#dissidia made me fall in love with him now all i want to do is pinch his cheeks. nakakagigil sya!!!!!!

[meii-jasmine]

Happy Anniversary to FF2 and FF13!

[secret-engima]

Ardyn doesn't know his own strength and accidentally helps Niflheim topple Insomnia like, eleven years too early. So he scoops his tiny would-be killer out of the rubble and smuggles him to the Nox Fleurets, presumably to stash for a few years--only, Tenebrae soon falls too, with the rumors of them harboring Prince Noctis (who the Emperor rather badly wants dead, as the Crystal still. won't. accept. him). So now Ardyn has to figure out how to semi-raise Noct into something NOT hopelessly (1/2)

alyss-spazz-penedo

said:

(2/2) civilian and strong enough to fight the gods and fulfill the Prophecy, even as he definitely still hates the child and would quite enjoy seeing him suffer. On Noct's part, he totally knows who Ardyn is and what he wants (thanks Luna), and sure he's glad he wasn't cut down in the raid on the mansion but he's SO unhappy to see Ardyn again.

Me: Oh my word do you even KNOW how angsty I could make this ask? DO YOU EVEN KNOW????? Of course you do you just want to see me suffer.

But just- this could get SO DARK. So abusive. So brutal and even though I would not go full dark there’s still so much ANGST no matter how you look at it.

The worst part is I actually have a bby AU very much like this. Does anyone remember the slightly unstable Imperial!Noctis that showed up in my All Nocti Dissidia AU blurb?

This is basically him.

A Noctis who grew up having lost his home TWICE. First Insomnia, then Tenebrae, both to the same Empire and the same Accursed, and then the Accursed had to RAISE HIM and it was- it was hard. It was brutal. Ardyn raised this Noctis to be a weapon strong enough to destroy him, a politician cunning enough to overthrow him, a scientist smart enough to outthink even Besithia. His only light was Luna, who Ardyn allowed to visit to keep Noctis on his “destined path”, and partially Aranea, who drifted into the young “Chancellor’s Nephew” orbit out of happenstance and then later pity, because she could see the brittle sharp glint in the boy’s eyes and knew an abusive situation when she saw it, and if him hiding in her airship sometimes gave him respite, if that was all she could do to help because Ardyn wasn’t someone she could arrest-.

She tried. At least. She did what she could.

And one of the most angsty bits of this is-

In some warped way, Ardyn and Noctis grow to love each other. Because there are days when Ardyn’s sickness loosens it’s hold enough to let bits of the Healer King and Big Brother shine through, and his touch becomes gentle and his teasing words lose their poison, his hands card through Noctis’s hair and do not scrape at his scalp, and when he speaks of Prophecy there is longing there for rest and repentance rather than poison and mockery for the fate that awaits them both. This is the Ardyn that peaks through when Noctis falls sick after climbing up a mountain in a snowstorm for training, or when he’s too sore to move after a night battling in Ardyn’s daemon training arena learning how to forcibly purify the creatures even though purification is Luna’s magic and not his. This is the Ardyn that holds Noctis close sometimes and sobs apologies into his limp, shivering nephew’s hair because he is aware, at least for a moment, that this child-teen-young-adult is not Somnus and does not deserve to be molded into a weapon of Astral and Accursed alike. This is the Ardyn that Noctis calls Uncle and bitterly, angrily loves in his heart, the one he looks for in the Chancellor’s every morning and quietly mourns when he cannot find him.

The Accursed trains and molds a weapon, a politician, a cunning, sharp mind that can rival his own and someday kill him.

But it’s the little bits and pieces of Ardyn that raise Noctis, a king and a nephew and a son that holds on to the morals Luna gives him with an iron grip, that makes sure Noctis is not completely drowned beneath the Chosen King.

And in the end it is the work of both sides, Accursed and Healer King, that raise up the one who saves the world. It is the Accursed who forged the weapon that hunts down the weapons of the Lucii and steals the lost ring, who steps into the Crystal without flinching and comes out ready to kill.

But it is Noctis who spent years stealing away children from Besithia’s labs so they would not become MT units, who fosters the rebellion and organizes the factions of Lucian, Galahdian, Altissian, Tenebraen, and Niflheim rebels so that they become a more cohesive whole that the Empire cannot isolate and crush beneath it’s boot. It is Noctis who sometimes sneaks into Luna’s rooms at night so that they can just- hold each other, so that Luna can run gentle fingers down his back and remind him what it means to be human, not a weapon, not the King of Light, who shows him the innocent people he must protect and proves to him that they are worth fighting for and keeping safe when it would be so much EASIER to just wage his war and not care about the collateral.

It is Noctis who teaches his stolen not-MT units to be people and to stay safe, Noctis who clings to the sunshine soul of the one who names himself Prompto and follows on his heels into the maw of Ardyn’s brutal training without flinching. It is Noctis who finds Lucis’s Marshal Immortal deep in one of Niflheim’s dungeons and arranges for the rebellion (his rebellion) to break him out. Who gives the Galahdians his magic in the dead of night with a ghoulish mask and cloak to keep his identity hidden from them. It is Noctis who finds the Last Amicitia leading a rebel cell and offers him hope and gains in accidental exchange a protector and Shield. It is Noctis that is tracked down by a young man with glasses and green eyes and loyalty in every fiber, a man who says “I know you are our secret leader, let me help you” and Noctis who is still human enough to be grateful and say yes.

It is Noctis who orchestrated the Empire’s downfall long before he stepped into Crystal, and who’s forces have hemmed and imprisoned the Accursed in the ruins of Noctis’s first home during the ten years he is gone.

It is Noctis, not the Chosen King (weapon, war beast, broken tool) who gently pillows Ardyn’s head in his lap and pets red-violet hair and sings ancient, long-forgotten lullabies as the Accursed (his tormentor, his Uncle, his worst nightmare, his parent) breathes his last.

It is Noctis who ascends the throne of an Empire and reclaims the Crystal (with Luna and a Retinue at his side to keep him from becoming as heartless as the Chosen King that was forged from him) rather than rolling over and dying, because Ardyn gave him training and honed his mind and gave him access to all of Besithia’s knowledge, did he really think Noctis wouldn’t look for a way to weaken and end the Scourge without sacrificing himself for it?

(He thinks perhaps that Ardyn didn’t, that his Uncle-captor-Chancellor-father always intended him to find a loophole in the Prophecy so that he would survive, that even when buried underneath the Accursed, the Healer King still fought to protect the last of his family)

(Then he clutches the cane he has to lean on ever since that final battle and goes to find some wine, because he does not want to think those thoughts. They hurt even worse than his limp and his joints and the lifetime of scars he hides under elaborate black tattoos.)

There.

THERE.

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?

Or do you want me to ramble about how Cor feels the day he finally meets the mysterious head of the rebellion, who is now the emperor and how he’s suspicious and willing to keep fighting if this man turns out to be corrupt, because he’s heard this is the Chancellor’s nephew, only to feel his heart stop when he sees the profile of the man leaning heavily on a cane and thinks for one second it’s Regis’s ghost before realizing this man is younger and clean-shaven and dressed in a way that shows off the elaborate, scar-hiding tattoos on his arms and shoulders. How he makes some noise in his throat and when their mysterious Chosen turns to look at him Cor finds himself looking into armiger blue eyes and Regis’s face if it had been softened by Aulea’s jawline and made borderline feral by a lifetime of intrigue and abuse thinly veiled as training.

And Cor whispers the name of his best friend’s long-dead son, and the new Emperor’s eyes sharpen as he says, “How do you know my real name? I never told anyone outside my Retinue.” And something in Cor twists with realization.

And there’s also the realizations of Ignis and Gladio years earlier, who don’t KNOW at first who Noctis really is to them until he trusts them enough to reveal his magic and they realize THIS IS THEIR PRINCE. This is their long lost charge who they thought was dead, but has instead been raised by the man who hates him most and yet loves him dearly by turns and all that entails.

And there’s also LUNA. Luna who doesn’t die, but who grows up watching the gentle, smiling boy she first met in Tenebrae get shaped and sharpened and molded into a Chosen King and a beast of war and a tool of destiny, who could so easily become a monster just like the Accursed in all but name, but who FIGHTS it every step of the way even as his light falls away and Luna becomes his only cornerstone for years. His only reminder that there is a life and a purpose outside the Accursed’s plans and the Prophecy that Luna grows to hate, because if it did not exist then the Accursed would have no interest in her friend.

Luna who cries with relief the day the not-MT named Prompto glues himself to Noctis’s side and refuses to leave, because there is an innocent, stubborn light to the boy’s eyes that gently draws Noctis out of the armor that is the Chosen King even when Luna is not there. Luna who rails at the Astrals (at Bahamut, who prevents Shiva and Ramuh from acting) because they can SEE what is happening, yet they will not step in to rescue him, because even now Ardyn is pushing Noctis toward his “destiny” and that is all that matters.

Luna who, years after all is said and done, after the Accursed is laid to final rest and Noctis slowly dissolves the Empire back into free and healthy kingdoms, still has to hold him when he shakes and still has to talk the icy, too-sharp glaze from his eyes when he forgets to be human rather than weapon. Who pushes golden magic into his body even though she knows some scars can never be healed, and who has to talk Noctis down with Ignis’s help from the heights of his utter, visceral horror the day she tells him she is pregnant and Noctis realizes he’s going to be a father, but that he doesn’t know how, because what role model for fatherhood has he ever had and remembered that wasn’t the very man who took his real father away and made him the fractured mess he is?

...

There I think I’m done being brutally angsty now.

Happy notes for an AU like this would be-

Noctis and Luna both live. Ignis does not go blind.

Noctis and Luna have like- five kids and Noctis adores them all once he gets over his visceral panic. He is the gentlest, kindest father. Luna and Ignis and Gladio have to do all the disciplining because Noctis will not raise a hand or voice to them ever, and he has never looked more peaceful then when he is napping with his children in the garden.

Prompto has like- several hundred brothers because Noctis stole bby MT’s whenever he could. Prompto is the unofficial “oldest” brother of them all (even though chronologically he isn't) since he has the ear of the king, and all the clones have fun making themselves unique via hair and accessories and tattoos and clothes and weird names.

Gladio and Aranea are snark buddies, and neither are entirely sure how they got married but they’re pretty sure it was Biggs’ and Wedge’s faults and that Ignis officiated (which isn’t too far off).

Cor gets to spoil all of Regis’s and Clarus’s grandkids like crazy.

Galahd gets rebuilt and gets to be it’s own country. Nyx Ulric and Crowe and all our other fav glaives live and aren’t traitors.

Titus Drautos was one of Noctis’s most loyal double-agents during the rebellion, and frankly he isn’t sure how his retirement still involves him braincelling his Galahdian idiots, but their islands are pretty and its far, far away from any and all Niflheim/Lucian politics so eh, he’ll take it. Now if Nyx would just STOP using him as a babysitting service for the adorable adopted bby Ulrics of his newly remade Clan, that would help his blood pressure so much.

[pof203]

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Quotes Kingdom Hearts Edition (Xion)

I’m at the limits of my creativity here. I just don’t know what to have the characters say anymore. Partly because some of these Dissidia characters I don’t know anything about and don’t know what to say about them. If any of you have any ideas, I would love to hear them. Thank you.

To Other Characters:

Warrior of Light: “I was never really into the knight in shining armor thing.”

Garland: “If you wish to fight, I’ll let you have it.”

Firion: “You think I could see your dream, too?”

The Emperor: “You don’t deserve that throne!”

Onion Knight: “I should try changing Classes, too.”

Cloud of Darkness: “Do you actually fight like that?”

Cecil Harvey: “Which of us know more about balance?”

Kain Highwind: “I don’t want you to upset about anything.”

Golbez: “I know what it’s like to lose hope.”

Bartz Klauser: “You collect feathers? I collect seashells.”

Exdeath: “I was in the Void once. I won’t go back.”

Gilgamesh: “Will I win this challenge?”

Terra Branford: “I have experience in this, too.”

Kefka Palazzo: “Are you suppose to be funny or scary?”

Locke Cole: “Don’t let her down.”

Cloud Strife: “Are all SOLIDERs like you?”

Tifa Lockhart: “Don’t give up on him.”

Sephiroth: “Is that long blade even legal?”

Squall Leonhart: “Being alone is no good. I should know.”

Rinoa Heartilly: “I wonder if I should get a pair of wings, too.”

Ultimecia: “I think time has no effect on the likes of me.”

Laguna Loire: “You should visit the beach. You might find something for your article.”

Zindane Tribal: “I feel that tail’s not for show.”

Kuja: “I won’t let your song of sorrow make me more unhappy.”

Tidus: “What is it about dreams and me?”

Yuna: “Just don’t Send me while you’re at it.”

Jetch: “Can you give me some Blitz Ball lessons if I win?”

Shantotto: “I need a refresher on my magic.”

Prishe: “How do I become as strong as you?”

Vaan: “I want fly freely with my friends.”

Garbranth: “I’ll win this trail no matter what!”

Vayne Carudas Solidor: “Your high and mighty attitude won’t help you.”

Lightning: “Your rose petals will dance with my blade.”

Snow Villiers: “I wonder if me and Roxas can also…”

Y’shtola Rhul: “We can practice our magic together.”

Zenos yae Galvus: “How regal.”

Noctis Lucis Caelum: “It must be nice to travel around.”

Noctis Lucis Caelum: (alternate line) “Your notebook gives me an idea. I wonder if Roxas…”

Arydn Izunia: “I won’t let you continue to hurt others!”

Ramza Beoulve: “Worthiness isn’t everything.”

Ace: “If you could go back, would you?”

Sora: “I hope Kairi’s feelings won’t be too much of a problem.”

Kairi: “So this is how it turns out, huh?”

Riku: “This time, it’s not a sham.”

Roxas: “Roxas, don’t hold back!”

Lea: “I hope I can beat you this time.”

Xion: “Was Vexen experimenting again?”

Terra: “The Darkness has nothing on either of us!”

Aqua: “Won’t we be evenly matched?”

Ventus: “Let’s get some ice- Sorry, I forgot.”

Young Xehanort: “Don’t even start. Really, don’t.”

Shinryu: “You won’t hurt anyone again!”

To Xion:

Warrior of Light: “No matter what, I sense your heart is true.”

Garland: “Can a puppet like you really defeat me?”

Firion: “I see a real spark in your eyes.”

The Emperor: “Puppets should remain stringed up.”

Onion Knight: “Real or fake, this battle is starting.”

Cloud of Darkness: “The curtain falls.”

Cecil Harvey: “You have a strong resolve. We should fight more often.”

Kain Highwind: “Will your Keyblade best my lance?”

Golbez: “We shall see who is for real!”

Bartz Klauser: “You don’t seem tough. But I’ve been wrong before.”

Exdeath: “What does a puppet know about me?”

Gilgamesh: “I want to see the strength of your heart!”

Terra Brandford: “We’re like sisters, you and I.”

Kefka Palazzo: “Time for me to play puppeteer!”

Locke Cole: “Don’t shoulder it all yourself.”

Cloud Strife: “Just don’t drop on me, okay?”

Tifa Lockhart: “You have someone like that, too? I can relate.”

Sephiroth: “What would happen if I cut your strings?”

Squall Leonhart: “You better not break on me.”

Rinoa Heartilly: “Ready for what may happen?”

Ultimecia: “Your Light maybe true, but you are still a doll.”

Laguna Loire: “You like ice-cream? You and Ellone should talk.”

Zindane Tribal: “I bet you and I can perform something great.”

Kuja: “Shall we dance the song of your heart?”

Tidus: “Did the Fayth dream you, too?”

Yuna: “You have such a strong heart. You should try being a Summoner as well.”

Jetch: “Don’t go crazy on me now.”

Shantotto: “You are no mere doll. Give me your all.”

Prishe: “Some beach time would do some good.”

Vaan: “A land where you fly with pixie dust? I’d like to see that.”

Gabranth: “All puppets are destined to be chopped up!”

Vayne Carudas Solidor: “Is there any truth to this?”

Lightning: “You should fight with your own moves.”

Snow Villiers: “Alright, we should get this done.”

Y’shtola Rhul: “I can’t wait to see how this will go.”

Zenos yae Galvus: “I will not be so gentle with you.”

Noctis Lucis Caelum: “I think you made it clear you’re real.”

Ardyn Izunia: “A mere puppet should remember her place.”

Ramza Beoulve: “Shall we see who is stronger here?”

Ace: “You’re lucky. You have your friends here to help.”

Sora: “Xion… Just who are you, really?”

Kairi: “The clash between our hearts begins!”

Riku: “Here we go again.”

Roxas: “Please don’t disappear again.”

Lea: “Don’t forget: I’ll always be there to bring you back.”

Terra: “Show me just how real this can be.”

Aqua: “I’ll train you as best as I can.”

