#Flavors of NCR

[carlocarrasco]

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 18

Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination? I recommend you check out the following topics and the related…

[roseghoul26]

Cooper Howard | The Ghoul x fem!Reader

Tags: Title From A Fall Out Boy, Fame < Infamy by Fall Out Boy, Takes Place Before The Destruction of NCR, Jealousy, Someone Else Flirts With You, Derogatory Language Towards Women, Bisexual The Ghoul, Because Walton Goggins Said So, Arguments, Confessions, First Kiss, Sub Ghoul, Poor Man Is Desperate, Teasing, Edging, Oral Sex, Blowjobs, Cowgirl Position, You Wear His Hat, Light Dom/Sub, Cuddles Synopsis: After two weeks out on the job, you and The Ghoul are spending the night at a bar in Shady Shands relaxing. The Ghoul has always flirted with you, but he never meant anything by it, never did anything more, leaving you frustrated and desperately wanting the man. So when you meet someone who acts on his words, you nearly agree to spend the night with him, hoping to fill your lonely nights with another person instead of thoughts of The Ghoul. But any prospect of enjoying his company is destroyed when The Ghoul beats the man for even looking in your direction. Rightfully angry, an argument between the two of you ensues, leading to things that you only imagined would happen in your thoughts during your lonely nights.  Author’s Note: alright so normally i’m like meh about my own smut writing but i will admit i am a bit proud of this one :D Taglist: @ancientbeing10 @alex-does-art-things

The bar you were currently sitting in was dingy, seedy, and smelled like old food and piss. You didn’t even remember the name of it, too excited for the prospect of a cold drink to care, and you let The Ghoul drag you in. You were sourly disappointed when the Mr. Handy behind the counter handed you a lukewarm beer, not even a single drop of condensation on the brown bottle. 

So here you were, leaning back against a moth-eaten and weathered couch tucked in the corner, nursing a drink that just made you thirstier. He sat next to you, his legs lounged up on the low table in front of you two like he hadn’t a care in the world. You supposed that being alive for over two hundred years would do that to someone. 

The Ghoul had his own drink, a glass of whiskey, more specifically. It used to have ice in it, about ten minutes ago, but it had quickly melted, no doubt watering down the drink. Still, he continued to sip at it, his eyes roaming the crowds in the bar. Your eyes were shut, head resting against the back of the couch, catching up on some much-needed rest.

The Ghoul and you had just come back from a two-week-long excursion of the Wasteland, hunting down a group of escaped convicts from the jail in Shady Sands. Most of the time had been spent walking, searching for clues in the ending sea of sand. It had almost been impossible, but you were able to pick up a trail. It had led you to a long-since abandoned town near the shoreline of California, and after an intense firefight the two of you managed to slay them all; there was no way in hell you were escorting alive prisoners all the way back to Filly. Carrying the heads would be easier. 

And it was, except for the plethora of animals and insects it attracted, but you’d take that over the prisoners fighting you the entire time. Eventually, you and The Ghoul had made it back to Shady Sands, sweaty and covered in blood and exhausted, and dumped the heads onto the desk of the deputy. You don’t think you’ve ever seen a man pale so fast. 

After The Ghoul received the cap reward, he paid for two rooms for the both of you and some sleazy hotel, and after getting washed up he had dragged you to the bar further down the street. You hadn’t had the energy to fight him, but you almost wish you had now. You were barely staying awake, head bobbing as you forced yourself to concentrate on the chatter of patrons to keep you conscious. 

Bringing the drink up to your lips, your muscles cried out in protest, but you just ignored them. The drink itself wasn’t terrible, the flavor was almost citrusy, but it felt like sandpaper as it went down your throat. Wincing, you cleared your throat, garnering the attention of the man beside you. “Surly it ain’t that bad,” he chuckled, and you cracked an eye open at him. 

You didn’t respond, just holding out the drink for him to grab. You were sure to hold it by the neck so he had plenty of space to grab it below, but you felt him grab it in a way that made his gloved finger bush over yours. You kept your face neutral, but you certainly felt your heart react, ticking up in rhythm.

After taking a sip, a similar grimace crossed his face. If he had brows, you’re sure they would be furrowed, his lips curled up in disgust. “Even I can tell that tastes like shit,” he shook his head, forcing the drink back into your hands. There was only an inch of liquid left at the bottom, and so choosing to ignore the fact that his lips had just been on the bottle, you finished it off. 

Setting it on the table, you wiped the back of your mouth with your hand. “It’s not good, sure, but it’s better than anythin’ else I’ve had in the past weeks. “So, I,” you stood with a slight groan, “am gonna get another one.”

You didn’t get too far attempting to step around the table, his legs blocking the easiest way out. A hand grabbed your wrist, tugging you back down on the couch, very nearly toppling into him. You tried to break free, but his grip was unyielding. Not enough to hurt, no, but you were stuck. “Now, what kinda man would I be if I made a pretty thing like you get their own drink?” His words made you still, and you were grateful for the shitty lighting that hid your blush. 

Little did you know that he could see you clearly, an amused smile now on his lips. “That’s what I thought,” he murmured, and you were now able to yank your hand away, glaring harshly at him. “Now,” he lightly patted your thigh, making you jump, “stay here, sweetheart. I’ll be back before you know it.”

You were unable to resist the urge to flip him off as he walked towards the bar, before flopping against the couch with a huff. It wasn’t that you hated that he flirted with you. No, it was quite the opposite. You loved the comments and light touches, making your heart race and less-than-decent thoughts pour into your brain. But from the time the two of you had started working together, so roughly a year ago, that’s all it had been. Soft touches, empty promises, saccharine words and petnames that made you melt, but nothing more. He would always stop before it became more, his touch receding like you’d burned him, a witty remark that quelled the fire he stoked, an I’m just teasin’ ya, sweetheart. God, you hated those words specifically. 

 You wanted more, but it terrified you because you couldn’t tell if he actually meant something by his flirtations, or if he just enjoyed tormenting you. Friends were a rarity in the Wastleland, and you were screwed if you somehow managed to ruin things between you two. You’d be out of income, protection, and a genuine friend who (sometimes) had your best interest in mind.

So you bit your tongue, pretending like his words weren’t making you dizzy, that you wanted nothing more than to feel his body beneath you, to be able to feel his lips against yours. So many late-night fantasies that left you even more lonely in the morning, your knuckles bruised from where you had to bite them to keep quiet. Even though it hurt, you kept your desires close to your heart, treasuring the small things he did give you. Which, you’d come to realize, made it worse, but he had made you addicted to it. 

You were so caught up in your thoughts that you didn’t even detect someone approaching. You expected to see the familiar face of The Ghoul beside you, but you were startled to find someone else. He was a ghoul, and even though it was hard to tell you could see that he was younger, late twenties, or early thirties if you had to guess. He wore a simple blue shirt and some jeans, way too neat and hole-less than what you were used to. 

He had a beer in hand, and he used it to gesture to the spot beside you. “This spot taken?” He was the usual rasp of a ghoul, albeit a bit higher pitched than The Ghoul’s. God, you couldn’t stop yourself from comparing him to the other man. 

Speaking of him, you were able to subtly glance behind him to the bar, and you found the other man in conversation with some others. It didn’t look to be a confrontation, luckily, and you heard laughter from the group. You focused your attention on the stranger in front of you, smiling warmly at him. “Not at all,” you patted the space beside you, only barely warm still. 

As he sat beside you, setting his drink on the table, you let yourself take him in. He wasn’t unattractive, far from it. There was almost a playfulness to his features, his fully black eyes glimmering with mirth. His arm went around the couch, and you could feel the heat from it. Even though he wasn’t the man that had plagued your thoughts, you couldn’t help the way your body reacted to the stranger, breathing growing short, your cheeks darkening slightly. You were only human after all. 

“Can’t say I’ve seen you around here before, gorgeous.” He flashed his teeth, and you were pleasantly surprised to find pretty much all of them intact, and still in good condition. Another rarity of the Wastleland. 

“I’m just passing through. Just finished up some… work.” You turned yourself to face him more.

“Work, you say? Whattya do?”

“Oh, just some odd jobs here and there. Whatever makes me money.”

He chucked at that. “Can’t blame you for that. I’m Daniel, by the way.” He held a hand out for you, ungloved and bare. You shook it, giving him your name, and he repeated it back to you. It wasn’t the drawl of The Ghoul’s voice, but it was pleasant enough. 

You expect him to drop your hand, but something about them must’ve intrigued him, and you watched, quite confused, as he filled it over. His eyes ran over your fingers, especially your forefinger and thumb, before flicking back up to yours. He still didn’t drop your hand. “You use a gun a lot?” He smirked when you nodded, bewildered. “I can tell by the callouses here,” he dragged a finger along them, tickling you slightly. 

“Well, look at you,” you laughed. “What’re you, a detective?”

“Nah, nothin’ like that. Just… observant.” He flashed you another smile, completely confident in his actions. “So, you’re a bounty hunter then?”

