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[closed] the only constant is change
Who: the Fallout AU crew
Setting: the Commonwealth
Summary: BoS things, institute things
Warnings: Fallout warnings, smut
Other: [original notes] [first post] [second post] [third post] [fourth post] [fifth post] [sixth post] [seventh post] [eighth post]
- minor timeskip to when the BoS has its feet under it again, shaun asks riley to go up and keep an eye on them and deacon goes with
- they get assigned to a BoS squad composed of AU versions of chancellery guards (paladin archimedes o'hallan, knight-captain anthony norris, lancer-sargeant alex reyes, knight riley reynolds, knight everett wynter, knight henry "hal" saller, aspirant 'jack' "deacon" 'priest')
- maybe some minor quests involving getting to know them, gotta get some solid Bonding going
- sarrith (sarah, secret enclave remnant) and sal's romeo and juliet romance
- that one quest where you get the nukes from the glowing sea for the BoS
- wynter's mistake and gradual ghoulification and the position it puts the squad in
- blind betrayal
- shaun announces ferran officially as his successor
- ferran dealing with the short institute quests that result from that
- shaun discovering ferran's a slut and trying to talk to him about it
- zetta freaking out bc they're spending all this time waiting for her to recover and dealing with the BoS, and not having the time to try to figure out a way to save shaun
- zetta, in general, driving shaun slowly up the wall because she's cooped up and needs to be kept occupied or else Bad Things Start Happening, why is this shaun's life, this was not what he was expecting at all
- ferran going on missions with x6-88 / house divided, warwick
- nathan and zay's one night stand with ferran becoming not a one night stand any more
- at some point we need to have nathan call deacon a mongrel to his face so zetta can go positively nuclear
- zay finding out nathan is taking buffout
- build towards the railroad and institute being on better terms (not *stable*, but they need to be in a position where they're willing to make an alliance at the battle for bunker hill and afterwards to take the BoS down)
- probably need to do a meeting with dez and carrington, bc jfc (and ferran being the next director makes it easier to make negotiations on the institute's behalf though shaun probably doesnt fully trust him with that wrt the railroad yet, shaun needs to see ferran make decisions that benefit the institute OVER the railroad for that)
- mass fusion happens before battle for bunker hill, lighting a fire under the brotherhood's ass (still use it as the faction cut-off point?)
- at the battle, brotherhood wins -- keeping them a legitimate threat and serving as the push for the institute and railroad to work together against them
[image] [lyrics]
well, oh, it seems you're a lot like me
you dug yourself into places you never thought you would be
but don't you fret, and don't you mind
the only constant is change,
and you never know what you'll find
yeah, tomorrow i might wake up nice and clean
and i might believe the things i said i didn't mean
and this might turn and wind up just the way we'd dreamed
and i might become the things i swore i'd always be
Setting: the Commonwealth
Summary: BoS things, institute things
Warnings: Fallout warnings, smut
Other: [original notes] [first post] [second post] [third post] [fourth post] [fifth post] [sixth post] [seventh post] [eighth post]
- minor timeskip to when the BoS has its feet under it again, shaun asks riley to go up and keep an eye on them and deacon goes with
- they get assigned to a BoS squad composed of AU versions of chancellery guards (paladin archimedes o'hallan, knight-captain anthony norris, lancer-sargeant alex reyes, knight riley reynolds, knight everett wynter, knight henry "hal" saller, aspirant 'jack' "deacon" 'priest')
- maybe some minor quests involving getting to know them, gotta get some solid Bonding going
- sarrith (sarah, secret enclave remnant) and sal's romeo and juliet romance
- that one quest where you get the nukes from the glowing sea for the BoS
- wynter's mistake and gradual ghoulification and the position it puts the squad in
- blind betrayal
- shaun announces ferran officially as his successor
- ferran dealing with the short institute quests that result from that
- shaun discovering ferran's a slut and trying to talk to him about it
- zetta freaking out bc they're spending all this time waiting for her to recover and dealing with the BoS, and not having the time to try to figure out a way to save shaun
- zetta, in general, driving shaun slowly up the wall because she's cooped up and needs to be kept occupied or else Bad Things Start Happening, why is this shaun's life, this was not what he was expecting at all
- ferran going on missions with x6-88 / house divided, warwick
- nathan and zay's one night stand with ferran becoming not a one night stand any more
- at some point we need to have nathan call deacon a mongrel to his face so zetta can go positively nuclear
- zay finding out nathan is taking buffout
- build towards the railroad and institute being on better terms (not *stable*, but they need to be in a position where they're willing to make an alliance at the battle for bunker hill and afterwards to take the BoS down)
- probably need to do a meeting with dez and carrington, bc jfc (and ferran being the next director makes it easier to make negotiations on the institute's behalf though shaun probably doesnt fully trust him with that wrt the railroad yet, shaun needs to see ferran make decisions that benefit the institute OVER the railroad for that)
- mass fusion happens before battle for bunker hill, lighting a fire under the brotherhood's ass (still use it as the faction cut-off point?)
