#DO YOU HEAR THAT GUYS?’nv

[gvfgal]

1. Homeward Bound

Barbarian. Biker!Jake

18+ minors evaporate!!!

A/n: As promised, here’s chapter one! I’m doing things a little different this time, telling the story more from Jake’s point of view than the readers. It works well for this story, and I think you guys will enjoy the way it plays out. Also, no disrespect to Genoa, NV! Never been, I’m sure it’s a lovely place, but for the sake of my story, it’s a shithole.

Content Warnings: Drinking & Smoking (constant theme throughout), language, mentions of death, Jake and reader are a couple of sluts but we love them for it, explicit sexual content, unprotected sex (please don’t be like them), fingering (f rec.), dirty talk, Not really a warning, but I use the words tavern/ bar/ and or “Riley’s” interchangeably, they’re all the same place.

Word Count: 6.2k

Jake always loved the open road. It was the only time he truly felt like himself, the only time he felt truly invincible. The last time he traveled down Route 95, however, he was headed in the opposite direction, escaping the very life he was about to throw himself back into.

After Ace’s visit and a night of drinking, Jake finally settled on the decision to return home. He put most of his belonging into storage, only packing what would fit on the back of his bike. As far as his job, he wasn’t too worried. He had a sit down with Hank a couple days before he left and explained the situation. “You know you always have a job should you decide to come back,” Hank told him. Jake turned in his shop keys, and that was the end of that.

On the night before his departure, he tracked Kira down at some seedy motel and told her he’d be leaving town, to which she began to cry, begging him not to leave. In all honestly, it made him want to vacate even more.

The next morning, before the sun even had a chance to rise, Jake was on the road, homeward bound.

The desert stretched out before him, a vast expansion of rugged beauty underneath the unforgiving sun. The roar of his motorcycle engine echoed through the emptiness, punctuating the silence that came with the open road. As he ventured deeper into the heart of Nevada, the land seemed to hold it’s breath, anticipation simmering in the air. Dust clouds billowed in his wake as he leaned into the twists and turns, feeling as if he were becoming one with the machine.

Finally, after a couple more hours of riding, the small wooden sign came into view, signaling his arrival.

‘Welcome to Genoa. Nevada’s oldest town.’

The outskirts of the tiny dot on the map loomed into view, it’s familiar silhouette etched against the sky. He slowed his pace as he entered, taking in the scenery that was almost identical to the way it was when he left. His town, a decaying relic in the desert, clung stubbornly to it’s dilapidated existence. The streets stretched out before him like veins choked with neglect, lined with crumbling facades and and fading signs that once promised prosperity. Shuttered business stood as silent sentinels, bearing witness to the ebb and flow that was Genoa.

Nature, too, had woven it’s touch, with wildflowers defiantly blooming in forgotten corners. A gentle reminder to Jake that even in death, life finds a way. The sight filled him with a mixture of disgust and an odd kind of loyalty. Despite it’s decay it held the indelible marks of his roots, memories were etched deep within it’s neglected corners. No matter how much he tried to ignore it, Genoa was still home, a bitter reminder of the life he’d never be able to escape.

Using only his memory, Jake continued through town in search of Ace’s house. Just when he thought he was lost, the row of bikes lined up outside of an old rundown manufactured home proved his memory wasn’t so rusty after all. He parked near the end of the line before making his way up to the front door. He could already hear the rambunctious group of men far before he was on the porch, and he figured knocking would be no use. Besides, it was only Ace’s house, and Jake knew he was welcomed in as if he lived there himself, which he did, at one point.

When he swung the door open, the buzz of conversation came to an abrupt halt, and every head in the room turned to look at him, staring as if they’d seen a ghost.

Ace was the last to look at him, and when he did, a large grin spread across his face.

“Jake! You made it!”

The rest of the men erupted into cheers, glad to see their beloved Barbarian prince return.

“Jake, you remember Steeljaw right?” Ace bellowed as he gave him a shove forward into the crowd.

Jake smiled, “how could I forget? It’s good to see you man.”

Steeljaw was never very affectionate, and the life altering incident he encountered did little to change that, if anything, it had an opposite effect. But when it came to Jake, there was always a soft spot. He tolerated most people, but Jake, he actually liked. He could never figure out why, and in the end, he never tried to.

Jake expected a rough handshake or a punch in the shoulder, but was pleasantly caught off guard when Steeljaw scooped him up into a hug.

“It’s good to have you back.”

Ace went around reintroducing Jake to the guys, each of them in turn giving Jake hugs and handshakes and ‘welcome backs’. Hellhound. Snakebite. Madcap. Django. Renegade. And so many more. With each of these men, Jake carried a special memory. He loved each and every one of them, that was something he couldn’t deny. There were his family, other than his mom (another interesting story for another day), the Barbarians were all that Jake had. They all seemed to really miss him, and he missed all of them too.

Well, almost all of them.

“And of course, Nicky No Name.”

Ace pushed the tall slender guy forward, mouthing a ‘play nice’ to Jake behind his back. Jake’s disdain for Nicky went far beyond the fact that he was an overall awful person. For him, Nicky’s face was a reminder of the loss of the one person who’s presence he missed the most in that room, and it wasn’t Rex.

Jake gave Nicky a tight lipped smile, “Triple N, we meet again.” He knew how much he hated that nickname, which is why it felt that much better to say it.

Nicky narrowed his eyes at Jake with a scowl, before correcting it almost immediately. “Jake Kiszka. Prince of the Barbarians.”

Nicky also knew how much Jake hated that nickname.

Ace knew that was just about as polite as the two could get, so he quickly dismissed Nicky and returned his attention to Jake.

“I’m surprised you actually came.”

“You and me both.”

“How was the ride?”

Jake shrugged, “long.”

Ace chuckled, knowing good and well that anytime Jake was on the road, he had a blast. But he was never one to admit those kinds of things out loud, so he left it be.

“What do ya say we head over to your old man’s house? Get that out the way now?”

Dread crept into Jake’s veins, entwining with grief, as he realized that returning to his childhood home stirred a peculiar turmoil within him. Overshadowing even the weight of the impending funeral. He swallowed it down though, if only momentarily, to respond to Ace.

“Yeah, let’s do it.”

The men hopped on their bikes and began making the short ride down to the old trailer park that was once Jake’s kingdom. Cactus Creek Village, quite the kingdom to be sure. The chipped paint on the entry sign proof of just how much the place had to offer.

Images of the past flicked through his minds eye as he inched his way through. The laughter that once echoed through the trees, riding his bike with his friends, pretending they were motorcycles until the street lights came on. All the joys of his youthful innocence. But beneath the surface of those fond recollections lay layers of pain, unsealed wounds, and fractured connections. Those feeling were all the more solidified as the house came into view.

A house whose walls were etched with both solace and strife. As he put his bike in park out front, it felt like a collision of two worlds, grief and nostalgia intertwining in an intricate dance.

“Look the same?” Ace asked as he got off his bike and came to stand with Jake.

He squinted his eyes at the structure, noticing that most of the damage that he left behind was still there. “Too much.”

His eyes grazed the lackluster trailer park with a neutral expression. Scenes of his complicated childhood played like mirages on front of him, sublime memories that still haunted his dreams. He wondered for a moment if coming back there was a bad idea.

Several feet away, the door of a trailer swung open, hitting the wall so hard that the sound sent a stray cat scampering from underneath the disheveled porch. You stepped outside, an already burning cigarette hanging between your plump lips with disinterest. Those lips, so perfectly pink and inviting, stole the air from Jake’s lungs. His mind flashed briefly to the things that mouth could possibly do behind closed doors.

But he wasn’t able to focus on that for long before his eyes began to take in your attire (or the lack there of). A wife beater, clearly with no bra underneath. Your nipples stood erect against the thin fabric. Your breasts were in no way large, but just big enough for a handful, and that was good enough for him. Your bottom half was no more modest, a pair of gray cotton bikini underwear, nothing more. The curve of your hips was only slight, so slight, some may not have even counted it as a curve at all. But whatever the hell it was, Jake liked it, really liked it.

A pair of brown cowboy boots covered you from the mid calf, down. The scuffed leather on the toes led him to believe that you wore them often.

You were unaware of their presence at first, making your way down the stairs mindlessly before your eyes finally locked with Jake’s.

Yours were red and glossy, not from tears, that much was certain. Jake was sure that you’d realize your exposure and rush back inside to hide yourself like any normal girl would do. But he was quick to find out you were anything but normal.

You blinked once at him, expressionless in your affliction, and raised you fingers to your lips to remove the cigarette. Your nails were chipped midnight blue, hands appearing like fragile petals of a flower. You ashed the cigarette onto the ground, eyed never straying from his.

Admittedly, your stare was a bit intimidating, heavy and laden with something so intriguing it was as if you were hypnotizing him where he stood. You wedged the cigarette back into your mouth before tearing your eyes from him, returning to the task you set out to accomplish.

