#Ardyn: give them the magic

[sparklecryptid]

Derived from an idea that just came to me.

If a Lucis Caelum (or anyone else, really) uses too much magic and dies by burning up into ash and ember, consider Lucis Caelum’s who fail to do so crystallizing. Creating curatives, talismans, flasks, beacons, etc takes the edge off of magic build-up, but if you don’t for a while or can’t…

Was wondering about Ardyn and Ace in a situation like that, and one - or both - of them dealing with it or the aftermath.

Ardyn, because he spent two millennia chained away and literally crucified. Ace, because he is trying to not out himself as an LC.

It happens gradually. The slow crystallization of Ace’s skin isn’t something he notices until he looks down one day and sees the lightning fractal scars that run down his left arm shimmering lilac in the light of his kitchen. The crystals forming on his skin are small, easy to over look and mistake for some sort of cosmetic.

Ace begins to wear long sleeves anyway.

It won’t stop Nyx from finding out, but it will give Ace time to figure out how to tell Nyx what is happening.

-

That’s what he thought at least. Ace had only meant to deliver lunch to his friends. He didn’t even think of the scale like crystals decorating his arms under the long sleeves he wears when he threw him in between Luche and a would be assassin.

The assassins blade ricochets off of the crystal on Ace’s arm and in the next moment Tredd has the assassin unconscious.

“Are you alright?” Ace asks Luche.

Luche’s eyes are furious. His glare concentrated on the crystal that is slowly overtaking Ace’s arm.

Ace follows Luche’s gaze to find that his sleeve is ripped and the evidence of what has been happening to him is undeniable.

“Ace,” Luche says in a tone that brokers no argument, “You owe us an explanation.”

Ace blanks.

Footsteps distracts him long enough for someone else to sigh heavily. Ace turns, Tredd tries to block Ace’s arm from sight but it’s too late.

Clarus stands before them with Cor at his side and both men suddenly look exhausted.

“I believe,” Clarus says with the tone of a man who is unbelievably tired, “We need to talk.”

[reflectionsofacreator]

so anyways xv has something to fucking Say about the kings of Lucis but it can't seem to actually form a fucking coherent thought to save its life.

The fact that all the kings we know the name of and see their faces are characterized by physically helping their people, either by sidequesting (Noct) sealing away daemons (Regis) healing (Ardyn) or performing quarantine (Somnus) seems to indicate that this is by design and intentional. This is further exacerbated by the main gameplay loop and draw of the game BEING the sidequests and exploring the open world, exploring every little thing and going around helping people.

So you would fucking think that this ties into how the kings of Lucis are perceived and how the game talks about them, right! You'd think that this would play into the fact that in XV the divine right of kings is worryingly literal with the fact that the Caelum house has access to magic and battle prowess that the normal person simply cannot have!

It's even worse too when you juxtapose Regis against Noctis because Regis is noted as being a rather conservative king. He's playing a losing game for the ~25 years of his rule and 'hiding' behind the New Wall, whereas the entire time you control Noctis as the new King (ch 2 onwards) he's defined by helping his citizens in times of need. He does menial tasks, and also hunting dangerous creatures that normal people can't have a hope of surviving against! A noble endeavor that highlights the themes of the game: ""many have sacrificed for the king now the king must sacrifice for all" right, right?

WRONG. This concept is NEVER FUCKING TOUCHED UPON, and yet it would be the easiest way to make the shitty plot point of Noctis dying make sense! Nevermind the fact that the game gives you very little reason to care about the world itself, let alone Insomnia and simply lacks weight about any of it's worldchanging events.

If they took even an onze of effort to connect the tie of the main gameplay loop to the narrative crux, it could've hit so much harder and better. Instead you just get told “hey Noct has to die to save the planet from the sick darkness lol” Make it his choice, rather than being told this is something he has to do by the questionable wisdom of a god who stole his face. (seriously bahamut looks almost creepily like Noctis take that as you will)

I still cannot believe the devs legit said oh yeah we knew the narrative was crap. hhh gnaws on this piece of media it sucks but i'm fucking obsessed with it.

[marmolita]

Lita's Kinktober/Promptober 2024!!

Okay let's do this thing!! I haven't found any official kinktober prompts list so I'm making up my own. I will provide three choices of prompt for each day (2 kinks + 1 trope), and if you want me to write a ficlet for you, please send me an ask with the day, prompt, and ship that you'd like it for and I'll put it on the list!

At this time, I'm open to writing fic only for the fandoms/ships/characters listed below. If I change my mind and add more fandoms I'll update this post. If you think you know me well enough to convince me to write something else you're welcome to come talk to me about it!

Who can send requests?

Literally anyone, anon is turned on as well. I would ask that you only send 1-2 requests to start, then if I don't get very many I'll take additional requests!

What info goes in my request?

Please include the day you want, the kink or prompt you want from that day's options (there are three choices for each day), and the fandom/ship you want. It's fair game to say "any prompt for XYZ ship" or "any fandom for XYZ prompt" or the like, but please give me a little bit of direction instead of just "idk any day any prompt any fandom" because the whole reason I'm doing this is that I can't think of stuff on my own. 😅 If you would like the work to be gifted to you on AO3, please give me your username. I'll tag you on tumblr when I post it as well, unless you specifically tell me you don't want to be tagged.

How do I send a request?

Put it in my ask box please! If you don't have a tumblr account you can also find me on discord and DM me there (marmolita), or go old school and email me, marmolita42 at gmail.

What fandoms and ships can I request?

Note: in all of these, "Other" means an OC that I invent to match the type of person/thing of your choice (e.g. "hunter" or "diner patron" or "Galbadian army soldiers" or "mindflayer" or something like that). I will not write reader insert fic or fic for OCs of other people's creation.

For prompts that aren't sex-related (like "office AU" or whatever) you don't necessarily have to provide a ship, just some characters.

FFVIII: Seifer/Squall, Seifer/Squall/Rinoa, Squall solo, Laguna solo, Seifer solo, Seifer/Ultimecia (including Ultimecia possessing others), Seifer/Other, Squall/Other, Laguna/Other

FFXV: Noctis/Prompto, Noctis/Gladio, Noctis/Luna, Noctis solo, Noctis/Gladio/Ignis/Prompto, Noctis/Other. I may be open to other Noctis ships as well, except not Ignis, Ardyn, or any Kingsglaive characters.

FFVIII/FFXV Crossover: Any combination involving Squall, Seifer, Laguna, Noctis. I could be talked into other characters if you have a really good idea.

Dune (Villeneuve): Paul/Duncan, Paul solo, Paul/Bene Gesserit, and I could be talked into something involving Chani or Stilgar, possibly. Keep in mind I have not read the books.

Scholomance: Orion solo, Orion/El, Orion/mals

Supernatural: Dean/Castiel, Dean/Benny, Dean/Jack, Dean/Claire, Dean/Mary but only for "something made them do it" type prompts, Dean/Amara, Dean/Other, Dean solo

Marmalade Boy: Yuu/Satoshi, Yuu solo, Satoshi solo (yes I realize this is a very random fandom to include but hey if I'm willing to write it I thought I should put it in here lol)

Prompts

I'll cross these off as they get requested.

UPDATE: all have been claimed, thanks everyone!

1. Orgasm delay/edging, Fisting, Sex pollen

2. Electrostimulation, Vore, Omegaverse

3. Exhibitionism, Impact play, Arranged marriage

4. Voyeurism, Uniform kink, BDSM AU

5. Omorashi, Mind control, Enemies to lovers

6. Train molestation, Tentacles, Dubcon

7. Royalty/nobility kink, Intercrural, Magic made them do it

8. Sex work, Bondage, Bad guys made them do it

9. Bruises, Collaring, First time

10. Knifeplay, Sex toys, Oh no they're hot

11. Gunplay, Face sitting, Friends with benefits

12. S&M, Overstimulation, Unwilling attraction

13. Voice kink, Body worship, Truth serum

14. Competence kink, Incest, Guilty attraction

15. Leather/Latex, Breathplay/choking, Trapped together

16. Pegging, Free use, Captured by the enemy

17. Bukkake, Dirty talk, Sex as part of job duties

18. Rimming, Object insertion, Enemies with benefits

19. Frottage, Anonymous sex, Undercover as lovers

20. Waxplay, Begging, Fake Dating

21. Glory hole, Chastity, Amnesia

22. Fucking machine, Clothed sex, Tabloids/gossip

23. Praise kink, Mirror sex, Office AU

24. Humiliation, Sex tapes, Hate doing the thing but have to do it to save someone

25. Sensory deprivation, Manhandling/Rough sex, Child soldiers

26. Cloning/selfcest, Size kink, Power imbalance

27. Noncon, Dehumanization, Seduced by the villain

28. Double penetration, Slut praising, Horrifying revelation

29. Gags, Virginity kink, Under the influence

30. Threesome, Face fucking, Normally reserved character gets to be sexy/horny

31. Orgy, Public/semi-public sex, Fighting as foreplay

(if you want to steal my prompt list for your own October fest go for it!)

