#alisaie is my best girl

[graha-stan-account]

Barbarous: Day 5

Barbarous: n. Savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal. 

Present. Set 6.0, immediately following "In From The Cold." J'napha is struggling to shake the whole ordeal. (Are any of us over it?)

FFXIVWrite 2023 Masterlist

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"My skin still doesn't feel like my own. Like the insides are slick with something... something wrong." 

"You're all right," Y'shtola said, possibly for the fourth, fifth or even sixth time. "Your aether is same as it ever was. Well, in recent memory." 

"Perhaps my soul, then?" J'napha drew up her knees and wrapped her arms around them, a dark patch on the snowy white ground. "Getting here took the last of my strength. I felt certain I'd die, and now I feel..."

"Yes, your aether includes your soul, too. Your mind may be addled, though." She poked at her head.

"Thanks." J'napha looked away, unsatisfied. 

Y'shtola frowned. "Rest." She waited a beat. "Heavens know you need it." 

Y'shtola found Alisaie huddled around a tin cup of hot tea under one of the large tents. "You should go talk to her. I keep telling her she's fine but sense seems beyond her. Take her a cup of that, wouldn’t you? Settle her stomach and perhaps whatever slime she seems convinced is clinging to her." 

"Hm?" Alisaie spun around, a bit of campfire bread between her lips. She pulled the bread from her mouth and spoke. "I thought she was still out? Gods, she was barely able to stand when she came-to." 

"It's not every day one of us gets body-snatched. Though," she sighed, "I suppose we're beginning to make a habit of it." She knocked her knuckles against her chin. "Talk to her, please. And have her meet us in the tent just there. Any undue time spent idle is a gift to the Telophoroi." 

Alisaie chirped in acknowledgement as she struggled to swallow down the food still in her mouth. She set down the remainder of her refreshment to pour another steaming cup into a tin mug. The brew was mostly water, but t'would be warming just the same.

"Here." She held out the mug to J'napha, who was yet wound in a ball in the powdery snow, looking so small from where Alisaie stood. "You'll catch a cold like that." J'napha looked up as if suddenly aware of her presence. "Hey." Alisaie knelt next to her, proffering the cup. "You are all right, aren't you? Just a bit.... shaken up?" 

"How are you sure.... it's really me...?" J'napha reached for the cup tentatively before pulling it in to breathe its warm steam. 

"Of course it's you! I know it is, and I don't need Y'shtola's eyes for that!" 

"But you could have all been killed, because you noticed nearly too late. And I... took the bait. I was being toyed with. And the two of you... who trust me the most..." 

"Hey, need I remind you of what happened with the Night's Blessed? Y'shtola nearly blew you to bits because she couldn't see you clearly. Isn't that how it went?" 

"So you're saying Y'shtola's wrong? That there is something wrong with me?" 

Alisaie paused, then let out a frustrated whine having seen the tangle she created. "Point made! I've made a mess of it. But listen: you can stay here." She paused, evidently still formulating the rest of her ultimatum. "You can stay here, or you can march into that tent where Lucia and the rest are planning our assault on the Tower of Babil. You'd rather know what's ahead, right? Of course, you can bide your time here too, freezing in the snow like a naked baby Almasty. 'Til the rest realize you're awake. Your choice, Warrior of Light." 

"Is this how Alphinaud feels?" J'napha grumbled, half in jest as she sipped at the steaming water. 

"Uplifted? Energized? Grateful? Every day, I'm sure." She brushed off her hands on her coat. "Now, will you be needing a hand getting up?" 

[astrxealis]

leveilleur twins favorite twins best twins no competition

[anneapocalypse]

On Wuk Lamat, and Female Characters in FFXIV

The Thing with Wuk Lamat is you can tell me you think she had too much screentime; you can give me numbers on how many lines she had or how many scenes she's in relative to other characters or other expacs; you can prove to me "objectively" that she gets more focus than other main NPCs; you're simply not going to convince me that this is something I should be unhappy about. And not just because it's silly to think you can use numbers to prove a story is good or bad and make someone else go, "Wow, you're right, let me just throw away all the joy I experienced with this story and revise my opinion because you've scientifically proven to me that I'm wrong."

Because while I love Final Fantasy XIV and I have greatly enjoyed its story in so many ways, fundamentally one of my biggest beefs with this game has been how much female characters have been denied complex character arcs and growth and agency and interiority.

Minfilia gets treated as a sacrificial vessel who lives for everyone but herself and doesn't even get to have feelings about her own death because that entire arc is focused on a male character's angst about it instead. The game tells us in the Heavensward patches that Krile sees Minfilia as her best friend and then just forgets about that later and never follows up on what that loss must have meant to her. Ysayle is basically right about most of what she's fighting for but harboring a bit of self-delusion is apparently such a terrible sin that she has to pay for it with her life, while her male foil is deemed so worthy of salvation that there's a whole plot point about how important it is that we risk our lives and others' lives to save him. Y'shtola is a major character who's been around since the beginning, and the game keeps dropping maddeningly interesting things about her (apprenticed to a cranky old witch in a cave! saved her own life and the lives of her friends with an illegal and dangerous spell and it worked! reserved and undemonstrative yet regularly through her actions reveals herself to be deeply caring! disabled!) and then shows complete disinterest in following up on any of those things with the kind of depth and care shown to male characters with complex arcs like Urianger.

In general there is also a repeated thread of female characters being portrayed as weak or overly emotional: Minfilia is weak because she doesn't fight and needs to be eaten by a god in order to gain "a strength long sought." Krile is portrayed as not being able to pull her weight with the Scions (despite the fact that she actively keeps five of them from dying in Shadowbringers) and the only thing they could think of for her to do in Endwalker was be yet another vessel for Hydaelyn (hmm, that sounds familiar) and it's not until Dawntrail that she gets much actual character development in the main story and even that has to come alongside "Look, she can fight now so that means she's useful." (And I love Picto!Krile, I'm just saying, there's a pattern.) Alisaie, despite having very good reasons for needing to find her own path apart from her brother, is portrayed as having to prove herself when she returns, that she's "not the girl she once was," and "will not be a burden" (while Alphinaud is repeatedly given the benefit of the doubt and reassurance and affirmation from other characters even after he takes on responsibilities he isn't ready for and fucks up big time).

And if you follow me you know I adore Urianger, and I love Alphinaud and Thancred and Estinien too, so please don't misunderstand what I'm saying here! I'm not knocking those characters, or saying we shouldn't also love them. I just use them as a comparison to demonstrate how the female characters have been neglected.

Lyse has some of the stronger character development among the female Scions, and while she's still kind of portrayed as being too emotional and hotheaded in early Stormblood, I think it's actually explored in more depth in a way that I like; Lyse has good reasons for wanting to fight for her nation's freedom, but having been away from Ala Mhigo for several years now, she needs to understand the stakes for the people who've been there fighting for years, what they've lost and still have to lose. She grows as a person and rises to the challenge of leadership, and I'm even okay with the fact that she leaves the Scions afterward because it feels right for her to stay in Ala Mhigo, and at least she doesn't die.

And by all accounts she was, like Wuk Lamat, widely hated when her expansion came out.

Unironically I think the other female Scion with the strongest character arc is Tataru. She tries to take up a combat job, finds that it's not for her, and decides to focus on where her strengths are instead. In doing so, she both holds the Scions together as an organization in the absence of a leader by capably managing their finances, and also comes into her own as a businesswoman and makes international connections that benefit both the Scions and her personally. In contrast to Minfilia, she's not portrayed as weak because she doesn't fight, and is actually allowed to be an important character who's good for more than being sacrificed. Tataru is still distinctly in a supporting role for the player character, however, and her character arc happens as a side story that takes up a relatively small amount of screentime over several expansions, which I think is probably why she doesn't evoke such a negative reaction.

But there is a pattern of the game's writing showing disinterest in the interior lives of female characters generally, and in making their growth the focus of a story.

So yeah, I'm going to be happy about Wuk Lamat! I'm going to enjoy and celebrate every moment of her character arc, of her personal growth, of watching her put the lessons she's learned into action. I'm going to love and treasure every moment when she gets to be silly, embarrassing, emotional, scared, grieving, confused, upset, seasick, impulsive, and still deemed worthy of growing into a hero and a leader. I will love her with all of my soul and you simply will not convince me that it wasn't worth the screentime after such a profound imbalance for basically the entirety of the game. We've never had a major female character get such a strong arc with this much love and attention put into it and that means more to me than I can truly say. The backlash to it is disheartening, as this kind of thing always is, but I'm not going to let it ruin the wonderful experience I had playing it and how much joy it continues to bring me.

And for those of you who don't want any of that for a female character, thank goodness you have Heavensward and Shadowbringers and Endwalker and no one can take those away from you.

(And if you follow me you know that I love Shadowbringers and Endwalker and have very fond memories of Heavensward despite some issues with it, so not only can I not take that from you, I am not trying to!)

Some of us have been real hungry for a character like this with an arc like this, so, I think, y'know, maybe we can have that. As a treat.

[idalenn]

Day 4 - Reticent

Worqor Zormor - Lillian and Alisaie switch up the plan to harry the Second Promise. (7.0)

Major characters: Warrior of Light, Thancred, Urianger

Full text below the cut

Quick as a lie, Lillian’s hand snapped away from her forehead and a golden cord yanked Alisaie whole into her grip.

“We’re changing the plan,” Lillian growled, twisting the younger girl around to get at the leather tube slung across her back. “Alisaie, you and Krile stay with Wuk Lamat, and I’ll head off the others at the pass instead.”

“What’s come over you,” the girl cried. “So. Suddenly?” Wrenching with all force in her Elezen frame, she tried to free herself to no avail. Lillian’s arms were muscle woven with steel.

“Thancred got the best of us. Heard all we – quit moving – intended. They’ll expect your harassment up ahead.” Her deft fingers slid around the tube’s hooks, undoing them one after another. So much easier without gloves, she thought. In short order the map was flapping in her hand. “But not mine.” Krile nodded, clarity writ plain on her face.

“The Echo. We’ll leave this to you, then.” She knocked their Hrothgar claimant across one hand with the dripping end of her brush. “Worqor Zormor awaits us, Third Promise. Our friend will rejoin us once she’s finished.”

Confusion reigned over Wuk Lamat’s own expression. “Does anyone care to enlighten me on this?”

“It must needs be later, I’m afraid. Just run for now. I’ll do my best to inform you of the basics on the way.”

