#final fantasy rambles

[celestefox13]

One of my favorite parts about Dawntrail is that no one knows who the WoL is.

Like, Koana has a vague idea, sure, and Galool Ja Ja clocks that we're far from average in an instant, but no one else has a fucking clue who this adventurer the Third Promise brought with her is.

Cause it leads to so many moments that are absolutely hilarious for us as players (and arguably our WoLs if you rp).

The way every threat of violence against the WoL and the party, and every "I bet you've never seen anything like this" could absolutely get one of the responses about:

-how we've slain eikons and gods,

-how we've saved the Star multiple times,

-how we've channeled (and honestly probably still have some of) the power of dragons,

-how we've been to other worlds, the past, and the edge of existence

And instead we get to respond with things that are effectively intimidating smiles and humble confidence.

It's not "Bitch, you don't who you're messing with."

It's "Yeah, ok, bud." Which is arguably the funnier and the more insulting of the options.

This is Stormblood all over again, but x2 cause we've done so much more than help settle revolutions by now. 😂

[jieanette]

Cecil And Bartz Ramblings

One of the things I like about Cecil and Bartz is that while they don't really interact that much in canon Dissida (at least from what I know), the few times they do it's really just wholesome. They always lift each other up.

In Dissidia, when Bartz is up against Cecil, some of the lines he says to him are, "You are who you are. Believe in yourself!" and "You don't have to go hiding your face too." And, knowing Cecil it's something he would have needed to hear. When Cecil is up against Bartz, some lines he says are, "I wish you'd show me your moves!" and "I hope you would not hold back!" which, again, is quite encouraging and I like how it implies Cecil just genuinely seems to want to know Bartz more, like he wanted to actually know what his moves are and not mimics of the other Warriors of Cosmos combat style.

((I'm not sure if I'm being so delulu rn, but to me their lines to each other sounds like they're playfully teasing... But it could be just me))

Another significant interaction of them is in Dissidia Opera Omnia (RIP). In Act 2, Chapter 2: Light, Bartz was there for Cecil when he was facing an crisis, with his memories and lost sense of self. It seemed that he was the only person that gives him space and time for him to figure everything out. It was what Cecil just needed, and it was so sweet for him to do that.

In Act 2, Chapter 9: Whiter the Wind Returns, Cecil was there when Bartz became a husk of himself after giving his memories away to his manikin, gently asking if he is okay (which mirrors the moment when Bartz asks Cecil the same thing in chapter 2) and telling him that he and the others are there to help him. At the moment I felt like Cecil was returning the kindness he gave to him during his time of struggle. It was heartwarming read it.

So yeah, in conclusion to this whole ramble, Cecil and Bartz are really wholesome together <3

Even if you don't ship them, it's still worth exploring their relationship in a platonic sense. I feel like they're such an underrated duo regardless as friends or romantic partners and if SE decides on another Dissidia game I would really love if they interact more (please I am begging on my hands aND KNEES)

Thanks for reading my ramble!! And correct me if there's any inaccuracies on this post!!

[haunted-xander]

I made this AAAAGES ago and forgot to post it and now I'm annoyed by how it's rotting away on my phone so here. Bratty teen Thancred being a menace to Fourchenault (and a bad influence on Urianger lol)

[accala]

Zack Fair had:

A girl who spent 4 years pining after him to the point she chased an afterimage of him (Aerith)

A girl who looked after his parents and his hometown due to sheer guilt and devotion (Cissnei)

A boy who spent 4 years trying to find him after he went missing (Kunsel)

And a boy who adopted his entire being and became his legacy after his death (Cloud)

Zack Fair was NOT playing.

[flshmans]

what do you think he wears casually

[dangoulains-devotion]

you mustn't blame yourself

[foreststarflaime]

Yes hello I just wanted to say as a massive sword nerd ily square for making Genesis actually use Rapier like a rapier—you do tend to do a lot of stabbing with rapiers because they’re so long (although you can cut with them too, but he doesn’t really have great rapier cutting form with Rapier so can’t win em all ig, video game limitations) and they actually draw attention to it in this little cutscene. Rapier is also quite a notably long and thin(er) weapon, like an actual rapier. Awesome little details that made me very happy!

