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thetinyreviews · 6 months ago

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TGCF characters as zodiac signs

I base everything on my astrology knowledge and descriptions of the sun signs are from Labyrinthos.

Xie Lian - Sagittarius

The Sagittarius zodiac sign often gains the reputation of the philosopher among their fellow zodiac signs. They do have a great ability to focus, but this may be surprising since many of them love exploring and wandering the world, tasting all the pleasures of life. From an early age, they must learn how to channel their energy or else they risk stretching themselves out too thin going in too many directions. They often are hasty individuals and lack patience. When they encounter failure they can sometimes make a sudden comeback, much to the surprise of others. While they are loyal friends, they may find it hard to commit as this can run counter to their desire for freedom and expansion.

Hua Cheng - Capricorn

Those born under the Capricorn zodiac sign are talented at applying their keen intelligence and ambition to practical matters. Stability and order are important to them — and this makes them good organizers. Their goals are often lofty, and they achieve them slowly — but purposefully, and systematically. They are gifted with a sharp intuition, although they can be rather secretive about what they perceive. They are patient with themselves — they have confidence that they can accomplish all their goals if they follow their step-by-step plan. They are responsible people that often take the heavy burden of others — whether willingly, or just because they are so capable. However, they find it difficult to share their own troubles and can struggle with depression if they don’t learn how to express their feelings.

But he definitely has a Venus in Cancer.

Mu Qing - Scorpio

Feng Xin - Aries

Pei Ming - Libra

The zodiac sign Libra thrives when their needs of balance, justice, and stability are met. They are charming creatures that somehow always surround themselves with a sense of beauty and harmony. Admittedly, some of them can go to extremes searching that harmony — which can make their situations unreasonable or unhealthy. Their ruling planet is Venus meaning that Libras are nurturing, caring and they can make great defenders of the downtrodden. Sometimes, they can be shy if they find difficulties in coming out of their shell and letting their guard down. Despite their more introverted side they still love a good debate.

with Leo rising

Those born under the Gemini zodiac sign enjoy socialising and love surrounding themselves with people. They are ruled by the planet Mercury, and so they are never happier than when they are sharing their ideas and communicating with the people around them. They enjoy chit-chat and tend to have expression and communication very high on their list of priorities. Sometimes their love for sharing themselves with others, and their never-ending list of ideas can make them seem nervous, excited and sometimes even manic.

Yin Yu - Taurus

Unfortunately, those born under the Scorpio zodiac sign are often misunderstood. They are quite bold, with intense personalities and feelings that hide underneath their cool exterior. They are capable people that can compete great and massive projects with control and confidence. Their intensity when approaching a situation means that they can surmount almost all obstacles if they can truly put their mind to the task. Many Scorpios have an unshakable focus when they need to call on it. However, they are often secretive, seeming withdrawn and uninterested, when they are actually keenly observing.

Those born under the Aries zodiac sign often have an exciting and enthusiastic energy. They often seek new and challenging adventures that can push their limits. They are driven, ambitious and curious, and Aries tend to have a strong sense of justice. They love competition, in all its forms. They are generally quite optimistic, and they love being placed in leadership positions.

Shi Qingxuan - Gemini

The Pisces zodiac sign are the dreamers and mystics of the zodiac — but you may never know it. Many of them have extremely vivid inner lives — filled with fantasy, magic and wonder. They may find it hard to express that inner life, meaning that many of them are introverts. They are honest, compassionate, and trustworthy but they can sometimes take it too far and be rather gullible. Because of that they can be taken advantage of. Beneath their quiet exterior, Pisces has an intense determination, which helps them transcend any obstacles that come their way.

Quan Yizhen - Pisces

People born under the Taurus zodiac sign are often incredibly dedicated, reliable and dependable. Above all things, they value their sense of security and stability. After Aries brings its fiery energy, it is Taurus that lays down the foundations and follow through. They tend to be rather stubborn and dislike change. When they settle with a routine that they like, it can take much effort to get them to change.

#tgcf #mxtx tgcf #my tiny thoughts #zodiac signs #astrology #xie lian #hua cheng #mu qing #feng xin #pei ming #shi qingxuan #quan yizhen #yin yu #xuan zhen #nan yang #ming guang #crimson rain sought flower #qi ying

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morocosmos · 2 months ago

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💙Happy (not quite) Mother's Day to Rubh Epocan💙

✧ ✧ ✧

And some lore under the cut:

I'm working on moro'a's pre-ARR lore so rubh epocan (an NPC at the custom's office inside the arcanist's guild in limsa) has been on my mind again ;; my hc is that she's a single mother who parted on mixed terms with her only son (rubh'a epocan, another NPC in labyrinthos) and when she met moro'a she became his guardian of sorts. he never saw her that way and prefers to think of her as a friend, but he knew what it meant to her when she asked him to move in to her place

She didn't like the idea of him becoming an adventurer, but he's not her son and he wasn't going to change his mind. she does make him promise not to be a stranger if he's around town, and he helps her to reconnect with her son years later, after ENW

Notable rubh W's:

got moro'a a job at mealvann's gate as an errand boy and encouraged him to apply to the arcanist's guild, which was how he became a healer

scolded the shit out of him for getting dodgy top surgery, then brought in her healer friend to tend to him anyway

was secretly koh'sae's (moro'a's first partner) wingman

#kae gposes #moro'a kihshimo #rubh epocan #moro'a's actual mother is. a topic for another day #ocposting

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ink-dreams-ffxiv · 5 months ago

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Do you ever just feel sorry for this little guy? The closest troll to where you pop into Labyrinthos when using the Aether system from Old Sharlayan. He's just minding his own business when some intrepid adventurer, unrolls a parchment, looks at it, looks at him, and then proceeds to beat on him until he can't get back up. Then, just when he is able to get himself back up…there is another adventurer, parchment in hand…

#sahxa relanah #ffxiv #just shower thoughts

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halikyon · 4 months ago

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MiqoMarch Day 5: Journey

As we walked to the next challenge I found myself lost in thought. I didn't notice my pace had slowed until M'naago called for me, concerned I had become worn out. It was fair, as for more than a year I have been recovering and rebuilding my strength, and this is the first time we've been away from home for an extended period of time since I left the medical facility in Labyrinthos. The journey before, from its beginning, had been directed towards a threat to our star. For years we fought, and we won, but here its as if such things never happened. We might as well have been on another Shard. I can't help but think of what Emet-Selch said before he departed, of all the adventures yet to be had. Perhaps this is why he had said it, as every journey before has always been for a dire purpose of its own, not for the joy of it. And yet there, as we walked that path of dirt and gravel, I found myself almost...lost. No, perhaps not 'lost', but something else. No threat hanging above our heads, no enemy at the gates, no imminent disaster about to unfold. In its place was time. Time to smell those flowers we walked past, to admire nature and speak to one another not of the mission ahead, but of the local food and drink and weather. I do not know if I will get used to this, or if it will last, but I would very much like to try and enjoy the journey while I can.

#miqomarch #miqomarch 2025 #ffxiv #ryune avereth #m'naago

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starrysnowdrop · 1 year ago

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Hali Aloke

Just the Basics

B A S I C S

Name: Hali Aloke

Nicknames: Little Star (Her family’s pet name for her) and Snowdrop (Aymeric’s pet name for her)

Age: 29 as of beginning of Dawntrail

Nameday: 31st Sun of the 2nd Umbral Moon (April 29th)

Race: 3/4 Lalafell, 1/4 Hyur; Appears Dunesfolk, but has both Plainsfolk and Dunesfolk blood, along with 1/4 Midlander Hyuran ancestry

Gender: Female, Cis

Orientation: Bisexual/Biromantic, Male Leaning

Profession: Adventurer and Scion of the Seventh Dawn

P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S

Hair: Bright, rose pink in color, straight, usually looks somewhat messy in a wide variety of hairstyles

Eyes: Large, wide, expressive seafoam green eyes that shine in the light; glass-like Dunesfolk eyes

Skin: Fair, and absolutely will burn with direct sun exposure for long periods of time

Tattoos/scars: No tattoos; For scars, just small ones here and there over the years from battle

F A M I L Y

Parents: Father is Taito Aloke, a Plainsfolk lalafell aged 50 in ARR, and Mother is Lalani Lani, a 1/2 Dunesfolk lalafell 1/2 Midlander Hyur aged 48 in ARR. Both Taito and Lalani are researchers in Labyrinthos and members of the Sharlayan Forum.

