#ffxiv creative writing

[cartersarts]

Born from darkness, armed for chaos. Let the underworld tremble. DM for commissions 🎨🖌️

[wundergeek]

Aymeric is the jock version of G'raha Tia.

Charismatic. From a distinguished lineage. Leader of a nation. OBSESSED WITH ME. Also, captain of the football team and Homecoming King.

So G'raha literally does dimensional time travel to save the WoL and STILL thinks he would never have a shot.

Meanwhile, Aymeric DEFINITELY at some point was like: hey can I suck your dick, like, platonically? No romo

[endmerit]

I've been thinking a lot recently about what the different narrative themes of Final Fantasy XIV's expansions are.

While the base-game of A Realm Reborn has a story where a lot of rebuilding is happening (which is also appropriate considering the game's out-of-universe situation back then), I still wouldn't say that it has a strong narrative theme of rebuilding... but at the same time, beyond just establishing the world and the story's antagonistic forces and putting all the wheels in motion, I guess the theme of rebuilding and "By striving to help people around us and to unite with our neighbors we can not only stand against bigger common foes, but also improve all of our own day-to-day lives." is the strongest thing it has going for it. Striving to improve society somewhat can improve society somewhat.

For Heavensward, while there is that on-point Tweet of "Church sucks because they won't let you fuck dragons!", and while someone with a cynical and dry sense of wit could go with "Christianity has always been and still is oppressive, destructive and outright evil to everyone both within its system and outside it, and we should kill the Pope.", I think the healthier themes to take are along the lines of "Cycle of revenge will at best lead to mutual destruction, but definitely to your own one at the least.", and "Power either corrupts leaders who cling to it, which leads to further destruction, or they manage to stay humble enough to allow younger generations to build bridges and settle old grudges." ...but to be fair, both sides of Heavensward's conflict have such outlandishly evil leaders that simply killing just both of them does most of the heavy lifting of ending a literal 1000-year conflict, so you know.

Stormblood, I think, has easier theme to pin: It's about generational trauma caused by war and its aftermath. Stormblood's story takes place in 2 different nations that have been conquered only about 20 years ago, which means that while the older generations still remember the days of freedom and have understandable reason to hate the oppressing foreign regime, there's already a full generation of children and young adults who have grown up knowing only this rule and trying to make the most of their lives under it. This then starts the spiral of old guard hating the youth for "betraying their nation and families" and young generation growing hateful towards the old guard because of it and further siding with the oppressing regime. This premise takes Realm Reborn's and Heavensward's constant background-theme of "United we stand" and writes itself as far to the other direction as the writers can take it with "When a nation turns against itself, and its generations against each other, it is doomed to fall to its enemies." It's a heavy expansion full of people who hate each other and their lot in life and even now, years down the line, it's still feel-bad to think about.

Shadowbringers, while mine and many others' favourite expansion, I had to think a lot what the main theme to take actually was. On a more surface-level the story dares to ask questions like "What if angels were actually zombies?", "Even if it seems hopeless from the get-go, you should always try to settle your differences with talking first." and "How many millions of people is it okay to murder if the reward is a return to 'The Good Old Days'?" ...but at the end of the day I think the key-word of the expansion is Legacy. Something along the lines of "You can't fully grasp how important and loved you are to the people you have touched in your life with your every seemingly small kindness, and how far they would go in a heartbeat to save you, just like you have already saved them." ...told from couple of very different directions.

Endwalker then has the unenviable challenges of not only holding a candle to the previous expansion, but altogether wrapping up the "Main" plot that's been built up for almost a decade, while still having its own thing to say... and it comes in swinging AND sticks the landing by first asking an all-too-relatable question of "Does anyone know where to find any happiness and reason to live? Every day I look for them but all I find is more despair and suffering everywhere." and then giving its own answer of "It's the little things that make life worth living. Find your strength and source of hope against world's daily despairs from the friends around you, because if you shut yourself off from everyone, you can't expect others to care about you either." Additionally, especially the theme of "Try to trust in others enough to both offer AND accept help when it's needed." plays a heavy part in the patch-story, but the main takeaway is that Endwalker's theme is a bit more complicated than simply "Get rid of Twitter, your life will improve."

Which brings us to where we are now, still close enough after Dawntrail's release that I'll do the compromised courtesy of trying to keep details vague instead of outright spoiling them. I don't think it's a controversial opinion that the first and second half of the 7.0 story felt quite separated from each other, and it took me a long time to think about this expansion's connecting theme, but ultimately I think the story has 3 different takes to the theme of "You have to let go." First take of that theme comes from Wuk Lamat's journey in the first half, and how in every new location she (and other groups involved) visit and people they meet, she is further taught that "In order to live in peace with all the communities and cultures around you, you cannot be unreasonably rigid in doing things exactly your way, ignoring the lives and opinions of people around you just because you think you know better. You have to have some flexibility." In the second half, then, the theme is expanded upon via 2 other authority-figures, first of whom does the exact opposite of what Wuk Lamat learned in the first half and DOES ignore everyone around him, "Fighting only for myself", failing to learn and acknowledge that "From the day you were born, no matter who your family is, you had no need to prove your right to exist. Only you can let go of that idea if you feel like you do, no-one can do it for you." ...and then, while the 3rd person also has the Shadowbringers' theme of "Try and reach a solution with talking, even if it seems hopeless at first" going on, they also carry the most straight-forward version of the main theme with them, that being "You have to accept that all living things will eventually die, you cannot keep paying higher and higher price of never accepting it."

