Eivor X Basim - Tumblr Posts
ASSASSIN'S CREED VALHALLA
I had a son. I miss him terribly. Even now. He was taken from me. By someone I trusted. A friend, a mentor. A man who I would trust with anything. But a man you trust with anything...can take everything.
friends to almost-lovers to enemies to a friendship resurrected with lingering love and lingering wounds that can either be carefully bandaged or left to fester
basim: manipulate, mansplain, malewife
eivor: gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss
We Have the Night
“I’ll leave at first light.” Basim said with a nod towards Eivor, hands clasped behind him.
“Then we have time for a drink!” Eivor cheered, slapping him on the back.
Starlight sparkled above them as the moon climbed higher in the sky. The fire crackled in front of them popping cinders at their boots.
Stories traded back and forth had dissolved into a pleasant silence. Eivor gave a lopsided grin admiring the crinkles around Basim’s eyes.
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Basim’s finger lingered on her raven tattoo. His hand moved down to the scar on her neck feeling the raised skin.
She shivered at his touch. The feeling of his caress across her sensitive skin made lightening run up her spine. Grasping her neck in his large hand, she let him move her closer.
Basim leaned over, nose touching Eivor’s his breath light on her lips. Onyx eyes glittering in the firelight, waiting. Waiting for her to choose.
She wrapped her fingers around his neck, carding her fingers through his waves. Eivor gave a little laugh, as she thought the answer obvious. Closing the gap between them, her grin turned into a moan against his soft lips.
———————————————–
A weary warrior saw the fire and walked towards it, feeling the warmth deep into his bones. Halfway there he realized he should probably find a different fire. One far away.
Fate is Not Done with Us
“Leaving so soon again?” Eivor’s brow furrowed.
She grasped Basim’s arm in farewell, a touch of disappointment in her eyes.
“I’m sure you will find much to amuse you in these lands. By tomorrow you will have forgotten my absence.”
“A warrior of your strength and a man of such experience is hard to forget.”
“I am touched.” He said passionately, placing his hand to his chest, “But the time will fly as rapid as your raven’s wings.”
His hand slid down from her forearm and grasped her fingers delicately. A sly smile formed as he brought her hand to his lips.
His beard tickled her but was soon forgotten by such soft caresses.
“Fate is not done with us yet, Eivor.”
Mounting his horse, he galloped off through the forest trail.
Eternally Cherished
.
While everyone (including me) is super hyped about AC Mirage, here is AC… Marriage! (couldn’t resist, haha)
Decided take a little break from my “rarepair art exile” because I am just so proud of how this piece came out O-O
All hail foliage brushes for making this actual background (which is not a white box void) possible!
Sanctuary
Very rambly update ahead:
I honestly do not even know how to address this, because it feels like a breakup, it hit me that hard.
I cannot continue sharing Basim x Eivor art anymore. After days of thought and grief, I decided to keep it to myself. I love these characters so deeply, more than any other character I’ve ever loved. Yet, they are not mine. The way I depict them is not the way they were intended, and I hate being reminded of that.
Valhalla is the very first AC game I’ve ever played, and my lack of knowledge of the bigger lore, as well as my hypersensitive personality, made me read their story through a romantic lens. Despite now knowing it all, I still cannot let go of this naïve reading and it is alienating. I feel like both a creator and a thief.
I feel like I know these characters, in all their entirety, yet this is just me filling the blanks, an escapist projection. One that I do not explaining of. One that I feel was not meant to be shared to begin with. With this all, I never meant to be disrespectful to the tens of creators behind these characters and I truly hope me sharing this little obsession didn’t feel that way.
I am beyond thankful to everyone who supported me during this 8-ish months. You are all so wonderful and made this all such a beautiful memory! I will be rooting for all of you from the shadows, and of course still loving and drawing these characters all the same!
I am truly sorry if I let you down with this decision. It was a great ride, but now the ship must sail away from watchful eyes.
when you left that boat thought you’d sink if I couldn’t float
your teeth are a gift from god and you can sink them into other people's flesh btw
What made you ship Eivor and Basim together? What was it that made you feel that they had chemistry? (I’m asking because I’m curious and it’s a bit of a different ship) so I’m wondering what was it that made you ship them in the first place if you get what I mean.
Hoooo. I hope you're ready for another novel. 😶
First a disclaimer: It's important to note that this is my opinion and how I feel about the ship; I don't speak for everyone. Second, I enjoy other ships as well. It simply happens that Eivor and Basim is my favourite. (This is not necessarily aimed at you, ask. Just in general if anyone happens to stumble upon this.) A lot of my feelings about this ship are based on my own observations and interpretation of events. 😌
That being said:
What makes me ship Eivor and Basim?
I adore these characters. They're layered and complicated; beautifully flawed.
And I love the potential their ship has.
Their dynamic - Even if there is an odd power dynamic, I love how they push and challenge each other. This creates an interesting tension, perhaps chemistry, as they navigate their differences.
