[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

[recalcitrare]

[Zay rocks back in surprise, eyes wide and round.] Tonight?! [he repeats, his volume ratcheting up without him realizing -- his pitch, too.] Are you serious?! You weren't going to tell me you were planning on running off tonight until now?!

[timesbureaucrat]

Why, did you have other plans for tonight?

[He smooths his thumb over Zay's knuckles. He supposes he'd better try to appease Zay.]

I didn't tell you before because I only finalized the plans a few hours ago. The others will arrive tomorrow, but I'd rather be there early, plus, it will be easier for us to sneak away at night.

[recalcitrare]

A few hours ago?! [Zay doesn't appear to be appeased. If anything, his outrage likewise ratchets up.] Nathan, what -- [He stops himself from going off on a swearing spree.] What are you thinking? This is -- This is mad. I'd expect more planning for something like this, not such short damn notice. How long have you been thinking about doing this?

[timesbureaucrat]

I've been thinking about it since I proposed the idea to the Director and was shot down.

My soldiers and I prepared for this contingency ten years ago. I'm merely activating plans that have long been in place.

[recalcitrare]

[With his free hand, Zay pinches the bridge of his nose. Well... There's nothing he can do about it now. Everything is already in motion, and even if he changed his mind about going, it's not like Nathan will, so he isn't about to take it back. It doesn't stop him from being frustrated, though. It feels like Nathan is making decisions without considering how it'd affect him again -- Except, if he voiced that, he's certain that Nathan will say that he did consider him. He planned on offering to bring him along, after all. This is just Nathan being single-minded and dense again. Dammit.] I'd appreciate more of a heads up next time, [he says, not bothering to hide his irritation. It's really the only thing he can do to try to prevent a repeat performance.]

[timesbureaucrat]

Of course, dear.

[Next time...]

Does that mean that you might be willing to go on future trips to the surface?

[recalcitrare]

Of course that's what you take away from that. No, that's not what I meant. I don't know if I will or not. I meant the next time you get it in your head to sneak off again and have been planning it in advance.

[timesbureaucrat]

As you wish.

...

The offer to improve your mood later is still open, by the way. You seem to need it even more now than you did before.

[recalcitrare]

[I wonder why that is, he almost says, but his expression is dour enough it speaks for itself. Instead, he says,] I most certainly do.

[timesbureaucrat]

After dinner then, if that's agreeable to you.

Or after we've settled into a living quarters at the hidden bunker. I used to look quite dashing in a uniform.

[recalcitrare]

[That brings a new thought to mind, and he frowns.] I suppose that means I'll need a change of clothes, as well. [He thinks of what Nathan has worn to his surface expeditions and he can't help but make a face.]

[timesbureaucrat]

If you wish, although it shouldn't be necessary. The meeting place is in an underground base that was established for American military intelligence. It's well hidden and locked up with a high security computer terminal. Since most wastelanders can't even read I highly doubt one could hack through that terminal, even if they found it. Aside from a bit of dust it should be clean and secure.

I'm changing primarily because I haven't seen these people in ten years and the uniform will help remind them of my authority.

[recalcitrare]

I won't bother, then. It's hardly as though your associates won't know where you picked me up. [... it's occurring to him that he hasn't seen Nathan actually wear the uniform. ... he wonders how it looks. ... how well it suits him. ... maybe he'll have Nathan preview it for him before they leave.]

[timesbureaucrat]

And the Institute has a solid pre-War pedigree. That should work in your favor.

[Nathan hopes it will.]

[recalcitrare]

[... right. This is going to be a group of people who share Nathan's prediliction for genetic purity. ... it's occurring to him, too, that there's a high chance this isn't going to go so well for him. ... he has a bad feeling about this. And it's starting to show on his face.]

[timesbureaucrat]

[Nathan sees the uncertainty on Zay's face.]

You'll be fine.

[He can't say that they'll approve of Zay, however, as much as he might like to. That Zay is an outsider, a civilian, is bad enough, but added to that is the fact that Nathan won't be fulfilling his civic duty and passing on any pure American genes with Zay. In truth he thinks it likely that they won't approve, but he outranks them and therefore he'll order them to keep their opinions to themselves if he has to.]

[recalcitrare]

I'm sure you'll understand if I'm still concerned. If there weren't practical reasons for me to come along, I'd begin to have second thoughts.

[timesbureaucrat]

You'll be safe. You have my guarantee on that.

[He may have to be prepared to shoot Torvald in order to keep his promise. Torvald was always a bit of a fanatic, although there's no telling how living in the wasteland has changed him.]

[recalcitrare]

[The corners of Zay's eyes soften, and he lifts their hands to kiss Nathan's knuckles.] That, I'm not worried about. [His tone is likewise softer. Zay fears the surface, but this is going to be a contained space with only people Nathan allows. He has no doubts Nathan will be keeping him safe. He returns to his normal speaking voice.] I must say, though, the fact you feel the need to reassure me of that makes me wonder if I should be expecting attempts on my life. [He's joking. (Mostly.)]

[timesbureaucrat]

Well, you know how in-laws can get.

[Nathan jokes in return. Even though these soldiers aren't really his family. And he and Zay aren't married. (Yet, his mind optimistically supplies.)]

[recalcitrare]

So I've heard, [he agrees dryly. Zay's heart skips a beat, though he doesn't let it show on his face, though his girp on Nathan's hand tightens again.]

[timesbureaucrat]

[Nathan gives Zay a small, quick smile, then looks away, awkward uncertainty in his posture.]

Well.

I suppose we should eat supper first, then prepare to leave. We'll be back by tomorrow evening so I don't imagine we'll need to pack much.

[recalcitrare]

[There's an urge to turn and back Nathan up against the wall, even with that uncertainty clear and present. But they're still in public, and he ought to behave.] We can always take our food to our quarters with us. [Hasten them along to being alone.]

[timesbureaucrat]

We certainly could. It is, indeed, a hypothetically possible course of action.

[Nathan's smile twitches a little wider.]

I think it's a marvellous idea.

[recalcitrare]

[... Zay can at least allow himself to indulge in a kiss. He taps his fingers under Nathan's chin to encourage him to tilt up as he leans down.]