#But i guess miqo'te would work too

[takohebi]

Azujamiyuu in my ffxiv glams :3

[snow-system-wol]

There is a cottage on the outskirts of town, that has been occupied for at least a year or two now. It's also been a while since any stories of the fabled Warrior of Light doing any new heroic deeds have circulated. You have no reason to connect these unrelated facts.

(Maybe ~5+ years after 7.0, no DT spoilers)

Ao3 (~1.7k)

There is a small cottage, just a short foray out of town. You have made the walk before, and surely will again – though you'd hate to ask for too much, as much as he insists it is fine. Even if you wouldn't rush him, the thought of his workload getting too piled up saddens you.

Wait, you are getting ahead of yourself.

There is a small cottage, just a short foray out of town. Two miqo'te men have lived there for a couple winters now – perhaps in their 3rd decade of life, if you had to guess at age. One of them – G'raha – is a clever fellow, often ordering books to be delivered from all corners of the world and into the hands of their local couriers. If describing him to an out-of-towner, you'd likely simply say he's a bit short, red hair down to his shoulders, and visibly besotted with his husband.

Husband? Others have claimed to have seen rings, but you didn't personally look last time you saw either of them. It seems acceptable enough to assume for now, privately.

G'raha's husband is… more of an enigma. He is tall for a miqo'te, pink hair cropped at his jaw, and at times seems to struggle with walking. You've seen him use a cane the uncommon times he comes into town himself. While there is something a bit haunted about G'raha and you couldn't say anything confidently, you are entirely certain that his husband is a veteran of some sort – even with his injuries, he still carries himself like a fighter. Most mysteriously, he introduces himself as Edelweiss, with a knowing smile that says ‘yes, we both know it is a pseudonym’.

None of that is important to your town, though. Edel – as the kids started calling him, and it stuck as a nickname – and G'raha are kind. G'raha always makes friendly chatter and keeps up with people's lives whenever he is in town for groceries and supplies. Their cottage is always open to the injured when they cannot seek other care – allegedly it does not matter which you find at home, as they both seem to be trained healers, interestingly enough.

Most notably is Edel’s established services. He keeps a little box on his porch, where you can leave written requests for crafts or repairs – or G'raha can take verbal messages back to him, if you cannot write. He doesn't like to accept gil, but can be more easily convinced to take non-monetary payment (which almost everyone endeavors to do.)

While you could not say what past Edelweiss may be keeping secret, you could say your town would likely fight for him if it ever caught up with him.

You turn off the main road, onto a smaller path leading to their home. It's pleasantly shaded on the trail, with the whole area wooded, and their cottage is soon in sight. You let yourself into their front yard, taking a moment to look at their garden. Edel seemed to enjoy gardening when he was not working though crafting requests – and you are happy to see several new varieties of flowers and fruits since your last visit, several of which matched the seeds you had gifted him for his help.

You hope G'raha also helps him maintain it, with Edel being disabled. Between that and the crafting, surely it must be a bit much?

You carefully adjust your hands long enough to knock on their door – wouldn't do to drop anything. You hear a distant call of acknowledgement, and then G'raha is opening the door and greeting you with a smile. His eyes flick down in surprise at the basket you carry and you laugh nervously.

“I brought some pastries for you two. I hope that it is to your liking?”

“Of course – please, come in. I shall put tea on. If you would like, we would be glad for you to partake in your pastries as well.”

You enter their home, something you had not done any time before. It is very cozy and pleasant inside – there are some comfortable-looking couches, a small table with a few chairs, and several bookshelves. Based on what you have heard about deliveries, there are surely far more books downstairs as well.

Upon seeing you, Edel’s ears perk up and he gets off the couch with a heavy wince – heading for a doorway until G'raha shoots him a look, at which point he sighs and sits at the table instead. G'raha goes through that door instead and you can hear the thumps of him descending the stairs, into the mysterious realm of what must be their working and sleeping spaces.

That leaves you sitting at their kitchen table, alone with Edel, and not quite sure what to say or where to look. You at least take the moment to observe his face a bit closer in little glances, noting his pale green eyes and scattered scars and faint hint of sunburn on his cheeks. (Would he like a hat, when gardening? Would that be helpful? Perhaps you would suggest that to anyone next looking to barter with him.)

You try not to look at his neck, once you realize the severity of the scarring on his throat. He snorts and gives you a wry smile, and you know immediately that you were not quite subtle – but also that, for a blessing, he doesn't seem to be mad.

“I don't care much if you look. Just don't ask.”

You nod with a polite smile. There are many things you'd like to ask the two of them, friendly questions about where they are from, but that would simply not do in this case. Instead, you settle on something far safer.

“Is work going well for you? I hope you are not overburdened.”

He laughs, looking properly happy in a way puts you at ease.

“No, it's excellent. I'm still learning some skills, and the random requests mean I need to try new things. It's nice.”

“Have you..  not been a craftsman for long?”

He shakes his head. “No, I only started a little while before moving here.”

Immediately, your eyebrows raise. He really is an enigma. “Well, I certainly would not have known that, based on your skill. You must learn fast.”

He looks pleased, but his ears have also started flicking nervously, so you decide against layering any more of your impressed praise. Really though, if you didn't know better, you'd have guessed he'd been at this for at least a decade.

You glance down at his hands, several small scars visible that surely came about from the learning process. Your eyes land on his left hand in particular, and you speak before you can quite help yourself.

“May I ask a question?”

Edelweiss stiffens immediately and you feel guilty for what he may fear you'd ask. “You…may. No answers promised.”

Your eyes focus on the ring again. “Are you and G'raha wed?”

He relaxes with a soft laugh. “Oh, that was all? Yes, though I guess it took us long enough to get ‘round to it.” He smiled, something so warm that it made your own heart feel at peace.

“How did you two meet – ah, nevermind, I suppose.”

His smile turned a touch sad. “I fear that's a harder question to answer without talking about myself, yes.”

“I'm sorry.”

He shook his head. “You didn't mean any harm.”

It is quiet for a long moment.

Any potential awkwardness is diffused by G'raha's return. He puts a small fabric pouch on the table in front of you, and you hear a gentle clink from within.

“This, I believe, should be yours.”

You are suddenly nervous as you lift the bag, picking the tie open so slowly that G'raha places a cup of tea in front of you before you even finish. You pour it out into your palm and – oh.

You will not cry, not in front of these two in their nice little cottage, but… you never thought you'd see this necklace put back to the way you remembered it, and here it is, perfect. You suddenly wish you'd brought something more than just baked goods, even if Edel seemed disinclined to accept much.

“I – thank you. Thank you.”

You manage to keep it to mere tearing up, easy enough to blink away, but your fingers feel clumsy trying to open the clasp on your mother’s necklace.

Edel quietly clears his throat. “Would you like…?”

“Yes, please.”

He carefully stands up from his side of the table, moving around behind you. Some have said that watching Edel makes them feel a bit nervous sometimes, the tells of a trained killer, they say. You can't agree – you feel quite safe even with him fully behind you. You stay very still as he fastens the necklace, with his fingers not even so much as touching your skin. 

You realize that you'd like to know him better, to maybe even be friends, but you don't know if that could fully be possible. Perhaps if he was interested in taking on an apprentice? You'd like that very much, you think.

…Another day you may ask, when you are feeling braver and not quite so emotional.

Edel steps away and you quickly take a sip of tea, the urge to cry passing easily with the warm drink in your hands.

“S-so, how fares the garden? It looks lovely.”

G'raha swallows the mouthful of pastry he'd been eating while you two were busy, brushing crumbs off of his face. “It is lovely – with thanks to your recent gift. They seem to have taken to growing here quite well, and we are always happy to see more flowers bloom and have more fresh food in our kitchen.”

You cannot help the excited smile on your face, the quick rambles spilling from your lips. “I – I can bring more seeds. Next time I visit. I can help with taking care of the garden, too, if you need anything.”

Both of them are looking at you in a way that you'd like to interpret as fond, but it is Edelweiss that speaks first. 

“You're welcome here whenever you want.”

[musesofawolf]

Day 24 - Bar

Of all the places to find Bryn, your best option would be to check a bar.

It wasn't because he was perpetually drinking, no, although he was rarely without a mug or tankard in hand, but that was simply for appearances. The truth was, it would take a lot more than the few ales or beers he had to get the warrior even remotely drunk. A perk, or disadvantage, of his rapid healing body.

But there were other reasons to be in a bar. For instance, offering your friendly, kind services as a hired arm.

Only problem, no one considered Bryn rather friendly or approachable.

It wasn't his fault that most people looked at the scarred man with sharp silver eyes and saw danger. It didn't help that his voice was gruff, laden with that unspoken threat of a bouncer, and that he carried a weapon at all times. Most of the common folk steered well clear of the ex-soldier, and those who did approach were typically too drunk to make sense of what they were saying. So, most days, Bryn sat, drank a little, and offered to help when closing time came to earn a little gil.

What annoyed him was his partner. A partner who, somehow, found more jobs for them than he could. Kaleh'a made bars his bread and butter, learning how to work a crowd, listen for information, and interject himself at the perfect times to pull a job offer. He was silver tongued and bright eyed, face unblemished and young, the picture of kindness and civility despite the general distrust for Miqo'te Keepers in the area.

But while Bryn looked deadly and was deadly, Kaleh'a looked innocence and was deadly. Sure, Kaleh'a didn't choose violence as his first form of reaction, preferring to talk things through first, but when he was pushed to that point, the blonde Miqo'te could turn men twice his size into unconscious men twice his size. Bryn had to hand it to the slighter man, he knew his way around a bar fight.

Speaking of the blue-eyed cat, he slid into a seat beside Bryn at the bar, raising a hand for a quick drink, and chuckled as he saw the half drink tankard in front of Bryn. "Slow night?"

"Always is," Bryn rumbled back, and sighed, glancing at his partner. "I'm guessing not for you?"

"A few tidbits of information that might be worth checking, another hunter group poaching down south." He sighed, and his ears drooped. "Not really helping me convince everyone not all Miqo'te are bad."

Bryn grunted, and after a moment, patted the younger man's back. "You'll get there. You're fighting years of damage with a bow and smile. It takes time." Kaleh'a let his head thunk against the bar and groaned.

"I don't have infinite time!" And that made Bryn chuckle. They fell into a companionable silence for a moment, and then Bryn turned to him with hushed voice.

"Did you hear anything about..."

Kaleh'a waved a hand, dismissing the question before it finished as he lifted his head. "Nothing. Sorry. Maybe we will just run across her out here."

The ex-soldier snorted, shaking his head. "No, I doubt that." He rose from his seat, stretched carefully, and sent a few Lalafel skittering away in mild fear that he would step back and squash them, letting out a deep breath and turning to the Miqo'te. "Alright, I'm itching to do something besides sit here. You said you had some leads?"

"Of course!" The archer leapt up, tail swaying excitedly, and grabbing his bow and quiver from nearby. "How are we doing it?"

Bryn hummed, turning to walk towards the door as Kaleh'a followed. "I feel like a melee. Support me?"

"Always!"

[woltourney]

ROUND 4 / SIDE B / POLL 2

Lopu Rhaavuna (@mages-ballad) v. Naru (@blucifer08)

Lopu Rhaavuna:

q. What is your WoL name and pronouns? a. Lopu Rhaavuna, she/her

q. What is your WoL's species? a. Keeper of the Moon Miqo'te

q. What is your WoL's class? Or classes? a. IC-ly her primary jobs are Bard and Dancer. Secondary to that, Sage and Reaper. (Note from submitter: CUL and BOT)

q. What data centre/server are you on, if you want people to find you? a. Mateus [Crystal]

q. Tell us a bit about your WoL! a. I took inspiration for Lopu's character and story from the mahou shoujo genre, with the core elements being that a seemingly-average girl discovers she actually has the capability for magical powers, and uses those to help spread hope and save others. Love is a major theme for Lopu, and its what gives her the strength and motivation to do what she does. Lopu grew up in Gridania, where she left and became the Warrior of Light at age 25. She's always had a deep feeling of wanderlust within her, and the events of the MSQ are what kickstart her into being able to get out and see the world. She's lived her life knowing there had to eventually be more out there for her, and her assumptions are proven right as she takes up the title of the WoL and makes herself known. She's no doubt had her ups and downs, but never once has she regret her journey. Others may call her a hero; but even after all this time she still considers herself just an adventurer that likes to help people. In her free time, Lopu has a few hobbies she likes to indulge in! She's very big on cooking and sharing the food she makes, gardening and growing her own ingredients, hunting, training, running Treasure Maps, and of course hanging out with the Scions. Outside of saving the universe, she's a very sweet and humble woman.

q. Why should YOU win? (Answer IC!) a. "Ah? Um…" Lopu takes a lock of her thick hair to twirl around and play with while she ponders the question. "I think I should win because… It would make me really happy if I did?" She laughs a little, giving a flash of fangs. "Truthfully, I can't really think of a good reason! I guess there is the fact I saved the universe, but I wouldn't want people to feel obliged to put me on a pedestal just for that." "Maybe… If I win, I'll bake a huge celebratory cake to share with everyone! That works, right? People tend to be more motivated to vote if there's food involved, yes?"

q. Anything else you wanna add? a. AS HER CREATOR I SAY VOTE FOR LOPU BECAUSE SHE IS SO CUTE AND HUGGABLE AND SILLYGIRL-CORE AND HAS THICK THIGHS AND I LIKE HER A LOT AND ALSO IF SHE WINS I WILL ACTUALLY DO A GPOSE OF HER AND THE CAKE AND EVERYONE CAN HAVE SOME!!!!! VOTE FOR LOPU #LOPUSWEEP #LOPUSWEEP #LOPUSWEEP #LOPUSWEEP #LOPUSWEEP

Naru:

q. What is your WoL name and pronouns? a. Naru, she/her

q. What is your WoL's species? a. Xaela

q. What is your WoL's class? Or classes? a. Reaper

q. What data centre/server are you on, if you want people to find you? a. N/A

q. Tell us a bit about your WoL! a. Naru became a hero in search of a missing piece of herself! She never felt satisfied in her home of the Steppe. She was an orphan, and although she had an adopted family, she sought out more from beyond the Steppe. She enjoys helping, but I don't think she likes the word 'hero.' In her free time she paints environmental paintings, tries out her bartender friend's drink combinations, and sunbathing :)

q. Why should YOU win? (Answer IC!) a. "Ah… I'm not too sure. I suppose I'll win if fate chooses me. I'll accept failure, no matter how bitter… Though I don't see it as likely."

q. Anything else you wanna add? a. In my canon, she got fully turned into a sin eater and she uses light instead of void powers as a reaper :)

[yzeltia]

Wolgraha Week

Day 4: Sacrifice Characters: Y'zel Tia, Lyna, U'rahn Nuhn, G'raha Tia Rating: Teen Notes: N/A

It'd been nearly three minutes of total silence. Keith couldn't think of anything to say and Lyna seemed to be lost in confusion or maybe just stunned by his presence. U'rahn looked between them, face still filled with expectation. In his impatience, the Miqo'te thrashed his tail.

