#ffxiv daily question

[paintedscales]

Under the read more.

Before Nomin committed herself to Estinien in EW, she did have some experience on the Steppe with her childhood friend and travel partner when they were older. Roughly seventeen or eighteen at the time. They had an idea about sex and, admittedly, hormones were running amok, so they experimented.

The first time left Nomin a little confused. Like, yes, some aspects of it felt enjoyable, but it was just... strange after they had finished. They had another bout -- and for Nomin, it was more of a, "maybe it just... wasn't the right time, or I wasn't doing something right." but even after the second time, she felt weird. Fortunately, her friend had felt the same way both times as well to an extent, which led them to simply leaving it at that and not really bringing it up.

After a while, Nomin just... kind of decided that she was more interested in being friends and not romantically or sexually involved.

Romance and sexual attraction never really clicks for Nomin until she and Estinien develop a more mature emotional bond with one another. And that's when truer senses of arousal and want for sensual touch and attention started.

It's sinday ~ FFXIV Daily Question n°100 : How experienced is your character regarding sex ? Are they educated based on pure theory or more uh ... field experienced ?

For characters that do not participate in sexual activities, how open are they about talking about this subject ?

[ofmdrecaps]

07/05-06/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; David Jenkins; Nathan Foad & Con O'Neill; Leslie Jones; Nat Torres; Darby Family Foster Kittens; Articles; Fiber Arts Brigade: Auction/Fundraiser Updates/Bronson Pinchot Cameo; Uproar in the UK; Fan Spotlight: Cast Cards; OurFlagMeansFanfiction/BabyKrakenPodfics; OFMD Themed Earrings; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Today's Taika

== Rhys Darby ==

More coverage of Rhys' new show The Hungry Games! This time on Today.com.

Source: Rhys Darby's Twitter

Annnd more shots of Rhys and Bonus Rosie & Finn at the Great Big Cow Band Concert on July 4!

Source: Rosie Carnahan Darby's Instagram

Annnnd yet another Tural Commercial for FFXIV!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FINAL FANTASY XIV (@ffxiv)

Source: FFXIV's Instagram

== David Jenkins ==

Well the last two days were big clowning days for everyone! Early Friday we had Chaos Dad commenting on a tweet from March.

Source: David Jenkins Twitter Next, fans noticed that the "Got a really good feeling about 2024" post that David took down from Instagram was re-added. Our friend cremeishere noticed that the post had been removed from David's Instagram after one of the cancellations (around March 22). Today however, it was noticed that it was back. Do we know exactly when it came back? No idea-- but Honking ensues!

Source: CremeIsHere's Twitter

And if that wasn't enough honking, our friend Jules mentioned the following from Kinga's recent post about Simone LeBone, "When dad is working we're napping" and asked "what is he working on"? Good question.

Source: TheRevengeBoys Twitter

== Nathan + Con ==

Nathan posted some more about his spotlight in the Hot Shots publication, and our dear Con wrote him a lovely love note <3

Source: Nathan Foad's Instagram

== Leslie Jones ==

Leslie's been out to the LA Sparks game!

Source: misterjt319 Instagram

== Nat Torres ==

One of our awesome writers, Nat Torres, is making a rare appearance on Instagram.

Source: Natalie Torres Instagram

== Darby Family Foster Kittens ==

As we all know, I'm a sucker for kittens! Here's new Darby Family Foster Kitten content!

Source: Rosie Carnahan Darby's Instagram

== Articles ==

@adoptourcrew Found some very interesting articles regarding the cancellation of OFMD. In addition-- the #1 from Collider is adding to the Honkfest going on!

10 Canceled TV Shows That Deserve to Be Revived

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Twitter

"I Tear Up Every Time I See It": Here Are 23 Romantic Movie And TV Moments Without The Words "I Love You"

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Twitter

== Fiber Arts Brigade ==

The Fiber Arts Brigade reached their next tiered goal! They've raised $1750 with the #ThriveAsACrew campaign to support SageUSA! Thank you to everyone who's donated!

An anonymous donor was kind enough to pay for another cameo in honor of FAB reaching the fourth tier goal! Below is a video from Bronson Pinchot on his (and Ned Low's) advise on how we can ThriveAsACrew!

The Fiber Arts Brigade Ebay Auctions are ALMOST DONE! If you were bummed to miss out on Moosh's cross stitch commission from the AOC raffle, here's another chance! Check out the ebay listing here! Thank you to all the artists and patrons of this auction!

Source: Fiber Arts Brigade Twitter

== Uproar In The UK ==

Thank you @adoptourcrew for keeping us apprised of the UK Release of Uproar on Prime video! Check it out UK Crew!

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Twitter

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards =

Tonight's cast cards from @melvisik are Nathanial Goodman who's "another submission for ‘Outstanding Cinematography in a Comedy Series for Impossible Birds’ -AdoptOurCrew"! And Jaden McLeod -- "Soldier #1 in Mermen, no doubt someone who came across Ed and/or the crew of the Revenge..."

