#And it was changed to Clive's journey

[r-yui]

Maehiro from Famitsu: In the early stages of development, an anthology/omnibus style story where Clive, Joshua, and Dion each progressed their own stories was considered, but it was omitted in order to tell Clive's story to the fullest.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

They returned – through a dusk that had autumn in its hollows – to Chariot Street.

"Weaveworld" - Clive Barker

[book--brackets]

Green Rider by Kristen Britain (1998-present)

On her long journey home from school after a fight which will surely lead to her expulsion, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her future as she trudges through the immense forest called Green Cloak. But her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves as a galloping horse bursts from the woods, the rider slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan that he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king, and that he bears a "life and death" message for King Zachary. He begs Karigan to carry his message, warning her not to read it, and when she reluctantly agrees, he makes her swear on his sword to complete his mission "for love of country." As he bestows upon her the golden winged-horse brooch which is the symbol of his office, he whispers on his dying breath, "Beware the shadow man..."

Karigan's promise changes her life forever. Pursued by unknown assassins, following a path only her horse seems to know, and accompanied by the silent specter of the original messenger, she herself becomes a legendary Green Rider. Caught up in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald (1872)

Princess Irene lives in a castle in a wild and lonely mountainous region. One day she discovers a steep and winding stairway leading to a bewildering labyrinth of unused passages with closed doors - and a further stairway. What lies at the top? Can the ring the princess is given protect her against the lurking menace of the goblins from under the mountain?

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton (1936-1985)

Jo, Bessie and Fanny move to the country and find an Enchanted Wood right on their doorstep. In the magic Faraway Tree live the magical characters that soon become their new friends – Moon-Face, Silky the fairy, and Saucepan Man. Together they visit the strange lands (the Roundabout Land, the Land of Ice and Snow, Toyland and the Land of Take What You Want) atop the tree and have the most exciting adventures – and narrow escapes.

The Last Binding by Freya Marske (2021-2023)

Robin Blyth has more than enough bother in his life. He’s struggling to be a good older brother, a responsible employer, and the harried baronet of a seat gutted by his late parents’ excesses. When an administrative mistake sees him named the civil service liaison to a hidden magical society, he discovers what’s been operating beneath the unextraordinary reality he’s always known.

Now Robin must contend with the beauty and danger of magic, an excruciating deadly curse, and the alarming visions of the future that come with it—not to mention Edwin Courcey, his cold and prickly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy, who clearly wishes Robin were anyone and anywhere else.

Robin’s predecessor has disappeared, and the mystery of what happened to him reveals unsettling truths about the very oldest stories they’ve been told about the land they live on and what binds it. Thrown together and facing unexpected dangers, Robin and Edwin discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles—and a secret that more than one person has already died to keep.

Ash by Malinda Lo (2009-2011)

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher (2020)

Kara finds the words in the mysterious bunker that she’s discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring this peculiar area—only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more one fears them, the stronger they become.

Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark (2020)

In 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die. 

Standing in their way is Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan's demons straight to Hell. But something awful's brewing in Macon, and the war on Hell is about to heat up. 

Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones (1977-2006)

Cat doesn't mind living in the shadow of his sister, Gwendolen, the most promising young witch ever seen on Coven Street. But trouble starts brewing the moment the two orphans are summoned to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Frustrated that the witches of the castle refuse to acknowledge her talents, Gwendolen conjures up a scheme that could throw whole worlds out of whack.

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker (1992)

Mr. Hood’s Holiday House has stood for a thousand years, welcoming countless children into its embrace. It is a place of miracles, a blissful round of treats and seasons, where every childhood whim may be satisfied. There is a price to be paid, of course, but young Harvey Swick, bored with his life and beguiled by Mr. Hood’s wonders, does not stop to consider the consequences. 

The Deep by Rivers Solomon with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes (2019)

Yetu holds the memories for her people—water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners—who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone, save one—the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu.

Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface, escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities—and discovers a world her people left behind long ago.

Yetu will learn more than she ever expected to about her own past—and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they’ll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity—and own who they really are.

[alovelywaytospendanevening]

I would love all your thoughts on Maurice!

Hey, @renaultphile, sorry for the delay.

People often focus on the topic of homosexuality when discussing Maurice, which is a fair thing to do, since it’s the biggest and most obvious theme of the novel. However, I also like to talk about the other social aspects of the story, which are often overlooked. It’s actually been speculated that Maurice inspired D. H. Lawrence to write Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it, since both novels feature romance between different social classes (for a start).

Yes, Maurice Hall is gay. And he’s also a snobbish, classist and misogynist middle-class man. Forster deliberately wrote him this way, well aware of his flaws — he never tried to normalize them. Maurice never really tried to work his situation up with his family; he never considered those women worthy of his personal respect. His change of heart towards working-class people happened solely because of Alec, and only because he knew that the chance of finding a solid relationship like that was very rare to come by. And yet, despite this, we all root for him, because he’s so human in all his flaws and yearning that his coming-of-age journey transcends these period-typical restraints. I love the wonderful paradox that Forster constructs: Maurice, the typical regular guy, ends up making a radical decision, while the once-rebellious Clive settles into monotonous conformity. I like to see the whole story as a way of showing that even a completely ordinary person like Maurice Hall is capable of wonderful acts of courage when placed in some specific situations.

As I said before, I think literary critics in the 1970s looked down on Maurice because they thought Forster's happy ending was just activism. But the novel is a very intriguing and self-aware Edwardian time capsule, a real glimpse into English nature. Not a “minor work” by any means!

And Merchant Ivory’s film adaptation is also great, of course. Quite faithful to the source material. The way they used Risley’s fate to justify Clive’s decision was clever, and it makes more sense than what happened in the novel (but that’s the risk of producing groundbreaking stuff, something can end up a bit too dated).

[drabblesandimagines]

Bedrest

Bit of a follow-on from Prescription, from this request Clive Rosfield x female reader, as fluffy as puppy Torgal, but then a lil' spice tease at the end

“You be sure to look after him, Torgal.” You scritch the wolf’s head as he noses into your side, enjoying your attentions. You’re in bed – feeling quite the lady of leisure this long after sunrise. “You might’ve noticed I’ve grown quite fond of your master.” Clive smiles warmly at the scene as he finishes putting on his leathers. He has business to attend to in Dhalmekia – Jill and Torgal attending alongside. It was a matter to which he had already delayed in addressing, wanting to savour a few undisturbed days within your company after your confession in the infirmary.

Tarja had insisted you rest and to keep off your injured leg to allow the muscle a chance to heal. There were no healing magicks to be undertaken in the Hideaway after all, not when you all knew the cost to the Bearer casting it. Patience, rest and herbal medicines were the only things for it.

Clive had thrived in the role as carer, immediately whisking you up in his arms and carrying you off to his chambers for the past few days. You’d tried to dissuade him from delaying his trip – his work was far more important, you’d stressed – but every time you’d protested, he’d rather rudely silenced you with a kiss.

“I wish you’d allow me to leave Torgal here with you.”

“I’ll feel much better knowing he’s with you. After all, if I’m not there, I’ll be reassured you have him and Jill to keep you out of mischief.”

You’d thought you’d return to your own bunk in the lower decks for Clive’s upcoming departure, but he’d insisted you continue convalescing in his chambers. Tarja had been checking in on your wounds daily – reapplying salve and fresh bandages. She’d noted concern about the way the one on your side was healing, noting the stitches had pulled apart a little but it should still heal nicely.

“It’s in an especially awkward place, prone to being tugged in natural movement,” she’d said that with a peculiar look at Clive, the man ducking his head bashfully when, truthfully, he’d been nothing but respectful of the healer’s specifications in regards to your recovery.

The Fire Dominant had even gone as far to count the stairs you’d have to conquer from your bunk to the ale hall – the daily exercise Tarja did allow - and compared it that of the one from his chambers. You wished you’d seen the hideaway’s face as Clive walked slowly down the steps, counting them one by one – he’d always taken steps two at a time with the length of his stride. He concluded it made far more sense for you to continue your recovery there, as to not put the stitches under any further strain with any extra steps.

“You’ll rest, won’t you?”

You force a tired smile. “I will.”

“I know it is difficult but, please, have patience. It’ll be worth it in the end.” He places a hand on your cheek and bends down, kissing you softly on the lips.

He draws back with a boyish grin, before heading towards the chamber doors.

“I miss you already, my darling.”

--

Three days have passed and you’ve stayed true to your word - staying in Clive’s chambers and only leaving to break your fast and partake in supper in the ale hall, someone’s eyes always tending to mind your slow and cautious journey there and back.

You’d tried to pass your days reading – the shelves had an extensive collection and Harpocrates had ferried over a pile of fairytales for your consumption - or making conversation with Otto, or Gav, or Cole as whoever came in to drop off missives, awaiting Clive’s return, and endless attempted naps, though they seemed to achieve little but make you more tired as you’d stare up at the ceiling half the night, feeling wide awake and hoping that Clive was okay.

Tarja would visit in the evening – applying salve and changing the bandages, determined to keep you free of infection.

“Is it healing all right?” You ask, as she finishes tightening the last strip.

“I think we’re nearly…”

“Tarja!” Gav’s voice boomed from the hall below before thunderous footsteps came up the stairs and the chamber door swung open, revealing an out of breath scout. “Bearers just came in – four in total, three in bad shape…”

“Coming!” Tarja gets up and departs swiftly, Gav following at her heels.

You wish you could help.

On the fourth morning, after another off and on sleep, you are thoroughly fed up of reading and staring at the ceiling and resting and surely, by now, the skin should’ve begun to mend. Afterall, Tarja had said pretty much so last night, hadn’t she? The ale hall had been full of talk of the state of the new Bearers joining the ranks and Tarja would be rightly preoccupied looking after their hurts. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to stretch your legs a little further than the twice daily trip to the ale hall…

--

Late afternoon and you’d perhaps tackled more stairs and walked around the outer decks a little more than planned but having the freedom to do so once more had been wonderful... until your side had started smarting. You’d been up in the atrium and, to avoid any possible run-ins with Tarja by going past the infirmary, you’d gone back down the stairs and planned to return to Clive’s chambers cutting through the forge. Blackthorne is hard at work at the anvil as usual and used to people walking past, so he doesn’t even raise his head as you stride past.

As you enter the main hall and walk clear of Charon’s store, you can see Gav is stood at the ale hall counter, deep in conversation with Clive, who clocks you immediately with an amused look.

Oh.

You walk forward cautiously to meet the two of them at the counter – there’s no point in trying to flee.

“My lady, you do appear to be lost.”

“You’re back,” you try and swerve the conversation. “We weren’t expecting you for another two moons.”

