Since the release of Fallout 4 on November 15, 2015, I've noticed a disturbing lack of romance options in said game. Now, this isn't a BioWare game- where there can be full-on sex scenes. There's simply an option that you become able to romance an assortment of companions, once you reach maximum affinity. with that companion. All it does is unlock a few extra dialog options for the lover to express their love for you and a light amount of flavor-chat when you sleep in a bed whilst traveling with your beau/belle to express that the two of you are in a relationship.

Nick Valentine, despite being one of your possible travel buddies, is not able to be romanced. Despite the fact that he exchanges flirty banter with your playable character. Despite the fact that he comes across as a kind and generous individual. Despite the fact that he claims to want something that fully belongs to him- not some remnant of the human Nick Valentine's past. A romance option might help flesh out his character and may help him understand that people truly care about him- despite the bigoted mindset of most wastelanders towards synths that has plagued him since he was abandoned. It could create a solid character-arc that would have a profound effect on his self-worth.

Nick Valentine is one of the most charming characters in Fallout 4, and I would argue, one of the best NPC's video games have offered me in recent memory. Everything about him- his past, his identity crisis, his doubts, and his optimistic mindset despite all of the hardships he's endured- make him memorable and interesting.

We, as a community, have been denied the option to do so, and I refuse to allow this amazing potential to go to waste. It would be an insult to myself, the Fallout community, and Nick Valentine to pretend that this intentional choice by Bethesda is truly what the public desires.

This is where you come in. Sign this petition to show Bethesda that we, the community, care. We care about choice, we care about romantic options, and most importantly, we care about the happiness of our favorite synth detective. I mean, if our player character can have sex with a Robobrain, why can't we smooch the synth?

#RomanceTheToaster