#hzd outcast

[aron-mp4]

Finally collected all of the armour sets in HZD :)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

[felrend]

Blueberries

[robo-dino-puppy]

a nora outcast in the maizelands

[horizonclothing]

[horizontwinflames]

"Aloy and Beta grew up together" - concepts Part 1

Since on this AU Beta was raised as an Outcast, I wanted to give her a new haircut :D

From the HZD Artbook: "We wanted to ensure that Aloy would be immediately identifiable, regardless of what she was wearing, so her hair became a key motif that remained consistent across all of her outfits" Ilya Golitsyn, Senior Concept Artist.

With that in mind, I used the same line of thinking for Beta's outcast visual. I wanted to keep the "fringe hair to the side" detail because that's one of the key details in her canon design. With it being a bit longer, it also helps to make her look a bit younger than Aloy to reinforce the idea she's the younger sister.

And, of course, I couldn't forget the sun bleaching in her hair color; this natural effect is what gives the "fire hair" visual.

[foibles-fables]

I have a question. How did you come to the wonderful conclusion that Aloy and Talanah would be a good couple? I can see the appeal in it, but I'd rather hear it from you

[CRACKS KNUCKLES] Watch me try to stay as concise as I can with this post, hahaha.

First thing I'll say is--I'm an absolute sucker for a strong-based friends to lovers ship. The loyalty, the devotion, the knowing each other before and after the world changes them and every stage between, the slow strengthening of feelings, the contending with blurred boundaries, the oh moment, the it was this all along, the I have always been here and so have you and so we will, the settling into even deeper contentment with the other, hoo boy I can go on and on. I especially like it when it comes in a sapphic flavor of the Burdened Chosen One and their Tender, Caring, Supportive Best Friend.

[looks directly at camera]

So you can already see where I'm coming from, here. But--truly, for me--it comes down to 1) the similarities AND innate differences in their life stories/situations and 2) their interactions in HZD. A combined one-two punch that crushed my windpipe and stole my lunch money.

I'm a sucker for a friends to lovers ship, and I'm also a sucker for a ship with compelling parallels. What interests me most about the Aloy/Talanah dynamic is that they're narrative mirrors, but foils in situation. Both are highly-skilled hunters; both driven by their fixation on a parental figure (either avenging or uncovering); both lost their father (figure) to a cruelty much too large for them, with their fathers' shared desire for them to survive; both inheriting new titles (Sunhawk, Alpha Prime) and shouldering the burdens of their deceased parental figure; both proving their place and worth in the world as based on, in Talanah's words, more than the nature of their birth alone; I could keep going. (Don't tempt me.) But here Aloy was an outcast, while Talanah is from one of the noblest houses of her tribe--the difference of change from without versus change from within, and all the ways in which both are complicated. So narrative mirrors coming from opposing situations--how does that make them alike, and how does it make them different? How does it change they way they navigated through the world, and how does it change the way they would navigate one another?

I also love to point out the fact that Talanah is the perfect example of what Rost was trying to demonstrate to Aloy in his final lesson. The strength to stand alone and to make a stand. Her dedication to a selfless cause--ambition not for her own sake, but to restore her family's legacy, and to change her culture. GOD. My fingers are going numb just thinking about it.

What I'm trying to say is that Talanah is in a unique position to see and empathize with the burden Aloy feels post-HZD, and I'm not sure I'll ever forgive the writers for not capitalizing on that during the pivotal time of HFW. Carrying on of your parent's legacy is not easy, and even if Talanah doesn't know it by weight, she knows it by shape. Importantly, to me--Talanah understands--she's lived analogous experiences to Aloy's--but she's also different enough to challenge her. In fact, it goes both ways. There's a mutuality to the way that they make up for what the other has maybe lacked--puzzle pieces instead of cognate shapes, or the same image repeated twice, amplifying itself. There's harmony where there could just be volume.

That got away from me, so I'll just keep on going with how their interactions in HZD fishhooked me. I made a post the other day about Aloy's joy in the Redmaw victory, and that's a major part of it. The rest is just--the sense of ease and understanding that comes out in all of their conversations? And how Talanah always and consistently from the beginning sees Aloy as Aloy, not a Seeker, not a savior, not an oddity, just based on her own merit alone? How she heard Aloy give herself a name--Aloy despite the Nora--says she'll remember it, and then does, TWICE? Every smile she brings out of Aloy, every moment of bare genuineness between them, that giggle from Aloy post-quest? And don't get me started on the "you made this possible, Aloy" parallel. Don't even let me think about "you'll always have a special home here, if you want it." It'll end badly for all of us, category 10 blorbo emergency.

But it's not only what Talanah can offer Aloy (a deep bond of loyalty and fondness, a sense of belongingness, the simple fact of being seen as exactly how you yourself want to be seen)--Aloy gives back to Talanah as well!! Much more deeply than just helping her earn the Sunhawk title and restoring her family's legacy. Think about their pre-Alight conversation: "I won't stand aside while one of mine fights alone. Not again." Aloy has become one of Talanah's--a person who has lost everyone dear to her. Something that must be absolutely terrifying (see my post-HZD Lanah characterization, lmao) but still worth fighting for.

