0. Is he _______? Check all that apply. Supply additional notes as desired.
[ ] An alien or other cryptid?
Kinda. I have a headcanon that he likes it underground so much because there's a stretch of the abandoned vault beneath where I determined the UP Deathclaws called home. (UP Pharmacy btw. It's also completely infested with Mole Rats down there 🥹)
[ x ] From the West Coast or New Vegas?
West Coast. In my headcanon his parents were caravan workers and traveled all over. When they hit the east coast, tragedies struck, and he ended up alone and vulnerable, which led him into the 'Claws arms.
[ ] From the Capital Wasteland?
The Barb story is true for me.
[ x ] A former raider/gang member?
[ x ] Recovering/recovered from chem addiction?
I think this was a habit picked up while in the gang/pharmacy situation.
After being the only one to survive an attack, he couldn't let the Railroad die. He never wanted to be in charge of it and he got burnt out quickly.
[ ] 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?
No younger than 40 and no older than 47 for my timeline to work. I usually say around 45. I think he looks nebulously 35-50 depending on who you ask.
2. How tall is he? What's his default posture like?
5'10" but every time someone says he's 6 feet or taller, I deduct an inch. I don't think he necessary slouches, but his posture comes off as relaxed.
3. What's his body type/build like? Is he as strong/agile as he looks? Less so? More?
Thinner side, athletic. He is strong in a very practical way (farming is fucking hard fr), but not bulky. He needs to be fast, nimble, and silent.
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?
Nope! This man shaves his head not just for easy wig adherence, but because redheads tend to be a bit more memorable. The first time I played FO4 on high res, I was actually shook by the full velcro layer of hair you can see on his head. The hairline is visible. I think body hair is very light, but I always draw him with a lil happy trail.
5. How often does he wear that pompadour wig? Does he have other wigs?
I think it entirely depends on the vibe he is going for. It makes him look younger to me. I think he probably does, but it's not like those exist in the game :/
6. Does he have any scars? Freckles or other marks? Any tattoos or piercings?
I always imagine him with some really ugly scarring on his abdomen from where he got got by his fellow 'Claws. In my head it's the one thing he doesn't change, because it's a constant reminder of who he was. (I don't think he actually strips down to his undies frequently like when he glitches in game.)
7. What kind of clothing does he wear when he's not working/when he's at rest?
I think the white tee and jeans feel comfortable and anonymous to him. Why wouldn't he still wear the comfiest stuff he has?
8. What are his hands like? Soft, calloused? Are his nails rough, neat, bitten?
A working man's hands. He was a farmer, after all. I actually think I like the idea of him being a nail biter, tho. And I always draw him with painted nails bc I can and if I'm gonna let him do one iconic ooc thing, it's paint his damn nails black thank u.
9. What does he smell like? What are his hygiene habits like?
Cigarettes and Thrift Stores and Basement. Not in a bad way tho? I think he's extremely hygienic. He's always fucking talking about cleanliness and dental hygiene and shit. And keeping a head shaved requires regular fucking maintenance (my partner shaves theirs and its a whole ordeal). Shit takes commitment.
10. When (if ever) does he take his sunglasses off? Why does he wear them?
To sleep, replacing them with an eye mask ✨️ They aren't just a disguise, they're a mask. The eyes are the windows to the face or whatever Christopher Walken said about those plants. They're the key to a good poker face. They hide vulnerability. They disallow eye contact. Also from one sunglasses guy to another, really light eyes are extra sensitive to sunlight 🥲
11. Who is he, in his mind? How does he define himself? What name(s) feels right, if any?
I think Deacon is probably his longest-used name. It is possible that he'd have changed his name for nearly every phase of his life; what his parents called him, what the 'Claws dubbed him, what name he took when trying to build a life without them, etc. I think those changes happened more frequently for a while after joining the Railroad, but more stability was needed and the newer members needed a name they could reliably trust to refer to him as. And that in and of itself kind of answers the other parts of this question, because who he is and how he defines himself is so tied to his servitude to the Railroad. It is his life, his mission, his salvation. It's the most ideal version of himself that he can fabricate. Whether or not that ideal is something he feels is true is another story entirely (he doesn't).
