#Retainer of Light: William O'Donnell

[starsandauras]

Entry 30: Two Heads Are Better Than One

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 30: Two Heads Are Better Than One

Brigid sipped at her tea as William stood at the hunt mark board, deep in thought as he looked over the bills. She lowered her cup and perched her chin in her hand, laughing to herself as he frowned firmly enough to create deep furrows in his brows. Her dear twin, so often so very serious about matters.

Finally he took out a graphite stick and a small pad of paper and started taking notes. Once done he made his way back to her, dropping heavily in the chair across from her, taking a deep pull from his own drink.

“You were writin’ them all down, werenae you~?” she teased, and she smiled widely as he glared flatly at her.

“Loch ye’d be lettin’ me leave any ‘hind,” he grumbled, only for her smile to grow even wider.

“Nay ‘tall, mo chroí~” she sang lightly, laughing and jerking away from William’s playful swipe at her arm. But it was enough impetus for her to unroll her map of Tural and pull out her map pins. “Aye, well, shall we be startin’ in Urqopacha or Kozama'uka?”

William leaned in, picking up a map pin. “Best tae be startin’ in Urqopacha, tha’ goat sucker B rank’s there, shuld be takin’ it out early loch.” He checked his list and stuck a pin near the agave fields. Brigid nodded and added one near Icuvlo's Inn.

Between the two of them they worked out the most efficient path for each mark, including areas to check for the Chupacabra.

————

“Man,” Araki said as he handed Matsu his pack, “I’m glad Ajisai warned us about Eorzea wanting surnames.”

“A shame she didn’t warn us sooner,” Matsu agreed, setting his pack down next to his chair, tapping the hand holding his pen on the small table they had between them (one of Araki’s early carpentry attempts, one of the legs was slightly too short and the whole thing wobbled). “We could have been thinking this over long before now.”

Araki shrugged, crossing his arms behind his head. “It’s not like it matters, right? Just for the paperwork, we’ll likely be the only Araki and Matsu over there.”

Matsu sighed. He loved his brother, he did, but sometimes… “I’m sure someone will try to call us by surnames, Eorzea can be…”

“Weird?”

“…yes, weird. Not the word I was looking for, admittedly, though you’re not wrong.”

Another shrug as Araki kicked his feet up on the table. “Then let’s just pick something, dude. Something we at least don’t hate the sound of.”

“Where do you come up with these words?”

“Doesn’t matter. Name, pick one.”

Matsu sighed and started going down the list, the both of them considering and marking off various names.

Finally Araki lowered his feet and rubbed his face. “What about Ryuzaki? That old clan, they’re dead now right? No one to contest it?”

Matsu blinked and looked down at his list. “That’s… not a terrible idea.”

“Great, we’re good, let’s fill out the paperwork and get going.”

————

Once upon a time, when the Leveilleur twins were very young, and more prone to getting along, sometimes they could be found in their nursery. Free to be the young children they were, and not the prodigies their family knew they could be.

Alphinaud had not yet shown his talent in art, and so the children were joined in crayon drawings, the two of them sprawled on their bellies on the floor, Alisaie’s feet kicked up and swaying happily back and forth.

“Alisaie, that’s not the color of grass!”

“It is here.”

“But it isn’t!”

“I’m pretending, Alphinaud.”

Alphinaud pouted as his sister colored the ground in teal, but couldn’t come up with an argument he thought she would listen to. So he continued coloring the sky, in the correct shade of blue.

They shifted slightly to make more room for each other, Alisaie’s feet still kicked up, as they drew themselves, holding their grandfather’s hands. The three were little more than blobs of blue, red, and brown and white, but they could tell who they were and that was what mattered to the twins.

Suddenly they heard a door open in the hallway, and Alisaie’s head snapped up. “Grandfather!” she called out, all but snatching the drawing out from under Alphinaud’s yellow crayon (and Alphinaud was relieved that the crayon wasn’t actually in contact with paper at the time) and dashed out of the room.

Alphinaud followed a little slower (honestly, how did Alisaie move so fast?), but soon caught up in time to see Louisoix kneel and wrap his arms tightly around his granddaughter, laughing all the while. “Hello to you as well, my dear,” he greeted warmly, and extended his arm to invite Alphinaud in. “There’s my grandson,” he added, as Alphinaud easily joined them.

“Grandfather! Look what Alphinaud and I made!” Alisaie all but shoved the drawing in Louisoix’s face, but the older man easily moved back with the experience of both father and grandfather. He smiled and released the twins in order to take the picture in hand, giving the picture its due.

“Well look at this,” he said, grinning at them both. “A perfect picture of the three of us.” He stood, with only a little difficulty, ruffling both twins’ hair. “I shall put this in a place of honor in my office.”

Louisoix smiled down at them, warmly enough that suddenly, Alphinaud didn’t mind what color Alisaie had used for the grass, because it was good enough for their grandfather.

[starsandauras]

Entry 10: Stable

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 10: Stable "Lung fever" is an archaic term for pneumonia.

Brigid was three years old when the lung fever set in.

