apocalypsehowcomm | Going Back to Boston [closed log]

Who: George Milton and Nick Valentine
When: September 16-18
Where: Road trip to Bean Town
Summary: Nick wants to have a look at this world's equivalent to where he lived at home, and George is flexing his new DL with a car rental and road trip.
Warnings: Possible talk of Fallout post-apocalyptic stuff

With the weird way Hickey has been acting, the increased stress of trying to keep people out of Dogtown and the continued sabotage of the fence he has been working hard to build, George has had enough. After some talk with Nick about his old life a few weeks prior and now that he has a driver's license, he decides to surprise him with the suggestion on Wednesday that the two of them pack up for a drive down to Boston for a weekend trip,

To his surprise it's only an hour away, which means they can leave right after work Friday evening. He's a light packer and traveler, doesn't have much to his name, but because of developments lately, he has a keyed deadbolt to his bedroom that he locks before he gets the rental loaded.

Then they're off, and once they hit the Interstate, he's finally comfortable enough to chat with the cruise control and radio on mostly as background noise. "This is gonna be the largest city I been to since gettin' here," he says. "You lookin' forward to seein' how different it is?"

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Nick pauses for a moment at that, then stops his fidgeting and glances sidelong at George.

"Yeah, actually." His lip twitches, craving a cigarette suddenly, but this is a rental car and he's got better manners than that. "Man's been acting squirrelier than an acorn factory. I usually head out in the late nights and wander the grounds a bit, but I've been, uh... stickin' around the living room the last week or so." Keeping an eye on their oddball roommate makes Nick feel better, and it's not like he has anything better to do in the wee hours.

"Was startin' to wonder if I ought to mention something to the management."

"I dunno. Been thinkin' maybe we ought to talk to him first, see what he has to say. Can't be easy bein' here from as far back as he is. It could be some delayed reaction to that." He sounds doubtful, though. He hasn't forgotten the conversation he had with Mercy about him before the even odder behaviors started.

"Between the two of us, maybe we'll pick up on somethin' one of us misses." He's not fooling himself about one thing. He doesn't and hasn't ever gotten much sense of warmth from the man. Any alliances he has with either one of them feel more like something of convenience than genuine care.

"You're probably right... though I'd be a little worried that might set him off." He makes a face. "Let's just agree to do it together. Don't bring it up without the other one there to back you up."

It's not like Hickey can really do anything to hurt Nick, but he's obviously not the one Nick's worried about getting hurt. And he'd rather not spend their whole weekend trip worrying about what their odd roommate is getting up to.

"On a totally different subject, how'd your little outing with Donna go?"

"Agreed. Together. But not in a way that'll get his back up if we can help it." A man feels ganged up on, he'll be nasty even if he doesn't want to be. George knows he would.

At the sudden change of subject a pleased grin eases into place, his shoulders dropping. "Went real good. We had us a great time dancin'. Might gonna watch a movie together next time." It's a nice feeling. Warm. He's not used to that when it comes to women. "Thanks again for helpin' me dress for it. She showed up in this blue sparkle dress. I'd a' felt low if I'd a' been too dressed down."

George's smile is infectious, and Nick is grinning too as he talks about the "date"(? None of his business, so he won't actually use the word.)

"Of course. That was a great style. You looked like a million bucks." It's hard for anybody to look bad in a properly fitted suit and matching accessories. There's a reason Nick sticks to them back home (apart from just wanting to look the part of his career.)

"Donna's a nice gal. It's endless verbal sparring between her and I, but in the fun way." She's also one of the more trustworthy people at ADI, and he's found her a good source if he ever needs info about the "modern" world.

The highways are starting to get familiar. Eerily so, and Nick drifts off to look out the window, trying to match up the scenery in his head with the city slowly appearing before them.

"Aw, shucks. You's the one what picked it out." He has never been the best at dressing himself, not when it comes to knowing what looks nice. Practical he can do in his sleep.

"Oh yeah? She is a lot a' fun. I bet when the two a' you get goin', it's a real gas." He can almost hear it just thinking about it now. When Nick cuts the chatter, so does George. It's hard enough to keep up with all the traffic getting heavier. He's wondering if he picked them a bad time to leave.

The GPS comes in handy, though. It's faster than having Nick try to read a map and call out to him when the next exit might be. They're on the road maybe 45 minutes or so before it speaks up and starts to mention exits. He perks up and pays more attention to the signs. "Any a' this look like anything you know?" he asks.

Now Nick's glued to the car window, looking over the city. The skyline is certainly different-- seems the architectural trends in this version of Boston aren't quite the same. But then things start to stick out.

"Trinity Tower." He points at a tall skyscraper to the southwest. "And the airport... no big ugly airship in sight." No airship. No Brotherhood. No destruction. All the buildings have windows and there's cars on the roads. Busses. Trains and planes and people in every single one of them.

It's surreal, and a little melancholy. But it feels good to see Boston so full of life.

"It's, ah... the Fens. Fenway Park exit, sorry. That's what we're looking for."

He can only glance as he points, not daring to tear his eyes away from traffic for more than a few seconds at a time. "No, we ain't got no airships far as I know. Jes' airplanes," he says.

"I got our hotel plugged into the navigation. Figured we'd get ourselves checked in first then go lookin' if that's awwright with you." He always feels better either having his things on him or secure in some space. He's also still not completely clear on how people do these sorts of things now. The sooner they can get that part over with, the better he's going to feel.

"Oh, yeah. That makes sense." The idea of even having a hotel to go to is pretty alien, if he's being honest. He's so used to the city being a wild, dangerous place with little bastions of safety in settlements here and there. The notion of the whole city being civilization is... well. It's practically nostalgic. For him.

"Should be a real nice place to stay. It'll be strange seeing a clean mattress and intact carpet... and walking outside without being armed."

"You makin' me more glad by the minute this ain't your Boston," he says lightly. He imagines it's odd for Nick. It would be for him driving up and down his migrant route in California. If he can keep the mood from getting too heavy, he'll do his part to help him.

He's more relaxed once they've taken the exit from the Interstate. Traffic isn't too bad in the area where their hotel is located. He double checks the sign before putting on his turn signal and pulling in. "Hnh. Fancy. They got them a concierge area right in front a' the doors." It's only fancy to him. He has no idea what amenities are common at modern hotels.

"If you wanna hang tight, I can check in and get our key."

Going Back to Boston [closed log]

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I am about to be so incorrect about Boston

You and I both.

WHOOPS

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