Siblings: None

Grandparents: Nanani Nani, Maternal Grandmother, a Dunesfolk lalafell aged 75 in ARR and Jovian Carraway, Maternal Grandfather, a Midlander Hyur, deceased by ARR. Nanani is a retired Gleaner living in Old Sharlayan and is a widow to Jovian, who was an Astrology Professor at the Studium.

In-laws and Other: All in-laws deceased; Hali has distant relatives in Thanalan that have no current contact with Hali’s close family

Children: None; Will have three children with Aymeric in the distant future

Pets: An alligator named Boudreaux who also serves as Hali’s mount, a crab named Beignet, and Aymeric’s black cat named BonBon.

S K I L L S

Abilities: Astromancy, Divination, Dancing, Singing, Cooking, Fishing, and Botany

Hobbies: Cooking, Fishing, Botany, Swimming, Ice Skating, Going to the Theater, Attending Balls, Dancing, Singing, Reading fairytales and adventure books, and Playing card games

T R A I T S

Most Positive Trait: Hali is hope incarnate. No matter how grim a situation might seem, she wholeheartedly believes that things will get better. She tries to have a smile on her face and spread her positive outlook on life wherever she goes. Hali thinks that her hope is probably the only reason she’s still alive after so many years on the battlefield.

Most Negative Trait: Hali sees the best in everyone except for herself. She’s very insecure about herself, especially in terms of her appearance and her self worth. She doesn’t see that Aymeric could ever possibly love her the way that she loves him, and she doesn’t think she could ever be good enough for him. Even after they are officially together, Hali still struggles with being kind to herself.

L I K E S

Colors: Midnight Blue, Lotus Pink, Pure White, Celeste Green, and Lavender Purple

Smells: Ocean breezes, salty sea air, scent of fresh fallen rain, flowers of any kind, and musky cologne

Textures: Rain and/or snow falling on her skin, warm water, fluffy pillows, warm blankets, soft plushies, and Aymeric’s hands and/or mouth on her skin

Drinks: Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Smoothies, Boba Tea, Pink Drink, Hot or Iced Chai, Hot Chocolate with lots of marshmallows

O T H E R D E T A I L S

Smokes: Never

Drinks: Only drinks wine and certain kinds of cocktails, but tries to only drink when she’s not busy with her Scion duties the next day, as she is a lightweight and gets drunk easily.

Drugs: Never

Mount Issuance: Hali was never given a chocobo, because she said she didn’t need one! She always used a magical umbrella that allowed her to float above the ground and fly her to wherever she needed to go. Later on, Hali found her pet alligator Boudreaux on her Island Sanctuary and she rides him most of the time now.

Been Arrested: Yes, Hali was arrested for being a fugitive that snuck back into Old Sharlayan after being banished for helping to bring Sharlayan Astromancy to the Eorzeans. She was found sneaking around Labyrinthos in order to discover the secret project that her parents were hiding from the public at large.

Tagged by: @eriyu @paintedscales @elliewiltarwyn @amalthea-felsblood and @zerelth Thank you all so much for thinking of me!! I apologize for taking so long in responding! 🥰

Tagging: @meepsthemiqo @traveler-of-light @reikatsukihana @mimble-sparklepudding @faerieearthangel and anyone else who hasn’t been tagged yet that would like to fill this out! Please tag me so I can read about your OCs!! 💖

#just the basics #character profile #character info #hali aloke #oc: drops of jupiter

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dualcastimpact · 1 year ago

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dawntrail impressions pt. iv

In which we head to Urqopacha and Kozama'uka for the Feat of Gold and the Feat of Reeds, featuring t-posing Alphinaud!

Spoilers below the cut, as always:

First up: Urqopacha! There was no real reason for choosing to go to Urqopacha over Kozama'uka, I think. There doesn't seem to be any reason for the choice either; there's no advantage over choosing one over the other, and the story doesn't change regardless of which. I thought it was a relatively new addition to the game, the whole choose-your-path thing in the first level of the expansion, but then I realised it's been a thing since Heavensward — it was choosing between accompanying Artoirel or Emmanellain then, and in Stormblood it was choosing between M'naago and Meffrid. Then in Shadowbringers you had to choose between going to Amh Araeng to meet Alisaie or Kholusia to meet Alphinaud first, and in Endwalker it was either going to Labyrinthos in Sharlayan with Y'shtola and the twins or Thavnair with Estinien, Thancred and Urianger.

I'm a bit embarrassed it took me so long to notice, to be honest.

Alphinaud: "That one massive peak in particular has quite the presence. It puts me in mind of Sohm Al."

Alphinaud: "I feel the change in altitude most keenly. While mayhap not to the same degree as the Sea of Clouds, the air is decidedly thin here."

The writing tends to make fun of this but Alphinaud is nothing but genuine whenever he calls back to his past adventures. He especially tends to reminisce about his experiences during Heavensward; it's become sort of a running gag with Alisaie getting exasperated whenever he brings up firewood-gathering, but I think it's more poignant than anything. He brings up his experiences from Heavensward so often because they're important to him. It's in Heavensward that he really grew up and became a better person after the clusterfuck that was post-ARR, and the way he sincerely and somewhat innocently references his experiences in Heavensward every so often just shows how much of an impact they had on him.

———

Krile: "Wuk Lamat is lucky to have Erenville. Everyone—royalty especially—needs a friend unafraid to chide them when the need arises."

Raginmar canonically plays that role for three royals — well, not sure if Aymeric counts as royalty but I digress. He absolutely holds no punches with Aymeric and Hien; he regularly gives Hien shit (especially regarding his feelings about Cirina) whenever he drops by the Doman Enclave, and he's extremely blunt whenever Aymeric asks for his opinion over their dinners together. He wasn't as close with Nanamo, but their adventures together in the Sil'dihn Subterrane changed that a little bit — he's not so blunt with her like he is with Aymeric and Hien, but he does tend to be more open and honest with her.

I like how we're not really playing that role for Wuk Lamat this time. I think post-Endwalker somewhat prepped us for this — the main character for post-Endwalker was Zero, not the Warrior of Light, and it remains the case for Dawntrail as well. We're not the most important chess piece on the board anymore, and I like that.

———

Alphinaud: "Converting to gil, that comes to around a million or so. Mayhap if we all pitch in..."

This is absolutely a reference to his mishap with buying Gosetsu's katana back in Stormblood (laughs). He's become so conscientious about money now!

———

Krile: "You've seen markets and bazaars the world over, and surely have sage advice to share."

This was a bit funny because I took this screenshot back when I'd still planned for Raginmar to be an uninvolved third party who just happened to be in Wachunpelo at the time, doing business buying mezcal and mate leaves and coffee beans and selling furs and heavy fabrics and prize crops and mead, and I thought Krile's comment was incredibly on the nose. "You've seen markets and bazaars the world over" exactly, he's here on business right now!

Of course that idea went out the window eventually but at the time I really had a good laugh at this.

———

Tobli: "Mablu hasn't given up, I see..."

Given up on what, my guy?

———

Ah, turns out Mablu has always wanted to become a merchant, but thought it'd be a betrayal of Tobli since he'd taken care of her like his own. In true shōnen manga hero form, Wuk Lamat inspires her to chase her own dreams, and she proves herself to be a promising aspiring merchant as she helps Wuk Lamat progress through the Feat of Gold.

I spent most of this sequence writing down notes so I could figure out how to fit Raginmar into the Feat — maybe Gobli had sold the premium three-year-old mezcal to him, and Wuk Lamat and Mablu would have to figure out a way to get it from him instead — so I didn't take a lot of screenshots, but it was a pretty fun sequence! The way it introduced the people and culture of Urqopacha to both Wuk Lamat and the audience felt organic; it felt like we were learning alongside Wuk Lamat and I loved that.

