#2024/9/16

[poetic-bug]

那么——无形的森林——迷雾——

也许在远方，变换着

晨光下苍郁的轮廓。

林间的浆果是暗色的吗？

是否有一片空地为我留下，

张大殷红的口待我归往？

我们低头啜饮

同样无知的露水。

星在头顶流转，

春草在身下悄然长高，

有时与我们一同惊奇。

[7taiyou5kinsei]

2024-9-16 月曜日

・今日の星の動き

今日は月がサインを移動します。

水瓶座♒️から魚座♓️への移動。

月が魚座に入るのは、18:38です。

流行や情報、人から何かを掴むことができるかも。フットワーク軽めでいることを意識しておくと、楽しく過ごせそうな1日。

①0時ごろから10時ごろまで、月は２つの天体とアスペクトを取ります。双子座の木星と、天秤座の金星です。現在この２つの天体は、トラインを形成中で、そこに月が参加します。月の関与により、グランドトラインという複合図形を形成。

木星にある双子座、金星にある天秤座、月にある水瓶座というサインは全て、風のエレメントに区分されます。

それらが、トラインというソフトアスペクトで結びつくので、風のサインの力がとてもスムーズに働きます。

情報を集める双子座、さまざまな情報を比較検討する天秤座、そして情報を使って理念やネットワークを構築する水瓶座。といった感じで、風のエレメントの力の恩恵を受けやすい時です。0時から朝10時までという時間ですが、この時間に受け取った情報から、何か広がりを見つけるかもしれません。

風のエレメントは、12サインで見た時に、双子座（3番目）、天秤座（7番目）、水瓶座（11番目）に置かれます。風のエレメントの最後である水瓶座は、自分やみんなの理想のために改革を施していくサインです。風の力を使って、自分に改革を起こすきっかけを得るかもしれません。

また、月、金星、木星という天体の絡みで見ると、感情（月）と、楽しみを味わう感受性（金星）、拡大・善性・保護（木星）という組み合わせです。

「楽しさ（金星）が、増える（木星）のを、感じる（月）」、つまりただただ楽しい時間を過ごせる可能性もあります。祝日でお休みの人も多いかと思いますので、楽しんでみてください。

②9時ごろから19時ごろまで、月は牡牛座の天王星とスクエア。

普段の日常から脱線したくなる時。

「感情・習慣」を表す月が、変化を表す天王星とハードアスペクトで結びつきます。

行きつけじゃないお店に行ってみるとか、普段お酒を飲まない人がお酒をのむとか、いつもの日常とは違う行動を取りたくなりそうです。スパイス程度に楽しむならいいですが、ハードアスペクトなので、やりすぎる可能性も。ほどほどを意識しておきましょう。

・まとめ

0時〜朝10時ごろまでは、人脈・情報にツキがある状態です。情報の中から新たな楽しみを発見したりするかもしれません。また、情報を活用して、自分の理想を思い描くこともできそうです。

情報・人脈・頭を使うことで、波に乗れるようなムードが漂います。

9時以降から夜までは、いつもの日常から抜け出したくなるかもしれません。普段お酒を飲まない人が、お酒を飲んだり、ということがあるかも。

新しい自分の側面を発見できるチャンスでもありますが、やややり過ぎの傾向も出てきます。お酒を飲み過ぎて、体調を悪くするとか、そんなことのないように氣をつけましょう。

ホロスコープ作成サイト

[mikeywayarchive]

Instagram story by mikeyway

[Sep 16, 2024]

[thevikingwoman]

FFXIVWrite2024 - Prompt 16

Fortemps household dynamics fascinate me endlessly, so here is some barely grown-up Artoriel POV

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV | Words: 359

Artoriel de Fortemps | pre-ARR Rating: Teen. Character study, Ishgard society, Fortemps family, mention of infidelity (canonical), why is Artoriel the way he is? vague heavenwards spoilers

Third-rate

Artoriel de Fortemps doesn’t stop when he sees his little brother run past him, bloody nose and tears streaking down his face. He merely gets out of the way. Emmanellain doesn’t see him, his eyes on the ground as he rushes by. Probably running off to nanny, though he is far too big for that. Artoriel sneers, unbiddenly, and continues around the corner.