“Yes – it didn’t take as long as I’d planned and I was eager to return to you, but you don’t seem to be resting as instructed.” He takes a step forward then, and you unconsciously take one back.

“No, I have been. I just feel it’s time to…”

Before you can blink, as if he’s used the Phoenix’s blessing to increase his speed, he hooks his arm under your knees and one around your back, scooping you with ease.

“Gav, would you be so kind to accept any missives for me whilst I deal with this?”

“Clive…!“ You start to protest, feeling blood flush your face as you were pressed against his chest. The men quickly enter into conversation once more, ignoring you.

“What’s in it for me?” Gav smirks, folding his arms.

“Molly, open him a tab, please. I’ll settle up in the morning.”

“Howay – that’s what I’m talking about.” The scout grins. “Not a missive will slip through on my watch.”

You keep quiet as Clive carries you through the hall and towards the stairs. Charon takes a deep puff of her cigarette as you catch her eye – her expression gives nothing away.

Once in the chambers, he walks over to the bed, lays you down gently without a word, before heading back over to the chamber door and closing it, sliding the bolt across that he had Blackthorne forge to provide the two of you some privacy at certain hours.

He removes his sword from its sheath, placing it against the wall and then strips his cloak, leathers and belts in moments, leaving him in his undershirt and trousers and returns to the bed, sitting to the side of you – giving you that look.

“I’m fine, honestly.”

“May I?” His hand hovers at the hem of your shirt. You nod, and he pulls it up, his fingers ghosting around the bandages wrapped tightly around your abdomen. “Hm. A few spots of blood – I do hope we stopped you causing further damage, as well as prevented Tarja’s wrath.”

“Really?” You twist your head, trying to see but it’s an awkward position. “But I did rest - I only left the bed to break my fast and take supper the past three days.”

“I know it is frustrating, but you must remain patient. Your excursion today may have even undone all that hard work. Tarja will be able to confirm, though.”

You sigh, flopping your head down on the pillow dramatically as Clive tugs your top back in place.

“It’s a good thing I returned when I did, hm?” He squeezes your hand. “I can clear things for a couple of days again.”

“No, you shouldn’t put things off just because of me.”

“But how else will I get you to behave without my keen eye on you?” He picks your hand up, pressing a kiss to the back of it, before he smirks with a thought.

“Do I need to restrain you?” He quickly takes your other hand and lifts them both above your head, bringing them together before pinning them in place with one large hand. He leans over you, enjoying the tease.

“Perhaps I’ll need to bind your hands to the bed so you actually rest.”

“You wouldn’t.” You scoff, but you don’t sound as confident as you think you should. Your heart is pounding at the idea.

“Do not tempt me.” His voice has a dangerous edge to it now. “I did tell you that you had consumed my thoughts in all ways, did I not? Perhaps that was one of them.”

Clive lowers his face closer to you, biting his lip as he takes in the adorable flush of your cheeks, how your breathing has increased, squirming slightly under his gaze…

“However…” he sits upright then, pulling you up gently with him before he releases his grip upon your wrists and smiles, innocently, “..not whilst you’re injured. Use it as motivation, if you so desire.”

“You’re cruel.” You pout, folding your arms across your chest.

“Patience, my lady.” He gets to his feet and you think he means to leave you alone in your pity, only for him to clamber in behind you in the bed. He coaxes you back to lean against his chest, his legs now spread either side of yours and wraps his arms gently around you – ever mindful of your wound.

“Allow me to rest with you. Share the burden, so to speak.” He rests his head upon your shoulder, his voice vibrating through your cheek.

“I’m not tired,” but still you sink in deeper until his embrace, closing your eyes.

“I am,” he admits. “You said you haven’t been to Dhalmekia?”

“I haven’t.”

“It’s hot. Sandy – every breath I took I felt as if I was breathing it all in, and I fear I’ll be encountering sand in my boots too for moons to come.” He murmurs in your ear. “On the journey back, every time Torgal shook it was as if we’d walked into another sandstorm. We may have to bathe him to be rid of it…”

You smile at the idea of the sodden wolf in the hideaway’s bathing chambers.

“Which reminds me – they have hot springs in Dalimil. I don’t believe I’ve seen water so blue before. There’s a bath-house in the city too. The owner, in fact, owes me a favour. Perhaps when you’re recovered we can go. I hear it’s meant to be most relaxing.”

“Mm,” you agree, softly.

“The market is bustling - I think you’d like looking around at all the different wares, especially the offerings at their bakers. I’ve never seen so many types of bread, and some quite unique. There was a cob shaped like the former Drake’s Fang, even…”

Clive trails off, noting the change in your breathing. For someone claiming not to be tired, you’d soon fallen fast asleep to the dulcet tones of his voice. He suspects it’s from the overexertion from the day, but he also hopes it’s from the comfort you’ve found wrapped in his arms.

Clive presses a kiss to your crown before he lays his head back on the pillow, allowing himself to close his eyes.

“Rest well, my darling.” -- Masterlist . Requests welcome . Ko-fi

[lovehotelreservation]

Self Love

Summary: Bound by bestowed duty, burdened by the fate of countless, it only made sense that you, Meteor, and Clive would share not just many things in common, but a bed together.

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Clive/F!Reader/Meteor

tfw i've been cooking up this double penetration since the fanfest london announcement 🧍‍♀️

sorry to wols who don't main smn i hope you and everyone else still enjoy milking clive and meteor 🙇‍♀️

--------------

As a Warrior of Light, it was a wonder how you were able to constantly find yourself trapped between a rock and a hard place.

To which your roguishly rugged handsome companion would grin and cheekily comment something along the lines of “Well, my name is Meteor after all.”

And it was by this you would test his mettle and knowledge of Paladin as you called forth the fierce might of Phoenix in response.

Though, then again, you did have to be very mindful of mentioning the likes of “Phoenix” and “eikon”, lest you cast your other rugged yet sullenly handsome companion into yet another frenzied existential fit.

Clive Rosfield.

Poor man had just barely dragged himself out of the storm of having to comprehend how he managed to find himself plucked from his motherland of Valisthea only to be unceremoniously flung to the world of Eorzea, where he would cross paths with you and Meteor.

Thankfully, he was in the company of those who were well familiar with the concept of traveling dimensions. Meteor was the one to give Clive a reassuring pat on the back as he affirmed that it would just be a matter of when until some means to return him to his universe was found.

For now, as he cheerfully suggested, Clive could tag along with the both of you, joining your trek to venture to lands yet to be visited by either of you. The world had just been saved and the realm beckoned to be explored.

While understandably conflicted at first–what with thoughts of home, his brother, his friends at the Hideaway and across the Twins, and more weighing on his mind–Clive eventually relented and agreed to join. In such a foreign yet strangely familiar world, any lessons, techniques, and even powers he could acquire here to bring back to his world to bring forth needed revolution and change, then so be it.

He just had to quickly get used to you calling forth vastly different versions of Ifrit, Titan, Garuda, Bahamut and Phoenix with a mere book and a glowing foxdograbbit.

Similarly, while you and Meteor had seen your fair share of madness across your journeys together, you both couldn’t help but be in awe whenever Clive drew forth power from the eikons of his world that mirrored so perfectly with the primals of Eorzea, to even witnessing him prime into the infernal behemoth that was his Ifrit while squaring off with foes and hunts alike alongside you both.

Sharing tales of triumphs and losses over a campfire within the Black Shroud, offering knowledge that could only be learned in the heat of battle while sailing through the azure skies on an airship to Radz-at-Han, keeping watch of one another while treading treacherous ground through Coerthas, unwinding in the comforts of a local izakaya in Kugane after a hard day’s effort–this in turn had the three of you to bonding ever so closer together. After all, each of you had borne the burden of being savior in your respective worlds, carried forth the hopes and dreams of friends and allies present and past, maintained the balance of using your bestowed powers responsibly and striving to not allow self-doubt and greed corrupt your hearts so, and much more.

Beneath the warmth of the afternoon sun, your days together would be spent in glorious adventure.

Whereas underneath the dreamy glow of the evening moon, your nights were bathed and adorned in absolute euphoria.

All because Meteor couldn’t help but grin the very instant he noticed the way how Clive’s eyes would linger on you whenever the moment allowed for it, the shift from morose uncertainty to shy yearning reflected in those deep cerulean irises of his.

And with how long he had been adventuring with you all this time, he would be much too ashamed if he failed to notice that dreamy, awestricken stare of yours every time you marveled at Clive whenever he demonstrated his beastly prowess in battle.

The visitor and the host.

Experienced in combat yet naive with romance was the former.

Always thinking about the bigger picture and much too used to putting the needs of the world before one’s own desires was the latter.

Meteor, however, stood right in the middle and was ever eager to bridge gaps.

In this particular case, he did just that by keeping you sandwiched right between him and Clive as the three of you were tangled together in bed. Clothes and armor were long discarded and strewn across the floor of your inn’s suite, ensuring that nothing would get in the way of your two rugged companions and their wandering hands along your body.

As to be expected, Clive was curious with every touch as he lied beneath you, his fingers basking in the warmth of your bare skin as they sought to find which spots pleasured you most. Every moan you let you had his breath caught in his throat–a precious action soon followed by a burning need to elicit as many mewls of his name from your lips as much as possible.

By contrast, Meteor was ever proud as he quipped that he knew your body best–even better than you when he felt more daring. Maintaining his position above and behind you, he boldly grabbed at your breasts and gave your ass a few good slaps, with each gasp he earned in response being demonstrated as a reward that Clive could also earn were he to handle you in a similar way. And while stepping in as teacher had its own unique fun, he relished in being able to make you melt and crumble underneath him with every knowing stroke and plunge of his fingers.

Despite their different approaches towards you however, both were in absolute agreement in ravishing you thoroughly. With you caged between two broad and sturdy physiques of divine, chiseled muscle, you were kept perfectly in prime position to have Clive and Meteor plunge their thick, long cocks inside of you in tandem, leaving you crying out in sheer bliss as your core and your ass were subject to their relentless pounding.

“You’ve gotta find it rather humorous, mate–” Letting out a breathy laugh, Meteor pushed back his sweaty bangs away from his eyes as he peeked over your shoulder to glance at Clive, a grin plastered on his lips. “–you used to keep your distance from our lovely summoner every time that book was out, but now you can’t even stand to be a step away!”

At once, Clive had his eyes shut firmly tight, far too overwhelmed by the sinfully sweet sensation of the dripping wet velvet heat of your core continuing to squeeze around his cock. Yet at Meteor’s words, his eyelids fluttered open as he hoarsely responded with, “Could you blame me?” all while his hands reaffirmed their hold on your hips.