“Who’s that?” Jake asked, never removing his stare from where you were. He watched as you bent over to pick up a sun bleached watering can, surprised at the size of your ass. He hadn’t expected you to be carrying something like that behind you.

Ace shuffled up beside him and gave you a good once over, “that’s Riley’s girl. When he got sick, she came down here, kinda popped up out of nowhere, to take care of him till he passed. Never left after that.”

Jake turned and looked at him with a furrowed brow, “Riley’s dead?”

Ace laughed, “you really have been gone a long time, haven’t you? He’s been gone about two years now. Pancreatic cancer. He fought long and hard,” he nodded his head in your direction, “she took over the tavern too.”

Jake’s eyes found you again as you lazily poured water onto the foliage outside of the trailer. For it to be Nevada, you did a great job of keeping up your garden.

“She’s a bit quiet, doesn’t really talk to us much, but she’s a sweet girl.” He retrieved a key from his pocket and placed it in Jake’s hand, “I gotta get back to the guys before they burn my damn house down. Take all the time you need.” He hopped back on his bike and his engine roared to life, “we’re all hanging at the tavern later, if you wanna stop by.”

Jake nodded and watched as he backed out of the driveway and started down the road. Once he was out of sight, he turned back to watch you water your plants, his eyes tracking every dip and curve of your body.

When you noticed him staring again, you stood straight and faced him, raising your middle finger.

He smirked. Spitfire. Giving his dad’s house one more look, he decided that wasn’t a hill he was ready to conquer, not yet anyway. Instead, there was a wide open Nevada desert calling his name, and that was a call Jake could never stray away from. Tucking the key away in his jeans, Jake mounted his bike and cranked it to life. He pulled into the street until he was parallel with your trailer. You watched as a mischievous grin appeared on his face, his gloved hand raising to shoot you the finger right back. His bike screeched as he pulled off at a ridiculous speed, kicking up dirt behind him.

You couldn’t help but smile as you watched him drive away. Using context clues, you figured he was your neighbor Rex’s son. You’d heard stories about him from the gang hanging around the bar. The Barbarian Prince, they’d joke. You’d spent plenty of time with Rex, and although he was always pleasant with you, you knew any son of his had to be trouble.

But you were a magnet for trouble. It’s allure and consequences were woven into the very fabric of your existence. Trouble had been your steadfast companion, the architect of your tumultuous journey.

Trouble, is what landed you in Genoa in the first place.

But when it came to the mysterious beloved Barbarian, trouble never looked so good.

Most of the gang was already at Riley’s by the time Jake arrived. He’d spent his afternoon riding through the winding outskirts of Genoa, allowing himself some much needed alone time before the next few days ahead. Pulling his tasseled hair into a messy low bun, Jake nudged the door open with his boot and stood at the threshold to scan the bar.

He quickly spotted Ace’s large frame seated at one of the barstools, but just as quickly, he noticed you. Your hair tied in a messy bun on the top of your head as you hustled behind the bar, mixing up drinks for the waiting Barbarians scattered about the space. A group of them huddled around the pool table drank and talked loudly, demanding their voices to be heard over the loud rock music playing from the old fashioned jukebox positioned in the corner. Jake gave them a quick assessment before returning his attention back to you.

You were wearing a muscle tank, if he had to guess, the same one from earlier, only this time you decided to put a bra on. Good Girl. The hot pink straps peaked from underneath the tank ever so slightly, he liked that even more. With a smirk plastered on his face, Jake made his way through the dimly lit bar, perching himself on the stool beside Ace and patting him on the shoulder, his eyes staying trained on you. You hadn’t noticed him yet, too busy fulfilling another drink order for a waiting couple. There was a thin sheen of sweat covering your body that, mixed with the contrastingly bright lights of the neon signs behind the bar, made you appear like an angel on earth. Glowing like a beacon, a beacon calling directly to Jake.

Before even glancing at him, you were talking. “What can I get for you?”

Jake chuckled at your obliviousness as he leaned forward onto the bar.

“Whiskey. Neat, please.”

When you finally turned to look at him, realization setting in, your face dropped, but Jake’s never faltered. He was a lot more handsome up close, something you hadn’t expected, but still relished in.

“Well, if it isn’t my Peeping Tom neighbor,” you smirked, wiping your hands on the towel that hung at your hip.

Your voice was like like honey. Smooth, rich, and pleasing to Jake’s ears. The very sound of it melded with the music filling the room made the hairs on his arms stand upright. It was as if every word you spoke was uttered with the intention of seduction, and it was working.

Your right eyebrow peaked on your face as you waited for his reply, arms crossing over your chest.

“If I remember correctly, you’re the one that came out of the house half naked,” he teased, his eyes boring directly into yours.

“You didn’t have to stare,” you quipped right back.

Jake shrugged, “how could I not?”

His response stunned you into silence, but not in a negative way. Being the object of his gaze, as good looking as he was, was enticing.

You’d never let him know that, though. So instead, you rolled your eyes and turned to pluck at the screen behind you.

“You want your tab opened, or closed?”

Jake was staring daggers into your back, still wearing that sly grin. His eyes traveled down to your ass, being hugged tightly by the black denim shorts you wore. They traveled further, all the way down your exposed legs and back up.

“Open…”

Ace turned his attention to the two of you, patting Jake on the shoulder, “no need, first rounds on me, sunshine.”

You smiled sweetly at Ace before pulling a glass down to prepare Jake’s drink.

“So, you’re Rex’s kid?” you asked.

Jake nodded, “the one and only. I think.”

You chuckled at his statement, knowing that when it came to Barbarians, that was probably a real concern. “Sorry to hear about his passing.”

He gave off another shrug as he retrieved his usual duo, a cigarette and his lighter, “wish I could say the same.”

This comment may have been off putting to others, but to you it was more than relatable.

You finished pouring his drink and slid it across the counter on a thin coaster.

“Well, he’ll be missed around here, anyway,” you glanced around the bar before focusing on Jake’s face, “but it seems like everyone’s glad to have you back.”

Jake’s attention was focused on getting his cigarette lit, and once it was, he looked back at you, noticing the way you were drinking in his features,his lips curled up around it.

“Glad to be back.”

He took his glass and raised it towards you, a silent confirmation that you were the reason for his satisfaction. You held each other’s gaze for what felt like forever, both grinning, yet silently assessing the other.

“Why do I feel like you’re nothing but trouble?” you questioned Jake, a hint of teasing in your voice.

Jake freed his mouth and leaned into you, and you instinctively did the same, your faces now hovering inches away from each other. The smell of tobacco on his breath was so intoxicating you could’ve kissed him in that very moment.

“Why do I feel the same about you?”

For a brief moment, you though he actually was about to kiss you, your mouths so close, all it took was one small movement to initiate. But just before it got to that point, Jake pulled away, standing from his seat and crossing over the the jukebox.

You watched as he flipped through the catalog, taking a sip of his drink in the process. Finally, Lick it Up by Kiss began playing loudly as Jake increased the volume. Turning back to you with that same smirk from before. He began nodding his head in an animated fashion, causing a real laugh to bubble up from inside of you. Something that didn’t happen often.

“He really is Rex’s boy!” Ace shouted over the music, calling out to everyone in the bar.

He raised his glass as everyone cheered, following suit. And once again, Jake looked to you, raising both his eyebrows and his glass.

You shook your head with a smile, “trouble.”

It was well after two am by the time you got off. Most of the gang had stayed right until close, and with only you and your coworker Angela left by the end of the night, closing took a lot longer than usual. And to make matters worse, you were now stranded at the gas station. Your old clunker had only managed to make it two miles up the road before it sputtered out, and now, it refused to start.

The cold desert air chilled your bones as you did your best to inspect under the hood, but with little to no knowledge about cars, you weren’t hopeful.

“Raggedy piece of shit,” you cursed as you kicked at one of the tires. You pulled your windbreaker tighter around your body and leaned back against the car, debating on whether or not you could conquer the mile and a half walk back home.

But just as the idea started becoming the best option, the sound of a motorcycle could be heard coming up the road. You watched as the driver pulled into the gas station, knowing well that it had to be a Barbarian, they were the only gang in the area. But what you didn’t expect was for that Barbarian to be Jake, still smiling as he pulled up beside you.

“You don’t look too happy.”

You wanted to roll your eyes at him, but his smile was beginning to grow on you. So much so, that you could ignore his smart ass comment.

“My car won’t start.”

Jake turned off his bike and climbed off, not saying a word as he leaned down to look into the engine compartment.

You took in the way the muscles of his arms flexed as he gripped tightly on the sides of the car. The thought of him holding you that way sending a separate chill down your spine

After a few moments of inspection, he faced you again, just as you diverted your eyes to something else.

“Where do you want me to start?”

Your dropped your head into the palm of your hand, “fuck.”

Jake chuckled, “it’s alright. I might be able to fix it,” he sounded hopeful, though by just looking at it, he' knew it might be beyond saving, “have to get it towed first, though.”

You cursed again, you didn’t have the money for that.

