#G'raha Tea

[necromeowncy]

Happy early Valentione's! 🌹

I've collected this past year's favorite wolgraha screenshots (of the spicy variety) on AO3! Tumblr won't let me share these here so just follow the link posted above. This collection includes gposes that were not part of my visual novels, so mostly standalones. It's been a joy creating these! ♥️

[neriyon]

Con done, now train ride home, some food and then I can go do more msq~ Not much con loot this time, just a few stickers, pins and couple of drinks.

All in all nice con! Covention center was veeery spacious and for the first time people stopping to greet friends didn't block like entire corridor or something. Also relatively cool temps, I was only dying of heat when I had my (plastic) mask on.

AMV contest was with weird rules (limited songs to choose so there were soooo many with the same finnish meme song) and in way too small room, and handfan workshop had literal hours of queues, but those are pretty much only thing I can complaim about. 4/5, would go again (and probably will, next year)

[jbcatboyedits]

BAFTA Tea Party Happened yesterday didn't it? Sadly it seems there wasn't any tea.

No I didn't forget to do these and suddenly realise in the middle of the woods you're making it up

[wundergeek]

G'raha, I would die for you

Okay. Replaying Shadowbringers rn and G'raha just got abducted by Emet-Selch, and this whole scene hits just as hard on the fourth play-through as it did on the first. Look at this fuckin face. This is the face of a man who loved you from a distance for A HUNDRED YEARS assuming you didn't even remember his fucking name, until you call out to him just as he's about to sacrifice his life for yours.

He's about to teleport himself into the Rift and fuckin' die, and still, that proof that you remember him, that you matter to him makes him so fucking happy.

And. Like. Take a minute to think about that.

Not only did he come up with this insane scheme to rewrite history, then actually have the brilliance to pull it off, but... he has lived MULTIPLE LIFETIMES for you, and walked into this situation anyway, fully thinking that he was going to die, and totally prepared to sacrifice more than anyone could possibly comprehend. Like - imagine living long enough to see the small community of refugees you harbored to grow into a vibrant city. Imagine being part of their lives as the first residents of the Crystarium have children, grow old, and die, even as their children are having children of their own.

Imagine an attack that happens during that second generation that kills a couple with a young child and taking her in because she has no one to care for her. Imagine taking time, despite all of your responsibilities and literally being on the clock to save the world, to raise her to be strong, loyal, and unfailingly excellent at what she does. She isn't your blood, but she's the closest thing you'll ever have to a daughter, and still you don't hesitate to leave when it's time to see your scheme through to its ultimate end - your ultimate end.

Imagine what it would have been like making those final preparations without being able to tell anyone that you were saying goodbye.

Imagine having tea with Chessamile and agreeing with her that you need to do this more often.

Imagine discussing improvements to the Crystarium with Katliss that you know you'll never see.

Imagine gossiping with Bragi and knowing you'll never get to hear how things turned out.

Imagine visiting Moren to give him a book and saying nothing as he insists that he'll return it to you when he's finished.

Imagine having lunch with Lyna, your daughter, who will find herself in charge when you're gone, and having to give her instructions about what to do in the event of your death.

Imagine having that much love in your life - an entire city that you built from the ground up, and whose residents you loved with all your heart, and who loved you just as strongly. And calmly bidding that entire life farewell as you take an amaro to Kholusia to rewrite history by saving the life of the person you love, thinking that you were nothing more than a minor footnote in their previous adventures. Then imagine finding out at the literal last second that they not only remember, but cared deeply about you the entire time, and still having the strength of will to sacrifice yourself anyway.

What an icon. What an absolute fucking legend.

[amoebaforce]

scions at a sleepover

it's Krile's nameday, and to celebrate, the former scions are spending the night in the Baldesion Annex. let's see what hijinks ensue. (inspired by this image of pajama Y'shtola)

Krile

truly the hostess with the most-est.

she let Tataru order the nameday cake, but Krile picks out all the snacks and beverages herself. her favorites, of course, but she makes sure everyone has something they like.

insists that everyone arrive in their pajamas. hers are yellow with little blue cats on them.

pulls out three different board games to pick from, some of them hers and some of them from her grandfather's old collection.

keeps the orchestration rolls pumping until the neighbors complain.

takes a commemorative photo and hangs it on her wall afterward.

