Lucky was in Louise's room. Doing general maintenance on her guns. The ammo in Halkeginia is not made for her guns, and are way too expensive. As such, she has to keep her firearms on the reserve. She does have a fair amount of melee weapons in her bags.
One gun caught her eye, The Survivalist's Rifle. She primarily used it in Zion, as a way to show respect to Randall Clark. So he can vicariously protect The Sorrows and Zion. Despite never meeting the old man. Randall's story is one that Lucky will never forget.
She cleaned the gun and made any repairs that she could. Times like this made her wish she had a Pipboy. Then put it back in her bag. Lucky looked at the window to see the sunrising. 'Time to go to school,' She joked to herself. Lucky walked over to her sleeping, younger self.
Lucky shook Louise's shoulder. Despite wanting to pull a prank on her. Lucky didn't have the heart to go through with it. Especially after all the horrible things she did. Lucky killed children Louise's age, and younger. The regret clawed at her heart.
Louise groaned and yawned cutely. Then she looked Lucky without her helmet on. "I'm up Mother!" Louise yelped as she shot out of bed. 'Do I look like Mom that much?' Lucky wondered to herself. "Oh, it's you, well, um, dress me!" Louise ordered, trying to save face.
Lucky growled, but complied, deciding to run with this familiar thing. She can't abandon her past self. Because Louise has been alone, and maybe Lucky can be that friend. Even if it's Louise's future self. 'That sounds egotistical and lonely when I think about it,' Lucky realized.
Still, despite her wounded pride at dressing a little girl. Lucky has had some, very humbling moments. Frosthill being the biggest and most recent example. Lucky wondered where Marko was. Lucky shivered at the thought of him. The only person that Lucky feared besides Six.
She easily dressed Louise. Lucky had helped Legionnaires put on their armor, and these are clothes Louise used to wear. Making it easy and quick to get her dressed. Lucky went to the haypile and grabbed her helmet, putting it on her head.
The Master and Servant duo went out of the dorm. Lucky could hear the whispers directed at her, and the quiet jeers at Louise. Lucky clenched her fists. Remembering the taunts and bullying she was subjected to before she was summoned to America. They reached the Alviss Dining Hall.
Louise told Lucky she was allowed to eat in the hall. Which she was grateful for. Eating at a grand dining hall again, it was a moment of joy. Lucky pulled Louise's chair and was about sit next to her. "What are you doing? Your food is right there!" Louise asked, pointing at scraps in a bowl on the floor.
Lucky stood silent for a few seconds, her empty helmet sockets staring at Louise. "What did you say?" She asked, her voice muffled and distorted by the helmet. "I will not eat on the floor like some Mongrel. I will sit next to you and eat like a human," Lucky snarled, getting in Louise's face.
"My my, getting into an argument with the charlatan, Zero? A shame that a woman of obvious strength goes to you," A sultry and familiar voice interrupted their argument. 'Zerbst!' Louise and Lucky growled in their heads at the same time. "What do you want you Germanian Sow?" Lucky asked, old habits die hard. That threw Louise in for a loop. 'That's what I call Zerbst. Yet, my familiar is Germanian,' Louise began to ponder. Yet it was interrupted by a loud smack throughout the hall.
Louise looked to see Siesta, on the ground with a red handmark on her cheek. Guiche, a flamboyant young boy was berating her. Lucky walked away from Zerbst and Louise to get a closer look. Siesta scrambled up and ran behind Lucky.
"Move out of the way Zero's Familiar. I won't have you put in irons if you mind your business," Guiche threatened. "What in the name of The Lord caused this?" Lucky asked. Guiche assumed that The Lord was another title for The Founder, Brimir. Even though that's not the case.
"This cow stole perfume my dear Mon-Mon gave me. Then accused me of cheating," Guiche explained. Painting himself as the tragic victim of circumstance. Even though a real victim of circumstance is standing right in front of him. 'Knowing the playboy, Siesta is probably right,' Lucky didn't Guiche for a second.
Lucky weighed her options for a bit. She initially wanted to just leave Siesta to her fate. She didn't care what happened to the maid. Yet, before she could move to let Guiche through and move on. Faces flashed through her mind. Six, and the companions they met. Steven Randall, and his drive to avenge his family. Joshua Graham who learned the value of compassion and mercy. The Survivalist, who gave everything to The Sorrows.
Lucky also empathized with Siesta's situation. A naive young girl about to experience the cruel nature of man. Lucky also knows Guiche's capabilities, combined with her physical skill. It would be no contest. So, with that in mind. She defiantly said no.
Her voice echoed through the room. "Y-You dare defy a noble?! You wench! I'll have you hung for this!" Guiche threatened. "If you continue to harass this girl, or anyone else, be it man, woman, noble, or commoner. I will cover you in pitch, set you on fire, and throw you off the towers. Do you truly wish to test me?" Lucky promised, not bluffing in the slightest.
"Y-You bluff! No way you would do that! You would be executed!" Guiche exclaimed, the fear clearly in his eyes. 'Even if he's my old childhood bully. He's a kid, and a product of this world. Just back down Guiche, I saw Graham fall down the Grand Canyon. I don't want to repeat that,' Lucky begged in her mind.