She didn’t remember it well, mainly she remembered the struggle to breathe, the feeling of her parents’ hands checking her, hushed conversations that she didn’t quite understand, and William. She remembered William curled around her, silent but steady, as though he could somehow guard her from her illness. She remembered him holding her close as she coughed into his chest, and how much it hurt. She remembered holding tight to him, her breath rattling in her chest.

William never caught it. They were never able to figure out why.

Recovery was long and slow, unable to keep up with her brothers for very long before her chest started to burn, before she started coughing and couldn’t stop. Her da would pause, sigh, and easily scoop her up to carry her around. It wasn’t fair! She wanted to run around and play like all the other kids!

She got sick again. And then again. Over and over, before she reached ten years. More than a child her age should. Every time her parents fretted. Every time William was at her side. Every time recovery took that much longer. Every time they would have to spend more and more coin on her.

William still never got sick. She could cough in his face (and had a time or two, accidentally) and not once did he catch whatever illness had attacked his sister this time. Sometimes Brigid was angry at him for it, that he got to be healthy, but most of the time she was simply glad he was there for her.

Especially when he figured out how to get her back out of spasm, so that sleeping would be easier, and recovery could be that much quicker.

As she got older she got sick less, but the damage had been done. The sole blessing of her young age meant it was easier to adapt, for her body to adjust to the damage. Sometimes she could even pass for someone healthy. But when the cold sank in, when she pushed herself past what she knew were her limits, when things were stressful, she would collapse, end up with whatever illness of the lungs was passing by.

But William would be right beside her, holding her close as she coughed into his shoulder, digging his knuckles into her back. Always.

[starsandauras]

Prompt 13: Check

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 13: Check

“Coffee biscuits, fourteen?” Brigid read off the list, looking up at William, who was seemingly shoulder deep into her bag.

After a moment of rummaging, William pulled a smaller bag out and opened it, taking only a moment before he nodded. “Aye.”

Brigid hummed and went back to the list. “Raw rubies, six?” A hum and a nod. “Allagan platinum bits, two hundred?”

“…seriously, Bi Bi?” he asked, looking up at her.

She shrugged. “They’re fittin’ somehow, and I’m savin’ them for the Enclave. Should be in a wee bag.”

William sighed but he dug around again, pulling out a small coin bag. He opened it, then huffed. “Allagan gold bits.”

“Oh, should be a hundred of those.”

William shook his head but started counting them anyway, mouthing the numbers as he did. “Aye, ‘undred.” He sat the bag to the side and resumed his search for the platinum pieces, eventually finding and counting them. “Gang tae be doin’ a purge of yer damned bags one of these days,” he grumbled.

“So you’ve been sayin’ for a year now,” Brigid murmured. “Namazu, one?”

“Brigid!”

“I’m kiddin’, I’m kiddin’!”

[starsandauras]

Four of my darlings from the benchmark! Bri, Will, Artie, and introducing Connor! Please imagine Artie with his glasses, I know he doesn't look right without them and I'm a console player, so I'm a Bit Limited in what I can do. Only change is I turned off something called Gamma Correction (in the display settings tab) so they wouldn't be so washed out.

I am living for how I can see the light through Bri and Will's ears specifically, I did a little flailing when I first ran Bri through the benchmark and I saw it. Just. So little but it means so much.

Gonna give the laptop a bit of time to cool down before I start plugging in the rest of the O'Donnells. Might even show off Cred while I'm at it.

[starsandauras]

Prompt 7: Noisome

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 7: Noisome "Beag amhain" translates to "little one"

“N-nay,” Brigid weakly whined, just as weakly pushing her mother’s hand away.

Brigitte pulled back just a little, fingers of one hand glistening with beeswax, the other holding a jar. She sighed, looking down at her seven year old daughter. “Beag amhain,” she started softly, slowly, “you’re knowin’ it’ll help you.”

Brigid shook her head with all the energy she could muster, pulling her blanket up to her face, rolling to her side to hide her face in her pillow. William shifted enough to stay tucked up next to her side, looking up at their mother balefully. “Nay,” she said again, a touch more insistent.

Their mother sighed again, shoulders rising and dropping, before turning to their father. “Hereward,” she said, and it was the tone of tired mothers with willful children the world over, desperate for help from the other parent.

Hereward sighed and stirred the honey colored liquid in his own bowl before coming to Brigitte’s side, sitting down. “Ocean dear,” he said, dragging his daughter’s attention to him. “Ye need tae breathe.”

“C’n breathe,” she grumbled, just before a crackling cough erupted from her throat, to be muffled in her pillow. William made a sad noise before starting to dig tiny fists into her back.

“C’n ye?” Hereward asked, an eyebrow raising for a moment. “Be easier if ye’d let yer mum rub some salve on yer chest.”

Brigid, her eyes screwed shut as she coughed, barely opened one to first glare at her father, then her mother. “Stinks,” she grumbled, somehow managing to burrow her way even further into bed.

“A lot,” grumbled William, easily following after his sister.