- at the battle, brotherhood wins -- keeping them a legitimate threat and serving as the push for the institute and railroad to work together against them
[image] [lyrics]
well, oh, it seems you're a lot like me
you dug yourself into places you never thought you would be
but don't you fret, and don't you mind
the only constant is change,
and you never know what you'll find
yeah, tomorrow i might wake up nice and clean
and i might believe the things i said i didn't mean
and this might turn and wind up just the way we'd dreamed
and i might become the things i swore i'd always be
a week later
It's mid-morning when a system-wide message is issued from the Director's terminal. Zay is waist-deep in code when it happens, and he doesn't immediately check it as a result.]
no subject
But the message isn't an order at all. It's an announcement.
Nathan goes very very still, his eyes darting over the screen. If he reads it again, maybe it won't actually say what he thinks it says.]
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boston airport
Ferran would take the full blame of Nathan's escape, and they could say he tricked Deacon into helping him join the Brotherhood. Given Ferran's now official status as the next Director, it'll be believable, and leave room for Ferran to act as his new title in the future. And they'll tell Maxson that Ferran forced Deacon to help him, and then kidnapped him to the Institute -- but Riley rescued him, and snuck him back out to the surface. And, in order to convince Maxson that Riley's prolonged absence has been doing undercover work, they arrange with Shaun for them to bring back a piece of technology. It's medical, advanced -- Riley doesn't entirely understand what it does, but it's not something that can be weaponized.
The Brotherhood is still getting the majority of their vertibirds online, but they're taken up to the Prydwen on one of the few ones that will fly.
When they turn in the "information" and technology to Maxson, Riley is terrified that the entire thing will fall apart, that he won't be believable enough. But Maxson -- Maxson buys it. Riley doesn't know if it's because their delivery was that good, or if Deacon carries it, or if Maxson just wants to believe Riley is on his side that much, or what -- But he believes them. (Deacon's details about being held in the Institute are too... Riley is pretty sure he drew on his very real capture experience.)
After they take the technology to the scribes and Deacon goes through a lot of medical examinations, Maxson decides to assign Riley and Deacon to an active squad -- but not Danse's, to Riley's surprise. Riley doesn't know why, but they at least are able to make guesses about the assignment itself. Maybe Maxson might be suspicious, and is trying to keep him tractable -- or maybe he just wants to put him to use in a way that immediately benefits the Brotherhood. Regardless of the reason, they're sent back down to the airport to meet their new squadmates.
It makes Riley relieved that Shaun had Zetta fix up long-distance communications for them.]
You okay? [Riley asks Deacon as he helps him down out of the vertibird, holding tight to his hands.]
no subject
[It's not a Deacon thing to say; it's borrowed words. His hands are clammy and he holds on to Riley with a grip that's white-knuckled desperate. He really wants to be someone else right now. Someone who isn't afraid of heights. That'd be nice.]
Please tell me that the mission is in walking distance. And by walking distance I mean anywhere on the continent. I'll walk there. Serious.