Y'shtola

knows full well that there will be drinks and food, but still shows up with wine and chocolate bonbons to share.

wears a black satin nightgown and robe, with matching slippers and eye mask.

ropes Alisaie, Krile, Urianger, and the WoL into doing skincare masks with her, giggling the entire time.

even convinces Alphinaud to let her paint his nails. it isn't a very difficult task, all things considered.

doesn't start the pillow fight, just watches it unfold as she sips her wine.

passes out at midnight and doesn't move until dawn, missing a few late-night activities but waking up fresher than anyone.

Alisaie

starts the pillow fight.

eats half the candy and drinks 75% of the fruit juice. still high on sugar 36 hours later but has no regrets.

challenges Thancred to an arm-wrestling match, the results of which are hotly contested to this day.

spends a good portion of the night making up a very-elaborate secret handshake with the Warrior. they practice it over and over until they can do it with their eyes closed.

loudest "happy nameday" singer in the room.

her "pajamas" consist of a big t-shirt and chocobo-print shorts.

Alphinaud

wearing a classic button-up pajama set, blue with white polka dots, and bunny slippers.

says he doesn't want his nails painted, but then gets very invested in the color-selecting process and watches intently as the varnish is applied. scolds his sister when she almost smudges the finished product.

gets WAAYYY too competitive in their board game, insists they play 100% by the rules. loses to Estinien anyway.

ends up in the corner with Urianger eventually. he pulls out his drawing pad and sketches a few candid portraits: G'raha getting his hair braided, Krile blowing out the candles, the Warrior studying a hand of cards.

falls asleep first... wakes up with fake eyeglasses drawn onto his face.

Thancred

draws eyeglasses on Alphinaud's face with Krile's paints. careful fingers are quite handy (pun intended) in times like these.

absentmindedly downs an entire plate of candied chestnuts by himself while he watches Estinien cheat at their board game.

refuses a skincare treatment while Y'shtola's awake, then puts one on himself after she's fallen asleep. eye cucumbers and all.

when it gets late, he blows out most of the candles and tells a ghost story, putting on voices and using blankets and pillows as costumes.

gets admonished by Urianger because his story was "too scary".

eventually dozes off sitting upright in the corner, arms crossed like he fell asleep waiting for a wagon.

Urianger

arrives in a full old-man nightgown, gets mercilessly clowned for it by Estinien and the WoL

genuinely thinks the purpose of a sleepover is to sleep. starts drinking chamomile tea at 9 pm.

Krile requests a birthday card reading. Urianger obliges, and the next thing he knows, everyone wants one.

enjoys his facemask so much, he leaves it on for ten minutes longer than he's meant to.

does a puppet show to "make up for" Thancred's scary story, except he chooses an epic tragedy whose ending makes everyone cry.

yells at G'raha and the WoL for giggling at 5 am.

Estinien

didn't own pajamas until the day before, so he went out and bought a simple pair for the party. chooses a plain t-shirt and cotton plaid pants.

brings flowers as a gift for Krile, even though she said no gifts. grins to himself when she blushes.

wasn't paying attention when the board game rules were explained. doesn't even realize he was cheating until hours after he won.

laughs his ass off while Thancred draws on Alphinaud. suggests other "art" to add to the canvas, but Krile says one is enough, and he doesn't dare cross the nameday girl.

pounds back three bottles of wine between himself and Y'shtola. he's a pretty calm drunk, but the hangover is killer.

G'raha

he and the WoL arrive in matching attire, each carrying a plate of cookies.

lets Alisaie and Krile braid his hair into a bunch of different styles. models them for the adoring crowd.

persuaded into dancing by the WoL, surprises everyone by actually being good at it.

"judges" the much-contested arm wrestling match, but his official ruling of "too close to call" is still under question.

eats too many sweets and gives himself a stomach ache, has to bum some tea from Urianger.

is so traumatized by Thancred's terrifying tale that he can't sleep. even after the puppet show.

[clarissadixonsart]

FFXIV Boba Shaker Charms! [Preorder UP!]

These 2.5in double sided acrylic shaker charms with golden clasps feature your favorite FFXIV characters inside of a cup of boba tea! The front of each charm features a translucent gradient mimicking syrup allowing for the character charm and accessories inside to be visible with an opaque boba tea backdrop. The back of the charm features the opaque boba tea design with the tea order and character name written on the side.

