#and someone mentioned stephanivien

[most-fuck-able-ff14]

Final Round For Fun Poll 2

[apathmakerstale]

WoL Job NPC'S meeting fics!!!

New Fic idea for me to put in the drafts and request if there's any since there has to be at least one!!!!

A compilation of various job trainers, quest givers, and other NPC's who find out just how multi-faceted the Warrior of Light is to a ridiculously degree.

Imagine while Sophia and Radovan (Gunbreaker Jobline) are in Ul'dah they stop by the Blue Mage circus to watch the show and end up watch the super cool Warrior of Light perform absolutely ridiculously feets of magic and act whimsy like they'd never seen before.

Or the Archer's jobline Silvairre and Leih encountering the Warrior of Light while they're in their Dark Knight regalia while hunting poachers and seeing the sheer contrast between an upbeat person who loves to sing and a manifestation of darkness and love.

Drusilla and the Reapers seeing the Dancer's Troupe Falsiam performance out in the public and watching in shock as the woman who tore out and ate the aether of one of the most feared voidsent ever dancing happily and singing of joy and happiness in dancer's cloths or meeting the WoL with Zero at some point somehow.

On the flipside, the Redbill Sky Pirates from Shadows of Mhach raid encountering the WoL as a Reaper and panicking for a moment as voidsent near on par with Diablos swirls around them before learning that no, that's also the WoL somehow.

I don't do crafting but I don't remember it coming up so someone can correct me, but as Tataru keeps building her empire, she keeps purchasing mastercrafted works and keeps realizing that 90% of them are resold at a upcharge from you. Like half of the elite upper trading sphere is propped up by things the WoL has made or when she was trying find a maker for the Endwalker Job Gear she kept being referred to the WoL.

The WoL offhandedly mentioning to Stephanivien and Joye from the Machinist guild that they know how to pilot and help upkeep a fully functioning mecha robot twice the size of the Queen they have and they best friends with Cid from Garlond Ironworks.

(Warrior) Curious Gorge and Broken Mountain meeting a Scholar WoL.

(Dark Knight) Sidragu and Rielle meeting a White Mage WoL.

(White Mage) The Padjal's meeting a Black Mage WoL.

(Red Mage) X'rhun Tia and Arya meeting the WoL as they switch from White Mage and Black Mage to Red Mage and realize they've mastered literally every way you can use the magic.

(Monk) Hell Widargelt and his students seeing the Warrior of Light again shortly after they literally near single-handedly brought down Garlemald and freed their country would be fun.

Literally anyone else being with the Warrior of Light as they go through a Hildebrand adventure.

There has to be fics like that already I need to see them if anyone has any!!!!

[tinygamertris]

Gentian's got most of the jobs covered already, but his mains are White Mage, Scholar, Mechanist, Black Mage, Summoner, Red Mage and Gunbreaker. (My personal fave Healer thus far is Astromancer, but it doesn't really fit with him in character so it's my grinding/sidequest healing class.)

White Mage is because he learned Conjury during his convalescence in the years after the Calamity. Brother E-Sumi-Yan didn't care where he was from, only that he was earnest in his desire to learn and extremely dedicated to helping people. He had a lot of difficulty in connecting with the Elementals at first, but it was a mental block from his 'no religion no gods no spirits' upbringing in Garlemald that he eventually worked past.

Black Mage he took up because he went to Ul'dah at the beginning of ARR in order to learn Thaumaturgy, in the sadly mistaken belief that it would help further his understanding of the principles of Conjury. It didn't, but he gained a lot of satisfaction from mastering the ritual of the Black and continued down the path as he worked with Lalai and Zhai'a to use the art to protect others. It's the least used of his 'mains' though, since it's so heavy on destruction and violence and most of his others are at least partially able to heal or shield his allies.

Scholar and Summoner both came from him getting lost in Limsa Lominsa on his first visit, heading into the Arcanist's Guild to ask for directions, and falling instantly in love with the art. Being a magitek prodigy, he understood the mathematics and geometry side of it and the ability to summon adorable floofs didn't hurt! He's more dedicated to the Scholar side of the class, but more naturally talented with Summoning, so he works with both.

If you thought the magitek engineer wasn't going to glom onto Stephanivien and the Mechanist job then I don't know what to tell you! Using his skills to teach people to protect themselves in a way he'd never had the chance to do in Garlemald was very good for him and helped him reconcile a lot of inner conflict related to 'I am good at machines but people use those machines to hurt each other'.

Red Mage was absolutely Alisaie's fault. He met X'Rhun Tia while running around doing errands in Ul'dah and helped him with the initial mission but was about to walk away. Then the Dad Miqo'te mentioned Alisaie had trained with him for a while and it was before their reunion during the Warriors of Darkness mess, so it was a way to feel closer to his friend baby sister while they were out of contact. And then it turned out to fit him really well mentally, being a merging of the White and Black, and he was pretty much dedicated from then on.

Gunbreaker was hard for him at first, knowing what his people did to Othard, but taking the Gunblade that was normally used for executions by the Empire and turning it to protecting others instead was worth the initial discomfort. He usually charges Thancred's rounds when they return to the Source; Thancred says it's easier to use ones made by someone who understands how they work.

He'll probably add Sage to his main classes once I get far enough into Stormblood, since it both fits him to use Sharlayan healing technology and because it's frankly just a REALLY COOL job. But I'm not willing to fully commit to it until I actually GET it.

WoL/FFXIV OC Question(s)!

What is your WoL/OC's main class/job and why? Are they good at multiple roles? Are there any they're really bad at?

[feuglace]

Jannequinard isn't my muse but I woke up today thinking about him.

I feel like he's another character the fandom does no justice, which I don't blame them because from what I know the game treats him as just a joke. I love the goofy things about him of course. I love that he's silly, clueless and just a little dumb in situations. I love that he's so promiscuous to a ridiculous degree but I think people either forget or don't know why.

I often think about how much everyone in Ishgard makes fun of him. I think about how he has mentioned off-hand that because he's not the heir to House Durendaire nothing he does is important, that nobody cares. About how he tried, but never got recognized for the things he did so he just stopped trying.

My friend brought up to me the original dialogue implies he's the son of the Count, but not the heir. They changed it suddenly to the Count being his Uncle and I'm not sure why, but I suppose it doesn't entirely change the fact that Jannequinard has essentially been abandoned by his family and stopped trying because if he was going to be a disappointment, he might as well give them a reason to be.

I wonder if his promiscuity isn't just because he's "horny all the time", but instead is because he so badly wants to be loved that he's willing to jump into bed barely knowing a person's name. Yet the only treatment he ever gets is being treated like a joke, and I feel its so tragic.

My Stephanivien was best friends with Jannequinard before I shipped them, because not only are they both nobles around the same age who would absolutely be set in the same room as kids many times, but also because the both of them have been mistreated by family and Ishgard in different ways. Stephanivien is weird, eccentric, he has huge ideas and so much energy that sets him apart from the usual nobles of Ishgard. Jannequinard is a little oddball whose forgetful, clumsy and easily distracted. I think Stephanivien would gravitate to him. I consider them each other's only real friends for a very long time, even if Stephanivien would consider others friends way too fast. And I just like to think of someone giving a fuck about Jannequinard, because it looks like absolutely nobody does.

