Now that I think about it, I remember watching a video essay about how rare a black man-white woman pair are in media. Like, yeah, we sometimes see some white man-black woman, but rarely in reverse. It's kinda irksome when one thinks deeply about it and how it reflects the wider attitude of some people when it comes to mixed couples. It might not be intentional in the shippers part when it comes to shipping. Still a reflection.

Also.

I don't really have skin in the game for fallout shipping wars, but I hope Maximus won't get treated the same as Finn in Star Wars.

Very true anon. I remember seeing similar things about how black men are perceived differently/more "dangerous" (stupid) and then that bleeds into people's ideas of relationships.

I think it's a subconscious thing. No one thinks of their shipping as racist since it's mostly lighthearted but I do think there's no such thing as being entirely removed from the societies we grew up in. Black men and people are seen as less desirable because society literally views them as lesser then. It sucks but I think people's views are slowly but surely changing.

I also agree with you. I hope Maximus continues to have a great part in the show and isn't sidelined like poor Finn 🥹

I just wanna say that Dane kinda has something going on for Maximus. I dunno if fallout will be have the balls to put more subtext on the relationship, but the scene in the vertibird... Dane just staring at Max. I kinda like Max and Lucy too as a pair. They should also let Aaron smile more so people can see how cute the pair is.

Max and Lucy as a ship is vanilla coded so I guess that's why people ain't shipping it so much... I think shippers want yearning over the certainty of a relationship, which is so infectious in other medias.

Interesting take anon! I kinda felt like it was the opposite for me. Like maximus viewed Dane much more strongly and thus was super jealous. Whereas Dane kinda underestimated maximus, but admired his passion. Also i think the brotherhood in general is super toxic and not really supporting of any true relationships.

I don't really ship them bc there wasn't as much screentime but I could see the vision. Ultimately though I think people aren't shipping Lucy and maximus because of not just the vanilla thing but because they're not both white. It's easier to ship an (originally white) ugly monster type creature with a white woman for some people than it is to consider a black person as an object of affection. I'm not trying to call anyone out but I've seen this time and time again with so many interracial ships. Like sydcarmy, richonne, even in the movie Prey more people were horny for the predator over Taabe, a very attractive indigenous man.

There also was yearning between Lucy and Max, they both had immense chemistry before finally kissing. I also don't see Lucy being attracted to the Ghoul (lots of people downplay women's attraction to men in irl relationships even so this isn't surprising) I think ppl prefer enemies to lovers and that's fine and all but I still think there's a subconscious form of racism going on lol. Also yes Aaron has the sweetest smile ever <3

Okay I know u don't ship ghoulcy but the part where he cuts off her finger is so 🙈🙈🙈

😳 ngl yeah it was hot LOL. The eye contact. The pinning down!! The part where he calls her a killer 🥰

It's not really that I don't ship it/don't see it, I just think they're parallels/mentor-mentee and I'm not getting the vibe it's supposed to be romantic and I really think the Ghoul just acts that way with everyone. Like honestly if he had more screentime with other people there would be other popular Ghoul ships. But that doesn't mean I mind the ghoulcy ship, tbh it could always turn more romantic and I definitely think there's a level of wish fulfillment where we all want to be in Lucy's place lol 🤣😳

But also I think a lot of people are being anti-black as usual with Maximus so 😞 it's unfortunate to see but lots of tumblr ppl don't actually care for diversity in relationships. As a WOC I've noticed we're not really considered "cool" or romanceable in fandom so... that kinda sucks. But that's life I guess.

Two cake theory also means your small underrated fic can be someone’s comfort fic

duuuude i’m so not excited for people to dismiss tashi in favor of hardcore art/patrick shipping. she’s literally the catalyst the icon the queen herself you cannot have the story without her . my insane ambitious to a fault tortured wife what will they do to you post-canon i wonder…..

Todd Andrew Howard naming the jaded gun-slinging cowboy ghoul that he knew every single one of us goddamn heathens would desire carnally "Mr. Howard" was possibly the biggest power move of the century

tired of pretending he isnt fine as hell

Norm MacLean didn't like that he felt like a coward so he decided to be the head bitch. The moment. The brains behind the operation. Who's operation? His operation because this is his show now. The entire show could've just been his arc in the vault and I would have been happy. He brings the brains. The cunning. The Perception, even. He never quite felt right with the culture of vault 33 and the more he uncovers the more that makes sense for him. He is bringing the sheer force of will now that he has something to be willful about. He never lacked ability. Only motivation and ob boy does he have it. He hid in a hole once then decided no. Im not a baby brother hiding in a hole. Im the badass staring Vault-Tec in the eye who says I fucking dare you. And i find that incredibly sexy of him.

