#he's like codsworth but like slightly more mean. just by a little bit though

[irradiated-radiance]

Sole: Thank you both

Codsworth: Of course, happy to help!

Hellsworth: Why wouldn't I do it for you, asshole?

[that-blue-vault-dweller]

That was depressing. :'( Maybe a fixer-upper? Companions react to Sole coming back? Maybe they apologize to their friends and wanna try again?

Here is some healing and a peace offering for you guys 💙💛 After that last post, I think we all needed it, lol. I hope you enjoy!

Cait - Hardly believes her eyes when F!Sole comes heading down the stairs of the Third Rail. She almost thinks that it's some twist of cruel fate and F!Sole is just back to yell at her and kick her more for something that she already berates and destroys herself for every day. But when F!Sole softly cups the side of her face, questioning softly and heartbrokenly about what had happened to Cait, the redhead launches herself out of her stupor and snatches F!Sole in one of those infamous bone-crushing hugs that she's so well-known for. Even though she is drunk off of her rear end, she knows that this is real. It feels, smells, and sounds too much like F!Sole not to be. She is blubbering all manners of apologies and explanations and anything she can think of to make F!Sole stay. It takes her a considerable amount of time to realize that F!Sole has guided them both to the back room on a couch and is carefully yet firmly explaining that Cait has nothing to be sorry for and that it is entirely F!Sole's own fault. For a while after that, she takes deep, shaking breaths as she just squeezes the woman as tightly as she can in an attempt to assure herself that she's still there with her. Eventually she falls asleep against F!Sole, finding herself the most comfortable she has been in days.

Piper - Almost can't believe the sight before her. When she answers the door, she most certainly did not expect to come face to face with the last person who wanted to see her. There was a deep regret and sadness shining in F!Sole's eyes, but before she could speak, Piper had launched herself onto her, clinging tightly and whispering constant apologies amidst lots of tears. When F!Sole wraps her arms around her, replying in that smooth, calming tone that all was forgiven and not to worry and that she should be the one apologizing instead, Piper only cries harder. She squeezes the life out of her Blue, vowing never to let her go again. In fact, she drags her into her house and forces her to just sit on the couch with her for a long time and they just hold each other until Piper calms down enough to talk.

Curie - When she sees F!Sole, she feels her heart clench and she almost cannot even move as she completely collapses into tears, and F!Sole has to head over to her and hold the poor, sniveling girl in her arms as she just cries it all out, pitifully sobbing about how sorry she is for whatever she said or did, and F!Sole just whispers comforting words, apologizing for breaking her promise and leaving Curie all alone in the world. Curie eventually gets ahold of herself well enough to control her arms again and wrap them around F!Sole's waist tightly. She is so, so thankful to have Madame back with her again, and she already feels so much safer and happier. F!Sole is crying a little, too, and Curie feels her heart squeezing again as she readjusts and holds on even tighter.

MacCready - Almost falls off of his chair when he sees her approach his house in the Capital Wasteland. She is standing there with a group of Minutemen behind her who obviously helped escort her there. She tells them something and they all take a moment to have a break. She then heads over to MacCready. He takes a look around, seeing that Duncan is playing in the yard at a safe enough distance away for the two of them to talk privately. As soon as she has stepped up on his front porch, he stands up and apologizes to her somewhat awkwardly. F!Sole explains that she is sorry instead and they spend a lot of time discussing things. He eventually introduces her to Duncan and they begin to make plans to head back to the Commonwealth together. Only two days later, they head home with Duncan in tow.

Deacon - Is very, very surprised when she approaches him when he is undercover spying on her. Those kind eyes are filled with love and care, and he is honestly not sure whether he is slightly skeptical or if he is just endlessly grateful for the fact that she is not yelling and angry still. She sits next to him and he tries to keep up the act in whatever role he has taken up. That is, until she snatches off the phony wig or hat and the sunglasses, dropping them on his lap as she looks into his eyes. He sighs deeply and apologizes for acting the way he did and upsetting her so horribly. She shakes her head, expressing that he is not the one that needs to apologize. In the end, she hugs him tightly, despite his uncomfortableness, but this time, it actually feels a lot nicer than usual. If it means she's back and won't leave again, he can suffer through as many hugs as he has to.

Codsworth - As he lives and breathes, he cannot believe that he is actually looking at F!Sole. He wastes no time in hovering over to her as fast as he can. She gently places her hands on his metal sides and steadies him as he begins to stumble over himself as quickly as he can, apologizing for his awful behavior. She just shakes her head, looking into one of his eyes and explaining that she was the one with the awful behavior. She wastes no time in hugging him the best she can considering all of his many appendages. He happily sighs and pats her back gently with a pincer. He is so relieved to have his mistress back and to finally have the one person that cares about him back into his life.

Hancock - Thinks he must be on either the best or worst trip of his life as F!Sole walks in through the door of his office, those beautiful eyes staring him down with none of the fire that they held in them when he last saw her. He raises up a bit from his place on the couch, but she comes to him, taking a hand and sweeping away all of the remainders of jet, psycho, whatever other chems he has been stuffing himself with. He immediately feels a great amount of guilt about not only the situation between them but also the fact that he has so unashamedly let himself fall apart like this. F!Sole, however, does not judge, and she simply starts to apologize for getting mad and leaving. He shakes his head and tries to apologize instead, but she stops him, insisting that it is she who should be sorry. After a moment of looking at her, he opens his arms and she happily falls into them, hugging him tightly. He just holds her for a long time, and they wait for his most recent high to disappear so he can truly converse with her for the first time in what feels like forever.

Danse - Is completely shocked when he hears her voice behind him. He carefully stands up, staring at her and he swallows hard, looking down at the ground and anywhere but her face. She comes closer to him, and he apologizes to her quickly. She shakes her head and negates his apology instead uttering her own as she stands just before him, trying to catch his gaze. Finally, she gently touches his chin and he immediately looks into her eyes. She stares at him for a long time, and he knows that she sees all of his pain, guilt, and sadness. He is not even trying to hide them at this point. However, she just shakes her head after a moment and embraces him carefully. He freezes for only a moment before slouching down to her level, allowing her to hold some of his weight as he presses his forehead to her shoulder. He just breathes her in carefully as she gently runs her fingers through his hair and reassures him quietly. He soon realizes that he is crying as a few tears slide down his cheeks silently. He just hugs her gently yet firmly, and they stand there for a long time, just hugging it out as she whispers how much he means to her and refills him with his lost sense of self-worth.

Preston - Is so thankful and shocked to see her that he almost does not know what to do. However, he quickly makes his way over to her as Minutemen are greeting their true general. He asks her if they can speak somewhere more privately. When they are alone, he proceeds to apologize for his actions and explain how inexcusable they were and how he should not have ever done it. She places a hand on his, and shakes her head, explaining how she is truly at fault. He just sighs and shakes his head before hugging her carefully. When he finally pulls away, he removes the general hat he has started wearing and he offers it to her, asking if she will be the general of the Minutemen once again. When she agrees, he feels all of the weight lifting from his chest and he feels happier than he has in weeks.

Valentine - Is just sitting in his agency when she walks through the door. As soon as she does, he drops his pen, looking at her as if she had sprouted two extra heads. She quietly asks if the seat in front of him is taken, and he gestures to it easily, encouraging her to sit. Ellie wastes no time in excusing herself to allow them to speak. After a few beats of silence, they both start to apologize at the same time. They both chuckle at that, and F!Sole explains how she is the one in the wrong. He shakes his head wordlessly, knowing the truth, and she reaches across the table, taking his hands and squeezing them before standing up and heading over to hug him. He feels all of the pieces mending themselves as he holds her in his arms, just enjoying her closeness. He will never mess this up again.

X6-88 - Is exceedingly surprised to see her as she teleports into the Institute just before he reports his failure to maintain her trust. She greets him somewhat breathlessly and apologizes to him before he has a chance to express his own regret. He blinks and stares at her before proceeding to apologize anyway despite her protests. She gently places her hands on his shoulders, and he felt something strange bubble in his stomach as she looked at him with such affection and kindness. He found that he liked this feeling much better than the one he got while thinking of that same face contorted with anger.

Dogmeat - Raises his head up, looking at the sunrise. He looks a bit harder, staring intently since he is sure he saw something moving on the horizon. Sure enough, he starts to make out the form of a person running. His ears perk up and he sniffs the air. Before she even gets to him, he smells that comforting scent. He wiggles a bit in place, but he is scared to hope. What if she gets mad at him again and yells at him some more? However, when she finally reaches the truck stop, she pauses, looking at him carefully. He wags his tail reluctantly but hopefully, not coming to her just yet. After a moment, she hesitantly and carefully approaches him, holding out her hand gently. He wants to sniff it and lick it so badly, but he waits. He does not shy away from it, though, when it gently meets the side of his head. After only a moment, she is stroking him with both hands and crying for some reason, saying the same two words over and over. She does not smell angry, and he actually smells shame and love coming off of her in waves. So he happily forgives his favorite person in the world, licking her tears away and snuggling into her grasp as he always did before.

Strong - As soon as he sees her, he starts to try to attack. However, she quickly raises her arms up in a placating gesture and apologizes repeatedly, trying to get him to listen. He pauses, but he is still angry. He finally decides not to smash her. However, he does not forgive her until she hands him a specially-modified board with razor wire, barbed wire, and nails coating the end. He then begrudgingly forgives her, and it does not take him long to return to his usual self around her.

[x688plsloveme]

Companions react to someone saying something Insanely insulting to them and a usually calm Sole loses their shit, as in whoops their ass?

In their pre-war profession, Sole learned to take a lot of shit. They even had a retail job when they were a teenager, so most of what the average wastelander could spit out was usually nothing in comparison.

They'd just pretend the person in front of them was a usual customer and tune them out until they were done. Most regarded them as having the patience of a saint. They just thought it was due to not growing up in an overly impatient wasteland.

Either way, Sole had never even come close to the volume that they used on this idiot.

No one talked bad about their friends, no one. So when they heard the insults thrown at one of their best friends? They went off. Hurling anything and everything that came to mind at the dumb wastelander that thought it was a good idea to mess with them and theirs.

ADA: Although she wasn't hurt by the random human she didn't even care to know, she was touched by Sole's anger on her behalf. She was a tad surprised that her usually mellow was acting in such a way, but quickly adapted to the situation. She allowed Sole to continue their loud ranting for a few moments longer until gently stopping them. "Before he urinated on himself." Was her excuse. Sole snorted and told her it'd be funny, but ultimately let him go because Ada was probably right.

CAIT: The only thing that could've stopped her from punching the waster's lights out herself was the shock she saw from her well mannered friend. It literally stopped her mid-punch. All she could do was look slack mouthed as Sole ripped into the man in front of them verbally. They were usually the one who told her to ease up on her aggression, so seeing this was a treat indeed.

CODSWORTH: The only other time he saw his sir/mum blow up so.... Loudly. Was when they thought their spouse was cheating on them. To see them so upset over someone calling a mere Mr Handy names...it was truly moving. He was sure to clean up around their settlement extra meticulously as thanks.

CURIE: Sole was a sweet person, particularly to her who didn't know the ways of the wasteland quite yet. They were always calm and collected and Curie always admired them for it. Especially in a proverbial hell hole such as this. So the loud, started gasp she let out at Sole's outburst was very much granted. She had a million questions running through her mind that she had to ask as soon as possible. And she did, right after Sole drove away the rude man that sparked their wrath.

DANSE: He was very grateful to his friend for sticking up for him so readily. He didn't have the best mental state, and it seemed Sole picked up on how the insults were affecting him. He guessed that someone that would save his life would care enough to stand up for him, but seeing it - especially from such a nice person - was something else. He gave them a very long hug afterwards.

DEACON: He feels like he should be most surprised of all, seeing as he had been following them up until they discovered the railroad. Not once has Sole ever raised their voice that high, let alone rudely and directed towards another person. He was frozen in place, completely shell shocked. It was only later that he realized they blew a fuse because of what that nobody waster was saying about him. He felt tears as he thought about how much Sole has to care about him even though they don't really know him. He vowed to tell them the real, genuine truth next time he saw them.

DOGMEAT: He was a smart dog, but not even he could keep up with all the strange words Sole used. He had no idea what a "mutfruit humper" was, but he did recognize the angry tone his owner was using. He decided to help by growling alongside Sole to back them up. He kept rapt attention to the now distressed waster that was the object of their wrath in case they tried anything funny. After the whole ordeal was over, Sole spoiled him a little harder than usual, much to his immense pleasure. Extra snacks are always a good thing in his book.

HANCOCK: "I always knew you had in in ya Sole!" He proceeds to laugh until his stomach hurts. Seeing someone as calm as Sole losing it? Comedy gold in his eyes. He does give his best friend a hug when they're done though. He appreciates them so, so much for caring about a worthless ghoul like him. Doesn't mean he's not gonna retell this story to each and everyone of Sole's friends though.

GAGE: When he heard the yelling, he just thought it was more raiders causing a ruckus as usual. But when he identified the voice as his one and only calm overboss, he did a double take. Even as the boss of raiders, he had never seen Sole blow up at anybody, let alone raise their voice. He knew they were loyal sort, but he didn't know it was to this extent. It made his otherwise cold heart warm a bit at the thought that he was one of the people his boss was fiercely loyal to.

LONGFELLOW: He didn't have many people close in his life, so Sole was like a ray of sunshine in an otherwise foggy world. They were very pleasant to get along with and actually seemed to enjoy his stories, which was rare with people that young. They would often sit next to each other in complete silence and just relax without any awkwardness whatsoever. He didn't believe what the others told him about them going ape-shit on people who've insulted their friends until he saw it himself. Now... He enjoyed the calm and quiet, but he would be a liar if this wasn't the funniest shit he'd ever seen. When they were done scaring away the waster that had the bad luck of running into them, he pat an out of breath Sole with a smile on his face.

MACCREADY: He always thought himself as a pretty laid-back guy, but not even he could hold a candle to have chill Sole was. He never ever ever thought he'd EVER see them yell at somebody over a couple insults. Sure, they were directed at a close friend, but it was still jarring. Heck, seeing them flip reminded him of his younger years when the Lone Wanderer would scold him for being rude. He almost let out a few involuntary sorrys himself.

PIPER: As someone who liked getting Intel on everyone and everything, Piper was curious to what Sole looked like when they got truly mad. She heard everything from amusing to scary and just about everything in between, but all she wanted to do was see it for herself. It took a while of her tagging along whenever Sole went, but it was well worth it when some rando finally picked on her bad enough that it send Sole over the edge. Seeing it for herself, she could attest that all of their comments were correct ones.

PRESTON: He didn't like yelling at all, which is part of the reason he enjoyed Sole's company so much. He had never seen anyone so composed while face danger or the rare rude retort. They always took care of it gracefully. No one glanced twice at a mere minuteman soldier like himself, so he had never been witness to one of Sole's rare "blow ups" that he had heard from some of their other friends. But the day it happened.... Well let's just say he was very humbled for not only being cared about so much, but also the sheer force of their yelling was scary enough to remind him of him mother whenever his siblings got into trouble.

