#❀saltuna rambles❀

[sassysaltuna]

have I ever mentioned that the side characters were also my comfort characters? because they are and I currently am fixated on them hehehehe

so here’s a lil redesign of the side characters!! check under the cut for some comparisons and headcanons I have for them!

Sierra Watson ❤️

- girlie is AWFUL when it comes to crushes and romance. she cannot for the life of her figure out her feelings nor can she tell when someone likes her. she’s also a terrible wingman so please don’t ask for her help because she WILL end up just blurting out “oh [name] has a crush on you!!” to your crush

- she likes dressing to the nines for no reason. clearly.

- gossip is her middle name. she loves talking trash about the other cheerleaders but the feeling is mutual because they usually trash talk her behind her back

- wears a facade 24/7 because she’s scared of not being accepted for who she is. Vince and Tomoko get to see the real her more often than her other friends and family do though

- her hidden talent is writing! put a book or computer in front of her and suddenly she becomes a modern day Shakespeare. if you somehow do find her wattpad account you’d better be prepared to sign an nda because she does not want ANYONE to find her cringe. not even her best friends know it exists and she plans to keep it that way.

Tomoko Tanaka 💙

(credit to @/lizwuzthere on AO3 for her first name!!)

- she has all of the tea. somehow knows almost everyone’s secrets and is able to tell you who has beef with who, who likes who, etc. she runs an anonymous blog where she talks about all of the drama going on between her classmates. only Raf knows she’s the one running it, but the two came to an agreement that he won’t tell anyone so long as she never talks about his friends or family

- a kogal! her natural hair color is black, but she bleached and dyed it to the color she has now due to wanting a less gloomy color for her hair. she has a collection of clip in extensions which are dyed in various colors to match her the main color of her outfits. this is the same case with her eyes! they are brown, but she has a collection of colorful contact lenses that match the color of her extensions and her clothes. right now, she’s really into blue

- she used to be a cheerleader but quit because she couldn’t stand some of the other girls. she does continue to attend the practices just so she can watch and support Sierra

- she’s half Japanese and half American, but because she lives with her father instead of her mother, she uses her Japanese name more. her full name is Tomoko Allison Lee Tanaka. in all honesty, she likes being called Tomoko more than Allison and will no longer respond if someone does call her Allison.

- this girl is immune to the desert heat. or is she? no one really knows but with the way she dresses, it’s amazing how she isn’t melting like a popsicle left too in the sun. however, she’s never seen without a cold drink in hand

Vince Lancaster 🧡

(credit to @/williamtrasheater for inspiring me to make him a lil more punk-ish fashion-wise!!)

- the bodyguard of the group. will punch you if you so much as look at his friends wrong. he towers over most of his classmates and even some of the teachers too and he’s not afraid to use his height to his advantage. he’s also strong but he holds back in a fight because he genuinely does not want to fatally hurt anyone.

- speaking of which, he’s a big softy under the asshole facade he hides himself behind. unfortunately his current situation does not allow for him to show off that softer side often - his “friends” have created a monster out of him and expect him to fit that mold or else. right now, Sierra and Tomoko are the only people who get to see softy Vince

- he knows cars. very well. he fixes his own car whenever it breaks down. currently, he’s a receptionist at the local auto repair shop but he spends more time helping the mechanics than answering phones

- he smokes. it’s a nasty habit he was (pressured) to pick up by his “friends”. he has enough self control not to smoke around Sierra and Tomoko and he also refuses to smoke in his car because they frequent it often

- he used to be Jack’s closest friend way back when they were kids but unfortunately, due to peer pressure, he made a mistake that costed him his friendship with Jack. it’s a mistake he deeply regrets now but again, due to his situation with his “friends”, he has no choice but to do nothing and let his guilt eat away at him. he can’t even be nice to Jack because they’re always watching.

[lesvegas]

This is long and rambly and unfocused cause I have a lot of barely connected thoughts and my brain is kinda fried but I gotta get the poison out so,

I've gone on and on about food + worldbuilding between Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas and how Bethesda and Obsidian have very different priorities, but I do think working with a whole variety of pre-war food (Fallout 3 assets mostly) had a positive effect not just on FNV but also on Obsidian's later game, The Outer Worlds.