“But for the time being, I can give you a ride. After all, we are neighbors.”

You glanced backup at his smirking face, wondering if he ever wore any other expression, “on your bike?”

He nodded, “what, you scared or something?”

Quite frankly, you couldn’t have been further from. Excited? A little turned on? Yes. Scared? Never.

“What’s your name?” you asked, deciding to ignore his statement. He took a step towards you and extended his hand, “I’m Jake. And you are?” You shook his hand softly and grinned mischievously, “wouldn’t you like to know?”

You removed your hand and climbed onto his bike, making sure to arch your back more than necessary.

That image of you on his bike that way was the first time Jake actually believed here might be a god. You were all too regal, even in your most natural state, he’d even dare to say perfect. And something so perfect had to be meticulously constructed by an all knowing power. He didn’t even care if he knew your name.

“I gotta run inside. Stay pretty.”

He left without another word, dissapearing into the store and leaving you out in the cold air. You waited patiently for him to return, and when he did, he climbed on in front of you. His already familiar scent filled your nostrils, and without though, you moved your body closer to his. Once he brought the bike to life you hesitantly wrapped your arms around his torso, bringing you a comfort that you hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Will you be alright without a helmet?” he asked, shouting over the roaring engine.

“It’s only a mile and a half. I’ll be fine.”

He put the bike in drive, patting your thigh twice, “well then, hang on.”

He pulled out into the street slowly and began making his way down the long stretch of road. Releasing your hair from its bun, you leaned into Jake’s ear, “you can’t make this thing go any faster?” You were aware that he was doing the gentlemanly thing and taking it easy, but feeling the rush of the wind and the vibration of the road traveling through your body had you craving more. The freeing feeling that speeding down the road on the back of a bike was enticing, but so was the danger of it. That feeling of gambling life itself for a few seconds of exhilaration, it turned you on, the tense energy radiating off of you and onto Jake.

You couldn’t see it, but he smirked, reving up the engine as he began picking up speed, causing your adrenaline to spike. Once the deteriorating buildings that lined the street started becoming a blur, you released you hold on Jake’s waist and spread you arms out wide, tilting your head back to greet the night sky. The wind whipped your hair across your face, blinding you every few seconds, but that didnt deter you one bit.

A genuine laugh escaped Jake’s lips, “you’re a wild one,” he exclaimed, his voice barely audible against the roaring wind.

Cactus Creek was still when you and Jake returned, the loud hum of his engine feeling out of place in the quiet night. Jake could’ve easily parked in his own driveway and let you make the 50 feet walk back to your place, but instead, he parked right outside your front door, a little too close to your flowers for your liking. After helping you off, the two of you stood face to face. The thrill of the ride had yet to wear off, and all those feelings you felt while in the back of his bike were still very much alive inside of you.

“You seemed to have enjoyed yourself,” Jake chuckled as he removed his own hair from its bun. Never in your life had you seen such tangled locks look so good, you wanted nothing more than to run your fingers through it, preferably with his head between your legs.

A small grin appeared on your face as you took a step closer to him, “what can I say? I love a good ride.” He pulled you close as soon as you were in arms reach, letting one of his hands snake around your hip, just shy of your ass. His opposite hand found your hair, pulling back on it gently until you were looking him in the eyes.

“Is that right?”

Your lips ghosted against his as you spoke, “who doesn’t?”

Jake liked that answer. If the twitching of his cock that was pressed against your leg didn’t give it away, the look on his face sure did. His mouth dropped to press firm kisses along your collarbone. Your eyes fell closed when his tongue appeared to lick a long strip up your neck. He continued until his mouth was hovering by your ear.

“Something’s telling me you’re no good for me,” he whispered, nipping at your earlobe to punctuate, “should probably stay away. But somehow that only makes me want you more.”

You pulled away to look him in the eye, shaking your head solemnly, “you don’t want me, Jake. I’m not the kind worth loving.”

He took a mental note of that statement, replaying it over and over in his head fo months to come. But for the time being, it remained tucked away. He smirked at you, “who said anything about falling in love?”

The look of lust in his eyes and the grip he still had on your waist was the nail in the coffin. With both hands, you took ahold of his fac and crashed your lips into his, nothing but primal desire behind it. He kissed you back immediately, his tongue delving into your mouth like it were seeking out shelter in the rain. You all but climbed him, tangling you legs around him as he made his way up the steps. You never locked your door, there was nothing in that place worth stealing, and your hand searched blindly behind you to open the door.

Once inside, Jake quickly cleared your entryway table— its contents clambering to the ground as you pushed the door shut. He sat you down roughly as his mouth returned to your neck, much less graceful than the first time. You pulled and tugged at his jacket until it slid off his body, leaving him in a plain black t shirt. Your finger clawed at it, pulling it up so that you could feel more of his skin against yours.

“Still not gonna tell me your name?” he huffed as his hands began groping your chest.

You sighed heavily, “nope.”

Jake chuckled, “that’s fine,” he squeezed your chest a little tighter, causing you to hiss, “I’ll jut have to come up with my own name for you then.

He licked into your open mouth slowly, making sure to really taste you as he did so. “Hmmm. How about Cherry?”

“Cherry?” you gulped, “why?”

Jake smiled at your moment of innocence, the way your eyes pleaded for an answer made both his cock and his heart ache.

“Cause you taste just as sweet as one.”

Before his compliment had a chance to make it’s way to your heart, you yanked him closer by the collar of his shirt, “are you gonna stand here and talk all night, or are you gonna fuck me?”

Jake’s smile fell, a carnal look taking over his face. His rough fingers began undoing the button on your shorts, not even taking a moment to pull them down before they were sliding into your wetness. An almost silent gasp left your mouth as your head fell back against the mirror, threatening to send it crashing down.

“Yeah, Cherry? Is that pretty little pussy ready to fuck?”

You nodded, once again clawing at his back as his fingers continued to skate about.

He removed his hand from your shorts and brought the digits up to his lips, slipping them into his mouth. Yeah, Cherry would do just fine.

“Let’s not keep her waiting then. I’m dying to meet her.” He hoisted you off the table and began walking towards the only door that could’ve lead to a bedroom. As soon as your feet hit the ground, you began making quick work of your clothes. Jake doing the same. He was undressed before you were, and your eyes immediately zeroed in on the myriad of scars that adorned his body.

Each of those scars held a story, some twisted, god awful story that probably came with a mental scar to match. You couldn’t help but wonder what kinds of things he had seen, lived. You had a moment of clarity then, of how similar the two of you were. Both marred by scars of the past, yet still somehow standing.

Something you’d noticed from the very beginning was how tired Jake’s eyes were. Though he smiled often, you could tell there was a heavy weight on his shoulders. And seeing him there, in all his raw naked glory, you wanted nothing more than to take some of that weight off, if only momentarily.

With enough time to recover from the putty like state he had you in earlier, you finished undressing yourself and pushed Jake down onto the bed with only a finger.

He grinned up at you, enjoying where this was headed. You slowly made your way up the bed, eyes locked on his as your fingers began grazing along his skin. You were so occupied with taking in the rest of him, you hadn’t even taken a moment to look at his cock. But just as you suspected, it was as perfect as the rest of him. Radiating a cherry shade of red from the tip, like it was made just for you.

Straddling his waist, you raked your fingers through your untamed hair, Jake’s hands came up to massage your ass, “you did say you loved a good ride, huh?”

One of your hands began stroking along him gently, collecting the pre cum from his tip to ease your movements. The goofy grin he was wearing faltered as he let out a shaky breath.

Raising your hips, you peered down your nose at him, “don't worry. I’ll hang on.”

You sank down on him in one fluid motion, both of you moaning loudly at the way you fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. Jake’s fingers dug into your skin, and you welcomed the pain, throwing your head back in ecstasy as he stirred inside of you. When he loosened his grip, you took that as an invitation to begin moving, and using his chest for leverage, you began grinding your hips against him. He allowed you to do so for awhile, laying his bed back out the pillow as he watched you move against him eagerly. His hands felt their way up your body, one of them snaking up into your hair while the other came up to your mouth. You welcomed his fingers, sucking them past your lips as you clawed at his exposed chest. When Jake noticed you tracing on of the scars on his abdomen he looked up at you, searching for disappointment in your eyes. But there was none, not even an inch.

“You’re beautiful,” you whispered to him as you raised you hips to slide off of him, just to the tip, before sinking back down with a gasp.

Jake was never one to take compliments well, but he could tell you meant it. He grabbed ahold of your hips again and began thrusting upwards into you, speeding up the tempo at which you were moving. It was obvious that this wasn’t something that was meant to go on all night long. Both of you were clearly in need of blowing off steam, and by the way both of your bodies were reacting, you knew the end was coming soon.

He sent a harsh slap to the side of your thigh, his teeth bared as he tried to maintain his composure. “You take dick so fucking good,” he complimented as he watched the way your tits bounced from the force of the movement.

Your head lulled forward to smile at him, “I know.”