You didn’t bother to deny his claim, knowing the expression on your face just gave you away. Thank goodness you weren’t a con artist. “Is it gonna be a problem if I say yes?” You asked cautiously, slowly retracting your hand, ready for this interaction to go bad. You let your eyes flick to The Ghoul, locating him in case you need help. He was still at the bar, talking with someone new this time, and you felt a pang of something as the man he was talking to brushed his shoulder, nothing innocent in the touch. 

“Not a problem at all,” he answered completely honestly. “Nasty business, though.”

You glanced back at Daniel, relief flooding you. You did not have the energy for a barfight tonight. “You don’t know the half of it,” you groaned. “It’s ruthless, but I enjoy it, weirdly enough. And I’m pretty good at it.”

The hand resting on the back of the couch shifted, and you felt his fingers brush over your shoulders, making you shiver slightly. I like a girl that can handle herself,” he admitted. “Strong,”  he gently squeezed the muscles in your biceps. “Confident. Powerful.” His voice turned into a whisper at the end, mouth pressed close to your ear. 

You were quite flustered now. “Well, you’re in luck then.”

“It seems I am. So, what say you, bounty hunter? Do you wanna get out of here in a bit, have some fun tonight before you head off?”

It had been a long time since you’d had someone in your bed. Since about when you started working with The Ghoul, to be exact. You’re not sure why you hadn’t in so long; it wasn’t for a lack of options. You just… couldn’t bring yourself to take someone to bed that wasn’t The Ghoul. Still, you hated waking up alone each morning, loneliness clawing at your heart. And when you’d see men and women stumble from his room, it felt like someone shot you, making you irritable with him for days to come. Maybe for once you’d have someone leaving your room, your heart content, if for a moment. Maybe you could imagine that it wasn’t Daniel, picture the other man’s features instead.

Maybe he would feel the same way you felt as he watched Daniel sneak from your room. That idea made you grin, and any hesitance about taking him to bed vanished. 

You didn’t get a chance to respond, though, before two familiar gloved hands rested on Daniel’s shoulders, making the man tense. He was forcibly pulled back from you, the force of the pull nearly making him fall off the couch. He caught himself, and you watched as he stood and faced The Ghoul. 

The shade from his hat hid most of his face, but even then you could see the hatred in his eyes as he stared down Daniel. The Ghoul was a formidable opponent, but you have to give some credit to Daniel as he squared up against him. “The hell’s your problem, man?” If the way The Ghoul had yanked Daniel hadn’t gotten the attention of the crowd, Daniel’s words surely did. Behind them, you watched a small crowd begin to form, and you wished to just let the shadows consume you. 

“She’s… off-limits,” he titled his head to the side. The action would make any sane person falter, and you watched as Daniel’s posture went rigid, fear hitting him. 

Still, Daniel didn’t let up, male pride and all that. “Maybe you should let her know, then,” he gestured angrily to you, and you shrank lower into the seat. “By the way she was lettin’ me talk to her, I can imagine the whole town’s probably had their way-”

His words, which had been so sweet moments ago, were cut off when The Ghoul grabbed him by the throat, slamming him onto the table in front of you. You jumped off the couch as splinters of wood and glass sprayed everywhere, narrowly avoiding you. Mortified, you could do nothing but watch as The Ghoul began to beat the man, blood joining in with the debris. If Daniel had a nose left, you were sure it would be pulverized. 

The Ghoul’s lips had curled up into a snarl, his eyes blazing as he leered down at the man, stopping his assault. Daniel tried to pry the other man’s hand from his throat, a choked gasp leaving him, yet that seemed to just make his grip tighter. “Gimme one reason why I shouldn’t just kill ya?” He growled, shoving Daniel’s head into the ground. He could barely garble out a reply, the words indistinguishable. 

Glass shattered on the floor as The Ghoul tossed the man into another table, another piece of furniture destroyed. As he stalked towards the downed man, he rolled over onto his hands and knees, rubbing at his throat. He was coughing and sputtering, genuine fear in his eyes as he looked up at the bounty hunter. Crouching before him, The Ghoul regarded him slowly, nothing but disgust on his features. 

“Fuck… she all yours,” Daniel managed to pant out between coughs. “Just… God, don’t kill me!”

Satisfied with his answer, The Ghoul kicked him one last time for good measure, sending him sprawling back. It was dead silent in the bar, and patrons gawked and shuffled away as The Ghoul walked to where you had been standing, only to find you gone. 

You had slipped out when he had thrown him, unable to continue watching. The streets were busy, and you kept your head down as you wove between people, heading to the hotel as quickly as you could. Too many emotions overwhelmed you, and you took a deep breath and began to collect your thoughts. 

First, you were embarrassed. 

You were embarrassed that they had been fighting over you. When you weren’t on a job, you hated creating conflict, not wanting to be the center of attention. You had plenty of that doing bounty hunting. This was supposed to be a night where you relaxed, to forget all about the horrors of the world you lived in, with or without The Ghoul, but that plan was tossed aside. 

Secondly, you were angry. 

Fuming would be a better word for it, and if you looked hard enough you could probably see the steam pouring from your ears. You were pissed that he had ruined a possibly enjoyable night with another person, ending your celibate streak. You were pissed that he felt like he could just take control of your choices like that. And you were pissed that you never got that next drink, although that was the least of your concerns at this point. 

Finally, you were confused.

Why had he reacted the way he did? It wasn’t like there was anything between you two, as much as it pained you to come to terms with it. Why did he care who you took to bed? He had taken plenty of people to bed during the time you’d worked together, and you’d never made a complaint about it. Why were you weirdly attracted to his display of… jealousy? Was it jealousy? You couldn’t even imagine what that could mean if it was. 

The sound of your name being shouted behind you forcefully tore you from your thoughts. You immediately recognized it, and you refrained from looking over at him. Ducking your head, you hoped that you blended in well with the others on the street, and you continued to briskly walk towards the hotel. 

You heard your name being called again, this time closer, and so you picked up the pace, nearly jogging at this point. You heard the sound of people crying out in alarm, and you knew that he was getting closer to you, barreling through the crowds without any thought. 

You could see the neon sign of the hotel, now lit, and you breathed out a sigh of relief. That feeling was short-lived, panic making your stomach drop when you heard The Ghoul right behind you. “Don’t make me fuckin’ tackle ya,” you heard him threaten. For a moment, you debated just ignoring him, but you knew that he didn’t make empty threats. Besides, the ground was dusty, and you’d rather not spend the rest of the night covered in sand.

Groaning, you finally halted, turning to face him with a scowl. You didn’t respond, just raising a brow and gesturing for him to ‘get on with it’. Your jaw was clenched so hard, and you could feel the headache that threatened to torment you later because of it. 

“The fuck was that about?” 

God, was he joking with you? “I should be the one asking you that! In what world was that a rational response?”

People stared as they passed, but you both just ignored them. “He was touchin’ ya.”

“And did I look even remotely disinterested? Was there any part of my body language that read that I was even the tiniest bit uncomfortable?” You laughed bitterly at the lack of response from him; you both knew what the answer was. “Why the hell do you even care if he was touching me or not?”

He was silent again, and you just scoffed, taking a few steps back. “Whatever,” you sighed in defeat, before turning and walking the remaining way to the hotel. You were almost disappointed when you didn’t hear him following behind you. 

The person behind the desk recognized you, and you were able to quickly make your way up to the second floor where your room was. You made sure to not let your eyes wander to the door where he was staying that night, a few feet down from yours on the other side of the hallway. 

When you were finally alone in your room, you resisted the urge to just scream angrily. Instead, you kicked off your shoes, which hit the walls with a loud noise, and you flopped onto your bed. Laying on your back with your arms spread, you stared at the surprisingly intact ceiling, frustrated tears stinging your eyes. Disagreements always upset you, but there was something about this one that made you feel ill, a sense of dread that you’d never felt before filled your body. 

You’re not sure how long you just lay there, calming your racing heart and your heightened emotions. It must’ve been a while, because you dozed off, the exhaustion in your body now taking control.

A light knock at the door woke you, and for a second you thought you had just imagined it. When it came again, more forceful, you sighed, knowing exactly who was on the other side of the door. Like before, you debated just ignoring him, but you didn’t want to be charged for the destruction of more property. “What?” You snapped out, still not in the mood to talk to him yet. 

“We need to talk.” The Ghoul responded, sounding less irritated than you. 

“Yeah, no shit.” I gave you plenty of time to explain yourself downstairs. 

You could hear him sigh through the thin wood door. “Sweetheart.” You hated that he knew how to get you to do whatever you wanted. You couldn’t even stop yourself as you sat up and made your way to the door. With no hesitation you opened it, his endearment almost putting you under a spell.

It was dissipated when you saw him, those emotions flooding your mind instead. The door was only open a crack, your body filling it as you glared at the other man. “Yes?

“Let me talk to ya,” he sighed in frustration. 

“You are.” You couldn’t care less that you were being stubborn and difficult. He deserved it.

His jaw clenched. “Inside.”

You didn’t respond, mulling over his words as you stared at him, fire never once leaving your eyes. Finally, you relented, against your better judgment. Stepping back, you left the door open, leaning up against one of the dressers with your arms crossed. You watched as he entered, the door clicking shut in finality, looking like he expected to be attacked by you at any second. You were almost proud to instill that level of fear in him.

