The Ghoul

"The Wasteland's got its own golden rule. Thou shalt get sidetracked by bullshit every Goddamn time."

[bucketofdrugs]

an independent and selective portrayal of FallOut's resident ghoulish cowboy.

[mrsgingles]

petition for the ghoul to show some tit and forearms in season 2 (and be a damsel in distress) ref

[bucketofdrugs]

Mental health took a hit, so I've been sticking to discord for a minute. I'll try to be back around soon. I don't wanna make any promises on when that I may not keep, but soon.

[orientalld]

[doortotomorrow]

cooper howard » the beginning

[bucketofdrugs]

Oh wow. So I've been unconscious for most of the day... I will get to replies tomorrow, I have.... so much to do and only so many hours left to do it. I'm sorry y'all.

[savingthrcw]

If he had already learned how to read her, or how to read most people, he'd see from the regretful grimace on her face that she had been judgy in a way that had left her with burning guilt. She honestly hadn't paid that much attention to the Ghoul's skin, she hadn't hesitated or even winced over it, just over the fact that a guy with a pistol was clearly gunning for Wilzig. But Benjamin?

"There is nothing funny about this, I was so rude..." she dropped the magazine on top of her face, burning with embarrassment as well. "This poor, innocent, sweet man..." In the end, they had all been victims, she had misinterpreted a lot of what she had seen. Weird, with their cult for Moldaver, but that was a given for a Vault from what she could tell now. "He just..." she pulled the magazine off her face, still cringing, and pointed at the spot between her eyes, "He had one small eye here. I couldn't stop staring." Although he didn't seem to have realized, maybe because to him that was part of normalcy, just like ears or noses on the wrong spot of the head. "I was in Vault 4 and I thought they were experimenting on people, not that they were the experiments themselves and I... was definitely... less than polite to some. I daresay I was... mean."

Wasn't he making her point there? "I know, which is why you should sleep on a bed when you can." But her attention was quickly diverted on the dog, "Attention?" she repeated, sitting up to touch Dogmeat, who didn't seem to care, "I thought... well, I saw dogs in the movies, obviously, but I thought it was a special effect, like with the fake blood..." She didn't like being ignorant on anything, especially not on things that to him were clearly common knowledge. It was one thing to speak of Fiends, another of dogs, who were pre-war. She figured her father couldn't have justified knowing more than she did, even if he had wanted to tell her that dogs could do that.

"You can't feel..." she started, appalled, and then looked at their hands as he said, and her mouth fell open. Yes it did look like that. That felt... weirdly, uncomfortably intimate too. "Traded... you stole mine, I had to bite yours..." she muttered, still looking at the finger on her hand, then at his. "Trust me, I was never going to forget you, even without the reminder," she added, deadpan to make sure he knew she wasn't exactly paying him a compliment. A touch of pink on her cheeks, she pulled herself back on her side of the bed.

"On a second thought, you should definitely stay there." She resisted asking which part of him was supposedly hotter. "We'll both sleep easier, I'm sure. I should get used to the cold." While keeping their hands far from each other for the time being.

[bucketofdrugs]

She may not find the humor in the situation, but he certainly did. It wasn't hard to picture her rude- she was rude to him all the time- but rude to someone else was an amusing thought. "What happened to your lil' golden rule, Vaultie? Loose sight of it when you had to look the fella in the eye?" Oh, he was far too amused by this revelation. Thinking about her losing that touch, that little spark of kindness she tried so desperately to cling to, made him far to giddy for his own good. And for her to feel remorse over it was even better.

His amusement fell the moment she mentioned Vault 4. He wasn't surprised, not even a little, that the experimentation had turned in that direction. He should have known back then, when they were shooting the promotion, but he had been so blinded by loyalty to his wife that he couldn't see what had been in front of his face the whole time. "Yeah, well, considerin' Vault Tec made 'em, and how far loyalty to that shithole goes, don't blame ya' for bein' a bit harsh to 'em. Probably still got their britches twisted around that damn mess." \

There's a soft sigh from the man's lips. "Ain't as comfortable to me as it is to you, sweetheart. You got to spend most of your life sleepin' on a cushy lil' mattress. I'm more acquainted with wood than I am wool these days." Would he be uncomfortable on a mattress? Hard to say, but he wouldn't be entirely uncomfortable on the floor.

