âYeah? So what if I donât have people for the holidays? What the hell does it matter to you?â
Carlos frowned at him. âWell, since you ask, I feel bad knowing that someone I know is going to be alone this holiday season. Are Flug, Dementia, and Fives not sticking around? Or the hatbots even?â Maybe the âbots would be too busy working, but the others… did they even have families?
Send đ to find out my muse has no family to go home to for the holidays
âLame, isnât it?âÂ
The reporter laughed, pulling his wallet out as he stood in line at the grocery store. The damned holiday music blasting through the speakers was driving him insane. âThey should be more considerate of the lonely dumbfucks who gotta be reminded of their sad damn holidays.â He grumbled, pulling some bills to pay.
Carlos shrugged as he arranged his own groceries on the conveyor belt. âIâm usually pretty okay with it,â he admitted. “But I understand itâs not for everyone. And yeah, the commercialism can understandably be grating.â Especially when a guy was buying macaroni and ramen for himself… Like Carlos was.
Carlos wandered through the forest. He knew heâd seen a cave somewhere â it looked like an old bear cave, though he hadnât gone in it before. He wanted to be as far away from his camp and the summer camps, in case the children had an idea to wander around at night to hunt for snipes. The full moon would make visibility perfect for it, so it was a reasonable concern in Carlosâ mind.
He finally came across the cave he was looking for. And not too soon either â the moon would rise probably within the next ten minutes. Carlos ventured forth, holding his flashlight up to search the inside of the cave. Hopefully it was empty. Could a werewolf beat a bear? Maybe?
he looked down at and shifted his paws, unsure how to feel about this
Carlosâ tail stopped moving. RightâŚ
Iâm⌠not going to be like this in the morning, Carlos said. A wolf, I mean. I know you probably donât like human adults so⌠I wanted to get out of your fur before then.
And risk being discovered by the children or the counselors, if any of them decided to go for a midnight walk.
âYou.. You Still Donât Have To Go, Things Are Just.. Different Nowâ he looked up at the other, hoping he would somehow get what he was trying to say
Carlos looked at him. I donât exactly see how⌠Iâm a human. I have been the entire time. I just⌠have a condition, that makes me look not that way.
âWell.. Youâll Just Have To Not Kill Me In My Sleepâ he tiredly layed his head down
Youâre worried about me killing you??Carlos asked incredulously.
âIâm Worried Anyone Trying To Kill Me, Itâs Nothing Personalâ
Carlos was quiet for a second. I guess I could say the same. I thought you wouldâve gone after me. Nothing personal, though⌠it was just a worry I had as well.
âI Think People Think Iâm Mean Cause Iâm So Big..â he yawned âBut Iâm Only Mean When I Have To Beâ
Carlos nodded. Yeah⌠itâs why I worried when you were getting close to the camp. My kidâs there, so⌠you know.
âYeah I Know..â he glanced out of the cave, the world seemed so quiet
Carlos was silent for a moment.
So, um… yeah, he said finally. Then Carlos lay down with his head sitting on top of his pants. So… if you see a human here in the morning, then itâs probably me. But then Carlos looked over at the other creature. I mean… if you want me to stay. If not, then let me know and Iâll…
Carlos grinned at him, his attention now diverted as well. âI told you â Daisy had some come in. Said something about the trade coming out of Nuka World getting better. Anyway, I had the caps so I figured why not? Iâm very glad itâs a hit with you though â I was worried because of the price.â
âDaisyâs been holdinâ out on me?â He half-joked as he took another bite then offered the cake to Carlos with a little smile, chewing and swallowing before speaking again. âHave you tried it yet? Want a bite?â
Carlos smiled and nodded, opening his mouth to take a bite from the cake in Hancockâs hands. It was incredibly crunchy and sweet, despite the years it was sealed away in this cardboard box. One had to wonder about pre-war food – what was it made of for it to be preserved for so long?
âIsh gooâ!â he reported, his mouth still full as he was still chewing.
Carlos wandered through the forest. He knew heâd seen a cave somewhere â it looked like an old bear cave, though he hadnât gone in it before. He wanted to be as far away from his camp and the summer camps, in case the children had an idea to wander around at night to hunt for snipes. The full moon would make visibility perfect for it, so it was a reasonable concern in Carlosâ mind.