Jake returned the gesture, a soft groan escaping his mouth, “I’m gonna cum, Cherry.”

“Me too, Jake,” you wined, “don’t stop.”

He sought out your clit, rubbing slow circles against it as he continued to pound up into you. “Yeah. I bet you make the prettiest faces when you cum. I can’t wait to see.”

Your hips began faltering, and Jake could feel you clenching around him, causing a deep growl to grumble up from inside of him.

“There it is. I feel it, Cherry.”

“Cumming,” you sighed, “I’m cumming.” With one final bounce on his cock, you were cumming hard and loud. You were never one to be ashamed of being loud during sex, it made it feel that much better. And Jake enjoyed it thurrougly. The way your brows were knitted together, head thrown back, nails carving angry marks into his chest beside his scars. And your moans, to Jake, they were the sweetest sounds to ever come out of Genoa.

He fucked you through to your end before wrenching you off of him and pumping along his shaft. You were laid out beneath him, both of you watching each other as he continued jerking himself.

Jake’s eyes grew dark, “you want it, don’t you? In that sweet little mouth?”

Your jaw fell open, inviting him to do exactly what it was you were both think. The sight of it sent Jake’s release crashing into him.

“Such a nasty thing, aren’t you Cherry? Oh fuck… fuckkkk.”

Hot spurts of his release began dripping down into your mouth, some of it landing on your breasts and cheeks, but you caught as much of it as you could.

His legs were shaking by the time he was empty, and he collapsed back down onto the bed beside you, fighting to catch his breath. His hand searched for his discarded t-shirt, bringing it to wipe away the remains of the mess he left on your skin. You smiled up at him as he did so, “thank you.”

He took a moment to look at you, really look at you. Your eyes held a certain softness that captured his attention, yet, there was something lurking behind that gentle facade, something that hinted at a hidden depth. It was as if there were an entire secret world behind your eyes, one that Jake coould’t decipher.

There was no denying the allure you possessed, your beauty and your aura were nothing short of captivating. But he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that behind that beauty lay a trail of buried skeletons.

Getting reacquainted with the Barbarians was trouble enough, a path filled with danger and uncertainty. And intertwining himself with you seemed to add another layer of complexity. Despite all of that, though, he couldn’t help but be drawn to you like a moth to a flame. There was a magnetic pull, a force that defied reason and lured him further into your orbit.

But he’d leave that alone for now. He had to burry his father tomorrow, and that was a burden of its own.

He lowered himself back onto the bed, pulling the sheet up over you body as you slowly began drifting off to sleep, hoping that he could do the same.

2. Our Old Friend, Death

Taglist: @myownparadise96 @writingcold @jordie-gvf

[practicalmagicintuitions]

Just a rant, I know people really want the best for HC & they're really invested & emotionally attached with his Fs concept. But look what they're asking of the supposed Fs- this actor comes from a strong financial background & connections, has been around a lot, is having a child with someone, for someone they call Fs she may not have these & she'll supposedly heal such an immature privileged guy. Shes just being setup for complications &predicaments. All while he may still want his free life.

You are such a gem babe! This is so aligned with the previous answer I just posted.

Babying a grown-up is messed up enough but this whole " I can fix him" thing is so gross and stupid. When people say this irl or about a celeb I always ask them to flip the coin and have a different perspective. First of all, you do not really hear those women wish an "I can fix her" mentality guy for messed up women like Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan were or like Britney nowadays. Second, why would you wish a nice girl stuck in a relationship with a man-child waiting for change? Isn't that cruel? What kind of low self-esteem girl would wait for a guy to be a man instead of a child? This is where we say " don't date potential". Just don't. For your own sake.

At this point maybe everyone should accept that the imaginary HC is not real. He showed who he is, believe him. Do not expect him to be more. He is not. People want him to be better or accuse NV making him bad because they do not want to stan an ordinary man. They want an idol, a god. He is far from it. A false god maybe. It's not about HC or his happiness, this is about fans being delusional. By their standards, they should have been cancelled HC a long time ago but they are not willing to, so they are lying to themselves.

FS readings are insane, mostly because so many insert themselves in it or predict characteristics of the girl they have or they find important. I think that is the least serious topic you can read on. It false from the get-go.

I was a bit of rambling, forgive me. I hope you still got some answer. :)

[lelelego]

hiii your art has made me recently get back into new vegas after originally playing it in highschool and your ocs and art make me really want to make a nv oc as well, do you have any tips or pointers for making ocs in the fo world?

hiya! that's so cool i'm glad to hear you want to make an fo oc as well!!!!!

TIP WISE i'm not sure how helpful i can be because honestly i just borrowed eli from his og universe and just. put him in situations and tried to think like him as i was playing the game so he was already an established character in my brain, but i can try from a character design perspective!

ultimately your oc doesn't have to be the protag (lone wanderer, courier, or sole survivor) if you don't want them to be. they can be some guy the protag encounters on the road or something (and therefore not fully restricted by the fiction bethesda created for the protag characters). you can make up any story you want within the world! the beauty of fan fiction!!

if they are the protag then it helps to think of how they came to be that protag. what made them fall into that role? with what thoughts do they leave vault 101? what were they doing before getting the platinum chip? before being a courier? what do they think about revenge; does the world's circumstances change how they might think of it? did dying change them fundamentally, exacerbate flaws, elevate strengths, or do absolutely nothing? etc.

if you're an artist, how does the character's clothes fit them and their situation? for example, eli's a small guy + he's also a mechanic + his leg is busted + is courier + also needs supplies to survive = leg brace that looks homemade, tight fitting gloves, a too-big Robco jacket, a bag, ft. a companion who will carry all the supplies LOL

if you want your character to "fit" into the fo universe, i would say it's all about understanding what about fallout excites you. what excites me about fnv is the characters... the free wandering and exploring... the drive of curiosity... having to survive... the potential to use barter and speechcraft instead of a gun (which would be normal in fo for obvious reasons)... how characters would react to in-game scenarios... etc. i'm very character-driven so in my head it's about what the world can do for the character (within reason) instead of the other way around, but you might be the opposite! the circumstances of the world might instead be a priority and your character can reflect that.

be cringe. be free. your character is your character. do what makes YOU happy! make ocs how you want! you're not getting paid, so why should act like you're getting paid?!?! do it how you like!!!

i hope this ramble helps in some way! the most important tip is #5 btw - none of this matters unless you're having fun in some way :>

[spiribia]

[unexploded anon] first of all about the protags: yes. yeag. ur right. that aside you cant really... make any interesting decisions in fo4? which also leads to that fixed character feel. sure you can decide which faction to join but thats it. you dont get several ways of solving things like the nv moon quest for example. as soon as they went teehee no more karma and a voiced protag it was so over.

that aside my biggest grievance with bethany esdas version of fo(esp 4)is that they simply cannot write anything that isnt "the world was destroyed and it sucks now also the brotherhood of steel is here". theyre sooo scared to move on from it— or perhaps they are just afraid to say anything? a big point of fo1 and 2 and nv is bad thing happened how do we move on from that. they rebuild! they have huge cities! theyve started printing money again by fo2! things arent great sure but they are developing!

the plot in the new show revolves around who threw the first bomb so we can all point our fingers at the real bad guy actually which feels like such a big misunderstanding to me and again shows that they simply cannot move on from the hoho! big war happen! plot. they even went and nuked the big settlements so theyre back to that status quo and its just so LAME. wheres the hopeful spark of humanity in this. wheres anything that isnt just hehe bomb go boom heres the brotherhood of steal (while simultanously yassifying the ghouls so they look less scary as if they arent a direct result of the horrors of war youre so fixated on gg)

[unexploded anon] i guess theres nothing wrong with like. things that dont have to be deeper and you can just go and play fo4 and have fun with whats there but what always gets me is that it USED TO BE. cooler. it used to be cooler and had something to say and now its just an aesthetic to sell i guess.

sad! well theres always games from 1998 and nv to play.

definitely interesting to hear perspective from a first 2 fallouts enjoyer...this is a true war never changes moment. at this point i do think the brotherhood of steel and their big old promo material power armor is probably a brand recognition association with their brand. they do also seem to lean into marketable in-universe branding like the vault boy and nuka-cola but without the irony which is a critique i've seen a lot of that i'm inclined to agree with and also unfortunately kind of funny if i'm honest.

fo4 does seem like it could be fun if it's the sort of action game you're in the market for and i think if i was in the right mood it could be something i could've gotten further in. the universe contorted me into playing new vegas and only new vegas. i was so smoothtalked by todd howard's fallout 4 e3 presentation that i resolved to get it when it came out, and to bide the time before, got fallout 3 and found i could not get it to run on my laptop. i refunded 3 and begrudgingly got new vegas as a compensation, which ran like a dream, but i didnt get past the first time in my first attempt - i found the wasteland crunchy and unnerving with its evil beasts and thought "maybe fallout 4 will be more comforting - it's more colorful". then fallout 4 came out and i could not run it. so then i turned back to new vegas. and now i LOVE the crunchy wasteland and the evil beasts.

