#Erend is so careful with her

[anime-grimmy]

You know, finally taking the time to play through Horizon Forbidden West properly and not rushing through made me appreciate a lot of things more. But also made me real sad about some parts, ie missed potential.

Playing slowly through HFW made me appreciate the Gaia Gang even more, but it also made me jealous, because the gang in itself, esp the Varl-Zo-Erend triad, feels a lot closer to each other than to Aloy, so, to me.

I mean, I GET IT. Aloy is out there, running around saving the world while the others are hauled up together, studying, so they get to spend a lot of time together.

I just find it sad cos I wanna feel that connection between them and Aloy as well. Esp cos we see how much Aloy learns to value these bonds over the game and there's just, kind of a disconnect.

I know it would be hard to integrate it well. Guerilla cant make us go back to the Base constantly. I would have loved though if your companions could call you throughout the game just for small chats. They already do that to notify you of available Sidequests, I wish they would have done that for random chats too. Like, just make it an optional function, and they can only contact you when youre not in settlements or fights. If you happen to enter either of them during the call just make Aloy say "Gotta go, sry!".

I just wish we got to talk more to them. Heck, just put some of the Companion or Training voicelines as those optional overworld chats. Not only would Aloy not feel as disconnected from the group, we could also learn more about our friends and actually bond with them organically than just rushing through all available convo options after Main Quests.

TLDR, I love the Gaia gang but Im sad I dont feel as close to them as they feel to each other, and I wish we had more opportunities to spend time with them.

[rarazzioli]

FINISHED FORBIDDEN WEST AND I'M GONNA SOB??? ACTUALLY!?!??!!?

Fighting Tilda was so fucking hard I died to many times but the way she begged Aloy to stop. The Raw emotion!? I didn't like her all too much but that made me feel things. BETA HUGGING ALOY AND BEING SO HAPPY TO SEE HER. MY BABIESSSS. THE SISTER'S EVER.

Sylens fucking staying after saying he was gonna go. I KNEW THIS FUCKER CARED ABOUT ALOY AND THE GAIA GANG I FUCKING KNEW IT.

Erend wrapping his arm around Aloy, them being the only two so close to one another like like like They've been buddies for so long He stuck with her through so much they're SO FUCKING CUTE AUGHHHHH.

like LIKEEEEE

The Fucking gang I love them all so dearly. If anyone else dies in Horizon 3 I'm gonna fucking lose my god damn shit.

I loveee themmmmm I LOVE THEM SO MUCHHHHH

I'm gonna replay the series and go for 100% on both games now that I know the full main storyline I'm stoaked I love life.

[nickeverdeen]

Horizon Forbidden West characters reacting to you flinching during an argument

Aloy (wlw if romantic)

The moment Aloy sees you flinch, her entire demeanor softens, and the fight drains out of her

She would immediately apologize, hating that she made you feel unsafe or uncomfortable around her

Aloy would likely close the distance between you, gently touching your arm or face to reassure you that she’s not a threat

After the incident, she’d spend time reflecting on her actions and would probably be overly cautious in future arguments

She would sit down with you to discuss what just happened and make sure you know she never meant to hurt you emotionally

“Hey… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you”

Varl

Varl would be stunned, his eyes widening as he realizes the impact of his words or actions

He’d instantly soften his voice, stepping closer but moving slowly to avoid making you more uncomfortable

Varl would sincerely apologize, his voice full of regret

His protective instincts would kick in, and he’d be more careful in future discussions, making sure never to raise his voice

He’d likely pull you into a tight, comforting hug, wanting to show you through his actions that you’re safe with him

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to - are you okay?”

Elisabeth Sobeck (wlw if romantic)

Elisabeth’s expression would immediately shift from frustration to regret, realizing she’s caused you to flinch

She’d quickly apologize, her voice trembling slightly, as she’s not used to feeling so vulnerable. "I’m sorry. That was not my intention."

Elisabeth would want to discuss what led to the flinch, understanding that your relationship should be built on trust and safety

She would reassure you that she would never intentionally hurt you, emotionally or otherwise

Elisabeth would be visibly affected, realizing how much she cares about you and how deeply she values your comfort and trust.

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention”

Sylens

Sylens would pause, the sharpness in his eyes dulling as he processes your reaction

He wouldn’t apologize directly but would immediately lower his tone and distance himself from the intensity he had before

Internally, he’d be frustrated with himself, though he might not show it outwardly

He would try to address the situation logically, asking what made you flinch and how to prevent it in the future

Despite his often cold demeanor, he’d find a way to show that he cares, perhaps by offering a solution to the argument in a calm manner

“Calm down, y/n, it’s not like I’m gonna hurt you”

Beta

Beta would likely tear up, the flinch triggering her own fears and insecurities

She’d immediately apologize, possibly stumbling over her words as she tries to reassure you that she didn’t mean to frighten you

Beta would likely start blaming herself, thinking she’s messed up and hurt you

If she feels safe enough, she’d reach out to hold your hand or touch your shoulder, needing the physical connection to reassure both you and herself

In the future, Beta would be extremely cautious during any disagreements, afraid of accidentally scaring you again

“Oh no, I didn’t mean to–I’m so sorry”

Erend

Erend would be visibly shocked, the guilt hitting him immediately

He’d drop whatever argument you were having and rush to your side, desperate to comfort you

Makes sure you know that he’d never hurt you

He’d likely pull you into a bear hug, wanting to physically reassure you of his feelings

Erend would make a promise to be more careful with his words and actions in the future, valuing your trust above all

"Whoa, hey, no, I’m sorry. I’d never hurt you, you know that, right?"

Petra

Petra’s expression would immediately soften, her voice losing all its previous edge

She’d apologize without hesitation, feeling a pang of guilt for making you flinch

She might reach out to gently take your hand or touch your face, offering a calming gesture to reassure you

Petra would want to discuss what happened, making sure you’re both on the same page and that there are no lingering fears

She’d be more mindful in future arguments, ensuring she never raises her voice or says something that might scare you

“Hey, sorry, that’s not what I wanted”

Tilda (wlw if romantic)

Tilda would be surprised at first, not expecting you to flinch

Her concern would be masked under a composed exterior

She would immediately dial back her intensity, speaking in a much softer tone

Despite her often cold demeanor, she’d apologize, perhaps more out of obligation but still with a hint of genuine concern

Tilda would reassure you that you have nothing to fear from her, though her way of doing so might be more intellectual than emotional

"I didn’t intend to make you uncomfortable."

Alva (wlw if romantic)

Alva’s eyes would widen with concern, and she’d immediately stop whatever she was saying

Her voice would be soft and filled with remorse when she apologizes

She’d likely reach out to you, gently touching your arm or hand, seeking to comfort you physically as well as verbally

Alva would offer soothing words, reassuring you that you’re safe with her and that she never meant to hurt you

From that moment on, she’d be more conscious of her tone and actions during disagreements, ensuring that she maintains a caring and understanding approach

"I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you like that."

[honeybunchesobees]

My Horizon 3 Wishlist, In no Particular Order.

Beta Sections, and what I want from them.

it's assumed that we're going to be playing as beta at some point in horizon 3. maybe as a tutorial, but definitely as a 'mary jane sections in a spider man game' type thing. here's what I want from it: i want to fucking play watch dogs.

and by this i mean, i want to be a hacker extrordinare. obviously beta will need to have some combat options, but give her greater control over the environment! give her long-range overrides, let her have greater control over the actions of a machine! (maybe to the point of directly controlling them, though her physical body still needs to be protected) i want hologram lures! remote detonating traps, a spider drone, i dont care as long as it feels like tech wiz beta and not Worse Aloy. unlike the mary jane sections, i don't want people to completely dread playing them.

generally just more beta, because she's my favorite!!!

