001 Video

[sicvitaest]

I don’t remember asking for a vacation. Call me cynical, but really just call me Arcade, there has to be a catch. Cui bono?

Wouldn’t it be nice if this was all just a happy circumstance that we’ve turned up in a place that didn’t want something from us? Rad-free food, no deathclaws chasing you down, no drugged up fiends. This is Heaven. Or close to it.

[The video finally focuses, and the man behind the rambling comes into view. He looks like he hasn't slept in a few days. Partially because he found a library with every book his heart desired.

The device he’d received looked much like a pip-boy, though he wasn’t familiar with one personally. The courier had one and would let Arcade watch old holotapes on it from time to time. This recording function was entirely new to him. The fact that you could project yourself onto other devices live was completely fascinating to the doctor.]

I’d like to know more about the inhabitants. [He adjusts his glasses] What information have you been fed and what part of it is actually truth?

Comments

[sicvitaest]

[Arcade kept his mouth shut for the sake of Dan's feelings, that deathclaw jerky was none to be desired. He still can't get the memory of the taste out of his mouth. Thank goodness he kept a stash of snack cakes in his pack.]

If I'd had the time. Between patching you and Craig up. [Those two ran into more ridiculous situations than anyone he knew.]

[thecourier]

[It was never going to be good. Predator meat as a rule never tasted great and you only had to take one look at a deathclaw to know what you were getting into.

But he would point out until he was blue in the face that it was edible, in at least that it was not toxic.]

Y' enjoyed it. [He taunts, poking his elbow gently into Arcade's side. It had been so long now since he'd had to live on scraps and slim pickings that he had forgotten how tired it could make you look. Or.. maybe that was the overall lack of sleep.

Dan takes Arcade down to the kitchens - another marvel by Wasteland standards - and gestures to the room.]

Have a look.

[sicvitaest]

[Not the ribs. Arcade hated when he elbowed him in the ribs. He subtly places a hand over the spot, shielding himself this time.]

Night stalker venom is not even reminiscent of peppers. [Never should be used as a seasoning.] All it does it numb your mouth. [Which was probably a blessing in the case of eating deathclaw-

that was the cleanest damn kitchen he'd ever laid eyes on.]

There's a catch. There has to be a catch.

[Skeptical as always. Arcade slowly moves away from Dan to explore the kitchen, eyeing the cupboards warily as if something was going to spring out at him. This place was odd.]

[thecourier]

It is def'nitely reminiscent of peppers. If peppers made yer mouth numb.

[Dan grins. He can argue about the merit of his cooking for days, but it's still pretty awful.

While Arcade pokes around, the courier waits. He has a bag of potato chips in his hands before his friend can realise where he got them from and eats them as quietly as one can eat potato chips.]

There's a door, right there. [He gestures to it.] Think of anythin' you want, anythin' at all, an' open it.

[sicvitaest]

It was certainly inventive, I'll give you that.

[Arcade eyes him a moment, wondering what he was eating. Potato crisps? No, no. If he was going to have anything, it was going to be an apple. Something fresh.

He pauses, wondering if Dan was setting him up for something. In the end, hunger wins out. There's an apple in the cupboard and he's not sure if it's luck or...]

This isn't normal, Dan. You realize that? There has to be some science behind this.

[thecourier]

Tried it m'self first, didn't I? We waited a whole day t' see if I'd turn inside out or vomit m' lungs up.

[Such sacrifices he makes for you, Arcade, you don't even understand. He chuckles and makes a small 'go on, go on' gesture towards the apple.]

Sure, science, are y' gonna eat that or not? Y'no, they have real meat here. Beef.

[sicvitaest]

I'd imagine. You aren't dead yet.

[Arcade is very, very careful. I mean, they both came from a world where the expiration date on a can of cram was a gamble.

He turns the apple over in his hands.]

A steak would be nice.

[But not the raw steak that was now sitting on the shelf in the cupboard.] Once I've gotten used to eating clean food.

[thecourier]

Not yet.

[He walks over, putting his arm around the taller man's shoulders and looking at the apple. Yes, he might have a packet of chips in his hand but he didn't object to fruit and veg either. There were a few things he could already think of, that he would have to introduce Arcade to.

Chocolate.]

Yeah.. it'll play hell with y' at first, not gonna lie. But here-- here.

[Chips finished, he crumples the packet and grabs a glass, filling it with water from one of the taps. He holds it out to Arcade as condensation begins to bead on the outside.]

Try this. Taste it.

[sicvitaest]

Great. [Something to notlook forward to. He bites into the apple very slowly, not sure what he was expecting. But it was good. Not at all what those packages of pre-war food promised.

He looks like he's died and gone to heaven. That was just an apple. He takes the glass without hesitation, marveling at it for a moment. Just one sip.

Cold water. Free of rads. Crystal clear.

A sad smile plays at his lips. If only the people of Freeside had such luxuries. He almost felt bad for the treatment he was receiving here and he hadn't even seen the dining room. Or the hot showers. Blankets.] What else does this place have to offer?

[thecourier]

[It isn't something that had escaped Dan's mind. Arcade is more attuned to the suffering of those in Freeside - a soft heart, even if he'd find it hard to admit it - but he thinks about it less these days. After a year and a half, you have to let yourself stop being haunted by certain things... Especially things you can't do anything about.]

Clean beds, hot water on tap, an'-- fuckin'-- there's grass outside. Honest t' god grass, an' trees with leaves on, an' flowers, an'-- bees. Bees, an' they ain't the size a' yer face, they're like-- [He brings his thumb and forefinger together in the approximate size of a bumblebee.]

Normal bee size.

[He kind of likes bees.]