#fallout 4 headcanons

[not-a-newt]

Can't say I'm a fan of how universally everyone seems to de-age Deacon in their fanart of him, if you've seen him without his wig/sunglasses then you know he's AT LEAST in thirties

I personally hc him as being in his fifties, and honestly cannot see him being any younger than forty

Age comparable photo of his look-alike Bruce Willis (Die Hard III) at the age of forty for reference

[silasdrawsstuff]

I actually have a headcanon that the insides of power armor can probably get pretty ripe. There’s probably an odor in the Brotherhood of Steel at large that you just sort of have to get used to.

(Especially if you’re on a long-term mission and don’t have regular opportunities to clean up.)

You just know the inside of the Prydwen smells like feet.

I would imagine there was a ton of carryover heat in Danse’s power armor after firing the engine up at ArcJet. I bet that elevator ride was sweltering.

Nate’s just riding up with a guilty look the whole time in hot, awkward silence.

[danses-with-dogmeat]

Romanced! FO4 Companions and the Little Things They Do in Relationships

Alright, so this one wasn't really a request, but just a lil amalgamation of relationship headcannons that I compiled recently.

I'm definitely still getting back into the swing of things in terms of writing, so my output hasn't been fantastic lately, but hopefully this lil tidbit makes y'all smile 😊

I hope you enjoy!

Cait:

Gives her partner massages often. When there’s that rare bit of downtime, she’ll take the opportunity to help both her and her partner relax, and this is a great way to do it. She's exceptionally gifted at them, given her time spent in the ring and having to combat that bodily soreness herself. She also loves how they tend to end up leading to a lil something more with her partner (wink, wink). 

Curie:

This girl compliments you at every turn. Any little good thing that comes to mind, she's the first to say, and she does it often. Always the first to see the best in people, to see their potential, and you, of course, are no exception. Her compliments tend to be about your clothes, words, and actions rather than just flattering your physical appearance. Though, she definitely does that on occasion as well. 

Danse:

He always checks in with his partner a few times a day. Even if you're both working on projects separately, he likes to come over and ask how your day is going/how you're feeling. Even if you spend the whole day at each other's side, he takes a couple rest stops and asks how you're doing along the way. Maybe it stems from his time as a CO, always checking in with his team and getting/giving status updates, but it’s one of the main ways he shows that he cares.  

Deacon:

He notices a lot about his partner. The way your nails are torn and shortened means you're stressed, or when you bite your lip that certain way it means you're nervous, when you’ve been particularly spacey, it means you’re dwelling on the past and probably not in the best headspace that day. He’s not great at bringing it up and chatting about it, but he adjusts his behavior and his humor to fit the mood you’re in, and when time and space allow, he does what he can to distract you from some of the more negative feelings that may be rising up.  

Hancock:

He always needs a hand on his partner, or just to be touching them somehow. It's not that he's really trying to be possessive, per-say, he just can't get enough of you. Always is holding your hand, or throwing an arm over your shoulders, or pulling you practically into his lap with a giddy smile on his face. When you’re not actively in his lap, he’s happy to settle for leaning his head on your shoulder, or brushing your thigh with his own, or even just holding pinkies.  

MacCready:

He's a great gift giver. Definitely the partner that often finds little things that remind him of you, and he tends to gift them to you with a blushy explanation of how you come to mind with so much of what he sees. He’s also quite crafty, and enjoys giving homemade gifts as well. Definitely the one to suggest homemade presents for anniversaries and birthdays and such.  

Nick:

Always kisses you before he leaves, and it's the first thing he does when he returns to you. Real old-fashioned, but it's a trend that he'd never give up, cuz it means all the more when it's with you. The memories of it with the old Nick just don't hold up the same way. 

Piper:

The partner to leave little notes all over the place to let you know she was thinking of you. In the bathroom, on the kitchen counter, over your pillow, anywhere really is fair game. They just contain little compliments and inspirational quotes or reminders of memories with you. Whatever good thing she thinks of you, she just writes it down and leaves it for you to find and reminisce upon yourself. 

