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amazinglyegg · 6 months

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hi!! i want to say i love ur blog sm. its amazing and one of my fav blogs.

i have a hc where sole picks up children’s toys, teddy bears, jangles the moon monkey, and giddy up buttercups while walking thru the wasteland looking for shaun. could u write a react for fo4 companions asking why they pick up “that junk” vs their reactions after finding out the reason why?

Thank you so much!! And this is the most adorable headcanon ever, I love it <3<3<3 I can only imagine how hard it'd be for Sole to constantly see all the toys they was planning to get Shaun for Christmas all broken down and rusted. Plus not even knowing if he's alive or if he would like any of them anymore... augh my heart </3

Companions react: Sole who collects toys for Shaun

Ada

She doesn't even bat an eye when Sole goes around picking up every toy they see

Sole probably only tells her the truth once they overhear Ada calling it scrap

After that Ada will make very sure she doesn't scrap any toys she finds and instead leaves them in a nice pile for Sole to sort through and keep any they want

Might even find it hard to scrap the toys Sole doesn't want (because they're too broken or unsalvagable)

She definitely gets wanting to keep something to remember someone by, and seeing Sole do this might just convince her to keep a transitional object that reminds her of Jackson

Cait

Cait immediately feels like crap for complaining so much

Not only because she kept complaining about Sole's habit, but she had definitely made comments on how dumb and boring the toys are in the past

She doesn't really get it since she's not a parent (and never wants to be), but she still feels like she should have realized it sooner

It also hits a bit close to home for her because she never really had many toys as a kid, so realizing Sole cares about Shaun so much they're constantly looking for trinkets for him is almost unreal to her

She'll probably not say much about it for that reason, too awkward and vaguely in disbelief that parents actually do that for their kids for her to make any comments

Codsworth

Oh he is SO supportive of Sole

Even before Sole tells him they're for Shaun he's pointing out how much Shaun would love them

Probably has Sole's Christmas list for Shaun still stored in his memory (because let's be honest Sole was definitely obsessing over their baby's first Christmas back in October) so he'll point out whenever they find a toy that was on the list

He'll probably go out of his way to grab any toys he sees for Shaun as well

Shaun's bedroom is going to be PACKED with toys before he even gets out of the Institute

Curie

Definitely more curious than frusturated with Sole picking up toys

Might push Sole too hard for an answer at first, but realizes her mistake and apologizes when Sole tells her the truth

I can imagine her having wildly different reactions on it, especially while she's getting used to emotions

One day she's going "but Shaun already has three blankets, no?" and the next day she's crying at the sight of a broken teddy bear

Grief is such a big emotion for Curie and she's so empathetic she's 100% going to be more weepy than Sole is a lot of the time

Danse

Sort of stuck when Sole tells him why they collect toys

On one hand it's his job to tell Sole to drop down the unnecessary stuff and travel light... but on the other hand... they're grieving

So as much as he wants to complain, he probably won't

He gets this is Sole's way of coping and whatnot but he's never been too good at empathy in general, so he won't really know what to say

He definitely won't bother Sole about it, but he will also just kinda ignore it

If him and Sole are close he might (rarely) bring them a toy in good condition he found (he's a scavenger at heart, of course he'll be looking for those things)

Deacon

Probably one of the most initially annoyed companions in this list

He hates kids and everything to do with them so before finding out he'd make plenty of half-jokes half-complaining jabs at how much the kids toys suck

Every time Sole picked up another toy Deacon's saying "Why did they have to make that face so weird?" "Did kids really play with this crap?" "If Santa got me THAT as a gift Christmas would be ruined forever!"

But once Sole tells him the truth he feels like a major asshole

He's another emotionally stunted man who won't know what to say!

He'll mostly ignore it and look the other way, but he'll also sometimes offer to carry the toys for Sole if their pack is too full

It's the least he can do after being so rude to them

Father

He definitely felt Something when Sole told him that fact (sympathy?? Longing?? Who knows)

The fact that he never left Sole's thoughts even while they were struggling to survive in the wastes means a lot to him (he has parent issues okay?)

Gets a bit weirded out if they still insist on gathering toys and giving them to synth Shaun

Like... he's a robot... he doesn't play with toys... why are you grieving me when I'm right here (he's also very emotionally stunted. Unsurprisingly)

Generally not too empathetic about it, and will definitely comment on it if Sole tries bringing dirty/broken toys into the Institute

Gage

Least likely to back down and apologize like the other companions after Sole admits the truth

Probably takes the realist approach of "There's toys everywhere... why can't you just wait until you actually find Shaun and then bring him to an old toy store or something?"

