Dustyn gives Dallas a playful pat on the butt after he goes all red faced with embarrassment. "Oh don't pretend to be all shy in front of Riley. Embrace your sexual desires. I haven't seen you this happy or drool as much since you discovered my buttery sweet hearts!" That ironically isn't a euphemism. In the old world, Dustyn used to make these little buttery heart shaped treats that had a consistency somewhere between pastry and a cookie with a maple glaze. He misses being a little chef. You don't get the same buzz making gulper slurry. He adjusts under the covers, getting into a more comfortable position. He'll be trapped between the two tonight so it's best to make sure everything feels good. Dustyn looks up at Dallas and whispers to him. "Dallas...I can totally feel Riley's feet on mine. Does that turn you on or anger you? You going to beat him up? You going to wrestle? You going to roll around in baby oil?!" Dustyn grows more an more excited with each suggestion. It started out as just a joke as well.

Riley just laughs at the banter between the pair. He feels honoured to be invited into this as it appears to be very special and intimate. He's happy to hear that things have been easy between Dallas and Dustyn. Riley always liked Dallas from the start as he seemed genuine and really loved Dustyn, struggles and all. With the amount of issues and bad men Dustyn had in his life at one point, Riley believes that Dallas truly saved him although he's not going to get into all that soppy stuff right now. "Glad to hear it. You guys are like the ultimate couple. No ghouls from Goodneighbor will lead you astray no matter how convincing they are!". Riley has only passed through the place two or three times but its reputation, alongside Erica and Nina's, precedes it. Salaciousness and adultery haven't died off.

Dustyn tuts and shakes his head. "Don't worry, words like that have no meaning anymore...you still can't say it though. It's our word...in a sense...". Dustyn does make a point - slurs like that aren't heard anymore. Huge chunks of vocabulary, practices and beliefs have filtered down into the new world but bigotry seems to have died out. It's more about good vs evil and man vs deathclaw rather than gay vs straight these days. In a way, it's almost a Utopian mindset...in a very Dystopian kind of way.

---

"I hate feeling...I wish I could be as cold as a fucking Assaultron but no matter how hard I try, I can't switch them off. I can lie to myself a suppress things for a bit but things still chew away at the back of my mind." Despite his front and public persona from the old days, Billy isn't as cold as once thought. It truly is a defense mechanism - a front and nothing more. He loves and misses his brothers dearly as well as the others who recently departed. The sadness tugs on his heart, the unjust nature of it all boils his blood and the horrific sounds and images are burned into his mind. "In a few days...I...I want to go back there and retrieve them. They were my brothers, they were our friends. They deserve proper burials. I'm not letting them rot away in there." Going back to that building is a death sentence in itself. Even if it is devoid of enemies, seeing the state of some of the bodies will be mentally damaging. Billy isn't thinking about that though. He's more focused on the possible closure from it all.

Billy leans over the edge of the bed and into his bag, taking out a Nuka Cola. He gulps some down to refresh his sweaty and flustered self. "Right..." he says before wiping his lips. "I need some Med-X. Knock me the fuck out because I'm not dealing with this shit all night."

Dustyn mumbles in his sleep and burrows his head further into Dallas, as far as he can get to his chest. It's a good job everyone is tired out otherwise the heat emitting from the bed would be a problem. Dustyn is like a personal little heater at the best of times let alone being wedged in between two warm bodies. He's like a little hot water bottle. Riley had planned on sneaking out during the night, allowing the couple to sleep together and for some freedom under the sheets, but things were more comfortable than anticipated so he stayed. Riley had turned over to sleep though. He'd rather be butt to butt with Dustyn than butt to willy. It's good manners. There's a time and a place for that.

In the other room, Billy lays face down, arm hanging over the edge of the bed and on the cusp of falling off it entirely. He dosed up on Med-X earlier to knock him out. The thoughts of his brothers and his friends were too much for him and he needed this sleep. It's been verging on three days since he last slept properly. He breathes heavily, totally detached from the world and catching up on all the rest that he deserves.

A weight and a cool breeze are felt on Erich's side of the bed, interrupting the hazy warmth of the night. "Get you ass up, Hess. I don't have much time..." whispers an eerily familiar voice.