[a-world-in-grey]

You might not need another au but do you want it?

Think of how much fun it would be, Sola and Ardyn snarking at each other in the middle of the throne room and before the entire court.

The resemblance is uncanny.

You can track which of the nobles noticed it by how much they pale, their polite masks turning a little bit tense.

You. Are an enabling gremlin.

Plopping this in the Combined Retinue Nox/Sola au, because this is what my brain finally decided to spit out at 2 in the morning.

@secret-engima have an early Christmas present, I guess?

.

“If I have to dress up, Uncle,” his niece tells him fiercely, “then so do you.”

Ardyn raises a brow from the bench he’s languidly lounging on, watching his Tailor circle Sola with sharp eyes as she tugs on the black fabric of the dress she’s wrangled Sola into wearing for her upcoming Coming of Age, unfazed by the equally black scowl on the princess’ face.

Beside him, Nox is firmly pretending to nap on his Shield’s shoulder. Axis has his gaze glued to the book in his hand.

It seems he’ll have no allies from that quarter.

Admittedly, Ardyn had perhaps been enjoying Sola’s irritation too much, and hadn’t bothered to smother his growing amusement with every dark mutter Sola had made about protocol and where the court could shove said protocol.

He gives Sola an indulgent smirk. “I highly doubt I’m on the guest list, my dear. Given the current state of international politics.”

Not that he’d let the lack of an invitation stop him from attending his niece and nephew’s birthday party.

From the glare Sola levels at the mirror, and the minute stiffening of Nox’s spine, Ardyn has the feeling his niblings will ensure he is invited, regardless of anyone else’s feelings on the matter.

Nox’s eyes actually open a sliver when Sola’s magic abruptly curls, all mischievous glee with an edge of bared teeth. His nephew warily eyes his twin and the grin growing on her face.

Ardyn does not share Nox’s apprehension. He rather thinks his niece should smile like that more often.

“A suit for your Uncle, then?” Penelopeia asks archly.

“If you would be so kind.” Sola replies before Ardyn can protest. Sola’s blue eyes narrow on him through the mirror. “Black for the shirt, instead of the suit, I think. Gold as an accent color, but otherwise I have full faith in your judgment.”

To Penelopeia’s credit, his Tailor pauses for but a moment. “Of course, Your Highness.”

Ardyn gives Sola a long look. His niece knows very well protocol prohibits him from wearing black. He is neither a (known) member of the royal family nor in sworn service to them. Sola cares little for protocol and tradition, especially when it gets in her way, but even she can’t get away with flouting such an old and respected tradition. Not like this. “Niece.” He warns.

Sola raises her chin, defiant. “Do you trust me?”

Ardyn sighs. Smiles reassuringly at the fierce girl who’s been Nox and Ardyn’s staunchest supporter these past near three years. “Yes.”

Sola nods, and that is that.

.

Copia Egestas adores her Queen.

Sola’s last minute changes to the twins’ Coming of Age gave her a solid week of extra work to do - with help from Ignis, who volunteered on account of her being nearly six months pregnant - hunting through the Archives and preparing her arguments before she and Sola sat down in front of the King and finally told him exactly who would be presenting his daughter at her Coming of Age. Presenting both his children, in fact.

Unsurprisingly, Regis was not pleased. But between Sola’s staunch refusal to change her mind and Copia’s presented precedents, he reluctantly conceded.

Now, eyeing everyone as they wait to enter the ballroom, Copia can only feel a vicious anticipation.

Nox and Sola make a striking pair in black and gold. Both of them have their hair carefully pulled back, decorated further with gold. Nox still wears his usual earrings, the only silver on him as he’d declined the offer for golden versions, and Sola has mirrored him with a set of earrings arranged in the opposite ears. Not the same earrings, but the studs and climber are similar enough in shape to achieve the desired effect.

Copia’s sleeveless black dress is cut to flatter her pregnant figure, a gold shawl for her shoulders because six months pregnant and she gets uncomfortably warm now that the summer months are upon them, which also why she’s elected for an updo instead of letting her thick curls tumble loose. Unlike Sola, Copia is in comfortable flats instead of heels, again on account of being pregnant.

Axis is in a black suit jacket with gold details, and his Clan’s purple and green tartan. His hair’s been styled back from his face, but otherwise remains free.

Axis isn’t the only one wearing purple and green. Nox has the shifting purple-green galahdite in his ears, hair, and decorating his cufflinks. Sola’s chosen a selection of amethysts and emeralds to decorate her gold jewelry, while Copia had been gifted a pair of ebony hair sticks topped with amethyst and emerald carved cabochons.

(Copia knows just enough about Galahdian culture to know to tell Penny the goal, and follow the woman’s instructions on how to support Axis without overstepping cultural boundaries. The result, she is told, is a careful blend of Lucian and Galahdian color codes, but Copia has never seen Axis struck speechless before so she makes a mental note to commend Penny and her recommended jewelers for their hard work.)

With Ardyn, however, Penny has evidently decided to take refuge in audacity.

The suit is a lovely shade of dark purple, decorated with an intricate pattern of - much to Copia’s amusement - peacock feathers. At a glance they could be mistaken for phoenix feathers, certainly, but Copia knows her birds, and those feathers belong to the phoenix’s non-magical dramatic cousins. Studded at the eye of each feather are small galahdite stones to match Nox and Axis.

Under the suit, Ardyn’s shirt is black, which will no doubt give the Court conniptions and the press a field day, despite them following protocol to a T. Instead of a traditional tie, Ardyn’s kept his usual scarf, but in a rich green. How it doesn’t clash with the purple, Copia doesn’t know, but she knows Ardyn’s vest is a matching shade of green. Ardyn has a gold and galahdite lapel pin, linked by a fine gold chain to a paired piece on the front of his breast pocket.

The master of ceremonies glances over at them, expression half-expectant, half-despairing.

It turns to resignation when Ardyn and Sola gift him identical smirks.

Nox sighs.

Copia hides a grin behind her hand. Oh yes, tonight is going to be so very entertaining, with uncle and niece actively working together.

She wonders how many people will notice the family resemblance before the end of the night?

[throwingbread]

10 fic for International Fanworks Day. Here are some fics from my bookmarks that need more love, in no particular order.

Those Who Come Closest (30325 words) by dagas isa Chapters: 11/11 Fandom: Final Fantasy X Summary: How do ordinary people become Fayth? It takes a certain amount of desire, dedication and desperation. These are their stories. Propaganda: You want worldbuilding? This fic has got worldbuilding out the wazoo.

Apprentice of the Beast (1651 words) by JetBlackKobold Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Summary: On their journey to the Disk of Cauthess, five men stop to rest and, bound in each other's company, talk a little. Ardyn is a strange man with a fondness for old stories, poems, songs, and rhymes. With a little prompting, he shares a story about a Beast and a Soldier whose good intentions are corrupted by power. Propaganda: Backstory, in Ardyn’s own words.

The Endlings (664 words) by TheBrightestNight Fandom: The Sandman (TV 2022), The Sandman (Comics) Summary: end∙ling /εndlŋg/ n 1 the last known individual of a species or subspecies. Once the endling dies, the species becomes extinct. Propaganda: Extinct animal feels.

at the last trumpet (9830 words) by liesmyth Fandom: The Locked Tomb Series | Gideon the Ninth Series - Tamsyn Muir Summary: the line of the Tomb-keepers demands an heir, no matter the cost. Featuring a small-scale genocide, the breakdown of a marriage, an angry ghost of the MILF persuasion, and a normal amount of bones. Propaganda: Yes more worldbuilding. Glorious cursed necromantic worldbuilding.

freedom so liberating that we call it magic (2566 words) by EtchJetty, FlaringK Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda & Related Fandoms, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Summary: People don’t talk about Sheik that much. It must have been hell for Zelda, to pretend to be a gender she wasn’t. Especially if she had done it before. (or: what if zelda was a girl?