Will be a lot easier on them once he knows the truth though

It's just weird when they're surrounded by toys everywhere. They're literally in an amusement park. Can't Sole just bring Shaun there once they get him??

He's also a bit worried about Sole seeming like a softie, or trying to leave Nuka World once they get their kid back

A toy car or a deck of cards is fine, but you are NOT parading a five foot tall teddy bear around Nuka World. Gage will put his foot down for that one

Hancock

He'll probably only get annoyed with Sole's collection if it manages to get in the way of their work

He has always found childrens toys creepy... he's pretty thankful not many kids wander around Goodneighbor for that reason

Once he finds out the truth his demeanor will change from mild annoyance to "you know what? You do you"

He'll probably find an old tire or something and go "You think Shaun would like this??"

He doesn't know what kids like!! Especially old world kids. When he was a kid he would have been entertained for HOURS with just a stick... why wouldn't Shaun??

Either way, he lets Sole go do whatever they want to do. He won't judge as long as he doesn't have to look at Jangles for any longer than necessary

Maccready

Feels like a complete asshole for not connecting it together sooner

Childrens toys, missing child... how did he not SEE that

Hell, HE grabs little toys for Duncan every once in a while. Obviously he can't judge

He might be a tiny bit salty though

He's had to teach himself to not pick up every toy he thinks Duncan would want because he simply can't send them all to him, so seeing Sole constantly fawn over plushies and trinkets... just kinda hurts knowing he can't do the same at the moment

That being said if he finds something he wants to give to Duncan but can't, he'll give it to Sole instead

Ends up being a pretty good system for them both

Nick Valentine

Out of all of the companions he'd be best at emotional support

He'll sincerely apologizes for bugging Sole about the "junk" they've been lugging around and will reassure them that Shaun would love it

He still remembers which toys were popular at the time and will talk to Sole about it whenever they find one

Catch him and Sole repeating commercial jingles back and forth

He gives them a lot of space to grieve and never complains about all the toys once he finds out who they're for

He doesn't shy away from gently putting his foot down if Sole gets a bit ridiculous, but he does so very, very gently

Like "Hey, that teddy is in tatters. How about we find one that's a bit more... huggable?" or "Shaun doesn't need two Giddyup Buttercups, but if you're okay for it I know a little girl in Diamond City who's been begging for one all year"

Old Longfellow

Aw hell, why not?

Definitely empathizes with them

He feels bad for Sole once he learns the truth so he's perfectly happy to just shut up and let Sole do whatever they need to do to grieve

He's also not really a toy person so he doesn't get it

Like "you think your kid would like THAT??"

But whatever. Sole knows their own kid better than he knows them. If Shaun gets traumatized by seeing Jangles the moon monkey, that's Sole's fault

Piper

Likely to take an "aww, that's sweet" approach to things

Similar to Hancock in that she... doesn't really get it??

Like who needs all these old toys most people don't know how to play with?? Nat played with a rock and a loose piece of string when she was little and she was just fine

Tries to show enthusiasm but ends up going wayy off the mark

She grabs a Barbie doll and says "wouldn't Shaun like this?? He can... I don't know... brush her hair??"

"Shaun would love this!" "Piper that's a mechanical keyboard... with no computer" "Well maybe Shaun would like pretending to write stories!"

Preston

Straight up apologizes for being so harsh to Sole

He didn't need to be so rude about Sole picking up toys. It's their backpack, they can fill it with whatever they want

Appreciates what Sole's doing and will make sure the kids in any settlements don't touch Shaun's toys

He's pretty curious what a lot of toys actually do. He'll ask Sole things like "so do kids... just... sit on the Giddyup Buttercup? And do nothing else??"

Will offer to carry some toys or have caravans bring them back to settlements if they're too much for Sole to carry

X6-88

(assuming Sole's either keeping the toys for themself or wants to give them to synth!Shaun)

Doesn't get it

Father is right there?? Why are you grieving his childhood and focusing on a synth instead of being proud of his achievements??