“Some third-rate knight he’ll be.”

“Third son, too.”

“More worthless than a bastard.”

This makes Atoriel pause. The statement is followed by raucous laughter. It would be unseemly to get in a fight over Haurchefant.

“Well, Haurchefant is a fine fellow.”

“For a bastard, aye.”

Someone snorts. “Don’t say that to his face. He trounced Delicrouxeus the other day. Mark my word, Count Fortemps will give him command of something.”

“Emond can’t even command his own dick.”

More laughter. Atoriel’s ears burn. He bites his cheek. He cannot be unseemly. He needs to be above reproach. The Fury knows his brother isn’t going to be.

“Mayhap little Emmanellain is Halone’s punishment? A hapless idiot of a son.”

“Bet ol’ Edmont would have been happy with even another stick in the mud like Atoriel rather than Emmanellain.”

“If he kept himself true, he’d mayhap had a brave and personable trueborn son. They’d all be a third-rate House this way.”

His clenched fist hit the wall. Atoriel bites his cheek to keep from crying out. He cannot. His growth spurt done, he’d hardly get any taller, but he cannot take on three squires. He mustn’t.

“Kept himself pure – Haviellemont, you better learn that. I saw you with that wench in the Brume but two days ago.”

“And what were you doing there?”

The voices fade as Artoriel hurries away. He does not run. He is not his little brother. If only Emmanellain behaved proper, there would be no doubt about the honor of their house. He brings shame on them all. Artoriel reaches the fresh, crisp air. He cannot help his little brother’s follies. He simply must be a better example. Above reproach, the perfect heir. Father needs neither Haurchefant nor Emmanellain as long as Artoriel is peerless.

[peacebewithpalestine]

Help me get my family out of Gaza

☪︎ ִ ֶ֢࣪⋆ by @mohamedjshamia [ Fundraiser has not been verified but seems legit. More information here. ]

☪︎ ִ ֶ֢࣪⋆ Description

My name is Mohammad Jamal Shamia, and I reside in Sweden. I am raising funds to help my family and my sisters and brother leave Gaza for Egypt or any other country to secure their safety, as there is no longer a safe place in Gaza. Here is their story: My family consists of eight people: my father, my mother, four daughters, and two sons. My father, Jamal Shamia, is currently in Gaza, and his home was destroyed at the beginning of the war. We have lost security and peace. We have witnessed how a single rocket can destroy your entire life, both your past and your future. Our dreams have been shattered. Now the future is unknown and dark. There is no home, no basic life essentials, no job. We are now seeking to leave this country for a life abroad and to obtain security. We estimate our loss to be at least $50,000 to rebuild a home and start our lives anew.

My mother left Gaza before the war for surgery in Egypt and is now stranded on the Egyptian side without any means of support. The daughters (Rasha, Maram, Rana, Reem): - Rasha Jamal Shamia and her husband Khalil Abu Samaan have two children, Mira Abu Samaan and Omar Abu Samaan. They are now in Gaza and have left their home and all their belongings in Gaza City to move to Rafah, but they cannot return to their home due to the occupation forces' siege of the northern areas. They are now in tents and have lost their children's future in terms of education and the opportunity for a decent life. - Rana Jamal Shamia and her husband Mohammed Salama have two children, Amir Salama and Taim Salama. They are also in Gaza and lost their home after the occupation forces bombed their house, and they suffered direct injuries. They also lost their children's future and are now internally displaced persons in Rafah City after their house was demolished. They still suffer from the damage they and their children witnessed. - Reem Jamal Shamia is residing outside Gaza and has not seen her family for some time.

- Maram Jamal Shamia and her husband Mareed Al-Suwirki are now outside Gaza. They were evacuated along with their children and husband from Gaza. Maram's family has suffered greatly during their time in Gaza, and their home was destroyed. They lost many of their belongings. Her husband is a dentist and also lost his job. Two of the sons (Mohammad, Ahmad): -Ahmad Jamal Shamia resides in Gaza and is a third-year student in dental school. He lost his education due to the devastating war in Gaza. He was studying at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, and his home was destroyed in the war. He is currently suffering from moving from one temporary shelter to another. Ahmad was a diligent, ambitious, and creative student who ranked first in his class. He didn't limit himself to what he learned in university. He attended courses and workshops online with Egyptian doctors to learn more and excel in his field. He always sought excellence and worked hard for it, and he loved helping all students. He now needs money to continue his education, which will cost him a lot of money since he will complete his studies in Egypt.

