#jackie oc

[bitsofboots]

The facility behind them, and the open road ahead. Kyser sings from Jackie’s pipboy, cheery brass and an upbeat tempo eases the burden of trudging along cracked asphalt. They should make it back to Novac well before sundown. Then, finally, Jackie will be back on track.

“Hold on.”

She stops. When Jackie turns to check, Boone is kneeling on the ground. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” he grunts. “Shoelace.”

Well, alright then.

She rocks back on her heels, taking in the sights while she waits. The mojave is a rolling, unending blanket. Off in the distance, she can see the outline of Novac. The dinosaur stands proud. Off to her left, the desert stretches on. To her right…something sticking out. Not a toward. Smaller. With an odd shape near the top moving. A flag, she realizes.

Jackie checks her map. “Oh, hey! We’re pretty close to that NCR station.”

“What?”

“Ranger Station Charlie,” Jackie clarifies. “I actually stopped there for the night before I made it to Novac.” Then she remembers something else. “Wait. Do you think we could stop by? I completely forgot Ranger Andy asked me to check on them.”

“Doesn’t matter to me.” Boone states. It’s not a no. Jackie smiles at him.

“Shouldn’t take too long. It was less than a day from there to Novac when I stopped. They might even have supplies to trade for.” She fiddles with her pipboy, placing a marker onto the station’s general location. Jackie would probably start to recognize features when they were close enough. Or, more likely, a patrol will spot them and confront them. It didn’t worry her, though. Even if they didn’t have a reason to stop by, the troopers weren’t cruel. At worst, they’d tell them to beat it.

Except they walk closer and closer to the station, and no patrol greets them. The flagpole becomes more distinct. The flag itself billows in the wind, a silhouette against the backdrop of the sun. The station suddenly rises in front of them, nestled into the mountain side, gates wide open. Not a guard in sight.

Jackie slows down, just as Boone speeds up. They end up shoulder to shoulder.

“Something’s wrong.” Boone says.

Jackie doesn’t respond right away. She searches the rooftop of the station, the tops of the abandoned trailers. No scouts. Not even the shine of a rifle scope. She swallows.

Suddenly, a blare of brass. “How lucky can one guy be-?” She switches off the radio without looking. Boone is watching her, rifle already in his hands.

“Come on.” Jackie walks into the base. Her pistol feels wrong. Heavy, and awkward. Like someone replaced it when she wasn’t looking. The station is silent, apart from their footsteps. Boone has his back to her, scanning their surroundings. Jackie is grateful for it, because she can’t bring herself to look anywhere but the station’s main office.

The door is shut. Innocent. Not a smudge or crack out of place. It’s just like Jackie remembers from the week prior.

“Schrödinger's cat. A thought experiment for the concept of superposition. Existence outside of observance.” Cigarette ash tapped into the waiting tray. “Do events truly occur if they are not observed? Does it matter if they do, when no one is around to witness their effects? Is the cat alive, or dead? Or is it both? Reality folding over itself until you make the mistake of lifting the lid.”

Jackie’s hand is on the doorknob, twisting.

The smoke wafts in the air, trailing lazily after the cigarette as it’s lifted. A small glow from the end as he inhales. The smell of cigarettes grows stronger, clouds of it puffing with every word.

“Did you, yourself, kill the animal when you decided to open the box?”

[bitsofboots]

🧑‍🍼 Does the way your character was raised show now, or would most people be surprised by their childhood?

🫱 Somebody slaps your character across the face. How do they react?

😠 Your character gets left out from something their friends are doing. One: How do they react? And two: Were they left out accidentally or intentionally?

Ask game! Still accepting

🧑‍🍼 Does the way your character was raised show now, or would most people be surprised by their childhood?

Answered this here! I'll add a little more and say I think surface level you look at her and go yup rich kid nepo baby right there. But honestly she had a kind of sad childhood. A lot of nannys and robots that showed her affection rather than doting parents. The doppelganger was involved for a good chunk of it but she unfortunately was exploited from time to time. Zoo outings or going to see a film or playing at a playground, a lot of these things were intentionally planned and designed to get nice press photos of house being a "doting" father. It raises public opinions of him. And Jacqueline as she got older became more aware of the cameras- and then realized her father always knew they were there when he started coaching her on how to act around them. So the spoiled rich kid fantasy started to fade into paranoia and pressure on how to behave

🫱 Somebody slaps your character across the face. How do they react?

Bro shed probably start crying 😭 i think depending on the timeline she might hit you back. Game timeline she became more violent- kind of parr for the course for new vegas courier- so in that instance she's gonna take that as a sign to fight. She'd probably still cry after because she's a little bit of a weenie.