Ventus: “Why do you always confuse me for that guy?”

Young Xehanort: “Say what you will. You will always be just a doll.”

About Summons:

Ifrit: “Time to put out this fire!”

Shiva: “How elegant.”

Ramuh: “Hope my Keyblade doesn’t act like a lightning rod.”

Odin: “Will I get to keep the horse after this?”

Leviathan: “A little water never hurt anybody or nobody.”

Alexander: “You’re just a judge! Not jury and executioner!”

Bahamut: “You don’t scare me! I’ve seen worse!”

Summoning:

Ifrit: “Flames of Destruction!”

Shiva: “Blanket them in your power!”

Ramuh: “Feel the surge!”

Odin: “Slice them and dice them!”

Leviathan: “The tide shall strike!”

Alexander: “Shine your radiant power!”

Bahamut: “This force is on my side!”

BTW, I just realized that Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia should have a Kingdom Hearts event. I don’t know what may happen. Will Sora be able to see his friends again? Or will it happen if during the events of Kingdom Hearts III? Also, do you think I should do Dissidia quotes for Isa, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy?

[dissidia-writeblr]

Dissidia September 2020 Week 4!

Here’s the next prompt!

Tagging: @tcstu

@ratracechronicler: When a man walks up and gestures for the Chikara to follow him as he urgently whispers to them, Lily is able to sneak in and free the girl. She isn’t able to walk well, and her face looks paler than it should be. Once they get far away from the Chikara, Lily asks her questions. The girl looks hesitant, but she speaks.

“There’s more to this world than most anyone knows. The Chikara live on the biggest moon surrounding this planet. The moon is called Tallis. They know all about the magic of this world. They even know that there has to be balance, or the magic will go out of control as it is doing right now.” She hesitates again, wringing her hands. “The way to keep the magic balanced is for the Chikara to give ten people magic, five with light magic and five with darkness magic. Then those ten people have to fight each other until one side is killed. The Chikara take all of those people to Tallis and revive the dead ones and heal the ones who are still alive. And then they’re tortured until it is time to keep the balance again. The cycle continues forever. I...I am one of those people they forced to fight. And...the last time we were sent down to keep the balance, we decided to run away instead. The Chikara tortured us, forced us to kill each other when we had come to care for each other. We couldn’t take it anymore. It had been hundreds of years.” Tears streak down her cheeks as she looks away from Lily. “I’m so sorry that you were dragged into this. Me and my friends are the reason that someone was so desperate to perform the summoning spell. I understand if you hate me. You can let the Chikara capture me again. They already took away my magic so I couldn’t fight against them.”

What will Lily do?

@onmywaytobe: Tess and the other girl (she introduces herself as Kyra) lead Owen and Cam out of the city and toward where an airship is hovering. Kyra looks back at them with a frown. 

“We’ll let you come with us and...help, I guess.” She exchanges a glance with Tess. “But only because we want to make sure you’re safe from the labs. The people within are a little...possessive of the summoned ones.” She waves up at the airship, and a ladder falls down so that they can climb onto the ship. Five other people are on the ship: a woman with only one arm and one eye, a guy with ginger hair, a guy with black hair who’s talking to the ginger haired guy, and a guy and a girl both with long silver hair and multi-colored eyes. The woman walks up to Tess and Kyra as the others stare at Owen and Cam. 

“We have one more stop before we head to Velaris.” She smiles to herself. “This is the second time I’m headed there in a couple days.”

Kyra grins. “Thanks, Zerith.” She looks over at the others and laughs. “They’re okay. They’re just people who have been summoned here. We didn’t want to leave them to the labs.” The others nod and turn back to talking quietly to themselves. Tess goes over to talk to them too, but Kyra lingers. She grins at Owen and Cam. “You’re safe now. We have some business to take care of. One of our friends is missing. I’ll introduce you to everyone.” She points at the guy with ginger hair. “That’s Zero. His real name is Zerion, but we all call him Zero.” She points to the guy with black hair. “That’s Will. His real name is Wilson, but he’s too embarrassed to admit that himself.” She points to the guy with silver hair. “That’s Kalen.” And to the girl with silver hair. “And that’s Selia.”

They hang out on the ship until they stop, and two other people climb on board: a girl with ginger hair and another guy with black hair. Kyra whispers that the girl is Kali, and the guy is Wayne.

When Will asks where Kaito is, Wayne speaks. “He has a job to do, so he regrets that he can’t come with us.”

The airship gets moving again, and after a while, it stops over a continent that seems to have different ecosystems. The others climb down, but Kyra lingers and glances at Owen and Cam. “You can stay safe on this ship. You don’t have to come with us.”

What will Owen and Cam do? (also @onmywaytobe, Owen and Cam can interact with the others on this airship ride. If you have any questions about how these characters will respond, please message me!)

@maple-writes: Sitara starts working on studying Richard. She makes sure to stay away from the back of his head. She mutters while she works, scribbling notes on stray pieces of paper. 

After half a day, she sits back with a grin. “I love the technology! It’s so interesting and intricate! I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s fun learning more about it!” She cocks her head. “So, I noticed that some of your machines don’t work properly. Would you like me to fix them for you?”

Before Richard or Volt can respond, a woman slams open the door. She’s buff, and she has prosthetic legs. “Sitara, they realized that you found people who were summoned here. They’re coming.”

“Actually, they’re already here.” The woman backs off but falls into a defensive position as a man walks in. He’s staring at Richard and Volt.

Sitara stomps forward. “I found them, so they don’t belong to you. Back off.”

He sniffs and circles Richard and Volt as Sitara and the other woman glares at him. “We are currently being threatened with war. We need anyone we can get to fight.”

Sitara crosses her arms. “I do not give you permission to be here. You have no legitimate reasons to be here. Get out.”

He glares at her, but he doesn’t argue. He just whirls on his heel and leaves. Sitara turns back to Richard and Volt. “The leaders of Torr can’t actually force non-citizens to fight, so they have no power to take you away, no matter what they try to say.” She sighs and glances at the woman. “This is Zeth. She’s a friend who is helping me out. I can keep you safe from the leaders of Torr, but I understand if you’d like to leave. The leaders will be more aggressive in trying to recruit you. I’ll help you get out of Torr, if that’s what you’d rather do.”

What will Richard and Volt do?

@sheabutterskyes and @ravens-and-rivers: Marea calls two people into the office. One is a man with black hair, and the other is a man with short, blond hair and scars on his face. Marea nods at them and gestures at the man with black hair. “This is Wayne. He is the mercenary who will take you to Chial. And this is Kaito. He is the guard who will protect you from Chial.” They both nod with smiles. 

Marea sighs. “Tomorrow morning, Wayne will bring you to Chial, and Kaito will be part of her guards to watch over you. I will have some accomodations made for you tonight.”

The next morning, Wayne shows up and grins at Scarlette and Pier. “Let’s get going!” Even with the smile, he seems to be more strained and nervous. 

He leads them to a huge building to another office where an older woman is sitting behind a desk. She looks up at them with an intense gaze. Wayne bows. “These two were summoned here, and I found them trying to escape from Marea. I helped them and told them about you, and they’re interested in your cause.”

Chial smirks and nods. “Thank you. You are dismissed.” Wayne bows again and leaves quickly. 

She leans back, still smirking. “So, you have realized how horrible Marea is. And you have realized how important my cause is. Good. Let’s go somewhere more private.”

She leads them to an inner room, where a few guards are watching, and Kaito is among them. She gestures for them to sit on one of the couches, and she sits on the other. “We are facing an apocalypse, and my fellow leaders are still insisting on being soft. I believe that if we don’t make the hard choices, we will all fall. I am glad to see that you agree. So, I must ask. What magic do you have, and what technology do you have?” She pauses a little bit, but then she shakes her head. “Never mind. I’ve been lied to too many times. I’ll just test you myself and take what I can.” She reaches for a button, but before she can hit it, Kaito clears his throat.

“Ma'am, I apologize for interrupting, but the leader of Torr is willing to meet with you very soon.” He walks up and hands her a sheet of paper. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but you were busy. However, since this meeting with the summoned ones was going longer than I thought it would, I felt it necessary to tell you now.”

She glares at him. “You should have told me this sooner! Take them to their quarters!” She rushes out of the room, and Kaito takes Scarlette and Pier’s arms lightly as the other guards lead them down some stairs to a room with machines displaying information about different magic and people kept in cages. 

Kaito leans close so he can whisper in their ears as his hand inches down to his gun. “Are you ready to get started? Please gather information before you destroy the machines. We need to know exactly what she’s doing.”

(I’m sorry. This is more of a cliffhanger than a question. Could you continue this? And if you have any questions, please let me know!)

[excusemewhileiplaykh]

What This Series Means to Me: #ThankYouKingdomHearts

I used to go to a public school right next to my apartment building when I was growing up. Unfortunately, in the 3rd grade,  my mom decided to take me out of there and put me in a private school. A Catholic private school.

I was not happy.

I didn’t want to wear the dumb private school uniform. I didn’t want to go to church. I didn’t want to deal with the strict rules and the praying and all the other stuff that was “not cool” about Catholic school.

I started the 4th grade at my new school and made friends with a girl who I actually knew from elementary school. One day, she brought her KH 1 and 2 copies to school and showed me at lunch. The box art… the instruction manual… Everything was so cool and colorful. I fell in love with it. I especially remember thinking how cool Riku looked, in all his chartreuse yellow wonder.

I went home that day and looked up more stuff on the series and really got into the lore. And by that I mean I spent disgusting amounts of time every day going on kh-vids.net.

I really wanted to buy KH 1 so I can start playing the series with the first game. I wasn’t even sure how much the game was gonna cost me, but I figured it wouldn’t be more than 15 bucks (keep in mind I was in the 4th grade so that was a lot of money to me back then lol). I didn’t bother to look up the price online. Somehow I just knew that price was right. Eventually, I scraped together the money and I was so excited to finally get to buy Kingdom Hearts so I could play it for myself and not live vicariously through kh-vids.net. There was a video game store a block away from my school (my neighborhood didn’t have a Gamestop yet) and I asked my mom if we could go there after school. I asked the guy that works there if he had Kingdom Hearts, but told me he only had 2 and one copy of it at that. I asked him how much and it was exactly 15 dollars, the exact amount I had and the exact amount I had randomly guessed the game would cost.

I was kinda bummed they didn’t have KH 1, but honestly, at that age, KH 1 probably would have been too hard for me and I would have abandoned the series after that bad experience.

So it was like everything in the universe lined up just right for me to get into the series. I guessed the exact price the game would cost me. I bought 2 instead of 1, ensuring I would fall in love with the series. Hell, if I hadn’t gone to private school I never would have gotten into the series cuz I wouldn’t have befriended that girl! We were always in different classes in my public school. I guess it was meant to be.

I went home that day and rapidly did my homework so I could play it. The rest is history. I spent the entirety of that school year playing and beating and replaying that game over and over.

Unfortunately, I lost my original copy of 2 and subsequently lost my favorite game around the time I was in the 5th grade. My discovery and detachment from the series were also at the advent of extreme family issues (which I don’t want to get into).

However, 2 years later, Days came out. I was lucky enough to have a DS at that point so I could play it. My mom bought me a copy about a month after it’s release. Just like 2, I played it over and over again non-stop.  I was kinda mad at the Xion twist at first and thought it was “dumb”. So much so I stopped playing the game for a good 2 weeks. I was so shocked when I saw Sora’s face on Xion that I immediately closed my DS and went to bed in anger. I got over it though. I can still remember beating it while I was sitting on my grandma’s bed. I watched the final cutscene as we were leaving her house that night.

BBS was announced. And I was pissed.

Like most people, we expected KH3, not another “spin-off”. I swore off the series and I said I wouldn’t be buying anymore KH games. Since I wasn’t going to buy that game, I decided to spoil myself. I knew about the x-blade and how Vanitas looked way before the game released in the US. I rolled my eyes at Vanitas looking at Sora and criticized Ventus being a carbon copy of Roxas. I thought to myself, “Wow, this game is gonna be so fucking stupid.”

I was watching abc family one day and commercials were rolling out and one of them was none other than an ad for BBS.

...

As soon as the commercial was over I walked into my parent’s room and told them I wanted a psp for Christmas.

Oh and by the way, Birth by Sleep is my favorite KH game now.

The family issue that began while I was still playing 2 intensified during this time. I used BBS to escape. I felt bad for Ven, Aqua, Terra, and Vanitas who were being swept up in the mistakes of others. I could relate.

It’s 2010, I found out Coded, the elusive phone game, was finally coming to the US in 2011. I was excited. I sold Dissidia and Saints Row 2 so I could buy it. Me and my mom hopped the bus to go to gamestop so I could get it because we didn’t have enough money for bus fare. Needless to say, we were in a bad place, but Kingdom Hearts was there to comfort me. I sacrificed a lot for Re:Coded so even though it was bad, I still remember it fondly.

It’s 2012. The Dream Drop Distance demo drops (no pun intended). I was absolutely in love. I was still going through intense hardship because of family issues and I was given another way to escape. Watching Riku face his demons and finally conquer the darkness that was holding him back inspired me. I thought to myself: “Maybe someday I could do the same”. I always loved Riku, but that game really made him a role model for me. I wanted to grow past the circumstances others had put me in too and start to become my own person, a person who was more confident and positive. I played through it twice back to back.

In 2012, I also started high school. Again because of family stuff, I was going through a really hard time and wasn’t immediately making friends at school. I eventually did, but those friends didn’t like video games. I still remembered Kingdom Hearts though.

In 2013, I started my blog and I immediately knew it needed a KH related name. I’ve had the same url since I started. I don’t plan to ever abandon this blog or diverge it from it’s Kingdom Hearts focus. Although my friends weren’t into Kingdom Hearts, I had all of you to talk to about it. Thanks for keeping my interest in the series alive and thanks for all the laughs throughout the years. I really mean that.

In 2013, the promise at the end of Dream Drop Distance seemed like it was about to be fulfilled. Kingdom Hearts 3 was announced to be in development. I remember being in my living room and then going to my room so I could freak out alone. I jumped and scream. I was so excited. I thought I would be playing this game by the end of high school for sure (I am now a Junior in college…)

I didn’t have ps3 at the time the remixes were coming out so I missed out on them initially. Again because of my never-ending family issues, I also lost my 3ds, psp, etc. so I couldn’t play any of my KH games. I was so starved to play one of those games again. My blog kept me connected to Kingdom Hearts during that time though and somewhat slated my desires.

I went over to one of my friend’s houses and she had a ps3 in her room. She said it used to be her brother’s but once he got his ps4, he gave it to her so she could watch Netflix. The ps3 had a Kingdom Hearts wallpaper on it and I thought it was really cool that her brother was into KH like me. I wanted to befriend him so eventually, I did. I started to talk to him in 2014 and we really got along (besides liking KH, we had the same sense of humor, views on life, politics, etc.)

It was 2015, and I had fallen in love with someone and it was all because the fates aligned on that September day in 2007 and I was able to buy the only copy of KH 2 in my local game store and because I managed to guess the exact price of the game. We’re still together today and everyday I feel more and more alive. I can actually say that Kingdom Hearts is one of the main reasons I found love.

Not only did it find me my soulmate, but it also kept me alive and hopeful when I most wanted to die. I always remembered the kind messages the series instills in its players. Small little takeaways and sayings like “There’s a light that never goes out!” or “My friends are my power! And I’m theirs!” or “Come Riku! You’ve been hanging around in the darkness too long! You gotta think positive!”

The series has always been there in some form to bring me happiness and that’s why I can never let it go.

Listen, I’m the first person to admit this series is a trash fire (my blog title is “Mickey Mouse Bullshit”). I will always view the series as a sanctuary (no pun intended), no matter what. As a beacon of hope. Sora’s incessant optimism found some way to infect me. Like Riku, I have become “Sora-esque”. I honestly believe I am the person I am today because of this series and moreover because of its characters who always fight no matter how dark it gets. I am still here because of this series.

So no matter how bad the plot gets or how dumb the time travel shit becomes or how bad the ship wars get or how elitist people are about KH2FM (which is overrated!) or all the “spin-offs” we get or the weird dialogue or all the Xehanorts and all the Soras, etc., etc.,  I will always love this series and support it.

I love Kingdom Hearts. I love Kingdom Hearts because over the years it has shown me how to love and has always loved me.

Thank you, Kingdom Hearts and thank you to this community.

[queenmercurys]

hey love :') ALL the odd numbers for the ff asks??

NOTE: I realize now that this said all the ODD numbers, but me being an idiot, I just read “all numbers” and went for it. oh, well. here’s answers no one asked for :P and the ones you asked for, thanks, ems ;))

this is why you’re the greatest friend in the entire world ;D okay, here we go!! i’m gonna skip the ones i already got asked, but there’s still plenty to do ;P thank you so, so much, I love you!