His cheeky grin now more of a wicked smirk, Meteor remarked, “Not in the slightest! After all, I speak from experience…!”

Upon the last word he uttered, his posture hunched forward as he proceeded to ramp up the pace and intensity of his thrusts, barreling his dick into your ass with feverish frenzy.

“And what’s that supposed to mean, Mete–!”

Though you were made to squeal all the more, you were ready to turn back towards Meteor with a stern questioning look, were it not for him already prepared for your reaction. Before you could complete your sentence, you suddenly found yourself pressed further down against Clive, the gentle yet heavy weight of a hand on the back of your head urging you to lock lips with him instead.

“Now, now, love–while I’ll never get enough of having your eyes on me, you’ve got a primal to master! Focus!”

Meteor’s laughter filled your ears while Clive’s tongue clumsily found its way into your mouth.

While you were eager to get back at the former, it was as your eyes found its way to the latter’s that you truly found yourself speechless.

The pure adoration held for you that was reflected in Clive’s eyes had your heart flutter and your hands quickly cupping his grizzled jaw as you hungrily reciprocated his affection.

And as the two of you kissed, you felt the stubble of Meteor’s chin scratch against the nape of your neck as he kissed your skin, making sure to press further down against the points that made you shiver most.

Stuck in the middle between the two men who cherished you most, you knew you weren’t going to be leaving the bed anytime soon tonight—especially when they had so much love they wished to pour inside of you over and over.

Even so, you were more than delighted to be in your current position. From this day onward, regardless of where your paths may lead as they split and twist, you would find your way to back to them, even worlds apart. 

[pinkkittysaw]

GOT MILK?

pairing: clive rosfield x f!reader

summary: when jill offers to look after your daughter for a few days, clive indulges in a secret fantasy

word count: 4.6k

content: NSFW (minors + ageless blogs DNI you will be BLOCKED!) established relationship, you & clive have a child, pregnancy mention, minor body insecurity, oral (f! receiving), fingering, unprotected p in v, creampie, breast/nipple play, spit, praise, dirty talk, cursing, petnames (sweetheart, love, darling, etc.)

a/n: um…..blinks

dividers by @/cafekitsune

Three months. Three long, arduous months. It's been three months since you've been given a proper break.

You loved your daughter more than anything in this world, probably more than life itself. She's as cute as can be, never failing to tug on you and Clive's heartstrings whenever she laughs and giggles.

Clive thinks she takes after you, despite her having his inky hair and light eyes, whereas you believe she's more like him, obviously.

"She may have my features, but she acts more like you."

"You both make the exact same face sometimes, I swear," he chortles, sauntering over to plant a kiss on your cheek. "She has your cute pout, your adorable smile, and even your bratty attitude when she's grumpy, but that's neither here nor there," he jests. You feign offense and playfully swat his chest in rebuttal, "I most certainly do not have a bratty attitude."

"Sure, darling," he smirks, giving your cheek a quick pinch before heading off into the other room. Despite Clive's teasing, your daughter is actually quite well-behaved, or rather as well-behaved as one can be at six months old. can be.

You can't lie; raising a child, even one as sweet as your baby girl, is exhausting. Both you and Clive have been run ragged.

He stayed by your side during the first few months postpartum, taking on most, if not all, of the nighttime feedings, diaper changes, and mishaps. You started to feel guilty at some point, feeling the bed shift every night as soon as she got fussy. You question him one evening, curious if he was bothered by having to get up so frequently throughout the early morning hours. He shakes his head no in response. "You carried our daughter for nine months, love," he states. "The least I can do is get up at night to take care of her."

Thankfully, everyone in the hideout was more than accommodating of Clive's decision to stay by your side the first few months after your daughter was born. In fact, you're sure he would've received an earful from both Tarja and Jill if he tried to return to work any sooner than he did.

Those days have long since passed, though, and Clive soon returned to picking up assignments while you stayed at the hideaway taking care of your daughter. You'd think that with so many people congregated in one area, you'd have plenty of people to help watch over your daughter while Clive was away, but you couldn't have been more wrong. A majority were off on assignments of their own, and the ones who stayed behind either had work to be handled there or were too injured and otherwise unfit for watching an infant.

Needless to say, you and Clive were worn out and weary. Having gone three months without any real chance to recuperate, in comes Jill, poor, unsuspecting Jill.

She had just returned from her travels across the realm and decided to visit your chambers, excited to share all the exciting tales from her journey. "Oh, dear," was all she could muster upon seeing your exhausted disposition. Your under eyes had become darker and more prominent due to the lack of sleep.

Clive was out at the moment, but you implore Jill to stay, knowing he'd be happy to see his childhood friend once he returned. The two of you took a seat on the small couch in your chambers, catching her up on everything that's been going on in the hideout. Clive returns a short while later, pleasantly surprised at the sight of Jill, and the three of you bond over tea while she talks about her travels.

"Forgive me for saying so, but the two of you look a wreck."

"Yeah, haha, it hasn't been easy, that's for sure." You give a half-hearted laugh, trying to make light of how spent you and Clive truly are.

"I'm on leave for another few days; I wouldn't mind watching your daughter for a night or two."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose."

"It's not really imposing if I'm the one offering, is it?"

"Besides, I miss the little cherub."

A beat goes by, and she can tell that you're still feeling conflicted. "I promise I wouldn't have suggested the idea if I wasn't sure."

"Alright then," you say, grasping her hands in yours. "Thank you."

It's sometime later that you're packing everything she'll need in an overnight bag and going through the mental checklist in your head. "I think that's everything," you state, checking and then rechecking everything.

You're about to hand over the bag to Jill when you're hit with a wave of doubt. You watch as she cradles your baby girl in her arms and can't help but get flooded with a bunch of what-ifs. What if there aren't enough diapers? What if she won't settle down to sleep? What if there's an accident? Your worries build and build to the point where you're about to protest Jill taking her at all when Clive clasps a warm hand over your shoulder.

"She'll be alright, sweetheart."

You know he's right. Jill's watched your daughter overnight a few times before. You knew you could trust her; she was one of the biggest supports you had during your pregnancy, other than Clive. You release the breath you didn't know you were holding and sigh. "You're right, you're right," you agree, handing Jill the bag. "I just worry about her, you know?"

Jill smiles back at you. "No offense is taken, and I can assure you that your daughter is in good hands."

You and Clive give your daughter a soft kiss on the forehead before turning to Jill once more. "If anything, and I mean anything, happens, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us, alright?"

"I promise," she smiles as if to reassure you further.

"Say bye-bye to mommy and daddy," Jill states, grabbing your daughter's arm and waving it lightly in the air, causing her to giggle. "I'll see you both in a few days," she says before turning to take her leave. The door shuts behind her, and you and Clive are left in the silence of your chambers.

All of the following day was spent getting your life back in some semblance of order. Once neglected chores and errands were taken care of as Clive went about completing more assignments.

It’s late in the evening when he returns. You're nestled in bed reading a book when he walks in, changing out of his clothes and into his sleepwear. It’s a few minutes later that he climbs into bed beside you, snuggling into your back.

"Reading anything interesting?" he mumbles.

"Just a romance novel; I’ve been meaning to go through this one for a while but haven’t had the time."

"Is it any good?"

"For the most part, the characters are kind of cliche, but I'll give you my full review once I'm finished."

"I'm looking forward to it" is all he says as he presses a quick kiss to your cheek. 

A few minutes pass, and you continue reading as Clive remains glued to your back before he cuts through the silence. "It’s so quiet."

You close the book and set it aside on the nightstand. "I know, it almost feels...wrong? I'm so used to hearing our girl babble or cry."

Clive hums into the nape of your neck before pulling you closer to him, slowly caressing your body over the nightgown you chose to wear. "I’m beginning to suspect that you're having less than pure intentions with me, Rosfield," you tease, starting to lean into his touch.

"Can you really blame me? When I have such an alluring and tempting woman in my bed?"

"I suppose not," you say, enjoying the feeling of his hands roaming your supple form.

Your body has changed so much since your pregnancy and subsequent birth. So much of you grew, shrank, stretched, and sagged, yet Clive still held you tender all the same. You're cradled gently in his arms as he kisses you. He worships your body, treating you as if you were the rarest and most prized treasure in all of Valisthea. You're worth so much more in his eyes—more than all the gil in the realm, more than the power of every Mothercrystal combined. He views you as if nothing else matters more than you and the sacred flesh that bore your daughter.

To say you were always at peace with the changes happening to your body would simply be a lie. You were well aware of all the ways your figure would change to accommodate the growing life inside you, but to be aware of the changes during pregnancy and to actually see them reflected on your own skin is vastly different.

In one of your earlier bouts of insecurity, questioning if Clive would still find you attractive after all was said and done, he pulled you into his arms, holding you close while whispering words of reassurance. "My love, this body has blessed me with the gift of being a father."

"This flesh-" he cuts himself off, placing a hand on your lower stomach to gently caress it. "This flesh that housed our daughter and kept her safe these past nine months is sacred to me."

"How could I ever hate it? How could I be unattracted to the body that has given life to our child?"

"If anything, I think it deserves to be worshipped."

His words echo through your head as you recall the sweet memories. Clive takes notice, as you've stopped moving your lips with his at this point. "What’s on your mind?" he asks, smirking down at you. You try and fail at tucking some strands of his shaggy hair behind his ear, choosing to fiddle with the earring that cuffs it instead. "Thinking about how much I love you," you sigh. "I'm lucky to be able to experience this with you."

He chuckles lightly at your statement before responding. "I’d say I was the lucky one," he strokes his finger along your cheek. "So much of my life has been filled with pain, grief, anger, vengeance, you name it."

"I had become jaded, fighting day in and day out in battles with seemingly no end in sight," he pauses before continuing, "but you, my love, showed me that things could be different."

"That I could grow into something more than my pain and my anger, that I had a real chance at a happier life, at making amends with myself for what I’ve done."

"I'll forever be grateful for that, for you, and for our family."

You give him a heartfelt smile. "I guess we’re both lucky then." You pull him back into a kiss once more, his body settling on top of yours. It’s soft and tender—the slow smacking of lips and gentle caressing of skin as you both enjoy each other. There’s no need to rush this; there's no need to hurry for fear of a waking baby. You're able to savor the tender intimacy of this moment in bed together.

You run your foot up and down his calf as he holds you close in his arms. The passion of the kiss increases as your breathing gets heavier and quicker in succession. It's not long after that tongues get added, gliding along each other as you savor the flavor of each other’s mouth.