Propaganda: TRANS GIRL ZELDA

setting sail, coming home (5989 words) by beaufort12 Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Hades (Video Game 2018) Summary: In which Zagreus escapes the underworld, keeps running, and never looks back. Propaganda: Shameless fix-it fic.

The Moonstone (21266 words) by Vriah, gisho Fandom: The Sandman (TV 2022)

Summary: Morpheus finds a way to avoid killing a vortex - he gives Rose his own heart, forcing her to take his place as Dream. The new Dream has to deal with a life she never expected and try not to repeat her predessor's mistakes. In the waking world, the people she left behind grieve and wonder. And when Roses's little brother Jed is offered the chance to switch from superhero to questing knight, with some help from an old friend, he leaps at the opportunity. Propaganda: My boy Jed!

Lampshades on Fire (5739 words) by ostreatus, stellarators Fandom: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) Summary: Or, How Dr. Olivia Octavius Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Morally Unambiguous Nature of her Violent Actions. Summary A review of the scientist-to-supervillian pipeline, based on a longitudinal case study.

Propaganda: The villain origin story we were so cruelly deprived of in canon.

built a lot of castles (12055 words) by basketofnovas Fandom: The Old Guard (Movie 2020) Summary: In the eighties, Quynh is rescued by a marine archaeologist, and finds herself in an alien world with no easy way to contact Andromache - or even know she's alive. Propaganda: In which Quynh receives some much-needed comfort in the form of random human kindness.

Inferno Seized (14726 words) by MuseofWriting Fandom: Hades (Video Game 2018)Relationships: Asterius | The Minotaur/Theseus ( Hades Video Game) Summary: The monster went to Tartarus. The hero went to Elysium. Or, depending which storytellers you asked, and which songs you heard, maybe the Underworld got it backwards. Or maybe neither of them were monsters or heroes. Maybe they were just imperfect beings, tied together, messily, terribly, inescapably. This is the story of how they found each other. Propaganda: Look its the most eloquent Minotaur/Theseus fic I’ve ever seen.

[ertrunkenerwassergeist]

In Dreams au, what did Ignis' uncle think about Noctis, both before and after he went missing? Because if he is the Chief of Staff at the Citadel then he was the guy that Cor dragged along to suppress the rumours about Noctis being a bastard.

Cinis didn't have very high opinions about Noctis before he vanished, and while he was gone, they were even lower.

From his perspective Noctis just isn't powerful enough to sit on the throne of Lucis. No magical power to speak of. Noctis also actively avoids people and makes no moves to accumlate personal power among the nobles.

Not a good politician. Not a good leader.

But he will be King. Because only the Lucis Caelums can be Kings. So it is a high honour for his family that little Ignis was chosen to be a companion to the prince. With a weak King to be on the throne, if a Scientia belonged to his inner circle, it meant all the more power for them.

He knew Aulea well enough however not to believe a word about the rumours. And he also knows Regis well enough to know that even if they had been true, he would have claimed Noctis as his own anyway. The child passed his Introduction to the Crystal anyway. So that point is moot.

Now, after Noctis shows back up?

His opinion changes entirely. Because while Noctis, at first glance, might look like a wandering vagabond, Cinis has known both Mors and Regis. He can recognise power. And this older Noctis has it.

This older Noctis is confident, settled in his skin in a way the younger never was. There's an aura about him that demands respect and attention. From how he holds himself, he also must have learned how to give orders and have them followed. At least to an extend.

When Cinis first meets Noctis again, he doesn't know the prince is magically powerful. But he sees little Astra making sparkly hands to entertain himself (Ardyn showed him that and Noctis isn't exactly happy about it, but it keeps his son occupied, so he's not complaining) and knows at least he managed to father a powerful child.

[lunarlegend]

Hope you don't mind more questions about Stella! The more I learn about her through your blog, the more endearing she becomes :) In Stella's backstory, Ardyn kills her mom and sets their house on fire. Did he have any particular motive to do that? How did he know Stella was his descendent? Did he ever learn of the existence of Stella and Ignis's child? Lastly, did Stella ever tell the boys, or at least Ignis, about what Ardyn did to her mom, or was it too painful for her to talk about?

i don't mind at all! i'm glad you've taken such an interest in her, she's my baby. 😊💜

in my AU, Ardyn's descendants are a line of healers using powers similar to what Ardyn had when he was originally alive, and they access their magic by channeling the Crystal. except, since Ardyn was rejected by the gods, none of his descendants can use their powers without the blessing of the current King.

over the centuries, this caused a bond to form between the two sides of the continuing Lucis Caelum bloodlines, but Ardyn's bloodline no longer shared the last name.

Stella's mom Salvia was a prominent Lucian healer and had been good friends with Regis for a long time. despite being unaware of their actual blood relation through their ancestry, the two had a sibling-like relationship, and that's how Noctis & Stella grew up being told they were cousins.

Salvia was well-known in the region not only for her healing abilities, but also for her charisma and upbeat personality. as the years went on, and the situation between Lucis and Niflheim grew more tense, Salvia became more outspoken in her defense of her homeland and used her favor with the public as sort of a platform to speak out against the Empire. this put a target on her back, but nothing happened until Ardyn noticed who she was.

back up and wandering Eos again after 2,000 years, Ardyn obviously had questions about this mysterious line of healers who worked so closely with the Lucian Kings. once he figured out where they came from, it disgusted him to see his own descendants supporting the Lucis Caelums as they were. he decided to fix the "problem" by murdering Salvia, because he considered it justice and knew it would be taken as a political attack, keeping him anonymous.

he didn't expect Stella to get home from school before he left the house. her grief over her mother only angered him more, so without ever making himself known to Stella, he simply dropped a fireball to the floor and left. Stella should have died, but after trying unsuccessfully to drag her mother's body from the burning house, she luckily had the clarity to run and find a window so she could jump outside to safety.

after Salvia's death and Stella's temporary disappearance, there was a media frenzy. the murder was assumed to be a political attack; retaliation from the Empire, just as Ardyn had predicted. but no one knew that Salvia didn't die in the fire, only Stella saw that she'd been stabbed already. that fact haunts Stella to her core; not only that she had to find her mother's corpse, but the reality of knowing that whoever set the fire did it so they could kill her, too.

Stella keeps the truth to herself for a long time. she eventually tells Ignis about it before the journey while they're still living in Insomnia, but is adamant that no one else needs to know because she doesn't think anyone would believe her. her only focus at that point is figuring out who did it so she can get her revenge.

skipping far into the future, Stella doesn't give birth to Lucina until after the Dawn, thankfully, so Ardyn is already gone by then. her pregnancy is the reason Noctis insisted she didn't come with them into the Citadel for the final battles. had she gone in, Ardyn was planning to kill her when they reached the throne room (and he had Salvia's body strung up with the others, in place of Aldercapt in my AU). he sent a Red Giant after Stella outside instead, but she was able to fight it off thanks to Nyx's spirit, which rose up to help her.

the fact that Stella, another member of the Lucis Caelum bloodline, was still alive, is what prevented the prophecy from coming true and allowed Noctis to survive the Dawn. in canon, Noctis and Ardyn cancel each other out at the end, but in my AU only Ardyn is laid to rest. the bloodline is able to continue without the weight of the Crystal or the interference from the gods, and Noctis & Stella get to live in harmony in the rebuilt city with all the people they love, the way Somnus & Ardyn should have.

[aesadraws]

Springing for the Latin with the ask game! Arma Deorum Sunt let's gooooooo

WIP File Game

*cracks knuckles* You better strap in because I have been wanting to talk about this fucking behemoth of a WIP for literal god damn months but have been too worried to annoy people about it.

Arma Deorum Sunt is very very loosely translatable to either "the gods are weapons" or "they are the weapons of the gods" according to whatever translator site I used when I was brainstorming a fic title. And it's incredibly on the nose given what this story is about.

The basic pitch is thus: modern day crossover of FFXV and FFXVI (although it's really just taking Valisthea and shoving it east of Lucis lmao) where magic is still prevalent in the world via crystals and Bearers but Dominants haven't been seen in at least a thousand years, fading into myth. That is until within a very short amount of time 4 different children - Lunafreya, Noctis, Dion, and Joshua - are chosen by their respective gods (Eikons, Astrals, however they would be called within their culture) to become Dominants. Which ultimately uncorks the bottle and over time more and more awaken. As the initial quartet are basically children, and either royal or noble children at that, they get to enjoy a few years just being kids who happen to have special powers, but if you know anything about either game's story those happy times aren't going to last long.