2. Least favorite game?

well, out of the ones i’ve played, i’m gonna have to go with type-0, at least for now. it’s pretty good, i like the story, but the gameplay is crazy hard (and this is coming from someone who has played final fantasy since she was 8) and i’m not like crazy in love with any of the characters. they’re all good, but there’s not that thing that i have with basically every other final fantasy. but i’ve not finished it yet, it has plenty of time to change my mind!

3. Which games have you played?

i have played vii, viii, ix, x, x-2, xii, xiii, xiii-2, lightning returns, xv, world of final fantasy, type-0 and dissidia nt. however, i would like to note that i’ve watched crisis core so many times that i have basically played that, too. and i would, if i had a psp. anyway, i recently bought vi, so i’ll be playing that next, and then going backwards. the only ones i am not actively trying to play are xi and xiv. i’m not into multiplayers. but anyway, i also know the stories of the dissidia games, and i know the stories from i to vi, so nothing is really unfamiliar to me. it’s an amazing franchise and i love it.

4. Most underrated game?

i have to say x-2. it gets so much hate and for no reason whatsoever. it’s such a joyous, beautiful game with wonderful characters, the best turn-based gameplay and surprisingly fun minigames and sidequests. i stan x-2 100%.

5. Most overrated game?

if i were less biased, i’d say vii, but i’m not perfect, so i’m gonna go with my other pick: vi. i am sure it’s absolutely wonderful, and everything seems great based on what i have heard, read and watched. however, the fact that the cast is literally cramped with 20 million different characters throws me off a tiny bit. i can’t see it being that easy to give good character development to all of them, and i guess that hasn’t happened. but yeah, i honestly can’t say much before actually playing it. but i suppose part of the praise is largely due to nostalgia - as it is with vii, too. 

6. Favorite protagonist?

that would be my perfect darling, cloud strife.

7. Favorite antagonist?

this was a bit of a tough one, but i’m gonna go with ardyn izunia. 

12. Best looking male?

cloud strife for sure. he’s really, really handsome, okay.

14. Character you would most like to marry?

well, this may come as a shocker, but cloud strife.

15. Character you hate the most?

i appreciate him for everything that he is, i think he’s a totally epic villain, but after everything he’s done to cloud, to aerith and to everyone else, i am definitely gonna have to go with sephiroth. but he is iconic and the franchise wouldn’t be the same without him.

16. Which game had the best cast of characters?

even though it’s not my favorite game, i’m gonna go with vii. it has such a large, engaging multiverse to itself that it’s had a lot of time to develop the characters and make them more interesting and fleshed out. and i love so many of them so much. like my darling cloud, or sunshine boy zack, or aerith, or tifa, vincent, yuffie, cid etc etc. i think the cast of characters is really awesome. but that’s not to say i don’t love the other casts, because i do, very much so.

17. Which game was the saddest?

crisis core. what made it worst was knowing from the start that zack was going to die, and then living through it all, seeing how happy he was. watching him fall in love with aerith, befriend cloud, and even hang out with sephiroth and genesis. it’s so heartbreaking watching that boy try so hard, and then eventually die protecting his best friend a few miles away from his goal. it’s really not fair, and watching the ending always breaks me. that’s not even counting the pain that cloud had to go through in crisis core, but if i take that into consideration, it just strengthens my argument: crisis core is definitely the saddest game.

18. Which game was the funniest?

x-2. i know it’s a bit cliche and maybe even a bit cringe, but i love every bit of it. it’s pure joy, and watching yuna be happy and carefree even for a bit warms my heart. and personally, what i think makes it even better is that the game also has so many heartbreaking, sad moments. it balances itself out very nicely.

19. Which game had the best love story?

i am definitely gonna go with x. the story of yuna and tidus is well fleshed out, it’s romantic, it’s tragic, it’s sweet and above all (because i love this aspect in couples) it’s angsty as fuck, and that is exactly what i want from any fictional couple. they are a big part of why i love x as much as i do.

21. Which game would you sooner die before doing the above ^?

since i picked x-2 for the game i’d like to insert myself into, i am gonna go with… xiii for the game i would not like to be in. the world is gorgeous, but the divide between the people of cocoon and the people of pulse, and the dictatorship-like way the world is ruled, yeah, no thank you. besides, i could never replace lightning, i have literally none of her good qualities.

22. Which game’s world would you most like to live in?

this was really hard for me to pick, but i think i would actually go with the world in viii. it’s a world that has technology (which, as a child of the 90′s, i do need), and it still has many fantasy elements to it, not to mention some really, really gorgeous locations, like fisherman’s horizon, balamb town etc. 

23. Which specific location (e.g. Besaid Island) would you most like to live in?

if we’re going with specific locations, i think i would like to live in tenebrae from xv. it seems like such a gorgeous, peaceful place, i think i would be very happy there.

24. What’s your favorite job/class? Is this the same class you would want to be if you entered a class-based Final Fantasy game, or would you rather be a different one? If so, which one?

my favorite class is probably summoner, but i also have a fondness for the white magic, the black mage and the knight/any other variation of that job class. i think i would probably be a white mage myself.

25. What is your favorite ability?

summoning is always something i find very useful, obviously, but i also like noctis’ warp strike in xv. using weapons with abilities like stone strike is also really satisfying in x, too.

26. Favorite boss fight?

i really love the final boss battle against ardyn in xv. the main reason for this is because in the fight, ardyn doesn’t have an elaborate second form (tho i don’t mind those either), it’s literally just two men fighting each other. and the end, how ardyn loses because he can’t summon up the sword of the father, i think that’s really meaningful and i’ve always liked it a lot.

28. Your favorite spell?

well, i sure have grown very fond of curaga over the years, but in terms of something that i just consider really cool… i’ve always liked holy quite a bit, not really sure why.

29. Favorite summon?

the knights of the round from vii. other than that, probably shiva. i also really like alexander and bahamut.

30. Least favorite battle/boss fight?

i am not a huge fan of the fight against cid raines in xiii. i don’t know why, but that fight took me forever, and multiple tries. just… nope.

31. Do you have any theories or headcanons you swear by (e.g. Rinoa as Sorceress)?

i used to swear by the “squall is dead” theory just because it seemed super interesting, but nah, i love squall too much. he ain’t dead. i think the theory i am very fond of is that vii and x are connected. the theory that the kid shinra in x-2 eventually started developing a technology that would eventually lead to the shinra company in vii. it’s grim, but it’s entirely possible. 

32. Are there any fanon theories/headcanons you just can’t believe?

i mean, there are a lot of weird ones that i don’t buy into, but i guess one that i don’t believe is that cloud actually killed aerith (aka he killed her by drowning her because sephiroth’s sword didn’t actually kill her, but paralyzed her instead, or something). i am pretty sure he checked if she was breathing, give him some credit. 

34. Which canon couple do you think is most likely to break up sometime after the credits roll?

umm… well, considering that they weren’t really even together, ever, i guess it doesn’t qualify, but i’m gonna say cloud and tifa. i just don’t see how it would work, romantically. i get that there are feelings there, but actually as a functioning couple? idk about that. everyone can think what they want, though, what do i know? my second pick would probably be snow and serah. i find them very cute, but that’s another ship where i can’t see how they would actually work in everyday life.

36. And your least favorite non-canon couple?

please don’t throw cloud and sephiroth at me, i really can’t. i have literally nothing against m/m ships, my favorite non-canon ship is strifehart. i just don’t ship these two and i think cloud deserves soooooo much better. again, just my opinion though. 

37. What do you think makes a game a “quintessential” Final Fantasy game? (In other words… some people say the new games don’t feel like Final Fantasy games to them. What FEELS like a Final Fantasy game, to you?)

well, since my first final fantasy was x, i might not be the best one to answer this because my first one wasn’t one of the “classics”, really, but… to me, they all feel like final fantasy. the games don’t have to all be same, nor should they be. but for the sake of the question (which is a very interesting question btw), i think that there needs to be a big bad, and a group of mismatched, troubled heroes who do what they can to defeat that big bad. that’s literally all i need from a final fantasy game for it to feel like a final fantasy. plus, at least one engaging character who i can root for.

38. What things did/would bother you when/if they were put in the games (i.e. what things DON’T belong in Final Fantasy games)?

nothing’s bothered me much yet, but i guess what i don’t really care about are those weird collabs, like xv + assassin’s creed or something. i get why they do it, but ehh. i think those rather “pointless” dlc additions are just that: pointless. i am, however, on board useful and important dlc additions, like story additions or new fighting arenas, like with dissidia nt.

39. What is your favorite prequel or sequel?

my favorite prequel is definitely crisis core, and my favorite sequel is x-2 (does advent children count? if it does, then ac, too). 

40. Square-Enix hands over the reins to you, to make a prequel or sequel for any game of your choice, even ones that already have those things. What do you make?

first i make a sequel to vii to see what happened to cloud after advent children, then i make x-3, and then i make a sequel to viii. it absolutely doesn’t need a sequel, but i want it in glorious hd.

42. Worst character design?

no one looks bad, to me anyway, but i guess some characters are pretty weird, like cloud of darkness’ design for dissidia nt. i get that she didn’t really have any clothes on in the original, either, but that crap must be very impractical in battle.

43. What is your favorite weapon?

cloud’s buster sword, and cloud’s fusion sword.

44. What cutscene do you wish you could cut out of any of the games?

the date scene with iris and noctis in xv. why did they do that???

45. What creature do you most wish was real? (Chocobo’s, moogles, etc.)

oh, moogles would be so adorable. so would moombas.

46. Best soundtrack?

i think all the soundtracks are freaking fantastic, final fantasy music is the best music ever created, but i am gonna go with final fantasy xv. my close second pick would be final fantasy viii.

47. Favorite overworld song?

the one from viii, just because it brings back memories of me wandering around for hours, grinding for magic spells and items.

48. Which game had the best opening cutscene?

they are all freaking amazing, honestly. like honestly, all the games are so beautiful and perfect in this aspect, but i guess if i have to choose… probably x. the destruction of zanarkand is pretty powerful stuff, especially for an opening cutscene.

49. Which game had the best ending?

i’ve always said this, and i will always say it: final fantasy x-2. it’s called the perfect ending for a reason. and yes, i mean the ending where tidus comes back and he and yuna are reunited. 

51. Favorite non-vocal song?

somnus and somnus ultima from xv. honestly the most gorgeous song i have ever heard in my life.

52. Favorite limit break/overdrive/trance/you-get-the-picture mode and/or ability?

cloud’s omnislash for sure. can’t wait to see that in the remake.

53. Are there any plot-holes or questions you have about any of the games that you wish would be resolved?

nothing that bugs me too much. i guess the one that bothers me the most is that, why was ultimecia’s summon called griever?? has anyone ever explained this? if ultimecia isn’t rinoa, then why?? it worries me. i don’t know why, but it worries me.

54. What scene had the most impact on you?

there are plenty, but here is the top 5: yuna and tidus’ goodbye at the end of x, aerith and zack saying their final farewells to cloud in ac, noctis calling the kings of lucis to help him bring back the dawn and they all proceed to kill him in xv, luna and noctis getting married in the afterlife in xv and that scene at the end of viii when rinoa is pointing to the sky, we think she’s alone and then she turns and squall’s there, smiling for the first time in the entire game. okay, no, i’m cheating. also the ending of crisis core, for sure. 

55. Which game did you play first, and when (how old were you, etc.)?

i played final fantasy x when i was around 8 or 9. i got introduced to it by my friend’s sister. we watched her play for days and weeks until i finally asked my dad if i could have the game, too. and i got it, and i loved it. i still do. what a game. 

57. What game that has yet to be released are you most looking forward to?

*laughs nervously* final fantasy vii remake. square… please? 

58. What do you think of the Final Fantasy fandom in general? Do you think it is a good one? Any complaints?

oh, i think it’s a very good one! i’m not one to get too involved in fandoms anyway, so if there is bad blood, i don’t know about it. but everyone i’ve met has been super friendly, very talented and just genuinely wonderful. no complaints :) ok, maybe one. it doesn’t matter if you ship clerith, zerith, cloti or whatever you want. everyone can ship in peace. it’s all good.

59. Do you have any favorite works of art or fanfiction that you always go back to, and/or basically accept as canon?

i have no shame in admitting that i basically consider it as canon (tho this goes into the kh story, too) that squall and cloud are basically the fathers of roxas and sora, and they’re the best, happiest family ever. i go back to a lot of strifehart fanfiction, and plenty of awesome fanarts i’ve seen.

60. If you got the chance to work at Square Enix making Final Fantasy games, at any job, regardless of your skill set (they offer you paid training), what would you most like to work on or do?

hmm, i think i would like to be a character designer, but i would also really, really love to be involved in the story creation and writing, too. maybe i could do both?

thanks so much again, hon, you’re the greatest and i had the best time answering these :D talking about final fantasy makes me so happy! love you

[foundcarcosa]

cccxxxii.

Do you want your last ex to be happy, even if it means not being with you? >> Phoenix? I mean, I don’t wish ill upon him. He didn’t give me enough of a chance to love him, so I don’t have any stronger desires for him. If you have a smartphone, what’s the last app you downloaded? What about the last app you uninstalled? >> Shazam was the last I downloaded, and Dissidia was the last I uninstalled (it was just taking up too much space). If you were a straight member of the opposite sex, who are some celebrities you think you’d have a thing for? >> I mean, my attraction isn’t gender-locked, so I imagine it’d be the same women I think are cute now. Have you ever dyed your own hair? How did it turn out? >> Yeah. It turned out all right. Right-handed or left-handed? >> Right.

What is the wallpaper on your cellphone? >> The lock screen is a fan-made Dark Tower movie poster. The home screen is an art of Rustin Cohle that I found on tumblr. (So, basically, my phone is on some real Matthew McConaughey shit. As usual.) Does your first, middle, and last spell something? >> My initials? LFD... Left For Dead? God, I hope not. (Left 4 Dead is a great franchise, though...) Favorite TV channel? >> Hm. What is your least favorite breed of dog? >> Hm. In your opinion, are leggings appropriate to wear as pants? >> Sure, who cares. Have you ever had a teacher that also taught your parents? >> No. Is there any alcohol in the fridge? >> Yeah, there’s still some of the Svedka left, and there’s Sparrow’s last spiked Arnold Palmer. The rest of the booze is here in my room with me. Do you hate it when people smoke around you? >> Not unless they’re obnoxious about it. What do you want for your birthday? >> Well, my birthday just passed, so. Who is the most inappropriate person you know? >> Hm. Who in your phone has a heart after their name? >> No one. After breaking up, what’s the worst? >> I don’t know, that depends on the breakup. Do you have a second mom? >> I don’t even have a first. When was the hardest time in your life? What made it so hard & how did you overcome it? >> Hm.

How do you relieve stress? >> Stubbornness. I don’t have many specific coping skills for it. When you die do you want to have a funeral service? Why or why not? >> That’s up to the people responsible for my body after I’ve vacated it. I’m under no illusions that I require a say in what happens. What is your opinion on capital punishment? >> I don’t really care either way. What period of history was your favorite to learn about? If you don’t like history, what is your favorite thing to learn about? >> I’m not sure I have a specific favourite. Obviously ancient Scandinavian history crosses over with other interests of mine, and Hetalia gave me a pretty strong interest in certain aspects of WWII, but mostly I just... like history. Period. Where is your favorite fast food restaurant & what do you order when you go there? >> --- What do you think about smoking in public places? >> I don’t have a blanket opinion about this sort of thing. What’s your favorite cheese? >> Brie, pepper jack, asiago. What’s your favorite type of chocolate? >> Dark chocolate with sea salt and chili peppers. How do you like your steak? >> I don’t. What’s the last time you ate something you’d picked in the wild? >> I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a chance to do that. Arrange the following in order of preference: Pineapple, Orange, Apple, Strawberry, Cherry, Watermelon, Banana. >> Cherry, strawberry, apple, watermelon, pineapple, orange, banana. What is your opinion on “God?” >> That’s far too general a question for me. The word itself isn’t anything particular for me, and as far as my personal beliefs are concerned, I vacillate from panentheistic to polytheistic to both at the same time to neither almost daily. I don’t think specific religious paradigms suit me. As strange as it might sound, I feel much more comfortable believing in all at once. What is your favorite Christmas movie? >> It’s a Wonderful Life. Who are the three most important people in your life? >> Can Calah, Sparrow, Hallie. Why did you go to the doctor the last time you went? >> A checkup. What is your favorite boy band? >> Hm. What is your favorite Beatles song? >> I guess Hey Jude, I don’t know, I don’t really care for the Beatles in general. What is your favorite type of bird? >> Raven...?  What is something you hate, but wish you loved? >> Hmm. If you could profoundly release anxiety’s grip on one area of your life what would it be? >> Death. What’s the cutest thing your SO does, but denies it’s cute in any way? >> I don’t know, they don’t seem to deny anything like this Are you smiling in your Facebook profile picture? >> No. Does it irritate you when people go on and on about how amazing their boyfriend/girlfriend is? >> No. But, I mean, in a conversational sense, I’d be a little confused at how to proceed. What do I say to that, lmao... If you wear eye shadow, do you put on a dark color or a light? >> I don’t really have a preference. It’s been a while.

