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#Danse brings it out in me
danses-with-dogmeat · 2 years
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Did you also see Danse flip his lil helmet onto his head and think "Oh I can't not fall in love with him/fuck him." Because that is my dilema, every playthrough. Head empty heart so fat 😔
YES.
Omg SUCH an adorable nerd, I thought that was literally so wholesome. One of the early on things that like, really got to me though was when he gives you Righteous Authority. Like... he met you earlier that day, and you did exactly one (1) favor for him, and then he just hands over this weapon that he modded himself and gave a name to, and had as a personal possession for god knows how long just to show his gratitude to someone he literally met earlier that same day?? Like, you could just walk away with this gun and never see him again, he barely even knows your name at this point, and still he gifts you this gun that I'm sure is really important to him after all the work he's put into it. You don't name a weapon unless you're pretty damned attached to it, unless it means something to you and you've had it a long time, and I just-- ahhhh he trusts you so much so early on even when he has very little experience to base it off of, and I thought that was really telling of what kind of person he is, and how unaccustomed to relationships/friendships he really is, but how desperate he is for that kind of closeness, even though it still terrifies him. Like, his words and expressions can be so gruff, but his actions really are a window into how genuinely kind and trusting he is and wants to be, despite the people surrounding him and his fear of close relationships.
Oof, sorry, I went OFF on that, but it's something I've been thinking about a lot for some reason lol. But yes, the helmet flip is absolutely precious 😅❤️
Also, I love how completely necessary it was. Like, the helmet flip was so necessary to Danse's character that Bethesda created a custom movement just for him to be able to do that little action. It's never used again for anyone else, and I'm so glad it's there for him, cuz it's just perfect 😊
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adreamingofguns · 1 year
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Okay that Lincoln song Saint Bernard that's like a TikTok meme song for scary shit is on my shuffle and like right now, I can tell you bitch it ain't scary but ANYWAY every time that song is used in a spooky jumpscare video I'm like damn I should listen to that song. And every time I do I'm like Oh I wish this song was longer. Like is it because TikTok is full of 13 year olds that the song is ~spooky~?
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I just found your blog, it's really cool you're doing this!
Anyway, how do you think the companions would react to Sole being seriously injured/nearly dying?
Thanks for requesting! Sorry it took me so long to write this.
Cait: “Shit, shit, shit! You better not die on me, Sole!” she’ll curse while picking you up from the ground and hauling you over to the nearest doctor she can find. She will threaten and beat up anyone to get you the help you need as fast as possible. 
Codsworth: “Sir/Mum, please hold on!” Codsworth will frantically try any sort of first aid he can to stabilize you. He won’t admit it to himself, but he is not optimistic about your survival chances because his Mr. Handy body does not allow him to pick you up and get you help. He’ll have to find a way to get help to you and that will take double the amount of time. 
Curie: Curie will be the most calm and collected. Being a doctor, she has experience patching people up and she knows panicking will only make things worse. With Curie by your side, you are in good hands. She’ll do whatever she can with the current equipment she has and once you are stabilized she will bring you to either a hospital or a friendly settlement to nurse you back to health completely. 
Danse: Danse might freeze for a second. Instinctively, he recalls Brotherhood protocol but he hesitates because he also knows how harsh that protocol can be. You are not just any soldier, you’re you, and no part of him is willing to risk you dying just because the protocol doesn’t care for your survival as much as he does. So instead, he’ll forgo protocol, forgo the mission in general if necessary and bring you to safety. 
Deacon: “It’s just a flesh wound. Carrington will patch you right up,” is what he tells you to keep you calm, but he himself does not believe it. Your condition is a lot more severe than he is letting on and he has to try hard not to openly panic. Luckily, Deacon knows his way around the Commonwealth pretty well, so he’ll pick you up and take the fastest and safest way back to HQ, all the while cracking some lighthearted jokes to keep you smiling. 
Gage: Raiders are mostly not known for their medical skills. The lifestyle Gage chose is one where death is accepted. However, raiders often also stock up on drugs. He himself is not a fan of it, but he does know where others hide their caches around Nuka World. So he’ll give you some buffout and med-x, and then haul you over to the nearest doctor after which he goes off on his own for a bit. Gage normally doesn’t care when others die, but seeing you close to death made him panic, which made him realize that he’s grown attached to you. He is not sure how he feels about that and needs some time alone to reflect. 
Hancock: First and foremost, Hancock will get you to safety and bring you to a doctor for help. He’ll stay really calm during this. He won’t show you how he feels and he’ll just focus on reassuring you with comforting words. However, he also won’t stick around when the doctor is treating you because he will be hellbent on getting revenge on the people who dared to hurt you.  “You’re in good hands here, Sunshine. I have to go take care of something.” 
Longfellow: “Told you the island would eat you alive,” he mumbled while dragging you back to the doctor in Far Harbor. Longfellow hasn’t gotten attached to someone in a long time, and even though he likes your company, he always kept himself shielded. Of course, he hopes that you’ll pull through, but he’s not panicked or upset. Most people die in the fog, so why not you too? 
MacCready: Mac is a survivor. He’s been fighting since he was a little kid and he’s found himself in countless hazardous situations. Therefore, MacCready is wise enough to not go out without some healing supplies on hand. Still, he panics seeing someone he cares for so dangerously hurt, and will fumble around looking for a stimpak in his backpack, finally emptying all its contents out onto the ground to find it more easily.  
Nick: “I ain’t gonna lie kid, it’s not looking good. How are you feeling? You think you can walk?” Nick has lived a long life - even if doesn’t see all of his memories as his own -, he’s lost a lot of people and in his line of work a happy ending is mostly not the outcome. That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care or that he won’t try everything he can to save you, it just means he’s good at staying calm and collected during these kinds of situations. 
Piper: “You’re not going to die out here, Sole! I promise!" Piper will quickly administer a stim, then put your arm over her shoulder and drag you to the nearest doctor. She’ll try to remain calm but small things give away that she’s panicking, like having trouble aiming her gun right at enemies along the way, and losing her temper at every obstacle you encounter. 
Preston: “Come on, general! You can pull through!” Preston will be terrified of losing you. While carrying you to the closest doctor around, he’ll still beg anyone he meets along the way for help. 
Strong: “Human fight well! Now die like warrior.”  
X6-88: “The Institute needs you, sir/ma’am.” He’ll administer a stimpak and will then ask you to teleport back to the institute for further treatment.
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slocumjoe · 8 days
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danse's romance route has some potholes
so, this post woke me from my slumber, have a ramble
This has always been a weird point for me, but I never got around to really figuring out what it was exactly until just now. I think all of the romantic candidates have out-of-place flirting, at least here and there, but Danse consistently has dialogue options to flirt with him at exactly the wrong fuckin time. The odd thing about Danse is that, most of the time, the normal Good/Yes answer is more romantic or sincerely affectionate than the flirt.
So, the Flirts.
The only Flirt that works is when he talks about his fear of losing people, and Sole says, "I care too much about you to do that to you." It's the first Flirt, and he responds by saying you've given him "something to think about." I've gone on about how Danse has never truly felt cared for. Sole's voice acting also sells this Flirt by being somewhat timid, unsure of saying this, but wanting him to know.
Danse's talks go Kreig > Cutler > Haylen > Help Im A Robot. The first time you can flirt with him is in the Cutler chat, where the "I care about you" line comes up. It's not out of left field from the conversation. It's affectionate, it doesn't overstep, but it pushes the line and makes Danse consider "oh shit, there's a lil something something going on here."
The "Would you hold me?" line is much less subtle.
Danse talks about how he doubts himself after Cambridge and Sole's reference to him hugging Haylen makes it seem like they've just been waiting for him to shut up to use that line on him. It's out of place, it circles back to a topic we've moved on from, and it's so overt it sucker-punches everyone involved, including the player. It's blunt.
The other options of "I'm here whenever you need me" or "I'm glad you feel better" are less flirtatious, but they imply more direct concern and care for Danse. Both lines are about Danse, and Sole being there for him. The actual Flirt is what Danse can do for Sole. This is such a weird nitpick, I know, but it comes off not as romantic, but more like Sole is trying to hook up with him. That would work with someone like Hancock, or maybe Piper, but Danse's romance involves more subtlety and slow-burn elements. It's too forward.
So, in his final talk...
It's literally "Kitten I'll be honest, Daddy's about to kill himself" "haha no don't kill yourself you're soooo sexy"
It comes right after he's having a lot of emotions about his reason for living. This is not the time to put the responsibility of a relationship on someone. Again, this is a flaw of the 4 Affinity Talks system. If you're just going for a platonic relationship with Danse, his talks work great, but his character arc is unfinished anyway. They have to shoehorn romance in there, and it doesn't have the room to develop naturally. It's why Sole has to explicitly say "Would you hold me ;>".
The strangest part is that his neutral/Friendly dialogue options are more affectionate and relationship-building. Again, the other options in the Haylen talk comfort Danse and reassure him.
Honestly, I think the best option, for all romancable companions, is within arms reach. You know how, if you don't romance someone, they'll bring up their last talk again and give you a barn door of an opening to broach the subject of a relationship again? Just. Do that/ It's literally what I did when I romanced Danse; don't romance him as soon as possible. Let it marinate.
The second chance to romance him goes the exact same way, eyebrows to space and all. It just takes place after Danse confesses how close he feels to you and trusts you and not RIGHT AFTER BLIND BETRAYAL.
It's easy to fix the pacing just by not going for the smooch ASAP, but the flirting is awkward. It's worth noting that the line before the Haylen flirt "It's comforting to know that I can speak to you as more than just your commanding officer" has it's own Flirting tag on it. Danse flirts with Sole here, canonically.
A cheap and easy rewrite is Sole echoing the sentiment with something like, "It's comforting to know that you're more than my commanding officer." This leaves room for interpretation. What else is Danse? Sole has an idea, but leaves Danse to wonder about it. It also confirms to Danse "yes, we have a personal bond and this isn't just a work thing."
I think the core of Danse's romance is this dude realizing that he's loved and cared for, truly. Cait has a similar arc, but hers has different complications and contexts than Danse. Danse needs a slow-burn romance full of soft moments and instances of Sole reminding him of his own humanity, even long before the synth thing.
It's worth noting that the "i care too much about you" line is still kinda overshadowed by the "But I wanna be a mutant" joke. That joke makes him laugh, he jokes back without missing a beat, and it's a cute little bonding moment between him and Sole. Romance isn't just overt flirting, it's the little things that make you think the other person is special. How many people do you think can make Danse laugh? Especially about becoming a Super Mutant, right after being told about Cutler? Danse thinks Sole is funny. He thinks it's a cute little joke. He's charmed.
Then Sole sucker-punches him with an explicit ask of physical contact and emotional exploration and the moment is lost. For the Halyen talk, you could have an option where Sole asks, teasingly, if this is going on the report, and Danse laughs and contemplates what Maxson would think. Maybe he even comments about how rumors spread on the Prydwen, implying that he knows there is something between you two for people to gossip about. This would later tie in to The Reveal, where Maxson says the same thing.