Going into headcanon territory here but I assume the Institute probably makes toys for (the scientist's) kids to play with already

Not to mention the Institute is pretty anti-clutter, and Shaun doesn't "need" toys to begin with

He just can't wrap his head around why Sole feels the need to hoard a bunch of old broken toys when good ones are in the Institute already

If Sole just insists on keeping the toys in the old nursery he'll be a bit annoyed but won't show it (gotta respect the future director and all)

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mae-peachie · 11 months

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Ta-daaaaa!!! Deacon bat is real!! I'm so pleased with how he came out 💞 this little guy is for my bestie @oldworldwidgets, but I'll definitely be making one for myself too, of course! Expect more posts of Deacbat in the future :3

#fallout 4 #fo4 deacon #deacon fallout 4 #fallout 4 fanart #fallout 4 companions #fo4 #fo4 fandom #fallout 4 art #fo4 bats #fallout bats

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everydayyoulovemeless · 11 days

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

Fo4 Companions Reactions To Sole Introducing Gage As Their Boyfriend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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possiblylando · 5 months

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My hopes for the fallout TV show are not high.

Enough time has passed for me to talk about this in full since my thoughts have had time to solidify. As you probably know images (w/ descriptions) for the fallout tv show and the trailer itself released a few days ago. So I'll start with the good because this is primarily going to be a doompost rant afterwards. 1. The Sets, Costumes, Make-up, Props, Atmosphere, All of it is AMAZING. it looks GREAT. If the only metric to judge this on were those alone then this would be an easy 8/10-10/10. 2. I like the music used it fits fallout and its cool in the trailer. 3. theres a dogmeat in it thats cool theres always gotta be one of those its tradition 4. They thankfully seem to be doing away with the fallout 4 "trapped in the 50s" garbage they went with judging off the footage of the bombs dropping they showed.

And thats about it for my praises. Because this looks like it's going to be a lore dumpster fire. So lets start with the issues 1. This takes place in LA, California. You must be aware what other fallout properties all took place in that general sort of area.

and from those games theres a very important faction completely absent from these trailers. The NCR is completely fucking missing. I have had no luck finding any traces of them despite the fact people have posted pictures of their flag in the background of some shots I can not find it. The fact the NCR is just gone is a very bad sign. Maybe if I'm to be optimistic the reason is because they want to attract fallout 4 fans so they just showed the stuff from that game? 2. The Brotherhood of Steel. They just should not be on the west coast. They're an east coast faction with their remnants in the west being weak and scattered. They should not have an entire armed paramilitary force at the ready with somehow a second prydwin and I know it isn't the prydwin from fo4 its like some sister ship that happens to look exactly the same somehow. Which is a whole other can of worms because iirc they made the prydwin out of the remains of the enclave mobile base they sieged in the fo3 post game. 2b. The Brotherhood seems to be breaking their very own rules and lore. Now I want you to look at this image;

Off the bat nothing seems wrong with it, right? That guy in all black is a squire. Accompanying a knight. If they're just apart of a group then fine but these two ranks should not be put together if the squire is working under the knight. The brotherhood's entire chain of command is EXTREMELY important with the only times its ever broken are exceptions for the player themselves. Incase you're a normal person who just blew up their bunker in nv; The Brotherhood's chain of command is basically: "You can only command those one rank directly below you and only take orders from someone directly above you." So the elder can only command paladins and paladins only command knights ect. This is so important you can get exiled for breaking this rule. 3. Mutant Overseer in a control vault.

I doubt I need to explain why this makes no sense. 4. This is JUST megaton. Why is it in LA?

It could turn out to be really good but it seems like they only played fallout 4 and maybe skimmed a wiki cause there seem to be quite a few contradictions to the main franchise especially since this isn't an AU, this is CANON to the mainline universe.

#fallout

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nightingaelic · 1 year

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How would Fo4 companions react to Courier 6

Just... existing?

The Dugout Inn was packed that night, thanks to harvest season caravans, pay day for the security officers, and some harmonica player that was giving an admirable performance by the Port-A-Diner that still held an immaculate piece of pie. But the harmonica wasn't the main draw, the sole survivor's companion noticed when they walked in - it was a newcomer at the bar with a gaggle of onlookers surrounding them, holding sway over the group with some story about an adventure in the faraway Mojave wasteland.

While the sole survivor elbowed their way toward Vadim and liquor, their companion sidled up to the back of the newcomer's crowd to listen in. They were describing a battle with deathclaws in a quarry, filled with blood on the cut stone, teeth and horns sharper than a mother-in-law's tongue, and plenty of pizzazz.

"How much did the NCR pay you, once you were through?" Becky Fallon asked when they reached the tale's conclusion.

"Oh, 500 NCR dollars," the newcomer replied, making a face. "About 200 caps, for you east coasters."

