Commission for @maimedmarshal! I was asked to do a scene of Hekarro wrangling a Stormbird, and after my previous work with the Scorcher, I was excited to take on the challenge again :3
"There's a whole world beyond your borders, whole tribes of people just as good as you, and it is all in danger. It's a world worth fighting for. Not just here. Everywhere." - Aloy, Horizon Zero Dawn
Personal post under the cut:
This piece not only represents my headcanons for Aloy based on my observations in Horizon playthroughs, but also my tentative relationship with my self-concept of sexuality.
Full disclosure, I don't celebrate Pride Month. Previously, it was due to religious reasons, which, if you were around during the late 2010s, didn't exactly fare well for me when I shared what I thought were immovable, concrete beliefs on the subject.
Fast forward to the mid 2020s, two fandoms later, new friends, new career, new learnings, new connections, etc, and those supposed "immoveable, concrete beliefs" have since changed into something much more amorphous, more considerate and more compassionate. I say I don't celebrate it merely out of lack of spoons, taste, however you may call energy now: I spend enough of it observing Christmas, New Year's, Easter, All Saints' Day and many birthdays.
But that's just me. I know what Pride represents for many people so I'm not here to hark on it or to discourage folks from observing it themselves. I just wanted to be honest. This piece for me, marks something of a declaration. That over the past few years, I've opened myself up to fully sharing that joy and happiness with those who experience it, whether it's a new relationship, a new identity, or even freedom from oppressive situations--all under zero pretenses; as well as being willing to defend my fellow human beings from discrimination and harmful ideologies and behaviors.
"You will know them by their fruit." - Matthew 7:20
It's been a long road from where I once was on the topic of pride and queer identity. Pride, as defined as "overconfidence in oneself, lack of humility, etc." is still significant for me, but I also am aware that this month is not about that. It's about cherishing all human beings, regardless of sexuality, race, identity, etc. It's a response against tyranny, against that desire for domination and control.
After all, everyone is made in the image of God. We are all precious in His sight and we are all meant to live in harmony and peace with one another.
I do not know everything, I might not get everything right—after all, I am only human— but that does not stop me from trying anyway.
If you have any questions or desire clarity about this, please feel free to send me an ask over here on my personal blog. I will not entertain questions on this one for organizational reasons, but I'd love to answer you :)
Kotallo tousled Valruun’s hair affectionately. Just a few months prior, the young warrior would’ve shrank away or flinched. Now, he bumped his shoulder against him with shared fondness and leaned into the contact. “You did well,” he complimented as he headed towards the inviting base of a nearby tree.
Another year, more? Kotallo could imagine the striking figure the boy would pose. He had strength already in those wiry limbs. With maturity? Kotallo imagined he’d be hard pressed to win in a spar with a grown Valruun.
As it was, the Marshal groaned as he settled down. These training sessions were certainly making him feel his age. Dekka would undoubtedly argue that he knew nothing of it, and the thought had him smiling as he tipped his head back against the trunk and let his eyes close.
It was a chilly morning, and despite the sweat from the recent workout, Kotallo was grateful for the sun dappling through the tree’s leaves to warm his skin.
He grunted again, slanting his eyes open, as Valruun settled beside him heavily. If he felt sore, he could only imagine how the youth was feeling. Kotallo didn’t pull his strikes with Val anymore in spars. The coming war certainly wouldn’t.
But for just a moment, they could have this reprieve.
~~~
Aloy froze when she spotted them. The anxiety that seemed all too present nowadays conjured up a horrible scenario that had left Val and Kotallo both expired. But after a stolen heartbeat, she let out a soft sigh of relief.
Not hurt, she reminded herself as she quietly walked closer. The smile pulled at her lips without permission as she felt love swell. Idiots, the both of them. And more alike than either seemed to realize.
Aloy lifted her hand to her Focus to snap a picture. It was a memory she wanted to preserve. After Nemesis, she hoped for more of them. Until then, she’d cherish the picture.
so I remembered that one scene from Balto where the wolf turns up in the snow and my brain is still circling snow leopards. so! my brain went to work ✍️
Commission for @maimedmarshal, featuring a scene from her Kotaloy (accidental-teenage-adoption trope) fic, "Heart of a Scorcher" over on AO3 (click the picture)!!
I had so much fun doing this, especially with the way it challenged my mecha-drawing capabilities! This fic is awesome btw, go read it if you can!!
Literally crying, Quiche! It’s so jaw-dropping beautiful and I can’t thank you enough for being willing to challenge yourself with taking on the insanity that is the machine! You truly hit it out of the park and I couldn’t be happier! ❤️
"Heart of a Scorcher" Chapter 10 - Ash and Blood excerpt
The pair landed painfully in the sand below as the platform behind them exploded in an inferno. Pieces of scorched wood rained down upon them and Aloy curled herself more tightly around him.
"I know," she told him as she sat up, pulling him with her. Aloy gave the boy a quick shake by his shoulders. "I know you're scared. But you cannot stop now, do you hear me? Not until this thing is dead. That is an order," she snapped when he only stared at her without comprehension. "You will not stop moving until this machine is dead. Do you understand?"
Finally, she noted some flicker of understanding. Looking behind her, she could see the Scorcher casting around for where they'd gone in the chaos. Quickly, she turned back to Valruun. "Do you understand?" she demanded. "Say it!"
The boy's nostrils flared with panic, but he nodded. Another shake of his shoulders had the words spilling out of him. "Don't stop moving. I understand."
Satisfied, she yanked him to his feet and shoved him away from her. "Go!"
Time to take down the big bad wolf.
"HEY!" she called out, waving an arm to capture the Scorcher's attention. "I'm right here! Come and get me!"
Ye olde rules: If you’re tagged, make a new post and share 1-2 (a few) sentences from your most recent unposted WIP(s) with zero context -- Let your followers guess!
(I feel as if it is sort of cheating since I only really have one fic going, but I'll post a few short scenes as a teaser!)
WIP 1:
The Marshal pulled his hand from Val's shoulder to pull their distraction from a pouch at his waist to prove it.
"Ready?"
No. But was one ever truly ready to dive into the flames of a Scorcher? Not trusting himself to speak, Valruun nodded curtly.
WIP 2:
Val could feel the heat of its breath. Though his burnt arm ached with the memory of charred flesh, the rest of him was oddly grateful for the sudden warmth amongst the icy wind. Not yet, he knew. Not until it was moving on, away from him. He dared not move lest he draw the machine's gaze down to light up his hidden form.
"Breathe." Gaia's soft voice broke through the darkening of the boy's vision. He did as she bade, and his head felt clearer for it.
WIP 3:
"Should I try?" Valruun asked, looking back at the others for permission.
"No," Aloy answered as Kotallo said, "Yes."
Uh oh. Mom and Dad are fighting.
The thought had the boy's cheeks flaming. Val made a mental note never to let something like that slip out.
tagging: @goodvibrationsmp3 @little-box-of-wonders, and @hannahmationstudios
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