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discopaddock · 1 year
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BIEVRE RIVER - PIERRE GASLY
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PAIRING: pierre gasly x fem!reader
GENRE: angst, fluff
NOTE: english isn't my first language so im sorry for any mistakes
WARINGS: sad and heartbroken pierre :(, mentions of crying, google translated french
PART TWO
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Pierre never ever had felt in his whole life that ridiculed and betrayed. The love of his life ran away from their wedding, plus with his own cousin. He looked pathetic in front of his friends and family.
It was supposed to be his day, his great day and what? And a dick.
During his great day, he was sitting with tears in his eyes and on face, with McDonald’s and a bottle of Absolut in his hands on the beach by the river Bievre.
He dropped his phone on the floor in the church, probably pulling it down, while he was running away by sacristy with face all in tears.
He had with himself a wallet, bottle of vodka, food, car and Alexander McQueen on himself.
He was feeling woefully, but still he was wealthy and handsome. She didn’t take these from him.
And when he was sitting the next hour, virtually alone on that beach, he heard a voice behind him; small, brokenly and crying a little bit.
“Sorry, mind if I sit here?” Gasly turned around and saw a girl in white shirt and long black skirt with heels and a bottle of wine in one hand and a box from one of the best bakers in Paris in the other. She had red eyes, just like him, which didn’t make him feel better.
“No, no problem” he answered, and she nodded her head in thanks and dropped the shoes on the sand.
“I’m Y/N, by the way” she said, when she finally sat down. Pierre shouldn’t have been ready at that moment for any conversation, but something attracted him to that girl, who just like him had to cry for some reason on that day. So because of that he told her his name. “Sounds nice. What brings you here, Pierre?”
“Ah, putain” he slipped out, when he was thinking for a while in silence. “Ma fiancée s'est enfuie de notre mariage” he said eventually, hoping that she didn’t speak french. Ah, fuck. My fiancée ran away from our wedding.
“Je suis vraiment désolé. Désolé de demander” the girl said quickly, which made Pierre want to hit himself on his forehead. She wasn't stupid. I mean, in his opinion, she didn't look stupid. I’m so sorry. Sorry for asking.
“D'accord. Je suppose que je devais en parler à quelqu'un” he laughed and then took a sip of vodka. “Et qu'est-ce qui vous amène ici?” It’s okay. I guess I had to tell someone. And you, what brings you here?
He was curious. Maybe it was her boyfriend? Or girlfriend. Or completely something else.
“Dure journée de travail” Y/N answered him, looking for something in her bag. A hard day at work.
“Dure journée de travail?” Where do you work?
“A l'Ambassade,” the girl said. In the embassy.
“Alors tu es intelligent” Pierre told, making her laugh. So you are clever.
“J'ai à peine réussi mes examens finaux! Je suis terriblement stupide” she announced and then took a corkscrew out of her purse. I barely graduated! I’m terribly stupid.
Pierre thought that Y/N was cute. Pretty also. Her H/C hair cascaded down her back, and her E/C eyes, freckles on her straight nose, and dimples on both cheeks gave her charm. She definitely wasn’t ugly, that was something he could tell after watching her wrestle with the wine stopper for a while.
“T'aider?” Do you need help?
The girl nodded, then handed him the bottle, taking his vodka from him so that it wouldn't spill.
“Sur quelle chanson étiez-vous censé danser la première danse?” she asked completely out of nowhere, and when she heard the title of Ed Sheeran's most popular song from him, she twisted her mouth in a grimace of disgust. “Oh God! C'est la pire première chanson de danse! Sérieusement? Il n'y en avait pas d'autre?” What song were you supposed to dance your first dance to? This is the worst song for a first dance! Seriously? There was no other?
"Je voulais quelque chose en français, mais elle a choisi Ed," he confessed, pouring wine into the glass she was holding. He had no idea where she got it from, but he liked it. I wanted something in French, but she chose Ed.
“C'est peut-être encore mieux que tu ne l'aies pas épousée. Totalement insipide de sa part," she said, sticking the bottle and glass into the wet sand before opening the box. "Aide-toi." She pushed them under his nose and he took out two yellow macaroons. Maybe it's even better that you didn't marry her. She is literally so tasteless. Help yourself.
“Merci”
Pierre thought that Y/N might have been right, that it was better that he had not married Dulcinea. Yes, she was pretty and he really felt something for her, but he wasn't bad at writing stories either.
"Je suppose que je devrais rentrer à la maison," he said, when the sun had long since sunk below the horizon and both bottles had run out of alcohol. "Mais j'ai perdu mon téléphone quelque part et je n'ai aucun moyen d'appeler Charles," he laughed at his stupidity. Drunk him told her the whole story of his life, but he regretted nothing. I should probably go home. But I lost my phone somewhere and I have no way to call Charles.
Y/N put her phone in front of his face. Already unlocked with a view of the Dune Paul Atreides wallpaper. Or Timothee Chalamet, because he played him in the last film adaptation, after all.
"Entrez l'indicatif régional devant ce long numéro” she announced as he took the smartphone from her. Enter the area code before this long number.
“Quel est l'indicatif de pays de Monaco?” What is the area code for Monaco?
“+377.”
"Comment sais-tu cela?" he asked, typing in his best friend's number. How do you know this?
"Je travaille à l'ambassade, ça doit être clair," she replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I work at the Embassy, that's obvious.
About five or seven minutes after Charles answered the phone, he appeared on the beach looking very worried.
“Salut Charles! Tu me manques." Pierre greeted the Monegasque, whose expression changed to a concerned one when he saw Gasly's condition. The Frenchman got up from the sand and hugged Leclerc, who also wrapped his arms around him. He had never felt so sorry for him. And he knew him most of his life and was there when they kicked him out of Red Bull and moved to Toro Rosso. Hey Charles! I miss you.
"Je te suis aussi, Pierre. Je m'inquiétais pour toi" he replied after a moment as they pulled apart. I follow you too, Pierre. I was worried about you.
"Ah j'ai oublié! C'est Y/N. Mon nouvel ami. Y/N, voici Charles, mon meilleur ami” the blue-eyed man rushed towards the girl, dragging Charles with him. The brown haired woman hastily got up and almost spilled her wine from the glass, but she extended her hand towards the newly met man, shifting. Ah, I would forget! This is Y/N. My new friend. Y/N, this is Charles, my best friend.
Leclerc thought that Y/L/N was a really pretty girl. In Pierre's type.
"Comment rentres-tu à la maison, ma douce?" Gasly turned to her as she stowed her things into her rag bag. How are you getting home, sweets?
A red light bulb went off in Charles' head at that moment. His friend never asked his possible mates for one or two nights about transportation home.
“Métro," she replied shortly, and the brunette immediately shook his head. Subway.
“Non non Non! Nous vous conduirons avec Charles. D'accord, Charles?” The green-eyed man only nodded, because that was all he had left. The girl at first did not want to agree, but under Leclerc's pleading eyes she did, because she knew that drunk Pierre would not let her go so easily. No no no! We'll drive you with Charles. Right, Charles?
And so Y/N ended up sitting between Gasly's legs in a black Ferrari 488 Pista Spider. Brunette got his phone in his hands and after seeing it, he said that the next day he would go to the salon to replace the glass.
After a while, he also took a photo of Y/L/N looking out the window and showing her left profile in the frame. Pierre then thought that he had never seen a more beautiful woman in his entire life.
He encouraged the girl to give him her phone number, which she didn't want to do at first because he wouldn't remember her the next day anyway, and Charles was looking at them strangely. I mean, he was looking pityingly at Gasly, not at her. He was the one who felt completely sorry for her being stuck with his friend in this situation.
“C'est mon domaine. Merci beaucoup pour le trajet, Charles," she said finally, and the brunette sighed in dissatisfaction. This is my estate. Thank you very much for the ride, Charles.
"Je te reverrai, n'est-ce pas?" asked the sad Frenchman, not wanting to let go of the brunette from his arms. Leclerc gave Y/N an apologetic look, and she had no option but to agree. We'll see each other again, right?
Y/L/N quickly said goodbye to the men and then got out of the car.
"Je pense que je suis amoureux, Charles," Pierre squealed as he watched the girl enter her cage. The Monegasque slapped him on the back of the head, muttering that he was an idiot. I think I'm in love, Charles.
In the meantime, the girl entered her apartment and leaned against the front door, then sat on the floor, and finally began to sob.
Her roommate, Eszter, heard her crying and immediately went to her best friend. The girl was perfectly aware of her entire afternoon and evening. She may have drunk all the wine herself, but it was almost alcohol-free, so she wasn't drunk at all (unlike Pierre).
"What's wrong, sweets?" Balog asked, crouching beside the younger girl.
“I met a guy whose wife ran away from the wedding and he was drunk as fuck and wanted my number, so I gave it to him, but it was a mistake, because he won't remember me tomorrow anyway. And at work this cunt had a problem with me and I cried and all, I'm fed up, I want to sleep." Esz barely understood anything of her friend's gibberish as she helped her up off the cold floor. She led her into the living room, then sat her down on the couch and gave her tissues.
"He was old and rich, wasn't he?" The brunette knew her platonic soulmate type very well, so she knew what to expect.
“He was maybe ten years older. And definitely rich. He showed me his Ferrari... And his friend who was driving us also had a Ferrari” Y/L/N dreamed, leaning against the back of the sofa. “But his fiancée ran away from the altar. Guess it's not that great. Or she was cheating on him. I don't know, I want to forget about it. Just like he does about me.
But Pierre did not forget. Same as Y/N about him.
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favourite DCR songs
Because here, we think about the important stuff.
(fyi these are for the base game permanent companions, but if you want to hear about any others let me know :)
Cait: Whole Lotta Shaking Goin' On
I can't actually think of a reason she'd like this it just speaks to me. You can't deny that Big Maybelle would start playing and you'd suddenly look over to see her having a tiny dance and humming along. At higher affinity she's ask you to sing with her; a true honour
Codsworth : Way Back Home
Let's be real, Codsworth is a robot made to serve who has been stuck in the same house for two hundred years, all alone. When Sole starts bringing people back to Sanctuary and renovating the whole town, it was the best thing that had happened to him since pre-war life. He can help people, he can fulfil his duty as a Mr. Handy, and this song lets him reflect on how far he's come
Curie: Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
She loves Ella Fitzgerald's voice, deeming her an angel (in a french accent, this will sound cute idk) and always asks questions to Sole about how they played the instruments, an art that has since become almost extinct after the war. Sole promises one day they'll try and find a guitar and learn the song for her
Danse: One More Tomorrow
This was him and Cutler's song. Back in Rivet City, they shared a flat somewhere in the complex, and they found a record left behind from the previous owner (one of the tiny ones with like two songs on). Other than the Muddy Rudder, there wasn't too much to do, so One More Tomorrow was often played on repeat. Cutler taught him how to dance to this song, and it remains as his favourite because it helps him remember how he used to laugh and smile back when they were younger
Deacon: Sixty Minute Man
100% hears this song come on the radio and proceeds to give Sole the most childish side eye known to man. He knows full well what the songs is about, but always manages to put some stupid spin on the lyrics and has danced his way away from a super mutant suicider to it.
