#norm fallout

- Max only has limited memories of the time he spent with his loving parents in a caring home, so everytime you go out of your way to take care of him he can feel himself falling hopelessly deeper in love with you. Any act of service feels like the ultimate loving gesture to Max, who has always been told to serve others and ignore his own needs for the sake of the brotherhood. So when you take notice of the things he needs, like saving him a plate at dinner when he gets back late from a mission, or helping to clean up his wounds when he's been forced into another fight. Well, it just makes him want to give his whole self to you, to do anything he can to brighten your life, to suggest you two just get out of here because he's sure he could survive in the wilderness as long as you are together.

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul

- You'll find Max subconsciously leaning into your touch at every opportunity he gets too. He spends half his time in power armour, completely cut off from the world, so getting to leave his metal shell behind and feel your fingers trail along his skin helps him feel more like a man than a weapon. He sleeps better when his head is resting on your thighs, your fingers cascading over his cheek and jaw, keeping him safe and grounded and overwhelming his heart with sheer adoration. He'll cling to you in the long nights and the tiring days, until eventually he can barely remember how to exist without your hand cocooned in his, so deeply in love that he can't bear to consider letting go. 

- Cooper Howard has had more time than he could have imagined wandering the wasteland alone, so to have someone to fill that time with would be a blessing of unimaginable significance. Spending quality time with The Ghoul often just looks like surviving; you build fires, set up camps, explore the wreckage of a past life only he got to see. But as you pass the days in each other's company, stories are shared, and jokes are attempted, and a familiarity forms that means that each of these monotonous tasks begins to feel like a worthwhile pursuit, because it's something you're doing together. 

Norm Maclean

- When the days of exploring darken into nights of rest, Cooper can't help but be moved by the way you don't think twice about laying a hand on him. Every gentle touch on his arm, or back, or face shows him that you don't see him as the monster his exterior is slowly shifting into. He wants to pretend it doesn't mean that much to him, but every sweet touch reminds him just how human he still is. He craves that physical reminder of your affections. That he is still worthy of love, your love. That's all he needs to keep him going. 

- Norm has spent much of his life being told he asks too many questions. He says the wrong things when he should be more agreeable. That he is unremarkable and unenthusiastic and over time those words start to seep below surface level and become a part of the way Norm views himself. So when you start to tell him how brilliant he is, how thoughtful, how brave - these words of affirmation feel like holy redemption to the downtrodden man. Every time a compliment slips from your lips he'll search your face for any sign of dishonesty, or ulterior motives to your kindness, but be met with nothing but the warmth and understanding he's been denied his whole life. 

- Despite growing up in the closest thing the post-nuclear world has to a family and a community, Norm is no stranger to loneliness. His work details always rota'd him to work alone and save anyone the discomfort of his silent company. But when you offer to walk the wastelands by his side, the quiet moments falling between you never filling him with the awkward sense of dread his life in the vault seemed to stir, well he starts to realise he deserves to spend quality time with someone too. He still feels nervous every time he asks you if you want to join him while he works on some computer problem, or scouts out some new street along his map, but every time you smile and lace your fingers through his as you walk side-by-side, he starts to learn that you're here for him, almost as much as he is there for you. And now he's not sure he'd like to face much of anything without you.

I cried so hard for Lucy. As the only girl in the family who went from being a daddy's girl to not having spoken to my dad in six years now because of the choices he made- I felt for her.

And he chose to completely forget her. That had to sting more than a little. Maybe Hank was trying to do it so she wouldn't have to and spare her conscience that weight. But it felt like a coward's way out because he knew she wouldn't kill someone defenseless like that.

I see the Deathclaws all hatched from the nests in the Gomorrah. Max and Thad really knocked it out of the park in this one.

Cooper was mad af when he pulled that gun on Hank.

He is shaking with fury and his eyes are absolutely murderous here. He was ready to kill that man, but the Ghoul stopped him. You could see the physical change in his body language.

This is two different men with two different motivations. And this was before he went and looked for his family. Cooper came out on the bottom floor of the vault, saw Lucy being attacked, and immediately went to help her. And the Ghoul gave her the gun which represents choice. So now we have Cooper doing things the Ghoul would do and the Ghoul doing things Cooper would do. And then he just gave her the 'be seein' ya' brim touch and rode off into the sunset? Nah. Something's off about that.

Colorado is throwing me. I haven't played much of Fallout 76, but I don't think any of the other games have mentioned Colorado aside from Fallout Tactics and it's not canon. So is this where we'll be in Fallout 5?