Their parents looked at each other, a wordless conversation passing between them. Brigid started coughing again. Finally they both sighed. “Beag amhain,” Brigitte first, then. “I’ll bake an apple for you, if you’ll let me apply the ointment.”

Brigid narrowed her eyes at her mother. “An apple an’ a honey cake,” she countered, turning her eyes on her father, more specifically the bowl in his hands, the smell of onion wafting from it. “Icky.”

They looked at each other again, and Hereward shrugged. Brigitte sighed and shook her head fondly. “Aye, alright beag amhain. But only if you dinnae fuss about taking the cough honey when you’re supposed to.”

Brigid turned to her other side, locking eyes with William. A similar wordless conversation passed between the twins, until finally William nodded. Brigid scowled but finally nodded as well.

The camphor ointment still stank, and the onion soaked honey still tasted disgusting.

[starsandauras]

Prompt 2: Bark

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 2: Bark

The boat rocked steadily, as the small family sailed the waves of the Rhotano Sea. Brigitte held wee Arthur close to her chest as Hereward kept a weather eye on the twins. Llewellyn had remained on shore to watch over his latest wounded creature, and he was a calm enough child to be trusted with such a thing.

Brigid and William, however, were running up and down the deck of the small fishing boat, hand in hand, with Brigid leading the way through narrower bits. It was rare these days to see her so active and excited, and Hereward didn’t have the heart to make her stop. He did of course stand very close to them when they approached the sides, but they both always stopped just short of it, a respectful distance from the water.

The two of them had been born on this very boat, five years ago now. While they both were named for fire, they were both children of the ocean, connected to the water in a way few other children, even in La Noscea, were. Brigid especially was enthralled by the way the light sparkled over the water.

Perhaps someday his children would be sailors, even captains of their own ships. The pirate life would suit his Brigid, and perhaps even Arthur as he grew older. He already seemed the stubborn sort, and a captain did need to hold firm with their crew.

But for now they were but children, finding simple joy in the sun on water, the sound of the waves against the wood, and the rocking of the boat beneath their feet. And it was a soothing thing, the joy of the young, for an elder’s heart.

[starsandauras]

Prompt 3: Temper

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 3: Temper

So this deals with the aftermath of Fuckface’s Fourchenault’s introduction in 5.5. As you can expect, it’s rough. Be safe.

Also, Will’s accent is here.

Thancred didn’t know where Brigid had gotten off to. He’d expected her to be with Alisaie, but instead found Cred with her, the two of them hugging each other tightly. He’d stayed silent, not wanting to interrupt the moment between aunt and nephew, and returned to his search.

“Have you seen Brigid?” he finally asked William, after checking his room. It wasn’t uncommon for her to hole up with her twin after fraught events, but she wasn’t there either.

William shrugged, not looking up from his task of sharpening Brigid’s daggers. “She took ‘er staff an’ ran off, nay tellin’ where tae.”

Thancred blinked, confusion writ clear across his face. Brigid hadn’t picked up any of her black mage weapons in what seemed like years, since being recruited by the Sisters. “…which staff?” he finally asked.

Another shrug as William thumbed at a blade, testing the edge. “Ye ‘member tha’ one she wus pickin’ up back in Rak’Tika?” Thancred did indeed remember that one. She’d mentioned how nice it was that the focus was flat, how it’d do very well as a bludgeoning weapon if push came to shove.

(As it was still during their… estrangement, he wasn’t entirely uncertain he wasn’t the one getting shoved.)

He was about to respond when the sounds of an explosion came through the walls, muffled though it was. William finally looked up, huffing out a small laugh. “Found ‘er,” he said, wan smile on his face.

“Indeed,” Thancred murmured, giving William a distracted wave before following the sounds of apparent destruction out the door of the Stones, out of Mor Dhona itself, and down the path towards the Tangle and Castrum Centri.

The splattered remains of the Nyx that usually roamed the area told him exactly what Brigid was exploding. They had needed culling anyway, though it was a task usually left to less experienced adventurers these days.

He turned the corner of a rock formation just in time to see Brigid fling out her arms, staff in one hand, the hems of her favorite robe fluttering around her feet (the one she’d been gifted from the Mol, well cared for all these years), hair flying around her head from the force of the aetheric explosion he recognized as Fire IV. When the flames cleared a gigas dropped at her feet, body still smoking.

He propped himself against the rocks and crossed his arms, trying to appear nonchalant, mostly for her sake. “Spitfire?” he called out, and tried not to flinch as Brigid turned her gaze on him. She had earned that nickname honestly, and he could see her beautiful eyes still burning, watched that lovely mouth twist like the flames were about to force their way out with him as her new target. She blinked, once, twice, and the flames were forced to bank.

“Miodóg,” she called back, voice not quite flat, but certainly far less energetic. He took that as his okay to approach her, and he did, holding his hand out for hers. She tiredly jabbed the end of her staff in the ground and took them, letting him draw her against his chest.

“I heard,” he murmured, as she settled her head on his shoulder. “The broadest of strokes, of course.” Brigid made a sad noise, and he rubbed her back slowly. “Tell me what happened?”