Also, I think it’s perfect that they chose a specifically one-handed weapon for him, since as the resident swordmage it leaves his other hand always free to cast spells when needed without dropping his sword’s defense. And I don’t know how to describe it really but he really has a rapier person personality (fondly, ily my more rapier focused friends lmao)

[scalefeathers]

Thinking once again about how Nobuo Uematsu and Masayoshi Soken are both completely amazing composers but in completely opposite directions let me explain

Disclaimer I am not a music theorist; most of music theory is black fucking magic to me. I barely know what a chord is and the circle of fifths makes me quake as though before an Elder God. I just really like both of their works and sometimes I have thoughts about things. Also this is all just my opinion, it's fine if you don't agree, etc.

So: Uematsu is first and foremost, in my opinion, an absolute master of melody. I believe it's what makes his work so iconic and makes so many of his pieces so instantly recognizable. The Final Fantasy theme, the chocobo theme, Dancing Mad, Vamo'alla Flamenco, fucking One-Winged Angel--Just from seeing those names, you've probably got one playing in your head already. You could start humming it right now. Maybe you are already.

And it makes perfect sense when you consider the era he was working in, because back in the 8-bit and 16-bit era, the melody was all you had. When you have such a tiny amount of storage space to work with, you can really play only one, maybe two notes at a time. You can't do anything that's layered, because you only have one layer to work with. I think that's why so much video game music from that era is so memorable and iconic. It's not just because you played so much Street Fighter II when you were a kid that the music is indelibly seared into your brain (though that probably doesn't hurt); it's also because Yoko Shimomura wrote really solid melodies that had nothing else competing for your aural attention (apart from the in-game sound effects, which are probably also seared into your memory). (Yoko Shimomura, btw, also composed the music for Final Fantasy XV, the entire Kingdom Hearts series, and like 50 other games over the past 40 years, another fucking icon).

But back to Uematsu: like I said, melodic genius. Even when his work is upscaled into full orchestral arrangements, that core melody is always front and center. And his affinity for melody makes even more sense when you consider that before he got into video game composing, he was writing commercial jingles. (Younger folks may not be aware, but there was a time when practically every product had to have its own theme song, and the best ones were short, snappy, and instantly memorable--and for that, again, you need a strong, simple melody. Ba da ba ba ba, I'm lovin' it.)

Compare: Soken. Soken only started at Square 12 years after Uematsu, which isn't that long in human terms (to me at least, cos I'm old), but it is a long fuckin' time in video game years. By the time he started composing for games, there was so much more you could do with game music in terms of layering, complexity, and sound, and you can tell from his work that he takes full advantage of that. His work is complex and dense, a rich layer cake of themes and motifs, all beautifully merging and weaving together, often to extraordinary effect.

And again, if you look at his pre-music career, it makes a lot of sense that he'd have that approach to music, because he first got into the games industry as a sound designer; I believe that he is the sound director for all the FFXIV expansions, as well as being the composer. So of course he'd be very aware of not just how a sound (or piece of music) works on its own, but of how it fits into the greater whole, and of how to layer and balance lots of different sounds to create something greater than the sum of its parts. And of course it makes sense that he'd bring that approach to his compositions as well.

As a consequence of this approach, though, his music often lacks the memorable melodies that characterize Uematsu's work. Like, I ground (grinded?) Dun Scaith a lot the last time it was on the Mogstone rotation, I know all the boss themes extremely well and can recognize each of them instantly. But if you asked me right now to hum one? I don't think I could. (This isn't a deficiency, to be clear; music doesn't need a prominent core melody in order to be good.)

And that's also not to say that all his music lacks iconic melodies. His vocal tracks, pretty much by definition, have to put a single melody front and center; and then on top of that (or rather, behind it), you have all that trademark Soken richness and depth. Which is probably also why his vocal tracks go so fucking hard.

I think that's also why, out of all the expansions, I like Heavensward's music the best. Most of Heavensward's score is written by Soken, but the main theme is Uematsu's, and you may notice it's basically a tasting menu of like 5 or 6 excellent, very recognizable melodies, one right after the other. And basically every piece on the Heavensward soundtrack incorporates one or more of these melodies. So it really does give you the best of both worlds, and gives the overall score a cohesion that I don't see as much with the other expansions.

TL;DR, Uematsu and Soken are both amazing composers with very different and complimentary styles that reflect their differing backgrounds and the different eras of games in which they have worked and I just think that's neat.

[crisiscutie]

Hello! I've longed been saddened by the lack of content for Rufus x reader on here and when I saw you wrote him I was excited! Could I please have Rufus with a small, snuggly darling that loves to sleep in unconventional places? Thank you and have a nice day ^w^

Sure, here's some headcanons.

Okay, you were definitely the reason why Rufus was late to some conferences. You tend to get sleepy on the drive or flights, and your sleepiness is CONTAGIOUS.