“So it goes.” Wuk Lamat’s shoulders slipped with a heavy sigh. Beyond a protesting Alisaie, Lillian hurriedly crumpled the map into a long green pocket of her cape. “I bring you into my circle for help and you look to escape me at the first chance. Sometimes I think you just can’t toler-AH–” Wind took the rest of her words, loose earth and shards of rock showering the remaining party as Lillian raced off with its power at her back, yalms melting away with each stride.

 Up the path she went dodging around fallen stone outcroppings and growths of blue and violet crystal, the image of the Second Promise’s ascension on a column of air with Thancred and Urianger in tow still burned into her eyes. Not one soul in that damned town malms below had mentioned that was a possibility. Or perhaps her attention had fallen off at the wrong time in conversation and missed its passing mention in one of many grand tales she had been forced into hearing, some unexplainable act that had allowed the defeat of a rampaging beast like Valigarmanda. That was the irritating part about scholars like Koana; legends always held a grain of truth, and those learned as he always knew how to exploit those grains. Like as not down in the valley there existed some Sharlayan device he’d built capable of calling tempests to aid him.

Irritated, she slammed her staff into the mountain face and flooded it with aether. Juts of jagged, black stone ground out, dislodging flora that had lain root in the rock and birds that had found roost in the plants. Once extended enough for use, she bound up the cantilevered platforms, staff readied, its tip alight with pearlescent aether. One bird arrowed towards the Miqo’te, squawking complaint till light and petrichor found their mark, the smell of roast windkin filling Lillian’s mouth with water and nearly sending her feathered cap flying into the abyss. She almost shed a tear as the bird tumbled limp trailing feathers through the clouds.

After the last step, Lillian found herself on a mountain ledge flanked by a low rise of boulders and flowered moss. She drew out the time weathered map and flattened it on the ground, tsking at a tear she made in her haste to abscond. Wuk Lamat had been correct, but why waste time and confirm to the child claimant what she already knew? She was haughty, naïve, self-absorbed, and above all, a fool who believed Lillian’s actions took her well-being into consideration.

Were you not similar once, and did you not learn better? The voice of logic nagged. Quiet. Never so much as she, Lillian thought back, smoothing the spot Thancred pointed out to the Second Promise; a wide pass dotted with the ruins of ancient walls

“Alisaie plans to harry us here. She’s a quick-footed little pest, but we’ve battled alongside long enough for me to know exactly where her faults lie, and I’ve been itching for the opportunity to knock her down a peg or four. I’ll have her in bed without supper and you your victory before the Third Promise realizes she’s been made.”

We’ll see if you can manage the same against me, she thought, stuffing the map back down, wind licking at her heels as she ran. Beastkin poked their soft, red noses from their dens as she passed and retreated just as quickly. Excitement made her ears unable to stay still. They beat a dangerous leather heartbeat against their coverings sewn into her cap. Her thoughts were smothered, but so were the land’s whispers.

The ruins were a short jaunt away. There, the ground was soft and pocketed with fist-width craters filled with tepid water. Vegetation grew verdant from the civilization’s desiccated corpse to cover the bones in green embrace.

There it was. Along the path to the mountain’s summit, a towering stone barrier stood solemn. Dutiful. For a Miqo’te clad in forest colors: easily concealed behind. Some great hand had torn a hole through its skin and left a passage from ruin to path providing the perfect redoubt from which to utilize a White Mage’s magic against unwary passersby. Lillian sprinted across the sodden field, her mind bursting with all the possibilities to slow down her opponents.

As she reached the hole, a white blur faded into the open space.

A reticent blur of white absent of sound, of tension, of presence and definition. The pressure of existence swelled gradually with each fifth of moment. Her brain fired desperately on every available detail.

Bulk; clothing; the jangling of canisters; his interwoven bandolier; plant musk hiding his scent.

Thancred?

Who could claim the greater surprise? Not he, who knew of a coming. Not her, who knew of an arriving.

But if anything, he didn’t appear surprised at all. In fact, he was even –

Smiling?

A strong, hardened jaw stared back at her, yellow teeth glinting from a light growing –

From below?

A tickle started in her brain. Understanding came before the knowing.

Water flew into her hand from the puddle below before growing outward in a blue, glass-thin sheen in the path of the gunblade’s edge, hardening into a shield faster than the blooming muzzle flash. The explosion sent her flying back in a trail of dust and smoke. Powder smell filled her nose. Her ears rang with a cannon blast. Wind gathered thick around in a shroud of green aether to carry her from danger, willing herself to land upright on stable ground.

But as she did, a sigil circled with arcane letters expanded across the stone.

Rolling in the air, her hand wreathed in blinding green tore across the space as a wave of wind struck her full in the side mere ilms from the sigil, lifting the Warrior of Light to send her tumbling bodily across the ground and out of the way of harm as the sigil vanished in a thunderclap of dust and heat. Coughing up more dust caught in her throat, she turned blazing yellow eyes to the cloud of soot obscuring her would-be assailants.

“Bastards… the both of you.” She rose on shaking legs. Shards of broken stone had ripped tears in the cloth of her garb. Blood sheathed from a deep, muddy cut on her arm, but nothing else felt broken.

“Come now, we’re all friends here, and what’s a scuffle between friends.”

Thancred sauntered out from the debris, a shite-eating grin ballooning across his handsome features. Following suit with a light chuckle was Urianger, his astrometer spinning at the ready with cards prepped for reading.

“Our comrade believeth her hand superior to thine own.”

“Count yourself lucky that Alisaie hadn’t been the one around that corner.” Lillian spat a globule of saliva laced with red. “You might have killed her.”

“And I would have been eternally guilty for the act, make no mistake.” Somehow Thancred’s smile grew wider. “But, thankfully, no luck was necessary. You came around just as I had planned.”

“Planned? Ha!” Lillian tossed back her head to laugh. The movement made her wince. “Unless one of you can divine the future, my being here is all luck. And where has the Second Promise gone?”

“Ahead,” Thancred said.

“Thou would beggar of us an explanation?”

“Please. I’m all ears – hold…” She held up a finger hazy with radiant white and plunged the digit into her ringing ear. As the aether healed the damage from Thancred’s attack, the plants around her feet withered into brown husks and crumbled to join the dirt. “Apologies – Now I’m all ears.”

“Your Echo.” Thancred wore the face of a child swimming in an ocean of unwrapped candies. At Lillian’s widened eyes, he continued. “A most useful tool in our adventures, being allowed to witness past events as they occurred. But only as they occurred.”

“Of strength in sight does it boast, yet Master Thancred, awash in inspiration and long accustomed, privy to thine Echo’s potency, hath discovered the flaw in its making.” He held a hand to his lips and laughed lightly. Lightly and restrained. “Deceived we were, as means to deceive you.”

Lillian shook her head. “Somehow I believe this is just some trick to keep me here.”

“Oh, you were tricked, all right. Now your turn comes – what did the Echo show?”

“And why would I tell you?”

“You saw us discussing plans with Koana; plans to ambush Alisaie; plans in which I spoke of knocking her down a peg or four? You witness events exactly as they occur, so once we witnessed you succumb to the Echo’s effects…” Thancred placed a hand to his forehead.

“Into the fold were the Second Promise and I giveth allowance, and a trap thus lain for our dearest friend.”

Thancred’s fingers drummed along the gunblade’s handle. “Do pass on my thanks to Alisaie. Had it not been for her plot on Ultima Thule confirming you’ve density common with archon loaf, this endeavor may not have been as fruitful as hoped.”

The skin under Lillian’s left eye began to quiver. White aether burst at her wounded arm as the dirt crumbled into fine powder under her boots. “I hope you realize what you’ve earned.” Her words came out as a low hiss, the corners of her mouth twitched ever so slightly upward.

“A prize, I wager! And a prize Urianger and I have wished so long to taste.”

“Indeed. We bringeth all our might to bear, that we may witness might worthy of song and notoriety, what bringeth even eikons to heel.”

With a malicious cacophony, like to an endless sea of keening glass, from Lillian’s back spread opalescent wings of aether aflame, size and ferocity swelling until she was rendered a silhouette before their crescendo. Sensation of needles prickled against the Scions’ skin, and the myriad wounds below notice across her flesh steamed forth white clouds until hale and closed.

“Try not to choke on it.”

[elliewiltarwyn]

FFXIV Write 2024 | #11: Surrogate

Fifth Umbral Moon, 17th Sun, 03 7AE

I’m frightened for Minfilia in a way I’ve never felt before.

She’s determined - moreso than she’s ever been in front of me. She displayed a spine of steel, refusing to back down no matter the bitter words Thancred��or I—muttered at her. Her resolve managed to impress Emet-Selch himself, though of course he delighted in spelling out the dilemma before us, just to rub in the tragedy of it all.

She’s a teenager - barely Alphinaud and Alisaie’s age. She never had the chance to live her own life; she has ever walked in the shadow of an unfathomable legacy. She’s always borne the weight of being a scion, and she never had a choice in the matter.

Except now she is choosing - to submit. To offer herself to the Minfilia, to let the self she’s never had the chance to express fade away in service of our mission - the mission of the Oracle of Light.

And it kills me, because I know why she’s devalued herself so much. It’s my fault. And Thancred’s, but—we look at this girl named Minfilia and can see naught but the Minfilia we lost. I know she’s not her. And…the very fact that she isn’t her makes me bitter.

That’s not fucking fair to her. It’s unfair to her, to Minfilia, to all the other girls in between that died in her name. And as much as it bothered me, my feelings can’t come into this.

And she needed to know that. I confronted her a few hours after we left the Ocular, found her on the balcony overlooking the Crystarium gates. I told her, in no uncertain terms, that she should not make her decision based on how Thancred and I feel about her.

“I’m not,” she replied firmly, never breaking eye contact. “I’m making my decision based on what’s best for everyone.”

“It’s not best for you.”

“And why would you care?” I’ll never forget how her voice cracked as she said it, how the tears began to well in her eyes. “I figured you’d be overjoyed to have your Minfilia back—”

Not if it means losing you.

She was stunned. I was stunned, and I said the words. But I meant it. Because if she goes along with this, it’s not what I think is best for someone I care about. For both of them.

Because yes, I loved Minfilia, with all my heart, with everything I was.

But I also care about Minfilia - the young one, the girl who never had the chance to be herself - because I’ve seen the little glimpses of herself peeking through the veil, occasionally. I’ve begun to pick up on what she likes, what frightens her, her sweet tooth, what she likes to read in her downtime. I’ve begun to see what kind of person she is within the shadow of Minfilia’s legacy, and…she’s delightful. And Thancred and I are fools for not appreciating her for who she is.

Not as a surrogate for the first of that name whom we loved. Not as a scion to a legacy she never wanted to inherit. Just a young girl - one of the bravest, most resolute, and strongest girls I’ve ever known.