You're the first to pull away, dilated pupils staring back at him as you state, "I love you." He smiles softly, his eyes filling with adoration as he gazes upon your sweet face. He leans in once more, whispering just above your lips, "I love you too, sweetheart."

He gives your lips a few more pecks before he cups your jaw and lolls your head to the side, allowing him access to your neck. "I’ve missed this," he whispers into your ear, "being able to take care of you, giving you pleasure." He stays in that spot for a few moments before moving down to your neck, placing open-mouthed kisses on the sensitive skin. His tongue rolls out of his mouth, licking at any skin it can find before the kisses become a bit more aggressive. Teeth softly graze the skin of your neck before it's sucked in between his lips.

Once he's done marking up your flesh, he returns to his original spot by your ear. There’s no beating around the bush when he asks with bated breath, "Can I make love to you?" A sheepish expression adorns your face. No matter how many times the two of you have sex, Clive being so blunt with the way he asks always makes you shy.

You mumble out a "yes," and he presses a chaste kiss to your lips before he moves down your body, tugging the hem of your nightgown right below your bustline. He leans back and takes a moment to admire the sight below him. Your body is bathed in the warm, gentle glow of candlelight. The soft curves of your form are accentuated by the shadows where the light doesn’t reach.

He moves back to your body again, pressing his lips just below where the fabric of your gown is bunched around your chest. More open-mouthed kisses litter your skin before he speaks once more. "It’s been a while since we could enjoy each other like this."

"Far too long," you agree.

"Looks like we better take advantage of this then," he murmurs before resuming his efforts. 

Every roll, dip, curve, mark, and mole on your body gets lavished with the affection that his mouth and fingertips provide, worshipping your divine flesh. Clive has long since forgotten the supposed sanctity of the Eikons that have run the world into the ground for centuries. If he were to believe in anything holy, though, it’d be you, angelic in your reactions to his gentle caresses.

He lingers around the fullness of your stomach, tracing every stretch mark on your belly with his tongue as he squeezes your sides gently in his hands. "You're so beautiful, so sexy," he groans. "I love how you feel against me." The tips of his fingers skim your sides as his mouth continues its descent down your body.

When he reaches the hemline of your knickers, he jumps over to one of your thighs, continuing his kisses down your leg. This pattern continues until he's kissed up and down your legs, reaching the bikini line of your underwear. He pauses, taking note of the wet patch of arousal between your thighs. A single kiss is placed at the height of your cotton-clad mound before he's moving to take the band of your panties into his mouth and subsequently tugging them down with his teeth.

"You’re such a tease," you huff in light frustration. "Oh, you love it," he quips, smirking as he pulls the garment off your legs, tossing it on the floor. He readjusts himself on the bed, kneeling in front of your now-bent legs, and carefully pulls them apart. 

He gets on his stomach and aligns himself with your needy cunt, tossing your thighs over his shoulders. He admires the glistening arousal that coats your folds before placing another kiss on top of your mound. He's quick to lick at your inner thighs, purposely avoiding where you need him the most. His teasing continues on for a few more minutes before you whine out his name in frustration.

"I’m just trying to enjoy the moment, love."

"There’s no need to rush," he coos, his tongue lapping at your outer folds, closer than he was before but not close enough for your liking.

"I’ve missed this part the most." With every break between his statements, he kisses his way closer to your desired destination. "I've missed taking my time with you, making you fall apart with just my tongue," and with that, he finally makes contact with your slit; it's a slow drag from your quivering hole to your puffy clit. "I've missed your scent." His tongue dips back down to your entrance, the muscle slowly thrusting in and out of you, savoring every drop of arousal that graces his tastebuds. "I've missed your taste." He gathers a pool of spit behind his lips before dribbling it on your clit, smearing it around with his tongue, thoroughly soaking the surrounding hair of your mons in the process. His drool dribbles down your cunt, and he’s quick to lap it all up, enjoying the way his tongue plays with your folds. Attention is brought back to your clit once more as his tongue flicks the nub back and forth before pulling it between his lips and sucking softly.

You give a full-bodied moan as he continues to eat you out, allowing your head to hang back as you exhale in pleasure. Your fingers clutch the soft bedding beneath you, causing Clive to take notice and interlock his fingers with your own.

You begin rolling your hips in tandem with his sucks, fully indulging in the pleasure he's giving you, when, of course, he pulls away. You’re about to start making a fuss when he speaks over you. "Would you like my fingers as well?"

"Uh-huh," you pant, staring down at him in anticipation. He pushes the middle finger of his free hand into his mouth, coating it in saliva before running it in between your slit, drawing slow circles around your clit.

You whine his name, having grown tired of his antics at this point. "Alright, my love." His finger trickles back down, tracing your entrance before slowly sinking into your warm heat. "Oh yes," you moan.

His mouth returns to your clit, giving you some time to adjust to the recent intrusion. After a few more whines and pleas, he begins to thrust his finger in and out of your warm heart, curling it slightly. Your hands find solace in his hair, tugging lightly on the dark roots. The thrust of his fingers increase in intensity as he continues to finger-fuck you. Your hips buck against his face once more as the desperation to reach your peak becomes apparent.

"Look me in the eyes when you cum."

"I want to see the look on your face when I make a mess of you." His gaze is intense when you meet his eyes. You can't help but bite your lip at the sight of him moving down to suckle on your clit once more. The smolder he throws your way as he continues to pleasure you is unfairly sexy, groaning into your cunt like you're the best meal he’s ever tasted. You’re reduced to nothing but pants and high-pitched whines as your hips continue to wildly buck against his mouth.

It’s only a few short moments later that you’re pushed over the edge, mouth agape, as you reach the peak of pleasure. You're borderline overstimulated as Clive continues to suck your clit through your climax. You unconsciously squeeze your thighs against his head in an attempt to get him to stop. He gets the hint and pulls away, and a slight sheen from your wetness can be seen on his lips and facial hair.

"Do you still wish to go further?" He murmurs against your skin.

"Ye- oh shit," his head perks up at your exclamation. "What's wrong? Are you alright?" His voice takes on a worried tone.

"Nothing’s wrong; it’s just...fuck, I’m leaking." The wet splotches on the fabric of your nightgown covering your breasts are now evident. "I haven’t pumped in a while."

"Oh." There's an awkward tension in the air as you both sit in silence. Clive's the one to break the ice. "So, when you orgasm, you leak milk?"

You attempt a half-hearted laugh, wanting to crawl under the covers and hide in embarrassment. "I could help you if you want." You're quick to raise an eyebrow in response. "Huh?" He’s a bit shy with his response this time. "I could, you know, suck on them and help express the milk."

"Are you serious?"

"I can’t lie to you—the way your breasts look now, their weight and fullness—they're tantalizing."

"I’ve been desperate to taste your milk straight from its source."

"Fuck, Clive" is all you can manage to say.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes."

To say that you hadn’t also thought of Clive sucking the milk from your tits would be a lie. Excitement builds in the room as he stands up; his arousal is apparent as his erection shows through his clothes. He pulls off his sleep shirt along with the trousers, leaving him in his underwear. He crawls on the bed towards you, pulling you onto his lap to straddle him. The two of you meet in the middle for a kiss, tasting yourself on his lips.

He's slow to grind you against his still-covered shaft, guiding your hips back and forth while enjoying the sounds of your pants in each other's mouths. A bead of precum seeps through his underwear, where the head of his cock still lingers. The wet spots on your nightgown grow in size as your breast continues to leak from repeated pleasure.

Clive's hands run along the path of your legs to the now-fallen hemline of your gown, silently asking if he can remove the barrier that separates you from the sweetness. You give a simple nod, and he slowly pulls the fabric up your body, making sure you feel the drag of his fingers linger on your skin. The gown is pulled off your body and tossed off the side of the bed. The fullness of your breasts is much more apparent now that you’re sitting upright in front of him.

You drink each other in as you're enveloped in the warm, flickering light. He’s still just as handsome as when you first met him, with his kind bedroom eyes and gentle affections that are reserved for just you.

He looks upon your body with adoration—your thicker thighs, the swell of your hips, the way your belly hangs. A lovesick look crosses his features, sweetness filling his eyes when he tells you, "You’re the most beautiful woman to ever grace this planet." You know he's telling the truth; his warm hands knead the sides of your body as if to give the statement more weight. 

Your hand reaches down to palm his cock through his underwear. The touch is light and gentle, causing his breath to hitch. You pull his hardened length through the band of his underwear, lightly pumping him up in your hand. After tugging the material of his underwear further down his legs, you sit yourself a bit higher on his lap, lining him up with your entrance.

The sound of your combined groans can be heard as you slowly inch yourself down on his cock. He fills you up deliciously, just as he always has, just as he always will.

You take a moment to settle yourself, his hands rubbing soothingly up and down your back, your head resting on his shoulder. Another confession of "I love you" is swapped between the two of you as you meet for another sweet kiss.

Your hips begin to roll back and forth while you're impaled on his cock. Clive takes this time to tenderly work at your breasts, gently massaging the swollen tissue. Airy, dulcet tones of enjoyment fall from your lips. He gently pinches your nipples, and droplets of milk dribble from your nipples, causing him to lick his lips. He leans his head closer to your chest, his mouth hovering over it. "Can I?"

"Uh-huh," you nod.

Your efforts on his cock speed up as you begin to bounce on him with slightly more vigor. He laps at the droplets that fall from your breasts before slowly licking around your areola. One of his arms braces you against him as you continue to ride him, and the other works its way down to your bum, squeezing the supple flesh.

The moment of truth finally arrives. Clive engulfs your nipple in his mouth and sucks lightly. Bursts of milk squirt into his mouth, and he's quick to gulp down every last drop.

"Mmf."

He continues to drain the excess milk from your breast, sucking and swallowing everything you can offer before switching over to the other. "Founder, you're so fucking hot," you say as you peer down at him while he mouths at your untouched tit.

"Yeah? You enjoy watching me drink from your breast, sucking on your sweet tits?"

You clench down on him hard, practically suffocating his cock as you drag your cunt up and down his shaft. A part of you feels dirty for enjoying this, enjoying the way your lover looks as he suckles your tit and watching the excess milk dribble from the corners of his mouth down to the rest of his body. You can’t deny its appeal as more of your wetness coats his cock.

"Yeah," you whine, pulling your bottom lip between your teeth, feeling flustered as you become desperate in your movements, wiggling your arm down your torso to rub at your clit. "Naughty girl," he murmurs against your skin before taking the other nipple into his mouth, repeating the same process he did previously.