The tone of the game: depress me a little!

the reality is at the time of horizon 3, the world is imminently about to end, and it is bigger, smarter, and scarier than anything before. the tone should be reflected in this.

you ever listened to 'how far we've come' by matchbox 20? that's what i want. i want a tone of 'we're going to try our hardest and not give up, but holy shit the world might end, and we have to reckon with that.'

give me hangouts with the group where it's they realize that if the world does end, they're going to have some fucking fun before hand! give me aloy CRYING. give me aloy going back to nora lands and punching a matriarch! (i kid somewhat) give me PERSONAL GROWTH!!! this one is a lot more nebulous because it's a thin line to straddle between 'you guys are so locked im not sure if you understand the gravity' and 'beta before GEMINI doomerism.'

but i do think they can do it.

No more fucking machine strike!

I'm sick of gwent. I'm sick of gwent. I don't want to play gwent. Please. Please. Please. Please.

If you kill my gingers, I blow up a building.

someone is gonna die and i swear on my fucking yeezys if you kill aloy (or beta but i doubt that more) i will blow up a building oh my god. oh my god. varl was such a shit choice already.

if anyone's going to die, truly i think it will be sylens. in a meta sense, because of lance reddick's unfortunate passing (i wonder if they'll give keith davids the job like they did for commander zavala, hm) but also because it feels like the kind of upswing for sylens character, him gradually becoming less of a bastard.

plus, it gives the chance for aloy to come back to the base and listen to a last message sylens left that is incredibly rude and condescending, then she gives a sad little chuckle and goes 'bastard'

Fuckin...fix erend.

hahaha he is a stupid alcoholic who does not know how to read!! hahah!!

SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT UP. WHERE IS ZERO DAWN EREND. BRING HIM BACK. I DONT WANT FORBIDDEN WEST EREND YOU HAVE FUCKED HIM. UNFUCK HIM THIS INSTANT

Seyka....

I don't like her sorry. i mean its nothing against her but having aloy's (option) romance be relegated to an afterthought dlc feels weirdddd...sorryrrryryr. i cant even play the dlc since ive still got a ps4 at the moment

let her in the base!!!! let her in the base!! i will mourn aro aloy (she will live on in my fics) and make her actually relevant beyond a character they just Magiked Up to be aloy's romance (instead of like talanah, maybe. or kotallo, or nil. or beta. or erend. or-)

sorry seyka fans i hope i can be seyka fans soon.

Dog machine? Dog machine? Wolf Machine? Robopup??

permanennt companion dog machine??? please. wolf machines with an alpha that if you override you gain control over the entire pack (i know that is not how wolves work but that is how hephaestus would make them work) it would be so awesome. it would be so cool.

NO SPIDER MACHINE.

please im such a deep arachnaphobe i would start screaming if a spider machine dropped onto me from the ceiling sorry. sorry. sorry.

I think that's it until i remember something new the second i hit post.

[one-of-many-journeys]

Day 5 (1/2)

Larend's Salvage Camp

I left camp at dawn and rode back around to the top of the cliff, then through the gates of Barren Light.

I caught up with Joruf and another of Erend's fellow vanguardsmen. They were still waiting for Erend to recover, saying both he and Varl remained under care.

I left Barren Light on foot, leading my Charger through the crowd, then let it take me the rest of the way to Chainscrape. The quarry was even busier than before as more workers returned to their posts.

As I was walking toward the tavern, I was distracted by a pair of Oseram smiths arguing loudly about blowing people's arms off with explosives. Taking my alarm for interest, one of the pair called out and tried to pitch the very weapon they were just discussing, while her business partner continued frantically hammering steel while muttering to herself about explosions.

Delah was her name, and her preoccupied sister went by 'Boomer'. It was obvious why that was. Delah made this new weapon of theirs sound a little more attractive, saying it could take down a Charger from a distance in a single shot, adapted and enhanced using an old Tenakth design. This indeed interested me, and the parts they needed were easy to come by. I agreed to pick them up along my way so they could build their prototype.

Returning to Javad, I explained what I'd found at Regalla's camp—that if anyone this side of the border was to be blamed for the Bristlebacks, it was Ulvund. This delighted Javad all over again, and he signalled for his guard to summon Petra. Together we trekked down to Ulvund's spacious abode to confront him, very publicly.

He met us surrounded by his wealthy enforcers, bitter at being summoned like an underling by a Carja magistrate. Javad first announced the Tenakth as the source of the Bristlebacks in the west, which Ulvund tried to dismiss, though clearly disappointed that he could no longer pin the blame on the Carja. An honest mistake, he said, but Javad didn't stop there. He told the thickening crowd of Oseram that it was Ulvund's unauthorised blasting of what were still by law Carja caves that let the machines through in the first place. Ulvund tried to deny it, saying that permission would always be sought from the magistrate in such decisions, but there was proof. I found recorded evidence of Ulvund's direct orders in the abandoned mine. He had known about the source of the Bristlebacks from the beginning, and instead of owning up and trying to stop them, he'd used the situation as leverage to bully Javad and turn his workers against the Carja.

When Ulvund demanded an investigation, Javad agreed wholeheartedly on the condition that they would include all of Ulvund's ventures in their efforts. This clearly not being Ulvund's first offence, he declined. He was the one who planted the idea of his returning to the Claim in the minds of enraged onlookers, but they were the ones who put that plan into action. Everyone in Chainscrape had lost good people, and shards, to the attack, and they converged on Ulvund, pushing him to the ground. I think I saw tears in his eyes as his cronies lifted him to his feet and ran out of the town to the jeers and applause of its residents.

Petra, as a close ally of the Carja and ex-mayor of Free Heap, was put in charge by the magistrate until a proper election could be held. Knowing Petra's reputation, I'll bet she wins anyway. It'll be good for the people here to be guided by a fairer hand, though I can't help but reflect that I ended up acting as the Carja's enforcer anyway, much as I tried to avoid it.

I was rewarded well for my enforcing though—plenty of shards, and some rare dyes from the west. I'm sure I'll find plenty of my own pigments out there, but given their hostile origins they're priceless this side of the gates.

I changed back into my lighter Oseram gear and dropped off my Shield Weaver and the dyes to a stitcher in the tavern. Whites and greens—should come out well. I handed over a different strip of fabric for the scarf. I'm not changing the shade of my original blue.

I also stopped by the workshop to fiddle with the shielding contraption I stole from the Tenakth rebel camp. It casts a sort of reflective light shield plus signal nullifier—should make me more difficult to see, for humans and machines both.

I headed out to a spot just south of Chainscrape to snag Fire Fanghorn parts for Delah and Boomer. The things are like Grazers gone deadly, all thanks to Hephaestus.

I used the opportunity to try out the Stalker shield. It works great, provided I stay quiet. I snuck up on the Fanghorn and did as much damage as I could in one strike, then stunned it down with heavy blows to finish it off. Two Scroungers to deal with after that, but they went down easy. Found some other good salvage in the area as well.

Back outside Chainscrape, I picked off a few Charger horns with my bow, taking down the machines as well for the salvage. Then I delivered the parts to Delah and Boomer.

While Delah thanked me enthusiastically for the delivery, Boomer just sort of...stared at me. Then she lent forward and asked in a hushed voice whether I'd blown up any machines since we last spoke. It's obvious she has a bit of a one-track mind, but that seems to be suiting her just fine out here. The Claim certainly isn't the place for her, or probably any woman come to think of it. Delah told me that she and her sister were essentially kicked out of their family home after Boomer's propensity for causing explosions destroyed their father's ale stores. Delah has big dreams for them—something far beyond opening yet another trading outpost for her parents. It's a good thing Boomer has someone looking out for her. Guess I know all too well how cruel people can be to those they see as different.

The first prototype spike was finished quickly, and with a less than certain promise that it wouldn't blow my arm right out of its socket, I tried it out on a Charger just outside the town gates.