Preston:

He always brings you flowers (or another, equally thoughtful, gift) whenever he returns home. Usually he tries to find your favorites in terms of blooms, but he just loves the extra color in the house and the way you light up when you see them (he doesn’t really realize that the true reason you’re lighting up is because he’s coming home to you).  

X6-88:

He remembers all of the little details about you that anyone else would usually ignore or forget. Favorite color and food, your allergies, your favorite number, favorite song and the artist it's by. All of it is duly noted by the courser, and put into consideration when he's gifting you something, when you two go to eat, or when the radio is playing. He may not be too long-winded in speech, but he’s a tremendous listener and observer. 

[dorkofclanlavellan]

Obsessive Cleaning (FO4 Preference)

Fandom: Fallout 4 Request: x x Pairings: Danse x Reader, Hancock x Reader, MacCready x Reader, Nick x Reader, Preston x Reader.

Notes:

I included Nick because he should be romanceable.

Idk if manic cleaning is the correct term for this so I didn't use it because I didn't want to be offensive.

Zero uses of Y/N or Sole so you can decide if Reader is Sole or not.

Trigger Warning: Reader obsessively cleaning and neglecting their own needs.

Danse:

Danse wakes up to an empty bed and immediately heads out to find you. He discovers you engrossed in your task of cleaning and making repairs to Sanctuary, impressed by your attention to detail.

He joins in to help, using his military training to streamline the process and increase efficiency.

Danse appreciates your dedication to improving your surroundings and sees it as a reflection of your strong work ethic.

After a bit when he notices that you're showing no signs of slowing or even taking a a break, that's when Danse would intervene. He'd make sure you're okay and encourage you to at least stop long enough for food and water.

"Alright, soldier, you're no good to anyone passed out from hunger. Let's just sit over here and take a brief respite."

Hancock:

Hancock wakes up and immediately notices your absence. He follows the sounds of cleaning to find you fully immersed in your task, determined to make Sanctuary perfect.

He admires your dedication but worries that you're neglecting your own well-being.

Hancock encourages you to take breaks and assures you that Sanctuary already looks great.

He'd even join in once he realizes that you're probably not going to stop until you believe Sanctuary is as good as it's going to get. And he'd do his best to keep the mood light.

"Damn, sweetheart, you keep at it like this you'll make the rest of us look like a bunch of do-nothings. How about we take a quick...nap?"

MacCready:

When MacCready wakes to find you missing and sets out to locate you. He discovers you hard at work, fixing and cleaning various areas of Sanctuary with a determined expression.

He's impressed by your dedication but also concerned that you're pushing yourself too hard.

He offers to help and tries to convince you to take breaks, knowing how important it is to avoid burnout.

He admires your commitment to making Sanctuary a better place and supports you throughout the process, ensuring you take breaks and stay hydrated.

"Sweetie, you need rest...and breakfast. I promise this rubble will still be here in a couple of hours."

Nick Valentine:

Being a synth, Nick doesn't need sleep. He was, however, going over some information on a case he was working when he noticed faint noises. He decided to investigate and found you diligently working around Sanctuary.

He's intrigued by your hyperfocus and deduces that you won't stop until you're satisfied with the results.

Nick offers his assistance, impressed by the progress you've already made. You were cleaning up trash and rubble, recycling anything that could be repurposed.

He keeps an eye on your well-being, reminding you to take breaks as you work together to improve

"You're definitely impressive but unlike me you do need food and sleep. How about you take a break and while I finish up?"

Preston Garvey:

Preston wakes up in the middle of the night and notices your absence. Concerned, he sets out to find you and is surprised to discover you tirelessly cleaning and fixing things in Sanctuary.

He admires your dedication to helping others but worries that you're neglecting your own needs.

Preston offers to assist you and encourages you to take breaks and rest.

Preston appreciates your commitment to making Sanctuary a safe and comfortable place for everyone and supports you throughout the cleaning process.

