[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

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran smirks.]

Don't worry, I'm sure I'll think of something for us to do while you're gone.

[Because after they get back, Riley will be leaving with Deacon to return to the Brotherhood. So Ferran will have to claim his time with Riley while he can.]

[capcious]

Oh, really? And here I thought it'd be such a hardship for you. [Zetta has no doubt what Ferran's going to "happen" to think of. She wonders if she should strategically leave out some purified water for them before she leaves. God knows Riley's going to need it.]

[reformedcriminal]

I'll refrain from the obvious double entendre, even though you set it up so splendidly.

["Hardship."]

[capcious]

That's because if you didn't, I'd have to hurt you, [Zetta answers, her tone all faux sweetness with an expression to match.]

[reformedcriminal]

Is that supposed to deter me or encourage me?

[capcious]

Oh, it was certainly intended to deter, but knowing you, I suppose I should've known better.

[reformedcriminal]

You know I think you look magnificent when you're violent.

[He thinks of the early days, when he made it his mission to provoke her into smacking the back of his head as much as possible.]

[capcious]

Compared to everyone else, who have been smart enough to learn to get out of the way, [she drawls, thinking of the same thing. It became a game between them, to see how long it took before he annoyed her too much to bother resisting. ... god, it's weird to think about the time they were still strangers. Now, she can't imagine her life without him.]

[reformedcriminal]

I've always acknowledged that you're the brains of this arrangement. And I'm the beauty.

[He smooths his thumb over her temple.]

We should get back to the others.

[capcious]

Mmmm. [Zetta leans into his touch, then turns her head to kiss the heel of his hand.] Whenever you're ready, darling.

[reformedcriminal]

[He stands and holds out the hand that was caressing her face to help her up. Not that she needs chivalry, but Ferran enjoys putting on the performance of sophistication.]

[capcious]

[Zetta rolls her eyes at him, but accepts his hand anyways. It helps that she's lazy, and letting him help her up means less effort.]

[reformedcriminal]

[Ferran pulls Zetta to her feet, and then kisses her knuckles just to pile on the performance.

And, for the final act, he offers her the crook of his arm to take as they walk.]

[capcious]

You melodramatic little shit. [She takes his arm anyway, though. ... for as long as they're alone. The moment they're back in the populated part of the Institute, you bet your ass she's letting go.]

[reformedcriminal]

I'm running around the Commonwealth dressed like the Silver Shroud. Melodrama should be expected.

[He leads her to the door.]

[capcious]

You make an unfortunately good point. What did Nathan make of your costume this time, by the way?

[reformedcriminal]

Wanted me to wear it while I fucked him.

[He hopes that Nathan doesn't expect that Ferran isn't the type to kiss and tell. Because he always tells Zetta.]

[capcious]

[Zetta immediately breaks down sniggering.] Christ, I knew it. It was written all over his face when you were flirting with him in the lab that one day. Did he have you say lines, too?

[reformedcriminal]

Not direct quotes but I ad libbed in character a bit, as he requested. It was clearly a turn-on.

[capcious]

[She laughs in full now. God, she absolutely fucking knew it. ... although... this does remind her.] It does mean Nathan got to fuck the Shroud before Riley did. We haven't gotten around to showing him that first holovid.

[reformedcriminal]

Mmmm, we'll need to rectify that.

[Showing the vid, and Riley fucking the Shroud.]

[capcious]

We really will. Sooner rather than later, too, before Nathan descends on you again. [It's assuming a lot, that Nathan will invite Ferran to his bed again, but honestly, she sees no reason why she shouldn't.]

[reformedcriminal]

I can always insist that he wait his turn. I'm not at his beck and call.

[capcious]

[She snickers again.] His expression would be rather priceless. He'd be so damn embarrassed.

[reformedcriminal]

I'll make sure you're there to see it if it happens. Consider it a present.

[Almost back to their quarters now.]