Rost did not show Aloy physical affection. If you look at their interactions, he only touches her when there’s a purpose. To lift her up, to clean her wound, to cover her with a blanket. He gives her a kind pat on the shoulder after she saves Teb, but this is actually the only time I saw him touch her intending to comfort. Even if it was genuine on Rost’s part, one can see how easy it would be for Aloy to read this as a reward for saving Teb’s life.
In her training when she falls, Rost extends his hand to her as an offer to help and she rejects it, because she’s learned that touch is a sign of weakness, since touch is only something that’s done when you are unable to do something yourself. She’s independent, she’s strong, she doesn’t need it.
[screenshot of Rost extending a hand to young Aloy as she dangles off a platform]
When he leaves her at Mother’s Heart, she follows after him, and you can clearly see that she wants to grab ahold of him but she doesn’t.
[screenshot of Rost turning away from Aloy as she follows after him, holding her hands clutched loosely out towards him]
Like. Look at her hands. She’s desperate in this scene, she’s saying goodbye to the only person she knows, but she still pauses and doesn’t grab ahold of him. That’s absolutely devastating to me. She does not understand that it’s normal for family/friends to hug, kiss, hold hands, etc. She deserves to touch him in this scene and she just…doesn’t.
And the one time Rost does touch her affectionately? Finally holds her in his arms? They’re both dying, and it’s the last time Aloy ever sees him. And she reaches for him as he blows up and she’s falling off a mountain.
[screenshot of Aloy falling through snowy air, hands reaching up]
No one else fills this role for her. No one physically comforts her. Teersa could have, but she didn’t. If Sylens wasn’t an asshole, he also could’ve, but of course he’s Sylens. In all honesty this is why I was so frustrated with Sylens, because Aloy desperately needed a parent and he was just so…disinterested in her.
I honestly think this is part of why she wanted to find her mother so badly (at least, subconsciously). Yes, she wanted to know why she was cast out because that fucked up her entire life, but also she desperately wanted someone to fill that role, because Rost (as wonderful as he was) just couldn’t.
But Elisabet’s just a hologram. A dead hologram. Please look at how she reaches for Elisabet because it actually causes me physical pain.
[screenshot of Aloy reaching out for Elisabet’s hologram, set towards the beginning of the game]
[screenshot of Aloy reaching out for Elisabet’s large holographic form, set at the end of the game]
I also think this is part of the reason why Aloy was so upset about the Nora treating her as their anointed and bowing to her, because that’s the opposite of what she wants/needs, even if she doesn’t know it. To her it’s the same thing as being an outcast. The label means she’s still separate from them, something not to be touched (even if it’s for better reasons this time) and she has every right to be upset.
When Aloy is touched by allies in the game, it’s very briefly, and usually for a purpose.
[screenshot of Jezza and Teersa resting their hands on Aloy as they anoint her a seeker]
[screenshot of Aloy lying on the ground, Teb kneeling beside her and gently touching her]
[screenshot of Erend resting a hand on Aloy’s shoulder]
For most of the game, however, Aloy is touched by enemies. And good lord. She’s hit, laughed at, strangled, stabbed, shot. She literally. Just. Doesn’t. Know. That touch can be a good and positive thing. All the shit with Helis? I could write an entire post just on how traumatized Aloy is. Like. My girl. My poor girl.
[screenshot of Helis clutching Aloy by the face]
So let’s talk about Gildun! Incase you don’t know, he’s an NPC you encounter on a Frozen Wilds side quest. Kinda random, right? But Aloy’s reactions to the way Gildun touches her is actually really interesting. Gildun grabs Aloy’s wrists out of excitement.
[screenshot of Gildun clutching Aloy’s wrists, caption on screen reads “Two sets of hands, girl! Two sets of hands!”]
And oh. my. god. Just look at her face. Like. She’s shocked and disgusted and surprised at the sudden physical contact because she’s not used to it!
[screenshot of Aloy looking disgusted, confused, upset]
But about two seconds later she’s smiling! Like! That’s how little time it takes her to get over this!
[screenshot of Aloy with a more relaxed expression than the last]
At the end of the quest Gildun knocks her playfully without warning. She’s surprised but she doesn’t flinch outside of recovering from the hit. She doesn’t try to fight back. She smiles. Part of this could be because he’s complimenting her, but I mean, come on. Look how happy she is.
[screenshot of Aloy and Gildun, Aloy is smiling and Gildun is yelling.]
In conclusion: we need more NPCs like Gildun who show Aloy physical affection and Aloy needs a thousand hugs. Feel free to add more examples, I know there’s things I missed.
Disclaimer: I love Rost so much this is not me dragging Rost and it’s also not his fault that he was the only person in Aloy’s life. He did his best. This is not me dragging Rost, don’t ever accuse me of not loving Rost with my whole heart.
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