined him, leaning against the railing.

"Cake isn't really my favorite."

"Guess what? Don't care. Try it at least."

She lifted the fork off the plate and stabbed it into the cake, bringing a decent sized bite up to Boone's lips. He raised an eyebrow, still smiling.

"Go on," Cass insisted. Boone sighed and leaned forward, taking the bite off the fork. He remained forward, chewing it. He grimaced, not really liking the taste. It was too swe-

"AH!"

Cass shoved the whole plate right into Boone's face, making an audible squish as it made contact. The sniper froze, bits of cake falling down his face and onto his shirt and pants.

"I thought it was pretty good." Cass announced sweetly, licking the cake off her fingers. She laughed once, observing a still frozen Boone for a few seconds before starting back towards the elevator. "Happy birthday, Skipper."

Once she was gone Boone carefully pulled his sunglasses off. He wiped the cake off his face with his hand, revealing that involuntary smile that refused to leave