Hancock: I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire
One of the few memories he still recalls from his childhood is him and his mother playing while this songs plays somewhere in the background; it makes him feel happy, though after so much chem abuse, he can't really understand why. He doesn't remember her face, but always imagines her voice singing along with him to every line.
MacCready: The Wanderer
Absolutely vibes with it, and though he hasn't been around with as many women as the song details, he's been roaming the wastes all his life. He's not quite ready to settle down because he's still trying to recover from Lucy's loss, and The Wanderer speaks to him and his nomadic spirit, letting him know it's okay that things turned out this way.
Valentine: The End of the World
one of his pre-war favourites inherited from his namesake, who attended ballroom dances with Jennifer every Tuesday evening; they loved the slow sway of this song, and even now Nick can't seem to shake the urge to turn it right up from Sole's Pip-Boy whenever it comes on. Can be heard humming it if you listen closely enough in Sanctuary
Piper: Personality
She's always been a great judge of character, even since she was a girl, so understandably, personality's pretty important to her. Her and Deacon duet it while travelling/ in a bar and have gotten surprisingly good at harmonies; Shaun's been trying to fix up an old karaoke machine for them so they can grace the whole of Sanctuary with a personal concert.
Preston: Good Rockin' Tonight
his old Minutemen buddies made a whole routine to this song after he told them he liked it; there's a lot of sentimentality attached to it for him, and doesn't hesitate to make new drunken mistakes to the song, if not just for them.
Strong: Butcher Pete
Strong likes Butcher Pete because he eats people. Butcher Pete is one of his number one idols because of this fact
X6: he claims to hate the station and insists that he much prefers the Classical Station, but really, he secretly loves Pistol Packin' Mama. How does Sole figure this out? They walk in to see him bobbing his head along with the music and singing the odd chorus while he mods his rifle. Most embarrassing moment of his life, but hilarious for the rest of Sanctuary.
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rzyraffek · 1 year
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Fallout4 characters with teen!sole
Bestie you are litteraly describing one of my oc's! Of course its purley platonic😊 teen!sole is also from valut and was in fidge for last 200years. I refer to them as 'kid' bcs thats how some of characters would probably treat them anyways. Also its a screenshot vuz I accidentally deleted the ask and luckily had some sort of proof
Maccready
The only guy here with any expirence with kids
Dad vibe
Type of guy who says "We need to cut it off" after Sole tells him their hand hurts
Will teach them how to shoot, hunt ect
Also scold them every time they talk with any shady people??? Like he really doesnt want them to end up like him with whole 'gunners incident'
He thinks that Sole would get along with Duncan well!
If Sole calls him 'dad' mans gotta be so happy
Deacon
Secretly worried about their saftey, like Commonwealth is dangerous place for trained adults, and for kids ESPECIALLY ones who have no knowlage about defence or weapons
But he never shows his worries, just hangs around being cool dude he is😎😎
Rich cousin/uncle vibe
You like this cool hat you saw like week ago? Boom see it apear inside your closed 2days later
His love language (quick remidner that love also can be platonic🙄😎) is giving them little gifts when they don't see him or leaving notes with remiders on them ^^
Quick reminder that he and his wife wanted to have kids! So yeah Sole makes him wonder if thats how it feels to have kids tbh
If Sole calls him 'dad' bro will freeze and panic, probably pretending that he thought that was a joke but he's sweating so hard rn
Hancock
Wtf a child? Here?
Bestie you really shouldn't be here
If Sole is in this cringy teen phase when they do drugs/cigarettes, watch him say stuff like "drugs=bad" meanwhile taking some mentats
Your friendly local drug dealer vibe
Dude gonna teach them how to manipulate assholes, trow knifes, gaslight and still look stylish
If Sole ever tells him about their parents he will be angry, like ??? Why would anyone do anything to a kid???
He will litteraly pay fahrenheit to watch them when he's busy
Preson
"Fire, pretty sky and a lot of storytelling in middle of nowhere" vibe
Im 100% sure he knows how to play on guitar and will try to teach them
He will try to act mature and lead them to the right path but he won't try to be their "new perent" unless Sole is clear that they see him as father figure, he will never even bring this up.
When they call him 'dad' mans will be the happiest minuteman in history. Also if kid will even mention their past caretakers he will just tell them to forget about them cuz they aren't coming back and they are never going to hurt Sole anymore
Gage
How on earth some kid killed Colter? No one knows but Gage is impressed.
He gets annoyed by lack of knowlage and skills, ye ye he gets that they are like 13 or something but come on hes not going to do anything for them. Huh what do you mean you are from valut? Before the war?? Damn kid and im happy to be alive. Stop lying
*sighs* "jesus boss let me do it"
Older brother vibes.
"How many times i have to tell you, dont hang out with pack members they have bad influence on you AND do not even think about going near Nisha"
He needs to learn ALOT he dumped his family and even if he had younger siblings he never really took care of anyone, never, so yeah it is challenging
If Sole somehow calls him 'dad' they were probably incredibly tired or something very emotional happened. No matter how it happend Gage will ignore it and later overthink when Sole wont be around, like ??? Me??? Gee what kind of parental figure this kid had?? Should I check on them more often??
Danse
Uhh erm a child ee greeting?
Akward
At first he sees Sole as lil civilan and just tells them where to find nearest safe place/diamond city cuz hes very very busy and cant take care of child while on duty. If kid hangs around more he will probably warm up
Of course he will ask about their parents but when Sole tells him some upsetting stuff he won't ask again, he won't tell them to go home either. He will just idk let them vibe
I can imagine Sole just tagging along his missions by just begging him to hang out with them constantly. They quickly get along. Very lonley soldier and kid who lost everyone.
One of those 'depressed dude adopts random child he found in middle of knowhere' prompt
When Sole calls him 'dad' he gonna get emotional fr fr pls civilan he's on duty he cant cry rn 😭
Yall I loved writting for gage i might do part 2 with Gage just trying to figure out how kids work. Also another pole cuz I still have no clue how to delete those on phone. And as always, I used x reader tags ONLY to reach bigger audience 🦊
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weniswastelandwenis · 3 months
Note
How would they react to Sole getting stuck in a glue trap?
Thank you so much for sending this, It was very spiritual for us to complete it.
Fallout 4 Companions React to Sole Getting Stuck In A Glue Trap
Cait:
Her rock&roll lifestyle led her to see many glue trap related incidents. First she would attempt to pull them free, but then after about 2 minutes of effort she would give up. “Well, that’s what you get for stealin me lucky charms.” They both lay in defeat and pass a blunt back and forth, Cait having to hold it for Sole, until the sun rises.
Codsworth: 
Would scream in surprise at Sole’s unfortunate situation. “MUM! What happened?” Erratically, he would blast them with 20 bars of bursting pressure, the same powerful pressure of a firehose, in an attempt to free them. “If the sir were here to see this, he would be in shambles!” Many days and nights passed, and finally Sole was free, but chronically mangled, only to pass away in agony in Shaun’s crib.
Curie: 
Spanks them sexily and rewards them for being mothers naughty wastelander. 
Danse: 
“Well I’m a synth and you accepted me, so I guess I can accept you being part glue.” Danse says warmly with a smile. Unfortunately, actions spoke louder than words, and Danse began alienating sole, treating them as if they were a feral ghoul. Sole then began spiraling and doing more drugs with hancock ever before. If they were being treated like a ghoul, then they would become a ghoul. Danse heard the news and a single tear fell from his eye, and fell to his knees. Last night, hancock carried his glue ridden friend to the glowing sea so they could become a ghoul, only for the two to get hit by a car, a rarity in the wasteland, and died instantly.
Deacon:
Would assume it’s a wacky new trend all the commonwealth folk are into, and would bring his own glue trap from home. He sets it up next to sole’s glue trap and jumps into it belly-first, making a loud resounding SPLAT noise. Sole cannot believe their eyes and begins openly weeping, for the one ounce of hope they had of getting free was eradicated right before their very eyes, and instead was a slime covered bald man wielding sunglasses and a huge grin.
Hancock: 
He ties sole’s arms to one brahmin, and legs to another. At the peak of night, he fires off his shotgun into the sky, and though not usually a religious man, says a silent prayer. A CRACK! Noise sounds around the wasteland, and he couldn’t bear to look at the source of the noise: Sole’s freedom, or their demise? Instead, he picked a spot on the distant horizon, and began walking. Some say to this day, he still does.
MacCready: 
He has heard that gasoline will loosen the glue but after a few beers and a bad batch of cram he accidentally burns down the house with sole inside it. He watches the blaze of glory with an almost proud smile on his face
Valentine:
Nick had heard rumors on the street of the vanishing sticky dame, and had to find out for himself if they were true. Ellie laid sultrily on the desk; he wasn’t sure what was going on there. “So Nick, I thought maybe we could go to Takahashi’s, maybe grab a bite to eat?” Ignoring her and heading for the door, he tosses her 10 stacks of paperwork and she collapses on the ground. “Gotta job to do, seeya Ellie.” 
~
Years pass, and he just can’t seem to catch a break. He’s down to one last lead: and it takes him to the glowing sea. Almost all hope is lost, his spirits are down, and he’s almost given up until he steps in something, and it makes a squishing sound. Looking down, there is a giant human-sized glue trap, and a skeleton stuck to it. He takes off his fedora and gets down on one knee. “Swing low sweet chariots.” He whispers.
Piper:
She thinks being stuck in a glue trap is pretty good material for a story. She reports on sole and the glue trap daily for months and actually gathers a decent sized crowd who wait every week to hear about sole and the glue. Sole tries to escape but Piper covers them in more glue because she is blinded by her success. Piper writes an article after article and to this day settlers come from around the world to see sole, begging for help from the trap as Piper smiles on, adorned in expensive clothes and jewels. 
Preston:
In his effort to find Sole and warn them that their 15th settlement was taken over by radioactive mimes, he stumbled upon them in a dark room, 90% glue, 9% shame, and 1% sole survivor. Their time was running out, and he knew it, but so were the other 900 settlers he decided were their problem after 1 week of meeting them. A lightbulb popped up in his head, and after many days of toiling with Danse and his brotherhood connections, they had created a custom power armor suit that allowed sole to perform their duties while in the glue trap. All was well, he thought.
Strong: 
Picks up Sole and smashes them on the concrete ground until they are free.
X6: 
He can’t fathom the level of pathetic one has to be to get trapped in glue. He is disgusted beyond belief and decides sole doesn’t deserve the embarrassment of being alive any longer. “Count the ceiling tiles on your way to hell dumbass.” He says before shooting them in the head. 
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imagine-silk · 10 months
Note
My birthday is tomorrow (not asking for it to be on time, it simply inspired my request /gen ) but what would the companions like to do with sole for their birthday? How would they celebrate it with them?
》No. I'm going to get this on time if it kills me. This was written with the idea they are the closest person to you but not necessarily romanced so it can go either way.
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Cait says she wants to do what you want to do. She's never celebrated her birthday so you should take the wheel. It's not rocket science. But that gave you the idea to make it her birthday too. You spend the day setting up the party, balloons, cake, a banner, and at the end you enjoy it alone together. It's all just for the two of you.