The efforts on your clit accelerate as you move against him. The muscles of your thigh and core burn as your rhythm on his cock continues, and your mewls for him grow in volume. "Clive, I can’t, my legs-" he detaches himself from your breast at the sound, pulling you into his chest. He reaches both hands down to your bum, spreading both cheeks as he plants his feet on the bed and batters into your cunt, thrusting in and out with intense vigor. 

A slew of whines escapes you, begging him to get you to completion. Your cheek rests on the crux of his neck and shoulder while he continues to fuck you mercilessly. Your fingers are relentless on your clit, smearing you and Clive's joint slick all around.

Both your drool and breast milk start to leak down onto his chest, creating delicious, slick friction as your bodies rub against each other. "Cum on my cock, sweetheart; you deserve it."

"Come on, it’s all for you." After a few more harsh thrusts and circles around your clit, you sob into his shoulder, wildly rutting your hips against his navel, extending the peak of your pleasure for as long as you can. You fully collapse onto him, your creamy cunt pumping and milking his cock for everything it has. It’s only a few short moments later that he delivers his final sloppy thrusts before filling you with his seed.

You’re both sweaty and spent as you lay in each other's arms, the sounds of your labored breathing echoing throughout the room.

"I love you," Clive says as he presses a kiss on your forehead.

"I love you too," you mumble before reaching to peck him on the lips. You snuggle up against him before asking, "So... what does my milk taste like?"

He gives an airy laugh before responding. "It actually tasted quite good."

"I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was surprisingly sweet and rather warm."

"Well," you say amusedly, "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed myself," he teases, smirking down at you. "Yeah, yeah," you grumble, attempting to hide your embarrassment as you bury your face into his chest.

"Come on, love," he chuckles, rubbing his arm up and down your back. "Let's get cleaned up and ready for bed."

[lavender-romancer]

Hello I couldn’t find your request terms or anything but I was wondering if you still wrote for teotfw? If so could I request a James x reader where she’s traveling with both James and Alyssa and maybe reader gets hurt in Clive’s house before he goes and finds Alyssa? Maybe he comes onto her and she punches him? And maybe they all comfort eachother the next day or something??

Comfort

James x Reader CW: blood, death, attempted assault

”*°•.˜”*°•. ˜”*°•. ˜”*°••°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜

James had always thought he was a psychopath, wanting to hurt everyone near him so he kept people at arm's length. Maybe it stemmed from his mother killing herself in front of him… it was probably that. But either way he didn't think so obsessively about killing people anymore, not since you kissed. It was very awkward and out of place plus you ran away afterwards but something changed within James from that day onwards.

"You're fucking joking," Alyssa started laughing way too loud and you nodded, staring into the dark with a blank look on your face. "You kissed him!" She yelled in-between fits of laughter.

"I'm such an idiot," you groaned and began rubbing your temples.

"You're fucking hilarious," Alyssa leant back on the bench and fell off the back of it, laughing even more.

"You daft bitch," you smiled and pulled her back onto the bench.

"How was it?" She tried to hide her smile behind her hand but you just rolled your eyes.

"It was so fucking awkward I want to shoot myself." You covered your face with your hands.

"Go on," she took her jacket off and handed it to you. "Scream into this. I always used to scream into my pillow after one interaction with Tony. It muffled it enough."

You took the jacket in your hands and folded it over a few times before putting it close to your mouth and pressing it to your face before screaming into it. You took a deep breath and gave her back the jacket.

"I need alcohol," you said with a disappointed look on your face.

"Well we can hardly afford food let alone shots so unless you're willing to go whore yourself out in the toilets. I'd focus on other things," Alyssa hit you on the back twice before standing up "Come on, we should head out."

"I'm not getting in the car now!" You half yelled half hissed.

"Oh you're so fucking dramatic, James will be weird and awkward. He's always weird and awkward. You're the one who needs to act normal." Alyssa reasoned as she walked off to find James, you sat down with a huff.

The car journey was horrifically awkward even when Alyssa would try to fill the silence as she often would, it came out as hollow. You were beginning to reconsider even being on this sort of expedition with them. After a few hours Alyssa was asleep in the backseat and even though it was about 2am you couldn't sleep with the atmosphere being like it was.

"I'm-" you started

"I wanted-" James said at the same time and you both smiled.

"I'm sorry, I ambushed you in such a… unfair way and I wanted to apologise," you looked at him as his hands tightened on the wheel, his face beautifully highlighted every few meters with the orange street lamps.

"Oh. Are you regretting it?" James asked, eyes fixed forward and you considered your answer for a bit too long. "I'll take that as an unanswered yes then." He said quietly.

You weren't sure how to bridge the knowledge gap of whether he wanted to kiss you and the fact that you did want to kiss him but didn't like making a fool of yourself. It was a lot of information for your brain to process and you'd never been good at thinking quickly unless it was a gut reaction like how you felt when you kissed him. It now felt as if it had been too long to say anything that would make it better, you turned slightly and leant your head on the window, watching the orange street lights go by.

"Fuck sake!" Alyssa's outburst woke you up with a start

"What! What is it?" You turned around, eyes wide adjusting to the morning light.

"We've run out of fucking petrol." She groaned and you sighed.

"Loud fucker," you muttered and Alyssa hit your head. "Ow!"

"We should start walking," James said, putting the car with no petrol in it into neutral and putting the handbrake on.

"We're on a flat road, why are you even doing that?" Alyssa asked with a confused look on her face.

"It might still roll back, it's road safety." James reasoned and you saw Alyssa roll her eyes in the rear view mirror making you smirk.

"Well, come on." You opened the door and started walking down the road, hands in your pockets. Even after a long nap you still felt that tightness in your chest that rose up to your throat whenever you saw James. The tightness made you feel like you wanted to cry because of the feeling of uncertainty between the two of you.

"Why are you running off?" Alyssa asked when she caught up with you.

"I think I just need some space away from him to get over all this." Your face must've looked dismally unhappy at that moment.

"Come on, it was just a kiss. It can't be that awkward between you, you're both nearly adults." Alyssa frowned and you nodded.

"It's not that. It's the feeling of rejection in all of it. After the kiss his face was fucking unreadable but it wasn't exactly happy." You looked up at the sky and took a deepth breath in. "Crushes feel so fucking adolescent but they still persist."

"I don't think I've ever had a crush on anyone so far. I like attention for a few hours and then I just want to be on my own again." Alyssa replied, looking at you.

"You don't strike me as someone who would be interested in teenage relationships." You smiled at her and she rolled her eyes.

"I almost hate that you're right. C'mon, let's cut through here, looks reyt posh." Alyssa headed towards a gap in some bushes and you stopped hands on your hips in confusion.

"A bush looks posh?" You called after her and she gave you a death stare.

"Where's she off to then?" James asked and it made you jump.

"Uh…not sure. She's um… off on a whim I think." You said quickly before following Alyssa and leaving James to look longingly at you as you walked away from him.

You walked for about 30 minutes before Alyssa spotted a large modern looking house. "Jackpot," you heard her say quietly and you couldn't think why it could possibly be one.

"How do you know?" James asked.

"Know what?" Alyssa asked, peering through one of the windows.

"He means how do you know it's safe?" You continued and James couldn't help but want to reach out to your hand.

"Post has built up, dust everywhere. I don't see why it wouldn't be." Alyssa reasoned as you followed her to the front of the house.

"Is breaking and entering a good way to lie low?" James asked and you couldn't tell if he was trying to be sarcastic or genuine.

"You worry too much." Alyssa shook her head before picking up a rock and smiling at you.

"Alyssa. Come on. You can't be-" Then she broke a window and opened the door. "Fuck sake." You muttered with a smirk.

"Who has this many pictures of himself in his own house?" Alyssa asked as the three of you stood in the front room.

"A narcissist," you replied, picking up the photo and looking at the man. "If he's the owner anyway. Otherwise it's more of a creepy shrine."

"No, it's him. His post says Koch, so does the book." James pointed to the book that was next to the photo.

"Okay, so we've established who lives here can we stop being weird please." Alyssa groaned and headed into another room as James turned to follow her, you put a hand on his shoulder.

"James, wait." You said quietly and he turned around. "I wanted to say I didn't-"

"I know I'm bad at reading people, but I'm good at observing. You're uncomfortable around me now. You don't need to keep apologising, it's okay." He couldn't seem to reach your eyes and you couldn't get the words out before he turned around and left. James looked through some cabinets before finding a video camera, he sat down on the stairs and opened it, wondering if there was some kind of home video or something. What he saw terrified him immensely, he quickly closed it and put it back in the cabinet.

You walked over to the sofa and sat down, opening the side table to find some spirits- maybe they could lift yours. When Alyssa and James came back in you had set out some vodka and rum and some shot glasses.

"It's finally time for us to get drunk with each other," you grinned and Alyssa practically bounded over to join.

"Come on James!" Alyssa called as she poured out some vodka shots.

"This is a terrible idea." He said as he sat next to you on the sofa.

"I think it could be very fun." You said picking up one of the shot glasses.

Many drinks later Alyssa was passed out asleep on the sofa, you and James were sitting together listening to the music you'd put on and playing never have I ever.

"Okay, never have I ever… punched my dad in the face." You said to him with a raised eyebrow and he almost regrettably took a shot.

"God, vodka tastes like acetone." He grimaced and you giggled. "Never have I ever slapped someone?" You sighed before taking a drink.

"That's a fucking given, me and my sister are always getting into fights like that! Another!" You exclaimed as you slammed down the shot glass and it suddenly broke in your hand "Oh shit."

"Okay, open your hand. Have you got any glass stuck?" He asked, turning your hand around to look at your palm.

"I don't think so, but I do think I might be bleeding. I fear I shall die!" You clasped your hands dramatically before wincing at the feeling of your cut hand.

"Come with me, I'm sure there's a first aid kit in the bathroom." James stood up and helped you to your feet, when you stood up you were both extremely close and you wanted nothing more than to kiss him again. But you didn't, after last time even your tipsy brain would think twice. As you sat on the toilet and James opened the first aid kit you looked up at him and how the shape of his jaw was so perfectly framed by his ears, this could be seen as an odd observation but you were tipsy so you allowed yourself to look up at him with a stupid smile.

“Why are you smiling like that?” James asked as he knelt in front of you and began disinfecting your cuts.

“You’re just so… mhmm.” You make a humming noise and put your free hand on his face which seemed to surprise him because his eyes shot up to meet yours.

“And what does, mhmm, mean?” He asked, going back to disinfecting your hand.

"You're so pretty," you leant back on the toilet and giggled, James didn't seem to know how to respond so you closed your eyes through the silence.

"There's a bed upstairs," you said as you stumbled out of the bathroom.

"You should head up," James said as he headed towards the front room.

"You should come with me-eeeeee." You pleaded and he shook his head.

