#Onokoro

[thevikingwoman]

Vanilla gpose challenge #2 - Landscape

THE RUBY SEAS

Initially a place she simply passed through, the Ruby Seas is now a comforting place for Meryta, the landscape and the sea and even the plumes of smoke from Hells Lid a calming place for her.

She returned here to help both a sahagin fisherman and Genbu, the auspices, and Soroban. Thus travelling through Onokoro quite frequently, turning Tansui from a one time fling to lover. Even if it's not just the sea air she's here for now, the rugged coast brings her peace.

an outtake because I had lot of fun with the water color effect

FFXIV vanilla gpose challenge: #1 job - #2 landscape - #3 NPC - #4 battle - #5 vacation - #6 emote - #7 companion

[scalefeathers]

Lalapril - 16 - fathom

A fathom is now standardized to six feet, but it once referred to the span of a man's arms--a measurement which, of course, is relative to the man. Equally relative is the difference between a pleasant wade through the shallows and a humiliating slog through chin-high surf. And one can hardly make a good impression on a pirate king while looking like a drowned snurble.

Fortunately for Moku, Zettai Unmei is ever ready to assist.

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

(pose credit. Zettai Unmei belongs to @saesama)

[ladysbike]

ヤマハ発動機販売が、より多くのライダーにツーリングを楽しんでもらい、バイクで出かけるキッカケになればと、昨年から道の駅などにツーリング途中の休憩ポイントとして気軽に立ち寄れるブースを展開したイベント“YAMAHA Rider’s Café” 。その2023年版が、5月13日(土)の淡路ワールドパーク ONOKORO駐車場を皮切りに11月12日(日)の九十九島パールシーリゾートまで、全国18ヶ所で開催されることが決まった。

https://www.l-bike.com/topics/40466/

[myreia]

— onokoro days

“I happen to like your company, Meryta.” “And I like yours.” She bites her lips. “I’m glad this is—settled. I’ve not ever—I’m not used to…” She trails off. “Good,” he says again. “Good,” she says. She pushes him in the water. He sputters and stands, the water reaching only to his waist, but his clothes are soaked. Meryta is laughing, so he pulls her into the water too. He suspects she could resisted him, but she falls in easily enough, with a small delighted squeal. He feels young. — @thevikingwoman

[galadae]

10 and 11 for Bayer? 👀🎤

ty meg!!

10. Does your OC have a type? Have they ever been surprised by their feelings for someone who doesn't fit this?

Hmm not really? Most of the crushes he's had were on people he thought were cool, funny or charming - his thaumaturgy mentor and Lilja amongst them, but they don't really have many similarities. His one relationship so far was with a random fisherman in Onokoro who made him laugh when they first met. I think he's just a sucker for charisma.

11. Has your OC ever been the object of someone's affections that they did not (or could not) reciprocate?

Every once and awhile there would be a random girl from his tribe that thought he was cute, but he was never really interested. He either politely declined or avoided them. It's not that he didn't think they were cute either, he just wasn't ready for anything beyond flirting and he didn't have strong feelings at all.

a short ask list about love

[shizucheese]

I've completed my civic duty so we're back to our usual schedule, at least until Dawntrail drops (at which point I will be taking a break from streaming for at least two weeks, maybe longer depending on what the log-in queue situation is like). So! We now continue our journey through the Ruby Sea, starting with earning the trust of the good people of Onokoro the best way know how: by running errands for them! And then who knows what other exciting adventures we'll go on as we quest through the Ruby Sea and try to rescue Gosetsu!

Catch me on Twitch every Sunday starting at 4:30 central and every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 7:30 central!

[candycryptids]

Vierapril Day 13: Horizon/Release

“I wish she’d just write clearer directions- I haven’t seen ANY mountains shaped like demons, and I can’t just go home without that ore she wanted me to mine there… maybe we cross the sea to Onokoro and ask there… oh, don’t make that face June, I’ll take the Claw, you don’t have to try to carry me again!”

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

on our fates alight-- fixin' to storm soon

(continued from Fair)

The hunt for the rogue pirate lord (it sounded like such an oxymoron in Riven's head) wasn't going well. With a sigh, Riven carefully picked her way over to the rocky outcropping and peered out at the landscape. Rocks, monsters, an active volcano and from the looks of the sky, a storm coming in.

Great.

There had been little information to go on back at the Confederacy outpost, and they hadn't been able to obtain another meeting with Rasho. The best lead Riven and the others had been able to obtain was that the pirate lord was often spotted on the Isle of Bekko. The quintet had been able to rent a boat to take them to the nearby island, and then had split up to search. But so far...nothing.

If the weather gets worse, we'll have to find a cave and hunker down... Riven could smell the incoming weather, ozone and rain. And while she and the others could retreat back to Onokoro...the chances were high that someone in the Confederacy had probably alerted the Mitsirugi clan of their location.

We're probably just better paying them off and leaving... So lost was she in her thoughts that Riven didn't hear the footsteps that were coming up behind her.

"So. New here, little bird?" A Roegadyn's woman's voice rumbled above her head, the tone low and husky. Riven froze, her senses snapping back to full awareness. Valefor shrieked an alarm--one echoed by Riven's own aether.

