Chapter Text
Kotallo sat in the room that he had taken for himself, the one the others called the 'Game Room.' After spending a month or so at Memorial Grove following the Zenith battle, Hekarro had ordered him back to his post at Aloy's side feeling that Kotallo's potential was greatest there. It was a moot point considering the Focus, but he would not complain about being near his Commander more often.
He had accidentally run across the entry in the APOLLO database. Typing in the rather generic term ‘training’ had yielded a stunning amount of results, not all of which were what he had been hoping for. Before he could go back and filter his search further, one entry in particular caught his eye. Something called ‘positive reinforcement.’ Upon selection, information floated before his eyes and caused an idea to spark in his head.
His Commander was a formidable woman, but did not respond to certain things well-touch and affection being the most notable. She begrudgingly accepted them from her squad, but never went out of her way to seek them out. Poor past experiences, and even a lack of much experience, had shaped this hesitancy. Watching Beta floundering through adjusting to other people in her vicinity added weight to his observation, but at least Beta did want touch after having been completely starved of it while a captive of the Zeniths. She often watched her older sister with undisguised yearning, hoping for physical comfort and affirmations of affection from her more experienced sibling. Aloy did not dodge Beta’s hugs - she even tried to return them with some semblance of enjoyment - but she was clearly discomfited throughout the whole ordeal.
He knew of a snack that Aloy often horded when it found its way into the Base. Zo regularly bemoaned the fact that it disappeared so quickly when they got stock of it, and Aloy often wore a guilty, embarrassed face when the fact was mentioned. If he could get a steady supply of it, it could be useful. With that in mind, he closed the Focus interface and stood.
A visit to the vendor that stayed with Rukka was in order. He was surly, but good at sourcing hard to find items and was located close to their Base. The man was also a buzzard that would drive a hard bargain, knowing who lived in the mountain next to his shop. So maybe a stop at the untamed Sunwing nest above would be first; some circulators would likely buy his cooperation for a couple months.
As Kotallo had made it a morning habit since moving into the Base, terrorizing and defeating three Sunwings was only the work of an hour. Aloy would chide him later for not disposing of the carcasses, saying they would attract Scavengers and Scrappers. But that was just more varied future training in his mind. Future Kotallo’s fun, as it were. With his pristine circulators in hand, he made his way down to the hunter’s bonfire, ignoring Rukka’s nattering as he passed.
“Marshal,” the vendor greeted, snapping a salute. “What can I sell you?” It always amused Kotallo to no end that there were two Desert Clan Tenakth lurking in the snowy mountains -it might even be why Rukka was perpetually snappy and angry. He didn’t pretend to know the arrangement the two had or how they even came to be up here in the first place, but at least the vendor knew Aloy would often dump valuable machine parts on him when the Base became too cluttered and Zo threatened to just toss them out. Rukka, however, had no reason to be here yet complained about it constantly.
“I would like to enter into a contract with you,” Kotallo began. “I know you normally deal with weapons and gear, but I need you to source me a regular supply of an Utaru snack. I believe Zo has purchased them from you whenever you have them. The deal will be that you keep a large stash here, but don’t inform anyone from our lodgings -it will be only for me to collect. I have three pristine Sunwing circulators, with the promise of one more per week if you can arrange this for me.” He held out the parts for inspection.
The hunter held each one up, looking them over with a practiced eye before nodding his assent to their condition. “The salted honey-roasted nuts, I presume?” At Kotallo’s affirmation he considered it. “Not very hard to get, but building a bulk stash will take a while. It’s popular everywhere. The Utaru are reluctant to harvest that much honey, and the Lowland Clan over near the ocean are stingy with their salt.” Kotallo nodded his understanding. There was a reason Aloy was not able to make a diet of them, much to her disappointment. The hunter shrugged. “If you are okay with waiting about two weeks, I will have a satchel here for you then.”
Kotallo nodded again. “That is acceptable. I appreciate your discretion in this matter. It is a…gift of sorts for the Champion if that will help in your dealings with the Utaru food hawkers.”
The hunter blinked in surprise, but then smiled brilliantly. “Of course, Marshal. That won’t speed up the delivery, but it might mean I can buy a bigger initial allotment. Which will save me additional trips to collect more later.” He accepted the circulators and pocketed them carefully. “I look forward to working with you. May you fly with the Ten, Marshal.”
After returning the crisp salute, Kotallo wandered back to the Base. It would help to only work on one person at a time with Aloy. Erend was the easiest because he was free with his touches to everyone in the Base, regardless of the recipient’s comfort with the gesture. Kotallo’s back surely had an Erend-hand shaped bruise from the many brotherly slaps he received during Strike games. Only Beta was excluded from Erend’s physicality and that was because both Zo and Aloy had torn into him when she had fled after a surprise hug and then refused to surface from her room for a week.