-I, Mohammad Jamal Shamia, currently residing in Sweden, am orchestrating a fundraising effort aimed at providing assistance to my immediate family and siblings. The funds collected will be allocated towards facilitating their departure from Gaza, with coordination managed through Hala Travel Agency, and remittance to Egypt via established channels. The required contribution stands at $5000 per adult, with a reduced amount of $2500 designated for children. My family is living in extreme danger due to the brutal bombing of their city. There are daily explosions and attacks. The city is no longer safe for them. My family has been unable to work for five months due to the war, and they are living on minimal food and water while constantly suffering from fear and shock from the attacks around them. Many in the family have medical needs, and their lives are at risk every moment. Prices have risen in Gaza, and they struggle daily to meet their basic needs. The family is requesting help to cross the border into Egypt so they can begin rebuilding their lives. Time is of the essence! Help us transport them across the border to Egypt so we know they are safe from the increasing and indiscriminate attacks.

There will be a high financial cost, as mentioned earlier, for one person it is $5,000 and $2,500 for children, to enter Egyptian territory. I hope we can work together to help my family leave Gaza. Their escape from the difficulties will only be possible through this fundraising campaign. They are counting on us! Thank you for your support. Thank you for coming together

[tomboyadvance]

corona virus

[thewonderousjaysky]

Art Fight Final Attack

Big mass attack is finally finished! Coming in late in the night Friday, it's my biggest, most ambitious one to date and I've been doing this for years now. 16 characters in total, and took me 2 weeks to finish. Had an absolute blast playing this year!

Starting in the top left corner and working up my way right we have ~

Asia for sparrowji

Riptide for Art3misArts

Pop Splash for Cal57069

Fish (sona) for emp0ria

Hae p'ari for @MonkeyBirdArt

TBN Shark Lady for @aupergladiat0r

Jellyfish dragon for @chis-mu

Sea Cucumber for Sparrow1123AJ

Ermi for cookiesearup

Caspian for Canine-Bonez

(ICC) Alora for ziinniia

Taya for httpkirby

Ellen the Eel for @trashyp

Namaari for is_me_momo

Seahorse dragon also for @ chis-mu (no point in tagging you twice lol)

Bunnie for Calesti

[elementoftheeye]

Got invited to do a powder shoot.

My take aways are:

More distance between subject and camera.

Higher jump.

Better light control.

[alicewritingstories]

Whumperless Whump Event: Scattered in the Mountains

@whumperless-whump-event

Fandom: Linked Universe

[Previous] << Chapter 5 >> [Next]

Prompts for this chapter:

5: Wheezing / Light-headed / "I'll count, you just breathe"

9: Coughing up blood

15: Passing out / Exhaustion / "I've got you, let's sit down, I've got you."

16: Half-conscious / Delirious / "You would never say that in your right mind..."

17: Dangerously high fever / "We have to get that number down somehow."

Central characters: Legend and Sky

***

By the time Legend spotted a promising-looking dark crack in a cliff, the shadows of evening were lengthening and he was supporting most of Sky's weight. The other hero was audibly wheezing for breath, his eyes closed. From time to time a shudder ran through him.

"Hey, Sky, if I go and check if that's a cave, will you be OK on your own?"

Sky nodded, huffing out another difficult, noisy breath. Legend reached up and laid a hand on his forehead.

"Goddesses, Sky, you're burning up." The fever had gotten even worse than before.

Shy shivered again.

"OK, lean on the tree here." Legend helped him the couple of steps over to a nearby tree. "Are you going to be OK?"

Sky nodded, his eyes fluttering open.

"I… 'm OK," he whispered, having to gasp between words.

Legend let out an irritated sigh, but arguing about it was just wasting time and he hurried over to the cliff, balancing urgency with caution; he might not be the first to see that cave and think it was a promising place to shelter.

