#—&. life of the party! (aymeric)

[tbgkaru]

FFXIV band AU

I've had this idea since 2020 and it's still eating at me enough to perhaps write/draw a comic for this eventually, but for now pictures will have to do!

Haurchefant had the idea to form a band during their college years and of course Aymeric is too nice to deny him (even though he raises valid concerns) and Estinien has always quietly tagged along for the road. Aymeric made the excuse that his instrument knowledge is not befitting of the band (violin and piano) and so he offered to help with writing the songs. Who would believe that their grudge pop-punk band will do well! Haurchefant was the perfect showman, Estinien had his brooding but powerful enticing aura, Aymeric's songs were metaphorical and deep but fun and sing-a-long-y. They also often reminded too much of a certain white-haired bassist and their experience together through Aymeric's lenses, much to Estinien's obliviousness.

Haurchefant acted like a celebrity even with minimal audience and dragged Hilda into the band early on when he didn't manage to bag her but they still had a great chemistry (and she lit a fire with her drumming). The 3 of them made it big and eventually the 4 of them, as Aymeric joined for press once (tackling band management and PR on top of his other paperwork and song writing) and the fans couldn't take their eyes off of him, demanding him to play with the band. Politely denying, Aymeric still got a piano solo inbetween their powersongs here and there.

Not being straightforward with Estinien ate at his heart more often than not, when the band went to a party but Aymeric had to stay behind and deal with paperwork (estinien giving him a long quiet look before leaving with the other two), only for them to be back late into the night, Haurchefant and Hilda drunk and loud, Estinien sober but post-fuck with a stranger.

The band broke up when Haurchefant got into a scandal with few groupies and had to raise a child now, Hilda wanting to continue the band life but in an all-female band, leaving Estinien and Aymeric to themselves again, in almost an unreal silence post this ride of a life. Aymeric eventually confesses to Estinien, only for Estinien to tell Aymeric that he was aware of his feelings all along, mentioning the songs were saying it all and Aymeric almost ashamed at his friend deciphering their meaning and correctly attaching it to himself. At long last, Estinien leans in for a kiss before he asks Aymeric to still manage his taxes though.

[mothwingwritings]

Look, I don’t think this would ever happen (if anything I think the two of them are/would be great buddies and would bond over their mutual love of the Warrior of Light/you), but I am a little obsessed with the idea of G’raha and Aymeric being so jealous of each other’s relationship with you that it births an intense rivalry between the two of them.

I’m talking childish levels of banter, one step away from the two of them grabbing either one of your arms and beginning a tug of war match. They would conceal their jealousy during any important meetings, when it’s time to work they are all business and decorum, too focused on trying to impress their hero with their prowess and tact to worry about what the other is doing. But afterwards, before the assembly splits up and everyone is just milling around sharing pleasantries? Oh, it’s on.

G’raha talking just a smidge too loudly about all the fun and exciting adventures he has gotten to share with you (and will continue to share with you far into the future), making sure Aymeric is within earshot so he can clearly hear each little intimate detail. Aymeric in turn excusing  himself from whoever he is speaking with so he can interject into the conversation, standing just a little too close to you as he does so. He places his hand on the small of your back while he regales the party with tales of his time together with you, recanting with a fond twinkle in his eye all the time you spent together as you brought about the end of the Dragonsong War. He focused most of his time elaborating on the moments he spent alone with you and the greatness the two of you were able to achieve together, how well you both complimented each other.

They both get under each other’s skin so easily. G’raha is essentially living Aymeric’s dream life, getting to go on countless daring adventures all over the world (and beyond) with the person he treasures the most. And Aymeric intimately knows you in ways G’raha does not, as Aymeric has been a beloved companion and confidante in your life before G’raha even had a presence. For so long G’raha simply existed as an unreachable, detached entity from you, only able to dream of an eventual reunion (that on most days seemed like an unobtainable dream). He feels like he’s constantly playing catch up, while Aymeric consistently frets that he is being left behind. Both men know sides of their hero that the other does not, and both have experienced moments with you that the other will never share, and that gets to them.

Of course all the other scions notice this and tease them both about it mercilessly. Despite the heavy handedness of it all and their desire to always one up the other, both are always exhibiting remarkably good behavior around you to the point where you yourself are a little clueless as to the extent of this rivalry. And they work hard to keep it that way! No sense in looking like a fool in front or the person they love and admire the most, even if they are hell bent on being as petty as possible to each other behind the scenes to claim the top spot in your heart.

(Which is silly, you love and cherish both equally! :) No matter how much that impartiality may irritate them.)

[blackestnight]

1: road hazard

Prompt: Steer Word count: 1406 Honestly, Hanami probably needs to come with a permanent caution sign.

“Absolutely not,” Aymeric says, his scowl marred a bit by the fact that he’s obviously holding back a smile. The overall effect is that he’s very sternly sucking on one of those spiced chocolate candies she brought back from Tuliyollal and trying not to sneeze.

Hanami leans back against the Manufactory’s wall, insulated enough in her coat not to feel the chill of stone, and raises an eyebrow at him.

“I know,” he says, grave as any battlefield order, “how you drive that thing.”

“You have never seen my drive my motorbike,” she says immediately, and because she loves him with all the fury of a dying star she even withholds the you fucking liar she wants to tack onto the end.

“I have received numerous reports of your recklessness,” he says, crisp and clipped in a way that has a smile tugging at the corner of her own mouth. “And I have no desire to risk my own life by placing myself at the mercy of your driving.”

“Reports,” she scoffs, and twirls the little metal ring around her finger so the cermet keys clink against each other. Cid and Nero are still in the middle of their most recent engineering pissing contest, and apparently the only thing they can agree on about the bikes is that she’s their favorite test driver—you’re almost guaranteed to walk away from any catastrophic malfunction, Nero had sneered, which was a compliment coming from him. It cuts down on paperwork. Not that she actually needs all the motorbikes they’ve been giving her instead of actual payment, but it’s not like she’s going to turn them down since they are useful.

Which is why it’s especially offensive that Aymeric raises his hands, ticks off his first finger, and says, “Cid Garlond.”

“If he did not want me to wreck his bikes,” she says, “he should have built better fucking bikes.”

Aymeric raises an eyebrow at her—she wrinkles her nose—but he’s truly smiling now, even as he says, “You drove it directly into a cliff face. At speed.”

“He should have built a bike that could fucking turn,” she says, which is also more or less what she had told Cid at the time, and he’d thrown his hands up and stormed out of the Ironworks tent at Porta Praetoria to scream incoherently, but the next iteration of the G-bike could make hairpin turns at speeds that would make a chocobo jockey shit themselves, so she’d clearly been right.