Gods, the potential levels for angst? It's through the roof with this one. Endless amounts if one wants it. The shared pain, personal struggles, and the possibility of conflicting loyalties and goals........ SO MUCH potential for deep and emotional STUFF. The potential for love and betrayal adds such HIGH emotional stakes and intrigue, like 👀 The stakes! THE STAKES!
Their banter:
I love hearing them talk together in-game. Basim is silver-tongued, and Eivor is a poet. Their word battles are annoyingly interesting because they're both so incredibly smart. I love it when Basim challenges Eivor's world-view, and when Eivor seems able to disarm Basim with her honesty and the heart she carries around on her sleeve.
This fragile trust that eventually develops between them:
Basim tells Eivor of his son and the one who took him away. Something that he hasn't even outright told Hytham. I believe Basim truly comes to care for Eivor, making it that much more bitter when he realises exactly who "haunts" her. I mean, imagine the heartbreak or the potential for growth as Basim would have to choose between his vengeance and someone he loves? How would he feel if he actually knew that Eivor rejected Havi?
Eivor accepts Basim as part of her family by telling him he and Hytham will always have a place - a home - in Ravensthorpe. She knows, oh she knows that to Basim, home is family. And she offers up herself and her own family to him. 😭
Again, the dynamic: Makes my brain go brrrrrr.
They have some of that good good "Don't know if I want to kiss you or kill you"-energy. 🫣
I believe, and feel, that where there are strong emotions, there can be passion.
To me, while both Eivor and Basim attempt to act calm and collected in the face of any storm(Basim succeeding more than Eivor on most accounts, at least until he snaps), they're both very much driven by their emotions and come off as deeply passionate beings. Basim with a thick layer of intellect and calculation between his emotions and actions. While Eivor and her emotions are firmly guided by her goals and even desires, she's much more likely to act on impulse.
I think Carlo Rota, Basim's voice actor in Valhalla, also has a point:
"In watching renditions of Basim/Eivor told with the slant of a love story or rather a lost love story I was blown away. It never occurred to me prior to seeing this and yet it makes so much sense regardless of whether it's Female or Male Eivor. Love and hate are two sides of the same coin..."
Love and hate are deep and potent feelings. And sometimes, it's hard to tell when that line has been crossed.
The ambiguity and intensity of their (potential) feelings *chefs kiss*
EDIT:
In my own eagerness, I forgot to mention the very obvious Campfire Cutscene. 😶🥲 The campfire cutscene just showcases such a soft and vulnerable moment for both of them. Basim opens up about the loss of his son, and Eivor reciprocates by sharing her own experiences. The understanding between them. The acknowledgement of the other's loss. The fostering of this fragile trust.... HNNN. 😭
I like them so much they make me incoherent 🥲😭
Basim sees a button; Basim must push. Eivor: 😠 Basim: 😏
I'm so sorry for not just retweeting the originals, but I found this on Pinterest while looking for prompts and ghostsoap communITY I AM BEGGING-
EIVOR X BASIM 🥴
ask for my thoughts on ______
thank you thank you thank you for giving me this moment bryn
this will come as a shock to absolutely no one, but eivor x basim is my otp and i will be thinking about them for the rest of my life. will never forgive ubisoft for not allowing us to romance basim. some highlights:
eivor is clearly very intrigued by basim the moment they meet. she goes out of her way to learn more about the hidden ones and keeps trying to glance back at basim as sigurd leads the way back to the longhouse
the gift-giving love language. of course there’s the (very fancy) hidden blade. but also basim gives her such knowledge about the world, which is clearly very important to eivor. one of her distinguishing traits is her love of exploring, seeing new places, meeting new people, discovering new things. and she meets this man who knows so many things she’s never even considered before? immediate grounds for a crush
the way they grow to be a team. at first, there’s this initial personality clash. it’s very evident how eivor does not care for being told what to do and basim thinks she’s overly impulsive. lots of snide comments thrown around. but over time, the dialogue becomes less hostile and they begin to appreciate & utilize one another’s strengths in a way that’s complementary to their own weaknesses. in short, they forge a bond and support each other
the DIALOGUE. buried in both those snide remarks and even in their later genuine compliments, there’s a give-and-take. they tease each other with such needless levels of flirtation. basim is definitely more guilty of this but eivor has her moments. “said like that you make me blush” “a person’s tongue gives you a taste of their heart” “now there’s an idea” etc.
the campfire scene. yeah. it’s all been said before but.. the intimacy.. the genuine sympathy from eivor.. the way it highlights the bond between them.. basim really confides in eivor here and shows more vulnerability than any other time. not to mention that closing line “a man you trust with anything can take everything” oh BOY so much to unpack there
throughout the game, the amount of gazing. seriously. makes it look like mutual pining. the scene at the dock and the campfire really stand out, but it’s truly constant. no wonder we can find so much gif material for them
the boss fight. everything about it is so laden with sexual tension. “it was you i wanted all along”. “i am your prize” “you are indeed”. “show me your neck” as he pins her to the ground. and then!! at the end of the fight, she doesn’t kill him. she actually defeats him in a way that saves his life..