Never forget that while Jannequinard isn't very good at being an Astrologian, that he absolutely has a passion for it and Astrology. I think he knows a lot about it, and I'm happy for him that he has something. I just love Jannequinard so much and he deserves better. ;;

[sezja]

What mythical creature would they be represented by?

What real life animal would they be represented by (or Eorzean animals)?

Also for characters I mention here you didn’t reply the colors too.

Any ocs but can we have Marty and Tsimh and bard boys also a challenge, Steph just because I’m curious but please talk about others too I need to meet them. (I swear I’m not playing favorite ocs I love them all) Also Darcy too. Need to know them more.

And too prove I read your posts and make you think, Papawazu!

Also I know nothing about him but Garland, I google later then buy the game.

Also you have a hrothgar? Oh! Never went there. Is it cool? I hope they gave hrothgals and no difference in shape.

Going to make your brain think now.

AMINALS

Thematic OC Questions (still accepting!)

Martiallais: Okay, so for mythical creatures, I feel like he's probably something like a centaur - strong, mobile, able to scoop up Tsimh onto his back and ride off to safety. As a more ordinary animal, I feel like he's likely some kind of bird. A hunting hawk, maybe - intelligent, well-trained, and loyal to those who continue to deserve that loyalty. I don't necessarily have a color theme for him yet - he keeps winding up in dark blues, but that's mostly just the luck of the draw with leveling gear, rather than a deliberate choice. I do think he favors dark colors in clothing, though - easier to remain looking clean while living rough with the poachers, that way.

Tsimh: Fairy. Something small but not to be fucked with. As an ordinary animal, probably like... some kind of small but cute rodent - a mouse, maybe, or a hamster? Something small, but with a fierce bite if you mess with it too much. Her colors are dusky pinks and blue-greys: muted colors, often with white accents.

Stephanivien: Do Dwarves count? Not like the First's Dwarves, obviously, but your traditional blacksmithing dwarves. That's my pick for Steph, though I don't think "traditional" ever suits him, particularly (and it's funny to think of an elezen as a dwarf). In terms of normal animals, god, I have no idea. I want him to be a workshop cat - a big fluffy thing you can pick up and hug between projects. His color, of course, is Deepwood Green.

Darcy: Phoenix, definitely - they are a fire mage, first and foremost, but more importantly they were content to burn away their past life and start again as an apostate (in Dragon Age, this is Big Illegal for mages). In FFXIV, they're a half-Garlean conscript who sees their chance to escape and bolts, straight into Eorzea, never looking back. Either way, the theme of destroying one life to rise again is pretty strong in their life. As a normal animal, absolutely some manner of hellishly clever corvid, too smart for their own good and constantly needing to be rescued by humans.

Papawazu: YESSS MY FAVORITE CAPITALIST Leprechaun. :| No, not because he's a lalafell, but because he makes deals with you, playing by his own rules - rules he's content to modify ("security surcharge. Everybody does it.") as he sees fit. He's a rat. But like, someone's pampered pet rat, sleek and soft and shiny, smart but doesn't have to work hard. Cute but will bite you just to remind you it's got teeth. I love him??? I love him.

Garland: Oh man okay uhhhh. It's hard to say much about Garland without horrendously spoiling FFIX, but I'll do my best. I'll say he's like... a lich, controlling the dead. In his case, it's a dead world, but it counts; he's manipulating souls for his own ends, and whether those ends are justified are up to interpretation. In terms of real-world animals, a tortoise - ancient and armored, content to remain in his shell while others do his bidding. His color, naturally, is the red heart of Terra.

I do have a Hrothgar! And my god, same; ideally what I'd want is for Tajna to look exactly the same way she does now, with she/her pronouns. But I'm not sure I trust SE not to give us... tiny catgirls, but furrier. :c

[thebmatt]

FFXIV Write Day 1

Foster – “encourage or promote the development of (something, typically something regarded as good)��

“I still cannot believe you built a bloody airship! I mean, I’ve done maintenance work on them under Cid or Stephanivien’s tutelage, but you BUILT one, from practically nothing!”

Tataru looked up from the pile of paperwork she was dealing with and grinned at Franks. “What, you didn’t think little old me could do it all by myself? No, wait, that’s not it, is it?? You’re JEALOUS!”

Franks threw down the cloth he’d been using to clean his gun and tools only moments before. “Of COURSE, I’m jealous! You know how many times I’ve tried to make time with either one of them to learn more about magitek engineering? I’ve lost count, because every time, without fail, either I have to cancel because the star’s in peril again or one of them has some company emergency or other to deal with! And now here you are, buildin’ an entire AIRSHIP! Hells yes I’m jealous!”

Tataru spasmed as she tried to hold back her mirth, covering her mouth, but there was no hiding the look in her eyes. First a few giggles escaped her, growing more numerous and loud, until she released peals of laughter, falling over in her chair. Franks eventually joined in, the pair enjoying a simple moment together.

Eventually Tataru managed to get herself under control. “Well, hopefully one day, this will all be in our pasts and you can spend the rest of your days building and maintaining magitek, if you wish. Think you’ll open up Cid’s first competition? Or maybe work for him? Wait, can you stand to be around Nero that much?”

Franks chuckled as he resumed cleaning a wrench.”Honestly, once you recognize and accept that his boundless arrogance is an attempt to mask both his profound fear at having to essentially restart his life in a formerly-hostile land AND trying to sort out exactly how he feels about Cid, he’s really not that bad. But while working at the Ironworks would certainly be enjoyable, I think my place is in Ishgard, in the Machinists guild. I want to be at the forefront of that discipline, both training new recruits and helpin’ Stephanivien come up with new tools for them to use. I foresee workin’ closely with the Ironworks to make that happen, though, so it’s really the best o’ both worlds.”

Tataru nodded. “I don’t know what the Scions will do once this is all over. I don’t even know if there’s really a place for us once the world is saved, if such a thing is even possible. But I might quite like working for Cid, I think. There’s a lot of upsides. Good pay, constantly getting to learn, don’t have to leave Mor Dhona…”

“Not to mention being in constant proximity to a certain Lalafell engineer…” Franks added, smirking as he looked over in her direction.

Tataru flushed and quickly looked away from his knowing gaze. “Y-yes, I suppose being near my good friend Wedge would be a nice perk!”

“Uh huh” Franks replied, not at all sounding like he was buying that description for one second. He finished wiping down the last piece of his aetherotransformer, and with practiced ease, began reassembling the components. With a final click, the device came together and lit up from within. Giving it a final examination, he returned it to its place at his hip and began reassembling his gun. “So…this next question might seem cruel, and if it’s hurtful please tell me so I can apologize, but I’m curious. You’re clearly a good engineer, which means math isn’t a problem for you. So why have you had such a problem with arcanima?”