I don’t want her to give herself up - even if it means seeing Minfilia again. And I hope, on some level, Thancred doesn’t want that either.

Because I know she wouldn’t have wanted that.

‘Can I actually convey even a shred of this sentiment to her?’ is a different question. I…think I did my best. I took her hand, looked her in the eye, and told her I wanted her to do what’s best for herself…because under it all, I do care for her.

(I can’t make the mistake of failing to ensure the ones I love know how I feel about them. Never again.)

She…took it well, all things considered. She said she would think about it…and thanked me. But that haunted look was still in her eye when she turned, pulled her hand out of my grasp, and walked away.

There’s still time, at least. I’ll banish that look from her eyes before we reach Nabaath Areng if it’s the last thing I do.

(I should talk to Thancred. Get that message through his thick skull. She’s even more concerned with his feelings than with mine, given how they’ve been together for years…)

[eemamminy-art]

This isn't all of them, but here are some of Carvallain's voice lines in Sirensong Sea duty support :3 Enjoy! I have very little editing skills but I did my best to try and isolate him from the girls' yelling along with him ahaha

And here are some of the non-spoken bits of dialog! It differs depending on who you take with you! I had Alisaie and Lyse as the other NPCs and I noticed the dialog is different from when I ran it with Alphinaud and Lyse, but I didn't manage to save screenshots from that run

[imperial-nuisance-rudje]

i've seen a lot of "assign exaltations to media" posts recently and i wanted to get in on this, this time with final fantasy 14

major spoilers up to 7.0/Dawntrail! also, only hitting major msq characters bc i will actually lose my mind if i have to do all the side stuff and minor characters too, even though i know i'm already accidentally skipping some characters just bc the cast list is the size of the pacific and my brain is a bit fried.

"wait some of these aren't exaltations at all" sometimes it is more interesting if a heroic character is Just Some Guy

Meteor Survivor/Default Warrior of Light - Dawn Solar. It's not even close. The WoL is a very large hammer and all the world is a nail. Even their more magicy stuff they approach like a Dawn rather than a Zenith! Couple arguments that could be made for their Supernal, for trailer-WoL I'd probably go for Melee. Like I have to actively fight the game for every scrap of Not-Solar I give my own WoL, the default WoL is super fucking Solar-coded.

Minfilia - okay hear me out. she's an Exigent of Hydaelyn and her Exaltation passes down to specifically young girls who fit other certain criteria. “Oracle of Light, Minfilia” ends up a sobriquet that devours even the girls’ names in the end. 

Ryne - See above. Exigent of Hydaelyn, just one able to make her own name for herself after it all. 

Thancred - just some guy!!!!! Not an Exalt at all he's just some dude! the stealth thing he can do could easily be a mutation rather than a power related to Exaltation.

Urianger - mortal sorcerer up to 5.0, exalts as a lunar during the time gap. Can be talked out of this, it's a gut read. E: THE GUT READ IS BC HE DEALS SAFELY WITH THE FAE AND TRICKS THEM IN TURN. Changing Moon, definitely. Spirit shape is something both ominous and benefic in terms of omens.

Y’shtola - gut is that she's a mortal sorcerer but I'm not sure if/when she exalts. I feel like the best point for that if she does is actually in the future for her, assuming my read of the plot thread tea leaves is accurate. Assuming nothing else changes, probably a Solaroid, though you may be able to argue Infernal over Solar for her.

Lyse - Deeb, Fire Aspect, same as her sister. I don't have much reasoning for this, it just feels right.

G’raha - I have tried to come up with not this but he really is just the Exigent of the god of the Crystal Tower… You could probably argue for deeb, bc of the royal eye thing, but i feel very strongly that he hasn't Exalted when he first shows up and that pushes him over the deeb exaltation age limit and I personally need some kind of major explanation to accept breaking that rule and while the Crystal Tower could probably manage it... given the physical changes he shows as the Crystal Exarch in ShB I think it works better if it's a very costly (to the Exalt) Exigent exaltation.

Papalymo - Mortal sorcerer. He dies because it was the only way to fuel the spell caging Shinryu as a mortal.

Alphinaud & Alisaie - I'm torn with the twins, honestly. I lean towards them being mortals but you can definitely argue for them having an Exaltation, especially after Coils or ShB, and they're young enough to be late-bloomer deebs if you want them to light up mid-story.

Erenville - Believe it or not I do think he's an Exalt. He's a Wood Aspect Dragonblooded like his mom and he put all of his points into dealing with critters and logistics and lifting heavy things and absolutely none into combat. (You could probably also argue for Earth, honestly, I can't articulate why I feel so strongly about the Wood aspect.)

Wuk Lamat - Dawn Solar, with her Exaltation coming when she breaks through to reach the Queen Eternal again at the end of MSQ. Shockingly social-focused Dawn, but still a Dawn.

Aymeric - Air aspect Deeb. His idealism nearly gets his ass killed like three times I am not budging on this.

Haurchefant - Water aspect deeb. WAIT HEAR ME OUT: i know the easy answer is to slap Wood on him for horny crimes and call it a day, but the way the rest of his personality actually is he fits water way more, including the part where when he's at his limit he's an unstoppable terror that doesn't know restraint. I could also be convinced to assign him Fire. (He's too flexible for Earth and too practical/grounded for Air, imo.) It also fits with his family since the Fortemps we meet all kind of vibe as damp-adjacent at minimum.

Krile - Joke answer: Sidereal bc i nearly forgot to add her-- :V

More seriously, the whole "refugee from another reflection" thing makes assigning her an Exaltation difficult. Alt timelines exist in this game but reflections are explicitly not those, it's more akin to Autochthon's relationship to Creation, and (barring some serious ass-pulls from the writers in the patches) Krile is an ordinary woman in terms of physiology. She's also not dead or associated with death, so I guess that means there's four options she absolutely cannot be rather than ones she can be.

Zenos yae Galvus - Does not Exalt until after 4.0, where he rises as a Dusk Abyssal. Because it fits with how fucked up he is and StB/his arc that he, a mortal man, is able to cause problems until the WoL starts taking him seriously. I could also be open to him being a Casteless Lunar bc lunisolar bond w/WoL (I love a good Fated Nemesis and so would he) but in general I feel like his everything works better if he doesn't Exalt until he tries to remove his own head and it's important to his story that he is Very Dead-Seeming after that point which makes options very limited.

Varis zos Galvus - If he is an Exalt, he's a deeb. Earth aspect, but I could probably be talked into Fire too. The “if” is because I'm torn between him being a disappointment because he never Exalted or because he's the same aspect as his dad but never reached the same potential in grandpa’s eyes. The Garlean upper class generally maps surprisingly cleanly to Dynasts.

Emet-Selch - Honestly this applies to all three of the Unsundered, I'm just keeping the family together, but: I truly believe those three are narratively closer to Deathlords than anything else in Exalted, and I say this while also acknowledging that Zodiark is more like a Yozi than one of the Neverborn. I do not know how to square that circle.

Thordan - Deeb. Air or Earth aspect, either could work with his personality.

Sphene - Orichalcum Alchemical. Living-Sphene was mortal. (Why not liminal? Quite frankly, bc she is not made of meat and still retains her living memories, both of which are disqualifying factors.)

Zoraal Ja - Mortal. I think it adds to things if part of his violent insecurity is that he never lights up despite being his father's son.

Fandaniel - Could admittedly go with either Abyssal or Infernal, depending on what aspects of him you want to emphasize, but I personally see him as a Daybreak.

Gaius - Fire aspect deeb.

[dainesanddaffodils]

Ya girl has finished Shadowbringers! and I have feelings! and my lizard also has Feelings! (though not as many on the denizens of the First as you might think; she spent her entire time there Ready to Leave so she didn't allow herself to get super attached to the people. She cared about them but in a more blanket sense)

Thoughts post-ARR | Thoughts post-Heavensward | Thoughts post-Stormblood

Without further ado - Cimorene Greystone’s Post-Shadowbringers Relationship Vibes

Ardbert - Not Romantic, Not Platonic but a Secret Third Thing (her Literal Soul Mate). but like, it cannot be overstate that she felt that way about him before she even learned that he was her literal! soul! mate! All this to say she loved him. She loved him deeply and going forward she will sometimes talk to ‘him’ when talking to herself and will find solace in his 'presence' when she's at her lowest.

Emet-Selch - where to fucking begin? She doesn't like him. She doesn't hate him. She'd been having dreams about him for months before she even knew he existed. She didn't trust him. She believes every word he said was true. He absolutely disgusted her. On more than one occasion he made her laugh. His shade rescuing her made her cry. She wanted nothing to do with him. She wanted him to find peace. She’s glad he’s gone. She Will Remember Him.

Crystal Exarch/G’raha Tia - so she'd never been particularly close to G'raha beforehand and was deliberately keeping distant from the Exarch because she never fully trusted him so like, by the end she understood what he was doing and wanted him to live, but it was never Personal, you know? In a... not unlike Emet-Selch way, more than anything she just wants him to find peace and she's glad that he's gonna get to have His Own Life (but also she doesn't like you that way buddy I'm so sorry)

Alphinaud - I know I sound like a broken record in these but I cannot stress enough how much he is THE dearest person to Cimorene. she cares about him so much, she leans on him so much and trusts him to lean on her when he needs it, and watching him continue to grow makes her So Emotional. they are Family.

Alisaie - loves her v much but they are also so so so alike in how they process trauma sometimes to the point that she feels she can’t do anything other than say ‘Same’ when Alisaie is going through it. thankfully that’s really all Alisaie would want from her, and all she wants in return. in that, they are also Family.

Thancred - he and Cimorene have finally gotten past the ‘you must be level 5 friend to unlock my trauma’ barrier (from both parties) and are actually friends! not the closest friends but do genuinely care about each other beyond just Scion coworkers now

Ryne - sweet baby girl!! Cimorene isn’t very good with kids but she felt very protective of Ryne and loved watching her grow in confidence and into herself. She deserves the world.

Urianger - she knows he has the best intentions and interests and means well and there are even times she has friendly thoughts towards him but his inability to go more than like a day without keeping some new secret from her means Cimorene will never feel truly comfortable around him

Y’Shtola - Bestie. A Real One. Cimorene trusts and respects her so much that she genuinely had no fear when her obligatory expansion death scare happened (though she was relieved to have her back). If no one else got her, she knows Y'Shtola has got her, and that means so much to her.

Elidibus - man, he was the only ascian (prior to emet-selch) that she’d had any real personal feelings toward. That feeling had been hatred. Shit has obviously changed there and she’s been left feeling a lot of complicated things. If she thinks about him too long she feels both very sad and kind of sick.

