“Eliana... Is that you?” Approaching the familiar face in the settlement, Cross felt an odd warmth in her stomach. It was mostly a good one, but at the same time, there were underlying nerves. Surely the Wanderer wouldn’t have forgotten her...? It might have been nearly six years since her disappearance, but the motherly affection the former-Star Paladin felt for Eliana had not diminished in the least. To see her alive and well...It was good.
“Hello...” Cross greeted the stranger with a curt nod, unsure what else to say. The single word should be enough to gauge whether or not this meeting would turn violent...
“Aaron.” Cross stood before the boy with ease, clearly both relaxed and alert within the bulky suit of armor most within the Brotherhood ranks wore. “I wish to speak with you for a moment.”
Star Paladin Cross is, in fact, around 40 years old during the time of Fallout 3.If the Lone Wanderer is one with a good heart, she can become very protective of them- and regardless of Karma, she does not particularly enjoy the fact that Elder Lyons seems to thrust them so quickly into danger. Part of the reason she chooses to join them is to ensure they have adequate protection; after all, they are only 19, and she feels it is her duty to at least offer them assistance.
Does your character have siblings or family members in their age group? Which one are they closest with?
Cross had a brother who was only a few years younger than her; he perished in the metro station the night she managed to flee. In truth, she barely remembers him.
Amelia has Nate,about 3 years younger than her, but nobody else except Shaun, who is 15 years older.
Alia has no siblings EXCEPT in big sister verse, where she has Eliana, whom she loves and adores and probably depends on WAY too much.
Nat has Piper, but since her sister is roughly 15+ years older than her, that doesn’t count as her age group.
What is/was your character’s relationship with their mother like?
Cross’ mother was more distant than her father, constantly worrying over the possible deaths in the outside world. Having come from a vault, the woman was incredibly anxious. She loved her children, but she became very distracted, and in the end, it couldn’t save her.
Amelia loves Laura unconditionally and, to a degree, aspires to be just like her in a great many ways. However, she’s also more intelligent than her mother, and ends up frustrating her as a result.
Alia never met Catherine; she has heard a great many things about her, what a wonderful woman she was, what an aspiration... But she’s a bit bitter still.
Nat never met her mother.
What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?
Cross’ father was stern but loving; they were close, and he was the first person to shoot her how to properly shoot a gun.
Amelia loves Liam as well, though she sees him as less of a role model and more of a constant support. No matter what happens, she knows her Dad will be there to help her, and she couldn’t ask for a better father. Plus he’s where she got most of her intelligence from. So there’s that, too.
Alia loved James and he was one of the only sources of validation she had in the Vault. She depended on him for everything, and he always tended to spoil her- his death was a major blow, and she had to be dragged away from the Jefferson Memorial by Dr. Li in order to escape.
Nat does not remember her father; she was too young when he died to have any permanent memories, but Piper keeps a picture of him and their mother that she looks at fondly every once in awhile.
Has your character ever witnessed something that fundamentally changed them? If so, does anyone else know?
Cross - Answered
Amelia - Nope, not really.
On an average day, what can be found in your character’s pockets?
Cross typically carries multiple magazines of ammo for her chosen weapons, a couple bags of caps as necessary, a knife, and a few other small trinkets which remind her of the past. Beyond that, she carries little beyond what is necessary for battle.
Amelia has bubblegum, small rocks, caps, and a swiss army knife on her person most of the time. She uses the swiss army knife for any sudden repairs, but when she’s older, it’s replaced with a backpack filled with tools and books, as well as a couple throwing knives and a solid dagger.
Nat - Answered
Does your character have recurring themes in their dreams?
No. Cross does not dream.
Amelia dreams of soft, fluffy things- happiness and animals, often intermingling with people and a wasteland filled with cooperation and harmony.
Alia dreams of the Vault. Days where she felt safe and unworried for the rest of the wastes, when nothing fazed her and all she had to deal with was the Tunnel Snakes.
Nat dreams of times where she had a whole family, rather than just herself and Piper. Although she’s seen the faces of her parents in pictures, they’re never the same when she sleeps.
Does your character have recurring themes in their nightmares?
Again, Cross doesn’t dream. However, she does, at times, have night terrors.
Amelia’s nightmares are made of emptiness; there is nothing and no one. Everyone she loves and who has supported her, cared for her, has disappeared. Empty houses, empty tables, empty everything.
Alia’s nightmares flicker between James’ death and her own near-death in the Purifier. Minetown. Downtown Boston. Super Mutants. Nearly everything the wastes has to offer, Alia has nightmares about.
Nat has nightmares of losing Piper- coming home and just finding that her sister had up and left with the Sole Survivor, only to end up dead. Synths coming in the dead of night and killing the two of them. McDonough kicking them out.
Has your character ever fired a gun? If so, what was their first target?
Cross first shot at a few small targets in the station around the age of 7
Amelia first fires a gun around the age of 6, shortly after learning all the parts of a gun, safe handling (using toy guns), and multiple other important tidbits that Laura felt were necessary before she could so much as touch a loaded firearm.
Alia was 10. She fired at some targets and a radroach.
Is your character’s current socioeconomic status different than it was when they were growing up?
For Cross, yes. While, as a child, she was in many ways poor, her status with the Brotherhood allowed the Star Paladin greater access to that which normal wastelanders would not. In her FO4 verse she certainly is, as she is no longer a child living without ability to fend for herself in any way, physical or health-wise.
No. Amelia’s in pretty good shape for most of her life; Laura has the means to keep her happy, and when she’s older, she can take care of herself well enough.
Alia is no longer a Vault kid, so yea. She’s worse off, really, with less resources after she leaves the Institute.
Nat’s the same.
Does your character feel more comfortable with more clothing, or with less clothing?
Cross feels more comfortable in her power armor; outside of it, she prefers thick outfits, typically wool that keep her warm and allow her to feel more confined. When wearing less, she can become anxious.
Amelia really doesn’t care much about her clothing so long as it protects her when necessary. She has dozens of outfits that she’s picked up from both pre-war and created since, one for nearly every occasion.
For Alia, the more clothes the better... Unless it’s warm out, in which case the less clothes the better! She’s extremely sensitive to temperatures thanks to the treatment she’d taken, so it varies from moment to moment.
Nat typically wears whatever’s comfortable, but that usually involves a jacket, a dress, and some pants because why not? Not to mention her favorite hat.