But this time, for once, they were lucky. Or at least all their bad luck had been used up by the malfunctioning portal and Sky's illness. The cave was empty, went back just far enough to shelter the two of them - a little more snugly than he'd have liked, but he could accept that tradeoff - and it looked safe enough.

From behind him, he heard another coughing fit. When he looked round, he saw that Sky was leaning heavily on the tree, coughing into his hand so hard he looked about to break apart. Even as Legend took a step towards him, Sky's knees buckled and Legend sprinted back to his side to support him.

"Sky?"

Sky wheezed in a breath, then forced it out again. He was pale, his eyes distant and unfocussed as he hovered on the edge of fainting, and he was still half-covering his mouth with his hand.

"Sky, don't pass out. Don't you dare." Legend swallowed hard, looking at the cave, suddenly very aware that his friend was taller and heavier than him. He could drag him if he had to. He'd rather not, but he could.

Then Sky finally pulled his hand away from his mouth and Legend's heart skipped a beat as he saw blood splattered on his palm and smeared on his chin and pale lips.

Legend swore. Sky coughed once more and wiped the blood off his face, then scrubbed his hand clean on the tree.

"Well… I found a cave," said Legend, swallowing the anxious lump in his throat. "Not that big, but it's dry."

Sky nodded again, stumbling as he tried to take his own weight again.

"Can you make it?" asked Legend, ducking under his arm.

"Yeah…" panted Sky. "Just… spinning a… bit."

"OK, well, it's not far."

They stumbled over to the cave, Legend taking way too much of Sky's weight. A couple of times Sky coughed quietly, clearing his throat, but as far as Legend could see there was no more blood.

As they crossed the threshold and Sky had to duck slightly, the light-headedness apparently got the best of him and his knees gave way.

"Hey!" cried Legend, his own knees buckling. "Sky!"

Sky moaned. Legend saw his eyes slide open, once again rolling and unfocussed.

"OK, I've got you. Let's sit down; I've got you." He eased them both slowly down, laying Sky on the ground, on his side to ease his breathing. "OK, Sky. Can you hear me?"

"Ledge… Help…" That was all he could manage, his breath coming fast and desperate.

"OK, I'll count, you just breathe." Legend grabbed his hand and held it to his own chest. "With me. In… two… three… out… two… three…" As he counted, he exaggerated the movement of his own breathing and gradually Sky's own breathing calmed, easier now that he was lying down and no longer having to walk. He was still wheezing, but it was at least better.

"OK," said Legend softly. Sky's hand felt clammy in his, but when he laid a hand on his friend's head it was still so hot, his hair damp with sweat.

"It… I'm sorry…"

"Hey, all you need to be sorry for is letting yourself get this bad without saying anything," said Legend. "But we can talk about that later, OK?"

"I'm sorry, I… I tried…" Sky's voice broke on a sob. "I tried…" Then he started coughing again, blood spraying on the ground by his face. Legend watched helplessly, his heart in his throat, until at last the fit was over and Sky went limp, panting, blood still dripping sluggishly from his lips. Legend wiped it away, trying not to let his hand shake.

"OK," he said firmly. "So what we're going to do now is you're going to get into your bedroll and sleep this off like you should have done days ago."

Sky coughed and shivered.

Getting him into the bedroll was difficult, but the really concerning thing was the way he put up no resistance at all to having his sash, boots, and sailcloth taken off. Even when Legend unbuckled the master sword from his back, he could only murmur a protest and flail a hand, his breathing once more turning harsh. Luckily, he quieted again when he found that the sword was laid next to him.

Legend wanted to get rid of the layers of outer tunics and chain mail as well, but with no help from Sky that wasn't going to be feasible. And he was going to get no help from Sky; the older hero's eyes barely fluttered open when Legend called his name and there was no light of awareness in them.

Legend gritted his teeth and pulled Sky's blanket aside, folding it next to his bag. He was already too hot. It was best to leave that for now.

"Sky?" He hesitated for a moment, then combed his fingers through Sky's hair, pushing his bangs back from his sweat-beaded brow.

Sky thrashed his head from one side to the other and coughed up more blood. Legend gritted his teeth. It was going to be a long night.

***

Slowly, the light faded outside their cave and Sky's fever burned hotter and hotter while his breathing just got noisier and more labored.