Codsworth knows exactly what you like and how to do it. He does it all by himself other than asking the others to talk to you. He doesn't tell them what he's doing, he doesn't want to celebrate with them. When you go home for the day, or rather the night, everything is set up. "Happy birthday, sir/mum." It's just like 200 years ago.
Curie knows what to do in theory. You walk up to her and she grabs your hand and runs with you in tow. Puts you in front of people to have them say happy birthday to you and that they should give you a present at the end of the day. When she's done she gives you a present. It's a little figurine of the comic you like.
Pre-BB Danse would tell you happy birthday and move on. He does care but you don't have the time or luxury to stop so best not to bring much attention to it. Post-BB Danse feels selfish. He goes to the party but he didn't make it in his mind he just put things up and can't help thinking he wants to just have a few moments alone with you. With enough liquid courage he does go over to you and say he loves you and your the best thing that's happened to him.
Deacon snatches you from the party with no one noticing by literally plucking you away onto the roof. After laughing at you he puts his hand up to his mouth and shushes you. "I've kidnapped you so you need to be quiet." You talk while drinking beer and looking out on the Commonwealth about everything and nothing. When people realize you're gone he lays on you to hide and lowers you down when the coast it clear, can't have you expose his hiding places.
Dogmeat doesn't get out of your sight ever, he's always next to you. How he knows it's your birthday is beyond knowing.
Goodneighbor is celebrating. It's very tight-nit town, it's not uncommon to throw a town party for a birthday. It's actually weird if they don't and that's because that person has to go around saying they want to have a small party for that to happen. Hancock is going to parade you on his shoulders and run around celebrating. He doesn't really do many chems wanting to be here and remember. And it is a night to remember.
MacCready fully admits to being selfish and stays home with you. He wants to keep your actual birthday to himself, the others can have you tomorrow. It's not particularly eventful, it's a normal day with more affection. Come up behind you and lift up to revel in your scream. Lays on you on the couch while one of you rants. At the end of the day he gives you a new jacket and tells you to be grateful. There's a note inside about much he cares about you.
You asked to spend the day alone with Nick he just said yes. He himself didn't think that was best but it wasn't his birthday and you deserved whatever you wanted. A lot of the day is playing cards and telling epic tales. Ellie thanks you for getting him to take a break. He laughs when you ask for his coat and says you can rent it for a day.
Piper and Nat tackle you as soon as your through the door. You are not going to leave. They do a bunch of 'birthday things' like hit the donkey and pop the balloons. To their credit they also give you a fuck ton of sugar and food. All the things they give you are old trinkets but it's a ploy for you to tell them what it is.
Preston gets everyone to throw a surprise party. It is a surprise, so surprising it almost shot them. The exact quote after you put it down was, "I didn't want to die the same day I was born." It doesn't feel like you're the center of attention but it feels nice to have everyone happy. Preston seemed to know that was going to happen because he took you inside to your room and had a little party there with just the two of you, giving you a few practical items, stims, a gun, a blanket, a backpack, and a sweet smile.
X6 promises to get you whatever you want. It doesn't matter what you want, a ragstag head, a new gun, some trash you seem so keen on getting for your projects, a hug. You give him a list of things you want as a ploy to run around the Commonwealth with him for a few days.
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frenchmina · 2 months
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Tea and Time
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A/N : This is my second ever fic, another one shot I wanted to write in opposition to the very angsty first one. I was talking with my best friend about what we considered being moments of true happiness, and this little fic is what was born from the conversation. I hope you enjoy, don't hesitate to tell me how you felt about it since I'm just starting out in fic writing ! Also, english is not my first langage so there might be some mistakes, sorry about those.
Pairing : Joel Miller x reader / no physical description of reader. No use of Y/N.
WC : 3.1k
Warnings : None really, it's just pure fluff and tenderness. There's just mention of the reader's fear of abandon.
Summary : A lazy sunday with Joel allows you to reflect on what love truly means to you.
You would hear the ticking of the clock if you had one. One of those ancient machines made of wood and glass which made their grand musical entrance during complete silences — tic… tic… tic… 
Your grand mother had one in her living room, you remember it ticking away since you were old enough to understand the concept of time. You would look at it intensely and try to will the needles to slow down, because, let’s face it, there was no way in hell you weren’t a witch. 
That certainty had, since those days at your grandma’s, seen some bumps in the road. First of all, you had not received your letter to Hogwarts, which had been a bummer. If you were being honest, you still blamed the postal system and its incompatibility with owls. But as time passed, you had made peace with the fact that you would not be a wand-wielding sorcerer and had tried your hand at potions. Dirt mixed with worms, grass and gravel made a poor soup, but if you added the picture of a loved one and some of your family cat’s hair found on your clothes, then you were supposed to be able to ask anything out of your mother and she would comply… As time had passed, grass and dirt had turned into mint and rosemary, essentials oils and lemon, turmeric for the immune system and ginger to fight off a creeping cold. 
Some people would say you made tea. You knew better than to mistake your magic for tea making, and so did Joel. 
You two had just come back from a long walk in the woods near your house, walking the same path you would always walk on Sundays, the one where your hands knew exactly when to be joined and when not to be. It was almost like a danse, interlocking your fingers with his on the wider parts of the path, unlocking at the fallen oak to make your way behind him towards the pond, and locking again at the makeshift bridge he had built after you’d almost fallen in the little stream twice. It was the middle of February and as usual you had been arrogant enough not to take your winter coat with you.
“You gon’ be cold baby” he had drawled, knowing you well enough to tell you were about to argue that —
“I’m not a child, Joel” with that look on your face that betrayed how childish you were being.
“Ain’t saying you are, love.” He had tried and failed to hide the playful smile tugging at his lips, which made any hesitation you might have had about bringing the coat vanish. Your dignity sometimes laid in weird places; he loved that about you.
Of course you had been cold. Of course he had had to hold you tight in his arms while you had stopped to listen to the myriad of little sounds the birds and squirrels and insects and wind in the trees made in the deepest part of the woods. Some part of you might even have made the conscious choice not to put on that damn coat so he would embrace you in his warmth. He had done so with no more playfulness, just plain tenderness and love, his fingers drawing lazy circles where they laid on your sides, sending little jolts of electricity throughout your spine — alongside with the shivers of cold.
You chugged off your boots in the entryway, not giving a crap about where they landed, and made your way to the kitchen. 
“Gonna make me some tea, do you want some ?“ You had a habit of always asking him that, although you knew he was a coffee man and didn’t drink any o’ that leaf soup, as he called it. 
You heard him sigh behind you.
“Hell, why not.“
You stopped dead in your tracks and slowly turned to face him. You didn’t have to say anything, the shock on your face was enough to prompt him to explain.
“You’re always goin’ on about how good it is for ya…“
“Yeah… Yes, I am…“
“Come on dun make a big deal outta this…“
“I’m not !“ You cut him, the shock on your face slowly turning into a proud smile. “I’m not I swear, I’m just glad you’re finally acknowledging my talents as a potion maker…“
“I ain’t saying that yet“ he laughed, “lemme try and then I’ll be able to acknowledge whatever ya want.“ 
As you were carefully choosing what to pair with fresh mint leaves and valerian, you heard Joel moving to the living room and, with a content sigh, drop heavily on the couch. You smiled, conjuring the mental image of him spread out on the sofa, head resting on the back of it, hand coming to rest lazily on his thigh. You could just close your eyes and see him, the exact spot he was siting in, how his left arm rested on the green cushion.
The water was slowly starting to boil and the kettle made more and more noise, drawing you away from your little daydream. It amazed you how after multiple years together you still found your thoughts drifting towards him at every chance. Even that domestic image of him sitting on your couch made your heart flutter and a well-known warmth radiate from your chest.
Orange blossoms. It’s exactly what you needed to ensure relaxation, and that Joel would actually like it.
The water was boiled and as the kettle’s rumbling died down, you started to hear faint sounds coming from the next room. A melody, drawn from an aging guitar by expert fingers. Joel did not play often, he was unbelievably shy about it which kept him from working on it as often as he’d have liked to. Your fingers came to a halt, a bunch of herbs slipping from them as you listened closer; it was a new song, one you had never heard him play, but you recognized it instantly : Helplessly hoping, one of your all times favorite. It drew immediate tears from your eyes, your heart swelling and swelling so much you thought it was about to burst out of your chest and yell out its love for him. 
But then, without you realizing, it morphed into something else. The feeling of a weighted rock on your stomach, blood running colder in your veins, the tears threatening to be ones of fear.
You breathed. One. Two. Three. You were okay.
You were not about to lose this. He was not going away, not leaving you here alone, not running away. And if he wasn’t running towards the exit, you were damn well obligated to return the favor. It crept up on you like that sometimes. The fear that what you had was way too good to be true. It felt like a Damocles sword hanging above your head, always here to remind you that at the slightest mistake, at the second you were not exactly perfect, you would loose everything. Although everybody had told you that it didn’t happen that way, your experience proved them wrong. From your best friend of 8 years never returning your calls all of a sudden and moving across the country without telling you, to the boyfriend who had told you one day he had actually stopped loving you months ago, to all those tiny abandonments we all go through in life, you had learned not to expect anyone or anything to stick with you. And maybe, at one point, you had started to believe you weren’t worth the trouble of saying goodbye. 
Joel had not actually said anything to ease the fear that he would be leaving, he had just not left. Never. And while the fear creeps up on you, whispering in your ear to just get the hell out before he inevitably abandons you, it’s the only thing keeping you together : he hasn’t left, has not promised anything more than what he’s capable of giving you, but most of all he’s proven time and time again that he would always be honest, that he would never hide his fears and doubts from you. He’ll never leave you alone with the eternal nagging question about why you were not good enough.
You slowly calm your breathing. You can’t control him, can’t make him stay if he doesn’t want you, he’s utterly free — and you are too. You are free enough to choose to be here, to choose to listen to him playing your favorite song on his worn out guitar while making him tea and actually enjoy it. You’re free to let go, he made sure of that. So you do.
You listen. You take it in. This gorgeous man who’s had the time to define what he wants out of life, and who, with that knowledge, has decided to put his energy into learning a song he knows fills your heart with joy just to be able to see you smile.
He’s been working on it for a while now, the chords actually gave him a hard time. It’s gonna need a bit of work still, he thinks to himself while trying to pay attention to the noises coming from the kitchen. Did you hear him yet ? He wanted to be able to play it in front of you, to say “Here it is my love, I learned it so you could sing along to your favorite song.“ But he is such a coward… He would not take it well if he saw the slightest hint of disappointment in your eyes, but he also knows you would never be disappointed in him. Throughout your years together, he’s learned you would never expect anything of him but the best he could be or do, even if it was messing up one chord out of three in your favorite song. 
You were so understanding, so sweet with his mistakes — and he had made a bunch. You would always take him by the hand and squeeze it just tight enough to tell him I’m here, I believe in you. It wasn’t like anything he’d ever felt; he doesn’t actually know how he could live without your love, now that he has had a taste of it. Everything in his life was made better by your presence. He had learned that he was okay, that he was worth someone’s trust. He wouldn’t be able to un-learn it.