Pre-war she's gonna sulk in her room.

😠 Your character gets left out from something their friends are doing. One: How do they react? And two: Were they left out accidentally or intentionally?

Hmmmm pre-war she'd be suuuper offended. She's Jacqueline house. You don't exclude her, she excludes you. Doesnt matter if it was on accident or not. Chances are it was on purpose as a social snub.

Game timeline i think shed take it a little bit better. I think she'd still be butt-hurt but I think that sort of comes with the territory of knowing you were excluded from something. Now, I feel like game timeline the exclusion would be accidentally. Jackie can be kind of flighty later on. She's very protective of the new independence shes clawed her way into and the downside of that is she can sometimes just skip off and do her own thing. Usually she'll drag someone else along because she's a people person but she will forget to tell people where she's going a lot. It can be hard to tell if shes disappeared for just a couple hours or a couple days sometimes. So her companions might go out to do something they know she'd enjoy, but they just don't know if shes back in town or not

[bitsofboots]

🎸🧦🛋️🫥 for JACKIEEEEEE

Ask game! Still accepting

🎸 Name a song you like that your character would hate.

Lmaooo i feel like most of them if I'm being honest. I like a really wide range of music I'm not really stuck to a single genre. I think she'd be very influenced by her father's taste. Swing jazz is probably her go to though I see house enjoying slower music and she probably likes things more upbeat.

But just to give a song im gonna choose one that actually reminds me of jackie- even if i dont think she'd like it: I Will Never Forget by Kimya Dawson.

I think she'd find the way Dawson sings aggravating and she's not very big on sad or angsty songs to begin with

🧦 What does your character wear on their feet at home? Socks? Shoes? Slippers? Nothing?

I already answered this one here but! I'll at least go into some detail about her self care stuff. She was like a barbie doll pre-war. Fuzzy pink robe and matching fuzzy slippers. Crazy ass curlers and face masks and anti-aging creams. Girl was into allll of the trends. I'm sure she had some promotional article and collaborations with beauty product companies.

🛋️ Think of where your character probably is right now. What's something that's close to them?

I'd say her teddy bear. She's got this stuffed bear she's had since she was a kid. Even with amnesia she picks one up in some abandoned house because it gives her a feeling of nostalgia and she tends to cling to things that even have a hint of familiarity. Pre-war she didn't carry it everywhere, just kept it in her room but post amnesia she's got no shame about lugging that baby around in her bag. He's her little good luck charm.

🫥 Describe a scenario where your character might feel embarrassed--something that's likely to happen to them specifically.

I think it actually takes a lot to really embarrass her. She's got a lot of confidence in herself and her place in the world. If someone tries to mock her shes just like ok lol I'm still better than you. What will really make her want to die inside is doing something stupid in front of her father.

The big event i can think of right now would have to be the one real relationship she was in. House even warned her at the time to be wary of the man's intentions but she for once in her life, dismissed her father's opinions on it. They're in love. He doesn't know what that's like he couldn't understand.

And then she realizes the dude was just like every other man she's known even if he was more subtle and even kinder about it. And i think that really humiliated her. Realizing she was acting like a lovesick puppy when shes been so desperately trying to prove herself to her father.

She avoids him for like a week straight. Just sulks in her room until he demands her presence and does the house conversation equivalent of "girl stand UP"

[bitsofboots]

🧦 What does your character wear on their feet at home? Socks? Shoes? Slippers? Nothing?

🧑‍🍼 Does the way your character was raised show now, or would most people be surprised by their childhood?

YAAAY THANK YOU FOR THE ASK

🧦: Oh my god the self care routine on this girl was CRAZYYYY. She definitely had her own slippers. Probably fuzzy pink. I think post-war a lot of her old things were destroyed or she chucked herself. But she definitely is a sock girlie. I actually could see this being a point of contention between her and her companions - why are your SHOES on the BED we are not ANIMALS

🧑‍🍼: Oh my god yeah 😭 ok so I do joke a lot about her being a spoiled brat and I think pre-war Jacqueline is exactly who you'd expect of the daughter of robert house aka "princess of robco" to act. But a lot of that is due to enotional suppression and denial about her situation. Once we get into game timeline, her amnesia and time away from her father's influence sort of allows her to develop her identity out of the one he approved of.