I give The Outer Worlds too much credit for a lot of things, I know, but I really, really like how they handled food and 'food'. Besides the package design being on point in how it suits and even elevates the game's aesthetic, the wide variety of it both falls in line with the game's commentary (or attempt at commentary) and gives the impression that food in towns is plentiful and that even the working class has a decent selection of food products to choose from. On first impression, you're being lied to the same way most of the game's characters are.

The first world we see centres itself around a 'saltuna' (it's more sprats at this point) cannery, and the little town around it that lives to work in it. On this world there's also a commune where food is grown seemingly naturally, but even here it's apparent that the soil isn't good enough for farming without a boost from composting corpses. These are the first major hints that food is scarce and that everyone has no real choice but to get by on the packaged 'food', and that said packaged 'food' is often misleading, recycled, and rarely sourced from a real farm. If you're more clever than me you probably figured out the game's 'twist' long before I did, and maybe you thought it was too on-the-nose (I agree) but I really like how food, something as essential and important to us as food, despite being neglected in other games, is not only treated as important to the world here but literally sets the foundation for most of the game's narrative.

I'm not saying this wouldn't have happened if Obsidian hadn't gotten the chance to work with Fallout 3 assets, but it's fun to think about how different packaged foods have turned out their games. In Fallout 1 and 2, 'a small dusty box of some sort' (a TV dinner) is the only packaged food there is, rare but useless and inedible. Fallout 3 had a decent variety of packaged foods and Obsidian decided to make them work in FNV (with an emphasis on that most people avoid eating them if they can, especially soldiers, in favour of fresh food). Unlike in FNV where the assets were already there to put in fitting locations (and not much else), the packaged food in The Outer Worlds were originally made by Obsidian to contribute to and build upon world, where 'real'/fresh food is scarce, almost an inverse of FNV.

I don't have any proof of any of this, I just have a feeling making even minimal use of those pre-war foods might have helped them see the potential in them as narrative tools beyond what they were in Fallout 1 and 2. It's probably not that deep but I like thinking about it.

[fandomanxiety-library]

Edgewater - Chapter One

The Outer Worlds Fic

Captain Dottie X Maximillian Desoto & Captain Dottie X Felix Millstone

____________________

Max was beginning to close up the church on another dreary, late afternoon. Another whole day that was like all the others, a day full of workers milling in and out of the church leaving messes for him to mop after. He loathed waking anymore to come to this church where worker’s brought in there petty issues and thoughts of leaving, following in Adelaide’s footsteps. They cared not for The Plan, but cared only of making themselves better, because they had done something terrible. They came and he did his best to listen to them.

Earlier that Day...

“Vicar, I have done something awful!” The woman whispered, and Max listened the best he could.

She rambled on about how she had cheated on her husband with another man, how she felt guilty. Max was disgusted, but not from her confession. It was because this was her trying to get him to tell her that “it was okay, people make mistakes!”

“Vicar, what should I do? What if I am pregnant?” She sobbed, and Max looked her in the eye.

“Tell your husband.”

The statement hung in the air for a few moments, and she quietly got up to leave.

That was pointless. Of course she won’t tell him, she came for a pat on the head here to remove the guilt.

Presently...

A voice drew him from his bitter thoughts.

“It looks like the place is closing,’ he heard a voice, and he turned to see a women dressed...oddly. Long tubes hung from her suit, and she followed Parvati, the town mechanic. When they drew close, Parvati hid behind her, as shy as always.

“Um...Vicar...I would like to speak with you,” the woman spoke, and Max met her eyes.

“Ah, I suppose its urgent, considering you seem to be an outsider,” he spoke, and she smiled at him.

“It is. I could come back tomorrow, if you'd like,” she replied, and he shook his head in response.

This is my chance! This could be my chance to get that book! Then I will finally be at peace, and will be known as the man who brought the truth in the name of the Law. Free from turmoil. My life’s work would finally be complete.