He also knew perfectly well that learning to play a song you liked or giving you his coat without a second thought when you were cold was just what you needed to trust him. He did not need to prove anything to you, to tell you over and over how stunning and loved you were — although to be fair he did tell you more than enough — he just needed to be there. And he was. Oh how he was. The depths of his commitment to you, to your life together, were lost on you he was sure. Your own insecurities prevented you from seeing how desperately in love he was with you, which made him realize that, as alike as you both were, you might love him with ten times the strength he thought you did. 
He was content to love you mostly in secret : in the little noise you made as you were falling asleep, in the way you brow furrowed and you clicked your tongue slightly when you were unhappy about something, in the way your eyes switched colors in the sun, or how you’d always bit your lower lip while reading a book. He loved you like he breathed, each exhale a song he would learn for you.
You appear out of the corner of his eye, and he immediately catches the tiniest sign that you might have cried.
“You good sweetheart ?“ 
You respond with a sort of sad smile he has come to recognize as the one you give him when you’re battling your inner demons. He won’t push, he knows you’ll speak if and when you want to, and you know he’ll never turn you down when you need him. 
“Common then, let’s see if y’are a good witch or an evil one. Will this…“ he smells the fuming tea out of his favorite mug “mixture a’ yours turn me into a frog or a prince ?“ 
You scoff, he’s offering you playfulness to get out of your meltdown and you take it gladly. “You’ll just have to drink it and see, a witch never tells“ you lean towards him to teasingly rub the tip of your nose along his, and hear his breath briefly catch in his throat before you let yourself plop down on the couch next to him.
Joel carefully puts down the guitar in its case, brings the tea to his lips, stops for an instant and studies your face, as if looking for a proof this actually is about to transform him into a frog. You don’t say anything, relishing in the feeling of his attentive gaze on you.
“Nah… you ain’t about to turn me into nothin’, I’d be useless to you as a frog.“ Before you even have the time to think about a snarky response, he’s gulping down a huge sip of tea. Your eyes widen.
“Shit ! Fuckin’— god dammit — fuck it’s hot !“ 
“Why would you…“
“Turning me into a damn volcano that’ what you’re tryin’na do ?“
“Not my fault you’re chugging the damn thing like it’s a beer ! “ You say while trying to hide your laughter and getting up to get him a glass of water, but his hand lands on your arm and he pulls you back towards him.
“Where d’you think you’re goin’, witch ?“ You laugh wholeheartedly now, which elicits a smile on his lips. He’s enclosing you in his embrace now, his strong arms wrapping around your frame and pressing you to him. The mug has found its place on the coffee table again, the two of you tangled in each-other, time starting to pass at a whole new pace. You don’t really know if it’s going faster or slower, it just isn’t on the same rhythm as the rest of the world anymore. The seconds might be hours, the hours weeks, or the other way around. In movies, the ticking of the clock would slow, completely disappear even, to let the spectator know reality was slipping. 
Time doesn’t feel like time anymore when you’re this close to him. He is like your own human sized black hole. 
Joel hums and you feel the vibration throughout your entire body. It’s like you’re both tuned to one another, the waves of him resonating with yours; and in that instant, in that shared understanding of how much you both belong here in this moment, you start to believe you might actually be a witch. Because how else would you have been able to reach this type of calmness with someone ? Your eyes closed, your ears drowned in the sound of him, you picture your love as an oak, unmoved by time. Its seed grown from the adoration and trust you have for each other, made to withstand cataclysms, storms and droughts all the same, grown by the light of his loyalty and the rain of your empathy. A tree connected to the rest of the world by roots that sink deeper in you and him by the day, allowing the two of you to communicate without words. Those days, you realize, those uneventful and boring days when you just allow yourself to exist in his presence, are what nourishes that type of love.
“C’mon, put your feet on the couch and lay your head on my shoulder.“ He whispers, barely audible. 
You manage to do just that without ever completely detangling from each-other’s embrace; and end up laid down on the couch, your head resting on his chest and his arm around you. To your surprise, he reaches for the mug with his other hand and takes another, more careful sip.
“So… you actually like it ?“
There’s a long silence before he answers.
“Don’t hate it.“ He admits. 
The sun pierces through the clouds and warms up your face. A gentle sleepiness starts to overcome you when Joel’s fingers expertly land on your head and play with your hair. It’s safe, sweet, and loving. Like your whole being is bathed in his warmth. 
His hand in your hair tells you the story words never could : he’ll never leave you stranded, never vanish without an explanation. You’re his best friend, his light, and whatever happens between the two of you, whatever life throws at you, you’ll always have a place by his side. 
This is what love means, you think. No promises to be broken, no emphatic speeches about what you mean to one another, no grand gestures or empty pledges about what you’ll always or never do. Just this common understanding that your lives are intertwined wether you’re next to each other or not, just those tiny gestures and caring acts that tell how kind you’re willing yourselves to be for the other. The space to make mistakes and to let the other one make some to, the space to grow. Watering the oak tree.
It’s a fucking marvel, he is a fucking marvel. You listen to his heartbeat finding a common rhythm with yours, and you can feel his eyes closing as your own do, while his fingers still play with strands of your hair like they played the guitar, drawing a melody of happiness out of you just as well as they drew the notes from the instrument.
“I love you.“ You say, voice clear despite you slowly drifting to sleep. There’s a stillness in the silence that follows, you know he’s just taking it in, letting the emotion run through him before responding.
“I love you too.“ 
Another silence. 
“Promise it’s not the potion talking?“ You tease and he chuckles. You relish the sound.
“If it was, it’d be a hell of a potion to make me feel that way… Goes to show how powerful of a witch you are though.“ He could say so much more, but you don’t need him to. You understand him just fine in the way he caresses your shoulder softly before returning his hand to your hair.
You would hear the ticking of the clock if you had one. Since you don’t, you’ll make do with your very own metronome : your heart and his, setting the rhythm of whatever comes next.
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Thank you so much for reading, looking forward to what you thought of it ! Requests are open if you feel like giving me some inspo !
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nukaberries · 1 year
Note
Fallout companions react to sole telling that they don't want to even lose them and then breakingdown. I need all the angst!
God, me too. As much as I say I hate angst, I'm definitely a sucker for it! This idea, especially, is super exciting for me since I feel like the Fallout 4 companions have a lot of opportunity for angst (I play through Nick's personal quest just to cry at the ending) Anyways, I hope you enjoy this one and it was worth the wait!
//
Companions React to Sole Breaking Down - TW: Mentions of Addiction and Suicide
(Includes: Cait, Codsworth, Curie, Danse, Deacon, Hancock, MacCready, Nick, Piper, Preston and X6-88)
Cait She isn't really sure what brought this on. Cait knows she isn't great at keeping herself safe or even having much concern for her own wellbeing, but she hadn't realised that upset Sole so much. Was it the chems? Maybe how she often charges head first into battle. Whatever it is, she admittedly feels guilty, not realising Sole cared so much about her. She isn't the best at comforting people, but she tries her best to make Sole feel better and reassure them that she isn't going anywhere. It may result in some awkward shoulder pats, but it's the thought that counts, right?
Codsworth It's probably not the first time that Codsworth has seen Sole break down. After all, he was the first living being they ran into after escaping the horrors of Vault 111. Still, this particular breakdown takes him by surprise, he didn't know he mattered that much to Sole. He's probably the best at comforting Sole, considering he knows them so well. Later on, he'll likely bring up how touched he is to know that he's important to Sole and promises he'll stand by them.
Curie She's extremely apologetic when she realises Sole's breaking down, at first thinking she'd done something wrong, before they explain that they can't stand to lose her. She understands where Sole is coming from, they're the most important person in her life and she doesn't want to begin to think what things would be like without them. She apologises if she ever scared them and reassures them that she's much more formidable than she seems
Paladin Danse He immediately panics when Sole starts to break down. Being in the Brotherhood, he's never known how to deal with his own emotions, let alone the emotions of someone else. He'll try his best to comfort Sole, but he definitely won't succeed. If he's still in the Brotherhood and him and Sole aren't extremely close - or romantically involved - he'll only insist that, due to his training, he's confident nothing bad will happen to him. However, if they're closer, Danse will go out of his way to make sure Sole knows they won't ever lose them, he loves Sole and he'd keep surviving so long as it made them happy.
Deacon He has no idea how to react at first. Sure, he'd been travelling with Sole for a while now, but he figured it was just out of convenience, since he was showing them the ropes in the Railroad. He'd figured his lying would've annoyed them by now and yeah, they were close, but he didn't know he mattered this much to them. He wants to crack a joke, but even he knows it's bad timing. Instead - because he understands how devastating loss can be, and he knows what Sole's been through - he actually does his best to comfort them, which he's actually good at, much to both his and Sole's surprise.
Hancock Like Cait, he initially thinks it's down to his reckless behaviour when it comes to chems and almost immediately promises you that he knows not to overdo it and if chems were going to kill them, they would've by now. He assures Sole that so long as he has them by his side, there's no way he plans on dying early, even though life hasn't exactly been kind to him in the past. Sole gives him a reason to keep going and he'd rather not ruin that.
MacCready Similarly to Deacon, he understands - maybe better than anyone - just how hard losing the person you love can be. The death of Lucy still haunts him, in spite of how much he cares for Sole, so he feels terrible that they share concerns he once had to suffer the aftermath of. He promises them over and over that they'll never lose him, no matter what happens. He even goes the extra mile and makes sure to be careful when they're outside the walls of a settlement, just to give Sole some peace of mind.
Nick Valentine He's better at comforting Sole than most, he knows a lot about their past and how they ended up in the Commonwealth, widowed and searching for their child. Besides, he's used to dealing with people breaking down in front of him - albeit, it's a little different since Sole means a lot to him. He knows he and Sole have grown close, so he understands completely why they'd be worried about losing another loved one. Nick will jokingly point out that if he's survived this long with only a few - a lot of - bumps and scratches, they have nothing to worry about. If Sole brings up their concerns again, he'll be more than happy to reassure them further.
Piper Wright She understands that with her line of work, she's a lot more likely to meet an untimely demise, but who doesn't die young these days? She's surprised she's made it this far with the amount of attempts on her life. She can stand seeing Sole cry though and instantly wraps them in a hug, telling them that as long as she's got them by her side, she'll be fine. Piper trusts Sole completely to protect her, just as she'd protect them. It breaks her heart to see them so torn up though and she almost feels guilty, deciding she'll find a way to make it up to them soon, even if she hasn't necessarily done anything wrong.
Preston Garvey As someone who often struggles with seeing the meaning in his own life, Preston is completely taken aback by Sole's worry towards his wellbeing. He instantly feels terrible for having any thoughts about taking his own life and apologises profusely to Sole, insisting that nothing bad will ever happen to them. He hasn't had an easy time recently, but having Sole by his side has helped more than he could've ever imagined and if they care about him enough to want him to keep fighting, then he will, without question.