Available Characters: Alphinaud Alisaie Thancred Urianger Y'shtola G'raha Tia Estinien Krile Erenville Zenos Koana Wuk Lamat

NOTE: This item is currently in preorder status. The preorder period will be available through 12 January 2025 with orders estimated to ship early to mid February 2025!

Order at clarissascache.storenvy.com

[cinnabun-faerie]

Huddling up to the Scions (Reactions)

♥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━♥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

A/N: I don't know if I've done this yet. If I have, oops. If I haven't, cool! Here you go! ^-^

Characters: Estinien, G'raha Tia, Thancred, Urianger, Y'shtola

♥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━♥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

When he noticed you were shivering he would pull the blanket up to your chin. When you huddled against him, he wouldn't hesitate to wrap you in his warm embrace.

"Can't have you getting a cold can we?"

When you huddle close, his tail would wrap around your waist and pull you in closer to his body. He would blush at how close you were even though he was the one to initiate it. He just hopes that you are okay with it an panics for a sec in his head. When you huddle up to him and put you arm across his body to hug him, he relaxes a little.

While he isn't shocked that you cuddled up to him, his heart is full and he can't help but hold you. His initial reaction would be to coo over how precious you are. He absolutely adores you and wanted to keep you safe, sound and warm.

"Are you cold, love?"

He would immediately pull you into his side, immediately watching as you revel in his warmth. If you continued to shiver, he'd make sure to get you some warm tea and a blanket.

She knew you weren't huddling up to her just because you were cold. You just wanted to be closer to her. She didn't mind, but she was debating whether or not she wanted to just give you affection or tease you. regardless, she'd warm you up in any way she could.

♥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━♥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━♥

[headcanons-n-shit]

Hi! I love love love you writing! (I've been here all morning, my chores are not getting done lol) Can we get the boys (tm) reacting to/taking care of a WoL who's sick? Like something that requires them to stay in bed and actually rest, something I imagine most WoL's aren't very good at lol maybe a lost, scratchy voice or something too pls <3

Look at these boys, taking care of their poor little meow meow lmao

ff14 boys (tm) taking care of a sick WoL:

Thancred needles you gleefully, but it's playful. What isn't playful is the way he's handling you. Damn but you always forget how strong he is. Easily lifting you off your staggering feet and into bed, from your bed to a bath and back. propping you up with one arm to tip medicine down your throat. A strong, weathered hand checking your temperature, patting your cheek, brushing your hair back so he can lay a cool cloth across your forehead.

In that hazy space between sleep and awake, you think you might even hear him singing to you, low and sweet. It's. Probably just the fever though.

Urianger isn't going to say that he warned you, but. Well. He did kind of warn you.

He doesn't rub it in, either. No, instead he's almost infuriatingly patient with you. When he's easing you into taking foul-tasting medicines, when he's bundling you up in blankets, when he's feeding you soups without letting you so much as lift a finger. He even reads to you-- mostly just dry historical texts that have you dozing off within minutes. It's the best rest you've ever had in your life, and you wake up feeling more alive than ever.

And THEN he will tell you that he warned you :)

G'raha seems like the kind of person who might panic and run around like a chicken with his head cut off. And he might have been, at one point. But he's an older soul now, with experience with a much tougher patient than you: a young Lyna.

He's kind, and gentle, but firm. Yes, you do need to stay in bed. No, you cannot get up. No, he is not going to bring your paperwork or needlework to your bed for you, but he will happily fetch a book for you to read, the new Heavensward memoir perhaps? Yes, you have to take the medicine, but yes you can also have a hot cocoa to chase the taste away.

Estinien stares at you where you're leaning on your lance. You stare at him. He raises an eyebrow. You look away. You can't even give a good excuse-- your voice went out about an hour ago, and you don't have the energy to croak words out around the frog in your throat.

He sighs, scoops you up despite your largely-mute protests, and carries your sorry ass back to the Forgotten Knight. He's no healer, but he remembers the very basics: a roaring fire, hot soup, soothing tea, and rest. It's hard for him, too, he'll freely admit. It feels like there's so much to do, and resting feels like a waste of time.

But if you keep working a damaged muscle, you'll just hurt it further, he reminds you, and helps you with your first few bites of soup. You have to rest, so that, at least if you don't come out the other side stronger, you come out the other side alive.