they are both outsiders in england and there’s a connection because of that. yes they bully the christians together (lol) but also, eivor understands how much it means to have a home in a strange land and makes sure basim feels welcome at ravensthorpe: “hytham is always welcome here as are you”. on the same note, basim invites her to visit his homeland
the bleeding effect cut scene.. basim deliberately induces hallucinations of eivor and smiles at the sight of her. how could this be anything other than a romance
this is totally subjective, but i think their dynamics just fit so well together. both of them are always looking for a challenge and are so stubborn. they can endlessly supply each other with that spark of interest, which reveals itself in-game through their back-and-forth banter. it’s only heightened in my opinion by the possibility of a full enemies-to-lovers arc
oh wow that really got away from me. i just.. love them
Do you have A03? Will you ever consider writing Basim and Eivor stories or are you more of a reader who likes to read instead of write?
I have one! I just.... haven't posted anything yet... BUT! I have one!
I'd love to write something eventually, but I'm very pressed for time atm ): And... I'm a bit shy when it comes to my writing 😳
So despite having some ideas, I'd like to get out of my system, currently, I'm mostly just a reader :'D Even if I'm starting to have bled AO3 dry of Basim x Eivor fics 🥲
So if anyone has any suggestions, recommendations and must-reads, send them my way, please and thank you! 🥺
I'm also open to other ships and fics - as long as the fics are GOOD! ;D
hey remember at the end of ac odyssey how you confronted the big baddie aspasia and you could choose whether to kill her, leave, or kiss her?
pretty messed up that there is no such option for the boss fight in valhalla
That sounds interesting …. what kind of ideas for Basim and Eivor? And that’s alright if you ever did write it when you have time I would love to hear it and read it!
I was also a bit shy at first since my ship wasn’t popular either but once I submitted it I realised how silly and wrong I was, the community is absolutely amazing. I’ve met so many nice people through fanfiction and even made a few friends here and there. You’ll find there’s nothing to be afraid of.
The Valhalla and Odyssey community on fanfiction are absolutely amazing. As for recommendations out of all your ships I only know one (Which is Kassidas) I might inbox you privately about it. And lol there’s a chance you might have seen my fics as well since I’m on A03.
What is your username? If you don’t mind sharing it out with us. So I can keep an eye out if you do post fics. I might even add you as well on there. If you don’t mind .
I don't mind at all! :D I go by Risushi on AO3 :D But you have me much intrigued as to which fics you might have written👀
As for ideas, at the moment, I have two for some Eivor/Basim stuff 🫣 Now it remains to be seen if I ever get to write them....... 😶
Celebration Mostly fluff, maybe smut... with a drizzle of sad 🥺
During a feast in Raventhorpe sometime after The Siege of Portcestre - maybe during Yule or Ostara. Eivor finds Basim observing the celebrations and takes it upon herself to make him join the revelry. Eivor, drunk on festivities and sweetest mead, miraculously manages to convince the master assassin to join her and the clan for a dance.
The night continues its celebrations - Basim lets some of his walls drop and surprisingly enjoys himself. They talk, they bond. Basim pokes some fun at Eivor. At some point, she kisses him, to shut him up. Smirking she pulls away, "Do you taste my heart, sly-tongue? Is the taste enough to sate your hunger or does it leave you craving more?"
Basim seizes the unspoken invitation, claiming her lips with a hunger akin to a man starved.
Eventually, it ends on Eivor, lost in thought at Gunnar and Brigid's wedding. With heart aching, she finds herself wishing Basim was there.
Fates of Two Sometime around 861-865 - before Valhalla and during Mirage. Based heavily on a "what if" scenario. Young Basim is such a sweetheart, and I couldn't help but wonder what it might be like if he and Eivor met during Mirage.
Baghdad. Basim is a newly initiated assassin - Eivor a thrall from the North, whom Basim is tasked with freeing, and then protecting.
Eivor holds his gaze, "If you're willing to stand with me, I won't turn you away. For now." Basim answered with a smile that touched his eyes. "For now," he agreed.
Basim has no idea why Roshan wants him to guard Eivor - as the Norse seems perfectly capable of defending herself - but for now, he doesn't question his mentor.
As the assassin tasked to protect Eivor from harm, it seems like Basim continuously gets her in trouble instead.
Sometimes, Basim finds himself trying to impress her, swinging his sword with an added flair. Flashing her a grin before disappearing into a crowd. Stealing sweet apples for her just to see a glimpse of her smile. Sometimes it gets him caught.
He grabs her hand, vaulting over walls and running over rooftops, never letting go as he guides her.
Eivor laughs. Loud and free. And suddenly, it's all worth it to him.
I have a few ideas for where this one could go, but I haven't gotten to work a whole lot on them, yet 😜
I've come to realize though, that this one, on some points, can sound a little like @newengland-shrike / TheAmberOuroboros' Past Voices Call My Name/No Quiet Life for Me, so I want to check with them if it'd be okay for me to write it before I do anything 😌
But, until then, it has a little mood board that makes me very happy 🥺
– “I have dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind.”
Emily Brontë , Wuthering Heights