#ask otolin

[snakemoltsiren]

❤️ first kiss / realization

In her mind, their first first kiss is draped in shame. It was their first job. First job extended - when the Miqo'te who he'd been working with for however long before she'd met them had been snatched off the Ul'dah streets not long after they'd parted ways following their productive evening. They'd stolen something together. It was why they'd hired her. And it had gone off without a hitch, even though after she'd taken her payout and bid them farewell it had felt a little bittersweet. That tall, imposing but so quiet Highlander had snagged on her like a hangnail. No reason she could put her finger on really, but she hoped she'd see him again. Knew she wouldn't. And then... And then a knock on her door telling her that their missions erstwhile leader had been snatched right off of the streets. And did she want to make a bonus by helping to track him down. She'd set off at his side across the Thanalan wastes, still in her evening gown and high heeled shoes. And when they'd reached the hideout she'd hooked her arm through his to add a stumble to her gait, and when they'd come across a crew that the word 'shifty' had been created for, she'd wheeled around on him, her gaze quick and flashing trust me - please go with it - right before she'd kissed him. His breath had stalled between them but she didn't push it more than was needed for the show. Already felt something like guilt crawling across her skin like ants. Later she had apologized. For springing it on him. For not getting permission or at least warning him ahead of time. And he'd shaken his head and promised her it was fine. She'd believed him - of course. But she'd still carried the weight of that kiss for a decade, where it festered and chipped and rotted through the walls of her own fortitude. She locked it away in her mind but took it out on occasion to sneak remembering glances at. Sure as anything that it was all she'd ever have. A stolen, unwanted kiss. Related Piece - Surprise/Impulsive Kiss

[thanidiel]

🌺 (for Otolin)

Xiaohu looks suddenly peeved. Not defensive, her body is not warding away and there is no threat urging thinness to her gaze. If she were not so young, the expression would carry well along the lines of a mother annoyed with the impropriety of a child’s question. 

“Mr. Stone doesn’t like it when strangers talk about him. He and I share a lot of experiences, that’s all. The weather-lines of streaming water will be different on every rock, but in the end, it’s the same, you know?”

@captainswingbeard

[dawning-star]

Seeking . . .

The task she had been given was simple in nature, yet in some ways it seemed everything but that. Finding just any place could be easy. Finding an area more alive with aether? Maybe that was a little less easy. Yet more and more these days she was becoming aware of it. Gaining a feel for the world. A new perspective even. Connection. It was odd, almost an unintended side-effect to actually focusing with a purpose. Beyond merely trying to complete a task and channel.

Or was it all a part of the training and the man far more cunning than she sometimes gave him credit for. Honestly, she wouldn’t put it past him, yet that thought wasn’t at the forefront of the xaela’s mind. Far from it, in fact.

The search had sparked a bit of an internal debate for the woman, with each barefoot step she took along the shroud, heading further from home fulm by fulm. Seeking, ever searching for that little place to report back with and complete the assignment handed to her. So that the next step could properly begin. However that would go.

That idea of furthering her own growth excited her...yet terrified her at the same time. It was hard for her to put into words, or would be if anyone had ever asked her about that. Truth of the matter was though, she’d yet to confide in anyone those steps that she was about to be taking. Rinalys was truly on her own here, one foot effectively in front of the other, quite like each step she now took. Her right foot which connected her with the land, the left merely mimicking lest she fall on her face. It was quite likely she would never truly grasp a feel on that side ever again.

At least, beyond the pains that still wracked it on a rare occasion. Somehow she knew that wasn’t about to go away. For a blessing, such a thing was infrequent. Though it had been some weeks since the last bout.

Shaking such thoughts from her mind, the woman would ease back into the task at hand. Feeling the earth, seeking and sensing what felt right for her. Deeper such steps carried her into the Shroud, the Twelveswood being the only land that felt really right to explore for the goal. It had saved her once, surely it would help guide her along the path of her growth. That was what she felt at least, and ultimately the choice was hers. As well as to continue the path...or well, start on it in a sense. That first chakra.

Otolin had provided her with an example. Or well, shown her how his worked, the strain it had on him in turn. The first had been no surprise to her, having seen it some moons before. But he had gone further when the topic had come up about hers. Frankly, she hadn’t been prepared. Likely still wasn’t in some ways. It also left her wondering what would...or could happen. Sowing that seed of fear for worst case scenarios that may or may not come to pass. Yet it would be her own hill to climb, wouldn’t it? For better, surely in the long run. Rin knew she wouldn’t grow otherwise, no matter how taxing each step from there on would be. For a grace she had his guidance for as long as he would offer it to her.

