Finished it. Went back and read all the other flist comments from those who finished it and am pretty much in agreement with folks. Spoilers ahoy.
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I think if a good writer developed it, it could be interesting. I just don't buy that it would go down all "Oh, hi, tee hee hee" *flirt flirt flirt*. Of all the people in the camp I would think Alistair would be the one that the city elf would have the hardest time relating to. Someone probably very much like him (big human guy with sword) killed her mother, and it's clear from the opening that they only expect trouble when human men wander into the alienage (with good reason as they show). It would take a lot of time for any kind of trust to develop.
Plus Alistair is so naive. And when he talks about having a difficult childhood and a difficult time in the Chantry, I could see a city elf (who's has had her mother murdered and is used to being confined to a ghetto with nothing in the way of luxury or even at times basic necessities) being less than sympathetic.
I suppose it depends on how bad you think life in the alienage was, how much resentment is there, and whether a city elf could overcome that resentment. My personal view is pretty bad, a lot, and maybe enough to be friends but probably not more than that.
In the end, I think a city elf could come to trust him and would jump at the chance to make him king, mostly in the hopes that he would treat the elves more fairly than other rulers have.
I played a City Elf-- I think that the romance works if it is slower/there is lots more conversation that we obviously don't see. I think the City Elf is one of the more likely classes to toughen him up with Goldanna, and that improves him all around/makes him a more likely romantic possibility? I think also that Alistair is a very "non-threatening" human, lol, what with him constantly asking the City Elf for permission/advice, clearly acknowledges her as his leader, awkward virgin not equal to aggressive rapist, etc.
There is a nice moment where, when you go back into the Alienage and greet Shianni, she mentions your botched wedding. Alistair is all "I didn't know you were engaged!" with this sort of playful feel, and then you have the option to be like, "The Arl's son killed him when he came to save me from being raped." Alistair is all stunned, awkward, doesn't know what to say, tries to express condolences, etc. It is neat because, even though you have a few options earlier in the romance where you can hint at your distrust of humans, how badly they treat elves, etc, I don't think Alistair really gets any of it until that moment.
I think, however, that the romance works best if Alistair dies--if he survives, I think a City Elf would be super pissed/insulted if he dumped her/offered her consort after how far they had come, whereas if he dies, even if she is super pissed at him, they can still have a nice ending, because what does it matter when he's about to die?
Oddly enough, I find the Dalish Elf/Alistair much more unlikely/awkward than the City Elf/Alistair. The City Elf has actual experiences to back up her distrust of humans, while the Dalish Elf has nothing but legend and myth and pride and prejudice, which I think is harder to overcome. Plus, the Dalish Elves seem to have little to no contact with humans (other than killing them, lol), while there's got to be at least one human in Denerim (traders? sympathetic guard or something?) that's nice to the City Elves.
I have not tried toughening him up yet; I could see that making a difference. I guess I just have trouble imagining a city elf talking to him much at all. Like by the time she thawed enough to actually get to know him, she's already knocking boots with Zevran. But maybe my city elf is more prejudiced than most.
I really think that could lead to the best ending. Toughen up Alistair, marry him off to Anora, get Loghain to sacrifice himself, and you run off with Zevran.
And that just gives me hilarious ideas about the royal wedding night. You know Anora would tell the poor boy exactly what to do. And he would probably love it.
Plus Alistair is so naive. And when he talks about having a difficult childhood and a difficult time in the Chantry, I could see a city elf (who's has had her mother murdered and is used to being confined to a ghetto with nothing in the way of luxury or even at times basic necessities) being less than sympathetic.
I suppose it depends on how bad you think life in the alienage was, how much resentment is there, and whether a city elf could overcome that resentment. My personal view is pretty bad, a lot, and maybe enough to be friends but probably not more than that.
In the end, I think a city elf could come to trust him and would jump at the chance to make him king, mostly in the hopes that he would treat the elves more fairly than other rulers have.
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There is a nice moment where, when you go back into the Alienage and greet Shianni, she mentions your botched wedding. Alistair is all "I didn't know you were engaged!" with this sort of playful feel, and then you have the option to be like, "The Arl's son killed him when he came to save me from being raped." Alistair is all stunned, awkward, doesn't know what to say, tries to express condolences, etc. It is neat because, even though you have a few options earlier in the romance where you can hint at your distrust of humans, how badly they treat elves, etc, I don't think Alistair really gets any of it until that moment.
I think, however, that the romance works best if Alistair dies--if he survives, I think a City Elf would be super pissed/insulted if he dumped her/offered her consort after how far they had come, whereas if he dies, even if she is super pissed at him, they can still have a nice ending, because what does it matter when he's about to die?
Oddly enough, I find the Dalish Elf/Alistair much more unlikely/awkward than the City Elf/Alistair. The City Elf has actual experiences to back up her distrust of humans, while the Dalish Elf has nothing but legend and myth and pride and prejudice, which I think is harder to overcome. Plus, the Dalish Elves seem to have little to no contact with humans (other than killing them, lol), while there's got to be at least one human in Denerim (traders? sympathetic guard or something?) that's nice to the City Elves.
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And that just gives me hilarious ideas about the royal wedding night. You know Anora would tell the poor boy exactly what to do. And he would probably love it.
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