I was lucky enough to read the entire Sunhawk comic directly after the credits rolled on HZD, and that again just blew me out of the water with how much sense they make. The fact that Talanah was the only one to see Aloy leave makes my brain wanna come gushing out of my ears. And how they just--keep running into one another (more on this in the next paragraph). But perhaps the most important comic moment is Talanah's affirmation of "you don't owe me anything" after Aloy apologizes for leaving. That right there is respect to Aloy's agency and personhood (versus instrumentality!!) and the burden Talanah can sense she's under. She trusts Aloy to have told her what was up, if she had wanted her to know. And trusts that whatever she is doing must be important. Even if it's been difficult to be without her, Talanah knows she can't ask Aloy for more than what she is or what she can give.

(that's not to say Talanah isn't hurt. I think she still is--and projects a lot of that hurt and attachment onto another woodsy hermit--but that's a topic for a different post. You can trust and accept something like this while still being hurt by it.)

You asked how I came to the conclusion of THEM, so I haven't really included HFW in this analysis (I was clearly a goner from HZD), but it's there too. The way Aloy just happens to find out Talanah is nearby after her entire worldview is cracked open at Latopolis, how seeking her out and finding her seems to just make things okay again despite everything? (again, the constant finding of each other.) The fondness of their reunion? "It feels good to hunt by your side again"? The easy way they settle into old comfortable patterns of conversation? The tone of You love him, don't you and Really??? and Come here.? It's just all there screaming at me. I can't.

I just. I love them so much. It's so clear to me how they already have helped and can continue to help each other grow. Especially now that the series has placed them in yet another paralleled situation post-HBS. From where I see it, they've been dancing around each other since the beginning. And the way they've both sought things with others (ALSO EACH HAVING PARALLELS TO THE OTHER) only to walk away makes me wanna go absolutely feral. I can very, very clearly see this playing out into an what was I looking for when there was you moment and it might actually be the thing that makes me perish

I'm so sorry if this was totally incoherent. I've got a lot of feelings about this ship and I'm gonna continue to make them your problem.

[autisticwriterblog]

A post I made on the @polyamships discord server about my newest ot3 - Aloy/Erend/Varl from Horizon Zero Dawn. I thought I’d post it on my blog too, so here it is.

This is all based off of HZD, because I haven’t played the sequel. Okay, so… part of what draws me to this ship is that they’re such different people, but they work well together. Aloy was raised in isolation, and has no idea about the outside world or the customs of the tribe that cast her out at birth, the Nora. She’s blunt and yet caring, and a total badass.

Varl is part of the Nora but they’ve never met before, due to Aloy being an outcast . Unlike Aloy, he is a follows of the Nora’s religion and believes in their customs and traditions, and is ignorant of the outside world. However, even though it’s unheard of in their culture, he’s immediately supportive of Aloy’s plan to leave their sacred lands for her mission. It’s also implied that he has a crush on Aloy (as do so many characters in this game, men and women alike).

Erend is from the Oseram, a tribe know for metal work, drinking and being very, very chatty. It’s blatantly obvious that he has a thing for Aloy the moment they meet. He’s so very unlike the other two, brash and loud and prone to drinking away hid problems. But he’s also a loyal ally and is there for Aloy when she needs him most.

So it’s quite obvious why I ship Aloy/Varl and Aloy/Erend. But I also ship the guys together (and obviously the three of them as a triad) even though they barely interact in the game. It’s partly because I imagine them bonding over their feelings for Aloy, especially when she doesn’t yet act on her own feelings (I headcanon that she likes them both, but she’s too focused on her mission to want a relationship right now) for both guys. And it’s also because they’re polar opposites in personality, and I imagine they’d spend a lot of time bickering, which could easily turn to flirting and then more.

And as for the triad, this is based off a single shot from the end of the game, when Aloy raises her bow in success with Varl and Erend at her side after a hard fight. And I just thought “I want these three together” and the shipping began.

Anyway, that’s my mostly spoiler free rant about my newest ship.

[artekai]

HZD was such a magical experience. It was a game about the apocalypse, but it still left me feeling hopeful by the end, twisting the despair it made me feel over its past into something like appreciation for everything we still have. It was a game about life and death, about nature and both its vulnerability and its resilience, about how technology can be used for either good or bad, about how it could destroy us but also save us depending on how we use it. It was a game about GAIA and Elisabet's love for the world (and each other), it was about a lonely queer girl's personal quest to find her mother that turned into a quest to save her homeworld, it was the story of an outcast who became the chosen one she never wanted to be, who went from carrying the weight of negative expectations to the weight of positive ones on her shoulders, it was about showcasing both the best and the worst of humanity, while still reassuring us that the effort we put into this world is worth it, even against impossible odds, because this is a world worth fighting for, and there might always be bad but there will also always be good, and life on Earth is worth protecting.

It was so deeply beautiful and moving and at the end of the day it was just a game. I wish I could play it for the first time again

[autistic-aloy]

my half self insert half oc for hfw... an self-inflicted outcast and traveling trader/ falconer!

He's not necessarily an outcast- more like a lonesome hunter who spends her days scowering the desert for machine and animal parts to trade. it was during a search in some ruins that he found a focus- and then found out how to tame chargers.