"Don't freak out..." quietly says the voice of Joshua? Yep, true enough, Joshua is perched on the edge of the bed looking over at Erich. Obviously the guy is dead. Erich and the others watched as a huge slab of glass burst him like a water balloon and yet here he is, in one piece. A cold and otherworldly presence emits from him but it's not a threatening or frightening vibe. He's not here to cause harm. His presence is actually rather comforting. "Yes, you're asleep but you're not dreaming...in a sense. I'm in your head but I'm real. There's enough brain activity to allow me to slip through. It takes a lot of energy to present myself like this though and you'll be waking up soon so I don't have much time." Joshua gets up off of the bed and stands over Erich, looking pretty much like his usual self only with a slightly paler complexion and a lifeless look behind his eyes. "I'm a restless soul and I sense that you need help with something so what's the deal?" Joshua makes sure he continues to talk and present himself as something Erich shouldn't fear. The last thing he wants is for this short window of time to be wasted on Erich freaking out and waking up in a cold sweat. Time is of the essence. "Come on; questions, troubles, grievances, thoughts..." Joshua says while tapping his wrist like a watch. Even in death, he's still pretty to the point.

"Yeah, I know all of that. Also know that you got all soapy in the shower with Nina and Billy. Mazel tov." Joshua says with a knowing smirk. His mannerisms, sense of humour and train of thought still seem to be very human-like. The only ghostly things about him are the fact that he is indeed dead and his presence consumes everything. He pulls in Erich's attention. Everything else is background noise and blurry shapes at this point. "I know Blake's dead. Also know that he's a synth. He's not trapped like me and the others. Synths don't have souls." As cold as it sounds, the spirit realm does not apply when it comes to machinery. Joshua also revealed that he's trapped, which is unfortunate and yet another tragedy he's enduring even in death. "I died young and tragically. A bunch of us did. We're all tied to that building. Every so often we can slip through. Sometimes we can travel. Sometimes we're in some nondescript place which better not be Heaven as it's a total letdown. Most of the time though, we're stuck in that hellhole of a building. I have no real concept of time. It's just back and forth, back and forth." The afterlife seems like a hoot. He listens to Erich's troubles and nods along. He already knows this and it's why he's here. One of the last conversations he had was with Erich about the future and all that jazz. It's something else that's keeping him tied.

"You're conflicted and I feel that. I'm here to help. You already have your decision made in the back of your mind. Let's tap into that," Joshua says while crouching down to Erich's eye level. There's no spark behind Joshua's once glistening golden brown eyes. They aren't as emotive as they once were but the sincerity still shows in his voice. "I know you aren't a murderer. Not a cold blooded one anyway. You and Erica are different people. No matter how many similarities or how long you've known one another, you are different people. You know what you're capable of, what your fears are, what you want out of life. We just have to pull back the layers. So talk to me. What do you feel about the vault? Pros and cons."

"I miss you too. Death sucks. I don't recommend copping out and killing yourself." When Erich asks if there is anything that they can do, he just pouts and shakes his head. Nothing is ever that easy, unfortunately. The idea of moving his body makes him wince. "There's not much of my body left, Erich. Even if that were feasible, it wouldn't work. I died horribly before my time. I still had shit to do. Unfinished business and all those cliches. I never really got to know you as much as I wanted to, Piper still doesn't know about my death, the Mayor is still at large...there's a whole bunch of things. At least Blake is dead. That's a huge weight off. This isn't about me though. Not sure if I'll ever have full closure. I may roam for eternity. I'm dead but I still have an ass that won't quit. That wasn't a fart joke by the way," Joshua chuckles and playfully pats Erich on the arm before immediately pulling back and apologising. "I'm so sorry...". Joshua's touch is deathly. It's beyond cold and in freezer burn territory. It's also the only really unnerving thing about him.

"If I was in hell I'd be surrounded by conservatives and lawyers. This is a holiday!" Being back in this realm really is a treat for him. It's not under the best circumstances but this could be the last chance he gets to feel somewhat "alive". As Erich paces around, Joshua just relaxes against the wall and examines his friend. He wants nothing more than to hug and comfort him but afterlife setbacks and all. "I'm just going to say this because I literally have nothing to lose...but you said that you hate feeling lost, right? Well, what makes you feel like you're safe and at home? In the old world it always seemed like you were running. Cuss me out if I'm wrong. I just got the sense that you were lost even back then. Cutting off relationships, living out on a ship, abusing a lot of recreational drugs...seems like you were on the run." Joshua walks back over towards Erich. "Maybe it's not about being fine with your surrounds? Maybe it's about being happy with yourself? Do you like yourself, Erich? I...I didn't like myself, man. I spent my life constantly focusing on other problems, on the move and projecting onto other things. I never ever felt truly happy or settled no matter where I was...and now look at me."

