#ffxiv patch 6.0 spoilers

[mimble-sparklepudding]

11. Surrogate.

If facing some Ascian or other,

Then you might need a surrogate mother,

And because she's a Primal,

She'll be there anytime you'll,

Need her help in one way or another...

FFXIVwrite2024 can always rely on mum (at least until patch 6.1 anyway).

[ofthewhitewind]

alisaie’s unique little animations this patch were so cute

[shipperwolf1]

Emet Selch: go forth and seek discovery!

WoL, still processing the events of Ultima Thule:

[bi-disastersoup]

Into the Void - Part 1

Welcome to a new VN series. These ones are much shorter, so I won't be doubling up the images.

Greatly recommended you read Shifters first if you haven't, or some of the stuff covered in this series might not make a ton of sense.

very mild CW for emetophobia and also spoilers for patch 6.2 MSQ (takes place right after the second fight with Scarmiglione)

Let's go.

Strap in, ya'll.

(Part 2)

[ladyramora]

Erichthonios x Taimu Comm

Romance, Angst, Feels & Fluff

Rating: Teen

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV

Main Characters: Erichthonios, Taimu

Minor Characters: Lahabrea, Natus Vincer, Themis, Emmy (Carbuncle)

↓↓↓ Endwalker Spoilers, Spoilers for the Pandaemonium raid below the cut↓↓↓

…..

….

…

The return of Natus and Taimu was of course an occasion that ever did raise the spirits of their significant others.

Themis, in particular, Erichthonios did not fail to notice, could become quite dour in the prolonged absence of his remarkable lover.

The return of Natus was indeed as if all of Elpis—and mayhap all of Amaurot as well—breathed a sigh of relief. There were plenty of ill-tempered convocation members without adding the good natured Emissary to the list.

It was a relief to see Themis returned to his usual cheer as soon as Natus made an appearance. The outlandish man come to sweep the Emissary off his feet and make off with him. Truly the epitome of young sweethearts.

Ah, but, speaking of those that were acting unlike their usual selves…

Something was off, not quite right. Erichthonios could feel it down to his very bones.

Though his dearest Taimu had done her best to put forth her usual energy and cheer as they both went dutifully about their chosen tasks, Erichthonios was not so consumed in his own goings-on that he failed to notice the peculiarities of behavior in the one he held most dear.

The work could always wait. It was hardly pressing now, not like the chaos that had been their first meeting. Erichthonios could spare the time to figure out just what it was that had his Taimu acting out of sorts.

She was hovering more than usual, and not just out of her regular want for affection; such that had often flustered him. To be the sole object of such genuine affection was something he was still getting used to, considering his upbringing…

Nay, whatever it was that had her lingering around him was markedly different from her usual habits.

Something was bothering her, and for whatever reason she was not being forthcoming about speaking what was on her mind.

Still, she was not avoiding him. That was a relief. It eased his worry somewhat that whatever had her so troubled was aught he had done. Of course, it did not erase the niggling thought entirely, and so Erichthonios mustered up the courage he could to ask her outright before he drove himself mad with anxiety.

“Tai,” he calls to her softly, reaching out a tad hesitantly to touch her shoulder. “Is aught amiss? You seem… troubled. I am here to listen, ever at your service, should you need an ear. ‘Tis my hope that I could bring you comfort, the same as you have for me.”

Taimu looks at him with those wide, lovely eyes of hers. Like sparkling gems of ruby red and sapphire blue. Today they seem far too sad, as if his lover were ruminating on something truly upsetting, on the verge of despair. One moment away from bursting into tears.

“Erich,” she says quietly, fretfully. As if she were considering for a moment to tell him something of significant weight. But then she stops, shakes her head, and smiles at him.

Ah, that smile. Erichthonios knew that smile. His dear Tai was not one to speak lies, but her smiles were not always true. No matter how lovely all her smiles were, Erich much preferred her genuine emotions over anything false for his own sake.

“I just… want to be around you as much as possible, whenever I can. I miss you terribly when we're apart,” she says, looking down and knotting her fingers together. She pauses, glancing up at him with a furrowed brow, her hands clasped tightly together. “Unless you find it bothersome. I know you have work to do. Should I… give you some space?”

Erichthonios reaches out, unable to resist tousling the blue and white of her hair as he pats her head. She presses into his hand, her eyes closing with his touch.

“You needn't worry about that. I only asked because I was worried about you,” Erichthonios says with a smile, his heart racing just from that bit of contact. His skin felt warm, and his stomach was flip-flopping, full up with what felt like the fluttering wings of ianthine petalouda.

By the star, she was far too lovely. Erich wanted to hold her in his arms and nuzzle his face against the softness of her hair, to breathe in her sweet scent and bask in her warmth.

He would like nothing more than to kiss her until a true smile curled at the plush softness of her lips.

Unfortunately, this was hardly the place to indulge in such things. This was still his place of work, and anyone could stumble upon them if they became too wrapped up in one another. It was far too easy a thing to do. Taimu stirred a passion within him unlike anything he had ever experienced. Once he got started, it was hard to stop.

“There is nothing you wish to speak of, you are certain?” He asks a bit insistently. Would she not be convinced if he were a tad more assertive?

Taimu only smiles that same less than sincere smile at him, nodding her head.

Erichthonios withholds a sigh, wishing that she would tell him what was truly bothering her.

His thoughts wander as he mulls over the ways he might help cheer her up, even if she did not wish to share with him her troubles. He strokes her hair a few moments longer as he does so, an unconscious motion of his hand over her head. She leans into him, obviously craving the contact. Her face burrows into his robe, hiding her expression from view as she breathed in deep and sighed out a long exhale.

Was this enough to bring her a measure of comfort?

Erichthonios feels somewhat flustered as she curls intimately close, wrapping her arms around his waist in a hug that soon becomes a firm squeeze of an embrace. One that he did not doubt would linger quite long.

It was not that he minded at all, except…

The warder glances around, if only to make certain there was no one lingering about to peep on them.

Themis and Natus, mostly. The two men together had become an incorrigible pair, constantly teasing and poking fun at how shy he and Taimu were in their own manner of affection.

As if they had much room to speak, considering the elaborate dance those two had done around one another before finally getting together. Erich had been exhausted just watching them. The only saving grace of that span of time had been how often Taimu had giggled when watching their ridiculous antics.

The only problem was, now that they were together, they made it their business to poke their noses into his relationship with Taimu. Friendly concern, they called it. Hah, what rot.

Erichthonios clears his throat, his fist raised towards his face in embarrassment just thinking of past teasing from those two, but does not stop the gentle movement of his hand over Taimu’s silky soft hair.

He could give her this much, at least.

Yet Erichthonios could not tamp down the overwhelming need to do more.

It was a very selfish desire, he knew. One that stemmed from his need to always see her happy and smiling, but he could not deny

He needed to put forth more effort.

All he could muster, through any means.

Anything to bring back her smile.

….

Erichthonios did not think he would ever find it easy to seek out the man who was his father. Being in the same room with Master Lahabrea felt as if Erichthonios were taking a test he had not sufficiently studied for.

The very silence felt heavy, weighed down with the history between them. Filled up with everything they do not say to one another. What more was there to be said? There was too much that had happened.

The rift between them had been mended somewhat, but they were by no means a close father-son relationship.

There was still an awkwardness between them. A distance, a gap that would be difficult to close.

Even though his mother was gone, she was still a phantom they could not shake. It was as if her merciless eyes were still looking down on them, finding flaw in every breath, fault in every twitch of a finger.

Erichthonios fists his hands at his sides, his jaw clenching with his gritted teeth.

“I see no reason to deny you your request,” Lahabrea says, looking over the formal request that Erichthonios had submitted for his perusal. To borrow a holding cell was no small matter, but to Lahabrea it was a simple thing.

“I shall grant it for a day, but no longer than that.”

One small thing that the man could do to make up for the ways he had failed his son. Bribery was no way to earn forgiveness, but Erichthonios was fine with accepting these small favors so long as it was something that would make Taimu happy.

Erichthonios breathes a little easier with being granted this favor. He would have found a way to go forward without his father's approval, but it was far simpler to have it. This way, he could better focus his time and attention into crafting something worthy of the woman who held his heart.

As a diligent, dutiful warder, he pays his respects to Master Lahabrea, and turns to take his leave.

It is his father's voice that stops him at the door.

“It is for her, is it not?” Lahabrea asks in a tone most peculiar. “The one who has hold of your heart.”

Erichthonios did not want to share anything, but…

“It is,” he says, his voice softened with affection. With love. “I want to be the reason that she smiles.”

Lahabrea hums. The shuffling of parchment telling that he had put his request with the rest of the stack he had so far approved.

“‘Tis as good a reason as any.”

Erichthonios nods. “I know.”

He leaves it at that. Not wanting to hear what his father might say next. Something about his mother, perhaps. The topic of Athena was still a sore spot between them.

Erichthonios did not doubt that she always would be. Such was the sort of woman that his mother had been.

She had her claws in them even now. Her memory was ever a black shadow hovering over them, her name like poison on the tips of their tongues.

Well, Erichthonios was done with wallowing in the dark. Allowing the expectations of his parents to dictate his every action, afraid of failure.

He knew now what it was like to step into the light, to shake off the shackles of responsibility and to live for himself.

Taimu had shown him true happiness.

The very least he could do was try to give her the same.

….

It takes some careful maneuvering on his part to make certain that Taimu does not discover his surprise before he is ready to unveil it. So Erichthonios makes use of a favor owed by one of his fellow colleagues, a new face who had relied heavily upon his guidance in learning the ins and outs of working within the walls of Pandaemonium.

It is that colleague who calls upon Taimu for some frivolous form of assistance or other, drawing her away from Erichthonios’ side for the time being, and thus granting him the time he needed to prepare his surprise for her while she was sufficiently distracted.

Honestly, Erichthonios was not exactly certain the man truly worked here…

He was a bit of an oddity who had shown up entirely out of the blue, and never seemed to stop talking about his wife.

There was no guarantee that the man could keep Taimu occupied for long, so Erichthonios set about completing his task quickly. His heart was pounding in his breast with the pressure of needing to hurry, but his body is suffused with the gleeful warmth of doing something for the person he loved and adored.

….

Taimu seemed to be in better spirits as he led her with her eyes closed towards their destination. To make certain she does not sneak a peek, Erich covers her eyes with his hands, guiding her slowly forward as a steady presence at her back.

Her carbuncle and constant companion, Emmy, made cheerful chirps as the shimmering creature loped in loops around them, bouncing to and fro. Lighting up the dark with the gentle glow of Taimu's of aether as it bounded off ahead of them, off to explore.

Erichthonios did not worry for the curious little creature. Emmy always seemed to come back, no matter how deep they delved into the dark depths of Pandaemonium.