EikonEikonEikonEikon!!!

"It's fixin' to storm soon."

------

(starring @saesama 's Klynt!)

[thevikingwoman]

Onokoro

[purple-link]

Alisaie and Purple Link

FFXIV Write 2024 Story Entry

Spoiler: Story takes place after WoL reaches Garlemald in Endwalker, but but before the Tower of Babil dungeon. Story will be largely sfw, but will adhere to FFXIV's level of mature storytelling.

Chapter 2: Horizon

Alphinaud woke up frenetically, rising up like a shot. He started flailing against Alisaie’s hold, and muttering almost incoherently.

“NO!” he was screaming, “NO MORE WATER, NO MORE SWIMMING! I CAN’T BREATHE! I CAN’T BREATHE!”

“Brother, relax,” said Alisie, trying to hold him fast, “Everyone’s alright!”

Alphinaud blinked, and finally started to calm down.

Purple was standing away from them, his purple tail twitching. He was looking out past the horizon. He looked to his right, and found that the Wolf Burglar was also waking. He was being attended to by one of the au ra healers.

“Hardly ever see a Lupin down here,” said the healer, as the Wolf Burgler flashed his pearly whites in what he hoped was a charming manner, and not in a predator-like way.

“I’ve made my way down here a couple of times,” said the Wolf Burgler, “I’m a thief, but these days, I mostly steal hearts.”

“We’re…” said Alphinaud curiously, “...underwater.”

“That’s correct,” said Alisaie, nodding, “We’re in the kingdom of Sui-No-Sato.”

The entire settlement was underwater, protected by a huge bubble. The question of where they were getting the fresh oxygen seemed, for the moment, to be somebody else’s problem.

That was the least of Alphinaud’s concerns.

The whole place had a regal air, and there were Au Ra all over the place. They were mainly humanoid in shape, sporting dragon-like scales, with horns protruding where a Hyur’s ears might be located.

They were very much like the Miqo’te, with feline-like ears and a tail, except the Au Ra were fashioned after the drakes.

And over in the distance stood Purple Link. He was a big, purple-furred spoken, with a penchant for Red Magic. He had a golden rapier that was given to him by the Hrothgar in Bozja.

Though he shared a connection with those Hrothgar, it hadn’t been expressed as his place of origin. Alphinaud wondered, not for the first time, where Purple had even come from.

Wait…Didn’t Purple mention something about his home, before-

“The boat!” said Alphinaud, worriedly, “We crashed–!”

He looked at Alisaie, who was looking guiltily away. Alphinaud frowned at this, and then looked around again.

“We’re under the sea,” he said, much more obviously. Alisaie thought about needling her brother about this, but she knew what he was going to say.

“Yes, we are,” said Alisaie, sitting down beside Alphinaud, who was beginning to sit up, “Very much like the Tempest in that regard.”

Alphinaud nodded.

“Quite, and very much in the same manner of execution,” said Alphinaud, “And at a much smaller scale. I daresay these underwater bubbles, at this size, would last for much longer than a lifetime, if it became necessary.”

“The Kojin,” said the healer who was tending the Wolf Burglar, “occasionally come over and replenish the magical barrier that separates us and the open sea.”

“That was my next question,” said Alphinaud, “Why are we here? Our vessel crashed along a rocky outcropping several miles from Onokoro. We would have been too far away from any surface rescue.”

“That’s…” said Alisaie, motioning her head to Purple Link, who was standing apart and visibly upset, “It was all Purple’s idea.”

Alphinaud’s mind wandered for a minute or two, and then he remembered.

“The blessing of the Kojin,” said Alphinaud, smiling lightly, “You and our friend here can breathe underwater.”

“Oh, sure, now you tell me,” said the Wolf Burglar, “I’ve been sucking in and holding a lungful of air like a numpty!”

“Okay, maybe except him,” said Alisaie, wryly, “We had to think fast.”

“And what a swift rescue it was,” said Alphinaud, “Another minute, and we would have hit the bottom of the sea floor.”

A pair of regal-looking Au Ra came up to them and bowed deeply. They were accompanied by a taller gent wearing white robes.

Alisaie remembered this as Shiosai Sui, the High Priest of Shisui of the Violet Tides. He was also caretaker at the time, to the younger ladies, Princess Ruby Kurenai and her friend, Hisui.

Here, Purple Link was finally distracted, and he smiled brightly. He went over and shook the hand of the taller Au Ra, and bade a fair greeting to the two younger ladies.

“Princess Ruby Kurenai, and Hisui,” said Purple Link, “It has been too long! I was to assume you had retaken permanent residence in Shisui.”

“My position is not restricted from the occasional visit, I’ll have you know,” said Kurenai, “That old palace can take care of itself without me for a day.”

“I have made accommodations for our absence, and these two couldn’t take no for an answer,” said Shiosai, with a smile, “I must admit, even I wanted to meet the Warrior of Light again. The Champion of Eorzea is not an opportunity to miss, even if it’s only been a short time ago.”

Purple’s expression fell, and he felt his ears flatten against his skull.

“I see,” said Purple, “Well, I’m afraid we can’t stay for long, I have pressing business in Garlemald.”