Tataru had returned her attention to her paperwork, but the question stopped her mid-sentence. She looked back at Franks, her expression one of sad acceptance. “Thank you for saying it like…. that”

“Tataru, I’m so…”

“No no, it’s not bad. It’s nothing I haven’t asked myself and wrestled with, but I came to an answer a while ago.” She picked up a small clock that adorned her desk. “When I’m building, anything from constructing an airship to something simple like sawing wood…the math is there, a physical object in front of me. When I can see, can feel, the results right then, it all makes sense in my head. But with Arcanima….it was all in my head for me to unravel before it would manifest the magic. That’s harder for me. Not impossible, I don’t think I could have manifested a carbuncle or a Ruin spell otherwise, but I was a lot less confident, doubly so when I had to fight with it. I think that confidence, or lack thereof, is why my carbuncle didn’t do what I want.”

Franks nodded. “That absolutely is understandable. Everyone learns differently after all.”

Tataru’s smile brightened. “And really, I’m somewhat glad it didn’t work out! I wouldn’t have been able to find my talents as a crafter and intelligence gatherer for the Scions if I hadn’t accepted defeat with a grimoire!”

Franks laughed. “Absolutely true. I’ve no idea what would have become of the Scions if you hadn’t! We probably would still be wondering how we’d pay for the fare to Kugane! Definitely wouldn’t be eating as well, that’s for sure!”

She had to laugh at that. “Oh, I get it, I’m just your bank lender and chef, is that it?”

“In all seriousness, do you still wish you could join us in the field? Fight alongside everyone?”

She paused, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “I won’t deny the idea doesn’t STILL have some appeal, but I know I’m way more valuable to the Scions in my current role. I do wish I had a more reliable way of defending myself, especially should the Garlands attempt another Waking Sands massacre, though. I suppose I’ll just have to hope the people of Revenant’s Toll are more capable of defending us than the citizens of Vesper Bay were.”

Franks looked back down to his gun, nodding. “Mmm, makes sense. Even if you aren’t in enemy territory, as it were, traveling around isn’t always safe. We might just have to….” he stopped, nearly dropping the assembled firearm.

“Have to what, Franks?”

“I can’t believe I never thought of this. How did it not occur to me?”. Franks stood up, slinging his weapon across his band into the holster that held it in place. He looked to Tataru with an almost manic gleam in his eye. “Go get something warm to wear, Tataru! We got someplace to be!”

Tataru looked confused “W-where??”

Franks grinned. “Ishgard!”

A bell later, the air around the Ishgardian aetheryte gave a slight pop as it was suddenly displaced by the appearing forms of Franks and Fearless. Both shivered, if only briefly, before their bodies re-acclimated to the colder temperatures that they had grown used to those many moons they’d spent in the city.

Both were quickly recognized by practically everyone they passed by, and while Franks had little hope of recognizing most of the people who spoke to them, Tataru seemed to know everyone, able to call them by name and ask personal questions that she’d had to have learned about on those random evenings in the Forgotten Knight. More than once, she was able to recognize fully helmed Temple Knights by voice alone. Franks, for his part, hurried them both along, seemingly eager to reach their destination.

“So where ARE we going, exactly?” Tataru asked in between a conversation with one of Hilda’s people in the City Watch and a noblewoman of a minor house. Franks didn’t reply aside from a grin on his face until a few minutes later when he stopped in front of a building and pointed. “There!”

Tataru bid one more person farewell and stopped to take in where the pair had arrived at. Sounds of rhythmic thumping filled the air, which smelled of flame and metal and soot. She looked up at the building. “Skysteel Manufactory? What are we doing here?”

“You’ll see!” Franks called back, already having made his way to the corner where one needed to turn to enter the Manufactory’s font door. Tataru squeaked and started after him as quick as her smaller legs could carry her. By the time she rounded the corner, Franks had already thrown open the wooden doors of the entrance and strode in.

“Franks, my old friend!” a voice cried out from within. Tataru quickly ran to catch up, and as she entered the door, the eyes of an Elezen man quickly jumped to her. “And mistress Tataru! What a surprise!”

“Good to see you too, Lord Stephanivien!” she replied, smiling.

“Whatever brings Ishgard’s savior, and most importantly my best machinist, and the Scion’s….erm…what IS your official role within the Scions of the Seventh Dawn these days, milady? If half of what Franks tells me is true, “secretary” would seem a woefully inadequate title! Perhaps ‘the very hull on which the entire ship is built’? No? Too long?”

Tataru giggled. “Oh no, milord, ‘secretary’ is just fine. I like it, makes people underestimate me! And that’s how I get em!”

“Who’s come calling, milord?” came a voice from the upper levels of the Manufactory. A woman’s head peaked over the railing, her blond ponytails dangling from the sides of her head. “I thought I heard….TATARU!” With that, she bolted for the stairs that led to the entryway, sliding down the rails. Tataru ran for the woman and lept right into her arms, hugging.

“What’re ye doin here, girl? I thought you were busy keepin’ them Scions from fallin apart!”

“I don’t know, rightly! Franks dragged me….” Tataru trailed off as she noticed that Joye’s braids had somehow completely undone themselves, and her hair was a wild mess. “Are you ever going to tell me how you do that??”

“Dunno what yer on about! FRANKS!” she turned and yelled at the man who’d been quietly conversing with Stephanivien. “Why you dragged this poor lass all the way out into the cold arse o’ this time o’ night without tellin’ her what’s goin on?”

Franks smiled, leaning away from Stephanivien, and crossed his arms. “Well, Joye, I’d like to introduce you to someone that, well, you don’t really need introduction to! That lady you’re hugging is Tataru Taru, Scion of the Seventh Dawn, the glue and rivets that keep the very organization held together, and-“

“We know who she is, ye daft sod!” Joy interrupted, setting Tataru back on the ground. “Ya literally just watched us have a mini-reunion!”

“-AND, assuming she’s amenable, the newest member of the Machinist’s guild!” Franks continued, as though he hadn’t been interrupted.

THAT got everyone’s attention. Both Joye’s and Tataru’s jaws dropped. Stephanivien simply smiled.

“Wait…this is your solution to me wanting to increase my martial skillset?” Tataru asked.

Franks threw his arms out, gesturing around to the manufactory around them. “It’s a perfect idea! Think about it! You’re already proficient with magitek, you’ve certainly proven that by now! You already know what I’m guessing is about 80% of the members already! You don’t need any extensive training in magic or heavy melee arms, all you really need to learn is how to shoot! I don’t doubt you can get the hang of that, especially with Joye teaching you!”

Joye looked down at Tataru. “Aye….aye I can! Tataru, this’ll be great!”

Tataru still appeared in shock. “But…I don’t…I don’t have a gun! And I bet they don’t keep ones sized for Lalafell around!”

Stephanivien knelt down to face her. “As it turns out, my dear, we actually made a custom one for a colleague of ours from Garlond Ironworks. He frequently comes to collaborate with our fair guild and commissioned a carbine with which to recreationally shoot. He keeps it here, as well. I believe you are acquainted with one Wedge? His weapon should suffice for you to practice with until we can build a custom one for you. I daresay he will not object either, would you not agree?” He winked almost conspiratorially.