For now though, her steps on the path carried her further, deeper within the Southern fringes of the Shroud. Along earth, grass and flowing waters to where sparse crystals marked the land. The place, Urth’s Fount was it? Somehow along the way she had gone past the kalongs, boars and keds to come to a stop there. Thoughts and senses really had consumed her in the process. Yet it had paid off. Or so she thought, unless she misunderstood her task entirely. The feeling she had told her she was on target, however.

“This could do nicely. I hope.”

- - - - - - - -

Something something @stone-xiv mention because he's probably going to make her suffer soon.

[set-in-stone-writing]

Are You...?

Are you angry?

No.

Upset?

No.

How do you feel when you’re shearing the shadows? No wool to draw over your eyes. You’ve ripped the sheep to shreds.

Are you angry?

No.

Are you upset?

No.

Frustrated, perhaps?

No, still. How many times will you ask these questions?

Query all you wish. Carrion comes, and I currently wear their crown.

The eyes of the others, they don’t see much. A hand goes up. A foot kicks out. Every strike is a word, every movement a way to keep the sound going.

He appears behind them.

Are you angry?

No.

Are you upset?

No.

Frustrated, perhaps?

No.

You keep asking.

I mean, why shouldn’t I, Otolin? Your steps carry you, no limits where you’re bound.

You’re in front of the man, bearing down upon him, With all of the world’s fury and sound.

So I’ll ask you again. Are you angry?

No.

Up goes a hand, down goes a fist. It shears his shield, and sends him tumbling.

Are you upset?

No.

You’re stalking, a wicked shamble, Steps through the snow, orange and purple dripping, From your deadly hands.

Are you frustrated?

No.

Lean in. Take a deep breath. Watch him worry, be the end of his world, his woe. Oh, how small he must feel in the last seconds of-

“Don’t kill him.”

Wouldn’t you like to take it all out on him, Otolin?

… No.

Why?

Because I just don’t want to. Because what do I have to gain? What do I… I have to prove?

“… alright.”

Because I think I’m a little better than this, And… and I think he can be too.

[swingbeard]

me: "yeah, but what if i make otolin a kind of sort of eldritch monster-type when he opens his shadow chakras? this works, right?"

i've been a touch hesitant about posting it due to my own sorta "oh, i don't know if this is gonna jive" feelings, but decided why not? really cool to see the feedback so far and appreciate people asking more quesitons on it. it means A LOT!

[dragons-ire]

Fire from Heaven

I've got a message to leave the dawn Just as the torment is ending I am the eagle that lingers on I am the violence descending

-Sleepthief, Fire from Heaven

They have Valka. They have Valka in this room and they're doing something. The smell of campfire smoke still clung to his clothes when he made it back to the office. Gear slung over his shoulder, the little device still dangling in his fingers with the series of messages printed on it. Distant as if sent from far away.. He closed his door without saying much of anything to anyone. Didn't quite look Otolin in the eye - almost like he couldn't just yet. If the Ala Mhigan wanted or needed anything, he trusted he'd say something. Observe, think rationally. We will take care of the issue. This is what they do It seemed best to let the other man have his own time to put his own thoughts together before they went any further.

Still in his field gear, he opened a bottle of wine and sat down at the desk behind the partition. The map and assorted scrawled notes and designs tacked to the wall, his own compiled notes concerning his experiences from the past year. Bound for the safe room at the Lotus where they could be read and shared by the other people on the assignment. Some he knew in passing, some deeper than that. Some he trusted far more than others, especially after that tension-filed meeting. -experimentations involving amplifying the unique aetheric signatures of Ishgardian citizens to cause physical transformation. -mental compulsion mimicking the ability of elder Dravanians to control and direct large groups of their number. -a technology designed to create a 'hive mind' of soldiers, mimicking the assumed behaviors of communal insects such as wasps or ants. He kept it as concise and factual as possible, but as much blur as he felt he could. Like distant reports from another time, instead of these little situations that he'd seemed to keep stumbling or be asked to be into. Like the step he'd taken away from Ishgard, from unending war had just led him here. Out of one horror and into another. It was what he'd wanted.

It was what he chose.

