#have started killing theseus first just to give asterius that peace

[klvrgavin]

Tbh the theseus destroys his only meaningful relationship subplot is bringing me a lot of joy tbh

[jacqcrisis]

I’m gunna talk about Theseus and Asterius in the Fallout AU, cause I like them. Including some links for clarity cause I forget not everyone knows the ~~lore~~ 

Theseus is from a New California chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel, which he absconded from when the NCR started taking over the region. He regrets this constantly, even though his cowardice saved his life in the end, so he tries to make up for it with acts of heroism and bravado, earning a reputation as a mercenary and a bodyguard. Eventually, he lands in Asphodel, the growing settlement along the Mississippi, tucked away between two inhabitable radioactive zones, and there, Theseus’ capabilities in combat are greatly appreciated and he develops a small sort of following of admirers. As time wears on and Theseus settles, rumors soon spring up of a super mutant who has holed up nearby. Hades was nervous about this potential threat to his settlement, and sent Theseus, who had bragged previously about his super mutant killing days with the Brotherhood, to take care of the problem. 

Asterius is also from New California, specifically an ex-soldier in the Master’s Army. With the death of the Master, Asterius first joins a group of other super mutants to continue the Master’s plan, steadily becoming more and more unsure of what he's doing, battling doubts about the 'inherent' supremacy of the mutants and guilt over the atrocities he’s committed against mankind. The group is eventually waylaid and Asterius is gravely injured by a chapter of the Brotherhood hellbent on wiping out the remaining mutants in the area. Narrowly escaping with his life, Asterius was set adrift and took to wandering the western part of the US, looking for meaning as he did oddjobs to help people along his travels and to atone for his violence during and after his time under the Master’s control. He finds himself near Asphodel, and holes up along the edges of the radioactive zone to the south, hoping to make contact and maybe peace with them. 

Theseus eventually finds him in his self built shack, happening upon the super mutant as he tends a small farm plot he’s built up himself. As he weeds his crops, Asterius asks if the man in power armor is there to kill him, stating he’s made peace with himself and that he would not fight him. He is taken aback when Theseus takes off his helmet in shock as he recognizes a deep scar he gave the mutant years ago across his chest when he was still a teen. Theseus hesitantly approaches, remembering the mutant having all but begged to be put down when Theseus has bested him finally, claiming he deserved to be taken out given the things he had done. At the time, Theseus had left the mutant to die, shaken by his humanity in that moment, having never thought of something like Asterius as being capable of guilt or regret. 

In present day, after a bit of back and forth over the course of a few weeks, Theseus determines Asterius would be a better ally than dead, and he takes him back to the settlement, claiming he is a man of peace and deserves a spot there just as much as everyone else. Hades agrees to this proposal as a large mutant in town will give them an edge over any raiders or other settlements or new governments trying to colonize, and to no one’s surprise, Asterius grows on the populace of Asphodel much faster than Theseus ever did.