"You know, you really are amazing. But even you need water to continue going, honey."

[everydayyoulovemeless]

How would fo4 companions react to sole introducing them to their boyfriend Porter Gage?

Fo4 Companions Reactions To Sole Introducing Gage As Their Boyfriend

➼ Word Count » 1.2k ➼ Warnings » none ➼ Genre » platonic

MacCready will grimace but try to smile for your sake. It’s clear he’s not genuine with any nice thing he says but he does try to seem excited. After a minute he'll ask if he can talk with you in private and ultimately tells you that it's not worth it. He's been with the Gunners long enough to know that Raiders aren't any better. He knows from experience that you don't want to be caught up in all that and will plead with you to understand how awful your boyfriend is. It's your life at the end of the day, and he'll stick around with you regardless, just know that his vote is on you two splitting... and you're not going to be let around Duncan until Gage is out of the picture.

Nick will just stare at Gage when you first bring him into the Agency. After an uncomfortable amount of time passes, he'll sigh and ask if he can talk to your boyfriend alone. He'll sit him down at his desk and ask him to interview him, wanting to get a handle on his character before he jumps to any assumptions. However, since he's Gage, he fails almost every question on Nick's test, which makes the detective increasingly more disappointed in your taste in men. Later in the day, he'll offer to walk with you around Diamond City to tell you how he disapproves of the relationship. You've done countless cases together where you take down guys just like him. Is that really the future you want for yourself?

Cait is completely against it and will be very vocal about it. She’ll grip her bat that’s slung over her shoulders and sneer at the raider standing beside you in disgust. She knows exactly what kind of person he is and will demand outright that you break up with him. She cares for you, and she won’t let you ruin yourself with this guy. However, if Gage starts arguing with her, she'll swing at him so quickly. There's not a universe where these two ever get along with each other. It's best you don't introduce the two at all.

Out of all the good men in the Brotherhood, you chose him? Danse is not only confused but disgusted that you'd ever think he'd be ok with you dating a raider. As your higher-up, he'll demand you end things with him or he'll have no choice but to send a squadron to slaughter him and the rest of the raiders in Nuka-World. You're choice.

Preston is not only baffled but distraught as well. Did you not realize what he was? You’re technically not from this world, so maybe you missed the signs?? He’ll pull you aside, hands firmly planted on your shoulders as he tells you you need to end things with him. He’s not an ally of the Minutemen, he's the exact thing you've sworn to be against. If you refuse to see it from his perspective, he'll have no choice but to exile you from the faction. You actively put people in danger by bringing him straight into the Castle, and he won't have anyone die needless deaths at the hands of someone like him.

Codsworth lets out a quiet "oh my!" when he spots Gage. He's quite the change from your old spouse, isn't he? A lot more rugged than he remembers your type being, but that doesn't mean his personality is much different... right? Codsworth is incredibly concerned for your well-being when you bring your boyfriend around. Are you sure you aren't sick? He's not keeping you hostage? He's snarky about the entire relationship, and won't stop making conversation awkward by bringing up your dead spouse, but he'll reluctantly be supportive. As long as you're happy, he supposes.

Piper will shove him away from you and threaten to get security if he doesn't get lost. She's amazed at the fact you chose him instead of literally anyone else in the Commonwealth and, as much as she loves you, she'd not going to blindly support a relationship she knows won't end in anything good. Piper will be annoying about how badly she wants you both to break up and won't stop pestering you until you do. Just be sure to keep an eye on Gage, if she keeps putting hands on him, he might start doing it back.

Curie is confused when you introduce him. Mainly because she only ever remembers the two of you shooting at raiders, not being friendly with them. Nevertheless, she's happy for you and will clasp her hands together excitedly at the prospect of you being in love! How cute!

