Valerie's Links
Admires her deeply right from the start, since Asha saved her life and likes her survival attitude. Does everything she can to appeal to her at first, such as trying to battle more and spend as much time with her as possible. It doesn't work, their personalities clash very hard and she doesn't gel well with Asha's impatience and harshness. Can initially tell Asha doesn't like her and feels pretty bad about it. But once she gets to know Asha more personally and understand why they act the way they do, Valerie respects her boundaries and they start to become actual friends when Asha offers to become her battle mentor. She's had romantic feelings for her for a while, as she gets crushes easily, but really starts to fall for her during this period.
Initially very frustrated with her lack of battling skills and naivety. and only letting her travel with them because she thinks she'll die otherwise. However, as time goes on, they start to appreciate how Valerie clings onto her hope and happiness despite everything she's going through, something Asha struggles with. After formally recognizing their friendship and becoming Valerie's battle mentor, she starts to grow romantic feelings for her, which makes her... oddly talkative.
Is their friend. Really likes Skylar and values them as a friend! They made friends a lot faster due to their shared curiosity and interest in traveling. A little put off by their more rash and cheeky behavior though, since Skylar riling up potential enemies really gets them in trouble when Valerie just wants to make friends. She finds their abilities to be fascinating and really admires them.
Is her friend. They took faster to her when she joined their small team. In fact, they were the one who brought up the idea of letting Valerie join at all. They enjoy her desire to travel and actively indulge in it by running off and exploring new worlds with her, much to Asha's annoyance. They also find her optimism to be enjoyable and it often infects their own attitude. Though they don't understand Valerie's limits all the time unfortunately. Overall, quite happy with Valerie's inclusion from the start... Though they're starting to worry about what Asha and Valerie potentially dating will do to their friend group.
His little sister. Valerie cares about Marlow a lot! She has more of a father/daughter bond with him than a sibling one due to the fact that he raised her. Trusts him completely and doesn't doubt him. She loves to see him perform at contests and cheers the loudest for him. She just wishes Marlow would take her outside of the city. She knows she'd be safe if he were at her side!
Her older brother. Loves Valerie very much! But spends a lot of his time worrying over her aura and limits. He coddles her and doesn't allow her to explore or even spar with anybody, beleving her to be too frail. He thinks the comfort of Serenade's community and oceanside will be enough for her, and she'll struggle anywhere else. Feels a lot of guilt over how he came into custody of her and will do anything to keep her safe.
Lived with her when she was a pup, but was cut off from her. Valerie's confused about their current relationship, if they can even have one. She wants to connect to her because she also has a misformed aura and still found a career as an explorer, but Marlow won't let her. She's cordial to her.
Used to treat her as a daughter, as she was meant to be her adoptive mother. Still views her as her own to some extent, even though they can't speak. Wants to talk to her now that she's a new adult, but doesn't want to cause too much drama or make her uncomfortable. Is waiting for the right moment to say something so she can tell Valerie the truth.
Very similar to Felicity, she lived with her when she was a pup but is now forbidden from talking to her. She primarily wants to get to know Felicity, but likes Alli's vibe. She wants to be friends with everyone, so naturally she'd like to get to know her as well!
Finds Valerie just adorable. Encourages Felicity to reach out to her, but is unsure about herself. She really wants to be done with Marlow entirely, and that should include Valerie since she's so close with him. She cares about her, but is wondering if it's worth the drama. Unsure of what she'll do when Felicity does reach out.
Thinks he's funny! Really appreciates his underdog performer story and connects with it. Thinks they and Marlow really are just friends, just... vitriolic ones. Isn't too close to him otherwise, but still considers them a friend!
Thinks she's just precious. LOVES to shower her with gifts from his tours. At first they tried to initiate a rivalry against both siblings, but couldn't really bring himself to say anything mean about Valerie when she's just a cute preteen at the time. He loves his fans, after all. May or may not throw their decent friendship in Marlow's face though.
LOVES her. Looks up to her and goes to her for advice. They have a really good intergenerational friendship. Made her realize she was also a trans girl when she went to her for advice on her dysphoria. She also learned Rain Dance to keep Cheri cool and hydrated in hot weather, and likes to help her around town when she needs it. Looks up to her and her interest in travel comes from Cheri's stories.
Cares a lot about Valerie. Was hired as a babysitter when Marlow needed help, and got very close to her during this time when she saw how much Marlow was struggling at the time. She views Valerie almost as a granddaughter figure, and the two are close to this day as she gives her advice. Doesn't really approve of Marlow not letting her leave town, but Marlow won't hear about it. Wanted to give her a trip of her own, but couldn't pull it off with her health.
Is closer to Cheri, but of course loves her wife as well! She loves to take art lessons with Maya and sit in comfortable silence with her. Thinks her prosthetic is so cool and loves Maya's creativity.
Really cares for Valerie and loves having her around. She appreciates her for helping her wife around town and loves to have her over for art lessons. A little suspicious of Marlow keeping her in town however.