When Gaia came back online, she got signals from Trav's focus, but decided not to act on it, as she didn't want to reveal herself to some random stranger when she had WAY more important things to do. Then, after the events of HZD, she sends Aloy to contact Trav, as they need all the help they can get.

If she was in game, she'd work kinda like a very specific merchant- selling mostly animal parts and potions, but once in a while coming up with a rare machine part. After befriending her, he moves to the Base and hunts there- providing food for everyone and working as a convenient in-home trading center for Aloy.

And yes, Aloy can try to pet her harris hawk. It might bite her though.

[discar]

HZD Terraforming Base-001 Text Communications Network

Chapter 24 | Prev chapter | Next chapter Chapter Index

β: wheres kotallo

β: i wanted to talk to him about strike

HIMBO: HE'S OUT WITH ALOY.

β: ew

HIMBO: NOT LIKE THAT!

DIVINER: Aw, that means I owe Varl money!

ADMIN [GAIA]: Aloy and Kotallo have obtained the last parts necessary for Kotallo's artificial limb, and will be testing it shortly.

β: oh he got it working

Zo: Good, that means I don't have to keep talking him out of fighting a machine one-handed.

DIVINER: (⊙_⊙)

DIVINER: You what.

HIMBO: HE'S TENAKTH.

β: explain as if we didnt grow up scrambling in the mud

FlameHairSavior: Beta!

β: sorry

Zo: Oh, Aloy, are you two done?

ADMIN [GAIA]: They are not. They are in the middle of combat right now.

Zo: Please focus.

DIVINER: Please explain what you said!!

DIVINER: Why would he fight a machine when he's obviously injured and doesn't have to??

HIMBO: THE TENAKTH HAVE TO BE USEFUL TO THE TRIBE. IF THEY CAN'T FIGHT A MACHINE, THEY'RE NOT USEFUL. SO THEY FIGHT A MACHINE AND PROVE IT, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

DIVINER: (°ロ°)

HIMBO: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

β: it means you people are crazy

HIMBO: IT'S NOT MY CULTURE.

β: fine

β: how do the crazy forge people who respect strength and swinging heavy things deal with physical disability

HIMBO: I MEAN, YOU DON'T REALLY NEED BOTH ARMS TO SWING A FORGE HAMMER.

DIVINER: But what if you did?? Or if he lost BOTH arms??

Zo: There is always work to be done, I am sure.

BoyNextDoor: Oh, we're getting to you later.

Zo: ...you seem angry.

BoyNextDoor: You didn't tell us that our friend was SUICIDAL.

Zo: It would have been unfair of me to enlist more people to argue against him.

BoyNextDoor: Fairness isn't the issue with suicide watch. The point is to talk him down. End of story.

Zo: Your people have an entire class of warrior for suicide missions.

BoyNextDoor: That's completely different and you know it.

DIVINER: Zo, how DO the Utaru handle disability?

β: subtle subject change

DIVINER: [CatGrantHush.gif]

Zo: The Utaru are not a particularly physical tribe. The disabled might need extra help, and in most cases cannot handle certain tasks such as lifting heavy loads, but there is always some way to contribute.

Zo: Most of our homes are woven, after all. That takes time, and another hand is always helpful.

β: what about the nora i thought you were all hunters

BoyNextDoor: Life is precious, and as long as you're alive, you can help. Stitchers weave clothing and patch up the wounded, and some of them were once Braves who are now too injured to hunt.

BoyNextDoor: Even if all they can do is talk and share their stories, there is something worthwhile.

FlameHairSavior: Unless they're an outcast.

Zo: Please focus on your fight.

MARSHAL Kotallo: The fight is done, and the limb serves well.

DIVINER: Yay!

BoyNextDoor: Aloy, you know I don't want to diminish your suffrage, but yours was a unique case. Most exiles only last a few months, and they're almost never children.

β: suffering

β: suffrage is a good thing

BoyNextDoor: Then why does it sound so similar?

ADMIN [GAIA]: Unfortunately, most of my etymology databases were stored with APOLLO, so I cannot answer that question.

β: and i definitely didnt bring any of those databases with me

FlameHairSavior: Varl, I know, okay? I know my situation was unheard of. It just... growing up like that was a lot, okay? I just need to complain.

BoyNextDoor: That's fair.

FlameHairSavior: And now that I think of it, exiles DID sometimes help the tribe. Rost was called to hunt those Sawtooths that attacked the village just before the Proving.

FlameHairSavior: Though he wasn't a normal exile either.

β: seems like theres always some slagging exception to every rule

Zo: Has Erend been teaching you to curse?

HIMBO: YOU SAID WE SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER!

BoyNextDoor: Not like that!

MARSHAL Kotallo: What did I just walk into?

Chapter 24 | Prev chapter | Next chapter Chapter Index

[that-one-i-think]

To explain Horizon Zero Dawn a bit more for possible posts about MCD x HZD Au, here is the overarching plot. (this is the first game)

It takes place post machine apocalypse. Essentially, Ted Faro built machines and an AI that essentially corrupted other machines and went rogue, killing everyone on the planet. Humanities only salvation was project Zero Dawn created by Elisabet Sobeck, which waited until the world was at inhabitable before rebuilding it with clones and terraforming machines. Unfortunately the system was corrupted so children left before the were able to learn more about proper civilization and were released to build their own civilization and tribes while hunting machines, machines that were tasked with rebuilding before being corrupted.