What do you believe in the most? >> Hm. What do you avoid like the plague? >> The plague. Hrnk. What is your main goal of the year? >> Hm. Do you listen to music while you drive? >> --- Waffle cone or bowl? >> Waffle cone, but maybe I should transition to bowls. Cones stress me out. Do you like video games? Why? >> I love them. They’re another form of storytelling, and I just enjoy playing them (the ones I play, I mean. not all video games). Do you take selfies with those animal filters? >> Sometimes. What book will you NOT read? >> IDK. What YouTube channel can you not stand to watch? >> --- Do you like big, normal or small glasses? >> Normal? How do you feel about colored contacts? >> I like them. It’s just difficult to wear them because my eyes are already sensitive. Is pregnancy beautiful? >> In a gruesome sort of way. Do you dance at weddings/parties or are you shy? >> I dance when I feel like dancing. Are you kind to animals at all times? >> Not all the time, no. Have you ever been bitten by an animal really hard? >> No. Do you trust dogs? >> I suppose? I mean, trust them to... do what? Act like themselves? Sure. Do you trust cats? >> See above. What stereotype do you fall into the best? >> I don’t know. Do you have to take stairs or an elevator to get to your house? >> There are two flights of stairs to this apartment. Have you ever seen a pelican in real life? >> I don’t think so. Do you carry pepper spray with you? >> No. Name three sites you have been bullied on. >> I’ve not been bullied on the internet. Yet, I suppose. Has there ever been a fire inside your house? Tell me the story. >> No. Have you ever had a scary encounter with a wild animal? >> No. Have you ever had a emergency surgery? >> No. Do you think your hair looks better natural or dyed? >> It looks fine either way. What’s one thing that makes your stomach hurt? >> Hmm. If you had kids, would you take them to Disney World? >> I don’t know. It seems like such a busy and hectic place. Hell, I’m not even entirely sure I want to go. Like, I do, but also... the sensory overload......... What unnatural hair color looks best on you? >> Hm. What is your least favorite pizza place? >> --- What is the name of your first pet? >> Roxie. What is your favorite fairytale? >> The Snow Queen, probably. Have you ever suffered a fracture? >> No. What countries would you like to visit? >> I don’t feel like making a list, lol. A lot of them. Had a serious surgery? >> No. Gotten stitches? >> Yes. Bitten someone? >> Yes. Would you ever cosplay? >> Sure. How slowly or quickly would you say you eat? >> Moderately? I don’t know. Have you ever drank from a real coconut? >> No. Do you have bird feeders hanging up outside? What about any hanging plants? >> No. If you were poor, living on the streets, & had no family to aid you, would you take up a job offer to work in a slaughterhouse? >> In general, I would not work at a slaughterhouse. Too messy for the likes of me. Have you ever had a grandparent come live with you? >> No. Do you keep your fortunes from fortune cookies? >> No. When you walk into your bedroom, is the light switch on the right side or the left side of the door? >> Left side. Who makes the majority of the food for Thanksgiving in your family? >> --- Does your house have a real chimney? >> No. If you had to endure one natural disaster (i.e. hurricane, tornado, etc), what would you pick and why? >> Hm. How did you learn to ride a bicycle? >> My father taught me. If you want any tattoos or piercings, what’s next on your list? >> I don’t have a list. Are you good at understanding baby talk? >> No, lol. I don’t bother trying to understand it, I just respond back whatever way comes to me. What was the last movie that you saw in the theaters? >> Infinity War. *grimace* Can you do a hand stand? >> No. If you could, you would go to the moon? >> Sure. Do you like candy canes? >> Some kinds. Have you ever gotten in trouble at school for wearing revealing clothes? >> No. Have you ever seriously thought about getting plastic surgery? >> No. Do you prefer your jeans normal or ripped? >> Either is fine. Have you ever actually woken up screaming because of a nightmare? >> No. Have you watched Breaking Bad? >> No. Have you ever been skating? >> Roller skating, yes. Do you feel comfortable singing in front of others? >> Yeah. Used to do it for fun on Monday nights. I miss Arlene’s... Name four favorite fast food restaurants & what you usually order at each one. >> Hmm. Name four favorite sit down restaurants & what you usually order at each one. >> Hrm. Would you say you’re more close-minded or open-minded? Is there anyone in your family or group of friends you’d consider close-minded? If so, does it ever bother you? >> I’m more open-minded than close-minded, but even I have my limits. I don’t know about anyone else. What is the most fucked up movie you’ve seen? Why? >> Probably A Serbian Film. Why? Because that’s literally the kind of movie it was made to be -- as fucked up as possible. It’s the whole gimmick. When it’s time to dress up for a special occasion, are you more likely to wear a dress, a skirt, or dress pants? >> Hm. If you eat oatmeal, do you add water or milk to it? What is your favorite flavor? >> Milk. I like brown sugar and maple. Have you ever been brave enough to cut your hair in a very different way? If you have, did you regret your decision after? >> Uh, I guess. I don’t consider it brave, it’s just fuckin hair. How attractive is a girl is a suit? How attractive is a guy in a dress? >> Both are fine. What does your dad do? >> He’s retired. Are your fingers long, or short? >> Longish. Are you allergic to any dogs? >> No. Have you ever used an epi pen? >> No. What is the meaning of your first name? >> Logan means “little hollow”.

Did you toss your hat in the air at graduation? >> No. Does it usually take you awhile to recover from illnesses? >> No. Would you rather get married outside or inside? >> Er. Do you put your elbows on the table when you eat? Do you think it’s rude? >> I put them on the table if I feel like it. I don’t think it’s rude because I’ve never been given reason to believe in that. Is you hair color the same as it was when you were a baby? >> I don’t know, I guess so? What are your thoughts on mini-skirts or mini-dresses? >> What sort of thoughts am I possibly expected to have?? It’s just fucking clothing oh my god lmao Have you ever died in one of your dreams? >> Yeah, and I got stuck on the Wheel. Which is tastier: fruity gum or minty gum? >> I prefer minty gum. Be honest, have you ever bullied anybody? Who was it? >> Not to my knowledge. What was the mascot at your elementary school? >> Hm. What is one romantic movie that you enjoy enough to watch more than once? >> Love Actually. Have you ever had a significant other NOT believe you when you said “i love you” to them? Why was that? How did you react? >> I don’t think so. Is there a band logo you would get tattooed on yourself? >> The Coheed and Cambria one, probably. If you had a baby, would you want to have it at home or in a hospital? >> In the hospital. Unless they could bring the drugs and machines to me.

What was the last thing you ordered online? >> I don’t recall. What’s your favorite planet? >> Mercury and Saturn.

What are three things that fascinate you? >> Theoretical astrophysics, chaos magic, anthropology. Have you ever suffered from an eating disorder? >> No. Do you enjoy doing yoga? >> Not really. Have you ever had to do a class in summer school? >> No. Have you ever had fondue? >> No. Have you ever taken photos in a photobooth? >> Once. If you have a dog, do you walk it regularly? >> --- Do porcelain dolls scare you? >> No. Which is worse, Teletubbies or Boohbas? >> Boohbas are the superior ones. Would you ever consider getting a tattoo on the inside of your bottom lip? >> No. Do you like to play air hockey? >> Sometimes. Have you ever been in a castle? >> Bishop’s Castle, which was pretty fuckin cool. Are you a lightweight when it comes to alcohol? >> No. Do you like tacos? >> Sure.  

[enigmaphenomenon]

Cloti week: Day 1 - The Promise

Promise: noun -  a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen.

Promise: verb -  assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare that something will happen.

The promise scene. A scene so important to the plot of FF7 it isn’t even funny. 

What exactly is the promise? 

When Cloud and Tifa were children, Cloud attempted to impress Tifa by revealing to her that he was joining soldier, and would be like The Great Sephiroth. 

Tifa, being a little girl, had a fantasy to be saved by a hero. Under a starry night, they make a promise. 

But, let’s look at an in-depth look at the promise made. It is such a pivotal moment between these characters, and what started it all in Cloud’s story. The promise itself has also developed and evolved as Cloud and Tifa grew. 

Now, the original promise made was this: 

As the fandom knows it, the promise is for Cloud to rescue Tifa whenever she’s in a bind. However, Cloud seemed to take the entire promise to heart, and instead of saving Tifa whenever she’s in a bind, he wants to respect the terms and conditions of it. 

Tifa says “If you get really famous and I’m ever in a bind...you come save me, all right?” 

The condition seemed to be that Cloud must get famous first, and then come to Tifa’s rescue whenever she needs it. This is what Cloud thought he needed to do in order to keep the promise. Get famous, and become a hero, then save Tifa when she’s in a bind. 

Cloud believes he has failed. In Cloud’s mind, he promised to be famous and be a hero and rescue her. As he did neither of these things, he believes he is unworthy of keeping the promise. 

Cloud becomes OBSESSED with meeting these conditions, that in Before Crisis he protects people because of his promise to Tifa. Cloud attempts to be a hero, and when he fails, he will mention the promise. 

A Promise to Tifa, Etched in his Memory.

When Cloud left the village dreaming of being a SOLDIER, he swore to Tifa that he would come running to her rescue if she was in trouble. -Cloud Strife profile, FF7 10th Anniversary Ultimania.

[BC] If he runs out of strength part way through the story, he will say regretfully that he “couldn’t come through on my promise to her.” -Cloud Strife profile, FF7 10th Anniversary Ultimania

Cloud wanted to be a hero, in the way that Zack did, both had dreams to be such. Cloud wanted to be a hero for Tifa’s attention, but what exactly does being a hero mean? 

Cloud holds lots of regrets. He blames himself for Tifa’s injury when she falls into a coma, and in BC, when Tifa isn’t around and Cloud runs out of strength, he takes it as a failure. He has somehow failed Tifa by not completing a mission. 

While Cloud was busy trying to reach his expectation of what would make him a hero and famous, Tifa made her own silent promise. 

As she grew, she realized it’s no good waiting around to be saved, so she began learning how to fight in order to defend herself. Not because she doesn’t want Cloud to keep the promise of rescuing her, but so she could rescue herself and protect the people she loves. 

If Cloud’s ever in a bind, she’ll be able to fight and protect him. Tifa expects nothing from Cloud that she doesn’t also expect from herself. She doesn’t want to be a damsel in distress. She wants to be an equal. She wants to be an ally. She wants to protect Cloud if he needs it. 

In Crisis Core, Tifa tells her thoughts to Zack through a text. 

Sephiroth—I don't get him at all.Is everyone in SOLDIER like him? Oh, andare there any blond guys in SOLDIER? Well,it's just a dream... Any girl would love to have a blond SOLDIER guy protect her when she's in a pinch. Well, it's no good just waiting for my blond knight in shining armor to show up,so I've started learning how to fight, myself. My teacher tells me I've got a knack for it.

Tifa realized her dream wasn’t practical, so she learned to defend herself. The promise started out as something childish between two hormonal teenagers. 

Cloud wanted to impress a girl so desperately, and Tifa wanted to be a fairytale princess. So the promise was made. 

But as time went on, it grew from just a childish wish, it developed into genuine love and support for each other. 

Tifa doesn’t care if Cloud is famous or a hero. Cloud is TIFA’S hero. No matter what, he is her hero. 

When Cloud was in Mideel, at his worst, when Tifa was told he would never recover--she refused to leave his side. 

Cloud was in a bind, and she was there to save him. She sacrificed her own health and wellbeing to make sure Cloud was taken care of and loved. She refused to leave him behind in the care of strangers, she stayed to look after him and protect him. 

Cloud is comatose, stuck in a wheelchair, completely unable to defend himself or come to the rescue of anyone else. Yet she stays by his side. Not because she hopes for a reward, or because she hopes she’ll be repaid somehow, simply because she cares for him. 

No famous hero. No blond knight. No one capable of rescuing her when she’s in a bind. Cloud can’t even eat by himself, or talk, or stand. And she stays. 

Tifa refuses to leave Cloud behind, and in the process of trying to save Cloud they both fall into the lifestream. In the lifestream, Cloud worries that the promise they made under the stars might be a lie. 

The promise has served not only as support for Tifa, but also as support for Cloud. It grew into these two characters always being there for each other. 

They walked through hell together, they spent what they believed would be their last night alive with one another, they solemnly accepted that it would be the two of them against Sephiroth. 

After the lifestream scene, Cloud understands it was never about being a hero, it was never about being famous. In Tifa’s eyes, he was already a hero. He was already amazing. 

And what Tifa thinks, is the only thing Cloud cared about. 

To Tifa, Cloud is a hero. Even when he was in that wheelchair. Even when he admitted to never making it to SOLDIER. Tifa didn’t care about any of that. Those weren’t what made him a hero to her. “Become famous and a hero” wasn’t part of the conditions of the promise.

 After the lifestream scene, Cloud realizes this. Tifa believes that they can overcome anything as long as they’re together. Tifa protects him, he protects her. It’s them against the world. 

In Dissidia Duodecim, where Tifa doesn’t remember the promise, where she doesn’t remember Cloud, she mentions that he was like a hero. 

Cloud being Tifa’s hero is also something Sephiroth took note of in Dissidia. 

The promise is where it all started. It began as something small, just a desire to be noticed, a desire to be a fairytale princess, and then it grew into genuine feelings of love and respect. 

The promise shared between Cloud and Tifa isn’t “be my hero and save me all the time” 

It’s “I will always be there for you. I will not let you down. When we’re together, we can conquer anything. You will never be alone, not while I’m here.” and it is mutual between the two. This is the promise. 

[verbumincarcerem]

The Fanged God

So I started writing this because I wanted to write something dark, something without any good people, something that was solely for me and me alone. The only person in the world who’s ever read this is @editoress, and she? Really loved it? Even said it’s some of my best work, which I do actually agree with?

I was inspired by a few things when I wrote this. Uprooted by Naomi Novick, for one. The Hades/Persephone dynamic, only where Hades is evil and Persephone isn’t too upstanding herself. And then there’s the whole Chaos vs Cosmos thing in Dissidia: Final Fantasy. All of this pushed me to craft this story about a young Sith getting herself entangled with the literal embodiment of the dark side of the Force, the Son. It’s about exploring power and the things we’re willing to do or sacrifice for it--and the things we’re not willing to do or sacrifice. It’s about the things that get taken from us anyway and how we get them back.

Here is the beginning.

I.

They didn't want her to be chosen.  

If this was to be the one time every Sith in their company agreed on something, Melody was glad it was about this. She didn't want to be chosen either. Perhaps Ventress or Savage did, but that was to be expected. They were prone to rash decisions in their mad rushes for power.

She liked to do things a little differently. When it came to attaining power, Melody preferred to take her time, the same way she’d taken her time to assume her Sith title, Darth Inferna.

Melody loved the name, but she loved the one she’d always had with her since birth, too. A weakness of sentiment, as Darth Sidious would only be too pleased to remind her. Maul walked by her side, a fiercely comforting presence, as he drilled her once more. "Don't pull ahead or fall behind. Stay with the pack. Don't do anything to stand out or draw attention. Nothing special, no surprises." It was rare for Maul to say so much in one sitting and so quickly, a sure sign he was worried.   "Yes, master," she said. "No funny business or showing off, I get it. I’ll keep the fireworks to a minimum." But her smile was as feeble as her attempt to lighten the mood. It didn't assure either of them. A tense silence passed and she finally voiced her fear aloud. "But what if I do get chosen?" "You won't," Maul said with utter certainty. "Not if you do as I've ordered." "But what if, despite that, I do?" Maul halted in his tracks and she slowed to her own stop. Blazing, sulfuric eyes bored into her icy blue ones pretending at calm. Maul was the first to break the connection, continuing to stalk forward. He didn't say another word. He didn't have to. The promise of vengeance, of war and destruction in his gaze was all too clear as to what his answer was. 

At least, Melody thought with dry consideration, this event wasn't to be holovised. She'd almost expected it, given the Fanged God's rumored vanity, but in truth the Choosing was rather clandestine. In the end, it made sense. Somewhere else in the galaxy, the Winged Goddess was choosing her own champion, a Champion of Light to pit against the Fanged God's Champion of Darkness. Neither wanted to share information as to who those champions would be. Not for the first time, Melody wondered why all this was necessary. Light and Dark were fighting each other just fine without the gods' interference during the Clone Wars—which had been abruptly halted, the fighting forced to a stop and the lines divided as if the war had never happened to begin with. Melody got the sense that it wasn't so much about the conflict of Light and Dark but about neither immortal wanting to directly and personally fight the other. That was all well and good, but her sympathy was limited, coming to a clear stopping point against anyone who threatened herself and her people.