Aymeric seems calm and composed, but he is 100% internally a screaming chicken. He's already called on the best chirurgeons who would answer, gotten you the best of the medicines they recommended, helped his cooks prepare your favorite meal. All that is left is to wait, and. Aymeric is a strategist, he's good at the long game, but.

He lingers in the door to your room. In your comfy bed, all bundled up in warm blankets, you look so. small. Not the Warrior of Light, not his stalwart friend, but just. A person. Who gets sick. Who he might lose. And that. Scares him. More than a little.

You lift your head and blearily blink at him, and then your chapped mouth pulls into a smile. You pat the edge of your bed next to you for him to sit.

"Tell me about your day?" you croak.

And he takes your hand, and he does.

Haurchefant shakes his head fondly as he moves to help you off the floor where you've fallen.

There was a short period of time when he was really, truly worried for you. When you had just woken up into the new reality of your life, your blank eyes staring at the space where you arm had once been. It's hard, he understands, for a warrior to lose so much of what had once defined them.

But you've still got your fire, to his relief and his chagrin, spitting and cursing and wiggling as he settles you back into bed and flops his entire not-insignificant weight on top of you.

"Hush, now," he says, his mouth right next to your ear, one hand coming up to curl, warm and heavy, around the back of your neck. You're still running a fever, he notes idly, but it's certainly better than it was before. "I think we've earned a spell of rest, don't you?"

Sidurgu freezes at the first cough that rattles through your chest. The memories rise horrifying and unbidden, of coughs that echo in armor, of shaking hands and failing strength and nights hungry, trembling, curled around each other in a desperate bid of warmth, terrified of falling asleep because he doesn't want to wake up to a frozen corpse next to him. And Fray lived, sure, but the cold in their bones never did leave them, not until the day they--

But this is now, he reminds himself, and you are not Fray. There is gil for medicine AND for food, and even for a warm place to sleep. There is Rielle, diligently studying her conjury and happy for a real, live patient to practice on, falling asleep against your chest not because she exhausted herself, but because the hour grew late and she, bored.

How terrifying it is for a Dark Knight to know peace, he thinks as he carefully repositions her so that she is not putting so much weight on your sick lungs. As he brushes your hair from your forehead and places a single kiss there before replacing the cold compress.

How terrifying, and how wonderful.

BONUS

Erenville has this way about him that is undeniably guilt-inducing. The kind of demeanor that reminds you of clucking mothers and worried-looking fathers, all with his hands on his hips and a single eyebrow raised, and you don't even have the voice to argue with him as he takes you by the hand and half-drags you back to his room.

In a city full of scholars, doctors, and healers, he gripes, and you couldn't find your way to any of them? What if you had gotten hurt? or accidentally gotten someone else sick? or spread something to the delicate denizens of labyrinthos?

But you can sense the very real concern for you, beneath his scathing tone. In the way he keeps one hand on your chest to feel your breathing, the other on your wrist to monitor your pulse. The way he takes you to his home-- not the shoddy room the forum gives to any gleaner, but to the one he's build in the Golmorean section of labyrinthos-- and keeps you there until you get better.

[estinininininen]

in ffxiv 5.5, Estinien and G'raha have this missable dialogue on Azys Lla, and they're having two entirely separate conversations without realizing:

G'raha: While I do not claim to know all of her sorrows, I too once found myself in a prison of despair. And I well understand how hard it can be to dare to dream of escape. It took the encouragement of braver souls than I am to make me take the first step towards a brighter future. And now I would help Tiamat do the same.

Estinien: I gather you are not as young as you look.

G'raha Tia: Mayhap when our work here is done, we could trade tales over a pot of Tataru's famous tea?

Estinien: And be indebted to her for the leaves and hot water? I think not.

G'raha Tia: ...I see. Ahem! Returning swiftly to the task at hand, then...

What Estinien was thinking: wow okay so this excitable new Scion intern has actually been through some shit. Oh hells why does this kid keep wanting to hang out? Is he hitting on me? I'm not interested. Better make a joke to turn him down politely. Oh and he has the royal blood of Allag? I thought that was the Exarch? Wasn't he an old man stuck in a tower for centuries? I'm terrible with names, and the Eorzean Alliance briefing was classified and I couldn't bully Aymeric into letting me tag along, and then the Scions' summary was in a damn hurry. Well, it would make sense that there's more than one heir floating around.