Strong is probably one of the only ones on this list who approves. He feels incredibly proud that you've found additional groups of people to lead toward violence and holds a lot of respect for how brutal Gage can be in combat. It's something he really admires, however, he thinks the car parts that he wears look stupid, and he's very vocal about that.

initially, Hancock will act all friendly and kind, welcoming Gage to Goodneighbor and introducing him to the townspeople but, what you didn't know was that he'd arranged for him to be jumped while he was visiting. A sniper shooting at him from a window, a scaver yanking him into an alleyway with a hoard of triggermen, or Kleo simply attacking him; Hancock will hurt him somehow. It's all in your best interest. He'd hate for you to be a part of the wrong side of history, and besides, how could he ever live with himself if he knew he'd let some slave-owning, murderer date you?

Deacon is similar to Hancock in that he puts on a friendly facade when you finally bring Gage around. He acts as if they've known each other for years and will sling an arm around his shoulder and distract him with all sorts of outlandish stories before bringing the Deliverer out of his pocket and shooting him in his side quickly. He knows you'll be upset but, there's no way he'd let you run off to an amusement park filled with human-trafficking victims with this guy. He cares too much about you to let you follow a bunch of raiders.

X6-88 doesn't even wait for you to say anything before he shoots at him. He can tell just by looking at him that he's dirty and not a good fit for Institute life. If anything, he reminds X6 of Kellog, which isn't necessarily a good thing. The only way he'd be willing to accept the relationship is if you proposed for the Nuka-World Raiders to ally with the Institute to do all the heavy lifting on the surface. But that means the gangs would be willing to do something like that. It's a heavy offer, but he'd be content with it.

Old Longfellow will run stressed hands down his face as you and Gage sit opposite of him in a booth at the Last Plank. You can't be serious. Him?? This is the guy you'd been telling him about? It's a no from him before the two of you can even sit down. He wants you to find a man who will take care of you. Someone who's a gentleman. Don't ever bring another raider to meet him, he's never going to approve. He'll tell you that you're an adult and you can make your own decisions, but that he hopes you'll find an honest, hard-working man instead.

[bretonalchemist]

headcanon time !

nick has a really dirty mind, but he's too much of a gentleman to let it out

on the other hand, deacon keeps making sexual jokes/remarks but when someone seriously flirts with him, he gets all flustered

[lastarvek]

fallout 4 companions headcanons (pt.I)

I’ve never really posted anything like this but here we go. Only headcanons for companions I’ve played with so sorry :(

gage likes alcohol. idk why he hates when you drink, it makes no sense. the only thing i can think of is maybe he just doesnt like it when you do it bc its bad for you, but then again, this is a man who chuckles when you jump from extreme heights.

x6-88 is totally a cat person. can't explain, just vibes

danse definitely journals lol. he doesn't mind talking about his feelings, but he finds it much easier to write about it. maybe he picked it up in the brotherhood, since there doesn't seem to be any counselling available.

dogmeat takes forever to learn tricks, but when he does he will remember them forever! not saying he isn't smart bc i know he is mostly (if not all?) german shephard, but he definitely is more of a protector pup than a show pony. (my dog also is a very slow learner lol)

[theoverboss]

give me ur maccready headcanons GO 🎤

•MaCcready will literally sleep anywhere and everywhere. It doesn't matter if you even give him a bed- he most likely won't even sleep on it.

“Hey I got this bed set up for you, I hope its good enough for you to re-”

Soul looks behind them only to find him sleeping sitting up in a half broken chair, tattered hat over his eyes. He's borderline snoring.

•He won't admit it but if you give him space of his own he will start a collection of pre-war toys. He hasn't stayed in one place since he was sixteen still living in little lamplight so having a room to himself is a lot for the guy. He's been moving around for years with no real structure in his life. You will never catch him doing it because he's that good but he will pick literally any toy up and stash it in his pockets until he gets back to his place. I'm talking shelves of Nuka-trucks, alien toys, and nuka-plushes, dude even has a magnet collection from when Soul beings him to Nuka-World.