The major inciting incident that'll kick everything off is honestly the most serendipitous blend of the tragedies of Fenestala Manor from XV and Phoenix Gate from XVI, as the Niflheim Empire at that time has no Dominant of its own and tries to capture them while the four are all together. How exactly that infamous night goes down I'll leave for whenever I actually have the time to dedicate to writing the fic.

I will however give a few highlights from the outline that I love most.

Luna and Jill grow up together, which I loved the idea of as a mirror to Luna being watched over by Gentiana/Shiva in XV. Jill awakens as a Dominant much later than Luna did so when she finally does come into her icy powers she has a keen understanding of what's going to happen to her from having watched what Luna has to go through as Niflheim's pawn. She knows immediately that she's just become another tool for Niflheim to use.

Joshua survives the tragedy and when the Undying swoop in to rescue him they're granted safe passage to Lucis to help him recover. And there Joshua remains for a long time in secret, growing close to Noctis and the other chocobros while keeping an eye on Valisthea from afar. I admit this is mostly because I wanted to let Joshua and Prompto becomes buds.

Speaking of Prompto, he's among the folks who get to become a Dominant in the fic but I'm being mean to him. Given the circumstances surrounding his unique background he would not have been rescued from Niflheim as a baby like in XV canon, and he gets to spend the most one on one time with Ardyn. Sorry Prom :(

Clive, I feel, gets the shortest straw physically possible. Taken prisoner in Sanbreque and forced into their military, no longer just branded as a dispensable soldier but known rather infamously for what went down that night at Fenestala and made use of as the Dominant of Ifrit. Thankfully Dion and Terence will take a much more active role in staying by Clive's side and doing what they can to help him.

I'm also quite eager to write Ardyn in this fic. I had to reconstruct his backstory to better fit the vibe I'm going for but he's still the same slimy bastard we all know and love (to hate). He and Barnabas both have antagonistic roles to play in the fic but I do feel Ardyn shines just a bit more lol.

[savage-rhi]

Summer Reading/Writing/Arting Tag!

I was tagged by @blossom-adventures and a few others. I apologize it took so damn long, and thank you for inviting me to play 💙

Not gonna tag anyone, but if you want to hop on board and have me read what you write, feel free to tag me back! (mentally I’m here ⬇️)

1) Describe one creative WIP project you’re planning to work on over the summer. Just one! 

Yeah, that’s a hard pass. I’m going to share more than one! Gonna preface by saying my summer writing schedule is riding on what my new job entails. I won’t have 3 day weekends anymore, but I’ll be working less hours during the day. It’s with hope that I’ll have a better work/life balance going forward. 

I’m working on a Reader x Ardyn fic, and plotting a new Death Stranding fic. I’m hoping this summer too I’ll be able to complete The Sacrifice (Karl Heisenberg x OC/Sonja Ainsley). I have gotten so much done on all of these, but I’m not confident right now sharing them because I’m healing from work burn out and a whole host of other shit. 

2) Recommend a book. 

Yeah, again I’m going to have be a rebel and give you a couple because that’s how I roll ;D 

Heir & Vampire Magic by P.K. Reeves (also a lovely tumblr friend) 

Reincarnation Blues: A Novel by Michael Poore 

Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton 

Also throwing my own poetry book in here for giggles 

3) Recommend a fic! 

No one can stop the rebellion...

@seradyn has some lovely Ardyn/FFXV work that I recommend even if you’re not into bastard men. She has a wonderful way of writing characters. Same goes for @hauntedadagium

@pandora-writes-stuff​ & @astrandofgold​ have some great Death Stranding material (especially if you like Higgs)

@woundedheartwithin​ @blossom-adventures​ @vodkafolie​ also have some great work worth checking out. 

4) Recommend music! 

Tina Turner--RIP Queen. She was a beautiful soul and her music is powerful. 

Raining in Kyoto (Lofi Hip-Hop)--Comes with a cute froggo 

The XX--I’ve loved these guys since my early days of college. Good beats and some powerful lyrics. 

5) Share one piece of advice! 

Rest. Rest. REST. 

If you’re dealing with burnout, don’t find joy in your creative endeavors, don’t feel like people appreciate you, have a creator block, that’s a sign you need to dial it back and take a break. If you can have a few days to a week off not doing anything, do that. Seriously. Don’t. Do. Anything. 

It’s okay to not be productive all the time. We are not machines, not everyone wants to be a content creator or be categorized as such, and you don’t owe anyone jack shit (ngl it’s nice to create things for people and have feedback as being your motivator but don’t make this your only source of joy when you make something. If you absolutely need an audience, get 1-3 friends who are consistently supportive of you to be beta readers, give critique, or be hype men). 

I’m guilty of not following my own advice here, but seriously, go the fuck to sleep my beautiful deprived lovely darlings. 

[otakushrew]

I'm still on my White Knight Chronicles x Final Fantasy XIV brainrot and nobody talks about WKC these days so "be the change" yadda yadda-

Some of the bunch don't have like, official surnames, and so based on certain item sets (Literally the sets they have in 2 where anyone of the same sex can wear them.) their surnames have been assigned.

Spoilers if you haven't played WKC, I suppose, because I will bring up bits about certain characters.

Here's how I Imagine the gang would start out upon leaving the familiar comfort of Nadias:

Leonard Wylde: Gladiator, because Sword and Board was kinda his thing in cutscenes and when using the Knight. You might not see him on the Bloodsands overmuch but rumor has it that his constant aiding of fellow adventurers and random smallfolk about town has caught the attention of the Sultansworn. He had a hard time picking his Patron, because while Oschon would suit any of them he's not exactly a wanderer. Eventually he settled on Rhalgr because something about the Destroyer reminded him of Rappaci.

Eldore Ardyn: Thaumaturge. Sure, he's a capable mage in Nadias, but the way I see it Aether/Magic flows differently between the two lands. A spell that works just fine on the Balastor Plain to kill that damn Troll is not going to function in Thanalan because something in the manipulation of energy is incompatible, and the same applies in reverse. He's fine with a sword, gods know I had him wielding the Longswords in WKC/WKC2, but if any of them were to turn their hand to magics they'd need to learn it all from scratch. As he was a tactician of some renown in the Dogma Era, he would take Thaliak for his Patron Deity.

Yulie Flavel: Archer. Some people probably made her the token Mage, but Archery is to her what Sword n' Board is to Leonard. Naturally, her experience carries between continents so she's teaching her guildmates as much as she is being taught. Oftentimes gives pelts from beasties she hunts to the Leatherworker's Guild. The argument could be made for Oschon as her Patron, but I see her as picking Menphina because Moon Maiden.

Caesar Drisdall: Lancer. Second verse, same as the first. While there was a bit of surprise in that not a singular person here has considered using a Shield in tandem with their lance (Though Ywain said a famous member of the Guild had also mentioned such a thing in passing, once...), Caesar takes to the training easily enough. Like Yulie, it's a "learning while teaching them a thing or two" situation. He has a bit of a rough time here though on account of (a) His Dragonsight going off at random times, like some offshoot of The Echo, and (b) Lingering Pyrexia from when he fought the Netherwyrm. Dragons still love him, and his patron is Halone. The Vermilion Dragoon

Kara Crow: Arcanist...was the plan. She took one look at where everyone's choices went and decided that she'd take to Limsa so they'd have their bases covered, but before she could approach the Arcanist's Guild she busted the ass of a would-be kidnapper, and one strange sequence of events later there was a new knife in the darkmans. That's right, Kara would be a Rogue. For appearance's sake she did manage to join the Arcanist's Guild, though. Her patron is Azeyma.

I like to think Setti would have had Nald'Thal as his Patron and he would have mainly been in the Miner's Guild, but an accidental encounter with a Dark Knight Soulstone would prove beneficial to him in the long run. (Ledom would have been Le-Doomed)

[sparklecryptid]

Wings AU where everyone has a pair of wings. Unfortunately they are useless for anything more than gliding down or aiding in jumps, because physics.

Not that it stops people from repeating all those legends about how everyone in Solheim could fly like a bird and pointing to fading murals in ruins, despite all the historians agreeing that's it's just an artistic license.