With one last look, Maul left her to join the other masters, who for reasons unknown were as barred from being a contender as the apprentices were all forced to compete. Dooku didn’t seem to care, but Sidious was furious. Even now she could feel it. It was the only thing about this matter that made her smile. But her smile faded when she thought about Plagueis, at his noticeable lack of reaction, how he’d only wished her luck. It was moments like this one which reminded her that, despite their camaraderie, he was a true enigma, his seeming omniscient wisdom something beyond her reckoning.

Despite the hundreds of people, human and alien alike, gathered in the space—a cross between a training ground and a courtyard—finding Ventress and Savage was remarkably easy. She only had to look for the nearest brawl, which had been swiftly brought to a heel by the sadistic pair.

Ventress had her foot planted on some poor human’s throat, a cruel smile on her serpentine face, while Savage spread the crowd into a wider and wider circle, warding off any would-be rescuers.

Melody slipped right into the circle, and the crowd noted how Savage let her approach. To Ventress, she lifted a dark eyebrow. “"Busy winning friends and influencing people, I see."

Ventress’ throaty laugh was enough to send shivers down any hardened warrior’s spine. She matched Melody’s tight smile with a dark smirk. “I was provoked. Don’t make the same mistake as the General by thinking you hold my leash, Inferna.”

With a pang, Melody was reminded that Grievous hadn’t been allowed into the Choosing, either. Though deadly efficient with a lightsaber or four, he wasn’t a Force user. A real shame. She could have used his gruff humor and sparking anger right about now.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, throwing a pointed look at the human, who was currently having trouble breathing. “But perhaps now isn’t the best time. Save your energy. He’ll be here soon.”

It was the reminder of their would-be host that caused Ventress to draw back than any regard she had towards Melody or mercy in general. She pushed off the human with her foot, leaving him sputtering and coughing as he rose to his elbows. The crowd parted easily for them as she, Melody, and Savage walked on.

“There’s a lot more people here than expected,” Savage noted, his towering mass able to look around them with ease. “Who would have thought that there were so many dark Force users in the galaxy?”

“Maybe they’re not all a part of our galaxy,” Melody noted.

“Does it matter?” Ventress replied. “All of them will fall under my saber regardless. The same is true for either of you if you get in my way.”

Savage scowled, his hand drifting to his own lightsaber. Melody raised her hands in a placating gesture. “He’s all yours, Ven. Honestly, I’d rather take a nap against the wall.”

“But you’ll be competing the same as the rest of us,” Ventress coolly observed.

“Not like I have a choice. Orders are orders.”

“Such a perfect soldier you’ve become,” scoffed Ventress. “At least it’s clear who holds your leash, little dog.”

“Woof,” Melody scoffed right back, not riled by her taunts in the least.

Savage laughed. “I’m sure, Ventress, that Master Dooku will be devastated to hear how badly you want to toss him aside for a new master. I’ll be happy to take your place.”

“My dear, sweet Savage, never fear. I penned him a strongly-worded letter.” Ventress’ saccharine tone was offset by her baleful smile. “But feel free to tell him for me, if you’re still alive.”

Their banter could have continued, would have, if not for the sheer presence that descended on the training ground with all the swiftness and stifling air of a lowering ceiling. Its weight increased, determined to break and crush, and the silence it brought was one of both anticipation and fear.

And even though no one had been in the center of the grounds, suddenly he was, standing in the midst of them.

The Fanged God was even taller than Savage’s seven-foot frame by a few inches, but far lankier, all sharp angles and pointed joints, his black and red garb clinging to him like a second skin. His build wasn’t malnourished or ill fitting, however, as lean muscles broadened his shoulders and defined his long arms, legs, and torso. Red tattoos adorned his bald head as well as under his glowing red eyes—which were stark against solid black sclerae—forming a thin line down both of his high cheekbones. His thin, colorless lips were pulled back in a pleased smile, and when he spoke, his voice was deep but with a deceptively soft edge. It carried effortlessly in the space around all of them, commanding their attention and bringing with it an unseen dread.

“Ah, so many. So many.” He brought a finger to his lips, a pensive gesture, but his quick smile was a joke he wasn’t sharing. “I wonder how many will be left.”

An alien of a species she'd never seen before stepped forward, clicking and spitting in an unknown language, but their inflection was unmistakable. They were issuing a challenge. The Fanged God smiled lazily, hardly bothered by it at all. "Oh, yes, we shall certainly get to it, since you're all so eager." His gaze found hers in the crowd easily, jolting her to attention. But he passed on, sweeping it over the others, and she realized how catching Maul's paranoia over this whole thing was. The god hadn't noticed her, no more than anyone else. He hadn't even been looking at her but at someone behind her. She was fine. "You know what's at stake here,” the Fanged God continued. “The Light has issued us a challenge. It's only sporting that we meet it. Use any weapons or skills you have, crude though they are. Survive until I'm—more or less satisfied." He waved a hand as if he severely doubted that any satisfaction would be met. "I will select my Champion from however many of you are left.

“We will return to Mortis, where you will serve me, and only me, as your true master. There, your training will really begin, until that fateful day where champion is pitted against champion, and then—” Pitiless eyes surveyed each of them, and his razor sharp smile attracted as much as it repelled. “You will win. You will destroy the Light, and the Dark will reign supreme until the next Choosing. And if you do not…”

It was only when he trailed off that Melody noticed the silence. Tense, fearful, rapt. And angry, so destructively angry, barely kept in check by desperation and quiet hysteria. (She wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to be here, whose ambitions lied on other shores.) And it was all feeding him, she knew. He was preening with the pure power of it.

“If you do not, you will die, along with everything you care about.” And with that, he snapped his fingers and the whole terrain underneath them began to shake. Savage and Melody threw alarmed glances at each other as they fought to keep their balance. Next to them, Ventress was steady, her mouth widening in a smug, victorious smirk.   "Do enjoy yourselves." The Fanged God was no longer among them, but his voice sounded clearly and effortlessly over the noise, as if he were bypassing all vibrations of sound to speak right into her head. "I know I will." And then the chaos started.

Melody slowed her sprint to a light jog, keeping an eye on the tree line as she approached the forest.

Three days. She had been out here on this backwater Outer Rim planet, competing in this insane mess, for three days, and she was still alive.

She stopped, panting and leaning a hand against a tree for support. Her blue eyes flicked to her surroundings. No enemies here. She was safe to rest for a moment. Bracing her back against the tree, she uncorked her flask, spilling a few precious drops of water on her parched tongue.

Who else is still alive?

She hadn’t seen Ventress since that first day. With only a final word of warning, she’d leapt into the fray, full of bloodlust and laughter, her lightsabers shattering the chaos as only their distinctive hums could. She and Savage had quickly lost sight of her, leaving the strange courtyard far behind.

The morning of the second day, Melody lost Savage, being separated from him during an ambush. She still had the blood and gore from that encounter coating the front of her tunic and her gloves. She didn’t regret the lives she’d had to take, not when they were so heavily invested in taking hers. But still, she worried about Savage, who didn’t have as much training as either herself or Ventress. It had been three days, and dusk was coming.

Melody glared at nothing in particular and gripped tight the hilt of her lone lightsaber, the last one she had left after its twin had become damaged in a recent skirmish.

What the hell was the Fanged God waiting for?

A sudden disturbance in the Force was the only warning she had. The sound of a singing blade suddenly cut through the air, and Melody dove to the ground just in time.

Igniting her lightsaber, Melody pushed herself to her feet and turned, searching for her assailant.

It was another species of alien she’d never seen, this one with two legs and four arms, built like an ox but with the fur of a bear crossed with a wildcat. His pointed snout was turned up in a snarl, and the axe in his hands was so large it could cut through at least three men at once. The tree, at least, hadn’t made it. The towering pine crashed to the ground, bark flying in all directions, leaving behind a decapitated stump that was almost as tall as she was.

“I’m sorry. Was that supposed to be my head?” She mocked, spinning her lightsaber with an unnecessary flourish. Inferna the Sith had come out to play.

The alien roared at her and charged, handling his axe with obvious finesse and skill. Inferna held her ground, widened her stance, and brought her lightsaber up to block.

The pure energy in her saber sliced clean through whatever metal his axe was made of. She dodged the ricocheting steel, expecting it, and with a final slice, she relieved him of one of his hands.

The alien’s roar this time was full of pain and shock. The remaining half of his axe clattered to the ground between them, his missing hand still wrapped around the handle, and he staggered back, eyeing her red blade with fear. She pursued, stepping forward with light, casual steps, and he swung wildly at her with his remaining hands. Dodging them was child’s play. She wondered if he was so surprised and in pain that he’d forgotten how to access the Force.

It didn’t matter. It was clear that even she didn’t need it for this fight.

“Never seen a lightsaber before, have you?” She smiled. Then, with a quick lunge, she gutted him, the tip of her saber protruding from his back. “That’s too bad. They’re kind of great.”

She cut clean through several organs, scorching his insides, and when she jerked her saber out of him, he was dead before he hit the ground.

On impact, dust and dirt kicked up around his fallen form. She stared down at him for a moment, saw how the red glow of the sun glinted off his metal breastplate and the remaining axe fragments. How archaic, she thought. Then she looked up and took in a truly breathtaking sight. Her lightsaber bled and blended against the harsh sunset like an oil painting. In the far distance beyond the plains, night chased the fleeing sun, the faint light of distant stars dim on the edges.

After so much struggle, so much raging need to survive, peace had descended, just like that, almost as if she’d never even killed another living being. Time marched on. All was forgiven.

She’d taken four steps from the body when her lungs seized and stopped working.

You’re kidding me was her last coherent thought, before her hand came up to claw at her throat, which was working furiously to draw breath and failing. Distantly, she felt her feet leave the ground and kicked out in reflex, but stopped when the movement only expelled her remaining oxygen faster. There wasn’t a single physical block around her throat. Someone was Force choking her to death.

At last, she sensed him, but it was too late to do her any good. Her attacker stepped out from one of the trees, and around her dimming eyesight, she saw that he was a Rodian, a blaster in his hand instead of a lightsaber. His other hand was extended out to her, mimicking a choking gesture.

“I thought that beast would destroy you,” he said in Huttese, closing his grip ever so slowly. “But it seems that pleasure will now belong to me.”

I am not dying at the hands of a Rodian, she snarled to herself, irrationally.

Despite what Maul told her—for surely he didn’t want her to die at the expense of remaining inconspicuous—she kicked out with her right foot, intending to send a burst of fire blazing towards the Rodian to scorch him alive.

But her lack of oxygen made her fire weak. As quickly as it formed, it died, burning a sputtering flicker of light as opposed to the inferno she planned. Darth Inferna, the Firemaker, indeed. The Rodian only laughed at her efforts, and his hand closed. Melody’s vision went black and her heart beat a scattered, terrified rhythm in her chest. Any second now, she was going to die! She was going to—she was going to—

Another roar broke through their surroundings, much more familiar, and Savage was there, barreling straight for them. The Rodian raised his blaster, but it was too late. Savage deflected the first shot with his lightsaber, and the next thing Melody knew, she was on the ground, and she could breathe.

Gasping, she gradually sat up, inhaling large gulps of air into her burning throat, frantic and disoriented. A presence approached her on her left, and she jerked, intending to protect herself, to kill if necessary.

Her lightsaber was blocked by another, and the matching red glow threw her next attacker’s face into a severe light. Deliriously, Melody thought she had attacked her master, that Maul had somehow made his way here, but when he opened his mouth to speak, it wasn’t Maul but Savage that spoke.

“I save your life, and you try to kill me?”

She backed off instantly, internally shaking herself. “Savage. You found me.” She gave herself another shake, another blessed breath, and then she looked at him with utter sincerity. “Thank you.” "Don't mention it," Savage demanded, a gruffness to his usually authoritarian voice. "Do you have any idea what Maul would do to me if I let you die?" "You’re his brother. Whatever you're imagining, I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad.” She smirked, jerking up her chin at movement over Savage’s shoulder. “But here, let me return the favor."

A female Bith rushed them, or tried to. Harnessing all her pent up rage, every shred of fear from her near-death experience, Melody unleashed it all in a wall of fire from her left hand and targeted it at the Bith. The flame consumed her instantly, eating through her flesh like a living thing, and the scream it wrenched from her was the crackling, snapping sharpness of burning wood. A smoking husk fell to the ground, the fire still greedily consuming it, but neither remaining Sith had time to celebrate their victory. That scream had attracted others as had her display of power. Soon, Inferna and Savage were surrounded again, but instead of separating, this time they stuck together.

Two more days passed. There was still no sign of Ventress.

After a week, it appeared that the Fanged God had finally grown satisfied. Or bored.

One moment, Melody was with Savage, picking their way through a series of crystal caves, and the next, they were back in the courtyard, along with the other survivors, whisked there as effortlessly as they had all been initially to this single point in the galaxy.

There weren’t many. Where hundreds of Sith apprentices and dark Force users once stood, only around twenty were left alive and mostly whole. A human female lay on the ground, clutching what remained of her leg, and a Twi’lek sat against a wall, dazed and unseeing as if his body had made it through but his mind had not.

Melody spun and searched the crowd frantically, looking for the familiar lithe frame; the dark, faded markings; the twin, curve-handled lightsabers.

“There!” Savage pointed, and Melody breathed a sigh of relief.

Ventress, for her part, scowled when she saw them. She sauntered their way, barely any the worse for wear aside from her own gory tales marring her smooth face, and the disgust perched there was unmistakable.

“Are you two still living?”

“You’d miss us if we weren’t,” said Melody. She would have embraced the Dathomirian if it weren’t an almost certainty that Ventress would kill her. Quite frankly, Melody didn’t want to have come all this way just to die like that. She would have been better off with the Rodian.

But her good mood ended when the air shifted, becoming cold and stifling all at once.

The Fanged God’s voice commanded the very air they breathed. “Well, now. There are certainly less of you than I hoped.” He emerged from pure darkness, free of both light and shadow, and stepped forward, gazing at them all with mild interest. He steepled his long, gloved fingers, tip to tip, and said with a mocking smile, “But definitely more than I expected.”

Melody knew about toying with her opponents; she did it often, especially if she felt they deserved it. But this was different. This was all a sick game to him. Their lives meant nothing in the end. Only his Champion mattered, and even that was debatable. She glared at him with hatred and fury, the feelings coming innately in his presence or perhaps because of it, and she hoped he felt them.

Instinctively, they all seemed to know what he wanted. One by one, the survivors—the ones who could stand—lined up single file, knuckles white around their weapons, prepared to defend themselves if necessary. Just how they intended to go about doing that against a god—against the living embodiment of the dark side—was a mystery that no one wanted to think too hard about.

Melody brushed shoulders against a fellow human who flinched away from her. She barely sparred him a glance. He had enough demons to fight without her adding one more to the list. Savage stood strong and vigilant beside her with Ventress on his opposite side, one hand perched on her hip, utterly assured. She was just waiting to be named the victor.

Melody almost hoped that Ventress was the one chosen. As much as she didn’t want her to go, Melody believed that Ventress was by far the most prepared, the most skilled out of all of them. For as long as Melody had known her, her proficiency and relationship with the dark side had never wavered.

Like they were cattle and he the wealthiest, pickiest buyer, the Fanged God strolled lazily down their line, sizing them up one by one. To some, he stopped to speak, adopting that strange tone that was painfully earnest and teasing all at once. Melody allowed herself to relax, to zone out. She wouldn’t be chosen. She knew it. She’d narrowly avoided being killed, and even though she’d survived, she never once did anything substantial or noteworthy, aside from perhaps saving Savage’s life. But that was hardly something that appealed to the dark side. That was weakness, that was—

“Ah, yes. You.” The Fanged God’s voice rumbled from right over her head, shocking her back to the present. The cool material of his glove brushed her face, tilting her chin up so that she met his unnerving gaze. Her neck craned back painfully to take in his height, but she kept her features blank and uninteresting. He only moved closer to her, studying every facet he could. “Tell me. Is it the rage that hides the sentiment, or the sentiment that hides the rage?”

She clenched her jaw and remained stubbornly silent. He didn’t seem to mind.

“And pyrokinesis. Not exactly a common power in mortals, but nothing special.” He tilted his head, eyes tracing her brow, the straight line of her nose, her lips, before flicking back to her eyes, searing and determined. “But what you did wasn’t mere generation, was it? There weren’t enough molecules to manipulate to create a fire that powerful. They were just the flint; your emotions were the fuel. And in the end, there was nothing left of the body. What you did was pure creation and destruction both.”

He released her and stepped back, assessing her for one final time. Melody kept waiting for him to move on, but he didn’t. In fact, he never once looked away from her, and his smile was turning towards both dark and gleeful.

