despitethenora | Sneck IC inbox

Aloy takes insane risks already. I've seen her memory on how she lost that shielding of hers. An Aloy with no fear of death and even more confidence in her skills...

It's a dangerous combination. If there's a game tomorrow, it could get ugly.

["The scenarios are not already?

"Tryse. Have you reviewed the conflicts Aloy engaged in during the scavenger hunt?"]

...I've been afraid to.

When I think of the scavenger hunt, all I can see is how badly I failed everyone. I was so... so stupid. I thought that the events were just-

I wasn't there when they needed me. I was doing frivolous nonsense. Even if I couldn't have participated, I could have been there to offer kind words. Make them feel secure. Try to restrain them when it was getting to be too much.

Everything I've done afterwards has been an attempt to correct those mistakes. Keep them from happening again. But it never feels like enough. And now I have to come begging the people I care for for help to just... just to make me feel like I want to live again.

Because of that hunt. Because of what I didn't do.

I'm scared to find out more about it, GAIA. Is it really that important to see those memories?

["I propose showing you not memories, but summaries of conflict results, if that will provide some insight into Aloy's capability.

If I am correct, when Aloy is able to act outside of cycles of voting and awaiting results, this mindset complements her skill."]

I... Okay, yes. That's important. I've been operating for a while without a clear idea of what Aloy's capable of. If I'm going to guide her in a fight some day, I should know these things.

This mindset being free from fear of death? Or being aware of her own mortality?

["A heightened awareness of her mortality."

True to her word, it's not memories, that project next. It's more like a table, names and profile pictures, followed by summaries.

Aloy / Kaz Brekker: Victory. Hostile shadow magic used to thwart ambush. Light shard used to negate enemy advantage. Losses: one eye. Gains: One arm. Sleeve and glove returned.
Aloy / Vin: Narrow loss. Speed enhancement, possibly other abilities used to thwart ambush. Arrow wound sustained. Fire glyphs and advanced bow technique used to negate enemy advantage. Loss due to incorrect assumption the opponent had surrendered. Losses: one ear. Gains: advice to hone melee techniques.
Aloy / Eddie: Victory. Invisibility and silencing magic used to evade and ambush. Focus use to observe details and fire elemental arrows used to negate enemy advantage. Losses: Second eye. Gains: One hand.
Aloy / Sirin: Withdrawn. Enemy portals employed to intercept attacks and turn them back to attacking position. Outmatched; fire glyphs and agility used to negate enemy advantage to close distance, Jump-Off melee technique used to claim objective and disengage, agility used to negate enemy advantage during retreat. Losses: None. Gains: One eye.
Aloy / Mochi: One part volunteered to Aloy out of respect to Donatello. Gain: one rib.
Aloy / Nanako: Trade: one part in exchange for listening to emotionally difficult questions. Losses: None. Gain: one organ.
Aloy / Hunter: One part surrendered to Aloy for the benefit of his family's team. Losses: None. Gain: one ear.
Potion ingredients successfully gathered. All injuries sustained within the capabilities of available healers, once reached.
Aloy / Adachi: Loss. Ambushed before second eye could be recovered. Left to bleed out after losing consciousness. Losses: Stomach, life. Gains: None.

"Aloy successfully completed the objectives for the scenario. All opponents boasted supernatural capabilities, which were overcome through skill and resourcefulness. Losses were due to misreading opponent intentions, not out of the inability to contest said opponent."

Edited 2023-07-23 02:17 (UTC)

[She reads down the list dispassionately. Eddie's a surprising name on the list, though she knew he could turn invisible. The powers on the rest are noted.]

That tracks. I love her, but she's not the best with people. Amazing she still has any trust at all.

["Are you referring to her trust for others, or others' trust for her?"]

Her trust for others.

I know she's got strong reasons to do it, but she's had quite a few reasons not to.

["There are those she does not trust, and there are many more with whom she simply does not attempt to connect."]

Like the Hamatos. Is that purely because of her guilt or because of how Donatello treated her?