“How could he be doin’ that?” she asked, sorrow almost drowning her words. “How could he be disownin’ them like that?” She was shuddering, the surest sign of her attempting to hold back tears and on the edge of failing. “He’s havin’ amazin’, wonderful, brilliant children! How could he be doin’ that?” A great sob tore itself from her chest, and he held her tighter, trying to shield her from anyone who might see her in such a state. “Throwin’ them ‘way loch trash!”

“I don’t know,” he murmured, a hand threading into her hair and cradling her head. He couldn’t understand it, couldn’t understand how any father, even one like Fourchenault, could do such a thing to his children. He couldn’t do it to Cred, and Cred wasn’t even his, as far as blood went (his in all the other ways that mattered though). He knew Louisoix would be furious with his son, however. Privately he hoped Ameliance destroyed her husband upon his return to Sharlayan.

Privately he also knew this wasn’t wholly about Fourchenault Leveilleur, not consciously; this was as much about Hereward O’Donnell, but he wasn’t about to bring that up to Brigid.

“Even Alphinaud’s nay a bad son! He’s growin’ up bein’ a fine man! He was jus’ stumblin’ a lot!” It was probably the most positive thing Brigid had ever said about Alphinaud, and Thancred tried not to breathe out a laugh as she said it. “And Alisaie! She was curin’ temperin’, and he wasnae even carin’! All the work they’ve been doin’, and they’re bein’ treated loch naythin’!” She inhaled deeply, breath shuddering, and she looked up at Thancred. His heart broke a thousand times over as he took in reddened, tear-filled eyes, her own broken heart splashed across her face. “You werenae hearin’ Alisaie,” she whispered. “What she was sayin’ to Alphinaud, how both of them were devastated.” She tightened her hand in his shirt, as though that would get across the pain they’d all suffered. “How could we be lettin’ him walk ‘way?”

Thancred sighed and rested his head on hers, as Brigid buried her face in his shoulder again, her own shuddering in quiet sobs. “He’s lucky he lived,” Thancred murmured, smiling softly when he heard a wet laugh come from her. “He deserves to be the one lying at your feet, smoldering. But right now we need to focus on Alisaie and Alphinaud.” He squeezed her tight, trying to comfort her. “Cred’s with Alisaie right now, and Urianger’s going to talk to her soon.”

Brigid nodded weakly. “Cred’s a good lad,” she whispered. “He dinnae lochs seein’ his Auntie Saie sad.” She sniffled, pulling back again. “Where’s Alphinaud?”

“Estinien’s with him, they’re probably collecting firewood or something.” And Brigid laughed at that, eyes sparkling with something other than tears, finally. “He’ll probably come out of this with Estinien’s surname now.”

Brigid nodded again. “I was thinkin’ of offerin’ Alisaie me own, if Urianger wasnae offerin’ her his first.” She sighed softly. “And I’m thinkin’ of writin’ Dulia-Chai, might be doin’ Alphinaud some good to be hearin’ from her.”

“Or she’ll be so furious that she’ll find a way to cross the Rift under her own power and have words with Fourchenault herself,” Thancred risked joking, and smiled wider when Brigid laughed again, leaning into him. “Come now, we should return to the Stones, let the Nyx population recover.” He looked down at their feet, where the gigas’s body remained. “Or before the rest of the gigas notice us.”

Brigid looked down at it as well, and after a moment she pulled away from Thancred. Screaming with rage she tore her staff out of the ground and bludgeoned at the gigas, ending with a savage kick. Breath heaving she turned back to Thancred, putting her hand in his.

“Goin’ to be killin’ that man next I’m seein’ him,” she declared, voice rough. “Or ‘least punchin’ him.”

“And he will deserve every moment of it,” Thancred agreed, as the two made their way back up the hill towards Mor Dhona.

[starsandauras]

Prompt 7: Pawn

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 7: Pawn

Will’s accent makes a return~

Brigid stood to William’s side as he laid the items out on the counter. Clothes that Connor had outgrown but were still in good enough repair, shoes they’d all grown out of, crystals that they’d found, even a few articles of jewelry that had belonged to their mother. The lalafell behind the counter squinted at each item, tutting and shaking his head over most of it and setting aside the rest, mainly the crystals and jewelry.

He sighed once he’d gone through everything, taking a pencil out from behind his ear and doing some sums on a pad of paper. “Ye don’t bring much, do ye?” he asked, making the twins look to the ground in embarrassment. “Well, this is what I can give ye.”

He slid the paper over to William, and he looked over it, frowning. “Jes’ five ‘undered gil? Fer all tha’?!”

The lalafell shrugged, shaking his head. “I’m limited by what ye bring, and what it’s worth. If ye don’t bring anything of worth…” William grumbled and Brigid patted his arm, the movement drawing the other man’s attention. “Oh, that’s a pretty ring ye’re wearin’ there, lass.”

Around Brigid’s neck was a gold chain, and upon that chain was an amethyst set in a gold ring. She blinked up in surprise and absently put a hand just below it. “Aye, thank ye…” she said hesitantly, confused.