X6-88 To nobody's surprise, X6 doesn't really know what to say or do. He simply clarifies that coursers were designed to be near enough formidable, so the likelihood of anything happening to him is extremely low. He does show some genuine concern, by asking if Sole would benefit from speaking to someone professionally, it's not enough to comfort Sole, but he's trying his best.
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iliumheightnights · 8 months
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Sanctuary | Danse x Male!Sole Survivor
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Pairing: Danse x Male Reader Fandom: Fallout 4 Ask: Paladin Danse's response to seeing your network of interconnected settlements, all with heavily-armed defenses and the growth of a new civilization, all without Brotherhood assistance?
~~~ This would totally happen pre-relationship between them. When Danse is still part of the Brotherhood. ~~~
"We're almost there." M/n said as he walked ahead of Danse.
The Paladin made a noise in acknowledgement. He let M/n lead the way. This was a resupply mission. The two were bringing some much-needed supplies to his settlement.
Danse hadn't wanted to deviate from their mission for the brotherhood, but M/n had been a good help and friend. He figured this wouldn't be a bad distraction.
They had just passed through the abandoned city of Concord and were at an old Red Rocket stop. However, the building was surrounded by walls and had a few watch towers.
"M/n! Hey M/n!" One of the guardsmen waved to them. "You stopping in or heading to Sanctuary?"
"Sanctuary! Have to drop off something!"
"Understood! We'll call ahead and tell them you're on your way. Make sure there isn't any surprises or anything."
"Thanks Donick!"
Soon the little outpost was behind them as they continued forward. Danse took the opportunity to ask M/n the question that had popped to his mind. "What was that place?"
"One of our Outposts. It was set up as a good forward waystation to Sanctuary. That way in case Raiders or Bandits try to make a move, we'll be ready for them."
Danse nodded. That made sense. He just hadn't expected that.
Soon both men arrived at a bridge. It was nice and seemed to have been rebuilt. Across the river, a large walled community was seen. Lights were on in the windows with smoke drifting up chimmnies. A whole community. A functioning community.
"Come on. I'm sure if we hurry there will still be some good dinner left for us."
They crossed the bridge and arrived at the gate. Danse noticed how the gate was surrounded by automated machine gun turrents. A few rocket launchers were stationed above the watch towers.
"M/n! You're back! About time too! Doc needs those meds like ASAP."
"Sounds good. Go ahead and open up Rhonda!"
She didn't waste any time. Soon the gate opened up and they could walk through. It was then that Danse noticed how they weren't in the community yet. There was in fact another gate they had to walk through and more turrents. "What? You think we're idle with our safety?" M/n teasingly asked Danse.
The other gate opened as the one they just walked through closed. They were then able to finally enter Sanctuary.
As they walked through the community, Danse couldn't stop looking around. He saw people laughing and smiling. Kids playing around with each other. Pets. He saw pets. Everyone seemed...happy. A lot more than he could say about some of the other brotherhood settlements he had seen.
"Everything alright?" M/n asked once he noticed how Danse seemed to be a bit lost in his thoughts.
"What? Oh! Oh yeah. I'm fine. I just...hadn't expected all of this." He motioned to everything around him. "I'll be honest. I kind of expected a few small shacks and turrents. Not a town."
"Ah. I see. Let me guess, that's what Maxson told you about the commonwealth? That we needed your help?"
"Well...yes."
M/n laughed and shook his head. "Of course." He knew it was the truth. Maxson was a pompous self-absorbed asshat. He thought anything outside of the brotherhood was impure and unnatural. That's why he didn't enjoy being near him.
The two made it to a building that was used as the town's hospital. A doctor in a white coat came rushing to meet them. "PLEASE tell me you have it." M/n smiled and reached into his bag pulling out a few packs of Radaway and some other healing stims. "Right here." The doctor seemed relieved. "THANK YOU." That's all the doctor said before turning around and rushing back to their patients.
"Come on. Let's get something to eat and rest a bit. It's been a long trip." He gave Danse' shoulder a pat and moved out of the building, the larger man following him.
The two were heading towards another building when a man in a long coat and hat approached them. "General! Glad you're back." Preston Garvey. Danse had met him a few times before. Not many, but enough to recognize the man. "We just got a call from Starlight. A group of supermutants tried to get through. Luckily those new turrents ended it rather quickly."
"Good. I'm glad. Any other trouble?"
"The occasional raider here and there, but nothing to really report on."
"Even better news. Thanks Preston."
"General." With that, the minuteman nodded his head and turned to continue his patrol.
"Starlight?"
"One of our other settlements. About twenty-five minutes south of here. Old drive-in." He entered the building with Danse and grabbed two bowls of soup that had been made in the kitchens.
The two sat down on the second story of the building on a patio that overlooked the settlement and a bit of beyond. "Another settlement? How many others are there?" Danse was curious. He had never heard of settlements working together. They were usually on their own.
M/n counted on his fingers and held up five fingers. "Five. Sanctuary and Starlight are two. There's also the Castle, Somerville, and Bunker Hill. Those are our big settlements. There's also a handful of outposts around like the red rocket we passed."
"How did you do this?"
"They really teach you that people suck in the brotherhood huh?" He pointed his spoon at Danse. "People want to live and not fear for their life Danse. Trust and Friendship can do wonders." He took a bite of his soup. "We help each other out. We're connected with the radio towers we built. We also make sure to keep our defenses updated and practice drills regularly. We also share supplies between settlements so that we're all successful."
"And it works?" Danse was amazed at hearing everything he had been told. M/n motioned to the settlement they were in. "Obviously. It's been a few years like this now. Of course, it's not always easy, but we make it work. We REALLY aren't as helpless as you were taught."
"I'm starting to see that." Danse' voice was low. He let a sigh escape his lips before he took a bit of his soup. It tasted nice. Felt very homecooked and filled with warmth.
Was this what home tasted like? If it was, he liked it.
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[Trigger Warning-Suicide] How would romanced male companions react to walking into A female Sole about to kill themselves?
Trigger warning!! Read at your own discretion. If you are thinking about committing suicide, please talk to someone you trust, call the suicide hotline of your country and/or go visit your doctor or a psychologist. If you want to talk to me about it, you are always welcome to send me a message.
Fact about suicide: Most people who are suicidal don't actually want to die, they just don't know how else to make it stop. Talk to someone, there are people who can help!
A/N: I don't think all characters would go for a careful approach (like Gage), so I wrote them the way I think they'd react, even if that might be the exact opposite of what a suicidal person needs at the moment. Please, keep in mind that this is fictional: even if I made the companions successful in talking down Sole, I myself don't know how best to approach someone who is suicidal so some/most/all of their reactions may not be effective or appropriate. Also, I am under no illusion that talking someone down from suicide is this easy or that it will always have the desired outcome, but again this is fictional.
Danse
Pre-BB: His soldier instincts will kick in. All he sees is someone about to die. His brain doesn’t yet recognize that you’re doing it to yourself, so he will forcefully stop you in order to save you, only fully realizing what’s going on once he sees your distraught face. He’ll look at you in shock, unable to get any words out. Then he’ll just move in closer and hug you tightly, letting you cry in his arms. He’ll bring you over to Cade whether you want to or not and stay with you the entire time, holding your hand. 
Post BB: Panics. He will desperately try to talk you down from what you’re doing but he won’t approach you, scared that he’ll push you over the edge by doing so. He’ll cry and beg you not to do it, telling you that he needs you and suddenly an overwhelming feeling of guilt overcomes him. You’ve been piecing him together all this time while you yourself were struggling… 
Deacon
Freezes. It takes him a few moments to just simply say your name, grabbing your attention. 
“Sole, what are you doing?” 
His heart is beating loudly in his chest, he’s terrified to say anything because he has no idea what might push you over the edge. 
“I can’t do it anymore, Deacon,” you cry and it breaks his heart. 
How had he never noticed that you were struggling? How was he so oblivious? With everything you’ve been through, it was to be expected, and yet… it had never once crossed his mind. 
And now he’s panicking. “Look, I know I’m not the most sensitive guy, I-I’m not the right person to talk to about feelings and all that, but I’m here for you. You can talk to me, please talk to me…” 
You hesitate for a few seconds, but you nod and break down in his arms. Deacon will try his hardest to comfort you during the next hours until you’ve fallen asleep, upon which he will immediately run to Carrington begging for help. 
Gage
Gage will be scared, but he’s so used to hiding it behind anger and annoyance that he can’t help but do the same even during a sensitive situation like this. 
“You better not go through with that,” he says almost threateningly. “You wanna commit suicide? You can still do that tomorrow, next week, or literally any other time! But if you do it now, you’ll never be able to see or talk to me again and you owe me an explanation if you’re gonna pull this shit on me!” 
Miraculously, his speech guilts you enough to make you stop - which isn’t something he’s particularly proud of or anything, but hey at least it worked. He instantly has his arms around you and won’t let you out of his sight for days while simultaneously arranging for the gang leader of your choice to temporarily take over as Overboss so he can take you back to the Commonwealth and get you some help. 
Hancock
Hancock has seen some stuff in Goodneighbor. It's a rough life and you aren't the first one to try and end things. That also means he’s seen multiple attempts by others to talk these people down, some of which failed. He isn’t going to take that chance with you. 
He has his arms around you before you even knew he was there and he holds you tightly against him so you’re unable to do anything anymore. 
“What do you think you’re doing?” he growls in your ear. He doesn't mean to sound angry, but much like Gage he was scared and too used to masking his fear. However, he instantly calms down once he hears you whimper and break down. 
You cry apologies against his shoulder which he quickly hushes. “It’s okay, we’ll get you whatever help you need. Just don’t do this to me, sweetheart.” 
MacCready
“Woah, hey! What the hell are you doing?!” 
Mac grabs your arm in anger, spinning you around to him. That’s when he sees your tear-stained face. You start crying harder upon seeing his anger and literally break down. However, Mac quickly catches you and pulls you against him in shock. 
“It’s okay,” he says, his anger already long gone. “It’s okay, just talk to me please. What happened?” 
Mac will be worried sick about you and ask around everywhere for help. It doesn’t matter if he has to walk all the way to the Mojave with you, he will get you whatever help you need. 
Nick
Nick feels instantly guilty when he stumbles upon you about to commit suicide. He’s always acknowledged your pain, but he also always kept the conversations about it short. He hid his own pain by focusing on helping others, and he now realizes he pushed you to do the same, even though you were really the one who needed help. 
He says your name quietly, grabbing your attention. “Is there anything I can do to make things better for you?” 
You can't answer that, because if you knew of a way to make things better, you wouldn’t be in this position right now. But the fact that he asks, that someone cares causes you to break down and you are unable to execute your plan at the moment. Nick takes this as his chance to take you in his arms. “Let’s go see doctor Sun.” 
Preston
“Sole? What are you doing?” 
Preston will be in tears just seeing what you are about to do. He’s told you about his own suicidal thoughts before, so why had you not trusted him enough to do the same? He has your back, do you not know that? 
Seeing how badly he is hurting, you can’t go through with it at that moment, so instead you run to him and hide in his arms, crying. “I’m sorry.” 