["It is because sooner or later, and for one reason or another, people will reject her. Failing that, too many of those not rejecting her attempt to attach themselves to her in a way that forces her to reject them.."]

[If she needed a reminder about what Aloy said about GAIA being more of a reflection of herself, even if she's a bit more objective...]

...Will that be my fate, some day?

["Your relationship is unique. There is no precedent to reference.

"However, it is clear that Aloy is eager to explore more."]

[...Aloy's never going home, at least. She can't go home. Tryse doesn't know what she'd do if that were an option.]

...It's a good thing she can't see me in here like this. I'd probably be ruining that image of me that she's built up.

["Query: What image do you believe Aloy has?"]

She thinks I'm... intelligent. Useful. Attractive. Reliable. Probably loyal. Hopefully loyal. Competent. In control.

Seeing me lost and confused, actively causing harm instead of helping... That's probably not what she pictures when she sees me.

[A pause.

"Would you find reassurance beneficial?"]

Would it be honest or just some part of Aloy not wanting to see me like this?

["I can offer clarity by directing you to more of her thoughts, or by showing you moments in which she does not live up to the image you may have of her. It is my understanding that this can have an equalizing effect in relationships."]

...Best not to do the second without her permission, GAIA. If they're the kinds of things that would embarrass her, she'd probably want a say in them being shared.

[...Might be interested in the first part, though.]

["As you prefer. If you wish to learn more of her thoughts about you, I would remind you to finish scanning your surroundings."]

...

[Best not leave a job half done. She sighs, pings her Focus again, and stands. There's still the frog and the shard, isn't there? Possibly fifteen other things she's missed, too.

She taps their icons.]

-Frog in witch’s hat (NSFW)
A thought of what could have been. Tryse’s hut is cozy and warm, projected in the tower. Aloy has perched herself on the witch’s writing desk. It is not, it seems, a planned development, as paper and implements have been scattered to make way for Aloy. She’s in her Carja imitation outfit again.

Tryse is rising from her seat at the desk, nestling herself between Aloy’s legs as their lips find each other’s. In this thought, there’s no need for guilt, or restraint. There’s tension, and passion, and they can simply follow where it goes. In this thought, when Tryse’s hand is on Aloy’s stomach, the kissing does still stop, the two women pressing their foreheads together, breaths quick with excitement. Want.

This time, when Aloy puts her hand on Tryse’s, she guides it under her pants (the pants do not need worked open, they already are. When? Shh, this isn’t that kind of thought.). Aloy’s witch palms her, and she makes a needy sound; a press from Aloy, and Tryse presses in turn. Thighs squeeze Tryse as they fall into a rhythm. Tryse’s mouth finds Aloy’s breast as fingers curl in (wait, but the top and sporting bra - shh), and Aloy’s voice rises. Her back arches, her muscles stutter -

The flames in Tryse’s fireplace brighten as Aloy’s tension breaks.

-The light shard (NSFW)
A thought of what could be. A hunter and her witch, buried in the nest of blankets that is Tryse’s room. It’s a comfortable feeling, soft cloth and the warmth of each other pressed together. Aloy is at Tryse’s back, wrapping the witch in her embrace as Tryse holds her phone.

Tryse is reading from it:

“Do you see me?
When I look at you, and my heart’s beating fast and my breath’s caught in my throat
Do you hear me?
When I'm whispering softly into your sunny hair and against your smile
Do you feel me?
When I trace your skin with my fingertips wishing I could sink into you”

Or she is trying to. Aloy’s fingers curl deep, and she hums amusement in Tryse’s ear when the witch’s cadence stumbles - when a cry interrupts a word -

And the poem stops altogether when Tryse’s body tightens, and Aloy takes her hand away. Then, there is a needy whine in Tryse’s throat instead, and Aloy is chuckling and murmuring in her ear. “Not yet.”

Oh.

Is that-

Are those her-

[Well, she's blushing hard now.]

She's, um. Certainly not thinking about me screwing up, at least.

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NSFW

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