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7.3

Just finished the remaining cutscenes!

I actually really enjoyed it. Might have started 1:30am lowkey sobbing during the Living Memory reactivation and memory restoration scene. It just... got to me.

It was also nighttime for me, so when we got out of the cutscene... Perfect.

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7.3 dungeon vague/mechanic

Finally, we can all be shamed for having bad DPS and/or gear in our respective jobs as everyone fumbles to not be the last to escape 😭😭😭

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So, P4S prog attempt going well

Nimda ( @soothingmind ), rest in pieces

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Caught in a sudden rainstorm while gathering in the forest

[IL750 gathering complete and melded!!]

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Making sure everything is stocked up

(IL750 crafting set complete and melded)

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Blessed image!!!!

After some diabolical rng incidents (badly timed excellent-poor in crafting led to only 96% chance of HQ on a tool. My friends. It failed that 4% chance and was NQ.) the game was at least somewhat nicer about melding rng

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I'm realizing that it could be potentially kinda fun-silly for our own records to actually sign off which of the ffxiv-playing alters are posting the various things on this blog.

More close to our chest about exact identities but we do have our proxy emojis on other platforms. The vibes:

🌸: heavily lore focused, particularly S'ria/snowverse, craft/gather, slightly more nervous in combat. Likes to RP as Menphina when playing WHM, but not in RP venues. [Does a majority of sfw writing, including help with reaper menphina au works]

☕: co-player for S'ria, the true mastermind of Spreadsheet Hell, craft/gather, more interested in challenges (EX etc) than the others. Anti-RP venue generally. (🌸 often is also present while ☕ games)

🍡: lore for reaper menphina au/plays that alt, craft/gather (actually more willing to fish, unlike the others), various combat grinds (between 🌸 and ☕ in confidence). Semi-open to RP. [The only one who can consistently play during chronic health issues]

Yes, all of us are insufferable DoH/DoL-ers.

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Ohhh, she looks so good in this

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Tools x4 melded and gear pentamelded!!

(The final slot on the tools will be Command, so we can generate macros now without that)

I should gpose him tonight when I have time

But yeah melded difference:

Craftsmanship: 5682 → 6023

Control: 5027 → 5301

CP: 606 → 637

Wow!!!!

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[Reaper Menphina AU] Something a bit sillier

(~300 words)

“What exactly… is this?”

Menphina looked down at the elaborately sealed envelope in her hand. Well, previously elaborately sealed, but the wax seal had been carefully torn loose.

“I hope you don't mind that I open mail from strangers. It's just – really, most of it is stuff you don't want. Sketchy busy deals and weird notes.” At Menphina's brief look of alarm, Tataru lifted her hands. “I never touch those notes that you told me to keep an eye out for. Only the weird fancy ones.”

Menphina raised an eyebrow. “Alright. I'll hold you to that. I am okay with you continuing to open these – but that does not explain why I am holding this.”

Tataru snickered, clearly fighting against losing her composure.

“You look as though you've been having a rough day, and I hoped this one might be worth a laugh.”

Menphina smiled, and settled down by the table. “Alright, let's have a look then.”

The first thing she did after removing the letter was squint at the script for several long moments. The second thing she did was snort, followed immediately by clapping an embarrassed hand over her mouth.

“O-Oh, this… I hope Aymeric doesn't know about this, it seems like a diplomatic nightmare.” Menphina squinted at the page again. “...our family line boasts a long history of proud knights, though their skills pale beside your own…etcetera… a legacy that could be one your own heirs share…” She blinked. “Oh goodness. Does a proposal usually come with an explanation of how powerful our offspring could be?”

Tataru’s shoulders shook with the effort of not bursting into laughter. “Not exactly, no.”

Menphina put her head down on the table, laughing despite herself. “That isn't even possible! Oh gods, and the way it's written...” She dropped the rest of the sentence, laughing too hard to continue.

Tataru grinned. “There we are, that's a Menphina I like to see.”

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[Reaper Menphina AU] The end of post HW, preparing for StB

So it'd come to this.

Well, not *yet*, Menphina couldn't say how long it would take, but she knew she'd be back at Baelsar's Wall again before long – only this time, to cross to the other side.

She'd rarely thought of Gyr Abania in a very long time. When in Garlemald, it was an occasional wistful thought – but to remind her young charge of those memories hurt him more than it soothed him. Since then, there were some moments she thought of it. When the weather in Thanalan was just right, or she spoke with some of the Ala Mhigan refugees. There were times when even hearing their stories didn't bring back memories of home. She wasn't really *Ala Mhigan*, after all – she shared a proximity and trauma with these people, but not a culture.

