[closed] the only constant is change

[capcious]

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

Comments

[inhonorof]

[Alex still isn't getting it. Deacon is -- Riley thinks Deacon is trying to turn his logic on him, but he doesn't think that's going to work, either. He doesn't... He doesn't know what to do. His shoulders are hunched and tense.] If you trust me not to, then you should trust him. [Even his words are growing tight.]

[gallifreynpcs]

I know you. I don't know him.

[inhonorof]

[Riley's agitation continues to rise.] And I trust him. I trusted him with my son after he was born. He waited for us when we went into the vault. He's never let us down. [From behind him, he hears Codsworth trying to pipe up,] Sir, [his voice wavering.]

[gallifreynpcs]

Yeah, but I don't know him. And the last person you guys vouched for [Just Deacon, but in Alex's mind they go together.] turned out to be a spy who helped a fucking murderer escape.

[Alex, too, is growing more agitated as the conversation progresses. Anthony shuffles a half step forward like he might leap between them.]

[inhonorof]

[Dammit. Riley doesn't know how to counter that, doesn't -- like this, doesn't like doing this, and it feels like his entire body is tense. But he can't let himself back out just because he hates arguing, because this is for Codsworth's sake. But Codsworth is taking advantage of how long it's taking Riley to figure out a response, and speaking up again. This time, his tone is approaching on gentle.] Mister Riley... It's quite alright. [Riley half-turns towards him.] Codsworth... [He doesn't mean for his voice to sound as vulnerable as it comes out.] I'll be fine, sir, I assure you, [Codsworth answers with confidence. Riley starts to deflate, shrink in on himself. He wants Zetta.]

[ersatzeverything]

Hey, I was the one who was a totally bad judge of character there, not Riley. So blame me.

And I get that it's natural to be suspicious. [Boy, does he ever.] Suspicion is totally reasonable. But when someone offers to help you with a thing just to be nice, you can, like, at least pretend to be grateful while you're sussing out their character, you know?

[inhonorof]

[Codsworth has floated up next to Riley, who has shifted to stand closer to him, with an air to him almost like he's trying to hide behind the Mr. Handy. He feels like he's failed him, didn't adequately stand up for him. After everything Codsworth's done for him...] Fret not, sir, [Codsworth says to him quietly, and then, something more personal, he touches a pincer to his back. It's something Codsworth only does with Riley -- something he hasn't done in a long time, because it was usually only when he was in a bad way.]

[gallifreynpcs]

[Even more than Deacon's words, Riley's posture makes Alex feel like a total dick.]

Sorry.

...

I'm an asshole.

...

And shit at apologies.

[inhonorof]

It's not... [Riley doesn't finish the sentence -- doesn't know how to. He feels like he's the one who needs to apologize now, but he knows that wouldn't help the point he was trying to make, and trying to make on Codsworth's behalf.] It's -- okay. It's just... He's family. [That ends up coming out almost like a plea -- like that apology Riley maybe shouldn't, maybe should make is leaking out anyway.]

[gallifreynpcs]

...

[Alex examines the dirt at his feet with intense concentration.]

I woulda done the same for my family.

[Whatever apology might have been in there, Alex accepts it. Signals that Riley doesn't need to apologize. Not for defending family.

Even if that family member doesn't have a face exactly, and that's kind of weird, but what the hell. Codsworth is a more human robot than Alex is used to. He comforts. He puns.]

[inhonorof]

[Riley's own gaze is low, and doesn't look up as Codsworth starts talking again.] Now, then! [Codsworth says, using his confident voice again, pincers gesturing with enthusiasm to try to dispel the tension.] Shall we begin? I believe you were going to show me where to go, Mister...? [He trails off, waiting for Alex to supply his name.]

[gallifreynpcs]

Lancer-Sergeant Alexander Reyes.

[Everything about this is awkwardness, so he's trying to fall back into simple and familiar. Name. Rank.]

[inhonorof]

[Codsworth rolls with it easily.] Mister Reyes, [he finishes with a small pincer flourish.] Shall we be off, then?

[gallifreynpcs]

This way. We pulled them off to the edge of the park in case they leaks fuel or oil. Flammables by the camp would be a recipe for bad shit.

[inhonorof]

[Riley listens to Codsworth agree with Alex and follow him away, his eyes and feet still rooted to the ground. All he really wants to do is go back into the trailer and curl up and stay there. He still wants Zetta. Zetta would've known exactly how to handle -- ... no, that's not quite right. He knows Zetta would've started an actual shouting match. But he still feels like she would have handled this better than he did, would've known what to do. Would've been better at it. (He doesn't entirely realizing he isn't moving, isn't reacting to anything. He's too wrapped up in this horrible, twisting feeling in his chest, the fear, the wishing for he doesn't even entirely know what.)]

[ersatzeverything]

[Deacon comes up to Riley and takes his hand.]

You okay? Need me to tell another knock-knock joke?

[inhonorof]

[Riley grips Deacon's hand. He breathes out shakily.] I... [I don't know. He shouldn't let himself say that as much as he's thinking it.] I think I just. Need a minute. [But he keeps holding tight to Deacon's hand. He doesn't want to be alone.]

[ersatzeverything]

Sure thing, pal. [He strokes his thumb over Riley's knuckles.] Whatever you need.

[inhonorof]

[He feels... childish, maybe, or just -- foolish, for turning to retreat back into the trailer after just that, with other people watching, even people who have been as understanding as Hal and Anthony. But that's where he wants to be, and the best place to go for an illusion of privacy. Once they're inside, he stands there for a second, not knowing where to go, until he gravitates towards their bedrolls. Better than nothing. He just wants to sit down, so he does, shoulders hunched and head low.]

[ersatzeverything]

[Deacon follows Riley to the bedrolls and puts his arm around his shoulders.]

Need me to run interference in the future?

[inhonorof]

[Riley leans into him, tucking his face up by his neck. He doesn't answer for a moment.] ... I don't know, [his answer finally comes, very quiet.] You shouldn't have to. [Shouldn't have to do things like that for him. He should be able to deal with it himself.]

[ersatzeverything]

Hey, you shoot muties for me. I can step in with conversational distraction when things get a little heated for you. Non sequiturs, babble, bullshit, I'm offering up the full package here.

[He doesn't think it's his place to fight battles in Riley's stead, but he can defuse a building argument.]

[inhonorof]

[Riley still feels -- pathetic. Toothless. But, if he's honest, if he makes himself look past that feeling... He nods mutely.]

[ersatzeverything]

[Deacon leans in to seal the agreement with a gentle kiss.]

[inhonorof]

[Riley turns his face into him, and he feels himself tremble at the softness of the kiss. His fingers uncurl a little, then start to reach for Deacon -- nowhere in particular, just seeking points of contact.]