STRONG: Needless to say, he is very happy with these turn of events even if he doesn't quite grasp why Sole is doing this. As it stands, it hypes him up to the point that he joins in the yelling and the two of them make whoever was foolish enough to insult him in front of Sole scared out of their minds.

VALENTINE: He always appreciated how calm and collected his friend was. They were always on the same page in that sense. Never letting anything bother them for too long, even if it was truly personal. Just looking ahead and forgetting about things that could sway them from their goals. Nothing could have surprised him more than Sole suddenly started screaming at a particularly rude waster that would not leave him alone. He didn't even know his friend was there until they started screaming. It made him happy to know that the one time they lose their cool, it was for him.

X6-88: No one admires Sole like he does. There's no one else that could earn his respect, let alone friendship. His friend was always on his wavelength - serene and collected in even the most stressful situations. Sure, no one had insulted him quite like the random waster, but he was ready to scoff and brush him off like any other. He refused to admit that he was hurt even slightly, but it seemed like Sole was as sharp as ever and picked up on it. He never in a million years would've guessed that they could carefully and precisely cut into a person with mere words. But he also never guessed that Sole would ever raise their voice so he supposes surprises are a given. As he watched his one and only friend defend him, he let a small, rare smile show on his face.

[theggning]

Codsworth Is So Underrated, You Guys

ALTERNATE TITLE: Codsworth and the Totally Understated Mindbending Evolution of Artificial Consciousness

I find Codsworth is often the most underrated of the 16 companions in Fallout 4. Your faithful robot butler is among the very first you can recruit and an excellent early-game ally, but he has a few disadvantages in gameplay that mean he’s often sent back to Sanctuary before long. Codsworth is a mid-to-close range fighter only, cannot wear armor or be equipped with weapons. He cannot be healed by stimpak, which makes him a liability if you’re playing on Survival mode. He has no companion quest of his own, so unless you particularly enjoy him there’s not a compelling reason to keep him for a long time. He also becomes recruitable exactly 2 minutes after adorable puppy Best Boy Dogmeat, so he is often (understandably) replaced just as soon as he’s made available.

But there is this great, completely understated facet to Codsworth, so understated that the game does not draw attention to it in any way. And yet, it is a wonderful reflection of many of the themes of Fallout 4 and, I believe, a pretty strong indication of its thesis statement.

Now what in the hell am I talking about?

Like many sci-fi/fantasy universes, the Fallout series is home to many highly-advanced robots. Robots were commonplace before the Great War, and many have survived the bombs intact and in working order. Others have been built or modified by wastelanders to serve various tasks (Percy, Ada.) The most important thing to understand about robots, though, is though they may have vivid personalities programmed in, they are widely accepted to be objects. They are thought of the same way as an appliance, a machine built for a specific purpose and programmed to follow a strict set of protocols.

Many jokes revolve around the relatively rigid intelligence of robots. Pre-War, many were deployed in inappropriate jobs or designed haphazardly (Mister Handies acting as nurses in a hospital, “paramedic” Protectrons with massive deadly tasers for hands, military robots constantly going haywire and erupting in friendly fire.) Others continue to man businesses and play out daily tasks as they were programmed to do over 200 years ago. Most robots are incapable of understanding anything beyond their initial programming, and most pre-War robots are completely unaware that the Great War ever happened.

When the Sole Survivor reunites with Codsworth at the ruins of their home, it seems like he, too, doesn’t understand what’s going on. He talks about tending the (dead) garden, references the (ghoulified) neighbors, and generally acts like the chipper robot butler Sole left behind on their way to Vault 111.

But there is something slightly… off in Codsworth’s dialogue here. Though he acts like the war never happened, he also specifically mentions details that suggest it did:

Player Default: Codsworth! You're still... fully operational?          

Codsworth: {Defiant} Well of course, mum. You can thank the fine engineers at General Atomics for that! At least, you could have. Had they not been... vaporized.

A bit over 210 actually, mum. Give or take a little for the Earth's rotation and some minor dings to the ole' chronometer. That means you're two centuries late for dinner! Ha ha ha. Perhaps I can whip you up a snack? You must be famished.

You've no idea the desperation for human contact one develops over 200 years. {Upset, recalling bad memories of encountering raiders and scavengers. / Disgust} And when you do encounter them? Oh the cruelty! You're either... target practice or... spare parts!

Even stranger, Codsworth mentions details that are plainly made-up (or some kind of delusion):

Codsworth: It's been ages since we've had a proper family activity. Checkers. Or perhaps charades. Shaun does so love that game. Is the lad... with you...?   

Player Default: Codsworth... listen to me carefully... have you seen him? Have you seen Shaun?              

Codsworth: Why, sir had him last, remember? Perhaps he's gone to the Parker residence to arrange a play-date?

(Shaun is an infant. He is too young to play charades or to go to the neighbors for a play-date.)

So at once, Codsworth does and does not acknowledge the war. He does and does not seem to understand what’s happened, and he does and does not seem to follow Sole’s urgency regarding their spouse’s death and Shaun’s kidnapping.

And then, after a speech check, Codsworth finally snaps and breaks down sobbing in despair. Not only does he understand that the war happened, he has developed the ability to get depressed about it. Longing for human contact and with nothing else to do, he’s even developed coping mechanisms to help him try to deal with his loneliness and despair—futilely trying to do his chores and deluding himself into pretending everything is completely normal.

Wait a minute. Sobbing? Despair? Depression? Coping mechanisms and delusions? This Is all pretty sophisticated stuff to be programmed into a robot, and if you spend more time with Codsworth, the reality of what’s happened to him becomes apparent:

Codsworth has evolved beyond his programming. In his 210 lonely years of existence, he has developed emotional reactions and self-awareness far beyond that of most other robots, and, indeed, has basically evolved an artificial consciousness.

“Emergent intelligence” is the theoretical ability of an AI to eventually develop something resembling human thought processes, and it seems that our dear Codsworth has undergone this. Traveling with him, he displays many sophisticated thoughts and behaviors far beyond what most robots are shown to be capable of. He has memories of pre-War time and places, and understands how various locations have changed. He is capable of learning new information and forming opinions on it, gaining his own understanding of the people and factions in the Commonwealth. He can feel happiness, sorrow, fear, disgust. He can anticipate things, predict danger and imagine how people might respond to your actions. The mere he fact he has opinions and a moral code that he applies to you shows he has free will, something even other robot companions don’t (Ada has a personality, but absolutely does not care about your actions.)

He’s also smart enough to make many wry observational jokes, and to lay one hell of a sick burn on you:

{Joking - Found an old bowling alley. / Amused} Fancy a game, mum? Something tells me the bumpers are no longer available.

 Codsworth’s intelligence is even more sophisticated than that. He displays stunning self-awareness, frequently referencing the fact he is a robot and what that means. He is very proud of his background as General Atomics’ finest, and seems pleased with his robot nature and his lot in life. (Unlike Curie, I don’t think Codsworth would ever really want to gain a synth body. He seems quite happy as he is.)

Here he is making reference to still feeling the tug of his programming:

{Seeing an office with chairs arranged in a circle. / Neutral} I've the most incredible urge to rearrange those chairs in a more perfect circle.

Understanding when other robots are restricted by theirs:

A pity. It appears Deezer's programming is too severe to allow for normal conversation. Ah well.

And when they’re actually not:

Codsworth: Greetings, sir. Good to see another robot in town. That chef hat becomes you.

Takahashi: Nan-ni shimasho-ka?

Codsworth: Takahashi you say? I'm Codsworth, a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Takahashi: Nan-ni shimasho-ka?              

Codsworth: Is that so? Well, we both know RobCo is no General Atomics. It's not surprising it failed, shoddy work and all.  {Friendly - trying to cheer up another robot. / Friendly} Chin up, though. Never know when parts may turn up.

 And here’s Galaxy Brain Codsworth ruminating on his own state of being and contemplating his nature:

{Disappointed that he can't be 100% human sometimes. / Sad} It's unfortunate that I lack the proper design to consume liquids. Something about camaraderie over a few drinks is very inviting.            

I suppose if I had the hardware, I'd have the software as well. I'd hate to see how that'd affect my honesty and manner settings.

{Reconsidering what he thought was a good idea. / Thinking} Indeed. Perhaps I should rethink my initial desire.

Hilariously, Codsworth does not seem fully aware of how remarkable his intelligence is. He occasionally says things like “if I had feelings” and “if I could feel things,” indicating that in some ways he still believes he is only a robot and defines himself by what a robot is and does.

But as we can see, our humble robot butler has essentially evolved to become the smartest, most emotionally intelligent and person-like robot in the Commonwealth*, and potentially in the series.

([SIDE NOTE: Other FO4 robots nearing Codsworth’s level of consciousness and developed personality include Captain Ironsides, KLE-O, Whitechapel Charlie, and perhaps Takahashi. Curie is close, but also receives the unfair advantage of being uploaded into a synth body with a human brain. Jezebel also functions off of a human brain. Nick is not a robot, he’s a synth (though he does jokingly refer to himself as one) and also has the advantage of a human brain encoded on his processor.])

Also hilariously, the game basically does not acknowledge Codsworth’s impressive evolution. At all. There is absolutely no direct mention of it in the script. It is all left to ambient dialogue and the player’s own observations. And because so many people overlook Codsworth as a companion, they may not even realize exactly how unique his expanded consciousness is.

Now, you might call this total lack of mention a mistake, an oversight on Bethesda’s part, or that old chestnut “bad writing.” I don’t think it is. I think it’s a deliciously subtle little detail to include in a story about humanity, machines, artificial intelligence, and what makes a person.

Many of the themes of FO4 revolve around synths—distinctly not robots, but androids, artificially created beings with fully organic human bodies. Most of the storyline factions have strong beliefs about synths and the relative humanity thereof. The Institute believes that synths are objects, tools, machines no different from a robot who are only simulating their personalities through programming. The Brotherhood believes synths are monstrous abominations, a danger to humanity itself, technology run amok which needs to be destroyed. The Railroad believes they are people. Not humans, but people, built instead of born, free-thinking beings that deserve to be treated with respect and given rights.

Through quests, dialogue, notes, worldbuilding and other venues, players explore these questions. What makes someone a person? If your personality and memories can be rewritten or programmed, then who are you, really? Where do we draw the line between humans and machines, and how do we decide who belongs where?

Meanwhile, as the player contemplates the nature of personhood and the definition of intelligence, their robot butler quietly evolves into a fully-conscious person on his own, right beside them.

Codsworth is unquestionably a machine, but also unquestionably beyond the appliance he was built to be. Which to some philosophies and players should really beg a few other questions. If a robot can be considered a person, then what makes synths so different? And how many excuses do we have to make to pretend otherwise?

Ya boy Codsworth may not be flashy, or powerful, or kissable. He may not be the most glamorous companion around. But he is a good friend, a beloved member of the family, and above all else, a loyal butler—content to serve, quietly and humbly doing his job where some may never even notice him-- or the fact that he’s casually become his own person and sent generations of roboticists and philosophers spinning in their graves.

[the-sole-macgyver]

This has been rattling in my brain for a while and I didn’t know what react blog to bring it to and I just found yours and well- romanced companions finding out Nate was abusive to F!Sole? Either physically or just emotionally/mentally or both but like it’s been haunting me

Is that so? Well, don’t you worry Anon, I’m here to exorcise that little angst ghost haunting your brain with my sweet ass writing skills.

Prompt:Romanced!companions react to finding out F!Sole was abused by their husband.

Excluded companions:Codsworth,Dogmeat,Strong and Ada. For obvious reasons

Notes: 1.if there are any characters, e.g. : faction leaders or let’s say synth!Codsworth that anyone would like to be included please feel free to ask!

2. i dont know anything about old american law pertaining to abuse other than a quick google search.

3.I have tried to be as respectful as possible regarding this subject, but if anything i have written here comes off uninformed or disrespectful in anyway please let me know, thank you.

Warnings: mentions of abuse- both physical and mental, alcohol use, drug use, swearing under cut, this has also been tagged for easy avoidance. 

Cait:“what did you mean when ya said ya was proud of me?” usually Cait wouldn’t bat an eye at Sole’s use of words when they were complimenting her or giving her affirmation, she’d flush, but she was used to it enough by now that it didn’t catch her wholly off guard like it used to. But Sole’s encouraging and somewhat wishful smile as she’d said that to Cait had always left her wondering, there was something there and what better time to broach the subject then while they were getting ready to call it a day from building defences, the new turrets they’d installed for the Abernathys humming in the background.

Sole sighed then, looking out at the scorched landscape in apparent thought, before she glanced back up at Cait and looked away just quickly “I just, I wish I’d been as strong as you, back then. With Nate.” the last part was said in a hushed, shamed little voice, her hand going to touch her face as if to wipe away some unseen blemish - in a way that had Cait’s hackles raise in indignation “Darlin’? Look at me.” she waited for Sole to come back to herself, to look her in the eyes, and hopefully not notice how she shook with rage at the implication. “Sole. You are one o’ the most fooken’ strongest people I ‘av ever met, whatever he did to you, however he made you feel, know that it don’t define you, that I don’t think any less of you, you hear?” that earned her a slight nod from Sole and, with a strained smile she led Sole back to the farm, it was getting dark and Sole had been working non-stop. There’d be time later, when they had more privacy and Sole was more rested to talk.

Curie:She was always fascinated with Sole, the way she talked and fought for what she believed was right, the way she could move around the battle field so stealthily and cared enough and took the time to teach Curie how to as well always left her with that fluttery feeling in her stomach that was what she believed to be called “butterflies”. Stealth didn’t come naturally to her, not being used to having legs and feet that could make a suprising amount of noise if placed wrong - unlike the quiet continuous hum of a thruster - it had her hyper-aware of Sole and the advice she gave while they were out exploring the Commonwealth, it was on one of these outings, while they were sneaking passed a group of raiders that were holding Caravan Traders hostage that they came across some old, dilapidated wooden stairs, Curie was sure this would pose a problem for them but Sole simply told her to stick as close to the wall as possible while ascending. She marveled at the surprizing lack of noise when they reached the top without a squeak and hid so Sole could plan their next move. She hadn’t meant to ask how a woman who was a lawyer was so good at being quiet, she supposed it was just another quirk of her new body- asking questions unconsciously.

Sole had frowned then, biting her lip and looking at Curie the way she did when she wasn’t sure if she should say something in front of her, it took a moment before Sole finally gave in “Nate was an….unplesant drunk, it paid in the long run to be able to move around the house quietly, especially the stairs…untill we moves to Sanctuary that is..” Sole said this in an even tone, the kind she used when dodging details or putting families at ease over the state of their loved ones passing, though Curie understood the implications she hadn’t understood her own emotional response, was it panic? she wasn’t sure and by the time she had collected herself the conversation was over, Sole already going over their next move- the way she did when she was dodging questions.

