starsoverishgard

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His arrival at Inn at Journey's Head. The horizon was blanketed by a sandstorm, so the full expanse of the Flood wasn't yet evident.

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They walked around a few more stalls, perusing the unusual fabrics and metals. It was interesting how similar things were, even though Bastien was on a completely separate shard. He recognized some tools at the workshops, but could not say what metal they were crafted out of. And through the whole market, everyone seemed happy to see him and Haurchefant. Some recognized Haurchefant, but mostly they were just simple travelers. It was rather nice, to spend the afternoon in the market, without thinking about the end of the world, or how many people were going to die tomorrow.

They meandered around another work stall, and a piece of pottery crashed to the ground, shattering across the packed stone. Bastien glanced up, and saw a shorter elezen staring wide-eyed at him. Shorter, but still taller than Bastien. A jug had slipped from his hands and splashed across the ground, liquid pooling into crevices in the stone. "<i>Bastien</i>."

Bastien blinked. The voice was familiar... But different. He squinted. "Alphinaud?"

Alphinaud took two staggering steps and dropped to his knees at Bastien's feet. He threw his arms around Bastien's waist and buried his face in his stomach. Unsure what to do, Bastien curled his arm around Alphinaud's head.

"He succeeded, then." Alphinaud's voice was muffled in Bastien's dark green overcoat.

"Yes. He arrived yesterday," Haurchefant said.

Alphinaud sniffled and untangled himself, pushing himself to his feet with effort. Bastien had to look up at him. Alphinaud ran a hand over his face and gave a watery laugh. "I will have to purchase another jug of carrot juice."

Bastien reached out for him and pulled him close for a proper hug. Alphinaud's arms went around him, solid and wiry, but clearly full of new strength. If one day on the Source was a year on this shard, then Alphinaud had been here for almost three years. His voice was breaking, and not simply from emotion. And Bastien had missed it.

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wip (not wednesday)

Amaro turned out to be this world's equivalent of chocobo. They were four legged flying beasts, somewhere between a camel and a turkey vulture. Bastien stared at the animal pen where they lounged about while Haurchefant spoke with Cassar. They smelled a bit like griffins...

"Bastien, are you ready?" Haurchefant called. Bastien wrinkled his nose and followed Haurchefant onto the airship. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw light flash off the blade of a bloodied ax.

The airship took them over a blighted land. Light poured from the sky in callous, unending waves and bleached the ground. What little color was left resided in the south and west, in the deep ocean. And it was not sunlight. Bastien could not pick out if a sun even existed. He stood beside Haurchefant at the railing of the airship, watching in horror at the ground flying past beneath them. "Does anything grow?"

"Some. Tis hard but can be done. I spend most of my time in the fields in Kholusia, helping grow food." Haurchefant leaned against the railing. His scythe glinted in the blistering light. "Estinien and Alphinaud help. Did you know Estinien grew up on a farm?"

"Yes. He told me once his family were herders."

"They have been very helpful." He stared out across the landscape, lost in thought for a moment. "There is a city, Eulmore, that believes they own what is left of the world. They keep their gates closed, and only the privileged can enter. It reminded me of Ishgard, how we ignored the plight of those outside our walls. I wanted to help the people who were not invited into the sanctum. Most of the food I grow goes to the tent city outside Eulmore's gates for a pittance."

"It sounds like you kept some people from starving," Bastien said, softly. "That's good work."

"Tis hard work, certainly." Haurchefant's eyes lost focus, and in the harsh light Bastien could see the dark circles under his eyes. "But good? I cannot tell."

Bastien reached for his hand and closed his fingers around Haurchefant's.

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Bastien has made it to the First in my draft!

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little photoshoot to celebrate hitting the end of stb and entering shb

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My little contribution to mermay. Mermaid AU. Haurchefant finds some sort of human fish washed up on the shore.

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wip (not) wednesday

It brushed against his skin and he closed his fingers around the air. He reached deep, trying to pull the connection towards him. A glow began to warm the air around him, and Bastien opened his eyes and exhaled to see lines of gold stretching out around him just like the time he'd pulled Estinien free.

Startled, he dropped his hand and the light immediately faded. He looked up and met Haurchefant's eyes. He cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, "Again!"

Bastien settled his shoulders and closed his eyes. He dragged at the bond again, growing familiar with the sensation of Haurchefant's aether. His ears began to ring as the light surrounded him once more. Something warm slid over his upper lip. He inhaled and tasted the coppery tang of blood. Heat built in his chest until it pierced him through. He grunted and <i>yanked</i>.

Metal boots clanged as they hit the ground, and a heavy body fell against Bastien. They went down in a tangle of limbs; Haurchefant cradling Bastien's head from the ground. On his back, stars swimming in his vision, Bastien gasped for breath. He felt wrung out, as if he had run through the woods for days and days and days without rest. Haurchefant pressed up on his elbows and wiped blood from under Bastien's nose.

"Are you hurt?" His grey eyes were wide with tightly contained panic.

"Are you?" Bastien managed to lift his head and scan Haurchefant's body. He seemed to have arrived with all his limbs and clothes. He let his head fall back against the pillow of Haurchefant's arm. "It worked. I don't understand it but it worked."

Haurchefant let out a breathless laugh and tugged Bastien tight against him. "You did it. At great cost, though."

"I don't think I can do it to a stranger." Bastien let all his limbs relax, cradled in the sanctuary of Haurchefant's body. People were probably staring but he was too exhausted to care. "I used the bond to pull you in."