“Always the busy sea otter,” said Shiosai, nodding, “Please take it into heart that Sui-No-Sato will remain a home to you and your party, for however long you like.”

“Yes, please,” said Kurenai, “Anything for the hero who helped to revive my friend!”

“Thanks, we might hold you to that,” said Purple, “We have a couple of people down here who aren’t covered by the blessing.”

“That’s a shame, it really is,” said Hisui, “And the Kojin are busy with their own tribulations, they might not have the time to come over and see to that.”

“We can cover their departure,” said Alisaie, “Our mounts should also be covered by the blessing, and they will be able to ascend into the surface at speed.”

“That’s good to hear,” said Hisui, “Well, I repeat my princess's tidings, and bid you good day.”

All three Au Ra bowed deeply. After seeing them walk back into the settlement, Purple Link grumbled, and turned back to face the surface of the bubble to the south, looking upset.

“...It could be anywhere,” said the Hrothgar, miffed.

“If this is Sui-No-Sato,” said the Wolf Burglar, “The location of the artifact shouldn’t be too far away from here. The Garlean vessel is purported to have crashed to the south and west of here, so just about anywhere between The Isle of Zekki and Shisui of the Violet Tides.”

“But you haven’t been blessed,” said Alisaie, “How do you know all these locations?”

“I’m a very good swimmer,” said the wolf, “I’ll have you know I can hold my breath for ten minutes!”

“Still, it’s going to take time to find the artifact, even if we have to go beyond the confines of the Ruby Sea…”

She looked over to Purple, and she felt a frown coming on. It was a familiar frown, and one Alphinaud knew all too well.

“Gil for your thoughts, dear twin?” said Alphinaud, smirking lightly. Alisaie turned back.

“My thoughts are too expensive for your coin purse,” said Alisaie, and then much gentler added, “This is a matter between Purple and I. You don’t…necessarily have a stake in it.”

“I have a stake in it, if my sister is involved,” said Alphinaud, putting a hand on her shoulder, making her look towards him sharply, “You know I’m not one to let idle thoughts linger. They bubble and stew, and simmer with a glossy coat of grime along the surface.”

Alisaie frowned at her brother, but not unkindly. She very gently moved her brother’s hand from her shoulder and put it to his side, like a tea doily. He only smirked at this.

“You’ve been hanging around The Last Stand for too long,” she said, and then stood up. Alphinaud stood up as well, and decided to take the time to survey his surroundings.

He’d never been in an underwater Au Ra settlement before, and the Hingahsi trappings found even this far down the water’s surface were a marvel to look at…

Alisaie walked up to the tall Hrothgar. Short of getting his attention by touching him again, she coughed lightly. He swung around, his face the picture of irritation.

Alisaie was unmoved. If she could stare down her father’s arrogance and her brother’s stubbornness, she could stare down Purple’s frustration.

“Purple Link,” said Alisaie, strongly, “I think you and I need to have a talk.”

Purple Link gruffed, and he felt his tail flick up and down, like a whip. He looked out again to the horizon, the emptiness of the Ruby Sea taunting him with an underwater bounty he no longer cared to search for.

“Purple Link?” she said more sternly.

“What?” said Purple Link, turning sharply, his fur standing on end. Alisaie wasn’t having it.

“I’m not going to respond unless you talk to me in a civilized manner,” said Alisaie.

“I’m not civilized, remember?” growled Purple Link, his black claws out in a vicious manner, “I’m a savage!”

“No, what you are is a child,” said Alisaie, folding her arms, “And I think it’s high time you start acting like an adult.”

Purple Link mumbled and grumbled, and stared out into the ocean once more. He sighed.

“...You’re right,” said Purple Link, “What is it that you want to talk about?”

Alisaie walked up to the purple cat and put a fist to his chest. It seemed an aggressive gesture, but in lieu of a dope slap, it would have to do. She knew better than to throw a tussle with a muscle-bound cat, even if she could beat him in a fight on equal ground.

“Get that out of your system?” said Purple.

“Only if you got it out of yours,” replied Alisaie.

Damn, he thought, she got him there.

“I’m sorry, Alisaie,” said Purple, genuinely apologetic, “I let my arrogance get the best of me. I talk of protecting, and I crash the boat into a rock and almost drown your brother. How can I call myself a hero?”

“First of all, we’re the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, remember?” said Alisaie, “We’re all heroes. Secondly, I let my arrogance get the best of the both of us. I’m just as at fault for bringing us down here as you.”

“Still, I ran my mouth,” said Purple, worriedly, “You know, I can tell when you’re going to outgrow me.”

“What are you, my father?” said Alisaie, almost as a joke, but Purple Link felt guilty about that feeling.

She wasn’t exactly wrong…

“No jokes,” said Purple Link, “You’re much faster than me and already much stronger than me at being a Red Mage. It took me forever to break out of the muscle memory of my Black Magic, and then you switch and it’s like…”

He smirked, proudly.

“You’re a better mage than I,” said Purple Link, “All the work you put into Norvrandt is showing dividends up here. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Alisaie blushed, and she turned away.

“Enough of the fluffing up of the feathers,” said Alisiae, “I think it’s high time we look for this artifact of yours.”