-an enhancement that enables a soldier to consume ambient aether from the environment, as well as living aether from sentient creatures. The higher the aetheric level consumed, the stronger and more powerful the soldier becomes. At critical levels, the soldier has the ability to 'detonate' their personal aether not unlike an incendiary device. This can cause damage to living people as well as magiteknical systems, etc. I first saw evidence of this ability in my time in Gyr Abania, used against a former member of the Ala Mhigan Resistance.... He shuffled the page in between the others like a card sharp palming something into a deck. Maybe she'd understand why he described her capabilities like they weren't anything more than more of the terrible science of the people she hated the most. Sometimes you lied and left things out to protect people. -We believe we have had some success confounding aetheric tracking abilities using the shielding techniques of Sharlayan astromancy. He added more after a moment. After pouring himself another glass of wine and taking a moment to idly turn the star globe sitting at his right elbow. The track of the heavens in miniature, spinning there in the cool and dark confines of his quarters in the office. His fingers traced a pattern of constellations that concluded with tracking the location of the dragon star, that old way that had guided his lance in war on multiple occasions. The magics Brighid had helped him weave around the thing faded like a whisper. The star globe opened up at the hinge to reveal the hollow inside. Whatever was inside shone faintly in gold. He listened to the silence of the room, trying to hear beyond. It seemed like he was alone, at least; Otolin and Severine out wherever they went together. The doctor's lab closed. Wherever Lily went when she wasn't bustling around the office, he wasn't sure. Maybe she didn't stay here . ? He finished his glass and stretched his fingers out towards it. Flaring them like the was trying to read the aetheric currents of the air, the room. Blind as he was to these things, he could almost feel it. Like a pulse, like wings furiously beating against a current it could not overcome. Like a whisper, drawn out and distant like it was coming from a different room; from a linkpearl frequency halfway around the star. One painful syllable at a time bleeding through. D R A...

...H O R H E I...L "Yeah, fuck you too." He replied to the air, to nothing. Picked up the bottle and tilted it for another refill as he curled his hand back. He thought about the possibility of having to fight Valka. Fight her in earnest, knowing her capabilities; her knowing his. Her knowing many of theirs - Otolin, Adrian, Felore, whoever else she had gone to spar with in earnest among their acquaintances. As she tried to make friends and connections, tried to find her new place.. Whoever elses aether she'd read and understood and could just find, anywhere. Could know, could draw into herself. What did it feel like to have your own life force stripped from your bones like that? He didn't want to know. But he thought about the heavy axe still propped in the doorway of his house in Ishgard. Inert, unable to be picked up by even her just yet. Mercy. He remembered the name of that beautiful ancestral weapon of hers. How appropriate that felt now, as small a one as it was. He leaned over to close the lid of the globe. Lingered a moment, just looking. The gold glow touching his golden gaze like a sunrise, illuminating his face in the dark This is how the kingdom  fell. The thought came to him as he looked with his head down, pale hair half-covering his face like a curtain. The king saw an enemy that he could not win against and went looking for power to match it. He cursed fifty generations of people in his fear and greed. But remember: you're not a king. No: what you are, is drunk. Stop it. Get a shower, go to bed. He reached for the lid to close the globe, fingers tucked inside as if trying to pick up any lingering pulse. Feel out anything else like a blind man trying to read in the middle of the night.

H E S...S

(s

s

s)

W  A n... ...i… n?

"...I'm sorry. What?" He asked the air, asked nothing. Cut a look to the corner of his desk. Waited.

Listened another moment, then re-affixed the latch with a resounding

click

(Mentions: @stone-xiv @witchesandlotuses @witchespromise @rhyspent-ffxiv )

[true-strike]

𝕚𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒 𝕕𝕖𝕚𝕥𝕪 // catelyn.

DEITY OF: War. Journeys. Exiles. Second chances. Smiths and metalworkers.

ASSOCIATED WITH: Combat. Thunderstorms. Travels. Metalworking. Long roads home. The midday sun. The heat of a forge. Gusts of wind. Finding one’s way back. Strength of heart. Protection of women. Blades hammered and quenched. Bruised knuckles. Scars from war. First blood. Courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Pride in oneself. The battle fever.

SACRED PLANTS: Amaryllis. Dahlias. Speedwell. Blackthorn.

SACRED STONES/GEMS: Lapis lazuli. Iron. Coal. Gold. The stone of Rustrock.

SACRED ANIMALS: Gray coeurls. Hawks. True griffins. 

COLORS: Gold. White. Blue. Purple. Red.

FOOD: Rare meat. Dates. Salt urchin. 

SCENTS: Cinnamon. Cardamom. Sandalwood. Hot metal. Burning coal. 

ACCEPTED OFFERINGS/WAYS TO HONOR:

To call upon Her is to call upon the storm. 

Her name is cried out by warriors who bury their blades in their foe’s flesh. Smiths offer Her silent supplication as they quench their works. Travelers ask for Her guidance along the roads, creating talismans of blackthorn wound around coal to carry in their packs. Her symbol is etched into iron by those far from home and held to their lips, prayers whispered under the noonday sun. Those who seek victory in battle paint Her markings along their cheeks in their blood. Women gather amaryllis from the banks of the Velodyna and wear it as adornment, seeking Her protection and strength. Her altars in the Lochs bear salt urchin, shells cracked open, and dates fresh from the palm.