Aymeric raises his eyes to the heavens, although she can’t imagine who exactly he’s praying to, and he ticks off a second finger and says, “Lucia Junius.”

“That was her idea,” Hanami says. To be fair, it was a good one. The Ilsabardian contingent had brought chocobos for transporting provisions, but they couldn’t actually take the birds out on long journeys unless the scouting parties wanted to haul around enough tents and fuel to close off and heat an area big enough to keep giant hulking horsebirds from dying of exposure. Hanami’s bike was smaller, and wouldn’t freeze to death on the icy wastes of Garlemald.

It also made Hanami essentially their only mounted cavalry until they could steal some Reapers, which was a little strange, but as it turned out if she could hook her scythe blade into…really any part of a hostile piece of magitek, the bike’s momentum would do the rest of the work of tearing it to shreds, even if she did a bit of an ungainly fishtail the first few times she tried that stunt.

“She asked if you would be willing to use the bike for scouting,” Aymeric says. “Not for combat.”

“She did not explain that to the colossi pointing cannons at my face,” Hanami points out. “And they were rude and would not wait for me to put down the kickstand.”

He’s absolutely laughing now, his shoulders visibly shaking even under the bulk of his coat, but he keeps his voice remarkably steady while he ticks off a third finger and says, “G’raha Tia.”

“Can fuck right off,” she snaps, and then hisses when her tail smacks against the Manufactory wall. “He has no room to talk.” Even ignoring the stunt with the light aether, which she was still mad about, or the nonsense with Elidibus, or the tower of Zot—by the time she’d found him and Alisaie on the Magna Glacies, he’d been halfway through calling down a fireball that would have made him black out after, and bleeding from half a dozen wounds besides. Whereas Hanami dumping her bike and letting it skid straight into the giant blasphemy’s legs had been quick and efficient, and immobilized the stupid oversized lizard, and a hastily-spun shield of shadow meant Hanami had rolled to her feet without so much as a bruise. “I notice you did not get a report from Alisaie.”

“Mistress Leveilleur was quite impressed by your driving,” Aymeric says, “which I feel only reinforces my point.”

Hanami snorts, and holds out the hand not occupied with her keyring, which Aymeric takes easily. “I would not let anything happen to you,” she says, and runs her thumb across his gloved knuckles. “I can be careful.”

Erenville would bitch about anything, but he’d only complained about the noise and the smell of the bike, not her driving. Lamat-chan had been delighted the first time Hanami had taken her on a ride through the streets of Tuliyollal, split between chattering about automated wheeled carts to ferry around citizens who couldn’t handle the endless stairs or hills and whooping in elation when Hanami kicked up the speed a little down the long straight of Talonmarch. Even Alphinaud was comfortable enough on the back of the bike, although he usually wound up with his face pressed between her shoulderblades when they bounced over rougher ground.

“I know,” Aymeric says, and lifted their twined hands to press a kiss to her fingers. “Though I do wish you would take more care with your own safety, and not only that of your passengers.”

She lets loose a tiny sigh through her nose, the showy irritation melting from her shoulders, and allows herself a real smile as she runs her fingertips down the line of Aymeric’s jaw. He has an adventurer’s spirit, even if his heart is sworn to Ishgard, but she doesn’t think he’s ever felt the same delight she gets from heart-pounding excitement, almost akin to terror, kicking her pulse into overdrive and dousing her nerve endings in adrenaline. He so rarely turns down little adventures with her, but she thinks, if she could peer into his mind, he would be the sort with a voice in his head telling him to step carefully when walking along a cliff’s edge.

Her impulses have always been the sort telling her to jump. The rotten ones, the loudest ones, to try and find silence at the bottom—but the rest, the ones she heeds most closely now, just to enjoy the wind whistling through her hair during the fall.

“I know,” she says. “But I would not get myself into any trouble I could not walk away from.” Not when she has a choice in the matter.

And even when the choice was taken away from her, at the edge of the universe, she got up and walked it off anyway, even if it took some kind of bullshit akasa resurrection and a lot of physical therapy, so it isn’t as though she’d let something as silly as a bike crash keep her away from him, not when the end of days couldn’t manage it.

He comes to her easily when she tugs on his hand, and presses a kiss to her temple, the heat of his breath settling into her hair.

“Setting aside the matter of your driving,” he murmurs, his voice gone velvety in a way that warms her from the inside out, “I rather enjoy the romance of long walks with you.”

When he straightens up his smile is easy, and his fingers are twined even more firmly in her own, so she pockets the keyring and says, “You could have just said you wanted to hold my hand, you sap.”

“I thought it rather apparent,” he tells her, with another squeeze to her fingers, and she scoffs and pushes off the wall. It’s a long, cold walk to Whitebrim, but she’s never minded taking the slow way.

[quinn-borel]

Edmont

A fresh dust of snow paved the way to his destination, his cane clutched in his palm as he felt a roar of excitement wash over him, yet his old legs couldn’t carry him as quickly as he would have liked.  Still, Edmont de Fortemps, accompanied by his son, Count Artoirel de Fortemps, hastily made his way to the main hospital within the Pillars.  Up that road, down this road, through this tunnel, and across from that house–Edmont knew the area very well, though necessarily not by fortune.  However, this occasion was fortunate indeed, for he received a missive merely hours prior stating that the Lady of House Borel had given birth.  ‘Twas an exciting moment that caused him to rip himself from his desk and summon the steward to fetch his coat—his ward, the woman who called him her adoptive father, the savior of Ishgard, had brought a new life into their cold, cold world.  And he was honored to be the first to be told out of the potential hundreds of others who could have found out about Ishgard’s newest blessing–not even the Scions knew.

Not even the Lady’s own parents were notified.

The pair made their way into the main hall, greeted kindly by one of the secretaries as she realized instantly who they were and what they were there for.  With a smile, she guided both men towards the maternity ward.  Each bed area was blocked off by partitions and curtains alike, giving each mother their privacy.  Though, towards the end of the ward one curtain was slightly ajar for just a moment as a gentleman made his way through the veil.  Immediately recognizing him, Edmont picked up his pace to greet the man before him,

“Ser Aymeric,” Edmont began, “how is she?  Is she well?  Are both mother and babe-”

“L-Lord Edmont, Lord Artoirel, we weren’t expecting you both to arrive so soon.” Aymeric said with raised brows, though a smile nonetheless, “They’re fine, both of them.  Though, the little one is asleep right now.”