Not quite the one hit kill that Delah promised, but it's an effective weapon, and it didn't explode until well after it made impact with its target, so my arm was safe. I'll bet I can make some upgrades of my own, make something really special out of these things.

My armour was done dyeing by the time I returned, and it came out great. That was more than enough messing around in Chainscrape, and I planned to make up for lost time by pushing into the night if I could. I picked up a heap more newly-crafted throwing spikes from Delah, then made the short ride back to Barren Light.

Out into the west once more. I doubt I'll be coming back here in a long while. If ever.

I shouldn't think like that.

I didn't make it far into No Man's Land before I encountered more of Regalla's rebels, this time attacking an Oseram camp. I rushed in to help, trampling a couple with my mount as the Oseram focused on the other attackers.

Once they were down, I dismounted and took the last Tenakth head on. This is about what I was expecting when travelling into the Forbidden West, given the Tenakth's reputation. Fashav gave me only brief hope. At least it seems that those on Hekarro's side are a little more friendly.

The Oseram all escaped with only minor injuries, and they rewarded me well for my efforts. They'd come from a larger camp by a lake to the south west, here to delve in nearby ruins untouched by any explorers before them. They said it was all blocked off and they'd need to gather tools to blast through, so I took a look for myself.

I climbed up into the ruins and, sure enough, all the entrances were caved in and the walls were covered in the same red crystalline fungal growths that plague the Daunt. Firegleam, the Oseram called it.

Hunting along the road. Lots of foxes and crows in the area, plus 'big-horn sheep', according to my Focus. Sort of like the goats native to the Cut.

As the afternoon wore on, I kept pushing toward yet more ominous ancient ruins in the distance, and the Tallneck just beyond them.

[ordinarymaine]

My horizon #thoughts under the cut

I REALLY liked it. I really really really liked it. It's been SO long since a new game (as in one I havent played before) grabbed me the way horizon did.

my 'final' playtime and time to 100% basegame is 56 hours, and a lot of those sessions were like 3-8 hours long at a time LOL at one point I stopped playing well after midnight and stood up and my back cracked like a glowstick. its been FOREVER since I've been able to play a game for that length of time, and be engaged with the entire time, too. even when I'd stop playing I couldn't wait to go back to it.

There were some things I didn't really like about it, but to honest they're very Nitpicky so idk if they really count. the controls and overall way the game played kicked the shit out of me at some points (WHY ARE THE CLIMBING LEDGES SO HARD TO SEE) but overall, even if I took a weeks break from the game, I could come back and easily slip back into it, whereas with a lot of other games if I stop playing them I have to relearn the controls. so that was nice!

I had my share of glitches and bugs, usually visual or graphics related, which idk if thats just my computer or whatever, but they werent game breaking, just funny. in the last hour all of aloy's body apart from her head disappeared twice which never happened before this session so I was a bit :clueless: about that I hope that doesnt mean anything 😭😭

I really REALLY love the world building and the lore. the pre-canon lore of the metal world is FASCINATING to me. I will admit I don't care as much for the worldbuilding in the games current timeline, like. I don't think I more than quickly scanned the glyphs, as opposed to the datapoints, where I read every single one. and I think that's because the current setting of the game feels very similar to a fantasy game to me at points, and as someone who does not like fantasy, my brain just didn't really latch onto it. I DO however love scifi, so the metal world lore had my full attention

the faro plague storyline was gripping, and they really nailed the feeling of hopelessness and the severity of the situation. I was on the edge of my seat collecting every datapoint and hologram for the main quests and I WAS sat like this 👇 for a lot of it but I LOVED learning about it

Love aloy. love erend. love varl. love talanah. love vanasha. love a lot of the supporting cast I LOVE elisabeth and i love gaia and i love whatever they have. that woman and the ai she created are lesbian lovers to me.

I still have yet to play frozen wilds, I dipped my toes into a little bit so I could mod my spear, but I dont know much about it. I'm VERY excited to play forbidden west, and the steam sale is? soon?? so I'm gonna pick it up then >:) but overall yeah. I really liked this game a lot

[discar]

HZD Terraforming Base-001 Text Communications Network

Chapter 31 | Prev chapter | Next chapter Chapter Index

Document.Letter.odt

Created: 23 days ago

Edited: 87 times

Last edited: 5 minutes ago

To Mother

To War-Chief Sona

To Mother [stick with the more personal tone]

I found The Anointed Aloy [she knows Aloy doesn't like being called that] deep in the Forbidden West. She believes that the secret to stopping the Red Blight, and perhaps even ending the Derangement, is here. We have settled into an Old Ones base [even with our Seeker blessings, that will make her uncomfortable] a permanent camp in the mountains. It is safe here. We have numerous allies, including Erend, the Oseram Vanguard. Sun-King Avad has implied his support. [that's confusing, and she wouldn't care anyway]

You're going to be a grandmother! [too light]

I met a girl. [too flippant]

One of those allies is an Utaru woman named Zo, who defied her leaders to fight the Red Raids. [don't bring up defying elders] She is intelligent and compassionate. [mother won't care] I am going to bring her back to the Embrace eventually. I think you'll like her.

[should this be part of the previous part?] There is also a Tenakth soldier named Kotallo who seems interested in our tales of battle against the Carja, and a woman from a new tribe, from across the sea [too confusing] and a lorekeeper named Alva from a distant tribe. Alva is very interested in our stories and customs, but is careful to ask me how to ask for permission to enter our holy sites [sounds bad] and I'm sure she will have much to speak to the Matriarchs about.

These new enemies we're facing, mother, these Zeniths... it's hard to describe them. They are immortal [she won't believe it] They bear the sins of the Old Ones [too fanciful] They have new machines that obey their commands, worse than the Eclipse cultists and their dark corruptors. Sometimes I'm not sure how we are surviving against one or two at a time, and they have hundreds. Aloy is a terror in combat. We have a plan, but it's all so beyond me. I'm not sure it will actually work. Not because I doubt Aloy or the others, just because it relies so much on things I am only now learning. GAIA [don't try to explain GAIA] The All-Mother says [makes me sound like a prophet] Our allies believe this will work, and I have to trust them.

Aloy has a sister [too flippant] The Zeniths made their own Anointed [confusing and blasphemy] The Zeniths had a captive. We managed to rescue her, and I've managed to get through to her, but she's scared and she's been alone her entire life. She reminds me of Aloy, but not in the good ways. She's smarter than the rest of us put together, but she doesn't know what to do with it and has no practical skills. She can't even sew up her own clothes. She hides in her room most of the time. Aloy has been talking to her, and sometimes it helps but sometimes it makes things worse. It's like watching someone yell at their reflection. [don't reference clones] They're too alike. I'm trying to get her to step out of the Base camp to see the sunrise, but it's hard. I think she's scared of not having a ceiling over her head. She always sleeps in, too.

There's a lot to see, outside the Embrace. New people, new machines I couldn't have even imagined. It's not like the Matriarchs say, all cursed heathens. [too aggressive, don't contradict the Matriarchs] It's beautiful, but frightening too. I wish you could see it, even though you'd hate it. [probably too much]

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your son, Varl.

[GAIA said she can print this out, but I think I should copy it out by hand]

[maybe I should just delete this, I'm probably going to be the one going to Nora lands anyway]

Chapter 31 | Prev chapter | Next chapter Chapter Index

[tare-otome]

Back at Base 3/?

After retrieving Aether from Memorial Grove, i finally made it back to the Base. It was so good to catch up with everyone after such a long time away ❤️🥰 Everyone was studying hard.

Tbh though am i the only one who was driven away from the place by the INCESSANT song Erend was ALWAYS listening to every time i went back, i could NOT escape from it, it was driving me CRAZY!! I would literally go talk to everyone and then run out of the Base ASAP.