HALONE FOUND HEƦSELF ᴄᴀᴘᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ, ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴀᴅ ʟᴇᴀʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡɪᴇʟᴅ ᴍᴇᴛᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴛᴏᴏʟꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴀʀ. ꜱʜᴇ, ᴛᴏᴏ, ᴡɪꜱʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴀꜰᴛ ᴀ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ, ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ɢᴜɪᴅᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ.

ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜʀʏ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜱᴋᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ʜɪᴍ ᴀ ʙᴏᴏɴ. “ɢʀᴀɴᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟᴇᴠɪɴʙᴏʟᴛꜱ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴍᴀʏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴀ ʜᴀɴᴅᴍᴀɪᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜʏ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ꜱᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜ.”

ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇꜱᴛʀᴏʏᴇʀ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡᴀʀʏ, ʀʜᴀʟɢʀ ᴀɢʀᴇᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʟᴇᴠɪɴ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇ ʜᴀʟᴏɴᴇ’ꜱ ꜱᴘᴇᴀʀ. “ᴡʜʏ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴇᴇᴋ ᴀ ʜᴀɴᴅᴍᴀɪᴅ?” ʜᴇ ᴀꜱᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ. “ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏꜰ ᴀꜱꜱɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ?”

ʜᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴅᴏᴜʙᴛ. ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴀᴢᴇʏᴍᴀ’ꜱ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀʜᴇᴀᴅ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛʜʀᴇᴡ ʜᴇʀ ꜱᴘᴇᴀʀ. ɪᴛ ꜱᴛʀᴜᴄᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴛʜᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴄʟᴀᴘ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜꜱᴛʀᴏᴄᴋ ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍʙᴇʀꜱ ʀᴏꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜʀʏ’ꜱ ʜᴀɴᴅᴍᴀɪᴅ, ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴏꜰ ɢᴏʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ʟᴀᴢᴜʟɪ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟᴇᴠɪɴ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴄᴇ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴠᴇɪɴꜱ.

ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜʀʏ ꜱᴍɪʟᴇᴅ ᴛʀɪᴜᴍᴘʜᴀɴᴛʟʏ. “ꜱʜᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ, ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛʀɪᴋᴇ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ.”

tagged by: @whitherwanderer​ tagging: @siegryn​ // @otolin-xiv​ // @finishing-touch​ // @ember-arrow​ // @s-udarshana​ // @honoura​

[lettersnorth]

He slowly shifted his gaze back to Aislinn with whatever measure of resolve he could muster. "Wha-t are our next steps?"

Her brow knitted in concern. She knew he wouldn't like what she had to say next. But...well, she had been the bearer of terrible news all evening. She hung her head for a moment.

"Listen, Ren. The ARD also recorded unhealthy levels of aetheric output over an excessive period of time." she raised her head to meet his eye. "I'm...worried about the toll this is taking on your body. Too much aether...it can lead to aether sickness. I know it's hard for you to stay out of the fight, but...I don't see a better option."

Barengar needed to move; so he did. The knight pushed himself up to his feet and paced toward the armchair before turning back around again. All the while he was taking a slow and calming breath. It wasn't an answer, at least not in his head, it was a bandaid. He needed it to stop. "I can't jus-t stop fightin-g f-orever, Aislinn." He offered, some of his frustration leaking into his voice. "I h-ave a duty. I swore an oath." It wasn't her fault. He knew that, so he curbed himself as best he could.

She watched him pace. Much like when he punched the wall back at Heartwood, she let him. Nymeia knew she'd be doing the same thing in his shoes. "I'm not saying forever." she said, her voice taking on a soothing pitch. "I'm saying until we solve this and rid you of the excess signature. Aether sickness will keep you from your oath just as well as anything else, Ren." she warned.

Barengar exhaled explosively as he swallowed the urge to yell. Not at her, not at anything in particular. Just to *yell*. To let it all out. She could see that aether begin to radiate off of him again. At least until he slowly began to rein it in again through some controlled breathing. After a moment he closed his eyes and rumbled his response. "Y-eur right. Y-eur right."

She sensed his desire to yell just as easily as she sensed a coming storm. Much of her life she had depended on this ability of hers to warn her when someone was about to explode. But she tilted her head, sensing the aether expand and, curiously, contract back within. "That breathing...you learn that somewhere?" she asked. "It helps. You're able to rein your aether back to acceptable levels." she noted.