He can hear the smile in her voice as she asks him, giggling, “Where are we going?”

Erich grins, tapping her nose playfully with his pinky. “The surprise is half the fun of it. You'll see.”

He leads her to the repurposed cell, waiting for just the right moment to activate the concept he had carefully crafted. The transformation could be just as breathtaking as the finished result.

“Can I open my eyes yet?” Taimu asks as they start to slow, nearing the center of the empty cell.

“Just a little longer,” Erichthonios says, covering her eyes with one hand as he pulls the concept crystal from within his robe. He activates it, dropping his hand from her face as the one-use crystal scatters into motes of aether.

“Look, Tai,” Erichthonios says, squeezing her shoulder with one hand as he points with the other, directing her attention to the pitch black darkness above them, the ceiling of the cell too far away for their eyes to discern in the dark.

The concept he had created was already at work, the creation magic given form shooting from his hand like a star, glimmering aether lighting up the dark in dazzling, sparkling brilliance. It stops just short of the barrier of the ceiling and bursts into a shower of luminous sparks similar to that of a firework. A dome of creation magic forming within the confines of the empty cell, filling up the dreary dark with color and soft light.

Tiny balls of shining aether arc far above their heads like meteorites, each one finding a place to rest as twinkling stars in the velvet expanse of the artificial sky he crafted just for the two of them.

Erichthonios comes to stand at her side, gazing at her side profile and watching the iridescent display of aether from the reflection in her lovely eyes. It was far more beautiful witnessing how it painted her peachy skin in a shifting prism of color, casting a romantic glow over her features.

The creation magic extends to the floor, stretching across it in a soft glow. The anticipation of something new and beautiful.

It was an endless expanse of flowers as far as the eye could see, one after another, the plant life blooming at their feet. It was all the flowers that Taimu had admired outside of Pandaemonium, within Elpis. Beautiful and ephemeral.

Here in the gentle dark, they glowed with the soft light of Erichthonios’ aether. Familiar, warm, so very comforting.

After the transformation is settled, he speaks to her in a kind, compassionate voice. “I do not know what troubles you. Nor do I need to know, should you find yourself unable to speak of it. Yet I would have you know this… That I will be here for you throughout it all, no matter the circumstances, and that I shall ever strive to make you as happy as you have made me. Nay, even happier.”

Erichthonios takes a breath, smiling to himself. “Never had I thought that I would let another heart touch my own after bearing witness to what love did to my father and mother, and yet… perhaps despite myself, you have become the most important person in my life.”

He kneels down, plucking a perfect, glowing bloom and twirling the stem between his fingers as he straightens up to his full height again. “Though I ache to see you so troubled, I would hurt far more if I cannot unburden your heart even in small ways such as these.”

He offers the flower to her, his brows lifting in a gentle expression, affection writ across his face. His love for her plain in every movement, in the gentlest flutter of his eyelashes, in the curve of his sweet smile. With a bit of aether, the flower changes in his hand, every petal a different color that shined ever so softly. “You are dear to me no matter your colors. No matter the changing season or your shift in mood, I would weather the storm to stay beside you. I would bear it all and more for the slightest chance to preserve your smile. Because… I love you, Taimu.”

Erichthonios is startled at the sudden sheen of wetness he sees in Taimu's eyes, causing them to gleam all the brighter. At the first tear that falls, he feels his heart twist, taken aback as he watches it spill over her eyelashes and trickle down her soft cheek.

His stomach was swooping with dread, tied up in knots of anxious worry as he reached out to touch her shoulder.

Had he done wrong? Was she unhappy?

“Taimu, have I made a mistake?” he asks, his voice low and regretful. His throat closes with emotion, squeezing tight so that he must force the words out.

“You need only say the word, and I will…” Erichthonios raises his hand up, his fist clenching as he flung his arm aside for emphasis, “I will break the magic this very moment..!”

Taimu spins around to face him, the sudden motion sending the tears on her cheeks flying through the air.

He is not expecting her to fling herself at him, so he does not brace for it.

His aether reacts, protection magic built into this concept as a precautionary measure. Pandaemonium was ever unpredictable, and so Erichthonios had layered this concept with their safety in mind, so that they could enjoy their time together without worry.

Their fall is cushioned by the impossibly soft field of flowers beneath them, a flurry of glowing flower petals kicked up by the force of their impact.

Erichthonios is breathless from the wind being knocked out of him by Taimu's tackle, but still cradles her body with his as he gasps out in worry for her, “Tai, are you—?”

She kisses him, her teardrops landing on his face and trickling down his cheeks as if they were his own tears.

She was shaking with the effort of swallowing the sound of her tears, her body ever so slightly jolting with every soft sob she held back.

It made his chest tight with helpless emotion, as if an invisible hand were squeezing his heart in a merciless fist. His eyes ache, his throat tight with oncoming tears. How could he possibly remain unaffected in the face of her upset?

Erichthonios pulls her snug into his embrace, his arm spanning the width of her back as he clutches her to him, his fingers sinking into her silky hair as he cradles her head with his palm.

He matches her intensity, but slowly softens their kiss to something sweeter and softer. His hand stroking across her back until he feels the trembling of her body start to subside.

She breaks their kiss and pulls back, gazing down at his face. Her eyes were red from from crying, her face wet with tears.

Erichthonios reaches out to brush the wispy fall of her bangs behind her ear so he could better see her eyes.

Erich lingers as he cups her face in his hands. Caressing her cheeks and along her jaw, his fingers sink into her hair and frame her ears. His thumbs rub gently over the soft curve of her cheeks and carefully under her eyes, following the delicate fan of her eyelashes. Wiping away the salty trail of her tears with gentle swipes of his fingertips across her flushed, peachy skin.

She leans into his touch, her eyes briefly closing as she let out a shaky sigh. A smile curves across her lips, tremulous but genuine.

Erichthonios tucks the flower he had plucked behind her ear, nestling it amongst the blue and white highlights of her hair. Thankfully, magically crafted flowers did not crumple the same as real, delicate flowers did.

Taimu touches the flower, her eyes watery but still so beautiful. Her smile is softer, fuller. Traces of her usual cheer shining through the heavy cloud that had been cast over her.

Erichthonios thumbs at the corner of her mouth, tracing the curve of her smile with his fingertips. Gazing at her with love in his red eyes, his mouth parts as if he were about to speak, but Taimu presses her finger into the plush softness of his lips. Bidding him be quiet for a moment as she hushes him no louder than a whisper of breath.

“Erich, I love you more than words can possibly say. I hope you know that well,” she says, soft and heartfelt. “I just…,” her voice catches, thick with the threat of more tears, “I worry that… we don't have enough moments together.”

Erich speaks with her finger still pressed to his mouth, his words a little thick with his tongue stuck behind his teeth. Overwhelmed as he was with emotion he could no longer hold back, he could not stay quiet.

“We will make more,” he says, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. His heart in his throat as he tries to find the right words to say.

“All the moments that I can give you. As many as we possibly can, just as beautiful as this. Every day with you is a gift, Taimu. You have shown me a love I had never known. Allow me to do the same by making every day beside you the best as I can.”

Taimu bites at her lips, her eyebrows furrowing as she skims her fingers over his cheek to his temple, rubbing at the corner of his eye. “You're crying.”

Erichthonios turns his face into her hand. “How could I not, seeing you so upset? I love you, Taimu. Your pain is my pain, no matter what.”

Taimu sniffles wetly, smiling for him through her tears. “I love you.”

“I know,” Erichthonios wipes away the droplets before they can spill over her cheeks. “Come here.”

He sits slowly upright, adjusting her comfortably in his lap. Holding her in his embrace and not letting go.

He kisses her forehead, her nose, her cheeks. Tasting the salt of her tears on his lips and savoring the sweet sound of her giggles. He kisses her gently, cradling her jaw in his hand.

“I have another surprise for you,” he tells her when their kiss breaks.

“Is it the moon?” Taimu asks.

Erichthonios’ head tilts, “Moon?”

Taimu stutters, waving her hands. “I—... I mean… this!” With a surge of aether, a small orb floats over her hand, emitting a soft light. “It’s a large, white stone structure that floats in the sky and reflects light in the dark of night! At… at least that's what I've been told by my maker! The sky is beautiful, but it's quite dark…. With this, it is a bit brighter, wouldn't you say so? Of course, this one is just a small, travel size version of it.”

Erichthonios gazes down at it, recognizing it from their earlier times together. Yes, Taimu had used it before to light the way in the darkest parts of Pandaemonium. It was quite an inspired idea. Pandaemonium was a dark and dreary place. Perhaps he should put a word in with Lahabrea about this concept…?

“Is that what you call it?” Erichthonios asks, poking at it curiously. The invisible buffer of aether around it keeping it afloat prevents his finger from making full contact. Most curious.

Taimu nods.

“If you desire it, I shall make one for you,” he says, lifting his hand up with a welling of aether in his palm.

He blows on it, sending the gentle glow of it floating up towards those artificial stars.

Nestled amongst the stars it grows in size, luminous and gently gleaming like the miniature moon she held in the palm of her hand. Just like the flowers surrounding them, it shimmered with subtle color.

“It's beautiful,” Taimu says, though it was different from the moon she knew.

This one was special to her because Erichthonios had made it just for her.

“This was my surprise,” Erichthonios says, a bit shy as he rubs the back of his neck. From seemingly out of nowhere, he pulls a basket full of foodstuffs. Elpis delicacies that Taimu had delighted in trying. These ones, in particular, Erichthonios knew she enjoyed.

“Ohh,” Taimu presses her hands to her mouth in surprise. “You prepared a starlit picnic?”

Erichthonios ducks his head a bit bashfully, clearing his throat. “I thought you might enjoy something like this. Though I admit it was not entirely my own idea, but something I picked up from the endless slew of romantic advice courtesy of Themis and Natus.”

Taimu giggles, shaking her head. “Those two… Well, should I help you set it up?”

She lifts herself gingerly from his lap and helps him to spread out the blanket, setting out the many foods he had prepared.

Some of which she recognized. Sandwiches, onigiri, her favorite types of cookies. “...Did big brother help you with this?” She asks, referring to Natus.

Erichthonios sighs. He supposed it was obvious, since Natus had been the one to tell him of all Taimu's favorites. He felt ashamed that he had not known the answers himself, but some of these foods were of the like he had never before heard of. Yet these two were well traveled in comparison to him, so it stood to reason that they would have come across endless experiences that he could only dream of.

“Yes, he insisted,” he admits. “I was never very good at creating food through magical means, so it was quite kind of him to teach me how to prepare things he was certain you would enjoy.”

Taimu smiles.

Yes, it was quite kind of him to take the time to do so, knowing how precious his time with Themis was. Just the same as the time together between the two of them, Erich and Tai.