“I’d be more than happy to take that off yer hands for a pretty sum,” the lalafell all but sang at her. “Say… one hundred gil?”

Brigid shook her head furiously and even tucked the necklace under her top, pulling her shawl tightly around herself, sinking away from the man. “Nay,” she said, quietly but firmly. “Nay.”

“You’re quite certain? Not even for… a hundred fifty?”

“Th’ lass wus sayin’ nay,” William nearly growled. “Jes’ be givin’ us th’ five ‘undred an’ we’ll be leavin’.”

Another shrug and head shake. “Very well then, not that ye can afford to turn down such an offer in yer state…” Still, items and gil were exchanged, and the two of them collected the rejects.

Brigid snuggled close to William as they left and William wrapped his arm around her protectively. “He’s nay gang tae touch it, Bi Bi,” he murmured to her, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her hair.

“He cannae have it,” she whispered. “Dinnae care how bad things are gettin’, he’s nay gettin’ Mum’s ring, and nay is anyone else.”

William nodded and gently stroked her hair, thinking of all the other items their mother had left their family. “Nay if Ah’m havin’ anythin’ tae say ‘bout it.”

[starsandauras]

Prompt 8: Tepid

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 8: Tepid

Will’s accent’s back again. Guess Will wants to talk a lot this year.

Connor sat in a corner of the aetheryte courtyard in Mor Dhona, prodding at a rock with a stick, curled up in on himself and sighing softly. He was in a Mood, with all the seriousness the capital deserved, but he didn’t know why. Not that that was especially unusual, really. Connor tended to Moods, ever since he was a child.

Which was why he didn’t react at all when he heard William drop to the ground next to him. “Alreet lad, ‘tis botherin’ ye?” Connor shrugged, still prodding at the rock. “Loch tha’, huh?”

Connor shrugged again, barely putting enough energy into ignoring his brother. For a few minutes they remained like that, Connor prodding at a rock and William sitting next to him, watching the aetheryte slowly spin. William’s sigh was the only warning Connor would get before getting dragged against William’s chest, squawking in shock. “William! Swivin’ ‘ell!” William propped his chin on Connor’s shoulder, smirking.

“Got ye talkin’,” he teased. “‘C’mon lad, ye ken ye c’n talk tae me.”

“There’s nothing to talk about! I’m just in a mood! I don’t know why!” William hummed, nodding in understanding. “And before you ask, aye I’ve eaten, slept, and had water.”

“Sae ye’re jes’ in a mood,” he agreed, humming again. “Might be needin’ a better distraction than a rock then,” he said before tilting his head towards the gleaming spire he’d heard people talk about. “Been hearin’ folk talkin’ ‘bout them findin’ somethin’ doon thar. Try helpin’ them out, see if ‘tis helpin’ ye.”

Connor blinked at the spire, considering it. It would be a change, and it’s not like he’d have to be all Warrior of Light with them (oh, maybe that was part of the Mood, he thought), and he wouldn’t be in the shadow of his family either (…oh, that too…). “Yeah, okay.”

William laughed and ruffled Connor’s hair before standing and helping his brother up. “Thar ye gae! Enjoy yerself lad!”

Connor didn’t exactly have the highest expectations, but at this point? It certainly couldn’t hurt.

[starsandauras]

Prompt #15: Thunderous

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 15: Thunderous

Hi so time to deal with the Calamity!

Brigid held Connor and Arthur close against her, William standing behind the three of them, all of them looking up at the sky. Above them they could see the moon slowly coming down on what they knew were the Carteneau Flats.

“They sent me home,” Arthur grumbled even as he tucked himself closer to his sister. “Said I was too young to join the signal corps.” Brigid hummed and brushed her hand through his hair.

“They were sendin’ me home too,” she murmured. “Sayin’ we should be with our families, if we’re havin’ them.” Connor wordlessly clung to Brigid, the twelve year old’s eyes wide. “‘Tis alreet, me wee wolf…” she whispered to him, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

Llewellyn came out of the house, holding several bags. He handed three of them to William, the younger brother nodding silently. “We’re where we’re needed,” he said softly.

Brigid nodded, holding Connor tighter. William passed one of the bags to her. She took it, resting it against her back. Suddenly she stiffened, eyes glazing over. “We’re needin’ to be runnin’,” she said flatly, before blinking back into awareness. “Now!”

Her bothers had long learned to listen to her in such situations, and they did as told, even Connor setting off at a mad dash at Brigid’s words. Only a few minutes into their apparent escape there came a massive CRACK and an equally massive gust of wind nearly knocked all five of them down. Llewellyn grabbed Connor and William swept up Brigid, meaning that they were the two that saw exactly what had caused such sound and wind.

A gigantic dragon hung in the air, wings spreading wider than should have been possible, where the moon once had been.

“Keep running!” Brigid screamed, or she thought she did. Her throat suddenly hurt after she heard the words, so she must have been the one to say them. The others in their small village followed her orders, screaming and panicking all the while. The O’Donnells meanwhile plowed their way through the crowd, Llewellyn, William, and Arthur refusing to look back, and Brigid and Connor with their eyes closed, still being carried by their brothers.