He kept a respectful distance away from you, loitering near the foot of the bed. “Look, I’m… sorry.” He said the words like they were brand new. 

He left it at that, and you scoffed. You knew that you should just accept his apology and move on. You knew that you shouldn’t instigate something, to purposely start an argument with your traveling partner. But you were still too damn angry to care. You needed him to know what you felt.

“‘Sorry’? I get nothing more than that?”

“What’dya want from me then, sweetheart?” He growled, your anger rubbing off on him. “You want me to get down on my fuckin’ knees, plead for your forgiveness? You want me to promise I ain’t ever gonna do it again, even though it’ll be a damn lie? What the fuck do you want from me?” He spat the last sentence out, emphasizing each word.

The image of him on his knees before you flashed in your mind, and you had to admit it did seem appealing. But not now. 

He was getting closer to you now. Slow, methodical steps, but he was closer, and continuing. “I want an explanation.”

You might’ve as well just slapped him, the way he halted in his tracks, stunned. Words seemed to evade him, and the anger that had just been rolling off him in waves subsided, still there yet not as strong. It should’ve had the opposite effect, but your rage was growing, threatening to burst. “Oh, so now you can’t talk? It’s a simple request!”

“It’s really fuckin’ not.”

“Why?” Silence. “You’ve got two options here. You either suck it up and tell me, or you get the hell out of here. It’s your choice.”

You could tell that he hated the choice you gave him, but you didn’t care. You expected to watch him turn and storm out the door, leaving your relationship in tatters on the dirty hotel floor. So you were surprised when he took a deep breath and remained where he was. “I hated that he was touchin’ you."

“So you were jealous?” You ignored the way you were elated when he nodded, albeit with some hesitancy. The anger subsided, and you felt pure want take its place. “You wanted to be him,” you whispered, taking a step towards him. Your confidence grew at how hungrily he watched you. 

“You wanted to be the one whispering those words, to be running their fingers on my body.” Another step. “You wanted to be the one to take me to bed, to feel me, to fuck me.” You were finally close enough to him that you could touch him if you wish, but you kept your hands by your sides.

The Ghoul groaned at your words, and you couldn’t help the small smirk on your face at his reaction. “Do you want that?” You asked, needed to hear confirmation. 

It came almost immediately. “Fuck, yes.” His own hands reached out to touch you, but you swatted them away. That snapped him out of his semi-trance, his eyes flashing with confusion.

“You don’t get to touch me yet.”

 Something new flashed in his eyes instead, something you couldn’t quite name. “Sweetheart-”

“Sit down.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but you just shot him a look, silencing him instantly. The bed groaned as he sat on the edge of it, eyes never leaving yours. It made him stand a head lower than you now, and he had to look up to continue holding your gaze. “How does it feel? To watch someone else get the things you want?”

You didn’t give him a chance to respond. “It hurts, doesn’t it? It feels like someone’s stabbed you in the heart, no? So,” you moved between his legs, “how do you think I felt? After you flirt with me, then take someone else to bed. After you touch me, toy with me, but then act like my body disgusts you, and you recoil away. After you say those things that leave me shaking and wanting, but then never act of them.” 

Your hands grabbed the lapels of his jacket, and you brought your face close to his. “I’ve seen you take countless lovers to bed during the time we’ve worked together, and I never said a peep. Even though it fucking killed me to see. That man in the bar, the one you beat senseless? That was gonna be the first person that’d occupied my bed in almost a year. And no, I didn’t really want him that badly, but maybe I could finally go to bed for one night and not have my thoughts be entirely of you.”

Shoving his back lightly, you stumbled back a few steps, the confession that had just spilled from your lips making you breathless. “I have to know; did you mean it? All the flirting, the touches, everything. Did you mean it?”

For once, The Ghoul kept any remarks to himself, and sheer honesty was written across his face. There before you, you saw a vulnerable man, gazing up at you like you hung the stars. “I did. I do.”

“Do you want me?” Cautiously, you began to move back towards him.

“Every fuckin’ minute.”

When you were back between his legs, you let your hands rest on the lapels, no longer strangling the poor material. “Do you want me to kiss you?”

A hopeful smile graced his lips, his eyes flicking down to your lips which hovered above him. After nodding lightly, you let yourself move closer until your lips just brushed over his, barely making contact. “A shame, then.” You pulled away before they could fully connect, a victorious smile on your face as you looked down at the confused man.

“Oh, you thought you’d be getting what you wanted tonight? You ran your hands up, resting on the sides of his neck now. You could feel his heart hammering. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re not. No, tonight you’re gonna feel as desperate as I’ve felt for the past year. And,” you made sure that he was especially paying attention to your words now, “if you think that at any point tonight you’re gonna have control, you’re wrong. Any objections?”

His eyes had blown out during your little speech, small pants leaving his lips as he stared up at you. He was already so eager, and you’d barely done anything yet. Even still, you saw a flicker of uncertainty, and you realized he’d probably never given up control in the bedroom. You let the facade drop for a moment. “I won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. Not ever. You just gotta let me know, and we’ll stop immediately.”

Any uncertainty left him, and something warmed in your chest at the fact that he trusted you enough to do something like this. “You ready?”

He nodded, and you shook your head. “I need to hear you say it, baby.”

You watched his throat bob as he swallowed, not expecting the name from you. “I’m ready.”

“Good.” You rewarded him with a soft kiss on the cheek before grabbing his hat off his head. “Go get comfortable on the bed.” 

Stepping away from him, you set his hat on the nightstand as he got situated, his now bare head resting on the pillows. Making sure he had returned his attention to you, you heard his gasp when you grabbed the hem of your shirt, turning into an appreciative groan when you tore it off your head. You wore a simple black bra beneath, but you might as well have been wearing the most beautiful piece of lingerie with the way his eyes widened, a smile on his face again. You made quick work of your jeans, and you refrained from shivering as the air hit your now-exposed skin, clad in only your undergarments. But how could you be cold when he was looking at you with such heat in his eyes?

The bed creaked again when you got on it, and you adjusted until you straddled his abdomen. His clothing dug into your skin, but you could hardly feel it. Planting your hands on his chest, you leaned forward until your face was only an inch from his. He watched you with hooded eyes, which fluttered close when your lips pressed against his jaw, moving up until you stopped right below his ear. 

Gloved hands rested on your bare waist, and as much as you enjoyed feeling his hands on your body, you couldn’t let up that easily. “Did I say you could touch me yet?” You whispered, and you felt him slowly rescind his touch, now resting on the bedsheets beside him. “Good job,” you praised, and you felt him shudder slightly. Interesting. “If you behave, I might just let you touch me,” you offered, like dangling a piece of food in front of a starving animal. 

“Yeah?” 

You just smiled against his skin. 

Continuing your exploration, you moved inward, barely feeling the ridges of the indents of his skin. Moving up his cheek, to across where his nose would be, then to the other cheek, you littered his face with kisses, purposely avoiding his lips. His eyes continued to flutter open and close, and at this proximity, you were able to see short, brown eyelashes. How… peculiar. And cute. 

You didn’t make any comment on them, choosing to move back down again. But you went past his jaw this time, down to his neck, and you felt his head roll back to allow you more room. You felt him jump when you sunk your teeth into the skin before moaning beautifully, and you ran over the hurt with your tongue. Out of the corner of your eye, you watched as his hands instinctively went up to touch you, then resting back down on the bed, grabbing at the bedsheets instead. 

There wasn’t much exposed skin left when you reached where his neck and shoulders met, his shirt now covering it. Leaning back, you gestured for him to sit up, helping ease the jacket off his shoulders when he did. He pulled his arms out, and it pooled around his waist, still sitting on most of it. You didn’t care, as long as you could get his get his shirt off.

You hesitated a second before beginning to fiddle with the buttons, glancing up into his eyes. “Alright?” 

“You don’t gotta keep askin’, sweetheart,” he responded breathlessly. “I’ll let you know if I don’t want somethin’.”

You grinned at him, before quickly getting to work and taking off his button-up shirt. With every inch of his body that was revealed to you, you felt your heart accelerate, excitement bubbling in you. He had just gotten his arms out of the garment and had tossed it to the floor before you were forcing him back down on the bed with hands on his chest, loving how easily he complied. 

You let your fingers drag down the front of his chest, nails scratching lightly. Even with the thick scarring covering his body, he was still able to feel it, and he shivered. Your breath caught when you finally looked for yourself, instead of letting your touch see for you. To say he was gorgeous would be an understatement. All lean muscle, you could feel them flex and jump when you touched him, and for a moment you remembered how strong this man was. And here he was, submitting to your every request. You really did try to not let it go to your head. 

“You’re so beautiful, Cooper.” You hadn’t even realized you’d let his real name slip until he went deathly still beneath you. Glancing up at him, you couldn’t read the expression on his face, and you thought you went too far. Still, he had yet to say anything, and so you kept your mouth shut. You trusted that he would stop you.

Continuing to touch him, you barely heard the soft plea that he uttered. “Say it again.” 