“Whilst I have prepared these under the watchful eye of our friends, I fear I do not know in which order one usually eats them….”

Taimu laughs and reaches for the sandwiches first.

“Here,” she says as she places one in his hand, tapping hers against his. A toast with bread.

They both take a bite and sigh happily.

His efforts had paid off, they were delicious.

“Food is most often made through magic within Elpis. It is an ease of convenience for the oft busy researcher. Within Pandaemonium it is much the same. A warder cannot leave their post for too long, after all,” Erichthonios says between bites of his sandwich. “I must admit, to make it with my own hands was challenging, but the difference in taste is well worth the time it takes to prepare it.”

Taimu works her way through her sandwich, nodding along to his words. She must be quite hungry for how quickly she polishes the first one off and then reaches for another on the pile.

Erichthonios smiles, laughing with good humor. “I suppose I need not tell you the difference of taste between magical food and that which is prepared through regular means. No doubt you and Natus have tasted your fair share of magically crafted foodstuffs, being the well traveled explorers that you are.”

Taimu blinks at him with guileless mismatched eyes, her cheeks adorably stuffed with food. Unable to speak without appearing rude with her mouth so full, she gives an agreeable hum and nods her head rapidly. So cute.

Erichthonios chuckles, reaching out to swipe his thumb over the corner of her mouth. Licking the bit of sauce off his thumb out of reflex.

They both pause, looking at each other with some fluster.

Erichthonios feels flushed from his ears all the way down his neck, warm underneath the collar of his robes.

How embarrassing that small intimacies such as these still made his heart race, though they had been formally in this relationship for some time now.

Erichthonios coughs, and reaches into the basket for one of the canteens he had packed, pouring them both a cup.

“Here, you must be thirsty. The bread is quite thick, is it not?”

Taimu beams at him, accepting the cup as he offers it and drinking deep.

Erichthonios dutifully refills her before he even has a sip of his own cup, caught up in just gazing his fill of her. His heart full to bursting at the sight of her so clearly enjoying the fruits of his labor of love for her. Perhaps he should make meals for her more often? A short break here and there to share a few sandwiches together would not hurt, especially now that Pandaemonium had been returned to its usual semblance of order.

“Try one of these next,” Taimu says, offering him a cookie.

Erichthonios reaches to take it from her hand, only for her to pull away.

“Now, say ahh,” she says, her eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed.

She was achingly, breathtakingly lovely.

Erichthonios feels his own face heat up as he dips his head to take a bite while she held it for him in her hand. His lips brush her fingertips as he bites through the cookie. Soft, sweet, buttery.

The flavor barely registers for how his lips buzz at the merest graze of her fingers. By the star.

“How is it?” She asks, her voice soft. Breathless.

Erichthonios swallows hard. “Good.”

Taimu takes a bite of the cookie, overlapping where his teeth had just been.

“Yum,” she agrees.

They had kissed countless times, but Erich yearned to linger on her lips like the crumbs of that cookie.

He shakes his head, pressing a hand to his chest to calm his rapidly thumping heart. Now was hardly the time for such things.

Erichthonios takes a deep drink of his cup. Reaching to try an onigiri when he glances up to check the progress of the creation magic.

It would only last so long, after all. He could hardly keep Tai here all day, no matter how Master Lahabrea had granted him use of it for an entire day's time.

No doubt his father would agree if he asked to use it again. The question was if Erichthonios could stand to accept such obvious bribery. It was wholly and entirely out of character for the man. The Speaker was not one to grant favors unduly. Definitely not to show the barest inkling of favor towards his one and only son.

That would be nepotism; and that simply was not done.

“Look, Tai,” he says, noticing the subtle shift in the sky. The other part of his surprise.

Taimu turns to look, gasping. The sky had begun to brighten, the moon and stars shifting as the sky filled with light and color. The wispy softness of dreamy clouds drifting into view.

“Sunrise,” Taimu murmurs, turning around to watch.

Erichthonios shifts things around on their blanket so he can join her side, watching the sunset he had crafted along with her.

Erichthonios glances down as he feels Taimu lean into him. A smile tugging at his lips as he lifts his arm to drape over her shoulders, resting his cheek on her soft hair.

“Thank you, Erich,” she says quietly. “This was perfect.”

Erichthonios presses his lips to her hair, tugging her closer to cuddle against him.

“This is one moment, Tai. Pray look forward to many more. For the happiness you have shown me. For the heart you have given me. This is the very least I can do.”

Taimu curls closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. She squeezes him so very tight, as if she did not want to ever let him go. “I love you.”

Erich curls his fingers under her chin, tipping her head up so he can kiss her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, and then her lips.

It warms his heart to hear her giggle.

His thumb traces her ear, fiddling with the impossibly soft petals of the flower he had gifted her.

Perhaps he would preserve it for her.

A small memento, hers to keep.

It would be simple enough to do.

“I love you,” Erich murmurs, stroking her cheek with the backs of his knuckles. Gazing into her lovely eyes and drinking in the sight of her joy, the return of her happy smile.

Thank goodness, he had done it.

There was a chirp then, and they both glance up.

“There you are, Emmy,” Tai laughs, patting at her lap.

The carbuncle gives a cheerful trill and hops over to snuggle into her lap.

With Taimu's curious companion returned to them, they continue to enjoy their picnic in relative quiet, just watching the sunrise as it changed from murky blues and purples to a rich red that faded to orange, then yellow. The clouds reflected those colors, pink and blue and orange and yellow.

It was beautiful. A wonderful moment, of many more moments to come.

Erichthonios never broke a promise, and did not intend to start now.

Whatever Taimu wanted, he would do his very best to give it to her.

Her happiness was his happiness.

She was his everything.

[mnemosyne-xiv]

"So, it seems that you truly are the savior of the Thirteenth." A sigh escaped Remia while she walked beside the memoriate, her companion's hat in hand. "And here I was sure you'd die in the battle against Zeromus."

"You sound almost disappointed I survived," Zero replied with a chuckle. "Yet when you called out after I was struck by darkness, I could have sworn you cared about me."

"Don't let it get to your head."

"Am I mistaken then?"

Remia rolled her eye. "Always."

Slowing to a stop, Zero turned to look down at the voidmage, her gentle smile faltering. "Now that Azdaja is saved and Golbez has agreed to work with me to restore our world, I won't be returning to the Source."

"And I should care, why?" Came the miqo'te's bored response.

A breath of silence passed as Zero's expression grew solemn. "This bargain of ours...we won't be able to continue our arrangement."

"That's not up to you to decide." Remia scoffed, looking up at her with a wry smirk. "Gremory and Vetis are going to be joining your little ragtag group and I see no reason for me to not spend time here as well. And, you're forgetting that when the others return to the Source, they'll be closing that voidgate meaning you won't be able to acquire resources from the Source. But me? I can open voidgates at will. I can come and go as I please, and take you to and fro with little to no trouble at all. We could even return to the First for you to learn from Ryne on how best to begin restoring your home."

Zero's eyes slowly widened. "Does that mean..." Her voice trailed off, a smile beginning to spread across her lips.

"That our bargain can continue without issue? Yes, yes it does." Remia cutely peered up at her companion. "I still need to find the means to purge this wicked white mage's soul from my own. I've been exploring the Thirteenth all by my lonesome for quite some time now so I see no reason not to continue—but this time I'll have you to accompany me, won't I?"

In the blink of an eye Zero wrapped her arms tightly around Remia, pulling the short woman into her strong embrace. "I'd like that," she murmured softly. "I don't want this to end."

Remia's hands awkwardly hovered around Zero's waist for a moment, unsure of what to do. She could hardly remember the last time anyone had given her a hug let alone expressed their heartfelt desire for her to stay. It filled her chest with a strange warmth. Had a smile curling her lips. Tears stung the corners of her eyes while her heartbeat began to quicken. Was this..?

When Zero's arms around her tightened, Remia exhaled a heavy sigh and returned her hug. "I'm keeping your hat," she grumbled.

"Heh, really?"

"Would you rather I forget you entirely now that you won't be attached to me by the hip?"

The memoriate pulled back just enough to get a clear view of the woman she still held so protectively in her arms. And then she was smiling—truly smiling—and Remia felt her heart skip...

"Don't look at me like that," she mumbled while she glanced off to the side.

That only had Zero's smile widening. "Like what?"

"Just, stop that."

"I don't think I understand. You'll have to be more specific."

[origamihoshi]

The end has been fully walked!

[tritoch]

for those we have lost; for those we can yet save

just want to write a quick post about the most famous recurring line in FFXIV. People generally recognize it as something characters say a lot, but if you pay close attention to when and how it comes up it's actually very VERY interesting, and deployed in very specific ways. To me, It's Minfilia's line but also in many ways a reminder of Moenbryda, and is very specifically raised by characters close to the two of them. spoilers through 6.0 below.

it's Minfilia's line, first of all, in that she's literally the first one to say it. She says it in 2.55, right before you throw in with Ishgard and assist in the defense of the steps of faith. As the patch number suggests, it's one of the last things any of the Scions hear from her before the Bloody Banquet.

(Quest: Committed to the Cause, 2.55. All this dialogue from the extremely excellent resource xiv.quest, by the way.)

In context, "those we have lost" and "those we can yet save" actually have two pretty specific meanings! While "those we have lost" obviously encompasses all the fallen Scions, from Louisoix to the attack on the Waking Sands to Wilred, its particular meaning here is almost certainly in reference to Moenbryda, because 2.55 starts with you attending her memorial service, and because Moenbryda specifically dies to save Minfilia! "Those we can yet save" refers, in part, to the fact that you are about to risk your lives in defense of Ishgard against the Dravanians, in part due to Aymeric's argument that should Ishgard fall, all of Eorzea is at risk. For these two reasons—to honor the sacrifice of a fallen friend and with an eye toward preventing needless bloodshed—you willingly forsake your neutrality.

When Minfilia returns in 3.2, she says it to you again, an echo of some of her final words to you:

(Quest: The Word of the Mother)

Note how the intent subtly shades differently here. Rather than taking up arms for a cause that isn't yours, Minfilia's use of the line is to justify offering herself to Hydaelyn. Here the connection to Moenbryda becomes even stronger: like Moenbryda, Minfilia is sacrificing herself for the good of the cause and with the aim of protecting her friends. Her self-sacrifice echoes and reinforces the legacy of her friend's sacrifice for her.

She repeats it again in 3.4, and by this point it's clearly and specifically her catchphrase:

(Quest: One Life for One World)

And of course, her use of it here precedes a triple sacrifice: her journey to the First, to remain there forever, to guard against the Flood of Light; the sacrifices of Ardbert's friends, who have already died once for the First and will offer up their aether in death to empower Minfilia against the Flood; and Ardbert, who is about to undergo his own version of Hydaelyn's Endwalk in miniature.