Even years later they didn’t remember what came after, what came after the running and the screaming and the horrifically loud noises. They knew what others had reported, such as that Archon Louisoix had somehow saved them all, at the presumed cost of his own life; or what was in front of their faces, such as the ruin of the West Shroud, the leavings of the terrible tidal wave they had narrowly evaded.

All they truly remembered was the near deafening roar, the sky turning into fire, and the dragon’s overpowering need to obliterate everything.

They huddled with other refugees in a barn one night, each one of them holding a tepid cup of tea. Brigid was the only one to voice the question they were all thinking. “Where’s Da?” she asked quietly. None of them had an answer, and Brigid wasn’t certain she was seeking one.

[starsandauras]

Prompt #21: Feckless

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 21: Feckless

Featuring Iolaire Argentum in his first appearance this year! He belongs to @corbix , who is wonderful. Therefore this is part of the For the Dancing and the Dreaming AU.

Oh, and, Will’s Accent

Estinien Wyrmblood was Suffering. Suffering.

It was only himself and the Warriors of Light sitting at the campfire for the moment, William having left to bathe nearly half a bell ago. Brigid had gotten back before him and had spent the next few minutes drying her hair in front of the fire.

Now she and Iolaire were all but cuddled up together as she sat in front of him, he braiding her hair. They were talking about something, not that Estinien could hear it from where he was sitting, but it apparently made them both smile sheepishly and laugh like besotted teens. And Iolaire was a man long since grown and widowed!

It almost made Estinien sick to watch.

He huffed to himself and continued to run his whetstone along the bladed bits of his lance, making a note to polish it at some point. A well maintained weapon was nearly as important as the soldier wielding it, after all.

(It was not a childish bit of competition with the former Silver Eagle. It was not. Especially since said former Silver Eagle was mooning over a younger woman like an absolute fucking idiot.)

He heard the crunching footsteps long before their owner came into his field of vision, but he knew the weight of them anywhere. He grunted a hello to William as Brigid’s (much smarter) twin brother dropped down beside him.

“Daes ‘e have his bloody fingers in ‘er hair?” he grumbled, scrubbing at his own hair with a bit of flannel.

“He’s braiding it,” Estinien grumbled back. “And he’s lingering over it, so either he’s an utter loss for braiding, or he’s just that easily distracted.”

William grumbled under his breath as he set the flannel aside to dry. “Ye gang tae tell ‘er or shuld Ah?” he asked, starting to go through his pack, organizing it to his liking.

“She’s your sister,” Estinien shot back.

“An’ Ah dinnae care tae be stickin’ me nose intae her sex life,” William retorted easily, and Estinien wrinkled his nose in sympathy. “‘Sides, ‘tis botherin’ ye more th’n me.”

Estinien huffed again, pointedly returning to his lance. William had a point but by the Fury he was not going to let him know that.

“Swiving idiots,” he grumbled instead.

[starsandauras]

Prompt #9: Friable

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 9: Friable (defined as “crumbly”)

Warning: Will’s Accent has arrived.

Brigid, Connor, William, Llewellyn, and Araki sat silently at a table. Connor sighed and leaned back in his chair. Llewellyn hummed softly and worked on a checklist. Brigid swayed in her chair as she knit. William slowly leaned over the table, eventually ending up with his face on it. Araki picked at his nails.

“Why…” William started slowly, “are we lettin’ th’ runt cook?”

“It’s good to be supportive,” Llewellyn murmured, adding another item to his list.

“There’s havin’ to be somethin’ the wee lad can be cookin’, we’re just needin’ to be findin’ it,” Brigid agreed.

“Does anyone else remember the time the stove exploded?” Connor asked, affecting a disinterested air. “Because I remember the time the stove exploded.”

“Matsu’s in there with him, remember?” Araki replied, toeing at an empty chair opposite of him. “He’s the one working the oven.”

Connor hummed disbelievingly. “If you say so…”

Brigid and Llewellyn sighed. “Like Llew was sayin’, ‘tis bein’ good to be supportive. Lad cannae be learnin’ if we’re nay helpin’ him.”

“Th’ oven ‘sploded twice,” William grumbled, and the others fell into silence once again.

Half a bell passed before Matsu opened the door, letting Arthur out in front of him, the latter carrying a plate piled high with cookies. William’s head lifted from the table, blinking.

“Dinnae smell burnt,” he murmured, a touch of awe in his voice.

Araki laughed and bounced out of his chair, further bouncing his way to stand at Arthur’s other side. “Look at that! And they’re not gelatinous globs!”

Arthur huffed and rolled his eyes. “Yes yes, they’re neither burnt nor globs, they’re perfectly serviceable chocolate chunk cookies, if you’d all like to try them.” He set the plate down in the center of the table, his siblings leaning in to examine them closely.