From the get-go, it was clear that the Feats were intended to connect the claimants to the peoples of Tuliyollal — to learn their history, their culture, what's important to them and what made them tick; all the things a ruler should know about their people. How the claimants respond to this is key to determining their worthiness to the throne.

It's a classic trope and it's not even remotely subtle, but I think it's fine. Sometimes I wonder if stories like this shouldn't be made even simpler considering how people nowadays find simple media literacy so challenging.

———

Alisaie: "Alphinaud was quick to lend a hand with dismantling the tent. Is this to be his new obsession now that he's mastered collecting firewood?"

I don't know if it's just me feeling maudlin right now, but at times Alisaie making fun of Alphinaud like this feels more aggravating than humourous. Like I said, I get that Alphinaud's earnest enthusiasm is a running gag throughout the game but making fun of something that genuine and sincere feels off-putting to me.

The way he keeps talking about how he's good at firewood-gathering is meant to demonstrate how despite his character growth, he still has moments that shows his naïveté — firewood-gathering isn't a particularly impressive skill, he only thinks that way because of his sheltered upbringing. He opens himself up to ridicule whenever he acts as if this is something incredible he's learned to master, because to him it was. He's genuine about this, and to make matters worse he genuinely wants to be helpful whenever he brings it up. That's how impactful his experiences in Heavensward was for him, and I think the way the game keeps treating it as a running gag feels tasteless sometimes.

He's not even talking about gathering firewood at this point! He's branching out, even! Why are you still giving him shit about it?!

———

Alphinaud: "So this is a Hanuhanu village! One can tell at a glance how very different their culture is to the Vanu's.

Sue me for being sentimental but it genuinely brings a tear to my eye how Alphinaud's so enthusiastic about learning about the world now, compared to the absolute self-absorbed shithead that he was in ARR. He's genuinely so excited about learning new things and having all these new experiences as he travels the world and it's such a great show of character development, even after so many expansions.

———

Bakool Ja Ja the Mighty: "These allies of hers, though... They might be a problem."

One thing I really like is how none of the claimants are so arrogant so as to be foolish when it comes to underestimating their opponents. In fact no one underestimates anybody, not even Bakool Ja Ja. He's arrogant and boastful and supremely full of himself, and he's dismissive of Wuk Lamat because he doesn't like her (and later on we'll see that he actually does respect her, he just feels that he has to act like he's better than everyone), but he knows perfectly well how much of a threat Raginmar is. He's not fool enough to dismiss that.

There's a lot of chatter on the birbsite about how much it sucks that the Warrior of Light is no longer the main character of the story, and how they've been relegated to this sidekick character who's not getting much focus. It's real baffling because sure Wuk Lamat is the main character of the story, but the game's narrative makes it damn clear how important the Warrior of Light is still. Everybody knows how skilled the Warrior of Light is, and how they're not to be underestimated. They're a threat. They're a gamechanger. While the Warrior of Light isn't the most important piece on the board right now, they're still pretty damn significant and it's acknowledged, unlike in previous expansions with characters like Artoirel very clearly looking down on the Warrior of Light. That's way better than being your stock shōnen manga-slash-JRPG protagonist.

———

Linuhanu: "Yes, it hurt to hear, but she was right. Though I must mourn, I cannot let my grief consume me."

Linuhanu: "Her words made me realize that the path to my recover—our recovery—is already laid out before me. And I will walk it. For myself, and for my friend."

Every time the game makes some overt reference to grieving and mourning those gone, I immediately think back to Haurchefant — and not in a good way. I think this is more to set up something later on regarding Wuk Lamat and Gulool Ja Ja (because that man is raising all the death flags) but at the same time, the game's been pushing the whole thing with Haurchefant so often and for so long that you can't really divorce any mention of grief from his death.

Even the PCT job questline had something similar — I think it was in Camp Dragonhead when Kupopo asks the Warrior of Light about their adventures there, and the Warrior answers that they'd lost someone important to them? The exact phrasing eludes me but it's still a reference to Haurchefant. At this point it's honestly doing the game more disservice than anything, I feel.

———

Koana: "A method I could not have devised without the education I received at the Studium and the cooperation of my Archon allies."

For context, the Feat of Reeds required the claimants to revitalise the dying paddy fields that the Hanuhanu rely on, while the Feat of Gold back in Urqopacha required the claimants to catch a wild alpaca. They serve to demonstrate how Zoraal Ja and Koana differ from Wuk Lamat; in the Feat of Gold, Zoraal Ja eschewed any advice and went and caught a rare golden alpaca all by himself, purely by threatening the alpaca into submission. In contrast, Wuk Lamat went through the motions of getting to know the Pelupelu's culture and getting herself a saddle to catch a wild alpaca the Pelupelu way.

Here in Kozama'uka, Koana brought the paddy fields back to life with an alchemical concoction to improve the aether flow in the fields. Wuk Lamat revived Ihih'hana, a traditional harvest festival that also served to amplify the arcane energies from the Hanuhanu's hopes and prayers to revitalise the land. In true shōnen manga-slash-JRPG hero form, Wuk Lamat's revival of Ihih'hana had no logical bearing whatsoever. She didn't know it'd do anything to help revitalise the fields until Alphinaud suggested it could and Wuk Evu confirmed it. The only reason it worked was because it just so happened to be the exact thing the Hanuhanu needed, not just to revive their fields but also to revive the Hanuhanu themselves. The only reason it worked was because the plot mandated it so.

Koana's method, on the other hand, was rooted in reason and science. It was the logical method, it was the reasonable solution, and by all accounts it's a more superior answer because it directly addressed the issue — but it's framed as lesser because it didn't take into account the Hanuhanu's culture and the real reason behind their dispiritedness, even though Wuk Lamat really only got lucky that her idea worked at all. In a way, it's a weaker aesop than the one about Zoraal Ja and Wuk Lamat in Urqopacha — that strength alone is not enough, and that one would not need to resort to brute strength when there's community. It's still an aesop about the value of community and culture, only here it's that technological advancements alone are not enough even though they get the job done, but if you think about it realistically, when the stakes are so high — when your people are actively starving and suffering from natural disasters and poor harvest seasons — is addressing the issue as quickly and efficiently as you can really the wrong way to go about it?

———

Koana: "Employed appropriately, they make light work of what would otherwise be arduous labor. There's no need to lug around heavy floats!"

This whole scene was designed to showcase how Koana is a foil to Wuk Lamat: Koana is rational, analytical and scientific-minded, but he's also dismissive of things he perceives as backwards or uncivilized like customs and traditions that other people would hold dear. Whether he intends it or not, his words come across as mocking; even in the JP dub where his tone is mild and his dialogue ends with a —ね?. We see later in the story how he's extremely fond of Wuk Lamat so he's not maliciously making fun of her, but it makes clear his derision for the Hanuhanu's traditional practices for how outdated and inefficient they are.

———

Erenville: "There is an alternative, but it requires preparation. Until it's ready, you could rest at the cabins or see more of the city. Whatever you prefer."

This is where I'd planned for Raginmar to officially join Wuk Lamat's entourage in that scrapped canon I'd mentioned before (you can read all about that here and why that canon didn't work here) because it'd seemed like the perfect opening, but then...

Fonjeantaine: "Then... you have experience with my predicament? Of being terribly inadequate compared to your undeniably superior peers?"

...Wuk Lamat just so happened to chip her axe and she just so happened to come across a soul in need of aid at the place she's getting her axe fixed and he just so happened to have the same insecurities that she has, that she has to confront within herself in order to both learn a lesson and console him. Of course.

The story is contrived as hell, but at this point you really just have to accept it. Also I KNEW he was going to play a role in the plot when he was the only named character in that talk-to-the-other-passengers sequence at the beginning of the expansion.