"You have no idea how much energy it takes to appear in this form. I'm pretty much just energy and if I want to appear to someone, the "default" if you will, isn't pretty. You seen what happened to my body. Also, clothes don't follow you to the afterlife. I like you but I don't want you to see me naked. You've seen my intestines but I'm not comfortable having my nuts out. Appearing as a solid figure and fully clothed is...well it's incredibly draining. It's not fun. Don't toy with your life unless you're 100% sure you want this." Joshua closes his eyes and takes in what Erich is saying. He's not his guardian angel but as he's tied to him through a strong bond and the events of the last few days, Joshua has an involvement and responsibility. There's a checklist of unfinished business that Joshua still has to attend to. He also doesn't wish for Erich to meet a similar fate. This existence sucks. "Oh I'm sure ghosts can still have sex. Not sure of the ins and out and how much energy it requires. You hear of wild stories like that on the news and uh...at the risk of being a little TMI...spirits can still feel horny."

"It seems to me that you also get a kick out of wandering and exploring," Joshua says as he sits down on the bed where Erich once lay. Spirits don't get tired legs but staying a good distance from Erich is best so that he doesn't accidentally touch him again. The frozen burn isn't pleasant. Joshua does not have the answers as he cannot see into the future but he can be a source of guidance and light. He's going to help Erich out in any way he can. "What the fuck is "normal" anyway? Stop chasing it. Your life IS your "normal". Don't commit or tie yourself down to a place. You know how that impacted you in the old world. Live by your own rules. As wacky as they might be, I know you'll always do good. You're a good soul...I know a thing or two about them," Joshua says with a soft smile before looking behind him to observe the sleeping Billy. He turns to Erich and rises to his feet once more. "I never thought I'd say this but I think you should look at Billy for inspiration. You two have similar mindsets, interests and views. He travels. Maybe you should too? There's no saying you can't stop off at other settlements from time to time. Cassie and Karoliena are not going to deny you entry to this vault. Dustyn is in Diamond City. You're loved and wanted by these people just the way you are. Now you just have to take care of number one. Do what makes YOU happy. You're a good guy. Whatever you do, it'll be the right thing."

Joshua stops in his tracks and looks over Erich's shoulder at the far corner of the room. His face drops and it looks as if he has also seen a ghost himself. Of course, nothing is there in Erich's eyes but Joshua senses something in his realm. "Shit...look Erich, I don't have much time left..." he begins, constantly looking over into the dark corner of the bedroom. "There IS an Erich Hess and it's time to give him the life he deserves. You mean so much to so many people. The impact you've had is undeniable. You...you made my last hours bearable despite the pain. You're gonna have a great life and that's an order...otherwise you're just straight up homophobic." Joshua smiles and slowly offers a hand out to Erich for him to take if he so chooses.

"You really want the last image of me to be a nude one? Was bad enough that you witnessed me explode. I'm trying to look presentable here!" Joshua chuckles and puts his hands on his hips, looking down at his groin for a few seconds before returning to meet Erich's gaze. "I am extremely well hung though. I think you should know that before we part," he says with a cheeky grin. It's a shame that the pair never got to develop a closer bond in life. They're both extreme and intense in different ways but have many similarities. Joshua had a very smart, witty and dry sense of humour that would've had Erich in stitches. Erich would've been able to chip away at Joshua when he was feeling uptight and vexed, making him laugh and feel more human. When it comes to ghost sex and possession, he laughs and shakes his head. "I think that to have sex, the human also has to be in sync. Some people can't tap into the spirit world that easily. I also don't know about erections and ejaculation. Not sure how that works. I don't get them anymore. As a spirit, you still feel things like urges and emotions but you don't physically respond. You think hot things but your dick doesn't rise. You crave the taste of lobster rolls but you are never hungry. You miss the feeling of a warm bed but you never tire. It's fun here." Joshua scoffs and falls silent as he thinks about Piper. There were so many things he wanted to say but failed to. He can't expect Erich to remember an entire monologue nor does he wish to impose ANOTHER task upon him. "Just...tell her that I loved her and not to let pride or fear get in her way. I never got a chance to tell her I loved out for those exact factors."

Joshua looks back at Billy, watching him in his deep sleep with both envy and love. He'd do anything to feel that peaceful again but is happy to see Billy so safe and carefree after everything he endured. Turning back to Erich, Joshua shrugs and folds his arms with a small sigh. "Look, Billy adores you. He's hard to read at times and very prideful so he may or may not make another move. If he does, just be truthful with him. The guy witnessed his father kill someone when he was four, was put into the care system, lived on the streets for a bit, battled with drugs, has bounced back after countless relationship fails and became a fucking millionaire and global star. He led all of us on this mission and battle too. The guy is tough, Erich. Sure he might be bummed for a bit. Distraught, even. It's not going to kill him though. My fate is sealed* but life goes on for you guys. Don't waste the rest of it worrying or living a lie." Joshua smiles reassuringly at Erich. As much as he'd like to see Erich with someone who has a lot in common with him like Billy, he knows Erich can't and shouldn't live a lie. If being alone suits Erich, it's fine. If being with someone totally different suits Erich, it's fine. If leading a promiscuous life suits Erich, it's fine. Joshua just wants to fill his life with light.