Brigid was the first one to reach out and take one, quickly followed by Llewellyn. William and Connor soon followed, though a bit more hesitantly than the older two. She turned the cookie back and forth, humming as she examined it. “‘Tis havin’ good color,” she said brightly, a smile on her face as she looked over at Arthur. “Smellin’ ‘mazin’ too.”

A weak smile crossed Arthur’s face, as well as a light blush. “Thank you.”

“Yeah but how do they taste?!” Araki asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

The siblings looked at each other, then nodded, taking a bite in unison.

They chewed their cookies. Arthur chewed his lower lip.

Finally Connor and William frowned and shook their heads. Llewellyn made a sad noise. Brigid swallowed and instantly took a sip of tea.

“What’s wrong?” Arthur asked, the smile long gone from his face.

“Dry,” complained Connor, going for his own cup of tea (which was likely heavily adulterated with whiskey, knowing him).

Arthur made a strangled whimper and turned to Brigid, profound disappointment tugging at the corners of his eyes.

She nodded in agreement, but took another bite of cookie. “Aye, wee bit,” she said, a soothing tone in her voice. “But ‘tis bein’ an easy fix, either you’re cookin’ them a wee bit too long or your havin’ too much flour. And they’re nay bein’ so dry a cup of tea cannae be fixin’ what’s bein’ baked.” She patted the table, like she would Arthur’s hand. “You’re just needin’ to be tryin’ ‘gain, ‘tis all.”

Arthur dropped down into the chair opposite Araki’s, further dropping his head onto the table. “That’s all? You swear?”

Araki bounced back to his seat, grabbing a cookie. Matsu laughed softly and took his own as he sat in the last empty chair. Biting into it, he chewed thoughtfully. After a moment he nodded. “That’s all,” he agreed. “Next time we’ll ask F’eli to join us, I’m sure he’ll be happy to help sort this out.”

Arthur raised his head and whined, but reached out for a cookie as well. A silence fell over them as he tried his own creation, and he sighed after swallowing. “Crumbly too,” he grumbled. He looked over at Brigid. “Too much flour?”

“Aye, likely. But be havin’ F’eli check for you, I’m nay a confectioner.”

He hummed, taking another bite. “Not bad otherwise.”

Llewellyn smiled, sipping his tea. “Not at all. You’ll get better. I have faith in you.”

[starsandauras]

:3c 5 (What does your character think of the Echo? What was it like when they first experienced it?) for ALL THE O'DONNELLS, PLEASE

For the dash record: After clarification it’s siblings only, no Ryuzaki twins or Sammy. SO. ALL FIVE O’DONNELLS BECAUSE BOY DOES WILL HAVE THOUGHTS.

Brigid: The auto-translate feature is very nice, she’s got to admit to that. The past viewing part of the Echo is pretty useful, but she also gets flash forwards (Which was decided and has appeared in fic well before Mikoto showed up by the way) that are functionally useless as far as she’s concerned. The flashes are so general that they’re not always helpful. She’s always had that manifestation of the Echo, well before it kicked into high gear, as it was, so she doesn’t really remember the first time ‘round. It certainly didn’t used to be as strong as it is now though.

Arthur: Another one who likes the auto-translate, though he wishes it would help with the “can’t look people in the eye” thing or the “oh god this particular sensation is horrible please take it away” thing. The Echo itself is a “this sensation is horrible” thing sometimes, actually. It feels very close to how a meltdown hangover feels and it screws with his mind. He was the first to have a “looks like a heart attack” Echo, and he’s fairly certain as he looks back that his first Echo vision came either mid-meltdown or caused one, because he can’t remember it not being horrible.

Llewellyn: Look let’s just say they all like the auto-translate thing. Llew probably has a better relationship to the Echo than the others, though he could really do without how bad it hits. He feels like it helps him with his healing, able to find more hidden hurts. His was another childhood manifestation, not that he realized it at the time. He’s pretty sure it’s a massive part of why he’s as skilled at healing as he is. It started as a vague itch at the base of his skull, and it’s just gotten worse from there.

Connor: Okay look his childhood isn’t the only reason he drinks. It’s never treated him very well, kicking in when he was 14. He tried to hide it too, because they’ve got enough shit, he doesn’t want to add to it or have them treat him like a baby over it. It’s certainly enough trouble now as it is.

Will: TAKE THE DAMNED THING AWAY FROM THEM HOLY SHIT CRYSTAL MOM DOES IT REALLY NEED TO KNOCK THEM ON THEIR ARSES EVERY DAMN TIME?! This kills the man, really.

[starsandauras]

Smash or Pass: Merlwyb

For all!

Bri just turns red and squeaks. Will rolls his eyes. “Th’ lass is lochin’ her tits,” he says blandly, then dodges a halfhearted flailing slap from his twin sister. “Fer her, be smashed. Fer me…” He hums and tilts his head in an almost eerie mirror of Bri. “’Sumin’ she’d nay be killin’ me fer considerin’ it, aye, smash fer me tae.”

Arthur huffs and crosses his arms. “Putting aside that I’m a Captain in the Maelstrom and thus how inappropriate it would be for the moment… I like men. Hard pass.” He does pause a moment. “Though she is aesthetically pleasing to look at, I can’t deny that at all.”

