#[ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ᴀɴꜱᴡᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴀʏᴇʀꜱ. ] hc

[lilytear]

// . It has been 80 years but I have revamped the boy? I’ll be working on a google doc of his revamped backstory and possibly plaster it here because I’ve been having ideas for a bit on how to make him Better.

[holyxvi]

// . I do not recall the last time I sat down and colored something so intently, it’s definitely been awhile. Voidsent Avatar!Mateus’ design is finally finalized for my XIV lore, and I mostly based the color palette off Call To Arms (my favorite artwork of Mateus and co. by Yoshitaka Amano).

His initial design had a ripped up version of his Arubboth robes, but I thought hard on it and figured the scions would be privy about Matthias’ past incarnation not as Azem, but as Mateus. They don’t hold any ill-will towards the Elezen and Tataru finds it really cool that her friend was once an emperor of all things (albeit not the greatest), so she went out of her way to concoct an outfit for Mateus that not only matched Matthias, but give him some of that regal flair as well based on sketches Matthias had made.

Yes, he wears a sort of face covering to hide his mouth as the left side is Teeth(tm), and whenever he breathes in, the air sucked ends up making a sort of whistling sound thanks to said Teeth(tm). He’s just a creecher, a strange old man.

Personals/Non-RP do not reblog.

[holyxvi]

As I said I was gonna do, a “progression” image of the damage Matthias’ arm has gone through. All of this is burn damage, and I tried my best to replicate the burn images I’ve seen online and used as refs. Lets get to it in order:

1 - Pre-ARR events: Hardly noticeable, was not caused by black magic but rather handling a very hot pot he was attempting to cook something in. The only instance where Matthias has ever gone outside in his five years alone was to shove his burnt hand into the snow.

2 - ARR: Happened when he was still very fresh and new in the Thamaturge guild and he didn’t notice the damage until it was far too late.

3 - HW and SB: These burns built up gradually between the events of the Dragonsong War and the liberation of not only Ala Mhigo, but Doma as well. It was around this time that Matthias begun to hide his hand and arm, going as far as to wear long sleeves in even the hottest of weather. The nerves are killed / permanently damaged in this stage, but his hand is still mostly usable.

4 - SHB and EW: Between the end of Shadowbringers and before the beginning of Endwalker, Matthias’ arm had only grown worse to a point where he needed skin grafts. His hand is entirely limp and unusable while his arm can be hard to move at times. Thankfully, Cid has created a special prosthetic glove for the elezen to use that makes the arm usable again, aether in the fabric acting as a sort of muscle replacement.

[holyxvi]

Wowwee its Sinday guess its time to bullshit some NSFW HCs for Matthias since I’ve word vomited about Mateus enough (and so he has more written content than me just...spamming 300 gpose pics and then going off into the void uwee- ).

Spicy under the cut.

- First and foremost, Matthias’ weak spot is the tips of his ears. Simply breathing / lightly touching them is enough to make him instantly flustered, even crumble to his knees were he continually teased. Being bitten is also another easy turn on of his, and may even cause him to bite back.

- He loves being fucked to sleep. Given his title and the trauma he’s dealt with, it’s very hard for Matthias to fall asleep on his own most times, so it’s not unusual to find him slowly passing out during the climax of sex.

- Is a switch, but if he’s feeling pretty beat down, he’ll insist on being the bottom.

- Without his glasses on, Matthias only sees darkness and aether that comprise living things. He always wants to be able to “see” his partner somehow, especially when partaking in light bondage. Doesn’t matter if its the whole body or a hand, it gives him the reassurance that someone is right there and he isn’t alone.

- Has a kink for lingerie and will wear it, being very fond of lace. Matthias has only worn some out in public once, but that was hidden under a dress during his wedding.

- Is fine with hair pulling, biting, scratching, but it’ll all end when the sex gets too rough for his tastes and/or Matthias gets degraded and called names. He will cry.

- Most likely has had sex/masturbated outside, but where other people can’t see him doing it.

- Aftercare wise, Matthias isn’t perfect, but he makes an effort to try. He’s very cuddly, a little whiny, and his words become a lot more slurred.

[holyxvi]

@box-of-characters​ whispered:   15 & 17   ||   meme (accepting).

--

15 - Do they have a favorite joke, or a favorite kind of joke? If so, what?

Mateus is still trying to understand jokes, so he can’t quite say.

16 - What is your muse’s LEAST favorite part of their job or everyday life?

Living with some of these goddamn older Palamecians holy shit. Being in the position of king and having duties to attend to. If Mateus had the choice, he’d spend all day basking in the desert sun and settle down at dusk to look upon the stars --- much preferable over paperwork and whatnot.

[holyxvi]

// . Matthias gets the ultimate character development.

