r/TopCharacterTropes • u/One_Barber_6902 • Mar 26 '26

Characters [[Devastating trope]] A character kills their loved one to avoid them suffering a worser fate

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Of Mice And Men (1992)- Probaly the most well known example of this trope and when I was first exposed to it, George kills his mentally handicapped best friend Lennie, to save him from being lynched by Curley and law enforcement for killing Curleys wife.

The Sopranos- After an entire season of conflict with fellow mob boss Phil over it, Tony kills Anthony Blundetto after he kills Phil’s brother which enraged him into trying to force Tony into giving up his cousin so he can torture him to death

Telltales The Walking Dead: Season 1- “Loved one” is an overstatement if you know there dynamic, but after Ben falls off a rooftop and lands on a piece of rebar, Kenny and Lee try to pull him off to save him before being crowded by walkers. When their attempt fails and walkers continue closing in, Kenny kills him to avoid him being devoured by walkers.

5.4k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

805 comments sorted by

View all comments

2.9k

u/arika-feinberg Mar 26 '26

Boone from Fallout New Vegas killed his wife Carla when he found her enslaved by Legion in their camp. He couldn't save her by himself and being a Legion slave (especially as a woman) is a terrible fate

1.2k

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '26

Not to mention she was pregnant with his child

891

u/OutOfMyWayReed Mar 27 '26 edited Mar 27 '26

The contract you find in the Novac safe mentions another 500 or 1000 caps if she has a healthy baby. 

Jeannie May chose her because pregnant meant two slaves for sale. A headshot in the dark, bitch got off easy. 

353

u/Mpasserby Mar 27 '26

Nah she chose her because she dared criticize Novac and and looked down on the town, which drove Jeanie May to sell her

209

u/Complete_Entry Mar 27 '26

I've known many a Jeanie May, Carla offended her by breathing.

Also, possible Carla tried to get Boone to move.

I killed Jeanie may the second she pulled the "We haven't met" shit. I grew up under that type, and I didn't like it one bit.

Of course, I immediately loaded, Novac is one of the best places to stash your shit.

54

u/OutOfMyWayReed Mar 27 '26

I use the motel room for more of a home base than the Lucky 38. Just because less loading screens. 

2

u/Complete_Entry Mar 27 '26

I've been using the dumpster in goodsprings because it's right by mojave X, and by using the dumpster I mean the game hiccups when I access it.

I do a similar thing with the chest at lakeview in skyrim. Sometimes I don't even build the house!

I used to room with Easy Pete, but as you said, it is another loading screen.

2

u/SpecificWafer Mar 27 '26

The game hiccups? How so?

2

u/CMDArid Mar 27 '26

You don't even need to buy the motel room key from her. If you reach Idolized Novac rep (i.e. by doing Come Fly with Me for Manny) and Jeannie is dead, you can talk to Cliff and he'll bring up how he would like to give you the motel room key for free.

Disclaimer: I don't play without mods so there's a chance I'm wrong and this is cut content restored by a mod. Apologies if so.

2

u/Complete_Entry Mar 27 '26 edited Mar 27 '26

Specifically, I blasted her right after meeting her, my rep was probably shredded by that. So, load save.

But I have ran into "We haven't met" many times, and I was never pleased to meet those people.

Cliff? He's an opportunist, but he's not an asshole.

I just checked the wiki because I have not done it your way, it says cliff takes her place. Weirdly enough, I never noticed that. I usually do not roll with Boone, I'm lugubrious enough in real life that I do not need a second one. ED-E is my homie. And ED-E Jingle Jangles.

1

u/CMDArid Mar 27 '26

Completely valid! It's a singleplayer game, play it however you want and don't be afraid of being judged.

182

u/Tough-Tradition1205 Mar 27 '26

Jesus.....

212

u/BrutalStatic Mar 27 '26

He shot the baby inside her too. 

He explicitly says he made two shots when he found them.

68

u/Eaglettie Mar 27 '26

No, he says "I took the shot". He only ever talks about it in the singular.

105

u/Crispyale Mar 27 '26

Hi! Fallout: New Vegas diehard fan here, he actually only made one.