He finally came across the cave he was looking for. And not too soon either â the moon would rise probably within the next ten minutes. Carlos ventured forth, holding his flashlight up to search the inside of the cave. Hopefully it was empty. Could a werewolf beat a bear? Maybe?
he looked down at and shifted his paws, unsure how to feel about this
Carlosâ tail stopped moving. RightâŚ
Iâm⌠not going to be like this in the morning, Carlos said. A wolf, I mean. I know you probably donât like human adults so⌠I wanted to get out of your fur before then.
And risk being discovered by the children or the counselors, if any of them decided to go for a midnight walk.
âYou.. You Still Donât Have To Go, Things Are Just.. Different Nowâ he looked up at the other, hoping he would somehow get what he was trying to say
Carlos looked at him. I donât exactly see how⌠Iâm a human. I have been the entire time. I just⌠have a condition, that makes me look not that way.
âWell.. Youâll Just Have To Not Kill Me In My Sleepâ he tiredly layed his head down
Youâre worried about me killing you??Carlos asked incredulously.
âIâm Worried Anyone Trying To Kill Me, Itâs Nothing Personalâ
Carlos was quiet for a second. I guess I could say the same. I thought you wouldâve gone after me. Nothing personal, though⌠it was just a worry I had as well.
âI Think People Think Iâm Mean Cause Iâm So Big..â he yawned âBut Iâm Only Mean When I Have To Beâ
Carlos nodded. Yeah… itâs why I worried when you were getting close to the camp. My kidâs there, so… you know.
Carlos wandered through the forest. He knew heâd seen a cave somewhere â it looked like an old bear cave, though he hadnât gone in it before. He wanted to be as far away from his camp and the summer camps, in case the children had an idea to wander around at night to hunt for snipes. The full moon would make visibility perfect for it, so it was a reasonable concern in Carlosâ mind.
He finally came across the cave he was looking for. And not too soon either â the moon would rise probably within the next ten minutes. Carlos ventured forth, holding his flashlight up to search the inside of the cave. Hopefully it was empty. Could a werewolf beat a bear? Maybe?
he looked down at and shifted his paws, unsure how to feel about this
Carlosâ tail stopped moving. RightâŚ
Iâm⌠not going to be like this in the morning, Carlos said. A wolf, I mean. I know you probably donât like human adults so⌠I wanted to get out of your fur before then.
And risk being discovered by the children or the counselors, if any of them decided to go for a midnight walk.
âYou.. You Still Donât Have To Go, Things Are Just.. Different Nowâ he looked up at the other, hoping he would somehow get what he was trying to say
Carlos looked at him. I donât exactly see how⌠Iâm a human. I have been the entire time. I just⌠have a condition, that makes me look not that way.
âWell.. Youâll Just Have To Not Kill Me In My Sleepâ he tiredly layed his head down
Youâre worried about me killing you??Carlos asked incredulously.
âIâm Worried Anyone Trying To Kill Me, Itâs Nothing Personalâ
Carlos was quiet for a second. I guess I could say the same. I thought you wouldâve gone after me. Nothing personal, though… it was just a worry I had as well.
Carlos wandered through the forest. He knew heâd seen a cave somewhere â it looked like an old bear cave, though he hadnât gone in it before. He wanted to be as far away from his camp and the summer camps, in case the children had an idea to wander around at night to hunt for snipes. The full moon would make visibility perfect for it, so it was a reasonable concern in Carlosâ mind.
He finally came across the cave he was looking for. And not too soon either â the moon would rise probably within the next ten minutes. Carlos ventured forth, holding his flashlight up to search the inside of the cave. Hopefully it was empty. Could a werewolf beat a bear? Maybe?
he looked down at and shifted his paws, unsure how to feel about this
Carlosâ tail stopped moving. RightâŚ
Iâm⌠not going to be like this in the morning, Carlos said. A wolf, I mean. I know you probably donât like human adults so⌠I wanted to get out of your fur before then.
And risk being discovered by the children or the counselors, if any of them decided to go for a midnight walk.
âYou.. You Still Donât Have To Go, Things Are Just.. Different Nowâ he looked up at the other, hoping he would somehow get what he was trying to say
Carlos looked at him. I donât exactly see how⌠Iâm a human. I have been the entire time. I just⌠have a condition, that makes me look not that way.
âWell.. Youâll Just Have To Not Kill Me In My Sleepâ he tiredly layed his head down
Youâre worried about me killing you??Carlos asked incredulously.
Carlos wandered through the forest. He knew heâd seen a cave somewhere â it looked like an old bear cave, though he hadnât gone in it before. He wanted to be as far away from his camp and the summer camps, in case the children had an idea to wander around at night to hunt for snipes. The full moon would make visibility perfect for it, so it was a reasonable concern in Carlosâ mind.