He thought back to Roosevelt, a pang of longing tight in his chest, and shook his head slightly. "They were trained to do all that. Most dogs like havin' some sorta job. Dogmeat here is a kinda breed that don't know what to do with themselves if they don't got some sort of job for 'em. Her job now is keepin' your pretty little hide safe." Roosevelt, too, needed something to do to keep himself regulated. He liked acting, but he liked herding Janey around even more.

"I can feel, just not heat or cool so much. I ain't hot 'cause of me, it's all radiation." He almost fit his hand against hers, just to see the contrast in the traded fingers. See if he could line up the scars, the stitching he had made, to match each other better. Almost. "An honest exchange, Vaultie." He almost purred, looking down on his own hand for a moment. "Well, ain't that sweet. I'm glad I could make such an impact on you, darlin'." He knew it wasn't a compliment, but he was choosing to see it as one. Mostly to annoy her.

And, well, if that didn't just make him want to get all cozied up then and there. Something about annoying the ever loving fuck out of her, like her endless cheerfulness did to him, pleased Cooper to no end. "'Cept you're not, and you don't wanna. Don't really know that I wanna listen to your teeth chatterin' away anotehr goddamn night." He shucked off the duster, draping it over the dresser that stood in tatters, then approached, nodding his head toward the other side of the bed. "Scoot. Dog'll move."

[disgustinggf]

i'm actually very normal if you ignore everything i have ever said and done

[savingthrcw]

She appreciated that he didn't try to dissuade her from getting angry about that, and her hands found his coat and pulled him closer again, head tilting to the side so he could kiss her more. A surprised gasp followed the bite, and she could only let out a choked "Yes" in response to his words, or maybe to his teeth. She wasn't sure - she was very distracted, and in fact it took her a moment to understand his question, blinking in confusion.

"Oh! Right, we do have a room, yes, of course, we should do that," she agreed; pity, she would have loved more kisses, but it was the appropriate thing to do, to get back to a private space.

[bucketofdrugs]

It was dangerous that he knew just how to make her weak. Not as dangerous, perhaps, in how easy it was for her to make him feel just the same. Loud, violent, angry, when Lucy was pissed off and vengeful was when he was most enamored with her. Directed at him or not, he liked seeing that little bit of fight in her. He liked seeing that killer inside her threaten to come out. At least, until his teeth bit into her neck, dissolving that frustration into something just as hungry.

He chuckled softly at her response, reaching out to press a hand onto her lower back. He didn't want to stop touching her, not since he first got that chance. "Gonna hafta hurry, then, won't we?"

[bucketofdrugs]

Been too sick to be here, and I'm. sorry. for the lack of a heads up. I'll try to post some tonight before hopping on 76.

[savingthrcw]

Lucy was admittedly a little confused when Cooper directed her to the wall, although she welcomed the change and hoped it would make her less indignant.

He didn't care at all, that had been established, or at least it didn't hurt him because he must care a little if he had brought up how the Brotherhood wouldn't approve of him, but Lucy couldn't stand it. She was sure she'd never be able to stand it, among all the injustices that she could somewhat explain to herself. "He was...! That was...!" even with Cooper being so delightfully distracting, she was vibrating with that anger that came from injustice, but knew she had to just accept how the rest of the evening would go, "At least let's go to that alley. For sex, I mean."

[bucketofdrugs]

"He was," Cooper acknowledged, lips sliding down to press feather light against her neck. The man was a piece of shit- most folks who hated ghouls simply for being what they were fell into that category- but Lucy was unwavering in her support of them. Of him. While he might skirt around any 'no ghouls' sign he saw, especially if it was for a bounty back in those days, he was glad to see his woman try to knock those who stood by that sentiment down a peg.