Minfilia says the line three times, taking it on as a kind of mantra and core justification behind all of her actions, and now in 3.X and 4.X they'll let you, the Warrior of Light, do the same.

The very first time the Warrior of Light gets to say it happens in the very same patch:

(Quest: An Ending to Mark a New Beginning)

Minfilia dies (okay sacrifices herself to become a good guy Ascian which will lead to her permanent death), and the very first dialogue option you get in the quest immediately after that is an option to echo her final words.

Because just as she said them to remind herself that she was following in Moenbryda's footsteps and honoring the sacrifice Moenbryda made for her, now you will do the same in her memory.

The next use, right at the start of 4.0, pretty much reiterates the same idea:

(Quest: Crossing the Velodyna)

It's Alphinaud basically giving you a chance to choose in-character why exactly your character is willing to go from minor sellsword work, to saving Eorzea, to saving Ishgard, to taking the fight to the Empire directly. In context, it suggests a sort of fatalism: events keep happening, and all you can do is keep your head high and do your best to honor the sacrifices of those who came before.

(also, notice how even here back in 4.0, the option that boils down to "I just love fights, and also fighting" has Alphinaud specifically call you "an adventurer," a theme Zenos will later build on two expansions later to great effect.)

Its other use in Stormblood, in 4.1, has it as the only clear and concrete answer you're allowed to give Fordola after she sees your memories with the Echo and asks why you keep fighting:

(Quest: The Butcher's Blood)

Nothing against the other two answers, they're just intentionally very vague. Only #2 lets you give a clearer answer. You keep fighting because so many have died (so many of them specifically for you, to save you), and there are so many who may yet still be given a chance to live. To honor the fallen and to protect the living. For grief and for hope.

Now, just as Minfilia and the Warrior of Light say it three times to affirm it as part of their characters, Urianger and Thancred get a pair of uses each, and the ways they use it specifically honor and invoke Minfilia and Moenbryda.

Urianger is the first to use it in 5.0, when he accompanies you to hunt for Titania's relics:

(Quest: A Visit to the Nu Mou)

He textually invokes Minfilia at the start of his lines here, which are intended to explain why he so clearly feels he has some moral duty towards the First. And that's very specific phrasing he uses, ignore the plight: that's specifically invoking Louisoix's oft-quote "To ignore the plight of those one might conceivably save is not wisdom—it is indolence." So even as he says he does it because it is right, he acknowledges that he also does it because he feels its the moral duty that Louisoix, Minfilia, and Moenbryda's sacrifices have placed on him: to labor for those he has lost, for those that they too wanted to save. For Urianger, it's an expression of his deep compassion and almost utilitarian desire to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people, bound up in his grief and regret.

Next is Thancred:

(Quest: The Truth Hurts)

This one really hurts. Obviously, Thancred uses it because he's talking specifically about Minfilia, but he's not talking about her sacrifice. He's talking about the loss of her father, and about the idea that he failed to ever repay that first harm. For him, pressing on is not just about honoring her sacrifice, but about atoning for his unpardonable sins. It's about guilt.

And the irony in Thancred deploying it here is that in his own eyes, he says it as he attempts to expiate his sins by honoring Minfilia's sacrifice and giving Ryne a chance to choose her own future. Yet at the same time, he is adding to his sins because this time, in his eyes, his hands are also on the knife. Before, Minfilia's fate was an unlucky break, a black swan event. The Banquet, Hydaelyn, Urianger's machinations, the Warriors of Darkness, all of that was beyond his control.

But now, he will willingly stand by and let Minfilia die for a final time, because she has asked him to do so.

He is still learning from her, and from her choices:

(Quest: Full Steam Ahead)

To me, his use of it here, after the fight with Ran'jit when he kind of seems like he might die, is almost rueful. Like he never fully understood the import of her words until now, couldn't see past his own grief to the meaning at their core. But now he gets it. He understands why she had to do what she did, and how in turn he can honor her legacy not by clinging to her memory but living life as she would have.

"Your kindness, your compassion, your love..." he says, and this too is an echo of something she said at their parting. The last half of the line is: "These are your gifts to me, and our gifts to them, forming a bond which transcends time and space." Gifts passed from brother to sister, and now back again, and on to the future through Ryne.

Urianger gets the final use of it through 6.55, and it both honors all the uses of it prior and points the way to new lines of thinking:

(Quest: Back to Old Tricks; FFXIV's love for allusion shines through here but rather more subtly than with the Hamilton lines, as "dreadful algebra of necessity" is a direct pull from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series)

Here, the use is explicitly and textually tied to Minfilia and, for the first time since 2.55, Moenbryda. And Urianger is the first person in the text to explicitly question the line, painting it not as the principled output of noble martyrs but as a justification that the people those martyrs leave behind cling to in their grief, something they tell themselves to convince themselves that the sacrifice was justified. Or worse, the reasoning of a cold and bloodless utilitarian, who would willingly sacrifice his own friends and loved ones for the greater good.

They are dead, says Urianger, and we are not. What of those we cannot save? And, no less, what of us, who must go on in this world without them? How can anything ever justify this? How can we ever make peace with this?

It is the Warrior of Light who gets to answer Urianger, but he ultimately takes less from your answer itself than from the fact that you too struggle with the question:

Endwalker is, as ever, interested in the idea that perhaps some questions aren't quite answerable, but that the universality of the questions itself can be a great uniter and creator of purpose. None can easily make peace with the "dreadful algebra of necessity", but from Louisoix, to Moenbryda, to Minfilia, to you and the Scions, to Ryne and others, a rough, developing ethic has arisen: each of you, and the sacrifices you have made, honored the work and the will of those who came before, to pave the way for those who will come after.

Hope, arising from grief.

[soupercatte]

WE DID IT , IT FINALLY HAPPENED

Ya boy finally beat his first ever raid tier ;u;

(Gonna be a little sappy but you all will live with it; 6.0 spoilers)

I've been in FFXIV for about 10 years now - came in during the final patches of ARR to sprint and be ready for HW - but never looked into raiding because I convinced myself that was only for "good" or talented players. Then came 6.0 and all the existential "was it good?" conversations and then finally at the end when Zenos asks why you fight, I sort of had that epiphany of "I DO wanna fight stronger bosses for that rush, to see if I am stronger." It sounds trope-y as hell but that straight up was my turning point and once I had beaten the MSQ at the time I started looking to guides, general strats, etc. I joined statics with friends and bounced around, suffered in party finder, got better, and I guess the rest is history!

This one was such a feel good victory though, coming in as a fill for a friend's group on a class I hadn't really anticipated using but liked and speed-learned my way through P11S (since my main group never cleared P10S but I had in PF, which is fine! We all originally were in it for the fun, I'm just competitive as hell) all the way until the end and making friends with everyone along the way in the process.

You all are a treat ;;

Here's to many more adventures to the end of the universe and back again ♥

[casualjacobwrites]

FFXIV Write 2024 Prompt #3 - Tempest

Continued from Prompt #2.

More specific spoilers for patches 5.4 and 6.0 in this one. Didn't make the deadline on this one, but fortunately the deadlines don't start until September 8. Also, these are unedited and rushed (which is the idea!) so there's likely some mistakes, grammatical and otherwise.

Reminder: I'm taking on the added challenge of trying to weave the prompts into a continuous story rather than separate little entries. I probably will write other things during this month, but the idea for bringing Emmanellain and Sicard together amid a huge crisis is, for right now, really making my brain happy. If it works, I'll edit it all and make it a proper story.

Word Count: 1,537

__

Sicard lowered the spyglass with a curse then shouted, "All hands on deck!"

The collected crew rejoined with a collective "Aye aye," and ran off in separate directions. The Roegadyn woman who'd reassured Honoroit earlier began pulling at a large canvas cover to reveal one of the cannons aboard the ship. The lalafell man climbed the mast with surprising nimbleness for one of his diminutive stature. He managed to reach the crow's nest within half a minute and set up with a spyglass aimed in the direction of the smoke. A moment later a bell sounded, the rapid clanging loud enough to rouse anyone from the deepest sleep. A slender elezen man with deeply tanned skin repeated the captain's call for all hands on deck.

"Lafotal, the moment you see anythin' you tell me," Sicard shouted to crow's nest.

"Aye, captain!"

"Wastgeim, get the cannons prepped, an' don't be stingy with the powder this time."

The roegadyn woman paused in her work long enough to give a quick salute. "Aye, captain!"

"Cannons? I-is that really necessary?" Emmanellain followed Sicard back to the helm so closely the hyur swore he could feel the lordling's breath on his neck.

"Don't know yet," he said, his eyes locked toward the bow. "But I'd rather have 'em ready and not need 'em than to have a hole blown in my ship."

"The ship is on fire. They need help, not weapons."

Sicard inhaled sharply while grinding his teeth. Even in the middle of a crisis he manages to find a way to vex me. Out loud he asked, "And how does a ship catch fire?" He gestured in the direction of the distressed vessel.

"I-I don't know," Emmanellain stammered. "An accident?"

"Could be," Sicard allowed. "But could also be they were attacked by another ship we can't see waitin' to ambush and rob us. Worse, it might be someone set it up to lure in unsuspectin' crews so they can kill everyone on board and take our ship for their own. So forgive me for thinkin' about protectin' ourselves first."

"That's ludicrous! Who on earth would set their own ship on fire in the middle of the ocean as a trap?"

For a long moment Sicard was too stunned to respond. When he regained his ability to speak, his words came out in a roar. "Pirates, you bloody imbecile!" A throbbing pain shot through his temple and he knew his face must be red. " There's no trick in the book too low down or dirty for anyone greedy enough to try, an' I should know. I used to be a pirate."

Emmanellain stared at him, his mouth twisting in horror. "Did…did you ever hurt people like that?"

Sicard started to say, "Of course I did," but when he noticed the way the other man looked at him, his speech failed. Emmanellain had of course known he was a pirate, but this was the first time he'd been forced to consider what that meant and it had repulsed him.

Never before in his life had Sicard been so consumed by shame and guilt. Sure, he had turned over a new leaf after running afoul of the Warrior of Light and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. He and his crew had provided vital aid during the End of Days and for the first time he could say they had made a positive difference in the world. Yet, in the back of his mind he carried the reminder of his past misdeeds and the knowledge he could never truly atone for the many terrible things he had done. Each day since his duel with Admiral Bloefhiswyn he'd dealt with a constant swirling undercurrent of regret, but now it was turning into a raging tempest of sorrow and self hatred. To know Emmanellain de Fortemps thought lesser of him as a man cut far deeper than he wanted to admit.