———

Fonjeantaine: "But what of you? Have you ever measured your work against that of your colleagues and found yourself wanting...?"

Asking the wrong guy, buddy. That said, Raginmar doesn't waste time comparing himself to others and worrying that he's lacking. He'll be as skilled as he wants to be, and he doesn't need anyone to be his benchmark. If there are other people more skilled than him, it's not his problem.

———

Koana: "I'd heard much of the incomparable Archons during my time at the Studium. As soon as the contest was confirmed, I thought who better to recruit to my cause? I contacted the scholarch, who arranged an introduction to these two gentlemen."

Urianger: "The Second Promise had specific requirements: they who would be his assistants must boast both proven survival skills and mastery of the arcane arts."

It's a little funny that if Raginmar had agreed to become an Archon — which he absolutely could have, thanks to his skill in arcanima and engineering — he would have fulfilled both those requirements all by himself.

I also think it's kinda funny there's basically a PhD-equivalent for having survival skills. It's like Bear Grylls getting a PhD from Cambridge for being a survival expert.

———

Thancred: "We did our due diligence, of course, and made sure of who were working with before agreeing to this endeavor. He's even more opaque than Urianger at times, but is surprisingly—"

Surprisingly what, Thancred?! Tell us!

———

Wuk Lamat: "I don't have Koana's education or Zoraal Ja's strength. I'm all bluff and bravado, not fit to bear my title..."

Krile: "To hear the voices of others, empathize with how they feel, and think how best to serve... In so doing, you'll come ever closer to being the person you wish to be."

I'm not going to touch on the whole crisis of confidence and Wuk Lamat's character development arc in growing out of her insecurity and all that, because this story is essentially your typical shōnen manga-slash-JRPG tropes condensed into half an expansion, but I do want to point out the whole "hear, feel, think" thing — you'd think they'd retire the reference altogether after Hydaelyn's passing. I know it's been this game's arc words for basically forever, but now I'm wondering if they'll ever retire it or if it'll be another Haurchefant situation.

Because honestly speaking...

Thancred: "I imagine your experiences on this journey—all the things you'll hear, feel, and think—will help you refine that approach."

...was there any real need for the arc words to be repeated in this different-yet-parallel scene with Koana, just to hammer it home?

———

Koana: "But what of you two? Wuk Lamat's allies are your comrades, it must feel strange to be rivals."

Thancred: "Helping you has made us rivals, aye, but we're not about to break into fisticuffs over it."

Thancred: "Unless of course it is a matter of winning or losing the contest. Then I'll have no qualms about putting Alisaie on her rear."

Real interesting you chose to talk about kicking Alisaie's ass instead of someone like, say, Raginmar.

Urianger: "Despite our long history, never have I been given the chance to test myself against our companions. The thought stirreth within a most unexpected sense of competition."

Contemplating this bit because I had a headcanon about a Grand Melee 2.0 after the Final Days have been averted or something. Maybe what's remaining of the Garleans joined, maybe it's just the Grand Company of Eorzea and their allies (including the now-disbanded Scions, who join as independent combatants) having a melee for funsies or something, but essentially it's Raginmar and his old squadron facing off against everyone else after he thoughtlessly made a comment about how not even the combined might of the Grand Company could defeat his former subordinates, and Hien and Pipin took offense.

There's more to the story, obviously, but basically if this is canon to Raginmar's lore, then that negates everything Urianger just said because then he'd absolutely have had the chance to test himself against his companions, and gotten his ass kicked for it (laughs).

———

Koana: "Lamaty'i has surrounded herself with distinguished figures indeed. One of the Studium's finest graduates. The head of the Students of Baldesion..."

Koana: "And then there's Eorzea's vaunted champion. If he's half the hero you say, then the odds are stacked against us."

It's a real pretty way of saying you're screwed and have no chance whatsoever, truth be told.

———

Next up: the Feat of Pots!

#final fantasy xiv #final fantasy 14 #ff14 #ffxiv #dawntrail spoilers #dualcast records: dawntrail

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forgottenarias · 2 months ago

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aria's card pull(s)

so since i decided that i had so poorly shuffled the cards and pulled twice for Aria, I thought I'd just do two different intentions for her! and obviously one has to feature her not!relationship with arthur (past/present/future) VIII CUPS REVERSED stagnation, monotony, accepting less, avoidance, fear of change, staying in bad situation

From Labyrinthos:

Getting the reversed Eight of Cups can show that one is in a state of confusion about which path they are supposed to take. The confusion usually arises from not knowing what is best for you and in the end, drifting in a sea of uncertainty is going to be the resulting effect... One is likely to find themselves being aimless and not having clear cut goals in their lives... When the eight of cups is reversed, you may be finding it difficult, or even downright refusing to walk away from something out of fear.

pulling this for aria's past actually speaks a lot to who she was before the conquest. while she definitely DID believe she had a purpose-- supporting her sister as queen-- i don't really think she had much planned out for her life beyond that. definitely some of that really came out of the looming threat of invasion from roderick-- everyone being hyper focused on trying to stop that, aria definitely wouldn't take that as the right time to start trying to figure out her life plan outside of helping eilia!

even removing the roderick factor, aria did not really have a strong understanding of where she wanted her life to go... i do think she was very fearful of what her life would be like WITHOUT eilia, even if she didn't want to admit it. and if there was ever a point someone (probably mostly eilia) confronted her about this in any way, she'd avoid really addressing the issue much at all! again, though, i think that roderick being (and having been for so much of their lives!) really had an affect on what the future/her life would be so as long as that threat was there... the future was sort of irrelevant outside of protecting themselves/astaira from him. but THEN with the roderick factor... i don't think aria ever felt like there was anything SHE could do to help stop him?... so again, that wasn't even a 'purpose' she could have in her life because she wasn't a military commander or strategists or anything... so she was going the only thing she could do which was just be a support system for her sister!

KNIGHT OF PENTACLES practical, reliable, efficient, stoic, slow and steady, hard-working, committed, patient, conservative Labyrinthos: To see this card is an indication that there is a need to be trustworthy and reliable... You are fully committed to your assignments and you make sure that you complete your work efficiently. You are absolutely loyal and do the best you can in order to make sure the job will be properly completed. Though your sense of duty is admirable, beware that it does not turn into perfectionism - which can manifest itself in every aspect of your life. okay so reading more abt the knight of pentacles... there's a lot abt this card that really vibes with aria! the knight who is not adventuring but staying at home and believing the cultivating that land there is how the can best serve the long term future-- this is all SO her! granted now she's staying at home because she's forced to (#thanksroderick), but a lot of what she is currently focusing on (when she's not getting distracted by her not!relationship) is how she can best serve the long term future of astaira-- is that winning over the varmonts? is that doing what she can to support the resistance? is it eilia marrying roderick, or eilia continuing to resistance him?

i also really keyed into the mention of 'sense of duty' in the quote from labyrinthos above-- because we know how much the staffords are OBSESSED with duty! the idea of duty turning into perfectionist is definitely is something aria has probably grappled with at points-- i think one of the ways that might manifest is when she lets that stafford mask slip (which has been happening more and more often recently!) and just feeling like she's sort of ~betrayed~ the stafford way by being too emotional!