Deacon:“You know” she’d laughed, the hoarse kind of laugh that comes from the chest and had Deacon looking at her dubiously. They’d both been drinking - not quite five-sheets-to-the-wind drinking but tipsy enough-, sharing stories and jokes up in the steeple of the old north church, away from the rest of HQ but close enough to make a quick appearance if they were needed. The perfect place for that false sense of privacy.

“You know, Nate he- Nate used to say, he used to say to me- he’d say ‘Sole, you can’t do anything without me’ and that I ’needed him’ but, look!” She gestured wildly at the world below them and didn’t elaborate on what she’d done, he’d been there from day one more or less and had a pretty good grasp on her current list of accomplishments, so to be fair she didn’t need too. “Isn’t that just- isn’t it funny?” She laughed then too, the kind of wet laugh that came from the bottom of the throat and had his stomach twisting, he didn’t know what to say, what could he say? Jokes wouldn’t make this better. In the end he opted on pulling her into an embrace-not a hug- so that his chin rested on top of her head. It was the kind of laugh that wasn’t really a laugh at all, it was the kind of laugh Deacon would do anything not to have her make again, for as long as she’d have him around, and probably longer.

John Hancock: He’d felt like scum the first time it had occurred to him that he was relived Nate was dead, because there was no way Sole would have chosen him over her husband. He’d promised himself he would never mention that to Sole though, he didn’t want to upset her or, God forbid, chase her away with his own insecurities regarding her late husband. And he didn’t have a problem with keeping it to himself, even when they were chemed out and lounging on the couch in his office, he’d used long enough to keep his thoughts to himself when he needed too. Sole, on the other hand, had not and as she was blissed out, head lying on Hancock’s chest and body pleasantly heavy she’d murmured something into the ruffles of his dress shirt.

“Hm?, What was that sunshine?” he nudged her gently so she’d lift, or rather roll, her head to the side so he could hear her. “I said, I love you so much” her lazily mumbled confession put a dopey smile on his face that he couldn’t blame the chems for “I used to love Nate too, but now I don’t think he loved me as much as he said he did” and that wiped the smile off his face just as quickly “Whaddya mean by that?” he scooted up the couch slightly as he said this, just enough to get a better look at her face “He used to say he loved me, but then he’d, he’d just hurt me, and then he’d say that it was my fault, that I made him do those things. You say you love me, and you don’t hurt me, so I think maybe he didn’t love me all that much” she said this in that matter-of-fact way people do when they’re out of it and come to a seemingly obvious conclusion and with that revelation, He held her tighter-snuggling further into the couch and placing a kiss on her cheek.

Hancock wasn’t ashamed to admit he was glad that Nate was dead now, he only regretted not being able to put the bastard down himself.

Nick Valentine:There had been whispers back when the old Nick was alive and though Sanctuary Hills was a bit out of his jurisdiction, and he was drowning in his own grief with the Eddie Winter case, he’d still heard the rumours. He’d heard about how an ex-military type, a supposed war hero had been brought in for a “Domestic disturbance”. But those were different times and though the old Nicks heart had bled for the poor soul this apparent “hero” was going home to, there was nothing he could legally do and, as it often was the case back then, no charges were brought against the man- the whole thing bar the rumours being swept under the rug.

Nowadays Nick usually felt a sense of accomplishment when putting a person to a case, like things were slotting into place, letting him see the bigger picture. But seeing Sole, eyes red and body shaking as she poured out her past lives grievances to him, he felt tired and restless at once, and angry. Mostly he was angry, though whether that was at Nate for doing it or old Nick for not doing something or at the whole damn system for letting it happen he couldn’t say. What he could do now, though, was be there for her, he could try to help her through it now, and he would, he would do something.

Paladin Danse:He’d noticed early on that Sole couldn’t look him in the eye when he talked to her, how she’d shrink away if he stepped too close to her or moved too quickly. At first he simply thought she was intimidated, as the Brotherhood’s presence in the Commonwealth was new and to be fair a man in full power armour was an intimidating sight if you weren’t used to it. Then she’d done the same with Rhys, then later on with Elder Maxson himself and though it had been odd in the paladins opinion that such a capable woman, a woman who had flung herself into a hoard of ferals to assist strangers without batting an eye, would recoil the moment someone talked to her, yet he found himself making excuses for her, after all, Rhys could be abrasive and Elder Maxson had a presence about himself that took some getting used to. And eventually she did get better, with him at least, not good but better.

When his..Synthetic truth had been revealed, and, despite the situation they were in as she stood between him and certain death,her head held high holding Maxson’s gaze, her voice firm, he felt proud that she’d managed despite the fact such things did not come easy to her.

Things were better between them now, much better in fact - without rank making things awkward they could finally treat each other as equals without favoritism being a problem. It was in one of their rare moments alone that she told him, she told him of Nate and his military presence, of his authoritarianism. Dance had once been sure that he could never hate a man more than he did ghouls and mutants and synths, and later he had been sure he could never hate anyone as much as he hated himself. Now he was certain he’d never hate anyone, living or dead as much as he hated Nate.

Porter Gage:”Nate used to hit me.” she said it in that nonchalant way she said most things, but Gage had been around her long enough to know some of her tells, like the way she set her jaw and squared her shoulders. Still the Overboss, still intimidating, but there was an opening, a vulnerability that only he was privy too, the kind that only came with the trust that who you were talking to wasn’t going to stab you in the back the minute it was bared to them.

He snorted, even the idea of someone trying that shit on the woman standing next too him seamed absurd, there wasn’t a raider in Nuka-world that wouldn’t cower at her feet“ Yeh?, bet if he tried that now you’d splatter ‘im up the wall, there’d be nothin’ left of him, ‘sept pulp!” that got a smile out of her, and from the way her shoulders relaxed he could tell he’d hit the nail on the head, her entire demeanour changing to one that said she owned the place, and he wasn’t going to argue with it, “Fuck him.” he affirmed, nodding his head to really get his point across. “Yeah, fuck him.” her voice was stronger this time, and Gage was sure that any residual anger she had over the subject would be put to good use on their next raid. 

Post was getting long, Piper, Preston, Old Longfellow and X6-88 will be added on as a re-blog! ( I just have to proof read them first!)

{EDIT} I’ve just noticed half of Maccreadys has been cut off, I’m taking the rest away and will re-post the whole thing later on the re-blog! 

Addendum:I do not have a beta reader and I am dyslexic, I do proof read everything but am bound to make mistakes- and I would like to apologise in advance for any I have missed.

[what-inthe-goddamn]

happy merry holidaymas! in the spirit of it all how about fallout 4 companions reacting to a sole who doesnt cry much and hasnt cried in front of them breaking down into the happiest of happy sobbing tears over the gift the companions gave them. even if the gift is just something as simple as "here ammo for you.. cause you need it.. merry christmas" they are over the MOON for it cause they never actually gotten a thoughtful gift before even prewar and it MEANS A LOT.

Ada: Ada treaded over to Sole; who was hunched over a worktable, with a small basket in hand. “Merry Christmas Sole.” Sole turned to her to see a basket full of components and tools. “Is that… for me?” they asked, their hands reaching out towards the basket. “Yes, it is the 25th of December, if I’m not mistaken.” Ada was responded with a tearful Sole wrapping their arms around her. “Thank you…” Sole sniffled, taking the basket in hand with a soft grin. Ada was a bit taken a back. She had thought gift giving on this day was normal. Wasn’t Sole from before the war? She’d thought they would have been used to this. But nevertheless, the hug was very nice; and she was glad Sole seemed to like her gift so much.

Cait: When Cait handed Sole that bat they had been eyeing at Moe’s, she was at least expecting a “Merry Christmas” back or a thanks. She didn’t expect to be pulled in a very tight hug; or the very emotional Sole crying into her shoulder. “You got this… for me?” Sole said between sniffles. Cait rolled her eyes but hugged them back anyways. “Yeah, you big baby.” She gave Sole a pat on the back and pulled away, letting them wipe their face. “Now let’s see this thing in action. A few raiders down South we can test it on.” Cait watched as Sole hurriedly packed up to go out. She couldn’t help but smile at them.

Codsworth: Codsworth peered into Sole’s workshop, little faded red and green paper bag in hand. He waited a moment before hovering in. “Merry Christmas Sole!” Codsworth cheered gesturing the bag towards them. “Oh, what’s this?” Sole opened the bag and froze. “Is this?” Sole took out a worn photo, their eyes tearing up as they brought it closer. “I was able to find a few after the blast; I’m sorry it’s a little roughed up- “. Codsworth was interrupted by Sole pulling him into their arms. “Thank you…” “Oh sir/mum…” Codsworth was nearly speechless. Sole had rarely ever cried, so this was a bit surprising to him; but Codsworth let Sole hug him as long as they liked.

Curie: Curie happily walked over to Sole’s house, a small potted plant in hand. She knocked on their door. Sole answered it a moment later. “Hey Curie.”, said Sole as they cracked open the door. “Merry Christmas Sole!” She handed them the potted plant, which Sole met with a blank stare. Curie was confused by the strange reaction. Did she get the date wrong? Was Christmas actually the 26th? Or did Sole not like the gift? Did Sole even mentioning celebrating Christmas??? Her mind stopped rambling when Sole took the plant gently. “Wow… for me?” they asked softly, tears starting to form in their eyes. “Yes! Do like it?” Curie was answered with a tight knit hug from a very tearful Sole. “I love it. Thank you…”

Danse: Even though it was a little tacky to Danse to be giving out gifts, he thought Sole deserved one anyway, seeing as how gift giving was a common practice in prewar America. So Danse settled on a small holotape, filled with a few songs that Danse had enjoyed back when he lived in Rivet City. The radio could definitely use more variety out here. He opened up the door to their home in Sanctuary, stepping in to find them at their dining room. “Merry Christmas Sole.” “Oh, you shouldn’t have! What’s on it?” “Give it a listen.” He handed it Sole, who untied the ribbon and popped it into their Pip-Boy. When the first few notes played, a weepy Sole leaped over to Danse and hugged him. “I haven’t heard this song in years! Thank you!” Danse was a little perplexed by the sudden emotional Sole, but he was overjoyed to see that they loved his gift so much.

Deacon:  Deacon crept up behind Sole while they were messing with their Pip-Boy. He then popped up next to them, “Merry Christmas, boss!” “Jesus Chri-! Oh, it’s you.” Sole jumped in shock, only to see Deacon standing there; with what seemed to be a wrapped gift in his hand. “What’s that?” they asked. “A present, duh.” “For me?” Deacon nodded, gesturing it towards them. “Open it up, the longer you look at it the more you realize how much I suck at wrapping things.” Sole hesitantly started to open it, voice shaking with a tear in their eye. “Wow Deacon, I haven’t gotten a present in ye-.“ Sole stopped when they saw the gift. “Oh my god, Deacon.” They lifted the large green party gag sunglasses to his face. Deacon started laughing uncontrollably, almost falling to ground. “Where did you get these?! A behemoth could wear these!” “Oh, if only you could see your face!” Deacon burst laughing again as Sole rubbed their eyes. “The one time I thought you were being serious…” “Oh, don’t be hurt boss. Those came out of personal collection. So, you’re welcome.” Sole rolled their eyes, trying to hide their smile. “Thanks. I’m getting you back, though.”

Gage: Gift giving wasn’t exactly Gage’s forte, but he did try his best for Sole. Not much you can really work with at Nuka World, unless he got Sole some cheesy, beat up tent-game prize. So, he settled on a neat bracelet he found while scavenging. Wasn’t the nicest, but it certainly better than nothing. He was shocked when Sole opened the gift, he tried his best to wrap it. They immediately squeezed him a tight hug, tears streaming down their face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” “Aw, boss. No need to cry.” He smiled and hugged them back. He didn’t expect something that small and insignificant to make them so happy.

Hancock: Hancock had recently picked up a little kitten off one of the caravan traders when they visited Goodneighbor. It was an adorable calico, and he knew he had to buy it. But it wasn’t for him. Sole had always mentioned wanting a cat, so Hancock knew it would be the perfect gift. He could barely contain his excitement for himself when he walked up to Sole’s house in Sanctuary. It was almost perfect, despite the fact that the kitten wanted to eat the ribbon he had tied around its neck. When Sole opened their front door, he stretched out his arms towards them, kitten in hand. “Merry-.” Sole burst into tears on the spot, which made Hancock freeze. “Is that…for me?” “It sure is!” Hancock handed them the kitten, which they took into their arms, scratching its chin softly. “Thank you… I’ve haven’t gotten a gift like this in years…” They invited Hancock inside of their house, and they spent the rest of that day playing with the kitten and deciding a name for it.

Longfellow: He was pretty clueless as what to give Sole, so he settled on an old fishing hat that was collecting dust in one of his drawers. It was a little beat up, but so was everything he owned around here. He half expected Sole to throw it back at him when they opened the gift, but their eyes swelled up with tears once they tore open the packaging. “This looks just like the one my grandfather wore…” Sole said sadly. “Is that so?” Longfellow chuckled and plopped the hat onto their head, which in return Sole hugged him. “Looks good on ya.” Sole thanked Longfellow between sniffles.

Maccready: If Maccready knew anything about Sole, it was that they loved comics. So, when Maccready was scrounging around and found an edition of a Grognak comic he’d never seen, he knew that it’d be the perfect gift for Sole. He was at least expecting a happy Sole that morning when they opened the bag but was instead given a tearful one. “Where did you find this?!” they asked excitedly, their arms squeezing around Maccready torso. “I was just in the right place at the right time.” Maccready managed to breathe out within Sole’s tight grasp. Jeez, Maccready has gotten pretty excited over new comics, but he’s never cried over one. He wasn’t judging though. It was a sweet find.

Nick Valentine: Nick knew about Sole’s love to read and decided to gift them a novel he’d picked up during one of his investigations. He had read himself a few times, so he knew Sole would enjoy it. With a little bit of help from Ellie he neatly wrapped the book with a worn, but nice red paper. When he handed to Sole that Christmas morning, they gently unwrapped the paper. “Oh Nick, you shouldn’t have…” Their eyes were as wide as saucers when they read the title. “Is this…?!” Sole looked back and forth between Nick and the book, their eyes watering. “You alright?” Nick was starting to get concerned. “No, I’m fine!”, Sole assured him. “It’s just… I never got to finish this one before the bombs fell…” Sole wiped away their tears and smiled up at Nick. “Thank you…” “My pleasure.”