Hythlodaeus - 10/10 man(?) of all time. Cimorene immediately clocked that he mattered to her. or rather. to the previous her. and it's the first time that thinking about her previous self wasn't a weird and uncomfortable feeling for her. she's not 100% sure what to make of that yet but she'll keep thoughts of him close as she goes on

Estinien - had her proper fanfic love realization 'oh' moment when he made an ass out of himself in front of Alisaie, and then everything he said and did for the rest of the patch-end of game just made her fall harder. She's in deep for this grumpy idiot, guys. (Jury is still out on if they smooched immediately post-patches but like, Cimorene WANTS to, so bad)

Fandaniel - so the last time Cimorene said 'oh thank the gods someone I can just hate in an entirely uncomplicated way' it turned out to be Elidibus so like... she's trying not to do that again but it's hard when you have the face of the man she hated more than anyone and have allied yourself with the other guy she has the least complicated amount of hate toward. but nothing is ever that easy for her, right?

And that’s it for now but hey I’m in Endwalker now. Holy fucking shit, right?

[writeraven]

FFXIVWRITE 2024 — 03: TEMPEST.

“Being an assassin is not always about the easy kill. It’s about the best kill.” — Tricia Levenseller, Vengeance of the Pirate Queen

TAGS: [ isorawrites. » FFXIVwrite » 2024 ]

FANDOM: Final Fantasy XIV.

VERSE: Dawntrail » MSQ.

STATUS: Submitted; 1 chapter.

GENRES: Draft, Flash Fiction.

SHIPS: Murderomantiques.

MUSES: Sora Amariyo, Yiuno Reine.

NPC: Wuk Lamat, WoL (Meteor), Alphinaud & Alisaie Leveilleur.

tempest /ˈtɛmpɪst/ noun a violent windy storm.

The deck was an utter mess. Rolling waves teased with malice at the masts; the Endeavor rocked back and forth in the violent storm. Few people were scuttering about to keep the ship afloat, lest it got swallowed by Llymlaen’s rage.

However, one lone person seemed unfazed by the chaos around them.

With a firm hand around one of the study poles, Sora Amariyo watched a certain female Hrothgar falling flat on the plank, her grey eyes devoid of emotion.

“Do you want to help her?”

She was startled by the quiet yet steady voice of Yiuno Reine, her mentor (and secret crush). She glanced away, slightly annoyed at her own inability to detect his coming. “Why do I want to save that spoiled princess? I don’t even see any value in assassinating her, honestly.”

“Patience, young lady,” Yiuno drawled, patting the Xaela dancer’s head with a gloved hand. “We’re merely here to observe.”

The pair in black watched a few figures rushing up to the Third Promise of Tuliyollal, whom Sora recognized as members of the now-defunct Scions of the Seventh Dawn: the Elezen twins, Alphinaud and Alisaie Leveilleur. And of course, the Warrior of Light himself.

“Do you think we have a chance, with these Scions here?” Sora asked, turning to leave and retreating to the lower decks. “I don’t see your bookish girlfriend around.”

“Frankly speaking, I agree with your assessment—that Xbr’aal girl isn’t worth our time,” Yiuno began, trailing behind the Warrior of Darkness. “Also, Y’shtola isn’t my girlfriend; she’s just a regular client.”

Ignoring the look of disbelief on the young dancer’s face, Yiuno went on, “I’m more interested in the ‘Golden City’ they were talking about.”

“Do you think it exists? A city made of gold?”

Sora’s excitement deflated at Yiuno’s narrowed expression. “Keep your greed in check. I don’t think it’s that simple—there’s perhaps a hint of truth somewhere, even in folk tales.” Rubbing the back of his neck with a hand, Yiuno shrugged and faced his young charge. “Change of plans, then, I guess.”

Sora’s pale face broke into a grin. “I’d never say no to new adventures.”

Support me on Ko-fi — https://ko-fi.com/whyraven. Thank you very much for your continuous support☕

[fisherrprince]

So how was stormblood? I know it's very hit or miss for people, so what're your thoughts?

I understand why it’s hit or miss! It — to get to the point i would be straight up lying if I said I was an unbiased consumer because I’m not, I’m a coastal American mid 20s rando with a Lot of very current cultural baggage around concepts like patriotism and freedom. And Hamilton references. It all has a sweet and strong and very anti-occupation message (along with themes I very much enjoy dissecting like the constant assertion that it Doesn’t Have To Be This Way, or the expansion into You may not understand this person but you must be able to accept them,) but when combined with Stormblood’s shakier coherence in writing and dialogue and pacing, it comes off as A Bit Off. to me. And I think it missed ever so slightly just due to how it was all structured and set up with the characters we have and motivations we have because the stuff OUTSIDE or Adjacent to the main story, despite how out of place it could feel, was structured great!! Like the Kojin and the Ananta trial and the Kugane mishaps and trying to murder Zenos twice and the ghost ship. Could the main structure have come across very well yes absolutely! It does it on and off it succeeds in there often! But sometimes it doesn’t. I can see a lot of where concepts were promised and not fully delivered, pacing was a bit off, things just happened without really belonging there (despite how much I loved Susano, he could have been better structured. same with many instances and also I feel like the unethical science should have been MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT — maybe it comes back. Who is that scientist.), sometimes dialogue felt somewhat canned. I feel like in a consequences-heavy expansion, many things just didn’t have important consequences, which was very strange

HOWEVER! I cannot give the new gameplay features abd dungeons any crap they are all SO GOOD. And so PRETTYYYYY. And there were so many solo duties that ruled! Every dungeon in this expansion was like whoa this is a PLACE im in you know what I mean??? I’m in a place that’s big and there’s people and there’s NEW MECHANICS and active time maneuvers (??!!!!!!!) and unique fights! I can jump on the roofs in Kugane! And, mind you, when the dialogue was good, it was good. Lyse has a fantastic voice actor. Alisaie is my favorite girl elf creature in thw world. Estinien is like the best p- the guy ever. also m’naago is my new friend. The tower was a great part of sb to me despite my singular gripe. I think Zenos’— I know it’s controversial to some people because he does assume your wol to be a bit more murderous than some people would prefer their characters be and doesn’t take no for an answer, but his um speech did something to my brain a little bit

ON that note the ending was very fast?????? Or like — not FAST, but I wasn’t expecting Zenos or Shinryu to go down in one fight. Two co-op fights, right next to each other. I kind of wanted to beat him up myself. And when Zenos was so impossible to beat before. I was expecting both of them to be WAY harder. Though Shinryu is a COOL fight I’d do the royal menagerie again in a second. I was kind of expecting a three stage trial? Like Nidhogg? I love going into space hiiii big dragon where were you this whole time… u were shafted… but u could not be suffered to live so. Maybe if we’d gotten an instance of fighting the dragon alone after beating the trial?? Could have been Themes. I don’t know

anyways no I can’t quite pin it down, but I’ve said it before I think they had the outline for the story and then built it and went oh this is too much and not enough at the same time and got stuck writing the whole thing after getting stuck in the story they already had. A COMMENDABLE job for getting turned around like that, way better than a lot of video games stories out there, good gameplay and areas that didn’t feel too empty. glances at coerthas falcons nest area. I think the ways they did the exploration thing was good, having us venture further into occupied territory etc, but so much exploration stuff felt oneoff and not there to do much for someone who has been skipping almost all of the side content except stuff I’ve been told is good. It almost felt like they were Trying New Stuff a lot, and some of it succeeded some of it failed. Such is trying stuff!! Such is trying to imitate what you had while making something new and exciting! And I can’t fault them for that

so like — putting aside the fact that I haven’t done post-sb which is like missing 40% of the Thing according to past expansions and my thoughts very well might change, i would 100% do the fights again, maybe watch some cutscenes, but I don’t think I’d NG+ this one. where is that lady selling buuz it is a CRIME i did not get to have any buuz let me buy one yoshi p

[faelune-home]

FFXIVWrite 2024 #17: Sally

(A/n: This was a weird one to write as I definitely wasn't familiar with the word other than the specific phrase 'to sally forth'. But the violent outburst or retort meanings gave me an idea to focus on confronting the bishop in the magic questline.

Which does make me realise I've been writing the magic quest a lot. :'D Part of it is just the inspo, but the other part is struggling to remember the other quests, so I might have to NG+ those at some point quickly for a refresher. I can only rely on dialogue writings on various websites for so long.

It also doesnt help that Alisaie is my girl and I like writing her and her feelings about Ishgard and how extreme it is.

Word count: 1854)

“Are you sure you don’t want to rest first? You’ve been so busy with all of this since we started,” Alisaie asked, concerned for Fhara as she marched on. Their reunion at the aetheryte plaza had been a warm one, but they couldn’t dally, eager to get a move on now they had a goal in mind. But Alisaie wasn’t ignorant to the dark circles under her friend’s eyes, or how she was slow to respond at first beyond pleasant greetings.

“Aymeric and Artoirel would understand-” she tried to add, but Fhara halted suddenly, Alisaie almost bowling into her in turn. Fhara quickly grabbed her and steadied them both.

“I know you’re worried about me,” she started, trying to be gentle with her words, even pairing them with a gentle smile, “but I’m fine. I’m tired, yes, but I’m managing. Unfortunately we don’t have time to stop, even when there’s no progress with one nation, another suddenly needs me. Even if I stopped to rest, I’d feel bad that everyone else had to keep going. So I’ll just try my best and take whatever sleep I can.”

Alisaie opened her mouth, trying to think of an argument other than just more of the same that Fhara would still push against - “But you’re running yourself ragged, you do enough for people as it is, I’m fine to carry your burden!” - only for the arrival of their Ishgardian hosts to stop her.

“Ah good, you’ve arrived,” Aymeric greeted, hurrying to a stop by the ladies, “I’m sure Lady Alisaie may have already told you, but we’re preparing to meet with Bishop Vartinoix at the Cathedral. We’ll depart when you’re ready.”

Artoirel looked over Fhara’s bedraggled appearance, like she’d rushed to put on her warmer coat, and the exhaustion writ in her face. He frowned.

“While we appreciate your swift response, would you not prefer to rest first?” he asked, “While we’re eager to get more information now that we have a lead, t’would be best to have you in the best condition. And as Lady Alisaie has made mention before, you’re stretching yourself thin seeing to each of the blasphemy appearances across Eorzea.”

Before Fhara could respond, a single lash of her tail the first sign of her frustration, Alisaie butt in ahead of her to say, “I keep telling her she’s free to rest. We could even approach the bishop without her. But she’s ever a stubborn one, no matter what I say.” Fhara pouted back at the girl, who only folded her arms and countered it with a firm look, daring Fhara to argue back.

