sixwordstories | (no subject)

[ Ask and you shall receive, Danse. Nora sets two bottles of ice cold beer down in front of him. ]

Courtesy of Buddy.

[ Danse looks at the cold bottles of beer with a look of relief on his face, and nothing will make a day of being in his power armor seem better. Not that being in his beloved suit of armor is a horrible thing. He reaches his hand out over the table for the beer and he pops open the bottle. ]

I don't know how to thank you. But I needed something to help wash down these mirelurk cakes down.

[ Danse crumples his face at the thought of eating the stuff. But it was something to eat, and he is just going to soldier through it while holding his breath. ]

Don't mention it. [ Nora takes a seat opposite Danse and pops open the second bottle, taking a well needed swig. ]

Pretty sure it'll take more than beer to wash away the taste of mirelurk cakes. Those things are foul. Funny thing is, back before the war I used to love crab and lobster and all kinds of crustaceans that mirelurks likely mutated from.

[ Danse is just staring at the river that separates Sanctuary from the rest of the Commonwealth and his dinner. And it is more than just the food that is getting under his skin. But he is going to do his damn best to keep things bottled up and keep his attention on his food and Nora. ]

I read about those in some of the old books we had back in The Citadel in the Capital Wastes. But yeah, it isn't so much the taste of these things, but the texture.

[ The slimy texture doesn't do mirelurk meat any good and no amount of corn and tato fixes it. But like a good soldier, Danse finally cuts into the mirelurk cake and chows down on the mirelurk cake. ]

So what have you been up to, soldier?

[ Nora lets out a soft laugh. ] First time I made mirelurk cakes, I was convinced I'd done something wrong. Food should not look like that.

[ However, she can't help but gag a little as Danse tucks into said goo. ]

I finally got that second water purifier up and running. Sanctuary will soon have a pretty decent supply of clean water.

[ She looks him over, thumb tracing the rim of her bottle. ] How about you, Danse?

[ Danse continues to chow down on his dinner. He might not be a fan of mirelurk anything, but if it is what is on the menu he would rather not go into bed or combat on an empty stomach. And he only stops eating to take a drink of his cold beer, and he looks up from his plate to look at the new purifier with a mouthful of beer and mirelurk cake. ]

Good idea, and if you need any help just let me know. [ Danse jabs at more of the corn/tato mixture on his plate with his fork in an effort to try to tip-toe around his feelings. And her question is met with a blunt. ]

Fine. I have been helping with the security rounds, and so far other than a lone bloat fly nothing has made it into the settlement.

[ Watching Danse work his way through the vile yuck that is mirelurk cake is actually making Nora feel a little queasy. No man should be forced to endure such torture. If she has her way mirelurk cakes will be removed from Sanctuary's menu for good.

She reaches into her bag and retrieves a slightly dented, beat up box of Fancy Lad Snack Cakes and slides them over to Danse. ]

Here. Don't tell the others. I only managed to get the one box.

[ She takes hold of her bottle of beer again, taking another sip of the cold liquid. ]

I know patrolling Sanctuary isn't the most exciting job in the world, but we really do appreciate it, Danse. Thank you.

[ The food in the Prydwen mess wasn't much better, nor the food back in The Capital Wastes. And his eyes dart over towards the box of Fancy Lads, and a smile forms at the edge of his mouth as he continues to eat. He stops for just a moment, and he leans back in his chair. ]

I won't. I'll put those up at my guard post for later. [ He doesn't want to ruin his dinner no matter how gross it is. ] There is not much more for me here, and I'm just doing what I know best.

[ Soldiering. And he is still not sure if his life as a merchant was truly his, or if it was just a fabricated lie from The Institute. And it allows him the time he needs to be with his own demons. But Danse isn't going to let Nora worry too much about him. ]

And besides, I like getting any chance I get to crush some mutant skulls with my bare hands.

Edited 2016-06-08 18:04 (UTC)

[ Sorry Danse. Worrying about you is kind of Nora's job. She's very good at it too. She worries about all her friends - some more than others. ]

As long as you don't crush Strong's skull. The rest of the super mutants out there... go wild.