Your tendency to sleep in odd places led to him creating a game of where the hell you could be sleeping at when you're nowhere to be found. Even the Turks got in on it, since they're sometimes sent to retrieve you.

Don't ask how, but somehow you've managed to fall asleep while hiding in his trench coat during some important business meetings.

Despite that, he finds a way to keep them going even though you looked incredibly cute while snoozing away. Expect him to discreetly slide his hand under his trench coat to stroke your head occasionally.

And no one is gonna say a damn thing when he carries your petite body out of the room when the meetings are over. Kinda because they're already used to your weird sleeping antics.

He'd get a little antsy about you going into small spaces like cabinets because he couldn't go in there to cuddle with you.

He already pampers you, but expect for him to buy you luxurious blankets made from the finest silk to ensure your comfort while sleeping.

You almost missed his inauguration because your sleepiness struck you at the worst time, but thankfully, Tseng managed to bail you out.

Sometimes, yhe sudden silence in Rufus' office always makes Reno and Rude feel uneasy as they cautiously approach. They fear that they might interrupt a... "certain" moment between the two of you. Through, much to their relief, they often just find you and Rufus snuggling.

Rufus switches between being the big and little spoon, depending on how draining his busy day was. You're happy to adjust for him either way.

Sometimes, he will have to sneak into bed with you to sleep. Once he's in your embrace, he'll have a tough time getting out of bed in the morning.

[shebaa]

My love for the karakul runs deep. Absolute peak sheep design.

[rottenpumpkin13]

Sooo do you guys think that after Angeal died, Sephiroth believed he was cursed because all his loved ones kept dying and he was the common denominator behind why he was alone? And that maybe he pushed Zack away and never fully committed to the friendship because he saw Glenn's brightness, Genesis' determination, and traces of Angeal in the sword and the honor, and couldn't stand losing them all again, or....?

[celestefox13]

So..... can we talk about how Sphene is a foil to Shadowbringers G'raha?

Like, under slightly different circumstances, or if he started to doubt his plan having a chance at success, he could've distressingly easily become like Sphene.

He admits to how he tried everything he could think of to save the WoL on the gondola ride. And the unspoken part, that perhaps even he doesn't consciously realize or want to acknowledge, is that he did everything he could think of without violating his morals. He held onto lines he wouldn't cross.

But what if he hadn't? What if his poor heart finally broke and he decided the means were justified if it meant saving the one person he wanted to save?

Or what if Emet got to him and figured him out sooner and managed to get the idea in his head that an umbral calamity would be a small price to pay if it meant saving the WoL?

The scale is arguably smaller, and much more intimate and close to the heart, than Sphene, but the steps to lead to that alternate timeline where our precious G'raha Tia burns the world and beyond if it means saving us was probably a lot closer than we ever dare consider.

The fact that he managed to endure and save everything that he did while going through all of the research about what leads up to the WoL's death in the world he woke up to, and didn't lose his morals in the pursuit of saving the WoL is an impressive display of mental and emotional fortitude.

But his poor heart. All those years of stress and frustration whenever a wall was hit, or an idea didn't work out when applied even in theory.

Their desperation levels even reach similar points. Because on every try to pull the WoL to the First, there IS desperation in his voice, increasingly so with each attempt. The try that finally works, he rushes to where they land because he has to be sure. He has to see with his own eyes to confirm that this plan that he finally landed on after YEARS of hard work and research is at least working on step 1. That he's finally gained a foothold on his goal.

And what a blessing that that plan didn't end up like Sphene's. That he never hit a point where the thought of "by any means necessary" truly meant by ANY means necessary. But now I wonder and worry about how close he may have been to that edge.

"This tragedy, even greater than the Seventh Umbral Calamity, must be undone. If history must be unwritten, let it be unwritten." - G'raha Tia about his goal to save the WoL

"For them I will do anything. If bloodshed will save my subjects, I will become history's most brutal Queen." - Sphene about her goal to save the Endless

[jemiswumbo]

works in progress:

twitch streamer!luke x reader

- luke is a gamer that streams on twitch with his friends (percy, annabeth, etc etc). they don’t know he has a girlfriend as she wants to remain out of the public eye. during one stream luke acts a little off, making his friends and his chat suspicious (18+)

UPDATE: this is now complete! you can read it here

hockey player!luke x reader

these NHL playoffs got me feeling some type of way (go oilers go)

luke and reader go on a quest

reader’s godly parent sends her on a quest during the lightning thief. she takes luke with her (much to his dismay due to his previously failed quest And bc he’s already stolen the master bolt). fluff and angst and adventure and also maybe 18+ !!!!