"No, you need to sleep. Come on." James gestured for you to stand up and as you did you stumbled a bit and giggled before following him upstairs. James took you to a bedroom and sat you down on the bed. "Try to sleep the drunkness off. Your hand is going to ache tomorrow but it'll be okay."

"Okay," you looked up at him adoringly as James looked back at you with a slightly awkward slightly uncomfortable expression before walking out.

You lay back on the bed in a drunken happiness that your anxieties and overthinking couldn't penetrate. The feelings you had towards James didn't feel fully developed but they were definitely there and hard to ignore. In your head he had always worked best with direct expressions of feelings with minimal subtext. But just kissing him had seemed to be a foolish decision.

A few hours later James quietly came into the bedroom. You were lying on your front, a little bit of drool on the pillow under you and your hand hanging over the side as you star-fished the rest of your body. It didn't surprise him that you slept like this, unashamed of taking up space.

When you kissed him he didn't know how to react. Whether he should go with his gut reaction of pulling you into another kiss or just sort of stand there. Unfortunately he went with the latter and there was no way back from that.

He slowly lay down on the floor and looked up at your hand twitching every now and then. Even your hands looked pretty. He was so frustrated with his own brain for not responding the way he should have when you kissed him. James just wanted you to understand how he felt and that he-

A car pulled up outside and James' eyes opened wide as he heard the front door open. He shuffled under the bed and pulled his hunting knife from his ankle holster, holding it in somewhat prepared terror. He couldn't help his own fear even though he wanted to save you so desperately he was terrified of being found himself. The light turned on and he saw someone with very shiny formal shoes walk in and heard you gasp.

"How did you get in here?" The man asked in an accusatory voice, James supposed he had a right to be a bit accusatory considering you were literally sleeping in his bed.

"I-I." You stuttered but couldn't seem to get the words out.

"Shh, shh. It's okay. You just gave me a fright, if I'd know it was someone who looked like… you. I might not have been so worried." The man placed down the fire poker against the nightstand and James gulped, frozen in terror.

"I'm sorry." You whispered in a terrified voice and the man walked closer to the bed.

"That's alright. You on your own?" He asked and you quickly replied with, yes.

The man closed the door and James could only look in horror as he sat down on the bed next to you. All he could think about was the videos on the camera, the horrifying images of bondage and pain he assumed this man put other women through.

"Have you eaten my porridge too, Goldilocks?" He asked with a laugh that sent a shiver up James' spine.

"What the fuck?" You replied, almost whispering and the man tutted.

"No language like that, you're too pretty for that. Just stay still." He made some sort of movement and the bed creaked. James was waiting for when he should try to help you but what could he do? Stab this man and be a hero? What would that do?

"Please don't." You sounded as if you were about to cry.

"Don't do what?" The man asked in a condescending tone that made James even more angry. "Are you going to make this more difficult?" He asked more aggressively this time and made another movement that made the bed creak and you began protesting.

You weren't sure what was happening now, as soon as this man closed the door you panicked but whatever this was it was no longer safe.

"You don't want to make this difficult." The man threatened and you pulled your arms away from him, he lurched forward to grab them again and you punched him in the nose. "You fucking bitch!" He exclaimed with a bloody nose before jumping forward on top of you. Putting all of his weight on top of you so you could hardly breath, pinning you down with an incredible amount of force.

You were screaming at this point, screaming for James or Alyssa or just help. He put his hand over your mouth and you bit down hard, he responded to that by punching you in the ribs with his good hand and you cried out closing your eyes.

Suddenly the door flew open and a warm liquid sprayed onto your face. The pressure on your arms was gone, the weight was gone. You opened your eyes and saw James standing there with a knife in his hand and Alyssa with a large bookend, both with blood on them. The man was staggering backwards holding his throat that was gushing with blood. Dark, deep red blood sputtered out of his mouth and his throat, running down his chest and onto the floor. Then you looked at yourself, covered in the same deep red blood and you began to panic. Hyperventilating and eyes wide as you looked at this man fall to his knees and then the floor. You could only assume he was dead and could only grip the bed sheets in pure terror.

The three of you looked at each other in silence for a few seconds. Having no idea how to react to what had just happened. Alyssa was the first to move, she crouched down in front of you and she was speaking but you couldn't hear. You couldn't hear anything aside from the sound of your heartbeat in your ears. She took your hands and stood you up. Taking you to the bathroom she sat you on the toilet and took off your blood stained t-shirt. She got into the bath and all you could look at -as she used the shower to wash you- was the blood. The blood was everywhere. All over the porcelain of the bath and your hands and nails and legs and feet. It was all you could see and all you could smell.

Whilst you changed your clothes in the bathroom, Alyssa and James worked in efficient silence. Washing all of the clothes and sheets with blood on them, bleaching and cleaning the floor, wiping down every surface they had touched the whole night and generally cleaning up. The two knew how serious this situation was but talking about it was acknowledging it happened and they simply weren't ready to do that.

As morning approached the three of you were sitting outside by the pool in a line and in silence. Alyssa had a hand over yours and your other hand was held in James'. Alyssa mentioned something about getting a drink and walked inside, you took a deep breath and lay backwards on the concrete, James joined you.

"Well that was fucking insane." You said finally and James let out a strained laugh.

"That's one way to put it." He replied. "I'm sorry that happened to you. I mean when he was making you uncomfortable."

"That's one way to put it." You imitated how James had said the same sentence and looked at him with a small smile. "Why did you do what you did?" You asked, after wondering for so long.

"He was going to hurt you." James looked at you and searched your eyes for annoyance or anger, assuming he had fucked up again.

"How do you know that?" You asked.

"There were these videos I found. Of him hurting women, I didn't want it to happen to you." James squeezed your hand tighter and you moved closer to him until you were nearly nose to nose.

"I was just lucky you and Alyssa were there, even after I punched him he was still going to hurt me." You sighed and closed your eyes.

"I wouldn't let that happen." James whispered and you opened your eyes, seeing him looking at your lips.

"I wouldn't let anyone hurt you either." You whispered, stroking the back of his hand with your thumb.

The morning air was crisp, you felt a slight chill but nothing could take your attention away from what was in front of you. James leant forward slightly and kissed you softly. It was tender. Nothing like the hurried kiss you had given him two nights previous. James put a hand on your cheek and you both turned onto your side, intertwining your legs together. When you pulled apart you sat up and just hugged one another. Nothing like a bloody murder to bring two people together…

"Awh did I miss it!" Alyssa exclaimed as she came outside.

[multiversal-madness]

Professor Layton Au - Pandora's Call

((I have made an intro post for this au before but it's been a while and things have changed so here we go))

The Pandora's Call Au follows the idea of pairing the games (+ the movie and crossover) and merging them together, combining the stories and mysteries while changing some other story details to fill the gaps left behind.

The namesake of this Au (and the first combination to be created), Pandora's Call is the combination of Pandora's Box and Spectre's Call.

It follows the Professor and his new assistant Emmy as they investigate the Elysian box. They follow its trail to the ghost town Folsense where they must uncover the secrets behind the spectres — two large and formless entities that fight in the streets — the Spirit — a figure commanding the animals of the town into harassing visitors — and the Golden Kingdom — a castle rumoured to be buried beneath Folsense originating from the Azran.

The Black Ravens are instead the Raven's Guild located in Dropstone and while they do participate in the market, they're more so 'adventurers' that oversee most of the travel to the ghost town.

Arianna isn't sick, Tony doesn't dress up as Seamus and Evan Barde doesn't die, they live in Dropstone together peacefully.

Instead of the manatee like creature she is in canon, Loosha is instead a Quetzalcoatlus that flew out of the Golden Kingdom when she was small enough for Luke to hold.

And Luke Triton is instead Lord Luke Herzen, the grandson of Duke Anton Herzen, raised by his grandfather in Folsense with his only contact with the world outside Folsense being when he uses the animals of Folsense to scare away outsiders.

The other game pairings in this Au are as follows:

Eternal Diva + Curious Village — Eternal Village

St Mystere exists on the island of Ambrosia, the looming tower is mixed with Descole's castle and the Whistler and Reinhold families are combined. Flora and Melina are sisters and Melina's consciousness is put into a robot after she dies.

Miracle Mask + PLvsAA — Mysterious Mask

Labyrinthia is its own world accessible through the Akbadain ruins which is where Randall ended up when he fell, the magic is real (but bound to that one area) and the one behind the Masked Gentleman is the Storyteller (Descole isn't in this one due to Dahlia related injuries).

Lost Future + Azran Legacy — Lost Legacy

Mostly follows the plot of Azran Legacy, but Bill Hawks has disappeared in a time machine related incident and someone claiming to be Luke from the future joins them on their journey. Targent makes it to each location first so they have to use a rudimentary time machine that can only go back a few days to let them collect the eggs first. Also Clive is Luke's half brother, though he has to wear a purple wig to cover his blonde hair.

I do have some extra details for what happens outside the main 'games' as well, though this post is getting long so I'll put them under the cut for anyone who's interested (sorry it's also pretty long):

Clark and Brenda have been dead for around 10 years by the time Pandora's Call starts (though Brenda isn't quite gone), though Clark's death was confirmed while Brenda went missing on her own accord and was presumed dead

Losing Clark and then Brenda in short succession then only a few years later losing Claire left Hershel in a very bad place, he withdrew more so than before and became more reckless in the cases he'd pursue

After being beaten up by the government, Lucille and Roland were worried about him only having them and his mentor Dr Schrader to support him so Lucille called the Ledore household and asked if they would be willing to check in on Hershel, which they agreed and Henry went to go check on him

It was rocky at first, but Henry reaching out really helped Hershel and the two became friends again, Angela joining them too, though with Monte d'Or they couldn't be there all the time

During Hershel's 'reckless era' Henry would often be the one to come over and make sure he's eating enough and looking after his injuries (both from the government incident and injuries he gets while being reckless)

He has two major injuries around this time, one from before the Government beat down and one that ended his 'reckless era' and made him realise he couldn't keep doing this

The first happened the day Claire died. A young boy ran into the burning building next door to the lab to look for his parents and Hershel ran after him, burning his hands in the process of saving the kid

The second was when he was in a particularly bad place mentally, when he decided to look into the case of Claire's death a second time. He got further with his investigation, but then he was jumped and beat up worse than the first time, severely damaging one of his legs in the process and needing it to be amputated from the knee down (When it heals enough he gets a prosthetic, but he also carries a foldable cane and crutches in case he needs them)

On a brighter note, his reckless era did bring about one good change and that was running into his old 'friend' Paul who had also gotten involved in some shady dealings. After escaping the people Hershel was investigating/Paul was getting even with, they ended up reconnecting (things were a bit more complicated than that but this post is already too long-)

This Au's Hershel is a lot tidier than his canon counterpart, he also tends to collect odd souvenirs from his travels (traits he's picked up from Clark and Brenda, *gestures to 'guy who's nothing but the people he's lost' post*)

He's also a bit quicker to go against law enforcement when they're interfering with his investigations (nothing extreme of course, but he's definitely hidden evidence he hasn't had a chance to observe properly before an inspector could take it away)

And that's all I'll share for now. I have a lot planned for this Au and eventually I want to write a few fics for it too (a multichapter fic for each 'game' and a few oneshots too, though it is a very ambitious project) so we'll see what happens.

