mechanical heart.

     “Third time’s the charm, right?” he jokes, one hand reaching up to scratch at the back of his neck. Chris knows he shouldn’t trust Benny; he’s been told so by just about everyone on The Strip, including Mr. House. Yet, his idea for an independent Vegas seems . . . far more ideal than anything House, The NCR, and    ---   God forbid   ---   the Legion has in mind. Shady character or not, Benny seems to have a good grasp on what Vegas needs.

            “—More difficult to feel, or more difficult to handle?” 

She was an idiot. Of course he remembered. She didn’t personally know how the mind worked for synths, but she imagined that it would be very hard for one to forget anything without the help of Dr. Amari. She was idiot to have done this to him. Chris was arguably the sweetest man in the wastes and this was the predicament she’d put him in and anyone who said Synths couldn’t feel had never seen Chris’s face.

“God, no,” Fiona said quickly, hands darting out to grab his retreating one. “You didn’t hurt me or do anything wrong… Or anything that I didn’t want.” A pause. “Actually, I was a little worried it was something you didn’t want,” tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, biting her tongue, keeping quiet about the fact that she felt like she was constantly taking advantage of his kindness - his good heart.

“Oh.” He hesitates, biting back a response that simply feels too . . . enthusiastic. He doesn’t want to make Fiona uncomfortable again, especially now that she’s not bolting out the door. “No, I would’ve told you if I didn’t want to,” he says, his eyes drawn to where her hands cover his own. “I know that I can be kinda . . .” he trails off, head nodding side-to-side as he searches for the right word. “. . . clueless sometimes, but I do know what consent is.” He smiles slightly, finally tilting his chin up to look at her.

“What hasn’t happened to them?” She asked, not really expecting an answer. No one could know for sure and no one knew what happened to them before they were saved and liberated by the Railroad. Her first week out of the vault, she’d fought raiders and a Deathclaw back when she thought they were dinosaurs. It seemed easy to get overwhelmed in the wastes and she imagined it was no different from synths. “Trust me or no, they’ll survive,” she said, smiling over at Chris. “We’ll make sure of that.”

     He nods, his expression turning thoughtful as he looks towards the group of synths. “At least they have each other,” Chris says after a moment, nodding towards them. Some lean against each other, their eyelids fluttering open and closed as they struggle against their exhaustion. Others whisper to one another, casting curious glances towards he and Fiona every once in awhile. “In the Institute, we weren’t even allowed that. Being so close to each other woulda gotten us reset in a heartbeat.” 

❝   in depth sinday meme.   ❞     //    accepting !

Anywhere.

❝   in depth sinday meme.   ❞     //    accepting !

PHYSICAL INTIMACY:     He is SUPER physically intimate. Chris’s love language is absolutely physical touch, and he craves physical intimacy in any form, not just in ways that are inherently sexual. If Chris is friends with someone, it’s not unusual for him to want to hold their hand, lean on them, etc. etc. He also loves hugs! And forehead and cheek kisses! But he’s also careful to respect people’s boundaries, though, so his desire for consent to these actions is bigger than his need for physical affection.

As far as physical intimacy in a more sexual context goes, once he’s comfortable with someone, Chris really has no issue. He is, at times, self-conscious and nervous about his ability in bed, being both a synth and wildly inexperienced, but it barely hinders him from becoming sexually intimate with someone. 

EMOTIONAL INTIMACY:     For the most part, Chris has no trouble sharing his feelings, no matter how difficult or confusing they might be. (Save for modern verse, where he’s a bit more closed off about past traumas.) Emotional intimacy comes very easily to him, and is something he values just as much in a relationship as the physical aspects. It’s unlikely for him to form any type of relationship with someone he doesn’t trust / who doesn’t trust him. Being able to openly and honestly share in a relationship is very important to him, especially after years of having to hide his emotions in the Institute.