Can we get a dialog option to flirt with the Crystal Exarch? [mild spoiler]

[xxvaynxx]

It doesn't have to be in a sexual way, but you can easily interpret the actions and words of the exarch as romantic.

His biggest dream is to stay at your side and he wanted to die to save your life (yes, he wanted to save the world, too, but that can't be everything). And look how he's looking at you when he adjusts the portal at the end.

And why I want it? Because it's nice to have someone who really CARES for my WoL. And the exarch is like that. And he perfectly fits for my miqo'te.

Him wanting to be at our side doesn't really mean anything. You're only feeling that way because you yourself are attracted to him.

Because if that was the case alisie likes us too.

SE won't ever give us this option even if it optional because many players wouldn't like it if they want their WOL to be straight or lesbian.
The fact it's even a option would bother people.

[Alleluia]

Him wanting to be at our side doesn't really mean anything. You're only feeling that way because you yourself are attracted to him.

Because if that was the case alisie likes us too.

Its not really that, though. I am a straight woman and so is my WoL, and I have no crush on Alisae. But there were indeed times I heard some lines from her this expac, or she startled me with how openly attached to me she's become, and I found myself thinking "Is she supposed to have a crush on the WoL?" I mean, I'm choosing to interpret it as friendship, but I can see how it could be a springboard for people who want to interpret it otherwise. It makes for fanfic fodder, at the least.

G'raha is obviously fanfic fodder, too. You have a man with whom you have a history; former companions from your younger, more innocent, adventuring days; someone you were left to assume you'd never get to see again. And now fate has impossibly thrown you back together and he's giving his all to save your life, all while keeping his true self hidden in the shadows to make sure all the noble traits he so admires about you don't get in the way of him succeeding. Its a great setup for a romance story, very dramatic.

Of course, you could make emotionally satisfying setups in your head about most of your favorite NPCs in this game if they are close to the WoL. While trying to remain objective about it, its hard for me to describe why it feels like there are romantic undertones in the actual script of the game with G'raha, as opposed to just leaving a space open where you could insert that meaning if you so wished, like with Aymeric, et all. I guess what makes G'raha different, to me, is that he also has actual lines going on about how his heart "yearns to have all laid bare", how we're his inspiration, and "oh how happy" going on adventures with us would make him. There's a longing to his dialogue, and its very clearly personal and focused on us. Now, I'm sure its due in no small part to the vocal delivery (the english VA is *very* good), but even playing the scenes on mute... no one else talks like that to you. G'raha just has a very intimate way of speaking to the WoL that others generally don't use. Which, again, I admit makes sense(given how he actually does have a history with you, and how he has currently made the WoL the focus of his life's goals), but it just feels like... well, that there's more there. It makes the dynamic with him stand out to me compared with the others.

Like I saw Iscah say earlier, if I was going to pick a romance that is best supported by current canon, G'raha is it and the above is partly what I mean.

[xxvaynxx]

stuff

Yeah no, you're reaching far.

I got no impression of any of that.
It's just admiration. Plan and simple.

We're his hero, if you remember the part where we had the beautiful one on one talk. He explained how the tales of a certain someone filled the hearts of every child and man at camp fires to give them hope.

It's fine if you wanna pretend it's some kind of romance undertone but it's not.

And about saving our lives, any of the scions would have done that if they could.

[Alleluia]

Yeah no, you're reaching far.

I got no impression of any of that.
It's just admiration. Plan and simple.

We're his hero, if you remember the part where we had the beautiful one on one talk. He explained how the tales of a certain someone filled the hearts of every child and man at camp fires to give them hope.

It's fine if you wanna pretend it's some kind of romance undertone but it's not.

And about saving our lives, any of the scions would have done that if they could.

So, we can put you firmly in the camp of not wanting to use a flirt option if its made available, then. /shrug

[ScarboroughFairy]

Because if that was the case alisie likes us too.

That is all but explicitly stated, actually. With Tesleen pointing out her being smitten and being shocked that she'd say it out loud. Her jaw dropping and pouting when Feo Ul stated she'll "always be our side". It's pretty evident Alisaie has a crush on the WoL. I don't think there's any room for misinterpretation there if you've been paying attention.

[xxvaynxx]

So, we can put you firmly in the camp of not wanting to use a flirt option if its made available, then. /shrug

Aye.
I just don't want that kind of thing with him.
I rather have something more akin to friends.

[xxvaynxx]

That is all but explicitly stated, actually. With Tesleen pointing out her being smitten and being shocked that she'd say it out loud. Her jaw dropping and pouting when Feo Ul stated she'll "always be our side". It's pretty evident Alisaie has a crush on the WoL. I don't think there's any room for misinterpretation there if you've been paying attention.

Again, lot of you seem to be confusing admiration and looking up to someone's as a role model with having romantic feelings. Implying someone is smitten doesn't always mean "having a crush" .
In alisaie case, she just wants to be like us.
Alisaie See's us as family, why you think she trains so hard and so headstrong and trying to fight and get stronger to save people.
Know who else does that? Us, the WoL.

[IntrovertAnt]

I think some of the beauty of the writing of vague dialogue with NPCs like Aymeric, Zenos, Crystal Exarch and prob others is that if you wanted to see and project their interest romantically in you, you could. But if you didn't, you could reason it out as well.

[Alleluia]

Aye.
I just don't want that kind of thing with him.
I rather have something more akin to friends.

But having a flirt option you don't have to pick in addition to the other dialogue choices that are purely friendly would be fine, right?

Again, lot of you seem to be confusing admiration and looking up to someone's as a role model with having romantic feelings. Implying someone is smitten doesn't always mean "having a crush" .
In alisaie case, she just wants to be like us.
Alisaie See's us as family, why you think she trains so hard and so headstrong and trying to fight and get stronger to save people.
Know who else does that? Us, the WoL.

See, I agree with this interpretation of Alisae (in fact I compare it mentally to the Exarch's own feelings and definitely find Alisae's actions to be much more in the line of what I'd think of when I think "platonic hero-worship" as opposed to G'raha), but I think its a bit silly to treat this as if there is only one right answer and its yours. The tease to Alisae is ambiguous enough that a player who is so inclined can take it as an innocent crush just as easily as they can take it as a "she wants to be you" admiration moment. Later on in the story, it definitely leans even more towards "You are family and she wants to be just like you", I agree. But I think people still have room to headcanon that, as things stand, there's maybe a bit more there on Alisae's part if they want to and i think that interpretation would still be valid and in-line with other characterization. (Having been a young girl, can confirm that both things could even be true at once. lol)

[ScarboroughFairy]

Again, lot of you seem to be confusing admiration and looking up to someone's as a role model with having romantic feelings. Implying someone is smitten doesn't always mean "having a crush" .
In alisaie case, she just wants to be like us.
Alisaie See's us as family, why you think she trains so hard and so headstrong and trying to fight and get stronger to save people.
Know who else does that? Us, the WoL.

Explain that slight bout of jealousy at Titania's remark and her reaction at Tesleen teasing her for being smitten, then. Not angling for a romantic option, she's a child, but I do think it's adorable that she's got a small crush. Also, you can be infatuated with someone and still want to emulate the better aspects of their personality and admire them. People do this all the time and don't even realize it.

Addendum:
smitten adjective
smit·​ten | \ ˈsmi-tᵊn \
Definition of smitten
: deeply affected with or struck by strong feelings of attraction, affection, or infatuation

Taken from the Merriam-Webster dictionary.