“I know where it is! Come on Tataru, let’s go blast some training dummies!” Joye practically dragged Tataru behind her as she ran outside. Tataru didn’t require TOO much prompting, however, as pretty soon, she was running full steam out the door behind Joye under her own power.

Stephanivien turned to Franks. “Seems you have a knack for fostering talent in people, my friend. I heard of the fortune that befell the Baroness de Jervaint, and now you’ve added a new member to our guild’s ranks as well! I know you must wear any number of metaphorical hats, but I am quite glad the Machinist’s goggles are among them!”

Franks smiled. Whatever the future held, he was glad to keep building towards making it better.

[ferrumumbra]

ANONYMOUS ASKED : You're on your way back to the manufactory. You hear shouting. You look and get in an argument with someone. He has been stealing from the crates outside the manufactory. He takes the pistol he stole and aims it and shoots it at Auri. He aimed at his head but hit the top right of his chest. Then he throws the gun down and runs.

MENTION: @feuglace

A meagre few days lay between the wretch's last visit to the manufactory and the present: his workings with Paulecrain had taken their toll, his time devoured by terrible tasks some would not have the heart for. He knew, however, that the welcome he received at the manufactory was extended regardless of the hour and despite the moon being ever high in the sky by the time his boots stepped upon the stone of Foundation, he knew his companion would still be awake and working.

The sounds of hushed whispers and chatter caught his ears around the back of the building and with agitations rising did Auri make his way to see quite why - though the dark clad figures he met were not familiar and most certainly shady in character. It took one to know one, after all.

He made himself known, the thefts happening before his eyes something he simply would not allow for he knew it would hurt Stephanivien and the very thought of that sank his steely heart.

Direct confrontation was not Auriaullen's strong point, he kept to the shadows for it allowed his lithe figure tike enough to act without retaliation. The situation before him already denied such, butterfly knife in hand within his pocket should anything get unhanded. Unfortunately enough, it would end with no time to react.

The agents between them grew louder, agitation growing rife: one male towards the back rummaging through crates to collect a weapon, haphazardly attempting to fathom how to use such a thing while directly aiming at the wretch of whom was occupied enough with the three others far greater in size than he.

The deafening sound of the weapon discharging was disorientating, eyes snapping closed in instant reaction and when reopnend could he only see the figures running, albeit blurring, and not an item missing - only a firearm of some variety left upon the stone.

Pain crept up slowly, a winded breathlessness striking first. No conscious thought towards received injury was given for he didn't believe he'd been harmed - until the chill of the winds could no longer numb wounds. Difficulty drawing in breath continued, a hand pressing to where pain and tightness ebbed - only to pull away slick. Fingertips were red, slick with the thick liquid and with a quickened glance down could he note the growing stain to his shirt, the wetness of it seemingly doubling by each breath drawn and released.

Legs stumbled backwards, a handful of steps taken to get himself to the upstairs doors to the manufactory but with a bloody palm splay to them did they not budge - locked? Not surprising given the time.

Auri's back turned, pressing against the wood only to find himself slipping down, collapsing into a small heap upon the floor. The heels of boots dug into the stone and snow beneath, weakness clamijg lithe limbs exceedingly quickly.

He'd... Been shot?!

[starswornoaths]

Prompt 21: Crunch

Just more filling in the blanks. Friendship between Haurchefant and Serella, with some mention of what she was doing in her spare time in Ishgard for 3.0, and how she wandered into the Machinist’s Guild.

Word Count: 1,550

Rare was it that Haurchefant found himself back within Ishgard proper—and rarer still that he found himself at the Last Vigil.

Coming to the Fortemps Manor almost never happened.

And yet, here he was, stepping into his father’s home—his father’s, his brothers’, never his—and speaking with the Lord of the House.

His father seemed to divine that the pleasantries that they exchanged were merely a precursor, an excuse to check in on the wards of the House—while their conversation was warmer than it had been in some time it was still brief, with Count Edmont directing him to where their wards had been resting. Though they parted a touch awkwardly, there was a mirthful twinkle in the Count’s eye as they parted—something Haurchefant had not seen in his father since he was a boy.

Truly, a fuller house suited the old man, he thought with a warmth in his chest and a spring in his step as he checked in on his most recently acquired friends.

Two of them, at least, he realized when he only saw Alphinaud and Tataru in the library. He happily chatted with them a while, asked how they had been faring given the circumstances. He asked after Serella and Uthengentle, but neither of the Scions had been around the Manor for the better part of the day, so they had told him. He didn’t wish to take up much more of their time, as it was clear their thoughts were elsewhere, and so he did not linger—better to not be here, anyhow.

The air had barely had a chance to hit his face and the snow adequately crunch beneath his boots when his sharp hearing picked up a voice—toward the bannister overlooking Foundation.

“All stations, all stations…”

He paused at the bottom step leading out of the Manor and turned toward the voice—with a start, he found Serella standing alone with her back to him. Had he not heard her first, he would have likely missed her entirely—she was so still out at the bannister that he almost mistook her for a newly installed statue.

He moved closer, intent on greeting her in that same jovial manner he always did when he picked up the rest of what she was saying, and his steps slowed.

“All stations, all stations,” Serella spoke. “This is Serella Arcbane of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn…are there any other Scions out there getting this?” As he neared, he heard the emptiness in the radio static she received as a response. “Can anyone hear me?”

Only the white noise of the lonely radio waves answered her.

She let out a curse, and he heard her fiddling with something—likely changing the station or trying to clear the signal a bit—and he decided that now was likely a good time to step in, before she grew lost to her frustrations.

“Is there aught I can assist with, my friend?” Haurchefant asked in an almost too bright voice.

Serella turned to face him, looking a mite like she had debated lopping the head off the next person to approach her only a second beforehand. Unphased, he took a spot beside her, leaning against the railing. From there, he could see the device in her hands—sure enough, a radio. Beside her sat what he recognized as a signal amplifier—he knew them from the ones his troops had when they deployed on patrols that took them particularly far from Camp Dragonhead.

“Ah, Chefant.” Serella’s tired voice warmed when she realized it was him. Her posture softened, as if her entire being sighed in relief that it was him. He faintly wondered how many in the city had already accosted her for aid—or something more politically insidious, as was the city’s wont. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t hear you coming—“

“Think nothing of it, my friend!” He said, his tone more conversational but no less bright.

He felt pleasantly warm at hearing the nickname—Alphinaud had told him she had a tendency to give nicknames to people she trusted and considered friends, and to be considered such felt like the highest of praise.

“No, no, I shouldn’t—“ She cut herself off, pinching the bridge of her nose with her free hand. “I shouldn’t just be…ready to pop off at the mouth with everyone, especially not you.”

“You are human, above all else, Serella.” Haurchefant said softly, laying a hand on her shoulder. “I will never begrudge you for that.”

“I know.” She said, giving him a tired but genuine smile. “That doesn’t mean I want to just go off at every frustration.”

“What has you frustrated?” He asked, removing his hand from her shoulder and crossing his arms. “Perhaps I could be of assistance?”

“Perhaps,” Serella said, holding up the radio. “Know anything about how to get an amplifier to clear up the static?” She frowned in thought. “At this point, I don’t know if the static is because no one can hear me, or if there just…isn’t anyone there at all.”

