Deborah "Deb" Timmerman (née Clark)[1] is the head of the Timmerman furniture and fur trading business in Kentucky. She is also the mother of Carver Timmerman and significant other of Shelley van Lowe.
Background[]
Before the Great War, Deborah lived in Appalachia and was happily married to Gregory Timmerman. She inherited Clark Interior and Furniture from her father, running it together with her husband, focusing on accounting.[2] Working closely with Van Lowe Taxidermy, she continued business ties established by her father, but gradually formed a different kind of relationship altogether with Shelley van Lowe, the co-owner. Flirting using the receipt system comments since at least January 2076[3] blossomed into genuine feelings by April. Deborah and Shelley elected to keep it under wraps, using the comment system on the Van Lowe receipt system for communication, seemingly afraid of Greg's reaction.[4]
To ensure secrecy, the receipts were withheld from bookkeeping, leading Gregory to contact Shelley directly about the matter in August 2077.[2] This caused Shelley to break contact for two months, prompting Deborah to switch to paper copies (with the comments omitted) and eventually reach out to Shelley again on October 7, worried that she was angry. It was an opportune decision, as Shelley missed Deborah and genuinely needed her support. Her brother, Calvin, returned to Lewisburg, in a worse shape than he left and relapsing into old habits. Shelley settled on a birthday trip the following Friday to take her mind off things.[5] When Calvin disappeared on October 19, Deborah immediately joined Shelley in contacting the police and looking for him, with her husband looking after Carver, their son.[6]
The Great War occurred four days later, changing priorities for the family. Everyone focused on survival, with the Timmermans and the remaining van Lowe forming close bonds. Gregory realized what was going between his wife and Shelley, but accepted their relationship, rather than reject it.[1] Tragedy struck in November, shortly after the bombs,[7] as Gregory disappeared while following up a lead on a stash in the Burning Mine.[8] With Carver's health failing in mid-November due to the Ash Heap's poisonous environment,[9] Deborah reached out to Shelley and the two abandoned Appalachia for Kentucky in the west.[10]
Deborah used her business acumen to start a trading outfit, focusing on furs and furniture, with Shelley working as trapper.[11] They soon formed ties with the Blue Ridge Caravan Company operating under Joanna Mayfield out East. Deborah worked the trail for years, becoming a solid merchant under Blue Ridge's protection.[12] She doesn't talk much about the Lewisburg days, unintentionally causing their son distress, as he longs to know about where he comes from, or at least what happened to his father.[13]
Both Deborah and Shelley are alive as of 2104, although Deborah at some point contracted a severe disease that rendered her unable to continue working on the trail. Carver had to pick up the slack, as Shelley's trapping skills were essential to their business.[11] Blue Ridge members know about their relationship and both Deb and Shelley are popular and the company officers do their best to look out for Carver and help him settle into the role of a merchant, despite his difficulties.[14] All are sympathetic to Deborah's plight and struggle with the disease.[15]
Appearances[]
Deborah Timmerman is mentioned only in Fallout 76, introduced in the Wild Appalachia update.
Behind the scenes[]
Deborah and Shelley's relationship was previously only hinted at in-game, although designer Carl McKevitt confirmed that Deborah is Shelley van Lowe's significant other and that they are the mothers of Carver Timmerman.[Non-game 1] These family dynamics were later confirmed in-game with the Once in a Blue Moon update.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 G. Timmerman, last words
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Van Lowe Taxidermy terminal entries; terminal, Receipt: 8/2/2077
- ↑ Van Lowe Taxidermy terminal entries; terminal, Receipt: 1/11/2076
- ↑ Van Lowe Taxidermy terminal entries; terminal, Receipt: 4/2/2076
- ↑ Van Lowe Taxidermy terminal entries; terminal, Receipt: 10/7/2077
- ↑ Van Lowe Taxidermy terminal entries; terminal, Refund Order: 10/19/2077
- ↑ Carver Timmerman: "Oh, ha. Yeah, I guess that can get pretty confusing. So my mom-- my birth mom, I mean-- is Debbie. She handles all the orders and stuff for our stock. My other mom is Shelley-- she's from Lewisburg too. They both left town during the war and fell in love, I think. As long as I can remember, Shelley's been my mom, too. She's helped raised me since I was a baby. But mom says that dad died just after the bombs. He never made it out of Lewisburg. That's all I know. And... don't get me wrong. My family is perfect. I wouldn't trade it for anything. But, learning about him could be like... learning about me? Maybe?"
(Carver Timmerman's dialogue) - ↑ Note from Greg
- ↑ Van Lowe Taxidermy terminal entries; terminal, Pending Response: 11/17/2077
- ↑ Carver Timmerman: "Well I was born around here actually, but my mom moved us sometime after the war. Now we've live in a settlement out in what used to be Kentucky, I guess. Maybe it still is Kentucky? I don't know, I tried reading some old geography text books as a kid, seemed like a waste of time now, though."
(Carver Timmerman's dialogue) - ↑ 11.0 11.1 Vault 76 dweller: "Caravan work sounds tough for someone like him."
Vinny Costa: "Well, it ain't really by choice neither. One of his moms used to run the route, but came down with somethin' nasty some time back. His other mom's their primary trapper, so it falls to lil' Carvey-boy to man the Brahmin."
(Vinny Costa's dialogue) - ↑ Libby Wen: "Is there no one else from your family that can run shipments for you, Carver?"
Carver Timmerman: "Well my mom used to do this before she got sick. And I guess Shelley could, but then we'd be down a trapper. Why do you ask? I'm not very good at this, am I?"
(Carver Timmerman and Libby Wen's dialogue) - ↑ Carver Timmerman: "Problem is, I was born there... In Lewisburg, I mean. Wasn't old enough to remember it, but I've heard about it... and about my Dad. He never made it out with us. Mom doesn't say much, just that we all lived there before the war. I can't get my mind off it. It's all I think about these days... I wish I could learn more about him."
(Carver Timmerman's dialogue) - ↑ Discarded letter
- ↑ Big Bend Tunnel terminal entries; Joanna Mayfield's terminal, Staff and Clients for Appalachia
Non-game