Piper: Piper had poured hours of hard work into this cake. She almost gave up halfway since she kept messing up the batter, but she adamant about giving Sole a hand-made gift. Even if it was slightly chewy or an off-putting color (she could fix that with some icing). When she finally got it out of the oven and fully decorated, she stored it away and walked out of her to get Sole. Piper led them into her living room, the widest grin on her face. “What’s that I smell?” Sole asked, sitting down on the couch. Piper quickly removed the cake from it’s hiding place and set it down in front of Sole. “Surprise! Merry Christmas, Blue!” she beamed. Sole was speechless as they began crying. Piper was taken a back and started to worry. “Blue?! What’s wrong?” she questioned them as she rushed over to Sole’s side. “I’m sorry, I just… nobody has ever given me anything on Christmas…” Piper solemnly stared at them as they wiped their eyes. Taking a plate and knife, she quickly cut a piece for both of them and handed a slice to Sole, who’s eyes perked up. “Why don’t you have a taste? Just… don’t look too hard at the frosting… I tried…” Sole chuckled and happily took a few bites. “Thanks, Piper.” “Don’t worry about it, Blue.”

Preston: Preston timidly walked up to Sole with a small scarf behind his back. When Sole noticed he was standing in their office doorway, they called him in. “Whatcha got there?” they asked. Preston draped the scarf across their shoulders with a smile beaming on his face. “Merry Christmas, General!” He was expecting a response from Sole, but they just stood there silently for a moment. “You… bought me a present…?” Preston sheepishly looked down at his feet. “Well, I actually made it…” Sole‘s eyes started to tear up, their face flushed red. They pulled Preston into a hug, their face pressed into his shoulder. “Thank you.” He chuckled as he gave them a couple of pats on their back. “You’re welcome, Sole.” Preston’s smile brightened when Sole pulled away to admire the scarf. He was glad they loved it; cause it was really hard to find nice yarn in that bright blue.

Strong: The mutant didn’t even know it was Christmas when he handed that bobblehead to Sole, so he was very perplexed to have them crying into his shoulder. They kept going on about the bobblehead and how they never got gifts on “Chris-must”. “Merry Christmas Strong, I’ll find you something really quick to make up for it!” Strong nodded along and followed behind Sole before asking “Who’s Mary Chris-must?” Sole stopped in their tracks before bursting into laughter. They explained the human holiday and he was more intrigued about it the more Sole talked. Strong asked more and more questions. This human holiday didn’t seem half bad.

X6-88: Gift giving wasn’t exactly the norm in the Institute; that was usually reserved for birthdays and it was never a celebration for synths (not publicly anyway). But X6 wanted to make Sole happy since they seemed so invested in the holiday. They went on and on about it the closer it got; and they seemed so disappointed when Father told them they don’t celebrate it. X6 didn’t dare waste his time to find something above ground for them, Sole deserved better than rubbage. With a little bit of convincing at the commissary, X6 managed to get a new prototype laser rifle the researchers in the A.S. department had just released. A fitting weapon for a person such as Sole. When he handed it to Sole, they leaped at him and gave him a hug as they sobbed softly into shoulder. “Thank you! You’re the best, X6!” X6 loved the praise from Sole, but this was in the hallway near the cafeteria and everyone there had their eyes on them; including a couple of coursers. He would never hear the end of it; but for Sole, it was worth it.

Thank you for the prompt @darktownflorist! I believe this came in when I had just picked up a job so the while the time it took to answer this is inexcusable, I got it done! I had so much fun with this one. Merry VERY Late Christmas!!!

[pb1138]

Resplendent

You know what? I went back and was rereading all my fics yesterday and now I’m in a Fallout mood. (I know, I’m shocked, too.)  This is from a prompt given to me by @queergaymer that ended up FAR longer than I thought it would.

My Sole Survivor Josefina x Cait Capernoited - Slightly intoxicated or tipsy. Basorexia - An overwhelming desire to kiss.

The barn was positively uproarious, nearly the entire settlement having taken the night off to come party. It was nothing extra special, just a reason to dance and drink and celebrate a good growing season. It had taken some doing to be sure, but Finn had come through as she was wont to do. She’d been working tirelessly for several weeks not only to get the barn set up and decorated but to fix up some jukeboxes and get more defenses in place so some of the guard could take a break, too.

At first, Cait had thought it stupid and would probably draw too much attention, and part of her was sure it would be a bust. Finn was a genius, no doubt about it, but she was talking like it would be the event of the year.

She’d been skeptical all the way back to Sanctuary. Finn had come to get her from Diamond City earlier that day, but they’d been side-tracked on the way back by another goddamn roving band of murderous robots, so by the time they got back, it wasn’t far from sundown, and Finn was antsy to get back to work. Once they rounded the corner from the truck stop, Cait had to pause to take in the sight before her.

Finn had indeed been busy those past few weeks.

Four new heavy turrets lined the bridge, and at least a dozen were spread out along the bank of the creek, pointed out from the settlement. Walls had been built up around the main part of the neighborhood with a guardsmen’s outpost directly outside the gate that stood just beyond the end of the bridge. A small barn had been built around the generators that sat near the water, and junk fences stood around the water purifiers and the crops. It looked like an entirely new settlement, and Cait had to hand it to her:  it looked damn safe.

Finn hefted her pack on her shoulder and greeted the guard with a grin and a fist bump. “Any trouble?” she chirped.

The guard shook his head and moved his gun to his other shoulder. “No, ma’am, not even a rad roach.”

Finn nodded. “Excellent. Preston told you you’d be relieved early tonight, right? So, you can come enjoy some of the party?”

He nodded with a grin. “Yes, ma’am. And I thank you.”

With a pat on the shoulder, she shoved her way into the settlement, Cait in tow. The streetlights had been polished, the ones with dead bulbs replaced. The streets had been swept and the debris picked out of the grass. Houses had begun to be repaired, all of them now having at the very least a patched roof and some of them with new walls replacing the fallen ones. The repairs were far from pretty, but Cait had to marvel at Finn’s ingenuity.

They rounded the corner to the center of the neighborhood and Cait stopped in her tracks, staring straight ahead. Finn, having noticed Cait was no longer following, turned to her friend and beamed, a hand proudly on her hip. “I know right?”

A huge barn sat spread across the two empty slats of concrete that sat around the circle with the giant tree. It was two-storied, 3-walled, and the floor stretched out into the street. There was a bar sat inside with a ton of sitting areas, lights strung up all around, two jukeboxes on each floor though none of them turned on yet, and on the second floor was a TV area and what looked like two pool tables. Cait looked at Finn, jaw slack. “You did all this?”

Finn nodded, looking fondly at her creation. “Yeah.”

“In two months?”

“Yeah.”

Cait shook her head in disbelief. “That’s… impressive.”

Finn chuckled and clapped Cait on the shoulder. “Thanks. Oh, Preston—” Finn was off, trotting over to where Preston had rounded the corner.

Cait hefted her pack again and set off across the street for Finn’s house. Shite, even this place looked different. The hole in the wall had been patched and painted, the grass had been cut down, the dog had a new doghouse with a little sign that said “A Resplendent Boy” hanging off the top, though the dog was not at home, it would seem. Probably off with Mama Murphy, Cait thought, idly wondering what the hell “resplendent” meant. Finn was always doin’ that, coming out with these big weird words and insisting they weren’t just made up. And who was Cait to say? Finn was a learned woman before the war, “a professor of linguistics and also a student of engineering” as she had been told. (Finn went on to explain that meant she taught people about words and where they came from, and also she took classes to learn how to build shit. That’s how she knows how to do all this settlement building shit.)

Nearly an hour passed before Finn walked inside, a chipper jump in her step as she passed Cait on the couch. Cait glanced back at her with a raised brow. “Someone’s happy,” she remarked.

Finn beamed at her as she dropped her pack down and came to sit by her. “Oh, just Preston. He can be quite timorous sometimes.”

“Timorous?”

“Shy, dear.”

“Ah. What’d you do to the poor bastard this time?”

“Honestly not much, just said thanks for working with me to get the guard schedules changed and to coordinate the food situation.” At Cait’s unamused stare, she chuckled. “And I might’ve kissed his cheek, no biggie.”

“Uh huh.”

Finn smiled at her, the movement tugging at the scar going through her lips and drawing Cait’s eye. She stared at them for perhaps too long a moment before Finn cleared her throat. “Are you alright for a bit? I should go add my finishing touches. It’s nearly dusk, now.”

Cait jumped at her voice and turned her head to hide a blush. “Yeah, no problem. I’ll just be here.”

“Brilliant.” Finn was up and out of the house in moments, leaving Cait to sit alone and ponder the implications of her apparent infatuation with the vault dweller.

About another hour passed and Piper found her way to Finn’s house. The two of them sat and talked until the gathering bell was rung in the distance. “Ooh, that must be it,” Piper mused, grinning like an idiot.

“About damn time,” Cait grumbled.

As the two women left the house, they were met with the smell of cooking food and the sound of music, but not any music that was common to the Commonwealth. This was something new, with a heavy beat that thrummed almost tangibly throughout the street. Most of the settlers were already gathered in the barn, drinks in hands, or were gathered around the circle where cooking stations had been set up. Food was being grilled or stewed, meats and vegetables and fruits, and the smell of them made Cait’s mouth water. She meandered her way over to a grill and picked up a few skewers packed with various vegetables and observed the crowd with amusement. Piper had found Preston and was talking animatedly with him off in a corner;  Ava was tending bar, making drink after drink for thirsty settlers; Hancock, Maccready, and Deacon were huddled together, probably conspiring to pull off some prank or another which made Cait roll her eyes;  Curie and Codsworth were stood to the side, probably discussing humans’ desires to imbibe alcohol and the likes;  though she didn’t see him, she knew Danse was out and about because his power armor was standing empty near the workbench. From what she could see, that was it as far as Finn’s inner circle was concerned. The rest probably couldn’t have been persuaded to join the festivities, and she couldn’t say she blamed them. If Finn herself hadn’t asked, hadn’t flashed those ridiculously sweet honey-brown puppy dog eyes at her, Cait doubted she would’ve come.

She was deep in thought when a glass was shoved into her hands, startling her. She followed the lightly tanned and scarred hand up to Finn’s grinning face and blushed. “What’s this then?”

“Whiskey cola.” Finn raised her own glass and waited until Cait hesitantly clinked hers against it. “Cheers.”

Cait hesitated to drink more than a sip or two, but Finn downed the whole thing in one go. Cait raised a brow at her. “Just how many of those have you had?” She was swaying a little, her cheeks darkened considerably, and the top of her vault suit was hanging about her waist, leaving her standing in a black halter top. Cait had to hold herself back from letting her eyes focus on the way the zipper of the suit dipped down.

“Pfft.” Finn waved her hand nonchalantly. “Like. 5. I don’t know.” At Cait’s incredulous look, she laughed and slipped her arm into Cait’s. “Come on, let’s get a better perspective, huh?” Cait had no choice but to let the dweller guide her up towards the second floor, had to keep herself from rolling her eyes when Finn grabbed a whole bottle of whiskey from the bar as they passed it. They settled at last into a pair of chairs gathered around a small table near the edge of the floor, giving them a good viewpoint of most of the party. Finn put her hand in her chin and grinned, watching people dance. “Lookit them. They’re so blithesome.”

Cait looked down at the settlers. “Blithesome?” she asked.

“Means like… merry and gay. People at festivals are blithesome.”

“Gay like happy, not like... well, gay, right?”

“Yes, dear. Like happy.” Finn chuckled as she lifted the whiskey to her lips.

Cait watched the lip of the bottle press against her flesh, the single drop that escaped and slid its way down her freckled chin. “Tell me some more big words,” she heard herself saying. Startled at herself, she tore her eyes away from Finn’s face before the other woman could see her staring.

“Hm.” Finn set the bottle down and hiccupped, a slight sway in her head as she thought. The blush across her cheeks had spread to her ears. “Oh, there’s parsimonious. It means stingy, excessively frugal.” Cait let out a soft hum of acknowledgement. “Then there’s pusillanimous. That’s my favorite word. It means timid, easily scared. It’s where the term ‘pussy’ comes from to describe someone who’s afraid.”

Cait snorted at that. “’S’at true?”

Finn smirked at her and took another swig. “Course it is, Cait. I don’t lie.”

Cait bit her tongue but gave Finn a knowing smirk back, letting her know that she knows that’s a shit statement. “Right, tell me more.”

“Oof, you’re demanding tonight,” she said, tucking a chestnut curl behind her ear. “Oh, pulchritudinous.” She said that word with a bit of an accent like Codsworth’s, and she said it slowly as if to let the ridiculousness of it settle in better. “It means lovely, pretty to look at, beautiful.” She followed the last word with eyes that roved over Cait’s body, making the Irishwoman blush.

Cait covered her blush by clearing her throat. “D’you only know words that start with p or you have others in that library in there?”

Finn chuckled and took yet another drink from the whiskey. It was catching up to her fast, Cait could see. She pursed her plump lips in thought, staring directly at her companion as she searched her brain for something she might like to hear. “Oh,” she said at last. “Chivy. It’s a verb. Means ‘to maneuver with small movements.’ One might chivy a pool ball from its pocket, for instance.” Her words were beginning to slur, her eyes focusing and unfocusing as she looked at Cait.

“Ok, here’s one for you,” Cait said, leaning forward. “What’s another word for ‘drunk?’”

Finn grinned lazily, and resettled her face in her chin so that her fingers were cupping her cheek, her pinky brushing against her lips. “Oh, an excellent question. There’s inebriated, but that’s pretty common. Maudlin, but I’ve never liked that word.” She wrinkles her nose at it. “It sounds like it should mean something like macabre. I don’t know.” She thought for another moment before grinning again, the tip of her pinky brushing against her teeth. “Capernoited. That’s a good one. Loads of people don’t know that one. It’s Scottish, you know.”

Cait snorted and took the bottle from her. “Yeah, well, I’m Irish and you’re plenty capernoited, Finn.”

Finn pouted playfully but leaned a little closer, her voice lowering. “Here’s another word for you, my Irish Cait.”

Cait blushed at ‘my’ but folded her arms across her chest, leaning forward to hear it anyways. “Let’s hear it then.”

“Basorexia.”

Cait raised a brow at that. “What’s that, then? Like when you don’t eat?”

Finn chuckled and shook her head. Her hand lowered, and Finn leaned across the table far enough to put her lips next to Cait’s ear and “whispered” (she was far too drunk to accurately whisper so it came as a hoarse regular speaking level,) “It means, ‘An overwhelming desire to kiss.’”

Cait didn’t have time to ask her what she meant before Finn’s hand was against her cheek and Finn’s soft lips were pressing against hers. Cait’s eyes flew open wide in shock, and after a quick moment she gently pulled away, blushing furiously. “Finn, I…”

Finn sat back down, not meeting her eyes, blushing down to her shoulders. “I-I’m sorry, Cait. You don’t have to—” She turned to leave, got a few feet away before Cait’s hand caught her wrist.

Cait smiled gently at her and pulled her close so they might speak quietly. “Finn, I do like you. A lot. But you’re smashed.” At Finn’s beginning of a protestation, Cait put her finger to the other woman’s lips and shook her head. “Don’t argue with me. If you feel the same tomorrow, then we’ll have ourselves a right proper discussion.”

Finn looked at her for a moment and sighed, seeming to come to the same conclusion.