My boy...I’m so proud…

Edmont held his tongue, giving Aymeric a nod, “I received the missive.  Is she...free for visitors?”

“Yes, she’s free for the moment.  I was just about to call upon one of the nurses to bring her something to eat as she is famished.”

“I can imagine, given the circumstances.” Artoirel stated flatly as he was so one to do.  Aymeric smiled and shrugged a bit,

“I’m not in the position to really deny her or delay her requests at the moment-”

“Of course.” Artoirel sighed, “I’ll tell the nurse to bring her something, you stay here with your wife.”

“Th-that’s very kind of you.”  Aymeric seemed rather flustered, but Artoirel knew that Quinn wouldn’t want Aymeric out of her sight.  He was there when the knight casually approached him and the Lord Speaker to tell them that Quinn had been in labor for two hours already, and for sure she was not too happy with her husband being as tardy as he was.  Obviously he had gotten an earful and then some.

“I’m sure she’ll forgive you...eventually.” Edmont chuckled, “Right now, I think you and the babe are at the forefront of her mind though.”

“Please, allow me.” Aymeric pulled the curtain back slightly to allow the elder in, just enough so that he could sidestep through.

She was sitting up holding a small bundle in her arms with an exhausted look in her eyes, yet that warm, glowing smile on her features was ever present.  Edmont was taken aback by the scene, for the last time he had seen her was at a party just a week prior when she looked like she was ready to pop and miserable as ever.

“Lord Edmont,” she whispered as she looked up from the babe, “thank you for coming by.”

“It is an honor, Quinn–err, Mistress Borel.” he said with a chuckle as he took to the chair next to her.

“You know ‘Quinn’ is just fine for me.”  Her voice was hoarse and soft, a harsh contrast from her more boisterous vocals.

“Well, is it a boy or a girl?” he asked curiously,

“A healthy little boy.”

“And what of you, my dear?” he sat his cane to the side so that he could offer his gloved hand to her, just as a father would.  She accepted it, giving it a gentle squeeze,

“I’m fine.  They said we can go home in a few days.”

“I’ve elected to postpose any meetings until I know they’re both back at the manor safe and sound, rest assured.” Aymeric interrupted before Edmont could question the new father’s willingness to put his own duties aside.  Edmont gave Aymeric a proud nod before going back to Quinn,

“That warms my heart to hear.”

“Would you like to hold him?”

Edmont froze, for the last time he held a child was when Emmanellain was just a babe.  That was years ago…he wondered if he still knew the proper way to hold one.  But, it was fatherly instincts which kept him at ease, and Quinn gently handed the tiny bundle over to him.

“I figured it would be nice for him to meet his grandfather.” Quinn beamed as she made the statement.  Edmont felt his cheeks go rosy at the thought, taking the child in his arms as he warmed to the idea of being a grandfather, even if he and the babe and the babe’s parents didn’t share blood.  

The little boy’s eyes were shut tight as he was perfectly snuggled into the warm swaddle.  Edmont couldn’t help but to wonder whose hair he got and whose ears he inherited, but he dare not disturb the child’s slumber.  

“Oh, by the Fury, he is perfect.” Edmont stated loud enough so both parents could hear his praises, “Have you given him a name yet?”

...

That’s when Quinn and Aymeric’s eyes locked on to one another, both grinning with delight about their little kept secret.  Aymeric rubbed the back of his neck,

“Well, Lord Edmont, we wanted to give him a strong name.  A name that meant the world to both Quinn and I.” he explained.

Quinn went on, “...so, Aymeric and I discussed it…and we decided to name him after a knight.  A knight that served Ishgard to the fullest.  A knight who was known for his kindness, generosity, and overall selflessness.  Those are characteristics we want to see in our son, so...please meet Haurchefant de Borel.”

…

“H-haurchefant…” Edmont stared wide-eyed at the child, “...Haurchefant de Borel.”

Quinn hesitated for a moment, unable to gauge the man’s thoughts by the way he looked at the babe.  Her gaze fell to Aymeric once more, who equally had a look of concern in his eyes.

Before either of them could explain further, the former count pulled the babe closer to his chest, his free hand wiping away what appeared to be tears rolling down his cheek,

“What...what a wonderful name.” he wept, “I am…I am so honored you chose to give that name to your own son.”

Quinn smiled softly, “He gave his life for me...I wanted to honor that sacrifice.  And we will raise our son to be just as honorable as he was, that we promise.”

“Oh, by the Fury,” Edmont sniffled, “to hear that name once again–Haurchefant.  Ah, forgive me. I am filled with joy, truly.  My ward, and the friend of our family, raising a son named after my own?  Words cannot describe not only my surprise, but my gratitude that you would choose to carry on his legacy in such a way.”

“We apologize that we did not run it by you first, but it came to us the moment Quinn held him for the first time.”

“We honestly didn’t have any names lined up beforehand.” Quinn admitted bashfully, “But, I think the name fits him perfectly.”

“It truly will,” Edmont said with a smile, “I have faith in you both to honor my son’s legacy...isn’t that right, Haurchefant?”

The babe cooed softly in his sleep.  Truly, he had quite the boots to fill.  But, with the guidance of his parents and extended family, he would grow up to be a knight worthy of carrying the name.

[myrfing]

just had a dream where the final trial of dt was something i could not describe. it was like a 1h30min fight because half the mechanics were giant storytelling phases. you had to bring a bunch of characters’ dead parents back to life briefly as phantasms for them to stop these raidwide explosion mechanics. but before that you had to learn about all of them. you find out that aymeric’s adoptive parents were an ishgardian lalafell couple (???) and his mom was secretly a dark knight. a character that had to be some lae’zel-sadu morph was there for a phase where the arena was a giant pool that gets flooded in a tsunami and you had to control her to grab a bunch of fish and find a sea snake to cure your healers’ paralysis while the rest of your party had to debone fish. venat was there in subtextual conflict with her hydaelyn self despite summoning her i don’t know how to describe this one in brief. there’s an entire phase with just some guy giving a lecture you had to decode with a puzzle in the bookshelves in the back of the room. the first phase was not beatable if you weren’t in legacy controls. I need to rewatch it again to make sense of this shit. alas

[shadowed-vigil]

day 29: lapse - free day

verb: come to an end. characters: paulecrain de fanouilley, warrior of light

word count: 664 notes: endwalker spoilers. one last night before the end of the world. 

It doesn’t take him long to notice her missing. 