Given the political situation, Menphina never expected to set foot anywhere near Gyr Abania again. And, judging by the pensive look on Lyse’s face, she had felt the same.

Menphina moved to gingerly sit down at the same table. Lyse didn't notice her until Menphina slid a mug her way, at which point she jolted enough to almost elbow it off the table.

“Sorry, sorry! I was just… lost in thought, you know? I keep thinking about going home. It feels so *surreal.*”

Menphina nodded. “I understand the feeling.”

“What, in a general sense? Or do you mean…?”

Menphina hesitated for a moment, but she'd already made her decision when she walked over to Lyse. “After we cross the border… when we have a second, there's something I'd like to show you.”

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I need to get the new dress for Menphina, but at what cost...

(well, NOT the cost of 10mil because I'm not doing That)

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oTL

Swerved by the purple scrip.... Augh..

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Swerved by the purple scrip.... Augh..

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[Reaper Menphina AU] A dinner with Aymeric and a reunion in poor circumstances

(~550 words)

Menphina frowned once she'd turned her back to the knight. It was only polite to accept, but that didn't mean she was overly keen on it. For the briefest of moments, she considered misunderstanding the invite as one meant for multiple Scions… but no, that would simply be putting Alphinaud into an unnecessarily awkward position. He didn't deserve to be dragged into that.

Menphina looked through the few changes of clothes she had. Would any of these suit the occasion – which is to say, politely formal but distant. It was an oddly specific goal.

In the end, her usual dress and reinforced corset was the choice anyway. Comfortable, modest and warm, and safe if anyone tried to treat her to a knife to the gut as well.

The nerves continued, and she found herself waiting across the street and eyeing the Borel estate for several minutes. Nothing looked special about it. The only thing that stood out was a servant waiting outside, one who should surely notice her any moment now.

«If you get poisoned again, I can get to the Fortemps Manor on my own to fetch Alphinaud.»

Menphina lowered her voice to a murmur. “I don't think I intend to take what's offered anyway – but that's kind. You'd be willin’ to speak to Alphinaud?”

Luna's tone sounded lightly petulant.

«To save your life, I would. Otherwise… no thank you. I'd rather keep out of sight.»

“I don't mistrust him, y'know. I'm just not sure what this is meant to be.”

“Mistress Menphina – ah, there you are!”

Well, it was bound to happen eventually if she kept loitering.

—

It felt a massive beach of decorum to stop in the entryway and ask Aymeric the nature of her visit. Still, it was much easier to relax and enjoy the company once it was clarified to be a platonic invitation.

She fatigued quickly, though, with one on one interactions being so clearly scrutinized by the lingering staff. Must there always be someone…hovering in the corner? She couldn't understand how one would bear such a lifestyle.

Menphina would've accepted the wine long ago, if not for the fact that she felt too afraid to do anything but shake her head in refusal.

By the time dinner was interrupted, she had begun to tire of being with company at all.

—

Some company was acceptable – welcome, even, if not for present circumstances. The moment Menphina saw Alisaie on the couch, the last handful of yalms were closed at a jog. Menphina dropped down beside her – too pale by far, shivering despite sweat dotting her brow, expression pained – whatever had befallen Alisaie, she was in dire straits indeed.

She hadn't seen Alisaie since their forays into pieces of Allagan wreckage. They'd parted ways with Alisaie in fine health, and – fine spirits was not, perhaps, the best way to describe the aftermath… but at least determined. Resolved.

That was a far cry from the girl half-dead on the couch. Menphina held her hands over Alisaie, hoping to at least ease discomfort even if curing was beyond her, and turned her head to ask what in the hells happened. She was stopped by a surprisingly strong hand on her wrist.

“W-wait…Menphina, is– is that you? …Listen to me.”

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Do you think if I slipped Yoshi P a $20 bill, I could convince him to change chatlog "cast [his] lot for item" to "rolls for item"?

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Alright, think we posted about it before, but last call:

We'll be blind running the Alliance, will maybe post commentary about that with 7.3 spoilers & dt spoilers tagged + under readmore

Will be crafting the new hand/land stuff and dicking around in craft hell: this sorta stuff won't be spoiler tagged

Likely won't post about new MSQ for at least a few days, and it will be 7.3 spoilers, dt spoilers, + under readmore

Tldr: all 7.3 content tagged and under readmores for a while except for stuff re: crafting etc