"Only 200 caps for 20 deathclaws?!?" Hawthorne laughed. "You're the cheapest hunter I know. Only 10 caps per deathclaw, that's a hell of a deal."

"I don't hunt full-time. The NCR pays its contracted hunters more."

"If you're not a hunter, then what do you normally do for work?" Hawthorne asked.

The newcomer smiled. "I'm a courier."

Cait: Cait snorted. "A goddamned mailman? Come on. And you're out smashing up deathclaws for what, drinking money?"

"I take whatever comes my way." The courier raised their glass to her, then took a large gulp of it. "It's how I get by."

"Sounds less like 'getting by' and more like you have a death wish," Cait quipped. "If I want drinking money, I don't find it by looking beyond what my baseball bat can handle."

"I like a challenge," the courier admitted. Their eyes traveled over Cait's wiry arms. "I could use one now, truth be told. My purse is a little light."

"I can buy your next drink," Hawthorne offered.

"Out of the way, handsome." Cait pushed the adventurer to the side and slid in next to the courier. She put her elbow on the bar, hand up. "Five caps says you can't pin me, stranger."

A competitive gleam entered the courier's eye. "Make it 10," they said, thrusting their drink into Hawthorne's grasp.

By the time the sole survivor returned, Cait and the courier were gritting their teeth, arms shaking as they both tried to pin the other's hand to the bar. The crowd was cheering them on, growing loud enough to drown out the harmonica as the courier's hand inched closer and closer toward the counter. Cait saw her chance and took it, and the smack of skin on wood was nearly covered by disappointed groans from the courier's admirers.

"Pay up," Cait advised them, accepting her drink from the sole survivor.

"Best two out of three," the courier suggested breathlessly.

Codsworth: "A worthy profession," Codsworth remarked, with a deferential tilt of his eye stalks. "Receiving the post was always one of the highlights of my day, before the war. We don't get many deliveries these days, but that makes the ones that we do receive all the more special, in my opinion."

"Aww, you remember your pre-war days?" The courier looked the robot over with interest. "I'm surprised your current owner didn't overwrite your memories and give you a fresh start."

"That would be because my pre-war owner and my current owner are one and the same," Codsworth replied helpfully. "Two centuries' worth of memories is of course, far too much data for a Mister Handy model such as myself to contain, but they trust me to do my own pruning. I can throw out most of the years I spent trying to polish the car, for instance."

"Is your owner a ghoul?" the courier asked, confused.

"Far from it." Codsworth pointed out the sole survivor at the other end of the bar. "They were lucky enough to gain entrance into a vault just before the bombs fell, and then they were - well, there I go, telling their story for them. I suppose they would rather give it to you in their own words."

"Sounds like quite the story," the courier murmured.

"A tale for the ages, or so they say."

Curie: Curie gasped in delight. "Le service postal of the United States survived the Great War? This is beyond impressive!"

The courier wrinkled their nose. "Is that... French? Oh shoot, I don't remember most of what..."

"It is quite alright," Curie reassured them, patting their arm. "I am fluent in English as well."

"Je ne parle pas français," the courier answered triumphantly. "Ah, shit, I bet Arcade 100 caps that I'd never use it. Can you keep a secret?"

"Most assuredly." Curie smiled. "When did you arrive? It is rare that Diamond City sees visitors from so far away."

"What about the Brotherhood?" Becky pointed out.

"Or that trader from Appalachia who came through last week," Hawthorne added.

"Less rare as of late," Curie amended. "Regardless, you are more than welcome here. It is so nice to see new faces. So encouraging."

"Thank you." The courier smiled. "People are usually happy to see me, but it's nice to know it's not always because I'm bringing them something."

"Viens avec moi," Curie insisted, seizing their hand. "There is someone else you should meet, tonight."

Paladin Danse: "That's an important job in the west," Danse said, nodding in approval. "The coast, mountains, and desert make for dangerous terrain, even for Brotherhood troops. Navigating them as an individual can be safer than traveling as a group."

"As long as you know where you're going," the courier added. "I've done work for the Brotherhood before, but they're a secretive bunch. Keep to themselves, unless you've got something they want. They're a real different beast from the East Coast variety."

"They've faced different challenges and adversities," Danse replied testily. "But the western leadership still provides a clear mission for the order, from coast to coast. We follow their example."

"Mmm, I'm not so sure." The courier tilted their glass around thoughtfully. "Maxson's chapter has an open-door policy, which I suppose isn't the worst thing compared to the desert chapters, but that wouldn't fly on the West Coast. I suppose he gets away with it because he's the golden boy who has all the vertibirds, and that big robot that keeps getting blown up."

