Chapter Text
“Oh, hey, whoops!” Aloy just about managed not to spill her latté on the person she had almost walked into, who had been standing behind her in line. “Sorry about that,” Aloy apologised. “No harm done.” The voice was warm and alluring, making Aloy’s neck prickle. Aloy looked up into deep brown eyes, currently crinkled in amusement, cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass and sleek back hair pulled back into a high ponytail.
Aloy's month went dry and her brain seemed to shut down all higher functions, as she found herself only able to gape at the beautiful young woman before her. "Hi there," the dark-haired vision greeted Aloy. "Ah, yeah, hi," Aloy managed haltingly.
The woman grinned even more. Aloy was just glad she wasn’t drooling at this point. Think, think! Say something! Aloy seemed to have forgotten how to people. Words! There had to be words she could say: Come here often? What's your name? Will you marry me?
A maelstrom of options swirled through Aloy’s brain, though unhelpfully nothing made it past her teeth. Suddenly, another young woman appeared behind the future Mrs Sobeck: "Hey, we have to go. You done here?”
“Sure.” Aloy's future wife tuned back, grin still firmly in place. She gave Aloy a final appraising look, said "Well, see you around," and with a final smirk, she was gone, leaving Aloy feeling bereft.
"She was pretty," drawled Erend, who had sidled up to stand beside Aloy. He and his sister Ersa ran the café/ bar “GAIA”. "Umm, yeah," agreed Aloy, still slightly shellshocked. "Sooo, what's she called?" Erend enquired with a grin.
“Umm, dunno?"
Erend raised a brow. “Please tell me you at least got her number?”
“Umm, no." Erend threw up his hands in exasperation. "Seriously, Aloy? Shit, this is just like Talanah all over again!"
“Did someone call my name?” Aloy groaned as Talanah joined the two of them.
“It's nothing—“ Aloy started, but annoyingly, Erend was louder. "This really hot woman just came in and they almost walked into each other. But she was totally into Aloy, but did Aloy do anything? No! Just like her disastrous crush on you when you guys met!" Talanah threw back her head and laughed, while Aloy buried her face in her free hand.
Talanah nudged her friend’s shoulder companionably. “Come on Aloy, we need to get going if we're going to made the tournament on time. You can tell me all about your new 'disastrous crush' on the way there, and I can give you pointers on how to talk when you see her again."
"I hate you all." Aloy muttered.
"No you don't!" Erend yelled at her retreating back.