coatls | [closed] the only constant is change

Entry tags:

[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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ferran crosses his arms over his chest.]

I assume you did this to make a point. Well, you have my attention. Whatever thoughts you have about my appointment, I'm listening.

No. I've tried talking. For years I've suggested that we do things differently here, but nobody listens. [Dr. Lawrence bites out, all anger and wounded pride.] Father chose not to talk to the Directorate before annointing you his successor, so how about I follow his fine example?

You've never tried talking to me.

I'm happy to discuss ideas from all the scientists as the Institute continues to move forward. I expect it will be a lively debate, and perhaps my lack of previous affiliation with any one department can assure people of my objectivity in my mediation and decision making. I would welcome your input.

But I won't negotiate Institute policy while being held hostage.

[As Ferran talks, he scans the room behind the glass, assessing the threats they'll need to neutralize if diplomacy doesn't work.]

How could you hope to lead us when you hardly know anything about what we do? [Lawrence's voice is stern now, but there's a note of understanding.] I'm sure you mean well, but you must see that it's an impossible task.

[Within the main room of Bioscience, there are more gen 2 synths patrolling.]

[Ferran moves to the terminal and uses the holodisk that Dr. Oberly provided him with to access the system.

====Institute Central Network====
***COMMAND FUNCTION OVERRIDE IN PROGRESS***
Disable Automated Turrets
Initiate Specimen Release
Unlock Door

He scans the command options as he speaks.]

I thought the Institute specialized in pushing the boundaries on what is possible.

For a more prosaic answer, leadership requires more than operational knowledge. Operational knowledge is quickly learned, leadership isn't. I am asking you to talk to me precisely so I can learn more about what you do. I value your expertise. But we can't talk properly like this.

[Lawrence's eyes follow Ferran as he moves to the terminal, and narrow. What is he doing? He glances at X6-88, who stares back impassively.

From farther back in the room, Dr. Loken's voice can be heard.] Even the most fastidious researcher must sometimes take a leap of faith. I say let's give it a try.

[Ferran stops before choosing a terminal command. Even if they're truly surrendering, having them open the door is better than Ferran opening it. If they submit under their own terms it will be easier to bring them back into the fold.]

Thank you, Dr. Loken.

Dr. Higgs?

[Dr. Higgs looks back at Dr. Loken, frowning deeply. X6-88 waits as he seems to think it over.

Finally, he sighs heavily.] Very well, then. Open the door and let's return to the fold.

[Dr. Loken starts shouting orders to the synths, resuming their normal functions.]

[Tension leaves Ferran's shoulders as Dr. Higgs confirms an end to the confrontation. Playing the role of "Appointed Next Director of the Institute" is one of the more challenging he's done. Most especially because it's real.

The door opens and Ferran steps into the lab.]

Return to your work stations, gentlemen. I'll open the main doors from here. I'm sure Bioscience would like their lab back.

Might I request instead we confine ourselves to quarters until our fate's decided? [Dr. Loken asks.] We can at least face the consequences with our dignity intact.

[Ferran inclines his head in a small nod granting permission.]

I'll see to it that you're informed once a decision has been made.

Thank you.

[X6-88 watches as the doctors slink away with their metaphoric tails between their legs.]

[Ferran waits until they're gone, then moves to unlock the main doorway to Biosciences. On the other side, Dr. Oberly is waiting. Ferran strides to him, projecting calm confidence, pretending that he never doubted a successful outcome.]

The crisis is over. Drs. Higgs and Loken have retired to their rooms.

They'll need to be penalized for disrupting work. I wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea about what is and isn't acceptable.

In the Old World I'd suggest leave without pay but since no one in the Institute gets paid anyway I suppose I'll have to settle for putting them on a probationary leave.

[Dr. Oberly breathes out a sigh of relief as he approaches.] That's more than fair. I'll see to it that everyone's notified. I'll need that holotape back.

