Megaton Dreaming

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

The sun cut through the damaged atmosphere over the subtropical desert with all its usual relentlessness, pouring through windows that had last seen glass two hundred years ago (if that) and shabby curtains to fall precisely into everyone's eyes as they slept. The room was full of battered, dried out mementos of another age, mostly toys and books, all cracked and crumbling. A slight humming came from somewhere underneath them, almost drowned out by a staticky radio playing Cole Porter. The air was still and heavy, touched with a scorched, chemical smell that hung over everything, a strangely inorganic smell that seemed to overpower any hint of living things. No hint of anything green, of sweat, even of decay, just that smoky, biting trace in the air. Someone with an unnaturally heavy step was moving in the house, and the sheet metal that made up most of the place softly squealed its protests. The very air hummed with a strange energy, like it was about to storm, though it was so dry it didn't seem like rain was the remotest possibility.

In other words, home. Indrani shifted in bed, head pillowed on her copy of The Wasteland Survival Guide, two ancient stuffed bears and Dogmeat curled beside her, and was perfectly content for a moment. Then she realized it was months, maybe a year, since she'd woken in her own bed, and she hauled herself upright, looking around hurriedly.

Comments

[catchingflies]

"Hey, we can do the wall thing and then go get snacks," was Todd's suggestion, as he trailed out after her into the light.

The sun was the worst part. Todd was used to New York or, at worst, Verdana, where the heat was muggy when it got hot at all. This kind of desert searing was uncomfortable. He kept close to Indrani-- and Thing One followed amiably behind, panting like a dog, himself-- while watching the people around them more than the scenery. The scenery was mostly chalked up to "weird", "slightly less weird", and "appropriate for climbing on". Many things fell into the latter category.

He squinted at the Wolverine-hatted guy suspiciously. "Does that guy know you?"

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

It was definitely appropriate for climbing on. Even Indrani, lacking Todd's arboreal habits, was as comfortable walking on the roofs. She led him up a rickety set of stairs, and it became clear that there were paths on multiple levels. While certainly providing possibilities for Todd, even the old lady currently crossing a bridge between a house and the bar at rooftop level seemed comfortable.

"That's the sheriff. Lucas Simms. He's pretty cool. We'll have to talk to him about you. Maybe be easier if we tell him you're from Little Lamplight or something." She looked around for points of interest, but compared to Verdana, her adopted home seemed a little... drab. "On your left you'll see the giant unexploded atomic bomb, and here we are at shoot the raiders point," she announced a bit lamely as they reached the narrow top of the wall. The Wasteland stretched in all directions, dotted with ruins and scrub, the river a flat, black line in the distance, a few moving shapes to break up the dusty expanse. "Huh, looks like bloatflies are moving in again off vaultways. That might be one you could help me with."

[catchingflies]

It wouldn't be hard, considering Todd had quickly resorted to hopping rather than just walking.

Actually, the unexploded atomic bomb got a craned neck and an interested expression. The impromptu title for the wall made him snicker and hop up onto the edge to peer down. Falling didn't really bother him, since he'd just bounce right back up again, or else grab onto the wall halfway down, anyway. "Are they like the bugs back on Verdana?" he asked, snapping his tongue out-- and probably startling anybody else who happened to be nearby, unless they really were as used to mutants as Indrani seemed to think-- at the idea of more giant bugs to make dinner out of. They'd probably be tastier fresh... not that he necessarily tasted much of what he ate, anyhow.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

"Kinda. They're big enough to eat anyway, but, well, in a radiation-y way." She'd had time to take a long look at the Verdana species, and they had a more wholesome, natural look to them, like every other animal there. Even the dinosaurs, compared to Wasteland creatures, were healthier and better proportioned. "They shoot nasty little stingers at you." She'd heard they'd been known to actually kill people, but she was sure they must have been either very unlucky or singularly unprepared. "On bug hunts I usually don't even use guns. Get out there with a stick and you're pretty set. Hmm, wonder if Moira would mind if I let you use the mole rat repeller..."

[catchingflies]

"Mole rat repeller?" Todd felt a little like he was repeating everything she said, out here, but it was all so unfamiliar, he couldn't help himself. At least she answers him, usually. "Is that, uh, actually for mole rats? Or is it just called that and it's actually for the bugs?"