Legend hissed through his teeth, cramming fear down under frustration as he tipped a little more water onto a rag laid on Sky's forehead. They were starting to run short and he didn't want to risk leaving Sky alone to search for more, but if he didn't think of something he was going to have to.

Sky whimpered, his eyes flickering open, but when Legend called his name he didn't react, his gaze hazy and unfocussed.

"Zel…" he murmured.

"Zelda's not here, Sky," said Legend.

"I… I tried… I…" Tears spilled from Sky's eyes as he flailed a hand vaguely. "I… no… Zelda, no…"

"We have got to get your temperature down somehow," muttered Legend. He hadn't wanted to do this - it seemed like it might be too much - but he grabbed his ice rod and touched it to the wet rag on Sky's forehead, activating it at the lowest power he could manage. Where the rod was touching the rag it froze solid and he snatched it away, but not before Sky let out a wail that broke down into coughing that didn't stop and left yet more blood starring on his lips.

With a curse, Legend grabbed his shoulder to pull him onto his side, but Sky squirmed free, lashing out at nothing with an elbow and grabbing for a sword over his shoulder that wasn't there.

"Sky! It's OK, it's me! It's Legend!"

Sky kept coughing even as he started struggling to get up.

"Oh, no you don't." Legend grabbed Sky's shoulders to try to make him lie down, but Sky snarled and headbutted him in the forehead so hard he saw stars.

"Get… away from me," he rasped, groping for the sword again, but then the arm he was using to prop himself up gave way and Legend just managed to throw an arm under his head before it hit the ground. Sky flailed helplessly for a moment longer, but then went limp, his breath quick with a faint gurgle in his throat. Legend thought he was unconscious and started to settle him on his side, but then he whispered, "You're a monster."

Legend startled.

"Zelda… you… she… let her go…"

He kidnapped the princess!

Legend flinched as the remembered words rang in his ears, as clear as life.

"You're… a monster…" whispered the knight in his arms.

Legend shook his head hard to push the memory away and gripped Sky's shoulder. "You would never say that in your right mind," he said, more to himself than Sky. "You don't mean it. It's fine. Zelda's fine. Just… Just get some sleep and let me take care of you."

One more time, Sky's hand twitched back up towards where his sword hilt would normally be, but he didn't fight when Legend guided it under his blood-smeared cheek to support his head. His breathing was still too fast and harsh and Legend didn't even need to touch him to feel the heat radiating off him.

Legend let out a huff of breath, then he draped the wet - now melting - cloth back on Sky's brow and froze it again. Finally, he blew out his lantern to save the oil and hugged his knees to his chest, leaning on the wall of the cave and listening to the labored sound of Sky's breath.

Once again, he shoved away the fear as best he could. There were more useful things to think about.

They were going to need more water. He had a few drops left in his bottle and whatever was in Sky's and Sky needed to drink way more than Legend had managed to get into him so far.

As if to emphasize the problem, Sky stirred and let out a soft whine as if in pain.

"Sky?" Legend pulled himself away from the wall again, his heart sinking.

"Zelda…" rasped Sky. "Rescue Zelda… she's…"

A shudder went down Legend's spine as his uncle's last words echoed in the dark.

"It's fine," he said again quickly. "You're fine. You're going to be fine." He wasn't going to have someone else die in front of him. Not again. He couldn't face this again.

"Legend?"

Legend let out a quick, relieved huff of breath. If Sky recognised him, that could only be a good sign. "Yeah, it's me. Here, have a drink." He fumbled an arm under Sky's shoulder and tried to put the water bottle to his lips.

Sky yelped and jerked away, more shivers running through him.

"Legend… 'm so cold… Why… how'd you…" He broke down coughing and Legend kept supporting him, patting him helplessly on the back as he continued to try to speak around the coughs and spat out more phlegm.

"You just rest," said Legend helplessly. "Just rest. It's OK."

"But… no… too late…" More coughing. "Zelda… too late.."

"Zelda's fine, don't worry."

"Too slow… I have to…" Sky struggled feebly, yet again trying to get up.

"No, you need to rest. You'll be quicker if you rest, we talked about this."

"But…" Sky's voice broke in a sob.

"Tell you what," said Legend desperately. "You rest, I'll go, uh… I'll go sort out Zelda. I'll make sure she's OK."