Aloy grew up an outcast from her matriarchal society after being found in the "holy" mountain. Since she had no mother other than the mountain she was sent to live with Rost, her adoptive father and another outcast. So, Aloy spent the first entire 18 years of her life trying to figure out who she is and gain answers, eventually leading her to join the proving, an event that if she were to pass would allow her not only to join the tribe (the Nora) but request answers to who her mother really is.

She was doing really well until the Shadow Carja, an evil tribe that worships HADES which is a corrupting and evil AI, attacks the proving killing various other Nora and her adoptive dad, Rost. They also have orders to kill her for a mysterious reason as the AI immediately clocked her because she is the only ginger (only half joking). Aloy is then given the special title of Seeker from the Matriarchs (religious leaders) and is allowed to travel outside of Nora lands.

Throughout her journey of killing various death machines she gains various allies from the different tribes. Oseram, a tribe with the culture of blacksmithing, inventing, and drinking, Carja a larger civilized tribe with castles and cities that worship the Sun and live under a King (The previous king committed genocide and is why there are Shadow Carja), Banuk which is an incredibly spiritual mountainous tribe that listens to spirits and tries to tame machines, and the Nora who hated her because they worship literal motherhood and she had no mother.

During Aloys journey of defeating the Shadow Carja she finds out all about how and why the world went to ruin aand eventually found out her mother. Aloy was a fail safe procedure by Gaia, the AI incharge of restoring the world, because Aloy was a perfect clone of Elisabet Sobeck, down to her need to save the world. So the mountain did birth her, as it was one of the last working centers that had a viable cloning pod. Aloy does manage to defeat the Shadow Carja and Hades through her allies and just pure protagonist strength. Though HADES does live for a bit longer as one of her allies decides that the information he presents outweighs his murderous capabilities.

THIS IS WAY MORE SIMILAR THAN I THOUGHT! It is very obvious on who is where.

[robo-dino-puppy]

a fierce nora huntress in the deserts around meridian

[amatchinwater]

Getting Fuzzy

Pairing: Ereloy (Aloy/Erend)

Characters: Aloy, Erend, Beta, others mentioned

Warnings: not spoiler free, post hzd, mildly possessive behavior (but Aloy is okay with it)

Words: 3366

Happy Ereloy Day!!

Ao3 link Masterlist

---

It’s been a long time since Aloy felt like she could call a place home. Even the Sacred Lands was a bit of a stretch because she was never welcomed by her tribe. The Nora and their obsession with others left Aloy almost completely alone. The closest thing she would have even considered home was Rost. But Aloy lost that too.

Then she stumbled across the Base.

A safe haven where Aloy can relax. Unwind from the immense stress of her life’s mission for once. What’s even better, her friends are there too. It’s still amazing to the huntress that she has friends in the first place. Growing up an outcast really did a number on her in terms of social skills. With all of the love and work from her companions, Aloy is catching up pretty quickly. 

It’s great that she has people in her life that care about her as much as she does them. 

Her friends, who all have their own tribes—their own homes—have made the Base their home and hers. Nothing can quite compare to how it feels after a long mission to come back to smiling faces waiting for her.

GAIA, with all of her knowledge, ready to help her companions learn as painlessly as possible. All the plants and flowers Zo has brought helps to fill the space with so much life. Kotallo is always willing to spar or talk strategy to ensure everyone is ready for what’s coming. Even Alva has taken lessons from the Tenakth, her sponge-like tenacity for knowledge is starting to catch on with fighting rather than running. The kind smile of sense of familiarity is always there with Varl. Sylens is…well, he’s there. Being greeted by Beta is something special. Having family waiting with welcome arms is so heartwarming. 

Of all her friends, none of their greetings quite compares to Erend. To the feeling of coming home to him. The Oseram is a constant that Aloy never knew she’d need. Not with the way they first started. All it took was one mission with him, and everything changed. Then she found him in the Daunt and even more changed. Feelings bloomed in Aloy’s chest like her heart was a field of flowers—blossoming for the strong, goofy Oseram that truly showed her what it means for a person to feel like home. 

He showed Aloy what it feels like when your heart chooses your person. Because when it comes down to it, he is. Erend is her person. Even if he has no idea Aloy feels that way.

It’s common knowledge at this point that Aloy is exceptionally strong. For fuck’s sake, Aloy has fought and army of Deathbringers, Sentinels, and the literal Prime Sentinel. But ask her to talk about her feelings, or Forge forbid confess them, suddenly Aloy forgets every word she’s ever known.

Every time Erend flirts with her, Aloy clams up as though he’s never done it before.

Aloy would love nothing more than to flirt back. Make the Oseram turn the same shade of red he makes her. If only she wasn’t so nervous. Erend could be staying in her room with her, holding her while she sleeps. Instead, he falls asleep on the bench. Occasionally, he makes his way to his shared space with Kotallo, but that’s pretty rare. What she wouldn’t give to fall asleep in his arms. 

She would bet good shards that he’s a fantastic snuggler.