12. Who does he trust, if anyone? With some things or wholeheartedly? Why?
I think there are levels to trust. Obviously he trusts Dez and others at HQ, but not nearly enough to tell them the truth about his past, because he doesn't trust them not to judge him for it. In a world where he and the sole survivor become best friends, that trust extends to them, and it is probably the most he trusts anyone. And of course I have to mention my own little shippy headcanon situation, wherein the growing trust between him and Danse grows into something more romantic. In my head, his romantic partner is the only person who gets to see him raw and vulnerable.
13. What made him choose Deacon as a codename - or is it not a codename at all?
I really like the meaning of the word as servant. It suits him.
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!
A lot of distraction and dissociation to get him through the dark moments. (Humor is a great distraction.) Otherwise checklists and such to combat paranoid anxiety and catalogs and catalogs of information because my boy stays curious.
15. When did he become involved with the Railroad? Why?
Approximately 2269 after offing the 'Claws. He was recruited like he says.
16. When might he retire or step away from the Railroad, if ever? What might motivate or influence that decision?
Not immediately after the Institute is dealt with. I think he feels tremendous relief afterwards, but then there would be a period of time that he'd feel very lost and grasp at any reason to help anyone in the name of the Railroad. If he found love with someone, that person would be motivation to retire and settle down into a more normal life, but otherwise I can see him doing it until he dies, never satisfied with his progress.
17. Where is he from? What was his early home life like? How does he remember it?
I kinda answered this before. California, by way of caravan routes. I don't have all the details figured out in my head, but I don't think he misses it.
18. Where is the furthest from the Commonwealth that he's been? Why did he go there?
I also answered this earlier, so I'll focus on more recent years for him. I think he sticks close to the East coast-ish where the Institute has access. He's definitely been to the Capital and maybe even deeper south, but doesn't have much reason to stray from the area.
19. Why does he favor the tactics/weapons that he does? Is he proficient with others?
Because he has great vision and a steady hand, and the distance is key for a stealth attack. He could watch someone for hours before taking a shot.
20. Why/when did he first take interest in the Sole Survivor? What were his intentions?
Approximately 2286 is when he starts looking into the vault and he's there when they first emerge in 2287, high-tailing it out of there to go regroup and follow them as much as possible.
21. How did he get in the habit of lying? Does he remember? Could he stop?
I assume he was always a bit of a liar. Son of the wasteland equivalent of a used car salesman, probably. It got worse when he had more to hide. I don't know that he could ever stop entirely, but I think he doesn't lie to those he cares about on any serious subject... they only get the fun lies.
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?
I think when it really matters, he can handle it. I think he lies so poorly in front of sole because he *wants* to be caught. I like to think that his eyes are extremely expressive, so that's part of the reason he hides them.
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?
I don't know if this counts, but I think every time before he gets a new face/persona, he does whatever he can to get the one he's about to change on the Gunners' most wanted list. He's on there several times and he gets a real kick out of it.
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?
I don't think he enjoys talking too deeply about his personal life with others. I think he doesn't talk about his childhood ever, Barbara unless you really get close to him, or if he obtains any new sort of romantic partner, he's pretty private about it. I think a lot of it isn't just his own shame, but in the case of any ongoing relationship there is fear of it becoming tainted or someone he cares for being harmed.
25. Free Space. Fun(?) fact or ramble of your choosing.
It is time for me to talk about my ship. But I'm gonna be real: that could be a whole other post. And it took me SO LONG to do this one. No joke, between all my asks, nearly every question was asked for, so I just did the whole damn list. Anyway I love Deacon with Danse obviously, so feel free to send me asks about them and I'll do more blabbering in another post.
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