"Okay." Haurchefant dragged his hand through Bastien's hair, still smiling. "But now we know you can call me to your side."

"From how far..." Bastien stared up at the clouds rolling through the brilliant blue sky. "What is this power?"

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wip

been a while since i posted anything from the wip bc i been, ngl, kinda killin it, but here's a bit:

"Their coming of age ceremony is to hunt and kill animals that aren't hurting them," Bastien said, the guilt and anger welling in his chest. "That can get you killed in the Twelveswood. Every life plays a part in the balance of the forest. Killing without purpose shouldn't be praised. How can I be part of a culture with that as it's core?"

"It is not, though." Haurchefant gestured to the village, to the houses and the tents and the aetheryte. "They have a culture of beauty and hard work. They mine, and farm, and value earnestness. They are not made of violence."

Olina and Arenvald stood in the center of the villagers now, a raucous group of people eager to celebrate anything. Bastien's shoulders slumped. "Olina's so disappointed I won't do the Hunt."

"She will survive. You were not raised Ala Mhigan, she can hardly expect you to change your ways in a week." Haurchefant rested a hand at the nape of Bastien's neck, a heavy, reassuring weight. His thumb rubbed at his skin, warm. He leaned close and pressed a firm kiss to Bastien's hair.

Bastien tilted his head up and lifted onto his toes to catch Haurchefant's lips. Haurchefant smiled, his hand slipping from Bastien's neck to the small of his back. Bastien wrapped his fingers around one of the leather straps across Hauchefant's chest and held him close. Warmth surged between them, comfortable and welcoming. Haurchefant tasted of mint and tea. He sighed softly, into Bastien's mouth, and Bastien drew back, hyper-aware they were out in the open where anyone could see them. He swayed, the warmth threatening to sweep him in Haurchefant, to blend their senses. Haurchefant's hand at his back steadied him, and the sensation faded. Bastien settled back into his body and opened his eyes. Haurchefant smiled at him, heartbreakingly soft and unbearably fond. Bastien let a small smile tilt his lips in response. Haurchefant brushed a hand through Bastien's hair before they went to follow the noise of the crowd.

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He saw your vibe from across the bar and hated it

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MIQOMARCH DAY 14 - FAVOURITE ZONE

Laia could stand here forever under the weight of the lost civilization. Something deep inside her called to it. She desperately did not want to leave.

Prompt list here!

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MIQOMARCH DAY 14 - FAVOURITE ZONE

Y'xiao's favorite place to be is in the Twelveswood. His chosen home.

Prompt list here!

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MIQOMARCH DAY 13 - WONDER

Stepping into the absurd opulence of Eulmore was like being punched in the face after seeing Alisaie and the hospice she protected. He could only stare in horrified awe at what these people had created.

Prompt list here!

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MIQOMARCH DAY 12 - COMPANION

Y'xiao in his younger days. He discovered a curious rabbit on one of his travels, and that rabbit turned out to be curiously long lived. He's been everywhere with Y'xiao since then.

Prompt list here!

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wip wednesday

“Alliance! Forward!” Raubahn thrust his sword into the sky and the Alliance soldiers flowed into the castellum around him. Pipin shouted a battle cry as he darted forward, diving for the nearest Garlean.

“Keep casualties down!” Bastien shouted. Haurchefant shouldered him back against the wall, keeping him out of reach of another soldier running up to them. “Take prisoners!”

“Aye, ser Vey, fear not.” Raubahn entered the castellum, his eyes glinting under his bull-shaped helm. “We will be merciful to those who wish it.”

He waded into the fray. Haurchefant hefted his shield up with a straining shoulder and went after him.

Bastien began the work of healing. He drew hard on the earth aether suffusing the region and pushed it into broken bones and skin. By the time a cheer went out around him, his hand was covered in blood and sweat. He looked up from where he held a broken bone in place and saw the Garlean flag had been torn from the pole at the top of the castellum. He sat back on his heels in relief. The soldier under his hand whooped in victory, thrusting his sword in the air with his unbroken arm.

“Hold still!” Bastien snapped.

The soldier grimaced and fell quiet. A moment later Bastien had set and repaired his arm and sent him off and moved on to the next injury. Some time later, a hand fell on Bastien’s shoulder and gripped firmly enough Bastien turned. Haurchefant smiled at him. “Tis time to rest, my friend.”

Bastien swayed on his feet and realized the sun had set and the stars glittered overhead. Oh.

Haurchefant nodded at someone, and an Alliance conjurer stepped into Bastien’s place. Haurchefant himself sported a fresh bruise across his pale cheek, and new nicks in his armor. His shield was stowed, and his left arm hung down at his side. He wasn’t seriously injured, and he took Bastien’s hand in both of his and wiped it down with a cloth. The dried blood stuck stubbornly to Bastien’s dark skin.

“A wash. Then rest,” Haurchefant amended. He gave Bastien’s shoulder a gentle shake. “We have taken the castellum!”

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still getting used to the controls but i think i can admit ktisis and glamourer and brio and penumbra are easier than anam and textools. however my poor computer is definitely suffering.

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MIQOMARCH DAY 11 - LOSS

G'raha wasn't lost. Not forever. Just for now.

Prompt list here!

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MIQOMARCH DAY 10 - PROMISE

Laia felt alone but she was not. She was never alone. Not anymore. The two who had loved her past self and loved her still remained at her side, out of sight. The Scions, who loved her now. Her hard won family. She promised to protect them. They promised to love her.

Prompt list here