As much as Grinnaux may feign disinterest when it comes to the Warrior of Light and her whereabouts, Paulecrain can tell the other man notices her absence, too; not enough to make actual mention of it, certainly not enough to want to do anything about it. 

Paulecrain, though — 

He doesn’t find her down by the docks like he expects, like the last time, but she’s still by the sea — just higher, perched up on the cliffside that juts above the Last Stand. He knows she hears him coming by the twitch of her ears, the flick of her tail — the half-glance she steals back over her shoulder. There’s no widening of her eyes, no flex of her hand. She regards him plainly, and that’s how he knows.

She says nothing as he situates himself beside her. He presses his palms down against the cool earth, listens to the wind rustling through the leaves of the trees. The steady inhale, exhale, from the woman beside him.

Eventually, he speaks up.

“It seems you had quite the day.” 

She doesn’t laugh, but he casts her a sidelong glance and catches the curve of her mouth, the ghost of a smile, her gaze steadfast along the horizon. 

“When do I not?” 

Which, fair. He hums.

“Not enjoying the party?” 

“...It isn’t that.” 

(He knows that, too, but —)

“I’m surprised you’re here,” she says by way of gentle deflection. 

“I don’t have to be, if you’d rather I not.” 

“I don’t mind.” 

It’s the unspoken conversation between them that has him pause. There’s that invisible barrier again, a wall that seems impenetrable when they’re this close. He can’t help but think of the memory — her hand on his thigh, his arm looped around her. Can still feel the brush of her nose against his, back down at the docks. 

(Maybe that’s why she chose to steal away here instead. A reminder, a reinforcement of what lines not to cross.)

“I’ve been thinking about Azys Lla,” she says, finally.

Ah. Perhaps a few lines still yet to cross. 

She goes on, “If you two survived, there’s no reason to think that the others did not.” 

Paulecrain agrees, but there’s been no word, no news. They would have been too conspicuous holed up together, all twelve of them; it hadn’t been a formal decision to scatter, no time, no choice, but —

“When you do return to Ishgard, I assume the rest will come out of the woodwork. I trust you’ll pass along my apologies.”

You’ve nothing to apologize for. 

“You can tell them yourself.” 

She hums. “Perhaps. Although, who knows when I’ll be in Ishgard proper again.” 

“When you talk with Aymeric.” 

It earns him a chuckle. “That should be a quick enough meeting, if I’ve anything to say about it. And I’m certain I’ll have other places to be besides.” 

“So quick to scamper off again, even after saving the star?” 

“I’ll have to actually do that, first.” 

“Won’t you?” 

“Of course,” but it comes out too quick, too petulant, too — 

He looks at her and catches the furrow of her brow, the set of her jaw. The wind ruffles her hair and his first compulsion is to raise a hand to smooth it, to tuck it back into place. 

“I’m glad you two at least had each other,” she finally says. “In the aftermath. It would have been worse to be lonely.” 

It was worse, she doesn’t say. The words hang in the silence all the same.

He ignores the proverbial barrier as he leans over, pressing a kiss to the top of her head; some small bargain, something he does in lieu of what he’d prefer to do instead. He has spent so much of his life wanting, both in the before and the after. Here and now, he supposes this is nothing new. 

Arcelia shivers. If her fingers brush up against his, he’s certain it’s by accident. 

[azems-familiar]

Lelesu Lesu

(art by outheros)

Name: Lelesu Lesu

Age: 22 - ARR, 27 - EW, 29 - DT

Nameday: 32nd sun of the 1st astral moon

Pronouns: she/her

Race: Dunesfolk lalafell

Height: 3'

Sexuality: greyromantic asexual, sex-favorable, polyamorous (straight)

Relationships: Romantically involved with Haurchefant (prior to his death) and Aymeric; queerplatonic with Hythlodaeus and Emet-Selch

Other Family: her best friend, Corrain (@sunderedazem); sworn brotherhood with Artoirel, and thus the rest of House Fortemps; her and Aymeric's daughter, Ismene (born shortly before DT)

Jobs: RDM, SGE, PLD; dabbled in CNJ/WHM and MRD briefly

Background:

Lelesu was born in Ul'dah to wealthy parents and raised with the expectation that she would take over their business when they were ready to step down. She had never been interested in that particular path of life, however, and felt stifled and trapped by their expectations and the person they wanted her to be. Angry and desiring the freedom to make her own choices and build her own life, she ran away and boarded a ship to Limsa Lominsa with the aim of becoming a pirate - an aspiration that she quite quickly abandoned upon discovering the affliction known as seasickness. Almost aimless, she joined the Marauders' Guild and, through her training there, grew as a person and learned to manage her anger and other emotions, and how to fend for herself. Heartened, she chooses to become an adventurer, and when she meets Corrain - a young conjurer from Gridania - she chooses to leave Limsa Lominsa behind with him to form a party together, a decision that will lead them both to the Scions and far, far beyond...

[johnnylandslide]

You know I had to ask Estinien

I wouldn't have expected anything less! Alright, here goes:

Estinien had been lingering awkwardly near the Warrior of Light for several minutes now. There was a question that needed to be asked, but he could not for the life of him conceive of a way to ask properly. To make matters worse, when he'd voiced his concern to Aymeric earlier today, the man had actually told him off and warned him that his question might even offend.

That brought up even more sinister implications. Estinien both needed to ask this question, and ask it in a way that made sure it never found its way back to her. He felt a faint chill run down his spine.

"Alrighty, let's do Shinryu next! This was first song of his I heard, and it's still one of my favorites!" Johnny called out to the Seventh Heaven tavern, gesturing for his bachelor party guests to give the Wandering Minstrel a round of applause.

Estinien put his hands together for the bard along with everyone else. As Johnny headed back over to his seat, though, Estinien saw his chance, closing the distance and placing a hand on the man's shoulder.

"Johnny."

"Yes?"

Estinien went silent, hand still on Johnny's shoulder. He was fumbling already. He had to ask indirectly.

"How is your... financial situation?" he settled for.

"Well, this wedding has been a nightmare-"

Estinien's eyes went wide, and he tightened his grip on Johnny's shoulder. Right from the start, this was worse than he'd thought. "A nightmare?!"

"Financially, I mean! We invited way too many people, and we didn't exactly pick a cheap venue, either. Nanamo did give us a discount, but there's only so much she can do. We've burned through a lot of savings. Tataru's happy to spend it though; a huge royal wedding was always a dream of hers."

There was still plenty of room for sinister motives here. Estinien had to inquire further. "Are you paying for it, or is Miss Tataru?"

