#robyshtola

Is it too cliché to say the next new place? It is so much the joy of discovery for them, especially when they get the chance to both see something new for the first time together.

But for visiting, I think it revolves around people more than places. Y'shtola may not be the social butterfly Robyn is, but they both have friends scatters all over the world that they like to check in on. Y'shtola's contacts in Limsa, Robyn's friends in Ul'dah. Both of their sisters near Gridania. From Doma to Tuliyollal there are so many people to catch up with. (though i don't think they visit Garlemald unless they have to)

If there was one city they would visit just for the sake of it, it would probably be Radz-at-Han, for the food and the atmosphere.

As far as the place they return to the most, it is probably to visit Matoya. A bit more quiet and secluded, a bit more time to themselves.

It gives them time to share their latest findings and stories with her, and bounce new ideas off her experience and knowledge. And because Robyn is much more exuberant in her affection for the older woman, which ruffles her feathers in a way that delights Shtola.

6. What is their favorite feature of their partner’s?

for y'shtola, it's robyn's hands (no, not for that reason...well maybe a little for that reason). they are her tether in the dark, they are comfort and strength and tenderness. they are calloused and scarred and tell the tale of all that robyn has been through and all the kindness she will continue to do.

she also has great fondness for the soft hair at the back of robyn's head, especially when it has been recently shorn. both for the tactile nature of it and for what is usually happening when it is within y'shtola's reach.

for robyn, it's shtola's nose (stick with me for a sec). i feel like while y'shtola tries to control how much emotion she shows with her ears and tail, she is not as cognizant to what her nose shows. especially with her other senses taking a more predominant role, it is surprisingly expressive, for those who are paying attention at least (and robyn is). the way she scrunches her nose as an unpleasant smell, or perks up at something delicious. the crinkles when she laughs or the flare when she is indignant. the way she nuzzles into robyn when she is sleepy.

also y'shtola's tits ;) (no but seriously, something about her only battle scar being the one zenos gave her...a reminder of robyn's failure and the fragility of life, but also that she is still here and all that happened afterwards...all i'm saying is robyn spends a good amount of time here above y'shtola's heart)

8. Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

robyn delights in calling her shtola so much it never even occurs to her to call y'shtola anything else.

i did answer this over here, but there is always more :) how about some non-physical traits?

for robyn, it's shtola's straightforwardness. she shares what she observes and what she thinks, she asks for what she wants, and she doesn't bother with manipulation. it also means she doesn't sugar coat things, but robyn would much rather hear the truth of it anyways.

and robyn also just marvels in the way shtola's mind works. she is so smart and so clever, in all the ways she puts the pieces together and not only remembers what she has read but where she read it. robyn would gladly (and has) sit and watched her work though problems for hours. and y'shtola always explains things to her so that she can follow (at least the broad strokes) and be a part of the conversation.

and y'shtola loves robyn's curiosity. that she would sit there and listen to y'shtola ramble for hours, engaged and asking questions. robyn is smarter than she gives herself credit for, and has kept up with the scions by just listening and taking in what they have encountered.

13. Who reaches for the other’s hand first?

robyn. at her core she is just sooo physically affectionate, such that she is always holding herself back to make sure she doesn't make anyone uncomfortable. but she started offering her steadying hand to y'shtola when she first lost her sight, and when that was ok pretty much has never stopped.

20. What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

robyn wears her heart on her sleeve, so its hard for anyone to deny what y'shtola means to her or how happy she makes her - which in turn endears their relationship to them as well.

osk liked y'shtola from the beginning, but she didn't really understand the idea of ~them~ until she saw them together (and what a doozy of a day that was).

y'mhitra also had quite the into to robyn and to their relationship (this is me just now realizing that both sisters were introduced to them as a couple when shtola was being pulled from the aetherial sea...), and the way y'shtola sought the comfort of robyn's arms while she was most vulnerable spoke volumes.

matoya is also a fan of robyn (more on that in a couple of days ;) ). but really it comes down to how much she appreciates robyn's earnestness and honesty - no ulterior motives or grasping for power, just love for shtola and for the world she is trying to protect.

10. Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?

oh robyn for sure. she has been practically studying y'shtola's food preferences for like a decade, she probably knows what y'shtola wants more than y'shtola does most the time. also because robyn likes to try new things and new tastes whenever she can, so she doesn't have any particular regular for y'shtola to choose.

23. Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines?

you know, that is a great question.

cause like, one of the most fundamental pillars of their relationship is their honesty and transparency with each other, so its not like they don't believe in each other's feelings when it is spoken or anything like that.

and they are both seemingly very confident people, at least outwardly.

however

robyn is keenly aware that she is not an academic. she is never going to be able to keep up with or challenge shtola in the things she values most. she's always been carried by her charm, her good looks, and her strong arm - and well her arm isn't as strong as it used to be, and good looks don't matter much when your partner is blind...

and y'shtola? she has heard the talk - too focused on her goals, too direct, too abrasive, too much her teacher's pupil. generally she doesn't care what people think, at least that's what she tells herself, but what does robyn think?

it was while i was going through the quests to pull her form the aetherial sea (the first time).

the way robyn is stopped from going to her when she first pulled back to our world. and then, while her sister gits to sit with her while we are all waiting for her to wake up, robyn is forced to wait outside.

and i couldn't help but feel like there was this anxiety and frustration from robyn in that moment. like she just needed to touch shtola, to hold her and prove that she really was back. that the nightmare of the last few months without her was finally over.

it was an 'oh' moment...not for robyn realizing she loved shtola, but for me realizing she loved her lol.

and it all just kinda fell into place. tataru giving robyn things to do to pass the time while waiting to let out that anxious energy. shtola's fond reaction when robyn finally gets to see her...immediately relieved to see robyn was ok. tataru teasingly kicking us out of the room to help shtola get dressed.

and the rest, as they say, is history.

oh goodness. so they were sleeping together before feelings were involved...for a baseline lol

when robyn realized she was in love with y'shtola, it didn't really surprise her nor did it really change a whole lot of how she acted. she just became more intentionally observant about y'shtola, wanting to take care of her as best as she possibly could.

when y'shtola noticed the first hint of feelings, she broke up with robyn.