Norm maclean pls 🙏🙏 I know it won't get notes but I love that guy (he's my blorbo) and I know youll do him justice

Aw LOL anon please don't worry about notes! I certainly don't. I've got fics/posts that are 0 - 100 and some that went past 1000. I don't really post based on popularity 🤠

Like my bio says I pretty much write what I want. And I do like Norm as a character, I'm just trying to figure out what storyline to do with him lol. Ive got a few fallout WIPs rn. I'll probably post something in the future. And ty 🥹 I really hope you're right :)

I'm not the first person to think this but I feel like the overconsumption and adoration of the enemies-to-lovers dynamic has actually ruined how we view normal, soft relationships lol. Like people online saying that things lack chemistry if they weren't about to kill each other?? Not everything is all about that hateful, lustful passion, I feel like there's other forms of chemistry that are now underrated.

plus the way how people describe soft relationships as vanilla is sort of sad lol. dont get me wrong i like both but i miss when people enjoyed sweet, cute ships too.

sorry no john hancock is gay and not for u straight girlies.

uhhh it's been a while since i've looked into him but can't the sole survivor romance him regardless of gender??

Anyways it's just fanfic anon, if you prefer to headcanon him as gay/bi that's fine but it doesn't mean I have to subscribe to that lol. Just don't read my stuff then

I'm begging everyone thirsting over Cooper Howard aka The Ghoul to look up John Hancock from Fallout 4, another drug addicted ghoul in a big hat and long coat that just oozes charisma

Plz I need more people to love him too

Lucy x Maximus or Lucy x Ghoul? 😃

Oo interesting question! I personally really prefer Lucy and maximus; I think they're very cute and soft and right for each other. I love that they both want what's best for each other.

I like Lucy x Ghoul bc they have intense chemistry but outside of that I don't know if I love them together romantically; because I feel like they're a much stronger story when they're parallels to each other. I also don't believe in shipping every woman with every man that's near her (just as a baseline moral thing) because women can and should exist out of romantic stuff, like there's just as much importance in our relationships to men platonically too.

So yeah I would say Lucy x Maximus and I don't disagree with people shipping Lucy and Ghoul. Just think they're more parallels/share themes/narratives than real soulmates to me, if that makes sense :) the Ghoul could literally have chemistry with anyone too. He's insanely charismatic which I think people are taking romantically but I don't see it that way personally.

Fallout

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul

Sweet as Nuka Cola

↳  Mutual pining, flirting, slow-burn, angst, friends to kind-of enemies to lovers | 11k

You’re an upcoming actress who has a constant flirtation with Cooper Howard. But even if things seem to be off to a good start, a nuclear bomb, a cryogenic pod, and two hundred years of carnage ruins all of it. Is there something to be salvaged from your relationship with Mr. Howard?

How is everyone not losing their minds over Norm????

Look at him! He's only 3 apples tall 🥺

Idek when smut became a think that means a fanfic is done or it be end game. You did great with your fic and it doesn't need smut at all. There's hardly any fanfics that are story driven, mostly smut, which is all good and all. but sometimes, ppl just wanna read beyond that. Like I said, I thoroughly enjoyed your fic a lot and it ended quite well! :3 don't listen to anons or comments of ppl whining about lack of smut since there's so plenty. You did great <3 //

Ahh thank you anon 🥹 I think most people would agree with how we think! It's just a few people who really push the urge for smut which is fine but again not the goal of every writer/every fanfic. I think some people also want more parts in general bc they're used to writers producing a lot for readers to consume, but I don't really do that lolol.

And ty!! I'm glad you enjoyed it :) I really aimed to make it story driven like you said. I hope you're doing well <3 💕

WHY no Cooper smut??? 😭😭😭😭

Hey anon! I know you mean well by this and I'm flattered you enjoyed my writing enough to want more of it.

I personally feel that my Cooper fic is a finished piece. I don't think of smut as a necessary requirement in every single fic/the end-all of finishing off a story. I wanted to write something romantic and indulgent and that doesn't always have to include smut, I feel like what I've written is its own story.

Not every romance thing is going to culminate in sex, and I don't feel that it has to since it's a story and it can be whatever the writer wants. Not to be harsh at all but I enjoy writing things based on their plot, not always if people are going to get off on it.

I also feel that thematically it works better that they don't immediately jump on each other. Cooper and Reader both have trouble trusting anyone and i feel it's not super in character for them to just start fucking, especially when they have conflicting feelings for each other. They needed to rebuild a relationship which they did by the end of the fic.

Would it have worked with another 5000 words? Maybe, but I wasn't interested in exploring that just for this fic, I just wanted to write this the way it was :) I hope you can understand and hopefully read other Cooper fics that give you the smutty parts you want 💕