His Eyebrows Raise In Surprise. During Their Travels, He Sensed ... Something From The Younger Man, Though

his eyebrows raise in surprise. during their travels, he sensed ... something from the younger man, though he had yet to pin it as the animosity he now makes abundantly clear.

❝ going against braun unprepared wasn't one of my proudest moments, ❞ james says, carefully diplomatic. friends are few and far between in the wasteland; eliana would likely disprove of dismissing jamie entirely.

in her state, though, does she really care? he can't help but ask himself. or realize that she has an ally?

❝ but i don't plan on venturing into anymore vaults. lord knows i've spent enough time in them to last several lifetimes. ❞ he gestures at the dilapidated hall they're standing in. voices drift from the atrium — daniel agincourt bickering with dr. li about her willingness to rejoin the project. ❝ in fact, i don't plan to be anywhere but here for a long while. i hope eliana chooses the same. ❞

all those years ago, he imagined completing the purifier alongside catherine. perhaps, the reality is that he has always been meant to do it with his daughter at his side.

❝ of course, you're welcome to stay, as well. as long as you'd like. i'm sure eliana would be pleased. ❞

BROW FURROWS FOR A SECOND. He'd gotten the sinking suspicion of late that Eliana was struggling far more than she'd care to admit. A FRUSTRATING HABIT she seemed to had formed since that point in time when they'd vacated the Vault.

He'd traveled with her since that point ( equal parts hope to support her in her time of need AS WELL as ensure she wasn't left to her own devices ). HER FATHER on the other hand, was someone he had come to realization he was NOT as fond of. The mans words are DRY, the younger of the two men crossing his arms as he glares intently.

SIGNATURE ICY STARE cast his way as he remains present in the moment. IN SOME WAYS he is...an improvement upon the typical absent-father, but in OTHER WAYS, he was the spitting image of his own father. THE THANKFULLY LATE Malcolm Lawson. Needless to say there was a MIXED FEELING about him.

It takes everything in him not to SCOFF, cold glare remaining transfixed on Eliana's father before drawing in a quiet breath.

"Yes that much is clear."

Arms cross over his chest and he watches the other man intently, speaking even with his usually UNCOUTH BLUNTNESS that was characteristic of him.

"...that is in fact why you were held prisoner in a vault simulation program correct?"

THERE'S AN ITCH in him, like he is ready to pick a fight, but he remains more or less CONTROLLED for the time being. There's something within him. THE BIT of empathy he normally possessed had effectively FROZEN OVER.

NIC NEVIN portrayed by Emily Vancamp The Resident (2018-2022)

the basic idea of any post-fo3 plot for james is that he gets found (by the sole survivor, generally, in my noggin) in some enclave remnant base in boston, having survived the purifier much like the lone wanderer did

the need to get back to project purity is an all-consuming one, even in his weakened state. his legs feel stiff from being locked in the tranquility lounger for days ... weeks, perhaps? james lost count early on, thanks, in part, to the canine status dr. braun assigned to him.

he glances at charlie, taking note of her in the fading light of the wasteland. she looks much the same, and every part of him wants to plant her back in vault 101 to keep her that way.

❝ we can stop soon, ❞ he says, tone only slightly begrudging. ❝ we won't make much progress in the dark. ❞

@wanderswastes

having a lot of feelings about these gifs in particular:

he gave up long ago on any notions of escape. if it weren't for the pip-boy, biometrically sealed to his arm, james wouldn't even have a clue how many years have passed since the enclave took the purifier and him along with it.

all he knows is that, in the interim, any of their power grabs have been remarkably unsuccessful.

it takes some self-convincing that it isn't a dream when the little underground bunker is raided, sending whatever enclave personnel remained running for the hills or to their graves. their scientists have never been known for their courage.

❝ who are you? ❞ he asks calmly, peering at the new woman from behind the forcefield keeping him in his damnable little cell. ❝ or, perhaps more importantly, who are you with? ❞

@aeonsolitude for nora!