Barengar dipped his head forward in gentle confirmation. "Aye. Tha-t man I mentioned be-fore. Otolin Stone." He shook his head slowly as his whole body seemed to slacken. "He suggested it when Eliane an-d I first started askin-g questions about m-y condition." He paused before settling his gaze upon Aislinn again. "Bu-t ... wha-t d-o we d-o next, Aislinn? I need a path forward ..." There was the faintest hint of desperation in his tone.

He was right. It was one thing to zero in on the problem. It was altogether another thing to create a solution. She gazed past him into the fire and let out a breath. He certainly didn't need to hear her say she didn't know. Though she didn't. He had already told her the artifact was gone. Likely catalogued for safe keeping in some historian's vault somewhere. How did you reverse an effect when you don't have the article in question? Garrett. It all came back to him, didn't it? "Well...we know Garrett is still out there. He's the one who did this so it stands to reason..." she trailed off.

"Then we find him." He answered with a resolution that did not respect that difficultly of the task. It all seemed so very clear to him. So clear and so simple. Though this wouldn't be a surprise to Aislinn. This was the way Barengar had always been. He focuses on an answer-- usually the simplest one -- and pursues with with a doggedness that knew little in the way of bounds.

(And also, some OOC peanut gallery goodness):

[syerraffxiv]

Language

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: 1  /  2  / 3 TONE OF VOICE:  high  /  average  / deep ACCENT:  yes  /  no DEMEANOR:  confident  /  shy  / approachable  /  hostile  /  other POSTURE:   slumped / straight /  stiff  /  relaxed HABITS:   head tilting /  swaying / fidgeting  /  stuttering /  gesturing  /  arm crossing /  strokes chin  / er, um, or other interjections  /  plays with hair or clothing /  hands at hips  / inconsistent eye contact  / maintains eye contact  / frequent pausing  / stands close /  stands at distance

COMPLEXITY

Vocabulary: ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◻ Emotion: ◼ ◻ ◻ ◻ ◻  /  ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼  (very much depends) Sentence Structure: ◼ ◼ ◼ ◻ ◻

PROFANITY

Profanity: ◼ ◻ ◻ ◻ ◻ Creativity: ◼ ◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

CURSE WORDS

arse. ass. asshole. bastard. bitch. bloody. bugger. bollocks. chicken shit. crap. cunt. dick. frick. fuck. horseshit. motherfucker. piss. prick. screw. shit. shite. shitass. son of a bitch. twat. wanker. pussy.

GIVEN PROPER RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

christ on a bike. christ on a cracker. damn. goddamn. godsdamn. hell. holy shit. jesus. jesus christ. jesus h christ. jesus h. roosevelt christ. lord gods have mercy. jesus, mary and joseph. sweet jesus.

THIS OR THAT

contractions or enunciation?   straightforward or cryptic?   jargon or toned? complexity or simplicity?   finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind?   masculinity, neutrality, or femininity?   formalities or abrasiveness?   praise or equivocation?   frankness or lies? excessive or minimal hand gestures?   name-calling or magnanimity?  friendly or blunt nicknames?

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR MUSE?

almost always  /  frequently  /  sometimes / rarely  /  never.

DOES YOUR MUSE’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK?

almost always  / frequently  / sometimes  /  rarely  /  never.  

WOULD YOUR MUSE INITIATE CONVERSATIONS?

almost always  / frequently  / sometimes /  rarely  /  never.

WOULD YOUR MUSE BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS?

almost always  /  frequently / sometimes  /  rarely  /  never.

WOULD YOUR MUSE USE “WHOM” IN A SENTENCE?

yes /  no  /  only ironically.

YOUR MUSE WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE?

but  / though  /  although  /  however /  perhaps  / mayhaps.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSE END CONVERSATIONS?

walk away /  ask if that’s everything  /  say that that’s everything  / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they’re done here /  remain quiet  /  they don’t.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSE ADDRESS OTHERS?

titles /  first names / surnames / full names /  nicknames.

WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR MUSE BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK?

upper /  middle /  lower.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR MUSE SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS?

accent /  vocabulary  / tone  /  level  / politeness /  brusqueness /  it doesn’t.

Tagged by Stolen from: @otolin-xiv Tagging: @loosenedchains, @crimsonfluidessence, @geimhleag, @alanari, @gatheredfates​, @meandering-mind, @ffxivtribehydrae, @ballade-du-mage, @eaotheelf, @whitherwanderer, @resistance-ranger, @shroudwayman, @the-false-ser-toes, and YOU!

[snakemoltsiren]

🍳 — cooking!

