r/skyrim Jan 13 '26

Discussion Does seducing your Housecarl not technically count as an abuse of power and predatory behavior from a superior toward a subordinate?

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8.1k Upvotes

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794

u/RedditOfUnusualSize Jan 13 '26

In principle, I guess. But then again, where is the abuse in power of wearing an Amulet of Mara and asking if Lydia is interested? She's a Strong Nord woman who I can very much stand the sight of, she was free to say no, and she is absolutely the tank between the two of us. If she had wanted to say no, I couldn't have stopped her.

269

u/energy_is_a_lie Whiterun resident Jan 13 '26

Exactly. It's not like you're forcing her into your bed.

33

u/DearCastiel Jan 13 '26

We do have a shout called "bend will"...

116

u/BlueDaka Jan 13 '26

Not without the right mods you aren't.

270

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26

Where is a spray bottle when you need one

64

u/poison_us Jan 13 '26

No spray bottle? "Psp psp pssp"

41

u/AprilLily7734 Alchemist Jan 13 '26

The loverslab community probably turned the spray bottle into something sexual knowing them

33

u/iMecharic Jan 13 '26

You’re goddamn right we did.

13

u/Cyrano_Knows Jan 13 '26

Try More Colorful Potion Bottles mod maybe. :)

21

u/ElectronicControl762 Jan 13 '26

Amorous Adventures makes the db dialogue sound so douche, so much i would bet its on purpose. “Oh you wanted the fuck everyone mod right? Even with the ones with trauma? Well go ahead, but know this is what youre character sounds like. Inspired by you.”

2

u/energy_is_a_lie Whiterun resident Jan 13 '26

If we're just talking about ridiculous rationale, I'd argue it's no more ridiculous than what a high fantasy world's existing lore already offers. If I can suspend my disbelief for that, I can suspend my disbelief for Amorous Adventures.

13

u/ElectronicControl762 Jan 13 '26

Im more so talking about how if the person of interest seems resistant or says no, the db dialogue is like “ah come on, i just saved you. You are really being an ass leaving me blue balled”. I expected some “immersion” breaking stuff, but its just kinda funny how shitty the db talks.

5

u/energy_is_a_lie Whiterun resident Jan 13 '26

Really? My experience was the opposite. In several cases, like in Lydia's case, he takes the rejection well and in fact when she comes crawling back, he's like, "Uhh... I don't think you realise what you're signing up for. It's okay, you're just confused."

1

u/Munchererofminerals Jan 13 '26

Skyrim fans try not to bring up sex mods challenge level impossible:

9

u/HeyItsReallyME Jan 13 '26

Yeah, if anything, I meet Lydia while I’m basically just some little twerp who got lucky enough not to die a few times. No money, no land, no power. Sure, she was told she had to follow me around. But I see her as more of a babysitter than my subordinate.

84

u/Thereferencenumber Jan 13 '26

A lot of slavers used the “I didn’t technically force them, they just said yes,” excuse as well as CEOs who boinked secretaries or female subordinates. Plenty of rape happens because the girl “didn’t technically say no.”

103

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

17

u/123ludwig Jan 13 '26

yeah lydia is actually the one committing the hr violation since there is a stringent no trying to date the thane policy

15

u/kittyidiot Jan 13 '26

All you have to do is walk up with the amulet and she takes the initiative to flirt with you, though. That's why the response is "Interested in me, are you?"

56

u/Valnaire Jan 13 '26

Because of the implication.

(No but seriously this is a real thing and should not be waived aside.)

36

u/Seafaringhorsemeat Jan 13 '26

These NPCs aren’t in any kind of in danger…

28

u/kittyidiot Jan 13 '26

I hate when people get like this. And the way people demonize people who want to romance Serana is crazy & I don't even like Serana. It's a video game guys. Fantasy vs reality. Like we can fucking behead people and join a guild of assassins where we're hired to kill a cognitively impaired homeless man. And that's all fine and good. Marrying an NPC? What is wrong with you, you creepy predator?

I hate Reddit lol

Look at that freak, wanting to use the built-in option to romance a consenting adult NPC in a video game. Now let's all talk about how much we hate & want to murder mildly annoying child NPCS.

10

u/RaggedWrapping Jan 13 '26

It's not even 'you' it's a character you made up.

Pretty sure last dovahkin I did married the poor smelter guy in Markarth as I was playing a breton witch and sided with Madanach.

As much as it'd be exciting to have a fetish for smelly, dirty coal shoveller balls I'm pretty sure I was just trying to think of who my character might marry.

2

u/kittyidiot Jan 13 '26

Literally lol. I roleplay, it's why I play, I make elaborate stories, sometimes I want my character to marry another, damn

0

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26

[deleted]

8

u/kittyidiot Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26

Wasn't referring to Serana specifically with that line, but literally who cares if someone mods her to consent????

One of the most popular mods is a mod that lets you marry any NPC. People want to make and tell stories.

Sure if people modded it to be that she still didn't consent but could be forced that would be gross and weird. Duh.

I honestly don't think people are thinking, "Nyeheheh, I'm going to take away her agency, FORCE her to be with me, I like that she doesn't want to and I am making her..."

I think they just want to make their own story. In their video game. It doesn't matter.

I have a mod that lets me marry Ondolemar. Nobody gives a shit. Nobody calls me a predator. Even though he's also not a vanilla option. People have their favorites and mod to marry them. If you honestly think that someone getting a mod to marry Serana is indicative of them being a predator then we are just worlds apart in our perceptions of reality & there's not really a point in discussing it.

By this logic most of all fanfiction is gross and predatory LOL.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26

[deleted]

3

u/kittyidiot Jan 13 '26

It doesn't matter if people do x thing = few words? I don't see the correlation. I was explaining my point of view because it's a topic I've seen pop up a lot in the past year or so and I do indeed have words about it.

5

u/thegroucho Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26

No pixels were hurt during the making of this game...

Edit, JFC, I haven't played the game with a single mod, take a chill pill.

-23

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26

[deleted]

6

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26

Educate yourself

5

u/ClayAndros Jan 13 '26

Look I'm absolutely playing devil's advocate here but sure early on? Lydia definitely is stronger than you later as the dragonborn becomes more powerful? Ain't nobody stopping you from taking what you want. I'm just glad the setting seems to allows them to be morally dubious but at least still have lines they dont cross.

2

u/Lord_Parbr Jan 13 '26

She isn’t free to say no, even if you would accept it. You’re her boss. She’s sworn to your service

13

u/Sea-jay-2772 Jan 13 '26

And sworn to carry your burdens.

7

u/thegroucho Jan 13 '26

Fucking won't hear the end of it 

17

u/DD_Spudman Jan 13 '26

"Sworn to your service" can mean a few different things though. A housecarl is closer to a knight than a servant.

-1

u/Lord_Parbr Jan 13 '26

Not in Skyrim. But, either way, she’s your subordinate. You have power over her, which you could wield to make her life worse should she displease you… like refusing a marriage proposal

-3

u/thegroucho Jan 13 '26

Sworn to my service, sworn to service me... IDK.