#(also guess who learned about gradient maps. warning that i'm probably going to use them obnoxiously until i get it out of my system)

[wishing4nuclearwinter]

The Mojave's got it all folks: vampire mailmen, enclave werewolves, homoerotic blood drinking, the horrors-

Some Lore(tm) below the cut

Werewolves were the Enclave’s handiwork, naturally. The original project was ultimately deemed a failure by way of its mortality rate and was consequently shut down, though not before producing a handful of living, howling, subjects. Most were wasteland captures, but a few members volunteered for the trials, Officer Gannon among them. And, as it turns out— it’s hereditary.

Their existence isn’t widely known (or at least believed) in the wasteland at large. Some NCR and Brotherhood veterans remember and keep an eye out for any signs of them. Shoot on sight, never mind the fact that the majority of them were victims of the Enclave or the victims’ descendants.

Regardless, it’s better to stay out of sight. Arcade locks himself up in the Jacobstown lodge basement during the full moon where Doc Henry can help keep away any prying eyes. Losing control is a very difficult aspect of it for Arcade as he’s terrified of hurting someone. Outside of full moons he can transform at will, but reserves it for life or death situations. Unsurprisingly, his eyesight is still shit so he heavily relies on his ears and nose to stay aware of his surroundings.

Meanwhile, south of Vegas, Doc Mitchell has largely kept to himself after an unfortunate run in with another of the wasteland’s blood thirsty creatures that left him with an affliction of his own. When Victor drags in a dying courier, he does the only thing can to keep them alive (…or, undead at least) and changes them.

Sol still wakes up with brain damage and no memory, and with a bonus of insane speed, strength, and a craving for human blood. They start wearing sunglasses to hide their eye color and hoodies or sweaters under their denim jacket to fight off the constant bone deep chill. They heal quickly, but take longer to learn self control after Goodsprings. Animal blood can tide them over and luckily the Mojave has more than enough humans willingly throwing themselves into fights to keep Sol from having to hunt them.

When Arcade and Sol finally meet, they are both aware something is off about the other, though they don’t know what. Eventually the truth come out (Does Sol is Vampire?) and they find a kind of solace in that shared monsterhood. They fight together extremely well and keep each other in check.

Sol helps ground Arcade during full moons and keeps him (and others) safe. And when needed, Arcade is strangely quick to offer himself up as a food source for Sol.

Of course, the world around them beats onward and the war won’t wait for man or beast. Thus Courier Six remains, as they have always been, Courier Six.