"C'mon C'mon! There's gotta be more you two have to say to one another. Especially you, this was your idea," the Nuhn huffed, nudging at the Hyur.

"So it was," Keith chuckled nervously, "Apologies. I'm not sure what I thought would happen coming here. Really we weren't sure it would work but I guess having the Echo or something let me pass through."

"I too find myself at a loss for words," Lyna responded, seeming to actively be ignoring U'rahn, body shifted lightly away, "You say you are the Exarch's partner. Forgive me, I just can not picture him…with anyone. Though I am pleased to know he's happy at the very least."

"Very happy. Extremely. Still, I know he misses his home here. His time with you. He talks about you like his own daughter. I guess I felt I should meet you, if it were possible, and declare my intentions toward him. I plan to ask him to marry me come Starlight, er, a special holiday for us on the Source. You're the only one I haven't had a chance to talk with about it. I would humbly ask you to allow me to also be your family should Raha agree to my proposal."

Lyna was taken aback as Keith bowed deeply before her. "Well. I don't really know you. I…," she trailed off before clutching at her heart, "If you make him truly happy, then I would welcome you."

Keith looked up then beamed before throwing his arms around the woman, "Thank you! If it works out I'll be kinda like your dad or grandpa or something! And since I can travel between realms I can pass notes and whatever else between you two. He's going to be so surprised! Maybe a little angry we were playing with powers beyond our comprehension, but I'm sure hearing from you will smooth things over."

"Hey hey Show her the pictures," U'rahn interjected.

Dazed, Lyna broke free from Keith's embrace as he dug around for his tomestone. Her eyes widened as the Hyur began to swipe through pictures of G'raha. She touched her cheek as she felt a tear. 

"He truly is happy…," she whispered as she memorized every photo before noticing a pattern, "Keith…why are there so many pictures of him eating?"

"Ah. He really enjoys food. Maybe you could send him something as a surprise"

Lyna thought for a moment, "Perhaps some lemon waffles. I cannot say I remember him being expressly fond of them but I'm sure it'll be a reminder of home."

"Sounds good," Keith beamed.

"Can I have some too? For my girlfriend? I have a girlfriend now, Lyna. They're a beautiful…uh…hmm…well! They're beautiful!"

"I can send more as needed," Lyna answered, focused on the tomestone, "Is it possible I could keep this device?"

"Well, it's sort of personal…but -"

"Yeah Yeah! Nyx can make Keith a new one! Nyx is my girlfriend."

Lyna ignored U'rahn as Keith swiped around on the tomestone before handing it over, "You just push this button to look at the pictures and the funny box with a circle if you want to capture one of your own. We can even trade pictures so that way when I visit I can give you more."

Lyna sniffled a bit, "Thank you for this gift. It brings me such joy to know the Exarch's alright, even more so to see it."

"I'll make sure to check in often then and uh, on my own next time," Keith said, the two looking to U'rahn.

"Huh? What is it," the Nuhn asked, getting a chuckle out of the other two.

-The Source, Later-

"Keith? Are you here? Something smells delicious," G'raha's voice called out as he rounded into Keith's room.

The Hyur had just finished playing the waffles, drizzling lemon curd sparingly in little lines across the dish, having made the mistake of trying a whole spoonful when he'd prepared it initially with Lyna. G'raha froze as he looked at the meal, then to Keith.

"You will not believe this, but I believe you've stumbled upon a popular Nordvantian breakfast."

"Really? It came to me first thing this morning when I was chatting with this lovely Viera."

"A gleaner friend," G'raha asked, taking his seat to dig into the waffle.

"Mmm. I don't think so. Check your tomestone, I sent you a picture."

"A picture? Why would you-"

G'raha dropped his tomestone as Lyna's and Keith's face filled the screen. "How!? How can this be!?"

The Hyur smiled as he sat down across from his boyfriend. "Scientific Method."

"I am uncertain if you know what that even means and it does not, in the slightest, explain anything. Please Keith!"

"Alright! I wanted to meet Lyna and tell her how you're doing and so I asked Violet to see if she could figure out a way for me to cross over but she was busy and so I gave up until I ran into Rahn. He figured I had the Echo like him so why shouldn't I try to go on through and it worked!"

"Do you have any idea!?…You could have-," G'raha started before letting out a small sob, "You are an absolute idiot! Risking sacrificing yourself like that… but I can't even be mad. Lyna…everyone at the Crystarium…I have means to peer into their world and make sure they are well," he sobbed.

"Raha. I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't think of the risk, but in the end it's okay right? You're not too mad?"

"I'm furious and elated but mostly upset that I'm in love with an absolute reckless fool."

"Hey, I think those whose first plans were to sacrifice themselves, more than one might I add, can't be throwing around 'reckless fool' like that."

G'raha huffed then hurried around the table, and pushed Keith back into his chair by shoulders, soon smothering him with desperate, lemony, kisses. Surprised, the Hyur took the other by the waist then slumped to his side, falling onto the floor as he clumsily turned the other’s enthusiastic embrace.

[avirael]

Nameday Surprise

The air was still surprisingly warm for the time of the year and the wind carried the chatter of birds up to the city wall of Revenant‘s Toll, where Rael sat with their legs dangling over the edge. They wondered if the aether concentration here in Mor Dhona affected the seasons differently than they would in other parts of Eorzea. After all they were not too far from Coerthas and it was early in the Sixth Umbral Moon but the air, while not particularly warm, lacked any cold.

With closed eyes Rael raised their head to the sun, high in the sky above them, and breathed in deeply. The air in Mor Dhona sometimes had a strange quality to it. The day before had been very "gloomy" as the locals called it, which meant a weird aetherial kind of fog in the air. The first time Rael had seen the purple swirls in the sky they had been a little worried but the residents had assured them that it was an entirely harmless phenomenon. Today it was bright and clear again but the air while pure and fresh still had a hint of scent to it. With eyes closed Rael could almost still smell the aether and imagine the colourful swirls in the sky.

Carefully they listened to the wind coming from the east. Their gift had grown a little more unreliable the further they had traveled but especially today they hoped for any kind of sign, a whisper or a familiar scent maybe. It was selfish, their gift was meant for more important things, but they couldn’t help but hope nonetheless. Though the longer nothing happened the more gloomy Rael’s mood got, more representing the somber atmosphere from the day before than today‘s nice winter day.

"Rael!?", a familiar voice suddenly called out to them, tearing them from their thoughts. "What are you doing up there?"

Rael sighed. They didn’t need to look down to see who it was but did so anyway. Down below on the ground in front of the city gate stood a red-haired Miqo'te craning his neck to look up to them. So much for silence and solitude, they thought.

"Hello, A'viloh!", they yelled down to them. "I’m just enjoying the view. How about you?"

Curiously A'viloh tilted his head. "What?! I can’t hear you!"

"Excuse me…", Rael muttered with a shake of their head and a sigh correcting the Miqo'te, before repeating what they said before a little louder.

"Wait!!", A'viloh answered and hurried out of view. A few moments later Rael heard quick steps echoing from the stone steps of the staircase and another moment later the Miqo'te stood beside them catching their breath.

"You didn’t have to run, you know?", Rael said and wondered if anything urgent had occurred at the Rising Stones.

"Yes…", he said between gasps. "I realise that now too…"

Rael chuckled. Once he had recovered from his sprint up to the top of the city wall, A'viloh leaned onto the stone parapet and glimpsed down to the spot where he had stood a minute ago. "It looked a little more dangerous from down there…"

"Dangerous? Were you worried about me?", Rael teased and raised an eyebrow. "I already thought something happened at the Rising Stones."

"Nah…", the Miqo'te answered with disappointment written all over his face. "It’s very boring there right now. Moenbryda is still working on that device of hers and everybody else is busy too."

Rael nodded understandingly. "So you were bored and wondered if you could pester me instead?"

"Oh, someone’s in a good mood, huh?", A'viloh muttered and looked genuinely hurt, though Rael had assumed he knew their sense of humor by now. "I guess I‘ll better go then and be miserable somewhere on my own… Or maybe it’s not to late to visit Kikipu after all…"

"No.", Rael said quickly, a rueful expression on their face. "Please stay, you’re not bothering me." Slowly the Viera tapped the stone beside them gesturing for A'viloh to sit down. A grin spread across his face.

Hurriedly he climbed up onto the parapet and for a second, clumsy as he could be sometimes, Rael feared he might loose his footing and plummet down the other side of the wall. "So…", he started as he had sat down beside the Viera. "What are you doing all alone up here?"

"Nothing.", Rael shrugged. "Just enjoying the view…"

A'viloh followed Rael’s gaze across the landscape littered with debris of the Agrius and the Crystal Tower far off in the distance and tilted his head quizzically. "The Crystal Tower is pretty for sure. But the view of that wreckage? I‘m not sure I see the appeal…"

"No, just generally east…", Rael offered gazing to the horizon.

"What’s there?", A'viloh squinted but couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Rael sighed. "Somewhere far to the east - further than you can see - is my home…"

"Oh!", A'viloh said and fell silent for a moment, looking out to the horizon, wondering how far away exactly Dalmasca was. Then he glimpsed at Rael and asked carefully, "Are you homesick?"

"A little.", Rael admitted, not knowing how to better put in words how they felt. They had started this journey to save their home. To save everything to be precise but particularly their home. It had been years since they left and they had learned a lot but Rael still wasn’t sure if they were any bit closer to achieving their goal or not. The fact that their visions kept failing them didn’t help to brighten their mood at all.

A'viloh sighed and looked down to the tips of his boots. "Me too, you know?…"

Rael nodded but feared that in A'viloh’s case it was less a where he missed than a when or a who. But maybe the feeling was similar enough. So for a while they just sat there in silence beside each other staring into the distance together.

"What is your home like?", A'viloh finally asked and looked at Rael. They thought they saw genuine interest in his eyes not just the attempt to make them feel better.

"The Golmore Jungle?", Rael asked and A'viloh nodded. "I‘m afraid that’s a secret…"

"A secret?", the Miqo'te exclaimed and looked at Rael pretending to feel insulted. "I tell you everything about me and in return you decide to keep secrets from me?"

His performance didn’t fail to make Rael smile. "I don’t make the rules, A'vi. We are forbidden to speak to outsiders about the Jungle."

A'viloh furrowed his brow. This time he really looked a little disappointed. He had probably hoped that Rael was just playing hard to get. "Why?"

Rael wondered how to explain this to him. "The Green Word forbids it, for our own safety. You would probably call it our religion but it’s not exactly that. It’s more like… just our way of living, I guess."

"Hmm…", the Miqo'te grumbled thoughtfully and didn’t look any smarter than before. "I guess that means we won’t be able to visit sometime?"

"My sisters and brothers would shoot you on the spot! And me right with you, I assume, for leading you there. With the increase of the Garlean's aggressions my people have grown quite hostile lately…" Rael pitied A'viloh a little. They were certain that he would love the Jungle and yet they would never be able to show it to him. It didn’t seem fair to be so secretive towards him after he had shared all of his worries and troubles so freely with them.

But more than that they really wished to be able to talk to him about their home. About their hopes and fears. Their visions. Their task. A'viloh had confided in them but there was no one Rael could confide in...

But was that really true?

Suddenly a thought crossed Rael’s mind. Maybe they weren’t allowed to talk about the Jungle, or the Green Word or the nature of their journey but they could speak about themself and their feelings. About the things that were of no crucial importance to anyone but them. Surely this wasn’t against the rules?

"I miss my family, A'vi.", they said silently, waiting for a strong gust from the east warning them to keep their mouth shut. But no such thing happened. "I came up here, I closed my eyes and imagined I was home. I hoped to remember anything familiar, my mother’s voice or the smell of the carrot cakes she always made for my nameday. But with every year on my own it’s gets more difficult to remember…"

Surprised A'viloh stared up to them. "Your nameday? Don’t tell me that’s today?!"

Rael nodded and blinked rapidly, trying their best not to cry, "Yes…". Irritated they noticed that A'viloh was giggling. Had they said something funny? Confused they looked at the Miqo'te but he only started to laugh more seeing Rael‘s puzzled face.

"I‘m so sorry." he excused himself after a moment and tried to get ahold of himself. "It’s just, you’re not alone at all! Today is my nameday too! You don’t have to spent it on your own and neither do I, isn’t that funny?"

"That can’t be true…", Rael just said dumbfounded.

"Would I lie to you?", A'viloh retorted. Of course he wouldn’t and even if he tried Rael was sure they would see through it.

"That’s a weird coincidence…", Rael pondered thoughtfully while A'viloh was extremely giddy about it. "Right?! Isn’t this nice?"

Rael couldn’t help but agree. It didn’t do anything to improve their situation but it felt strangely comforting and seeing A'viloh so happy about it made them at least a little happy too. After all it was something they could share, even when so much else was meant to remain secret.

"Why didn’t you say something earlier though?", Rael asked and suddenly wondered the same about themselves.

"I didn’t think it would be necessary.", A'viloh shrugged. "I was pretty sure Tataru wrote down my nameday when I signed up and somehow I expected at least her to remember. But no one did and I guess you can’t just loudly announce that it’s your nameday and assume everybody will celebrate with you although they‘re all horribly busy!"

"I guess not…", Rael agreed and wondered if there was a way to give A'viloh the nameday celebration he so obviously wanted and in their opinion also deserved. But before they could think of anything the Miqo'te jumped up and announced, "I have an idea! We could try to make this cake you mentioned. You remember how it was made, do you?"

There he stood on the parapet, happily flicking his ears and tail. Rael already could see him falling to his death. Quickly they stretched out their arms. "Yes… of course. But would you please sit down again?"

With an exaggerated gesture A'viloh jumped back down to the walkway of the city wall and waved for Rael to follow him. "Splendid! Come on! I‘m sure F'lhaminn has everything me need for the cake!"