“Yes,” he breathed, the hunger evident in his eyes and his voice, “you’re the one I want.”

“What?” Ventress hissed and stepped forward, but Savage held her back, eyes steady and wary on them. Melody barely perceived anything beyond the Fanged God’s sly smile and the hand he reached out to her, expectant and pleased.

But Melody knew the truth that very few of her kind wanted to admit. The dark side was a relentless temptation, looking for the most opportune moment to appear, waiting until you were at your most vulnerable, the most desperate, and then it would appear like a reassuring friend, like a panacea for all your despair. It dressed itself in the most attractive splendor, choosing the form of the poison you wanted most. But in the end, the dark side could only tempt you. It couldn’t force you.

The decision to choose it, to use it, was yours alone.

So in the end, it was obvious what she had to do.

“Not interested,” she said softly, steel wrapped in silk. She stared him down, and that by itself was one of the most terrifying things she’d ever done, including the fortnight Maul had once spent hunting her down, all in the name of training. “Choose someone else.”

His smile faltered at first, but when it returned, it was tinged with regret, with something akin to pity. But those same emotions weren’t in his eyes; there was only a depthless, remorseless cruelty inside those glowing red orbs and the dark that surrounded them. It dawned on Melody then that her truth was a lie, that she was wrong about the dark side, so very, very wrong.

And with a mere eight words, the Fanged God proved it. “Then I guess I’ll have to force you.”

That’s when the screams started to erupt all around her.

[freevoidman]

All of the questions form the ask except for 16 and 17 because I read the tags 😏😊

yoU FUCK--

Also I guess it’s 15 and 16 bc those are the ones that ask for pics? So ur getting everything but those two instead lmao I can’t read.

1. Song of the year?

Thunderstruck by 2CELLOS (skip ahead to 0:38 for the start of the music, 1:10 for the actual cover). It’s a great cover for a famous song and i’m a sucker for cello-only covers. Plus, it’s a great song to listen to when you want to get some of ur aggression out.

2. Album of the year?

The Persona 5 Original Soundtrack! There’s so much amazing songs from the game, all of them jazzy and catchy and oh my god I love the entire thing. The stuff featuring Lyn’s vocals is especially great!

3. Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year?

Hm... there’s not a lot that come to mind, but I guess BTS? I’m not super into their music, and I don’t check out their livestreams and shit where they talk with fans, but their music is pretty sweet!

4. Movie of the year?

UUUUUUUUUUUUUGGH it has to be a tie between IT and Wonder Woman. IT was great on a sheer talent level and, after watching the 90s film, it was a massive improvement and gave the book the justice it deserved. However, Wonder Woman I appreciate because of the hopeful change it might bring to the movie industry and superhero movies, and perhaps lead to less over-sexualization of women in movies.

5. TV show of the year?

Nothing really comes to mind (especially because I don’t really watch TV a lot) but it’d have to be Brooklyn 99. Comedic gold at its finest, and the level of representation is NUTS! I love it!

6. Episode of tv or webisode that defined the year for you?

...y’all’re gonna laugh but it’s fucking Shibboleth from West Wing. We watched the episode in one of my classes and it brought up so much political topical stuff that’s happening in my country, as well as the sheer ridiculousness of what the fuck is happening in the US (as well as unintentional attachments that can form bc I made a stupid level of those with just fictional characters lmao)

7. Favorite actor of the year?

Finn Wolfhard. Not only for his level of talent in Stranger Things and IT, but also just his level of comedic genius outside of films and shows. He’s great, and I can’t wait to see where his talents will lead him next.

8. Game of the year?

WHY MUST YOU TORTURE ME LIKE THIS.

I’d have to give it to Persona 5, though Breath of the Wild and Final Fantasy XV are close. The reason why P5 wins is because I’ve been waiting for this games since 2013 and it delivered on everything I wanted. Meanwhile, BOTW and FFXV were only purchased after they came out and I saw all the reviews, or (in the case of FFXV) was and impulse buy that I didn’t have much faith in. They’re both great games, don’t get me wrong, but my god, Persona 5 delivered of fucking everything I wanted and a bit more.

9. Best month for you this year?

December (and no, I’m not just saying that because that’s the month we’re in). I’ve been accepted into the colleges I really wanted to be accepted into, and Christmas wasn’t that bad. Though I am sick with something right now, it’s definitely not a bad month, and easily the best one I’ve had with all the stress/disappointments of the months prior.

10. Something that made you cry this year?

...getting a bit personal, it was seeing my cousin during Easter. She’s been struggling with drugs and she had a relapse and was completely out of it. She’s got a kid. I was mad as hell and ready to punch her, but I just kind of broke down outside the house once no one could see me.

11. Something you want to do again next year?

...uuuuuhhh I didn’t really do it this year bc of the amount of shit I had to do, but I really, really want to do NaNoWriMo again. It was fun, and I nearly succeeded last year. I was about two thousand words short because I got sick and I want to get the 50k word count for something!

12. Talk about a new friend you made this year

YES HELLO I’M ABOUT TO PRAISE THE HELL OUT OF @yoitssabrinee SO PREPARE YOURSELVES.

Honestly such a sweetheart???? She’s a-fucking-mazing and so strong despite all the bullshit she’s gone through and she’s so freaking nice and caring! Like, I’ve been complaining to her about how I’ve been sick and she’s always like “did you take your meds? Did you drink water? Did you eat?” And it’s so nice and even if our convos are mostly screaming at each other about FFXV fanfics we’re writing it’s SUCH A JOY to see her messages whenever I wake up/am about to go to sleep.

13. How was your birthday this year?

Good! The only negative part was that it was during a school day (typically it falls on Thanksgiving break, but not this year) and I got a lotta good gifts! I certainly can’t complain about it, that’s for sure.

14. Favorite book you read this year?

Catcher in the Rye. It’s very rare that I find a school book that I enjoy, and this hits all my favorite things. It’s a super introspective look on Holden’s life (which is pretty messed up tbh) and his struggles to reconcile with his flaws and the need to be somewhat ‘normal’.

15. What’s a bad habit you picked up this year?

Sort of a bad habit that I’ve continued and haven’t stopped--picking at my skin. Especially scabs and any chapped skin on my lips. I have so many cuts and scars from doing this, and I really need to stop... 

18. A memorable meal this year?

I went with my family to some fancy-ass Japanese restaurant with my friend irl before we went to see Hamilton. The food there was tasty as hell, and the experience itself made it incredibly memorable.

19. What’re you excited about for next year?

There’s a couple! Getting my driving license, graduating high school, and going to college would definitely be at the top of that list! For more material things, I’m looking forward to Hacker’s Memory, the new Persona rhythm games (I’m being very hopeful that they’ll be released in English around the same time of their Japanese versions) and Final Fantasy Dissidia!

20. What’s something you learned this year?

How to drive!

21. What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year?

My old swingset broke. I still use it as a way to destress (the repetitive motion of swinging, combined with listening to music really clams me down) and there’s no way we can really repair it until it gets warmer... which could be as early as February, or as late as April, considering the weather patterns. Basically, it has to be above freezing to do anything.

22. Favorite place you visited this year?

Boston for college tours! It was a great city, though I could’ve dealt with less stress from trying to figure out where the fuck to go...

23. If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be?

It’s hard right now. God do I know how hard it is right now. It’s gonna get harder. You’re going to hate everyone for a while, because no one really helped you the way you needed help, but you’ll make it. I promise you’ll make it.

24. Did you keep any New Year’s Resolutions?

Technically yes, because I didn’t make any. Can’t break any resolutions if you never make ‘em.

25. Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one

Uuuuugh I have a lot that I just make in my head, but because I have the artistic skills of a drunk goldfish I can’t typically draw them, and I’m too nervous to write about them (^^;). Other people can keep asking this one, and I’ll describe a different OC that I have, but only in my head, y’know?

I DID get FFXV Comrades and made an OC! His name is Tonitus, Tony for short. He’s 5′3″ and hails from... Altissia, if I remember correctly. He has about mid-length black hair and bright, that almost Mako-colored blue eyes. 

In my weird-ass lore about the guy, he’s a messenger who got amnesia from falling to the surface. He’s loyal to Ramuh and can harness lightning magic easily, and struggles with fire and ice magic. He got the Kingsglaive uniform from Ramuh himself, who sent him down to Eos to assist the humans with the encroaching darkness and rampant daemons and infected wildlife. As he regains his memory, he’s torn with assisting them like a human would or like a pseudo-god, and his own mortality and how he’ll deal with everyone passing long before him, long before the light can be restored, long before the King can ascend.

[baby-come-bach]

All writing asks!

Oh daaaamn! Thanks, bro!! @brynhildr13 !!!!

In response to this post!

1. What is your preferred place to write (notebook, laptop, cellphone, etc.)?

~Normally I try to do everything on my laptop in Zoho’s Notebook app. I seriously love the app, and there’s a desktop and mobile version that will sync so if you’re on the go you can still edit your notes! If I’m ever stuck I’ll hand write in a paper notebook and that usually works really well for me.

2. When did you start writing?

~I started writing back in the third grade, when I wrote and illustrated a comic series called The Evil Substitute Teacher from Mars! Obviously it was of a third grade quality and I had no intentions of being a writer at that point, but it was the first time I seriously flexed my skills even though it was just for fun!

I started writing fanfiction in my freshman year of high school.

3. What is your favorite thing to write?

~I love to write stories that take characters through intense emotional journeys. I absolutely love quality character development when you can track it from beginning to end.

4. Fluff or angst?

~Angst. I have little to no interest in writing a love story or love encounters as the primary plot. It’s hard to emulate the kinds of emotions people feel during those encounters when I’ve had minimal experience.

5. How would you describe your style?

~Hmmm . . . I would say . . . healthily balanced between pragmatics and prose. I try to make things as literal as I can when there’s action happening, but when I describe character’s emotions I literally love to pour on the cheese.

6. Where do you usually find inspiration?

~In general, for overall fanfic concepts I’ll find it in the source material, in a detail that wasn’t well-expanded. For specific ideas within a story, and for specific language to describe something I’ll borrow from both the source material and other writers in canon-based fics.

7. Do you listen to music to help you write?

~Hell yes.

8. What’s the biggest “challenge” for you as a writer?

~I love to write and I mainly write for myself - meaning I write the stories that I would want to read. But it’s extremely easy to fall into the “Nobody else will want to read this/Nobody is reading this = it must be bad and I’m a terrible writer” mindset. Surprisingly, that hits me harder than comparing myself to other writers. I understand and embrace that my style is different and the way I tell stories is unique. I actually really love how I write in comparison.  I also struggle with pacing.

9. Where do you usually go to write (bedroom, living room, etc.)?

~When I’m at home, my bedroom. However, occasional changes in scenery do wonders for my inspiration, so I also love public libraries. When it’s very late at night (and it usually is because I’m a night owl to begin with and I work two jobs), I love to go to Denny’s. The people at my local Denny’s know me by name and I have the same server almost every time. They let me sit there for hours and hours (and if I do stay, I always leave a gigantic tip).

10. Can you give us a sneak peek of your current WIP?

~We’re mid-fight scene and this is unedited (I’m just really self-conscious lmao). It’s from my Dissidia fanfic, A Petal Among Thorns:

“’Cosmos's assassins!’ the Emperor sneered. He laughed, calling his staff from its resting place next to the throne. "I'm glad you could make it!" Removing Cloud first would be the most important thing. That, and deflecting Terra's magic. Cloud lifted his sword behind his head and slashed it down, and an arc of power careened off the blade towards him. The Emperor slammed the end of his staff into the ground and called a cluster of purple mines in its path. The Blade Beam collided with the mines and they detonated on contact in a cloud of smoke, the sound booming through Pandaemonium.”

11. How many stories have you written so far?

~18, though not all are complete.

12. What’s your favorite thing you ever wrote?

~In the first version of A Petal Among Thorns, I wrote a giant fight scene between a goddess and her warriors. It was intense and epic, and really maximized my skills at the time, and I loved every second of it.

13. How many chapters does your longest series have?

~Well, the new and improved version of A Petal Among Thorns has 45 posted chapters at 171k words, and I’m working on 46. The original Petal, which I finished, ended with 64 and had 108k words. Both are my longest so far. the most words, though, is Horrible Bosses with just under 200k.

14. What’s my favorite character/person to write for?

~This is so tough. But I think the Emperor for A Petal Among Thorns. He’s a classic kind of “Muahahaha” villain and I absolutely love getting into that evil headspace.

15. “OCs” or “Reader” inserts?

~If it’s an either/or question, then I say OCs. But nothing against Reader inserts. I love those, too. If it’s a do I read or write them question, then not really. I did one back when I was in high school. But I do read them and I support writers who do. There’s no such thing as cringe culture anymore so don’t let any elitists make you feel shitty for writing them.

16. Can you tell us anything about your current WIP?

~Sure. I’ve got four major ones:

1. A Petal Among Thorns (Dissidia Final Fantasy) - Cosmos just sent a group to take care of the Emperor since he’s been plaguing her and her warriors, but they’re caught unprepared when they realize he’s been secretly amassing power.

2. The Krypt (Mortal Kombat) - The group just found Master Hasashi and Kenshi, two out of the whole group they’ve been looking for. Their next order of business is to escape the spider caves, but it won’t be so easy.

3. Legends Yet (Final Fantasy XII) - Balthier and Fran are preparing to infiltrate the Archadian Palace to go after a special item. Little do they know the palace is more prepared than they thought.

4. This is My Punishment (Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus) - The Turks go looking for Vincent after he fails to report in. They confront Dr. Hojo about it, but he’s smug and disinterested.

17. How long was the longest fic you ever wrote?

~The longest COMPLETE story I ever wrote was the original A Petal Among Thorns with 64 chapters at 108k words. The longest INCOMPLETE story I have right now is the rewrite of A Petal Among Thorns with 46 chapters at 171k words. The most words I ever wrote was Horrible Bosses at just under 200k but with only 15 chapters.

18. What fandoms do you write for?

~Final Fantasy and Mortal Kombat and Hetalia are pretty much it right now, but a variety of FFs! I have written for Assassin’s Creed too, and Voltron, and I did one very self-indulgent Black Butler self-insert.

19. What is/are your favorite fandom author/authors?

~Poisonous Panda on AO3 (she used to have a tumblr but she deactivated for some reason), and Jaydee Grey on ff.net

20. Have you ever written an AU?

~No. All my stories take place in the actual world and parameters of canon. Although, I guess Petal could be considered one, since Rosa was never called to the cycles in any Dissidia game except Opera Omnia . . . ?

21. What’s your favorite AU trope?

~I don’t know if I have one. I read them but they’re not my go-to. I usually stick to canon stuff first.

22. A fanfiction cliché you can’t help but love?

~Hmmmm . . . I think descriptions of eyes. Not like, the word ‘orbs’ or anything, but the use of gemstones to describe color. I love the aesthetics associated with gemstones and their luster and how they shine, so if someone has “emerald green” eyes, or “amber” eyes,��“crystalline blue”, etc. It makes me understand that their characters’ eyes are aglow with something, that they have character or passions or an ideas.

23. For how long have you been a fandom writer?

~I started my freshman year of high school, so . . . 10 years?

24. Have you ever had an idea for a story and forgot about it?

~No, I usually write stuff down right away. But as I develop my stories they rarely stay along the path enough to end up using the idea. Either the plot point is too out in left field now, or the characters are too far along in their journeys to make it work in-character.

25. What do you do to motivate yourself to write?

~Motivation? I don’t know her. 

In all seriousness, I have ZERO self-control, so I can’t bribe myself. I mostly use my own desire to see my stories finished, plus nice comments and reviews from users on AO3 and ff.net. They’re so few and far between that a single one can make my entire day.

26. How did you find out you like to write?

~I’ve always enjoyed telling stories, from the third grade up! Making my own comics, and novelizing games I used to play, like Pac-Man World 2! I sort of never stopped, but WHAT I wrote matured as I grew older and joined fandom.

27. Are there any writers (fanfiction writers or not) that have inspired you to start writing?

~No, I was writing in general before I knew what fanfiction even was. But what inspired me to start writing fanfiction in particular was reading a Dissidia fic on ff.net by the name of Slash and Burn, that hasn’t updated since 2011. Reading that fic made me realize that the stories and scenarios I was coming up with surrounding these characters I loved could be transcribed and posted, and that other people were doing it too! I simply started writing down what I already was imagining for these characters outside of the events that happened in their games.

28. What’s your favorite fandom to write for?

~Final Fantasy, hands down!

29. Describe your style in three words.

1. Balanced

2. Introspective

3. Natural

30. What would you say is the most ‘famous’ fic you’ve ever written?

~Definitely The Krypt for Mortal Kombat on AO3. Writing for an active fandom is vastly, vastly different than writing for an older, stale one. The Krypt has the most comments and shares. On ff.net, it’s Horrible Bosses.

