06-26-2026, 07:23 PM
The mass hysteria was mass-hystering I'm telling you. I've read some very stupid takes. Some with legitimate worries and criticisms, but so many just plain nonsensical.
That being said, I absolutely see the the space Valko is trying to elbow himself into occupying. We were missing a true CEO (Chairman, actually) trope, since Sylus ended up being closer to Mafia Boss than anything else, but they both have the rich business man angle. Big open personality like pre-bomb Caleb (a little after-bomb too now that he's healing, the baby), a similar cockiness and rage-baiting playfulness to both of them. Territorial about his space, though I don't think it's the N109 zone and it's absolutely expected of a werewolf with a whole pack behind him. Works alongside Ever but is not really WITH them like Caleb. Enemies to lovers in an "I'll fight you wait I kinda like you on top of me" that is very very very similar to Sylus and MC, even though I think Valko will be waaaaaay more bottom-y about it. Sylus is always the big Dom even when he's a softie dork, and he calls MC a kitten because that's the power image she casts next to him no matter how badass she is and acts. With Valko I think we'll have a more "equal" (allow me the term, it's not correct because she IS equal to all other LIs) relationship in that they'll be on the same level of power. Maybe. That's the vibe I get.
I'm not focusing a lot on the similarities with Sylus and Caleb because Valko is officially Raf's foil, so there are a lot of parallels and contrasts that are coming up with that already. And as of now online discourse is way too chaotic to be coherent yet, there's people complaining that he copied Caleb because he carried an umbrella under the rain.
All in all, he was written for me I fear. Big himbo energy, werewolf dealing with sniffing his mate for the first time, territorial and protective of his pack, cocky and arrogant but is actually a wet dog, a whole wink-wink nudge-nudge to knotting with the puzzle pieces "genetically locked". I'm not god's strongest soldier, I don't have the will to invest funds into maintaining two mains, but fuck I'm tempted.
Also, all the LIs are heartbreakingly tragic in at least some part of their story, and I'm very curious to find out Valko's damage. We might learn about it with the livestream tomorrow if they decide to drop another PV of him there.
That being said, I absolutely see the the space Valko is trying to elbow himself into occupying. We were missing a true CEO (Chairman, actually) trope, since Sylus ended up being closer to Mafia Boss than anything else, but they both have the rich business man angle. Big open personality like pre-bomb Caleb (a little after-bomb too now that he's healing, the baby), a similar cockiness and rage-baiting playfulness to both of them. Territorial about his space, though I don't think it's the N109 zone and it's absolutely expected of a werewolf with a whole pack behind him. Works alongside Ever but is not really WITH them like Caleb. Enemies to lovers in an "I'll fight you wait I kinda like you on top of me" that is very very very similar to Sylus and MC, even though I think Valko will be waaaaaay more bottom-y about it. Sylus is always the big Dom even when he's a softie dork, and he calls MC a kitten because that's the power image she casts next to him no matter how badass she is and acts. With Valko I think we'll have a more "equal" (allow me the term, it's not correct because she IS equal to all other LIs) relationship in that they'll be on the same level of power. Maybe. That's the vibe I get.
I'm not focusing a lot on the similarities with Sylus and Caleb because Valko is officially Raf's foil, so there are a lot of parallels and contrasts that are coming up with that already. And as of now online discourse is way too chaotic to be coherent yet, there's people complaining that he copied Caleb because he carried an umbrella under the rain.
All in all, he was written for me I fear. Big himbo energy, werewolf dealing with sniffing his mate for the first time, territorial and protective of his pack, cocky and arrogant but is actually a wet dog, a whole wink-wink nudge-nudge to knotting with the puzzle pieces "genetically locked". I'm not god's strongest soldier, I don't have the will to invest funds into maintaining two mains, but fuck I'm tempted.
Also, all the LIs are heartbreakingly tragic in at least some part of their story, and I'm very curious to find out Valko's damage. We might learn about it with the livestream tomorrow if they decide to drop another PV of him there.
![[Image: abyssw-alker-v0-wx0feo9sd3yod500x100.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/LXBKwXgL/abyssw-alker-v0-wx0feo9sd3yod500x100.jpg)
Time goes by but memories rewind