[hooked-on-elvis]

A FUN REHEARSAL NIGHT WITH ELVIS PRESLEY 🎤

TO ILLUSTRATE: Pictures 1 and 3: Elvis in his car outside RCA's studio in Hollywood (Los Angeles, CA) during rehearsals on January 15, 1970 for his second Las Vegas season which was to run from January 26th to February 23rd. This new season was scheduled to begin just over four months after the end of Presley's record-breaking opening season at the International Hotel in Las Vegas (July 31–August 28, 1969) | Picture 2: August 7 or 10 1970, during stage rehearsals at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.

THE FOLLOWING STORY IS AN EXCERPT FROM AN 1999 INTERVIEW WITH ELVIS' FAN SANDI MILLER.

Q: Do you want to share one of your great stories with us? Sandi Miller: It's always hard to pick just one incident but I guess I'll go with one of the rehearsals at RCA in Los Angeles: Like almost everything Elvis did, rehearsals wouldn't start until very late at night... 10, 11PM usually. Elvis was normally the last one to show up. With the equipment all set up and all the stools sitting around, there really wasn't very much free space in the small room (which was fine by me!) We (my roommate and I) always knew when Elvis' car was pulling into the parking garage because you could hear the fans standing outside start calling for him to stop and talk. I never counted how many actual rehearsals we attended but I know he only seriously got something accomplished a few times... the other times it was more like play time... sing a few songs, tell a lot of jokes, cause general havoc in the rehearsal room. Mostly everyone just horsed around for a couple of hours. One particular night he was in a really goofy mood-even for him! He started to sing "Bury me not in the lone prairieeeeeeeeeeee"* then he did a little tap dance. We knew right then it was going to be one of those unproductive nights. Charlie [Hodge] was getting a little agitated because he wanted to smooth out some arrangements and the more serious Charlie got, the goofier Elvis got. After a whole 10 minutes Elvis decided it was "donut and coffee" break time. Elvis sent one of the guys out to get that taken care of, then starts singing "It's Only Love" changing all the words and singing off key. Then he asked for "requests" so we made up a song title. No such song-we just made up a title that I can't even remember now and Elvis proceeds to sing this non-existant song. He made up the tune and the words as he went along and it was actually darn good, to the point that we were beginning to think that maybe there really was a song by that title - but - there wasn't! Now the donuts have arrived with coffee etc. I think it was James Caughley that brought them in - everyone thinks the donuts are for everyone in the room so we all gather around the box and the cups only to have Elvis pick everything up and march outside and give everything to the fans standing outside. Needless to say they were absolutely thrilled! We on the other hand, were starving! Elvis was having a lot of trouble with his microphone and just wasn't in any mood to be rehearsing so the evening ended shortly after that with Elvis telling us he was staying at the Century Plaza Hotel and instructing us to go there and use the house phone to call up to the suite when we arrived and someone would come down and get us. We stayed there until around 6 a.m. watching tv and talking, (the boys had all gone to their own rooms so we had Elvis to ourselves!). Then we had to leave to go back home and to work....with no sleep! The following night was another rehearsal -- the word zombie comes to mind (us, not Elvis!), I'm sure Elvis got a nice day's sleep while we sat behind a desk trying to stay awake! It was well worth it though! Next to going to Palm Springs I'd have to say rehearsal time was always one of my favorite things. Source: elvisnews.com -- Email Interview with Sandi Miller (1999)

Hahaha. I love Sandi's stories! So many things happening in one single night around Elvis! His friends couldn't possibly have been bored next to the King. And talk about the way he treated the fans who didn't make it inside the recording studio! Unbelievably caring. Elvis Presley giving donuts to the fans waiting for him outside the studio… CUTE! ♥ I just wanted a picture from one of this moments, really (because this wasn't a one-time thing).

Funny thing Sandi mentioned Elvis was staying at the Century Plaza Hotel that night -- it's the first time I read someone saying he stayed there, it's no surprise tho. Sandi met Elvis during the mid-60s and the luxury Century Plaza hotel began operating in 1966, so her story took place in late 60s. Curious enough, on January 15, 2023, the Critics' Choice Awards ceremony was held at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

The "Elvis" movie (2022) by Baz Luhrmann was running with Austin Butler up for Best Actor and Baz Luhrmann up for Best Director, as well as the ELVIS movie was up for Best Picture. Also Baz’s wife Catherine Martin was up for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design. So cool the ceremony of such important Elvis biopic was held in the same venue the King's been at himself.

Austin Butler steps out alongside Elvis director Baz Luhrmann and costume designer (and Baz’s wife) Catherine Martin at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards held at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel on Sunday (January 15) in Los Angeles.

ADDITIONAL INFO

"Bury Me Not On the Lone Prairie" is a cowboy folk ballad, often described as the most famous cowboy ballad. It was first be recorded by Carl T. Sprague in 1926. Later on, Johnny Cash recorded this song, release in 1965 on the album "Johnny Cash Sings The Ballads Of The True West".

Listen Johnny Cash's version below:

ABOUT SANDI MILLER

[1] Sandi and Elvis, at the gates of their home in LA. 1969. [3] Picture taken by Sandi that same evening -- photo used as cover to one FTD Elvis album released in 2013.

For the ones yet not familiar with the name, Sandi Miller is an Elvis fan who met him in mid-60s. She calls herself a "gate girl", being one of the many fans that would constantly wait for Elvis by the gates of his houses intending to talk to him, get an autograph and/or pictures. Sandi was lucky enough to befriend Presley while doing so, and from then on, she would be invited to attend private events held by Elvis such as parties, film screenings, rehearsals, and even to join him and his gang to enjoy of a relaxing moment at his home at his Palm Springs hideaway home, where Elvis would rest and get a nice tan before returning to work.

For a little period Sandi dated Charlie Hodge, Elvis's Memphis Mafia member long term friend, backup musician and stage manager. Over the years of friendship, Sandi collected a vast number of candid pictures of the King of Rock and Roll, some of them were even used by EPE and RCA Records as covers to Elvis official material released posthumously [Example: FTD's release "FROM ELVIS AT AMERICAN SOUND STUDIO" (2013) -- cover picture taken by Sandi]. Her exclusive pictures of Elvis had also been featured in a good number of books by different authors. Sandi herself haven't wrote a book with her unique memories and photos taken of Elvis by her up until now, but she helped another author by being a contributor to his publication. Miller lent author Bud Glass her diaries where she wrote about some of her encounters with the King, so that he could present these stories together with the candid photographs of Elvis taken by Miller in the book. They are two books: "Behind The Image" by Praytome Publishings (Vol. 1 and 2).

Elvis candids © Sandi Miller; FTD's album cover: From Elvis At American Sound Studio (2013).

[arsene-ee]

I’d really like to hear about your Lone Wanderer if you’re up for it. 🙂

OMGGGG YESSSS

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING <3 (fyi she is very self insert bc I want james to be my dad too T-T) Sorry if this is all over the place my brain just goes nyooooooom

So basically her name is Briar, I'm still not sure about her last name, I don't wanna give her a weird last name but I also don't want to give her a basic american last name (I'm not from the states so i have no idea what a good last name would be)

She is a work in progress character, I may have been playing fallout 3 since may but I just kept repeating the beginning lol so I didn't have a lot of character development for her until recently.

I gave her the same s.p.e.c.i.a.l. as james bc I thought it would be adorable outside the vault so

s-5 p-8 e-4 c-7 i-9 a-4 l-3

but recently I have been thinking about lowering intelligence and perception and raising charisma and luck, because I think that would be funny.

in every playthrough I do with her she gets the child at heart perk, so yeah she's a child at heart. her favourite settlement is actually Little Lamplight because 1: it looks cool af and 2: she likes teasing Mayor Maccready.

she's bisexual, but she never was in a relationship before or really felt anything towards her fellow vault inhabitants or anyone she met outside, how she discovered it shall remain a secret to us all (it were the gronak the barbarian comics)

she doesn't have any companions because they are very annoying when it comes to sneaking around (looking at you dogmeat and star paladdin cross)

she her favorite colour is pink.

She carries the teddy (the one from the toy box in "Baby Steps") around with her everywhere, as well as a bible which once belonged to Catherine and then belonged to James until finally she took it with her into the wasteland, although she herself is agnostic it means a lot to her.

I would love to be self indulgent and give her a phobia of dogs but i'm still unsure about it, and it would add a lot to her character because the wasteland is a scary place with actual monsters and her biggest fear being dogs would be interesting to say the least.