“I don’t understand… Why? Why did you never tell me?” 
X6-88
Another companion who will forcefully stop you. X6 doesn’t think he’s the right person for you to talk to about what you are going through, so he takes you back to the Institute without a word and drags you over to doctor Volkert. 
You might think he’s mad at you, but in reality, he’s experiencing ‘panic’ for the first time in his life and it almost causes him to stop functioning altogether.
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slocumjoe · 1 year
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I got that random encounter with a dude named Art and a synth that looks exactly like him and you have to decide which is the synth and which isn't, and it got me thinking...
How do you think the companions would react to encountering a synth that looks exactly like them (maybe sent to spy on the SS for the institute??), and the synth tries to convince the SS that they're actually the real version of their companion? What would each of the companions say to try to show the SS that they're the actual real version of themselves?
Cait; kills it on sight and just...digs around for the chip as proof. The real Cait wouldn't hesitate, but the biggest tell, is that the Institute synth would be too physically clean, not have her calluses, and wouldn't smell the way she does. Which is to say, like blood and B.O.
Curie; would 100% try to befriend the synth, being a synth herself. Questions the logic behind making a synth of a synth. Her trying to make friends is what you could use to figure out who's real, as the synth synth would be encouraging you to kill Curie, and Curie would be excited to have a sister.
Danse; kills it pre-BB, similar to Cait. Brings it back to the Prydwen for study and stays there for a while, since the Institute is now gunning for him. Post-BB, this would go so messy i don't even know how to describe it. I think the Danse synth synth would try to be the real, human Danse, in which case, you'd have to keep actual Danse from offing himself. Whichever one tries that, that's your Danse.
Deacon; I'm not me, how are you me??? Would try to talk the synth down into going to the Railroad, escaping. Problem is, the synth would do the same thing to Deacon. And both of them are insistent they aren't the synth. Also, both of them are liars. Your clue here? Skin. The synth wouldn't have Deacon's leathery skin and built up surgical markings. The Institute wouldn't give a synth years and years of plastic surgery. Also, could quiz them both on RR info. The synth wouldn't know.
Gage; ...I was going to go Cait style. But...Gage might be interested. An inside contact into the Institute...Gage canonically thinks better of them than the other factions. And hey, having a body double isn't the worst thing in the world. So, he might try to offer a little deal. Yeah, you can take my place, I'll handle the business side of things from the background, and you make it worth our while. The synth would, again, be the one wanting you to kill the other guy. That could potentially catch you up, but if you know Gage well enough to know he's always looking for an opportunity, you'll see who's who.
Hancock; Maybe the easiest one. Hancock would assume he's tripping and seeing things, ignoring the synth. The synth is the one that isn't high, and acknowledges the other first. Hancock would blink and be surprised you could see it too. Not sure if he'd want to kill the synth, but I think he'd feel like he had to. He's a mayor. He can't have a clone from the Institute, who could potentially go to Goodneighbor and hand it over on a silver platter.
MacCready; Freaked the fuck out and immediately worries about Duncan. That's your cue. The synth would be busy insisting he's the real one, MacCready would be openly panicked over Duncan's safety, if they got him, too. Also, the synth's teeth would be too white. Years of eating candy, drinking soda, not brushing? Can't fake that.
Nick; this is the plot of far harbor but whichever one stinks of cigarettes smoke and creaks too much when he moves. The other guy is cleaner and doesn't have the traits you get only from age. Would also try to talk the guy into bailing on the Institute, has a higher chance of succeeding.
Piper; Piper is the one who's horrifed...but also,, kinda proud. Like...smug. They felt she was important enough to replace her, which means her papers are right, which means McDonough is 100% a synth! Whichever one of them starts sassing is the real Piper, the fake one going crazy and begging you to kill the other is the synth. This has a high chance of catching someone up.
Preston; pities the fool who wants to be him, do what he does. Like Hancock, wouldn't want to kill it, but Preston has a position of power he can't let the Institute have on weekends or some shit. You could tell who's who based on two crucial things; hat hair, and eyebags. Preston wears his hat too much, the other guy probably just got it.
X6-88; Confused at this. Why? Takes the synth back to the Institute by force and goes around until someone gives him an answer. Who the fuck is wasting time like this? If the Institute is destroyed, kills it, and starts wondering if there are multiple of one synth, and the things like X6-88, M7-97, etc...are less like codes, and more like brand names. There's not much you could do to tell X6-88 and a copy apart. Your best bet is body language, or if you're a clever cookie, hand them both your gun and see who's most familiar with it. X6-88 would know it intimately even without using it, having watched you. The other guy would fumble a bit.
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chadfallout76podcast · 11 months
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Death Shroud Q&A (submitted by @completely-legit)
completely-legit submitted:
10h ago
Death Shroud Q&A!
Writing Questions
Q: 1. "You only ever took one of us." – Paladin Danse, Death Shroud Meta jokes aside, it's obvious you enjoyed playing some of the best of Fallout 4's cast off of each other in ways that we weren't able to get in the game due to the mechanical restrictions of the gameplay.  Which was your favorite dynamic between characters to write?
A: Honestly I loved writing all of it. By the time you're well into the story the Red Rocket is filled with the strangest assortment of people/not people in the entire Wasteland. The conflict, ball busting, unexpected friendships that would be blossom out of that is really fertile soil for writing. Moreover, on a shared journey 2 years later they have a comfortable familiarity with each other they just slip back into. I also love Jefferson/Silver Shroud's dynamic, because you have a superhero level character who starts off 2 dimensional ripped out of a comic book and is suddenly REAL in a way that doesn't fit with reality. As a result he's kind of bumbling and awkward. Jefferson is the embodiment of him "not fitting in" outside of the page where he's idolized as well as stylized. It's just great stuff.
2. I believe you mentioned you turned to Dick Tracy for inspiration while writing this picturesque slice of noir life – what's the most important thing you've learned about writing a radio drama?  What was the most difficult thing about resurrecting a much older style of media that you didn't appreciate until you were deep in it?
A: I looked at a lot of inspirations to get the feel right in the beginning acts. Relistened to old school Sam Spade radio dramas, rewatched The Maltese Falcon (Bogart's version of Spade inspired the character of Valentine in development), as well as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and "Dick Tracy". Since I've been writing radio drama for almost 5 years now, I think the biggest thing I've learned over time is getting the rhythm right. I write in a way that I want to take people on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey in pretty much everything I do. Because that's life. We laugh, we get anxious and tense, we pine for people, cheer them out, mourn their losses and feel their pain. I always try to recreate that ride in any story we've done whether it's this or other productions we do. Lastly, always give people what they want: a satisfying ending. As far as resurrecting an older style of media...that was really easy as I've been listening to Old Time Radio since I was a teenager.
3. Did you do everything in one take or have any rehearsals/direction?  It seemed like all the VAs were in one call together, which is some incredible coordination and effort!
A: Nope! All recorded one night in one take with no rehearsal. Mostly because I was sweating over the script and didn't finish polishing it until 3 hours before recording. We did it all on Zoom and not 5 minutes in, a lightning bolt hit a transformer down the street, knocking out my power. Wes had to continue recording for me (it's why there's a big grid of people at the start as opposed to the single actor view later on. I was crushed I wasn't there live while they were recording.
4. The amount of voice (and writing) talent in this production is incredible for something so unofficial!  How long did it take you to bring this 3 hour noir tour of the Commonwealth to fruition?  How many times did you have to replay/reload Fallout 4 to fact check your details? :)
A: Thank you! We started asking people a few months ago. I had a brainstorming meeting with Wes and Emil from Bethesda who offered some helpful notes as I wrote on their characters. It took me 26 hours or so to edit and design the media elements, add effects and music scoring. It took 14 hours to render in 4k and only finished rendering at 10am the morning of airing. I was sweating over night that it would finish rendering in time. lol I didn't have to replay Fallout 4 as I have a really good memory of it, but looked to the Wiki on some key details and transcripts of how the characters talked in the main game.
5. Obviously, the plot had to wrap a bit around which VAs were available; were there any specific plot changes you had to make based on availability, or did you only seriously bend to writing after you already had a list of actors available for participation?  Anything extremely fun you had to cut?
A: At the last moment sadly Lynda Carter couldn't join us otherwise I wouldn't have written in Magnolia without her. Shari Elliker came in clutch and did a great job voicing her! I really and truly wanted MacCready a part of it, but Matt Mercer is INSANELY busy and was taking a much-needed vacation. Despite that he was kind enough to record for us. I wanted to try and bring EVERYONE back but between not being able to reach some people, others just able to wrangle their schedule...I think we did a good job getting as many people as we did. There was a bunch of stuff I had to cut for time (because this thing was already 3 hours). There was going to be an attack by the Mechanist on Diamond City, following the events at the Lombardo's with the Mechanist taking out the Detective Agency in retribution for meddling in their plans, but felt that was unnecessary and we'd already put listeners through enough torture. lol I was going to bring back Scribe Haylen as a link to investigate some of the Brotherhood's Black Market dealings in salvaged synth tech as part of the surprise return of Kellogg. But honestly the most fun scene would've been a trap in which they're lured to a train station thinking Harold is coming in by rail from the Capital Wasteland only to be chased by an Endritch "modded into the Universe" version of Thomas the Tank Engine. It would've resulted in a car chase with the Shroud realizing Jefferson has used all his James Bond-like car gadgets already so the most they can do is throw bottles at it that Hancock has emptied. lol
Plot questions:
1. "You started something two years ago you never finished."  - Boss Lombardo, Death Shroud
In my opinion, one of the biggest successes of Death Shroud was fans were of course hungry for the answers about what comes after a "happy ending".  In Death Shroud it's apparent that Nora chose to assist the Brotherhood of Steel along to a victory against the Institute - but it becomes clear that the ending wasn't perfect for everyone. There's been a lot of discussion over the years about how every faction ending to Fallout 4 has its own unique drawbacks.  In this case it seems like even beyond sacrificing the Railroad (and a lot of synths) the Brotherhood left a power vacuum in the Commonwealth which is allowing for raiders and the like to take back over in the absence of both the Institute and an effective Minute Men alliance. What was the most important part of this "ending" and its consequences for you to address?  What made it the best backdrop to set Death Shroud in?  The play mentions more than once that poor Nick is running out of spare parts with the source of synthetic limbs destroyed!
A: I picked that ending for our story because honestly it's one of the most dire from which to grow the story from. The rise of raiders and Triggermen (mafia control of parts of the city) is very Film Noir. I also needed Nora to have dipped out of the spotlight and honestly trying to just go live a quiet life and come to terms with what they did to the railroad was necessary plot wise. The Cabot storyline was also essential...she needed to have let him loose in order for the pieces of the story to come together. I also think it's important to remember that the Brotherhood REALLY aren't their for altruistic reasons. Once they take out the Institute they don't give a crap about rebuilding Boston. They salvage tech, hoard it and that's kind of it. By the time our story begins Nick and our former companions are doing their best just to keep things in some kind of order. Even Hancock needs to go back to run Goodneighbor to prevent it from falling apart.