[holyxvi]

@joy-of-destruction​ whispered:   11   ||   meme (accepting).

--

11 - In what situation was your character the most afraid they’ve ever been?

Being in the First and having to defeat each Lightwarden so each region in Norvrandt was free of it’s eternal daylight, because Matthias would have to take in each of the warden’s “light” which was part of what made them Sineaters. He was very much afraid of becoming a sineater and dying whenever the “light” stored in himself begun to act up, thankfully what was left of Mateus and Ardbert reuniting with the other half of Azem’s soul stopped this completely in its tracks.

Doesn’t stop Matthias from having nightmares about it though.

[holyxvi]

[holyxvi]

 @culra​ whispered:   16, 22, 24, and 30 for matthias   ||   meme (accepting).

--

16 - Which does your character idealize most: happiness or success?

Happiness I think fits Matthias best. Someone being happy makes him happy in turn, it’s just what he strives for, don’t matter to him if the reason is minuscule or not.

22 - What does your character like in other people?

Matthias can very well like anybody as long as their intentions are good and true like the Scions. People who are nice to him (and don’t pull a uno reverse card like a jackass) also usually win his favor.

24 - How quick is your character to trust someone else?

In the very beginning Matthias was too trusting, he was willing to trust anyone as long as they gave him a crumb of attention, an unfortunate side-effect of having been emotionally neglected by his own father for the past five years along with being shut in his own house with nobody else to talk to. Of course, after getting hurt one too many times, Matthias has learnt not to let people in so easily, and unfortunately this also means those who only wish to help him and have zero ill intentions at all. :(

30 - What does your character find repulsive or disgusting?

If there’s anything Matthias happens to be repulsed by, I think its being surrounded by (sometimes overly) sexualized things/topics, which is understandable due to the fact that he was born and raised in Ishgard. So to put it in perspective, he’s not repulsed by sex itself because he’s had it a few times (Haurchefant and Eaulvoix), but it would be more like standing in the Beehive in Eulmore --- Matthias absolutely hated getting on its stage and hasn’t re-entered the place since.

This sounds ironic given his status as a Warrior of Light, but Matthias is not a fan of gore, the sight of his own blood sometimes makes him nauseated and he would prefer to be knocked out if he has horrendous injury. This distress stems from his obvious violent nightmares, especially the one where he is forced to watch the carnage of the Palamecian Genocide over and over (also something he can’t be blamed for).

[holyxvi]

// . I’ve had this sitting around since last year, and I’ve been meaning to post it but I just never got around to it, and I guess today’s a good day as any to finally get it and it’s accompanying headcanon out of the way.

Coronation in Palamecia, since the beginning, has always been taken very seriously, having strict guidelines during the Holy Era that would put one’s ascension to the throne to a complete halt should they be found doing anything that violated say guidelines. Of course, given the evil that was unleashed unto the country by Jonas, these rules have since faded into obscurity, the order of ascension now reliant on whatever the current king feels is right.

What hasn’t faded away are the special robes each heir ascending to the throne is given, the garments being tailored to fit the prince and ones he’s expected to wear during his coronation, marriage, and when he eventually passes --- as this keeps the robes from getting into the wrong hands and potentially copied for a future king down the line.

The crown that sits upon their brow has history tracing back to the Holy Era’s early days, the few rare surviving remnants of a once peaceful time. This new crown is not kept and is only used during coronation and wedding ceremonies, before it is put back into the vault until it is time for it’s use once more.

All Palamecian kings wear their coronation ring on their dominant hand ( so for Mateus it is his left ), never to be taken off unless he bathes or slumbers, and should the king happen to become betrothed, their wedding ring will set right above the coronation ring. Emperor Mateus, Palamecia’s current ruler, is not betrothed yet wears a ring received from Princess Hilda along with his coronation ring, and had he not abolished the court created to observe his rule, such a thing would’ve been scorned upon and forbidden.

[holyxvi]

@pretty-little-teacup​ whispered:   9 and 13   ||   Vanilla NSFW HCs.

9: Is your muse attracted to any features in particular?

Mateus is a weird one because he’s not into that dating ‘scene’, but he does look for those absent of tattoos or body mods that go beyond the ears mainly. If it’s a man, Mateus likes a muscular type who is bigger than he is. If it’s a female, he likes the slender, somewhat busty kind of woman.

In general he just doesn’t care, but he does have some preferences.

13: Where is your muse most sensitive?

Along his spine, especially where the scar is. I wouldn’t fumble with that area too much though, given the circumstances in which he got the scar....and you might be trapped beneath him if his nerves decide to trick his whole body into thinking it’s all paralyzed.

[holyxvi]

// . Small HC here that I totally didn’t just bullshit while talking to a friend, and it does contain a major Heavensward spoiler hence why I’m slapping this bad boy beneath a readmore despite it being so....short.