Climbing up the ledge outside the Base, Aloy can’t help but smile at the thought while she warms her hands at the campfire before stepping inside. Before Nemesis gets here, she should really figure out if she’s right. Provided Aloy can find the courage to ask, that is. For now, she will have to live with her imagination; one day, it’ll become reality.

“Aloy, you’re back.” Beta smiles at the counter. “How’d it go with Morlund?”

As nice as it is to see her sister, Aloy can’t help the way her heart drops a bit not seeing Erend sitting by the Strike table. “Well, we got shot out of the sky, then attacked by the Stormbird that did it. So that was…eventful.” Her brows furrow. “Where is everyone?” It seems like Beta is the only one here, it’s awfully quiet.

Her sister taps her Focus off, sliding a plate of seasoned meat and greens her way. “Kotallo and Alva are sparring by the river.” Beta pops one of the cubes in her mouth, encouraging Aloy to share with her. 

Aloy removes her gloves, grabbing the offered food and the flavor immediately explodes in her mouth. Her sister doesn’t cook, or rather can’t, so- her heart hammers in her chest. Is Erend here? Did she miss him? No one but him and Kotallo add this much spice to their food and the latter isn’t even here. 

“Sylens is with GAIA trying to formulate a plan for Nemesis,” Beta continues.

Aloy clears her throat, trying her best to sound nonchalant, asking, “And Erend?”

“Right here, Aloy.” the deep voice startles her.

Aloy nearly chokes on a piece of lettuce when she turns to see him. Having just come from the shower, Erend has only his thin, brown trousers on. Droplets of water still clings to his chest as he pulls on a clean shirt, which didn’t stop Aloy from catching a glimpse of his tattoos or the short hairs peppering his torso. Her throat constricts tightly, not even allowing Aloy air to breathe.

“Miss me, Darlin’?” Erend teases, sitting on the stool beside her. 

“Um,” Aloy mumbles. Or at least, she thinks she does. To be fair, she isn’t so sure her mouth even opened. Her brain broke momentarily seeing him with his shirt off. That’s never happened before. In fact, she’s been very careful to make sure it hasn’t happened. 

Beta giggles, saving her from having to formulate a response. “We definitely missed your cooking,” her sister notes, eating more of the meat. “Varl and Zo went out hunting and foraging for more. Supplies are getting low.” 

“Oh.” Aloy’s shoulders slump. “I would have hunted for something on my way back had I known.”

Erend throws his arm over her shoulder. “Ah, don’t feel bad about it. They offered. Besides,” the Oseram winks at her, “I think they wanted to spend some time alone. They deserve that much after everything, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Aloy agrees, unconsciously leaning into his arm. She imagines Zo would want as much time with Varl as possible after Gemini.

It’s silent for a moment before Beta pipes up. “Right! Well, I’m going to go check on GAIA and Sylens. Make sure he’s not running her ragged.”

Aloys goes to get up from her stool, “I’ll come with you.” If Sylens has figured out anything of substance, she should know about it.

“No!” Beta throws her hands out. Erend looks just as confused by the outburst. “Um, I mean.” Her sister slides the plate closer to them. “Eat! I’m sure you’re both hungry from your travels. Eat, if there’s something important, I’ll come get you.” Beta smiles and scampers off.

“Okay,” Aloy draws out the word, slinking back to her seat. “That was weird,” she says, hesitantly grabbing more of the vegetables. She’s been living off of quick game and stew, so food that has an actual crunch is a nice welcome. 

"Hey," Erend chuckles, "If it means I don't have to deal with Mr. High Horse, I'll take it." They both pause and share a similar look of trying to hold back a smile. But they break, bursting into laughter, the sound warming Aloy's heart. The Oseram collects himself, still holding a grin, "Man, I missed you, Aloy." He squeezes the arm around her, brushing her face against the side of his head. 

"I missed you, too." Aloy allows herself to say. She did and he said it first, so it's not like it gives anything away, you can miss a friend. "Though you're getting kind of fuzzy on me." She reached up, giggling, ruffling his mohawk. "Pretty soon it won't be a mohawk anymore." 

Aloy freezes. 

She's never touched his hair before. It feels just as soft as it looks, carding delicately through her fingers. Her face burns scarlet and she drops her hand with a chuckle. Grabbing a piece of meat so it looks like she didn't yank her hand away. 

If he noticed, Erend doesn't comment on it. Just rubs the back of his head. "Yeah, I know." The Oseram turns a bit to look at her better, giving Aloy a better look at the steel blue eyes that haunt her dreams. "With Asera and helping out at Hidden Ember I haven't had a chance to cut it."

"I could do it for you." Aloy suggests before she can stop the words. 

Why? Why did she just do that? One simple touch to his hair and her brain shorts out. Offering to do something for Erend that some would consider an act of intimacy. She's two seconds away from finding a Burrower hole to crawl into. Aloy’s stomach is on a warpath, threatening to upheave everything she’d just put inside of it as anxiety and possibly embarrassment bubbles to the surface. Her fingers twitch against her thigh as Aloy tries to rid herself from the sweat on her palms.

Why?