Johnny laughed outright; the question seemed bizarre. "We're getting married, Estinien! We've had a joint account for months already. What are you getting at?"

"I am curious if this is putting you into debt," Estinien said. That was how the woman had ensnared him the first time, and if she was using the same strategy once again, then he needed to do what he could to rescue his friend from it. "You, personally. If someone is gaining leverage over you through this union."

"I don't understand what you mean," Johnny said.

This wasn't working. Next time, he'd ask Alphinaud for help with subtle implications. For now though, he asked directly. "Are you marrying Tataru out of love?"

"...I thought that was pretty obvious," Johnny said, confused.

"That's good," Estinien said. He just needed to check one more time, keeping extra close attention to Johnny's expressions for any signs of coercion. "You truly love her?"

"Yes!" he said. "Tataru is the kindest, sweetest, cutest girl in all Eorzea, and I still cannot believe she's going to marry me. We were together through some of my hardest times, but also some of the best times! She's always been there for me, ever since the first time I walked into the Waking Sands."

Estinien slowly nodded.

"The first time I actually noticed how cute she is was back then, actually. I was leaving on a mission, and I looked over her desk to see what she was up to, and on the Scion roster she'd drawn this little flower next to my name. I should have just proposed to her right there and saved us both half a decade."

"Ah. I understand."

"Then there was Ishgard, which was really rough. Every time we got back to the city, though, she was there in the Forgotten Knight waiting for me, ready to tell me about all the stuff she'd gotten up to while we were out. She really livened that place up, made it feel like a home. That's what Tataru is to me; she's my home."

Estinien nodded again.

"She made this shirt and cape for me, you know? These boots, too," Johnny said, pointing to them. "That white suit I have was the first outfit she made for me. I didn't really put much thought into what I wore before that, but she took such care in making it match the rest of the Scions that it made me feel like part of the group for the first time. She made an entire suit to help me feel included. She's the best."

Estinien hoped this would end soon.

"Also, I just can't believe I'm dating her. Engaged to her! I'm marrying her tomorrow, Estinien! She used to do this thing to get my attention where she would raise both her hands and hop up and down, and it was so cute that I had this urge to just pick her up and kiss her, and now I can! She likes to ride on my shoulder when we go shopping because she tells me it makes her feel like a princess, and when we hug I can pull her so close."

By the Fury, how much longer was this going to go? Estinien could clearly see his initial worries could not possibly have been more misplaced; the only worry remaining being how he was going to escape this.

"She called me her hero when we got back from the big thing, by the way. People have said that to me before, but never like she has. You know?"

"That is... good," Estinien said, eyes flitting about the room looking for an exit.

"Also, her hair is the color of a sunset-"

The sound of a spoon clinking against a glass rang out, Thancred at another table getting Johnny's attention. Estinien gave silent thanks to the Twelve for the reprieve.

"Wrap it up, Landslide! We're all waiting on you," Thancred called out.

Johnny swallowed the rest of his sentence, realizing that seven other people were waiting on him so they could listen to the next song.

"Oops, sorry about that. Okay, I'm ready!" he called. Before the Minstrel began to play, he whispered quickly to Estinien, "Yes, I love her. There's no funny business going on. Thank you for checking, though."

Estinien sighed. Whatever hallucination this bard's next song brought on would be a welcome change of pace from listening to this newlywed. He seemed to be truly happy, and if he happened to find that happiness with the Scions' terrifying pink menace, then Estinien was not one to judge.

[ubejamjar]

I was tagged by the lovely @duperderedere.

I’m taggginngggg (with much affection) @wildknightblaze @primamchorus @thevikingwoman @amalthea-felsblood @lilbittymonster

challenge: make a poll with five of your favorite OCs, and then tag five people to do the same. see which one is everyone's favorite

No one is gonna know anyone other than Ajisai, so I put shitty descriptions and stupid things they did below the cut, for funzies :D i put Aji last because she’s my only oc i actively think about anymore

Key // Divinity Original Sin II //Thieving Undead Scholar with Rizz//

Made out with a spider woman, allowing her to sap the life out of her in exchange for knowledge in front of the skeleton scholar she’s into after they got into an argument about the meaning and worth of life after death.

Réalta Llais // DnD - Forgotten Realms // Untrustworthy Fey Heart of the Party //

Sang ‘All Star’ in her Irish lilt while a village was razed to the ground by a fucking dragon, then held her employer at sword point when he said he wasn’t going to pay her for that performance.

Khoratari // DnD - Eberron // Bringer of Light and Coffee Fiend //

Nearly got the entire party killed by failing to report back to her brother that she was alright— he assumed the whole party was possessed by evil dream aberrations and was going to kill everyone in the room. She got a stern talking to in front of all her friends.

Dalisay Jones // Red Dead Online // Grizzled Softie, Husband Killer //

Drank decidedly too much moonshine and flirted with her future wife by challenging her to a fiddle duel atop the bar counter. Dalis cannot play fiddle nor can she flirt but she did get the girl so who are we to question her methodology?

Ajisai Kawanami // FFXIV // Enthusiastic, But Emotionally Unavailable Survivor //

Wrote and sent Aymeric a 200-page essay on why she could never love him, recanted in a love letter on her death bed, and then avoided him when she survived. Vulnerability is easy on paper, less so in person.

[lilbittymonster]

So what’s Kitali’s plan to force Aymeric on this vacation? I know she does succeed but I’m SUPER curious to know how she’ll convince him to go.

It's not so much force as much reminding him that he took a raincheck on adventuring with her that he's never cashed in on lmao. A whole lot of "come see the world outside of Alliance meetings and battlefields with me".

I'm still working on hammering the caster role quests into a narratively cohesive story but without giving too much away I have it leave off with Kitali asking him the same question he asked her at that dinner date so many years ago: now that this is all over, what do you want for yourself?

Aymeric has had the problem of having spent so many years tied to his office and working towards a goal of a Better Ishgard For The Future that he has largely forgotten how to separate himself from his work. And Kitali has definitely helped with that, though it's like putting bandaids on arterial wound. She takes him to Sohr Khai with her and encourages him to take painting back up and they have a very firm rule of no titles in the house. But it often isn't enough since she still has Scion business to take care of and he is still both Lord Commander and Lord Speaker and it's very easy for them both to slip back into old habits when they aren't around each other.

