|
Cleanup (Issue: Citation overkill in Background section.)
To meet Nukapedia's quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. Please help by improving the article.
|
|---|
 |
For other characters named James, see James. |
|---|
“Mom, can I go to C.J.'s”
James Hargrave is a young inhabitant of Rivet City in 2277.
Background[]
James Hargrave is one of Rivet City's few children. His father is deceased, having died while in the wasteland, specifically Andale.[1] His alcoholic mother,[2][3] Tammy Hargrave, believes that he just ran off one day and blames James for his disappearance.[4][5] Due to this belief, she emotionally abuses James,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] who in turn has developed a reputation as a troublemaker.[2][15] Her abuse isn't an act, her bitterness has coalesced into a lingering hatred, and she would be fine selling him to the first buyer, if the people of Rivet City would let her.[16][17] She tends to spend her time drunk in The Muddy Rudder and doesn't return home for days at a time, leaving James to fend for himself.[Non-game 1][18][13][19]
James is alternately sullen and wild and will do just about anything on a dare. He is capable of holding a grudge for months. He is loyal to his only friend C.J. who he picks on mercilessly. C.J. tolerates the abuse as there are no other children in the city.[20] On the rare occasions when C.J. stands up for herself, James is devastated and will do anything to earn her forgiveness. He doesn't spend any more time in the cramped common room quarters than he has to and can usually be found in the company of his friend C.J. Young. The two of them like to play in the storage rooms or hang around on the flight deck.[Non-game 2][21] Christie Young, C.J.'s mother, feels sorry for the boy and thinks her daughter is a good influence on him.[22][23][15]
The Runaways[]
James' familial relationship is a sore spot (particularly should his mother also become deceased for whatever reason),[24][25] in reality he is sad and scared.[26] Should he be provoked into action he will attempt to run away to get loving attention from anyone.[27][28][29][30][31][32] Should James have been convinced to run away, in a forlorn attempt at attention from loved ones, he'll take C.J. with him.[33] Tammy won't notice or care,[34] Christie will. Depending how how the parents and security find out about the missing children Chief Harkness[35][36] and Commander Lana Danvers will comment alternately. It's Angela Staley who witnessed the pair heading towards the gate bridge, believing that they knew better then to leave the city.[37] The pair will make it as far as Anacostia Crossing Station where they can be found by the Lone Wanderer, who can bring them home.[38][39][40] If the Lone Wanderer decides not to help them, James will threaten to follow them until they do.[41]
Relationships[]
James is the son of Tammy Hargrave, an emotionally abusive alcoholic who wouldn't mind selling him into slavery, and a father who died in the wasteland. His only friend, as there are no other children in the city, is C.J. Young. He and C.J. spend their time playing in the storage room or hanging around on the flight deck. He has developed a reputation similar to his mother, and a similar resentment towards her.[21] However, there is never a time where James being physically abused can be witnessed. She does make sure he is fed and tried to make him thankful for the food.[42][43][44] Even keeping the drug addict Paulie Cantelli at bay, as to not give James a bad role model.[45]
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
  |
This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. | |
  |
This character starts quests. | |
Quests[]
- Wasteland Survival Guide: If asked about the history of the city, James will remark sarcastically about his father building it and that his mother is the "mirelurk queen."[46] His remarks has an alternate should she be deceased or enslaved.[47] If pressed about knowing anything about the city whatsoever, he will comment that it's a big boat.[48]
- The Runaways: Should James Hargrave have been convinced to run away from home he will take C.J. Young with him.[33] Although his mother doesn't notice, C.J.'s does. Whether Commander Danvers heard about the missing children directly from Christie Young,[49] or from anyone else,[50] security will look for them.
- If the player brings up the issue about his alcoholic mother, he gets angry. This leads to a Speech option that goads James into running away from home. If successful, he runs away with C.J. Young and the Lone Wanderer gains negative Karma. They can later be found at Anacostia Crossing Station. After finding them, they can be led right back to Rivet City for positive Karma.
- Light-Fingers Hargrave: With the Child at Heart perk, the player can ask James to steal ammunition for them. He will give a random amount of ammunition of a random type once every 12 in-game hours.[51][52] There is no Karma penalty.
Effects of player actions[]
- If you kill or enslave his mother and then ask about his family he will answer, "Dead. Some asshole like you killed them."
Inventory[]
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items |
|---|---|---|
| Athlete of the Wastes outfit | Bubblegum Gum drops |
Notes[]
- Father Clifford has tried to get C.J. Young to bring James to Sunday Church services. His mother Tammy keeps him from attending.[53]
- James has snide and rude comments to several members of the Rivet City denizens; and the robots. Such as Ted Strayer who he calls a "good for nothing,"[54] calling Mister Buckingham a talking refrigerator,[55] and Private Jones a tin can,[56] apart from Chief Harkness who James shows reluctant respect for.[57]
- James has the extremely rare gum drops item in his inventory.
- James seems to share his mother's bad reputation in the eyes of almost every citizen of Rivet City.[15][57]
- Angela Staley will tell the Lone Wanderer that James acts badly because his mom is a drunk and abuses him, however, there is never a time where James being physically abused can be witnessed. She does make sure he is fed and tried to make him thankful for the food.[42][43] Even keeping the drug addict Paulie Cantelli at bay, as to not give James a bad role model.[58]
- If the Lone Wanderer tells James to run away and then immediately talks to him again, he will act as if he has already run away from home. The player can then apologize to him and gain positive Karma, although he may still run away.
Notable quotes[]
- "Go jump off the flight deck, asshole."
- "Hey C.J., let's play killer. You pretend to be my Mom, and I'll pretend to be a serial killer."
- "Mom, can I go to C.J.'s"
- "Is that good enough for you, asshole?"
- "What's your problem, mister?"
- "What's your problem, lady?"
Appearances[]
James Hargrave appears only in Fallout 3.
Bugs[]
James runs away but can never be found; this is often accompanied by him also leaving C.J. behind, who continues running around Rivet City but with the player unable to interact with her in any way.[verified]
Gallery[]
James and C.J. running off
The kids distraught near Anacostia Crossing Station
References[]
|
Non-game
- ↑ Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.99: "Tammy Hargrave
Tammy is a sour, middle-aged woman who drinks too much. She married James's father out of sheer desperation, and when he died at the hands of Raiders, she was left with his "brat" son. She took James to Rivet City. Tammy considers herself better than most of Rivet City's citizens. Ironically, Tammy spends her days getting drunk in the Muddy Rudder surrounded by riffraff and often doesn't return home for days at a time. She never knows where James is, because she simply doesn't care."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census) - ↑ Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.78: "James Hargrave
James Hargrave is one of Rivet City's few kids. He doesn't spend any more time in the cramped quarters than he has to and can usually be found in the company of his friend C.J. Young. The two of them like to play in the storage rooms or hang around on the flight deck. James is alternately sullen and wild. He will do just about anything on a dare. He is capable of holding a grudge for months. He is loyal to C.J. but picks on her mercilessly. The two don't have many other options for play-mates, so C.J. tolerates the abuse. On the rare occasions when C.J. stands up for herself, James is devastated and will do anything to earn her forgiveness."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)