But F'lhaminn did not seem to have everything necessary, in fact she looked rather alarmed when she saw the two of them walk into The Seventh Heaven, where she currently was talking to the barkeep. She explained to them how she was going to the market anyway because some of her ingredients had run low and she urgently needed new ones and asked if they would be so kind to accompany her. After all she wouldn’t be able to carry everything on her own…

So they went to the market, where they spent a good while trying to find everything F'lhaminn and Rael needed. In the end all that was left were carrots. For lack of authentic carrots from the Golmore Jungle, Rael assumed that the regular ones would do fine - it were just normal carrots after all.

F'lhaminn however objected. She said she hadn’t been to Dalmasca yet but if they planned on making a dessert, she knew exactly were to get the right kind of carrot, a special breed that was said to be especially sweet and was, as far as she knew, only sold in Gridania.

Rael thought that it probably wouldn’t matter but F'lhaminn insisted that she wanted to try these special ones and so A'vi and Rael teleported to Gridania while the Miqo'te women returned to the Rising Stones to start preparing dinner. Suddenly the groceries weren’t too heavy for her to carry on her own at all, as she shooed them away.

In Gridania however their search turned out to be more difficult than expected. They went to all shops and asked everyone they could think of but no one seemed to ever have heard of that special carrot breed F'lhaminn had mentioned. Even Miounne just shrugged at them in confusion and began to suggest alternatives instead. In the end they just bought regular carrots.

"I don’t understand this", A'viloh wondered as they walked through the Ebony Stalls. "F'lhaminn wouldn’t make something like this up, wouldn’t she? I mean why should she?"

"Don’t worry. These will do perfectly fine." Rael reassured him, not giving much thought to their strange scavenger hunt. "I‘m sure it was just a misunderstanding. Or maybe she remembered it wrong…"

It was almost evening when they returned to Revenant‘s Toll. The sun set early this time of the year and already vanished behind the tall buildings as they walked into the Seventh Heavens. While passing by the barkeep waved and grinned at them but was gone to another table full of customers before either of them could say hello.

As they passed through the door leading to the Rising Stones Rael immediately noticed that something was off. The lights were quite low and not a single person was to be seen. Not a sound was to be heard.

"Where is everyone?", A'viloh sounded a little startled too and Rael couldn’t blame him considering the last time they had found the Scion's headquarters in literal dead silence. With flattened ears he slowly stepped past empty chairs and tables, Rael right behind him ready to hurl their bag of carrots at anyone who dared to attack them.

Suddenly a giggle sounded from behind one of the room dividers followed by multiple shushing sounds and a voice silently hissing, "Yda!". That had unmistakably been Papalymo! Confused Rael and A'viloh glanced at each other. Then the Miqo'te took the last few steps so he could peek around the divider. With a surprised gasp he raised a hand to his mouth. As he turned to beckon Rael over his eyes were shining and a wide happy grin appeared on his face.

Just as the Viera stepped beside A'viloh and saw all the Scions huddled together in their hiding spot, they started to sing a nameday song together. A few of them were more out of tune than some others but altogether it was quite heartwarming. A'vi‘s ears wiggled happily and even Rael couldn’t help but smile too.

They stood around a small table filled with different food and a nice looking cake, carrot of course - F'lhaminn wasn’t going to let that opportunity pass - and one after the other steps forward to congratulate and hug them both. It all was so sweet Rael didn’t even think to protest.

It turned out to be a very nice evening full of spirited conversation and laughter. The cake by the way was sublime, just as everything F'lhaminn made. It was not exactly the same as their mother used to make it but the gesture alone was very touching and the memories it brought back made Rael blink away a tiny tear or two as they thanked the Miqo'te woman for her effort. Rael couldn’t remember the last time they had so much fun and neither could recall ever seeing A'viloh this happy. With a few yalms distance they glanced over at the red-haired Miqo'te who was in a conversation with Thancred.

Just then Papalymo stepped closer following the Viera‘s gaze. "Don’t be disappointed.", he said and earned a confused look in response. "Why?"

"We decided not to spoil the surprise but I guess I can tell you. We commissioned the carpenters in Gridania to craft you an Orchestrion for your house. It was a bit short-notice though, so it will still take a few days before it arrives at your home.", the Lalafell explained and looked up to Rael.

"Oh!", Rael exclaimed. They hadn’t expected to get any gifts. "That’s very kind of you, thank you so much… but why tell me now if the others wanted to wait?"

Papalymo shrugged and made a gesture towards A'vi and Thancred. "I don't want you to think that we forgot to get you something. It was supposed to be a shared gift from all of us for the two of you. But it looks like our dear Thancred there went the extra malm and got another gift."

Surprised Rael turned their head back towards A'viloh and indeed it seemed like he was holding a gift in his hands. Rael grimaced painfully. They knew this meant a lot to A'vi but on the other hand given Thancred‘s recent behaviour they also hoped that the poor boy wouldn’t get his hopes up now.

"It’s not much but the others and I thought we should at least get you something.", Rael heard the Hyur say. Papalymo, who seemed to have been listening as well huffed but didn’t say anything. Obviously Thancred had gotten a gift just for A'vi and was too much of a coward to admit that it was his. So of course he was lying again.

"Err… thank you…", A'viloh stuttered looking down at the gift to avoid looking at Thancred. "You really shouldn’t have though…"

"Don’t mention it! Go on! Open it.", Thancred suggested and as A'viloh unknotted the ribbon and opened the box he added, "I heard you recently made a few peculiar new friends in Limsa. Maybe this will help you with your training."

Rael craned their neck to see what was inside the box but the angle was too bad. They were curious and so seemed to be the Lalafell beside them. "What is it?", Papalymo asked.

"Can’t see…", Rael replied with furrowed brows and wondered if it was safe to step a little closer without catching their attention. That decision was taken from them though, as Riol appeared, said a few friendly words to A'vi and then whispered something to Thancred. The later laughed nervously but then excused himself. "Give my regards to Jacke when you see him next.", he said as he left.

A'viloh nodded absentmindedly before asking in confusion. "Wait, you know Jacke?" But Thancred was already out of earshot or at least pretended to be.

Rael waited a moment and observed the Miqo'te who didn’t really know what to do next. Then Rael stepped closer and innocently asked, "What do you have there?"

A'viloh startled a little, as if he had been caught at something. "Oh, hello Rael…", they said smiling pleasantly. "Um, it’s nothing really…"

"Nothing?", the Viera retorted and raised their eyebrows. "So Thancred gifts you a box with nothing inside?"

"What? No!", the Miqo'te blurted out, visible ashamed for getting caught. "Wait! Were you watching me?"

"Don’t be silly. I just wanted to ask wether you still want some cake before Yda and Moen finish it off…", they answered and then nodded at the box. "Will you tell me though what that is?"

A'viloh looked a little hesitantly at the Viera. "I didn’t mean to spoil the surprise, you don’t seem to have gotten your present yet. Thancred said they got it together for me. So I assume you're getting something too…"

Rael pondered wether they should tell him the truth and why Thancred would have lied in the first place. Apart from lying being like breathing for him, of course. "I don’t think so…"

"Huh?", A'viloh didn’t seem to understand. "Why wouldn’t you get something."

"No, that’s not what I meant!", Rael rolled their eyes. "We are getting a gift. It‘s arriving a little late and I’m not going to tell you what it is. Papalymo told me about it."

The Miqo'te still looked at them as if they spoke a different language and then turned his puzzled gaze down to the gift box in his hands.

"This I assure you…", Rael started to explain and pointed at the present. "…is solely from Thancred."

"No…", A'viloh protested and then added a little more weakly. "Why would he do that?"

Rael put on an innocent face. "Yes, why would he?..."

They could almost see how A'vi‘s brain was trying to solve that riddle. Thoughtfully he opened the gift box again to stare at the content. In it lay a dagger and on top of it a little card with neat letters. Rael snatched the card out of the box before A'viloh could stop them and observed it closely.

May this blade always keep you safe from harm., was written there in neat cursive words.

"I didn’t expect Thancred to have such nice handwriting.", Rael wondered but A'viloh wasn’t really listening anymore. Instead he looked at the dagger as if it was going to explain itself to him any moment now. It was a very fine blade of a bluish silver color. For a second Rael had thought it was engraved but the swirly pattern on it stemmed from the material itself. It’s hilt was wrapped in creamy white leather and the overall quality of the dagger was remarkable. If Rael and A'viloh had crafted it themselves they couldn’t have done it any better. Rael wondered were Thancred had gotten it and how big of a fortune he had payed for it.

"That’s a very nice dagger.", Rael stated a little impressed. They couldn’t imagine Thancred put so much effort - and money - into all of his conquests. But then again they still highly doubted that he was honest about this and wouldn’t end up breaking poor A'viloh‘s heart, as much as they wished otherwise for A’vi’s sake.

"Mhm…", he simply muttered in agreement and Rael could see that he was starting to brood over this, so they pushed the card back into the box and cheerfully asked, "So, what about the cake now? If you don’t hurry there will be nothing left!"

That seemed to attract the Miqo'te’s attention after all. "No way!", he exclaimed. "I still want some too. That whole big cake can’t be gone already!"

Rael chuckled and followed him as he hurried to get another slice. Today wasn’t the right day to be gloomy, they decided. Because against all odds this birthday had turned out to be one of the funniest and happiest they could remember although neither Rael nor A'viloh could celebrate it with their family. But the people here, their friends, were just as good as that.

[eriyu]

my niche xiv lore obsession is echo translation superpowers and guess what? this is now another place to spill all my headcanons about it!!!!!!

to start off with, this is the canon Encyclopedia Eorzea explanation:

but i refuse to take the "fade and are replaced" part literally. that would mean you're incapable of learning new languages because you physically can't hear them. and that not only raises a ton of practical issues, but also sounds like a curse as much as a gift.

so i prefer to think that instead, when you're talking to someone with the Echo, your brain just tends to gloss over the incongruity between what you're physically hearing and what you're understanding, especially if you're not paying attention. you just assume the other person is speaking your language, because you can understand them. but then maybe you hear a pun, or a song — something that doesn't work in your language — and suddenly you're like "wait, that doesn't rhyme... wait, what did they actually say?"

and maybe it's easier to notice that incongruity the more attuned you are to aether. that would go a long way towards ensuring that every rando NPC you talk to (who would have no reason to know what the Echo is) doesn't freak out about it. i am also working off the assumption that not everyone you meet everywhere you go speaks Eorzean, because why would they?

so really, the Echo would make it easier to learn new languages because you hear a new word and can instantly understand what the other person means by it.

and it is so interesting that it's explicitly about understanding their intentions and not what they actually say. it makes sense, given that ultimately what the Echo does is allow you to "transcend the boundaries of the soul."

but man, there's so much potential there. if someone's having trouble explaining themselves, no worries, you know what they mean. if you're having trouble explaining yourself, they know what you mean! you can listen to someone reciting poetry and understand how they personally interpret the poem... hell, having the Echo means being able to understand Urianger.

i think it would be neat for something like this to become a plot device in canon, even a small one, but it would probably be too confusing to depict. i don't think this is exactly what the writers had in mind anyway; i'm sure they just wanted a way to handwave in-game language barriers. but with the complexity of how language works, it CAN'T be that simple. i really do think that all this is the most logical interpretation of what we're given.

bonus headcanons about ehriyu specifically!!!!!!!

so much of this came about because she's a) Meracydian and didn't speak Eorzean before ARR, and b) a bard.

she relied on the Echo a lot after first coming to Eorzea, but was also hesitant to use it to speak too much, because she didn't know how people would react if they noticed. that's how she got the canon reputation for being silent (insert nod here), even though she's naturally a very loud person.

she loves chatting with people and mildly dislikes reading, because she can't cheat get that extra layer of understanding from the written word. hearing someone tell a story, or recite a poem, gives it so much more life than just seeing ink on a page! that really fueled her love of song that led her to becoming a bard in the first place.

also: she gets literal headaches when people start talking about things she doesn't understand, like advanced academic concepts. because the Echo is trying to make her understand when she doesn't. they're much less acute headaches than the ones that come with visions, but she still has to sit down and have a serious talk with Mikoto about it at one point — like to tell her "you CANNOT keep doing this to me" LMFAO

also also! she is a Miqo'te, and guess what: i ALSO have a lot of thoughts about huntspeak!!!!! canonically, huntspeak involves whistles, and typically in real life, whistled languages are used to communicate long distances!!! and i just think it would be a neat feature to be able to to send whistled messages from malms away that anyone can understand because of the echo. :)

[tialinffxiv]

FFXIV Write 2023 #4: Off the hook.

Because the prompt matched, here's a continuation of the yesterday's story: Curiosity Entry below!

Young Miqo’te has heard many times that his mother was agreeing with the pack's leader, saying that people outside of their group are not trustable, hostile and that forest should never belong to them. But was it really like this? Boy was full of doubts and thoughts whenever he could peek at the life of the village and people there. They for sure didn’t like outsiders too much but their life seemed peaceful and full of many amazing things that he never could experience within his family. His very young heart, which beat through barely 8 summers, was already filled with that strange need to get to know it all better. Against the will of the pack and his mother.

And, like many times before, the boy gave in to curiosity. From one of his hideouts in the village, he was quietly observing the early morning life of its residents. Boy was especially interested in the always-smelling-so-nice tavern’s kitchen; the lady working there was always up very early and always singing so cheerfully, while she was baking fresh bread or cooking meals. Often accompanied by 3 young elezens- whom the boy guessed to be her kids. It was a very lively and interesting place; so many people were visiting it, so many stories to be heard, so many things to learn about.

And so many dangers for a little kitten like him, especially when he wasn’t paying enough attention to surroundings.

“Just look how big the rats got this year!”

At first Miqo’te completely froze at the loud, sharp voice behind him. The very next second his instinct to run kicked in but it was too late- the man's hand grasped like an iron trap on his arm and brutally pulled him up, making his heart nearly jump out of his chest.

“Mhmm, what a nice catch…looks like one of the poucher’s brats.” Another man, looking quite young, armed with a spear, stood beside them and gazed at the boy with visible disgust. Miqo’te wiggled his body helplessly in an attempt to free himself but the man was much stronger than him.

Trapped and panicked he couldn’t force a single word to call for help… but it would be no use anyway- he was alone here, away from his pack, away from mom; nobody here to help him. Just the tall, armed, scary men smirking at his attempts to escape. And the deafening pounding of his heart. Miqo’te growled loudly, like a wild cat, showing sharp fangs, ears completely flat on his head, claws ready to scratch opponents eyes out. Man holding him loosened the grip a little bit, surprised for a moment by a boy hissing furiously at them, with blood red eyes locked on the man's face, all ready to attack.