She definitely takes like 100% after james lookswise, well structure wise some of her facial features come from catherine but for the most part she's just james' mini me.

her birthday is the Lone Wander's canon birthday 13th of July 2258.

she is very high Karma (i legit cannot be mean to NPCs, I was so upset when I got low Karma for helping that one guy impress Sienna Pretovia)

she wears Jonas' glasses, she doesn't need glasses, but it's a sentimental thing...as well as a fashion statement.

speaking of jonas, he and her were up to mischief quite a lot, he was like an older brother/cousin to her and everytime she got into a fight with Butch she hoped it was jonas that would treat her because she loves to trash talk her classmates (and the overseer) and he tolerates it. (I LOVE JONAS SO DAMN MUCH!!!!!!!)

she scored clinical test subject on her G.O.A.T., which, in my understanding, is really cynical because it would force her dad to experiment on her (I have no idea what a clinical test subject actually does), she wanted to be a pip-boy programmer, she always thought Stanley's work and talk was interesting, she was really dissapointed with her result (honestly I'm pretty sure the results of the G.O.A.T. are actually predetermined by the overseer but that's just my opinion)

she ends up sacraficing herself for project purity, not because she doesn't like the botherhood of steel or something (actually she thinks they are sus but that's not important rn) and she also doesn't want someone else to sacrafice themself for it...her family started it so her family should end it to, that's kind of her way of thinking about it.

this sacrafice is also kind part of my idea of implementing her into fallout 4 (idc about nv tbh), thank you dr. li for becoming part of the institute, I mean Madision must feel horrible first two of her closest confidants die and then their daughter sacrafices herself for their life's (???) work, that must have left her with severe survivor's guilt so her creating a synth version of briar could be kinda her way to cope I guess, but I'm still not sure about this one lol (i just want my girl to interact with the now older maccready because i think that would be funny)

Like I said she's still a work in Progress character. ALSO ALSO I WANNA HEAR ABOUT YOUR LONE WANDERER TOO!!!

[rp-partnerfinder]

☢ crawl out through the Fallout

back to me... ☢

heyyyyyy fellas; since the show and the new FO4 PS5 upgrade, I am back on my Fallout bender hardcore and dusting off an old OC. :') though I've been primarily grinding 4 and watching the show, I'm also super open to 3 and NV verses! sooooo, for the important info;

I'm looking for M x M ships and primarily CC x OC against my BOS deserter Dude. I have a (WIP) bio available for him, but for the basics;

North is an asian-caucascian, kind of a black cat type of guy. he once fled the Capital Wasteland to escape his military family and the iron fist of BOS and now, well... wanders about, kind of living sort of a very druid-y lifestyle. a bit of a loner who pretends to care less than he does and prefers the company of local cats to people. although he's a loner he's also very keen and protective of the people he cares for, and getting on his good side is annoyingly easy (at least, if you ask him). leans dominant, switch with a preference for topping and domming even from the bottom, gay.

preferred romantic prospects: MacCready, Charon, Deacon, Raul, Arcade Gannon, Maximus, The Ghoul; very possibly others. super particular to ghouls, Railroaders + other BOS deserters. ESPECIALLY interested in writing him against Maximus ATM, the dynamic between an old BOS deserter x Maximus could just be!!! Chef's Kiss 🤌🏻

about me: I'm 32, trans guy, residing in Europe. 15+ years of writing experience and I come equipped with samples. I prefer to write over discord, in our shared little haven of a server. open to tupperbox though I don't require it! I typically write multiple paragraphs; I don't think it's possible to even get a reply under two paragraphs minimum out of me. third person prose, past tense preferred. good grammar is a must, though I'm naturally forgiving of small mistakes. normally I reply daily, though depending on how life is (as you do) results may vary and I'll try to keep you updated. hoping for something similar! I'm super open to AUs, crossovers, different timelines, multiple threads and so on! my absolute favorite thing to write is romance with plot, with some smut tossed in. I prefer my porn with plot and prefer complex settings and relationship to sexuality rather than just mindless, emotionless humping. some pain, some fluff, some terrible angst and passionate love. a nice, healthy balance of things with love perservering through the challenges. like mentioned, I'm open to smut as well as dead dove topics; we can discuss triggers and limits in dms! not interested in toxic ships or looking to double.

finally, I hope you're a minimum of 25 years old. if you made it all the way to the bottom and remain interested, great! drop this post a like and I will surely find you, or feel free to DM me directly! no worries about committing before you even know how I operate; my blog has links that will tell you everything I know and, upon first message, I will drop all the important info your way anyway so you may simply ghost me if it's not your thing.

look forward to hearing from you!!

.

[pixelprofligate]

I'm gonna rant about New Vegas cause its on my mind so bad NV takes beyond this point woe be unto thee

I know it's just me and I'm wrong, but I really don't find the world of New Vegas interesting or compelling much at all. I think it's in part because the actual world design itself, like the map you literally explore in the game, is just really boring to be in, and cause the game is obsessed with just...telling you everything about the lore all the time but not really giving you any reason to care or get invested in it all. Every single time I've tried to go back and play it and give it a chance, and believe me I've tried like 5 times at this point, I play for a few hours and just get really bored. None of the quests really hit me as particularly fun or super compelling, none of the characters really do anything to make me care about them, none of the locations I visit are particularly interesting to be in or feel very rewarding to find, and nothing I do really feels like it has any real consequence. Do I get Primm Slim or some other guy to be the deputy of Primm, who cares all the outcomes are identical and the decision doesn't matter because nothing changes. Do I help the ghouls in Repconn or do I just shoot them and move on, doesn't matter nothing else in the world is effected by this choice. Every single quest and character feels like it exists in a vacuum, and honestly that's usually fine with me. But when I have constantly heard about how good New Vegas is and how much your decisions matter I figured they actually...would. Not just for whatever random ending slides you get but like, in the world itself. In quests, that NPCs I've helped before would remember and things would tie together somewhat, that the world itself would change to show the results of my decisions, that literally anything would happen so the decisions I'm making actually feel like they're doing something. But they don't. At most, an NPC shows up somewhere. Maybe you get a different reward. Or...nothing, it doesn't matter at all sometimes. So what's the point. You have this world filled with genuinely really well constructed political goings ons, then made the quests really uninteresting and the worldspace and locations really uninteresting and the characters really bland and they all speak to you in object facts about the world and always answer any random questions you have even if they legitimately wouldn't care and it just...it makes the world feel incredibly false to me. Probably doesnt help that I think the story itself is also just kinda flawed, with entire factions asking you specifically for help even if youve done literally nothing to warrant it because well you just reached the part in the story where they ask for help now.

None of it works for me I guess. Maybe all the praise I hear for it all the time just bothers me because, to me, its a game full of problems but heaven forbid I say I have any problems with the game lest the community crucify me for my lack of taste, but also maybe its just...a flawed game worthy of criticism and critique. Maybe its okay to see the issues with it because its not perfect and we all want Fallout to be better because we know it can be. Because trust me, if Obsidian got to make another Fallout game, we would think it's not great. And that's because they basically already did that, they made The Outer Worlds and it was okay but a little underwhelming and no one really cares about it anymore because it was just...fine. And that's okay. I dunno, I just have a lot of thoughts on New Vegas because I like Fallout and I want to like New Vegas too but despite how many attempts I give it I just don't.

So yeah. I don't really like New Vegas. I want to, but I don't get what everybody else sees in New Vegas in its entirety. It just does nothing for me.

[oldworldwidgets]

26 & 27 for Lilah, 47 & 48 for teddy :]

Delilah

26. How do they come off to others? What first impression do they usually make? Scary and cold or warm and sexy/inviting, dependent on who you are and what she wants from you. She comes off as confident to any and all.

27. Do they prefer to travel alone or with company? Who have they traveled with if any? Current companion if any? Definitely alone, though she doesn’t do much traveling. Desdemona always pairs her with Deacon when she has to run for the Railroad, though she “resents” it (enemies to lovers, you know how it is). She prefers Drummer Boy’s company because he’s quiet, polite (ie just the right amount of snarky), and does what she says.

Teddy

47. What’s their favorite radio station and song? (post-apocalypse) He’s partial to Mojave Music Radio, but he listens to Radio New Vegas on occasion (he doesn’t like hearing the news bc hes usually on it lol). He named his pet fire gecko after Big Iron by Marty Robbins, but his favorite is either Love Me As Though There Was No Tomorrow by Nat King Cole or Heartaches by the Number by Guy Mitchell

48. What’s their favorite post-apocalyptic food? Are they a picky eater? Do they know how to cook? My beloved boy would eat dirt if he thought it would sustain him. He knows it wouldn’t, of course, but he’s absolutely not a picky eater. He likes bighorner and radstag (ik they’re not in nv shhhhh big boi like meat), and he loves agave. He’s also a great cook because he’s always had to be. Mf could whip up a pretty tasty dish over a campfire even without much to work with.

[kevin--of-desert-bluffs]

The thing that amused me about the 'do you like Kevin and Desert Bluffs' poll is that a lot of those who voted no did so purely because 'Kevin did bad things'. Like, yes? It was a major driving point of the show, still one of the more interesting arcs, but we know he's not actually evil and that he was changed by Strex and there's so much to his story despite how little we hear of it? How is that not fascinating to you? How do you not 'love to hate' him, at least, instead of just hating him?