Her expression told him she knew which was more likely.

“I confess, I owe you my sincerest apologies,” Haurchefant answered her after a moment. “For I have no expertise in such a field.”

“You don’t owe me an apology, Chefant.” Serella reassured him, though her smile did not reach her eyes. “That you offered is enough—“

“Do not lose hope, Serella!” He suddenly burst with enthusiasm as a though occurred to him—perhaps a bit too much, some might say, and some might be wrong, as far as he was concerned. “For I know of someone who might be just your man!”

“Oh?”

“Ser Stephanivien!” He said, holding up a finger. “Head of the Skysteel Manufactory—if anyone might be able to assist in clearing out that signal, I daresay he might!”

“That’s,” Serella’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t thought of that, actually.” She paused for a moment, and nodded as if to herself. “Yeah, that might actually be good—I’ve been meaning to speak with them anyhow.”

“Interested in Machinistry, are you?” Haurchefant asked.

“After a fashion.”

“Well,” He waggled his eyebrows. “I have quite the contraption you could take a look at in—“

“Your bedroom?” Serella guessed, already grinning.

“Well!” The Fortemps Knight gave a mock harrumph. “How forward of you, Warrior of Light—but if you are interested, I certainly shan’t—“

“No thank you.” Serella said flatly, even as she beamed at him.

“Augh!” Haurchefant gasped, clutching at his chest and throwing his other arm over his eyes dramatically. “You have wounded me most mortally, madam!”

“A pity.” Serella said, fighting to keep a straight face and laying her free hand over her heart solemnly. “I shall be sure to let everyone know you died as you lived, Chefant.”

“Gloriously?” He ventured, peeking through the splayed fingers still draped over his eyes.

“Like an overeager fool.” She threw her head back and laughed.

“Truly, your japes cut me to my very heart, Serella.” He sighed and straightened himself. “One of these days, I daresay you will be the death of me.”

“Perhaps, perhaps.” She looked a touch pensive, and that just would not do, he decided, draping an arm around her shoulders in a friendly hug.

“Pray smile, Serella.” He said softly. “It better suits a hero.”

“Hard to.” She admitted, leaning against him slightly. “Just…looking out at all of this,” she gestured out into the foggy abyss, where the rest of the city lay beneath the dense mists, out of their sight—just like the nobility prefers. “And hearing nothing from any of them…” her shoulders slumped. “Feels like I’m isolated.”

“Ice-olated?” Haurchefant grinned.

“Well,” she couldn’t fight a smile as she looked up at him. “I did receive a cold reception.”

“How true!” Haurchefant threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Even still,” he let out a soft sigh and squeezed her shoulder. “I fear that very icy reception is precisely why I do not tarry here overly long.” He stepped away from her. “I am bound for Camp Dragonhead. Might you be joining, or shall I be ushering you inside the House, free from the cold?”

Sparing a glance at one of the many chronometers that dotted the Pillars, Serella blanched. 

“You mean to fight the snow this late? Surely you can stay in your own house?” She guessed.

“Ah—!” He failed to hide his wince fast enough. Clearing his throat, he hoped his reputation for silly babbling would work in his favor once more. “I fear House Fortemps is simply too grandiose for my tastes— yes, much too much red, if you ask me, and hardly adequate numbers of unicorns about—”

“Let’s head to Camp Dragonhead, then.” Serella said gently, already bundling her cloak about her. “The sooner, the better.”

“You need not come with me—” He tried to reassure her.

“Oh, I know. It’s a choice, brother mine. So, shall we?” She asked with an incline of her head. “I would ask you to lead. I’m still...getting used to the city’s layout.”

“Woefully lost without me, you mean?” Haurchafant’s spirits lifted instantly, and they fell into step once more. 

“Naturally, my friend!” Serella agreed with a laugh.

The crunch of snow beneath his boots felt far less lonely with a second pair joining in, and their laughter echoing in the cold.

[tinygamertris]

It very genuinely depends on how much of a giant nerd they are/how quickly they get him involved in shenanigans involving technology.

Adric was friends with Stephanivien even before the Bloody Banquet fucked everything up because he's scared of Jessie but wanted to consult with someone over some blueprints he was working on - he's making a free hospital in Mor Dhona - and Cid mentioned the Skysteel Manufactury. They were so excited to actually meet each other! (After the Vault he basically lived in the Skysteel for a few days and Stephanivien made sure he had a comfortable corner to hole up in and made sure he was taken care of.)

He took to Alisaie a lot faster than Alphinaud simply because every time Alphy appeared in his life for a while it involved Politics (ugh) but Alisaie took him right into Allagan wreckage and encouraged him to be as geeky as he wanted. He liked Urianger pretty much instantly because he's a fellow smart person who finds people confusing. He took ages to warm up to Thancred because Thancred overwhelms him. Papalymo he bonded with instantly, Yda/Lyse took some time.

You get the idea.

And yes, Moenbryda won him over in about five seconds.

7/1/24

How quick is your wol(oc) to make friends?

[skysteelshot]

who are some characters you ship your muse with? + what is your muse’s love language?

♔ —• I’m an unbashed fan of shipping my WoL with Y’shtola. I’m kind of a sucker for the fact that Morgan is a very easily flustered individual despite a very confident bravado and Y’shtola’s teases would basically send him for a fucking loop. Other very honorable mentions are his first crush was K’lyhia from the Arcanist story line, and I guess if you tie my hands behind my back and force me I’ll say Haurchefant, Aymeric and Stephanivien. Don’t look at me.

♔ —• As for love language, Morgan is very much under Words of Affirmation and Physical Contact. I feel like for him, any kind of physical contact would be a very warming thing for him and as someone who does tend to speak confidently and believing in others, it feels like a given. He’s someone who would be slightly flustered and embarrassed to speak like that, but would do so with enough confidence not wanting to be afraid to express himself. And naturally the unholy act of hand holding is something he sees as third base. Jokes aside, I have a weakness and penchant for writing tender hand holding so I kind of project that a bit onto Morgan. It’s just one of those things manages to be oddly innocent but also so very intimate in the way you can do so. 

[skysteelsun]

idk if you have any more but give me ten fact about cuddlebu- I mean Kuja. Gimme ten facts about him

Drop one of my characters’ names in my inbox and I’ll tell you 10 facts about them

Kuja goes by “Urha’to Nelhah” after coming to Eorzea, as he is taken in by a Keeper woman from Gridania and quickly learns that “Khuja” is a female Keeper name. Being a trans man, this raises questions he isn’t interested in answering, and he owes much to his new adoptive mother - he gladly takes her name, considering it an honor. (His older brother Neirin does not go by “Urha’a,” for the curious, though there are doubtless those who call him that just to needle him.)

He has a body type that can only be described as strange. He is 7′9″ (which tends to draw some stares, as he reads as a Midlander Hyur), very thin, very knobby, broad-shouldered and wide-hipped. He wears clothes that mask it reasonably well, but still tends to stick out. He slouches. A lot.