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continuation
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continuation
no subject
In some ways, this is an easier infiltration than others he's done. Hell, he didn't even need to change his face for it. Barely needed to change his personality from Default Deacon. But it's hard to sit by and watch Riley try not to squirm in discomfort. If he could talk to him about it, he would. Remind him of the Cause.
But although they've got privacy, it's not really, like, privacy. The wrong words at the wrong time could be overheard and then they'd be screwed.
But it is private enough to come up behind Riley and start helping him out of his combat armor.]
Want me to go down on you? 'Cause I totally can. If you want.
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more continue
But he doesn't let himself. He needs to at least take off the breastplate. He sighs as he reaches to fumble with the clasps.]
no subject
He steps up close to Riley and helps him with his armor. Deja vu. It's like going right back to when they were interrupted.
Speaking of...]
Olive.
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Morning at Fiddler's Green
Wakey-wake snugglebums. Your "botler" is here.
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He doesn't make a sound, and only barely moves, to shift closer to Deacon.]
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fort hagan
O'Hallan wants them to stay on mission: clear Fort Hagan, then move on to the satellite array. That way, if the raider gang has settled into the fort itself as well as the satellite array, they won't get caught in a pincer attack.
Riley stays close to Deacon as they approach the fort, laser musket in hand. He's also stayed fairly quiet, talking mostly to Deacon and Codsworth. (And Codsworth has insisted on coming along with them for now, not wanting to leave Riley's side when he's in this state. They set up traps around the trailer where the puppies are being kept before they leave.)]
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I don't usually roam out this far west. This is definitely a special mission kind of place.
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the institute
They're both in Zetta's infirmary room. Riley breathes out a deep sigh of relief when he sees them. Zetta sits up straighter, her eyes darting over them as she takes them in.]
About damn time.
You have no idea, [Riley agrees, more weakly than he wants, coming up to her bedside to kiss her forehead. She immediately reaches up to his chin, redirect him into a proper kiss. He follows her guide willingly.]
no subject
[Deacon perches on the edge of Zetta's bed.]
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bioscience - a house divided
They've taken control of the BioScience security systems and cut off our food supply, [Dr. Newton is informing Mr. Reynolds. X6-88 stands behind him and to the side, right where a bodyguard or assistant belongs.]
That kind of insubordination can't be tolerated, [he supplies, his voice firm: his official stance as a courser, an enforcer -- of synths, primarily, but on occasion coursers have been called on as muscle during rare situations such as this.]
no subject
[Ferran pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration. He needs to handle this carefully. He needs obedience from the scientists, but can't risk alienating them. He needs to show that he won't tolerate dissension, but that he's not unreasonable and will listen to their concerns just as Shaun would. He must show strength without seeming cruel.
And if he has to kill them, he needs to make it absolutely clear that it was a last resort.]
Can the security systems be overridden?
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institute
But that shit comes creeping back when she finds herself alone. Deacon and Riley headed off to make some more headway on the scientists, and Ferran was originally going to stay with her and take a walk around the Institute, but then he gets called away on Director-successor business. And all the shit starts circling in her head again.
And that's how she ends up in Advanced Systems, dicking with a frag grenade, even if she just has the one hand she can use for it.]
no subject
Reynolds.
[And curiously looks at what she's working on as he goes by.]
Is that a grenade? [His voice raises pitch in alarm.]
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The Institute
no subject
Except Zay doesn't have anything else he wants to do with his time, so he picks up a couple of books from his own rooms and treks on over to Nathan's. Might as wait for him there.
... except apparently, Nathan is beginning his routine at home. Zay pauses in surprise in the doorway before thinking to close the door behind him.]
Don't mind me.
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elsewhere in the institute
Except it just ends up being Ferran, because Shaun has decided to retire early himself. This news turns Zetta tense and anxious, though she tries her damnedest to hide it. (She fails rather miserably.)
By the time they get back to their room, she's in a sour mood and doesn't settle down. Instead, she starts pacing, arms folded tight across her chest.]
no subject
Zetta never did handle helplessness well, and they're all helpless in the face of Shaun's illness.]