Now, I'm not saying people aren't allowed to dislike Kevin/Desert Bluffs. I don't need people to like me, the things I like, the people I like, or the characters I like, but it's so funny in an interesting way to be reminded that some people really do just look at a villanous character of any kind of go 'yes, I am going to absolutely hate you for hurting {good guy} forever!' and it doesn't matter to them if the character is a sympathetic villain, or was being forced to do bad things, or even had a redemption arc. They just, hate that character, like actually hate them forever (and sometimes can't even handle that people like that character in any way*). There's only a handful of characters I don't like (and certainly don't 'hate') and it's entirely down to them just having personalities I don't like (Michelle Nyugen, baby, you're such a wildcard but you get under my skin) or just weren't written very well (in my opinion) like Sabina/the 'Niecelet' and the guy from the eGemony episodes. These are the only reasons I'd ever allow myself to write off a character as not 'neutrally liked'. I don't know, maybe I'm just kind of a weird person? I can't ever say I've hated a WTNV and even wished harm onto them or wished for them not to exist (well, not wished hard at least) because they're all so vibrant and have a niche they fit into, and the villanous characters are written so well and make everything so exciting! I mean, technically the FOW and Hiram are also villains and I couldn't imagine NV without them or hate them. I guess just the concept of 'villain = hate' is so foreign to me because I've always enjoyed a well written villain that I looked at these reasons and just went 'huh!' as if I didn't know how strict other peoples morals are. I guess that's on me lol {for legal reasons this post is light-hearted and slightly whimsical and almost flippant in tone and OP acknowledges the rights others have to disagree with his opinions} *Reminder that liking a villanous character is not the same as condoning their actions!

[datura-tea]

Another Arizonan dropping in - I lived most of my life in Flagstaff, and was actually super excited about hearing it mentioned in NV. I never really thought the snow would be too much of a bother to the legion - there's always at least one guy who lives in shorts year round. most years, theres enough space between storms for the previous one to melt down. Though, not this year lol. Also, some sport/olympic teams will train there due to high elevation, I can see the legion doing the same!

hello hello! really sorry that this is late, i only just saw this in my inbox :( that's super cool though!! thank you for this info!

[practicalmagicintuitions]

HC+NV relationship and career

DISCLAIMER: If you will send me an Anon, I will answer in the same tone as your ask, opinion is written.

All information and statements made in this reading or any other post of mine are all alleged until proven to be fact and for entertainment purposes & usage only. All information stated is based on my intuition and my tarot cards. Opinion only. The readings have no intention to cause any harm to the individuals, people featured in it.

DISCLAIMER II :  This reading contains very heavy topics, so be careful. I’ve decided to put it after the cut, the KEEP READING. Cards pulled today: 09/04/2023

After a meditation session, I felt I had to do this reading.

So I have barely thought about HC when The Fool flight out. Anyone who is here long enough knows that The Fool is HC so I saw this as a good sign that I am on track with this reading. But since there was no question attached to this card I put it back.

I felt I have to publish this ASAP, so if there are any errors, or typos etc, apologies.

HC relationship

4 of Wands, 9 of Swords.

This combination is anything but hopeful or joyous. The 4 of W card is a traditional wedding, celebration and marriage card and since this is about a relationship I think this is what the means for them. Engagement, wedding etc. However, the 9 of Sw is the nightmare card. On the card the man wakes up from a nightmare, his hands covering his face, maybe he is crying. 

The less negative option here is that HC is happy but has some serious fear that he will lose this current happiness.

The more negative option and this was my first thought when I saw this combo that he made up his mind and decided to marry NV, maybe we are past engagement already but he realised he made a mistake or he will after the wedding. We all have those jokes about runaway brides…well runaway groom is a thing too. 

And this combo is baffling because the 4ofW is one of the happiest, most stable card and the 9 of Sw is one of the darkest, dealing with depression and serious negative thoughts, and feelings. The imagery is the complete opposite. 4ofW’s background is bright, sunny yellow, the 9ofSw’s are black as night. For me, this is stuck with the idea of marriage and married life. A thing he must do, like a chore but he doesn’t want to do it, the whole idea makes him sweat from fear. 

So I wouldn’t be surprised if we would hear of an engagement from a reliable source aka on his IG or something. (and other things are coming in this reading, so keep reading)

HC’s career and finance

Ace of Pentacles rx, Knight of Pentacles, The Moon

Ace of P is lack or loss of money, poor investments. Stability is gone, someone is better at spending money than earning it. This also means not rushing into any investments. I could  not think of his Warhammer project… Knight of P is holding a pentacle in his hand, the image is awfully similar to the Ace of P. And it looks like he is handling the pentacle (the money) to The Moon card. KnofP means he has to accept and takes responsibility but with The Moon card and the Aof P rx I think he is delusional about his career and financial projects. This Knight is also kinda boring in terms of career and branding so it is not the best. 

The Moon is also a powerful imagination. So a less negative option is if he is hard-working, persistent, responsible and uses his ideas in a proper way he has a chance to turn his current financially negative situation into something better. But I won’t lie, I don’t really see this. 

When I was checking my notes on The Moon card I found that someone suggested that this card could mean a job as a sailor. I don’t know where this comes from but I remembered his new movie (with Guy Ritchie) something has to do with sailors based on a picture I saw. And this has given to me a different perspective. I think his hopes career-wise lie in this movie. Maybe he is involved financially in it. Maybe he has a contract that if the movie succeeds he will earn extra money, have a second part etc. 

I’ve decided to draw 2-2 cards for NV and HC as individuals in this current citation they are in. I suggest when you read this section keep in your mind the cards I got in the relationship section and try to interpret them together. 

NV

2 of cups rx, Ace of cups rx

I won’t sugarcoat it, I will tell you what was my thought immediately.

That she is pregnant and she is not happy. Here, I’ve said it…

Let’s start with the AofC rx and why this is a pregnancy card. If this card is upright, the water is flowing undisturbed. If it’s RX there is no flow, meaning no period meaning…pregnancy. 

2 of C rx is an imbalance, unhappy couple, separation, divorce etc. My feeling is that she was unhappy in this relationship anyway but the potential pregnancy doubled it. 2 of C rx could mean a broken engagement or an attraction for someone other than our partner. I feel she was not happy anyway with or without pregnancy. I think the overflowing emotions, the pink glass slowly wore off and what remained is the harsh truth, that his relationship is not so dream-like as she imagined. 

HC 

The Emperor, Queen of Swords rx

When I saw the QofSw rx my first thought was: this kid possibly won’t be born. This could mean abortion or miscarriage both aligned with the rx QofSw

The Emperor is the ultimate father card, the one who cares but gives structure, boundaries, discipline, and rules to follow. He is also a strong, authoritative figure, a patriarch. With the QofSw rx I think he is imbalanced at least his thoughts are. He is cold, maybe argumentative. Swords are thoughts and in rx those are cold-hearted, negative and mean. I feel he is ready to manipulate to get what he wants. I think he is sharped tongued and not the most gentle with NV. It also could mean he is questioning his own ability to be a father and reflects his relationship with his own father. 

So I have this feeling that neither of them wants this pregnancy or is just very confused about it because their relationship is not a good foundation for having a family. I think HC is traditional enough not to want a child without wedlock so if the pregnancy happens I think he would say he doesn’t want the kid at all or say let’s get married then. This depends on the woman who delivers the news to him. Since NV is his official gf I think the marriage is more likely.

I have decided to pull an outcome card for the whole reading and the Judgment felt off horizontally exactly on the Ace of Cups RX card. You already know I pay attention to those details. How and where a card lands. Horizontally means it’s between the rx and the upright, it means to struggle. For me, that means the future of this possible pregnancy is undecided yet. They (or she) struggle to see clearly. Maybe she wants to have a kid just not from him. It’s a point of no return either way and she has to be very careful what decision she makes because it will be final. The imagery of the card is an Angel blowing a horn and people are rising from their graves. This is Judgement Day. It’s pretty heavy considering the topic, right? 

This was a heavy reading I know but that is what I saw. 

Take care of yourself, be blessed. 

[moony-saraneth]

ten books to know me

thanks for the tag @pancakehouse this is such fun and extremely random. if you ever want to talk about any of these books, I am dying for you to dm me.

I'm so sorry, but I think I do have to start with the Harry Potter Series, author unknown guys I'm so sorry to do this, but let's be honest, this shit was life changing! I do not know how many times I've read these books, but baby MG needed them and they taught me about community and morality and igniting a true passion for reading. I've always been a big reader, but there was something about these books that sent me to orbit. and later, they taught me how to cyberbully terfs :)

Eloise by Kay Thompson my favorite favorite favorite book as a kid, something that I read a million times and would happily read again.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky this book changed the trajectory of my fiction interests (hello russian lit i love you) which leads really nicely into the second on the list

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov if we have ever talked books, I have definitely told you to read this. it is a delightful tale about the devil running amuck with his little demon friends. it features an amazing love story, reflections on religion and the bible, and a talking cat with a gun what more do you need?