VII CUPS REVERSED lack of purpose, disarray, confusion, diversion, distractions, clarity, making choices Labyrinthos: The Seven of Cups reversed may also demonstrates your unwillingness to face the realities of life, and you are seeking to escape through imagination and daydreaming. On the other hand, the Seven of Cups reversed may also indicate an end of confusion, of cutting out illusions, and moving forward with clarity.

so aria is already feeling very overwhelmed about things in her life because it just seems like roderick, specifically, seems to be constantly dropping bombs on the staffords without ANY warning and, as much as she doesn't WANT it to affect her, Aria is both spooked and just exhausted by it! i do think there is a world where she sort of stop fighting, just sort of giving up in hopes that the constant mental anguish coming from roderick's actions MIGHT stop. BUT there is also this idea of this card indicating moving forward with clarity-- which is definitely another way things could go for her! esp knowing eilia is sort of revitalized after the tourney, i think aria really realizes she MUST keep fighting and MUST focus on saving Astaira-- its not useless, its worth continuing to fight roderick!

and also.... so the second spread, like i said, is going to focus on aria + arthur BUT he is still a really big factor in her present and, i could only imagine, her future! some of the keywords for VII Cups in Reverse are "chaotic and confusing love life, avoiding romantic decisions, clarity about love" which most likely are in her future unless these two figure out how to communicate better... which probably won't be happening any time soon ;)

Aria Part II after i was convinced I hadn't shuffled the deck well XD (you/your partner/your relationship) THE HIGH PRIESTESS unconscious, intuition, mystery, spirituality, higher power, inner voice AHH okay so I was SO EXCITED when this card showed up for Aria bc this is the card i (and kate!) associate the most with aria! honestly both the upright AND the reversed traits of this card i think really speak to who she is BUT for this purpose i won't go on off on a tangent and try to keep this sort of stuck to her/her in this weird romantic not relationship she's in! So once again from Labyrinthos but re: love... The High Priestess in a love tarot reading can signal almost imperceptible and unconscious changes in one's emotional state. A calm surface can hide intense emotions, and even seemingly simple dates can turn into raging passions. The High Priestess tarot love meaning suggests that one needs patience, and trust for your intuition. Be honest with others and yourself, and let what is hidden come to the surface. Thinking about Aria's sort of journey so far regarding her feelings regarding arthur... so much of it has been simmering under the surface! she doesn't want people realizing her feelings towards arthur have changed at all, doesn't want there to be any indication that she has feelings for him. Labyrinthos also says " Her appearance in a reading can signify that it is time for you to listen to your intuition rather than prioritizing your intellect and conscious mind." Aria has DEF spent a lot of time overthinking things w/ Arthur-- she knows its smarter NOT to care for him, she knows he is the son & has for a long time blindly followed someone who is the absolute worse! but! there is something there, something that sort of keeps saying to here there is more to arthur than what's just on the surface. III CUPS REVERSED gossip, scandal, excess, isolation, loneliness, solitude, imbalanced social life sooo this would be arthur's card and i sort of went with this as how aria was sort of feeling about things w/ him now? i felt really drawn to some of the keywords here like jealously, isolation, strained relationship... which is definitely how she's sort of viewing things with them right now, esp when she gets thinking too much about his relationship w/ eithne! there's also the gossip showing up in the form of arthur & eithne's supposed child AND potentially if amira starts her aria & arthur's bastard child rumor as well! EDIT TO ADD (because I thought i'd written this before!) that @forgottenarthur I'd be interested to hear your thoughts bc it feels like some of those keywords would also apply to arthur in his life? (but obviously i'm not in his head so i didn't want to speculate too much!)

QUEEN OF WANDS REVERSED demanding, vengeful, low confidence, jealous, selfish, temperamental, bully ...there may be explosive arguments in your relationship at the moment. Give yourself time to be gentle, to listen, and to address any feelings of insecurity that are lingering... When you draw the reversed Queen of Wands, it reveals a complex emotional landscape. If you’re asking how this person feels about you, they may be experiencing insecurity or self-doubt in your relationship. Their feelings could be clouded by jealousy or fear of inadequacy, leading them to question their own worthiness and connection with you. They might admire your confidence but feel overshadowed, struggling to express their true emotions.

I feell like this really hits the nail on the head for these two if i'm being honest regarding how they're both struggling with their emotions, what it meals to both of them, and what they think the other could be feeling! they're both feeling a lot of self-doubt about the other's feelings (be of their ongoing failure to communicate!) and, at least on aria's end, she is feeling some really complicated emotions with her jealously abt arthur & eithne... plus we also know arthur is convinced aria prefers kind of any other guy she talks to over him soooo... it's coming from both sides, haha!

as an action this card also indicates a couple things BOTH of them could work on... letting go of toxic influences (hey roderick!), evaluating relationships (...obvs their own w/ each other!),

also v random but this card's element being fire to ME is a connection to their sigils (or, in arthur's case, his mother's!) with the sun + stars-- big, burning objects in the sky!

#ooc #about #arthur varmont #house stafford #honestly probably could've done so much more abt aria + the high priestess card!#so much of it connects to her so its WILD that was her pull!#also i def didn't edit this so sorry for any mistakes

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lilas · 1 year ago

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wip wednesday

@lavampira tagged me for wip wednesday, ty beloved! Tagging @myreia @gwaha @veeples @greyyourwarden to share something if they want!

Working on some more Avi’li and Erenville bonding and I’ve had lots of thoughts lately about Erenville’s short story.

Endwalker spoilers ahead.

—

“It occurs to me that I’ve never thanked you.”

Avi’li blinks at him. “What for?”

“For saving the star. I’m happy to be alive, of course, but there are still so many stories left to discover.” Erenville props an elbow on his knee and leans forward, chin nestled in his hand. “All the people who came to Sharlayan to help had their own stories, their own histories that, despite my best efforts, I may only scratch the surface of. What would have become of them if you hadn’t acted—what is that look for?”

At some point while Erenville was talking, Avi’li had pulled a leg to his chest. He smiles at Erenville now with his cheek squished against his knee, expression fond.

“What look?” Avi’li’s smile becomes a grin.

“The one you’re making right now.”

“You’re just being real cute is all.” Erenville’s mouth drops open, a confused ‘cute?’ muttered under his breath as Avi’li continues…

#lilas wips #ffxiv wips #wip whenever #they both love the story and experience in the traveling ;u;#endwalker spoilers #adventures in labyrinthos

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koko-mochi · 1 year ago

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R'koko snapped awake to the sounds of birds singing outside her window and the warmth of the sun splashing across her room in the Baldesion Annex. She'd slept in again, snared in the horrible recurring nightmares that haunted her sleep. The haunting loss of her friends, the loss of innocents, the loss of her own life in the end, these things conjured images of blood and death and worse things night after night.

Wuk Lamat was already up, a gentle depression in the feather bed remaining where she had lay. She was usually up early. That was fine. But the empty bed served to emphasize R'koko's loneliness, the profound grief of being the "Warrior of Light," something that even the warmth of the Turali emissary's arms around her could not alleviate.

R'koko shivered as she got up, her cold sweat sending a chill through her body. She saw something on the floor, near the door to her room, an envelope someone had slid there, with The Warrior of Light written on it in a blocky script. She tugged on a pair of underwear and a baggy linen shirt and plopped down on the edge of the bed to read the letter.

Dear R'koko, I have a slow day today. Maybe we can spend some time exploring Labyrinthos? I would enjoy your company, and we can talk about your next "adventure." - Erenville -

So an hour and a half later R'koko was wearing her armor, smelling of soap and clove, riding the lift down into the sprawling complex of Labyrinthos. She spotted her Viera friend almost immediately, standing across the plaza where gleaners constantly loaded and unloaded specimens from across Hydaelyn.

Erenville was leaning against a stone railing, looking out across the vast space before him. When R'koko came to stand beside him, he looked down at her and stifled a laugh. "Full armor?" he said, "I assure you nothing in Labyrinthos stands a chance against you, Miss Warrior of Light."

The miqo'te looked down at her gauntletted hands. "It's just a habit, I guess. Trouble does have a way of finding me."

Erenville rolled his eyes. "You have no idea," he said. Then, "Come on, walk with me."

"What is this all about?" She fell into step beside him as he left the plaza at a leisurely pace and set out across the Outer Circuit.

"I told you in my note. I want to talk about our upcoming travels." The Viera's tone was calm, cool. There was no sign of the sarcasm he could at times be inclined towards. It seemed, at least to R'koko, that he was sincere.

"I'm excited for it," R'koko grinned, cracking her knuckles, "Wuk Lamat has been telling me all about Tuliyollal, it seems amazing." It was rare to see her face light up like it did in that moment, ever since the voyage of the Ragnarok and whatever she encountered at the edge of the universe her demeanor had been haunted and distant. Erenville had noticed it, despite barely even knowing R'koko. And he noticed her smile now too.