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

She was starting to feel that way, too, and it couldn't be fun. She took a deep breath and tried to reign in some of the enthusiasm and energy. She was proud of home and wanted to show it off, but the poor guy needed some time to breathe. "Nah, only works on mole rats. Kinda explodes them. I'll show you later." Another deep breath, and she didn't plow ahead to the next idea. They didn't need to keep running all day. Indrani stepped closer and slung an arm over his shoulders, giving him a little squeeze. "If we turn out to have a while, I'll show you some prettier views, but I think this one's kinda nice."

[catchingflies]

He leaned over to return the gesture with an arm around her waist and his head on her shoulder. "It's not bad. It's no New York--" He was a city boy, he couldn't help it. "--but it's not bad. We can go fly hunting, sure. Or mole rat hunting. I wouldn't mind seein' something explode. I bet it's gross." There wasn't a lot of relish in his tone, but that was because, honestly, he was more thinking about how she was hugging him and they were together on this weird world, than actually imagining things exploding.

And worrying a little. He had that going on, too. And since it was Indrani, he voiced it. "You don't mind I'm stuck here with you for a while, do you? Or, y'know. For longer than a while, if Salvation doesn't come back for us or whatever."

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

"If you really miss the city and we do end up here for a long time, maybe we'll take a field trip up to the Pitt," she said chirpily, trying to answer both concerns. Though maybe she should take him up there. Even if she could somehow be sure he was safe the whole way, she wasn't sure how much everyone up there liked him, and the trogs might freak him out. She hugged a little tighter and added, "We'll get you all set up here. It's cool. And doesn't explode very often, in town. Well, unless you stand too close to Moira's."

[catchingflies]

"Heh, we had a lot of explosions back in Bayville, so that's okay," Todd admitted with a little grin. "Okay. Long's you don't mind me taggin' along on all your hero stuff. Cuz you know I'm gonna." It was one thing when she was just one of many cool people back on Verdana (the coolest, of course, but there were still other people who saved worlds and whatever), but here she was actually the only local hero. And now she had a tag-along who usually screwed things up. If that wouldn't change her opinion of him, she'd have to be some kind of saint.

Maybe he'd just have to try not to screw anything up, this time, if it were possible. "So you kill robot presidents and swat giant flies and explode mole rats. Sounds like fun."

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

She wasn't thinking about that too much now. More the challenge of keeping him safe and healthy. She'd have to try and talk to the doctor, see if he had any ideas about people who had come from vaults or something, and weren't as used to ambient radiation. And she didn't want him to worry about it now, so she covered it with a smile. "Come on, let's go down to the bar. I'll buy you a drink."

Uh-oh. What drink? Nuka-cola was popular, but damn radioactive, if tasty. Alcohol wasn't much better. Pure water was actually a treat around here, but he might not see it that way. She'd have to play it by ear. "Come on, we'll go over the roofs." He might like that, at least.

wow I have no idea how I left this for this long :< so sorry

[catchingflies]

"Oh, cool, they won't yell at us here for that?" That perked him up again considerably, though whether it was the idea of not getting in trouble or for roof-hopping was up in the air. Probably a bit of both. He hugged her hard, for a beat, then let go to hop up onto the wall's railing, gather up, and launch, aiming for the nearest roof that he figured Indrani could reach, too. His idea of Indrani's leap-length might have beeen a little over-stated.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Indrani snorted at him a little and took the longer way around. While Todd was going to beat everyone handily on speed and agility, the city was built with multiple levels in mind, and when she skipped over a bit of scrap, pushed off the wall, and balanced for a few quick steps on the flat extension of a roof, she didn't risk falling as she tried to catch up. "Well, try not to go through anybody's ceiling, but besides that, sure, who cares?"

[catchingflies]

"I've never gone through anybody's ceiling," Todd sniffed, which was only partly true, waiting for her to catch up. "Unless they got really thin roofs around here."