Cait chuckled and slipped her hand into Finn’s. “For now, though, what d’you say we go dance?”

Finn’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. “Yes, let’s.”

The two of them spent the night at each other’s sides, dancing and talking. It wasn’t until they woke up the next day and Finn gently asked Cait if it would be alright to kiss her again that Cait finally realized what “resplendent” meant.

[fallout-4-freak]

companions + maxson and father react to sole being a war hero (my headcannon is that the simulation in fallout 3’s operation anchorage is based on Nate’s time in the military)

Interesting HC, anon! Hope you enjoy :>

Ada:

Quite impressed that Sole is a decorated hero from the past. No wonder they’re so deadly out in the Commonwealth! Ada is very thankful to be teamed up with such a strong and talented person. To be on the receiving end of their fury would be… unpleasant.

Cait:

Since there’s no proof that Sole is a war hero, she’s a bit skeptical at first. However, Sole takes her to their old house in Sanctuary. They have tons of fancy little medals and patches stored away in a secret safe. That, combined with their combat expertise, is enough proof for her. Sole appears to become emotional upon seeing the box of trinkets they earned centuries ago, so Cait slips out to give them some space. 

She vows to never doubt Sole again, as she wants to learn all she can from that powerful firecracker. 

Codsworth:

As he already knew that Sole was a decorated hero from the war, Codsworth is is usual respectful self. He’ll try and cheer Sole up using their past achievements– there’s no way they can possibly fail in finding their son, as they have so many useful skills!

Codsworth is also secretly relieved that all that time in the military Sole spent was worth it. That time away from the family, training and fighting, will help Sole survive the horrid land the Commonwealth has become! Plus, Sole is so very honorable, being a war hero and all. That should get them far in life. Not many people of high moral character are present in the Commonwealth, so maybe Sole can inspire people...

Curie:

Shocked that Sole is such a hero. Then Curie feels slightly ashamed at her initial disbelief, as Sole is so tactical and skilled. She believes them right away, and enjoys Sole’s various stories. Curie especially likes the ones where Sole does something heroic!

Sole finds it funny and sweet that Curie puts up with their stories, thought they’re sure that Curie is just being polite…

Curie is also quick to comfort Sole when they sound upset. Sometimes, the stories they tell really bring out a troubled side to Sole– and Curie hates that. 

Danse:

Skeptical, but chooses to believe Sole for the time being. They know this too– Sole shows off some of the medals they keep with them, as some form of proof. Danse comes around with time, enjoying the various heroics that Sole tells him and others about. After all, the BoS is made of soldiers– they usually enjoy stories about dangerous missions and daring rescues. Danse eventually talks to his superiors about Sole, attempting to boost their rank. With the knowledge of Sole’s heroics, and how well they serve the BoS, the higher-ups grant Sole the rank of Paladin swiftly. 

Deacon:

Impressed with Sole’s stories. He’s a masterful liar, and thus can (almost) always tell when someone’s fibbing. Sole doesn’t seem to be making anything up, unless they learned how to lie like a pro. Deacon enjoys when Sole tells their tales to others, as he can hop in and embellish them. That always leads to folks asking if he was frozen too– he says yes, of course. And will start making shit up about pre-war America.

Sole laughs these moments off, usually correcting the story. However, if Deacon seems to be having a heap of fun, they’ll let him slide.

Deacon also talks to Des about getting Sole a better role within the Railroad, much to Sole’s delight. No more boring errands for them!

Dogmeat:

He loves Sole for who they are, and will always be there for them. The fact Sole is a war hero changes nothing, as Dogmeat doesn’t understand what that is. He’s just happy they’re a strong and capable individual.

Hancock:

He believes Sole, when they tell him that they were once a war hero. Glad that such a badass is on his side, Hancock loves swapping stories with Sole. Hancock also teaches Sole some dirty fighting tricks, and Sole educates him in some rather interesting army tactics. Hancock does vow to keep an eye on Sole from now on, though. If their honorable little heart got corrupted, then they’d be able to take out nearly anyone in the Commonwealth… Including Goodneighbor, as much as Hancock hates to admit it. 

Longfellow:

Despite being alive for decades, Longfellow hasn’t ever met someone who called themselves a ‘war hero’. Very skeptical, and isn’t entirely sure that Sole’s stories aren’t just drunken rambling. Longfellow doesn’t know what to think. Still, he’ll gladly keep Sole company. At the very least, they’re entertaining to be around. And they’re handy in a fight.

Eventually, he recognizes that the haunted tone to Sole’s voice gets when telling war stories isn’t made up. Nobody could possibly fake that sort of tone– the look in their eyes was just as creepy. Longfellow feels guilty for his secret doubts, and tries to help Sole when the memories come back just a bit too strong.

MacCready:

Not really fond of Sole’s brutal close-combat tactics. MacCready is glad that Sole soon shows off some more diverse skills. Very, very diverse, judging by how fast they can kill enemies in so many different ways. Upon asking Sole where they trained, MacCready learns that Sole was once a hero in the US military. Not sure if he should believe Sole, MacCready keeps a trained eye on Sole. If they turn on him, he’s toast. 

With time, along with Sole saving MacCready’s rear a few times, he slowly learns to trust Sole. They swap stories, and end up helping each other deal with their respective trauma. MacCready never expected his new ‘boss’ to become his pal, but MacCready would gladly run with Sole ‘til the end. 

Nick Valentine:

To meet such an upstanding person who can handle whatever comes their way is inspiring. Nick has training stored in his own memory banks, but Sole is infinitely more skilled. And how they care for everyone is surprising– Nick knew he had a good feeling about this ex-popsicle!

He won’t outright ask for proof, instead searching Sole’s face for their telltale tics, or for inconsistencies in their stories. He comes to the conclusion that Sole isn’t kidding, and is glad that they’re not just a pompous fool claiming to be a hero. Nick is pleased to stand by such an interesting person! 

Besides, Sole seems like they need a good pal– they sound so upset, talking about the past. War never does good things to people…

Piper:

Immediately asks for proof, and will snoop it out herself if Sole refuses to give it . When they finally give her that proof in the form of their medals and memorabilia from the military, Piper wants to write some articles about Sole ASAP. She knew that Sole was an energetic combatant, but she just assumed that they had traveled the Commonwealth and learned from an old raider or something. But Sole is the real deal! 

What an exciting chance for the city to learn about a unique person’s life… And maybe they could all pick up some self-defense tips. God knows that Diamond City would be absolutely screwed if some baddies found their way inside, with how incompetent DC security is. 

Porter Gage:

Doesn’t believe a word of what Sole says, which is why Sole goes ALL the way back to Sanctuary, grabs their old box of medals, then travels ALL the way back to Nuka-World. This alone shows Gage that Sole wasn’t kidding, and apologies profusely. Sole shrugs his disbelief off– they had to go grab their things from Sanctuary anyways, before Preston and the Minutemen realized that Sole was now the Overboss of Nuka-World. Sole teaches their raiders many different tactics they learned while on the front lines, and entertains them with violently glorious tales of their time in the army. 

Preston:

Impressed with how much Sole knows about combat– and all their fancy war hero achievements show just how good at heart they are! Preston enjoys Sole’s tales, except on bad days. Then they’re just too depressing. 

Still, Preston is pleased that Sole chose their side to fight on! The Minutemen really benefit from Sole’s expertise, and their kind heart. Preston makes sure that Sole gets plenty of downtime, so they can get some deserved relaxation. After all, someone who’s seen the horrors of war AND woken up 210 years in the future really needs some time to kick back and sort their mind out.

Strong:

Well, Sole’s very good in combat. Strong doesn’t know what a ‘war hero’ is, but people generally look up to heroes, so… Guess that means Sole is good at war and people like them for it?

He doesn’t really care about their achievements, as bragging is stupid. As long as Sole fights well, he’s happy. 

X6-88:

Guess that explains why Sole is a stunningly strong combatant. They’ve got the deadly skills of a courser, without the Institute’s training. X6-88 isn’t sure he should believe Sole’s wild stories of the war they fought in. But, with how respected and honest they are, maybe there’s something to Sole’s story.

X6-88 will go off on his own, break into some military posts, and try to dig up some records. After much searching, he finds some proof of Sole’s achievements in the line of duty. Without saying a word of his intense hunt, he apologizes to Sole for doubting them. 

Of course, if they bring up some more outrages claims, he might go looking through ancient terminals yet again. 

Maxson: 

Honored that such a decorated person is joining the Brotherhood. He has secret doubts about Sole’s claims, but if they came out of a freezer after missing the last 210 years… What would be so wild about them also being a military hero from that distant past? He may question them occasionally, to look for inconsistencies in their stories… But everything lines up. He’ll ask Sole to give special training to the initiates. 

Once they find their box of medals to further back up their claims, Maxson promotes them up the ranks swiftly.

[summseady]

The companions reacting to sole drunkenly flirting with them??? Maybe??? Also love the way you write the companions!

Wow, that really means a lot to me! Your prompt was fun to write, so I really hope you enjoy!

Cait: They were both drunk, that much Cait knew. What she didn’t know, however, was what Sole said around shot seven. It was something with the words, “sexy,” “ass,” and “you,” but she couldn’t quite make it out. All she knew was that she was drunk, Sole was hot, and she wanted to get laid. Which made quite the coincidence when Sole kissed her. It was messy, passionate, hot, and something neither Cait or Sole regretted the morning after.

Codsworth: Codsworth was concerned when he first saw Sole stumbling toward him one night. They’d been drinking, he could tell, so he guided them inside their house in Sanctuary, to bed. But before they laid down, they got close to Codsworth, uncomfortably close, and whispered to him something Codsworth would’ve passed out from if he had the ability to. It was so unbelievably filthy that Codsworth couldn’t even look at them for the next month.

Curie: Curie had always had a bit of a crush on Sole. Even when she was a Mrs. Handy unit, not yet capable of feeling the vastness of human emotion, she’d still thought of Sole as quite objectively attractive. So, when they were sitting in Sanctuary, drinking a wine Sole had found in an abandoned building, watching the sun set and Sole made a comment about how Curie was the sun in their life, Curie suddenly couldn’t breathe. She’d looked over at Sole, could immediately tell they were intoxicated, and blushed at the comment. More than blushed, actually, because Curie felt as if her face was on fire. She’d thanked Sole quietly, not quite knowing what else to say. That night, after they’d parted to their own sleeping quarters, Curie stayed up for hours thinking about Sole’s comment and how much it meant to her.

Danse: Danse was a soldier through and through. He followed protocol, led his fellow soldiers into battle, and carried out any will of the Brotherhood no matter what. The only thing in his life not completely in order, however, was Sole. Sole had immediately rejected the Brotherhood and their values when Danse had first offered them a position in their ranks, claiming they were bigots and deluded devotees to a ludicrous cause. Yet they still decided to befriend Danse. More than befriend, actually, because when they’d stayed up one night and had a few too many drinks, they’d told Danse that he was hot. And that he had a nice ass. Danse was flustered, of course, and wasn’t sure how to respond. So he didn’t. He just pretended that didn’t happen and went on with the night. He never forgot the skip in his heart when they said it though.

Deacon: Deacon more than enjoyed being around Sole. They spent every day together, going on secret missions, messing with the Brotherhood, and just being best friends. So when they spent the evening on a Slocum Joe’s rooftop drinking whiskey, trading jokes, and watching the sun set, it surprised him when Sole wrapped their arm around his shoulders. He didn’t know what to say, so he continued making Sole giggle at his repartee. Then Sole made a joke about how he was a campfire because he was hot and she wanted “s’more,” of him, and while jokes were their usual routine, that night they seemed like more.

Dogmeat: Um, no.

Hancock: Hancock and Sole had just returned to Goodneighbor from their trip to Sanctuary when they’d decided to get a drink at The Third Rail. But when “a drink” turned into a couple, then a couple turned into a few, then a few turned into several, Hancock and Sole became slightly more intoxicated than originally planned. Well, Sole was, anyway. Hancock had a bit more tolerance. So when Sole placed their hand on his thigh in the VIP section, Hancock was still in the right mind to be utterly dumbfounded. He’d had thing for Sole since they first walked into Sanctuary, well, maybe more than a thing… he loved them. So, while he sat there, mesmerized by the fact that Sole would want him that way, he had to decline. They were drunk. And he would never take advantage of that.

MacCready: MacCready had a crush on Sole. He wouldn’t admit it, because, according to him, crushes were childish and immature, but he did. So when he was sitting in the Third Rail, drinking whiskey with Sole, more than slightly intoxicated, he was worried something would slip out. But it seemed they were even more intoxicated than he, because they told him he was turning them on. Despite his “ugly-ass” teeth. He blushed, which in-turn made him blush harder, and he stuttered out a simple, “oh.” Sole then leaned in and kissed him, which made MacCready think he was literally going to die. Afterward, when Sole had passed out, he hoped they still felt the same the next morning.

Piper: Whenever Piper finished with a big story, her and Sole would always go to the Dugout Inn for celebratory drinks. They’d laugh, drink, and Piper would tell them secrets she knew she’d never say sober. So when Sole had a confession of her own, that they wanted to kiss her, Piper was both surprised and pleased it wasn’t her spilling her guts that night. As for the kiss, Piper was drunk, Sole was drunk, why not?

Preston: Preston admired Sole for their bravery and honor. They’d joined the Minutemen without a hint of hesitance and for that, Preston had always greatly appreciated them. They were friends. Best friends. And while he maybe thought about them on occasion in not so friendly manners, he’d never jeopardize their friendship. They, however, may not have shared the same sentiment. Because one night, where Sole, Preston and the other Minutemen gathered to celebrate their latest victory, Sole got a little tipsy and offered Preston things he was sure they wouldn’t had they been sober. Preston blushed redder than he’d ever before, and politely declined their offer. But he would confront them the next day, when they were sober, and he’d tell them that he felt the same.

Strong: He was confused at the comment, and angry at Sole for their state of being. They couldn’t fight like that.

Valentine: Nick honestly felt like an old mentor to Sole. Someone who guided them, helped them, and was always there for them. So when they were sitting in the Detective Agency one night, smoking, Sole drunk, it completely blindsided him when they asked Nick if he felt something more for them. Nick, smooth as ever, told them that they meant the world to him, without mentioning anything specially romantic. But when Sole finally passed out, and Nick picked them up and took them to his bed, he couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of something more.

X6-88: They’d just finished an Institute mission when Sole suggested getting drinks at The Third Rail. X6 had declined at first, wanting to return to the Institute as soon as possible, but Sole soon convinced him to join them. For safety reasons, of course. And while X6 didn’t really drink, with wanting to have hold of his inhibitions at all times, Sole didn’t share the same concern. By shot 4 they were completely drunk and unaware of anything going on around them. So, while he was definitely surprised, he didn’t take it too seriously when Sole told him he had a really cute smile. And that he should smile more. It was then that X6 decided it was time to take Sole back to the Institute, get them to bed, and hope they don’t remember what they said in the morning. And while he was loathe to admit it, Sole’s comment did make him smile.