“Maybe better don’t touch that thing, it looks like it may have rabies, hehe.” Man holding him pulled the boy up once again, while other spit “May the spirits of these forests finally get rid of the likes of you and your kind, cussed feral thieves--”

“Have you got no shame, Isheux! To bully a small child like this?”

Sudden appearance of an Elezen woman made them all turn. “One would think that your parents taught you better.” She frowned at the men, hands on her hips. “And you too, Lausent. Release that boy at once!” She had the voice of a mother scolding her misbehaving kids- and one that even an adult man would be scared to ignore.

Miqo’te stared at her, losing the chance to escape while men focused on her- it was the lady from the tavern, the one singing like a bird every morning.

“It’s our duty to get rid of thieves and other trash from this village, lady Eviane.” The man’s voice was filled with irritation but his face was full of doubt when she glared at him, crossing arms on her chest.

“I have seen this boy around here quite often and he never did anything that could be considered harmful.” She smiled a little at Miqo'te, who felt like his heart sank in his chest.

She saw me?…I was sure I could hide well… Boy flattened his ears, still unable to form any words but no longer growling.

“Just look at him- it’s just a child. A harmless child that you scared so much with your behavior. And now you are going to release him and let him go back to his home. Or else I will have a word with your captain about your last ‘incident’ at the tavern.” She raised a brow at the man.

Lausent hesitated for a short moment, then pushed the boy toward her, cursing under his breath. Other man remained silent when they both bowed to her and fastly walked away.

Woman sighed, looking at the boy standing in front of her and still visibly scared. “It’s all right now, they won’t hurt you as long as I am here.” Her voice was now soft and concerned. “What’s your name?”

Boy remained silent, grasping at the edge of his hood and avoiding eye contact, trembling a little bit. Should he just run now, as fast as he can, back home?…

“I won’t hurt you either. I know you keep coming here and just watching everyone, right?” Woman continued “But this is not a place for a lonely child like you. You shouldn’t wander off alone, you know? It’s dangerous.”

Boy nodded slowly, raising his eyes on her. She smiled again. “I bet your mom is worried about you. Run back to her and promise that you will be more careful, okay, little one?” “I.. my name is Rrr…Rhati’a…” Miqo’te stuttered.

“Rhati’a then. Here, take this.” Woman took a small, freshly baked bread roll from a large pocket of her apron and handed it to the boy. “Go on, you will need some energy after all this, right?”

Her warm smile soothed the boy's fear a little. He took the bread from her and a shy smile appeared on his face. “Thank you…”

“Go back home and make sure to avoid such adventures in future. Be a good kid.” Woman still stood there for a moment after the boy finally ran away, back to the forest. She sighed heavily and returned to the tavern.

Young Miqo’te stopped in the part of the forest very close to their home. He picked the bread from his pocket and sniffed the amazing aroma before he took a small bite. And purred quietly over the amazing taste of sweet roll. But then his ears caught a high-pitched whistling that he could recognize anywhere, without a doubt. Oh no…mom noticed…

[mathemagiks]

To what extent does their appearance in game match your vision of them creatively? Are there things you wish you could change about them in this regard? Or possibly do, if you knew of a way to do so...

I did my best to try and get close when making all of the beans as alts in-game, but honestly if I had my druthers, all of their in-game models would have so many little tweaks and adjustments to match how I see them (especially since I'm awful at getting mods to work and they give me more headaches than I find worth wrestling with them for).

I got a little wordy in this and scrounged my travel laptop for some old doodles and pictures, so this is going under a cut for length.

For Ehn, I tend to picture him much lankier than the miqo'te in game; he's long limbed and gangly, and still gets mistaken for a teenager at a distance. He cuts no real imposing figure physically! I also tend to draw his ponytail a little scruffier, and the side-hair thingies longer in homage to his namesake. Kinda like this:

Orrin is pretty much accurate, but did you know that in character creator there's no option for actual red red as a hair color option? I managed to get the idea across with how highlights play with is particular hairstyle, but it still bugs me in certain lights how it still looks... well, pink.

Band... By now I've sort of resigned myself to her just having that horn style, but if I had my way, she'd have had the wing-like horns when I made her (I tried making the face they're linked to work, but it just didn't give that sharp, stern look that I felt was key to the Banadei Experience TM). If SE ever disconnects the horns from the faces, you bet I'm finding an in-character way to change them for her. But for now, pointy horns she keeps. Beyond that, she's a lot less.... curvy, I guess, from the raen models. Still feminine at a glance, but just more... average looking I guess? There's a word for this but it escapes me right now. I also like to think her scales have more of a coppery flash than the in-game gold one for Raen, and her limbal rings are more metallic than they are glow-y. She also has much bigger scale patches on her arms and legs than the dainty ones the in-game model has, as well as a large patch between her shoulders and down her sides (like the male models have. As to why the girls don't get them too I have no idea).

Not many differences on Scrap, really, besides him being kinda scrawny for a lalafell. The most I tend to deviate when I doodle him is more in the clothes than the rest of his features, namely his collar and sleeves and drawing his hat a little smaller but tbh that's just me thinking it looks better that way in my particular art style. (He's on the right in this picture, natch)

Uroko is, like, the one bean I made in CC first before building the character behind him so honestly, he's spot on as far as things go. Like Band, though, I picture him with more scales on his arms, legs, and torso than the in-game model gives him, but less "bigger patches" and more like the large patches being flanked by spots of smaller patches, like dappled sunlight.

[pangolinheart]

Not sure if I’ve mentioned this before but Tyr is canonically a weaver. It started out because finding clothes that fit in Eorzea was very difficult, but he found he does like doing it.

He makes clothes or other things for friends and family. He takes personal tastes into account but if given free reign (and if the relationship is flirty/romantic) chances are they can figure out what features of their body he likes.

He and Tataru sometimes chill out and work on their projects together. She has the space and there’s usually snacks. It’s very low key

WWWWWW Canonical crafters are such good flavor lore. Weaver really suits Tyr, and I can definitely see his point. I always think about weird little practicalities like this because Yeah, it would be hard to find shirts with necks you could fit over your horns in Eorzea, where Au Ra aren't native and are pretty uncommon. And even if you could find pants with tail-holes for miqo'te (though, despite making up like 1/3 of all player characters, i think miqo'te are canonically supposed to be kind of rare within urban areas?) they'd be way too small. Even being a lalafel finding clothes in, say, Ishgard seems difficult, though I guess before the industrial revolution more clothes were made-to-order so that would probably be the situation on the Source as well, which would make it easier.

(Another weird detail I think about how male au ra in particular sleep - it seems like it'd be uncomfortable to lay on your side but mail au ra technically have spines on the back of their head so that seems like it'd rule out sleeping on your back too.... And even though lady au ra don't canonically have the spines one model of female au ra horns extend past the back of the head, so a similar situation...) All that aside, even though they don't seem like his style necessarily I think Tyr would look cute in the Boltfiend and Boltsoph's outfits - and conveniently all of the top pieces button! I would be interested to see what kind of clothes Tyr would design for his love interests/friends! I imagine he has some unique aesthetic sensibilities with all of the travel he's done. I really like the image of Tataru and Tyr hanging out, amiably weaving and sewing together. It seems like it would be a pleasant, relaxing time! I would hang out with them.

[norhimorovine]

Norhi was half done loading her cart up for the trip north out of Camp Broken Glass. She had supplies she wanted to get to her friends. Garlemald had been harsh. The Final Days were not making it easier. She was grateful for the last letting from her family, saying they were safe.

The family she'd been able to reach, anyhow.

She glances over at some noise and sees a group coming into town. Some of the Garlean soldiers that were working with the Alliance for now. She fidgets and sets the box she held into the cart, before turning to walk over.

She quietly scoots up near one of them, a young man near the edge of the group. "Ummm... hey..."

The man startles for a moment and then blinks at Norhi, seeming to vaguely recognize her after a moment. "Hello?"

Norhi grins sheepishly and says, "Sorry. I'm Norhi. I umm... I was hoping you could... answer a question. I mean... I don't know. I'm not sure if you'd even know. I'm not sure anyone does anymore."

The man frowns in confused worry and then half shrugs. "Ummm... I'm Anthony. And I guess at a minimum, I can give you an I don't know?"

Norhi half smiles then and rubs her hands together. "I'm looking for someone. I know. Everyone is, it seems. My cousin was... brought here, to Garlemald, when I was young. He'd be about thirty now. I don't even know if he's still alive. But... I keep hoping. Maybe."

Anthony sighs and looks back at his patrol squad. "Not seen a lot of miqo'te recently. A few though. What does he look like?"

Norhi scrunches her nose, thinking for a moment. "Well, we were both still kids. But he had grey skin like mine. But ash brown hair and green eyes. Like moss. Both of his parents were very broad shouldered though. So, I imagine he probably would be too. "

Anthony frowns in thought, before nodding softly. "I... I might be misremembering. But there was someone one of my squadmates was talking to at another safehouse, on our patrol. Your description reminds me of him. Let me talk to my squad. Erm... what was your cousin's name?"

Norhi grimaces. "Back home, his name was Misah'to. I don't know if that would have changed here, or not."

Anthony coughs uncomfortably and then nods. "Got it. Misah'to. And... you're Norhi... with... the Twin Adders?"

Norhi quickly shook her head. "Ah. No. I'm a contractor for the Bellworks Manufacturing. We're civilians, really."

Anthony's eyebrows raise in surprise. "They brought civilians?" he mutters more to himself.

He quickly coughs again. "Right. Anyway. I'll let you know. Anyway... I have to catch up."

Norhi nods and steps back. "Of course. Thank you."

She then turns and jogs back to her cart, quietly tamping her hope back down. It was probably someone else.

[oathofpromises]

RESTRICTED (for whoever you have the most muse for!)

A sigh escaped G'raha's lips. The fact that Y'shtola, of all people, had asked him to help her find their way into the restricted section of the library was a little bit of a surprise. It wasn't like he hadn't sneaked in there before, but it was still a little jarring how she had randomly asked for his assistance on such a matter. It wasn't like this was for any Scion-related work; it seemed more personal, yet the red-haired Miqo'te couldn't guess what the exact reason she had for looking through here was.

"So are you going to tell me eventually why we are sneaking in here? Not that I am worried about us getting caught," whispered G'raha, as the two were completely invisible. His cloaking spell was one of the many things he had picked up during his time as the Exarch. At least now, it seemed like the white-haired woman trusted him more than she had back on the first. Her concerns weren't unwarranted; it made things a little harder around her, but thankfully, in the end, after revealing everything about his plan, she seemed to trust him more.

Hopefully, he didn't run into anything again by accident; that was one of the reasons he got caught last time and he hadn't been able to live that down for weeks. G'raha paused as he checked around the corner; all seemed clear for now. Hardly anyone came down here for the most part, which would work in their favor.

"I know this isn't about traveling to the first, so what are you studying? It’s clear you haven't gotten much rest lately."

She had been hanging out around the library for days at a time, not so unlike the black mage, and the only time she would leave would be when one of the scions dragged her to grab something to eat. Although G'raha understood as well as anyone else, what it felt like becoming fixated on whatever had a hold on their thoughts. He was glad that she did at least listen to those around her. The last thing they needed was for anyone to get sick from studying too much. Which was quite frequent around here, but maybe that was just him thinking back on how often he would exhaust himself with new tomes and the like.

Whatever it was that had grabbed the others attention so closely seemed pretty important, and maybe it was none of his business that she was trying to research. All of them had their reasons for being here, and maybe it was just one of those times he wouldn't get an exact answer to his questions. Maybe the truth was that Miqo’te wanted her to confide in him a bit. The two had definitely come far since the first, yet there was still a little apprehension he could sense from Y’shtola. Again, he did understand being skeptical about his motives.

[toadeyes-miqote]

Prompt #21: Grave

Note - 20 and 21 can actually swap/share prompts.

Time passes in the Central Circuit, artificial light slowly giving way to night. Estinien answered the door to the smile of Ameliance who was accompanied by Tataru and the three musicians. With a single hand gesture, a basket of fresh clothes was shoved into Estinien’s hands while Tataru alone entered the commandeered infirmary.

One by one, the trio handed baskets of food to him. The trio too were close to Hylnyan. Her brother and sister-in-arms and adoptive brother(-in-law). They had been most helpful fending off unwelcomed curious would-be visitors while having their representatives at the official debriefing party above to be their eyes and ears.

Stews and grilled food mostly recipes from the Northwestern Shrouds, Ishgard, Doma and the Steppes. The scent of flavourful food to lure the huntress back into their fold. The trio looked to Ameliance, who smiled at them with assurance, a polite nod of understanding and they retreated.

Ameliance had gotten an in dept report of what the group had went through from Alphinaud, she had put her weary son to bed and now she came for her daughter.

"Thancred? May I come in?" Mere formality to acknowledge the group dynamics that the physical fighters of the team had. She knew well who he was and the role he had taken on. Her father-in-law would have been proud of the chain of mentorship that the former urchin had established. That Alisaie had came to benefit.

"Please. My lady is ever welcome." He placed a comforting hand on Alisaie's shoulder to reassure her before attending to Ameliance.

When she near the sickbed, she noted that Thancred's coat had been neatly folded and placed beside the Miqo'te’s pillow, along with Alisaie's jacket, a set of gloves, scarf and one of Tataru's missing hat. A smile grew on Ameliance's face, she had trusted a hunch about the flavourful food that she brought and the Miqo'te hunter sense of smell.

"Thancred, please. For her sake get some rest and freshen up. It would hearten her to see you at your most dashing when she wakes."

He gave her a dazzling non-committal smile that might have worked on disarming the unsuspecting. But she deflected him with a hand on his arm, a firm grip. The warmth in her eyes that she knows what they had been through. He swallowed a non-existent lump in his throat and closed his eyes. Daring to hold her hand momentarily in thanks

"G'raha? Is the spell you are using mainly to ease Hylnyan's pain? Or is it something complex from your wealth of knowledge?”

The miqo'te ears perked up, at first he looked to Thancred for a cue. "Umm.. it is a basic spell."

"Would you mind that I hold Hylnyan's hand while you and Thancred refresh yourself?" "Uh no. I guess not."

"I'm not going home." Alisaie stated as Ameliance sat down on the floor beside her. Estinien had not follow the other two men but remain far enough from mother and child for privacy. He had Tataru for company instead.