I don't think house was ever really abusive to jackie. But there was a LOT of pressure on her to act and speak a certain way. Post-new vegas is where she finds a middle ground of that arrogant socialite to more down to earth individual

But yea. Anyone that knows her can tell that girls been spoiled lmao

[bitsofboots]

When Jackie wakes, her heart is pounding. There’s a prickling sensation along her skin, the itchiness of dried sweat. Yet, no distressing dreams linger. She’s not sure why she’s awake, it’s still the dead of night- even Boone seems to finally have knocked out. She can see his form a little ways away, back to Jackie and facing the rest of the wilds.

There’s a cotton feeling to her mouth. Thirsty. She smacks her lips, rolling her tongue around as she tries to blindly reach for her pack.

“Fancing meeting you here, friend!”

Jackie shrieks, jolting up and off the cardboard. She hears Boone curse as she tries to reach for her weapon and simultaneously scramble away from the voice. It leaves her twisting around, caught between two choices.

“What the hell?!” Boone snarls, rifle already up and aimed at…

“Victor?” Jackie gasps, staring up at the securitron. The cartoon face peers down at her, perky as ever. “Howdy pardner! Didn’t meet to scare ya’!” His screen brightens as he speaks. Jackie has to look away for a moment, rubbing her eyes.

“Jackie?” Boone says her name, rifle still at the ready. Disconcertingly, Victor doesn’t react to the weapon aimed at him. In fact, he hasn’t even glanced in Boone’s direction.

Jackie hesitates, then lifts her hand. “What are you doing here?” She demands as Boone reluctantly lowers his weapon. “Why are you…?” Sneaking up on me? Watching us sleep? Following me? She’s not sure which to ask

“Oh, just rolling along on my spurs. Looks like I might make it to New Vegas after all.” The securitron shifts, moving his claw around in a human-like gesture.

“Uh…huh.” Jackie isn’t sure what to say. Words rarely fail her, but something about Victor has always put her on edge. Coupled with the surprise of his wake-up call, she feels wrong-footed.

“It’s, um, good to see you, Victor.” She finally offers, defaulting to politeness for the sake of something to say.

“Yep, but this is getting a might embarrassing - people are going to start to talk...” Victor chuckles, the sound warm and welcoming. Despite everything, it eases some of the tension. Jackie finds herself smiling, just slightly.

She glances off to the horizon. No sign of dawn. Still, she makes herself stand. It’s not likely Jackie will be able to fall asleep again after this. Might as well get an early start.

“You see any sign of Benny?” Jackie asks as she moves towards their fire- or what’s left of it really. She busies herself with getting it going again as she listens to Victor’s reply. Unsurprisingly, Victor hasn’t seen fancy-pants since Goodsprings. Not that she was expecting him to.

“Is that why you’re heading to New Vegas?” Jackie asks, attempting to sound casual while prodding for information. “Looking for a soft living, yourself?”

“Shoot, what’d you take me for? I’m not no city-slicker like Mr. Fancy-pants.” Dirt crunches under Victor’s tire as he rolls closer.

“I dunno…you’re the one that said you just got an inkling about heading to New Vegas. Sounds to me like you couldn’t hack the wild life.”

Victor makes an offended noise. “Hold on there, missy. Now, I don’t appreciate what you’re tryin’ to imply there. If I may remind you, you are also headin’ to the big city. So between the two of us…” Jackie looks over her shoulder, smiling. When the securitron registers the expression, he trails off. Then, his claws come up to rest on his sides, looking stern. “Are you pullin’ my leg, right now, little lady?”

“You don’t have legs Victor.” Jackie says innocently.

Victor stares, unmoving. Silent, except for the softest hum of his core. Then, he laughs. Louder than the first time. “You’re a little trouble-maker, aren’t’cha?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Jackie focuses on the fire, satisfied to see the kindling catching. Boone sits across from her, watching them both.

“Oh, come on now. You ain’t changed that much from when you were a tot. Always gettin’ up to no good.” Victor chuckles, sounding far too casual as his words freeze Jackie in place.

“What?”

“Hm?”

“What did you just say?” Jackie twists around, something heavy settling in her chest. Victor looks as innocent as always. “I said…” His screen glitches, the picture of the cowboy rolling like a jamming tape for a moment. “You’re a little trouble-maker.” He chuckles again, but this time the warm sound does little to settle Jackie.

“No. No, that’s not what you said. What did you just say?” Jackie stands, facing the securitron. She hears Boone stand as well, his low voice saying her name. She pays him little mind, focusing on Victor. “You just- Victor, have we met before?”

Victor’s body tilts, like a confused dog cocking its head. “Well…sure we have. We met in Goodsprings, remember? You feelin’ alright?”

The heaviness in Jackie’s chest grows, paralyzing her. She swallows, finding it a struggle. Something wriggles in the back of her mind, something shattered by a few millimeters of lead. Her temple throbs and for a moment, Jackie swears she can smell smoke.