While Matthias always spends a majority of his time on the road, the elezen will find a chance to slip into Thanalan for some much needed r&r, specifically into the Goblet where his apartment lies. It is not the most fanciful of homes despite his background ( past life of being Emperor Mateus and currently life being Ishgardian born ), but its what he happens to have and its what he can call his own.

Beside his desk lays several books, most of them being sketchbooks that Matthias has used throughout his adventures. Many show the obvious wear and beatings endured throughout each one, but for every three present there’s one that’s missing --- meaning that not all of them returned home. While Matthias has grown used to this for the sake of sating his artistic drive, there is one sketchbook in his possession that is worse for wear, yet goes everywhere he does no matter what the destination may be. It holds too much special meaning to be left behind --- having been used during the time Ser Haurchefant Greystone was alive.

Between completed and unfinished sketches, there lie words left by the knight himself, whether they be proclamations of love or words of encouragement, all were for the eyes of his beloved Warrior of Light and him alone, and Matthias can almost certainly recite each one by heart given the amount of times he’s skimmed over them.

The last ‘‘letter’‘ Haurchefant had written down was the night before Matthias and the others stormed into The Vault, filled with promises regarding their wedding that was to take place once things had calmed down among other things --- something that had not happened, unfortunately. The events that took place at The Vault, along with these final written words, are both things that torment Matthias whenever the chance presents itself ( albeit its more the former than the latter ).

Aside from his grief and guilt having pushed him to tap into his voidsent power in order to seal Haurchefant’s soul into the wind-up minion made in memoriam, Matthias carries the sketchbook around for the sake of comfort and coping, re-reading it’s pages whenever he has the time. Being very possessive of the book, the elezen has no qualms about putting himself in danger if it means retrieving what is most dear --- much less caring for how ridiculous others may find him for it.

[holyxvi]

@manenimittliv​ whispered:   Is your muse the big spoon or the little spoon?   ||   Vanilla NSFW HCs.

He’s not going to admit it, but he loves being the little spoon. Mateus is used to having his bed to himself so whoever is being the big spoon, he can just act like they’re a breathing body pillow. Of course if the other person is large in size....like tall, then he can handle being the big spoon. *eye emoji*

[holyxvi]

@elisethetraveller​ whispered: Why is Mateus incapable of having a normal and loving relationship? (Aka. Permission granted xD)

// . Ah boy here we go--- To avoid repeating myself and be longwinded about my lore, lets establish the shit that’s been said so far:

Palamecians are a sub-type of human, capable of living in the harsh desert climate thanks to their biology. They are ridiculed for this and their views, which has been going on for centuries.

Mateus was born alongside a sister that was shortly kidnapped, leaving him to be raised in a rather abusive and toxic environment --- not to mention the Palamecian Genocide he witnessed and remembers so vividly at the young age of 12.

Poisoned his father at 16 and was crowned the new king soon after.

Met Hilda at 19 during her 15th ( or 16th ) birthday, the two grew close very quickly much to her father’s dismay.

Had his back permanently injured at 19 upon shielding Hilda from being stomped on by a horse owned by one of her father’s men. They were separated and Hilda was forced to marry Prince Scott of Kashaun much later.

The only female in Mateus’ life that he knows, has grown close to, and yearns for is Hilda. It was through her that he understood a little bit of what was going on in his head, learnt some English, and the only one that has never called him a monster unlike other people.

That is the one word Mateus has been called all his life and he hardly knows what it’s like to be ‘human’, and while he thinks it’s unfair that he’s being called that by the very people who were the same to Palamecians, he’s just accepted it at this point.  He has gotten no other help in his life for the things he has, his social skills are poor from being confined to his homeland for so long, and the catholic views instilled into him by the very society he was born into. So if one is looking for a relationship with Mateus --- they will be made into a third wheel, they will not get the love they seek out of this man.

Mateus has only said ‘I love you’ to one person and that has been Hilda along with being vulnerable and allowing his walls to be down, it is something he will not extend to anyone else, no matter how much they attempt or even pry, it’s obvious his heart belongs to someone who he can’t even have. Despite the fact this blog is focused on an alternate ending of II where Mateus won, he can’t get together with Hilda for he fears for her reputation among the people and she doesn’t need to tarnish her image for him.

So what does Mateus do? Out of sheer loneliness and desperation, he’ll marry or get together with someone just to fill that void, but he never shows them the amount of attention and love he’d give to Hilda if she was in his arms instead --- and that’s something he’d have to learn anyhow, for romance isn’t even Mateus’ forte. To avoid this abuse, said person is better off cutting ties from this relationship and finding a way out ASAP.