"Not unless you wish to. " Her daughter slumped against her shoulder allowing her to sling her free arm around her shoulders. “I don’t want the cold comfort about Hylnyan's tales of heroics, mama. I don’t want glorifying of the what she has done when the why of it is more important.” Alisaie started while her mother gently rubbed her arm. “I want her hitting me with her tail to get my attention, to focus. I want her singing her silly Ishgardian songs about Estinien and goading him into taking it out the enemy.” “Hylnyan meant a lot to you?” “She’s different from the students here. She made it feel like life is not a chase for better academic results. That one must always compete to be the best. She doesn’t shoot down my ideas just because I’m younger. And she’s willing to find alternate solutions instead blindly following destiny. She makes me feel that I can get the best results when I shoulder part of the burdens of her responsibilities.... She recognise that I am not an extension of Alphi... ”

Her daughter had become much more people aware from her trip. She had no answers that could make her daughter feel better, the most she could do was sit with her for a while and see if brighter minds can come up with a solution. Someone would need to keep an eye on this lot to make sure they don’t hurt themselves in the process.

[thistle-whistle-ffxiv]

The Things We Do For Coin Chapter 8

With a third member joining their number, Azami learns just a little bit more about the finer points of adventuring.

AO3 Link

The tavern wasn't quite what Azami had expected. Despite the Bazaar in general having a certain dustiness to it, there was nary a speck to be found inside. It seemed that due to lack of customers, the workers kept themselves busy by cleaning every surface within an ilm of its life. Better that than let it fall into disarray, Azami supposed. 

As they took seats at a table, Pink's brother fiddled with a clasp on his helm. Evidentially, he had decided it would be difficult to eat with it on. Azami had been somewhat concerned about her own relative lack of protection on her own head, but it seemed that all sorts of armor came with their own sort of problems. Not the least of which was helmethair. 

Pink's brother's hair was almost shockingly white, tangled and matted from a long day of sweating it out under the desert sun. His eyes were like glittering rubies. The skin under his right eye was marred by a deep, jagged gash. The scar tissue shining pink against his nearly translucent skin. Azami was startled by just how pale Pink's brother was. It had been difficult to tell before, since his armor had covered him so thoroughly that it left no exposed skin, but looking at his face it seemed as though he had never so much as heard of the sun. Azami thought she had heard of something like this before, although she didn't know the word for it. She had heard somewhere that rats who were born with pale fur and red eyes were considered to be a good omen. Perhaps it was the same way for miqo'te?

"Do you two know what you want to eat?" he asked. Azami shrugged.

"I don't know much about Eorzean food, so... Surprise me, I guess." 

"Oh, you're foreign. I should have guessed from the accent."

"Oh..." Azami looked at the table, suddenly very self conscious, "Is it really that noticeable?"

She had thought she had more or less gotten her accent under control, but apparently it was more pronounced than she had realized. Hopefully it wouldn't cause her too much trouble in the future. Inexperienced as she was, Azami was already on her back foot as far as negotiations went, being picked out as a foreigner and unfamiliar with their ways would only serve to hinder her further.

"It's not... bad. I just..." He fumbled for his words before standing suddenly, "I should... uh. I'm just going to..."

He wandered away to speak to the woman who was working behind the counter. Pink quickly grabbed onto Azami's hand and gave it a friendly squeeze.

"It's ok! I think your accent is really pretty!" she chirped. Azami sighed. She knew Pink was just trying to be encouraging, but... 

"Thanks, Pink." 

"I don't think I ever asked where you're from." 

"I'm from Doma. It's... across the sea."

"Is it nice there?"

"It has it's good points."

"Like what?"

"It's home." 

"Do you miss it?"

Azami nodded. More than anything. But the home she missed no longer existed. Hadn't existed in years. There was no point in dwelling on it. Not when there was yet work to be done.

"What about yours?" 

"The springs? Well, the other huntresses were all real nice to me! And we got to eat sandworms for dinner most nights!" Pink bubbled, "So I liked it a real whole lot."

"Sandworms, huh. Haven't had those in a while." Pink's brother said, returning with plates of food. He passed them to Azami and Pink before sitting back down. The food he handed them was some sort of noodle dish, with shrimp and some kind of cream sauce. It wasn't bad, Azami decided. But it didn't exactly satisfy either. Not when she was thinking of home.

"Mhig! I forgot to ask!" Pink shattered the quiet they had settled into, "Why are you in the Silver Bazaar anyway?"

"Same reason as you two." he shrugged, "I happened to end up here, and decided I might stick around to try and help Kikipu deal with Kenrick."

"About that." Azami interrupted, "Do you know how long this has been going on?"

"Longer than I've been hanging around at least. And it seems like he's only been escalating since Kikipu hired me."

"Sounds rough." 

"You say that like it's not your problem."

"It isn't, really." Azami shrugged, "It's not like anyone around here can pay me very well with things the way that they are. I'm just about ready to head back to the city and see if I can't pick up more lucrative work there. What about you, Pink?"

"I wanna stay and help Mhig!"

"Well then, I guess this is where we part ways."

Pink grabbed onto Azami's sleeve and stared at her with her biggest saddest stare. If Azami had a heart it might have melted at the sight of her watery eyes and wobbly pout. Luckily, Azami was immune to such nonsense.

"Look, it's nothing against you. Really." Azami tried to assure the girl before she started with outright waterworks, "I just really can't afford to be doing charity right now." 

"But you did it before!" Pink protested.

"For all the good it did." Azami turned to Pink's brother. Perhaps he could help convince her, "Shiro, help me out here."

"Shiro?" He asked, pointing to himself. As though he didn't know she was talking to him.

"Yes. It suits you."

"Oh! I see the theme." Shiro grinned broadly, "I guess that makes you Blue, then."

"Sure." They were getting off topic. Azami gestured to Pink as she let out a particularly pitiful sniffle.

"Well, if you really want to leave we can't stop you, but you were a big help back against those earth sprites. We'd be sad to lose you."

Azami sighed, running a frustrated hand through her navy hair. What version of events did they have rattling around in their thick skulls? "You guys were the ones helping me out back there, remember?"

"Oh! That's right." Shiro's eyes widened as though he had just remembered. He flashed her a not-quite-innocent smile and added, "In that case, you should probably stick around. You never know when you might need our help again."

Somehow, Azami felt as though she had fallen into some sort of trap. It would be faster to take care of things on her own. She was already splitting her earnings in half for Pink's sake. If Shiro joined them then she would be down to a third, which would make things take a lot longer than she probably had the time for. Although Azami wasn't sure she would have been able to gather the magnetite nearly as quickly on her own. They could do more jobs more quickly as a team, but would it be enough to offset the cost of keeping them around? 

Azami wished she were better at sums.

"Well, you don't have to decide right now, do you?" Shiro asked, "You can at least wait until after lunch."

"I suppose that's true."

Pink spent the entire meal sulking, alternating between sullenly staring down at her plate and staring at Azami like she had just kicked a puppy. That puppy being Pink herself, of course. Azami wondered if Pink could even taste her food over her own melodrama. She tried to pointedly ignored Pink's dramatics for as long as she could, but that stare did wear on her. Something dark and heavy and annoyingly close to guilt began to coil in Azami's gut.

"We agreed when we first started that we were each able to walk away at any time." Azami reminded her.

"But these people need us!" Pink protested, clearly trying to appeal to the better nature she assumed was there.

"And I need money." Azami reminded her.

"For what?" Pink asked, it was the first time she had dared broach the subject since Azami had snapped at her about it. Azami couldn't help but roll her eyes. What a question.

"To live, Pink." she explained, "The same as everyone else."

"But every time you get money you give me some!" Pink protested.

"Because you also need money to live!" 

"Are you trying to save up for something in specific?" Shiro butt in. Azami made a soft irritated sound in the back of her throat. She was right. Two Pinks was far worse than just one.

"It's really none of your business." 

"Well, if it truly is that important... I don't see why we can't pool our earnings. So long as Rabta and I have enough money to maintain our equipment and eat and such, I don't mind-"

"No. That's fine. You're fine." Azami interrupted. That was... too generous. Azami couldn't possibly ask something like that of them.

"But what if anyone can use the party money?" Pink suggested, "So if we see something we really really want we can get it, but you can still save up for your big important thing?"

"That really doesn't solve my immediate problem." Azami reminded them, "There's no money to be made here. Which was how this conversation started."

"I wouldn't say that there's no money at all to be made here." Shiro said, "But you're not completely wrong, I guess. There's a levemete in Horizon that's usually got a job or two that you can pick up if you're looking for fast money."

Azami frowned at the unfamiliar word.

"Oh? Has Mistress Momodi not explained leves to you two yet?" Shiro asked. 

"No! What's that?" Pink asked, her eyes as wide as saucers.

"The simplest way to explain it is that they're jobs you can get directly from the Adventurer's Guild. When you talk to the levemete they'll give you this little token to show that you've taken the job. And then you have a time limit to fulfill the contract. It's usually a couple of days or something."

"How do they know when you're done?" Pink asked. Shiro shrugged.

"I think the tokens are enchanted or something? I don't really know the particulars of it, but they're a pretty easy way to make money without dealing with the public directly." 

Something about the way he said it made Azami feel as though he were making fun of her, but the information seemed like it would be useful. Having a more experienced adventurer around to explain these things wasn't so bad, she just wished he were somebody else.

"Course, the levemetes won't talk to you if a guildmaster hasn't given you a letter of introduction, so we might be putting the cart before the chocobo as it were." 

"I see. How do I convince somebody to give me one of these letters?" Azami asked.

"I don't know the exact criteria, but Miss Mylla was the one who wrote mine. So I think it has something to do with your work experience?"

"Who's that?" Pink asked.

"Oh, she's the guildmaster over at the Gladiator's Guild." 

"Is she nice? I'm gonna try to be a gladiator when I get kicked out of the Thaumaturge's Guild."

"Why would you...?"

"Cause I don't know my letters very well and sometimes I forget the special chants they taught me and use my own and they don't like it."

"Well, I'm sure the guildmasters want you to use those special chants for a very important reason." Shiro said, "We can practice together if you like."

Pink brightened enough to rival the sun at the offer. Azami wondered if Shiro knew exactly what he had signed himself up for, but he was her brother or something. He probably knew better than she did how Pink could be.

"Do you wanna try too, Azami?" Pink asked her. Azami shook her head.

"Wouldn't do me any good. I can't use magic, remember?"

"Then you can be the target." Shiro suggested.

"I haven't even agreed to join your party, and you're already signing me up for target practice?" Azami scoffed. These two were so presumptuous. 

"If you're going to be an adventurer, you're going to have to learn how to deal with magic users." Shiro said, "This just kills two cloudkin with one stone. Rabta gets to practice her special chants, and you get to practice fighting against a magic user."

Azami made a soft frustrated sound, "I guess that makes sense."

"Alright, so that's settled." Shiro nodded to himself, "Once we finish dealing with Kenrick we'll see about getting you two authorized to take on leves."

"I still haven't agreed to stick around." Azami pointed out, sullenly stabbing at her food with her fork.

"So are you saying no?" Shiro asked. Azami didn't have to look at him to know that his smile was probably both smug and punchable. 

"I'll stick around for a couple days." Azami said, "And if it sucks, then I'm out of here."

"Well, I hope we can live up to-" Whatever annoying thing Shiro was about to say was cut off by Pink's enthusiasm reaching critical mass. She became a blur of pink and sound as she began to ramble far louder than she needed to.

"Yay! Azami's gonna stay and go on fun adventures with us and it's gonna be so much fun! I'm gonna get to practice magic and-" 

Azami reached her hand out and firmly placed it on Pink's head to stop her bouncing before she vibrated out of her chair. Somehow, it managed to shut her up as well. A lovely bonus that Azami made sure to file away for future use. 

"If it sucks I'm out of here." Azami repeated, hoping that perhaps this time Pink would take the message to heart. 

Shiro paid for their meals over Azami's protests, and they decided to head out and see what work they could pick up. By some sort of providence, a job fell directly into their collective lap the instant they walked out the door. Standing near the well was a lalafellen man who was dealing with his frustrations in the most mature way possible. Screaming himself hoarse.

"Those godsdamned haulers! Who do they think they are?" he shouted, flailing his little arms in his impotent rage. Pink seemed to recognize him and bounded over.

"Mister Fafafono! What's the matter?" she asked.

Fafafina continued his rant without acknowledging Pink's interruption, "I paid good coin to- Ah, you there! You're one of those task-seeking adventurer types, are you not?"

Fififono took a long deep breath before explaining his situation, "Some wares I ordered from an Ul'dahn merchant arrived, but those bloody worthless haulers just dropped them outside the gate and left. 'Ain't obliged to bring 'em no further,' the lazy bastards said. 'Gate to the Bazaar's still the Bazaar. Order ain't said nothin' 'bout no home deliver.' The Gall! There are three pieces in all. Would you be so good as to bring them to me?"

"Yeah!" Pink bubbled, she cast a glance back at Azami before hastily adding, "We do work in exchange for money!"

Well, at least she was learning.

Fefefana mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like curses under his breath as he searched his pockets. He produced some sort of dirty looking lump of metal and offered it up to Pink. Pink nodded enthusiastically.

"That should be enough!" she said. Azami opened her mouth to protest, but Shiro placed his hand on her shoulder. A clear signal to keep her mouth shut, and they would explain later. It must have been some sort of western thing that she didn't understand.

The client pocketed the lump of metal once more. Clearly they wouldn't be getting a better look at it until after the goods had been retrieved. Pink bounded off towards the gates, with Shiro and Azami in tow. As they walked Shiro took the time to explain, "That was some Allagan metal. Tin, from the look of it."

"Uh?" Azami shrugged.

"Have you not heard of the Allagan Empire?" Shiro asked.

"I mean, it was wiped out a billion years ago or whatever." Azami shrugged. It hardly seemed relevant to her. Shiro hummed softly, clearly taking his time to decide how much he felt like explaining to her.

"Well, Allagan artifacts are popular with certain collectors, so you can make pretty good money selling even useless lumps of metal like that one to the right person."

"So it's money, but with extra steps!" Pink added. Azami nodded. She wasn't quite certain she understood why somebody would buy a useless lump of tin, but whatever got her paid. 

Pink bounded forwards, pointing excitedly at a heap of boxes that hadn't been there when they had passed through the gate mere bells ago. Clearly, these were the boxes Fififano was so upset about. Three of them, dropped unceremoniously off to the side by some workers who had neither the time nor the patience to take them even a step further. Azami picked one at random and hefted it onto her shoulder.

"Are you going to be alright with one, Pink, or do you want me to grab a second?" she asked. Pink had an alarmingly strong grip, but her arms still seemed so weak and noodley. She didn't want the poor girl to strain herself. Not when Azami was so used to such labor from her life on the farm.

"I can do it!" Pink protested. She grabbed one of the boxes and lifted, all but sprinting back towards where they had left the client. 