He also would need to gradually introduce his possession of the treat so it would not appear strange that he had a sudden stash. He would need to eat them sporadically in front of Aloy and their squad for a couple weeks at least. Perhaps a comment here and there that he enjoyed his new energy snack. He didn’t particularly care for sweet things, but the salt balanced them nicely enough that he wasn’t too bothered at having to eat them often.
So that was his plan: get access to a surplus of the sweet and salty kernels, eat them sparingly for a few weeks, then leverage Erend's immoderate need to touch everyone without their permission. His later choices of Strike figurines to reinforce Aloy’s behavior were, in order, Zo, Varl, Alva, then Beta. He wanted his Commander to fully thrive, and getting her over her fear of touch, in his opinion, would help a lot.
And if maybe it led to her being willing to touch him …? Well, Kotallo never took anything for granted in his life.
The hunter had kept his word and had two full satchels of the nuts in storage within two weeks. Kotallo had filled a small pouch with them and placed them on his belt above his tassets. His next problem was upping his presence in the main living area inconspicuously while Aloy was present. He made a point to schedule regular Strike matches against Erend, Varl, and Zo. Even with inferior pieces, Zo was actually very good at Strike and he had to be on his best game to continue his reign as Strike champion amongst their hodge podge squad. He had a reputation to defend after all.
Kotallo had to space his nibbling out -it had to be enough for his squadmates to make note but not question heavily. Bribing Zo had proved necessary. Luckily he had enough stock to afford her tithes with plenty left over, and she quickly ignored his new treats. Aloy had also taken notice, often staring hungrily at his pouch. But she was stubborn enough to not ask and he refused to offer her any.
At least until one of Kotallo and Erend’s planned Strike games when she sat herself next to Erend. He had an awful habit of ignoring personal boundaries, though it was not malicious in nature -he was simply a gregarious man used to giving and receiving touch from friends, family, and Vanguard squadmates. With the exception of maybe Alva, the squad often tried to discourage his friendly overtures of back slaps and whirling, feet-off-the-ground hugs with their quiet reticence. Whenever a game of Strike was played, Kotallo made sure to position Erend next to either himself or Varl so they could act as a buffer.
That particular evening it was Erend's turn to face honorable defeat at Kotallo's hand. Aloy had scurried into the Base earlier in the day, and had been bullied by both Zo and Varl into at least staying the night and having two full meals before she ran away again on some other errand. Zo had prepared an Utaru delicacy from Plainsong that even Kotallo and Erend found passable, despite having no meat. Fungi were quickly becoming a favorite in the Base if properly cooked.
Varl had sat next to Kotallo while Erend sat across. Aloy attempted to slink away after their meal, but Kotallo pulled a handful of nuts out right as she glanced over. It gave her pause and she stared enviously as he popped one into his mouth and made a show of enjoying it without looking at her. Reluctantly, she sat next to Erend.
The game was not close at all, but Kotallo allowed Erend to claim a few important pieces in order to propel them toward his desired scenario. A few cups deep in ale and feeling boisterous, when Erend took one of Kotallo’s Ravagers he clapped a disgruntled Aloy on the shoulder in his excitement. When Aloy didn't immediately pull away, Kotallo struck his first strategic move against her, and offered her a couple of nuts. Joy suffused her face as she popped them greedily into her mouth, but Kotallo offered her no more.
Her presence solidified and the bait taken, Kotallo offered to play another couple of games, continuing to randomly allow Erend to capture a few of his pieces. Varl was starting to look at him funny, but said nothing, thank the Ten. Every time Erend touched Aloy, she got another few nuts. To obscure his motives, Kotallo also offered the treat to Varl and Erend, but they both declined.
By the end of the last game, Erend was more drowned in ale than a ‘quenched blade,’ per the Oseram vernacular. As everyone said their goodnights, a second fantastic opportunity presented itself when he picked up Aloy in a hug, thanking her for rooting for him. When she was finally put down, Kotallo was by her side immediately, offering her the rest of the pouch of nuts before she could bolt.
"You seem to like these, Commander. Please, have the rest. If I don't see you before you leave in the morning, strike true as the Ten." The small grin she gave him in thanks for his gift before she vanished back into her room pricked at his chest. His plan had survived first contact. Time to see if he could repeat the results with others in the squad, while continuing to reinforce the desired behavior through Strike games.
Zo was next up for engagement. Getting Aloy to learn how to better cook for herself in the wilds seemed as good a battle plan as any.