Again, he could almost hear his uncle's dying breaths. He shuddered, dragging himself back to the present. Sky would be fine. Sky wasn't going to die.

"R-really…?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I'll take care of her."

Sky went boneless, sobbing and coughing into Legend's chest, his fever burning through the layers of sweat-soaked tunics. Legend held him, gnawing his lip helplessly, until at last he seemed to have cried himself to sleep.

Legend laid him down, froze the cloth on his brow one more time, and settled down again to try to make a plan.

They needed more water.

He couldn't leave Sky alone.

Judging by the damp chill in the air, dawn wasn't far off. He found himself glancing over and over again towards the mouth of the cave, filled with the strange foreboding that at dawn something would change for better or worse.

Beside him, Sky's breathing was harsh and shallow. From time to time, as the sluggish minutes ticked by he mumbled nonsense or suddenly moved, trying to escape some invisible attacker, but he was weak and exhausted and it didn't take much effort for Legend to restrain him until he dropped back into his delirious almost-sleep. A few times he did manage to swallow a little water and soon Legend's bottle was empty. He rummaged through Sky's bag until he found his water bottle - half-empty, to his disgust - and went back to trying to bring Sky's fever down.

As Sky once again tried to get up, hands flailing at something only he could see, Legend couldn't help thinking that letting him hold his beloved sword might help, but even though the skyloftian wouldn't be able to use the master sword on him he still wasn't willing to give a weapon to someone who had no idea where he was or what was happening.

In any case, before long Sky had collapsed again, muscles twitching, tears mingled with the sweat on his cheeks.

***

The sky outside was turning gray. Sky was ominously still. Legend rested a hand on his chest, his teeth gritted. At dawn, something would change.

He'd once heard that dying men would often breathe their last at the turn of the tide or the breaking of dawn.

Then Sky coughed, jerking weakly. Legend jolted back with shock, but then dived forward to roll him onto his side. This time he didn't struggle, just coughed and spat and finally mumbled, "Where…?"

"Sky?"

"Legend? Where… What happened? 'M so… cold…"

Legend laid a hand on Sky's brow. It was still slick with sweat, his hair soaked and clinging to his scalp, but the drop in temperature was noticeable. Legend felt like the ground had just dropped out under him.

"Sky, you… your fever's broken!" he exclaimed, barely even caring as his voice cracked.

Sky shivered.

"Here…" There was a little water left in Sky's bottle and Legend helped him to drink it all. "Then let's… Let's see if we can get your clothes off. You're soaked."

Sky mumbled, but his head drooped against Legend's shoulder. He was already asleep.

Legend sighed, but laid Sky down, draped the blankets from both their bedrolls over him, and leaned against the wall again, shooting one last look at the dawn.

It's OK.

He's going to be OK.

He shuddered and couldn't help a few silent, exhausted tears.

[apothepoet]

The Sun

Sun (n.): that which burns bright in the sky, giving light to all that it shines on. The sustainer of life, a careful watching eye to all of those that thrive beneath it. It shines, it's pleasant look up at it, let it warm your face, fill you with energy. Follow it, bask in its guiding light. Walk for long enough in its direction, and you'll never let it out of your sight. It's what keeps the world bright, it's what holds everything together. It's the lynchpin of every ecosystem, it's the reason why the moon shines back. It's why life exists at all, it's why you're even here right now. The sun is there for you. The sun will burn you if you touch it, though, if you stare at it for too long. So, let's redefine. Sun (n.): that which is bright and hot and deadly. It can kill in an instant, anyone who gets close at all. From its light, one has to protect themselves, for danger of burning. Its heat is overwhelming, and painfully absent once it sets beyond the horizon, if you manage to look away. Your eyes, they threaten to shrivel up and burn as you stare too long at its radiance. And its searing light touches everything. It's what you should be careful around, it's what one needs to shield themselves from. It's the light that can kill, it's the consuming heat that burns. It's why caution is necessary, it's why distance should be kept. The sun will burn you. The sun is the giver of life, life that it can always take back. Don't you get it? It's about time you realised that. Although it's too late for you now.

[they-might-be-ultramen]

Started T injections yesterday, gonna be doing that from now on with hopefully more of a result 🤞🤞

[those-who-stay]

what's a fun thing you did this summer?