31. Blurbs or drabbles?

~Drabbles. Flesh it out more! I wanna be more immersed in whatever this is!

32. Have you ever written smut?

~I have written ONE SINGLE SHEEPISH scene in chapter 13 of Horrible Bosses. It was my very first attempt at smut and it is god-awful. Go check it out on AO3 if you want (and can withstand the second-hand embarrassment!)

33. How long does it usually take for you to write?

~LMAO that depends entirely on if I can get started for the day. If I can start and I can stay focused, I’ll easily write 3,000 words in one sitting. If I can start but I’m not focused I can usually still grind out anywhere between 100 - 500 or so words. But I’ll go days without touching Notebook if I can’t even get started.

34. What’s your favorite font to use when writing?

~I don’t put much stock in fonts but the one I’m using now on Notebook is Montserrat. I will change it every so often if I want something new though. Changes in scenery help my focus most times.

35. Which do you prefer to write: longer or shorter fics?

~Longer definitely. Shorter fics are easier but I love the challenges associated with aligning plot points with character development, as well as pacing.

36. how do you keep yourself inspired?

~My love for the fandoms I’m writing for usually does it. I love these universes and characters so much that I want to spend more time with them and watch them grow and change in ways that are or aren’t necessarily spelled out in canon. That, and the idea that since I’m writing stories I would want to read, then I’m the only one who can tell this story in my own way, so it has to be me.

37. Have you ever written something you didn’t like but posted anyway?

~Hell yeah. It be like that sometimes. Sometimes you stare and stare at a chapter and you absolutely hate it but you can’t figure out why and eventually you get pissed and say, “Fuck it, i have to post this to move on,” and you do. Specific examples for me are a few chapters in the new Petal.

38. What is your “strong suit” as a writer?

~I pride myself on my characterizations, to be honest. I feel like I have a good sense of who these characters are based on canon, and I can translate their reactions well to situations that test them.

39. What’s your favorite trope?

~I actually really, really love when characters are injured or slipping physically or emotionally, but they keep it to themselves for the sake of others. It can be for any reason - they don’t want to be a bother, they think they should be strong enough to handle it, etc.

40. How many likes do your fics usually get?

~Depends. The most I’ve gotten on anything was ~70 follows/favorites for Horrible Bosses on ff.net, and 128 kudos on The Krypt on AO3. Those are outliers, for the most part. My more popular fandom fics float around 20 - 40 kudos, my smaller fandom fics float around 5-10. The mean average for AO3 kudos across all my fics is 32, and the mean average for ff.net favorites is 14.

41. Have you ever used a prompt?

~No. it’s very, very hard for me to imagine characters into scenarios that I didn’t myself come up with?? I’m not sure why.

42. What is your weakness as a writer?

~Pacing.

43. Have you ever cried or felt any emotion while reading something you wrote?

~Yes, I cried when I wrote the aftermath of the large battle I talked about earlier, between Cosmos and her warriors in the first version of A Petal Among Thorns.

44. Have you ever done a collab with another writer?

~No, I’m too self-conscious.

45. One thing you love about fanfiction.

~I love how it allows fans to expand upon these worlds and universes that were created for us. I love how it allows us to demonstrate our love by interpreting things that were either not touched or not expanded upon in canon. It also allows me to express myself in a healthy and creative way.

46.  What’s your favorite emotion to cause on your readers?

~Nothing makes a person sexier than physical pain. But I also love anger and regret.

47. What’s your favorite thing about writing?

~See above. Writing fanfiction is another way that I express my love for something that matters so much to me, which are these pieces of media I write for. It also gives my daydreams purpose and doesn’t make me feel like I have to bottle them up!

48. Do you post your writing in any other platforms?

~Yep! AO3, ff.net! I’m Keyblader41996 on both.

49. What app/apps do you use to write (word, notepad, etc.)?

~I’ve got notes all over! I’ve got some in Notepad on my Mac, and I have some in Notebook by Zoho on their site and app, I have some in my paper notebooks, I have some in my college textbook margins and notebooks, etc. My favorite to use is Zoho’s Notebook.

50. One thing you don’t like about fanfiction.

~Thinly veiled, arbitrary and unnecessary bullshit that is masqueraded as “constructive criticism” when I didn’t ask for it, and when it’s easier for the commenter to just, idk, LEAVE THE FUCKING FIC?!?!?!!??!?!?! Rather than spend ALL that time just to be shitty???????????? get away from me.

51. Least favorite trope?

~I dislike time travel.

52. Favorite words to use when writing?

~I love facial descriptions and body language: He crossed his arms. Her eyebrows furrowed. She winked coyly. His fists balled at his sides, trembling. She jumped, clapping her hands enthusiastically. etc.

53. Least favorite words?

~I hate describing clothes and bodies/figures. Hate it.

54. Do you usually like what you write?

~It depends. I cycle through different phases. (1) This is great. (2) Oh god, what the fuck??? is this??? (3) I can’t even look at this, it’s so bad. *Stops writing for days* (4) Wait, why did I hate this so much? It’s a great starting point! (5) Edit (6) YESSS YESSSSSS YASSSSS!!!!!!!! (7) Post

I can start at any one of those numbers and go from there but it’s always in that order no matter where I start.

Thanks so much for asking me these!! I love them!!!

[secret-engima]

I present, in the Little Nox Dissidia: Little Nox is understandably distressed at being in this place again, as a toddler. Noctis would like to register a complaint, as he carefully balanced a baby LC on his hip, this is not how he wanted to discover a long awaited baby brother. SWORD, big sword, why sword, HELP! Ardyn comes down like the wrath of the Astrals manifest to rescue his nephew(s), & Crystal-o-Vision is how the Citadel discovers they have a few LC extra wandering around.

hgfdhgfd YES. Let’s just- let’s just ignore the usual Little Nox age gap and say that Noctis is 17-ish when Nox is like- 5 for this particular Dissidia blurb. Just for the lols.

-Little Nox is ... AWARE that he knows this place. In a dreamlike sort of way, and he knows it is Not Good that he is here. Let’s pretend, for the sake of Drama™, that Nox shows up with like- Materia’s Champions rather than Spiritus’s this once, and Cloud is honestly a very quiet Die�� when he stumbles on this ACTUAL SMOL CHILD staring out at the desert with a wobbling lip and big eyes.

-Cloud awkwardly hauls the kiddo to Materia’s tower and nearly gets the life scared out of him halfway there when Nox starts throwing a mini-tantrum that involves Armiger (that’s a lot of swords that’s TOO MANY SWORDS-). Luckily for Cloud, Nox is not really a tantrum kind of child so it quickly trails off to miserable sniffling.

-Even so, with that display of magic in mind, when Cloud spots Noctis, who looks so similar to the child Cloud is awkwardly holding and also has the blue sparkle magic, Cloud is all too relieved to speed walk over there and plop Nox into a stunned Noctis’s arms with a gruff, “Found your baby brother outside,” and then speed walk off, leaving Noctis to stare in shock-horror-WHAT at the mini him in his arms who is already relaxing into his grip and tangling young magic with Noctis’s, making it utterly unmistakable that YES. This smol child is, in fact, related to Noctis.

-Someone help him.

-Noctis ends up propping Nox on his hip for a while and getting cooed over by the female champions while someone kindly rigs him a backpack/sling thing out of a cape (WoL is happy to donate his cape to the Baby Cause and all the Champions are an Outrage that there is a CHILD HERE. Not like Onion Knight, who knows a sword and is at least 12, but a FIVE YEAR OLD, Materia is apologetic and confused, because she could have sworn she only summoned old souls that knew combat).

-Ardyn, meanwhile, is a Rampage. He quickly scares the living daylights out of 80% of the crazies under Spiritus’s command and recruits a bemused Sephiroth to the Hunt For Darling Nephew (because Ardyn isn’t optimistic enough to believe Nox is still safe and sound in the hotel room they’d been in moments ago) and even Spiritus is wide-eyed at how Feral this new Champion is.

-Noctis does Not want to go out there and fight things with a newly discovered baby brother on his back, but he also wants to get home asap with said baby brother, so he tentatively leaves the tower with a hovering group of Champions trailing around him (which include Lightning, WoL, Cecil, Y’Shtola, and Cloud Nox-keeps-crying-when-I-leave-his-sight-someone-help-me Strife).

-Naturally, a group of Champions that large gather attention and they get attacked.

-Noctis is doing pretty good holding his own, especially since the other Champions are working hard to keep the enemy AWAY FROM THE SMOL CHILD, when one of the Big Guys (what’s his name- Golbez? Exdeath? WoL’s rival) breaks through the line and goes after Noctis as “the weak link”.

-Noctis can barely start to raise his sword when there’s a shockwave of magic so thick and murderous it sense everyone but him to their knees. There’s a flare of red magic and the snap-crack of a warp and suddenly there’s a Murder Hobo in their midst, tearing apart Spiritus’s champions with bared teeth and blood red magic running down his face in a parody of his old Scourge Face.

-Materia’s Champions can only watch as this new coming shreds the opposition like paper and sends them packing, then stands there breathing lightly with a red armiger spinning dangerously around him.

-The wary silence is broken by Nox leaning as far as he can past Noctis’s shoulder, reaching toward the Murder Hobo with a soft, relieved pulse of magic and a little cry of “Uncle!”

-UNCLE? Noctis thinks frantically as the man turns around and stares with that horrible red mask of magic. A blink and the mask is gone and the man is stalking forward, swords tucked away in armiger as he reaches for Nox with a relieved, “Nephew!”

-What.

-What is going on.

-“Ummmm,” says Noctis, shifting a bit to keep Nox out of the man’s grip. The man just blinks at him, then smiles, “Ah, you must be my OTHER nephew!” He doffs his hat and bows, “Ardyn Izunia, at your service. Now if you don’t mind,” He straightens up with a smile that means Death, “Give me back the nephew I’ve been raising since he was a toddler.”

-Not an idiot, Noctis hands Nox over. He can feel Ardyn’s magic swirling around them anyway, all but screaming protective and loving instincts. This man, for all he’s scary and very dangerous, is no threat to Noctis’s baby brother. He’s also Noctis’s uncle? Apparently? Has to be with that magic and his age.

-Noctis is Very Confused, but kinda relieved to have a Murder Hobo Uncle on his side during this insanity.

-Meanwhile, the Chocobros 1.0 who are watching via crystal-o-vision (XD) are all just- this does not compute. This DOES NOT COMPUTE. That is another SON when Regis is certain he did not HAVE another son (a son that looks just like Noctis at that age, eerily so) and now- now the CHANCELLOR OF NIFLHEIM stands before his sons with magic of his own swirling around them and calls little Nox his NEPHEW. That he’s been RAISING.

-It’s Cor who breaks the silence, Cor who remembers the little blond boy he rescued from a lab and puts the pieces together as best he knows how, leaping to the only conclusion that makes SENSE.

-“He’s a clone.”

-And Regis’s world crashes down around his ears.

-All this time ... all this time he’s had a brother, had FAMILY and now he finds that not only is Niflheim’s chancellor his brother but that Niflheim has taken his son’s blood and MADE A CHILD with it.

-Regis is so furious he can barely breathe.

-The Chocobros 1.0 (plus Titus who is an Internal Die™ when he sees what’s happening) watch the Dissidia adventure with bated breath, watch Ardyn fall into Noctis’s orbit as easily as breathing, DOTING on the enemy prince with a whimsy that spoke of menace but with eyes so soft and calm, with magic that makes Noctis’s shoulders ease without thinking, that all Regis can see is a man who loves his nephews more than anything in the world.

-And they listen, too, as Ardyn tells his story (his cover story, anyway) about running away from the Empire with the little clone boy he found, about how Ardyn himself had been tortured by “Regis’s predecessor” (this only spoken of after a nasty fire spell ruins his shirts and reveals his scars).

-By the time they are all sent back, Noctis showing up in the Citadel and Ardyn and Nox back in their hotel far away, Regis and Co are fully on the warpath and ready to bring the wayward LCs safe home.

[icharchivist]

One thing I'll be curious about is how FF7 handles the love triangle. I've more or less known several other canon sources throughout the years regarding it. It seems like older stuff had it that both woman were in love with Cloud (while keeping Cloud's feelings vague) and downplayed Aerith's feelings for Zack. However in more modern times it seems like crew is making the Tifa options canon (where Aerith decided she loved Cloud but was still in live with Zack). Dissidia had a big section -

2 of backstory in the sequel devoted to showing how much Cloud valued Tifa. He didn't remember her and was on the enemy side. But when meeting her he refused to hurt her. Not only that after talking to her he goes straight to his evil god boss and dies fighting him (which makes the makes goddess promise to get Cloud on her side next time). Then in KH it's Tifa who represents Cloud's light and opposes Sephiroth w/him. Other sources just show them together a lot. Of course CC spent a lot of -

3 time developing and showing just how much Aerith and Zack were in love with each other. Not to mention even way back in Advent Children we saw them walking off together in death while Tifa and Cloud are happy together in life (raising kids to boot). Even the latest FF7 remake seems to take advantage of the graphics to have Aerith notice Zack's sword as a way to show why she's following a visibly disinterested Cloud. Point is if there's no dialogue options I wonder if Tifa options are canon?

Okay don’t get me wrong, ff7 is fun and i love to discuss it, but also i tend to... Erg. Be less up overanalysing canon than I am with others media xDD

I’m also a diehard Cloud/Zack & Aerith/Tifa shipper and I have MAJOR bias there and tbh I don’t really feel like trying to be unbiased, canon is dead. 

I’ve also not really followed others stories that aren’t into the compilation to start with (so all of KH/Dissidia stuff are things I didn’t follow- Although i’d say i’m almost certain the only things FFVII and the rest have in common are Nomura but now the whole team of the Original Game is back, so whatever Nomura might have developped in his own games could be overhauled by the others developpers) so I can only go with the vague stuff there. 

And for CC oh my actually don’t get me started about it i have a lot of grips with how the Zack/Aerith romance was handled. (they are CUTE and I like them together, but CC kinda ruined all good faith i had in taking it canon by making everything that makes Aerith’s personality coming from Zack. But that’s Tabata’s directing for you. Overshadowing what is... Cloud’s plotline because developping women is hard.)

so personally I kiiinda fear how much they will put on the new content into the Remake, because it can be for the best... and for the worst. Just like you i’m really worried about the lack of different answers too - I think it was probably just the eyecandy for the trailer but even there it... doesn’t even go like the actual scene that gives you Aerith’s points (if you shut Aerith away in the OG she... leaves lmao, not runs after Cloud). I HOPE it is just for the trailer and the option is still there.

My problem, bc i’m a nippicky bastard, is that the choices aren’t just about whenever you end up dating Tifa or Aerith (or Yuffie or Barret for that matter since they are still options). It’s about the kind of person Cloud pretends to be at that moment, the sort of persona he pulls on, and losing the choice means losing the fact Cloud’s identity crisis is a gameplay mechanism ahah.

As for Aerith noticing the sword, YEAH so- We know when Cloud falls into the Church (exactly like Zack in CC, Aerith must have had her own “what the FUCK” crisis when this happened), when Aerith and Cloud run together, Aerith already starts hinting at Zack. I don’t remember if she brings up the sword but she brings up the eyes and the outfit and vaguely mentioning someone in Soldier, and we know the very next day she brings Cloud onto the place of Zack and her’s first date and talk more about him. All to say, Aerith noticed right away once Cloud fell from her roof that there was something fishy about him reminding her of Zack.In a way it makes more sense that the moment she sees Cloud (eyes+clothes+sword) it would click in her head. Aerith is smart after all. 

So even if i’m concerned about Aerith chasing Cloud in the trailer while she wouldn’t have done it in the OG, it does fit with what we know later in the OG was something she questioned herself about the whole time after her second appearance. 

As for however the love triangle gets handled, whatever happen we lose. The shipwar will come back and there will be OG purist and Remake purist, if it’s vague people will still tear themselves to shred, if it gives more confirmation toward one ship than another they will still tear themselves to shred. 

As for the date options, I think they will still be opened to interpretation. I don’t know if it was an announcement for the remaster on PS4 or if it was an announcement for the remake but i’ve seen them mention an achievement of “Most Epic Bromance” if you manage to unlock the Barret’s date. I’m almost certain i’ve seen it in the idea of the remake though so if Barret’s date remains available, Tifa and Aerith’s should both have their own questline as well. 

Honestly the game (and additions to the compilation) have remained vague enough that you litterally can interpret the routes however you want when the romance doesn’t specifically gets triggered. For exemple I can totally say Aerith was curious about Cloud because of the Zack stuff and Tifa was mostly concerned for Cloud since she found him homeless and with a madeup story about Nibelheim that worked too well with her version of the facts. And of course both ended up caring for him as a friend after that. the OG at least made it as such as I can totally see them as platonic if i want to (which i do.). 