Source: @melvisik's Twitter

== Our Flag Means Fanfiction ==

Our dear friends over at Our Flag Means Fanfiction are moving up the charts on spotify!

Annnd coming up this Monday, a New Episode - The Silly Voices Episode, this time joined by BabyKraken Podfics!

Source: Our Flag Means Fanfiction / BabyKraken Podfics

== OFMD Themed Earrings ==

I would just like to say I love all of the beautiful and creative ways everyone continues to honour our favourite show! The darling @paleoleigh has been making OFMD Themed Earrings and she was kind enough to allow me to share some of her work! You can learn more on PaleoLeigh's Tumblr Post and if you're interested, order them on her Etsy Store!

Source: PaleoLeigh's Tumblr Post

== Love Notes ==

Hey there Lovelies! I hope you all are getting some much needed rest this weekend! It's been a lot lately, huh? The world, elections, so many different countries struggling, online -- everywhere's been pretty crazy lately. I know a lot of you have so much on your minds, and rightly so. When so much is happening all at once, seeing struggles go on in your safe spaces too can make things so much harder to cope with. It is okay to feel sad or upset if your safe space doesn't feel the same way it did right now. It doesn't mean it won't feel safe again one day. Life and situations ebb and flow, and circumstances change, as much as we always want good things to stay the same. Good things can come from change too. Our magnificent and kind friend @xray-vex shared a screenshot on twitter the other day of this tumblr post and I thought it was incredibly appropriate to how a lot of people have been expressing they've been feeling lately.

I know sometimes it feels like you have to respond to that tweet, or get into that discourse, but if you don't have the energy, just remember you don't owe anything to anyone. You are wonderful the way you are, and you deserve to enjoy your space too. If it feels like too much, take a break, watch a new show, read a new book, step away if you need to. Or if re-watching our pirate show would help-- feel absolutely welcome to do that too. Whatever YOU need for YOU. It will be different for everyone, and there is no shame in wanting to do something different to make you feel better. There will always be folks here for you if you decide to step away and come back, so don't be afraid to if you need to okay? We love you crew, we care so much about you, and your health. Be well <3

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Some BTS gif tonight for the discerning gif lover. Git courtesy of @dallonismysavior!

[ainyan]

FFXIV Write - Day 4: Reticent

“Dinner.”

“No.”

“Lunch!”

“No, thank you!”

“Coffee? I’ll even toss in a nice danish.”

Huffing out a breath, Kal’istae spun on heel, causing Thancred to trip over his own feet as he barely avoided plowing into her. “Sheriff Waters,” she said severely, having to peer up at him and yet somehow seeming to gaze down her nose - just like his own teachers often had, snickered the irreverent part of his mind. “I do not wish to go out with you. Please stop asking.”

Turning, she strode off, and he watched her go for a moment, then trotted up to her side, smiling as he heard her exasperated sigh. “Why not?”

Although she knew perfectly well what he was asking, Kal’istae refused to make it easy for him. “Why not what, Sheriff? Such a question requires a subject.”

Gods, she was so adorable, with that prim tone and those huge, lavender-edged eyes looking just a bit irritated beneath the serene mask she had adopted. “Why won’t you go out with me?”

“Because, Mister Waters, you are the father of one of my students.”

What?

Thancred missed a step and hopped to the side to keep his balance. “Wait, you won’t go out with me because I’m Ryne’s father? That’s it?”

She glanced at him sidelong, secretly delighting in the flabbergasted expression on his face. “That is correct, Sheriff Waters. Now. If you will excuse me?”

His hand darted out and he gently snagged her elbow, ready to release her at the slightest hint of resistance. Though she stiffened, she did not pull away, and turned to look up to him as he tugged her to a halt. “I wouldn’t change that fact even if it were possible, Miss Miurani,” he said soberly, and didn’t miss the approving glitter in her eye. “So tell me what I can do to get around it.”

One eyebrow arched upwards. “Are you asking me to bend my rules, Sheriff Waters?”

“Even scoundrels deserve a bit of grace in the face of good behavior, ma’am.”

Oh, how she wanted to give in. It didn’t show, not in her placid expression, not in her dark eyes full of secrets. But she wanted to say yes. She wanted to give him that grace - give herself that grace - and give him an in. But she had her job to think of. Her students. Her reputation. So she remained reticent despite herself.

“I am sorry, Mister Waters,” she murmured, and he thought he heard genuine regret beneath the gentle rejection.

He released her arm. She gazed up at him for a moment longer, then turned and continued down the street, and this time, he did not follow.

But that didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking about her. And about what he could do to change her mind.

There had to be a way.

