//No Bastion ships, but care to explicate Renzus and Tybs relationship?
// Ohhhh lord, where do we even start. I blame @summoner-renzus for being so amazing because I would have never foreseen this kind of synergy between the two when I first met him.
I guess it all started when they first met - which was during the Snowdown Festivities Tybresa organized, in the second part when the whole thing moved to the Freljords for some snowy showdowns. Prior to that, Tyb had some knowledge on Reginald’s Crow movement, and she sympathized with Renzus on the fact that, in a way, their positions came from the same ‘father’ of thought. Initially, she had no illusion on her authority over him, however - she had intended to make use of him more as a subordinate than an ally of the same status, but Renzus was charismatic, capable and honest enough to have left a good impression on Tybresa and think of him highly enough to risk going against her superior’s desires to uproot him.
It was only when Vessaria showed ‘discomfort’ towards Renzus - and that translates into her attempts to hamper whatever efforts he was making - that Tyb considered relying on Renzus more thoroughly, as that was during the time that she was beginning to find traces of the corruption that was gnawing at the heart of the League of Legends. It was also a period of time where she was pulling a great deal of strings to get as much information on the High Council’s personal activities, which eventually - surprise surprise - led to her bumping into Renzus plenty of times. They were investigating the same trail, more or less - and it deepened their cooperation with one another.
The turning point, I feel, was when the two finally committed to uncovering the Ashram’s hiding spot - especially since it held a great deal of personal meaning to the both of them. (Renzus, because he was his mentor and effectively turned him into the person he is now. Tyb, because he held the confirmation to a truth she dreaded to acknowledge). The whole adventure led them to talk more, cooperate more, understand each other a great deal more ... and it was in that time that Tybresa discovered how well they worked together, and how alike they felt to be. Like kindred spirits. It gave her food for thought ...
It mattered a great deal afterwards, because after meeting Ashram (and Renzus having to effectively hold Tyb back from punching his skull out of his head), Tyb needed someone to rely on if she was going to stage a coup versus the current High Council of Equity - and of course, it was Renzus at the forefront of that, because who else was as capable and determined to see danger averted other than Tyb?
Renzus was also the only one who knew of her plans, and supported her enough to go against her doubts. Unfortunately, he could not foresee the Void Escape, or Vessaria’s betrayal that led to Tybresa’s MIA/KIA status for the following 6-7 months, but he made a point to settle the score by delivering Kolminye with a bullet through the head.
With Tyb’s return to the IoW, he was the first person to have greeted her, and to understand the condition of her ‘return’ - that is to say, the curse of the Rune, and the visions of a missing future. Insofar, he’s proved to be a real anchor for her - both emotionally, and in determination. He’s certainly helped influence a good attendance for the Summit, and a relatively good outcome for it - and he’s put a great deal of effort into trickling resources into the Bastion to stabilize it so that it won’t be blown apart by the winds of adversity.
Personally, however ... Renzus is one of the few people she truly considers a friend. Tybresa trusts Renzus thoroughly, enough to listen to him when he admonishes her (rather than lashing out at him, which is the case with almost anyone else), even if she doesn’t like it. He is one of the few who understands magic on such an intense and deep level as she does, and whose mind is a shifting and complex puzzle-box like hers, able to twist and turn things into a myriad of outcomes. (which is something that she does, herself) His thorough dedication to the protection of Runeterra as a whole - body, mind and soul - is something she draws strength and inspiration from, and hopes that she is able to make the Bastion worthy enough to have his Crows officially join them.
She might even be honest with herself to say that she loves Renzus - though she would not be sure on that implications, and honestly ... they’re way too deep into it to ever admit it. After all ... she did make him promise to end her, once everything was done and settled. And she respects the man too much to saddle him with her emotional turmoil - which is why she often holds back from calling on him too much, though there is no denying that she misses him, and wishes they had more time to talk with one another.
... whew. I wrote a lot on it. But I think I got the gist of it, didn’t I Renzus?