I believe after i finally deliver Aether to Gaia that the song mercifully stops 😩🙏

I don't know if this was anyone else's experience or if it was a bug with my game personally. I lova ya Erend but i wanted to strangle you for the whole first 3rd of this main quest!!😡😠🤬

Always good to stop and talk w/ BFF Varl. I really felt he was a brother, coming from the same culture and he always had Aloy's best interest at heart and took care of her. Sigh 😩💔❤️‍🩹

[stardustandash]

The World on Her Shoulders

Whumptober Day 1: Race Against the Clock - Panic Attack

Aloy is aware, distantly, that she’s breathing hard, that her hands have clenched into tight enough fists that her nails are threatening to break through the skin of her palms, but none of that matters. They are running out of time. They still have two subfunctions to find and they need to figure out what the Zeniths really want to do with their copy of GAIA.

ao3 link

The Base is never still nor silent. Aloy tries her best to spend as little time there as possible. Somehow, she’s never quite gotten rid of the part of her that thought Rost and herself were the only people she ever needed, and living so close to the others while in a facility made by the Old Ones, made by Zero Dawn, makes her skin itch with every minute spent inside the Base. The fact that there’s other people around her all the time puts her on edge, like she has to pretend to be Aloy, Anointed of the Nora, Savior of Meridian, the girl who always defeats any man or machine set against her, instead of just being Aloy; huntress and occasional machine learner.

In the Base it’s hard to tell what time of day it was without the clocks projected by the internal computer. There were no windows to let in the light, instead the Base is lit with the false suns of the Old Ones. Machine lights embedded in the ceiling that glow with a bright cold light.

Today the lights are humming.

Aloy can hear them over everything, no matter where she is in the Base. She’s trying her best to focus on the projection in front of her detailing what they know of the desert and where POSEIDON might be hiding, with Varl offering suggestions of middling quality at her side. Instead she hears the humming of the lights, can feel Varl’s fur capelet brush against her arm like a Scrapper’s claws.

“You’re going to need a lot of water regardless, we should make you a bigger waterskin before you go,” suggests Varl.

“I don’t need a bigger waterskin. What I need is to stop standing around and go find POSEIDON,” Aloy growls.

The words come out far harsher than she intends, but she can barely hear them over the humming. Still, Varl just gives her a long-suffering look and charges into the argument.

“You won’t be of any use to anyone if you dry up like boar jerky under the desert sun. Let me and Zo make you a bigger waterskin, and some more trail rations before you head out. It’ll only take a few days at most.”

“A few days we don’t have,” snaps Aloy. “I should have left yesterday, but you insisted I stay for dinner.”

“Because you need to eat something other than dried meat and whatever berries you pull off of bushes out there. Can’t save the world on an empty stomach.”

“Can’t save the world by not going out and saving it either.”

Varl frowns at her. Somehow the humming from the lights gets impossibly louder. Aloy is aware, distantly, that she’s breathing hard, that her hands have clenched into tight enough fists that her nails are threatening to break through the skin of her palms, but none of that matters. They are running out of time. They still have two subfunctions to find and they need to figure out what the Zeniths really want to do with their copy of GAIA.

“I’m just saying you need to take care of yourself first,” says Varl.

Aloy barely hears it over the lights and the sound of her own angry heartbeat rising within her chest.

“Aloy?” Varl asks. “You alright?”

Aloy doesn’t know why that question makes her want to run, but it does. Except Kotallo is by one door to the Base, and Zo is by the other, and Erend is looking at her with his big sad eyes and he doesn’t even have a mug of ale in his hand. So she turns, pushing past Varl as she flees deeper in to the Base. She flies down the stairs, skidding down a couple of the steps before slamming into the opposite wall with a force she barely feels.

The door opens to slow, and while Aloy knows that the door locks are controlled by her Focus, she still scrabbles at it in her desperate feeling of needing to get away, to get out.

After what feels like far too long the door opens with a hiss and Aloy slips into the cool darkness of the server room. She finds her way through the towers by their small blinking lights. Eventually she stops and slides down against one to the ground. Her braids catch in the knobs and wires, but she can’t bring herself to care as her hair is pulled out of place.

For a moment she longs desperately for Rost. For his guidance and level head. He would know what to do, what to say to Varl to make him understand. She can’t just sit and wait, she has to do something, she’s the only one who can.

“Hello?” a voice as familiar to Aloy as her own calls through the darkness. “Aloy?”

Aloy looks up from her hands and in the dim light sees Elisabet. Haunting her. Here to tell her she’s not good enough. That the Lightkeeper program was a failure. Her breath catches in her chest as she hears those words ringing in her ears despite the fact that Elisabet’s mouth isn’t moving, she’s just staring with judgement in her eyes.

Then Aloy blinks and the lights in the server room are on and Elisabet is gone but she still can’t breathe. The air catches in her throat. She can hear herself wheezing. The logical part of her brain is trying to tell her to stop, to breathe, to calm down and be the rational person she needs to be to save the world but the louder part of her is short circuiting into a mess of sparks and emotions, and she can’t breathe.

The urge to run, to be anywhere else hits again, but before Aloy can get up she senses more than sees a presence in front of her. She reaches for a spear that isn’t there before she hears a voice. It’s muffled as if she’s hearing it through water.

“Breathe, Aloy. Deep breaths. You’re alright.”

It takes Aloy’s frazzled brain a minute to parse the words even as they’re spoken on repeat. Then the world resolves itself into the brown and green outline of Zo crouched in front of her. When Aloy blinks Zo’s face softens a little, the tight lines around her eyes easing away.

“Are you back with me?” asks Zo, her low voice even and calm.

“Didn’t go anywhere,” says Aloy, her breath still catching as she forms the words.

She can tell Zo has some kind of retort to that, but she’s smart enough to keep her thoughts behind her lips.

“Think you gave Beta a scare,” says Zo with a nod towards the storage closet Beta’s claimed for herself.

It takes Aloy a minute to put together Elisabet’s face in the dark with the fact that there’s another clone skulking about the Base now. She must have stumbled across Aloy in the dark. In the dim light she had looked ethereal. Like Elisabet reborn.

“She could use some good scaring,” says Aloy, but there’s no heat to it.

Zo gives Aloy a disappointed look, but again instead of a reprimand Zo helps her to her feet. Aloy refuses to let her see the tremble in her hands, or the way her head feels like its floating above her shoulders. She must be stronger, better. She can’t let whatever this was happen again. They don’t have time for her to freak out like that with the Zeniths on the loose and the biosphere still collapsing around them. Wordlessly, she marches past Zo towards the stairs, hoping she can get to her bedroom before Varl or Erend try their hand at talking about feelings.

[colloquialcolors]

okay, having finished horizon forbidden west today (yayyy), a word vomit of post-completion i itial response/thoughts written in a tinely manner bc i Do need to commute to work in about. uh. 6 and a half hours.

- what do you MEAN. The zeniths brought a DIFFERENT EXISTENTIAL THREAT EVIL AI BACK WITH THE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THESE MOTHERFUCKERS BROUGHT BACK A MANIFESTATION OF THEIR OWN HUBRIS AND FLAWS AND ITS GOING TO. FUCKING. KILL THE EARTH. AND NOW THEYRE DEAD AND I HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

- FOR FUCKS SAKE.

- I JUST. SAVED THE WORLD. CAN YOU ASSHOLES STOP DOOMING IT FOR LIKE. FIFTEEN MINUTES.

- I am very pleased that this time they reset to AFTER the final mission so I can actually feel like Aloy gets some kind of a break after saving the world. again. Like the world is still ending but i can let her take a lap on a sunwing or have her eat some food or something without IMMEDIATE WORLD EXTINCTION hanging over her head.

- It was a little sad to have the base be so emoty tho :( void of everyone except Beta (yay) and Sylens (auUuuughhhhHHHHH)

- OKAY. backtracking.