"This is hardly the time or place to discuss that," he snarled. So what if some Ishgardian noble thought he was a monster? What did the spoiled second son of House Fortemps know about his life? No one who lived in luxury could ever understand why he made the choices he did. "I've got a job to do. You and Honoroit need to get belowdecks 'til I give the all clear."

"No."

Sicard swore his neck muscles creaked as he slowly turned his head toward Emmanellain. "What do you mean 'no'?"

"I want to help." His reply was earnest and spoken as if it was the most natural thing.

"Did you miss the part where I said we might be headin' into a trap?" He shook his head. "No offense, mate, but you have neither the stomach nor the skill for fightin', an' if this all goes to pot I can't be worried about you gettin' a splinter."

"I'll have you know fought in the Dragonsong War alongside the Warrior of Light!" Emmanellain's voice grew higher in pitch, an obvious sign of his wounded pride.

Sicard slammed his hand against the wheel and whirled to face the elezen. He leaned in until their faces were mere ilms apart and growled, "Get your arse belowdecks 'fore I kick it down there for you."

Just as Emmanellain's mouth opened to respond, another voice interrupted. "I got the supplies, my lord." Amid all the chaos and arguing Sicard hadn't noticed Honoroit had slipped away. The manservant stepped onto the quarterdeck carrying a large leather sack.

"What in the hells is that?"

"Apothecary supplies," Emmanellain replied. "Potions, poultices, bandages, and anything one might need in an emergency."

The smug grin on his face was doing little to keep Sicard's urge to deck him at bay. "An' what am I supposed to do with that?"

"You said it yourself. You don't know what might happen when we get to that ship, but regardless of if we're rendering aid or drawn into battle, you're going to need healing." He waited for Honoroit to set the bag on the ground then crouched down to rifle through its contents. After pulling out a selection of vials, he slipped them into slots in his belt and stood. "I'm no conjurer, but I am trained in basic field medicine and can still help."

"No, no, too dangerous." Sicard refused to budge. The thought of Emmanellain being injured or worse filled him with an odd sort of anxiety. He ignored the little voice inside him that said his worry had nothing to do with the potential loss of profit from their new business venture. "Both of you should stay below."

"Now see here--"

Honoroit raised his voice to interrupt his master. "If I might make a suggestion, Master Spence?"

Sicard scrubbed a hand over his face. It was bad enough to deal with the lordling's thick skull, but the younger elezen was too clever by half. "What? An' keep in mind we don't have much time."

The manservant nodded. "What my lord said about his experience in the Dragonsong War is true."

"Thank you," Emmanellain cut in.

"Yes, my lord is quite adept at keeping himself safe in battle to the point where he has never needed to draw his sword."

"Yes, that's ri--hey!"

Honoroit ignored Emmanellain's protests. "But he has seen a variety of injuries both on and off the field and knows which medicines to use. I myself have studied a bit of alchemy and anatomy, and I'm quick on my feet."

Sicard considered the page and rubbed his chin. "What you're sayin' is he knows how to avoid a fight, an' you'll keep him out of my way?"

The page smiled. "Yes."

The hyur sighed. "Fine, but if either one of you causes a problem for me, I won't hesitate to toss you overboard, profit or not." It was an empty threat, but they didn't need to know that.

"I see flags, captain!" Lafotal called down from the crow's nest.

"What colors?" Sicard asked.

"'Ard to say with the light." The lalafell's silhouette leaned forward with his spyglass firmly attached to his eye. He muttered something unintelligible then shouted, "Garlean, sir." Below him the crew fell silent. Though Eorzea was now allied with what remained of Garlemald, it was hard not to feel some sort of apprehension upon encountering one of their ships at sea. Decades of imperial invasion and oppression couldn't be forgotten or forgiven in such a short time.

"Anything else?" Sicard asked.

"Ship's still aright. No sign of anyone on deck." No one spoke while Lafotal continued reporting. "Smoke, no fire."

"No fire. That's good, right?" Emmanellain asked.

Sicard shook his head. "Just means we don't see the flame. Could be an engine fire." Above him Lafotal was adjusting the focus on his spyglass. Sicard saw him jump backward as if startled.

"There's a body, captain, an' it's not a Garlean."

That was a strange observation to make. There was not enough light nor were they close enough for Lafotal to see a uniform. "How can you tell?"

"Fishback, sir. There's fishbacks on the ship!"

Both Sicard and Emmanellain took a step back then looked at each other. An already strange evening had just become even stranger.

[minti-tales]

FFXIV Write, Day 26 - Last

I am the Bad Wolf.

Contains spoilers for patch 6.0, Endwalker, and the Dark Knight quests of Final Fantasy XIV. Events are adjusted for ease of narration. Some dialogue is borrowed from in game.

CW: Mental Health

-----

(The Knightly Mother) It is done. At the end of all things, it is finally done. Zenos yae Galvus breathes no more.

(The Royal Volunteer) Last one standing, alright, lads! Good damned riddance comin' from all a' us, I say. Right bastard put up a hell of a fight, but we did the same, didn't we? All that trainin' paid off. I think this dark knight, Greene Knight, whatever ye want to call it business, we got it figured out. Can't wait to get back to home and…oh, hells. We're hurtin' again.

Hey! Artist! The hell's goin' on with us?

(The Artist) We just fought one of the most powerful Garleans in existence, what do you think? I'm doing everything I can to keep her stabilised. Good news, she's a lot more tough than she used to be. Bad news, I can't see a way home. Nothing but emptiness.

(The Royal Volunteer) No shite we're tough, we're the bloody Warrior of Light and a bloody tank, too. You know our job is to be at the center a' things, man. An' another thing, I- What's that you said? Nothing?

(The Artist) No stars, nothing. Just us and him, and he's dying. Wait. Someone else. A…girl? There's a girl, dressed in blue, and she's got feathers? She's walking towards us.

(Steel Queen) I can detect no weapons on their person. No threat in the immediate area.

(The Artist) Thank you, that's very helpful.

(Steel Queen) Sarcasm detected.

(The Artist) I am beyond getting baited into banter with you, Queen.

-----

(Meteion) Greetings, you who are my final encounter. I wish to hear your words. Share your feelings. Know your thoughts.

May we please…be friends?

In all but a moment, the familiar known as Meteion felt herself become engulfed by a great rush of water. It wasn't scary, not at all - the water was quite nice, and the sun shone so bright! It was almost like dipping her feet into a pool with the ambystomas Hythlodaeus enjoyed so much.

Come towards the light, beautiful bird. We are waiting for you, came the warm whisper of a fiery ballerina.

Quick as a frilled fish, Meteion rose to the surface of the water and, by the magic of dreams and thought, flew to cloudless azure skies.

What beautiful sights awaited her, below. Soaring mountains, verdant forests, cities both tall and wide. Rivers and seas, and islands, and-!

This is Etheirys, our home, and yours, a noble knight's voice whispered.

A long journey we've had, on this mudball of a planet. Sadness, and joy, and hope. We've had it all, whispered the gruff voice of a soldier.

(Meteion) So many people… The thoughts of them overflowing in your heart…What they live for, what gives their lives meaning. There was never a single answer.

Variable, unable to be quantified, stated a metallic queen's voice matter-of-factly. Life is precious. A resource to be treasured.

(Meteion) Thank you for guiding me here. To find these words at journey's end fills me with joy.

We are the Choir. We are Ourself. We are a gift from Hydaelyn that weighs heavily, and yet, as it should, whispered a warrior with honor in their heart. To know us is to know The Mother Crystal. We are the voices that speak with no sound. We love, we weep, we toil, we live. We live.

(Meteion) If you would allow it, I would sing one last song. A song of the newfound joy that swells in my heart. A song of hope.

(The Knightly Mother) Take my hands and sing with us, dear child. Let me hold you as I once did my daughter, if you will let me.

(Meteion) Yes, I would like that.

Somewhere, high up in the golden heavens of thought, Herme's familiar sang a song of creation, flanked by a whole masked Chorus.

-----

"Are you…are you with us? Thank the heavens, she's alive!"

[thesecondbatgirl]

Why you should play the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, part whatever

Previously, two impassioned “BUT IT'S SO GOOD” posts with very little details. (Part 1, Part 2)

Okay, so, I have previously talked about the themes and the tropes and just that the game is super fun (and did you know you can play the base game + first expansion for free? Because you can) but this time I’m going to try to give a little bit more detail. I’m *mostly* only going to cover characters from A Realm Reborn (shortened to ARR or 2.0) but probably spoilers for later expansions will show up.

(A quick note: Each expansion has the base (x.0) and then 5 patches of content, and they get shortened to those. So ARR runs through 2.0 and 2.55 since the .5 patch is always divided into two. Also, 1.0 no longer exists because it was so awful they literally dropped a moon on it.)

Summary: It is five years after the invading Garlean Empire dropped a moon on us. Except the moon was actually a technological prison created by an ancient civilization that contained a fucking dragon. It was defeated at a great cost, which will be recapped after you start the game. You can watch the super awesome cinematic here!

You arrive in the city of your choice (forest city, pirate city, desert capitalist city, your choice of which does not actually matter other than you get different introductory quest lines so basically pick whatever class you want to start with and/or whichever city you think sounds cool as you can be all the classes eventually) in which you, the adventurer, turn out to be super competent and do a great service to your starting city. Oh, and you are having visions of a giant crystal.

Shockingly, it turns out that you have a power called The Echo which basically means you can get visions of past stuff which is very useful for exposition, and also you are completely immune to tempering (brainwashing) by the primals (gods) of the various beast tribes. Which is good, because the fact that the primals will basically turn anyone who tries to fight them into their worshippers, and their very existence harms the land, so really only people with the Echo can fight them.

Due to your awesomeness, you get recruited to a super secret organization, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, whose goal is to fight Primals and stop the Garlean Empire. And fight the Ascians, quasi-immortal beings who are secretly manipulating everything so that they can free their God.

And then shit gets real.

For the record, that only explains the first like, 20 levels. There is just SO MUCH to the game, and trying to explain it would be like attempting to sum up some epic fantasy novel series with 15 books and multiple tie-ins.

Short version of where the story goes:

ARR (2.0-2.55, levels 1-50): You become the Warrior of Light and fight Garleans and Primals

Heavensward (3.0-3.55): Time to stop a thousand year war between man and dragons and deal with a corrupt church Stormblood (4.0-4.55): Imperialism is bad, the game. Let’s go free some colonies.