A warm hand on her shoulder snaps her out of it. She jolts, surprised to find Boone right beside her. He’s looking at her with his usual blank expression, but there’s an extra crease between his brows. Then, he looks over at Victor.

“Time for you to get lost, robot. Stay out of our way.” Boone says, a dark promise in his tone.

Victor doesn't say anything for a long moment. It drags out in the desert night, the only sounds being the crackle of the fire and the softest hum of machinery.

“Well now.” When Victor finally speaks, it's slow and offended. His claw twitches, like it's shaking off a bad sensation. “Didn't know it was like that. Is that what you want? Jackie?”

She jolts at being addressed, unsure why it shocks her. There's something in the way the securitron says her name that doesn't sound right. Like he's testing it. She finds she doesn't like it.

Her arms have come up to hug herself at some point and Jackie forces them to drop. She straightens. “I think you should go Victor. We'll…see you later.” It's not a question.

A mechanized sigh comes from Victor's speakers. “I guess you will. You take care now, little lady, alright? Don't be afraid to holler if you need a hand.”

Victor rotates and rolls off into the darkness. Jackie watches him go, his form growing smaller and smaller. The securitron crests a small hill, then vanishes down the other side.

Jackie hugs herself. Victor doesn't reappear. Too far away? Hiding?

“That thing was in Novac, wasn't it? When you first came to town.” Boone’s voice is startlingly loud. He's still beside her. Jackie doesn't look at him.

“He was.” Jackie agrees. She scans the horizon, trying to spot any movement. A hulking figure. The faintest glow of lights.

“Do…you know it?”

“Him. He's a him. His name is Victor.”

A pause. “Jackie.” Boone’s voice is quiet.

Jackie turns away, turns back to the fire. “We should get packed.”

[bitsofboots]

Heartbreaking to ship your own ocs with characters knowing it couldn't happen because of things YOU decided. Like no canonically Jackie and benny aren't the WORST best het couple on the strip because she kills him in her canon story but also. I made this shit up so I got no one to blame but myself lmaooooo

[bitsofboots]

writing jackie as a little girl is just so

[bitsofboots]

The sunlight blinds her when she first steps out. She blinks, trying to adjust as the door shuts behind her. 

Doc’s house is on a hill, overlooking the rest of the town. Goodsprings. That’s what he had called it. Ramshackle buildings dot the landscape and moving between them are people, going about their business. Doc had said to find…Sally? No, Sunny. She should find Sunny. Yet she can’t bring herself to move. She stands on Doc’s porch, watching the town and feeling lost.

“Howdy, partner!”

She looks down, seeing something near the base of the hill. A blurry silhouette comes into focus as she squints.  A robot, she realizes. It doesn’t approach, but when it sees her looking, it waves with a large claw. She looks around to be sure, but no one else is around. It’s talking to her.

It doesn’t approach, but it doesn’t leave. Even as she continues to stare. She glances back towards Doc’s house but finds no miraculous solution on the front of his door. The robot is still watching her. 

She gets a better look at him as she approaches. It’s tall, with a blue, box-like frame. A single tire supports it that rolls in small movements in the dirt. Its arms are long enough that the three-tipped digits it has for fingers almost touch the ground. In the center of its form is a large television screen, displaying a cartoon head of a cowboy. 

“Well, look at you! Might I say, you’re looking fit as a fiddle.” A panel beneath the screen lights up as the robot speaks.

“Um, hi.” She looks it over, something occurring to her. “Are you…the one that saved me?”

The robot makes a noise, almost like it was about to reply before stopping. There’s a humming sound from inside it, growing louder. She glances around, uncomfortable but finding no immediate help. 

“Yes Ma’am! The ol’ Doc tell you that?” 

“He did.” She hugs her arms, studying the robot. Something about it… “I guess I should thank you for that, huh?”

“Don’t mention it! I’m always willing to help a hand to a stranger in need. Though, maybe we ain’t strangers no more. Considerin’ the circumstances and all,” The robot chuckles.

“Who are you?” 

“Well now, where are my manners?” The robot extended it’s- his?- claw to her. A facsimile of a handshake. She hesitates before accepting it. The metal is warm, sunbaked. “The name’s Victor. Don’t s’pose you picked up on that already?”

“Oh.” She blinks, suddenly remembering. “Oh, yeah. Doc mentioned that.”

“Ah, yeah, suppose he would.” Victor falls silent, staring at her. Is he staring at her? Her head is throbbing, the stitches on her temple were starting to itch.

He’s still holding her hand.