I admit, I was fearing for the worst, but I can see that I underestimated you. I wanted to offer you something as a more personal expression of gratitutde. I know that your work often takes you to the surface where supplies are scarce. I gathered these items together for you. I think you'll find them useful. [He holds out a small Institute box, inside which is five needles of Med-X and five tins of Mentats.]

[Ferran holds out the holotape to Dr. Oberly.]

I'm glad it was resolved with minimal violence. Speaking of which, there are a few wrecked synths and two destroyed turrets in the maintenance tunnel.

[Ferran receives the box and inclines his chin in gracious acknowledgement of the gift. He'll open the box later. It would be unmannerly to open it now.]

Thank you, Dr. Oberly.

[The doctor takes the holotape. X6-88 watches him walk away, and waits to speak until after he's out of earshot.]

Good decision. Those men could still have a lot to contribute, they just need to learn their lesson.

[The edge of Ferran's lips curls in a tiny smile.]

I'm glad you approve.

[Oh look, X6 is having personal opinions and openly voicing them. Ferran wonders if X6 realizes it or if it just slipped out.]

Alienating their friends and silent supporters with an unnecessarily harsh punishment would be bad politics. Hopefully, I've earned a touch of respect, or at least a reputation for fairness.

[He raises his eyebrows slightly in question.]

What do you think of Shaun's choice of successor?

[And just like that, the glimmer of opinion is gone.]

That's a difficult assessment to make at this point, sir.

Fair enough.

Then I'll ask instead what the predominant feeling is among the scientists. As a courser, you're trained to be observant. I'm sure you notice trends as they arise.

At the moment, do you think they'll accept me when the time comes?

The scientists are uneasy. I have overheard several express Dr. Higgs' concern that Father is making decisions without consulting them. That he is being blinded by sentimentality, despite it not being in Father's nature. [Opinion slipped back out again.] They are equally concerned how you are not a scientist, and thus see you as unlikely to understand their work.

I see. I'll need to find ways to earn their confidence.

[He's good at that. He did it for a living back before the War. But he knows the tricks for gaining short-term trust. Find out what the person wants to hear and then say it. And when you plan to betray them later, it doesn't matter if it's bullshit. But this is different.

Still, he's had one victory today and that's enough to justify celebrating.]

Well, now that the crisis is over, I'm sure you don't find it interesting to follow me around. You can return to other duties if you wish.

[X6-88 pauses for a moment, uncertain if that phrasing comes from Ferran being more used to talking to humans than synths, or if it's a trap. In the end, he decides to take it as a hint that he wants to be alone -- or, at the very least, without a courser tail.

So he inclines his head.] Sir, [he says in parting, and turns to leave.]

[Once Ferran is alone, he looks in the box that Dr. Oberly presented him with.

...

Five Med-X, five Mentats.

...Well now, that's a reward that he can appreciate.

And ten minutes later, in his empty quarters, he's appreciating one of the Med-Xs very much indeed. This is far better quality that what he's found in the wasteland. Probably made in-house and not 200 years past the expiration date.

Ten minutes after that, under the influence of Med-X but hiding it well, he gives Dr. Li a particularly welcoming smile as they pass in the corridor.

And two minutes after that, they're in a supply closet with one of her hands down his trousers and the other with fingers curled digging into his arse. Her lab coat is open at the throat and Ferran is kisses and sucking along her collarbone.]

[On occasion, Shaun has to go and resupply the chemicals he uses in his dark room. He has some photographs he needs to develop, but finds his personal supply low, and he isn't so busy or ill at the moment that he needs to send a synth to do it, so he takes the trip down to pick it up himself.

Which... turns out to be an unfortunate decision.

The door whisks open and the main thing Shaun sees and processes fast enough is the look on Ferran's face, then the presence of a woman who is decidedly not his mother.]

Oh, [he says mildly in his surprise.]

[Oh fuck.

Don't look high. Don't look high.]

...Shaun. I, ah, wasn't expecting to see you here.

[Said like they've bumped into each other in the cafeteria and there's nothing at all strange about any of this.

Meanwhile Dr. Li pulls her lab coat back into place.]

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