“Ye loch ‘er husband,” Will adds with a smirk, and then dodges another angry sibling.

“They’re not confirmed married now shut up!”

Bri continues to be red and squirm awkwardly in her seat, completely ignoring the scuffle. “She’s really pretty…” she murmurs.

—-

Yeah, the Armorer 50 quest Did Things for her.

[”smash or pass” meme]

[starsandauras]

Prompt #7: Forgiven Child

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 7: Forgiven

THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE LEVEL 79 TRIAL OF SHADOWBRINGERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE THAT TRIAL DO NOT READ THIS. THIS IS YOUR OFFICIAL SPOILER WARNING.

I have also rearranged a few things for the sake of flow. Forgive (no pun intended) me this artistic liberty.

Brigid could hear the footsteps of the Scions running up behind her (even Thancred’s, as quiet as they had always been, had always been equally the clearest to her ears), but she otherwise disregarded them, her eyes locked on the broken golden figure on the floor before her.

“Why? Why am I cast down… when it is you who are the villains?” She sighed, ready to tune out whatever justification he thought would matter to her when he spoke again. “Father told me… that I am hope. I am righteousness. That I am… a god…”

She felt a familiar spike of pain lance through her head, hand flying to her temple and she groaned. Not now! She didn’t need this now!

“Spitfire!”

“Jes’ th’ Echo,” she could hear William growl, knowing that he was holding Thancred back from running over to her.

She could feel it, being pulled to witness what could only be Vauthry’s past, the fuzzy voices and sepia toned images reaching out to her.

…I will bring hither a Lightwarden. By giving its power to the babe within your lady wife’s womb, we shall create a transcendent being — a king to rule over all. And as sire to the king, your authority will never again be in question.

(Oh of course that absolute idiot was responsible for all this. By the Twelve Brigid wanted to stab that smug look off his face.)

With this gift, my line shall be guaranteed power for perpetuity! We shall rule the whole world!

(Oh… oh no wonder…)

As she came out of the Echo Brigid could feel her heart fall into her feet and break for the one before her. “Oh páiste bocht,” she murmured, walking forward and kneeling in front of him. She lightly placed a hand on his arm, head lowered. “You werenae ever havin’ a chance, were you?”

“How can this be? I should be the one… looking down at you…”

She shook her head, settling next to his, eyes downcast. “Nay one’s lookin’ down at you, páiste bocht,” she soothed, “only bein’ sad ‘tis your fate.” She felt the tears prickling behind her eyes, feeling nothing but sorrow now. With parents like that, with a conception like that, being told and raised like that, what else could have happened?

“Help me…”

“‘Course, dear.” She patted his hand gently, though her own was so much smaller and she could only really pat a finger. “Shall I be singin’ you to sleep?” It took just a moment, but soon she heard a soft and so very young sounding mm-hmm. “Lullaby and goodnight,” she sang softly, stroking Innocence’s hair. “With roses bedight, with lilies o’er spread…” She swallowed in the pause, shaking her head. “Is baby’s wee bed.”

“What is she doing?” she heard Ryne ask, more confused than anything.

“Every mother’s heart breaks for a child,” Urianger replied, voice soft. “It matters naught what crimes they hath committed.”

(Unbeknownst to Brigid, Thancred bowed his head, knowing that they were both thinking of the toddler they had left behind on the Source, wondering when Mum and Da would come home.)

“Lay thee down now and rest.” She continued to stroke his hair, listening to his soft weeping. Soon he started to fade, his body turning into Light. As the Light rose and it hovered in the air, Brigid allowed a single tear to fall.

May thy slumber be blessed…

[starsandauras]

Smash or pass: Aymeric, for the whole trio. 0:)

Bri and Will sit quietly for a minute, pondering this.

“Aye, smash,” Bri finally says, shrugging. “He’s bein’ an attractive sort, and oh goodness that voice.”

Will nods. “Aye, be readin’ dry trade ‘greements an’ Ah’d be hangin’ on e’ery wurd.” He shrugs though. “He’d have tae be th’ one askin’, but Ah’d be a wee bit confused, dinnae think Ah’m bein’ his type.”

Bri pats his arm. “Maybe he’s bein’ the sort for a wee bit of rough? Those high class folk seem to be doin’ that a fair bit.”

“Oh, loch Iolaire?”

“Hush, you.” Then Bri blinks, looking over at Arthur… who has gone about as red as his Maelstrom uniform. “Arthur dear?” He mutters something, looking away from her, and she tilts her head. “Wee bear?”

Araki pokes his head over. “He’s got a crush.” And disappears as suddenly as he arrived.

“Araki Ryuzaki-O’Donnell I was tellin’ ye that in th’ strictest confidence!”

“Oh, full hyphenated name,” Bri murmurs.

“An’ accent, wee lad’s mad,” agrees Will. “Ye think’ he’s a smash tae?”

“Oh the hardest of smashes.”

[”smash or pass” meme]