And for AC i mean. Yeah sure I see your point, but I personally will still se it as platonic, because if only, Tifa and Cloud are survivors who both have similar damages (from the OG to Nibelheim to doubting the events of Nibelheim), and because Zack and Aerith are both dead and well. Can’t hang out with anyone else. Of course those are all as good reasons to ship them, don’t get me wrong!! Yeah I see  how it can be interpreted as romantic there. I’m just not interested in reading them as romance as far as it goes. I find value in Tifa and Cloud living together and trying to mend their lives in a perfect platonic way, and Aerith and Zack looking out in the afterlife. What you won’t take away from me is that they’re all fRIENDs (orwellCCcouldhavegivenusmoreZackTifatime) and they deserved better. Because I have an unbashed bias and I don’t care about looking out of it with ffvii dkjhfdkjfh. 

That SAID i truly insist, i feel like all ships are perfectly valid and that’s why i like the vagueness of at least OG and AC as far as it goes. There’s a bit of everything people can care about for every dynamics and that’s so cool that it exists, and in the end i mean. It doesn’t matter what’s canon or not, the only thing that matters is for you to find the dynamic that ring with you and make you think “i like to explore this one and see them explore it”. Which is why the vagueness is great, it gives so much advantage in all of this.

and I hOPE this vagueness remains in the remake. If only because I will not bear any talks about “[ship] is canon how dare you dislike it” and “[canon] made a terrible decision that betrayled the OG”. I know it’s coming. I am not looking forward to it. 

.... Basically yeah I am. not the kind to be overreading ff7 and when it comes to ship i do not care what is canon or not, just want the game to keep it vague enough that people don’t add the remake to the weapons they use against each other already ahah

[secret-engima]

Ever since you mentioned Ace and Nox meeting I literally cannot stop thinking about it because Ace would just. Be so confused about Nox existing. (Also I'm just seeing Tredd or Luche introducing Nox to Ace's cooking)

OHHHH OH YES THAT. I’ve been meaning to do something with that *rolls up sleeves* HERE WE GO THEN:

IN CANON, Noctis has something of a …. Talent for either stumbling into other dimensions of meeting them (the hiso hiso and the miqo’te lady side quests, as well as Dissidia NT if you wanna count that which I DO) and Ace has something of a penchant for running to trouble because honestly the Astrals need entertainment from somewhere and apparently they don’t get cable or streaming in that blue Void of theirs. So the way I see it- either Nox accidentally goes to Ace’s universe for a few days, or Ace accidentally goes to Nox’s for a few days.

Because I love both ideas, I shall do both. This is gonna get Very Long™ (edit: It’s almost 3k words WHAT IN THE WORLD ME-).

Option One: In Which Nox Really Needs To Watch His Step More and Axis and Fem!Nyx Get Dragged Into Things.

-It starts when Nox trips. Seriously. That’s how it starts. Nox trips and Something Happens in the split second his best friend and his girlfriend/wife grab his arms to steady him and then- they’re falling. Like- seriously falling. Falling from 10+ stories up kinda falling and Axis is cursing the entire time Nyx grabs Axis and warps to the relative safety of one rooftop, expecting Nox to do the same. He does, but he misjudges the threshold of Impact Resistance that the roof he lands on holds (that or the Astrals are laughing at him again). It breaks under him and he topples down in a crash of magic and debris onto a slightly cushy landing of broken crates (hey better than concrete or solid ice) and … glass?

-Why are his clothes soaked with what looks but does not smell or feel like blood?

-He is just pondering this quandary (is this whiskey? It smells like whiskey did he just crash through the roof of a bar?) when the door to the storeroom in which he’s landed slams open and in rushes a very unhappy looking Galahdian with a very large knife and braids in a style he doesn’t recognize. The Galahdian stares at him with wide, vaguely disbelieving eyes, Nox barely refrains from summoning a knife of his own (he’s not a threat, he’s a Galahdian twice-over now and Axis insists that means no Galahdian in their right mind will try to hurt him without due provocation).

-(He really hopes accidentally falling through the ceiling and ruining who knows how much whiskey/wine/whatever doesn’t count as due provocation.)

-Thankfully, all the stranger does is slowly sheath his knife and look both exasperated and amused, “Care to explain what just happened?” He says and something inside Nox … jolts.

-Nox swears he hears the low whispers of thunder and magic in the man’s voice, buried as it is under a veil of humanity and normalcy. But surely that’s his imagination.

-Nox pries himself free of the rubble and ruined alcohol, inwardly mourning his no-doubt ruined clothes (they’d been so comfy too) and the stranger looks sympathetic as Nox futilely tries to wring a bit of the alcohol out of his sleeves as he answers, “I have … honestly no idea.” Because weird as his life is, even he usually doesn’t take a step forward, trip and somehow go from inside the Citadel to somewhere in the … he’s going to assume he’s in the Galahdian district because this is a bar with a Galahdian worker (owner?). The last time he blinked and went from one place to somewhere drastically different had been-.

-Dissidia. The Hiso Hiso.

-Astrals please no.

-Nox looks up and can hear the slight beg in his voice as he says, “Please tell me I’m still in Insomnia during the reign of King Regis Lucis Caelum.”

-The stranger’s eyebrows go up almost to his hairline (which is a fair reaction to his question) but answers, “….Yes?”

-Oh good. Now to figure out if he was in his Insomnia or some kind of parallel dimension because at this point he’s not very optimistic on his odds.

-He opens his mouth to make his excuses and get out of there when the stranger cuts him off with a bemused, “Need a new shirt? You can borrow one of mine.”

-He blinks, narrows his eyes in instinctive suspicion, “Why would you help me?”

-“You’re a kid,” points out the amused man, “and a Galahdian.”

-Nox refrains from pointing out that he’s nineteen and technically married, because a new shirt sounds nice and this is the one day he didn’t pack a spare outfit in his armiger. The man takes him to a different room of the definitely-a-bar and produces a spare shirt (short-sleeved unfortunately but Nox will take what he can get) from somewhere, which Nox takes gratefully. His pants are still a mess, but at least he doesn’t smell so strongly of whiskey. He’s thanks the man (who introduces himself simply as Ace) profusely and offers to try to pay for the damages (not like he can’t afford it with a prince’s allowance). Ace turns him down with a shake of his head, reaches out to lightly touch Nox’s elbow (the man hasn’t commented on the scars the t-shirt reveals, Nox is grateful for that too).

-The moment they make contact, the world turns blue and violet. Nox can feel the other man’s magic, pulsing under his skin like the tooth-shaking rumble of thunder and the flicker of lightning in the far distance, taste the ozone on his tongue and feel the jungle rains Nyx speaks of so fondly. Ace’s magic feels like the jungle and the wilds and yet also like the soft snows that settle over a battlefield after the bodies have cooled and Nox’s gaze snaps around in astonishment. He can’t stop himself from reaching out with his own magic in greeting-curiosity-shock toward this- this other Lucis Caelum (sibling? Is he in his home dimension or another’s? Is this man his brother or someone who was never born in Nox’s world?).

-(To Ace, the teen he’s just touched suddenly seems to burn like a star barely captured in flesh, his eyes glow red and Ace can taste blood on his tongue, feel it drip down his chest from the gaping sword wound he knows isn’t there. He can feel the teen’s magic, like crushing ocean depths and the broken, too-deep hush of old ruins. He can feel ash caking his skin like being back in the rubble of his home village. In the back of his mind he recoils, because soul is magic and magic is soul and this teenager’s is a blood-stained, centuries old battlefield).

-They both stare at each other for what feels like too long and not enough before Ace jerks his hand away like he’s been burned (maybe he has, Nox’s magic is still too much for his skin sometimes, still lashes out when he’s too startled to stop it). Ace cradles his hand and curls his magic so tight into his soul Nox can barely feel it (wouldn’t feel it if he didn’t already know it was there). “Well,” Ace manages after several more seconds of mutual staring, “I wasn’t … expecting that.”

-Nox blinks twice, feels realization settle in his bones, “You don’t want anyone else to know.” He can feel it in the way Ace is hiding himself, see it in the wary glint of silver eyes. He understands perfectly. He hid from Regis too for as long as he could.

-Ace laughs a little breathlessly, “You don’t?”

-Nox isn’t given a chance to answer, because that’s right when Nyx and Axis finally figure out where he is and how to get there without jumping through the hole he left in the bar roof.

-He can hear Axis flinging open the door to the bar and Nox is instantly grateful that it’s empty of everyone but him and Ace because his Shield almost bellows through the empty building, “Nox. Izunia. Lucis. Caelum. Arra. Ulric.” Nox hunches his shoulders, hears Ace sputter beside him in confusion at the ridiculous number of last names Axis used.

-“In here, Axis.”

-Axis and Nyx poke their heads in the back and Ace’s sputtering gets louder, then quiets as Axis storms over and slaps Nox across the back of his head and snarls, “What did you just do?”

-“Fell through the roof of a bar and made a new friend,” Nox snarks back past the sting in the back of his head, “Axis, Nyx, this is Ace, Ace, this is my friend and my wife, Axis Arra and Nyx Ulric.”

-Ace definitely makes a strangled, confused noise, silver eyes wide before he takes a deep breath, exhales slowly, and announces, “I’m getting everyone a drink. Go sit at the bar.”

-Ten minutes later, the bar’s sign reads “closed”, Ace has gotten everyone drinks and served up some kind of Galahdian dish too spicy to be healthy (but one Nox loves anyway, this guy is a great cook), and they’ve all concluded that Nox straight up tripped into a parallel dimension and dragged Axis and Nyx along with him. Because Ace is certain that he knows Axis Arra and Nyx Ulric and they should know him (he also gives Nyx several looks that are a mix of horrified, confused, and extremely amused, which Nox doesn’t get at all).

-Apparently, Ace is the result of Regis and a Galahdian woman having a night, no, he has not told anyone else, and yes, he really would like that to stay a secret. Nox has no qualms with that, Axis just smacks Nox over the head again because parallel dimension and Nyx stares maybe too intently at Ace’s braids.

-Because apparently braid meanings and symbols are a bit different in this dimension. Or something. And it’s confusing Nyx to no end.

-“So,” Axis sighs finally once his temper has been settled, “what do we do now?”

-Nox shrugs, “Don’t get killed, don’t make trouble, and wait for either one of our Astrals to come fix it or for it to wear off on its own. These things never usually last long.”

-Axis, Nyx, and Ace all stare at him before Nyx sighs into her hands, “Nox. Babe. Love of my life. Tell me you did not just imply that this is a normal thing for you.”

-“Well- I wouldn’t say normal but….” Axis turns to look Ace straight in the eye, without a word, Ace passes over something much stronger than before. Nox feels vaguely insulted. He’s not that bad is he?

-It takes three days and one very annoyed Shiva (apparently the Astrals of this universe barring Ramuh are jerks?) for the “Trip” to wear off, during which Nox, Axis, and Nyx all lie low at Ace’s place. And by “laying low” what Nox really means is stay well away from the Citadel and any potential Dad Confusion and get gawked at by the various glaives that visit Ace’s bar. There’s no hiding that Axis is from another dimension, though Nox takes care not to go by Lucis Caelum or Izunia around them, just Ulric (which, of course, gets him stared at even more than being an LC, though not as much as his Nyx gets stared at, because Nyx is a guy here and apparently seeing a female Nyx is breaking everyone’s brain. The Libertus of this world just about has a heart attack when he comes in and sees two Nyx’s of opposite sexes staring each other down with trouble-making grins).

-(Nox was the only one who didn’t choke on his drink when his Nyx cheerfully announced to all and sundry that her counterpart was hot and clearly anyone would be lucky to land a date with him. Axis dryly pointed out that it still counted as narcissism if you complemented your counterpart, Nyx just laughed and flopped onto Nox’s legs like she was queen and he was her throne, which made the male Nyx stare and Ace crack up laughing).

-Eventually though, the Trip wears off and they find themselves back in the Citadel with an adventure to tell and a bunch of Very Panicked Adults who want to know how they disappeared for a week and why (and a list of names to check because Nyx might never have met an Ace in her childhood, but that didn’t mean one might not exist and Nox is nothing but thorough about his family).

Option Two: In Which Ace Has A Very Strange Week

-Ace has gotten used to the fact that life (the Astrals) like to mess with him. It’s just- it’s a thing. It’s a thing he hates but there it is.

-But he’s still not used to the entire world glitching out around him like a video game, tripping on air and then landing not in his apartment where he was standing five seconds ago but on the marble floors of-

-The Citadel.

-Great.

-Ace scrambles to his feet, hoping against hope he can sneak out before whatever trouble is coming next can find him, only to hear someone order him to hold still and explain his arrival, look up and see-

-Nyx?

-No wait. This was a woman. A woman who could have been Nyx’s twin, but a woman.

-W h a t ?

-The woman appears to be of similar opinion, eyeing him in confusion before glancing at the other person in the room, “Friend of yours, Nox?”

-Magic swells over him as Ace turns to look at the “Nox” person and he has maybe five seconds to register the inhumanly old gaze and the angry claws of magic sinking into his skin before his own magic reacts against his will, shoves outward in a flicker of violet and ghostly royal arms. It’s not, creepily enough, enough to shake off the foreign magic, but it is enough to startle the Lucis Caelum he doesn’t recognize into backing down. Red eyes turn blue and blink at him while Ace struggles not to swear a blue streak at revealing himself in the Citadel, then the strange Lucis Caelum says, “Oh. You’re not from around here. Let me guess, the world glitched out, or you tripped on thin air, or something happened and now you’re not where you were a few seconds ago?”

-Ace decides he both does and doesn’t want to know how this guy knows that and stiffly nods. The teen (Nox? He was pretty sure this guy’s name was Nox) nodded back, looking far to calm for the situation, and turns to the Nyx look-alike, “Come on then. He can slum at your place until we sort this out.”

-The woman raises her eyebrows in a miffed expression that Ace … knows (oh no. Oh no-no-no this better not be what he thinks this is, his life is not a sci-fi show and this better not be that one episode those kinds of stupid dramas always throw in-), “I’m sorry, when did we agree on that?”

-“The alternative is to stand here and get caught and then explain to my father that no, he doesn’t actually have yet another illegitimate son running around. What’s your preference?”

-They go to the woman’s apartment.

-It’s Nyx’s apartment.

-Same address and nicknacks and everything. Just … missing all traces of Selena or Ace himself. There’s only a few traces of Lib and some scattered objects that clearly represent someone, but Ace doesn’t know who (he has a nasty suspicion its the teen in charge of this escape, the one with long black hair and strong magic and several braids that look a lot like Arra and Ulric braids but … off somehow).

-In the safety of the apartment that is Nyx’s but not, Nox introduces himself, then introduces the woman as … Nyx Ulric.

-Ace maybe gets weird looks from them when he gives into the urge to swear. Because really? REALLY? This is his life now.

-Nox gives him a sympathetic look and a pat on the shoulder and promises to have Shiva sort things out (then shrugs off the stares Nyx and Ace give him at the casual implication that he can boss around an Astral or three). Nyx shrugs and says Ace is free to take the couch, but only if he tells her stories about his world, once Nox and Ace convince her that yes Ace is from another world.

-Naturally, because fate hates Ace, the Libertus of this world walks in on them in the middle of their plotting. Libertus is even more skeptical about a “Lucis Caelum from another world” but Ace has pictures of him and Nyx and Lib and those plus his braids (which are similar but also not to the Galahdian braids they are used to) is enough to sway him.

-It takes a week for Nox and apparently the rest of this dimension’s Astrals to sort everything out (Nox comes back to the apartment at one point snarling about wanting to kick dragon tail and roast fish innards, Ace can relate), during which Libertus and Fem!Nyx alternate between tiptoeing around him and pestering for information (Nyx goes … very, very quiet when Ace asks about her Selena. Ace doesn’t ask again, and is grateful when Nyx lets herself be distracted with pictures of her counterpart)

-(“I’m hot,” she announces smugly, “Lib you owe me twenty gil.” To which Lib sputters, because apparently that bet had been made five years ago when drunk and could not be expected to be valid because really what are the chances of running into an alternate dimension Lucis Caelum that knows a male Nyx? Fem!Nyx gets her money anyway with a mischievous grin that makes Ace ache a little inside).

-Nox, who is far more entertaining to be around than Ace expected another Lucis Caelum to be, finally gets things sorted out and arranged for his return. Ace shows up at his proper apartment a week after tripping into another world and is instantly mobbed by a frantic Lib, Nyx, and Selena who do not believe him about parallel worlds until Ace whips out the photos and phone recordings he got.

-(“Huh,” Nyx breaches the silence after they’ve all seen the video other!Libertus took for him of Fem!Nyx and Nox kicking each other around a training ground, “I’m hot.” Ace laughs, Lib just groans and slaps Nyx on the back of the head because that’s not the issue here, Nyx.)