...that said though, what with all the magic and magical technology and everything else already established in the game's setting, the last stretch of the main expansion's story does muddle that last theme a bit with reasonable questions like "Really, we decided to solve the problem like that!? Couldn't we really have been able to improve upon the old existing solution to keep paying that higher and higher price??" which... would then have no doubt started a very different, also very questionable for different reasons, moral path. Regardless, I think there's currently something of a divide with the themes and in-universe realities in the game's story which, I have to assume, will be expanded upon in the upcoming patch-stories.

[captainkurosolaire]

Your Devoted Page

Dear, Casta

Should upon when this reaches you, my beloved hearty. It's within my deepest crestfallen, I've failed t' keep your original journal held intact. Found out th' traitor upon our vessel was no other than, Sol. I should've foresaw his dark-nimbus; now I'm left missing another brother and a broken-family, scattered across th' realm. As you're aware perhaps, choosing to document our Crew's journey alongside, mine. I recall when you said I was your protagonist and explained to me their unique-powers in stories. ...Remember? Me running out the next 'morrow, and getting n' a dastardly tavern brawl t' my near-death, thinking plot-armor made me invincible? Earning Judas's ire for both ov' us, yet we laughed in joy, sharing a memory-made. ...See, I know you think, you b' just ordinary, times may feel you're an outcast upon these voyages, especially amongst th' company ov' this Wild Crew I strung along. Though again... strength you usher, you mend n' stitch others, you've Captaineered these sentiments. If weren't fer you, I'd surely b' wrecking havoc monstrously, cruel to its favor. Hardest thing fer me, was leaving th' Land behind, those who've I grown knowing upon my time, stranded, forming around them. Unlike n' this expansive-tumbling tides ov' sea life... It's different. We're molded by nature required by daily survival, we become grizzly, beastly, our teeth, claws, reinforced. 'Till tyme for our placed feet to own anywhere, we conquer taking our lessons ov' seas, skies, desert, and utilize devouring moments. Claiming what's denied. Ov' Bold n' Free, we are. However in yer company, stead, I've a rare opportunity t' take those lovers of land, with me. You're a messaged-bottle; a reminder, keeping th' rabidness from taking-hold. My humanity cannot b' extinguished with you. I've saw to restoring th' journal to forged identical perfection with extra-upgrades fer th' problems, this page is dedicated as yours, alone. You-mean th' heart to me. Additionally I've noticed there's many stories, untold... So I've seized liberty to give you my Stories of Origination, following Passages of One. We've lots of similarities you may-find in revelations... My failures, sins, bringing... May this Dawn have confession, may we find closure in unity, we'll breathe together our flaws, leaving only our marvels! Against these anchored weights only recently, you Crew of Gold, have begun helping relieve and restore t' myself of what I may become... When reunited next, I'll have spoil knowledge, setting out learning who my Mother was n' pursuit and hope searching for my discovery along the missing final answers. Then becoming Th' Captain who shall sail th' Fates themselves and ferry destination ov' all your worldly dreams. Formerly t' my treasured, Yours fondly, - Captain Kuro Solaire

[Prev:Chapter]: Ill-Fated, Sadness - ♪"Past-Lives"♪

[silentarborinah]

Svo hljótt

“Inah!” Tataru exclaimed, clearly taken aback, “I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon. No one was.”

Inah gives her a small, knowing smile. “Yes, time works in the strangest of ways.”

Tartaru moves in closer, inspecting her. She says, quieter, “You look exhausted.”

Again, trying to play off the intense fatigue she feels in every fiber of her being, Inah lets out a small, dismissive laugh, “I suppose it was a long journey.”

She hates the concerned look Tataru gives her, as if she can see straight through her posturing. Then again, she probably can.

“Your eyes…”

Inah immediately looks away. She's not used to the change herself. The gradual lightening of the color a physical manifestation of the strain her body was under. Of her anxieties. Of her near catastrophic failure. She had hoped that the light being expunged from her body would return the dark, forest green, but it didn't. She is now left with a permanent reminder.

Tataru must sense the shift, as she reaches out, grabbing Inah's hand. It's comforting, it reminds Inah of Ferah, how she would silently hold Inah's hand whenever she was nervous, but didnt want to show it. That only makes her feel worse. Would any of her family members even recognize her?

“Come, let's get you into a room to rest. I can brush your hair, if you'd like. It looks a little tangled from the journey.” Tataru smiles gently up at her.

Swallowing down the anxiety knotted in her throat, Inah nods, following Tataru further into the Rising Stones.

She's not even entirely sure why this anxiety lingers, or what specifically she is so anxious about. Maybe it's a culmination of everything she has gone through, still so recent and raw. Maybe it's her eyes—that no matter how long she stares at herself in the mirror, she can't see the young, excited adventurer that was once there.