(It's not)

(The secret to flight is magic and with less than dozen people worldwide having it, it's not surprising that the knowledge was lost)

(Enter one Ardyn Izunia, born barely handful of years after the Fall, whose mother made sure to give him a thorough education in all kinds of magic)

(Ace still doesn't like being thrown off of cliffs. Even if flying is awesome)

Ace eyes his uncle warily. It has been three years since Ardyn had begun to teach Ace how to properly control his magic but the relationship between the two of them remains on rocky ground. Ace is unable to forget what he had seen in his first life and Ardyn reluctant to let any affection form for someone descended from Somnus.

"Why are we here?" Ace eyes the gorge behind Ardyn suspiciously. "I hope you're not planning on throwing me off there. This part of the gorge is too high for me to survive the fall."

"Don't you and your friends go cliff diving all the time?" Ardyn's voice is too cheerful. "Just think of it like that."

"No," Ace says, "I don't think I will."

"Shame," Ardyn says, "This would be much easier if you did."

Ace takes a step back the same Ardyn takes a step forward.

They eye one another.

Ace bolts.

Ardyn throws a dagger at him and finishes the warp before Ace can get too far. With Ace in his clutches Ardyn then warps them directly over the gorge.

Ace takes a moment to realize that they aren't plummeting to their death before Ardyn smiles.

"Fuck you," Ace manages to hiss out before he's unceremoniously dropped.

(It takes seconds for Ace to figure out how to reinforce his wings with magic. It takes another instant for him to harness the energy of the petty bitch he is and swoop upward to crash into his uncle.

"That was unnecessary," Ardyn says as he stares into the gorge his hat got knocked into.

"I could set you on fire again," Ace threatens, "Don't test me."

"But dear," Ardyn's smile is sly and slightly unnerving, "It's so much fun.")

[ladykf-writes]

Let's Get It Started: Multifandom Headcanons and Lore Edition

SO. As you may or may not have noticed, I am having trouble posting my fics on time (it just feels so hard, with Health Nonsense TM) and am also really not doing great promoting myself or talking about my work here, as I used to do.

With NaNo coming up, I think that will either get better or worse, and it's likely not staying the same. I think we'd all like me to get better at it, though.

So in the spirit of improvement I would like to open up my ask for the following things (this applies to any fandom mentioned under the cut!)

headcanons and lore inquiries

themed headcanons, letting me choose whatever fandom / character I want

name this fic prompts where you give me a summary and I title the fic

discussion of any one of my works - posted or not (bonus if you hit on ones without much attention)

thoughts on things you think I'd be good at writing

questions about non-writing projects (art? coding? Twine?)

assorted others if I have the brain for them

For These Fandom(s):

Compilation of FF7 (no Remake, no First SOLDIER / Ever Crisis)

Dewprism (Threads of Fate)

Dragon Ball Z OG anime + vague memories of Dragon Ball

Final Fantasy 9

Final Fantasy 15 + Episode Ardyn, Episode Gladio & Dawn of the Future only, no other DLC

Legend of Zelda (Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild)

Original Works (All the Queen's Men, The Crown Will Fall, Rewind)

Pokemon (general lore | game verses=Gold / Crystal, Emerald, Heart Gold, Platinum, Omega Red / Alpha Sapphire, Ultra Sun, Sword | original roleplay verse, Pokemon Echo, fic verse Pokemon Mako)

Sailor Moon (manga, some Crystal)

Stardew Valley (+ Expanded mod)

Star Wars (the Old Republic MMO, Knights of the Old Republic / The Sith Lords)

Story of Seasons + OG Harvest Moon (More / Friends of Mineral Town, A / Another Wonderful Life, Magical Melody, DS Cute, A New Beginning, Pioneers of Olive Town)

[icharchivist]

like i said. if you wanna suffer ill be happy to watch. but also the only thing i know about ff 15 is that one max0r video which while very funny is probably not 100% accurate to the story

now this is giving me too much power. I'll be happy (and sad) to oblige. And give you a quick overview.

and yeah i doubt that one video is a good description of it. so.

cracks fingers.

One of us is going to end up crying by the end of this. it's going to be me. but you're welcome to join me.

Final Fantasy 15 is the story of Noctis Lucis Caelum, crown prince of the kingdom of Lucis.

The Kingdom of Lucis is facing a crisis as the ever-growing Niflheim Empire is trying to expend and take the kingdom over, at the same time as a sickness called Starscrouge is slowly killing people. When the night falls, daemons come in the dark, and ever since those events have started happening, nights are growing longer in longer.

As the Empire of Niflheim is discussing peace treaty with the Kingdom, a clause is made on their contract to have Noctis marry Princess Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, who's been held captive by Niflheim for about a decade, and who has been Noctis's childhood friend and penpal. She is the Oracle, chosen by a prophecy to be the only person capable of healing the Starscrouge before the sickness takes hold.

King Regis decides to send his son to his marriage-to-be right before the peace treaty is officially signed, accompanied by his three most trusted friends - Ignis Scientia, who's been working as a royal advisor, cook, caretaker ever since they were children, Gladiolus Amicitia, who's been Noctis' bodyguard and royal trainer for a very long time, and Prompto Argentum, Noctis' school bestie who, despite having no relation to the royal family, is the only person outside of it Noctis managed to get close with.

But soon after their departure, the peace ceremony goes array- King Regis is murdered and the Kingdom of Lucis fall to the Empire, now leading a manhunt for Noctis to kill the royal lineage, and recover the Ring of Lucis, a powerful artefact carried through the family that, especially once coupled with the Magic Crystal that is the source of all magic in Lucis, can connect its wielder with the Kings of Old to access tremendous power left by the Gods.

See, there is a prophecy in the Lucis lineage that one day the One True King Of Light, chosen by the Gods, will be able to purge the world of the Starscrouge and Daemons, ending this curse at all cost. and, as you can imagine, this burden will fall on Noctis's shoulders as he goes through his new journey to awake the old gods and reunites the soul weapons of the previous Kings in order to unlock the full potential of his power.

The game mostly plays as an open world where you explore the valley with your besties. There is a lot that is very difficult to communicate that is just about how it feels like a camping simulator. You don't want to stay up at night for too long because Daemons are overleveled and bitch to kill, so you try to level up, do your missions, and enjoy your time connecting with your friends, learning more about them.

From Prompto's insecurities about his place in this journey, to Ignis's unwavering loyalty that would oversee Noctis's protection to the end, to Gladio devoting himself to being the shield even when everything starts to fall apart, you end up caring a lot for this group of misfits who are just trying to enjoy their journey knowing it might be their last.

You spend the game mostly having fun with them. Finding place to camp, new recipes for Ignis to cook, Prompto is constantly taking pictures and selfies to remember the journey by, you stop to every ponds to be sure Noctis can enjoy all of the fishing he can, you meet up with Gladio's little sister, it's really a really heartful game in ways that are very difficult to articulate.

... until shit hit the fan.

You're introduced to the real antagonist of the game, the Empire's chancelor, Ardyn Izunia, who's been pulling the strings all along, while also helping Noctis unlock the powers of the Gods.

And when finally it's time for you to go find Lunafreya for their wedding and hopefully linking the power of the Oracle to the King of Light in order to finally purge it all.....

Ardyn will brutally murder Lunafreya in front of Noctis, killing with her any possibility to stop the Starscrouge and the endless nights around the corner. The death itself is pretty heartbreaking, showcasing Noctis' very difficult time to deal with her loss, and Luna was defined by how she was willing to do everything to carry her duty to the end, so it was really sad.. but Luna was not very well written unfortunately (she appears maybe 15mins in the whole game up until this point) so i don't have as much to say about it :( it was super heartbreaking but yeah... yeah.

During this confrontation, Ignis will lose his eyes trying to protect Noctis, as Noctis was unconscious and Ignis grabbed the Ring of Lucis to ask for the powers of the Gods to protect him, and the Gods burn his eyes off. (it's so hard to properly explain but Ignis becoming blind ends up developping a lot of problems in the plot, of course, but especially in the gameplay. Like you spend the game having Ignis cook all sort of things and exitedly tell you about what he's going to cook today, and then your first campire after this incident you see the only food you can cook is some canned bean and it's just. so sudden in the way to tell you Ignis is changed for ever by it.)