"I think he gets the hint, now. You're mine." He bit her neck lightly, more a promise for more than anything else, and stepped away from her space. "Think we can make it back to the room we rented?" He was on the fence about that. There were plenty of alleys to stop in, however.

[savingthrcw]

"Now then," Lucy's smile was angry, not at him, of course, but she looked back only to give a loud "Bye!" that was directed at that man in particular, since he had decided to disrespect them both.

She took Cooper's hand, a bit for show, a bit to pull him with her before she started an actual fight - she had grown increasingly tired of people's prejudice; it was one thing to dislike Cooper for his personality, but that wasn't the issue there, and she was getting closer and closer to giving up on the front of peacefully changing someone's mind about ghouls. Her patience had limits, as Cooper himself had found out soon after meeting her. She was trying very hard to use words, not hands, but it felt like one of those battles she couldn't win.

Too angry to think, she knew she didn't have the physical strength to hurt him but realized only after several steps just how tightly she was holding him and felt guilty for having dragged him without considering his feelings. "Sorry, I'm... I'm a little peeved."

[bucketofdrugs]

Angry Lucy usually amused him. He poked and prodded and jabbed until she snapped, and while he was less inclined to do so lately, he didn't mind reveling in someone else pissing her off so spectacularly. Not because he liked someone making her so mad, no, but because when she was angry, she got fierce. She was a hurricane when she was angry, violent and methodical in the way she tore things down, and it was hot. It was a far cry from the sweet and cheerful thing she usually was, and her losing control of that spitfire temper made him weak. He could admit to being attracted to her rage.

He didn't mind her pulling him away from the bar, away from the dumbass that pissed her off, and back to somewhere much more quiet. Or, toward somewhere quieter, though she seemed to deflate before theh really left. Not entirely, but just remorseful for how he'd been in the middle of it, as if he didn't enjoy her taking charge and pulling him around more than anything.

He backed her against a nearby wall, one hand steadying himself beside her head while the other brings their intertwined hands to her hip. "I noticed," he replied as he leaned in, lips looming closer to her ear until he could nip at her earlobe. "If you don't think he got the hint, though, we could always make a scene."

[savingthrcw]

💋 from @bucketofdrugs

She'd have understood if Cooper had gotten jealous over a guy flirting with her. She'd have understood if she had gotten jealous over someone flirting with him. What Lucy didn't understand was why when the man kept hitting on her, she was the one who felt possessive on Cooper's behalf, and outraged that he hadn't cared one bit about the fact that she was clearly with the ghoul she had arrived with; or maybe that was the issue, since Cooper was a ghoul, the guy hadn't considered him a fair opponent. And Lucy would not stand for such disrespect. So as soon as they were done, she walked the small distance between her and the actual man, well, ghoul, she had chosen to leave with, grabbed him for his coat and pulled him down for a possessive kiss. To heck with being appropriate in a public space. She would have likely disliked if he had used her to make a point, but her using both of them to make it felt... acceptable. "Ready to go, sweetheart?" Nobody had ever said she couldn't be spiteful, she just chose not to. Generally.

[bucketofdrugs]

He was... surprisingly calm over the whole ordeal. Lucy had chosen him, time and time again, and unlike with Max where there was a history, she didn't know this fella one bit. Her continued disinterest in his advances only drew a smirk to his lips. He'd have stepped in if she looked like she needed a hand, but her knew her well enough now that he was confident she could take care of one creepy asshole herself. He hadn't touched her, hadn't tried anything more than talk, and she was no damsel in distress.

And honestly, seeing her rebuke him was ridiculously hot.

Even hotter when she got fed up with it, grabbing Cooper by his jacket and pulling him in for a heated kiss. He returned it with equal enthusiasm, slotting his mouth against hers with as much passion as he could muster. He grinned against her lips when she pulled back enough to speak, and something about a possessive Lucy made him want her that much more. A hand slipped down to her ass, just touching for now, but using her display to allow himself to show off just a little. He got to touch. No one else was allowed.