Joshua is taken aback by the hug, initially being filled with spine tingling fear. He has no idea just how much power his touch possesses. Could it drain the life force from Erich himself? Hugging the spirit of a dead person seems like something one would do before ascending themselves. He relaxes into it when he realises nothing is happening. Despite the freezing cold flesh, the hug is extremely satisfying as Joshua has real mass. He's practically alive again. "Ghosts cry too. Thanks for helping me discover that you asshole..." Joshua says with a little laugh, clearly sobbing and sniffling as they hug. He takes a breath and composes himself, remaining in the hug and looking over Erich's shoulder. He can't look him in the eye as it'll be too painful to see him go. The corner of the room is slowly morphing back into the other world for Joshua. He sees those darn collapsed pillars and smashed windows of the fateful room inside the factory. The two realms are separating once more. "I'm not sure if I can ever come back like this. I think it's a one-trip thing otherwise ghosts would be all over the place. I'll be around though. That unexpected breeze, that sense of calm that washes over you after a cry, the strokes of luck you have...will probably be me. I'll always be around. Elvis will just have to learn to share." Joshua chuckles and tightens his grip on Erich, watching the vault room being consumed by the factory. "I have to go now. Thank you...at least I get to be held this time..." And with that, the hug transitions from freezing cold to real body heat before Joshua's weight grows lighter until Erich is hugging the air around him.

* lol, you know

Dustyn smiles and covers Dallas' chest and neck with sweet little kisses, positively glowing and not just because the pair just got out of a steamy shower. After a good night's sleep and over 12 hours without any deaths, it truly feels like a fresh start. Today is the first day of the rest of their lives. No more running, chasing, shooting or dying. They're going to pack up, leave this vault and live the rest of their days in harmony...well at least until another radiation storm hits or a synth makes its way into Diamond City again. "Ugh I don't want to leave but I do at the same time. It's just so warm and comfy in here. You think they'll allow us to keep this bed?" Dustyn curls his toes into the blanket as he's stood on the bed, giving him the height to properly kiss his man, It's fun being tall. Dustyn smooches Dallas before moaning and reluctantly pulling away. "OK, I really need to get dressed. We've got a home to get back to!" Dustyn smirks and hops off of the bed.

Riley enters the room, already washed, groomed and dressed. He's taking this vault suit as a souvenir. He has no idea where he's going but when he gets there, he'll be the talk of the town with this form fitting piece. "So they're serving breakfast down there if you want-oh my..." Riley cuts himself short and averts his eyes when he sees Dustyn whip off his towel so that he can dress himself. Despite the shenanigans of last night, Riley still finds it awkward seeing another man's willy...especially a soft, bouncy one. "So...uh...you heading back to the City or The Prydwen? They know about your leaving?" he asks Dallas, focusing his attention elsewhere.

Billy snorts and wakes himself up, finally coming to after his Med-X induced coma. His hair sticks up in all directions and he turns around with a bewildered expression upon his face. Most of last night has been erased from his memory and he feels extremely lethargic. "Uh...wh-? Did...did we have a gang bang?"

"A little to the left," Riley quips back to Dallas with light laughter. He's thankful that Dallas is now stood in the way as it was one of those 'I don't want to look but I can't stop looking' sort of scenarios. Dustyn having a lot of length doesn't help matters either. There's a lot to gaze at. He listens as Dallas describes his plans to go back to Diamond City with Dustyn. He has been toying with the idea himself but will need some more time to figure out a concrete plan. Being the General, he can't just up and leave without any word of warning. Well, he technically could but that's not Riley's style. He chuckles at the mention of the artillery. "Oh that? No that's just for serious threats. You guys just so happen to be in that direction," he winks and grins playfully at Dallas before perching his butt on a desk to take some of the weight off. "Not sure exactly what to do, to be honest. Although my heart does say to hang the Minuteman cap up. Numbers are dwindling, supplies aren't the best and even in this hellhole...we're still pretty outdated. It's a shame. Can't believe I'm considering giving up that fucking castle after the amount of mirelurks I took on to get it. Oh and let's not forget the Mirelurk Queen either!"