Shortly afterward, Ardyn will create illusions that will push Noctis to push Prompto off from a moving train, resulting in Prompto getting kidnapped and experimented on by the Empire.

all while Gladio is losing his faith in Noctis because everyone is expecting so much from him, that they're their only hope, and yet Noctis is so lost in his grief that he doesn't focus on the bigger picture, while everyone he loves is losing everything around them.

When you finally decide to take down the Empire's HQ to get Prompto's back, is when a lot of truth starts to unravel.

You learn that Prompto is the clone of one of the highest funding members of the Empire, who was created to become one of the mindless drone enemies you fight the whole game, but has been smuggled out of the labs before he could be turned as such - only keeping a mark on his wrist reminding him of who he truly is. As much as Prompto always wanted to be Noctis' friend, he always feared that him being a clone, a failed weapon made by the enemies, would eventually disgust Noctis, and he feared all his life that Noctis would turn against him. so you can imagine the panic for Prompto when Noctis did attack him due to the illusions.

Most importantly though, you learn that Ardyn Izunia is actually Ardyn Lucis Caelum - one of the prince of Olds, the first person who was prophetized to be the King of Light. Bahamut himself, god of gods, gave him for missions to purge the Starscrouge, and Ardyn did just that, and took all of the Starscrouge in the world inside of his body, eradicating it from this world... and when he came to ask what he was supposed to do now, the Gods turned on him and left him to his fate, as he was not the one to actually serve to finish this prophecy. (if i recall correctly they legit say it wouldn't be narratively satisfying. Fuck the Gods, fuck Bahamut, all the homies hate Bahamut no matter the universe.)

Then, as the gods refused to clean him from the scrouge, his brothe, Somnus, tried to kill him before locking him into a magical prison and a magical slumber for the centuries that followed. Somnus became known as the Savior of Lucis, he took the credit for the actions of his brother, and build his kingdom on his ashes, continuing his royal line until Noctis' birth out of it.

When the Niflheim Empire started to come to power, they freed Ardyn, and figured out how to be able to use his power -- Ardyn could unlean the Starscrouge inside of him and have it spread into the world.... and we learn that people who "die" from the Starscrouge actually become Daemons, creature of the night, and the more people become Daemons, the longer the night will last.

And so Ardyn unleashed all of his power, all of his suffering, but himself has been turned into a Daemon at this point due to the sickness ravaging his body for centuries. He only feels pain, and he cannot die, for the sickness made him immortal. So while the Empire woke him up to use him, Ardyn decided instead to use the Empire to take revenge on the descendant of his brother, destroy the world he had sworn to save, and finally by the end, being killed by the True King of Light in the way the Gods will find narratively satisfying.

And finally, as our four companions are trying to escape the forteress, Noctis finds the Crystal, and with all the power he has gathered since then, and prompted by Ardyn telling him that the only way for him to know how to defeat him, Noctis approached it... and was taken in by the Crystal.

In there he met the Kings of Old who told him about the prophecy. The King of Light will pure the world of the Starscrouge and the Demons by taking out Ardyn for good.... but since Ardyn cannot die, his soul will always come back into his body, the King of Light must die as well in order to kill Ardyn's soul in the afterlife once its there.

Noctis therefore learns that by the end of his journey, the only thing that awaits is his own suicide in order to finally put Ardyn to rest.

The Crystal kept Noctis in it for about ten years. For ten years Noctis could do nothing but wait, as the Night fully took the lands over and destroyed everything. Only small camps here and there managed to survive and fight -- and his three friends have been trying to do their best for the people's survival, while being torn apart at the sudden loss of Noctis that day.

When Noctis finally returns, he can meet with his friends one last time. And tell them what awaits him.

For one last time you team up with your dearest friends, all of them having to be aware that they're walking you out so you can kill yourself to finally bring peace.

Before entering the final room to the final boss fight, Noctis turns to his friends, and ask Prompto to give him one of the pictures he took. You go through all the pictures you took as Prompto as you decide which picture Noctis will hold on in his last moments, holding on knowing they were the people who brought him on this journey to start with. In there Noctis will share his final words with them.

And finally you leave your friends behind. Finally it's time to fight Ardyn as he himself only awaits for death. Two dead men giving each other a last fight, two pawns by the prophecy made by the Gods, tool in a narrative that never saw them as humans, no matter how hard they clang to their humanity and to the people they loved.

One last final fight, finally killing Ardyn. And watching Noctis climbs on the throne of his father, and empale himself with all of the swords of the previous kings, in order to finish this fight in the afterlife.

And so the game ends. Ardyn is dead. The Starscrouge and Daemons are purged from this world. the Kingdom of Lucis can live on and see better days. And Noctis is dead as well, standing on the throne of his father.

In the last moments of the game you see him in the afterlife where he reunited with Lunafreya. He's holding the picture you picked in the previous scene. Looking over his friends one last time.

And then in case it's not enough you have the DLCs. Ardyn's DLC tell you more about how the Gods set them up for narrative satisfaction to start with. Then you have all three friends' DLC, set at points in game when you don't know what happened to them. But all of them ends with some final goodbye of some sort.

Gladio's DLC is the most underwhelming one in general so i don't really know what to say about it, and it doesn't really have a big payoff.

Prompto's show how he felt, abandonned in the snow when Noctis almost killed him. Having to wrestle with his existence as a clone, and figuring out if Noctis even wants him by his side. This DLC ends on a last conversation between Prompto and Noctis right before Noctis entered the crystal, in which Noctis tells Prompto he hopes he'll be by his side as he'll try to be a good king. Prompto promise he will be, always.

And then. Ignis' DLC. god that fucking DLC.

You really see the events in which Ignis stole the Ring to try to protect Noctis there, the event that rendered him blind. You see how much he fights out of devotion for Noctis. And you learn that when he put the ring on, the Kings of Old told him Noctis was going to die. Ignis spent his life protecting Noctis. In fact, you go through various flashback of their first meeting. Ignis has to learn that the kid he's protected his whole life, is going to die, and there's nothing he can do about it, because this is the fate that has been drawn on him.

On the first ending of the DLC, There is one last goodbye. Where Ignis wants to follow Noctis to the end and Noctis has to stop him, telling him that he wants him to live on.

(so that's the scene where i was crying so hard i ended up tripping in the stairs)

BUT THEN Ignis's DLC has an alternative ending. an ending where when Ignis hears the plans the Gods had planned for Noctis, he tells them, screw you. I'm never going to let it happen to him. I'll fight all of you if i have to and i'll save Noctis from this cruel fate you have planned.

And so in this ending, Ignis doesn't let Noctis walk into the Crystal and they work together, in an alternative way, until they can save him and put him on the throne.

and let me be clear: this ending is impossible by the game's lore. It's purely a fanservice fix-it ending, a what if, Ignis' ultimate proof of love that is enough to screw over the prophecy hundred of years in the making.

Where Ignis manages to save Noctis so Noctis can actually live on as the King he was raised to be. For ever at his side.

SO. WELL. WELL. I NEVER RECOVERED.

(and i am in fact crying as i'm writing all of this)

all of that while the main theme of the game is a Stand By Me cover by Florence + The Machine that will forever rip your heart and will leave you crying your eyes out as you finish this game, especially after the true ending, watching Noctis' die, and then hearing this fucking damn song.

Anyway i never fucking recovered from it. Like, never.

Like, even a summary doesn't do it justice. My first playthrough took me hundreds of hours. I spent hundred of hours with those kids. Enjoying their banters, seeing them protect each other, fight with one another. There's so much of their dynamic that is so deep into the gameplay, the way your companions will check on you during a fight, the moments they'll pause to have a high five, those moments of pure happiness where you know they're having fun by each other's side.

and Noctis being such a good character you really get to love and for what. And for what!!!!!!!! to get him killed by the end???? like for crying out loud. literally.

So yeah that's the speedrun of what FF15 is about. It's about tearing my heart out of my chest, that's what it is. (and others themes but you get my point)

Anyway. Yeah. Here you are. Here you know FF15's story.

and btw there was a little webseries set right before the event of the games, telling you how each of those friendships started. if you ever goot curious through reading all of this, i definitely recommend it. (the playlist is from newest to oldest though so be sure to watch on the right order)

was it worth it.

[a-world-in-grey]

Well, since you said it's okay :)

Nox verse crossover! Specifically, Sola and Nox being summoned to Dissidia sometime before the entire Marilith incident.