"Ready whenever you are, darlin'."

[bucketofdrugs]

Maybe he enjoyed pissing her off a little too much. It was one of his favorite past times these days, and knowing where to poke and prod made him a little more happy than it maybe should. "The dog already responds to it. Be a shame to change it now, peoplemeat." It might be a dick move, but to be honest, it makes him smile to be a little harsh to her. She had the best reactions to his prodding. "And ain't anyone lookin' for ghoulmeat, sweetheart. Least, not the same kind." Other kinds.... well, he'd been prepositioned enough over the last 200 years to know some weird fucks got off to it.

"Look more like you're expectin' it to jump to life all on its own." He could tell her how it worked. Marital aids, they'd called them before the war, and what a great aid they had been. Part of him really wanted to see her struggle with it, though, and make it up to be the waste of caps it had been. He was all for using caps for fun things, selfish indulgences, but why waste them on things like that when fingers worked just as good. Not that he wanted to think about her in that position. "I ain't averse to sex; I ain't a celibate. Just don't wanna be hearin' you moanin' while you get your rocks off. I ain't your little tin soldier boy."

[walkswastes]

      “That doesn’t make it right. I think Dogmeat is smart enough to figure out a name change.” The moment Cooper called Lucy peoplemeat, she chucked her empty cram can at him. Annoyance fluttered over her features as she huffed. “Call me that again, and I’ll do more than throw a can at you.” It was mostly an idle threat, but she felt the need to somewhat defend herself. Though the idea of smacking him was grew ever more appealing by the second. Arms crossed her chest, “You still eat it – is there anything or anyone you won’t eat?” She still had not forgotten when he made her help him jerky a former friend. It was honestly horrific.

        “For someone who isn’t interested, you sure have a lot to say.” Lucy put away the toy for a moment, to set up her sleep mat and get out her blanket. “Maximus, his name is Maximus. And –he isn’t learned in sexual gratification.” From the conversation they had in Vault Four, she wasn’t even sure if he ever had indulged in the practice of masturbation. As he seemed to be rather unsure of how his own penis worked. “Don’t worry, I can be quiet. I am a woman, I have perfectly natural needs. There is nothing wrong with me taking care of them.” Finally, she made herself comfortable on thea mat and retrieved the toy once more, “Perhaps you wouldn’t be so grumpy all the time if you took care of yours.”

[bucketofdrugs]

"I'm sorry, what'd you call her?" The shit eating grin on his face was probably enough to get him smacked. More so when it grew when the can smacked him in the chest. Pissing her off was one of few things that could make him feel genuinely happy these days. "I would like to see you try." His challenge was more serious than her idle threat. Of course, unlike Lucy, he was well aware how much stronger and sturdier than humans a ghoul was. "I don't get so caught up on how somethin' smells like peoplemeat, so for the most part, no." Dogmeat, both the companion and in general, were usually off the menu. "Waste not want not, Vaultie."

"I ain't interested in you. You strugglin' with that thing is a little entertainin', though." He settled himself in across the small room, setting his back against the wall and leaning against it upright. He chuckled a little at her explanation. "So, boy scout doesn't know how to get down. Color me surprised." And he was so far from surprised. The Brotherhood always had a stick up their asses, and that explained a good lot of it. "Never said there was. Just that I don't wanna hear you moanin' and groanin' while I'm mindin' my own." He'd reached up to pull his hat down, but paused as she said her final line. "Oh, don't you worry none, darlin', I know how to beat my own meat."

[bucketofdrugs]

He tossed a sliver of his own can to the dog, a little smile gracing his face when she gobbled it up. His hand dropped to rub his hand over her head for a brief moment. "Better'n the sand and trees," he muttered to himself before starting to eat from his own can. At least it was mostly quiet while they were both occupied with the small amount of food they had. His eyes flash up to her at the comment about the dog and he huffed a laugh. "Lil' sensitive about a name, sweetie. Dogmeat don't mind, do she?" Another ruffle of his hand over the top of the dog's head.