And now that the world isn't ending and Ishgard isn't under threat of blasphemies anymore and there is effort on both sides of the aisle to mend relations with the Halonic Church, Kitali is getting more and more pushy about him taking his many many many many accrued vacation days that he has not used and she will get Lucia and Handeloup to count them to the number if she has to. There are enough people that he can divide his responsibilities to that a vacation isn't going to leave Ishgard helpless.

And it will do him good to be a wide eyed bushy tailed greenhorn to adventuring with Kitali leading him by the hand and Estinien having a headstart on life outside Ishgard to guide him. He deserves to have fruity drinks on a beach and sunburn so fucking bad because gods know when the last time he saw this much sun was. There's so many freckles and highlights he never knew he had and Kitali will count every one of them.

I'm so extremely hype to release him into a dungeon to do some Big Paladin Damage. A party can be a blue DPS and two red tanks and the two teenagers they are collectively chaperoning.

[every-character-ever-poll]

WEEK SEVEN LINEUP

Soooo. I've been gone a while. What was supposed to be Week Six became more like "Two Months" Six. My bad. I can't promise that random breaks won't happen, but I'll do my level best to not let them become longer than a week if they do (knock on wood - the last time I said "I'll try not to take anymore random breaks" i dipped for a month).

Anyways, here's a very delayed Week Seven! Thank you to everyone who stuck around while I vanished.

Darkiplier - Markiplier

The Puzzler - Generation Loss

The Extinguisher - Jerma's 2022 Holiday Awards Show Extravaganza

The Giant Rat - Rat Movie: Mystery of the Mayan Treasure

Candace Flynn - Phineas and Ferb

Venus aka Kanamori - Heaven's Design Team

Han Ying - Word of Honor

Michealangelo - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

Carrie White - Carrie (all media)

Steve the Trooper - Chuggaconroy’s Pikmin videos

The Thunderhead - Arc of a Scythe

Haruki Nakayama - Given

A - Tomorrow Will Be Dying

Doris Frances Barbara - Blood & Syrup: A Vampire the Masquerade Podcast

Juliet Capulet - & Juliet

May - & Juliet

Castiel Supernatural - Supernatural

Derek Hale - Teen Wolf

Lúthien Tinúviel - The Silmarillion

Potamos - Wedding Peach

Jiang Cheng - The Untamed

Poe Dameron - Star Wars

Asterion - Baldur's Gate 3

Dalian - Dantalian no Shoka

Shulk - Xenoblade Chronicles

Solid Snake - Metal Gear Solid

Zanza - Xenoblade Chronicles

Kuu - Haibane Renmei

Cole MacGrath - Infamous

Captain Olimar - Pikmin

Raku-chan - Nyan Neko Sugar Girls

Annie Wintersummer - Unprepared Casters

Yona - Akatsuki no Yona

Shane Schofield (Scarecrow) - Scarecrow and Jack West Junior

The Medic - Team Fortress 2

Sailor Jupiter - Sailor Moon

Orbulon - WarioWare

Mike - WarioWare

Cure Honey - Happiness Charge Precure

Crazy Barks - Drawn to Life

Ninjini - Skylanders

Cure La Mer - Tropical Rouge Precure

End (Endymion) - Beyond the End

Kansuke Yamato - Detective Conan

Mr. Crow, AKA Aldous Vanderboom - Rusty Lake/Cube Escape

Vega - Street Fighter

Izumi Miyamura - Horimiya

Aldark - Drawn to Life

M. Bison - Street Fighter

Aoi Inuyama - Yuru Camp

Klara - Pokemon

Virginia Lewis - The 10th Kingdom

Muriel - Good Omens

Nene Kusanagi - Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage/Project Sekai

Michiko Malandro - Michiko to Hatchin

Suzuki Shinya - 10 Dance

Miles Maitland - Bright Young Things

Diavolo - Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

Burly, Blabberwort, and Bluebell - The 10th Kingdom

Natsume Takashi - Natsume's Book of Friends

Faust - Guilty Gear

Sugiki Shinya - 10 Dance

Cure Finale - Delicious Party Precure

Igarashi Vice - Kamen Rider Revice

Mitsumi Iwakura - Skip and Loafer

The Corinthian - The Sandman

Shizuku Hinomori - Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage/Project Sekai

Mickey Muldoon - The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns

Natsuki Shinomiya - Uta no Prince Sama

Sasha Braus - Attack on Titan

Virtue Courtenlock - Krillverse

Goop Lyn - veryextraincorrectfegbaquotes.tumblr.com

Jean-Francois - Bunny Maloney

Tome Kurata - Mob Psycho 100

Seras Victoria - Hellsing

Pang Pawaret - The gifted

Viren - The Dragon Prince

Brawne Lamia - Hyperion

Dai Lee - Let Dai

Haruka Kiritani - Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage/Project Sekai

Minori Hanasato - Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage/Project Sekai

Cube - Gather Ye Power

C-53 - Mission to Zyxx

Cynte - Endoparasitic

Ged/Sparrowhawk - Earthsea

Sniff - The Moomins

Soren Baltimore - Camp Here & There

Mellow - Endacopia

Eunhyung Song - Let Dai

Rufus - Deponia

Sheik - The Legend of Zelda

Lee Ping - Detentionaire

Kasane Fuchi - Kasane

Shigure Sohma - Fruits Basket

Aymeric de Borel - Final Fantasy XIV

Meta Knight - Kirby

Luka Couffaine - Miraculous Ladybug

Satō - Ajin: Demi-Human

Mudkip - Pokemon

Death of the Endless - The Sandman

[jaymber]