"Really?" Erend’s face lights up. He always seems so surprised when people offer to help him."You'd do that for me? Since Ersa, I've been doing it myself. Can never tell if I get the back or not." He sighs, averting his gaze back towards the nearly empty plate. As much as Erend tries to hide them, his emotions are clear in the slight slump of his shoulders and the way his face falls. His body saying more than his mouth could, or rather would.

Aloy softens instantly—putty at his feet. All because of sweet puppy eyes and a cute grin. "Yeah." She tries to sound as nonchalant as possible. "I used to do it for Rost all the time,” she points to the side of her head, “he had these stripes that I had to precisely shave." Aloy shrugs, "I'm sure I can manage a clean slate." 

The Oseram beams. "Whenever you get a minute, just let me know."

His smile is infectious, and despite the emotional tornado inside of her, one curls around Aloy's own mouth. "I have a minute right now." She leans in, like they're sharing a secret. "Maybe even two."

Erend chuckles, "Two? She likes me." He grins. A sexy curve of his mouth that ignites Aloy's insides with blaze.

That will honestly never get old to her, or him by the sound of it. 

"Come on." Aloy gets up from her seat. "Let's go." 

Erend gets up, still smiling. "Lead the way," he says, gesturing for her to walk ahead. 

He's not incredibly taller than her. But those few inches when Erend stands at his full height? This close? Hits Aloy all the right ways and never ceases to make her blush. 

Turning to hide the red hue singing her freckles, Aloy heads for the shower room. Probably best to let all the hair just go down the drain. If the Old Ones did one thing right, it was plumbing and electricity. They made do with fires and lights made from sparkers in place of electricity. Metal bins- or tubs, if you're lucky enough to be at the palace in Meridian- and streams aren't terrible for bathing, but water pressure is amazing. 

Aloy didn't notice that the Oseram grabbed his wooden chair on the way until he set it down under a spigot in the middle of the wall. 

And then he kills her—right where she fucking stands. 

Erend reaches behind his head and yanks his shirt off. One second he's in a shirt, then in the time it takes Aloy to blink, she's staring at the Oseram's chest. The intricate, bold black lines covering his biceps and most of his chest. Even the soft hairs on his torso do very little in obscuring the designs on his tattoos. For a painful moment, Aloy isn’t even blinking. 

Fucking- Aloy nearly short circuits. The Nora chokes on her own saliva, having to cough to clear her throat. 

"You okay, Darlin'?" Erend asks with a smirk, balling up his shirt and sitting on the chair. Legs slightly spread, leaning over with one hand on his knee. 

Can someone kill you twice? Aloy wonders, trying to regain control over her breathing and erratic heart.

"Yeah! Fine." Aloy squeaks, coughing one more time for good measure. "Just a tickle." She gestures to her throat. "Do you have any balm? Or oil?" Water would work fine, but she remembers how much easier the blade slides when there's something slick. 

"On the sink in the other room."

Aloy nods, stepping out to not only grab the items, but to calm down. It's just Erend, for Forge's sake. Shit, she's even cursing like him now. Okay. Okay! Okay. It's fine, she can totally do this. She takes a deep breath, picking up the clean blade and the small jar, heading back to the shower room. 

"Ready?" Aloy asks, handing him the knife. 

He nods, so she pours a generous amount into her hands, giving the jar to the Oseram too. It isn't until she's lathering the oil on her hands that Aloy realizes she'll be rubbing his scalp. The Nora takes a deep breath before just going for it. Massaging the oil into all the small hairs. It smells minty and smoky at the same time, must be something he picked up from the Tenakth in the desert. 

Erend sighs, shoulders deflating, almost whispering. "That feels nice." 

"Good," she says. Meaning it too. Her fluttering heart aside, Aloy is happy to take care of Erend. Not only being the captain of the Vanguard, without Ersa, he probably hasn't felt like this in a while. 

So she quickly rinses her hands off, not wanting the blade to slip from her fingers. Filled with determination for this to be relaxing for him. Show him that he's worth relaxation and affection. That he has worth period. Something Aloy thinks Erend forgets a lot. 

Getting the blade back, Aloys gets started, carefully dragging the knife across his skin. As the hair is shaved away, Aloy rinses it off, continuing her work. One hand rests on his broad shoulder as she makes her way to the side of his head. 

Erend's hand comes up to cover hers, gently rubbing his thumb along the Nora's knuckles. "Thanks for doing this." He drops his hand. "I really appreciate it." 

"You're welcome." Her voice comes out much more casual than she feels. A novelty if you ask her, inside she's screaming. If Aloy wasn't holding something sharp near his head, she would have flinched. "Do you—" She moves her hand to the side of his face so she can do his temple. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all." Erend leans into her hand.

Aloy carefully holds his face, moving it the way she needs and returning to her task. When she moves the blade away to rinse it, Erend grabs her hand again, slowly bringing it to his lips. Kissing her fingers softly. 

She's going to combust. Erend doesn’t do this. Sure, he’s thrown some flirtatious comments her way or has hugged Aloy for a bit longer than anyone else. But never, not once, has Erend put his mouth anywhere near her. The closest he’s ever come was whispering a joke in her ear about Kotallo having a crush on Alva when everyone was in the Base one night. Aloy is cold and hot at the same time and simply doesn’t know what to do with herself. 