(mild mentions of disordered eating below) Severine can cook. She's not phenomenal at it but she can make a tasty meal in the kitchen or over a fire or grill. She is, however, vegetarian for a number of reasons and really prefers not to touch meat at all. So if someone else wants it... they're going to have to make it themselves. The truth is, though... she has a complicated relationship with food and eats very little at meals. She's more of a nibbler throughout the day. Plus if she could survive off of fresh fruit she would, so she kind of has to be lovingly bullied into eating the kind of protein and fats that will get her through the day. When at home, Otolin takes care of the majority of the cooking. He's very mindful about making her food she will eat, not judging her or taking it personally if she only picks at a meal, and giving her subtle encouragement to nourish herself for a full day. (Thank you for the ask @laurel-resting!!)

[fist-and-fury-xiv]

⌛️ - Character’s theme as a final boss. heehehehehe. and also 🎭 - A song to fit a certain mood/emotion (joy, understanding, or relief!)

⌛️ - Character’s theme as a final boss

“Drum Battle” Kneebody Anti-Hero (2017)

“Beast Ganon Battle” Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi, Asuka Ota The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Original Soundtrack (2016)

[thanidiel]

"You can't be nobody. You have to be somebody. They need you. Help them."

Otolin has a way of coming right in the nick of time to disasters, she’s learned.

This is no exception.

And she fucking hates it.

When she saw the signs, the patterns: familiar footsteps, and paths, and postures, and presences, and stalking - she didn’t say shit. Not at first. Not to the Runner. Xiaohu, instead, made a show of running her fingers through her thick tresses as she always did. Murmuring something into her linkpearl as her eyes followed Baju and made a show of a lopsided grin and laugh to a conversation she didn’t rightly care about.

The four would get there fast. They’re fucking good at what they do. And moreso when it involves their friends.

In the meantime, she had brushed along all of the others like a cat for Es’mena’s side. Roped her arm around the other’s as she indicated to some pretty jewels: joking that the other ought to provide a holiday bonus with one of those. Maybe let loose a tiny murmur alerting their Captain to the crew being followed through the winding streets of Ul’dah.

And like that, an invisible wave went through them all. Little key words, or touches, or an unusual gesture on someone’s behalf, all funneled down into communication of the message.

She made sure to keep herself at the front, to the side.

Don’t get pinched off, don’t get flanked on more than one side.

And when shit hits the fucking fan, and the Doman sees Rose, and Gaeb, and Shale’to drop at the back instantaneously… she books it.

She’d been routing her path, scanning everything around them ‘casually.’

Xiaohu locked it down pretty swift, and pat: that stall was of a sturdy wood and reinforced metal. She knows she’s lithe and small enough to swing her body from the pole to the apartment balcony above.

Then it was up the roof, slide down to the other side, hit the ground rolling, and she knew the street grid from there to get where she needed to.

A plan that she executed flawlessly and within seconds, until it hit the freestyle stage.

Because she turns the corner right into the Savage, Crag, and Pike.

There’s only a split second where everyone arches back, them pausing, and her movement being shifted from forward to a sliding diagonal in an instinctive make of distance between them.

Severine, Breandan, and Valka are rushing past to the objective within a beat.

He knew.

What she was doing.

This isn’t her going for further assistance or a helpful plan.

The hulking Ala Mhigan does not offer his usual soft smile to her.

The natural dour of his face dips into a genuine frown; disappointment. Which, weirdly, fucking hurts. Way more than the grip and lift of her, tugging her to flip her orientation back in the direction of the fight.

“You… can’t just be no one.” She sees the ‘Neither of us can anymore’ in him.

“You have to be someone. Our friends need you. Help them.”

There is a suspension of Fate in the moments of him charging past her after that, and she wants to fucking scream and stamp her feet.

Instead, Xiaohu finally slides her pistol out of its holster, starts moving as her hands grip it and angle it downward. Sliding down the safety bar, cocking down the hammer, lacing her thumbs together as she rests in preparation over the trigger.

Motherfucker.

@atomicdeke

[loadedmemory]

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: 1  /  2  / 3 TONE OF VOICE: high  /  average  /  deep ACCENT: yes  /  no. DEMEANOR: confident  /  shy  / approachable  /  hostile  /  other [slow] POSTURE:  slumped /  straight /  stiff  /  relaxed HABITS:  head tilting  /  swaying / fidgeting  /  stuttering /  gesturing  /  arm crossing /  strokes chin / er, um, or other interjections  /  plays with hair or clothing /  hands at hips  / inconsistent eye contact  /  maintains eye contact  /  frequent pausing  / stands close /  stands at distance.

COMPLEXITY

VOCABULARY:  ◼ ◼ ◻ ◻ ◻ EMOTION:  ◼ ◼ ◼ ◻ ◻ SENTENCE STRUCTURE:  ◼ ◼ ◼ ◻ ◻

PROFANITY

PROFANITY:  ◼ ◻ ◻ ◻ ◻  CREATIVITY: ◼ ◼ ◼ ◻ ◻

BOLD ALL THAT APPLY

arse. ass. asshole. bastard. bitch. bloody. bugger. bollocks. chicken shit. crap. cunt. dick. frick. fuck. horseshit. motherfucker. piss. prick. screw. shit. shite. shitass. son of a bitch. twat. wanker. pussy.