The Black Sapphire

Timeline 20151 - Protagonist : V Temarii

Discreetly slipping into the Black Sapphire, V was left in awe. The nomad had never attended such a party. Becoming a legend had been Jackie’s dream, but looking around at the familiar faces, shining celebrities from the TV screen and infamous gangsters from the streets, V started dreaming as well. It was easy for him to create a new identity, with his accent growing thicker with the champagne he sipped. He somehow managed to blend in, and meet new faces. He finally found Songbird, in all her ganic and chromed glory. He refrained from hugging her at the last moment, but still couldn’t help himself from smiling. She was safe, captive, but safe. And V believed her, believed she had agreed to everything Hansen asked of her, for her own safety. V didn’t even listen to Reed’s theory. Songbird didn’t have anything to blame herself for, V just knew it. He quickly forgot why he had come to the party when he was sent on a quest to scan the Cassel twins. He was having too much fun. He hadn’t been able to speak his mother tongue with many people in his life, and here came an opportunity. V waited a bit, but found the perfect time to let out his little secret. “Tu ne serais pas entrain de devenir trop pote avec lui?” Aymeric eventually asked his sister, after she and V had a long conversation. Not getting a little too damn chummy with him? “Mais, fais pas ton jalous, p’tit frère,” she retorted, “c’est pas comme si on allait baiser, lui et moi!” Don’t be jealous, little brother. I don’t intent to fuck him. “Mais oui, Aymeric. Fais pas ton jaloux,” V finally said in perfect French, earning more of their attention, “C’est pas ta soeur que je vise.” Relax, Aymeric. Don’t be jealous. It’s not your sister who caught my attention. His reply caught them both off guard, especially the brother who didn’t seem use to such a direct approach. “Un autre français, ici?” asked Aurore. So, you're French as well? “Presque. Mes parents sont d’Polynésie.” Kind of. My parents are from French Polynesia. “Oh, quel exotisme!” she exclaimed without thinking, earning from both V and her brother a perplex laugh. When their eyes met, V knew a connection had occurred between him and the quieter of the twins. He simply had too much fun to stop here, but the Cassel siblings were suddenly hushed away by the leader of Dogtown himself: Kurt Hansen. V didn’t listen much. The alcohol in his bloodstream decided watching where the twins were heading was more important. Some scare tactics that didn’t faze the merc. He didn’t come for a fight, and Hansen didn’t either. His words seemed to hint Reed’s theory was right, but V was too stubborn to hear.

[jefarawol]

“Is the party too much for you?” Jefara jumped. She had not noticed anyone following her and was even more startled to see the Lord Speaker coming up the stairs behind her. “Aymeric?!” She gasped, “I- “ “These things can be a bit much.” He smiled warmly at her, giving her a moment to recover  “I loathe them sometimes myself.” “I didn't want to ruin the mood.” Her hand trailed over the edge of the piano, down towards the keys as she turned and stepped towards him. “I understand.” He settled himself on the sofa, sighing as he dropped onto the soft cushion. “The thought of a wedding fosters some bitter feelings in me.” She gripped her arms tightly, shrinking in on herself. Her voice when she spoke was so quiet Aymeric almost didn't hear it. “Is that-” she paused, “because of me?” He looked at her, her eyes sad. “Yes.” he replied honestly, “...and also no.”  She looked at him confused. “The thought of marriage has always been a strange one to me. Ever since I learnt of my true parents.” She looked like she wished to say something, but the words wouldn't form. “You are curious about my mother?” “I know only too well of your Father, but no one has ever mentioned your mother. It never felt right to ask.” She lowered herself to the sofa beside him, sitting as close as she deemed socially acceptable should anyone find them. “Would you like to talk about her? If it would make you feel better?”

She added the last part cautiously, she didn’t want Aymeric to feel pressure of speaking of something he was not ready to do so. He had been good enough to offer the same respect to her after all. “Perhaps.” He relaxed a little as she sat down. “But I would have to start at the beginning, if you wished to hear it.”  She nodded gently. “The people who raised me were actually my mothers brother and wife.” He clasped his hands together leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “My mother back then was a devoted servant of the church. She dedicated her life to service and to charity work. She was well loved and had many asking for her hand. She turned them all down saying she would only marry if she found a love greater than her love for Halone.” “Sounds like you take after her.” She smiled gently at him. “I’ve been told I very much look and act like her.” He returned with his own slight smile. “What happened to her?” “She found it,” he said, a hint of sadness falling into his tone, “Or thought she had. She got engaged and was ready to leave service to become a wife and start her own family.”

He sighed deeply. “Seems my Father didn't like that. He forced himself on her and ruined her once she discovered she was pregnant with me. She was abandoned by her fiancé and cast aside by those who called her friends.”  “That's awful.” Jefara raised her hand to her mouth in shock. “That's the society I was brought up in.” He grimaced back. “The one I've been working so hard to change. When I was born she gave me to my aunt and uncle to raise and fled the city, never to be heard of again.” “Is there no chance that she-?” She trailed off. “Might be alive?” Aymeric raised an eyebrow and shook his head. “It's been 34 years. Not a single trace of her has been seen. My uncle searched before he died. Nothing.” “I’m sorry, Aymeric.” “Don’t be. I accepted long ago that she had likely passed on.” Silence fell on them, Jefara longed to reach her hand out to comfort him. She didn't know what she could say that could make him feel better.

“The Highborns wasted no time in reminding me what I was. A bast- illegitimate child with no prospects. Until I became Lord Commander I had no worth, no interest, and now they flock to my titles and my deeds.” She had seen first hand the way the ladies had surrounded him hoping for him to pay them a lick of attention. She felt the ache in her chest rising again. “I don’t want that. Not when my heart yearns so desperately for the one person I can't have.” His hand came to rest between them, his meaning needed no explanation. “I will fight Jara, to change the law.” he looked at her determined. “I will do everything in my power to call you my wife. I will not settle for anyone less.” “Even though I will be called away to fight here and there and everywhere?” “I will wait everyday for you to come home. No matter how far you go.” She slowly slid her hand to meet his, their fingertips touching so delicately at first.

“Since the day I met you, I’ve felt a longing I never understood. Only when I was with you did I feel any ease to the heaviness I felt when we were apart.” She laced her fingers further into his. “That feeling has never left, and now that Estinien has gone I feel it stronger every day.” “What do you feel?” He moved towards her slowly. “Something I never thought I would have, the one thing I always yearned for...” She felt herself move towards him. “...A mate.” She felt Aymeric hand release her and circle her waist pulling them ever closer together. “You are my one.” Her fingers traced his jaw as he came to rest his forehead against hers. “You always have been. Even If you turned me away now and never wanted to see me again, I will love you till my dying breath and even then I would not stop.”

“I won’t ever make that mistake again.” He held onto her as he moved his mouth to meet hers, she responded instantly melting into him as he kissed her fiercely. She could feel tears threaten at her eyes as he pulled her in tighter.

“Jara…” he moaned between kisses. “I’m yours,” she keened softly back. “All yours…”

[whispersafterdusk]

On Cloud Nine

Though there had been a "public" ceremony conducted at the cathedral (more for the spectacle and, in Aymeric's own words, so that other self-important nobles could continue to feel self-important) the actual wedding was a far more private and personal affair. Those that they trusted and loved had received an invitation to the exchange of vows, and Gaelle had felt so giddy at the time that she'd had to stop and get her thoughts back into order when it was her time to speak.

She'd said much the same thing at the public ceremony but here felt more intimate and genuine -- less stilted, less formal. And she definitely enjoyed the fact that there weren't nearly a hundred sets of eyes on her as she spoke.