The moment she settles down on the edge of the bed, Inah feels the weight of her exhaustion. She practically melts down into the mattress below, using all her remaining energy to stay sitting upright.

Tataru grabs a hairbrush from the vanity before making her way over to sit behind Inah. Slowly and gently, she begins to work her way through a long section of her hair.

Until she suddenly stops.

“Inah, have—well, your hair…”

Her heart starts to race.

“I'm sorry, it just, it doesn't feel right. It feels fried.”

Inah clenches her eyes shut, forcing the tears not to fall. “What should I do?” Her hands clench together, feeling her nails digging into the backs of her hands.

“Well,” Tataru starts, running her hands through her hair, focusing on the roots, “The good news is the new growth seems perfectly healthy and smooth. So for now, we can cut the dead hair away and let it grow back out.”

Inah feels herself freeze. She has rarely ever received haircuts, and they were always the lightest trims from Ferah. Her stomach thrashes, this can't be happening.

Then she reaches out, running a small piece through her hands, and feels the damage left behind, no doubt from The light. It's dried and course and frizzy—all characteristics that could never be attributed to her hair prior

“The roots, they seem healthy?” Inah practically chokes out.

“Yes, it seems like the newer hair is fine. We'll just have to watch it closely, but I think it might grow back healthy again.”

Moments of silence stretch between them. Finally, Inah lets out a deep, ragged breath.

“We can cut it.”

Tataru squeezes her shoulder in support before going to get some scissors.

“I'll do my best to make it super cute,” Tataru says, giving Inah her most supportive smile before settling behind her again.

“I know you will,” Inah whispers back, body barely trembling.

As soon as the first long section falls to the floor, the tears finally come in ugly, body-wracking sobs.

And by the end, when all the tears have dried and hair has been cut, Tataru passes over a hand mirror. Inah truly doesn't recognize herself, and not because her hair is now shorter and her eyes a different shade of green, but because the person staring back at her looks so sad, so tired, so broken.

“I know it's pretty different,” Tataru gives her shoulders another comforting squeeze, “But despite everything, it's still you.”

[avampyone]

FFXIVWrite 2024 Master list

I held off on creating a master list initially since I wasn't 100% certain I would be able to finish these. I was going through stressful RL situations last year and wasn't able to complete it then- I'm glad to be in a better place to do so this year!

------------

Prompt #1: Steer - A New Path

Prompt #2: Horizon - In His Snare

Prompt #3: Tempest - Of Love and Duty

Prompt #4: Reticent - The Wingman

Prompt #5: Stamp - Letter from the Lost Days

Prompt #6: Halcyon - A Visitor at Dusk

Prompt #7: Morsel - Serendipity

Prompt #8: Brain rest day

Prompt #9: Lend an Ear - The Outsider

Prompt #10: Stable - Synthesis Failed

Prompt #11: Surrogate - Never Forgotten

Prompt #12: Quarry - Promise

Prompt #13: Butte - The Prime Suspect

Prompt #14: Telling - Haunted

Prompt #15: Brain rest day

Prompt #16: Third-rate - Wayward Son

Prompt #17: Sally - The Night's Embrace

Prompt #18: Hackneyed - Unexpected Meeting

Prompt #19: Taken - A Little Warmth

Prompt #20: Duel - The Dreamers

Prompt #21: Shade - A Long-awaited Reunion

Prompt #22: Brain rest day

Prompt #23: On Cloud Nine: The Last Waltz

Prompt #24: Bar: More Mezcal

Prompt #25: Perpetuity: Aesthete

Prompt #26: Zip - Camouflage

Prompt #27: Memory - Beguiling Dark

Prompt #28: Deleterious - Rendezvous

Prompt #29: Brain rest day

Prompt #30: Two Heads Are Better Than One: Serenity

[chaosmagetwin]

Tanya, my OC from ff14 and thoughts

Some spoilers ahead for each of the expansions, up through Endwalker.

Original Tanya (name unknown) was a Viera conjurer Adventurer from Gridania during the Battle of Carteneau. She witnessed the fall of Dalamud directly, and saw the original Warrior of Light (though she forgot them, as everyone else did, except for the ring of light). She was within the main host of the Grand Eorzean Alliance Army. Unfortunately, OT did not survive the fall of Dalamud. Her body, among others, was recovered by a surviving squad of the Lambs of Dalamud, but they were unaware that the fight was over. At this point, Tanya was summoned into the corpse of the Viera, and given life. 

Whether the voidsent was inexperienced, weak, incapable, or whether the Viera's latent White Mage power briefly awakened is unclear, the Viera's soul and the voidsent merged into one creature, completely new, with the memories of neither. The body also mutated, gaining the black horns of an Archdemon, and marred black hands that looked as if they had been stained by tar. Tanya, as she would come to call herself (unaware of the proper naming conventions of Viera), was used by the Lambs of Dalamud as a proficient fighter and, after some time, thaumaturge. She was taught that she was a weapon, a creation intended for nothing more than violence.