He finished the can, tossing it into a corner where rubble from the floor above had crashed down. He caught her rustling through her bag, pulling out that thing, and he rolled his eyes. "You're gonna hafta wait a whole for your little playtime, girlie. I don't wanna be involved with your self-rediscovery." Sure, he'd still probably hear the thing buzzing, but it was not the same as being wide the hell awake when she went to town.

[walkswastes]

           “I wasn’t being sarcastic. Some of us can appreciate the small things.” Head shook with slight annoyance. She abhorred when he muttered to himself. If he had a comment, she wished he’d just say it to her face. When he laughed at her comment, she huffed. “It’s awful! And you know it’s awful!” She seemed almost indignant about it,  “It would be like calling me Peoplemeat or you Ghoulmeat. It just is not nice…” Full lips formed a pout – she was pretty sure she wasn’t going to win this one. Regardless if she was right.

       The big chocolate eyes roll at his comment. Lucy seemed to be doing a lot of that today. “I’m trying to figure out how it works while It’s still light.” After all, she was just as curious about how it worked – technically. Though she wasn’t as scientifically inclined as her father, she did always enjoy a challenge. She wanted to know if she would have to repair it before putting it to use. A scowl crossed her pretty features he had been acting particularly weird about the topic of her and sex. Suddenly her face softened as she came to a realization, “Are you averse to sex or something? If you are, I apologize.”

[bucketofdrugs]

Maybe he enjoyed pissing her off a little too much. It was one of his favorite past times these days, and knowing where to poke and prod made him a little more happy than it maybe should. "The dog already responds to it. Be a shame to change it now, peoplemeat." It might be a dick move, but to be honest, it makes him smile to be a little harsh to her. She had the best reactions to his prodding. "And ain't anyone lookin' for ghoulmeat, sweetheart. Least, not the same kind." Other kinds.... well, he'd been prepositioned enough over the last 200 years to know some weird fucks got off to it.

"Look more like you're expectin' it to jump to life all on its own." He could tell her how it worked. Marital aids, they'd called them before the war, and what a great aid they had been. Part of him really wanted to see her struggle with it, though, and make it up to be the waste of caps it had been. He was all for using caps for fun things, selfish indulgences, but why waste them on things like that when fingers worked just as good. Not that he wanted to think about her in that position. "I ain't averse to sex; I ain't a celibate. Just don't wanna be hearin' you moanin' while you get your rocks off. I ain't your little tin soldier boy."

[savingthrcw]

She didn't know if she should considering 'sharing her preferences' a mistake or a great idea, because it really depended on how he intended to use it. "Do that and I'll scratch you."

And yet, Lucy couldn't stop marveling at the fact that his was a conversation that was simply happening between them as if it was the most normal occurrence. She giggled at the thought of him attempting to save his clothes from her, and she once again thought that it was his personality, somehow, that had made her more driven. "I think it's because I like you. I mean, I like you as a person. Despite what it might seem. If you were just a way to satisfy my libido, I wouldn't have been nearly as much in a rush. That's why I think your clothes aren't safe yet." Had he not been such a sarcastic bastard with a soft side - whether he wanted to admit it or not, he had looked after her and Dogmeat - she wouldn't have been so drawn to see him so overwhelmed by what she was doing to him.

She smiled when he did, though hers became a little more curious, surprised, when he pointed out all the things they already did together, "Are you saying we are practically a married couple? Because I'm definitely using that one for evil." Two could play the mean game, after all, and she stole a quick peck from his lips to show she didn't actually mean any harm by that. The fact that he of all people would tell her not to change despite complaining about her attempts to save everyone hit her straight to the heart, and Lucy fought not to look too touched by it.