Sola was not happy to be dragged into some weird fighting tournament, so she is more than happy to derail the entire thing to talk to her New Brother. Now if only he would stay still! Please stop running away, Brother, she has Questions!

Sola also has Questions for her Papa, once she gets back to Insomnia. Starting with how many ooops babies did you have, Papa? She wants to know if there are More Siblings out there.

(Yes, Regis, how many kids do you have running around? says Clarus while Glaring at his King. They saw the entire thing through Crystal-vision.)

Absolutely okay to keep sending in asks! Can't promise I'll get to them right away given it's finals season atm, but the asks are fun!

Putting this under a cut because I got clocked in the head with a bat by the damn plot bunnies while writing this and it got stupidly long.

Not gonna lie, this is great - Sola would lose her entire mind because brother? New brother?

New brother who has definitely not been taking care of himself properly, sit down so Sola can feed you, Pyre damn it all.

Meanwhile Nox is more than a little surprised to come face to face with a girl who looks so much like mom but with Ardyn's hair and magic and Cor's scowl. His new sister - who claims him as a brother despite giving his surname as Izunia, only blinking once at the name of Niflheim's Chancellor before she promptly calls him her little brother - fights a lot like Cor as well, which is how Nox learns that Sola's been apprenticed to Cor since she was ten, after she foiled an assassination attempt on their younger brother, Noctis.

(Nox has to swallow around a lump in his throat at how easily Sola accepts him as family, calling Noctis their little brother instead of just hers.)

Actually though, Sola has a blast while she's in Dissidia. How could she not? She got a new brother - who is definitely a Little Brother, she doesn't care that he can kick her ass with both hands behind his back, his personal care habits are atrocious and she will do her duty as Older Sister and remind him to eat Pyre damn it - got to cut loose and fight a bunch of people and creatures, and didn't have to deal with the snobs on Papa's Council.

Best vacation ever.

Sola comes back from Dissidia grinning ear to ear - she convinced Nox to exchange numbers, and even if he's bad at remembering to text or call her, Sola will remember if it means badgering her newest brother into taking care of himself better - and cheerfully asks Papa if she's got any other siblings hanging about. Regis chokes on his spit, Clarus looks like he'd also like to know the answer to that question, while Cor looks like he can't decide if his birthday's come early or he wants to preemptively break out the alcohol.

So yeah, this is great. Maybe even better than original Sola and Nox and Noctis get pulled into Dissidia while Sola is pregnant, because teenaged Sola is having so much fun.

But.

Consider.

Little!Nox 'verse.

Specifically the version where @secret-engima dropped Nox and Noctis on Materia's side and Ardyn on Spiritus' side, with Sola joining Ardyn in this case. Post-Marilith because otherwise Nox would be like, three and Noctis eight and even I'm not that mean.

So instead Noctis is ten (Materia did try to call for champions that weren't literal children and had at least some combat experience. Normally Noctis wouldn't count, but he's since got the same soul as Nox, things got kinda mixed up. Not that that excuse will save Materia from Sola and Ardyn's wrath). Nox is five, and Sola is seventeen and newly outed as a Kingsglaive to the media, and newly realized by the Galahdians as being a half-feral Sky-born instead of just a short-tempered magical teenager.

Sola arrives at the tower before Ardyn and learns from one of the less-asshole villains who may have done this whole dog-and-chocobo show before that she’s to fight her counterpart. Which makes her immediately suspicious because she doesn’t have a mortal enemy like these people. Well, most of these people. Apparently one of them is fighting his sister-in-law and former comrade while another is fighting his own son, and if Sola goes off that pattern that means her counterpart is-

Oh Pyre no.

At which point Ardyn arrives in all of his furious-terrified-where-the-fuck-is-my-nephew Scourge-magic-faced glory. Which neatly derails Sola’s impending Rage as she stares at the man that looks (and feels, and Sola never realized how lonely she was until she met another with her magic) more like her than her own father and brother and it feels like she’s been sucker punched. Because that’s the missing Chancellor of Niflheim putting the fear of him into the other champions through the sheer strength of his magic that Sola’s doesn’t have a snowball’s chance on Ifrit’s Pyre of matching.

And yet-

“Uncle?” Ardyn’s not sure how he hears it past the sheer terror and rage pounding in his ears, past the red and gold shards of magic swirling about him in a physical manifestation of come-near-me-and-die, but somehow the soft word gets his attention from where he’s seething at Spiritus. Or maybe it’s just the barest brush of hesitant-surprise-hope that has him turning to the young woman looking at him with wide blue eyes framed by achingly familiar red hair.

He remembers hearing about the Regis of this alternate world (and hadn’t that been a shock on top of everything else) having a daughter older than Noctis. He’d simply been too busy caring for Nox to look more into it. Now he wishes he had.

Noctis may look almost exactly like Somnus, but clearly his older sister takes after Ardyn.

“Niece.” He greets. He cannot muster up the effort for even his most insincere smile right now, not when he doesn’t know where Nox is.

Sola steps fearlessly into the magic swirling around him like a storm, shards of red and gold shattering harmlessly against her skin-

Is she, is she hugging him?

She is. Even though she’s old enough to know who he is, her arms are circling his torso in an encompassing hold that is nonetheless so gentle that he could break out of it with a single step.

Ardyn… doesn’t. It… feels nice. His niece is warm, her magic (so like his, he never thought anyone would ever inherit his magic) contained such that only hints of it brush up against his, and yet Ardyn can feel clearly how his niece has no fear or disdain of him.

Ardyn isn’t sure what to make of that. He awkwardly pats her shoulder.

“Who did they take?” His niece asks. “Your counterpart.”

Ardyn’s hand involuntarily tightens on Sola’s shoulder. She doesn’t flinch. Ardyn wavers on whether to tell her, because he’s been trying to keep Nox secret and he can’t do that if anyone from the royal family knows.

But this is Sola, whose reputation for being so fiercely protective of her younger brother managed to reach even the furthest reaches of the Lucian outlands. And Sola’s magic is radiating her honest desire to help him, simply because he’s family.

Ardyn prays he’s making the right choice. “My nephew.”

From where she’s clutching him like Nox does with his stuffed chocobo, Sola stills, before looking up at him with shocked blue eyes. Underneath the worry and fear for the others taken with them, hope and affection blooms. “I have another brother?”

“Nox.” Ardyn hesitates, then adds. “He’s five.”

It’s like flipping a switch. Sola’s delight is buried under a wave of protective fury that doesn’t touch him, and she bares her teeth in a snarl. “They summoned. My five year old brother?”

Ardyn hasn’t seen this kind of fury since the mother coeurl chased off a voretooth pack that had gotten too close to Nox and her other cubs. He’s darkly eager to see how much violence his niece will dish out. If he deigns to leave her anything to kill, that is. “Most likely.”

Sola whirls on Spiritus, seething. “Where are my brothers?”

.

Meanwhile, Noctis is Absolutely Not Panicking.

He’s ten now, and if Sola was able to protect him from assassins without panicking at ten then Noctis can protect his baby brother without panicking, especially because he’s got so many people looking out for him. He’s a big kid now after all.

(Noctis doesn't know that Sola very much did panic when she saved him from that assassin seven years back. That the whole incident was one blur of Kill The Threat By Any Means Possible of panicked Sky-born instincts.)

Noctis is trying so very hard to be brave for Nox, but then they’re attacked and Noctis sees the attack coming for them and he knows he can’t get his sword up in time and he wants his sister-

And then there’s magic ripping through the air, familiar-but-not even as Sola appears out of nowhere to scoop the both of them up in her arms and raise the strongest barrier she can around them, her magic quivering in relief and protective fury, reassuring them that she’s got them, they’re safe and Uncle is just outside taking care of everything, they’re safe.

Noctis bursts into tears. Nox follows in short order. Sola holds them both, rumbling low in her throat like how she used to soothe Noctis after a nightmare, and keeping her shield as opaque as she can because like Pyre she’s letting either of the kids see the absolute carnage happening on the other side. Bad enough they can hear it. Sola would rather be tearing someone apart, but someone needs to protect her brothers and Uncle is so much stronger than her. So she sits on her cranky Sword instincts and goes about comforting her brothers.

When Ardyn finally knocks on her shield, the screaming has finally stopped, and both her brothers have cried themselves to sleep. Sola’s still making that rumbling sound in her chest, a self-soothing technique she hasn't used in longer than she can remember.