During this time period, she murdered, stole, and made sacrifices to a god she didn't know or appreciate. However, due to being a creation (however flawed) of the Lambs, she was often given work that others didn't want to do... including taking care of sacrifices until the time of their execution. No one sacrifice changed her mind, but the combination of several made her question what she knew. Despite this, she didn't leave the Lambs of Dalamud until nearly 4 years later. She spent the final year before "A Realm Reborn", learning how people really lived within Eorzea, more or less wandering; at times she killed to protect herself, at other times because she felt drawn to it, like there was a hunger. She ended up in Ul'dah, after learning how to glam her horns and hands (at least temporarily) and became an adventurer professionally, seeking to use it as a way to learn more about the world, and continue exploring without being questioned for her reasons. It was also a way for her to continue what she see's as her purpose; violence. At this time, she yearns to be useful, to put her skills to use for society.

As the story progresses, Tanya learns a few things about herself - being what she is, she is impossible to temper. Her internal aether is weak(it grows over time), but she does have access to drawing in aether from her surroundings passively and actively; one of the active ways in which she can draw in aether is vampiric. Unlike Minfilia and Krile, she does *not* have the echo. During ARR, she has Thaumaturge and Black mage powers. She is found by the Scions, and their access to the Echo allows them to find out what exactly she is. Rather than destroy her, they decide to put her to use, believing her to be a good weapon, at least until they find someone with an Echo who can fight as well as she can.

The scions, for their part, are not necessarily fond of Tanya; she's rather frightening, often inhuman in her mannerisms, with questionable morals and ethics. They wanted a tool, someone who could fight the primals that were draining the land. There was some concern that she'd simply become a replacement for the primals. Ultimately, she's capable of communication, and can't temper people so she seems like the better option. Near the end of ARR, their opinions have changed only a little, especially for Thancred, after Thancred's return after possession. Tanya, during this period, is simply happy to travel and be of use. She learns a little about what she is during The Crystal Tower series, and especially within the World of Darkness, where she feels the most comfortable existing. Some of the creatures within even seem to recognize her among the adventuring group. Hydaelyn never interacts with Tanya during ARR; the crystals still fall to the ground, and Tanya picks them up, but there are no visions, no information gained from them.

The end of ARR sees Tanya fall deeply in love (platonically, not romantically) with the scions, becoming fiercely protective of them all after the banquet, and nearly openly hostile to outsiders; some would call her a chained rabid dog. The scions do not return her love in any regard, though they continue to pretend she is one of them, especially with her. The journey of Heavensward tests Tanya's patience with the local religion, forcing her to stay as glamoured as possible throughout. During this time period, she impresses the ghost of Midgardsormr, and after a short test, gains an echo for the first time. She also becomes a Dark Knight, allowing her abundance of dark aether to thrive. Tanya is at her lowest point during this expansion; despite having a small cadre of people she trusts, she can feel that trust is not extended to her; no one has told her what she is, but Y'Shtola knows, and has told the others. She connected deeply with both Ysayle and Estinien, even developing a crush on Ysayle before her untimely demise. However, neither learned the truth of her existence at this point. She also interacts with The Void Ark, Mhach, and Dun Scaith. It is at this point that Tanya, as part of a group of raiders, accidentally becomes much more powerful after absorbing a portion of the Nullstone's power, simultaneously revealing what she is and empowering her. It is also revealed that the nullstone could remove the voidsent portion of her soul, but that doing so would destroy who she is currently. She is uncertain of what to do, afraid of death and can’t make a decision. Instead, she puts it off for later, squirreling the nullstone away, telling no one about it.

At the start of Stormblood Tanya’s class is that of Astrologian. Physically, and magically, Tanya is at her most powerful, utilizing the nullstone's strength, and often draining aether from the world around her at alarming rates; she uses it the most during fights with primals, where she can blame it on them, though the scions know the truth.. However, mentally, Tanya is doing quite poorly; Haurchefant’s and Ysayle’s deaths impacted her deeply, and she greatly feared losing any scions. She refused any and all help. This backfired with Zenos, as she nearly died when she prevented anyone else from facing him; she couldn't drain the land's aether without someone to blame it on. Most of stormblood continues as normal, with the added caveat that Tanya slowly learns to let the scions do their work again, despite her stress. Tanya’s relationship with the scions at this point is one of begrudging trust. She's sacrificed too much to merely be a tool, too much to merely be their weapon, and the truth of what she is has been revealed and, ultimately, accepted. Tanya still dearly loves each of the scions, as they have finally accepted her for who and what she is, even if she is still somewhat strange and inhuman at times. Unfortunately, her worst fears come true as the scion’s souls are whisked away to The First. Her relationship with herself, however, is strained. She feels that she is a monster, a horrible creature that has stolen a body never meant for her.

