Pairings
Because in the end, it's all about the porn. Ain't it? Okay, maybe not, but it's an important part of fandom anyway. Here's my thoughts on some Roland pairings, mainly those that I wrote or find intriguing.
Roland/Adil
I have no freaking idea how this one sneaked up on me... but it did. Bad.
I can easily imagine that Adil is doing what he can to keep Roland together. Roland is the leader of Lokapala, yes, but it's pretty obvious when we first see them, then again in the war room, that they are pretty much co-leaders. Furthermore, while Roland is off running around with the Embryon as Indra, it's Adil who's in charge; he causes the ruckus around the Meat Factory to attract the Society's attention, then in the Power Plant he commands the defence line that keeps the Society reinforcement from coming in after the Embryon. It's pretty obvious that Adil has Roland's absolute trust.
The reverse is true as well. It's no secret that Adil hates the Embryon because they are just emotionless war machines to him, and because they have the Atma power and cannibalize humans. Yet, soon after meeting the Embryon, Roland take the virus himself and becomes a monster just like them. It's never showed how Adil reacted to that idea: did he try to stop Roland? convince him it was a bad idea? We don't know. What is shown in the game, however, is that despite his hate and fear of the demons, never once does he show any sign of wanting to trigger a mutiny or not trusting Roland almost blindly, nor does he seem to regret following his leader and friend pretty much straight down to Hell.
This co-leadership and the undeniable, absolutely trust between them is, in my opinion, what makes this pairing so great and credible.
Not to mention that since they live together in Underground City and things down there seemed pretty slow and morose, they had plenty of time to fumble around.
Plus I think Adil's hot in his own way. Don't laugh.
Roland/Gale
Of the Embryon, Gale may not quite be the one who came the closest to ripping Roland a new one (that would be Argilla), but he most probably is the one who'd have made the bigger hole ("if you are the people of Nirvana, Lupa died in vain"). Judging from the way he talked to Roland during the big exposition meeting, he did not like the man at all, at first, even if he followed Serph's wish to do as they were told to—which was probably the best tactical decision.
However, Gale's attitude changes completely once Roland has acquired his Atma; he tells Serph he can see honour in Roland's eyes, and that he his trustworthy. Outside his team and Lupa, there's not I think anyone that Gale considered worthy of his, and his leader's, trust. He even says at some point that he admires Roland's courage for taking the Atma virus willingly. It's just not a sentiment that Gale expresses very often.
I believe they complete each other, in a way: Gale is a tactician, a military genius, but, well, he still takes most things to the first degree and he's disarmingly uncomplicated, and honest to the point of being blunt: if you do something stupid on his watch, be prepared to be told so in no uncertain terms and without sugarcoating. Roland, on the other hand, is more the intellectual, imaginative type who kinda sorta learned to survive in a guerilla because he had no choice, avoids problems by drinking, and plots grandiose actions but never actually walks the walk. In a way Gale is Roland's ultimate literary critic. Gale is the down-to-earth counterpart to Roland's cloud shovelling, and Roland could undoubtedly expand Gale's mind beyond military strategies and warfare information.
Furthermore, they have something in common, a link between them that is shared by none of the other Embryon: they both knew Greg, although Gale knew him as Lupa. Even if one doesn't believe that Greg and Roland were involved romantically or sexually, and neither were Gale and Lupa, one can't deny the strong bonds between these men: Roland calls Greg his best friend, raises his son, and takes care of his Lokapala, and Lupa, to put it bluntly, taught Gale how to feel so strongly he wasn't able to hold it back as he did during nearly three quarters of the first game. This bond between Roland and Gale can be approached as something they can bond over positively or negatively, as something to get them from a common ground into something further as they are, or as one of them, or both, seeking Greg/Lupa in the other.
Also, they're my favourite characters and I think they look hot together. I like the contrast between Roland's arm-weapon and Gale's leg-weapon.
Roland/Greg
Best friends together, humping awkwardly and drunkenly on the sofa... oh yeah. We know next to nothing of Greg, but he had to have faith in Roland to leave both his son and the Lokapala in his hands after his death.
I am however a bit uncomfortable of slashing them too hard, because I believe Greg was married to the mother of his son, and well, neither Fred nor Ms. Greg deserve a cheating father. I just find it Not Cool, and Greg doesn't strike me as the type to do that kind of shit.
Roland/Serph
Leader to leader! My Serph is very generous of his person with the member of his team, and after Gale's acceptance, Roland becomes part of his team quite easily. Serph never questions Gale's trust in Roland, and my Serph had Roland in his team pretty much the whole time he was available—I'm currently working on a game where I will have Roland during the last dungeon.
I'm certain Roland is happy to be relieved of command when he's with the Embryon: he still has the Lokapala to lead with Adil, and he has things to say about the way the Cyber Shaman operation is run, especially after all Hell breaks loose, but the burden of decision is on Serph and Gale's shoulders, and he has Lokapala follow.
Furthermore I like the idea of Serph welcoming him in his team with sex All in all, Roland/Serph is a minor ship for me, but it has potential that I should explore.
Roland/Argilla
Personally, I don't like this ship. I thought the interaction/flirting between Roland and Argilla in the Power Plant was completely out of left field, so much that I wondered what I had missed between the EGG and the plant.
And yet, I still wrote it, porn at that, and dammit, it's my longest DDS fic and it made sense then. Go figure. I think this just proves again that I should never say I don't like a ship or else a bunny for said ship will sledgehammer me in the face.
Roland/Meganada
Let's just not go there, all right?