Aloy isn’t sure how to react. She wants to ask Erend what he’s doing, what this means. But all her brain can process is the way his mouth feels on her fingers, sending her stomach into another round of flip flopping. There’s no denying that Aloy likes it, if only she could find her voice. Or her body, Aloy feels like she’s watching this happen from afar rather than being in it. 

"I'm really glad you're back." Erend asks, his voice full of relief, but so quiet. As if he’s afraid that if he talks too loud, the dark thought in his head would come to fruition. Something Aloy herself has done on multiple occasions.

"What?" Aloy asks on autopilot, her mouth supplying a question while her mind tries to recover from her hand being kissed. Because in truth, she didn’t fully hear what he’d said.

"You sent out a call with your Focus when you were with Morlund." Erend explains, kissing her knuckles again. "I watched you fall out of the sky. It cut out for a minute, just to see you being attacked by a Stormbird when it came back online." The Oseram shakes his head, giving her a third kiss. “Scared the shit out of me. I haven’t felt that since—” He sighs.

The last time she thought she was dead. 

“Since Gemini.” Aloy whispers, her heart aching from the memory.

Where they temporarily lost Beta and almost Varl too.

Erend only nods, squeezing her hand.

Aloy gently shakes his head. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’m gonna bother you for a long time.”

But he doesn’t chuckle at her humorous tone like usual. Instead, still holding her hand, Erend turns his head, looking at her with incredibly soft eyes. “You mean it? Aloy, I—” He pinches his mouth closed, like he’s torn with what to say. “Fire and spit, I’m just gonna say it. Aloy, I’m in love with you. Have been for a while now. I don’t know if you—”

There’s zero thought or hesitancy, Aloy leans down and kisses him. She is bold in all things except this. Romance, kissing, she’s seen it before, but it’s nothing Aloy has done herself. But Erend is sweet and he said he loves her, so she can push her anxiety to the side for the sake of making sure he knows that his feelings are absolutely reciprocated. 

Erend is stunned for a second, but his arms wrap around her waist, pulling Aloy into his lap. He groans low in the back of his throat, licking along her bottom lip. When Aloy doesn't react immediately—surprise still coursing through her veins—Erend squeezes her ass. Making Aloy gasp, allowing his tongue to slip into her mouth. 

Aloy's heart is going off the rails in her chest. She's making out with Erend. Something she never thought would happen because she was stuck in her head. Too scared to admit her feelings because she didn’t know how to express them. But here she is, in Erend's lap with his tongue exploring her mouth and his facial hair tickling her cheeks. 

She breaks off the kiss for the sake of breathing. Gasping for air, hooded hazel eyes marvel at the red staining the Oseram's cheeks. "I'm sorry I worried you," Aloy says, her free hand stroking the short hairs on his chest. Toned with a layer of softness that makes her mouth water. 

"It's okay." Erend curls his hand in the back of her hair, bringing their lips together again. "You're mine now." He grinds her against him. "That means I will go with you from now on. I won’t have to worry about wondering what’s happening on a random Stormbird attack, because I’ll be right there helping you take it down. I know you can take care of yourself, but I'd like to keep an extra eye on my woman, if she’ll let me." 

"I love you too." Aloy smiles, tenderly cupping his cheek, knowing that's what he's trying to say. “I’d be more than happy for you to join me on my missions. Now," she quickly says, before she can distract herself even more. "Let's finish your hair. Then we can continue." 

Erend gives her one last peck, "Whatever you say, Darlin'."

[horizontwinflames]

Hello! Welcome!

@mari-mary talking here, and this is my side blog dedicated to my newest AU from the Horizon series. It will have spoilers of the games and DLCs!

Long story short, let's say that the Zeniths could get to Earth sooner. Things did not go well, and yada yada... During the prologue of HZD, little Aloy finds little Beta in that bunker. Beta had lost her memory and only remembered her name... or at least what she thinks is her name.

So, they grew up together as outcasts in this AU, and then we proceed to the canon story but with that small change in it. With that said, their characters will be very different from canon and the way the story rolls as well.

Also, Elisabet is alive here too. She's been kept in a cryosleep state by the Zeniths.

Read about the main four here: [Aloy, Beta and Elisabet] [Isaac]

[Fanfic Masterlist]

[This AU on TvTropes] (missing info from chapter 7 in front) created by @sananaryon

For canon content or just artworks/fic posts of this AU, see: @marisartcorner

FAQ under the cut:

**QUICK FAQ:

-There will be any ships/canon romance (with Aloy or Beta) in this AU?

No, I don't want to sidetrack the focus from the sisterhood of Aloy and Beta. Plus many other reasons story/character development-wise.

-Can I do fanart/memes?

Of course! I would love to see it! Just not NSFW(like porn or gore, for example), please; of course, don’t forget to credit it.

-Can I do a video from your comics or use your art in my videos? (ex.: adding voice acting, panels “slide show”, AMVs, etc)

Yes, BUT notify me when you start to work on it. In this case, I ask you to give credit somewhere in the video and link(s) to the original art in the description.

-Can I translate your comics/fan fic?

Yes, but let’s talk first.

-Can I edit/trace over/repost your art/use for AI/NFT?