"Watch your tone," Danse warned them.

"Or what, you'll court-martial me? Please." The courier chuckled. "Your Mojave brothers and sisters strapped a bomb collar on my neck and made me do chores for them, the first time I came around their bunker. I take a slap on the wrist far better than I do a death threat."

Danse was taken aback, which left them room in the conversation to keep going. "They're not all that bad, though. I've got a Scribe friend from the same chapter who taught me some great moves with a power fist. She's always on the verge of leaving them though, so who knows."

Deacon: "What's your usual cargo?" Deacon asked casually. "Anything you can carry?"

"Usually." The courier tapped their chin. "Though if it can move itself, we'll do escorts for an extra fee. I've driven some brahmin and led some bots in my day."

"Ever move people?" Hawthorne asked.

The courier's eyes narrowed. "What, like slaves?"

"No, no, nothing like that." Hawthorne waved his hands. "I mean, like, freed slaves. Or synths."

"You really think synths would make it that far west?" Becky asked, skeptical. "The Institute's everywhere, and they'd stick out like a sore thumb outside the Commonwealth."

The shopkeeper and the adventurer fell to arguing, leaving the courier and Deacon stuck in the middle of their debate. The courier raised their eyebrows at him from over Becky's shoulder. Deacon shook his head and smirked before walking away.

"What was that all about?" the sole survivor asked, once he'd rejoined them.

"Ah, nothing." Deacon accepted the drink they had bought for him. "Just someone I thought I recognized."

"Anyone I'd know?"

"Nah."

Dogmeat: Hawthorne shifted to the right, accepting the drink Vadim had brought him, and the courier caught sight of the dog that was eyeing them curiously. A peculiar look came over their face, and they set their own glass down and knelt to beckon Dogmeat over. "Here, buddy. It's okay."

Dogmeat, ever the good judge of character, sniffed their offered hand and licked their knuckles. The courier rewarded him with a scratch behind the ears. "There you go. You look just like some other pups I know. Whose dog are you?"

The sole survivor, who had apparently given up on getting Vadim's attention, nudged their way into the courier's circle. "He's mine. Well... I'm his, I suppose."

The courier straightened up again and looked the Commonwealth's latest star over. "You suit each other," they said, coming to some conclusion. "Buy you a drink?"

Mayor John Hancock: "Whoa." Hancock drew some loop-de-loops in the air with his finger, pointing to the courier's various accoutrements. "Stay away from this one, folks. If I know one thing, it's that you don't tangle with a fucking mailman."

"We're only scary if you're standing in the way of our route," the courier joked. "Have you met many of us?"

"Enough," Hancock admitted. "Knew a fiery one from New Reno who retired a few decades ago. She was a crack shot with her pistols and could give a yao guai bad dreams, when she felt like it."

"Oh, Dawn? Petite ghoul, wears pearls and a different wig for every day of the week?"

"That's her! Have you met her?"

"Never had the pleasure myself, but the old guard at the Mojave Express never shut up about her." The courier smiled. "I didn't know she'd come east. Is she still around?"

"Nah, she went north three years back. Said she was going to find her next fortune in the Annex Nation." Hancock seized a nearby bottle from the bar and took a swig before offering it to them. "Got the sense from her that she had to keep moving, or she'd drop dead of boredom. You know?"

"That's the average courier for you." The newcomer accepted the bottle and took a drink. "If I sit still too long, I start to go a little insane. Makes things tough, sometimes."

"Well, those who get you, they get it, and those who don't aren't worth your time anyway." Hancock winked. "She sure made Goodneighbor interesting while she was around, though. If you ever see her again, tell her that John the honorable mayor misses her."

Robert Joseph MacCready: "A mailman?" MacCready made a face. "Might as well join up with mercenaries, if you're willing to risk your life that often. You'd probably make better caps."

"Probably," the courier agreed. "But I get better stories out of courier deliveries than I would if I was just a hired gun."

"Oh yeah?" MacCready settled in against the bar. "What's your best one?"

The courier whistled, long and low. "Where do I even begin? Do you want the best one with a happy ending, the one where I had the most problems in my way but still managed to make the delivery, the one with the best pay... you've got to narrow it down."

"The best one. Period."

"Fine, they're all the same story anyway." The courier grinned. "I picked up a job in the Boneyard for pretty decent caps, nothing to sneeze at, but two weeks into the trip I get waylaid by a guy in a fancy suit and some Khans he paid to find me. They surprise me, take my cargo, then shoot me in the head and bury me in a shallow grave."

"They did not," MacCready cut in. "You'd be dead."

"Yeah, the doc said I was for a few minutes." The courier tipped their hat back, exposing the bullet scar on their forehead, much to the crowd's delight. "So once someone fished me out and nursed me back to health, I tracked that snazzy murderer and his goons down, took back what I was supposed to deliver, and brought it where it was supposed to go."

"And how much did you get in return?"

The courier bobbed their head noncommittally. "Well... there's a bit more to the story, but I got a thousand caps up front, and later I got a casino and an army of robots."

"Pffft." MacCready burst out laughing. "Just who do you expect to believe that?"

Nick Valentine: "A courier from the West Coast, huh?" Nick's golden eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't happen to have some time for a few questions about a case I'm working on, would you?"

Several minutes later, the sole survivor found the pair at a table in the back, where Nick was grilling the courier about their encounters with his pet serial killer. "So no calling card, no trace, nothing," the synth was saying.

"No, nothing like that." The courier scratched their head. "I think I first saw him outside... Novac? Maybe? I was out late after a job, and some Vipers tried to jump me on the way back into town. He put down the last of them before she gutted me with a machete, and when I went up the ridge to see what he was after, he was gone."

"Did he leave any footprints?"

The courier clucked their tongue. "Rock ridge. Nothing there. I have no idea how he got down without me seeing, because there was definitely no way up. Trust me, I looked."

Nick sighed. "Well, it matches all the other descriptions. Best guess I've got is some pre-war ghoul, or maybe a synth like myself, who for some reason gets his kicks from interrupting gunfights and arbitrarily choosing the winner. You should come by the office tomorrow morning, if you're still in town, so Ellie can get this all down officially."

The sole survivor set Nick's drink down in front of him and grimaced. "He's a phantom, Nick. Odds are, we'll never catch him."

"I don't care if he's the Silver Shroud himself, I want to know what he's doing in Boston." Nick took a swig of the beer and scowled. "Thanks for your help, courier. Safe travels, if I don't see you."

"My pleasure." The courier rose and nodded to both of them. "Not sure what all the fuss is in this city about synths. You're a perfect gentleman."

Piper Wright: "Move over, Hawthorne." Piper squeezed in next to the courier and pulled out her notepad. "How long have you been a courier? Do you like it? What brings you this far east?"

"Whoa, slow down." The courier laughed. "Let's just say I've been a courier as long as I can remember."

"Now that sounds like an answer that's got a story behind it," Piper pointed out, jotting their words down. "Are you saying you've been a courier since you were very young, or that you can't remember that far in your past?"

The courier's amusement dampened a little. "Have you ever been told you're too smart for your own good?"

"Often, and usually by people who've got something to hide. Why are you in the Commonwealth?"

The courier downed the rest of their drink and set the glass on the bar. "I'm out. I get enough of this in the Mojave."

"Who's bothering you in the Mojave?" Piper pressed. "You wouldn't happen to know a courier from out that way who was at the fight over Hoover Dam? What are your thoughts on their actions, and on how everything turned out?"

The sole survivor arrived with their drink just in time to watch the courier's retreat toward the door. "Who was that?" they asked the reporter.

"Just someone who's not a fan of the press." Piper rolled her eyes and put the notepad away. "I wish everyone was as open to an interview as you, Blue."

Preston Garvey: "A courier?" Preston commented. "You must have been all over the west, if you work as a courier. What's it like, compared to the Commonwealth?"

The courier shrugged. "Some places are better, some are worse. Depends on where you go. My heart's in New Vegas, of course, but I've found pleasure and danger all over the place."

Preston smiled. "Those two go hand in hand, sometimes."

"More often than we care to admit." The courier smiled back. "I saw some folks with your uniform on my way through Sanctuary. Are you with the Minutemen?"

"You could say that," Preston replied. "Preston Garvey, at your service."

"The Preston Garvey?" The courier chuckled and shook their head. "Hell, the way the people in Sanctuary talked about you, they made it sound like you were the Minutemen. The whole kit and kaboodle."

"That was true at one point, but there are more of us now." Preston took off his hat and slid his hands along the brim. "We're coming back, bit by bit. Mostly thanks to the general."

"The general?" The courier whipped their head around, scanning the Dugout. "Is that who you came in with? The Sanctuary settlers were singing their praises when they weren't talking you up."

"I could introduce you," Preston offered.

"Oh no, I don't want to impose."

"No trouble at all." Preston waved the sole survivor over. "We're always happy to welcome newcomers to the area."

Strong: "Hunter better," Strong grumbled.

The courier chuckled in surprise. "Sorry, I guess? I'll change my business cards when I get home, if you like."

"What the hell's a business card?" Hawthorne asked.

"Pre-war piece of paper with your details printed on it." The courier withdrew such a card from inside their coat and handed it to him. "That one's not mine, it's for someone I worked for once."

"'Robert E. House,'" Hawthorne read. "'President and CEO, RobCo Industries.' What's this string of numbers?"

"Not important, unless you know how to use a telephone." The courier took a sip of their drink. "I have no idea why he kept those around, no one has a telephone anymore unless they're tearing it apart looking for copper wire."

"Strong could tear a deathclaw apart," Strong interjected.

The courier raised their glass to him. "I'm sure you could. I've seen some of your brothers' work in the Mojave. Impressive stuff."

"Mojave brothers have milk?" Strong asked.

"Milk? Like from a brahmin?"

"Milk of human kindness," Strong explained. "Strong drink. Make Strong stronger than humans."

The courier leaned over to Hawthorne. "What's he on about?"

Hawthorne shrugged and handed the business card back. "Beats me. Vadim's got milk at the bar, though."

"Wrong milk!" Strong insisted.

X6-88: Though he was as curious as the rest of the crowd, X6-88 kept his questions to himself and settled for observation as usual. The courier was certainly a genuine wasteland wanderer, with none of the usual tells that an Institute synth or agent had when interacting with the people of the surface. They seemed at ease with themselves and their surroundings, though it was obvious from their stance that they were ready to spring into action if the need arose. He counted four - no, five - weapons on their person, and mentally filed these away as potential threats to the sole survivor at the other end of the bar. Most interestingly, though, the courier had a very visible scar on their head. An execution wound, X6-88 was certain, and that made the figure all the more interesting and threatening. Who had wanted this person dead, and why? How had they survived it? And why were they here now?

By the time the sole survivor came back with their drink, the courier's crowd of admirers had thinned a bit. X6-88 was still watching them, impassive but intrigued. The subtleties of his own interest were well-known to the sole survivor by now though, and they quickly picked out the source. "Anyone we know?" they asked.

The courier perked up at the question. "You seem like a threatening pair," they remarked, scooting a little closer. "Not here for me, I hope?"

"No," X6-88 replied flatly.

"Just as well." The courier raised an eyebrow at the Courser's hand, which had gone to his laser rifle. "You don't look like the usual types who are after me nowadays."

"Who's normally after you?" the sole survivor asked.

"Nobody as well-dressed as you two, that's for sure."

BONUS!

Ada: "With a caravan, or one of the western courier services?" Ada asked.

"The Mojave Express," the courier answered, surprised. "Have you been out west?"

"I have." Ada shifted her frame in excitement. "It's been some time, but all of my previous caravan's ventures there were successful. We only left the Mojave because the sand began to interfere with the parts of myself and our other ground-traveling robots."

"Oh yeah, it's hell for any bots that don't hover," the courier agreed. "Eyebots and Mister Handy models do just fine, but protectrons and sentry bots don't last long without constant upkeep. You look like you're mostly the latter, except for your head - I don't recognize it."

"Assaultron model laser cannon and optics array," Ada said proudly. "Assaultron models are more common on the East Coast than the West. I'm not surprised you haven't encountered them, if you've just arrived."

"You don't want to encounter one," Hawthorne said, shaking his head.

"She seems polite enough," the courier argued.

"My pre-war counterparts are not," Ada replied. "Laser cannons are particularly formidable weapons, when used correctly."

The courier eyed her head with interest. "I'd love to see it in action."

"If my companion is agreeable, perhaps I can arrange a display. Outside the city walls, of course."

Porter Gage: "Much money in that?" Gage asked nonchalantly.

"Enough," the courier answered, with a suspicious look on top of it. "But I'm not here for work."

"Oh, you just crossed the country for fun?" Gage chuckled. "Brave of you. Or stupid."

The courier smirked at that. "I'm here, aren't I?"

Gage let someone else pick up the conversation after that, but he kept his eyes on the courier for the rest of the night. From the way they moved, the way they talked, and the collection of concealed weapons he managed to spot, he didn't think they would be an easy mark, but something about them was compelling all the same.