"I love my homeland," he said, "And I hope you will too." He paused, looking up at the dome high overhead that so accurately mimicked the actual sky. His voice got a little quieter. "But be careful, okay. Don't rush into this one. There's a lot that Wuk Lamat isn't telling you."

R'koko seethed at the implication that her girlfriend was keeping secrets from her, but made a concentrated effort to keep her shoulders relaxed and her face at ease. "I promise she tells me more than you think."

"Just..." he sighed, "she's royalty. She's been taught what to say and do in order to win people's trust and get what she wants."

"You make it sound like she's using me as a pawn in some scheme," R'koko ground out, "But I assure you the things that happen between us behind closed doors are very real."

"Behind closed--oh no. No no no no no. Are you saying she's your lover?"

"So what if I am?" she grumbled, "Shouldn't you be happy for her? She's your childhood friend after all."

"She isn't that little girl anymore, R'koko. I cherish my memories of her, and consider her my friend, truly. But she's making a bid for the throne of Tuliyollal. She wants you there as her champion. Regardless of how much I like her, I can still see that she is using you as a tool to win power in Tural."

"She wouldn't use our relationship to manipulate me. You may have known her as a child but I know her right now, really know her. I'm choosing to be her champion, because I want to support her."

Erenville's shoulders slumped, though his body language always seemed opaque and hard for R'koko to understand. "Of course there's no dissuading the Warrior of Light. Maybe we should talk about something else."

"Fine by me," R'koko said, relaxing slightly. But she didn't bring anything up. Instead, the two walked in silence along the Outer Circuit, past magnificent flora and fauna from all across Hydaelyn. At one point Erenville quietly pointed out a strange wooly camelid that he said was native to Tural.

They slowed as they crossed a bridge over a roaring cataract. "I am happy for you, R'koko. I know things have been...hard for you...since your return from Ultima Thule. Y'shtola told me she was worried about you."

A wistful smile crept across R'koko's lips. "Y'shtola is always worrying about me." A sigh. "I do love her for it." She looked up at Erenville, trying to read the expression on his face. "I'm guessing you worry about me too, as well as worrying about your childhood friend."

"I don't want to see either of you get hurt," he said, his voice taking on an unusual tenderness.

"I understand that," she said, starting to walk again. "But Wuk Lamat and I are both adults. We can take responsibility for our own actions. And we can face the consequences."

"I just hope you can forgive her, when she turns out to be different than you hoped."

"Trust me," she smirked, "I most certainly can."

#ffxiv #ffxiv wol #ffxiv writing #wolship #warrior of light #wuk lamat #WoL x Wuk Lamat #Erenville #ffxiv gpose #gpose #miqo'te

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rockheadcd · 1 year ago

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@electrivolt said: "Are you, huh... are you sure about this?" With the kind of weather Tural had to offer, once the star-endangering issues were solved Volkner was very much in need of a change to something more appropriate. Or rather, something that wouldn't boil him by just walking around. Turns out, plates of steel aren't very friendly in the warmth. On the bright side, Roark was more than willing to assist on that regard. "Not that I'm complaining—! It looks great, I like it, just—" it just so happens that saving the star multiple times doesn't particularly make for an exercise in building confidence outside of battle. Still, Volkner wasn't lying, especially after all the effort Roark went through not only to find something comfortable, but also taking into account both his personal taste and the discomfort that fresh bandages can lead to. And his love does know him well, the new clothes are just as comfortable as he's used to, with the freedom to let bruises and wounds breathe and all the range of movement he requires when it comes to battle, not to mention the exact range of colors he favors to top it all off. He just isn't all that used to exposed skin, no matter the amount of times he's already been exposed for one reason or another. ( even though those reasons tended to be blood forced out of his body just a little too often for someone supposed to fight at a range regularly. ) "... How does it look?" He just needs a little validation as the last little nudge to really feel completely comfortable stepping out like that, that's all. / smn fit real.

By the time the two and their company had survived the voyage to Tuliyollal, the climate change was already getting to the cat in particular—Roark had a plan very quickly, all to excited to be in t he place where apparently half of his family hailed from. Finally in their cabin and situated, apprised of their duties here as welcomed teammates of the Third Promise, the Au Ra had quickly left as he came, bound for the bustling markets for a change of attire for Volkner. This side of the world was more apt to work with the mixture of arid and humid climates here, the local flora and fauna making something ideal to survive both with minimal discomfort.

A good hour and a half passed before Roark came tumbling back, beaming with his prizes stuffed in a satchel brought along for the ride.

He was already pleased that Volkner was willing to try it all on at least, and give it an honest judgment.

"Of course I'm sure! I'll probably need a change myself, but, that can wait. After all that chaos in Ultima Thule, getting all this armor off was driving Krile and Alphinaud insane... we're gonna be in a land with more bountiful nature than even Labyrinthos could have offered, and that means plenty of opportunities to need a bandage or two... knowing you, ehe.." Roark explains excitedly, but eventually calms down and ends with a warm smile.

"You look great. Very comfortable, to boot," he hums, stepping closer just to wrap his arms around the Miqo'te and squeeze, far too hand to grab at exposed sides that peek out between dyed leather panels, tough hide that can handle Volkner's insistence on standing next to him despite being a caster. "I had to run laps around the markets trying to find that kind of blue you like, ya know!"

Eventually, he lets go, happier when he pauses to take the entire outfit in it's entirety, pleased when he's matched his eyes near perfectly. "Wait.. I take that back. You look handsome." Another gentle smile, those of which have been appearing more and more after the events of saving the star.. again. Among other things, of course, having the island sanctuary to thank for that. He can't just help himself, can he—just smitten over this new adventure, being able to finally see for himself all the stories and sights that were described to him as bedtime stories. Roark can't help but sweep up Volkner and give him a kiss, just radiating excitement in everything he does. Really, if someone doesn't stop him, he's two seconds from diving into the shallow seas just outside their cabin.

#electrivolt #🌙 ━ / asks.#🗻 ━ 𝗂'𝗅𝗅 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝖼𝗈𝖺𝗅 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗋'𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗀𝗍𝗁! / roark ic.#🌑 ━ 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗋𝗒𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗅. / ffxiv verse.

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paintedscales · 2 years ago

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FFXIV Write 2023 :: Day 26

Prompt :: Last Characters :: Chotan / Fleurette Varlineau, Esenaij / Hamignant Varlineau, Izi Raha, Lalleve Coertha Word Count :: 1,583

FFXIV Write 2023 Master List

As it so happened, Sharlayan was on the list of okay places to have taken Hamingnant when it concerned traveling alongside either of his sisters. When the opportunity had come up, Fleur had been the one available to make the trip out there while Cyrielle had been off helping with some defense efforts alongside the Ala Mhigans and the Ananta against the threat of Lakshmi. Though Fleur was loath to imagine that she would not be needed as well, it was when she had received a linkpearl communication from her twin that everything had been proceeding apace.

So now, Fleurette had found herself at the docks of Sharlayan, Hamignant excitedly at her heels after roughly a moon or so at sea since he could not teleport there himself. It was a far sight better than the boredom that he had so freely expressed at being cooped up on the ship, that was for certain. At least the fishers had given him ample opportunity to show him new creatures that he could quickly sketch into his journals while Fleur had watched.

“Fleur, Fleur! Look! That’s Thaliak!” Hamignant excitedly pointed out the statue of the Scholar as he walked alongside her. He had every opportunity to point out the statue on the ship, but he seemed more stunned and taken with the fact that he was finally seeing Sharlayan outside of their mother’s paintings.

“He’s so big up there like that…and he looks just the way mum always described him when she talks about when she met with the Twelve herself!” Hamignant’s elation at being in Sharlayan was boundless. Even as he and Fleur went through customs to confirm their reason for visitation at the Worldly Affairs.