- Really, genuinely, truly, LOVE how they did Aloy's character arc and development for this game. It was a very intentional choice and I think they pulled it off REALLY admirably.

- It is a very specific, extremely well supported, completely reasonable character trait to have Aloy not know how to ask for help or operate with help, and be independent to a fault. It was very intentional to have her unlearning that as the core emotional arc for the game and it did it. So well.

- Starting the game with Aloy lying to her friends, leaving a celebration early, and going off to start saving the world again, solo, was SUCH beautiful and crisp characterization and sets the bar so wonderfully. Erend and Varl pissed at her for it but still helping, resigned to the behaviour and still steadily working at it. Augahguagahh. friendship. my bread and butter.

- And Aloy growing out of it was NOT a one and done over. It was a growth, over the course of the game- it was a matter of repeated lessons, of various scenarios and people proving themselves, and intentional efforts and missteps. And it means in the last mission, when Aloy is delegating tasks and checking in with people and thanking them for coming- but not trying to turn them away- the difference is so fucking felt. Its core deep, and about someone who understands, fundamentally, how important relying on others and having others is.

- And its just- im not super pleased about all the details of HOW they did it. But I underatand why they killed Varl, from a storytelling standpoint, and I just. The person who was so dogged about getting her to accept help, who Aloy was so clearly pushing away in part because she was worried about getting him hurt or killed. His connections to Zo and everyone else are what starts the base. He is why Aloy can grow that way. And he dies before he sees the full fruition of it. He falls to exactly what Aloy was so scared of- dead as a casualty of a mission she felt was hers.

- But it is because of what he'd done up until that point, that Aloy does not shatter from the loss. Its BECAUSE of what he'd done that his loss does not set her back in connecting and caring about people and accepting help. Letting them risk themselves!!! His work is what secures her ability to survive when he is lost to exactly what she was scared of!! fuck!!!!!

- Shes going around after his death and- shes asking other people how other people are doing, which is so funny to me. queen of emotions. but shes doing it! His absence is his presence and his presence defines the nature of his absence and. the outline love leaves when it goes or w/e. im . auaghgha. varl ilu.

- This isnt even getting into the Beta scenario which like- god. god. Aloy you're kind of awful and I love you. you are ill adjusted and well intentioned and deeply hard on yourself and then you meet. yourself. except not and THATS how you learn to be kinder to yourself. and others. delicious! fucked up! beautiful. Aloy is yelling at Beta about why arent you better and wow the layers. again. wonderfully done.

- So. given all that. you'd think they would have been able to write Zo's reaction to Varl better than that, huh.

- Like damn how did you guys fuck that up right next to the great main plot.

- ugahjhh.

- I really. loved. the way the base grew and changed over the course of the game. The steady creeping of the plants. Items moving in. The way things were added to Aloy's room even though she was never sleeping in it. (The image of people creeping in and adding stuff so that the scant moments when Aloy is there she could enjoy things..... aaaa).

- Kotallo!! What a lovely character. He definitely grew on me. I appreciated the way he had the arm at the end but didnt really opt to keeo it on permanently. In general- idk. I liked the dynamic he and Aloy had at the end. 👌

- Alva. Sweetheart. mixed feelings as a character but I think I understand her archetype so she was. fine. In general the quen really just had me >:|

- fucking. techbro asses. fucking tech bro c e o fucking hero worship fucking dumbasses ugHHhhhhh.

- LOVED the designs of the clans otherwise though- Plainsong? Fucking stunning. The different Tenakth areas incorporating the local terrain!

- The museum in the Tenakth area, and how it fed into the specifics of their founding beliefs and culture? Fucking. Loved it. Bits piecemeal that get focused on and turned into a world and founding belief... dont have words for it rn but really good.

- Talanah spending her whole sidequest being like. Oh God. My Man :( was kind of. eh. but listen shes a girlboss who fixed the Hunters Lounge so she can do whatever she wants. including being really concerned over her manz for her whole plot. u get ur guy. i support you.

- Petra im glad youre doing well im SO sorry i couldnt flirt with you more actively.

- Erend is lovely once its clear he is no longer trying to hit on Aloy. the two of them mourning varl makes me. im fine. its fine or w/e. goddammit.

- Three cheers for various Quality Of Life changes. I am So Glad i never had to inventory manage in this game!!! incredible!!!! pulse your focus!!! wow!!!!!

- LAS VEGAS AREA MY BELOVED. BRIGHT LIGHTS AND SPECTACLE THAT ARE ZERO SUBSTANCE. MONUMENT TO BOTH FLASHY SPECTACLE WITH NO VALUE AS WELL AS INHERENT HUMAN LOVE FOR SHOWMANSHIP AND ADVENTURE AND SHARING EXPERIENCES.

- God I just . Underwater las vegas area. The moment when the water drains and all the lights are on around you and its so meaningless but also like- hey humans did all that! all these stupid advertisments and meaningless announcements about deals long gone and its doesnt mean anything anymore. But it matters that people made it. And its still. Beautiful.

- also tideripper :)

- aaauhh. also. Hodgins from Bones as the inventor guy. 👌

- New machine designs in this game? fucked severely. Slaughterspines? big bat? solar panel ptearodactly? LOCH NESS MONSTER?

- That said the AOE and rolling/stagger in this game is a BITCH.

- Rich People Be Fucking Shit Up as a theme is so funny. and devastating. they do be doing that. haha. :|

- Watching the last hour and Tilda was into Elisabet and Alva had a GF in the Quen and *gestures ay Aloy* and its just so funny like. damn aloy you got so many gays here in your base huh. good on you.

- the. the end. where the new risk is there. and she doesnt tell them. and you go. ah fuck. but then. in the cutscene, immediately after- its clear she does. and she talks about hope. and relying on others and its like. AughhHHhHHHH. growth. she does not tell them when they are celebrating. but she DOES tell them. she takes the moment to breathe. and she tells them. and she works with them. and shes going to work with them. Love It When A Character Develops.

👌

- ah fuck i need to sleep.

- Fun mechanics. Beautiful extension of the game. High highs for writing as well as low lows.

- Someone let Aloy take a fucking NAP, jesus christ.

[ripley95horizon]

Ripley95 Horizon Fic Masterlist

My AO3

Aloy/Erend

Somewhere Over the Horizon

Rated: M

Length: 113K

After defeating Nemesis, Aloy contemplates life. With her old purpose gone, she struggles to find something new, but Erend is there to help show her the way. Together, they explore new possibilities and discover new joys. She learns to be happy. She learns to live.

The Heat Between Us

Rated: T

Length: 3.9K

Aloy and Erend are on their way to Meridian in the hopes of uniting the East in the fight against Nemesis. In the midst of their journey, they share a moment that changes everything.

A Story of Seasons

Rating: T

Length: 1.9K

It's Aloy's job to recruit humanity in the fight against Nemesis. A daunting task with problems at every turn with only one person there beside her in everything. Erend gives her the strength to pull through.

So This is Christmas

Rating: T

Length: 6.2K

With Nemesis encroaching, Aloy has been in the Embrace for months, trying to unite and convince the Nora to join forces against the growing threat. She’s frustrated and alone, but that’s all about to change. Erend is coming through as a liaison for Avad, and the moment she learns of his plans, she realizes how deeply she’s missed him. Aloy just so happens to stumble on the fact that it’s Christmas, and maybe there’s a little Christmas magic in the air to help her understand her feelings and push her to say some things left unsaid.

A New Dawn's Light

Rating: T

Length: 8.2K

When Aloy and Erend stumble upon a baby left alone in the street, they set a plan in motion to uncover the truth behind the mysterious abandonment. As they care for the baby, they realize it’s a reflection of their own personal struggles. What was a stress-addled mission becomes the answers they sought all along.