What G'raha was thinking: oh gods he doesnt know. He doesn't know. HE DOESN'T KNOW and he's about to realize cause I'm almost certainly going to have to bring up the royal Allag blood here! Uh, quick, be polite so he doesn't think you're the asshole who kidnapped all the Scions! Because you ARE, but you tried not to be an asshole about it! Oh, gods, he doesn't like Tataru, how can anyone not like Tataru? G'raha you idiot, not everyone likes tea! Oh, great, he's probably connected the dots now, and he hates me cause of what happened at Ghimlyt Dark and leaving him alone on the Source to try to sort out Black Rose. FUCK!

[zoeyslayter]

Introducing my FFXIV Character

For more information on her backstory, refer to this post!

These pics are old but here you go! She's been through a lot.

Name: Xina Modazi Race: Miqo'te, Keeper of the Moon Class: Red Mage (Main) Likes: Cactaur, tea, Fenrir (ironic isn't it), pretty women, Nanamo Ul Namo Dislikes: Estinien, having to fight Fenrir :(, the fact that Thancred gets all the pretty women Additional Notes:

Is in a polyamorous relationship with Thancred and G'raha Tia. She's okay with Thancred having relations with other women but she does get jealous. Not of the women; of him getting the women.

Since the assassination of Nanamo she has taken up Archery/Barding, Conjuring, and Lancing as well as Astrology.

Absolutely traumatized by having to fight a guy possessing Thancred's body

Also traumatized by the death of Nanamo Ul Namo

Just traumatized tm

Freezing her tail of in Ishgard.

I am at the VERY BEGINNING of Heavensward! PLEASE NO SPOILERS!

[cryoriku]

the scions respond to finding out you self-harm

Estinien

estinien would not hide his staring as he tries to figure out if the marks on your wrist were made intentionally or not.

The thought of the azure dragoon figuring out you self-harm would be enough to make anyone's limbs turn to gelatin, expecting him to be critical and not understanding. however, when he sees the marks on your wrist, it is quite the opposite.

He tells you you your scars are no reason for shame

After all, he cannot pretend as though his own scars - caused by his conflict with dragons - were not borne out of the selfsame desire for vindication, or penance. is that not a form of self-harm in and of itself?

estinien is not going to tell you to stop. he knows that decision will have to be your own. but he will remind you of a principle in dragoonhood he learned the hard way: vengeance and justice cannot coexist.

in the meantime, he will support you, as your comrade.

if you are partners - he will find your scars attractive. of course he doesn't WANT you to cut, but the indication of your struggle and survival despite it... he will be a sucker for it.

Thancred

Let's be honest: thancred's first instinct to seeing you self-harm would NOT be pretty. given what's happened to him, he will immediately assume you've been possessed by an ascian and restrain you

"i suppose you'd like to tell me what the hell you're doing? answer quickly."

when it becomes clear you are yourself, big brother mode kicks in. he immediately apologizes and softens.

it's not that he couldn't imagine you or anyone intentionally wanting to hurt themselves. he is no stranger to suicidal thoughts, nor the desire to bury yourself in your own suffering through addictive impulses. he's been around the block. if anyone gets how you feel, thancred does.

comforting someone of these feelings is not his strong suit, though. because he cares about you, he will try. it may feel a bit like tough-love, but you know he is trying to help you in the way he finds most effective.

he'll give you space to breathe, but he'll still be more consciously aware of you and your signs, and check in on you now and again.

he knows what it's like to hit a mental rock bottom. he doesn't want that to happen to you. he won't carry you, you have to work at it too, but he will be there at your side.

Alisaie

Alisaie would not at all be shocked. she knows the hardships you face and while she admires the strength you show through it all, she also understands why it would cause you to break like this.

she is also well familiar with how this sort of thing goes. maybe she has had a friend from the studium who self-harmed or once considered it herself.

she will let you vent to her about how you are feeling. she is a very good listener and an honest and thoughtful responder.

if would be the type to handle it well, Alisaie may lightheartedly threaten you to never do it again.

in either case, on a more serious note, she will remind you as she gives you a strong hug that she will always be here for you as you have been for her. you can lean on each other. she loves you very much.

