Explain the Balthier/Ashe thing to me.

I've noticed some interesting opinions lately when browsing the threads about shipping and official couples here on EoFF and I remembered Spoony once mentioned the same opinion in his FFX review. Apparently, a lot of people believe Balthier and Ashe were a romantic item.

I don't smurfing get it.

I really don't. I played the game two times. It is easily my favorite FF. And this is not a case of me trying to push my OTP. I mean, I literally cannot remember any hint of the two being lovers. I mean, yeah, there was this promotional image:
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But the credits gave us this image:
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Honestly, the only person I saw Ashe getting a deeper attatchment to was Basch, but hey, that's just my speculation and I don't really think their couple is canon.

So yeah, what's the deal? I remind you, this is not me hating on the shippers on the two. Ship whoever the hell you want, I don't care. I just don't understand why people think this couple is canon.

Ashe doesn't have any romantic interest in the game. She's jaded and driven as a person can be. She clearly holds deep respect for Balthier and Basch, especially, but its never felt romantic in any way to me.

Yeah I haven't fully played this game, but I definitely think she was romantically closed off because of the death of her Husband.

Maybe it's because they're both very attractive so they must be together?

That' kinda the impression I get of this opinion. Others say that Fran and Blathier cannot be together, because there is no sexual tension. I guess people got so used to the boy-meets-girl cliche that once we get a couple that seems to have gone through a lot of stuff together, they are not considered a romantic pairing. Ugh.

And yeah. Ashe's failure to accept Rassler's death is actually something the Occuria try to use against her. I had the impression she clung to his memory throughout the game. I don't get how you pair such a person with anybody in these circumstances.

One thing I liked about 12 was the ambiguity in regards to Fran and Balthier. A couple doesn't have to be in your face about the fact they're a couple, but they quite clearly cared deeply for each other - and I always thought they were together.

I don't even remember there being anything to really suggest Ashe and Balthier were romantically involved in anyway. She clearly had a respect for him but there was nothing to suggest that it was romantic - more a symbol that she acknowledged his cunning and tendency for bending the rules.

Quint pretty much nailed it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Locky

One thing I liked about 12 was the ambiguity in regards to Fran and Balthier. A couple doesn't have to be in your face about the fact they're a couple, but they quite clearly cared deeply for each other - and I always thought they were together.

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True. The subtlety of their relationship makes them my favorite videogame couple ever :)

I think there could have been something between the two of them, especially given the English lyrics of Kiss Me Good-bye that played at the end. It seems that they were just going in different directions in life.

Also, I never saw Fran and Balthier as lovers. I think they are two people who care a lot about each other and who work well together but neither are the type to invest into such a romantic relationship. However, I would not be surprised if they ever slept together.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Summoner of Leviathan

I think there could have been something between the two of them, especially given the English lyrics of Kiss Me Good-bye that played at the end. It seems that they were just going in different directions in life.

Also, I never saw Fran and Balthier as lovers. I think they are two people who care a lot about each other and who work well together but neither are the type to invest into such a romantic relationship. However, I would not be surprised if they ever slept together.

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(skip to about 1:20)

I gues that gesture might have been platonic in nature... :|

Fond, yes. I don't necessarily think it was a romantic one.

Well, even if you don't interpret this as a romantic gesture, at least here there is something that might be interpreted as such. I can't recall any scenes that would even remotely seem like a hint toward an Ashe/Balthier pairing.

I don't understand this either. One of the things I think this game did well was either not put in a love story or at the very least have one that isn't shoved in your face constantly. I think it was a nice change of pace.

Could it be that people are so used to always having a love story that if there isn't one blatantly presented they make one up?

I think you bring up a good point, shion. Any love story aspect seems outside of the focus of the game from what I remember. (Of course, I still have yet to ever beat the game). I think Vaan and Penelo may have had some love story elements maybe, but it wasn't really prevalent. I could be remembering that wrong.

Since it is what people are used to, people probably are just trying to create a love story that doesn't exist to fill that seeming void.

People enjoy shipping. It's prevalent all over fandom. A lot of people are only in it for the ships.

Sometimes it makes no sense, other times it is backed by canon. Fans probably enjoy the idea of Balthier/Ashe, because they look good together or maybe there was a feeling they got while playing the game.

Ship and let ship, I say.