It is fortunate that Tanya is physically transported to The First, as it’s unclear what would happen if only her soul had been sent. During Shadowbringers, Tanya finds that absorbing the Lightwarden’s power is easy for her, due to her aether vampirism, but containing it appears to be incredibly difficult. She is at her weakest during this story, forced to rely on the scions to handle any combat task. Unwilling to be a simple passenger, Tanya picks up the White Mage class for the rest of Shadowbringers, stating that if she can’t fight or foretell the future, then she can at least heal their injuries directly, if somewhat weakly. It is during this period that she loses the power to glam herself at all, and she is forced to allow others to view her as she really is. Fortunately, voidsent seem rare among the first, and none associate her with the sin eaters, so it was questionable if it was necessary to begin with. Between the final lightwarden and the final fight with Hades, Tanya barely manages to hold herself together, and still bears the scars of it today; white and gold streaks and horizontal striped scars that cross her entire body, as though she were being pulled apart by a great force. She manages to survive, however, and is able to purge herself of the light. The end of Shadowbringers, after she finishes recuperating, is one that sees her still weak - the light corruption had weakened the power she had received from the nullstone, and there wasn’t much aether for her to absorb from her surroundings. 

She helps Ryne with the Eden project, and finds herself feeling connecting with and understanding Gaia to some extent. However, the most disturbing part of the entire series was certainly fighting the reborn Cloud of Darkness; a creation, such as herself, who's only purpose, instead of violence, is to die.

During this time, it is discovered that those with tempered souls can be cured with no negative effects. With effort, she returns everyone, including G’raha Tia, to The Source. After this, Fourchenault Leveilleur disowns Alisaie and Alphinaud, and she appropriately curses the man out of the meeting, angry that a parent would ever give up their child for any reason. She vows to never forgive someone who would give up their family, and offers (fruitlessly) to adopt the twins.

Before Endwalker begins, Tanya is healing in nearly all ways; her scars ache, she feels aetherically starved, and her emotional state is distraught. The scions, however, have finally fallen in (in various levels of platonic and romantic) love with the creature. They are interested in helping her to recover, to heal, to get the therapy she needs.

During Endwalker, Tanya becomes a Dancer, and, for the first time in The Source, allows herself to exist without glamours. She receives no small amount of fear, but fortunately, her efforts as The Warrior of Light and the support of the scions protected her from most backlash. During this time period, Tanya is at her most stable, emotionally speaking. Physically, she is capable, but no longer as strong as she had been during Stormblood. This is all relatively good, as it allows her to survive The Final Days without becoming a Blasphemy, something that would have previously been impossible for her, during any point of her life. For her, the most important time of Endwalker was during Elpis, and being able to interact with the Ancients of the unsundered world; she developed a strong crush on Venat, Elidibus, and Hythlodaeus. She found them to be relatable in ways that others often weren’t, and connected on an emotional level to Hermes and Meteion, Though she didn’t agree with their choices, she understood how they reached those conclusions. Ultima Thule just about broke her as she lost her friends, one at a time. The only thing that drove her on at the end was the hope that Meteion could be persuaded to use Dynamis to return her friends. Or, failing that, revenge. 

Zenos is of particular note, in all points he appears in. Few understood Tanya on such a visceral level as Zenos did; he understood her to her core, from the moment he met her. It is not unfair to say that he was a mirror, and the only difference between the two of them was the support of allies. When Zenos called Tanya a friend, she earnestly accepted, and agreed. In a way, she felt that they completed one another. She deeply loved Zenos. She deeply hated Zenos. She wanted to kill him. She wanted to be killed by him. By the time she fought Meteion, she was ravenous for the fight to come. Their fight was one of devouring; of all-consuming love and hate. Tanya is incapable of describing their fight in anything but in terms of erotic cannibalism, of pleasure, and fullness, and pain. In many ways, she feels empty now that he is gone, and she is alone. She fears that she may never find another like him.

Exploring the 13th, AKA the Void, has been a strange and sad feeling for her. In some ways, there is a feeling of belonging. In others, she feels alien. And, finally, she meets Zero, who I did NOT know about when I first wrote all of this up, back at the start of Endwalker, before any patches came out. Zero is a mirror to her in so many ways; a mirror of what she could have been, if she'd been in the 13th instead. The transactional nature of all relationships. Where Tanya clings and clutches at allies, of feeling useful and needed, Zero has pushed away and isolated herself. Where Tanya has thrown herself under the bus for the slightest praise, Zero holds herself aloof to it. What Zero see's in Tanya, besides kinship with a voidsent who is at some sort of halfway point like herself, is unclear.

[sailor-artemis]

I just finished up working on my gifts for the delightful @bnuuywol in the FFXIV Swap Discord, and I figured I should post my work here too for folks who follow me here and aren't already in that group! So here it is, in 3 (technically 4) parts:

Part 1 is a fic I wrote that's a collection of short scenes from across the events of the MSQ, told from Phoenyx's (his WoL) perspective. Here's the AO3 summary:

"Sometimes a good drink is exactly what you need.

A few vignettes from the life of Phoenyx Eldritch, Black Knight and Warrior of Light."

Link to it on AO3:

Part 2 (2 and 3 really) is two character playlists that I made that have been fueling my imagination as I wrote, and some write-ups highlighting my favorite lyrics and what my thoughts were when picking each song.

The first one is more rock-oriented, and roughly outlines Phoenyx's origin story and his journey through MSQ till around Stormblood or so.