[something-in-the-seas]

Some head-canons about Jess with bonus of House trying to be a good dad. 

- She was born on October 15th, 2071, and was a complete and totally unplanned baby with the last Harris child being already seven when she’s born. Mr. Harris knows she’s not his and therefore wants nothing to do with her, but stays with her mother because it would kill James’ political career. 

- She just had her sixth birthday when the bombs fell. It’s one of the last happy memories she has of before the war. All of her family, besides Mr. Harris, are there and she gets the attention she never usually got and lots of presents.

- While the other children have their portraits and photos throughout the house, besides family pictures, Jess doesn’t have anything due to Mr. Harris. He even tries to get the other kids to almost bully her and besides Jack, Kelly, James, Richard, and some of her other older sisters, they do. 

- She looks a lot like House. She always stood out from her other siblings with her black hair compared to their reddish-brown (James has very dark brown). 

- Though her mom tried to shield her face when the blast happened before they were put down in the Vault, her eyesight was damaged. She’s not completely blind, but she does need glasses and often times Codsworth or any other companion has to guide her and keep her safe. When they finally find a pair for her they’re way too big for her face and she looks ridiculous (still adorable) but at least she can see. 

- Her hearing due to the blast and the gunshots are also slightly damaged. She’s loud, but she doesn’t mean to be. She just doesn’t know how loud she is sometimes and later when she finally meets House it does annoy him a bit but he doesn’t really say anything because she doesn’t mean to. 

- Also, when he finds out about her eyesight, he definitely goes out of his way to get her proper fitting glasses if he can’t get her surgery, and even gets her hearing aids. He’s outraged about her even being near the blast, especially when he told her mother to bring her down to Vegas so this wouldn’t happen. It’s a disgrace. 

- She’s pretty shy at first but once she gets to know you and trust you she’s a sweetie. A total cuddle bug, it helps get her through her nightmares. She loves all the companions but her favorites are Nick, Curie, Preston, Piper, and Danse, mostly because they give the best hugs.  Nick legitimately becomes her dad. 

- Her and Shaun are only about five years apart so they’re practically siblings. She doesn’t like him very much. He drools and cries a lot and is squishy. She doesn’t see the appeal of babies and hates that he gets more attention than her, and she doesn’t get a lot in the first place. 

- When she is looking for him, though, she makes little Have You Seen Me posters using her artistic skills as a six-year-old. Nick puts them up in Diamond City but it’s more to make her feel like she’s involved and accomplishing something. 

- She’s closest with her brother Jack due to how much he makes her laugh. Even when they finally meet up again they’re still inseparable. 

- Oh, her and House are actually pretty awkward when they first meet, mostly because his face on the screen scares her and he doesn’t know how to talk to small children. He tries, though. Given that The Strip is for adults, they do spend a lot of time together and get to know each other better over a couple weeks. He’s even honest with her about why he can’t meet her in person and she gets pretty upset because she just wants to give him a hug.

- This then starts him legitimately thinking about possibly getting a synth body. Being in the pod had been fine before he knew his children were alive but not getting to hold his daughter’s hand and legitimately knowing her is painful. If she saw how he looked, she’d run away screaming.  Which then turns to the poor Courier (Butch) having to find a synth body and that’s not easy, but he manages to do it by some miracle, even though he’s dead inside. Getting to hold her hand is more rewarding for House than he thought it would be. 

[radreactions]

sometimes diamond city security comments "hey beautiful" to sole. how do you think romanced companions (+nick and maxson) would react? thanks!

Cait – “What the fuck did ya just say to me woman ya fuckin’ piece o’ shite rat bastard! I’m gonna-” “Cait, honey, stop.” Sole has to hold her back with all her strength, arms wrapped tightly around the brawler as she tries to drag her away from the snickering guard because she knows that if Cait got her hands on him, he won’t be snickering much longer. The brawler lets herself be dragged away, glaring menacingly at the guard because she knows punching the fucker won’t be worth the week spent in jail. But holy fuck would it make her feel better though. She is so wound up that she needs either a drink, a good bar fight or a rough tumble in the hay with her beautiful woman. In fact, she probably goes and does all three.

Codsworth – “I beg your pardon, sir. Miss Sole here is off limits.” He harrumphed. If he had arms he could’ve crossed and a nose he could’ve looked down, he most certainly would have. After the guard snickers and saunters away, Codsworth also adds under his breath. “The audacity of these hoodlums nowadays, to attempt to court an already spoken for madam! Why, I have half a mind to teach that scrappy ruffian a lesson.”

Curie – While she agrees that mademoiselle Sole is very beautiful and that she is a very desirable woman, Curie quickly feels herself responding to the man’s words in an instinctively aggressive manner. She gives the man a grumpy look, not quite knowing what to say in response, and walks just that little bit closer to Sole whose waist she encircles with her arm. “He was attempting to flirt with you, yes?” At Sole’s affirmative answer, Curie’s frown deepens and she cuddles Sole a little closer. “I do not like him.”

Danse – His jaw clenches and he stares down at the smaller man, conveying just how much he wants to hurt the guy in just one look alone. Yes Sole is very beautiful, among other things, but Sole is very much involved with him and him alone. He can forgive the guard’s transgression as long as he doesn’t do or say anything else in an attempt at flirting with Sole, but the glare Danse gives him is harsher than the hide of a Deathclaw. “Move along, civilian.” He orders sharply, letting him know in no uncertain terms just who the bigger dog was.

Deacon – He snickers, slipping an arm around Sole’s shoulders and looking bluntly at the guard while wearing a smug smile. “Say, I heard from a little birdie that a certain guard in Diamond City Security had a case of crabby infestation to the south, if you know what I mean.” He was silent for a long, meaningful moment, feeling Sole chuckle under his arm after realising what he meant. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that now, would you?” He grins as the blushing guard doesn’t answer who quickly walks away.

Gage – As soon as the words left the guards mouth – hell, it may have even been happening as he looked at Sole with that predatory glint in his eyes – Gage’s fist made hard contact with his face, sending him on a one way trip to the muddy ground. “Anything else you wanna say?” Gage growled, to which the guard responded by shaking his head and spitting out teeth. With a kick to the guy’s stomach, Gage continues walking with Sole but this time with his hand firmly staking his claim on Sole’s ass.

Hancock – “Yeah she’s a looker, huh?” He slaps Sole’s butt and grins at her affectionately, then moving to encircle her waist with his arm. “I’m certainly one lucky ghoul,” He glances to the guard, non-too subtly pulling back the label of his jacket so a clear view of his hidden blades could be seen. “Who is definitely not into sharing.”

MacCready – “Hey, pal, I don’t know where you crawled out from but I can tell you right now you don’t stand a chance. So beat it.” He flexes his grip on the rifle in his hands and watches with a dangerous glint in his eyes as the guard saunters away. He later apologizes to Sole if he made her feel uncomfortable, but there was no way he’d let her get spoken to like a piece of meat right in front of him.

Maxson – It actually kinda turned him on, knowing that other men desired his woman, fantasised about her but knowing that never in their lives will they get a chance with her. That’s not to say that the guard didn’t piss him off, what with coming onto Sole right in front of him, however Maxson was the man who got to enjoy her every night and that thought alone gave the guy a chance at walking away without a bullet between his eyes.

Nick Valentine – He’s used to being around men who felt entitled to any pretty broad that comes their way, often rolling his eyes at their piggish antics, but the moment it happens to Sole is the moment when his patience is stretched dangerously thin. He quickly grasps Sole’s hand and steps slightly in front of her, staring down at the man unflinchingly with his glowing golden eyes. “The broad’s already spoken for, so why don’t you take yourself someplace else.” It was Nick’s way of telling him in a much more polite manner than what he was feeling to go take a hike and annoy someone else.

Piper Wright – “Hey asshole, Sole’s taken. Back off.” She gives the guy a very sharp look of warning, finding herself quite aggravated that he made such an advance on her Blue right in front of her. She broods on it for a little while after, only ever snapping out of it when Blue kisses her firmly in reassurance. For the rest of the day she sits close to Sole, walks arm in arm with Sole – basically she does everything short of fucking Sole to make sure everyone knows that Blue is Piper’s only.

Preston Garvey – If he were a lesser man, he most certainly would’ve have done what he honestly felt like doing which was throttling the man senseless because how dare he say that Sole! He took offense to the comment on behalf of her, telling the man in a non-too polite tone that she was already involved and to back off. Preston Garvey may have even glared for the first time in his life.

X6-88 – He ignored the guard completely. Instead, he draped an arm around Sole’s waist and continued walking with her, knowing that to respond to the ill-mannered guard would be beneath him. He had nothing to prove and even though the words the swine had slurred to his girl made his teeth grind and his blood boil, X6 had enough restraint and grace to instead focus on how he is the one who will be enjoying her beauty that night while she’s clutching the blankets and screaming his name in ecstasy. The thought makes him smile smugly.

[that-blue-vault-dweller]

A very general idea:

When travelling together, how would be the dynamic between a pre teen F! Sole and the companions when wandering around the Commonwealth, considering sole is just a kid!! (12-14 years old)

Honestly i'm starting to get a like of these recent pre teen sole reaction posts, you have nice writing skills!!

Thank you so, so much!!! That means so much to me to hear!!! 🥰

Thank you for the request, and I hope you enjoy! 💙💛

Cait - Tries to keep a watch over the kid. At first, she's not really overly interested in the girl, and she treats her just as coarsely and bluntly as she would anyone else that she has met. However, as they come to know one another more, Cait just grows more protective and becomes softer toward her. It eventually comes to a point where she realizes that she would kill anyone and maybe even give her own life to make sure the kid is safe.

Piper - Is very protective. After all, her sister is around that same age, and F!Sole reminds her a little too much of Nat for her liking. She does not like the idea of letting the kid wander through the wasteland, but she lets her since she is not her mother or her big sister and she has no control over her technically. If the kid shows herself to be a good fighter, Piper is not quite as worried anymore, but she is just as protective of her as she was before.

Curie - Does not want F!Sole to go through the Commonwealth like this since she is so young and seems so helpless. Curie herself does not feel safe and she knows she cannot defend the girl effectively. Ultimately, as soon as they set off, Curie is thinking of reasons that they should return home, trying and failing to present these reasons in a surreptitious manner.

MacCready - Honestly does not like that a kid is out here on her own. However, he respects her and treats her like an adult. After all, when he was around her age, he was going along just fine and could take care of himself pretty well. He does not underestimate her, but he does try to keep a bit of an eye on her just in case.

Deacon - Does not underestimate the power of a kid in the wasteland. He knows they can be pretty slippery if they want. He's seen his share of con-kids. But he does keep a close eye on her since she is not used to this world. He lets her think that she's in control of herself and the situation, but he secretly watches over her.

Codsworth - Does not like it one bit that she is out here in the wasteland. While he has utmost confidence in her, he does not have utmost confidence in the Commonwealth. He feels that he must do all he can to protect her since he is the last remaining guardian that she has in this world. It leaves him feeling quite stressed oftentimes.

Hancock - Is protective of her, but he gives her some distance, too. He is pretty chill about her wandering through the Commonwealth, and he feels pretty good about his ability to take care of her fighting-wise but also with his reputation alone. He tries to keep a good balance of treating her like an adult and treating her like the kid she is when it is necessary.

Danse - Feels extremely protective of her and sometimes overkills it. He has no problem just stepping between her and anyone that she might talk to if he perceives them as being even slightly dangerous. He also makes sure that he is between her and any enemies. After all, he is wearing power armor and he is much more well-protected than her. Furthermore, he would much rather be injured himself than for her to suffer a wound.

Preston - Feels an obligation to keep a close watch on her even though she is not his child or his sibling. He feels that as a Minuteman and the adult in the situation, it is his job. He also cares about her deeply, and honestly wishes that she would not go out into the Commonwealth at all. However, when they are out, he just watchfully protects her and ensures her safety at all times.

Valentine - Does not really feel good about a kid being out and about in the Commonwealth like this. He worries that he gets into too much stuff for her to keep safe, and he worries that he won't be able to protect her well enough. Furthermore, at night, since he does not sleep, he keeps an eye out for any undesirables to make sure that they don't bother the girl and him. Overall, he is just really on edge when they are out together.

X6-88 - Works to ensure her safety as well as he can. He is not a nurturer, but he ensures she has what she needs. He does not let anyone come near her, and he safeguards her like a dragon would protect its treasure. He almost never worries about her because he has confidence in his own abilities to ensure that whatever comes their way is swiftly taken care of.

Dogmeat - Loves her more than anything in the world, and he does not care where she goes as long as he gets to come with her. He protects her viciously, loves her fiercely, and would eagerly jump into the mouth of a deathclaw for her if she asked. Her young age does not matter to him in the least.

Strong - Does not worry about her. He watches over her like he would his super-mutant brothers or their hounds. He considers her to be an ally, and he takes care of allies. He does not overprotect her by any means, but he makes sure she is safe enough to avoid harm.

[quinzelade]

By No Constraint (chpt 61)

SS x Danse

Chapter List

Thanks to my amazing beta, waiting4morning, for her wonderful work! Thanks to Musashi1596 for the title.

Major Brotherhood/Danse spoilers.

Want update alerts? Follow this story on FFnet or Ao3.

--

Hangover Heart

--

Quinn felt the headache before anything else, the night’s grogginess slowly trailing away as she opened her eyes. Blinking, she shifted a little, and turned her head to see herself covered with blankets.

What the…?

Finally, she noticed Danse. And then she saw Shaun.

Quinn sat up sharply, before clutching her head with a groan. Last night’s stunt was splintering through her skull, reminding her why she was in this state at all. But Danse had come back...and Shaun was in his arms, both of them squished uncomfortably into Mrs. Bossanova’s old chair. Dogmeat was lying next to her at the foot of the sofa, his tail twitching slightly in his sleep. Her mouth opened as if she was gasping for air, hand clamped to her forehead while her eyes stung. The alcohol clearly hadn’t worn off yet. She was seeing things.

“Mom?”

Quinn squinted through the haze to see a small figure bound towards her. Shaun’s weight pinned her to the back of the sofa, aggravating her hangover, but she suppressed another groan, hugging him tight. Almost immediately Dogmeat jumped on both of them, licking their faces and barking.

Quinn pulled Dogmeat away by his collar, blinking until her vision cleared. Danse was sitting up straight in her armchair, glaring at her. He was glaring more fiercely than when she’d insisted on concealing the truth from Shaun. What on earth could she have done that was worse than that?

He continued to glower in icy silence as Shaun babbled away, wriggling in Quinn’s lap as he fought against Dogmeat for attention.

“I thought you were sick, Mom! Are you alright? Are you okay? Are you feeling better? You’re not hurt, are you? Do you need a doctor? Do they have doctors up here?”

His eyes were round and panicked, and he jammed his thumb into his mouth and began chewing on the nail. One of Nate’s nervous habits.

