#sporkkee

First, it just checks all my boxes: "long-suffering, facially scarred warrior-resesrcher who *used* to be immortal" x "mysterious and ghostly professor type who mostly talks through aloof letters and yet occasionally vows passionate affection" is delicious and made for me to project onto.

Second, here are some canon bits that got the wheels turning.  The Emerald Light bond, acquired from Eris in The Dark Below, has the flavor text “They'll believe you are one of their own. And that is the only way." - Toland, the Shattered”. So, this lead me to believe that Toland gave Eris a Warlock bond for protection. Toland expected Eriana’s fireteam to defeat Crota, but gave Eris extra help.  After he’s unmade by Ir Yut, he misses Eris, saying “ Sometimes I wonder what became of Eris. She was very tenacious. For the first time I am lonely.” He refers to her as “dearest” and waxes poetic about the meaning of her name. For her part, she says she kept his journal when she was in the Pit, and drew both knowledge and comfort from having it. In Shadowkeep, she says she misses him (but it’s complicated): “I should not miss Toland. His ruthless pursuit of knowledge led to his downfall. He is not even gone. His spirit lingers, buoyed by the Ascendant Plane. And yet… a fireteam's bonds are not so easily undone.”  After the disastrous Crota mission, they were, as far as they knew at the time, the only surviving members of their team. I think this would have brought them together. Also, they work together to make both Touch of Malice (iirc?) and Deathbringer. 

One of my favorite canon interactions is relatively new. This Shadowkeep narrative preview features him cautioning her not to work too hard or delve too deep, with the same sense of care and concern ikora also feels for Eris. Eris doesn’t believe he’s real at first, because Savathun has been plaguing her with visions of her old fireteam. But once she’s sure, she opens up to him about her fears and “he piques my interest.” 

Third, here are the themes I've glued onto them, and how those have changed over the years. Often, my favorite ships are between two characters who are passionately, fervently interested in the same ideas from different angles. It forces them to blur the line between their own self-interest and their attraction, which creates this fun push and pull. It reads as very true to the kind of negotiations in real relationships to me -- but also, specifically and intentionally, to relationships which don't actually work out. Parasocial “relationships” between people who mistake obsession for love. Eris/Toland is often unhealthy and fraught. Regret and power dynamics make the ship feel like a tragic missed connection even if they're holding each other, and that's a topic I'm aesthetically and emotionally interested in. Every ship shouldn't be that way, but the unique texture of the way I write this one is that it feels like it should have been meant for happier times and never saw them, or is constantly on the verge of almost starting even when it's long-established. It gains energy and creates story hooks from that.

I often want Eris/Toland to be a ship about two people who never stopped grieving. To Eris, Toland represents her whole firearm, the friendships she lost, and the grief that never quite healed. To Toland, Eris represents as close as a human being can get to being the the entire Hive (which symbolize meritocracy/ambition or might makes right, and which he sees as the winning team that will prevent him from dying. Also, he kinda was infatuated with Ir Yut once.) They don't see each other even when their eyes lock. They're both projecting furiously, and they know it.

However, parts of Shoot the Moon, the novel-length fic, are actually an intentional push back against those core concepts of mutual grief and a missed opportunity. In STM, I finally had a story long enough that I could establish that base dynamic and then have them talk about it and move on to a healthier dynamic. They do see each other in this story. They have the choice to wallow in their obsessions or walk forward with the reality of each other, and choose the latter.

Eris’s resilience and foresight is what garnered Ikora’s attention and admiration. Ikora would often find herself spending too much time chasing after the hunter during her matches, barely dodging the red pin light that shone from the scope of a sniper rifle. Eris wouldn’t admit it, but she did enjoy being chased by someone who posed a threat to her, frequently finding herself out of breath and exuberant as she used misdirection to hide herself away from Ikora. They would become fond of their run-ins together in the Crucible. 

Their last moment together before their formal introduction was marked by a rather formidable stand off. Ikora thought she would get the better of Eris by forcing proximity, but was surprised when she was forced to dodge the heavy weaponry being thrown at her. In turn, she had taken the moment to throw her weight into Eris, proceeding to force both women to the ground. This led to a struggle, one that involved wrestling a knife from Eris and a hand cannon from Ikora. The two women were so consumed with trying to get the best of one another that they failed to hear the match be called - a victory on Eris’s part, as Wei Ning and Sai Mota proceeded to secure their victory by a last minute mosh pit party on the capture point. 