Dustyn's ears prick up as he pulls his vault suit up to his waist. He has a look on his face which is all too familiar to Dallas. One of fear and disbelief. Dustyn usually wears this expression when his dad announces a visit or he has an impending dentist appointment. "Mirelu- Quee-...wh-...what the fuck is a Mirelurk Queen?? Don't say a Mirelurk who is a Queen either or I'll send a fart in your direction." Dustyn doesn't do well with Mirelurks. Aside from the fact that they can kill you with their huge claws, it's the scuttling that gets Dustyn. Mirelurks and Radscorpions almost make him faint on sight. He's just grateful that he hasn't witnessed any irradiated spiders yet.

Billy shrugs and looks under the covers when Erich suggests that some vault dwellers had their way with him. "My arse doesn't feel sore and I see no traces of bodily fluids on the sheets. Either you're lying or they were all terrible, terrible shags." Billy grumbles and rolls over onto his side to look over at Nina and Erich properly while feeling more comfortable. Everyone else is up and dressed aside from Billy, typical of the old times. Give him one night in a comfy bed and the old lazy bones is back. He's NOT a morning person and only has been for the last two and half years out of necessity. You can't laze around in most places out of fear of death, rape, mugging, kidnapping or a wild combination of all of them. He smirks as Erich puts his bare feet up on the chair, getting a nice view of his soles. "You trying to turn me on?" he asks with a mischievous smirk. It's well known that he has a thing for feet. Well, Billy has a thing for most body parts...and most kinks...and mechanical rides but that's not for here.

He clears his throat and looks over at Nina. "Oh, by the way, I had a dream that Riley was eating you out. I've heard that he's great at that, by the way. Was pretty fucking hot...until my dream swayed and I was suddenly playing Gin with Joan Van Ark on a rooftop...not so hot." Billy chuckles and then stretches his arms out like there's no tomorrow, letting out an almighty yawn in the process. The contrast between his night and Erich's is...pretty stark to say the least.

Dustyn purses his lips and narrows his eyes, not exactly satisfied with this so-called explanation of a Mirelurk Queen. Why would there be an abundance of crowns in the wasteland? Desk fans? Yes. Crowns? Less plausible. "Hmmm...you're lucky I don't actually want to know more about those creatures. I plan on sleeping well from here on out. You know I don't do well with things that scuttle." Dustyn wags his finger at Dallas and ties the sleeves of his vault suit around his waist again while teetering towards the door. "I'm going to go see if I can get a few more medical supplies and want this checked out before I leave," Dustyn says with a point towards his patched up side. He wants to take full advantage of a CLEAN medical facility, even if it is just for a new piece of cloth to be placed upon him. With that, he heads out of the room and gives Dallas and Riley a wave as he passes the window. "I'll meet you down at breakfast!" he shouts through the glass.

Riley chuckles and waves back at Dustyn before turning back to Dallas with an instantaneous blurt of, "Am I gay?". Silence falls for a moment as the pair try to make sense of it all. Even Riley never planned on spouting the question out like that but it has been festering away in the back of his mind since last night. He couldn't ask Dustyn as he didn't want to run the risk of one of his closest friends sugarcoating the situation for him. Eventually, Riley steps forward and begins to explain his train of thought. "I mean...I know I'm not gay gay...I like women...I LOVE women but uh...but last night...I-uh..." Riley trails off, pacing around in a circle while holding his hands behind his head. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a moment as he musters up the thing he's been trying to say. "I really enjoyed last night and I don't know what it means exactly," he says, looking Dallas in the eyes with a sincere yet confused expression. Riley is as liberal as they come so it's not anger he's feeling, just real bewilderment. He's only ever been with women before but last night, he was clearly in his element. Dallas' butt can confirm that.

Billy ruffles his hair and gets up out the bed, not caring that he's nude as usual. "You could do a lot worse than Riley Hamilton. He's a lovely guy and his cock is even thicker than mine. What more could you ask for?" Billy rubs his eyes before leaning against the wall, sizing Nina up. A sly smirk appears on his face. "Or is one guy not enough for you now that you've had what Erich and I have to offer?" Billy makes a lewd gesture with his tongue and two of his fingers, alluding to the fun they had a few nights ago. The time they had together in Covenant was spectacular. Sadly due to death, trauma and severe fatigue they haven't been able to recreate it since.

"Joshua?" Billy asks Erich with a tilt of his head. It's certainly far removed from the types of dreams Billy was having on that Med X. "Was it anything...harrowing?" he asks gingerly, not wanting to sound rude by not asking...but also not wanting to press him on the issue in fear of severe waterworks. It's too early in the morning for emotions.