From the corner of her eye, Alisaie could see Aymeric watching over Fhara, his eyes trained on those dark circles. Had he even realised or was he so rushed to confront the bishop?

Artoirel shook his head. “Ever the hero. Then we’ll move on for now. But I would suggest you take the time after this meeting. And please, don’t make me turn it into an order.” Despite his words, there was something of a friendlier undertone to it, almost crossed with a faint desperation. The more time she spent in Ishgard with both men, the more Alisaie found Artoirel to be the most consistent in demeanour, but that also made it easier to see when that mask would crack and show a little more to him.

After Fhara’s dejected agreement, Artoirel nodded, expression again unshifting but evidently relieved, then he turned to Aymeric and nodded again. A silent agreement between them both that they were ready.

“Then let us go. His Grace must know something of our man, and we’ll take whatever information we can.”

~~

Alisaie knew she had reason to be suspicious of that bishop. He grants them an audience, post-haste, then as soon as they arrive they find he’s dashed off on some other duty? What manner of emergency needed him to run from a meeting he’d arranged at the last minute?

She narrowed her eyes against the snow flurry, trying to see his dark robes somewhere in the streets. They were practically empty as well, most Ishgardians seemingly unwilling to brave the weather.

She really did have the worst luck that it’d been snowing constantly since she’d arrived.

“Alisaie, this way!” Fhara’s voice shouted over the wind behind her.

They raced off, meeting with Aymeric in turn until they found Artoirel, cornering their target, nervously backed into the wall. His worry only deepened as he glanced behind the other man and saw them approach.

“Your Grace, we finally found you,” Aymeric panted, trying to calm himself after the rush, “We were concerned when you left so soon after arranging a meeting with us.”

“Y-yes, well, I’m afraid a matter came up. I have many duties and unfortunately this one required a high member of the order like myself. My sincerest apologies for the swift departure, I was so sure Deacon Clem could assist you instead.”

“We’ve already asked Deacon Clem and he’s told us all we need to know,” Alisaie countered, glaring at the man, “And he’s not privy to your own experience, which is what we’re here to ask you about.”

“Aye, and he was also concerned as to why you had to depart so quickly,” Artoirel added, “he had nothing else to contribute which is why we’ve come to find you.”

“We just desire confirmation on our blasphemy and who it originally was. We believe he was a man by the name of Vaindreau, with no relation to archimandrite,” Aymeric said. The bishop’s eyes widened slightly at the name - Alisaie and Fhara both shared a look, knowing they’d both caught it.

He finally straightened up and coughed to recollect himself.

“Well, I’m afraid the former archimandrite is the only man I know of that name,” the Bishop said, the stammer finally cleared from his voice as he spoke carefully, “Why come to me then?”

“He supposedly made mention of you, according to other witnesses,” Aymeric stated plainly.

Beside her, Alisaie could see Fhara flinch.

“I see. That can easily be explained of course, I am a high ranking figure in the church, and me and mine have done much for the people. Just because our reputation is in tatters now doesn't change that the people would know us. Some of our most pious even still turn to us during these chaotic times. Bless the Fury that even with their fears of the church’s misdoings, they still understand there are those amongst our clergy that would be able to help them,” Vartinoix sighed, an air of relief in his words.

“You did know him.” The group froze at the grunt, turning to Fhara who seemed to be shaking off a dizzy spell, though she still looked somewhat winded.

“You even summoned him.”

“Summoned? What, like a primal?” Alisaie gaped, reflexively taking a step back in her shock. The other two men turned harsh glares upon the bishop, who immediately seemed frightened once more.

“I’m sure his Grace knows that summoning is a dangerous practice. One we cannot condone no matter who would try it,” Aymeric said darkly.

“P-please this is ridiculous. You would trust a stranger than myself, a vaunted member of the church? Or do you also believe the slander against our order?” Vartinoix snapped back, the fear in his eyes mixing with anger.

“This stranger is the hero that brought an end to our thousand year war, and now continues to work on behalf of the star itself to prevent further death and despair,” Artoirel huffed.

“She’s out here trying to find out who’s turning members of your order into beasts,” Alisaie hissed, bristling at the way he glared at Fhara. She met it with a steady gaze of her own.

“He wasn’t trying to summon any random man. He wanted King Thordan and the entire Heavensward returned,” she stated evenly, unperturbed by Vartinoix lashing out.

Once again the group gaped at the revelation, but they once again turned on the bishop, more feverous than before.

“You would bring back the man that would threaten to break our peace again?” Aymeric growled, “And for what?”

“You would enthral Ishgard, is that is? Ensure that if all are blindly loyal, there is no-one else to talk back against you? Why? Are you that upset at the thought of the church having less power than they did before? Even though they abused the pious nature of its people to lie and misinform about your nation's history?” Alisaie snapped, feeling deep anger boiling inside her. Thoughts of Ga Bu came to mind, how he’d been cowed into silence, and the Garleans, twisted into mindless loyalists.

The bishop’s eyes widened at her challenge, almost rushing toward her to challenge her remark. Aymeric and Artoirel had to hold him back, bedraggled as he was and devolving from the upright man of the cloth he had been not a moment ago. That he had been parading around as until the curtain had fallen on his truth.

“You! You would speak as if you know anything! What do either of you know! The church has been a pivotal core of Ishgard for centuries, and in one fell swoop, you crumbled our foundation, there is nothing left for us! I gave everything for this city, to my order, for my fellows, and now I must simply live with being cast out and spat upon by others for actions I had no idea I was even partaking in. That I continued the history as I knew it rather than simply divining the truth?”

The air rippled around him, black smog seeping from his skin as he tore free from the mens grasps, backing away from the group as mad laughter rippled through him.

“I would strengthen the peoples faith and return them to the church. Ishgard would stand proudly again. You think this nation of torn allegiances and uncertainty better than stability in our faith?”

“You cannot force stability, we must needs work together-” Aymeric tried to argue, only for another bitter bark of laughter to cut him off.

“You decided from the first that your Ishgard had no place for us,” Vartinoix hissed, already overcome with black smog, his final words echoed in darkness, “I won’t accept this. I refuse your Ishgard!”

Even as the twisted transformation emerged from the smog, Fhara and Alisaie had already rushed forth, weapons in hand to stop him. Aymeric wasn’t deaf to their actions, nor to the panic that seemed to be growing from the onlookers staring down from their windows. He could hear Artoirel calling for calm, that all will be well, and even shouting for a guard to check on people.

Fhara’s aether seeped footsteps sent out a shockwave to make the beats stumble, allowing Alisaie an opening to leap in and stab her enchanted blade into his soft underside, a telling blow that made him screech into the sky, echoing off the cobbles. Both ladies lept back, watching for any further reaction. But there was nothing left to fight.

The final remains of Bishop Vartinoix collapsed and evaporated into black smoke.

[elizabethrobertajones]

Hi! Top 5 NPCs for ffxiv? :>

Joint 5: the bunny girlfriends - Debroye from the bread quest in EW and Lilja from Bozja in Shb :) Debroye is fighting the good fight for flavour and that hardly needs expanding on after the build up Archon Loaf had in the MSQ as worldbuilding for Sharlayan. Lilja is just a badass bimbo nerd who is good enough to work at the Ironworks but cool enough for shiny nail polish and sunglasses in a warzone. They're small characters who you only meet doing side content but they have strong personalities and they get to rep viera girls who are just kinda nerdy and weird. I am disproportionately affectionate to both of them.

4: Gerolt... I think I've just spent too much time doing relic weapons... He's just awful in a really funny way and I wish him all the best and do all I can to ensure he has a better lot in life, and then one expansion later he is once again in deep drinking debt but saying the realest shit while creating incredible artworks. Also he's sort of 1/3rd the parent of the aforementioned child Frog has so I guess I need to at least get child support in the form of the first free weapon of each quest. The AU version of him and Mowen in the relic crafting tools thing actually really moved me and I'm not ashamed to admit it :')

Anyway in terms of "this guy!!" he's so up there and I'm always thrilled to see what Scenario he's in now. Over the long course of the game he's made an impression...

3: Ameliance. I'm certain she's a mob boss controlling everything from the shadows.

But seriously, no. The twins really are favourites but in terms of Top NPCs I'd been wondering about her the whole time since they do make mentions of their family and writing to mother etc and expectations were high, and getting to know her was so utterly wild because the plot demands on her from all directions of her family - her husband, her father in law, her children, the servants she hires who include the hired goons Alisaie brought to the Coils of Bahamut... Like. She is a character who had to be retroactively constructed from everything that has been said in a way that Fourchenault didn't need to be because his template is clear: He's the Son of Louisoix and burdened with cursed knowledge and the weight of history from immediate family and long lineage of being related to founding fathers of his city; he's EASY to write. Now imagine up the woman who MARRIED him, and has stayed married to him. And is going to stay married to him since the twins dealing with divorce doesn't seem like a probable plotline given the emotional directions of the broader story. Okay, now let's imagine a real woman with actual desires and personality who can fit into this puzzle piece.

Fucking Ameliance.

How on earth they convinced me she's real is a feat of writing I am in awe of.

2: Urianger is so important, like. Leave me alone, Il Mheg got me good because ffxiv seems to get everyone eventually, and now I'm nonbinary and he's my nonbinary icon :') SIGH. A Process Has Occurred. I could say more but honestly, I think that sums up that he is important to me.

1: Erenville............. Listen, I own multiple David Attenborough merch people get me because they know it's an easy gift. I had been a kid who sat and poked rockpools and puddles and I put snails in a jar and and of course picked up frogs in the garden. You introduce a character whose job is Animals and especially claims to be an expert in frogs??? He would have been at least with the bunny girlfriends on this list if this was his only contribution to the story. (And I would have enjoyed my feud in peace.)

Instead he's a fascinating guy who stood up for his workers, has leves where he's commissioning presents for gleaners, happily goes against authority to be helpful from the jump.... And NOW we get more content where we get to see him being a grumpy snarky bastard who is the only rational person in Sharlayan AND apparently has been neglecting being the only rational person in Tural too so off we go to see that in action???

I'm marrying him I'm marrying him I'm marrying him...

[meximango]

Day 20 - Duel - Cahsi + Alisaie - G

Summary: Two red mages have a friendly spar

“I challenge you, Cahsi–to a duel!”

The teen had come bounding up to her just as she set her backpack down on the table. “Wh–now? Alisaie, I just got back from a long day of channeling my aether into injured folks. As you know. I was with your brother.” 