As always, Fleur had given her name as ‘Ishgardian name: Fleurette, Steppe name: Chotan, surname: Varlineau.’ It was nearly mechanical the way she had listed off everything that was required of her. Her occupation had been that of an adventurer, and representative of both the Warrior of Light and Vrtra of Radz-at-Han. Typically, her reason for visitation had been to provide assistance with unruly creatures within Labyrinthos, though this time she stated that she was being hired as a helping hand to the Isle of Hamm.

When it came to Hamignant, though, he had been more than excited to divulge much and more about himself that seemed to make the poor customs officer sit and endure it with a bit of a grimace forming on their face; “Ishgardian name: Hamignant, Steppe name: Esenaij, surname: Varlineau. I don’t have an occupation, but I’d like to learn stuff here, maybe even be a student at some point! I’m thinking I really want to just learn about entomology, arachnology, and stuff!”

Fleurette had only offered a sympathetic smile to the customs officer before they were finally cleared to go into the rest of the city. Telling Hamignant to stay close, Fleur had led the way past the Peristyle before pausing. She then pointed over toward the wooden pergola that stood tall over a deck-like structure next to a smaller building with an open-air front.

“Hungry?” Fleurette asked. “We can take a much needed detour to the Last Stand before we go ahead and tour around the rest of the city.”

“Of course I am!” Hamignant exclaimed, bringing a hand to his stomach. “You didn’t tell me that the boat ride would just be stale bread and tough, dried meat!”

“I thought mother implied as much when she packed you what she thought would last you. I warned you not to eat it all too fast,” Fleurette said, chuckling. She had sacrificed some of her own food just to make sure that Hami had been taken care of during their travels.

Hamignant grumbled something about not knowing about how long the trip would have actually taken before looking back to where the Last Stand was situated. He reached up and tugged at Fluerette’s arm, following along after her as she then led the way. Seeing the local students in their uniforms and coats made everything feel so official and clean.

The two of them had gotten themselves seated close to the railing overlooking the ocean after putting in their order. Hamignant was happily prattling away at his idea of what all the possibilities could be in studying bug biology and habitats in Sharlayan could mean for him. Admittedly, while Fleur had been glad that Hamignant found passion in actually pursuing the study of bugs because he found them fascinating, she had begun to tune him out.

It had not been until the arrival of some familiar faces to Fleur, at the very least, that she had looked up after they had called to her. A miqo’te with snowy white hair had waved to Fleur in particular, her other hand intertwined with that of a viera who had dusty brown hair and dappled markings on her ears.

“You know them, Fleur?” Hamignant asked, glancing over in the two women’s direction. He had not been too sure whether or not to wave back, so deferred to Fleurette.

“That’d be Izi and Lallerev. You ever get to meet mum’s friends from when she was an adventurer?” Fleur asked before waving back to them with a small grin. Hamignant shook his head in response, following her example, his wave had been a little more uncertain. This seemed to have been more than enough permission for the two to have come over.

“How long are you in the city, Fleur?” Izi asked, letting go of Lallerev’s hand and skipping forward to their table. She then looked at Hamignant and gasped, “is this your little brother? Aw, look at him! I can’t believe we’re finally getting to meet you. Hami, right?”

“Hamignant…” he replied, almost shyly. “Only Cy and Fleur get to call me Hami.”

“Oh… I’m sorry. Well, it’s really nice to meet you, Hamignant,” Izi said, keeping a chipper smile on her face. “Well, I’m Izi Raha. Our mums used to travel together for a while. And this lovely bun over here is~”

“Lallerev Coerth,” the viera introduced herself rather plainly, a small, more reserved smile on her face. “Most of my friends just call me ‘Lolly’ or ‘Rev’ though.”

“It’s nice to meet you both…” Hamignant said, glancing in Fleur’s direction to let her take the lead on talking. He had not been used to too many people just walking up to him and making themselves friendly. He had been more okay when he got to walk up to others and speak more freely, though having someone that came off with about as powerful a personality as Cyrielle had been different.

“To answer your question, I don’t think I’ll be in the city long…” Fleur said, going back to the initial question Izi asked. “I have to help with Professor Dalnesi’s foray into the Isle of Hamm -- just to keep him protected from the other creatures that might be more inclined toward aggressive behaviors and attacking any of the professors or other visitors that are coming by.”

“Wait…where will I be, then?” Hamignant asked, realizing what that meant.

“Ameliance said she would be more than happy to have you come by the Leveilleur estate while I’m away. I thought I told you this while we were on our way here.”

“... I forgot.” Hamignant fidgeted, and then looked up when he saw Izi and Lallerev take up seats next to one another at their table.

“Don’t you worry about anything,” Fleur said, trying to be reassuring. “The estate is large and has a whole bunch of study material you could ask if you can look at. Alphi and Ali had to start somewhere, after all!”

Izi gasped, her feet tapping excitedly against the wood panels below her feet in rapid succession. “Are you going to be a student here, Hamignant!?”

“... Maybe?” Hamignant trepidatiously answered the question.

An enthusiastic squeal had been made before Izi uncontrollably reached over for Lallerev’s shoulder and shook her. “You can hang out with me! I can show you all around Sharlayan! The Noumenon -- one of the largest libraries ever! Oh! And I can introduce you to so many professors at the Studium, including my mother! I don’t know if she teaches what you’re interested in, but she’s really well versed and traveled, which leads to her coveted classes for histories of civilizations studies!”

Hamignant had almost replied that he looked forward to it, though was silenced when a server had come by with their order. Suddenly, the excitement for having a tour through Sharlayan turned into excitement for having proper food. After all, the two large and fluffy pancakes that sat in front of him towered with powdered sugar sprinkled on top with a pap of butter melting on it. He felt his mouth water, wanting after the last couple weeks living off of nuts, crackers, dried meat, aaruul, and water.

“I hope your eyes aren’t as big as your stomach, Hami… You are going to eat all of that, right?” Fleur asked, concerned as the bowl of skyr topped with skyon compote was placed in front of her. She offered a small word of thanks to the server before she picked up her spoon and started on her meal.

“I’m gonna eat every last bite!” Hami said, taking his fork and happily cutting into the thick pancake.

“I’ll hold you to that, because I don’t want to be the one eating every last bite when you’ve only eaten a quarter.”

#ffxivwrite2023 #ffxiv #ffxiv writing #my writing #ffxiv oc #oc: chotan / fleurette varlineau #oc: esenaij / hamignant varlineau #oc: izi raha #oc: lalleve coertha #the only struggle was struggling to find time to type for this because my partner and i are fighting tooth and nail for last minute tomes

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minti-tales · 2 years ago

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FFXIV Write, Day 30 - Amity

Four friends have lunch.

CW: Mental Health

The Firebird suggested lunch in the countryside; The Artist thought that it should not be shared alone.

Sunny days in Labyrinthos are, by design, supposed to have just the right amount of heat and light. The golden rays of the sphere providing light bath the various specimens living within with what is needed to optimally survive, nothing more, nothing less. It's a rare thing to see people lounging on these days, when the overhead sprayers are turned off, and no fog is generated by lingering heat on the ground. Time is better spent gathering combat data from the encounters adventurers call "Fates," or corralling wandering mandragora that wander too close to the elevators leading to Old Sharlayan. Rest is the lack of producing valuable data.

It was odd, then, to see a friend of the Warrior of Light, a rava viera dressed in a sky blue kimono, accompany two Students of Baldesion and a Forum member's wife towards one of the grassy cliffs overlooking the facility.

G'raha Tia was in especially good spirits today. "It's good to see you when you've your guard down, Minti," he'd said on the walk over from the Levilleur estate. "Not that we should expect any combat today! Just, nice to see the you that isn't gearing for another fight, or off on some faraway adventure."

"This should be a good break from those 'infinite responsibilites' we discussed, then," Ameliance agreed, lunch basket held so as to not spill out on the trip over. Today, she had changed into a nice summer dress, with light blue frills on her shoulders and a tan sunhat to guard herself from the day's harsh sunlight.

Krile smiled and squeezed her girlfriend's hand, holding up her free hand to block out the sudden burst of light that came with entering Labyrinthos. "A well-deserved break for all of us, I should think."