"Rabta don't run! You're gonna trip." Shiro called after her, but his protests only made her go faster. Azami and Shiro followed behind at a more moderate pace. Once they had finally caught up with her Pink pointed at the box that their client was rifling through as if to say See? I told you I could do it.

"Yes, yes. We're all very impressed." Azami said, placing her box down next to the one Pink had delivered.

"Let's see.... Yes, yes, and yes." Fafafono said as he sifted through what appeared to be silk shirts and bottoms. Long flowing gowns. Shoes and hats. Clearly clothing intended for people who were much fancier than Azami was. He nodded to himself emphatically, "Excellent! Everything is accounted for!" 

"That's a lot of stuff!" Pink said, "Are they all clothes for your shop?"

"These bags contain garments from Sunsilk Tapestries, though each is... flawed in some way." he explained, "In Ul'dah, even a minor misthread is enough to turn the most luxurious gown into fodder for the furnaces."

"Seems wasteful." Azami interrupted. Surely a single misthread wouldn't be enough to ruin an entire shirt. Especially not when it was made of such expensive materials. Surely as long as they covered all of the important bits and served to shield the wearer from the elements, the clothes were still perfectly good?

"Well, so long as the garments bear a famous name, the souls of the Silver Bazaar have no qualms with quality. Times used to be better. We were never driven to such... lows." Fififana explained to his shoes. It was hard to miss the bitter notes in his voice, "But gil is harder to come by now, and more so with each passing day. All that's left to the Bazaar are overly proud souls with underly developed tastes. Everyone clings to the glories of the golden past, yet none make efforts to reshape the dismal present."

"There has to be something you can do to turn things around! I believe in you." Pink flashed him her most encouraging smile. 

"Well, I've a sure way into some easy gil, if you're interested. It won't even require you to break a sweat- well, not much of one. All you need do is slay enough rusty coblyns to gather four bottles of coblyn grease, and then deliver them to a Hyur by the name of Adelard at the Hammers."

"Those same Hammers that are threatening to flatten this place?" Azami asked. She noticed Pink stiffen out of the corner of her eye.  Azami waved her off. She didn't need Pink kicking up a fuss and interrupting her. 

"I'm surrounded by fools here. They detest the hammers and the new way of life they symbolize. They care only for the successes of the past, but it blinds them to the opportunities of the present. Change isn't coming, friend- it's already here."

"I see." Azami nodded, "So you would betray your home and your people for some easy coin, then."

"I call the Silver Bazaar home for now, but I've no lingering affection for the place." Fofofena shook his head. Bitter words continued to spill forth from his lips, "I pray this damnable Bazaar someday sinks beneath the sands that strangle it. The sooner the better."

"I've no patience for traitors." Azami said, ice taking root in her heart, "Do not bother me again."

Without giving him the chance to reply, Azami stalked off in a random direction. She hadn't gotten far before she heard Pink's pattering footsteps behind her. Shockingly, Pink was giving her some space for a change. Not as much as Azami would have liked, but she hadn't pulled Azami into an unwanted embrace. Which did make for a nice change. Instead, Pink followed her a few steps behind, remaining eerily silent. Azami could feel the discomfort radiating off of her.

"Something you want to say?"

"I'm just... surprised." Pink said, "Since he said you could make a lot of money helping the hammer people."

"Would be rather counterproductive, wouldn't it?" Azami asked, "Since we're trying to prevent the Bazaar from being smashed flat by hammers."

"Yeah! But..."

"I do have some standards, Pink."

"Oi! Miss 'Venturer!" somebody called out to Azami. She stopped abruptly, Pink did not, and walked face first into Azami's back. Azami shot her a withering stare before turning her attention to the man who was waving at her. It was that sweet boy's father. Gelfrey, or something.

"Hello again." she greeted him back as he approached.

He was fidgeting with his sleeve, nervously looking just about anywhere but at Azami. She was more than a little curious about why he had approached. Given their previous interaction hadn't exactly ended on friendly terms. Finally he spoke up, "I 'preciate what ye did, friend, bringin' me magnetite. Gave it some more thought, I did, puttin' back out to sea an' all."

"I'm sure Danyell would like that." Azami said.

"Aye, he would. But even with me compass fixed, still ain't got me lucky copper lures. Was waylaid by some goblin muggers few weeks back, just north an' east of here. Thievin' bastards made off with me lures- dozens all told. Must be ye felled some earth sprites to get at them magnetite chunks. Am I right? If so, I reckon ye could put down a few goblins an' bring me back the lures."

"Earth sprites are one thing, but... would these goblins still have your lures? If it's been a few weeks, they might have sold or lost them." Azami pointed out. Surely it would be better to get new ones.

"S'pose, but... These lures were a gift from my late wife. If I could even get just one back..."

"I see." Azami nodded. Well, if it was like that...

"It ain't easy to ask, but I'm askin' all the same, friend. Just a copper lure or two to get me back out to sea an' put me Danyell's heart at ease. Ye up for helpin' put a broken life back together?"

"I'll see what I can do." 

It wasn't as if she could refuse a plea like that. She grabbed Pink by the wrist and started to head back towards the entrance to the Bazaar. There would be no point in discussing a fee with him, since he likely couldn't pay her any more than he had for the magnetite. But perhaps he could catch her a fish or two after all was said and done. That would be as good as money, probably.

"You're being nice again!" Pink said.

"I'm being busy. Where'd your brother go?" 

"I think he wanted to talk to Kikipu! Do you think we should get him?"

"Couldn't hurt."

[dualcastimpact]

kai livetweets: a realm reborn

Originally part of a massive livetweet thread on my main Twitter account; reposted here for posterity.

July 20, 2021

I didn't think I'd be livetweeting (somewhat) my progress through the game, but here I am anyway!

Into the rabbit hole I go

May 28, 2021 I finally started playing FFXIV on a whim and already I am very attached to my WoL... this game is Dangerous

Narrator voice: she would soon be proven wrong

May 30, 2021 Been playing a lot of FFXIV lately and it's quickly superseding Genshin as my main game, but as much fun I'm having with it I don't think there's anything for me to livetweet about hmm

Oh sweet summer child

May 31, 2021 I was going to grind the other beginner caster classes... then I realised the jobs I'm majorly interested in don't need prerequisite classes... guess I'll just main Summoner until Endwalker drops I'm mostly hard at work leveling the DoL classes anyhow hahaha wow how are they on par with my main class wtf I will however grind Thaumaturgy until idk level 20 because I want to get the materia from the outfits I'm SO close to spiritbonding, because I want to glamour-plate those outfits

First look at Raginmar

May 31, 2021 Was influenced by @/surfacage's tired bedraggled Miqo'te WoL but alas Miqo'te don't come in beefy... so settled for a Highlander Hyur instead! Raginmar Steelbiter doesn't really get this whole crystal business but he's too nice to say no

He's generally a mild-mannered beefcake who just wants to get along with people! Too bad the plentiful and varied beasts and bandits of Eorzea don't agree with that

I have his idle pose set to crossed arms so whenever he talks to NPCs he just exudes this judgmental aura asjfkdjfkkd

It's always these types

May 31, 2021 Looked up the barest info on Thancred because I liked what I saw from his character so far and apparently he's a smooth-talking, guilt-ridden workaholic of a man I don't want to call myself out but this is just way too predictable of me

And here you can see how I begin spiralling into OC hell

May 31, 2021 WoL brainrot hours... Raginmar has a sister who gets into fisticuffs a lot... boisterous bruiser up for a bloody good time This happens every time I have a new OC don't mind me

Fuck Gridania

June 4, 2021 Every time I come to Gridania it's either foggy or raining I hate this place What the hell is this weather Gridania

All my homies hate Gridania

June 5, 2021 I said I wouldn't have anything to tweet about while playing FFXIV but I was wrong I do have something to tweet about It's how every time I go to Gridania the weather is fuCKING ATROCIOUS Here I am, freshly logged in and in Buscarron's lovely little alehouse, enjoying the music, and there's a thunderstorm right outside :))) man I deeply dislike Gridania

I like doing provisions, kinda stressed I have to reach Heavensward to continue

June 6, 2021 I gotta stop doing the provision supplies, I only have so much energy to play and by the time I finish them I'm too tired to do the class quests hrngk

You kinda do need to get into the thick of it as a Black Mage, I know that now

June 8, 2021 I wonder if the other magic DPS in the party yell at me for staying so far back like I do at them for charging into melee range with enemies

Met a tank masquerading as a DPS one day

June 10, 2021 As a DPS you're supposed to let the tank aggro the mobs and then assist with AOEs, right? Like that's the basic rule of it, right? Then why would you charge in headlong when you're a DPS...

A common problem

June 11, 2021 These past few days I've been motivating myself with finally finishing the rogue storyline in FFXIV, but by the time I actually get round to playing it I always feel too drained to enjoy the story, so I end up not playing it... I really like Jacke and I'm kinda sad he's not in the story beyond the class/job storylines, so I really want to enjoy it while I can

I never did get Raginmar to NIN

June 13, 2021 me: today I WILL finish the ROG story quest and get the NIN soul crystal also me: *grinds for GSM by almost 20 levels instead* I had about 114 raw amethysts from mining and so decided to use them all up to level GSM and hoo boy

I haven't watched Oxventure in a long time because I don't want to not focus on it because I'm too tired or anything

June 14, 2021 Finished BTN and MIN quests until the base level 50 cap, might fuck around and finish the GSM questline too Meanwhile the ROG questline is just... there. This is me with Oxventure all over again my friends: where are you at with the MSQ bro, hurry up and finish the story me:

Friendly reminder to play The Last Remnant if you can, it's a great game

June 14, 2021 I was wondering why the behemoth mount music in FFXIV felt so familiar... it's by Tsuyoshi Sekito, who made the music for the The Last Remnant... I really need to go back and finish that game, I loved it to bits but I never ended up finishing it...

When your gathering class is 20 levels above your main

June 15, 2021 The Sneak skill afforded to DoL classes is a bit of a cheat imo, wandered around Mor Dhona last night as BTN and probably cheated myself out of the experience of exploring it properly first hand I'm only around lv. 24 in the MSQ. Northern Thanalan and Mor Dhona mooks can kill my main class twice over. Wandering around in a non-combat class at night and hoping I don't encounter any enemies beyond the Sneak level felt a bit surreal haha There was a pugilist going around one-shotting every vanguard in the area lmao and then at Revenant's Toll there was this lv. 3 wanderer just sitting on top of the battlements and presumably enjoying the view

I just found out this was an Easter egg of some sort!

June 15, 2021 This isn't his carbuncle

It's up and left now. Wonder whose carbuncle that was...

I still haven't done that level 44 quest

June 16, 2021 Level 50 GSM quest got me like

This didn't last very long lmao

June 17, 2021 You thought I was joking

I'm gonna have to do this again with Kirika :)

June 17, 2021 I may have overestimated my own willingness to play a purely healing class... playing solo CNJ basically means 80% of my skillset is useless I'm a bit invested in Slyphie's story now though, guess I'll stick with it

So for this one you need to catch a high quality Harbor Herring, then use it to mooch for a high quality Ogre Barracuda, then use THAT to mooch for a Mazlaya Marlin 

I got all that in one go :D

June 20, 2021 Finished the lv. 50 FSH quest! Leveling it is so much easier than MIN or BTN, lemme tell you — I remember the other two lv. 50 quests were so involved and had you looking for pure, unspoiled nodes in Coerthas and all 

FSH just needed you to catch three fish in succession

I really want to go to Ishgard

June 20, 2021 Actually pretty sad I can only get to Ishgard in Heavensward — feels like a long way away, especially with my quest to level all the DoH/DoL skills to 50. Not to mention, partying for duties make me nervous about not performing well (｡•́︿•̀｡)

I'm slowly leveling up CNJ and I do want to do duties as that class, but I'm scared I won't be healing as efficiently as the party would like. Targeting with the PS4 is hard, you have to toggle quickly through enemies/party members on-screen and hope you can select them in time

Sometimes you can't even select them ._. one time I was doing a FATE with someone and they just weren't being selected as I cycled through every character on screen, it was stressful

Big desolation vibes!!

June 22, 2021 Coerthas is my favourite so far, it's barren and snowing 60% of the time but I genuinely love the Central Highlands so much

Highkey can't wait to go to Ishgard

I appreciate the free gear but man it really doesn't do him any favours

June 22, 2021 Gridania was sunny a couple days back

Really want a better crafting glamour hmm hmmm

June 23, 2021 Did I level up LTW specifically so I could make raptor leather needed for the wool suspenders? Why yes, yes I did 

Anyway: DoH and DoL glamours because I like the lumberjack dad look he's got going on

What do you mean there's more to this game than crafting

Really wanted Raginmar to wear the altered felt robe but good god is it ugly on him

June 23, 2021 Pros of leveling DoH classes while ignoring the MSQ: you can make fancy pretty things 

Cons of leveling DoH classes while ignoring the MSQ: the fancy pretty things are too high-leveled for your main class

I want Raginmar to wear the altered felt robe... it looks so much cooler than the lumpy fumpy robe he's wearing now.....

Was talking about getting into something years after it peaked in popularity

June 23, 2021 Also missing out on events. Praying that the FFXV event comes back to FFXIV oh god I want the Kingsglaive title SO BAD

Impostor syndrome but make it FFXIV

June 24, 2021 me looking nervously at a level 50+ sprout: oh no they're so experienced 

also me: level 50+ in DoL classes

The moment I realised the DoH classes all depend on each other...

June 24, 2021 >> go to do the LTW quests  >> lv. 45 quest requires mythril and cobalt rivets >> realise i need to level ARM by at least 15, BSM by 25 >> retire to inn >> log out >> cry myself to sleep

I am WAY too tired for this but tomorrow I guess I'll go mine some ore and bomb ash and make 100 steel ingot idk 

Listen I main SMN okay I don't need metalworks

The lv. 40 quest needed hippogryph sinew... the lowest level creature that drops it is the hippocerf in Coerthas, at level 40... four whole levels above my main class... thank god I main SMN and invested my chocobo points in healing but now I am just tired

I shoulda known my low level in other classes would fuck me over! I shoulda known!!!

"The lore" is basically the only reason I do anything in this game

June 25, 2021 rational brain: literally nothing is stopping you from leveling every combat class with Raginmar 

 lizard brain: yeah but it'd be funnier if Hyllizirn levels in exclusively tank classes because of the lore

Hyllizirn is Raginmar's boisterous bruiser of a sister, so lore-wise it makes sense that Hyllizirn does tank jobs and maybe MNK (because fisticuffs) and Raginmar is more arcane and ranged (because pacifist)

The real question here is do I have the tenacity to play the game from the start just so I can have Hyllizirn screenshots What am I saying of course I do

Spiralling even further into OC hell

June 25, 2021 If Raginmar only levels magic and physical ranged DPS (and ROG), and Hyllizirn only levels tank, then should I make another character to level healer and melee DPS...? That would also be pretty funny lmao

Dungeon observations 2

June 26, 2021 Did Halatali for the first time with a party of veterans and man, I understand what they mean by big pulls now

Tank absolutely NYOOMED through the dungeon; he'd aggro a few enemies and then run into the next chamber for a bigger space to fight in + more enemies. Hard to really contribute when you have no AoE spells other than Gust tho (｡•́︿•̀｡)

Everybody left so quickly after we'd finished, I didn't have time to give anyone commendations (｡•́︿•̀｡) one of them gave me one though!

To make matters worse, I didn't realise there were more hippocerfs close to Whitebrim so did a gauntlet a little further away on a path that only had three of the buggers, running back and forth and killing them as they respawned

June 26, 2021 *distantly thinks about the level 24 main scenario quest I've abandoned to fight level 40 hippocerfs for the LTW quest*

You cannot deny the cat boy

June 26, 2021 me: cat boy or dragon girl 

my friends: dragon girl 

me: okies (proceeds to make both dragon girl and cat boy)

Them!!

June 27, 2021 More FFXIV OCs! Hyllizirn, L'Vazha Tia and Kirika Kagutsuchi (+ bonus Kirika in WHM gear)

Evidently I cannot go into a franchise without making up a slew of OCs with their own lore but what can you do

Raginmar is the only WoL as per the game's lore. Hyllizirn is a soldier in the Immortal Flames and Kirika is a resident healer in Ul'dah, and they are both part-time adventurers. L'Vazha is a travelling merchant who occasionally hires adventurers on his journeys across Eorzea.

Eventually the four become a party and they have their own adventures independent of the game's lore! I would like to write them one day but for now I'm leveling their combat classes based on their lore for my own amusement.

Raginmar is ranged DPS, physical and magical. Hyllizirn and Kirika are strictly tank and healer, respectively. L'Vazha is melee DPS. Lore-wise their jobs are SUM/MCH (Raginmar), GNB (Hyllizirn), WHM (Kirika) and NIN (L'Vazha). Obviously I'm not all there yet but that's my goal!

Also this is partly my own reluctance to level DoH and DoL for the other three, but lore-wise Raginmar is the only one capable of literally anything else other than combat because he was basically a homesteader before he crossed the sea to Limsa Lominsa.

Hyllizirn helped her father out as a mercenary before deciding to travel to Eorzea to become a legendary adventure. Kirika grew up sheltered for certain reasons, and never had cause to do things on her own. L'Vazha is a merchant so had no need for such skills.

This is self-care

June 27, 2021 POV: the middle-aged man in the Warmwine Sanitorium hot springs caught you perving on him

A little disappointed that bathing in the hot springs gives you no boost of any sort in the game, but also I'm just living my hot springs dream vicariously through Raginmar because I miss it so much

I want to go to the ocean! The river! Waterfalls! A swimming pool! Fuck, even a hotel room with a bathtub will do! Let me soak away the aches in these old bones!!

I think I might have mistyped this, I probably meant WVR because I know for sure that one doesn't need materia

June 27, 2021 Level 50 LTW quest: 

Did not need materia? Good! Requiring material that has me fighting lv. 42 Golden Fleece with my lv. 38 SUM for a drop rate of 1 basket of snurble tuft per 3/4 enemies? Bad!

Honestly spoiled by the drop rate for fleece, sure it'd be once every few kills but at least it drops like 8 or 9 baskets at once, what the hell

I farmed enough to make about three tries for the items I need to craft for the quest, I'm gonna need to really up my level so I don't waste them. Also I've been so damn self-sufficient in making my own gear, I forgot I could just... buy them from NPCs...

FFXIV is really just a dress-up game with epic fantasy RPG elements

June 27, 2021 My friends asked me why the hell would I play the MSQ multiple times when I could level all the classes on just Raginmar 

And honestly? Raginmar is a beefy hunk. He's not exactly fun to play fancy dress up with, what with the pretty fancy outfits FFXIV has

That's what Kirika and L'Vazha are for! Like damn, I want to dress up a pretty girl in pretty hakamas and have her look pretty on the field and take about 100 screenshots, let me live

Yep, I meant WVR

June 28, 2021 I'm surprised WVR didn't need materia for its lvl 50 quest when literally every other DoH does — except CUL, but it's not like you can eat materia. I've got BSM, CUL, ALC and CRP left to level and then I'll do the MSQ haha

Wondering if I should at least finish the ROG storyline with Raginmar since I'm planning to play it again with L'Vazha anyway. I get to see Jacke again twice though, so maybe I should. Defo not finishing CNJ though, I'll slog through it with Kirika

Self!! Care!!

June 28, 2021 Sometimes self care is taking screenshots of your buff main character hanging out with catgirls in a hot spring

Headband girl is staring at him real interestedly

Solace in suffering

June 29, 2021 me: man, I'm stressed from work, I'm gonna play some FFXIV to wind down 

 me: *starts crafting and driving my blood pressure up with the RNG*

THEY'RE ALL EGGS

June 29, 2021 me grabbing FFXIV by the throat: explain to me why I have to go all the way to fuckass Outer Noscea to get puk eggs JUST to make SCRAMBLED EGGS. EXPLAIN. WHY. EGGS ARE EGGS MAN WHY DO THEY GOTTA BE PUK TO BE SCRAMBLED

V'kebbe is very cute

June 30, 2021 It's cute how occasionally you can find V'kebbe hanging out by the Bismarck because she loves their finger sandwiches so much

Was going to finish the CUL quests but I just don't have the energy to run around looking for ingredients across three countries, I just really don't. Normally I'm good about it but I'm just so tired today, no

I like it here

June 30, 2021 Cons of being in a JP-majority server: communicating can be difficult, hard to find EN-speaking friends 

Pros of being in a JP-majority server: no scammers

And by scammers obviously I mean Western or EN-speaking scammers, I'm sure there are scammers in every data center in every language but since I don't speak them I'm safe!

Gotta go back and finish this (and all the other level 50 DoH quests I've not done because no materia)

July 4, 2021 Doing the CRP quests and god I hope nothing bad happens to Gairhad...

I just realised this quest I'm doing is called Memento Mori FUCK

I deserved that lmao

July 4, 2021 Finally doing the ALC quests, the last DoH to level before I do the MSQ for real and uh wow

I mean I *did* leave ALC for the last so that's fair of Severian tbh

I ended up really liking Severian, he's probably the only DoH guildmaster that I really feel for

July 4, 2021 Maelstrom ALC provisions: *needs ahriman wing* 

Me: yeah no guess I'll just give up on that, that's like 11 levels above my main class 

Severian: Please, my friend... I need your help 

Me: *prepares to die in Northern Thanalan*

I absolutely got my ass kicked

Right as I just finished killing one, a Fate with loads of basilisks popped up and killed both my chocobo and summon lmao is this a sign

I'm going to kill two more ahrimans and if I still don't get a wing I'm just going to call it a day and go back to the MSQ...

Was about to get into it and then the same Fate popped up AGAIN. It's a sign, I tell you

Jacke!! I miss him!!

July 5, 2021 Finished the ROG storyline and man, I'm gonna miss him so much...

I'll see him again when I play L'Vazha tho :')

Going into further into OC hell

July 5, 2021 Idly worldbuilding for my FFXIV OCs and I just think it'd be neat if a multi-classed character retains their skills and abilities regardless of what they're maining as

Like Raginmar would have better-than-average stealth skills despite being a SMN main because of his lvl 31 ROG but he wouldn't be better than actual NIN L'Vazha 

Hyllizirn and Kirika wouldn't be stealthy at all because they never picked up that class

Neither Raginmar nor Kirika would be good in a fistfight. Hyllizirn can hold her own for leveling in PGL, but L'Vazha would be an actual martial artist for being a MNK

Kirika would have some knowledge in arcanima because she would have needed to level in ACN to be a SCH, so she'd be able to discuss such arcane matters with Raginmar while Hyllizirn and L'Vazha wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of it

And for a melee DPS, L'Vazha would be unusually skilled at drawing enmity compared to Raginmar and Kirika for having had brief training as a GLD

Idk I think this would be fun to play around with, I'd like to really incorporate all this in a fic one day

Mr. Cat Man going places nya (hit)

July 5, 2021 Drafting out minor plot points and man, L'Vazha's looking more like the main character than Raginmar is

Never hurts to be polite imo

July 7, 2021 I gotta set up some chat macros, yesterday in Haukke I wanted to say thanks for waiting while I watched cutscenes and I just couldn't because tabbing through options took so long...

There's no auto translate for "thanks for waiting", hmm... maybe I should set up two macros, one in EN and one in JP?

I've always wanted to do a serial fic, maybe have it on a webpage + sent out by email for subscribers but that's such a pipe dream...

July 7, 2021 Ambitious brain wants to put out a weekly serial kind of thing about Raginmar and co., but I'm barely meeting both zine and work deadlines as it is hAHAHAHAHAHAHA (goes unhinged)

Fun times with Titan

July 8, 2021 We had to redo Titan thrice because our healer kept dying lmao the first time around I didn't dodge in time and got yeeted off, then the rest of the party died one by one 

Second time around it was the healer who got yeeted and the tank was like "ABORT MISSION"

and we all jumped into the lava. Third time was the charm but by the time I got out of the cutscene they were all gone and I couldn't use my new chat macros to tell them I had fun (｡•́︿•̀｡)

Then things ended up being not so fun

July 8, 2021 Wait no

The realization hits

July 8, 2021 No no no no no

You can't tell me we're going to celebrate and then have me come home to dead comrades!!

July 8, 2021 Oh, it's personal now

Good thing I'm only leveling two and not all the classes

July 8, 2021 Coerthas-bound to the Observatorium but I'm going to take a break and do the BLM and SMN quests first

When will this pandemic end

July 8, 2021 Thinking about the Company of Heroes from yesterday… I think in any other situation I'd've been ticked off by them having Raginmar play errand boy for their party, but I too have not seen my good friends in a long time + wish to return to the good times I'd had with them in uni

OC hell! OC hell!

July 8, 2021 On the one hand: wants to play through MSQ 

On the other hand: wants to go through past cutscenes to build the plot for Raginmar and the others

As if I'm not also logging in at 1am to play

July 9, 2021 How??? It's 1am!

It's not even a Friday night wtf

Thancred missing hours

July 9, 2021 Somewhat losing my mind with Thancred brainrot when I haven't even progressed far enough in the game for that important plot point involving him ahdjsjjdjmd

And Alphinaud's just plain tiny, that kid

July 10, 2021 Wondering if Raginmar's taller than average for a Hyur, or if Cid's just short...

I feel like Raginmar's average height, but then sometimes I pass an Elezen and he's about their height so I'm just ???? Is he tall for a Hyur or is he average?????

Not that it's a bad thing! He's sweet

July 10, 2021 Also I know I have no room to talk, being a Thancred fan, but now that I've met Haurchefant I'm guessing it's his personality and not his looks that's got people hooked

The dhalmelskin coat has a really shabby feel to it, it really reminds me of Ardyn and none of my characters are that sleazy or gloomy

July 10, 2021 At what level do I finally get access to some decent clothing for glamour pls the only one that piques my interest is the dhalmelskin coat and it doesn't even match Raginmar's style

FFXV EVENT IS COMING BACK, BAYBEEEEEE

July 10, 2021 YESSSSSSSS HELL YES

I've got like 3 alts I'm going to endgame MSQ with all of them so I can play this quest 4 times

Once I get that Kingsglaive title I'm never changing it

L'vazha will be starting in Ul'dah so I'll get to meet this Thancred!

July 10, 2021 So turns out you meet different members of the Scions at different starting areas and I'm like, you're telling me I could've met Thancred earlier if I started at Ul'dah???????

Here's a cute* thread about Raginmar and his stupid-in-love younger sister Hyllizirn 

*cuteness certified by my good friend @whxyte 

July 12, 2021 WoL brainrot hours: Raginmar, tired and jaded from all the (mis)adventures he's going through with the Scions, winding down at the end of the day with a mug of coffee. 

Then Hyllizirn slams the door open and screeches for his help.

He almost thinks the worst until he actually hears what Hyllizirn is saying: 

"Brother, help me, I think I'm in love with Kirika! What do I do????" 

Then he almost drops his mug as his tired brain catches up and he's just ???????

He puts down the mug on a nearby table. Goes to Hyllizirn. Grasps her by the shoulder. Looks her very seriously in the eyes and says, "Lizzi, I want you to think about this. 

"Have you ever seen me with a woman — or *anyone*, such that you think I would know what to do?"

Hyllizirn is blank for a few seconds as she processes this. The look of dawning realisation morphing into despair on her face is really quite impressive.

Raginmar is usually a very dependable older brother, but this is one area his aro/ace ass can't help his little sister with.

I was just laughing to myself while making breakfast thinking about this scenario. L'Vazha's no help, he's too busy trying not to die laughing, so Hyllizirn's forced to go ask for advice from other people; I haven't decided who yet. Would be funny if she went to the Scions lmao

In the end Raginmar tells her to go talk to their dads (a callback to the whole reason why he came to Eorzea in the first place) and it doesn't end with her confessing to Kirika or anything, but more of a soft understanding of her own feelings.

On his end, Raginmar's just happy he's not being asked to solve some national-level or world-ending crisis (although it sure felt that way for Hyllizirn). He's a little sad he can't help much, but he's happy that she still came to him for something as mundane as love troubles :')

I love this man

July 12, 2021 My current state right now:

o(-<

July 12, 2021 Thinking about @whxyte absolutely nailing me being a Thancred simp even before I'd met him

There's just something about pearl earrings that look so rich white suburban mom and I hate it

July 13, 2021 Made these HQ pearl earrings for Raginmar and god, they're so ostentatious on him

SMN's my favourite caster class so far, excited to try out RDM when I get the full game

July 13, 2021 SMN is now lv 50! Gotta take some time off of MSQ and do the job quests, then I'll switch to BLM to level it alongside the MSQ. Next on the classing table for Raginmar is MCH and that's not until Heavensward, so I'm pretty much set for now

OC hell beckons once more

July 13, 2021 Maybe I *should* make a bunny boy... like I don't really need yet another character in the story but I also can't think of a reason why any of the 4 would be a BRD/DNC

Wait no I did think of having Kirika level ARC, because I thought it'd be funny for her to have one (1) strong DPS skill out of all her generally-pacifistic healing ones, and BRD would allow her to be more supportive in combat

But her being DNC doesn't quite mesh with her character — I like making up reasons why they would learn this or that job, and DNC is just one that doesn't fit

This really grinds my gear tbh

July 13, 2021 Rhetorical question but it's killing me how everyone's freaked out the Scions being attacked and Minfilia and co. being captured — but not a single one of them mentioned Thancred

Portelaine: They observed four prisoners being led into the castrum: a Hyuran woman, an Elezen man, and two Lalafells─one male, one female. 