Link:

Write-up:

The second one is a bit more downtempo and electronic inspired, and focuses on his relationship with Thancred, starting around Heavensward and ending at the present.

Link:

Write-up:

Part 3 (really 4) is a cocktail recipe inspired by Phoenyx himself! I enjoying creating and mixing drinks in my free time, and I thought that it might be a fun challenge to drinkify some friends' WoLs, so I decided to do one for Phoenyx as well, as a gift. The primary flavors are raspberry and chocolate, and I wanted the drink to be red as a nod to the prominent red highlights in Phoenyx's hair. Here's the lil' recipe card I whipped up for it:

[haellen-o]

undress — for the single-word drive!

it took me a little bit to figure out what to write for this but i got there in the end with help from a friends suggestion

or alternatively the raw writing under the cut (listen i gotta make use of that AO3 account sometime before dawntrail)

Ophelia sighed “Is this really necessary?” She slowly undid the buckles and straps on her gauntlets. For once all she wanted to do was get her armour off and relax

“Completely” Ysayle responded “I thought you liked it when we did this?” She asked with a raised brow, turning back to glance at ophelia

“I said I like it when you’re close. Not when you’re doting over me” Ophelia responded

“I don’t hear you complain when i brush your hair~” Ysayle said with a coy smile “Or when i-”

“Ssshhhushshhhush” Ophelia raised a finger “I get it i get what you’re trying to say”

Ophelia let her gauntlet hit the ground with a clank as she took it off. She flexed her fingers afterwards before moving on to the next “It’s not like I got into a fight anyway. You don’t have to worry”

“If i was worried about you getting into a fight i would’ve come with you” Ysayle glanced back once more as she spoke “Do you want to risk an infection?” 

“It won’t kill me” Ophelia responded

“It will hurt though if you do get one”

The mention of hurt caused her bicep to twitch slightly, tiny bolts of lighting felt like they ran through her muscles, ophelia let her other gauntlet fall to the ground as she ran a hand up her shoulder and under her coat “I’ve hurt worse”

“You’re being a big baby” Ysayle said with a sigh as she rolled her sleeves up and stepped over. Bringing a bowl of warm water, a towel. And some bandages with her “Now. Are you going to let me change your bandages or not?”

Ophelia relented and sighed once more. Taking her coat off slowly as to not agitate her already sore bicep “I guess…”

Ysayle let out a small sigh and shook her head. Like a disappointed mother “You’re supposed to be this big tough hero and all do you is moan like a newborn when i want to make sure you’re okay. I mean really ” She teased with a sly smile as she walked over and placed the tray of bandages clean clothes and warm water on a nearby table “Now. Show the doctor where it hurts” She smiled as she rolled up ophelia’s sleeve

[redmoonwanderer]

FFXIV Write 2024, Day 21 Prompt: Shade Takes place late-ShB.

Qhol’a is exhausted. It’s difficult to keep from his friends, and he thinks some of them might even know but don’t say anything because what other option do they have if they are to save this world, and their own? He’ll have to keep walking, one leg in front of the other, even when the light trapped within is tearing him from the inside, burning and blinding.

Having Ardbert with him is a relief. Someone by his side who knows what he’s going through, even when Qhol’a sometimes would’ve preferred no one had a clue. Because his world and its peoples rely on him, but Ardbert just is there, gone yet still kept here by some power, some thread that refuses to let him go. He doesn’t look at him and expect greatness; he sees a man who just wants to rest, for once in his life since he got involved with the Scions and their worlds saving business.

He doesn’t hate it, of course. He’d hate himself it he let anything bad happen because of selfish needs.

Still, he feels like a shadow of a man who he used be. Every breath feels like it’s going to make his chest burst open, and only stubbornness keeps him steady when he feels like his legs are going to give in under him. When the light blinds him, he hopes the road ahead will stay steady until he regains his vision because he can’t ask for help. He can’t have his friends turn back and try to find another way when there is no time for other ways.

The journey is closing its ending, he can feel it. But what kind of an end it will be, he cannot tell.

A small, well-hidden part of him hopes that he will never need to find out, but it needs to end, soon. One way or another.

[cartersarts]

Art is the mirror of culture; when we gaze into it, we not only see the world around us but also the intricate tapestry of our own identities. DM for commissions 🎉🥳

[wundergeek]

New FFXIV fic: Shut Up And Let Me Suck Your Dick Already

This started as a short fic about the humor of Alisaie having to browbeat my WoL into letting her suck their dick despite their age difference.

(I am aware the devs claim that everything since 2.0 has happened in less than a year. That is a filthy lie.)

And then somewhere along the way, it morphed into a 4.5K word fic that reflects on the inherent tension between "power imbalances are created by large age gaps in ways that are usually pretty gross " and "saying that 'it is not okay to have large age differences in relationships even when both people are adults' infantalizes people and denies their agency"...

...while still being a fic about wanting to suck dick.

- - -

"Alisaie..." I began, placing a hand on her shoulder. When she didn't shake it off, I drew her into a hug, thinking only to offer comfort.

However, instead of resisting, Alisaie threw her arms around my neck and hauled me into a deep kiss.