In a mirror of last time, Ardyn fearlessly steps past Sola’s bristling magic and hugs her, long arms wrapping around her and the boys with ease. He doesn’t say anything - he’s never gotten the hang of comforting words, even after two years of caring for Nox - but cautiously wrapping his magic around Sola and the boys has all three of them relaxing in his arms. At which point Sola dissolves into tears, silently sobbing into Ardyn’s shoulder in an effort not to wake Nox or Noctis, but Astrals, she was so scared and they nearly didn’t make it in time and Sola doesn’t want to have to contemplate living without her brothers. And Ardyn doesn’t know how to comfort, but he can just sit there and hold his niblings while his niece cries.

.

Sola and Ardyn only met hours before, but looking at how they act with each other no one is able to tell. Because those two get along like a house on fire.

(What is this overkill you speak of? We only know keeping nephews/little brothers safe. With extreme prejudice.)

Sola is monstrously protective of her newest brother and uncle. Nox’s Sick Day has Sola and the rest of the mages capable of healing and Ice Elemancy tending to Nox around the clock, struggling to keep his temperature down, Sola once more making her rumbling approximation of a purr to try and comfort both her family and herself. Which prompts Y’shtola to actually purr whenever it’s her turn to watch over Nox because the rumbling/purring helps Nox sleep through it all.

The reveal of Ardyn’s scars sends Sola into a towering fury that she makes sure to keep away from Uncle and her brothers, and Mors is lucky he’s already dead because Sola would gut him and leave him to bleed out on the floor.

(Ardyn is surprised by Sola’s fury and grief on his behalf. He’s not surprised by the love she has for Nox, but for him? It’s been millennia since he’s received that kind of immediate and unconditional care from anyone, much less family.)

So when Sola later sits by him that night after Nox and Noctis are fast asleep, burrowing under his arm for a half-hug Ardyn can easily escape from, Ardyn doesn’t expect the soft, “You’re safe? Wherever you are?”

Ardyn looks down at his niece’s red hair in surprise, wondering what’s prompted this inquiry. But it’s easy enough to answer. “Yes.” As safe as one can be living in the outlands, which is safe enough with Axis and his family helping and Ardyn being the most powerful being on the planet short of an Astral.

Fingers tighten their grip on his coat. “…will you call?”

“Call?”

“After we go home.” Sola clarifies. “I want to know you’re both okay.”

Ardyn stills. Because she can’t mean what he thinks she means. “You won’t try to take Nox?” Not that Ardyn would let anyone take his nephew.

“You don’t trust Papa.” Sola says. Which, yes, but Ardyn didn’t expect Sola to pick up on that when he’s been keeping a lid on the vitriol he feels for most of his family, for Nox and Noctis’ sakes. “Nox is my baby brother, but he’s your nephew too, and he loves you.” A quiet sniffle. “I’ll miss you.”

“I will call.” Ardyn promises, resting a hand on Sola’s hair. “Both of us will.” He’s gotten a lot better at managing time, he can absolutely make a reminder on his phone to call his favorite niece once a week. If not, Titus can remind him.

[halchron]

okay since we don't know that much about versus xiii / a lot of it is left to speculation about what actually was going to happen, here's just a few thoughts on what's up with prompto in my verse for it. all my understanding from what could've happened comes from this post.

still a clone, though from the beginning he's known that he's verstael's "son". however, to tie it into what might have actually happened in vs xiii, prompto isn't actually verstael's son that he preformed all his failed experiments on, but rather the first clone and only clone that had potential to control both his human and daemon dna after the death of his actual son. every other failed clone was instead made into mts or kept to preform further experiments on.

once the gang finally gets to niflheim, prompto does get controlled by verstael and requires noctis and the others to save him, though this happens due to a failsafe verstael put in all clones that allowed him to control them within a set vicinity.

due to his daemon blood, prompto can naturally see in the dark and has a natural affinity for dark type magic. however, due to the solheim genes also present from his human side, this also gives him an affinity for light magic ( though to a much less extent than the daemon side ). the solheim ancestry also prevents him from having more daemonic like features, though an extended use of his daemon dark magic makes prompto's scleras black while his pupils turn yellow while his veins becoming more predominant and black ( like ardyn's )

also he's aware that cor was the one to rescue him from niflheim, though he was still raised by cor's cousin. regardless he does see cor as his father and looks up to him, though he keeps their relationship a secret per cor's request ( cor still loves his son though and taught him how to defend himself and shoot firearms long before prom became a crownsguard )

besides what i listened above, not much else is different except that he's in general more confident in a casual way as he's aware of his past from the beginning and has come to terms with it, relatively speaking. of course, he still has his self esteem issues, but not as bad as they are in his regular verse. his self esteem goes down when verstael controls him and he thinks that he will hurt his friends if he stays with them, but soon recovers after they give him the spiel that they do in regular xv

[dysfunctional-family-fight]

Propaganda for the Lucis Caelum Family

Spoilers for Final Fantasy XV

CW: murder, electrocution, suicide

"Phew boy. There’s a lot to unpack here. Let’s start with our alive kings (at least during chapter one of the game.) Regis and Noctis are father and son and Regis is the current king of the Kingdom of Lucis. Aulea Lucis Caelum is the late mother of Noctis and the wife of Regis. The dysfunctionalness starts here since well we’ve got mommy issues right off the bat. Regis also has daddy issues thanks to Mors and decides to try and give his son a relatively normal life. Leading to Noctis moving out at 15 and effectively falling out of touch with his dad because Regis is dying trying to uphold the wall and finds he has less time for his son than he thought. An unavailable father yippee. Couple that with ye good old childhood trauma and that’s one messed up 20 year old Regis sends off into the world. He then promptly dies a chapter into the game having lied to his son. The next Lucis Caelum we meet is Ardyn Lucis Caelum who in the space of what is presumably a couple of months, helps Noctis escape the wrath of another god, steals his car, stabs Noct’s fiancée Lunafreya, forces Noct’s right hand man to give up his eyesight in order to have the strength to fight him off, tricks Noct again into pushing his best friend of a moving train, manipulates said friend into killing his father/creator and then proceeds to capture and torture him, separates Noctis from his retinue and forces him to traverse the literal corridors of hell alone, while having to rely on the life draining magic ring you get free with king hood instead of weapons since oh yeah. Ardyn took them. He then tries to kill Noct via electrocution only to have his retinue save him in time on PURPOSE. Cause more trauma? They find our good old best friend Prompto who’s a clone. And then the whole gang is forced into fighting a corrupted version of Noct’s nearly-Brother-in-Law who’s begging him to kill him. Forces Noctis to confront him alone only for him to be absorbed into a magical crystal sleep for ten years. What for? Revenge of course. On his brother. Somnus! It doesn’t stop there! Long story short Ardyn was magic and healing while Somnus was a prick and a murderer so naturally he baited Ardyn into fighting him, killed Aera (Ardyn’s fiancée. Seeing a theme yet?) and quite happily killed Ardyn too when the Starscourge he’d been healing people of by absorbing it into his own body turned him into a monster. But naturally he didn’t die and so Somnus stole the throne and imprisoned Ardyn on Angelguard which is basically just a cool ass island. Ardyn and Bahamut have a chat and it’s revealed that Bahamut (who blessed the Lucis Caelums and they literally all look like him.) planned all this. Back to the present. Noctis is hanging out in Bahamut’s crystal dimension where the big man himself tells him that to save the world he has to die. So when Noctis wakes from the crystal ten years later, he knows what he has to do. And so he goes from Angelguard and summons his old friends (boyfriends), who all turned into DILFS. So yeah they go to their ruined hometown, Ardyn is hanging out there with Noctis’ loved ones’ corpses hanging from chains above the throne (lovely decor) and then they have a fight. And Noctis wins. And kills Ardyn.

Now here’s the best bit. To save the world Noctis summons all of his ancestors who are just hanging out in the magic ring (???) and guess what. They STAB HIM! THIRTEEN TIMES!!! HIS DAD IS INCLUDED IN THIS HIS DAD KILLS HIM! Just so that Ardyn can die in the afterlife too? It’s not fun and very painful 0/10 and that’s why they’re dysfunctional they all kind of want to kill eachother? And it’s all thanks to the guy that might as well be their pseudo God ancestor? Yeah fun. Also I gave all their names but collectively it just be the Lucii. The dead ones. That is."