“Yeah, that’s a good question,” said Purple Link, and he requested the assistance of the Wolf Burglar, who loped over in a flash. He looked out past the horizon that Purple Link was keen to observe.

“Yeah, I’d say it’s about in that direction,” said the Wolf Burglar, “You wanna check out the surface, get a glimpse of landmarks above as well?”

“Yeah, that would be a good idea,” said Purple, “Having Heaven-on-High at my rudder would make me feel a little better about where I need to go.”

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” said the Wolf Burglar, and then he began a series of stretches, “Ready whenever you are!”

Purple Link turned back to Alisaie, who shook her head.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right here,” said Alisiae, nodding, “I’ve got to look after my brother, make sure he’s good and ready to leave. I’m certain he still doesn’t like swimming.”

Purple Link smiled, but a nagging feeling in the back of his brain told him that there were a lot of unanswered questions.

“This…I’m afraid what you and I have to talk about is just the beginning,” said Purple Link, pulling out a whistle.

The whistle was marked with the name “Violet,” written in appropriately-dyed coloring.

“The feeling is more than mutual,” said Alisaie, knowingly, “But we can discuss that later. You have a quest to finish.”

Purple Link nodded, and he blew the whistle. In short order, his trusty chocobo Violet, a purple-plumed riding chicken with a Black Mage’s hat on appeared at his side.

The Wolf Burglar looked on in astonishment.

“Okay, I’ve had enough of this,” said the Lupin, curiously, “How in the Seven Hells did the chicken get down here?!”

As the two leapt onto Violet’s saddle, Purple nodded one last time to Alisaie, and sprinted out an exit hole that was formed around the inside of the bubble, to allow their departure.

The Wolf Burglar took in a deep breath and covered his muzzle with his paw, to prevent any accidental inhalation.

The trek to the surface was long and exhausting. Even though the chocobo rose to the surface at great speed, the Lupin still wasn’t sure he was going to make it.

He watched the Hrothgar, breathing in the water like it was air. He seemed unphased by both the pressure and the weight of water above them.

They shot past glorious vistas of underwater forests, coral reefs and seaweed unlike the kind the wolf had ever seen before, and would have been amazed at, if his lungs weren’t at near capacity.

They broke the surface, and they both took lungfuls of air. The Lupin was upset at this.

“Why are you doing it?!” said the Lupin, “You don’t have to hold your breath!”

“I still gotta clear my lungs for air, don’t I?”

The Wolf Burglar grumbled lightly, but he couldn’t disagree. They looked up.

The sun was just about to set, an orange sky that delicately framed the horizon, off to the southwest. It was gorgeous.

It seemed such a long distance out. Several islands surrounded them, and they soon realized it might be time to look for a surface camp.

Purple Link put two fingers up to his ear and tapped it twice. He thought of Alisie, and sure enough, the Elezen could be heard on the other side of the sea.

“Purple, are you at the surface?” she asked over the linkpearl. The hrothgar nodded.

“Purple, you don’t have to nod over the linkpearl,” said the Elezen, frankly, “I’m not going to be able to see it.”

“Oh, uh, right,” said Purple, “Yes, we’re here. We’re going to take a short break, before we set out both above and below the ocean.”

“Well, have fun,” said Alisaie, “I’ll keep my brother occupied, until we can finalize a way to get him above surface, and then we can join you.”

“I’ll keep the fire going,” said Purple, and then shut off the line, tapping his ear twice again.

“Ready?” said Purple.

“Yeah, I guess,” said the Wolf Burglar, “You really are full of surprises, aren’t you?”

“I mean, sure?” said Purple, “Are you afraid of heights?”

“I stood on the highest point of Kugane, overlooking the city in an over-dramatic fashion,” said the Wolf Burglar, “What do you think?”

“I think we’re going to be going higher than that,” said Purple Link, and clicked his tongue and pulled the reins lightly.

Violet kreened highly, and with a triumphant kweh, the bird shot into the sky from the ocean’s surface, the Wolf Burglar crying out in fear.

To be continued…

[lizzy-calaxio]

Suin Shomin

Birthplace: Kugane

Age: early thirties

Occupation: Fisherman

Interests: Fishing, The Ocean, Swimming

Identity: Male (He/They)

Suin grew up in the ruby sea with his little brother and parents, then later his younger twin sisters. He remembers Chirin aspiring to become a merchant like his parents. Chirin was a very intelligent young boy who loved to draw the fish Suin caught. Suin wasn't able to catch any impressive fish at that young age, but he has very fond memories of the two going out to Onokoro to fish and draw for the day. Then when Chirin went with his parents on a merchant voyage, he was lost overboard. As a result, Suin started trying to draw in Chirin's sketchbook. His drawings weren't nearly as good as Chirin's, but he desired to improve as an honor to Chirin's memory. Suin also desired to catch the larger impressive fish that Chirin always wanted to draw. Eventually, as Suin grew up, he turned this into a career, catching enough fish to make a living, and selling rarer fish to collector's and chefs alike. He's very happy with his career, and when Lizzy came home, he was overjoyed with her return. He immediately grabbed her sketchbook and shared her old art, and his new art. Lizzy was very happy to have this reminder, though admitted to not having any memories of it. Suin likes to take Lizzy out with him to go fishing whenever he can as it reminds him of their childhood together, and Lizzy enjoys it too

[myreia]

Familiar Shores

Characters: Tansui, Rasho, Meryta Khatin (WoL) Pairings: Tansui x Meryta Summary: The day is bright and warm as Tansui distracts himself, wondering when his lover will return. When will she come back to him? Rating: Teen Notes: For @thevikingwoman. Happy belated birthday, Viking! Mwha! 💕💋 2,456 words Read on AO3

Simple tasks and simple chores may not be the most exciting part of his life, but it’s on days like these that Tansui is grateful for the work.

The sun beats down from an azure sky, baking the shores of Onokoro they may as well simmer like the coast of Hells’ Lid. The kind of sun that leads to slow, languid days. Their people have scattered, seeking relief on the seas or under shade. Some of the young Confederates took off this morning to fish and relax. With a pang, he wishes he had joined them, but the youth deserve time to explore and discover away from the watchful eye of their elders. The past few weeks have given little time for rest and relaxation; with more Garleans in the Ruby Seas and a malfunction in the Onokoro aetheryte, the Confederacy has been busier than usual.  

And so, he has found himself, as he often does, busied on the dock, making minor repairs to his boat. The vessel is small, little more than a two-person sailing dinghy used for servicing large ships or sailing around the bay. Though the keel is worn and the sides scarred from years of use, she still makes for a serviceable boat if you don’t mind her bellyaching. She’s been all but marooned for the past three moons.

His fault, running her aground. He knows these seas, he should have known better. Then again, it was a bit difficult to pay attention, given where Meryta decided to put her hands.  

Tansui sighs and stretches, wiping sweat from his brow. Water laps around his legs, tugging and pulling as the waves flow in and out. The memory, though distant, is a good one, still capable of bringing a rosy flush to his cheeks that has nothing to do with sunburn. It was his idea to escape that night to sail below the moon and the stars. Just the two of them in such close quarters with calm waters all around…  

She brings out something of a romantic in him. A romantic more fitting of a younger man, and yet here he is, finding convoluted and ill-advised ways to give her the world when she’s here and thinking about it when she isn’t.

He wets his lips—the dry, salty taste sharp on his tongue—and tilts his head back, enjoying the briny wind and spray of mist on his face. A smile spreads from ear to ear. Meryta. Soaring in and out of his life just as the birds migrate. Here one moment and gone the next, as variable as the changing tides. She never stays long, though sometimes he senses she would like otherwise. He does not mind. He can wait for her and wait some more.

There is no doubt in his heart she will find her way back to him.

His smile fades. Every time she returns, little pieces of her have changed. A shift in her demeanour, a change in her speech. Consequences, however small, of a time spent in places he does not know or understand. Sometimes he thinks the call of the Warrior of Light is too great a burden for any one person to carry. But what does he know of the fate of gods and primals and other worlds?

He is simply a pirate.

“Tansui!” A gruff hand claps him across the back and Rasho throws an arm around his shoulders, pulling him away from the boat. “Brilliant day for a nameday, eh?”

Tansui chortles and twists around, water sloshing around his knees. “And here I’d just about forgotten,” he returns, ducking out from his grip. “Namedays come and go, this one is no more remarkable than the last.”

Rasho chuckles. “Aye, perhaps it is, perhaps tis not,” he replies with an irritatingly knowing smirk on his face. What does he know that Tansui doesn’t? “Take a moment to enjoy yourself, my friend. You should be playing dice or drinking or napping on a day like today.”

“I’m in the water, that’s all I need. Besides, someone has to look after her.” He shrugs in the direction of his boat. “Fix her up and she’ll be good as new.”

Rasho’s smirk widens. By the kami, what has gotten into him? “Very well, very well,” he says, raising his hands in surrender. “But don’t work yourself to the bone, you hear? Have it on good authority you’ll want to be around for tonight.”

He snorts with laughter. Whatever his friend is implying, he’ll know in due course. “Understood, captain.”

“Oh, and Tansui… Keep an eye out for interlopers. On the sea and in the skies. Don’t want anyone slipping by on our watch. Not with Garleans on our doorstep.”

“Perhaps we should raise the tithe, given the trouble.”

The smirk is back. “I will leave that decision in your capable hands,” he says. “Do let me know what you decide to raise it to. And for whom.”

Tansui frowns.

Rasho raises his head. “Ah. Look’s like she’s getting away from you.”

Tansui curses and spins around just in time to see his boat pull free of her ropes and float away from the dock. Inhaling a deep breath, he ignores Rasho’s booming laugh and plunges beneath the waves. He swims swiftly, his haori dragging behind him, and catches the boat’s bowline. Grunting, he treads water and wraps the rope around his arm, then begins to haul his escapee back to shore.

Minutes pass, water rushing in his ears, foam spraying in his face. Still, he cannot help but laugh at his foolish error. The sea is warm, the sun is bright, a stray cloud passes overheard. There are worse things in the world. 