It felt like being struck by lightning. I gasped as her lips moved on mine, parted them reflexively when she licked into my mouth. She pulled herself tightly against me and kissed me like I was the only thing keeping her from drowning, and everything fell away but the feeling of her soft lips and our tongues sliding against one another.

I may have moaned in her mouth.

Which may, had it happened, have emboldened her. Or it may have simply been her own initiative that led to her grab my butt.

With a groan, I broke the kiss and held her at arm's length. "We can't do this," I said sternly, even as the sight of her kiss-swollen lips made me want to kiss her more.

Alisaie took this as well as expected, which is to say not well. "Why not?" she demanded, her expression thunderous.

"You're a child." I'd meant to sound implacable. Unyielding. But my voice came out thin and pleading.

"I'm not a child," she shot back heatedly. "For the love of Thaliak, I'll be twenty in a few weeks!"

"That doesn't make it right," I growled. My face was on fire, which I can't imagine helped my argument much. "You're so much younger than me."

Alisaie gave ground - it definitely wasn't a retreat - crossed her arms, and glared at me. "Oh and that makes me too impressionable, does it?" she scoffed. "Do you seriously think you could make me do anything I didn't want to do?"

No. I didn't. But I wasn't going to tell her that.

Alisaie's eyes narrowed. "Tell me you don't want me, and I'll drop it," she said in glacial tones.

Shit. Fuck. Shit. There was no point in denying it - she'd know I was lying. She always knew. "Tesleen is waiting," I finally said helplessly.

Alisaie snorted in satisfaction as she shouldered the bag with our purchases, roundly ignoring my attempt to take the bag myself. "We are not done talking about this," she said, jabbing me in the sternum. Hard.

Read the whole thing on AO3!

[azems-familiar]

having an intense moment of "why am i even putting forth all the effort to write this 30k+ word fic when only one person is going to care about it and that person already knows everything that happens" tonight (not helped by the last 30k word fic i put out getting 9 kudos and one singular comment) and trying to remind myself that i write because i like writing, because there are stories i want to tell and that even if i'm only telling them to myself it's still worthwhile

but also. it's a struggle when part of why i write and post things is because i want to connect with other people through telling stories and making them feel things the way the stories i read make me feel things, and when there's no evidence that people connect with the things i write....ugh. it gets to feeling pointless

i know. i know. and i won't let depression or anxiety prevent me from doing one of the only hobbies i still can participate in, and the creative outlet i've had for years. tonight is just...being very ugh about it. maybe because the scene i'm working on is being very tricky and a struggle to get through right now and i only have the aforementioned one single person to hype it.

[captainkurosolaire]

Ill-Fated, Sadness

Disheartening rainfall plunged from weeping skies, promising to be herald historically catastrophic, neighboring farms and abodes were spared no expense of ire. Flooding purest sorrow and mourning it sought to soil upon mortal-lands. Summers passed, a couple of Shadow to Dawn, would have their ultimate harrowing, a wicked test of their characters, love, trialed against fate's sheer remorselessness. Once formerly an expressionless, hollow man, now a dark-clad, husband returned home. Only to find his other-half in a ball between knees, tears-streaming, heavier than rain outdoors, pattering below rivers. Only she unsheathed his cruelty; restoring senses to identity. His blackened-gloves reached out into her unusual visit to darkness and searched answer, "Hey. What's wrong?" Those palms brought the end of many, but maneuvered, so caring. Encouraging to share wielding this pain, not alone. Hoisting gradually, her-features; read, <Please, Forgive Me...> continuing a downpour, "I'm a failure, accursed, flawed." the assassin felt sensations of fury. Whoever is causing these... They'll perish. Outside in the back-drop, thunder-struck with blasting-boom! As Rokeia finally confessed, "I cannot conceive." Twisted-fates would do this? She spent her life, in Shamanism restoring infertile, curing others, relieving spirits from lesser to greater. She wanted to have a child with her lover; trying until she finally discovered a plight. For all he did is know death. After their contract, that saw them entangled, caring for a pathetic-lowly, flower, a Sakurasou. There wasn't doubt, he'd be a perfect father of unbridled security. It may bring him full peace. Across oppositions, he was a devoid-husk being, heartless, a genuine-star-eyed killer. But to moments of heart, a firm-digit reached out lifting her chin. "Together." Plainly said, "...We'll solve anything together. Scour this realm for a solution. No dark is immune to light, you're proof." Suddenly her downtrodden-state was annihilated. The Black Miracle once again; instilling hope. Taking two-fingers, intersecting his lips to create a goof-smile to expressively say; she wasn't alone. This isn't a lone-burden. Clouds she knew, ceased; composure returned. Couple were orbits, necessary for another's survival. Features-loosened up with beautified determination, "You're right! I won't give-in. But... Honey, you need to stay, to East. You've obligations. So I'll journey, traverse all-over. I believe Pirate's are renowned for this... Let me go find our treasure. Then, we'll be arms, with a precious other existence. Our littlest-balance maker of joy! I'm certain they'll bring others too." They'd temporarily sacrifice distance of another for a moment, but they're of essence. Sharing agreement, he personally extended search and become an infamous Slayer of Legends to silent-dwellers of night. Deemed enemies would be erased... slaughter before his appointed-skies. His accolades brought to creating a dynasty. Facing a hundred-other dangerous killers and dismantling their Black-Stars of Weaponry. Rozan the 100 Stars. Was forged, The Last Black Miracle. Her storied-events pushed motion. A woman-of-scouring was born, a Pirate... Of remarkable left recorded to faded-passages. Noble-intentions to retrieve something sacred! Self-Restoration and cultivate precious, Life. She'd free a Founding Captain of the Goldbrand from execution whose Friendship, was integral of future coming-eras. Her gifts made them accelerate in wealth, but wasn't priority. Navigation she pioneered, was ahead-of-its-time. Due to treasure-sought. Embarking mythical adventures, saw her owning an unusual-ship that could traverse even dimensions! Death's Door... Would these lovers be successful in making happy-ever-after? The paired in hardship said to Fate... You won't win. Together. Us. We'll... Rebel! Fight! Sacrifice! Claim! For Our Future. Importantly, theirs...

