<Here’s my go!> (Also I can’t remember who started the “dead man’s” when referring to deacon before his life went to shit but its wonderful and I hope you don’t mind that I’ve borrowed it! I believe it mightve been @lee-cu , Do let me know if it’s trouble!)
0. Is he _______? Check all that apply. Supply additional notes as desired.
[ ] An alien or other cryptid?
[x] From the West Coast or New Vegas?
He grew up on Lake Mead! Like literally on it, his childhood hope is a shack on stilts.
[ ] From the Capital Wasteland?
Deacon is not married but a dead man is and will always consider himself as such.
Barbara is very very real.
There was a baby between him and Barbara, poor thing passed 3 months before Barbara was supposed to give birth. He also has another little girl. He got drunk and there was tourist who had Barbara’s face. Different skin tone but still. He gave her up to a good family but if a dead man recovers, he’s got their word he can have her back.
[x] A former raider/gang member?
UP Deathclaws weren’t real, the L&L raider gang was very real though.
[x] Recovering/recovered from chem addiction?
He used to be addicted to Med-X and Buffout. Got clean after joining up with the Railroad. Now he just has massive sweet tooth and drink a lot of coffee.
He was almost 100% honest with the SoSu, except about the UP Deathclaws and some timeline stuff. He joined the Railroad after he lynched that kid and Agamemnon helped him get clean. He took on the name John D. and became the most valuable runner to the organization and was seen as Agamemnon’s ear.
[ ] The/a founder of the Railroad?
[ ] The current and/or secret leader of the Railroad?
1.How old is he? How old does he look?
As of 2287 he is 43 years old. Born on December 25th 2244
2. How tall is he? What's his default posture like?
He is 6’. He’s from a mountainous region and everyone around where he grew up was tall with longer limbs. Most people in the commonwealth just think he lived near the mountains so it doesn’t blow his cover often. Even still, some people are just taller in the commonwealth. His posture changes based on what persona he’s taking on. Deacon slouches/leans around basically everyone but alone its actually pretty straight. Except for the leaning, thats a habit he’s genuinely picked up.
3. What's his body type/build like? Is he as strong/agile as he looks? Less so? More?
His body type is very androgynous with a bit of chest and slimmer hips but nothing too noticeable if you aren’t looking. He’s more strong than he looks, incredibly agile as well . Thats just normal wasteland bulk though, you got have a certain amount of strength or be really good with a gun. Most of its left over from a dead man though.
4. Is he naturally bald, balding, or would he have a full head of hair if not for removing it? What is his natural hair color? Does he have body hair?
If he didn’t shave his head, he’d have a full and thick head of hair. He’s a redhead and even prewar redheads stood out so he shaves. All of the hair on his body is also red just a bit lighter, more muted. He has some body hair but nothing of note. As for pubic hair, he thinks being completely clean shaven is weird so its there but well maintained.
5. How often does he wear that pompadour wig? Does he have other wigs?
He has other wigs absolutely! His pompadour is his favorite just because he can change that one pretty easily but another one of note is a platinum blonde wig for a persona of his called Violet , a lounge singer from Atlantic City.
6. Does he have any scars? Freckles or other marks? Any tattoos or piercings?
Naturally has freckles but he takes them away every face change. When they start popping up again he knows its time for another one. They are full bodied and used to kind of swirl on his butt and thighs. A dead man use to have a sleeve of tattoos and a bunch of face piercings but Deacon only has his ears pierced. He’ll get a piercing for a persona/op but nothing permanent.
7. What kind of clothing does he wear when he's not working/when he's at rest?
Flannels, Pajamas, graphic tees. Just a hodgepodge of comfy clothes from his costume trunk really.
8. What are his hands like? Soft, calloused? Are his nails rough, neat, bitten?
Calloused, they’re a sniper after all! His nails are kept clean though, he cant abide being dirty.
He just really doesn’t like it.
9. What does he smell like? What are his hygiene habits like?
Very faintly of cigarette smoke and incense cause of the church but you’d have to be practically on top of them to smell that. He washes whenever he can and he keeps a bowl, some water, a rag and some soap on him whenever traveling with the SoSu.
10. When (if ever) does he take his sunglasses off? Why does he wear them?
When he is alone or when he’s sleeping. And eventually, after his final affinity with the SoSu. He wears them cause his eyes aren’t his own, his eyes are a dead man’s. His eyes were Barbara’s favorite part of him besides his hair. He also wears them so no one knows where he’s looking. And cause one of his tells is not blinking.
11. Who is he, in his mind? How does he define himself? What name(s) feels right, if any?
Deacon is another persona, a vessel for good, a mask. Whoever was under this mask died a long time ago but after getting closer to the SoSu, is he really all that dead? No name feels right to him, not without talking to someone first.