Shadowbringers (5.0-5.55): We’re going to an alternate world to try and stop a disaster and find out the true history of the Ascians

Endwalker (6.0-currently 6.3 as of 1/10/2023): It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I think that hope can triumph over despair

So now that you know the story, let’s talk about the characters! There are loads and loads of characters, and covering all of them would be pretty much impossible, so have the major characters from ARR. I’m not going to give major spoilers for ARR itself, but I am definitely going to reference ends of character arcs because talking about them otherwise is difficult when they get so much character growth. Also I am stealing all these images from (mostly) the ffxiv wiki

You: The Warrior of Light. (usually abbreviated to WoL) Choose between 8 races, and play as many classes as you want Currently there are 19 fighting classes (20 if you count blue mage, which is a limited job that can’t be used in regular content), 3 gathering classes, and 8 crafting classes. The WoL doesn’t get a lot of options for dialogue until 3.0, but the ability to customize is great, and there’s a very strong RP community. Also I absolutely joke that this game is basically my WoL’s harem and I stand by it. (Pictured, all of your character options, female and male.)

The Scions: Super secret team of nerds who left their homeland because they wanted to try and make the world better. (it’s complicated.)

Minfilia: Leader of the Scions. Has shitty voice acting, but is basically team mom. She gives you your assignments and has a very strong connection to the mothercrystal you keep seeing.

Thancred: This is Thancred. You hang out with him if you start in Ul’dah, the desert city. He’s a flirt, former thief, but eventually ends up trying to raise a teenage girl with his boyfriend. He also has a compulsive saving people thing.

Y’shtola: If you start in Limsa Lominsa, the pirate city, you get to hang out with her. Her hobbies include attempting complicated spells, being smarter than you, calling people out on their bullshit and delivering the best insult in the game. Also she does a Sailor Moon thing. (Okay, I was going to only put in the ARR outfits but frankly her Shadowbringers outfit is great so I’m showing it off.)

Yda and Papalymo: She’s a ditz who punches things, he’s sarcastic and sets shit on fire. Together, they hang out in Gridania, the forest city.

Urianger: Speaks in thees and thous and poetry. Was totally in a kinky relationship with a woman who could break him. Gets a massive glowup in Shadowbringers.

Tataru Taru: The Scion’s secretary, who is possibly going to take over the world eventually, and makes excellent outfits.

Alphinaud Leveilleur: Ok, so listen, every time I play ARR I spend half of it yelling at Alphinaud to shut the fuck up. Because he has such a great character arc! He starts off as this super entitled 16 year old who thinks that he’s smarter than everyone and that politics is just a game he’s playing. He truly wants to make the world better, he’s just very very full of himself.

He gets *so much better* He gets his break the haughty moment and learns and grows, and gathers a lot of firewood, and learns and grows and also is absolutely dating a super surly dragoon, and I love him.

Alisaie Leveilleur: Alphinaud’s twin sister who mostly doesn’t show up until post 2.0. Her hobbies include dunking on her brother, threatening people with a sword, and generally being awesome. She also has a super strong moral compass and cares a lot for individuals over ideals.

(These are their Endwalker outfits, Alisaie is in red, Alphinaud in blue.)

Allies:

Kan-E-Senna: Gridania’s leader. Older than she looks, has a connection to the Elementals (forest spirits)

Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn: Limsa’s leader and former Pirate Queen. Very pragmatic. Will absolutely shoot you.

Raubahn Aldynn: Refugee turned gladiator turned leader of Ul’Dah’s army. One of the richest people in Ul’Dah. Incredibly loyal to the Sultana. 

Nanamo Ul Namo: The Sultana. Thinks capitalism is stupid. Wants to serve her people. Occasionally hides in pots, according to Raubahn.

Haurchefant Greystone: THE BEST BOY. Will make you hot chocolate. Absolutely wants to fuck you.

Cid: Engineer and last minute rescuer. Is supposed to be 30, so I guess he just went silver fox early or something. Has his own airship.

The villains: (Gaius in black, Nero in Red. Livia is in white, and the dude with the shields doesn’t actually matter.)

Gaius van Baelsar: The Big Bad (of ARR.) Wants to know if you believe in Eorzea. Actually gets a redemption arc eventually to rival Zuko from ATLA.

Nero tol Scaeva: Cid’s ex-boyfriend who will literally give an entire speech about their rivalry and how one day he will best him. It’s *great*

Livia: Deserved a better story arc. Luckily, her sister is awesome.

That is… just a sampling of characters. Each class gets its own storyline, so there are characters there! And so many sidequests! I didn’t even talk about Detective Hildibrand!

But hopefully, this has convinced you to try, or at least made you slightly more interested. You can find the free trial here: https://freetrial.finalfantasyxiv.com/na/

[asleepinawell]

general notice that I'm going to switch to tagging all post 6.0 content through 6.25 as "ffxiv spoilers" and will be tagging the new patch content with "6.3 spoilers"

[primalruination]

Character Profile - Nehra Mewrilah

figured it was about time I got around to making profiles for my OCs so introducing my WoL, Nehra! still a work in progress but I wanted to at least have something. SPOILERS FOR ALL OF FFXIV!

BASICS//

Name: Nehra Mewrilah

Name Meaning: Nehra = "fondness" in Hindi

Unsundered Name: Atlas

Age: 26 as of Patch 6.2

Nameday: 3rd Sun of the Second Umbral Moon

Gender: Nonbinary and Trans Masculine (they/she)

Race: Miqo'te

Tribe: Keeper of the Moon

Nationality: Garlean

Languages: Eorzean Common Tongue and possesses the Echo

Profession: Warrior of Light

Education Level: Studied with conjurers for some time

BLOODLINES//

Father: unknown

Mother: Unnamed Miqo'te

Adopted Siblings: Lina and Mujih Mewrilah

Extended Family: Y'shtola Rhul (sister in law)

Children: Y'tali Mewrilah (Tali)

ROMANCE & SEXUALITY//

Sexual Orientation: Sapphic

Romantic Orientation: Sapphic

Significant Other: Y'vdola Vongola (Dola)

Past Relationship: Ysayle Dangoulain

RESIDENCE//

Place of Birth: southern Ilsabard

Current Residence: small cottage in Ishgard

TALENTS AND SKILLS//

Canonical Jobs: White Mage before 6.0, currently Sage

Good at: botany, mathematics, cooking, animal caretaking, magic, bug collecting

Bad At: melee jobs of any kind, heavy lifting

APPEARANCE//

Hair: messy, shoulder length, black with green highlights

Eyes: blue

Lips: Small, thin lips

Complexion: fair

Blemishes: very distinct white freckles on cheeks

Scars: cut on left cheek from tripping on a rock. top surgery scars. deep, long cut on outer right thigh from having a sword thrown at her while possessed by Zenos. huge scar along back from fighting off a sin eater.

Tattoos: a doodle of a carbuncle drawn by their daughter, Tali

Height: 5'4"

Weight: 135 pounds

Build: average

Usual Hairstyles: parted it to the side up until Shadowbringers, when they just decided to stop styling it

Usual Face Look: doesn't wear any makeup

Usual Clothing: light, breathable robes when out in the field. just wears handed down, beat up clothes when at home

Face and Voice Claim: Currently Undecided

PERSONALITY//

Extroverted

Positive Traits: affectionate, centered, charming, easygoing, empathetic, focused, happy-go-lucky

Negative Traits: disorganized, gullible, impulsive, insecure, withdrawn

Fears: losing her loved ones

Aspirations: growing a family with their wife Y'vdola

Traumas: Huge fear of losing her loved ones due to the death of her girlfriend, Ysayle. this was further deepened when Zenos nearly killed Nehra's wife while he had possession over Nehra's body.

Hobbies: triple triad, botany, entomology

Vices: Anger

Faith: The Twelve

Temperament: Sanguine

Soul Type: The Sage

Tropes: The Chosen One, The Mad Scientist, Believer, Devotee, Emotionally Repressed, Eternal Klutz, Peacemaker, Surprise Genius, Tortured Superhero, Troubled Vet, Unlikely Hero

Character Inspirations: Adora from She-ra and the Princesses of Power, Josephine Montilyet from Dragon Age, Wyll from Baldurs Gate 3

FAVORITES//

Deity: Menphina the Lover

Holiday: Starlight Celebration

Month: 5th Umbral Moon

Weather: A warm, clear spring day

Time of Day: Morning

Places: Old Sharlayan, The Black Shroud

ARR: Accidentally getting wound up in the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Nehra reluctantly joined them in their fight to save Eorzea. They felt like an outsider in the group.

HISTORY//

Pre-ARR: Nehra was born in a small Keeper of the Moon tribe in Southern Ilsabard. They were conscripted into the Imperial army at the age of 8, being used as a trauma healer for soldiers. They had frequent interactions with Zenos and developed an intense fear of him that stuck with them for a long time. When they were 15 they were finally able to escape being a soldier and immigrated into New Gridania, where they made friends with Mujih Mewrilah.

Heavensward: Grew deep, lasting friendships with Tataru and Alphinaud after the Bloody Banquet. Also became overly protective of the two, aggressively berating Estinien out of fear his thirst for revenge would endanger Alphinaud. Fell in love with Ysayle and formed a relationship with her, only to lose her shortly after her sacrifice is Azys Lla.

Stormblood: In the hopes of liberating the Ala Mhigans, Nehra journeyed to Rhalgrs Reach only for the crown prince of Garlemald, Zenos yae Galvus, to personally strike down the rebellion. During his attack, Nehra spots Zenos and freezes in fear. He doesn't recognize her at the time, but he quickly takes advantage of her moment of hesitation and attacks. Just before Zenos landed his final blow on the Warrior of Light, they are shielded by a Miqo'te named Y'vdola who takes the blow for Nehra. Nehra would later visit Y'vdola in the infirmary any time she could and the two fell in love. They then married after the Warrior of Light liberated Ala Mhigo.

Shadowbringers: WIP

Endwalker: WIP

NOTE: Nehra's story follows all of the major events of MSQ as they are the Warrior of Light.

[aotopmha]

FFXIV 6.4 spoilers:

MSQ: Some fantastic humour this time around.

Zero and the spice, Estinien and his training and the Loporrits and Zero all made for fantastic light-hearted scenes. (The 6.x patches in general have done really good humour, I think.)

The long talk with Azdaja was a solid pay-off and so were the twists surrounding Golbez – both Zero being a red herring and Zeromus instead being tied to Azdaja.

But I think for any aspect of a story to retain depth, you need to keep introducing new facets to it and while the humour and further exploration of the conflict with Garlemald were solid (in particular I really like how tough the process of "rebuilding" Garlemald is in every sense of the word, as it should be with a nation steeped in such a strong history of imperialism), I think you can really sense how much simpler the writing is in this current section of the story by the end of this patch.

The entirety of the 6.x patch narrative content has been equal parts jarring and welcome after the complexity of the expansion itself, but I think you really feel how much simpler everything is here, especially since I think 6.0 already did a more complex version of these themes.

I really like how the complicated aspects of Garlemald didn't just disappear after 6.0 and how there is still a sense it has a long way to go, but I also feel like it needs more than just asides in patch content to truly have a satisfying conclusion. I think it perhaps at least needs another story section tucked in somewhere in the content? (Perhaps Garlemald restoration?)

