[ How on Earth can Grace keep asking about Eden social structure while this is happening? He has the instinct to be quiet and secretive, as if Simon might at any moment realize he's actually sharing parts of his own inner world so directly and stop.
Grace slowly slinks off the chair he's been sitting at and sits on the floor, back against the wall. He thinks better that way sometimes, and it feels more private. Somehow. ]
No, I would. What, did you also sucker punch an Elder or two back then?
Hang on. I'm not a fast typer.
...Back on Earth, I had a kid in my class, Melissa. She didn't listen to a word I said to her. She would bully other students, she didn't turn in homework, she carved bad words into the school desks.
Well, one day she was in lunch detention with me. I didn't have other trouble makers in my class, so it was just the two of us.
Long story short, I had to walk over to her to try and get a sharpie out of her hand because she was again trying to write on the desk. And she hit me. Like, full on sucker punch while I was bending down to her level. Knocked my glasses right off.
I had this second where adrenaline kicked in, I won't lie. I wouldn't ever have hit her, but I felt this surge of like - what the heck am I even trying this hard for? And I just snapped at her. "Who taught you to act like this!?" I wasn't even really thinking through the question.
So I was pretty floored when she mumbled, "Louie". Turns out that was her step dad.
Uhhh there's more to it after that, involving CPS, which is kinda like a special police that investigates child abuse, but basically what I'm trying to say is like... Melissa reminded me you don't ever have 'bad kids'. There's just kids. And sometimes they've got crap situations they're in, and no one in their corner, and yeah, of course they're gonna lash out and be annoying little squirts sometimes. But they're still. just. kids.
[ Even when Simon has given him nothing but reasons not to trust him, not to be so generous with his need to believe the best in people, Grace extends his hand. No matter how many times he's bitten, he still.. Simon can't understand the depth of his caring. He knows it's because his own is so stunted. Sometimes he wonders how much he can actually feel and how much is just a mimicry.
Simon quietly seethes on the other end as he tells the story of this little girl, the abusive father he hopes received punishment. No matter how hard he tries, he can't afford the same grace to himself. It's completely different. Grace doesn't understand who he really is. He can't, maybe. ]
I hope they killed him.
[ That's the last message he sends for a while. Typing and erasing because he doesn't know how to explain it without divulging everything, stripping him bare to his essential parts. Maybe his visceral response to abuse will say enough about him, but the context matters. ]
I earned a nickname when I was young. When I still believed in what Eden stood for.
Simon the Butcher.
At what point does someone stop being a child? Is it an age? Or committing an unspeakable act?
Thorough of you. I get it, guy in charge making a clerical error's gotta be embarrassing for the reelection.
Guess I better start crunching the numbers and really blow you out of the water to cement my spot. Could start killing the competition, but where's the fun in that?
See? You're smart. Good head on your shoulders. Knew I had good taste in men.
Not sure what you're plannin but I know I already like the sound of it. You know I love bein the center of attention. Not sure how exactly you'd get 'sex and drugs' off the docket but you go ahead and try. I love watching a guy get creative. My guy get creative, as is.
Well, you know I hate being bored. There's a reason I drag you around everywhere and not Garvey or Strong.
Got no problem making you the center of attention. You know I hate that shit. Makes my skin crawl. Hmm. Not off the docket, that's a lofty goal, but if I can make you addicted to me..
That your indirect way of saying you wanna dance, Sunshine?
Because I'm the best time outta all of them, obviously. I set a high bar. And I don't even feel bad about stealing all your attention, either. Pretty sure those guys can amuse themselves.
There's an idea. How exactly you thinkin about gettin that done? I'd say 'don't get Pavlovian on me' but I kinda like the collars aspect anyway.
Indirect? Me? I may have two left feet, but I think I do alright.
There are enough settlements I don't have a problem telling them to fuck off somewhere else in the spirit of helping. Underhanded? Maybe, but it gets them out of my hair.
I can't give you all my secrets.. Yeah? And who's the one wearing the collar in this situation?
Oh sure. Lots of good to be done at tato farms all across The Commonwealth. Not gunna complain if you save all the most entertaining jobs for yours truly. A Mayor deserves no less, right?
Heh, that's exactly the question you should be asking.
I'm feelin like a demonstration might be in order here. That'll shut that smart mouth of yours.
Not sure that's actually better than Mayoral Duties either. I'll farm tatos and I'll make it look good, but can't you think of something else you'd rather I get all sweaty and outta breath over?