Though his skills lend themselves handily to rogue/ninja, Kuja initially trains as an archer because fighting with knives reminds him too much of who he was on his own world - a life he’s trying hard to grow away from.

He maintains his interest and skill with poisons and toxins, however, and this interest inevitably leads him to alchemy and botany as he seeks new ways to create poisons... which he does not intend to use on anyone. Honest. He swears. It’s just a hobby. A very, very deadly hobby.

Even he isn’t really sure how he wound up working with the machinists’ guild. He visited out of curiosity - he does have an interest in machines and mechanical devices, particularly because his enemy on his own world was the primary source and user of magitek devices - and the next thing he knew, he was in La Noscea trying to prove a point to an irate Roegadyn pirate. Stephanivien confuses and bewilders him, but - in spite of everything - he does like the odd man. 

He feels a kinship of sorts with Joye, who has the self-appointed task of keeping Stephanivien restrained within reality and safe. While Steph might not be nearly as prone to dangerous recklessness as Neirin is, Kuja nevertheless sees enough similarities to be deeply sympathetic.

Kuja is aromantic and asexual, but does have a QP relationship with Bhalnrael Rhenentwyn - he feels she understands him and the things he’s gone through, the things he had to do to survive, better than anyone in this world save perhaps for Neirin, and even Neirin may not entirely understand what it did to Kuja’s mind. He met Bhalnrael when she made him shoes that would actually fit his enormous feet. It was uncertainty at first sight.

Kuja tends to sit down when he’s interacting with people significantly shorter than he is, just out of habit. Really, anyone shorter than Neirin (who is 5′11″) will have Kuja sitting down by default, no matter where they are. Middle of the street? He’ll sit or kneel, force of habit. He really, really doesn’t like looming over people. In particular he tends to sit immediately around Miqo’te women, as he knows this puts his sister Qhota at ease.

He loves braiding hair. For someone so ruthless, Kuja’s gentle streak runs narrow but deep - he loves braiding hair and will play with almost anyone’s hair, even if they’re a complete stranger, if they’ll let him. He also loves cuddling, and will cuddle indiscriminately. This is, strangely, something he’s only really picked up since coming to Hydaelyn; back on Terra, it was something he only did with Neirin. Here? Here he’ll cuddle with strangers, he doesn’t care.

He’s very, very, very protective of kids who’ve had to grow up too fast. Kids who have to take care of their siblings, kids who have to take on responsibilities they shouldn’t have to, kids who have to fight and kill before they’re old enough to really understand it - because he was one of those kids, and because he knows what it’s done to him, he is savagely protective of them. 

(tagging @mootablemimic for Qhota, Urha, and Bhalnrael mentions)

[duskwild]

FFXIV IC class knowledge

D I S C I P L E S  O F  W A R

Gladiator || Paladin: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “A shield for those who need it.” Taking up the blade was just another way of taking up the shield. Not afraid of getting hit, Ejaux gladly put himself at stake more than once for the sake of protecting others.

Marauder || Warrior: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “Axes are awfully heavy.” He almost dislocated his shoulder swinging the novice axe. An attempt was made. He could try again.

Dark Knight: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Pugilist || Monk: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Lancer || Dragoon: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “In honor of my father, in memory of my childhood.” Ejaux spent a lot of time observing the Holy See’s dragoons, eyes sparkling in wonder and awe as he turned towards his mother. He would be like dad, one day. Perhaps even better.

Rogue || Ninja: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Samurai: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Archer || Bard: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Machinist: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “Everyone’s chance at being a hero.” Stephanivien de Haillenarte was awfully convincing if he managed to make Ejaux put down the spear to try out the guns. It was a fruitful collaboration.

D I S C I P L E S  O F  M A G I C

Conjurer || White Mage: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “The silence is hardly worrying.” Despite having lived long in the Shroud, the forest has yet to speak to him, but this doesn’t mean he has no idea what he’s doing.

Arcanist || Summoner || Scholar: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | Astrologian:  | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “To think that the answer had always been above my head.” Despite not believing in fate, Ejaux found astromancy to be awfully interesting and it gave a new, surprising meaning to the night sky. Not to mention he’d never back up from the chance of doing something to move Ishgard out of its cultural swamp.

Thaumaturge || Black Mage:  | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | "To hold this much power?” Bad experience with almost exploding, but. He’s working on it.

Red Mage:  | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | "How beautiful!” Magic AND melee weapon? That is everything he’s ever asked for, probably. His skill as Dragoon are proving to be quite useful, what with the jumping and stabbing.

D I S C I P L E S  O F  T H E  H A N D

Carpenter:  | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Blacksmith:  | Unskilled |  Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Armorer:  | Unskilled |  Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Goldsmith:  | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “I don’t think I am fit to handle such precious materials...” Lacking in faith, but not in will to learn, someone will have to convince him that losing a single piece of malachite on’t be the end of the world.

Leatherworker:  | Unskilled |  Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Weaver:  | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “To think that I started with repairing my own shirts!” Living alone from a young age means having to learn the basics quite early. Sewing his own garments whenever he got into a fight allowed him to start off well when entering the guild... He still stings his own fingers while weaving sometimes, but whatever he manages to do iw of exquisite level.

Alchemist:  | Unskilled |  Novice | Adept | Expert | Master |

Culinarian: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “I am fairly sure I have added too much sugar.” Another of the things he had to learn in order to live at best he could, Ejaux loves cooking for himself and for others. It also allows him to indulge in certain gluttonous sins. Why is chocolate so good?

D I S C I P L E S  O F  T H E  L A N D

Miner:  | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “Too dark...Too suffocating...” That feeling when you start as a fresh miner and the cave almost closes down on you. Time will be needed.

Botanist: | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | "Plants are so colorful, so alive!” Being surrounded by plants was something new for an Ishgard-born boy and he quickly learned to love them. His love became curiosity and curiosity a need.

Fisher:  | Unskilled | Novice | Adept | Expert | Master | “Is there an end to kelp?!” Doesn’t fishing imply getting fishes? Then why does he only get kelp? A mystery, for sure.

Tagged by @home-halone [Thank you! :D]

- This was exceptionally fun to fill out and as you can see I just went overboard with the descriptions, but I am in such a writing mood, I couldn’t stop myself! -

Tagging: @doppelgentler, @notsocalmriver, @thebookofireine, @goldbasar and @cyrillien [Feel free to do it or not! But it’s fun.]

[thyanel-xiv]

[Journal] - !!!

He kissed me. And I kissed him. And I enjoyed it. Oh, Fury, help me.

No. Wait. Calm down. Start at the beginning.

After running into Farrell the other night, he invited me to visit him at the Beauchamp household. In Ishgard. I was incredibly overdressed, but it was what I had, and I figured I should err on the side of caution.

Working with the noble houses, you learn very quickly how to make yourself look even somewhat presentable for them. Besides, I had been to see my father prior to this, and I know Skysteel isn’t exactly where you want to wear something fancier, but there’s always a chance someone who cares from Haillenarte would be around. Fortunately, Lord Stephanivien doesn’t seem to mind, but if his father had been around, he certainly would have... I don’t know why I particularly cared about him. I highly doubt the Count would have recognized me.