There's a Darkness on the Horizon, But the Flowers Are Blooming

Rating: G

Length: 2.5K

After Erend left for the Hidden Embers, a piece of home has been missing. But a surprise encounter has the ability to change everything.

Just Right

Rating: T

Length: 5.4K

While following one of Londra’s leads to find a weapon against Nemesis, Erend suffers an injury. Only then does Aloy realize what’s been right in front of her this entire time.

-

GEN

My Sister, Your Shelter

Rating: T

Length: 2.4K

After defeating the Zeniths and discovering Nemesis, Beta has fears about how she fits into this world she barely knows. Aloy is determined to be there to show her.

-

Mass Effect Masterlist

[thessalian]

Thess vs Personal Relationships

Not mine. Mine are pretty okay. I mean, having to call my D&D session tonight sucks, but I am absolutely fragged and if I am going to do something fun, it needs to be something I can take a break from when necessary. Thus, a return to the Forbidden West. Having reassured myself that I wasn't going to have to deal with anything strenuous after returning DEMETER to GAIA the way I did when I returned the first GAIA kernel I found, I figured noodling around gathering campfires and things - not to mention getting that out of the way - would be a fun thing that also wouldn't be too costly spoon-wise. Also because I can take a damn break when I need to in a video game.

Right. I wanted that drone. Off I go.

Climbing climbing climbiiiiiiiiing...

Oh. Thought I could get it from here, and I might be able to get it from here, but over there is a lot more sure.

More climbing climbing climbiiiiiiiing...

And I got it first time! YAY!

Right. There's a shelter and a black box over there, so I'll get that--

Another Cauldron, huh? Well, that's for when I'm way less exhausted, probably.

Right. I've got one more black box to go. Where does my interactive map say that last one is?

...Exactly where I need to be for next stage of finding AETHER. That's convenient.

But first ... nothing like taking out a rebel camp to do some Zen.

Oh. Frostclaws in the way. Could be worse. POONK.

...Wait. It made a really weird noise and did very little damage. What the fuck?!?

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK--

There. Finally. Now what--?!? Oh. Oh I was using tear arrows, not my regular arrows. That explains a few things. Oh well. I have bits, anyway.

Right. Not quite close enough to scan that machine, but I think I can get that guy from here. POONK.

Okay, I can get a little closer aaaaaaaaaaaaand...

.........They have a Fireclaw?

...............They have an Apex Fireclaw?!?

Well. I have distance and stealth grass. So I win, motherfucker. POONK.

...That Fireclaw. Just. Exploded. And I therefore win at everything.

Good! Yes! Go check on why your Fireclaw just exploded. So I will pick you off one by one. Poonk. Poonk. POONK.

......I ... just cleared the entire camp before the quest ticked past "Go to the Rebel Camp". I was that far away and I got everybody. Damn I'm good.

There are Scorchers over there. I'll get a few of those. POONK.

Okay, no, seriously. Lemme go hand over DEMETER.

Oh, gods, Erend, why did you bring a Machine Strike board into this place? I have been avoiding that stupid mini-game for, like, weeks.

Here you go, GAIA. DEMETER? Welcome home.

Oh. Hi, Varl. Yeah, sure, I'll go down and talk to Beta. Just--

Wait. What's that door?

Yeah, hang on a sec; lemme just see what's behind this vent.

Huh. More bits of the facility powered up. Great! Now, hi, Beta.

No. No, Aloy, no. Give her five minutes to talk about her favourite holoshow. Please? C'mon. Beta needs to know that someone cares about her for her; can you not see this?!?

...No, you really can't, can you. You don't want to because the first person who ever did that for you is dead. And you don't understand why this person who is another version of Elizabet Sobek - another version of you - can be this much of a meebling mess. No one ever taught you nature vs nurture.

That's the thing that annoys me, and makes me understand both Aloy and Beta even as I want to shake them both. If they just sat down and talked about something other than the end of the world for five minutes, they could be of such help to each other in terms of their emotional scars. Both had exactly one person who seemed like they cared; both lost that person. More to the point, both blame themselves for that loss. Rost died for Aloy; she blames herself for that. Beta literally said, "I don't know what I did wrong" when she talked about Tilda refusing to speak to her anymore, so that's self-evident. They could easily build each other up, fit their broken edges together, but ... instead those sharp broken edges are ripping into each other.

Thank you for at least trying to get Aloy to start opening up to people, Varl. You're one of the good ones.

Right. No locked-in main quest bits? No? Good. Now I can stop at the nearest campfire, take a break, and maybe clear some more rebel bases or something later, if I have the spoons--

Oh. Rumour lady has a green exclamation mark. Let's see-- Oh. Oh, that could be an issue. Gets me to a settlement later, anyway. I have so much vendor trash...

Yeah. So now it's going to be bath, food, and then see how I feel. One thing, though - I did even have lunch today! I mean, it was salad and a couple of slices of salami on corn thins, but it was actual food! I'm trying to take care of myself, y'see. I ... guess I do kind of wish that there was someone around to take care of me, but I can balance "taking care of myself" with "too much effort will be counterproductive".

(Also I may have repotted like half my plants. My plant babies deserved my spoons, okay?)

[stellerssong]

user stellerssong you disabled the comments on your aloy/beta fic so i couldn't come comment for the third time.... i just wanted to let you know i played burning shores and got dismayed by the glaring lack of beta screentime.... so i went to get my fix from fics and—user stellerssong... no one writes beta like you.... you get her.... "painfully shy and haughty as a king all at once," my god, your brain.... (i am ill)

!!!!!!!!!!!!! hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm so sorry for locking comments on you, but i'm SO touched the spirit moved you so much that you came to find me here instead! and i just. god.

look okay here's the thing about Beta. the THING about Beta is, that, even though she's spent her entire life being fucking negged into the ground, she's also spent her entire life being told that she is the heir (the inferior, borderline-unworthy heir, but the heir nonetheless) to THEE Sobeck legacy, the legacy that de-extincted humankind and (from the Zenith perspective) will save humanity's best and brightest to boot, AND the closest thing she has to peers are the Zeniths themselves, a bunch of rich chodes utterly convinced of their own importance, AND she grew up on an interstellar luxury cruise ship and now she lives in an underground bunker which may or may not have running water. so, like, mixed messaging, right? and while we do like to lean into the whump-hurt/comfort of the abused genius child backstory, the thing is she also does have a certain stubbornly self-important streak that both helps her maintain a sense of autonomy in the face of the aforementioned lifelong emotional abuse and makes her kinda difficult to be around!

(Aloy has this streak too, which is why even though she grew up in a wet cardboard box all alone she still had the guts to make her hail-mary run at the Proving. maintaining a sense of personhood in the face of unimaginable neglect and rejection! but also, as not the person playing the game or writing the fic, wtf who is this little feral ginger and why is she gnawing on my shinbones i am literally just standing here)

anyways. i do feel kind of bad that i've sort of fallen out of the fandom, knowing that the baeloy contingent is such a lovely group of people, so for your trouble, a snippet of Your Girl:

It’s not that Beta’s afraid to leave the server room. Of course she’s not. The entire planet she’s on is in danger of being razed down to the bedrock, there are immortals with highly advanced technology out to find her and imprison her for the rest of her natural life, and if you left the base and walked approximately twenty feet you’d be promptly attacked by bloodthirsty killer robots. There’s sort of a lot going on at the moment. So it would be stupid to be afraid of something as trivial as, say, “going upstairs, where all the other people in the base are, in order to get some water before bed.” Yes, that would be very, very stupid. It’s a good thing she’s not afraid, and she can go upstairs whenever she wants, and that it’s normal to get a drink of water just because you feel like it. It is further a good thing, she adds to herself as she creeps up the stairs and peers around the corner to make sure the coast is clear, that this society doesn’t appear to have any idea what “affirmations” are. The central common room is empty at this hour, which is how Beta likes it. No loud music emanating from Erend’s Focus (Beta isn’t even sure how he gets those little speakers to output that loudly—Aloy must’ve helped him mod them), no Zo asking her intrusive questions like how are you feeling or is there anything you need or have you eaten today, no Alva Looking at her in that way she has where the capital letter is very evident. Beta dares a few steps out of the stairwell, careful to keep the wall at her back. She wouldn’t’ve minded seeing Varl, but she also won’t die if she doesn’t see him, and besides, he’s got better things to do than wait around to say hi to her. The one point of concern: there’s no sign of Aloy’s friend lurking around, she of the blood-red lipstick and upsettingly defined abs. GAIA’s still working on getting full access to the base, so they hadn’t been able to offer her a room of her own, but she’d taken that in stride and made up a makeshift bed on one of the benches in the common room. Her pack is there in the corner, her blanket balled up on one end of the bench—but no Talanah. Yes, troubling. Beta sidles along the wall, eyes catching on every little flicker of motion from the LED displays, darting towards every sound of the base settling in the cold alpine night. Talanah’s been staying at the base to rest and resupply on her way back east, which is fine, it’s not as if Beta has any say in other people’s comings and goings. Beta just—doesn’t love being around her, that’s all. Something about her sets Beta’s teeth on edge. Her cat’s smile, maybe, or that purr in her voice, or the way she runs around the wilderness in a cropped top for no earthly reason. Something like that. Well, she’s not likely to jump out at Beta from around a corner, shrieking and waving her arms. This isn’t a horror holo, or one of those vids that had been so popular in the early 2000s, the ones where the hosts would play increasingly elaborate pranks on unsuspecting marks before revealing their deceptions to the blare of obnoxious theme music and pre-recorded laughter. Talanah’s probably just spending time with one of the others, waiting for Aloy to get back from whatever errand is keeping her out and about so late. She’s probably completely forgotten that Beta even exists. And Beta is thirsty, dammit. Quite annoyed with herself all of a sudden, Beta curses under her breath and crosses the empty room in a few long strides, making for the bathroom.

[nickeverdeen]

Suprise | Aloy x fem!reader

Pairings: Aloy x reader (engaged)

Type of fic: Fluff

Warnings: Pregnancy (idk if it’s a warning)

Summary: After coming back to the base after 5 months Aloy finds out you ain’t feelingn well and soon discovers why.

—————————

Aloy hadn’t realized how much she missed the base until she stepped through the entrance and was greeted by the familiar hum of technology and the warm voices of her companions. Five months. Five months of traveling, helping tribes rebuild, and dealing with lingering threats. The work was important, but it had taken her far from home—and far from you.

Erend was the first to greet her, his boisterous laugh echoing through the main room. “Well, look who finally decided to show up! Thought you’d forgotten about us.”

“Good to see you too, Erend,” Aloy said with a small smile, clasping his arm. She greeted Zo, Varl, and the others before asking the question that had been on her mind since she arrived. “Where’s my fianceé?”

Zo gave her a knowing look. “She wasn’t feeling well earlier and went to lie down. She’s in your room, probably asleep by now.”

Aloy nodded, her concern deepening. “Thanks, Zo.”

The room was quiet when Aloy entered, the faint light from the hallway barely illuminating your form on the bed. The door shut softly behind her, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. You were curled on your side, your breathing steady and peaceful.

She couldn’t help but smile, her heart swelling at the sight of you. It had been so long since she’d seen you like this—safe, here, with her. She started to step closer but tripped over something on the floor, catching herself before she fell.

The noise made you stir, kicking the blanket partially off in your sleep. Aloy winced, staying still until you settled again. When you didn’t wake, she moved carefully to the nightstand and lit a small lantern, adjusting it so the light wouldn’t disturb you.

She reached for the blanket to pull it back over you, but her hand paused midair. There was a noticeable bump on your stomach that hadn’t been there when she left.

Her heart skipped a beat, worry immediately taking hold. Was this why you hadn’t been feeling well? Her Focus activated with a soft hum, scanning the area. What the scan revealed left her frozen in place.

Pregnancy detected.

Underneath that, a secondary detail: Second biological parent: Aloy.

Aloy stared at the information, her mind racing. She didn’t know how it was possible—or rather, she didn’t care to question it at this moment. What mattered was that you were pregnant. Her child.

Her initial shock was quickly replaced by a mix of awe and nervousness. She reached out again, this time to gently pull the blanket over you. Then, unable to resist, she carefully climbed onto the bed beside you, her movements slow and deliberate to avoid waking you.

Her hand hovered over your stomach for a moment before resting lightly against the bump. A soft smile spread across her face as she let the reality sink in. She was going to be a mother.

Meanwhile, in the main room, Erend and Varl were lounging near the central console, sharing drinks and chatting.

“How do you think she’ll take the news?” Erend asked, taking a swig from his flask.

Varl chuckled. “Aloy? She’s tough, but this is… different. She’ll probably overthink it, panic a little—”

“—and then act like she’s got it all under control,” Erend finished with a laugh.

Zo shook her head, smiling at their antics. “She’ll be fine. She always is.”

“Still, I can’t wait to see her face,” Erend said with a grin.

Back in the room, Aloy stayed beside you, her hand resting on your stomach as her thoughts whirled. She was still nervous, still unsure of how she’d handle this new chapter, but one thing was certain: she’d do anything to protect you and your growing family.

As she closed her eyes, exhaustion from her journey finally catching up to her, she whispered softly, “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

And with that, she drifted off, her hand still on your belly, a small smile lingering on her face.

[meggannn]

📓 and horizon zero dawn bc i'm replaying it!

!!!!! you're replaying!! just in time for me to possibly revisit this series because I heard forbidden west is releasing onto PC soon so I might be able to replay it for the first time since launch

I had a fic idea some time ago about Aloy getting a warning about Ersa and going off on her own to save her without Erend. she gets to Dervahl's base or whatever and realizes that this situation is so politically sticky that killing Dervahl may hurt Oseram-Carja relations, so she has to sneak Ersa out to avoid threatening relations with Avad, whose help she still needs. I can't really remember if there was a stronger justification for this other than I wanted to see Aloy try a stealthy approach vs human enemies other than slaughtering everyone in sight, and then as she travels south with Ersa, they have to avoid towns and villages because Aloy is paranoid and doesn't know who Dervahl has in his pocket.

this would all be be told through journal entries written by Aloy, for some reason, because the twist would be that Aloy had transcribed their journey south and was now being read by Erend after Aloy had made it to Meridian. there would be daily entries describing Ersa's condition and deterioration as Aloy realized she might die on the way there, and Ersa and Aloy having a chance to actually talk as Ersa realizes she's 1) been kidnapped, and 2) dying a very painful, slow death, but 3) still being taken care of by a stranger who refuses to abandon her. unfortunately though Aloy is not a licensed doctor and her idea of medical care is "just slap some red berries on the wound," so I think Ersa surviving air embolism from her eardrums bursting after being dragged a hundred miles is still pretty low.

sadly "fix-it fic" isn't really my go-to sort of thing, and despite me disliking Horizon's trend of killing sisters I actually do think Ersa's death fits Horizon's theme of "we can't erase tragedy, we can only move forward." so in my head Ersa still dies, but she just makes it back to Meridian and manages to hang on for maybe a few days, long enough to say goodbye to Erend/Avad, and that I think would inspire Erend and Avad to trust Aloy a lot more than Avad just hearing about Ersa passing after the fact. and Erend goes "Oh. this girl I barely met snuck into an enemy base and dragged my dying sister back home to me so I could say goodbye" which I think would make their friendship resonate with me a little more than "I met a girl in some backwater town and immediately started flirting with her."

Put "📓" or some other version of a book emoji into my inbox and I'll explain the plot of a fanfiction that I haven't written but daydream about.