As soon as she'd caught up, though, he took another leap across to the next building, not bothering with the planks of wood obviously meant there for the purpose of crossing, and sprang from there up onto a smokestack. Or antennae. Something that stuck out a little higher than the roof itself, whatever the buildings around here actually had.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

"You never know," she said as she hurried after him, amused at having to scramble after him for once. And she was pretty good at navigating the walls and roofs of this multilevel city. Kid was gonna do okay, at least in Megaton. "It's all scrapped airplanes. Sometimes a weakness in the metal pops up after a couple hundred years, y'know?" She caught up for a moment and nudged his shoulder playfully. "But nah, you're probably okay. Bar's that one over there." She pointed a few buildings down to one that stood on the edge of the semi-open center of town.

[catchingflies]

He bumped her, back, grinning at her own grin. "Airplanes, huh? I guess none of 'em work anymore, or they wouldn't have turned them into buildings?" Another leap took him down a level and over to the next building-- though he was peering ahead of them, now, trying to guess what else was in said center of town.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

It was hard to differentiate the gray, cobbled together buildings. Indrani still got lost sometimes. They all leaned on each other and borrowed bits of wall and roof and looked like they might very well fall on someone, but apparently they hadn't yet. Though the very center of town did feature a puddle, a giant bombshell, and a strange man haranguing passers by. Since no one really responded, this was apparently normal.

"Guessing shelter was a way bigger priority right after the war," Indrani guessed. "If you really wanna know, there's a lady in town whose great-something grandparents did a lot of the building. But it works."

[catchingflies]

"Nah, I guess even if somethin' here still worked, people'd get pissed if we tried to kick 'em out of it to make it fly somewhere," Todd admitted, sounding disappointed. At least he'd matured enough to even think about that. He hopped down the last level to the ground, not far from said puddle, though well away from the stranger. He didn't feel like getting accosted, scolded, or otherwise bothered by ranting dudes.

The bombshell got a curious look, though. "That get gutted or exploded?" he asked curiously.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

"I disarmed it, but keep that to yourself. And don't make eye contact with that guy standing next to it unless you wanna hear all about the Church of the Atom." There's a bridge too crazy for even Indrani. "Actually, don't get too close to that at all. It's more radioactive than even I like. Just... maintain a radius." She emphasized the point by gently taking his arm and pulling him to her side opposite the irritating priest. "C'mon, we'll get you a drink."

[catchingflies]

"Hey, no complaining here. Radiation ain't so great, right? But, uh, church of the what?" Though he does hang on her arm happily, Todd peers around her at the ranting guy with some curiosity. Not going to get close enough to actually ask him what the church of the atom is, but still. Curious. "Izzat why he's out bothering people?"

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

"Nah, they're kind of a local institution. They don't even really bother people too much if you can tune out the preaching. The theology's kinda beyond me." All theology is. She doesn't really follow her parents' idea of religion much better than this one, but at least theirs doesn't involve hanging out with a live warhead. "What I don't get is how he hasn't died of radiation poisoning, standing right there all day. Here we go." The sign over the bar declares it to be Gob's and it seems quiet as they walk up. Which is pretty normal for morning.

[catchingflies]

"Any religion that's gonna get me dead ain't one I'm gonna care about," Todd agrees, glancing once more over his shoulder before loosing Indrani's arm himself and hopping ahead to open the door for her, looking like he's trying to be gallant but mostly just looking ridiculous.

[iwanttosettheworldonfire]

Indrani's understanding of chivalry is a bit lacking, so she reaches out and ruffles his hair on the way past. The bar inside is pretty quiet this time of day. There's a tired looking guy bristling with guns at the bar, a few people talking around a table, and what appears to be a mostly rotted zombie washing glasses behind the counter. He raises a hand that appears to be sculpted from beef jerky and waves cheerfully. "Hey, Miss Mukherjee. Nova was lookin' for yah."

"Thanks, Gob. Couple'a beers?"

"Sure thing."

She elbows Todd enthusiastically. "She probably wants me to carry a letter or something. We can give you a test run."

tag of lateness :D

[catchingflies]

His eyes light up a little at the idea. Getting out, having an adventure, proving he's gonna be useful around here... it sounds great. Better than beer, even. He grins back at her widely. "Sure, just show me at it!"

He may be less brave when actually out in the wasteland, but hey, right now he's excited by the prospect.

"So who's Nova?"