#aloy could you yearn any less

[tjerra14]

Them ✨ that is all

[anohai]

[Spoiler warning for those who haven't played or finished the Burning Shores DLC]

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Just wanted some place to add my thoughts on the DLC and the Aloy x Seyka (Seyloy?) romance in particular outside discord spaces.

I want to start this off by saying that I appreciate Aloy getting to experience this for the first time. She deserves happiness more than anyone, and I think this journey made her realize that love is something she is capable of yearning for. Something she does want in her future. The idea is now tangible instead of questionable or unattainable for her.

That being said, I'm not entirely sold on her dynamic with Seyka.

Don't get me wrong, I like Seyka! But she and Aloy are so much alike that it leaves something to be desired of the ship. They're less compelling because even though they definitely vibe with each other, they don't seem to share enough differences that would balance the other out. The only major contrast was Seyka's sense of community and Aloy's indifference to it due to her upbringing.

Seyka represents the kind of person I think Aloy would have become had Aloy lived a normal life with the Nora. Still strong, fierce, and compassionate, yet willing to bend & break the rules if it means protecting everyone or changing things for the better. Not to mention Seyka is unafraid to question things nor does she follow things blindly despite coming from a tribe who are known for their convoluted beliefs (not unlike the Nora). I think this is where some of Aloy's admiration for her comes from and why she believes Seyka is so "special." That and Seyka just happened to tick a lot of boxes for Aloy straight from the get-go, which only spearheaded her infatuation.

There's no denying there are feelings in place, and no matter which flashpoint you choose, all options are valid and can be considered canon. However, all 3 options lead to the same result; Aloy and Seyka part ways without any promises or anything established. Both girls have too much on their plate & Seyka is potentially heading home across the ocean.

All in all, this had summer romance vibes. Seyka was Aloy's first crush. One you can briefly allow her to indulge in. A fling. "I don't know if we'll ever be anything more..." is what Aloy says to Varl's grave if you choose the heart option.

This makes for a great setup for at least one other romance option in H3 because Aloy is no longer a stranger to love. It would not be hard to say that enough time has passed for Aloy to have evaluated her experience further and come to the conclusion that it's very likely things would not have worked out between her and Seyka in the long term.

But having experienced those feelings would open up the possibility to go from the puppy love she had with Seyka to being able to develop something deeper and more heartfelt towards someone already established in the series. Someone who is currently more prominent in her life and is also aware of the burden she carries. Erend feels like the best contender under these circumstances, but it's hard to say if Guerilla will go with the more linear option as they did with Seyka OR if we're going the multiple route like some fans are predicting based off the flashpoint options.

This isn't to say I think it's impossible for Seyka to come back. Though if I'm being frank, I have a hard time seeing how it could happen. Not only is the Quen homeland so far away, but it feels like Seyka is still entirely too dedicated to her tribe to just up & leave. As much as she says she feels like an outcast in the end, she has a pretty solid position amongst the Quen and honestly? The fear of her becoming an outcast was barely there to begin with what with the admiral's confidence in her & the compliance officers being no more than school-yard bullies when it came to authority. Then even if Nemesis wasn't a looming threat, Aloy now has Beta and an AI who is in charge of the entire planet's biosphere to overlook for awhile. Realistically speaking, I don't see a future for Aloy and Seyka as long as either of them have their own lives that are world's apart from each other.

Who knows what will happen though? If nothing else, I genuinely hope Aloy finds happiness in whatever way that means for her by the end. She deserves to live her life.

my little shipper heart is gonna continue rooting for ereloy though

[buryyourfavouritestrope]

Once More With Feeling - Claude Faustus

Author Note: Ok he’s a bastard but he’s a loved bastard and by loved i mean by the very select few. Like the bottom of the barrel few, I say this because I am one of them. 

Claude Faustus was everything people believed a demon to be. He was gluttonous to no end; he was the living embodiment of greed and he felt no shame in it. The demon had learned far too long ago where he stood in this life; nothing would be handed to him, so he took what he had to. He made contract after contract to satisfy the hunger within him. Claude was no beginner in the ways of wooing a woman, he did what he needed to in order to obtain a delicate soul.

This time was no different. That was what he told himself as he busied his hands that so yearned to touch someone else. Claude understood the definition of Love, but he’d never experienced it first-hand. In all honesty he was certain that the capability was outside of the purview of a demon.

“The butler seems to be preoccupied” The words irked him. The second he heard them enter the air in a hushed sentence. Soon to follow would be two more voices expressing the same if not similar ideals. Sometimes he wondered why the Triplets had been hired, or why he tolerated them as much as he did.

“Perhaps is Miss Anafellows.” The second voice quipped. Claude’s jaw tightened as he looked down at them. The three stood huddles together in the corner, the cloths in their hands long since abandoning their assigned tasks.

“No, do you not hear him and the new maid at night. Louder then dogs in heat” The third sparked Claude’s rage. Before he could react, he felt the hand on his sleeve. Any rage building within him quickly dissipated when he studied the maid, her eyes beamed as she pleaded for his attention.

“I’m sorry Claude, I need your assistance in the library, a few books were dislodged whilst I was dusting, and I can’t reach the shelf to put them back. I had asked the Triplets, but they scarpered.”  She confessed; a simple sigh fell from him in response. If it had been anyone else, he would have reprimanded them but not her. Something prevented him from acting how he usually would.

“I see,” he mused once they’d entered the room. More than a few books had fallen from the shelf, in fact it appeared to be almost every other one. It took him less than minute to clear away the mess, his hand pinching the discarded duster from a table. A smirk danced across his lips as he handed her the item. “Perhaps next time you’ll be more cautious, I’d hate for his highness to have to fire you”

Claude remained satisfied with the way her head dipped to hide the blood pooling in her cheeks. The butler held no intention of devouring her soul currently, not like he had when they’d first crossed paths. It had been Alois who hired her; and for a while Claude had assumed it was so the boy could have someone ordinary to taunt. Now he wasn’t so sure.

“Thank you, Claude” She mumbled. He revelled in the way his name rolled on her tongue and the way the syllables danced along the air towards his ears. He particularly enjoyed it in the late evening hours as the manor settled. His fingers lifted on their own before settling beneath her chin. Her head moved along with his hand, eyes meeting as he focused on her.

“I didn’t hear that” He stated, he could feel her body tremble slightly. “I’ll need you to repeat that”

“What?” She stammered over the question, fumbling with the letters as his smirk widened.

“It’s pardon, and I’ll need you to repeat yourself, louder this time” Claude chuckled. The noise itself almost sounded mechanical as it usually did when emitted from the apathetic demon. She squirmed attempting to back away from Claude. He only stepped closer, the distance between them growing shorter and shorter.  

“Thank you, Claude,” She spoke louder, he hadn’t been entirely satisfied as he listened to his name again. Claude placed his cheek to hers, his breath ghosting over her ear.

“No, that won’t do. Again, once more with feeling this time” He whispered.