Cahsi didn’t heal often, preferring and excelling at an offensive role instead, but she didn’t want to get rusty at it–so she’d spent the better part of a day playing the part with Alphinaud. Even after getting rid of the threat to Tuliyollal, there were still plenty of people who needed aid with their wounds. They’d both left when they felt their mana reserves fizzing out faster and faster between bouts of applying lucid dreaming and ethers. “Does that mean you forfeit? Afraid you might lose?” The cheeky grin wasn’t quite genuine. The poor girl was betting on Cahsi’s competitive nature getting the best of her and prodding her into complying. Alisaie would hate to win by default. “Hey now, I didn’t say that… But I’ve always known you to be a chivalrous young lady. Doesn’t this seem a bit underhanded, asking me when I’m exhausted? It wouldn’t be a fair fight!” “I do feel a bit guilty about that, but it’s just a friendly spar, Cahsi. The stakes are low.” “You know I love a spar between friends, but if you’re itching for a fight, I could probably find some quests for you to take on, or there’s always Arya. She’s more at your level, so a spar between you two could benefit you both. Also, she probably misses you. It’s been a while.” Alisaie's face reddened a bit at that, whether from guilt or something else, Cahsi didn’t know. 

“Mor Dhona is a bit far… I’ll visit her soon, but I want to duel you. Right now, if you’re amicable to the request. Besides, a one-on-one fight with you is never fair. I would have to gather at least a light party of our compatriots to even the odds. This is my best chance.” Cahsi chuckled. It was probably true, but all of the former scions were incredibly competent, when it came down to it. After everything they’ve been through, she really couldn’t ask for a group of people better at what they do. She’d trust any of them with her life any day. Cahsi didn’t run through everything alone, she had her companions to help her where it mattered. “You’re selling yourself short, Ali. You really don’t have to wait until I’m low on aether to ask for a duel. I’ll do it anytime–yes, even now. You’ve done amazing things I couldn’t have even dreamed of doing when I was your age. I’m pretty sure I was just  cleaning tables at the Drowning Wench at that point. Hadn’t even picked up an arcanist’s tome yet!” Alisaie flushed again, this time at the praise. She was so hard on herself, Cahsi would need to remind her more often how fantastic she was. 

“You’re right… I want to challenge you as a true test of my skills, to one day overcome you when we’re both at the top of our game. But I never beat you at anything!” “Not true. You are quite the little diplomat, often more tactful than me, though we both lack patience. And you could beat me at navigation skills or cooking any day, trust me.” “Well. I never beat you at anything I care about, then.” That had earned her a smile, at least. 

“Oh, then what about flips! You always do more than me during battle. Show-off.” “Please, your style is just as dramatic and full of flair. You compensate with pirouettes and moves that shine as brightly as you–literally. You are not allowed to limit break anymore, you’re going to blind us all at this rate–” “Says the girl who is always doing it before me, first chance you get! Greedy.” Cahsi shoved Alisaie’s shoulder playfully. She didn’t really mind, but the teen was one to talk! She started making her way back outside, with Alisaie following close behind as expected. “Not my fault you wait on it too long.”

Cahsi shrugged, then pulled out her rapier and magic crystal. “I’ll try to be quicker next time, then. Now, would you care to do this out here in the training grounds or find a clearing? I’m not sure how far you planned on going with your moves.”

“We probably won’t be too destructive, what with your mana levels. I was thinking this could be more of a physical fight, after all. You’re right, I shouldn’t take advantage of your low magical reserves. But your muscles are perfectly intact, so have at you!” Alisaie went and grabbed two wooden training swords (close enough to a rapier), threw one at Cahsi who naturally caught it without issue, and changed her stance. She bent her knees and made a ‘come hither’ motion.

“You’re on, sister!” And with that, Cahsi gave her friend no more time to prepare herself before she lunged forward with her weapon.

Normally, one or two people on the outside of their track would be keeping track of the score, but they hadn’t bothered to find anyone to act as referee. They hadn’t agreed on normal rules, but they never sparred any other way, so the head was off limit, but a tap to any other part of the body with their fake sword counted as a point. The first to ten points was the winner of that round, and they generally did the best two out of three as the overall winner.

Both red mages excelled at offensive moves rather than defense and parrying, so it tended to turn into a race of who could move faster, harder, more unpredictably to get a jump on the other. They could spin and flip out of the way here and there, but mostly they jumped forward and stabbed at each other wildly (and lightly! Though there might be some bruising later).

In lieu of a ref, they counted out loud: “That’s one for C!”

“Yeah, well that brings it up to three for A!”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I just coun–oof!”

“Two for C.”

“I was still right about my score.”

“Yeah, but you let yourself be distracted. Eyes open and light on your feet, girl!”

“Still winning here, aren’t I?”

“Not for long~” Cahsi sang out.

It went on for a few minutes before the first round was won by Alisaie, ten to nine.

“You better not be going easy on me!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You got that last point before me fair and square.”

Cahsi knew it would just make Alisaie angry if she didn’t bother trying, so Cahsi was putting effort in, but she was distracted. Despite not doing any physical work today, the spellwork made her more sluggish overall, and she had forgotten to eat or drink today (and normally Alphinaud would have been on her ass about it to make sure she was being healthy, but while they separated to take their lunch breaks at separate food stands, Cahsi had run into Thancred and spent the entire time talking to him instead), so she was beginning to feel faint. She’d powered through far worse, though, and her pride wouldn’t allow her to end this early.

Round two nearly ended much the same, but Cahsi gathered a burst of strength and speed to let it end in her favor. The score was tied. “Last round declares the winner. Think you’ve got this, Ali?”

“You bet I do! I will gracefully sweep victory from your hands on this day, I can feel it!”

“I look forward to it.”

About halfway through their final round, Cahsi stumbled as she became dizzy. Her partner must have noticed, because she stopped mid-lunge to check in with her, concern drawing her brows together slightly. “You good there?”

In lieu of a verbal response, Cahsi gave a slightly shaky thumb’s up, but her stomach betrayed her, taking the chance to growl loudly enough, it could startle a beast into fleeing. The elezen in front of her widened her eyes. “We can grab dinner after this, if you’d like? Loser pays?”

“Sure.” The lackluster response from Cahsi made Alisaie’s eyebrows pinch together in worry.

“I don’t think I’ve heard such a loud grumble from you in quite a while. Didn’t my brother feed you? He’s the one who dragged you along with him on his job, it was the least he could do.”

“Eh. Don’t get mad at him, It’s not his responsibility. I got caught up in other things during our breaks. I’ll make sure to eat plenty after this to make up for it.”

“I’ll hold you to that! Are you even good to finish? You look a little pale. I don’t want you keeling over in my moment of triumph, that wouldn’t feel very satisfying.”

Cahsi waved her off, took a few deep breaths and shook her hands to get some feeling back into them. She flashed her a winning hero’s smile. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m perfectly fine to continue, see? The sooner we finish this, the sooner you can buy me some tacos.”

It was convincing enough apparently, because Alisaie sighed and relented. “Fine. Here goes our final few points. May the best warrior win!”

Despite the disadvantages, Cahsi still managed to pull through. She could have gotten away with letting the other win, especially with how she’d given the other a little scare about her low blood sugar, but Cahsi didn’t want to just give away a free victory. It was for the sake of not only her pride, but Alisaie’s as well. The girl would accept nothing less than a win on her own. She got better and better each day and trained hard, so Cahsi knew it wouldn’t be that long before she’d be able to match her, and from there, surpass her.

“I’m proud of you, that was a really good match!”

“I still lost…”

“It was very close, to be fair.”

“You weren’t even at your best!”

“Lies, I’m always at my best.”

“I am literally half-carrying you right now because you almost fell over during your victory lap.”

Cahsi laughed sheepishly. “Well, you should take that as a sign of your skill. You really tired me out!”

Alisaie sighed. “I’ll get you one day, Cahsi.”

“You’ve already got me, look!”

The hand around her waist tightened a bit, and the teen’s face predictably got red. Cahsi suspected the kid crush never fully went away, so she’d have to stop teasing her or let her down easy if a confession ever came (partially why she wanted to get her to visit Arya again. She knew the sparks would fly between them if they just spent a bit more time together!).

“Save your energy, we have a lot of stairs to go before getting to the restaurant.”

[agent-yolk-writes]

FFXIVWrite (Day 6) - Halcyon

I like peppering in the fact that my WoL had to eat less than scraps to survive and yet she still preserved. Queen shit honestly.

(Takes place during stormblood)

Riida’s tail thumped in delight on the bench she shared with Alisaie. The young Elezen couldn’t help but watch how she outwardly expressed herself over trying a brand-new food item she’d never tried before. Then again, everything is new for them in Kugane. Sure, there might have been some variation of some things back in Eorzea, but considering how long it took them to get here by boat she couldn’t imagine how much it would’ve cost to bring the authenticity overseas. 

“Gods above, this is amazing!” Riida said with delight. She looked over to Alisaie, who still had a full plate in his hands. “Alisaie, you got to try them before they get cold! Make sure you use the toothpicks they gave you so it doesn’t fall apart.”

Alphinaud had told his sister that the Warrior wasn’t afraid of trying new foods. Even during their stay in Ishgard, she always offered to finish his and Tataru’s plates even over the blandest of meals. Even when they reclined her offering, she looked hurt and yet respected their decision. Hells, she even believed a House Fortemp manservant that the High House families share a communal salt rock during meal times but didn’t elaborate on how. 

But to Alisaie, it didn’t sound like she was trying it out for the sake of it. It felt more like it was a necessity. Like even a single scrap left on a plate would be considered a terrible sin. She had no clue about her past and when she had tried to bring it up during their long sea haul, it was always met with some vague answer before steering the topic to something else before the younger girl could bring it up. 

Despite all the letters her brother had sent her, she still doesn’t know anything about the Warrior at all. Her personality and demeanor present her as a halcyon adventurer looking to expand her horizons by traveling around the entire star, but the way she fights proves that’s anything but. She never had any real proper magic training before arriving in Limsa Lominsa, and it shows. 

Still, she would have to pry that can of worms open for another time. It’s not the best thing to do when you have the fate of two countries sitting on your shoulders. 

Mimicking the way Riida used her toothpicks, Alisaie helped herself to her lukewarm tako-yaki as Riida wiped off the sauce and toppings that were left behind on her own plate.

[thelaughtercafe]

Warm Goodbyes

Tea Type: Sweet Tea (Self-indulgent fluff because I finished Shadowbringers and needed an emotional release. Not very specific but I’d say be at the end or past the expansion before reading if you really want to go in fully blind <3)

Potential Triggers: None for this fic, except maybe magical tickling, if that bothers you!