The sole survivor eventually caught him watching the newcomer, and they tried to drag him off the idea. "We're just here as a favor to Mags and William," they reminded him. "In and out. No trouble."

"No trouble," Gage echoed, but he kept watching the courier anyway.

Near the end of the evening, Scarlett delivered him and the sole survivor some bottles of Nuka-Cola they hadn't ordered. "Compliments of them," she said, jerking her head toward the bar, where the courier was grinning and raising their own drink.

Before the sole survivor could stop him, Gage rose and stalked over. "What's your angle?" he demanded to know.

"What's yours?" they countered, looking him up and down. "You're the one who's been staring."

"Can't figure you out," Gage admitted. "But something about you tells me that if there's something to be acquired in an endeavor, you'll acquire it. Can't rightfully explain it."

The courier grinned again. "Ever heard of New Vegas?"

Old Longfellow: Longfellow snorted. "Ought to drop that vocation, take up spinning yarns professionally. Near two dozen deathclaws, my ass. You've barely a scratch on you."

"That so?" The courier pulled their sleeve up, exposing a jagged, healed wound that snaked up their arm like a lightning strike. "I've got scratches that would put yours to shame any day of the week, old man."

"That's nothing." Longfellow unfurled his scarf, exposing a wicked cut he'd once been dealt in a bar fight. "Broken bottle. Spit glass for a month or two."

The courier's eyes gleamed, even as they unbuttoned their shirt a bit to indicate a neat scar just below their collarbone. "Not bad. This one's from a Legionary's spear. Might still have a piece of it lodged in me, helps let me know when it's going to rain."

"My knees tell me when it's going to rain, kid," Longfellow said with a chuckle. He rolled up his pant leg to show off the white fissure he'd earned only a year prior. "Fog crawler by the name of Shipbreaker. Didn't take too kindly to me and my friend disturbing her hunt."

The courier pulled their hat back and indicated a rather gnarly crater on their forehead. It was unmistakably from a bullet at very close range, and its appearance drew gasps from the crowd.

"Damn." Hawthorne inspected the old wound with an expression of morbid fascination. "How'd you survive that?"

Before the courier could answer, the sole survivor pushed into the crowd with drinks and groaned. "Ugh, another scar-measuring contest, Longfellow? Really?"

Elder Arthur Maxson: "What business brings you to the Commonwealth, courier?" Maxson asked. "I didn't think the Mojave Express operated this far east."

The courier raised an eyebrow at him. "It doesn't. Elder."

The crowd around them began to murmur and disperse, shooting nervous glances at the young Brotherhood leader. Maxson kept his chin up and stepped closer, waiting until most of the attention was elsewhere before lowering his voice. "I didn't mean to pry. I was merely curious."

"Oh, I'm not offended." The courier downed their drink and set the glass on the bar. "I just know where I stand with the Brotherhood of Steel in the west. They're not always fans of mine, and if you're trying to start shit in a bar, I'd prefer to do it on equal footing."

"Start..." Maxson's eyebrows went up. "I only know of one courier the western leadership holds any meaningful opinion for."

The courier shrugged and straightened the lapels of their coat. "The one and only. Number six, in the flesh. If that's a problem, let's take it outside, this place is kind of nice."

Maxson settled against the bar, caught the sole survivor's eye and held up two fingers. "No need. I would, however, be interested in your opinions on my order."

The courier chuckled. "You are not going to like what I have to say."

"All the same."

Desdemona: Desdemona smiled too, but she said nothing and let the rest of the crowd pepper the courier with questions. Any Mojave Express courier that decided to range past their usual territory was someone worth picking the brain of, but while she felt more at ease in Diamond City than other parts of the Commonwealth, she never felt completely safe. You never knew what you might let slip in an innocent conversation.

When the sole survivor returned with drinks, the pair claimed a table and settled in. The harmonica player wrapped up first, and took most of the security officers with them when they left. The caravan guards and traders turned in later, disappearing into the lodging rooms they had booked for their seasonal travel. Scarlett and Vadim were stacking chairs by the time the courier bid their last admirer good night, and approached the table where Desdemona and her agent were waiting.

"Thought you might be who I was looking for," the courier said. They drew a package from inside their coat and set it on the table. "I found the payment where the message said it would be, so we're square."

"Thank you." Desdemona slid the package inside her own coat. "You didn't run into any trouble, bringing it all the way from New Vegas?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle." The courier smiled. "Good to see you again, Dez."

#fallout #fallout 4 #fo4 #companions react #fallout new vegas #fnv #courier six #12 days of ficmas

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