NOPE.

But if you’re unsure about something, ask me.

[ryah-wolfe]

Jaytim/HZD

 “Aren’t you kinda small for an Oseram?” 

“And aren’t you far from your land Nora?”  The young man replied without looking up from his workbench.

Jason grimaced when Stephanie’s boney elbow slammed into his stomach. 

“Behave” the blonde Carja hissed at him. “He’s the one I get my upgrades from”

Jason had met Stephanie at one of the Carja’s hunting grounds and shared a few pints of strong Oseram ale while nursing bruises from a sneaky Watcher. He found an unlikely friend in the Carja and asked who built her weapons, looking to upgrade his own. She had looked at him for a long time over their empty ales before telling him to meet her tomorrow morning next to one of the towers in Meridian. Together they had climbed hundreds of steps up the tower, while she ignored all of his questions. 

Now here he was at the top of the tower, looking out the glass windows of the large room he found himself in. The view was so vast he couldn’t help but squint to try and see Mother’s Heart from this height. 

“I brought you a paying customer” Stephanie called out as a greeting to the young man bent over a contraption of wire and steel. 

Jason struggled for a few seconds to pull his gaze from the windows before he turned it to the man Stephanie had brought him to meet. Everything about him screamed Carja but he wore Oseram leathers. He was pretty like the Carja but his hands held the sparking wires like a veteran Oseram Tinker. 

So when he opened his mouth, and Jason’s words came tumbling out, he was pleasantly surprised by how quick the man’s tongue was, before frowning at the blonde.

“You told him about me?” He wondered when she would have the time, he definitely wouldn’t want to climb those stairs with a few pints in him, especially not late at night. 

“Nah, I went home to sleep off the ales last night but Creep over there” Stephanie crossed her arms over her chest “ has ears all over the Sundom” She wiggles her fingers at him, like that was supposed to spook him. 

“I like knowing when I’m talked about and Oracle gave me a heads up I would have visitors today” the man straightened his posture and blue eyes, turned even brighter by the Carja-red feather markings around them, stared at Jason. The man’s eyes dropped to his boots and slowly dragged up his body, the gaze as intense as a hunting Sawtooth, made Jason’s body flush with adrenaline and desire. 

“Good armor,” the man noted once he was done with his slow dragging gaze.

“Made it myself.” 

Jason was not a Stitcher but the years of growing up an outcast made him handy with a needle and wires. 

“But I can make it better” the man smirked as he held out a hand. 

Flushing now in anger, Jason moved to take the man’s arm before his own hand was pushed away.

“I want to look at your armor” the man rolled his eyes like Jason was being willfully ignorant “Strip. I don’t have all day.” He commanded as he started to clear his workbench. Jason’s poor body was flushed with too many hot emotions. 

Glaring at the rude man, Jason ground out between clenched teeth “Maybe I don’t want your work now. You can’t even offer me a name and I’m sure there’s other Tinkers in this city, who won’t be so mouthy.” Or as lovely. 

Bright blue eyes lazily looked at him before a sharp Snapmaw smile spread across his pretty face. “You may call me Tim, and my weapons have no rival.” 

[foibles-fables]

It’s still feels a little 'too soon' to speculate what they’ll do with Sylens, as they’ve been (understandably) hush hush about it. But who knows far into development they are (2027-2028 just seems realistic). If they do a recast David Harewood is a solid choice. Has worked with Guerrilla before and can pull off lance’s inflections really well. Particularly his performance in Alan wake 2 semi-recently.

But, that somewhat aside, do you think we’ll find out more about the guy’s backstory at all as another (compelling) thread to add on outside of VS and so on?

I don't think there will ever be a time where it feels right to speculate about what will happen with Sylens after Lance's passing. The position Guerrilla is in right now definitely complicated (both professionally and artistically)--but, moreover, heartbreaking for them, who had the pleasure of knowing him as a beloved colleague for years.

I've seen David's name come up a few times now, and after listening to a few clips from AW2 (which I'm too scaredy to play myself) I'd be inclined to agree, if that's the direction GG would want to lean. Tougher might be the question of Lance's likeness as Sylens's model--we can speculate ways around that, too. Only appearing in audio recordings, achieves digital transcendence in a servitor body, etc.

As for backstory/fate--ever since game 1, I always thought Sylens would end up as the ultimate self-sacrificial character in the final game. Growth, giving his life in place of Aloy, y'know. That kind of ending hurts to think about now, but it's one that I've always felt fitting for his character.

I would love the chance to learn more about his backstory. I've always had the inkling he was born of the Nora tribe, to foil Aloy. @finrays and I have chatted about the theory of him being the other child outcast Teersa mentioned to Aloy, who "killed his mother." What if his mother was sick and Sylens went delving into an Metal World ruin to try to help her? Mom died of her sickness anyway, and he was cast out for going beyond the gaze of All-Mother and bringing the wickedness upon her. It'd be some pretty compelling motivation for a boy to eventually become the man we meet in HZD.

As I said before, there will never be a time when speculation feels comfortable. I say all of this with utmost respect and honor and in celebration of Lance's performance, and I have confidence that GG will honor his memory with whatever tough decisions they'll make regarding Sylens.