Father is fine. Mother is fine. Both are sad to hear about Dacien. Glad I’m not dead. The entire conversation with them just felt awkward and stilted. Was it always that way and I just never noticed?

Anyway...

I was still nervous I was going make a complete idiot of myself in Farrell’s home. Farrell wouldn’t have minded, I’m sure, but I certainly would have.

However, being there wasn’t quite so bad. Admittedly, we mostly just talked, and the conversation was incredibly enjoyable. It always is. Talking with him feels natural, as if I’ve known him forever when I know I haven’t. The last time I talked to anybody like that...

Well. It’s been a long time.

I was almost brave enough to mention Dacien, but in the end, I couldn’t. Farrell knows someone I cared about died trying to keep me alive, but that’s it. He doesn’t know details. I couldn’t bring myself to give them.

Then he kissed me. It was unexpected, but it was a good kiss, and I kissed him back.

Now, I apparently have an invitation to stay at his home if I’m in Ishgard.

What am I doing? What is he doing? He clearly cares about me, and I care about him. What does that make us now?

And why do I feel the need to define it?

[francel]

rambling;

i have nothing good to post, so i thought it might be fun to compile some answers to various ffxiv- and rp-related memes and questionnaires i’ve done on my private accounts! please enjoy my screaming.

8. Is there a character that embodies your good traits, or traits you wish you had? Several characters? Which ones and what traits?

i wish i was handsome and suave like all my characters thanks

13. What’s something you’ve never thought about your character?

a certain someone recently decided to remind me that francel's house has no bathroom... and i had honestly never considered, in two whole years of playing him, where he goes to pee?

"do you mean poop" francel is a delicate maiden i will not consider this

(we figure there’s probably an outhouse... somewhere...)

3. What’s something that surprises you about your canon?

Wiltswys: You think me cold? Well, fie on what you think! I wanted something better than tilling salty fields and spilling small fry out the nets, and occasionally taking a passing sailor into my bed for more o' the same!

LISTEN THIS IS THE MOST VULGAR LINE IN THE GAME I SWEAR TO GOD

i have done this quest at least... 4 or 5 times now and it never fails to make me scream. and every time i do it i have to zoom in on her and look at her face because she is a really cute roe girl, so i wonder what her taste in sailors is...

19. Give me an appearance-related headcanon of your choice.

LAUGHS OK hmm what have i never said before...

i have definitely mentioned that i don’t think francel likes his appearance very much — he especially wishes he had lighter-colored eyes like stephanivien and aurvael...

i personally want to think that chlodebaimt looked very different from francel BUT, although i have never datamined the necrose knight (i really should), a friend of mine took screenshots and his eyes at least look like francel's eyes

...but they might very well have just used a generic house haillenarte knight model for that, so who knows what chlodebaimt looked like?

i also like to think that baurendouin (francel's father) persists in the belief that his youngest son will do great things because he at least superficially resembles driancoin de haillenarte (the haillenarte founder you see in the haldrath flashback scene). i mean, i doubt portraits of driancoin survived or anything, given the nondescript statues of thordan's knights, but i’m sure comments about him did?

"he was fair of face and fair of hair" idfk some shit like that

5. What do you hate about your canon?

i am always, ALWAYS so tired of hearing people complain about how “no one ever” treats the wol like they’re “a normal person” ah, yes no one no one ever has treated you nicely never mind the fact that people regularly apologize for turning to you in their hours of need, and for asking you to kill things, and you usually just dismiss their applogy no one!!! has ever!! been nice!! to the wol!! i know the entire arc of my francel writing career has been bitching about similar things but at least i find new ways to do it

ok wait i have to vent more about how people still persist in the NO ONE WAS NICE TO THE WOL BUT HAURCHEFAAANT!!!!! delusion like tataru fucking made you clothes recently IS THAT NOT THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF LOVE? YOU'VE FINALLY BEEN REWARDED WITH SOMETHING PHYSICAL AND TANGIBLE!! STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW YOU DON’T HAVE FRIENDS!!

24. What’s a song that reminds you of your character?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B7VKiJhU_s “Dear Jack,” by Jack’s Mannequin.

lately, i’ve been listening to this... i don't like every part of this song, but lyrically, it is such a perfect francel song

dear jack, i write you as a friend dear jack, i write for fear the end is coming soon to you it's not so clear it's clear to me it's clear as glass

dear jack, wherever you are, hold tight wherever he is, shine light right there be strong i dare

i had songs for you i had all your music written out the words came when i heard you screaming i had plans for you until the plans fell through now there is no turning back, my dear jack

11. Something you like to look at.

i have complicated feelings about haurchefant these days, but sometimes i go and look at this mug and cry about his handwriting

like from a lore perspective i know he can't be writing in english because they write in eorzean but until then, my friend...

14. When writing for specific characters, is there anything you have to do to get in the specific mindset?

yes! but it depends on the character. for ramza... i either read shakespeare (for real — i have lifted quotes wholesale from hamlet and the tempest) and/or listen to "rather be" by clean bandit? seriously, that is my most strong ramza association... which is weird because the song and the game are like 20 years apart? or i listen to the FFT ost...

for francel i have a whole playlist, but most importantly i either go on twitter and look at wolchefant fanart or read bad wolchefant fanfic on ao3... (don’t judge me; it keeps the bitterness alive)

18. Is there anything you really wish you could do that you feel is outside your current ability? A concept that you wish you could pull off but are uncertain about?

UMMM... hmmmmmmm...

i dont know... i don’t really think any plots are outside of my current ability, but i admire my friends for being so consistent and on the ball with their dignified prose? i can be dignified too, but at some point i'll crash and start writing intensely silly tags

i would like to do more plots where francel is a badass for whatever reason, but that’s just wish fulfillment

17. Which character is the easiest to write? Why do you think that is?

francel is the easiest to write because he has the ugliest emotions

ramza is the hardest because he is always so virtuous

everyone else has varying levels of self control, but with francel i can usually succumb to base impulse reactions. i like his unguarded nature...

6. When writing a character, do you find it easier to work on their external or internal ticks first? oh, internal, definitely. i think my tags suffer from the fact that i often don’t describe what my characters are doing or what is around them? just... just assume on my behalf lmao.... so IF FRANCEL IS CAUGHT UP IN INTERNAL TL;DR there's a 90% chance he's doing that kicked-puppy stare at the floor

5. Has fandom ever ruined a pairing for you? XIV, hard mode: no Haurchefant/WoL.

LMAO THAT HARD MODE...

xiv's fandom has rarely "ruined" pairings for me, as in "i liked them before but i hate them now solely because of fandom"... that said, i think i kind of liked the idea of zephirin and aymeric as a rivalry ship, but i hate when fandom takes the "oMG ZEPH RAPED AYMERIC WHEN HE WAS HELD CAPTIVE" route...

i think this perception of zephirin as this horrible awful evil man comes from the fact that the information on the ward happened after the game was released, so... in the span of time between "zephirin killed haurchefant" and "wait actually zephirin is a virtuous man," people formed their opinions, you know?

but it's still really annoying, and to some degree the misconception persists...