FFXIV Write 2024 (Daily Prompt List)

Day 4 - Reticence

OC: Kal'istae Miurani

NPCs: Thancred Waters

AU: Stars over Western Waters

[nabaath-areng]

Sometimes I think to myself "actually maybe I'm exaggerating the terror I felt from being stalked", but then I remember that the person in question followed me and waited for me outside my school every day, tracked me down on every website I'd spent even the slightest time on, left physical letters in my mailbox, sent creepy as hell novel length messages on a near daily basis on FB. And then when I was living abroad and I answered the phone I told the caller to text me cause I couldn't hear, after which I had to read "I was saying that you would probably be VERY scared if you knew who's calling... hehe" with my own damn fucking eyes...

And then I'm like yknow what nevermind!!!! the fact that I'm still terrified of being perceived and seen in public not just IRL but also FFXIV might be understandable actually!!!

[gatheredfates]

I thought I might start using this graphic for the updates, too! At least until I get bored of it and end up creating another. 🌊 We love eye-catching visuals in this house.

Anyway, sorry for the delay with this update! Last weekend was insane, putting it lightly, and I only really feel like I have started to return to capacity now. I appreciate your patience!

As of 04/27, I have added the following resources (in no particular order) to Sea's Community Compendium for FFXIV Creatives:

LARGE SCALE

XIV TODO — honestly, huge thanks to whoever submitted this resource because I didn't know it existed! This is another set of tools and tailored checklists for XIV that help you track encounters, content completion, dailies and more! It's also extremely alt-friendly for those of us who have more characters than sense.

FREE COMPANY / COMMUNITY FOCUSED

THE VIERAN MAFIA — do you like suave Noir-themed bars framed by mystery and intrigue? How about a bit of organised crime? This Free Company is for you! (They're also hiring, if you're interested. Get in touch with @fjotla-vithir!)

MISC

FFXIV BUFF AND DEBUFF MAKER — if you have ever thought a screenshot of yours would be made funnier by a buff/debuff but you don't have access to photo editing software, @fortunafavore has you covered with this simple tool!

XKIT REWRITTEN — The most up-to-date iteration of the original XKit tool, XKit Rewritten provides a series of enhancement tools for Tumblr's web-based interface including accessibility tools, anti-capitalism bocks and recommendation tweaks.

Want to submit? You can either fill out the google form here, send me an ask with the relevant information contained on the Compendium, or join my Discord at SEAFLOOR (21+ only)!

As a reminder, the answer to the question of "Is my resource/community applicable to the Compendium?" is almost always a resounding yes. I want to know what's out there. I want to feature your project!

However, for the sake of clarity, I'll pop the FAQ from this post below in a read more for you to check out if you're worried. ✨

I want to put my community on the compendium but we have an application process. Is this okay?

Yes! Just note somewhere in your application that's a requirement. The only thing that is mandatory for the Compendium is that you must be open to new members or have a public-facing/accessible facet. There's no point advertising a community if no one can join it in some way!

I want to put my community on the compendium but I only have x number of members —

Also totally okay! People don't start with large communities. Activity is a must but, whether your server has two or two thousand members, if you're looking for new people to join, I'd love to help you find people.

I want to put my community on the compendium but I worry its too niche?

Okay, and? If your Eorzean Fishing Alliance has four members but you roleplay every second weekend, I still want to know about it.

What resources/communities can I add if I'm not the owner of them?

Mutual consent is extremely important to me, so anything that isn't a large-scale community OR a publicly accessible resource must be endorsed by the owner/admin/moderators in order to be added to the compendium. I operate under the assumption that a resource posted to a public space (tumblr, googledocs, youtube, etc) is open to all. A large-scale community is one with a significant member count or openly advertises itself as being accessible to everyone for whatever purpose it serves. If in doubt, please get in touch with me. I'm happy to contact your community owners for you!

How active does a community need to be?

If you find a community has not been active in about two/three months, send me a message and I'll take a look at it. Communities have ebbs and flows, especially event spaces that may take hiatuses depending on member interest/life events. I'm not strict in my implementation provided a space isn't dead. If a link or anything is broken, absolutely contact me about that.

I have [insert a question not stated here]?

No drama! Send me an ask or use the #Compendium channel in my Discord!

[nothingxs]

FFXIV Write // Stable

She was up first.

A quick rise, a wipe of her eyes; a quick trip to the shower and restroom for all the things one does in the morning.

A tousle of her hair; not like it ever needed much.

A trip upstairs, a fetch of the pan, dodo eggs retrieved from a basket. Butter on the pan, eggs cracked into a bowl and scrambled. A pair of links of sausage retrieved from their hanging spot against a board on the wall and sliced open, and some sliced bacon fetched from the icebox.

The smell of bacon, eggs and sausage filling the room as another pan toasts slices of a crusty bread.

Early breakfast for her, a plate reserved on the side for Das, who she goes downstairs to bother and give pats and rubs to, to encourage to wake up. She heads back up, she scarfs breakfast down, and after another trip downstairs to plant a kiss on Das' cheek as she is on the way to stumble to the shower, it's off to routine daily business.

Daily business involves a lot of checking in with folk.

A linkpearl call out to Vex, check on how she's doing, halfway across the damn Star over in Thavnair. Different things than hunting this sun, it seems. She has a new idea for something to serve. She's already sent a courier with new spices. There's brief chatter about the latest changes to the bar and how some of the neighbors are.

A linkpearl call out to Reny, who politely answers as she is getting ready to continue writing a thesis statement on arcanima and its parallels with conjury, as well as many curious (and odd) applications. She has been at this for several moons, now. She still has new things to talk about. Celica will never not be impressed by this.

A quick visit to the local market; this sun is a good one to stock up on the goods Vex will need by the end of the sennight to prepare what will be on the menu for the Dusk and Dawn when it next opens, and all of it is made in bulk and left in the ice chests to be used next week. A package is already there with the promised spices.

Celica will look into how she gets things that fast to her some other sun. Not this one.

She gets to a lot of the preparation in the morning—vegetables are prepped and cut; marinades are put together according to a recipe Vex has separated. Bulk loads of poultry and red meat are cut to reasonable sizes and separated; utmost care placed in keeping them separate and everything as clean as she can. She prepares dozens of skewers for incoming orders, humming along to a tune as she does.

Later in the sun, she's making linkpearl calls and visits around Ul'dah. Some are to clarify some questions—the Ossuary LOVES to harangue her about things regarding that strange Terminal she has, and Celica had the good sense to be the person she put as the contact for it. She doesn't know enough about how it works, but she is affable and clever enough to distract and parry most of the prodding without ever giving too much of it away. Das would get irritated too fast and maybe put the license in jeopardy; Lia would give up the plot the moment she felt danger lurking over her shoulder.

Celica telling them about how cool the fights it enables and dropping hints and vagaries of what it can stop seems to satisfy them enough.

Her shoulder bothers her a bit throughout the sun. She spends time stretching it, holding a lamp post and pulling gently in one direction, doing light exercises and rotating it. Best to keep it limber. It's been a little since she shoved Imogen out of the way of a falling boulder, but the injury still nags her. Charlette likely wants to follow up on the damage. She has not been very good about returning to the CETEA at all (though she makes time to show up, here and there, to gatherings and outings). She promises quietly to herself she'll be better about it.

Later.

This sun, she's wound up in a familiar space right outside Ul'dah; close to the place where she made a little trade many Twelvemoons ago. She's not sure why she's wound up there.

She's not sure why she can spy a be-hatted Keeper woman there, who is suspiciously sitting exactly where she once sat and waited for someone else. "Spader."

"Where?" came the woman's reply.

A bell or two of catching up as the sun begins to sink in the sky. A quick farewell and a promise of a linkpearl call, soon, and in half a bell she is already back in the bottom floor of the Dusk and Dawn, where her heavy top is discarded for a lighter and tighter one, and she gets to doing all of the exercises and training she normally does. No better way to keep herself fit, after all.

A bell later and she's lying on the ground, staring at the wooden ceiling, breathing heavily and covered in sweat.

…It seems hard to believe, given how things were just a few years ago.

But life, right now? Even as busy as it is? It's… safe. It's stable.

Dare she say it, it's… comforting.

Maybe things can get better, after all.

[sasslett]

FFXIV Swap Mini Update!

So getting shadowbanned sure made things a challenge, but we preserved (thanks to my wonderful tumblr friends!) and the exchange is fully underway, as I'm sure you've seen!

In fact, it got SO popular that there's been a demand to make this a regular thing, one we simply can't ignore. SO! We're planning on doing themed swaps roughly every three months, all organized through our wonderful discord server.

If you're not on discord already, please check it out! We've curated a wonderful community, with daily WoL Questions, character lore discussion, places to post SFW AND spicy gpose, art and writing, mod help, writing help and everything in between! You don't have to participate in every swap to join, and we welcome you if you want to come check out our wonderful community of FFXIV creatives and OC havers!

This swap still isn't over by far, but the next one will be in October, with signups coming late September - I'll post about it here as well, but feel free to join us in discord in the meantime if you'd like!

The link is here! It is actively moderated, and mind the rules, but if you're sweet and love OCs, we'd love to have you!

[arasnealashandr]

I'm going to try to do something here. Maybe it'll drum up activity and connect more people in the FFXIV Fandom, maybe it wont- but I'm still going to try.

I pose questions and prompts to myself throughout the day regarding my WoL and how she interacts with the world; so, rather than keeping it to myself, I'll post these questions here for all to see/answer/interact with. I'll use the WoLQotD tag because it still seems relevant, although I do admit it might not be a daily thing- sometimes life gets us too busy. Mayhap these questions have even been posed before- but I'll still ask!

All that being said, I'll drop the first question now: if your WoL only had one role, one job, one class; what would it be? If all job stones were taken away but one, which would you hold on to? Would it be the one you started with, or one you never expected to enjoy but discovered you did?

Feel free to answer in the comments, reblogging, whatever! I'm just interested to see all the answers!

[osric-giroux-ffxiv]

DWC Day 2- November 2023 - Success/Sin

Clearly defined objectives. 

For a majority of his life the goals had been laid out before him, whether he wanted them to be or not. 

As a child - remain quiet and in the background. Do NOT ask questions or draw attention to yourself.

As a young adult and the new head of the house - maintain the House. Keep it running and make sure it will be able to run should something happen to you (expect that something will happen to you). Make sure that your sister will be able to step in and take over as she will ultimately be the one overseeing things in your absence.

As a dragoon - do not question your orders. Remove the heretics. Be prepared to sacrifice yourself for the greater good, as is expected of one in your position. Do not question your superiors. Do not question the church doctrine. 

Success had been so clearly defined and yet so difficult to achieve each time.

Osric pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed the file he’d been holding and set it aside pushing himself up off the couch and taking a moment to stretch before walking a short lap around the library of the Cress Estate. 

The ‘success of the House’ - that had been what his goal was when he had entered into this arrangement. That, and the abolition of his own house in the process. But now that the merger was complete, the definition of what ‘success’ felt like it was a moving target, and like he needed to change in order to be able to hit it. 

Undeserving - that’s what Carrera had called him. Said he was undeserving of Vahalia, and didn’t deserve to be related to Valeria via marriage either. 

He stopped walking in front of the fireplace, his hands clasped loosely behind his back for a moment. He couldn’t, nor did he have any interest in trying to convince Carrera that he was worthy of Vahalia - he didn’t think the woman would listen to anything he had to say anyway, half the time she barely remembered his name - but he had his pride, and he could damn well see through and make sure that House Cress succeeded - whatever that needed to mean.

And whatever that meant he needed to become and whatever sins he needed to commit…so be it.

@daily-writing-challenge

Mentions: @vahalia-cress-ffxiv, @spirit-speaking, @carrera-ffxiv

[nihilnovisubsole]

oh, right, shadowbringers! i'm overdue for another ffxiv bullet point vibe check. i actually finished it a couple of weeks ago, and then my sink exploded [long story] and i wanted to chew on it for a while. it's clear that this expac is an overwhelming fan favorite, so i figured i should formulate some more intelligent thoughts about it.

part of me worries that my shadowbringers experience was colored by how badly i missed the people and places on the source. more than the aether and gods and soul transference and all that stuff, what i really took away was a sense of loneliness. the first isn't my world. its citizens are strangers to me, though i recognize on a philosophical level that i should help them. even the scions - in theory, my closest comrades - have lived for years in the blink of my eye and become very different people. when did thancred become responsible? when did the twins grow up? i wondered what other NPCs were doing without me. all i wanted was to go home.

on the other hand, i read a theory that this is the point. the story wants you to feel cut loose from everything you know. are you still a hero in an emotional vacuum? will you still put yourself on the line to do the right thing? sure, your world will be doomed if theirs falls, but that possibility seems so huge and far-off that it doesn't register in your gut. i don't think that's the writing failing to connect with me or anything. if that's the intent, it's an interesting feeling for a game to evoke.

i may have also exacerbated that feeling by keeping my actual avatar isolated on norvrandt for so long. i mentioned earlier that i play around the game's day-night cycle, running missions based on when they'll feel most immersive. that extends to maps, too: if the story says i'm stuck in a place, i stay around that place until the story carries me elsewhere. i mean, i'll dip out for wondrous tails and daily cactpot and stuff, but i don't take big story vacations to jet around eorzea. i didn't "come back" from the far east in stormblood until doma was free. that's a lot of MSQ to just spend alone with your thoughts.

there's a storytelling paradox at work: the first's problems are so large and so bad that it's smaller and more personal when you become invested in someone's plight. i expected to care a lot about liberating ala mhigo because i'm so fond of raubahn as a character, and i did. i didn't expect to feel the pity that i felt for, say, kai-shirr, or runar's unrequited crush on y'shtola. it comes on slowly and quietly.

i don't know. it's a curious story. it's a melancholy story. it's a lot more experimental than the expacs that came before it. it'd probably be worth it to new-game-plus it at some point to pay closer attention to the individual character arcs.

same goes for emet-selch. he's a curious villain. i don't sympathize with his methods, and i obviously have no romantic interest in him. but i keep mulling him over. he keeps lurking in the back of my mind, which means that his writing succeeds by virtue of being memorable.

to my mind, everything around amaurot contributes to that success. amaurot is where it all starts to come together for me. it's a beautiful, odd place - art deco in final fantasy? who knew? - and the pinnacle of the arc's surreal "this is a dream, but tangible" tone. you can tell the team wanted to go all out with the ascian reveals they'd been building up to for years. i wonder if they had fun designing it.

even if it is. i. hm. no i shan't say it

all right, i'll say it

I AM EMET-SELCH AND I AM HERE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION

there, it's out of my system. on a less ridiculous note, i finally got royce's canon armor! now i can gpose freely. i wish there were an in-engine way to pose with NPCs, but them's the breaks. who knows? maybe we'll get it eventually. it is a live service game.

[fierce-in-the-forest]

FFXIV Write 2024, Day 21: Shade

Alannah sat in a tree high above Fanow, higher than she could recall being in the recent past but still not outside the bounds of their enormous tree cover. The sun could not reach where she sat, but she felt its warm embrace anyway despite the shade.

This was the first true Viera settlement she had seen in many years. She admired the women, the strong leaders. The land both reminded Alannah of home and was everything home was not. A bonfire was neatly contained in the center, surrounded by racks where the days kill waited to greet the flames. That was normal. But the welcoming atmosphere was decidedly not, at least for her. That was not the Viera she remembered. Her tribe had not been cold, per se, but it had not been loving. They had been together, and their group had thrived—they were told that was all that mattered.

Alannah had always known there was more though. It was, after all, why she had left.

As she watched the tiny scraps of buns below, going about their daily activities, it stuck Alannah precisely the thing that was different. Laughter. She could hear the joyful tones that trickled all the way up through the branches. They were together all right, but they were happy to be so.

Had Alannah been happy, in her tribe? A creased changed her entire countenance as buried her face in surrounding leaves. The question felt to complicated to tackle. Alannah had cared for her tribe in Celestralia Wood. Still did. And they had cared for her, in the way that their tribe did.

But had she been HAPPY?

Alannah realized had not known what that meant, not truly, until she met Hien. Despite everything he had been through, he maintained an air of joy. Alannah wanted to be THAT.

She wished then, in the shade of Fanow’s many trees, that she could be something even more. That she too could allow herself to have joy despite the circumstance. And she made a promise to return to Fanow after their fight was done.

[paintedscales]

As the WoL, Nomin is so very overwhelmed at times when there's a crowd of people around her, cheering for her, and just praising her. She doesn't know how to really handle it, especially since it's something she's never gotten used to. A lot of the time, she actually suffers a case of impostor syndrome, because she's been led to believe for a good majority of her life that she's not blessed enough to have anything impressive about her.

FFXIV Daily Question n°52 : If your character isn't THE WoL , what is your character's opinion about them (aka THE wol ) ? If your character is the WoL, what is their opinion about the way people keep calling them Hero etc ...

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

FFXIV Write: Halcyon

I admit---I didn't know what I was going to do with this prompt at first. My first instinct was to write Agi's death, but then I pivoted to something in her canon that I don't believe I've discussed before---her usage of moko grass to alleviate anxiety from the Final Days (though if Agi is honest with herself, it's always been there but got worse after that).

So Agi is high and reflects on her childhood and present. SFW.

Sitting on one of her two red decks at her “home away from home�� in Shirogane, Agnes Currai Varlineau took a drag on the moko grass she was smoking and inhaled. Normally she would smoke moko grass to be able to commune with elementals more easily, but since the Final Days (and with encouragement from my grumpy dragon and a few trusted members of Conjurers Guild), she had begun to either smoke or drink a tincture of distilled moko grass to calm her mind and body every evening.

“Ah, those halcyon days…”

Why am I hearing that in Hades’ voice?

Halcyon days…

She smiled as she thought of her childhood in Costa del Sol.

Playing with Lewson, Purple, Nadia, and Yararu after lessons.

Exploring.

Swimming.

All of us together…

She raised the moko grass joint to her lips again.

That was wonderful, wasn’t it?

Grew up in paradise with great friends…

And then…

Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.

Gridania had been, overall, pleasant, but…

The teasing.

Being humiliated by Gregor and his mates on a daily basis after I asked him out.

Never eating in public in Gridania ever again…

The calamity…

Calm.

Be calm, Agi.

Think of…

Estinien.

My babies.

My friends.

Mum.

All the adventures yet to come.

“Hey, you alright over here?”

She felt a warm hand on her shoulder and smiled.

My everything.

“Thinking too much, but I’m better now.”

I’m always better with you.

You make me better in every way.

I love you so much…

Estinien pulled up a chair next to hers and sat down, wrapping an arm around her broad shoulders. “I thought the whole point of this was for you to not think so much, my angel.” He chuckled. “Mayhap you need more?”

She burst out laughing. “Fucking hells, love! No, no…just need you…”

“Ah, those halcyon days…”

Hades, those days are now.

Because I have him and our babies and Mum and my friends and…

She snuggled against him, cheek to cheek, savoring his WARMTH. So warm. He’s always so warm and snuggly and all mine…

“As I ever need you.” He pressed a kiss to her blushing cheek and chuckled again. “Wanna go have a cuddle, sweetheart?”

SER, YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION!!!!!!!

I NEVER SAY NO TO CUDDLES!!!

ESPECIALLY FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GET UPSTAIRS, AGI!

Estinien watched and then laughed at his wife as she very stupidly attempted to scramble out his embrace but instead tripped over my own fucking feet and nearly faceplanted in the yard. He rushed after her, holding her close. “Easy, easy. No need to rush, Agi. Easy.”

But it’s you I MUST RUSH!!!!

RUSH FOR CUDDLES!

Wait, am I saying this out loud?!?!

“Agi, we’ll cuddle very soon, but we must get inside and up the stairs first.” OH HE’S GONNA DO THE THING!!! Summoning Nidhogg’s strength, he lifted his WIFE THAT’S RIGHT FUCKERS, I’M HIS WIFE and carried her inside the house. “Much safer this way, my angel.” Estinien laughed softly, kissing her.

“I’m always safe with you, love.”

Those halcyon days are here and now because I have you and I love you and I WANT TO CUDDLE RIGHT NOW, SER.

[aerialsquid]

FFXIV Write Day 6: Halycon

(Continuation from here.)

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

There were times, sometimes moments and sometimes hours, when Akitsu was simply Not There. He would go about his daily tasks, scrubbing and sewing and carrying for the wretched Garleans like he was just another magitek drone, speaking when spoken to. Lights were on, nobody was home. Akitsu would only know it had happened once he'd returned and found the entire day was missing from his memory.

It wasn't really supernatural. He knew that, truly. But to his mind he referred to it as a spirit possession, as if to put the consequences of his actions off onto another party. "That wasn't me, that was the kitsune taking me for a drive", he would think, when he returned.

But his mind was well and whole when he grabbed the stolen child by the wrist, nails scratching at her forehead as he snatched the little false third eye from her face.

How dare they poison her so badly she would call a Garlean 'Papa', that she would dress like them and put that demonic mark upon her own face. How dare she. How dare they.

"Do not touch my daughter!"

Like a bolt of lightning, the blondeGarlean who owned her was abruptly between him and the child, whose eyes were beginning to well with silent tears. He pushed Akitsu back, arms around her, her tiny fingers clinging to his shirt.

Akitsu let his shoulders fall back, returning to a formal at-attention pose. (Fuck Fuck fuck fuck he was going to get punished. Fuck. And how would he take care of her now, he'd kept it together so well before, the bastard wouldn't let him near her now–)

"What in the hells is wrong with you?" It was a question, not a command, and Akitsu stared at the medicus until he realized he was actually supposed to respond.

"I - she was making a mess of her food–"

"Yes, she's a child, they do that!" He put Akitsu in mind of a tiny dog, ready to fight something twice its size with no mind it would lose. The child had her face pressed against the Garlean's shoulders, tiny wide eyes staring in fear at him. It shouldn't be him she feared. It should be the man she clung to. The man who dared to claim she was his.

"What gives you the right to tell my daughter she's less than–"

"She's not your daughter, she's a war trophy!" Akitsu wished he could blame the kitsune for the words that fell out of his mouth. Wished he could be elsewhere until the rage wasn't dragging him forward, until the consequences of his actions had passed him by.

The Garlean's jaw hung open. Akitsu expected a shout, a slap, maybe even a blow, and with his stomach sinking into his feet he still found himself continuing to speak.

"She looks nothing like you. Everyone can tell. You stole her. Don't…don't pretend it's otherwise." Akitsu hoped his fear didn't reach his face. It had been years since a Garlean had the privilege of seeing him afraid.

The Garlean took a step back, looking up warily at him, taking a long breath with his nose buried in the child's hair.

[fisherrprince]

Hi, I also find your specbios for the ffxiv races really interesting, and I have a question! What'd the inspiration behind elezen because the whiskers and tails have a feathered appearance and I'm curious if they do indeed have feathers kind of like weird birds almost or if you wouldn't mind elaborating further on them?

think moths, not birds! They were the first guys I really messed with, and they’re a result of me trying different features on them like dress up and then a friend of mine was like Bug. Bug Them. and I went ojhh bugmouse

but — GNFBS don’t call them that. Their appearance is attempting to make them look a little more ethereal, a little more woods-wild. Their soft deer/moth feet, feathered whisker-antennae, dormouse jerboa tails, etc. are all things I thought would emphasize their appearance. I considered actual stag features, but figured they’d be overwhelming since I also want to keep the player characters close enough to their original states that I’m not just drawing some other guy on you.

a very important thing that makes me snicker to myself is that I think elezen, despite being the most elegant and refined and very pretty full-grown creatures, are The most awkward guys evolutionarily. they’re stuck in the middle of a transition between toe walking and heel walking so a lot of them develop foot pain. They have back pain by existing. They have vestigial tails that are so fragile most don’t keep theirs into old age. They have terribly designed growth cycles that annoy all of them. They have whiskers at such an angle that hoods or hats are uncomfortable in general. Their hair has to be washed daily or it gets sad. They’re terrible at regulating their own body temperature. Half of them refuse to leave a giant snowy wasteland anyways

[cattaliatayuun]

Back on my bullshit again fellas

FFXIV Write Day 16: Third-rate

No spoilers except maybe for late ARR I guess? Once again almost entirely disconnected from MSQ.