Salad Days by Charles Romalotti has anyone else read this? I've read it a dozen times, and it makes me wanna be a kewl punk rocker, which I am decidedly not.

The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix I came to this series in 2020, and I wish I had it sooner. the absolutely perfect depiction of depression in a young girl would have (and still is) been so validating to teenage me. the way magic functions in this world is so cool, too.

The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd the book that taught me literature can be bizarre and silly and out there and how to look for meaning in the small places, down to the font in the book (iykyk)

Love is a Mixtape by Rob Sheffield I literally have a cassette tape tattoo because of this book. idk it's just great.

In Memoriam by Alice Winn WHAT????? SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS THIS BOOK IS MY ENTIRE PERSONALITY NOW. let's talk about it!!!

interested to hear from @wolfpants @nv-md @academicdisasterfic @famousinternetcat but of course no obligation!!

[actualsunflower]

Just found your blog, I love your art and I love Jay!! Tell me more about him? He and Nick seem so sweet 🥺🥺🥺

jfghsdjfgs thank you so much?!! Hmmmmm I have so much to say I don't even know where to start ok so to keep it short and simple (this won't be short or simple LOL) so Jay is actually a plant mutant vault experiment, and also the son of an artifact holder (Like Lorenzo, my NV oc Fyre is Jay's dad, and was Lorenzo's partner and an archeologist. When they found the Artifact Lorenzo wears, in my fic they actually found multiple pieces, and his dad has a choker that can't be removed now, but Jay was born long after he had the artifact) so he essentially has inherited alien-artifact powers, but not to a crazy extent. It's like all the basic alien-artifact serum powers in game, stronger, immune to most sickness, resilient, extra long life, that stuff. But in my fic each artifact had it's own general set of "powers" along with the "buffs". For example, Lorenzo has telekinesis in game, Jay's dad's choker had telepathy/empathy. Jay can only hear the thoughts of/communicate with animals though, because his inherited powers aren't as strong. He does have empathy with humans though, just not telepathy. Jay doesn't know of his dad or the actual reason for his weirdness until way late in his life, because his mom gave him up for adoption and he never met his birth parents (he doesn't care to either he loves his adoptive lesbian mothers too much to care) Prewar, Jay was a nurse practitioner (he wanted to be a forest ranger but one of his mom's was too scared of his really bad driving and didn't want him to get lost/drive off a road or something,) before the war, moved from southern Oregon to Massachusetts for schooling. He gets married, and later is drafted and about 4ish years before the start of the game he gets shot in the head (rip), lives, but is in a coma for 3 months. He stays at a hospital in Vegas for 2 months.. while he's there, Vault Tec scientist Cedric hears of a dude at the hospital whole lived being shot in the head and is set to be frozen in Vault 111 when the bombs drop. Cedric was one of the scientists going into Vault 22, and he had a personal project where he was trying to modify the DNA of humans with sunflower dna to see if they could process radiation as either a source of nourishment or simply be unaffected by it, as sunflowers do. Sunflowers irl are used to clean up nuclear fallout, which was the inspiration for this as well as the Solar Powered perk! So while Jay was in a coma, the guy spliced his exceedingly handsome dna with Sunflower dna, turning him into the world's first (and best) human flower. Then, Jay was taken back to Mass. and woke up about a month later. He doesn't know about that until long after the war Cedric is an important character later in my fic he's still alive and is a ghoul slowly going feral Being shot in the head does make Jay go mostly blind and deaf though, he can't move or see from his right eye at all and his hearing is almost completely gone on the same side, but it's better on the left. he usually closes his right eye to focus on stuff so it looks like he's winking all the time lol Then the war happens, Jay is frozen, in the vault, and then eventually is rescued from the ice prison by Codsworth, Preston and Struges. The experiment made him able to photosynthesize, he's immune to radiation, gets very tired at night/in the dark, smells like sunflowers and is sadly very susceptible to the cold I was going to write more about Nick and how amazing he is and how much they love each other but this is so long.

also I know this all probably sounds super insane. But I built everything off in game lore and perks so it seems crazy but I can explain in some way I feel like Charlie at the pepe silvia board though

[rollercoasterwords]

would so unrecommend one flew over the cookoo’s nest the book and the movie it is so not worth it. like it has an interesting premise and it does look into the word of mental hospitals esp after WWII where iirc it is set in however there is so much blatant ableism in the book

not in a “it is realistic for this time and i want to make this book realistic and have people whose been to terrible mental hospitals relate to it so i’m adding ableism” type of way but in the way that it clearly reflects the core values of the author and how he genuinely sees these types of people

the narrator in the book is so unimportant and despite being the main character does not actually get involved in the plot whatsoever,,, he’s not featured throughout the entirety of the book outside of the narration which is fine,,, except he’s credited as the main character/protagonist when it’s clearly not him

he’s so unimportant that he’s not even in the movie!! like they literally just cut him out. you don’t even know his name unless you read the description sooo lame

and besides all of this there is also racism and it’s not like in ur face every single page type of thing but there is only two “major” poc characters -> the mc iirc (who is not even named and literally unimportant) and this mostly NV indigenous guy who is called an indian and is named chief! the rest of the poc characters are the male nurses who aren’t major and are only called “the black boys”

the movie portrays this better than the books but there is blatant sexualization of women and reducing the female nurses to these hysterical almost abusive women who are mainly there as eye candy for the patients that are “able to think” <- how the book describes them in too many words

also the book is way longer than it needs to be, it’s about 300 pages? or more? and the plot could’ve easily been written in way less words. there is a lot of unnecessary information.

and like it was too the point my english teacher who assigned us that book even said we weren’t going to finish it and just eventually watch the movie but i did finish the book because i just HAD to force myself to finish

the ending was also just unsatisfying and basically just implied that NV disabled people should be “put out their misery” because they are clearly suffering and cannot exist in a worthwhile way

also it is SO unsurprising that the author was on drugs while writing it. it is so clearly obvious by the fact that it’s just a mess of words put together trying to form some semblance of a plot that isn’t just “disabled people should be in mental hospitals that are so terrible they all hate it and try to escape but they fail because disabled people are clearly not smart enough to do so and then if they’re NV and disabled they shouldn’t live.”

(also NV = non verbal)

damn ok!! have heard this title but never read the book or watched the movie so. interesting 2 hear the critique nodding my head eating my popcorn enjoying the rant etc

[roleplayfinder]

☢ crawl out through the Fallout

back to me... ☢

heyyyyyy fellas; since the show and the new FO4 PS5 upgrade, I am back on my Fallout bender hardcore and dusting off an old OC. :') though I've been primarily grinding 4 and watching the show, I'm also super open to 3 and NV verses! sooooo, for the important info;

I'm looking for M x M ships and primarily CC x OC against my BOS deserter Dude. I have a (WIP) bio available for him, but for the basics;

North is an asian-caucascian, kind of a black cat type of guy. he once fled the Capital Wasteland to escape his military family and the iron fist of BOS and now, well... wanders about, kind of living sort of a very druid-y lifestyle. a bit of a loner who pretends to care less than he does and prefers the company of local cats to people. although he's a loner he's also very keen and protective of the people he cares for, and getting on his good side is annoyingly easy (at least, if you ask him). leans dominant, switch with a preference for topping and domming even from the bottom, gay.

preferred romantic prospects: MacCready, Charon, Deacon, Raul, Arcade Gannon, Maximus, The Ghoul; very possibly others. super particular to ghouls, Railroaders + other BOS deserters. ESPECIALLY interested in writing him against Maximus ATM, the dynamic between an old BOS deserter x Maximus could just be!!! Chef's Kiss

about me: I'm 32, trans guy, residing in Europe. 15+ years of writing experience and I come equipped with samples. I prefer to write over discord, in our shared little haven of a server. open to tupperbox though I don't require it! I typically write multiple paragraphs; I don't think it's possible to even get a reply under two paragraphs minimum out of me. third person prose, past tense preferred. good grammar is a must, though I'm naturally forgiving of small mistakes. normally I reply daily, though depending on how life is (as you do) results may vary and I'll try to keep you updated. hoping for something similar! I'm super open to AUs, crossovers, different timelines, multiple threads and so on! my absolute favorite thing to write is romance with plot, with some smut tossed in. I prefer my porn with plot and prefer complex settings and relationship to sexuality rather than just mindless, emotionless humping. some pain, some fluff, some terrible angst and passionate love. a nice, healthy balance of things with love perservering through the challenges. like mentioned, I'm open to smut as well as dead dove topics; we can discuss triggers and limits in dms! not interested in toxic ships or looking to double.

finally, I hope you're a minimum of 25 years old. if you made it all the way to the bottom and remain interested, great! drop this post a like and I will surely find you, or feel free to DM me directly! no worries about committing before you even know how I operate; my blog has links that will tell you everything I know and, upon first message, I will drop all the important info your way anyway so you may simply ghost me if it's not your thing.

look forward to hearing from you!!

.