[one-of-many-journeys]

Day 73

Shattered Kiln

Changed out of my kestrel armour and set out from the camp at sunrise.

Past the distant Shadow Carja forts and back south east to Meridian to deliver my intel to Marad.

Rested on the way; keeping out of sight of the Snapmaws.

A pack of Scrappers chased me down. They would have hounded me all the way to the city gates if I hadn't speared them through. Then through the mountain pass into Cut Cliffs, where for the second time I was ambushed by a group of bandits lurking inside. They went the same way as the Scrappers. How are there still so many of them in these lands?

Through Cut Cliffs and to the city gates. Still not on fire.

I headed for the palace to speak to Marad. I couldn't tell him much more than what he already knew, but could at least confirm the singular angle of attack, and that the Eclipse were bolstering their ranks with every Shadow Carja man they could. In the unlikely event that we survive long enough for an opportunity to counterattack, taking back Sunfall will be easy. It might even be necessary; I doubt anyone that Helis would leave in charge would ever stoop to surrender, no matter how hopeless the stand.

Marad will send his own agents to watch the ravine for signs of the Eclipse assembling their invasion force. He also told me I was free to stay in Olin's old apartment. Seems a bit...callous.

Marad told me that some Nora warriors had arrived in my absence, though they refused the invitation to enter the city and receive a royal welcome from Avad. Cursed earth is one thing, but a cursed city...I guess that's taking things too far. The important thing is that they came. Marad had also stationed the Vanguard on the Alight, and Erend was there making defensive preparations. He was already hearing word back from his agents sent afield as well; many outlanders were willing to come to Meridian's aid, some for loyalty or decency, others for shards alone. Avad certainly has plenty to go around. Others, he said, came for me. My name was enough for them to pledge themselves to a cause that wasn't theirs against an enemy they didn't understand. Well, rumours about me have spread far, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I've done things too, I suppose. I've done a lot. Free of charge too, for the most part. That goes a long way in a dangerous world. It'll only grow more hostile unless I stop it. I didn't know it then, but everything I was doing...it's exactly what I was made for. Downing murderous machines, patching up the consequences of the Derangement—all a direct result of the destruction that was my creation. A nice thought, but only if I succeed.

One of Elisabet's journal files repaired itself as I made the trek to the Alight. She wrote of the Odyssey, the space station belonging to Far Zenith.

When I first heard about it I was excited by the possibility, though from the data I found at ZD, their escape from the planet failed. Elisabet seemed...less optimistic. Despite the doubled chances for humanity's survival, she worried about the world Far Zenith would create, and their underdeveloped version of the Apollo database. 'What's to stop them from playing god?' No less than what was stopping Elisabet and her team, surely. They were in the process of building god, but I can infer her meaning. Elisabet was a good person surrounded by like-minded colleagues. She cared about others and about life, all life, while the members of Far Zenith kept their identities secret to avoid a public outraged by their exorbitant wealth and technology. The way I've heard them described, it's like they controlled everything. I can't imagine that people like that wanted a better world for life to come, just for themselves.

I met Talanah on the Alight, helping the others prepare the defences. She'd left the management of the lodge to Ligan and roped in as many hunters as she could to join her in battle. Where else would she be, she said, than by her Thrush's side. After Tarkas, she wasn't willing to let her own fight alone again. Of all the people in this city, she just might be the one I'll miss most when I leave these lands behind. If I get the chance, that is. She never once doubted me, even when all I was in her eyes was a stubborn outlander sticking it to Ahsis. It's refreshing having someone who can keep up with me in a fight too.

True to his word, Varl stood on the Alight with a group of Braves, well away from the locals. The others with him went to bow at my approach, but he hastened them to stand. Still called me the Anointed though, if not to my face. I get it, the only reason the Nora are here are because they think I'm on a holy mission from their goddess, that I'm her mortal vessel, my words are her dreams, etc. As for Varl, he would've come anyway, he said. He came for me.

I asked for his honest opinion on all this. I could tell he was uncomfortable, beyond the sweat soaking his furs. His woes were those of a typical Nora: foreign lands, accursed structures, a Metal Devil of myth come to life, and a woman chosen by the goddess. He felt like he should worship me, after everything—after the battle in Devil's Grief, the cleansed corruption, the broken siege, and then the mountain...and here I was insisting he do nothing of the sort. How very tragic. I couldn't help but show a little of the distaste I felt at his words. I thought we were friends...I thought that maybe, given time to reflect and recover, he might arrive here eager to learn all I've discovered. I know he means well. Better than most, but again, I expected too much.

Sona was standing a little further off with the more seasoned warriors, gazing with distrust at the towers on the mesa. To build so high was to invoke the fate of the ancients, she said. Yes, lets all live in huts and hovels, ignorant of all that came before just because knowledge was denied to our caged ancestors. The Nora would have thanked Faro for his great sacrifice, purging Apollo and the Alphas with them.

To be fair, it was Sylen's hunger for knowledge that caused this mess in the first place, but I wasn't about to further fuel the Nora's convictions.

Still, Sona pledged her loyalty, eager to fight for my cause, even though the Nora's numbers were dangerously thinned in the recent attack. She spoke as if she was ready for death too. They always are, these old soldiers.

At the foot of the Spire I met Naman, who was casting his blessings on the soon-to-be battlefield. He'd been speaking to the Nora, learning of my new place among their mythology. Between that and the deeds I'd already performed for him and in service of his people, Naman said he believes I'm a blessing of the sun. So I'm the Carja god's will incarnate as well now. That's more than enough divine pressure, thanks, but again, I know it comes from a place of kindness. I just hope it doesn't catch on with his red-robed brothers.

Over to Erend and his Vanguard next. The soldiers were very...enthusiastic. They had battle chants and everything. Erend had a few kind words for me, and I for him. He wanted to know what we were really up against; I suppose all he got was a second-hand account from Avad, who didn't seem to grasp most of what I told him anyway. But I knew the technicalities didn't matter to Erend, only that if we lost, the whole world would too. Pretty big for his first battle as Vanguard captain. He seems to be doing a lot better now than he was before he set out for the Claim. I guess he saw to it that Dervahl got what he deserved once they arrived.

He's got preparations under control, and from what Marad said, many are soon to join him in his efforts. Confident, or confident enough, that the Eclipse wouldn't be attacking that very night after what I saw of their own preparations, I picked up a Charger back on the jungle floor and rode hard into the east.

When I descended from Gaia Prime, in my panic to reach Meridian I forgot all about the two power cells I've now acquired, which will unlock the Old World armour I found back in the Sacred Lands. Extraordinary tech, and still functional after all this time. If I'm going to face an army of Faro bots, I could really use it, just as the Old Ones did when facing them the first time around.

Up into the Gatelands, heading for Daytower. Lone Light was bustling with life for the first time since I first crossed the border from the east. With the impending invasion, many of those in Meridian and the Maizelands have evacuated further east. It would have been nice to stop by, but I don't know how long I have to retrieve this armour.

Rested a while outside Morning's Watch as the sun set. My body wanted to sleep there and then, but I pressed on.

There's no taking the road to Daytower without invoking the wrath of its guardian Stormbird. Made it out of the blast zone this time, but it was a close thing.

I stopped in Daytower for a meal, sitting amongst rumours exchanged about the Shadow Carja's demon overlord and its army of rabid machines. Some at the fort were fleeing the conflict, while many hunters were passing back from the Sacred Lands to join the effort. I wish I could have quelled the wild rumours. On their face they seem overblown, as many of the hunters attested. Not so.

I took a spot out in the open under light snows. No sign of Balan. The remaining soldiers said he'd headed west with most of his men. It was already late when I arrived, but I set my Focus to wake me in just a few hours. I should try to be back in Meridian by tomorrow night if I can. Who knows how fast the Eclipse are moving, despite Marad's assurances.