You wanna get technical and no one should be owned by anyone, of course. Goes without saying. But for the sake of havin some fun? Hell, I could go one way or the other. Ain't that I don't like bein boss. More like I like bein boss too much.
I can think of one or two things that might work..
Nah, if I was going to have you do anything, it would be raider sweeps. Get the blood pumping and keep them from getting too cozy near our settlements. speaking of, you should see what we've done to Hangman's Alley. Knocked into a few of the old buildings. Things were getting a little claustrophobic.
You're definitely right about that, but I can think of worse people being handed that kind of power. Sometimes I get tired of holding the mantle. Things were easier when it was just me and Dogmeat.
Hey when I say I ain't too good to get my hands dirty, I mean it. But yeah, if I'm bein honest, I'd rather be gutting a Raider than shoveling actual dirt. People gotta eat, I get that it's important, but murdering guys is generally more entertaining. Good call knocking into those old buildings, that place gives a whole new level to notion of operating in tight spaces. Good choke points though.
I feel you on that one. Sometimes being in charge of so many lives makes for a heavy, classy little tricorn. If we both like sabbaticals from the responsibilities of bein in charge, don't see why we can't take turns holdin the leash. I'm more than comfortable on either end.
You sayin I'm not an honest man? C'mon brother that's stone-cold! I'm definitely honest... most of the time! And I'm honestly telling you stabbing bad guys is a good time. See? It tracks.
Hope I'm around some time to watch one of those aforementioned snipers pop off a headshot or two in such close quarters. Maybe not close enough for splash damage. Just close enough to appreciate the precision.
Good to know. For some reason collars are one of the items that didn't get hard to find after the end of the world. Damn things are everywhere. Those and handcuffs. Ever notice that? Gotta start to wonder if the end of civilization just did something to how people get off.
I like a little deceit in my companions. Means when I need to be low-key about something, I'm not going to get ratted out. Sometimes lying gets you a little further.
Well, it's close enough to super mutants that they could eventually head that way.. maybe you'll get your wish.
Don't see mutant hound domestication like you used to... we used to be a society.. I won't complain. If you're lucky to find one in good condition, they're worth a few caps.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@spacegrace
Date: 2026-05-10 10:57 pm (UTC)yeah, that's them. they answered directly to the father.
[ There's no reply after that for a long while. He wants to believe the platitude, but deep down, he knows better. ]
..you wouldn't think that if you knew.
got a feeling it's fine but just a cw for implied child abuse!
Date: 2026-05-11 12:24 am (UTC)Grace slowly slinks off the chair he's been sitting at and sits on the floor, back against the wall. He thinks better that way sometimes, and it feels more private. Somehow. ]
No, I would. What, did you also sucker punch an Elder or two back then?
Hang on. I'm not a fast typer.
...Back on Earth, I had a kid in my class, Melissa. She didn't listen to a word I said to her. She would bully other students, she didn't turn in homework, she carved bad words into the school desks.
Well, one day she was in lunch detention with me. I didn't have other trouble makers in my class, so it was just the two of us.
Long story short, I had to walk over to her to try and get a sharpie out of her hand because she was again trying to write on the desk. And she hit me. Like, full on sucker punch while I was bending down to her level. Knocked my glasses right off.
I had this second where adrenaline kicked in, I won't lie. I wouldn't ever have hit her, but I felt this surge of like - what the heck am I even trying this hard for? And I just snapped at her. "Who taught you to act like this!?" I wasn't even really thinking through the question.
So I was pretty floored when she mumbled, "Louie". Turns out that was her step dad.
Uhhh there's more to it after that,
involving CPS, which is kinda like a special police that investigates child abuse, but basically what I'm trying to say is like... Melissa reminded me you don't ever have 'bad kids'. There's just kids. And sometimes they've got crap situations they're in, and no one in their corner, and yeah, of course they're gonna lash out and be annoying little squirts sometimes. But they're still. just. kids.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-11 12:45 am (UTC)Simon quietly seethes on the other end as he tells the story of this little girl, the abusive father he hopes received punishment. No matter how hard he tries, he can't afford the same grace to himself. It's completely different. Grace doesn't understand who he really is. He can't, maybe. ]
I hope they killed him.
[ That's the last message he sends for a while. Typing and erasing because he doesn't know how to explain it without divulging everything, stripping him bare to his essential parts. Maybe his visceral response to abuse will say enough about him, but the context matters. ]
I earned a nickname when I was young. When I still believed in what Eden stood for.
Simon the Butcher.
At what point does someone stop being a child? Is it an age? Or committing an unspeakable act?
