And, while we’re at it, make him date a Dwarf.
I nominate Brann Bronzebeard. I can’t find info on him having any love outside of adventure and learning, but perhaps he finds one in the steely, weathered gaze of the taciturn spymaster.
We all know damn well if they do pull the trigger on an openly gay character it’s probably going to be a human and elf woman pairing. And trust me, I’ve nothing but rigid support for that idea conceptually.
But if we’re going to do this, be bold. Shaw’s a rough and tumble man of action with a lot of hurt, and hate, in his heart after years of ceaseless conflict. Brann’s a good hearted academic man who’s only concern outside of learning is family who has and will work with all peoples.
It’s a jaded jock and hopeful nerd pairing. Classic couple for cheap, sappy romantic writing. They just also happen to be two dudes built like ishbrick houses with a comical abundance of facial hair betwixt them.
Make it so Blizz. I dare you.
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I see what you did there.
“I want to eat, not floss.”
-Waamudes (ITEHATTSD)
Just facial hair? it probably sounds like pulling velcro when they break a hug.
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I always thought Brann seemed a bit more asexual, either way, I don’t care go for it.
Shaw? Idk. The fact that he has been replaced by a Dreadlord already is bothersome. Is Shaw always going to blame his predilections on Dreadlord shenanigans?
Velen: “Much has been made of your visits to the Exodar’s Bathhouses. I hear many the plated glove has been lost…”
Shaw: “It was a Dreadlord, I tell you! They always take on my form and perform unnatural acts.”
If we are going for the unexpected… Rexxar can go on a man hunt, and find love in the arms of Cyrus.
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It’d be funny if that were true because it’d mean there’s some Dreadlord out there using the cover of impersonating Shaw to explore its own sexuality.
Demon: I don’t understand what all these visitations have to do with impersonating Mathias Shaw.
Dreadlord: They are all for research of course! I am gathering intelligence on the menfolk of Azeroth at their most vulnerable!
Seriously though characters shouldn’t be made gay, lesbian, asexual, whatever just to fill some minority checkbox. Most of the main characters are married to the job at this point.
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Idk if some basic level of representation by recognizable characters means filling some checkbox. I’d certainly argue that’d be the case if they went with Valeera and Liadrin, interesting though that inevitable cosplay shoot would be for me.
But that’s the point. I get the distinct feeling Blizz will go with a pairing of considerable interest to straight men. I think Shaw and Bronzebeard would be cute but I don’t have any particular interest in what their date night looks like if it’s not some daring adventure into an ancient ruin.
Blizzard has been acting very progressive as of late. I don’t mind that at all. But walk the walk if you’re going to talk the talk.
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I thought they were leaning into Shaw and Flynn?
At BfA launch Flynn had a few lines implying he had a thing for Taelia, but come 8.1 he has his quest where he banters with Shaw and apparently they’re getting a book together soon. Which you know, character banter is not romance, but people have gotten paired for less.
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If they’re willing to put in the work and not just have the pairing be for titillation I wouldn’t really care if they went with a lesbian pairing if that’s what you’re getting at with your second paragraph. I always thought there was a thing going on with Alleria and Jaina back in Pandaria and god knows Jaina never had much luck with her man curse.
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Oh, don’t worry, they won’t
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I don’t care if they make Shaw gay, just not with Flynn Fairwind. I want Flynn x Taelia.
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Oh I fully expect bikinis, mudfights and making out instead of feelings, talking and developing an actual relationship.
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But they won’t do that with Shaw and Brann. So they’re forced to explore the feelings angle.
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I dunno I think Shaw could pull off a mankini.
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Humans in WoW are only attracted to Dragons, or Elves. He might be able to talk Baine into it though, since Anduin is clearly choosing Wrathion.
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It was already said he was in love with Taelia during the questing, him being with Shaw wouldn’t really make any sense. Plus Shaw is an idiot who basically does nothing right, I don’t even know why he’s considered a spy let alone a spymaster, the information he gets is pretty much always wrong.
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I’m certain it would make specific communities very happy, and that is why we’ve the wonderful and terrifying world of fanart.
But point is Blizz would be unable to do cheap fan service. You’d have to show them actually having the interpersonal emotional aspects of a relationship if you wanted them to have one.
Or, have them do naked makeout mud wrestling. But if you do that we’re going to need a Horde equivalent on our side. Don’t want all the Blue reactionaries running my way to make /Trade even worse.
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I joke but I dearly enjoy emotional relationships far more than the physical so I’d be entirely on board with actual feelings and fluffy moments where they just talk. Sex is overrated.
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That upcoming novel about Eastern Kingdoms (implied to be a series given that it’s just one of several continents in WoW) seems to point that Flynn Fairwind is the person Shaw wanted to get to know better. So there’s that. I like that.
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