Aymeric's vows were the same as before as well but uttered with more conviction, and at the final verse his hands tightened around hers as if to really drive home the promise in his words: I am yours, now and forever.

And she was absolutely his, as well. There was no question in her mind.

At the public gathering their kiss had been chaste and proper, as was expected. Here, in front of their closest friends, Aymeric had gone a bit further; there were a few hoots and whistles, and a sudden burst of clapping and laughter as Gaelle was pulled in close and kissed with fervor.

There was a large party waiting on them (planned by Tataru so Gaelle knew it would be one more to everyone's liking rather than the elaborate social dance that had been Ishgardian traditions) and then afterward they would be disappearing for a week (the Scions knew where they were going, and so did Lord Fortemps, but they'd kept their destination a secret from everyone else) and they planned on taking advantage of every moment.

(And they had been, uh...practicing for their wedding night and honeymoon already.)

It went without saying but she was the happiest she'd ever been in her life, and life would only get better from here. She couldn't wait.

[dawnslight-aegis]

11. surrogate

Roric Blackthorn was not hiding. It just so happened that the table he had ended up at halfway through Kaede’s wedding reception was tucked in a corner away from the others, at least half of it not visible from the main hall. It certainly wasn’t that he was entirely overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle and number of people, though it certainly seemed as if half the damned realm – and the entirety of Ishgard – was present.

He was watching his wife mingle on the dance floor, a mostly-empty glass of very good brandy in hand, when he heard a soft shuffle-tap footstep cadence approaching.

A large, gloved hand grasped the back of an empty chair as an older elezen man – though younger than Roric had assumed, given the gait – came to a stop next to the table. “Might I join you?”

Roric squinted. He was sure Kaede had introduced this man, but to be honest, Ishgardian names started to blend together a bit after a while, all the Forlemortmentnauds and such. After a moment, though, he placed the man, and nodded. “O’ course. Make yerself comfortable.”

Edmont de Fortemps inclined his head with a faint smile, before dropping heavily into the chair, cane across his lap. “I fear I no longer possess the stamina needed for such events, and this occasion outstrips most in scale. As it should, considering the accomplishments of both involved.”

“Well, the way I figure it, we’ve got you t’ thank for this entire shindig. If it hadn’t been for you takin’ Kaede in after the damned blue coats framed her for killin’ the sultana, the realm’d be a very different place. Not t’ mention Kaede not finding herself a fancy young lad t’ marry.” Roric lifted his glass to the former count, realizing too late that it was rather rude to toast a man who had no drink of his own, but Edmont pulled a small, ornate flask from his coat and raised it in kind before taking a swallow.

Maybe some Ishgardian lords weren’t half bad, after all.

“To be frank, it was not wholly out of altruism that I made such a choice,” Edmont murmured, looking down over the party with a faraway look on his face. “I believed that I was aiding mine own future daughter-in-law, with the way my son spoke of her. Halone did not deign to give me daughters, and my sons, well… neither of the two that remain seem much interested in marriage. Kaede is the closest I have ever had, even if her feelings for Haurchefant were not equal to his for her.”

“Must be hard, then. Seein’ her married off to someone else.” He’d heard the stories about the lad who’d saved Kaede’s life and lost his in return, but the girl had never made mention that he was anything more than a good friend. He ought to have known, though. It would take a man better than any Roric had ever known to give his life for a simple ally.

Edmont shook his head. “No, I do not begrudge her her happiness. And Ser Aymeric is a good man. He reminds me a great deal of Haurchefant at times, in fact, and is a good friend to my eldest as well. I am proud to be asked to stand in for his family, Fury rest their souls.”

“Aye, I know th’ feeling. Kaede’s father by blood lives yet, but I’ve called her mine for most her life now, and damn near half my own.” He finished the glass of brandy, and set it aside with a sharp clink. “I’m damned grateful for you and yours takin’ her in when she needed it. The bloody Braves were breathin’ down our necks so close that I could barely scratch me arse with them knowin’. Drove me half-mad, not bein’ able t’ help her. And o’ course the bleedin’ Admiral was no help – but I never expected it to be Ishgard that would come to her aid. Owe you and that boy of yours a lot, more’n I could ever hope to repay. If Kaede names you family, then that makes you mine, as well.”

“The entire city owes her more than we can repay, as well – that makes us even, I believe. To raising children not our own, and seeing them do greater things than we could ever dream.” The former count extended the silver flask across the table, and Roric took it with a nod. He raised his eyebrows as the burn of strong whiskey hit his tongue, warming him all the way down.

Companionable silence fell between the two men for a long moment, until Roric spoke again.

“She’s well-loved here.” It was not a question, but a statement of fact. The turnout of people proved that much.

“More than you know. Some of the older noble families aside, anyway,” Edmont added with a chuckle. “Though I think they’ll come around, in the end. Or they won’t, and they’ll be poorer for it.”

Roric snorted. “Damned right.”

It had been a long, cursed road that got him here, littered with loss: his first wife, and the girl she’d carried in her belly, to sickness; his father and mother, to the mad king’s reign of terror; his brother, to the Garlean Empire’s invasion; so many of his friends, to the Calamity and Carteneau. A damn sight more darkness than one man might be expected to bear, but he’d done so regardless. And for his faith, Azeyma had sent him light – a wife, a daughter, a home finally freed from the empire’s iron hand, and the cruelty of the monarchy before it. The honor of knowing the girl he’d helped raise had brought that same light to so many other lives.

A small smile spread across Roric’s mouth as he watched Kaede dance with her new husband, nothing but pride in his heart. What more could a father ask for, than for his daughter to be loved – by a good man, by a city, by the world?

[bogunicorn]

I just got the scene in the Churning Mists with the party sitting around the fire and talking about their perspectives on life and the Dragonsong War, and I think now in hindsight part of why my sense of Estinien is a bit rusty - aside from how quickly I sped through the MSQ my first time - is that he was really at his best when he was narratively paired with Ysayle (and Aymeric, to a lesser extent). Estinien and Ysayle really enhanced each other anytime they were in a conversation together, and his dynamic with Aymeric in Heavensward is more interesting than it becomes after the storyline ends. Which is totally understandable, he's a major character in HW but not again until parts of Endwalker, where his character growth really gets to shine around Vrtra. It makes sense that he would mellow out in the meantime.

Also jesus christ how was Estinien/Ysayle not like some kind of mega ship, their chemistry is so good. Not even necessarily romantic, just... chemistry.