If you're feeling a need to commit cathartic violence, I have some names I could give you.
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institute halls
... well. He supposes he has alternative living arrangements now, doesn't he? Tentative though they may be. Still, all the same.
His tension has made him snippy -- truly so, not play-biting, even to Nathan, though he regrets it immediately each time he slips (... but only when he does with Nathan). He tries to make up for it with affectionate when they take their leave for dinner, reaching to thread his fingers with Nathan's and leaning over to kiss his temple.]
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I suppose consistency would be too much to ask for, wouldn't it.
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switchboard
... could be worse, [he mutters to himself, and he half-hopes that Nathan can't hear him.
Which is a little ridiculous on his part, to be fair, since he hasn't really strayed far. He's loathe to wander off by himself, and fully intends to stay very near Nathan for their entire time here.]
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[Nathan still brought his old plasma pistol with him, however. Partly because it would be foolish to go into any unknown area unarmed, but partly because his uniform didn't feel right without it holstered on his hip.]
I used to be sent on missions to places like this all the time. There's likely some interesting technology to be found here.
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switchboard
"Minor" mostly only because she didn't actually yell or start raving when she explained it to Riley, Ferran, and Deacon. She spent the entire time pacing and gesturing broadly, and speaking even faster than normal, and at a good extra two notches higher in volume. So. Yeah, she's gonna call that a "minor" one.
But... They decide to go. They -- shit. This is supposed to find out if the ex-Enclaves want to follow them, but it's also a chance for them to decide whether or not they'll accept it if they do agree to it. And... just... shit. Fuck.
(And maybe Nathan specifically requested her and Riley and Ferran, but she's not leaving Deacon in the Institute by himself, and she... she doesn't want to go without him. She feels like she needs him here with her for this.)
Zetta is wound tense as they ride the elevator down into the Switchboard. Riley has one of his hand resting gently between her shoulder blades, but it's not helping. She's clutching Deacon's hand, trying to tell herself that it's for his sake -- They haven't been back here since her first mission for the Railroad. ... Riley hasn't been here at all.]
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At least the bodies were gone. He didn't think too hard about how or where. In the Railroad you pretty much expect that when an agent falls they probably aren't gonna get a nice funeral.
Still, he clings hard to Zetta's hand.]
Well, gotta hand it to them, they have good taste in hideouts.
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cont'd
[Riley stands a little straighter as he notices John approaching, lowering his hand from Zetta's back. Zetta doesn't immediately move away, though, having not noticed John -- but once she does, she sidles away slightly, ready to head to Deacon or Ferran, but she wants to know what this is going to be about. (And whether or not Riley will want or need the support.)]
[ 02 ]
[Bellamy doesn't move from his perch at the edge of the desk, and offers Louis an easy grin as he drifts over.]
Heyyy. What's hangin'?
01
General. Sir, we've never met before, I wanted the opportunity while you're here. Captain Garvey speaks very highly of you, sir.
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cont'd
So once the remnants are all gone, Zetta turns to Deacon and runs her hand through her hair.]
Well. Fuck. I guess this is actually happening.
[Carrington can get over here on his own time. She's not gonna go hunt him down.]
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...I would appreciate it if you said nothing to Desdemona or any of the other Railroad agents about my presence here.
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back in the institute
But, there's no need for any of it. Her relief is positively palpable as she shows Nathan and Zellweger the back hallways they used to access the relay when they were sneaking out Deacon and the synth they helped that day.
Once they split from Nathan and Zellweger, Zetta wants nothing more than to head back to their room, and there's no real reason not to.]
Christ, I need a drink. And so do you, I imagine, [she adds to Deacon. He's the one who had to face the Switchboard again, and everything it represents to him, so unexpectedly.]
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Back to your room?
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wee hours
It's been a while since it's bothered Zetta enough to wake her up, especially with Deacon and Ferran wrapped around her and Riley's hand on her hip. She tries to go back to sleep, but after about half an hour, decides to give up. She worms her way out from between them, trying not to wake them even though she knows it's probably pointless. She's definitely going to be waking Deacon up, at the very least. But at least she can say she tried.