At last, he reaches the end of the dock, panting and spitting salt water from his mouth. He goes under again, testing the depths, searching for the bottom with the tips of his toes. When the water closes over his head, he shoots back up and surfaces, hair loosened from its braid and flying into his eyes. He could round the dock and return to where he was, but this will do. Perhaps Rasho is right. He’s struggled enough with the boat for today.

He raises an arm, preparing to heave the rope up and tie it properly to the post.   

A shadow falls across him and, for the briefest of moments, his heart stops.

A Xaela warrior stands above him on the edge of the dock. She is wrapped in a heavy blue coat that leaves her upper arms bare, a sheathed katana at her side. Cropped green hair frames her face and horns, and her vibrant purple eyes observe him with calm certainty. Her tail flicks back and forth, the end curling and uncurling as those familiar eyes look him up and down, lingering on his bare chest beneath his open haori. She is aglow, the light illuminating her so perfectly from behind that he could be staring into the sun.

No wonder some call her the Warrior of Light.   

His mouth opens, but nothing comes out. There are countless things he could say to her—things he has dreamed of, things he has played over again and again during restless hours at night—and yet all thought is driven from his mind.

A wave smacks him in the face, brine splashing into his mouth. He splutters, coughing, and the next moment he finds her unbuckling her katana and setting it aside. She kneels on the dock, hand outstretched, and grasps his hand with hers. His thumb presses against her wrist, brushing past sensitive scales to where her pulse beats, strong and firm.

“Meryta,” he breathes. “You’re back.”

A smile spreads across her face, bright as the rising sun. “Would you like some help?” she asks.

He stares at her like a fool. “You’re back.”

“You’re in the water.”

“I was fixing my boat. She escaped. I was fetching her.” He swallows, the taste of salt fresh on his tongue. “You’re back.”

She meets his eyes. “That’s the third time you’ve said that.” Her voice is soft and full of wonder, as if she can’t quite believe she is here either. Her grip tightens, fingertips pressing into the back of his hand. Locked. As if the tides themselves could not pull them apart. “And you haven’t answered my question.”

He returns her gaze. “I can do you one more,” he replies, shooting her a roguish grin. “You’re back.”

And he pulls her into the sea.

She yelps as she goes under, plunging into the depths in a rush of bubbles. He chases, sinking below, joy beating frenetically in his heart. When he opens his eyes, all is turquoise and green and blue and purple, watery light spiralling in from above, white bubbles spinning all around. He catches her in his arms and crushes his mouth to hers.

Warmth floods him. Her lips are soft and inviting and wondrous as she kisses him back, delightful and delectable and filled with such sweet promises. She clings to him, enveloping herself around him with her hands cradled at the base of his neck and her tail wrapped around his leg. This moment below the waves cannot last—he does not have the Kojin’s gift the way she does—but here in this watery domain there is nothing but them. Nothing but time. Nothing but peace.

They surface together, locked in a kiss, his hair tangled about his face, hers plastered across her forehead. Then finally they part, foreheads pressed together, legs and tail entwined, and bob in the gentle waves, catching their breath. They drift slowly away from the dock, their sodden clothes fanning about them.

“Ass,” Meryta says.

“Pirate,” Tansui replies with a wink.

She giggles and splashes water at him. “Is this what counts as a nice greeting? After how long I’ve been away?”

“Any greeting where I get to kiss you is nice, no?”

She sighs happily and clutches him, her legs floating up behind her as she rests her head in the crook of his neck, mindful of her horns. “I tried to teleport here, but it wouldn’t work,” she murmurs. “And then I thought… The worst came to mind. I’ve been occupied elsewhere and the Alliance is not always as complete with its intelligence as I would like.”

“We’re fine. An ordinary malfunction, as far as I know.” He pauses, threading his fingers through her wet hair, admiring its shine. “How did you get here? No ships have docked today.”

“I flew. I didn’t want to miss your nameday.” His heart swells. She knows. She remembers. He does not recall telling her. With a shrug, she kicks her feet, splashing the water, and propels them further from the dock. Back on shore, a yellow chocobo pokes curiously at the beach, nosing a large shell with its beak. “When there’s no aetheryte, Lucida takes me where I need to go.”

“You crossed the seas by air.” Fucking Rasho, that is what he meant, wasn’t it? He must have heard she was in the area, making her way back. He leans back, hair floating in the water, and stares at the cloudless sky, laughter rumbling in his chest. “Imagine that. Perhaps I should demand a new tithe for that.”

Warm fingers loop around his neck, tilting him up. “I’ve already paid your Ruby Tithe,” she reminds him huskily, kissing him. “I suppose we can strike a bargain as to what this new one will look like.”

“Consider me listening.”

“Are you accepting suggestions?”

“Consider me open.”

She drags a hand down his neck and across his collarbone, splaying her fingers across his broad chest. “Let’s get out of the water,” she murmurs. “Maybe then we can find a way to bargain in earnest.”

“You have no idea how dearly I would like to.” He kisses her again, hands threaded in her hair, savouring her lips, her cheeks, her jaw, her everything. By the kami, it has been too long. He has told himself again and again that he is a patient man—at least where she is concerned—but if you asked him to describe himself now, that patience is nowhere to be found. “You know the way.”