"If they come after me. They will be nailed to the school. Bleeding as the birds eat their fill. Starving as the weather beats them down. The pain keeping them awake until they perish. So, make your choice," Lucky gave the metaphorical gun to Guiche. He either shoots it, or puts it down.
Fear is a powerful tool, it can incite loyalty, order, safety, and growth. Guiche's pride was overwhelmed by fear. So he dropped the metaphorical gun and yielded. "Now dammit go apologize. And clean up your act, a noble is someone who protects the commoners, not abuse them. Or maybe you're not a noble at all," Lucky moved out of the way. Leaving everyone stunned as she left the hall, losing her appetite.
Lucky knows she isn't as charismatic as Six. Far from it, that mailman can talk his way out of most situations. Yet her knowledge of the culture and how it affects those in it. It allows her to play everyone like a fiddle.
She looked at the school as she made her way outside to the Vestri Courtyard. She saw masters and familars bonding. 'Today is Void Day,' Lucky remembered, and crossed her arms. "Familiar!" Louise's shrill voice called out.
Lucky sighed and turned to meet her past self. This overall, has been a terrible experience. The rose tinted glasses are fully off now. Lucky remembered why this place slowly became a repressed memory in her life. "What were you thinking?! You could've gotten hurt, or killed! You could've been arrested and executed! All to defend that maid! Why is she so important to you?!" Louise asked.
"I didn't care whether the maid lived or died. I remember my friends, and other people I knew. They would've helped her, so to not insult their memory. I defended the maid," Lucky replied in a matter of fact way. Deep down, she was going to defend the maid. Regardless of remembering Six and everyone else, living or dead.
In the American Wastelands. Lucky learned the value of the small thing. Any resource was a miracle. Every successful childbirth was God's gift. At the same time, she had to disregard life to keep herself alive. These seemingly opposite lessons are dialects.
She learned to not hesitate and stay alive by discarding morals and the value a life has. Yet she learned to appreciate and be grateful for all she had. By treating all that she can, sacred. It is a balancing act. If you go too deep into either ideals. You'll end up alone and empty by not giving a damn, or dead because you couldn't make the tough decisions.
Lucky sat down on the grass. Happy to feel clean, and natural grass again. Even if she's in her Marked Patrol Armor. Lucky took off her helmet. Tears flowing down as she watched the wind blow the grass. "Why are you crying, haven't you seen grass before?" Louise asked, no longer angry(for now), only curious.
"Sit down next to me, Louise," Lucky offered, patting the spot next to her. "I'll stain my dress and underwear!" Louise exclaimed, blushing. "Well, you have clean clothes upstairs. You can change when we go up there," Lucky reasoned, and Louise reluctantly sat down.
"They're wrong about you, Louise. You are not a failure," Lucky said as the wind blew through the two counterparts. "Don't bring that up you damn Bull!" Louise pouted and looked away. "What happens when you cast a spell?" Lucky asked, already knowing the answer.
Lousie looked away further and tears brimmed her eyes. "That is the face I had when I realized I was all alone. Don't worry, you are not alone. Zero means the beginning, and you are the beginning of something great. You can't get worse than zero, you can only move up," Lucky said and Louise wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
"Why are you acting so differently?! You weren't this cordial to me before!" Louise barked, pointing her finger at Lucky's face. "Because I have the same issues you do. This self destructive ego, and short temper. Being called a failure myself, and the ambition to prove myself," Lucky laid out who they are. Because no one knows you better than yourself.
"You don't have to be alone anymore. I understand you, and your struggles. Let's get that 'zero' up to 'one', okay?" Lucky offered. Louise crumbled, never has she been so thoroughly described. That someone is reaching out to her.
Not because of pity, or wanting something. But because Lucky understands her pain. She doesn't know why, but Louise feels safe around Lucky. That's partly why she followed after Lucky. "Okay," She muttered, letting the Rule of Steel bend for a little bit.
They sat together, and watched the view for the rest of the day.
When writing Lucky, I want her to have that 'Louise' feel, considering she is Louise in the future. They share the same flaws; Pride, insecurity, and temper control.
Lucky is also different in many ways. Such as her worldview and barebones morality. Along with the trauma she suffered under the Legion, Elijah, and Marko. Lucky is a very mentally fucked person.
I will also explore the relationship between Lucky and her son, Legate Lanius down the line. Because I like Lanius and I think he's underrated.
Now, with Lucky's stats and equipment. I haven't fully figured that out yet. I might bend the rules of stats because in New Vegas. Lucky is by all accounts, an NPC and Companion. As such I'll have to look at the other Companions to fully build her.
So, I skipped the duel with Guiche because, I didn't want to do it. Because even without the runes. Lucky would still win. So I opted to replace it with a nice little moment between Lucky and Louise.
Let me say it right here. Lucky and Louise will not get together. Their relationship is more familial and student/mentor.
I hope you're all enjoying this so far. Especially the underrepresented New Vegas Bounties fans.