If research was to happen today, maybe it'd be studying the effects of Thavarian cuisine on the stomach. Or, perhaps lunch-time etiquette amongst members of a friend group.

Or maybe, just today, it could be lunch with found friends who deeply cared for a girl far away from home.

This could be home, couldn't it?

Yes, this could.

#final fantasy xiv #final fantasy 14 #final fantasy oc #ffxiv #minti wol #final fantasy viera #minti chocolate #wol x krile baldesion #krile mayer baldesion #g'raha tia #ameliance leveilleur #ffxiv write 2023

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diamondangelkitten · 1 year ago

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Vierapril Day 29: Future

“I see. Then it is here the Scions at last part ways, each to some far-flung corner of the realm.” Alphinaud smiles looking at each of the Scions.

“Perhaps,” Y’shtola pipes up, “But I believe some in our number - some rather important ones, at that - have yet to divulge their plans.” All eyes turn to look at Alinea, Aurora, Annabeth, and Alira amongst various murmurs of assent.

“So. What’s next for our humble adventurers?”

Alinea smiles at Alphinaud’s question before turning to Estinien, “Well, if there are no objections, I never did get to browse Thavnair’s stalls in peace.”

Estinien smirks before putting an arm around Alinea, “Aye, you’ll find no objection from me.”

Aurora hums contemplatively, “Looks like I’ll be joining the group back to Sharlyan. There was a request from one of the research groups in Labyrinthos to assist them in some sort of project. It was a very vague and hurried message, so I don’t quite know what I’ll be walking into.” She smiles, “It should be fun though!”

G’raha speaks up, “It will be wonderful to have you accompany us. Annabeth, Alira? What will you do?”

Alira motions for Annabeth to speak first, putting Annabeth on the spot. “Uhm, I don’t fully know. Gaius and I have been speaking about finding a home in Idyllshire. It’s a neutral location and we can more than prove our worth to them with helping out with tasks. Milisandia has already been helping Zhloe out at the orphanage and her brothers stop by often enough on their travels there. We want to build a home for ourselves and Gaius is almost done with his part in the Werlyt restoration. It’s time we built something for ourselves.” She looks up to the group and is rushed on both sides by Aurora and Alira.

“We’re so happy for you Annabeth. You deserve to live a quiet life now.”

Annabeth smiles at Aurora’s words. “You know you can call me at any time though. You all will always be the most important.” The scions shuffle their feet, knowing she’s speaking mainly to her fellow Warriors of Light. She turns to face them, “All of you. Y’shtola, you better stop by my house after Master Matoya’s. I’ll have your favorite tea steeping.”

“Very well. I’d like that.”

All eyes turn to Alira, who’s wearing a small, but deeply content smile on her face. “Well,” she begins, “I know the whole purpose of today has been to prepare us for our own separate journeys. And I am truly excited at what you all have in store. I expect many letters over the course of your journeys, but what I most expect, is to see you all at my wedding in two moon’s time.” Cries of joy and excitement ring through the plaza and she laughs at all the hugs and well wishes being offered to her. “Well, you all already know that Sid proposed during our hospital stay. We were wondering what we wanted to do, but we’re keeping it simple. We’re having a wedding in the Churning Mists where the Moogles will officiate the ceremony.”

At Ali and Estinien’s shocked expressions, she laughs even more. “I know, I was shocked too, but it was thanks to them and Rielle that we’ve been able to move forward and truly live the lives we have ahead of us. Rielle will be my maid of honor, I hope you understand.”

“But we’ll be your bridesmaids right?” Aurora is looking at her with such excitement that she can’t help but give her another hug.

“Yep! I was going to try send you all some cute basket or something to ask, but this feels better. Will you girls be my bridesmaids?” The answer, of course, is a resounding yes.

Alira turns back to the Scions, “You are all invited, but if any of you,” she looks down to Tataru while stating the next bit, “any of you, tell any of the leaders of state, I will personally become your worst nightmare.”

“Right!” Tataru chuckles, “Small, simple. Do you need any help with catering or your dress?!”

Alira smiles, “You’re the only person I know who wouldn’t balk at the two month deadline. Of course!” More cheers go up around the group. They give each other one last group hug/huddle, before each group goes to split up.

Tataru remains behind to lock up the Rising Stones, but not before waving them all off one more time. “They’ve done it Minfilia. They’ve all finally found peace.” She puts a hand over her heart at the thought of her dearly departed friend. “Oh no! I’ve only got two months to plan Alira’s wedding!” She taps the linkpearl in her ear, sending out a call to many of her contacts, “We have a high priority situation. All hands on deck,” she grins. She’ll make sure to give Alira the wedding of her dreams.

….....

Later that night, Alira is pacing within her home. “Just call them,” Sid says, not even looking up from his book.

“I’m not going to call them. We’ve spent more than a day away from each other in the past.”

Sid sighs and finally closes his book. “Li, you have been pacing for the last thirty minutes. You know as well as I do that this is different. Just call them.”

She sighs, “Fine, I’ll call Annabeth. I’m not disturbing Ali and Aurora when they could be sleeping.” He nods and opens his book again.

She raises her hand to the linkpearl and Annabeth answers before the first ring, “Oh thank goodness, it’s not just me!”

Alira laughs shakily, “Why is this so much worse?”

“Probably cause you’ve just come off a near-death experience and you all barely made it out,” Sid pipes up.

“He’s likely not wrong,” Annabeth says from the other side.

“Fair. But still, we have our girls’ nights already planned. It just felt weird.”

“I know. Gaius had been bugging me for an hour to call. I only got distracted cause Allie stopped by.”

Alira feels great relief of not being the only one scared for this new future. Of course she was grateful to have the freedom to build her new life with Sid, Rielle, and Sibbie, but this was the longest she’d be without her girls, only relying on their monthly meet-ups.

Before she can reply to Annabeth, another voice joins their linkpearl call, “Oh, I’m so glad you two are already on here. Please can we add more meet-ups? I can’t handle just one.”

You can hear the smile in Annabeth’s voice as she replies to Aurora, “Yes! How about we include a monthly girls’ day? We rotate between us all and we spend a day doing whatever we want to in the city we’re visiting.”

“Well, if we’re already planning this,” Alira says, “We may as well try reach out to Ali.”

“On it!!” Aurora chimes in, already sending out the signal to Alinea.

After two rings, the girls are all a bit deflated, before a breathless Ali answers the call, “I’m so sorry!! I thought I could carry 5 bags all at once, but I didn’t think they were going to give me actual bolts of fabric to carry when I already had other bags in hand.”

Alira looks at the clock on the fireplace mantel. “Ali, isn’t it 2am there?”

“Yea, I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d work on getting some materials so I could surprise you all with outfits.”

“Great surprise,” Annabeth quips.

“Oh shut up. I’m tired, but I've been so anxious worrying about you all. You’ll all get to be surprised at the actual outfit designs.”

“Fair enough,” Annabeth replies, “but really shouldn’t you be in bed? You’re the one that almost died a couple weeks ago.”

“I’ll have you remember that I had accelerated healing. It’s Aurora we should be worrying about. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Sharlyan’s boring. I can only meet with the person tomorrow about their inquiry for help and everyone’s doing their own thing. I do have coffee planned with Erenville in the morning, but I miss you all.”

Alira smiles before entering back into the conversation, “Ali, we’re planning more dates to meet up. We can’t just do once a month.”

“Thank heavens. Okay, but I propose a minimum of three meet-ups a month, with random check-ins as well.”

The girls all laugh but it’s good to be chatting again. Sid motions to Alira that he’s heading up to bed, but she stays on the call for a few minutes longer. Eventually after twenty or so minutes, all the girls are yawning on the call and they bid each other good-night. As Alira checks on Sibbie and Rielle before settling into bed, she smiles at the fact that she wouldn’t be parted from her found family for long. This future could be whatever she made of it and she would embrace it with all those she loved alongside her.

#ffxiv #vierapril #alira thorne #annabeth rose #alinea skylark #aurora calypso

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