Pairing: Thancred/F!Reader(I read them romantic but it can be platonic). Estinien/Reader is also mentioned, although he's not present. There's a lot of the main characters Ler'ing, with Reader and Ryne as Lee's, with Ryne being totally platonic.

Length: 3.5k+

Summary: In which Ryne and the Warrior bond, shenanigans ensue and fun is had to make their last day together as a family as memorable as possible.

A/N:… I also like cat boys okay? Sue me. I guess Thancred and Estinien just weren’t enough for my heart to attach to.

“Did I ever tell you how the others arrived in the First?”

Your voice was quiet as you and Ryne looked over the Crystarium, the peace of the long sought night making it all the easier to hear you. You both sat on the top of Graha Tia’s favorite lookout, taking in the view. 

Ryne shook her head. 

“Not from you, no. I’ve heard bits and pieces from the others. Something about getting headaches, hearing the Exarch call for you all and eventually collapsing one after another, right?”

You looked over and nodded, smiling slightly. 

“Yes, just so. I know all of us leaving tomorrow is frightening. Thancred most of all. It is not the same, but I thought you should know I do somewhat understand how you feel.”

You turned to look out at the stars, heart stirring in pain as Ryne looked at you curiously, expression gentle. 

“You know by now how close Thancred and I are. He is, and always will be my rock. I know I can count on him for anything. So when he suddenly collapsed, the fear and panic that gripped me like a vice-”

You shook your head as your voice cracked. This is why you didn’t talk about it. You always got over-emotional. 

“A-After Thancred, the others began to fall too and I could do nothing but watch. Urianger, Y'shtola, Alphinaud…eventually it was only Alisaie and I, and then she too fell into a coma. Yet still I had to keep pressing on. There was a war on the horizon, and as the voice continued calling my resolve was weakening. I finally fell unconscious right at the feet of my greatest enemy, who was prepared to strike me down.”

You shot a smile her way at the worry on her face. 

“You needn’t worry. Luckily, my other rock, Estinien Wyrmblood is his name, witnessed my fall and wisely spirited me away from the battlefield. He’s a stoic, quiet man, but he cares. I suppose him and Thancred share that trait. Hiding their feelings I mean.”

You placed your arm around Ryne and sighed. 

“…All this to say? The pain you feel in your heart. The worry if everything will turn out alright. If we’ll be okay. If you’ll be okay. They’re all valid and every one of us loves you so much. We’re just as torn up as you are, I assure you. Everyone is trying to be strong for each other, despite the pain we feel and-”

You sniffled, offering her a watery smile. 

“I…was never good at that. Despite what I’d have my enemies think, I’m extremely prone to emotion. A complete and utter crybaby. It’s okay if you are too.”

With that, the girl finally broke, hurling herself into your arms and you both sobbed. You hugged her tightly as she gasped into your neck. 

“I’m so scared! You’re the only family I’ve known and now I have to find a new one-I-I want you to stay! Or to go with you! I don’t want to be alone again!!”

“Oh Ryne…" 

You did your best to gather yourself, feeling your heart break. 

"Gods I’m going to miss you so damn much. We all are. I’ll be back to visit I swear it. I’ll tell you all the stupid antics we get up to! Alisaie and Alphinaud’s banter, how many times I can make fun of Thancred’s age before he strangles me, Y'shtola’s good-natured savagery, Urinager’s ramblings…all of it, I promise. What I wouldn’t give to take you with us. I’ll keep looking for a way. I swear it.”

Ryne pulled back with a final sniffle and a bittersweet smile. 

“I know you will. You’ve always been so good. So empathetic. Take care of Thancred and the others and make sure they rest enough.”

She looked behind your shoulder after your nod and gasped and you sighed, having an inkling on who it was. 

“It’d be 0, by the way, in case that wasn’t clear. Not that I need a particular reason to mess with you. You’re losing your edge if I was able to sneak up on you like that.”

Just like that you rubbed your eyes and snarked. 

“You’d have to catch me first.”

A smirk graced your lips as you stretched your arms up to crack your back, relishing in the way Ryne was smiling at your side. That’s what you liked to see.

“Good luck with that in your old-aha hehehey!! Not hehehere!”

You squealed as Thancred struck before you could finish, attacking your vulnerable underarms and making you careen forward and try to protect yourself, only to trap his hands. He continued unabated, wiggling his fingers mercilessly as he taunted you, crouching down at your side as Ryne succumbed to giggles at your plight. 

“Oh? Why? Scared Ryne will see how hopelessly ticklish you are? Or mayhap it’s the Exarch you’re worried about given this is his favorite spot. He has that portal in the tower you know…I bet he could see you at any time.”

Your face flamed and you weakly tried to kick him away, finally raising your arms slightly in a desperate attempt to fight back, only for him to change targets and go for your stomach instead, gently pulling you towards him and holding you against him between his legs so he could restrain you easier. 

“No of course nhahahat!!”

You didn’t need to see him to know he was smiling. 

“You’re still a terrible liar to those you love, you know.”

“T-Trhihicked you once, didn’t I smartass?”

He froze, merely holding you still and you panted, looking to Ryne who was now also catching her breath, a huge grin on her face. 

“Did you just curse ?”

She finally got out, breathless from her own laughter with mirth glittering in her irises. 

You winced. 

“Sorry I didn’t-”

“No need to apologize! I’m just surprised that’s what made you finally curse in front of me is all." 

Her smile grew mischievous. 

"Though I suppose I can’t blame you with your ticklishness.”

You smirked at that jerking in Thancred’s hold as if to go for her and making her jump back.

“Keep making fun and I’ll see just how ticklish you are.”

“Don’t even think about it!”

“Oh? Why not?”

“I…um… oh! Because I’ll go right to the Exarch!”

She giggled and you groaned and tossed your head back against Thancred’s chest to glare at him half-heartedly. 

“… You’re her father. Are you really sure you’re okay with this type of churlish behavior?”

He snickered, quirking an eyebrow down at you.  

“Well, if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be fine with you cursing in front of her either so pick your poison.”

 You rolled your eyes fondly but after a look at Ryne you smirked. 

“…What if I say I’m fine with that?”

Thancred seemed mildly surprised you weren’t putting up a fight until he glanced at her too and warmth filled his eyes. 

Ryne was shuffling her feet, a near giddy expression on her face as she held hope in her eyes. She enjoyed it just as you did and given you’d all be parting ways on the morrow the least she deserved was laughter in the safety of her family. She seemed ready for a chase too so you mumbled to Thancred.

“You can get me again later. Let’s team up.”

He nodded and the moment Ryne saw his arms loosen she was off like a shot, carefree laughter leaving her in waves. 

“You’ll never catch me alive!”

“Wanna bet?”

You called after her but Thancred and you both gave her a head start to briefly talk strategy.  Thancred opted to guard the Crystarium, so she couldn’t get to G'raha Tia without going through him and you would pursue her the usual way. You didn’t account for her to run to the others for aid. 

By the time you caught up she was giggling and out of breath, hiding behind Urianger and pleading with Alphinaud with the best case of puppy eyes you’d ever witnessed.

“Ryne, c'mon bringing in outside parties isn’t fair!!”

She stuck her tongue out at you.  

“You did it first with Thancred! I’m just evening the playing field!”

“Is this true?”

The look in Urianger’s eyes could only be called amusement and you blushed, sheepishly rubbing the back of your neck. You couldn’t very well explain your plan with her right there. So you went the childish route. 

“She asked for it by making fun of me!”

Urinager raised an eyebrow at that and Alphinaud snickered under his breath. 

“That’s not exactly new. Besides, you like it any-”

“Finish that statement Alphie and I swear…”

You fired back without thinking but instantly regretted it as he stepped forward and drew his book threateningly, Refia standing on his shoulder.

“You’re quite certain you want to talk back right now? Shall it be Cure or Lustrate then?”

He raised his hand and you leaped back, seeing Ryne dash off towards the Crystarium and praying Thancred would be quick. 

You risked a glance at a confused Urianger, looking between both of you.  

“Forgive me my ignorance, but you aren’t injured, correct?”

You shook your head and opened your mouth to respond but Alphinaud beat you to it, a playful grin on his face.

“Ah I understand your confusion, Urinager. No, she isn’t.  However through accidental means we discovered casting healing magic on her when she no longer has the need of it…well. It tickles quite ceaselessly for a fair bit. The effects are somewhat lost thanks to my healing kit not being the most effective in comparison to Astrologians or White Mages.”

His eyes glittered with just a touch of sadism as he offered. 

“…Care to see for yourself?”

You saw Urianger pondering it and just as you turned to finally get the Hell out of there you heard him speak. 

“Mayhap to satiate my curiosity, then. Benefic .”

You tensed up entirely, shoulders shaking as you tried to hold back and just keep moving but your poor body wasn’t having it as you just…crouched to the ground and covered your mouth as the two leisurely strolled over. 

“A-Aha-Alphinaud so help me when this sphehell f-finishes-eep-i swear to Hydaelyn-”

Said boy smiled smugly down at you, crouching to your level to pat you on the head. 

“Oh come now. Just hush and ride it out, won’t you? Keep taunting me and maybe next I’ll have Urinager cast a Regen- aren’t you curious how long it’d linger given it’s long lasting nature?”

As you desperately shook your head he offered a light laugh as Urianger joined you both to observe you curiously. 

“Mayhap I’ll cast another single target heal then hm?" 

"How absolutely fascinating.”

Urinager’s voice stopped you from saying something stupid and getting yourself tormented further but it also made you all the more aware of the sensations wracking your body. 

Healing aether typically was a cool, numbing sensation as it sought out your wounds before knitting the flesh back together. With no wounds, the healing aether searched for places to heal, growing more vehement as time passed. It was icy and the shock of the cold made the tickling worse as it finally nailed the sweet spot of your ears. You finally broke, giggles and laughs leaving you as you blushed in embarrassment, hugging yourself tightly despite your arms offering 0 protection against magic. The aether wiggled and writhed making you cover your ears and whine. 

“This isn’t fhahahair!! Ahahaha!! H-How am I suphohohosed to fight h-h-hehehealing magic I can’t shehehee! U-Urinager plhehehease!”

You tried to mimic Ryne’s puppy dog eyes from earlier and he mercifully snapped out of talking to himself about possibilities and theories to pull the aether back. You panted lightly and he couldn’t hold back his curiosity.

“May I inquire as to if mine heal was indeed more mirth inducing?”

You glared at him before it broke into a smile at his innocent curiosity, nodding tiredly. Still a researcher at heart.