[peejow]

And like the moon, we

must go through phases

of emptiness to feel

full again.

Captured with S24 Ultra - 9.16.2024

[mikeywayarchive]

mikeyway: Just a couple guitar heroes over here! 🔥🎸🎸🔥

[Sep 17, 2024]

[thevikingwoman]

FFXIVWrite 2024 - Prompt 9

Emmanellain has some doubts about his capabilities. As usual I have lots of opinions about how his family treats him

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV | Words: 613

Meryta Khatin (wol) & Emmanellain de Fortemps | HW patches Rating: Gen. friendship, support, expectations, past Meryta/Emmanellain

Lend an Ear

Meryta is surprised when it’s Emmanellain who greets her at Camp Dragonhead. Though he’d done his best to prove himself in combat, it’s not his strong suit. Trying to live up to Haurchefant – that’s a fool’s errand. All said and done, she’s happy to see him. Aymeric concludes his business, and they have to be on their way, but she lingers. 

“Emmanellain – how are you? Truly?” she asks, once everyone save Honoroit has left.  

“Meryta, pretty girl. I could use an ear, my friend.” 

“I can stay and listen, Emmanellain.”  

They’ve worked out whatever awkwardness they felt around each other after she ended their fling, and their friendship has been a steady growth since. She still feels her cheeks heat with pretty girl, but it is surely better than old girl.  

“Honoroit, fetch the mulled wine after all. It’s blasted cold here.” 

He runs dutifully runs off. She’s glad he’s here, though she wonders of the burdens on his shoulders. Then again, kids are more capable than anyone thinks, as long as you let them.  

She seats herself in front of the fire with Emmanellain, and tries not to think of the last time she was here. She waits. Emmanellain starts talking soon enough.  

“Do you really think the Garleans will come here?” 

That was not what she expected. She shrugs.  

“I think once we march on them elsewhere, they will probably worry about that first.” 

“Yes. Of course. Surely.”  

Honoroit comes back, and pours mulled wine for them both. It’s hot, and she warms her fingers, and blows on it. Emmanellain takes a big gulp, and for a moment she wonders if steam will come out of his long ears.  

“Thank you Honoroit. Pray leave us alone.” 

“Of course, my Lord.” 

Honoroit runs off, leaving the mulled wine. Meryta takes a small sip.  

“It’s not that I’m worried you know. Well, mayhap a little.” Emmanellain pours himself another cup. “I’m determined to do my best to lead everyone, but you see, Meryta, I’m not – him.” 

“You’re not, Emmanellain. And you shouldn’t be asked to be.” 

“Surely. I – do you think…” he pauses, frowning. “I have really endeavored to train and – but I’m afraid I’ll muck it all up.” 

She reaches for him. It truly isn’t fair, making Emmanellain in charge here. The soldiers – like everyone – loved Haurchefant, and he is missed. Even was Emmanellain even the most skilled of knights, he’d still be unfavorable compared. She wishes Edmont would have asked him to do anything else. Given how well he’s taken care of Honoroit, she wonders if he would be better suited as a teacher. He shouldn’t have to be a warrior just because that is what his father wants – but that’s not a useful thing to say.  

“I’m sure you will do fine, Emmanellain. No, I mean it. You have both been practicing your fighting but what’s more, running a garrison is also about the people here. Having the right people do the right thing. Figuring out what everyone needs.”   

“I guess – I guess I can do that.” 

Emmanellain looks at the drink in his hand. Meryta pats his knee again.  

“You’ll do well enough.” 

“I’ll do my best. I would like him to be proud of me.” 

He doesn’t specify if it’s Haurchefant or Edmont, or even Atoriel. It doesn’t matter.  

“I know you will, Emmanellain. Truly.” 

“I’m glad hearing that, pretty girl.” He smiles at her and puts his mug down, bouncing back in his usual fashion. “Yes, of course I will. I will be the best – ah, mayhap the second best – commander this garrison has ever had. Now, off with you to Gridania. I will manage matters here.” 

[saltyysnails]

weston made an expression in the newest sinjin video that made me laugh so hard i rewound it like twelve times and i felt compelled to draw it