The expression clicked now, and you smiled gently at him. You felt truly happy, knowing there was another thing he trusted you with. “Cooper,” you sighed, and you were startled when you felt his hands grasp at you, desperately trying to pull you towards him. You braced on his chest, stopping him, and you glanced at where his hands now rested until he tore them away. You made a disapproving noise as you leaned back down, teasing him by brushing your lips against his. But with the way you were sitting and the way you pressed down on his chest, he couldn’t meet you, and you heard him make a frustrated noise.

“Do I gotta tie your hands up, Cooper?” You semi-joked, gauging his reaction. When his eyes somehow darkened even more, you knew he was down. 

You both knew that he could easily “break free” from the restraints you’d placed on him; he had ghoul strength, and you were just a human. But he continued to play into your game, and you were grateful for it. You were having too much fun. 

“If ya keep sayin’ my name like that, then ya might have to.” 

“Oh, you’re too good to me, baby,” you praised, hands retracting so you could reach behind you. You smirked at his reaction when you tugged at his belt, being sure to purposely graze over the evident strain in his pants. You gave him the most innocent look you could when he glared at you, returning your touch to his belt. It took a bit of maneuvering, and with some help from him raising his hips, you were able to free it.

The headboard was made from metal bars, so you were easily able to secure his wrists to it. The restraint wasn’t tight, tight enough to keep him in place, but if he severely needed to leave then he could easily escape. When you sat back, you admired the sight before you. Your wildest dreams were playing out right in front of you, and you couldn’t be more excited.t

Starting at the base of his throat, you began to move down his body, pressing your lips against the skin as you descended. When you reached his nipples, you let your tongue flick over it, eliciting a whine from him. Your fingers toyed with the other one, making him squirm. You couldn’t deny that the noises he was making were making you dizzy, a familiar tension building in you. But you kept an amused and unaffected expression on your face, not wanting to break yet. 

You didn’t stay there for long, continuing your descent downwards. You scratched lightly over his abs when you reached them, and you figured goosebumps would be covering his body by now.

 “I could just leave you like this, you know,” you commented as you moved backward. “Hands bound, aching, wanting.” Your hands trailed down his thighs. 

“You wouldn’t,” he groaned, and you just flashed a smile at him.

“Oh, but I could.” You now rested just below his thighs, your own straddling them. “I could just sit here and make you watch as I touch myself, make myself cum, screaming your name.” You heard the belt rattle against the bedframe when you let one of your hands trail down your stomach, a gasp leaving you when you reached the band of your underwear. “Then leave you alone with just your thoughts, imagining all the things you could’ve done to me. Just how I spent every night this past year. Revenge is a bitch, isn’t it?”

“Sweetheart, please.” You don’t think you’ve ever heard something so wonderful, arousal spiking in your body. His eyes bore into you as you reached behind you, unclasping your bra. You let it slide off your body before setting it gently on the floor. Squeezing your breasts in your hands, you let your head roll back, his name tumbling from you. You debated moaning the other man’s name, the one in the bar, but you couldn’t remember it. Besides, you were torturing the man enough, and you assumed that he would tear through his bindings if you did. 

Eventually, you took pity on him, and your desire was starting to get in the way of your need to draw this out. He jumped when you rested your hands on his thighs, expecting you to do what you said, and you could feel the relief it brought him.

It didn’t take long for you to unbutton his pants, even less to unzip them. You tugged both them and his boxers down enough to free him. He was already rock hard, almost painfully so, and a strangled groan left him. The noise shot straight to your core, and you sighed in appreciation at him. He was long, not overwhelmingly so, but you knew you’d be feeling him for days to come. 

Keeping your eyes on him, you leaned forward and lapped at the tip, licking the bead of moisture there. You watched as he tried to move to touch you, and you grinned at him when the restraint stopped him. You could see the plea in his eyes, and you just shook your head at him. Not yet. 

Another run of your tongue made him curse, and you cooed at him. “Want me to take care of this, baby?”

“Please,” he gasped out.

“Well, when you ask that nicely.”

He didn’t get a chance to prepare before you were running your tongue along his entire length, base to tip, before taking as much of him as you could in your mouth. You took what you couldn’t fit in your hand, moving in tandem with your mouth as you sucked him. It was nearly unintelligible, but you heard your name being moaned by him. 

Bobbing your head up and down, you were unrelenting in the pleasure you were giving him, and you could feel his hips begin to buck and twist, and you moved your mouth off him before he could hit the back of your throat. 

Glancing up at him, he looked absolutely wrecked, and the fact made you smile cruelly. You could tell that he was close, by the way he pulsed and throbbed in your hand as you continued to stroke him. Your name was just streaming from him freely, straining and pressing against the belt. The bedpost made an awful noise, but it was covered by his noises. “You close, Cooper?”

His head had been thrown back against the pillows as pleasure coursed through him, but you watched as he flicked his gaze down to you. “Fuck, sweetheart, yes.” You hadn’t meant to, but you let it slip through in your expression what you were planning, and dread washed over his face. He groaned you name, almost in warning, but you ignored him. 

To his very evident displeasure, you let go of him, his incoming release ebbing away as you sat up. A string of curses left him, and a drop of sweat rolled down his face. His eyes were blazing with lust and anger, but they melted a bit when regarding you. At least the anger did. The lust seemed to just flare up, especially when he as you stood to slip off your underwear. “You only get to cum when I do, got it?”

He was able to see the evidence of your arousal on them as you discarded them, and even in the position he was in a cocky smile grew on his face. “Perfectly.” That cocky smile was wiped off when he saw you reach for his hat, putting it on your head as you climbed back onto the bed. As you straddled his lap, realization flashed on his features. “Are you tryin’ to fuckin’ kill me?” He wheezed, a mix of laughter and a groan. 

“I’m surprised I haven’t already,” you teased back, your hands bracing on his chest. Just like you thought, his heart pounded against your fingertips. Rocking your hips slowly, you began to rut against him, coating him in your arousal. 

You heard the tell-tale clink of his belt rattling against the bedframe. “Can I touch ya now, sweetheart?” He gasped out.

You seriously considered it for a moment, but you decided against it. “When you make me cum, you can. But if you finish before me…” You let the words trail off, the threat evident enough.

He looked like he wanted to argue, but he held his tongue, knowing that it would get him further away from what he wanted. You grinned at his compliance, rewarding him by getting on your knees and lining him up with your entrance. Sinking onto him, a gasp tore from you as he pressed into you. It had been so long since you’d been stretched like this, and it felt even better than you remembered. Or maybe it was because it was with him. 

His grip was vice-like against the metal bars as you slowly sank down on his cock, almost painful-sounding grunts and moans leaving him. It was a slow process, but eventually, you felt your hips go flush with his. “Oh, Cooper, baby,” you groaned, and you felt him twitch inside of you.

“You… you can’t say shit like that and then expect me to last,” he whined, and you laughed gently. 

“You need a moment?” You refrained from adding ‘baby’ to the end, knowing he was about to snap. 

A shaky exhale left him. “Just… just a moment.”

You hummed in response, letting yourself sit there for a moment. It felt like torture, wanting nothing more than to ride him, but you held back. You tried to not move too much, either, and you eventually felt his breathing calm some. It was still sporadic, but not as much as before. 

“Go ‘head now.” You didn’t have to be told twice. 

Starting with a slow roll of your hips, you began to move up and down. One hand was planted on his chest, the other on his hat to keep in on your head as it rolled back. It only took a few moments for you to fall into a rhythm, the slow movements gradually building to something faster. 

“Cooper, fuck, you feel so good,” you moaned, and you heard him make some noise in agreeance. Another roll of your hips made you see stars, and you could feel that familiar tension begin to build, slowly but surely. 

“What a sight you are,” he murmured between breaths, and you looked down to see him staring at you, almost mesmerized. “Wearin’ my hat while ya fuck yourself on my cock. Fuck, a man could die happy like this.”

You tried to grin down at him, but the pleasure became too much as you continued to rock, and you felt yourself falter. Instead, you just moaned out fragments of his name. He was all you could feel, pressing into spots that made you cry out, hitting them with each roll. “Baby.”

God, you loved the way he reacted whenever you uttered that name. His hips jumped, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to care. The hand planted on his chest dug into the toughened skin, nails no doubt leaving indents, but he didn’t seem to mind. Even though your legs were beginning to shake, you didn’t let up, moving up and down, your breathing becoming labored. You could feel yourself getting closer; you just needed a little more.

After angling your body to keep it steady, you let go of his hat, moving your hands to between your legs. It made you groan, feeling the way his cock moved in and out of you as you began to rub at your clit. The extra stimulation made you cry his name out loudly, and you knew there would be complaints from the other patrons of the hotel.

Your walls tightened around him, making him bite down harshly on his bottom lip to keep from cumming right there. His eyes flicked downward, his mouth going slack as he watched you touch yourself. He forced himself to look away, blown-out eyes staring into yours. You could see the tendons in his neck strain as he concentrated on controlling his release. 

The extra pleasure was what you needed, and you could feel your impending release inch closer. “You close, sweetheart?” His voice was hoarse, and you nodded furiously. “You gonna cum on my cock? Fuck, yeah you are.”

“Cooper, you can…” Your words were cut off with a whine. 

He seemed to get what you were saying, and he groaned in relief. “Can I finish in ya, sweetheart? Fill up that perfect cunt?”