It's not uncommon to have simpler versions of the themes in the expansion explored in the patch content, but it always makes you to some extent hope/doubt what comes next would have more depth.

Despite feeling simpler, as a complete whole, I do think this MSQ chunk was very solid, though.

It had just enough spice for the simpler elements to not completely overtake it.

The finale of Pandemonium equally leaned on what I'd argue is the other defining element of Endwalker next to its themes: already existing material.

I'd even argue Endwalker's biggest defining trait for me is probably that its story doesn't really have nearly the same impact on its own as it does in context with what came before it, with the story leaning more into being like A Realm Reborn and Stormblood than Heavensward or Shadowbringers.

(I kind of hope 7.0 will once again be a more self-contained story while setting stuff up in the background like the latter two because I think at this point basically everything that came before has been resolved and continuing to lean on old stuff would simply feel stagnant/tiring/old and also not as compelling anymore. Once again, they are basically back to zero and have to put in the work for it all to pay off 10 years from now.)

I think it's pretty obvious Lahabrea was intended to be the star of Pandemonium and while his character certainly gained some good depth from it, Elidibus is the one I truly ended up invested in spanning the final part of the story because of the history already behind him.

I hated Athena for how she treated her son, but I hated her even more for how she used Themis.

Somehow even little bits of the character of Elidibus are automatically more compelling than Lahabrea.

And truth is, Erichtonios and Lahabrea do end up having complete arcs, which complete the timeloop, they're fine, it's just that I think Themis is better.

Same goes for Athena being an effective villain for the comparatively little time she gets to be on screen.

Lahabrea's positive growth of wanting to take responsibility for his actions and accepting the bad in him in this case made him the Ascian he became, adding this cyclic element to his story. Just like Eric's journey to gaining strength and confidence lead him to sending out the warning about Pandemonium and in turn Athena ended up mattering because of her wishes being tied to them and basically her "inventing" tempering as a result.

But how Elidibus was handled still ended up being the most powerful aspect of the Pandemonium story to me because I think everything we knew about him from the MSQ and the Pandemonium story itself ended up being relevant.

Him as the objective judge, as a character with a very strong sense of justice and duty, a good friend to your character and someone who already had everything taken from him by the Final Days were all aspects that ended up mattering in the conclusion.

In the end, none of the suffering of the ancients was for nothing because all of their actions paved the way to the present. Their struggles mattered because they lead to the current future and I think this is the strongest element of this final bit of story.

So much of this final bit of story was also sort of just listing plot elements. We finally learned what was up with the Heart of Sabik. And as said, we now pretty much have a (I think almost?) full picture of how tempering works and the entire timeloop is as complete as it possibly can be.

But a lot of it was stuck in expositional walls of text. Comparatively, everything surrounding Themis in this final leg of the story felt to me almost entirely about him as a character and his history with the WoL.

It was so surprisingly good to have something like this in something you'd consider a side story, only continuing the trend set by Omega and Eden and the huge amount of other side content.

I'd consider the raid stories in general to be weaker than a lot of the MSQ, but they always at least come together fairly well.

Finally, all of this leads me to the little story bits hinting to what comes next.

First, Erenville is most likely going to be at least a guide character for 7.0, giving us a connection to the new location (which I with 90% certainty think is Meracydia in the south).

Second, the Scions seem to be recieving "letters", we saw one for Krile and Thancred mentioning a client, meaning we might get connections to new locations via them, as well.

Third, related to Y'Shtola's thought process, we might get travel to the First earlier than we think, so Ryne and Gaia will probably play a bigger role in the last two patches, but also might join the adventure in 7.0.

(The entire plot thread leading from the Warring Triad to the ShB role quests to Eden to back to the 13th is an absolute masterstroke of writing to me at this point because it connects disparate-seeming stories so elegantly and naturally.)

And finally, the Heart of Sabik is still there. It wasn't destroyed with Athena.

It was confirmed to be cleansed of her influence, but out of all of these I can't help but feel this one is the start of another long-running plotline and the biggest potential Chekov's Gun.

The big picture stuff is absolutely fantastic here.

And putting everything together, I think this is all super solid narratively, like all of the 6.x patches have been. Not amazing like any of the .3 patches or slow like any of the .1 patches, but simply consistent throughout.

If anything, I'd just continue saying the same thing I've said about the entirety of the 6.x patch story series, that it's super appropriately told story for where we are in the narrative currently: a transition period from an old story arc to a new one that should let you chill a bit while quitely setting up for the future and tying up the final loose ends.

In that sense it has been absolutely fantastic.

[ladyramora]

Natutemi: Pray Return to Amaurot

Natus x Themis Angst, Fluff 🎭🌼

Written for @natus-vincer

Natus belongs to natus-vincer.

....

Established relationship, Hurt/comfort, Kissing, Transformation, Named Warrior of Light, Male Warrior of Light, Au Ra Xaela Warrior of Light

Pandaemonium Questline Spoilers, Patch 6.0: Endwalker Spoilers (Final Fantasy XIV), Post-Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Patches 6.0 - 6.5

↓↓↓ FFXIV Endwalker Spoilers, Spoilers for the end of the Pandaemonium Questline Under the Cut ↓↓↓  

.....

....

...

Natus aches for the time that trickles away in all that he must do before he can return to Themis' side.

It feels like it takes an age to cross through the portal that will take him to the past, Natus holds his breath with his heart in his throat. Fearing that this might be the day that his link to the past—to Themis—disappears.

Nothing lasts forever.

For a mercy, he crosses between worlds—from what will be, to what once was—and finds himself within Elpis again.

Natus lifts his face to the sky, gazing out at the endless expanse of stars, and breathes. A shaky, relieved exhale; and then slow, deep breaths until his heart was calm and his worries fell quiet.

Returning to Amaurot is a blink between his outstretched hand and the attuned power of the nearest aetheryte, the teleportation magic whisking him away and bringing him all the closer to where he wanted to be, always.

Beside Themis forever more, for all the time he had left and beyond that.

Unlike the clear skies of Elpis, the city of Amaurot was a brewing storm with the rumble of thunder overhead. Natus had barely begun the familiar trek to Themis' residence when the skies opened up in a downpour. He was soaked within moments, but the rain felt cleansing. Washing away the misery of watching the person most dear to him disappear, the familiar color of his aether drifting away like motes of light.

Though he had smiled for him with all the gladness he could muster in his heart, he had wanted to beg him to stay. To offer up all the aether he could spend to make it so. He had wanted to hold him in his arms and never let go.

It was selfish and foolish, of course. That Themis had been created from Elidibus' soul, that had been plucked from the aetherial sea. He was not truly the Elidibus he knew, nor was he the Themis that Natus was running through the streets of Amaurot in hopes to see now.

He was a distraction, an illusion. A beautiful dream that could never be.

He could not keep him.

Their worlds could never—would never—collide so neatly. So easily.

All Natus had was this. Moments in time spent in this bygone era. Aught that slipped through his fingers like the sand of an hourglass. How long did they have?

Natus dreaded the day that he would leave Themis, blissfully unaware that it would be the last time he would ever see him as they were now. That they could only ever meet again in the aetherial sea.

Natus hoped with all that he was that those soft words Themis had spoken to him would come true.

That his journey—their journey—would be a long one.

Natus stood now at Themis' door, but his arms felt too heavy at his sides to lift. To knock. His heart beat fast in his chest, his breath heaving out of him from his desperate sprint. His whole body shook, but whether it was from the shock of the cold rain or something else entirely, Natus did not want to look at it too closely.

He shook his head hard, nearly flinging sunglasses from his head as he squeezed his eyes shut and breathed in the chilly air. Every bracing breath misting from his mouth out into the chilly air.

What a sight he must have made to Themis, who opened the door before he could even raise his fist to knock. Soaked with rainwater, glasses askew, flushed red from the cold and from his mad dash in the downpour from the nearest aetheryte to Themis' place of residence.

"Natus." Ah, there it was. That warmth, that obvious affection that was plain in the way Themis spoke to him. The softening of that calm, cool voice of his that curled velvety and warm, and oh so sweet around his horns. It sent a frisson of warmth through him, tingling all the way from his head to his toes.

Natus does not know what sort of expression he must be making as his face twists with a surge of emotion at the sight of him, or why the drip of rainwater from his bangs felt suddenly hot over his cold cheek as he blinked.

All that mattered was Themis. He understood that with perfect clarity. Themis was everything to him.

"What on Etheirys, Natus?" Themis says in gentle concern. "Pray, come inside before you catch ill."

Natus trembles all over, suddenly aware of how cold and exhausted he felt, and finds himself stumbling over his own feet in his attempt to do as Themis bade him.

Themis catches him as he falls. Holding him easy in his arms despite their difference in size. Natus knew well the strength behind Themis' deceptively delicate appearance, and so he allowed himself the indulgence of leaning into the man with all his weight, barely keeping on his feet.

It would hardly be the first time Themis had lifted him up into his arms if the shorter man deemed it necessary.

"You are soaked to the skin," Themis gently chides him as Natus buries his face in the smaller man's robes and breathes him in. "We should get you out of these clothes as soon as possible."

Natus pays no mind to the suggestion as he basks in all that was Themis with every one of his senses. The familiar scent of him filling Natus' nose, his warmth seeping into him even as his waterlogged clothing soaked into the other man's once dry robes. The touch of his delicate fingered hand as Themis pet his hair and strokes down his back.

This was exactly what he had needed. To hold Themis in his arms and know he would not disappear. To know that every moment shared between them had not been forgotten, manipulated or torn from the man in his arms.

"Themis," Natus murmurs, his throat tight with emotion. The tension of his muscles finally easing in the one place he could truly relax. "Themis."

The warm laugh that Themis gives in response vibrates through him, suffusing him with warmth even as his body continues to shiver from the chill of the rain water.

"Did you miss me very much, Natus?"

Themis no doubt meant it in a teasing manner, as the two were wont to joke and tease one another in this close, comfortable relationship they had built together.

Natus cannot muster a playful retort this time around, the truth spilling from his lips as his fingers curl inward to hold fast to Themis' pristine robes, "Yes, I missed you. I wanted… to see you."

Themis gives pause at that, and Natus lifts his head as the man leans back to get a better look at his face.

He can hardly bear the weight of Themis' gaze. The bright aquamarine blue of his eyes peer into him, sweeping over him as if he could glean everything Natus was holding back from him just by looking at him so intently.

"Well," Themis says after a pause, a smile curving at his lips that instantly puts Natus at ease, "here I am." The man opened his arms wide as if to show himself off to the xaela. A gesture not as effective with the larger man still clinging on to him, but his intentions came across well enough.

