The SW/Quinn Romance - Slow Burn Character Investigation - Part 6
Welcome to my look Quinn romance in SWTOR where we take a deep dive into the romance, the betrayal and the slow burn route.
If you'd like to start at the beginning proceed to: https://www.tumblr.com/kivthecathar/805947792790044672/sw-quinn-romance-the-slow-burn-route?source=share
Alrighty let’s look at the repercussions of Quinn’s betrayal after a SW (easily) defeats him and his droids.
To start off the conversation we get a Quinn not believing that we could possibly beat his droids. I can see again why here many will instantly get a bad vibe especially from a romance POV, he’s just tried to kill you and seemingly not concerned for your safety/wellbeing. I look at this a little differently, from a SW POV I imagine this was a relatively easy fight (compared to what SW has been through already), it’s not that he has no concern for a romanced SW it’s simply that other than maybe breaking a sweat this was easy.
For this playthrough and romance I choose the ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself line’ backs up the case to me that it wasn’t too hard for a SW to do, when she says the droids pushed her, I imagine it’s like a good workout nothing more.
In his usual Quinn like fashion he has ‘conspired’ with our enemy and expects no mercy. For Quinn with a romanced SW or not I’m a firm believer that he thinks this is it he's dead. For those DS or those romancing him I can absolutely see why this is a choice that can be made to 'kill him', up until now he’s betrayed us and seems very uncaring at all about the entire situation, enough to make any romancing SW very unhappy and angry. However as always, I have a but of a different take here.
Up until now as discussed previously Quinn I believe is absolutely dissociating with reality, if he does this and falls back into the I’m just a vessel for Baras then this is Baras who is doing it not me. I’m not hurting my loved one, Baras is. Quinn can’t face reality so he’s not, even now by saying he deserves no mercy he believes this, he’s ready to die for his betrayal rather than face the reality of what he’s done, death right now an easy way out.
My SW chooses to be merciful, of course she is hurting, angry, upset however it is quite clear to her now that Quinn is not himself, he has been blindsided and coerced into doing this by Baras. Don’t get me wrong he choose to act upon this but she now understands the effects of a lifetime of force fed imperial propaganda, sith power, hate and fear has done to him in that moment, he is no more than a pawn, Baras's pawn. My SW can sympathise with him right now, she too bought into Baras early on her story, she understands what he can do, what he is like, she broke free from that however up until now Quinn has not.
I don’t agree with the I forgive you line just now, I really wish they had left this out, forgiveness for something like even with my SW who romances and loves Quinn, forgiveness needs time. She understands him yes, but the hurt is still there.
Quinn after being granted a LS forgiveness line (I bet much to his surprise) I think get’s a little to ‘eager’ by stating if we allow him to stay his dedication ill never waiver again. I honestly feel as though a SW has a legit reason to have left Quinn here or told him he’s no longer welcome, anyone who breaks up with him here I can absolutely understand.
My SW decides that you know what no I’m not just going to jump back into this relationship or flirt with him, she needs time. I love the, ‘We’ll see’ option where she outright states that trust is difficult to rebuild but she is willing to take it slow, as in I’ll let you know when I’m ready.
Quinn’s next line about things being ‘different’ for awhile I think is a direct link to the romance, this is the first time I think during this whole interaction where we get a glimpse of the romance angle coming through. He has made this terrible mistake, a SW has forgiven him but he realises that what they were, their romance is now forever changed, there is no going back to what it was. I think there is a mutual understanding that both need time processing time right now, he knows it and is willing to give that space to her.
Before returning to the ship, I find this interaction very interesting, telling him to go back and that she’ll join him shortly, I always find it odd that a SW needs that extra time before joining him. My interpretation of this is, the SW needs a little time to either let themselves get angry, let themself get upset or they need a few minutes of silence to process everything.
Do I think they could have handled this entire situation with Quinn for a romance SW better? 100% yes however with what we have been given from my own analysis can very much fit in with Quinn and who he is. The betrayal yes was his choice but he was absolutely coerced by years and years of indoctrination, propaganda and fear, his dissociation with the events was to try and protect himself from the consequences of his actions to somehow believe this is not him this is Baras hurting the one he loves.
A LW romanced SW could see this and although this is no excuse there is understanding. I like to think that not in game time at a least a little while went by before the two interacted again other than briefings where they had to attend and it was her choice not his.
My romanced SW chose to forgive but with understanding of a significant change in their relationship other SW who chose to break or go full DS I can absolutely understand. It’s what makes this romance so very interesting. Every SW or romanced SW will see this differently so I wanted to share my view.
For this-burn romance a betrayal could have meant the complete end to it all but I think by completing the slow burn a SW romancing Quinn could see how and why Quinn acted the way he did and could also see fit to forgive.
Next time we will see how this romance plays out as we wrap up the original SW story.
Because I can't not add the ultimate puppy dog eye Quinn below.