The sun burned bright overhead, and a light breeze wafted the ever-present smell of smoke over the Gridanian clearing.

"Y'ever seen a Miqo'te who couldn't hunt?" The question stung like the insult it was intended to be, and Cattalia couldn't help but wince. Her father shoved a bow back into her small hands, growl implying what would happen if she fought back again.

"I heard there were some researchers, a group from a nearby tribe, headed up to the abandoned Sharlayan settlement-" She answered anyways, still quietly hoping she might not have to make a failure of herself again today.

"And they'll be made short work of on their way, d'you understand me?" He was getting louder, so she squeezed her mouth shut, eyes falling the bow in her hands fearfully as she nodded.

"Stop concerning yourself with rumors of passersby, and maybe you'll finally live up to our family name. Get to practicing." He demanded flatly, strapping a quiver over her shoulder with a rough tug and stepping back, arms crossed expectantly. She wasn't sure what all he expected, though. All she knew was that fighting back was useless.

She swallowed nervously, knowing exactly what was about to come-- what had happened every other day she'd tried to train-- but still as scared as ever. She shifted the bow into her left hand, holding it aloft and grabbing an arrow from her quiver, staring past her hand and to the target behind their home. Her bow was already starting to shake. Her right hand came forward, fingers hooking onto the string, and she pulled back...

It barely moved. Her hands were calloused, but in all the wrong places, and she'd never been very physically strong. The bowstring dug into her skin, sitting in a painfully bare spot just before her lute playing callouses. Why did she have to stop playing?

Then the release. The arrow flew, almost all the way to the target, but drifted gently to the ground a few fulms from its destination. The same sight she'd seen, almost daily, for the last few moons. There was a heavy sigh to Cattalia's side, and her face quickly went hot with frustration. She wasn't even 14 yet, and her father expected her, a musician, to become an archer, what, overnight?

"More of this farse, 'Tali? You're my blood. Start acting like it." Another strike, his words were getting sharper now. Her eyes started to water, throat stinging in the effort to keep her emotions down; she couldn't even bring herself to try for another shot. She lowered the bow, letting out a shaky breath and staring into the ground, trying to sort through the tempest that was her current emotions.

"I know I'm a third-rate shot, but I am trying, Father..." She muttered quietly. There was a tense silence, the only sound coming from the soft breeze rushing through the grassy fields around their house. Then, a scoff.

"A third-rate daughter, more like."

The bow and arrow clatter to the ground. Not that Cattalia could hear it; nothing could get past the blood rushing in her ears now. She didn't bother looking behind her when she ran, bolting into the field without a second thought as tears started streaming down her cheeks.

He never cared. Maybe one day he had, but surely not anymore. What point was family if all they did was leave or betray you? No, she decided, she didn't need any. Mother had raised her well, but now it was time to make her own decisions.

There was a faint crunching of grass behind her, a distant call of her name that only made her run faster. Still, a shadow started to grow at her heels, looming over her as it approached. She needed to run faster, hide somewhere, anything but this, anything but this.

She felt a hand on her waist and almost screamed, but only managed a gasp as everything was suddenly dark.

"Eaaaasy, easy. You were making quite the racket over here. Feeling alright, 'Talia?" Thancred's kept his concern light, voice gentle as he ran his hand over her shoulder in a small gesture of comfort.

It was a dream. Just a nightmare. A real one, mind you, a vivid recollection likely thanks to the echo, but... it was the past, now. Her eyes fluttered open, taking a deep breath and surveying her surrounds. Seems she'd taken a nap on a couch in the Rising Stones, and it seemed relievingly empty. Thancred was half crouched next to the couch, a concerned, yet hopeful smile on his face. Right, he asked a question.

"Yes, sorry, I'm... better now. Just a nasty memory." She explained, letting out a tense breath. Thancred raised a suspicious brow, but didn't ask further. Instead, he stood, smile settling into a more familiar pleased one with a nod.

"Right. Well, we're getting dinner in half a bell-- whoever's around that is-- so I'd suggest tidying up if you'd like to join. Family meals are worth the effort, wouldn't you say?" His emphasis gave Cattalia pause, looking up at Thancred with a blank stare for a moment while a smirk tugged at the corner of his lip, before she realized she must have been talking in her sleep. She blushed, hurriedly sitting up and trying to tidy her unkempt attire to hide her flustered state.

"Yeah- of course! I'll be sure I don't look like I just woke up, by then. Thanks." Thancred chuckled and started walking off.

"Anytime."

Seems she didn't mind a family after all.

---

This girl (me) can write SO much angst comfort. Haven't even gotten to my peak self indulgence yet but that's because these prompts keep whispering WoL lore to me so thats what we get XD This is almost full stream of consciousness stuff, no time for editing or thinking too hard, and I'm absolutely baffled that it's turning out legible. Thanks for reading! ���