“I do.”

“We should get to shore.”

“We should.”

“Put some other clothes on. Preferably something not wet.”

She whines, the smallest of sounds humming on her lips. “Must we?”

“I—ah, fuck.” He pulls away, still clinging onto her as he stares ahead at the small boat rolling away on the cresting waves as if she has a mind of her own. “My boat…”

Meryta squirms, twisting around. “Your boat?”

“That one there.”

“The one where we—”

“Aye, yes, that’s the one.” Tansui sighs. “Too late to retrieve her now, the tides have taken her. By the time we seek her out, she will have run aground on a reef.”

A gentle smile tugs at her lips. “Can you get another one?”

“Aye, but tis not that one.” He sighs again, cursing his foolish mistake. Boats come and go, this he knows, and yet this one was special. She made it special. “We should return to shore.”

Judging from the furrow in her brow, she is still lost in thought. “Can you build another boat?” she asks, staring at his vessel as she crests another wave. Gone, gone, and out of sight. “Certainly the Confederacy has a shipwright, or do you steal all your ships from your neighbours?”

He snorts. “There is one, yes, Meryta, thank you, but I would not trouble him for this.”

“If I were to supply the resources, would he be willing to teach me?”

“What are you saying? That you will build me another boat?”

She turns his face towards hers and grins. “There’s more in my kit than a katana and a bow, you know,” she says. “I have a saw and a few other tools. I’ve never made a boat before, but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn. Perhaps I can contact Gridania and ask Beatin if he has any advice.” Her eyes brighten, limbal rings glowing, enthralled by the idea. “Race you to shore?”

He blinks, still stuck on the part where she said she would build him a boat, and nods. With a whoop, she dashes ahead, swimming freely beneath the waves. He gives chase, splashing after her until his feet touch ground. Then he breaks into a run, sloshing through the water until he has caught her again. She laughs, giggling madly as he lifts her into the air, kissing her again as they spin about on the white hot sands.

Namedays come and go, and this one he will remember.

[tk-duveraun]

Lian and the Capitalist Fuckboy AU 7/?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 (here). 8.

Featuring @illogicalghost 's Umumi Umi

“Blessings are not free.”

-

Lian meets the Warrior of Light and her entourage in Onokoro. She's more than halfway to horrified: they're all children. Lian is not ignorant of Lalafell, the way she was when she was younger, but Umumi is still perilously young, though still older than the Leveilleur twins. Even Lyse Hext is barely more than a teenager.

Lian feels a heavy instinct to hide all of them behind her sleeves and deal with matters herself, despite her people's non-intervention with the Domans up to this point.

"You'll have to forgive my rudeness, Madam Feng," Alisaie says, "but how can we trust you? It doesn't make sense for you to get involved now of all times. Far more likely you're here to sabotage us." She's all brash, sharp edges like Lian's sisters.

"My spouse is Eorzean," Lian answers easily. She shows them the wedding ring Hancock gifted to her for their wedding. "He asked very nicely that I might add my magic to the cause."

Umumi rocks on her feet, clutching her head in the grips of a vision from her Echo. She clutches Lyse's stabilizing hand and then stares up at Lian with wide eyes. "You have the Blessing of Light, too!"

Lian nods, "So it's called by your people, yes. It is thanks to the Blessing that I recently survived an illness that should have been fatal. As such, my people believe the Heavens wish for me to aid in fulfillment of the Blessing's purpose."

Alphinauld's eyes are bright. "Your people don't think it's a blessing from Hydaelyn?"

Lian covers her mouth with a round, hand fan. Ah the willful inquisition of the young. "The Blessing is from the Heavens; there's no need to introduce conflicts of faith."

Alisaie rolls her eyes so hard they look about to roll out of her skull.

Lyse laughs. "Spoken like a true politician!"

"Alright, then," Umumi says with friendliness, though some reservation. "Right now, we're planning to strike against the Red Kojin..."

Lian's frown deepens as she listens to their plans. "Assaulting someone's faith is quite cruel."

"It's not like that!" Umumi insists. "They're using stored aether to summon a primal! It's not a real god."

"Even if they weren't allied with the Garleans, the Red Kojin having summoned a primal is a problem, not just for us, but for them as well," Lyse adds.

"Primals draw on large amounts of ambient aether when summoned, not just what was used to manifest them. They don't deplete aether to extent of, say, the Burn, but there are measurable impacts on the surroundings. Then, once you add in tempering, they're indiscriminately dangerous."

"I see, but I will ensure the proper respects are paid. Destroying a facsimile of a god, even a dangerous one, maybe easily be seen as an insult to the heavens."

After the defeat of Susano, the Eorzeans are more comfortable with Lian.

"I've never seen magic like that!" Umi says with stars in her eyes.

"It felt very similar to Black Magic, but like nothing I've seen practiced before."

Lian nods. "I believe the Black Magic practiced in Eorzea follows from Mhachi traditions. They were admirable mages, no doubt, but my people's practices come from our own traditions. The similarities are formed from the inherent properties of aether and the fundamentals of aetheric manipulation. While purely offensive, my magic has more of a living base than Black Magic. While my staff is metal, many, including my own brothers, practice with living wood, much like your White Mages."