He finally came across the cave he was looking for. And not too soon either â the moon would rise probably within the next ten minutes. Carlos ventured forth, holding his flashlight up to search the inside of the cave. Hopefully it was empty. Could a werewolf beat a bear? Maybe?
he looked down at and shifted his paws, unsure how to feel about this
Carlosâ tail stopped moving. RightâŚ
Iâm⌠not going to be like this in the morning, Carlos said. A wolf, I mean. I know you probably donât like human adults so⌠I wanted to get out of your fur before then.
And risk being discovered by the children or the counselors, if any of them decided to go for a midnight walk.
âYou.. You Still Donât Have To Go, Things Are Just.. Different Nowâ he looked up at the other, hoping he would somehow get what he was trying to say
Carlos looked at him. I donât exactly see how… Iâm a human. I have been the entire time. I just… have a condition, that makes me look not that way.
Carlos wandered through the forest. He knew heâd seen a cave somewhere â it looked like an old bear cave, though he hadnât gone in it before. He wanted to be as far away from his camp and the summer camps, in case the children had an idea to wander around at night to hunt for snipes. The full moon would make visibility perfect for it, so it was a reasonable concern in Carlosâ mind.
He finally came across the cave he was looking for. And not too soon either â the moon would rise probably within the next ten minutes. Carlos ventured forth, holding his flashlight up to search the inside of the cave. Hopefully it was empty. Could a werewolf beat a bear? Maybe?
he looked down at and shifted his paws, unsure how to feel about this
Carlosâ tail stopped moving. Right…
Iâm… not going to be like this in the morning, Carlos said. A wolf, I mean. I know you probably donât like human adults so… I wanted to get out of your fur before then.
And risk being discovered by the children or the counselors, if any of them decided to go for a midnight walk.
Carlos wandered through the forest. He knew heâd seen a cave somewhere â it looked like an old bear cave, though he hadnât gone in it before. He wanted to be as far away from his camp and the summer camps, in case the children had an idea to wander around at night to hunt for snipes. The full moon would make visibility perfect for it, so it was a reasonable concern in Carlosâ mind.
He finally came across the cave he was looking for. And not too soon either â the moon would rise probably within the next ten minutes. Carlos ventured forth, holding his flashlight up to search the inside of the cave. Hopefully it was empty. Could a werewolf beat a bear? Maybe?
his tail swayed softly âIt Must Be Nice, But Why Not Tonight?â
Carlos thought about how to put this.
Because⌠you could say Iâm having a bad night, and I donât think Iâd be perceived as good company in the state Iâm in.
âYou Have Seemed Grumpy All Night..â he glanced out of the cave â.. Maybe You Could Come Back Tomorrow When Youâre Feeling Betterâ
Carlos made a non-committal huff as he carefully arranged his clothes onto the labcoat he laid out.
You said⌠that you liked the children at the camps just fine, right?
âYes, They Give Out Good Treats, Though Some Of The Olders Humans Donât Like Me Hanging Around..â
Well, thatâs understandable. Children are young and could be considered easy prey to some predators.
Carlos was quiet for a moment as he tried to fold his pants with his too-big paws.
What if I told you that one of those children is mine?
he lifted and tilted his head âReally? Which?â
Carlos would have smiled. Instead, his tail thumped cheerfully against the ground at the thought of Angela.
The little girl with long, curly black hair. She likes⌠learning. And she likes⌠um, human stories with things called ârobotsâ in them. She likes ancient creatures that used to walk the Earth and sheâs just⌠sheâs very sweet. And loving. And eager to know everything.
his tail started to wag with the others, his wings twitching slightly âI Think Iâve Seen her Before!â
You mightâve, Carlos said. Though she never mentioned you⌠she hasnât been here as long as some of the other kids.
âI Donât Remember How Long Iâve Been Here⌠But Your Pup Sounds Niceâ
She is. Sheâs also human. Carlos hoped that the statement of the obvious would help Drake come to the conclusion Carlos was trying to put down.
he tilted his head slightly âShe Is?â wait a minute-
Carlos just looked at him, watching and waiting for his reaction.
after a minute or so, it finally clicked. his wings shifted slightly âYouâre Not A Wolf, Are You..?â
Carlos huffed in amusement. Thatâs what Iâve been trying to tell you, he said with a good-natured thump of his tail.
The Perfect Scientist 