@chem_break
Date: 2026-05-22 12:15 am (UTC)Thorough of you. I get it, guy in charge making a clerical error's gotta be embarrassing for the reelection.
Guess I better start crunching the numbers and really blow you out of the water to cement my spot. Could start killing the competition, but where's the fun in that?
Re: @chem_break
Date: 2026-05-22 12:31 am (UTC)Not sure what you're plannin but I know I already like the sound of it. You know I love bein the center of attention. Not sure how exactly you'd get 'sex and drugs' off the docket but you go ahead and try. I love watching a guy get creative. My guy get creative, as is.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-22 12:39 am (UTC)Well, you know I hate being bored. There's a reason I drag you around everywhere and not Garvey or Strong.
Got no problem making you the center of attention. You know I hate that shit. Makes my skin crawl. Hmm. Not off the docket, that's a lofty goal, but if I can make you addicted to me..
no subject
Date: 2026-05-22 12:45 am (UTC)Because I'm the best time outta all of them, obviously. I set a high bar. And I don't even feel bad about stealing all your attention, either. Pretty sure those guys can amuse themselves.
There's an idea. How exactly you thinkin about gettin that done? I'd say 'don't get Pavlovian on me' but I kinda like the collars aspect anyway.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-22 12:58 am (UTC)There are enough settlements I don't have a problem telling them to fuck off somewhere else in the spirit of helping. Underhanded? Maybe, but it gets them out of my hair.
I can't give you all my secrets.. Yeah? And who's the one wearing the collar in this situation?
no subject
Date: 2026-05-22 01:08 am (UTC)Oh sure. Lots of good to be done at tato farms all across The Commonwealth. Not gunna complain if you save all the most entertaining jobs for yours truly. A Mayor deserves no less, right?
Heh, that's exactly the question you should be asking.
[ Now who's being indirect? ]
no subject
Date: 2026-05-22 01:58 am (UTC)Can't have Goodneighbor find out I sentenced their beloved mayor to menial tato farming, they'd probably kill me for the slight.
There's merit in both. As much as I love the idea of adding to your attire, a mayor shouldn't be owned by anybody, should they? Bad for business.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-22 02:27 am (UTC)Not sure that's actually better than Mayoral Duties either. I'll farm tatos and I'll make it look good, but can't you think of something else you'd rather I get all sweaty and outta breath over?
You wanna get technical and no one should be owned by anyone, of course. Goes without saying. But for the sake of havin some fun? Hell, I could go one way or the other. Ain't that I don't like bein boss. More like I like bein boss too much.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-22 08:16 pm (UTC)Nah, if I was going to have you do anything, it would be raider sweeps. Get the blood pumping and keep them from getting too cozy near our settlements. speaking of, you should see what we've done to Hangman's Alley. Knocked into a few of the old buildings. Things were getting a little claustrophobic.
You're definitely right about that, but I can think of worse people being handed that kind of power. Sometimes I get tired of holding the mantle. Things were easier when it was just me and Dogmeat.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-24 12:04 am (UTC)Hey when I say I ain't too good to get my hands dirty, I mean it. But yeah, if I'm bein honest, I'd rather be gutting a Raider than shoveling actual dirt. People gotta eat, I get that it's important, but murdering guys is generally more entertaining. Good call knocking into those old buildings, that place gives a whole new level to notion of operating in tight spaces. Good choke points though.
I feel you on that one. Sometimes being in charge of so many lives makes for a heavy, classy little tricorn. If we both like sabbaticals from the responsibilities of bein in charge, don't see why we can't take turns holdin the leash. I'm more than comfortable on either end.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-25 01:07 am (UTC)We'll save the honest day's work for the honest people. Leave the killing to us to keep 'em safe. Nobody fucks with our settlements and lives.
I think it will be good, especially if we can set up some snipers on the top floors. That way the whole alley is covered.
I'm fine with that. I trust you.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-25 01:35 am (UTC)Hope I'm around some time to watch one of those aforementioned snipers pop off a headshot or two in such close quarters. Maybe not close enough for splash damage. Just close enough to appreciate the precision.
Good to know. For some reason collars are one of the items that didn't get hard to find after the end of the world. Damn things are everywhere. Those and handcuffs. Ever notice that? Gotta start to wonder if the end of civilization just did something to how people get off.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-26 01:55 am (UTC)Well, it's close enough to super mutants that they could eventually head that way.. maybe you'll get your wish.
Don't see mutant hound domestication like you used to... we used to be a society.. I won't complain. If you're lucky to find one in good condition, they're worth a few caps.