“No, sweetie, I’m fine,” Quinn mumbled, kissing him on the head. “I was just—”

“Like I said, she was just tired,” Danse interrupted, his scowl deepening. His burning gaze rested on Quinn, and her stomach squirmed. What was his problem?

As if on cue, Codsworth floated in, breaking the moment before Shaun picked up on it. “Ah, mum! You’re awake! Shall I make you some breakfast?”

A confused question was on her lips—what was Codsworth doing here as well? But it was cut short as Dogmeat began another bout of face licking, causing Shaun to laugh and scratch his ears.

“Shaun,” Danse said loudly, drawing the boy’s attention, “go outside and play with Dogmeat for a bit. I need to speak with your mother.” He turned to Codsworth. “Can you supervise?”

Quinn suspected if Codsworth had eyebrows, he would have raised them. He swivelled to face her. “Mum?”

“Do as he says,” she muttered, bowing her head. She wouldn’t be able to stop Danse having this conversation with her. Better to get it over with now.

Danse waited until everyone had left the room, and then slowly got to his feet. He walked across to the nearby cupboard, opened it, and produced the bottle of whisky. The way he was holding it reminded her of her opposition producing incriminating evidence at a trial.

When he sat back down again, he set it on the floor between the two of them and then leaned back in his chair.

“Explain.”

One little word, and yet it sent shivers rippling through her. Explain? How could she even begin forage through all the shit that had piled up in her head? It would be like trying to piece the Institute back together from radioactive hole in the middle of Boston.

Still, she tried. But Quinn only made it through half of what had gone on when Danse shook his head.

“I’m not interested in that right now. It’s irrelevant.”

“Irrelevant?” Quinn was stunned. “You think killing my son is irrelevant?”

“For this discussion, yes.” His face was set in stone and Quinn was reminded of how cold he could be. It had been some time since it was directed at her. He leaned forward, the same scowl cutting into her as he said, “You told me you saved that boy because you cared about him, because he was scared and you wanted to protect him.”

Danse picked the whisky up and shook it in her face, the amber liquid sloshing violently within. “So explain to me why this has happened.”

“I…I don’t…” Prickles of guilt were stabbing all through her skin. “I wasn’t…”

“He ran all the way to Red Rocket for Codsworth’s help,” Danse spat. “On his own, in the dead of night, because he thought you were ill!”

She said nothing. Everything had gone numb. She could see it now—the little boy, terrified of even being on the decks of the Prydwen without her, so scared that he managed to make such a trip anyway. Quinn felt physically sick, and it had nothing to do with her hangover.

“Oh God,” she said, clutching at the sofa to steady herself. Anything could have happened. Anything, and she had been…

“Drunk,” Danse said, as if he could hear her thoughts. “You were drunk. So drunk even I couldn’t rouse you. What the hell would you have done if raiders had attacked? Or a feral ghoul had wandered into town?”

“Nothing,” Quinn whispered. “I wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”

“You stupid, irresponsible…” Danse stopped and took a deep, calming breath, before continuing. “You are his parent. You are supposed to be acting in his best interests. This doesn’t look like his best interests to me.”

Quinn shook her head, staying silent. She couldn’t cry. Not now. She didn’t deserve to cry—this reprimand was well and truly earned, and Quinn wouldn’t risk softening Danse’s approach by letting the tears escape.

When he spoke again, though, his voice was still heated, but somehow gentler.

“You are in charge of that boy,” he said, tapping his fingers against the bottle in his hands. “You are his entire world. He adores you. But you need to decide why you took him from that place, and whether your priority is him—” Danse held up the whisky. “—or this.”

Quinn buried her head in her knees. She had been witness to her father’s drunken stupors throughout her childhood, a burden that remained, even as an adult. The same had now been inflicted on Shaun. Quinn gripped at her legs, digging her fingers deep into her thighs.

Danse looked confused when she suddenly threw off all her blankets and snatched the bottle from his hands.

“Quinn?” His tone was a mix of shock and indignant.

She ignored him. For now, her moping was done, and fury had taken its place. Nate would be ashamed of her if he’d seen the state she had let herself fall into last night. He certainly would have been harder on her than Danse.

Blood pounded through Quinn’s ears as she marched out of the house and down the street. She made it all the way to the bridge, Danse at her heels, before stopping and staring down at the bottle in her hand.

Never again.

Quinn hurled the whisky with a grunt, relief surging through her as it hit the statue at the end of the bridge and exploded. Glass and liquid sprayed everywhere, creating a smattering of dark patches in the dry ground. She was still standing there, breathing heavily through her nose when a hand fell onto her shoulder and turned her around.

Danse took one look at Quinn’s face before bringing her into his arms. She clung to his coat, trying to keep herself steady, until she gave up and just let him hold her up while she bawled. Everything came out—not so much in words, but a torrent of emotion that threatened to drown all of Sanctuary.

Quinn felt empty when she finished, but a good kind of empty—raw as hell, but also scraped clean. She had been purged, the ghosts ripped away. Quinn wondered how long they would take to come back.

Eventually she found her feet and managed to stand unaided again. Quinn glanced up at Danse, expecting to see exasperation or anger, but instead there was only concern. It quickly melted away into the determination she loved so much in him.

“You’ve had a hell of a rough time lately,” he said, touching her face, “but that doesn’t mean the answer is in a bottle of scotch. We need to make sure neither of us does this again.”

“Help me tell him,” Quinn replied, gripping tightly at Danse’s arms.

His expression said he knew exactly what she was referring to. A look of relief flickered across his face as he gave a small, slow nod.

“Of course.”

--

Breakfast was a tense affair. Codsworth’s inane chatter filled the silence as he cooked up a storm, his speciality omelettes making a good impression on Shaun. Quinn felt too sick to eat, chasing her food across her plate with her fork instead. Codsworth didn’t comment when he took away the untouched meal, or when she asked him to leave her alone with Danse and Shaun. Ever the savvy butler, he ushered Dogmeat from the house, coaxing the animal out with Quinn’s leftover food.

The room became very quiet as she sat with Shaun on the sofa, Danse hovering in the background. Quinn had wanted him with her to make sure the words would come out, but now it was happening, suddenly she needed no assistance. She told Shaun before her brain caught up with her mouth, the statement blunt and unkind.

“Shaun, you’re a synth.”

Quinn wasn’t sure what she expected to happen. Upset, maybe? In denial or angry, or perhaps even confused. The emotions she had seen from Danse when his past had been revealed to him.

Shaun picked at a hole in his shirt. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

“What?” Her mouth fell open as she stared at the boy.

Shaun gave a shrug. “All the tests with Doctor Li. All the times Father came to see me. All the arguments you’ve been having with Mr. Danse. It just makes sense, you know? I’m not stupid. And when you both shout, you’re loud.”

Quinn threw Danse a horrified glance, and saw his expression mirrored hers. Despite his insistence that Shaun needed to know, he would feel the same as her—this was not the way Shaun should have found out.

His little face crumpled slightly. “I didn’t want to think about it. Because if I’m a synth, then you’re not my mom.”

“Honey,” Quinn said gently, the upset that was creeping into his expression a knife in her gut. “I’m still your mom.” She wriggled in her seat. He needed to know everything. It would be the only way to convince him he belonged. “You...you were made from Father’s DNA.”

She explained as best she could. Quinn hadn’t intended to tell him this part of the tale, but it just felt right. There were too many in her circle of friends who knew that Father had been her son, and too much risk that it would get back to Shaun. Better he heard it from her so she could patch the damage as quickly as possible. This time Shaun seemed stunned.

“I’m just…a copy?” His voice was laced with anguish.

“No!” Quinn sat up straight, her heart racing. She had to snuff this out now before it spiralled out of control. “You’re not a copy. You’re a new person. Like...his twin.”

Even to her own ears it was a weak protest. Nick had worded it better.

“Real people are born,” Shaun said flatly. “Synths aren’t born. I used to sneak out of the lab at night when Doctor Li wasn’t there. I saw the other synths being put together. So Father was the real one. And I’m the fake.”

Quinn gaped at him. She hadn’t realised how smart he was, which seemed ridiculous now she thought of it. The original Shaun had been a scientist in charge of the entire Institute. Every argument she’d ever had about the validity of synths went straight out of her head, so that all she could do was stare stupidly at him.

“There’s more to a person than whether they’re born or not,” said Danse.

Both Shaun and Quinn turned to look at him. He’d finally stepped forward, looming over the top of them. Shaun shrank back. But then Danse grabbed Mrs. Bossanova’s old armchair and dragged it in front of Shaun, holding the boy’s gaze intently as he sat himself down.

“That’s probably the most important lesson your mother ever taught me. It doesn’t matter if I’m a synth. I’m still real. I have memories that I know are my own. I feel and I hurt like any other person. The only people who care about where you came from rather than who you are aren’t worth your time. Another thing your mom helped me see.”

“You’re a synth?” Shaun looked amazed, while Danse seemed calm, and Quinn noticed his usual pained expression when talking about himself was absent.

Danse nodded. “I’m a synth. I only found out recently, but it’s true.”

“But how?” Shaun blinked at him, now extremely confused. “You don’t wear the uniform or talk funny or boss anyone around. You don’t act like a synth. You act like...”

Danse smiled. “Like a human?”

Shaun nodded, going red.

“That’s because I am. And so are you. The Institute treated synths badly...made them talk funny and wear those uniforms. But some people helped me escape. Helped me make a new life for myself. I picked my own name, made my own path...and I found your mom in the process.”

Shaun suddenly looked interested. “You picked your own name?”

“Yes,” Danse replied. “I used to be called M7-97. But I decided that sounded—” He paused, clearly trying to find a word Shaun would connect with. “—lame. Don’t you?”

Shaun giggled. “No one says ‘lame’ anymore, Mr. Danse.”

It was Danse’s turn to go scarlet. “Well, anyway,” he said quickly, “I thought if I was starting a new life, I should be my own person. And I am.”

Shaun’s grin disappeared as he considered this. He turned to Quinn, clearly apprehensive, and then said, “Mom...if I’m like Father’s twin, could I...can I have my own name? I don’t want to be him. I want to be like Mr. Danse.”

Danse went even redder at this. Quinn didn’t know what to think. On the one hand, it was a relief. Shaun changing his name would alleviate the grief this was causing her—how could she be replacing the original Shaun if he knew what he was and chose to move on from that? But at the same time, the very thought felt like losing Shaun all over again.

He was a terrible, beautiful echo of her son—an idea she wanted to cling to at all costs—and Quinn realised this was precisely why it should happen. The boy was a person, not a concept, and she had to let it go. Shaun needed to be laid to rest.

“If that’s what you want, honey,” Quinn said, forcing a smile as she clawed back the tears, “then I think it’s a great idea. What should we call you?”

“I dunno.” Shaun gave a little grin. “I’ll think about it.”

The awkward quiet returned, Quinn sitting with her hands in her lap, unable to look at Shaun. She could feel his eyes on her, and she licked her lips, shivers racing up her spine. She didn’t know where to go from here—hadn’t planned that far ahead.

Shaun crawled across the sofa and into her lap, giving her a tight hug. “I love you, Mom.”

Quinn slipped her arms around him, her mouth dry. She felt drained, but also like a great, suffocating weight had been heaved off her chest. Danse was watching her with a faint smile on his face, before averting his gaze from the moment. Quinn pulled Shaun closer, kissing the top of his head. “I love you too, honey.”

She meant it.

--

The rest of the day passed without incident, Quinn teaching Shaun how to play fetch with Dogmeat properly, while Codsworth occasionally lectured her on the dangers of skipping a meal. Danse quietly stayed nearby, never taking his eyes off her. At first she thought he was supervising, until Quinn realised he was still wearing that small smile.

Eventually darkness fell and Quinn tucked Shaun into bed, worried he might have trouble sleeping after the events of the previous night. But he drifted off almost immediately, to her greatest surprise.

The other issue was Danse. Now the discussion with Shaun was over, Quinn couldn't quite meet his eye. The shame of her behaviour from the last few days was finally catching up with her, and suddenly she had nothing to say.

Danse came and sat with her anyway. He kept a respectful distance, watching her closely, until his hand crept over and touched her fingers. He wasn't sullen, wasn't depressed—nothing about him seemed to be lingering on the presence of Shaun. That struck Quinn as the strangest of all.

“What's changed, Danse?” she said, fixing her gaze to her knees. “At the bunker you looked like you were going to explode. Now you're completely at ease.”

Danse shifted in his seat. “I've been mulling over a lot of things recently, and only a small portion of it has been about us.”

Quinn glanced at him and saw he was staring at his hands.

“I thought about why I was so angry over Shaun. Why I was still ashamed of being a synth, and why saving another synth was so terrible.”

Danse sighed.

“It all came down to me. I have been so focused on those that no longer accept me, that I disregarded those that do.” He squeezed her hand. “Those that helped me at every turn. And it became less anger at Shaun’s existence and more fear that he would go through what I did, because you couldn't tell him the truth.”

“It was never as simple as that,” Quinn muttered.

“I know,” Danse replied firmly. “I know. I've never been any good with tact—all I could think about was what I believed was right, without considering what you had to go through with the Institute. There was plenty of time. I could have waited. But I had my worries that…” Danse grimaced. “Well, you know. That Shaun was a replacement. And that if you didn't tell him now, then you never would.”

“No, I wouldn't.” Quinn sighed. No point lying to herself. She turned to him and smiled faintly. “Thank you.”

Danse looked taken aback at this and didn't respond. They sat together in leery silence, still holding hands, though it felt more out of courtesy than affection.

“When you left for the final push, I went to the Railroad’s headquarters,” Danse said suddenly.

A shiver raced down her spine. The Railroad? While she dreaded to think what he saw there, she let him continue.

He seemed to notice her grimace, though, because he shook his head. “Nothing happened. But I did find an agent there, burying the bodies. Called herself Watts—”

“An agent?” Quinn sat up straight, a sharp spike of fear piercing through her. “Danse, what if she goes for the ship? Or tracks me down and hurts Shaun? What if—?”

Quinn stopped as Danse took hold of her shoulders and gave her a little shake.

“Do you really think I'd just let her walk if I thought she was a risk to the Prydwen? She won't be going after anyone. Don't worry.”

What did he mean by that? He’d talked her out of action or put her down? Quinn decided she didn't want to know. If Danse said there was no risk, she trusted his word. She nodded for him to carry on.

“I think the thing that helped the most is knowing someone out there might have answers. Watts named Doctor Amari as Railroad.”

Quinn vaguely remembered the name. “From Goodneighbor?”

“The very same. She gave me my new identity before I was taken to the Capital Wasteland. She can tell me where I came from, who I used to be.”

“But…” Quinn paused, trying to word her fears delicately. “If you find the old you, will you go back to him? Would he want to stay with me?”

Danse blinked and Quinn knew instantly he hadn't considered this.

“Never mind,” she said quickly. “If you want to go, we'll go. Anything that comes afterwards we'll handle. Besides, Amari might be able to help me.”