Umi barrages Lian with questions about both the links to White Magic and her brothers.

"Do you think Nature magic is more intuitive? My little sister Pinene can already channel White Magic and she's only twelve!"

"How we manipulate aether is informed by the culture in which we're raised, even if we don't seem to be learning about magic," Lian says. "Your family is from the area where White Magic is most often taught, yes? That would be most intuitive."

Umi considers this. "So if we lived in Ul'dah do you think she'd be doing Black Magic?"

Lian chuckles. "My understanding is that most buildings in Ul'dah are made of stone due to children accidentally creating fire as their talent for aetherial manipulation grows."

"Oh, you just need to meet Y'shtola!"

[biff-adventurer]

FFXIVWRITE 2023 - Prompt 4: Off the Hook

Ever adjusted her sunhat. The sun shone warmly on the beaches of Onokoro, where she and her faithful companion had come to fish. Well, he had come to fish. She’d tagged along for the chance to be with her friend, though she’d never say it aloud. She’d convinced him that her reason was the sketchbook in her lap. She preferred it over sentimental ‘I missed yous’ and ‘things have changed’. It was enough to sketch his silhouette against the blue horizon where sea met sky. He kicked his feet at the edge of the dock, waiting for a fish to nibble at his bait. His artisan’s smock suited him, robin’s egg blue, Far Eastern like the world around them. He was a natural born chameleon, after all.

“Oh! I’ve got one!”

She protectively closed her book. “It only took you half an hour.”

“It’s a big one!”

The moment she looked up, it was over. Shimmering silver scales, large red eyes! The fish that flopped through the air, hurtling her way, was as big as any midlander man. In the spirit of truth and logic, there was no reason Biff should’ve been able to heave it up so high. Well, truth and logic are no match for a man who bends reality–or a fish, for that matter. Suddenly, she was lying on the dock, soaking wet, holding onto the flopping fish for dear life.

“Don’t let it go!” cried Biff, scrambling towards her. “That fucker could feed a family!”

[jefarawol]

Time was ticking for Gosetsu. He was strong but that would only carry him so far. When we made to Onokoro the leader of the confederacy Rasho agreed to meet with us. He refused however to offer his aid in rescuing Gosetsu.

They were no friends of Doma, they had not been been when the Imperials invaded in the first place. And we had no credit, to ask for their aid when we were foreign and had offered nothing in return. It was no wonder we were refused outright.

We needed to make a plan, these people were struggling it was plain to see, surviving only by the grace of the kami's. Conflict was inevitable. We just needed to find something to drive them, to show them that they had the strength to weather the oncoming storm.

[tenjin-no-shinja]

第三話：いざなぎ・いざなみ

Nice little photo at the beginning of the chapter showing the spear used to create the earth

So this chapter was covering one of the stories most folks who learn Shinto Mythology know about so my translations this time are more to cover individual words related to Shinto and the story that appeared, and give definitions for them.

Vocabulary

高天原　たかあまはら Taka-ama Hara: high heavenly plain where the kami reside, alternative pronunciation is Takamagahara

下界　げかい Gekai: this world, as opposed to heaven

天沼矛　あめのぬぼこ Ame no Nuboko: the spear that raised the lands from the primordial soup

天浮橋　あめのうきはし Ame no Ukihashi: floating bridge of heaven, is the bridge that connected Takamagahara to Gekai (this world)

海原　うなばら Una-Bara: the sea plain

淤能碁呂島 おのころじま Onokoro-jima: Onokoro Island, was the first land that appeared when salt dripped off the spear that Izanami Ōkami and Izanagi Ōkami used to stir up the seas, alternative pronunciation is Onogoro

天の御柱　あめのみはしら Ame no Mihashira: pillar of heaven, the pillar Izanami Ōkami and Izanagi Ōkami built on Onogoro Island as a marker of the sacred space of their marriage and procreation of future kami.

神霊　しんれい Shinrei: Divine Spirit

八尋殿　やひろどの Yahirodono: the palace in which Izanami Ōkami and Izanagi Ōkami lived and procreated resulting in the birth of various kami

言霊　ことたま　Kototama: mysterious power of words to alter reality, alternative pronunciation is Kotodama

宮殿　きゅうでん Kyūden: palace, while not explicitly Shinto, both Ise Jingū and Izumo Taisha have described their main shrine’s as being built to be palaces

営み　いとなみ　Itonami: to hold (a Buddhist or Shinto ceremony)

水蛭子　ひるこ　Hiruko: the first kami born, who had no bones, to Izanami Ōkami and Izanagi Ōkami, and thus was set adrift at sea until he washed up ashore and was later taken in and cared for

葦船　あしぶね　Ashibune: boat made from reeds

泡島　あわしま　Awashima: the second to be born to Izanami Ōkami and Izanagi Ōkami, floated like a bubble and had no human shape in spite of the positive kotodama being used

命　みこと　Mikoto: a title given to kami and humans, the literal meaning is “the spoken words of a noble or the emperor”, in this story, their titles change from kami, to Mikoto, and they are told that since a name is imbued with life (another way to read the same kanji), that they should cherish each and every one.

End of Chapter Illustration