• Won't admit it but hates being alone at night. Ever since the night his wife passed away in the subway, he can't be alone. He most likely sets up a room in a house or structure that has other people he knows will be awake at night. As long as someone is awake that he trusts, he can rest east for the night.

•He writes letters to his son but never sends them. When he gets the cute to his sons sickness he ends up giving both the cure and at least one letter to his friend to give to Dunken. Somewhere in the commonwealth is a stash of letters hidden in some random safe.

• His handwriting is amazing shut up no one can tell me any different. When he was just a little kid in little lamplight he found dozons of cursive letter sheets that the original pre-war school kids wrote to pass the time. At first it was just because he was bored of sitting around. But over time he knew that he would need to know how to read and write so he just started using them as a teaching tool to learn how to write. He didn't know until he left the caves that it wasn't all that normal to write in cursive.

Ask box is always open, like, repost, ask away! (TheOverBoss 2024-****)

[wastelandbfs]

Fallout 4 Companions Headcanons : Driving

(If I've missed a companion it's because I don't have an HC for them for this topic)

Hancock - The ultimate passenger princess. He's high 98% of the time and knows better than to operate heavy machinery.

Danse - He's a rule-follower, but sometimes, when no ones looking, he'll sneak over the speed limit and will feel like a massive rebel while doing it.

Preston - Slower than your granny on an icy road. He's the quintessential careful driver. He's courteous and always indicates, but God forbid you want to go anywhere faster than 30 miles an hour.

Deacon - Somehow manages to know all the backroutes and quick ways through town. Journey says it takes 30 minutes? He'll have you there in 10 and will have spent half of that driving round places he used to live and pointing them out to you with increasingly unhinged backstories.

MacCready - Asshole. He knows what lanes to get in to undercut traffic. He'll flip you off even when you have right-of-way. He's definitely driving uninsured and is the kinda guy to leave a note saying 'i hit your car, my bad' before driving off.

X6-88 - Rides a motorcycle and does not fuck about. Looks good in leathers (and knows it), and loves any excuse to make you scream and hang on for dear life as he zips through traffic.

Cait - She knows her way around a car and hotdamn if she doesn't look good while doing it. One hand on the wheel and the other on your knee, she's so competent its sexy. She does that one hand over your head-rest and one hand doing the turny thing when reversing. Hot.

Piper - She talks with her hands and spends more time looking at whoever she's talking to than the road. Her car is more dings and scratches than actual car at this point.

Strong - He's only interested in Monster-Trucks and smashing.

Dogmeat - He's in a sidecar being the bestest boy.

Curie - Absolutely oblivious to everything. She has no hazard awareness and tends to go pretty slow because she's too busy pointing out cute dogs. Definitely gets into a crash within a week of passing her test.

Nick Valentine - Sensible. You need someone to pick you up from the airport at 3am? Nick's your guy. He's confident but careful and would definitely pull over to help out someone broken down on the side of the road.

[fistosmechanicaldong]

I feel like you wouldn't be able to trust Hancock with your drink

Not because he'd put anything in it, but because he'd end up drinking it himself

[sealz888]

I'd love to hear some Hancock headcanons if you have any!

ANON. I AM SO SORRY FOR PULLING A CENTRELINK ON YOU. THIS WAS SENT TO ME IN FUCKING JANUARY 20TH IT'S NOW MARCH IM SO SORRY. HERE THEY ARE. I DON'T HAVE A LOT BUT HERE MY ANON, TAKE THEM.

John Hancock

Definitely believes in your family is the friends you make not the one you’re born with.

Definitely had chem problems as a teenager, they put him into rehab and it sort of worked

Knew Nick Valentine even as a kid. They’re pretty solid friends, but sees Nick as a father figure.

Deep down always respected ghouls, especially pre-war ghouls. To survive one of the most horrific events in history, loose all your skin (or hair), still live but be in immense pain. Live with the knowledge that all your loved ones are dead, all the pre-war comforts gone with them. Then to be hunted and persecuted by a few groups just for simply existing. Awful. And did I *mention the long ass life?* His respect for them only skyrocketed after the anti-ghoul law was implemented.