“Please.” For the first time during the night, you pleaded for something. You were on the verge of release, your movements growing frantic as you chased your release.

“C’mon, sweetheart, lemme feel ya.” 

As you cried out his name again, you came, your body going slack as pleasure made you boneless. It wasn’t your first orgasm in a year, far from it, but it felt so much better when it came from another person. Your nerves hummed and you felt weightless, soft whines and pants leaving you. 

You barely managed to catch yourself before you fell on top of him, and the clench of you around him was all he needed for his own release, having staved it off for a long time now. He was even louder than you were, your name coming out like a sharp bark as he came, and you could feel his release seep into you, coating you. 

The room felt awfully quiet now, even though it was filled with the sound of both of you catching your breaths. With unstable legs, you lifted yourself up and off of him, and you watched as his spend dripped out of you and onto his abdomen. Groans both left you at this sight. 

You had been so caught up in the sight that it nearly startled you when you heard the clinking noise again. Glancing up at him, he gave you an expectant look, an almost teasing smirk on his face as he rattled the belt again. “You gonna release me? I’ve been good.” You scoffed at the way he pouted at you.

“You have been,” you agreed. “My good boy,” you added as you reached for the belt. His eyes widened, sucking in a gasp, and if could, he would be blushing. 

You just smirked down at him as you released him, but that victory was short-lived when you felt his hands immediately shoot to your body. He practically yanked you down to his mouth, desperately claiming your lips in a messy kiss. His hands roamed over every part of your body, the rough skin making you whine in pleasure, and you could feel his responding smile. 

As much as you were loving his attention, you had to admit you were incredibly exhausted, especially now. A yawn tore through you, interrupting the kiss, and you pulled back. “Am I borin’ you, sweetheart?” He asked, amused.

“You could never. But I don’t think I can do all that again,” you laughed breathlessly. 

“There’s always tomorrow,” he smirked. “And the next day. And the next.”

You slapped lightly at his chest, chuckling. “Eager, are we?”

“Desperately,” he growled lightly before pulling you back to his lips. This kiss was gentler, although no less passionate. He laughed boisterously when you pulled away to yawn again, fingers halting their exploration. 

When you tried to pull away, though, he didn’t let go, keeping your body close. “Baby, I need to get us cleaned up,” you laughed, trying and failing to escape his hold. “I’m not going to bed covered in…” You trailed off, too embarrassed to finish the sentence. You tried to wiggle free, and you sighed in defeat when he didn’t let go. 

“You’re blushin’,” he teased, making your ears burn more. “You were spewin’ those filthy things earlier without a second thought, but now you’re actin’ all shy?”

“I hate you,” you grumbled.

“Sure ya do, sweetheart,” he chuckled. “How ‘bout this? You finish what you were ‘bout to say, and I’ll let ya go. For a minute or two, that is.”

You sighed again. “I was saying that I’m not going to bed covered in your cum,” you said with major hesitancy, your ears on fire. 

“Why not?”

You slapped his chest again. “I did what you asked. Let me go, Cooper.”

He debated it for a moment. “Fine,” you felt his hand let up its hold, “but if you ain’t back in a minute, I’m draggin’ ya back to the bed.”

Now on a timer, you quickly got off his lap, not before pressing one last kiss to his cheek. On shaky legs, you made your way to the bathroom, flipping him off when he laughed at your inability to walk in a straight line. After using the bathroom, you used one of the provided washrags, dampening it before running it between your legs, and cleaning you up. Grabbing a new one, you dampened it as well before heading back to the bathroom.

He was now sitting on the edge of the bed, the rest of his clothing discarded on the floor, and he looked up when he saw you enter. “Thought I was ‘bout to drag you back,” he commented as you approached him, grinning when he saw your unabashed staring. “Like what ya see?”

You wiped that proud expression off when the cold washcloth made contact with his skin, and you quickly wiped him down. He hissed when it ran over his cock, and you muttered a small apology. You tried to move back to the bathroom to discard the cloth, but you felt him wrap an arm around your waist, pulling you back towards him. You felt him kiss the back of your neck, and you felt him yank the cloth from your hand, tossing it vaguely in the direction of the bathroom. 

He pulled you back onto the bed, adjusting the covers so that they covered you both, the one arm never leaving your waist, his face burrowed into your neck. Out of all the things you expected him to be, a cuddler was not one of them. But you certainly weren’t complaining.

Because of the heat of him behind you, and the exertion of the day's activities, you felt exhaustion take over you again, and your eyes fluttered close. “You still owe me anther drink,” you heard yourself mutter. 

The rumble of his chest from his laughter was the last thing you remembered before you fell asleep. 

Author’s Note: i stole the hat thing from one of my other fics, but i love it so much that i needed to use it again. also might write a continuation/pt.2 to this, idk yet.

also thank you @kinatanhi yet again for the comment that helped inspire all this <3

[punkitt-is-here]

I feel like the most damning thing to me about Bethesda’s fallout, something that no fun quests or companions could ever fix, is it takes a game series about abiding by your own moral compass and influencing the world around you and instead locks you between the two choices “hey do you want to uphold American status quo (good) or do you want to nuke everything (bad)” it’s like if the NCR and Caesar’s Legion were the only choices and you had zero self determination to forge a different path for yourself.

I think the coolest thing about NV that made me respect it the most is the addition of two alternate routes on top of the main conflicting factions. There are two flavors of independent, and one of them involves giving a libertarian VTuber ultimate power and the other involves you getting dirty and sweaty trying to rid the entire greater Mojave of the influence of the other 3. The fact that they didn't have just two picks and that all four of those routes have pretty good reasoning behind all of them (with the exception of Caesar's Legion, but it offers compelling reasons if you're a villain) already puts it leagues ahead of other games in it's genre

[stoat-party]

Evaluating Which Details Pose Continuity Issues (yeah, it’s long, sorry)

I’m being relentlessly annoyed by (some) people mad at the show and by (some) people mad at people mad at the show, so let’s clear up where the issues are and aren’t so we’re not just talking over each other here.

Destroying the Strip

Obviously not a retcon. Retcons refer to previously-established events. Some people might have their own problems with it (I definitely saw it cited as evidence of a coordinated attack on New Vegas), but it presents no continuity problems.

2. What exactly is a vial?

I don’t think this changed ghoul lore. They can still go 200+ years without turning, or they can start turning as soon as they get ghoulified. There’s just a new plot element where they can stave off the effects of going feral for awhile if they take this mysterious drug - without the drug, the rules are still the same. The story was NOT clear on this, and it confused me, but if ghouls need drugs to stay sane, Oswald, Dean, Billy, etc. could not exist even if there’s a massive industry in vials of goop that’s never been mentioned before.

3. It took Vault-Tec decades to build all the vaults.

This is something I worried about because there couldn’t have been much time between the boardroom scene and the bombs falling (Janey doesn't age). But I think it makes sense if you assume the vaults were already built and they filled them with experiments afterward. It does leave the problem that some vaults were unfinished but Vault-Tec also dropped the bombs - why would they do that before finishing their vaults? It’s possible that they planned to drop them but got beat to the punch, or any number of other explanations. Clear retcon but not a huge plot hole.

4. House is worse than Caesar all of a sudden?

This one’s a private gripe of mine because House and Sinclair were not originally written to be Actual Sadists Who Hate Humanity. There’s also House’s mastermind prepper attitude toward the apocalypse, which doesn’t indicate that he had a hand in orchestrating it. While the change doesn’t conflict with the text as far as I know, it really changes the flavor of the game, but not as much as:

5. The Fall of Shady Sands

Let’s say that this happened after the first battle of Hoover Dam, so no continuity issues with their ability to win that. (That’s probably why they set it in 2277, so the NCR would have almost four years to recover before NV. As if Caesar wouldn’t have taken half of their land by then, even with his armies crushed, but ok fine he’s going through a divorce, he’s busy right now.)

But are you telling me that a country can lose a massive city containing much of its infrastructure, most of its central government, and ~5% of its population and still be trying to manifest destiny four years later with no mention of it?

Losing the Divide as a travel route almost crippled the NCR in the Mojave for awhile. Now, not only have they lost the Divide and their capital city, but one of their other biggest cities, the Boneyard, is abandoned and inhabited by an apparently-unaffiliated town. (Yeah, Los Angeles is big, but we don’t see any NCR or Followers despite three main characters traveling through it.) Even if there were still people there during New Vegas, how is the NCR still conducting a campaign in the east?

Also, who is Muldover and what’s her position? Why does she have raiders at her disposal? Is that really supposed to be what remains of the government? I get that some of this will be resolved later, but short of complete societal collapse, there’s no explanation.

We don’t see any of this in New Vegas. The president (who was in office in 2277) is still alive. No one mentions losing family in the explosion. Caesar, Ulysses, and House, along with the many other characters who complain about the NCR’s weakness and instability, don’t bring it up. People even mention the politicians in Shady Sands specifically. PEOPLE ARE MAKING JOKES ABOUT WANTING A NUCLEAR WINTER-

Now there’s a saving interpretation going around that “the fall of Shady Sands - 2277” refers to a metaphorical fall, and the explosion was later. I’ll accept this if I have to, but don’t pretend it’s not a strained reading. Every entry on the board is dated. Why would you date an amorphous event and not date the city exploding?

The explosion was nineteen years ago, and it had to be that early because Lucy and Norm don’t remember living there. (Not clear how old they are but probably in their early-mid 20’s.) The earliest you could place the event without it making no sense is late 2282, because with the time skips in DLC, the events of New Vegas are about a year long. Maybe you could put a gap between Lucy returning to the vault and the actual destruction, but not a five-year one. And if it was in 2282, Max would still be a teenager.

There are legitimate concerns here. Between House and the NCR, the show changes a lot about the main conflict of New Vegas. It’s not just side details.

Not telling you how to feel! Just don’t pretend nothing poses any problems and people are crazy for being concerned. I think the vibe right now is to dismiss me as a hater, but I hope you can see I’ve tried to make it all work. Continuity is really important in a multi-decade story, especially to writers.

I will be appeased by a respectful and thought-out New Vegas remake that preserves as much of the original continuity as possible and is also really good and costs $4. Thanks in advance Bethesda.

Edit:

6. Tatoes in the vaults

TATOES IN THE VAULTSSSS? THIS IS MASSIVE DISRESPECT TO THE LORE. EVERYTHING WE KNOW IS DESTROYED. UNFORGIVABLE.

(but yeah there shouldn’t be tatoes in a vault that hasn’t opened)(maybe norm and lucy had seeds in their pockets when they came back, sure)

[daddys-radioactive-milk]

Ranking my fallout characters by how well they can cook because I want to make more fallout posts but don’t want to draw:

21: she cooks OK. More of a casual cook than a gourmet chef. Her food isn’t great, but it’s pretty good and won’t make you throw up. She hates raw meat even if it’s sanitary. Flavors are nicely balanced and crunchy to soft ratio is also balanced. Very into collecting cook books, and has one she constantly references even if she’s cooked the same thing 500 times before. She absolutely loves pickling. Struggles with making larger portion foods. Prefers cooking fish since it looks less gross to her. Makes really good chicken noodle soup for her sick partners.

22: when he tries he can do well, but he’s more used to survivalist cooking rather than cooking proper meals. Mainly capable of making soups and stews. Not particularly good unless it’s for a special occasion. Used to cooking for multiple people/ small families so he always makes more than he alone eats. Being ex legion probably also harms his cooking skills more than anything, I don’t imagine them loving delicious food. Loves wild onions (don’t know if they have them in the Mojave, but we have them up here so who cares)

Cal: he’s. So. Bland. The only thing he can cook good is meat, but it’s not like he uses that many spices or garnishes. Makes decent jerky, but needs to eat more carbohydrates and needs to learn how to forage. For a hunter he is very out of tune with environmental foods other than meat.

Sandra Hill: She cant. Exclusively eats prepackaged foods and heats up premade things, if she’s not buying food. Can stick meat into a fire, but not much else. Didn’t have to learn to cook in the vault and just never tried to learn how to cook after. Just throws shit together and hopes it tastes good. If she was in college she would live off ramen and pbnjs

Killian Hill: same as Sandra, but with a higher fail rate on thrown together meals. He will cook things begrudgingly. Somehow fails to completely cook meats on the regular. Likes preparing meat, but, again, sucks at cooking it.

Kieran Woods (I don’t know her last name it changes 24/7): loving pre war home cooked meals? No. Her cooking is very very prewar though. Which means it’s weird. She’ll throw in the most random over preserved thing into food and it’ll turn out okay, good even. Doesn’t put love into food, rather cold thought out calculations. Deliberately tries to make it taste good, but overthinks. Her foods are very good for what they are, but they also have the after taste of strong sugars and that vomit flavor cheese burgers have.

Nathan Woods: Normal suburban cook. How good he cooks purely relies on the supplies he’s given. Will also throw random pre war foods into his cooking. His cooking has the same strangely sweet taste that Kieran’s does. Recognizes what flavors go together well. Doesn’t think about how or what he’s cooking, which is both a blessing and a negative. 50/50 chance it’s delicious or really bad.

Azurite: don’t ask her to cook. It’s disgusting, absolutely foul. They cook everything like he’s in the Sierra Madre. He won’t even eat their own food. Has only been spotted eating dry crackers once in her life. You’d be better off drinking spoiled milk than eating whatever he hands to you.

Ash: pretty great vault cook. Not as great outside of the vault though and that’s most of their life. They understand vault ingredients well, but over time have improved their understanding of wasteland foods. By the time they have kids they’re likely the best cook on this list. Wrote down their own cook book to use as they likely didn’t come across some wasteland cook books on their water chip quest.

Elliot & Ian: I don’t know honestly. They’re the silly legionnaire and NCR soldier paring. They exist to be gay and put bomb collars on each other. They can make grilled cheese without starting a fire.

[kochi999]

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I don't remember much, but apparently I built a city in my past. On the divide. Maybe I built the city then because I wanted to create a place where you could easily live. But they say I destroyed it myself…but I don't remember any of that. Who's the not-so-great me? …… You just said the most outrageous thing, you. Do you think you'd remember anything if you heard about the old days at Divide? I was wondering. I said good-bye to everyone, thinking I'd be back to my old self. But I don't remember anything at all, I'm still me. Ha-ha-ha. I'm getting hungry, let's get something to eat. Okay….

Hey DOC, if I suddenly go back to the old me, will I disappear now? I don't think I'd suddenly become a different person. You had your brain removed once and then put back together again, right? If that much has happened and nothing has changed, wouldn't you just be you? Really? I feel a bit…relieved. Heh heh. But even if I'm back to my old self, I still love Arcades, so don't worry. What? Wipe your mouth. Heh heh heh. I've already eaten! Now that we know each other, let's play one more game! Let's go! Huh? Are you still going to do it? Of course! It's a different flavor to think that I can copulate with Arcades with the knowledge that I'm a childhood friend! Friendship turning into love… that kind of thing is nice… I want to love Arcades in all their states. Don't call it mating. You're getting talkative again. Are you getting back to your old, wise self? 「I don't hide my Enclave roots…NCR would never catch me with those idiots…」 The old you is still the same old you. Is that a compliment? You can't cure stupidity by dying. Hmmm. Well, that's okay. I'm not going to die. Only Arcades can kill me. He's gonna kill me first. I'll be fine. I'll be gentle. Just make it worse. Oh, no!

The result of two people forgetting everything, not just day and night, and spending a long time deepening their understanding of each other. The battle for the Hoover Dam had long since been assembled and ended in a victory for the NCR.

Huh? War? It's over…while you guys have been having sex all along. You guys are cunts. It's the New Year, you know? What⁈

I'm comfortable here, but I don't like having Mr. House's corpse around all the time. Let's take a trip to a new place. Hmmm. Maybe I'll become a town doctor somewhere. You're good at teaching people. You're kind. Hm? A teacher? That's a good idea, too. I'm willing to build another village from scratch for the DOC! It would be fun with you. Building a new nation. That's grand. Let's go.

The end.

[3xm-draconic]

The Jester and The Courier: a wild wasteland love

Chapter 16: Hellfire. 

Tomorrow came and everyone prepped to surprise Myrtle with a big birthday breakfast. Joshua whent up to her door to knock but heard…noises coming from her room…copulate noises…he immediately left.

“Why haven't you gotten her up yet!?” Boone mumbled as he adjusted his party hat, Joshua trying his best to hold in embarrassed laughter “she’s…ehem…currently occupied ”, “WITH WHAT?” Boone annoyedly hissed.

Boone whent to her door, “I wouldn’t” Raul said “I whent to go get her up, there is a sock on the doorknob”, “What?!” Boone gasped, he looked over at the door and sure enough there was one of her socks on the doorknob.

Boone grumbled “Ok…THAT does it!”, Boone opened the door…

“WAKEY WAKEY TIME FOR SCHOOL!” he screamed, Cicero and Myrtle who were bathing in the afterglow suddenly started to panic at the intrusion. Cicero screamed, scrambled and flopped out of the bed and Myrtle yelled at Boone “EH YO WHAT THE FUCK MAN!?”

Boone laughed “HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Now get the fuck out of bed and come open your presents” he laughed, he looked at Cicero with an angry “Iam watching you”  look.

Myrtle sighed and looked over at Cicero, they both started to laugh…

“~Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday-happy birthday dear Myrt!, Happy birthday to you!~” they all sang as they brought out a huge stack of birthday cake flavored flapjacks, “thanks guys, you are the best!” Myrtle smiled.

Myrtle sat down to eat when the doorbell to her room rang, Jane opened the door and an NCR soldier walked inside “Miss Merminns?”, “oh hey privet Kowalski, long time no see” she grinned, the man smiled sadly “I wish I would have come on better circumstances, you are no doubt a fine asset to the NCR but we have…a problem…with you”, Myrtle paused “what?...what did I do?!”

Her companions started to get ancy…especially Boone and Cicero…

“I’am going to have to arrest you for manslaughter”, “WHAT?” Myrtle gasped, “a scouting party found boot prints and fingerprints matching yours at a massacre scene. Jackal gang members may be vile but they did not deserve whatever you did…or did not…do, there is still debate on if it was you who committed such a crime seeing as how this doesn't fit you. Hsu is assigning you a lawyer and you are expected to be in court tomorrow at 0: 700. But for now you ae to be taken into NCR custody”

Her companions looked amongst themselves and at her “Myrt?” Boone looked at her agasped “what did you and Cicero do last night?...”

(Camp McCarran holding cells)

“All we did was go out, shoot some geckos…and…well” Myrtle flusteredly looked to Casidy and Raul from behind the bars, “fucked like a paire of jackrabbits?” Cassidy mumbled, Myrtle nodded and sighed…she hated lying to her friends…but she didn’t want Cicero to get into trouble with her…

“Iam sure this is something by the legion, some kind of tactic to make you look bad” Ulysses grumbled, “we’ll get to the bottom of it, Pumpkin” Lily assured her. Boone, Gannon and Joshua meanwhile were in the concourse with Cicero…

“So all you did was hunt?” Boone muttered curiously, “mm hmm” Cicero innocently nodded, “what did you hunt?” Gannon asked as he eyed Cicero suspiciously, “umm…geckos…” Cicero shrugged as he sipped on a glass of water.

Joshua closed his book and sighed…

“Can I have a moment alone with our friend here?”, Boone and Gannon looked at one another and then to him “you sure?”, “yes I am”, Boone nodded and Gannon and him left to go get food.

  “Cicero…” his gravelly voice was not loud or harsh…but instead…calm “I know”, Cicero nearly did a spit take “Know? Know what?”, “I know about Myrtle’s…tendencies…” the man leaned in “I know about her past…about the voice in her head” Joshua sighed “...I know what she’s done…”

Cicero grew quiet, “I hoped that my words, teachings and prayer would help her…but I can see that it has not improved her situation and neither has Usanagi’s treatment and therapy…I fear for her” Joshua looked down into his glass of soda “I feared what she would do…what she has done…” Joshua’s dark eyes looked directly into Cicero’s…

“And I know YOU know too…”

“well…Cicero dose…but she told me as we were hunting geckos…”, Joshua sighed again…“I hate liars, Cicero…” he set his half empty drink down “I know because I found out one night…”

“We were out in the Mojave. She snuck away from camp and I followed wondering where she was going…she snuck down to a small encampment where a solitary legionnaire was…poor man…he for all his evils…did not deserve what she did to him. When she saw me and realized I had bore witness to her actions…she broke down…she begged me not to tell the others, to tell them what she really is…” Joshua looked around “I see the NCR, New Vegas and others idolize her as a savior, as a hero…when she herself thinks she is a monster…when I know she is but a sad broken woman”.

He sipped a little more on his drink…

“Which brings me to you…Myrt would not tell anyone of her murderous nature…unless they either saw her…or…encouraged her” he eyed him “now if you are telling me the truth and you two did hunt geckos…she might have slipped away from you and committed her crime…or” he was nearly finished with his cup “you two did it together…”

Cicero was in a cold sweat “what will you do to Cicero if you think he encouraged her?...”, “well…as soon as I am finished with my drink…I’am going to shoot you…I don’t care if Myrtle likes you, you are a bad influence on her and I will introduce you to my god very, very soon…” his cup had barely a swig left, “what if Cicero is innocent? How can he prove he is not guilty!” he whimpered.

Joshua sighed “...if you are innocent, after I finish my drink I’ll wait and give you 10 seconds…if they come through the concourse doors with good news then it is by an act of god himself you live jester…if not”, Cicero heard him draw a gun under the table, “you are dead funny man…”

Cicero held his breath as Joshua started counting…

“10…

9…

8…”

Cicero looked at the doors, he began to silently pray to Sithis…

“7…

6…

5…”

Cicero could hear his heart thudding in his chest like the pounding of the drums of war!

“4…

3…

2…”

Cicero heard the gun’s safety click off…

“Joshua, Boone, Gannon!” cried an officer as he ran up to them “hey I’am glad I found you, hey Myrt’s free to go”, “what?” Joshua pondered as he stowed away his gun, “fingerprints came back wrong, it was an accident that hers got mixed up in with another file”, Joshua was quiet and glaring at Cicero with Boone and Gannon “thank you” he nodded to the officer “Well now Cicero, looks like I was wrong…”

Cicero breathed a heavy sigh of relief…

(Back at the 38)

Everyone was in bed but Myrtle…she looked out over Vegas through the big windows…she sighed and looked up to the night sky, into the dark void beyond…

“~Beata Maria, you know I am but a mortal woman and of my faith I am justly proud. Beata Maria, you know I'm not much purer than The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd. So tell me, Maria, why do I feel it here, Bloodlust? Why does it smolder and scorch my soul? I feel it, I see it! The love to see the sun glistening off crimson pools is blazing in me out of all control~”

“~Like fire

Hellfire

This fire in my skin

This burning desire

Is turning me to sin~”

She turned to her fireplace 

“~Is it my fault”

Am I to blame?

Who has sent this flame?”

If it's not my fault?

If it’s in God's plan…

Iam I the Devil he made so much stronger than a man?~”

She looked down at her gun, the one that bore the image of the holy virgin on it…

“~Protect me, Maria

Don't let this siren cast it’s spell

Don't let the fire sear my flesh and bone

Destroy this part of me

And let it taste the fires of hell

Or else let me know I am not in the wrong!~”

She sat down defeated…and looked at her gun…

“~Hellfire

Darkfire

Now it's my turn

I must choose correctly or my pyre

Let me be right or I will burn!

….

God have mercy on me

…

Oh please God have mercy on me

…

But I will be right

Or I will burn~”

[newvegascowboy]

I’m staying hydrated with some lovely tea. Would you like to hear about my OC courier? Of course you would! Allow me to fill your inbox with Theodosia Roquel Salvatore, a courier who does not neatly fit in with the timeline of Fallout events, but if we’re being honest with ourselves, neither does Arcade, so I’ve given myself a pass lol.

It’s been too long since I’ve played Fallout 2, but Warlockracy’s newest video is about 2 so I was thinking about Theo. Her dad was the head of the Salvatores in New Reno and she was a kid when they made their deal with the Enclave. Snuck into their base so easily that it was embarrassing- they gave her her own special little Enclave ID card so she could come in through the gate as long as she promised to stop showing up out of nowhere. She went along to drop and collect packages and generally got to know plenty of the regular staff at Navarro; the ones who would talk to her that is. She got into many shenanigans but soldiers got in trouble if they yelled at her because the scientists Need Those Chemicals, yknow? She thought it was very funny to hear them get chewed out for being mean to her. She’s a menace.

When the oil rig blew up the Salvatores sheltered some of the scattered Enclave members until it was clear they were about to lose their territory. Old Louis sent her along with some remnants to the boneyard. She stays there where it’s safe until she’s 18, but she’s pretty bored there. Not exactly a scholarly type. She went East, lived in Phoenix until the Legion showed up. Went back West, changed her name to Rocket, and integrated into the NCR by becoming an apothecary in the Hub.

She lived there for 20 years and in that time fell in love with a caravan guard who worked the Big Circle. Her name was Flora, and they met when Rocket was 24, got married when Rocket was 31, and the two of them were very happy together- Rocket still has a painting she made the day after their wedding of Flora holding a fabric rose. The title card says “my favorite flowers” and the back of the canvas has “Rocket&Flora forever” written on it. If domestic bliss can exist in Fallout these ladies were living it.

Flora was killed when Rocket was 39. Caught the business end of Jet junkie’s rifle :( Three years later Rocket had to get out of town bc she killed a rich guy trying to intimidate her (worth it that guy Sucked). Made her way to the Mojave after word of NCR victory over the Legion. Spent most of her time in Camp Searchlight where she teased young soldiers to keep morale up (you have to feel better when Camp Grandma tells you what a handsome lad you are) and made good friends with the on sight medical officer.

Running low on caps so she signed up for a delivery with the Mojave Express. Unfortunately it led to an untimely dirt nap. Fortunately, Benny can’t kill someone from point blank range. Loser.

I have. A whole Thing about her relationship with Arcade but this is already paragraphs of unsolicited exposition so just know that she and Arcade do become a flavor of Platonic Life Partners (it’s complicated) and YES she helps Boone cope with his Dead Wife feelings, as she has been where he is (not exactly but yknow)(they don’t actually get along very well but Theo’s too old to withhold help from someone clearly drowning when she can).

🚀💚

I love the name Theodosia, it has such a good feel to it. And I'm weeping at Flora's tragic end!!! I also love OCs who are on the older side who are just unflappable and have that I'm Too Old For This attitude. I'm glad she helps Boone out despite their differences 💖

[futzingbarton]

the next chapter of Be Angry at the Sun is going swimmingly, besides the fact that it is not the next chapter and is, instead, the previous chapter, since i decided, oops, there needs to be a different chapter two for better context. so.

anyway here’s a lil taste. a teensy bit of flavor.

“Hey, I haven’t—” he stops, swallows, and takes another bite. “Haven’t committed to anything. Just want to get the whole picture.”

Arcade looks between Constantine and his near-empty bowl. “At the very least, can you commit to chewing your food?”

“Nah,” Tan says through another mouthful, then tilts the bowl to shovel the remaining hash in. “Shee you downshtairs.”

He ruffles Arcade’s hair and hurries out of the kitchen to dress up and arm himself. Nothing too flashy, just a revolver on his hip, a knife tucked in his boot, his hat hanging down his back. He taps his foot the entire elevator ride, almost skipping out the door once it dings open. His only patience manifests in holding the exit open for Rex to plod along after him, all too happy to sit at his heels once they’re outside. The heat is building under the awning of the hotel, but the air is dry and the morning has seen fit to bless the Mojave with the slightest breeze. With a deep breath, Tan closes his eyes and listens to the strangely lullying concert produced by the New Vegas Strip in daylight. The woodwind wail of the speeding monorail, the brassy booming commands from Securitrons along their rotas. A distant choir of howling dogs. The steady percussion of hammers—NCR soldiers repairing the embassy’s flimsy outer fence, accompanied by the faint pops and crackles of small-arms fire from far past Freeside.

[carlocarrasco]

Flavors of NCR 2024 was a blast of delicacies, discoveries and fun

Recently Muntinlupa City hosted the 2024 edition of the Flavors of NCR food festival at the Filinvest City Central Park in Alabang and I personally witnessed the formal opening ceremony which involved many high-level officials and special guests. A lot of people visited the food festival on April 19 and 20 which added to the credibility of Filinvest City Central Park as a suitable open-air venue…

[royalcakesclub]

Celebrate the sweetness of your union with Royal Cake Club's exquisite anniversary cakes, carefully crafted to make your special day unforgettable. Our Delhi NCR-based experts blend culinary artistry with precision, offering an array of mouthwatering flavors and stunning designs. From velvety chocolate to luscious strawberry, and elegant tiered masterpieces, every cake tells a love story. Personalize yours with custom messages, photos, or monograms, and enjoy seamless online ordering, pan India delivery, and magical midnight surprises. Let Royal Cake Club's sweet creations be the icing on your anniversary celebration, making every moment with your loved one truly cherished.

[anniversarycakedelight]

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[nstsofia]

Food Photography Services by PhotoStreets

Transform your culinary creations into mouthwatering visual stories with PhotoStreets' food photography services. Our talented photographers understand the art of food styling and lighting, ensuring that each dish is captured in its most appealing form. Whether you’re a restaurant, caterer, or food blogger, we tailor our approach to showcase your unique flavors and presentation. From vibrant colors to intricate details, we highlight the textures and ingredients that make your food special. Elevate your menu, social media, or marketing materials with stunning food photography that leaves a lasting impression, partner with PhotoStreets today!

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[govindyadav009]

Zudio Franchise | Zudio | Zudio by Tata in North India

Why Brown Burger Co. is the Perfect Franchise Opportunity for Entrepreneurs?

Investing in a Brown Burger Co. franchise offers strong financial potential. With a well-established brand, proven business model, and comprehensive support, franchisees can achieve a favorable return on investment.

Introduction of Brown Burger Co.

Opened in 2014 by three fellows, diverse by profession but like-minded. Mr. Amit Vadher, a food enthusiast who has been in the food industry for 20 years; Dr. Hiren Chauhan; a dentist with more than 15 years and Mr. Kunal; an IT Engineer. All three minds wanted to work on the ideology of healthy yet tasty fast food. Then and there they came up with Brown Burger Co. and showcased the restaurant’s relationship straight with health, taste, and hygiene. Their restaurant is backed up with research and constant innovation to serve healthy food. Spreading its wings across the globe to reach every corner of the world with the health palate as its serving.

Brown Burger Co Franchise opportunity in Delhi NCR & India

Their Mission!

serves succulent, healthy, and choicest burgers and snack varieties for Indian connoisseurs. Operating on a QSR model, the brand takes pride in being the first Indian multigrain burger food chain in the country.

Their Vission!

aims to break down this stereotype by making use of multigrain bread and other healthy option to make the popular snack even more attractive to Indian food lovers.

Their Purpose!

To build a sustainable organization that aims to reinvent popular snacks with authentic Indian flavors and propagates Indian culture to connoisseurs around the globe by incorporating a new innovative strategy for health and wellness purposes which will be creating a massive change in the market.

Their Outlets:

They are one of the fastest growing multi-growing burger chains in India. They have 50+ outlets in all over India.

Gujrat

Mumbai

Kolkata

Rajasthan

Bengaluru

Hyderabad

Their Menu!

SANDWICHES, GIANT BURGER, WRAPS, BURGERS, FRIES, STARTERS/FINGER FOOD, MILKSHAKES, PIZZA, Simply Veg, Pizza Feast, Pizza Supreme, Pizza Exotic, Premiurn Pizza, Fusion Special, Mini Monster, Breads, Side Orders, Desert, Combo Offers, Breads

How does Brown Burger Co. help you achieve Success?

STEP 1 (RESEARCH): They help you with site selection & the area you should opt for better traction.

STEP 2 (EXECUTION): From scratch, they will help you with setup, recruitment preparation, etc.

STEP 3 (AWARENESS): They provide dedicated digital/social media marketing support to you.

STEP 4 (ANALYSIS): Regular audits & QNC not only helps to maintain quality but also helps you get useful insights & creative ideas to improve revenue.

Why choose Brown Burger Co.?

Full-service QSR Outlet-

Build the healthiest operational QSR chain with an extensive range & low operating cost.

Innovative recipes

with a unique blend of taste & nutrition, comprising multigrain, freshly baked buns, ingredients & sauces.

Domestic & Global Franchise-

Achieved a milestone capping the domestic and global area within six months.

Operational Model for Franchise-

 Designed a flawless model for the franchise to access day-to-day operations easily.

Highly skilled & competent team

with several years of expertise in the food service industry, QSR & Franchise Operations.

Helping small entrepreneurs

 to build sustainable business with BBC. Generating employment on large scale

Benefits Of Franchising with Brown Burger Co.!

Unique multigrain healthy burger recipes

Low investment, high returns

National & international level expansion

A fresh concept, promising low competition

Established & reputed brand

Terms of Brown Burger Co’s Franchise Model!

Just one set-up and common resources are required to offer a wide range of cuisine.

The model is driven by revenue growth, brand diversification, consumer trends and market segmentation.

The innovative eatery design delivers maximum benefits with minimum investment.

Franchisees can operate 5 brands under a single banner to take their business to new heights.

End result: Revenue boost with more daily sales, 40% quicker ROI and customer loyalty.

Franchise Requirements:

Min Area Req(sq.ft): 700

Outlet Setup Cost: 25 Lakh

Franchise Fee: 7 Lakhs

Marketing Cost (for 6 months): 50,000

Training Expense Rs. 35000 || Royalty – 6% of sales

Contact Details

If you are interested in investing in the “Brown Burger Co.” Franchise, you can contact FRANCHISE AVS through our official website www.franchiseavs.com, or email franchiseavs@gmail.com. you can also reach us by phone at 9205434226.

Conclusion

By choosing to franchise with Brown Burger Co., you align yourself with a reputable and growing brand, gain access to a wide array of high-quality products, and benefit from a proven business model with comprehensive support. This combination of factors makes Brown Burger Co. an ideal choice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make a mark in the Food marketing sector.

[cakeclub001]

Indulge in a world of deliciousness with Royal Cake Club! We offer a wide variety of handcrafted anniversary cakes, delivered right to your doorstep in Delhi NCR and pan India. From classic flavors to unique creations, find the perfect cake to celebrate your special day.

Why Choose Royal Cake Club?

Variety of Flavors and Designs: From classic vanilla and chocolate to unique flavors like red velvet and mango, we have something to suit every taste. Our cakes are not only delicious but also beautifully decorated, ensuring a visually stunning centerpiece for your celebration.

Convenient Online Ordering: Place your order with ease through our user-friendly website. Simply select your desired cake, choose your preferred delivery date and time, and we'll take care of the rest.

Prompt and Reliable Delivery: We offer timely delivery services in Delhi NCR and pan India. Our cakes are packaged with care to ensure they arrive at your doorstep fresh and intact.

Customizable Options: Want a cake that's truly personalized? We offer customization options to create a unique dessert that reflects your love story.

[anniversarycakes234]

Indulge in a world of deliciousness with Royal Cake Club! We offer a wide variety of handcrafted anniversary cakes, delivered right to your doorstep in Delhi NCR and pan India. From classic flavors to unique creations, find the perfect cake to celebrate your special day.

Why Choose Royal Cake Club?

Variety of Flavors and Designs: From classic vanilla and chocolate to unique flavors like red velvet and mango, we have something to suit every taste. Our cakes are not only delicious but also beautifully decorated, ensuring a visually stunning centerpiece for your celebration.

Convenient Online Ordering: Place your order with ease through our user-friendly website. Simply select your desired cake, choose your preferred delivery date and time, and we'll take care of the rest.

Prompt and Reliable Delivery: We offer timely delivery services in Delhi NCR and pan India. Our cakes are packaged with care to ensure they arrive at your doorstep fresh and intact.

Customizable Options: Want a cake that's truly personalized? We offer customization options to create a unique dessert that reflects your love story.