Alphinaud

Alphinaud, however, is shocked. he never would have guessed - but he is still incredibly understanding.

he will ensure you he does not think any less of you for needing to do this.

like alisaie, he is familiar with this topic. if you are open to receiving it, he would off ideas for alternatives he has heard worked for others.

otherwise, he will make the both of you hot tea or hot cocoa and talk it out together. you were a team, and he would help you find a way to overcome this challenge, too.

with alphinaud, you will never be without someone to check your rationality and encourage you to push forward.

if you are comfortable with it, he will ask to see your wrist and offer his healing magicks on you.

G'raha

this guy would definitely get emotional about it. he can't help but wear his heart on his sleeve, and it hurts to know that you have been struggling so much.

he can relate to your feelings of feeling inferior, or helpless, or the need to take on suffering to spare others. so much.

it would hypocritical of him to ask you to stop, so he doesn't, though he does suggest that you two can be each other's accountability for mental health progress.

learning this side of you causes you both to connect with one another more deeply. the way g'raha sees it, it is a chance for a stone to be turned. both of you are only human, and you are messy, and that's okay. you can be messy together and help each other grow.

you are special to g'raha, and your scars, self-inflicted or not, are beautiful to him. now let's cheer up, okay?

Urianger

While Urianger will not exactly understand it, that does not at all mean he lacks in compassion

so long as you are comfortable with it, he would draw you close to him, giving you tender strokes on your hair, your back, maybe even the unmarred parts of your arm.

he would speak softly to you. you can be transparent about your emotions, or, if not, he will comfortably sit with you in silence as you calm down.

regardless, he will offer words of wisdom and encouragement entangled in a story he tells - perhaps of his own personal struggles or a tale he knows.

"remember, thou needst but have faith."

Krile

This is definitely unfamiliar territory for Krile, but she takes it in stride.

if you want to share, she will ask you questions about self-harm, why you do it, and how it helps so that she can understand it and figure out how to best be there for you.

regardless, she feels direct action is the best course. she offers to go on a walk with you, to get a bite to eat or simply enjoy the weather and companionship. maybe tataru will want your help in her latest hobby. or she and alphinaud could help you take up painting if that is more your style. anything to knock you out of your spiraling state and cheer you up in these moments

she would encourage you to quit, expressing privately that she is proud of you when she sees that you are clean, but understand that this sort of thing can be turbulent and takes time. but your little big sister won't stand to have you suffering alone.

whatever you need, she'll be there. she cares for you, even when she teases you, and wants to see you continuing to push on, even if you relapse. she wants to see you smile.

[necromeowncy]

Chapter 2 of A Reflection in Crystal is now published on AO3! Slowburn WoL x G'raha Tia visual novel, mutual pining, Elezen WoL, and nerds. Read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/43212687/chapters/110386938#workskin

[neriyon]

☆ - happy headcanon

Headcanon asks

When really happy/comfy, Hawu'li might purr a little. It's pretty quiet, but if you are physically really close (say, hugging him) you'll feel the "rumbling" from it.

He's generally very easy to make happy. Spend time doing something with him or offer some tasty food, and he'll be his cheery self for the rest of the day.

He likes to make others happy too, and has surprisingly good memory for what makes them smile. Tell him you like roses? He'll pop up with some if you've been feeling down for a while.

[graha-stan-account]

I didn't catch the panel with G'reen Tea-ah, but I can't stop thinking about it. G'raha is so red, so almost painfully red. Like we all know it. He's almost monochromatic. It's a defining trait. Like to the point when I saw him the first time I'm like damn, someone had only one crayon, huh? And then he just got MORE red!

And yet, I feel like, as sometimes painful yet iconic it is, it would be so much worse if he was ALL GREEN.

[southseascion]

Scions Meeting Mitan's Husband

How do the Scions take to him when Mitan finally dares bringing him around?

Tataru is ever forward-thinking. She'll have the Carpenters outfitted by the time Mitan sets foot in Tural.

Y'shtola would prefer her tea time stayed quiet, but she was mannerly as one can be.

He may not fully understand him but felt the welcoming intent Urianger was attempting nonetheless.

Thancred forgets that Mitan can and will tell Ryne every embarrassing thing he says and does.

Alphinaud is ever polite, as much of a dork he comes off as.

G'raha is even more of a dork but too sweet to be faulted on it.

Alisaie is eager to pry more from her friend's less silent husband.

Estinien dislikes formalities, but he knows a man of physical prowess.

Krile seeks to fluster Mitan and expertly succeeds, as always.

It is safe to say that he knows she is in good, if daffy, hands.

[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.”