Rivet City

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

The door opens onto an afternoon of graying sky and greyer cityscape. Megaton and its buildings of metal were one thing; this is the ruins of DC proper, all tumbled-down concrete and metal rusted beyond repair. Here and there the occasional wall still stands, or rebar protrudes from a pile of rubble. Underfoot are the remains of what was once a street, but it's shattered more or less beyond recognition.

"According to my Pip-Boy map, we don't have much farther to go," Ellen says. "The river's up ahead, and then we just follow it to the boat."

Comments

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle grimaces when she sees the shape the rifles are in.

"That's good to hear," Annabelle says with a grin. "I'd rather not be out here after dark if it can be avoided."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Neither would I," Ellen says fervently. "Let's get moving."

The wreckage continues along the riverbank for a while, sloping upwards to a slight hill- and from the top of the hill it becomes plain that yes, they have indeed found 'the big boat' that Bryan said his cousin lived on. If Annabelle's ever seen an aircraft carrier in her life, that's what she's looking at now... one that's been torn in two, unfortunately, with one end lying low in the water and the other separated from shore by a good twenty yards of Potomac. There's a metal staircase of some sort at the water's edge, leading up to... not terribly much.

"Um," Ellen says. "I, uh... I don't know about you, but I don't think I want to swim. How do you suppose people get into that thing?"

[aeons_crackshot]

"That is a really big boat." If Annabelle has ever seen an aircraft carrier before, it wasn't something this immense.

Annabelle frowns at the water. "There may be smaller boats that ferry people over from the shore. Otherwise, I haven't the faintest idea how people reach that thing."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

There's still a good few planes on the flight deck, although none of them look particularly whole.

"Maybe we can get a better view of the options if we climb up that thing," Ellen says, nodding to the metal staircase. "I don't know what else to try..."

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle eyes the metal staircase, "It seems to be our best option at the moment, unfortunately."

"If I get killed by architecture again, the universe is going to have a lot of explaining to do."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Hm?" asks Ellen, but she's already on the way up. At least it seems sturdy?

At the top, there's not much else to see, really. Although there's an intercom box that shows signs of recent repair on a post on the side nearest the river.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Nothing important," Annabelle replies.

It would be nice to say that Annabelle recognizes the intercom for what it is, but she's from 1938. The intercom is getting a confused look at the moment. At least she knows better than to poke strange technology?

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Ellen, at least, recognizes it. Cautiously, she leans over and depresses the 'call' button. "Um. Hello?"

As she releases the button, a crackly voice sounds from the audio panel. "State your business in Rivet City."

She very nearly sags with relief, and flashes a smile at Annabelle before speaking. "Oh! Oh, thank goodness, I was afraid this wouldn't function... I'm sorry, I'm trying to research history for a book about the Wasteland."

"History, huh?" The voice sounds mildly suspicious. "Well, all right, but don't even think of causing any trouble. Please wait while the bridge extends. Harkness out."

With that the sound of metal squeaking over metal fills the air, and a long metallic gangplank swings slowly outward from the side of the ship, creaking their way.

[aeons_crackshot]

"I'm glad you knew what that thing was for," Annabelle says with a grin as the bridge extends.

"I'm hoping we won't run into trouble with the locals, he didn't sound as if he bought our reason for visiting..."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"We had them in the Vault," Ellen says. "Unless you wanted to send a runner with a message, that was the easiest way to communicate with someone in another room."

The bridge finally wheezes to a stop, and Ellen steps forward. She's going to be concentrating very, very hard on looking at the boat up ahead, because looking down will reveal that the bridge is made of metal latticework and you can see the river through it. Also, the railings are a little bit on the 'please don't lean on me' side. Hello, acrophobia!

Fortunately, the other side isn't too difficult to reach; there are two people there, a man and a woman, both in olive-grey combat armor. The man's got an assault rifle in his hands, and he says, "Welcome to Rivet City. I'm Security Chief Harkness. Can't help you much with the city's history, but you're free to ask around inside. Just don't start any trouble."

[aeons_crackshot]

"That makes sense," Annabelle says with a nod. "I suppose I should have thought of that, as your Vault was likely rather spread out."

Annabelle makes her way across the bridge and keeps an eye on the two armed folks at the other end, just in case.

"We're not planning on causing any trouble, Mr. Harkness," Annabelle assures him.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Good," says Harkness, eyeing Annabelle's weaponry for a moment. "Any questions?"