 2. The biggest breakout original character was Charlie, Nick Valentine's protege turned traitor; wonderfully played by Aeric Azana.  I actually experienced several double takes during the first airing of the play and had to google to make sure I hadn’t completely forgotten the character somehow, he fit so well with the rest of the cast.  What was the inspiration for his character?  Care to give us some more loose backstory about how he wound up in the Valentine detective agency?
A: Aeric Azana is BRILLIANT and really completely lost himself in that character and brought it to life. I think the character fit in and felt so natural because it felt like a character that would be there. Following the events of Fallout 4, I think Nick would learn the importance of friends and family and in chasing down Nora's son, a set of continuity of beliefs and ideals. Seeing the Institute destroyed and most of the synths wiped out...there's no backup, no spare parts. Nick can be killed and destroyed and all that he was would be lost. Not only does Nick need help at the agency I think he wanted to have something he could never have: a sense of family. Taking in Charlie off the streets, raising him, teaching him would make sense for him. I have some thoughts on his background and how Nick found him...but that may end up being a story, so I'll keep quiet about that for now. Suffice to say, missing people is not all that Nick finds on cases.
3. No noir sleuth story is complete without organized crime!  Fallout players are intimately familiar with a lot of the gangs of the commonwealth, be it the Khans, the Forged, or even the Gourmands – but Ma Lombardo, played by the lovely Ellen McLain & her rabid dog son Carmen (the Boss) played by the equally talented Zack Ward - represent a newer type of evil in the Commonwealth.
In your opinion how does organized crime fit within the wasteland societal structure that already... lacks organization as it were?  Are they essentially just raiders who will monologue at you before gunning you down for your caps? Who is even standing up to them at this point?  Prosecuting them for their perceived crimes?  It’s funny to consider that these crime families are essentially more organized than most of the remaining political structures in place!
A: Say what you want about crime families, but they do hold up a semblance of order where there is needed one. If you take a look at the arc of the Godfather, in the beginning there is a balance of justice, deep seated respect of an order...a code of honor. Ma and Carmen Lombardo return because we've broken what little of that was left with the Triggermen by the time we were done in the Commonwealth. The hierarchy peaking order has been obliterated, so it leaves both a structural opportunity for them to return and also a true need to try and BE the stabilizing force after the power vacuum that was left by our choices. Nora and the gang basically fuck up the Commonwealth in one way or another and I honestly think it would be out of character for her to WANT to be a ruler. So who's left? The Triggermen under Lombardo aren't just raiders...they were forced inline in a way they hadn't been in a long time. Raiders wouldn't have stood a chance against them.
4. "If I’ve learned anything, people are what they believe" – Nick Valentine, Death Shroud
Nick Valentine is a character who has struggled with his identity in the past but came to some degree of closure about it by choosing to believe in/focus on the goodness of his deeds despite being a perceived copy of another man.  In Death Shroud we see him brush up against a much more literal (and meta) manifestation of the power of belief in ideas - it's a pretty poignant juxtaposition of the character's much-deliberated ideology vs a rather wild plot.  Is that the reason Nick was the only man left standing at the end?  The manufactured man who was both someone else's idea but how he defines himself, who he is, is his own choice as well?
A: Honestly the reason it was him still standing in the end is because this ultimately is HIS story, a Nick Valentine Mystery. What Nick misses completely is that like Nora, he is a keystone event. Unlike any other synth out there he is aware of who he is, who he wasn't, can't hide in plain sight like others can. Because of his journey, his actions, the people he helps, saves, draws to him, a tapestry of ripples of his existence, choices and actions forever ripple throughout the Commonwealth. Magnolia's comments in the end both speak to his position in their reality and also direct speak to us as players, "in the end we're not just stories".
5.  Follow up:  I also found it to be an incredibly fascinating character arc for Nick as well.  He was offered the keys to Diamond City, albeit by notorious criminal Ma Lombardo, but then later essentially by Charlie as well - but our synthetic hero turns both of them down since he's a “just a detective, not a politician”.
A: It's more than that also. Nick isn't motivated by power, has lived long enough to see how power corrupts and creates the illusion of choice. What Charlie misses is the EXPERIENCE Nick has as part of his journey. Could having that kind of power mean no more missing people? No more broken hearts? Yes...but it also means denying people the choices and lessons they've learned as a result of actions they take. He wasn't born. He was made. He was built to replace people. He was given memories, a life and story he didn't earn, didn't choose. He made the CHOICE to to throw all of that away and do the most human thing real humans often don't do: help people without reservation.
Over the course of the play it becomes clearer as characters reminisce over the events of Fallout 4, Nick's not entirely satisfied with some of the choices Nora made along the way and more notably some of the ramifications.  This is followed by the very end where Nick takes control to reset reality to a ‘previous save’ far in the past before the entirety of Nora’s adventure - rather than say, just before everything involving the events of Death Shroud went to hell in a handbasket.  Any particular reason that was Nick’s chosen reload point?  Do you think Nick has reached a point from his experiences where he would take a more active role in guiding Nora's decision making going forward?
A: Nick didn't have a choice there. There is only the current state or as teased in the commercial in the very beginning the only saved state available to you. "Safe equals saved" wasn't just a funny commercial, it was a promise that going back means returning to the start of the tapestry of choices, actions and impacts that began when Nora's keystone moment began. The day she was woken up and became something other than Nora. If you pay attention, throughout Fallout 4 Nick offers very specific guidance in some areas and specific wisdom. Knowing full well how important choice is to the causal nexus and maintaining the tapestry of reality he would walk that line very carefully in the choices made vs. influenced.
Last Question:
I’m very curious what the three sentence pitch was to get most of these VAs on board with this amazing project - and even Pete Hines and Emil Pagliarulo as well – if you can share that with us!
A: There really wasn't one. I've become really good friends with Wes these past few years and the other voice actors, Pete Hines, etc. are also people I've gotten to know through Fallout For Hope. So I think our track record as far as fundraising goes, trust in me/Fallout For Hope, etc. from working together on both unofficial Fallout community projects, causes and events and official NDA ones we've done the past few years created a unique situation this thing could even happen. This was our 3rd production this scale, but the one I'm most proud of.
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annikin-annotates · 9 months
Text
Doomsday
This little ditty had been sitting in my drafts for so long, so I thought I would bless you with a tad bit of Aemond angst.
Aemond x Reader
Word Count: 1k
Warnings: Grief, death, war.
The day was dark; terribly, awfully dark.
You awoke early, the pit in your stomach gnawing you out of your fitful slumber. Your hand reached across the palette bed, the furs soft beneath your fingertips, only to find your human hearth no longer there. You sat up abruptly from the bed, heart squeezing, but soon enough a small sigh of relief left you as you saw Aemond’s bare broad back facing you. Those stunning silver strands kept swaying with each movement he made as you silently crawled from the bed and got to your feet.
Bare feet making indents in the mud beneath the carpet of your shared tent, your hand brushing softly across the expanse of his back as you moved past him to the bowl of water that sat on the small table. The damp cloth across your skin felt soothing, the small rivulets of water sliding down the column of your throat. Aemond took you by the hand and brought you back to him, pulling you to his chest - wanting to feel you near him. 
It felt strange, this moment of calmness. It felt as though you were both moments from disaster. 
“Help me dress?” he asked, his warm breath fanning out on your skin. You pulled back to look at him. 
“Of course, my love,” you replied softly. And so you took your time together, slowly dressing one another, drinking each other in. You tied his armour and he tied your shoes, you braided his hair and whispered soft sweet prayers to yourself. 
Bring my love back to me safely, you prayed. 
You could hardly fight back the tears as you both stood together, hands roaming over each other. The cold leather and steel of his armour reminded you so much of the coldness of a corpse - of death. You pulled him as close as you could, savouring what could be the last moments you had together. Mud squelched underfoot as you walked with him to Vhagar, and it took everything in you to not beg him to stay, or to not climb the saddle with him. 
The closer you both got to the green beast the tighter you gripped his hand, hoping that if you held him more dearly or kissed him more fervently things may have been different. But perhaps you were only supposed to guide him to this, perhaps she never had a choice in the matter. It was the eleventh hour and there was naught to be done but to hang on until the storm had finished lashing. 
You stopped a few yards short of Vhagar, the monstrous creature now towering over them both casting an eerie shadow. Aemond leant down and pressed his lips to yours with a soft kiss, as passionate as it was sad. The kind that tastes like a farewell. Tears pricked at your eyes, only to be brushed away by a leather gloved thumb, a sad glint in his mis-matched eyes.  Thunder and lightning crackles and shakes the air around them. 
“Do not fret for me, my love,” he offered softly as he planted another kiss to your forehead, inhaling at the crown of your head. 
“I will always fret when it comes to you. Please return to me safe,” the words sounded hollow as they left you. Aemond nodded, making the short walk to Vhagar and mounting her. You watched on as he tied the chains around his waist and shifted in the saddle.
Sovetes, Vhagar!
The world faded from around you, gone were the shouting orders in the distance, and you stayed rooted to the spot as your eyes remained trained on the sky. The mighty she-dragon carrying the love of your life flew higher and higher, closer to the gods than you were comfortable with, to where the Blood Wyrm and his rider met them in the sky above the Gods Eye. All you could do was watch on in horror as dragons tangled and snapped at each other in a danse macabre, spitting fire and tearing at one another's necks.
Your stomach twisted painfully and your heart hammered in your chest as the dragons screeched and gave chase to one another. You had not realised before how similar Caraxes cry was to a human scream, and now it gave you gooseflesh and made an involuntary shiver run down your spine. Your hands had not ceased trembling since this morning, both fear and anxiety held you in their clawed clutches. You could feel the warmth of clamminess that had begun to form in your hands.
A sudden screeching outcry pulled you from the trance you had placed yourself in, red and green continued to tangle in the sky. It felt as though the world had begun to shift, your hand came to rest over your mouth, your chest shook with worry. It felt as though your ribs were an instrument playing a haphazard and off putting tune that nobody but you could hear. 
“Aemond!” you screamed in terror, watching on as Daemon lept from Caraxes, drawing his sword as Vhagar glided into his path. Icy cold calmness washes over you, tense and painful, as deep down you knew that this was the only outcome. A violent end.  
You could still feel the warmth of his kiss upon your lips.
You took two wobbly steps back, watching both dragon and rider plummet towards the lake below. You weren’t sure what gave out first, your legs or your heart, mud splattered up the front of your dress as you collapsed on the ground. The mud felt like blood splatter, the air was far too thick and breathing became far too hard. A stinging burn clawed its way up your throat as what little you had in your stomach left you. 
You looked from the sky to the ground, your torso folding over itself as your forehead pressed to the mud - a grief stricken wail tearing through you. The feeling was indescribable. The world around you no longer felt as bright, as warm, as it did before. And, deep down, you knew that it never would feel that way again. You brought your palms forcefully down onto the mud again, and again, as if you were knocking on the very door of the Stranger’s realm. 
You would not have minded in that moment if the Stranger had ascended to claim your soul as well, as you would do anything to be reunited with the love of your life. 
The death of you was quiet. 
Please reblog, it helps keep fanficton alive. xx
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