Story [Fallout-TV] 'The Devil You Say' (The Ghoul, Lucy) dark humor one shot-Calvin&Hobbes mini-game

Title: The Devil You Say
Author: brodiew
Characters: The Ghoul, Lucy
Summary: The Ghoul and Lucy get philosophical on the long trek to find her father.
A/N: Based on the Amazon Prime limited series Fallout, based on the post apocalyptic computer game.
Calvin and Hobbes Philosophical Challenge mini game by @Thumper09

The Devil You Say

Lucy should have thought about a change of clothes before they left Los Angeles. Walking the wasteland of nuclear devastation was not best done in a blue jump suit, no matter how comfortable it was.

"It's hot as...Hell out here," Lucy said from a few steps behind the Ghoul. She eyed his leather long coat, both envying it for its protections and sneering at it as something would just make her hotter.

"You got that right, Darlin," The Ghoul replied over his shoulder. "But I wouldn't know. My temperature is always a little elevated. You know, like a tea pot just on the edge of whistlin' Dixie."

He started whistling a tune she had never heard before.

"Sounds nice," Lucy said, pulling the zipper, on her top further down and futilely trying to pump air against her chest. "It's been a while since I've heard any music."

"Free o'charge, Little Lady," he rasped, tipping his hat off to the side. "Pleased to lighten your load, if only a little. Got lots more to teach you as a newly minted surface dweller."

"Will the sun be going down soon? " she asked, sullenly. "I'd rather freeze to death that than overheat."

"Different types of Hell that's for sure," the Ghoul taunted. "Though I can't really do neither."

"What if I want to go home, back to Vault 33? Huh?"

The Ghoul stopped in his tracks and turned on Lucy. "The Devil you say."

"What does that mean?" Lucy replied, confused.

"Well, in the simplest terms," he replied condescendingly. "Ones I know your Cotton Candy brain will understand, The Devil, some say, the root of all evil, the enemy of God, has inspired you to say some nonsense that will only make your present circumstances worse, or just get you killed. These days, the latter."

"Gosh," Lucy replied. "That was a lot."

The Ghoul turn and started walking again. "Pretty simple actually. They didn't teach you about God and the Devil in that Barbie's Dreamhouse vault of yours?"

Lucy shrugged, though the man ahead couldn't see. "Some, I guess. The basics. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

"Surprise! Surprise!" he said, laughing sarcastically. "Now who gave us that nugget of wisdom."

"Couldn't say," she replied. "The just taught us ethics from when were little."

His laughter turned into a cough. "Sound like VaultTech. Pullin' the choice bits to back up their bull****."

"I don't understand," she said, curiosity lacing her tone. "Explain God and this Devil you say."

The Ghoul explained, to best of his recollection, after 200 years of walking the wasteland as the undead.

“Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of Man?”

“I’m not sure Man needs the help,” he replied. "Just ask your Daddy and his VaultTech friends. Temptation, corruption, and destruction is their game."

"You're not answering my question," Lucy pressed. "If God is real then the Devil is real, too. Right?"

"It don't matter anymore, Darlin. God done left his corner office and the Devil is runnin' the show. Or...Humanity was a horrible experiment and God let us kill ourselves."

"That's horrible!" Lucy exclaimed.

"I'm horrible, Lucy!" The Ghoul barked. "A Godforsaken mutation. What should I believe in but survival."

"Maybe God will heal you?" Lucy said with wide eyed optimism.

The Ghoul laughed again, even harder. "For just hearin' about the Man Upstairs, you seem to have jumped on board the Holy Roller tour bus. I didn't even do the hard sell. Not that I would have. Do you think the world we live in is some bed of roses, some Garden of Eden where we can put or feet up and drink lemonade day after day. This is HELL on Earth, separation from everything that ever might have been good and or holy."

"But this Bible sounds like just the thing we need to save-"

"-Aint' nothing being saved no more, Girlie," The Ghoul snapped. "Can't say whether God nor the Devil is real, but if I ever got the chance both barrels in the balls of that pitch forked Pinko. And, Likewise, I'd have a few choice for the other Guy.

"So, the Devil won?"

"I told you already, I don't know. But it sure looks that way. This conversation is chappin' my hide. I feel like I need to kill something to get rid of these willies. But, don't worry, Darlin', it won't be you."

She could see that he tried to wink, maybe curl his lip in a twisted smile. However, the burn marred shin of his face would hardly allow it.

"Well thank God for that," she said with an innocent smile.

The Ghould shook his head and quickened his pace.

 

Excellent imagery and characterization here ... A family member recs Fallout, seems worth a watch.

 

Great job! I'm only passingly familiar with Fallout, but I was able to follow this very well. Details in the dialogue showed a lot about what life is like for them and what they were taught to believe growing up. Their lives definitely aren't a cakewalk, but I suppose a nuclear disaster will do that.

I liked how you fit in the challenge inspiration and the philosophical discussion it generated between the two. Lucy seems like she really wants to find something to hope for or put faith in.

I liked Lucy's quip at the very end, LOL.

Great work!