Has an intense fascination and interest in pre-war artifacts and culture, but, doesn’t care about history, being drawn to John Hancock was just a random fluke. He often hangs around pre-war ghouls in hopes they’d tell him a story or two.

He’s always been incredibly rowdy, and the parties he’d throw in diamond city? Absolutely insane and wild. They even got wilder once he became Mayor of Goodneighbor. 

Genuinely did not care for history sober, but on mentats? oh boy…. He took some mentats before he took that radiation chem hence his John Hancock persona. 

Here’s a particular headcanon about the drug he took: it was produced by West-tek was trialled as a chemo drug, however, it was actually a drug to learn more about ghoulification. As we already know, there were two instances of people going ghoul pre-war, and I’d assume that there were many more (notably the nuclear summer of New York, the nuking of the Middle East and even as far back as Hiroshima and Nagasaki. If i’ve made a mistake or forgot to mention any particular pieces of lore let me know) People definitely knew about ghoulification, or- the government and corporations, but they managed to keep it hush hush and convinced people that they were rumours. Anyway, this drug was trialled on stage 4 and 5 cancer patients to see if ghoulification could reverse cancer or pre-existing illness. 

[sirmanmister]

One headcanon I have about synths is that they’re entirely organic except for two things: the plastic chip in their head, and their TEETH, which are made out of ceramic, and every single set is cast from the same mould.

Normal human teeth are already weird enough, so when you’re actively fucking with genetics I imagine things very easily go haywire with their jaws and mouths and it causes a lot of pain/is “unsightly” so the Institute just decided fuck it and instead of messing around with whatever needs-braces gene they gave the synths, it’s easier to just remove the organic teeth and implant new ones. But there’s no reason to make more than one mould, so every single gen 3 synth has the exact same set.

So theoretically somebody could identify every single synth out there with a 100% success rate, but 1) wasteland dentistry is in the GUTTER, and 2) who the hell would compare teeth?? Even if somebody did a full body examination and learned the teeth are ceramic, there would be no reason to compare to those of another synth.

[3m-l0st]

Father Nick Valentine?

I know most people find Nick attractive and wished that he could be a romantic companion which i do agree with, but I see him more of a father figure than anything else and I wish that there were more Dad Nick fanfics with him and the player and also with Ellie. Mostly Ellie cause just something about them screams Father and Daughter to me.

[acidstrike]

yk what fuck it fallout 4 gender headcanons bc fite me >:p

Cait: Cisgender she/her girlboss. Total ally tho bc she’s not a monster

Codsworth: Robot, has no concept of gender, he/it for convenience sake

Curie: Pre-synth, no concept of gender, as a synth feels comfortable as a demigirl, probably uses she/they/it but is open to explore pronouns in the name of science

Danse: If anyone’s transphobic he’s the most likely before blind betrayal, but afterwards he has a crisis and finds out people are swag, he/him

Deacon: Hooo boy, we love this silly dude. Genderfluid, whatever gender sells the disguise better, any pronouns (bro doesn’t care at all)

Dogmeat: no gender only dog

Hancock: totally not projecting trans dude, he/him (srsly look at him and tell me he’s cisgender)

MacCready: Silly rat bastard man (affectionate), cisgender he/they swag

Nick: Isn’t attached to any gender in particular, just says he’s male for convenience sake, he/him

Piper: yk she had an identity crisis in her teens but realised she was just a lesbian all along, cis she/her (totally alright to explore your identity btw just in case y’all forgot)

Preston: The most awkward cis ally you’ll ever meet, definitely the type to apologise profusely and beg to like die or smth for using the wrong pronouns once, he/him pronouns but doesn’t think about it much

Strong: fuckin………. super mutant???? doesn’t know about gender identities and doesn’t care, they/he

X6-88: “that’s unimportant right now, ma’am/sir” nobody actually knows… not even X6. any pronouns???? (be careful experimenting with pronouns when talking to them, you might get shot)

[everydayyoulovemeless]

[MacCready Idolizes You]

➼ Word Count » 0.4k ➼ Warnings » None ➼ Summary » Headcanons based on how MacCready treats you once Idolized.