[haunted-xander]

Do you ever think about how Alisaie's biggest fear is losing the people she cares about? How the very first conversation you have with her alone, a deeply personal one, is about her confiding in you about those fears? Telling you that she hated the state of the world Louisoix died for because, to her, it wasn't worth the sacrifice? She tells you about all the allies she made and lost, who she watched die and could do nothing to save them.

Do you ever think about how Alisaie was consistently one of the first to act, to recklessly throw herself at danger throughout stb? She didn't care (as much) about herself getting hurt, but she'd be damned if she let her friends suffer without doing anything. She has to be fast and proactive, because if she can't protect them even when striking first, how would she be able to when acting after the fact?

Do you ever think about how every time her loved ones are in peril/are in risk of being in peril her heart just breaks? How whenever someone's safety is unsure she panics and immediately tries to contact them/rush to their aid? When Castrum Abania's cannon shot the tower that, for all she knew, Alphinaud was still in, she immediately stops what she's doing and runs to it in panic because her brother was in there and he might be dead.

Do you ever think about how when the Scions start getting their souls yanked to the First, Alisaie reacts the strongest? How, when Urianger and Y'shtola got taken, she fell to her knees shaking Uriangers body, screaming for him to wake up? And when Gaius appears with Alphinaud in the Burn, she immediately goes to fight him (before being stopped by Hien) because this man, who has been her enemy, is holding her brother's lifeless body. She doesn't care that she can't possibily beat him, he has her brother and she's already lost so much in such a short amount of time. She's lost Thancred, Y'shtola and Urianger already, she can't lose Alphinaud too.

Do you ever think about how you are the only one she can fully rely on at that time, but who is also at risk of being taken away? Of how she's so desperate for you to stay, to not be taken away, that Alisaie, who, for all her bluntness, prefers to rely on herself first and foremost, begs you not to leave her? She begs you. Alisaie does not beg. She yells at you to not do something, and she'll scold you to hell and back if you do it anyway, but she does not beg. But this time she did.

And then she ends up being taken away right in front of you. She cries out for help and uses her very last energy to reach out for you. And then she falls limp.

Do you ever think about how, when Alphinaud turns to tell her his plans at the end of Ultima Thule, she immediately rejects it without even letting him say it? She's lost so much and experienced so much grief, not only overall but also just in Ultima Thule. And she loathes to bring that grief onto another. Especially to one who has already lost so much, like you. She hates it. She ends up doing it, yes, but she hates it still.

DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT-

[izunias-meme-hole]

Can we just talk about how bad of a father Hojo has been to Sephiroth since the OG, and how much WORSE he is in the Compilation and Remake continuities?

Between treating his own son like a science project, keeping every last cell on his body in cylinders, the entire Silver Elite bullshit, assisting him in absorbing the lifestream, etc, its clear that he's the type of guy that would make Shou Tucker cringe in disgust, right? So like why does the larger fandom rarely go into detail about this guy when talking about Sephiroth?

I'm not mad I'm just baffled.

[altocat]

On the heels of countering Angeal-hate, I'm also putting it out there that I have seen more than a few people in this community attacking/complaining about Tifa in Rebirth for

Having trauma???

Being sad about her dead dad??? (you know, after losing her mom)

Having survivor's guilt????

Having emotional hang-ups/grief about LOSING HER FAMILY, WATCHING HER HOMETOWN BURN, AND NEARLY GETTING SKEWERED TO DEATH AS A GODDAMN TEENAGER

Like seriously wtf. And these weren't even Clerith people going after her. They just thought that her being rightfully upset/depressed in certain scenarios was "annoying" or somehow taking away from Cloud's trauma or the group's or something. Like god forbid any of these characters have mental health issues that influence how they interact and engage with conflict. Seriously, Tifa is an entirely blameless party in every one of these games and the fact that I've actually seen posts where her being upset about HER FATHER DYING is somehow a detriment to her character...seriously what the actual hell. And then the same people adding on that Brian Lockhart is apparently a dick for being protective and uptight about his daughter (still legally a child at the time btw) after recently losing his wife. Like??? That's completely understandable dad behavior?????? There's literally nothing wrong with it????????

Seriously, this community sometimes smh. Characters should be allowed to have internal conflicts. They should be allowed to feel things and narratively express those feelings without everyone dogpiling on them.