12. Who does he trust, if anyone? With some things or wholeheartedly? Why?
The SoSu and himself. Eventually he trusts the SoSu wholeheartedly. He’s been with them through everything, he’s slept beside them, he has listened to them share things that ring too close to home for him as well. They are two sides of the same coin. At first it was cause he needed to and it wasn’t a whole lot, after the second affinity talk though? He trusts them, after the third? He trusts them with lifetimes of knowledge nobody, not even him really remembers.
13. What made him choose Deacon as a codename - or is it not a codename at all?
A dead man’s last name was Deacon and a Deacon is second to the priest, helps the church run smoothly, he thought it fit and no one is none the wiser.
14. What is going on in his head? This could be just a notable train of thought or it could be a full exploration of what makes him tick, up to you!
He thinks he’s cursed, that for the rest of his life he will have to atone for Barbara and the boy he lynched. He visits that boy’s mom every couple of years, leaves flowers and a note. He feels fundamentally aimless. All he knows is they he has to help. Help communities he’s hurt, help the railroad, help the sole survivor. Just help, thats all he’s here for.
15. When did he become involved with the Railroad? Why?
He joined up when Agamemnon was running the joint. After he lynched that boy, Soloman, he ran. Course they couldn’t let him leave without jumping him out, handed his ass to him,truly. But the Railroad was more open in those days and he ran to them, told Agamemnon what he’d done and how he was so sorry. Agamemnon brought him in, gave him addictol , a bed and some food though the RR didn’t have a lot at the time. He took the dead man’s under his wing.
16. When might he retire or step away from the Railroad, if ever? What might motivate or influence that decision?
Never, even after the institute. They’ll redirect the railroad to helping other groups in need. People, Synths, Ghouls, Super Mutants will always be in need so Deacon’s work is never finished.
17. Where is he from? What was his early home life like? How does he remember it?
He lived on Lake Mead with his mom and grandparents. He remembers it fondly and with a lot of home sickness. His mom and grandmothers loved him but he was lonely as a kid, would talk to himself a lot. He had two friends but he didn’t see them a lot. Then his mom got sick when he was 13 and they shipped off to live with his aunt in the commonwealth but she died so he was alone. Little wonder how he fell in with L&L.
18. Where is the furthest from the Commonwealth that he's been? Why did he go there?
He’s been as far as Baffin Bay up in Canada/Denmark. He went up there for a special synth route.
19. Why does he favor the tactics/weapons that he does? Is he proficient with others?
He hunted as a kid as another way to get food on the table so he prefers long range. He’s also fine with 10mm and surprisingly a flamer. He keeps a knife on him too if he ever needs to get hand to hand. He’s also alright in hand to hand but he does not prefer it.
20. Why/when did he first take interest in the Sole Survivor? What were his intentions?
He accidentally found an institute broadcast because to maintenance workers were sloppy for a second. He overheard that they kidnapped a kid from 111. He couldn’t trace the comm but he stayed hooked on the vault and did some more digging. Found out everything he could before the SoSu woke up and was watching when they did. He figured the Institute would try to take this person and groom them to be the not-so kid anymore’s successor and figured he could sway them to the other side.
21. How did he get in the habit of lying? Does he remember? Could he stop?
He doesn’t remember, and it pathological, even if the dead version of him returns , the lies will still be there. Not as bad of course but you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
22. How well can he actually lie or maintain a facade? Does he have any particular tells or nervous fidgets? If so, is he aware of them?
He’s can lie remarkably well, he could sell practically anyone on anything. Its very hard to see through any of deacon’s bs. He has exactly two tells: He doesn’t blink when he’s lying and he wrings his wrist out once. Never very noticeable and he’s pretty good at catching himself but some things slip through.
23.Share a lie that he uses often, that he is particularly proud of, or that he's amused by. What sets it apart in his mind?
He likes fucking with people and telling them he’s pre-war. It started after he started with SoSu and its so fleshed out he keeps a journal of this persona so he can keep track. It sticks in his brain cause its so absurd. His second favorite is his Atlantic City one, mainly because he actually really likes Atlantic City. He will never admit it but it kinda reminds him of home.
24. Share a truth that he usually keeps to himself. Has he/will he share it with any one/few person/people in particular? Why?
Besides his living daughter, I think another secret is that he’s tired and old and in another life he’s a farmer with kids running around the yard and his wife reading on the porch and he’s mad at himself that he might never get that. An even scarier truth is that if the SoSu wasn’t there with him in this fantasy as well, he probably wouldn’t want it.
25. Free Space. Fun(?) fact or ramble of your choosing.
His/A dead man’s real name is Johannes Ryan Deacon. He prefers Jonah though and only his Grandmother may call him Johannes. As a kid his mom called him Joanie-Bird.
Also in my head no matter the SoSu to me, he will always fall in love with them. Even if they betray the railroad or if they find someone else. He will love them.
In my head he also reminds me of Lemony Snicket.
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