Maxie
Its kinda fucked up how House's entire life has centered around relying on only himself because he either loses the people he does care about or is betrayed by them.
Maxie
Like people wonder why he's such a recluse and doesn't want to get attached to anybody but
Maxie
His parents died when he was a kid in a freak accident
Maxie
His brother cheated him out of his inheritance
Maxie
And he was one of the few people who gave a shit about the effects a nuclear war would actually have on the planet, I don't think anybody took him seriously despite the circumstances.
Maxie
Benny doesn't even need to be mentioned
Maxie
Like- nobody gives a shit about him. He gave the tribes clothes and casinos to run and they stay to live in the lap of luxury.
Maxie
He really is just the sum of his parts. His robots is all he's got. He was alone for the better part of 5 years just trying to fix all the system crashes he was suffering. And then went into a coma.
Maxie
Like this man has been fighting for himself his entire life.
Maxie
Sure, he was born to a wealthy family and became a Billionaire but I don't think the majority of his life was a peaceful or easy one.
Maxie
One of the noticeable parts of his deal with the Courier is that "I offer many benefits, but vacation time isn't one of them." He seems like the type of man to throw himself into his work, even when he fails- he just keeps going. This plan to effectively revive the world is pretty much the only thing going for him.
Maxie
He probably worked his ASS off before the bombs hit just to prepare. 15 years seems like a lot of time until you realize you'll have to find a way to survive the literal apocalypse and after math of it. Not only do you have to survive, but you'll need an extension of resources to get humanity back on it's feet.
Maxie
House did not have time for a vacation, he never has time for breaks or vacations. And he thinks the same of others.
Maxie
His dream of saving mankind and literally colonizing space is larger than life, and so is he.
Maxie
But I don't believe he's just some careless fuck who only invests in his own self interest. I think that he's been betrayed, disappointed and left behind enough times in his life- where he reaches a point of disassociation. He conducts his plan like a person playing Spore.
Maxie
Like on of those Civilization God simulator games.
Maxie
He's become so distant from everybody that he views the politics of the wasteland as a sort of game.
Maxie
I mean in Spore you don't exactly think twice about erasing a city from existence if it'll get you to the Space Stage.
Maxie
Or buying it, as he most likely would.
Maxie
I have a lot of ideas about his simultaneous love and hatred for humanity.
Maxie
He wants to help, he wants his effort to have meant something, he desires progress for the sake of mankind. Not just because it would benefit him monetarily.
Maxie
But I also think he resents individual aspects of humanity. Its like how picking up one straw is not going to save the ocean from pollution. He thinks assisting people on an individual level is going to have so little impact that theres no point in wasting time on it. He certainly seems to resent being within contact with people.
Maxie
He pretty much pulled a disappearing act with HIS casinos in the strip. He stopped communicating with the Chairmen, White Glove Society and Omertas entirely. The courier is literally the only person who has been in the Lucky 38 in centuries. Benny hasn't even fucking gone in there.
Maxie
He's less and less enthused about working with people because, in his eyes- humans make stupid decisions. And I think he wants to be the farthest thing from stupid, and human by that extension.
Maxie
Mr. House is not a robot, he does feel emotions. We see him get smug, angry, prideful of both himself and the courier at a few points.
Maxie
In a strange sort of way, humanity as a whole has disappointed Mr. House. He remains protected but isolated, and in the Lucky 38 he grows cold and resentful.
Maxie
Yet despite all that he still wants to do the best he can for mankind's future.
Maxie
Then of course the courier comes along and depending on the choices of the courier depends on which way Mr. House's attitude swings.
Maxie
In a world where House is not in direct contact with any human for a long while, the Courier is effectively both his gauge for humanity and the representative of it. The Courier is the only person House talks to and thus, the only person he can judge humanity based off of.
Maxie
If the Courier is a fucked up monster, than House becomes a controlling dictator over the Strip, and by extension- humanity.
Maxie
"The Courier, cruel and merciless, had ensured that Mr. House would maintain complete control over New Vegas and everyone in it. Mr. House afforded him/her every luxury at his disposal in the Lucky 38, partly out of gratitude, and partly out of fear."
Maxie
Mr. House is grateful for everything the Courier has done but fears them, consequently perceiving humanity in a similar light and effectively tightening his grip.
Maxie
In contrast, if your Courier is a good person who does their best to help House in a diplomatic fashion:
Maxie
"The Courier, fair and kind-hearted to those in the Wasteland, ensured that Mr. House would keep New Vegas stable and secure for future generations. Mr. House afforded him/her every luxury at his disposal in the Lucky 38, out of gratitude - and a quiet sense of pride for his choice in lieutenants."
Maxie
Through the Courier in this scenario, House realizes that.. he might've been wrong about humanity. And be willing to let some of that betrayal go. He even feels proud of himself for not only choosing the Courier but reaching out to them.
Maxie
And I think he is proud of the Courier too.
Maxie
And- we don't know what happens to New Vegas after the brief explanation of all endings, depending on what the Courier did. There is no canonical ending.
Maxie
But Idk, theres a pessimistic and optimistic side of me. The pessimistic part saying that even if things turn out well, House would probably never loosen up enough to stop his never-ending directive, or afford himself care from anybody else.
Maxie
But hey, maaaaybe he did open up a bit. And maybe he continues to open up little by little.
Maxie
Idk I just like rambling about this raisin of a man
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