“Shipping” is a term thrown around in video game communities quite often andDestiny 2is no stranger to that. Bungie’s notably left romantic relationships out of theDestinyfranchise for some time, leaving fans to consider and speculate on the subject on their own. That hasn’t changed, as no relationships appear withinDestiny 2itself. However, it’s now been canonically confirmed by Bungie narrative director Robert Brookes that a relationship exists between Osiris and Saint-14.
Brookes confirmed the relationship in a lengthy Twitter thread on Saturday in which he discussed his own experiences understanding his sexual orientation while growing up. He talked about what it was like not understanding the concept of bisexuality due to a lack ofLGBTQI+ education and representation. And further, he acknowledges that he was treated in “less friendly” ways as a result of his questioning and confusion.
RELATED:Destiny 2 Players Beat Deep Stone Crypt Raid Without Weapons
Using his personal experiences as a foundation for his message, Brookes goes on to say this is why representation matters so much. He notes that it helps others explore and understand their own identity, as well as “feel seen.” Brookes also acknowledges the realities ofqueerbaiting, which hints at but does not embrace queer representation. Brookes says that such practices are “actively damaging” marginalized communities.
With all that in mind, Brookes felt it necessary to confirm the relationship between Osiris and Saint-14 rather than leave it a matter of speculation and confusion. This subject is not a secret, according to Brookes. It’s not a matter of speculation or aDestiny 2puzzleto be solved. “It’s them,” characterizes Brookes, who makes clear that he’s been writing Osiris and Saint-14 as gay characters ever since he started working at Bungie. Brookes says that he gave them the nuance that represented them as gay men, but that “nuance is lost in an age of queerbaiting.”
As for why the relationship between Osiris and Saint-14 wasn’t clearly shown inDestinyorDestiny 2, Brookes explains that there “was never a space in which to unequivocally state their identities.” Osiris is a rarely seen character, after all, andSaint-14 has been lost/deaduntil just recently. And it’s worth repeating that Bungie simply doesn’t write relationships into the ongoing story in the first place.
“Clarification matters” is how Brookes wraps up his decision to confirm theOsiris and Saint-14 relationship. He also acknowledges those who were surprised by the revelation or thought it was a random decision. Brookes points to the Festival of the Lost and the “generally smoldering nature of their appreciation toward one-another.” He also says that they’re not, as people, “very overt.” It’s probably safe to say that Brookes, and hopefully Bungie, will be much more comfortable being overt in the future.
Destiny 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Destiny 2: Xur Exotic Armor, Weapon, and Recommendations for November 27