i was also okay with guydelot and sanson at first, but i’m a little annoyed by them now, too... it’s not for any particular reason — i just think the fandom is annoying in the "THEY'RE SOOO MARRIED!! EVEN THE OTHER QUEST NPCS SAY THEY'RE LIKE A MARRIED COUPLE!! THEY’RE SO CANON!!!" way and i’m like Please Shut Up. that said, i guess it’s mostly jealousy because none of my pairings are ever canon, but whatever...

so i guess i'm going with zephirin/aymeric, guydelot/sanson... and oh btw like. urianger/moenbryda to a degree? i remember when the wind-up moenbryda item came out and the english item description was like "you don't want to know what urianger did to this" or something like that, like, i just took it as — like urianger probably dressed it up in a little maid outfit and had it serve him tea or something equally otaku-like?

but the entire fandom was like OMG HE JERKED OFF TO IT OR USED IT AS A SEX DOLL OR SOMETHING and i was like ... okay. like if that's how you're determined to see it, fine, but fandom always takes the worst possible interpretation of something i swear to god

13. Unpopular opinion about XXX character?

LAUGHS WELL I GUESS MY USUAL TIRADE: i don't think of haurchefant as the perfect cinnamon roll angel and actually he annoys me a little...

my friend just finished running coerthas quests on her balmung alt and like... even she commented on how brusque and condescending he seems to francel? and she has no reason to be tainted by my perception of him, it's just... it’s just that he is brusque and condescending.

back when i liked haurchefant/francel, i told myself that it was just how he acted in the heat of the moment and i was sure he was gentler later... but now we’ve seen so much of haurchefant that from the way he treats francel it really feels more to me like francel was just a friend of convenience. i don’t know. i’m bitter. maybe i’m just bitter because it’s easier to cope that way.

14. Unpopular opinion about your fandom?

um... well, i think everyone in the ffxiv fandom also agrees that the fandom is annoying...

something i sometimes worry about, but which is not exclusive to ffxiv, is like... people who rp wind up with such a different impression of things than people who just play the game? 

i'm not judging either side on this but... i have rp friends, and i observe the rp community on tumblr/balmung, and i also have friends that are just gamers? and you know, like. sometimes rpers get carried away and invent all these narratives, like i know some tumblr rpers had a bunch of "plots" where a murder mystery happened in ishgard and it was all full of like noble OCs and intrigue or something?

but my gamer friends will sometimes be like, “ishgard is so boring.” so they... see it differently? you wind up viewing the game differently based on what you do in it.

there's also the divide between the english version of the game and the rest of the world, which i bitch about a lot but

just as an example, in english the nobles of ishgard are kind of broadly characterized as being unintelligent and shallow and foppish, whereas the other versions of the game really take a much more neutral approach?

or well i can really only speak for the japanese, but in general the german and french versions of the game are loyal to the japanese, however, 2.0 content was often based on the english...

so, for example, 2.0 content was EN->FR, but ever since 3.0 most of the patches have been JP->EN/DE/FR

however, the EN version continues to make changes, whereas DE and FR don't really change many things!

so i worry a lot about the different perceptions people have of the game, and what that means, like, when i write fanfic...

does my interpretation of coerthas align with other peoples' interpretations of coerthas? probably not. that’s something that’s deeply distressing, as a writer and as someone who prefers to have control, but i don’t know...

17. Instead of XYZ happening, I would have made ABC happen...

STARES INTO THE VOID it's it's too late for any of this

2 years ago i would have told you without hesitation that i wanted haurchefant to be alive and for him and francel to have eloped together, but now i just...

i've learned to play with the cards i've been dealt

[feuglace]

@ferrumumbra​ sent:   He'd been watching the other mull about the workshop dead into the night and once the early hours came to be did Auri decide that enough was enough. He'd not seen the male sleep properly for days.   From the other side of the room did the wretch near charge at him, tackling him to the ground before grinning: "There. Now that y' horizontal y' can finally give in t' tha' yawnin' n' get some sleep." And to punctuate his point did he toss a blanket over his head of which he had carried upon his shoulder.

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  There was always someone requiring his aid or his word, even a signature for those deals fluttering between the Manufactory and those he had contracted for supplies. It seemed that day was busiest of all, likely due in part to an error that threw all out of balance. Stephanivien rushed between his workbench and the door, hurriedly swapping out weapons now known to have been sabotaged in some way. Thankfully none had been hurt! Already had a few of his machinists stopped to mention the error, a small pile of weapons left upon his bench that always lingered on the fringes of his mind. He could not sit or even stand to work without someone calling for him, though never would he allow his exhaustion to show to those who needed him. He knew the moment Joye became aware of his exhaustion he would have the lass pestering him alongside his work, and when he could not focus... bad things happened.

  Even into the evening he worked, though thankfully with many gone to bed he was left instead to tinker with those that had caused error in the first place. Nothing seemed to be working, Stephanivien almost growing frustrated with just how the things were broken in the first place. Back and forth he wandered, taking breaths to settle his racing mind while plucking parts and tossing some back haphazardly in his rush to fix those which he couldn’t properly replace yet. He lacked the material to even craft parts for such weapons, carbines that had so far proven entirely useful until just that day!

  Stephan had only just placed down a part and begun his walk back across the room when abruptly he was tackled from the side and sent entirely off balance in his shock. Given his height and more slender build he was easy to topple, and so the elezen swiftly found himself upon the floor with a loud thump. Dazed and wide-eyed, he stared up at the man who had leapt at him in the first place - and far sooner did his face glow a bright red in response.

  “A-Auri!” he exclaimed, a little too loud in his utter shock and the spike of his heartrate. He swallowed hard, even squeaking as the blanket was tossed upon his head. A hand lifted to tug the blanket down - at least out of his face - while his other instinctively landed upon Auri’s side. “I-I can’t - I must fix those carbines,” he stammered, his eyes still trapped in Auri’s gaze. Still, he slumped upon the floor; the other was correct in that he’d soon feel the heaviness of fatigue upon resting for even a second.

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Been talking to my friend about Jannequinard, and there was mentions of assassination attempts - which are entirely possible, though to the degree he claims is questionable. Regardless, I cannot stop thinking about the potential number of times Stephanivien has had someone attempt to take his life, being the actual heir to House Haillenarte (even if he doesn’t want it).

How many times has he woken to someone walking in with ill-intentions? How likely is it that while he’s very welcoming to new-comers, he still prepares for the worst?

The corruption of noble houses and royalty has certainly fascinated me for a while and Ishgard is truly just teeming with it before the end of HW. I believe Stephanivien has dealt with far more than simple tampering before, and its why he doesn’t react with shock or outrage to tampering occcurring; its predictable. Obviously his father isn’t so extreme as to have him assassinated, if he was he would’ve put a lot more effort into having that done than scolding and arguing with him endlessly. I don’t believe his family would ever be the source, but he’s an easy target for those of the Brume for his habit of communicating so openly with them - and the other Houses most definitely meddle in each other’s affairs.

There was mention in ARR of quarreling and infighting between the Houses. I like to think its far worse than just bitching back and forth.