I Know It Has Been Brought Up And Discussed Already, But I Still Can't Decide For Myself. In My F!SS

I know It has been brought up and discussed already, but I still can't decide for myself. In my F!SS playthrough she's with BoS and romances Danse. In My M!SS playthrough Adam doesn't even join the BoS and destroys the Institute with the Minutemen. I wonder in what universe Danse is happier. With Sole or with the BoS? I'm afraid though that in the BoS he might be KIA before reaching the next rank, because PTSD and pushing himself so hard and so on. What do you think?

I have not seen a discussion on this before, but I very much wantto know what people have to say about this matter.  However, I willput down my thoughts before I ask to see others’.

Is Danse happier with the Brotherhood of Steel (BOS) or the SoleSurvivor (Sole)?

That is a very loaded question, not even counting the part where Ineed to define the parameters of happiness in order to properlyanswer it.  Lets say, for the sake of this argument, that happinessis the measure of overall quality of life as well as potential forgreatest emotional well being.  We also have to consider the factthat any post Blind Betrayal (BB) dialog from Danse, concerning Sole,is skewed.  Since it was based on an ending that did not actuallycome to fruition.  Given these two things, let us proceed.

Firstly, is Danse happy with the BOS to begin with?

Yes and no.  Danse found purpose with the BOS and with his past thismay have seemed the most content life could get. However, he neverseems to have found true comradery in anyone within the BOS, save forpossibly Cutler (deceased) and potentially Haylen, who was hissubordinate and so, not someone he could go to for strength.  Thehappiest he is, is when the Prydwen arrives and when he is aboard itin general.  It is, quite literally, as he quotes “the only homeI’ve ever known.”  I think ultimately that is what he clings to inthe BOS. The idea that he is somewhere he belongs.  That is why hegives so much of himself, why he is willing to loose all of himself,to fight for his home.  

We never get a full picture of Danse’s own personal ideals, asseparate from the Brotherhood’s, only a taste of them when hisdefenses are down.  He wonders if he did the right thing killingCutler when he was changed by the FEV.  The BOS would not questionthis, all Super Mutants are to be destroyed.  Danse is respectful ofMaxson in every way right up until BB, where he says that “Maxsonnever did like to get his hands dirty.” Implying he has somereservations about the Elder’s leadership style, if nothing else.

Danse’s duties have been taking a serious toll on him mentally andphysically, as he devotes every bit of himself to the Brotherhood. All signs indicate it is only a matter of time before something givesout and he breaks.  He’d be lucky if that moment didn’t cost him hislife.  Ultimately I think staying in the BOS would result in Dansebeing killed in action or eventually found unfit for duty.  At whichpoint I wonder if he would have the strength to continue.  

Conclusion, Danse’s overall quality of life in the BOS is fallingand does not look to be improving any time soon.  There is potentialfor him to gain the rank of Sentinel, but only if he lives that long. Which again, I think is unlikely.

Secondly, is Danse happy with Sole?

Yes and no.  Danse is utterly miserable at finding out he’s a synth. His identity, his life, his home all get ripped away in the span ofa few hours, leaving him an empty and broken being.  If not for Sole,surely he would not get through the events of BB alive, but also hewould not have had to endure them in the first place.  While I thinkit’s horrible the way Danse learns of his identity and the way thosearound him act during the crisis, except Haylen of course. I thinkthe fact that he learns who he really is incredibly important.  It isa gateway to acceptance, that Danse would only walk if Sole were byhis side.  

Sole cares for Danse, whether good friend or lover, at max affinitySole gives him that comradery, that link to another human soul thatDanse has never had before in his entire life.  Sole has proven theywill stand up for him, someday he’ll realize that he’s worth so muchmore than he gives himself credit for.  

At max affinity a romanced Danse states that he’s happier than he’sever been, found something he didn’t know he was missing, would doanything for Sole.  The same could be said of Sole.  So, here withthem, unlike with the BOS, Danse would be getting his effort,diligence, love and affection returned to him.  Not just givinghimself away to a force that would consume him. (Again, I hesitate toput too much stock into the dialog due to it being from a technicallydifferent ending).

Being with Sole would give Danse solace and a space to find himself. Figure out who he really was, who he wanted to be.  Ultimately, Ithink it would bring him peace and the ability to find happiness.

Conclusion, Danse’s overall quality of life with Sole would startlow but increase over time.  There is the potential for him be themost satisfied and find substantial meaning in a deep relationshipwith Sole.  Therefore, I think, given time, the path for Dansethat leads to the greatest happiness is the path that he can walkwith Sole.

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Whew, so, give me your thoughts.