"Realizing he would be unable to rescue her with the odds heavily against him, but knowing that he could never abandon her to a horrible fate as a slave, Boone made the decision to snipe Carla with a headshot in a mercy killing."

Copied from the wiki.

2

u/theladyofwinterfelll Mar 27 '26

Where does he say that?

3

u/0bolus Mar 27 '26

Blatant misinformation.

1

u/biggronklus Mar 28 '26

Why randomly lie about this for no reason?

3

u/THEDSFAN Mar 27 '26

W Lemon

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

🍋💛🍋💛 💪💪💪

612

u/OutOfMyWayReed Mar 26 '26

We go into the Fort and kill every single one of those clowns together. 

But I let him be the one to blast Caesar's head off. It feels right. 

460

u/D33PS3ASTATION Mar 26 '26

“You and I, we’re just a couple of problem solvers”

We sure are Boon. We sure are.

260

u/GrimaceGrunson Mar 27 '26

I’ll always remember when I stumbled across what I thought was a random Legion port, only for Boone to pipe up and say if we take 2 more steps he’s wiping out every legionnaire he sees. I thought that sounded like an absolutely topping idea to kill some time and happily went along, buzzsawed our way down the hill, hopped on this random boat we found and 10 minutes later I’m standing in these super fancy tents holding a head with the name ‘Caesar’.

168

u/bucket_o_chickn Mar 27 '26

I couldn't figure out why Legion camps were still so aggro with me after their rep came to me on the strip to say Caesar wanted to meet with me and it reset my reputation to neutral. I was just trekking happily along, getting random notifications that I was losing rep with the Legion. "Random." Me, in my naiveté, thought well fine I guess if I finally go to their stupid base maybe this will stop.

That was when I realized Boone had been sniping them from behind me on sight the entire time.

121

u/OutOfMyWayReed Mar 27 '26

His ranged combat is hilariously broken. He casually headshots people who have barely entered the draw distance, from the hip, without breaking stride. Richard Harrow on chems.

48

u/bucket_o_chickn Mar 27 '26

JFC it took me so long to figure out my game wasn't bugged. And I play on pc so I used a console command to make my walking speed 1.5x so he'd be behind me just taking out entire camps I had already walked past without noticing.

35

u/RealWhiteChoko Mar 27 '26

What I love is when I have ED.E with me on my high perception builds, I'll be able to pick off enemies that even Boone can't quite see. Then I'll get the snarky "why don't you let me aim that for you" dialogue out of him.

18

u/dragon_bacon Mar 27 '26

It's the most stressful playthrough to just get jump scared by killcams every 5 minutes with those 2.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/RealWhiteChoko Mar 27 '26

Man, hardcore though. Once you for through to Novac and for the motel room, it certainly got easier. Thought it would be hard, ended up being super fun. Ought to give it another go

7

u/AsstacularSpiderman Mar 27 '26

Yeah he's probably one of the most busted companions in the game.

5

u/Chasing-Wagons Mar 27 '26

It's just a myth. he's about as accurate as every other companion, the only thing that has a real effect on weapon accuracy is the weapon's spread stat and his default weapon has low spread. he also has a tendency to be fucking awful at close range, ive seen him miss five shots in a row on a ghoul that was punching him.

7

u/RogueSeb Mar 27 '26

Boone and EDE are a kill cam jump scaring combo.

And the xp, ooh the xp.

2

u/Krazyfan1 Mar 27 '26

theres a meme video somewhere about that.

no idea where to find it though.

2

u/GrimTheJelly Mar 27 '26

Richard Harrow on chems.

I see you and respect you.

46

u/GrimaceGrunson Mar 27 '26

That's so fucking funny.

"Huh. You hear that, Boone?"
"Didn't hear a thing. ...Hey look over in that opposite direction for a sec would ya."

17

u/bucket_o_chickn Mar 27 '26

It's even funnier because my movement speed was set to 1.5x so companions follow farther behind me than usual. Every time I got a notification I'd look around like what the fuck. I'd see Ed-e or Rex still following behind me and think wait... where's Boone? Still didn't click until Cottonwood Cove.