[wreckedhoney]

A Killer Frequency Major Arcana Match-up! bc sometimes it's fun to match characters & setpieces from a story with the major arcana from the tarot deck. But some picks are better than others lol, I bolded the ones I like best. Feel free to share what/who you'd match with which, or what picks here stand out! Shared a bit of this on discord, so hello to anyone seeing this again! I added more since :)

0. The Fool - Jimmy. Curiosity, Optimism, Journeys, Trust (both deserved & misplaced), Above the opinions of others. Upside down: Agency, Responsibility, Don’t catastrophize/overthink.

I. The Magician - Carrie. Creativity, Invention, Transformative process, Art, Wisdom, Purity. Upside down: Ineffective old habits, Learn new tricks, Hard work, Change.

II. The High Priestess - KFAM Radio station. Welcoming, Mysterious, Fertile, Secrets, Clarity, Good surprises, Opportunity. Upside down: Actions over wishful thinking.

III. The Empress - Brian Ponty. Peace/Abundance, Love/Luxury. Upside down: Trouble in paradise, Collect yourself.

IV. The Emperor - John Hedges. Power/Authority, Responsibility, Self control, Self mastery. Upside down: Need for flexibility over rigidness.

V. The Hierophant - Forrest Nash. Wisdom, Rules, Choosing one’s battles, Conformity. Upside down: Independent paths/Isolation.

VI. The Lovers - George&Marie. Choices, Guided or controlled by emotions, Passion. Upside down: Emotional coldness, Hibernation, Complacency.

VII. The Chariot - 189.16, The Scream. Control over situations, Freedom, Risk of working oneself out of a good thing. Upside down: Moving forward.

VIII. Strength - Leslie Harper. Stamina, Perseverance. Upside down: Draw on hidden strengths, Reflect on strengths one forgets they have.

IX. The Hermit - Clive Elforth. Reflection, Soul searching, Learning by observation. Upside down: Consider sharing one’s wisdom with others.

X. Wheel of Fortune - Roller Ricky’s Roller Rink. Life is circular, Good times will come back, Keep working towards upsides. Upside down: Take a step back before things spin out of control.

XI. Justice - The Producer’s Booth. Fairness, Adherence to rules & consequences. Upside down: Karma for oneself also.

XII. The Hanged Man - Maurice Russell. Patience, Perspective over catastrophizing. Upside down: Patience is not always a virtue; act or retreat.

XIII. Death - George Barrow. Changes, Attempts to avoid conflict may be futile. Upside down: Pointless to resist; may make things worse. Avoid conflict if possible.

XIV. Temperance - Plunker/The Frat. Self restraint, Moderation, Satisfaction with balance, Going with the flow, Patience. Upside down: Reflect on life’s imbalances, Be wary of impulsiveness.

XV. The Devil - Marie Campbell. Base desires, Bound to self-destruction, Prone to temptation/beguiling, Potential to break free but unwilling. Upside down: Detach from self-destruction.

XVI. The Tower - Elis Point/Whistling Point. Sudden changes & chaos, Powerlessness, Humbleness and Brevity. Upside down: Little to no way to avoid inevitable, but it will be okay eventually.

XVII. The Star - Roller Ricky. Transformation, Growth, Healing & forgiveness, Success, Carrying on. Upside down: Lack of guidance, Work to move things to one’s benefit.

XVIII. The Moon - Edward Marshall Mooney. Clarity past distractions, Ego/stubbornness, Dreams & Intuition followed through. Upside down: Anxieties and unhappiness, though it will also pass.

XIX. The Sun - Peggy Weaver. Optimism, Joy, Creativity, Potential for power. Upside down: Use powers wisely, Avoid unneeded conflict, Reach out to others.

XX. Judgement - The DJ Booth. Judge oneself, Examine choices & actions, Reflect on present and goals. Upside down: Avoid overthinking (especially details) as it may cloud judgement.

XXI. The World - Henry Barrow. Completion, Satisfaction. Upside down: Incomplete feelings, Reflect on what was missing.

[storm-driver]

Having finished the DLCs in full, and thus gotten my fill of FFXVI in its entirety (save the Final Fantasy mode and the Kairos Gate endings), I can officially say, with all certainty, FFXVI is a game that exists.

Spoilers below the cut for FFXVI and its DLCs.

I'm not one to mince words when I wanna gush about a game I love. And FFXVI has the makings of something truly fucking incredible. Wonderful fight choreography, out-of-this-world kaiju battles, music that brings you to tears through passion alone, environments that speak for their rich history, characters with such strong bases and motivations, all tied up in a bow of underwhelming character writing and a misguided ending to what could've been one of the best stories I'd seen in the JRPG genre.

I wanna reiterate: I love this game. I think FFXVI is fucking amazing, was worth the 60$ price tag, and it's two DLCs were very fun to play through. I stand by my original word that Clive Rosfield is one of the best FF protagonists we've gotten since Final Fantasy X.

However, loving the game for what it does right can stand in the same room as disliking the game for what it does wrong. It's unfortunate that I feel the need to tear into the game like this, given how much I want to praise its feats. And I still will, I still think this game is worth playing in spite of what it does wrong. But it also be remiss of me to say "just ignore these parts of the game!" and hope that people can turn a blind eye like I can.

I was hoping the DLC could ammend something I originally disliked about the original game: the ending. The ending is by far one of the most contested parts of the game when it comes to discussing the positives and negatives. Some people like the ambiguity of it all, others would rather have the truth spilled.

For me personally, I'm not in either field. Because I don't think the ending to the game is a culmination of the journey Clive takes. It does not feel genuine. It doesn't feel like he deserved his fate to be left up to guessing. If he died on that beach or if he let his name fade away in history in favor of his brother. Neither of those choices speak to me as "Yeah, that's where the story was going."

It's bitter. Not bittersweet. Plain bitter. It feels like a kick in the teeth for trying to fight his destiny. How dare he try to change fate for himself and the world. You are now cursed to live a false life, if you even survive that long. Not even your dust will be remembered.

Now, my fervent and desperate hopes regarding this game were that the acquisition of the Leviathan eikon would change his fate. After all, we saw at the end of the game that Clive was an "incomplete" vessel, thought we're never told exactly why. The assumption is the missing Eikon in Leviathan. But if not Leviathan missing, what is? Is his humanity itself keeping him grounded, to a point where he cannot change his fate? The fate of his brother?

Is the ending, and I ask this with the utmost of curiousity, meant to tell us that Clive was destined to lose everything in the end? That fighting his shackles only helped the world, and he couldn't even save himself or his brother? That a price must be paid for hubris on this grand a scale, and Clive is the unfortunate victim of it all?

This game screamed to me constantly that he wasn't going to die easily. He would not let himself lose everything he'd worked so hard to retain. For god's sake, the main message of the Bearers and Dominants is that they should get to choose how to live their life, and to live their life to the fullest.

The ending of the game speaks of inevitability. A direct contrast to everything Clive was fighting for. The ending doesn't do a good job of making it feel like a bittersweet victory, as it just kills off Joshua and deliberately tells Clive, "Nope, not good enough."

I digress, this is gripes with the ending, and how I had hoped it would change. Obviously my hopes were misplaced. Or maybe I'm jaded and trying to interpret this in ways that the writers didn't intend. But I can't help but percieve it this way, especially when I look at other people discussing the DLC and finding a lot of them thought the same.

Another thing, the hidden Eikon in the Kairos gate content. Ultima being an eikon you channel. I genuinely do not understand the point of this eikon outside of it being a means for trailer bait. Because that's all it ending up being. No story implications. Not even true practical usage besides being intense damage nukes and an overall homage to Ultima as a source of power. Prove me wrong if something at the end of Kairos gate ends up being story related, but I have a very strong feeling it is not.

[sevi007]

FF 16 spoilers

Spoilers right up til the ending lads and ladies

Are you kidding me. Are you. Kidding. Me

Ahem. Excuse me. I needed to get that out of my system.

Like. I‘m still reeling. I „only“ had the final fight to finish, thought yea, easy - and now this rollercoaster ride of feels right here. Ugh. Uff

I will get more into depth on the whole game in a seperate post later, but right now I need to jot down my first impression

From the start just - ugh. UGH. Gav openly crying into Clive‘s shoulder. Mid almost doing the same as they talk about Cid. Byron seeing his brother‘s sons off into a suicide mission

(Where was Otto though? Needed Otto, Goetz, Charon and Blackthorne here too! And Terence while we‘re at it. Aggressively promoting the NPCs here)

And Jill. Jill. I‘m almost glad she stayed behind and wasn‘t in danger but ouch. Now is so not a good moment for a love confession children (I know, I know, it might be the last chance, but that makes it so much more difficult). Why must you hurt me so, you two.

I will get back to that though

Then the journey and the final fight. Can I say I‘m almost disappointed there was no big aerial battle as Bahamuth against the many thralls? That would have been cool. But alas

I WOULD have liked for the battle of the three Eikons against Ultima to be. A real battle? Like the the Cinematic clashes are rather slow compared to other QTEs, I didnt feel a lot of excitement in this part of the battle compared to the rest of it

Changed with the next cutscene though. I mean, I had already suspected there is more of Ultima‘s people - one for every Eikon - but I had thought the Mothercrystals are there to power them up, and destroying them would stop that. I was just as shocked as Clive to here we basically helped them with it.

And then. Then. Here‘s the yelling part, the are you kidding me -

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE LOSE JOSHUA?!

We JUST got him back! After 18 years! We had all these sidequests to gather him medicine! He is literally the Phoenix - Undying! Nope. Nu-uh. Square I am not accepting that. Did not happen in my book

But also thos is quite possible one of the visually most beautiful scenes, what with the Phoenix wings and reflecting in Joshua‘s eyes. And the voice actors, especially Clive‘s, really knocked it out of the park. The gasps and sniffles and the pain? Holy shit. I cried mostly because of the voices

The unholy rage I felt man - I felt very much in Clive‘s position there. Very immersive. Just absolutely get WRECKED Ultima, you made the wrong brother angry

The battle was so, so awesome. I‘m sorry but this might just about be cooler than the one in Rebirth, hands down.