“Help you?”

Quinn didn't reply.

The child synth can't age, you know.

The knowledge of what she had learned when Quinn had first gone to the Institute burned in her mind. She had been ignoring it—not consciously of course, but with all the distress in her life as of late, Shaun’s eternal childhood had been pushed to the back of her thoughts. Quinn hadn't considered the consequences when she’d taken him, hadn't even remembered. Now the facility was gone, and she faced the prospect of an immortal boy, watching her wither away while he remained. And if Shaun couldn't age, neither could Danse.

Unless…

“I can't age?” Danse said as she finished the explanation of her fears.

“I don't know for sure,” Quinn replied, sounding calmer than she felt. “I know Shaun couldn't because he was a prototype. But you're different to him. Institute details were always sketchy on the matter, and it wouldn't make sense for Gen 3’s not to age. What good is an infiltration unit if it can't age?”

“But we're not sure if I ever was an infiltration unit,” Danse replied dully. He glanced up at her, suddenly looking scared—it was an expression that didn't suit his face. “I don't want to end up like the detective. I don't want to wander the wasteland, watching everyone I care about pass by me like ghosts while I just...linger.”

Quinn didn't know how to respond to that, so she stayed quiet. Then an idea struck her.

“Father might have changed Shaun’s programming,” she said, trying not to get carried away with her hope. “I told Father it was wrong Shaun couldn't age. Maybe he…”

It felt important to make the distinction between the two Shauns, even if she had to resort to titles for the time being.

Danse looked as if he was struggling not to cling to the idea too quickly as well. His voice cracked as he said, “Amari could check, maybe?”

“Yes.” Quinn swallowed, her mouth dry and sticky. She didn't want to imagine what it would mean if nothing had changed with Shaun, but equally dreaming on the chance Amari presented was dangerous. Quinn settled for neutrality—frustrating and nerve wracking, but the safest choice.

“A family trip to Goodneighbor then?” she joked weakly.

“Family?” Danse asked, looking puzzled.

Quinn nodded. “Whatever happens.” She placed a light kiss on his cheek.

Danse’s face went blank, his hand reaching up to touch the skin her lips had brushed against. His face didn't light up immediately—it was a slow sunrise on an icy morning, the gentle beams breaking through and banishing the cold until everything dazzled.

“Family,” Danse repeated, looking as if he’d never dared to own such a word before. His smile broadened. “Whatever happens.”

--

Luck was entirely on their side on the way to Goodneighbor. Or maybe, Quinn thought, the Commonwealth was done with shitting on her for the time being, choosing to pick on someone else instead. However, the reason for their ease of passage quickly became apparent as they drew closer to Diamond City and saw Brotherhood flags mingled in with the usual green.

Quinn swore and ducked down, eyeing the street for a few minutes, a tight fear in her chest. Why were they so close?

Danse answered her unspoken question. “Friendly trade relations was always the end goal, and with the Institute gone, the Brotherhood will be welcome almost anywhere.”

Almost was right. Quinn knew damn well Hancock wouldn't be opening his doors to Maxson’s cronies anytime soon.

That might also include her.

“But I suspect this is only a supply drop,” Danse went on. “With any luck, we'll benefit from the local clearout without any actual encounters from the soldiers.”

Quinn could tell he was trying to reassure himself more than her. He’d never really gone into detail over what would happen if they got into a fight with the Brotherhood. Obviously he’d kill them, but at what cost to himself...she wasn't sure.

Keeping a close eye on the streets, the three of them slowly made their way to Goodneighbor. Mercifully, they didn’t encounter a Brotherhood patrol and reached Hancock’s town without incident. The guards looked Quinn up and down, before nodding and returning to their patrols.

Well, at least Hancock hasn’t barred me yet.

Quinn kept a tight grip on Shaun as they walked towards the Memory Den, watching the resident junkies and Triggermen with an edge of wariness. For all Hancock’s talk of freedom, the only person she trusted here was Hancock himself. There was no order, just loosely contained chaos that was a spark away from exploding.

Strange then that when she had first visited Goodneighbor, the lawlessness had suited her just fine—nothing like burying yourself in alcohol and god knows what else to smother heartbreak. Now it made her nervous. Danse’s influence, she suspected. He hated the place far more than she did and scowled at every person that drew near.

Even one of Hancock’s guards hesitated at Danse’s glare. He took a step forward and tilted his hat up so that the shadow fell away from his withered face. Shaun audibly gasped, and it occurred to Quinn he’d probably never seen a ghoul before. She placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a little squeeze as she explained why the man looked the way he did. The guard frowned with puzzlement but waited patiently for her to finish.

Shaun stared at the ghoul for a moment. “Does it hurt?”

The guard blinked. “What?”

“Being all wrinkly. Does it hurt?”

“I, uh...no?” He shook his head, clearly trying to get back on track as he turned to Quinn. “Mayor Hancock wants to see you.”

She sensed Danse bristling beside her, and quickly rested her hand on his arm to stop him putting his foot in the matter. “Tell the mayor I’ve found my son and I’ve gone to see Doctor Amari. If he still needs to speak with me, then I’ll gladly go to his office after she’s given her assessment.”

“Your son?”

Quinn’s head snapped up to see Hancock leaning over his balcony, smoking a cigarette as he stared hard at Shaun. She nodded, hoping he’d have enough sense not to mention Father.

“He looks like Captain Constitution from the Silver Shroud,” Shaun said loudly, grinning up at Hancock. “Like a pirate.”

Hancock snorted and smirked back at Shaun, before flicking his cigarette down into a nearby puddle. When he looked at Quinn, though, the mirth quickly slipped away. “Get the kid checked out, find yourself a room at the hotel, and then come see me.” He straightened up and walked back inside without another word.

Quinn glanced at Danse, biting her lip. She had no idea what kind of mood Hancock was in. Happy enough to let her wander Goodneighbor and go to Amari apparently, but his welcome was decidedly cool.

“We can worry about it later,” Danse said, finally ceasing his glower as Hancock’s lackey sloped away. “So long as we get what we came here for.”

The Memory Den was the same as ever, warm and hazy in the low lighting, sweet perfume filling Quinn’s head while Irma lounged on a nearby sofa. Quinn felt herself tense, remembering the flirtations Irma had directed at Danse the last time they had been here, but the mistress of the Den took one look at Quinn and gave a knowing smile.

“About time you two hooked up,” she said, laughing when Danse went as red as her dress. “Here for Amari again?”

Both Danse and Quinn nodded, and walked into Amari’s domain as Irma lazily waved them through.

Amari glanced up at the sound of their footsteps and visibly paled. Before Quinn could speak a word, the doctor had dived for a pistol on her workstation and pointed it at them, trembling from head to toe.

“I know why you’re here!” she gasped. “Just...just leave! Go! I don’t treat Brotherhood!”

Something clicked in Quinn’s head. Amari thought they were here to finish the Railroad off. She half considered being truthful about what had happened, when Danse began to speak.

“We weren’t involved in that,” he said, seizing Quinn by the arm and dragging her behind him, alongside Shaun. “We found out I was a synth, and the Brotherhood wanted my head. So we both left.”

Quinn thought it was obvious that Danse was lying through his teeth, but Amari clearly didn’t pick up on it. Her gun lowered slightly as she said, “You...you know?”

“Yes,” Danse replied. “That’s why we’re here...so I can get some answers, and so Quinn can help her son.”

Now Amari looked downright confused. “Her son? Why come specifically to me? There are numerous doctors in the Commonwealth.”

“I’m a synth too,” piped up Shaun at once, not bothering to keep his voice down. Quinn cringed. She hadn’t warned him that synths weren’t regarded kindly in the outside world. Amari wouldn’t care, of course, but anyone could overhear.

“Shh,” Quinn said sharply, and Shaun shut up, thoroughly puzzled. She shot Amari a nervous glance. “It’s a long story, but the bones of it...I need to know if Shaun is capable of aging. Danse as well.”

Amari stared at Shaun and for a moment Quinn wondered if it was because they were talking so openly in front of him about his...condition. She had told Shaun beforehand why they were going to Goodneighbor, but he didn’t seem concerned with the concept of not aging, more interested in his comic books than anything else. Kids were strange.

“A child synth?” Amari breathed, still looking stunned.

“Oh, yeah,” Quinn suddenly remembering she’d had months to get used to the concept. For everyone else, it was new bordering on uncomfortable. “The Director’s...idea. One of a kind.”

Amari picked up on the fact Quinn was trying to be kind to Shaun and Danse, avoiding the obvious truth both of them were little more than experiments for the Institute. The doctor swallowed her bewilderment as she set down her gun on the desk, though she kept a wary eye on Quinn. “It’s not usual for synths to have the capacity to grow old, but not unheard of. I know for a fact Danse can age.”

Quinn heard a sharp intake of breath. After a beat, Danse said, “You're sure about that?”

Amari nodded, her gaze flicking between Danse and Quinn. “You were the first synth I personally saw with the capacity to grow old. I remember it struck me as quite unusual at the time, though I was aware my colleagues in other cells had already reported synths like you coming through. I think the Institute were dabbling in how far they could push synth technology, and I wanted to run tests to see if aging could be passed onto another synth with some modifications.”

“And can they?” Quinn said, thinking of Shaun.

Amari shook her head. “If they’re not created to age, then it can’t be changed. Or at least the Institute never bothered to add anything that could allow a change.”

“Did you run your tests then?” Danse asked quietly.

Once again, Amari shook her head. “You were happy to go through with it. “Anything to help the others,” you said. But Victoria was on a tight schedule and wanted to leave for the Capital Wasteland as soon as possible. When the next synth like you visited my office, I had the chance to explore this added function. After a few years, the newer models lost that very ability. It seems the Institute decided it wasn’t needed, for whatever reason.”

Quinn scowled. She hated how Amari talked about synths like they were little more than computers. The doctor seemed to notice and flushed.

“Sorry,” she said quickly, lowering her eyes. “I try not to get attached to the synths I meet. Not knowing what happens to them, whether they make it or get dragged back...it's too much. All I know is I never see them again. Talking about them impersonally helps me sleep better at night.” Amari smiled nervously. “You're the first, Danse...and you've flourished.”

“Flourished?” Danse’s tone was sharp. “I spent ten years living a lie, culminating in being hunted down by the people I—”

He stopped as Quinn laid her hand on his arm. She saw something angry in his eyes, but it slowly faded into frustration and then weariness. “Sorry. I just have no answers. Which is why I'm here.”

Amari nodded, biting her lip. “I just meant...you have people that care about you. Stability. That's more than I can say about who I used to work with. Synth and human alike.”

Danse grunted in response and waved towards Shaun. “First things first…”

“Ah, yes.” Amari leaned forward, peering at Shaun, who was now looking at the ceiling while opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish. Apparently he hadn’t been listening to a word of the conversation.

“I was originally told Shaun would stay like this forever.” Quinn gestured to him, feeling slightly embarrassed at his obvious boredom with the entire meeting. This must have been how her mom felt every time she’d stared off into space whenever family friends visited. “So I talked with one of their...head scientists before the end and insisted that leaving him like that was wrong. I’m hoping the Institute listened to me. I need to know. Please.”

Finally, Amari relaxed. She gave a small smile and nodded, before holding her hand out to Shaun. “Shall we do some tests?”

Shaun perked up at once, abandoning Quinn’s side and bouncing over to Amari. Before he’d even sat down in the nearby chair, he was rattling off questions nineteen to the dozen about synths and things he had learned at the Institute. Had he actually been listening all along?

Quinn glanced at Danse—his expression blatantly said he could only grasp about half of what Shaun was asking. Quinn understood even less.

A small smile crept on Danse’s face. “What a smart kid.”

There was an odd pride in Quinn’s chest at Danse’s words, but it ebbed away as the two of them settled into the nearby waiting chairs. When Amari began to examine Shaun, anxiety took hold. Things between her and Danse were still oddly distant, though the initial wound was patched. All her energy had gone into getting Shaun here, but now he was…

Quinn jumped as Danse’s fingers linked through hers. She turned to him and saw he looked as uncertain as she did. The doubt melted away as she squeezed his hand, before resting her head on his shoulder. For a second, he was tense, and then he pulled his arm away, wrapping it around her and holding her close.

Quinn breathed a slow sigh of relief.

--

An hour passed, Quinn basking in Danse’s presence while Shaun continued to talk endlessly. Eventually, though, the doctor moved away from Shaun and over to her terminal.

“I've never seen anything like this…” Amari said, squinting at her computer screen and then glancing at Shaun. He bounced his heels impatiently on the oversized seat of his chair, staring up at the ceiling and blowing raspberries. Amari turned her attention back to the terminal. “He…”

“What?” Quinn sat up straight in her chair, shaking Danse off and digging her nails into her own palms. “What is it?”

“I'm trying to think how best to describe it,” Amari replied. “The simplest way I can say it is...well, Shaun has all the, uh, ‘setup' of a synth that can't age, but something has been added to him to allow him to do so. I've run all the tests on some of his cell samples. This is a new piece of ‘code' for want of a better word, completely brand new. Who did you say you spoke to about his aging?”

“The Director of the Institute, several months ago,” Quinn said faintly, suddenly feeling dizzy. “I told him it was wrong he couldn't age, and the Director...he laughed at me. Thought my concern was quaint.”

“Or endearing,” Amari replied with a bemused smile. “Someone created an entirely new function to fix the problem. A complex procedure, and yet surprisingly simple in its execution.”

“So…?”

“He can age like any other child.”

Quinn would have burst into tears there and then if it hadn’t been for Shaun watching with a worried expression. She blinked rapidly, her mouth stretching into a wide smile, and pulled herself from Danse, throwing herself at her son. He wriggled with embarrassment as she hugged him tight, peppering his cheeks with kisses until they grew hot.

“Mom!”

“Sorry, sorry,” she mumbled, holding Shaun at arm’s length while she beamed at him. “I’m just...happy.”

“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Shaun replied under his breath. “I don’t want to grow old.”

“Oh well,” Quinn said, wiping at her eyes as she let him go and stood up. “Never mind.”

Father had listened to her. Shaun had listened to her. And now this Shaun would have a chance at a proper life, to become an adult, to find love, to raise children of his own, even if they were likely adopted. He’d experience life to the full.

Danse would also grow old...grow old with Quinn. He wouldn’t be left behind, watching her wither away to nothing. After everything she’d done, the world had been kind enough to grant her these blessings. She didn’t deserve them...but then again, maybe this wasn’t a gift for her. Maybe it was a gift for Danse and Shaun.

Thank you, Quinn thought, hoping in some distant afterlife, Father could hear her.

Thank you.

--

A/N: I've always hated the vagueness of synth aging, and I've always hated that synth Shaun apparently can't age at all. So I set up a way to change this waaaay back around chapter 15 or 16. As for Danse, it's never confirmed or denied, and we're outside of game canon now, so I'm not turning him into the next Nick Valentine.