Yda: It's them! It has to be! Minfilia, Urianger, Papalymo, and Tataru! 

Me: Aren't you guys forgetting someone?!

Yes I'm talking about Thancred

July 13, 2021 The thing about playing a middle-aged ace man in FFXIV is that when I end up going full simp for an NPC I have absolutely no creative outlet to express it

Crying on my TL does not count

Someone was making a wolcred comic where Thancred is killed to get a reaction from the WoL and I'm just

Like I LOVE that trope, love that hurt/(no)comfort vibe — but it wouldn't work with Raginmar because Vin Diesel memes aside, the man is do or die for his *family*. There's no reason for an enemy to target someone like Thancred when there's his actual younger sister to threaten

For future context, some big-name WoW streamers got into FFXIV and led to an influx of new players on NA data centres — but the EU and JP data centres were absolutely left untouched

July 14, 2021 Holy shit

JP and EU DCs are *completely* clear — even Tonberry is open for new characters!

Really want to get to Storm Lieutenant but man the grind is hard

July 15, 2021 Finally made it to Chief Storm Sergeant yesterday! Hyllizirn would slowly rise up the ranks because she's not quite soldier material (not yet!), but Raginmar's quickly getting himself promotions because of something from his past...

Finally getting on with the fun part of the MSQ

July 16, 2021 Minfilia and co. rescued! Also I never want to hear Lahabrea's disgusting crusty-ass voice coming out of Thancred again, please and thank you

Also you know how shounen tropes always have this implausibly teenage hero stepping and being the main character ordering people around? That's Alphinaud. Feels like he's the shonen main character and the WoL's more like an overpowered side character

I yell about the Scions and Thancred a lot

July 16, 2021 Minfilia: we didn't think he'd be in danger investigating the Ascians alone

Papalymo: dude sure does more than he can handle though

Yda: yeah he volunteers himself for everything and works himself to death

Me (and likely by extension Raginmar):

Fucking really? You're all aware that Thancred tends to take all the burdens by himself, works himself to the bone and is likely physically and mentally exhausted and yet you still didn't see a problem sending him off to investigate the Ascians alone??? REALLY????

Also absolutely no one other than Papalymo enquired as to his whereabouts and even that was a foreshadowing for the whole Thancred-is-an-Ascian reveal at the end. What the hell? Do the rest of the Scions just not care about the man??

And I do mean: A LOT

July 16, 2021 Still mad about how none of the Scions seemed to be concerned about Thancred when they were first attacked, especially the bit where Portelaine describes the four captured Scions and no one wondered why Thancred isn't included in that list

It doesn't make sense. Even if you assume he's away like Yda and Y'shtola were in Gridania and Limsa Lominsa respectively, wouldn't the first step be to look for him so that the three can regroup? Even if he was away infiltrating enemy territory, you can't drop him a linkshell?

The first thing you do after an attack that basically wiped out your entire group is to regroup all the survivors. You need to take stock of who's still available before you do something as grandiose as announcing the Scions are back (looking at you, Alphinaud)

Regrouping aside, the fact that no one showed concern for his whereabouts even after Minfilia and co.'s survival and location was confirmed is really something I don't understand — and I know it's just a tiny detail but god it's so irritating

And it's not like he's been gone all this time! Whenever you visit the Waking Sands he's always there in the main hall, seated with his head down and generally being a suspicious foreshadowing — which means there was a likelihood he could've been there when the Empire attacked

(yes he was likely already possessed by then but the WoL and others wouldn't have known! It's a likely assumption to make!)

It's not like he's an unimportant minor character. He's not like Arenvald, someone you'd know if you'd only bothered to wander around and talk to NPCs. He's THE Scion you meet in the Ul'dah questline! He's a big deal! And no one seemed to care if he was dead or alive!

Anyway sorry I keep yelling about this but for a game that's usually quite good in its storytelling, this just feels like such a glaring omission

I say funny but it's really a bit astonishing how they're handing over this important role to someone they've only known for a few months, give or take

July 16, 2021 I think the Scions asking newbie adventurer WoL to lead an elite unit in the middle of what amounts to a war campaign is incredibly funny

The rest of the Scions are in supporting roles for Eorzea's Grand Companies and here you have newbie adventurer WoL in a full command role and taking point in sieging strongholds

Ngl that's a bit much to ask, especially if standard tropes mean the WoL is a young adventurer

"Yours is the most important role of all, and like to be the most dangerous." You're really sending off this newbie adventurer scrub to his death just like that, huh?

I'm a huge fan of story-based games, so skipping the story had never even occured to me. It's wild that some people are actually recommending new players to skip ARR because "it's bad"

July 17, 2021 I understand that people can play however they want and everybody from RPers to those really into worldbuilding to minmaxers are all very valid But man, why would you play a story-based RPG if you're gonna skip the story?

Worse, why would you actively encourage people to skip the story??? Like shit, are you gonna tell people to skip the first season of a TV series and head straight to the second and third? It doesn't make sense

Now there's five of them!

July 17, 2021 Anyway made a very beautiful bunny boy and I'm unfortunately very attached to him now pls help

Haven't figured out a name for him yet but he's a wandering performer (DNC/BRD) on the run from a painful past

He's probably the prettiest out of my whole cast of OCs... damn

He's so pretty, I can't wait to play him

July 18, 2021 Hoping Twitter doesn't compress these to hell and back — have decided on his name! He is called Canso the Songbird and I cannot stop looking at him why is he so pretty

The rest of them!

July 18, 2021 Playing around in the character creation as I do and I really like how they look in these shots

These shots too

Apparently he has a Mads Mikkelsen vibe in the first shot which was unintentional — but I'll take it!

July 19, 2021 The man is about due for some new crisp screenshots hehe the level 50 summoner outfit doesn't look too bad but man I really want to get some better glams for this guy

"crisp screenshots" lmao who am I fooling

Raginmar telling me to stop playing, it's Maghrib already

July 19, 2021 I usually have Raginmar sit down on this bench before logging out and every time I log back in he's reading the tahiyat awal, what is this

Unspoken solidarity in respecting new players who are watching cutscenes

July 19, 2021 Doing Toto-Rak and was on the waiting end of someone watching a cutscene for the first time. Usually I've had people waiting for me do emotes but this time everyone just unanimously decided to stand ready while waiting for the other person to finish the cutscene hehe

Getting knee-capped by the BLM questline

July 19, 2021 Me at the start of the lv. 50 black mage quest: haha Venti

Me at the end of the quest: ?????? my kokoro????? hurts???????

In celebration of finally hitting level 50 with black mage, I will... make the level 50 weapon Astrolabe that requires materials from multiple timed nodes

How is this a celebration

Aw heck just realised I need to be a Lieutenant to get the whetstone and I haven't finished the required hunting logs yet + I'm out of Storm seals.... can't make it after all HECK

(14 hours later) maybe I should grind for the Regalia, who knows if the event will come back again...

July 20, 2021 There are no words to describe how much I dislike the Gold Saucer... just came back from finishing the event quest and I do NOT want to go back, I don't need the Regalia anyway

Also near the airship landing there's a man telling his child son to work at the silver mines for a few months until his debt is paid and I'm just ?????? That's TERRIBLE

Time to suffer through the MSQ as a CNJ!

July 20, 2021 I was going to wait until I'd at least finished HW with Raginmar to level my alts, but I'm gonna level Kirika to at least 15 to do the event quest — the vexed emote would look SO cute on her

Kinda nervous that the queue for my world was gonna be ridiculous but turns out it's only 16 haha PHEW

[musesofawolf]

He was more than happy to respect her boundaries, recognizing she was nervous around him, around, if he had to guess, anyone and everyone. Plus, given how remote and separate the space felt, he had a feeling stepping in would be stepping into her bubble. He did manage to give her a nod and remark with a soft chuckle, "Well I am glad you have so much trust in your skills, and I look forward to seeing them at work."

It was a moment more before she walked into her home, the Miqo'te archer pulling back the feather, staring at it as it waved softly, and finally with a sigh reaching back and sticking it into his quiver again. He just didn't have a better place for it, and he wasn't going to leave it behind. That was good money! His mind idly wandered to the way she had almost skirted him, even when entering her home. It wasn't always he felt a little off...balance, usually able to adapt and handle anything so quickly, but her...she threw his senses out of wack and had him wanting to do everything he could to protect her, which was dumb. He had just met her! And she could clearly handle herself. He was just about to lean against the door frame on the outside, content to wait, when she spoke up, the tremor in her voice had him turning, concern flashing on his face, ears slicked back, fearing she had seen something in her house, only to find her looking at him.

Oh shit what did I do?! Was the porch off limits? Was I supposed to wait down on the roots? He was about to make a move for the steps, to step down, when she finished her initial sentence, and he froze, paused, slowly turned, and his heart broke at the look of nervousness on her face, the tremble of her hand, and he slowly took a step forward. And another. And his boots slowly stepped over the threshold of her cabin, leaving him standing just inside the doorway with her to his side, staring at him, until she excused herself and sped down the hallway, leaving him mouth open, trying to say something, and just barely managing to pop his mouth close and say in a confused whisper, "Ooookay...well, uhm..." He turned slightly, then back towards the now empty hallway, pointing towards it, then pointing to the door, and calling softly after her, "Just gonna...close this!" And did just that, closing the door with a soft shnick and giving it a thumbs up, only to have the feather droop forward over his eyes again.

Which resulted in him grabbing it, strangling it, and shaking it as he growled out, "Why can you not behave!?" He flipped it back over his head, the stubborn thing listening for the moment and staying back, before he turned and actually really looked at the area he was in. His blue eyes slowly slid over the floor, the walls, the little bit of moss creeping in, and the in general...dilapidated state. Well, dilapidated was harsh, maybe more...lived in? Even that seemed like the wrong word, the archer musing on it a moment more, before he shrugged his shoulders and gave up. He wandered slowly down the hall, hearing boards creak, a few dip and give, and he hummed thoughtfully, recalling his brief apprenticeship with his father. They needed to be replaced, and he could likely do it too...but then the mismatched flooring would be an issue, plus without addressing the roof first they would just rot again...he was at the end of the hallway, and he peeked furtively into the next room, sticking his head into it without letting his body cross into it, seeing the bare sitting room, the few small furniture pieces, and then withdrew his head. He kept his gaze away from the next doorway, just in case, turning and heading slowly back down the hallway, a hand reaching up and touching the feather thoughtfully.

Inviting him in had to be...big for his fellow Keeper, given her reaction, and he wanted to thank her for it in someway, encourage her to open up. His fingers brushed that blue feather, and he felt his smile grow as his eyes lit up with moonlight, quickly pulling a knife from his belt with his left hand.

A quick cut, an inch long segment of feather in his hand, and he set to work, slowly folding the flights in and over each other, creating a braided pattern that crossed the calamus. A few cuts here and there, securing the pattern with careful tucks and double tucks, and he had an inch long blue feather braid, one that he thought would look perfect on her red scarf she wore around her neck. He held it up, carefully admiring it, spinning it, making sure it wouldn't fall apart, and then nodding happily at his handy work, leaning back against the wall with a sigh as he waited patiently, little feather trinket clasped in his hand.

"I haven't the opportunity to cast magicks in the midst of battle, but I'm sure enough of my skills that I could keep you out of mortal harm." She let out an amused sigh. Cyra took note of the obvious joy in his eyes. She wasn't sure what had sparked it, but it was nice to have lighter moments to enjoy. Lately, she had her nose stuck in books, and practicing her spellcrafts in solitude. As careful as she was supposed to be when dealing with strangers, this didn't seem so bad.

She watched in silence as he was stricken by it's beauty. Every time she came upon the sight of it, she also found herself caught in a trance. It was like something out of a fairytale. Not to mention the gentle tree that cradled it carefully, and the blessing of the forest made it easy to sleep soundly without the threat of predators knocking down her door. Yet, her solitude had silently been broken now that she had shown another her humble abode. She felt a little sad thinking about saying goodbye to her long days spent entirely quiet and without speaking. Talking to others was certainly a little exhausting, but a necessary evil for her chosen career.

She blinked in surprise as he happily jaunted up to the front of her home. He had much more energy in his movements than a certain someone she knew. Cyra couldn't help but compare him to Bryn. She used him as her template of judging if someone was trustworthy or not. Kaleh'a wasn't Bryn though, and no amount of comparisons would bring him home to her. He was gone again, and this time he didn't say how long for. She closed her eyes slowly, trying to dismiss the thought and proceed with things as planned. There were people waiting for her arrival after all.

At the very least, the fellow Keeper had high respect for her boundaries. That absolutely would not go unnoticed in her eyes. She raised an eyebrow at his feathery fanfare, still keeping enough distance between them to avoid accidental touch as she stepped up to the door. With a gentle creak, the door opened inward towards the sunlit interior. She stepped in and behind the door silently. Her ears anxiously pressed back as she hesitated to close it behind her. She felt rude for not inviting him in. It was customary to offer hospitality to a guest, but she hadn't quite fully cleaned or patched up the various work that needed to be done. The one thing she did have though, was a privacy screen that had held up fairly well against the element of time.

"It..." She hesitated as she looked back into the entry room. "It would be rude of me not to invite you in. I don't mind company as long as you limit yourself to this room. I won't be more than a moment!" She held the door open for him, gesturing shakily with an open hand to the interior.

The front room had quite a few creaky and warped floorboards. Some moss had crept in from the various gaps in the wood, but it made for a wonderful carpet. The interior had left much to be desired, at least in the entryway, but the open hallway had lead to a main sitting room that had more space than furniture. Beyond what they could see of the study, there was another room to the left that was quite spacious and shared a wall with the entryway. That was the room she had turned into her sleeping quarters. Originally it must have been a study of some sort, but Cyra decided she wanted more space for her to relax than study.

"Right, well..." She nervously fidgeted with her words. "I'll be right out." Cyra didn't give him a chance to even protest before she sped back through the hallway and snaked through the study into her bedroom.