"Is there any chance someone named Vera ... I'm not sure what her last name is-"

"If you mean Ms. Weatherly, she runs the Weatherly Hotel," says Harkness. "Upper decks. Follow the signs, you can't miss it."

"Thank you," says Ellen, and nods to Annabelle. She has no real desire to linger out here, and that's one dang heavy door up ahead.

[aeons_crackshot]

"No questions at the moment," Annabelle replies. This is not the first time Annabelle has been eyed by the local law enforcement.

Annabelle moves to follow Ellen. If necessary, she'll help her with the door.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Between the two of them, the door swings open to reveal a narrow, metal-walled corridor. Here and there human touches can be seen- a scavenged rug, a half-table against one wall, a few strings of what might've been Christmas lights once. A bewildering array of signs point in various directions to indicate the way to the marketplace, the clinic, the science lab, the Weatherly Hotel, the Muddy Rudder, and so on. Ellen bites her lip, thinking. "How about we try the hotel first?" she says. "See if Ms. Weatherly knows anything about how this place got started, and ask her about Bryan while we're at it? Unless you have a better idea..."

[aeons_crackshot]

"No, that sounds like a good idea to me," Annabelle replies with a smile. The human touches are reassuring in ways she'd likely find difficult to describe. They're signs that, whatever has befallen Ellen's world, some things have remained the same.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I don't know how long it takes Harith to make his circuit," Ellen confesses as they head down the corridor. "Or when he was last here. Hopefully it won't take him too long to get here, because I don't know how much it's likely to cost us to stay here until he arrives and I can pay him back..."

The hotel is up a deck or two from where they came in, if the signs are anything to go by. The corridors further up are rather wider. This might possibly explain how someone got the majority of a motorcycle into one of the halls... or not, since it could've been disassembled and reassembled. Who knows.

[aeons_crackshot]

"If this place is as important as it's supposed to be, I imagine that he comes by here very regularly," Annabelle says as she eyes the motorcycle.

If nothing else, fortune tends to favor the Inspired, and Daredevils most of all. Maybe some of that luck will rub off on Ellen for a bit?

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"One can hope," says Ellen, peering curiously at a door with green 'welcome'-type mats in front of it.

"That's locked for a reason," growls a man's voice from further down the hall.

"Sorry! Sorry. I was just looking..."

The man- a tall, broad-shouldered fellow with an impressive handlebar mustache and a worn leather vest- grunts and slopes off around the corner and out of sight. Ellen winces. "Seems like they're a little uptight around here."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Apparently," Annabelle says dryly.

She's been scanning the area looking for the Weatherly when she spots the sign and people going and into and out of the place. "Ellen, I think that's the place we're looking for," she calls out as she gestures with a tilt of her head.

One day, Annabelle will become used to robots not trying to kill her on sight. Today is not that day. As they go in, Annabelle is keeping an eye on the robot manning the front desk, just in case.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Ah, good evening!" the Mr. Handy behind the counter calls out. "And welcome to the Weatherly Hotel. Mr. Buckingham, at your service."

Ellen, unlike Annabelle, has grown up around robots. Specifically, around this very model. She smiles and says, "Hi there, Mr. Buckingham. We're looking for a Ms. Vera Weatherly?"

"I'm afraid she's stepped out just at the moment," the robot answers, "but she should be back before closing time. I don't imagine she'll be much longer, really. For the moment, may I interest you in a room, or a meal, perhaps?"

[aeons_crackshot]

Ellen's ease convinces Annabelle to relax a little. "I'm not sure," she says to Mr. Buckingham. "What do you think, Ellen?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"How much for a room?" Ellen asks.

"One hundred and twenty caps, madame."

Ellen winces. "Um..."

"I believe there are beds in the common room if you wish to forego privacy, madam," says Mr. Buckingham smoothly. "It is, of course, your choice."

"All right," says Ellen. "Um, maybe we can just get something to eat in the meantime?"

"Very good, madame."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Is that as expensive as I think it is? Annabelle whispers to Ellen.

Annabelle's hoping that they aren't going to have to stay here for the night, frankly.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"That's an assault rifle in reasonable condition," says Ellen. "Or four stimpaks."

She settles in at the nearest table nonetheless. The rooms might be expensive, but the food prices are reasonable, if one doesn't mind mirelurk cakes and noodles and some weird crunchy fruit thing Ellen's never seen before.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle frowns at Ellen's whispered reply, "Highway robbery."

Annabelle might recognize the fruit, provided it existed on her Earth. "The food is better than I expected," Annabelle says, surprised.