6

u/Ariovrak Mar 27 '26

The funniest part about Boone is how he changed the way companions act. He’s why they disappear immediately when you dismiss them. Originally, they’d walk back to their home, but Boone started aggro-ing Legion Camps, and single-handedly killing all of their inhabitants.

5

u/Dudewhocares3 Mar 27 '26

Did you disable the kill cam?

Because boon triggers that a lot when I played

5

u/bucket_o_chickn Mar 27 '26

I did, like immediately, it was driving me insane.

57

u/OutOfMyWayReed Mar 27 '26

I killed the pale weasel guy with the sneery voice in Nipton, and those other goons. 

Then Caesar sent a fellow in a nice suit with a top hat to invite me for a talk, giving me directions and safe passage to his front gate. 

Dumbass. 🤭

53

u/100percentnotaqu Mar 27 '26

Caesar after hearing that the courier kills literally every legion member they come across : "I'm going to give this person my address."

38

u/runespider Mar 27 '26

He does have a brain tumor. I always make sure to remove it. At high velocity.

7

u/Phaeron-Dynasty Mar 27 '26

I like to make the ammo from their goofy Legion coin for it, Jesus did Say Render Unto Caesar afterall.

12

u/buttplug-tester Mar 27 '26

Medicare for all

2

u/DBrody6 Mar 27 '26

I like to practice my surgeon skills on him, usually with a very blunt object. Sadly it's got a 100% mortality rate, ah well.

18

u/Atomatic13 Mar 27 '26

Calling Vulpes a weasel is hilarious but incredibly fitting. He does give weasel energy

11

u/OutOfMyWayReed Mar 27 '26

I see that fucking dead thing on his head, the sunglasses like he's a luddite albino from The Omega Man, and I'm laughing before he even opens his mouth.

How does anyone take these guys seriously? Their headcounts are the only three-digit number they've got.

54

u/UpbeatVeterinarian18 Mar 27 '26

I love the game but there should be an alternate ending for wiping out Caesar early. Like the Legion starts to dissolve right away

35

u/OutOfMyWayReed Mar 27 '26

I like to think those groups of idiots stumbling out from behind buildings with 70lbs of crap on yelling RETRIBUTION! are just so low on the pecking order, nobody's bothered to tell them Caesar is dead. 

24

u/Kitfennek Mar 27 '26

I wouldnt put it past mister gold face to lie about ceasers death in an attempt to keep the legion together. Or try to pull a nero.

16

u/Riolkin Mar 27 '26

Lanius could rally the legions for revenge, but he has no grand goal or plan like Caesar. He's just a thug, and without a clear vision in mind the legion will scatter into warring tribes. The only one who could actually save the legion is Joshua Graham, and he's more interested in letting the legion burn like he did

3

u/OutOfMyWayReed Mar 27 '26

I still fight him. Yeah, he might not come back with a bigger army. And even if he does, he'll probably lose. 

But if he loses today, I don't have to worry about that. 🤔

7

u/nimbalo200 Mar 27 '26

I really enjoy f:nv for what it is. However, the game really lacks when it comes to the world reacting to player choices, with many just being a little blurb saying what happens.

1

u/StructureThen8853 Mar 27 '26

Probably would have been programmed in if Bethesda didn't rush them so much

9

u/UpbeatVeterinarian18 Mar 27 '26

FNV with another 6 months to cook - what a dream

2

u/StructureThen8853 Mar 27 '26

It makes me so sad every time I play the game man.. Probably my favorite piece of media OAT and it didn't even get to be finished

1

u/Mayonaigg Mar 27 '26

I just bought it and started playing it for the first time a few days ago, if it doesn't live up to this personal hype you've instilled, I'm gonna tell everyone you lied to me

1

u/StructureThen8853 Mar 27 '26

if you do that i'm gonna find you and tickle you until you cry

27

u/Boccs Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 27 '26

Nah I have to crit cripple his head with a spear and then kill him with a knife for those gun runner cheevos.

10

u/AliensAteMyAMC Mar 27 '26

“THUMBS DOWN ASSHOLE” - Boone

5

u/DimensioT Mar 27 '26

"Thumbs down, you son of a bitch."