Max allowed her to come in, Parvati following her close behind as they moved to his office. He watched her marvel at the church’s star covered ceilings and lights in the main room. She looked quite beautiful under the lights that casted upon her face. Her eyes glistened with curiosity.

Her eyes.

They are an emerald green that reminded him of Auntie Cleo’s brand, and they shinned like a child’s, full of curiosity. They held kindness within them that was dangerous, because kindness gets you hurt. It always does. 

He could drown in her eyes, or lay in them like lush, green grass and breathe in the smell of abundant life. The grass would be soft, lush like a pillow from a Byzantium home. They where drawing him to see into the windows of her mind.

Stop.

I cannot do this, I have bigger saltuna to fry. More important things are at stake.

He motioned for her to take a seat across from his desk, and she gently sat in the wooden chair. He sat down and she continued to look until her eyes fell upon his hazel-green eyes. 

“Is there something on your mind?” He asked her, and she glanced at Parvati.

“Parvati wasn't lying when she said this place was clean, but she failed to tell me how beautiful it was!” She sighed softly, and Max watched her look around again.

That's a laugh. The prison seminary was better than this shack. The lights barely even work, some just sit and flicker until they where shut off! This church is nothing compared to the others.

“Well, I do my absolute best to keep the place clean,” he spoke, “but what did you come here for? Spiritual counseling? Tossball readings?”

“My, you do Tossball readings? Have mercy, I may have to take you up on that one day- maybe learn some things about the sport too...anyway! Parvati wanted to speak with you,” she spoke with a laugh, and Max glanced toward the mechanic with curiosity.

“Mrs. Holcomb? You wanted to speak with me? You slink away when I even try to engage conversation with you,” Max directed toward Parvati, humor in his voice.

“Mr. Vicar, Tobson wants us to cut power off to the deserter’s- for their regulator for this here lady’s ship,” Parvati spoke timidly, and Max glanced between them.

“I see why this troubles you, Mrs. Holcomb has a soft heart, if you believe the talk,” Max said, and he saw the woman glancing around again.

“Yes, it is an issue. I haven't traveled up yonder to her camp, but I am assuming she will not take well to us cutting her power off. So, what do you advise?” The woman asked, and Max eyed her suite again.

“Well, Ms...”

“Dottie.”

“Ms. Dottie, if you aim to save as many as possible, I would say send the power to us, and then have the deserters return to the fold,” Max explained, and she met his eyes again.

“What do you think of the deserters?”

“They left the walls Spacer’s Choice has so thoughtfully given us, for the life beyond here. What do you think?” He replied, and she shifted in her seat thoughtfully.

“Depends what is provided for them. Life may be better that way.”

She is smarter than you may think...possibly more capable as well. A good way to retrieve my book.

She nodded towards him, “well...what's your name, darlin’?” She asked, and he was taken back.

Is she flirting with me? No...she wouldn't, she just met me.

“Maximillian Desoto, but before you go...the area is not as safe as you may assume, but you seem competent, Ms. Dottie. I would like you to retrieve something,” Max interjected, and she cocked an eyebrow.

“Alright, I will. What is it, and where can I find this?” She asked suspiciously, and he shook at his core with excitement.

“A book, a faded blue journal with M. Bakonu written in the corner, its a banned heretical book,” he spoke, and Dottie smirked.

Deciding to mind her own business, she had him tell her the location of the domicile it would be in. She departed from the church and Max’s eyes lingered on her bottom when she left.

Law have mercy, I cannot wait until she fixes her ship...then I will never have to see her again...

--------------

This has to be the funniest thing I have ever seen! So much for Mr. Calm Vicar! Momma wasn't lying when she said people show you their true colors! This man cusses like a sailor in a leaky boat in a hurricane!

Dottie almost died when he started cussing up a storm, and she was trying her best to hold back her laughter.

“You have a ship!”

This caught her attention, and she in fact, did have a ship.

“May I accompany you, so I may find a translator?”

“Oh? Back to talking like a temper-less man? That is the best thing I have witnessed in a long time! Boy, I bet your momma would want to wash that dirty mouth of yours, but I doubt soap would clean it!” She howled with laughter, and Max found himself more frustrated.

“I need transport.”