[ Well except that Erickson guy out in Far Harbor who trains dogs. He seems nice too. Nora really should get him and Strong together some time. What could possibly go wrong?

She cradles her bottle in her hands, looking Danse over for a long moment as if trying to pick her words carefully. ]

We haven't had a chance to sit and talk for awhile. Are you doing okay?

I still don't know why you let that thing come here. So, if Strong decides to keep a good distance from me then there won't be a problem.

[ Danse's words are terse and blunt. And he is not on good terms with Strong, and he just keeps his distance from the mutant. He's slowly grown to accept the non-ferals who live in Sanctuary, but mutants are a whole other story.

And he goes back to eating his now chilled mirelurk cake and lukewarm beer, and after a few more mouthfuls, he finishes the mirelurk cake and beer. And he looks up to Nora with his brown eyes, and he rolls his shoulders in a shrug. ]

I've been fine, and as I said, I'm doing what I can to keep myself busy.

[ Nora's shoulders sag. Sometimes she really struggles to find the words to hold a conversation with Danse. He isn't exactly the warmest of personalities. Yet she still cares so deeply for him.

She lets out a soft sigh, gazing out over the edge of Sanctuary. ]

Same. Seems Preston can always find something to keep me busy with even if I can't.

[ Danse has made some friends here, but being both a former member of the Brotherhood and a synth doesn't make things easy for him. And so he sits there staring out at the radiated waters, and he then turns his head to look at Nora. He's seen how Preston constantly gives her work to do, and it gets under his skin seeing that there are others who can help. ]

Hey, if you want to let any of us take a load off your shoulders, I'm sure we'd be willing to help take some care of work.

[ Helping out a settlement or two would take his mind off his own problems. ] Or if you'd like some company, you always know where to find me.

[ For being the supposed General of the Minutemen, Nora seems to do an awful lot of the donkey work. She doesn't mind it most of the time, it keeps her busy, gives her a chance to help people. But there are also times when she wonders if she could murder Preston and hide the body without anyone noticing. ]

I'd always welcome the company. Always feel safer knowing you have my back, Danse.

[ Of course, it brings about the added difficulty of trying to avoid Brotherhood patrols, but it isn't something that can't be worked around. She misses travelling with him. ]

[ And seeing this doesn't make Danse a huge fan of Preston, and while he does appreciate the work he does to unify the Commonwealth, having to see Nora do the lion's share leaves a sour taste in his mouth.

And when he hears that Nora appreciates his help, a smile slowly creeps up on his face. ]

I think you just made my night.

[ And Danse is well aware of those patrols, and Danse still meets with Haylen from time to time. And he sometimes wonders if things could have been different if maybe he challenged Arthur, or even if Nora did. But things didn't play out that way, and perhaps for the better. ]

As much as I like doing security duty, I'm finding it hard to keep myself sitting here for long. I long to get back in my power armor, and to do what I was doing before we met.

[ Nora is tempted to point out that before they met Danse and his team were being overrun by feral ghouls. She stays quiet though. She doesn't think his limited sense of humour would appreciate it.

As for Arthur - if it helps, every time Nora is on the Prydwen - limited as that is nowadays - she constantly wants to punch the Elder in the face while wearing power armor equipped with a power fist. It takes a lot of willpower to stand by and play the good little soldier. It probably explains why she mostly sticks to BOS research patrols and supply runs these days. The occasional infestation clear out - providing the infestation is feral ghouls or super mutants. ]

Well then solider, better make sure your tin can is greased and primed ready for morning...

[ Danse slides out from his chair and he grabs hold of his dirty plate and empty bottle. And with a salute and a small smile, Danse turns to leave. ]

Meet me at the Sanctuary Sign with your orders, and we'll do our best to make The Commonwealth a safer place.

[ He may not be part of the Brotherhood, but Danse still gives a shit about the people who live in The Commonwealth. ]

(no subject)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

whoops. :)

I saw nothing ;)

You sure? ;)

100% :P

no subject

no subject

no subject