GIVEN PROPER RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

christ on a bike. christ on a cracker. damn. goddamn. godsdamn. hell. holy shit. jesus. jesus christ. jesus h christ. jesus h. roosevelt christ. lord have mercy. jesus, mary and joseph. sweet jesus.

THIS OR THAT

contractions or enunciation?   straightforward or cryptic?   jargon or toned?   complexity or simplicity?   finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind?   masculinity, neutrality, or femininity?   formalities or abrasiveness?   praise or equivocation?   frankness or lies? excessive or minimal hand gestures?   name-calling or magnanimity?  friendly or blunt nicknames?

◈ IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ◈

DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR MUSE?

almost always  /  frequently  /  sometimes / rarely  /  never.

DOES YOUR MUSE’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK?

almost always  /  frequently  / sometimes  /  rarely  /  never.  

WOULD YOUR MUSE INITIATE CONVERSATIONS?

almost always  / frequently  /  sometimes /  rarely  /  never.

WOULD YOUR MUSE BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS?

almost always  /  frequently / sometimes  /  rarely  /  never.

WOULD YOUR MUSE USE “WHOM” IN A SENTENCE?

yes /  no  /  only ironically.

YOUR MUSE WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE?

but /  though  /  although  /  however /  perhaps  / mayhaps.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSE END CONVERSATIONS?

walk away /  ask if that’s everything  /  say that that’s everything  / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they’re done here /  remain quiet  /  they don’t.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSE ADDRESS OTHERS?

titles /  first names / surnames / full names /  nicknames.

WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR MUSE BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK?

upper /  middle /  lower / 

IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR MUSE SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS?

accent /  vocabulary  / tone  /  level  / politeness /  brusqueness /  it doesn’t

Tagged by: @varae-ver-you-are Tagging: @otolin-xiv, @severine-savage, @witchespromise, @geimhleag, @autochthonousone, @tea-and-conspiracy, @eaotheelf, @houserosaire, @witchesandlotuses, @thanidiel, @dyalani

And anyone who wants to!

[set-in-stone-writing]

2. SWAY

Shift. 

Sway.

Saunter.

He throws a few jabs. 

Left, right, an uppercut, right, left. 

“Your death will haunt her.”

Dodge.

Duck.

Sidestep.

I forget sometimes if I’m dancing or diverting. 

Both. (Both is fine.) 

His punches keep coming, but they’re losing their pep. 

It’s only a matter of time.

A growl. 

A rush of air. 

Focus, Otolin. 

Oh.

I...

I apologize. 

I was always terrible when asked to scheme and rhyme.

[elegant-etienne]

Language - Etienne Clairemont

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: 1  /  2  / 3 TONE OF VOICE: high  /  average  / deep ACCENT: yes  /  no DEMEANOR: confident  /  shy  / approachable  /  hostile  /  other POSTURE:  slumped / straight /  stiff  /  relaxed HABITS:  head tilting  /  swaying / fidgeting  /  stuttering /  gesturing  /  arm crossing /  strokes chin  / er, um, other interjections  /  plays with hair or clothing /  hands at hips  / inconsistent eye contact  / maintains eye contact  / frequent pausing  / stands close /  stands at distance

COMPLEXITY

VOCABULARY: ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼  ◼ EMOTION:  ◼ ◼ ◻ ◻ ◻ SENTENCE STRUCTURE:  ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼

PROFANITY

PROFANITY:  ◼ ◻ ◻ ◻ ◻ CREATIVITY:  ◼ ◼  ◻ ◻ ◻

CURSE WORDS

arse. ass. asshole. bastard. bitch. bloody. bugger. bollocks. chicken shit. crap. cunt. dick. frick. fuck. horseshit. motherfucker. piss. prick. screw. shit. shite. shitass. son of a bitch. twat. wanker. pussy.

GIVEN PROPER RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

christ on a bike. christ on a cracker. damn. goddamn. godsdamn. hell. holy shit. jesus. jesus christ. jesus h christ. jesus h. roosevelt christ. lord have mercy. jesus, mary and joseph. sweet jesus. other. (menphina’s tits, thal’s balls, halone’s tits)

THIS OR THAT

contractions or enunciation?   straightforward or cryptic?   jargon or toned? complexity or simplicity?  finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind?   masculinity, neutrality, or femininity?  formalities or abrasiveness?   praise or equivocation?   frankness or lies?  excessive or minimal hand gestures?   name-calling or magnanimity? friendly or blunt nicknames?