When their ghosts finally get their attention, Eris would leave looking back at the woman with  bright eyes and a fond smile, a look Ikora would become enchanted with. She would be memorized by her farewell for the rest of the evening, to the point where she would be unaware that she was being pursued after when she finally had down time and was out celebrating with some rounds with the folk she had been running with that evening. 

Eris thought she was being subtle, but Wei Ning caught on to why she kept stalling their fireteam’s departure. Wei Ning took the opportunity to formally introduce themselves to Ikora Rey, quickly securing the warlock from the team she had been running with with the promise of celebrating with free drinks as they got to know one another better beyond their combat rivalry. When Ikora and Eris finally had a moment to themselves, however, they made their own introductions. Eris had almost been bashful now that she had finally gotten what she was after and Ikora had been fond of her quiet, reserved nature. 

They later spent the night keeping each other company, simply talking and catching up as if they were old friends. They would reluctantly part at sun rise, but with the promise of continued contact.

general headcanons

Eris and Ikora would find that they challenge one another, in a way that both women wholeheartedly welcome. Eagerly, in fact. Ikora always looks forward to hearing Eris’s insight, constantly engaging the hunter with endless questions and arguments. Eris enjoys having someone who listens to her thoughts, whether intellectual or simple ponderings. Eris is someone who is willing to engage with others when given the opportunity, despite some finding the hunter intimidating in her own right. There is no hesitation with Ikora, however, and Eris finds herself cherishing their conversations. Both women can only grow when in the presence of one another. 

They often talk well into the night. Ikora always lets Eris know beforehand when she intends on keeping the hunter up long past the need for sleep, and Eris always accepts it without hesitation. They’ll get comfortable with books and a blanket, with their ghosts for company. Ophiuchus enjoys both Eris’s and Brya’s presence. The two ghosts will nestle themselves close by and simply enjoy each other’s company in silence. Their ghosts will often rise in the morning to find Eris and Ikora passed out pleasantly, sharing the blanket they brought with one another. 

Brya dotes on Ikora endlessly. Ophiuchus is happy with how responsive Eris is to him and always asks after her and whether she’s taking care of herself.

Eris’s friends are enthusiastic and welcoming when it comes to Ikora. It’s always a better night when the two of them arrive together, and they pester Ikora endlessly. Private crucible matches are recreational events the more headstrong of the group challenge one another too (Ikora Rey, Cayde-6, Wei Ning, Vell Tarlowe, Sai Mota, and Omar Agah all like to duke it out and cause havoc against one another while Lord Shaxx keeps an interested eye on their matches.) Eris and Eriana-3 usually sit on the sidelines and provide support while their friends run amok.

They have a habit of accidentally getting their fingers tangled together. They never intend for hand holding, it just happens and takes both women by surprise. They would apologize, but wouldn’t promise to be more careful next time. Once they got over the awkwardness, Eris intended on participating in actual hand holding and would just take Ikora’s whenever she pleased, and Ikora would let her, because it’s what felt natural. They would just casually stroll around holding hands and nobody would mention anything because it was obvious that even if they weren’t dating they were definitely a couple.

There was never an official day they started dating. It just became a gradual escalation of domesticity where they were already living together with casual intimacy between them that when they did get together they didn’t have to say much between them to know it was something they mutually wanted.

Although they might forget to take care of themselves, they’re always looking out for one another. When Ikora becomes consumed by her studies and thesis, Eris will make sure she at least remembers to stay hydrated and takes the occasional break with her. When Eris pushes herself too hard Ikora is there to make sure she gets enough rest and stays off her feet while keeping her occupied in bed. It helps that Eris is always interested in reading her thesis enough to keep her situated for a couple hours while she pours over it and bounces things back and forth with Ikora. 

Ikora is usually the one to wake up first and will wake Eris with some already brewed tea and coffee. 

When Eris takes up cooking, Ikora is more than happy to act as her willing test subject. Eris is still learning, so some dishes still come out slightly singed. Ikora will eat them nonetheless - it would be a waste and an insult not to finish the meal, no matter how much Eris tries to assure her. Ikora and Eris rediscover fruit bowls, and keep a pineapple as a centerpiece.