TL;DR: Your muse is literally going to be a third wheel while Mateus is in his study feverishly writing Hilda like fifty letters in the worst English because he has commitment issues and mental scars that never got attended to 0/10 bad husband why do you think me and Milla’s ship is so bad

[holyxvi]

// . More like shittily drawn Mateus for scale.

Since I am bad at drawing size comparisons, I just went ahead and popped in BoTW so I could show what the hell I’m talking about ( and before I jump into the nitty gritty of this small little...HC? I guess? thingie ).

That tall Chocobo is the size of this horse:

That smaller guy with his neck stretched out is about the size of this sand seal:

Just so the non-BoTW players get a nice visual, huzzah. Let’s jump to it now.

Given the climate that makes up Palamecia and the biology of the natives that live within, it is not considered a suitable environment for humans or most animals to thrive, which also means there’s not very many methods of transportation ( unless you’re a Palamecian, then you can walk across the desert back and fourth with little problem ).

Walking on foot is not an option for outsiders, due to the extreme heat and the high chance of being jumped by bandits, so the only way to traverse across safely is via chocobo --- but just not any chocobo, but the ones bred by the Palamecians themselves that can handle the desert and then some.

The chocobo are all one color, with specks of brown, and hardly have any feathering aside from what’s on their heads and their tails. They are known to come in two different sizes, neither which can be ridden, but can be used to pull people or things to and from checkpoints.

Racing Chocobo are generally used for, well, racing. They are half the size of an average person and are often seen running around in the open when wild. They eat sand, gravel, and whatever greenery is available. Their size and speed makes them not just valuable for racing, but for bandits as well, who condition them to steal from any outsider that decides to cross the sands alone. They have more feathering on their wings compared to their bigger counterparts, as they open them frequently when running as to give them more “air”.

Wagon Pulling Chocobo are used for the sole purpose of pulling things or people around and are often seen as a marvel by outsiders. Larger than normal chocobo and their racing Palamecian counterparts, these guys pack in a lot of muscle and far less feathering, making them perfect for hauling large loads. They aren’t seen as much in the wild as their smaller counterparts due to excessive domestication by the Palamecians, but it is always advised for outsiders to never approach a wild one --- unless they wish to be picked up and chucked into a nearby sand dune. Given the “teeth” within their beaks, wagon chocobo have meat within their diet and Lamias are usually their meaty food of choice, often invading lamia nests and eating the eggs.

These chocobo are considered sacred and important to the natives within Palamecia, so much so that it is ingrained within their culture, chocobo feathers being used in jewelry and household decorations. Foreign smugglers are punished almost immediately, as Palamecian-bred chocobo cannot survive outside of the desert, and any deceased birds are treated with great respect, natives finding any and all use for every single part of the bird.

These chocobo do not make sounds similar to their normal counterparts, but rather they let out a loud whistling or clicking similar to that of a Toucan. Palamecians use similar sounds when directing the racing chocobo around, it’s their means of communication with them.

[holyxvi]

// . Okay but what I mean by my last post regarding foreigners studying Palamecians like they’re some sort of weird new species even though they’re as human as anyone else:

-- Special oils in the skin that keeps a Palamecian from burning or tanning but sheds on a regular basis and comes off like dandruff. Mateus is as pale as they come and it sticks out horribly when its time to shed.

-- Their chocobos are treated as well as Egyptians treated their cats, they’re very important in their culture and will use all parts of the bird when it dies, Palamecians tending to decorate the skulls and keep them in either a special place in the home or placing them in a special shrine carved out of the side of a mountain. In Mateus’ case, he once had a chocobo named Nazareth who’s skull sits at the shrine, displayed high above the rest ( obviously due to the fact that he belonged to Palamecia’s king emperor ).

-- Palamecians relishing in the sun so much that the ones who don’t live in the mountainous city can sometimes be seen without clothes on. Of course, they’re not walking around, they’re just chilling ontop of the sand dunes and watching the world go by.

-- “Wow! Palamecia’s population sure is small! Why is that?” Mateus, thinking about the genocide he witnessed at twelve years old where he had his hair forcefully cut off , bore witness to Palamecians being slaughtered, and watched his uncle die protecting his father:

-- They. Dig. In. Sand. With their nails. You think Mateus has his nails for show and is afraid of getting them dirty? Naw. He likes the feeling of sand or dirt between his fingers, any Palamecian does.

-- Mateus and a select few of his ancestors before him prefer to blend in with the citizens and just hang out compared to being inside a castle all day. Some outsiders pass by him and don’t realize he’s the emperor until they’re told. A master of blending in.

-- Biggest country yet they are the poorest. They only manage given that foreigners like the jewelry and art they make ( and that stuff is then later stolen back from them by the thieves who live in the desert ).

-- They’ve gone 400+ years without knowing what a real bed is like, damn they really live like this? Yes, they do, but they’ll figure out mattresses....eventually.