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR MUSE?

almost always  /  frequently  /  sometimes / rarely  /  never.

DOES YOUR MUSE’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK?

almost always  / frequently  / sometimes  /  rarely  /  never.  

WOULD YOUR MUSE INITIATE CONVERSATIONS?

almost always  / frequently  / sometimes /  rarely  /  never.

WOULD YOUR MUSE BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS?

almost always  /  frequently / sometimes  /  rarely  /  never.

WOULD YOUR MUSE USE “WHOM” IN A SENTENCE?

yes /  no  /  only ironically.

YOUR MUSE WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE?

but / though  /  although  /  however /  perhaps  / mayhaps.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSE END CONVERSATIONS?

walk away /  ask if that’s everything  /  say that that’s everything  / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they’re done here /  remain quiet  /  they don’t.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSE ADDRESS OTHERS?

titles /  first names / surnames / full names /  nicknames / other (affectionate diminutives)

WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR MUSE BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK?

upper /  middle /  lower.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR MUSE SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS?

accent /  vocabulary  / tone  /  level  / politeness /  brusqueness /  it doesn’t.

TAGGED BY: @otolin-xiv​, thank you for tagging!

TAGGING: @aethersmoke-and-ash​ (for Jor and Violetta!), @umbralsound-xiv​ (for Bexy!), @crimson-sunrise-ffxiv​ (for who you like!), @drachenlance​ (for Ghislain!), @actualkomodo​, @renofmanyalts​ (for who you like!) and YOU, if you like, if you haven’t done it and fill it out I’d love to get a tag so I can read!

[witchespromise]

Languages: Brighid Ducaille

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 + TONE OF VOICE: high  /  average  /  deep. ACCENT: yes  /  no. DEMEANOR: confident  /  shy  /  approachable  /  hostile  /  other. (Reserved) POSTURE:  slumped /  straight /  stiff  /  relaxed. HABITS:  head tilting  /  swaying / fidgeting  /  stuttering  /  gesturing  /  arm crossing /  strokes chin /  er, um, or other interjections  /  plays with hair or clothing /  hands at hips  / inconsistent eye contact  /  maintains eye contact  /  frequent pausing  / stands close /  stands at distance.

COMPLEXITY

VOCABULARY:  ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ EMOTION:  ◼ ◼ ◼ ◻ ◻ SENTENCE STRUCTURE:  ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼

PROFANITY

PROFANITY:  ◼ ◼ ◼ ◻  ◻  CREATIVITY: ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◻ 

BOLD ALL THAT APPLY

arse. ass. asshole. bastard. bitch. bloody. bugger. bollocks. chicken shit. crap. cunt. dick. frick. fuck. horseshit. motherfucker. piss. prick. screw. shit. shite. shitass. son of a bitch. twat. wanker. pussy.

GIVEN PROPER RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

christ on a bike. christ on a cracker. damn. goddamn. godsdamn. hell. holy shit. jesus. jesus christ. jesus h christ. jesus h. roosevelt christ. lord have mercy. jesus, mary and joseph. sweet jesus. 

THIS OR THAT

contractions or enunciation?   straightforward or cryptic?   jargon or toned?   complexity or simplicity?   finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind?   masculinity, neutrality, or femininity?   formalities or abrasiveness?   praise or equivocation?   frankness or lies?  excessive or minimal hand gestures?   name-calling or magnanimity?  friendly or blunt nicknames?

◈ IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ◈

DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR MUSE?

almost always  /  frequently  /  sometimes / rarely  /  never.

DOES YOUR MUSE’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK?

almost always  /  frequently  / sometimes  /  rarely  /  never.  

WOULD YOUR MUSE INITIATE CONVERSATIONS?

almost always  / frequently  /  sometimes /  rarely  /  never.

WOULD YOUR MUSE BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS?

almost always  /  frequently / sometimes  /  rarely  /  never.

WOULD YOUR MUSE USE “WHOM” IN A SENTENCE?

yes /  no  /  only ironically.

YOUR MUSE WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE?

but /  though  /  although  /  however /  perhaps  / mayhaps.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSE END CONVERSATIONS?

walk away /  ask if that’s everything  /  say that that’s everything  / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they’re done here /  remain quiet  /  they don’t.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSE ADDRESS OTHERS?

titles /  first names / surnames / full names /  nicknames.

WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR MUSE BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK?

upper /  middle /  lower.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR MUSE SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS?

accent /  vocabulary  / tone  /  level  / politeness /  brusqueness /  it doesn’t.

Tagged by: @ocarina-of-what​

Tagging: @otolin-xiv​ @loadedmemory​