MacCready pulls you into the biggest hug after you help get the serum for him. He's so incredibly grateful and might even start crying into your shoulder if you hug him back.

The entire event has made him consider giving Duncan a middle name based on you, but he won't tell you that. Nevertheless, fully expect to take on the role of his Godfather/mother cause you've already been given it, whether you wanted to or not.

He likes to take borrow some of the magazines and comics you've collected. A lot of the time you'll find him just sitting in the corner flipping through them.

MacCready actually really likes to help the settlers with their farm. Every night he'll come over to your house and drop off some vegetables for you.

Likes to see how many gunners either of you can snipe within a certain time period. It's a therapeutic game for him.

He loves hiking across the Commonwealth with caravans and would gladly bring you along to camp and joke around with as you defended the traders.

MacCready loves going to pubs with you, even if neither of you ends up drinking. There’s just something so refreshing about sitting in a booth at the Dugout Inn and telling each other stories of your past.

Throws his hat on top of your head a lot.

He relies a lot on you to keep him in check on whether he’s being a good person or not. He feels like he's in the clear whenever you allow him around Shaun.

When you both feel ready, he’ll ask if he can bury the little toy soldier he gave Lucy with something sentimental of your spouse’s to really give them both the proper burial they deserved.

He’ll end up being your roommate whether you wanted him to or not. He can’t help but feel comfortable around you and in your home, so he just kinda moves in.

Just cause y’all are closer doesn’t mean he’s stopped being your hired bodyguard. Just keep it in mind anytime someone starts an argument with you.

He'll make a very sorry attempt at decorating whenever you dismiss him to a settlement. He tries his best, he's just horrible at interior design.

Very physically affectionate. He likes to throw his arm around you or even just simply pat your back whenever the two of you survived something dangerous.

Honestly, though, MacCready's just happy to have found a close bond like he remembered having at Little Lamplight. It means a lot that you've put up with him for this long and, at this point, there's nothing you could do to get rid of him.

[dramaticpandabear]

To my fellow fallout nerds here’s a poll for you. I have my own opinions on this topic too so feel free to put your reasonings in the comments or tags:

My thoughts under the cut:

In my humble opinion, I believe ten-year old Shaun is NOT a synth because the timeline and age seems off if he is. Rooting through Kellogg’s memories, Kellogg looks the same when he kidnaps Shaun and raises him in Diamond City. Furthermore, to make a synth child just to lure the sole survivor doesn’t make much sense scientifically for the Institute. A child synth would waste resources because people will clearly see that he doesn’t age, so he can’t be a spy in the long term. Why waste resources for one experiment? Personally, I think the Institute would rely on the illusion of such a possibility rather than actually making a synth.

Hence, I believe the Institute raised Shaun for ten years, brainwashed him so that the “code” father says would just make him fall asleep (as if he were a sleeper agent). To me, it seems much more practical and efficient for their experiment to have Father pose as your son while your real son poses as a “synth” to see if you would 1) accept your son regardless of age, and 2) accept him even if he wasn’t “real” in the same way placebos are used in certain experiments.

However, I do see why the Institute would make a child synth. Firstly, it gives them the opportunity to test whether a parent would choose to have their child and raise them even if they were a synth replacement. Secondly, they would probably make a child synth simply to test whether they can. Regarding Kellogg’s age, it is confirmed that he used Institute technology to extend his life, so maybe his appearance wasn’t altered by time due to that technology.

So, maybe child Shaun really is a synth, but personally, my head canon is that he isn’t because logistically, I feel the Institute would just want to psychologically experiment with the sole survivor rather than waste resources on said experiment. Either way, it’s so sad that, even after Father’s death, the Institute still runs an experiment on the Sole Survivor when you think about it.