She shrugs on a shirt to keep off a chill and pads, otherwise naked, into the living room. She's not entirely sure what she's going to do with herself right now, but she'll have to figure out something. Her stircrazy has been near impossible to fight back any more, even during a moment that's supposed to be quiet, like this.]
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He stealths out of the bed and drifts across the lightless living room to sit next to Zetta.]
Figured I'd get a midnight snack. [He's not anywhere near food.] What's up?
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building a better crop
It's a straightforward enough task, but one that requires more social grace than a courser is permitted. X6 is there to offer fire support should it become necessary for them to eliminate threats, but he understands that the scientists, Father in particular, desire to draw as little attention to their agent as possible. Reynolds' job is to handle that aspect.
They teleport to Neponset Park for the sake of discretion, as it is a location that is more or less wholly abandoned, save for the occasional scavver who decides to brave the mirelurks. Warwick Homestead is within comfortable walking distance, although they must pass the raider-run Quincy to do so.]
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Once we're past Quincy, you may want to remove your coat. It's rather distinct.
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the institute
Look, riling him up is just too much fun, especially when he's bound and determined to stay at work. Call it an experiment; Zay rather wants to know if he'll eventually crack and go drag him into a supply closet, or if he'll manage to hold out and pounce the second they're off-duty and alone. Or if he'll try to maintain control the entire time, since Zay's being a little shit about the whole thing.
Any option will be entirely pleasing to Zay.
They're on break in the atrium now, and Zay's resting his hand on the lowest point of Nathan's back.] It'll be dinnertime soon, [he drawls, over-casual.]
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Hm, I'm not sure I'm hungry.
[Or rather, he is but not for dinner. Zay has been teasing him all day, making it practically impossible to focus on his work. Just when he thinks he's got it under control, Zay inevitably comes by and leaves him half hard all over again.]
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the institute
Right now, Ferran is out with a courser, running a mission on Shaun's request. Zetta is going over her gear, taking apart her guns and tinkering, restless beyond words.
Riley... is more relaxed, but it's hard not to worry about Ferran, although he knows he's probably fine. He's sitting on the couch, nursing a can of water and watching Zetta.]
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The Brotherhood totally has better food, though.
[But despite the differences in ideology, the camaraderie is the same. Deacon doesn't like to think about it because he might have to kill some of those Brotherhood soldiers who have decided to accept he and Riley as part of the family. It might be the only way to save his Railroad family.]
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Fallon's Department Store
God, he hates this HQ. He's glad they weren't allowed to come here before.
The main floor of the store remains abandoned. It's too exposed. Deacon leads Zetta down to the basement.]
Cleanup on aisle five.
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[Zetta doesn't know if she wants to laugh or... well. Not cry. She doesn't do that. But...] I'm so glad I'm the one who came, and not Riley. [It's difficult not to look around too closely as they pass through the main floor. Just over there, that's where Deacon found those godawful hats. Which means not far from there is the case of sunglasses Riley found for him. And back that way are the dressing rooms...
The memories still feel so bright that Zetta can't help but shudder. She doesn't notice that she's drifted to walk closer to Deacon than she had when they first entered the building.]
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fallon's - furniture dept
But there's a problem: namely, that there isn't anywhere satisfactory for them to go. The surrounding area isn't exactly safe, and the next option is Fairline Hill, which... no. If Deacon's already not doing well, she's not taking him there. And they could go to Jamaica Plain or Egret Tours Marina, but Zetta doesn't want to wait that long. Doesn't want to give shit a chance to imprint any further on Deacon than it already has.
Thankfully, the Railroad isn't using most of the building, so. It's her best choice.]
C'mon, [is all she says to Deacon, her fingers brushing against his and then tugging lightly. She ends up taking him to the furniture section, and thank god, there's still a loveseat and armchair here.]
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[His voice is as carefree as ever, but he's holding tight to Zetta's hand like he's afraid he'll get swept away if he lets go.]
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