“Mmhmm. Alphinaud’s felt…less cold too which helped. Yours was like ice. No avoiding a sensation that demanding. And it was more exploratory. Alphinaud’s lingered in one area unless he directed it whereas yours seemed to naturally seek out injury.”

He nodded, still clearly wonderstruck. 

“I’ll have to experiment more later, if that’s alright with you? Such a reaction is unheard of to even one so experienced as I.”

You blushed but nodded nonetheless. He was still somewhat new to allowing himself to tickle you, so he needed the reassurance you liked it and didn’t mind more than the others. A bit embarrassing as you saw Alphinaud snickered at you but he knew anyway so it was no big deal by now. 

“A-Anyway! Thancred and I are actually trying to cheer up Ryne. She looked eager to experience it so we teamed up to get her together. Any chance you could help?”

Urianger shook his head. 

“Regrettably I have already pledged my services to young Ryne and I cannot go back on my word.”

You glanced at Alphinaud and he too, shook his head. 

“As if! Find Alisaie and Y'shtola to even the playing field if you wish but this is a war . Lus -”

You cut off the spell quickly as you scrambled away and to your feet after tossing powder in his face. A mild irritant but you prayed it would work.

“Ah, Silencing Powder. A typical choice for strategy, but I see thou hast forgotten I am the larger threat.”

Urianger cut off your escape to smile down at you and you cursed inwardly. 

“Th-Thancred’s likely already caught her by now! He was guarding the Crystarium!”

You blurted out. Would he kill you later? Maybe. Was it worth it to both give yourself a fighting chance and also maybe see him be wrecked for once? Absolutely. 

Urianger relented at that. 

“Very well. ‘Tis only fair. Thou would do well to stay out of sight however. We shall not be so merciful should we meet again before the war concludes.”

You smiled nervously as Alphinaud grumbled silently at you behind Urinager and they both left. 

Now, the question was to seek out Alisaie and Y'shtola or Ryne and Thancred. 

A voice interrupted your pondering

“Are you quite alright my friend? You seem awfully out of breath.”

G'raha’s voice was both reassuring and panic inducing.  If he was here that meant Thancred was guarding nothing! You whirled to face the red haired Miqo'te and pasted on a smile. 

“J-Just fine, don’t worry! I was just getting a workout in." 

Half-truths were the only way for you to not be as obvious when lying to those you cared about and luckily G'raha seemed to buy it.

"Ah I see, how nice! I was actually planning to do a spot of training myself aft-”

He was cut off by a familiar voice.

“Exarch, there you are!”

Ryne’s voice was a cheerful chirp even with Thancred hot on her heels. He seemed slower than usual and seeing the tremble of his gait and lips told you why. Seemed either Alphinaud or Urianger had tried their magic method on him too.

G'raha, bless his heart, cocked his head to the side in innocent curiosity. 

“Oh? You need me for something Ryne?”

You opened your mouth to intervene but found abruptly you couldn’t move, let alone speak. Damn it all-Alphinaud slung an arm around your shoulder as Stop kicked in fully. Payback for your trick earlier, no doubt. Brat. 

You could do nothing but watch as Ryne reached G'raha Tia and grinned at you before beaming up at him innocently. 

“It’s nothing major, well, everyone else knows already so I figured I’d let you know she’s ti-mmph-!”

Thancred’s own affliction had worn off much to your relief, letting him cover Ryne’s mouth and smirk down at her, and as Alphinaud released you and attempted to ready another spell you tackled him to the ground and pinned him. Thank goodness Stop wore off much faster than Slow. Urianger finally rejoined, looking out of breath but he hung back and watched the scene unfold in amusement.

“Don’t even think about it!”

G'raha, for his part, merely looked between both of your pairs in bewilderment. 

“…Are you hiding something from me?”

His voice and body language were sad as he looked at you expectantly. 

“I know I’m new to the group but I suppose I thought you trusted me just as you do the others.”

Your eyes widened with panic. 

“G-G'raha it’s nothing like that. This is…a playful affair. Nothing more.”

“You don’t have to lie to make me feel better. Ryne said everyone else already knew.”

He looked positively distraught, ears flat against his head and you let Alphinaud up with a sigh, already blushing in anticipation. But how could you not confess with G'raha looking so sad?

Thancred saw your reddening face and he too released Ryne, speaking up on your behalf. If he waited for you to work up the courage you’d never get the words out. 

“She likes being tickled. That’s all. We all tease her about and with it quite often.”

G'raha blinked and then gave a knowing, if fond smile. 

“Oh is that all? And here I thought it was something serious. My apologies.”

“You say that as if you already know.”

You mumbled in shock. 

G'raha turned and a rare smirk made his eyes narrow in amusement. 

“Mm. What of it? You asked me shortly after we met.”

You all stiffened at that, but Thancred most of all. 

“Asked? Me?! I don’t remember that at all and trust me when I say I would.”

He had the good sense to look sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

“There’s quite a good reason for that. You see at the camp you accidentally had tea containing catrinus…”

“Oh Twelve strike me…”

You buried your face in your hands. Not catrinus. No wonder you didn’t remember. It made Miqo'te quite affectionate and helped them lose their inhibitions. And you had a very low tolerance to it, just like alcohol. 

But G'raha wasn’t finished, especially seeing as the other 4 were looking at him so expectantly. 

“Catrinus affects us Miqo'tes much like alcohol, but most say it’s more potent as a general rule. She had drank the whole cup, not realizing just how much was within and so I was taking care of her, after getting her an inn room. As I made to leave, she clung to me and nuzzled my arm before asking if I would please tickle her.”

He shrugged attempting to play it off but he was as red as his hair. 

“I…indulged her and then I left her to her slumber, tuckered out from my ministrations.”

There was quiet for several long moments and then Thancred and Ryne both burst out laughing and Alphinaud winced on your behalf between snickers of his own. Urianger merely looked at you with fondness in his gaze, though the humor in his eyes said it all.

“Oh my…Estinien…is going to kill you. He thought he was the first to make you ask directly. To hear you have done so willingly…i don’t envy you.”

Thancred came over to pull you into a comforting embrace, allowing you to hide your face in his chest, still snickering 

“He’ll likely want to do another duel for who can make you laugh the quickest for the longest, with all 3 of us this time, you know.”

“An intriguing proposition. Given she enjoys it I see no reason to refuse.”

G'raha was collected as ever and you peeked out to find him smiling fondly at you, making you hide again. 

“…You’re all mean. Estinien will never hear of this. Do you understand me? Never .” 

Between snickers all present mercifully agreed and you pulled back, now somewhat collected to smile sweetly, arm held behind your back with your free hand. 

“Now that that’s taken care of I do believe I have some revenge to deliver. Care to help me carry it out now that everyone’s got their mess with me points for the day?”

You turned to smile mischievously up at Thancred who grinned back and wasted no time cutting off his daughter’s exit strategy as she ended up backing right into him where he quickly but gently pinned her arms behind her back. 

“You’ve caused quite a lot of mischief today Ryne..ready to experience some yourself?”

She was already giggling as you began poking along her sides and tummy playfully, making the girl curl in on herself. You glanced over your shoulder and motioned for Alphinaud and Urianger to join in. 

“I’m quite certain there’s plenty of unexplored spots if you wish to map them out with me in earnest~”

“This isn’t fhahahir!!” 

Ryne’s laughter was light and bubbly and made your chest warm with affection.

“Oh? But messing with me is fair game? That’s not how it works!”

The rest of the day was filled with every iota of warmth and love you could cram into it and the goodbye, while full of sorrow was also hopeful. This wouldn’t be goodbye, not if you had anything to say about it.

[elliewiltarwyn]

I have to ask top 5 npc 👀

well if you guys insist 👀 this will get extremely long, i'm sure, so i'll throw it under the cut to save your dashes lol

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5. Emet-Selch

yes part of me is a basic bitch and is in agreement with everyone that damn, that villain of the award-winning expansion of the critically acclaimed MMORPG do be written ridiculously well. part of me is such a basic bitch that i am among the many who made an ancient OC named Persephone. (She isn't Ellie's ancient, and therefore not Azem, for whatever that's worth. :V)

but I mean. damn, he's written well. and I really feel his influence in nearly every corner of the ingame universe. Ellie stands firmly against him, but also can't say for certain she'd make any different choices if she had been in his position, having lost everyone she ever loved. honestly one of the best implementations of the "everyone is the hero of their own story" concept I've ever seen.

plus he's just such a rude, uptight little bitch, and it's amazing to watch.

4. Alisaie

Both of the twins are really good, and I am definitely among those who, despite their less-than-stellar introductions, eventually ended up going all "I'm having children. it's you. sign these adoption papers." but Alisaie in particular has the fierce drive and endless capacity for love that connects with Ellie so well. they're both fiery and vivacious and searching for some sort of purpose in a world that doesn't care and eventually find that meaning in the people they love. Straightforward, hates beating around the bush, so eager to cut to the point that she pops the LB immediately every dang time on like the GCD right before I try going for it--

yeah she's just really good and she feels like a sister after everything we've been through.

3. Lyse

So, I grew up in the shadow of an older brother; he was immensely popular, very self-confident, and knew what he wanted to do with his life ever since he was a kid. Everyone loved him, everyone admired his clear sense of purpose... and more than a few people looked at me in his wake and literally asked "why aren't you that cool? you should try and be more like him." not even exaggerating.

thankfully, I've done a lot of self-growth and am on very good terms with him these days. A lot of that sense of self-growth came from finding the courage to strike out on a path he hadn't laid down before me, find ways to define myself that aren't just carbon copies of his own traits. It was better for everyone for me to figure out what I wanted and how to achieve that by becoming the best version of myself -- not anyone else.

is it any godsdamn wonder Lyse resonates so much with me? plus she's a beautiful kinda-dumb punch girl, and I live for that archetype. In my canon, Ellie drops reaper after Endwalker and trains up to be a monk under Lyse, because albeit for different reasons, Ellie also empathizes a ton with Lyse's struggles and development. to the extent of fairly severely crushing on her for a long time imma be real.

2. Esteem

you ever just *clenches fist* become so traumatized that in order to cope you manifest your own inner darkness that wants you to love yourself so much that she tries to subsume you into herself so you don't have to suffer anymore, only to come to terms with the weight of all the traumas you are carrying and learning to love yourself through it all anyway, in a way that helps you master the darkness and bring it to bear against those who deserve it? is-- is this not a common experience? oh. well I mean. it was very cool to have that happen.

Ryne

i made a meme a long time ago for this exact purpose:

i love my beautiful gay daughter

thanks for the prompt and the excuse to gush, @oneiroy and @alliezweihander!!