[Prev:Chapter]: Sublunary Love ~ ♪"Stay"♪

[silentarborinah]

Hello!!!

Welcome to my first-ever Final Fantasy XIV blog for my character Inah Renyi! I am a creative writer and gamer who is hoping to utilize this space to write about her as a character and her adventures across Erozea and beyond.

This blog will act as a resource on her character profile, creative writing projects, and my personal progress in FFXIV with her. I am excited to get this started and document Inah's adventures as the Warrior of Light!

art by @demonerith

[maiemorrae]

Flowers of Thanalan

Just a little something I wrote after doing some side quests on a new character I've made in ff14. Not sure if I'll do this again but I had some writing ideas from these quests and thought why not share.

”That poor soul, at least, had family that rushed to his side. Count him lucky for that.”

”When we finally chased them off… my love was in seven pieces”

When I arrived at Camp Drybone I knew little, save that people were going missing, and that my new acquaintances, the so-called Scions of the Seventh Dawn, believed that somehow this was linked to what they call a primal. I soon found though that the place was well acquainted with death itself. I learned that many come to the place in order to give their loved ones a final resting place, somewhere safe from the unforgiving nature of the deserts. As was usual I found myself drawn to helping the people here with whatever tasks they would have for me. I felt a want to give what little aid I could to a place full of grief and loss.

Ceaseless revenge and a last attempt at salvation were what I found myself set to first.

A woman, Caitlyn, asked of me a simple task. To slay seven of the dusty mongrels to the south, an oddly specific request I thought at the moment. The look in her eyes as she set me about the task though was almost like the embers of a fire that had been burning far longer than one would expect. Nevertheless, I set out with my trusted carbuncle companion to find the beasts. While they fought with a ferocity common to Thanalan we were able to bring them down with ease. The stratagems came to my mind with ease and carbuncle dashed across the battlefield as if reading my own mind had made it all the easier.

The second request I had gotten was from another woman, Tutusi, a similar request though for a different purpose. Her task for me was to slay a few myotragus nannies in order to feed a dying man in the hopes of bringing him from the brink. Unlike the mongrels, these were a docile target, at least until provoked. Despite how quickly I completed my task… it was too late as the man had passed shortly before I could return. Tutusi’s words to me afterward were not uncommon amongst those of U’ldah, always towards business and the tasks ahead. I wasn't sure if the grief I saw in her eyes was hers or if it was merely a reflection of my own at not making it back in time.

I think Tutusi could easily read my feelings though, as she soon set me on another task. Her words I imagine are true though, flowers would make for quite a bit of coin as mourners pass through the camp on their way to say goodbye. I am not entirely sure how I feel about looking at it with a gil framed lens but the tale of a life-filled area of the desert intrigued me. The comparison to the black shroud was hardly exaggerated I thought as I walked amongst the vegetation. Coming face to face with the goobbue said to be responsible for it brought on an odd mix of emotions.

”Some say the goobbue came down from the mountains at the time of the Calamity, and carried with him the seeds that became all those plants.”

It was there I met Jospaire, a botanist who was fascinated by the wild vegetation that thrived against all odds here. Through his instruction, we ensured the plants around the fallen goobbue would continue to thrive. A simple series of gathering water and the removal of pests current and future were all he asked of me. Once that was finished I gathered the blooms I had been sent to collect in the first place. Jospaire was ecstatic at what we had done and his joy felt like a balm compared to what I had experienced so far during my time here.

”I am convinced that what we see before us sprouted from the goobbue’s death. There’s a certain beauty to it all, no?”

”When it comes to offerings, they say the rarer the flower, the happier the dead. And Althyk lavender is nothing if not rare.”

Perhaps there is more than just death and grief to be found here. If nothing else the small amounts of comfort I can bring to the people here should ease their minds. With luck, Thancred and I can soon put an end to the disappearances only adding to the troubles of this place. Perhaps this newfound power I wield, The Echo, as Minfilia called it, will be of use to me in our endeavors.

~ Mariam Shallaen, of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn