Hello! Just wanted to say that I was pleasantly surprised to see someone open to writing for the older games and that I look forward to seeing what else you may write! ^_^
If you're open to requests, maybe some headcanons for dear ol Harold?
Amazing you asked this Anon, because I had this sitting in my drafts almost finished! I'm so glad someone else loves that sweet sweet man too — he deserves far more love and attention.
I appreciate the excitement and it goes a long way in encouraging me so thankyou so much! I won't make promises yet but I have so many thoughts on Cassidy, Ian, the Master/Richard, Sulik, etc. etc. that I'd love to work towards sharing at some point so fear not; I plan on giving the older games plenty of space to shine.
Yapping over, have some Harold headcanons!
【FO1】 RANDOM HAROLD HEADCANONS
Like a true old man, Harold would carry gum drops to give to youngsters that he would pass by on his travels — along with picking corn, razorgrain and other flora for the brahmin pulling caravans. He's a gentle soul, and believes the world will pay his kindness forward. This obviously stopped once Bob rooted him, but even then he would have the Treeminders scatter treats along his branches biannually... for Sapling Yew to have a pseudo easter-egg hunt with. He'd rustle leaves where treats are hidden to give hints if she was stuck; the entire time chuckling and playing the 'hot and cold' game. He adores Yew and misses her terribly every time she leaves.
Before being rooted and especially when Bob was just a sprig, Harold would twirl Bob mindlessly when relaxing or as a nervous tic. He enjoyed rubbing the leaves and feeling their texture and using them as a grounding presence during harder times.
Most of his days in the Capital Wasteland are structured around Yew's visits and in her absence he plans which adventurous tale of his to tell her next. He keeps them light and inspiring, akin to a story from a children's book — but they're all real experiences he's had; just without the harrowing details and wasteland viscera. Harold would tell her of catching a fish as big as a brahmin, or saving his friends from raiders by pretending to be a deathclaw. His favourite is trying to convince her that Bob's real name is actually Herbert, attempting to cite medical resources and legal documents. The poor girl never has a clue what he's talking about but listens to him anyway.
If they kept him alive, he'd save the deeper stories for the Lone Wanderer. Recounting his fond memories of Richard, sharing travelling and survival advice — painfully admitting that he thought they were the original Vault Dweller when they first strutted over in their jumpsuit. He will beg them to reciprocate with tales and stories or at the very least bring him a book and something to put in his mouth to flip the pages with.
And on reading: Harold has always loved books. His favourite author is Stephen Crane. He and Richard would take turns reading books as they travelled, sometimes reading to one another if they ran out and had to share. Harold was never historically-minded enough to put it all together and interpret literature in his own way, but Richard would explain the similarities and contrasts of Crane's world to theirs... and just hearing him so passionate and knowledgeable could make Harold starry-eyed. He believes fully his best friend's accounts and opinions on history and literature.