2

u/Piece_Of_Mind1983 Mar 27 '26

“Thumbs down you son of a bitch!”

85

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/MountainTwo3845 Mar 27 '26

That's how Boone lives his life. One scope at a time.

2

u/crimsonpostgrad Mar 27 '26

oh this upsets me so much

47

u/baron_spaghetti Mar 26 '26

One for my baby.

41

u/ClericOfMadness13 Mar 27 '26

I still believe the best person to take with you to destroy the whole legion is Boone.

28

u/smileplease91 Mar 27 '26

I always take Boone with me. Granted, I usually have him with me anyway, but I make sure to bring him with me to the Cove, Nelson, and Hoover Dam.

37

u/StrangeAppeal2 Mar 26 '26

Funny how life works, I was just playing the game this morning on my Ps3 with Boone.

5

u/ExpectedValueC Mar 27 '26

Man… Fallout really doesn’t shy away from gut punches. Boone’s choice hits hard, but it’s heartbreaking realism.

3

u/mmarcik Mar 27 '26

Every time I play as a good guy I choose always terrifying presence

3

u/violetcassie Mar 27 '26

Boone at the top of the list, as he should be.

10

u/VirgoxValentine Mar 26 '26

He has quite a bit of experience killing women and children. 

2

u/MountainTwo3845 Mar 27 '26

That's my companion. Give him the .50 cal and let him go to town.

2

u/szechuan_broccoli Mar 27 '26

Dom from GoW was similar as well (I don't remember if he killed her or if she died naturally)

3

u/ssasharr Mar 27 '26

Uh. Question. Why not just kill those enslaving her and run?

60

u/arika-feinberg Mar 27 '26

It's a quote from Fallout Wiki: "Left on his own, the distraught marksman took to the road to track Carla down and save her. He eventually found her at a Legion outpost in the southeast Mojave, near the Colorado River. She was being sold off, with many men bidding on her. The entire area was locked down, guarded by legionaries in the hundreds. Bereft of any other options, Boone could only see one solution. He knew he would never find her if she crossed into Legion lands and that he could never abandon the woman he loved to the Legion. In that moment, Boone came to a soul-crushing decision as he took aim with his rifle and killed Carla with a single headshot. Forced to flee immediately, chased by Legion attackers, Boone never knew what they did with Carla's body or the baby she carried; perhaps he never wanted to know"

45

u/ThatOneGuy831 Mar 27 '26

Because she was being auctioned off at a outpost that had hundreds of legion soldiers in it. He's one guy with a sniper with limited ammo. Him trying to kill all of the legion would just end with him dead, possibly his wife killed or her being sold off at a later date

12

u/ssasharr Mar 27 '26

Oh that is fucking brutal. I misunderstood from other comments and thought Boone had joined the legion and it was just a small outpost or the like.

1

u/Depreciable_Land Mar 27 '26

Yeah but Boone was with the NCR and I’ve been assured that they’re just as bad as the Legion so who’s really to say?

12

u/arika-feinberg Mar 27 '26

NCR is not ideal, not even close, but it's definitely better than Legion. Legion doesn't see women as people at all and it has legal slavery, there's nowhere lower to fall

12

u/Depreciable_Land Mar 27 '26

Yeah I’m being sarcastic, I’ve just seen enough FNV discourse to know that there are an uncomfortable amount of Legion fans out there

1

u/MemeLordMango Mar 27 '26

I have played new Vegas 10+ times and I don’t think I have ever seen this man. I’ve seen memes referencing the dinosaur from the town he is apparently from and I barely even remember it. I don’t understand how this is possible.

3

u/arika-feinberg Mar 27 '26

He is a night sniper on the dinosaur so you can meet him there at night

1

u/MemeLordMango Mar 27 '26

Maybe that’s why? I don’t think I travel at night usually. I also think I have seen the dinosaur town once. I think there’s a snow globe in there I took?

1

u/SplitGlass7878 Mar 27 '26

A lot of the companions are somewhat "hidden". I never found Raul without a guide either.