You are... so far from a disappointment, Lucy MacLean. Her eyes did get a little misty then, but she hid it with a big smile; she had disappointed herself, especially that day when realizing she had assumed he'd just move on after her death like he had no feelings. She hadn't thought of anyone, even Maximus cared about her, had changed for her, and was a dear friend, and there was her brother waiting for her at the Vault, and she hadn't thought of anyone but of saving the city. She had felt desperate, in that moment, to do something right for everyone, but like she had told him earlier, she had forgotten she was also a person and people may miss her. "So you don't think I should become more jaded anymore?" she questioned softly, "Think only about my survival? You are fine with me having my... martyr days, saving people even for free?" That was quite the step for someone who had spent so long doing the opposite of what she did.

"Have you ever been jealous?" she asked amusedly, then remembered what she had meant to ask, "Are you... actually bothered by Max? By... Max and I having been closer before?" So many comments thrown in his direction, so often. It was a bit suspicious. "How about I wear yours tonight, so I don't get too cold? You are warm, but my back is exposed." There'd be time to use that little information to drive him a little crazy, since disheveled, big clothes or even men clothes on her were such a turn on for him. "Let's take a week. Let's take a week off. Not here, let's find some place where we can just... do this. For a week. And then back to saving the Wasteland."

[bucketofdrugs]

His grin only widened. "Baby, I thought you weren't up to goin' another round." Because he at least knew what kinda shit that was going to start if those nails came out again. "You know I like it when you leave me aching." There was a very intended double entendre in that last word.

Something about her being attracted to him, despite clearly already having that little fact confirmed with how eagerly they ravaged one another, made him no longer wish to be as decent as he'd been attempting. His hands moved lower, curling over her ass with a satisfied hum. "So, what you're sayin' is your need was more than satisfyin' that carnal urge?" Of course he knew the answer, but that smug little part of him liked hearing it. Again, and again, and again. "Sweetheart, you are something else, and I ain't entirely sure I'm gonna make it outta this arrangement alive. I think you're gonna be the death of me." At least he would die satisfied...

He rolled his eyes, "more gettin' at you don't gotta be married for all that." He's... not sure if he could go through that again. Being so deeply tied to one person, putting all his trust in her like that, only to worry it'll be ripped away in the right circumstance. He still got to kiss her, hold her, fuck her, without having to feel like his whole world was tired to her. She already held too much power over him, already had him hook, line, and sinker. Anything more than that just felt... he didn't want to think about it, actually.

Her question brought him pause, trying to think of an appropriate answer before just saying something. "I still want you to think about savin' your neck. I don't wanna be in that position again, draggin' you outta something that could have killed you." It would be one of the worst days of his life for a while, even with this being the result of that decision. Regardless of whether or not they'd have gotten here at some point, he did still wish the circumstances were better. "But I know you're gonna help folk. Always doin' the right thing, even in a world that wouldn't do the same for you. Guess that's what I like about you. Wormed your way under my skin somehow, sweetheart, not that I find myself. minding much."

He's quiet for a moment, jsut staring back at her in thought. "I didn't use to be jealous," he replied softly, an almost sad look crossing his face for a brief moment. A pretty little thing like her had so many options; better men, nicer men, men less broken and torn apart by fate and bad luck. While jealousy was indeed a small part of it, it wasn't his only reason for disliking Maximus. His trust for the Brotherhood was on par with his trust of Vault Tec, and their disdain for ghouls put him on their shit list as high as they were on his. But he doesn't answer the question, instead shaking his head at the next.

"My dirty ol' dish rags are due for a wash, and seein' as you just got one, it's probably for the best you don't dirty yourself any more than our little redevous has." God, but her in nothing but that formerly blue and gold blouse... he'd file that mental image away for later use. "A week off, huh? Don't tell me I took an insatiable lil' vixen to bed." The look on his face said he absolutely didn't mind if he did. "This ain't exactly the bullshit I thought we'd get sidetracked by. Not that I'm complainin'. If that's what you wanna do, I can make it work."

[bucketofdrugs]

I'm not being allowed to cut posts (at least on mobile/my tablet) so if my posts aren't trimmed, blame Firefox.