“Yeah, sure. Its the big leaky ship outside the wall’s main gate. Go inside, and make sure to greet the smart mouth navigator on your way in. Hawthorne sent ya’,” she laughed as she left him standing there, and waved goodbye.

She laughed her whole way out of the church at him.

I need to learn to control my temper...

--------------------

[sassysaltuna]

I used to hate Vince, very much, but your fic and how you write him gave me another perspective of the character (and now I do like him). Also, that same fic made ship him with Jack, like ship hard. If this doesn't count as possible spoiler for the fic, can you give us some hc for them?

Aw, thank you very much! I’ve always really liked Vince though I wished he had been more three dimensional, but I guess that’s a little too much to ask for from a show that mainly focuses on the aliens and their problems instead of the humans and theirs, which makes sense though it’s disappointing at times. 💔 I’m glad my fic helped you warm up to Vince more! It means I’m doing something right as a writer. 😊

As for headcanons, I’ve got more than a few! I’m not really sure if these will be spoilers for the fic, as I actually have no clue how far it will actually go, but I’ll share some general headcanons that I don’t think will be touched upon in the story!

- Vince is the worst at cooking. He’s banned from the kitchen and Jack will not hesitate to tell him that he can’t cook a gourmet meal to save his life. Vince accepts this. However, that does not stop him from trying whenever Jack’s back is turned. He just wants to make his boo a nice breakfast in bed, is that too much to ask for? Yes, yes it is.

- their ideal date is going for a leisurely drive around Jasper and the surrounding area on a nice sunny day, with the likes of bands like Linkin Park and Daughtry playing on the radio. Vince has made it a personal mission to get Jack into rock music. It is working, though Jack will deny it profusely whenever Miko is within earshot. They also like getting ice cream together, and indulging on said frozen treats during the drive.

- after, y’know, being knocked out by an ex-friend, Vince loses some of that confrontational attitude that he had, as he’s afraid that if the same mistakes are repeated, he will not get so lucky a second time. However, if anyone messes with Jack or his loved ones, then he will unleash the beast, but he will not if anyone bothers him. So Jack is the one who usually comes to Vince’s rescue when needed, which everyone else has mixed feelings about because he will not hesitate to take a nearby fire extinguisher and hold it threateningly.

- they find comfort in just each other’s company. They don’t need to talk in order to comfort the other. All they need to do is hold each other and cuddle for a while and that’s all it takes to realize that everything’s okay, that they’ll be okay, that they’re safe and well. Vince especially needs this; Jack’s affection keeps him grounded and anchored to the earth, it keeps him from doing something impulsive and possibly dangerous.

- much to everyone’s surprise, Vince is the most affectionate, especially verbally. He’s got a new pet name for Jack every other week. The one he uses the most, though, is “Bunny” - basically, he took Miko’s “Jackrabbit” and modified it to his liking. Jack will never admit out loud that he’s fond of the nicknames but the way it makes him blush is a sign that he does like them.

- also surprising to everyone is the fact that Jack is a literal thief. Vince’s clothes, especially his jackets and his sweatshirts, go missing almost all of the time and when he finally one day decided to actually look around instead of brushing it off, he found every. Single. Lost. Garment. neatly organized in Jack’s closet. After Jack is busted, he shamelessly wears the clothes when he goes out for school and to base instead of just wearing them at home.

(It has been a while since I’ve last drawn the humans of TFP, so I’m out of practice. This was also a quick doodle just for fun, so Vince and Jack don’t look perfect here!)

Bonus headcanon for the future:

- eventually, they will get married, some day in the distant future after they’ve completed college and have gotten stable jobs. They are deeply devoted to each other and very much in love, and neither one of them can imagine life without the other in it. They complete each other. They are two halves of one whole. They are perfectly capable of surviving apart, but they are much stronger together. They bring out the best in each other. There is no one in the whole universe who could ever compliment these two lovebirds more than they do for each other. After the rough patch in high school, and after they’ve worked out their issues and grown as people, these two get along so much better than anyone could have imagined. Sure, they have the occasional argument still, but they now know how to work it out so things get resolved quickly.