"As always, you are welcome to look your fill." Themis tilts his head, rubbing his thumb over the dark scales that curved Natus' cheek and brushing back a wet strand of hair clinging stubbornly to Natus' face. Natus' breath hitches with that simple touch, a familiar feeling of yearning taking over him that began as an ache in his chest.

How easy Themis could make him forget all else but him. To capture Natus in the moment and narrow his focus to naught but his touch, his voice, his gaze.

Natus' eyes ache with the threat of tears, so he closes them and leans into the gentle caress of Themis' hand.

"Perhaps we might go inside now and get you cleaned up?" Themis says softly, drawing his hand away with one last fleeting caress that trailed from Natus' cheek and over his jaw.

With an air of humor, he adds, "You are dripping all over the place."

Natus chokes out a laugh at that and allows him to take him by the wrist and lead him inside.

…..

….

…

Hot, clean water was a rarity in Natus' line of work. Hot running water? Practically unheard of. It was a luxury that only the very wealthy could afford, or at least it was so in his world.

The wonders of the past were things that only those who traveled through time could enjoy to the fullest, and so Natus let the hot water wash over him until he felt more in control of his emotions. Themis had left him to it after gathering up the pile of his discarded clothes, setting aside his sunglasses with care so that Natus would not worry about losing them.

His clothes were once again dry and fresh when he stepped out of the shower, folded neatly next to where his sunglasses were perched. Natus did not know what magic it was that allowed such so quickly, but it must most definitely be an ancient magic that only the people of this age knew. Perhaps a similar incantation to aught that Themis had used to repair his sunglasses on more than one occasion. Whatever it was, Natus was grateful as he dried off and slipped back into his clothes.

Natus could almost imagine he could recognize Themis' unique aether lingering on his clothing. Would that it were true, that a piece of Themis—however small—would stay with him no matter the time or distance between them. Though the people of this age were possessed of special eyes to see aether and soul, Natus was a product of his own time, and one who did not have the ability to sense aether.

Well, if not his aether, perhaps he could ask Themis to leave his signature the next time he needed spells such as the ancients used. A piece of Themis to take on his journey, however long his star burned on.

"Feeling better?" Themis asks as Natus inevitably returns to his side, the amaurotine extending a steaming mug in his direction. Aught to further warm him after enduring that torrent of freezing rainfall.

"Much," Natus accepts it with a smile, plopping down beside Themis where he sat on his overstuffed settee and cozying up against the smaller man with a soft sigh.

Themis gives a gentle hum, leaning against him and sipping slowly from his own mug."You seemed to be in quite a state at my door. Need you a confidant to hear your woes? Shall I offer you my lap to lay upon?" He says. Light and playful, but sincerely meant.

"Hahh… You have no idea," Natus huffs, bumping the man's shoulder and then resting his head there a moment. "Just this is fine. Being beside you like this makes me feel better."

Themis smiles. "If you are certain. My offer remains."

Natus laughs, shaking his head and tracing the rim of his mug. The steam rising from it wisped through the gaps in his fingers.

Quiet falls comfortably between them as Natus warms his hands on the heat emanating from his cup, gazing at Themis from his peripheral and tracing his elegant silhouette with his eyes.

"You are odd tonight. Quieter than your usual," Themis remarks, turning towards him and propping his arm on the plump pillow of the settee, resting his cheek on his knuckles. "Have I grown more handsome since our last meeting that my face has your interest? Or have you aught you wish to speak about?"

Natus considers him, saying quite sincerely, "You always look more handsome since last I saw you." Well, perhaps he said so because he wanted to see Themis react, too.

He may play the part of calm and cool Emissary with aplomb, but Natus had learned over time that Themis himself was quite weak to praise and compliments.

As expected, that sweet blush pinkened Themis' cheeks, followed by an affectionate smile.

Natus sighed contentedly. Yes, such a sight soothed his hurts like nothing else. He could forget everything in the presence of Themis' smile.

Natus sets his mug aside without taking a single sip, "But yes, I have something I want to ask."

Themis looks at him, then sets down his own mug. "Go on, then," he says, smoothing the lines of his robe and folding his hands in his lap. "I'm listening."

Natus takes a breath. Wishing he had sipped from his cup if only to wet his dry throat. "Can I see it?"

Themis tilts his head, his eyebrows arching upwards. "See what?"

Natus reaches out to fiddle with one of the tassels of Themis' robes that his mask would hang from. It was not there at the moment, set aside since Themis was at rest in his place of residence.

What had the other Themis called it?

"Your… truth?" To say it was his true form rang not quite correct to Natus, because the way he was now was certainly just as true. Just as real. No doubt it would be simple enough for Themis to change his appearance, but Natus had grown deeply fond of the face he wore now.

Themis gives pause at that, seeming genuinely surprised as he raises a thoughtful hand towards his face."...It is not something commonly done outside of ceremony or necessity."

Natus knows his disappointment shows. Why else would Themis smile at him and reach out to pat his cheek as if he were indulging a small, pouting child?

"You need not fret so, as I have heard through the grapevine that some of my esteemed colleagues have been known to shed their robes in display of their truth. As such, I see no reason why I cannot do the same with you, whom I hold so dear."

Could a heart melt? That would surely explain the overwhelming flood of warmth in Natus' chest to hear Themis speak of the relationship between them.

"So, you will show me?" Natus asks, his eager plain as he grasps Themis' hands.

Themis regards him with the same sort of affectionate, heart melting expression as one might have in the face of an adorable, fuzzy creature.

Though perhaps the excited wiggle of Natus' tail is what had Themis turning his head away and covering his mouth to muffle a laugh.

"Very well," Themis said, barely hiding a smile behind his fist, "I suppose I have made a habit of indulging you."

Natus grins at that. Well, that could be said for both of them, and probably by their mutual friend, Erichthonios. Gods knew the warden had the patience of a saint putting up with all their shenanigans, even when he was drawn into them himself.

"Come, I will need more room for this."

Natus is quick to his feet as Themis rises, following after the smaller man as he makes his way to an area less populated with furniture that was better suited for the size he would become.

A sense of anticipation fills him. He knew what he expected, but there was no telling that what he had witnessed would be as he remembered it.

The ceremony of it seemed to be much the same. Natus stood back and watched as Themis gathered his power, his robes fluttering with the breeze stirred up by the restrained force as he lifted off the floor to hover mid air. He raised his hand high and then dragged it down over his face, declaring, "In transformation, I present my truth. I am Elidibus," as the sigil of his seat glowed red in front of his face in his surge of power. A bright burst of light followed, too blinding to gaze upon directly and forcing Natus to shield his eyes. Too consumed in this moment to have even thought of putting on his sunglasses that rested as they always did on top of his head.

The light soon dimmed, dispersing, and Natus was in awe at the sight before his eyes.

It was different. Of course it was. This was by far a more elegant design. Pretty like a porcelain doll, delicate but unmistakably strong.

His presence felt divine, as if Natus stood before an angelic being.

He stands there, shellshocked and gawking. The silence stretched longer and longer as he stared at him, wide eyed and slack jawed.

Themis laughed, his voice coming out in an overlapping sound that vibrates pleasantly through Natus' horns. "Have I rendered you speechless in surprise?"

Natus shook his head rapidly. "You're magnificent!" He says, breathless and excited in the face of this dazzling majesty.

It was not every day that he could behold transformations such as these without the threat of danger. Natus took it all in with obvious fascination.

Themis hummed, obviously pleased by such a response from him. It radiated off him in waves, engulfing Natus in warmth. It evokes in him a sensation of warm, fuzzy feelings that almost made Natus feel drowsy with how pleasant it was. Cozy, like resting in a nest of warm blankets after just waking, yet still being allowed to rest a while longer.

"Shall I afford you a closer look?" Themis offers, and before Natus can respond he finds himself gripped in several hands and picked up like a small animal, cradled in Themis' many arms.

Themis held him so carefully in his hands as he lifted him towards his face. Bracing his back with one huge hand and holding his legs with another. Natus felt almost fragile, light and delicate as a feather in his grasp.

"How is it? Have I satisfied your curiosity?" Themis asks him. His confidence that he had done just that was practically palpable.

Natus gazes at him, reaching out a hand to touch the armored helm that not only covered the uppermost part of Themis' face, but also curved up from his jaw. It almost resembled the beak of a bird of prey.

He trailed his fingers over it, following the dips and curves. The hum of

power that this form gave off tingling through the point of contact, pleasantly ticklish. It was the unmistakable feeling of his aether washing over him, entwining together with his own even through layers of clothing and armor.

Seeking more of this, Natus lifted his head to kiss Themis' helm. The complex shape of the helmet made it difficult to kiss his lips, but even this much was touching Themis' soul with his.

Like this, he could feel all that he was.

"Oh?" Themis' mouth tugs up into an affectionate smile as Natus presses his lips to the vee of his helm that curved down from the top of his head.

Natus gives a soft sigh as Themis tilts his head to kiss him carefully, lips to face, between the gaps of his helm. It was a bit off with their difference in size, Themis' lips did not fit perfectly with his like this, but Natus did not care as he lingered in their kiss. Craving more and more of Themis' touch and attention, reassured of his presence.

There is a jingle of metal on metal as Themis breaks their kiss and straightens his posture, his helm bumping a chandelier that Natus had not noticed overhead in his distraction.

"Hah, this form is too inconvenient for this," Themis remarks, then ever so gently plucks the sunglasses from Natus' head to slide over his face. Further shielding his eyes from the blinding glare of reverting back to his regular form with a spare hand of the several arms he possessed in the transformed state of his truth.

In a blink, Natus found himself held in the arms of a much smaller Themis. Their difference in size made it almost comical, but the proud smile the smaller man wore was just too cute that Natus did not immediately ask to be put down.

"'Tis far easier for me to kiss you as I am normally," Themis says, plucking the sunglasses from his face and perching them back atop his head. Kissing him again before Natus could even think of a response.

After a few lingering kisses, Natus' feet once again meet the floor. As strong as the man was, it was still awkward to hold Natus in his arms for a prolonged time due to their difference in size.

"Oh dear, our tea must have gone cold by now," Themis says, smiling to himself. "Shall I go make us more?"

Natus recognized that look of mischief on his face. He was being teased.

Natus grabs him by the hand to drag him back into his arms, "Forget the tea. You can warm me up yourself."

Themis chuckles, cradling his cheek as if he were bashful. "Oh my! How bold you have become, my star."

If the portal closed between their worlds at this very moment, Natus could not feel regret. He would face the end of this world hand in hand and with a smile on his lips, if only to steal more moments in time spent at Themis' side.

With hands clasped, their fingers slot together like pieces of a puzzle.

"Kiss me, my star."

Wrapped up in a sweet embrace, they kiss again and again. Moments drifting on by, lost in each other.

For now, Natus could forget such worries.

They still had time.