The music - that was a remix of Find the Flame, yes? It sounded different but alike.

Then that it was one on one, and Ultima almost humanlike - fit really well in showing how he is no different from us, from Clive. And the way Ultima got more and more desperate and lost all cool, INCREDIBLY satisfying

the part where Ultima and Clive kept meeting Eikon with the same Eikon - combined with the Voice overs from Clive‘s friends - so good, I cheered.

The Eikon fight part was also very cool. Hate to say it, but blue-fire Ifrit also looks damn cool. Can we get blue and red fire please XD

Just. The entire fight was wellrounded and fun, really had my blood pumping, I loved it.

And then. Then, the end. The flashback to baby Clive and baby Joshua. Come on. Dont turn the knife in the wound you sadists!

Well. Obviously. They are all okay. It‘s clear as day. Clive healed Joshua, so he‘s gonna be okay. Dion only fell into the sea, and OBVIOUSLY the Enterprise had followed them and picked him up. And Clive already got to the beach all alone, now we just need to go get him. Yup. Mhm

(But Sevi the game made it clear - shhhh. Shush. No. Not in this house. In this house, we live in dellusion)

[oveliagirlhaditright]

Parallels between Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy X: in that Jill and Yuna both had shitty fates because of the systems of the worlds that they live in--and would have died because of them (and both girls are willing to go on journeys to change the status-quo, even at the cost of their own lives)--but at the end of the games, it's the guys who die instead. But not, like, completely in a "I want to die instead of you or bear your burden" kind of way. But because they find new ways to completely break the systems and change the worlds for the better, but the cost is Clive and Tidus have to die for it, as no good deed goes unpunished.

[palespawn]

palm curls along the side of astarion's neck, he brings them down until their heads are not joined but eclipsing. he momentarily remembers that his grip could be like a vise. he loosens up. but keeps his fingers pressed into boundary of his hair. half of his mouth against the other's cheek before he angles it fully, if only for a moment ( from clive 🥺 )

with the battle at moonrise fast approaching, there was an inevitable shift amongst them and their companions. what the idea of death brings out is an amalgamation of honesty, fear and fearlessness intertwined. if they don't believe they'll see another day, why waste what few hours of freedom they have left? astarion had been in this limbo of uncertainty as he stared at the smouldering logs of the nascent campfire, mind troubled with thoughts of what the city still had in store for them, that their journey couldn't possibly end at moonrise when there was so much more left to be done.

it's enough of a distraction that clive's hand initially goes unnoticed, until it touches the side of his neck. a moment that, much like many others they've shared, huddled around the same campfire; the stars above, the rise of smoke, the shift of a crisp breeze as toril readies for the winter solstice, changes for the first time. there's a firmness to his grip that would usually give astarion cause for alarm, if it weren't him. if he didn't trust him implicitly by now. even so, it becomes a tender gesture― and in that alone, there was a strange sense of pride to be had in rendering such a response, in being the one to stir this moment of vulnerability from him.

in the same vein, guilt begins to pool in his chest. he's not the one @outdraws should be depending on for comfort. he doesn't know how to provide him with anything less than desires of the flesh. yet, what worries take hold are shoved down as lips caress his cheek, a fleeting touch, that seeks his mouth for a singular moment. it's a chaste thing, and not at all enough.

in a bid to chase the disappointment away, astarion leans in for another. his fingers hook into the cut of clive's shirt to keep him there, lest the reality of the moment sink in and spook him back to his tent. his nose presses to his cheek and his desperation to seize the moment, so to speak, has him hastening the kiss with a fervour befitting anticipation of more to come. it's only when they part for breath, that he wonders if he's well and truly overstepped. it wasn't exactly something he was used to, after all. taking things slow. “ i― well. excuse my ... excitement, i've only been waiting to do that since well before we arrived, ” among other things. astarion clears his throat and withdraws his hands into his lap, “ but, that was nice. you're sweet, you know. ”

[cew644]

My personal interpretation of the FF16 ending

Back on my FF16 BS again since I've been replaying NG+. I haven't changed my mind much about the ending, but I think there could be two possible routes.

Major spoilers for the ending below:

So, for the people who haven't done the late-game side quests, there are quite a few narrative elements that could point towards Clive's survival.

In Jill's quest, there is a bit where she wishes to Metia (the red star) that Clive come back to her. Since Clive is like her treasure and her dawn. In the ending credits, we see Metia fade away, and Jill begins crying. She runs away to mourn but looks up and sees the dawn rising once again, and she smiles. This, alongside the lyrics of "My Star", have people speculating that Clive lives. I can get behind the Metia symbolism, but not the lyrics. The song closes with the lyrics: "And though our night is over you shall always remain, forever, my treasure, my star." That just seems like accepting and mourning the loss of a loved one, but that's just me.

The next most clear one is in the Hypocrates quest with Dion. After reuniting the two, Hypocrates thanks Clive and gives him a quill to document his journey after the fight. The bonus after-credits scene then has a book written by Joshua Rosfield. This, along with Clive seemingly narrating the book's intro and conclusion, could mean he lives.

So this is where I start to differ in my opinion on the ending. I've seen a lot of people say that this is just Clive taking his brother's name to write the book since "the phoenix's power can't bring back the dead."

There is no ending in my mind where Joshua dies. Clive did everything he could to try and help his brother. Joshua surviving Pheonix Gate and coming back is almost like a second chance to protect his family once again. Joshua dying again would go against this sort of second chance that Clive now has. So, Joshua clearly dies from Ultima, but Clive also absorbs Ultima's power of creation. I think you can pretty safely say he can use both Ultima and the Pheonix to bring Joshua back.

So with all this preamble out of the way, here are my two possible endings:

Clive lives: So in this one, all 3 of them live. We take all the sidequests as narrative foreshadowing. Clive still succumbs to the Cystals curse but lives long enough on the beach for Jill to find him. Her wish to Metia once again, came true. His hands are no longer functional, so rather than write the novel himself, he has his brother write down his story. This is why Clive is narrating the game, and Joshua's name is on the book. And if the brothers get to live, so does Dion. I abide by the film-making rules where if you do not see a dead body, they are not dead. The man is a dragoon. He can fall from crazy heights. The medicine girl and Terence can find him or something idk. This, plus his promise to Hyprocates to go and retrieve the Wyvern's Tail, could also point to his survival. This would be the best possible ending for the trio.

Clive dies: In this one, Clive is consumed by the curse completely. Joshua lives, and Dion is probably dead. Joshua, Jill and all the people in the hideaway write down a chronicle of Clive's adventure. As discussed in the sidequests, Gav takes up Cid's name and works with all the hideaway members to try and help the people learn to live without magic. All the people that Clive helps can still work to try and live in this new magicless world that Clive died to make. A world that Clive chose how he would live and die for. It's very true to the "a world where people choose how they live and die" that Cid and he vowed to make together. And for that reason, even though it's much more sombre, I prefer this interpretation. It also makes more sense to me because it's very clear that they didn't want Jill in the final boss cause they couldn't kill her and Joshua and make the healing scene make any sense. The theme is also about brotherhood. It's just an eldest sibling thing to do lol. Edit: Grammar.

[caramelcoeur]

General Heart Fragment headcanons (pt. 2)

Here is part one for context. This part doesn't contain spoilers sooo we good to go! *clive thumbs up emote*

Throughout middle school, Xani had been well-behaved. There was pretty much only one incident where she got into major trouble. 

It was because of this asshole. This guy was being a jerk to Shannon, starting with some “teasing” - Xani was annoyed by it but Shannon urged her that she was okay. And then he made a crude remark towards Shannon, leading to Xani taking matters into her own hands.

Xani waited until the weekend when she walked up to the guy’s house bearing a couple of egg cartons. Being in middle school, you can see where she’s going with this.

She got called into the principal’s office the next week, was forced to apologise to the family and was issued a week’s worth of detentions. Not wanting Xani to suffer alone, Shannon insisted on sharing the detention with her best friend. You can’t just ask for detention (or maybe that’s just my school idk)

So Shannon spun around, properly clobbered the guy and so she was granted her detentions with Xani <3

Bonus: When Gray ranted about the incident to Dexter, Kay just stood there. “Hehehe”

“Why’d you use fresh eggs? You could’ve waited a few weeks later and then started giving the guy hell. After all, revenge is best served cold… and rotten.” “…how do you even know about that.”

Bonus 2: To this day, Shannon and Kay won’t ever let her forget about that event. Ever. The story was then passed onto Lana (who howled with laughter), who then passed it on to Clive. Xani places all of the blame on Gray for talking about it when Kay was in the room.

Another story takes place when Xani was in middle school, every year in March she would find her father’s search results filled with questions

“What to get a 15-year-old boy for his birthday” “What to get a 16-year-old boy for his birthday” “What to get a 17-year-old boy for his birthday”

“Trendy shirts for 15-year-old boy”

Who is this boy and why is my father giving him the cringiest shirts every year

Those questions were probably answered when Xani met Kay for the first time but what hit it for her was when she found a picture of younger Kay in one of said shirts

*casually saves to gallery* “Revenge.”

Clive can do origami. In his journey to fold 1000 paper cranes, he currently has completed 127 (his fingers hurt)

Natalia has an extremely specific coffee order. And Teryl manages to bring it back to her with no fail.

Sometimes he’ll chant it fully like a prayer out of nowhere to the point Jasper knows it off by heart as well. Natalia sees this as an absolute win though, since she now has two potential people who can go out and order drinks for her.

She can tell if the slightest detail has been changed

“…did they run out of caramel sauce?” “No… why?” “Because there’s only two grams of caramel sauce in this Frappuccino. I asked for seven grams.”

“sweetie calculating the amount of grams from one sip alone is impossible.” 

People say Jasper would look sick with a tongue piercing. He declined.

He also has a resting bitch face, so when he glances at a toddler he unintentionally makes them cry :(

Clive likes to occasionally switch out his hair clips to more vibrant ones with different shapes (Shannon put them there)

His favourites include one that’s a blue cat shape, a red flower and an orange star :)

A callback to Shannon and Kay having gossip sessions, if Shannon mentions going back to one of her freaky exes just once Kay (alongside with Xani) immediately goes “NO.”

Jasper would sometimes wear those bow headbands (either gifted or borrowed by Natalia, can’t be bothered to purchase his own) just to keep his hair out out of his face while cooking

Lana was the one to teach Clive how to ride a bike. His older brother did try teaching him, but never got around to finishing it. So Lana taught Clive the rest