#me: i don't really ship Ysayle and Rhiki

[pangolinheart]

Shipping game: Ysayle

YSAYLE! I adore her! She's such a nuanced and well-written character who goes through so much growth over the course of HW. (I always feel a little bad because, at least personally, her death felt like it got kind of overshadowed by Haurchefant's happening right before it.)

As much as I love Ysayle, though, it's a little bit difficult picturing her and Z'rhiki as a couple. I remember getting the impression in the first real scene between the WoL and Lady Iceheart of two people who wanted to understand each other but lacked the fundamental tools and context to do so. I think that vibe would be pervasive in their relationship. I could see them having some sweet moments, but even disregarding Ysayle's canon death, I don't know that a relationship between them would stand the test of time.

In her first encounters with Iceheart, Rhiki really did want to come to understand Ysayle, but without knowing much of anything about the Dragonsong War she couldn't make sense of Ysayle goals, let alone come to a mutual understanding. Her stated desire for peace seemed to be contradicted by her actions. She doesn't really get the chance to learn more about Ysayle until their impromptu field-trip to Hraesvelgr's lair, so that's most likely where their relationship started, or at least where the groundwork for it was laid. I can imagine Rhiki volunteering to help set up camp and prepare dinner with Ysayle while Alphinaud and Estinien were off doing... whatever it is they do (Rhiki doesn't understand their relationship at all), and slowly starting to talk. About trivial things, at first, but eventually about more personal things. They do have some things in common. They're both idealists who want to resolve conflicts without violence, but often have to resort to it anyway. They both feel a little isolated and misunderstood. They were both just normal kids who were gifted the Echo by Hydaelyn and now feel bound to a higher purpose, but have some regrets about the collateral damage they've caused along the way. I think these are things they could bond over.

They do have some fundamental differences, though, which could lead to arguments and frustration. Ysayle seems to be a firm believer in "the ends justify the means." She doesn't necessarily like condemning Ishgardians to death, but even though it weighs on her she views these casualties as necessary sacrifices in the name of peace. Rhiki is less of a big-picture person, and doesn't have the stomach for that sort of thing. She prefers to do good on a small, personal scale. She's realized even at this point in her life how easy it is for people who want to change the world to lose themselves in the pursuit of that goal. She prefers to do the little goods that are right in front of her and hope that they build up to something greater. To Ysayle I'm sure this seems short-sighted and complacent.

The shattering of Ysayle's worldview would put significant strain on their relationship. Rhiki's immediate instinct would be to comfort Ysayle and give her a shoulder to lean on. But it does seem like Ysayle needs space and time to process, and it would be hard for Rhiki to provide that. She would be so reluctant to leave Ysayle defeated and unmoored on the floor of Hraesvelgr's abode that Estinien and Alphinaud would practically have to drag her away to rush back to Ishgard. Rhiki knows that she has to go, that time is of the essence and the fates of countless people hang in the balance, but leaving Ysayle would still be one of the hardest things she had ever had to do up to that point.

The other obstacle in their way is how driven Ysayle is. She's devoted to ending the Dragonsong War and then to atoning for her sins (Esteem voice: 'Ware the penitent, for theirs is a compulsion all-consuming.) It's a bit hard to envision her setting aside a portion of her time and heart for Rhiki. Even if she did, Rhiki would know that she would always come second to Ysayle's dreams. She doesn't resent her for this, though. She admires Ysayle's tireless dedication and would never want to become an obstacle in the pursuit of her ideals. (Though, the fact that Ysayle's search for atonement seems to take on self-destructive tones would stress Rhiki way the hell out.) Anyway, it's not like Rhiki can just kick back and quit her job to support Ysayle either. In a world where Ysayle doesn't die in the skies over Azys Lla, this is what would probably lead to the breakdown of their relationship. I imagine this being and amicable breakup, with both acknowledging that they still cared deeply for each other but understanding that neither of them can set aside their self-appointed duties to love the other the way they deserve. 

In the world of canon, where Ysayle did die buying time for the Scions as they raced to catch up to Thordan, well, that would be rough on Rhiki. It would definitely feed into her complex about other people giving up their lives for her (stop it!!!). Though Rhiki would know it's irrational, she would still feel horribly responsible for what happened to Ysayle; Maybe if she hadn't reached out to her, if they hadn't formed such a strong connection to each other, Ysayle wouldn't have felt compelled to throw her life away to aid them. (Obviously that's not the case, but she would have no way of knowing that.) Ysayle's death would be crushing, and it would take a long time for her to recover and come to terms with it (that was also gonna happen anyways so....)

Since that's kind of a downer, I'll leave you with a cute mental image: Rhiki and Ysayle together at a campsite on a warm, sunny day in the Dravanian Forelands, Ysayle with her head in Rhiki's lap and Rhiki absentmindedly playing with her hair as the they both look up at the sky and watch the dragons swoop and dive above Anyx Trine.

(Send me a character and I'll tell you what a ship with them and Rhiki would look like; good, bad, or otherwise)